NICHOLSON — A 16-year-old boy died and his father received serious injuries after the 1992 Suzuki Swift they were traveling in struck a utility pole and a home Saturday at 11:15 p.m. The accident occurred in the 600 block of Ky. 16, three miles west of Nicholson.

        Matthew Huntsman, 16, and driver Robert Huntsman, 44, both of Independence, were airlifted to University Hospital in Cincinnati. Matthew was pronounced dead at the hospital about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. Mr. Huntsman is in fair condition.

        Kenton County police are investigating the accident.
       

Police looking for bank robber

               FORT MITCHELL — First National Bank at 350 Buttermilk Pike was robbed shortly after noon Monday by a man who showed a note saying he had a gun.

        According to Fort Mitchell police, the robber made off with an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene in a gray 1990s, medium-size four-door car.

        Either a white male or light-skinned black male, the 6-foot-tall robber was in his early 20s with brown hair and a thin build. The robber was described to police as well-dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, tie, sunglasses and a nylon cap.
       

Edgewood plans house decoration contest

               EDGEWOOD — Edgewood is sponsoring its annual home decorating contest for exterior decorations Friday through Sunday.

        There will be one winner from each of the following areas: Winding Trails, Prestwicke, Brookwood, Dudley Village, Charter Oak, Whispering Woods, Pius Heights, Meadowlark and Old Edgewood.

        A red ribbon will be placed on the mailbox of each finalist. Winners will be announced Monday.

        The recreation department also has added a luminaria night to the annual home decorating contest. Luminaria night will be 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, with a rain date of Dec. 23.

        Luminaria kits can be purchased at the city building.

        Information: (859) 331-5910.
       

City Council cancels meeting for holidays

               FORT WRIGHT — City Council has canceled its regular meeting on Dec. 26 because of the holiday season.

        The next regular council meeting will be 6 p.m. Jan. 9.
       

Sign up now for volleyball leagues

               BURLINGTON — The Boone County Parks Department has openings in its women's and co-ed volleyball league.

        Cost is $255 per team, and the deadline is Friday. Games are played at Goodridge Elementary School in Hebron and Stephens Elementary School in Burlington.

        Information: (859) 334-2117.
       

Kids to take part in soccer skills clinic

               FLORENCE — A soccer skills clinic for children ages 6-7 will be from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 21 at Florence Christian Church, 300 Main St.

        Cost is $10 per child. The registration deadline is Friday. Information: (859) 647-5000.
       

Louisville man gets shot on "Jeopardy!'

               LOUISVILLE — Scott Schneider will fulfill a childhood dream today when he gets on an airplane and flies halfway across the country.

        Mr. Schneider, coach of Fairdale High School's quick-recall team, will be a contestant on the television game show Jeopardy!

        The show is being taped Wednesday in Los Angeles.

        Mr. Schneider was one of 150 people who participated in a regional contestant search last summer in Atlanta, and one of only nine who answered 35 or more questions correctly out of 50.
       

Judd to wed Wednesday

               INVERNESS, Scotland — Celebrities began arriving in Scotland on Monday for the wedding of Kentucky native Ashley Judd and Scottish racing driver Dario Franchitti.

        Local registrar Lesley Connor has confirmed the wedding is planned for Wednesday, but the location has not been announced.

        News reports said the couple will marry at Skibo Castle in Dornoch, the lavish site where Madonna and movie director Guy Ritchie married a year ago.

        News reports said guests include Michael Douglas and his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones; actresses Sandra Bullock and Gwyneth Paltrow; racing drivers David Coulthard and Colin MacRae; and Robert Trump, brother of New York tycoon Donald Trump, and his wife, Blaine.

        Ms. Judd and Mr. Franchitti originally posted their banns, or notice of intent to marry, at the town of Bonar Bridge on Jan. 31, but moved the date forward and changed the location to Dornoch.
       

2 counties declared disaster after storms

               FRANKFORT — The U.S. Small Business Administration has declared Calloway and Graves counties disaster areas in the wake of the damage caused by tornadoes and heavy rains last month.

        SBA Disaster Area Director Michael C. Allen said the underinsured or uninsured who suffered damages from the storms are now able to apply for low-interest disaster assistance loans.

        The SBA offers loans of up to $200,000 to repair disaster-damaged homes. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to replace personal property.

        The deadline for physical damage applications is Feb. 5, 2002, and the deadline for injury applications is Sept. 6, 2002.
       

Fayette County's future mapped out

               LEXINGTON — The Fayette County Planning Commission is scheduled to approve a comprehensive blueprint for the community on Thursday, including an elaborate map detailing where and how growth should happen.

        “The plan sets an ideal target of the facilities we'd like to have 20 years from now,” said Bob Joice, manager of long-range planning.

        Community groups successfully lobbied to block development across from Blue Grass Airport and along Richmond Road at Delong Road. Former Lexington Mayor Scotty Baesler tried unsuccessfully to garner approval for more development off Athens-Boonesboro Road. Those decisions were included in the land-use portion of the comprehensive plan approved last spring.

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