Oh, Kentucky

Carroll Hubbard--now an R-Murray--is running for the state house.

Fischer for Bloomberg. Bevin at the Trump.

A couple of Leitchfield 18-year-old entrepreneurs plan a Nov. 30 grand opening for their new Foam Fort indoor Nerf arena, which sounds like a heck of a lot of fun.

One of Marion's two groceries is not closing; neither, presumably, is the other one.

Here are your Kentucky wines of the year.

Christmas parades: Sharpsburg, Nov. 9; Owensboro, Nov. 23; Central City, Nov. 24; Lebanon and Louisville, Nov. 29; Guthrie, Mayfield and Pikeville, Nov. 30; Boyce, Dawson Springs and Murray, Dec. 1; Bardstown, Dec. 5; Fredonia, Harrodsburg, Hopkinsville, London, Monticello, Pineville, Richmond and Trenton, Dec. 6; Barbourville, Berea, Bowling Green, Cadiz, Calvert City, Columbia, Corbin, Cynthiana, Danville, Frankfort, Glasgow, Grayson, Hawesville, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Lexington, Madisonville, Marion, Middlesboro, Morgantown, Murray, Owingsville, Paducah, Rabbit Hash, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Somerset, Trenton, Versailles, Whitley City and Winchester, Dec. 7; Georgetown, Dec. 8; Cave City, Dec. 10; Burkesville, Burnside, Elkton, Williamsburg, Dec. 14, and Tollesboro, Dec. 15.

Oh, Kentucky

Pick up today's edition of the News-Express for these stories and more. To subscribe, call, (606) 437-4054. pic.twitter.com/3bGMZTUS7M

— App. News-Express (@AppalachianNews) July 2, 2019

Way to go. You missed Barbara Bailey Day in Lexington. It was yesterday.

As for tomorrow: "Happy Fourth of July from the Carlisle Mercury: Nicholas County’s oldest business, serving Fleming County since 1867. The Mercury has been a cornerstone of Nicholas County culture for 152 years and as a product of ‘a free press’ in a nation where inhabitants enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we are proud of the fact that we have operated as a product of The American Free Press longer than the Statue of Liberty has been standing on Ellis Island."

What do you like about The Trimble Banner? There could be four tickets to the Quaker State 400 in it for you.

Floyd County Chronicle: "Both these agencies are public bodies and the business they conduct is done 100 percent on behalf of taxpayers and ratepayers. It’s vital that those on whose behalf this business is being conducted be involved in and aware of what’s going on."

Chuck Witt in The Winchester Sun: "What is impeachment?"

PRNewswire: "Dippin' Dots Heats Up Summer with Launch of Social Media Dance Challenge."

Per U.S. News and World Report, 15 colleges and universities have more than one grad currently serving as chief executive officer of a Fortune 100 company. The University of Kentucky is one of them.

In Elkton, you've got until 10 Central tonight and then 8 a.m.-10 p.m. tomorrow, Friday and Saturday to shoot off your fireworks--but that's it, buddy. In Louisa, it's until midnight Eastern today and then 10 a.m.-midnight tomorrow, and you're done--well, unless you put in a permit 15 days ago, and it was approved.

Felix E. Martin Jr's 2008 gift to Muhlenberg County keeps giving to economic development, community development, education and youth services there.

Oh, Kentucky

"This is a sad day for our wonderful, close-knit community. If we can't extend a helping hand for our elderly that have blazed the path for our current and future generations then that speaks volumes for our integrity." Rachel Keller Collins delivers the breaking and heartbreaking news in The Marshall County Tribune-Courier that the Marshall County Senior Citizens Center is giving up the fight.

Madisonville's hoping to draw new residents from Fort Campbell.

The Kentucky Motorsports Hall of Fame and Museum is leaving Owensboro for Central City.

Muhlenberg County is also getting a new indoor-sports facility.

For what (I think) is its third CEO in three years, Lexmark taps a lifer.

A couple of Erlanger-Elsmere originals are shutting down Florence's "hands-on" Herbs & More after 22 years, and it sounds like backroads driving, family visiting and maybe even (finally again) some fishing might be on the agenda. Patricia Scheyer's farewell feature at The River City News is a fun read.

