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Lawmakers return to Frankfort for part two of session

Patrick Flannery
State Representative
Lawmakers returned to Frankfort on February 4 to resume the 2025 Regular Session and got right to work filing several bills, meeting with constituents, and attending committee meetings. 
 
The biggest victory of the week was the Senate passage of legislation that will make Kentucky more competitive by lowering the state’s individual income tax to 3.5 percent as of January 2026. This measure is the next step in the legislature’s efforts to leave more money in the pockets of Kentuckians, empowering them to save, invest, and spend in ways that benefit their own communities. This measure not only helps Kentuckians, but also strengthens Kentucky’s economic competitiveness, making it an even more attractive place to work.
 
A lower income tax fosters growth, creates jobs, and ensures that our state remains on a path toward sustained prosperity. HB 1 continues the House Majority’s efforts to eliminate the individual income tax entirely. In 2018, the General Assembly first acted to decrease the individual income tax rate from 6 percent to 5 percent, which resulted in historic economic growth, as well as record job creation and state revenue. Lawmakers passed legislation HB 8 22RS that lays the groundwork to eliminate the individual income tax entirely but includes preset triggers that must be met before the legislature can move to decrease the tax in half a percentage point increments. These triggers essentially hold funding for state programs and agencies harmless. I am pleased to share that the bill was signed into law just a day after the House and Senate sent it to the Governor’s desk. We were, of course, prepared to override another veto if necessary.
 
As session continues, I look forward to discussing the legislation we are working on, especially how it will help bring about change throughout the Commonwealth. I wanted to take some time to inform you about some of the bills passed out of committee.
 
Teacher Red Tape Reduction Act: Members of the House Education Committee approved HB 48, whichwould remove burdensome administrative policies and standards that take a teacher’s time away from the students in the classroom. This measure would standardize professional development schedules, reduce the frequency of summative evaluations, and remove unnecessary requirements set by the Kentucky Department of Education to give teachers more time to focus on instruction.
 
Landon’s Law/Choking Safety in Schools: Another bill passed by committee this week was HB 44, also known as Landon’s Law. The measure would require schools to train staff to use anti-choking devices if they have purchased the equipment. Qualified staff would also receive instruction on the proper technique of the Heimlich maneuver. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that schools have anti-choking devices to improve student safety and comply with the American Disabilities Act (ADA). In addition, the anti-choking device manufacturer LifeVac provides schools with a free choking rescue device upon request. This device is registered and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
 
Individual Liberty: HB 27 also passed committee this week, which would clarify existing law on planned communities to prohibit all homeowner associations from banning political yard signs. The bill maintains the authority of associations to regulate size and duration of political yard signs, while primarily protecting the first amendment rights of homeowners.
 
Protecting Elections: House Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs approved legislation, HB 45, aimed at bringing consistency in election laws banning foreign nationals from attempting to influence our elections via donations and political advertising. Foreign nationals are already banned from donating to influence candidate elections, and this law would extend that ban to proposed ballot measures, like the constitutional amendments that were on our November ballot.
 
Celebrating Kentucky’s Rich History: Members of the House State Government Committee approved HB 313, which would designate the month of June as “Kentucky History Month.”
 
As always, I hope you will feel free to contact me with any questions or issues. I can be reached through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. Please feel free to email me at Patrick.Flannery@kylegislature.gov. If you would like more information about the legislature, you can visit the Legislative Research Commission website at legislature.ky.gov.

Livestock and grain market report: 12/14/24

Livestock and grain market report: 11/30/24

Guest Editorial: Memory Days is almost here

By McClain Dyer

Grayson Memory Days Committee

 

Grayson Memory Days is right around the corner! The committee and I are so excited to share with you all the items we have on this year’s schedule. I would like to give thanks to all our sponsors and committee members who have put in lots of demanding work to make this event possible. And the committee would like to thank our chairperson, Michelle Boggs. Grayson Memory Days could not have been planned without Michelle, she is very resolute and enthusiastic about this event and the committee, and our sponsors are incredibly grateful for her hard work.

Grayson Memory Days events start on Saturday May 17 at 5 pm with the Annual Miss Memory Days Pageant in the East Carter High School Gymnasium. This event is brought to you by the East Carter High School Cheerleaders. Contact East Carter High School to receive signup sheets. Also starting on that Saturday is the Memory Days Scavenger Hunt sponsored by Walking on Sunshine and Bit o’ Times Treasures on Main Street. They have lots of local business involvement and prizes, so make sure to add this to your must dos! For more information contact Pamela Howard at Walking on Sunshine in Grayson. Bit O’ Times Treasures is also accepting items to be displayed during the week of Memory Days. If you would like to display old photos, veterans’ memorabilia, or brochures for your organization or program also contact Pam Howard.

On the following day, Sunday, May 18, at 2:30 pm, the Quilts of Valor will be doing their annual presentation at First Church of Christ.

For the official start of Memory Days on Thursday, May 22 , First Light Home Care will be putting on the first Golden Age Gala at 4Ever After Events from 11 am – 1:30 pm. This will be a gala for senior citizens in Grayson. Come on out in your Sunday best and dance!

Window judging by the Homemakers will begin at 1:30 on Thursday. Our Vendor Market and Food Squares will be open throughout the day with official openings by 4 pm. The Carter County Poetry Society will be cohosting a Poetry Slam with Holler down the Holler at 6 pm at the Grayson Gallery. Also at 6 on Thursday the Opening Ceremonies will begin. Opening Ceremonies this year will be featuring the East and West Carter Bands, as well as performances by Avery Hall and Emily Wolfe (Stephens), guest speakers Senator Robin Webb, and Mayor Troy Combs. Immediately following the Opening Ceremonies, Dance with Hope will be performing. Ending the night with City Heat at the Go Radio stage!

On Friday May 23rd the Friends of the Library will be having the annual Booksale, for more information you can contact Diane Wiengert at (606)316-9705. The Duane Suttles Memorial Day Barbecue at the Grayson Fire Department will be taking place from 4 pm until it’s gone. This event is brought to you by the First National Bank of Grayson. Food is at no charge, but donations are encouraged. The Grayson Gallery and Art Center will be putting on their monthly show at 6:00 pm featuring student art pieces from East Carter High School. Also, at 6 pm Center Stage Studio will be performing on the Go Radio Stage.

