Oh, Kentucky

This is a simply terrific piece of journalism ...

#NoMoreNoKnocks, now in Lexington, too.

Toward more teachers of color.

"This cemetery has experienced vandalism for years. It's usually teenagers who get intoxicated ... it's a remote area ... We have other remote cemeteries which also get vandalized. There's no indication this was racially motivated."

The gravesite of an Revolutionary War soldier was threatened, but Loyall rallied. (It's not what you think.)

Smart Southgate, etc.?

Trooper Island Kids' Camp goes virtual.

On second thought, the Maysville Mason County Recreation Park pool will open this summer.

“It definitely is not any fun when you gotta be stuck in the house and you’d rather be outside shooting paint at your buddies.”

Gird yourself, warns the Pennyrile District health department director.

Rest in peace, Lisa K. Jones, Grayson County's homegrown library hero.

Oh, Kentucky

Danville's Advocate-Messenger on the new 988 suicide-prevention hotline: Yea. Prestonsburg's Floyd County Chronicle on Martin's lack of financial transparency: Nay.

I'm a big fan of Elizabethtown's Ring Road exit off of the Western Kentucky Parkway, and I'm excited to see what becomes of this planned food-and-retail complex.

Paducah's hotels reportedly have been about 60-percent full this year.

UK's starting pay for regular employees is going up to $12.50 per hour.

Bad jobs news from Williamsburg. Good from Hebron.

Good for retired Professor Hagans who donated thousands of dollars in stock for Madisonville Community College's emergency fund for students. And good for this Henry County, not-the-Berrrys couple who donated hundreds of acres for a new wildlife preserve.

Turning to sports, here's a Norse-centric look back at the decade, and here's a preview of WKYT's Christmas-afternoon airing of Reggie Warford: Fight of His Life.

Oh, Kentucky

Change is everywhere in Kentucky. Our license-plate letters and numbers will no longer be raised.

The new Democratic governor will give Kentucky's first Republican attorney general in 70 years an early start.

The secretary of Kentucky's justice and public safety cabinet--a Democrat appointed four years ago by the outgoing Republican governor--bows out.

On his last day in office, Gov. Bevin opined on good jobs news from Murray: "Over the past four years, we have made historic strides in improving our business climate, and it’s exciting to see those efforts culminate in transformational job-creating projects. We are grateful that TPG chose Kentucky for its new operation and appreciate the opportunities it will provide to our citizens."

As one who knows next to nothing about law, the whole deal where a governor or president on the way out pardons convicted people is one of the more curious aspects of life in the United States.

The state's anticipated $1.1 billion budget shortfall "is a lot bigger than anything that we anticipated," a Republican state representative tells Joe Sonka and Deborah Yetter of The Courier-Journal. "It's a real train wreck," amplifies a progressive economic-policy group from Berea.

Eleanor Klibanoff of the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting: "A KyCIR investigation shows LMPD brings almost every rape case to a prosecutor to decide whether to make an arrest--sometimes before they’ve done much investigating. If prosecutors decline the case, the police clear it 'by exception.' LMPD cleared three times as many 2017 rape cases 'by exception' than they did by arrest."

The Who's planned concert at NKU in April is historic for greater Cincinnati.

Brand new in Manchester: The Clay We Were.

Congratulations, Ms. McGaha, retiring operator of June's Beauty Shop in Jamestown since 19 and 62.

