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Starting strong: West Carter dominates in the first game of playoffs

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By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

West Carter had a strong showing in their first game of the playoffs against Prestonsburg, holding the Blackcats scoreless until the final period, and ending the game with a score of 36-7 last Friday. 

West scored their first touchdown in the first quarter with eight minutes and 16 seconds on the clock on a 79 yard run from Leetavious Cline, who has had a tremendous season with the Comets. This was West’s first offensive play of the game after forcing a Prestonsburg punt on their opening drive. The kick from Garrett Wolfe was good, giving West a 7-0 lead following that first touchdown. It was Cline again, on a one yard advance, with just under a minute left in the quarter, and a two-point conversion from Blake McGlone taking the score to 15-0. 

West Carter Quarterback Orry Perry moved into second place in passing yardage and career TD passes during the Comets first playoff win against Prestonsburg. Perry has 42 career touchdown passes and 2,961 career passing yards. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times) 

In the second quarter Gage Leadingham scored on a 29 yard pass from quarterback Orry Perry. Leadingham’s TD was followed by a Jackson Bond touchdown on a 54 yard pass from Perry. Kicks from Wolfe were good following both touchdowns, giving the Comets a 29 point lead going into the second half. 

West would score one more time in the second half, on a 25 yard run from Cline and a kick from Wolfe, taking the score to 36-0 before the Blackcats found their game legs, but it was too little too late. The Comets defense would only give up one touchdown to Prestonsburg, in the fourth quarter, on a two yard run and a kick from Jackson Shannon, leaving the final score at 36-7, West Carter. 

Cline had 15 carries, for 156 yards. His rushing yards on Friday gives Cline 1,559 yards on the season, breaking a previous record held by former player, coach, teacher, and athletic director Brian Brown since 1985. It also moved Cline into second place in career rushing yardage, with 3,430 career yards, behind the 3,750 yards of Eric Berry. Cline also had 49 rushing touchdowns in his career after the game. 

Perry was 10 for 14, with 136 yards and two touchdown passes. He moved into second place in career passing yards and touchdowns on Friday, with 2,961 yards and 42 touchdowns. Braden Brown holds the current record with 3,156 yards and 44 TDs. 

Bond had four catches and 83 yards. 

Senior kicker Garrett Wolfe was also breaking records on Friday. Wolfe broke the single season PAT record. He has 30 on the year now, breaking the previous record of 26 set by Tristan Moseby in 2015. 

Defensive and offensive lineman Gavin Gibson, who has set records with sacks, tackles, and tackles for loss, committed to Centre for their football program earlier in the week. Gavin has also performed well academically, scoring a 36 on his ACT. 

West will face Shelby Valley at home, this Friday, at 7 p.m. for their second game of the playoffs. 

On the other side of the county East Carter lost their playoff game against Russell, 28-47, eliminating them from the playoffs. 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

The creek is not a dump!

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

Carter County has a littering problem. It’s nothing new. The county fiscal court, county attorney, and solid waste and sheriff’s departments have been trying to address the issue with illegal dumping for some time now. They’ve put up cameras to catch dumpers in the act at some of the worst and most heavily dumped locations. But closing one illegal dump site often just leads to a shift to another. 

This issue was brought into the light again on Monday morning as staff at Carter Caves State Resort Park found more than 20 tires had been dumped on the creek bank near the entrance to the park. Park staff spared no time cleaning up the mess, making sure they don’t get washed downstream when creek waters inevitably rises again. But that doesn’t help with the tires, garbage, and debris already in our creeks. 

Community cleanup efforts sponsored by groups like The Friends of Tygart Creek have done a lot of hard work cleaning up the creek in the past, hauling out multiple tires and even large home appliances along with the ubiquitous plastic bottles, pop cans, and other litter. But if the community doesn’t take some pride in our lovely wild spaces, and do their part to keep them clean, they’re fighting a losing battle. 

The shame of it is Carter County’s natural beauty is one of our greatest selling points. People love the kind of natural landscapes that we take for granted. Doubt it? Take a drive out to Carter Caves and count the number of out of state and out of county license plates in the parking lot of the lodge, campground, and gift shop. When warm weather comes back around, park yourself on Carol Malone Boulevard and count the number of vehicles with kayaks and canoes on their roofs. See how many other states are represented on those plates too. 

We have a lot to offer, and people would love to come see it. People DO love coming to see it. But no one wants to hike in a garbage dump or to kayak in a cesspool. 

