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

Hiring at the pen (starting at $14.25 per hour). Seeking someone with "a sincere passion for Henderson and our region."

Locals take over Owensboro's Towne Square Mall. Paducah downtown is amid a makeover (including a possible influx of Louisville investment). I love malls and downtowns, as well as Paducah and Owensboro, so this is all great news by my score.

Lexingtonwise, Sav's No. 2 has opened downtown; Drake's No. 14, in Hamburg.

Garbage goes private in Liberty.

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, 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

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

The Kentucky Department of Health says more than 60 county health departments are in jeopardy of closing within the next two years. Clark County's is one of them, and Whitney Liggett with The Winchester Sun has a very thorough report on how local officials are adapting to the crisis.

Facilities in Elsmere, Louisville, Owensboro, Paducah and Paintsville show up on a federal list of 400 problem nursing homes.

Here's the updated list of Need Line needed items in Murray, per the Murray Ledger & Times: mustard, potatoes, tea bags, bread, saltine crackers, pancake mix, pancake syrup, catsup, onions, Kool Aid, buns, peanut butter, pickle relish, pork and beans, sugar, Jiffy Mix, eggs, margarine, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, ground beef, hot dogs, chicken, toilet paper, dish liquid, laundry detergent, soap, plastic storage bags (1- and 2-gallon sizes), hotel or travel-size shampoo, lotions, soap and large brown bags.

Kentucky for sale:

Good jobs news from (Dave Cowens Drive in) Newport, (and between) New Haven and New Hope.

The guys opening the Alley on Main restaurant hope to capture some of Paintsville's history, and, with good Kentucky names like Estep and Pelphrey, that seems like a fitting plan.

A new Master of Science in Global Business with Blockchain Technology will be available this summer from the University of Cumberlands--and nowhere else in the state.

Rest in peace, "King" Kelly Coleman, "truly the greatest basketball player Kentucky has ever had." Great tribute from Josh Moore in the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Oh, Nelson County

Oh, Kentucky

Future seminars, chili suppers and ice-cream socials in Dundee will have a snazzy new home, thanks to First United Bank and Trust.

Meanwhile, the Ohio County Historical Center bean dinner, ...

Henderson County Schools' math emphasis appears to be paying off.

Sweeden Man Kills Copperhead In Grayson School Drop Off Line - https://t.co/4zvqfKoc8t pic.twitter.com/YJj0ZdoBdy

— The Edmonson Voice® (@edmonsonvoice) August 30, 2017

"Mammoth Cave will be the most suitable place to perpetuate the undying memory of the heroes of the world war. No more appropriate spot could be chosen for such a national monument than this gigantic hole which winds for miles under the hills and valley's of God's garden spot — Kentucky."

Meanwhile, how about Lexington Cemetery for Fayette County's Confederate monuments?

In fact, I saw a bald eagle just this past Saturday at Camp Kum-Ba-Ya near Fairdealing. Good for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.

For the 40th straight year, the cyclists are headed to their Old Kentucky Home--a little earlier than usual, though.

Oh, Kentucky

Rest in peace, Miss Trinity Gay, Lexington Lafayette High sophomore and daughter of a three-time Olympic sprinter.

Good jobs news from Hazard.

Tribe of the Whitetop Band of Native Indians members from Manchester recently traveled to North Dakota to protest oil-pipeline construction through sacred Sioux land.

It looks like pretty standard fare for tonight's Beaver Dam city-commission meeting, but I thought you might enjoy looking at this SurfKY News picture of the local municipal building as I did.

The 2016 Trigg County Country Ham Festival is in the books. Thanks to everyone who worked hard to make it a success. pic.twitter.com/6E5tYlBR89

— Cadiz Police Dept. (@CadizPolice) October 17, 2016

Thanks for the "gazette" 411, Russellville News-Democrat & Leader.

Zombie walks are huge around Kentucky now.

Christmas parades: Owensboro, Nov. 19, and Pikeville, Dec. 10.

Oh, Kentucky

Post by Munfordville First United Methodist Church.

OK, now we're getting serious, baby. Here is today's Christmas-parade lineup:

-- Berea, 

-- Bowling Green, 

-- Cadiz, 

-- Calhoun, 

-- Calvert City,

-- Campbellsville,

-- Carrollton, 

-- Clay, 

-- Clinton, 

-- Columbia, 

-- Dixon,

-- Flatwoods, 

-- Fordsville, 

-- Frankfort, 

-- Franklin,

-- Glasgow, 

-- Greenville,

-- Guthrie, 

-- Harlan, 

-- Henderson, 

-- Hopkinsville, 

-- Horse Cave, 

-- Island, 

-- Lewisport,

-- Madisonville, 

-- Marion, 

-- Morganfield, 

-- Morgantown,

-- Munfordville, 

-- Murray, 

-- Paducah, 

-- Park City, 

-- Pikeville,

-- Providence,

-- Salvisa,

-- Scottsville, 

-- Shelbyville, 

-- Tompkinsville, 

-- Trenton and 

-- Winchester.

