10:11am

Wed August 24, 2011
Sports

Bell Co. Ends Football Tradition

Credit Jonathan Palmer / Lexington Herald-Leader
Former Bell County Coach Dudley Hilton led the team in prayer following the Bobcats' Class 4A championship game against Bullitt East in Louisville in December 2008.

Bell County school officials have ended the tradition of having a minister lead prayer over the public-address system before high school football games because of a complaint from a Wisconsin-based group that promotes the separation of church and state. Friday's home game against Lexington Catholic was the first in decades that didn't include a prayer before the game, said Bell County Superintendent George Thompson.