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Joyful Noise: Identity

photo of woman looking at the mirror
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

By Pastor Naomi Mitchell

For Carter County Times

If any person is born again through faith in Jesus Christ, they have become a new creation, a heavenly species, a forgiven child of God. When God looks on the redeemed, He filters them through the precious blood of Jesus and all He sees is His Son.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

Your identity is not something to be lost or trampled on. It is unique, special, and individualized to you and you alone! Know who you are and that you were created to be a success. You are here to make a difference in this world. Choose the things that will be beneficial in bringing you to your ultimate destination. You are a gift from God.

Speak these proclamations over your life, by faith, choosing to agree with God:

Today, I choose to agree with God! Jesus takes great delight in me. He sings, rejoices and dances over me.

Today, I choose to agree with God! I have the mind of Christ, and I am thinking more and more like Him.

Today, I choose to agree with God! This day I will be everything God created me to be. I will be awesome, amazing, spectacular, delightful, happy, and free.

Today, I choose to agree with God! I have a relationship with Truth Himself, and I am forever becoming more and more free.

Today, I choose to agree with God! I have been made free in Christ. I am no longer a slave to sin. I am walking in my new identity as a child of the Most High God.

Today, I choose to agree with God! I have been forgiven and set free. God’s mercy covers me every morning. This is a new day, and I have new mercies today in my life.

Today, I choose to agree with God! I have power, love, and a sound mind. I have erased fear from my life. I walk in truth always. I know who I am in God. Amen! So be it! (Excerpt from Re-Script Your Life Dr. Clarice Fluitt)

JOYFUL House of Prayer, 2519 Quicksand Road, (P.O. Box 856), Jackson, Kentucky 41339. Send Comments/Prayer Requests: Pastornaomi4god@gmail.com. FB: JoyfulHoprayer. Services: 10am Sunday and Joyful Kids Class at 10:30am, 6:30pm Thursdays. Radio Broadcast: WJSN 97.3 FM & WEKG 81.0 AM Sundays 1-2pm.

Guest Editorial: Why Troy’s Law Matters to Kentucky’s Working Class

a car on a tow truck
Photo by Jonathan Reynaga on Pexels.com

By Bubba Johnson

Bubba’s Towing

Some days in Frankfort carry more weight than others. Not because of ceremony or politics, but because of what’s at stake for the people of Kentucky.

One of those days came recently when Representative Richard White and Representative Patrick Flannery, joined by dedicated co-sponsors, filed House Bill 282, known as Troy’s Law. The filing marked an important step forward, not just for the towing industry, but for every working family in the Commonwealth who depends on safe roads and responsible leadership.

Frankfort is the foundation of Kentucky’s lawmaking. It is where real-life struggles are meant to be heard and turned into real-world solutions. When lawmakers gather here, they are entrusted with more than votes and bills. They carry the responsibility of representing the people who keep this state moving—the blue-collar men and women who clock in early, clock out late, and hope nothing goes wrong before they make it home.

That includes the towing industry.

Tow operators are often invisible until the worst moment of someone’s day. When a car breaks down on the shoulder. When an accident shuts down a lane. When a family is stranded, scared, cold, and unsure of what to do next. That’s when we show up.

We are the ones who stand just feet from moving traffic so others can get home safely. We work in the dark. In the rain. In the snow. On highways where one distracted driver can end a life in seconds. Every call we respond to is someone else’s emergency. Every shift we work carries risk. Every time we step out of our trucks, our families pray we come back.

Troy’s Law exists because that risk has grown too high to ignore.

At its core, Troy’s Law is about fairness, safety, and respect. It recognizes the essential role tow operators play in keeping Kentucky’s roads clear and its people safe. It also acknowledges a simple truth: visibility saves lives.

House Bill 282 would allow tow operators to run blue lights alongside their amber lights while working active traffic scenes. That is the full request. There are no budget demands. No grants. No funding attached. No special treatment.

Just one more layer of protection.

Across the state of Kentucky, construction zones operate with blue lights present whenever workers are on the side of the road. Those lights slow traffic, grab attention, and give drivers extra reaction time. Their safety matters—and it should. But Troy’s Law asks a fair question: why should the men and women working active traffic scenes every day be treated differently?

This is not about convenience.

This is not about appearance.

This is about visibility.

This is about reaction time.

This is about lives.

Blue lights change driver behavior. They force attention. They slow speeds. They buy seconds. And on the side of a highway, seconds are often the difference between going home safe and not going home at all.

For the towing industry, Troy’s Law is deeply personal. It represents coworkers lost, close calls survived, and families permanently changed. It represents the reality that too many tow operators have been injured or killed while simply doing their jobs. It represents a promise that those losses mattered enough to demand change.

But Troy’s Law is also about the work happening right now inside the Capitol. Advocacy does not happen overnight. It takes showing up, having difficult conversations, and standing in rooms where decisions are made and saying, clearly and respectfully, “This matters.” It takes lawmakers who are willing to listen. The filing of House Bill 282 shows what happens when leadership listens and acts.

This moment in Frankfort is a meaningful step forward—not just for Troy’s Law, but for every working family who depends on strong representation and common-sense laws that protect those who serve the public every day.

