The first semester of the Panther Academy at Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College was a success, at least from my point of view. Sixteen of Russellville High School’s most outstanding twelfth graders are spending their senior year taking classes at SKYCTC, getting credit in both high school and college
The Academy members I taught at SKYCTC’s Franklin Centerare good students and likable young people. They are. MaTeah Black, Jordan Blick, Sam Cundiff, Brennan Hughes, Bryan Ison, Kody Kirby, Chris Matthews, Hunter Moneypenny, Micah Naylor, Shayla Oberhausen, Tony Pacheco and Kaylee Silvey.
The LoJo
Russellville has been fortunate that Leon Smith has served as the school system’s superintendent these past eight years. He has set/continued a high standard of professionalism, character and achievement for one of the smallest school districts in the state.
Never once have I gotten the feeling that what he was doing was about himself. He also put the school, the board, the faculty and staff, the community, and—most of all the students—in the spotlight, not trying to seek personal glory.
Leon has earned this retirement, but I join thousands of others who are sorry to see him go.
The LoJo
At least two new attorneys in Kentucky are native Logan Countians. They are Russellville High School graduate Priscilla Page and Logan County High School graduate Mary Orange Hardison. Both did their undergraduate work at WKU. Mary graduated from the University of Kentucky School of Law and Priscilla from the University of Louisville.
Mary is the daughter of Jo Orange and the late Commonwealth Attorney Charles Orange. She is married to Stephen Hardison and is Staff Attorney at the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Kentucky.
Priscilla is the daughter of Davonna Page and of Jeff Page. She has been working for the Kerrick, Stivers and Coyle.law firm in Bowling Green, but is beginning a career this week with her new job at O'Bryan Brown & Toner in Louisville.
The LoJo
*On Oct. 28, Olmstead BETA Club members were involved in a community service project of picking up trash along the roads near Olmstead School. Pictured in the accompanying photo are new BETA members Katelyn Markland, Lex Cothern, Nathaniel Lovitt and Connor Gorrell.
*Lewisburg School has named its Students of the Month. Pictured with Principal Josh Matthews are Lexi Coursey-3rd, Allie Chandler-1st, Blanton Christian-Kg, Elijah Head-4th, Mackenzie Jeffers-6th, Whitney Christian-5th, Madison Forrest-7th, Angelica Diaz-8th. Second grader Colin Dilliha is not pictured.
*The RHS Class of 1966 had a great reunion for three or more days during the Tobacco & Heritage Festival. They even built and decorated a float for the parade. Class member Tom Williams is looking for a picture(s) of the side of the float he was on in the parade. If you are part of that group, you know how to contact him.
*A plate that belonged to her late mother, Janie Macomber, is in the possession of Jane Herndon. It’s not for sale, but it looks historic. Mrs. Macomber was the only employee of what was then the Russellville Chamber of Commerce for many years. A picture of the plate appears on this page. If you know anything about its origin, contact Jane on Facebook. Jane is the daughter-in-law of the late Russellville mayor Wallace Herndon.
The LoJo
The WKU Chapter of the Omicron Delta Epsilon International Honor Society for Economics inducted 25 students during its annual initiation banquet this year at the Augenstein Alumni Center. Crystal D. Pulley of Auburn is one of them.
These inductees join college students in 681 chapters across the world in recognition of scholastic achievement in the discipline of economics.
“Qualifying for and accepting membership in ODE is a way students can reward themselves for their own hard work and dedication to their studies,” said Dr. Cathy Carey, Chair of the Department of Economics. “It also tells employers and graduate schools that these students are at the top of their class.”
The LoJo
For several years, I have tried to list some of the people associated with Logan County who have experienced life-changing events in the past year. The three categories are Deaths, Marriage and First Child.
Let me emphasize these are not all inclusive. They are people I knew/know or from families I know well.
Every death is important. I apologize to those I have omitted.
