Arts festival will have 25 participants

        FORT THOMAS — More than 25 artists will take part in the third annual Fort Thomas Fine Arts Festival on June 24 at the mess hall in Tower Park.

        The event, sponsored by the Risch Gallery and the city of Fort Thomas, will be from noon to 5 p.m. Admission at the door is $2 for adults; children under 12 will be admitted free.

        Paintings, pottery, photography, ceramics, handmade jewelry and sculpture will be available for viewing and to purchase. There also will be live music and a disc jockey.

        For information, contact the Risch Gallery at (859) 441-3838 or e-mail rischgallery@hotmail.com.
       

City leaders fined for closed sessions

        LEXINGTON — A judge has ordered Lexington city officials to pay more than $11,000 for flouting the state Open Records Act.

        Chief Circuit Judge Mary Noble cited the city's obstinate failure to comply with the law regarding a request by Philip Overstreet, a computer programmer in the city's division of engineering, who sought records of payments the city had issued to lawyer Robert Roark for legal work.

        Twice before, Judge Noble said, she had sanctioned the city for refusing to give Mr. Overstreet the records, but still it balked, withholding almost 2,000 pages of the 2,400 he wanted. The city was fined $2,800 for those violations.

        This time, Judge Noble ordered the city to pay the maximum state law allows: $4,745 in fines. She also told the city to pay $6,430.62 in legal fees.
       

Runner's cause: helping homeless

        HENDERSON — Shin splints and busy highways won't stop an electrician from Frankfort in raising awareness of homelessness.

        Rick Mathers left his job and the comfort of his home for a month to run for the homeless as a part of the “Running for Shelter 2001” campaign. Mr. Math ers started his 531-mile trek on May 7 at the state Capitol. He runs about 18 miles a day along state parkways.

        So far, Mr. Mathers has been to Louisville, Elizabethtown, Bowling Green, Hopkinsville and Henderson.
       

Offensive talk brings reprimand

        FRANKFORT — The director of the state Division of Forestry, on administrative leave since March, has been reprimanded for racial and sexual remarks to employees.

        Mark Matuszewski has gone on accrued vacation and will retire in August without ever returning to work, Natural Resources Cabinet spokesman Mark York said Wednesday.

        According to the reprimand, signed by Natural Resources Commissioner Hugh Archer, Mr. Matuszewski made “offensive and inappropriate” remarks to a black employee on March 13.

        Also, the reprimand said Mr. Matuszewski suggested to a female forestry employee that she should wear a low-cut blouse to a meeting with Russian visitors because, “You know how those Russians are, you know they like women with big American breasts.”
       

Beach is closed at Butler resort

        FRANKFORT — The beach at General Butler State Resort Park's lake has been closed, according to the Department of Parks.

        The decision was made because of a shortage of lifeguards, Parks Commissioner Kenny Rapier said Wednesday. Finding certified lifeguards has been increasingly difficult in recent years, he said.
       

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