Christmas parades: Sharpsburg, Nov. 9; Owensboro, Nov. 23; Central City, Nov. 24; Lebanon and Louisville, Nov. 29;  Greensburg, Guthrie and Pikeville, Nov. 30; Boyce, Dawson Springs, Murray, Salem and Sebree, Dec. 1; Bardstown, Dec. 5; Clay, Fredonia, Harrodsburg, Hopkinsville, Irvine/Ravenna, London, Maysville, Monticello, Pineville, Richmond, Smiths Grove, Stanton and Trenton, Dec. 6; Arlington, Barbourville, Beattyville, Berea, Bloomfield, Bowling Green, Bromley/Ludlow, Brownsville, Cadiz, Calvert City, Carlisle, Clinton, Columbia, Corbin, Cynthiana, Danville, Frankfort, Glasgow, Grayson, Hawesville, Henderson, Horse Cave, Inez, Lawrenceburg, Leitchfield, Lexington, Madisonville, Marion, Middlesboro, Morgantown, Munfordville, Murray, Owingsville, Paducah, Rabbit Hash, Raceland, Russell Springs, Salyersville, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Somerset, Trenton, Versailles, Whitley City and Winchester, Dec. 7; Auburn, Georgetown and New Haven, Dec. 8; Augusta, Burkesville, Burnside, Cave City, Elkton, Franklin, Louisa, Mayfield, Providence, Williamsburg and Woodburn, Dec. 14, and Tollesboro, Dec. 15.

Oh, Kentucky

Hebron's getting a new public library.

Hoptown's new Chronicle has launched, and there are cookies.

The 35 companies that Forbes lists as Kentucky's best employers include 10 headquartered here.

Kentucky for sale:

A disbarred Floyd County attorney's Abraham Lincoln statue might be on the move.

"The decision by the Tennessee Valley Authority’s board of directors to close the Paradise Unit 3 coal-burning power plant in 2020 made perfect sense: Economically, the aging facility simply could not compete with the utility’s new combined cycle natural gas units and enhanced nuclear generation capacity."

Berry Craig weighs in at Forward Kentucky on the GOP's growing dominance in the Jackson Purchase.

Oh, Kentucky

The 72-student 2019 class for the Governor's School for Entrepreneurs is out. It starts next month at Northern Kentucky U, and, per Corbin's Times-Tribune, "students learn firsthand about the opportunities, benefits and pitfalls of beginning a business. Teams of high school students develop business models, design prototypes, and pitch startup ideas to a large audience and panel of judges."

Meanwhile, starting in the fall, one no longer needs to leave Pulaski County to attain a four-year degree from Eastern, Morehead, Western or UK.

Working out a 98k salary with her, Frankfort reeled in its new finance director from Boise, Idaho. Thorough city 411 from Zack McDonald in The State Journal.

Houchens Industries of Bowling Green has taken its Crossroads IGA game to Lexington.

Oh, Kentucky

"We understand the violence, we understand the drugs. But one fact remains, many of our children are innocent. Police need to find a better way." Prayers for real peace in Louisville (and great reporting and writing by Andrew Wolfson in The Courier-Journal).

Turning to sports, a former Murray State University history professor has a new book out on a certain old University of Kentucky basketball coach.

Groundbreaking is afoot for (horse) racing in Oak Grove.

Preparations are underway for (motocross and car) racing in Nebo.

Madisonville has expanded its annual women's conference (coming up next week), and the keynoters are from Turkey (via Lexington and NKU) and Marshall County.

Henderson's first Tech on Tap is.

Good jobs news from Louisville.

Hiring in Berea (for positions in central Kentucky), Morehead (for a local police dispatcher) and south of Dawson Springs (for Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park housekeepers).

Remember the Holy Cross High valedictorian whom the Diocese of Covington wouldn't let speak at commencement? He's now a University of Louisville freshman and Hugh Hefner Foundation First Amendment Award winner.

Rest in peace, Michael Hardin, a U.S. Army dental-lab specialist who served in Vietnam and will be buried at the veterans cemetery in Hopkinsville. "He had no known surviving family members and VFW Post 4730 in Dover, Tennessee put out a call this week asking for anyone who can to attend and honor the fallen veteran," reports WHOP.

Oh, Kentucky

A certain vice-presidential hopeful from New Hampshire is going to love this!

Last days for Paducah's Pork Peddler.

After Year 1 of Mount Washington's five-year plan.

