Home Blog Page 263

Late to the Game(s): Digital disappointment

The downside of foregoing physical discs

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

Over the holidays I read a review about an older game – Dragon’s Dogma – that I was sure was in my collection, but I’d never finished. I couldn’t remember starting it, though I was sure I had at one point and sat it aside based on what I was reading in the review. I couldn’t even remember what platform I had it on, though I thought it was most likely to be on PlayStation or PC since those are the two I play most on. After checking my PS4 library and my Steam library and coming up with nothing I decided, since it is an older game, I probably had it on PS3. Really wanting to give it another shot based on what I had read, I went to pull that older console out of mothballs and dust it off. 

What I found was disappointing. 

The game was in my digital library, but I could no longer download it, for reasons that I’m still not clear on. 

Here is the thing, I have a huge physical collection of PS3 games, as well as disc and cartridge based games for older consoles. I haven’t counted them in a while, but I easily have in excess of 60 disc based games still in my PS3 collection. But more and more my collections have trended toward digital downloads, as most have. I’m not sure how many digital games are in my PS3 collection, because of some changes to the PS3 store that we will address in a little bit, but there are 285 digital games in my PS4 library – with 212 of them coming from my years of paying for a PlayStation Plus (PS+) subscription. I’d say my PS3 library is probably fairly similar. My Xbox and Nintendo digital libraries, while not as impressive, are still respectable. 

MyPC collection is even deeper. I currently have 421 games available to download in my Steam collection, which is my largest digital PC library. When you add on the download permissions in EA Origin, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect, Bethesda.net, IndieGala, GOG. com, and Activision/Blizzard’s Battle.net, well, let’s just say I have a lot of games. 

Some of these games were review copies. Some were what we call “product knowledge” or PK copies, from my time working for Electronic Arts. A lot of them on gaming consoles come from subscription services like Xbox Live Gold and PS+. But most of them I’ve purchased, either directly from digital storefronts or through charity fundraisers on IndieGala and Humble Bundle. 

Obviously I can’t have all of those games downloaded and installed on my PCs or my consoles at all times, so I do what a lot of folks do in the digital age – I download a game when I want to play it, then I delete it to make space for another game I want to try. 

That’s what probably happened with Dragon’s Dogma. 

Normally for PlayStation all you have to do is find the game in your library on PS4, or in the game store through the console or online at store.playstation. com, and redownload it. You can even tell the online store to go ahead and start downloading it to your console, so if you want to buy a game in the morning from work, and play it that evening when you get home, it will be downloaded and ready. 

But Sony has recently removed online access to older consoles like the PS3 and the handheld PS Vita through the PlayStation store website. The only way to connect to the PS3’s game store, to either purchase games or download games you are already entitled to, is to boot up the console and visit the storefront that way. This was why I had to pull out my PS3 and hook it up instead of just visiting the online link to see if I was entitled to the game on PS3. When I visited the store page for Dragon’s Dogma, though, there was no download link. No purchase link. There was only the game page and links to purchase add-ons. Usually this occurs when a game is only available as a physical disc, but I know this game is not one of the games I have on disc. 

I also know I had installed and played some of Dragon’s Dogma at some point, probably through PS+ (though I may have purchased it during a sale too), because I have some trophies in my collection for completing the introduction. I probably had it installed on my first PS3, which eventually went bad and was replaced. That or I deleted it to make room for other games at some point in the past. But if I want to play it again, I’m going to have to purchase another copy for PS4. 

With so many other games in my library, just waiting to be played, I can’t see myself doing this. So instead I spent an evening finding other games on the PS3 store that I own, and don’t want to lose access to, and downloading as many as my hard drive could fit. This included making some tough decisions about what games to keep and which ones to delete or pass up. It’s a dilemma more and more gamers are facing, or will face if they haven’t already. 

There were protests a few years ago when Ubisoft removed Scott Pilgrim vs the World from digital storefronts – the only place they were available. What this meant was that if you didn’t have it already downloaded, you weren’t going to be able to download it again. 

Most recently Sony has removed Cyberpunk 2077 from their online store because of complaints about the quality of graphics and other game glitches that rendered the digital release unplayable for many. They offered refunds to those who had purchased the game – a rarity in the digital age – but for now those who want to play the game on that console, even with glitches, are out of luck. 

It’s enough to make the more cynical gamer want to limit their purchases to physical copies. But even purchasing a physical copy doesn’t guarantee you’ll be able to play the full game. Because of the pressure to release games before holidays, or to meet other projected release dates, more and more game publishers are pressuring the studios they work with to ship incomplete copies, with purchasers expected to connect to the internet to download “day one patches” that will make the game playable. In fact, it’s been an industry standard for at least a decade now. Don’t have reliable internet access, or want to play the game years from now after a studio has folded or a publisher discontinues support for the game? Too bad. 

So what can you do? Outside of buying several huge hard drives and regularly downloading, and updating, all the games you’ve purchased onto them, very little. Console generations come and go now, just as they always have, and the manufacturers cease support and updates for older consoles. While older consoles that shipped with complete games might continue to function just fine as long as they are maintained, and older disc and cartridge based games can be ripped (i.e. digitally copied to a computer) and played through emulators, modern games from the last two or three generations are more tricky. Some of them require connecting to servers to play, and when those servers are discontinued the games are functionally dead. This has happened with several different MMOs (massively multiplayer online games), but it’s also happened with single player and local co-op games. 

You can also make a choice, as a consumer, to eschew games that don’t ship complete, but that is going to limit your gaming options. Nintendo, as a console manufacturer and game publisher, does better than most at shipping complete games. Sony and Microsoft, though, have more of the big titles from third party publishers, who rarely ship complete games these days. But even games from their exclusive publishers rarely ship complete. Nintendo isn’t completely immune to these issues either, especially when you are talking about digital downloads or games from other publishers. 

On PC, purchasing games from GOG.com, a storefront that specializes in mainly older – and therefore completely patched – games is an option. All GOG games come free of DRM (digital rights management, a system that can require pinging publishers’ servers to authenticate ownership) as well, so you don’t have to worry about a consistent online connection. But you still have to have the room on an internal or external hard drive to keep all those games. You’d also have to count on GOG sticking around if you didn’t immediately download and archive all your purchases. While it doesn’t look like they are going anywhere anytime soon, other online retailers have disappeared. 

Remember all those games purchased through promotions like Humble Bundle, the digital retailer that donates a consumer determined portion of sales to charities? Some of those were in the form of digital codes for redemption at another online game site called Desura. At one time Desura positioned itself as a DRM free and indie alternative to Steam. They had a website, where you could make purchases and redeem game codes, and had their own version of “indie bundles.” They had a game launcher like Steam as well. But they were sold several times after launching. While Desura as a website is still around, it no longer has a game launcher where you can access any games you might have purchased through them in the past. In fact, you can’t download any games through them at all. Instead they essentially serve as a browser portal for emulating Android and iOS mobile games. So all those cool indie games that myself and others paid for are now gone. Floating out there in the ether. Short of finding a pirate site – a risky prospective for multiple reasons, and one I cannot in good conscience recommend – those games are just gone. 

