Oh, Kentucky

The United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, via the Kentucky Baptist Convention's KentuckyToday: "This is not merely happy talk. Your United States Attorney’s Office has dramatically increased the number of federal firearm prosecutions across the district targeting violent trigger-pullers. We are unwavering in our commitment to bring justice to the unsolved murder of fallen Bardstown Police Officer Jason Ellis. I have staffed the U.S. Attorney’s Branch Office in Paducah at its highest levels ever. The DEA has opened an office in Paducah for the first time and the FBI plans to re-open its office in the Purchase next year. ICE/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has staffed up 40 percent in Kentucky with real benefit to communities large and small. And I hope to announce similar good news in Bowling Green very soon."

Mary Meadows in the Floyd County Chronicle delivers the interesting goods from a local board-of-education meeting and the back and forth about transportation policy around extracurricular activities.

Abbey Nutter in the College Heights Herald tells me a story I had never heard of WKU's takeover of Jonesville.

We appear to have missed last call at Pazzo's in Lexington.

Turning to sports, the NCAA volleyball tournament gets rolling today, and WKU is the No. 15 seed.

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 and New Haven, Dec. 8; Cave City, Dec. 10; Augusta, Burkesville, Burnside, Elkton, Mayfield, Providence, Williamsburg, Dec. 14, and Tollesboro, Dec. 15.

Merle Travis Birthday Miners Strawberries and Cornbread Suppers: Drakesboro, Dec. 7.

Oh, Kentucky

Home sales are up in Kentucky.

Is Lexington's Helix Garage the country's coolest parking lot?

Public libraries are the best. At Glasgow's, you could be learning American Sign Language this summer.

Both the state's governor and its attorney general--opponents in the governor's race--are chasing miners' unpaid wages from a bankrupt Harlan County operator.

Plenty of law-enforcement opportunities in Elkton.

Bridge is out, in northern Crittenden County.

I'm so happy for Brenda Powers with the Big Sandy Area Development District and the other involved federal-, state- and local-agency personnel that the third phase of the more-than-a-decade-old "Pride on the River" sewer project is complete. (And I loved the level of detail on the saga that Mary Meadows delivered in her reporting for the Floyd County Chronicle.)

Oh, Kentucky

Update from Madisonville: Ferrell's Snappy Service is on track to be back by Flag Day!

Update from Paducah: SRO at the city commission, and 4-1 in favor of an amended fairness ordinance.

Update from Betsy Layne:

Closing of Boyle County's largest child-care provider has spurred a long, hard look at the problem, its ramifications and possible solutions among community members in and around Danville. Solid meeting coverage from Robin Hart in The-Advocate Messenger.

Thanks, Feds, for the dough to train aviation maintenance technicians at and around EKU.

The first signee to John Prine's Oh Boy Records in 15 years is from Monkey's Eyebrow.

Oh, Kentucky

More erasures meant better scores ... Mary Meadows with the Floyd County Chronicle and Times is all over the Betsy Layne Elementary testing scandal.

More from Floyd County: The U.S. Post Office at Westbury has been destroyed by fire. Prayers for Ms. Ramirez and her missing dog.

Sen. McConnell came to Calvert City for a closed-door meeting in the city hall about carp, so Joshua Claussen with Princeton's WPKY and a commercial fisherman/Food Giant wheel had their own meeting about the problem outside.

"Put Hopkins County on the cutting edge of the fourth Industrial Revolution."

Oh, Kentucky

Good jobs news from Bowling Green. Bad jobs news from Bowling Green.

Editorial roundup:

-- The Floyd County Chronicle: "The Floyd County BOE should speak up about testing troubles"

-- Frankfort's State Journal: "Both sides in mountain bike trail debate need a breather"

Opening Ceremony of Kentucky 🇺🇸 🇨🇳 Governors Summit. 👍🏼 @ThinkKentucky @GovMattBevin @NatlGovsAssoc @Alltech pic.twitter.com/hSGrQXDmQX

— Vivek K. Sarin (@V_Sarin) May 23, 2019

Ace is the place, at last in Brownsville.

Dunkin (such as donuts), soon in Cold Spring.

Taking it to the streets, in Mercer County.

Uplifting "the visions and voices of lesbian filmmakers," in Paducah.

Spinning Merle Travis, Spider Rich, Mose Rager, the Everlys, etc., for the kids in Beechmont.

