The Carter County Board of Education Met in regular session on Monday night, in a meeting that focused on the topic of the county’s test scores and notices for a good start to the year.
Superintendent Dr. Paul Green began the meeting by welcoming everybody and noting they’d had a good start to the year. He went on to say the board of education intends to place an emphasis on instructions getting out to the schools and will be getting the first glimpse of test results this coming Thursday; these test results will take a few weeks to reach the public. Dr. Green continues by saying they are very interested to see how this year’s scores compared to last year’s scores, when the studnets were under COVID quarantine. Green said information from across the state indicates that schools statewide are down significantly, however he added, “I don’t know how to take that, but we’ll be interested to see that and get into that, but we are excited to have a good start to the school year.”
Boardmember Lisa Ramey-Easterling went on to bring up free ACT tests coming up in October for Juniors and Seniors, and efforts to ensure parents and guardians are aware. Green added that parents are being contacted d in regards to these tests so that students can take advantage of this free resource. According to one of the teachers in attendance, half of the Senior class has already signed up for this mock ACT test although it is not mandatory, and all of the Juniors will be taking this test. There was brief concern brought up for how virtual students would take this test, but another teacher went on to say that even virtual students have one mandatory in person meeting every month.
Boardmember Chris Perry took the opportunity of a lull in the meeting to go on record stating he believes the board should recognize the extracurricular programs, teams, students, bus drivers, and employees that assisted with the flooding victims. He noted the football teams have donated gates, and FBLA collecting food among a couple of examples of Carter County Schools assisting.
“I just think that we as a board need to say good job, and recognize that,” he said.
Once again, East Carter was intent on holding onto their current winning streak at last Friday’s home game; and with an eventful first quarter to start the night, the Raiders guaranteed another victory with a 39-14 win against Fleming County.
Senior Isaac Boggs (#5) started the night strong with an impressive 53 yard run to guarantee the Raiders’ first six points, followed by a field goal kicked by #34 Junior Ryan Carter to give the Raiders an immediate lead of seven points. Although the Panthers were able to tie the score with seven points, #24 Junior Bryer Holbrook scored another touchdown from a one yard run, guaranteeing another field goal from Carter. The Raiders finished the first quarter strong with a lead of 14 points.
Although the second quarter had fans on edge, with Fleming County once again tying the score with a touchdown followed by a successful field goal, the Raiders defense refused to budge or let them take the lead. East Carter went into halftime tied with Fleming County 14-14.
Going into the third quarter meant if the Raiders wanted a win, they would have to overcome their disadvantage on the field. Senior Eli Estepp (#18) and Junior Gabriel Roberts (#3) took this challenge head on; with Estepp making an incredible 60-yard pass to Roberts, allowing the Raiders to grab another six points with the emphatic cheers of the Raider fans highlighting the new lead of 20-14. Despite a failed kick, the duo of Estepp and Roberts decided they hadn’t had enough. Estepp continued to refuse Fleming’s attempt to get an edge on the score, making a 15-yard pass to Roberts who would get the touch down, putting East Carter at 26 points, a 12 point lead against Fleming County. They ended the third quarter with a failed two-point conversion, leaving the score at 26-14.
The fourth quarter cemented Fleming County’s lack of advantage over East Carter. Senior Dustin Hall (#14) scored a touchdown after a 14-yard run, followed later in the quarter by a touchdown from #24 Holbrook, and a kick from Carter to finalize East Carter’s score of 39 points. All they had to do was hold Fleming County at bay until the clock ran out. While the Panthers put forth the work, the Raiders secured another win with 39-14.
Other honorable mentions for the night were #4 Senior Rylan Yoak’s 11 total tackles, #17 Senior Dustin Hall’s 9 total tackles, #14 Junior Jared Potter’s two 29 yard interceptions, Boggs’ 158 total yards rushing, Estepp’s 75 yard pass, and Roberts’ 75 yards receiving.
By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
The Olive Hill Chamber of Commerce continued their recent trend of inviting candidates for county wide office to speak during their last regular meeting, with incumbent Sheriff Jeff May (Republican) and challenger Eric Ross (Democrat) taking questions submitted by members of the community.
Both candidates introduced themselves and gave a little bit of their background in law enforcement and as residents of Carter County.
May started by stating he felt he’d taken the department to “a higher level” noting that he had four deputies when he started the job eight years ago, but that he now had “ten slots” that he could fill, even if all of those positions were not currently filled. He did concede they were having trouble filling all of those open positions currently, partly because it’s hard for anyone to find employees in the current job market and partly, he said, because of “a little mishap with fiscal court” revoking hazardous duty pay. Because of that, May said, he lost one deputy to another department.
