Lisa Autry

Grand Jury Will Hear Case of Warren County Volleyball Coach Accused of Sex with Minor

Lisa Autry — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:42:21 +0000

The case against a Bowling Green volleyball coach accused of having sex with an underage girl is headed to a grand jury.

Twenty-eight-year-old Brian Gifford was in Warren District Court Friday and waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

A Kentucky State Police investigation found that Gifford had sex on multiple occasions with a 15-year-old player that he met while coaching for the Barren River Area Volleyball Organization. Warren County Commonwealth's Attorney Chris Cohron says the investigation is ongoing.

"Our main concern is to make sure that any children affected by this individual come forward, and if anybody does have information we would ask them to contact Kentucky State Police or the Commonwealth's Attorneys Office," urges Cohron.

Gifford remains in the Warren County Regional Jail. His attorney Alan Simpson declined to comment Friday.

Twelve Make Up First Class of Warren County Schools Hall of Distinguished Alumni

Lisa Autry — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:05:26 +0000

Twelve professionals make up the inaugural class of the Warren County Public Schools Hall of Distinguished Alumni. It's a diverse group whose backgrounds range from the military and medicine to business and sports.

School System Attorney Bart Darrell helped create the Hall, and he says it's as much for current students as it is for alumni.

"We certainly want our students here now to see the bar that has been set for them and realize there were some really great folks who came before them, and they need to try to live up to those standards," says Darrell.

Inductees will be honored in a ceremony Saturday evening at the Sloan Convention Center in Bowling Green. They include Amy Milliken, Jonathon Holland, Dr. Kenneth Bastin, Dr. Sharron Francis, Dr. Jenks Britt, Dr. James Lafferty, Dr. Jackie Lawrence, Daymeon Fishback, David Clark, Clemette Haskins, Charles Hardcastle, and Billy Ray Smith.

Finalists Selected for Warren County Schools Superintendent

Lisa Autry — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:09:57 +0000

The Warren County Board of Education has named three finalists for superintendent. A screening committee narrowed the applicant pool from 14 to these three:

- Allen Barber, Director of Human Resources/Secondary Education for Jackson County District Nine in Eagle Point, Oregon.

- Rob Clayton, Principal of South Oldham Middle School in Crestwood, Kentucky.

- Dr. Franzy Fleck, Superintendent of Burbank School District 111 in Burbank, Illinois.

Centre Student's Road to Graduation Began in Pakistan

Lisa Autry — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:33:23 +0000

Ibrahim Jadoon will graduate with honors this weekend from Centre College in Danville. His family left Pakistan and moved to the U.S. when he was three. When Osama bin Laden was captured two years ago just blocks from Jadoon's former home, he did a lot of reflecting.

"It was disappointing because, if people don't know, Pakistan is a relatively new nation," explained Jadoon. "I realize it was the Pakastani government's poor border security, it's inability to remove extremist militant groups like the Taliban, and it's general dysfunction that enabled bin Laden to stay hidden for so long."

Jadoon often thinks about how his life would have been different had his family stayed in Pakistan.

"The United States, for all of its faults we sometime talk about in the news, unequivocally houses the best institutes of higher education in the world," said Jadoon. "I feel lucky just to be in the U.S., but in about four days when I graduate, I will join the surprisingly seven percent of the world that actually has a college degree."

The Pakistani-American spoke to Lisa Autry about how his life may have turned out had his family had not left Pakistan, and what he thinks are the prospects for a democracy in his home country.

Darius Rucker to Headline SKyPac Music Festival

Lisa Autry — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:56:19 +0000

The Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center is bringing musician Darius Rucker to Bowling Green this summer. The pop-turned-country artist will headline The Sounds of Independence Music Festival on July 27th. SKyPAC Executive Director Tom Tomlinson believes Rucker will be a big regional draw.

"I think without a doubt he's one of the biggest names to appear here in a number of years," says Tomlinson. "He's at least one of the biggest names we've brought here since the opening night with Vince Gill."

The downtown music festival will be a fundraiser for SKYyPAC. Tickets go on sale Friday to the general public. The festival will be held outside the SKYyPAC facility and will feature a number of artists, including Justin Rivers from this season of "The Voice."