Sadly that’s the trade-off we make for the convenience of pre-loading games for launch day play and less physical clutter. As consumers we either need to demand a change, or we learn to live with it and get used to the idea of purchasing games again on new platforms. That, or we move on and play some other game in our library. 

I know what choice I made on that one, at least this time. But maybe some day, when it’s on sale for a couple of bucks at GOG, or I find a used disc copy equally cheap, I’ll give Dragon’s Dogma – and other games I’ve lost to the digital graveyard – another go. But today? For today I’ll move on to another game. After all, it isn’t like I’m suffering for choices. 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes. com 

HELP extends thanks to volunteers and donors

 The Health Equipment Loan Program (HELP), founder Jean Adams, and volunteers would like to thank those who have helped them put a smile on the faces of more than 87 elderly and out of work individuals with gift bags this holiday season. 

They started with a few and “it just kept growing until they reached 87 elderly,” said spokesperson Melissa Gibson in an email. “These bags contained everything from food to hygiene items, recreational items, homemade items and more.” 

Jean and husband Eddie Adams, she explained, started putting the bags together from donated items and “just kept making them until all the items that had been donated were gone.” 

Volunteers who delivered the goodie bags said the smiles, laughter and tears they saw when they knocked on doors with the bags in hand were beyond heartwarming. 

The organization wishes to extend their thanks to all who donated funds, their time, and items for inclusion in the gift bags this holiday season. 

In the Shadow of War: A book excerpt from a new fiction project

By: Keith Kappes
for Carter County Times

 (AUTHOR’S NOTE – Welcome to the first chapter of “In the Shadow of War”, a novel I wrote over the last three years. Some national book publishers have rejected this exciting, 40-chapter love story about an unlikely couple thrown together as World War II is about to erupt in Europe. I invite you to read this chapter and give me your feedback on whether or not you would consider buying a paperback book with the entire story. Please send your response to me at keithkappes@gmail.com. Thanks in advance for your help in this market research experiment. Please be as candid as you choose.) 

No question about it, Joshua Harlan Stebbins III was perplexed. 

He simply didn’t understand how a rich, smart, good-looking, young American writer like him had been in Europe for two weeks without persuading at least one beautiful woman to be his companion. 

If his Sigma Chi fraternity brothers at Vanderbilt University found out about it, they might revoke his nickname as the “Sweetgum Stud”. 

But today would be different as he waited for an open chair at the Café Tulip. While lighting his pipe, he noticed a young woman with her head down on a table, sitting alone. Her body was trembling. 

He reached for his handkerchief just as any Southern gentleman would do. He dropped his book satchel at her feet and offered the handkerchief. 

“Pardon me, ma’am,” he whispered in his best Tennessee drawl. “Can I help you? You seem to be upset. Please let me help you.” 

It was a warm, sunny day across Central Europe. The sidewalk café beside the Tulip House Hotel was crowded. The Danube River flowed gently a few yards away from the Old Town section of Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. 

Standing regally above Old Town was Bratislava Castle with its red-roofed towers reaching skyward from the gleaming white stone walls. 

A discarded newspaper on the pavement rippled in the breeze. The dateline of the tattered paper showed May 1, 1939. 

To this moment, no one else seemed to have noticed the distraught woman Josh was trying to help. She was dressed stylishly, like most of the other patrons. The Tulip Café was known for its wealthy clientele.

But she brushed the stranger’s hand aside without looking up. And began to speak to him in English with a slight German accent. 

Her words were not clear. Her speech was slurred. She looked up at him with teary, bloodshot eyes. Her face was flushed and puffy. Tears rolled down her cheeks. 

“Leave me alone,” she whimpered. “I’m not worthy of your help. My life is over. Please go away.” 

Her voice faded to a whisper as her head fell back onto the table, knocking her empty wine glass to the cobblestones below. 

Patrons at the other tables turned their heads at the sound of breaking glass. A nearby waiter started walking toward them. 

The young man quickly seated himself at her table and laid his hand tenderly on her shoulder. The waiter was red-faced and angry as he reached the couple. He spoke in a demanding voice.

“Was geschieht hier? Quel est le problème?”

The young man quickly responded.

“I know you just asked me something in German and in French. Can you ask it again in English? 

The waiter paused then smiled as he recognized Joshua Stebbins, the handsome young American writer who lived in the hotel basement, a converted wine cellar. Tanned and well-muscled, he seemed confident and experienced. 

The waiter replied in perfect English but in a lower voice.

“Herr Stebbins, I didn’t realize it was you. Is there a problem with your friend? She’s been sitting here all afternoon. She drank most of two bottles of wine before her money ran out. The café manager has been watching her. May I be of assistance?”

“Thank you…it’s Bernhard, isn’t it?”, Josh said with a sigh of relief. “I’ve heard the staff say you are the best waiter at this hotel. I don’t know this woman, but she needs our help.” 

Flattered by the young American’s words, the stocky, bearded waiter walked closer and spoke quietly as the woman stirred and started to raise her head from the table.

“I will bring the fraulein some coffee. She can’t sleep here or disturb the other guests. I will tell the manager she is one of your students from the University…and that you are responsible for her.”

Bernhard began to walk away before Josh could protest. As he looked around Café Tulip at the other well-dressed patrons, Josh began to feel uncomfortable. He offered to help this stranger, but she refused him. Should he just walk away? He looked at the woman and turned back to Bernhard.

“Thank you. I’ll try to get her back on her feet. But she wasn’t too friendly when I first offered to help.”

The woman finally sat up, quietly staring at the river, trying to regain her composure. She avoided looking directly at the handsome but uninvited guest at her table. Finally, she spoke. 

“Warum helfen sie mir?”

Josh shook his head and reached for his German-English dictionary. Before he could open it, she spoke again, this time in English.

“I asked why are you helping me? Am I not a stranger to you?” 

Tears began pooling in her eyes as Josh leaned over to push the dark, matted hair away from her face. This time she accepted his handkerchief. 

The coffee arrived and he poured her a cup. Before she could turn away again, he gently touched her trembling arm and spoke in low, soothing tones.

“I grew up in Tennessee in the States. My mama would be mad as the dickens if she ever found out that I didn’t help someone in trouble, especially a lady. I don’t want to meddle in your life but I am curious about why a beautiful woman like you would be so upset and say her life was over.”

A faint smile crossed the woman’s lips as she responded.

“If you knew the truth about me, you would leave and never look back. I am not a good person. I married a man for his money and now I have nothing. No family. No money. No place to go. Nothing.” 

Josh was shocked by her candor. His mind raced with questions about this mysterious woman. She was not as young as he first thought but close enough for him. She was tall and slender, his favorite body type.

Elsa, at 29, was a few years older, but seemed to respond to his energy and enthusiasm. 

In turn, he could feel a growing physical curiosity about her. He was handy with the ladies back home and hoped his time in Europe would be more of the same. He was determined to learn more about this woman.

“I must go back to the University within the hour. May I escort you to wherever you live?” 

Again, her eyes brimmed with tears.

“No. You don’t understand. I am destitute. Hotel Central is holding my luggage because I couldn’t pay for my room. The Polizei will take me into custody and send me back to Germany because my name is on the list.” 

