The Rattlesnake Ridge Community Center decided last week to push their opening show back from the September date to an October date. Because of surging COVID-19 cases, the club said, the Hammertowne show scheduled for September 25 would be moved to October.
It was “tentatively rescheduled for October 23,” community member Gary Jones told the Times after the meeting on Tuesday night. But, he said, if COVID numbers didn’t improve, they might have to cancel.
“If things don’t improve dramatically, we probably will be down until next spring,” Jones said.
The spectre of cancellation was confirmed on Sunday when show organizer Chad Gilbert contacted the Times to confirm part of Jones’ concerns.
“We are canceling our fall shows due to the uptick in COVID cases in the area,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert couldn’t say if that would include the December Christmas themed show with Don Rigsby, but it did include Hammertowne, and the Larry Sparks show originally scheduled for November.
There are currently five lemons on our lemon tree, and a couple more in the refrigerator.
I don’t really use a lot of lemon, but it’s nice to have them here. Mostly, I just enjoy the option of having fresh lemon juice or zest if I wanted it, and I enjoy having the tree.
Trees have always been my favorite thing to grow.
I don’t remember when I planted my first tree, a sugar maple, but I do remember when my aunt cut it down. It broke my heart.
I also still mourn the peach trees I planted with my mother that had to be taken out for necessary repairs to our basement, which was slowly being caved in by the pressure of the hillside. That entire hillside had to be taken out, including the trees, so the house could be put on support beams and the exterior basement wall replaced.
Unlike the cutting of the maple tree, it was necessary to save the house. But 30 some odd years later, the loss of those peach trees is still a vivid childhood memory.
Trees require land, though. If you want them, you have to put down roots.
Or you learn bonsai.
When I was young and nomadic, I toyed with bonsai; both purchasing already potted plants and training my own from seedling.
It wasn’t until after I turned 30 that I thought of putting down roots again. That’s when I bought my first lemon tree. I had been living in the same home for several years, and was considering trying to purchase it someday. So, one day, on a whim, I purchased a lime tree and a lemon tree while strolling through the farmers market. They were small, but grafted, so already bearing fruit.
I wasn’t necessarily ready to put them in the ground yet, but they were in really small containers. I already had some terra cotta planters several sizes larger I could transplant them to until I was ready. So, I did. And they flourished. With regular watering, and the abundant Texas sunlight, they brightened our back porch and produced beautiful fruit.
They were soon joined by a pair of fig trees, a pomegranate, and several small avocado trees. Though not really trees in a true sense, I also eventually added banana, papaya, and pineapple plants to the mix too. They required a little extra care on the colder days, but Austin winters are generally mild. I was really looking forward to having a diverse little urban orchard someday.
Then, things changed. Partly a maple tree situation, partly a peach tree, we moved. Then moved again. I gave several trees away, so they could finally put down roots. Others had trouble acclimating and died.
But the lemon tree did surprisingly well indoors. It continued to give me fruit, to perfume my air with its blossoms, and to brighten my home during the dismal Denver winters. But it did not come home with me to Kentucky. My life then was too unpredictable, so it stayed where it was thriving.
Several years ago, though, my partner bought me a new lemon tree. It’s been a learning curve growing it in this new space. Finding enough light in our old, small home. Keeping the baby and animals out of it after we moved into a bigger space with better windows. At first I moved it outdoors during the late spring, and back in as the weather grew cold. But this year, I think we’ve found his long term, if not permanent, spot. We’ve had some dead limbs. He has some shoots coming up from his root stock that need pruned. But he gets the southern sun. He has new shoots coming out from the tips of his branches. And he currently has five, bright yellow lemons hanging from the end of his limbs.
The Republican supermajority in the Kentucky General Assembly apparently overlooked two famous sayings when they planned and executed the recent special legislative session
The first one is “don’t wish for things you don’t really want” and the second is “hope is not a strategy”.
To their credit, the Senate and House did sidestep the Florida quicksand position which forbids mask mandates by anyone.
Yes, they outlawed Gov. Andy Beshear’s statewide mask order but passed the buck to local school boards to decide for themselves to mask or not, depending on how many local folks are getting sick, going to the hospital, and dying.
They also gave local districts some maneuvering room on attendance and funding regulations. Thank goodness they had the sense to kill a Senate bill to advocate horse de-wormer as a treatment for COVID.
It was clear that stripping the governor of his emergency authority and making it more difficult for him to lead state government’s response to the pandemic likely was the GOP’s primary intent from the beginning.
Republican pretenders to the governor’s office already are lining up to keep Beshear from a second term in 2023. By that time, Kentucky voters will know if the GOP-dominated General Assembly failed or succeeded in protecting us from this disease which already has killed 8,000 in the Commonwealth.
As for administrators, teachers, and students in the public schools, they remain trapped in the middle of this power struggle. Depending on the strength of the anti-vaxx influence, as well as local opposition to masks in various parts of this state, it may come down to praying, home schooling and remote learning.
We were struck by the irony of Republican leadership criticizing the governor for talking too much about vaccinations. Nearly a year later, the GOP has placed itself in charge of encouraging more vaccinations by giving away pizza and using sound bites from local officials.
For those who are hoping for the best outcome without doing anything to protect themselves and their families, I hope you remember what I wrote today about hope not being a strategy.
