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Kentucky retailers prepared for record Father’s Day spending despite lingering economic uncertainty

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FRANKFORT, Ky. — Despite lingering economic uncertainty, retailers across Kentucky are geared up for what industry experts forecast will be record spending for the upcoming Father’s Day holiday.

A recently released National Retail Federation (NRF) survey projects that consumers nationwide will spend a record $24 billion this year ahead of the June 15 celebration — topping the previous record of $22.9 billion in 2023.

“The Commonwealth’s retailers are working overtime to provide great selection, value and service to help Kentuckians celebrate the special dads in their lives,” said Tod Griffin, president of the Kentucky Retail Federation (KRF).

NRF’s survey found that consumers plan to spend an average of $199.38 this year, up approximately $10 from last year’s figure of $189.81. Nearly half of consumers (48%) plan to purchase a gift for a father or stepfather, followed by those purchasing gifts for a husband (25%), son (12%), brother (9%), friend (8%) or grandfather (6%).

The most popular gifts for dads in 2025 include greeting cards (58%), clothing (55%), special outings (53%) and gift cards (50%). Subscription boxes and gifts of experience continue to rise in popularity. This year, 43% of shoppers plan to gift a subscription box, up from 34% when NRF first asked the question in 2019. Additionally, 30% of shoppers plan to give a gift of experience, up from 23% in 2019.

When it comes to shopping destinations, online (41%) remains most popular, followed by department stores (35%), discount stores (23%), specialty stores (22%) and local/small businesses (19%).

NRF’s survey, conducted May 1-7, polled 8,225 consumers nationwide about their Father’s Day shopping plans.

The Kentucky Retail Federation is a non-profit trade association representing diverse businesses across the Commonwealth — from department and drug stores to boutique, hardware, apparel and building supply retailers.

For more information about the KRF, please visit kyretail.com.

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About the Kentucky Retail Federation

The Kentucky Retail Federation is the “Voice of Retailing” throughout the Commonwealth, representing retailers of all types and sizes since 1939. From Main Street to the mall, retailers enhance Kentucky’s communities and provide a better quality of life for Kentuckians everywhere. Kentucky’s retail industry supports 556,000 jobs and pays more than $9.3 billion in wages annually. Retailers collect over $2.8 billion in state sales tax and pay millions in other taxes to state and local governments.

“Other” voter registration continues to surge

a person holding a voting ballot paper
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Frankfort, Ky. – Secretary of State Michael Adams announced that Kentuckians registered under “other” political affiliations have bested Republican and Democratic registrations combined for three straight months.

“As the Democrats move further left and the Republicans move further right, more voters are registering as Independent,” said Adams. “Kentucky has a large and growing political center; candidates should take note and court this growing bloc of voters.”

In May, 4,157 voters were removed, including 3,173 who were deceased, 440 who moved out of state, 402 convicted felons, 65 who voluntarily de-registered, 49 voters adjudged mentally incompetent, and 28 duplicate registrations.

Republican registration constitutes 47 percent of the electorate, with 1,582,699 voters. Republican registration gained by 1,026, a .07 percent increase. Democratic registration accounts for 42 percent of the electorate, with 1,391,172 voters. Democratic registration fell by 838, a .06 percent decrease. There are 361,168 voters registered under other political affiliations, making up 11 percent of the electorate. Other party registration jumped by 1,352, a .38 percent increase.            

Senator Robin Webb selected as moderator of high-level conservation session

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 9, 2025) — The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has selected Sen. Robin Webb, R-Grayson, to moderate a national panel discussion on modern wildlife conservation during its 2025 summit in Boston, MA, in August.
The session will explore the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation (NAMWC)—a framework built on principles of sustainable use, public benefit, and science-based management. Widely regarded as the world’s most successful conservation approach, the model supports a $150 billion outdoor recreation economy and more than 480,000 American jobs. It continues to shape modern policymaking and is partly funded by federal programs that reinvest hunting and fishing-related taxes into state-level conservation efforts.
A lifelong advocate for conservation and an avid sportswoman, Webb has long championed rural Kentucky’s natural resources and outdoor heritage. She currently serves on the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee, the Senate Agriculture Committee, and the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee.
“I’m honored to moderate this conversation and bring an Appalachian, conservation-minded perspective to the discussion,” Webb said. “As someone who grew up in the woods and waters of eastern Kentucky, I understand how important it is to protect our fish and wildlife, sustain our ecosystems, and support the local economies that depend on them and the families who enjoy the great traditions associated with it.” 
The panel is part of the Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment track at NCSL’s annual summit, which brings together lawmakers and policy leaders nationwide.
NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves legislators and staff from states, commonwealths, and territories. It provides research, technical assistance, and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues. It is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the federal system.
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Sen. Robin Webb, R-Grayson, represents the 18th Senate District, which includes Boyd, Carter, Greenup, and Lewis Counties. She serves as co-chair of the Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force. She is a member of the Interim Joint Committees on Agriculture, Appropriations and Revenue, Families and Children, and Natural Resources and Energy. Webb is a liaison member of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary. Additionally, she serves on several statutory committees, including 2026-2028 Budget Preparation and Submission, Capital Projects and Bond Oversight, Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight, and as a non-voting ex officio member of the Juvenile Justice Oversight Council. 
For a high-resolution JPEG file of Webb, please visit https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators Full Res Images/senate118.jpg 
Please visit Legislature.ky.gov for information on Senate Majority Caucus members, legislative committees, and additional resources.
Lawmakers returned to Frankfort on Tuesday, June 3, to start the 2025 Interim. During this period, committees will meet to study policy issues, review implementation of recently passed legislation, and begin evaluating proposals for the 2026 Regular Session, which begins Tuesday, Jan. 6.
The full 2025 Interim Calendar is available here. A weekly schedule with meeting times, topics, and agendas can be viewed at legislature.ky.gov/LegislativeCalendar.
Live coverage of interim legislative meetings is available at KET.org/legislature and on the LRC YouTube channel.
You can follow the Kentucky Senate Majority Caucus on X, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky. 
For additional member information and press releases, visit KYSenateRepublicans.com.

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Daryl Clinton Back

Daryl Clinton Back, age 72, of Olive Hill, Kentucky, passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at UK-King’s Daughter Healthcare in Ashland, Kentucky.

He was born Saturday, January 17, 1953, in Carter County, Kentucky, a son of the late Kenneth and Nanita McGlone Back.

