THE LEADER THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013 ▪ VO L . 1 2 9 , N O. 8 ▪ T H E VO I C E O F TIPTON COUNTY S I N C E 1 8 8 6 ▪
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Festival formed through tragedy Grovestock Fest is Saturday By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com
Norm Kercher wen through two separate life-changing experiences. Now he's trying to change other people's lives. His vehicle to meet that end is Grovestock Fest, the second annual Kendall and Callie Kercher Memorial Fine Arts Festival, which will be held Saturday at
Holly Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Brighton. In 2009, Kercher's daughter Kendall died in a car wreck at the age of 21. Three years later, his 21-year-old daughter Callie died in a motorcycle accident. “It was horrible trying to live through the death of a child,” said Kercher. “I finally realized it was not just about me. Now I minister to parents who have
lost children … This is a celebration of the time we have with our families, especially our children.” The second edition of Grovestock Fest has a little something for everybody. Twelve bands begin playing at noon, with a lineup headlined by national artists Charlie Hall and Ronnie Twisdale. And there will be plenty of activities for children, from kite-flying to disc golf and other activities. Donations of $10 are requested at the door, but Kercher said he doesn't turn
anybody way. Kercher founded Grovestock Ministries after the death of his first daughter. He has plans to eventually take the event nationwide, mentioning places like Newtown, Conn., and Aurora, Colo., as possible places to expand. “Parents are losing kids all across the country,” Kercher said. “I'm building this ministry to change lives.”
A special time
Green Fest to be held Saturday By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com Area residents interested in green principles, gardening and arts and crafts will have a perfect learning opportunity Saturday at Earth Fest, an event put on by Keep Tipton County Beautiful that coincides with Earth Day. “It's an opportunity to encourage citizens to make the world a better place,” said Ruth Wallace, coordinator of Keep Tipton County Beautiful, county organization that educates people about ways to eliminate litter and conserve natural resources. The event, which will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tipton County Veteran's Museum and Nature Center in Covington, is free and will have a lot of things to offer. Children will have the opportunity to plant flowers and take SEE GREEN, PAGE A3
Some athletes at last Friday's Special Olympics show off their ribbons. The event, held at Brighton High School, draws hundreds of athletes every year who compete in a wide variety of events. Photo by Shane Waits
Band's Wing Fest goal: community involvement By JEFF IRELAND jireland@covingtonleader.com
The scene from last year's Go Lucy Go 5K. Courtesy photo
A closer look at the Go Lucy Go 5K By FRANCE GASQUET fgasquet@covingtonleader.com Editor's note: This column is celebrating people who are making a difference in the world we live in. Some dramatically, some quietly, but all are helping to leave the world a better place than they found it. People like you and me, from Tipton County. The first article is focused not only on the Krull Family of Tipton County, which
started the Go Lucy Go Foundation. The foundation’s major fundraiser is the Go Lucy Go 5K, which will be held Saturday at 9 a.m., starting at Covington High School. The following is an interview with Kate Krull, Lucy's mother: For those of us who may not know the story, tell us how has your family's life has changed in the last several years....
SOFTBALL HEATS UP Munford wins Covington Tournament, B1
On Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011, our daughter, Lucy Hannah, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. Medulloblastoma. It all came on so quickly that she only presented symptoms for a few days before things started spiraling out of control. Upon an MRI, we learned that Lucy had a total of five tumors in her brain, one in her spinal column and a sug-
The Munford High School Band has held a lot of different fundraising events over the years. Most were attended primarily by family and friends of band members. Last year the boosters were looking for something that would have more community-wide appeal. The brainstorming produced the Munford Band Wing Festival. On Saturday at MHS from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the event will be held for a second time. “We were just trying to find something that have more community involvement,” said Larry Wildes, the booster club president. “It's easy enough to get family members involved. This is something to get everybody involved.” The event is centered around the wing competition, which begins at noon. For a $75 entry fee, contestants will have a chance to win $300 for first place, $150 for second and $75 for third. Whichever team accepts the most donations will SEE WINGS, PAGE A3
SEE LUCY, PAGE A3
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Reader's Guide Opinion A4 Obituaries A6 Community A7 Faith A8 Correspondents A10
Sports Puzzles Classifieds Yard Sales Legals
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Munford FFS competes at state, A10