Booster Club

Dear Editor: As the head football coach at Boyle County High School, it is my privilege to recognize the generosity of the Southwestern High School football boosters and fans. After a recent article about our kicker, Patrick Barsotti, the boosters of Southwestern made the decision to donate their portion of the "split the pot" raffle to support Team Barsotti in the Light the Night walk for leukemia this Saturday night in Lexington. "Split the pot" is a fundraiser where boosters sell raffle tickets to fans who attend the game.

Former Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff Rob Oney entered a guilty plea to misdemeanor theft on May 31. Oney was accused in February of using money from the Waynesburg Little League Booster Club for personal use. Several checks written on the booster club account were returned for insufficient funds which sparked the investigation. It was later discovered that Oney, who was also the former president of the booster club, had repaid all money he used. Sheriff Curt Folger suspended Oney in February, but Oney later resigned.

Dear Editor: In October of 2005, our son Nathan Bustle was diagnosed with leukemia. This was devastating news for our family. We were able to get through each day because of the support we received from the people in the community. My family and I would like to thank everyone for all of the cards, phone calls, donations, and above all, the prayers. We didn't realize just how kindhearted people in our community could be. The citizens of Lincoln County really stepped up and circled around our family to let us know that we were not going through this terrible time alone.

Term not meant to be negative In the Oct. 11 edition of The Jessamine Journal, Jonathan Kleppinger reported on the board of education's discussion of the West Jessamine Baseball Team's proposed trip to Vero Beach over spring break. The article quoted the term “funny math.”  Unfortunately, some believed this term reflected poorly on the leadership of the team's booster club. Nothing could be further from the truth.  The discussion never involved questions regarding the character or integrity of any individual or organization.

Nearly a year after the inaugural VisitNich.com Bowl, the Nicholasville Tourism Commission voted to donate money to boosters to make up for concession profits that boosters say they lost to free food in a hospitality area. During discussions about this year's bowl games last Thursday, July 19, commission member and school-district athletic director Ken Cox said the hospitality tent set up at last year's event fed many more people than intended. Commission treasurer Roberta Warren made a motion to donate $500 to the East Jessamine football boosters.

The state Department of Charitable Gaming is conducting a criminal investigation into the Winchester Lions Club and its bingo operation, said Deputy Commissioner Bob Sparrow, who is in charge of receiving complaints for the department. According to information obtained through an open records request filed by The Winchester Sun, the club's license expired Aug. 2. It was issued for the club to host bingo on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Winchester Bingo Hall, 840 Bypass Road. Through the open records request, the Sun obtained copies of documents showing that the Lions Club was subleasing the bingo hall from George Rogers Clark Athletics, Inc. George Henry II, the contact listed for the GRC Athletics gaming license, said the booster club is the “facilitator” of the Winchester Bingo Hall, acting as a manager of the building.

Will Weaver won't be Mercer County's football coach after all. One day after calling the chance to coach at Mercer "a special opportunity," Weaver was on his way back to Madisonville after deciding to return to the job he had left behind. Mercer principal Terry Yates said Weaver told him Wednesday morning that he had changed his mind about coming to Mercer and wanted to remain at Madisonville-North Hopkins. Weaver had spent the night in Harrodsburg and had met with the Mercer players, and Yates said it was after that meeting that the coach met with him. Yates said Weaver apologized, saying he had "a change of heart about coming to Mercer" and "felt it was in the best interest of him and his family" to remain at Madisonville, where he has coached for the past two years.

Aug. 11, 1984 A note-burning ceremony was Sunday at the Central Baptist Church to commemorate paying off indebtedness of the church's Family Life Center. Participants included David Griffith, Georgetown, chairman of the Construction Committee; Garrett Brown, chairman of the Together We Build Finance Committee and the TWB Debt Retirement Committee; Floyd Poer, TWB treasurer; G.T. Cowan, chairman of the Investigation Committee, which studied the feasibility of building the combination educational and activity facility; and Dr. Dan Francis, current pastor of the church.

The West Jessamine baseball team will play at home in memory of a fallen athlete at the Les Clem Memorial Classic this weekend. "He was just an outstanding young man, as well as an outstanding athlete in all three sports," said Richard Collins, treasurer of the Booster Club, about Clem, a WJHS student tragically killed in an accident in 2001. Collins said the Colts will battle some of the state's finest teams in the classic. Games begin tomorrow at 5:30 p.m., Boyd County against Louisville Eastern.

Boyle County High School's football team won state championship rings for all four fingers and the thumb from 1999-2003, now the school's booster club is asking for help buying the first piece of hardware for the other hand. Todd Tiller, head of the Quarterback Club, said the cost of state championship rings is around $300 per person and the group wants to purchase 135 for the 104 players, along with coaches and other staff. Tiller said the club hopes to raise the money by March.

