Paducah Life Magazine - April/May 2023

“THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY, THEY’VE BEEN CHAMPIONS FOR ME.”

— Melissa Wade, Orthopedics Care Success Story

For Melissa Wade, not being active is not an option. So, when she slipped on a log while hiking, the injury brought her down emotionally as well. “All I could think was, I’m an active person. I don’t have time to be injured,” she said. After knee reconstruction, Melissa was eager to begin her recovery. Now at nearly 100%, she credits her physical therapists with helping her get there and is looking forward to hiking, biking and being outdoors again. “They were very important to my healing journey. Without them being my champions, or my cheerleaders, I don’t think I could have done it.” Learn more about our advanced Orthopedics Care at BaptistHealth.com/Ortho.

Corbin | Floyd | Hardin | La Grange | Lexington | Louisville | Madisonville | Paducah | Richmond

AALTHOUGH MY OWN GREEN THUMB ONLY LENDS ITSELF TO THE OCCASIONAL houseplant, I actually come from a long line of gardeners. As a little girl growing up on forty acres in northwest Mississippi and surrounded by hundreds of acres of farmland, I always looked forward to the early spring days when my toes could once again dig into the cool Mississippi mud while the grownups started their expansive vegetable gardens.

We lived on the same “family land” as my grandparents, and early mornings often found me running barefoot over to their place to watch the setting in of spring. The giant pear tree in their front yard (perfect for climbing!) or snacks on the wide front porch usually called to me first, but, eventually, I’d wander over and look for a job in my grandparent’s garden. As eagerly as I waited for my own task, the long dark row of pillowy tilled dirt waited in anticipation for theirs: to nurture the growth of cucumbers, okra, purple hull peas, and a host of other delicious food that would grace our table for the better part of a year.

My grandparents and their parents and the parents before them had gardened to fill the table and feed the family, and the months-long work of clearing, prepping, planting, maintaining, and harvesting it was an inevitability. None of us living on that piece of land questioned whether it would happen and none of us questioned that some part of that work—even if it was as small a task as scouting for the fat green hornworms that tried to steal our tomatoes—was our responsibility.

While my own children don’t have a rural upbringing, one tradition I have carried on is including them in the family work. Watching children work is really pretty magical: the seriousness with which they try to carry something heavy; the explosive excitement when they’re asked to crack the eggs and stir the mix for pancakes; the determination with which they fold and refold a washcloth until they get it just right.

I recently witnessed this magic again when I joined Morgan Elementary’s Lego Robotics Club at the Innovation Hub while they built their robotics table. Girls with long braids and big-eyed boys donned safety glasses and tools and got right to work measuring and hammering with the attentiveness of adults as well as the pure, unrestrained enthusiasm that can only be found in a child.

As you explore this edition, which is headlined by the powerful transition that Paducah’s children of Head Start are about to experience, I invite you to look at your own work with the wonder of a child while inviting the children in your life to join in. I’ll never forget pulling weeds, planting seeds, feeling needed, and enjoying the delicious fruits of my labor alongside loving adults in my own childhood. I hope this spring offers you a chance to pass that blessing along to the children in yours. stephanie@paducahlife.com

In the spring of 1948...

Airmail parcel post is introduced to Paducah. The Jaycees ship the first package by sending KENTUCKY 31 FESCUE grass to a similar club in Salzburg, Austria.

Kentucky Employment Services advertises for 16,000 people to harvest the STRAWBERRY CROP! The job lasts for five weeks, and the crop is expected to beat the previous year’s 484 train car loads which generated $1.2 million!

ROY ACUFF and the Grand Ole Opry Gang performed in Paducah.

A record city of Paducah budget is introduced at $681,839, up $76,000 from the year before.

MAGNOVOX’S first production line in Paducah goes live making radio speakers.

The Paducah Bus Company raised fares to TEN CENTS!

The first contract for construction of the West Kentucky Baptist Memorial Hospital is awarded to lay the foundation.

The first full test run to install the flood wall gates took place. IT TOOK 90 MEN SIX HOURS.

and Paducah Bank opened on Broadway!

building a strong foundation for the future

by S TEPHANIE WATSON

Paducah Head Start has been serving families since 1965. This year it welcomes children to a new building with even greater promises for the future.

