Oh, Kentucky

In an interview with the Xinhua News Agency, "Official says collaboration with China remains significant for U.S. state of Kentucky." And Ballard County is proof.

Turning to sports, #khsbbk20 and #khsgbk20 are up and rolling. Also, Kentucky Monthly last month had a very interesting history of deer hunting in Kentucky. Actually, probably the most interesting part of Gary Garth's story to me was the history of not hunting deer in Kentucky; from 1912 to 1946, it was banned. Anyway, it's deer-hunting season of some sort now until Jan. 20. 

Way to go, Lexington-Fayette Animal Care & Control, Lexington Police and Kentucky State Police, and hooray that Lucy is home in Clinton County for the holidays! 

Thanks for the tip, Angel Welsh of WBKR.

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 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, 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; Augusta, Burkesville, Burnside, Elkton, Mayfield, Providence, Williamsburg, Dec. 14, and Tollesboro, Dec. 15.

Oh, Kentucky

Christmas parades: Irvington and Owensboro, Nov. 18; Ashland, Nov. 21 (but the party has already started); Lebanon, Nov. 24; Danville, Nov. 25; Greenup, Nov. 28; Cumberland (for the whole "Tri-City"), London, Monticello and Richmond, Dec. 1; Barbourville, Beaver Dam, Fordsville, Georgetown, Harlan ("It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"), Hartford, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Madisonville, Murray, Somerset and Winchester, Dec. 2; Dawson Springs and Evarts (the football team is serving as grand marshals), Dec. 3; Mount Sterling, Dec. 4; Lexington, Dec. 5; Bardstown, Dec. 7 (Leigh Ann Florence, creator of "Woody, the Kentucky Weiner," will be grand marshal); Frankfort ("Saving Christmas" and "Votes For Women"), Dec. 8; Augusta, Cave City, Elkton, Hanson and Hopkinsville, Dec. 9, and Oak Grove (no downtown/no problem), Dec. 16.

This dude has been living the dream. One of my dreams, in fact. Good for him.

This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas and his wife Cathleen, touring Red River Gorge in opposition to a proposed dam. See Tom Eblen’s story of the Nov 1967 visit https://t.co/3C8Pu3pn6t pic.twitter.com/M4peeqgcDT

— KY Photo Archive (@KYPhotoArchive) November 19, 2017

Godspeed, Mr. Cox, 1990-94 mayor of Madisonville, President Carter-appointed federal highway administrator, a man who knew his way around Frankfort, husband of the former Ms. Pritchett of 54 years and purveyor of "exciting adventures, fits of laughter, political stories and other tall tales, and a treasure trove of fond memories."

Oh, Kentucky

Rest in peace, Jack E. Bradbury, Air Force lieutenant colonel who served with the Joint Chiefs, doctor of education who taught teachers in Florida after he retired the first time, Habitat for Humanity "Can Man" after he retired the second time and moved to Madisonville, husband of Virginia for 68 years until she died in 2011 and grand marshal of the 2007 Madisonville Kiwanis Christmas parade.

Adairville on Dec. 3 is planning to put on its FIRST Christmas parade! “Light up your car, wagon, truck, lawn mower, atv, boat, whatever and be a part of this … You don’t have to get elaborate, just festive.”

More Christmas parades: Owensboro (Messenger-Inquirer reports the cold didn't deter the crowd), Nov. 19; Ashland (3,500 participants in 10 divisions), Nov. 22; Sebree, Nov. 26; Bardstown, Dec. 1; Maysville, Monticello and Richmond, Dec. 2; Berea, Bowling Green, Glasgow, Harlan, Henderson, Madisonville, Paris, Somerset and Winchester, Dec. 3; Boyce, Owenton and Schochoh, Dec. 4, and Augusta (with fireworks), Cave City, Elkton, Hopkinsville and Pikeville, Dec. 10.

It's fun to imagine this German's trip to Hodgenville and Owensboro a couple of months before the Bicentennial (Kentucky for sale): 

Good jobs news from Hopkinsville.

Elizabethtown's Towne Mall McDonald's is on the comeback trail, and Culver's, Panda Express and Starbucks may be on their way.