Daryl was of the Baptist Faith and attended Kiser Branch Old Regular Baptist Church in Grahn, Kentucky, as long as he was able. He was a life long truck driver and enjoyed watching NASCAR, especially Dale Earnhardt, riding horses, listening to music and spending time with family and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Kelli Back; one uncle, Luke Back, whom he cherished as a friend and father figure; many more cherished aunts and uncles; one brother-in-law and special friend, Jesse Binion and special friend, Mike Knipp.

Daryl is survived by his companion of 34 years, Patricia Lynn Conn; one daughter, Christi (Nick) Padden; two grandchildren, Hudson Padden, Hayes Padden; two sisters, Brenda Binion, Debbie (Greg) DeHart all of Olive Hill, Kentucky; special nieces, Jessica Binion, Amy (Wayne) Russell; great-niece, Addie Russell; great- nephew, Gabe Russell; a special aunt, Earlene Gillispie; the mother of his children, Priscilla Porter Thompson; special life long friends, Ernie DeBord, Freddie Davis, Wayne Logan, and many other close friends, along with aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who will sadly miss him.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m., Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 West US Hwy 60, Olive Hill, Kentucky, with Brother Eddie Barker officiating. Burial will follow in Garvin Ridge Cemetery, Olive Hill, Kentucky.

Friends may visit after 11:30 a.m., Sunday, June 8, 2025, until the service hour at Globe Funeral Chapel.

Joe Gillispie, Gary Gillispie, Wayne Russell, Gabe Russell, John Harper, Mark Back, Wayne Logan and Nick Padden will serve as pallbearers.

Greg DeHart, Elbert Cole, Ernie DeBord, Holly Conn, Freddie Davis and Donnie Conn will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Evelyn Eloise (Rice) Holbrook

Devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and teacher, author and caregiver Evelyn Holbrook, 97, of Lexington, KY was welcomed into her Holy Father’s loving arms in the evening of 28 May, 2025.

She was born on 29 October, 1927 in Carter County, KY to Orville and Ethel Rice. She made many memories growing up in depression-era Appalachia with the love and guidance of her parents, whom she would later provide in-home care for as each, first Ethel, then Orville experienced failing health in their final years, respectively.

A graduate of Hitchens High School, Morehead State University, and the University of Kentucky, she began her teaching career in 1946 at Cedar Point School in Carter County, ultimately retiring from Russell Cave Elementary in the Fayette County School system in 1987.

Evelyn met the love of her life, Robert Allen Holbrook in March, 1951 at the Holbrook Hardware Store, Olive Hill, KY and they were married 5 January, 1957 at Barretts Creek Baptist Church, Grayson, KY.

Bob and Evelyn had four children between July, 1958 and March, 1968: Flint, Eloise(deceased), Zane and Faith. She was a devoted wife and mother, teaching, training, and caring for each child, while maintaining the household and supporting her husband in his career. As the kids matured, she resumed her teaching career.

She doted on, loved and enjoyed her eleven grandchildren; Flint and Nathan Holbrook, Philip, Daniel, Thomas and Elaina Cravens, Hannah, Hunter, Heath, Hayden and Halle Holbrook. While she enjoyed just “keeping” or spending time with them, particularly as infants and toddlers, some of her fondest memories are from the many Shockey Tours of historic sites that she and Bob took the grandchildren on while the children were out of school.

Evelyn had a passion for sewing and knitting. She was an excellent seamstress, often teaching techniques and stitches and sharing her wealth of knowledge with members of the younger generations of friends and family.

She was an active member of many Baptist churches throughout her life as geographical moves sometimes dictated changes. In her later years, she was a devoted member and supporter of Heritage Baptist Church, Winchester, KY.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, Orville and Ethel Rice, a daughter, Eloise Holbrook, and a grandchild, Philip Cravens. She is survived by her brother, Kenneth Rice,  her husband of 68 years, Robert Holbrook, two sons and daughters-in-law, Flint and Beverly Holbrook and Zane and Latrell Holbrook, a daughter and son-in-law, Faith  and John Cravens, ten grandchildren, Flint, Nathan, Hunter, Heath, Hayden and Halle Holbrook, Hannah Gangaram, Daniel, Thomas, and Elaina Cravens, and six great grandchildren, Addison, Harlan, Johnny, Maddie and Harrison Holbrook and Jonah Cravens

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Evelyn’s life during visitation at Heritage Baptist Church, 4369 Lexington Rd, Winchester, Kentucky on Wednesday, June 4 from 11 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at Lexington Cemetery.

Extension Notes: Review Your Hay Storage Options

photo of hay rolls on grass field
Photo by Vlad Chețan on Pexels.com
By: Rebecca Konopka
Carter County Extension Agent

Hay is a valuable commodity for livestock producers and prices fluctuate from year-to-year due to weather, supply, and other factors. With hay season under way, now is the time to think about ways to store the hay you produce this year to reduce storage losses and get the most from your hard work.

              A common storage method in Kentucky is leaving large round bales stored outside on the ground. This method requires no investment but leaves hay out in the weather resulting in the largest possible dry matter loss. Storage losses in Kentucky can run up to 30 percent or more during a normal year.

              Dry matter loss can be reduced by as much as 38 percent by simply breaking contact between the bale and the ground. Storing hay on a gravel pad would break this contact. This is still a rather inexpensive proposition, and potential savings in dry matter loss are significant. Additional dry matter loss savings can be achieved by covering these bales with a simple reusable tarp while on the gravel pad.

              Other tips for minimizing losses during outside storage include the following:  

  • Make sure water drains away quickly.   If possible, store bales near the top of a sloping area.   Rows should run up and down to avoid trapping water.
  • If feasible, place rows on the southern exposure and run them north to south.  
  • Good air flow for drying is important, so store bales in a sunny location and not under trees.   The flat ends of the bales should be butted together, but the rounded sides should not touch (unless the rows are going to be covered with plastic).   Allowing 3 feet between the rows allows for good air circulation. 

              Another option available to hay producers is the plastic wrapping of bales stored on the ground. This option has the potential to reduce dry matter loss into single digits. However, the range in dry matter loss may be wide as holes or wrapping problems can greatly increase the loss. Disposal of the wrap can be an issue.