Rest in peace, Wilton A. Hawkins (1922-2019), secret initiator of $2.5 million scholarship fund in Anderson County.

Oh, Kentucky

Foes since both took office in 2015, it's Bevin vs. Beshear for Kentucky governor in 2019 https://t.co/iTyE3kS8l8 pic.twitter.com/iKeu3zUTgJ

— The Gleaner (@TheGleanerNews) May 22, 2019

There appears to be a heck of testing mess unfolding at Betsy Layne Elementary School.

Prayers for the 11 puppies fighting to survive in Louisville after being dumped in a Jackson County ravine.

Hooray for the multi-county collaboration that led to a first-of-its-kind rescue atop Natural Bridge!

Good jobs news from Morehead. Bad from (Dressbarns of) Elizabethtown, Florence, Lexington, Louisville, Pikeville and Simpsonville.

Hiring (fairs) in Louisville, Madisonville and West Liberty.

Godspeed to the forthcoming Carlisle Restaurant's operators as they hustle to beat the Blackberry Festival clock.

The Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival, launched in 1931, puts on No. 89 in and around Pineville, starting Thursday.

Oh, Kentucky

Good jobs news from Murray.

A dozen aluminum welders are ready to go once SilverLiner opens in Pikeville this fall.

Matt Bevin, a prospective vice-presidential candidate from New Hampshire, has granted vision and dental benefits to about 500,000 Medicaid enrollees in Kentucky (after yanking them away a few weeks before).

A giant gift from a former Churchill Downs and Humana executive will help pay for students whose parents and grandparents never attended college to go to U of L.

Black lung appears to be making a big comeback in eastern Kentucky.

Western Kentucky gets a seat at the Farm Bill table in the U.S. House.

The new president of the College of Regional Ministers for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada is from Kentucky.

Groundbreaking for the new Patti's is scheduled for next month in Grand Rivers.

Ta ta, Papa, from the NKU food court.

Christmas parades: Owensboro, Nov. 17 (and 1998-2017; whoop-whoop, RayRay, in 2002!); Bowling Green, Dec. 1; Richmond, Dec. 7, and Hopkinsville, Dec. 8.

Bill Gates At Betsy Layne

Hooray for the Bobcats!

"Kentucky is reaping the rewards of many years of investment in education reform."

Oh, Kentucky

The Kentucky State Parks also are for lovers.

My and the president's wives would likely say that they're going too light on the proteins for breakfast this morning at South Irvine, Estill Springs, West Irvine and Estill County Middle.

Two more Dollars in Etown.

Turning to Louisville culture, the orchestra CEO has had enough understandably; Lynn's Paradise Cafe has closed mysteriously, and Jennifer Lawrence has won finally.

Cycling update: Announcing the Kentucky Century Challenge!

Rest in peace, "Big Dan" Hall, a Betsy Layne standout and part of the UK recruiting class that also included Jack Givens, James Lee, Mike Phillips and Rick Robey.

Kentucky high-school football, Week 2

Here are this weekend's KHSAA football games that most interest me:

Heath at Reidland--They've been up early this morning in Reidland, getting fired up for this game.

Calloway County vs. Murray--Yeah, it's a big deal, Ricky Martin of the Murray Ledger & Times tells Channel 6.

Fulton City at Ballard Memorial--More on the wall at Ballard, from Channel 12.

Russellville at Fort Campbell--"Get on out there and pack Fryar Stadium and let 'em hear that Falcon Pride!!!"

Bowling Green Warren Central at Franklin-Simpson--The 0-1 homestanding Wildcats, last season's Class 4A runnersup, have a whole new starting offensive backfield.

Caldwell County vs. Union County in the National Guard Bowl at Crittenden County--Meanwhile, back home in Morganfield, ...

Garrard County vs. Anderson County and Lincoln County at Danville in the Bob Allen Bowl on Saturday--Meanwhile, back home in Lawrenceburg, ...

Bardstown Bethlehem at Bardstown--The winner of this one might have bragging rights on the block for a while.

Louisville DeSales at Elizabethtown--Elizabethtown is 1-0. The Panthers' win over Fort Knox last Friday was their first in 13 games.

South Laurel vs. Corbin Lynn Camp in the Cumberland Bank Bowl at London North Laurel on Saturday--Lynn Camp is 1-0. And it was the first win in 14 games for the Wildcats.