Josh recognized “Polizei” as “police” in German. Was she a fugitive from justice? His writer’s instincts were taking over. Who is she? What is her story? He had to know more. He gently squeezed her hand.

“What list?” he asked.

Now it was her turn to be surprised. Did this young American not realize what was happening in Europe? 

She hesitated, then answered. 

“It is the list of Jews living in Czechoslovakia. This used to be a German city called Pressburg and the Nazis intend to reclaim it for the Third Reich, much like they did to Austria this spring with Anschluss.” 

Josh wasn’t sure what that last word meant. His facial expression said so and he blurted out the obvious question. 

“What’s Anschluss?” 

“That’s what they call the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany,” Elsa said. “It happened three months ago.”

Her words suddenly came in torrents.

“Too bad for me I married a Jew and must always be Jewish and not Aryan. My name is Elsa Muller and I am Catholic but not to the Nazis. They have my picture on wanted criminal posters in this area.” 

Her voice grew more frantic. 

“To them, I will always be Frau Bleiberg, wife of the Jew merchant, Jakob Bleiberg, my divorced and very dead husband, the man I hated but had to marry to support my mother and brother. If they find me, I know they’ll take me to one of those camps. I’ve heard what happens there to Jews and gypsies.”

She pulled Josh closer and whispered.

“I’ll kill myself before I let them take me.”

At first, Josh was taken aback by the sheer power of her vow never to be taken alive. For a fleeting moment, he thought it would be a great line of dialogue for one of his future novels. 

He leaned back and closely watched her, admiring both her courage and her nicely proportioned body. Later, he would learn, much to his delight, that she had been a standout athlete which left her with very well-developed muscle tone.

Elsa, too, found herself becoming more and more intrigued by this friendly, courteous newcomer with killer blue eyes, blond hair, and a chin dimple. At six feet tall and well-muscled, he might offer her refuge and protection from her pursuers. At this point, she really had no other options.

She was flat broke and had only one bargaining chip left… herself. 

Carol Malone widening funded: Mountain Enterprises wins bid for $6 million project

A truck carrying heavy equipment turns off of Carol Malone Boulevard onto Main Street in Grayson in this file photo. A recently funded project will widen Carol Malone to help accommodate the heavy traffic the road receives, including additional turn lanes onto Main Street. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

 The often discussed road widening project on Carol Malone Boulevard could see some progress in the new year. 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced last week that a contract has been awarded for the project which KTC expects to begin “early next year” according to a press release from the cabinet. The contract for the project, which was advertised for bid this past fall, went to Mountain Enterprises, who had the lowest bid on the project at $5,976,248. 

That cost will cover wider travel lanes along the one and a half mile stretch of road between the entrance to Kentucky Christian University at Academic Parkway and the Little Sandy River, as wells as new right and left turn lanes. This will include additional turn lanes onto Main Street (US 60), and other work that is expected to help reduce congestion and improve traffic flow along the route. KTC said in their release that the plan should also help improve safety and reduce accidents along the route. 

The stretch of roadway, which runs concurrently with portions of KY Route 7 and KY Route 1 through town, “serves as many as 17,000 vehicles per day” the KTC said, as well as serving as “an important I-64 connector in Carter County.” 

While a construction schedule for the project hasn’t been decided upon yet, KTC said contractors and state highway engineers will be meeting “soon” to develop that schedule. 

Contact the writer at editor@ cartercountytimes.com 

Olive Hill Fire Department seeks volunteers: Department hopes to add more paid positions in future

Volunteer firefighter Caleb Manning hoses down his gear after responding to a fire Monday morning on Aden Road. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

 While the Olive Hill City Council recently voted to add the description of firefighter to paid city positions, allowing the fire department to employ part time staff three days a week, new fire chief Jeremy Rodgers says the department still needs more volunteers to fill the needs of the city and surrounding communities the department serves. 

Speaking to the Times after returning from a fire on Aden Road Monday morning, Rodgers explained that the department had three different fire departments respond to that call, with 14 firefighters from the Olive Hill, Grayson, and Grahn fire departments working together to battle the fire. That, he said, was a good response. Normally the numbers are much lower. 

“The benefit of today is a lot were off because of the holiday,” he said. “Normally it’s half that.” 

The department has 35 volunteers on their roster, he said. “But if we get 6 to 8 at any given time, we’re lucky. That’s a big number.” 

While the three paid staff, who have been serving three days a week since the start of the month, have been a big help for the department, Rodgers said the department needs more volunteers. Even if they can eventually increase the number of days to five, which is one of the new chief’s goals, they still couldn’t meet all the demands on the department without the help of volunteers. 

As an example, he noted, the department had responded to 15 calls in the three days since Christmas Eve. 

“Most of those were wrecks,” he said. But, he explained, they get calls for all kinds of situations. Everything from the proverbial kitten up a tree to helping medical staff get to work in white-out snow conditions. 

“We’ve even gotten calls to remove snakes from houses,” he said. “It sounds cliché, but when people don’t know who to call, they call the fire department.” 

There is also the cost involved for the city to bring on paid firefighters, something most eastern Kentucky communities simply can’t afford to do. 

While Rodgers praised the mayor and city council for their efforts to bring paid firefighters on, the costs for the department’s equipment, not to mention kits for firefighters, are exceedingly expensive even without the additional cost of payroll. Just the cost of a coat and pants alone is in excess of $2,600. A full kit, with coat, pants, boots, gloves, helmet and protective hood can run upward of $3,400 – per firefighter. That doesn’t include the costs for trucks, air tanks and breathing equipment, or extraction equipment for removing people from wrecked vehicles. 

New extraction equipment can cost $30,000 or more. The costs for trucks can be from several hundred thousand to a million dollars or more if new. While the department tries to find deals on used trucks and equipment, it’s expensive to run a fire department. 

In order to meet all the department’s needs, they have to have volunteers. 

While you might think the department needs young, strong volunteers – and they do – Rodgers emphasized that the department is open to volunteers “at any age.” Anyone, he said, can help with tasks from handing out water to assisting with traffic control. Or, getting snakes out of homes. 

To be a state certified firefighter, he said, requires 150 hours of training. 

“But we’re not a career department,” he explained. While paid, career firefighters might have to go through intensive training and meet those hours in a relatively short amount of time, with the volunteer departments those hours might be spread out over two years. 

“To get started, you need about 20 hours of core classes,” he said, adding that a lot of what the volunteers end up learning is through “on the job training.” 

Even if they don’t have those 20 hours of core classes in, he said, “they can start helping on day one.” 

Those who are interested in volunteering can come out to any of the regular firefighter meetings, which take place at the Olive Hill station house at 6:30 on Thursday evenings. 

“Just come in, sit in, and if you’re interested fill out an application,” he said. “If someone doesn’t know for sure, and wants to see if they’re interested, come to a meeting.”

Volunteers are not required to be residents of the city, and in fact most of them live outside of city limits but in the area served by the department. 

If you decide you do want to volunteer, you can come in and help at any time that’s convenient as well. 

“There’s always something to do,” he said, from wiping down equipment to washing fire trucks. 

They also do a nice breakfast on Saturdays. 

Those interested in volunteering can also call Rodgers at (606) 255-0004 or assistant chief John Humphries at (606) 315-6069 for more information.