Banking hiccups are holding back hemp in Kentucky, an Eddyville operator and other industry leaders tell Sen. McConnell and other congressional leaders.

There's a Head Start hard stop in Flemingsburg, but no one's yet saying what's up.

More on the passing of "King" Coleman: Per Steve LeMaster in the Floyd County Chronicle, visitation will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday in the Wayland High School gym, and the family asks memorial contributions go to the Mountain Sports Hall of Fame.

Oh, Kentucky

In light of the intentionally-exposed-his-kids-to-chickenpox news from the New Hampshire vice-presidential hopeful who has been campaigning in Kentucky since 2013, Lisa Gillespie with WFPL whipped up a terrific overview of the vaccination sitch here. It turns out that, while Kentucky kindergarteners are required to be vaccinated for chickenpox, it's up to the local school districts to enforce that. And, so, for example, only 68 percent of the kids in Garrard County are vaccinated. County-by-county maps of Kentucky showing rates of most anything today tend not to be interesting (though still always beautiful) because they generally just provide a same-song-different-verse amplification of what we already know about the culture wars we find ourselves in. But I found WFPL's map about the vaccinations to be genuinely eye-opening. Take neighboring Daviess (with city Owensboro) and McLean (rural, more western) counties, for example; OK, go ahead, and take a guess which one has a higher rate ... WRONG! Daviess's rate is 69 percent, per WFPL and the Kentucky Department of Public Health; McLean's, 99 percent.

Back to the culture wars, here's another guessing game for you: Which three among the City of Martin, Kentucky Attorney General's Office, an informal Martin citizens group called "We the People" and the Floyd County Chronicle and Times are aligned against the fourth? ... OK, yeah, you got that one right.

Rebuttal from McKee:

With the Martin County Sheriff's Department short-staffed, Lexington-based Compliant Technologies has donated four of its glove products that sends electrical charges to suspects. "The protection of our citizenry is becoming more dangerous and demanding. As more and more people are demonizing our men and women in uniform through political agenda, social media and one-sided video we want to help change public perception. Compliant Technologies, with its tools like The G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter) enables our public servants in many instances to rapidly, effectively and, at times, unassumingly bring individuals into compliance or restrain them from further violence. We believe this technology can help lower liability, lessen risk, and create a more amiable atmosphere between the general population and those who protect and serve us. We look forward to providing you with non-lethal alternatives that will help you to accomplish your mission more safely and effectively as well as improve community relations."

Richmond's, like the rest of the Lifeway Christian Resources bookstores. is closing.

"She noticed a need a few years ago for women to receive housing, training, and counseling after leaving the Christian County Jail," and now, WKDZ reports, the director of Hoptown's Grace and Mercy Center, Joanna Mack, is the 2019 Fannie Bronson Postell Woman Of the Year.

Central City Elementary benefits from First Kentucky Bank's computer upgrade.

Madisonville is became an international center of hydroponics R&D and production, and some of us were so busy thinking about the 1973 final episodes of The Doris Day Show and the 1954 Rose Bowl (stand by at HP!) that we hardly even noticed.

Rest in peace, Todd Reisz, 50-year-old Owensboro native, "history and geography buff," music and Cowboys lover, barbershop favorite and sweet and familiar face of customer service for 28 years at the Wesleyan Park Plaza Kroger. (And prayers for his mom and other loved ones.)

Oh, Kentucky

Good jobs news from Louisville.

Statistically Kentucky's lowest rate of unemployment? Woodford. Highest? Magoffin.

Reportedly Kentucky's healthiest county? Oldham. Least-healthy? Owsley.

The publisher of Shepherdsville's Pioneer News takes in the State of Bullitt County.

For the record, in Barren County, it's still the Glasgow Daily Times.

From the opinion page of Bardstown's Kentucky Standard:

-- "But like I said, Trump and company don’t have a monopoly on hate and violence. Islamist extremists, modern-day Khajarites, have been swimming in hate-based violence for the better part of four decades."

-- "I’m grateful that the Democratic Party elected people like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar. They will be the “gift that keeps on giving” for the Republicans in 2020."

