Four Teams Left

Quite a day in the KHSAA quarterfinals.  Here's what happened:

(4) Lou. St. Xavier 46, (16) N. Laurel 44

Heartache for North Laurel, as they took the heavy favorites all the way down to the wire.  Surprisingly, St. X is the first team from the Seventh Region to reach the semi-finals since 2021.

Grayson Co. 58, Great Crossing 50

I was very surprised by this result.  No team from the Third Region had won a game at the State Tournament since Owensboro went all the way in 2015, while the Eleventh Region regularly goes deep into the tournament.  In fact, Great Crossing were the defending champs.  Huge day for everyone in Leitchfield.

(5) N. Oldham 62, (19) Lou. Butler 56

Amazingly, the Sixth Region hasn't won this tournament since 1994.

(6) Geo. Rogers Clark 63, Marshall Co. 59

GRC won it all in 2022, lost in the final in 2023, and are looking strong again.  Very strong performance by Marshall County, but they come up just short in their effort to be the first team from the First Region to reach the semis since Graves County in 2006.

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

Oh, Kentucky

Oh, Kentucky

It's (almost) a wrap for Mayfield's first Fairgrounds Festival of Lights, and we have until Oct. 1 to sponsor a 2020 display.

The I-65 Mile Marker 0 welcome center in Simpson County, opened in 1974, is closed until probably fall.

Hoptown's Pennyroyal Area Museum targets Feb. 27 for its reopening.

Floyd County is optimistic the resurrection of Wheelwright's prison will take place, even with turnover in Frankfort.

Inez will be down to one grocery after the IGA's Monday closing.

Several Peebles, Goody's and other department stores around Kentucky are converting to Gordmanses this year, such as in Leitchfield and Winchester.

Paducah Police also is hiring.

World Trade Center Kentucky has named an interim executive director.

Kathie Stamps at Smiley Pete Publishing has an interesting report on a married-physicians couple's launch of "membership-based concierge medicine" in Lexington. Excellent name for the new biz: Downtown Drs. Brown. 

Jerry Sparks kicks off a three-part Jackson County Sun series on three people from McKee who were pardoned by former Gov. Bevin: "(M)ost of the pardons issued by the former Governor were not controversial at all. A great deal of the pardons issued were earned by the recipients through years of hard work and dedication toward turning their lives around. Unfortunately, the news cycle tends to focus on the sensational and the negative. In fairness, time should be spent addressing those people that honestly turned their lives around and earned themselves a second chance."

Huge in Kenton County: Liane Moriarity, James Patterson, Mario, the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, Alvin Schwartz, Lego, Game of Thrones and a bunch of Now That's What I Call Musics.

Oh, Kentucky

The state's fastest internet speeds are found in Jackson and Owsley counties. "It is a gamble that has paid off," writes Kim Kobersmith in The Daily Yonder. "Residents are harnessing the power of the network to improve their lives by accessing well-paying jobs, opening new educational doors, and virtually visiting their doctors for health consultations."

"What's Next EKY?"

And how about for Daviess County's old Airport Fire Station?

Kentucky’s housing market in October: 8.4 percent more homes sold than in October 2018 at a median closing price that was 8.3 percent greater.

Bad jobs news from Paducah.

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, London, Monticello, Pineville, Richmond, Smiths Grove and Trenton, Dec. 6; Arlington, Barbourville, Berea, Bloomfield, Bowling Green, Bromley/Ludlow, Brownsville, Cadiz, Calvert City, Clinton, Columbia, Corbin, Cynthiana, Danville, Frankfort, Glasgow, Grayson, Hawesville, Henderson, Horse Cave, Lawrenceburg, Leitchfield, Lexington, Madisonville, Marion, Middlesboro, Morgantown, Munfordville, Murray, Owingsville, Paducah, Rabbit Hash, 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, Mayfield, Providence, Williamsburg and Woodburn, Dec. 14, and Tollesboro, Dec. 15.

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

Unemployment as of October: highest in Magoffin, lowest in Fayette and Oldham.

The governor-elect is getting a lot of his AG squad back together again.

