Opportunities

Lask week, Congress approved a farm bill that contained more negative than positive elements. There are some wins such as funding for beginning farmers, money for a rural microenterprise program, and money for the Conservation Stewardship Program. We're grateful for those investments, and they will do some real good if this farm bill becomes law. But it doesn't fix what's wrong with this bill. This farm bill, as currently written, is not worthy of passage. There are victories, but the magnitude of those victories is not anywhere close to the magnitude of the opportunities squandered.

Though Jordan Shewmaker grew up in Perryville, he never imagined becoming a key part of the Centre College community. Shewmaker, 20, is a junior majoring in government. Though he has always worked hard, largely due to the example set by his late great-grandmother Imogene Reynolds, he never imagined being accepted to Centre College let alone becoming deeply involved in local, state and even national politics. While he and other Centre students were a key part of the October vice-presidential debate held on campus, Shewmaker has used what some have called an “old soul” to take advantage of many other opportunities beyond his wildest dreams.

From the time I was in the eighth grade, I hated school. The socializing was fun in junior high and high school, but that was the only part I liked. I just wanted to get through it all as fast as possible and go away to college. Well, I didn't like college any better and didn't even socialize there, although I did enjoy my life outside of school. Again, I just couldn't wait to finish. I even went to classes in the summers so I would be done sooner. Who knew I would end up going to college again?

Enthusiasm is mounting as the community anticipates the beginning of a construction project for a new Fort Logan Hospital. Many individuals are actively supporting the Fort Logan Hospital Campaign by reserving a naming opportunity for an area of the new hospital in honor or memory of a loved one. "We are very pleased with the number of individuals in the community who are supporting the campaign for a new hospital by generously donating to...

Judge Executive Ron "Buckwheat" Gilbert along with Mayor Eddie Carter, and EDA Chairman Bill Miracle are working to bring higher educational opportunities to the citizens of Lincoln County. I have been in contact with such an institution of higher learning striving to attract the organization to the community. These community leaders are partnering with Lincoln County School District Superintendent, Dr. Teresa Wallace and Richard Kazsuk, Principal of the Lincoln County Area Technology Center.

Laura Kirkpatrick of Stanford, one of the top two finalists in "America's Next Top Model," knew all along that she didn't win, but she threw a belle-of the-ball party anyway. Well-wishers, many of them dressed in black T-shirts with hot pink writing that proclaimed "Laura is my America's Next Top Model," filled the Lincoln County High School auditorium Wednesday night to watch the final show of the competition that offered a chance for models shorter than 5 feet and 7 inches an opportunity to win a contract with Wilhelmina.

The women's soccer team saw its six-game streak without a loss snapped Tuesday by Georgetown College, as the Tigers won 2-0 in Wilmore. Asbury (9-7-1, 3-0 KIAC) gave up both goals in the first half, both one-touch goals off of assists. The Eagles struggled to get any opportunities on offense, mustering just seven shots all match, five of which were on goal. The Tigers didn't fare much better getting the ball into a position to score, getting off only 10 shots, but they capitalized on two of their three first-half opportunities.

A Winchester business provided an early Christmas present for the local campus of Bluegrass Community & Technical College. On Dec. 18, Mark McCammish, president of McCammish Mfg. Co. Inc., made a pledge to donate cabinetry and reception counters with an estimated value of $15,000 to the new Winchester-Clark County Campus of the college at Winchester Industrial Park. The pledge was accepted by the college's president and CEO, Dr. James Kerley. The meeting was at McCammish Mfg.Co.

Winchester has plenty to offer To the editor, I would like to remind our community about some of the many wonderful opportunities for youth that we have locally. Community Education offers various classes, some free and some for a small fee, for youth. We have offered free ballroom dance classes several times. We have a free self-defense class twice a year for females age 12 and up.  We offer yoga and bellydancing classes that are open to teens. We have two semesters each year - fall and spring - and each one offers different opportunities.

