Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, KY) articles from June 2012

Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, KY) archives from June 2012

Sims Steps Down as Aces' Coach
June 12, 2012... Byline: Brad Stephens June 12--Mitchell Sims had to make a choice between his two families. There were his Owensboro Catholic High School baseball players, for whom he's been head coach the last two years and assistant coach the four...

EDITORIAL: Honor Flight a True Service to Vets
June 12, 2012... June 12--For the men and women who have fought and served for this country, there aren't many ways to show our gratitude. And for the nation's World War II veterans, there is a greater urgency to pay tribute to the soldiers known as the...

ROMP Stretches out a Little: Yoga, Radio Broadcasts, Children's Activities Added
June 12, 2012... Byline: Keith Lawrence June 12--After drawing more than 15,000 people to Yellow Creek Park last year, Owensboro's ROMP: Bluegrass Roots & Branches Festival is branching out to offer even more activities for crowds this year. Parts of...

Brant Gets out of Jail: Ex-Principal Given Shock Probation
June 12, 2012... Byline: James Mayse June 12--Allison Marie Brant, the former principal of St. Mary of the Woods School in Whitesville, was released from jail Monday after being granted shock probation. Brant, 34, was charged in 2009 with having sexual...

Clerk's Office Receives Archiving Grant
June 12, 2012... Byline: Joy Campbell June 12--The Daviess County Clerk's office has received a $42,360 grant from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives that will be used to scan mortgage books into a digital imaging system. "We will be scanning...

Art Museum to Host Events
June 12, 2012... Byline: Angela Oliver June 12--The Owensboro Museum of Fine Art museum will host its first Bourbon & Jazz Paintout, an en plein air, or "in the open air," competition in conjunction with the city's first Bourbon & Jazz Festival, which...

Local Dentists Work with Pike County Clinic
June 12, 2012... Byline: Meghann Anderson June 12--Local dentists Mike Johnson and Joe McCarty were among the many volunteers who provided free services during the fourth annual Remote Area Medical Clinic June 9-10 at Pike County Central High School. The...

Daviess County Public Schools Receives 'What Parents Want' Award
June 12, 2012... Byline: Megan Harris June 12--Daviess County Public Schools received the "What Parents Want" Award from SchoolMatch by Public Priority Systems Inc. for the 11th consecutive year. The 21st annual award is based on an independent survey of...

Lewisport Heritage Festival Will Showcase Local Talent
June 12, 2012... Byline: Meghann Anderson June 12--Pie-eating, loudest mouth and cutest couple contests are among the many activities taking place at the 23rd annual Lewisport Heritage Festival. The festival, which runs Thursday through Saturday, is in...

Apollo's Bivin Gets Another Elite Shot
June 11, 2012... Byline: Mark Mathis June 11--Apollo standout to play in Under-19 event in Texas Hunter Bivin will have another elite opportunity to display his football skills this summer. Bivin has been picked to play for the United States in the IFAF...

Early Spring Boosts Market
June 11, 2012... Byline: Keith Lawrence June 11--An early spring has meant more fruits and vegetables much sooner for the Owensboro Regional Farmers' Market, Charlie Ward, the market's president, said last week. "We've been seeing 18 to 20 vendors a day...

Nonprofit Center to Open: Agencies, Community Groups Get Space
June 11, 2012... Byline: Joy Campbell June 11--The public will get its first look at Owensboro's only nonprofit resource center -- the Ronald Lee Logsdon Community Center -- during a July 12 open house -- also designed as a fundraiser. At the center,...

Local Man to Portray Young Lincoln
June 11, 2012... Byline: Angela Oliver June 11--When Travis Black's mother would look for activities to keep him busy during summer, she stumbled upon children's theater. "She was just looking for something for me to do," Black said. "I knew I liked...

7 Restaurants Participate in Farm to Table
June 11, 2012... Byline: Meghann Anderson June 11--Participants in "Farm to Table, Vine to Glass," are hoping for a summer filled with people eating locally-grown food at downtown restaurants. Bill's Restaurant, Colby's Fine Food & Spirits, The Creme...

Music Park to Host Free Concert at Opening
June 11, 2012... Byline: Angela Oliver June 11--After two years of planning and restoring a 72-acre property in Hartford, Rickey and Susan Matthews hope to amplify the musical legacy of the area with the opening of the Kentucky Music Park. Its first event,...

Yellow Banks Seeking Foreign-Trade Zone Status
June 11, 2012... Byline: Megan Harris June 11--Now in its fifth year, Yellow Banks River Terminal LLC is seeking foreign-trade zone status for just less than four of its 100 acres on U.S. 60 East. If approved through the U.S. departments of Commerce and...

