Oh, Kentucky

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christmas parades: Sharpsburg, Nov. 9; Owensboro, Nov. 23; Central City, Nov. 24; Lebanon and Louisville, Nov. 29;  Greensburg, Guthrie and Pikeville, Nov. 30; Boyce, Dawson Springs, Murray, Salem and Sebree, Dec. 1; Bardstown, Dec. 5; Clay, Fredonia, Harrodsburg, Hopkinsville, Irvine/Ravenna, London, Maysville, Monticello, Pineville, Richmond, Smiths Grove, Stanton and Trenton, Dec. 6; Arlington, Barbourville, Beattyville, Berea, Bloomfield, Bowling Green,  romley/Ludlow, Brownsville, Cadiz, Calvert City, Carlisle, Clinton, Columbia, Corbin, Cynthiana, Danville, Frankfort, Glasgow, Grayson, Greenville, Hawesville, Henderson, Horse Cave, Inez, Lawrenceburg, Leitchfield, Lexington, Madisonville, Marion, Middlesboro, Morgantown, Munfordville, Murray, Owingsville, Paducah, Prestonsburg, Rabbit Hash, Raceland, Russell Springs, Salyersville, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Somerset, Trenton, Versailles, Whitley City and Winchester, Dec. 7; Auburn, Georgetown and New Haven, Dec. 8; Augusta, Burkesville, Burnside, Campbellsville, Cave City, Elkton, Franklin, Louisa, Mayfield, Providence, Williamsburg and Woodburn, Dec. 14, and Tollesboro, Dec. 15.

Oh, Kentucky

Catching up from the weekend ...

Christmas parades: Sharpsburg, Nov. 9; Owensboro, Nov. 23; Lebanon and Louisville, Nov. 29; Guthrie, Mayfield and Pikeville, Nov. 30; Boyce, Dawson Springs and Murray, Dec. 1; Bardstown, Dec. 5; Fredonia, Harrodsburg, Hopkinsville, London, Monticello, Pineville, Richmond and Trenton, Dec. 6; Barbourville, Berea, Bowling Green, Cadiz, Calvert City, Columbia, Corbin, Cynthiana, Danville, Frankfort, Glasgow, Grayson, Hawesville, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Lexington, Madisonville, Marion, Middlesboro, Murray, Owingsville, Paducah, Rabbit Hash, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Somerset, Trenton, Versailles, Whitley City and Winchester, Dec. 7; Georgetown, Dec. 8; Cave City, Dec. 10; Burkesville, Burnside, Elkton, and Williamsburg, Dec. 14, and Tollesboro, Dec. 15.

Oh, Kentucky

And now Nelson County has received a giant gift, too.

Restoring the African American cemeteries in and around Boyle County.

Taking the first step toward safer parks in Middlesboro.

Glasgow has hired its first female police chief.

Bringing Hazard together at GameStop.

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

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."

Oh, Kentucky

Congratulations to the McCracken County High senior sponsored by Murray's American Legion Post 73: "Much like the dam was built to create and harness power, our forefathers built the Constitution to create and harness power – to empower the government to act at a national level, but harness that power so it did not infringe upon individual liberty."

The governor says he said he's sorry.

Congratulations to the 2018 Covington Catholic Colonels, the 1929 Heath Pirates and all of the other state champs in Kentucky high-school basketball over the years:

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

Good jobs news from Dixon, Hawesville, Jackson, Louisville, Madisonville, Monticello, Morehead and Wilder. Bad from Richmond.

I love a Hallmark store, and I'm sorry to hear the one in Glasgow is closing--but glad to hear it's apparently not for lack of business and that the one in Campbellsville will roll on.

Oh, Kentucky

I received this email from Marshall County High School today about their basketball doubleheader vs. Livingston Central. pic.twitter.com/eelhMh9Nbp

— Jeff Bidwell (@AKAJeffBidwell) January 29, 2018

At Marshall County for its doubleheader against Livingston Central. I expect it to be packed tonight. pic.twitter.com/PB887NwMkO

— Al Willman (@AlWillmanSports) January 29, 2018

Livingston Central's cheerleaders present Marshall County's with a banner at half court. It reads, "Two are better than one. One falls, the other is there. Though one can be overpowered, two can defend themselves. (We) are not easily broken."

