Toys

Brad is the regional advertising manager for Advocate Communication, Inc. and started in April 2008. He worked for CNHI for 10 years in Morehead and Ashland, Ky. and was publisher at The Frankfort Times in Frankfort, Ind. Brad has a BBA in Marketing from Morehead University and is a native of Mount Sterling, Ky. Brad and his wife, Sandy, have one son, Zachary, and live in Mount Sterling. Brad enjoys playing golf and is a member of the Central Kentucky Umpires Association. Email btoy@ amnews .com

So, this is exactly what happened this morning, and exactly what should’ve happened afterward …but didn’t. Gene and Jean were in Pet Smart to buy worming medicine for myself and my lovely lady friend Bella. In Pet Smart, among the hundreds of cat medicines and rows of toys for all kinds of pets, was a section of cat toys that were fairly large, made of coarse material and covered with cotton-like filling. They instantly knew I would like one, especially since Bella is the only cat (or dog)

The “Toy Story” films meant a lot to me and my family through the years, so you can imagine I was pretty excited and nervous when “Toy Story 3” was about to come out. It’s not hard for me to remember back to 1995 when the first “Toy Story” movie was released, even though I was only 5 years old. Watching it for the first time was obviously a significant experience, and I remember seeing it more than once...

Santa Claus tried on some new headgear Saturday, sporting a firefighter's helmet as members of the Nicholasville Fire Department and other volunteers helped with the organization's annual toy drive to give gifts to needy children. Held at East Jessamine Middle, the event provided toys to 777 children from 386 families in its eighth year. The toys all came by way of donation. Walmart contributed many toys and was also the collection site for monetary donations. Battalion Chief Bob Carpenter, the event's chairperson, said the program had humble beginnings in an NFD station but had grown to fill the gym and café-theater at the new middle school.

JUNCTION CITY ? On Sunday, Junction City resident Travis Carroll was driving home from Somerset when his mom, Gail Wilson, called him. "Drive careful," Wilson told him, "but come home now. " Wilson, a resident of Gravel Switch, was calling to tell her son that his home at 710 Yates Road had burned. When Wilson and her husband learned about the fire from one of Carroll's friends, she said she immediately dialed 911 and was told, "There's nothing you can do, it's gone. " A report on the fire hasn't been filed yet by the Boyle County Fire Department.

Help make somebody happy this Christmas To the Sun: Calling All Volunteers! In a matter of just days, we will open the doors to Emmanuel Episcopal Church and welcome a few thousand Clark County residents to participate in the 39th year of Operation Happiness! We've ordered the food, purchased the coats, hats, gloves and toys in anticipation of serving 1,400 families. Donations have been coming in for weeks, and we truly appreciate our community's generosity.

H1N1 vaccine at health department Due to increased availability of the H1N1 vaccine, the Boyle County Health Department is now opening up clinic availability for vaccinations or nasal vaccine to all residents of Boyle County. The vaccine is provided free and patients will receive an immunization card. For more information, call the Boyle County Health Department at (859) 236-2053. Garrard, Lincoln county election filings The following candidates have filed for election in their prospective counties.

Last year around Thanksgiving, the Danville Fire Department Christmas toy drive was looking for a Miracle on Main Street just to stay alive. "Comparatively speaking, we are in better shape than we were last year," said Chief Mike Thomas. "We like to be able to serve the kids on our list and usually have something to kick in for other agencies if they run into trouble. Last year, we thought we were going to zero out the account and actually have to turn people away, which we have never done before.

Plays geared toward different ages will be performed at the Pioneer Playhouse indoor stage this weekend. For the younger crowd is "Cinder-Elfa," a holiday-ized version of the timeless story of Cinderella, set to music and with all the principal characters intact ? except as elves. Elf-Tidings (Caroline Bugg) spreads the news throughout the village that Santa is holding a contest for the elf who creates the greatest gift for the children of the world. The Wicked Step-Elf Sisters, Drizz-Elfa and Bland-Elfa (Alden Baird and Taylor Whitsell)

The annual Nicholasville Firefighter Toy Drive will kick off Friday with the Pennies for Presents program at Walmart, Kroger on South Main Street, Kroger in Brannon Crossing and Fitch's IGA in Wilmore. This year's need is even greater than previous years, according to Battalion Chief Bob Carpenter. "The demand this year is what we're concerned about," he said. "Some of the programs within the county that did the same types of things that we do have been depleted. (So) we're figuring on an additional 400 to 500 kids.