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Motorcyclist Jane Sexton of Richmond attends the “Some Gave All” event Wednesday outside the Madison County Courthouse.
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‘Some Gave All’ tour hits the road
American flags lined the Madison County Courthouse Wednesday as about 100 people gathered to pay tribute to three fallen central Kentucky soldiers before taking off on the “Some Gave All” motorcycle tour.
The soldiers honored Wednesday were Pfc. Theodore M. “Coty” West of Richmond, Spc. William G. Bowling of Beattyville and Sgt. 1st Class John D. Morton of Stanton.
West was killed Nov. 29, 2006, when a roadside bomb detonated near his vehicle during combat in Baghdad, Iraq. Bowling was one of four soldiers killed April 1, 2007, also by a roadside bomb in Baghdad, and Morton was killed Dec. 15, 2005, when his dismounted patrol was attacked by enemy forces in Shah Wali Kot, Afghanistan.
Richmond Mayor Connie Lawson and Steve Robinson, commander of the National Guard’s 238th Regiment based in Muhlenburg County, were the keynote speakers at Wednesday’s event that included a a musical performance of the “Star-Spangled Banner” and a 21-gun salute.
“This may be the single most important event that we’ll host in the city of Richmond,” said Connie Lawson, Richmond’s mayor. “It really makes me humble and proud to be an American.”
Lawson presented a personal monetary donation to the “Some Gave All” event.
“I’m a big believer in putting my money where my mouth is,” she said.
Another check for $750 was donated by the employees at the Richmond Walmart.
Store manager Todd Maggard said his employees heard about the event, thought it was a great cause and hosted a bake sale in front of the store.
The “Some Gave All” bike rally was organized by Dwight Lewis, a mortgage professional and a National Guard major.
“He (Lewis) designed this motorcycle ride to honor Kentucky’s fallen warriors,” Robinson said. “We want to honor their lives with this rally, so we’re here to say thank you to the families of these fallen warriors. We extend to you our sympathies and our gratitude.”
The motorcycle tour will visit the hometowns of Kentucky soldiers who have died during the war on terror. The rally will visit London, Bowling Green, Hopkinsville, Paducah, Owensboro, Louisville, Newport and Ashland. The final stop will be in Lexington.
The ride will cover nine cities in five days, traveling more than 1,100 miles.
Larry Morgan of Estill County, who served with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War, said he attended the funerals of West, Bowling and Morton.
“Being at their burials meant a lot,” he said.
He said America’s younger generation needs to be aware of all the brave men and women who have fought for their freedom in the past.
“We’re trying to teach them something,” he said. “If we don’t pass it on, they’re not going to know.”
Members of the U.S. Patriot Guard were present Thursday to honor the soldiers. The Patriot Guard provides security at soldiers’ funerals across the nation to protect mourning family members from anti-war protesters.
“They are there as family,” Robinson said. “They show respect for our fallen heroes and their families.”
Mike Sexton and his wife Jane attended Thursday’s event ready to hit the road for London.
A former member of the Army and National Guard, Mike Sexton said the Patriot Guard was all “ ... about respect and honor. That’s what this whole ride is about.”
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
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Berea men arrested for robbery
Berea police arrested two men in connection with a March 8 robbery at a check-cashing business, a spokesman said Monday.
Shawn Burns, 32, was charged with first-degree robbery and misdemeanor receiving stolen property, while Bradley Lamb, 21, was charged with complicity to first-degree robbery and misdemeanor receiving stolen property, said Capt. Ken Clark, Berea Police Department spokesman. -
City seeks proposals for Gibson Bay Cafe
The operation lease for Gibson Bay Cafe expires at the end of May, and the City of Richmond will be accepting bids for the operation of the restaurant from the public until Friday, March 26.
Gibson Bay Cafe, which is located at Lake Reba Recreational Complex on the Gibson Bay Golf Course, is owned by city commissioner Bill Strong and his wife Jeanie Strong. -
Reports of home burglaries keep Richmond police busy
The new owner of a mobile home on Bradbury Pointe reported to Richmond police Friday that appliances had been stolen from the home.
A stainless steel refrigerator, a white stove, a white microwave and a three-ton Trane heating and air conditioning unit were discovered to be missing from the home on March 7, said Chief Larry Brock. -
Parents upset about test scores, deficiencies
The frustration was evident in the voices of a number of Berea Community School parents who spent more than an hour Monday night addressing the Berea Independent Board of Education.
The parents spent most of the evening talking directly to middle school/high school principal John Masters about a lack of communication with school personnel and asking for answers about how the district intends to correct a number of deficiencies identified by the state in a December audit. -
Time to stand up, be counted
Madison County households will be receiving questionnaires in the mail today through Wednesday from the U.S. Census Bureau which is carrying out it constitutional mandate to count all U.S. citizens every 10 years.
Letters were mailed last week advising household to be watching for the census questionnaire, according to J.C. Barbour, the bureau’s media specialist for Kentucky. -
‘Sunshine Boys’ dedicated to Kerby’s memory
The late Dr. Clifford Kerby, former mayor of Berea, was a longtime supporter and often an actor in community theater.
One of his favorite plays, in which he played one of the two lead roles for the old Berea Community Theater back in 1977, was “The Sunshine Boys,” said his wife Diane. -
Two chances to meet, hear candidates
“You can’t tell the players without a program,” vendors at old minor league baseball games used to yell.
With so many local candidates in the running for election this year, voters may know too little about them to make an informed choice, some observers have remarked.
However, two Madison County organizations have scheduled events for Thursday evening to help clarify who the candidates are and what they stand for. -
Local group to meet on skate park on Tuesday
A local group seeking to build a public skateboard park in Richmond will conduct a public meeting next week in downtown Richmond.
Skate Richmond, KY is a non-profit group founded in 2007, according to group member and local attorney Wesley Browne, and is interested in constructing a public skateboard park in downtown Richmond. -
Lots of ‘energy’ at expo Saturday
Gloomy weather and college basketball did not keep people away from Saturday’s Madison County Home Energy Expo at the Perkins Building on Eastern Kentucky University’s campus.
The second-annual event, hosted by Madison County’s University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension office, moved to the EKU campus this year after last year’s event was conducted at Glenn Marshall Elementary School. -
Kentucky Blood Center collection Tuesday in Berea
Kentucky Blood Center will conduct a blood drive on Tuesday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Union Church in the Community Room, 200 Prospect St., Berea.
Every volunteer who presents to donate blood with the Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) will have a chance to win a trip to the 2010 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four games. One winner will receive a package for two that includes hotel stay April 2-6 and tickets to the Final Four (April 3) and Championship Games (April 5) in Indianapolis. The drawing will be conducted on April 1. - More Local News Headlines
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Berea men arrested for robbery