SINCE ITS DOOR FIRST opened in 1965 as a six-week summer program, Paducah Head Start has helped well over 100,000 children gain the invaluable early childhood learning experiences needed to be prepared for starting school. This year they will celebrate the opening of a new stateof-the-art learning and family support center that will help ensure ALL of Paducah’s children have a fair chance at success in both LIFE and school.

PADUCAH WAS PROUD TO OPEN one of the first Head Start schools after President Johnson announced the program as part of his solution to The War on Poverty in the mid-1960s. Over the years it has grown, changed locations many times, and adjusted itself to fit whatever facility was available. After its current location on South 6th Street suffered damage from storms caused by Hurricane Harvey, a 14.5million-dollar payout from the Office of Head Start gave way to a new vision of what Paducah can offer some of its most vulnerable children. This summer, for the first time, they’ll be moving operations into a location built specially for them and the needs of young learners.

“It’s going to be a beautiful building, but the beauty and grandeur have nothing to do with what the purpose is,” Kristy Lewis, director of Head Start states. “The building is the brick and mortar to support the greater mission: ensuring opportunities for

“Every Kentucky child has the right to quality education. If we are going to reach our full potential, we must invest in early childhood education like never before. High quality early childhood education builds the workforce of today and tomorrow, supports working families, and ensures our children show up to school prepared.

I applaud Paducah Public Schools and their investment into Paducah Head Start.”

Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman

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MURRAY • PADUCAH • MADISONVILLE • HOPKINSVILLE • HENDERSON • FORT CAMPBELL

all preschool children to develop trust, self-worth, wellness, and a love of learning, while building a compassionate partnership with the families in hope of shaping the future of our society.”

As a comprehensive child development and early learning program, the Head Start experience goes beyond education. From mental and physical health screenings and services, to nutrition, dentistry, and a host of supports for adult caregivers, Head Start endeavors to care for the whole child along with the whole family unit.

“For me, school readiness means that every child has the ability to walk into school with a strong foundation,” Kristy states. “And obtaining that strong foundation is going to look different for each family. Whether the need is physical, mental, academic, or social, we want to ensure that each child can access high quality instruction and have their needs met. Ultimately, we just want to leave our community better than where it started.”

Paducah Head Start has been federally funded to serve 237 students, ages 3 and 4, per year since opening. It has the ability to serve slightly above that number when state funding is blended in. Students can qualify for Head Start services—which are completely free and include meals, transportation, and support services at no cost—in a variety of ways, with income or disability status being the most common. When a student is accepted to the program, the student’s family is given a family advocate that gets to know them and works with them on setting goals. These goals may be related to jobs, housing, health, or even finances, but the underlying mission is the same: family health and function affects the child’s ability to learn so it must be addressed alongside academics.

“Parents are the child’s first teacher,” Kristy notes. “Because of this, we don’t just care for the whole child. We care for the whole family. Whether we need to help someone go back to school, to get their GED, build a resume, or find jobs in the area, we know that the parent’s success is critical to the child’s success.”

The new building is designed with this in mind. There will be dedicated spaces for caring holistically for the kids: amazing preschool classes along with spaces built for speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, play therapy, a medical clinic, family-style eating area, and a dedicated sensory calm down space. But there are also dedicated spaces for meeting the needs of family members.

A teaching kitchen will allow parents to take cooking classes and learn to make healthy meals on a budget. The building will also include a family service suite, which has mental health offices and a “parent hangout room” for when parents are volunteering or helping support in the classroom. Topping off the family amenities will be a transitions space for families who are homeless that includes a food pantry, clothing closet, washing machine and dryer, and lockers.

“Our families sometimes need to know how to cook meals while living in a hotel or living in a shelter. They sometimes need a place to wash their clothes. We want to remove whatever barriers to a child’s wellbeing that we can so that our families can thrive, and our children can learn,” Kristy states.

Acting as an umbrella for their entire approach, Kristy notes, is a culturally relevant perspective. “From the beginning, Head Start was founded on the idea that each child’s diversity is an asset to be valued and integrated into the schooling,” she explains. “We don’t take a deficit view when it comes to working with diverse living situations, family structures, backgrounds, economic standings, and beliefs. We get to know each family by name and need and are continually working to diversify our staff and facilities, so all families feel welcome, represented, and seen.”

Arguably the most impactful change, however, is the number of full-day classes the building will allow them to offer. Studies have shown time and again that 80% of preschool children attending full day classes scored at or above national norms for kindergarten readiness. Paducah Head Start’s own readiness exams mirror the results in those findings, showing the effectiveness of their full day program.

