SurfKY.com

HOPKINS COUNTY, KY (1/15/12)—A total of ten different games were played by Hopkins County high school basketball teams this past week, and the Madisonville North-Hopkins Maroons and Lady Maroons led the pack by emerging as the only local victors.

In addition to missing out on a match-up against Christian County due to bad weather on January 12th, the Hopkins County Central Storm and Lady Storm took some unfortunate losses. In particular, the HCCHS Storm felt the heat when going up against Logan County on January 14th, posting a final score of 63 against LC’s 103.

Though Dawson Springs’ Lady Panthers held their own against Trigg County on January 10th, they were ultimately unable to surpass their hosts. In the end, the Lady Panthers came home with a 53-66 defeat.

To view a complete list of Hopkins County high school basketball scores from this past week, please see the list attached below.

Men’s High School Basketball

January 10th Dawson Springs vs. Union County (home game)—Final Score: 30-59
January 10th HCCHS vs. University Heights (home game)—Final Score: 52-67
January 10th MNHHS vs. Lyon County (away game)—Final Score: 71-52
January 12th HCCHS vs. Christian County (away game)—CANCELED
January 13th MNHHS vs. Dawson Springs (@ Madisonville)—Final Score: 80-35
January 14th HCCHS vs. Logan County (away game)—Final Score: 63-103

Women’s High School Basketball

January 10th Dawson Springs vs. Trigg County (away game)—Final Score: 53-66
January 10th HCCHS vs. University Heights (home game)—Final Score: 41-74
January 10th MNHHS vs. Lyon County (away game)—Final Score: 46-31
January 13th MNHHS vs. Dawson Springs (@ Madisonville)—Final Score: 47-26

To view more information on high school athletics, such as scheduling and past (seasonal) scores, please visit www.khsaa.org. 

Luke Short
SurfKY News

HOPKINS COUNTY, KY (1/8/12)—After traveling both in and out of state for “classic” style tournaments two weeks ago, local high school teams returned to the western Kentucky region for last week's on-court action.

Unfortunately, however, local high school women’s teams seemed to be struggling this past week—with the exception of Hopkins County Central’s Lady Storm who took victory in a close match-up with Fort Campbell (50-45). Central took the only win out of 6 games played. 

While the men’s teams didn’t fair too much better, both the Madisonville Maroons and Central Storm teams claimed wins. Out of 7 games played by area men’s teams (not including an area game played between HCCHS and Dawson Springs; 53-46), 4 were losses and two wins came by a lead of less than 10.

To view a complete listing of final scores from games played this past week, please see the list attached below.

Men’s High School Basketball

January 3rd HCCHS vs. Dawson Springs (at Central)—Final Score: 53-46
January 3rd MNHHS vs. Hopkinsville (home game)—Final Score: 68-70
January 5th HCCHS vs. McLean County (away game)—Final Score: 60-66
January 5th MNHHS vs. University Heights (home game)—Final Score: 69-62
January 6th Dawson Springs vs. Caldwell County (away game)—Final Score: 43-69
January 7th HCCHS vs. Webster County (home game)—Final Score: 57-72
January 7th MNHHS vs. Collins (home game)—Final Score: 58-53

Women’s High School Basketball

January 2nd Dawson Springs vs. McLean County (away game)—Final Score: 33-62
January 3rd HCCHS vs. Caldwell County (away game)—Final Score: 57-69
January 3rd MNHHS vs. Hopkinsville (home game)—Final Score: 35-56
January 6th Dawson Springs vs. Caldwell County (away game)—Final Score: 47-68
January 6th HCCHS vs. Fort Campbell (home game)—Final Score: 50-45
January 6th MNHHS vs. University Heights (away game) 45-58

To view more information on high school athletics, such as scheduling and past (seasonal) scores, please visit www.khsaa.org.

Luke Short
SurfKY News

HOPKINS COUNTY, KY (1/26/12)—After attending a medical research study held in Nashville, TN on December 9th, 2011, two year-old Madisonville resident Hayden Gee was diagnosed with autism.

Directly after, Hayden’s parents—Mallory Gee and Robert Corbitt—were unsure of what the diagnosis would ultimately entail. Though information provided from personnel at the study was helpful in introducing the developmental variance to the family, it wasn’t long before additional research led them to a national non-profit organization and awareness group called “Autism Speaks." In fact, Mallory Gee’s sister and Hayden’s aunt, Morgan Gee, tells SurfKY News that the organization sent the family a 100-page packet explaining many aspects of autism free of charge.

What’s more, it was the helpfulness of the organization, ideas from local families facing autism, and a drive to spread awareness locally that inspired Mallory and Morgan Gee, as well as Morgan’s mother, Misty Gifford, to organize a group of supporters and fundraisers called “Hayden’s Heroes.”

As Morgan explains of the group and awareness, “We’re raising funds that will be donated to www.AutsimSpeaks.org and we’re working to educate the community about the disorder. Most people don’t know, but approximately 1 in every 150 kids has autism, which is a lot higher than I thought it would be. Out of that, 1 in 70 boys will have it; genetics seem to play a big role in the reasoning, too.”

Regarding Hayden’s personality and traits, Morgan says that he is a fun-loving kid that approaches learning and interacting with the world in a very special way. In addition to a fondness for hugs and cuddling—which Morgan says is relatively uncommon for a young child with autism—Hayden has even taken to playing guitar. Morgan attributes this ability to Hayden’s analytical skills.

“I guess it’s fair to say that autistic children learn in a much different way. Instead of playing with a toy car, Hayden will turn it over and look at the wheels so he can figure out how it works. He figures out how everything works” says Morgan. “He plays my boyfriend’s guitar and he’s not even three years-old yet. He knows how to hold it and how to hold a pick just from watching my boyfriend play. It’s pretty neat.”

As Autism Speaks explains of these unique characteristics, “Some persons with ASD excel in visual skills, music, math and art. Autism appears to have its roots in very early brain development. However, the most obvious signs of autism and symptoms of autism tend to emerge between 2 and 3 years of age.”

In order to raise more awareness about Hayden and others facing these symptoms, the Hayden’s Heroes group is inviting the public to visit several upcoming registration days in order to participate in a special “Heel Toe” walking/fundraiser.

Those that sign up to participate in the walk will also receive a free Hayden’s Heroes t-shirt and might get a chance to meet Hayden in person.

A list of registration days, all of which will take place at Madisonville’s Parkway Plaza Mall, are as follows:

February 3rd: 4:00 pm-7:00 pm
February 8th: 4:00 pm-7:00 pm
February 18th: 10:00 am-2:00 pm
February 24th: 4:00 pm-7:00 pm
March 5th: 4:00 pm-7:00 pm
March 10th: 10:00 am-2:00 pm
March 20th: 4:00 pm-7:00 pm
March 24th: 10:00 am-2:00 pm

The “Heel Toe” event will take place later this year on Saturday, April 7th, 2012 at South Hopkins Middle School.

So if you’d like to show your support for such a brave young man and the Autism Speaks organization, or if you would simply like to learn more about autism, please visit one of the registration dates listed above.

If you would like more information on the event, please contact Misty Gifford (270-836-8708), Morgan Gee (270-584-5583), or Mallory Gee (270-875-7773). You may also visit Hayden’s Heroes via Facebook by clicking here.

Luke Short
SurfKY News
Some info provided by Autism Speaks 

KENTUCKY (1/24/12)—The Kentucky State Police (KSP) are requesting the public’s assistance in locating a Hanson, KY resident who has been missing for nearly 15 years.