              The final option available to the hay producer is storing hay under roof. This option requires the largest capital investment and most likely will be the most expensive on a per bale basis. However, it minimizes the potential loss and may have other uses when hay is not being stored. Structures such as hoops have become more common in Kentucky because they are cheaper to construct and result in about the same dry matter loss as a conventional shed. Producers considering storage under roof should explore all options to determine the most cost-effective structure.  As hay has become more expensive, the benefits of improved hay storage have increased.

              Before considering storage options, the producer should know how much hay he or she produces each year and the market value of that hay. As one evaluates a potential hay storage option, they should consider three primary factors: the cost of storage on a per bale basis, the useful life of the investment, and the expected dry matter loss.

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

Upcoming Events:

  • Hike & Learn – June 6th in Rowan County. Visit carter.ca.uky.edu/events/hike-learn-13 for more information.  
  • Extension District Board Meeting – June 10th at 10:00 AM
  • The Olive Hill Farmer’s Market is located in the Save-a-Lot parking lot and will open on Monday, June 16th at 3:00 PM. The Grayson Farmer’s Market will open on Saturday, June 21st at 9:00 AM.  The market is located in the shed behind the Extension Office.  

Learning to learn

classroom with whiteboard and desk with stationery
Photo by Katerina Holmes on Pexels.com
By: Tommy Druen
Guest Columnist

Twenty-five years ago, I sat in a chair on Centre College’s campus, clad in cap and gown, prepared—but hardly ready—to graduate. For the first time in my life, I was adrift. I had a plan, but no conviction. I was unsure whether the path ahead was mine or simply the one I had chosen because I didn’t know what else to choose.

Centre, like most colleges, typically invited a prominent figure to deliver the commencement address. That year, however, the graduating class selected one of our own—Dr. Larry Matheny. It was a decision that surprised no one, especially his students.

Dr. Matheny was more than a professor; he was an institution. Nearly four decades teaching government, a dry wit as sharp as his intellect, a fondness for gin, and a rumored familiarity with every book in the college library made him a figure of lore. I took eight of his classes during my time at Centre. Technically, I majored in government, but if I’m honest, I majored in Matheny.

As I had done so many times before, I listened to him closely. There was the expected humor, of course, but then he said something that landed with such clarity it has stayed with me ever since: “When you graduate from Centre College, you don’t know how to do anything… except learn. But if you know how to learn, you can do most anything in life.”

That statement has echoed in my mind each May as a new crop of graduates turns their tassels. It came back especially strong recently during an online exchange I had about the purpose of education. A friend insisted that the goal of education is job preparation. I pushed back—because while preparing people for the workforce is valuable, it is not the same thing as educating them. Nor do I think that should be the sole goal.

Somewhere along the way, we started conflating education with vocational training. We now expect students to emerge from college ready to plug directly into their chosen profession. Any class not deemed “practical” is dismissed as wasteful. Entire disciplines—literature, philosophy, art history—are cast aside as indulgent because they don’t come with a clear paycheck.

Even a former Kentucky Lieutenant Governor once took a swipe at history majors a few years back. As someone who has spent a good portion of his adult life studying history, I took that a bit personally.

Then there are the critics who declare that college is a waste of time altogether. And truly, college is not for everyone. “You could make more money in a skilled trade,” they argue. And they’re not wrong—many trades are both stable and lucrative. Eight weeks of training can land you in the cab of a semi-truck, with the average salary hovering near $90,000. That’s real, respectable work.

Is a French literature major likely to make that kind of money reading Rimbaud in the original language? Probably not. Do dentists need to study metaphysics to fill a cavity? Of course not. That’s not the point.

The question we should be asking isn’t, “What job will this get me?” It’s, “What understanding will this give me?” Because the essence of education isn’t the memorization of facts—it’s the cultivation of understanding. It’s one thing to know the definition of an atom; it’s another to grasp how atoms behave. It’s one thing to summarize a novel; it’s another to understand what the author intended to convey. Knowing the dates of a war is easy. Understanding the forces that led to it—and the ones it unleashed—is much harder.

If education were merely about job training, we could all stop learning once we punched the clock. And sadly, many do. But I believe education is about more than utility. It’s about becoming a fuller, better version of ourselves.

Plato wrote, “If a man neglects education, he walks lame to the end of his life.” I take that to heart. I don’t want to learn just to work. I want to learn to grow. To better understand the world around me—and the one within me. To take knowledge and turn it into comprehension, and hopefully, over time, into wisdom.

I may never learn everything. But I fully intend to die trying.

With most immigrants banned, why not sell the Statue of Liberty?

statue of liberty during daytime
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By: Keith Kappes
Columnist
Carter County Times

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

            These immortal lines of verse are inscribed inside the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor which has welcomed millions of immigrants to these United States since 1886.

            In fact, most native-born American citizens can trace their ancestry back to someone who passed through Ellis Island. For example, my immigrant ancestors came from Germany and England and settled in Michigan and Kentucky.

            Let’s pause at this point and get our definitions straight. Emigration is moving out of a country, while immigration is moving into a country.  Persons in either category frequently are identified by the news media simply as migrants, usually as illegal or undocumented migrants.

            The U.S. Supreme Court last week voted 7-2 to allow the Trump Administration to cancel the “temporary protected status” of more than 500,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela and to deport them from this country. 

            Added to the 350,000 Venezuelans stripped of protection in an earlier case means nearly one million men, women and children can be expelled with no recourse.

Many of these individuals and families have been here for up to two years. They paid their way to America because of political or religious persecution, fear of violence, economic hardships and other scary conditions.

Wasn’t this the same scenario faced by the Puritans fleeing England and the Irish evading starvation in the potato famine and Jews from all over Europe trying to escape the Nazi death camps?

Those groups and many others found refuge in our land of the free and home of the brave and helped build a great nation. But our country’s current federal leadership is preoccupied with trying to fulfill phony campaign promises based on grossly inflated numbers of suspected illegal immigrants.

At this point, the only potential immigrants welcomed by the new folks in Washington are affluent white “refugees” from South Africa.

Doesn’t that mean we have become a nation led by white supremists?  Our president has proposed selling some of our national parks. We might as well throw in Lady Liberty since she really doesn’t mean anything now.

Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.

Switching Sides

(Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)

By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times

State Senator Robin Webb shocked Carter County, and eastern Kentucky, last Friday with the release of a statement from the Republican Party of Kentucky (RPK) announcing that she had left the Democratic Party to join the Republican supermajority in Frankfort. In the RPK release Webb said that her priorities and values hadn’t changed, but rather that the Democratic Party no longer aligned as closely with those values.

