Owensboro Living December 2016 / January 2017

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FROM THE EDITOR

Publisher/Creative Director Jason Tanner Editor Steven Wilson

MERRY CHRISTMAS, FROM OWENSBORO LIVING! If you’re reading this, that means you survived Thanksgiving, and now have your sights set on all the festivities that the

Photographers Jamie Alexander David Grinnell Taylor West

end of the year brings. You may have marked off the first couple of days on your Advent calendar, and now you’re planning for the New Year. And despite all the joy and the

Ad Design Jamie Alexander Andrea Roberson Jason Tanner Taylor West

memories that we derive from this time of year, most of us find ourselves in a whirlwind of busyness and activity.

But if you’re reading this, it also means that you’re taking at least a few minutes of time for yourself. It means that you’ve logged off for long enough to clear your head. It means you’ve set aside time to do more than read a few incendiary headlines on social media and the vitriolic comments that often follow. Instead, you’ve made the decision to slow down, and learn about the people and places that make our city special.

So whether the rest of your journey through our pages leads you to the story of a Pearl Harbor veteran, a Major League umpire, or a familiar charity with an important mission, we’re just grateful that you’ve chosen to spend a few moments of your precious time with us.

Steven Wilson Editor, Owensboro Living steven@owensboroliving.com

Ad Sales Brock Quinton Robert Williams

"YOU’VE MADE THE DECISION TO SLOW DOWN, AND LEARN ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND PLACES THAT MAKE OUR CITY SPECIAL."

Contributors Alisha Hardison M. Garswa Matally Danny May Elizabeth Muster Taryn Norris Melody Wallace Steven Wilson Lora Wimsatt Cover Photo Photo by Jamie Alexander Cookies by Dalishas Desserts Online www.owensboroliving.com facebook.com/owensboroliving twitter.com/owensboroliving issuu.com/owensboroliving Offline Owensboro Living Magazine PO Box 9503 Owensboro, KY 42302 888-304-5416 Subscribe Delivery of Owensboro Living is available by visiting owensboroliving.com/subscribe Advertise Owensboro Living is a FREE magazine because of community support. Thank you to the great group of businesses & organizations who advertise.

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2016- 2017

[08]

DEC JAN

THE BUZZ

THE REAL PEOPLE, PLACES AND EVENTS THAT SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY

FEATURES [12] RED KETTLE CALLING [16] A PEEK AT THE PARADE [21] STRANGERS TO CHRISTMAS [22] BE SAFE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

[52]

[30] MEET THE MAYOR: TOM WATSON [32] MEET OUR FIRST FAMILY COURT JUDGE: JULIE HAWES GORDON [35] OWENSBORO HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION

[38]

[61]

[38] A GLORY DENIED [44] REMEMBERING PEARL HARBOR [52] FROM HOMETOWN TO BEHIND HOME PLATE: MAJOR LEAGUE UMPIRE LARRY VANOVER

[61]

YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP

TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS

[76]

THE DISH

[44]

CHRISTMAS BAKING TIPS

[78]

THE SCENE

YOUR GUIDE TO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN AND AROUND OWENSBORO

[76] www.OwensboroLiving.com

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THE

BUZZ

PHOTO BY CAROL ALVEY

BACK ALLEY MUSICALS PRESENTS SHE LOVES ME Back Alley Musicals wrapped their 25th show Nov. 10-13 with a production of She Loves Me. The performance was held in the Jody Berry Theatre at the RiverPark Center.

Cast included: Justin Miller, Alisa Hamilton, Loré

Calvin Malone directed the musical comedy. Ron Waite was artistic director and Corey Cellurale was music director.

Ralston, Emma Matthews, Emily Malone, Leigh

Renner North, Calvin Malone, Preston Middleton, David Roberson, Joe Bob Pierce, Mike Ivey, Jared Dockery, and Will Stone. Ensemble – Mary Beth Ann Crume, Jim Wilhoyte, Chelsea Payne and Mike Bruce.

DAVIESS COUNTY BOYS ARE STATE SOCCER CHAMPS

The Daviess County Boys soccer team defeated Covington Catholic on November 5 to earn DCHS its first boys’ soccer title. With the two teams tied at the end of regulation, the game went to a 10-minute extra period, followed by an eight-round shootout. In the end, the Panthers earned the victory by winning the shootout 6-5. The title was also the first for Coach Doug Sandifer, who played in the state title game in 1988 for Owensboro High School. Daviess County’s Tyler Croft was named the tournament’s MVP, and the Panthers’ Tommy Booker and Graham Miller were named to the All-Tournament Team.

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OWENSBORO SOCCER’S 400TH WIN The Owensboro High School boys soccer program celebrated win number 400 in October. Coach Dale Poole has been at the helm of the program since its inception, coaching OHS to all 400 victories. www.OwensboroLiving.com

OWENSBORO LIVING APP OwensboroLiving.com is proud to be

FREE Owensboro Living app! Updated

your FREE online source for local news

daily, the OL app brings you the latest

in Owensboro and Western Kentucky,

posts, videos, and events calendar, plus

covering local news, sports, music, sports, a magazine distribution location map. education, and everything in between.

Download today at iTunes store and

Now, we are excited to announce our

Google Play for Android.

THEATRE WORKSHOP OF OWENSBORO From December 9 through December 18, Theatre Workshop of Owensboro will present six live performances of PHOTO BY DON FOGLE

OWENSBORO CELEBRATES VETERANS DAY

A Christmas Story at the Empress Theatre. Several members of TWO were

On November 5, the City of Owensboro celebrated Veterans Day

also recently recognized

with a parade through downtown. The festivities also included the

by the Kentucky Theatre

Kentucky Remembers Veterans Day 5K, a race organized by the

Association. Kevin Clark

Kentucky Chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers to honor our

won Best Actor, and the

veterans and remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice

cast and crew of TWO’s

for our freedom. Proceeds from the run benefited the Honor and

production of Who Am I

Remember Organization, Bluegrass Chapter of the Honor Flight for WWII Veterans and the American Gold Star Mothers.

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This Time was also awarded the top prize.

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THE

BUZZ

OWENSBORO SAILOR REUNITES WITH SON SANTA RITA, Guam (Nov. 8, 2016) Petty Officer 2nd Class Sarah Martindale, native of Owensboro, assigned to the submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40), is reunited with her son on the pier at Naval Base Guam after completing a five-month deployment.

Frank Cable departed Guam June 6, was a persistent presence throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region during its deployment providing vital flexibility to the

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fleet commanders, extending the range and impact of U.S. naval forces in the U.S. Navy’s 5th and 7th Fleets.

Forward deployed to Guam, Frank Cable’s combined Navy and Military Sealift Command crew’s mission is to provide critical war fighting repairs, rearmament, and reprovisioning to deployed Naval Forces of the United States. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Eva-Marie Ramsaran/Released).

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2016 CHRISTMAS PARADE

The annual Owensboro Christmas Parade made its way down Second Street on November 19, 2016. This year’s theme was “Home for the Holidays,” and parade-goers lined the streets despite the cold temperatures. Winners of this year’s float contest included: DCHS Dance Team for Schools & School Clubs; St. Pius Cub Scout Pack 120 for Organizations, Clubs & Scouts; Glenn Funeral Home for Commercial; and Sts. Joseph & Paul Catholic Church for Westerfield

PHOTOS BY AP IMAGERY

Electric’s Most Effective Use of Lighting.

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RED Calling KETTLE “The Salvation Army is not a ‘Christmas-only’ operation --- the giving season is year round because the need is year round.”

- Captain Joe Crawford

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BY MELODY WALLACE

W

e have all been there, attempting to make the mad dash to leave the grocery store in

blustery winter weather. Just when we think we are home free, we hear the gentle tinkling of a bell, and the warm greeting of a friendly voice wishing us a “Merry Christmas.”

The feeling that follows tends to be either

one of heartfelt generosity or immense guilt, as we choose whether or not to toss a few dollars into the waiting red kettle, before hurrying

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off to our next destination. What we do not realize at

eighteen. While the need is year-round, they do offer

the time, is that this split-second decision affects how

seasonal assistance with Thanksgiving baskets, as well

the Salvation Army will feed, clothe, and provide for

as Christmas assistance with food and toys for those

children and adults in the Owensboro community over

with children under the age of twelve.

the next year.

The Salvation Army originated around 1865

such as: OMU, Kenergy, Toys for Tots, the United Way,

in London, England through the faithful efforts of

and several other generous donors, it is the red kettle

William Booth and his wife, Catherine. General Booth

campaign that sustains the organization through much

believed in preaching to the downtrodden and the

of the year. This year’s traditional Red Kettle Kick-off

destitute. He went so far as to hold church in local bars

was held on Friday, November 18 with a chili luncheon

and cemeteries because he felt that even the homeless

and special music provided by the Owensboro

living on the streets should “have access to salvation.”

Symphony Orchestra. The iconic red kettles will then

What was originally known as the Christian Mission,

be out in various locations throughout the Owensboro

soon became the Salvation Army, a church with a

community until December 24th. Lorraina says of

“quasi-military structure” whose followers would

the red kettles, “People are always trying new and

become “soldiers of Christ.” The Salvation Army

innovative things. We are really a staple, providing

quickly spread to America, and now offers a two-year,

services that have to be there.”

seminary-like, training college where “officers” are

trained in social services, business administration, and

Joe Crawford responds, “People are so often told that

pastoral care.

they can’t. We’re here to make sure they find a way

Captains Joe and Lorraina Crawford have been

to do it. We help people go past their limitations.”

officers with the Salvation Army for the last eight years,

He believes that, “even those people who have made

but this is their first year in Owensboro. Lorraina is

poor life choices can still turn their lives around.”

actually a fifth generation Salvation Army officer and

Captain Crawford also feels that it is not just the job of

says that, “It’s our way of life, a calling really.” The

the Salvation Army to pay someone’s power bill, but,

two are both ordained ministers and find that they

more importantly to “give them the tools to pay their

wear many different hats beyond being pastors of the

power bill.” This was a gentle reminder that we are all

church. Not only do they help with food, clothing, and

at different places in life, and each of us is just one lost

rent and utility assistance, but they also provide a low

job, or negative circumstance away from needing help.

cost Day Camp for approximately seventy-five children

Captain Crawford is really excited to be in

and their parents during the months of May through

Owensboro this year, “I love this town…Owensboro is

August, when children are out of school. During the

the type of town that could make a grand change (in the

school year, the Salvation Army also offers youth

lives of others).” As far as the holidays are concerned,

programs on Monday nights for children ages three to

he offers this advice, “People are givers and want to

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Although the Salvation Army has several partners,

When asked why he chose the Salvation Army,

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help. If you see someone that has a need, help them out. If you see someone that needs food, buy them food. If you see someone who needs clothes, buy them

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The Salvation Army is always looking

for volunteers, as well as bell ringers for the holidays. This is a great opportunity for families, friends, and small groups to

clothes.” If those opportunities don’t

show their holiday cheer as they serve

present themselves, then take a moment

the community. For more information,

the next time you rush past that little

or to schedule a time and location, please call (270) 302-8510.

red kettle and remember, “Virtually

everyone can reach into their pocket and

the bells, food and monetary donations

donate a dollar.” After all, that dollar

are always welcome, as well as items that

may be needed over the next year to heat

If you are not able to volunteer or ring

can be sold in the thrift store.

Items

can

be

dropped

off

at

someone’s home, fill someone’s belly, or

The Salvation Army, 215 S Ewing Rd.

provide care for a small child.

(270) 685-5576.