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

Michael “Wayne” Barker

1974-2020

Mr. Michael “Wayne” Barker, age 46, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Monday, December 28, 2020, at his residence.

He was born February 24, 1974, in Boyd County, Kentucky, a son of Patricia Catherine “Cathy” Perry Barker of Olive Hill, Kentucky, and the late Marvin Wayne Barker.

Wayne enjoyed working on vehicles.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by two brothers, Jason Barker (Bonnie) and Kevin Lee Barker, all of Olive Hill, Kentucky, and one sister, Janice Sue Phillips of Olive Hill, Kentucky. He also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss him.

A graveside service will be held at 12 noon Friday, January 1, 2021, at the Barker Family Cemetery in Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother Jimmy Barker officiating. 

Due to the COVID-19 regulations, we ask that everyone wear a mask and practice social distancing. 

Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky, is caring for all arrangements for Mr. Michael “Wayne” Barker. 

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

Angela Thornsberry

1967-2020

Miss Angela Thornsberry, age 53, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Sunday, December 20, 2020, at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Kentucky. 

She was born January 18, 1967, in Ashland, Kentucky, a daughter of Kathleen Nolan Thornsberry of Olive Hill, Kentucky, and the late Gladie Thornsberry.

Angela attended Soldier Church of God and she was a homemaker. She enjoyed shopping for purses and jewelry and listening to music. 

In addition to her mother, she is survived by five brothers, Ronnie Thornsberry (Kimberly) of Shelbyville, Kentucky, Wade Thornsberry (Wilma) of Raceland, Kentucky, Vaughn Thornsberry (Joyce) and Tim Thornsberry (Amy), all of Soldier, Kentucky, and Rodney Thornsberry (Shaun) of Catlettsburg, Kentucky; two sisters, Debbie Rayburn (J.D.) of Olive Hill, Kentucky, and Pam Lawson of Lexington, Kentucky; and several nieces and nephews. She also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon Sunday, December 27, 2020 at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother Clifford “Tippy” Price officiating. Burial will follow in the Patton Cemetery in Soldier, Kentucky. 

Friends may visit from 11 a.m. to 12 noon Sunday, December 27, 2020, at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 West Highway US 60, Olive Hill, Kentucky 41164.

Angela’s family will serve as pallbearers.

Due to COVID-19 regulations, we ask that everyone wear a mask and practice social distancing. 

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

Franklin Sturgill

1935-2020

Mr. Franklin Sturgill, age 85, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Monday, December 21, 2020, at Carter Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Grayson, Kentucky.

He was born October 3, 1935, in Carter County, Kentucky, a son of the late Lonnie and Ada Blevins Sturgill.

Franklin was of the Regular Baptist faith and he enjoyed fishing and hunting.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Rosalene Tackett Sturgill; three brothers, Darvin Sturgill, Berl Sturgill, and Raymond Sturgill; and three sisters, Pearl Waugh, Julie Roar, and Sue Carroll.

Franklin is survived by one son, Gary Mitchell Sturgill (Vicki) of Grayson, Kentucky; two grandsons, Dale Sturgill (Darlene) and Dustin Reid; two great grandsons, Brayden Sturgill and Brendon Sturgill; and one sister-in-law, Alma Sturgill of Olive Hill, Kentucky. He also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss him.

Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 26, 2020, at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Old Regular Baptist Ministers officiating. Burial will follow in the Biggs Hill Cemetery in Olive Hill, Kentucky.

Friends may visit from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, December 26, 2020, at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 West Highway US 60, Olive Hill, Kentucky 41164.

Franklin’s family will serve as pallbearers.

Due to COVID-19 regulations, we ask that everyone wear a mask and practice social distancing. 

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

Ora Albert “Bub” Price, Jr.

1966-2020

Mr. Ora Albert “Bub” Price Jr., age 54, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Monday afternoon, December 21, 2020, at his residence.

He was born June 8, 1966, in Mansfield, Ohio, a son of the late Ora Albert Sr. and Helen Smith Price. 

Bub was of the Christian faith and he enjoyed going to the Vanceburg Outlaw Pulling Club and racing the Hulk, watching The Walking Dead on Sunday nights and spaghetti dinners.

He is survived by one daughter, Meagan Price (Dustin Mabry) of Olive Hill, Kentucky; two sisters, Teresa Price and Allison Slone (Ivan), all of Olive Hill, Kentucky; and nieces and nephews, Crystal Kiser, Mathew Blankenship, Ivy Slone, Travis Slone, Cody Slone and Adan Slone. He also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss him.

A graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, December 26, 2020, at the Bradley Cemetery in Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother Matthew Blankenship officiating. A funeral procession will be leaving Globe Funeral Chapel at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday.

Aaron Dickerson, Little Aaron Dickerson, Taylor Dickerson, William Abbott, Travis Slone and Eric Price will serve as pallbearers.

Due to COVID-19 regulations, we ask that everyone wear a mask and practice social distancing. 

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

Barbara Kay DeHart Gilliam

1936-2020

Mrs. Barbara Kay DeHart Gilliam, age 84, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Monday, December 21, 2020, at her residence.

She was born April 17, 1936, in Olive Hill, Kentucky, a daughter of the late Roy and Dessie Bond DeHart.

Barbara became a member of the Garvin Ridge Wesleyan Church in 1986, she served as a board member, Sunday School teacher, and president of W.W.I. (Wesleyan Women International.) She loved serving the Lord and was baptized at the age of 15. In 1990, she opened the Citizen Bank and managed it as a cashier and also served as Vice President until they sold the bank in 2000. She enjoyed teaching, working with the ladies missionary and serving dinners to families. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Donald Gilliam, and one sister, Jacqueline Roe.

Barbara is survived by three sons, Gregory Gilliam (Sherry) of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Harrison Gilliam (Andrea) of Huntington, West Virginia, and Matthew Gilliam of Olive Hill, Kentucky; two daughters, Lori Reinheimer and Jeanie Bolin (Tracy), all of Elizabethtown, Kentucky; five grandchildren, Anna Marie Sanders (Troy), Andrew Reinheimer, Darrel Bolin (Brandy), Jeremy Bolin (Jessica) and Bailey Gilliam; eight great grandchildren, Tyler Reinheimer, Dominic Hope, Pierce Lee, Ande Reinheimer, Drew Reinheimer, Kylee Bolin, Jarrett Bolin and Judson Bolin; two brothers, Roy Roger DeHart of Ashland, Kentucky, and Phillip Harrison DeHart (Katie) of Jackson, Ohio; and one sister, Joan Marilyn Blevins of Olive Hill, Kentucky. She also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.

Funeral service will be held 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother Clyde Holbrook and Brother J.C. Bond officiating.

Friends may visit from 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 West Highway US 60, Olive Hill, Kentucky 41164. 

Due to COVID-19 regulations, we ask that everyone wear a mask and practice social distancing. 

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

Uncle Jack Fultz’s Memories of Carter County: The rise and fall of Peoples Bank

Reclaiming a beautiful facade

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

Peoples Bank was founded in Olive Hill in 1913, according to local historian Francis Nash. Five years later, in September of 1918, the Carter County Herald reported on the construction of their new building on Railroad Street, across from the Depot. 

