Surprise

The Kentucky House of Representatives presented a certificate of commendation to Ethel Hughes of Louisville in celebration of her 95th birthday. Hughes, the sister of Betty Lambert of Winchester, was surprised with a gathering of 90 family members and friends at the Elks Lodge Oct. 8. The birthday dinner was prepared and served by Lambert and her children and grandchildren. Larry Lambert entertained with “golden oldies” from the 1940s, and requests from the guests. Among other guests were two of Hughes's sons, Jerry (Ethel)

LEXINGTON - Freshman Josh Clemons was one of the prize recruits in Kentucky's 2011 recruiting class - and he's played that way. In two games, he's rushed for 165 yards on 25 carries, an average of 6.6 per try. He's scored twice - a 14-yard run against Western Kentucky and a UK¿freshman record 87-yard run against Central Michigan that was the fourth-longest rushing touchdown play in Kentucky history. “You hear the buzz around a facility in the summer of how he works in the weight room.

It's no surprise Jodie Meeks is raising eyebrows in his first two games as a professional basketball player. The former University of Kentucky standout and all-time single-game scoring leader has scored 30 points for the Milwaukee Bucks in two games for the organization's summer league squad. Meeks scored 14 in a 65-59 victory over Dallas and added 16 more on 7-of-14 shooting in a win over Cleveland Sunday night. The former Kentucky standout and 41st pick in last month's draft, said his experiences at Kentucky helped prepare him for the next level.

Surprising someone with just the right gift is a risky business, even if you think you know the person well.  I chuckle every time I think of that cartoon of the husband standing outside his bedroom door in his pajamas, wearing some ridiculous looking bunny rabbit slippers, trying to coax his wife out, pleading repentantly, “Mildred, I'm sorry. I really do like my bunny rabbit slippers.” We've all received one of “those” gifts. What to do with them? “I just knew you would love it,” your distant aunt or cousin or work-related acquaintance tells you. And you stare at it, wondering what it is and what they were thinking when they bought it. And you ask yourself if you've been the victim of regifting.

Over the last few years I've had the opportunity to interact with Kentucky National Guard members in various ways - and I've always been impressed with the organizational skills and dedication of all involved. I have been to the National Guard Border Bowl in Williamsburg the last three years and even got to be master of ceremonies at this year's bowl dinner. I don't think I have ever been to anything more meaningful than the 2011 Montgomery Gentry USO concert in Louisville that was shown live to troops overseas.

Dear Editor, Where do you take out-of-town visitors over the holidays or at any other time during the year? Shaker Village, the Kentucky Horse Park, the Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge, Berea and the Perryville Battlefield are good half-day excursions. Now there is a new option right in Danville that you're probably not aware of. The recently opened Great American Dollhouse Museum, on Swope Drive just off Lexington Avenue, is a totally unexpected and surprising place.

LEXINGTON - It was not a huge surprise that Kentucky started a true freshman offensive lineman in its win over Indiana. What was surprising, though, was that it was Carter County's Aaron Miller, not the more highly-touted Micah Jones of Mayfield. "I probably would not have been the first name most fans would have guessed (about which freshman would start)," said Miller. "But that's why we practice. " Just being on the roster was not a given for Miller only a few months ago. He was one of the first players to verbally commit to UK's 2004 recruiting class, but the Kentucky coach staff thought of having him wait until January to enroll because they weren't sure he was physically ready to compete in the Southeastern Conference.

Capt. Zach Bell with The Salvation Army found a last minute surprise in the four red kettles that have stood outside a few Danville businesses for the past month. "Every kettle had two $100 bills wrapped up inside," he said. The bills were wrapped up inside a $1. He said they found the $800 surprise Friday when the kettles were emptied. "What a wonderful way to close it off," Bell said.

Cheyenne Evans said she just wanted to fit in on the Boyle County track team. The sophomore has done more just fit in. She's become a key contributor and one of the best 400-meter runners in Class AA. That is way more than she expected in her first year running for the Rebels after transferrring from Madison Central this year. "I just wanted to come in and do my best," said Evans. Aside from running the 400, Evans is part of the 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays and long jumps.

STANFORD - If the Lincoln County Patriots have it their way, no one will see them coming as they begin their quest to reach the top of the 12th Region. Lincoln expects to contend with a senior-dominated team that returns all of last season's key players. Yet last year's team had a losing record, so the Patriots might not get much mention in conversations about the region's best teams. "It's good to be the underdog and surprise people," senior Nate Rice said. Still, it will be hard to surprise opponents with a lineup stocked with seniors.

