New Orleans

Feb. 9, 1958 The Lions-sponsored Dale Carnegie class - the third to be held here - will begin tonight at the Clark Rural Electric Cooperative's headqarters on Highway 15. The Sun congratulates: Clay and Inis Thomas of Winchester on the birth of a daughter Feb. 5 at the Clark County Hospital. She has been named Carolyn. Grandparents are Clay and Hiley Thomas of Winchester and Joe and Carrie Olinger of Clay City. William H. Biggerstaff, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Biggerstaff of Valley View and grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Walker Butler of Boonesboro Road, was recently assigned to Chase Field in Texas.

Cathy and Steve Wright have houseguests from Lafitte, La., at their Streamland home. Less than a year ago, David and Michelle Lightell were on their honeymoon and ended up on the same cruise ship with the Wrights. "We just stayed in touch," Cathy said. The Lightells came up to visit Danville at Easter, and Cathy thought the next time they would see the pair was after Michelle's baby was born. Then Hurricane Katrina hit. David and Michelle left their island-community home, just south of New Orleans, on Friday for a weekend trip to Biloxi, Miss.

A Louisville man under sealed indictment for allegedly burning down a Danville apartment building he owned is now in custody after more than a year of searching by authorities. Assistant Danville Fire Chief Woody Ball said Michael Lewis Lambert was taken into custody June 11 by Louisville Metro Police after a routine traffic stop. He is being held at the Boyle County Detention Center on a second-degree arson charge. Authorities suspect Lambert was involved with setting a May 11, 2009, fire that gutted his apartment building at 209-211 N. Fourth St. Ball said authorities were told that Lambert’s daughter, the lone tenant, had moved out the day before the fire occurred.

Linda McGough is not answering her cell phone, and I don't know where she is now and how she's been since the day we talked on her front porch in New Orleans three weeks ago. As for her neighbor John Tragas, and also Kenny Claiborne, Hubie Virgeux and the lady who introduced herself as the Empress of the Uptown Nation, I never even asked their phone numbers, and I wonder now if there's any way for me to ever find out how they are. At first,...

LANCASTER - Bill Grier has traveled the Rhine, Nile, Danube, Yangtze and Amazon rivers, but he thinks that the Kentucky River is the most beautiful river in the world. In a presentation to the Garrard County Historical Society, Grier told the story of the river since it was first used by the Native Americans to its present day role, providing drinking water for more than 900,000 people, including the residents in Garrard County. "I'm an engineer, but lately I'm a history buff," said Grier, who also is a member of the Kentucky River Authority Board.

The Great American Brass Band Festival usually gets billed as a nostalgic look at turn-of-the-century America with a picnic on Centre College's lawn and bands playing at the courthouse bandstand. But this year, festival organizers are thinking about the shape the event, set for June 7-10, will take in the future. "It just feels like everybody's ready to start to explore and refresh," says Elaine Hammonds, executive director for the festival. Since coming on board to direct the event, Hammonds has noticed festival organizers are making every effort to have the festival appeal to everyone and keep it from becoming stale.

LEXINGTON - In the last two seasons, Dicky Lyons Jr. has caught 106 passes for the Kentucky football team. Yet those sure hands didn't keep him from fumbling at the one time he wanted to make sure he didn't have a drop. This time, though, the fumble didn't hurt him - or even get noticed. Lyons recently asked his longtime girlfriend Mindy Howell, who also is from New Orleans, to marry him when she returned here after spending a month at home. Lyons waited at the bottom of the escalator at Blue Grass Airport, and when he saw her, he dropped to his knees.

His sister didn't mince words when she called from Louisiana asking Vaughn Little for help. "She said she needed me to take care of Brooks while she got things straightened out and she didn't know how long that would be because she didn't even know when she could get home because the bridges are still down in her area," said Little. Little did what any good brother would do. He immediately told her to send her son, Brooks Evans, to him in Danville, and soon Evans will be a welcome addition to the Danville football team because of his 5-10, 250-pound frame.

A list of the University of Kentucky's 2007 football recruiting class, along with short bios compiled by UK Media Relations Director Tony Neely: Moncell Allen, Running Back, 5-7, 225, Fr-HS, New Orleans, La. (Providence Day/Fork Union Military Academy) The nation's No. 36 prep-school prospect by Rivals.com Played the fall of 2006 at Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy Rushed 31 times for 270 yards and two touchdowns, averaging almost nine yards per carry Coached at Fork Union by John Shuman "Moncell is a Maurice Drew-type of back," Shuman said.

Tara Bennett's apartment smelled of mold and most of her furniture and belongings were gone, but nonetheless the Hurricane Katrina survivor was glad to finally be home. After living in Lancaster for six weeks, Bennett and her four small children were able to return Saturday to the New Orleans suburb of Marrero. Their modest, two-bedroom apartment was water- damaged and foul- smelling but still standing, and Bennett's job in the housekeeping department at a local motel was still available.