“We are reliably informed by M.S. Qualls that the entire lot of material for the erection of the new home for the Peoples Bank had been purchased and shipped,” the Herald read. The article finished with the line, “The building will be a nice structure and will add much to the appearance of the street.” 

It is a nice façade, though the interior has not stood the test of time, especially following the flooding of downtown Olive Hill. By 1965, though, as Nash noted, the building no longer served the purposes of Peoples Bank and a new home was secured on Main Street. That location would serve the bank for another dozen years. But by 1987 the bank – which had served the community for 74 years – was in trouble. 

The Associated Press reported in December of that year that the bank was being closed by state regulators because, “it’s financial condition had deteriorated to the point it could not operate in a ‘safe and sound manner.’” 

Peoples Bank was one of several banks to be closed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) that year, following downturns in economic markets beginning in October with the “Black Monday” stock market crash. The Peoples Bank closure, for instance, was “one of nine commercial bank failures” on Thursday, December 3, according to the AP. “(A) record for the most bank closings in one day in the (then) 53 year history of the (FDIC).” 

The bank building wouldn’t stay closed for long, however, re-opening the next day as a branch of the Commercial Bank of Grayson “in a purchase arranged by the FDIC.” 

That original building, though, on Railroad Street, outlived the bank itself, and is once again having new life breathed into it. While the interior is being completely redone, the 100 year old building will still look largely the same on the front, with the handsome stone work preserved through the project of Scenic Hills Realty proprietors J.D. and Debbie Rayburn to help revitalize the downtown area. The Scenic Hills Realty office itself stands as an example of what can be done to beautify and reclaim these downtown buildings that have suffered from neglect over the years in addition to natural disasters like flooding. 

We’re excited to see what the project will bring to the building and to see some effort made to preserve what is left of this piece of Olive Hill history. 

Editor’s Note: This is the 24th in a series of articles drawn from the historical newspaper clippings and documents in the scrapbooks of Jack Fultz. We thank Sally James of Sally’s Flowers in Olive Hill for sharing her uncle’s collected clippings with us and the community. – Jeremy D. Wells, editor, Carter County Times 

Oh yeah! The OUYA!

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

I’m a bit of a geek for gadgets. Specifically anything computer or game console related. I love them. Sometimes the fun for me isn’t even in playing games on them regularly once I have them set up. It’s just in getting them running. One example of this is the number of Raspberry Pi systems I have set up. I have one with a WD Pi Day hard drive (314 GB) attached to it that I have hooked up to one of my television sets. I rarely use it, but if I wanted to do some Ubuntu Linux work that wasn’t especially resource intensive, the Raspberry Pi 3 could handle some of those basic tasks. 

Another of the Pi 3s is set up to run emulators for popular old-school consoles through the RetroPie interface. Still another is hooked up to a credit card sized touchscreen and has a stripped down version of Android, among other operating systems, loaded onto the micro SD card. 

No matter what I’ve got loaded on them as far as operating systems, all have some kind of capacity for gaming. Sometimes, as I noted, the fun or the challenge for me is just in getting the system to work; getting controllers calibrated and game ROMs to run inside emulators. It can be a bit of a headache, but once you have it working there is a real sense of accomplishment. The fact that it is running on a computer that you could put in your pocket and carry with you is pretty neat too. 

But the Raspberry Pi wasn’t my first foray into the world of tiny, customizable consoles. The one that really got me hooked was the OUYA. You can be forgiven if you don’t remember, or never heard of, the OUYA. It was one of the first micro-consoles. The small cube-shaped console, roughly the size of a baseball or a Rubik’s cube, was an Android based system that was funded via Kickstarter and first started shipping back in 2013. I was one of those Kickstarter backers and I still have my little silver cube with the names of other backers engraved on the side. Somewhere out there another OUYA owner has one with my name among those engraved on it too, which is kind of neat. 

But, like many startups, the OUYA didn’t last. There were folks who backed it who were disillusioned with what it ended up being. There were those, of course, who never backed it and never played with one who wanted to slam the mini-console too. 

But for those who wanted to build their own games to run in an Android environment, but with traditional controller support instead of touch screen controls, the OUYA offered the opportunity to build, test, upload and sell your own game on your own terms. The only stipulation was that every game needed to allow users to try it for free. Creators could charge for the full game, but some part of the experience had to be free so buyers knew what they were getting. Otherwise, the platform was wide open to creative development by anyone. 

Of course, this led to a LOT of mediocre games in addition to some real gems, and some really creative, non-traditional takes on gaming. A lot of the games that were released on OUYA could more realistically be described as art projects as much as game. While that was thrilling to some, it also meant you often had to dig through a lot of stuff you might not be interested in before you found something worthwhile. Couple this with some odd curating by the company behind the console and a lot of games that should have done well just never had a chance. 

For me, though, the real fun with OUYA was in sideloading Android games meant for play on a phone or tablet device and playing them on the big screen with a controller. The console being Android based, and open source, this wasn’t as difficult as it might seem. It was really just a matter of saving Android APK files to a USB device and then installing them – either locally or to the USB stick – and creating a shortcut to the game. 

It was a fantastic way to experience older games that were being re-released for Android like the Bard’s Tale games or the original Grand Theft Auto and Tomb Raider titles. 

Of course, being an open-source system, there were also a number of emulators that allowed you to play ROMs from systems like Atari, Sega, and NES or SNES without needing to wait for an official Android port of the game. I ended up doing a lot of emulator games and the main use my OUYA got wasn’t with OUYA official games, but replaying ROMS ripped from original PlayStation discs I still owned but couldn’t play because I no longer had a working PS1, as well as backups of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. titles. 

It was a lot of fun until the company behind it, struggling to find their legs in the market and failing to turn a profit, sold the OUYA to another company that ended up shutting down the servers after a short while. 

Now my OUYA sits in the cabinet, unused and unusable, since I didn’t have it hooked up in time to download the final update before the servers shut down; games I paid real money for no longer playable. There is a powerful lesson in there for digital only game systems and the need for online access to validate ownership of a system. At least there is for anyone willing to take the time and listen. (Though with even physical copies of modern games shipping with online access required, buying a physical copy isn’t a guarantee of future playability, but I digress.) 

Of course, I’ve been reading up on the OUYA recently, and ways around the digital lock-out. There are even folks out there, other fans of the little cube that could have been, who have set up alternative servers you can connect to, and I’ve been thinking of dusting mine off again and seeing if I can make it work. Just to see if I can. 

After all, that’s more than half the fun. 

Jeremy D Wells can be reached at editor@cartercountytimes.com

Could we use public funds to finance political campaigns?

By: Keith Kappes
Columnist
Carter County Times

Hundreds of millions of dollars were spent in last month’s presidential election. About $150 million is expected to be spent in the special election on Jan. 5 to fill two U. S. Senate seats in Georgia.

Take a few minutes and think of all of the good that much money could buy in terms of fighting hunger, homelessness, unemployment, and business failures, among other problems facing millions of Americans today.

Instead, our political system today allows the so-called “dark money” from faceless contributors to literally finance the buying and selling of public office by flooding local media, social media, and other media with campaign messaging.

