Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky., Keith Lawrence column: September vehicle buys up 26 percent

The national "Cash for Clunkers" program ended on Aug. 24.

But local new vehicle dealers had a good September anyway.

Registration of new cars and trucks was up 26 percent at the Daviess County Clerk's office last month.

Records show 154 new cars and 106 trucks -- 260 vehicles -- were registered here in September.

That's up from 109 cars and 97 trucks -- 206 vehicles -- a year ago.

Last month's truck breakdown shows 55 sport utility vehicles, 38 trucks and 13 vans.

A year ago, the breakdown was 45 trucks, 42 SUVs and 10 vans.

* Foreclosure sales in Daviess County were up 42 percent in the third quarter.

But wait, there's a catch.

There were no sales in September 2008 because they had been scheduled right after the remnants of Hurricane Ike hit the community, knocking out power and damaging homes.

That said, 78 homes were ordered sold in the third quarter of 2009, 34 sales were canceled and 44 properties were sold.

That's up from 47 scheduled, 16 canceled and 31 actually sold during the two-month period a year ago.

* So when's the Chick-fil-A on south Frederica going to open?

Nov. 19, according to the chain's Web site.

* Holiday World set a new attendance record in its 63rd season, which ended last week.

The park reported 1,039,359 visits for the year -- the fourth consecutive year that attendance has broken the 1 million mark.

* The Kentucky Office of Employment and Training says the Owensboro metropolitan area -- Daviess, Hancock and McLean counties -- lost 1,200 jobs in the year ending Aug. 31.

But the three counties actually added 400 jobs in August, the report said.

* Atmos Energy last week predicted that it will spend 10 to 12 percent less for natural gas this winter than it did last year.

If this winter's weather is comparable, customers should see about the same savings.

* Walmart announced last week that it plans to offer two no-contract, low-cost mobile phone plans beginning today.

For $30 a month, the company is offering 1,000 minutes of calls, 1,000 texts and some Internet access.

For $45, customers get unlimited calls and texts nationwide plus unlimited Web access.

* A new report from Families USA, a national organization for health care consumers, says 69,000 Kentucky adults lost health insurance this year when they lost their jobs.

* Grandbridge Real Estate Capital LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of BB&T Corp., said recently that it has acquired BFG Realty Advisors and its loan servicing portfolio of approximately $400 million.

That, the company said, will allow it to better serve BB&T's Owensboro's clients.