Union Randall K. Cooper vs Covington Holy Cross--Cooper is 1-0 after the Jaguars beat Union Larry A. Ryle for the first time ever.

Edmonson County at Muhlenberg County--First game on the new field in Greenville. "I know they're going to pack that place out."

Henderson County at Evansville (Ind.) North--"The field has a big, green 'N' on it."

South Floyd at Betsy Layne--First game on the new turf at Betsy Layne.

Monroe County at Metcalfe County--Don't sleep on the visiting, 1-0 Falcons. Writes Brian Davis in The Franklin Favorite: "Monroe County, meanwhile, is stocked full of experienced upperclassmen and returned nine starters on offense and eight on defense that went 6-6 this past season.The Falcons advanced to the Class AA state semifinals in 2008 and 2009, and after being elevated to Class 3-A in 2011, they appear well on their way of making a deep postseason run again."

Harlan at Williamsburg--Harlan won this game in the 2011 regular season; Williamsburg won in the playoffs. Both teams are 1-0.

Bell County at Lexington Bryan Station in the Fayette County iHigh Football Frenzy--Get on the bus.

Bowling Green vs. Lexington Lafayette in the Fayette County iHigh Football Frenzy at Lexington Bryan Station

Owensboro Catholic at Daviess County

Ohio County at Hancock County

Clintwood (Va.) at Hazard

Scott County at Fort Thomas Highlands

Fulton County at Lake County (Tenn.)

McLean County at Marshall County

Louisville Trinity at Montgomery Bell (Tenn.)

Owensboro Apollo at Owensboro

West Creek (Tenn.) at Paducah Tilghman

Paris at Paintsville

Todd County Central at Trigg County

Hopkinsville vs. Lone Oak and Christian County vs. Clarksville (Tenn.) in the Jerry Claiborne Bowl at Hopkinsville's Stadium of Champions

Hopkins County Central at Crittenden County in the National Guard Bowl on Saturday

Graves County vs. Evansville (Ind.) Harrison on Saturday

Newport Central Catholic at Archbishop McNicholas (Ohio) on Saturday

Madisonville-North Hopkins at Mayfield on Saturday

Previous reports:

-- Week 1 roundup, western Kentucky results and the Lexington Herald-Leader's preseason rankings

One and done: Girls' round of 64

After a busy Tuesday night of action, most of the state's girls' basketball regionals are now on hold until Friday. The regions are mercifully no longer listed here in order of how the winners will be bracketed in the 2012 Houchens Industries/KHSAA Girls' Sweet Sixteen® State Basketball Tournament, and the Kentucky desk apologizes for the nuisance that approach brought to the lives of itself and other fans of Commonwealth hoops. Instead, here are the regions that play today, followed in numerical order by those that do not.

Sixth Region, at Bellarmine University's Knights Hall in Louisville--Both the Sixth and Seventh regions play their semis at Bellarmine today, so the Kentucky desk hopes The Courier-Journal's Jason Frakes enjoys his Wednesday afternoon and evening of free hot dogs. The second of today's games, at 4:15 Central, is a rematch of last year's Sixth title game, Louisville Butler vs. Mount Washington Bullitt East. But the first game, at 2:30 Central, features the Sixth's top-rated team, Louisville Mercy, last year's Seventh runnerup, against Louisville Holy Cross.

Seventh Region, at Bellarmine's Knights Hall--Kentucky's top-ranked team and 2011 state runnerup, Louisville Manual, plays Louisville Christian Academy at 7:15 p.m. Central.

10th Region, at Campbell County Middle School in Alexandria--The defending region champ, Montgomery County, plays Bracken County, a team it beat in Brooksville by 16 on Feb. 3. The first game pairs Mason County and Campbell County, which knocked off 2011 10th runnerup Winchester George Rogers Clark. To get ready for tonight's action, the Kentucky desk (and, presumably, its main man Darius Miller) is chilling this midday to Maysville's WFTM 95.9 FM, which just played the outstanding "Smooth Operator" by Sade.

And the idling tournaments, ...

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

Second Region, at Christian County High School in Hopkinsville.

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.

Eighth Region, at Anderson County High School in Lawrenceburg.

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 Lincoln County High School in Stanford.

13th Region, at Corbin's The Arena.