“Moving into this new building with 16 classrooms gives us the ability to now offer full day services for all our students. This provides more stability and learning opportunities for students and better supports families because they don’t have to worry about a second childcare option unless it is for a short amount of time,” Kristy notes. “We hope to even expand that further in the future to provide wraparound care so families can drop off children early or pick up after five if they need to. While grownups are generally very flexible and resilient, the fewer number of transitions a child has in their life, the better it is for them.”

While the current facility can serve 260 students, the new building provides learning space for 320 kids. That

Pictured left to right: I’veigh Dawson, Kristy Lewis, J’amir Concentine Daye, LeKyrie Williams, April Throgmorton, Daveon Drew, Mandy Moore and Jah’Laeyah Willson.

the history of Head start

As a former teacher in a one-room schoolhouse in Texas, President Johnson believed strongly that education was the key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Moreover, child development experts working on The War on Poverty found that early intervention programs could significantly affect the cognitive and socio-emotional development of low-income children—a new understanding at that time—changing their trajectories and helping to boost their chances of leaving poverty.

Head Start was designed to help break the cycle of poverty with a comprehensive program to meet preschool children’s emotional, social, health, nutritional, and psychological needs. A key tenet of the program was that it be culturally responsive to the communities served, and that the communities have an investment in its success through the contribution of volunteer hours and other donations.

Head Start has served more than 30 million children since 1965, growing from an eight-week demonstration project to include full day/year services and many program options. Currently, Head Start is administered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) in the Department of Health and Human Services. Head Start serves over a million children and their families each year in urban and rural areas in all 50 states.

means that more eligible children can be served and, according to Kristy, if there are still spaces leftover, there may be room for a smaller percentage of over-income families.

JRI architects—the firm that is overseeing the architecture of the building and who previously designed the Innovation Hub—has also designed a state-of-the-art full-size gymnasium and indoor practice field to accompany the space. On rainy days, the Head Start kids will still be able to play (their current gym has been out of service due to damage for a few years) and sports teams from other schools in the district can use the indoor field for practice later in the day.

The facility’s new playground, designed by Tom and Braun Noel, is also worth note. It will include a Western Kentucky-inspired Ohio River design in the rubber foundation and will have ship and train play structures that connect with Paducah’s waterway and rail systems.

“we don’t take a deficit view when it comes to working with diverse living situations, family structures, backgrounds, economic standings, and beliefs. We get to know each family by name and need and are continually working to diversify our staff and facilities, so all families feel welcome, represented, and seen.

—KRISTY LEWIS Director of Head Start

A Community of Learners

As Kristy noted, Head Start’s new building is meant to serve more than just its preschool students. In fact, its design intentionally provides space to train future teachers as well. Each classroom will have an observation space where students working on education practicum hours can observe the classrooms. “We are hoping to strengthen our partnerships with Murray State and WKCTC through relationships that are mutually beneficial,” Kristy states. “Our students gain value from the exposure, and they gain training and experience needed to get great jobs in child development.”

Being next door to Paducah Tilghman High School is also a mutually beneficial asset. The district hopes to create a career pathway for high schoolers to obtain their Early Childhood Development associates degree. Students in this program will be able to take coursework at the Innovation Hub and then build a portfolio of experience from their work at the center. They would then take their final exam for certification their senior year. This degree—which is required to be an assistant at Head Start and to be a teacher at many other

Dr. Donald Shively Superintendent Paducah Public Schools

“We are excited about the opportunities this new Head Start facility presents. Paducah Public Schools has had a continued focus on early childhood development, and our district and board believe in offering full day Head Start preschool. In the past, we could serve 280 plus preschool students attending half day—140 in the morning, 140 in the afternoon. This building will allow us to serve 320 students with all 3- and 4-year-olds in Paducah attending a full day. This building represents the next 50 years of building a better community.

Along with impacting the very start of children’s education, we also see this as a learning place for our high school students as a pathway for a certification to allow our students to work in a preschool or a daycare center. Currently, our students can walk across the street to the hospital and get the full experience of what it’s like to work in a hospital. In this building, our students will also be able to walk across the street and see what it's like to be a teacher. That's our best pathway to meet the vision that we have for our district, and what better way is there to diversify our faculty and staff than having the talented students at Paducah Tilghman High School learning what it's like to be a teacher while they're here.

