- approveu cue uppe yv),,,,kssa, graduate of Ceri.tre':•Co ,orI ve years. s ! Locals interviewed for book on John Sherman Cooper

By ANNE SCHOLTZ HEIM During the summer of 1992, Staff Writer Merritt "put out feeler? to see if a book had indeed been done and Lexington Herald-Leader if not, how it would be received. story editor and former reporter At that time, he hooked up Harry W. Merritt is in the midst with the University Press of Ken- ai the hardest assignment of his tucky, which had expressed an life: a book on the late John Sher- interest in the project. Merritt man Cooper, elected by Kentuck- contacted a literary agent, but ians to the Senate there was no interest. The Uni- five times. versify Press was not able to give Merritt, 41, is at the tail end of Merritt an advance payment for a 1 5-month leave of absence, the book, he said. Its not ever without pay, from the paper to going to be a big moneymaker? write a book on the life of the Instead, Merritt has relied on longtime senator from Somerset — his wife, Susan Zator, to support and several East End residents, the couple during his quest for are playing a part in it. information for the book during At the age of 10, Merritt his leave from his job. recalled, he had "an intense He has tried to get grant immersion in politics' and money for the project, and has became fascinated with it, espe- received a total of $9,550 in cially liberal Republicans. Cooper • grants and speaking fees since was a liberal Republican whom July 1993. Mary Bingham, after slat/ photo by STEVE RUSH Merritt described as unique as a.:qalking with Merritt, wrote him a senator, especially from Ken- $5,000 check from the Bingham Lucky. foundation. When Merritt came to Ken- "I got more out of that $5,000," he J-town Gaslight Festival tucky in 1980 as a reporter for he said, including several trips to d and ended near the J-town the then-Lexington Leader, he Washington, a trip to Kansas, figured someone was already one week in Boston and part of ept. 11-18. doing a Cooper book. • See page A- 2

to— ur Tale of two teams Lir of wicked Both teams played games last tricia O'Brien's weekend, but U of L and UK iunch; played two different sports. [elf, page B-3 See Earl Cox on Sports, page B-1

a..VUL aay illegai aaavit,y, siren as project now, tower 101.a ne owl's ri..airt.:; 1:ts1...:::..1 utoer SUUCLIVI,SiCalS q.re iii:_-:,3 burning on the site, "we'll jerk But Fox Harbor neighbors of continuing his sole project, and welcome to use what the city has, D:..-spite opposition from neigh- the permit immediately? Wayne Aho and Bill Scott said that could have resulted in more Simms said. . 5:ors weary of construction noise, Attorney John Carroll pleaded they had their doubts that Stone construction and noise. Palk proposed planting trees prospect council members ex- with the council to understand could finish in six months. But council members, looking in land in the Don Calley Open iDnded building permits for Fox how drainage and other problems Aho, who said he's heard visibly reluctant, gave Stone the Space and renaming the tract Tiarbor homeowner Jim Stone had thwarted Stone's efforts to °nothing but the noise from earth extension. 'Mayors' Grove? . another six months. move ahead on his dream house movers for years,' told the coun- They hedged, however, on a Members approved funding for ..• But Mayor Lonnie Falk. who on the 14-acre site. cil, 'they build airports faster request from Hunting Creek rep- four trees to honor deceased may- *,idid he had heard plenty of coin- The mostly finished home than this? resentatives to fund the subdivi- ors at a cost of about $2,000. In aints about the more than five- needs roof and gutter work, and Scott said he was "disturbed to sion's holiday decorating project the future, additional trees will ar-old project at 61 00 Deep there is still sodding and stone hear them threaten that the Council member Anne Simms be planted in a semicircle. eek Drive, told Stone there moving to be done, he said. A noise could go on even longer' if told Kathy Brooks and a group of Plaques at their base will bear ivould be no more renewals. swimming pool needs to be Stone and Baxter Builders 14 other women that the city the mayor's name and length of r.,. "If the job's not done then, it's fenced, and a cabana is only couldn't get the permits extend- didn't have enough money bud- service to the city. bur tough luck," Falk said at the under roof, Stone said. ed. geted to finance decorations, but In other action, the council: sty's regular council meeting Carroll argued, "If the work Pat Proctor, Baxter Builders' that they were welcome to what- •Gave final approval to two wept.r.„. 19. can be finished, it's not fair to principal, had argued that Stone. ever wreaths and lights the city ordinances. One allows residents Locals are interviewed for book on late Sen. Cooper ,... trom page A-1 ing a Washington socialite, Lor- his first wife's sister. He has spo- East Germany, India and Nepal. don't know when n be done with hi s computer and printer. raine Rowan Shevlin. He had no ken with Louisville history teach- Cooper, Merritt said, was a it. ... There is a future in this ; To save money, he also house- children but spent about 25 years er Ken Dennis, noted member of the Senate during its thing. I'm not discouraged, and I 4t for several weeks in Washing- paying off his father's debts after historian Dr. Thomas Clark, greatest era, according to many don't intend to give up? bn, skipped meals, and he walks his death. "People in all walks of Judge Ron Meredith, chief feder- historians. Cooper was in the His goal with the book now is po the UK library, about a mile life go on about how great he al judge of the Western District of middle of "all kinds of things that to get it done, and have the end porn his home, to do research. "I was," which makes Merritt's job Kentucky, along with fellow changed America," such as the result be "a book that captures a Can be pretty damn cheap when I more difficult, he said. "Such a Cooper author Schulman. civil rights movement and the very rare human being and an have to he," he said. variety of people have praised In addition, Merritt has corre- . even rarer politician," one that 4., "This book needs to be done," thisA man? 1960 Newsweek poll of 50 sponded with a German princess, "It's very, very hard work. It is has reader appeal and stands up Ierritt said. This book should senators and other government also a marvelous adventure." to scrutiny from historians. ave been done long ago." Washington news correspondents officials, including Treasury Sec- After devoting 15 months, full- To pass along information to Itouis,.-illian Bob Schulman sever- named Cooper the ablest man in retary Lloyd Bentsen, Washing- time, to the book, Merritt is not Merritt for the book, call him at i.a.l years ago penned a small book the Senate, according to The Ken- ton Post chairman Katherine finished. Nor is he even close. "I (606) 268-2165. Pt-Cooper, an overview, Merritt tacky Encyclopedia_ Graham and more. President raid. called "The Global Kentuck- If Cooper had been a hated or and Jacqueline a-an." controversial figure, a book would Kennedy Onassis were on his i.r.". . have already been done, and it "wish list" of sources. irP.- "John Sherman Cooper was a would be easier to find sources ssighly unusual politician," he and other facts. In addition to interviews and ,said. Cooper led a unique life and In this odyssey, Merritt has correspondence, Merritt has had :Iefied the norms of what was talked to about 45 people, includ- to research the issues of Cooper's :expected of him, Merritt, said. For ing Cooper's best friend from time. Cooper's 20 years in the .!stance, Cooper married late World War II, Cooper's brother, Senate produced a lot of work. So was divorced before marry- the sister of an old girlfriend and did his posts as ambassador to ..,,,,..-. a .. a Matthews recycles garbage issue F., :iiy ANNE SCHOLTZ NEIM their contents will be mixed with material from those that don't is Ataff Writer the regular garbage if the bags picked up when the bags are sep- . burst or come open. arated and then it all is taken to r~ The St. Matthews City Council It is unlikely that much, if a compost facility in Oldham