The more scholarship offers he receives, the more surprised Adrian Middleton is. “It has all really surprised me. I was not really expecting any of this,” said Middleton, a defensive tackle at South Warren. The 6-4, 275-pound Middleton now has offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Missouri, Austin Peay and Indiana State. Even Florida has visited the Bowling Green school and shown interest in Middleton. “The coaches seem to like that I am good using my hands and stuff like that,” Middleton said.

BURGIN - Beginning her career of teaching music in the Burgin school district part-time in 1977, Susan Shewmaker impacted the lives of many students over the course of those 36 years. That's why 35 of her former students surprised her with a performance of the school fight song Thursday night during her final spring concert. When Shewmaker's pending retirement was announced, Burgin Principal Martha Collier, 1996 alum Nicole Sparrow Short and current senior Christian Kestler concocted a plan to do something special for Shewmaker, and they successfully began contacting former band students from across the years.

Even though your house may appear to rest on solid ground, there is still the possibility you may find yourself suddenly awakened in the middle of the night by the rumble of your bedroom floor opening into a massive hole, sliding you and the contents of the room into its pit, interrupting your sweet dreams with dirt and debris.  If you live in Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee or Pennsylvania, you are more at risk for a...

As Frank Keller stood less than 50 feet from Pope Benedict XVI last September, he noticed the leader of the Catholic church looked frail. “I wondered at the time how a person can do this magnificent job and keep up the pace,” Keller, deacon at St. Luke Catholic Church in Nicholasville, said. Still, the Vatican's announcement Monday that the 85-year-old pope is stepping down Feb. 28 came as a surprise to the deacon. Keller, 52, said the unexpected resignation also has shocked many church members.

 Lice can suck the profits out of your beef and dairy cattle herds during the winter. These cold-loving pests spread when animals bunch together in response to frigid temperatures.  You can reduce potential lice problems on newly bought cattle by keeping these animals separate from your herd until after you've given them a thorough louse treatment, generally two applications of a contact insecticide.  The first application kills active adults and immature lice but it won't destroy nits or eggs on the hide.

When John Back, an aviation boatswain's mate in the U.S. Navy, wanted to surprise his sons after returning from a deployment, he had something low-key in mind. Instead, the staff and faculty at Shearer Elementary had bigger plans. Back surprised his two sons, second-grader Jordan and third-grader Josh, in front of the entire student body Friday in the school's gym. “I just wanted to come to school and surprise the boys in class - something small, not too big,” Back said. “It kind of evolved from there.” The children at Shearer Elementary were called to the gym under the guise of an assembly for the start of the new school semester.

As news of Sam Harp's departure from Danville began to spread Wednesday, a couple of his local coaching colleagues said they could see one important reason why he would make a move to Tennessee. Both Chris Pardue of Mercer County and Mark Scenters of Garrard County said Harp's decision to take the job at Lebanon (Tenn.) makes sense from a financial perspective, as it will essentially allow Harp to draw two paychecks. Still, both coaches said they were surprised when they heard the news Wednesday.

Surprising someone with just the right gift is a risky business, even if you think you know the person well.  I chuckle every time I think of that cartoon of the husband standing outside his bedroom door in his pajamas, wearing some ridiculous looking bunny rabbit slippers, trying to coax his wife out, pleading repentantly, “Mildred, I'm sorry. I really do like my bunny rabbit slippers.” We've all received one of “those” gifts. What to do with them? “I just knew you would love it,” your distant aunt or cousin or work-related acquaintance tells you. And you stare at it, wondering what it is and what they were thinking when they bought it. And you ask yourself if you've been the victim of regifting.

LANCASTER - Kelly Smith has been starting for the Garrard County girls basketball team since her eighth-grade year. However, it never occurred to the Golden Lions' senior center that she would be coming up on 1,000 points in her career. She just doesn't think that way. Smith, along with junior guard Devin Conley, reached that career milestone Nov. 30 in a 68-30 win over North Laurel. “It was a surprise because I never thought I would get a thousand points. It feels really good,” Smith said.

Three of the Danville City Commissioners who voted in favor of purchasing the BISCO warehouse said Thursday they had no idea that the father of a city commissioner has an alleged financial interest in the building.  Commissioners James “J.H.” Atkins, Kevin Caudill and Gail Louis all expressed surprise that Mitchell Barnes, former owner of the BISCO building, alleges that Commissioner Ryan Montgomery's father, Mike, expects to receive a...