“While it’s cliché, it’s true: I didn’t leave the party – the party left me,” she said in the RPK release, adding that the Kentucky Democratic Party (KDP), “has increasingly alienated lifelong rural Democrats like myself by failing to support the issues that matter most to rural Kentuckians.”

Webb elaborated on her move on Saturday afternoon, in a telephone conversation, but couldn’t point to any one particular incident that led her to leave the party. Rather, she said, it was an incremental change.

When asked for an example of something Democratic leadership was doing that alienated her, she replied, “On what level? I mean, this is a progressive shift, in my opinion. I mean, for somebody who is a rural legislator, who has an A+ rating from the NRA, and hunts, fishes, farms, ranches, and the positions that I take historically, that I’ve always taken, and those kinds of things. You look at – and both parties have things I don’t agree with, don’t get me wrong – but (you look at) the national leadership, I mean, they had a gun control advocate there. I’m a constitutionalist. I’m not changed. I’m an attorney. I’m a senator. I swear two oaths, two oaths, to the constitution. I’m very constitutionally oriented, and my voting history reflects that. And I believe in legislative autonomy and separation of powers, and my form of government.”

While Webb discussed issues with both the state and national level party leadership, her main complaint was that the Democratic Party is out of synch with the needs of rural voters.

Vice-chair of the Carter County Democratic Party McClain Dyer agreed with Webb that the party needed to do a better job of both listening to the needs of rural voters, and communicating how their policies benefit rural voters. Despite that, and his appreciation for her years of service to the community, he said it was “disheartening to see one of the longest serving Democratic senators in eastern Kentucky switch to the Republicans.”

“It should send a large message to the Kentucky Democratic Party about how they’re forgetting about rural voters and rural issues,” Dyer said.

He also said he felt the statement from state leadership was needlessly confrontation and dismissive.

“It was very dismissive,” Dyer said. “I know Senator Webb, on a personal level, and I know that she will continue to do the work for our community. I just hope that she doesn’t fall victim to the games of the Kentucky GOP, and allow her vote to be whipped to further their agenda to make the ultra-rich in Kentucky even richer.”

The response in question, from KDP chair Colmon Eldridge, read, “Senator Webb has chosen to join a political party that is currently working around the clock to take health care away from over a million Kentuckians, wipe out our rural hospitals, take food off the table of Kentucky families, and take resources away from our public schools. If those are her priorities, then we agree: she isn’t a Democrat.”

Webb herself didn’t initially respond to the statement from Eldridge, but when pressed she said, “It was petulant and childish to me.” As for healthcare and support for rural hospitals, Webb said her record on that issue spoke for itself. 

She also sought to allay fears that her colleagues in the Republican party would have any more influence on her votes now than they did previously. She said she hasn’t, in fact, always been a Democrat. She said she was originally registered as a Republican – noting that this was the party of her father, while her mother was a Democrat – and changed her registration when working in the coal industry, because that party better aligned with her interests and concerns at that time. But, she said, the parties have changed their priorities since then, as they have several times since being established.

“There’s just issues in play that I felt, as the only rural legislator in the caucus for the past few years – and I love my colleagues individually – I can’t support the things that they support. The urban/rural divide is very real. It’s real on a national level, and it’s real and it’s here now. And I respect their views and I respect the demographic that they represent, and I’ll continue to work with them. But it’s been kind of lonely for me as a rural legislator for the last couple years. And this isn’t a decision that happened overnight, and it’s one I prayed about. I didn’t take it lightly, and I knew there’d be some people disappointed, but at some point you have to reflect the values of your district as well as being true to yourself. And I’m not changing. I’m really not changing. Everyone knows that I will still support working men and women. I will vote in the best interest of the Union. I will support public schools like I’ve always done, and the employees thereof, and worker safety, and a rational approach to the environment. Those are thing that are not – nothing’s going to really change about me as far as my votes.”

Among those who expressed disappointment was Nicholas Hazelett, Chair of the Johnson County Democrats, President of the Appalachian Regional Young Democrats, and State Central Executive Committee member for Congressional District 5.

Hazelett, voicing his disappointment on social media, said that Webb had assured him and other young Eastern Kentucky Democrats of her commitment to, “one final run for Senate District 18 (Boyd, Carter, Greenup, and Lewis) next year as a Democratic candidate.”

However, he characterized that promise – which he said she reiterated during Grayson’s Memory Days (Hazelett was a participant in the parade) as, “all smoke and mirrors.”

Webb, however, said she never made any such commitment, and only spoke to Hazelett briefly during Memory Days because she was ill with bronchitis.

“I saw Nick – who I love dearly, I appreciate Nick – at the Memory Days Parade. We didn’t talk. I waved at him. I said, ‘Oh! I didn’t know you were here.’ And I turned around and left. I mean, I didn’t talk to anybody about that at the Memory Days Parade. I had bronchitis. I was driving a truck. That’s why Patrick (Flannery, House District 96) was riding with me. He couldn’t get anybody to help him. I was sick. I said, ‘I’m not walking, jump in the back.’ We’re cousins. I didn’t feel good for many days. I went home and slept after the parade for 16 hours. So, I didn’t talk to anybody there. And, he might have said something about coming down the last time I talked to him. I don’t even know when that was. He mentioned something about coming down to Johnson County, and I might’ve said I might try, or something. I don’t know. But, I never said that.”

Hazelett, however, said he had spoken to Webb, “numerous times about coordinated efforts to re-focus our party post-2024 to rural Democratic values and efforts, but clearly that wasn’t enough to trust her ardent supporters, and that leads to our reality now.”

Hazelett also said he felt fears about losing her seat if the Republicans ran someone against her was a motivating factor. While Webb has long survived as a Democrat in a Republican district based on voters who valued her voice more than her party, Hazelett said that voters who pull a straight party ticket when they enter the voting booth could present a challenge to the Senator who ran unopposed in her last election. He said several names, including Flannery’s, had been floated as a challenger for her Senate seat. Webb, however, flatly dismissed such conjecture.

“There is no truth to that whatsoever,” she said. “I’m sure there were Republicans (who would like to see a challenger.) But it was indicated to me that they were not going to select a candidate to really attack me. That it could have been a few self-starters or somebody that wanted to, or was trying to get them to. There’s a couple of people in the district that were kind of trying to recruit somebody, and I get it. I get it, with the numbers. I get it, with the president’s approval rating in the district and the numbers, registration and all that. I get that. That’s politics. You want your ticket to be as full as possible from an analytical standpoint, to help your other people that are running and their party.”