Lake Barkley State Resort Park has landed another "Restoring the Finest" round.

Thanks, Jeff Bezos!

Rest in peace, Owensboro's Gabe Tower (1963-TBD)?

What's Kentucky's top export industry? Wrong. It's aerospace.

Eating local on campus, at UK.

Classical music on WEKU's 102.1 FM, signing off.

At Grayson County High School in Leitchfield, twin seniors notched perfect ACT-reading scores. One is headed to Kentucky Wesleyan, but it appears from this WKHG dispatch that WKU might be in the running for the other!

At First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Winchester, “Take what you need. Leave what you can. Little becomes much in the Maker’s hand.”

Christmas parades: Sharpsburg, Nov. 9; Owensboro, Nov. 23; 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 and Trenton, Dec. 6; Barbourville, Berea, Bowling Green, Cadiz, Calvert City, Columbia, Corbin, Cynthiana, Danville, Frankfort, Glasgow, Grayson, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Lexington, Madisonville, Middlesboro, Murray, Owingsville, Paducah, Rabbit Hash, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Trenton, Versailles, Whitley City and Winchester, Dec. 7; Georgetown, Dec. 8; Cave City, Dec. 10; Burkesville, Burnside, Elkton and Williamsburg, Dec. 14, and Tollesboro, Dec. 15.

Oh, Kentucky

Will Perkins with the Glasgow Daily Times delivers a lively feature from Farm Safety Day for Metcalfe County Middle School students. It sounds like quite an elaborate event--on the working family farm of a high-school ag teacher, 40 stations focused on different aspects of farm safety and involvement from businesses from as far away as Elizabethtown and Glasgow. "It's just a super, hands-on learning experience," said an advanced-placement biology teacher.

I'll tell you what also sounds great: the Tennessee River-Line trails project!

Mayor updates on Rite Aid renovation; groundbreaking set for new water planthttps://t.co/Oiqx2KT5FU pic.twitter.com/sKLJZO2sOL

— Grayson News-Gazette (@gcnewsgazette) May 10, 2019

Paper recycling? Yes in Covington, no in Lexington.

It's signing day for Madisonville Community College's advanced-manufacturing prospects.

The 2019 Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (ELI) class at Somerset's Center for Rural Development has been named. "ELI provides high school students in Southern and Eastern Kentucky with an in-depth look at what it takes to start their own business venture — from idea development to building a model prototype of their business concept."

Hiring in Harlan.

A residential treatment center for drug-addicted women and their children is planned for Clay County.

The Russell County Detention Center is moving to a higher-tech approach to identifying and tracking inmates, and the jailer interviewed on WJRS of Russell Springs--FM 104.9, "Lake Cumberland's Best Country"--sounds realistic but generally optimistic.

Three Murray State students shared their findings on "trauma journalism" with The Paducah Sun.

Oh, Kentucky

If you want to get your week off to a depressing start, check out Thomas Capps's (excellent) report for Channel 6 on the runaround that sick former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant workers are getting from the U.S. Department of Labor and its Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program.

For the moment, at least, what is said to be Kentucky's oldest continuously running fair is no more.

Bad jobs news from Elizabethtown and Raceland. Good from Leitchfield. Hiring in Hardin (I love The Brass Lantern).

I've talked before about the fantastic meeting coverage in today's journalism. Well, I'm not sure that anyone does it consistently any better than Michael Monks in The River City News. His blow-by-blow from a Bromley city-council meeting reads like a freaking Dragnet:

"Effectively at 6:45 tonight, Ludlow is going to make the next fire run?," Chief Keller asked.

"As soon as I call them," Mayor Denham said. "I'll call them shortly when I get done with this."

"OK," the chief said, with a laugh.

Just fantastic.

Spring break is over at Kentucky's public schools, and The Courier-Journal has the 411 to bring your tan-and-fine self back up to Louisville-and-environs speed.

Bowling Green's Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science has selected the high-school sophomores who would make up its Class of 2021, and they hail from 54 of Kentucky's counties. Over its 11 years, Gatton has invited students from all but three Kentucky counties. 