I remember being extremely impressed by the sheer walls and rock overhangs on my first kayak trip down Tygart Creek from the Devil’s Backbone to the Carter Caves park entrance. I grew up playing in Tygart, but this was a view of the creek I’d never seen before. But as impressed as I was with the beauty, it was marred by the tires, the pop bottles, and even a refrigerator, that littered the bank, some buried so deep in the mud, or tangled in the roots of trees, that it would take serious effort to remove them. 

There are folks willing to do that hard work, and I can’t express enough how much I personally appreciate those efforts. But what good does it do if you would rather dump your discarded appliances over the hill instead of driving to the county dumpsters? The answer is very little. 

Carter County’s citizens need to step up, and hold each other accountable. If you know someone who tosses their empty pop bottles out their car window, or dumps junk where it can wash into our creeks, make it a point to call them to task. Because if we don’t, no one else will. 

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

Worrying or wondering about living with today’s ‘new normal’?

By: Keith Kappes
Columnist
Carter County Times

He’s an old hippie
And he don’t know what to do
Should he hang on to the old
Should he grab on to the new.

He’s an old hippie
This new life is just a bust
He ain’t trying to change nobody
He’s just trying real hard to adjust. 

I’ve always appreciated these lyrics from the chorus of the Bellamy Brothers’ popular country and pop song, “Old Hippie”, in 1985. 

Those words are a reasonable description of how many folks say they feel today about the wave of dramatic changes in public health, politics, racial equity, religious, economic, education, political and other aspects of American life. 

Years ago, scholars coined the phrase “new normal” to identify those changes which initially shock or frighten us but eventually we choose to accept or tolerate. I wrote a speech for my boss on that topic about 15 years ago, but never expected that phrase to survive. 

The question of hanging onto the old or grabbing onto the new looms in front of us as we experience changes like surviving a global pandemic plus historically high unemployment rates, growing homelessness and even hunger. 

Church membership goes steadily downward and religious organizations find it harder to recruit those willing to devote their lives to a faith-based existence. The number of abused and neglected children grows exponentially, fueled by the pandemic of illegal drugs, which also brought us a tidal wave of overdose deaths. 

Deadly violence has become the recourse of too many of those angry with their families, companions, employers, neighbors, schools, or rude motorists. Jobs go unfilled because too few folks in today’s workforce either understand or appreciate work ethic or are unwilling to acquire an employable skill. 

Songwriter David Bellamy may have been 35 years ahead of his time when he advised us in that song that the safest choice is not to try to change anyone but to try real hard to adjust. 

That’s easy to say in a song but it will never address any of the issues raising anxiety levels in our nation and our world. And it will be much harder to achieve in these strange times and in those ahead of us. 

Keith Kappes can be reached at keithkappes@gmail.com

As We See It: Support your community this holiday season

The COVID restrictions are back, and that means that local businesses and local charities, both already hit hard this year by the virus, are in need of your support more than ever. 

The holidays are traditionally an important time for both. Many businesses count on the holiday shopping season to keep their doors open the rest of the year. Likewise, charitable organizations usually see their highest contributions during this season. With more people staying closer to home, however, it’s easier to skip those fundraisers – if they’re not canceled altogether. 

It’s also much easier to go ahead and do your holiday shopping online with Amazon or Walmart.com. 

Before you do that, however, we’re asking you to take a step back and consider doing your part to support the people who live in the communities we all call home. We’re not going to deny the convenience of online shopping, or even ask you to eschew online shopping altogether. 

What we are going to do is ask you to make a special effort to mask up and participate in events like Small Business Saturday. This annual event, a local counterpoint to the big box store consumer insanity that is Black Friday, is still going on despite the pandemic. The number of folks allowed in the stores may be smaller, and you may have to take pains to maintain social distancing and wear your masks, but the items you buy mean a lot more to those local businesses than your online purchases do to the Walton family or Jeff Bezos. 

Some of these local shops and businesses may even allow you to purchase gifts or gift certificates online for pickup before the holidays, just like the big businesses do. For instance, we’re buying locally roasted Goose Bridle Coffee for some of the folks on our Christmas list. We can’t think of a better gift than a hot mug of delicious, fresh roasted coffee, and roaster Will Stevens will let you pay online with mail delivery, or contactless pick-up. 

Check out their Facebook pages and web sites to see if your favorite local retailer has an online purchase option. Most will be more than willing to work with you to keep your business. 