Meanwhile, a local salon joins its industry's "Green Circle."

Laundry Love, in Murray.

Literacy Celebration, across Hopkins County.

Thank you, Lord, that it wasn't any worse than it was in West Paducah last week.

Via a University of Cumberlands service project, free tutoring is available to students of any age and in any subject Mondays and Wednesdays at the Whitley County Public Library.

LaRue County middle- and high-school students come back from KUNA with plenty to tell Ron Benningfield for a detailed report in Hodgenville's Herald News.

10 years and counting of independent pro wrestling in Muhlenberg County.

Lexington's "Thriller" parade may be done.

Oh, Kentucky

The #fakenews is about stores NOT coming to London. The #NOTfakenews is that Planet Fitness and others will be moving in to the old Kmart, says Corbin's Times-Tribune.

Bad jobs news from Bowling Green, Bremen, Central City and Centertown.

Hiring in West Paducah (for paid summer "site deactivation and remediation contractor" interns).

Ground broken in Mayfield, and now to be processing by time of hemp harvest.

Piloting in Webster County, building a larger-scale pilot in Hazard and working toward commercialization of a new use for Kentucky coal.

Republican Rep. James Comer: "Mr. Cohen, you called Donald Trump a cheat in your opening testimony. What would you call yourself?"

Michael Cohen: "A fool." https://t.co/JPh7tRti3L pic.twitter.com/sve7XxiS3M

— ABC News (@ABC) February 27, 2019

Twenty-three percent of Mercer County children were living in "out-of-home" care (as opposed to with their parents) in 2011; 42 percent, in 2017. We've had some depressing statistics in this week's #ohkys, but the numbers in this Jennifer Marsh report in The Harrodsburg Herald might be the most depressing yet.

Kentucky’s number of children ages 0-17 in "out-of-home care” (also known as "foster care") climbed from 35.3 per 1,000 in 2011-13 to 43.7 in 2015-17, per Kentucky Youth Advocates. The county-by-county data is pretty interesting.

Glasgow High School has been identified as one of the country's six model schools for its approaches to closing achievement and opportunity gaps.

Spalding University's School of Creative and Professional Writing plans to enroll its first Master of Arts in Writing students in November.

I didn't realize that Calloway County is considered the National Poetry Month capital of Kentucky.

"The Devil Went Down To Georgia," and look who's coming to Madisonville this summer.

"Bicycles for Refugees," via Beargrass Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Louisville.

Oh, Kentucky

$25K to "Grow Rural Education" in Ballard County.

Solar-powered wine, from Pulaski County.

"Load your guns, lock your doors," says the sheriff in Martin County.

Rallying for Paradise.

Kentucky's infrastructure report card: C-minus.

Retiring in Kentucky? Keep looking.

Kentucky is big for Sasquatch sightings, with Anderson County leading the way, per an interesting Marie Mitchell column for the Richmond Register.

Turning to sports, John Wall is coming back, and Matt House reportedly couldn't leave.

Hiring in Madisonville and Central City (part-time MCC faculty in all sections).

Oh, Kentucky

PikeCoKY/MingoCoWV line @WYMT @brobwx @KelliWYMT @PaigeWYMT @SpecNewsKY @JimWKYT @Kentuckyweather @ChrisWKYT @JoshFitzWx @AMHQ @SpencerWeather pic.twitter.com/7otizFszIK

— Mary Reed Runyon (@MaryReedRunyon1) October 9, 2018

Good jobs news from Elizabethtown and Louisville.

"One of the busiest bridge-building years in the state’s history" is allegedly afoot, reports Tom Latek of Kentucky Today.

Oh, Kentucky

Urban areas of Kentucky have seen strong job growth since the recovery started around 2010, but rural areas have seen “essentially no job growth." https://t.co/hqPbfUzlIY

— Bluegrass Politics (@BGPolitics) August 28, 2018

Hiring (for a librarian) in Frankfort.

The CrossFit craze reaches Nicholasville.

"Market 606" comes to downtown Paintsville Saturday night.

Happy days are here again in Wickliffe, and Ronnie McDowell hasn't even gotten to town yet ...