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BY ELIZABETH MUSTER

A PEEK AT THE PARADE “THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS,” and for many in the

of forgiveness, faithfulness, and honor.” A running back for the Kentucky Wildcats in the 1960s, he was one of the

Tristate area, the Owensboro Christmas Parade officially

first African American football players at the university,

opened the season on November 19. Annually, it is the

where they recently erected a statue to honor him and

first Christmas parade held in Kentucky, and one of the

three of his teammates. Also, Hogg and his wife of 44

largest in the region. Thanks to the endless hours of

years, Deborah, have fostered over 200 children full-time

seven volunteer board members and various community

over the past 25 years and another 300 on a part-time or

sponsors, this year marked Santa’s 80th appearance in the

emergency basis. As Williams explained, “We are just

downtown festivities.

thankful this humble man and family accepted our request

to be the Grand Marshal.” The committee already has a

Believe it or not, preparations for next year’s spectacle Chairman

few “high-profile guests” in mind for next year, but they

of the Owensboro-Daviess County Christmas Parade

also welcome suggestions via email, Facebook, or Twitter.

Association, Kenny Williams, and the board spend

This year’s Honorary Grand Marshal, Adam Johnston, is

November to November making preparations and raising

no stranger to the Christmas Parade, although he is not

money. Community input is also factored into several

usually in the forefront. Johnston started attending the

decisions.

parade at age four, and he served on the committee from

Each year, the Grand Marshal is determined based on

2005-2015. As chairman from 2012-2015, he “spearheaded

local accomplishments and public suggestions. This year,

efforts to bring Florence Henderson, Carson Kressley,

Houston Hogg was chosen because his “life is a testament

and the Clydesdales.” Johnston commented, “Working

started the Monday following the parade.

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PHOTO BY AP IMAGERY

behind the scenes really gave me a better appreciation of how

down from recent years. Businesses willing to contribute for

much work is involved. My goal each year as Chairman was

2017 can contact the Owensboro Daviess-County Christmas

to lead my committee to a successful parade…one that my

Parade Association at info@christmasparade.net. Individual

kids would enjoy and remember.” This year, his children,

donations can be made online with a credit card, debit card,

Ella, Aiden, and Reese, were the first-ever sibling group to be

or PayPal. “Every cent must be raised every year,” Williams

Official Parade Starters.

stated. “Every dollar that comes in goes right back out to

support the parade.”

As with the selection of Grand Marshal, you can nominate

someone between now and January who “embod[ies] the

heart, spirit, and openness of the Christmas season” to ring

in several categories: school or school clubs; organizations,

the opening bell. Similarly, you can make theme suggestions

clubs and scouts; churches and church organizations; and

for 2017; this year’s was “Home for the Holidays.”

commercial, government and municipalities. There is also an

The $14,000 needed to fund the parade is not provided

overall award for “Most Effective Use of Lighting.” Williams

by the city of Owensboro as many believe, but by sponsors,

explained that the judges – and even their location along the

donors, vendors, and participating organizations. Vendor

parade route – are kept confidential. “There is a very detailed,

applications and parade entries start as early as August and

set criteria, [but] I can give you a hint: adherence to theme,

can be made through the website at christmasparade.net.

lighting, and overall spirit are often elements that tip the

Early-bird pricing typically runs through Halloween. Vendor

scales.”

fees cost approximately $100 for a rolling cart, $125 for a local

stand-along booth, or $175 for a booth by an out-of-town

Time Warner Cable channel 8 every Wednesday and Saturday

merchant. Float entries cost $40 per nonprofit organization

at 7:00 PM until Christmas. The dedicated people behind the

and $125 for commercial entries. These fees help cover costs

scenes don’t want you to miss out on the sights and sounds

such as port-a-potties, clean-up services, and carriage rentals.

of the bands, the lighted floats, the historic calliope, and of

course, Jolly Old St. Nick!

This year’s parade had fourteen sponsors, which was

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Cash prizes for first, second, and third place are awarded

If you missed the parade en route, you can watch it on

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

DAVIESS COUNT Y PARKS

CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK CONTINUES HOLIDAY TRADITION NOVEMBER 25 - JANUARY 2 Christmas at Panther Creek, a drive-through Christmas light display featuring over 500,000 Christmas lights, is open nightly from 6 – 9 p.m. beginning Friday, November 25 through Monday, January 2 at Panther Creek Park (5160 Wayne Bridge Road).

The cost for the lighted tour is $3 per vehicle (including buses and vans), which is divided between the Daviess County Fiscal Court Parks and Recreation Department and five local non-profits who each agree to provide volunteers to work the admission booth during their assigned week. So far, over $46,500 has been donated to over 50 local non-profit agencies.

Free wagons rides are also available each night, so warm dress is recommended.

“Christmas at Panther Creek was developed to introduce Daviess County residents to the park,” says Daviess County Fiscal Court Parks and Recreation Director, Ross Leigh. “The park had been in existence for a number of years but many people weren’t aware of where it was located.”

Mission accomplished! The attraction has become an annual Holiday tradition for many Owensboro/Daviess County families.

On average, 3,500 cars tour the lighted park each Holiday season.

Ross estimates that over 100,000 have seen the lights since 2003.

That first year, Daviess County Fiscal Court provided the materials and utilized volunteer labor provided by the local I.B.E.W. to install the initial infrastructure. Christmas at Panther Creek was opened that November, making this the 14th year of the program.

Originally, over 70 sponsors assisted in purchasing the lighted displays. Jeff Ebelhar, a CPA at Ebelhar Whitehead, is both a

family and corporate display sponsor. Ebelhar’s parents supplied the “Country Christmas” display, which feature a farm scene with cows, silo, John Deere tractor and barn. “My mother really loved Christmas, and my dad loved the farm. So they decided to make that display as a gift to the area that people could enjoy for years to come,” Jeff said. Eventually, Ebelhar’s CPA firm also sponsored a display because it is “a nice, community effort that also helps local charities.”

The annual Holiday attraction continues to grow and evolve.

87 snowflakes were added around the ball diamonds, as well as additional lighting along the park’s boulevard entrance. A 70’ tall lighted Christmas “tree” stands by the fire tower.

Applications for Daviess County non-profits are available in

September of each year, and non-profits can call the office to put their name on a list to receive the next available application at any time. Each year, five non-profits are selected through a lottery process by a member of the Daviess County Parks Board. Their portion of the money collected from admissions is split evenly among the five.

Eric Miller, with Western KY Raptor Center, which has been

selected several years, said, “Christmas at Panther Creek is an awesome way to raise money. We typically make between $700-800 for the week.” Sometimes, people will make extra donations to help the cause as well.

Additional display sponsors are always welcome and can be

arranged by contacting the Daviess County Parks office at 270-685-6142.

NEW FOR 2016:

THE ORIGINAL SNOWFLAKE ARCH HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REFURBISHED CONTAINING MORE THAN 2000 LIGHTS THANKS TO NEW DONATIONS FROM THE ORIGINAL SPONSORS, BOARDWALK PIPELINES AND MODERN WELDING.

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STRANGERS TO

Christmas

BY M. GARSWA MATALLY PASTOR, CHURCH FOR ALL

IN

the cold of the tail end of November leaning into December, three strangers from another civilization land in Owensboro. Read English they can, but they neither speak nor understand the language if one spoke to them. How curious and baffled the strangers become as they scramble to unravel the meaning of all the sights and sounds that cram and buzz the city, every crevice of it! Determined, the three foreigners confer among themselves, frantically sweating to decode what they see and hear.

Music fills the air. “The natives of the land must be happy about something big,” say the aliens to one another. “Everyone is either singing or listening to singing of their liking.”

In the stores – more merchandise than could ever be sold or bought. On doors – decorations of wreaths.

In yards and along eaves of roofs – dazzling lights of many colors, alternating their shine against the night sky. Inside many homes – green or white little trees, decked with ornaments and figurines of gold, purple, silver and red. Under the trees – hardly any room, neat beautifully-wrapped boxes stuffed here, there, everywhere.

“All this must cost a fortune,” the strangers reason among themselves. “But what report shall we submit to our fellow kinsmen upon return to our homeland.

What is this costly celebration, and why? For one thing, the children seem most excited of all. Wonder why…?”

Comes the end of their stay in Owensboro, and the strangers still can’t tell what on earth the city is festive about. Ready to return to their homeland the foreigners feel like failures, unable to crack the code of this widespread festival that has an entire city shopping, singing, lit up.

Finally, one of the aliens demand the attention of his fellows. “I think I got the key to it all!” he nearly

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screamed.

“What key?” asked one.

“Don’t you get it?”

“Get what?”

“It’s in the greeting that we’ve read in so many

places, even written in light.”

“You mean ‘Happy Holidays’?”

“No, not that one. That’s too generic to mean

anything worth reporting on. My, in a civilization like this, there could be hundreds of holidays, and we’d be fools attempting to find out what holidays.”

“You mean the other greeting? Merry Christmas?”

“That’s the one! Exactly!!”

And so the aliens went on their way, half-pleased

that they at least know the name of the great holiday that deserves city-wide festivity.

Too bad the strangers did not realize that

“Christmas” contains the name or title, “Christ”. But if they knew they’d probably still be shocked that we’ve so coded and concealed exactly what or whom we celebrate this time of year. Do the immigrants and tourists in our midst know? Do our children even know what we celebrate and why we celebrate Christmas?

Before opening those presents this year, why not

have your family together read Luke 2:1-20 from the Bible, so that we and the aliens will be clear about this “most wonderful time of the year”? We might just hear the aliens say “Merry Christmas”!

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THE

PULSE

BE SAFE this

HOLIDAY

SEASON 22 OWENSBORO LIVING

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Although good tidings and joy abound during the holiday season, this time of year can also pose a serious threat to your family, friends and home.

The holidays bring an elevated risk for fires and burns, and many Americans may have a false sense of security.

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A

new survey conducted by Shriners Hospitals

Well-watered trees significantly reduce this risk.

for Children

Set a reminder to add water daily to keep your tree

ÂŽ

shows that most Americans

know basic fire and burn safety tips but do not

safe and supple throughout the season.

practice them in the home. Failure to implement

safety precautions only adds to the danger.

many variables. As you select the perfect vantage

A myriad of seasonal activities puts the action

point, remember to keep trees away from heat

indoors, where families gather for cooking,

sources like fireplaces, radiators, space heaters,

decorating and other pursuits that may involve an

candles or heat vents.

open flame. Unfortunately, enjoying some of those

treasured pastimes means the risk of house fires and

There are numerous inexpensive options that

burns increases drastically.

cast a warm, flickering glow so you can enjoy the

ambiance of a lit candle without the risk.

Many burn injuries and fire risks can be avoided

Choosing the right place for your tree involves

Consider using wickless or flameless candles.

by practicing a few simple safety measures. Shriners

LIGHTS AND ELECTRICITY

Hospitals has provided some practical steps to keep your home and family safe.

Before installing decorative lights on a house or

a tree, closely inspect each strand for frayed wires,

SEASONAL DECOR

Live Christmas trees need water daily. However,

bare spots and excessive kinking or wear. Discard and replace any lights that show signs of damage,

according to the survey, less than half of Americans

which can pose a fire hazard.

perform the task. A dry tree can ignite in seconds,

making tree fires one of the most dangerous types.

they overload electrical outlets. During the holiday

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Nearly half of survey respondents admitted

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unattended, 27 percent of Americans admit to this practice and 25 percent of respondents report leaving them in reach of a child. If you must use a flame-burning candle, do so only while you are in the room and extinguish any lit candles if the room will be vacant.

COOKING SAFETY According

to

the

U.S.