The move by President Joe Biden to not only continue the pullout coordinated by outgoing President Donald Trump, but to accelerate it, was not the best move. We didn’t even need the benefit of hindsight to see it was the wrong move. We could see it was the wrong move in real time, as it played out and the Taliban retook control of the nation as quickly as America withdrew.
And, now, despite their promises to the Trump administration, the Taliban appears to be again limiting the freedom of women and those who don’t subscribe to their brand of conservative religious ideology.
The move to leave Afghanistan the way we did was wrong. It was wrong of the Trump administration to trust the Taliban. It was wrong of the Biden administration to continue with that plan knowing the Taliban couldn’t be trusted.
And it was practically criminal to accelerate the withdrawal when we didn’t have a solid plan in place to help every Afghan who put their lives on the line to help our men and women in uniform achieve their mission.
That is a legacy that Biden will have to live with. Being commander-in-chief doesn’t absolve him of the criticism of or the responsibility for his actions.
But it shouldn’t come as any surprise.
Joe Biden has always felt the mission in Afghanistan should have been a limited one.
He was one of the few members of the Obama administration who openly disagreed with the President’s plans for nation building, holding that America’s only goal in Afghanistan should be to root out al Qaeda and bring Osama bin Laden to justice.
Once that goal was accomplished, the then Vice President believed, Americans had no business staying in Afghanistan.
But he didn’t have the power to make that decision as Vice President.
As President, he does.
So, we find ourselves where we are today. The Taliban are back in control of the nation. Many of our allies have shamefully been left behind and face the possibility of death, or imprisonment, or worse.
And, ironically, all the conditions are met for Afghanistan to once again become a safe haven for groups like al Qaeda. There is the possibility, and the hope, that international pressure and a desire for some sort of legitimacy can keep the Taliban from allowing that to happen again. But if that happens, it won’t be due to the actions of the Biden administration. It will be thanks to our European and Asian allies, and their hard work and diplomacy.
The Biden administration still has the opportunity to do good work. The infrastructure plan his administration has championed promises to help revitalize American communities, and make them safer. He still has three years to make significant impacts to climate policy, and he’s already begun repairing overseas relationships strained by four years of Trump policy.
But the Afghanistan fiasco could very well be the defining moment of his presidency.
We’re not international policy experts. Maybe what Biden did is the best option, and America shouldn’t be in the business of nation building. There was undoubtedly corruption in the Afghan government, after all. Maybe we shouldn’t have propped it up.
But America need not “nation build” to maintain a presence and provide stability. World War II ended more than 75 years ago, yet America still has military bases in both Germany and Japan. The Korean War ended 68 years ago, but America still has a presence there as well.
An enduring American presence isn’t unheard of, and a remnant of American forces – even a small one – stationed in Afghanistan at the end of formal conflict might have made the difference between Afghan forces maintaining control of the nation or laying down their arms and walking away as they did.
Or, maybe not. We can’t say for sure.
What we can say is the pullout led to Taliban control, and the timetable that Biden committed to made it impossible to do right by our allies in country.
That was wrong, and the President will have to own that, no matter what the future ultimately holds for Afghanistan and her people.
East Carter’s Kanyon Kozee (#13) bears down on West Carter’s Blake McGlone (#32), attempting to cut him off as he carries the ball toward the goal. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)
By Jeremy D. Wells Carter County Times
Anyone who underestimated the West Carter Comets team was in for a surprise on Friday when they faced off against the undefeated East Carter Raiders for the annual Battle for the Barrel showdown.
But the Comets, who started their season with a 21-23 loss to Rowan County (East Carter beat Rowan handily, 28-8, in their match-up the following week), showed that their 6-0 win against Fleming County the following week was no fluke. They kept that momentum going through a down week and right on into their match-up with East Carter, going home with the barrel on a 22-16 win over the Raiders.
The Carter County rivals held each other scoreless through the entire first quarter of the game, and most of the second. There were less than five minutes left in the half when Cole Crampton broke out for a long run down the West Carter sideline, and a first down at the 12 yard line, setting himself up for a touchdown and a 7-0 West Carter lead.
East fought back, attempting to make up the difference and advancing to scoring position. But they couldn’t overcome the Comet defense, with West Carter’s Isaac Bond slapping down a scoring pass from the five yard line with four seconds left in the half.
West Carter started the second half with a first down on the 46 on reception, with Sam Jones and Black McGlone receiving for yardage, and quarterback Eli Estepp advancing the ball to the 20 yard line before turning over possession to East. The ball traded sides twice more, with Nikk Barnett and Kanyon Kozee adding yards for the Raiders, but both sides staying scoreless through the third quarter.
Going into the final quarter the score was still at 7-0, with the Comets in possession of the ball, but East would gain possession again before West Carter got the ball back and McGlone scored, halfway through the quarter, taking the score to 13-0 before Estepp made good on the extra point kick to take the Comets to 14-0.
But East Carter wasn’t giving up just yet. They continued to gain yardage on a series of short but complete passes and rushing attempts to advance the ball to the nine yard line on a third down before Kanyon Kozee scored a touchdown for the Raiders and Charlie Terry made good on a two point conversion, putting the score at 14-8 with 3:32 left in the game.