Don of Brownie is not on the docket, but the Everly Brothers Rock-'n'-Roll Cruise In commences tonight in Central City, and that's reason enough to again post this great thing ...

If it's not Connie or Dawn on the line, it's not The Cadiz Record or Trigg County Chamber of Commerce calling you.

Congratulations, Logan "Bud" Shown, on 20 years of service to Habitat for Humanity in Ohio County and beyond!

The new Lebanon Junction fire chief takes over from his brother, who took over from their dad.

The No. 16 community college in the whole freaking country is combating food insecurity on its campus.

Bardstown is getting proactive about its cigarette-butt problem.

Oh, Kentucky

First day of school at Oakview Elementary in Ashland pic.twitter.com/Wx2UydtYSc

— The Daily Independent (@ashlandkydaily) August 15, 2018

 

Stay tuned for more back-to-school pictures in Central City's Times-Argus.

There's a bus-driver shortage in Hardin County, too.

Clarkson is adding a third full-time police officer (and planning to rehab its 30-year-old sewer system and readying for Honeyfest).

Matt Bevin, prospective vice-presidential nominee from New Hampshire, is again taking shots at Kentucky's public employees.

Louisville has a last-second mayoral candidate "known as a political bomb thrower," per Phillip M. Bailey in The Courier-Journal.

Newport Shopping Center and Plaza is getting more populated.

"Veterans as Entrepreneurs/ Veterans to Enhance Workforce," "Importance of Relationship Between Economic Development & Community College" and "Coworking Spaces & Makerspaces" are among the topics scheduled to be covered at the Oct. 18 Madisonville-Hopkins County Rural Development Conference.

"It's come one, come all," for fourth- through eighth-graders wanting to sing in the Harlan County Children's Choir.

Rest in peace, Mr. Isham, Somerset Community College psychology professor, Stoner Little Theatre regular, former Pulaski County Library board member, audio-book narrator and possessor of "a tremendous voice that any broadcaster would envy," according to Christopher Harris's fine story in Corbin's Times-Tribune.

Oh, Kentucky

Lexington’s first Walmart, under construction in this 1993 aerial photo of the Mist Lake Plaza shopping center at the intersection of Richmond Rd. and Man o' War. On Aug. 10 the store is closing. https://t.co/U7GEk3XKfr pic.twitter.com/ITU40TWkrO

— KY Photo Archive (@KYPhotoArchive) July 11, 2018

Bad Walmart-jobs news from Louisville, too.

Papa John's is presumably hiring, however.

Friend of Coal®, sure. But friend of coal miners?

"This is not just a problem for Murray and Owensboro. There are not many city pools left anymore. You used to see them in almost every town ..." (I woke up in not a confident-enough mood to accept this John Wright Q&A in the Murray Ledger & Times with the local parks director.)

"A gold mine" of photos from 50 years of Paducah has been preserved. (Thank you, WPSD's Pauline Fitzgerald--I needed that one.)

"'Truly phenomenal' are the words Corbin Middle School Principal Christi Lefevers used to described the new facility that sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students will be learning in this fall." (YEAH! Good for you, Angela Turner, in the Times-Tribune.)

Fourteenth year (and biggest ever) for Jets Over Kentucky, at Lebanon/Springfield Airport.

Crime is reportedly (way) down in Bullitt County.

An incarcerated congregation in Louisville, digging in the dirt--"you can't help but feel good."

Harvesting Hope, among opioid addicts in Berea.

Thank God that the boys and their coach were rescued in Thailand, and now here are some helpful words about cave safety from the Kentucky State Parks.

Rest in peace, Rev. McNeil, the Landers and others buried in Hopkinsville's Union Benevolent Cemetery No. 5.

