Weight on Ashland bridge restricted after accident

ASHLAND, Ky. (AP) — A wreck on an Ashland bridge has prompted the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to impose a temporary 10-ton weight limit on the span.

The cabinet says the accident damaged part of the 12th Street bridge’s superstructure and occurred as the bridge was hit by a vehicle on the Ohio approach span.

After examining damaged steel beams Tuesday, bridge inspectors determined the bridge could stay open. But the weight of vehicles crossing the bridge will be restricted to 10 tons until the damage is repaired.

The bridge connects U.S. 52 in Ohio with U.S. 23 and U.S. 60 in Kentucky.

The cabinet says detour routes will carry overweight traffic coming from Portsmouth, Ohio, and Chesapeake, Ohio, by way of U.S. 52 across bridges in Greenup, Ky., or Huntington, W.Va.

 

Funds sought for victims of tornado

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross along with promotional partners WLEX, WKYT, WTVQ, WDKY, Clear Channel Communications, Cumulus Broadcasting, LM Communications, the Lexington Herald-Leader, and Smiley Pete Publishing are joining together to raise money for Oklahoma Tornado Relief.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with those who lost loved ones or have suffered through these deadly storms,” said Terry Burkhart, CEO of the Bluegrass Chapter. “Red Cross disaster teams are working around the clock to help the thousands of people whose lives are turned upside down. More Red Cross assistance is on the way.”

The Red Cross depends on financial donations to help in times of disaster. Individuals or organizations wishing to make a contribution to assist those affected by disasters like the Oklahoma tornadoes, floods, and other crises may do so by calling the Kentucky Cares hotline at 859-977-5366 from noon to midnight today. After today donors may call 859-253-1331 or 1-800-REDCROSS. Online gifts can be made by visiting redcross.org. Donations are also being accepted at all area Kroger and Central Bank locations.

Donations can also be made in-person at Fayette Mall (corner of Nicholasville Road and Reynolds Road) on Thursday and Friday, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Staff from our promotional partners will be on hand to greet and thank donors.

The Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross is making arrangements for local volunteers to deploy to those areas affected by the recent storms. “We have two volunteers on their way to Oklahoma in our Emergency Response Vehicle currently and we expect more to deploy throughout the next several days,” said Stinson Miller, director of volunteers for the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Nationally, 95% of all American Red Cross staff are unpaid volunteers. Last year more than 500,000 individuals volunteered to work over 70,000 individual disasters.

 

Girls Night Out

feature is ‘Parental Guidance’

ASHLAND, Ky. — Boyd County Public Library will host its monthly Girls’ Night Out program on Wednesday, May 29.

“Parental Guidance” will be shown at the Main Branch, located at 1740 Central Ave., starting at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $2, or bring a food item to share. All money collected will be used to purchase pizza and other refreshments.

The film, rated PG, stars Billy Crystal and Bette Midler as grandparents whose old-school methods collide with their grandkids’ 21st-century behavior.

Girls’ Night Out is held on the last Wednesday of each month. Men are welcome, but the program typically involves movies of a nature that are not appropriate for children. The June feature is “The Guilt Trip.”

Reasonable accommodation for people with special needs should be requested at least 48 hours prior to the program. Call (606) 329-0518, ext. 1140, for more information.

 

Rock Hill teacher to to study overseas

OXFORD — A local resident has been selected to participate in summer 2013 global graduate studies on the Baja peninsula.

Beginning in mid-July, Rock Hill High School staff member Joy McComas of South Point, will study desert and marine ecosystems on the Baja peninsula. More information about McComas’s course is located at earthexpeditions.muohio.edu/baja.

The graduate courses from Miami University’s Project Dragonfly are based on Earth Expeditions, which has engaged more than 1,400 people since 2004 in firsthand educational and scientific research at critical conservation field sites in Africa, Australia, Asia and the Americas. More information is located at www.EarthExpeditions.org.

 

River’s Bend Health Care hosts rummage sale

SOUTH POINT — River’s Bend Health Care will host a rummage sale from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 1. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Resident Activities Fund and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Staff and the families of some of the residents at the facility are donating items for the sale. A variety of children’s, men’s and women’s clothing, household items, small appliances and decorative items will be offered.

River’s Bend Health Care is located at the end of Jefferson Street in the Burlington area, one mile west of the Tri-State Crossing shopping plaza with Sam’s, Walmart and Lowe’s. From Burlington-Macedonia Road, turn onto Township 1039. Go through three stop signs, and turn right at the third stop sign onto Jefferson Ave.

The facility is on the left at the end of Jefferson Avenue. For more information, please call (740) 894-3476.