Tow operators help Kentucky get home. Now we are asking Kentucky to help protect us.

It is time for courage.

It is time for unity.

It is time for lawmakers to stand with the people who keep this state moving.

Support Troy’s Law.

Stand with the towing industry.

And help ensure that the men and women working the side of our roads get home to their families the same way they help others get home to theirs.

Updating the hotel tax

The Carter County Fiscal Court listens intently to a speaker. (Photo by Charles Romans, Carter County Times)
By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times

The Carter County Fiscal Court began their new year with the second reading of an ordinance (865) concerning the transient tax. The updated ordinance now covers all rentals that are rented on a nightly basis, including campgrounds and Air BnB’s in the county. The tax does not apply to rental properties that rent on a monthly basis, such as homes or apartments. The ordinance passed by unanimous vote, excepting magistrate Danny Holbrook who was absent from the meeting. The transient tax is a three percent tax typically paid by hotels and other transient lodging.

Carter County Tourism President Carl Burton addressed the court during the public comment section of the meeting, and discussed a vacant seat on the tourism board. The vacancy was created by a member stepping down, and Burton made a suggestion to the fiscal court for a replacement. Burton said the tourism board approved Joe Suttles, and requested the court agree to that appointment. Judge Executive Brandon Burton officially nominated Suttles for that position, and the court voted to approve Suttles as the new tourism board member. Suttles will serve a one year term.

 Burton told the court that the new opioid advisory board had met, and that all applications for funding through the opioid abatement fund had been given to that board.

“All the members were present,” Burton told the court. “They accepted all thirty applications that were given to them for review. They discussed budget and funding, possible surveys, school staff, and they are asking questions about what we are already funding.”

Burton said the board had asked about interviewing applicants before approval.

“Once they narrow the applications down to three to five applications, they will bring them in and do interviews.”

Burton said the next meeting of the board had been scheduled for January 15, but it will likely be moved to January 22 at 1 pm. Burton said the board will be focusing on those grant applications that are more time sensitive.

“We marked those for them to look at a little quicker,” Burton said. “So maybe they can be resolved in a month or so.”

“We chose a great group,” Burton told the court. “And I believe they will do a great job with our opioid funding.”

In other business, Burton said that he would like to nominate Gordon Womack for another four years as a board member on the Big Sandy Water District. The court voted to approve Womack, who will represent Carter County on that board. The court also heard reports from all county departments.

Additionally, the fiscal court voted to increase the county attorney’s pay to $40,000 per year. The court also voted to approve the magistrates pay to $600 salary and $600 expenses per month, which will take effect in 2027.

Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com

East Carter Takes Control

The East Carter Raiders basketball team (submitted photo)

By Brayleigh Boggs

Carter County Times

East Carter and West Carter delivered exactly what a county rivalry should be on Friday night; a bruising, emotional, momentum-swinging battle that didn’t loosen its grip until the final horn. Behind relentless defense, transition offense, and timely shot-making, East Carter pulled away late for a 55-40 win that felt far closer than the final score indicated.

The intensity was evident from the opening tip when Colton McGuire (12) controlled the jump ball to Caden Tussey (15). Just moments later, McGuire set the tone defensively with a steal that led to the game’s first basket. West Carter answered immediately, as Brody Boggs (14) knocked down a three, and the back-and-forth rhythm was established early.

Thomas Burton (1) showcased his physicality and finesse with a tough one-handed runner, while West Carter’s Jamison Wagoner (31) and Boggs connected from deep to keep the Comets within striking distance. East Carter countered with hustle plays, McGuire fighting through multiple rebounds to earn a free throw, Tussey extending possessions on the offensive glass, and Grant Menix (10) finding Max Karle (11) for a layup to push East back in front.

Defense defined the first quarter. Burton swatted away a layup attempt, Menix secured the rebound, and McGuire finished a tough look in transition. McGuire added two free throws after drawing contact, helping East Carter take an 11-6 lead into the end of the first.

The second quarter belonged to East Carter’s defensive pressure. McGuire blocked multiple shots, including one that ignited a fast break finished by Menix. That run forced West Carter to call a timeout, trailing 16-6. Still, Boggs refused to let the game slip away, scoring inside and converting at the line while Nate Webb (33) added a three. Tussey answered with a three of his own and later drew a foul from Boggs, stretching East’s lead to 20-10.

West Carter made a late push before halftime. Boggs attacked the rim, Webb fired a long outlet to Boggs for another layup, and suddenly the deficit was down to five. But Menix answered again, driving through contact for a contested layup, sending East Carter into halftime ahead 24-17.

The third quarter was when East Carter really seized control. McGuire continued to dominate both ends, blocking shots, grabbing rebounds, and spinning through defenders for scores. Tussey calmly knocked down free throws, and McGuire buried a long three as the lead stretched. Menix added an “and-one,” while William Burton (5) also finished through contact. By the end of the quarter, East Carter had stretched its advantage to 41-28.

