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Jenny Wiley FESTIVAL

2021

Special Supplement of the Floyd County Chronicle & Times A Division of Appalachian Newspapers, Inc.

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

Jenny Wiley PUBLISHER Jeff Vanderbeck PRODUCTION MANAGER Bobby Gilliam ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Danny Coleman EDITOR Russ Cassady OFFICE MANAGER Emma Compton

FESTIVAL MAGAZINE ADVERTISING SALES Rita Brock Gina Ferguson Brian Conn

ADVERTISING DESIGN Emma Compton EDITORIAL CONTENT Trevor Thacker COVER DESIGN/LAYOUT Emma Compton

A special supplement to the Floyd County Chronicle & Times A division of Appalachian Newspapers, Inc. 192 South Lake Drive, Ste. 102, Prestonsburg, KY 41653 606-886-8036 • 606-506-5091 With appreciation to the 2021 JW Committee and the City of Prestonsburg

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

Welcome to Jenny Wiley Days! As Mayor of the “Star City of Eastern Kentucky”, I’d like to welcome you and thank you for attending our 2021 Jenny Wiley Festival! The Jenny Wiley Pioneer Festival celebrates the brave pioneer spirit of the Appalachians when Jenny Wiley and others endured a hard frontier life. Their dedication and perseverance is what began the makings of our great city. The hard work and dedication of our current citizens and our outstanding employees has allowed us to be the only concurrent annual festival. We are diligently working on ways to make this festival COVID compliant. Things will be different this year but will still be enjoyable. This year, as in previous years, the City of Prestonsburg will host a hometown atmosphere that will be filled with great music, heritage arts & crafts, and music. You will be able to experience, a parade through town, eat delicious food and many other activities through the weekend. We hope your visit is enjoyable and that you have an opportunity to explore the other tourist venues we have available such as Sugar Camp Mountain Trails, The Mountain Arts Center, Eastern Kentucky Science Center, Stonecrest Golf Course, and our new Prestonsburg Passage Rail Trail. Don’t forget to visit our unique downtown shops! Have a wonderful time while you are here and, please, come back and see us again soon. We hope Prestonsburg shines as a “Star” destination for your next vacation! Sincerely, > Les Stapleton, Mayor

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

Message from the chairperson Welcome to the 40th annual 2021 edition of the Jenny Wiley Festival. The festival committee has been working all year to create a family-oriented gathering for all ages. This past year has been a difficult year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee was committed to having the festival, with the support of the mayor, we are going to have another great festival. With that being said, the festival will be a little different, with the social distancing and wearing of masks or other restrictions that will be in place by the CDC. Let’s all pull together and look at the festival as a wonderful opportunity to come together as a community and have a great week. The committee would like to invite all civic and church groups to build a float and be part of the parade. If any non-profit would like to set up a booth, please contact city hall at, (606) 886-2335. Events this year will include a car show, a motorcycle show, a carnival, singing by local artists, as well as internationally acclaimed artist Quiet Riot will be performing. The festival provides an opportunity for several local organizations to raise money. These organizations are the backbone of our community. Please come out and support them. The committee and I would like to thank each of our sponsors and supporters. Without their help we would not be able to have the festival. Every department of the city pitches in to provide a service needed for the festival. From the Public Works department to landscaping parks, the police and fire department, we appreciate everyone. Thank you to the mayor for his support during the festival. Most of all, thank you to the members of the festival committee for all their endless support and help throughout the entire year. These wonderful people volunteer their time and energy for the betterment of our community. With the help of everyone in the surrounding communities and counties, we can make this another great Jenny Wiley Festival. Please mark your calendar for October 6-9 to come out and enjoy the 40th annual Jenny Wiley Festival in beautiful downtown Prestonsburg.

James Allen Committee Chairman

Don’t forget to thank these 2021 committee members: These folks have worked all year to organize the events and attractions you’ll see at the festival! James Allen, Chairman; Rodney Gardner, Vice Chairman Miranda Shepherd, Treasurer; Jaime Hall, Secretary Members: Jennifer Gardner, Josh Shepherd, Dolly Hunter, Arley Hunter, David DeRossett, Diane Fish, Darrell Conley, David Crisp, Josh Parsons, Navajo Austin, Steve Russo, Jan Russo, Sheena Maynard, Heather Owens, Isabella Ramsey, Janice Prater and Amber Burchett. Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

Jenny Wiley 40th Annual

FESTIVALSchedule of Events

Day 1 Wednesday, October 6 6:00 pm

Pet Show Sheena Maynard (606) 506-5068 Proceeds go to Floyd Co. Animal Shelter

6:00 pm

Casey’s Rides Open

6:00 pm

Festival Opening Ceremony Municipal Lot Stage

6:15 pm

Floyd Central ROTC

7:00 pm

Mystery Meat Blues Band Main Stage Front Porch Pickin’

