Hoops clinic planned at Gray Middle

UNION - Gray Middle School in Union will host its ninth annual basketball clinic from 6 to 9 p.m. July 28-Aug. 1.

The clinic, open to boys and girls entering sixth through eighth grades in 2003, will teach the fundamentals of basketball.

Instructed by school staff, area coaches and varsity basketball players, the five-day clinic costs $45 and pre-registration is required.

Call Craig Steiner before July 18 at (859) 525-0010 or Gray Middle School at (859) 384-5333 for details.

St. Benedict festival to be July 18-19

COVINGTON - The St. Benedict Church Summer Festival and Homecoming will be 5 to 11:30 p.m. July 18-19.

Fish and chicken dinners will be served beginning at 5 p.m., and booths, games and raffles will begin at 6 p.m.

The festival will be held at the St. Benedict School grounds, 338 East 16th St., Covington.

For information, call the church office at (859) 431-5607.

Fletcher picks pair to raise N.Ky. funds

LEXINGTON - Two of Northern Kentucky's leading businessmen will oversee fund-raising in the region for Republican gubernatorial candidate Ernie Fletcher.

Fletcher has named Northern Kentucky finance co-chairs Ralph Drees, chairman of the board of the Drees Co., Greater Cincinnati's largest homebuilder, and Bill Butler, chairman and chief executive of Corporex Cos., a large Covington-based developer.

In a statement released Tuesday, Fletcher said the two "understand the kind of forward-thinking, business-friendly leadership we need to provide jobs and opportunity for this great Commonwealth."

Fletcher, a congressman from Lexington, is running against Democratic Attorney General Ben Chandler in November.