FORT MITCHELL — The Sales & Marketing Council of the Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky will present a program about 21 high schools in Boone, Campbell, Kenton, Gallatin and Grant counties on Sept. 24.

        The program will be 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Commonwealth Hilton Hotel in Florence. The cost, including lunch and handouts, is $40.

        Representatives from high schools will take part in roundtable discussions throughout the day, and provide information about gifted programs, special education, school expansions, sports and extracurricular activities.

        People involved in employee recruitment, home sales, corporate relocation and others interested in Northern Kentucky high schools are invited to attend.

        Information: Janis Beard, (859) 331-9500.

Meeting canceled

        FORT WRIGHT — The city of Fort Wright has canceled its regular council meeting of Sept. 11 in observance of last year's terrorist attacks.

        The next regular council meeting will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 25 at the city building, 409 Kyles Lane.

Taste of Edgewood

        EDGEWOOD — The 10th annual Taste of Edgewood will be from noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 28-29 at Presidents Park .

        The event will feature samples from local restaurants, arts and crafts, amusement rides, open houses and free entertainment.

        Scheduled events include pony rides at 3 p.m. Sept. 29, the Hills of Kentucky Cloggers from 1 to 2 p.m. Sept. 28, palm readings from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 28, Top Flight Gymnastics demonstrations at 3 and 3:30 p.m. Sept. 28, a hayride from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, a petting zoo at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 29, a Fire Department open house from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, a “Meet the Mayor” open house at the city building from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday and a Police Department open house and child IDs from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Man shot, killed

        OWENTON, Ky. - Police are investigating the death of an Owenton man who was shot during the holiday weekend.

        William E. “Bill” Fuoss, 47, was found shot in the chest Sunday after his wife, Deborah, called 911 shortly after 5 p.m. from the couple's home on Ky. 330, state police said.

        Bill Fuoss was pronounced dead an hour later after being taken to New Horizon Medical Center in Owenton, police said.

        An autopsy was to be performed in Frankfort.

College fire snuffed

        WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. - Firefighters quickly extinguished a small fire in the basement of Cumberland College's intramural gymnasium early Monday morning.

        The 1:15 a.m. fire was likely caused by an electrical malfunction, a statement from President Jim Taylor said.

        Williamsburg firefighters put out the fire within five minutes of arriving at the scene, the statement said.

        No one was injured, and damage was estimated at $50,000. Class interruption was minimal, the statement said.

        Fire marshals investigated Tuesday, and the building was reopened at 1:45 p.m.

ATV wreck kills man

        LOUISVILLE - A 34-year-old Louisville man died Sunday evening at University Hospital of injuries from an all-terrain-vehicle accident in Leitchfield on Saturday.

        James Thomas Bloyd was riding an ATV on a Grayson County road when he lost control of it and hit a tree, Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Rick Siclari said. Mr. Bloyd, who was not wearing a helmet, died of head injuries, Mr. Siclari said.

        A passenger riding with Mr. Bloyd was not harmed.

        At least 22 people have been killed in ATV-related mishaps in Kentucky this year, according to police and hospital reports.

Stumbo plans visit

        COVINGTON — House Majority Leader Greg Stumbo will be featured speaker at the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Government Forum on Sept. 13.

        Mr. Stumbo is a 23-year veteran of the Kentucky General Assembly and is one of its most powerful members. He is serving his 11th term.

        The luncheon will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Metropolitan Club, 50 W. RiverCenter Blvd. The cost is $30 for chamber members and $40 for others.

        Reservations can be made by calling the chamber at (859) 578-6395.

Journalists to speak

        LOUISVILLE - Two nationally known journalists will visit Louisville as part of a forum that invites authors to discuss their latest works.

        Strobe Talbott, a former deputy secretary of state under President Clinton, will talk about his new book, The Russia Hand, on Sept. 25 at the Kentucky Center for the Arts.

        The Kentucky Author Forum has attracted such personalities as Ted Koppel, Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Glenn.

        Mr. Talbott, also a former top editor at Time magazine, will be interviewed by Pulitzer prize-winning reporter David Halberstam.

        Mr. Talbott's book looks into President Clinton's diplomacy with Russian presidents Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin during the 1990s.

        Mr. Talbott met Mr. Clinton while they were Rhodes Scholars studying in Oxford, England.

Airport opens spaces

        LOUISVILLE - Several hundred parking spaces at Louisville International Airport, which have been off-limits since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, have been reopened.

        The 640 spaces - on the second, third and fourth levels of the parking garage - were blocked off a year ago because of the Federal Aviation Administration's concerns about potential terrorist attacks.

        The spaces created a buffer between the terminal and cars parked in the 4,300-space garage.

        But a study has determined that, because of the way the airport is built, vehicles can park in spaces that are within 300 feet of the terminal.

        Lowell Pratte, the airport's deputy general manager, said he couldn't discuss the details of the study for security reasons.

        But he said the reopening of the spaces will be especially good for disabled customers, who had lost several spaces.

Wrecks kill six

        FRANKFORT - Six people died in six separate crashes on Kentucky's roads during the Labor Day weekend, according to state police.

        Twelve people died in 11 crashes during the same period last year, which began at 6 p.m. Friday and ended at 11:59 p.m. Monday.

        Of the six fatal crashes this year, preliminary data shows that alcohol was a factor in three, state police said Tuesday.

        The crashes occurred in Casey, Clark, Knox, Lincoln, Trimble and Whitley counties. One involved a motorcycle.

        State police arrested more than 200 people on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol during the holiday weekend.

Park Hills picnic

        PARK HILLS — The Park Hills Civic Association is sponsoring a citywide picnic at 2 p.m. Sept. 14 in Trolley Park at Amsterdam Road and Park Drive.

        There will be a cookout, face painting, pony rides, crafts and more. Residents are asked to bring a side dish to be judged for prizes. The Fire Department also will be honored for 75 years of service.

Kentuckian reclaims rib title

        SPARKS, Nev. - They came from 13 states and as far away as Australia to test their blends of spicy sauce against a field of serious rib cookers.

        In the end, Texas Outlaw Bar-B-Que of Elizabethtown, Ky., reigned supreme and reclaimed top honors at the annual “Best in the West” rib cook-off at John Ascuaga's Nugget.

        “When we won two years ago, I said I didn't care if I ever won again, because the competition is so stiff,” owner Jim Clayton said Monday after the crowning moment. “But this feels great.”

        Besides a trophy, Clayton took home a $7,500 check for first place.

        His saucy ribs beat out last-year's winner, Aussom Aussie's, which took second place.

— From staff and wire reports        

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