West Carter, however, continued to show fight in the fourth. Wade Lawson (32) scored in transition and later hit a long three. Nate Hale (24) added a reverse layup, and Webb chipped in from midrange. But every surge was met with an answer. East’s Thomas Burton drove strongly to the basket, Tussey found Menix cutting for easy finishes, and Karle drilled a corner three off a McGuire assist. When Boggs knocked down two more free throws and Webb connected from deep, East Carter calmly responded, closing the door at the line and in transition.

Menix finished the game with 18 points, using his speed and strength to finish in traffic and run the floor. McGuire was everywhere, posting 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds while anchoring the defense with multiple blocks. Tussey added eight points and eight rebounds, while Karle, William Burton, and Thomas Burton each chipped in five points.

For West Carter, Boggs led the way with 15 points, Webb followed with 11, and Lawson added nine. Wagoner,  Hale, Peyton Nichols (5), and Tabor Tackett (53) contributed on the glass, but East Carter’s depth, discipline, and defensive intensity proved too much down the stretch.

In a rivalry game fueled by effort and emotion, East Carter made the final statement, turning defense into offense and walking away with a hard-earned 55-40 victory.

Contact the writer at news@cartercountytimes.com

Ask Daryl – Your Professional Organizer: Let’s get started

white drawer in the wardrobe
Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva on Pexels.com

By Daryl Ashley

Confusion Solution

How about taking a few minutes, really a few hours, to tackle your clothes closet? I know, I know, this isn’t exactly what you wanted to do, but it will take less time than you think, and the rewards will be amazing.

Now, you’ll want to have on hand, trash bags, dust rags, a box or two for donating (you can use bags, but for giving items away it’s nicer to have them boxed up), water to hydrate, and comfy clothes.

If you have shelves, remove items and set them aside. As you pull things down or off shelves think about it you really need to keep them, or if there is a better place to store them, or if there is no need for them at all. If you can’t decide right away, then hang on to them until you can think about them at a later time. Put items you want to donate into boxes or bags as you go. Pick up trash, as well.

Don’t put anything back just yet. Decide how you want shoes, clothes or other items stored on the shelves displayed in your closet. Then you can start dusting off the shelves and putting things back in an orderly fashion.

Hanging clothing can remain where it is because you will take each piece and make the same decisions as before. Then decide if you want them hung by type and color, put them on good hangers (they don’t have to be expensive), and rearrange.

It’s a wonderful way to refresh your closet and finding things when you need them will be much easier.

It’s as simple as that!

Send your questions and comments to me at info@confusionsolution.com

Weekly Arrests: 1/14/26

The following individuals were arrested and booked into the Carter County Detention Center over the past week. This list includes local arrests only. It does not include federal inmates being housed at or transported through the detention center.

  • Jason Canterbury, 36, of Grayson, arrested by Grayson PD, on a charge of fourth degree assault (no visible injury), arrested and booked January 5.
  • Estill Stamper, 54, of Olive Hill, arrested by Olive Hill PD, on a probation violation (for a felony offense), arrested and booked January 5.
  • William Berry, 52, of Emmalena, arrested by Grayson PD, serving a warrant for a parole violation, arrested and booked January 6.
  • Ashley Salinas, 39, of London, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, on charges of first degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, and theft by unlawful taking or disposition of more than $1,000 but less than $10,000, arrested and booked January 6.
  • Ricky Oliver, 57, of Olive Hill, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on charges of operating a motor vehicle on a suspended or revoked operator’s license, failure to produce an insurance card, and non-payment of court costs, fees, or fines, arrested and booked January 6.
  • Bretton McKinney, 30, of Vanceburg, arrested by Carter County Jail, for failure to appear, arrested and booked January 7.
  • Shane Kramer, 32, of Grayson, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on charges of first degree strangulation (domestic violence related), second degree assault – domestic violence, second degree fleeing or evading police (on foot), menacing, and second degree criminal mischief requiring restitution or repair, arrested and booked January 7.
  • Bryson Crider, 18, of Olive Hill, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, on charge of fourth degree assault – domestic violence (no visible injury), and failure to appear, arrested and booked January 7.
  • Jimmy Conn, 46, of Grayson, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, for failure to appear, arrested and booked January 8.
  • James Gilllespie, 40, of Olive Hill, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, on a charge of failure to pay support, arrested and booked January 9.
  • James Conn, 50, of Olive Hill, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, charges unavailable, arrested and booked January 9.
  • Seth Wilson, 36, of Olive Hill, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, for failure to appear on a citation for a misdemeanor, arrested and booked January 9.
  • William Church, 54, of Webbville, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, on a parole violation, arrested and booked January 9.
  • Dianna Martin, 25, of Olive Hill, arrested by Olive Hill PD, for non-payment of court costs, fees, or fines, arrested and booked January 9.
  • Joshua Marshall, 50, of Grayson, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, on a charge of fourth degree assault – domestic violence with minor injury, arrested and booked January 9.
  • Kathleen Young, 54, of Grayson, arrested by Kentucky State Police, for failure to appear on a citation for a misdemeanor, arrested and booked January 9.
  • William Yeager, 65, of Olive Hill, self-surrender, weekender, arrested and booked January 9.
  • Brittany Baier, 31, of Olive Hill, arrested by Grayson PD, on a charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, arrested and booked January 10.
  • John Hall, 38, of Olive Hill, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, on charges of second degree disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, second degree criminal mischief, and third degree terroristic threatening, arrested and booked January 11.
  • Wayne Puckett, 50, of Olive Hill, arrested by Olive Hill PD, for non-payment of court costs, fees, or fines, arrested and booked January 11.
  • Johnathan Owens, 23, of Morehead, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on a charge of failure to pay support, arrested and booked January 11.