Immediately following Center Stage Studio at 7 pm Grayson Memory Days will be having a Battle of the Band’s competition. Registration is open now on the Grayson Area Chamber of Commerce Website under the Memory Days Hub. The winner of the competition will be awarded the opening spot on Saturday!

Saturday the 24th is jam packed with lots of events and fun! Starting the day at 6:30 am with the 5K Run and Walk sponsored by the East Carter High School Football Team. Registration is $20 and to ensure a t-shirt registration must be completed by May 10.

Contact Kaylee Archey at (606) 694-1971 for more information. At 10 am the Annual Dog Jog brought to you by All Creature Veterinary Care will be taking place. The Memory Days Car Show brought to you by the Carter County Cruisers in the Prichard Elementary School parking lot starts at 9 am. Heroes for Higher’s Batman will be meeting kids from 11:30 to 12:30 at the Gazebo in the Veterans Park. The gallery will be having the Gallery Artis Market Sale from 10 am – 2 pm also on Saturday.

The Annual Memory Days Parade will begin at 1 pm. Lineup will begin at 11 am. If traveling with a large float or trailer, please take State Road 1947 all the way out to the US 60 intersection and travel up Main Street to avid congestion on Grayson side streets.

Registration for the parade begins on May 1 and will be done on the chamber website and Facebook page. The parade will be led by our Grand Marshall Becky Walker.

After the parade, the Veterans Association will be having a memorial service in the Veterans’ Park. All are invited to come and honor the memory of our local veterans. The Memory Days Committee with The UK Extension office have partnered to create student art contest. Immediately after the parade on the Go Radio Stage the winners of the contest will be announced. Make sure to walk around town to see all the amazing pieces students have submitted. That evening the Winner of the Battle of the bands will take the stage as our opening act, then Grayson City Councilman Dustin Burchett and Kentucky Clear will be our headlining act.

On Sunday May 25th the Mike Phillips Memorial Bluegrass show, brought to you by the Commercial Bank of Grayson, Smithfield, Members Choice Credit Union, along with Rudy Fest and WUGO Go Radio, begins at 4 pm. The performers include Adalyn Ramey, Dreydon Gordon and Friends, Hammertowne and the Lonesome River Band.

With all these exciting events taking place, its sure to be one of the best years yet! The committee and the Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the following groups and organizations for their support and help with bringing this event about: The Grayson Tourism Commission, City of Grayson Police Department, Fire Department, Street Department, and Emergency Management, Main Street Businesses, and The UK Extension Office, as well as all our sponsors.

Livestock and grain market report: 4/26/25

Joyful Noise: Life lessons taught in Proverbs

By Pastor Naomi Mitchell

For Carter County Times

 

Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.”

We have all been taught some lessons by life. The wisdom of those lessons has filled the pages of many books and have been handed down from one generation to the next. Lessons are learned by the hard knocks of life. Lessons are learned from making mistakes and messing up time and time again. But once you learn a lesson you don’t intend to make that mistake again. Right?

The book of Proverbs offers numerous life lessons focused on wisdom, righteousness, and practical living. Key themes include the importance of honoring God first, then parents, seeking knowledge, avoiding immoral influences, and cultivating good character traits like humility and generosity. Proverbs also emphasize the value of sound judgment, diligence, and the consequences of foolish choices.

The Bible talks about seeking wisdom and knowledge and understanding in relentless pursuit, viewing wisdom as a treasure to be sought and treasured. It emphasizes the importance of listening to wise counsel and seeking guidance from elders, recognizing that wisdom comes from experience. Proverbs highlight the value of learning from mistakes and accepting corrections, as these experiences can lead to growth and maturity.

Proverbs offer practical advice on various aspects of life including marriage, family, work, finances, providing guidance on how to live a balanced and productive life. It emphasizes the importance of diligence, and avoiding laziness, encouraging readers to work hard and make the most of their opportunities. Proverbs also highlight the importance of taking responsibility for one’s actions and consequences, emphasizing the need for accountability and perseverance.

The Proverbs illustrate the consequences of making wise or foolish choices, emphasizing that actions have repercussions, and that following wisdom leads to positive outcomes while straying from wisdom leads to negative ones. It highlights the importance of thinking carefully before acting, and avoiding impulsive decisions, especially when dealing with temptation or difficult situations. The Proverbs also emphasize the role of trust in God, urging readers to have faith that He will guide them through life’s challenges and reward those who seek His wisdom.

Some things life has taught us are that we never lose friends; we only learn who the true ones are. The most dangerous liars are those who think they are telling the truth.

Some things we have learned are that you can’t and won’t please everyone. So, it is okay to cancel the commitment. It’s okay to not answer that call. It’s okay to change your mind. It’s okay to want to be alone. It’s okay to take a day off. It’s okay to do nothing. It’s okay to speak up and it’s okay to let go. You have learned that you are the one to protect your energy and peace.

Time is slow when you wait. Time passes fast when you are late. Time is endless when you are in pain. Time is long when you are bored. Every time, ‘time’ is determined by your feelings and your psychological conditions and not by clocks.

Life doesn’t wait for you to be okay. Get up every day and keep pushing through. Take good care of yourself. If something happens to you, the world will move on. Work in silence and celebrate in private. Be silent. Don’t regret your past; learn from it and improve. You’ll find peace when you mind your own business and let the other person mind theirs.

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  With the Lord’s help, keep learning the life lessons that matter the most! Walk the walk that pleases Jesus! 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 discusses beautification and annexation

Olive Hill city council members hear discussion of the city’s high electric utility bills. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)

By Charles Romans

Carter County Times

 

The Olive Hill City Council met in regular session on April 15, at their new venue inside the Olive Hill Police Station with an agenda aimed at expanding and improving the city. Council members Eric Rayburn, Shane Tackett, and Kirk Wilburn were present in person. Councilman Tony Williams was present via video conference. Council members Shannon Leadingham and Chris Bledsoe were absent. Olive Hill Mayor Jerry Callihan presided.

The council had the second reading of Ordinance 2025-03, annexation of Rt 2 BP into city limits. That ordinance was approved by a vote of 4 to 0. The annexation came at the request of GK Real Estate, LLC, the owners of record of the property. The property is contiguous to the city boundary and is urban in nature or suitable for urban development without reasonable delay, which makes it desirable for the city to annex and is beneficial to both parties.