When it comes to local charities, we can’t think of any group more deserving of your support than Project Merry Christmas (PMC). This charity, which works with the school family resource centers to identify children in need, expects to assist over 300 families this year. They’ll purchase toys, warm clothing, and books for the children, and provide food vouchers to the families. The cost for this is expected to exceed $30,000 just as it does every year. 

But events like church services, which take up collections for PMC, aren’t being done in person this year. Instead the Thanksgiving service at Bayless Presbyterian is going virtual, and they are taking up a collection via cell phone. Those interested in helping support the charity can text “PMCgift” to 888-444-8774. That will connect you to a portal where you can make a donation. 

Another of the regular PMC fundraisers that isn’t going on this year is the Grayson Area Chamber of Commerce banquet auction. Instead the Grayson Rotary Club stepped in to pick up the slack with an online auction. While that online event will have already ended by the time we go to print, we commend the Rotary Club for stepping up in this time of need and raising in excess of $3,000 for the charity. 

If you want to do your part to help PMC, which we strongly encourage you to do, you can make donations to the group at either the Commercial Bank of Grayson or First National Bank. You may also send donations through the mail to: Project Merry Christmas, P.O. Box 166, Grayson KY, 41143. 

Please, do your part this holiday season to support our local businesses, and the families impacted by the economic downturn resulting from this virus. Just because we can’t gather together doesn’t mean we aren’t still a community. Now, more than ever, we need the support that being a part of that community brings. 

Happy Thanksgiving, and God bless. 

Bank announces lobby restrictions

Staff Report
Carter County Times

The Commercial Bank of Grayson and First National Bank have announced new lobby restrictions aimed at helping curb the spread of COVID-19 over the holiday season. Both banks have closed their lobbies to the general public at all branches, opening them to customers by appointment only. 

Drive through tellers are still available at all locations, as are drive-up and walk-up ATMs. Both banks also offer digital banking services online from your home computer or smart phone. These services include internet banking, bill pay, and mobile check deposit. 

“We have one simple objective that guides us,” wrote Commercial Bank of Grayson President Mark Strother in an email to patrons,” keeping you and our employees safe.” 

Strother said they will continue to “closely monitor regulatory guidelines and recommendations on the steps we can take to help prevent the spread of the virus,” sentiments echoed by his colleagues at First National Bank. 

Anyone who needs assistance with banking needs, including help with online banking features, is encouraged to call their local branch for guidance 

Notice of Public Hearing: Kentucky Public Service Commission 12/10/20

Uncle Jack Fultz’s Memories of Carter County: Letter from Leone

Great grandniece seeks to set family feud straight

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

This week we’re going forward – to 1986 – in order to take a step back into the past to 1878. We’ve spent a lot of time looking at articles from the end of the First World War, and the Carter County of 100 years ago. But a newer scrapbook from Uncle Jack’s collection included this affidavit from Leone Gardner. Gardner, a niece of Hiram Cooper, gives us a unique look at the way family feuds could develop in the late 19th century. 

This was an incident I was unfamiliar with, but it shows how these things, and the hurt feelings they create, can reverberate down through the centuries. Gardner’s letter, witnessed and signed by other members of the Cooper clan, speaks for itself. 

Editor’s Note: This is the 20th 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

Livestock and Grain Market Report: 11/20/20

Extension Notes: Ways to deter black vultures

By: Rebecca Konopka
Carter County Extension Agent

Black vultures are native to Kentucky. As a result, they are present here year-round, but you may be seeing more of them now for a few reasons. Their overall populations have increased in the state in the past couple of years. They are also a migratory species with a recently expanded range that stretches from Canada to South America, so you will see a lot more birds in Kentucky during the fall and winter as the birds from the northern range migrate south. 

While they are usually carrion feeders, black vultures will attack and kill small- to medium-sized animals, including young livestock like calves, piglets, goats and lambs. This is why they are a nemesis to many Kentucky farmers. 

Not to mention, black vultures can roost with as many as 100 other vultures, which can make them seem particularly menacing. Their roosting can cause structural damage, because the birds have a bad habitat of picking at materials that have a rubbery texture. They have been known to damage pool covers, roof shingles, rubber roof liners, vent seals and window caulking. 

Since black vultures are federally protected by the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act, you cannot kill them or destroy their nests or eggs without a federal permit. Even if you do get a permit, these birds are extremely smart and very difficult to kill. However, it is legal to take steps to make the birds uncomfortable by making loud noises or spraying them with a garden hose. 

It is also legal to use effigies to deter them from your property. Effigies are perhaps the easiest way to deter black vultures. When properly displayed, these depictions of dead vultures are extremely effective at getting these birds to move on their way. Effigies need to be hung high and upside down by their feet with their wings spread, so the vultures can see them from a distance. 