The Los Angeles Times visits Cynthiana to look at hemp's history and future in Kentucky.

#HereForIt Get the details! https://t.co/YgWXSTmUUP

— WBKR (@WBKR) February 11, 2019

Kentucky has dominated the first decade of national chambers-of-commerce competition.

Steve Preston of NKU in the NKyTribune: "On March 1, 1886, Henry Boyd passed away at the age of 83. Despite his success and prominence within the community, Boyd was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Spring Grove Cemetery."

"'I was scared to come to rural area like Edmonson County,' said Patel. 'All I know was the big cities, but now, I would never go back to the big city. This community is a good example of how the country (rural) is good.'" The best part of this Darren Doyle feature in The Edmonson Voice are the comments about it on the newspaper's Facebook page (no, seriously).

Oh, Kentucky

Thank God it wasn't any colder, and thank God for all of the rescuers.

And the searchers and the mourners.

Northern Kentucky's Esperanza Latino Center opened on the day after Epiphany.

Free tax help starts Feb. 2 for "people who generally make $54,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited English-speaking taxpayers" in Henderson.

Hiring (school resource officers) in Berea, (hemp processors) in Kevil, (police "telecommunicators" and "calltakers") in Owensboro and (refugees) in Louisville.

If you want to make $23.60 an hour or better in Kentucky, CareerBuilder says you should be a physician assistant, software developer, nurse practitioner, market research analyst or marketing specialist.

Food, drinks and Facebook--Jan. 22 for entrepreneurs in Madisonville.

"Thank you, Dixie Hibbs, for all you have done and continue to do for us here at The Kentucky Standard, and we also thank you on behalf of the entire community. Our community’s rich story would be incomplete without you."

Oh, Kentucky

Proud for Sprocket to host today's announcement by the KY Innovation office of the launch of a Regional Innovation for Startups and Entrepreneurs (RISE) hub for our region! pic.twitter.com/7V7Lv0gRQt

— Paducah Schools (@bluetornado1) November 27, 2018

 

I will be excited to read the Jim Host story.

I tend to want to live in and be in houses with some age, but I do love myself a new hotel.

"In Kentucky alone, SNAP keeps 164,000 of us out of poverty, including 73,000 children. It also helps our economy. In 2017, the federal government injected $933 million into local Kentucky economies through SNAP. And by reducing food insecurity, SNAP keeps us healthier, too. Research shows that people who are food insecure are likelier to have a chronic disease such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes. Despite all of these benefits, the state has erected new barriers to SNAP participation in recent months."

"There is no generic marker for 'race'--it is a creation of our culture and law, and very often a cruel creation."

"We’ve had nothing but crap from the people that have attended these meetings that are saying that we’re not doing anything and, by God, we need to be doing this. And this is one of the steps that you take before you even get to the decision-making process."

Paintsville's Market 606 small-business-Saturday shopping event included what the local Herald described as "a massive giveaway of free Christmas decorations," which is an excellent idea.

Christmas parades: Owensboro, Nov. 17; Ashland, Nov. 20; Brownsville, Nov. 24; Arlington, Berea, Bowling Green, Cadiz, Columbia, Lawrenceburg, Madisonville, Marion, Paducah, Salyersville, Somerset and Whitley City, Dec. 1; Dawson Springs, Dec. 2; Lexington, Dec. 4; Greenup, Dec. 6; Frankfort, Monticello and Richmond, Dec. 7; Elkton (grandly marshaled by a member of the CBK58 champs and first-ever basketball coach at Todd County Central High), Eubank and Hopkinsville, Dec. 8, and Burnside and La Center, Dec. 15.

Kentucky High-school Girls' Basketball, 2018 Champions

We will offer a pep bus tomorrow to the Lady Titans’ STATE CHAMPIONSHIP game! Students riding the pep bus will be eligible to purchase tickets for $11!

Meet in the cafeteria by 10:30 a.m. Sales will end at 10:45 a.m. with no exceptions.

