Sunny is a one-year-old, 32 pound, female mixed breed. She’s a very friendly girl, full of energy, and good with other dogs. Sunny is already spayed, up to date on her shots, and has a free adoption to an approved home. Stop by the Carter County Animal Shelter and meet her or call 475-9771 for more information.
Shelter hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday by appointment.
By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
An Olive Hill man, 30-year-old Donavan Kyle Porter, was announced deceased on scene by the Rowan County Coroner’s office following an accident that occurred Saturday evening during a Kentucky State Police (KSP) pursuit.
According to a release from the KSP, a trooper on patrol in Bath County observed a speeding vehicle near the 128-mile marker on I-64 and attempted to pull him over at around 8:45 p.m. The vehicle, a gray colored 2017 Chevrolet Camaro, increased their speed instead of pulling over, leading to a pursuit.
According to the KSP release the vehicle exited the interstate onto KY 801 at exit 133, where the trooper lost sight of the vehicle and ended his pursuit approximately five minutes after beginning it.
Shortly after 9 p.m., and following reports of the speeding vehicle from residents along the stretch 801, a second KSP trooper located the Camaro and again attempted a stop. During the pursuit by the second officer Porter apparently lost control of the vehicle as they approached the intersection of KY 801 and KY 519. According to the KSP report this resulted in “the vehicle leaving the roadway and striking a utility pole at around 9:05 p.m.”
The vehicle then caught fire, according to the KSP report, and “became fully engulfed.” Though troopers reportedly “made every effort to remove the driver from the vehicle,” they “were unsuccessful.”
Donovan was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Rowan County Coroner’s office and was transported to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.
The Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) is investigating the incident, and the investigation remains open and ongoing.
The Carter County Times has been in contact with KSP regarding this incident, and will provide updates with additional details as they become available.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
By Pastor Naomi Mitchell
For Carter County Times
Have you ever felt you were on the edge of tears, just needing a good cry? You didn’t know why you were feeling that way. Other times you have cried a lot from bad news or felt a great burden about something or someone. The Bible offers comfort regarding tears, emphasizing that God sees, collects, and will eventually wipe away every tear. Psalm 56:8 (God bottles our tears) indicates that no tear is wasted, and they are precious to God. Revelation 21:4 (no more tears in heaven), and Matthew 5:4 (blessed are those who mourn) are verses that highlight divine comfort for sorrow. Even Jesus wept!
Psalm 56:8 speaks of David’s trust in God’s intimate awareness of his life and sufferings. The verse reads: “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” Here, “wanderings” refers to David’s movements and trials, often during times of danger or persecution, such as fleeing from enemies. The phrase “put thou my tears into thy bottle” symbolizes God collecting and remembering every sorrow and tear, preserving them as precious and significant. The question “are they not in thy book?” emphasizes that God records and oversees all aspects of David’s life, including his grief.
Psalm 56 is a prayer of supplication and trust written by David when he was captured by the Philistines in Gath. The psalm reflects his fear, oppression, and the plotting of enemies, yet it also demonstrates his unwavering faith that God is aware of his struggles and will deliver him. God is attentive to us, and He notices every movement and trial of His people. The Lord remembers every tear. Tears are metaphorically stored in a bottle, signifying that God values and remembers human suffering. We can be assured that the “book” represents God’s record of life, showing that nothing is forgotten and all is under His providence.
This verse should encourage every believer to trust that God sees and remembers their pain, even when human circumstances seem overwhelming. It reassures that sorrow is not wasted; God transforms it into a part of His divine plan, offering comfort and hope that every tear is acknowledged and will ultimately be redeemed.
Revelation 21:4, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 126:5, “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” (This shows that God is acquainted with grief and sympathizes with human pain).
God is close to those who are suffering, rather than indifferent to their pain. The Bible promises a future state, Revelation 21:4, where He shall wipe all tears from our eyes! Just remember, your tears are never wasted, they are precious to God. Turn to the comfort of the Holy Spirit and let Him help you by showing you the great promises in the Word of God.
Amen! So be it!
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.
You never know what life is going to throw at you, or what fires you might have to put out – metaphorically or literally.
On Sunday afternoon, while walking the creek bank with my son, I smelled smoke. We were having fun, dipping our feet in the cool water and playing a game he had concocted, when it hit my nose. He was disappointed when I told him we needed to go back up the hill and check on things, but he didn’t argue. The smoke smell grew stronger as I ascended the hill, and before I reached our backyard I could already see the flames working their way up the hill beyond us.