She said when the party doesn’t run someone, they can get pressure from Washington for “a recruiting fail.”
“But,” she continued, “I mean… it had nothing to do with this upcoming election.”

Webb may be the most high profile local Democrat to leave the party, but she isn’t the only elected official to change her affiliation since the last election. PVA Leslie Kiser-Roseberry confirmed rumors that she had joined the Republican party last year. Dyer confirmed that county attorney Brian Bayes also switched his party affiliation, though Bayes had not replied to requests for comment before press time.

Kiser-Roseberry said that she changed her party in February 2024, “after much thought,” and “so nobody would say I was switching because of my job or because of an upcoming election.”

“My stand on every issue is still the same as it was when I was a Democrat,” she said. “I had always been a conservative Democrat, but the party has changed so much that I no longer recognize it. I feel like I didn’t change at all, they did.”

She said she stayed with the party for as long as she did out of tradition, but she didn’t feel at home in the party any longer, in part because of issues being debated on the national stage.

“I absolutely did not make this decision lightly, because on a local level, I love our Democrats. I just can’t get behind much of what the Democratic Party has become on a federal level. I disagree with them on many things, but honestly the straw that broke the camel’s back was I believe men cannot be women and should not be allowed to compete against women in women’s sports.”

Transgender athletes were also referenced by Webb in our conversation. But Dyer said he doesn’t believe debating these culture war issues benefits the party or the voters. Instead, he said, it distracts from the real boilerplate issues that would improve the lives of voters, and divides people into competing and antagonistic tribes before they can even discuss issues that would benefit everyone.

“To Senator Webb, as I did say, it’s disheartening to see her move,” Dyer said. “But I think that it’s more a reflection of how the national parties have led us to believe that social issues and cultural issues are more important than the issues facing everyday Kentuckians at their dinner table. People want to know how they are going to put food on the table. How are they going to keep a roof above their heads? And how are they going to pay their electric and water bills? And I hope that Senator Webb continues to focus on that as member of the GOP delegation.”

He said he also believes, despite what Webb and others have said, that the fear of losing elections because of straight party voters is on the mind of politicians, even if it’s only in the back of their mind and not their main motivating factor.  

“I think that is something that they’re worried about, but I think that’s something to be worried about,” he said. “Especially whenever there’s a major national elections, like a presidential election. That was our biggest issue in the last election. That’s why Democrats (including those who have won in the district in the past) did so poorly in Carter County. We had so many straight ticket votes as the Republican Party. That is why I believe some of our county’s (candidates in the last election) switched to being Republicans, because they were afraid of that. And I hate to say it, but they were right. But this upcoming election, next fall, is not an election in which the straight party voting can make a big difference. If you get out and campaign as a Democrat, and you campaign on issues that voters truly care about, and you make sure they know your name and they know to go to the polls to vote for you, they will. They’re going to vote for who they think is the best for the job, if you get out and tell them.”

He said Webb’s past success as a Democrat in a largely Republican district is evidence of that. But what the future holds still remains to be seen.

But while Dyer and his colleagues in the Carter County Democratic Party, along with other Appalachian Democrats, ponder what Webb’s changing alliances mean for them and their continued efforts to focus attention on rural issues that they say neither the GOP nor urban and western Kentucky Democrats care to focus on, local Republicans are less pensive and more celebratory.

“I am excited to welcome Senator Webb into the Carter County GOP,” party chair Justin Criswell said in a statement to the Times. “This is a reflection of the continuing shift of the Democratic Party from the citizens of Carter County and Eastern Kentucky.”

He also echoed Webb’s declaration that this wouldn’t change the way she voted or represented her district.

“Senator Webb will continue to be a champion for her constituency and in step with the super majority in the Kentucky State Senate,” he said.

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

Back home in the hills

Submitted photo
By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times

Bluegrass fans have a lot to look forward to this summer. In addition to our regularly scheduled bluegrass festivals and events, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder will be kicking off the Kentucky Christian University Summer Concert series on June 20. The series will be held at the Nash Chapel on the KCU Campus starting at 7 pm. Skaggs is a Kentucky native, growing up in Cordell in Lawrence County, whose career has spanned over half a century in Bluegrass and Gospel Music.

Skaggs has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1982, been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame, the National Fiddler Hall of Fame, the IBMA Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. And in 2020, Ricky Skaggs was awarded the National Medal of Arts for his contributions to the American Music Industry.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Skaggs said of his upcoming performance at KCU. “We’ve played there before, but it has been a while. And I’m looking forward to coming back to Eastern Kentucky. We always have a good turnout, and it’s a good place to come back to with the bluegrass music we play.”

Skaggs said that he intends to perform some of the older songs people have loved for years and of course his hits (of which there is an extensive list), but also newer songs that audiences might not have had a chance to hear live.

“A lot of the younger kids that are going to the university there might be more familiar with the bluegrass we have been playing the last ten years or so,” Skaggs said. “They may not remember ‘Highway 40 Blues’ and ‘Uncle Pen’, and things like that as much but I may be fooled,” he admitted.

And the veteran performer could be surprised, because one thing that is consistent throughout generations is that if an audience likes what they hear then they want to hear everything that performer has ever done. In Skaggs case, especially, there is a lot of material to draw from because he has not only become a legend but has also played music with legends.

“I guess the first Grand Ole Opry star I got to play with when I was six years old was Bill Monroe in Martha, Kentucky in Lawrence County,” Skaggs said. “I just kind of went there to see him,” Skaggs continued, admitting that he didn’t even know what Monroe looked like because he had only heard the bluegrass legend on the radio.

A year later, Skaggs’ father moved the family to a small town not far from Nashville, Tennessee, and he met Earl Scruggs backstage one night at the Grand Ole Opry, Scruggs was taken by Skaggs’ mandolin playing, and invited him to try out for his television show. Skaggs said he went to the audition with his father, and was invited to be on the show. Skaggs said he wasn’t able to watch that episode for quite some time after it was aired, and when he did see it he was ‘taken with it’ as his young mind tried to process it all.

Sometime later, the family moved back to Eastern Kentucky and Skaggs met another local musician, Keith Whitley, in a little town called Ezel, Kentucky. The town was having a fall carnival, and Skaggs and his father had gone there to play music.

“I was there playing fiddle and mandolin, and Keith was there with his brother, and we just started talking and visiting. He was my age,” Skaggs said. “And we had a lot in common. We started talking about the music we loved, and both of us loved the Stanley Brothers.”

