Oh, Kentucky

Back to school? Yes, with social distancing, face coverings, health screenings, sanitation and contact tracing.

Back to baseball? Yes, at Brooks Stadium starting Monday with a league of two.

Upon further Fancy Farm review ... picnicking, yes; political speaking, no. Posted the priest, per The Mayfield Messenger: "The parish of St. Jerome has been in existence for 184 years. During those 184 years, the people have lived and prayed through times of drought, wars, pandemics, times of plenty and times of scarcity and have held steady to the faith and depended on God's providence. We will continue to do the same in our time and in the future."

Expanded racial-bias training for officers and community policing were said to be among the topics of discussion at a second closed unity meeting in Paducah, report Abisola Adeyemo and Mason Watkins of Channel 6.

The state attorney general: "Strong, empowered communities and safe policing are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they must go hand-in-hand in order for the Commonwealth to thrive."

The state ag commissioner: "We must do something to ensure rural Kentucky get its fair shake at connectivity."

The governor: "In Kentucky, we’re going to reopen and rebuild our economy even stronger than it was before COVID-19."

Drive-through hiring today in Lebanon, for Marion and Washington counties.

Oh, Kentucky

Oh, Kentucky

Catching up ...

Christmas20 parades: Versailles, Dec. 5.

Oh, Kentucky

"The E. Starling Holloway Insuror of the Year Award is given to an individual who has made a significant contribution, enhanced the ideals and reputation of the insurance industry, or has made a significant contribution to his community, state and country." Congratulations to 2019-winner James England of Pikeville, who is said to exemplify "the characteristics of E. Starling Holloway" (of Madisonville).

And congratulations to Russell County Public Library Director Lindsey Westerfield. It's a bear to get a new public library open, and the director bears the bulk of the burden.

Speaking of "The Best Town on Earth," filing deadline for the city council is Jan. 10, and no one has filed for any of the six seats.

In nine of Kentucky's 120 counties, more registered voters did vote than did not in last month's gubernatorial election: Anderson, Franklin, Graves, Hancock, McLean, Metcalfe, Shelby, Washington and Woodford. And turnout was higher than in more than two decades. Very interesting report from Perry Bacon Jr. and Josh Poe in Louisville's LEO Weekly.

President Trump's nominee for the alternate to the U.S. ambassador to the UN (a Kentuckian) is a Kentuckian.

Aaron Mudd in The Bowling Green Daily News quotes the WKU Faculty Senate budget-and-finance chair: "We are no longer cutting fat. We are removing vital organs" (#RockSolidJournalismObservations).

I love me some minimally-invasive transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and I'm thrilled to read that it's now being offered at Baptist Health Paducah (in addition to at UK HealthCare).

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,  romley/Ludlow, Brownsville, Cadiz, Calvert City, Carlisle, Clinton, Columbia, Corbin, Cynthiana, Danville, Frankfort, Glasgow, Grayson, Greenville, Hawesville, Henderson, Horse Cave, Inez, Lawrenceburg, Leitchfield, Lexington, Madisonville, Marion, Middlesboro, Morgantown, Munfordville, Murray, Owingsville, Paducah, Prestonsburg, 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, Campbellsville, Cave City, Elkton, Franklin, Louisa, Mayfield, Providence, Williamsburg and Woodburn, Dec. 14, and Tollesboro, Dec. 15.

Oh, Kentucky

On the Babies 'R Us transformation in Florence.

On the Patti's comeback in Grand Rivers.

On the Christmas-decor redo debut in Columbia.

Fiber to the (Princeton) home.

Good jobs news from Berea, Erlanger, Hopkinsville and Maysville. Bad from Ashland and Shelbyville. False hope in Inez.

Turning to sports, Franklin County High's Benny Watkins Field will be under scrutiny Friday night; Martha Layne Collins High celebrates its first Division I hoops signees, and Season 4 for the SoKY Ice Rink is afoot.