Apparently, despite our best efforts at being responsible, some small embers from a previous fire had been fanned back into life by the strong winds, and somehow escaped our burn ring.
Despite being winded from my uphill sprint, I grabbed a garden rake and – clad in shorts, a sleeveless shirt, and slick, worn-out Crocs – began trying to beat back the fire and rake out a fire break.
Unfortunately, by the time I’d made it back around the hill to where I started, the fire had jumped my line and was quickly spreading again. So, I started raking out a second line. This time I worked from the inside, raking burning material back into the already burned area towards me and, in the process, inadvertently causing fires to spring up under my feet as the dry leaves hit the still smoldering embers inside the ring.
My wife was not home, but I’d sent my six-year-old inside to have his older brother call someone when it became obvious I was going to continue struggling.
By the time I’d half finished my third lap around the hill a member of the 504 fire department had showed up in his personal vehicle, along with a neighbor who saw another fire truck from Sandy Hook approach and miss our driveway. By the time the Sandy Hook truck got turned around and found our house, the two of them had it out; my neighbor taking over my rake and beating the flames out with a pine branch while the gentleman from the fire department used a leaf blower to remove fuel and push the flames back into the area that was already burned over.
All told, between two and three acres of underbrush had burned up, reaching about three quarters of the way up our hillside.
When it was all said and done, I was exhausted. Bruised. Burned. And severely scratched up by the wild rose and sawbrier.
Worse than all that, I’d hurt my little boy’s feelings. During my rush up the hill from the creek, I’d left him trailing behind and he’d gotten a nasty briar scrape on his calf while trying to catch up. I wiped the blood away and sent him inside to have his brother put a band-aid on it; but he didn’t see my sense of urgency over the fire or my need to prioritize it. No, what he saw was his father dismissing his needs and his very real distress.
Not the kind of damage I’d expected from a brush fire, but damage, nonetheless. And damage I needed to address.
Life’s like that sometimes.
We get in a rush. We get focused on the objective in front of us. And we don’t realize who we might have inadvertently hurt, and – purposeful or not – we have to deal with it.
And sometimes the fires we thought we’d put out come back.
That happened on Sunday too. After practically inhaling a bowl of chicken soup, the only food I’d had to eat all day, and taking a shower I was finally trying to relax, wind down, and put some antiseptic on my various cuts and scrapes when I heard a knock at the door. It was another neighbor. On their way home they’d spotted the glow of a fire on the hillside and come back to alert me. I went out to find the fire was, indeed, back on the far end of our property. A smoldering tree had burned through and collapsed, inside the fire ring, but sending hot embers across the break to reignite leaf litter. After beating that back, I carried three five-gallon buckets of water about a quarter of a mile back the holler and up the hill, using them to refill water bottles that I used to douse the smoldering wood.
That knock on our door was not what I’d call welcome. I was dog tired and ready to go to bed. But it was necessary and appreciated – as was the gentle rumble of thunder signaling the rains that came later in the evening, allowing me to finally stop worrying about flare ups and rest.
Life’s like that sometimes too. Fires are going to come. We’re going to have to fight them. But sometimes there are folks to help and, eventually, there is rain. And rest. And the deep, deep, rewarding sleep that only exhaustion brings.
And, afterwards, a new day.
Big thanks to our neighbors, the 504 and Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Departments, and whoever ordered the rain. We appreciate you all more than we can say.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
By Robert Dean
Guest Columnist
I just got word that one of my friends has died. I knew Greg for almost twenty years.
I usually have a lot to say about life and about death — that we should hug our kids, our mom, our dad, our people; that we should tell our friends we love them, all the time.
Right now, I’m sitting in a coffee shop, looking at my laptop, considering the fragility of life. Death tends to bring out the philosopher in all of us.
Earlier, I was struggling to write. Everything lately feels pointless. The world is literally on fire, and I’m trying to endure in my creative pursuits — and reality comes clawing back.
This was originally going to be about how gas prices are insane, how we bombed a school of little girls, how no one from the Epstein files has been sent to the chair. About how buying a bag of groceries costs as much as your car note. Or how when I tried to get new medicine, they wanted me to try something else because insurance won’t cover what I need — because it’s nothing more than a predatory scam.