Tim Hortons appears to be coming to Cold Spring and Erlanger.

Edmonson County's new senior food pantry is open, and it looks great!

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce president is coming to Madisonville next month to preview the 2017 (real) legislature.

Elkton is planning to see off an 18-term/36-year city councilperson. "Light refreshments will be served."

Here (between Hector and Eriline, I think) is about where it apparently gets really bad:

There's a darkness on the edge of Bardstown. (Mister State Trooper ...)

Oh, Kentucky

Had a detailed conversation with incoming POTUS @realDonaldTrump...True champion of states rights & US workers...New Day in America!

— Matt Bevin (@MattBevin) November 16, 2016

Hey, cool.

If you’re looking for an online college, OnlineCollege.com says take a look at Kentucky Community and Technical College System schools—or maybe WKU.

Remember Lynn's Paradise Cafe?

White Christmas at the Frazier History Museum.

Smokey and the Bandit at the Sipp.

Christmas parades: Owensboro (with the Kentucky Mavericks), Nov. 19; Ashland, Nov. 22; Sebree, Nov. 26; Bardstown, Dec. 1; Monticello and Richmond, Dec. 2; Berea, Bowling Green, Glasgow, Madisonville (with ice skating), Paris, Somerset and Winchester, Dec. 3; Boyce and Owenton, Dec. 4, and Cave City, Elkton, Hopkinsville and Pikeville, Dec. 10.

Good Morning.

I'll be on the Tom Joyner Morning Show (@TJMShow) shortly talking about bigotry kids experienced this week IN OUR SCHOOLS.

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) November 17, 2016

Oh, Kentucky

Workforce development. Not enough people to fill the jobs available, even high paying jobs … Jobs at the top of the list. WKCTC has a seat at the table now. Industries looking for particular skill set and the city's ability to address those needs … New perspectives from people "from the outside." And a culture of "no sacred cows" challenging the way things are done … Opportunities to address in the foreign trade zone and the educational process … Jobs and skill set development. Also, having an inclusive government "who listens and understands the needs of the city” … Underlying problem is a loss of trust between citizens and city hall. People feel like they aren't being listened to … Develop the city as the place "people want to live, people want to work, people want to play” … Having a positive, can-do attitude about what can be achieved. Celebrating the good things about Paducah … A solid "ten to twenty year plan" citizens can believe in and a vision for the future. … Candidates for Paducah mayor and city commissioner debate the town’s needs, courtesy of WKMS and The Paducah Sun.

"Sometimes you need to take a stand," the Kentucky Oaks Mall property manager tells West Kentucky Star.

I love this picture from the 39th District high-school volleyball tournament in Augusta:

@EvanDennison1 the Bracken County student section agrees. pic.twitter.com/ZTfN4KoesF

— Evan Dennison (@EvanDennison1) October 17, 2016

A Hazard family made plans six months ago to fly to Orlando and visit Walt Disney World. Some friends would fly and meet them there, as would some other relatives, driving from Kentucky. With Hurricane Matthew bearing down, The Hazard Herald reports, the family "decided to go for it anyway" and "tackled the storm with true Perry County toughness."

Evarts is in a drought.

Last deer season, you had a 1 in 103 chance of your vehicle hitting a deer if you were a motorist in Kentucky, per State Farm, per The Richmond Register.

Could London cash in on the "travel ball" boom?

Kentucky for sale:

Oh, Kentucky

The Letcher County Central band of Whitesburg marches on Washington.

Andre Woodson of Radcliff touches down in Morehead.

Freakwater of Louisville ramps it back up in Ann Arbor, Mich.

"Satan tried taking it from me. But God will give it back."

Harlan County coal and Logan County baseball are being chronicled. History-rich Boyle County is being preserved.

PublicLibrary.org has a new director.

Stick with it and save, at Union College.

1s: Trinity and Marion County. 

The first Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame inductees class is to be revealed this week.

This week in Kentucky history, via the (awesome) Kentuckeean.

Rest in peace, Mrs. Hough, owner of Augusta's Folk Art Shop, founding member of the Bracken County Historical Society, former Bracken County tourism director, "admiral of the Augusta Sternwheel Regatta" (?) and mom of five.