Since many Kentucky livestock producers have animals that give birth during the fall and winter, putting the expectant mothers in one pasture and hanging an effigy in that area is very effective at keeping black vultures away from newborn livestock. For the most success, make sure the effigy can be seen from all angles and any location in a birthing pasture. You may need to hang more than one effigy to accomplish this. 

Building your own effigy is easy and inexpensive, as you can reuse many items commonly found around your farm. Matt Springer and Jonathan Matthews from the University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources have developed a pattern and directions to make a black vulture effigy using a rubber stall mat that you can freely access and print online at http://forestry.ca.uky.edu/files/forfs18-03.pdf. The entire project costs less than $30 and takes about two hours to complete. 

For more information, contact the Carter County office of the UK Cooperative Extension Service. 

Late to the Game(s): Holiday gaming game plan

Grab some free games for everyone in the family

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

If the chilly weather keeps you indoors this long holiday weekend, and the pandemic keeps you off the road, you can always hunker down with a free PC game from the Epic Game Store to pass the time. 

If you jump online early, you can still grab the current week’s free offerings. Epic currently has Elite Dangerous and The World Next Door available to claim for free on their online game store at https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/. 

Elite Dangerous, rated T for Teen, throws you into an interstellar war spread across the Milky Way Galaxy as you pilot your own starship. The action space sim takes place in a persistent massively multiplayer online world where your story and the story of other players can interact in unique and interesting ways. Or play in solo mode and avoid the risk (and rewards) of running into other players. The game does require setting up a Frontier account to play online, and may not be suitable for younger players. The T for Teen rating comes from the fantasy violence and drug references, but you never know what online interactions might bring, so if you let younger children play, you might want to stick with solo mode or play along with them. If you have more than one PC in your home, it could be a fun way to pass the time with your kids. 

The World Next Door is also rated T, but it’s a different experience entirely. It’s a puzzle battle game with “visual novel elements” that tells the tale of a teenage protagonist who finds herself trapped in a parallel world. She must “find her way home before time runs out” and she ends up stuck in the world of Emrys forever. 

Both these games can be grabbed before Thanksgiving, but if you wait until Thursday, you’ll be too late. So, if they sound interesting to you, act now. 

If you’re looking for something to play as a family on or after Thanksgiving, you can grab MudRunner for free. The ATV simulator allows up to four players to play cooperatively as they explore the remote, barren, and beautiful landscape of Siberia in a variety of all-terrain vehicles. You have to use your map, your compass, your driving skills, and implements like winches to make your way across the wilderness in this wide-open sandbox sim. Complete your deliveries and meet your other objectives in any way you see fit in this E for Everyone rated game. 

If you’re playing on console, you can still grab the PlayStation Plus free games Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition, rated E 10+ or, for the grown-ups in the family, the M for Mature rated Middle Earth: Shadow of War. 

If you plan on picking up a PS5 this holiday season, you might want to go ahead and grab the E 10+ rated bonus game, Bugsnax, while it’s still available. You don’t need a PS5 yet to claim the game, and you can go ahead and start playing it on PS4 and have it available and ready to download to your new PS5 on Christmas morning. 

So, go ahead and grab a game, and spend some time enjoying the great indoors with family this holiday weekend. Even if you can’t be in the same home together this holiday, there’s no reason you can’t chat, laugh, and enjoy a game together online. 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

Fighting fires: Olive Hill council adds fire to paid departments

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

 The city of Olive Hill has opened the door to adding paid staff to the fire department in the future. City council approved a municipal order last Tuesday, adding the job description for fire fighter to their employ classification schedule. The expressed purpose of adding that job description was so the fire department could employ part time paid firefighters. Those firefighters would be employed to cover the hours when most of the department’s volunteer firefighters were at work. 

The department is currently made up of a 100 percent volunteer staff. 

Council also entered into the first reading of an ordinance adding the fire department to the salary classification scale. This is a necessary step before the fire department can legally advertise for and hire to fill the position. 

Council met again on Monday night in a special session, expressly for the purpose of approving this ordinance on second reading, as well as approving another ordinance related to alcoholic beverages. 

That ordinance, which council also gave first reading to last Tuesday, amends the municipal code relating to alcoholic beverages. In addition to setting the hours and dates when alcohol may be sold – Monday through Sunday, from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. for packaged sales, from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. by the drink – it also sets interest rates for late payments and policies related to license fees and monthly remittances. 

