Contests

Results of the Conkwright Middle School catapult and trebuchet contest have been announced. Students had six weeks to design and build the launchers. Information taken from the exercise was integrated into social studies and math assignments. Mini-Catapults and Trebuchets — launched marbles Distance: First: Amy Horn, 38 feet Second: Tristen Raines, 35 feet, 5 inches Third: Sydney Anderson, 23 feet, 3 inches Speed: First: Tristen Raines, 48.3 mph Second: Kyla Arrowood, 39.2 mph Third: Amy Horn, 28.8 mph Small Catapults and Trebuchets — launched small balls Distance: First: Zack Conkwright, 110 feet Second: Jessica Neal, 82 feet Third: Kyle Gousha, 44 feet, 7 inches Speed: First: Zack Conkwright, 41.7 mph Second: Shelby Stocker, 37.5 mph Third :Jessica Neal, 34.9 mph Medium Catapults and Trebuchets — launched tennis balls Distance: First: Evan Wright, 81 feet Second: Colby Birkes, 54 feet Third: Katie Allen, 47 feet, 8 inches Speed: First: Katie Allen, 29.6 mph Second: Evan Wright, 29.0 mph Third: Colby Birkes, 28.3 mph Large Catapults and Trebuchets — launched soccer balls Distance: First: Clayton Biddle, 124 feet Second: Amanda Potts, 71 feet Third: Dustin Summers, 26 feet, 10 inches Speed: First: Clayton Biddle,16.9 mph Second: Amanda Potts, 12.4 mph Third: Dustin Summers, 11.1 mph

Editor’s note: Candidates in four state legislative races involving area counties were asked to respond to a questionnaire, either in person, by phone or by e-mail. This story is based on those responses.   Voters in four area counties will help decide four state legislative contests on Nov. 2. In House contests, the 24th District race will be on the ballot in Casey County, the 36th District contest will be on the ballot in Garrard County, and the 55th District race will be on the ballot in Mercer County.

The following places are where to register for contests at the Boyle County Fair. Miss Teen Boyle County (7 p.m. July 17) and Miss Boyle County (8 p.m. July 17) and Miss Pre-Teen Contest (7 p.m. July 20): Carol's Bridal Shop, Peebles and Dawahare's Talent Show (6:30 p.m. July 18): WHIR radio station Tiny Mr. & Miss Contest (7 p.m. July 19) and Little Mr. & Miss Contest (8 p.m. July 19): Kentucky Trust Co. and Kid's Alley Boyle County Baby Show (5:30 p.m. July 22)

Doggie Fun Fest Costume Contest: Mark Wilson and dog George, first; Nina Wesley and dog Gidget, second; Callie and Gracelyn and dog Molly, third. Best trick: Nina Wesley and dog Gidget, first; Pat Eskridge and dog Jake, second; Callie and Gracelyn and dog Molly, third. Prettiest Gal Dog: Summer Bryant and dog Mazy, first; Kelly Von Gruenigen and dog Sophie, second; Tonya Watts and dog Molly, third. Handsomest Guy Dog: Pat Eskridge and dog Jake, first; Mark Wilson and dog George, second; Tristan Nisbet and dog Rags, third.

Lincoln County youth competed in the Lincoln County Farm Bureau Outstanding Youth and Variety Contests on Oct. 9 at the Stanford Baptist Church. Outstanding youth contestants competed in personal interviews and a two-minute speech on stage. The winner was Jesslyn Long, daughter of Theresa and Greg Long. Runner-up in the Outstanding Youth Contest was Nicolette Coontz, daughter of Dwight and Patty Coontz. Sarah Rowe, the daughter of Mark and Janet Rowe, was the other participant in the contest.

With the command of "Run! Run like the wind!" a pack of kids, in teams of two, disappeared into the wilds of the Boyle County Fair Wednesday night in search of balloons. And pencils. And Advocate-Messengers. Nobody rounded up all 15 items on the list - golf tees and four-leaf clovers were hard to come by - but the thrill of the scavenger hunt was enough to keep the kids active in pursuit of a good time. And that's what the kids' games were all about. "I just like to play," said Chase Pemberton, 11, of Hustonville, who didn't fare so well in the scavenger hunt but did collect blue ribbons in the Hula Hoop, watermelon seed spitting and paper airplane contests.

LIBERTY - Results of Casey County Apple Festival contests last week, listed by first through third place, are: Big Wheel: 3-year-olds, Rhett Cox, Lauren Lee and Makencie Woods. 4-year-olds, William Gossage, Tanner Durham and Hannah Cochran. 5-year-olds, Becca Tarter, Brookley Davis and Ethan Lee. 6-year-olds, Dakota Harris, Cameron Martin and Devin Ray Goodman. 7-year-olds, Alyssa Davis, Angie Martin and Micaela Goodman. Bicycle drag: 6-year-olds, Chase Williams and Josh Underwood.

