Posted on Wed, May. 07, 2008

Bourbon County

Y's Strong Kids Campaign reaches out

The Paris-Bourbon County YMCA, 917 Main Street in Paris, will launch its annual Strong Kids Campaign on Monday.

Many children and ­families need YMCA services but are unable to pay the regular fees. Financial ­assistance provided through the Strong Kids Campaign makes it possible for those individuals and families to gain the benefits of belonging to the YMCA.

Contributors can make a difference in the life of a youth or family. A $50 contribution can provide membership for someone who cannot afford it. For $80, a child can attend camp for a week.

To learn more about the Strong Kids Campaign call the YMCA at (859) 987-1395. The generosity of last year's contributors resulted in 592 scholarships for individuals in need.

Police group plans motorcycle ride

In honor of National Police Officers Appreciation Week, the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association will hold a motorcycle ride May 17.

All bike riders are invited to participate on a route at their own pace from Paris through Winchester, Clay City, Slade, Natural Bridge State Park through Red River Gorge to Frenchburg, Mount Sterling and back to Paris. The trip covers about 130 to 140 miles; most riders should arrive back in Paris between 3 and 4 p.m.

Registration will be 9 to 11 a.m. at the Paris Police Department, 525 High Street, with the ride starting at 11 a.m. Several local merchants will provide door prizes. The association requests a $10 donation per bike; proceeds will go toward activities that encourage and support local police officers.

Refreshments will be available in Slade, and all riders are invited to stop in Clay City and pay tribute to Chief Randy Lacy, who was killed in the line of duty last June.

Questions can be directed to Mark Rambacher at (859) 953-0102 or Roger Clark at (859) 707-7605.

Lifeguards can get (re-)certified

The Paris-Bourbon County YMCA, 917 Main Street in Paris, will offer lifeguard certification and recertification classes in the indoor pool.

Certification classes for new lifeguards will be 5 to 9 p.m. May 12 to 16, with the final class from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 17. The cost is $150.

Recertification classes will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. The cost is $80.

Call the YMCA at (859) 987-1395 for information or enrollment.

Church tour

Historic Paris-Bourbon County invites the public to accompany art historian Estill ”Buck“ Pennington on a walking tour of downtown Paris churches starting at 1 p.m. Saturday. During the tour, Pennington will point out the unique and historical architectural variety found in the city.

Participants will gather in the parking lot on Main Street across from the Church of the Annunciation, first stop on the tour. The group then will proceed to First Christian Church and Central Baptist Church on High Street, First Baptist Church on Main Street, and First Methodist Church and First Presbyterian Church on Pleasant Street. The tour will end with a look at the interior of St. Peter's Episcopal Church on High Street.

Light refreshments will be served in the Parish Hall of St. Peter's.

Pause at its booth

The Paris Animal Welfare Society will have a booth at the Mayfest Arts Fair in Lexington's Gratz Park, 250 West Third Street, this weekend, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The event will include some adoptable animals from P.A.W.S. and the new P.A.W.S. spring merchandise.