Groundbreaking is set for tomorrow for the Henderson County Public Library expansion ("light refreshments"!).

What's next for 112 W. Broadway in Mayfield?

Oh, Kentucky

Christmas parades: Murray, Dec. 1, and Henderson (for Saint Valentine's Day, you could win a ride on the Corydon Civil Defense Fire and Rescue fire truck) and Scottsville, Dec. 7.

"In honor of young people (18 to 25) who show significant potential in developing as feminist, social change artists, and whose work has the potential to create change for women and girls in Kentucky, ..."

Today is #NationalBoyScoutDay! Founded in 1910, @boyscouts trains its participants in responsible citizenship, character development, & self-reliance. In this photo, Scout James Dickinson tells Lt. Gov. Wilson Wyatt that Burnside, Ky, claims to be the home of the original BSA. pic.twitter.com/eGcboClk0z

— KY State Archives (@KYStateArchives) February 8, 2019

Two Cadiz women are cutting short their medical-mission trip to Haiti and coming home today.

Good jobs news from Leitchfield and Owensboro.

"Saying Goodbye to Louisville."

Oh, Kentucky

Christmas parades: Owensboro, Nov. 17; Ashland, Nov. 20; Brownsville, Nov. 24; Cumberland and Fredonia, Nov. 30; Arlington, Berea, Cadiz, Calvert City, Clinton, Columbia, Hawesville, Jenkins, Lawrenceburg, Leitchfield ("A Very Candy Christmas"), Lewisport, Madisonville, Marion, Murray ("there will be no marked detour; however, motorists may self-detour around this section of KY 94 via KY 2594/Industrial Road, US 641-Business/Chestnut Street, and US 641/12th Street"), Paducah, Somerset and Whitley City, Dec. 1; Bowling Green, Dawson Springs, Glasgow and Salyersville (rescheduled because of expected bad weather), Dec. 2; Lexington, Dec. 4; Greenup, Dec. 6; Frankfort, Monticello and Richmond, Dec. 7; Benton, Elkton, Eubank, Harlan ("after consulting with meteorologists and officials, we feel like this is the best choice for our celebration"), Hopkinsville, Horse Cave, Louisa, Munfordville and Stamping Ground, Dec. 8; Whitesburg, Dec. 14; Burnside, La Center and Neon, Dec. 15.

I (heart) expungement fairs.

10 years and about 400 students and counting for the exchange program between Bowling Green's Warren Central High and the Anne Frank School in Werne, Germany.

"In this era of extreme political division in our nation, we reflect on the promise of our democracy, as well as the ongoing struggle to live up to its unrealized potential. We honor the long history of social justice work through small networks, largely unseen and unrecognized, often led by women of color, to secure voting rights for women and access to full participation in our democracy.  We also recognize that this struggle is far from over. This moment provides an opportunity for feminist artists to use an intersectional lens to imagine a world where all women and girls and gender-nonconforming people can engage equitably. With this grant, we invite you to imagine how your art (visual, performing, media or literary) can inspire action towards building power for women and girls, sharing power among and within your communities and wielding power towards fulfilling the promise of an equitable democracy. Individual artists and nonprofit organizations based in Kentucky who are using arts-based activities to address democracy and power for women and girls may apply.  Deadline to apply is March 1, 2019."

"The first-ever, peer-to-peer site for handcrafted hunting, fishing, and camping gear, as well other outdoor apparel and accessories."

Oh, Kentucky

Christmas parades: Owensboro, Nov. 17; Ashland, Nov. 20; Berea, Bowling Green, Cadiz, Columbia, Lawrenceburg, Madisonville and Paducah, Dec. 1; Dawson Springs, Dec. 2; Richmond, Dec. 7; Hopkinsville (with "Skating on the Square"), Dec. 8, La Center, Dec. 15.

The Hopkins County Humane Society "MEOWvember Kitty Cafe" is tomorrow at PublicLibrary.org.

Ken Howlett of K105: Kelley Beekeeping, originally of Paducah and since 1952 of Clarkson, has been purchased by a Minnesota company.

