No Title 540

Co-op scholarship Winners

Kentucky Women in Rural Electrification (WIRE) has chosen three winners to receive $750 college scholarships for 2002-2003. They are: Melissa Mae Thompson of the Taylor County Rural Electric Cooperative service area, based in Campbellsville; Cynthia Akers from the Big Sandy Rural Electric Cooperative service area, based in Paintsville; and Teresa Warber from the Jackson Energy Cooperative service area, based in McKee.

ABCs of fall leaf color

Autumn leaf colors don’t exactly appear in the fall. It’s more accurate to say the green chlorophyll disappears, says the International Society of Arboriculture.

The Champaign, Illinois-based nonprofit organization that supports tree-care research says that in the fall trees reduce their production of chlorophyll, revealing yellow or orange carotenoid, the same pigment that gives carrots their color. The pink, red, and purple leaves seen on maples, sassafras, sumacs, white and scarlet oaks, and many other woody plants are formed by reactions between various sugars and other compounds.

The Society says that fertile soil enhances the reds in leaves; the more light a leaf is exposed to, the more likely it is to turn red; weather conditions most favorable to brilliant color are warm, sunny days followed by cool nights; rainy or cloudy days near peak coloration time will dampen the intensity of fall color; and freezing temperatures and heavy frost can kill the brilliance of fall color by severely injuring leaves before pigments are fully developed.

You can call the Society at (217) 355-9411 or visit their Web site at www.treesaregood.org. The Web site includes a section on how to avoid conflicts between trees and power lines.

Perryville re-enacted

The 2002 National Reenactment will be held at the Perryville battlefield October 4-6. Spectators and re-enactors from across the country will be part of the event commemorating the 140th anniversary of the turning-point Civil War battle. Events that weekend include crafts, encampments, living histories, a parade, Civil War music, street dances, candlelight tours, period demonstrations, a cavalry saber competition, and several re-enactments. Admission is $10 a day or $15 for a 2-day pass; $5 for children 6-12 years old; children 5 years old and younger are free. For schedules and other information phone (859) 332-1862, or through the Internet visit www.perryville.net.