Oh, Kentucky

Happy new year (from Calvert City)!

Good jobs news from Florence, Newman and Owensboro.

Marshall County is considering whether to declare itself a sanctuary county, but it's not what you would think. (Or, in other words, gunsgunsguns. And maybe it is what you would think.)

Holiday open houses: ACLU of Kentucky, today.

There's a darkness on the edge of Floyd County.

Fish management: Asian carp in Lyon County, shad and sunfish in Henry County.

Here's a solid WDRB report on Kentucky's back and forth on marijuana legalization, with interesting perspectives from Jackson, Russell and Winchester legislators.

Who is Paducah's mystery Park Avenue pine-tree planter?

What's next for Lexington's old Romany Road Kroger?

Turning to sports, "the state of Kentucky and high school basketball have always been intertwined and can’t really be separated."

Oh, Kentucky

I've subsequently gone on my Thursday-night basketball league's IL with a knee issue (which is really heartbreaking, because it was widely held that I had been playing the best ball of my whole freaking career), but I am thrilled that I at least stayed healthy long enough to visit and play in the gym of the 1928-state-finalist Nebo Purple Aces (reports indispensable Bob "I Corinthians 10:31" Mays, "Nebo (district champ) beat LaFayette, Madisonville, and Cobb to win the 2nd region. At the state tournament, the Aces beat Russell 31-6, Munfordville 31-21, and Inez 21-18 before losing the championship game to Corbin & its 6’6 center Bob Cluggish 24-18."). 

"Louisville Parks and Recreation is seeking information from current and future pool users in an effort to provide alternative swimming options during the 2019 summer swim season. Metro’s four outdoor pools will not be opening due to budgetary challenges caused by an increase in our state pension bill and the council’s vote against new revenue. The goal is to use the feedback to create the most useful alternatives possible."

With 478 people going to work in April, Kentucky reached a record-breaking 1,982,330 people doing jobs across the state.

Best of luck to Mr. Richardson and Mrs. Spears on their coffee/coloring pages/art endeavor in Villa Hills.

On ambulance service in and around Pike County in the wake of recent M&A activity.

Latest turn in the recycling saga in and around Lexington.

Almost six years later and still no peace for the family, friends and colleagues of Ofc. Ellis.

Oh, Kentucky

Kentucky for sale:

I'm pretty certain I'm not as effective or diligent of a disciple of Christ's as this Hardin County fellow is for what he's discipling.

Ashland revisits the curbside-recycling question, with input from nearby Russell and less-so Paducah.

Prayers for Mr. Howard, and way to go, Benham Schoolhouse Inn.

Turning to sports, hooray for Reggie Warford and the rest of this year's Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame class.

Oh, Kentucky

Good jobs news from Bowling Green.

The Travel Channel invites us to "Explore the hidden gems of each state: towns with quaint shops and restaurants, fascinating histories, fun experiences and natural beauty." (Spoiler alert: In Kentucky, it's Paducah.)

The Family Dollar is grandly reopening in Morehead.

The Burgin cafeteria is bursting at its seams.

The Henderson County Public Library is exploding across its whole block.

Owensboro angles for more downtown hotel and apartment space.

Wheelwright has a police officer again, and he's reportedly a former police chief let go in Martin.

If you're in Grayson and hankering for crepes, you needn't drive over to Russell any longer.

A second-generation McDonald's franchisee from Winchester wins a "Ronald."

Oh, Kentucky

Post by Munfordville First United Methodist Church.

OK, now we're getting serious, baby. Here is today's Christmas-parade lineup:

-- Berea, 

-- Bowling Green, 

-- Cadiz, 

-- Calhoun, 

-- Calvert City,

-- Campbellsville,

-- Carrollton, 

-- Clay, 

-- Clinton, 

-- Columbia, 

-- Dixon,

-- Flatwoods, 

-- Fordsville, 

-- Frankfort, 

-- Franklin,

-- Glasgow, 

-- Greenville,

-- Guthrie, 

-- Harlan, 

-- Henderson, 

-- Hopkinsville, 

-- Horse Cave, 

-- Island, 

-- Lewisport,

-- Madisonville, 

-- Marion, 

-- Morganfield, 

-- Morgantown,

-- Munfordville, 

-- Murray, 

-- Paducah, 

-- Park City, 

-- Pikeville,

-- Providence,

-- Salvisa,

-- Scottsville, 

-- Shelbyville, 

-- Tompkinsville, 

-- Trenton and 

-- Winchester.