The annexation is a matter of public record and documentation is available upon request from the City of Olive Hill.

In the open discussion portion of the meeting one council member proposed a Beautification Project to the council. That council member, Eric Rayburn, presented a Beautification PowerPoint to the council, and in that presentation broke down the project into phases of implementation.

The project would begin with the city purchasing a green space to convert into parking in the downtown Olive Hill area. Phase one of the plan would also provide assistance to downtown businesses to remove scrub greenery, weeds, clean the exterior of their buildings, and also assist with a fresh coat of paint.

“I have already spoken with several property owners,” Rayburn said. “They are very interested and want to be involved in the process.”

Rayburn said that one goal of the project is to make the properties in question a ‘blank canvas’. Then, once the cleaning and painting is finished, the next step would be to add sign boards with mural style paintings made by students from local schools.

“The sign boards will allow us to move the paintings if repairs need to be made to the structures,” he said. “We could even use these to cover damaged windows until they could be replaced, then relocate the paintings to a different location.”

The Beautification Project, combined with the efforts and community enrichment proposed by other community organizations such as Trail Town, should combine to give the city a more friendly and accessible appearance.

The Beautification Project, Rayburn said, could be funded through Olive Hill’s new Tourism Commission, and as such would be designed to make the city more attractive to visitors and tourists, and generate interest from new businesses to locate in the city.

In other business, the council requested that Trail Town speak to the council during their next regular meeting, when all council members could be present. Clerk Thomas was asked to speak with all council members and schedule a special meeting in the next two weeks to discuss this along with board vacancies for the city.

 

Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com

Pet of the Week: Meet Oliver

Oliver is a male mixed breed, about 1-year-old. He’s friendly, good with other dogs, walks on a leash, and is neutered and up to date on all shots. He’s also currently the longest resident of the shelter, and has a free adoption to an approved home. Stop by the Carter County Animal Shelter and meet him or call 475-9771 for more information.

Shelter hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday by appointment.

Grayson Council discusses renovations

Customers and celebrants fill the lobby of the Member’s Choice Credit Union on the day of their ribbon cutting. (File photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)

By Charles Romans

Carter County Times

 

The City of Grayson held a special meeting last Thursday, April 24, to discuss a possible lease agreement with Member’s Choice Credit Union (MCCU). The agreement would provide space to house city government offices during a potential renovation of the Grayson City Building, in order to prevent interruptions to city businesses.

The city council also discussed their KCL Unemployment dividend, pricing from Enterprise Rental, and a future workshop to consider the city’s budget for the coming year.

City clerk Dawnita Lewis also announced to the council that in July she will be the City of Grayson’s first ever Certified Municipal Clerk. Lewis will graduate with the certification in July, and the council and the mayor congratulated her on the accomplishment.

Mayor Troy Combs spoke to the council concerning the potential lease of offices at the Member’s Choice location in Grayson, and said that he had been negotiating said proposed lease in anticipation of future need. Combs also said that he would not move toward finalizing the lease until the council thought that such a lease would be worthwhile and beneficial.

“But I am all about weighing our options and giving the council the best options we have,” Combs said. “We are trying to make our city better and our facilities better,” he told the council. “And so, I have negotiated on behalf of the city a rate of $1,500 per month, should we want to rent from Member’s Choice Credit Union.”

The original proposed lease was for the amount of $3,000.

“It is a new space and a lot of square footage,” Combs told the council.

He had made a conditional offer to MCCU for the $1,500 amount, he said, and was asked if a $2,000 lease would be acceptable.

“I told them with utilities and other expenses I did not believe we would do that,” Combs said. Member’s Choice then authorized the $1,500 monthly lease payment.

Combs explained that the lease would be necessary if the council decided upon renovations to the existing building, so that city employees and customers would not be forced to continue operations on site while experiencing the dirt, noise, and potential health risks that the renovations would entail. “We would need a different administrative space, though I suppose you could work from a single room while renovations are being done on other parts of the building,” Combs told the council. “But it would be difficult.”

Several council members voiced opinions that an engineer should be called in to assess exactly what repairs should be made before agreeing to a lease. Current known issues include replacing the flooring in two rooms in the city building, as well as some work needing to be done on the second floor of the building. No decision was made during the meeting.

In a related item on the agenda, Combs informed the council that there was $12,000 in a KLC Unemployment account at Member’s Choice Credit Union. Combined with the dividend of $6,000 on the account, the total worth of the account would be $18,000. Combs told the council that those funds would come close to covering the rental of the MCCU administrative space should the council decide to use those funds for that purpose.

 

Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com

 

 

Senior Vouchers Available Soon for Carter County Farmer’s Market

Rebecca Konopka

Carter County Extension Office

Agriculture & Natural Resources

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program is offering seniors in Carter County the opportunity to purchase locally grown fresh produce at the Carter County Farmer’s Market this summer. The program provides $50 in vouchers to eligible seniors for the purchase of fresh vegetables, fruits, cut herbs, and honey from state-approved farmer’s markets.

To be eligible, seniors must be 60 years of age or older and have an income less than or equal to 185% of the poverty level.

The income guidelines are as follows:

  • Household Size 1: Monthly Income $2,413
  • Household Size 2: Monthly Income $3,261
  • Household Size 3: Monthly Income $4,109
  • Household Size 4: Monthly Income $4,957
  • For each additional family member, add $848 monthly.

Seniors interested in participating in the program must live in Carter County. To sign up, individuals can make an appointment starting May 28th by calling the Carter County Extension Office at 606-474-6686 between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM. When calling to make an appointment, applicants will need to provide their name, address, phone number, birthday, and income information. Participants must also bring a valid government ID or other proof of identification to their appointment.

Opening days for the Carter County Farmer’s Market will be Monday, June 16th in Olive Hill and Saturday, June 21st in Grayson.  The Grayson Farmer’s Market will be open on Saturdays at 9:00 AM and on Thursdays at 2:00.  The market is located in the shed behind the Extension Office.   The Olive Hill Farmer’s Market is located in the Save-a-Lot parking lot and will be open on Saturdays and Wednesdays at 8:00 AM and Mondays at 3:00 PM. There will be a pop-up market on the first Tuesday of the month starting in July at the Friendship & Chapel House parking lot at 5:00 PM.  Markets will be open each day until sell out.