But then life comes crashing.
Death has a way of making everything feel small.
We’re all trying to survive, to make it another day in a very complex world. I never agreed with my friend politically. He was right-wing, but recognized many of the same problems I see, and we talked about them. We managed to talk — something that’s become rarer the more we endure the meat grinder of this landscape.
I used to live in New Orleans. I wrote there. I worked on Bourbon Street. That’s where I met Greg. We slugged it out, entertaining tourists, getting people drunk. At the same time, I typed away, trying to make my way as a working-class writer. Greg always supported me. He was a champion of the dream.
Now it’s a weird feeling to lose another friend as I get older — that I’m still here and he’s not. It’s not survivor’s guilt. It’s a look into the void.
We used to hang bras from the ceiling in the bar to make people laugh. We made every horrible joke known to man. We ran through a rainstorm to catch a plane, watching the New Orleans sky erupt in vivid colors.
I know it’s part of the human condition — that we commit to loving our people, and when they leave us, we carry them forward in our stories. But it’s a lot when you’re just trying to live. And maybe that’s the point. That is life. People leave. Everyone does.
So here, in these words, all I can do is endure and do my best.
But if there’s anything I always want to say, it’s this:
Tell your friends you care about them.
Send that text.
Make those amends.
Check in on people.
Don’t flake on lunch.
Send the sketchy meme back.
Contact us at news@cartercountytimes.com
By Daryl Ashley
Confusion Solution
In our homes we have areas that aren’t very big. Bathrooms, and some kitchens, are often places where we tend to overwhelm our floors and counters with decor and personal care items. When it comes time to clean, we spend more time removing obstacles in order to reach areas that need cleaning, which is especially important when it is necessary to keep our bathrooms and kitchens free from harmful elements and potential hazards.
While certain items are necessary to have on the floor of a small space like trash cans, vacuum cleaners, hampers, or large bags of pet food, we need to take stock of what may be prohibiting our ability to clean effectively and look for alternative ways or locations for storage. Then there are personal items like makeup, bath care items, and kitchen appliances that often end up on our counters reducing counter space and making it time consuming to free them up for cleaning. Use under-sink storage organizers for cleaning supplies. Just remember that it will be necessary to clean under those organizers on occasion, so putting down plastic shelf liners will avoid us having to clean spills that can cause damage to the under-sink floor.
Containing our things helps to make it easier to work in small spaces. Moving a shower organizer is much easier than moving each individual bottle of shampoo, conditioner, or body wash just to clean the shower. Placing personal items in drawer organizers or on shelves in decorative containers not only improves counter space, but also reduces the time it takes to prepare shelves and counters for cleaning.
Having free-standing shelving for towels, kitchen appliances, decor, or other products may be necessary for accessibility, however keeping these items to a minimum will lessen the time it takes to clean those shelves.
Make your spring cleaning easy by making your small spaces clutter-free and maintainable. You may find that it won’t take as long to do those cleaning projects and that it will give you more time for other things.
It’s as simple as that!Send your questions and comments to me at info@confusionsolution.com
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.
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.
Gregory Allen Medley, age 57, of Grayson, Kentucky, passed away Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at UK-King’s Daughter Medical Center in Ashland, Kentucky.
He was born May 26, 1968, in Williamson, West Virginia, a son of the late Donald and Geraldine “Evans” Medley.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, Roy and Shirley Evans; two nieces, Amy Tackett and Kristy Tackett.
He is survived by one brother, Kevin Medley; one sister, Marilyn (Kevin) Sparks of Grayson, Kentucky; one niece, Lily Byrne of Milford, Ohio, along with many other family and friends who will sadly miss him.
At the request of Greg’s family, there will be no service at this time.
Grayson Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Gregory Allen Medley.
Donna Marlene Peters Phillips, age 72, of Quincy, Kentucky, passed away Monday, March 16, 2026, at her residence.
She was born May 7, 1954, in Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey, a daughter of the late Harold and Billie Pangburn Peters.
Donna was a member of ALA Unit #203 in Latonia, Kentucky.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Leo Anthony Phillips.
She is survived by one daughter, Billie (Terry) Robinson of Covington; three sons, Tony Phillips, Ben Phillips both of Covington, Kentucky, Tommy Phillips of Lewis County, Kentucky; with many other family and friends who will sadly miss her.