Skaggs said that that Whitley and his brother Dwight came over the next weekend, and they and Skaggs’ father started playing music.

“Almost every weekend after that we would all be together somewhere playing music,” he said.

“One night we went to see Ralph Stanley,” Skaggs remembered. But Stanley’s bus broke down with a flat tire, delaying the headliner and forcing the owner of the venue to deal with an impatient crowd.

“My dad always stuffed our instruments in the car in case someone asked us to play,” Skaggs said.

“The owner, it was in Fort Gay, West Virginia across from Louisa, knew we could play somehow,” he said, remembering being surprised when he walked up to the table. Skaggs said he and his father jumped at the opportunity, and as luck would have it they were playing a Ralph Stanley song when Stanley himself finally arrived.

The rest, of course, is a matter of bluegrass history, but those are just a few of the stories of his career that Skaggs shares with his fans wherever he goes. The concert on June 20 promises to not only be a night of wonderful music from a master entertainer who has quite literally grown up in bluegrass, but also a night that gives fans the opportunity to hear firsthand how Skaggs went from walking with musical legends to becoming one in his own right.

Tickets to the summer concert at KCU are available now at http://www.kcu.edu/concerts

Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com

Olive Hill swears in board members

Olive Hill City Council. (Photo by Charles Romans, Carter County Times)
By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times

The Olive Hill City Council had to reschedule their regularly monthly meeting for May, ultimately meeting on May 27. One of the first orders of business in the meeting was the swearing in of the members who will serve on the newly established Olive Hill Tourism Board. Those members are Jeremy Rayburn, Brittany Rayburn, Lisa Burton, Carolyn Callihan, Sue Wilburn, Robyn Adkins, and Kristen Bledsoe. After being sworn in, the city council wasted no time proposing ideas for the tourism board to consider.

Tourism boards are established to make use of the tourism tax the state allows cities to collect on restaurant purchases and hotel bills. The boards are required to use those funds to attract visitors to the cities or counties they represent. They also become part of the overall goal of a city or county to encourage businesses to relocate to their area and generally promote the growth of their region. Two of the ideas presented to the newly established board included hanging flowers on Olive Hill streets, and possible replacement of the poles supporting the Veterans Flags displayed in the city.

Olive Hill Mayor Jerry Callihan suggested that new light poles should take precedence considering that the poles could then also be used to support the flowers and flags. Bids for the flowers were $27,000 and $12,000, Callihan said at the meeting. The bid included the placement of flowers on 19 street light poles, and the difference in pricing represented whether watering and maintaining the flowers was done by the company providing them or by city employees.

There has been no regularly scheduled meeting time set for the new tourism board at this time, though it was discussed that the board would meet one hour prior to the council on the same day as the regularly scheduled city council meetings. Once the new board has time to establish times and dates, those meetings will be open to the public (with the exception of when and if executive sessions are required) and be advertised 24 hours in advance.

The city council also held the first reading of their annual budget. In the budget, municipal road aid carried forward was recorded at $70,195, and the license and permits general fund was $1,020,860. License and permits made up $13,000, interest on the general fund was $160, and Rental and Lease was $45,000. Other revenue listed was from the General Fund $33,400, with total revenue for the General Fund $1,112,620. Appropriations through administration and finance was $215,000, Fire $240,000, Police $550,000, Street $60,000, Recreation $15,620, and Public Library  $27,000. Utility Fund Fines and Forfeitures were $2,500, and services were $4,270,760 with interest of $15,000. Total revenue in the budget is $4,288,264. The effective date for the official budget was set at July 1, 2025.

Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com

Joyful Noise: A Jesus Follower

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Joyful Noise: A Jesus Follower

By Pastor Naomi Mitchell

For Carter County Times

“Will you be remembered as a Jesus Follower? Your legacy is not something to be thought about towards the end of your life, because whether you know it or not, it’s already begun. The good news is that you can start now right where you are to be a Jesus Follower. You can model a faith that will influence the generations that follow you.” – Ann Graham Lotz

If ever there was a generation that needs to know that God desires to have them in a covenant relationship with Himself, to give them peace, joy, hope for the future, it’s this generation, and the next generation, and the next generation. It’s time for the Jesus Followers to stand up and no longer remain silent.

Take Up Your Cross Daily

Luke 9:23-26 says, “And He said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gains the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.“

These verses promise that when you suffer in your flesh, when you take up your cross and deny the sinful thoughts and temptations, etc., that come up in you during the day, you will cease from sinning! And it is not just a promise that will be fulfilled some unknown day far in the future – you see progress as you go. So, you must take up the cross daily.

Bearing Your Cross 

“Bearing your cross” means that you are willing to put to death your own will, and to surrender yourself to His will, according to His Word. It means that how you act is important. It means that what you say, and how you say it matters. It’s a challenge to treat the “least” of us as you would Him (Matt. 25:31-46).

Deny Yourself

Used within the context of the imagery of taking up the cross and following Jesus, “denying oneself” conveys the sense of a person disassociating himself from his self-interest to serve a higher purpose. Self-denial is not to deny one’s personality or to withdraw from the world.

To “deny” yourself means to say “no” to yourself and “yes” to God. Paul is not talking about asceticism — forgoing earthly possessions, not eating certain foods, ignoring the world, etc. To say it differently, the process of denial is “to humbly submit my will to God.”

After Jesus commanded cross-bearing, He said, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:25–26). Although the call to take up our cross is tough, the reward is matchless. Nothing in this world is worth passing up eternal life.

Are you ready to take up your cross and follow Jesus? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your closest friends? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means alienation from your family? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your reputation? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your job? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your life? Are you willing to take up your cross? If faced with a choice, Jesus, or the comforts of this life, which will you choose?

Commitment to Christ means taking up your cross daily, giving up your hopes, dreams, possessions, and even your very life, if need be, for the cause of Christ. Only if you willingly take up your cross may you be called His disciple (Luke 14:27). The reward is worth the price. Remember that, as Jesus called His disciples to “take up your cross and follow Me,” He, too, bore a cross. Our Lord led the way.

Amen! So be it!