West wasted no time in broadening that gap again though. After taking possession on East’s 48 yard line, McGlone rushed for 35 yards, taking the ball to the 13 yard line and setting up West for another touchdown, by Crampton, and two point conversion from Sam Jones, to put the score at 22-8 with 1:22 left on the clock.
Even though there wasn’t much time, East wasn’t ready to give up. They fought back hard, with quarterback Kozee connecting on a pass to Connor Goodman for first and 10 on the three yard line and setting East up for a Barnett touchdown and two point conversion with just 53 seconds on the clock, taking the score to 16-22.
Another touchdown could have tied the game, and an extra point could have won it for the Raiders. But there just wasn’t enough time left on the clock to take the ball back from West and fight through their defense to score before the clock ran out.
West Carter coach Daniel Barker, who acknowledged his team struggled in their first outing, said he, “could not be more proud,” of the hard work and practice his team have put in to turn things around in their second and third outings.
“We never wavered on these kids,” Barker said. “We had no doubts they’d continue to improve each week.”
That includes quarterback Eli Estepp, who Barker said has really stepped into his new role and continues to show growth and leadership.
“He’s a first year starting quarterback, and stepping up and doing a great job,” Barker said. “I thought he was so gutsy. You know, we’re running those run-pass options, and so he’s reading and, down
the stretch, it’d be easy to just hand it off, and, you know, he made throws. He made great throws.”
He said Estepp knows he has some big shoes to fill, but that hasn’t stopped him from stepping up.
“You know, you think about this. You’re a first time starting quarterback, and the guy you’re replacing has every school record. (But) he’s more than living up to the challenge, and we’re excited to see what he does the next few years.”
Estepp finished the night with nine pass completions on 13 attempts, for 103 passing yards, and kicked both of West’s extra points.
Crampton scored two rushing touchdowns for the Comets, and McGlone scored on a reception, with Jones giving the team their only two-point conversion on the night.
Crampton had his legs on Friday night, rushing for 118 yards over 24 attempts, though rushing losses put the team total at 107 yards.
In addition to his touchdown pass, McGlone connected on three other passes, for four receptions and 78 receiving yards. Jackson Bond caught two passes for 40 yards, and Kaden Wilson and Jones caught one pass each to add eight and six yards, respectively, to the Comets total.
On defense Isaac Bond had two solo tackles and 12 assists to lead the team with 14 total tackles. Conner Greene had one solo tackle and 11 assists, Neil Lusher had three and eight, Bradyn Flener four and four, McGlone one and six, Jones had seven assists, Samuel Rayburn had six assists, and Gavin Adams had four assists. Jackson Kidwell has two solo tackles and one assist, Preston Nauman had one solo and two assists, Ethan Bledsoe had one assist, Cade Oppenheimer, Crampton, and Jackson Bond had one solo tackle each, and Noah Orcutt had one tackle assist, giving the Comets 17 solo tackles, 63 assisted tackles, and 80 total for the evening, with one defensive sack shared between Jones and Rayburn.
The Comets play again on Friday, at home, versus Raceland. East Carter faces off against Fleming County, in an away game. Both games start at 7:30 p.m.
West Carter celebrates their victory against East Carter. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)
East Carter’s Kanyon Kozee (#13) attempts to take down West Carter’s Blake McGlone (#32) during the
Battle for the Barrel last Friday. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)
East Carter’s Kanyon Kozee (#13) bears down on West Carter’s Blake McGlone (#32), attempting to cut him off as he carries the ball toward the goal. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)
ASHLAND, Ky. – Ashland Community and Technical College would like to congratulate Coy Hall, Associate Professor of History, on the release of his first novel, Grimoire of the Four Imposters.
According to Hall, Grimoire of the Four Impostors is a collection of six horror tales that take place in the 17th century. The presence of a real grimoire, or spell book, links all the stories, so there is an overarching story to be told through them. The book starts with an English lord searching the Hungarian countryside for the real grimoire. Once he finds it, it leads the reader into the four-impostor tales that make up the core of the book: “The Orb of Wasp and Fly, Being a Psalm of the Malformed Mind,” “The Nightshade Garden,” “The Brine and Bone Alchemy,” and “Sire of the Hatchet.”
Hall says the book then moves into the catacombs beneath Nottingham with its closing tale, where the reader finds out the results of deciphering a code hidden in the real grimoire. There are a variety of characters involved, including occult scholars, French adventurers, and German executioners. The book takes the reader all around the world, from a Hungarian village to an English manor to an island in the Caribbean.
“In each tale, horror builds to a crescendo, so I want to warn that some readers may find the book frightening and disturbing,” said Hall.
Hall, who has written fiction since he was a teenager, has often placed his stories in the past.
“This was the first time I placed my stories in the 1600s, which, as a historian, is a favorite era of mine to study and teach. I thought that era would be a good niche for me,” he said. “A lot of people write stories set in Victorian times, but stories set in the 17th century are rare.”
Hall has published around 40 short stories in magazines and anthologies, but this is his first book to see publication. His second and third books, a crime novel and a western, will release in 2022. He also has two additional novels, crime and horror, releasing in 2023.
“This book can stand alone, but I have a sequel planned that would feature six linked stories set in Europe following World War I,” Hall said. “I have a great interest in 1920s Germany, revolutionary Hungary, and especially the film industry in those nations. A tentative title is Visions of Cheops, which would tie in the book with the German occultist Albin Grau. The ‘real grimoire’ here would be films rather than texts.”
