Sounds Good

Henderson, Kentucky’s John James Audubon State Park celebrates a milestone this year. Park Volunteer Tom Jake spoke with Kate Lochte about the exhibits he’s working on for the fabulous museum there, which displays the renowned artworks and personal memorabilia of the Park’s namesake. 

Dr. Kenneth Tucker, professor emeritus of Murray State University's department of English and philosophy, has added another novel to his list of published titles. Hell is Where the Heart Is, which Tucker describes as an unabashed farce about behind-the-scenes events at a state university, is now available to the public. He spoke with Tracy Ross about the book, now available in paperback, on Sounds Good. Click here to purchase the book on Amazon.

Last week, Murray Calloway County Hospital announced the elimination of 28 jobs. MCCH CEO Jerry Penner says the cuts are results of a turbulent healthcare environment including low patient volume and declining Medicaid reimbursements. Shelly Baskin speaks with Penner about the details surrounding the cuts, and the financial trouble related to Managed Care Organizations and the Affordable Care Act.

WK&T featured Shirley Jackson on a recent magazine cover due to her use of its broadband services for making connections among quilters for socializing and for her business, Custom Quilting by Shirley. She specializes in the cover stitching and finishing of quilts, and says the internet has broadened her sources of inspiration.

Michael Veach is the Associate Curator of Special Collections at The Filson Historical Society in Louisville. He's also the only professional bourbon historian in the country and has recently written a book titled Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey: An American Heritage. In the book, Veach reveals the true story of how bourbon became a unique product in Kentucky heritage. Kate Lochte spoke with Veach for Sounds Good. Click here to purchase the book on Amazon.

MCLIB's next Evenings Upstairs program on March 21 at 7 pm is titled "Explore Kentucky's Diverse Fiddling Traditions." John Harrod has been performing over forty years as he brings old music to new generations. Because of its location between major routes of western migration, Western Kentucky became a melting pot of culture in the 18th and 19th centuries. Harrod explores the region's musical roots and gives a preview on Sounds Good.

Thursday at 9:30 a.m. The Carson Center in Paducah presents the Paducah Symphony Orchestra in performance for the second time in its Class Acts Education Series. 3rd through 6th graders are going to hear a concert featuring the music of Bizet, Beethoven, Copland, and many more. PSO Artistic Director and Conductor Raffaele Ponti tells us more about the show and the instrument "petting zoo" feature. Click here for more information.

Jazmyne Lilly, Senior from Lone Oak High School, competes in the state Poetry Out Loud Championship in Frankfort Tuesday, March 12.  She is one of three seniors from our region among seventeen finalists for the opportunity to represent the Commonwealth in national competition.  She previews her recitation of a Carl Sandburg poem for us.

Kate Lochte continues our series of interviews with young people of western Kentucky who are finding success in major markets. This time we meet professional wrestler Leva Bates, former Madisonville resident, Madisonville high school graduate, and Murray State University graduate. She made her professional debut in 2006, and has since won the CCW Women's Championship, SCW Women's Championship, and USCW Women's Championships. In 2012, Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked her among the 50 best female singles wrestlers. Initially, Leva attended FXE Wrestling School to become a manager, but was informed by her teachers that she wasn't a manager, she was a wrestler.