Officials from all over Floyd County formally signed a proclamation and gave their official approval to the “Kick Butts Day” activities of the Floyd County Health Department. The proclamation declares Wednesday, March 25, to be “Kick Butts Day” in their communities.

Judge Executive R.D. “Doc” Marshall, Allen Mayor Sharon Woods, Martin Mayor Thomasine Robinson, Prestonsburg Mayor Jerry Fannin, Wayland Mayor Tommy Robinson and Wheelwright Mayor David Sammons have declared their communities to be part of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids’ 14th national event. The proclamation declares that these communities stand up with the children of their communities in opposition to the sale, advertising and marketing of tobacco products to children.

This national event sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids has its own Floyd county focus at the Floyd County Health Department. Recognizing that children under 18 are often exposed to the dangers of secondhand smoke when eating out, the Health Department staff has invited owners and managers of the Floyd County restaurants that permit smoking to go smoke-free for one day to celebrate “Kick Butts Day”.

Smoke-free dining in Floyd County will take a huge one day leap forward on Wednesday, March 25, for national “Kick Butts Day”. Floyd County has 26 restaurants that are smoke-free every day. This number will increase to 50 on March 25 when an additional 24 establishments will post signs asking customers not to light-up for “Kick Butts Day”

This year, Giovanni’s of Martin and the newly renovated Dairy Queen in Prestonsburg have joined the ranks of restaurants who post “no smoking signs” on their doors every day. The new McDonald’s in Prestonsburg is another 2009 addition to other Floyd County McDonald’s with a smoke-free policy for diners.

Each year number the number of Floyd County restaurants participating in the event has increased. The Health Department believes the growing number of restaurants participating is a measure of the public growing acceptance that smoke-free dining is possible and desirable in Floyd County. Eating in a smoke-free restaurant is one way to decrease the public health risks from secondhand and third-hand smoke exposure.

Currently there are 26 voluntary smoke-free restaurants in Floyd County, including BSCTC’s Campus Grill; Bob’s Bar-B-Q; Charlie’s Grilled Subs; Country At Heart & Old Town Fudge Company; Dairy Cheer; Dairy Queen; Down to Earth; Fat Boy’s Pizza and Grill; Giovanni’s of Martin; Hardee’s; Jenny Wiley State Park Lodge; Little Caesar’s; all McDonald’s in Prestonsburg and Martin; Papa John’s; Perfect Setting Café in McDowell; Pig In A Poke; Sandy’s; Subway in Martin, Prestonsburg, Stanville and in Wal-Mart; Taco Bell; and Wendy’s.

Last year at the request of the Health Department 18 other Floyd County restaurants, volunteered to go smoke-free for one day on “Kick Butts Day.” This year, the list is 24 establishments and includes Hot Rod Pizza in Allen; Bypro Pizza & Dairy Bar; Sharon’s Pizza at David; Hot Rod Pizza at Garrett; Pure Country Café at Harold; Maddy’s Pizza Palace at Hueysville; Martha’s Pizza and More at Ivel; Martin Dairy Queen; Long John Silver’s at Martin; Hi-Lite Pizza & Restaurant at Minnie; Osborne’s Pizza at Teaberry; Wayland Fountain at Wayland; and these Prestonsburg restaurants: Billy Ray’s; El Azul Grande; Giovanni’s Pizza House; Hillbilly Pizza; Hobart’s Pizzaria; Jerry’s Restaurant; Kentucky Fried Chicken; Long John Silver’s; Pizza Hut and Tlaquepaque Tex-Mex.

Two Prestonsburg establishments open primarily at night, Court Street Bingo and Malibu’s Restaurant, have agreed to post signs asking patrons not to smoke on Wednesday, “Kick Butts Day.”