Christmas parades: Sharpsburg, Nov. 9; Owensboro, Nov. 23; Boyce, Dawson Springs and Murray, Dec. 1; Bardstown, Dec. 5; Harrodsburg, Hopkinsville and Monticello, Dec. 6; Berea, Bowling Green, Calvert City, Danville, Frankfort, Glasgow, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Lexington, Madisonville, Paducah, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Trenton, Versailles and Whitley City, Dec. 7; Georgetown, Dec. 8; Cave City, Dec. 10, and Burnside, Elkton and Williamsburg, Dec. 14.

Oh, Kentucky

Chuck E. Cheese is ready to blow our minds, in Lexington.

CDT and EDT all of the T?

Frenchburg's city employees get a raise.

Allen's hiring.

Russell County Public Library is on the move.

LBL appears headed for its first from-helicopters, feral-hog shoot.

Turning to sports, the University of the Cumberlands has landed a key reserve on Mercer County's #khsgbk17 and #khsbbk18 state champs, and the Clinton County Bulldogs claim their first-ever #khsfb-playoffs win.

Christmas parades: Sharpsburg, Nov. 9; Owensboro, Nov. 23; Boyce, Dawson Springs and Murray, Dec. 1; Bardstown, Dec. 5; Harrodsburg, Hopkinsville and Monticello, Dec. 6; Berea, Bowling Green, Calvert City, Danville, Frankfort, Glasgow, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Lexington, Madisonville, Paducah, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Trenton, Versailles and Whitley City, Dec. 7; Georgetown, Dec. 8; Cave City, Dec. 10, and Burnside, Elkton and Williamsburg, Dec. 14.

Oh, Kentucky

The Christian Science Monitor goes to Salt Lick, Sandy Hook, West Liberty, etc. in eastern Kentucky to gaze at the curiosity of registered Democrats who are likely to vote again for President Trump ("they all said 'yes,' and they all said 'yes' emphatically") and probably Sen. McConnell ("will likely be fine").

Terri Bradshaw's plan for Mercer County economic development: Go deep ... well, ... more accurately, wide.

A 112th LaRue County Fair is happening, after all.

Good jobs news from Versailles.

Frankfort/Danville/Louisville/Lexington/Millville 2019: Aug. 15-Sept. 15.

Oh, Kentucky

"In Letcher County, 12.6 percent of homeowners are considered severely housing cost-burdened, up from 8.3 percent in 2010. A significant part of that is the cost of energy. ... 'I’ve seen bills as high as $1,400 to $1,600 a month.'" Great, comprehensive report on the impact and future of energy inefficiencies/efficiencies in Appalachia from Sydney Boles of Ohio Valley ReSource and WFPL.

You best slow your roll on I-71 in Oldham County.

Alles Brothers Furniture is back, in Henderson.

"What do you love when you love Jesus? These two questions will guide our exploration into 'The Politics of Jesus,'" next week at Lexington Theological Seminary.

More from the Cartwright/Taylor nuptials: Us Weekly has the 411 on the newlyweds' trip to Drip Rock.

WBKR's pictures from the Matthew's Table worship on the grounds of the Daviess County Detention Center are especially interesting.

Rest in peace, Mr. Hoover, “probably the most civic minded person in the history of Corbin” and the local Pepsi person.

Oh, Kentucky

A former EKU cheerleader who grew up in Winchester was working at a Las Vegas Hooters, where she met a model. They started dating. Then he got a job as a server at a restaurant featured in a Bravo reality-TV series. Then the guy and the woman from Winchester ended up getting their own Bravo spinoff, and on Saturday they got married at the Kentucky Castle in Versailles. People has exclusive photos and coverage--including details such as that former 'NSYNC performer Lance Bass officiated and that rentals were provided by Bryant's Rent-all of Lexington. "Mr. Vernon Bryant started in the rental business in Lexington, Kentucky in 1953, as a United Rent-All franchise store. His store was located at 531 South Limestone, just opposite the University of Kentucky. This was the first equipment rental store in central Kentucky. The telephone book did not have 'rental' as a heading at the time, so Mr. Bryant was the first business under that heading."