He added, “Although the stories are fictional, the places, events, and ideas found in Grimoire of the Four Impostors are real, and I hope that adds another layer to the book.”
Grimoire of the Four Impostors can be purchased anywhere online, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Nosetouch Press released the book in hardcover, paperback, and ebook on September 7.
Hall says he will be doing appearances and book signings in the coming months and will be selling copies on those occasions. Events include West Virginia Book Festival in Charleston on October 23 and the Haunted Majestic in Huntington on October 30.
“I’ll also be doing something with the book to coincide with my second annual Halloween Horrors: Journeys into the Macabre series with the ACTC Library, as well,” he said.
Visit www.coyhall.com for more information about Hall’s books and stories.
School last year wasn’t what we were used to. While the district is trying to get back to something normal, this year has already had its fair share of days that were less than traditional. NTI (non-traditional instruction) is here to stay in some form or fashion – either as take home assignments or online work, or both – at least for days when COVID exposure leads to classroom quarantine.
With the growth of online learning, even if school never transitions completely to online, there could be a day in the future where there are no more snow days or rain days. Instead, kids will log on during these weather events and attend classes virtually, just as they did last year for COVID.
It definitely won’t be what we remembered growing up. But then, what we remember differed slightly from what our parents remember. And significantly more from what their parents remembered. Depending on how old you are, a parent or grandparent may have even gone to a one-room schoolhouse where students of several different ages and ability levels all learned together.
The modern school, as we envision it today, isn’t really more than 100 years old in some parts of our region.
The Olive Hill Public School first opened its doors in September of 1921, and the Carter County Herald took it upon themselves to remind readers that it was their duty to encourage scholarship – and not to belittle schools, teachers, or curriculum in the presence of their children, lest they negatively influence their attitude toward school. If they had issues with any aspect of their child’s education, the Herald encouraged them to, “go to the school authority and state your criticisms,” directly, rather than “poison (a child’s) mind against his friends and help him to despise the thing he most needs.”
They also reminded parents that they needed to take attendance seriously, and provide excuses for any absences, so that teachers could comply with state laws regarding truancy and attendance.
On the opening day of The Olive Hill Graded Public School they had “about 400 pupils” enrolled, “the largest ever on a first day,” owing in great deal to state laws that made it compulsory for all children between the ages of seven and 16 to attend school.
So, while school today, and in the future, might not look the same as our schooling did, schooling as we know it is fairly new in the grand scheme of history. Who knows what tomorrow may bring to education? One thing is certain, though, education is still key to our children’s success, and parents need to do well not to “poison (their) minds” against it.
Eddie is a one-year-old male Malinois mix. He’s a friendly, happy boy who would love to come home with you. Eddie’s $75 adoption fee includes rabies vaccination and being neutered. Stop by the Carter County Animal Shelter and meet him or call 475-9771 for more information.
Shelter hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday by appointment.
Traditional farmers routinely plant a cover crop at the end of a growing season. This is not something usually done by vegetable growers but is highly recommended.
A cover crop is intentionally seeding a crop if your garden is going to be sitting idle for a period of time, instead of letting the land sit fallow. It will put nutrients back into the soil to improve fertility and erosion control. The type of cover crop you choose to plant depends on your equipment and level of interest.
There are two types of cover crops, legumes and non-legumes. Legumes will add nitrogen to the soil and non-legumes, a type of grass, establishes better than legumes. In a vegetable garden a mixture of the two is common, but you can choose one or the other. Cover crops are typically planted in the fall after all crops have been harvested.
Examples of cover crops include:
Cereal rye – non-legume – planted September to November
Wheat – non-legume – planted September to November
Crimson clover – legume – adds nitrogen – planted August to September
Grasses are easier to remove in the spring, before planting, because they have a shallow root system. Crimson clover is recommended as a legume with its shallow root system and is a good pollinator.
Contact the Carter County office of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service for more information about cover crops for your vegetable garden. 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.
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.
Benjamin Stone, 33, of Grayson, arrested by Grayson PD, on a charge of failure to appear, arrested and booked September 6.
Kelston Ingles, 23, of Grayson, arrested by Grayson PD, on a charge of first degree criminal abuse of a child 12 or under, arrested and booked September 6.
Jeffery Wellman, 25, of Grayson, self surrender, booked September 6.
Charles Nickell, 55, of Sandy Hook, arrested by Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, on charges of failure to operate boat at idle speed in a harbor or congregation area, insufficient or absent flotation devices, operating a boat while intoxicated or under the influence, arrested and booked September 6.
Christopher Burnett, 23, of Grayson, arrested by Grayson PD, on charges of theft by deception including cold checks over $1,000 but less than $10,000, arrested and booked September 8.
Ashley Lane, 31, of Olive Hill, arrested by Olive Hill PD, on a charge of failure to appear, arrested and booked September 10.
Shane Baier, 35, of Grayson, arrested by Boyd County Jail staff, on a charge of failure to appear, arrested and booked September 11.
Andrea Robinson, 32, of Ashland, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on a charge of failure to appear, arrested and booked September 11.
Brittany Adkins, 34, of Ashland, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on a charge of failure to appear, arrested and booked September 11.