Fire

Administration, holiday cooking is the leading cause of residential building fires in the month of December. With more cooking during this season, when you are likely to have more decorations,

time, the risk of house fires and pediatric burns increases

lights and other electrical items in use, take extra care to

drastically. Outturned handles can be easily grasped

prevent overburdening an outlet and use certified surge

by curious hands or snag on clothing or aprons and

protectors and power strips.

potentially scald a youngster underfoot. Be sure to turn

pot handles toward the back of the stove, out of children’s

Exposed electrical cords and uncovered outlets can

attract the attention of inquisitive children. Take care to

reach.

secure cords out of reach and cover any outlets not in use.

Despite the obvious risk of leaving lit candles

know to keep a lid or cookie sheet nearby when cooking to

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Follow the lead of nearly 50 percent of Americans who

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help extinguish a fire.

Use electric appliances on a countertop, safely away

from the sink or other water sources, but remember to avoid using an extension cord to supply power to kitchen appliances.

For more information, activity books for kids, tip cards and additional tools for families, visit beburnaware.org.

TURN UP THE HEAT SAFELY

During cooler weather, many households increase

reliance on natural gas for heat. Entertaining during the holiday months can also raise natural gas usage. However, natural gas can be dangerous and even deadly.

Help minimize the risk of a natural gas leak with these tips: • Leave the house immediately if you think you smell natural gas; call your gas company or 911 for assistance once you are safely away.

• Teach every member of the house how to recognize the slightly sweet, sickly smell of natural gas. Some compare it to the smell of rotting eggs or food.

• Schedule annual service by a qualified professional for all appliances, gas lines and other gas-consuming elements of your home.

EXPERT PEDIATRIC BURN CARE

Since the 1960s, Shriners Hospitals for Children has

been a leader in burn care, research and education. During this time, the survival rate has doubled for children with burns over more than 50 percent of their bodies. Today, patients with burns over 90 percent can survive and go on to lead full, productive lives.

The state-of-the-art burn facilities are staffed and

equipped to provide reconstructive and restorative surgery for healed burns, as well as treatments for other various skin conditions.

With 22 locations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico,

the Shriners network of hospitals provides advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal

cord

injuries,

and

cleft

lip

and

palate,

regardless of the families’ ability to pay. Learn more at shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

THE BAKER’S RACK

Decorating YOUR TREE

T

he Bakers Rack had its annual Christmas Open House in early November as we do every year. We decorate for the season, serve snacks and drinks, debut new holidayrelated products and then let our customers enjoy a preview into the Holidays. During that day, several customers who had either married or bought new houses asked about our decorations, and how to get started on their own houses. Some questions centered specifically on Christmas trees, and how could they be decorated to fit their lives and budget. Let us go over a few thoughts about sprucing up your tree.

The first thing to decide upon is the location for your tree. The space you choose may be a place where everyone can see your tree through a window, in a gathering room in your home, or it may be in a more private place where only you enjoy the sparkles, scent or the memories your tree triggers. No matter where it will go, measure the available space, paying special attention to ceiling height.

Remember to leave room for a tree topper.

Once you know what size you need, you can go find the tree itself. Would you like a real or artificial tree? Real trees are usually a little more work to put up, and last only one season. Their benefit is a scent that fills the home with a fresh woodsy, evergreen scent.

Real trees are artfully irregular, and remind us of times past. Artificial trees have become popular because they can be used for several seasons, typically have lots of branches in regular intervals (easy to decorate), and are less of a fire hazard. More convenient, with no needles to pick up afterward.

Decorating a tree is fun, and can really make a home come alive for the Holidays.

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Take cues from your room itself - is it rustic or formal?

Does it have a theme or definite style?

Decorating your tree in that same style will allow it to complement, rather than compete with your home. A cottage-style home calls for more hand-hewn ornaments and ribbons made of less-refined fabrics like burlaps or plaids. A tree in a buttoned-up formal room would call for more polished metals, fine woods or crystal, maybe accented with sheer or velvet ribbon.

When selecting ornaments, choose what you like. If snowflakes are your thing, start a collection that grows every year. Same with bells, snowmen, or anything else that interests you. You can do that without a large initial expenditure because companies like Waterford Crystal, Reed & Barton Silversmiths and many others introduce new ornaments in popular series each year. Start this year, and add to your collection every Christmas.

Another thought is to sit down with friends or family and make ornaments for yourselves or others. If you have children who are able, give them an opportunity to participate. Maybe the children could decorate their own tree. You never know what they can produce until they try. Experiences like these can help bind relationships and form a lifetime of good memories, which is one of the purposes of Christmas trees.

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MEET THE MAYOR Tom Watson

T

he fact that Mayor-elect Tom Watson has already served one term as mayor

of Owensboro, then went back into the private sector, and now is returning to office, lends Watson a unique perspective.

As he is gearing up for his second term as Mayor of Owensboro this January, Watson says he will spend his next few months catching up on everything that’s transpired at City Hall during the last eight years, and try to wrap his mind around how to balance the budget.

He looks back fondly at his first term as mayor; an experience he says he greatly enjoyed.

What did he learn from his first term as mayor that will help him in January?

“Patience. I learned it takes time for things to get done in government. That frustrates a lot of people, but I’ve learned to be patient and keep on working for what we need.”

When he left his office at City Hall in 2009, there was a great team of commissioners in place, and a surplus in the bank.

Just before his first term ended, the recession hit, and Watson sensed it was time to head back to his prothetics practice full-time and tend to his prosthetics and orthotics lab, especially considering that the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act had just been passed, which required some hands-on management.

Consequently, he did not run for re-election.

“It was time to hand it off to someone else,”

BY DANNY MAY

Watson summarized. “Maybe it’s the coach in me. I did my part. I felt good about it. It was time for someone else.”

He says those years spent back in his prosthetics and orthotics practice were

PHOTO BY CHARLES MAHLINGER

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spent making connections that could coincidentally

counties,” Watson explained.

help him now as mayor. “I formed relationships with

He says he’s also not one to micro-manage. “I’ll

people on the state level in Frankfort and on the

let City Manager Bill Parrish run the day-to-day

national level in Washington because of my business.”

operations. I’ll let our commissioners set policy, and

Along the way, Watson “got the bug” to re-enter

I’ll focus on using my relationships with state and

the political arena when newly-elected Governor

federal legislators to increase Owensboro’s presence

Matt Bevin invited Watson to be on his economic

in Frankfort and Washington. I’m also excited for

development transition team. “I also saw some

the opportunity to work closely with County Judge-

decisions being made with no community input, and

Executive Al Mattingly.”

that’s when I thought I should get back in the game.”

As far as overall goals for the next four years,

So, with his wife’s consent, the Watsons set their efforts

Watson’s focus is on the city’s budget. “I’d love to leave

to putting together a solid campaign team.

office with the city’s finances under control again,

Citizens of Owensboro can expect Watson’s

but I’ll also work toward keeping the momentum

leadership style to come with an open, listening

going forward. That would be an ideal situation. But

ear. “All ideas are welcome, whether that's from the

ultimately, God’s in charge. We’re just here to do our

community or from elected officials. I want to be as

small part. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity

open and transparent as possible, and I also want to

again. I’m looking forward to it. I get more excited

stay in communication with surrounding cities and

about it every day.”

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MEET OUR FIRST FAMILY COURT JUDGE Julie Hawes Gordon

W

ith this being the first time OwensboroDaviess County has had a Family Court Judge, the campaign for the new judge was one of the most closely-watched races on election night.

To give our readers a chance to meet the newly elected Family Court Judge and understand the role, Owensboro Living spoke with Judge Julie Hawes Gordon.

What is a Family Court Judge, and why is it beneficial for OwensboroDaviess County to have one?

In Family Court, all cases dealing with families are heard by one judge who is a specialist in family law. The motto is “one family, one court, one judge.” Cases cover the whole gamut of issues pertaining to children or the family unit, such as neglect and abuse, status cases (truancy, underage drinking, etc.), domestic violence, divorce, custody, child support, paternity, termination of parental rights, and adoptions.

Until this point, those cases were divided among the three district judges, two commissioners, and two circuit judges.

What appealed to you about being Family Court Judge?

I’ve been working with families my whole career, and I was part of the model juvenile court program. It was coming up with best practices for kids and families. Going to all those trainings, listening to foster alumni, seeing the difference that a culture shift can make, was lifechanging for me. I’ve seen kids bounced around and lost in the system. The more they end up in residential placements, the harder it is to trust, and the harder it is for them to develop life skills they need to succeed. Seeing what happens when things go wrong is where my passion comes from. It’s not their fault. They are no less deserving of love and security than any other child. They have no control over their lives, so they sometimes act out - as any normal human being would if put in that situation - to try to regain some sense of control.

My passion is for learning best practices and serving these kids the best we can. Studies show PHOTO BY CAPTURED MOMENTS

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that if we’re proactive on the front end and target what a family needs starting at the beginning – whether that’s a divorce, abuse or other case – and set them on a better course, then we get better outcomes in the end.

Goal #1 is to make sure that children are safe, stable, and have the ability to overcome whatever adverse childhood experience they have gone through.

What are your next steps during the transition?

Right now I’m shutting down my office and getting my current cases transferred. I’ll have a swearing in ceremony and begin hiring staff soon. The new judges' orientation is in midDecember. Most likely, it will be January 3 before everything is ready.

In the meantime, an interim team is in place to help with the transition. Other Family Court Judges throughout the state have invited me to visit their courts, which will be an amazing help.

Some have even offered to send their case managers to offer assistance in getting started.

family law and give them an outline of the transition, ask their advice, discuss how I’d like my courtroom run and give them a chance to ask questions. I welcome input from everyone involved. I am also contacting the school systems, social services, and domestic abuse centers to sit down with them and keep them informed and to answer any questions they may have. One exciting plan is to put together a foster alumni advisory council.

I want to hear what works and what needs to be improved from those who know it better than anyone: those who have lived it!

What are you looking forward to the most?

One thing I like about being the first Family Court Judge in Owensboro is that hopefully I can develop an inclusive culture.

I want to establish a proactive environment open to positive change.

Our community is amazing! We have so many stakeholders who really care about children and want what’s best for families. Everyone who works in this field sits down regularly to collaborate and trouble-shoot. If we have an open line of communication about what’s going on, we can address it and get

I’d also like to sit down with members of the bar who practice

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ahead of it.

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PHOTO BY TAYLOR WEST

BY TARYN NORRIS

O

Owensboro HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION

n the second floor of City Hall, in a humbly furnished conference room, Owensboro Human Relations Commission Executive Director Sylvia Coleman passionately conveys the urgent need for and significance of her organization in today’s society. The mission of the OHRC is to grant protection from discrimination to citizens of Owensboro and Daviess County related to employment, housing, accommodation, and finances because of age, disability, skin color, national origin, religion, etc. In her own words, Sylvia says that, “Human rights is everybody’s business.”

The Owensboro Human Relations Commission was founded in September 1972, in response to the Civil Rights Movement. A loosely organized group of white and black citizens met to form a race relations reconciliation group, which eventually organized as the OHRC. Originally located in the Elizabeth Munday Center, the OHRC now occupies a handful of rooms on the second floor of City Hall, overseen by Executive Director Sylvia Coleman.

Since beginning her tenure as director in July 2013, Sylvia has been committed to the mission of the

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OHRC . She says that “as long as I live here, I owe it to myself, my son, and every child (black, white, biracial, of single parentage, etc.) to help them understand that they have a voice and they shouldn’t be afraid to speak.”

