Oh, Kentucky

Good jobs news from Covington and Fort Mitchell.

Harrodsburg is getting a new convenience store (in an old motorcycle shop); Madisonville, a new steakhouse (in an old steakhouse), and Columbia, a new lumber company (expanded from Indiana).

A refurb for Corbin's Sanders Café is afoot.

A re-treeing of downtown Frankfort is eyed.

Mostly positive reviews for Year 1 of motorized-scooter rentals in Louisville.

"A History of Native Americans in Kentucky," Thursday at the McCracken County Public Library, from WKU’s Kentucky Archaeological Survey (since 1995). 

Christmas parades: Sharpsburg, Nov. 9; Owensboro, Nov. 23; Lebanon and Louisville, Nov. 29; 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, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Lexington, Madisonville, Middlesboro, Murray, Owingsville, Paducah, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Trenton, Versailles and Whitley City, Dec. 7; Georgetown, Dec. 8; Cave City, Dec. 10; Burkesville, Burnside, Elkton and Williamsburg, Dec. 14, and Tollesboro, Dec. 15.

Oh, Kentucky

Winchester Sun columnist/Lexington IT-professional Pete Koutoulas: "As long as we have families living in our streets, hungry and sick, there are battles to be won. As long as there are people among us who lack access to health care, there are battles to be won. As long as we continue to treat families seeking refuge within our borders as criminals, there are battles to be won. As long as there are any in this land who are not sharing in the blessings of liberty, there are battles to be won."

"Chant for Peace," etc., for free, in Louisville.

The co-convener of the Northern Kentucky Poor People's Campaign reports in from the Moral Action Congress.

It's almost back-to-school time, and that means grind time for the Kentucky Refugees Ministries Summer Youth Program. 

Madisonville's 75-year-old bed-building, football-and-cheerleading-boosting and scholarship-providing Rotary Club is on the grow.

Two-year state study ending last year: Heroin, opioids and cocaine, down; methamphetamine and fentanyl, up.

Meanwhile, in Floyd County, "the drugs have took over." And, in Martin County, it'll be a sheriff's office of one, starting next month.

Jennifer P. Brown reports in The Hoptown Chronicle on an Iraq war veteran has opened a barber shop in downtown Hopkinsville. He plans to put in a putting green, and, in addition to $24 per, he's offering two years of once-every-three-weeks haircuts for $1,000.

Julianna Leach in the Grayson Journal-Enquirer has a feature on a Carter County native who studied dance at Morehead State, got a gig on a Carnival Cruise and then felt an urge to come home and open her own studio. "If there is a girl or boy that wants to dance, I want to make sure they can."

Keith Lawrence in The Messenger-Inquirer tells the story of "Chef Red," who as a single mom at age 20 learned healthcare wasn't for her, moved off to go to culinary school and has come back to Owensboro to open a healthy-meals-to-go provider. "The reason we eat fast food is because it's convenient. So, healthy food should be too."

The spirit(s) of the Graham Nighthawks live on.

And the animal-rendering stench in Metcalfe County ...?

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

Good (steel) jobs news from Coalton.

Freeze warnings are creeping into Kentucky forecasts, and the Barren County Detention Center lobby remains available to folks who need a place to stay overnight. The jailer "kept it open all summer, actually. We had some coming and going, and we actually had a woman and some kids stay up there a couple of nights. (Homelessness is) still prevalent. It's still out there and we're doing what we can to help them." I'm always impressed with a good meeting story, and Melinda J. Overstreet has a good one about the Barren County Fiscal Court in the Glasgow Daily Times. My favorite sentence is the last of her story: "The entire meeting, including the time for the roll call, prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, was just shy of 15 minutes."

“The wealthiest Kentuckians benefit the most from our growing economy, and by a widening margin,” Kentucky Center for Economic Policy Senior Policy Analyst Anna Baumann said. “It would be reasonable for them to pay a little more in taxes, according to their ability, for the investments that benefit us all. But instead, we have been cutting their taxes, cutting investments in our schools and community based services, and leaning more heavily on middle- and low-income Kentuckians.”

Re-org at Papa John's.

Recovery at Goodfellas.

A fresh start in Madisonville.

I've never been to one, but I'm always interested in these auctions of stuff confiscated by the state government. It's fun, for example, to imagine myself becoming a jon-boat guy.

Rest in peace, Sen. Huddleston, a Cumberland County native and World War II veteran who moved town to town up and down the dial of Kentucky radio stations before going to Washington and eventually being felled by 1984 "Switch! To! Mitch!" fervor at Fancy Farm and elsewhere.