All of the charges listed are arrest charges only, and do not indicate an indictment or a conviction for the charges in question. All subjects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Information is compiled from publicly available sources, but may not be comprehensive.

Don’t tread on me?

close up shot of wound on a person s hand
Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels.com

By Robert Dean

Carter County Times

For years, the rallying cry from many Republicans was loud and straightforward: “We’re prepared to fight tyranny. We’re ready to saddle up and get into the streets. The government overreach is too much.”

You heard it everywhere. At gun shows. In Facebook comments. On yard signs and pickup truck bumpers. Grab military boots. Buy more. Train for the moment when evil arrives.

But when evil showed up, it wasn’t the evil they envisioned. Instead of fighting for healthcare, for affordable housing, for federal jobs fixing our crumbling infrastructure, people took jobs working as Trump’s high school flunky patrol: ICE.

The people who call themselves lovers of America are watching cities get raided as perverse entertainment because they don’t believe immigrants should be here. They see some people as nothing more than obstacles between them and the wealth they’re sure they deserve – you know, “They’re taking our jobs.” But you don’t see many folks standing in front of Home Depot ready to work in their absence. And cruelty, once justified, becomes a feature instead of a flaw.

JD Vance has now stated that ICE agents should be allowed to go door-to-door looking for people without the correct documentation. History has seen what happens when armed agents of the state are empowered to demand papers from civilians in their own homes. That path has never ended well, and it has never aligned with freedom.

When armed federal agents arrived in face masks with guns drawn, suddenly the so-called patriots went quiet. The same folks waving yellow “Don’t Tread on Me” flags welcomed the boot.

An ICE agent called Renee Nicole Good “a f—ing b—-h” and shot her in the face. Her car was turning away. He was masked. He was in her neighborhood. She was living her life. By any moral standard, this is indistinguishable from murder.

This should not be framed as a personal defense story. Have you ever been in a crisis situation? A car accident? People move erratically. Good’s car was clearly turning away. She wanted to exercise her First Amendment right to speak out against injustice. A masked agent of the state shot her in the face instead.

The debate about whether it qualifies as murder is exactly how tyranny normalizes itself. It’s a flash point in basic decency.

This isn’t a pro-Democrat piece either. Obama built the cages, and Biden put them inside. Trump is just the endgame. All politicians are complicit in a culture of pushing the idea that if you could be illegal, you’re a menace to God-fearing white people. Most of the folks getting rounded up are hard-working people who wanted a better life. As I’ve said in columns past, I would rather have a neighbor who walked through hell to live next door to me than someone who thinks slapping a flag on their truck is the same thing as loving their country.

How do you justify tyranny in plain sight?

Are we supposed to accept Kristi Noem in her gigantic hat, standing behind a camo podium, as leadership? Is this the seriousness we were promised? Is this what “law and order” looks like now — federal agents with itchy trigger fingers and politicians selling it like merch?

For all the talk of unity – of a stronger, better America – what did it buy us?

There are no DOGE checks. No tariff windfalls. No sudden flood of better-paying jobs. The economy still sucks. Groceries cost more. Rent keeps climbing. The only thing delivered on time was more force and less accountability.

The cruelty isn’t hidden anymore. It’s broadcast. Shared. Liked. Defended.

Raids aren’t policy to some — they’re popcorn-munching entertainment. Deportations are tallies. Fear is the show. And the people who swore they’d stand up when the government crossed the line are comfortable sitting down. They never wanted to be against the government; they wanted it to align with their values of “stay in your place.”

Patriotism isn’t cosplay.

It isn’t tactical gear bought on credit or slogans slapped on flags. It isn’t silence when the Constitution becomes inconvenient. It’s not a culture of red hats made in China, promoting that you enjoy suffering – a brand ideology.

Patriotism is believing the rights you demand for yourself apply to everyone — even those you don’t like. Especially then.

And if this hell is freedom, who exactly is it for?

Send your submissions to us at news@cartercountytimes.com

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Robert “Bob” Elwood Leadingham

Robert “Bob” Elwood Leadingham, age 75, of Grayson, Kentucky, passed away Saturday, January 10, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born Saturday, January 6, 1951, in Carter County, Kentucky, a son of the late Clell and Gladys Barker Leadingham.

Bob was a member of Lower Stinson Community Church and loved serving the Lord. He retired from CSX Railroad with 38 years of service and enjoyed farming, and spending time with his family and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Roger Leadingham and Joe Leadingham.

