Science

Dear Editor: Eighty percent of the American population believes in a higher power than man. It would therefore stand to reason that this 80 percent, or most of them, believe that somehow, some way, intelligent design brought about life on this Planet Earth, and who knows where else. Is science not only an experimental investigation but also a "theoretical explanation" of natural phenomenia? Therefore, Brian Cooney's statement that "Intelligent Design is unintelligent science" is labeling a majority of Americans as "unintelligent" because their "theoretical explanation" does not agree with his. To say that life, be it the flora on earth, the animals, including the human animal and the insects, evolved through the ages does not prove that their beginning was not by an intelligent design.

Dear Editor: Over the years I've had many interests and studies concerning things that have crossed my path, and I firmly believe that any notion or concept worth anything deserves research. Many have opposed "intelligent design" in the belief that it is nothing more than faith, and refuse any sort of investigation into whatever scientific evidence it may or may not have. In truth, evolution has been called "theory," which it is indeed. Theory is defined as "an assumption based on limited information or knowledge; a conjecture.

The winners of the Hannah McClure Elementary science fair are as follows: Third grade First place: Cameron Smith Second place: Wesley Parks Third place: Troy True Special mention: Casey Pasley Fourth grade First place: Eric Byrne Second place: Sam Barrett Third place: Jennifer Stephens Special mention: Mercedes Todd Eric Byrne, grand champion, and grand prize winners Cameron Smith and Sam Barrett...

Scholarships Leslie Reynolds, a member of the Boyle County High School FFA, has received a $1,000 Ford Trucks/Built Ford Tough FFA Program Scholarship. She will use the funds to pursue a degree at Morehead State University. Stuart Powell Ford, as a special project of the National FFA Foundation, sponsored the scholarship. The scholarship is one of 1,641 awarded through the National FFA Scholarship Program this year. More than 133 corporate sponsors generously contribute more than $2.2 million to support the program that is in its 24th year.

Graduations Morehead State University - Rachel Susan Pittman, a graduate of Boyle County High School, graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in diagnostic medical sonography. Her parents are Michael and Alycea Pittman of Danville, and her grandparents are James and Celesta Lawson of Danville.   Union College - Morgan Ann Brown, of Waynesburg, bachelor of science in athletic training. Ryan Victor Young, of Waynesburg, bachelor of science in mass communications.

Students at Conkwright Middle showed off their science projects Thursday night. The projects were judged by volunteers rounded up by Community Education, and winners will move on to the regional science fair at Rupp Arena. Brianna Mohammed, a seventh grader, presents her project to judges Mary Grogan and Darrian Carr. Casey Castle/ccastle@winchestersun.com

Jo and Dwight Willis of Nicholasville, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Adrienne Tyler Willis, to Joshua Ryan Dicken, son of Mrs. Martha Griffin of Dawsonville, Ga., and Mr. Johnny Dicken of  Mt. Sterling. Tyler is a graduate of Western Kentucky University, where she earned her bachelor of science in communication disorders. She is a member of the Delta Gamma Chapter of Kappa Delta sorority. Tyler received her master's from the University of Kentucky in communication disorders.

Students from Boyle, Casey and Lincoln counties will be among 160 seventh- and eighth-graders from across Kentucky, all identified as gifted and talented in science and/or mathematics, who will have the opportunity to participated in a NASA space  program event hosted by Eastern Kentucky University. Of the group, 23 select students will speak with astronaut Tom Marshburn while he is aboard the International Space Station. The theme for the event, which runs from 9:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., is “From the Bluegrass to the Blue Marble: Systems in Space.” Local students participating in the event include: Boyle County: Alyvia Walker and Kennedy Walker, Bate Middle School; Kate Leahey, Boyle County Middle School.

To everyone who is responsible for the wonderful display of fireworks we enjoy, freely, every year at Millenium Park: a big “Thank You” for the risk you take, the expense you go to and the time you spend so that our community can have this.  I don't understand much of the science of pyrotechnics, so I am just amazed each year at the color and design. The assortment this year was fantastic. We liked the spirals, the hearts, the unique fountains, the sizzly ones. It was great, and we thank you!

According to a National Geographic news article from August 2006 (back to that date in a moment), of 34 “western” nations, Turkey was the only country with a smaller percentage of adults who believed in evolution theory than the United States. In the U.S., only 14 percent of adults thought evolution was “definitely true,” and the investigation also showed the percentage of U.S. adults uncertain about evolution had risen from 7 percent to 21 percent in the previous 20 years.

Depending on whose press release you believe, Tennessee's new science law either promotes “academic freedom” or “allows creationism to be taught in public schools.” Enacted on April 10, the legislation instructs school officials not to prohibit teachers from informing students about the “scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses” of “scientific controversies” such as biological evolution. Science education groups are outraged, arguing that the law has nothing to do with academic freedom - and everything to do with finding new ways to undermine the teaching of evolution with trumped-up “controversies” and unscientific “weaknesses” disguised as science.

Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Becraft announce the engagement of their daughter, Ashley Elizabeth Becraft of Winchester, to Michael Edward Johnson of Louisville. He is the son of Jeffrey and Becky Johnson of Louisville. The bride-elect is a 2003 graduate of George Rogers Clark High School, a 2007 graduate of the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and will graduate in April from Indiana Wesleyan University with a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in family nurse practitioner.