Kentucky News Now – January 13th, 2014

GOVERNOR'S MANSION

Kentucky governor's mansion turns 100

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — It's the house that Frankfort built — literally — and this month begins a yearlong celebration of the 100-year-old Governor's Mansion.

Kentucky's 61st governor, Steve Beshear, and first lady Jane Beshear will head the centennial celebration.

It was Gov. Augustus Willson in 1911 who actually set in motion the building of a new residence, though he was not in office when it was completed. Gov. James McCreary and his daughter would be the first occupants in 1914. His wife, Kate, died before his second term.

After the Capitol was completed in 1912, the General Assembly selected the low bid of approximately $75,000 from Frankfort Construction to build the Beaux Arts revival home as designed by Ft. Thomas architects C.C. and Edward Weber.

HIKING TRAILS

Plan for Central Park hiking trails advances

ASHLAND, Ky. (AP) — A plan to develop hiking trails on 45 acres of land near Central Park in Ashland is advancing.

The Independent reports a group comprised of local service club representatives recently met for the second time and its members reported their respective organizations had all agreed to support the project.

Mayor Chuck Charles reported that a committee he had appointed to oversee the effort would be meeting later this month.

Charles has said he believes the site can be developed at minimal cost using the combined manpower of the local service clubs, the local National Guard, as well as school, scouting and church groups.

He also noted the project would allow Ashland to seek official designation as a "Kentucky Trail Town," which could help to generate tourism.

FOOD STAMPS-POOREST COUNTY

Food stamp cut hits Ky. county harder than most

BOONEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A drop in federal food assistance has struck a county in Kentucky's Appalachian region hard.

About half of Owsley County's 4,700 residents received food stamps in 2011, the last year available. The drop in benefits came as Congress opted not to extend larger benefits that were part of an economic stimulus package passed in 2009.

U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., who represents the area, says the program is needed in eastern Kentucky, but is also badly in need of reforms.

The result means less money to spend each month on food for 47 million Americans — including 900,000 Kentuckians.

Owsley County resident Rosanna Troyer says the drop in food assistance from $367 to $303 meant cutting back on meat purchases and buying more canned goods and macaroni and cheese.

ST JUDE FUNDRAISER

W. Ky. boy raising money for St. Jude

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — A western Kentucky boy is raising money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.

Gavin Howard, who will be 9 next month, told The Messenger-Inquirer (http://bit.ly/1gC9v00) that he has set a goal of raising $1,000 by his birthday. He is selling T-shirts and sweatshirts in order to meet his goal.

His mother, Jenny Howard, said her son first decided to donate to the hospital two years ago during a radio-thon fundraiser.

That year he donated $45 that he had received for his seventh birthday. Last year, he donated $322 that he collected for his eighth birthday.

He wanted to do more this year, so he decided to sell items. The black shirts have the words "Peace, Love, Cure" written in gold on the front.

T25-SMU-LOUISVILLE

No. 12 Louisville survives SMU, 71-63

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Luke Hancock's career-high 23 points, including two free throws with 46 seconds remaining, helped No. 12 Louisville hold off SMU for a 71-63 victory Sunday in a meeting of Hall of Fame coaches.

Hancock's second straight 20-point game helped Rick Pitino's Cardinals (14-3, 3-1 American Athletic Conference) get the final word in his first collegiate matchup against Larry Brown and his Mustangs (11-4, 1-2).

Making his first start despite dealing with a left Achilles issue, the senior guard made 8 of 15 from the field — 4 of 9 from 3-point range — to help keep Louisville ahead in a tense game that Montrezl Harrell finally settled with a dunk and a block after Hancock's free throws.

Russ Smith scored 23 points and Harrell added 12 points and 13 rebounds as Louisville bounced back from Thursday's loss to No. 24 Memphis with 47 percent shooting, despite being outrebounded 48-35.

T25-LOUISVILLE-SOUTH FLORIDA

No. 5 Louisville holds off South Florida 62-54

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Shoni Schimmel scored 25 points, five of them in the final seven minutes to help fifth-ranked Louisville hold off South Florida 62-54 on Sunday.

Schimmel's three-point play finished an 11-1 run the Cardinals (16-1, 4-0 American Athletic Conference) used to take control for good after USF (8-8, 3-2) trimmed what had been a 17-point second-half deficit to 49-47. Sara Hammond began the spurt with a 3-point play and finished with 14.

Courtney Williams led USF with 19 points, but only had four in the second half. Alisia Jenkins had 12 points and led a 17-2 run that got the Bulls back into the game.

Louisville overcame cold shooting for the second straight game, building its big lead after settling for a 33-27 halftime lead while shooting 33 percent from the field and committing 10 turnovers before intermission.