Day 3 Friday, October 8

10:00 am

Arts & Crafts Open Marketplace Opens

10:30 am

Food Vendors Open

11:30 am

Lunchtime Entertainment

6:00 pm

Casey’s Rides Opens Kid’s Zone Opens (Near the fountain) Sponsored by Cardinal Country Stores

6:00 pm

Friday Night Music Main Stage Burden of Proof Idel Time The Cleverlys

Day 2 Thursday, October 7 10:00 am

Arts & Crafts Open Marketplace Opens

10:30 am

Food Vendors Open

11:30 am

Lunchtime Entertainment

6:00 pm

Gospel Night Main Stage - Sponsored by Maggard’s Heating & Cooling GracewaySingers Case Family Ronnie Spriggs Tim Goshen

6:00 pm

Gospel Night Main Stage

Graceway Singers Case Family Ronnie Spriggs Tim Goshen 8

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

Day 4 Saturday, October 9

6:30 pm

8:00 am

5K For The Strays Presented by the Floyd County Animal Shelter. Contact Sheena May for details. (606) 506-5068 Proceeds go to Floyd Co. Animal Shelter Race starts @ 9:00 am

10:00 am

Car Show - Hosted by Car Guys for Life Sponsored by Route 321 Auto Sales Bike Show - Hosted by Brothers Keepers Motorcycle Club

Cornhole Tournament City Hall Michael Tussey (606) 371-2967

10:00 am

Arts & Crafts Open Marketplace Opens

10:30 am

Food Vendors Open

12:00 pm

Casey’s Rides Opens Kid’s Zone Opens Sponsored by Cardinal Country Stores

3:00 pm

Annual Festival Parade Lineup begins at 2:00 pm at the PMC Parking Lot, South Lake Drive

5:00 pm

Saturday Night Main Stage The Buzz Down To The River Quiet Riot

5:30 pm

6:30 pm

Friday Night Music

Saturday Night Music

Burden of Proof Idel Time The Cleverlys

The Buzz Down To The River Quiet Riot

Stage Beside City Hall

Sound Sponsored by

Stage Beside City Hall

Festival returns this year Better than ever!

By Trevor Thacker News Editor

Day two will be Gospel Night, with the Graceway Singers, the Case Family, Ronnie Spriggs and Tim Goshen. With the Jenny Wiley Festival just Friday night, the carnival will reopen around the corner, there will be plenty of for kids at 6, while a “Kids Zone” will attractions and entertainment for festival open near the fountain. goers. Friday night’s music includes Idle Time and The Cleverlys on the main stage The JWF is the longest continuous festival in Eastern Kentucky. The festival at 6 p.m. has been ongoing for 40 years. Saturday opens with registration for On October 6, the carnival will open “5K For the Strays,” a race presented by at 6 p.m. The Pet Show will take place at 6, the Floyd County Animal Shelter at 8:00 a.m. Race beings at 9. All proceeds will go in the Sally Gate parking lot. Music will kickoff on the main stage to the FCAS. Beginning at 10 a.m., will be the Car at 7 p.m., with the Mystery Meat Blues Band. Front Porch Picking will also take Show, hosted by Car Guys For Life. A Bike Show, hosted by Brothers Keepers Motorplace at 7.

cycle Club will also take place at 10 a.m. The carnival will open a noon on Saturday, as will the Kids Zone. The parade will begin at 3:00 p.m., with the lineup starting at 2 in the Pikeville Medical Center parking lot on South Lake Drive. The main stage will be rocking Saturday night beginning at 5 p.m., with Burden of Proof, The Buzz, Down To The River, taking the stage before headliner’s Quiet Riot perform at 8:30 p.m. There will be plenty for everyone to enjoy at this year’s Jenny Wiley Festival. As the Delta variant continues its surge, festival goers are asked to follow all CDC guidelines.

Car show takes us back in time By Trevor Thacker News Editor The 2021 version of the Jenny Wiley Festival will once again showcase vintage classic cars as well as the newer speed demons, as Car Guys For Life will host the JWF Car Show. Registration for the event will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday October 9, with the awards presentation to be held at 1:00 p.m. There will be numerous classes such as, Top 25, Best of Show, Best Rat Rod, Best Street Rod, just to name a few. There will be a winner chosen for each automaker such as Best GM or Best Ford. Ronald Garrett, organizer of the event, is encouraging all car lovers to come out and take part. “Get them cleaned up and ready, and let’s make it the biggest one ever,” Garrett said.