Oh, to be Santa's driver today! I would freaking love to be driving him around the state today, delivering him to the tail end of each parade (and charging 56 cents per mile, plus meals and hot chocolate, in expenses). Of course, I wouldn't want to have to be in a hurry. 

One of the great things about being Santa Claus, it seems to me, would be that the systems of time and other constraints of our world do not seem to apply to him. That would be wonderful.

Plenty more parades are on the horizon after today: Boyce, Clay City, Dawson Springs, Evarts, Mortons Gap and Schochoh, Dec. 7; Mount Sterling and Stanton, Dec. 8; London, Morehead, Owingsville, Prestonsburg, Richmond and Whitesburg, Dec. 12; Benton, Burnside, Cave City, Livermore, McKee, Nicholasville, Princeton, Quality and Sacramento, Dec. 13; Auburn, Central City and Edmonton, Dec. 14, and Lewisburg, Dec. 19.

Class 3A State Champs -Russell Co. Mighty Laker Marching Band - 2014 Christmas Parade pic.twitter.com/XiEm5tFZhG
— Michael A. Ford (@fordmich) November 30, 2014

New Haven KY Christmas parade. pic.twitter.com/7yfqQvEuU4
— Michelle Burfield (@deerspooker82) November 30, 2014

See photos from last night's Christmas Parade in downtown Lexington. http://t.co/HboYMKZDsT pic.twitter.com/92CdAv7QO1
— heraldleader (@heraldleader) December 3, 2014

Kentucky High-school Football, Class 2A State Champs

The champs returned to Bowling Green ...

Colts are off to state again! Go Colts! pic.twitter.com/5hZijVgPpi
— TJ Cataldo (@CoachCataldoDHS) November 29, 2014

So did the champs ...

@NewCathBreds: '84 '05 '06 '10 '12. Today we #throwback to the '84 pic.twitter.com/iI8O5E77yG
— NewCath Football (@TBredsFB) December 4, 2014

Now what?

Tis the season of giving, so give us that trophy #bredtobeachamp #state #nkyfb pic.twitter.com/XlposgvDAC
— Ms. Tincher (@MsT_NCC) December 4, 2014

It was a little bit of a late start after the Belfry won the 3A championship ...

NCC walking in past Belfry band #nkyfb @TBredsFB pic.twitter.com/UerazJTgM9
— James Weber (@JWeberSports) December 5, 2014

Route news ...

DeSales fans are starting to trickle in. I understand many got stuck in I-65 traffic. pic.twitter.com/GTYbzCBv5S
— Conor Revell (@ConorRevell) December 5, 2014

Onto the field ...

NewCath takes the field here at WKU. https://t.co/7TlKz8wTDM
— Rick Broering (@RickBroering) December 5, 2014

We're moments away from kickoff as DeSales and NewCath get set to battle in the 2-A state title game. pic.twitter.com/FJ1BFnvJ2t
— Conor Revell (@ConorRevell) December 5, 2014

This one got out of hand quickly ...

Congratulations, DeSales Colts!

It's official. The Colts defeat NewPort 26-0 to win back to back Kentucky 2A State Championships. #ColtPride pic.twitter.com/QX1hXpwAhF
— DeSales High School (@DeSales_Colts) December 5, 2014

DeSales raises the trophy for a 2nd straight year. Colts beat NCC 26-0 in Class 2A KHSAA championship pic.twitter.com/pqdK24xdbn
— John Lewis WDRB (@JohnWDRB) December 5, 2014

KHSAA Class 2A state champions:

2014 Louisville DeSales (Murray)*

2013 Louisville DeSales
2012 Newport Central Catholic
2011 Covington Holy Cross
2010 Newport Central Catholic
2009 Fort Campbell
2008 Fort Campbell
2007 Fort Campbell
2006 Mercer County
2005 Russell
2004 Belfry
2003 Belfry
2002 Breathitt County
2001 Bardstown
2000 Boyle County
1999 Boyle County
1998 Caldwell County
1997 Bourbon County
1996 Breathitt County
1995 Breathitt County
1994 Danville
1993 Mayfield
1992 Danville
1991 Danville
1990 Fort Knox
1989 Danville
1988 Fort Knox
1987 Danville
1986 Mayfield
1985 Mayfield
1984 Newport Catholic
1983 Fort Knox
1982 Corbin
1981 Bardstown
1980 Corbin
1979 Fort Campbell
1978 Mayfield
1977 Mayfield
1976 Corbin
1975 Scott County
1974 Owensboro
1973 Paducah Tilghman
1972 Lexington Tates Creek
1971 Lexington Bryan Station
1970 Fort Thomas Highlands
1969 Elizabethtown
1968 Fort Thomas Highlands
1967 Ashland Paul Blazer
1966 Hopkinsville
1965 Hopkinsville
1964 Fort Thomas Highlands
1963 Caldwell County
1962 Danville
1961 Fort Thomas Highlands
1960 Fort Thomas Highlands
1959 Henderson

