France

Editor's note: We asked readers to share stories of wedding proposals and here they are. Derek Short proposed to Allison Rachford in Paris, France in September of 2004. The wedding was on July 9, 2005, in Alexandria. Derek Short is from Danville. Allison Short grew up in Maryland and moved to Danville before college. They now live in Highland Heights. They were on a two-week trip to Europe with Allison's family to various cities in Germany and France . Derek had a heart-shaped wooden box engraved with these words, written in French, "The one who brings me joy, my love, my best friend.

Ashley Haley went back to school the same month she got out of it. Now a junior at West Jessamine High School, Haley brushed up on her French over the summer as she participated in a month-long study-abroad experience. Haley found the program through Ayusa, a nonprofit organization offering study-abroad programs in 10 countries and volunteer programs in five countries. She was in France from June 17 to July 21. Haley had traveled internationally before with her family but found a different experience when she went to France by herself in June.

The Centre College women's basketball players know they are a close group. But for five Colonels, spending three weeks in France earlier this summer brought them even closer together, and that should pay off when the season rolls around. Seniors Chelsea Goodman and Tara Milburn, juniors Angela Tronzo and Chelsea Luckey and Amanda Stovall and team manager Camille Perez spent three studying weeks in Strasbourg, France, "We are of course together 24-7 during basketball season.

There certainly could be a lot of reasons to visit France and Switzerland, but is "adventure" the first reason that comes to mind? No matter. That's exactly why Jim Lester, his son, Greg, and Milton Scarborough took "the Walker's Haute (or "High") Route from Chamonix, France - where Mount Blanc is - to Zermatt, Switzerland, where the Matterhorn is. The trip was 17 days for Greg Lester and Scarborough; Jim Lester left after a few days due to health problems. They left July 6 from Lexington, flew to Detroit, then on to Amsterdam before finally arriving in Geneva on the morning of July 7. From there, the group took a bus to Chamonix.

PARIS - French libraries are said to file their nation's constitutions - there have been more than a dozen since 1789; the current one is a relatively ancient 49 years old - under periodicals. Now Nicolas Sarkozy, France's peripatetic new president, has created a commission on constitutional reform. The commission includes Jack Lang who, as minister of culture in 1983 under President Francois Mitterrand, staged a sublimely unserious conference on the (supposed) world economic crisis, featuring the likes of Sophia Loren, Susan Sontag and Norman Mailer.

To many of us, the riots that started two weeks ago in France seemed like a "French problem. " We didn't think they would affect us, and we hoped they'd be over soon. But since beginning in the bleak high rises that surround Paris and house its poor (mostly Muslims of African descent), they have spread across the country, and even into Germany and Belgium. In some quarters there is such fear that people are even speaking about a "European intifada. " Whether that comparison is a good one or not, we should all be concerned with what is happening in France.

James M. Morgan, 84, of Stanford, died Saturday, March 11 at the VA Medical Center in Lexington. A native of Waynesburg, he was born April 4, 1921 to the late Alva J. and Florence Wall Morgan. He was an auto mechanic and a WWII Army veteran having served with General George Patton in the medical detachment of the 410th infantry. Morgan received five bronze stars and and a purple heart with 2 oak leaf clusters for having received wounds in France in Oct. 1944, France in Nov. 1944, and Luxenbaurg in Jan. 1945.

Is Europe moving right? Is the democratic left in trouble? The decisive victory of Nicolas Sarkozy over Socialist Sgolne Royal in France's presidential election on May 6 was the most recent example of the battering that moderate-left parties are taking from the forces of globalization and discontent over immigration. A few days earlier, Britain delivered a rebuke to outgoing Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labor Party in local elections. Last September, Sweden's Social Democrats were voted out of power, a blow to the progressive spirit in light of the country's standing as a model egalitarian society.

On Monday night Danville High School held what likely is the smallest - but perhaps most meaningful - graduation exercises in the long history of the school. In the DHS lobby, which was filled with blue and white balloons, a hundred smiles and at least as many tears, Danville Superintendent Bob Rowland handed out two diplomas. One of them went to a small, slightly-built man with a cane as narrow as a teacher's map pointer but a grin as wide as the world. The other was posthumously awarded, given to the deceased man's brother.

To the editor, Congratulations John Vest. You say you are not a healer. You say you are not going to correct a criminal if you are elected jailer. And in your wisdom, you will stop allowing criminals to earn their GED. So now when those bad people get out of jail with a mark against them, they won't be able to get a job because they lack their GED. Congratulations John Vest. That way you will get to see the same "criminals" over and over again because they can't be hired to find honest labor for lack of a GED. That's one way to keep yourself busy and the crime rate high.

Mary Frances Matherly Harrison, 89, went to her eternal home March 9, 2013, at the Community Hospice Unit at St. Vincent's Medical Center, Jacksonville, Fla. Mrs. Harrison was born in Lexington, Ky., on Dec. 10, 1923, to William Arthur and Emma Mae Guy Matherly. Raised in Clark County, Ky., she was a 1942 graduate of Trapp High School. Afterwards she graduated from Nazareth School of Nursing, St. Joseph Hospital, Lexington, Ky. On March 1, 1952, she married John S. Harrison who predeceased her after 49 years of marriage spent in Lexington, Ky. She was also predeceased by her sister, Alma Rupard and brother, Finley Y. Wills, both of Winchester.

