News Briefs on The LoJo for May 2016
By Jim Turner

BGH tops Cougars 5-1

A season that was infinitely better than had been expected came to an end for the Logan County Cougars (29-9) Tuesday when Coach Ethan Meguiar’s team fell 5-1 at the hands of Bowling Green in the Fourth Region semifinals at WKU. They are the two winningest teams in the region. The Purples jumped on Cougar starter Ethan Smock early. Reliever D.J. Beardpitched shutout ball the last five and a third innings. Freshman Third Bell doubled and scored the lone Cougar run on a sacrifice fly by Austin Rayno. Bradley Taylordoubled and singled, and senior Michael Riley got the only other hit off the Purples’ Tyler Stahl. Luke Brown & Logan Jaga each got two hits for Coach Dan Mosier’s Purples (30-9). The Purples will play South Warren (29-9) in the championship game. The Spartans edged Franklin-Simpson (20-17) by a 2-1 score in the other semifinals.

Cougars shut out Scotties 6-0; Lady Cougars fall short 3-1

Both Logan County teams performed well in regional diamond openers at WKU Monday. Coach Ethan Meguiar’s baseball Cougars (29-8) shut out a good Glasgow Scotties (22-15) team 6-0. They will now face Bowling Green (29-9) at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the semifinals in a showdown between the two winningest teams in the region. Coach Brandy Trimble’s Lady Cougars (18-15) lost 3-1 to the Cumberland County (26-12), which has the best record in the region. Logan held Cumberland’s powerful offense, which has been averaging almost eight runs a game, in check.

Fundraiser offered for Helping Hands on June 18

A Community Benefit & Live Auction to raise money for Logan County/Russellville Helping Hands will be held Saturday, June 18, at 4 p.m. at Jim Young Gymnasium at Russellville High School. A meal of spaghetti, garlic bread, dessert and drink will be available for $5. A live auction will be conducted by Haley Auctions & Realty. For information or to donate, contact Jennifer Dodson at 270-772-1425 or Lacey Tooley at 270-893-3512, or go to the website at www.LoganCountyHelpingHands.org All proceeds will go directly to support Helping Hands’ support of those in need of food, clothing, hygiene and clothing in the Logan County area.

Flood damage closes South Logan road for over a month

Flooding damage which occurred during recent heavy rains has closed a section of Ky. 591 in Logan County at mile point 10.8 near the Simpson County line. Repair work is expected to begin June 1 and take about a month to complete. The roadway is expected to reopen on June 30. A detour is in place utilizing Ky. 765, State Line Road, and C Gore Road.

Benefit planned for Coach Roger Daniel Saturday

The Roger Daniel Benefit Program will be held this Saturday, May 28, starting at 6 p.m. at Bank Street AME Zion Church in Russellville. Roger Daniel, who was previously named Citizen of the Year for his efforts to improve the lives of young people, is recovering from prostate cancer surgery. “Please come out and support and worship,” says his daughter, Rachea Daniel. “My dad has coached over 30 years and worked for city of Russellville for 27 years and refereed community sports, being a father figure to others, and beloved friend!”

Logan sweeps district titles

With a clean-but-close sweep, Logan County's diamond sports teams swept 13th District championships Tuesday at Todd Central. After the Lady Cougar softball team edged Franklin-Simpson 5-4, the Cougar baseball team squeezed by the F-S Wildcats 4-3. For Coach Brandy Trimble's Lady Cougars, it was the program's first district championship since 2009. The win ended a six-year hold the Lady Wildcats have held on the championship. In fact, Franklin won 14 of the first 16 titles in the 21st century. 
For Coach Ethan Meguiar's Cougars, this was their ninth district championship in the 2000s. Franklin has won six of the 17 titles. Russellville and Todd Central have each won one championship during that time. Meguiar's teams have appeared in 16 of the last 17 district finals, with Franklin making it to region 14 times. RHS has made it to the final four times and Todd Central once.

Logan vs. F-S in both district tourneys tonight

For the 12^th straight season, the Logan County Cougars are in the championship game of the 13^th District Baseball Tournament. Coach Ethan Meguiar’steam (27-8) will face Franklin-Simpson (19-15) at 6 p.m. at Todd Central, following Franklin’s 5-1 win over Russellville Monday night. This is the 14^th time the Cougars and Wildcats have met in the district finals in the 17 seasons of this century. This game will be a tiebreaker, as each of them has won seven titles in the last 16 years. Coach Brandy Trimble’s Lady Cougars (17-13) will play Franklin (15-20) at 5:30, also at Todd. Coach Matt Willhite’s Lady Cats are perennial champions of the district. LCHS Athletic Director Greg Howard has called for a white-out for the games.

Lady Cougars win

The young Logan County Lady Cougars have reached the 13th District championship game and the Fourth Region tournament. Logan beat host Todd Central 14-1 Monday evening. The Lady Cougars will take on Franklin-Simpson in the finals Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Brandy Nuyt Trimble has coached her alma mater to these heights in her first year on the job after coaching Russellville to last year's championship game.

