Controlled Burns at Mammoth Cave Possible over Next Few Days

Don't be alarmed if you see smoke hovering around parts of Mammoth Cave National Park over the next few days... weather conditions are favorable for some prescribed burns to take place.  They do this periodically to control invasive plants and allow for native vegetation to return, which often means enhancing the wildlife habitat.  It's also a great way to get rid of deadfall and reduce the risk of it igniting a larger fire later on.  The fires will NOT affect any cave tours; however, some parts of the park will be closed, including the Green River Ferry on portions of Wednesday and Friday.  If you're planning on taking the Duncan Hines Scenic Byway through the Park, you may not be able to cross the river, so call ahead to 270-758-2166 to check!  If you have breathing conditions, you may want to stay indoors if in the area.  Read more about the fires and other news from Mammoth Cave by following the link in the title or going here- http://www.nps.gov/maca/parknews/newsreleases.htm.

Area Auto Buffs Put Purpose Behind Cruising

Local group raising money for Juvenile Diabetes Research

A local group of car enthusiasts began working last fall towards a big goal of raising $100,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. After grassroots efforts such as yard sales, car washes, and roadblocks, the group known as Cruisin’ for a Cure is nearly halfway there, and a new partnership with the BiG Cruise of Bowling Green should accelerate their efforts.

Now in its third year, the BiG Cruise is a series of free summer cruise-ins for antique, custom, muscle, and modified cars. In addition to enjoying the live music, games, vendors and camaraderie, attendees can purchase raffle tickets for the season finale’s custom truck and trailer giveaway. In support of Cruisin’ for a Cure, this year BiG Cruise organizers will donate all proceeds from the raffle ticket sales to JDRF.

“We’ve given our raffle proceeds to St. Jude Children’s Hospital the past two years,” said BiG Cruise event coordinator Janet Henderson, “but when we heard about the efforts of Cruisin’ for a Cure and saw plans for the totally restored 1952 Chevy Pickup to be raffled off, we immediately knew this was a perfect fit. So, on September 25 at the final BiG Cruise, some lucky ticket holder will win a beautiful, custom-built truck or $20,000, either prize completely donated by our wonderful sponsors” Henderson continued.

“Inspired by three precious little girls who face the daily struggles of life with diabetes, we decided to host a fundraiser to help find a cure,” explains LaTasha Hatcher, one of the organizers of Cruisin’ for a Cure. “We were overwhelmed with support and ideas from our families, friends, and this great community once we had the plans in place, especially with the truck and trailer being donated to us. With the help of our sponsors, the Big Cruise, and our volunteers, we are confident that we will hit our goal and help the children that are fighting this disease,” Hatcher said.

The $5 raffle tickets will be available at all five BiG Cruises beginning May 8 at the National Corvette Museum, at each Holley Hot Rod Car Show and Parade taking place before eleven Bowling Green Hot Rods’ games, and several other locations throughout the summer including the Bowling Green Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.  Henderson also will sell tickets as she participates in the seven-day, seven-city Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour that stops in Bowling Green on Tuesday, June 8 and at next month’s Grand Rod Run in Pigeon Forge.

Attendees at each of these events can keep up with the fundraising progress by watching a replica Shell gas pump provided by Houchens Industries as it fills up closer to the goal. Organizers will unveil the truck and kick-off the 2010 event season with a press conference at the Bowling Green Ballpark on Thursday, April 8 at 4:30 p.m. Representatives from Cruisin’ for a Cure, BiG Cruise, JDRF, and Holley Performance Products will attend along with the many truck sponsors.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the largest worldwide organization dedicated to finding a cure for diabetes and gives more resources to diabetes research than any non-profit, non-governmental organization in the world. Since 1970, JDRF has provided more that $900 million to diabetes research. To learn more, visit http://www.jdrf.org/.

To see the full BiG Cruise schedule and learn more about this family-friendly event, visit http://www.bigcruisebg.com/.

Bowling Green declared the official Home of Newgrass Music

We just heard from our friends at the Daily News that a state bill submitted by Rep. Jim DeCesare that officially declares Bowling Green as the birthplace of Newgrass music has passed!  Sam Bush, one of the founding members of 70's band New Grass Revival and the father of Newgrass, is from Bowling Green and the band used to practice just up the road in Temple Hill.  In 2009, the first International Newgrass Festival was held here at Ballance Farms just north of town and the response was extremely positive.  Year Two of the three-day music festival is in the works for August 20-22, 2010 with The John Cowan Band headlining Friday night and Sam Bush Band on Saturday night. So now we are ready to be known as the home of the Corvette, Duncan Hines, Sam Bush and Newgrass Music!

For more details on the Newgrass Festival, go to http://www.newgrassfestival.com/.  Definitely get your tickets now if you have the slightest interest in this progressive genre of music... Year One was incredible!

81-Year-Old Dragster Named Grand Marshal of Hot Rod Reunion

Now, I've heard of a lot of seniors continuing to do the things they love, defying the odds both physically and mentally. Take Bowling Green native Duncan Hines, for example. He didn't begin endorsing products, the thing that continues to make him a household name today, until he was 70. But check this out... the Grand Marshal of this year's 8th Annual Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion is 81 years old and still races his 7,000-horsepower Top Fuel Dragster! Read all about Chris "The Greek" Karamesines here on the NHRA Motorsports Museum's website.


The NHRA Reunion returns to the historic stands at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green this Father's Day Weekend, June 18-20. Purchase your three-day spectator credentials including a pit pass for just $55 by calling 1-800-884-NHRA (6472) or on the NHRA Museum's website here. Individual day passes will be available at the event. It should be a perfect weekend for the kids to test the waters of the huge Splash Lagoon waterpark expansion next door while dad is wandering among thousands of hot rods!