Margaret “Sissy” Frances Clark, 70 of Winchester, widow of David H. Clark, passed away on Monday, March 11, 2013, at the Clark Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Clark was born in Clark County on Dec. 7, 1942, to the late Clyde Williams and the late Ida Mae Glass. She was of the Nazarene faith and a homemaker. She is survived by her stepson, David Perry Clark (Cindi) of Cynthiana; three aunts, Betty Curtis of Winchester, Julie Lairson (Luther) of Lexington, and Ruth Smith of Morehead; stepsister, Anna Ruth Becknell of Winchester; stepbrother, Roy Drake of Winchester; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ralph and Janet Ramsey of Richmond, Paul and Shirley Clark of Richmond, and David and Anna McGuire of Winchester; and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Martha Frances “Nanny” Kendall, 76, of Moreland, died Friday, Dec. 28, 2012.   Born July 10, 1936, Martha was a daughter of the late Edward Gaddis and granddaughter of the late Frances and Hubard Gaddis, who raised her. She was a homemaker and a member of Westside Community UMC.   Survivors include her husband, Vester Kendall, Jr;  children,  Cathy (Frank) Horton, Eddie (Pam) Kendall, Darrell (Donna) Kendall and Barbara Kendall; a sister, Betty (Dawson) Terrell; eight grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.

Frances Stockdale Steverson Mixon, 78, widow of Leon Mixon, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 20 at the Masonic Home of Louisville. She was born in Bath County on Feb. 8, 1934 to the late Harry and Rosa Lee Utterback Stockdale. She was a homemaker, a U.S. Army WAC veteran of the Korean War and a member of the Cornerstone Baptist Church in South Carolina. Survivors include her son, Michael Steverson of China; daughter and Son-in-Law, Deborah and Bev Anderson of Clark County; 4 grandchildren, Natalie Steverson and Nicholas Steverson of CO, Leslie Anderson of Frankfort and Kelsey (Justin)

Thelma Frances Clemons Watts, 87, of Clark County, widow of Arthur H. Watts, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, at the Clark Regional Medical Center.  Mrs. Watts was born in Clark County on June 4, 1925, to the late McKinley and Nellie Fisher Clemons. She was a homemaker and a member of the El Bethel United Methodist Church. Survivors include, her son, the Rev. A. Wayne Watts (Nancy) of Somerset, pastor of Science Hill United Methodist Church; her daughter, Donna McIntosh (Robert)

Larry Allen France, 55, of Winchester passed away Wednesday, Nov. 21, in the Clark Regional Medical Center. He was born in Grayson on July 22, 1957, to Willa Bea Adkins France and the late Paul Allen France. Larry was a carpenter and a former coal miner. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, Jenkins, and a 1975 graduate of Lafayette High School. He enjoyed fishing, car racing and UK basketball. In addition to his father, Paul Allen France, who passed away Jan. 25, 1987, he was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Michael Wheeler.

Bertha Frances Reed, 81, of Florence, passed away Saturday, June 16,  at St. Elizabeth Hospice Center.  Born Sept. 17, 1930, in  New Salem, Frances was a daughter of the late Dub and Juey Tinsley.  She was also preceded in death by her husband, Boyd Reed; two daughters Dianne Reed and Judith Renner; and a brother, Lowell Tinsley.  Survivors include two sons Lionel (Connie) Reed of Independence and Mark (Mary) Reed of Florence; two brothers, Denver Tinsley of Fairfield, Ohio and Darrell Tinsley of Hamilton, Ohio; two sisters, Sharlene Griffin of New Salem  and Harlene Johnson of Hustonville; five grandchildren Brian, Brandon, Megan, Meredith and Mark Reed; and three great grandchildren, Aidan, Gavin and Lily Reed.  Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. today (June 21)

Nancy “Ruby” Frances Richardson Wilbert, 84, widow of Leo P. Wilbert, passed away at 7:41 a.m. Tuesday, May 29, at her home. A native of Madison County, she was the daughter of the late Russell and Rhoda Hamilton Richardson. Ruby was a retired LPN and a Nazarene. Survivors include two daughters, Teresa (Angel) Reynosa and Shirley (Terry) Welch; two sons, Glen Rogers and Jackie (Debbie) Stamper; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; a sister, Betty Carol Bates; two brothers, Joe and Paul E. Richardson; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Frances Henderson Lamb, 83, of Paint Lick, died Monday, April 30, in Stanford.   Born Feb. 15, 1929, in Paint Lick, Frances was a daughter of the late Ernest R. and Nell J. Hayes Henderson. She   had been a part time grocery store and restaurant employee, was an active member of Paint Lick Christian Church and was the widow of Willard G. Lamb. Survivors include sons, Jerry G. Lamb and John Douglas (April) Lamb; a daughter, Peggy (Steve) Orberson; a sister, Betty Howard; seven grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.

Frances Louise Yocum, 52, of Lexington died Wednesday morning at the University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital. She was the sister of George P. Yocum of Winchester Funeral services will be Monday, Feb. 6 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Springfield. Visitation will be from noon until the hour of service. Burial to follow at Cemetery Hill in Springfield. Chenault Brothers Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.