At the request of the family, a service will be held at a later date.
Grayson Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Donna Marlene Peters Phillips.
Joyal “Joe” Skaggs, age 95, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, went home to be with the Lord, Friday, March 20, 2026, at his residence.
He was born Thursday, January 22, 1931, in Elliott County, Kentucky, a son of the late Elijah and May Kinster Skaggs.
Joe was a devoted husband, father, papaw and Christian. He gave his heart to the Lord and was baptized in March 1981 at Lower Rock Lick Enterprise Baptist Church in Fleming County, Kentucky. He loved sharing the love of the Lord with anyone that he came in contact with. He enjoyed going to church, singing the praises of the Lord with his family, playing his banjo, farming, gardening and spending time with his family—especially squeezing his babies.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 71 years, Opal Holbrook Skaggs; one daughter, Dazel Mauk; two great-grandchildren, Randy Sammons, Thomas Holbrook; two brothers, Norwood Skaggs, Willie Skaggs; one sister, Wonedia Flannery and one son-in-law, Ed Williams.
Joe is survived by two sons, Joyal Thomas Skaggs of Salt Lick, Kentucky, Glen Willie (Loretta) Skaggs of Elliott County, Kentucky; four daughters, Della Faye Williams of Richmond, Kentucky, Patricia Ann (Johnny) Holbrook of Olive Hill, Kentucky, Melissa (Jim Tom) Caudill of Morehead, Kentucky, Karen Sue (Eric) Fulcher of Prospect, Kentucky; 21 grandchildren; a host of great-grandchildren; one brother, Waldo Skaggs of Stark, Kentucky; four sisters, Marcella Hawes of Stark, Kentucky, Arvetta Adkins of Brown Ridge, Kentucky, Helen Williams, Lois Machen both of Augusta, Kentucky, along with many other family and friends who will sadly miss him.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 West US Hwy 60, Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother Ronnie Easterling, Brother Bobby Day and Brother Willie Skaggs Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in Joyal Skaggs Family Cemetery in Elliott County, Kentucky.
Friends may visit from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 24, 2026 and after 9 a.m., Wednesday, March 25, 2026, until the service hour at Globe Funeral Chapel.
Joe’s grandsons and great-grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
Globe Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the family of Joyal “Joe” Skaggs.
Marilyn Ruth Adams, age 67, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, Ohio.
She was born Friday, August 15, 1958, in Carter County, Kentucky, a daughter of the late Charles and Maxine Duncan Adams.
Marilyn loved caring for her dogs and cats. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Miranda Kay Adams and one sister, Sheila Adams.
She is survived by two sons, Toby (Audrey) Adams of Lima, Ohio, and Brandon (Angela) Adams of Olive Hill, Kentucky; two grandchildren, Brandon Blake Adams, Cassandra Brooke Adams; three great-grandchildren, Carlee Ann, William Blake, Hunter Thomas Wayne, along with many other family and friends who will sadly miss her.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 7 p.m., Monday, March 23, 2026, at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 W. US-60, Olive Hill, Kentucky with Sister Brandy Glover and Brother L.A. Biggs officiating. Burial will follow in Mayo Cemetery.
Friends may visit after 5 p.m., Monday, March 23, 2026, until the service hour at Globe Funeral Chapel.
Globe Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the family of Marilyn Ruth Adams.
Diana Lynn Cline Carroll, age 72, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Monday, March 16, 2026, at UK-St. Claire Health Care in Morehead, Kentucky.
She was born Saturday, September 19, 1953, in Carter County, Kentucky, a daughter of the late Paul and Dessie Stephens Cline.
Diana was a member of First Christian Church of Olive Hill. She enjoyed reading, caring for her cats, clearing land and spending time with her family.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Carroll; one brother, Jim Cline and two sisters, Kay Baker and Shelia Bales..
Diana is survived by one son, Bobby Carroll of Ohio; four sisters, Brenda Cline of Olive Hill, Kentucky, Margaret (Mick) Carlson of Atoka, Tennessee, Donna (Joe) Cordle of Conway, Arkansas and Marie (Terry) Sublett of Catlettsburg, Kentucky, along with many other family and friends who will sadly miss her.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, March 20, 2026, at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 West US Hwy 60, Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother Adam Foster officiating. Burial will follow in Carroll Cemetery on Rattlesnake Ridge.