14th Region, at Breathitt County High School in Jackson.

15th Region, at Pikeville's East Kentucky Exposition Center--The 2011 regional runnerup, Betsy Layne, was defeated by Pikeville, 61-49, last night. As is the case with the Second Region, neither of the 2011 title-game participants advanced to this year's 15th Region semifinals.

16th Region, semifinals and final at Morehead State University's Johnson Arena.

One and done: Girls' round of 128

Among the big news from Day 1 of the girls' tournaments was the defeat of Anderson County, Owensboro Catholic, Whitley County and Winchester George Rogers Clark. Fourteen of the regions (listed here in order of how the winners will be bracketed in the 2012 Houchens Industries/KHSAA Girls' Sweet Sixteen® State Basketball Tournament) are back in action today.

Fourth Region, at Western Kentucky University's E.A. Diddle Arena in Bowling Green--Last year's finalists, champ Bowling Green and Monroe County, play their quarterfinal games tonight.

Sixth Region, at Atherton High School and Bellarmine University's Knights Hall in Louisville--The semifinalists--Louisville Mercy, Louisville Holy Cross, Louisville Butler and Bullitt East--take tonight off and then move over to Bellarmine for the remainder of their tournament.

Ninth Region, at Northern Kentucky University's Bank of Kentucky Center in Highland Heights--Boone County eliminated the 2011 champs, Newport Central Catholic, last night.

11th Region, at Eastern Kentucky University's Alumni Coliseum in Richmond--Scott County, the regional runnerup last season, fell last night to Lexington Paul Laurence Dunbar. The 2011 champ, Richmond Madison Central, has a quarter with Lexington Catholic tonight.

Seventh Region, at Bellarmine's Knights Hall--As in the Sixth, the semifinalists--Louisville Sacred Heart, Assumption, Manual and Christian Academy--are idle until Thursday.

14th Region, at Breathitt County High School in Jackson--2011 runnerup Leslie County went down to Whitesburg Letcher County Central last night, and the champs, Perry County Central, face Jackson City, which is not (exactly) the home team.

Third Region, at Owensboro Sportcenter--Avenging last year's title-game loss, Grayson County last night eliminated defending champ Owensboro Catholic, 60-43. Regions 1, 2 and 3 will each be sending different representatives to this year's Sweet Sixteen in Bowling Green.

10th Region, at Campbell County Middle School in Alexandria--The 2011 regional runnerup, George Rogers Clark, fell to Campbell County, who were probably all old-school jazzed playing at their old junior high. The region's top two teams in yesterday's new Courier-Journal Litkenhous ratings, defending champ Montgomery County and Alexandria Bishop Brossart, meet in this evening's first quarterfinal.

Second Region, at Christian County High School in Hopkinsville--Livingston alive! Meanwhile, the region's top-rated teams, Hoptown and mad Henderson County, play in separate quarters tonight.

First Region, at Murray State University's CFSB Center--Lone Oak appears to be known for going into late-game stalls. Meanwhile, Barlow Ballard Memorial plays Paducah Tilghman, the region's top-rated team, in the second quarter tonight. The teams split their two regular-season games, and the Lady Bombers, coached by Billie Prince Jr. (just a fantastic western Kentucky name), have to be a little hungry after being knocked out in last year's regional semis after leading Murray by 15 in that game.

Fifth Region, at Central Hardin High School in Elizabethtown--Not much separation among these teams in the ratings, so it would be hard to consider any result in this region to be an upset other than Washington County over Etown tonight or anyone over Marion County. After last night's 73-50 whipping of Hart County, the Lady Knights are now 29-4--with the losses coming to two teams from California, one from Ohio and consensus Kentucky No. 1 Manual. Meanwhile, this just in from the Adair County Pep Club ...

Eighth Region, at Anderson County High School in Lawrenceburg--The home team was knocked out by Independence Simon Kenton last night, and the 2011 champ, Walton-Verona, plays tonight against a first-time opponent of this season, Shelbyville Martha Layne Collins.

15th Region, at Pikeville's East Kentucky Exposition Center--This is another region that will be sending a different representative to Bowling Green. Last year's regional runnerup, Betsy Layne, which shot 69.2 percent on three-pointers in last week's 58th District championship, gets just a hair more love in the Litkenhous than its quarterfinal opponent tonight, Pikeville.