 

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:

  • Little Sandy Beekeepers Association – May 6 @ 6:30; Topic- Honey Bee Aggression: A Drink From The Magic Well

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Olive Hill council chooses board members

(Photo by Charles Romans, Carter County Times)

By Charles Romans

Carter County Times

 

The City Council of Olive Hill met in a special session on April 23, at the Olive Hill Police Station with the formation of boards on their agenda. Mayoy Jerry Callihan presided at the meeting, and council members Eric Rayburn, Chris Bledsoe, Kirk Wilburn, Tony Williams, and Shannon Leadingham were present in person. Councilman Shane Tackett joined the meeting virtually.

The council discussed the appointing of various members for several city boards during the meeting, including the Planning Commission, the Board of Adjustment, the Code Enforcement Board, and the recently established Tourism Board.

Proposed members for the Planning Commission were Jeremy Rayburn, Brittany Rayburn, Justin Dixon, Cara Dixon, and Carolyn Callihan.

Proposed members for the Board of Adjustment were Justin Wagoner, Justin Dixon, and Jeremy Rayburn.

Proposed Members for the Code Enforcement Board were Ryan Raybourn, Sarah Hylton, and JD Rayburn.

Proposed members for the Tourism Board were Jeremy Rayburn (Mayor Choice), Brittany Rayburn (Mayor Choice), Lisa Burton (Chamber), and Carolyn Callihan (Restaurant). Three other members were proposed by the council due to the absence of a Hotel Board. Those members were Sue Wilburn, Robyn Adkins, and Kristen Bledsoe.

Following the discussion and nominations, a motion was made by Rayburn to accept nominations. The motion was seconded by Williams, and was then passed by a unanimous vote of 6 to 0.

City boards are crucial to the smooth operation of the city, with each board dealing with specific concerns and issues. Most city government boards meet once per month, and most of those meetings (excluding the executive sessions portion) are open to the public and are advertised in the paper of record in the county those boards serve, typically a minimum of 48 hours before the meeting in question is to be held.

Residents of Olive Hill are encouraged to attend these meetings, as well as serve on the boards. Both mayor Callihan and the Olive Hill City Council stressed that those serving on the boards should be residents of the city they serve, because this will ensure that board members have a vested interest in the operation and government of Olive Hill.

 

Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com

 

 

Tree giveaway draws huge crowd

Crowds stood in heavy rain to get their choice of saplings. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)

Crowds stood in heavy rain to get their choice of saplings. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times)

By Jeremy D. Wells

Carter County Times

 

The Carter County Soil Conservation District held their annual tree giveaway last week, handing out nearly 1,200 trees to almost 120 families and individuals. The Friday morning giveaway included fruit trees like persimmon, wild plum, and pawpaw, as well as mast crops like chestnut oak, white oak, and red oak. It also included native decorative trees like the Kentucky coffee tree and flowering dogwood. Each participant was limited to ten saplings, with two per bag, meaning they could choose up to five varieties.

The trees were distributed on a first come, first served basis, however, and folks began showing up more than an hour before the 10 am giveaway’s scheduled start time for their chance to get first choice.

For some, like Robert Craft, that meant fruit trees. Craft, who found out about the event through social media, said he was looking mainly for persimmons.
“I’ve got pawpaws out the yin-yang,” he said, noting that he sells around 50 pounds of the native fruit every fall.

But he’d like to establish some persimmons on his farm as well. He said the fact that these were native varieties was important to him too.

“I’d much rather have something that’s supposed to be in this area, versus something that’s been brought in or been cultivated,” he said, adding that he’s been battling non-native invasive plants like honeysuckle on his property.

Craft’s cousin, Larisa Biggs Tackett, said she was hoping to get some persimmon as well, but she wasn’t as particular.

“Oak if I have to,” she teased. “I’m pretty far back in this line.”

She said she just liked trees, and wanted to do her part to help “clean up the air.”

Kate and Jeff Hopewell said they were hoping to get fruit trees as well.

“Plums and persimmon,” Kate said.

“The persimmon, the wild plums, the coffee trees, and stuff like that,” Jeff added. “I already live on an established farm, so we have the oaks and stuff like that.”

He said he was looking for the fruit trees to “fill in” areas on the property where they didn’t have hardwood, and that he hoped they would limit the popular varieties, such as “the persimmons and the pawpaws and stuff like that to two per person.”

Unfortunately for the Hopewells, most of the fruit trees were gone by the time they reached the front of the line, but they left with some Kentucky coffee tree, and Jeff said they were able to offer suggestions to Conservation District board member Tracy Prichard about making the distribution of those popular varieties more fair in the future.

Those looking for nut trees were in luck though.

Lisa Swint went away with chestnut oak, because she didn’t have many on her land and said she wanted to contribute to propagating the species.

Meanwhile Raymond McGuire said he was getting oak “strictly for the deer.”

He said the acorns are a good food source for the deer and other wildlife, “and besides, they make good lumber.”

FFA volunteer Eric Barker, with the West Carter FFA, said that he and his fellow volunteers, West Carter’s Kelsey Wilson and Shelby Williams, and East Carter FFA’s Kendall Brammell, were helping, “because we’re FFA. Basically, that’s what we do. We run around the community, and do stuff like this.”

Andrew Buckwalter, who works as a forester with the National Wild Turkey Federation through the conservation office, said he’s “normally in the woods,” for his work, but added, “if I can do outreach programs like this, to help give landowners trees and maybe repopulate their years… it’s just a good thing to do.”

He said the fact that the trees also help feed wildlife, like turkeys, is also a plus.

“This is a big wildlife outreach,” he said. “Part of it too is that we’ve got a lot of nut producing plants here. We’ve got lots of fruit producing plants. So, it’s just nice to see the community wants to get involved in all that stuff too.”

He said he was also surprised by the response, with the line stretching all the way down the sidewalk and around the front of the Extension office.

“I didn’t anticipate such a turnout, so that was nice,” Buckwalter said. “That was really cool. I didn’t realize how popular this event was.”

Soil Conservation’s Courtney Bond said they had some oak saplings, and Kentucky coffee tree left, and they would have them available at the Soil Conservation office until they ran out or the trees were no longer viable.