Friends may visit after 9:30, Friday, March 20, 2026, until the service hour at Globe Funeral Chapel.
Loberta Bair Knipp, 80 of Olive Hill, Kentucky passed away Friday, March 20, 2026, at her home. She was born in Carter County, Kentucky on May 26, 1945, a daughter of the late Virgil and Lenora Stigall Bair.
Loberta attended the Beartown Church of God and enjoyed movies, watching television, cooking, reading, working puzzles and especially spending time with her family. She loved her Lord and her faith was very important to her.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel David Knipp, Sr. who passed away February 12, 2022, four brothers, Burlin Jackson Bair, William Gilbert Bair, Elmer Bair and Delmer Bair.
Survivors include two sons, Daniel David Knipp, Jr. (Jamie) and Matthew Virgil Knipp (Robbin) all of Olive Hill, Kentucky, one daughter, Jennifer Beth Conn (Daniel) of Olive Hill, Kentucky, one sister, Floella Baldridge of Clearfield, Kentucky and two grandsons, Michael Ryan Knipp and Mark Andrew Hamm. Also, several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were conducted at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in the chapel of the Michael R. Gray Funeral Home in Morehead with Brother Elijah Wagoner officiating. Burial followed in the Manning Chapel Cemetery in Carter County.
Visitation at the Michael R. Gray Funeral Home in Morehead was after 11:00 A.M. Tuesday.
Pallbearers were Matthew Knipp, Mark Andrew Hamm, Michael Ryan Knipp, Michael Gregg, Timmy Stockton and Stephen Bair. Honorary pallbearers were Danny Knipp and Bryan Fraley.
The Michael R. Gray Funeral Home, 808 Old Flemingsburg Road, Morehead, Kentucky cared for all arrangements for Loberta Bair Knipp.
To view the online memorial and sign the guest book, please visit www.mrgrayfh.com.
We are all shaped by the people we watch. Some leave a mark intentionally. Others—like the man I encountered one rainy afternoon in 2006—leave one without ever knowing we exist.
A thunderstorm rolled in while my wife and I were at the beach. The sky turned charcoal, the waves grew choppy, and I found myself trapped indoors with little to do. Flipping through channels, I landed on the Travel Channel and encountered a wiry, sharp-tongued chef named Anthony Bourdain.
I was captivated immediately.
Here was a man who traveled the globe not in search of five-star luxury, but in pursuit of authenticity. He ate fermented shark in Iceland, roasted pigeon in Egypt, and balut—that controversial fetal duck delicacy from the Philippines. But what fascinated me most wasn’t the shock value of the cuisine—it was the culture surrounding it. The stories. The people. The pride served alongside every plate. Through him, I traveled vicariously for years and came to understand that food is rarely just food. It is history, identity, and community made tangible.
That Christmas, my wife gave me a copy of Kitchen Confidential, Bourdain’s 2000 memoir exposing the underbelly of New York’s restaurant scene. Having never worked so much as a fast-food shift, I found myself immersed in a world both gritty and strangely beautiful. Kitchens, I learned, weren’t simply places where meals were assembled. They were ecosystems built on hierarchy, discipline, and a relentless pursuit of excellence—as well as an unhealthy amount of stimulants.
I emerged with three practical lessons that reached far beyond the kitchen:
First, never order the Monday special. There’s no telling how long it’s been sitting around.
Second, pay attention to your server’s body language. A server’s genuine enthusiasm reveals whether a kitchen cares. Indifference reveals indifference.
And third, the smaller the menu, the more optimistic I become.
That last point seems counterintuitive. After all, wouldn’t more options increase the odds of finding something I’d enjoy? Perhaps. But more options also increase the likelihood that nothing is done exceptionally well. My experience has taught me this: the more sprawling and diverse the offerings, the less likely any single dish has been perfected. But walk into a place that offers two or three entrées—prepared the same way every night—and you can rest reasonably assured they’ve mastered them. Otherwise, they wouldn’t remain in business for long.
That principle extends far beyond restaurants.
We all know the phrase “jack of all trades, master of none.” It’s not the harshest of criticisms, but it’s hardly a compliment either. And yet modern life seems determined to push us in precisely that direction.
