The city of Richmond dedicated the new “dog park” section of its Lake Reba recreation complex Saturday to the memory of a Richmond dog groomer who perished in the August 2006 crash of Comair Flight 5191.
Judy Rains, the owner of K-9 Design, and her fiance Brian Byrd, were headed to a Caribbean island for their wedding and honeymoon when they died in the crash.
“I am so pleased that the city is dedicating to Judy’s memory a section of Lake Reba that is devoted to dogs,” said Kathy Trimble, a friend and business partner of Rains. “Judy loved dogs so much,” said Trimble, as she held a 4-month-old English bulldog pup. Trimble and Rains were partners in a dog breeding venture.
Trimble re-opened Rains’ grooming business in December. “Before Judy left, she said, ‘If anything happens to me, I want you to keep my business going,’” Trimble said. Most of Rains’ clientele have returned, she said.
The city already had plans to build a dog park at Lake Reba when the idea arose to name it for Rains, said Mayor Connie Lawson. “We had named a ball field for Brian Byrd, and I thought it would be fitting to name our dog park for Judy Rains.”
The dog park is at the intersection between the Adventure Falls miniature golf course and the Lake Reba children’s playground.
The dog park is fenced with two double-door entries. A picnic table sits under a shade tree near a water fountain designed for both human and K-9 drinkers.
A mailbox by the table contains an assortment of dog toys.
The city wants to continue adding multiple uses to the Lake Reba complex, the mayor said. “I want this park to have something for each and every citizen to enjoy. That is what a regional park such as Lake Reba should be.”
Since she became mayor, Lawson said that in addition to the miniature golf course, the city has built a “chip and putt” course for beginning golfers and outdoor basketball courts.
“I have been happy to seen that many of our Hispanic residents have begun using the Lake Reba basketball courts,” she said. “I think the next thing we may do is create a field for playing cricket. We’ve had so many requests from cricket players. I never realized how many we have. That shows just how diverse our area has become.”
Lake Reba’s horseshoe pitching facilities are “the best in the state,” Lawson said. “That’s why we have so many horseshoe tournaments in Richmond.”
Lawson said Jerry Abramson, mayor of the merged Louisville-Jefferson County governments, was impressed with the Lake Reba complex on a visit to Richmond. “He called me on his way home to ask about the acreage of Lake Reba park. He hoped he could find enough land in Jefferson County to build a replica of Lake Reba there.”
A recreational facility such as Lake Reba “helps makes people want to move to Richmond,” Lawson said.
Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.
Local News
Dog park dedicated in honor of groomer Judy Rains
- Local News
-
-
Trash piling up at mobile home park
Uncollected household waste at a mobile home park on Big Hill Avenue in Richmond will draw a notice of violation from the Madison County Health Department and is prompting the city to clean up the site on its own.
-
Realities of prescription pill abuse spark another summit
Prescription drug abuse has become so prevalent in parts of Kentucky, people are buying Mason jars of clean urine at flea markets and under the table at tobacco stores so they can pass drug tests.
-
Tackling childhood obesity
NFL football player and former University of Kentucky running back Artose Pinner autographed lunch bags, footballs, notebook paper and anything Glenn Marshall elementary students could find (including arms and hands) during his visit Thursday to kick off the Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP 60) grant program.
-
Police charge two with making meth
A traffic stop late Tuesday evening ended in two arrests for manufacturing methamphetamine.
A Richmond Police officer working traffic enforcement on the Robert R. Martin Bypass stopped a vehicle at about 11:50 p.m. for a traffic offense. The officer discovered several methamphetamine precursors and paraphernalia in the vehicle that police say were tied to one of the passengers in the vehicle, Curment Nicholas Carpenter, 40, of Lexington Road. -
Man pleads guilty to driving to Richmond for sex with girl
(Editor’s note: This story contains graphic information some readers may find offensive.)
An Indiana man will serve at least 10 years in prison for traveling to Richmond to have sex with a 13-year-old girl, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lexington. -
Berea Arena Theater presents: Kitchen Witches
Performances are 8 p.m. Friday through Saturday, and Feb. 10-11, and at 2 p.m. on Feb. 12 at 1835 Big Hill Road (KY 21) in Berea. Call 986-9039 for tickets, $8 for adults and $5 for students/children.
-
A toe to spare
Pigs usually have four toes on a foot, but not always, Leland “Bud” Bennett of Whitlock Road, said he learned this week.
While preparing the head and feet of a pig to make souse meat, Bennett said he made a surprising discovery after removing two of the toes.
When he went to cut off the next two, there were three. A smaller, third toe was higher up the leg.
“I’m 84, and I’d never seen a pig’s foot with five toes,” he said.
-
Model Laboratory’s annual Lunar New Year Celebration
Model Laboratory third-graders Olivia Florell, left, and Katie Upchurch, inside a paper dragon, wait Wednesday morning with their classmates in the school hallway for the start of the annual Lunar New Year Celebration parade. The students created the dragon after learning about Asian
calligraphy in art class and walked with the dragon, while playing instruments and clapping, to the end of the hall in front of classmates in pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade who have also been studying aspects of Asian culture. The parade is intended to bring good luck and friendship to the school for the new year, the Chinese New Year of the Dragon, said art teacher Denise Discepoli. -
Teacher turned award-winning author to read at Richmond Area Arts Council tonight
Because Rebecca D. Elswick won publication of her debut novel, “Mama’s Shoes,” in a national contest, it might be easy to view her as a kind of literary American Idol.
But, unlike many of the precocious American Idol winners, Elswick toiled and studied her craft for years before achieving success. Now, the accolades are accumulating, and each honor further confirms her status as one of the hottest emerging authors in the South.
She will read and sign books tonight along with Lexington author George Ella Lyon at the Richmond Area Arts Council, 399 W. Water St., beginning at 6:30 p.m. -
Project Read helps students turn the page
Steve Hupp likes solving problems, and at 27 years old, he has seen more than his fair share. Hupp has been in and out of hospitals since childhood, making it difficult for him to focus on school. To make it worse, he also is dyslexic.
Hupp dropped out of school in the 11th grade.
“Some places wouldn’t even give me an application,” he said about his search for a job. “I had doors close on me. I even had girlfriends break up with me.” - More Local News Headlines
-
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