Deaths
Charles Allen, Mary Ann Angel, Rollie Arnold, Thane “Scooter Davis” Austin, Bob Baker, Mary Baker, Bettie Barrett, Kay Basham, Mary Ann Beard, Lexus Airanna Bell, Zenobia Miles Berry, Billy Bibb, Karen Staples Bigham, Revena Bilbrey, Kathy Staples Boobar, Sue Ward Bowlin, Jeffery Boyd, Dorothy Brown, Logan Browning, Tom Burton, Walter Neal Buster, Margaret Dorris Coffman Campbell, Cyndi Canler, Jeffrey Canler, Thurston Canler, Gary Lee Carroll Sr., Connie Houston Charlton, Wilma Chasteen, Margie Clark, Walter Glenn Chyle, David Corbin, Hershell Cox, Shorty Danks, Howard Danks, Catherine Darnell, Jaxson Dean, Avery Dean DeBerry, Dr. Jackie Dempsey, Martha Dempsey, Dave Derringer, Clara Dewilde, Kyle Dickey, Henrine Elizabeth Duncan, Martha DeShazer Duncan, Joseph Carroll Edge, Dorothy Edwards, Irene Elamon;
Janite Snell Erwin, Rayburn Epley, Malcolm Farmer, Terry Fitzgerald, Joe Billy Flippin, Bob Flowers, William ‘Rooster’ Forgy, James Gant, Jane Whaley Gass, Patrick ‘P.J.’ Gilbert, Ralph Gilliam, Freeda Givens, Becky Goddard, Dr. Robert Gover, Gordon Grace, Gloria Faith Graves, Jennifer Sells Hagewood, J.B. Hall, Bill Hanes, Martha Jane Harris, Ray Sol Head Sr., Lee Ann Heltsley, Randy ‘Duck’ Higgins, Mary Grant Hildabrand; Leighton Hines, Bobby Gene Holman, Mary Mason Kees Hoorn, Ronnie Hulse, Bob Hutcheson, Tommy Jefferson, John Jones, Wavelene Hines Jones, Mack Keeton, Dorris Kinser, Gail Lewis, Maurice ‘Buddy’ Linton, Virginia Loyd, Wayne Marshall, Ronnie Massingille, Mary Lucy Givens McCormick, Lorene McPherson, Norman Menser, Lawrence Monroe, Angie Mullen, Nealy Mullen, April Noe, William Norfleet, Johnny Owens, Barry Parrish, Freddie Parrish;
Virgil Parrish, Robert Pedigo, Ray Perry, Beverly Piper, Brenda Porter, Helen Porter, Louise Potter, Lois Ann Prince, Tim Pulley, Horace Rector, Dr. Jim Ridenour Jr.. Mary Ann Roberts, June Lyne Robinson, Maxine Elizabeth Robertson, Buster Rogers, Joe Willis Rouse, Alberta Sanders, Edna Sansom, Dorothy Sawyer, Louise Sayne, Mildred Murphy Schmid, Sharon Shemwell, Betty Shifflett, Margaret Dillihay Shirel, Jeff Simmons, Ronnie Simpson, Al Skees, Lon Ryan Smith, Billy Ray Skipworth, Ruby Steward, A.C. Statton, Roy Stratton, Dr. Sally Ann Strickler, Maxine Sydnor, Wendell Taylor, Gladys Thomas, Lillian Martine Thomas, Shelby Wayne Thomas, Todd Thomas, Elma Loraine Thweatt, John Van Zee, Mike Vick, Page ‘Buster’ Vick, Connie Walker, Nancy Watson, Eula Wells, Jack “Big Earl” Whipple, Jeff White, Nita Williams, Betty Varble Williamson, Paul Rudolph Wix, Royce Wood, Leon Woodward, Bobby Wright, Jack Wright
First Christmas as a Married Couple: Tyler and Ann Michelle Reynolds Angel, Keenan and Heather Faxon Brown, Jacob and Emily White Clark, Dusty and April Humble Cowan, Brad and Christie Foster Davenport, Caleb and Lyndsey Ison Dawson, Frank Harris and Amy Poklinkoski Dockins, Eddie and Jennifer Clark Fritsch, Clarence and Kristine Vowels Gamble, Currier and Emily Peters Gill, Jacob and Brianna Scott Hopkins, Justin and Katie Brooks Hopkins, Cameron and Kathryn Ball Kisselbaugh, Chinenyeze and Chloe Gooden Nwankwoala, Wesley and Leah Corbin Palmore, Kyle and Sarah Shoemake Pedigo, Ronald and Tia Benton Pollard, John David and Courtney Woodlee Reeves, Neal and Kimberly Sue Vertrees Stanley, Jesse and Molly Clark Steenbergen, Courtney Louis and Julia Dodson Viola, Peyton and Dana Shoemake White, Bob and Bobby Sue Silvey Zolgman
First Baby: Jase and Paige Cates,Trevor and Chelsea Clark,Khalid and Dr. Tonya Daniels,Luke and Katie Gilliam, Luke and Katie Gilliam (they had twins.) Will and Christie Gregory, Jordan and Ashley Hinton, Josh and Kara Keehan, Craig and Brooke Meredith, Nathan and Devin Powell, Travis and Kelsie Steward, Aaron and Brittany Logan, Brian and April Triplett, Ryan and Erica Watkins, Corey Yates and Emily Croslin