Term not meant to be negative In the Oct. 11 edition of The Jessamine Journal, Jonathan Kleppinger reported on the board of education's discussion of the West Jessamine Baseball Team's proposed trip to Vero Beach over spring break. The article quoted the term “funny math.”  Unfortunately, some believed this term reflected poorly on the leadership of the team's booster club. Nothing could be further from the truth.  The discussion never involved questions regarding the character or integrity of any individual or organization.

Nearly a year after the inaugural VisitNich.com Bowl, the Nicholasville Tourism Commission voted to donate money to boosters to make up for concession profits that boosters say they lost to free food in a hospitality area. During discussions about this year's bowl games last Thursday, July 19, commission member and school-district athletic director Ken Cox said the hospitality tent set up at last year's event fed many more people than intended. Commission treasurer Roberta Warren made a motion to donate $500 to the East Jessamine football boosters.

The state Department of Charitable Gaming is conducting a criminal investigation into the Winchester Lions Club and its bingo operation, said Deputy Commissioner Bob Sparrow, who is in charge of receiving complaints for the department. According to information obtained through an open records request filed by The Winchester Sun, the club's license expired Aug. 2. It was issued for the club to host bingo on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Winchester Bingo Hall, 840 Bypass Road. Through the open records request, the Sun obtained copies of documents showing that the Lions Club was subleasing the bingo hall from George Rogers Clark Athletics, Inc. George Henry II, the contact listed for the GRC Athletics gaming license, said the booster club is the “facilitator” of the Winchester Bingo Hall, acting as a manager of the building.

While walking in the door of a public school is free for students, many extracurricular activities after the bell rings can strain the family budget. The Jessamine County school district and several youth-sports organizations in the county offer assistance to level the playing field for families who are struggling financially. The policy of Jessamine County Schools is that no students who make a sports team will be denied the chance to participate due to their financial situation.

Former Lincoln County Deputy Sheriff Rob Oney entered a guilty plea to misdemeanor theft on May 31. Oney was accused in February of using money from the Waynesburg Little League Booster Club for personal use. Several checks written on the booster club account were returned for insufficient funds which sparked the investigation. It was later discovered that Oney, who was also the former president of the booster club, had repaid all money he used. Sheriff Curt Folger suspended Oney in February, but Oney later resigned.

HARRODSBURG ? Mercer County coach Chris Souder wants to turn the Kentucky National Guard Titan Christmas Clash into one of the state's premier holiday girls basketball tournaments. So to that end, Souder said fans shouldn't expect to see too many cupcakes in the 16-team tournament, which begins Monday. "It's really loaded, but that's what I wanted to do. I want to get to where this us one of the more prestigious tournaments in the state," Souder said. "To do that, you have to have some big dogs come in here to play.

Boyle County High School's football team won state championship rings for all four fingers and the thumb from 1999-2003, now the school's booster club is asking for help buying the first piece of hardware for the other hand. Todd Tiller, head of the Quarterback Club, said the cost of state championship rings is around $300 per person and the group wants to purchase 135 for the 104 players, along with coaches and other staff. Tiller said the club hopes to raise the money by March.

Aug. 11, 1984 A note-burning ceremony was Sunday at the Central Baptist Church to commemorate paying off indebtedness of the church's Family Life Center. Participants included David Griffith, Georgetown, chairman of the Construction Committee; Garrett Brown, chairman of the Together We Build Finance Committee and the TWB Debt Retirement Committee; Floyd Poer, TWB treasurer; G.T. Cowan, chairman of the Investigation Committee, which studied the feasibility of building the combination educational and activity facility; and Dr. Dan Francis, current pastor of the church.

No need to clinch your wallets so tight. Sutton's Restaurant is coming to the rescue. The restaurant is looking forward to lightening the financial load for parents, students and organizations. The business is branching out through various fundraisers. The first fundraising event will be a pancake breakfast on Saturday to support the Boyle County High School Band and Booster Club. Public relations spokesperson Myrna Miller explained the fundraiser as simple and convenient.

Will Weaver won't be Mercer County's football coach after all. One day after calling the chance to coach at Mercer "a special opportunity," Weaver was on his way back to Madisonville after deciding to return to the job he had left behind. Mercer principal Terry Yates said Weaver told him Wednesday morning that he had changed his mind about coming to Mercer and wanted to remain at Madisonville-North Hopkins. Weaver had spent the night in Harrodsburg and had met with the Mercer players, and Yates said it was after that meeting that the coach met with him. Yates said Weaver apologized, saying he had "a change of heart about coming to Mercer" and "felt it was in the best interest of him and his family" to remain at Madisonville, where he has coached for the past two years.