Future

Promoting health in Clark County was the topic of Thursday's MAPP meeting at the Clark County Extension Office. MAPP (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership) is the local title for a six-step strategic planning process developed by the Centers for Disease Control and the Association for Community Health Improvement. The Clark County program was created through a partnership between the Clark County Health Department and the newly organized Clark Regional Foundation for the Promotion of Health.

For the first time in his football career, there is some uncertainity about Jacob Tamme's future. From middle school to Boyle County¿High School to the University of Kentucky and then to the NFL, Tamme always knew what was coming other than having to wait to see which NFL team would draft him. However, after four years with the Indianapolis Colts that included a Super Bowl, Tamme is now a free agent. “Every step in the process, your sort of know what is coming except maybe waiting to get drafted,” said the former Boyle standout.

Some Boyle County residents concerned for the short- and long-term future of the National Guard Armory in Danville gathered with government officials and the National Guard's local leadership Friday to talk about what lies ahead. Jim Talley and Jack Hendricks, both involved in veterans affairs, were prompted to call the meeting at the armory in large part because the facility no longer has access to the adjacent lot on Stanford Avenue that had been used for parking. "They are land-locked since they lost use of that lot," Hendricks said.

Many residents of Wilmore were chilled in October, but not by weather like that we experienced earlier this week. We were startled and alarmed to learn that there had been an armed home invasion in our quiet little town. It comforts me some to know that three of the four who allegedly perpetrated the crime have a new home for the new year - the Jessamine County Detention Center. I hope they stay there awhile. Reading of their arrests brought a measure of satisfaction - the rest will come when the fourth is arrested and they are properly tried, and if guilty, convicted.

Kentucky has made Freedom Hall its home away from home every year since 1958. Even before Kentucky and Louisville resumed its instate rivalry in 1984, the Wildcats have made a yearly visit to Freedom Hall. Before the Cardinals vacated the venue last season, the Wildcats played in the building twice every other year. Kentucky has established its own tradition at Freedom Hall. Adolph Rupp has coached there. So has Joe B. Hall and other coaches who succeeded Hall. Once the proud home of the hometown Louisville Cardinals, Freedom Hall sits mostly vacant during the college basketball season.

The premier of the Community Arts Center's blockbuster exhibit, “SPACE … Imagine That!” is just around the corner on Jan. 5, and we're anticipating the buzz from the science and learning to take most of our time. But after the rockets have blasted, the Mars Rover has roved and Galileo has given his last candlelit presentation, we still must plan for the future. So what's next? Kathleen O'Brien, a Mercer County resident. “I start with a dictate from my muse, Henry Miller: 'Paint as you like and die happy,'” Kathleen O'Brien wrote about her collaging process.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, don't you think? I guess it should since it is only a few days away. I must say Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love to gaze at the decorations throughout town and in everyone's home I visit. I loved doing that as a child, and the wonderment of it all has not waned. I have often said I hope I never lose the joy of Christmas. I feel blessed to be spending another Christmas with my family since I was diagnosed with my cancer. I will be having treatment this week and may be a little weak and wobbly-legged, but I will be with my loved ones anyway.

The Jessamine County Adult Education Center has been providing a family-literacy program for 14 years. The  four-piece experience includes adult education for parents, early childhood education for children up to 5 years old, parenting classes for students and parent-child interaction. The program is offered at no cost to participants. An average of 30 students have enrolled in the program each of those 14 years, meaning about 420 students working toward GEDs have benefited. And if each of the students had two or three children, the number of people influenced by the program easily exceeds 1,000, adult-education director Janice Crane said.

With Central Elementary School scheduled to be replaced by a new school in a couple of years, one student group is working on a multimedia project that will highlight the school's past, present and future. Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP) coordinator Tracy O'Hair said the project began as a way  of preserving Central's past. “Central has such a steep history since it opened in 1953 and we would like to capture that, so we're looking for  pictures, anecdotes and fun personal stories from past principals, teachers and students,” O'Hair said.

“From historic Danville, Kentucky, good evening and welcome to this year's only vice presidential debate…” That simple introduction from CNN's Bernard Shaw signaled the beginning of the 2000 vice presidential debate between Dick Cheney and Joe Lieberman for the viewing public, but for the people who worked to make the event happen it signified the culmination of a whirlwind year. An idea few thought possible had become a reality.  Clarence Wyatt, co-chairman of the 2000 debate steering committee, said some at the college had considered applying for debates in the past under President Michael Adams, but plans never gained traction.