A mechanic decided to shift to law enforcement in 1957. He retired Friday from the Campbell County Sheriff's Office.

Hazard's new police department is an old McDonald's.

The U.S. Postal Service says Louisville's Girard Drive has gone to the dogs, and so they aren't going there for now.

Good jobs news from Wurtland.

World's largest pocketknife, in Radcliff.

"That's OK if you don’t believe in it, but it’s all about everybody being treated fairly." Shamarria Morrison has an interesting feature on Paducah's "safe spaces" for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or sexual-identity-questioning people.

Christmas parades: Dawson Springs and Murray, Dec. 1; Hopkinsville, Dec. 6, and Henderson and Scottsville, Dec. 7.

Oh, Kentucky

Perry County's fifth-annual fair drew record numbers, and organizers in part credit the new sea-lion show and world-class juggler. Katie Kelley provides a happy recap in the Hazard Herald.

Gina Kinslow of the Glasgow Daily Times delivers a similarly entertaining report from the outset of the Barren County Fair: "Some of my fondest memories are here. My whole family works all week and all my friends I've grown up with are here."

Logan and Woodford, too.

Factoring poverty, percentage of adults with bachelor’s degrees and life expectancy, USA TODAY and its 24/7 Wall Street content partner identified McCreary as the worst in which to live of Kentucky's 100 counties with population of at least 10,000.

I had no idea Kentucky has designs on making itself the nation's "Sandbox" for beta-testing "innovative products, processes, methods or procedures relating to the sale, solicitation, negotiation, fulfillment, administration or use" for the "InsurTech" industries, but I am intrigued.

Louisa--Taco Bell territory since 1995--is getting a first-of-its-kind "Explorer" prototype store with multiple levels, self-serve kiosks and two fireplaces.

Good jobs and (intriguing healthcare/mall) news from South Williamson.

Pink Lily's community impact in Bowling Green has been hailed nationally.

The Hacks Crossroad Market facelift is complete, and the Butler County store is grandly reopened (and serving homemade cheesecake).

More shelter for the animals at the Bell County Animal Shelter, thanks to someone's inheritance gift and  volunteer labor from Bell County Area Technology Center carpentry students.

Hiring in Clinton, Mayfield and Paducah (maybe you could be Channel 6's next meteorologist!).

Christmas parades: Murray, Dec. 1; Hopkinsville, Dec. 6, and Henderson and Scottsville, Dec. 7.

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

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

As previously reported, the Madisonville-North Hopkins High Maroons fell short of winning the Kentucky High School Athletic Association boys' basketball championship. It would've been their first. The Maroons made their first Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1938, when my dad was still a student (and cheerleader!), and they've gone 15 times since, but they've never won. Warren Central High of Bowling Green came from way behind in the second half to beat Madisonville-North Hopkins in Friday's second round, 66-62.

My daughter and I joined about three dozen folks in the gym at our First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and watched the KHSAA's live stream projected on a wall. There was popcorn, cookies and soft drinks, and it was a blast, even given the result. First Presbyterian had put on a similar viewing for Thursday night's first-round win, and there were several other organizations that hosted viewing parties around town for those of us who did not make the trip to Rupp Arena.

The Sweet Sixteen--oh, you asked, and the answer is that some years it has been in Lexington and some years in Louisville--really is a heck of a lot of fun, particularly when your own town is in it. I'm thankful for all of players, coaches, students, teachers, administrators, officials, sponsors, journalists, broadcasters, road builders, tax takers, etc. who all make it possible for me and the rest of us to enjoy it. And I'm looking forward to following the girls' tournament this week. Congratulations to the Trinity High Shamrocks of Saint Matthews, the 1929 Heath Pirates of West Paducah and all of the other #khsbbk champs over the years:

