Clothes

Kelly Burchett is a rare man, indeed. He actually enjoys cleaning clothes. “It’s a fun job,” he says. The key word in that remark is “job.” Burchett earns his living dry-cleaning clothes. For 25 years, the Junction City resident has been manager of Rainbow Cleaners in Danville where he oversees some 30 cleaners, counter workers and drivers. And Burchett and his crew deal with a lot of clothes and a lot of customers. “I’d say on average we clean 3,000 to 4,000 pieces a day,” he says.

It is a stark contrast between what kids wear to school today compared to what my generation wore. Actually, as I look back on it, the style even changed a lot from when I entered first grade to when I¿went to high school - and I¿don't mean age wise. Of course, I wore age-related clothes in school, because I¿wore different clothes as I¿got older. It is the style high schoolers wore when I¿was in first grade compared to the clothes high schoolers wore when I was in high school that I have in mind.

I have to tell you about something that has plagued me most of my life - keeping my closet organized.   I have to admit to being someone who hangs on to clothes for years, even if I still can't fit into them. Somewhere in my mind, I just know that I will be able to either wear them again or they will come back in style.    Yes, I have been doing a lot of daydreaming, lately. I still envision that happening. I just got rid of a sweater I wore on a date with my husband nearly 25years ago, so that should give you a clue as to how old some of these clothes are, as well as my sentiments that go along with them.

STANFORD - More than a dozen Kentucky state troopers responded to the Stanford Walmart Saturday morning, but there were no crimes in progress or any shady business going on. The troopers were on-hand to help 66 local children do some memorable Christmas shopping. Kentucky State Police spokesman Paul Blanton said 2012 was a very successful year for his organization's annual "Shop With a Trooper" event. In all, the local KSP post provided free Christmas gifts and clothes to 141 children at the Richmond and Stanford Walmarts.

HARRODSBURG - A former inmate of the Boyle County Detention Center says nearly $400 worth of his clothes were stolen from the jail property room. Brandon Yocum of Mercer County reported the theft to the Joint Jail Committee at its regular meeting Friday at the Mercer County Fiscal Court offices. Yocum told the committee that his mother had purchased the clothing for him and he had never worn them. Missing are four pairs of pants, three shirts and one pair of shoes and the replacement cost for them is $390.

I got the iron and my new adjustable ironing board out the other night for Wayne to press a pair of slacks for me. That's right, Wayne. He can put a crease in slacks that will last through several washings, and he never has a double crease - something I have had trouble with when I have them professionally done.Anyway, I just plugged in the iron and saw the red light come on and then pushed the button to the right fabric indicator. I guess several years ago, all women had a wash day. We did - rain, snow, hail, sleet or whatever - Monday was wash day. I often wondered if the old wringer washer would work on any other day because it was never hooked up except on Monday.

T-N-T Dynamite Clothing owner Tim Turner wouldn't say his store has exploded onto the Danville shopping scene since it opened Aug. 7, but he is optimistic that once more customers step inside his store, they'll like what they see. T-N-T, located at 725 S. Second St., sells both men's and women's clothing and accessories. The focus of the store is "rap culture," Turner said, but notes he has something for everybody and will gear his collection toward "whatever the community needs.

Shannon Morton was happy from the moment she got out of the car. The van door slid open and the 3-year-old was waving at people she didn't know as she walked into Kmart early Sunday morning. She knew Christmas was inside. Among the toy shelves, she found her favorite present: a doll half her size whose arms moved. "It works!" she exclaimed, before picking it up and proudly carrying it through the store. Her helpers followed behind with the buggy full of clothes and the rest of her presents from Shop with a Cop. For the 16th year, members of Winchester-Clark County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 34 and other community volunteers closed their year with an early morning shopping trip to help children have a better Christmas.

When people think about saving money, they often think about extreme coupon users who carry around their big binders and spend most of their free time clipping and filing coupons. But there are so many ways to save money that don't involve devoting your entire life to coupons. Here's a few ways I save money - the stress-free way. Use coupons for what you normally buy.  Very few people really need 25 bottles of mustard or 50 boxes of Hamburger Helper.  But every family needs to buy toothpaste and detergent.

The Salvation Army needs people to bring gifts for the Angel Tree names they have taken. "We hand out the gifts on Monday and need time to get them ready," said Capt. Zach Bell. "Also we are in need of new children's clothes of all sizes. We particularly need girls sizes 4/5, 6, and XL16 and boys sizes 4/5, 6/7, 14, and 16. We also need Infant boy clothes. The clothes are our biggest concern right now, so if people would like to go and buy clothes for these sizes and bring them by the Army, it would be a big help for us. " So far, the Salvation Army has raised $38,000 in kettle donations.

