Schedule

NICHOLASVILLE - Kentucky has what is being regarded as the nation's most difficult football schedule next season that includes six teams ranked in the top 25 of most preseason polls. Even with UK coming off a 2-10 season and transitioning to new coach Mark Stoops and his staff, expectations are soaring for the Wildcats because of Stoops and the way recruiting has gone. Season ticket sales are up after more than 50,000 fans came to UK's Blue-White Game to end spring practice. New offensive coordinator Neal Brown was asked how to balance a difficult schedule with expectations during an appearance here Thursday night for the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.

By now, we hope you have made plans to join the Clark County Cooperative Extension Service and the Clark County Activity Coalition for the Third Annual Second Sunday Event. The physical fitness celebration will be held on the Winchester Traveling Trail Sunday, Oct. 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. Registration will be held beginning at 2 p.m. near the barn located on the trail. The first 50 people to register will receive free T-shirts. Other prizes will be given away as well. Parking is available across from the trail at S&S Tire and adjacent to the trail at First Presbyterian Church on Windridge Drive.

Kentucky coach John Calipari used coachcal.com today to explain his thinking on UK's scheduling now that Indiana and North Carolina won't be on next year's schedule by explaining that UK is “not a traditional program” and will use its own model for scheduling. “We are going through things that no other program in the history of college basketball has gone through. No other program is losing five or six players a year. We are facing issues and having to make decisions with the thought of what's next and where are we going, which includes our schedule,” Calipari posted on the blog.

There are many more intriguing games on area teams’ schedules beyond the early-season bowls. Here are some other highlights from each team’s non-district schedule: Boyle County The Rebels play a brutal schedule that begins with a new home-and-home series against Class 5A champion Highlands. The teams played two compelling games in 2003 and ’04, and their upcoming game has had fans talking since word of it got out last fall. “That’s going to be a good football game.

The Casey County Apple Festival continues through Saturday. The schedule is as follows: Today 5 p.m., Carnival opens, 6 p.m., Serving of 10-foot chocolate chip cookie. Free in city parking lot. 6-8 p.m., County-wide devotional service featuring gospel singers Kimberly Holsapple, Terry Milbey, Basic and Brush Creek Pentecostal Church.

The Casey County Fair is scheduled today through Saturday at the Central Kentucky Ag/Expo Center on U.S. 127 South of Liberty. Admission is $7. Tonight's schedule is as follows: 4 p.m., Gate opens. 5 p.m., Carnival opens. 6:30 p.m., Haybale throwing contest. 7 p.m., Rodeo, Little Miss and Mister Casey County Fair pageant, and Miss Casey County Fair pageant.

Baby Show, 5:30 p.m., Center Ring Floral Hall Open to the public, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Horse Show, 7:00 p.m., Center Ring KTPA Truck & Tractor Pull/Open Truck & Tractor Pull, 7 p.m., Motor Sports Arena

Friday 7 p.m.: "Streets of Salvisa" cruise-in. 8-10 p.m.: Buckskins, country music. Saturday 9 a.m.: 3-on-3 basketball tournament. 11 a.m.: Cornhole tournament. Noon: Contest judging for best photo, cake, ugliest lamp and ugliest tie. 7 p.m.: Texas Hold'em Poker.

The schedule for the 12th Region Tournament at Casey County is: First Round Monday, Oct. 17 South Laurel def. Wayne County 25-21, 25-20 Casey County def. Harrodsburg 25-16, 25-14 Tuesday, Oct. 18 Boyle County def. Mercer County 25-15, 25-22 Pulaski County def. Russell County 18-25, 25-13, 25-19 Semifinals Thursday, Oct. 20 South Laurel (23-10) vs. Casey County (20-8-2), 6:30 p.m. Boyle County (18-17-1) vs. Pulaski County (30-4)

NICHOLASVILLE - Kentucky has what is being regarded as the nation's most difficult football schedule next season that includes six teams ranked in the top 25 of most preseason polls. Even with UK coming off a 2-10 season and transitioning to new coach Mark Stoops and his staff, expectations are soaring for the Wildcats because of Stoops and the way recruiting has gone. Season ticket sales are up after more than 50,000 fans came to UK's Blue-White Game to end spring practice. New offensive coordinator Neal Brown was asked how to balance a difficult schedule with expectations during an appearance here Thursday night for the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.