Joseph Elam, 34, of Grayson, arrested by Grayson PD, on charges of failure to appear, receiving stolen property worth more than $1,000 but less than $10,000, and probation violation for a misdemeanor offense, arrested and booked September 11.
Sean Stevens, 25, of Grayson, arrested by Grayson PD, on charges of menacing and resisting arrest, arrested and booked September 11.
Regina Whisman, 40, of Clay, arrested by Grayson PD, on charges of failure to produce an insurance card, no registration receipt, no license in possession, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, and first degree possession of a controlled substance – heroin, arrested and booked September 12.
William Church, 44, of Webbville, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on charges of public intoxication, arrested and booked September 12.
Felicia Elliott, 31, of Rush, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on three counts of failure to appear, two counts of probation violation for technical violations, and one count of probation violation for a felony offense, arrested and booked September 12.
Candy Arthurs, 50, of Olive Hill, arrested by Olive Hill PD, on charges of first degree possession of a controlled substance – drug unspecified, possession of drug paraphernalia, and non-payment of court costs/fees/fines, arrested September 12, booked September 13.
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. Individuals who are released or post bail shortly after arrest may not be listed.
The Northeast Kentucky Small Business Awards recognize businesses and entrepreneurs from across the five county (Carter, Greenup, Boyd, Lawrence, Elliott) area. But businesses from Carter County represented an outsized number of the awards nominees this year.
For instance, more than half of the 2021 New Business of the Year nominees – eight out of 15 – were from Carter County. These included Angel Wills with Happy Hills Farmstead; Paul and Bobbi Sloas from Inflation Station; Bonnie Barker and Debbie Jenkins, owners of Jean Marie’s Boutique; Johnny Bailey for Johnny’s Gadget Repair; MaKaylen Genung and Olive Branch Platters, LLC; Shannon L. Smith-Stephens, CNP, APRN-BC, PLLC; and Lincoln and Christy Stamper, with Trinity Sisters Design.
That trend carried through to the Service Business of the Year category, where again half of the nominees hailed from Carter County. Nominees included Rhiannon Greer, Dance With Hope Studios, LLC; Jason Duvall, Duvall and Moore Funeral Home; Emaley Russell and Christopher Pereyra, Empower Athletics; Shannon Shutte and Mary Hollingsworth, Retro Salon; and Carolyn Callihan, Tyler’s Pizza. That number was more than half if you include Misael Nuñez, whose Tres Hermanos Nuñez restaurants are found in Carter, Boyd, Greenup, and Lawrence Counties.
“Me being from Carter County, that excites me,” said event coordinator Rachel Duvall Bowling, with the Kentucky Small Business Development Center. “It shows people are coming to Carter County and putting down roots and starting small businesses.”
“It was a welcome change of pace,” she added, noting that Carter County has not always been so well represented in the past.
While the new and service categories had the largest percentage from Carter County, county businesses were well represented in other categories too. For instance, one third of the nominees for Emerging Business of the Year were from Carter County – Flowers by Jeanie/Lavender Blooms, Phyllis Sturgill; Walking on Sunshine Wellness Spa & Shoppe, Pamela Howard and Camelia Blair; and First Light Home Care, Shadow and Rebekah Skaggs.
Three of the eight nominees for Retail/Wholesale Business of the Year were from Carter County. These included Erwin’s Auto Sales, Ronnie Erwin; Holbrook Computer Repair and Sales, Bruce Holbrook; and Valley of Hope Farms, Milissia and Stephen Owens.
Three local business owners were nominated for Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Misael Nuñez, Tres Hermanos Nuñez; Rhiannon Greer, Dance With Hope Studio, LLC; and Shadow Skaggs, First Light Homecare.
Skaggs was the sole winner from Carter County, taking home the award as 2021 Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
Bowling said businesses can be nominated for the awards by anyone, even themselves. The small business development center has a call for nominations every year, she explained. Most of the nominations they receive come from people that have worked with the business owners, she said. Or from their customers. But this year there was a special focus on nominations through social media, she said.
A committee then pours over the nominations to determine finalists and winners. But everyone who is nominated deserves special recognition, she said, and they try to provide that recognition and exposure for all nominees.
All nominees have the name of their business and often their logo in the program and on materials. The same goes for event sponsors. This exposure, and the awards breakfast, “helps build those networks” so business owners can get to know and support one another, she said.
In the coming year or so, she said, they are looking at expanding that informational aspect, possibly with exhibits for each business, showing what items or services they offer.
For more information on the Northeast Kentucky Small Business Awards, and other services available to small business owners, contact the Kentucky Small Business Development Center at Morehead State University at (606)610-2123 or online at kentuckysbdc.com/morehead.
The Olive Hill branch of the Carter County Public Library’s new reading nook offers a comfortable place to browse your book. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)
By Jeremy D. Wells Carter County Times
If you haven’t been to the Olive Hill branch of the Carter County Public Library in a while, you might want to pay a visit. The branch has gotten a lot of new books, it’s undergoing some reorganization, and it’s gotten a visual makeover.
“There was nothing wrong with the way it was,” explained library aide Rei Parsons. “But our thinking was, ‘Let’s move things around, make it look fresh.’”
That included a reorganization of books, partly to make room for some of the multiple donations the library has received through their book drive and partly to make the organization more intuitive.