May also clarified the roles of the sheriff’s department, explaining that while they are law enforcement, they have two main duties; “we collect taxes and take care of the court system.”
“That involves (serving) papers. That involves everyday court. That involves your transports… everything out there,” May said, on top of other law enforcement duties.
Ross, who used to work under May, has been in Carter County since 2016 and “fell in love with it.” He eventually married a local girl and started raising his family here, and though he said May was “a great boss,” when he worked under him, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have ideas about how to improve the department. Ross focused heavily on his philosophy that the sheriff needs to be in the community more. He said while the sheriff and his deputies can’t be everywhere all the time in a county the size of Carter, there are people in the community who know what is happening when law enforcement isn’t around. If the sheriff and his deputies can talk to those people, he said, they can give the department valuable information. Because of this, he said, he’d implement a county-wide neighborhood watch program as one part of his sheriff platform if elected.
“We’ve got to get back to basics,” Ross said. “We’ve got to get out in the community. We’ve got to get out talking to people, and learning what’s going on. The people here know what’s going on.”
After introductions the candidates were asked about their backgrounds. May noted that he has been in law enforcement for 20 years, starting his first job with Grayson PD in 2002, before moving to the sheriff’s office, as well as working in accounting and tax preparation – a job that makes him uniquely qualified for the sheriff’s dual role as tax collector. He also noted his time as a school resource officer, explaining that he loves the county and its people and that is why he continues to do the job, even when it gets challenging.
“That’s why you get up every day,” he said.
Ross started his career in Coal Grove as a 19-year-old, fresh out of the academy, before moving to the Raceland PD and working as a K9 handler and, as he previously noted, coming to Carter County to work for May in 2016. He’s also taken extra training in active shooter scenarios, administrative tasks, and different detective classes. He had attained the rank of sergeant with the sheriff’s department before leaving to take his current position with the Olive Hill PD.
Ross said as part of his plan to be in the community more he wanted to improve perceptions of the department among young people, so they felt more comfortable talking with police officers.
“If we can work on our kids, we can change a lot of things in this county, like with the drug factor.” He mentioned focusing on the drug pipeline into the county, and combatting that with K9s, but his philosophy also dovetails in many ways with the Galaxy Project’s Pathfinder Initiative. Though both candidates stated they were unfamiliar with the program at first, once it was described as the Icelandic model, Ross recollected attending the inaugural meeting for the group.
The Pathfinder Initiative seeks to push back the age when students first try drugs and alcohol by giving them other activities to “say yes” to.
May noted that in his time he has seen the drug problem evolve from pill mills to “shake and bake” meth to heroin and new fentanyl. Though you could try some of the K9 interdiction programs Ross championed, he said, and you can slow the spread with interdiction, there are many roads into the county, and it’s impossible, he said, to ever stop the flow completely.
Ross also said he would help grow the department with recruitment from the military, while May noted that the problems with growth aren’t related to recruitment, but retention due to a lack of funding from the county level. He noted that his department received only 2.45% of the total percentage of property taxes that the county collected – not 2.45% of the total collected. But, he said, after this election he planned to go back to the new judge executive and work to get back the hazardous pay retirement for his staff. He also noted that a new state law allows counties to recoup any training costs from departments recruiting their staff if they are hired before working a set period for the county who covered their training costs, and he would be taking advantage of that as well.
While he said no one could promise to be everywhere at all times, noting that with more than 400 square miles of land and 648 miles of roads, “that’s a lot of ground to cover” he said if he can get back up to 10 deputies, they will provide 24-hour coverage “no problem.”
Ross, on the other hand, suggested padding the force with unpaid reserve deputies, and help from constables and other partners.
The candidates also discussed the tax collection end of the job, with May explaining the process for tax exonerations through the PVA, and sharing that information through social media, the radio, and newspapers.
When asked about opioids specifically May noted that his department was pulling people over and sending them to jail, and working with FADE and other partners, but noted again the size of the county.
“There are 22 roads into this county,” he said. “We’ll keep fighting and taking them off the streets as we can, but we can’t stop it completely.
Ross agreed. “We can’t stop it,” he said. “But we can get out and work and talk to people.”