Bob is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Linda Newland Leadingham; one son, John (Tammy) Leadingham of Grayson, Kentucky; one daughter, Roberta (Josh) Lucas of Grayson, Kentucky; 6 grandchildren, Joshua (Bethany) Leadingham, Jacob Leadingham, Isaiah Lucas, Elijah Lucas, Dzsawn Beason; 3 great-grandchilden, Ethan Leadingham, Austin Leadingham, Tilly Leadingham; one brother, Jack (Christine) Leadingham along with many other family and friends who will sadly miss him.

Funeral services will be held 12:30 p.m., Thursday, January 15, 2026, at Grayson Funeral Home, 49 McCoy Road, Grayson, Kentucky, with Brother Billy Sammons and Brother David Collier officiating. Burial will follow in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Northeast in Grayson, Kentucky.

Friends may visit form 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., Wednesday, January 14, 2026, and after 9 a.m., Thursday, January 15, 2026, until the service hour at Grayson Funeral Home.

Grayson Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Robert “Bob” Elwood Leadingham.

Wanda Jean Bowens Richmond

Wanda Jean Bowens Richmond, age 68, of Grayson, Kentucky, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

She was born August 25, 1957, in Ohio, a daughter of the late Eugene and Ella Bowen Bowens.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Patricia Copley, and Sharon Ison.

Wanda was a member of Colton Baptist Church and previously attended Stinson Church of Christ, and she loved going to church. She enjoyed her gardening, taking care of her house plants, watching westerns, reading books, watching her great-grand children on videochat, browsing the aisles at thrift stores for treasures, and spending summer days at the pool or lake.

Wanda is survived by her loving daughters, Darla (James) Clark of Ashland, Kentucky, Ashleigh Richmond (Andrew Seer) of Richmond, Kentucky; three grandchildren, Stacy (Ethan) Davis, Raileigh Bond (Alannah Mullins), Gavin Bond, and her pride and joy, Asher and Sadie Davis, her precious great-grand babies; two brothers, Lawrence (Linda) Ison of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Jimmy Bowens of Puerto Rica, she also leaves behind a special niece, Juanita Griffiths of Ashland, Kentucky and a host of family and friends who will mourn her passing.

Funeral service will be Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 2;00 p.m., at Coalton 1st Baptist Church, 2501-2799 Cr-1604, Rush, Kentucky 41168, with Brother Paul Holbrook officiating.

Friends my visit after 12 p.m., Saturday, January 17, 2026 at Coalton 1st Baptist Church until the service hour.

Family and friends will serve at Pallbearers.

Grayson Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Wanda Jean Bowens Richmond.

Baby Jasper Grayson Jordan

Baby Jasper Grayson Jordan, was carried to Heaven by angels Tuesday, January 6, 2026, from UK-King’s Daughter Medical Center in Ashland, Kentucky.

Jasper was the son of Austin Jordan and Annamaria Paisley of Grayson, Kentucky.

Jasper was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Terry “TJ” Jordan and Gabriel Paisley.

In addition to his parents, Jasper is survived by one brother, Toby Wayne Jordan; grandmothers, Rebecca Collier, Beverly Boyd; cousin, Parker Sparks; uncles, Aaron Jordan, Gabriel Paisley; aunts, Tara Jordan, Abby Jordan, Sierra Boyd, Tina Paisley, Hannah Paisley, Destinee Paisley, along with many other family and friends who will sadly mourn his passing.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m., Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at Grayson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 49 McCoy Road, Grayson, Kentucky, with Brother Jerry Jordan officiating.

Friends may visit after 12 noon, Wednesday, January 14, 2026, until the service hour at Grayson Funeral Home.

Grayson Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Baby Jasper Grayson Jordan.

Condolences may be sent to the family at http://www.globefc.com.

Roger Mason McDowell

Roger Mason McDowell, age 70, of Cannonsburg, Kentucky, passed away January 3, 2026, at Boyd Nursing and Rehabilitation.

He was born September 18, 1955, in Boyd County, Kentucky, a son of the late June and Marie Griffith McDowell.

Roger proudly served his country in the United States Army and was a member of VFW Post Kansas City, American Legion.

Roger is survived by one daughter, Michele Stiles; one son, Roger Jason McDowell, along with many other family and friends who will sadly miss him.

At Roger’s request there will be no service at this time but a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Grayson Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Roger Mason McDowell.

Joyce Edna Runyon Holbrook

Joyce Edna Runyon Holbrook, age 81, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Friday, January 9, 2026, at her residence, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born November 21, 1944, in Kenova, West Virginia, a daughter of the late Herman and Edna Wright Runyon.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one daughter, Mary Holbrook; one granddaughter, Kirsten Seadorf; one great-grandson, Lawson Laney.

Joyce passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, cherished daughter and sister. Joyce loved spending time with her family and keeping up with classic soap operas. She loved caring for her dogs and cats, watching hummingbirds, and enjoying the farm animals while having quiet moments on the porch with her husband. Her warmth and kindness will be fondly remembered.

