An effort is being made to obtain a more accessible home for an Auburn child with physical disabilities and his family in a spectacular fashion.
     People throughout the area have been involved in lobbying the executives of the popular television show "Exteme Makeover, Home Edition" to choose the Buchannon family of Auburn for a new home. Generally such an event involves the entire community and is shown on ABC television.
     Those who are on the list to receive classified announcements at Western Kentucky University were urged Tuesday to send an email to the show's casting producer to "second the nomination" of the Buchanons.
     The following day, Benjamin Harmon, who wrote the original email, announced that the response had been so heavy that the producer, Lauren Spiegal, had asked that a more generic email address be used, apparently because of the volume.
     Following is the original email:
     "Timmy, Nicki, and Isaiah Buchanon have been nominated for Extreme Makeover. This family is from (and currently resides in) Auburn, Ky. To put it short, Isaiah is a very, very special child that doctors said would never live. More about Isaiah below and a link to their blogsite/website on Caring Bridge, but this family needs votes in order to get the Extreme Makeover Home Edition. They have been nominated, but now need votes TODAY. Please, Please, Please 'second' this nomination by sending an email to the Casting Producer, Lauren Spiegal, at lauren.s@emhe.tv and to castingky@gmail.com. Deadline is short... has to be done TODAY. I can't think of a more deserving family!
"A little more about Isaiah: (also see www.caringbridge.org/ky/isaiah)
"This child is four years old now and has had probably around 50 surgeries at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. I don't know how to explain it, but just seeing the child and seeing happiness on his face after everything he has to go through, just helps you put things in perspective. Watching this child laugh brings joy to even the hardest person. Even though this is a joyous child, it has been very tough on his parents. Nikki is a teacher, but now has to stay at home with Isaiah to give the proper care he needs and cleans houses on the side. Tim is a farmer and works two jobs, one of which is a firefighter. This family has never asked for anything and works hard to take care of all the medical and other needs of the family, but this is a chance to 'makeover' their home and provide some things they would never dream of."
The Lo Jo
     Congratulations to organizers and team leaders of the Logan County Relay for Life held at Logan County High School. A record $128,000 was raised to benefit the American Cancer Society. 
     Congratulations to everyone involved in organizing the Missoula Children's Theater return visit here. Main Street Russellville Manager  Darlene Gooch says 58 youngsters auditioned for parts in The Little Mermaid, a market improved from last year's 30 participants, a number which was considered highly successful then. Presentations were scheduled Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. at Logan County High School. The Russellville Arts Council was the primary sponsor.
     Congratulations to Russellville's Craig Matthews, John Myers, Phil Todd and Matt Day for being selected to be part of the Best of the Bluegrass East-West All-Star Game at Western Kentucky University Friday. Myers, who is the head coach and principal of RHS, is the head coach for the West team. Todd and Day are among his assistants. Matthews, who will play next year for the University of the Cumberlands, was slated to play fullback and linebacker in the 6:30 p.m. game Friday.
     Congratulations to Robey Farms of Schochoh for being featured as the lead story of this month's Kentucky Farm Bereau News magazine. With the title "No waste of time: Large Dairy farm embraces the value of nutrient management," the two-page story tells how the Lee Robey family recyles from $750,000 to $800,000 worth of nutrients per year of waste from their animals, including a milking herd of 1,250 head, which produces about 100,000 pounds of milk per day. One of those getting credit in the story is Craig Givens of our local NRCS story.
      Congratuations to Adairville/Auburn insurance man John Lee Barnes for being pictured and discussed in the current issue of the state electric cooperatives' magazine. Barnes plays a leadership role with Pennytrile Rural Electric Cooperative.
     Congratulations to Caleb Head of Adairville for being one of the featured youngsters in the annual Shriners newspaper distributed June 6 by Logan County's Shriners. Caleb, the son of Sharon Head and the late Mark Head, has been helped by Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children every since he was born with Down's sydrome and other physical problems in 1997. The story tells while some doctors gave Caleb little or no hope of walking, with the help of the Shriners he now participates in the annual Buddy Walk to benefit Down's sydrome families.
The Lo Jo
     
     Five local teachers are among the 20 educators who will participate in the Kentucky Reading Project sessions at Western Kentucky University June 11-24. KRP  is a professional development initiative for Kentucky public school elementary (P-5) teachers.
     The project is designed to improve student achievement and family involvement in literacy, beginning with kindergarten and continuing through the fifth-grade level. Goals include striving to promote a reflective teaching and learning atmosphere, fostering lifelong learning and encouraging collaborative learning communities.
     Participants include Chandlers teachers Cathy Flora and Zach Simpson, Lewisburg teachers Crystal Britt and Emily Christian, and Stevenson Elementary teacher Mandy Browning.