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
It took them two meetings to make the decision, but Grayson city council moved to approve a library request for additional staff funding during a special session on Monday evening. But not before discussing other alternatives, admonishing the fiscal court for “taxing Grayson and Olive Hill residents twice,” having an attempt to table it again die for lack of a motion, and councilman Terry Stamper withdrawing his motion to fund it at $7,500 before seconding a motion from Troy Combs to fund it at the same level.
Library director Matt Parsons had first brought the issue to city council last week, during their regular meeting, after securing a promise from the fiscal court to fund 50 percent of the salary for an additional employee if the cities would fund 25 percent each. Parsons, and Grayson branch manager Mattie Newton, had come to fiscal court first after a male patron made inappropriate advances and comments aimed toward Newton and other library patrons and volunteers, leaving her worried for her safety and the safety of others when working alone in the branch.
The incident briefly led to the closure of the branch; however, it was reopened after volunteers and board members were scheduled to work there, ensuring no one had to work alone until permanent arrangements could be made.
Councilman Bradley Cotten voiced his support for the funding in the Tuesday regular meeting, noting all the good the library does for the community and telling his colleagues, “they’re just trying to keep the place open, and if we can help them we should.”
However, after some concern from other council members about allocating funds in such a tight budget, before it had been amended, Combs moved to schedule the Monday special session with the library issue on the agenda.
At that meeting Parsons was able to secure a commitment for $7,500 for the salary needs “contingent on amendments to the budget and proper allocation of funds” from council.
That number hit squarely in the middle of the $5,000 to $10,000 he’d sought, with hopes that a $10,000 promise from the cities would secure a $20,000 commitment from fiscal court, and fund extra staff at both ends of the county.
Without sufficient commitment, he said, he might not be able to secure enough from fiscal court to cover two salaries, even part time.
But despite that, Parsons did receive a nice private contribution to the library’s needs from Larry Doucet and his business partners in Route 5 Village, Dustin Burchett and Phillip Green. While the $5,000 offered by Doucet on behalf of his business partners – which he said he supported in part because of the importance of the library in securing grants and other business ventures – is a boon that Parsons said he wouldn’t turn down for the library, it can’t be counted against the total for matching funds offered by fiscal court.
Council also moved to pass their blighted property ordinance on second reading, after rejecting a previous version due to confusing language and holding the first reading of the new, revised ordinance the previous Tuesday.
That ordinance, which councilman Willis Johnson said he was “still a little afraid of” because of concerns about potential abuse, allows the city to declare a property abandoned if it is “dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe, vermin infested or otherwise dangerous,” has been tax delinquent for at least three years, or “located within a development area established under KRS 65.7049, 65.7051, and 65.7053.” It also allows the code enforcement officer to determine if a structure is “blighted” or “deteriorated” or “declared a public nuisance” based on certain criteria related to the physical condition of a property – including access to utilities for housing.
The rate of tax levied on such properties will be $1.50 per each $100 of assessed value, a significantly higher rate than the $0.187 per $100 for real estate or $0.1919 for personal property rates set at the Tuesday regular meeting.
Those rates, which are lower than previous years but still expected to bring in more revenue because of rising property values, will have to be added to a future amended budget along with the changes to library funding they will help support.
In other action in their regular meeting the council moved to accept a recommendation to rezone a portion of East Second Street from residential to central business, set Trick-or-Treat for 6 – 8 p.m. on Halloween, October 31, but tabled a request related to street closures for Funtoberfest. Despite no members of Rotary present at the special meeting to answer questions, after much discussion and debate council moved to close Park Street for the Funtoberfest event, but to leave the Second Street connector open for local traffic. They also moved to approve use of the city building parking lot for inflatables.
In other delayed action city attorney Jason Greer told the owner of a new coffee shop that, based on his research since the previous meeting, the city could not authorize the placement of a drive through within an alley that could block access to a private residence. However, as the owner, Mr. Sok H. Van, and his contractors continued to discuss other options, Greer told them the back of the store was private property and the city couldn’t prevent them from putting in a drive-up window there if the landlord had no problem with it.
“The backend is private property, and you can do whatever you like (with the property owner’s permission),” Greer said.
Council also moved to make their November meeting a special session, moving it back two days to November 10 and from the evening to 9 a.m. so they can hold it in front of middle school social studies students and answer any questions.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
On Monday evening the Grayson city council passed a new blighted property ordinance in a special session. That special session came less than a week after last Tuesday’s regular session, where they held the first reading of the newly revised ordinance.
The Carter County Times was the only media in the room at either of those meetings, and we report on both those meetings in this issue.
