Work Ethic

LEXINGTON - As he tried to recall all the things he enjoyed about being an honorary assistant Kentucky basketball coach for one day, George Goodwin said three things stood out to him. “The top three things are professionalism, kindness and just awesome,” said Goodwin. “The coaching staff, being able to watch them work on and off all day, no wonder we always have a good team. Those guys literally work all the time.” Goodwin was coach John Calipari's “assistant” Monday when the Wildcats hosted Transylvania in their final exhibition game.

Dear Editor, I am writing this letter urging the citizens of Boyle County to support and elect Marti Pittman as our next Boyle County circuit clerk. I have known Marti and her family for many years. Before Marti joined the clerk's office she worked as a staff accountant for our firm. During her tenure with our firm Marti always exhibited a great work ethic and a willingness to do whatever it took to get her assigned task completed. I am positive that in her past years with the court system she has demonstrated the same work ethic.

Braxton Miller and Rich Witten worked hard to get on this page. It wasn't necessarily a goal for either of them, but they share The Kentucky Advocate Male Athlete of the Year award in large part because they share a similar work ethic. The award is a by-product of the many other goals they reached in their senior seasons and throughout their athletic careers at Lincoln County, where Miller starred in football and basketball, and Danville, where Witten excelled in baseball and football.

The reports of journalist Tim Russert's death goes back to one theme: the work ethic that he inherited from his father. It's the legacy of a blue-collar family. "Big Russ," Russert's dad, worked two full-time jobs, just like my dad did. Dad went to work in the morning, came home for dinner, and went to his night job. He worked every weekend and usually every holiday. We never went on vacation. My parents didn't take a honeymoon until 7 years after they were married. No one thought it was strange.

LEXINGTON - Wesley Woodyard couldn't help but marvel at his newest piece of jewelry he obtained following Kentucky's Blue-White scrimmage here last Saturday, but he also took notice of the weight of the Music City Bowl ring. "It's kind of heavy," Woodyard said. "It feels good. " Last fall, Woodyard was part of a defensive unit that made a quick turnaround in the latter half of the season that resulted in an 8-5 record, including a 28-20 win over Clemson in the Music City Bowl, the school's first postseason appearance in seven years.

MEMPHIS - For the last three years, defensive line coach Rick Petri has spent most days pushing tackle Myron Pryor. He always felt Pryor, who returned a fumble for a touchdown against Louisville this year, could be a special player and he did everything he could to make Pryor believe that. "He started out great this year. He was cruising and having a great year and then he had the ankle injury that took him back a little bit," Petri said. "Then I think at the end he has brought it back on. He has got healthier, looked better and I think we are looking for him to have a big game in the bowl game.

The Lincoln County Educational Fund Inc. recognized two outstanding Lincoln County students for their service to the community. Brittany Long and Jordan Wilkinson, both 2008 LCHS graduates, were presented the Community Service Award from the Dollars for Scholars Program. Resources for the Lincoln County Educational Fund Inc. are obtained through donations from individuals, businesses and foundations. The Fund Inc. awards are available to students graduating high school in Lincoln County.

Teachers Allison Gibson and Julie Hale have been named as winners of the Campbellsville "Excellence in Teaching" award for 2007-2008. Mrs. Julie Hale teaches fifth-grade mathematics at McKinney Elementary School. She began her career in education in January 1996 as an Americorps Service Learning Coordinator after she had graduated from Eastern Kentucky University. Julie is married to Dennis Hale and they have four children. Principal Donnie Leigh had this to say about Mrs. Hale: "Julie's passion and work ethic makes me feel certain that she'd be successful in any role in which she might be placed.

Centre College diver Dustin Schulten has qualified to compete in the NCAA Championship at Principia College March 18-20. The St. Xavier graduate won the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship in both the one- and three-meter competitions while breaking the school record by 74 points. Schulten went through the entire season undefeated and is a first team all-conference performer. "Dustin is extremely deserving of this honor," said head coach Dean Brownley. "Although he's gone through the season undefeated, his work ethic hasn't dropped one bit. Centre is lucky to have a diver of this caliber, and we're glad he'll be back for three more years.

Sometimes excellent service is so good and so dependable that it becomes invisible, and it is taken for granted. Excellent service is what I get from Advocate-Messenger carrier Vicki Blake. She is friendly, reliable and you can set your watch by her delivery of the paper. She also leaves Christmas treats for my dogs. I want to recognize and thank Vicki for her work ethic and let The Advocate know she is terrific public relations for the paper. I hope others on her route will take time to show their appreciation of her wonderful service.