Joyce is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, Charles David Holbrook; two sons, Bryon (Tonya) LeMaster of Ashland, Kentucky, Chad (Victoria) Holbrook of Olive Hill, Kentucky; three daughters, Niki (Michael) Evans of Monroe, North Carolina, Kathy Taylor-Holbrook of Olive Hill, Kentucky, Karen (Randy) Hipp of Arcadia, Florida; 22 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; one brother, Ralph (Mary) Runyon of Evansville, Indiana; two sisters, Shirley (John) Belba of Pataskala, Ohio, Joan (Gib) Johnson of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, along with many other family and friends who will sadly miss her.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., Thursday, January 15, 2026, at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 West US Hwy 60, Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother John Gilbert officiating. Burial will follow in C & C Holbrook Family Cemetery in Elliott County.

Friends may visit after 1:30 p.m., Thursday, January 15, 2026, until the service hour at Globe Funeral Chapel.

Nathan Holbrook, Triston Holbrook, Nicholas Evans, Dennis Dees, Justin Hollon and Cameron Laney will serve 

as pallbearers.

Michael Evans, Randy Hipp, Chad Holbrook and Taylor Freeman will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Carla Williams Caudil

Carla Williams Caudill, age 64, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Thursday, January 8, 2026, at her residence.

She was born April 24, 1961, in Carter County, Kentucky, to the late Carl and Alberta Parker Williams.

Carla attended Carter Church of Christ. She was a beautician for 40 years and enjoyed making crafts, sewing quilts for her grandchildren and staying home with her children and grandchildren.

Carla is survived by her loving husband of 40 years, Dale Caudill; two sons, Tommy (Bobbie) Caudill, Scotty (Missy) Caudill all of Olive Hill, Kentucky; 4 grandchildren, Cameron (Jerrika), Chandler (Hayla), Marissa (Russell), Matthew; 4 great-grandchildren, Clay, Lydia, Jaxon, Opal; one brother, Jeff Williams of Carter City, Kentucky; one sister, Patsy (Richard) Slone of Grayson, Kentucky; special nephew, Adam Slone; special niece, Adrienne (Kyle) Lubert and great-niece, Mahaila Lubert, along with many other family and friends who will sadly miss her.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 West US Hwy 60, Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother Rick McGlone officiating. Burial will follow in Williams Cemetery in Carter City.

Friends may visit after 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 13, 2026, until the service hour at Globe Funeral Chapel.

Tommy Caudill, Scotty Caudill, Cameron Caudill, Chandler Caudill, Matthew Caudill and David Jesse will serve as pallbearers.

Globe Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the family of Carla Williams Caudill.

Alma “Jean” Tackett Reid

Alma “Jean” Tackett Reid, age 90, of Wapakoneta, Ohio, formerly of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at The Gardens of Wapakoneta.

She was born March 23, 1935, in Olive Hill, Kentucky, a daughter of the late Everett and Jewell Fannin Tackett.

Jean was a strong, hard working, independent woman. She was married to her husband Fred L. Reid in June of 1961 and had two beautiful kids together Diane and David. Unfortunately, her husband had an illness in 1988 and passed.

Afterwards, she started doing little jobs here and there until her first and only grandchild, Rochelle was born. Jean was then the full time babysitter of Rochelle. As time went on they would go on Dairy Queen dates and afterwards feeding the ducks at the pond. Rochelle was her pride and joy.

Wherever they went she made it known that Rochelle was her granddaughter.

She then moved back and forth from Ohio to Olive Hill, Ky doing Gods work which seemed to be taking care of her family.

From taking care of her mom during her last years and being there for family when her daughter passed suddenly to even being there in the last years of her sons life; she was always there to help and take care of them. She had moments in her life that no one should ever have to go through, but she was strong and pushed through those times.

In her final years, she moved to Wapakoneta, Ohio to be closer to Rochelle and her husband, Jarrod and her three great-grandchildren.

Jean is going to be dearly missed by so many, she definitely left an imprint on everyone’s heart that she met.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 27 years, Roy Reid; one son, David Reid; one daughter, Diane Sharrock; one grandson, Barry Thomas Sharrock; one granddaughter, Cheynenne Sharrock; three brothers, Elbert Royce Tackett, Russell Tackett, William “Bill” Tackett; three sisters, Joline Furnish, Alice “Gail” Rogers and Juanita Oney.

Jean is survived by one sister, Phyllis Osborne of Winchester, Kentucky; one granddaughter, Rochelle (Jarrod) Neidemire; three great-grandchildren, Everly Neidemire, Alyvia Neidemire, Jacob Neidemire; special niece, Karen Barrett of Cincinnati, Ohio; along with many other family and friends who will sadly miss her.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 West US Hwy 60, Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother JC Bond officiating. Burial will follow in Garvin Ridge Cemetery in Olive Hill.

Friends may visit after 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, January 14, 2026, until the service hour at Globe Funeral Chapel. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.

Globe Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the family of Alma “Jean” Tackett Reid .

Connie Boggs

Connie Boggs, age 66, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away on January 4, 2026, at UK King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Kentucky.

She was born July 20, 1959, in Carter County, Kentucky, a beloved daughter of the late Thurman Boggs and Maxine Bryant Boggs.

In addition to her parents, Thurman and Maxine Boggs, Connie was preceded in death by her brother, Carl Boggs, and her sister, Carolyn Louise Lawson.