Monday’s special session, however, was really just a continuation of the previous regular meeting, being composed entirely of items which were on the agenda of the previous meeting, but tabled until this special session.
Last Tuesday, as the hour grew late, and discussions of adding more reports to future agendas led to comments about the length of meetings, councilman Willis Johnson snapped back at the mayor that the council members, both appointed and elected, had chosen to serve the city. Johnson said if that meant sometimes having longer meetings so they knew what was going on, and could use that knowledge to serve and inform their constituents, that was part of the job.
The mayor, in response, made salient points about the overtime funds paid for department heads to attend meetings and submit reports already, and how those funds could be better utilized for underfunded services like the library.
The length of meetings (they are often tediously long) isn’t the point of this editorial, however. Neither is whether more reports and info would be a good thing (they absolutely would be) or if the money paid for personnel to submit reports in open council could be better spent elsewhere in some cases (it absolutely could as well).
They are all good points that city council and the mayor should consider. There may be a compromise in there, such as written department reports which could be summarized and shared through social media posts, published on the city website, or offered for publication in the paper. We would absolutely use such summaries, the same way we do with arrest reports and indictments. If there are questions based on the report, council could add the item to their agenda and request attendance for clarification.
But solutions to long meetings aren’t the purpose of this editorial either.
The purpose of this editorial is what happens when these agenda items get pushed back to a special session so soon after a regular session. When they aren’t passed as emergencies, but still get passed without sufficient transparency or opportunity for the public to respond because the first and second reading are so close together.
The Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS), Section 83A.060, regulates the enactment of ordinances. KRS 83A.060(4) requires two separate readings except in cases where an emergency is declared and an ordinance can be passed on first reading. In either case the ordinance cannot be enforced until after it has been published in the paper of record (KRS 424.270), so if you read the newspaper, you’re going to have the opportunity to find out about it before it impacts you.
So, what’s the problem? The problem is that even if you know about it, you haven’t had the opportunity to speak on it. You haven’t had the opportunity to ponder it, sit with it, digest it, decide where you stand, and take it up with your elected representatives.
That’s the point of a second reading requirement. It gives everyone – from the elected officials who will make the choice to the people who vote for them – the opportunity to consider, study, and decide what they will support. It gives everyone the chance to know about it before the decision is made.
Councilman Johnson, as fierce a watchdog as his predecessor Jerry Yates, during both meetings said he had some reservations about the ordinance, and how it could potentially be abused. Though he did ultimately vote with his colleagues on approval, Johnson still had concerns. But if any of his constituents come to him with the same concerns now, it’s too late for him to change his vote. It’s too late for him to bring that concern to his colleagues and attempt to sway them.
It’s too late, because it’s already been passed.
Let’s be clear, we’re not necessarily opposed to this ordinance. If it does what it’s designed to do, it could help improve the city. And in this case, the community has had plenty of time to chime in on the blighted property ordinance already, before it was revised and returned to council to begin the process anew.
What we are concerned about are the increasing number of special sessions, and how they could be used to abuse the system. Like councilman Johnson and his concerns about the blighted property ordinance, our concern isn’t that someone has been attempting to abuse the system with these back-to-back meetings. It’s that it could be done down the line.
And not just in Grayson, but at the county level or in Olive Hill.
It’s entirely possible to be in compliance with the letter of the law, but not the spirit. We strongly urge our local governments to adhere to both, and keep the special sessions like this recent one to a minimum.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
Candidates for Carter County Coroner, William Waddell (Democrat), and George Sparks (Republican), accepted an invitation from the Olive Hill Chamber of Commerce to take moderated questions from the public during the last regular meeting of the chamber.
Waddell, who operates Globe Funeral Chapel near Olive Hill and Grayson Funeral Home in Grayson, introduced himself first, thanking the Chamber for inviting him and detailing his experience in the community as a business owner, funeral director, and the incumbent coroner.
“It’s hard to believe eight years have already gone by, but is has,” Waddell said. “Since we’ve been in office we’ve (kept) an office in Grayson and an office in Olive Hill, with three coroner vehicles that we serve our people with.”
Because, he explained, “sometimes we have two or three calls going on at the same time.”
Sparks, who has served as coroner in the past, thanked the Chamber for the opportunity as well, telling the crowd his business would be celebrating 45 years serving the community this fall and noting that while finishing his education at the University of Cincinnati he worked for the Hamilton County coroner’s office as an assistant pathologist – an experience, he said, that was “invaluable” in his work as a funeral director and in his role as coroner, where he previously served for 16 years. Over that time, he said, he handled “thousands” of deaths, including several homicides, and served as an expert witness in those cases.