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

Olive Hill Riddle Quest launches this week

photo of cryptic character codes and magnifying glass on table top
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We live in an amazing and beautiful place. Sometimes, I think, we can forget that. For instance, as a kid I don’t think I realized or appreciated just how many different shades of green crop up during the spring season in Eastern Kentucky. It wasn’t until I moved away – to the sparse, brown landscapes of the southwest – and then moved back home that I realized just how wonderful and diverse our forested hills can be. From wildlife to wildflowers to geology and more; there’s a lot of beauty to experience in our county, and in our towns.

We want to remind you, if you’ve forgotten, just how much history, culture, and natural beauty our county has to offer. Or, if you haven’t forgotten, give you another chance to experience it again. (And maybe even see something new.)

In the coming weeks, we’ll be featuring riddles on our editorial page from the Olive Hill Chamber of Commerce and the Business Cultivation Foundation. These riddles aren’t just a way to get you to visit spots in and around Olive Hill though. The partners are giving away cold, hard cash to the winner of the contest.
Read on below for the announcement from the BCF, and happy riddle solving! – Editor

The Olive Hill Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Business Cultivation Foundation,

is thrilled to launch the first-ever Olive Hill Riddle Quest—a month-long adventure designed to

get families, friends, and neighbors exploring the hidden gems of our town. Whether you’re

young or young at heart, this quest is open to everyone, and it starts now.

Each week in June, a new riddle will be published in the Carter County Times. The riddle will

lead you to a location in Olive Hill where a posted clue and a QR code await. Scanning the QR

code is essential—it logs your progress. The physical clue at that location will point you to the

next stop. Follow the trail, gather all the clues, and you might be the first to solve the final

mystery.

The grand prize? $500 in cash—awarded to the first person who presents the correct final answer

to the Business Cultivation Foundation booth during the Olive Hill Homecoming Parade on June

28th.There is no age requirement and no purchase necessary to play. Just bring your curiosity,

your phone (to scan QR codes), and your sense of local adventure.

Here’s how it works:

Each riddle leads to a location with a clue and a QR code.

You must scan the QR code at each stop to be eligible for the $500 prize.

The clue at each location will direct you to the next stop

The final answer is a phrase, location, or concept revealed only by collecting every clue.

The winner must present their answer in person at the parade.

Please remember:

Be respectful of local businesses and public property.

Do not remove or damage any clue signs.

Use caution while traveling between locations—walk, don’t run, and obey traffic rules.

Only one entry per person is allowed.

Have fun, and help others enjoy the game by keeping the clues in place and the challenge fair!

So—are you ready to begin?

 Riddle Clue #1 – Where the Past Still Performs

“If walls could speak, they’d sing and play,

Of dramas told and bygone days.

Where art and memory intertwine,

A center stands with roots in time.

Find the stage, both still and grand—

Your journey starts where artists stand.”

Think you’ve solved it? Head to the location, scan the QR code, and find the next clue. One

riddle down—many to go. Your summer quest has officially begun.

For more updates and questions, follow the Olive Hill Chamber on Facebook and Business

Cultivation Foundation at bcfcenter.org.

Weekly Arrests: 6/4/25

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

  • Debbie Davis, 67, of Jetersville, VA, arrested by Grayson PD, on a charge of public intoxication on a controlled substance (excludes alcohol), arrested and booked May 26.
  • Crystal Williams, 46, of Grayson, arrested by Kentucky State Police, for failure to appear, arrested and booked May 26.
  • Russell White, 56, of Denton, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, on charges of alcohol intoxication in a public place, resisting arrest, second degree disorderly conduct, and second degree criminal mischief requiring restitution/repair, arrested and booked May 26.
  • Sandra Stoll-Tuel, 46, of Bowling Green, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, on a probation violation (for a technical violation), and for contempt of court – libel/slander – resistance to order, arrested and booked May 27.
  • Steven Litteral, 45, of Grayson, arrested by Grayson PD, on charges of first degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and operating a motor vehicle on a suspended or revoked operator’s license, arrested and booked May 27.
  • Jesse Smith Jr., 28, of Olive Hill, arrested by Carter County Detention Center, for flagrant non-support, arrested and booked May 28.
  • Shawn Ison, 31, of Olive Hill, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on a probation violation for a felony offense, arrested and booked May 28.
  • Stacy Goodman, 42, of Grayson, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on three counts of failure to appear, arrested and booked May 28.
  • Richard Livernois, 41, of Olive Hill, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on a probation violation for a misdemeanor offense, arrested and booked May 28.
  • Brandon Greene, 34, of Grayson, arrested by Kentucky Department of Corrections, serving a warrant for a parole violation, arrested and booked May 29.
  • Dakota Ogden, 28, of Hillsboro, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on a charge of fourth degree assault (domestic violence) with minor injury, arrested and booked May 30
  • David Withrow, 34, of Grayson, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on charges of fourth degree assault with no visible injury, and third degree fleeing or evading police, arrested and booked May 30.
  • William Parker, 35, of Olive Hill, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, rear license not illuminated, inadequate silencer/muffler, driving on a DUI suspended license – second offense, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana, arrested and booked May 30.
  • Tracy Smith, 28, of Olive Hill, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on a charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol with aggravating circumstances, arrested and booked May 30.
  • April Smith, 45, of Olive Hill, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on a charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, arrested and booked May 30.
  • Brandon Fosson, 39, of Grayson, arrested by Grayson PD, on charges of operating a motor vehicle on a suspended or revoked operator’s license, disregarding a traffic control device – traffic light, license not in possession, failure to produce an insurance card, no registration, and failure to appear, arrested and booked May 31.
  • Anthony Potter, 43, of Grayson, arrested by Grayson PD, on two counts of flagrant non-support, arrested and booked May 31.
  • Seth Adkins, 24, of Barboursville, WV, arrested by Kentucky State Police, for failure to appear, arrested and booked May 31.
  • Jeffrey Kiser, 39, of Rush, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on charges of fourth degree assault (domestic violence) with minor injury, third degree terroristic threatening, and second degree criminal mischief, arrested and booked June 1.
  • Branden Starostka, 37, address unavailable, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on charges of no registration receipt, failure to produce an insurance card, improper display of registration plates, possession of drug paraphernalia, license not in possession, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, and no registration plates, arrested and booked June 1.

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

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

Ask Daryl – Your Professional Organizer: Getting motivated

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By Daryl Ashley

Confusion Solution

Today, I’d like to address questions I often receive regarding how to get motivated to start organizing your home.

Having to think about adding another chore to your already busy schedule can actually prevent you from taking the time to organize at all. Most of us actually do organizing projects without much thought like picking up things and putting them where they belong, or arranging food, utensils, and towels while you are going about your usual housekeeping chores. But considering what to do to make your entire home more efficient can be overwhelming.