Large print books are now on a shelf closest to the librarian station. Other books are organized along the same wall by genre, like westerns, romances, fantasy and science fiction, young adult, and graphic novels. The young adult section continues around the corner to the new reading nook.
That space features a few overstuffed chairs near the window – the perfect place to curl up in a sunbeam with a good book.
“It’s really comfy,” Parsons said of the space, which will also feature a laptop station in the near future. Though the library has computers available to work with, she said, sometimes people bring their own computers to work on. This station will give them a place to sit up their computer and plug in while working.
She said all juvenile books have now been moved into the kid’s room as well, and that graphic novels will eventually be separated into adult, YA, and children’s titles and shelved accordingly.
Non-fiction books are still organized by Dewey decimal system along the main wall of the library.
The new organization has also opened up a lot of floor space. But before they begin putting in more bookshelves, Parsons said, they need to have some tests done to be sure the floor can safely bear the load.
Mostly, she said, the changes were made for aesthetic and organization reasons, not to make more space.
“I feel like every now and then, whatever space it is, you need to change it up,” she said.
You can stop by and see what you think of the space Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Olive Hill branch is located at 120 Comet Drive, on the third floor of the old high school building.
Guests at Jace Holbrook’s ninth birthday party line-up for ice cream at Sweet Life ice cream parlor and bakery. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)
By Jeremy D. Wells Carter County Times
It’s a random Friday afternoon, and Sweet Life is packed with excited kids, waiting for their ice cream.
“This is what it’s all about,” owner Steve Sharp says over the chatter, grinning broadly and excusing himself from our interview to hand out giant, all-day suckers to the youngsters.
It’s pretty hopping for a place that hasn’t even held their grand opening yet, but Sharp – who runs the shop with his wife Ruth – said they’ve had that kind of community support since their soft opening.
His son had an out of town event that day, but they had to postpone their departure when they drove by the shop and saw that the line went out the door and down the sidewalk. Instead, it was an “all hands on deck” situation until everyone was served.
While they don’t have that sort of “out the door” line everyday – much to the relief of their regular customers, we imagine – they’re doing a steady business already offering locally sourced baked goods and locally roasted coffees and coffee drinks in addition to their ridiculous variety of fantastic ice cream flavors.
They already knew ice cream. They’d taken over Daddy-Yo’s three years previously, Ruth explained, but they wanted to expand it to offer more than just frozen treats. They also wanted it to be someplace where the community could more comfortably gather, so they decided to move it to the current location, on Main Street, and change the name. Thus, Sweet Life was born.
“We wanted to gear it toward the community. A place that the community could use, and a place that they didn’t already have,” Steve said. “A place you could come into, sit down, order coffee, use your laptop, have meetings.”
He said they already have a lot of pastors that come in and have coffee while working on their sermons, or meet with their congregation members in the shop.
He said they wanted to give Grayson, “something of a get away,” so it’s laid out and painted to feel like you’re on vacation in a small beach bungalow, with calming, cool colors and simple but classic designs.
Supporting local producers and artisans was also important to the Sharps, so they work with local bakers for all the goods offered in the store.
“We’ve got our own in-house bakers that work seven days a week,” Steve said. But they also want to bring in other local bakers to feature their goods.
“We currently have four or five ladies that are from the community, some have their own businesses, and some who just love to bake,” Ruth said.
“We have Andre Porter, Raised Right cinnamon rolls,” Steve continued. “We have Monica Carper, she does all of our cupcakes, Brooke Williams, she does cheesecakes, Amanda Puckett, she works our bistro and does our coffee, but also does our fudge, does our zucchini breads, (and) Emily Johnson does specialty cookies.”
Other in-house bakers and employees include Melanie McDowell, Josalynn Bush, Graycee Castle, Kara Marsh, Andrea Womack, Makena Adams, McKenzie Moore, Jessica Barker, and Ian Rice.
They also source their coffee from three different local roasters. They’re available to order by the cup, in coffee drinks (their espresso roast comes from Silver Bridge), or by the bag for brewing at home.
“We offer three different local coffees,” Steve said. “Goose Bridle, of course, from Grayson. We offer Silver Bridge, which does our in-house coffee, out of Gallipolis, Ohio. Then we offer Baxter’s out of Somerset, Kentucky. We wanted to feature local businesses, again, and try to support our tri-state area.”
The ice cream is the only thing, in fact, that isn’t locally sourced. The Sharps have it flown in from Wisconsin’s Chocolate Factory, which regularly ranks among the top ice cream producers in the Dairy State. It’s a rich, full flavored product, and it’s worth the extra expense and shipping costs, Steve said. His customers seem to agree. He said he’s had to purchase five floor freezers, and keeps the two display freezers full beneath the display as well, and he still can’t keep enough ice cream on hand to fully keep up with demand.
“I think I’ve bought every freezer in Grayson,” he joked.
But, watching the kids from the birthday party pile back into the van after their ice cream, he says the time and energy has been worthwhile. He has more plans for the shop in the future, including more outdoor seating, and hopes they can be a fixture in the lives of the Grayson community and families for years to come.
Like he said when the rambunctious kids first came pouring through the door, “This is what it’s all about.”
Mrs. Dianna Stevens Mosier, age 71, of Clay City, Kentucky, formerly of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Thursday, September 9, 2021 at her residence
She was born January 2, 1950 in Columbus, Ohio to the late Robert and Mary Riggs Stevens.