Go Lady Titans! pic.twitter.com/dG3XMuvQVl

— Mercer Co Athletics (@MercerCoTitans) March 11, 2018

 

The Mercer Co girls look for back to back state titles today against Mercy. Mercer (35-3) has lost just once in KY this season.

This picture is from the FIRST Mercer team in '75. That's Coach Judy Heiborn inspiring the girls with a rousing locker room speech in a snazzy suit. pic.twitter.com/YYhxE6pimM

— Kentucky High School Sports History (@KYHSHistory) March 11, 2018

 

A state title will be decided soon. pic.twitter.com/kQIpCO4jdz

— Josh Moore (@HLpreps) March 11, 2018

 

Reminder this will be final Girls Sweet 16 at NKU. Boys & girls both at Rupp Arena starting in 2019:
2019: March 6-10 (BOYS); March 13-17 (GIRLS)
2020: March 11-15 (GIRLS); March 18-22 (BOYS)
2021: March 3-7 (BOYS); March 10-14 (GIRLS)
2022: March 9-13 (GIRLS); March 16-20 (BOYS)

— Jason Frakes (@kyhighs) March 11, 2018

 

Here we go! pic.twitter.com/w5RE1ckCXD

— Danville AM Sports (@Advocate_Sports) March 11, 2018

 

It's a running clock game! In the state championship! (But mot until the 2nd half.) pic.twitter.com/TFOKptjwVi

— Danville AM Sports (@Advocate_Sports) March 11, 2018

 

Lexy Lake swishes a 3 at the buzzer to put defending state champ Mercer County up 52-14 over Mercy at halftime. Lexy is 5-for-5 from three-point range & the Titans are 12-for-19 from long distance. Mercy 6-for-26 (23%) overall.

— KHSAA Events (@khsaaevents) March 11, 2018

 

The 25th Anniversary KHSAA Girls' Sweet 16® Champions, the Nicholas County Lady Jackets, were recognized during today's championship game#khsbkg #MyReasonWhy #STEKHSAA16 pic.twitter.com/PBTrHhzeMW

— KHSAA Main (@KHSAA) March 11, 2018

 

Mercer County seniors played the final 30 seconds, celebrated on the court together as time expired. All five touched the ball one final time. pic.twitter.com/REFHTaPSR0

— Matt Overing (@MOvering) March 11, 2018

 

BACK-TO-BACK STATE CHAMPIONS!! pic.twitter.com/dxET7tkMVR

— Harrodsburg Herald (@HburgHerald) March 11, 2018

 

Words can not explain how proud I am of our Mercy Girls! The journey they have taken our staff & our school on has been amazing! 2nd in the State of KY is a true accomplishment! We have been on a heck of a run since the LIT. We will miss our seniors, but we will be back. #MPBTB

— MercyJagBasketball (@MercyJagsBBall) March 11, 2018

 

What a ride it’s been. Congratulations and thank you, ladies. pic.twitter.com/ZaGNInXu3d

— Mercer Co Athletics (@MercerCoTitans) March 11, 2018

 

Definitely would retire those jerseys really soon! The starting 5 for @Lady_TitansBB could be the best girls basketball team of all time. Historically We can’t think of anyone as dominant as the Titans.

— PrepSpin (@PrepSpin) March 11, 2018

 

Fun fact:
March 11, 2015: Mercer County girls lost to Elizabethtown 79-38 in first round of Sweet 16.
March 11, 2018: Mercer County girls beat Mercy 74-34 to win their second straight Sweet 16 championship.

— Mike Fields (@MikeFieldsKHSAA) March 11, 2018

 

The back-to-back state champion Lady Titans will be back in town around 7:30. Let’s line 127 north to welcome them back to town!

— Harrodsburg Herald (@HburgHerald) March 11, 2018

 

NO SCHOOL -

There is no school today, Monday, March 12th.