“With it being the weekend, hopefully they survive,” Bond said.
She also thanked the FFA volunteers, the board members who showed up to help, and all the folks who braved the weather to claim trees.

“I appreciate everybody that helped out,” she said.

 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com

 

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The Dinky Hill was our next best thing to a real mountain.

By: Keith Kappes
Columnist
Carter County Times

(Reprinted by request from January 2015)

 

Seeing and touching the “dinky” locomotive at the old Hitchins school brings back memories of growing up in that community in the 1950’s.

Any kid who ever lived in Hitchins knew about the Dinky Hill which rose a few hundred feet behind the “Blue Camps”, our neighborhood’s name because all of the company-owned houses originally were painted blue.

Folks who lived on the other side of the Dinky Hill were in the “Clay Camps” and the other housing area near the company’s coal mines at the end of the same ridge was called the “Coal Camps”.

A new road eventually took vehicle traffic over the summit where we had camped, built forts, played war games, chased wild game, ran from snakes while picking blackberries and pretended we were explorers on the highest mountain range.

My preference was the side of the Dinky Hill  that was closest to home where we could hear Mom calling us to supper. Even then, I tried never to miss a meal.

We had a nifty rock cliff to climb, despite the occasional snake enjoying the warm, sunlit surface. We even used ropes tied around us like real mountaineers.

We once tried to send smoke signals from the rock ledge but were too slow and the blanket caught fire. I don’t recall how we explained the hole in Granny’s blanket, but I do remember how we put out the fire.

I liked to camp where we could see the back porch light that Mom always left on when we were “mountaineering” on the Dinky Hill.

That light meant safety, food and a warm, dry bed when it rained.

Most of all, it was my connection to the person who gave me life and loved me unconditionally – even when I didn’t live up to her expectations.

That was long ago but many times over the years I’ve found myself looking for that porch light.

(Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.)

Shhhhhhh

By Robert Dean

 

There is a sacred solace in people just shutting up. We need those moments alone. Because life ain’t doing most of us any favors. There’s a never-ending stack of bills. The kids are unbelievably annoying. They want pizza, but you don’t have pizza money. The whole politics thing is a nightmare. People you used to like are weird, and no one can talk about anything that doesn’t involve an opinion beyond something relatable, like how they want their steak cooked. (Any other answer than medium rare, and you’re a psycho. But, it’s easier to joke about steak than talk about why you bawled alone in the truck today.)

We’re all neck-deep in the waters of indifference, stuck with the burden of navigating life with a broken grocery cart wheel. The term, “smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em,” rings truer every day. Every day, we all need that extra two or three minutes in the car where no one talks, asks for anything or needs anything. The silence is enough. And then, when you get out, the horrors persist.

Instead of being a major bummer, I wanted to relay a small bit of hope that resilience without witness is possible. Sometimes, there are those stories that connect us; even if the species isn’t the same, the heart remains true.

Valerie, a miniature dachshund, has been found safe after surviving 529 days alone in the wilderness of Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Valerie split in November 2023 during a family holiday at Stokes Bay when the little criminal broke free from her pen and ran into dense scrub. Her disappearance sparked a lengthy and high-profile search involving volunteers, conservationists from Kangala Wildlife Rescue, and locals.

Despite the island’s large and wild terrain, known for its untouched nature, Valerie was eventually spotted through camera surveillance and successfully rescued using traps and lures. The little goof outsmarted wedge-tailed eagles, Australia’s largest birds of prey who primarily hunt mammals such as wallabies and possums and are known to scavenge carrion. Rosenberg’s goanna is a five-foot-long lizard that’s basically a little cousin of a Komodo Dragon, and along with those lizards, a plethora of venomous snakes, and feral cats who’ll murder anything in sight call the island home. (Makes you wonder why anyone wants to vacation in a spot like this in the first place, but hey, we have bears and rattlesnakes.)

Valerie was spotted on camera and lured back into a kennel using treats and her favorite toys. And now, she’s back home with her family. During that time fending for her life, the house dog became wild, like in the movies. This is one brutal little animal. How she survived is a feat of resilience that is commendable.

We’re all out here doing our best, and stories like these act as small reminders that if a dog can survive alongside goannas, we can still chug a beer with the neighbor we think is a little weird. Or if you feel like the chips are stacked against you, maybe you need to accept that the world isn’t the problem, it’s you. We’ve all met a lot of those people – not always the victim, but always the problem.

Life can and does kick us in the teeth, shins, and heart regularly. No one lives a charmed life, despite how much someone wants you to believe otherwise. We’ve all been deep in it at one time or another; it’s whether or not we talk about it.

Little Valerie should give you a pause, a small moment of exhalation, so we can hang in there and see that the world is navigable if you’re using the old noodles. I mean, look, I’m a grown man and I am not messing with some big lizard with lizard teeth and hands. Ever seen one of those dudes run? Absolutely not!

Much respect to the little hound for staying alive despite the odds being firmly stacked against her. We could all use that kind of thinking from time to time. I hope she doesn’t decide to go on another adventure; dogs don’t get nine lives last I checked. But she didn’t have to bark loud to show what she was made of – she just did it against all odds. Same as you sitting in your car.

Indictments: 4/11/25

The following indictments were returned by the Grand Jury of the Carter Circuit Court on April 11, 2025. An indictment is not a determination of guilt or innocence. It is simply a charge that an offense has been committed and indicates that a case is pending on the charges listed. All defendants have the presumption of innocence until found guilty in a court of law.
Though it is a part of the public record, the Carter County Times does not make a habit of printing the names of minor children or the victims of alleged crimes, except under exceptional circumstances.