Oh, Kentucky

If the board of directors won't go for the HP's conversion to an AFFL betting site, maybe it would consider becoming a journal of I-69 expansion across southwestern Kentucky.

Sixty Kentucky Air National Guard members arrived home to Louisville from the Persian Gulf on Independence Day.

Good jobs news from Jamestown.

What's next for Russell's old Y?

What's new with Hoptown's Alhambra?

"If they don't do what we want, we need to vote them out."

Rest in peace, Alan Onkst, "a true ambassador for the City of Corbin."

Oh, Kentucky

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

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

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

Paducah has a new Dairy Queen. 

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

Oh, Kentucky

Christmas parades: Benton, Burnside, Cave City, Edmonton, Elkton, Livermore, McKee, Nicholasville, Princeton, Quality and Sacramento, today; Auburn, Central City and Edmonton, Dec. 14; Lewisburg, Dec. 19, and Rabbit Hash, Dec. 20.

Good jobs news from Warsaw. Unsettling from Henderson, Morganfield and Sturgis.

"On Main Streets Across Kentucky ... It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas," per the Kaintuckeean.

"My dad may have had a simple message and not very eloquent of speech, but he spoke Christian without having to say a word. That’s the language we should all learn to speak. And if Christianity is a term you’re not comfortable affiliating yourself with maybe the simplistic message of a true Christian would be more fitting which is, goodwill toward all. I fully understand there will be philosophical and doctrinal differences between just about every church, tabernacle, mosque or other houses of worship, even some of the same denomination. We must learn and understand that it is OK to agree to disagree and still love each other regardless. Yes, my dad was a serpent handler. I am proud of that and hope to carry that tradition on throughout the rest of my life." Rest in peace, Pastor Fields.

Kentucky High-school Football, Third Round of Playoffs

In honor of tonight's resumption of the KHSAA football playoffs, here's a holdover from #ThrowbackThursday.

#throwbackthursday http://t.co/5mtJ0itwR0 Jetton Junior High cheerleaders
— Paducah Schools (@bluetornado1) November 21, 2013

Class A

Russellville (10-2, No. 3) at Mayfield (11-1, No. 1, defending state champ)

Fort Mitchell Beechwood (8-4, No. 5) at Frankfort (10-2, No. 7)

Hazard (11-1, No. 6) at Williamsburg (9-2, No. 10)

Pikeville (11-1, No. 2) at Raceland-Worthington (10-2, No. 4)

It feels like this tournament finally starts tonight. 

Mayfield doubled Russellville's score when those two teams played in the regular season and had to come back from 14-0 down to do it. The Panthers feel like they squandered their opportunity in that game. We'll see.

Now two years ago, Hazard came out of the eastern side of the bracket and beat Mayfield in the championship, so I'd be interested in seeing Pikeville tonight. The good news is that I could--at iHigh.com, along with several others of these games for which they plan to have live streams tonight.

Here's the Raceland-Worthington High Rams fight song, by the way:

On, On Raceland High, 

We are right for the fight tonight, 

Hold that ball and hit that line, 

Every Raceland Boy will shine, 

We'll fight, fight, fight for our colors bright, 

and we'll march to that old victory, 

We will kick, pass and run til' the battle is won, 

and 

BRING HOME THE VICTORY!

I really love it that most school fight songs seem to be primarily about football.

Class 2A

Murray (8-4) at Caldwell County (12-0, No. 1)

Louisville DeSales (11-1, No. 3) at Christian Academy of Louisville (10-1, No. 2)

Newport Central Catholic (8-4, No. 6, defending state champ) at Warsaw Gallatin (10-2)

Somerset (7-4) at Prestonsburg (7-5)

This tournament has been great, and I expect it to continue being so tonight. Ricky Martin writes in the Murray Ledger & Times that the Tigers are focused on snuffing big plays from Caldwell County's Elijah Sindelar, and Jason Frakes of The Courier-Journal likes DeSales in a close win at CAL, whose quarterback, Nathan Christmas, is hurt.

I learned just now that the high school in Warsaw does not call itself "Gallatin County High School"--it's just "Gallatin High School." Also, whoever's writing the school announcements probably might say their Wildcats and NewCath are playing tonight for a regional "pennant."

Football Team play Newport Central Catholic Play-offs

Class 3A

Bowling Green South Warren (11-1, T4) at Paducah Tilghman (7-5, No. 9)

Wayne County (12-0, No. 1) at Louisville Central (9-3, T4, defending state champ)

Mason County (12-0, No. 6) at Bourbon County (12-0, No. 3)

Pike County Central (7-5) at Belfry (11-1, No. 2)

GoHeath has already moved on to next week, but JFrakes of The C-J doesn't think the three-time defending champ is going to join him there.

