Travis Gregory made contact with the ball during Thursday’s game against Monticello. Clinton County hosted the Trojans in a double header, losing the first game, 3-2, but picking up win number three of the season in the second game, 7-5. Clinton County faced Russell County in the first round of the district tournament Tuesday. That game was too late for press deadline and will be in next week’s edition of the Clinton County News.

Above, Eli Brown got a runner out at second on a stolen base during Clinton County’s first game against Monticello on Tuesday, May 14. The Bulldogs lost the first game, 3-2, but won the second game of the double header, 7-5.

Below, Frank England laid down a bunt, but was thrown out at first during Clinton County’s first game of the double header Tuesday. Clinton County traveled to Russell County to take on the Lakers in the first round of the district tournament this week. That game was too late for press deadline.

Above, Makayla McFall threw out a runner at first during Clinton County’s game against Barren County Tuesday, May 14. Clinton County lost the game, 5-3, and move to 10-16 on the year.

Below, Kristina Withers caught a ball in left field for an out during Tuesday’s game.

Clinton County played in the first round of the district tournament Tuesday against Metcalfe County.That game was too late for press deadline and will be featured in next week’s edition of the Clinton County News.

by Alan B. Gibson

Athletes to Alumni – time for congrats and giving thanks

It’s hard to believe, and it seems to be coming around faster and faster each year, but this Friday night we’ll celebrate yet another graduating class from the halls of Clinton County High School.

Of course congratulations go out to the entire Class of 2013, but this being a sport oriented column, I always like to take a closer look at the accomplishments and what went into those accomplishments, of the group of seniors who were also involved in the various sports inside our Bulldog athletic program.

Managing to keep school work up to date, while at the same time getting to practice sessions, games and working on your own, made your feat of accepting your diploma this Friday night even more challenging, and for that, a special level of pride should be enjoyed by our athletes and others involved in extra curricular activities.

Cherish your experiences of being involved with the C.C.H.S. athletic department.

During the years you were growing up – all the way back to the first time you decided you wanted to play basketball, swing a club, bat or racket, or run through a field – someone else had to make sure you were where you needed to be, when you needed to be there, and had all of your school work caught up before and after.

Someone had to pick you up when you were finished at practice. They had to endure long drives to small, out of the way gyms (most of which had those dreaded plastic bleachers), fields or courses to watch you play – or sit on the sidelines – and they had to do it for year, after year after year – but believe me, they enjoyed it – or at least most of it.

Still – they deserve a special thanks from you, so now is the time to remember to lean over and give that special someone a hug, and a thanks for going the extra mile to ensure that your high school athletic career would be the best it could be.

Finally, remember to come on back from time to time. Those people up in the stands during your games or meets for the most part were your parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. But scattered about were others who weren’t related to anyone on the floor by blood, but rather by the simple fact that at some point, they were the ones pouring it out in a game. Some were there last year, others were there decades ago, but they came back to enjoy and show their support for the program.

Do the same, and come back from time to time – or as often as you can, and show some community support for the players on the floor who are taking your place in the blue and white.

Again, congratulations to our seniors, and especially our senior athletes, and to the parents or guardians who will beam with pride this Friday night when those tassels are switched.

At that point, you seniors will transform from student to alumni, but in the end always remember . . .

Once a Bulldog – Always a Bulldog!

1. Mark Stoops’s football team will play the nation’s most difficult schedule this year. An internet site says five SEC teams will play top 10 toughest competition – Florida sixth, LSU fifth, Tennessee fourth, Arkansas second and Kentucky first.

2. Academics. Kentucky topped the SEC honor roll for the winter semester, according to a UK news release. The league’s sports honor roll included 49 UK student-athletes. Congratulations to 25 swimmers, and eight each from gymnastics and rifle teams.

Men’s basketball? Twany Beckham, Brian Long, Sam Malone, Jarrod Polson and Kyle Wiltjer.

Footnote: Statistics in this release were provided by the same source that issued (inflated) attendance figures at UK football games last season.

3. Basketball. Kentucky will open the season ranked No. 1 and the Wildcats are the 4-1 favorite to win the national championship, says Las Vegas Superbook.

Kansas is 10-1, Duke, Michigan State, Florida, Arizona and defending champion Louisville are 12-1, Ohio State and North Carolina at 15-1.

John Calipari’s reaction? Call a press conference to talk about his favorite subject, himself. Bad idea.