Do you sometimes wish you had an easy way to earn a little extra spending money? We're not talking about get-rich-quick schemes - we're talking about a couple of extra dollars to spend, for items such as a new toy for the kids or a new book for your vacation. There are several easy ways you can pick up extra cash with just a little creativity. n Look at your bookshelves: Many people have stacks of books on their shelves they no longer want to read. Maybe you finished a college course and still have the textbook, you've finished reading all the “Twilight” books or your kids have finished the board-and-picture-book stage.

When people think about saving money, they often think about extreme coupon users who carry around their big binders and spend most of their free time clipping and filing coupons. But there are so many ways to save money that don't involve devoting your entire life to coupons. Here's a few ways I save money - the stress-free way. Use coupons for what you normally buy.  Very few people really need 25 bottles of mustard or 50 boxes of Hamburger Helper.  But every family needs to buy toothpaste and detergent.

STANFORD - A Stanford woman who grew her garage-based sewing and alterations business into an international sportswear corporation was recognized by the Kentucky Small Business Administration in 2012 for her unique story. Beulah Hester, founder and owner of Ump Attire, was featured at the SBA's lenders' conference in November as a "Small Business Success Story. " Today, Ump Attire does close to $4 million in website sales every year and uses facilities in multiple states and other locales to manufacture and distribute its products, Hester said.

One of the important jobs you have as a parent is to help your child to become a responsible person. You can begin teaching responsibility to your child with “the little things,” such as asking him to put silverware on the dinner table, to put away his clothes or to fold washcloths while you fold towels. At times, you can create a game with your child in order to teach responsibility to him. One way to do this is to ask him to pick up toys from the floor and then have a race to see which one of you picks up the most toys.

STANFORD - More than a dozen Kentucky state troopers responded to the Stanford Walmart Saturday morning, but there were no crimes in progress or any shady business going on. The troopers were on-hand to help 66 local children do some memorable Christmas shopping. Kentucky State Police spokesman Paul Blanton said 2012 was a very successful year for his organization's annual "Shop With a Trooper" event. In all, the local KSP post provided free Christmas gifts and clothes to 141 children at the Richmond and Stanford Walmarts.

It has been said that timing is everything. If so, opening a new boutique downtown just in time for the Great American Brass Band Festival was nothing short of a brilliant business strategy, especially considering the men's and women's fashions inside are ready-to-wear perfect for just such an occasion. “Yeah, we are excited,” Jonathan McWilliams said just before The Clothes Horse opened last week. He co-owns the store located at 115 N. Third St. with his wife, Whitney.

Like most teen girls, 15-year-old Jessica MacMillan is passionate about fashion. Her favorite color is purple, and she “loves shoes too much.” But there is one fashion trend MacMillan is trying to buck, and she wants to encourage other girls to do the same. As a devout Christian, MacMillan said she is troubled by how revealing clothing styles in America have become, and the message being sent to young girls. This Saturday, MacMillan wants to expose girls ages 8-12 to a different kind of fashion, one that is fun and trendy, but also takes into consideration modesty and age appropriateness.

Christmas came early this year for director Judy Crowe and Clark County Community Services in the form of a large donation of merchandise from local businessman Rankin Paynter. Paynter purchased the remaining inventory of the Winchester Kmart, which closed May 6, and donated it to Community Services. He also rented a vacant downtown building to store the massive amount of clothing, shoes, housewares and other items until Crowe and her helpers can sort though and organize the items.

Everyone has to spend money to buy clothes. The key is figuring out how to stretch each dollar to cover all your clothing needs. Whether you are shopping for new or gently used clothes, there are many ways to save a little money and get some real life deals. Clearance and consignment ** Shop summer clearance: Many stores have their summer clothes on clearance. I have seen summer clothes discounted for 70-80 percent off at stores ranging from the local Dollar General stores to Children's Place, Kohl's and Old Navy.

It is a stark contrast between what kids wear to school today compared to what my generation wore. Actually, as I look back on it, the style even changed a lot from when I entered first grade to when I¿went to high school - and I¿don't mean age wise. Of course, I wore age-related clothes in school, because I¿wore different clothes as I¿got older. It is the style high schoolers wore when I¿was in first grade compared to the clothes high schoolers wore when I was in high school that I have in mind.