— Mercer Co. Schools (@MercerCoSchools) March 12, 2018

 

Beautiful snowy morning. Just under 9" at my house in Harrodsburg. ❄️ @Kentuckyweather pic.twitter.com/ZMfRccvDNt

— Jeana Hopkins (@JeanaHopkins) March 12, 2018

 

State Champs, @MCSHSTitans @Lady_TitansBB were in the studio today with Joe Mathis @HTRjoe on The Joe Show on WHBN. #statechamps #girlsrule #ladytitans #girlsbasketball pic.twitter.com/8zOw8fTM36

— Hometown Live Radio (@HometownLive) March 12, 2018

 

Congratrulations to the 2018 Mercer County High Lady Titans and all of the other KHSAA state champions in girls' basketball over the years:

1920 Paris
1921 Ashland
1922 Ashland
1923 West Louisville
1924 Ashland

Mercer won the state title 74-34 today. Georgetown were best on March 14, 1925. They beat Hardyville Memorial . . .44-0. Led by their guards, the Biddle sisters, Georgetown won 49 of 50 games in '24 and '25.
The box from the '25 final . . .93 years ago. pic.twitter.com/laSKbrORCQ

— Kentucky High School Sports History (@KYHSHistory) March 11, 2018

 

1925 Georgetown
1926 Maysville
1927 West Louisville
1928 Ashland
1929 Ashland
1930 Hazard
1931 Woodburn
1932 Woodburn
1975 Louisville Butler Traditional
1976 Louisville Sacred Heart
1977 Laurel County
1978 Laurel County
1979 Laurel County
1980 Louisville Butler
1981 Pulaski County
1982 Marshall County
1983 Bowling Green Warren Central
1984 Marshall County
1985 Whitley County
1986 Oldham County
1987 Laurel County
1988 Louisville Southern
1989 Clay County
1990 Lexington Henry Clay
1991 Laurel County
1992 Louisville Mercy
1993 Nicholas County
1994 Hazard M.C. Napier
1995 Scott County
1996 Union County
1997 Hazard
1998 Elizabethtown
1999 Lexington Catholic
2000 Olive Hill West Carter
2001 Lexington Catholic
2002 Louisville Sacred Heart
2003 Louisville Sacred Heart
2004 Louisville Sacred Heart
2005 Lexington Catholic
2006 Lexington Catholic
2007 Lexington Catholic
2008 Louisville Butler
2009 Louisville Iroquois
2010 Louisville Mercy
2011 Rockcastle County
2012 Louisville duPont Manual
2013 Marion County
2014 Louisville Butler
2015 Covington Holy Cross
2016 Louisville Butler
2017 Mercer County
2018 Mercer County

Oh, Kentucky

So much basketball happening. Still spent from the Olympics. Hard to focus.

Western Kentucky takes the court pic.twitter.com/vNn1W2Nnek

— Chad Bishop (@MrChadBishop) March 9, 2018

 

Meanwhile, things were pretty lively in and around Frankfort earlier today ...

Teachers rallying in the capitol prior to Senate vote on SB 1. The pension reform bill. pic.twitter.com/J3jW9zmDDC

— Don Weber (@DonWeber_) March 9, 2018

 

Our staff stands unified against Senate Bill 1!! pic.twitter.com/htAibt5Hw5

— Summit Wildcats (@SummitWildcats) March 9, 2018

 

.@DustiMoore, a teacher in the Bath Co. Ky. school system shouts toward the Ky Senate chamber in protest of Kentucky SB 1, a bill that proposes changes to the state funded pension system for teachers, Friday, Mar 9, 2018, in Frankfort, Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) pic.twitter.com/5ZskEHuHqB

— Timothy D. Easley (@TD_Easley) March 9, 2018

 

Attorney General Andy Beshear addressing teachers protesting the pension bill—Senate Bill 1—at the Kentucky State Capitol this morning: “If this bill passes, I’m going to see them in court.” #kyga18 pic.twitter.com/WMpqMtvjQw

