4 Teams Left

In the late game last night, Evangel Christian beat Trinity 57 to 46.  So the semi-finals look like this:

(1) Great Crossing (36-1) v. (7) Lyon Co. (34-3) (10 A.M. Central)

(9) Harlan Co. (33-4) v. (11) Evangel Christian (31-6) (12:30 P.M. Central)

On paper, this is one of the strongest collections of semi-finalists I can remember.

Latest KHSAA MaxPreps Ratings for Boys' Basketball

Here is the current top 20 in KHSAA Boys' Basketball, according to MaxPreps:

1.  Warren Central:  12-1

2.  Cov. Catholic:  11-1

3.  Lex. Catholic:  14-1

4.  Great Crossing:  13-3

5.  McCracken Co:  13-0

6.  Collins:  12-1

7.  Harlan:  12-2

8.  N. Oldham:  12-5

9.  Lou. Western:  10-3

10.  Lou. Ballard:  10-2

11.  Lyon Co:  12-4

12.  Bowling Green:  12-3

13.  Grant Co:  13-1

14.  Pulaski Co:  13-2

15.  N. Laurel:  8-6

16.  Marshall Co:  11-3

17.  Mason Co:  12-2

18.  Geo. Rogers Clark:  9-4

19.  Evangel Christian:  13-2

20.  Lex. Christian:  14-1

It still feels like it's early in the season, but the last regular season games will be played around February 17, so it's getting very serious now.  I'm still surprised to see only three teams from Louisville in the top 20, and one of those is Evangel Christian.  I wonder how much the growth of Christian schools will affect the KHSAA over the next 20 years.

I should also note that this list came out on Thursday, January 5.  Last night -- after this list was released -- Number-18 GRC (the defending state champs) host Number-4 Great Crossing.  It was the second meeting between the two schools -- Great Crossing had beaten GRC 64-62 on December 18 in the King of the Bluegrass Tournament at Louisville Fairdale.  Last night, GRC edged Great Crossing 52-51, handing the Warhawks their third loss of the season.

One final point.  The team ranked number 7 in the list above is not Harlan County.  Instead, it is the Harlan Green Dragons, representing the Harlan Independent School District.  The Harlan Green Dragons (12-2) will host the Harlan County Black Bears (11-3) on January 27.  That should be a good game.

(In case you're wondering, Harlan County High School opened in August 2008 to replace three previously separate high schools:  Evarts, Cawood, and Cumberland.  We mourn for all of them.)

Oh, Kentucky

Ninety-three and still counting, and one yet to go!

And, actually, we might be up to 94 parades, if this Daily Mail story--"Decline of the town that coal built ..."--is correct that Lynch was hosting one this month. But the town Facebook page that Ann Schmidt mentions appears to be on the fritz, and there is no specific date for the parade provided.

So, for now, I'm saying 93 confirmed Christmas19 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, Irvine/Ravenna, London, Maysville, Monticello, Pineville, Richmond, Smiths Grove, Stanton and Trenton, Dec. 6; Arlington, Barbourville, Beattyville, Berea, Bloomfield, Bowling Green, Bromley/Ludlow, Brownsville, Cadiz, Calvert City, Carlisle, Clinton, Columbia, Corbin, Cynthiana, Danville, East Bernstadt, Frankfort, Glasgow, Grayson, Greenville, Hawesville, Henderson, Horse Cave, Inez, Lawrenceburg, Leitchfield, Lexington, Madisonville, Marion, Middlesboro, Morgantown, Munfordville, Murray, Owingsville, Paducah, Paintsville, Prestonsburg, Rabbit Hash, Raceland, Russell Springs, Salyersville, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Somerset ("highlighted by football team's appearance"), Trenton, Versailles, Whitley City and Winchester, Dec. 7; Auburn, Georgetown and New Haven, Dec. 8; Augusta, Benton, Burkesville, Burnside, Campbellsville, Cave City, Edmonton, Elkton, Franklin, Hopkinsville, Louisa, Mayfield, Providence, Tollesboro, Williamsburg and Woodburn, Dec. 14, and Cerulean, Dec. 21!

In Prospect, they discovered gold--in a Salvation Army red kettle outside the Kroger.

Spreading Christmas "clipper love" in Paducah.

Meanwhile over in Harlan County, Hannah Reynolds from WYMT reports, there was no opposition voiced at the fiscal-court meeting when the Second Amendment-sanctuary deal came up (and quickly passed).