Council moved to approve both of those ordinances on second reading at their special meeting on Monday. 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

Poetry Society announces annual contest winners

Carter County Poetry Society President Lorie Zientara reads a poem in this file photo. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)

 The Carter County Poetry Society announced the winners of their annual poetry contest in an online poetry reading event via Zoom teleconference last week. First place winners, who took home cash prizes, included:

  • Sandy Litteral, Private Bouquet, in the Grand Prix category
  • Von S. Bourland, What a Catch, in the Prose Poem category
  • Von S. Bourland, Tortoise, in the Pleiades category
  • Sandy Litteral, Listen to the Mockingbird, in the KY/Appalachian category
  • Von S. Bourland, Overwhelmed, in the Rondeau category
  • Joan Terry, A Fellow Called Ricky in the Limerick category
  • Von S. Bourland, My People Have Committed Two Sins, in the Spiritual/Inspirational category
  • Amy Richardson, Extinction, in the Free Verse category
  • Phillip Litteral, Hattie Marie, in the Ballad category
  • Janet Maddix, Topiary Circle of Love, in the Personification category
  • Charles Deuser, I’m 90, Yuck, in the Poet’s Choice category
  • Phillip Litteral, BFF, in the Braxton Barker poems for children category
  • Sandy Litteral, Mom’s Tomatoes, in the Haiku or Short Poem category
  • Layla Boone Litteral, The Last of My Kind, in the Young Writers category 

Sponsors for the annual poetry contest included Angela Barker Thomas, judge and sponsor; Grand Prix category: Coffee Tree Books; Prose Poem category: Lorie Zientara; Pleiades category: June’s Beauty Shop; KY or Appalachian Theme category: Neal Salyers; Rondeau category: Kathryn Finley; Limerick category: Kiser’s Klassic Kars; Spiritual / Inspirational category: Jackie Brant; Free Verse category: Flowers by Jeannie and Lavender Blooms, Phyllis Sturgill; Ballad, Traditional or Modern: Camila Haney; Personification category: Robert Caummisar; Poet’s Choice category: Carol Mauriello; Braxton Barker poems for children category: Angela Barker Thomas; Haiku or Short Poem category: Laura Eklund; Young Writers category: Globe Hardwood. 

Other sponsors included the Grayson Rotary Club, Melinda Woods-Click for the Grayson Gallery and Arts Center, and Charles Deuser. 

A vote for reading: Olive Hill approves library funding and board members

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

 Olive Hill Council, masked and spread around the room at different tables, accepted an email report from Carter County librarian Christy Boggs during their regular meeting last Tuesday, which was broadcast to the public over Facebook Live – the very picture of a public meeting in the pandemic age. Questions and comments were solicited during the public comment period by relay from the city employee running the livestream. 

The report contained a pair of requests; one for continued funding and another for the appointment of board members. 

Boggs explained in her report that the city of Grayson has agreed to meet their financial obligation to the library, voting to fund the library during a special meeting on election night. She then asked the city of Olive Hill to confirm their commitment to continue their share of funding for the library. 

Council moved to approve the request, in the form of a motion authorizing the mayor to enter into the necessary interlocal agreement with the library to continue providing that funding. Olive Hill had previously approved paying their quarterly share of the library’s funding and received assurances from then library board president Jeff Erwin that, if Grayson failed to fund their share and a library branch needed to close, Olive Hill’s branch would remain open. Erwin has since resigned from the library board. 

The library’s other request was for the nomination and approval of new library board members. Boggs provided council with a list of potential candidates, though council was also free to choose their own candidate. Council chose William Parsons and Shannon Harr from the list of nominees by show of hands. They then voted unanimously to approve Parsons and Harr for the board. Parsons and Harr replace Erwin and Teena Liles, who recently resigned from the board as well. 

In other action council discussed progress on the new police station, roadblock fundraisers, and condemned buildings; and had the first readings of ordinances related to alcoholic beverages and adding paid firefighters to the list of city employees. 

Councilman Justin Dixon asked Mayor Jerry Callihan about progress on remodeling the former health department building for police use. Callihan said the city had solicited bids for the work needed on the building and they were “outrageous.” 

Because of this, he said, the city may utilize city crews and police labor to begin the necessary work on the building. Callihan said it would likely be “to get the ball rolling” and bring the station up to where the police could begin working out of it while other work progressed. Callihan said HVAC was among the few areas where city crews wouldn’t be able to do the work. 