16th Region, semifinals and final at Morehead State University's Johnson Arena--Top-rated Ashland Blazer, Rowan County, Lewis County and 2011 champ Boyd County have advanced to the semis and are now idle until Thursday.

12th Region, at Lincoln County High School in Stanford--No offense to the members of HP nation in Pulaski County, but I am so glad that the home team prevailed in its quarterfinal last night. This gives me an excuse to continue listening to Stanford's WPBK, which might well be my favorite radio station of all time. Within the same half hour yesterday morning, they played Ten Years After's "I'd Love to Change the World" and Ronnie Milsap's "Smoky Mountain Rain."

13th Region, at Corbin's The Arena--With Whitley County's elimination last night by London North Laurel, which was 8-24 in the regular season, it now appears Monday's other winner, Harlan County, is the only likely threat to ending Clay County's string of championship.

Oh, Kentucky

Love the live workday sports! Per the stream of Greenup's WLGC 105.7 FM, Heath trails Betsy Layne, 25-20, at halftime of this morning's Touchstone Energy All "A" Classic 2012 first-round boys' basketball game.

Meanwhile, with the Pirates in Frankfort, the Kentucky Historical Society sends us a postcard from Paducah.

Top Rock.

Good jobs news from Elizabethtown and Nicholasville.

GOP-2012, after all.

Oh, Kentucky

So very, very excited about Heath's 9 a.m. Central Thursday tipoff against Betsy Layne in the Touchstone Energy All "A" Classic boys' basketball tournament. I love workday sporting events.

Legacy!

Good jobs news from Bardstown and Nicholasville .

One of Kentucky's 19 schools found to be "persistently low-achieving" is protesting the removal of its principal..

A fresh start for Hopkinsville's 115-year-old Aaron McNeil House. The "ineligible assistance" and "criteria for assistance" sections here are pretty interesting.

This Week's Games

This week -- the first week of the playoffs -- is always given over to eliminating teams that wouldn't have made the playoffs when I was a kid. Here's what's happening tomorrow night in western Kentucky (home teams listed first):

Class 1A Playoffs:
Mayfield (10-0) v. Caverna (1-9)
Kentucky Country Day (8-2) v. Fulton Co. (2-8)
Lou. Holy Cross (9-1) v. Fulton City (1-9)
Russellville (5-5) v. Bethlehem (2-8)

Class 2A Playoffs:
Murray (9-1) v. Union Co. (5-5)
Hancock Co. (6-4) v. Crittenden Co. (3-7)
Owensboro Catholic (10-0) v. Reidland (3-7)
Caldwell Co. (5-5) v. Butler Co. (7-3)

Class 3A Playoffs:
Paducah Tilghman (8-2) v. Hart Co. (6-4)
Monroe Co. (5-5) v. Trigg Co. (7-3)
Edmonson Co. (10-0) v. Heath (3-7)
Fort Campbell (6-4) v. South Warren (4-6)

Class 4A Playoffs:
Lone Oak (8-2) v. Breckinridge Co. (1-9)
Warren East (7-3) v. Owensboro (4-6)
Madisonville-North Hopkins (8-2) v. Allen County-Scottsville (4-6)
Franklin-Simpson (9-1) v. Calloway Co. (3-7)

Class 5A Playoffs:
Christian Co. (9-1) v. Barren Co. (5-5)
Warren Cent. (9-1) v. Graves Co. (4-6)
Ohio Co. (9-1) v. Greenwood (5-5)
Bowling Green (10-0) v. Owensboro Apollo (2-8)

Class 6A Playoffs:
Henderson Co. (7-3) v. Lou. Southern (4-6)
Lou. Pleasure Ridge Park (8-2) v. Daviess Co. (3-7)
Marshall Co. (6-4) v. Lou. Seneca (2-8)
Lou. Butler (8-2) v. Muhlenberg Co. (0-10)

Last weekend in Western Kentucky

A bunch of blowouts this week. I was particularly impressed by Fort Campbell and Madisonville, because you don't normally see Trigg or Owensboro lose by such large margins at home.

Caldwell Co. 46 - 15 Ballard Mem.
Calloway Co. 28 - 56 Lone Oak
Christian Co. 61 - 7 Hopkinsville
Crittenden Co. 34 - 0 Reidland
Fort Campbell 35 - 0 Trigg Co.
Fulton City 8 - 54 Lake Co. (Tenn.)
Heath 0 - 34 Paducah Tilghman
Marshall Co. 0 - 31 Mayfield
Owensboro 6 - 49 Madisonville-North Hopkins
Owensboro Apollo 14 - 45 Graves Co.

