Political call-in radio show to continue as 'Brooks & Company'
Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 9 p.m. -- While Tuesday marked the final broadcast of "The Brooks & Ken Show," it doesn't mean the end of local talk radio focusing on politics on 1320 WBRT in Bardstown. During the final "Brooks & Ken" broadcast today it was announced that the weekly political talker and call-in show would continue as "Brooks & Company." Roth Stratton, WBRT's station manager will join host Jim Brooks in the studio to discuss local, state national and internation events and politics. The weekly program will air 11 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays.

WBRT's 'Brooks & Ken Show' ends three year run of political talk, opinion
Monday, June 29, 2009, 9 pm. -- The final broadcast of The Brooks & Ken Show will air 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 30th on 1320 WBRT in Bardstown. Kenny Fogle, who along with his wife Donna, owned and operated the 1000-watt station, will officially turn the business over to its new owners on July 1. Click here for more and to find out how to listen online.

Consumer alert: Beware of door-to-door furniture sales pitch
Monday, June 8, 2009, 1:15 p .m. -- Nelson County residents should be on the alert for a crew of individuals trying to sell furniture from the back of a truck. According to an eyewitness, a truck packed with furniture stopped at a Bardstown assisted living community to sell what was termed "high quality" furniture at discount. The furniture on the truck had list prices in the thousands of dollars, and was being offered for pennies on the dollar. According to the Wisconsin Consumer Protection Office, scams involving sales like this are not uncommon. The trucks often have signs indicating they are from North Carolina, or have the name of a reputable furniture maker. The furniture the customer receives is typically of inferior quality that could be purchased for less locally. The pitchmen for such sales typically explain their truckload as a canceled shipment to a retailer, and they are authorized to dispose of the merchandise rather than return it. If you are asked to look at furniture being sold from a truck, closely examine the construction and quality. You may also request to see their license for selling their wares locally. Remember: "If it looks too good to be true, it usually is."

Liberals misguided in attempt to define conservatives as 'extreme'
Sunday, June 7, 2009, 12:25 a.m. -- Liberals have been busy trying to mischaracterize conservatives and conservative principles as out-of-touch and extreme. Columnist David Limbaugh points out that the reverse is actually true: America's liberal left is far more extreme than conservatives. Click here for David Limbaugh's spot-on commentary.

Fogle family announces sale of WBRT
Monday, May 25, 2009, 8:55 p.m. -- In a press release sent to media outlets Monday evening, Kenny and Donna Fogle announced they are selling WBRT-AM 1320 to a group with strong ties to Central Kentucky radio. The new owners plan few changes that listeners will notice, Fogle said. The station's focus during the Fogle family's ownership was on local news and sports. Fogle brought back Nelson County High School sports into WBRT's programming, added several new local talk shows, held two cooking shows, started and has maintained the Colgate Country Showdown national talent search for six years, promoted many charitable and community-based services among other shows and services. Please click here for the full text of the press release.

Annual Memorial Day service honors those who defend our freedoms
Monday, May 25, 2009, 2:15 p.m. -- Longtime broadcast journalist Tom Isaac stepped out from behind the camera as guest speaker at today's Memorial Day service at the Bardstown Cemetery. The annual event is sponsored by Bardstown's two American Legion posts, Post 121 and 167. Click here for the story and to view photos from the service.

Bardstown man charged with illegally importing wild turkeys
Sunday, May 24, 2009, 11:25 p.m. -- Nine people, including a Bardstown man, have been charged with 421 counts of illegally importing, owning or selling wild turkeys, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Saturday. According to the Lexington Herald-Leader, Stan Hurst, 28, of Bardstown faces the greatest number of charges -- 168 counts of importing, possessing or selling wild turkeys. It is illegal for the general public to have live wild turkeys in Kentucky, and wildlife transportation permits are required for bringing wildlife into the state. Fifteen wild turkeys and 25 wild turkey eggs were seized in the statewide investigation dubbed "Operation Toxic Turkey." The investigation began last August after investigators heard a commercial on a Bardstown radio station for live eastern turkeys for sale. Hurst is employed by Bardstown Mills, a family-owned business. In a YouTube video on the company's web site, Hurst is said to be the nutrition specialist at Bardstown Mills.