“I don’t mind a little pressure,” the 7-Million Dollar ball coach said. “I’ve had it my whole career. I’ve had the gun to my head for 20-something years. And you know what? I’m at my best when the gun is to my head.”

Peculiar choice of metaphors since gun is such a hot button word these days. Hard to get a visual of pressure on a 7-million dollar ball coach with gun to his head.

Maybe Calipari had a life-threat flashback to February 14, 1994. Then-Temple coach John Cheney charged after UMass coach Cal at a post game presser, shouting “I’ll kick your a–! I’ll kill you!” Cheney was dragged away.

But Calipari’s press conference in Lexington last week was only a warm-up. A day later, apparently smarting because of his one-and-done legacy, he was on radio in Louisville threatening the NCAA and proclaiming himself “the only guy out there saying, ‘We’ve gotta change this somehow. We’ve gotta encourage these kids to stay two years.’ But the NCAA’s gotta do some stuff. And if they don’t do it, we need to separate from them. I’m not afraid to say it.”

Excuse me, but Calipari selling “… encourage these kids to stay two years,” is like waiting for Rand Paul to endorse Hillary Clinton for 2016.

Calipari threatens: “if they don’t do it, we need to separate from them.”?

Let’s see if we have this straight.

√ Kentucky’s ball coach: Pressure? Gun to his head? No problem.

√ A day later, demands the NCAA do something to force college freshmen to stay in school and if they don’t it’s the NCAA’s fault.

√ And “if they don’t do it we need to separate from them.”

What’s at the root of this rant?

Probably this:

“Look, they (NCAA) have embarrassed me,” Cal told the radio audience. “I’ve done nothing, so they’re not going to come and show retribution to me and do stuff. I don’t really care.”

Elephant in the Room? Cal is still sore that UMass and Memphis were made to forfeit wins, take down Final Four banners because of misdeeds on his watch.

He knew nothing about Marcus Camby jewelry and what he was driving at UMass (Camby later confessed). Cal had no idea where Derrick Rose took his second or third college entrance exam to qualify for one-and-done at Memphis.

As ex-Commissioner of the internal Revenue Service Steven Miller is finding out, he who was in charge is responsible, and ignorance is no defense.

So, Calipari wants to “separate” from the NCAA and envisions super-conferences that would regulate themselves (keep the mega-millions), re-slice the pie minus NCAA cut and, Cal says, “create incentives for college players.

An unabashed, unapologetic NBA developmental league is Calipari’s goal, operating out of university facilities, using campus rah-rah as fan base, wave logos, embrace traditions, all done without academic blah-blah-blah. It’s the money, stupid!

Considering how busy Calipari’s mouth was last week, one wonders if he is indeed feeling pressure and not handling it well.

Still, Kentucky’s ball coach must be credited for masking a large ego kinda, sorta with noisy rhetoric, audacity and blame game rant, if not the good sense to – never call a press conference to talk about putting a gun to your head and rambling about your favorite subject. You.

What next? As rascal Jerry Tarkanian discovered once upon a time, NCAA administrators normally have long memories and don’t take kindly to being embarrassed by ball coaches.

And so it goes.

The winners from Monday night’s scramble at 76 Falls Country Club were Gene Latham, Wayne Gaskins, Jerry Braswell and Doug Thrasher.

According to a preliminary report from Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Eddie Gibson, who investigated the incident scene, the crash happened at approximately 7:12 p.m. Gibson’s report narrative said Jason Sparks, 33, of Hilham, was riding his 1995 Yamaha Branshee ATV north on Charlie Brown Road when the vehicle “traveled off the roadway on the right edge of the road striking a tree.”

Sparks reportedly was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

David Brian Cooper, 47, George Bertram, 43, both of Jamestown, and Tantus Tobacco Company of Russell Springs, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Oxford. A trial has been scheduled to begin on July 8.

Cooper, Bertram and the company are accused of wire fraud and conspiring to sell cigarettes through Mississippi to avoid paying federal and state taxes, according to reports. Cooper and Tantus Tobacco are also accused of money laundering.

Cooper’s attorneys and the company filed a motion on Wednesday asking that the case be moved to federal court in Kentucky, where they said all the alleged illegal acts are said to have been committed, reports indicated.

They said witnesses in the case live in Kentucky and Cooper and the company have no ties to Mississippi, according to reports.