Moderator Lisa Messer-Conley said they had answered part of the first question already, but continued with asking the type of training and experience needed to be a coroner. Waddell detailed the state mandated training and continuing education needed, as well as the experience needed to determine cause of death while dealing with distraught family. The coroner also needed to determine if the body needed sent to the state coroner’s office for further examination, such as in the case of a shooting or other homicide, he said. In those cases, though the cause of death might seem apparent, the pathologist in Frankfort had to return the cause of death.
Sparks answered by defining the role of the coroner.
“The main role of the coroner is to define the time of death, the cause of death, and the manner of death,” he said. He continued by noting how important it was for families to receive those death certificates from the coroner in a timely manner.
If you’ve suffered a death in the family, he said, “you know how hard it is to carry on business, and settle the estate business, without a death certificate. You just can’t do it.”
While there are some circumstances that can delay that, he said, “most of the time it can be done in a timely manner.”
He also noted that coroners only respond when called, such as in instance of “sudden, violent, or unattended” deaths.
When questioned about the organizations the coroner’s office worked with Sparks focused on the law enforcement partners, who he said the coroner ideally worked with as “co-investigators.”
Waddell expanded on that, noting that in addition to law enforcement, his office worked closely with EMS, who sometimes made the coroner calls after responding, as well as the sheriff’s department or state police who were usually already on the scene.
For instance, Waddell said, in a car wreck the police would need to reconstruct the wreck. Then, he said, after they were finished, he would take his pictures and do his part of the investigation.
One of the submitted questions asked about materials, and who was responsible. While there are obvious costs like gloves and other personal protective equipment, Waddell said one of the main supply costs was related to body bags, but noted that he hadn’t charged the county for a body bag for the past three and a half years, or anything else.
“I haven’t billed the county for one item. I pay for everything myself,” Waddell said.
One of the reasons for that became apparent when Sparks answered the question. While Sparks noted the county was responsible for that cost, and during his tenure had allocated around “$5,500 a year” for expenses, Waddell noted that the coroner’s expense account has since been reduced to $4,000 a year.
Both men noted that they have, or would have if elected, deputy coroners working under them, and would maintain offices at both ends of the county. The duties of those deputy coroners, they explained, are nearly identical to those of the coroner.
The two also discussed indigent burial costs. Waddell said he has only had two – both very recently – in his tenure as coroner and in those cases he had provided caskets and a local monument company donated the vaults, with the county providing spots. Sparks said he had only experienced it a few times during his tenure as well, but that in those cases the county offered $100 for the burial, which, “as William knows too, that won’t even cover the cremation fee.”
He said that other surrounding counties offer up to $500 and that Carter County should probably consider raising that fee to offset the coroner’s costs.
When asked about their focus in the role, both noted that they wanted to return the death certificate, or as Sparks termed it, “that vital piece of paper,” back to the family as quickly as possible.
Waddell, however, added that in some instances the state could take as many as twelve weeks to return a cause of death in cases where the body needed to be sent off. In those cases, he said, the coroner’s hands were tied no matter who was in office.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
I was frustrated on Monday afternoon when I went to tune into some news, and three of my six saved stations were broadcasting the funeral of Queen Elizabeth. The other three were playing their regularly scheduled programming –tech investing advice, an author interview, and a true-crime drama – which is fine and expected on those stations.
But it wasn’t what I was looking for.
What I wanted was breaking news and analysis of current headlines. Instead, I was getting the music of a funeral procession, followed by a solemn sounding fellow I assumed to be the officiant (with the American broadcasts just a few seconds behind the British.)
I expected coverage from the BBC. They’re the British Broadcasting Corporation after all. Even the BBC World Service station playing it didn’t surprise me, even though I usually tune into them for the coverage out of Africa and Asia you can’t really find anywhere else.
But the other two stations are American based. I expected some coverage. A brief check-in with a reporter outside the funeral, talking to folks in the procession line, maybe. A recap of Elizabeth’s life and reign. Then back to the news.
But no. We were getting the full event, live as it happened, with no commentary – which seems even more ridiculous on radio than it does on television.
Now, far be it from me to tell another news station how to fill their time. Lord knows I’ve done my share of writing on niche interests. And there must be some market for it, or they wouldn’t broadcast it. But I’ve never understood the fascination some of my fellow Americans have with the British monarchy.