The Car Show is sponsored by Route 321 Auto Sales, and will be in a slightly different location this year. “It is going to be held downtown on the street from the red

light at the Dollar Store, to the red light at Court Street,” Garrett said. Take a step back in time, to the days of a bygone era when cruising was cool, by attending the Jenny Wiley Festival Car Show.

Entry fee for the show is $20, and all proceeds are donated to charities. All prizes and awards are graciously donated by Route 321 Auto Sales. Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

Thomas Wiley recognized with marker, ceremony Most every Kentuckian knows, or at least has heard of, the daring tale of Jenny Wiley. An early pioneer woman on the relatively unknown frontier, she was captured by several tribes of Native Americans and forced to watch the slaughter and scalping of her brother and her three children. Only to endure the deaths of two more children along her trek of captivity. Not as well known as Jenny, her husband Thomas Wiley, a soldier from the Revolutionary War, is also central to the story. On Saturday July 10, 2021, the Big Sandy Chapter Sons of the American Revolution held a memorial grave marking ceremony honoring Thomas Wiley’s Revolutionary War service at the Jenny Wiley gravesite in River, Ky. Thomas Wiley emigrated to the United States from Ulster, Northern Ireland in the 1760’s to southwestern Virginia. He fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant, also known as “Lord Dunemore’s War” on October 10, 1774, which many consider to be the first battle of the Revolutionary War. Wiley served in James Robertson’s Virginia militia in 1777 subject to be called out at any time on short notice. He joined the Virginia Line and was on duty from May through August 1778. During that tour, he fought in the Battle of Monmouth, New Jersey on June 28, 1778. Thomas met Jean (Jenny) Sellards, the daughter of Hezakiah Sellards in 1789 and the two were married. They built a cabin and reared a large family in what is now (Bland County) Virginia. Wiley served in Captain Lowe’s Montgomery County, Virginia, militia in 1782. His wife Jenny was captured by Indians on October 1, 1789, while Thomas was gone to a trading post to sell ginseng. He was reunited

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

with her several months later after her escape from the Indians in what became Johnson County, Kentucky. Thomas Wiley died in October 1810 and is buried in an unknown location about one half mile from His wife Jenny’s resting place. The new marker, unveiled earlier this year, by descendants of Thomas and Jenny sits directly across from Jenny’s marker. Mary Sword, the four time great-granddaughter of Thomas, spoke of her famous relative’s service to our country. “We’re gathered here today to honor Thomas, who, dedicated himself to fighting for our fledgling country during the Revolutionary War. Sometimes, we tend to brush grandfather Tom [sic] aside when we think about grandmother Jenny Wiley, and the traumatic events she endured. However, we should also consider the things that Tom [sic] went through during that time as well,” Sword said. Sword, was one of many descendants who attended the memorial on Saturday. The family were brought in on, ironically enough, a Jenny Wiley State Resort Park bus. Each family member was greeted by SAR member and Johnson County Circuit Judge John David Preston and given a program. By the time of the Revolution, more than 100,000 Ulster immigrants from Northern Ireland arrived in America. Many of them settling in the Appalachian area. “It’s a lot like Ireland— they felt at home here,” Sword said. You can visit the new Thomas Wiley marker along with his wife Jenny Wiley’s gravesite located behind the River, Kentucky Volunteer Fire Department. The site is open during daylight hours.

The name behind the festival Appalachian Newspapers Staff Report The City of Prestonsburg’s annual Jenny Wiley Festival has become quite famous here in Floyd County and Eastern Kentucky, which is not shocking, as it is named after an Eastern Kentucky woman whose bravery has inspired the region for decades. Jenny (Sellards) Wiley, according to historical information provided online by Kentucky State Parks, was born in Pennsylvania in 1760. Her life has inspired books, plays and

has even seen a state park and amphitheater here in Floyd County named after her. In 1779, she married her husband, Revolutionary War soldier Thomas Wiley. While her husband was away, in October 1789, the Wiley Cabin was attacked by mistake by Indians. The Indians, according to Prestonsburg Tourism’s “Who was Jenny Wiley” story by Executive Director Samantha Johnson, had attacked the cabin as they had sought revenge for the death of a Cherokee chief ’s son, who had been killed by a group of Eastern

Kentucky settlers led by Mattias Harman. After mistakenly entering the Wiley residence, the Indians proceeded to kill her brother and three of her children before taking Wiley, who was pregnant with her fifth child, and another child captive. While being held prisoner by the Indians Wiley sadly watched as her two children were killed. It is debatable, Johnson writes, how long Wiley remained in captivity, but by most accounts she escaped her captors and was found in the spring of 1790, at Harmon’s Station, near Lou-

isa. After being separated for some time, Wiley was reunited with her husband and the two went on to have five more children. The Wileys eventually came back to Kentucky to make their home in Johnson County, where they lived out their days. A marker is located near her grave to pay tribute to Jenny Wiley’s incredible frontier life.

