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N

Say GS AND ALCOHOL

TO DRU

!
o
D
o
T
s
g
n
i
h
T
r
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You Have

Carter County Drug Free Coalitions

vision is to have a community
working together for a healthy, safe
and drug-free Carter County.
www.ccdfc.org

Editors Note
Something new and different
Thank you for reading the first edition
of Carter County Quarterly!
This new magazine, published by the
Journal-Times, will be a reflection of the
changing seasons of local landscapes and
lives.
We're focused on Christmas with this
issue, and plan to have upcoming editions
concentrating on themes including outdoor

PAGE

PAGE 14

adventures and local music festivals, as

well as revisiting the area's history.
In general, we hope to find ways to
honestly portray the best aspects of the
Carter County experience.
To advertise or submit editorial matter
for consideration, please email
newsroom@journal-times.com.

Tim Preston
Editor

Hometown Holiday

When I think
of Christmas,
I think of
Carter County
PAGE 20

Christmas has
a different
meaning for
everyone

12

PAGE

Messiah ringing across the hills

On The Cover

Publisher: Eddie Blakeley

Editor: Tim Preston

A Christmas tree has been symbolic of the annual

holiday for nearly as long as the holiday itself has
existed. (Photo by Cory Claxon)

Advertising Director: Dan Duncan

Sales: Mara Fraley, Sheila Hall
Designer: Nathan Hall
Contributing Writers: Cory Claxon, Dan Duncan

WINTER 2016

Hometown
Holidays
a success
By Cory Claxon

4 WINTER 2016

Smiling faces, candy collecting and meetings with Santa

were at the heart of this years festivities during Graysons
Hometown Holidays.
For at least the second consecutive year, characters from
Disneys movie Frozen join Santa at the Ice Castle in City
Park for photos with children.
The event continued to be a success as the movie has
lost little popularity since it debuted in 2013.
Just down the street at the Grayson Gallery and Arts
Center, vendors filled the entire available space at the facility
to sell and display their own unique, homemade food and
crafts.

WINTER 2016

One vendor sold fresh pies, cookies and

other baked goods. Another, homemade
quilt squares. Several others had included
among their merchandise: wooden bowls,
custom crafts and jewelry.
The festivities came Saturday when a
nighttime parade would headline the day.
But before that, an ugly sweater contest,
cookie decorating and a Christmas tree
lighting would rule the day.
With State Rep. Jill York announcing the
floats, the event began with a parade of blue
lights from the citys police department.
This years theme was The Wonder of
Christmas by Kathy Manzoni, who also won
this years Memory Days parade theme.
The parade was arguably the most well
attended parade in recent years and
included 40 registered floats with some new
and unique entries.

Santa Claus rides down Grayson's

Main Street during the Christmas
parade before his appearance at the
Grayson Fire Department.

Colonel Sanders from Kentucky Fried

Chicken walked alongside a giant chicken
bucket greeting many of the locals.
The Post Office also got involved and
created their own float, decorated in the
agencys various hallmark staples
mailboxes, boxes and Christmas lights.
Santa then made his way down the
street on the back of a Grayson Fire
Department truck for his appearance at the
Grayson Fire Department.
After children spent an hour visiting
Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and Buddy the Elf,
the fire department had a special surprise
ready for everyone.
At 8:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 the fire
department unveiled a special Christmas
light show system that had been bought with
funds raised by hot dog sales in the months
prior.

522 East Main St., Grayson, KY 474-7878

Thank you for your

patronage during this year!