BRIEF: Boy Drowns at Diamond Lake
June 11, 2012... Byline: Keith Lawrence June 11--An 8-year-old Owensboro boy attending a birthday party at Diamond Lake Resort drowned Sunday, the Daviess County Coroner's office said. Deputy Coroner Darrell Day said Blaine Jewell was playing in a pool at...

Web Analyst Meets Goal of 50 States in 10 Years
June 11, 2012... Byline: Suzi Bartholomy June 11--When people retire, they often say they are going to spend their leisure years traveling, now that they have the time and money to go anywhere they want. Ten years ago, Adam Cecil made a promise to himself...

Mercy Academy Finally Breaks through for First Title
June 10, 2012... Byline: Jim Pickens June 10--HAVE MERCY -- the Jaguars of Louisville's Mercy Academy finally made it to the top. Runners-up three times previously -- twice to Owensboro Catholic -- Mercy had no mercy on a stout field in winning the 2012...

EDITORIAL: Restaurant Grades a 'Scarlet Letter'
June 10, 2012... June 10--The Green River District Board of Health needs to rethink a policy that could seriously hurt Daviess County restaurants if implemented. On June 26, the board will consider a plan that will force all eateries to display a letter...

Red Pixel Developer to Attend Apple Conference
June 10, 2012... Byline: Joy Campbell June 10--Red Pixel Studios in Owensboro will send its lead developer for Apple's mobile operating systems to Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference that starts Monday in San Francisco. This is the fourth consecutive...

A New Line: OMU Plans to Reap Millions from Capacity Market
June 10, 2012... Byline: Steve Vied June 10--Officials at Owensboro Municipal Utilities say they have found a way to capture $6.7 million in badly needed additional cash for the electricity produced at the Elmer Smith Station power plant. The money will...

Barn Quilt Trail Tours Planned for ROMP
June 10, 2012... Byline: Keith Lawrence June 10--Daviess County's 3-year-old Barn Quilt Trail will be getting some major exposure during the ROMP: Bluegrass Roots & Branches Festival on June 29-30. The Owensboro-Daviess County Convention &...

Seniors May Use Own Tech Devices
June 10, 2012... Byline: Megan Harris June 10--This fall, incoming seniors at Apollo and Daviess County high schools will participate in a pilot "Bring Your Own Device" program, giving about 700 teens the option to use their own technology in the classroom....

KSP Boosting Summer Traffic Patrols
June 10, 2012... Byline: James Mayse June 10--The Kentucky State Police are asking motorists to take extra caution during this summer's driving season, as the department launches its "Operation B.L.U.E. Lights" campaign. The extra precaution is necessary,...

Taking Aim
June 10, 2012... Byline: Keith Lawrence June 10--The Civil War lasted only four years. But Robert Smith of Cave City has been fighting it for the past 25 years. Smith, commanding officer of the modern version of the 6th Kentucky Confederate Infantry's...

Prince Hall Shriners Eye Larger Owensboro Presence
June 10, 2012... Byline: Angela Oliver June 10--Byron Owen has been in the Masonic order for 19 years. In January, he became the potentate, or president, of Cawthar Temple 118. Though the temple is in Evansville, he said that won't stop the fraternity of...

Greenword Eliminates Lady Aces
June 9, 2012... Byline: Cole Claybourn June 09--Owensboro Catholic's quest for its sixth softball state championship will have to wait another year. The No. 9 Lady Aces (31-12-2) fell to No. 3 Greenwood in the consolation bracket, 3-1, after a loss to...

Lady Aces Delivered Solid Showing to Cap Season
June 9, 2012... Byline: Mark Mathis June 09--The growth Owensboro Catholic High School's softball team this season was apparent with its performance in the Rawlings/KHSAA Fast-pitch Softball State Tournament. And that was quite pleasing indeed to coach...

Priest Faces Sex Abuse Charges: Incident Allegedly Occurred While Piskula Was Serving at Blessed Mother
June 9, 2012... Byline: James Mayse June 09--A former priest at St. Mary of the Woods Catholic Church in Whitesville and other Daviess County churches was arrested Friday by the Owensboro Police Department on charges of first-degree sodomy and first-degree...

Cooper May Leave Jail on Lowered Bond
June 9, 2012... Byline: James Mayse June 09--Daviess Circuit Court Judge Joe Castlen ordered Billy Wayne Cooper -- the former Apollo High School teacher's aide and coach who was indicted this week on sexual abuse charges --to be released from jail if he can...