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

s e F y e l i W y Jenn

Look for these pageant win

Bruno Arnett Master Jenny Wiley

Jana Ousley Baby Miss Jenny Wiley

Rose Skeans Wee Miss Jenny Wiley

Ally-Anna Ousley Petite Miss Jenny Wiley

Katelyn Stanley Little Miss Jenny Wiley

Destiny Taylor Junior Miss Jenny Wiley

t n a e g a P l a stiv

winners in the parade!

iley

r Wiley

Bryniee Crace Tiny Miss Jenny Wiley

Haley Ratliff 2021

Miss Jenny Wiley Hannah Shepherd Teen Miss Jenny Wiley

2021 Pageant Awards and Winners Amari Brielle Crace

Evelyn Kay Slone

Duchess

Prettiest Smile & 1st Runner Up

Kamila Quinn Harles

Alaina Rae Sorensen

Most Photogenic, Prettiest Smile, Prettiest Dress & 1st Runner Up

Jana May Ousley

2021 Baby Miss Jenny Wiley

Mia Allison Wright

Audience Choice, Prettiest Eyes, Prettiest Hair & 2nd Runner Up

Graceylen Inis Ardell Hall

Audience Choice, Prettiest Hair & 1st Runner Up

Everly Rose Skeans

Prettiest Eyes, Best Costume & 2021 Wee Miss Jenny Wiley

Aaliyah Breeze Jackson

Most Photogenic, Prettiest Smile, Prettiest Dress & 2nd Runner Up

Augtavius Lake Arnett

Prettiest Eyes & 1st Runner Up

Bruno Myers Arnett

Prettiest Hair & Duchess

Kynadee Grace Howard Duchess

Karli Jane Justice Duchess

Sakaria Gaberilla Braylynn Mckinney Duchess

Leia Jean Runyon Duchess

Brittany Taylor Huff

Audience Choice, Prettiest Smile, & 2nd Runner Up

Ally-Anna Afton Ousley

Most Photogenic, Prettiest Eyes, Prettiest Hair, & 2021 Petite Miss Jenny Wiley

Maggie Faith Penix

Prettiest Dress, Best Costume & 1st Runner Up

Lillie Claire Howard

Most Photogenic, Prettiest Hair, Most Handsome Suit, Best Costume & 2021 Master Jenny Wiley

Audience Choice, Prettiest Hair, Prettiest Hair, Prettiest Dress & 1st Runner Up

Kashden Joshua Ray Miller

Prettiest Eyes & 2nd Runner Up

Amelia Grace Adams

Most Photogenic, Prettiest Smile, Best Costume, Most Talented & 2021 Little Miss Jenny Wiley

Audience Choice, Prettiest Smile & 2nd Runner Up

Duchess

Ellie Ann Carroll Duchess

Brynlee Klaire Crace

Prettiest Dress & 2021 Tiny Miss Jenny Wiley

Sawyer Kate Hamilton

Audience Choice, Most Photogenic & Duchess

Aubrey Kate Hannah Prettiest Eyes & Duchess

Kiana Sage Harless

Best Costume & 2nd Runner Up

Emma Grace Osborne Katelyn Marie Stanley

Hayden Kathryn Arnett Duchess

Isabella Paige Murray

Prettiest Eyes, Prettiest Hair & 1st Runner Up

Destiny Nicole Taylor

Prettiest Smile, Prettiest Dress, Most Talented & 2021 Junior Miss Jenny Wiley

Lillian Renee Webb

Audience Choice, Most Photogenic, Best Costume & 2nd Runner Up

Hayden Raelynn Lazar 2nd Runner Up

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

Hannah Grace Shepherd

Most Photogenic, Prettiest Smile, Prettiest Dress, Best Costume & 2021 Teen Miss Jenny Wiley

Emma Grace Thatcher

Audience Choice, Prettiest Eyes, Prettiest Hair & 1st Runner Up

Haley Alexis Ratliff

Audience Choice, Most Photogenic, Prettiest Eyes, Prettiest Hair, Prettiest Dress & 2021 Miss Jenny Wiley