LIBERTY - Results in the Casey County Fair baby and youth contests Sunday at the Central Kentucky Ag/Expo Center are listed by first, second and third place, respectively. Birth to 6 months: Girls, Jasmine Nevada Peavey, 5-month-old daughter of Misty and Allan Peavey, Somerset; and Bralyn Grace Long, 1-month-old daughter of Brandon and Chasity Long, Liberty. Boys, Cody Allen Luttrell, 6-month-old son of Joseph and Tonya Luttrell, Russell Springs; Dalton Wilson, 5-month-old son of Dennis and Deana Wilson, Columbia; and Caleb Andrew Patten, 6-month-old son of Ricky and Twila Patten, Bardstown.

The Clark County Fair got off to an old-fashioned start Sunday, with classic fair games and contests that left winners dirty and tired, but with money in their pockets. Bertha Ballard Black was on hand to watch her grandson and great-grandchildren toss hay, chase greased pigs and race in wheelbarrows and sacks in the Old Fashion Fair Games on Sunday afternoon. "I think they're enjoying it," she said. "It's good for kids that have nothing to do here in Winchester. " Ballard Black turns 87 today, and the afternoon was like an early birthday celebration, she said.

For several years, the Great American Brass Band Festival has had a trusty sidekick: the Lil' Red Wagon Contest. This year, the contest has expanded to include not only red wagons, but also bicycles, tricycles and wheelchairs. It has a new name to match: Wagons and Wheels. The change was made in order to expand the range of children able to participate in both the contest and the parade. Community Arts Center Executive Director Mary Beth Touchstone explains, “Our mission here at the arts center is to create arts opportunities for every member of the community.

A Toliver Elementary School student was selected as the Boyle County winner in the “2012-2013 Grandparent of the Year” essay contest sponsored by AARP Kentucky and the Kentucky Retired Teachers' Association. Nick Price, of Danville, is among thousands of Kentucky fifth-graders who participated in the 12th annual essay competition. Students submitted essays answering why “My Grandparent should be the AARP Kentucky Grandparent of the Year” to their fifth-grade teachers, who selected the school's winner.

LIBERTY - A Casey County teen was honored Thursday in Frankfort for her winning entry in the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Visual Art Contest. Abby Hood, 13, won first place in the middle school category of the statewide contest. The ceremony took place at the Kentucky Historical Society's Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. The contest theme was “Moving Beyond the Dream to Brighten the Future.” According to the official contest criteria, the theme encouraged students to promote their vision of how they can bring about change in their community and the world at large.

Fifth-graders from five local schools competed recently in the Grandparent Essay Contest. The title for the essay was “Why My Grandparent Should be the Grandparent of the Year in the State of Kentucky.” The contest was sponsored by AARP and the Boyle County Retired Teachers Association. The essays demonstrate how important the role of grandparents are in every phase of a student's life in Boyle County. Winners and runners-up were: Mary G. Hogsett Elementary School: Darian Logan, winner.

One day I became a superhero, except I was dressed as a guy. I was a new hero in a group of four. Two girls; Fire Storm and Wind Storm, then two guys; Night Shade and Shadow the leader. We were on a rescue mission and I was talking and asking questions while jumping from roof to roof. Night Shade was the moody one in the group but definitely the best fighter. I looked up to him for that. Fire Storm and Wind Storm were the ones to always comfort me, and Shadow was nice and unquestionably the leader.

With Louisville and Kentucky renewing their rivalry Saturday in Louisville, oddsmakers agree that this is the year Rick Pitino's Cardinals finally beat John Calipari. Since arriving at UK, Calipari is 4-0 against Louisville, including a win in the Final Four last year when the Cats won the national championship. However, this year No. 4 Louisville is a solid favorite over unranked Kentucky, which has already lost to Duke, Baylor and Notre Dame. Three previous times in this series when Louisville was ranked this highly and UK was unranked, the Cardinals won each time.

As we near the holidays, we approach the critical sign-up point for youth interested in participating in livestock and horse projects and events this year.  Youth who wish to show, judge or compete in any livestock or horse event next spring or summer, must accumulate their required educational hours beforehand.  Now is the time to be earning those hours.  All youth who wish to: show a market or breeding livestock animal show a...

The Boyle County 4-H Communications Contest will be Thursday, Dec. 13, at Boyle County Middle School. Registration begins at 6 p.m. and the contest begins at 6:30 p.m. There is no fee to participate. Youth must pre-register by Dec. 11, by calling (859) 236-4484 and providing your name, title of speech or demonstration, and date of birth. Youth may participate by giving a speech in the Talk Meet, presenting a demonstration or illustrated talk in the Demonstration Contest, or both.

Lukas Parido really likes to draw, and he thinks he's pretty good at it. That's why he wasn't too surprised when he won the annual poster contest sponsored by local law enforcement and first responders. Lukas' drawing, depicting “Cell Phone Sally,”¿a character used to teach third graders district-wide about how to call 911, was selected as the winner by 911 dispatch staff and Winchester Police Department officers. It will be used as the cover of a pocket calendar distributed by 911 dispatch later this year.

Nicholasville Elementary School music teacher Matt Sanders had his day get a little better Tuesday when principal Karen McGuire walked into his class and told him he had won $1,000 in teaching supplies through OfficeMax's “A Day Made Better” contest. Each OfficeMax store delivers an award to a school; Sanders' prize came from the Lexington store on Reynolds Road. McGuire nominated Sanders for the award, which aims to help end the need for teachers to fund their own classrooms with supplies.