Sis-Boom-Bah: Dunbar cheerleaders take national title
The Paul Laurence Dunbar High School cheerleading squad earned a first-place trophy in the 2011 National High School Cheerleading Championship in the Large Varsity Division I category. (Henry Clay High School took fourth place in the same category.) This is the Dunbar's seventh championship title; they last won in 2008. The competition was held Feb. 12 - 13 at Walt Disney World in Orlando and was televised on ESPN and ESPN2. Dunbar also finished third in the Large Junior Varsity category.
 
Lexington Catholic gym floor dubbed Danny Haney Court
A dedication ceremony before Lexington Catholic High School's Feb. 18 boy's basketball game against Wayne County dubbed the LCHS Bueter gym floor "Danny Haney Court." Over 70 former players showed their support by filling in the end zones of the court while the formal presentation was made.
Since August of 1972, Haney has been directly associated with Lexington Catholic, as a student-athlete, teacher, coach, administrator and fundraiser.
The school is also launching a new program in Haney's honor called "High Marks" -
a free, in-school, tutoring program for any student in need of additional academic support. Visit www.lexingtoncatholic.com for more information on the program.
Dunbar student competes in Jeopardy! Teen Tournament
Paul Laurence Dunbar High School junior Idrees Kahloon is one of 15 students across the nation competing in the popular television game show Jeopardy's annual "Teen Tournament," which runs from Feb. 17 through March 2.
Though the tournament was taped in December in California, Idrees cannot reveal how he fared on Jeopardy until after the show airs. Semifinalists take home $10,000; the grand prize is $75,000. Indrees is captain of the school's academic team and president of the Culture Society.
Veterans Park principal to receive Excellence award
Veterans Park Elementary school principal Amy McVey will receive the 2011 Excellence in Education award from Kentucky AdvancED, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement.
The honor goes to the one individual in each state who has demonstrated unparalleled leadership in promoting excellence through accreditation and school improvement initiatives. McVey, who has been the principal at Veterans Park since 2004, will be recognized March 21 at the AdvancED international summit in Chicago. She has also been nominated for the national Excellence in Education award.
Construction begins on Clays Mill Road Widening Project
After a ceremonious groundbreaking on Feb. 22, construction on the first phase of the Clays Mill Road widening project began Feb. 28. The entire project, nearly a decade in the making, has been broken down into four sections and will add a center turning lane to two-lane Clays Mill Road from Twain Ridge Drive (just south of Man O' War Boulevard) to Harrodsburg Road. The project will also see the installation of continuous sidewalks and bicycle paths on both sides of the street and new street trees.
On Feb. 22, more than 100 neighbors attended an informational meeting hosted by 9th District Councilmember Jay McChord, whose district is affected by the construction, at Jessie M. Clark Middle School. Also in attendance were Vice Mayor Linda Gorton and 10th District Councilmember Doug Martin, whose district will be affected as other phases of construction commence.
On hand to answer specific questions were Scott Woodall, president of Woodall Construction, which is handling the construction; Terry Justice, the project manager; Frank Pruitt, a civil and transportation designer with CDP Engineers, the company handling the design of the new streetscape; and Keith Lovan, a LFUCG engineer.
The first phase of construction, called Section 2A, will focus on the portion of the road between Higbee Mill Road and Keithshire Way, and is scheduled to be completed Nov. 7. During construction, two lanes will always be open between the hours of 7 - 9 a.m. and 3 - 5 p.m.; there will be lane closures between the hours of 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Construction on Section 2B will be conducted in 2012 and on Section 2C in 2013. Construction on Section 1, which will focus on Clays Mill Roads from New Circle Road to Harrodsburg Road, is yet to be determined.
Seniors invited to take part in government intern program
Fayette County residents 50 and older are invited to learn more about their local government by enrolling in the 2011 Senior Intern Program. The program, which is free, offers seniors the opportunity to talk with key decision makers in city government, participate in class activities and visit several government facilities.
Several sessions are devoted to field trips to outlying government operations, including the Family Care Center, Fire & Emergency Services, the Division of Police and others.
This year's program will take place June 20 - 24.
Space is limited to the first 45 eligible people who apply, and only those who have not previously attended may apply. Those interested in participating in the program, should download an application from www.lexingtonky.gov. For more information, call (859) 258-3806 or e-mail kstambaug@lexingtonky.gov.