Dianna was a homemaker who enjoyed reading, listening to music and spending time with family and friends.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Robert John Mosier. One son, Robert Jackson Mosier and one daughter, Lizabeth Mosier. Three brothers, David Michael Stevens, Daniel Stevens and William Stevens.
Dianna is survived by two sons, Phillip Waddell of Heartland, Michigan and John Jason Mosier. Two daughters, Sherry Rowlett of Mansfield, Ohio and Sheryl Weikle of Mansfield, Ohio. One brother, Gary Stevens of Olive Hill, Kentucky and one sister, Shirley Sparks of Lawton, Kentucky. Many loving grandchildren, along with a host of other family members and friends who will sadly mourn her passing.
Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother Louie Harris officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Olive Hill, Kentucky.
Friends may visit after 10 a.m. Wednesday, September 15, 2021, until the service hour at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky.
Family and friend will serve as pallbearers.
Due to COVID-19 regulations, we ask that everyone wear a mask and practice social distancing.
The following indictments were returned by the Grand Jury of the Carter Circuit Court on July 16, 2021. An indictment is not a determination of guilt or innocence. It is simply a charge that an offense has been committed and indicates that a case is pending on the charges listed. All defendants have the presumption of innocence until found guilty in a court of law.
Though it is a part of the public record, the Carter County Times does not make a habit of printing the names of minor children or the victims of alleged crimes, except under exceptional circumstances.
Aaron Sturgill, 54, of Olive Hill, on or about June 6, 2021, committed the offenses of possession of a controlled substance, first degree, second offense, when he possessed methamphetamine, a schedule one narcotic, with a prior conviction for the same, a Class D Felony; and resisting arrest, by using physical force against an arresting peace officer, a Class A Misdemeanor.
Betty Stephens, 46, of Sandy Hook, on or about June 6, 2021, committed the offenses of trafficking in a controlled substance, first degree, second offense, by distributing, dispensing, selling, transferring, or possessing with intent to distribute, dispense, or sell fentanyl, carfentanil, or fentanyl derivatives, while having a previous conviction for trafficking in a controlled substance, a Class B Felony; operating a motor vehicle under the influence, by operating a motor vehicle on a public roadway while intoxicated, a Class B Misdemeanor; ; possession of drug paraphernalia, when she unlawfully possessed drug paraphernalia with the intent to use it for the purpose of introducing into the human body an illegal or controlled substance, a Class A Misdemeanor; expired registration receipt, in violation of KRS; and failure to maintain required insurance, first offense, by driving a motor vehicle on a public roadway without valid insurance in effect on the vehicle, a Class B Misdemeanor.
Orry Perry, 18, of Olive Hill, on or about May 19, 2021, committed the offenses of fleeing and evading police, first degree, motor vehicle, with intent to elude, disregarding officer’s directions to stop and creating a substantial risk of serious physical injury or death, a Class D Felony; and wanton endangerment, first degree – police officer, by wantonly engaging in conduct which created a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury to a police officer, a Class D Felony.
Paige Middleton, 64, of Olive Hill, on or about December 7, 2019, committed the offense of theft by deception – cold checks over $500 but less than $10,000 by issuing or passing a check or similar sight order for payment of money, knowing that it would not be honored by the drawee, to obtain property or services from a business, with intent to deprive them thereof, a Class D Felony.
Ronald Henderson, 50, of Olive Hill, on or about June 14, 2021, committed the offenses of operating a motor vehicle under the influence, first offense, by operating a motor vehicle on a public roadway while intoxicated, a Class B Misdemeanor; and possession of a controlled substance, first degree, first offense, when he possessed methamphetamine, a schedule one narcotic, a Class D Felony.
Robert Gollihue, 21, of Willard, on or about May 23, 2021, committed the offenses of operating a motor vehicle under the influence, first offense, by operating a motor vehicle on a public roadway while intoxicated, a Class B Misdemeanor; and possession of a controlled substance, first degree, first offense, when he possessed methamphetamine, a schedule one narcotic, a Class D Felony.
Barren Barker, 27, of Grayson, on or about June 28, 2021, committed the offenses of operating a motor vehicle under the influence, first offense, by operating a motor vehicle on a public roadway while intoxicated, a Class B Misdemeanor; and possession of a controlled substance, first degree, first offense, when he possessed heroin, a schedule one narcotic, a Class D Felony.
Mr. Robert Harold Prater, age 79, of Grayson, Kentucky, passed away Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at Carter Nursing And Rehabilitation Center in Grayson, Kentucky.
He was born Wednesday, February 18, 1942 in New Hall, West Virginia to the late Garnett and Nora Mae Williams Prater.
Robert was a member of Western Hills Church of Christ in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a graduate of KSD school for the deaf. Robert loved being a Cincinnati native, singing to the top of his lungs, walking, calling everyone cowboy, Bengals, Reds and his family.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by one brother, Morris Prater. One sister, Wanda Hoover.
He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Judy Scott Prater. Five sons, Richard Prater (Louanne) of Grayson, Kentucky, Gary Prater (Rhonda) of Grayson, Kentucky, David Prater of Grayson, Kentucky, Eric Scott of Pikeville, Kentucky and Derrick Scott of Pikeville, Kentucky. One daughter, Danita Prater of Grayson, Kentucky. One brother, James Prater (Tina) of Maddison, Indiana. Ten grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and his loving nieces, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, September 13, 2021 at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio with the Family officiating.