Lambert Wants Iron Bridge Saved
June 9, 2012... Byline: Keith Lawrence June 09--The 127-year-old iron bridge that spans Blackford Creek on Ray Road in eastern Daviess County is coming to the end of the road. The state will soon replace the bridge that began life in the horse-and-buggy...

Mystery Fest to Offer Free Events
June 9, 2012... Byline: Angela Oliver June 09--The RiverPark Center will be bustling with mystery writers and fans during the International Mystery Writers' Festival, June 14-17. While many of the festival's components are only for registered or paid...

County Budget Sees a Few Changes
June 9, 2012... Byline: Keith Lawrence June 09--The $73.9 million budget that Daviess Fiscal Court passed Thursday night went through a few changes from the April work session where it was first proposed. In April, the proposed budget showed 1.5 percent...

Petition Drive Pushing to Keep Las Vegas Flights
June 9, 2012... Byline: Joy Campbell June 09--Two Owensboro women have collected about 1,700 signatures to send to Allegiant Air in hopes of getting the company to reconsider its decision to discontinue the nonstop flights between Owensboro and Las Vegas....

Sheriff's Deputies Investigate Smoke Grenade, Artillery Shells
June 9, 2012... Byline: James Mayse June 09--Daviess County Sheriff's deputies were called to a home on Keenland Parkway Friday morning to collect what the homeowners believed was a grenade and two live artillery shells. The Owensboro Police Department's...

Foster drives Lady Aces, 2-1.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Mark Mathis June 08--Carmon pitches Catholic to victory Owensboro Catholic's Olivia Foster has been a tough hitter in all kinds of situations this year. And the sophomore right fielder delivered in one of the most clutch...

Several upsets dot opening day of play.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Cole Claybourn and Brad Stephens June 08--Several upsets highlighted the first day of the KHSAA State Softball tournament at Jack C. Fisher Park. Ryle (22-13) upset No. 5 Christian County (31-7), 1-0, and Boyle County (31-11) knocked...

Chamber honors Fentress, 2 firms.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Joy Campbell June 08--John Fentress started Greener Owensboro Recycling almost two years ago as a part-time venture. He now operates GO Recycling as a full-time business with 620 residential and 65 business and civic customers....

Fiscal Court passes hotel room tax hike.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Keith Lawrence June 08--Daviess Fiscal Court unanimously approved an increase in the county's hotel room tax Thursday night to help fund the operations of the planned downtown convention center. But Commissioner Jim Lambert, the...

Center is now booking.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Steve Vied June 08--The opening of the Owensboro Convention Center is a year and a half away -- construction only recently began -- but Global Spectrum officials are already booking events for the center while seeking other customers...

Mirko Pasta coming to town franchise coming to former Beyond the Brim location.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Joy Campbell June 08--Cissy and Ted Watson will be bringing the Mirko Pasta franchise to Owensboro with a full-service Italian restaurant at 611 Emory Drive. That's the building where Beyond the Brim operated until it closed in...

Heroes' Return.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Meghann Anderson June 08--Tom Curtsinger said he was amazed at the number of people greeting the group of returning veterans Wednesday at Louisville's airport. "People who don't even know me were supporting my past actions because...

Man faces charges in death of stepfather.
June 8, 2012... Byline: James Mayse June 08--A Greenville man was charged Wednesday with murder for allegedly causing the beating death of his stepfather. Joel W. Allen, 39, of Greenville, was charged with murder and tampering with physical evidence in...

Singer McMillan will perform concert Sunday.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Angela Oliver June 08--Promiseland Metro Church hails itself as a non-denominational community that aims to reach out to all people. And the church has decided to bring an artist who shares their goal. The church will host John...

Owensboro native Bisson rewrites history in 'Any Day Now' SNbS.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Suzi Bartholomy June 08--A friend of Terry Bisson's hadn't even had a good start on Bisson's latest novel "Any Day Now," when he called him to tell him of a grave error in his book. His friend told him that (on Page 52) he had...

Reviews of bluegrass music releases.
June 8, 2012... Byline: Keith Lawrence VARIOUS ARTISTS, "Foggy Mountain Special: A Bluegrass Tribute to Earl Scruggs," Rounder. 12 tracks. "Foggy Mountain Special" was to have been a tribute to Earl Scruggs while he was living. But even though the 12...

Former Apollo Coach, Teacher's Aid, Charged with Sexual Abuse, Child Pornography
June 8, 2012... Byline: James Mayse June 08--A former Apollo High School teacher's aide and football and baseball coach was arrested Thursday morning on charges of sexually abusing a juvenile student and possession of sexually explicit material involving a...