Download list of affected properties ...
List of problem sewer properties includes churches, schools, businesses
Sunday, May 18, 2009, 9 p.m. -- The list of properties that will be required to make repairs after failing the City of Bardstown's smoke tests include a wide variety of properties new and old, residential and commercial, scattered across a wide section of Bardstown neighborhoods. The Nelson County Gazette obtained a list of the properties that failed the smoke testing from former city council candidate Kevin Brumley, who obtained them in an Open Records request. The properties on the list include Spalding Hall; the Bardstown City Schools campus; Bethlehem High School; the old courthouse; the First Baptist Church; St. Monica Catholic Church; Bluegrass Exposition & Convention Center; the Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral, Colonial Home Nursing & Rehabilitation; My Old Kentucky Home State Park; and a large concentration of properties in Bardstown's older neighborhoods. The smoke testing was performed in the summer of 2007 by Strand Associates, a Louisville engineering consulting firm. The defects allow storm runoff and other water to enter the city sewer system. The city of Bardstown is sending letters to property owners regarding the defects, and asking them to have repairs completed by the end of this year. To view the list of properties that failed the city's smoke testing, use the links below.

Smoke Test Results Page 1 | 2 |3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Local dealership spared ...
Chrysler announces plan to drop 9 Kentucky dealerships; closest is in Bullitt County
Friday, May 15, 2009, 9 a.m. -- On Thursday Chrysler announced it is dropping 789 dealers in its network as part of its bankruptcy reorganization. Nine of the dealers on the list are in Kentucky. The list include Alex Montgomery in Mout Washington and two Neil Huffman deaerships in Louisville. The remaining seven dealerships on the list include Brown's Chrysler Jeep Dodge, Paintsville; Drake Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Monticello; Epp's Jeep, Middlesboro; Lee Chrysler Dodge, Pineville; Ray's Chrysler Dodge Jeep in Brandenburg and Zimmer Chrysler Jeep in Florence. The list does not include Conweay-Heaton in Bardstown. Conway-Heaton carries all three Chrysler brands, Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep, which was one of the factors considered in determining which dealerships would be dropped.

GM dealers learn today if they will be in the 1,200 dealerships the automaker will drop

Chrysler plan to shed 800 dealerships may have local impact
Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 7 p.m. -- The Associated Press is reporting that on Thursday Chrysler will announce it will be shedding up to 800 of its 3,200 dealerships in the wake of the company's reorganization in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The AP's sources report that on Thursday the company will file a list of dealers it wishes to retain with the bankruptcy court. The dealership cuts are mandated as part of the government's loans the company will receive. It is unknown if the cuts will include the local Conway-Heaton dealership. The AP report states that Chrysler will favor dealerships that, like Conway-Heaton, carry all three brands -- Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep. Other criteria the company will use in its decision include whether the dealership has bet sales goals, their profits, how well capitalized they are and the conditions of their facilities.

Related stories:
Chrysler bailout favors UAW. Obama denounces bondholders as "speculators" who by law should be repaid before the UAW.

OP-ED: Chrysler, Obama spin the truth about plant closings. Official word was "no jobs lost;" 5 plant closings were announced the next day.

OP-ED: Obama-UAW theft, payoff. Obama ignores rule of law to pay off UAW for election support.

Customers to pay more to fix sewer woes ...
City hit with new fine for sewer overflows, will publish sewer improvement plan
Friday, March 27, 2009, 11:50 p.m. -- Earlier this month the City of Bardstown was fined an additional $5,000 for repeated sewer overflows along the Town Creek Interceptor line. According to a press release issued by the city, on March 19th the Kentucky Division of Water found the City in violation of the Agreed Order Mayor Dick Heaton signed in December that specified actions the City would take to correct chronic sewer overflows along Town Creek. Click here for more.

Sazerac completes purchase of former Barton Brands distillery
Thursday, March 26, 2009, 9 a.m. -- New Orleans, La.-based Sazerac Co. has completed its $334 million purchase of labels and faciliites of Constellation Brands, including the former Barton Brands distillery operation in Bardstown. The purchase includes a large bottling and warehousing operation in Owenboro. Sazerac acquired 40 brands in the deal, which closed on Tuesday. The brands including Kentucky Gentleman, Kentucky Tavern, Ten High, Very Old Barton and Tom Moore. Employees at the distillery told the Gazette this weekend the sale would be completed this week following a three-day "quiet period." According to published reports, the acquisition of the former Barton distillery, now known as the Tom Moore distillery, will allow Sarerac to expand its bourbon tourism business. Sazerec formed a joint venture with Frankfort, Ky.-based Buffalo Trace Distillery in 2002. Sazerac president and CEO Mark Brown is based at the Buffalo Trace distillery. Brown said in the press release that the new acquisitions will complement Sazerac’s efforts to expand its bourbon export business. The acquisitions will bring Sazerac’s Kentucky employment to 650, the release said. The company plans to add 100 jobs in Kentucky over the next five years, During Constellation's ownership, a plan for visitors center at the distillery was announced but never completed.