Unlimited resources have led to the hiring of countless numbers of phone bank operators and technical staff to bombard voters with phone calls, texts and e-mails, featuring incessant requests for more campaign donations.

National and statewide races now involve the use of electronic surveillance, computer experts and even private detectives to conduct what is called “opposition research” on opponents. That means they’re more successful in looking for and finding personal “dirt” on the opposing candidate.

I realize many of us are weary of all things political but let’s fantasize for a few moments about a new election system.

It would allocate X number of dollars to each candidate, based on the number of voters, but only for the general election. Those running in primaries would have to raise their own money but with drastically lower limits and only with contributions from individuals.

The two final candidates for governor, for example, would receive funds for the fall balloting but would have to campaign in every county in person so that voters could make choices on personal appearances rather than just TV sound bites and slick mailings.

In addition to discouraging election fraud, publicly-funded campaigns would allow additional qualified individuals to seek office who cannot today because of limited personal resources. Also, that approach would prevent wealthy candidates from buying an election victory with their own money.

My plan doesn’t yet include a means of generating that money for candidates but I’m confident that a check-off system on tax returns or something akin to that could be developed. 

Most of all, I want to take down the “for sale” sign on public office in this country.

Keith Kappes can be reached at keithkappes@gmail.com

AS WE SEE IT: Dueling over oaths

The cities of Olive Hill and Grayson both swore in their city councilpersons in the last week, both using some anachronistic language that can be a bit jarring when you first hear it. But there it is, right smack dab in the middle of a somber and serious ceremony – a pledge that the person accepting the office hasn’t fought in a duel, or served as second in a duel, in this state or any other. 

It always draws at least a smile from someone in the crowd or from those being sworn in. 

Two hundred years ago, it might have been necessary. Kentucky, indeed the United States itself, was a different place. Alexander Hamilton was killed by Aaron Burr, then vice president of the United States, in an 1804 duel. Duels were used to settle everything from questions of honor to political disputes. In at least one reported case a duel was fought over a slight and a disagreement over how to pronounce a certain Latin phrase. 

In the case of Burr’s and Hamilton’s duel the two men simply disliked each other, and their disagreements, both public and private, escalated to the point that their honor demanded some action. 

While their duel came at a time when the practice was falling out of fashion, and indeed being outlawed in some places, Kentucky was still considered the edge of the frontier at that time. Dueling – once an accepted way of settling disagreements among civilized men – was still an accepted practice for some time to come. Remnants of the old honor system could be seen in the stereotypical “old west” showdown at high noon. Though these sorts of shootouts were more a dramatic device of the dime novels of the era than actual practice, the popularity of the conceit shows just how ingrained in popular culture the idea of the duel still was. 

So, more than 200 years since Kentucky became the 15th state of the Union, it’s still a part of the oath that city council members, judges, mayors, and other elected and appointed state, county and local officials have to swear. 

There have been some efforts to change that. 

In 2010 State Representative Darryl Owens tried to introduce legislation that would remove the language from Kentucky’s oaths of office. He was unsuccessful, of course, with his opponents pointing to the preservation of history while Owens complained that preserving the language also preserved perceptions among those from outside the state that Kentucky was “backwards.” 

Owens worried that it not only drew smiles and snickers from Kentuckians and outsiders alike, detracting from what should be a serious event, but that it hurt Kentucky’s image among potential investors. 

That’s an interesting take. And Kentucky could surely use more investment and business growth. But we don’t think it’s the oath that has hurt Kentucky’s economic growth. 

In fact, while we have found ourselves smiling at the language along with elected officials, we find the preservation of this linguistic relic of an earlier era endearing. Sure, swearing in ceremonies are serious and somber affairs, but the language about duels not only injects a little levity into the ceremony for modern observers, it also points out how far we have come. While it may seem silly for us today, it wasn’t too long ago that these kind of restrictions were absolutely necessary. 

We think by keeping in mind just how far we’ve progressed as a society – to the point that the idea of solving every petty argument at gun point seems ludicrous and asinine – we can help assure we don’t slide back into those antiquated ideas. In the best case scenario it can also help keep us aware of potential modern equivalents of this “might equals right” (such as “wealth equals right” or “influence equals right”) mentality that could challenge and jeopardize our democracy. 

So, yes, it sounds a little silly. But we’re glad Representative Owens’ move failed, and has failed to take off again in the decade since his proposal. We hope the language persists for a long time to come. Not because we’re tethered by our past, but because we want to honor it and never fail to learn from it. 

Livestock and Grain Market Report 12/18/20

Extension Notes: Mistletoe – From tree thief to holiday tradition

By: Rebecca Konopka
Carter County Extension Agent

Once autumn leaves have fallen, mistletoe becomes highly visible on large trees throughout Kentucky. Phoradendron, the scientific name for this parasitic plant, means tree thief. These small, leafy plants are commonly found on twigs and branches of many hardwood species in the southern United States. Mistletoes extract water, mineral elements and food from tree hosts; hence the name, tree thief. 

Mistletoe use in holiday traditions has roots in pagan times. The appearance of a live parasitic plant while the host tree appears dead led some to believe mistletoe mysteriously held the life of the tree during winter. Druids harvested mistletoe in a special rite, never allowing the plant to touch the ground, and then hung it in their homes for good luck. 

Our modern-day mistletoe holiday tradition likely originates with a mythological Norse goddess of love and beauty. Frigga, whose son was restored from possible death by mistletoe, was thought to bestow a kiss on anyone walking beneath one. Today, when two people meet under the mistletoe, tradition suggests they must exchange a kiss for good luck. 

Phoradendron, the most common mistletoe growing in Kentucky, resembles another species that grows in Europe. It has simple, fleshy green leaves arranged oppositely on the stem. Stems are short and more branched than host trees, so mistletoe often appears as a spherical bunch of dense vegetation. These bunches may be a foot or two in diameter and are located high in the tree where sun exposure is highest. Mistletoe berries range from white to straw-colored to light red. Birds eat the fruits, reportedly toxic to humans and animals, then deposit the seeds onto branches where they germinate and penetrate the next host tree. 

Mistletoe commonly appear in open-grown trees where birds tend to roost and thereby, less frequently in forest trees. Generally, they cause minimal damage, although they can be harmful to stressed trees. Mistletoe can be removed from landscape trees by pruning. 

For more information, contact the Carter County office of the UK Cooperative Extension Service. Educational programs of the Kentucky 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 expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability. 

Late to the Game(s): Here there be Dragons

Picking up Dragon Age: Origins a decade later

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

Dragon Age: Origins might be my favorite game of all time. This introduction to the world of Dragon Age delivers everything I want in a role playing game (RPG) – a compelling story, engaging companions, decisions that truly make a difference in how the game progresses, and the best pause-and-play combat mechanics (at least for the PC version) of any game I’ve ever played. 