Callihan also said that roadblock fundraisers would still be allowed, despite heightened COVID restrictions. Council noted that roadblock workers would be wearing masks and would be able to receive funds without contact through automobile windows. 

Council also discussed a question they had received about a condemned building that is attached to other standing structures. Callihan said it has been condemned but there are no plans to take it down yet, though it may need taken down in the future. He said the challenge was in taking the building down without impacting the attached structures on either side. 

Council also moved to accept the treasurer’s report and, after an executive session, moved to set the date for a special session on Monday, November 23. That meeting agenda included the second readings of the two items on the agenda for first reading on Tuesday. 

Council approved the first readings of an ordinance adding the fire department to the salary classification scale, and amendment to the municipal code related to alcoholic beverages. They also approved a municipal order, order 2020-04, adding the description of a fire department employee to the employee classifications. (See Fighting Fires in this edition.) 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.comNOTICE 

Carter Caves raises $7,000 for hungry children

School resource center staff pose with Carter Caves park manager Chris Perry, Carter County schools director of personnel Ryan Tomolonis, and food collected by Carter Caves staff for their annual backpack program. Family resource center staff include Karen Adkins, West Carter High and Middle, Beck Walker, East Carter High and Middle, Missy Lowe, Star and Heritage Elementary Schools, David Gee, Tygart Creek and Carter City Elementary Schools, Donna Lucas, Prichard Elementary, and Donna Stamper, Olive Hill Elementary. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

 fundraising efforts hard across the board. This was no different for the Carter Caves backpack program than it has been for any other charitable effort. But park manager Chris Perry and the crew at Carter Caves weren’t going to let the pandemic stop them from helping feed hungry children in the community. 

Perry apologized to school family resource center staff for the three tables of donated food they were able to collect this year, down significantly from the ten tables they were able to fill with donated food last year. But, he noted, the park was able to raise $7,000 in cash donations with their social media fund raiser – $1,000 more than their $6,000 goal. He said he hoped that extra cash would help make up for the drop in donations. 

The cancellation of the Haunted Trail event hurt their collection efforts, Perry said. That event not only served as a fundraiser for the backpack program in past years, with entry fees going toward the program, it also brought in a lot of food donations. To encourage donations, the park gave discounts on admission for each canned or boxed food item donated. This year that fundraising was shunted to social media, with impressive results even if the food donations were down. 

What touched Perry more than the online donations, though, were the children who would approach him to donate their money to the park’s efforts. 

“A lot of kids donated this year,” he said, explaining that children would approach him at the grocery store to give him spare change and other money, or to donate food. “They were worried about their classmates going hungry.” 

Perry also thanked Zornes Home Improvement, in Olive Hill, and All American Graphics, in Grayson, for donating backpacks and drawstring bags, respectively. Those bags will be filled with the food items that are sent home with students. 

Perry said the park has raised approximately $20,000 in cash donations for the family resource centers over the past three years, in addition to the food donations. 

“We appreciate you letting us do this,” Perry said, adding that staff were always, “tickled to be able to help.” 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

School resource center staff pose with Carter Caves park manager Chris Perry, Carter County schools director of personnel Ryan Tomolonis, and food collected by Carter Caves staff for their annual backpack program. Family resource center staff include Karen Adkins, West Carter High and Middle, Beck Walker, East Carter High and Middle, Missy Lowe, Star and Heritage Elementary Schools, David Gee, Tygart Creek and Carter City Elementary Schools, Donna Lucas, Prichard Elementary, and Donna Stamper, Olive Hill Elementary. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)

Logan F. “Junior” Hall

1931-2020

Logan F. “Junior” Hall, 88, of Ashland, passed away at Crystal Care of Ashland on Sunday, November 22, 2020.

Logan was born in Globe, Kentucky on November 25, 1931 and was the son of Walter and Goldie (Tabor) Hall. Logan was of the Freewill Baptist Faith and used his musical talents, singing and playing all string instruments, in any church that he attended. He enjoyed keeping his neighborhood looking nice, working on cars, fishing, CB radio, riding his bike, and of course playing music.

He leaves behind his daughters, Melinda (Dennis) Steward, Loganna (Charles) Keys, and Karen (Craig) Sawman; his son, Frank Belcher; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and his brother, Sable Hall. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Wilma Hall; his second wife, Edna Hall; his brothers, Arthur and William Hall; and his sister, Betty Logan.

The family is observing private graveside services. The Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors is honored to serve the Hall family.

Words of comfort may be expressed to the family at www.wappner.com.

