4/30/12
He's back! Todd to return as RHS basketball coach
Phil Todd
, who coached the Russellville Panthers to five regional basketball finals, the only three regional championships in school history, four wins in the
state tournament, and consecutive berths in the Sweet 16's Final Four, was announced as the new roundball coach at his alma mater Monday. He coached
the Panthers from 1991-2004. Todd is retiring as the school's athletic director at the end of June and will coach as a paraprofessional.
Outgoing Principal John Myers said a number of quality coaches applied for the position held by Dennis Pardue the last eight seasons, and
the school contacted others. "We were looking for a coach with Phil Todd-like qualifications, and even offered it to one, but in the end we couldn't
work it out with anyone who has his type of credentials," Myers said. "We are pleased that Coach Todd is willing to coach this team at this time."
Russellville returns three starters and some other key players from this year's 13th District championship team.
4/29/12
Al Smith writes published column about speech
Former Russellville journalist Al Smith has written a column about speech competition which was published in the Sunday Courier-Journal
and the Lexington Herald-Leader. Smith is especially interested in competitive speech now because it is the 70th anniversary of his winning the
American Legion Oratorical Contest, the 35th anniversary of his daughter, Catherine Hancock McCarty, finishing 3rd in the nation at the National
Forensic League national tournament while competing for Russellville High School, and one off the last high school debate competitions for his and Martha Helen's grandson, Evan McCarty of Birmingham, at the prestigious Tournament of Champions going on now at the University of
Kentucky, Evan will be on the debate team for national power Northwestern University next year.
Company plans tar sands work for Logan oil
Arrakis Oil Recovery plans to mine tar sands in North Logan in an effort to produce large quantities of heavy oil, Robyn Minor re-ports in the Daily News. A company known as Tarco tried a similar venture in the Homer area several years ago. The company's general noncoal mining permit
with the Division of Water is open for comments until Thursday, Minor reports. The company hopes to produce up to a thousand gallons of oil per day.
Strawberry Festival event to honor Doug Orndorff
The 8th Annual Adairville-South Logan Chamber of Commerce Car and Tractor Show, part of the 66th Annual Adairville Strawberry
Festival, will be held Saturday, May 12, from 1-4 p.m. on the downtown square. It will be dedicated to the memory of Doug Orndorff, long time
local resident who died April 14 from complications of kidney disease. He was a major supporter and participant of the Car and Tractor Show, having had
an entry in every show. "A couple of show years saw low participation because of weather, and Doug brought his entire car and tractor collection to the
show to help out," chairman Brent Holman recalls. All profits raised from the show will be donated to Doug's family. His classic cars and
tractors will be present at the show. For more information call 270-772-0954.
4/28/12
Logan Arts & Film Festival today from 1-7 p.m.
The sponsoring Logan Arts Council has announced that 12 arts and crafts vendors have committed to be part of the Logan Arts & Film Festival (LAFF)
today (Saturday) from 1-7 p.m. on Carrico Park Square in downtown Russellville. Also scheduled are performances by Logan County Gymnastics, food by
PigBoat Grill, musical sets by at least four bands, and more.
4/26/12
Biggest crowd of tour greets WKU 'tourists'
Russellville Rotary Club made certain that a large crowd greeted Toppers Thursday. President Tom Harned led the club's members to Carrico Park
Square in Russellville where their lunch was a picnic catered by Roy's Bar-B-Q and the program was the biggest names from The Hill. Representatives
from WKU included Presi-dent Gary Ransdell, Athletic Director Todd Stewart, and coaches Phillip Hatchett, Willie Taggart, Michelle Clark-Heard, & Ray Harper. Logan native Tony Rose was master of ceremonies.
Basketball coach Sherrill named AD at BGH
D.G. Sherill
, who coached Bowling Green High to the regional basketball championship this season, has been named athletic director at Bowling Green High School,
according to Michael Compton of the Daily News. Sherrill is married to former Logan county newswoman Tracey Dice. He succeeds Monroe Joyner, who has Auburn roots. See a story in Sports about the many job openings in the Fourth Region.