To accomplish this mission, the OHRC is currently working on a housing ordinance to establish a mutually beneficial set of laws to represent both the landlord and tenant. Also, the organization plans to revive the Fairness Ordinance from 2014, to allow equal treatment regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Partnerships with community organizations, including social and religious groups, are crucial to promote awareness of the organization’s mission and to foster openminded conversations about civil rights.

The ORHC hosted its annual banquet on October 20 and honored five individuals for their service to the Owensboro community and the mission of the OHRC: • The R. L. McFarland Leadership Award went to Nick Brake, superintendent of Owensboro Public Schools, an individual who clearly DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

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advances the goals of the OHRC in his personal and professional life with his integrity, leadership, and goal of fairness in our community.

• The Humanitarian Award went to Houston Hogg, one of the first African American males to play basketball at the University of Kentucky during the height of the Civil Rights movement; Hogg maintained a positive relationship with the university in spite of the difficult political climate of the 1960s and a statue was recently erected in his honor in Lexington.

• The Emerging Leader Award went to Rick Searcy, executive director of the Neblett Center, who exhibits commitment to diversity and enrichment of our community through the creation of the first Youth Unity Festival, which promotes unity among all citizens of our county.

• The Diversity and Inclusion Star Award was a surprise honor presented to the Men’s Mass

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Community Choir (led by Larry Owen) for being such a socially, racially, religiously diverse group who generously donated thousands of dollars to the Neblett Center.

• The President’s Community Service Award, decided by the board of directors, went to Joanne Kendall, an unsung heroine who went above and beyond to serve the OHRC in her board secretarial duties.

In January 2017, to commemorate Martin

Luther King Jr. Day, the OHRC will show the documentary The Anatomy of Hate, and facilitate discussion at Brescia University. If you are interested in increasing awareness about issues of discrimination and promoting authentic conversations and community partnerships, the Owensboro Human Relations Commission invites you to join with them as they labor to make the community of Owensboro a better place to live for every single person.

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A GLORY

DENIED

BY DANNY MAY

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PHOTO BY TAYLOR WEST

ONLY ONCE HAS A HIGH SCHOOL TEAM IN OWENSBORODAVIESS COUNTY BEEN PUT ON SUSPENSION AND PROBATION FOR THE NEXT YEAR BY THE KENTUCKY HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT TEAM WAS THE 1967 OWENSBORO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM. NEARLY 50 YEARS LATER, STEVE MCFARLAND, A FIRST-TIME AUTHOR AND LIFE-LONG OHS FAN, TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO PRESERVE THIS INTERESTING PIECE OF LOCAL HISTORY. www.OwensboroLiving.com

T

he incident that caused the suspension happened

were not even involved in the altercation on (and off) the

on November 4, 1966, during a Friday night home

field. The suspension and probation eliminated OHS

game at Rash Stadium. The visiting team was Henderson

from playoffs and state tournament contention for the

City “Flash,” one of OHS’s biggest rivals. To get the

’67 season.

full account of what happened, you’ll have to read the

book. But obviously, emotions erupted into a physical

could possibly have gone all the way to the state title

altercation that overflowed beyond the field. Apparently

game.

some snowballs and other projectiles were involved, and

Hence the title of the book: A Glory Denied.

the incident was enough for KHSAA to place OHS on

Could that team really have won state the next year?

probation for the entire next season.

That question is pure speculation, of course, but the

In researching the story, the KHSAA granted

thought still haunts the ’67 team 50 years later. It’s a sore

McFarland full access to the archived file folder with

spot, to say the least. But the whole story is an interesting

documentation from 50 years ago, including eyewitness

part of OHS history – and Kentucky high school sports

accounts and testimonies from parents, coaches, and

history – that few Owensboroans realize.

officials from that game, both on the field and in the

It’s also a story that has been ruminating in

stands.

McFarland’s mind for years. “I remember watching that

Sadly, the ramifications of those player’s actions

(’67) team as an 8-year-old boy with my father. That team

negatively affected the underclassmen behind them, who

was tough! They were something to see!”

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Problem was, that ’67 team was incredibly good, and

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By “tough,” he means they were not scored upon in

But Gerald Poynter, coach of the ’67 team, who still lives

the first eight games of the season. Throughout the season,

in Owensboro, remembers that team as “very special.”

they outscored their opponents 378-27, only conceding

Writing A Glory Denied was a real joy for McFarland.

one loss, at the hands of Louisville Flaget High School,

The book takes readers on a game-by-game account of

who was ranked #1 in the state at the end of the season.

that very special season, with numerous photos collected

With the situation being what it was, McFarland

from OHS and local media outlets. He says it took about

says the Louisville Flaget game was “like their state

a year to research, conduct interviews with players, and

championship, in a way.” Both teams entered the game

compile the book. Getting to meet some of the players

undefeated. OHS was ranked #1 at the time, and Flaget

was a real thrill for a guy who has never forgotten seeing

was ranked #2. The Red Devil defense held Flaget to 73

those big, strong guys through eight-year-old eyes in the

yards rushing.

stands. Steve was able to meet several of those players

while working on the book. “Getting to meet them, and

Yet with a 9-1 record, OHS’s season ended after their

last scheduled regular season game.

shake their hands, was an honor,” he said. Other players

Still, that ’67 team left a legacy as one of the best

showed up to his book signing and author presentation at

teams in school history. “I went back and researched this.

the Daviess County Public Library.

For teams between 1950-2015, they were ranked first in

Many Owensboroans will recognize names of players

average winning margin, first in fewest points allowed,

in the book. Names like real estate broker, Bill Barron; Dr.

and third in average points scored per game,” McFarland

Mike Johnson, who is a dentist here in Owensboro; Drew

said.

Kirkland Sr., of Dahl & Groezinger; and Mayor-elect Tom

But without a post-season win, it’s hard to say they

Watson, to name a few.

were the best. We’ll never know. Other OHS teams went

Several players went on to play college ball: Bernie

undefeated. Other OHS teams won state championships.

Strong, who was the quarterback, but chose to play

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baseball in college; Paul Puckett, who played at U.K.; George Greenfield, who was inducted into the hall of fame at Murray State University; Alfred Thompson, who played at EKU; Jerry Johnson, who was All-Conference at Indiana University; and All-American Isaac Brown, who played professional football in Canada and was drafted by the Patriots before a knee injury ended his career.

“Their story deserves to be told,” McFarland concluded, in a contemplative tone. “And I’m glad I got the chance to tell it.”

The book was released in October. You can purchase a

copy at www.aglorydenied.wordpress.com.

PHOTO BY TAYLOR WEST

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'67 Roster

BILL BARRON JOHN BASTIN JOHN BRIZENDINE ISAAC BROWN JIM BURROUGHS JERRY COLLIER PAUL DEHAVEN DAVID DENTON MIKE JOHNSON GODFREY KELLY DREW KIRKLAND JIM MADDOX PAUL PUCKETT TOM SMITH DANNY STEVENS WALTER STEWART JON TAYLOR TOM WATSON EDDIE SMITH MIKE JENNINGS JERRY JOHNSON NICK CATINA BERNIE STRAWN

GEORGE GREENFIELD CARL DOUGLAS STEVE GILBERT MIKE FRITCH PHIL NORMAND DAVID DOUGLAS MALLORY COWHERD MIKE PHELPS ALFRED THOMPSON JIM JOLLY MIKE LEWIS JERRY LOYD TOM BROWN JAMES BYRD TERRY BAIRD DALE FULKERSON LARRY GABBERT TERRY GABBERT BARRY GADDIS DANNY HOCKER MIKE HAMRIC JOHN HUMPHREY LANCE KIGHTLY

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JOHN RILEY DARYL RICKARD RODNEY ROBY JIM RUTH JOHN SEARS TERRY WILLIAMS PERRY WASHINGTON JOHN BARRON HUBERT ROBINSON ROBBIE HOCKER KEVIN MCDONALD COACHES: GERALD POYNTER JACK POYNTER DON NETOSKIE BILL VANWINKLE JOE IRACANE JOHN WORTH MANAGERS: DENNY LEWIS HENRY BROWN

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PROMOTIONAL FEATURE

A L L E R G Y & A S T H M A S P E C I A L I S T S , P. S . C .

SAY YES TO HOLIDAY FLAIR,

Not Allergic Flares

BREEZE THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS AND SKIP THE SNEEZING AND WHEEZING

Holiday decorations are starting to appear, reminding

and since many types of jewelry, belts and watches contain

us that Hanukkah, Kwanza and Christmas will soon be

nickel, you have to do your homework before giving these

upon us. While some people fling open their arms and

gifts. Similarly, scented candles, potpourri, perfumes and

welcome the merriment, those with allergies and asthma

scented body lotions can contain ingredients which are

sometimes hide under the covers and ride out the tide until it’s over. Whatever your response, if you suffer from allergies and asthma, you don’t want to be sneezing and wheezing through the holidays.

“Being healthy makes any holiday more enjoyable,”

says allergist Dr. Lee Clore at Allergy & Asthma Specialists.

“Sometimes, it’s a matter of knowing your triggers and

irritants to those with sensitive airways. If you’re giving candy or baked goods, make sure the recipient has no food allergies. Consider music, books, tickets to the theater, excursions to city sights or bottles of wine this year!

It’s not easy being green – As lovely as holiday trees

and decorations can be, some people are allergic to the

creating a plan to avoid them. For example, if you have

terpene found in the sap of trees, or are bothered by the

asthma and know there will be a roaring fire at a party, try

mold that can sometimes be found in trees and wreaths.

to steer clear of the fire, or maybe skip the event. Smoke is

Artificial trees can solve the problem, but you need to clean

a common asthma trigger, and should be avoided.”

the dust off if they’ve been in your attic with no protection.

Below are some tips for bringing the “flair, and not the

Think ahead, ward off sneezes – Chances are pretty

flare” to this year’s holidays.

good you’ll run into some of your triggers as you’re

out enjoying the season: dusty decorations, perfumed

Semester break - Even if you've become tolerant of

your cat or dog, you may find when you return from your first semester of college, or even after visiting relatives for the holidays, you start sneezing and wheezing. An allergist can help you cope with your reaction to Bowzer and Fluffy.

Dial back the hugs and kisses – As much as you love

all of your friends and relatives, this is the time of year when cold and flu viruses are abundant. Because the flu

colleagues, pets you’ve never met and moldy leaves still on the ground. Take your medications before you leave the house, and work with your allergist if your allergies or asthma symptoms seem particularly bad.

If you find you are suffering from allergy symptoms

year-round, you might consider immunotherapy (allergy

can make asthma symptoms more severe, be sure to get a

shots). Allergy shots can reduce your symptoms and

flu vaccine. And consider “air kisses” at parties this year.

help modify and prevent allergy development. For more

information about treatment of allergies and asthma, visit

Give the gift of song – Gift-giving can be tricky when

allergies are involved. Nickel allergy is fairly common,

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our website at www.owensboroallergy.com.

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Remembering

PEARL HARBOR

PHOTOS BY JAMIE ALEXANDER

OWENSBORO MAN LOOKS BACK ON 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

I

BY DANNY MAY

I was honored and humbled to spend an hour

really, really love my job. Every day I get to tell interesting stories about people, places,

and events in Owensboro. But today was a very, very special day. Three weeks before the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, listening to stories from one of the few remaining survivors, 96-year-old Earl Emery Davis, who was stationed at Pearl Harbor aboard the USS Nevada in December of ’41.

