Russellville native Will Bush is graduating with a doctorate in Human Genetics this month. A 1997 graduate of Russellville High School, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Kentucky University. He had majors in computer science, genetics and chemistry with a minor in math.
     He was recruited to do his graduate work in the Chemical and Physical Biology Program at Vanderbilt University.  In 2004 he joined the graduate program for Human Genetics under the mentorship of Dr. Marylyn D. Ritchie.
     In May 2008, he received his masters degree in Applied Statistics and Computational Intelligence from Vanderbilt, and on Dec. 16 he defended his thesis, earning his PhD in Human Genetics.
     For his thesis work, Bush conducted an analysis of families with multiple sclerosis, looking especially at how inheriting combinations of genetic variations contributes to the disease.
     “In this work, we found several new genes that seem to increase an individual’s risk for developing multiple sclerosis,” Bush explains.
     After receiving what he calls “excellent offers” from the University of Washington in Seattle and the University of Chicago, he accepted a post-doctorate fellowship in the Center for Genetics Research, working with Dr. Jonathan Haines, an expert in the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodogenerative disorders.
     In this position he will continue research on the genetics of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in the Old Order Amish. He will continue studying multiple sclerosis, working with the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium.
     Dr. Bush is the son of Eddie Bush of Russellville and Patricia Harbison Mooneyhan of Hopkinsville. His grandparents are Frances and G.W. Harbison of Russellville.
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     The daughter-in-law of a Russellville couple will have some of her writings included in a popular book series soon. A devotional by  Jill Menser will be included in the next edition of Voices of the Faithful, which is a series of daily devotionals written by foreign missionaries with commentary by Beth Moore.
     The books are sold by Lifeway Christian Bookstore and the edition with the Menser contribution is to be available in September.
      Jill is the wife of Russellville High School graduate Tim Menser. They are missionaries in Malawi, Africa.
     “The devotional is about being lost after dark on our way to visit the Grays down south,” she explains.
      Tim is the son of Norman and Janet Menser of Russellville. He wrote the following tribute to Brother Joe Carrico, which arrived too late for our feature on Joe Carrico Ministries last week. Tim’s tribute follows:
“I remember when I was just a young boy (10 - 12 yrs old) I used to ride my bike down the street to the church. Whenever Bro. Joe was there, I would stop and to say "Hi." He always had time to stop and talk to me (and even to share a little popcorn). He would listen to my stories as if they were the most important things in the world.
“As I grew older, he shared great words of wisdom and encouragement that have helped me make many key decisions in my life. Thanks to Bro. Joe for leading me to Christ when I was 7. Thanks for teaching me how I should live for Christ (I regret the times that I didn't listen), thanks for showing me that being a pastor is the greatest thing a man can do with his life, and thanks for teaching me about missions.
“Today, my family and I serve as career missionaries in Malawi, Africa. Many here are coming to know Jesus in part due to the ground work Bro.Joe laid in my life so many years ago. Great is his reward!”
     Also sending a comment about Brother Joe following last Saturday’s magnificent fund raising campaign on WRUS was Second Baptist Church youth minister Mike Duncan. He wrote the following:
“$42,000,isn't that great! He is such a deserving man. I wish him well and I hope many more will respond to the call for help with health care and his ministry needs. He has given unselfishly to our community in our times of need, every since he came to this area. I know, since I was just a "wee little man." By that I mean, it was a while back anyway. So now it's our time to help him out during his time of need.
“I had the privilege to work as his activity director at Post Oak Baptist Church in 1989. He was a good pastor and we've had some wonderful times together since those days. I don't know of a family anywhere in Logan County that hasn't been touched somehow by his life and ministry.”
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     Russellville Rotary Club presented its 2009 Excellence in Teaching Awards April 30. Recipients, who were chosen by their fellow teachers, were as follows: Jennifer Orange of Adairville, Diane Pardue of Auburn, Katie Healy of Chandlers, Elizabeth Dye of Lewisburg,  Amy Taylor of Logan County High School, Elizabeth Dye of Lewisburg, Janet Miles of Olmstead, Brian Blake of Russellville High School and Laura Carson of Stevenson Elementary School.
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     Three Logan Countians were among those honored by the Ogden College of Science and Engineering at Western Kentucky University recently.
     In Physics and Astronomy, Christopher McGrath received the Dr. George V. and Sadie Skiles Page Award for Excellence in Scholarship.
     In Chemistry, Amar Patel of Russellville earned the Outstanding Chemistry in Education Award;     
In Engineering, Magon A. Kirby of Auburn received John Russell Award in Civil Engineering