Heck, I don’t understand their own fascination with a fully ceremonial position of inherited privilege, but it’s their country. There are a lot of things I don’t understand about other countries. (The nearly spoiled fish they eat in Sweden. The worm-ridden cheeses of Sardinia. Why the Japanese put mayo in things that should never include mayo.)
It’s strikes me as particularly peculiar here, though.
Despite how peculiar I find it, I have friends who are following it moment by moment. I’m sure some of our readers are invested in it, if for nothing more than the pomp and pageantry.
I’m sure I’ll hear from some of you about my take on the Queen and her funeral.
But before you write that letter to the editor (which I will gladly consider for publication), let me make sure I’m clear. I’m not criticizing you for being interested.
I’m only slightly criticizing the news organizations for milking this story over the past week like a borrowed cow.
I’m simply expressing how perplexing I find the whole thing.
(I feel the same way about the Kardashians and ranch dressing, by the way. I know other people are in love with them, I just don’t get it.)
I do have the deepest sympathy for a family who have lost a matriarch, and I understand that a country has lost a monarch.
But American news organizations pointing a microphone or camera at the event and walking away for the duration? It’s either laziness or exploitation, and I expect better whichever it is.
Jeremy D. Wells can be reached at editor@cartercountytimes.com.
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.
All of the charges listed are arrest charges only, and do not indicate an indictment or a conviction for the charges in question. All subjects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Information is compiled from publicly available sources, but may not be comprehensive. Individuals who are released or post bail shortly after arrest may not be listed.
Even if you don’t appreciate pomp and pageantry or you don’t believe in kings and queens, you had to be impressed with the 10-day mourning period and the other events culminating with the funeral of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
The first state funeral since Winston Churchill was a model of precision and respectful showmanship as the 96-year-old monarch was laid to rest after more than 500 world leaders and millions of folks around the world traveled to London in person or via TV to pay their final respects.
For me, the queen’s funeral brought back my memories as a 9-year-old boy watching her coronation in 1952 in the first worldwide telecast of a major news event. Thanks to my wise and loving mother, I sat with her in front of my grandfather’s tiny little black-and-white TV and watched the storybook spectacle of a princess becoming a queen.
That was 70 years ago but I still recall Mom insisting that I get up before daylight to watch history being made in front of our eyes. I’m sure that neither of us could have imagined that Queen Elizabeth would reign for seven decades and become so respected and beloved around the world.
At the time of her death, she still was recognized as the ceremonial head of state in 14 countries, most of which are now or were members of the British Commonwealth of Nations.
The new British monarch, her oldest son, King Charles III, won’t have that many honorary titles because several of those countries now are saying they only recognized her because of their great respect and admiration for her and for her years as a trusted, stabilizing influence in the world.
At this point, I am compelled to correct an error I committed in last week’s commentary. The unnamed professor at Carnegie Mellon University who wanted the queen to die an “excruciating” death was a woman, not a man as I wrongly reported.
Today, she remains unapologetic, and her university defends her right of free expression.
Keith Kappes can be reached at keithkappes@gmail.com.
Fall is a beautiful time in Kentucky gardens, but it can also be a messy time. Tree leaves turn from green to vibrant fall colors and then drop, creating big piles. Then there are the leaves and spent shoots from our flower beds.
The way we address our yard waste can have a significant impact on our gardens and on the environment. Gardeners commonly rake up and bag leaves to haul away to yard waste dumps.
This option, while tidy, uses a lot of energy, both yours and the energy to transport the leaves and mixed garden waste.
An alternative is to mulch leaves and yard waste. You could use the bountiful resource to enrich your lawn and garden, while creating less waste and air pollution.
A very simple technique with leaves is to rake them into a line and mow over them with your lawn mower.
The mower will chop the leaves into pieces small enough to fall between the blades of grass in your lawn. The chopped leaves will break down out of sight, provide nutrients to your lawn and improve the quality of your soil.
For larger items like spent flower stalks, composting is a simple, easy and environmentally friendly option. Done properly, it produces no odor and provides a generous amount of nutrient-rich organic compost for your garden, which reduces or eliminates the need to buy fertilizer.
Composting also eliminates the need to transport garden waste, making composting a triple-win situation for your garden, wallet and the environment.
The speed of compost production is influenced by the size of the material placed in the bin, so the more you can chop up the garden debris, the quicker you will have usable compost. Many options for compost bin design and construction are well suited to any location and budget.
Using leaves as mulch has many benefits. The mulch helps retain moisture in the soil and insulates plants from extreme winter temperatures. The decomposed leaves become an excellent conditioner for warming spring soil, helping to attract worms and other beneficial microorganisms.