— KY Attorney General (@kyoag) March 9, 2018

 

Senate recommits SB 1 to STate and local govt committee - no vote on pensions today - this spells trouble for the bill folks

— Ronnie Ellis (@cnhifrankfort) March 9, 2018

 

"What kind of business would you like to see come to Cadiz for families?" asks The Cadiz Record at Facebook, and the responses so far include a bowling alley; theater; indoor gun range; “some type of sports center that would include indoor & outdoor pool, rock climbing, repelling, etc;” "a nice motel in the Ham town area;” Jack In The Box; putt-putt golf; Walmart; Dollar Tree; shaking rink; drive-in theater; "Store for Women;” "more chain resturants like Long John Silvers, Arbys & Burger King,” and amusement park.

Monroe County is getting a new water plant.

The Paducah Chiefs (and their beautiful logo) are planning to return to Brooks Stadium this summer.

The trade association for Kentucky's distillers weighs in on the president's proposed tariffs.

Oh, Kentucky

Day 2 in Highland Heights ...

Good jobs news from Burlington and Louisville. Bad from Bowling Green.

Corbin's effort to keep its Carnegie Library lurches forward.

One-hundred thirty complaints of sexual harassment by state employees since 2012 (not counting the corrections or juvenile-justice departments, which have not yet fulfilled November records requests from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Journalism).

About the shooter at Marshall County High.

Oh, Kentucky

State!

Good jobs news from Bardwell.

The projected completion date for Madisonville's miniature-golf course is late summer, and I am thrilled.

Franklin's Kentucky Downs plans a grand reopening.

The graphics illustrating the possible I-69 Ohio River bridge options at Henderson are magnificent!

The governor's former adoption "czar" reportedly got a $60,000 golden parachute.

The downtown Covington Skyline Chili is no more.

Oh, Kentucky

After the eclipse last Monday, traffic was up (compared to the 2014-16 daily averages) by 30 percent on U.S. 31-W in Hardin County, 32 percent on I-65 in Simpson County, 37 percent on I-24 in Lyon County, 46 percent on I-65 in Warren County, 60 percent on the Pennyrile Parkway in Christian County, 80 percent on I-65 in Bullitt County, 123 percent on U.S. 62 in Grayson County, 127 percent on U.S. 68 in Logan County and 222 percent on U.S. 31-E in Hart County, per Kentucky Transportation Cabinet tracking devices. (I love all of those roads.)

Hoptown turns the page to "Christmas on the Silver Screen."

Kentucky for sale ...

Hooray for TV.

Washington Monthly (again) rates Berea College as the nation's best liberal-arts school.

Harlan is getting a guaranteed 10 Mb/s via fixed wireless, says the service provider.

Oh, Kentucky

Rest in peace, the Rev. Dr. Coffman, a graduate of Russellville High at age 16; pastor of Christian churches in Daysville, Bethlehem, Cerulean, Madisonville, Middlesboro, Greenville, Bowling Green, Paducah and Guthrie; prolific Logan County historian; Kiwanis and Boy Scouts leader, and proud Vanderbilt grad who celebrated his 95th birthday earlier this year by showing his gold.

It's Unity Festival day at the Islamic Center of Bowling Green.

Kentucky for sale (but not tree today): "Native Americans and early American settlers, especially those in the Kentucky territory, roasted and ground the seeds to brew a coffee-like beverage (albeit no caffeine), hence the common name ..."

Northern Kentucky University sold one of its radio signals to the local operators of Dry Ridge's Classic Country 106.7 WNKR, and the price was $4 million cash and $1.3 million in advertising time.

It's a sellers' housing market in Lexington.

Kentucky beekeepers want to narrow the Kentucky Proud needle.

Good jobs news from Louisville.

Kentucky's unemployment up slightly last month https://t.co/Upt4kGC3Ks pic.twitter.com/xBoe9liw0q

— WHOP AM/FM (@WHOPradio) July 20, 2017

NASA warns to choose our eclipse glasses wisely.

