Four LaRue County Middle School students will compete in a national science challenge on May 17 in Washington, D.C.
LaShea Elswick, Kaylin Perkins, Christian Pope and Kevin Shaw, known collectively as the “Nerdies,” were recently selected to advance to the Sally Ride Science TOYchallenge Nationals at the U.S. States Patent and Trademark Office. The event is a national toy design challenge for 5th-8th graders. Its purpose is to encourage creativity and interest in science, engineering and design. At least half the team members must be girls.
Teacher Helena Freedlund, who sponsors the gifted and talented class, learned of the competition through an email. Elswick, Perkins, Pope and Shaw teamed up as “The Nerdies,” brainstormed and submitted their proposal for “Stretch for Math and Science,” a game that challenges both body and mind. The prototype was developed on a computer.
“Stretch” uses a game mat much like “Twister.” To play, the contestants must answer a science or math question, then place their feet or hands on decals on the mat.
Hundreds of teams from across the country entered games. Submissions were judged on originality, creativity, feasibility, design process description, team participation and clarity of communication. One hundred teams advanced to nationals.
Another LaRue team, the “Science Busters, advanced to the second round of the competition. Kris Comstock, Chelsea Gray, Whitney Heath and Ryan Hornback, Marshall Metcalf and Kayla Skaggs developed a board game called “Operation Migration.”
Wednesday, The Nerdies constructed the game in the school’s library. Perkins’ father had printed the science and math decals for the mat, which was being constructed from a white vinyl shower curtain. The game could cost no more than $150 to construct, Freedlund said.
Pope and Shaw developed the questions while Elswick and Perkins worked on the game mat.
The team must also present their project to a judging panel and be prepared to answer questions.
Freedlund said the invitation came as a surprise to her and the students.
“I never expected this,” said Freedlund. “I never thought they had a chance. It was a big shock to everybody.”
Freedlund said it will cost $3,000 to take the team to D.C. She appealed to the school board for financial assistance but was turned down due to budgetary concerns. Anyone who would like to assist the team with travel expenses should contact Freedlund at the school at 358-3196 or at helena.freedlund@Larue.kyschools.us.
TOYchallenge is created and run by Sally Ride Science, in partnership with United States Patent and Trademark Office. Dr. Sally Ride, best known as America’s first woman in space, founded the company in 2001.
May 12 forum offers tips on dealing with children’s questions
If you’ve ever wondered about how to talk to your kids aboutÉwell, about you know...(about sex)Ébut just couldn’t find the right words, the parent workshop “Beyond the Birds and the Bees” may help you start the conversation.
The workshop will be held at the LaRue County Board of Education Central Office on College Street May 12. It is sponsored by the LaRue County Health Depart-ment, local family resource centers and the Kentucky Depart-ment for Public Health.
Parents will have the opportunity to learn about adolescent development and ways to help children avoid risky behaviors.
Community health educator Fran Cox said the workshop targets parents of pre-schoolers to middle schoolers.
The event is being held in conjunction with the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (May 8), organized by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, according to Cox.
The discussion will be led by sociologist Betsy Neale, Ph.D., the former executive director of the Kentucky Teen Pregnancy Coalition. She began presenting the program four years ago “to empower parents to talk with and educate their children about sexual issues.”
“I try to emphasize the importance of parents talking to their children about a wide range of issues – not just birth control or how babies are made,” said Neale.
Many parents think of “the talk” as being a one-session, one-sided lecture about the “birds and the bees.” Instead, it’s better “to think of it as an ongoing conversation,” she said.
Those ongoing talks are also ways of communicating family and religious values that schools can’t teach, she said. They could also influence a teen to delay having sex or encourage them to use protection when they do.
Parents who attend Neale’s workshops often say they are embarrassed to initiate discussions about sexual issues.
“I tell them to practice (their discussion) with a friend those things they want to say to the child,” she said. Parents will be invited to submit questions in writing at the beginning of the workshop, however, impromptu questions throughout the meeting are welcome, Neale said.
The workshop initiative comes at a time of controversy about federally funded abstinence-based programs. Although the birth rate among teen mothers has decreased during the last decade, nearly a third of teenagers become pregnant by age 20. Critics of the abstinence-based curriculum say not enough emphasis is placed on contraception.
“There has been a recent uptick in teen pregnancy, that may be a result of that,” she said. However it’s too early to determine if the change will turn into a trend.
Parents attending the workshop will receive a book that is age-appropriate for their child and recommended by Neal, said Cox. Door prizes will also be offered.
The program lasts about two hours, but it starts with a light meal and time for socializing.
The event is free, but reservations are needed by calling 358-3844.
Police chase ends in arrest
A New Haven man faces numerous charges after leading a LaRue County deputy on a car chase through Lyons Station Wednesday evening.
Deputy Russell McCoy said he was patrolling the area about 6:30 p.m. when he spotted a purple car “doing a burnout” near the railroad tracks in Lyons Station. McCoy activated his cruiser’s blue lights to signal the driver to stop. Instead, the driver, identified as Shawn P. Martin, 29, of Edlin Road, sped away, “heading toward Younger’s Creek at a high rate of speed,” almost hitting McCoy’s cruiser.
The 1995 Ford Mustang drove at speeds nearing 100 miles per hour, McCoy said. As it reached the intersection of Ky. 583 and Ky. 52, it attempted to turn onto Ky. 52.
“Because of the speed, he couldn’t make the turn and spun around three times,” said McCoy. “He faced back toward Lyons Station.”
McCoy attempted to block the road with his cruiser, but the Mustang’s driver went around it, “taking the ditch” and nearly hitting the squad car.
During the chase, the Mustang forced a van off the roadway, McCoy said. The van was driven by a woman with three small children as passengers. They were not injured.
“With that type of pursuit, it’s lucky no one was hurt,” McCoy said.
When the driver neared the intersection of Ky. 52 and U.S. 31E, the car was unable to stop and ran through the intersection, crashing into shrubs in a residential yard. The Mustang narrowly missed hitting a house, McCoy said.
Martin was apprehended, read his rights and transported to Flaget Memorial Hospital in Bardstown, said McCoy. He was treated and released about 1 a.m. McCoy then transported him to the LaRue County jail.
Martin was charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, aggravating circumstance, first; improper start from parked position; fleeing or evading a police officer in a motor vehicle, first; wanton endangerment on a police officer, first; and four counts of wanton endangerment.
McCoy said when he first signaled the car to stop, his intentions were to cite the driver with only illegal takeoff.
