Kentucky Republicans,

Administrator's Note:
Today we all have cause to celebrate now that George W. Bush was sworn in as the 43rd President of the United States. Remember, that without all of the hardwork of each and every Kentucky Republican that would not have been possible. God Bless You All.

Also, I have decided to add a new feature to the Kentucky Republican Updates, below the submitted announcements will now post Kentucky and National Legislative updates on legislation pending in our Commonwealth and the Nation.

Please keep sending me information on your upcoming events.
Today's announcements are below.

Bryan "B.J." Mills

Announcements:
 River City Republican Association Meeting
 Email U.S. Senate to Confirm on Johh Ashcroft

Legislative Updates:
L State Senator Robinson submits "Contempt for Dead" Bill
(Frankfort)


River City Republican Association Meeting
From: Jeff Klusmeier ATLS2000@aol.com

The next River City Republican Association meeting will be held:

Wednesday, January 31, 2001
7:00 p.m (Eastern)
Jefferson County Urban County Government Center
Conference Rm. 1 (Next to the Board of Elections)
810 Barret Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky

We will be taking nominations for all officer positions, elections will be held in February. If you plan on running for an office in the
RCRA, and you cannot make the meeting, I must receive your
nomination in writing before January 31. All dues must be paid
before voting in February, dues are $10 a year.

Jeffrey Klusmeier
1014 Goss Ave
Louisville, KY 40217
635-1696
ATLS2000@aol.com
_________________________________________________

 Email U.S. Senate to Confirm on Johh Ashcroft
From: Montie Shelton DShe712325@earthlink.net

Dear Kentucky Republicans,

Please visit the following link and urge everyone on you know to
write in support of Senator Ashcroft. You can contact the entire
U.S. Senate at once on this link:

http://www.ustruth.com/communicate/writesenate.htm

Thanks,
Montie Shelton,
Adair County Republican Party Co-Chairwoman
DShe712325@earthlink.net



LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
_________________________________________________

Bill would crack down on thefts from graves
Robinson bill makes it a felony to show `contempt for the dead'

By Ty Tagami
SOUTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY BUREAU

A south-central Kentucky legislator says the theft of flowers and
trinkets from graves is a serious enough problem to merit a
crackdown. Sen. Albert Robinson, R-London, filed a bill this month that would make such thefts felonies for first-time offenders.

Currently, the crime is a misdemeanor on the first offense and a
felony thereafter. Robinson said he's been surprised by the
number of people who have approached him about the issue in the last month.

`They said they cannot keep flowers on the grave. They've got to
put something very inexpensive or it won't stay,'' Robinson said.
``It's just contempt for the dead, and people need to pay the
consequences.''

Interest in the topic stemmed from a much-publicized incident last month. A London woman was arrested Dec. 22 and charged with theft after police said she was caught stealing from a grave site in the Lily community, just south of London.

At the time, Kentucky State Police spokesman Craig Sutton said
Wanda Hawk, 56, had been videotaped by a hidden camera
stealing flowers from the grave of a young man killed in a car
crash. However, court records show she actually was charged with stealing three ceramic figurines an angel and two white Christmas trees.

Her unprecedented capture was the work of the outraged mother whose son lay in the grave. Shannon Anderson was 21 when he died in a car wreck in June 1999. His mother, Darlene Roark, said yesterday she spent about $500 keeping plastic flowers and ceramic figurines at his grave. She'd place them by the grave and they'd disappear. She went through a half-dozen bunches of flowers at $17.95 apiece and four ceramic angels that cost $40 each.

``It really took a toll on me,'' Roark said. ``I had to put a stop to it
one way or another.'' Roark paid a security expert $3,100 to
install a hidden camera in the cemetery, Cumberland Memorial
Gardens on U.S. 25. The camera captured a woman stealing the
figurines on Dec. 16, police said. Roark took the video to police,
who published still photographs in a London newspaper, Sutton
said. Readers identified the woman.

Hawk was charged with theft by unlawful taking, a misdemeanor,
and is scheduled to go to trial March 21. Neither she nor her
attorney, Doug Benge of London, could be reached yesterday for comment.

The security expert hired by Roark, Kevin Amburgey, asked
Robinson to sponsor the bill. Robinson said he has invited
Amburgey, who's also a constable in Laurel County, and Roark to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee when it meets early next month.

The bill calls for stiffening the penalty from a class A misdemeanor to a class D felony for first-time offenders who intentionally damage cemeteries or steal ornaments or flowers. Class D felonies are punishable by up to five years in prison.

It also would increase the penalty from a class D felony to a class C felony for robbers who dig into graves looking for remains or buried objects to sell. Class C felonies are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

``Who would oppose it?'' Robinson asked. ``Anybody it would
bother, I don't think they'd want to admit it. ... How could anyone
say, `You need to be easy on a grave robber?'''

Whether or not the bill passes, Roark's son may well rest in peace. Roark said no one has stolen anything from his grave since she bought the security camera. She said she has a display on the grave plastic flowers and a ceramic angel that cost $150.