 

  • Robert Affolter, 42, of Grayson, from April 1, 2018, through February 28, 2025, committed the offense of flagrant non-support by failing to support his minor children, and accumulating an arrearage of $5,124.50, a Class D Felony.
  • Wade Bailey, 25, of Salyersville, from February 1, 2024, through February 28, 2025, committed the offense of flagrant non-support by failing to support his minor child, and accumulating an arrearage of $3,625.35, a Class D Felony.
  • Richard Blanton, 38, of Morehead, from September 1, 2022, through February 28, 2025, committed the offense of flagrant non-support by failing to support his minor child, and accumulating an arrearage of $5,381.83, a Class D Felony.
  • Kerry Blevins, 41, of Grayson, through February 28, 2025, committed the offense of flagrant non-support by failing to support her minor child, and accumulating an arrearage of $3,251.45, a Class D Felony.
  • Sherry Blevins, 47, of Olive Hill, on or about August 6, 2024, committed the offenses of criminal abuse in the second degree, victim 12 or under, by wantonly abusing an infant, of whom she had custody, placing the minor child in a situation that may cause them serious physical injury, or causes torture or cruel punishment, a Class D Felony; and a second instance of criminal abuse in the second degree, victim 12 or under, by wantonly abusing an infant, of whom she had custody, placing a second minor child in a situation that may cause them serious physical injury, or causes torture or cruel punishment, a Class D Felony.
  • Dakota Brewster, 29, of Olive Hill, on or about January 31, 2025, committed the offenses of burglary, second degree, when he knowingly entered the victim’s outside entrance into the basement of their home while fleeing from law enforcement, a Class C Felony; fleeing or evading police, second degree, on foot, when he fled from law enforcement on foot, knowing he had active warrants, also causing injury to the law enforcement officer, a Class D Felony; and resisting arrest, a Class A Misdemeanor.
  • Jacob Clifton, 24, of Elkhorn City, on or about March 14, 2025, committed the offenses of possession of a controlled substance, first degree, first offense, when he unlawfully possessed methamphetamine, a schedule two narcotic, a Class D Felony; and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A Misdemeanor.
  • Bobby Dunn, 41, of Flatwoods, from September 1, 2011, through February 28, 2025, committed the offense of flagrant non-support by failing to support his minor child, and accumulating an arrearage of $28,587.45, a Class D Felony.
  • Austin Kilgore, 22, of Olive Hill, on or about February 6, 2025, committed the offenses of theft by unlawful taking over $1,000 but less than $10,000 by taking property belonging to another, with intent to deprive them of their property, a Class D Felony; attempted theft by unlawful taking over $1,000 but less than $10,000 by taking property belonging to another, with intent to deprive them of their property, a Class A Misdemeanor; criminal mischief, first degree, by intentionally destroying property belonging to another, causing more than $1,000 in damage, a Class D Felony; fleeing and evading police, first degree, motor vehicle, when with intent to elude he disregarded an officer’s directions to stop, creating a substantial risk of serious physical injury or death to officers, a Class C Felony; burglary, third degree, by unlawfully entering the property of another, with intent to commit a crime, a Class D Felony; leaving the scene of an accident and failing to render aid with physical injury by having an accident with an automobile and fleeing the scene without rendering aid, a Class A Misdemeanor; criminal trespass, third degree, by knowingly and unlawfully entering or remaining on premises belonging to another, a Violation; and wanton endangerment, first degree, by wantonly engaging in conduct which created a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury to an officer of the police, a Class D Felony.
  • Austin Kilgore, 22, of Olive Hill, on or about September 2, 2024, through September 3, 2024, committed the offense of receiving stolen property over $1,000 but under $10,000 by being in possession of a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe, and knowing it to be stolen, a Class D Felony.
  • Anthony Light, 53, of Grayson, on or about February 22, 2025, committed the offenses of possession of a controlled substance, first degree, first offense, drug unspecified, when he possessed a schedule one or schedule two narcotic, a Class D Felony; possession of a controlled substance, first degree, first offense, when he possessed methamphetamine, a schedule two narcotic, an Class D Felony; possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A Misdemeanor; possession of marijuana, a Class B Misdemeanor; possession of a controlled substance, third degree, drug unspecified, by knowingly and unlawfully possessing a schedule four or schedule five drug, a Class A Misdemeanor; operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a substance, second offense, a Class A Misdemeanor; and operating a motor vehicle on a public roadway without an operator’s license, a Class B Misdemeanor.
  • Paul Marcum, 45, of Olive Hill, on or about August 6, 2024, committed the offenses of criminal abuse in the second degree, victim 12 or under, by wantonly abusing an infant, of whom he had custody, placing the minor child in a situation that may cause them serious physical injury, or causes torture or cruel punishment, a Class D Felony; and a second case of criminal abuse in the second degree, victim 12 or under, by wantonly abusing an infant, of whom he had custody, placing the second minor child in a situation that may cause them serious physical injury, or causes torture or cruel punishment, a Class D Felony.
  • Brianna Maynard, 31, of Louisa, on or about February 19, 2025, committed the offense of menacing, by intentionally placing another person in reasonable apprehension of imminent physical injury, a Class B Misdemeanor; public intoxication, when she appeared in a public place manifestly under the influence of a controlled substance or other intoxicating substance, excluding alcohol, to the degree that she may endanger herself or other persons or property, or unreasonably annoy persons in her vicinity, a Class B Misdemeanor; theft of mail matter, when she stole a package delivered by mail from a local veterinary business, with the intent to deprive the owner thereof, a Class D Felony.
  • Jacqueline McClurg, 42, of Olive Hill, from February 1, 2024, through February 28, 2025, committed the offense of flagrant non-support by failing to support her minor children, and accumulating an arrearage of $4,108.00, a Class D Felony.
  • Martin Moore, 42, of Sandy Hook, on or about March 22, 2025, committed the offense of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, fourth or greater offense, a Class D Felony.
  • Jonathan Owens, 22, of Morehead, from November 1, 2023, through February 28, 2025, committed the offense of flagrant non-support by failing to support his minor child, and accumulating an arrearage of $3,300.00, a Class D Felony.
  • Andria Parker, 31, of Olive Hill, on or about February 5, 2025, committed the offense of criminal abuse in the second degree, victim 12 or under, by wantonly abusing an infant of whom she had custody, placing the minor child in a situation that may cause them serious physical injury, or causes torture or cruel punishment, a Class D Felony; a second case of criminal abuse in the second degree, victim 12 or under, by wantonly abusing a second infant of whom she had custody, placing the minor child in a situation that may cause them serious physical injury, or causes torture or cruel punishment, a Class D Felony; a third case of criminal abuse in the second degree, victim 12 or under, by wantonly abusing a third infant of whom she had custody, placing the minor child in a situation that may cause them serious physical injury, or causes torture or cruel punishment, a Class D Felony; and criminal abuse in the second degree, by wantonly abusing a minor child, of whom she had custody, placing the minor child in a situation that may cause them serious physical injury, or causes torture or cruel punishment, a Class D Felony.
  • Matthew Parker, 32, of Olive Hill, on or about February 5, 2025, committed the offense of criminal abuse in the second degree, victim 12 or under, by wantonly abusing an infant of whom she had custody, placing the minor child in a situation that may cause them serious physical injury, or causes torture or cruel punishment, a Class D Felony; a second case of criminal abuse in the second degree, victim 12 or under, by wantonly abusing a second infant of whom she had custody, placing the minor child in a situation that may cause them serious physical injury, or causes torture or cruel punishment, a Class D Felony; a third case of criminal abuse in the second degree, victim 12 or under, by wantonly abusing a third infant of whom she had custody, placing the minor child in a situation that may cause them serious physical injury, or causes torture or cruel punishment, a Class D Felony; and criminal abuse in the second degree, by wantonly abusing a minor child, of whom she had custody, placing the minor child in a situation that may cause them serious physical injury, or causes torture or cruel punishment, a Class D Felony.
  • Glenda Psimer, 47, of Olive Hill, on or about April 3, 2025, committed the offense of tampering with physical evidence by concealing evidence which she believed would be in an official proceeding, a Class D Felony; and possession of controlled substance, first degree, first offense, when she possessed methamphetamine, a schedule two narcotic, a Class D Felony.
  • Amos Reynolds, 36, of Olive Hill, on or about March 15, 2025, committed the offenses of assault, fourth degree, no visible injury, by intentionally causing physical harm to another by assaulting her, a Class A Misdemeanor; falsely reporting an incident, by knowingly giving false information to a dispatch and/or law enforcement regarding an assault, trying to implicate another, a Class A Misdemeanor; and falsely reporting an incident which generates an emergency response, by knowingly causing an emergency to be transmitted to law enforcement, giving false information regarding an assault, trying to implicate another which the false report generated an emergency response by law enforcement, a Class D Felony.
  • April Richmond, 28, from December 1, 2023, through February 28, 2025, committed the offense of flagrant non-support by failing to support her minor children, and accumulating an arrearage of $4,740.00, a Class D Felony
  • Derrick Rivers, 49, of Morehead, on or about September 2, 2024, through September 3, 2024, committed the offense of receiving stolen property, over $1,000 but under $10,000 by being in possession of a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe, knowing it to be stolen, a Class D Felony.
  • Steven Sharp, 43, of Evansville, IN, on or about January 2, 2025, committed the offense of failure to comply with the sex offender registration when he did not update his current address in accordance with KRS 17.510, a Class D Felony.
  • Kevin Smith, 53, of Charleston, WV, on or about November 8, 2024, committed the offenses of forgery, first degree, by falsely completing a written instrument on a local materials company, with intent to defraud and deceive the corporation of its property, a Class C Felony; a second case of forgery, first degree, by falsely completing a written instrument on a local materials company, with intent to defraud and deceive the corporation of its property, a Class C Felony; criminal possession of a forged instrument, second degree, with knowledge that it is forged and with intent to defraud, deceive, or injure another, he uttered or possessed a forged check from the local company, a Class D Felony; and a second case of criminal possession of a forged instrument, second degree, with knowledge that it is forged and with intent to defraud, deceive, or injure another, he uttered or possessed a forged check from the local company, a Class D Felony.
  • Brandon Walker, 50, of Morehead, on or about September 2, 2024, through September 3, 2024, committed the offense of receiving stolen property, over $1,000 but under $10,000 by being in possession of a 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe, knowing it to be stolen, a Class D Felony.
  • Tyler Vance, 30, of Grayson, from December 1, 2015, through February 28, 2025, committed the offense of flagrant non-support by failing to support his minor child, and accumulating an arrearage of $5,544.27, a Class D Felony.
  • Michael Zornes, 38, of Olive Hill, on or about March 26, 2025, committed the offenses of possession of marijuana, a Class B Misdemeanor; possession of a controlled substance, first degree, second offense, when he possessed methamphetamine, a schedule two narcotic, while having a previous conviction for possession of a controlled substance, a Class D Felony; possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A Misdemeanor; endangering the welfare of a minor when he, being the person legally charged with the care or custody of a minor, failed or refused to exercise reasonable diligence, by acts of possessing drugs readily available inside his residence and engaging in felonious behavior creating a substantial risk of physical or emotional injury, a Class A Misdemeanor; and burglary, third degree, by unlawfully entering a building of another with intent to commit a crime, a Class D Felony.