Davis is originally from Tell City, IN, but has

lived here in Owensboro with his sister, Edith,

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for the past 20-plus years. In 1995,

a clean bed to sleep in, and a

Edith moved to Owensboro, and

shower every day.”

soon after, invited Earl to join

He trained at Great Lakes

her. Now 82, Edith takes care of

Naval Training Station outside

her big brother. “This is a nice

Chicago,

place for us. There’s no steps. It’s

stationed

handicapped equipped. This is

California. Once war maneuvers

where we spend our time,” Edith

began, the USS Nevada was

said, pointing to the two chairs

based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to

in the corner of the living room

cover the Pacific theater.

Illinois, at

and

Long

was

Beach,

with walkers at the ready.

Earl joined the Navy May 2,

LIFE ON THE USS NEVADA

1939, just after high school. “I

knew there was a war coming

his battle station was manning

and I didn’t want to be a foot

an anti-aircraft gun positioned

soldier,” Davis says. “That way

on a platform on a walk bridge

I had a decent meal every day,

about 35 feet above the deck of

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Davis was an electrician, but

“WAR IS HELL. BUT FROM A BATTLESHIP, IT’S NOT NEAR AS BAD AS IT IS FOR THE BOYS ON THE BEACH WHERE IT’S ACTUALLY HAPPENING. THEY’RE THE ONES WHO WENT HOME AND HAD NIGHTMARES ABOUT IT. WHEN YOU’RE SITTING OUT ON A SHIP, YOU DON’T SEE ANY OF THAT.”

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the ship.

“My job as electrician was to take care of all the electrical appliances in the officers’ quarters.

Refrigerators. Coffee makers. Everything to make the officers comfortable. But I had it good, too, because I could eat the officer’s mess rations and drink their coffee. One day a young buck asked me ‘What are you doing drinking the officers coffee?’

And I said ‘Well, do you like the fact that you have a way to cook your meals? I’m the guy that makes that happen. So you should be happy I’m up here.”

Davis recalls the USS Nevada having 14-inch guns, which means the shells were “14 inches across the tip and about a foot long, with a gallon of nitroglycerin in the tip end of it. So when it hits, everything around it goes up.” (He says this while motioning an explosion with both hands.)

For the D-Day invasion at Normandy, for example, the USS Nevada set several miles off the coast and lobbed shells ahead of the Marines storming the beach. “We bombed for about an hour before they invaded, but as we were still lobbing shells, they started hitting the beach. Our spotter plane flew above the enemy and radioed back the coordinates so we knew where to aim to knock out the pillboxes (concrete fortifications). The pilots said they looked like moles in the ground. After the pillboxes, we aimed at the concrete walls the Germans had built. At Normandy, we were close enough to see in the distance because I was up so high. But at Okinawa and Iwo Jima, we were too far out to really see anything.”

By the end of WWII, the USS Nevada had eight

battle stars for 80 invasions, including Normandy, Iwo Jima, Attu, and Okinawa. “That was a lot,” Earl said, of the eight battle stars. “More than any battleship should’ve had. But they used you where they needed you. I’m just glad I was on a ship that was out miles away. I knew we were killing people, but I never saw it up close. The boys storming the 46 OWENSBORO LIVING

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beaches were the ones with nightmares because they saw it up close.”

DEC 7, 1941

On the morning of the attack on Pearl Harbor,

Earl was laying in his bunk reading a Honolulu Sunday paper. “They came over the PA system screaming ‘Man your battle stations.’ Well, we’d been practicing that for 18 months, so we weren’t in any rush. We were just taking our time. But then they hollered ‘Man your battle stations on the double! They’re bombing Pearl Harbor.’ I had on a pair of tropical shorts and a T-shirt, so I headed up to my battle station on the bridge. By that time, we were hearing the bombs hitting the Ford Island runway. I heard the first bomb go off at five minutes till 8:00. They hit our planes first so they couldn’t take off. They were strafing and bombing all the planes down the middle of the airport runway.”

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Davis says the battleships were at a great disadvantage. One direction was Honolulu, so they couldn't shoot that way. The other direction was Pearl City, so they couldn’t shoot that way, either.

“We only had two directions we could shoot, three counting up. So mostly we fired straight up at the planes.”

After about a half hour of fighting, a plane flew

directly over the USS Nevada and dropped a bomb that hit right in the center of the main deck. “A big wall of fire come up over the platform above the bridge. I was right in the middle of the fireball. I was screaming, which was probably a good thing because I didn’t breathe in the flames or that would have been the end of me. When I came to, I couldn't see at first, but the explosion had burnt me. I was burned over 80% of my body.”

It was a horrific injury, but not enough to stop

Davis from jumping over the side, swimming to shore, and walking to the Naval hospital. “When I walked in they sprayed me with titanic acid, which turned my body a bluish-black color, but it coated my nerve endings and took away some of the pain.

Then they gave me morphine shots about four times a day for the next two or three months.”

According to research for this article, the USS

Nevada was hit by six bombs and a torpedo, which cut a 30-foot gash in the port bow of the ship, before the ship was ordered to run aground.

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OWENSBORO LIVING CONTACTED THE PACIFIC HISTORIC PARK WWII NATIONAL MEMORIAL IN HAWAII TO ASK HOW MANY LIVING PEARL HARBOR SURVIVORS REMAIN WHO WERE ON THE USS NEVADA. ACCORDING TO THE CHIEF HISTORIAN, THAT INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE. BUT WE DID FIND OUT 12 MEN GATHERED AT A USS NEVADA REUNION IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.

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“The Japanese bombers sunk every

2-millimeter guns, and 5-inch anti-

battle ship we had,” Davis remembers.

aircraft guns on there. When it left the

“Thank God the water in Pearl Harbor

shipyard, it was a floating gunship.”

wasn’t deep enough for the ships to

actually go all the way underwater. I’d

hospital, Davis received orders to return

say from the main deck to the bottom

to the repaired USS Nevada. “We went

of our ship was 40 feet, so even when

through the rest of World War II, and we

it sunk, the deck was still above water.

covered every big battle there was. We

Therefore, a lot of boys were not trapped,

had expert gunners, the Logan brothers

which saved a lot of lives. But we did

from Butte, Montana, and they were

lose all our clothes, shoes, money, and

crack shots. Anytime they needed expert

all the possessions in our lockers.”

gunners, the USS Nevada was sent to do

As Davis remembers, they fixed

it.”

After 14 months recuperating in the

the Nevada enough for it to make it back to the States under its own power.

AFTER THE WAR

“Then they completely rebuilt it, and

When the war finally ended, Davis

stuck guns everywhere they could stick

did not continue as an electrician

a gun. They put 1.5 pom-pom guns,

because he was afraid of heights and

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didn’t want to climb poles. Instead, he went to work

out that I’m a Pearl Harbor survivor. There aren’t

for Radio Corporation of America (RCA) as a sound

many of us left anymore.”

engineer.

Earl’s burns from Pearl Harbor have healed long

As the years passed, the USS Nevada held reunions,

ago and are no longer visible. At 96, he’s blind in one

but they were always on the west coast; a trip Davis

eye and hard of hearing in his left ear, but other than

never made since he lived near Indianapolis.

He says he thinks about Pearl Harbor sometimes.

Not everyday. Mostly when the news starts talking about it as December 7 rolls around again. He no longer attends VFW or Paralyzed Veterans meetings anymore, but on the rare occasions he and Edith leave the house you can bet he’ll be wearing his “Pearl Harbor Survivor” hat. He says he gets a lot of “thank

that, he’s still going strong. “Slowly but surely,” he laughs. “I feel I’m good for another four years, so that would make me 100.” Davis laughed, then looked me right in the eye, a little more pensive. “You make due with what you got left. You don’t have a choice. The man above tells you what’s going to happen.”

As I shook his hand and thanked him for his

you’s” when he wears his hat.

service, Earl had one last thought. “There’s nothing

“It doesn’t bother me to talk about it. I think the

about a war that is fun. You’re laying your life on the

guys who didn’t talk about it had more nightmares and

line, and you don’t worry about yourself. You worry

problems because they didn’t talk. I’ve always talked

about protecting your ship. Getting the job done is all

about it. Anytime I talk to someone, it generally comes

that counts.”

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BY

MELODY WALLACE

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BASEBALL: WORLD SERIES: CHICAGO CUBS JON LESTER (34) WITH HOME PLATE UMPIRE LARRY VANOVER DUIRNG GAME VS CLEVELAND INDIANS AT PROGRESSIVE FIELD. GAME 1. CLEVELAND, OH 10/25/2016 CREDIT: AL TIELEMANS (PHOTO BY AL TIELEMANS /SPORTS ILLUSTRATED/GETTY IMAGES) (SET NUMBER: SI597 TK1 )

O

n October 25, 2016, as the Cleveland Indians prepared to take on the Chicago Cubs at home, Owensboro was abuzz at the sight of a familiar face.

After 37 years in professional baseball, 24 of them as a major league umpire, Larry Vanover was working home plate in his first ever World Series.

Vanover’s resume includes three League Championship Series, three Division Series, and two All-Star games, before being selected for arguably one of the most historic World Series of all time. Now back in Owensboro for the next three months, Vanover says of the experience, “I was honored that Joe Torre and Commissioner Manfred had the confidence in me to assign me the World Series. To open this historic series on the plate, and be in charge of replays for five games was a tremendous honor and privilege… (a feeling that) cannot be described!”

GROWING UP BASEBALL

When he was a young boy, Vanover “ate and slept baseball.” He played

third base and pitched for Daviess County High School and was a walkon at the University of Kentucky, after spending two years at Brescia in Engineering. Vanover only played one year at UK before a new coach took over. Sensing that it was a good time to take a break, he responded to an invitation from a few scouts and went to Florida to try out with both the Reds and Cardinals. Although Vanover really enjoyed playing the game, it was actually his side job that would eventually pay off for him. While in Daviess County, he had umpired at night for both Owensboro and County Babe Ruth Baseball. Then, when he got to UK, he took on part-time jobs refereeing basketball and umpiring lower level college baseball. While he was working a game in Lexington, one of the scouts saw him and suggested he give umpiring a try. He attended The Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School

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in Ormond Beach, Florida, and went on to serve as

have his shot, his world came to a screeching halt.

an instructor, as well.

The day before he was supposed to report to the National League, he was in a horrific car accident

DOING HIS TIME

in Denver that caused him to spend three weeks in

Someone once told Vanover that, “If you can

the hospital, six months in rehabilitation, and miss

find a hobby to do for a living, you’ll never have

the entire season. Against all odds and doctors’

to go to work.” While this may be true, he soon

predictions, in March of 1993, he returned full

found that it did not seem to apply to umpiring in

time and never looked back.

the minor leagues. He spent twelve grueling years in the minors making very little pay in a “put up or

WELCOME TO THE BIGS

shut up” environment. The goal for umpires is to

One of the humbling benefits about working

make it through all five levels of baseball, and reach

his way through the minor league system was that

the majors. Unlike players, umpires may not skip a

the same players that Vanover idolized as a small

level, meaning the promotion rate for umpires is

boy were now up close and sharing the same ball

only about one per year. In his eleventh season, just

diamond. He recalls being at AAA Dodger Camp

when it seemed that Vanover was finally going to

and seeing childhood hero Sandy Koufax walking

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around as a pitching coach. He also remembers the first

that could fill hundreds of ESPN reels, he does have a

game that he ever worked behind home plate, where

few favorites. One of his proudest accomplishments is

he found himself in the company of legendary players

being named Crew Chief, and, in March 2014, he was

turned managers Pete Rose and Whitey Herzog.

the first umpire to rule on expanded instant replay

However, it was in 1997 that Vanover feels he really

from MLB Advance Media headquarters in New York.

started to understand the reciprocal relationship that

Another experience that he values occurred during

exists between umpires, players, and managers. He was

Mariano Rivera’s last year with the New York Yankees.

a young umpire “getting into it with Bobby Bonilla,”

Rivera wanted to have a Spring Training game between

and would eventually throw Bonilla out of the game.

the Yankees and Marlins in his home country of Panama

Marlins manager Jim Leland came out and had a talk

in order to raise funds for a children’s hospital he was

with Vanover and helped him to see the situation from

building. Vanover was not only able to work those two

both perspectives. Vanover says, “My dad taught me to

games, but also take both of his boys to see the Panama

get respect, you give respect. Jim reminded me of that.