Oh, Kentucky

Strong reviews are rolling in from Commonwealth Christmas parades ... From Boyce, Stanford, Ashland, Bowling Green, Henderson, and Columbia ... From Hanson ...

And from Madisonville ...

From WHVO/WKDZ: "The community put its backing into this year's Cadiz Christmas Parade and the results were spectacular." ... And from Anonymous: "Great christmas parade in marion today! 'Tink' Hicklin was one of the 4 grand marshals. He represented the Air Force branch and the veterans of World War II. Even Santa made an appearance!" 

More parades: Monticello, Dec. 7; Frankfort, Dec. 8, and Augusta, Dec. 15.

Frankfort's newspaper will have a new editor for the first time since 1979.

Rest in peace, Mr. Crigler, 1958 UK hoops national champion, Hebron native and the man for whom the basketball court is named at Scott County Middle School.

Oh, Kentucky

The KHSAA high-school football championships continue today in Bowling Green. Yesterday's winners were Mayfield in Class A, Louisville Central in 3A and Fort Thomas Highlands in 4A. Classes 2A, 5A and 6A will be decided today.

Princeton is delaying its Christmas parade tonight to give time for the Caldwell County High Tigers to get home from Bowling Green and their 11 a.m. Central 2A tilt with Newport Central Catholic.

Meanwhile, given that the seasons of the South Laurel Cardinals (1-9) and North Laurel Jaguars (6-5) were ended before this weekend, London went ahead and rocked it last night:

More Christmas parades today: Glasgow, Madisonville and Shelbyville!

Good jobs news from Murray. Reassuring in Augusta.

Better than SkyMall. Better than the pretzels.

Dog(s) of war, now in Williamsburg.

Oh, Kentucky

Nation's most affordable vacation? Louisville.

Best of the Road? Paducah?

"We are no longer just 'the newspaper.'"

She's no longer with the newspaper at all.

Programs in Hopkinsville and Madisonville are recommended for replication in discouraging obesity.

"All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon."

Rising through the ranks in Providence: from Monk's, to Ruth and Bob's Cafe and now "Paula'z."

Meanwhile, in Muhlenberg County, Hobby's Classic Foods--owned by a couple from Bremen--has taken its frog-leg baskets from Central City to Greenville.

Good jobs news from Leitchfield. Reassuring from Grahn and Soldier ... Augusta, Dover, Elizaville, Foster, Georgetown, Hillsboro, May's Lick, Milford, Minerva, Mount Olivet, Muses Mill, Plummer's Landing, Qunicy and Washington ...

The recovery continues in West Liberty and Salyersville.

The Racers are getting a new gym.

Tyler Smithhart is moving home to Henderson County, and that means Christian County will have a new head coach for the second straight season since winning the 2010 KHSAA boys' basketball title.

Kentucky's mixed success on science tests.

One and done: Boys' round of 64*

Better go ahead and get these KHSAA hoops summaries up early today.

Games are scheduled tonight for these regions:

Sixth Region, at Louisville Atherton High School and Bellarmine University's Knights Hall in Louisville--The defending regional champ, Mount Washington Bullitt East with its big star, Derek Willis, plays Louisville Butler, and then the 2011 runnerup, Pleasure Ridge Park, faces Louisville Moore.

10th Region*, at Montgomery County High School in Mount Sterling--It turned out to be a very great night for my main man, Darius Miller. His Mason County Royals won their quarterfinal, 49-44, Thursday over the Scott Eagles of Covington (not the Scott County Eagles of Georgetown, as the Kentucky desk mistakenly and regrettably indicated yesterday). The 10th still has two more quarters to play tonight, and the first of those pits 2011 champ Winchester George R. Clark against George T. Clooney's Augusta.

16th Region, at Morehead State University's Johnson Arena. The regional's 2011 runnerup, Ashland Blazer, plays Grayson East Carter in the first semifinal tonight; defending champ (and state runnerup) Rowan County faces Olive Hill West Carter in the second.

These regions were scheduled to be off tonight, anyway, so their fans can just go ahead and plan to move to their interior closets the rest of the day.