And finally, another vision is to partner this facility with the Innovation Hub evening adult classes for skill development and workforce training. So, if adult programs at night need childcare, we can have a daycare center across the parking lot with students who are certified to deliver those services. We can remove a barrier to adult training while also paying our Tilghman students for their work. Creating these partnerships and career pathways on one campus for our students and adults in the community will make this new Head Start facility a vital part of our district for many years to come.”

preschools—will not only help students to be career ready when they graduate but will also help keep some of our talented teachers right here in Paducah.

The district also hopes to tap into those same students working on the early childhood and development track for evening childcare at the center during adult education classes at the Innovation Hub. Whether a parent wants to work on learning computer coding, woodworking and 3D design, or other workforce training and skills, they will have a safe, reliable place to send their kids that offers a nutritious meal and homework help.

“Truly, in 10, 15, even 50 years, I hope we look at this space and see the enormous impact it’s had on our community. I hope we look back at a long list of Paducah’s families finding success and moving forward in life with the help of our support,” Kristy states. “Our district’s motto is ‘to know each and every child by name and need.’ My goal is that we expand that to know each family by name and need and to know the name and needs of our community. We’re just getting started with what the building can provide in helping reduce the barriers to access to education and a more abundant life for these families. The sky really is the limit.”

HEAD start advantage

From The National Head Start Association

STUDY AFTER STUDY HAS SHOWN THE POSITIVE BENEFITS OF A CHILD ATTENDING Head Start. But the benefits are so much bigger than kindergarten readiness. According to the National Head Start Association, here is a list of some of the many ways Head Start is making an impact.

HEAD START CHILDREN ADVANCE ACADEMICALLY

• demonstrate better attention and engagement in learning and have more positive relationships with peers

• perform better in cognitive and language development

• have better pre-reading, prewriting, and vocabulary skills

HEAD START CHILDREN HAVE BETTER SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• are more prepared to participate in kindergarten and have fewer behavior problems, are less hyperactive

• reduces future criminal engagement: participants are 31% less likely to have been in a correctional facility by ages 20-21

THE PARENTS OF HEAD START CHILDREN FIND ADVANCEMENT

• enhances parents’ education level, employment status, and income

• improves parents’ skills, reduces parental stress, and improves overall family stability and self-sufficiency

• families have fewer family conflicts and fewer parent-child dysfunctional interactions, which in turn, reduces children’s aggressive behaviors

• parents have increases in educational attainment by the time their child is six years old: In 2017-2018, more than 120,000 Head Start parents advanced their education, from completing another grade level in school to acquiring a BA or advanced degree

CHILD WELFARE IS IMPROVED WITH PARTICIPATION IN HEAD START

• children have lower rates of abuse and neglect and are less likely to be involved in the child welfare system

• children are 93% less likely to be removed from their homes and placed in foster care

• enhances school readiness for children living in non-parental care and improves socialemotional outcomes for those in foster care

Not just a place but a space for everyone to grow

Haley Fain

Head Start is about meeting a family where they are—providing information, assistance, mental health services, education, or other necessary resources that support their day-to-day life experiences while also supporting the academic advancement of the child. This new building is designed with that goal at the center of its purpose. The new building will provide students with an updated, safe, and clean learning environment that supports their growth cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally.

kaitlin clayton

Early childhood is the foundation of learning for young children. Head Start helps us foster development for young children with whole child and family in mind, and it helps them get ready for the rest of their school career. The new building will bring excitement and many new opportunities for Head Start staff, students, and families by providing an updated and safe environment for them. Partnering with the Innovation Hub by offering classes for parents and childcare at our new building will be a great benefit for our families. The more central location and proximity of Tilghman is also a plus because the high school students will get to learn from and help mentor our children.

Paducah Head Start Teachers Share Their Excitement For A New Beginning

amberly houser

Early childhood is such a special and critical time in a child’s life, and our new building brings so many opportunities. We have a fresh space designed specifically for our young students and early childhood education. We fiercely love our children and their families, and we work very hard to link arms with the families—who are the children’s first teachers—as they begin their educational journey. It’s special to be there from the beginning: seeing a child write their name for the very first time and knowing they will write that name for the rest of their life. Even more special is sharing those moments with the families and cheering their child along with them as they celebrate the milestones they accomplish. I am so excited to serve our students in the best way possible and provide them with all the amazing opportunities that will come with our new building.