Will he stay or will he go? ...
OPINION: Democrats target Bunning's 2010 re-election bid
Thursday, March 5, 2009, 11 a.m. -- Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning has been all over the news of late since his Lincoln Day Dinner address to the Hardin County GOP in February. The Late Great Newspaper to our North, The Curious-Jumble, reported the story and highlighted Bunning's 39-second comment about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who had undergone treatment for pancreatic cancer. That and other gaffes attributed to Bunning highlight one important political truth: Getting reelected doesn't always depend on how well you've done your job. Click here to read Jim's commentary.

Worst month for Wall St. since 1933 ....
Kudlow: Obama has declared war on investors, business owners, entrepreneurs
Friday, Feb. 27, 2009, 6 p.m. -- “In his recent address to Congress, President Barack Obama "declared war on investors, entrepreneurs, small businesses, large corporations, and private-equity and venture-capital funds," writes CNBC's Larry Kudlow. "That is the meaning of his anti-growth tax-hike proposals, which make absolutely no sense at all — either for this recession or from the standpoint of expanding our economy’s long-run potential to grow ... Essentially, the Obama economic policies represent a major Democratic party relapse into Great Society social spending and taxing."Click here to read the complete text of Larry Kudlow's column on the CNBC web site.

President instilling fear, not confidence....
Morris: There's good reason for Obama's doom & gloom rhetoric
Friday, Feb. 27, 2009, 4:35 p.m. -- “President Obama, in his pursuit of liberal big-government spending, has totally neglected the role of the president of the United States in reversing global panic,” writes former Bill Clinton advisor Dick Morris. "Why does Obama preach gloom and doom? Because he is so anxious to cram through every last spending bill, tax increase on the so-called rich, new government regulation, and expansion of healthcare entitlement that he must preserve the atmosphere of crisis as a political necessity. Only by keeping us in a state of panic can he induce us to vote for trillion-dollar deficits and spending packages that send our national debt soaring.” Click here to read the complete text of this Dick Morris' column in The Hill.

Obama gambling higher taxes won't hurt economy....
WSJ: The only way to pay for Obama's spending plans are higher taxes on middle class
Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009, 11:35 a.m. -- President Obama's promise that taxpayers earning less than $250,000 won't pay more taxes ignores one economic reality: His tax hikes on the "top 2 percent" of income earners won't raise nearly enough revenue to pay for his ambitious spending proposals. An editorial in today's Wall Street Journal points out that the Administration is also assuming that higher taxes don't impact growth or job creation. "The bottom line is that Mr. Obama is selling the country on a 2% illusion." Click here to read the complete text of this Wall Street Journal editorial.

No truth to rumor regarding Flowers Foods
Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009, 1:35 a.m. -- The rumor going around the community that Flowers Foods is hiring only illegal immigrants to operate their new bakery is not true. That's the word from Kim Huston, president of the Nelson County Economic Development Agency. The rumor apparently started when a major subcontractor from out of state arrived to work at the site employing a crew of what were assumed to be immigrant workers. Huston told the Gazette her office has received a number of phone calls regarding the matter. Flowers Foods has advertised for several jobs in local media, and Gazette sources confirm the company is conducting interviews with local applicants to fill those jobs. Flowers Foods produces and markets a wide variety of fresh and frozen bakery goods under the name brands Nature's Own, Cobblestone Mill, Sunbeam, Bunny Bread, Blue Bird, and others.

Missteps put Obama's reputation at risk ....
ROVE: Is the Obama Administration simply winging it?
Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, 9:35 a.m. -- "Team Obama demonstrated remarkable discipline during the presidential campaign," writes Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff to President George W. Bush. "From raising an unprecedented amount of money to milking every advantage from the Internet to grabbing lots of delegates from inexpensive caucus states, they left nothing to chance. And now the administration has scored a major legislative victory: President Barack Obama signed the largest spending bill in American history. Nevertheless, this fast start can't overcome a growing sense the administration is winging it on issues large and small. Click here to read Rove's comments in the Wall Street Journal.