Randolp guided Lady Aces thrugh ups and downs to solid finish.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Jim Pickens June 07--All's well that ends well, of course, and Owensboro Catholic High School is, indeed, back in the KHSAA State Softball Tournament for the 12th consecutive year, and for the 14th time in 15 seasons. Keeping the...

Lady Aces under the radar -- for once.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Mark Mathis June 07--Owensboro Catholic has owned the 3rd Region in softball. The numbers don't lie. The Lady Aces just packed their 12th consecutive 3rd Region championship in their trophy case. Wasn't supposed to happen, but it did....

EDITORIAL: Bourbon fest, alliance make sense.(Editorial)
June 7, 2012... June 07--Just as there are wine enthusiasts, bourbon has its own strong following. So it's no surprise that Owensboro is trying to capitalize on the popular spirits with a festival and accepting an invitation to join a tourism effort called...

Final cost put at $39.5 million.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Steve Vied June 07--The cost to build the downtown Owensboro Convention Center has grown to $39.5 million, which includes the spending of the entire $3.5 million in contingency funds that construction management company Denark...

At 14, Yewell's trek is going strong.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Keith Lawrence June 07--After 14 years, Owensboro attorney David Yewell wondered if his annual 13-mile treks through the hills of northern McLean and southwestern Daviess counties had grown stale. Sure, they had raised some...

Auditor wants handle on taxing districts.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Keith Lawrence June 07--Kentucky Auditor Adam Edelen announced Thursday that his office is launching a campaign to bring more accountability to special taxing districts in the state. The people who serve on the boards of these...

Identity of body still a mystery.
June 7, 2012... Byline: James Mayse June 07--The identify of a man found last week in an old barn in Spencer County, Ind., remains a mystery, but the Spencer County Sheriff's Department is treating the investigation as a homicide. The body, of a white male...

Fun & Rapport: Camp KOPS builds relationships between kids, officers.
June 7, 2012... Byline: James Mayse June 07--Although schools are closed for summer break, 32 grade-school children have been filling the gym and art room at Owensboro Middle School this week, as the Owensboro Police Department hosts the sixth annual Camp...

Nature center will host Dinosaur Day.
June 7, 2012... Byline: Meghann Anderson June 07--Tucked away behind some shade trees on 3870 W. Second St. (U.S. 60 W.) the Joe Ford Nature Center is waiting to be explored. Children and families are invited to attend the second annual Nature and...

Hume moves to boys' program at DC.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Mark Mathis June 06--Pat Hume has coached girls' basketball for a total of 19 years, counting the time he had been head coach at Daviess County and College View middle schools. He was the girls' basketball coach at Daviess County High...

Lady Aces 'battle-tested' entering state tournament.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Jim Pickens June 06--In his 17 seasons as head coach of the Owensboro Catholic High School softball team, George Randolph has never shied away from putting together a challenging schedule for the Lady Aces -- and he's never stopped...

EDITORIAL: Bloomberg in a 'nanny state of mind'.(Editorial)
June 6, 2012... June 06--New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has captured national attention with his proposed ban on jumbo-sized sugary drinks. As absurd and crazy as this all sounds, the largest city (8 million people) in the United States is on the verge of...

Hotel tax hike sailing along.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Keith Lawrence June 06--A decade ago when the RiverPark Center asked Daviess Fiscal Court to increase the county's hotel room tax from 3 percent to 5 percent to help pay off its debts, the Owensboro-Daviess County Tourist Commission...

Chamber to honor local businesses.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Joy Campbell June 06--Thirteen Owensboro businesses have been singled out as nominees for the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year awards, and the winners will be announced at...

Overhang wins easy approval.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Steve Vied June 06--An appreciative Owensboro City Commission unanimously approved an easement Tuesday that helps clear the way for downtown developers Larry and Rosemary Conder to construct a $3 million, 16,000-square-foot,...

Board approves tech wing plan.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Megan Harris June 06--POWDERLY -- Members of the Muhlenberg County Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday night in a meeting at its central office to approve design and development drawings for a proposed $10.6 million addition...

HistoryFest returns to Pioneer Village.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Meghann Anderson June 06--The second annual HistoryFest, Saturday and Sunday at Yellow Creek Park, will feature re-enactments, music and living history displays from the 1500s to World War II. Civil War and World War II...

Store manager charged with drug trafficking.
June 6, 2012... Byline: James Mayse June 06--The manager of a Bosley Road store was charged with trafficking in synthetic marijuana and other drug-related charges Tuesday afternoon, after investigators were led to the store by an anonymous tip. Officer...

Sisters are sole-searching for students.
June 6, 2012... Byline: Suzi Bartholomy June 06--Owensboro sisters Darlene Stelmach and Linda Humphrey are working toward providing new school shoes for children whose parents can't afford to buy them. Traditionally, when school starts children get new...