Angela Workman

This new facility is going to have a positive and lasting impact on the community that reaches beyond academic supports. It will provide a great opportunity for students to learn in an environment that is friendly, safe, and exciting, and it will help the staff and teachers have a better working environment as well. I look forward to partnering with Paducah Tilghman High School students who can help in our classroom by observing and mentoring our kids! Most importantly, I’m excited for how it will expand our ability to reach families. We meet families where they are and help them to create goals to help them move forward in all aspects of life. This building will allow for many resources to be made available to the families that we serve year-round and will help us facilitate a variety of community outreach activities.

Unlawful!

LIFE In Paducah At The Turn Of The Century

What kind of town was Paducah in the early 1900s? What were the concerns of Paducah’s citizens over a century ago? One document that illustrates life at this time is the 1904 Ordinance and Municipal Laws Book for the City of Paducah. This is a record of all the laws and regulations passed by the City Council of Paducah. It’s fun to see what was “on the books” a hundred years ago.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL to maintain, keep, operate or conduct a pool room at which any money or other thing of value shall be bet, won, or lost on the result of any horse race.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL to clean out the contents of a privy between May 1 and October 1 without the permission of the mayor. The contents of a privy could only be deposited in the Ohio River not less than 20 feet from the water’s edge at the foot of Clay Street.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL to sell or throw confetti.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL to throw or scatter talcum powder, flour, or similar products.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL for drivers of public licensed hacks to carry passengers to any point in the city for more than 25 cents.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL to cook or warm food in the Market House, but coffee could be made on a charcoal stove. It was also unlawful to clean fish at the Market House.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL for anyone working for the telegraph or telephone companies to deliver a message concerning the results of a horse race.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL to sell or give any spirituous, vinous, or malt liquor to any woman, minor, or habitual drunkard.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL for peddlers to sell anything on the streets of Paducah other than coal oil, gasoline, potatoes, onions, or perishable items.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL for owners of public hacks to solicit passengers on the train station’s platforms.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL for youths under 16 to be on the street, alley, vacant lot, wharf, or other public place after 9 AM in the spring and summer and 8 PM in the fall and winter unless accompanied by a parent or with a written permission slip.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL for any female to enter or frequent any saloon within the city limits or to loiter in such a saloon.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL for goats to run at large in any streets, alleys or unclosed lots.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL to fly kites in the streets of Paducah. A violator, or his parent, could be fined fifty centers for each violation.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL for traveling doctors to practice medicine in Paducah.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL to ride a horse on any street in Paducah at a gait faster than a trot.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk or to throw stones in the street.

IT WAS UNLAWFUL for two or more common prostitutes to walk together on any public thoroughfare in the city limits at night. (A common prostitute was defined in the ordinance book as a female who gains her livelihood in whole or in part by the promiscuous prostitution of her body.)

★ by D ARLENE M AZZONE

BERRY

BELONG to YOUR PLACE

The Paducah Garden Club Will Host A Garden Club Of America Sanctioned Flower Extravaganza Based On The Works Of Kentucky Native Wendell Berry

THE WISDOM OF WENDELL BERRY, KENTUCKY AUTHOR, conservation hero, and National Humanities Medalist, has been chosen as the genesis of the Paducah Garden Club’s spectacular flower show slated for May 16 and 17. This local floral extravaganza has been sanctioned by the Garden Club of America (GCA), the most prestigious association of flower enthusiasts in the country. The Paducah Garden Club is one of only three clubs in Kentucky to hold membership in the Garden Club of America and the only one in western Kentucky. Founded in 1913, the GCA is a national organization composed of 200 clubs with nearly 18,000 members who devote energy and expertise to projects in their communities and across the United States.

“Wendell Berry’s challenge to know your place like no other place, has reminded us what makes our town unique,” says Juliette Grumley, Co-Chairman of the local event. “The flower show coincides with the 10th anniversary of Paducah’s UNESCO Creative City designation. Collaborating with the National Quilt Museum, one section of floral design will interpret quilts that will be displayed at the show. Underwater arrangements will recognize the significance of the four regional rivers. Photography categories include landmark Paducah architecture and river pollution. And over 50 classes of local horticulture will be offered.”

“Hope then to belong to your place by your own knowledge of what it is that no other place is, and by caring for it as you care for no other place.”

—FROM POEM OF HOPE BY WENDELL

Virginia Aguilar, Wendell Berry’s granddaughter and her husband, Ben, will represent the Berry Center located in New Castle, KY. The duo will be bringing an educational exhibit from the center along with a mobile bookstore. They will present “The Wisdom of Wendell Berry” during a presentation at the show’s opening on Tuesday, May 16, and will be the featured speakers at the Rotary Club on Wednesday, May 17.

