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In what he called the toughest decision of his life, Patrick Cooper went with his gut. And his gut told him that Eastern Kentucky University was the best place for him. So the Boyle County senior pitcher told the Colonels on Sunday he would sign with the school when the early signing period begins Nov. 6. "I think it's the best place for me and I got an offer I couldn't pass up," said Cooper, who chose Eastern over Morehead State. "It was really tough. I've been saying the past week was probably the hardest decision in my life.

RICHMOND (AP) - Kenneth Faried scored on a putback with 1.8 seconds left to lift Morehead State to a 51-49 win over Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday night. The Eagles (14-12, 11-7 Ohio Valley Conference) completed a season sweep of the Colonels, handing Eastern (13-13 10-8) its third straight loss. Morehead defeated the Colonels 62-53 on Jan. 10. Faried put the finishing touches on the team's successful comeback by picking off the Colonels' inbounds pass as time expired. Faried led Morehead with 16 points, while Leon Buchanan followed with 12. Adam Leonard led Eastern with 14 points and Mike Rose added 12. The Eagles, who overcame nine lead changes and eight ties, trailed 44-40 with five minutes remaining, but outscored Eastern 9-0 for a 49-44 lead.

RICHMOND - Former Eastern Kentucky football Roy Kidd remains a popular figure in Richmond. Since his successor Danny Hope stepped down to became associate head coach at Purdue University last week, Kidd's phone hasn't stopped ringing. "So my phone will quit ringing, I hope they will hurry up and pick somebody," Kidd said with a laugh Thursday night. "Everybody has been calling. I bet you I've had 15-20 phone calls. I even had two (Thursday). " Some are simply seeking information and his thoughts on the current search for Hope's replacement.

RICHMOND - Like every senior, Mike Rose wants to finish strong. Unlike most of them, he knows how to do it. Rose was the leading scorer on the Eastern Kentucky team that reached the NCAA tournament in 2007. He was also the leading scorer last year, when the Colonels lost six of their last seven games to finish 14-16. He said this year's Eastern team has the ingredients to come closer to the result of two years ago than last season. "I'm very excited. This is my last year, and I hope we can end this year on a positive note," he said.

RICHMOND - Kelsey Stillwell of Danville was among 26 Eastern Kentucky University students who presented research at the annual Posters-at-the-Capitol event in Frankfort. The statewide event celebrates the research and accomplishments of under- graduates at Kentucky's public universities and provide legislators an opportunity to better understand the importance of faculty-mentored undergraduate scholarship. Presentations were sought from all disciplinary areas. Stillwell and four other students mentored by Melody Farris Jackson titled their poster “Design on the Move: Transporting Interiors That Empower Social Responsibility.” 

RICHMOND - Eastern Kentucky University's eighth annual Earth Days in the Cumberlands celebration, which begins Wednesday and continues throughout April, includes a wide variety of educational programs and hands-on activities designed to heighten awareness about environmental issues in Kentucky.This year's events include showing of the Academy Award-winning documentary about global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth," as well clean-up activities. Most events are free and open to the public.

April Emerson said she wasn't feeling any particular pressure to three-peat at the Tee Cup Invitational, but she was feeling a few nerves. Emerson edged Charlotte Logsdon by a single stroke Thursday to become the first player to win three straight championships at the Danville Country Club women's invitational. She said the fact that she had already won the Tee Cup twice made her think a little more about this attempt. “It's not that there was more pressure, but actually it made me a little bit more nervous,” Emerson said.

Spencer Perrin admits he was “a hot head” as a youngster and that led to problems where he attended three high schools. However, one thing never wavered - his passion for basketball or belief that he had special skills. Today that belief has made his dream come true, as he has signed a professional contract to play for Lirija in the Macedonian Superleague. The team also signed Vincent Goldsberry of Coppin State and Terrance Farley of Louisville. “I am really excited,” the Danville native and Boyle County High School graduate said.

Eastern Kentucky University has announced 254 Dean's Award recipients for the Spring 2007 semester. Award recipients include: Amanda Joann Spigle, 6520 Hwy. 2141, Hustonville, sophomore, Elementary Education Teaching. Bethany A. Berry, 4245 Hwy 1247, Stanford, senior, Communication Disorders. Natasha Carol Camenisch, 1110 Hwy. 78, Stanford, senior, Political Science. Christopher Tyler Gilliam, 115 Phillips Court, Stanford, junior, Public Relations. Christopher Joel Reed, 301 Redwood Drive, Stanford, junior, Psychology.

Eastern Kentucky University's student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, in conjunction with the Center for Appalachian Studies and the Department of Communication, is hosting a Kentucky Environmental Journalism Conference Friday, Nov. 13. Professional and student journalists, environmental activists, researchers, industry representatives and others interested in media coverage of environmental issues are invited to the conference,...