GILBERTSVILLE — When Stephanie Lee heard that her husband, Jamie Lee, planned to participate in this year’s Western Kentucky Polar Plunge, she reacted the way most concerned spouses would.

“I thought, ‘You’re going to freeze to death,’” she said, laughing.

But Lee supported her husband’s goal, she said, because it was for a good cause: Kentucky’s Special Olympics athletes.

Lee was among 507 participants who braved the cold — Saturday’s high temperature failed to reach 40 degrees — to support the cause. The event raised about $90,000, according to Candace Thompson, Special Olympics Kentucky special events director.

“It was so cold that I didn’t know if I was going to get back to the ladder (on the dock) or not, honestly,” Jamie Lee said. “It happens so quick you didn’t really have time to think.”

Lee said his church raised $1,102 to benefit the Special Olympics.

Although he doesn’t consider jumping into Kentucky Lake in February the smartest idea he’s had, he hopes to organize a team for next year’s plunge.

Science Bowl brings success

Thirteen area middle school teams tested their academic prowess Friday, and Calloway County won its third competition in four years.

The annual Regional Science Bowl for middle school students was a one-day event in Crounse Hall at West Kentucky Community & Technical College. Calloway County Middle School students Chauncy Roberts, Marshall Thompson, Michael Okuda, Claire Umstead and Joza Mikulcik guided the school to its second consecutive win and third overall since the competition began four years ago.

The Department of Energy works with local businesses to host the event, then provides the winning team a trip to Washington, D.C., to compete nationally. Last year, Calloway Middle students built a purpose-specific lithium battery-powered car. The team’s plans ranked sixth nationally.

“We’re a public school from western Kentucky and we can compete against magnet and charter schools from across the country,” said Scott Pile, Calloway’s coach. “Teams from all over the country that specialize in science and math, that’s who we compete against and our kids do well against them. That’s important to show what we have. Our kids will be competing against those students for jobs one day.”

With the win, the students will soon begin drafting engineering plans and preparing for the national competition.

El Salvador draws youth group help

Students from Lone Oak and Reidland high schools have left to make a difference in the lives of youth in El Salvador.

Lone Oak High School Beta Club students have worked with Starfish Orphan Ministry for three years, helping provide food, clothing and services to Salvadorans living in orphanages and in poverty.

Laura Roberts, ministry director, said this will be the first year to incorporate students from another high school in the annual trip. Roberts said past trips exposed students to life outside their environment.

“Kids get bombarded all the time by media that they don’t have enough stuff,” Roberts said. “Then they go to a mud hut and see what life is like for others. They see what conditions are like for others.”

About 36 percent of Salvadorans live below the poverty level. The country is one of the smallest in Central America, but dense urban centers are home to many of its 6 million residents. Starfish has six trips to El Salvador planned this year.

Mardi Gras celebration brings

in money for charity

METROPOLIS, Ill. — Lourdes Foundation supporters had a little extra something to be proud of this year at the 11th annual Mardi Gras & All That Jazz charity event Tuesday as organizers announced more than $1 million has been raised to increase local health services.

Food, live music, dancing and fundraising efforts took center stage at Harrah’s Metropolis to benefit the Lourdes Foundation. Fundraisers throughout the year and Tuesday helped drive collections to a new high. Tara Miller, vice president and chef philanthropy officer at Lourdes hospital, said the money helps the hospital carry out its mission.