Oh, to be Santa's driver today! I would freaking love to be driving him around the state today, delivering him to the tail end of each parade (and charging 56 cents per mile, plus meals and hot chocolate, in expenses). Of course, I wouldn't want to have to be in a hurry. 

One of the great things about being Santa Claus, it seems to me, would be that the systems of time and other constraints of our world do not seem to apply to him. That would be wonderful.

Plenty more parades are on the horizon after today: Boyce, Clay City, Dawson Springs, Evarts, Mortons Gap and Schochoh, Dec. 7; Mount Sterling and Stanton, Dec. 8; London, Morehead, Owingsville, Prestonsburg, Richmond and Whitesburg, Dec. 12; Benton, Burnside, Cave City, Livermore, McKee, Nicholasville, Princeton, Quality and Sacramento, Dec. 13; Auburn, Central City and Edmonton, Dec. 14, and Lewisburg, Dec. 19.

Class 3A State Champs -Russell Co. Mighty Laker Marching Band - 2014 Christmas Parade pic.twitter.com/XiEm5tFZhG
— Michael A. Ford (@fordmich) November 30, 2014

New Haven KY Christmas parade. pic.twitter.com/7yfqQvEuU4
— Michelle Burfield (@deerspooker82) November 30, 2014

See photos from last night's Christmas Parade in downtown Lexington. http://t.co/HboYMKZDsT pic.twitter.com/92CdAv7QO1
— heraldleader (@heraldleader) December 3, 2014

Oh, Kentucky

Controversy comes to Gethsemane.

Louisville's getting a bunch more trees.

Madisonville's narrowing down to just one.

Owensboro is showing off its new riverfront at this weekend's International Barbecue Festival.

They're coming to your town (Glasgow and Morgantown); they're help you party down; they're the Kentucky Historical Society.

The @sports_cj front today after a historic #NFLDraft by Louisville football. pic.twitter.com/3VFgWNOQhL
— Creig Ewing (@acewing) May 9, 2014

Oh, Kentucky

Good jobs news from Georgetown. Great from Winchester.

Ford ramps up, too.

The Baptists retool.

Bell County passes.

"Downtown Louisville ... is well-positioned to continue to be the area’s and the state’s economic engine, officials said."

Western Kentucky tourism ascends.

H&S Charolais Farm near Caneyville reportedly has broken the record at the Mid-Kentucky Livestock Market in Upton, with the auction of a 1,480-pound cow for $1 per pound.

Here's the beef.

Among Kentucky's new "Ones:" Bardstown's Stephen Foster Story, Danville's Great American Dollhouse Museum, Horse Cave's Kentucky Down Under, Lexington's American Saddlebred Museum and Headley-Whitney Museum, Louisville's American Printing House for the Blind and KentuckyShow!, Lynch's Portal 31 Exhibition Mine, Petersburg's Creation Museum, the Pikeville Cut-Through Project and Winchester's Beer Cheese Festival and Ale-8-One.

The Middle Creek Clock invented by Thomas Zane Roberts includes a "Seth Thomas timepiece, a planetarium, a lunarium, and a dial showing the days of the week. ... The planetarium contains an abbreviated model of the solar system, built to scale, and shows the earth’s position relative to Jupiter, Mars and Venus. The orbit of each planet is precisely geared: while Venus gains one degree of arc in 1,656 days, Jupiter loses one degree of arc over 250 years."

Tougher tests.

A new library for New Haven.

Vine Grove, too?

But not Goshen.

Oh, Kentucky

H! M! S!

Twitter overnights: An eventful last 12 hours for future, current and former Wildcats

The Kentucky Society for Human Resources rolls out its annual best-places-to-work-in-the-commonwealth list. It says a lot about me that when I saw Zappos has operations in Shepherdsville, I thought to myself, "Man, I didn't know those great potato chips were made in Kentucky."

Is Westboro bringing its act to Louisville and Owensboro?

The Incredible Colon is scheduled to bring its to Elizabethtown.

Take that, Billy Donovan!

Kenny "Sky" Walker also envisions a post-Rupp UK hoops.

Mr. Paxton goes to Washington.

Taking the new mayor's lead in New Haven.

Sen. Jimmy Higdon (R-Lebanon) dopes the final days of Real Legislature.

3,827 and done: A Nelson County all-time (ah) footba(h)ll great runs on to Morehead State.

If the singing Bears can make it there, ...

Oh, Kentucky

Gov. Steve Beshear bucks The Heath Post.

Eighty-two deaths per month.

Speaking of drugs, ...

Economic recovery in E-town.

Good jobs news for Louisville: "(E)ight businesses ... were approved for state and local tax incentives on Thursday based on plans to add more than 400 jobs to the area," reports The Courier-Journal.

TWITTER BOMB!

On 21 Jump Street, Catcher in the Rye, The Goonies and more.

The new mayor tells The Kentucky Standard that New Haven needs a civic club.

Soulja Boy brings his "Swag" to Diddle Arena.