Connie was one of the most caring and genuine people you could ever meet. She had a servant’s heart and spent her life taking care of others. While she was incredibly kind and loving, Connie was also strong-willed and stood her ground when needed a trait those close to her admired and respected.

She was an amazing cook and loved preparing meals for her family, a way she showed love better than words ever could. Although Connie was not a grandmother by title, she treated her nieces and nephews as if they were her own children and grandchildren, and many of them saw her exactly that way.

Connie worked for many years as a seamstress at Cintas, where she eventually retired. Through her work, she formed lifelong friendships — a true testament to the kind of person she was. Those friendships remained strong well beyond her working years.

Connie also took great pride in honoring her family’s history. She devoted much of her time to preserving the memory and legacy of her parents, Thurman and Maxine Boggs, ensuring their lives were remembered with care, dignity, and love.

She is survived by her sisters, Cathy Hanshaw (Dave Campbell) of Olive Hill, Kentucky, who—alongside Xenia Marshall—lovingly cared for Connie in her final days; Charlene Ratcliff of Ashland, Kentucky; and Dana Riffe of Russell, Kentucky; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends who will forever cherish her memory.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon, Thursday, January 8, 2026, at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 West U.S. Hwy 60, Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother Mike Bryant officiating. Burial will follow in Boggs Cemetery in Grahn, Kentucky.

Friends may visit after 11 a.m. Thursday until the service hour at Globe Funeral Chapel.

Devin Hanshaw, Dave Campbell, Xaver Marshall, Xenia Marshall, Atreyu Arthur, and Thomas Breedon will serve as pallbearers.

Connie will be remembered for her warmth, her strength, her generosity, and the love she freely gave to so many. Her presence will be deeply missed, but her legacy of care, devotion, and remembrance will live on.

The strangest things

black dice in tilt shift lens
Photo by Nika Benedictova on Pexels.com

By Robert Dean
Guest Columnist

As we’re culturally reeling from the finale of Stranger Things, it’s hard not to point out how weak the writing was. Many of the show’s flaws sat right on the surface. The story was bogged down in a convoluted plot and over-explanation of every nuanced movement of a paper-thin villain who, when put to the test, lasted about ten minutes. Then Joyce Byers went shogun after years of abuse. It was one of the only comforting scenes in the ending.

Poor writing seems to be at the core of the start of 2026. Prior administrations at least came up with fanciful stories—Demogorgons in faraway lands ready to attack people, Iraq, weapons of mass destruction. But when the Trump administration stormed into Venezuela, they didn’t bother with creative storytelling. They gave the ugly truth: this is about oil and taking resources from a sovereign nation weaker than ours.

Nicolás Maduro didn’t preside over a virtuous resistance or a misunderstood revolution. He ran an authoritarian, corrupt regime that oversaw rampant repression, arbitrary detentions, and a catastrophic economic collapse that drove millions into exile. At the same time, his inner circle allegedly enriched itself through collusion with drug cartels and narco-terror networks. Now that his grip has slipped, the U.S. isn’t swooping in to liberate Venezuela so much as to carve off its oil wealth for private profit.

What no one seems to understand is that the regime is still in place. Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s second banana, remains in command, as does the entire cabinet he assembled. This isn’t a victory for human rights. When Trump acts as the boss of the country, it’s for a regime change friendly to United States oil interests—that’s it. As the Epstein files keep coming, the economy continues to flounder, and the jobs numbers stagnate, this was the answer: to flex muscle and take. Much like Vecna, stealing children from their classrooms and using them to feed a one-man vision for a better world, where the darkness matches the light.

Open theft of another country’s resources is precisely what Vladimir Putin did in Ukraine, just as Xi will eventually do with Taiwan, though the moral grandstanding will be different. None of these actions are OK. If the United States wanted intervention, why now? The guise of drugs is bogus, and we all know it. They’re not making movies and television shows about Venezuela; they’re about Mexico. The ingredients to make fentanyl come from India and China.

Who wins in this case? Oil companies. The thick, sludgy oil the country produces—oil that the big brands already have the machinery to refine. Exxon, Shell, BP. The producers are the ones who will eventually benefit. This isn’t about liberation, nor ridding the world of a villain. It’s another act of lining the pockets of the rich, while the idea of saviorism is splashed across Fox News like a warm hug wrapped in an American flag, because the villain at home needed a win.

Venezuela controls almost one-fifth of the world’s proven oil reserves, yet produces less than 1% of global crude today, a product of systemic decay, sanctions, and neglect. U.S. oil stocks vaulted double-digit percentages at the mere implication of access. That tells us why real power brokers are watching. At a moment when the U.S. economy slogs through slower growth and tepid job numbers, we’re sold a blockbuster narrative that collapses under inspection—a demonstration of storytelling gone amiss, both in fiction and in the corridors of power. We’re not heroes rolling dice to see outcomes, but the bad guys spreading the Upside Down, covered in black tar.

Contact us at news@cartercountytimes.com

Best foot forward

Visitors to Olive Hill enjoy the first annual Carter County Bigfoot Festival last September. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)
By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times

The Olive Hill Tourism Commission was established late last year, and the members of the commission have been working on the best way to promote tourism in the city. Olive Hill Tourism has funded several projects and is considering more, but tourism commission president Jeremy Rayburn said they are taking a measured approach and are not rushing the process. This is their approach, he said, in spite of the fact that the relatively new commission has little to no external regulation.