“Wendell Berry’s themes stimulate the love of gardening, the study of horticulture and the protection of the environment,” Grumley adds. “We intend for this flower show to highlight not only the beauty found in nature and the creativity it inspires, but to also engender an appreciation for ou place—the place where we belong.”

The event will showcase a number of categories including: Floral Design, Horticulture, Photography, Needle Art, and Education, along with a variety of other exhibits. More than 30 GCA-certified judges are coming from around the country and Debbie Oliver, the national president of the Garden Club of America, will be in attendance.

The Paducah Garden Club has a history of beautifying and educating our community in a variety of ways for the last 102 years. Over that century of service, the generational groups have left their gardening mark on public spaces such as Keiler Park, Noble Park, Whitehaven, Jefferson Boulevard, and the McCracken County Library, just to name a few. “We gain inspiration from our membership in the national Garden Club of America,” explains Carolyn Perry, Co-Chair of the Garden Club Flower Show. “With that association comes the call ‘to stimulate the knowledge and love of gardening. . . and to improve and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and actions in the field of conservation and civic improvement.’”

The creation of this exceptional flower show is just one way for the group to give back to their “homeplace” of Paducah and McCracken County. “The interesting aspect of a flower show is that it is not only a showcase of nature and creativity, but also a magnificent educational opportunity,” Perry adds.

After several years of hosting the event at the Paducah School of Art and Design, members felt it was time to organize a full-blown GCA-sanctioned flower show. That designation requires several distinct divisions, approved GCA judges, an educational component, and to be open to the public. “We were ready to take on the challenge!” Perry says with a chuckle.

The five divisions on display will all connect to a Wendell Berry theme. The educational focus is different for each division. Floral design invites the public to view interpretations of curated quilts from the National Quilt Museum. Horticulture educates on the propagation of heirloom tomato seeds. Photography invites visitors to view a symbiotic plant phenomenon. A special Education Exhibit of The Berry Center will provide background about Wendell Berry, his writings, and initiatives of The Berry Center.

“We hope Paducah and guests from all around the region will find their own sense of ‘belonging to your place’ at this event,” Perry comments. “Above all, we want the words of Wendell Berry to prompt us to slow down, observe our surroundings, and revere our place, our home, wherever that may be.”

PADUCAH GARDEN CLUB FLOWER SHOW

MAY 16 / 1-5 PM

Belong To Your Place / The Wisdom of Wendell Berry / Carson Center / Free Admission

MAY 17 / 10-3 PM

Presentation by Ben and Virginia Aguilar from The Berry Center / 2 PM

WENDELL BERRY

WKentucky’s Prophetic Poet

The river is of the earth, And it is free. It is rigorously Embanked and bound, And yet it is free.

the BERRY CENTER

’s T Unsettling of america: cUltUre

, publihed in 1977, awakened a national and global converation on the dire tate of agriculture.

The Berry Center wa launched in 2011 to continue thi converation and preerve the legacy of Wendell Berry’ work and writing and the exceptional agricultural contribution of hi father John Berry, sr., and hi brother John Berry, Jr. The taff i putting thee inpiring writing and hitorie into action through their Archive at the Berry Center, Agrarian Culture Center and Booktore, Our ome Place Meat—a local beef initiative, and The Wendell Berry Farming Program of sterling College. The core of the work i to advocate for farmer, land conerving communitie, and healthy regional economie.

The Center eek to provide olution to eential iue that are rarely in public dicoure and certainly not reflected in agricultural policie

“What will it take for farmer to be able to afford to farm well?” and “ow do we become a culture that upport good farming and land ue?” Thee are jut a few of the quetion that The Berry Center i addreing.

They believe that the anwer—while firmly rooted in local work—are central to olving ome of the world’ mot preing problem including the devatation of natural reource and biodiverity; rapid onet of climate change; economic and ocial inequitie; and the collape of healthy farming and rural communitie

Viitor from all over the world travel to The Berry Center to viit the archive and neighboring Agrarian Culture Center. ocated in the handome 1820 Oldham

oue in downtown ew Catle, Kentucky, The Berry Center i becoming a principle detination for hitorian, reearcher, tudent, and agrarian leader

eeking information and hitory.