Surprise announcement at Lincoln dinner ..
Local man announces intent to run for Nelson County sheriff in 2010
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009, 9:35 a.m. -- Bardstown resident Rick McCubbins announced his intention to seek the office of Nelson County sheriff at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday night at Old Kentucky Home Country Club. McCubbins, formerly a Louisville Metro police officer, is current serving as a U.S. Marshal with the U.S. Department of Justice. He is a native of Louisville, and holds a Masters degree in criminal Justice. McCubbins said he will retire as U.S. Marshal and file for the office early next year. He will enter the race as a Republican candidate.

More Lincoln Dinner coverage coming!

Local groundhog sees shadow, predicts six more weeks of Town Creek sewer overflows
Monday, Feb. 2, 2009, 5 p.m. -- A groundhog seeing his shadow today typically means six more weeks of winter weather. But according to a video report by a former city council candidate, the legend of Bardstown's own groundhog -- "Bourbon Bill" -- states that seeing his shadow means six more weeks of overflowing city sewers along Town Creek. Click here for the story and a link to the video.

County clerk responds to criticism over library building decision
Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009, 2 p.m. -- Nelson County Clerk Phyllis Mattingly took time today to appear on "The Brooks & Ken Show" on WBRT-AM 1320 this morning to respond to critcism aimed at her decision not to move into the former Nelson County Public Library building on Court Square. Mattingly explained her decision on the show, and released a statement regarding her reasons. Click here to read the full text of Mattingly's response.

Faulty heater sends three to hospital for CO poisoning
Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009, 1:24 p.m. -- A faulty kerosene heater is believed responsible for a case of carbon monixide poisioning at a home on Stinson Drive in Bardstown. Nelson County EMS transported a patient to Flaget Memorial Hospital complaining of being short of breath. The ER determined the patient suffered from CO poisoning. The Bardstown Fire Department responded to the home to check for CO levels for the safety of other occupants in the home. The home did show high CO levels and EMS is transporting the home's two additional occupants to the hospital. Both complained of shortness of breath.

NC Gazette back online after 15-hour power outage
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, 9:11 p.m. -- Power remains out to thousands of homes across Nelson County in the wake of the worst ice storm in at least a decade. The county's emergency manager activated the Emergency Operations Center, pulling in emergency agencies in order to pool and manage resources. Nelson County EMS transported people needing shelter to the American Red Cross shelter at the Bardstown Middle School. Road crews, firefighters, police and volunteers spent much of Tuesday night and Wednesday clearing roads of fallen ice-coated trees and debris. Reports to the Gazette via ham radio state that ice storm damage is widespread across Kentucky. Major power transmission line supports were snapped by heavy ice loads. Paducah tonight is under curfew, and Kentucky National Guard units are patrolling the streets. Shelters were opened in many communities, including larger cities like Louisville, Paducah, Bowling Green and Owensboro. Western Kentucky seemed particularly hard hit by the storm. Click here for the Gazett'e Ice Storm Roundup.

American Red Cross opens shelter at Bardstown Middle School
Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009, 8:45 p.m. -- The American Red Cross is opening a shelter at the Bardstown Middle School. The shelter is aimed at those who have no power and require electricity to operated medical equipment.

Ky. Standard parent company mandates wage freeze, unpaid furloughs
Monday, Jan 26, 2009, 9:30 p.m. -- Editor & Publisher magazine reported Monday that Landmark Communications, the parent company of Landmark Community Newspapers and The Kentucky Standard, announced a chain-wide wage freeze that will be combined with five unpaid days off during the first half of 2009. Michael Abernathy, president of the Shelbyville, Ky.-based Landmark Community Newspapers, said the steps are being taken to try to protect jobs during the economic downturn. The furlough will start with Presidents Day Feb. 16, and occur on one Monday a month through June, reported The Roanoke (Va.) Times. Landmark, a diversified media company that also publishes the Trader vehicle classified advertising publications, has been hit hard by the industry downturn. Last year, it put all its papers up for sale, later withdrawing them from the market. Click here for full story on the E&P web site.