• 1918 Lexington (Henry Clay)
• 1919 Lexington (Henry Clay)
• 1920 Lexington (Henry Clay)
• 1921 Louisville duPont Manual
• 1922 Lexington
• 1923 Louisville duPont Manual
• 1924 Lexington
• 1925 Louisville duPont Manual
• 1926 Louisville Saint Xavier
• 1927 Millersburg Military Institute
• 1928 Ashland (Blazer)
• 1929 West Paducah Heath!
• 1930 Corinth
• 1931 Louisville duPont Manual
• 1932 Hazard
• 1933 Ashland (Blazer)
• 1934 Ashland (Blazer)
• 1935 Louisville Saint Xavier
• 1936 Corbin
• 1937 Midway
• 1938 Sharpe
• 1939 Brooksville
• 1940 Hazel Green
• 1941 Inez
• 1942 Lexington Lafayette
• 1943 Hindman
• 1944 Harlan
• 1945 Louisville Male
• 1946 Breckinridge Training
• 1947 Marysville
• 1948 Brewers
• 1949 Owensboro
• 1950 Lexington Lafayette
• 1951 Clark County
• 1952 Cuba
• 1953 Lexington Lafayette
• 1954 Inez
• 1955 Hazard
• 1956 Carr Creek
• 1957 Lexington Lafayette
• 1958 Louisville Saint Xavier
• 1959 Calvert City North Marshall
• 1960 Louisville Flaget
• 1961 Ashland (Blazer)
• 1962 Louisville Saint Xavier
• 1963 Louisville Seneca
• 1964 Louisville Seneca
• 1965 Breckinridge County
• 1966 Shelby County
• 1967 Earlington
• 1968 Glasgow
• 1969 Louisville Central
• 1970 Louisville Male
• 1971 Louisville Male
• 1972 Owensboro
• 1973 Louisville Shawnee
• 1974 Louisville Central
• 1975 Louisville Male
• 1976 Edmonson County
• 1977 Louisville Ballard
• 1978 Shelby County
• 1979 Lexington Lafayette
• 1980 Owensboro
• 1981 Independence Simon Kenton
• 1982 Laurel County
• 1983 Lexington Henry Clay
• 1984 Logan County
• 1985 Hopkinsville
• 1986 Pulaski County
• 1987 Clay County
• 1988 Louisville Ballard
• 1989 Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park
• 1990 Louisville Fairdale
• 1991 Louisville Fairdale
• 1992 Hopkinsville University Heights
• 1993 Marion County
• 1994 Louisville Fairdale 59
• 1995 Breckinridge County
• 1996 Paintsville
• 1997 Middletown Eastern
• 1998 Scott County
• 1999 Louisville Ballard
• 2000 Elizabethtown
• 2001 Lexington Lafayette
• 2002 Lexington Catholic 83
• 2003 Mason County
• 2004 Bowling Green Warren Central
• 2005 London South Laurel
• 2006 Jeffersontown
• 2007 Scott County
• 2008 Mason County
• 2009 Covington Holmes
• 2010 Pikeville Shelby Valley
• 2011 Christian County
• 2012 Louisville Trinity
• 2013 Richmond Madison Central
• 2014 Covington Catholic
• 2015 Owensboro
• 2016 Lexington Paul L. Dunbar
• 2017 Bowling Green
• 2018 Covington Catholic
• 2019 Louisville Trinity

You also asked about hemp in areas of the state beyond central Kentucky. Just in 2019 so far, I've seen reports of business activity around the crop in Bon Ayr, Cave City, Cynthiana, Glasgow, Jenkins, Kevil, Madisonville and Mayfield, so that's southern, southern, northern, southern, eastern, western, midwestern and western Kentucky. Indeed, AerosourceH, the hemp outfit in Ballard County, held an open house Saturday and announced a second wave of expansion that it says is expected to entail 14 more full-time jobs. “The Bluegrass State continues to lead the way in revolutionizing the hemp industry, and AerosourceH is one of many Kentucky companies finding early success in this emerging market,” Gov. Bevin said in a state press release with an unusual weekend wiring. “As this crop takes root nationwide, the commonwealth’s efforts to set the table for economic prosperity are already paying dividends. We congratulate AerosourceH on its rapid growth, and we look forward to more success stories in the years ahead.”