Tonight at Tilghman would be the biggest win ever for South Warren.

Cane ridge would like to wish the football team good luck tonight ! 🏈 #BeatMason pic.twitter.com/PlJyDcy0Yf
— courtney craycraft (@_courtneyraye) November 22, 2013

Class 4A

Franklin-Simpson (8-4) at Owensboro (9-3, No. 8)

Goshen North Oldham (9-3) at Shelbyville Martha Layne Collins (10-2, No. 5)

Mercer County (8-4) at Lexington Catholic (9-3, No. 6)

Covington Catholic (10-2, No. 4) at Fort Thomas Highlands (11-1, No. 1, defending state champ)

"Some people," like me, believe tonight is just another speed bump on the Highlands inevitability parade continues, but the Bluebirds' coaches are trying to make sure no one looks past rival CovCath.

Franklin-Simpson's uniforms are fantastic, and "Eli Hurt" is a perfect name for a linebacker.

Mercer County looked pretty good last Friday, too:

@clayphoto got Mercer players as final horn sounded in their 31-30 thriller over Boyle County tonight pic.twitter.com/Or3Q9jjd60
— Vaughts' Views (@vaughtsviews) November 16, 2013

Class 5A

Bowling Green (11-0, No. 1, defending state champ) at Graves County (10-2, No. 10)
Mount Washington Bullitt East (11-1, No. 8) at Elizabethtown John Hardin (10-2, No. 3)
Franklin County (11-1, No. 6) at Anderson County (10-2, No. 5)
Berea Madison Southern (10-1, No. 4) at Pulaski County (12-0, No. 2)

Playing in its first-ever regional championship, Graves County gets a chance to spoil the Bowling Green coronation. 

#GameDay #BeatBowlingGreen pic.twitter.com/MsqGsoIyOE
— Graves Co. Football (@GCFootballGC) November 22, 2013

Mike Fields notes in the Lexington Herald-Leader that Anderson County is in a regional championship for the fifth time and that Mark Peach has coached the Bearcats in three of them and played for them in one (1987). 

Class 6A

Cecilia Central Hardin (11-1, No. 8) at Meade County (10-2, No. 9)
Independence Simon Kenton (12-0, No. 3) at Louisville Butler (10-2)

Louisville Trinity (6-5, No. 5, defending state champ) at Louisville Male (11-1, No. 2)

Lexington Henry Clay (9-2, No. 10) at Scott County (12-0, No. 1)

Suddenly, of course, I've lost most all interest in the 6A tournament, but I hear the Blandville NJPRSS Eagles are looking strong for 2014.

The application allows one to follow no more than 2,000 feeds at a time, so the Twitter desk this morning unfollowed @MCHammer (A's season is over) so that it could start following @SKHSFootball.

Louisville Butler is 98.2 miles from SK. Just a 1 & 1/2 hour drive. Let's fill up their stadium! #pioneernation
— SK Pioneers Football (@SKHSFootball) November 17, 2013

Previous reports:

-- 2012 wrap;

-- Week 0 roundup and GoHeath's western-Kentucky wrap and lookahead to Week 1;

-- Week 1 roundup and GoHeath's western-Kentucky wrap and lookahead to Week 2;

-- Week 2 roundup and GoHeath's western-Kentucky wrap and lookahead to Week 3;

-- Week 3 roundup and GoHeath's western-Kentucky wrap and lookahead to Week 4;

-- Week 4 roundup and GoHeath's western-Kentucky wrap and lookahead to Week 5;

-- Week 5 roundup and GoHeath's western-Kentukcy wrap and lookahead to Week 6;

-- Week 6 roundup and GoHeath's western-Kentucky wrap and lookahead to Week 7;

-- Week 7 roundup and GoHeath's western-Kentucky wrap, standings and lookahead to Week 8;

-- Week 8 roundup and GoHeath's western-Kentucky wrap, standings and lookahead to Week 9;

-- Week 9 roundup and GoHeath's western-Kentucky wrap, standings and lookahead to Week 10;

-- Week 10 roundup and GoHeath's western-Kentucky wrap, standings and lookahead to the first round of the playoffs;

-- first-round roundup and GoHeath's western-Kentucky wrap and lookahead to the second round, and

-- second-round roundup.

Oh, Kentucky

On the other hand, it was actually cool enough early yesterday morning that I put on a jacket before going out to the backyard to do some reading.