GABBF SCHEDULE Today Brass Symposium - 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Weisiger Theater, Centre College Concert at Shaker Village - 4:30-6 p.m. at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Mercer County Great American Balloon Race - 5 p.m., gates open; 7 p.m., official liftoff, Stuart Powell Field, Junction City Bayou and Brass - 5:30-10 p.m., intersections of Third and Fourth streets as well as Weisiger Park...

Boyle County Fair officials have decided to open the rides as scheduled at 6 p.m. tonight, but are keeping a close eye on the weather. Heavy rain, wind, lightning and thunder led to this afternoon's decision to cancel tonight's truck and tractor pull, said board member Kaytrina Leathers. After consulting tonight's weather forecast, officials decided to open the rides as planned. The National Weather Service forecast states there is a 60 percent chance of more rain showers and thunderstorms between about 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. tonight.

Tuesday 5:30 p.m.: “Cattle Crawl” progressive dinner featuring Agri-Exposure, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Beaumont Inn and Kentucky Fudge Company. Limited seating; tickets are $50 each. Thursday 7-9 p.m.: Bourbon tasting sponsored by Jim Beam at the Kentucky Fudge Company. Tickets are $25 per person; participants must be 21 or older to participate. Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.: Gates open for grill-off and vendor set-up. 5-9 p.m.: Main concession booth open, operated by Mercer County Cattlemen's Association.

Every area baseball and softball team will play an elimination game today as postseason play begins with the start of district tournaments. All six Advocate-area district baseball and softball tournaments get under way today with semifinal doubleheaders. Five of them are scheduled to conclude Tuesday, with one carrying over to Wednesday. The top two teams in each district advance to the 12th Region tournaments. Both the baseball and softball regionals will be played at Rockcastle County next week.

Kentucky will renew a traditional rivalry and honor the late Bill Keightley next season. The Wildcats unveiled the non-conference portion of their men's basketball schedule Wednesday, a slate that includes contests against Michigan State, Baylor, North Carolina, Providence and defending national champion Louisville on Dec. 28 at Rupp Arena. “It's once again an elite schedule, but that's the standard here,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said on his Facebook page Wednesday. Kentucky coach John Calipari's squad will officially open the campaign on Nov. 8 against UNC-Ashville and then will play Northern Kentucky University on Nov. 10 in two straight home games to begin the season.

An old house on Second Street is scheduled to be torn down Thursday. Danville Fire Department and Danville Public Works will begin demolition at 609 S. Second St. at 9 a.m. According to Danville Fire Chief Woody Ball, crews will use a track-hoe and Dumpsters to perform the demolition. Crews should be finished with the job by Friday if weather permits. Ball asks residents to use caution in the area because of heavy equipment. For more information, contact Ball at wball@danvilleky.org.

BOYLE Centre College - 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19, in Newlin Hall Boyle County High School - 7 p.m. Friday, May 24 Kentucky School for the Deaf - 2 p.m. Thursday, May 30, in the gym Danville High School - 8 p.m. Thursday, May 30, at the Norton Center for the Arts CASEY Casey County High School - 4 p.m. Saturday, May 18 GARRARD Garrard County High School - 7 p.m. Friday, May 24, location to be announced. LINCOLN Fort Logan High School - 7 p.m. Thursday, May 23, in the auditorium Lincoln County High School - 7 p.m. Friday, May 24 MERCER Burgin High School - 7 p.m. Friday, May 24 Mercer Central - 1 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at the 9th Grade Academy gym Mercer County Senior High School - 4 p.m. Saturday, May 25, in the auditorium

The Danville Fire Department will begin the 2013 Spring hydrant flushing and testing on Monday. Visit www.danvilleky.org for a detailed map of each area and daily scheduled updates on Facebook at City of Danville Fire Department.  Signs will be posted in each area before flushing begins. Flushing will be done between 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.  Hydrant flushing and testing is done to ensure that all city-owned hydrants and water lines are operating properly and will be usable during a fire emergency.

LEXINGTON - The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Department of Highways, says the installation of rumble strips is scheduled for roadways in District 7. Rumble strips help increase safety by assisting with the prevention of lane departures and head on collisions. This will be a mobile operation, with flaggers guiding and directing motorists.  Appropriate signage will be in place to alert the traveling public. Work will be performed in this area during the hours of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Friday - Mercer County, U.S. 127 B (the bypass)