Mr. Johnny Junior Easterling , age 69, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at his residence.
He was born Sunday, July 6, 1952 in Carter County, Kentucky, a son of the late John and Lucy Mead Easterling.
Johnny was a member of the Mountain Top Church of Jesus Christ. He retired from Cline Fire Brick Industries in Ashland, Kentucky. Johnny enjoyed Hunting, fishing, being outdoors, bowling, golfing and going to church where he sat on the front seat and was an encouragement to everyone there. He loved the Lord Jesus and told everyone to rejoice when he crossed over to God’s country.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by one son, Johnathon Eric Easterling. One brother, Billy Easterling. Six sisters, Opal Stevens, Genevene Bryant, Mary DeBoard, Kate Hedge, Phyllis Easterling and Virginia Easterling.
Johnny is survived by four grandchildren, Timmy Lee Easterling, Amber Easterling, Jazzmine Easterling and Wyatt Easterling. One great-grandchild, Arlie Michael Lee Steele. Three brothers, Gary Easterling (Phyllis) of Olive Hill, Kentucky, Bobby Easterling (Rita) of Olive Hill, Kentucky and James Easterling. Two sisters, Joyce Jones of Olive Hill, Kentucky and Judy Conn of Olive Hill, Kentucky, along with a host of other family members and friends who will sadly mourn his passing.
Funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, September 11, 2021 at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky with Brother Mike Bryant and Brother Jeff Roe officiating. Burial will follow in the Deboard-Easterling Cemetery in Olive Hill, Kentucky.
Friends may visit from 12 noon, until the service hour on Saturday at the Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky.
Mr. Odis “Odie” Crank, age 94 of Olive hill, Kentucky passed away Sunday morning, September 5, 2021 at his residence.
He was born December, 19, 1926 in Carter County, Kentucky to the late Earnest and Ella Cheeks Crank.
Odie was of the Pentecostal Faith and was baptized in Jesus name on September 11, 2016. Odie retired from General Refractories Brickyard in Olive Hill, Kentucky. He loved chewing tobacco, fishing, loved to take rides and he especially loved spending time with his family, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years, Phyllis Blankenship Crank, two daughters, one infant and Pam Crank, one brother, Ernest Crank Jr., seven sisters, Dorothy McGuire, Dorsie Crank, Loreta Markwell, Maddylene Crank, Margie Hicks, Beatrice Wilson and Isabell Kiser, one daughter in law, Fran Crank.
He is survived by three sons, Steve (Deb) Crank of Minford, Ohio, Rick (Mary Jane) Crank of Morehead, Kentucky, Rock Crank of Maysville, Kentucky, three daughters, Ramona Crank of Olive Hill, Kentucky, Teresa (James) Robinson of Lawton, Kentucky, Rita (Jerry) Cox of Olive Hill, Kentucky, one sister, Eunice Cook of Olive Hill, Kentucky, nine grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Sunday, September 12, 2021 at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky with Brother Terry Dean officiating. Burial will follow in the Tom Tackett Cemetery.
Friends may visit from 11:30 a.m. until the service hour on Sunday, September 12, 2021 at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky.
Odie’s family will serve as pallbearers.
DUE TO COVID-19 EVERYONE IS REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING.
FRANKFORT – As COVID-19 cases increase at the fastest growth rate of the pandemic, straining Kentucky hospitals, Gov. Andy Beshear has called lawmakers to Frankfort to extend the pandemic state of emergency, which provides administration and public health officials with the tools and measures needed to slow the spread of the virus and save lives.
A state of emergency clearly continues in the commonwealth, and following a recent Kentucky Supreme Court ruling, the Governor worked with the General Assembly to assess a call for a special session, which began in Frankfort at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021.
“This is one of the most dangerous times we’ve experienced this entire pandemic, with the delta variant burning through Kentucky and taking more of our loved ones and neighbors. It’s also overwhelming more and more of our hospitals and shutting down our schools,” the Governor said. “We need as many tools as possible to fight this deadly surge in order to save lives, keep our children in school and keep our economy churning.”
The Governor is asking lawmakers to consider legislation to address several topics including: extending the state of emergency until Jan. 15, 2022; setting forth the criteria regarding the Governor’s authority to require facial coverings in indoor settings in certain circumstances; providing additional flexibility for school districts; and making an appropriation from the American Rescue Plan Act to support mitigation and prevention activities, such as testing and vaccine distribution.
More than 7,840 Kentuckians have died from COVID-19 during the last 18 months, with case numbers spiking now because of the delta variant. We also have record numbers of Kentuckians in the hospital (2,365), in intensive care (661) and on ventilators (425). On Friday, 1,547 of the 5,111 new cases were Kentuckians 18 and younger. The positivity rate Friday was 13.17%. Just two months ago, on July 1, 2021, Kentucky reported only 215 new cases of COVID-19 – 47 of which of were for those age 18 and under – and three deaths, 201 hospitalizations, 55 patients in the ICU, 25 patients on ventilators and a positivity rate of 1.99%.
Kentucky is fast approaching nearly 600,000 COVID-19 cases during the almost 18 months of the pandemic.