Oh, Kentucky

Kentucky Community and Technical College System at sunset and it's 39.1 F pic.twitter.com/7hMCi8geET

— KCTCS WeatherSTEM (@KCTCSWxSTEM) December 5, 2017

 

Christmas parades: Irvington and Owensboro, Nov. 18; Central City (Rep. Melinda Gibbons Prunty (R-Belton) was there), Nov. 19; Ashland, Nov. 21; Lebanon, Nov. 24; Brownsville and Danville, Nov. 25; Greenup, Nov. 28; Cumberland, London, Monticello and Richmond, Dec. 1; Arlington, Barbourville, Beaver Dam, Bowling Green, Cadiz, Corbin, Fordsville, Georgetown, Glasgow (things got contentious), Harlan, Hartford, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Madisonville, Marion, Munfordville, Murray, Paducah, Somerset and Winchester, Dec. 2; Dawson Springs, Evarts and Nortonville (there, too), Dec. 3; Mount Sterling, Dec. 4; Lexington, Dec. 5; Bardstown, Dec. 7; Frankfort, Dec. 8; Augusta, Cave City, Edmonton ("Christmas Dreams Do Come True"), Elkton, Hanson, Hopkinsville, Paintsville, Salem and Whitesville ("One Team, One Family, One Holiday"), Dec. 9, and La Center (sixth-annual Ballard County parade) and Oak Grove, Dec. 16.

On JFK in the Jackson Purchase.

Anton International is expanding.

Oh, Kentucky

2017 Christmas Parade Slideshow - https://t.co/O5to6l7d6h pic.twitter.com/EERauencko

— The Edmonson Voice® (@edmonsonvoice) November 26, 2017

Christmas parades: Irvington and Owensboro, Nov. 18; Ashland, Nov. 21; Lebanon, Nov. 24; Brownsville and Danville, Nov. 25; Greenup, Nov. 28; Cumberland, London, Monticello and Richmond, Dec. 1; Barbourville, Beaver Dam, Fordsville, Georgetown, Harlan, Hartford, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Madisonville, Murray, Somerset and Winchester, Dec. 2; Dawson Springs and Evarts, Dec. 3; Mount Sterling, Dec. 4; Lexington, Dec. 5; Bardstown, Dec. 7; Frankfort, Dec. 8; Augusta, Cave City, Elkton, Hanson, Hopkinsville and Paintsville (postponed to not conflict with the #KHSFB finals), Dec. 9, and Oak Grove, Dec. 16.

(Delicious) El Bracero, its footprint already engulfing four western-Kentucky cities, appears poised to double down on its Cadiz presence.

Rest in peace, Mr. Thompson, retired bourbon trucker, 10-year Bloomfield city councilperson, Kentucky colonel, Mason, Baptist-church deacon and Sunday-school teacher, U.S. Navy World War II vet, husband, dad, grandfather, etc.

Oh, Kentucky

Here's how Kentucky newspapers played last week's eclipse, which was amazing.

Shoney's reopens https://t.co/eOhX7243nt pic.twitter.com/oKo366GuHw

— WHOP AM/FM (@WHOPradio) August 28, 2017

Paducah has a new Dairy Queen. 

Marcella's Kitchen, which serves hot meals to folks in need, is moving across Marshall County and doubling its capacity.

Oh, Kentucky

Ready to vote in western Kentucky? Channel 12 is.

Kentucky for sale: "ALL OF OUR GEODES COME FORM CREEKS AND THE BACK WOODS OF KENTUCKY …"

LBL’s Energy Lake, Hillman Ferry, Piney and Wranglers campgrounds want part of that sweet eclipse action.

Marion County Public Library is turning itself into a "makerspace."

Good jobs news from Central City.

Ellie and Finn's parents update The Lane Report on challenges and opportunities for the Berea-based EllieFinn healthy-snacks business.

Here's hoping you find that pot of gold. Beautiful double rainbow over Paducah this morning. #WPSDWx pic.twitter.com/iATsh8IQMz

— WPSD Local 6 (@WPSDLocal6) October 20, 2016

Oh, Kentucky

"Since when is it a crime to kill a copperhead? … I was unaware of it being illegal but reckon they make laws every day. … Get a judge to hear that case in court!! It would be one snake representing the other snake ..."

"It’s crucial that Muhlenberg County’s values be built into whatever decisions are made and that we are consistent in what we do."

"I said we want to do something, but we don’t want to do something that is out of sync with the people in Estill County."

The police chief takes over the animal shelter in Leitchfield.

The black bear of Bernheim has been confirmed.

Aliyah: From Hoptown to Haifa.

TTFN, Lebanon, and back to Murray State.

