Kaden Jay Prine was the first baby of the year born at the Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County (MHLC) in Darlington. Kaden came into the world at 2:39 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, 2014 to meet his parents Cassie and Blake Prine of Darlington, as well as his new older brother Porter who is two years old.
    Kaden weighed in at 8 pounds and 11 ounces and was 20 ½ inches long. Proud grandparents of the new baby are Danny and Beth Prine of Darlington and Tim and Laurie Taylor of Darlington.
    Kaden was delivered by Dr. Ann Lucas in a quick birth as Cassie said she went into labor about 10 minutes before 2:00 that morning and Kaden was born a little after 2:30 a.m.
    Kaden’s middle name was chosen by his parents in remembrance of Blake’s brother, Jay, who passed away a few months ago.
    Cassie is actually an RN at MHLC, so hospital staff were especially excited that the first baby of the year was born to one of their own.
    As the first baby to arrive in 2014 Kaden and his family will receive several cash awards, gift certificates and services from area businesses as part of the first baby contest including:
    A 12-inch pizza from Annies’ Bar & Grill (Darlington), a pedicure and hair cut from Hair and Nail Connection (Darlington), $25 cash from Murph’s Furniture and Decorating (Darlington), 1 quart of shampoo from Sally’s Barber Shop (Darlington), a one-hour massage from Renui Salon & Spa and Heavenly Hands Massage Therapy (Darlington), $25 towards a new savings account at any Clare Bank (Shullsburg), a large pizza of their choice from New Horizons Supply Cooperative (Darlington), a first well baby checkup from Family Health (Shullsburg/Argyle), a $25 deposit to start an 18 candles account from Shullsburg Community Bank-a branch of Benton State Bank (Shullsburg), a $25 gift certificate to Roelli Cheese from the Lafayette County Dairy Promotion (Darlington) and a $25 gift certificate from Bridges Restaurant, Lounge & Banquet Center (Darlington).
    The second baby born in 2014 will received $20 in cash and the third baby of 2014 will receive $10 in cash from the Republican Journal.
    Contest rules state that birth records from MHLC will determine the first, second and third baby arrivals of 2014.