Andrew Henderson of The Oldham Era: Steve-O's, a Buckner pizza staple since 2005, is expanding into Louisville's Clifton neighborhood.

Chuck Stinner of The Gleaner: Shaw's Flowers, a Henderson florist since 1928, thrives while it has "not changed as much as others."

Keith Lawrence in the Messenger-Inquirer delivers solid coverage from the Kentucky Travel Industry Association conference at the Owensboro Convention Center: "Chapman said that recently in Pikeville a company was looking for 100 workers. Seventy-one of the first 100 screened failed the drug test, he said." Lawrence was writing about Rex Chapman. 

Oh, Kentucky

Congrats on 40 years behind the mic at @WFTMRadio , @DannyEWeddle pic.twitter.com/5kAjrJDduT

— Ron Bailey (@RonEBailey) August 21, 2018

 

No. 16!

More foster-care children, longer periods to locate foster homes.

Nipping the opioid bud in Muhlenberg County.

Leitchfield's city parks are getting a refresh.

A dog-friendly park is scheduled to open in Georgetown next spring.

On the construction-jobs boom coming to Ashland.

Adam May with WHOP reports that New Hampshire vice-presidential hopeful Matt Bevin "sounds like someone who will be on the ballot" for re-election as governor of Kentucky in 2019.

Union County's White Buck Vineyards and Winery is on the market.

The Cadiz Main Street of the 1920s is coming back to life next month.

Solving the mystery of a 1919 desk from the Butler County Courthouse.

Oh, Kentucky

Good jobs news from Bowling Green, Erlanger and Lexington.

"If part of your community is doing well and the other part not doing so good then the community can only fail. But if both sides of the community flourish, then the community will rise together and we all win because the sky is the limit."

"Their new group, Co-Heirs with Christ Missions, is different from some churches they attended in Africa. Too often, Frimpong remembered, leaders preached that joining the church would change their lives immediately – that their belief would guarantee prosperity. This tactic brought people to churches, but it only exacerbated the poverty rate, as people started to believe that they didn’t need to look for work."

UK's Kentucky Kernel has a new advisor (second consecutive one from WKU), and the Todd County Standard is on the market.

Sweet Paducah Sun story about a South Carolina man returning to where he and his late wife married in 1955--with helpful bonus material on the history of PJC/PCC/WKTC/WKCTC.

Terrific Bill Estep report in the Lexington Herald-Leader on the impact of drugs on the labor market in eastern Kentucky.

A Hardinsburg barber stars in an Amazon movie that came out yesterday, and it sounds hair-raising!

With the U.S. Senior Open rolling, the USGA took a road trip to Franklin to visit with the defending champ.

Corbin's getting a mural, on Roy Kidd Avenue.

Oh, Kentucky

The Madisonville fire department helped us get our cat out of a tree a few years ago. Once the truck pulled onto our street, River got scared by the sound and leapt probably about 20 feet to the ground and scampered to the backyard. The Bardstown fire department had a more challenging time with Kitten, per Spencer Harsh's reporting in The Kentucky Standard.

I have never been to Red River Gorge, and I have never been to Miguel's Pizza near Slade, and, now when I do get there, it's going to look like I was just jumping on the Food & Wine bandwagon.

No fees at McCreary County's Natural Arch Scenic Area for National Get Outdoors Day, Saturday.

Eighteen bicyclists retracing the northern Trail of Tears route are due in Princeton tomorrow.

Bad Marco Polo news from Lucas.

Good jobs news from Bowling Green.

Hiring aplenty in and around Paducah.

Hoptown's forthcoming Tacos El Papi had me at "homemade tamales."

Hardin County Schools takes its summer-meals program to the streets.

Voter turnout for last month's primaries reportedly was highest in Grayson (33.2 percent) and lowest in Kenton (10.0 percent), among Kentucky's 120 counties.