First Region, at Murray State University's CSFB Center.

Second Region, at Madisonville-North Hopkins Senior High School.

Third Region, at Owensboro Sportcenter.

Fourth Region, at Western Kentucky University's E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green.

Fifth Region, at Central Hardin High School in Elizabethtown--Peter W. Zubaty in The Kentucky Standard reports that defending regional champ Bardstown made nine of 10 free throws in the last minute and a half in holding off, Radcliff North Hardin, a team that had beaten the Tigers at the end of the regular season.

Seventh Region*, at Bellarmine's Knights Hall--Indeed, the folks in Louisville are looking at a big Trinity/St. X game in roundball. This is the first region to pare down to its final two.

Eighth Region, at Henry County High School in New Castle.

Ninth Region, at Northern Kentucky University's Bank of Kentucky Center in Highland Heights.

11th Region, at Eastern Kentucky University's Alumni Coliseum in Richmond.

12th Region, at Pulaski County High School in Somerset.

13th Region, at Corbin's The Arena.

14th Region, at Knott County Central High School in Hindman.

15th Region, at the East Kentucky Expo Center in Pikeville.

Liveblogging The Oscars

For those of you watching the Oscars tonight, here are InTrade's predictions:

Best Picture: The Artist has a 94.0 percent chance of winning.

Best Actor: Jean Dujardin (The Artist) has a 62.6 percent chance of winning.

Best Actress: Viola Davis (The Help) has a 65.0 percent chance of winning

Best Director: Michael Hazanavicius (The Artist) has an 82.0 percent chance of winning.

Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer (Beginners) has a 94.5 percent chance of winning.

Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer (The Help) has a 93.6 percent chance of winning.

Oh, Kentucky

Today's edition comes to you live from the grounds of Madisonville Community College, home of the Pacers! MCC is a frequent venue for "Oh, Kentucky" live remotes, but today is an extra-exciting day because it's my first return visit since the students returned for the 2011-12 academic year. The place is percolating with activity: students sleeping on student-center couches, physical-plant dudes yelling at each other over walkie-talkies because the air conditioning still isn't working in one some classroom, students sleeping in the study carousels of the library, faculty smoothing out $1 bills to purchase "Vanilla Taboo" from a coffee vending machine and students talking through their smoke breaks about going home to sleep.

LEAD VOCALIST NEEDED
Male/Female
Music similar to Killswitch Engage, Bullet for my Valentine, Thrice, etc.
More interested in CLEAN vocals. ...

That's the start of a sign on a bulletin board outside the registrar's office. I feverishly pecked out that text with one finger of one hand while holding my laptop with the other because, frankly, I was afraid some tough guy who listens to "Killswitch Engage" and "Bullet for my Valentine" would show up at any minute and start asking questions. Anyway, the sign goes on to list email and phone contact details for the budding outfit that I think might be calling itself, "Wow, It's Trevor."

"Only serious applicants please," concludes the notice.

I've been struggling a couple of days with a story for a client, so I got myself showered and dressed and headed out the front door with my laptop bag and a lunchbox like a regular little businessperson to see if new environs get me rolling. I tried to get the wife to sing "Morning Train" as I left, but she wouldn't bite. I, however, haven't been able to shake the song from my brain all day.

And, now, on to the Ohkys ...

A former Trinity and University of Louisville has moved on to the UFL.

Good jobs news from Augusta and Uniontown--and most of the state.

Downgrade for Paducah Power.

Morning distribution, local editorials and more changes for the Kentucky New Era.

Finally, before leaving the house this morning, I learned that the "Rafferty's Trivia Question" is now the "Wendy's Keepin' It Real Trivia Question" on The Joe B & Denny Show.

Oh, Kentucky

Good jobs news from Lawrenceburg and Louisville.

Bringing Cracker Barrel to Bardstown.

C-minus, baby!

Can Paducah's mayor help clean up the Kentucky League of Cities?

George Clooney is back around home.

We're all about drama in Kentucky these days.

We're also all about jam. Not only is Lost in Liberty blowing up, Bowling Green's Cage the Elephant rated some David Letterman love Tuesday night.

SNOW DAY!