Russellville

Two retired educators have been employed to fill the big shoes of the late Belinda Ray. Serving as speech therapist for Head Start and RHS is Beth Traughber, who is retired from the Simpson County schools and has also worked for Warren County Schools and Western Kentucky University. Veteran gifted educator Pam Hunter Holdcraft is head of the Gifted Education program. The 1970 graduate of RHS retired after teaching many years at Auburn. She had been leading gifted education in Tennessee before coming home.

Staff members who have joined the school system during the school year include Adriane Watt as computer specialist at Stevenson Elementary School. Alicia Carmichael has succeded Donna Gholson as director of community education and public relations director. A former reporter for the Bowling Green Daily News, she is writing many of the stories and taking pictures which have been published about Russellville students recently.

At the state Beta Club convention, Phillip Crawford took first place in the individual spelling test, and Sydney Herndon won the individual on-site colored pencil drawing competition. They both qualified for the National Beta Convention in Greensboro, S.C. this June. Aditionally, Emilie Gill placed first in chalk drawing, as did Kelsey Harris in sewing, but those are not national events. Herndon added another second and third, Kyle Prince scored a second, and Ethan Mullen a third. Trey Farlee was a finalist in special talent, and the Quick Recall team of Brandon Jennett, Sarah Williams, Gill and Mullen reached the top 12. Christy Marksberry is Beta sponsor.

Trey Farlee also used his special talent to represent the Kentucky Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase. He was joined by Aaron Holder of Scottsville and Ian Harper in a trio known as “Aaron, Trey, & Ian.” Russellville band director Brian Brown is lavish in his praise of Farlee's guitar skills.

The Russellville Middle School cheerleaders placed second in the Small Junior High Division of the Snowball Classic Cheer Competition in Bowling Green. Team members are Addie Hendley, Mateah Black, Jalonda Wells, Tara Gilbert, Alexis Moneypenney, Allison McDaniel, Ma'Leigha Stoval, Caitlyn Smith, Destiny Lehlane, Cierra Collins, Tiffany Gray, Taylor Douglas and Camille Hendley. Sponsors are Mandy Browning and Veronica Johnson.

A total of 29 RHS students have qualified for the state DECA competition in Louisville as a result of their performances in the Region 2 Conference of Distributive Education Clubs of America. Taking first places were Phillip Crawford, Brian Clinard, Tacorian Darden, Lucas Celsor and Kyle Prince. Second places went to Davonna Sydnor, Jayla Townsend, Taylor Daniel, Amber Sydnor, Nathanshia Haskins, Kesi Neblett, T.K. Griffin, Josh Hampton, Kaneitha Bigbee, Taloyya Morris, Ameeshia Taylor and Shea Hampton. The team of Lindsey Hutchison and Jasmine Riggs placed third. Fifth places went to Dominque Harris, Darion Calloway, Brittney Lyne, Candace Washington, Kathleen Noe, Imani Hampton and Kahlia Hampton.

Adairville

The Adairville Academic Team, which won the district Governor's Cup, placed fifth among 18 schools at regional. The Future Problem Solving Team won the region and will go to state, and the Quick Recall Team placed fourth. Individually, Amber Anderson was fifth in Language Arts, earning her a spot in state competition.

Members of that champion FPS Team are Brianna Wooden, Grace McLellan, Dylan Byrum, Amanda Crutchfield, Ann-Meguiar Bouldin, Samuel Noe and Landon Thomas. Quick Recall Team members are Zack Law, Korbin and Karina Holloman, Amber Anderson, Meagan Ferguson, Ryan Orndorff, Jacob Burton, Kelsey Chambers, Gunnar Gloyd, Lauren Batten, Matthew Edgar, Rachel Pitts , Sawyer Hopkins, McLellan, Crutchfield and Noe .

Adairville students took the top three places in the Logan County Spelling Bee. Jacob Burton was the champion, Olivia Bouldin was runner-up, and Matthew Edgar tied for third.

Adairville has received the 2011 Commissioner's Circle Award, given to the top 10 schools in the state, according to the school website. Adairville was first named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2000, followed by Kentucky School to Watch designation every three years from 2004 to 2010.

Chandlers

Ashley Brown won the district Language Arts contest Governor's Cup competition. By finishing third at region, she qualified for state. She also was second in the district in Arts & Humanities. Others who placed first at district were Hunter Johnson in Math Assessment and Amber Carroll in Composition. Also placing were Elizabeth VanZee, Desirae Powell and Hunter Bailey.

Western Kentucky University

WKU's Student Government Association awarded scholarships to five civil engineering students taking a Study Away course during Winter Term 2012.

Among those receiving the $100 scholarship was Lucas Gilliam, a senior from Russellville.

Scholarship recipients studied floodplain management at some of the nation's largest flood control works throughout the Southwest, including Arizona, Nevada and southern California.

According to Jerry Barnaby, Study Away program director: “Engineering students often find it hard to undertake off-campus courses that meet their program requirements, so this Study Away course was designed just for them.”

Kasey Sears, a senior from Russellville who also works at First Southern National Bank, was one of the students and faculty from four departments in WKU's College of Health and Human Services who participated in the Winter Term's annual International Health and Human Services Learning Program, also known as the Belize Program.

The program was led by Dental Director Daniel Carter and Supervising Dental Hygienist Bonny Petty of WKU's Institute for Rural Health Development and Research. This year's participants included students and faculty from WKU's Social Work, Communication Disorders, Dental Hygiene and Nursing departments.

The Belize Program extends the mission of WKU and the College of Health and Human Services by providing services that promote wellness of body, mind and environment to the underserved community of Gales Point, Belize. Participants engage in hands-on and reflective projects teaching them to be socially responsible citizen leaders of a global society.