4/23/12
Turner, Bilyeu honored for officiating skills
Trey Turner and Barry Bilyeu
, who graduated together from Au-burn Middle and Logan County High schools, were co-recipients of the Most Improved award from the Southern Kentucky
Basket-ball Officials Association at the group's recent banquet. They had just completed their second seasons of officiating, which was their first as
high school varsity officials. Brit Vincent was named Newcomer of the Year while four veterans were honored for working state tournaments. Tony Franklin officiated the boys Sweet 16 and Rian Craft the girls state tournament. Will Jones and Troy Winders worked
the Class A state tournaments. Jerry Kimmel is the assigning secretary and Larry Hammer is president of the organization.
Huskisson's college softball team wins NCAA tourney
The Columbus State Lady Cougars, who are coached by Auburn native Brad Huskisson, upset two nationally ranked teams to win the Peach Belt
Conference Tournament Sunday and earn the automatic berth in the NCAA Division II National Softball Tournament. Columbus State beat number 6 Armstrong
6-0 and then knocked off three-time defending champion and 11th ranked North Georgia in the finals at their home field. The Lady Cougars became the
first team ever to win the tournament without a loss while being the underdog in every game. The team's record is 39-18. Huskisson, who played for and
helped coach Logan County, has won 97 games as the head coach of the Georgia team. He is a former successful head coach at Brescia University.
4/20/12
Pair of LCHS teammates to sign with Campbellsville
Two Logan County High School seniors who have been classmates since their days at Auburn Elementary School and teammates on the Cougar football team
throughout high school, plan to continue to be in school and on the same team together. Aaron Johnson and Brice Moore will sign to play
football for Campbellsville University at a joint signing ceremony Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the school, according to Athletic Director
Hugh McReynolds..
4/18/12
Dozen vendors confirmed for Logan Arts/Film Festival
The sponsoring Logan Arts Council has announced that 12 arts and crafts vendors have committed to be part of the Logan Arts & Film Festival (LAFF)
Saturday, April 28, from 1-7 p.m. Those vendors includeSusan Gough, Ken Tucker, Randall Wilson, Kris Parlow, Meagan Stratton, Merle Thompson, Derek Guyer, Misty Dauley, Pocket Full of Knots, Kimberly Russell, Nora Lacayo and Lauren White. Also scheduled are performances by Logan County Gymnastics, food by PigBoat Grill,
musical sets by at least four bands, and more.
4/17/12
Kim McDaniel chosen to be next RHS principal
An 18-year veteran of the Russellville School System will be the next principal of Russellville High School. Kim McDaniel was picked by the
school's SBDM after three finalists were interviewed Monday. A Kentucky native, she graduated from McCreary Central High School in 1988. She earned a
Bachelor's degree in Middle Grade Education for Science and Social Studies at WKU where she met her husband, Eddie. She began teaching in the
Russellville school system in 1994 and taught 5th grade science/math for 12 years. She has been the Curriculum and Assessment Leader for the
middle school and high school since 2006. She began working on her Instructional Leadership certification through the University of the Cumberlands in
2010.
The McDaniels' son Travis is an RHS freshman and daughter Allison is a current 7th grader. They reside in Auburn. Mrs.
McDaniel says, "I began my teaching career in the Russellville City Schools and I can't imagine working in or for a better school system."
415/12
Franklin-Simpson's Lindsey retires from coaching
Lex Lindsey
, who began his high school basketball coaching career as top assistant on Mike Haynes' Logan County Lady Cougar state quarterfinalist teams in
both 1989 and 1990, is retiring from coaching, according to Michael Compton of the Daily News. His Lady Cats teams went 208-43 and won six 13th
District and four 4th Region championships in eight seasons. He had two Final 4 teams at state, one of which reached the finals. Lindsey coached the
F-S boys this year, and they struggled to a 12-17 record. He wants to devote more time with his family following the recent death of his dad, former
coach/administrator
Jim Lindsey.