Canal and a beautiful new country. In July of 2016,

Over the years, I got along very well with Jim Leland.”

Major League Baseball transformed what was once a golf course driving range at Fort Bragg, the largest

FOR LOVE OF THE GAME

While Vanover has had some incredible experiences

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Army base in the United States, into a regulation major league ball diamond. Vanover says it was a whirlwind

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of a weekend, playing four games in three days, but it

games, and that is a relationship that he will dearly

was worth it to have that experience surrounded by the

miss.

men and women who proudly serve our country.

Aside from magical moments, Vanover has also

During Derek Jeter’s last game in Boston, Vanover

seen historic eras of players, from the home run era of

was working behind the plate. “It was really neat to see

Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa to legendary pitchers

how Boston handled that game, they were very classy.”

Greg Maddox and John Smoltz. Vanover says, “I have

Jeter’s last hit was down the third base line, a hit most

started to see some of those players retire…and I’m now

would refer to as a swinging bunt, but Vanover says,

umpiring for sons of former players,” mentioning the

“The whole game stopped. He walked around the

late Hall of Fame hitter Tony Gwynn, as well as Prince

infield shaking hands and I just sat back and watched

Fielder. “The neat part is, I’m now seeing a whole new

the whole thing unfold.”

generation come along. I remember the first time Rizzo

Another significant moment in his career was the

stepped onto the field…A few years later he is playing

opportunity to work Vin Scully’s last game at Dodger

in the World Series, and has become one of baseball’s

Stadium. The legendary “Voice of the Dodgers” has

premiere players.”

a reputation for showing the umpires of the game a tremendous amount of respect, and they show him the

STRIVING FOR PERFECTION

same. At every Dodgers game, for over ten years, it has

Whenever a game comes down to the wire, there

become customary for the umpires to tip their hats to

are times that the umpire’s calls tend to come into

Scully as they cross home plate, while he salutes them

question. Vanover says, “You are expected to be perfect

back. Vanover says that he usually went up to Vin’s

in every game every night. No one can be perfect all of

booth and talked baseball when he worked the Dodger

the time, but we do our best.” Vanover says that over the

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last ten years, his office has been “doing astronomical work,” and has made great strides towards getting better and better in accuracy, increasing to an average of 96% behind the plate and 98-99% in the field. As far as staying fit, Vanover says that “the job itself is not real conducive to physical fitness,” but he tries to maintain a consistent sleep, diet, and work-out regimen. Vanover has also been lucky on the field, saying that, aside from a few twists and strains, the worst injury he has endured was a bad concussion from a foul ball off of the top of his mask.

FAMILY FIRST The constant travel away from home during the months of March through October makes it hard on family life, but Vanover considers himself a very lucky man. “I have to give Dianne all of the credit in the world…she is the glue that holds everything together.” But he also realizes that, “It takes a full family effort to make it work.” When his boys, Tyler and Austin, were younger, he tried to be there for their sporting events. “I made a point to get home as much as I could…I had the experience of watching them play and they had the experience of going with me to the ballpark.” His boys have had a lot of enviable experiences, aside from attending regular season and World Series games. They have been in the batting cage with sluggers like Albert Pujols, David “Big Papi” Ortiz, and Evan Longoria, and have also had the opportunity to tour Air Force One. As far as the future is concerned, Vanover says that his family is doing well, and he still loves what he does. Overall, “I consider myself an American success story. I’ve done everything you’re supposed to do. I set a goal. I worked hard. And finally, you wake up one day and you’re there.” www.OwensboroLiving.com

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TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS

A New Year, A New You. A Guide to Maintaining Your Financial Resolutions.

As the new year creeps closer and closer, so do those pesky New Year’s resolutions. You know, those lofty aspirations to lose weight, work out more, save money, etc. that drive us all to make better decisions for our emotional, physical and financial health. Here are the tips you need to get your finances on a better path.

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I

HOW TO

SAVE ON YOUR HEALTHCARE IN 2017

f you're like most people, there are a few times a year when you sit down to review your expenses your cable bill, entertainment expenses and grocery receipts, for example - and try to figure out where you and your family can save money.

One item you should consider is your healthcare costs in 2017. Since the fall season marks the beginning of the annual open enrollment period for employees, now is the perfect time to sign up for a new health benefit plan or make changes to your current plan.

Offered as part of those benefits, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are two simple ways for people to save money in the New Year. An FSA, which is provided by your employer, allows you to save funds for eligible healthcare expenses. An HSA which you can obtain on your own or through your employer - is a tax-advantaged savings account that allows you to set aside money to cover medical expenses throughout your lifetime.

A major advantage of both accounts is that individuals may use the full amount of their pretax dollars toward the care you and your family may need; employees who enroll in an FSA can contribute a portion of their salary pre-tax to pay for qualified medical or dependent care expenses, while an HSA helps individuals with qualifying high-deductible health plans pay for current and future medical expenses.

The number of HSA accounts has risen to 18.2 million in 2016, a 25 percent increase since 2015, according to Devenir Research. In addition, according to the 2016 Flexible Spending Account and Health Savings Account Consumer Research study commissioned by Visa and conducted by C+R Research, 90 percent of FSA users agree that saving money, since contributions are pre-tax, tops their list of reasons for having an FSA. In fact, 40 percent of FSA users claim they would cut back on their medical expenses if they didn't have an FSA. The study also finds that an FSA with no carryover option represents an important barrier to adoption amongst employees, who fear losing their unused dollars at the end of the plan year. 60 percent of non-FSA users noted they would sign up

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YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP

for this benefit if their employer offered the option

have the capability to distinguish between covered

to carryover up to $500 of their unused health FSA

items and non-covered items when you pay for them,

balances remaining at the end of the plan year.

so you don't have to wonder whether something is

One of the most convenient ways to access funds

in an HSA or FSA is with a Visa Healthcare Card, which allows employees to use funds in their HSA or FSA to pay for qualified medical expenses wherever Visa debit cards are accepted, making it easy to pay for expenses such as:

covered or not.

By using a Visa Healthcare Card at these

locations, you no longer have to pay out-of-pocket and then submit receipts to be reimbursed for your medical expenses, saving you time and money!

There's a reason why 78 percent of FSA users

• Copays and deductibles

surveyed report having an FSA card and why 52

• Prescriptions

percent of HSA owners surveyed say they use a debit

• Dentist visits: Cleanings, orthodontia, dentures

card linked to their HSA to pay for their medical

• Exams: Physicals, dermatologist

expenses, as the 2016 Flexible Spending Account

• Vision care, including exams, new glasses, LASIK • Hearing exams and aids • Medical equipment such as blood pressure monitors, thermometers

and Health Savings Account Consumer Research study commissioned by Visa and conducted by C+R Research found. As you review your options this open

• Smoking cessation programs

enrollment season, ask your employer if they offer an

easy access to your funds. To learn more, visit www.

For added convenience, most pharmacies, grocery

stores and other retailers that sell healthcare products

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HSA or FSA with a Visa Healthcare Card to provide visahealthcare.com.

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'Tis the season for

CHARITABLE GIVING

S

avvy donors understand the practical benefit of giving before the end of the calendar year - to ensure credit is received on their next tax return. In fact, about 34 percent of all charitable giving is done in the last three months of the year, according to Blackbaud Inc., a leading supplier of software and data intelligence services for nonprofit organizations.

If you are planning to support a charitable organization this holiday season, consider these tips for smart giving.

DO YOUR RESEARCH More than 1 million charities are registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Compare organizations and study how they function by visiting sites such as the Better Business Bureau. The best charitable organizations ensure that the majority of their revenue goes to the causes

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they support, not operating expenses.

ONLY GIVE TO REGISTERED CHARITIES In order to accept donations, most charitable organizations - depending on the state - must be registered with the Department of Justice (DOJ). Before you donate, check your state's DOJ database to confirm the organization is registered.

MAKE SURE YOUR GIFT IS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE The government recognizes the value of charitable organizations, so many contributions to approved charities are tax-deductible. The key to receiving a tax deduction is making sure the charitable organization you choose is qualified by the IRS. To be sure, visit the IRS website. You must also keep accurate records, so get a DECEMBER 2016 / JANUARY 2017

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written acknowledgment or receipt for your financial

their time to support the project.

contribution.

communities they serve," says Gary E. Robinette,

For those who can't afford to contribute financially

to a cause, there are other ways to make a positive local impact throughout the year.

DO BUSINESS WITH COMPANIES THAT ALSO GIVE BACK

"Corporations today have an obligation to the

chairman and CEO, Ply Gem Industries. "In fact, multiple studies show that consumers are increasingly more willing to do business with companies that make positive social impacts. Ply Gem's Home for Good

According to the National Philanthropic Trust,

project embodies this philosophy while ensuring that

corporate giving in 2015 increased to $18.46 billion

we help make the communities where we live, work

- a 3.9 percent increase from $17.77 billion in 2014.

and play better."

Companies - large and small - are finding new ways to

enhance their own corporate giving.

getting involved. The holiday season often serves as a

reminder for citizens to give back by volunteering their

For instance, Ply Gem Industries, a leading U.S.

manufacturer of home building products including windows, siding, roofing and more, recently launched the Home for Good project to build affordable housing across America. The company made a multiyear commitment to donate more than $1 million in

Take your giving beyond a monetary donation by

time. Check out programs like Home for Good, which offer the opportunity to volunteer in cities across the United States. To find ways to make a difference in your area, visit www.HomeForGoodProject.com.

products and funds to Habitat for Humanity - helping

build nearly 300 homes in 2016 alone - with company

this season and reduce your tax burden for the

associates and industry professionals also volunteering

upcoming year.

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By following these tips, you can make a difference

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AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL

YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP

HOW HAS THE RECENT ELECTION IMPACTED YOUR FINANCIAL FORECAST? Expert Advice from Drew Watson from Watson, Chaney and Associates.

F

or many people, the Presidentail election result was not what they anticipated. Bonds and stocks reacted even before the final precincts were officially counted. Financially speaking, the big question is how the election could impact your personal finances and portfolios. As the new administration takes control in the coming months, here are three areas of opportunity we are advising our clients to consider at year-end.

Financial Planning Forecast The markets certainly reacted on election night, and still appear volatile in the near term, but they have since recovered/stabilized – for the most part.

Consider evaluating locking in either gains or losses in the current tax structure if those transactions will be treated in a way that will benefit you now. Tax laws may change due to the new realities in Washington and current loopholes may be closed next year.

That being the case, you may want to take advantage of tax laws the way they are now.

Historically, with a Republican house, senate and president, financial stocks have performed well. Big defense stocks have done well. Oil, gas, and energy companies have shown historical outperformance as well.

As far as health care, hospital stocks have been

taking a beating lately, while biotech stocks have been rising, and pharmaceuticals are looking up.