Let’s start with the last, combat. I’m not one of those players that wants to sit around crunching numbers to come up with the best combination of gear, talents, and companions to have the greatest damage or the best defensive group. For those who want to do those things, the option is there. But even someone like me could intuitively figure out how to set if/then actions for my party when they were running on auto-pilot during a fight, including things like when to heal an ally or when to drink a potion. If you want, or need, to micromanage fights a little closer the game’s pause-and-play combat allows for that too. This isn’t anything too unique. A lot of games allow those sort of options. What is unique to Origins is how clear and straightforward assigning tasks to party members is. I liked it because it allowed me to set parameters that kept my main character, the Grey Warden, alive while I focused on real-time combat with them. But, when that didn’t go well – or I’d screwed up and my presets weren’t enough to save me – I could always revert back to pause-and-play or switch to healing with a mage while the Warden and others hacked away at the enemy. 

Here’s the thing – I STINK at the combat part of video games. But Dragon Age’s controls were easy enough to figure out that I could enjoy the fights and get through combat so the fights could achieve what I want them to achieve in a game; progress the story. 

So let’s talk about the story. Or, rather, stories. 

Dragon Age: Origins doesn’t just have one story, and I don’t mean there are side quests. (But, there are side quests. So, so many side quests.) There are multiple potential stories and, depending on the choices you make, no two are ever going to be exactly the same. 

This starts right from the beginning. You can choose from a number of origins for your character. You can be male or female; gay, straight, or bisexual; a spellcaster or a more physical combatant; etc. Other than maybe some potential romantic subplots you could explore, most of that doesn’t make a big difference. What does make a difference is your origin and race. I didn’t realize how much a difference it made until I played through with a human mage on my third or fourth play through of the game.

You can play through the game with an origin as a human noble, a mage (elf or human), a dwarf commoner, a dwarf noble, a city elf, or a Dalish (nomadic) elf. My first playthrough of the game was as a dwarven noble. The next two origins I played through were as a city elf and a Dalish elf. (I didn’t complete the game with them, but I played through their origins and a good portion of the game.) I also played as a human mage. It was then that I noticed that a particular early quest that was available to my dwarf and to both my elves was not available to my human mage. It was a quest that involved getting something back for an Elvish family who had an encounter with highwaymen. At first I wondered if it had something to do with a decision I had made earlier with my mage, something I didn’t realize was going to cause a ripple effect. Then it hit me – in the world of Dragon Age, elves are treated as second class citizens by humans. I was a human. It was either beneath my notice to help an elf, or the elves expected it to be, and so the quest wasn’t available to me. I never made it that far with my human noble origin, but I feel I can safely assume that if it was not available for my human mage, it wouldn’t be available for the human noble either. 

Mages have their own social stigma attached to their abilities (because of the world’s history, which includes a previously powerful mage-state that established an oppressive empire), so there are differences between the way the story plays out for mages and warriors or rogues too. In the highly stratified world of the dwarves there are definite differences in the stories of a dwarf commoner and a dwarf noble – especially when you go into the dwarven capital. The same for the differences between city elves and Dalish elves, and how each is treated by their particular society after becoming a Grey Warden. For humans, if you are a noble instead of a mage, you can take your chances at romancing the future king/widowed queen – an option that isn’t open to any other origins. 

There are certain big plot points that are common regardless of your origin. But the story that gets you to those points, and that carries you from them, is as unique as you are. So is how you address some of the issues that arise along the way. Your companions all have their own ideas and personalities too, and you can lose companions if you continue to act in ways they don’t agree with. In fact, it’s sometimes impossible to keep one companion if you choose to do what is necessary to keep another. That can all change the way the story ends as well. It’s the reason why I come back to it over and over every few years. It is always familiar, and yet always fresh and surprising. 

You can find digital download codes for the 2009 game in the $4 to $6 range if you shop around. The best bet for your money, though, is the download through gog.com (www.gog.com/game/dragon_age_origins). They currently have the Ultimate Edition of the game – Dragon Age: Origins, the Awakening expansion, and all the DLC – for $4.99. GOG, short for Good Old Games, is also a legitimate retailer and all of their content is available DRM free, so you don’t have to worry about a future server shutdown by Electronic Arts keeping you from playing your copy. 

This price is 75 percent off the normal GOG price of $19.99. It’s part of their Winter Sale, which ends January 4, so you don’t have too long to snatch the game along with the expansion and DLC at this price. While you can find it elsewhere in the same price range, that’s just for the base game. It doesn’t include the DLC or the Awakenings expansion. 

You can also find used copies of the game for PS3 or Xbox360 for around the same price, though they tend to run a little higher. I have to recommend the PC version as the superior interface and experience though. It isn’t resource intensive on newer machines at all – remember it came out in 2009 – and the difference between console versions and PC is significant. No matter how you play it though, Dragon Age: Origins is a remarkable game, and one you owe it to yourself to check out if you never have. 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

Olive Hill appoints new fire chief: Council approves mayor’s nomination of Rodgers

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

 Olive Hill has a new fire chief and assistant fire chief. 

Council moved last week to approve the recommendation from mayor Jerry Callihan to appoint Jeremy Rodgers as the new chief and John Humphries as the assistant chief. Councilman Justin Dixon made the motion to accept the mayor’s nominee with Chris Bledsoe seconding the motion. 

The nomination came after more than an hour of executive session conversation, during which the mayor joined the meeting. 

Council started their meeting by approving a motion to have Dixon preside over the meeting during Callihan’s absence. They then quickly approved the treasurer’s report and various department reports – including police, fire, and code enforcement/maintenance reports. These reports were submitted electronically, rather than presented by department heads as they typically are, and were attached to the council packets. 

Council members were then sworn in by city solicitor Derrick Willis for their 2021 service on council. There were no changes to council during the 2020 election. 

After they were all sworn in council entered into an extended executive session. During that time council, who are streaming their meetings over social media to comply with open meeting requirements, removed the camera to an adjacent room. Typically council either removes themselves from the meeting room to a private room for executive session or asks all visitors and participants in the meeting who are not on council to clear the room for the duration. 

Executive sessions can only be used to discuss specific information, such as pending litigation or staffing questions. 

Following this executive session council moved almost unanimously to approve the mayor’s recommendations on Rodgers and Humphries, with councilman Allen Stapleton abstaining because of his connection to the fire department. 

During open discussion at the end of the meeting council took a question from Kris Decker, via Facebook comment, about the possibility of placing speed bumps and children at play signs or speed limit signs along Parker Memorial Drive. 

“I see roads are getting paved,” Becker commented. “How about saving some of that asphalt for speed bumps?” 

Callihan said the city would look into the possibility of getting speed bumps placed along the road. He said other speed bumps in town had been removed in the past because of issues with the salt truck clearing the devices. However, he said he didn’t see any issues with that currently and promised to look into it. 

Council also discussed the work of city employees and first responders and plans to purchase more Christmas decorations for the coming year. 

Dixon thanked city workers, firefighters, and police for their work preparing for the football game against Beechwood the previous weekend, as well as working the event. He noted the quick response of law enforcement during an incident at the game as an example. 

Dixon also complimented maintenance workers on the Christmas displays around the city. Council discussed the possible purchase of new light displays before Christmas 2021, and of adding some other types of decorations to the city, including a pair of large outdoor Christmas trees. 

City clerk and treasurer Chimila Hargett said she had been looking into pricing for lights and displays, and noted that prices were likely to drop and items to go on clearance sale following the holidays. She said the city would be looking at Christmas display prices in the period after the New Year. The city used a similar strategy for Halloween decorations they have purchased for the next holiday, Hargett told council before the meeting was adjourned.