“There was supposed to be an ordinance that stated we (the tourism commission) couldn’t spend anything over $20,000 without the city’s approval,” Rayburn said. “But that resolution sort of slipped through the cracks.”

Rayburn said that he plans to let the city know everything the commission votes on anyway, regardless of whether or not that resolution is in place.

“The city needs to be kept in the loop,” he said. “I think it would be kind of shady if they weren’t. That way they know where the city’s tax money is going.”

Rayburn said the things the commission has voted for so far have mainly been sponsorships of events like last year’s Bigfoot Festival that pulled in over 5,000 people to the downtown area and other events such as the Policeman’s Block Party. The commission has also matched funds for the renovation of the caboose at the Depot, a project that is ongoing.

“We also gave money to Trail Town to build bridges for their new walking trails,” Rayburn said.

“The caboose is supposed to be done by the end of the month,” he added. “I have been in there and looked at it, and saw how they were progressing.”

The caboose project consisted of a complete restoration to its original state, Rayburn said. This included sandblasting of metal parts, replacement of some panels, and a fresh coat of paint in the originally available colors.

Rayburn joked that he wasn’t a huge fan of the yellow to be used, but at one point in the past the Caboose was yellow.

“If you go back and look at the old C&O colors,” Rayburn said, “They were blue and yellow. I would have preferred a blue caboose, but it is what it is.”

Trail Town was the organization to originally spearhead the caboose restoration project, Rayburn said. The organization was able to secure funding via a donation from McDonald’s, and then the Olive Hill Tourism Commission agreed to match the funds contributed by that corporation. The project, he said, began last summer and is now nearing completion.

Rayburn said there have been other things the commission has contributed to as well, such as city Christmas lights which, he said, will be an annual expense. Something  the commission will be voting to address in the future (possibly the spring of 2026) is the downtown area.

“We need to get that area situated and cleaned up,” Rayburn said. “We didn’t get to it last year because we ran out of time.”

The Olive Hill Tourism Commission is open to ideas and projects that will encourage people to visit Olive Hill, Rayburn said.

“You always want to leave something better than the way you found it,” he said.

But there is a way to go about it, and people and organizations need to be aware that any idea they bring to the commission for funding will need to be voted on by commission members at regular meetings, or in some cases at special, called meetings. So, it is in everyone’s best interest, he said, to plan ahead accordingly.

Olive Hill Tourism Commission Meetings are on the first Tuesday of the month, at 5:30 pm, at the Olive Hill Police Station. All meetings are open to the public, and a time is typically set aside for public comments.

Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com

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Extension Notes: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Kentucky: Officials Urge Vigilance Among Bird Owners

flock of geese ion tilt shift lens
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
By: Rebecca Konopka
Carter County Extension Agent

State agriculture officials have recently confirmed the presence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in poultry flocks in three Kentucky counties (Jessamine, Fulton & Lawrence).   This is prompting renewed warnings for poultry owners to strengthen biosecurity and monitor their flocks closely.

HPAI is a highly contagious viral disease that poses a severe threat to domesticated birds, including chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, quail, pheasants, and guinea fowl. While wild migratory waterfowl—such as ducks, geese, and shorebirds—often carry the virus without appearing ill, the disease can spread rapidly and prove fatal once it reaches backyard or commercial poultry operations.

According to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the virus spreads through direct bird‑to‑bird contact, respiratory droplets, and contaminated droppings. People can also inadvertently carry the virus on clothing, shoes, equipment, or by transporting infected birds.

Despite the seriousness of the outbreak for poultry, federal health officials emphasize that the current detections do not pose an immediate public health risk. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that properly cooked poultry and eggs remain safe to eat, as heating food to an internal temperature of 165 degrees kills viruses and bacteria.

Bird owners are urged to watch for signs of infection, which may include sudden unexplained death, respiratory distress, decreased appetite or water intake, and a drop in egg production. Soft‑shelled or misshapen eggs may also indicate illness.

State officials are asking residents to take simple but critical steps to help contain the spread. These include keeping backyard flocks separated from wild birds, avoiding unnecessary visits to other bird owners, and thoroughly washing clothing and footwear after any contact with poultry. Sharing information with neighbors and fellow bird enthusiasts is also encouraged.

Anyone who suspects their birds may be sick is urged to call the state’s Sick Bird Hotline at 866‑536‑7593 for immediate guidance.

As monitoring continues, officials stress that community awareness and responsible flock management remain the strongest tools for protecting Kentucky’s poultry industry.

For more information about HPAI contact the Carter County Extension Office.   Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.

Upcoming Events:

  • Little Sandy Beekeepers – January 6th @ 6:30 PM – Topic – Brainy Bees: Using Honey Bee Brains to Understand Shifts in Behavior
  • Extension District Board – January 13th @ 10:00 AM
  • Livestock Predator Control Program – January 22nd @6:00 PM – Boyd County Extension Fairgrounds

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