4/12/12
Team from RATC wins state, headed to nationals
The Opening and Closing team from Russellville Area Technology School won first place at the SkillsUSA Kentucky State Skills Championship in Louisville
April 2-5. They team will advance to national competition in June in Kansas City, Mo Team members areTrevor Brown, Brandon Marcum, Ramon Valentine, Taylor Hughes. Jessie Shrum, Jennifer Gibbs and Dakota Bray. Additionally, Shannon MacAllister was second in prepared speech and Ryan McCraw was second in SkillsUSA Creed. Melissa Jones is a sponsor.
Cougars win baseball Clash of the Cats 12-2
Russellville has the best overall record in the region, but that didn't phase Logan County Tuesday as the Cougars romped to a 12-2 win over the
Panthers at Kelly Russell Field. Veteran pitcher Dustin Nash was in control throughout while Coach Ethan Meguiar's team hit the ball well
off RHS pitchers Caleb Wills and Tyler Hall. Caleb Bruner finished the game on the mound for the Cougars, who improved to 2-0 in
the district. Russellville has won over Todd Central twice, but only one counts toward the district standings. The other was in the Class A region.
Coach Lou Kendall's Panthers fell to 14-3 and LCHS improved to 9-5 overall.
RHS principal candidates to be interviewed Monday
Three candidates for the soon-to-be-vacant principal's position will be interviewed by the school's Site Based Decision Making Coun-cil Monday in
closed session. The SBDM reviewed 11 applications on Monday, April 9, and chose to interview three of them, accord-ing to Superintendent Leon Smith. The SBDM met Tuesday to develop questions and the process to be used in the interviews. Current Principal John Myers is
moving to the Central Office in the summer,.
4/11/12
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren event Saturday
BRADD and Stevenson Elementary School Family Resource Center will host its second Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference Saturday, April 14 from
8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Stevenson Elementary Library. The guest speakers will be Brittany Tabor of Kentucky Spirit Health Plan, Michelle Hines of Barren River Area Agency on Aging and Norman Wheeler of Kentucky Legal Aid. Russellville and Logan County Grandparents
and other relatives who act as primary caregivers are invited to attend. Please contact Debbie Elliott at the Stevenson Family Resource Center
at 726-4798 to make a reservation by Friday.
4/6/12
Search & Rescue Fish Fry set Saturday
Logan County Search & Rescue will hold its 41st annual fish fry at the Auburn Fire Department Saturday, beginning at 5 p.m. Bobby Blackford
will be the auctioneer and Clay Bilyeu will provide musical entertainment. Money prizes will be distributed with the top prize $300.
4/5/12
F-S' Schlosser giving up coaching to be principal
Tim Schlosser
will become principal of Franklin-Simpson High on July 1. As a result, he will no longer serve as the Wildcats' head football coach. after 14 years in
that position. He has been a coach for 22 years, 18 at F-S. His record as head coach is 108-59, and his last game at the helm came in the Class 4-A
state finals in December. He has been assistant principal and athletic director for 10 years, serving under seven principals as the school has
undergone many changes. Retired Greenwood principal Mark Davis is now serving as interim principal after Pat Vejr was resassigned
following the high school been ruled one of the state's lowest achievers by the state department of education. Jim Flynn is the superintendent.
Franklin-Simpson has about 900 students.
4/1/12
Pair of former Toppers on Hot Rods' roster
The Bowling Green Hot Rods, the Rays' Class A affiliate, have announced their preliminary 2012 Opening Day roster. Former Western Kentucky University
stars Kes Carter and Matt Rice return to Bowling Green less than one year from being selected by the Rays in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.
The former Hilltoppers are joined by a talented crop of Rays' minor leaguers, including 2011 first rounders Jake Hager and Tyler Goeddel and
2010 first rounder Drew Vettleson. Bowling Green's season opens this Thursday at home against the South Bend Silver Hawks, an affiliate of the
Arizona Cardinals, at 6:35 p.m. The same two teams will play Friday and Saturday at 7:05 p.m.