South Laurel High School soldier Pfc. Dustin P. Napier remembered

CORBIN, Ky. - A soldier from south-central Kentucky who was killed in Afghanistan is being remembered as well-liked, well-respected and a good role model.

Army officials say 20-year-old Pfc. Dustin P. Napier of London died Sunday due to injuries from enemy small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, based in Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Students and teachers at South Laurel High School, where Napier graduated in 2010, were especially saddened when they received word of Napier's death,
The Times-Tribune reported (http://bit.ly/zmd3lQ ).

Napier died Sunday in the city of Qalat, in Zabul province, according to the Defense Department statement and a report from Army Alaska. Napier was playing volleyball at a camp when a man dressed in an Afghan Army uniform opened fire, according to the newspaper Stars and Stripes, which is not affiliated with the military.

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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Stryker soldier killed in Afghanistan remembered at former high school

South Laurel High School 8th annual Madrigal dinner Tickets Now On Sale

The South Laurel High School Choral Department, under the direction of Mark Felts, in conjunction with the brass quintet, led by Mark Sizemore, are excitedly planning the 8th annual Madrigal dinner that will certainly prove to be as entertaining as the dinners of the past.  

“The Madrigal dinner is a highlight of the choral program,” Felts said.  “One of my favorite aspects of the production is the matinee performances that we do for Laurel County Elementary students.  They really enjoy it.”  

The show aligns perfectly with the new state arts and humanities and practical living program reviews.  These guidelines require that student have access to curriculum in all four areas of the arts and humanities.  The madrigal dinner covers all: drama, music, dance and visual arts.

Guests can expect a delicious seven-course-catered dinner as performers sing Christmas carols true to the time period SLHS students are recreating and a transformation of the school cafeteria into a medieval castle.

“We try to mimic the Renaissance period, but we want our guests to genuinely feel they have been to a feast,” stated Darlene Bowling, the madrigal coordinator.  For the meal, guests can expect the traditional wassail toast, followed by the serving of the English round bread and soup.  The main entree is chicken, and side dishes include dressing, red garlic smashed potatoes, green beans, salad, and the dessert is a decadent cheese cake.

“Guests attending the show are so surprised to learn that everything eaten at the dinner was prepared here on site,” said Bowling, by the district level food service staff, headed by Tammy Hammock and Brenda Rush, along with South Laurel High School’s cafeteria manager, Vanda Goforth.  

 “The dinner is truly delicious, and everything is served piping hot, as you would expect in the finest restaurant in London,” she said.

Other favorites of the show include the Madrigal dancers, the comedic jesters, and the reading of the traditional Christmas story, read by South Laurel High School’s Principal David Cummins.  He and his wife, Jessica, also a teacher in the Laurel County school district, dress in Renaissance costume and play the parts of the Lord and Lady of the manor.  Other faculty members instrumental in the madrigal production include Joann Durham, Mary King, and Donna Gail House.  The Madrigal dinner involves nearly 75 student participants, including:  Jordan Allen, Justin Belcher, Caleb Blair, Nicholas Boland, Tara Campbell, Alana Christian, Mary Beth Collett, Shelbie Cooper, Christopher Day, Patrick Derose, Joseph Fiefhaus, Courtney Fultz, Larissa Gilreath, Kelli Greene, Brittany Hacker, Jacob Hale, Joshua Howard, Andrew Hudson, Taylor Hunt, Andrew Irvin, Hannah Johnson, Kendra Karr, Cody Kilburn, Christopher Laurber, Emily Ledington, Adrienne Liford, Tyler Maiden, Joseph Mcdaniel, Samantha Morris, Randy Mullins, Kaitlyn Murphy, Robert Dalton Murray, Rebecca Neely, Trevor North, Austin Phelps, Justin Phelps, Johnathan Powell, Jonathon Reams, Lauren Reams, Claire Robb, Amy Shoemaker, Tanner Sibert, Macayla Sizemore, Amber Tyree, Haylie Vaughn, Daugh White, Courtney Whitlatch, Paulina Young, Nicholas Baxter, Rodney Ledford, Joseph Fiefhaus, Tre White, Trevor North, Dalton Murray, Haylie Burns, Chris Angel, Megan Taylor, Jennifer Blume, Chris Lauber, Hailee Taylor,, Amanda McCracken,  Emily Adams, Alex Cryer, Tasia Frye,  Brittany Sampson, Kristie North, Lyndsey Browning, Tyla Morgan, Aislinn Skiles, Libby Hoskins, Casey Messer, Kevin Egner,  Leteshia Carter,  Logan Belt, Kristen Caldwell, Tori Powell, Courtney Benfield, Sarah Rush, Abbi Rush, Whitney Jackson, Katie Kilburn, Brittany Asher, Alex Williams, Chasity Owens,  Sarah Petit, Ali  Huff,  and Kelsey Sutherland.

The dates of the public performances are December 8 at 7 p.m., and December 10 at 6 p.m.

All tickets must be reserved and purchased before the night of the performance.  Tickets are $30 each.

Call 862-4727 and make your ticket reservations.  There are also great ticket incentives for those business and family members who want to purchase an ad in the program.  

For more information, please see the school’s website at www.laurel.kyschools.us.