Curtains for curbside recycling in Warren County?

"Camp Restoration," a tiny-home community for homeless vets, is being planned off Dixie Highway in Louisville.

Quintessential American journalist Douglas White of Henderson's Gleaner delivers his typically stellar reporting and writing on local momentum toward large-scale solar-energy production. 

Elizabethtown's News-Enterprise weighs in on Vine Grove's city-hall crisis.

Cory Claxon in The Morehead News looks back on the busy first fourth months of the local Laughlin Health Building.

Oh, Kentucky

WKMS also has the full text of the House resolution, which passed despite the "no" vote of U.S. Rep. Comer of Tompkinsville.

"Obviously, I want you to read all of bell hooks books. I mean, I want to read all of her writing. She does it with passion and grace that leaves me in an awe that is difficult to describe. Recently, she has released a string of children’s books that I hope you’ll also read. I hope that this will give you a little teaser into what she is capable of.  Her writing is so important right now. She writes with a grace and love that is difficult to come by. Whew, are we really hurting for some real love right now." Brandie Derusha enrolls us in bell hooks, at Book Riot.

A native western Kentuckian comes home, and he's focused on re-introducing Mayfield's YMCA to the region. Eric Walker has an interesting report in the local Messenger.

Pine Mountain Settlement School drops the soup-to-nuts farming 411--"from seed to table and even marketing"--on the kids.

There's a name change, but Wyatt's--a locally owned grocery in Falmouth for more than 70 years--rolls on.

Ingram Barge of Paducah, Louisville Metro Corrections and The Entrepreneur Source of Simpsonville are among the employers to be represented at today's hiring/networking event hosted by Fort Campbell's Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program.

Stories about retail development are among contemporary journalism's hottest click properties, and, for sure, I quickly clicked on this Channel 6 survey of new stuff coming to Kentucky Oaks Mall.

A nonprofit that runs homes for people with disabilities--with reported revenue growth of $70 million over the last three years--is pulling out of Kentucky because it says it is having funding problems with the state. I found this (fantastic) Leah Shields/Justin Jones report for WPSD was considerably less fun to digest.

The eastern Kentucky miners whose pay was reportedly taken back from a bankrupt coal operator got a boost from a Harlan priest this week.

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

Pick up today's edition of the News-Express for these stories and more. To subscribe, call, (606) 437-4054. pic.twitter.com/3bGMZTUS7M

— App. News-Express (@AppalachianNews) July 2, 2019

Way to go. You missed Barbara Bailey Day in Lexington. It was yesterday.

As for tomorrow: "Happy Fourth of July from the Carlisle Mercury: Nicholas County’s oldest business, serving Fleming County since 1867. The Mercury has been a cornerstone of Nicholas County culture for 152 years and as a product of ‘a free press’ in a nation where inhabitants enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we are proud of the fact that we have operated as a product of The American Free Press longer than the Statue of Liberty has been standing on Ellis Island."

What do you like about The Trimble Banner? There could be four tickets to the Quaker State 400 in it for you.

Floyd County Chronicle: "Both these agencies are public bodies and the business they conduct is done 100 percent on behalf of taxpayers and ratepayers. It’s vital that those on whose behalf this business is being conducted be involved in and aware of what’s going on."

Chuck Witt in The Winchester Sun: "What is impeachment?"

PRNewswire: "Dippin' Dots Heats Up Summer with Launch of Social Media Dance Challenge."

Per U.S. News and World Report, 15 colleges and universities have more than one grad currently serving as chief executive officer of a Fortune 100 company. The University of Kentucky is one of them.

In Elkton, you've got until 10 Central tonight and then 8 a.m.-10 p.m. tomorrow, Friday and Saturday to shoot off your fireworks--but that's it, buddy. In Louisa, it's until midnight Eastern today and then 10 a.m.-midnight tomorrow, and you're done--well, unless you put in a permit 15 days ago, and it was approved.

Felix E. Martin Jr's 2008 gift to Muhlenberg County keeps giving to economic development, community development, education and youth services there.

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

You're going to want to check this list before you get your LBL on.

Madisonville's Dr. Festus Claybon Memorial Park is getting a new football field and all-inclusive playground.

Sam Adler Bell delivers in New Internationalist an economical, power-packed 2,300 words on eastern Kentucky and coal's decline.

100 years for Lexington-based A&W, purchased by its franchisees from YUM! Brands in 2011.