— Al Willman (@AlWillmanSports) January 30, 2018

🧡💙🧡💙 thank you livingston pic.twitter.com/laaDGg057I

— Marshall Nation (@Marshall_Nation) January 30, 2018

#MarshallStrong pic.twitter.com/UTytHozJgW

— Livingston Schools (@live_red) January 30, 2018

#MarshallStrong pic.twitter.com/Q8LKnvqh9S

— Jen (@jgill_1225) January 30, 2018

Marshall County missed its winner and Livingston Central ran the floor and put up a shot with .2 left for the winner.

But it's waived off, and there can't be a review because...welp.

Free hoops, tied at 56.

— Edward Alan Marlowe (@dreamarlowe85) January 30, 2018

FINAL, BB: Marshall County edges Livingston Central 61-59 in OT at the reopening of Reed Conder.

Heckuva game. pic.twitter.com/JRamvVii8K

— Edward Alan Marlowe (@dreamarlowe85) January 30, 2018

Marshall County defeats Livingston Central in overtime, 61-59. pic.twitter.com/yNThmDh9wZ

— Ryan Hermens (@ryanhermens) January 30, 2018

Toughest pregame open I've ever had to write. pic.twitter.com/bYT6iqhkno

— Jeffrey Waters (@marshalsvoice) January 30, 2018

The people, yes. (Outstanding Bowling Green Daily News feature by Eliott Pratt here.)

I confess that I knew next to zero about any of the inductees-as-of-tomorrow to the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame: John Fox Jr. (1862-1919) of Stony Point and finally Paris, bell hooks of Hopkinsville and currently Berea College, Annie Fellows Johnston (1863-1931) eventually of Pewee Valley and Walter Tevis (1928-1984) periodically of Madison County, Carlisle, Hawesville, Irvine, Science Hill, etc.

Thank you for your service, Cpl. (Ret.) Bradford of Winchester, and enjoy your trip to Washington.

The Kochs, meanwhile, had Gov. Bevin out to Palm Springs this past weekend. 

Kentucky for sale:

Today is the deadline to file for primary candidacy in Kentucky.

After going from revenues of about $2,500 a day when UK was in session to about $2,500 a month when it wasn't, Lexington's near-campus Noodles is no more. But the Nicholasville Road location absorbed some of the employees from the old place. That's all per Kamillah Williams, who delivers a solid and detailed biz story in the Kentucky Kernel.

Oh, Kentucky

Beautiful morning. #PikeCoKY @WYMT @AndrewWYMT @ArdenWYMT @Kentuckyweather @ChrisWKYT @brobwx @nwsjacksonky @SpecNewsKY @JoshFitzWx @weatherchannel @WeatherNation @AMHQ @EarthandClouds @spann pic.twitter.com/pT7siZRAbE

— Mary Reed Runyon (@MaryReedRunyon1) January 22, 2018

 

I'll bet Matt Jones runs for governor next time if he doesn't believe Andy Beshear can win ...

Hiring in Lebanon and then "C'ville." Perhaps in Hawesville? Perhaps in Boyle County?

On legalization of marijuana, the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police (of Dawson Springs, which I did not know) is a nay.

Ah, good ... the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy completed--in clearer, more succinct form--what I was starting to do last week.

Oh, Kentucky

No running water in Martin County, and the Family Dollar in Warfield is out of bottled, per Taylor Frost with WYMT.

Owensboro's loss.

As Matthew noted last week, Kentucky is again a pioneer in dramatic change in the way that poor people experience healthcare coverage.

Good jobs news from Madisonville and Pikeville. 

Sweet Mark Story feature in the Lexington Herald-Leader on the unlikely friendship shared by Wes Strader and Kenny Walker.

For the fourth time, UK has won a third-straight Universal Cheerleaders Association national championship.

Oh, Kentucky

Chuck Culpepper returns to Rupp Arena and finds what he was looking for, for The Washington Post.

Year 2 of ice skating in Bowling Green commences Nov. 17.

Paducah International Racing gets back to business in 2018.

Sunset in central Kentucky, by @GtTheJeweler pic.twitter.com/uzf1nFfR69

— ScenesOfTheBluegrass (@BluegrassScenes) November 10, 2017

 

In Madisonville, "Keeping the Dream Alive: How is the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. relevant to your generation?"

What guidelines would you suggest for elective social-studies courses in "Hebrew Scriptures and the Old Testament of the Bible," "The New Testament of the Bible," and "Hebrew Scripture and the New Testament of the Bible?"