We’re expected to simultaneously be exceptional spouses, parents, children, employees, volunteers, and informed citizens. We’re shamed if we haven’t seen the award-winning film, formed a thoughtful opinion on international conflicts, responded to every email within the hour, exercised daily, hydrated properly, and somehow found time for self-care in the margins.
For all the conveniences technology has added to our lifetimes, the result hasn’t been leisure—it’s been expectation. Our grandparents would have seen our lives as chaos masquerading as productivity. But they had something we’ve surrendered: the right to down time. To call a day complete. To let something remain undone.
Our grandparents had the same twenty-four hours we do. The clock hasn’t changed. So why do we feel so stretched? So fragmented? So perpetually behind?
Perhaps it’s because we’ve allowed our menus to become too large. We’ve tried to offer everything—to everyone—at all times. Mastery requires focus. Deep focus. The kind that demands saying no to almost everything so you can say yes—fully, deeply—to a few things that matter.
Maybe the better path forward isn’t to expand our offerings, but to refine them. Choose two or three things that matter most. Invest there. Perfect those dishes. A well-crafted life, like a well-crafted menu, never apologizes for what it doesn’t offer. It triumphs because of what it does.
Instead of the proposed $400 million monstrosity of a gaudy, gilded ballroom overshadowing the White House, it seems we would be better served by erecting a giant circus tent instead.
That much less costly structure is normally what is used to display the clown show at the circus. And, for the last 14-plus months, I believe a clown show is what we have seen operating out of the Oval Office.
Those expensive clown cars and planes that haul the clown cabinet around the world might be better used to generate a few bucks to help defray the cost of an undeclared war and an underfunded federal government that cruelly fired many of its most seasoned employees. Perhaps worst of all, we are witnessing what likely has become the world’s most costly ego trip focused on the names and size of various national memorials.
As for the war with Iran, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, a former TV celebrity, appears more concerned about how he looks in news photographs and how often he can kiss up to his boss who obviously shares his conviction that only white men can become effective military leaders.
A Washington insider was quoted last week as saying that the very old man in charge doesn’t like his clown cabinet members to wear sneakers to White House clown meetings so he is buying them dressy leather shoes. It is believed that some of the shoes are too big but are worn to work regardless because no one has the courage to complain.
Come to think of it, don’t clowns still wear oversized, floppy shoes with their colorful costumes?
And shouldn’t we all be concerned about the other clowns in charge of various departments like the now-being-fired DHS secretary Kristi Noem who made a shambles of ICE and FEMA and damaged the Coast Guard budget with a $50 million jetliner for her personal travel. My favorite Noem gaffe was featuring herself in glamor photographs in a taxpayer-funded $200 million advertising splurge.
“Send in the Clowns” is a famous song from Stephen Sondheim’s 1973 musical, “A Little Night Music,” but surely we have realized that it clearly is not the best way to manage the federal government.
Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.
Wildlife is integral to Kentucky’s landscape, and farms inevitably share space with a diverse range of animals. Rather than attempting to eliminate wildlife — an unrealistic and counterproductive goal — effective on-farm wildlife management can work to reduce conflicts and encourage natural behaviors that keep wildlife and people safely separated. Consider these strategies:
Is the interaction causing harm or simply inconvenience? Economic loss, crop damage or threats to safety clearly require intervention, while other encounters — like a harmless snake sighting — may only require tolerance.
Identifying the species responsible for damage is not always simple. Clues such as habitat type, height of tree damage, bite patterns, tracks and scat can narrow the possibilities. Trail cameras, field guides and expert assistance can also provide confirmation.
Small changes can make the environment less inviting and discourage wildlife from lingering near crops, buildings and livestock areas. Modifications can include:
Deterrents can provide short-term protection. Visual tools like decoys or scare devices often work best when rotated frequently so animals do not become accustomed to them. Try to introduce them right before wildlife pressure increases, such as just before fruit ripens or during calving season.
Deterrents like lasers or noise-making devices can help in certain scenarios but rarely offer permanent relief. For any deterrent, timing and variety matter more than the device itself.
Fencing is one of the most reliable long-term options for reducing wildlife damage, especially around high-value crops and livestock. Though they require higher upfront costs, well-designed exclosures reduce the need for repeated deterrents.
Deer generally require structures at least eight feet tall, but an offset fence disrupts their depth perception. Electrified fences are more appropriate for wildlife that climb or dig.