Reconsider Retirement That's also why now is a good time to revisit your retirement goals. Currently the interest rate used to determine the amount of pension payments and lump sum distributions is near all time lows, and just increased .25% on November 15th. This rate issued by the PBGC inflates the values of pension benefits the lower it is. The higher rate increases can mean a decrease in pension values. Contact your company’s benefits department to see if this rate impacts you.

Take Advantage of Housing Rates With interest rates fluctuating, this is also a good time to check rates if you’re considering buying a home or refinancing. For example, on election night, interest 10 year US Treasury rates dropped to 1.71%. But at the time of this writing, the rates rose to 2.24%, which is still a favorable rate. But the overall direction of rates and how rapidly they rose in the week after ballots were cast is worth noting.

Overall, I think the U.S. dollar is the big winner of this election. As of this writing, the dollar has been strengthening each day since the election. Domestic and small stocks may not be as negatively impacted as large multi-national companies that have to face the currency headwinds of a strong dollar.

21 years in business Certified Financial Planner Member of Ameriprise Hall of Fame “A missionary’s heart with a capitalist’s mind.” www.OwensboroLiving.com

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YOUR FINANCIAL ROAD MAP

EDWARD JONES

FINANCIAL FOCUS CONSIDER SOME NEW YEAR’S (FINANCIAL) RESOLUTIONS This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

W

e’re just about ready to open the door to 2017, so you might be thinking about some New Year’s resolutions.

What’s on your list this year? More visits to the gym? Learning a new language? Mastering the perfect beef bourguignon? All worthy ambitions, of course, but why not also include some financial resolutions?

By reviewing your needs and goals, you can identify some resolutions that are particularly relevant to your own situation. But here are a few suggestions: • Build an emergency fund. If you needed a major car repair or a new furnace, or faced some other large, unanticipated expense, could you cope with it? If you didn’t have the money readily available, you might have to dip into those investments intended for long-term goals, such as retirement. Instead, build an emergency fund containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses, kept in a liquid, low-risk account.

• Cut down on debts. It’s not easy to cut down on one’s debt load. But if you can find ways to reduce your debts, you’ll help improve your overall financial picture.

Many debts are not “useful” – that is, they don’t carry any tax advantages – so every dollar you spend to pay down those debts is a dollar you could use to invest for your future.

• Boost contributions to your retirement plan. If your employer offers a 401(k) or similar retirement plan, take full advantage of it. Your earnings have the potential to grow tax deferred and your contributions may lower your taxable income. Plus, most plans offer a selection of investment options, so you can choose the investment mix that fits your objectives and risk

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•

•

•

tolerance. Therefore, if your salary goes up this year, or if you think you can find other ways to free up some money, increase your contributions to your retirement plan.

Review your portfolio. Is your investment portfolio still on track toward helping you meet your long-term goals? If not, you may need to make some changes. You’ll also want to study your investment mix to make sure it still accurately reflects your risk tolerance. Over time, and often without your taking any significant actions, your portfolio can “drift” to a place where you are taking on too much risk – or even too little risk – for your needs and longterm objectives. If this happens, you may need to “rebalance” your holdings.

Avoid mistakes. None of us can avoid all mistakes, in life and in our investment activities. But as an investor, you’ll clearly benefit from minimizing your errors. For example, it’s generally a mistake to jump out of the market in response to a period of volatility. If you wait for things to “calm down” before investing again, you might miss out on the opportunity to participate in the next market rally.

Think long term. Keep this in mind: You’re not investing for today or tomorrow, but for many years from now. Try to keep a long-term focus when making all your key investment decisions. By doing so, you can avoid overreacting to short-term developments, such as a sudden drop in the market or a “momentous” political event that actually decreases in importance as time goes by.

Try to follow these financial resolutions as best as you can. You could make 2017 a year to remember.

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BY JOSHUA E. MILLER NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL

RE-EXAMINING THE ROLE OF LIFE INSURANCE AS PART OF A SOUND FINANCIAL STRATEGY ‘It’s Not Like Buying a Book Online, or Using the Latest Technology Tool’

While the ‘90s were a time of economic prosperity and wealth accumulation for many, the 2000's have reminded people of the importance of protection. Certainly, economic and world events have caused many of us to refocus on a larger and more challenging financial picture.

For these reasons, it is more important to work with a qualified financial professional. But how many of them are suggesting that their clients take a second look at an old reliable tool – life insurance – as an essential element for a sound financial strategy?

Arguably, the biggest issue with life insurance is the tendency to oversimplify the whole process of buying it.

It’s either term or permanent, some “experts” will often say.

Truth is, buying life insurance cannot be reduced to a simple either/or decision. It is much more than a simple commodity; it’s not like buying a book online or using the latest technology tool. And it will depend upon each person’s circumstances.

There are issues of: • How much insurance you need and how long you’ll need it.

• How the actual contract is designed: what types or combination of types are best for your needs; how your insurance needs might change over time; the extent to which you are prepared to pay premiums over an extended period.

It follows that the life insurance policy a person owns should reflect that individual’s unique needs – there are no one-size-fits-all solutions when developing a financial security plan. For some this could mean term life insurance; for others, it could mean permanent life insurance. For others, still, it could mean a blended policy of both term and permanent insurance, or a combination of several types.

Whenever you get into the issue of term or permanent, it’s important to understand the fundamentals. With permanent insurance, the insurance proceeds are paid to your beneficiaries whenever you die, as long as the

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premiums continue to be paid. Permanent insurance has level premiums and a cash value that grows on a taxdeferred basis. Term insurance, on the other hand, provides a payout only if you die within a certain period of time.

The premiums typically increase each time you renew your policy and it has no cash value. Initially, the premium for term insurance is considerably lower than that of a permanent policy. But, in the long-run, the net cost may eventually be lower with the permanent plan.

Life insurance should be considered the foundation and most conservative element of any personal plan – the money that absolutely has to be there, no matter what the economic cycle or climate. Furthermore, choosing the right amount of insurance is more important than finding the right kind. After that, the type you buy depends on your timetable and budget.

A good financial representative will make sure you consider life insurance as part of your overall financial strategy. This is someone who can help you understand your insurance needs and help identify which products offer innovative solutions in a particular situation. Rather than push a product, a good financial representative will do these things: • Ask questions about your goals and objectives and your long- and short-term needs.

• Analyze the information to determine the feasibility of these goals, objectives and needs.

• Make a recommendation to help meet your financial goals.

• Provide good service year after year, by letting you know how your plan is performing relative to your objectives – it’s a long-term relationship.

Article prepared by Northwestern Mutual with the cooperation of Joshua E. Miller. Joshua E. Miller is a Managing Director with Northwestern Mutual the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual

Life

Insurance

Company,

Milwaukee,

Wisconsin,

(Northwestern Mutual) (NM) and its affiliates. Joshua E. Miller is an insurance agent of NM based in Owensboro, KY. To contact Joshua E. Miller, please call (270) 663-0607, e-mail joshua.e.miller@nm.com or visit joshuaemiller.com.

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Christmas BAKING TIPS

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BY ALISHA HARDISON CERTIFIED PASTRY CHEF & OWNER OF DALISHAS DESSERTS

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PHOTOS BY JAMIE ALEXANDER

Baking Christmas goodies is a favorite holiday tradition for many families. If whipping up a batch of sweet treats gets you in the holiday spirit, here are some tips for baking cookies and cakes at home, compliments of Alisha Hardison, Certified Pastry Chef and owner of Dalishas Desserts.

GENERAL BAKING

• Make sure all of your ingredients are at room temp, unless the recipe says otherwise (this includes eggs).

• To get eggs to room temp quickly, add whole eggs to warm water and allow to sit 5 mins.

CAKES

• Always crumb coat a cake before you final ice it. This means that you'll first ice your cake in a thin layer of icing, pop it in the fridge for at least 10-15 minutes and then apply your final coat of icing. This results in a cake with no crumbs in the final coat.

• Always tap cake pans on the counter top a few times before placing in the oven. This removes any air bubbles that may cause craters and pockets in your cake.

• To level a cake, let it cool, then cut the top off even with the top of the pan. Also, fill the pan only about 2/3 full to make it easier to level. Doing these two things will make layers much easier to stack for taller cakes.

COOKIES

• Don't over bake your sugar cookies. They

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only need to be slightly golden around the edges. I typically bake cookies a little less than the suggested time.

• When baking sugar cookies, make sure to place cookies that are close to the same size on the same pan, otherwise, the smaller cookies will be done before the larger ones and might burn.

• Holidays always require a lot of extra baking and no time to get it all done. It's perfectly fine to freeze your cookie doughs and even frozen baked sugar cookies that aren't iced. For cookies like chocolate chip, you can make the dough ahead of time, scoop out your cookies with a portion scoop (so they're all the same size and bake evenly) and freeze raw. Then all you'll need to do is take them out of the freezer and place straight into the oven.

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KIDS

ARCTIC ADVENTURE December 30 – 31 | Owensboro Convention Center The second annual Arctic Adventure Kids Fun Festival presented

by Independence Bank will be Friday, December 30 and Saturday, December 31, 2016! This indoor polar playground will be full of activities for kids of all ages! Attractions include Snowzilla (30 ft tall inflatable slide), SnowMazing (inflatable maze), Everest Climb n’ Slide (inflatable ice castle and double-sided slide), Igloo Obstacle Course, Avalanche Cliff Jump (inflatable free-fall), King of the Mountain, a Mechanical Snowboard, Snowball Pit, “Arctic Express” Train Ride, and more.

OPEN BOUNCE NIGHTS

PHOTO BY AP IMAGERY

THE NUTCRACKER SWEETS BRUNCH December 3 | RiverPark Center Join Owensboro Dance Theatre and The Nutcracker prince himself on RiverPark’s Center’s Cannon Hall Stage for The Nutcracker Sweets Brunch! There will be tasty treats, special crafts, and a photo shoot with Santa Claus and characters from The Nutcracker. For more information call (270) 684-9580 or email odt1982@gmail.com

Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays | U-Bounce The perfect party place for kids. Amazing inflatables in an unbelievably cool bounce stadium. Private, clean and climate controlled. All children must wear socks. $7 per child, children under 2 are free, unless they are the only child, adults always free; On Toddler Tuesday, children 5 and under get in for $5 all night.

Tuesday and Wednesday 5 – 8 p.m. and Friday 5 - 9 p.m.

(270) 685-1255 or ubouncepartyhouse.com.

SKATE WITH SANTA

FREE STORYTIMES

December 19 – 30 | Owensboro Parks & Recreation Take a break with us! Bring all your energy & creativity, and thirst for FUN to our Day Camp Program.

Accredited by the American Camp Association to help provide your child with an exiting, well-rounded recreational and educational experience. Planned activities include arts, crafts, games, sports, field trips, and many surprises.

Campers will need to bring a sack lunch each day. Morning and afternoon snacks provided.

Ages: 5-13 years of age Time: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. (6:40 a.m. early room, $2 per day) Location: Owensboro Parks and Recreation Administrative Office Fees: $70 per week/$60 for 3 or fewer days Min/Max: 25/50 Must pre-register by December 2.

Registration forms available at owensboroparks.org/daycamp

Mondays & Thursdays | Daviess County Public Library Wee Read for ages 2 and younger and Circle Time for ages 3-5; 10 – 10:30 a.m. (270) 684-0211 or dcplibrary.org.

HISTORIC COAL MINE TOUR Ongoing | Owensboro Museum of Science and History The Day in the Life of a 1930’s Rudy Coal Mine Miner Put on a coal mine helmet and join us on a trip through the Rudy Coal Mine, an historic Daviess County coal mine featuring the history of coal mining in the 19th Century, along with the 1930’s time period. This tour is included with admission, but space is limited. Please sign up at our admissions desk when you check into the museum. Enjoy the tour! Contact the Museum at 270-687-2732 for more information.

