Rand Paul visits Bardstown to assist Higdon campaign for state Senate Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, 11:55 p.m. -- Dr. Rand Paul, a candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, was in Bardstown Monday night to stump for state Rep. Jimmy Higdon's campaign for the 14th District state Senate seat. For more on the fundraiser and photos, click here.

SPECIAL ELECTION 2009
'Vote Kentucky' survey highlights views of 14th District Senate candidates
Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, 11:35 p.m. -- The Vote Kentucky candidate survey for the Dec. 8 special election has been released. The survey features the candidates' views on 20 different topics as well as each man's top three priorities if elected. To download  your copy, click here (Adobe Acrobat required), or visit the Vote Kentucky web site at www.votekentucky.us.

Will gaming save the thoroughbred industry?.
Haydon voices strong support for slots, Higdon favors letting voters decide
Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, 6:35 p.m. -- Jodie Haydon and Rep. Jimmy Higdon squared off Wednesday night at a televised debate. Who won? Check "The Editor's Notebook" blog to get Jim's view on the first of two debates by the candidates for the open 14th District state Senate seat. Click here to read The Editor's Notebook.

Who's funding the candidates?
Family, equine interests, party among big donors to Haydon campaign
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, 11 p.m. -- Early  donors to Democrat Jodie Haydon's race for the open 14th District state senate seat includes a group of heavy hitters tied to family, friends, contractors, businessmen and the thoroughbred racing industry. Click here for more.

Haydon campaign donor list

Friends, business and political contacts contributing to Higdon campaign
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, 11 p.m. -- Early donors to Republican Jimmy Higdon's race for the open 14th District state senate seat includes area residents, business leaders and two presidents: One is president of a grocery chain and another who is president of a Kentucky bourbon distillery. Click here for more.

Higdon campaign donor list

Race for open state Senate seat ...
Haydon fundraising tops opponent Higdon by 2-to-1 margin
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, 3 p.m. -- The Associated Press is reporting that former state representative Jodie Haydon of Bardstown has raised more than twice the cash that his opponent, state Rep. Jimmy Higdon of Lebanon. In documents filed with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, Haydon reported raising $65,855 to Higdon's $31,655 between Oct. 1 and Nov. 6. The two men are candidates in the Dec. 8th special election to fill the seat vacated by former state Sen. Dan Kelly. Both candidates will be guests on upcoming broadcasts of WBRT's "Brooks & Company."

Tuesday, 7 p.m. at Parkway Baptist ...
Local town meeting set to examine expanding gambling issue
Monday, Oct. 12, 2009, 3 p.m. -- With the possibility of a special election in the event state Sen. Dan Kelly leaves the General Assembly to accept a judicial appointment, the Family Foundation of Kentucky is conducting a series of town meetings to examine the issue of expanding gambling. The state Senate has successfully blocked efforts to expand gambling, and the loss of Republican control of the Senate would bring casino gambling one step closer to Kentucky. The Nelson County town hall meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Parkway Baptist Church, 2580 Springfield Road in Bardstown. The Family Foundation's town hall meeting will examine the risks of expanding gambling, and detail the extensive efforts the casino lobby has used to "educate" the public.

How 'Tweet' it is ...
Gazette on Twitter: Get news as it happens on your phone, e-mail
Friday, Oct. 3, 2009, 10 p.m. -- Nelson County Gazette readers can now get updates of breaking news -- including the popular News Break Fire Report -- via Twitter. The Gazette's Breaking News "Tweets" can be sent to your e-mail or your phone, and only requires users to sign up for a free Twitter account.

Boston home destroyed in early morning two-alarm blaze Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, 3 a.m. -- An abandoned home at 90 Lebanon Junction Road, near the Boston Community Center in Boston, was heavily damaged by fire in the early morning hours Tuesday. Initial reports indicated the building may have had occupants trapped inside, but the building was later reported to be empty. Boston firefighters requested mutual aid from the Bardstown Fire Department. US 62 and US 61, Lebanon Junction Road, were both shut down for several hours while firefighters battled the blaze. Dispatchers received a 911 call about the fire at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The marker on the aerial photo above shows the area where an early morning fire destroyed a structure Tuesday in Boston (click image to enlarge).