We want to wish you a

Merry Christmas and
a Happy New Year!
Hours: Sun.-Thurs. 10:30 am-11 pm
Fri. & Sat. 10:30 am - Midnight

BUFFET BAR
All you can eat lunch
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Pizza Sandwiches Salads Spaghetti
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The lights were

synchronized to music
that was broadcasted
on 88.1 on the FM
radio dial so that
everyone could remain
in the comfort of their
car while watching the
dancing lights.
The lights will be on
from 6 p.m. until 11
p.m. at the department
until Wednesday, Dec.
28.
At the end of the
weekend, winners of
various contests were
announced:
Best Overall
Christmas Home
Display Contest
Winner: the Taylor
Family at 1431 E.
Midland Trail.
Best Christmas
Home Display Contest
Winner: the Hall Family
at Blackberry Lane &
E. Midland Trail.
Best Overall
Christmas Store Front
Display Contest
Winner: Horton &
Brown Pharmacy.
Best Christmas
Store Front Display
Contest Winner: Bushs
Ribbon Rose Floral
Wheres Rudolph
Scavenger Hunt
Winners
First Place: the
Mayo Family Team won
over $500 in prizes;
second place: the Terry
Team won over $400 in
prizes; third place: the
M&M Team, won over

8 WINTER 2016

A Christmas village was set up during the 2013

Hometown Holidays events at the Grayson Gallery
and Arts Center. (Photo by Cory Claxon)

WINTER 2016

All That Bloomz won best golf cart

during the annual Grayson Christmas
Parade. (Photo by Cory Claxon)

$300 in prizes.
The Christmas parade winners included: best
overall to Smithfield, best theme to Carter

12 WINTER 2016

Christian Academy, honorable mention to Huff

Run Church and the Best Golf Cart award went
to All That Bloomz.

Carter Christian Academy won

best theme during the parade.

WINTER 2016

13

14 WINTER 2016

When I think of
Christmas, I think of

y
t
n
u
o

r
e
t
ar
By Cory Claxon

WINTER 2016

15

Christmas is that special time of the

year when we appreciate our friends
and family just a little more than the
rest of the year. It also is the season of
giving.
In my mind, Carter County
embodies the essence of giving. Just
this year alone, there have been so
many events by so many organizations
that provide something for everyone.
Churches have fixed and given
away entire Thanksgiving meals, nonprofits and community groups have put
on special musical events and
businesses have donated to provide
toys for children.
When I started the planning for
Christmas at the Depot, I had no idea it
would grow to be as large as it was this
year.
Many, many volunteers stepped up
to the plate this year lending their
talents and passions into the program.
I showed up at the Depot in Olive
Hill one Tuesday evening to find a
station full of people assembling
goodie bags for children.
Goodie bags are a typical tradition
with small things like pencils, coupons,
candy and other small items. But this
year, with the help of Maggie Duncan
at the Grayson Area Chamber of
Commerce at least 100 children
received a large toy, candy, coupons,
pencils and much more.
The smiles on the childrens faces
was a treasure Ill always remember.
Local businesses, too many to
name, have also contributed to the
popular community event. Like Scenic
Hills Realty, who host a community
meal for 200 people that included
turkey and all the trimmings.
Not only to the children benefit, but
so do the adults and its something
very special when both parents and
children can share those moments.

16

WINTER 2016

The fun didnt stop on Friday night

like usual though. The committee
decided to expand events to Saturday
to spread the cheer of Christmas as
much possible with a parade, photos
with Santa, Olaf and Rudolph along
with free Christmas crafts and books
for children.
But thats not the only giving story
in Carter County. Sometimes help
comes not from within but from outside.
Project Merry Christmas holds a
special place in my heart as I was a
benefactor of their hard work as a
young child.
It is an amazing program, with
humble beginnings, established by a
missionary that visit our area some 30
years ago who started it by helping a
local family with a child who couldnt
drink cows milk. Instead, she raised a
goat at the church she was attending
at the time and provided its milk to the
family.
In a recent interview with Lucinda
Hancock, the groups president, I was
astonished to find out over 300 children
are recipients of the program.
However, Im amazed every year
how many lend their time, money and
merchandise to the organization to
ensure that the underprivileged
children in our communities are taken
care of every Christmas.
Carter County may have its issues
with poverty, but we have a greater
population of generous people and
organizations. We look after one
another. We open our doors, our
cupboards and our hearts to help all
who seek it.
It is truly amazing and very
humbling to live a county where
everyone still watches out and cares
for one another especially around the
holidays.
So when I think of Christmas, I
think of Carter County.