This Weekend's ... (cont.)

Thank you, GoHeath! I'm hoping for a surprise--somewhere, anywhere, but especially in West Paducah--in Friday night's games. Here are some others that intrigue me from the weekend ...

Knox Central at Harlan County. He can't go home again, but he can try to hang the first loss of the season on the team that resulted from the consolidation of his old school.

Harlan at Leslie County. The home-standing Eagles of Hyden have been improving their standing.

Prestonsburg at Betsy Layne. So, too, have been the Bobcats of Betsy Layne.

Middlesboro at Morgan County. Jay Compton reported in The Middlesboro Daily News that the Blue Jackets were headed to West Liberty yesterday for tonight's Sorghum Bowl throwdown. That's fun to think about.

St. X at Louisville Central (No. 1 in the Associated Press Class 3A poll).

Beechwood at Elizabethtown. Here's hoping Etown's homecoming dance is happy, anyway.

Russellville at Franklin-Simpson.

North Hardin at Grayson County. The soccer players are arriving.

Edmonson County at Logan County. Our neighbors across the street, whom we love, are grandparents of one of Edmonson County's running backs.

Newport at Ludlow. This is the Kentucky that I want to next know more of.

Hopkins County Central at Muhlenberg County.

Bishop Brossart at Newport Central Catholic (AP 2A No. 1).

Glasgow at Somerset.

Hebron Conner at Crestwood South Oldham. Time to get serious, just as you were saying.

Indianapolis Cathedral at Louisville Trinity (AP 6A No. 1).

Bell County at Wayne County. Meanwhile, back home in Pineville, ...

Fort Thomas Highlands (AP 4A No. 1) at Covington Catholic on Saturday.

Adair County at Bardstown Bethlehem. This would be a fine trip. I'd go one way up and the other way back.

Region 1 Standings

After coming home from the All "A" classic -- which was won by Betsy Layne, of all places -- Heath lost at Reidland (58-73!) before pounding Lone Oak at home (60-46). The Pirates are at Tilghman tonight. Here are the current standings:

Tilghman: 21-4 (PTHS has won 10 games in a row)
Marshall Co: 21-5 (the Marshals' only loss since 1/14 was to PTHS)
Fulton Co: 18-3 (the Pilots lost to Tilghman and have not played Marshall)
Graves Co: 18-7
Heath: 17-8
Ballard Mem: 15-8
Carlisle Co: 13-11
Calloway Co: 13-11
St. Mary: 9-11
Fulton City: 8-14
Mayfield: 8-16
Reidland: 8-17
Murray: 7-14
Pad. Comm. Christian: 6-14
Hickman Co: 3-18
Lone Oak: 3-19

Oh, Kentucky

Kentucky was 16th nationally in per-capita spending for child-welfare services in 2004 but, three years later, still recorded the highest rate of child deaths from abuse and neglect. The D.C. nonprofit that reported the numbers, Every Child Matters Education Fund, says, to improve the situation, government spending should be concentrated on "strengthening nutrition assistance, preventing teen pregnancy, increasing health care coverage for children and providing money for home nurses to visit first-time, low-income mothers." My questions would be what constitutes the "child-welfare services" that Kentucky are funding and what are the states with fewer deaths doing that we aren't.

Casey County (3-7 in 2009) was one of 30 high-school football teams that failed to make the playoffs in one Kentucky's six classes last season. (The others were Fulton County, Dayton, Walton-Verona, Bracken County, Paris, Clinton County, South Floyd, Betsy Layne, Reidland, Hart County, Jackson County, West Carter, Warren East, Louisville Atherton, Franklin County, Madison Southern, East Carter, Ohio County, Louisville Iroquois, Grant County, Lincoln County, North Laurel, Clay County, Daviess County, Marshall County, North Hardin, Campbell County, North Hardin Christian and Randall K. Cooper.) Rebel hopes of crashing the 3A party in 2010 are pinned on the Roy boys.

"... (I)magine what Kentucky might be like if the dominant editorial voice over the past century had been the Wall Street Journal instead of the Courier-Journal."