Gone phishin': Alleged IRS e-mail is an attempt to steal personal info
Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, 2 a.m. -- If you receive an e-mail from the IRS that says you have unreported or underreported income, DO NOT click on the link in the e-mail. A massive e-mail spam campaign has hit Internet users all over the country who report receiving the e-mail to SNOPES, the Urban Legend reference web site. The text of the e-mail includes a bogus taxpayer ID and asks the recipient "Please review your tax statement on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website" and requests the user to click on a link to view their tax statement. The link is to an executable file that likely contains a virus or other malware. The IRS web site states it never contacts taxpayers via e-mail, using postal mail for all correspondence. Click here to visit the IRS web site to report phishing e-mails, scams and bogus web sites to the IRS.

Local districts prepared for objections to Obama's speech to schoolchildren
Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, 5 p.m. -- Nelson County's two largest school districts have plans in place  if students or parents object to view President Barack Obama's address to schoolchildren on Tuesday. Parents across the country have expressed concern the president is mixing politics and education in his message. Click here for more details.

Guthrie: Govt. should address health care, not destroy insurance industry
Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2009, 2 p.m. -- U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie told the Bardstown RotaryClub today he's in favor of improving health care access for uninsured Americans, but not a total restructuring of the health care industry as proposed in the three versions of the current health care reform legislation. Noting there are approximately 47 million uninsured Americans, Guthrie said "we should address (healthcare for) the 47 million, not change it for the other 200 million Americans covered by insurance." Click here for more of Guthrie's noontime comments at the Rotary's meeting at Xavier's.

Lightning strike may have sparked fire that razed historic Bloomfield home
Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, 1 p.m. -- The cause of the fire that destroyed the historic Duncan Hall home near Bloomfield will likely be listed as "undetermined." That's the word from Northeast Nelson Fire Department Chief Ted Shields, who was speaking Wednesday to the 2009 Class of Leadership Nelson County. Shields said he requested the state fire marshal's office to assist with determining the cause of the Aug. 2nd blaze. Though the official report has not yet been released, Shields told the group the fire marshal's office found insufficient evidence to determine the precise cause, but a lightning strike is considered to be a probable cause. The home, located at 2665 Springfield Road was built in the mid 1850s.

Woman sues Lawrenceburg police over toddlers death in local murder-suicide
Friday, July 31, 2009, 11:45 p.m. -- The mother of an 18-month old who died in a murder-suicide has filed suit against the city of Lawrenceburg and two of its officers, claiming they took the boy from her and placed him in his father's hands illegaly. Cole Frazier, 19 months, was shot and killed May 26 by his father, Timothy Frazier, 28, who then turned the gun on himself. The murder-suicide occurred at Timothy Frazier's home just north of Nazareth off Louisville Road. Candice Dempsey, Cole's mother, is seeking compensatory damages of more than $10 million, punitive damages of more than $10 million and a jury trial. The suit was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Frankfort. Click here to read the full story on the Lexington Herald-Leader web site.

WBRT to offer live coverage from Fancy Farm political picnic on Saturday
Friday, July 31, 2009, 11:30 p.m. -- For the first time in known history, local media will be providing live, as-it-happens coverage of the Fancy Farm political picnic. WBRT 1320 AM station manager Roth Stratton will be on hand for the politcal speeches at the 129th annual Graves County event. Local Democratic executive committee member Charlene Elizabeth Jones -- who recently has been been sitting in as co-host of WBRT's "Brooks & Company" program -- is also attending the event. Coverage begins after 2 p.m. on WBRT, 1320 on your radio dial.

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."

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.

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.

Out-of-town crews helping city restore power
Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009, 11:48 p.m. -- A utility crew from Barbourville, Ky., is one of the out-of-town crews assisting the City of Bardstown utility workers restore power in city neighborhoods. Thursday evening the crews had been working to restore power along Cathedral Manor and later in the Edgewood subdivision. The crews were still at work after midnight, trying to restore power to areas of South Third Street and Maple Hill.

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.

Constellation Brands sells former Barton Distillery as part of $344 million deal
Monday, Jan. 12, 2009, 4:33 p.m. (UPDATED 5:30 P.M.) -- The Kentucky Standard reports that employees of the former Barton Brands distillery in Bardstown were told today that the business has been sold to the New Orleans-based Sazerac Co. for $334 million. The sale of properties includes the Bardstown distillery and bottling operation; the Constellation Brands bottling operation in Owensboro and a leased bottling operation in Carson, Calif. More than 40 different spirit brands are part of the sale, including the bourbon brands long associated with Barton Brands. Constellation Brands will retain SVEDKA Vodka, Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey and Paul Masson Grande Amber brandy. Constellation's stock recently nosedived after the company reported a 30 percent drop in its third-quarter profits.