Bruce Leon Riley

1939-2020

Mr. Bruce Leon Riley, age 81, of Carter Road in Carter City, Kentucky, passed away, Saturday morning, November 21, 2020, in the St. Claire Healthcare Center in Morehead, Kentucky.

He was born May 31, 1939, in Carter County, Kentucky, a son of the late Tony and Geneva Stevens Riley.

Leon was of the Pentecostal faith and a lifelong farmer. He enjoyed gun trading, fishing, hunting, sitting on the porch talking to neighbors, going to flea markets and especially spending time with his family.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years, Lula Belle McCormick Riley; two infant brothers; two step daughters, Bessie Grizzell, Shelby Falkner; and an infant step granddaughter.

Leon is survived by three sons, David Riley (Patricia) and Paul Riley (Loretta) all of Olive Hill, Kentucky, and Troy Riley of Ashland, Kentucky; one daughter, Felma Riley of Carter City, Kentucky; 16 grandchildren; several great grandchildren; three step brothers, Lynn Ash of Carter City, Kentucky, Donnie Smith and Earl Smith both of Columbus, Ohio; and five step sisters, Helen Smith of Lewis County, Kentucky, Rosie Gallimore of Columbus, Ohio, Connie McCoy of Carter City, Kentucky, Linda McGlone and Brenda Bonner both of Olive Hill, Kentucky. He also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly mourn his passing.

A private funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 with Brother James Burge officiating. Interment will follow in the Nolen Cemetery in Lewis County, Kentucky.

Globe Funeral Chapel is caring for all arrangements for Mr. Bruce Leon Riley.

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.

Teddy Ray Rodgers

1941-2020

Mr. Teddy Ray Rodgers, age 79, of Orient, Ohio, formerly of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away, Friday, November 20, 2020, in Zanesville, Ohio.

He was born November 6, 1941, in Carter County, Kentucky, a son of the late John Rodgers and Amanda “Mandy” Barker Rodgers James.

Ted was retired from AT&T and enjoyed horse back riding, camping at horse camps, traveling to Kentucky and especially spending time with his family.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Rita Stevens Rodgers; one daughter, Belinda Sue Rodgers; five brothers, Franklin Rodgers, Henry Lee Rodgers, Bill Rodgers, Jack Rodgers, and Bobby Gene Rodgers; and one sister, June Osenton. 

Ted is survived by two daughters, Lisa Walchle (John) and Lori Bosworth (Terry) all of Mt. Vernon, Ohio; four grandchildren, Rebekah Walchle, Collin Montgomery, Joshua Walchle and Elisabeth Walchle; two sisters, Pauline Pratt (Bill) of Fresno, California, and Barbara Hicks (Gary) of South Shore, Kentucky; and a special friend, Phyllis Bohn. He also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly mourn his passing. 

A private funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 at Globe Funeral Chapel, in Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother Larry Joe Ruley officiating. Burial will follow in the Olive Hill Memorial Park in Olive Hill, Kentucky.

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.

Mary “Maggie” James Kitchen

1959-2020

Mrs. Mary “Maggie” James Kitchen, age 61, of Grayson, Kentucky, passed away Wednesday, November 18, 2020, at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Kentucky. 

She was born February 4, 1959, in Carter County, Kentucky, a daughter of the late Clifford and Mary Francis Leadingham James.

Maggie was a member of the New Beginnings Church and she enjoyed fishing, working in her flowers, yard selling, antique shopping, being a care giver and caring for her family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Jackie James, Henry James and Johnny James.

Maggie is survived by her husband of 26 years, Johnny Kitchen; one son, Shawn Eugene Terry (Elisha) of Grayson, Kentucky; two daughters, Anna Stephens (David) of Grayson, Kentucky, and Brandy May Kitchen of Marysville, Ohio; five grandchildren; six brothers, Timothy James of Grahn, Kentucky, Robert James, Donald James, and Dallas James, all of Lexington, Kentucky, Scotty James of Olive Hill, Kentucky, and Clyde James of Vanceburg, Kentucky; and five sisters, Barb Ferguson of Flatwoods, Kentucky, Loretta Dalmer of South Point, Ohio, Margie Bocook of Vanceburg, Kentucky, Tresa Griffith of Grahn, Kentucky, and Amanda James of Olive Hill, Kentucky. She also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.

A private graveside service will be held Monday, November 23, 2020, at the Oakland Cemetery in Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother Kyle Burchett officiating.

Maggie’s family will serve as pallbearers. 