Christmas parades: Irvington and Owensboro, Nov. 18; Lebanon, Nov. 24; Danville, Nov. 25; Greenup, Nov. 28; London, Monticello and Richmond, Dec. 1; Barbourville, Beaver Dam, Fordsville, Georgetown, Hartford, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Madisonville, Murray, Somerset and Winchester, Dec. 2; Mount Sterling, Dec. 4; Lexington, Dec. 5; Bardstown, Dec. 7, and Cave City, Elkton, Hanson and Hopkinsville, Dec. 9.

Oh, Kentucky

Kentucky is on fire over state and local pensions, at a level I don’t recall seeing in more than 40 years of covering the state’s politics. https://t.co/HMZt3Pvh3O

— Al Cross (@ruralj) November 9, 2017

 

Christmas parades: Irvington and Owensboro, Nov. 18; Danville, Nov. 25; Greenup, Nov. 28; London, Monticello and Richmond, Dec. 1; Barbourville, Beaver Dam, Fordsville, Georgetown, Hartford, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Madisonville, Murray, Somerset and Winchester, Dec. 2; Mount Sterling, Dec. 4; Lexington, Dec. 5; Bardstown, Dec. 7, and Cave City, Elkton, Hanson and Hopkinsville, Dec. 9.

Not much about the parade in this CNN report on Hazard's Black Gold Festival.

Good jobs news from Bardstown, Franklin, Georgetown and Hawesville.

"Tipping point," "next level," etc. in Paducah.

Kentucky for sale:

Oh, Kentucky

Gov Bevin announces record year of economic development investment already in 2017 - $5.8 billion, he says. pic.twitter.com/UHZR9DPx0E

— Thomas F. Loftus (@TomLoftus_CJ) May 26, 2017

Beliles starts to get what he's looking for as Bevin begins to talk about house. https://t.co/PvPS57e8Sl via @courierjournal

— Thomas F. Loftus (@TomLoftus_CJ) May 27, 2017

The media asked for it and they got it. Watch Gov. Bevin set the record straight on #FAKENEWS.
Share this video! https://t.co/0EBoWiGjVK

— Governor Matt Bevin (@GovMattBevin) May 27, 2017

A sick man...@TomLoftus_CJ of the @courierjournal was caught sneaking around my home and property..Was removed by state police..#PeepingTom

— Matt Bevin (@MattBevin) May 27, 2017

If KSP had to "remove" Loftus (instead of just ask him to leave), there'd be a report.

Spoiler alert: Didn't happen like Bevin claims.

— Jacob Payne (@cattleprod) May 27, 2017

The bomb threat at the London newspaper plant turned out to be fake. The shots at the Herald-Leader, however, were very real.

"The difference, locals say, is affording three-bedroom house vs. being stuck in a trailer." My word, what a great piece of reporting and writing--Ana Swanson of The Washington Post on the president, trade, defense, aluminum and Hawesville. 

Happy 100th to Logan County's quieter legendary businesswoman, Sarah Frances Ballance Campbell, key supporter and supplier to Russellville High Panther football and marketing evangelist for First Baptist Church. "We may run out of cake."

Clark County's Trapp Elementary School is being turned into a home for homeless female vets and their families.

Madisonville is up from 15th to 13th place in Kiwanis International voting to pay for "all-inclusive" playground equipment at the city park. The top 10 advance to the next round. You can vote today and tomorrow.

A bear at the Somerset Walmart.

Oh, Kentucky

Regarding Florence Henderson's grand marshaling Owensboro's Nov. 21 Christmas parade, Owensboro Parent Magazine reports: "Florence sounds just as excited as the committee is. In an email to Owensboro Parent, Henderson said, 'Coming home to Owensboro is always a treat because I still have so many friends and relatives there! They are as excited as I am about the parade!' She added that she is very proud to say she spent her 'growing up' years in Owensboro, and thinks the improvements to the riverfront are 'spectacular!'"

Christmas parades: Hazard and Owensboro, Nov. 21; Harlan, Dec. 4; Bowling Green, Frankfort, Grayson, Hopkinsville, Munfordville, Murray, Paducah and Winchester, Dec. 5; Hickman, Dec. 8, and Elkton, Dec. 12. 

UK is in ConfUSA for soccer.

Kentucky is now ranked third nationally for business climate.

More of the state's children are living in poverty.

Marion County Public Library has a new bookmobile.

Good jobs news from Bowling Green and Corbin. Not as bad as feared in Hawesville.

The Prestonsburg perspective on Kentucky's schools improvement.

2011 #kygov vs. 2015 #kygov pic.twitter.com/hLuxjE52rk

— Joe Sonka (@joesonka) November 4, 2015