LCHS freshman orientation set

Cougar Connection Day will be held for incoming ninth graders at Logan County High School Tuesday, July 19, from 9 a.m.-noon. Lunch will be provided by the Youth Services Center. “This will allow freshmen to kick off a successful transition to high school by meeting teachers, gaining important information, receiving schedules and getting free tee shirts,” says Cougar Academy Team Leader Amy Taylor. Parents can attend a session in the main gym from 11:30-noon. Information will be available on the school nurse, bus routes and school fees.

Cougars, Lady Cats win their district opening games

The top seeds won by lopsided scores as the 13th District tournaments began Monday at Todd Central. The Logan County Cougars beat Todd 12-1 in baseball. The Franklin-Simpson Lady Cats won over Russellville 10-0 in softball. Results are not yet available from the second games of the night.

Hines, Burnett and Munday qualify for state track

LCHS track teams competed Thursday night at North Hardin High School in the Class AAA Region 2 Championships. Jessica Hines won the 100M hurdles and placed second in the long jump and will be competing next week at the University of Kentucky, during the KHSAA State Track and Field Championships. Joining her will be Lauren Burnett in the discus, as she placed 2^nd, and Jailin Munday for placing 2^nd in the 400M dash. Coach Greg Howard says, “We won’t know until Saturday if any other athletes qualified in their events, because other regions won’t compete until then.” Jessica Hines earned a spot on the Kentucky Elite Track and Field Team and will compete against athletes from across the United States this summer. 

Logan, RHS softball players shut out on honors

Despite having 31 wins between them, softball players from both Logan County and Russellville were shut out from the Region 4 Softball All-Season Team when coaches voted recently. First baseman Michaela Robertson of Todd Central is the only 13th District player named first team. On the second team is Franklin-Simpson outfielder Jessie Bellar. F-S players Madison Davis, Alley Pendleton & Makinlee Webb are honorable mention. The same thing happened in girls basketball when the honor squads ignored the teams from the Land of Logan

LCHS Soccer Camp next week

The Logan County Boys soccer team will be hosting a soccer camp for children between the ages of 4 and 14. The camp will be held from May 23 through May 25 at Logan County High School. The cost of the camp is $40 per child and is intended to get kids interested in soccer and to be a fundraiser for the soccer team. The times are as follows: Children between the ages of 4 and 9 will participate from 5-6:30 p.m. and children between the ages of 10 - 14 will participate from 6:30-8 each day. The camp is for both boys and girls. Eric Evans is the coach

GOP Women to award scholarships

The Logan County Women's Club will award scholarships in the amount of $250 during its monthly meeting, Tuesday, May 24 at 5:30 p.m., at GOP headquarters on the square in Russellville. Honored will be Kaitlyn Oakley, graduate of Russellville High School, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Oakley, and Holly Foster, graduate of Logan County High School, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Craig Foster. Family members, friends and classmates are invited. Light refreshments will be served. Questions? Please call 270 725 9100 or 270 726 3801.

Smock, Rayno & Wooden lead Cougars to 1-0 win at South

The game’s first batter, sophomore Austin Rayno, reached on an error and scored on Nick Wooden’s single Tuesday. That proved to be the game’s only run as visiting Logan County (25-8) edged South Warren (24-9) by a 1-0 count in a showdown of two of the Fourth Region’s winningest teams. Sophomore Ethan Smock pitched a two-hit shutout, walking five and fanning three. Jackson Campbell & Michael Riley got the only other hits off South pitcher Chandler Harnage, who issued walks to Dylan Penick, D.J. Beard and Wooden. Ryder Litten & Trey Kirtley got the Spartans’ hits off Smock.

Petrie & Comer win legislative races

WRUS reports that Todd County attorney Jason Petrie has defeated Logan County attorney Ami Brooks 1,600 to 934 votes in the Republican primary for state representative. His cause was helped by an 840-492 margin in the small section of Warren County which joins Logan and Todd counties in this district. He also was dominant in his home county and won narrowly in Logan County. Petrie will face incumbent Democrat Martha Jane King, who was unopposed, in the November general election. WBKO reports that former Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer has defeated Michael Pape for the Republican nomination for First District congressman. Pape is a long-time field representative for Rep. Ed Whitfield, who is retiring from office. Comer won Logan County but trailed Pape in Todd County.