Billy Kobin of The Courier-Journal delivers a rock-solid accounting of how a Paducah Olive Garden server's alertness quickly led to a child-abuse arrest in Tennessee.

I had no idea that Etown is a hub of Kentucky dog-show planning.

Oh, Kentucky

Clarence Glover Court!

Will twin bridges both survive, or be tolled? Hearings coming up https://t.co/KLO6EjnITl pic.twitter.com/7o68cYyGZ5

— The Gleaner (@TheGleanerNews) January 4, 2019

Beware of bears in Dwale.

Unemployment is highest in Magoffin, lowest in Woodford and below 10 percent in all 120 Kentucky counties.

Bad jobs news for Pikeville/good for Morehead.

The sale of Marion's hospital is complete, and The Crittenden Press reports that the deal stipulates that 36 services must continue to be offered locally for at least three years.

Christmas18 parades: Owensboro, Nov. 17; Ashland, Nov. 20; Brownsville, Nov. 24; Cumberland and Fredonia, Nov. 30; Arlington, Barbourville, Berea, Cadiz, Calvert City, Carlisle, Clinton, Columbia, Hawesville, Jenkins, Lawrenceburg, Leitchfield, Lewisport, Madisonville, Marion, Murray, Paducah, Somerset and Whitley City, Dec. 1; Bowling Green, Dawson Springs (great play-by-play here on the planning and execution from the local Progress), Glasgow and Salyersville, Dec. 2; Lexington, Dec. 4; Bardstown and Greenup, Dec. 6; Frankfort, Maysville, Monticello, Perryville, Richmond and Smiths Grove, Dec. 7; Benton, Elkton, Eubank, Harlan, Hopkinsville, Horse Cave, Loretto, Louisa, Middlesboro, Munfordville, Quality, Pikeville, Prestonsburg and Stamping Ground, Dec. 8; Grayson, Dec. 11; Whitesburg, Dec. 14; Burnside, La Center, Manchester, Neon and Rabbit Hash, Dec. 15.

Oh, Kentucky

Santa's House will be open Dec. 8, 9, 15, 16, and 22, 1-4:30 pm on the Historic Courthouse Lawn in downtown #MadisonvilleKY. https://t.co/qK1CrEa29G pic.twitter.com/z2nhGLyAeu

— Hopkins Co Tourism (@HCTourism) December 5, 2018

 

Christmas parades: Owensboro, Nov. 17; Ashland, Nov. 20; Brownsville, Nov. 24; Cumberland and Fredonia, Nov. 30; Arlington, Barbourville, Berea, Cadiz, Calvert City, Carlisle, Clinton, Columbia, Hawesville, Jenkins, Lawrenceburg, Leitchfield, Lewisport, Madisonville, Marion, Murray, Paducah (congratulations to Paducah McCracken Composite Mountain Bike team, Highland Cumberland Presbyterian Church, MelRhea Balloons, Paducah Middle School, Tornado Cheer Squad, Paducah Tilghman High School Band of Balloon and all of the other entries), Somerset and Whitley City, Dec. 1; Bowling Green, Dawson Springs, Glasgow and Salyersville, Dec. 2; Lexington, Dec. 4; Bardstown (grandly marshaled by Bethlehem High School) and Greenup, Dec. 6; Frankfort (entries to be judged on how well they bring "The Songs of Christmas" to life), Monticello and Richmond, Dec. 7; Benton, Elkton, Eubank, Harlan, Hopkinsville, Horse Cave, Louisa, Munfordville and Stamping Ground, Dec. 8; Whitesburg, Dec. 14; Burnside, La Center, Manchester and Neon, Dec. 15.

Bad jobs news from Versailles.

What's next for the Springfield's old Saint Catharine College? The Mount Sterling company that bought it at auction isn't yet ready to say.

I'm excited to learn of the USK mascot and colors.

Many reportedly felt this performance of "The Wiz" could, indeed, be beaten. (Excellent reconstruction of the story by Thomas Novelly in The Courier-Journal.)