Tuesday’s Kentucky News – November 26th, 2013

SOLDIERS DEPLOYMENT

Fort Campbell soldiers preparing to deploy

(Information in the following story is from: Kentucky New Era, http://www.kentuckynewera.com)

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — A brigade of Fort Campbell soldiers has cased its colors in preparation for its upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.

The Kentucky New Era reports 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, which consists of nearly 3,000 soldiers, will begin deploying in January to support combat operations in the north and east regions on the country.

The commander of the brigade, Colonel Jimmy Blackmon, told soldiers their mission was atypical but still important as the U.S. begins winding down its military presence in Afghanistan.

It is the brigade's fifth casing ceremony since 2003.

FRIENDLY RIVALS

Mayors urge Ky. to boost engineering graduates

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The mayors of Kentucky's two largest cities say the state needs to produce more engineers as part of a strategy to expand the region's manufacturing clout.

Louisville and Lexington are putting aside their long-running rivalry to promote the region's economy.

A new report released Monday says the area anchored by both cities has the potential for a significant boost in manufacturing jobs.

Lexington Mayor Jim Gray says Kentucky ranks near the bottom nationally in the number of engineers it produces.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer points to engineers as "job-creating machines," saying their work spins off other jobs.

The mayors said they're urging Governor Steve Beshear to include money in his budget proposal to lawmakers next year that would expand engineering programs at the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville.

SHARING THANKSGIVING

Governor, wife helping distribute food to needy

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Governor Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear have helped to distribute food for Thanksgiving meals to the needy in Lexington.

They participated in the Sharing Thanksgiving initiative at Lexington's Broadway Christian Church Monday evening.

The initiative provided the makings for about 4,500 holiday meals to Fayette County families last year. The goal was to top that total this year. Rules of the program required that recipients live in Fayette County.

The Sharing Thanksgiving program, which started in 1994, provides ingredients for a traditional meal, including turkey, mashed potatoes, yams, cranberry sauce, dressing and a dessert.

KSP-FOOD DRIVE

Kentucky State Police start annual food drive

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's lead police agency has started its annual food drive across the state.

Food collection sites have been set up at all 16 Kentucky State Police posts and at the agency's headquarters in Frankfort.

The food drive running through December 13th collects non-perishable foods for needy families.

KSP spokesman Trooper Paul Blanton says the agency collected more than 100,000 pounds of food during the 2012 campaign.

Blanton says the food will be distributed to local shelters, churches and other organizations serving people in need.

Suggested donations include canned fruit and vegetables, canned meat, macaroni and cheese, cereal, peanut butter, canned soups, brownie and cake mixes, coffee, water, powdered milk and juices.

OBIT-WILLIAMS

Tobacco whistleblower dies in Mississippi

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A tobacco whistleblower who supplied documents that set off a legal assault that staggered the nation's biggest tobacco companies has died in Mississippi.

Merrell Williams Junior died last week in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He was 72.

As a paralegal in Kentucky, Williams unearthed memos and studies concerning smoking and health that gave anti-tobacco lawyers newfound ammunition against cigarette makers. He took the documents from the law firm that represented Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp.

A few years later, the tobacco industry agreed in the late 1990s to a massive settlement with the states over smoking-related health costs.

Williams is remembered by former Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore for supplying information that "changed the course" in the fight against Big Tobacco.

Moore said Monday the documents helped beat the industry and resulted in smoking declines.

POLICE MEMORIAL

Police officer memorial goes up in Pikeville

(Information in the following story is from: Appalachian News-Express, http://www.news-expressky.com)

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A memorial for fallen police officers has been put up in Pikeville outside the courthouse, but it remains covered and won't be unveiled until next month.

Terry Thompson, president of Pike County's local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, told the Appalachian News-Express (http://bit.ly/1clt75m ) that the monument was a labor of love. He said multiple FOP chapters have worked for more than five years toward the goal.

In its current state, Thompson said the memorial is about 12 feet tall and includes the names of about 25 officers killed in the line of duty since the early 1900s.

An unveiling is scheduled on December 11th and a formal dedication ceremony will be held next May.

WORK READY COMMUNITIES

Number of Ky. Work Ready Communities grows

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Two more Kentucky counties have been certified as Kentucky Work Ready Communities.

The Education and Workforce Development Cabinet says that designation means the workforce in those communities are adequately trained to fill existing jobs and step into new jobs requiring innovative technologies.

The new counties are Madison and Shelby, joining Boyle, Daviess, Warren, Woodford and Henderson. The certification began in February 2012.

The Kentucky Workforce Investment Board says Madison County is the first Kentucky community to start out with Work Ready Communities in Progress certification and step up to Work Ready Communities level.

A total of 23 counties have been designated as Kentucky Work Ready Communities in Progress, meaning they are close to achieving Work Ready Community criteria.

TEACHER HALL OF FAME

3 educators selected for Ky. Teacher Hall of Fame

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — Three teachers have been chosen for the Governor Louie B. Nunn Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame, housed at Western Kentucky University.

The teachers are Golda Walbert, Debra Burgess and Cynthia Wooden.

Walbert taught from 1943 to 1989, first in Rockcastle County, then Harlan and Barren counties.

Burgess, a San Antonio, Texas, native, taught at Murray High School from 1980 to 2012 and has been an adjunct instructor at Murray State University since 2011.

Wooden, a West Texas native, taught in Texas from 1979 to 1985 and has taught in Kenton County since 1987.

The 2014 induction ceremony is February 6th in Frankfort.

The Kentucky Teacher Hall of Fame was created in 2000 through a gift by Nunn.

CAR FIRE-DEATH

Police: Man found in burned car killed self

LONDON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police say an investigation has found that a man whose body was found inside a burned-out car next to a burned duplex in southeastern Kentucky killed himself.

A statement from police on Monday says an autopsy found that 29-year-old Neil Spitzer of Corbin died Thursday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A gun was found in his vehicle.

Police were called to the scene at Spitzer's home after a meter reader reported an explosion. Police say the car was discovered after the house fire was extinguished, and the body was found inside the vehicle.

Police said evidence shows that the victim set fire to his duplex, and then set fire to his car while he was sitting in it.

KENTUCKY-STADIUM

Kentucky reveals plans for Commonwealth renovation

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Commonwealth Stadium will have a smoother, rounder look that Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart ultimately hopes will create a more intimate spectator atmosphere and a big-time experience for Wildcat football players and recruits.

University officials on Monday unveiled the design for the $110 million renovation of the Wildcats' stadium that adds a new facade around the 40-year-old structure, upper-level suites, a new game-day locker room and recruiting lounge atop a new tunnel.

Designed by Kansas City, Missouri-based HNTB and Rosstarrant Architects, lead planner Gerardo Prado said Monday it carries out the school's goal of being "classy" and "cool."

Work is expected to begin in early 2014 with completion scheduled for 2015. Seating capacity will be reduced from its current 67,942 to about 61,000, but Barnhart envisions a more fan-friendly facility.