Lady Panthers Basketball Camp offered

The Lady Panthers Basketball Camp will be held June 6-10 for girls who will be in kindergarten through fifth grades next year.  It will be conducted at the Russellville Middle School Gym. The fee is $25 per camper, with those enrolling getting a tee shirt. Grades K-2 will have camp from 9-10:15 a.m. and for grades 3-5 from 10:30-noon. Doors will open at 8:30. For more information, call Coach Calvin Head at 270-726-421 or email him atcalvin.head@russellville.kyschools.us

Presidential, Congressional, Legislative races on Tuesday ballot

Although the Democratic candidates for president of the United States as well as for U.S. Senator from Kentucky are on the ballot, the race of most local significance Tuesday could be to select the Republican nominee for state representative. Either Republican attorneysAmi Brooks of Logan County or Jason Petrie of Todd County will oppose in November long-time incumbent Martha JaneKing, a Democrat who is unopposed in the primary. Also unopposed is Sen. Whitney Westerfield. Long-time field representative Michael Pape and former Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer are the leading candidates to succeed Cong. Ed Whitfield. Both are Republicans. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and Lexington Mayor Jim Gray are favored to become their parties’ nominees for the seat Paul now holds. Sen. Bernie Sanders and former First Lady/Secretary of State/U.S Sen. Hilary Clinton have been campaigning in Kentucky for the Democratic nomination for president. Clinton is believed to have traveled through Logan County Monday between campaign stops in Bowling Green and Hopkinsville. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sen. Westerfield conducting online survey

State Sen. Whitney Westerfield, who is unopposed for reelection to represent Logan, Todd and Christian counties in the General Assembly, is asking constituents to answer question on an online survey. He says, " This is a cost-effective way to host a survey online rather than the costly (and low-response-rate) paper mailing. I've included a number of questions about several topics, ranging from perennial policy debates to those that are less high-profile." To complete the survey, go to 
www.whitneywesterfield.com/survey. 

Quarles to speak at grand opening

of Champion Petfoods Thursday

Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles will speak at the grand opening of the Champion Petfoods Dogstar Kitchens near Auburn Thursday. The outdoor event will begin at 4 p.m. The first 1,000 attendees will be welcome. No pets are allowed.

Logan board to discuss superintendent

interview at closed session Thursday

The Logan County Board of Education will meet in a closed session in a special called session to determine how many candidates that the Board will interview from the recommendations of the Superintendent Search Committee. The meeting will be held at 4 p.m.in the Board Room of the District Central Office on Thursday, May 12.

EPB plans outage in small area early Sunday morning

The Russellville Electric Plant Board will initiate a planned outage of its Broadband system Saturday, May 14, at midnight until Sunday at 2 a.m. in order to conduct system maintenance. This will affect about 150 customers in the North Morgan, Frances Ave, and Newtown Rd. area. All Internet, telephone and TV services will be affected. Once the maintenance is complete, customers may need to restart their set top boxes, and routers to restore service. "If for any reason you do not regain service after 2 a.m, please contact our technical support team at 270-726-2466; option 3 during office hours or option 2 any time before or after our business hours," says Office Manager Kim Reeves.

Logan tennis, baseball, softball teams record wins

From Logan County High Athletic Director Greg Howard: "Congratulations to Catherine Miller and Kara Noffsinger for qualifying for the KHSAA State Tennis Tournament, to the softball on their 15^th win of the season, with a score of 14-7 over Hart County, and to the baseball Cougars on their 23^rd of the season, with a score of 12-0 over Allen County. Big crowds came out to the fields and cheered these teams on. Thanks to all or fans for the support!"

Board to hear search committee's superintendent nominees Tuesday

The search committee for the position of Logan County School Superintendent will meet at the central office on Monday, May 9, to determine the recommendations of candidates for the Logan County Board of Education as superintendent of schools. The committee will then present its recommendation to the board in a closed session at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10. An open regular meeting of the board is scheduled to follow, beginning at 7 p.m.

Whitfield to campaign with

Pape in Russellville Friday

Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives Mike Pape and Congressman Ed Whitfield are setting out on a Pape for Congress bus tour in Kentucky’s First Congressional District together this weekend, May 6-7. Whitfield is retiring after serving the district for more than 20 years. Congressman Whitfield has endorsed Pape for his seat in the Republican primary May 17. The kickoff for the tour will begin in Hopkinsville at the Pape for Congress Headquarters 7:30 a.m. Friday. Pape and Whitfield will be making a Pape for Congress stop in Russellville Friday 9-9:45 at GOP Headquarters located at 195 South Main Street, Russellville.

Auction & Italian dinner Tuesday

to benefit 8th grade projects

From Donna Wilkerson: There will be a silent auction & Italian dinner at Russellville Middle School on Tuesday, May 3 from 4:30 - 6 p.m. Proceeds go towards the 8th graders' class trip and graduation dance, so please come out and support this event. There are home softball and baseball games scheduled that night, so it will be a great family dinner option for players' families!

Dr. Jackie Dempsey dies unexpectedly

Funeral services are scheduled for Adairville native and Russellville High School graduate Dr. Jackie Dempsey Tuesday in Bowling Green where he had practiced gastroenteroolgy and emergency medicine for decades. Much of his career was spent at Graves Gilbert Clinic. He is survived by his wife, North Logan native Joetta Dorris Dempsey, sons Jeff and John Dempsey, five grandchildren, and his sister, Carolyn Barnes of Russellville.