Previous reports from the 2014 2A playoffs:

-- Round of 32 preview and wrap

-- Round of 16

-- Round of eight preview and wrap

-- Semifinals preview and wrap

-- Championship preview

Kentucky High-school Football, Class 3A State Champs

Looking ahead to the big weekend in Bowling Green ...

State titles will be on the line in this stadium Fri. & Sat. We'll have coverage of Belfry, Williamsburg & Pulaski Co pic.twitter.com/UMzV0MDchT
— Tanner Hesterberg (@TannerWYMT) December 5, 2014

One last look back to Friday night in Belfry ...

And the last 10 seconds. pic.twitter.com/VahyldQguz
— Steven Carkeys Booth (@StevenBoothicus) November 29, 2014

And from 2012 ...

The last time central played belfry kinda ended like this.... #SameThingDifferentYear pic.twitter.com/1bIDdWp5nG
— Ed.. (@MuckMan_) December 4, 2014

"Mastery" ...

“@sports_cj: Central hopes to maintain mastery over Belfry http://t.co/BKazNF75V7 @kyhighs pic.twitter.com/jHrytumF7B” let's go Jackets
— George Browning (@GeorgeBrowning1) December 5, 2014

Central is 4-0 all-time against Belfry in Class 3-A state finals: 2012 - 12-6, OT 2011 - 15-14 2010 - 46-7 2007 - 27-17
— Jason Frakes (@kyhighs) December 5, 2014

Good morning ...

Game Day!!! #YellowJacketPride #GoGetSix
— Central Football (@LCYellowJacket) December 5, 2014

Safe travels to all you who waited til the morning of this morning's morning to head to this game.
— The BHS Student (@The_BHS_Student) December 5, 2014

Nearing kickoff ...

Hundreds of Belfry fans lined up outside L.T. Smith Stadium as the Pirates are one hour away from state title kickoff pic.twitter.com/Ky4AhLkAO8
— Tanner Hesterberg (@TannerWYMT) December 5, 2014

Pre-Game warmups! 38:00 minutes to kickoff! pic.twitter.com/YNBoiw0SUs
— Belfry High School (@belfryhigh) December 5, 2014

Inching closer and closer to game time! Five minutes to kickoff! pic.twitter.com/QiTAhDS2FL
— Lauren Cash (@LaurenWYMT) December 5, 2014

The Central Yellowjackets ready to take the field vs Belfry in the 2a championship pic.twitter.com/S1yJIQirTN
— John Lewis WDRB (@JohnWDRB) December 5, 2014

Belfry won the toss and have deferred. Central ball pic.twitter.com/T2lxIXOUvO
— Joe Kinzer (@JoeKinzer1) December 5, 2014

The defending champs raced out to a 14-0 lead ...

Some images I snapped of Belfry players/coaches/fans in the state title game going on right now. #PondCreekWest pic.twitter.com/AV1lglKVZn
— Tanner Hesterberg (@TannerWYMT) December 5, 2014

Midway through the second quarter, the 2010-12 champs pulled within 14-7 on a fumble-recovery return ...

Watch live | Central vs. Belfry in Class 3-A state football championship game http://t.co/Pdhtb2AaGT @kyhighs pic.twitter.com/tDitg1IGwN
— C-J Sports staff (@sports_cj) December 5, 2014

The score stayed the same into the fourth quarter ...

Belfry is in a dog fight with Central! 14-7 Belfry over Central in the 4th with 9:55 on the ckock @thehomers1027 pic.twitter.com/C4KHzHjuMY
— Kentucky HSSC (@KYHSSC) December 5, 2014

The Yellowjackets had a shot to tie on the game's final play ...

Congratulations, Belfry Pirates!