``That's how I help myself by going down there and fixing him nice, because I can't go down there and fix something cheap,'' Roark said. ``I will always fix them pretty.''

Kentucky Republicans,

Political Quote of the Day
"Be Citizens, not Spectators."
- President George W. Bush

ANNOUNCEMENTS
I. Shelby County GOP Meeting & Lincoln Day Dinner
II. Hardin County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner
III. 2001 1st District Republican Party Calender of Events

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
I. Senator Bunning's Son may fill Federal Judgeship


ANNOUNCEMENTS
_________________________________________________

I. Shelby County GOP Meeting & Lincoln Day Dinner
From: Doug Hardin toddhardin@msn.com

The Shelby County Republican Party will hold a regular meeting on:

Thursday, January 25, 2001
7:00 p.m. (Eastern)
Shelbyville Water Company
Washington Street
Shelbyville, Kentucky All Republicans are invited.

The Shelby County Republican Party will have a Lincoln Day
Celebration on:

Friday, February 2, 2001
6:30 p.m. (Eastern)
Stratton Center
Shelbyville, Kentucky

The guest speaker will be former Governor Louie Nunn. Hor d' Oeuvres and dessert will be served. A $5 contribution is requested. All are invited.

Doug Hardin
Secretary
Shelby County Republican Party
toddhardin@msn.com
_________________________________________________

II. Hardin County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner
From: Walter McVicker wsmcv@earthlink.net

Hardin County Executive Committee will hold their
Annual Lincoln Day Dinner on:

Saturday, March 17th, 2001
5:30 p.m. (Eastern)
Elizabethtown High School
Panther Lane off Rt. 62
Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Scheduled speakers are Senator Jim Bunning, Congressman Ron Lewis, and State Senator Elizabeth Tori. Several others are still pending verification.

Doors will open at 5:30 PM-Dinner catered by Texas Outlaw
Barbeque will begin at 6:30 PM sharp.
$20.00 per person.

Walter McVicker
wsmcv@earthlink.net
_________________________________________________

III. 2001 1st District Republican Party Calender of Events
From: Bob Prince bprince@apex.net

There are several events scheduled, and being scheduled, for the upcoming year. As we learn of additional events, we will update this calendar. Please share your events with me for inclusion.

Feb. 10
Logan and Todd Counties Joint Lincoln Day Dinner
6:00 p.m. (Central)
Community House
Elkton, Kentcuky
Contact: Naomi Borders Ardchoillwood@aol.com

Feb. 17
Crittenden County Chili Supper
6:00 p.m. (Central)
Crittenden Co. High School
Multi-Purpose Room

Feb 24
Jackson Purchase Lincoln Day Dinner
Music 6:15 p.m. (Central)
Dinner 7:00 p.m. (Central)
Murray State Campus
Curris Center
Featured Speaker: Rebecca Jackson
Tickets $15
Contact: Jackie Oliver jlo@apex.net

1st Dist Lincoln Day Dinners
To be held in Tompkinsville and Madisonville
Details should be finalized in the next few days.

The details for the State Lincoln Day Dinner are nearing finalization. Look for an exciting announcement soon!

June 16
Seminar/Workshop "GOP Organization: Bottom to Top"
9:00 a.m. (Central)
Lake Barkley State Resort Park

June 16
Kentucky Republican Legislative Trust Golf Tournament
Lake Barkley State Resort Park
Details to be announced

Oct 27
Seminar for 1st Dist Republican candidates, and potential
candidates, running for office in the year 2002
Kentukcy Dam Village State Resort Park
Village Green Meeting Room
Further details to be announced

Bob Prince
bprince@apex.net



LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
_________________________________________________

I. Senator Bunning's Son may fill Federal Judgeship

Bunning says his son is qualified for judgeship
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON

Sen. Jim Bunning won't say whether he'll recommend his son for a federal judgeship in Kentucky, but does say he thinks David L.
Bunning will seek out that job.

The incoming Bush administration finds itself in the unusual
position of being able to fill three federal judicial vacancies in
the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Two of the coveted lifetime seats opened recently after judges
announced retirement plans, and the third seat, a new judgeship,
was slipped into a House appropriations bill.

David L. Bunning, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern
District and the son of the state's junior senator, is seen as a likely candidate.

Jim Bunning, R-Ky., said yesterday that was sheer speculation
because no candidates have received the backing yet of the state's U.S. senators. President Bush is expected to consult with
Bunning and Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Republican who is
Kentucky's senior senator, before making the appointment. The
Senate then must confirm the appointment.

``We have not sent one recommendation to the transition team as yet,'' Bunning said. ``... The fact of the matter is it only counts
when Senator McConnell and I make a recommendation.''

Bunning refused to offer hints on whether he would recommend his son. ``I'm not getting into that yet,'' he said. But Bunning said his son was ``absolutely'' qualified for the job.

He said many contenders for federal posts in Kentucky had already sent applications to Washington, though he said his son had not yet done so. Asked if he thought his son would do that, Bunning said, ``I would suspect that he would.''