Weekly Arrests: 4/30/25

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.

 

  • Christopher Schumacher, 38, of Grayson, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on a charge of first degree strangulation (domestic violence related), arrested and booked April 21.
  • Cody Lyons, 32, of Olive Hill, arrested by Kentucky State Police, for non-payment of court costs, fees, or fines, arrested and booked April 21.
  • Thomas Harper, 61, of Olive Hill, arrested by Rowan County Detention Center, on two counts of non-payment of court costs, fees, or fines, arrested and booked April 22.
  • Jason Psimer, 48, of Olive Hill, arrested by Rowan County Detention Center, on a probation violation (for a felony offense), four counts of failure to appear, and a charge of second degree escape, arrested and booked April 22.
  • Cody Adkins, 38, of Rush, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on charges of first degree strangulation (domestic violence related), and fourth degree assault (domestic violence) with no visible injury, arrested and booked April 22.
  • Keith Stevens, 35, of Olive Hill, arrested by Olive Hill PD, on charges of first degree wanton endangerment, and attempted murder, arrested and booked April 23.
  • Dylan Carter, 20, of Grayson, arrested by Carter County Sheriff, on a charge of knowingly abusing/neglect of an adult, arrested and booked April 23.
  • Megin Jones, 36, of Flatwoods, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on two counts of failure to appear, arrested and booked April 23.
  • Katherine Jessie, 32, of Olive Hill, arrested by Olive Hill PD, on charges of operating on a suspended or revoked operator’s license, failure to or improper signal, and failure to appear, arrested and booked April 23.
  • Michael Flannery, 46, of Sandy Hook, arrested by Kentucky State Police, for failure to appear, arrested and booked April 23.
  • Sherry Blevins, 47, of Olive Hill, arrested by Boyd County Jail, on a charge of second degree criminal abuse of a child 12 or under, arrested and booked April 24.
  • Cody Lyons, 32, of Olive Hill, arrested by Olive Hill PD, on charges of operating on a suspended or revoked operator’s license, no registration receipt, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a substance, failure to produce an insurance card, failure to maintain required insurance, first degree criminal mischief, and two counts of non-payment of court costs, fees, or fines, arrested and booked April 24.
  • Nathan Navarre, 36, of Ashland, arrested by Carter County District Court, weekender, arrested and booked April 25.
  • Timothy Griffith, 32, address unavailable, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on two counts of failure to appear, arrested and booked April 25.
  • Ryan Handley, 46, of Grayson, arrested by Kentucky State Police, on two counts of failure to appear, arrested and booked April 25.
  • Joseph Burton, 49, of Grayson, arrested by Grayson PD, on charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, and driving on a DUI suspended license – first offense, arrested and booked April 26.
  • Isaac Walker, 22, address unavailable, arrested by Grayson PD, on charges of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, disregarding a stop sign, and failure to notify clerk of residence or name change, arrested and booked April 27.