Speaking of supporting pilgrimage ... this from Etown.

On-the-GO in Bardstown ... hooray!

Kentucky for sale (in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England):

Oh, Kentucky

Meanwhile, in the wake of tragedy in Knox County, ...

Folks are inundating the La Grange police with pastries.

Ride along with the Trigg County Sheriff's Office.

Breathitt County is voting wet/dry today. Tanner Hesterberg of WYMT reports that "dry" got 90 percent of the vote when it last came up, in 1970.  Here's another Kentucky New Era ad from the wet/dry battle in Hoptown that same year:

Sounds like the payday lenders have got it pretty good in Kentucky. 

Good jobs news from Fort Campbell and Versailles.

If you've got an Elizabeth's Weddings & Formal Wear of Owensboro story, share it now before it's too late.

Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse in Louisville gets a nod as Kentucky's best of class.

when u & ur friends aren't messing around about lexington burger week pic.twitter.com/lmMQTXU7Nc

— michelle behm (@Michelle_Behm) July 11, 2016

The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree is coming to Paducah!

Oh, Kentucky

The big winners in the statewide business-plan competition, “Idea State U,” were the University of Louisville team of developers of an app to help people find workout partners and an Owensboro Community and Technical College team of inventors of a waterproof swimwear liner for women. But the one that sounds best to me is the “Mow Mi” people from EKU.

Good jobs news for Boston. Bad from the western coalfields.

A loss to the #Lexington food scene> Coba Cocina closes after three years of operation #locallex #ShareTheLex https://t.co/Eq9cw3HwGA

— Alan at Eat Kentucky (@EatKentucky) April 26, 2016

The Glasgow Daily Times reports that United Way told the local city council that it plans to open a "2-1-1" call center in Bowling Green, which would process calls from 10 counties for food, shelter, utility, mental-health, substance-abuse, aging and employment services.

The Courier-Journal reports that about 13 percent of Kentucky's schoolchildren have had a parent incarcerated. That's nearly twice the national average.

Oh, Kentucky

It’s WHACK #BlackFriday as shoppers fight for bargains https://t.co/BnjJX3Q3NK via @MailOnline

— VIDEO2FONE (@VIDEO2FONE) November 27, 2015

Thanksgiving in Cadiz.

Christmas parades: Hazard and Owensboro, Nov. 21; Ashland, Nov. 24; Williamstown, Nov. 28; Lexington, Dec. 1; Louisa, Dec. 3; Central City, Harlan, Maysville and Walton, Dec. 4; Bowling Green, Frankfort, Grayson, Hopkinsville, Lawrenceburg, Madisonville, Munfordville, Murray, Paducah, Somerset and Winchester, Dec. 5; Hickman, Dec. 8, and Benton, Elizabethtown, Elkton and Nicholasville, Dec. 12.

It's Friday, but I'm still celebrating #ThrowbackThursday ...

It really is amazing, the transformation that is taking place in Hopkins County's schools and, really, in Kentucky schools generally.

Oh, Kentucky (1969)

Still 1969ing in Ohio County ...

  
And the regional-champion Eagles made the front page of the March 20 Ohio County Times!

 Not above the banner, but still ...

Of course, the new barbershop made P1, too. (Real me had my hair cut here one time along about 1998!) (Also, I love walnut paneling.)

So, I know ... let's make this movie about this little high school and its basketball team in Kentucky in 1969, and let's put all in all of this sign-of-the-times, touchstone stuff like ... hmmm? ... oh, I know, one of the former students who has been drafted could write a letter home, cheering on the basketball team ... and there could be all kinds of cultural-warfare stuff like fights going on in town about sex education in the schools ... maybe some warmed-over integration stuff ... oh, and, hey, I've got it! ... the kids at the school could write back to the soldier with a--get this!--50-FOOT LETTER THANKING HIM FOR HIS SERVICE ... that'll be gr- ... well ... nyah, too hackneyed ... none of that stuff would've really been going on all at the same time ...

Let's get back to the basketball team (and some big snakes in Central Grove) ...

Eat up, boys!

I love the movie Paper Lion. Love it! 5 stars, highly recommended.