Due to 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 Mrs. Mary “Maggie” James Kitchen.

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

Lora Ann Allen Pauley Kincaid

1965-2020

Mrs. Lora Ann Allen Pauley Kincaid, age 55, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Thursday evening, November 19, 2020, at St. Claire Healthcare in Morehead, Kentucky. 

She was born June 1, 1965, in Boyd County, Kentucky, a daughter of the late Raligh and Ida Myrtil Hern Allen.

Lora was of the Nazarene faith and she enjoyed working and spending time with her family, especially with her grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Richard Pauley; one brother, Raligh Allen Jr.; and one sister, Linda Crank.

Lora is survived by her second husband, Freddie Houston Kincaid; one son, Richard Pauley of Grayson, Kentucky; two daughters, Patricia Jackson of Ashland, Kentucky, and Brittany King of Olive Hill, Kentucky; 11 grandchildren; two brothers, Thomas David Allen of San Diego, California, and Michael Allen of Catlettsburg, Kentucky; and one sister, Margaret Layne of Catlettsburg, Kentucky. She also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.

At the family’s request there will be no visitation or funeral service.

Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky, is caring for all arrangements for Lora Ann Allen Pauley Kincaid. 

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

Gloria Gay Gilliam Vincent Graham

1942-2020

Mrs. Gloria Gay Gilliam Vincent Graham, age 78, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Monday, November 16, 2020, at St. Claire Healthcare in Morehead, Kentucky.

She was born March 19, 1942, in Wevaco, West Virginia, a daughter of the late Owen and Gaythel Gilliam.

Gloria loved life and from a very young age came to know her Savior and Lord who was her stronghold, friend, guide, and faithful joy through the years. Her lifelong passion was study of the Word, music, piano, accordion, baritone, and voice. Creativity in arts and teaching them to others was such fun and her love of homemaking, cooking for others, and entertaining came easily and rewarded her the opportunituies to share in close one on one with family and friends.

Gloria was an avid reader and lifelong learner. She was an eager teacher! She loved people and seeing them respond to the Word was her greatest joy beyond her personal relationship with the Lord and love for her family. Her deepest sorrow was not being able to be near family most of her life, but there was never doubt of her loving desire to be all they needed and see them truly happy. She considered herself a quiet woman of faith, deeply blessed and fulfilled in life and gave praise and glory to her Lord who was faithful to the end.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Graham; one brother; and two sisters.

Gloria is survived by two sons, John Owen Vincent (Lisa) of Houston, Texas, and David Allen Vincent of Texas; two daughters, Renee Vincent Bien (Robert) of Florida, and Sharon Vincent of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; 10 grandchildren, Tiffany Vincent Wisdom, Bradley Vincent, Austin Vincent, Steely Logan Vincent, David Lee Vincent, Nathan Charles Vincent, Danielle Thomas, Cari Thomas, Hannah Thomas, and Tyler Bredal; eight great grandchildren, Shelby Wisdom, Tara Wisdom, Samantha Wisdom, Bradley Vincent Jr., David Walter Vincent, Robin Vincent, Jenna Thomas, and Evelyn Renee Thomas; four amazing brothers, Major Owen (Linda\Glenna) of Olive Hill, Kentucky, John (Patricia) of Augusta, Georgia, David (Kathryn) of Weirton, West Virginia, and Major Brian (Loretta) of Wesley Chapel, Florida; niece, Captain Lauren Boatman; nephews, Owen Andrew Gilliam, Major Paul Gilliam (Deanna), Major Timothy Gilliam (Cheryl), Major Mark Gilliam (Becky), Stephen Gilliam, Major David Brooks Gilliam (Lori), Rob Gilliam (Chellie), and Michel Gilliam (Jessica); great nieces, Katelyn Paul (Phillip), Abigail Gilliam, Emily Gilliam, Alexis Boatman, Liesl Gilliam, Ashley Gilliam, Ashleigh Gilliam, and Ella Rose Paul; and great nephews, David Owen Gilliam, Benjamin Gilliam, Isaac Gilliam, Jacob Gilliam, Tobias Gilliam, Michael Brock Gilliam, Nikolai Gilliam, Sebastian Gilliam and Eli Samuel Paul. She also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, November 20, 2020, at the Kiser-Gilliam Cemetery in Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Major Dean Moretz officiating.

Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.

Due to 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 Gloria Gay Gilliam Vincent Graham.

In lieu of flowers, please direct donations to The Salvation Army, 2212 Carter Ave., Ashland, Kentucky 41101.

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

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