Rest in peace, Lt. Brown, Covington firefighter of 25 years who "found little blessings in helping people."

Oh, Kentucky

No, for real, Frankfort's Pic-Pac is closing.

Glasgow is starting to consider a new downtown park, and the comments on the local Daily Times' Facebook post about it are already strident.

The new $17.8 million library in Lyndon is open; the old ones in Fern Creek and Middletown are budget casualties.

A nonprofit's hospital grades were especially bad news for Henderson's Methodist Hospital, reports Douglas White in The Gleaner.

"There are more than 1,100 Harlan County students designated as homeless under a U.S. Department of Education definition of homeless, which includes living in substandard housing ... Harlan County Schools has the second highest percentage of homeless students in the state, according to data from the Kentucky Department of Education. More than one in every four students are considered homeless." Eye-opening but ultimately hopeful report by Report for America's Will Wright in the Lexington Herald-Leader.

From Peter Brackney's dependably interesting Kaintuckeean blog: "This summer is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York City which is seen as a seminal moment in the fight for LGBT rights in this country. In Kentucky, the Kentucky Heritage Council has been working to recognize significant LGBT sites in the Commonwealth. Given the modern science, Pulaski should be so recognized. Xis contributions, as a transgender/intersex individual, to our society were significant. Given that approximately 1.7% of children are born with intersex traits (approximately the same likelihood as one having red hair), it is a demographic which should not be ignored."

As previously reported, The Internet Is Amazing™, "ham radio has been called into action again and again to provide communications in crises when it really matters," says the Amateur Radio Relay League, which had a 24-hour field day at Murray State this past weekend. Hawkins Teague was there for the Ledger & Times.

One hundred years of Kentucky Power in eastern Kentucky, and at least two more months of celebrating at Ashland's Highlands Museum and Discovery Center.

Oh, Kentucky

Fifty years and 12 stories of affordable housing for 55-year-old-and-older residents of Newport.

After 54 years of hellos at Harlan County schools, it's so long to Billie Gray.

The 32nd Charles Logsdon Historic Downtown Walking Tour commences Thursday in Etown.

Starting on digital literacy early, in Louisville.

Martin County is getting together Saturday to clean up and celebrate.

"Of course, lots of cities have amphitheaters, but not every town with a population of about 3,500 builds a venue that holds 5,000." Deborah Kohl Kremer has a nice feature in Kentucky Monthly on plucky Beaver Dam and its amphitheater.

Turning to sports, disc-golf season is underway in Lawrenceburg; Summit's Armco Park Iron Ore Hiking Trail, which "includes part of the brick road from the original Route 60 that went from Ashland to Lexington" (!), opened Saturday, but--too bad, so sad--you missed canoeing or kayaking the Woodbury-to-Aberdeen Green River Ramble.

Also, Danville's Advocate-Messenger lost its sports editor of three years to the Norton Center for the Arts, and the new person is an eager University of Louisville Cardinal alum who lives in Bullitt County and has been working on an assembly line.

Rest in peace, Rev. Dr. Hobgood, a Transylvania and College of the Bible product, former pastor of several Kentucky congregations and 2003-05 general minister and president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) "whose leadership in a transitional time called us to faithfulness in our witness as a pro-reconciling anti-racist Church."

Oh, Kentucky

Let's play. Everyone. Even with the thunderstorms. In Madisonville, as of this week.

Kentucky Council of Churches, "Re-claiming Jesus," in Morehead come October.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers put on a community meeting in Loyall to talk about flow issues at the local lagoon, and the resulting Harlan Enterprise staff report is just chock-full of interesting phrases: "top priority," "design flaw," "right of entry," "whether or not equipment would be parked on properties," "drilling for core samples," "attract copperheads to den and feed in the area," "weren’t in favor of signing and left the meeting without doing so" and "did not yet have a formal plan to fix the problems," among them.

"I feel it's like a time capsule that we just opened up." Nice Jeremy D. Wells feature in the Grayson Journal-Enquirer on an intriguing discovery at an old U.S. 60 truck stop in Globe.

"This industry is new — there’s some growing pains along the way, but we’ll get there." Interesting dispatch from the Owensboro front of the fledgling industrial-hemp game, from Katie Pickens in The Owensboro Times.

WPSD's Shamarria Morrison with a crisp, clear anchoring of a good, thorough story with a lot of moving pieces: "The National Fire Protection Association says Paducah needs 62 firefighters. The city has a budget for 59. (Paducah fire chief Steve) Kyle said the department currently employs 54."