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.

NC bus drivers use 2-way radio to keep tabs on Wildcats in SEC tourney
Friday, March 9, 2007, 11 p.m. -- For many University of Kentucky basketball fans, today's SEC game against Mississippi State was nearly as important as a Final Four game. Bus drivers for the Nelson County School District didn't get to see the game, but thanks to the district's 2-way radios kept tabs on the game's progress. Click here for more.

Rumor Central: Furniture retailer to move into former Winn-Dixie
Wednesday, March 7, 2007, 11 a.m. -- Rumor has it that Louisville-based Fuirniture Liquidators -- and not Big Lots -- will open a retail store in the former Winn-Dixie location in the Kentucky Home Square shopping center at the corner of KY 245 and US31E. Click here for more.

The Ties That Bind ...
State GOP leader brings message of party unity in coming elections
Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007, 3 p.m. -- With a call for unity and a return to its core beliefs, the state GOP's interim chairwoman was keynote speaker at Saturday's Lincoln Day Dinner. Click here for more.

County attorney advises county to reject constable's bond
Tuesday, Feb 6, 2007, 9 p.m. -- Duly-elected constable Kevin Brumley had his day in Nelson Fiscal Court today in hopes he would wind up with the county approval of his bond and allow him to begin his offical duties. In the end he walked away disappointed. Click here for more.

Bardstown man pressing fiscal court over constable issue
Tuesday, Jan 23, 2007, 3 p.m. -- Kevin Brumley of Bardstown -- make that Constable Kevin Brumley of Bardstown -- hopes to be on the agenda of next Tuesday's Nelson Fiscal Court meeting in hopes he can get a question answered: Just what is the difference between a property bond and a performance bond? Click here for more.

Floyd, GOP chair don't agree on Fletcher ....
Copy editor on holiday: Paper flubs candidates's name
Thursday, Jan 18th 2007, 11 a.m. -- It's not an uncommon mistake among Democrats across the state, particularly those outside Jefferson County. I'm sure even Republicans mess it up too. But shouldn't our local newspaper have known there's only one "R" in Northup? Click here for more.

Second derailment of the week ....
Northup announcement may put an end to the Fletcher train wreck
Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007, 11 a.m. -- Former Congresswoman Anne Northup will file her candidacy paperwork this afternoon and formally announce her plans to seek the Republican nomination for governor. Click here for more.

Election surprises plenty of pundits ...
Heaton elected Bardstown mayor; Houghlin holds off challenger for coroner
Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006, Midnight -- Election 2006 isn't quite done nationally, but there's no denying it's been a night of electoral upsets in political races on local, state and national levels. Your editor spent Election Night at the WBRT studios with "Brooks & Ken Show" co-host Kenny Fogle, trying to keep tabs on who was winning and who was losing. Here's the election from down "in the trenches."Click here for more.

Dems take House, GOP keeps Senate ...
Weaver wins county, but Lewis surges to retain House seat
Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006, 1 a.m. -- U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis successfully defended his 2nd Kentucky Congressional seat last night in an election that was probably tougher fought than most district Republicans anticipated. Former state Rep. Mike Weaver touted his military experience and leadership in his congressional campaign, fending off criticism of his role in a National Guard pay-for-promotion scandal. Click here for more.

Fayette voters face 45 minute wait; local voting called 'steady'
Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006, 4 p.m. -- With just two hours left before the polls officially close in Nelson County, voter turnout has been reported in some precincts as "steady." More than 250 voters had cast votes by 10 a.m. in the Cox's Creek D3 precinct, and there was a line waiting when the polls opened. In some Fayette County precincts, voters stood in line 45-50 minutes. Judicial and local races are attributed to the high turnout.

Turnout heavy in some parts of state; local observations coming
Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006, 10 a.m. -- Voter turnout has been heavy in Fayette County, creating 30-minute and longer waits. In Jefferson County voters not knowing where to vote innudated the county cleerk's office and have prompted many to call Secretary of State Trey Greyson's office. To find where to vote, visit the Voter Information Center. Come back later for local updates and trends!

Kentucky a bellwether for U.S. House, Senate races
Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006, 2 p.m. -- There's no need denying that Tuesday's national election is going to be a tough one for the GOP. Not only is it shaping up to be a referendum on President Bush's leadership and the war in Iraq, it's also formiing into a Catergory 5 electoral hurricane named "Voters Want Change." Click here for more.

