Austin Darnold, 6, of Madison, jumps out from the spinning tunnel in a fun house at the Shawe and Pope John Summertime Festival on Friday. The festival continues today with live music, a spaghetti dinner, barbeque pork, rides, games, poker tables, a beer garden and more. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Alex Shaw, 6, center, sits with Reds teammates Jaden Frye, 6, left, and Sebastian Biallas, 6, while they wait to take the field. Even at a young age, Shaw's passion for the game is evident. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Alex Shaw, 6, waits for his turn at bat during a T-ball game at the Lide White Memorial Boys & Girls Club, Brok Hensler Memorial Field. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Alex Shaw, 6, swings at the ball during a T-ball game at the Lide White Memorial Boys & Girls Club, Brok Hensler Memorial Field. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
The lead or "hare" balloon takes off at sunrise on Saturday as pilots and heir guests competed in the 2009 Ribberfest hare and hounds hot air balloon race. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Kimberly Whiteman, of San Diego, Calif., walks inside of her team's balloon and unfolds it as it is inflated for the 2009 Ribberfest hare and hounds hot air balloon race on Saturday. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
From new buds to extravagant blooms, a cornucopia of dahlias can be seen in a series of stages of growth in Kirk's garden. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Soldiers and civilians applaud as three helicopters from the 38th Aviation Brigade, 38th Infantry Division fly over the dedication ceremony of the Patriot Academy at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center on Wednesday. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Carrying a guidon topped with a fake skull and barbed wire, Pvt. Mario Guillen, 18, of Dallas, Tx., leads his citizen soldier classmates as the first class of the Patriot Academy leaves the school's dedication ceremony on Wednesday at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center.The Patirot Academy is a pilot program with a mission to allow high school dropouts join the National Guard in their state, and earn their diploma at the academy in between their Basic and Advanced Individual training.
In addition to their high school classes, the students receive training to equip them in their roles as soldiers once they move on to the guard unit.
The students receive full-time military pay for their rank and benefits while attending the academy and live in dorms on-site.
The entrance requirements include having 10 or less credit hours remaining for graduation; ages 17-20; and they must have been out of school for at least six months.
There are currently 48 students in the academy, 18 of them are from Indiana. The National Guard Bureau predicts a maximum of 500 students in the program by 2011. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Sharon James takes kindergartner Austin Bilbrey by the hand and escorts him into class. Opening the doors and welcoming the students, James began Tuesday morning as the new principal of the brand new Milton Elementary School. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Seventh graders Olivia Griffin, left, and Phoenix Whisman high-five after Olivia found out that she was placed in the advanced math class on the first day of school at Carroll County Middle School. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Steven Snell, of Madison, clips Seyval Blanc grapes from a vine at the Madison Vineyards Estate Winery this morning. Steve Palmer, co-owner of Madison Vineyards said that the vineyard was inundated with at least 100 calls for their help wanted advertisement this year, more than in year's past.Along with Snell, about 20 other people were working to beat the forecasted rain.
Palmer said it typically takes four to five weeks to pick all of the grapes. The vineyard has about 12 varieties of grapes that they grow. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
About 20 workers clip Seyval blanc grapes from vines at the Madison Vineyards Estate Winery Thursday morning. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Bridge inspector Jeff Sams, left, and Josh Rogers, project manager for Ohio River bridge inspections with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, discuss one of the 14 areas to be inspected on the Madison-Milton Bridge. Their task on Monday was to check all of the recent repairs to gusset plates and other structural elements on the bridge.Their inspection, if all is deemed satisfactory, marks the completion of the repair process. If their inspection yields unsatisfactory results, contractors will be called back in to make changes. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Blues fans listen to the local band Stompbox at Bicentennial Park during the 2009 Ribberfest on Saturday. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Billy Applegate, of the Madison Street Department, uses a saw to cut away a section of sidewalk in front of 712 West Third Street on Friday as the work continues at replacing old walkways this season. Two separate agendas are being met by the crews. One crew is repairing areas that were damaged by up-rooted trees in last September's wind storm. The other crew is tending to the long waiting list of neighborhood sidewalks that have needed replacement for several years.(Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Delaine Duquette, 9, is caught by her brother Dominique, 7, as she comes out of a slide at Crystal Beach Swimming Pool on Friday. The siblings, both of Madison, were at the pool as part of a field rip from the Lide White Memorial Boys and Girls Club.The pool was scheduled to have free admission on the following Tuesday, with free hot dogs and soft drinks at 5 p.m. followed by the City council meeting at 5:30 p.m.; all as part of the annual a crime-prevention event, National Night Out. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Bob Wilson, of Scottsburg, warms up away from the crowd before taking to the stage in the fiddling contest at the Neavill’s Grove Old Settlers Meeting on Friday night. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Charles Pryor plays a trumpet solo with his band Big James & The Chicago Playboys at the 2009 Ribberfest on Friday. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
Blandon Toombs, of Carrollton, Ky., tends to the chicken, beef and other items on the grill for his "Best Rack Around" grill team in the Madison Courier's Backyard BBQ Blast, part of the 2009 Ribberfest. (Staff photo by Ken Ritchie/The Madison Courier)
