Blog

The Jessamine Journal continues its feature in cooperation with The Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky. The Rural Blog publishes brief articles from rural newspapers, as well as stories about rural issues published by other media. Readers can get more details by going to the blog at www.ruraljournalism.org and clicking on the links where indicated. More moving to the country; sprawl damaging ecology "For the first time in more than a century, more people are moving to rural areas than from rural areas," according to a report in Ecological Applications, based on data from 1950-2000.

"Raintree County: i-Witness to History's" second episode can be found at http://raintreecounty.blogspot.com/. A description of the whys and wherefores of the location is posted on the home page. Plus, viewers can post comments. Where to buy it I failed to mention where LaMoure's book, "Get Right: The Games People Play," can be purchased. Currently, it's available online at Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. It also is available at the Lexington Barnes and Noble store.

Assistant Sports Editor Hal Morris is experimenting with podcasting on his music weblog. Listen and tell him what you think.

Dear Editor, My congratulations to The Advocate-Messenger for the leadership it has shown in blogging the Caldwell murder trial. This blog keeps those of us not in the courtroom informed of interesting details and insightful comments on this history-making trial. Law schools will use this blog to embellish the court record, which I am sure will be of great interest to judicial scholars. The inside the courtroom blog is an excellent use of technology, as Mr. Nelson learned at a national journalism conference.

Editor's note: This will be a regular feature highlighting some of the classes offered by Danville-Boyle Community Education. Blogging basics Liz Maples is a journalist who likes to embrace technology. That's one reason she blogs, but there are many circumstances that merit using the venue. "There are a lot of reasons why people can blog. If they went on a trip, they can make a travel journal. If they're in college and they're busy, they can make a blog and then they won't have to send mass e-mails.

It took a year of training for war - and just a second for the bomb to detonate, sending a soldier back home.On Jan. 19, Winchester native Lance Cpl. Matthew Bradford stepped on an explosive device while performing his duties in Haditha, Iraq. The 20-year-old lost both legs, his left eye and most of his sight in the other. His small intestine was damaged and his bladder ruptured. Shrapnel blasted into his elbow and wrist. Bones were broken in his right hand. Matt, who lived here until he was 12, was treated at Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Maryland, where he recently had surgery on his eye. He was moved Wednesday to a hospital in Richmond, Va. His aunt, local resident Terri Stepp, has spent most of her time with Matt since he returned to the U.S. for medical care on Jan. 21. He spent two weeks with her in Winchester before being deployed Nov. 12 for overseas duty, and had talked to his family just eight hours before he was injured.

Stories about adventure opportunities in Kentucky are now available online with a new blog from the state’s Office of Adventure Tourism. Regional writers will provide material for the “Outdoor Adventure Blog.” Some of the topics already covered include winter hiking, Mammoth Cave, goose hunting, eagle watch weekends at state parks and various travel options in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. The blog can be viewed at www.getoutKY.com. The blog currently features eight writers covering four regions: west, east, north central and south central.

Photo intern Ben Richardson has posted some shots that he took at a Boyle County soccer practice for a story on dealing with the heat. View them on his blog.

Ben Kleppinger, The Advocate-Messenger's Garrard County reporter, has a new blog focused on coverage of Garrard County called "Garrard County Conversations. " The blog is an experiment in "truly community-driven journalism. " Kleppinger posts daily about what stories he is covering in Garrard County and what events are going on, and blog readers have the opportunity to comment or e-mail him with story ideas, sources or anything else on their minds. The goal is to generate informed conversations about local news and issues and allow residents to participate in their own coverage.

"Your Voice" is a blog on amnews.com where Roger Trent, director of the Boyle County Health Department, will answer questions and post the latest developments as officials monitor the spread of swine flu in Kentucky and around the globe. "Your Voice"on amnews.com also provides general precautions to guard against the H1N1 flu and related information. The blog, which allows readers to post comments, can be found in the pulldown menu under Blogs on the homepage. Also on amnews.