Kala Dunn

On this day in 1993, Janet Reno became the first woman to serve as Attorney General and would eventually become the second longest serving Attorney General after William Wirt (in 1829). In 2009, the American Judicature Society awarded her their highest honor for "her commitment to improving our systems of justice."

It’s Monday, March 11

The McCracken County Public Library hosts “Gross to Great! Picking Produce for Your Family’s Health and Wallet.”  The free class is tonight at 6.  Registered dietitian Laura Duff teaches participants how to tackle unfamiliar tastes, boost their families’ health, and lower grocery bills.  For more information, call 270-442-1166.

Philips and Sony were in dead heat debuting the compact disc, but Philips edged out the competition by a week and made the first public demonstration on this day in 1979. The demo showed that it was possible to use optical recording and playback to reproduce audio in stereo quality.

It’s Friday, March 8

Neighborhood Watch Training is offered tomorrow evening at 5 at Kelly Baptist Church in Hopkinsville.  Everyone in Christian County is invited to attend.  Neighborhood Watch is a network of neighbors trained in home and self protection, suspect identification, and how to serve effectively as eyes and ears for law enforcement agencies.  For more information, call 885-1530.

Alexander Graham Bell raced to the patent office in 1876, beating out Elisha Gray for a patent, which he was granted on this day that covered "the method of, an apparatus for, transmitting vocal or other sounds telegraphically..." What better reason to make your pledge today to WKMS  by calling 800-599-4737! We appreciate your support!

It’s Thursday, March 7

There’s an opening reception tonight for the Paducah School of Art National Photography Invitational. The exhibit features works by leading artists employing a contemporary approach to the art of photography.  The reception is at the WKCTC Clemens Fine Arts Center Gallery from 5 until 7.

We lost Ed McMahon in 2009, but his legacy is best remembered as Johnny Carson's sidekick and announcer on The Tonight Show and as the host of Star Search. Conan O'Brien said Carson and McMahon created "the most iconic two-shot in broadcasting history. There will never be anything like that again."

It’s Wednesday, March 6

The Paducah Renaissance Alliance is now accepting applications from farmers who are interested in being vendors for the 2013 Downtown Farmers Market.  The market kicks off on April 25 and is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9 to 3 and on Thursdays from 2 to 6.  Apply at paducahalliance.org; click on events.

He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for film and the other for television. Sir Rex Harrison won his first Tony as Henry VIII in 1949, and his second for Prof. Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady in 1957, which he reprised for the film in 1964. He was married six times, and died in 1990 at the age of 82.

It’s Tuesday, March 5

Alvin Wong, a new music cellist and Yale University doctoral candidate, gives a concert tomorrow night at 7:30 in the Performing Arts Hall at Murray State University.  The concert features a work by MSU composition professor Dr. Brian Ciach.  Admission is free. 

When Columbus landed in Portugal on this day in 1493, word of finding new lands spread quickly. He was received a hero in Spain, and displayed captive natives, gold, the previously unknown tobacco plant, pineapple, turkeys, and hammocks. He called the coast of China "a miracle," not yet realizing exactly what he had found.

It’s Monday, March 4

The Murray Human Rights Commission invites all residents of Murray and Calloway County to participate in a Town Hall Meeting to be held next Monday night at 7 at Murray Middle School. The public forum addresses bullying in our community.

Happy National Pig Day! This national celebration was started in 1972 by two sisters, Ellen Stanley and Mary Lynne Rave. The holiday is to "accord the pig its rightful, though generally unrecognized, place as one of man's most intellectual and domesticated animals." Have a pig party!

It’s Friday, March 1

Dr. Meeyoun Park, pianist and visiting assistant professor at Murray State University, presents her debut solo recital Sunday evening at 6 in the Performing Arts Hall, located on the second floor of the Old Fine Arts Building on the MSU campus.  The free concert features works by Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Mussorgsky. 

...and declare "we had found the secret of life." The truth wasn't far off for these molecular biologists, who determined the double-helix structure of DNA on this day in 1953. They had solved a mystery of science - how it was possible for genetics to be passed through generations. Someone buy these gents a drink!

It’s Thursday, February 28

Cinema International presents “Coriolanus” tonight through Saturday night at 7:30 in Murray State University’s Curris Center Theater.  The film version of Shakespeare’s tragedy features a Roman general whose resentment over a failed bid for political office leads him to treason.  Shows are free and open to the public.

Today we remember the life and legacy of sax legend Dexter Gordon. He was one of the earliest jazz tenors to to adapt bebop to the instrument. Gordon's career spans over 40 years including an Academy Award nomination for Best Leading Role in Round Midnight, and a Grammy for the soundtrack.

It’s Wednesday, February 27

Maiden Alley Cinema in Paducah presents a live concert titled “3-Way Tie For First” Friday night at 6.  Featured performers include JD Wilkes and the Dirt Daubers, the Solid Rock’it Boosters, and the Wheelhouse Rousters.  KET films the concert.  A limited number of $5 tickets available at the door.

On this day in 1946, the first reports were filed of missile-shaped objects seen falling over Sweden. Some say it was a meteor shower, others suggest long-range rocket testing by the Russians. The Swedish Army directed newspapers to censor their reporting, but to this day their own investigators remain uncertain.

It’s Tuesday, February 26

Paducah native Samuel Hawkins presents “Spoken Word” tomorrow morning at 11 at the West Kentucky Community and Technical College Clemens Fine Arts Student Center.  The free presentation features Hawkins’s urban-style poetry.  Find more information at westkentucky.kctcs.edu.