Exclosures also work best when installed proactively, before animals get accustomed to feeding or traveling in the protected area.
Trapping and hunting can be effective, especially for species like raccoons and deer. Kentucky law (KRS 150.170) allows landowners to protect their property from most wildlife, except those protected under federal law (bats and migratory birds). When animals are taken, landowners must notify a conservation officer to obtain a confirmation number and may only keep consumable meat.
Hunting also supports long-term deer management and can provide supplemental income through leased access. Effective population control requires harvesting does, and landowners should monitor harvest outcomes.
There is no one-time, permanent fix. Effective management requires persistence and the combination of multiple strategies.
Every farm is different, and species-specific recommendations vary widely. Next week we will take a deeper dive into managing small mammals in the garden. For additional tailored assistance, contact your Carter Extension office, where agents can help identify wildlife problems and recommend safe, effective management options. 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.
GRAYSON — For more than 40 years, March has been designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) as Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®). The positive impact of music education in the lives of students lasts a lifetime. Therefore, ensuring equitable access to music education for the youngest members of our society – students – is paramount.
Every day, in classrooms and rehearsal rooms across our school district, music educators dedicate themselves to reaching all students with life-changing musical experiences. Parents, administrators, and the wider community often only see the wonderful results of music performances; however, we miss the months of practice and rehearsals and more importantly the learning process that takes place to make it all happen.
Members of our community are encouraged to acknowledge and celebrate music education as an essential part of every student’s educational journey.
As part of Carter County’s Music in Our Schools Month celebration we recently held our annual Carter County All-County Band. This took place at West Carter High School on Saturday March 14.
This year we were very excited to have Lawrence Banks as our guest conductor, conducting the band on Excelsior! by James Cunrow, Stay by Randall Standridge, Irish Legend arranged by Joseph Eidson, Joy by Frank Ticheli, and the Phantom of the Opera arranged by Michael Sweeney.
Lawrence Banks is an experienced and dedicated music educator currently in his fifteenth year with the Catholic Diocese of Lexington. He teaches 5th-8th grade band at Seton Catholic School and Christ The King School, as well as grades 9-12 at Lexington Catholic High School (LCHS), where he conducts both the Concert and Symphonic Bands. In addition to his responsibilities with the main ensembles, Mr. Banks also oversees the jazz band, percussion ensemble, and pep bands at LCHS.
Mr. Banks is a respected member of several prestigious music organizations, including the Music Educators National Conference, the Kentucky Music Educators Association, and the American School Band Directors Association. He is also a proud member of Phi Mu Alpha and Phi Beta Mu Bandmaster Fraternity. His expertise extends beyond the classroom, as he is a sought-after adjudicator and clinician throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
A graduate of Morehead State University, Lawrence earned his bachelor’s degree in music education there. During his time at Morehead, he was an active member of the university’s marching band, serving as drum major for three years. He studied tuba under Dr. Stacy Baker and received his conducting instruction from Dr. Richard Miles, both of whom influenced his development as a musician and educator.
Before joining the Diocese of Lexington, Mr. Banks served as the assistant band director at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester, KY, where he also taught elementary music for grades K-5.
In addition to his teaching career, Lawrence has a rich performing background. He has played with several notable musical ensembles, including the Morehead State University Symphony and Marching Bands, The Sacred Winds Music Ministries, The Lexington Brass Band, The Miles of Jazz Orchestra, The Bluegrass Area Jazz Ambassadors, the Central Kentucky Concert Band, and the BlueBrass Quintet.
Outside of his professional commitments, Lawrence is passionate about working with area high school marching bands. A sports enthusiast, he is an avid supporter of the UK Wildcats and the Cincinnati Bengals. Lawrence also maintains a private lesson studio, where he teaches middle and high school students in the local area.
Lawrence lives in Lexington, KY with his wife, Emily, and their two daughters.
By Pastor Naomi Mitchell
For Carter County Times
I have good news for you. In a world where everything seems to be chaos or on the brink of disaster there is one thing for certain, God’s counsel (Word) hasn’t changed! His Word is forever settled! The thoughts of God’s heart are still to all generations. His thoughts are about you and me right now at this very moment, everyday!
Psalm 33:11 The counsel of the Lord standeth forever; the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Isaiah 25:1 says, “O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” Psalm 33:4 says, “For the Word of the Lord is right; and all His works are done in truth.”