Bread, milk fly off shelves ...
Snow, ice to blanket county tonight through Tuesday night
Monday, Jan 26, 2009, 9 p.m. -- Nelson County is under a Winter Storm Warning through 1 a.m. Wednesday. Snow will begin by 1 a.m. with expected accumulation of 1-3 inches. On Tuesday, snow will turn to periods of freezing rain and sleet before 1 p.m., then periods of rain, freezing rain and sleet with a high near 32 degrees. Ice accumulation of .1-.3 of an inch is expected, along with up to 1 inch of new sleet. Periods of rain or freezing rain will continue Tuesday night, turning to snow early Wednesday morning. Less than one inch of new snow is expected. Use extreme caution if traveling overnight through Tuesday evening, as untreated roads will become snow covered and slick. Click here for the National Weather Service forecast for Bardstown and Nelson County.

National Weather Service radar

Magistrate responds to column, outlines support for changing planning commission members
Monday, Jan 12, 2009, 6 p.m. -- In a response to an column posted here last Tuesday, Magistrate Tim Hutchins defends his call to change the make up of the Joint City-County Planning Commission. "As an elected official I feel that it is my responsibility to attempt to make these changes." Hutchins writes. "Should I ignore the constituents' wishes as Mr. Brooks suggests and allow the Planning and Zoning committee to run this county? I don't think so." Click here to read the full text of Magistrate Hutchins' response.

YouTube video captures Fiscal Court debate on planning commission appointment
Monday, Jan 12, 2009, 10:15 p.m. -- Former city council candidate Kevin Brumley has posted two videos of the discussion at the Jan. 6th meeting of Nelson Fiscal Court over the appointment of developer Harold Wimsett to the Joint City-County Planning and Zoning Commission. Click the links below to view the videos.

Video 1 / Video 2

OPINION: Good government or political retaliation?
Tuesday, Jan 6, 2009, 3 p.m. -- Magistrate Tim Hutchins says that "change" is needed on the Joint City-County Planning Commission. The commission's sin? Going against the wishes of Nelson Fiscal Court on four occasions. In the debate over the reappointment of commission chairman Mike Zoeller, this writer seeks to know if what taxpayers are witnessing is good government or simply political retaliation? Click here for more.

Ho! Ho! Ho! Overflow!

Santa visits sewer construction site, leaves gifts for city officials
Monday, Dec. 22, 2008, 5 p.m. -- Former city council candidate Kevin Brumley was documenting sewer overflows along Town Creek Saturday when he said he was shocked to see Santa and his reindeer leaving the area after leaving some "gifts" for city officials. Click here to view the YouTube video of Santa's presents.

Winter weather blamed for county cell phone outage
Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008, 3:21 p.m. -- Cellular telephone service to thousands of customers of AT&T and other carriers was disrupted for several hours today after seven AT*T cell towers went off-line. The outage occurred sometime about 10 a.m. and lasted until after 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. According to a customer service representative at the AT&T store in Bardstown, the store had received numerous calls about the outage, which was blamed on the snow and ice that blanketed Nelson County overnight. This writer found a "hot spot" that offered a weak but useable signal in front of Thompson's Food Mart in Maple Hill. Even that service was intermittent and conversation was difficult to to static.

Steve Outing: Newspapers must adapt or die a slow, lingering death
Friday, Dec. 26, 2008, 8 p.m. -- When the American Press Institute gathered 50 newspaper CEOs in Reston, Va., recently for a one-day "industry crisis summit," corporate turnaround gurus who had assessed the participating companies' financials bluntly told the group just how at risk their industry is -- how outright failure loomed if they don't quickly reinvent themselves. While details from the exclusive, closed-door session are scant, from outward appearances it doesn't appear that the industry executive brain trust miraculously worked out a solution to their shared problems. A post-summit press conference by API meant to summarize the outcome was abruptly canceled at the last minute. That's probably not a good sign in terms of an actionable planning having been hammered out. To survive, newspapers need to dump their old ways of thinking and thing boldly. Click here for Steve Outings' column on newspapers' surival.

Walter Williams: Global warming rope-a-dope
Friday, Dec 26, 2008, 7:30 p.m. -- Americans have been rope-a-doped into believing that global warming is going to destroy our planet. Scientists who have been skeptical about manmade global warming have been called traitors or handmaidens of big oil. U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer said it was "criminally irresponsible" to ignore the urgency of global warming. U.N. special climate envoy Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland on May 10, 2007 declared the climate debate "over" and added "it's completely immoral, even, to question" the U.N.'s scientific "consensus." The global warming scare has provided a field day for politicians and others who wish to control our lives. After all, only the imagination limits the kind of laws and restrictions that can be written in the name of saving the planet. Click here for more of this column by Walter Williams.