Goodbye to Gunny: LMPD's sniper team leader retires after 42 years of service https://t.co/N1qKbnFGba pic.twitter.com/xXXAaUq6CW

— WDRB News (@WDRBNews) May 31, 2019

No. 1 for purchasing power among Kentucky's 120 counties? Oldham. For cost of living? Owsley. For median income? Back to Oldham. So says SmartAsset, "a financial technology company aiming to provide the best personal finance advice on the web."

Kentucky's safest city? Vine Grove, says Safewise, "a resource for safety and security issues."

And the safest college? University of the Cumberlands, per "a new report released by safety experts at Your Local Security."

Hiring in Ledbetter (to operate the water and sewer systems).

Oh, Kentucky

Maybe one of the alternatives for the folks in Louisville could be bus trips to the state parks (except Levi Jackson Wilderness Road, of course), Henderson, Morganfield or Louisa. I love bus trips, public pools and all those places, so I think that would be great.

Owensboro will be home to Kentucky's first "Family Place Library," delivering "early literacy, parent education, family support and connection to the local community."

Jefferson Mall introducing new 'Youth Escort Policy' in June https://t.co/ltBf9bIFio pic.twitter.com/4CUgtgECnz

— WDRB News (@WDRBNews) May 23, 2019

An Australian community seeks to memorialize a Webbville man and his fellow aviation-safety game changers.

The American Doughboy statue is back--the one in Jamestown.

"Transitioning soldiers and veterans into Kentucky’s workforce at a faster rate," in Louisville and Somerset so far.

Oh, Kentucky

Will Perkins with the Glasgow Daily Times delivers a lively feature from Farm Safety Day for Metcalfe County Middle School students. It sounds like quite an elaborate event--on the working family farm of a high-school ag teacher, 40 stations focused on different aspects of farm safety and involvement from businesses from as far away as Elizabethtown and Glasgow. "It's just a super, hands-on learning experience," said an advanced-placement biology teacher.

I'll tell you what also sounds great: the Tennessee River-Line trails project!

Mayor updates on Rite Aid renovation; groundbreaking set for new water planthttps://t.co/Oiqx2KT5FU pic.twitter.com/sKLJZO2sOL

— Grayson News-Gazette (@gcnewsgazette) May 10, 2019

Paper recycling? Yes in Covington, no in Lexington.

It's signing day for Madisonville Community College's advanced-manufacturing prospects.

The 2019 Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute (ELI) class at Somerset's Center for Rural Development has been named. "ELI provides high school students in Southern and Eastern Kentucky with an in-depth look at what it takes to start their own business venture — from idea development to building a model prototype of their business concept."

Hiring in Harlan.

A residential treatment center for drug-addicted women and their children is planned for Clay County.

The Russell County Detention Center is moving to a higher-tech approach to identifying and tracking inmates, and the jailer interviewed on WJRS of Russell Springs--FM 104.9, "Lake Cumberland's Best Country"--sounds realistic but generally optimistic.

Three Murray State students shared their findings on "trauma journalism" with The Paducah Sun.

Oh, Kentucky

Kentucky for sale:

Rock on, Hospice of Western Kentucky and Horse Haven, for Camp Courage for grieving children.

Here are the nine teachers vying for Kentucky's 2020 teachers of the year for elementary, middle and high school.

Kentucky's 2019 teacher of the year was not there for a ceremony in her and other teachers' honor at the White House.

No. 1 Louisville duPont Manual, No. 2 Louisville Brown, No. 3 Fort Thomas Highlands, No. 4 Murray, No. 5 Pikeville, ...

iPads for everyone (in the incoming freshmen at the University of Kentucky).

Hiring in Madisonville (at the old Rosenwald school next month).

Mellow out in Saint Matthews (and of Louisville altogether).

Counterpoint to the racists in Paducah.

Oh, Kentucky

Greetings from Kentucky:

Happy 53rd, WKDZ!

On the table on the Hill: Suspending 101 of 380 academic programs (including 45 with no students currently), altering 55, growing 15 and maintaining 209 as they are.

I lived on Griffith Avenue in Owensboro for a little while, but it's gotten a lot hipper since I moved away.

We had family living in Bardstown for several years, but they moved just about the time the community orchestra was getting together.

Taste the Mayfield.