For more information on mulching and composting, contact the 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.
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Glessie Kay Walker Wilburn, 83, of Grayson went to be with her Lord Sunday September 18, 2022 at the Elliott Nursing and Rehab Center in Sandy Hook, KY. Glessie was born September 27, 1938 in Fultz, KY a daughter of the late Charlie Sr. and Francis Lawson Walker. In addition to her parents, Glessie was preceded in death by a son, James Charles Wilburn and a daughter, Mary Ann Hale; three sisters, Irene Jackson, Ollie Tackett, and Margaret Sue Neads; seven brothers, Denzil Walker, William Walker, Joseph Walker, Mack Walker, Sam Walker, Earl Walker and Charlie Walker, Jr.; a son in-law, Timothy Milton Cains; and a daughter in-law, Missy Wilburn.
Glessie was of the Baptist faith. Glessie retired from Cardinal Cleaners in Ashland, KY. Glessie enjoyed working puzzles and cross-stitching.
Glessie is survived by two sons, Curtis Wilburn, Jr. of Ashland and William “Bill” Wilburn of Shelby, OH; three daughters, Bonnie Wilburn of Flatwoods, Misty Wilburn of Ashland and Debbie Cains of Denton; ten grandchildren, Stephanie (Jimmy) Whitt, Charity (Kevin) Waters, Amanda (David) Bowles, April (Bernabe) Alvarez, Charlie (Debra) Freize, Nathan Freize, Hope (April) Freize-Christian, Tasha McDowell, Jerry Wayne Wilburn and Shaylee Wilburn; fourteen great-grandchildren and one on the way; one great-great-grandchild on the way; a sister, Mary Catherine Siluiens of Columbus, OH; a brother, Mitchell Warren Walker both of Columbus, OH; and many nieces, nephews and extended family who all mourn her passing.
Funeral services will be 1pm Friday September 23, 2022 at the Malone Funeral Home in Grayson with Bro. Joe Mullins and Bro. Leonard Gollihue officiating. Visitation will be 11 am Friday until the service hour all at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.malonefuneralhome.com
Mr. Walter Eugene Limings, age 78, of Grayson, Kentucky passed away Friday, September 16, 2022 at Saint Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia.
He was born November 4, 1943 in Lawrence County, Kentucky, a son of the late Lonnie and Marie Rule Limings.
Walter proudly served his country in the United States Army in the 101st Air Borne Division. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Toledo, Ohio and he was a Kentucky Shriner. His favorite hobby was Texas Hold’em. He loved his dogs, collecting antiques, marbles, and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by one son, Dennis Zilch and one daughter, Cheryl Zilch..
He is survived by his loving wife of twenty five years, Mary Sheets Limings; three sons, Walter Shawn Limings of Grayson, Kentucky, Shanon (Kimmie) Zilch of Bellevue, Ohio, Scott (Brianne) Lash of Ohio; two daughters, Lisa Limings and Rick Jones of Grayson, Kentucky , Tammy Stierhoff of Dayton, Ohio; eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren along with a host of other family and friends that will sadly miss him.
Graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 30, 2022 at the Kentucky Veteran’s Cemetery North East in Greenup County, Kentucky with Brother David Boggs officiating. Full Military Honors will be conducted by Kenova American Legion Post 93.
Grayson Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Grayson, Kentucky is caring for all arrangements for Mr. Walter Eugene Limings.
Mrs. Donna Jean Tolliver, age 79, of Grayson, Kentucky passed away from this world, Saturday, September 17, 2022 onto the streets of gold, ushered by angels to see and meet our Lord and Savior.
She was born, Wednesday, April 7, 1943 in Boyd County, Kentucky, a daughter of the late Viola Sparks Sexton.
She attended Coalton First Baptist Church. She was a retired Carter County School System Bus Driver. She enjoyed, fishing, dancing, playing horse shoes, going to yard sales and spending time with her family and friends.
Donna is now reunited with her mother, Viola Sparks Sexton; her son, Johnny Tolliver; her daughter, Joyce Williams and her grandson David “DaDa” McKinney, Jr.; her son in law, Steve McDavid and many other loved ones.
Donna is survived by one daughter, Bonnie McDavid Johns and her husband, Bud of Grayson, Kentucky; five grandchildren, Harvey Joe Tolliver, Matt (Sara) Jones, Derrick (Rebecca) McKinney, Heather (JJ) Williams, Chanie Lou Waugh; nine great grandchildren; two brothers, Ray (Helen) Sexton of Kenova, West Virginia, Gordon (Gail) Sexton of Ironton, Ohio; many nieces and nephews; Carter Health Care Family; along with a host of other family and friends that will sadly mourn her passing.