I think of it this way. If I have to clean the kitchen, I move everything off the counter or stove top and before I put anything back, I look at what used to be on those surfaces and decide if they could be more useful in a different location. Maybe a container, of some sort, would help keep things together by eliminating clutter. Even if I can’t go out and make a purchase right then, I write down what I think would work better and when I’m out shopping, I look for those items. This also avoids adding a separate trip to the store. By evaluating while I’m cleaning, I’m not creating more demands on my time.

Now, that doesn’t mean you usually clean your closets, desks, under sinks, or bookshelves on a regular basis. So, the easiest way to organize these areas is to take on one area a month and schedule a time to make a serious effort to downsize or relocate. Clean shelves, drawers, or floors as you go because once you are done, these are areas you most likely won’t have to touch again for a long time. Well, maybe a light dusting. Schedule times when you can work for an hour or two and have time after you are done to relax. Try not to take on a project if you have other plans. You need to take it slow and uninterrupted in order to make good choices. Trying to take on too much will definitely be counterproductive. You want an organized home, but not at the expense of your joy for living.

It’s as simple as that!

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

6/4/25 e23

6.4.25 e23Download

Philip Martin Green

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Philip Martin Green, age 84, passed away on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Born on November 3, 1940, in Carter County, Kentucky, to Roy and Delphia (Bond) Green, Philip was a man defined by faith, service, and love for his family and community.

On May 6, 1961, he married the love of his life, Sherry (Clay) Green, with whom he shared decades of devoted partnership until her passing. Together, they built a life rooted in faith, kindness, and generosity.

Philip dedicated his life to serving others. He was a respected Chaplain for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Madison Township, and numerous fire departments throughout Richland County, offering comfort and guidance in times of need. His compassion also reached many through his ministry as Associate Pastor at Lincoln Heights Church of Christ in Christian Union/ Real Life Community Church. A man of deep faith, Philip officiated countless marriages and touched innumerable lives with his words, prayers, and presence.

He worked faithfully for 33 years at A K Steel, retiring from the steel mill with the same integrity and diligence that marked every part of his life.

A passionate NASCAR fan, Philip especially loved cheering on Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. He also found great joy in camping and spending quality time with his family, which was the cornerstone of his life. Whether gathered around a campfire or at the dinner table, his love for those closest to him was evident in every conversation, every prayer, and every embrace.

Philip is survived by his children: Steve Green, Robert (Kristi) Green, Joel (Heather) Green, and Wesley Green; grandchildren: Tyler (AJ), Alison (Robby), Jordanne, Lucas (Rachel), Levi, Nathan (Lynde), Nakisha, Destinee, Brian (Jayne), Breanna, and Becca; and seven great-grandchildren who brought joy to his later years. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Sherry, his parents, and his daughter-in-law Shelbea Green.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Philip’s life during visitation at Walker Lake Baptist Church, 1602 Walker Lake Rd, Mansfield, Ohio on Friday, May 30, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and again on Saturday, May 31, 2025, beginning at 10:00 AM. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM, officiated by Pastor Jack Williams. Philip will be laid to rest at Franklin Church Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Walker Lake Baptist Church in Philip’s memory.

Wappner Funeral Directors-Mansfield is honored to serve the Green family.

Words of condolence may be expressed at http://www.wappner.com

Norma Ellen (Fannin) Hoptry

Norma Ellen (Fannin) Hoptry, 86, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2025, surrounded by family in Greensburg, Indiana.  She was born on September 26,1938 near Olive Hill, Kentucky, the youngest daughter of Esner and Dessie Florence Fannin. She grew up in a house with no electricity or running water until she started high school.

Her early schooling was in a one room school house, and she graduated high school   at age 16 after skipping both the second and eighth grades.  She attended Morehead State College briefly before moving to Columbus, Ohio in 1956 to be near her sister.

Norma met Robert E. (Bob) Hoptry in 1957.  They quickly fell in love and married on April 5, 1958.  They were both 19 years old and were devoted to each other for over 68 years.

Norma was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and caring friend.  She willingly moved several times as Bob pursued career opportunities, allowing her to make many new friends. Their last career move was to Greensburg in 1983.  They moved full time to Heritage Palms Golf and Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida following Bob’s retirement.  Norma’s health concerns brought them back to Greensburg in 2021 to be near family.

Norma enjoyed everything involving her children, including school events, volunteering as a room mother and leading a girl scout troop.  She and Bob enjoyed taking them on family motor home adventures across the country and on world cruises, making wonderful memories discovering new places and cultures together.

Norma was proceeded in death by her sisters, Dorothy Maynard and Inez Cooley and is survived by her husband, Bob, her daughter, Kimberly (Ken) Inscho of Greensburg, sons Brent (Diane) in Normal, IL and Scott (Jadira) of Indianapolis; five grandchildren: Kelly (Inscho) Braun, Kacey Inscho, Megan (Hoptry) Bland; Kyle Inscho and Lindsey (Hoptry) Mowcomber; eight great grandchildren and several nieces.

Funeral services will be at Gilliland Howe Funeral Home on Saturday, June 7. Visiting hours will be from 11:00 am until 1:00pm, followed by the service officiated by Pastor Lloyd Bloomfield at 1:00 pm.

Donations may be made to Margaret Mary Hospice, Batesville, IN in lieu of flowers. Online condolences to the family may be shared at www.gilliland-howe.com.

Penny Diane Lester

Penny Diane Lester, age 66, of Grayson, Kentucky, went home to be with the Lord, Thursday, May 22, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born September 15, 1958 in Cabell, Huntington, to the late Christine Farra.

Penny was an active member of Wolf Creek Baptist Church and a resident of Huntington or Hurricane, West Virginia for most of her life. In 2015, she found a cabin in Grayson, Kentucky, that she fell in love with and decided to make Kentucky her “forever” home. She enjoyed many summers boating and camping on Grayson Lake.

In addition to her Mother, she was preceded in death by one brother, Glen Farra and one sister, Charlotte McClure.

Penny is survived by one son, Charles Lester and his wife, Amber; 4 grandchildren, Joseph, Jesse, Seara and Andrew; 3 great-grandchildren; two brothers, John Farra, Scott Farra; one sister, Ruby Thompson along with many other family and friends who will sadly miss her.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Grayson Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the family of Penny Diane Lester.

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