Race worth watching ...
County coroner's race seldom gets much notice -- until this year
Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, 5 p.m. -- The office of coroner in most communities isn't a very visible one. Incumbent coroners often run without opposition, and the race -- at least in Nelson County -- has rarely required much active campaigning. But a GOP coroner candidate has changed that this year. Click here for more.

Barton lawsuit meeting ...
Attendees cuss, discuss local environmental issues

Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006, 2 a.m. -- A crowd of about 20 people aired their complaints Wednesday night at Days Inn during a sometimes raucous meeting called to discuss the environmental issues related to the Barton Brands distillery. Click here for details.

Area residents question cleanup of former laundry property
Tuesday Oct. 17, 2006, 11 p.m. -- Property owners near the site of the former Bardstown Laundry and Dry Cleaners on North Third Street aren't sure they're seeing a substantial cleanup of hazardous materials from the site. According to the brother of a Bardstown City Councilman, "they haven't moved the first truckload of dirt out of there." Click here for details.

Weaver denies role in 1992 Ky. NG political scandal
Monday, Oct. 16, 2006, 9 a.m. -- In response to a new Lewis campaign TV spot, candidate Mike Weaver denied any role in the Kentucky National Guard pay-for-promotions scandal 14 years ago, telling the Lexington Herald-Leader he had no knowlege of the scheme. Click here for more.

Lewis calls on Weaver to drop out of race over Ky. Guard donation scandal
Friday, Oct. 13, 2006, 4 p.m. -- U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis is calling on state Rep. Mike Weaver to drop out of the 2nd District congressional race over his role in a Ky. National Guard scandal 14 years ago. Click here for more.

New Lewis campaign spot highlights Weaver scandal

Click to view.

Guardsmen who was kicked out brought info to Lewis campaign
Friday, Oct. 13, 2006, 7 p.m. -- William Y. Robbins, a former colonel in the Kentucky National Guard, said he brought the pay scandal to the attention of the Lewis campaign. He was one of the 25 men whom Weaver helped oust after they did not contribute to Brereton Jones' gubernatorial campaign. Click her for the story on the PolWatchers blog.

Blog: Weaver KET visit was hardly a 'debate'
Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006, 10:35 a.m. -- Mike Weaver, the Democrat challenger for Kentucky's 2nd District congressional seat, was featured Monday night in a debate on KET -- if you can call it that. Click here for more.

Bardstown man leads state caucus of black elected officials
Friday Oct. 13, 2006, 11 p.m. -- Restoring the voting rights of former felons tops the agenda set by Bill Sheckles, the Bardstown city councilman who was recently elected to head the Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, a committee that is part of the Kentucky League of Cities. Click here for the Courier-Journal story.

Police cruiser totaled in crash ...
Accident involving deputy sheriff mars National Guard deployment
Oct. 9, 2006, 11 p.m. -- An accident last Friday morning involving one of the buses transporting members of the Bardstown-based C Battery, 2nd 138th Army National Guard unit left one man injured and snarled traffic on KY245 for a period of time. Click here for more.

Layaway fadeaway ...
Nation's top retailer announces end to its layaway program
Sept. 14, 2006, 9 p.m. -- Yet another time-honored Christmas tradition is falling by the wayside -- at least at Wal-Mart. Christmas shoppers who plan to put holiday gifts on layaway have one last chance to do so. The Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced today it is ending its layaway program. Click here for more.

Rapier first local Dem to visit "Brooks & Ken Show"
Sunday, Sept. 24, 2006, 11:45 a.m. -- County school board candidate Nicky Rapier takes the honor of being the first local Democrat candidate to appear on "The Brooks & Ken Show." Click here for more.

No-show Democrats? ...
Local GOP candidates first to call for spot on "Brooks & Ken Show"
Thursday, Sept. 14, 2006, 11 p.m. -- The only candidates who have called to schedule an appearance so far on WBRT's "Brook & Ken Show" have been Republicans. Despite repeated on-air announcements, no Democrats have shown an interest, station owner Kenny Fogle said today. Click here for more.

Wife of former Bardstown mayor dies in Colorado
Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006, 7 p.m. -- Patricia A. Wilson, the wife of former Bardstown mayor Guthrie "Gus" Wilson, is reported to have died recently in Colorado. Click here for more.

Pat Wilson funeral is Friday in Cleveland, Ohio
Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006, 5 p.m. -- Pat Wilson's obituary as published in today's Cleveland Plain Dealer. Click here for more.