Friends may visit from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at Grayson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 49 McCoy Road, Grayson, Kentucky.
Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at the Rose Hill Mausoleum Chapel in Ashland, Kentucky with Brother Paul Holbrook officiating. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Burial Park in Ashland, Kentucky.
Damon Robinson, Bud Johns, Matthew Jones, John Miller, Sheldon Fitzpatrick and Colt Berry will serve as pallbearers.
Grayson Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Grayson, Kentucky is caring for all arrangements for Mrs. Donna Jean Tolliver.
In lieu of flowers, please, make all donations to Carter Health Care Facility, 250 McDavid Blvd. Grayson, Kentucky 41143; Recreational; Employee Fund in honor of “Donna Tolliver”.
Harold Estill Parker, 71, of Cincinnati, formerly of Olive Hill died September 8, 2022 following a short illness.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Estill and Ethel Parker, a brother, Simon Kenton Parker and a sister, Mary Ann Reynolds.
He is survived by sisters: Diana (Louis) Atchison and Judith Parker Smith, both of Winchester, Kentucky ; Rebecca Parker of Lexington, Kentucky and Deborah Thomas of Olive Hill, Kentucky and brothers: Stephen (Frieda) Parker of Olive Hill, Kentucky and Michael (Lisa) Parker of Brandenburg, Kentucky as well as his long-time companion, Janice Platt. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members to mourn his passing.
Harold graduated from Morehead State University and from Salmon P. Chase Law School, Northern Kentucky University in 1988. He worked, among other places, for a private Cincinnati law firm, the University of Cincinnati Law Library-where he designed and implemented their first automated circulation system-and the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, where he worked for both the Medical School Library assisting students with computer research and the Dean of Admissions, writing computer programs. He was most recently self-employed rehabilitating real estate.
Harold had wide-ranging interests including travel, the law, computers, science, art and photography. He loved animals, especially dogs and cats, and rescued a number of both, either finding them homes or providing them a home himself.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, September 17, 2022 at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277 West US Hwy 60, Kentucky with Sister Lillie Burton officiating. Burial will follow in the Parker Family Cemetery.
Friends may visit after 10 a.m. until the service hour at the funeral home.
Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky is caring for all arrangements for Mr. Harold Estill Parker.
Mrs. Susan Louise Pelfrey Kitchen, age 47 of Olive Hill, Kentucky passed away Sunday morning, September 18, 2022 at Southern Ohio Medical Center, in Portsmouth, Ohio.
She was born Tuesday, May 20th, 1975 in Rowan County, Kentucky to Daniel Pelfrey of Soldier, Kentucky and Montana Duncan Zornes Watson of Vanceburg, Kentucky.
Susan was of the Christian Faith, she enjoyed cooking, facebook, arts and crafts, traveling and spending time with her family.
Susan is preceded in death by one brother, Danny Pelfrey; one niece, Tyra Hamilton.
In addition to her parents, Susan is survived by her loving companion, Scott Garvin; two sons, Kalob Kitchen and Trace Kitchen both of Olive Hill, Kentucky; one daughter, Alexandria Kitchen of Vanceburg, Kentucky; one brother, David Pelfrey of Vanceburg, Kentucky; three sisters, Sabrina Zornes of Olive Hill, Kentucky, Marissa Zornes of McDonald, Ohio and Geania King of Olive Hill, Kentucky, along with a host of other family members and friends who will sadly mourn her passing.
Funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, September 22, 2022 at Globe Funeral Chapel, 17277, West US. 60, Olive Hill, Kentucky with Brother L.A. Biggs and Brother Jason King officiating. Burial will follow in the Henderson Cemetery on Highway 59 in Carter County, Kentucky.
Friends may visit after 11:30 a.m. until the service hour on Thursday, September 22, 2022 at Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky.
Kalob Kitchen, Trace Kitchen, David Pelfrey, Trenton Pelfrey, Russell Watson and Jason King will serve as pallbearers.
Globe Funeral Chapel in Olive Hill, Kentucky is caring for all arrangements for Mrs. Susan Louise Pelfrey Kitchen.
The Carter County Times is a weekly newspaper serving Carter County, Kentucky, since June 2020.
Contact us: editor@cartercountytimes.com
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