One of the things I read yesterday morning was most of last week's edition of The Messenger, the local paper. Here's some of what I learned: Wayne Otsuka has won re-election as president of the Hopkins County Art League. He's a Chicago native who moved to Madisonville to work for General Electric, from which he has subsequently retired. The treasurer is Joyce James, who painted a lake scene that we proudly display in our home. ... Father's Country Hams of Bremen is hiring a part-timer who "must be able to lift 60lbs (to) shoulder height. Meat Cutting Experience preferred Clean up after processing day ends." ... "Willie" Marie Cates Herron Hayes died Saturday at Colonial Terrace Nursing Home in Sebree. She was 99, treasurer of the Palmer Place Sunday School Class at Providence First Baptist Church and the last surviving member of Providence High's 1928 girls' basketball team that competed in the state tournament. ... A 27-year employee of the local Captain D's has recently moved on. Sandy Ziegler, who started her career there as a cashier in high school and left as general manager, moved on to a more predictable work schedule at Carhartt.

Turning to the sports, let's look at pickleball.

Not enough soccer players? Wow.

Kentucky's reigning "Mr. Baseball" is becoming a Blue Jay, after all.

Country ham really is so excellent.

Meanwhile, dairywise, ...

Go ahead. Make fun of press releases. I certainly used to. And then I learned that writing them and getting them approved and wired is not as easy as it would seem.

Rest in peace, Calvert City's Pansy Story, one of Florsheim's "makers of fine shoes for men and women."

Good jobs news from Hebron, Lexington and Warsaw.

Badget Playhouse of Grand Rivers is on my short list of places I want to soon go. (So is Barbara Mandrell's Fontanel Mansion.)

That said, our next trip out of town for entertainment is likely to be to Murray.

Oh, Kentucky

Medal of Honor for a Columbia man!

One for a Martin woman, too!

Paducah-based CSI is on the grow.

Good jobs news from Hopkinsville and Owensboro.

Cumberland Falls State Park needs your support.

Congratulations, Elmo Guy, et al.

Ah-most.

More from the mural desk!

Graffiti, yes. Gangs, no.

Vampire Virgins in Horse Cave.

"Listen to the Music" free; "Bird" grounded; Kansas to "Carry On."

I didn't know that the nation's last public execution was in Owensboro.

RIP, Mr. Broadbent, part of Kentucky's country-ham dynasty.

One and done: Girls' round of 32

Get your shoe polish early today, because window decorating begins tonight as 15 communities around the commonwealth (Florence and Newport have to wait until tomorrow) learn their local girls' basketball teams are headed to the KHSAA state tournament.

Today's games:

First Region, at Murray State University--Calloway County vs. Murray

Second Region, at Livingston Central High School--Christian County vs. Crittenden County

Third Region, at Owensboro Sportscenter--Owensboro Catholic vs. Grayson County

Fourth Region, at Western Kentucky University--Bowling Green vs. Monroe County

Fifth Region--Elizabethtown at Marion County

Sixth Region, at Bellarmine University--Louisville Butler vs. Bullitt East

Seventh Region, at Bellarmine University--Louisville Mercy vs. Louisville DuPont Manual

Eighth Region, at Gallatin County High School--Walton-Verona vs. Anderson County

10th Region, at Bourbon County High School--Winchester George Rogers Clark at Montgomery County

11th Region, at Eastern Kentucky University--Scott County vs. Madison Central

12th Region, at Pulaski County High School--Casey County vs. Rockcastle County

13th Region, at Corbin--South Laurel vs. Clay County

14th Region, at Jenkins--Perry County Central vs. Leslie County

15th Region, at Pikeville--Betsy Layne vs. Sheldon Clark

16th Region, at Morehead State--Boyd County vs. Ashland Paul Blazer

Sunday's game:

Ninth Region, at Northern Kentucky University--Boone County vs. Newport Central Catholic

One and done: Girls' round of 64*

Today's games:

First Region, at Murray State University--Lone Oak vs. Calloway County and Ballard Memorial vs. Murray

Second Region, at Livingston Central High School--Christian County vs. Lyon County and Union County vs. Crittenden County

Fourth Region, at Western Kentucky University--Bowling Green vs. Glasgow and Monroe County vs. Todd County Central

Fifth Region, at Marion County High School--Nelson County at Marion County and Elizabethtown vs. LaRue County

Eighth Region, at Gallatin County High School--South Oldham vs. Walton-Verona and Owen County vs. Anderson County

Ninth Region, at Northern Kentucky University--Boone County vs. Saint Henry and Newport Central Catholic vs. Notre Dame

