Education week marked in state

        FRANKFORT — Kentucky joins the nation celebrating the 79th American Education Week, Nov. 12-18. The theme this year is “Children-Schools-Parents: Helping Students Achieve.”

        Kentucky Board of Education officials also suggest the week as a good time to thank teachers and school administrators, and also encourage residents to visit schools.
       

Special tribute for Villa Hills veteran

        VILLA HILLS — The Villa Hills Golf League and the Villa Hills Historical Society will honor the late Jeff Fedders, an Army veteran, in a tribute at 11 a.m. today.

        A 20-foot flag pole will be erected and a marker will be placed at the intersection of Niewahner Drive and Valley Trails Drive in memory of the longtime resident.

        The Fedders family also will raise the military flag that covered Mr. Fedders' casket.

        Jeff Fedders grew up on Collins Road in what would later become Villa Hills. He worked at Fedders Market, the family business in Crescent Springs. He also was a member of the Crescent Springs Volunteer Fire Department, Kenton County Lions Club, Moonlight Hunting and Fishing Club and the Villa Hills Golf League.

        On July 10, Mr. Fedders died in a farm accident.

        Villa Hills Golf League President Mike Martin has spearheaded the effort to organize the tribute to Mr. Fedders.
       

Used, new books for sale at library

        COVINGTON — A used-book sale continues today at the Mary Ann Mongan Library at 502 Scott Blvd.

        From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Friends of the Kenton County Public Library will have a row of tables set up in the main lobby. New and used books will be sold.

        The nonprofit group supports the library through fund raising and programming.

        Sales are most crowded during the first 1 1/2 hours, and during lunchtime.

        All proceeds will benefit the library.
       

Duveneck Center open house Sunday

        COVINGTON — Backers of the Duveneck Center will hold an open house from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

        The event will be at the center, which includes the former home of painter Frank Duveneck at 1226 Greenup St., and the former Klingenberg's Hardware Store next door at 1230 Greenup St.

        Supporters want to make the community aware of the new arts center and encourage participation in it.

        Attendees can contribute ideas on how they would like to see the Duveneck Center serve the community.

        People also will be opportunities to join committees responsible for the development, programming and support of the community arts center.

        The open house will feature performances by percussionist Steve Hayes and the My Nose Turns Red Theatre Company's Community Circus.

        Hands-on art activities will include mural making with visual artist Pete Jaquish. Historical information about Duveneck also will be displayed, and refreshments will be served.

        Forward Quest secured funding for the purchase of Duve neck's former home and the hardware store, as part of a plan to develop the Cathedral Cultural District.
       

Suspect named in mailbox thefts

        LOUISVILLE — Police in Jefferson County and Oldham County were searching for a terminally ill, homeless man who they say is responsible for a rash of thefts from home mailboxes.

        A federal warrant has been issued for Perry Mussdorph, 35, who lives in his car in the Louisville area, said Douglas K. Ostwalt, chief local postal inspector.

        Mr. Mussdorph, 35, a parolee who drives a silver 2000 Ford Taurus, is suspected of reprising a similar string of thefts he committed about two years ago, Mr. Ostwalt said.

        Thefts have occurred over the last two weeks in Goshen, Jeffersontown and other rural or suburban areas, Mr. Ostwalt said.

        Mr. Mussdorph lives in his car and is in touch with his parents only by pager, Mr. Ostwalt said.

        At postal inspectors' urging, the man's parents paged him and had him call authorities in an attempt to get him to surrender last week. He called, but refused to turn himself in.

        Authorities identified the suspect because of the similarities in the thefts that led to an earlier arrest.

        Mr. Ostwalt said the man breaks into rural-style mailboxes with raised flags and takes checks meant to pay bills, then alters them and cashes them at a bank.

        He has taken several dozen pieces of outgoing mail and cashed an undetermined number of checks, Mr. Ostwalt said.

        Mr. Ostwalt declined to discuss details of Mr. Mussdorph's ailment other than to say it was terminal.
       

Police dogs get bulletproof vests

        LOUISVILLE — A dog lover has purchased seven bulletproof vests, at $485 each, for the canines in the Jefferson County police force.

        Henry “Marty” Martone, 61, of Lyndon, presented the vests to the Jefferson County Police Department's K-9 Unit at police headquarters on Thursday.

        Ten dogs are assigned to the unit and are used for tracking, searching buildings, and locating explosives and drugs.

        “This is something I wanted to do as a dog owner. If it were my dog I would want it protected,” said Mr. Martone, who has a Jack Russell terrier named Dallas.

        Police dogs Dax and Cajun sported the vests, which cover their bodies and stay put with Velcro closures.

        The vests are similar to those worn by officers and are able to stop most rounds, Mr. Martone said.

        Mr. Martone, who is retired from Ford Motor Co., is a volunteer with the police department and went through its citizens police academy in April 1999.

        While volunteering he spent time with the K-9 Unit and discovered that the dogs are sometimes sent into dangerous situations alone, said Chief William Carcara.

        Mr. Martone did some research on outfitting the dogs with protective vests and purchased the gear through an organization called Vest-A-Dog in Oceanside, Calif.

        The vests will protect the department's investment in the dogs, which is at least $5,000 for each canine, Chief Carcara said.

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Kentucky News Briefs