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December 10 from 2 – 4 p.m. | Edge Ice Center Get into the holiday spirit and skate with Santa! Free hot chocolate, candy canes and door prizes! Come and enjoy family, friends and fun!

HOLIDAY CAMP

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DOWNTOWN

DOWNTOWN AFTER DARK Thursday nights | RiverPark Center Downtown After Dark, a new concert series, will take place on Thursday nights at the RiverPark Center begins at 7 p.m. The event will feature a live DJ as well as local and out of town acts. The cover charge is $5.00 per person. For more details visit Downtown After Dark Facebook page.

HOLIDAY STROLL December 3 from 1 – 8 p.m. | Downtown Owensboro Holiday Shopping Downtown, Holiday Music and Entertainment, Smothers Park Christmas Tree Lighting, Santa Sighting Possibly, Fun for everyone!

CHRISTMAS MUSIC FESTIVAL EXTRAVAGANZA December 16 from 5 – 9 p.m. | Hampton Inn & Suites Waterfront Chris Smallwood brings his love of music and amazing talents to Owensboro! You can hear Chris live in the lobby of the Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Owensboro/Waterfront! Wonderful entertainment for the holidays!

4TH ANNUAL GOLDIE’S NEW YEAR’S EVE SHOW December 31 at 8 p.m. | RiverPark Center This year’s show will include country music, gospel and our old time rock-n-roll spectacular. Goldie, her Backstage Band and singers

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will bring the best of the best to the RiverPark stage. Including performances by Jon Brennan, Katie Herron, Tara Estes, Travis Estes, Tate Brothers, Scott Davis, Terry Lee and many more make this a fun, family evening! Show begins at 8 p.m. and will be followed

by Moonlite BBQ midnight buffet!

DINGER BATS FEST 2017 January 7 from 8 – 11 p.m. | Owensboro Convention Center Dinger Bats has reached out to its friends and Team Dinger members to host a night of Question and Answer to raise money for local charities and players’ charities. General Admission tickets allow you to enjoy a night where big league players like Kyle Schwarber from Chicago and several young minor league players will answer questions from the crowd. VIP social event will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the General Admission Question and Answer session starting at 8 p.m. and lasting till 11 p.m.

RIVER CITY POWERSPORTS MOTORCYCLE SHOW

January 14 – 15 | Owensboro Convention Center River City PowerSports Show is the largest indoor motorcycle and powersports show in the state of Kentucky. Doors open at 10 a.m. on January 14, 2017. The show runs thru January 15, 2017. The show will feature 44,000 square feet of exhibitions with 50 vendors from the Midwest, vendor tables, custom-cut clothing, major bike builders, hydrographic designs, motorcycle parts, leathers, helmets and much more! The purchase of a Saturday show ticket will earn you a free concert ticket for the evening, Roadhouse Atlanta will be playing live from 8 - 11 p.m.

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A CHRISTMAS STORY BY TWO

December 9 – 11 and 16 - 18| Empress Theatre One boy. One holiday wish. And a world that seems to be conspiring to make certain it doesn’t come true. The recordbreaking show returns to the Empress stage in all its pinkbunny-suit, glowing-leg-lamp, triple-dog-daring glory. The perfect holiday treat for the entire family. Tickets available online or call TWO box office (270) 683-5333.

ARTFUL EXPEDITIONS

throughout December | Owensboro Museum of Fine Art This exhibit showcases 40 paintings by Michael Aakhus, PH.D., Dean Emeritus, College of Liberal Arts, University of Southern Indiana, a collector, educator and recognized scholar on the ancient art of Mesoamerica. The largescale paintings combine the myth, symbols and geographic landmarks of numerous countries.

40TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY FOREST FESTIVAL OF TREES

throughout December | Owensboro Museum of Fine Arts The 40th Annual Holiday Forest Festival of Trees will kick off the 2017 year-long celebration of the museum’s 40th anniversary year. It will feature more than a dozen

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monumental Christmas trees designed and decorated by area artists, floral designers and non-profit organizations. The trees will interpret Artful Expeditions, an exhibit, presenting a panorama of world cultures in painting.

THE NUTCRACKER PRESENTED

BY OWENSBORO DANCE THEATRE

December 3 at 7 p.m. | RiverPark Center Come and enjoy Owensboro Dance Theatre’s The Nutcracker, in its 24th year! Marie will dance into her dreams with the Nutcracker Prince. Your family, friends, and people of all ages will find the joy of Christmas through the beauty of dance and music! For more information call (270) 684-9580 or email odt1982@gmail.com

HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR BY OWENSBORO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

December 10 at 7 p.m. | RiverPark Center Cirque de la Symphonie will return to Cannon Hall for Owensboro’s

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favorite holiday tradition. Aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers, and magicians bring nonstop thrills to a festive program of seasonal favorites, like “Carol of the Bells” and “Sleigh Ride,” and beloved movements from the Nutcracker Suite. Owensboro’s own Skylar Cain and the Owensboro Symphony Chorus will join the Symphony for an evening that will put the audience in the holiday spirit and deliver fun for the whole family! Season Tickets and Concert Tickets Available at www.theoso.com and www.riverparkcenter.com or calling The Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, (270) 684-0661.

BROADWAY CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND

December 11 at 7 p.m. | RiverPark Center Broadway Christmas Wonderland is one of the most delightful and enchanting Christmas shows ever! This most loved Christmas show features glittering costumes, a dazzling cast and the highest kicking chorus girls this side of the North Pole. Santa and his merry helpers take you on an forgettable nostalgic Christmas journey singing all of your favorite Christmas songs!

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TOUR FEATURING MATTHEW WEST

December 15 at 7 p.m. | Owensboro Convention Center One of Christian music’s top holiday tours, featuring GRAMMY®-nominated NewSong, GRAMMY®-nominated singer/songwriter Matthew West, acclaimed husband/wife duo Love & The Outcome, and alternative/electronic worship band Reno. NewSong will perform selections from The Best Christmas Ever!

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ACTIVE

HEALTHY HOLIDAY COOKING CLASS

Thursday, December 1 at 5:30 p.m. | Owensboro Health Healthpark Classrooms A&B FREE - Join Registered Dietitian Nutritionists Lauren Foreman and Shelby Shelby as they "health-ify" some traditional holiday casserole and dessert favorites. RSVP to reserve your space by calling 270-688-5433.

REINDEER RUN 5K AND WALK

December 3 at 9 a.m. | Smothers Park Presented by Care Net, this is a family-friendly event for men, women and children in our community.

6TH ANNUAL I.S.I FIGURE SKATING COMPETITION

January 27 – 29 | Edge Ice Center The Ice Skating Institute is an international industry trade association encompassing all aspects of the ice skating industry.

Founded in 1959 as a nonprofit organization for owners, operators and developers of ice skating facilities, ISI also created America’s original learn-to-skate program, now known as weSKATE, and has introduced more than 5 million individuals to the wonderful world of ice skating.

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FAMILY

HOLIDAY IN THE PARK throughout December | Legion Park A holiday tradition! Stroll through the park and enjoy dancing trees, lighted displays and Santa in his sleigh!

CHRISTMAS AT PANTHER CREEK PARK throughout December | Panther Creek Park Enjoy the holiday family tradition of driving through the beautiful Panther Creek Park, decorated with over 400,000 festive Christmas lights and brilliant holiday displays. Fun for the whole family. Who knows, you may even get a visit from Santa! The cost is $3 per vehicle with proceeds benefitting local non-profit charities.

MARKET DAYS December 3 – 4 | Preservation Station, 9661 Kentucky 56 Preservation Station Market Days are held the first full weekend of every month. Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday Noon to 5 p.m. with over 100 vendors of antique, vintage, handcrafted, and boutique items, live music, and good food.

Preservation Station Market and Event Center, 9661 Hwy 56. Also open daily Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.

- 5 p.m. and Sunday Noon - 5 p.m. Call 270-993-7532, go to www.visitpreservationstation.com, or find us on Facebook.

2016 OWENSBORO CHRISTMAS SHOW December 2 – 4 | Owensboro Convention Center The annual Owensboro Christmas Show will feature over 200 Quality Vendors selling 1000’s of Christmas Gift Items…

MORE Christmas Craft Booths than last year! This show draws over 8,000 shoppers from Owensboro, Evansville, Henderson, and beyond each year, and is quickly becoming a Christmas season tradition for families in the Tri-State!

There is truly something for everybody on your list! Bring the kids for free pictures with Santa all weekend and FREE balloon twisting by the Owensboro Twisters!

GLOW IN THE DARK SKATE PARTY December 31 from 10 p.m. – 1 a.m. | Edge Ice Center Live DJ! Glow sticks provided! Family, Friends, Fun! 82 OWENSBORO LIVING

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CHRISTMAS AT LAST

S

ome of us are saying “Already?” and some of us are saying “At last!”

It must be the holiday season again.

As a child, I rolled my eyes in disbelief at those ridiculous adults who seemed so distraught that Thanksgiving and Christmas were right around the corner and who moaned it seemed they had just taken the tree down from last year when it was time to put the turkey in the oven this year.

What was the matter with these people?

It had been, not just a whole year, but absolutely for-ev-er since last Thanksgiving and last Christmas!

As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned that there is real, actual science behind that phenomenon. See, when you are young, say, 5 years old, each year is only one-fifth of your entire life. But when you are, say, 58 years old (ahem) … well, do the math. You’ll see that the year really is shorter and goes by more quickly as time goes by.

I realize now that I had been veering dangerously close to the edge of curmudgeonhood in recent years. I never turned into one of those “Already?” people, but I wasn’t exactly saying “At last!” either.

Until the grandchildren came along.

Oh, the joy, the joy, the blessing of seeing the holidays through the eyes of children once again, counting the days and looking forward with the eager anticipation of innocent youth instead of the grouchiness of a cynical adult.

Suddenly there is excitement in every moment. In fact, there is so much excitement, there are not enough moments in which to capture it all. There are cookies to bake and decorate, gifts to buy and wrap, carols to sing, snowmen to roll, parades to watch, stockings to hang, trees to decorate, halls to deck, candles to light,

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THE LAST WORD

BY LORA WIMSATT cards to sign and Santa ears in which to whisper.

Everything is fun again.

Gift wrapping, which had become an expensive and inconvenient chore requiring the kitchen table to be cleared and the scotch tape to be located and the nametags to be purchased since you have no idea what happened to the package you bought on clearance last January, is suddenly fun again. Now it’s an evening spent with bright-eyed wonder as gifts are lifted, one by one, from the shopping bags, to be oohed and ahhed over as the wrapping conspirators assure one another that each gift is perfect, sure to be loved by its recipient, before placing them carefully in the center of a square of gift wrap selected just for that person – snowflakes for mommy, candy canes for baby, reindeer for uncle – and, oh, who cares, really, if the edges don’t line up perfectly or if there are 30 strips of tape sealing one little seam?

Baking cookies, which had become a messy and miserable obligation, is now an absolute delight. The dog is happy to help with cleaning up the candy sprinkles that skitter to the floor, and if the cookies don’t come out of the oven shaped exactly like the cookie cutter had promised, well, so what? A few extra sprinkles more than make up for the fact that you can’t tell the stars from the snowmen.

And yes, the Christmas story is wondrous again, as it must have been when first told by the angels and the shepherds, when read to a child who hurries from your lap to the window to search the darkness for the promised star.

You kneel by this beloved child’s side as together, you gaze in awe at the brightest star in the night sky, and you find yourself whispering … “At last.”

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