Kelly is getting together for a chat Thursday evening, and there is a lot to talk about.

The most depressing part about this MLive article about the visiting AAU coach who was arrested Saturday and charged with punching out an official at the Paducah Regional Sports Plex are the comments from the Michigan readership about Flint.

Kresge's is (really) gone.

You might hear some shooting today in Stanford, but, thankfully, it's only a drill.

Mine 9 opens Friday in parts of Kentucky and elsewhere, but, this time, it's only a movie.

Hiring in Whitesburg.

Corbin Pediatric Associates remembers that it's National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

There are all kinds of people doing all kinds of neat stuff out there.

Oh, Kentucky

Man, oh, man ... everything's complicated (Walton edition).

25. Floyd
23. Jackson
20. Martin
16. Knox
10. Harlan
9. Bell
8. Leslie
7. Breathitt
6. Clay
5. McCreary

Thursday morning at Paducah's Kentucky Career Center: "Come join us and bring a friend! We are working on improving reentry into our community and improving public safety. If you cannot attend, see if someone you know or work with can come in your place."

Tomorrow morning at Lexington's UK Gatton Student Center: "The event is free and open to the public, though reservations are requested, as space is limited. Participation is highly recommended for elected officials, community and economic development leaders, existing businesses within Opportunity Zones and those looking to develop projects in Opportunity Zones."

Cincinnati's Buffalo Wings & Rings eyes rollout of 25 Kentucky stores in the next five years, and you could be their person in Winchester.

Speaking of (No. 25) Floyd County, bravo to Prestonsburg's Girl Scouts Troop 5185 and everyone else who spent their Saturday mornings cleaning up around Jenny Wiley State Resort Park--which, by the way, is awesome:

Oh, Kentucky

"Something that has stuck with me from my latest work is, 'Everyone wants to be a lion until it’s time to hunt.' I find this applies to many things and not just writing but specifically to young writers I would say it means to you that everyone wants the novel, the play on Broadway...the finished product. That is the metaphorical 'lion' but not as many want to be a lion when it’s time to write the 15th draft, or format a script or do all the “stuff” that isn’t as glamorous. You can’t be a lion without doing the hunt which is the blood, sweat and tears of what makes a lion so magnificent." Just a fantastic Q&A in Barbourville's Mountain Advocate with Cathy Goguen, "former Knox County teacher, published playwright and author, and mobility advocate...just to name a few," writes Brooke Cole Stansbury.

"We are reminded of God’s creativity and deep connection with all creatures, ecosystems, and humans.  Psalm 24 says, 'The earth is the LORD’s and everything in it, the world and its inhabitants too.' This invites us to protect the earth as home, not only for people including future generations, not only for all plants and animals, rocks and mountains but for God. The word 'ecology' is formed from the Greek words for 'house' (oikos) and 'word, purpose' (logos). Creation is the home of God and for God’s people, ecology calls us to our purpose in this joint household. Our purpose for living, according to the Psalms, is to praise God – not alone, not as a solo, but to join our whole being in praise, with the sun and moon, with sea monsters, trees, creatures that creep along, and birds that fly. We praise God by being who God created us to be, to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God, to love one another, care for the least of these among us, and to protect and care our common home." Amen, Carol Devine of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nicholasville.

"According to a study on religion in America by the Pew Research Center, 22% of Kentucky residents are religiously unaffiliated. Younger Americans are even more likely to be nonreligious. Kentucky lawmakers should not stigmatize these students by promoting religious messages in school! National motto display bills like HB 46 are being pushed by special interests as part of Project Blitz, an effort by Christian nationalists to rewrite American history so that it favors their agenda. These bills aim to undermine the separation of religion and government and spread a false narrative that America was founded as a Christian nation. We cannot allow special interests to use our children to achieve their political goals." American Atheists Inc. issues a call to Kentuckian action.

Turning to sports, “I thank God for the opportunity to do the job I love so close to home.”

And speaking Pine Mountain State Resort Park, which is fantastic ... hiring in Pineville (immediately for a front-desk clerk).

Good jobs news from Erlanger, Elizabethtown and Lexington--and maybe Cave City, too. Bad from Madisonville.

Per USA Today, the richest Kentuckian is an Oklahoman who got himself really rich in California after a trip to Texas.

Paducah and San Antonio, Texas, are trading their UNESCO Creative City crews.

The Beaver Dam Amphitheatre summer schedule is out, and the Class of '86 is going to freak!