Oh, Kentucky

KSP blocked the protesters from entering together and said two people at a time could enter the building.https://t.co/tWA1Hj7l24

— The State Journal (@statejournal) June 5, 2018

Five Kentucky National Guard troops are headed to New Mexico to join the U.S. Department of Homeland Security border patrol.

The bedbug problem at Louisville's Dosker Manor public-housing complex sounds awful (per this terrific report by Jacob Ryan for the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting).

Newport High School has a new football coach, but it's not a happy story--by Matthew Monks in The River City News.  

Chris Harris in the Commonwealth Journal: "So as of yet, the mystery of Somerset’s smelly Saturday night remains unsolved."


The IGAs in Calhoun and Livermore--the only two full-size groceries in McLean County--are closing.

A passing of the mom-and-pop-hardware torch is afoot in Lexington.

The Leitchfield city council has voted to compensate the local tourism commissioners.

Good jobs news from Bowling Green.


Rest in peace, Charles Martin "C.M." Newton, a native of Rockwood, Tennessee, who came north to come off the bench for the University of Kentucky's 1951 national-championship basketball team; who pitched in the New York Yankees minor-league system; who coached the Transylvania Pioneers to the 1963 NAIA basketball tournament; who moved on to the University of Alabama on the recommendation of Adolph Rupp to Bear Bryant; who coached Vanderbilt to the 1988 and '89 NCAA men's basketball tournaments; who chaired the NCAA rules committee when the shot clock, three-point line and coach's box were implemented; who, as the school's athletics director, brought national-champion coaches Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith to UK; who presided over USA Basketball when the "Dream Team" was formed and won Olympic gold, and who brought the first African-American basketball players to Transylvania and Alabama and the first African-American basketball coaches to UK, among other accomplishments.

Oh, Kentucky

Appears to be a total loss of the office, but the Grayson County News-Gazette does not expect the fire to disrupt its publication schedule.

You know how somebody is always collecting those little tabs from soft-drink cans to raise money for some cause? Well, per this Dawson Springs Progress report, a couple from there has collected more than 1.3 million of them for the Ronald McDonald House in Louisville.

"Should people be able to open carry firearms in public places?" As of about 4 Central this afternoon, the poll results at the Glasgow Daily Times website were 56.3 percent to the yes and 43.8 percent to the no. However, all eight of the comments at the newspaper's Facebook post were in favor.

Oh, Kentucky

Guthrie recovering after flood, you can help https://t.co/szUIzdu1NQ pic.twitter.com/75lZdrQJAk

— WHOP AM/FM (@WHOPradio) September 2, 2017

Kentucky for sale (and the start of what I'm sure is an interesting story):

Good jobs news from Owensboro, Owensboro again and Beaver Dam. Hiring in Leitchfield and Louisville. "Holding our breath" in Wickliffe, per WPSD. And the Daily Independent reports, "there is a feeling Ashland, Boyd, and surrounding Greenup and Carter counties are on the verge of rounding the economic bend."

Trouble in Corbin and Crofton.

Reports WFPL, "according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 5,848 Kentucky residents had been approved for protections under DACA as of the end of March."

Oh, Kentucky

Future seminars, chili suppers and ice-cream socials in Dundee will have a snazzy new home, thanks to First United Bank and Trust.

Meanwhile, the Ohio County Historical Center bean dinner, ...

Henderson County Schools' math emphasis appears to be paying off.

Sweeden Man Kills Copperhead In Grayson School Drop Off Line - https://t.co/4zvqfKoc8t pic.twitter.com/YJj0ZdoBdy

— The Edmonson Voice® (@edmonsonvoice) August 30, 2017

"Mammoth Cave will be the most suitable place to perpetuate the undying memory of the heroes of the world war. No more appropriate spot could be chosen for such a national monument than this gigantic hole which winds for miles under the hills and valley's of God's garden spot — Kentucky."

Meanwhile, how about Lexington Cemetery for Fayette County's Confederate monuments?

In fact, I saw a bald eagle just this past Saturday at Camp Kum-Ba-Ya near Fairdealing. Good for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.

For the 40th straight year, the cyclists are headed to their Old Kentucky Home--a little earlier than usual, though.