Vol. 140 No. 48

COMMUNITY

The Kennedy Assassination

Caroline Kennedy celebrated her fiftieth birthday last week, older now than her father or her little brother lived to be, and only a decade younger than her mother Jacqueline when she died of cancer. How old is dirt, I wonder -- that’s how ancient I feel knowing that this child is now old enough to be a grandmother. Neil Diamond stepped forward to serenade her with “Sweet Caroline,” the song that made his fortune. For the first time, he confessed to Caroline, and to the world, that a childhood photo of her standing beside her pony, had been his inspiration for writing the piece. “It was such an innocent, wonderful picture, I immediately knew there was a song in there” he said. Yes, I whisper, it was an innocent and wonderful time.

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A Christmas tradition

“Traditions,” Webster’s dictionary describes this word as “the doctrines, knowledge, practices and customs passed down from one generation to another.” In Bethlehem (Ky.), I am the proud recipient of a very well known and loved tradition and I have the privilege of sharing it with folks near and far. It is the Bethlehem Postmark and Christmas Cachet that adorns the thousands of greeting cards that come through the Bethlehem Post Office each year. I’m especially honored this year as this is the 60th year for the tradition.

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Wright attends 2007

Circuit Clerks Fall College

Cindy Wright, Circuit Court Clerk for Owen County, participated in the 2007 Circuit Clerks Fall College in Lexington Oct. 24-26.
The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) hosted the college, which offered sessions on how to efficiently handle District Court criminal procedures and how to better supervise personnel.
“This conference focused on an interesting mix of issues that affect how circuit clerks carry out their daily operations,” said Nelson County Circuit Clerk Diane Thompson, who is president of the Kentucky Association of Circuit Court Clerks.
“Circuit clerks must be prepared to adapt to new technology and new legislation while overseeing case management and maintaining staff morale,” she said.
The college also offered sessions on the Judicial Branch budget requests for the 2008 Kentucky General Assembly, the new centralized jury management service being offered by the Administrative Office of the Courts, and new technology and legislative issues that may affect the Office of Circuit Court Clerk.

Local resident to compete for Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2008

Brittany McDonald, 16, of Owenton, will compete for the title of Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2008 on Jan. 4 and 5, at the Center for Rural Development in Somerset.
McDonald is the daughter of Charles and Cindy McDonald. She attends Owen County High School and her activities and/or hobbies include cheerleading for the Rebels, shopping with friends, and dancing with the squad.
The Miss Kentucky Teen USA and Miss Kentucky USA pageants are the official preliminaries to the Miss Teen USA, Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, jointly owned by NBC Television and Trump Productions.
The young woman chosen as Miss Kentucky Teen USA 2008 will go on to represent the state of Kentucky in the 2008 Miss Teen USA competition.

Births

Ayden Chandler Menchen

Ron and Alyssa Menchen of Owenton are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Ayden Chandler Menchen.
Ayden was born Sept. 3, 2007, at St. Joseph East in Lexington. He weighed 6 lb. 12 oz. and was 20 inches long.
Maternal grandparents are Tony and Melissa Perkins of Owenton and Brett and Mary Inman of Lusby’s Mill. Paternal grandparents are Bill and Nancy Menchen of Las Vegas, Nev.

Timothy Wayne Byrd, Jr.

Amanda Poland and Timothy Byrd are pleased to announce the birth of their son, Timothy Wayne Byrd Jr.
He was born at Norton’s Hospital in Louisville. He weighed 8 lb. 4 oz. and was 21 inches long.
He was welcomed home by his maternal grandparents, Julie and Jim Whitaker of Owenton; paternal grandparents, Mike and Sheila Poland of Elk Lake; and his sister, Felicia Byrd of Hodgenville.
Maternal great-grandparents were the late Guthrie and Aline Long and paternal grandparents are Helen and the late Clifford Poland.
The paternal grandmother was the late Barbara Byrd.