11th Region, at Eastern Kentucky University--Scott County vs. Lexington Lafayette and Bryan Station vs. Madison Central

12th Region, at Pulaski County High School--Casey County vs. Southwestern and Garrard County vs. Rockcastle County

13th Region, at Corbin--Middlesboro vs. South Laurel and Clay County vs. Corbin

14th Region, at Jenkins--Perry County Central vs. Letcher County Central and Leslie County vs. Powell County

15th Region, at Pikeville--Betsy Layne vs. Magoffin County and Shelby Valley vs. Sheldon Clark

*The following tournaments have already played their semifinals, and championships in all four are set for Saturday:

Third Region, at Owensboro Sportscenter

Sixth Region, at Bellarmine University

Seventh Region, at Bellarmine University

10th Region, at Bourbon County High School

16th Region, at Morehead State

One and done: Girls' round of 128

Today's games:

First Region, at Murray State University--Ballard Memorial vs. Paducah Tilghman and Carlisle County vs. Murray

Second Region, at Livingston Central High School--Hopkinsville vs. Union County and Crittenden County vs. Caldwell County

Third Region

Fourth Region, at Western Kentucky University--Monroe County vs. Metcalfe County and Todd County Central vs. Greenwood

Fifth Region, at Marion County High School--LaRue County vs. Washington County and Elizabethtown vs. Taylor County

Sixth Region, at Atherton High School--Butler vs. Presentation, Central vs. Pleasure Ridge Park, Louisville Holy Cross vs. Bullitt Central and Bullitt East vs. Doss

Seventh Region, at Atherton High School

Eighth Region, at Gallatin County High School--Anderson County vs. Oldham County and Owen County vs. Simon Kenton

Ninth Region, at Northern Kentucky University--Notre Dame vs. Union Ryle and Newport Central Catholic vs. Villa Madonna

10th Region, at Bourbon County High School--Campbell County vs. St. Patrick and Harrison County vs. Montgomery County

11th Region, at Eastern Kentucky University--Madison Central vs. Lexington Catholic and Franklin County vs. Bryan Station

12th Region, at Pulaski County High School--Mercer County vs. Garrard County and Rockcastle County vs. Wayne County

13th Region, at Corbin--Harlan vs. Corbin and Clay County vs. Pineville

14th Region, at Jenkins--Breathitt County vs. Leslie County and Knott County Central vs. Powell County

15th Region, at Pikeville--Sheldon Clark vs. Prestonsburg and Belfry vs. Shelby Valley

16th Region

One and done: Girls' round of 128

Well, this is going to be a work in progress over the next couple of weeks, but here are tonight's games:

First Region, at Murray State University--Lone Oak vs. Paducah Saint Mary and Calloway County vs. Hickman County

Second Region, at Livingston Central High School--Madisonville-North Hopkins vs. Christian County and Henderson County vs. Lyon County

Third Region--Daviess County at Breckinridge County, McLean County at Grayson County, Butler County at Muhlenberg County and Meade County at Owensboro Catholic

Fourth Region, at Western Kentucky University--Bowling Green vs. Franklin-Simpson, Russell County vs. Glasgow

Fifth Region, at Marion County High School--North Hardin at Marion County, Nelson County vs. Hart County

Seventh Region, at Bellarmine University--Sacred Heart vs. Mercy and Louisville Christian Academy vs. Ballard, Louisville Fern Creek vs. Jeffersontown and DuPont Manual vs. Assumption

Eighth Region, at Gallatin County High School--South Oldham vs. Collins and Walton-Verona at Gallatin County

Ninth Region, at Northern Kentucky University--Boone County vs. Covington Holy Cross and Saint Henry vs. Fort Thomas Highlands

10th Region, at Bourbon County High School--Winchester George Rogers Clark vs. Bishop Brossart and Bracken County - vs. Pendleton County

11th Region, at Eastern Kentucky University--Lexington Lafayette vs. Madison Southern and Scott County vs. Woodford County

12th Region, at Pulaski County High School--Southwestern vs. Burgin and Lincoln County vs. Casey County

13th Region, at Corbin--Knox Central vs. Middlesboro and South Laurel vs. Jackson County

14th Region, at Jenkins--Perry County Central vs. Wolfe County and Estill County vs. Letcher County Central

15th Region, at Pikeville--East Ridge vs. Magoffin County and Betsy Layne vs. Pike County Central

16th Region--Lewis County at Ashland Paul Blazer, Fleming County at East Carter, Boyd County at Greenup County and West Carter at Rowan County