Back to back state champs. Congrats to the Belfry Pirates! pic.twitter.com/5YcO4BtWUk
— Tanner Hesterberg (@TannerWYMT) December 5, 2014

Kentucky High School Athletic Association Class 3A state champs:

2014 Belfry

2013 Belfry

2012 Louisville Central
2011 Louisville Central
2010 Louisville Central
2009 Paducah Tilghman
2008 Louisville Central
2007 Louisville Central
2006 Covington Catholic
2005 Lexington Catholic
2004 Fort Thomas Highlands
2003 Boyle County
2002 Boyle County
2001 Boyle County
2000 Fort Thomas Highlands
1999 Fort Thomas Highlands
1998 Fort Thomas Highlands
1997 Covington Catholic
1996 Fort Thomas Highlands
1995 Bowling Green
1994 Covington Catholic
1993 Covington Catholic
1992 Fort Thomas Highlands
1991 Bell County
1990 Ashland Paul Blazer
1989 Fort Thomas Highlands
1988 Covington Catholic
1987 Covington Catholic
1986 Owensboro
1985 Paducah Tilghman
1984 Danville
1983 Hebron Conner
1982 Fort Thomas Highlands
1981 Fort Thomas Highlands
1980 Franklin-Simpson
1979 Franklin-Simpson
1978 Russell
1977 Fort Thomas Highlands
1976 Erlanger Lloyd Memorial
1975 Fort Thomas Highlands
1974 Louisville Saint Xavier
1973 Louisville Trinity
1972 Louisville Trinity
1971 Louisville Flaget
1970 Louisville Butler
1969 Louisville Saint Xavier
1968 Louisville Trinity
1967 Louisville Flaget
1966 Louisville DuPont Manual
1965 Louisville Seneca
1964 Louisville Male
1963 Louisville Male
1962 Louisville Saint Xavier
1961 Louisville Flaget
1960 Louisville Male

1959 Louisville DuPont Manual

Previous reports from the 2014 3A playoffs:

-- Round of 32 preview and wrap

-- Round of 16

-- Round of eight preview and wrap

-- Semifinals preview and wrap

-- Championship preview

Oh, Kentucky

Good jobs news from Bowling Green, Hebron and Lexington.

Bad guard-rail news.

Judge to hold conference call in Eggner's Ferry Bridge lawsuit: http://t.co/lBwNiW72uJ #WPSD pic.twitter.com/SuAROxO2rw
— WPSD Local 6 (@WPSDLocal6) December 1, 2014

“I have always envisioned General Burnside Island being developed into a world-class resort destination.”

"It was an event that proved Hazard is not a little coal town gone bust."

Christmas parades are hot and heavy around the commonwealth. My wife and daughter and I got out to a bit of Owensboro's early-bird affair last Saturday, and it was grand. Ashland's, Bardstown's and Louisville's parades happened in the last few days, and now things are poised to really rock: Lexington, Dec. 2; Catlettsburg, Russell and Taylorsville; Dec. 4; Danville and Monticello, Dec. 5; Berea, Bowling Green, Cadiz, Calhoun, Columbia, Fordsville, Harlan, Island, Morganfield, Paducah, Shelbyville and Winchester, Dec. 6; Dawson Springs and Evarts, Dec. 7, and Benton, Livermore and Sacramento, Dec. 13. 

Kentucky High-school Football, Class 3A Round of Eight

Five of the eight teams in Friday's Class 3A regional finals played in last season's:

-- Paducah Augusta Tilghman won at home, 8-7, over Bowling Green South Warren.

-- Louisville Central lost at home, 17-7, to Wayne County.

-- Bourbon County won at home, 47-21, over Mason County.

-- Belfry won at home, 43-6, over Pike County Central and then went on to win the state championship.

Friday's Region 4 final at Belfry is the only rematch of a regular-season game this year. The champs won at Lawrence County, 34-19, on Oct. 17.

Previous reports:

-- Round of 32 preview and wrap

-- Round of 16

Kentucky High-school Football, Class 3A Round of 16

Class 3A might well not be done with the blowouts:

-- Adair County made this trip out to Paducah Augusta Tilghman and lost, 41-7, last season.

-- Trigg County is 7-4, but the Wildcats lost, 45-0, to Tilghman on Oct. 17. Bowling Green South Warren ended the season as the top-ranked team in the state.

-- Wayne County lost at Corbin, 48-7, on Oct. 3.

-- Bourbon County lost at Garrard County, 32-12, on Oct. 10.

-- Pike County Central lost at Belfry, 43-14, on Oct. 24.