Spring cleanup nears in Elkton.

Beds for 50 Shepherdsville Elementary kids who need them.

Relief for cross-state commuters to and from Wickliffe.

Oh, Kentucky

Kentucky in 100-word gulps.

"466 blacked-out pages" ... "irresponsible" teacher sickout ... Gov. Bevin vs. The Courier-Journal ... and Jefferson County schools ... culture wars ... blah, blah, blah ... you can fill in the blanks.

On Berea’s Sunday billiards ban, city-council Christian invocations and district-champion Lady Pirates.

Good for the Bell County High band director who got Dale Ann Bradley performing at Pine Mountain State Park.

Murray State angles to be a hemp-research leader.

Good jobs news from Lexington and maybe Shepherdsville.

Oh, Kentucky

In her farewell editorial, Jamie Lucke asks for kindness for the mountains of Kentucky. No more prisons or strip mines or slurry spills. https://t.co/Fw6a94hHQi ^JC

— Bluegrass Politics (@BGPolitics) March 1, 2019

Not only do the numbers say you don't want to get old in Kentucky, they also say you don't want to be a baby here.

Per Austin Ramsey's report in Owensboro's Messenger-Inquirer, the entire staff of the City of Drakesboro on Jan. 3--a day after the new mayor took office--quit their jobs. 

Good jobs news from Louisville.

Toward better polymer and materials scientists at Murray and aviation-maintenance technicians at Eastern.

"Carp-crete" appears to be exactly as gruesome as it sounds like it might be.

Bardstown's Stephen Foster FiveStar is going retro.

No shocker to or argument from me in the pizza category: It's Pagliai's of Princeton. I look forward to reading the rest of WKDZ's 2018 Best of Western Kentucky winners.

One of the relatively minor but definitive joys of no longer being single is that events like Movies at the Park are pretty much off my calendar. But, seriously, Elizabethtown, I hope you all have a blast.

Rest in peace, Mrs. Louvernia Campbell Deaton (1947-2019), who would've been at least partly responsible for the fine food served at Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park and Hazard's Holiday Inn.

Oh, Kentucky

Christmas parades: Owensboro, Nov. 17; Ashland, Nov. 20; Brownsville, Nov. 24; Cumberland and Fredonia, Nov. 30; Arlington, Berea, Cadiz, Calvert City, Clinton, Columbia, Hawesville, Jenkins, Lawrenceburg, Leitchfield ("A Very Candy Christmas"), Lewisport, Madisonville, Marion, Murray ("there will be no marked detour; however, motorists may self-detour around this section of KY 94 via KY 2594/Industrial Road, US 641-Business/Chestnut Street, and US 641/12th Street"), Paducah, Somerset and Whitley City, Dec. 1; Bowling Green, Dawson Springs, Glasgow and Salyersville (rescheduled because of expected bad weather), Dec. 2; Lexington, Dec. 4; Greenup, Dec. 6; Frankfort, Monticello and Richmond, Dec. 7; Benton, Elkton, Eubank, Harlan ("after consulting with meteorologists and officials, we feel like this is the best choice for our celebration"), Hopkinsville, Horse Cave, Louisa, Munfordville and Stamping Ground, Dec. 8; Whitesburg, Dec. 14; Burnside, La Center and Neon, Dec. 15.

I (heart) expungement fairs.

10 years and about 400 students and counting for the exchange program between Bowling Green's Warren Central High and the Anne Frank School in Werne, Germany.

"In this era of extreme political division in our nation, we reflect on the promise of our democracy, as well as the ongoing struggle to live up to its unrealized potential. We honor the long history of social justice work through small networks, largely unseen and unrecognized, often led by women of color, to secure voting rights for women and access to full participation in our democracy.  We also recognize that this struggle is far from over. This moment provides an opportunity for feminist artists to use an intersectional lens to imagine a world where all women and girls and gender-nonconforming people can engage equitably. With this grant, we invite you to imagine how your art (visual, performing, media or literary) can inspire action towards building power for women and girls, sharing power among and within your communities and wielding power towards fulfilling the promise of an equitable democracy. Individual artists and nonprofit organizations based in Kentucky who are using arts-based activities to address democracy and power for women and girls may apply.  Deadline to apply is March 1, 2019."

"The first-ever, peer-to-peer site for handcrafted hunting, fishing, and camping gear, as well other outdoor apparel and accessories."