Perryville

PERRYVILLE - The large room that is Mary Girard's Merchants Row office has a gorgeous view of the Chaplin River. Sunlight filters through the open office where Girard works her magic with certain often-very-old objects. Girard is an art conservator who moved into the Perryville space in October. She moved back to central Kentucky in January from southern Florida, to be closer to family and to raise her son with her husband. She says as an art conservator she works with the “conservation and restoration of paintings and works of art on paper.” Girard can, for example, take in a painting with a tear in the canvas, and work on it to “minimize its chances of getting torn again.” She also might add hardware to the painting; many paintings have been saved with a 30-cent piece of hardware, Girard added.

Franklin Long , 65, died Saturday. Arrangements are pending at Alexander & Royalty Funeral Home, Harrodsburg. Frank Edward Walker , 76, died Friday. Arrangements are pending at Stith Funeral Home, Danville. Jeffrey Lewis Wofford Sr. , 51, of Junction City, died Friday. Arrangements are pending at Wilder Funeral Home, Perryville.

PERRYVILLE - As the Christmas season begins, the city of Perryville will be getting into the spirit with this year's day-long Christmas bazaar, A Blue and Gray Christmas. Much of the purpose of the event, according to Kayla Alcorn, is to highlight the “something special” of the city, which brings residents and visitors together. “I'm not sure if it's the nostalgia due to all of its history, or just the closeness of everyone in the community, but people love it here…We want to invite everyone to come visit and experience this for themselves,” she said.

Third grade A's - Sophia Carrico, Eli Hundley, Hayden Kelley, Caleb Kernodle, Madison Luttrell, Chloe Birt, Reagan Maddox, Ethan Peel, Sophie Witmer and Kailey Young. A's and B's - Katie Coulter, Maddie Miller, Alexa Mullins, Austin Rice, Jeremiah Short, Brayden Wofford, Jace Clements, Gabe Cruse, Emily Davis, Hallie Lane, Brianna Lee, Austin Milburn and Gavin Wisecarver. Fourth grade A's - Creed Farthing, Michael Farthing, Lathan Moore, Hannah Sizemore, Morgan Holderman, Sarah Smith, Sierra Reynolds, Reese Brumfield, Laura Hundley, Wyatt Acey, Emma Wade, Gabe Skelton, Brianna Ely, Tyler Henry, Caleb Edmiston, Caleb Holderman, Matthew Sutton, Miles Whatcott, Corey Hildebrandt and Abby Phillips.

Editor's note: “The Great Meadow,” 1930, by Elizabeth Madox Roberts, is the first in a series of book reviews about works of Kentucky fiction. If you are descended from “early settlers,” your ancestors almost certainly came to Kentucky from Virginia. “The Great Meadow” is a novel unsurpassed in depicting the life these pioneers left behind, the trek they undertook, and the toils demanded of them in their new home. Its author is Boyle County native Elizabeth Madox Roberts.

On Friday, the confetti and streamers were flying at Perryville Elementary School. At Liberty Elementary, there was dancing and fire trucks with sirens blaring. And at Boyle County High School, state Education Commissioner Terry Holiday stopped by to congratulate the school district on its move in to the Top 10 in the state-based on the results of the new K-PREP assessment tests, which were released Friday. “We thought we would do well. The reason we thought we would do well is because we've got kids who are passionate, competitive and bright, and we've got great teachers and support staff,” Boyle County Superintendent Mike LaFavers said.

PERRYVILLE - Eleven candidates are vying for the six positions on the Perryville City Council in Tuesday's election.  Deana Clark, who still will be listed on the ballot, withdrew Thursday due to a conflict of interest.  Pamela Birt: Birt has been a resident of Perryville for almost five years. Having lived in much larger cities, she never considered getting involved in government because it was so easy to be removed from the process.  “Being in a small town, things affect you personally more,” Birt said.