Bell County at Louisville Central in Region 3 does not figure to be lopsided, however. Will the senior Bobcats who've been around for all three of the previous varsity seasons end at the hands of Central finally move past the Yellowjackets? In 2011, Central beat Bell, 26-0, in the regional championship. In 2012, Central won at Bell, 14-10, in the regional final. Last year, Central beat visiting Bell, 14-11, in this same, regional-semi round.

Previous reports:

-- Round of 32 preview and wrap

Kentucky High-school Football, Class 3A First-round Wrap

The pep rally worked!

After the first playoff win in Adair County football history! #Shurrell #ForBryant #TooProud pic.twitter.com/7ioC0iY8x2
— Adair Co. Pep Club (@ACHS_Pep_Club) November 8, 2014

The morning-after glow in ColumbiaMagazine.com, in a dispatch that has a bit of a telegraphy feel:

By Supt. Alan Reed 

Our school district and county can once again celebrate another source of pride with Coach Travis Gay and the football Indians first playoff victory in school history with last night's 35-31 win over Ft. Campbell Independent.

We are now 9-2 and will travel to Paducah Tilghman next Friday night, 14 Nov 2014. 

This football season to remember comes on the heels of the winningest baseball season in over two decades. 

Indian pride is at an all time high and I'd like to thank everyone for the support of our players and coaches! 

- ALAN REED, Superintendent

Wouldn't it been great if Supt. Reed had added "stop" at the end of each happy sentence?

And the fun just keeps happening in Columbia. Tomorrow evening, the Adair County High band is performing a public encore of Invictus : Defiant Dreams at Lindsey Wilson College.

"This is their way of saying thank you to the community for all your support throughout this years season," wrote Adair County School District Media Promotions Coordinator Shamarie Claiborne at ColumbiaMagaine.com. "It will also help them prepare for their final competition at the Bands of America National Championships. They leave for on Thursday, November 13, 2013. So please come out and enjoy the show."

Coordinator Claiborne has been steadily laying down the Adair-band 411 for us ColumbiaMagazine.com readers in recent days:

-- On Oct. 31, she provided a fantastic preview of the band's route from Adair County High's Raymond Lacy Music Building to Eastern Kentucky University's Roy Kidd Stadium for the Kentucky Music Educators Association Class 3A state final, as well as the schedule of competition once there.

-- From the road on Nov. 1, "We've had cold . . .we've have perfect sunshiny days. . . we ve had dreary days . . . and rainy days . . . but this is the first time I can remember SNOW on KMEA Marching Band Semi- & State Championship Day. I've heard there was snow in 1993 . . . anyone recall. The cellphone photo we sent (above) was taken between KY 80 & I-75 by Jera Kessler, who's riding in our unit of the ADAIR CONVOY. These kids have never performed in the snow - but I've seen them in all kind of weather. I KNOW they have it in them to win No. 21 for ADAIR County High."

-- A little later on Nov. 1, a reader confirmed, "Shamarie right: 1993 State finals had rain, sleet and snow."

-- Even after the marching Indians arrived in Richmond and had advanced through semi-state that day, Shamarie just kept right on coordinating promotions. "We're hoping a lot of ADAIR fans will join us here."

-- This is not heaven; no, it's Adair County. The Indians did not win their state championship; they finished second. The trophy went to Russell County. "Of course we had hoped for the championship at State," she said. "But we're cool that if it had to go to another school, it stayed so close to home."

Have I ever mentioned that I Have Seen the Future of Journalism, and One of Its Names Is ColumbiaMagazine.com™?

One more thing ... Shamarie noted this week that the football Indians call Adair County High's field, "Arrowhead Stadium."

Here are the first-round results from the Class 3A football tournament:

-- Monroe County 7 at Paducah Tilghman 33

-- Fort Campbell 31 at Adair County 35

-- Edmonson County 12 at Trigg County 32

-- Webster County 0 at Bowling Green South Warren 41

-- Casey County 7 at Louisville Central 48

-- Henry County 6 at Bell County 35

-- Wayne County 33 at Elizabethtown 27

-- LaRue County 13 at Corbin 42

-- West Carter 36 at Garrard County 52

-- Bourbon County 34 at Fleming County 13

-- Mason County 35 at Estill County 37

-- Frankfort Western Hills 16 at Russell 37

-- Inez Sheldon Clark 26 at Magoffin County 34

-- Morgan County 6 at Lawrence County 61

-- Pike County Central 48 at Breathitt County 14

-- Jackson County 6 at Belfry 49

And here's the updated bracket.