 

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: Paper Organization

By Daryl Ashley

Confusion Solution

 

Today, an answer to a common home office dilemma.

“Hi. Are there any tips on staying on target every day with paper organization? Thanks.”

Yes, there are. It isn’t easy to know how to effectively stay on top of managing paperwork that comes in daily, as well as addressing the stacks that have been piling up over time.

Dealing with the daily influx of mail is the first step. It may seem like this isn’t a big deal, but we don’t always sort our mail when it arrives, which leads to more to deal with later on. This is a great way to get yourself into a routine that will lead to better management. When you get your mail immediately toss out unwanted ads. Then separate bills from any other types of mail and put them in the area where you usually pay them. You will want to set up a calendar marking due dates for paying your bills then physically arrange them by date and set them up to be visible in a desktop organizer until time to pay them.

A filing cabinet is extremely useful when trying to manage paper. The stacks can build up quickly without attention, so each day spend only a few minutes sorting through paper that hasn’t been filed. Try to allow about 15 to 30 minutes, if possible, to sort, toss, or shred. Once the volume is reduced, daily maintenance will be a breeze. You may not even have to deal with paperwork daily, except for the mail. Just avoid starting a new stack by filing what’s been paid, leaving out only what is still due, or needs addressed.

There are many products out there that can help to set up a filing system that works well for you. If you need information about where to look and what to look for. Send me a message and I will be happy to help with your research.

It’s as simple as that!

 

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

 

UK King’s Daughters to acquire Tri-State Regional Cancer Center, expand radiation oncology services  

Tri-State Regional Cancer Center (Submitted photo)
ASHLAND, Ky.— UK King’s Daughters will acquire Tri-State Regional Cancer Center (TSRCC), expanding its oncology services to include radiation therapy.
The acquisition was approved by the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees Healthcare Committee on Thursday and approved by the UK Board of Trustees today, Friday, April 25. It will include the 8,224 sq. ft. facility, located at 706 23rd St., Ashland, and equipment including two lead-lined vaults for radiation therapy and two linear accelerators (medical devices that deliver high-energy radiation to treat cancer). Tri-State Regional Cancer Center radiation oncologists Jeffrey Lopez, M.D., and Terry Justice, M.D., will be employed by King’s Daughters Integrated Practices following the transition.
“We are delighted to welcome Tri-State Regional Cancer Center to King’s Daughters,” King’s Daughters President and Chief Executive Officer Sara Marks said. “While we have always worked closely with TSRCC, this brings long-term surety for the practice, their patients and our community. This will be a significant addition to our oncology program, serving patients who require this important treatment.”
 
Tri-State Regional Cancer Center has been serving patients since 1985. Dr. Lopez and his wife, Kelly, joined King’s Daughters in 1989 and purchased the practice in 1991. TSRCC has developed exceptional cancer care through collaboration with King’s Daughters and UK HealthCare’s Markey Cancer Center. Radiation oncology services are accredited by the American College of Radiology.
 
“Over the past 36 years it has been our great privilege to work alongside such an outstanding team at Tri-State Regional Cancer Center,” Lopez said. “We are proud to have made a lasting impact in the lives of so many.
“As we join UK King’s Daughters, we are confident that the legacy of exceptional care and compassion that defines this center will only grow stronger. We look forward to this exciting next step and continuing to serve our community.”
The acquisition is expected to close July 1, 2025. The TSRCC staff and patients should experience a seamless transition and patients will have no changes or interruptions in their care.
 

Caleb Ray Barker

Caleb Ray Barker, age 24, of Grahn, Kentucky, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, April 28, 2025, at UK-St-Claire Medical Center in Morehead, Kentucky, after a long and courageous battle with Batten’s disease, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born Friday, December 29, 2000, a son of James “Jimmy” and Melissa Kidd Barker.

Caleb was a long-time member of Grahn Hill Freewill Baptist Church and loved going to church and singing for the Lord while he was able. At home, he loved watching his favorite shows every day with his family. Most of all, he loved visits from family and friends, especially Sunday dinners and parties in his honor. Caleb was also declared the “unofficial official Mayor of Grahn” in 2019.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Gary Barker and maternal grandparents, Troy and Kathy Kidd.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by one brother, Ethan Barker of Grahn, Kentucky; paternal grandmother, Debbie Barker, along with several aunts, uncles, and his church family and friends who will miss him dearly.

Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m., Friday, May 2, 2025, at Grahn Hill Freewill Baptist Church in Grahn, Kentucky, with Brother Chad Lowery and Brother Jimmy Barker officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Grahn, Kentucky.

Friends may visit after 6 p.m., Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 West US Hwy 60, Olive Hill, Kentucky and after 9 a.m., Friday, May 2, 2025, at Grahn Hill Freewill Baptist Church until the service hour.

Ethan Barker, Garrett Jenkins, Luke Rayburn, Chad Lowery, Jerome Rayburn and Garrett Roe will serve as pallbearers.

Tim Knipp, Clayton James, Donnie Parker, Josh Wicker will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky, is honored to serve the family of Caleb Ray Barker.

 

 

 

 

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