Kentucky News Now – January 20th 2014

PARTIALLY COLLAPSED FLOOR

Floor of Lexington apartment partially collapses

(Information in the following story is from: WKYT-TV, http://www.wkyt.com)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Fire officials say the floor of a Lexington apartment partially collapsed under the weight of people who were having a party.

According to WKYT-TV, about 80 to 100 people were packed inside the apartment on the fourth floor of The Lex early Sunday.

Fire crews say the weight of the students caused the floor to buckle and partially collapse. No one was injured.

Officials say individuals living in the apartment where the party was held and the people staying in the apartment below it are being moved to a hotel for two weeks while repairs are made.

One apartment has been condemned.

PENNYRILE PARKWAY

State awards contract for Pennyrile reconstruction

(Information in the following story is from: The Gleaner, http://www.thegleaner.com/)

HENDERSON, Ky. (AP) — The state has awarded a $29 million contract to reconstruct the Pennyrile Parkway interchange with the Western Kentucky Parkway/Interstate 69 near Madisonville.

According to The Gleaner, the project will convert the existing reduced-speed cloverleaf interchange to a "full flow" connection interchange.

Officials say it's one of the biggest construction projects related to upgrade portions of three state parkways — the Pennyrile, Western Kentucky and Purchase parkways — to interstate standards so they can be re-designated as I-69 from Henderson to Fulton on the Tennessee state line.

STEAM TRAIN EXCURSION

Steam train excursion planned in Appalachia

(Information in the following story is from: Appalachian News-Express, http://www.news-expressky.com)

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Officials in Appalachia are gearing up for what they are describing as a one-of-a-kind steam train excursion.

The Appalachian News-Express reports that officials from Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia met in Pike County, Ky., last week to discuss details for the 2014 Tri-State Rail Excursion that is planned for April 12-13.

Officials say the steam train journey will begin in Grundy, Va., and pass through Pike County and Devon, W. Va.

Pike County director of Energy and Community Development Charles Carlton said the train will pass land associated with the Hatfield-McCoy feud and passengers will have an opportunity to see coal mining activities.

Officials hope it is a major tourist attraction for all three states. Tickets are being sold on the website of the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum.

TEAM MASCOTS

Go behind the mask of mascots

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The secret life of mascots is like being a superhero: You get to perform mighty deeds and no one sees who's behind the mask.

And for the students who don the costumes of Western Kentucky University's "Big Red," the University of Kentucky's "Wildcat" or "Scratch," or the University of Louisville's Cardinal Bird "Louie" and cavort with the crowds at games and events, it's flat-out fun.

Take Shane Milburn, one of seven WKU students who portray the Hilltoppers' nationally known and androgynous mascot, Big Red.

Sure there are perks: traveling with the team, attending sporting events for free, and at least a partial scholarship. But that's not what drives the 22-year-old senior.

Milburn said just about whatever he thinks is "cool" he can do when he puts on that suit.