Ralphs
Foodfair
630 N. Carol Malone Blvd.
Grayson, KY

474-5522

Kentucky Farm Bureau

Insurance Companies

127 South Hord St., Grayson, KY

TODD M.
PRATT

MATT
FYFFE

Agency Manager

Agent

Office: (606) 474-7866

Fax: (606) 474-9726
Serving The Community For 31 Years

Provides Skilled Nursing

and Rehab Services
Medicare/Medicaid Certified
Private Insurance Accepted
Improve Every Life We Touch...
Provide Exceptional Healthcare...
Exceed Expectations...

H EALTHCARE S ERVICES O FFERED :

Short Term Rehabilitation Complex Medical Care
Long Term Care Life Steps Rehabilitation
Program Respite Care Hospice Care

CARTER NURSING &

REHABILITATION CENTER
Smithfield has been actively involved in
community events in recent years. (Photo
by Cory Claxon)

250 McDavid Blvd., Grayson, KY

(606) 474-7835
WINTER 2016

17

Messiah
ringing across the hills

By Cory Claxon
For possibly the first time in Carter Countys
recorded history, a performance of G. F.
Handels Messiah has rung across the hills and
valleys of Carter County.
About 25 volunteers have gathered at First
Baptist Church of Olive Hill on Thursday
evening since August to practice the historic
oratorio.
The choir consisted of local community

members, some already performing in other

choirs.
The idea is the brainchild of Bob Harris, a
professed music enthusiast and former Minister
of Music at First Christian Church in
Winchester.
Harris had previously conducted a
production of the oratorio during his time as
music minister.

About 25 members of the community formed a choir to perform a version of

Handel's Messiah under the guidance of Bob Harris. (Photo by Cory Claxon)

I wanted to conduct one more performance

of the Messiah before I die, he added.
Ten songs from the entire performance were
for the choir to sing: And the Glory of the Lord, O
Thou That Tellest Good Tidings, For Unto Us a
Child is Born, Glory to God, Behold the Lamb of
God, Surely, Lift Up Your Heads, Since by Man
Came Death, Worthy is the Lamb and
Hallelujah!
There were also two solos chosen for a
soprano and an alto.
Harris scheduled two performances earlier
this month. The first on Sunday, Dec. 3 at the
Olive Hill Center for Arts and Education and
second was on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at the
Gregoryville Christian Church.
Both performances were well attended and
much enjoyed.
It was hoped that a small orchestra couldve
been hired in time for the performances, but that
never came to fruition. Everyone still enjoyed the
rendition.
Harris offered no word on whether this might
become a regular event around the holidays in
the future.

Merry Christmas

The
City of
Grayson
MAYOR
GEORGE STEELE
AND

CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS

SUPERIOR FOODS
286-8305
and

Makamia Pizza
286-1112
MARC MCCANE
Owner

510 E. TOM T. HALL BLVD., OLIVE HILL, KY

Messers
5th Street Electric
306 Fifth St., Grayson, KY

(606) 474-7418
For All Your Electrical Needs

Complete Vision Care

Jason H.
McCloud
O.D.