New Dollar General Market going in at former Wal-Mart building
Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006, 7 p.m. -- The mystery over the identity of the retailer preparing for operation in the remaining portion of the old Wal-Mart at KY245 and US31E is solved. Click here for more.

Two demolition projects will change the cityscape forever
Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2006, 1:30 p.m. -- With the demolition of two major buildings, the face of Bardstown's main corridor will see its greatest change in decades. Click here for more.

Mid-air collision leaves 1 skydiver dead, 1 injured
Saturday, May 27, 2006, 10:30 p.m. -- In one of the first fatalities in years, a skydiver died Saturday evening at the Greene County Sport Parachute Center near Bardstown after colliding in mid-air with another skydiver. The accident took place shortly before dusk in what would have been the final jump of the day. Click here for more.

3 airlifted from scene of Dump Hill head-on collision
Wednesday, May 24, 2006, 10:40 p.m. -- At least three people were injured Wednesday evening in a head-on collision in the Dump Hill curve of US 62 less than a mile west of Bardstown. Click here for more.

Gov. Fletcher indicted in merit hiring probe

•  BLOG: Indictments spell the end of the line for Fletcher's political career

State suspends students' role in bourbon barrel project
May 7, 2006 - State education officials, citing the controversy generated by local vocational students' work on what would be the world's largest bourbon barrel, have terminated the students' role in the project. Click here for more.

Toyota supplier to build parts plant in Bardstown
May 6, 2006 - A major Toyota parts supplier announced this week plans to build a $48.7 million plant in Wilson Industrial Part in Bardstown. Click here for details.

Bourbon barrel project filled with high-proof irony
April 29, 2006 - I wonder who else sees the irony in a project to pay homage to the bourbon industry that is being built using free labor from minors -- kids too young to drink -- and ironically, the same ones targeted by anti-alcohol messages at their schools. Click here for more.

Hill presents ambitious plan for downtown redevelopment
April 27, 2006 - Rick Hill, owner of Village Solutions LLC of Anchorage, Ky., put on an impressive show for a packed house at Kreso's Restaurant Wednesday evening. Hill was on stage at the old Arco Theater to present a final draft of a plan -- or "cookbook" in his words -- for the future of downtown Bardstown. Click here for details.

Eyeing run for attorney general ...
Erwin Roberts resigns as head of state personnel
May 5, 2006 - Erwin Roberts, the only African-American in Gov. Ernie Fletcher's cabinet, announced his resignation on Wednesday, May 3rd. Roberts was the featured speaker at the Nelson County Republican's Lincoln Day Dinner in February, where he told attendees he was eyeing a run as a Republican candidate for Kentucky Attorney General. For more click here.
Toyota a possible suitor ...
Tower Automative plant may soon be sold
Thursday, March 30, 2006 - Tower Automotive's Bardstown facility may soon become a division of Toyota Motors Manufacturing, according to sources both inside and outside the company. The facility, one of the parent company's few money-makers, has produced parts for automakers foreign and domestic. Click here for more details.

UPDATE: April 5, 2006 - Tower sets May 1st deadline for labor union negotiations on wage, benefit concessions; Milwaukee Tower Automotive plant closes; Greenville, Mich., plant layoffs set for June.

Final alignment announced ...
State releases final US31E project alignment
March 3, 2006 - Proposed final alignment will follow US31E from Nazareth to KY 509 in Cox's Creek, avoiding the need to cut through two subdivisions in the process.

Threat of bankruptcy filing may affect "Live At The Park" Louisville Orchestra performance
In show business, the old adage "The show must go on!" has one exception: when the show goes belly up. That's just what ticketholders for the local September performance of The Louisville Orchestra currently face in the wake of a possible bankruptcy filing by the orchestra after contract negotiations broke down.

The Orchestra is scheduled to perform Tuesday, Sept. 19th at the J. Dan Talbott Amphitheatre as part of the "Live At The Park" concert series. According to a story in the Jan. 21st edition of The Courier-Journal, the orchestra may cut its season short and file for bankruptcy protection.

Big Labor, liberal causes take on Wal-Mart with legislative agenda in Frankfort
On the heels of similar legislation passed last week in Maryland, the Kentucky General Assembly will this session consider a similar bill that will require retail giant Wal-Mart to spend more on employee's healthcare plans, or pay into a state Medicaid fund.

If you scratch below the surface just a bit, you'll find that this isn't a case of legislation to right a wrong, but legislation pushed by a national organizations trying to advance their own liberal agendas.