Isabella Nashae Cole

Prettiest Smile, Best Costume, Most Talented & 1st Runner Up

Halloween

Tickets $13 Call 888-MAC-ARTS

Oct. 23 7:30 pm

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

Music on the Main Stage

By Trevor Thacker News Editor This year’s Jenny Wiley Festival will have a music lineup that goes from one end of the music spectrum, to the other. To kick off the festival on Wednesday evening, October 6, the Mystery Meat Blues Band will take the main stage at 7:00 p.m. Their set will be followed by Front Porch Pickin’. Night two of music will be Heavenly, as Gospel Night will feature The Graceway Singers, The Case Family, Ronnie Spriggs and Tim Goshen. Music on the main stage will begin at 6:00 p.m. Friday, October 8, will feature 16

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

The Cleverlys

• READYMIX CONCRETE • CONCRETE SEPTIC TANKS • RETAINING WALL BLOCKS • SEPTIC SYSTEMS • CONCRETE DRIVEWAYS • PRECAST CONCRETE STEPS

Welcome to the 39th Annual Jenny Wiley Festival

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

Burden of Proof, followed by Idle Time. Friday night’s headliners will be country recording artists, The Cleverlys. The final night of music, will feature heavy-hitters The Buzz followed by Down To The River. Music will start at 5:00 p.m. Saturday on the main stage. The headlining act, has been one that JWF Committee members have been wanting to book for several years. Quiet Riot, an 80’s rock legend, will take the stage to perform their signature hits “Come On Feel The Noise” and “Bang Your Head”. Founded by former Ozzy Osborne guitarist Randy Rhoads, Quiet Riot was ranked No. 100 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Rock.

Down To The River Tim Goshen

Idle Time

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

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Darrell L. Patton Insurance Inc. 3010 S. Lake Drive, Prestonsburg, Ky Darrell L. Patton, President

606.886.9588

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

Runners turned out to honor the memory of Dr. Rondall Leslie at the Jenny Wiley Festival 5K in 2018. This year, the race will raise funds for the Floyd County Animal Shelter. Floyd Chronicle and Times file photo

‘5K for the Strays’ set for Saturday By Trevor Thacker News Editor The Jenny Wiley Festival 2021 will include a 5K Run and Dog Walk Saturday October 9, beginning at 9 a.m. Registration for the race will begin at 8 a.m. Entry fee for the race is $25, or you can get an early entry for $20. The 5K Run will be held at the downtown stage parking lot, and be sure to bring along your leashed pets. As with the pet show, all proceeds from the

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

5K Run will go to the Floyd County Animal Shelter. The shelter, has been at capacity for some time. The FCAS has approximately a 90% adoption rate, meaning, very few animals are euthanatized. However, that leaves the FCAS in a tough spot. Items such as bleach, paper towels, puppy and kitten food, are sorely needed. You can donate such items at the shelter, and all donations are greatly appreciated. Sheena Maynard, event organizer, spoke of the importance of having the shelter.

“There has never been a bigger need for support in our local animal shelters. They need your help financially and physically,” said Maynard. Most adoptions from the FCAS are from out of state. “This is an amazing team and an amazing cause, and I am honored to help a team dedicated to saving as many lives as the FCAS saves,” Maynard said. For more information about the race call Lou’s Place For Pets at 606-506-5068.

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

Pet Show, Portrait Contest and Pumpkin Decorating Contest on tap this year By Trevor Thacker News Editor The Jenny Wiley Festival 2021 will not only feature its annual pet show, but also a Pet Portrait Contest and a pumpkin carving contest. On Wednesday, October 6, beginning at 6:00 p.m., will be the JWF Pet Show. The event will be held at the Richmond Plaza parking lot. The entry is $10 per category, and will feature entries such as Fanciest Female Feline, Best Costume, Largest Dog, among many others. All pets must be up to date on all vaccines. Pets must also be on a leash or contained in a safe manner. There will also be a silent auction and door prizes, with 100 percent of all funds raised going to the Floyd County Animal Shelter.

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021

Kids will also have the opportunity to paint a portrait of their beloved pet, at which time the winner of the contest will be announced at the festival. They will have a chance to show off their creativity and imagination. Children can draw, sketch, or paint their pet. Any style or colors, canvas or paper may be used. Once completed, submit your art to Lou’s Place For Pets before October 2, to be entered. Winners and prizes will be announced on Friday night of the festival. The Pumpkin Decorating Contest has been a mainstay during the festival for many years. Participants must drop off their decorated pumpkins at Lou’s Place For Pets or the Mountain Muse before October 3, to enter. Entrants are asked to use paint, sparkles or ribbon and to not carve your pumpkins. Winners of the contest will be announced during the festival.

Jenny Wiley Festival 2021