Do the state corrections departments rules around prisoners and books violate the First and 14th amendments?

Speaking of reading, it's going to be interesting to check out this as a counterpoint to this.

Oh, Kentucky

Live in the @WFPLNews newsroom: Comey and kittens. pic.twitter.com/3qywIjkQuL

— Erica Peterson (@ericampeterson) June 8, 2017

Here are the proper nouns in Sen. McConnell's love letter to his state on its 225th birthday: Commonwealth of Kentucky, Union, Virginia, Kentucky County, Native American Wyandot, Kentuckian, Daniel Boone, Cumberland Gap, Ephraim McDowell, Tori Murden McClure, Atlantic Ocean, American, Colonel Harland Sanders, Diane Sawyer, Glasgow, Louisville, Muhammad Ali, Henry Clay, Abraham Lincoln, Alben Barkley, Georgia Powers, African American, Kentucky Senate, Jesse Stuart, Pulitzer Prize, Robert Penn Warren, National Quilt Museum, Paducah, Grammy Award, Loretta Lynn, Chris Stapleton, Jennifer Lawrence, George Clooney, Johnny Depp, University of Louisville, University of Kentucky, Kentucky Derby, United States Senate and Bluegrass State. It would be fascinating to see to see the Microsoft Word document with tracked changes turned on.

5 Stars, Highly Recommended ...

NKU ranks No. 31 for LGBTQ inclusion.

Nice feature by Don Sergeant in the Glasgow Daily Times on an 89-year-old instructor in the free golf-instruction program for kids at the local country club. And his picture of the guy is great, too!

Good jobs news in Madisonville.

Oh, Kentucky

Harness racing today at the Graves County Fair. pic.twitter.com/aqNx0VQLD9

— Ryan Hermens (@ryanhermens) June 7, 2017

Tyler Eschberger in The Middlesboro Daily News has an intriguing story about a man's visit to the local country club to spur investment and interest in making a movie about the town's integrated Little League baseball team in 1953. Ron Schmidt is quoted: "So we make a movie with a Kentucky story, that not only shows kids, but it shows Middlesboro and it shows the beauty and culture of Appalachia…can we all hit a home run? Can you do that? Can you help bring hope to our kids?" Indeed, I would be interested in watching a movie based on Tyler Eschberger's story about Ron Schmidt's 2017 trip to the Middlesboro Country Club to talk about the 1953 story.

Meanwhile, here's a very dark and sad story about demons, healing, sickness, confession, redemption, relapse, justice and everything else in The Casey County News. Prayers for the pastor, the flock, the church, the police, the reporters and everyone around it.

Now back to happy--thanks to Adam Black in Ashland's Daily Independent: "When we first got married, I told her we would never move to Kentucky. Now look, we have opened a restaurant and live right down the road."

NKU's Vegy Vida for kids has been voted among the "Best University Startups 2017."

Appalshop scores among the "100 people, organizations, and movements that are shaping the future of culture."

Louisville comes in at No. 4 among the "Top Ten Worst Trucking Chokepoints in America."

Good jobs news from Bowling Green, Danville and Morganfield ("Leave the emotional garbage at home, you'll get your feelings hurt because we are realist. We are here to work not babysit the emotionally needed folks or put up with excuses. If you've got what it takes, we'd love to talk to you about joining our team.")

Says Kentucky's state climatologist: "For the average person it can be difficult sometimes to see, or maybe to convince yourself, that climate can be changing. But within the scientific community, people that spend their careers studying these things, there’s really a growing consensus that our climate is changing and that human activity is making an impact on that."

The city of Hartford is selling its recycling equipment and tearing down the building where it was used to turn into scrap metal for the practice of student welders. (Also, there will be no movies on the square this summer.)

Madisonville's skate park is open! And it's free to get into our ATV park all year. And we're having a Santa Race next month. So, boom.