The indictment alleges Bertram, Cooper, and Tantus Tobacco conspired to commit wire fraud and money laundering by selling cigarettes in Kentucky while falsely reporting that the cigarettes were being sold in Mississippi, subsequently underpaying Kentucky about $1.6 million, according to reports.

The reports also said Cooper is accused of selling 320,490 cartons of cigarettes to another Kentucky distributor and faking invoices that he sold them to Tupelo businessman Jerry Burke through J and B Wholesale, and others, to avoid paying taxes on cigarettes. Bertram is accused of helping plan and execute the scheme.

The scheme is alleged to have occurred between October 2007 and January 21, 2009 in Lee County, Mississippi, reports said.

If convicted, Bertram faces up to six years in prison and $1.25 million in fines. For Cooper, it’s up to 23 years in prison and $1.75 million in fines.

The government is also seeking forfeiture of property acquired with the alleged profit from illegal acts, according to reports.

Josh Ball with Kentucky Teleworks will be at the courthouse (second floor) that day to screen for over 400 jobs that must be filled this month in the state of Kentucky.

Positions available include customer service, sales, IT tech support and at-home interviews.

Applicants should bring with them a resume, valid ID and Social Security card. They will have an opportunity to explore the possibility of working from home and providing additional income for their families.

“This is a great opportunity for Monroe County citizens to gain employment with such companies as Direct TV, American Express, IBM, and Amazon.com,” said Monroe County Judge/Executive Tommy Willett.

Kentucky Teleworks finds, connects and screens employees and employers, allowing people to work outside traditional office settings for legitimate companies, using internet technology. In most cases, teleworkers work from home on a computer that is linked to their employer.

Kentucky Teleworks is administered by the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc., a non-profit workforce development agency.

While details of the case are very sketchy, Dekalb Sheriff Patrick Ray confirmed that the woman who drowned was believed to be the driver of the vehicle found in the lake and that two others who had been with her in the vehicle escaped and swam to shore.

News outlets in the area report that the woman who died is Nancy Randolph, 40, of Putnam County. Sheriff Ray told the Herald-Citizen last Tuesday morning, May 14, that his detectives have two different addresses in Putnam County for the victim, and said he is not sure which address is correct.

He said the body of the victim had been sent for an autopsy and that the two people who were with her at the time the vehicle went into the water have been questioned.

In an official statement the sheriff issued late last Monday, he said the incident was reported at 12:25 p.m. at the Johnson Chapel Boat Ramp.

“The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to the boat ramp where a car had run off into the lake,” the statement says.

“A sheriff’s deputy who was close to the area arrived on the scene within seven minutes and spoke to two adults who said that the vehicle they were in had run into the lake and the driver, a female, was still inside the automobile.

“Deputy Brian Williams and Detectives Mike Billings and Jeremy Taylor of the Sheriff’s Department went into the water and pulled the body of the woman from the submerged vehicle.

“The water was believed to be 10 to 15 feet deep. DeKalb Emergency Medical Services was on the scene and started CPR on the woman.

“She was then taken to DeKalb Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead. The other two adults were treated at the scene but refused further medical treatment.”

Sheriff Ray commended Deputy Williams and Detectives Billings and Taylor, saying, “They went into the cold water and risked their own lives to try to save her.”

Last Tuesday, Sheriff Ray declined to give further information on the case, saying that the investigation is still underway.

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Former Celina pharmacist William Lester Donaldson is going to prison for 15 months and will be on supervised probation for three years after that.

The sentence is for drug offenses he committed while working at a drug store in Celina in recent years.

Donaldson, 53, of Celina, was also fined $25,000 in the case.

He was sentenced two weeks ago by Chief U.S. District Judge William J. Haynes Jr. for possessing Hydrocodone with the intent to distribute it, according to an announcement from Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District David Rivera.

“Donaldson was a pharmacist in Celina, Tenn., and on five occasions between August 13, 2010, and October 5, 2010, in various locations in the Middle Tennessee area, he advanced and sold Hydrocodone pills to individuals without a valid prescription,” the federal prosecutor said.

“Donaldson’s conduct was captured by an in-store surveillance system, showing him removing previously prepared bottles from a drawer within the pharmacy and placing them in his pocket.”

He was indicted in April of 2011 and pleaded guilty to five counts of illegally possessing and distributing Hydrocodone on November 13, 2012.

The investigation was conducted by the Celina Police Department, the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the TBI, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.