His counsels of old are faithfulness (they do not fail) and truth (the purposes of God are firm and will certainly be fulfilled).
When we think about all the wonderful things the Lord has done, it is easy to make the decision to worship the Lord. God wants our worship to be filled with thought and remembrance of God’s great works, not only an emotional response. When we remember the greatness and permanence of God’s Word, it makes us want to praise Him. What is more reliable, more everlasting, more enduring than the Word of God?
In the book of Isaiah, Jesus is called “Wonderful Counselor” when the prophet writes about the coming Christ. Isaiah 9:6 says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Jesus is called the Wonderful Counselor because He alone can give us guidance, help, and deliverance through His wisdom and miracles. He causes everything to work together for a twofold purpose: The greatest good of mankind and the highest glory to God.
Reminder of Psalm 33:11 which say, “The Word of the Lord standeth forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.” No matter what is going on in this great big world which includes your little world, “The Word of the Lord that stands forever” has already told us about things that will come. We have the assurance that “the thought of His heart is to all generations” and that “the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.” Psalm 34:7 says, “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psalm 35:9 says, “And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation.”
Get into the Word and find out more about His counsels of old that are faithfulness and truth to all generations. Be joyful and rejoice that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways. To find out more about what His thoughts are for you, open your Bible! Stop worrying, God’s got this!
Amen! So be it!
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.
The Grayson Tourism Commission met in its regularly scheduled meeting last Thursday (March 12) to discuss finances and tourism projects for the city. Financial reports included a statement of activities from the Sports Park for the month of February in the amount of nearly $71,000 in restaurant tax collected. $703,000 of restaurant tax was reported as collected for the fiscal year, compared to the same period the previous fiscal year of $638,000. Concession sales for the year to date were reported at $67,000, compared to $70,000 the previous year. Total profit for the month was reported at $71,543, and a yearly profit of $774,00.
In other business, Tourism Director Lana Axtell discussed upcoming projects with the Tourism Commission.
“We are going to do the Easter egg hunt at Kentucky Christian University,” Axtell told the commission. “I do have some extra empty eggs that I saved from last year and I am going to buy some candy. The kids at the college are going to be the ones stuffing the eggs. And that’s part of the great partnership with them.”
Axtell said she was still seeking donations to be applied to that community event.
“It will be held on the Saturday before Easter,” Axtell told the commission. “And we are hoping to have a pretty good turnout for that.”
Axtell told the commission that Danny Stamper from KCU had reached out to her about the university’s Summer in the Sun concert series.
“We do that every year at the college, and I think it is very beneficial,” she said.
Axtell pointed out that given there is no food at the concert series, people who attend will be patronizing local restaurants and other related businesses in Grayson.
“That is exactly what tourism is,” Axtell said. “Plus, we have such a good relationship with KCU, and moving forward with them is a good decision.”
“I have spoken with Carl Burton from Carter County Tourism,” Axtell added. “There is a new group that’s called Appalachian Front Porch Tourism that a lot of folks are signing up for. It’s going to cover this end of the Tristate, so instead of a lot of advertising going toward Lexington, which honestly doesn’t bring a lot back this way, it’s going to go the other way and bring people in from West Virginia and Ohio.”
Another item Axtell brought to the commission’s attention was the clock tower.
“We do still have the clock tower,” she told the commission.
She pointed out to the commission that in the movie Back to the Future, a central part of the movie was the fundraising efforts to repair the city clock tower.
“I have reached out to some Delorean groups about putting together a Back to the Future Festival,” Axtell said.
Encouraging people to dress up as their favorite character from that series of movies would be a fun way for the community to help raise money to repair the clock tower.
“We have got some bids, and they aren’t cheap because there aren’t very many companies that can repair that type of clock,” Axtell said.
The clock has four faces, and she estimated it to be about 12 feet tall, explaining why estimates for repairs were around $9,000.
“I’m sure there will be some businesses that will donate to the repairs,” she said. “But the Back to the Future themed festival could raise money and be a lot of fun.”
The Tourism Commission also discussed the potential for a new event venue with a local nonprofit. The proposed project has the potential to generate tourism dollars for the city, but potential concepts and costs are being discussed, and no decisions were made at the March meeting regarding the proposal.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
The Carter County Times is a weekly newspaper serving Carter County, Kentucky, since June 2020.
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