Council’s appointment of Rodgers and Humphries as the new fire chief and assistant chief comes after recent changes to the city’s employee classifications that will allow the city to employ paid fire staff. That paid staff will serve during the day shift time period, when much of the department’s volunteer staff is busy working and outside of a reasonable response area. 

Rodgers also serves as the emergency management director for Carter County. 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

Going back to school: Board moves to extend holiday break

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

 Carter County students got an unexpected Christmas gift from the school board last week – an extra week of Christmas break. Like any gift, though, they’ll have to pay for it eventually, and in this case the bill will come due this Spring. 

Students were originally scheduled to resume classes on January 4, but, as superintendent Dr. Ronnie Dotson explained, Governor Andy Beshear has ruled that students may begin returning to school buildings after January 11, even if the county is in the “red zone” for number of cases. Because students will be allowed to return to school buildings, the board moved to add the change to the agenda and then to approve the change to the calendar. While parents may still choose to keep their children home and continue with non-traditional instruction (NTI) if they feel that is better for their family, this “aggressive hybrid model”, as Dotson called it, will allow families to choose what works best for them. 

Choosing to return on January 11 instead of January 4 will increase the potential number of in-person school days for students whose families are choosing to send them in person. In addition this revised schedule will be beneficial for students who respond better to the structure of in-class instruction or who otherwise need to be in the school building. 

The last day of school for students will now be moved from May 20 to May 26. In addition February 15 and May 21, which were previously staff work days when students did not have to report to school, are now school days. 

Dotson said the district would take every step possible to keep students safe, noting that even when county infection numbers were at their highest points the “effect on schools (had been) minimal.”

Dotson also reported the results of a discussion with staff about the COVID-19 vaccine, which will be made available to all school staff if they choose to take the vaccination. Dotson said that currently just over half of staff plan to take the vaccine, with the other half planning to decline. He said, however, that he was encouraging more staff to sign up, noting that they could change their mind right up to the moment the shot was administered if they decided not to take the vaccine. However if they decline the vaccine and then decide they want one there may not be enough doses available to cover them. 

He also noted that – so far – no teachers have had to use any of their sick days to deal with COVID-19. If, however, teachers refuse the vaccine and then become ill with the virus they will most likely have to utilize their sick days, if they are still available. Once the vaccines are available, he said, teachers who refuse the vaccine but have misgivings about returning to school while the pandemic is still ongoing will also have limited options. At that point, he said, their options will likely be limited to either returning to work without the protection offered by a vaccine or resigning from their position. 

The board also moved to change their meeting days from the second Thursday of each month to the third Monday. The change was prompted by the schedule of a newly elected board member, whose work commitments won’t allow him to meet on Thursday. 

The board also heard from Judy Dotson on virtual holiday events that students at various schools participated in, including singing holiday songs and participating in other activities. In addition to things put together by individual schools, she said, the district had put together around 2.800 family activity bags for the holiday season that included things like treats, hot chocolate mixes, and supplies for making homemade Christmas ornaments. 

The next regular meeting of the Carter County Board of Education is scheduled for Monday, January 18, 2021 at 6 p.m. in the Central Office, though if COVID numbers warrant continued virtual meetings they will meet via teleconference and broadcast the meeting to their YouTube channel as they have done with other recent meetings. 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

Dead on Dyes

Auston Brown and Ashley Osborne are Dead On Dyes. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

 Dead on Dyes’ Auston Brown and Ashley Osborne didn’t realize what they were getting into when they did their first tie-dyed shirts. They were just looking for a fun date-night activity when they bought a kit at WalMart, Brown explained. They didn’t know that a year later they would be making custom designs for folks – like putting a guy’s car on his shirt or designing a mermaid for a tapestry – and setting up booths at festivals. 

Brown did know he was hooked right away. 

He said he knew he was ready to start making more shirts, “within the first ten minutes.” 

“As soon as I did it I was hooked,” he said. 

“It took me a little longer,” Osborne said. “But I think the business kind of kicked off when one of our friends wanted to buy a shirt.” 

That friend, a musician, had other friends and fans who wanted their own shirts too, and it blew up from there. Now the duo are doing custom shirts and shipping their items to customers as far away as Ireland. Not bad for a business that has had most of its growth occur during a pandemic, when many of the festivals and community events where they might normally set-up have been canceled or scaled back. 

It’s the attention to detail, and the unique designs, that make Brown’s and Osborne’s work stand out. 

Brown and Osborne explained that it’s a combination of their dye technique, which gives them more precise dye coverage along with brighter colors in a shorter time, and their folding techniques that make their shirts different. 

“It’s actually really technical,” Brown explained. “You have to get your angles just right and the pleats the same size or it won’t turn out, so a lot of math is involved. We actually have stitched some shirts (instead of tying) and dyed them.” 

They also use a dye process called hot water irrigation, where they put down a powder based dye that is sprayed with boiling hot water. This lets them get the same results overnight that can take 24 to 48 hours of sitting to achieve with liquid dyes. 

“It makes the dye brighter and sets in quicker,” he said. 

As far as they know, they’re among the few who use hot water irrigation for their tie-dyes. They’ve also made the dye powder into a fabric paint that they’ve used for painting in fine details on some shirts and other creations. 

Brown isn’t sure how many shirts they’ve made since they started. In addition to their custom orders, he explained, they do general shirts and designs that interest them so they can have extra shirts for events. 

“We have at least three totes full of tie-dyes at all times,” Osborne added. 

They eventually hope to open a store, somewhere on the other side of the pandemic. Currently, though, they are just looking for the other side of quarantine when festivals and events pick back up and they can find more opportunities to network and let people know about the work they do. 

“It’s been very, very weird,” Brown said of starting a business during the pandemic. “You can’t hardly meet people. There for a while it was hard to get dye.” 

Osborne explained that once dyes were available again, shipping times on supplies was slowed down because of the backlog of orders and demands on the supply chain. 

Osborne also added she was pleasantly surprised when they went forward with the It’s Fall, Y’all festival in Olive Hill, and the opportunities that event provided for them. 

As for the name of the company, the origin of that was as serendipitous as their first foray into dying. 

“We went through probably ten names before we finally settled on that,” Osborne said. 

While you could be forgiven for thinking it was a play on the Grateful Dead, and the penchant that band’s fans have for tie-dye, it actually came from all those precise pleats, folds, and the attention to detail that exemplify the duo’s work. 

“Someone ordered a shirt,” Brown continued, picking up where Osborne left off, “and said, ‘Man, that’s not perfect. That’s dead on. That’s exactly what I ordered.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, man! That’s it. Dead on Dyes. DOD.’” 

You can see more examples of the precision work that inspired their name, and commission your own work, by searching for Dead On Dyes on Facebook, or visiting them directly at: www.facebook.com/PrecisionTieDyes/. 

You can also email them at dye.tieindod@gmail.com for more information, pricing, or to commission work.

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

  • Osborne and Brown work on one of their designs. As Brown noted they require exact pleating to achieve the desired effect. (Submitted photo)
  • Auston Brown and Ashley Osborne are Dead On Dyes. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)
1...262263264...288Page 263 of 288