LEXINGTON - Linebacker Avery Williamson was Kentucky's leading tackler last season, when the Wildcats won just two games and went through a coaching change. Joker Phillips was fired and Mark Stoops was hired, and Williamson said the change has been good for the team. “We needed a change to get ourselves going. Really, a lot of guys were just down in spirits. We needed it bad,” Williamson said Friday after Kentucky's practice. “It can happen with any team. I am feeling good about what we are doing now. I am very confident in these coaches and what they are doing.

LEXINGTON - As he tried to recall all the things he enjoyed about being an honorary assistant Kentucky basketball coach for one day, George Goodwin said three things stood out to him. “The top three things are professionalism, kindness and just awesome,” said Goodwin. “The coaching staff, being able to watch them work on and off all day, no wonder we always have a good team. Those guys literally work all the time.” Goodwin was coach John Calipari's “assistant” Monday when the Wildcats hosted Transylvania in their final exhibition game.

The George Rogers Clark High School marching band went into Morehead Saturday and cleaned house. The Cardinals claimed a handful of awards at the Viking Classic at Rowan County High School, sweeping the 5A awards and taking home three overall awards. “The kids have been working very hard this year,” band director Chris Yoo said. “We've got a good group this year. They're understanding the discipline it takes to be successful. We have a group that is starting to understand the work ethic we need.” The Cardinals won first place in the 5A class, along with best color guard and best percussion in 5A. Clark also took home the Best Overall Music award, the Best Overall General Effect and Best Overall Color Guard in a competition that featured 12 bands.

LANCASTER - On the surface, there wouldn't appear to be much that either team could take away from this one. But the coaches of both the Danville and Garrard County boys found some things they could use within a lopsided game that went pretty much as expected Tuesday night, with Danville controlling the game and winning 7-0. Shawn Ramos scored three goals for the visiting Admirals, whose goal total approached the combined total of 10 from all of...

A few weeks ago when talking about East Jessamine boys' soccer outlook, Sam Miller was probably the first thing out of a person's mouth. After all, Miller has been one of the top players in the area the last two years and had already committed to the University of Kentucky. But the next time Miller will be on the soccer pitch will probably be his freshman year at UK, as the senior tore his ACL in a scrimmage against Bowling Green last week. “We took a huge blow as a team; Sam Miller is in my mind the best player in the area, one of the most talent players in the area,” East coach Tom Morgan said.

East Jessamine has a big task ahead of it in replacing Emily Underwood. In her four years at East, Underwood was one of the most decorated players in Lady Jags basketball history, scoring more than 1,000 points, averaging 20 points a game last year and dishing out a school-record 117 assists during her senior season. In other words, East's offense was Underwood, whether it be scoring or getting the ball to people who could score. It will take more than one player to pick up the slack this season.

“Work harder: Millions on welfare are counting on you.” I must admit the pithy bumper sticker made me chuckle. I appreciate wit even when sometimes it cuts. As I reflected on Labor Day about the current frenzy about the dismal reports on jobs, the nine simple words on the sticker highlighted one part of the problem. Unemployment is a complicated socioeconomic issue, and no one can easily pinpoint the problem or the solution. Ideas abound, but at least one issue is clear. There is a growing sentiment in our culture that the ideal job is that which garners the most pay while requiring the least work.

Andy Cooper has done it all. “When you get to be 77 years old, you’ve been on a lot of road. A lot of road,” he said. Cooper, a Lancaster resident, is wheelchair bound after a stroke in 1990 paralyzed the left side of his body. He was diagnosed with cancer in December but he still drives himself to chemotherapy every Wednesday. “I make myself go, I don’t get worried about it,” Cooper said. “I’m going to die anyway. If you’re going to live to 70 you’d better hope you lived some good laughs and good days.

Kentucky had five players selected in the first round of the 2010 NBA draft, but Kentucky coach John Calipari says he is just as excited about the upcoming draft. Calipari even noted in his “State of the Cats” column on http://www.coachcal.com that he feels Enes Kanter, who was deemed ineligible by the NCAA last season and not allowed to play for UK, could be the No. 1 pick in the draft based on conversations with “several of the decision-makers for almost all of the NBA teams” that allow him to have an “educated” guess on where Kanter, Brandon Knight, Josh Harrellson and DeAndre Liggins may fall in the draft.

Hannah Grimes manages a three-way balancing act between school, athletics and employment by keeping her eye on the road ahead. “In the future, it’s going to help that I’ve worked hard all my life, not just in college or out of college,” she said. Grimes’ dedicated and demanding lifestyle has long included cheerleading and outstanding academics, but at 16, she added employee to her resume. “I’ve always said I want to work so I can make my own money,” Grimes said.