Carroll County natives Levi and Jamie (Secrease) Reames, owners of Comfort Keepers of Owensboro, Ky., were honored recently with Kentucky's small business of the year award,

The Reameses, both 2001 graduates of Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School, were minority owners of a Comfort Keepers franchise in Kokomo when the opportunity came along to purchase the Owensboro franchise in the fall of 2007.

The couple has around 70 employees, nearly twice the number they had when they took over the business. They cover four counties and are looking to open a satellite office in Henderson, Ky.

They have been notified that their business has been nominated for a Kentucky Pacesetter Business Recognition award.

Comfort Keepers with more than 550 independently owned franchises in seven countries provides individual in-home non-medical senior care, companionship and recreation.