107 E. Main St., Grayson, KY

474-5149 or 888-884-5149
idocmccloud@yahoo.com
WINTER 2016

19

20

WINTER 2016

Christmas

has a different meaning

for
everyone
A commentary by Dan Duncan

Some celebrate Christmas with the birth of

Jesus Christ by displaying nativity scenes and
watching their churchs annual Cantata or taking
communion.
Others, mostly children but some adults
included, anxiously await the annual arrival of the
bearded one, Santa Claus himself, bellowing the
ho-ho-hos and watching the excitement on
childrens faces. Some assume the role of Santa
by dishing out cheer and greetings, and personal
notes to say how much others are appreciated.
There are parties and dinners to attend, and
we always eat or drink too much. And still some
seemingly dread the holiday events because it
reminds them of a loved one who is no longer with
them, or maybe they are soldiers who are
stationed in faraway lands and not able to be
home for the holidays.
Christmas to me is a combination of all these
things. Each year our church gets together to
portray the nativity scene complete with live
animals and people for a weekend before
Christmas. I remember one seasonable warm
December we actually had a crying baby, who
didnt exactly like enacting the birth of Christ, lying
in the manger scene. And each year the intended

result is the same as many express their thanks to

our church for taking the time to stage this event.
I can remember when I was seven-years-old
and anxiously awaiting for Santa to arrive
Christmas morning with my most wanted toy: a
replica rifle from The Rifleman. But my joy was
short-lived because when I went outside with my
new rifle and the temperature was freezing, which
made the plastic cold. And when I came in I had a
brilliant idea.
I would lay my new rifle on the floor furnace to
warm it up. It didnt take but a few minutes for
that ominous smell of burning plastic to permeate
the house, and the rifle literally melted into
something that didnt at all resemble the
Riflemans trademark weapon.
Ive also been in the position of being away
from home, family and friends during the
Christmas holidays. In 1970 I was stationed in
Germany with the U.S. Army and when I would
hear the song Ill be home for Christmas, I would
change the Ill to I wont, and then feel sorry for
myself.
Yet that is why I have a greater understanding
of all those who cant be with family and friends on
Christmas. I would never want to experience that
WINTER 2016

21

feeling again, yet glad that I did.

The holidays have a whole new meaning as its my
first Christmas with a baby grandchild, who will be
three-months old on Christmas day. She is too young
to understand what it going on but Pappy, the name
Im called by my grandson knows how thankful and
blessed he is to be able to watch and hopefully hold her
during the activities our family will share. It will be a
time of eating, laughing and no doubt conversations
later that evening like I ate too much, what was I
thinking?
Christmas is a combination of all the things Ive
written about above. A childs excitement in opening a
gift, shaking it slightly to try and guess what it is, and
then the smiles and laughter when the paper and
wrapper is torn off, revealing what they wanted.

Fellowship with family and friends and remembering

Christmas past, and also think about those who are no
longer with us.
I think about mother and father, and how for many
years we gathered, nearly 30 of us, in that tiny house in
South Ashland. For many years I took it for granted. It
was tough the first few years after they died, as
brothers and sisters started their own Christmas day
traditions in their own homes. And for the past few
years my wife and I have attended Christmas morning
services at our church to celebrate with others the birth
of Christ in song and message. We have our family
dinner, exchange gifts and reminisce about the past.
After all, arent these things what the Christmas
holidays are about?

KY CONTRACTING
AND

Merry Christmas and a

Happy New Year

CONSULTING SERVICE

Journal-Times

474-9314

from the

2750 N. Highway 1, Grayson, KY

Call 474-5101 or 286-4201 for subscription information.

Charles Wallace, owner

Theres No Place Like

Home for the Holidays!

To our valued friends and neighbors, Merry Christmas!

502 N. Carol Malone Blvd.

KY 41143
502 Grayson,
N. Carol Malone
Blvd. Grayson, KYNancy
41143

606-474-2390
606-474-2390

Burchett
922-6263

22

WINTER 2016

Nancy
Burchett
Jody
922-6263

Mayo
nancyburchett.com
922-4200

Jody
Mayo
Franci
922-4200

Burchett
jodymayo.com
923-6168

Franci
Burchett
Norma
923-6168

Mullins
922-4552

Norma
Mullins
Pearl
922-4552
Crum

Pearl
Crum
Gayle
923-4363
Clevenger

923-4363

356-2640

WINTER 2016

23

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