EDITORIAL: Kindergarten screening a waste.(Editorial)
June 5, 2012... June 05--Kentucky's kindergarten teachers should be insulted and taxpayers should be angry. That's because the state plans to unleash a new readiness screener -- checking adaptive, cognitive, communicative, motor and social-emotional skills...

Man charged after shooting, standoff.
June 5, 2012... Byline: James Mayse June 05--Following a Monday morning standoff with police, an Owensboro man with a previous conviction for manslaughter was charged with allegedly shooting a man Sunday night. Michael W. Carter, 59, of the 6500 block of...

City to consider overhang.
June 5, 2012... Byline: Steve Vied June 05--The Owensboro City Commission is expected to approve a request today from a local downtown developer to construct a four-story, retail-residential building that will feature a cantilevered portion that will hang...

Conders buy sixth downtown building.
June 5, 2012... Byline: Keith Lawrence June 05--Larry and Rosemary Conder have added a sixth building to their collection of historic properties downtown. And they plan to start construction on a replica of a seventh later this month. The couple recently...

City climbs in job growth rankings.
June 5, 2012... Byline: Joy Campbell June 05--Owensboro is ranked 22nd out of 243 small cities analyzed for the 2012 Best Cities for Job Growth and is listed 28th out of all 398 cities regardless of size. The rankings are from an online company,...

Tech wing is being considered.
June 5, 2012... Byline: Megan Harris June 05--The Muhlenberg County Board of Education will hold a special called meeting at 5 tonight in Powderly to consider the design and development drawings for a proposed $10.6 million technical wing at Muhlenberg...

Music added to events.
June 5, 2012... Byline: Angela Oliver June 05--It seemed The International Mystery Writers' Festival had it all -- literature, film, live theater, radio. But, the event committee couldn't forget the music. Internationally best-selling authors Jeffrey...

Two area nursing homes leased.
June 5, 2012... Byline: Joy Campbell June 05--Bon Harbor Nursing & Rehabilitation and Fordsville Nursing & Rehabilitation are among the 21 Kentucky skilled nursing facilities that will be leased to a new provider effective July 1. The changeover is a...

BRIEF: Cary bridge traffic restricted.
June 5, 2012... Byline: Messenger-Inquirer June 05--Traffic will be restricted to one lane on the Glover H. Cary Bridge in downtown Owensboro through about June 15, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to allow a detailed inspection of the bridge...

Lady Aces' Payne flourishing at, behind plate.
June 4, 2012... Byline: Jim Pickens June 04--Brooke Payne has been a season-long stalwart at the plate and behind it in 2012. Owensboro Catholic's senior catcher has thrived during her second season in the program, after transferring from Greenbriar...

Police: Retail fake pot sales down.
June 4, 2012... Byline: James Mayse June 04--Convenience store and other shops that were known to sell synthetic marijuana have largely removed it from their shelves since the passage of a state law banning the sale of the products, law enforcement officials...

Consultant still sought for rate study.
June 4, 2012... Byline: Steve Vied June 04--By mid-August, city and Owensboro Municipal Utilities officials expect to have a consultant's recommendations on the utility's power-generating options, along with a review of the utility's costs. But the...

Tasting to feature local cooks.
June 4, 2012... Byline: Angela Oliver June 04--Soon, local chefs will have a chance to share their dishes beyond their kitchens. The Owensboro Black Expo will host the Taste of Owensboro from 4 to 7 p.m. June 23 at the H.L. Neblett Community Center, 801...

Fair season begins in Muhlenberg County.
June 4, 2012... Byline: Meghann Anderson June 04--Summertime traditions often include Little League baseball games, local music festivals and county fairs. The Muhlenberg County Fair kicks off the summer county fair season June 4-9 at the Ag Center in...

Swim Safely.
June 4, 2012... Byline: Rich Suwanski June 04--As children and parents flock to swimming pools and lakes for water activity this summer, state officials said people should adopt healthy behaviors that will help prevent the spread of waterborne illness, as...

Bradshaw earns degree 20 years after OHS graduation.
June 4, 2012... Byline: Suzi Bartholomy June 04--Shelton Bradshaw graduated from Owensboro High School in 1992. Twenty years later, he graduated summa cum laude from California State University, Northridge, with a bachelor's degree in religious studies. ...

Restaurant changes sign, not owner.
June 3, 2012... Byline: Joy Campbell June 03--A new sign went up recently for Maloney's Pizza & Wings at 3030 Highland Pointe Drive just off of Kentucky 54 -- but the restaurant hasn't changed ownership. Owner Steve Maloney said the restaurant...