Though Jordan Shewmaker grew up in Perryville, he never imagined becoming a key part of the Centre College community. Shewmaker, 20, is a junior majoring in government. Though he has always worked hard, largely due to the example set by his late great-grandmother Imogene Reynolds, he never imagined being accepted to Centre College let alone becoming deeply involved in local, state and even national politics. While he and other Centre students were a key part of the October vice-presidential debate held on campus, Shewmaker has used what some have called an “old soul” to take advantage of many other opportunities beyond his wildest dreams.

With winter in full swing, our community's most vulnerable citizens can sometimes struggle to pay for essential services like heat and power.  Kentucky Utilities Company partners year-round with non-profit and community organizations to provide utility bill assistance and weatherization services to help those in need. This support is even more critical during cold weather months.   We also encourage customers who have the desire to help those in need to make voluntary contributions to our heating assistance program, the WinterCare Energy Fund.  The WinterCare Energy Fund is a nonprofit organization supported by KU and managed by an independent third party, the Community Action Council.

Inter-County Energy recognizes the importance of educating our young adults today for tomorrow's leadership roles. For that reason, Inter-County Energy will award one $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior from each of the cooperative's six director's districts. Those districts are: Lincoln, Garrard, Mercer, Boyle, Casey and Marion counties. Students are encouraged to apply if their parent or legal guardian is a member of Inter-County Energy Cooperative with their primary residence being served by the cooperative.

Coincidence is something I have been interested in, curious about for as long as I can remember. When I looked up its definition in several dictionaries, the best one read, “Coincidence is an accidental sequence of events that appear to have a casual relationship.” The key word that got me to thinking is “accidental,” and how accidental things have affected or changed my own life. Do I even believe in the existence of coincidence as a guiding force? You know what? I guess I do not believe that things just randomly happen to me. I cannot believe that certain humans or non-humans just float in and out of my daily life with no purpose.

A bit of encouragement from her husband prompted Amy Morin to take a leap and open her own wellness studio. “One day, my husband said, 'will you just follow your dream?'” she said with a smile. Morin and her husband moved to Garrard County in 2010 from northern New England, partially to get away from the 100 inches of snow a year, she said with a smile. Last April, she opened Essence Yoga & Wellness in Danville. “We are a yoga and wellness studio, we are not a gym. Going to the gym is fine, but we are a very different atmosphere here: it's very peaceful, it's very tranquil,” she said.

BURGIN - Brian Kirk's offense wasn't operating on high Thursday night, but the Burgin coach still made the most of an opportunity to reinforce some of its principles. The Burgin boys are still learning the fast-paced system their first-year coach is employing, and they got to execute it at a slower tempo in a 50-24 victory over Kentucky School for the Deaf. “We really stressed trying to make sure we go through everything like we're supposed to, and while this may not have been a game that would be as up-tempo, we really tried to make sure that we kept our energy up,” guard Jared Powell said.

4-H livestock judging is a great way for young people to learn more about the animals they love and learn valuable life skills, such as decision making and critical thinking, in the process. One of the great things about livestock judging is you only need to have an interest in livestock to participate. Owning livestock or coming from an agricultural background are not participation requirements. In livestock judging, young people learn about the various traits of breeding and market livestock including hogs, beef cattle, sheep and meat goats.

FORKLAND - The Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge will host a late-fall visit at 9 a.m. Saturday to the Fred Loetscher Bird Blind. The event will give participants a chance to view birds that frequent the area “up close and personal” through a one-way glass in the heated comfort of the blind. Since most of the leaves are gone from the trees this time of year, the birds will be easier to spot. Winter residents, such as pine siskins, dark-eyed juncos and white-crowned sparrows may have arrived to join year-round residents such as goldfinches, titmice, and downy and hairy woodpeckers.

A $24,000 grant from the Kentucky Water Resources Institute will mean a more green-friendly Lake Mingo this coming spring. The grant will enable a small portion of the nearly 400-yard concrete drainage ditch to be removed and a ditch that appears natural put in its place, said David Lafferty, engineer supervisor with the Nicholasville Planning Commission. “What we had to do was put together a proposal of something that would improve water quality, and in addition, it would also be something that could be an educational opportunity and a place where people could participate,” Lafferty said.