UNESCO CITY OF CRAFTS AND FOLK ART

In ovember 2013, UsCO deignated Paducah a a Creative City, one of only nine in the United state and 246 worldwide. Creative Citie are recognized in even field: Craft and Folk Art, eign, Film, Gatronomy, iterature, Media Art and Muic. Paducah wa choen for Craft and Folk Art.

NATIONAL QUILT MUSEUM

itorically, quilt and fiber art were made to provide warmth, helter, comfort, and beauty to a home. Thi ha not changed, but now, quilting and fiber art are alo een a art form. The ational Quilt Mueum wa etablihed in 1991 to advance the creativity of fiber art and quilting, to bring it to a wider audience, and to promote thi hitorical, modern, and cultural art form.

T H E SMIL E STAT ION HAS A PLAN TO BR IGHT EN YOUR SMI L E AS

WEL L AS BR I GHTEN TH E SMIL ES OF FAM I L I ES I N NE E D.

From March through June, the Smile Station is offering a reduced cost of $199 for custom tray teeth whitening. They’re donating their time and resources and Ultradent is donating the whitening materials.

That means that 100% of the money raised will go to two charities. Half will go to our local charity partner, COMMUNITY KITCHEN, and half will go to the SMILES FOR LIFE FOUNDATION, a non-profit organization providing money and resources to reputable children’s charities. To date, the Smiles for Life Foundation has provided over $47 million for children in need!

Why do we do this? Because Dr. Bridges and his team believe in DOING GOOD for our community and our world. It’s that simple.

Help us help families in our community and around the world!

COMMUNITY KITCHEN

Marshall County Kate Outland & Mia Jaco | McCracken County Ashley Higdon, Daniel Higdon & Ally Hutchins | PTHS Brayden Stroud | Massac County Madison Acuff

Leading a LIFE of Service One Student at a Time

by Stephanie Watson

Noelle Meriweather

IT’S A SMALL BUT ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP THAT ARRIVES AT THE PADUCAH PUBLIC Schools Innovation Hub on a drizzly Monday afternoon. Two bright eyed girls with long braids bounce toward the entrance while three boys giggle and jostle their way over, backpacks as big as they are trailing along. One teacher at the lead and one at the rear ushers the children in while handing out snacks and asking about their school day.

The Lego Robotics team at Morgan Elementary, which normally meets at their school, has come to the Innovation Hub to build their new robotics table. After donning work gloves and safety goggles, they set themselves to the task at hand. And in the magical way that children often approach “grownup” work—a playful adventure full of both giggles and serious ambition—they take measurements, hammer in nails, and carefully align boards much bigger than they are.

The coaching duo, Noelle Meriweather and Angie Sanders, get right down on the floor with them, asking questions that help them explore the hows and whys of what they are doing. Once they are finished, the board will be delivered to Morgan where they’ll use it for the rest of the season to test and complete their handmade robots each week in Noelle’s classroom.

“These kids have so much fun and don’t always even realize how much they are learning,” Noelle states. “And this is the calm crew. You should see the chess club! They get so excited that I have to calm them down just so we can hear. We have first graders jumping up and down over chess!”

Noelle Meriweather isn’t originally from Paducah, but she’s certainly making her mark here. From Lego robotics and chess club coach to teacher, bus monitor, and everything in between, this mother of two is living out a core belief she developed at an early age: a life of service is the best kind of life to live.

Noelle’s family tree reaches back three generations on both sides in Paducah, but she grew up moving around

Noelle Meriweather “It is important to me to pave a way and set the stones so that the next generation of children have a better way to walk through life.”

for her father’s work. When she started college at Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi, she was set on becoming a doctor. As a senior finishing her BioChem degree, she attended a graduate studies fair and was introduced to a recruiter for Teach for America. After a long conversation about educational equity and addressing learning disparities among impoverished families, she was hooked. A life of service was calling to her.

“From my first day on campus, I just knew I was destined to go to medical school at Meharry. There was literally no other plan,” Noelle explains. “So when I was so moved by what I heard from the Teach for America program, I was surprised, but I also knew right away that’s where I needed to be.”

In 2017 Noelle, along with 75 other new teachers, joined the Delta Cohort of Teach for America. Noelle spent four years teaching in rural Cleveland, Mississippi, with her first three years in middle school science and her fourth year as a preschool teacher for Head Start. This setting exposed her to some of the most impoverished and underserved schools in the southeast. Large class sizes of children with needs that went far beyond academics were waiting for her when she arrived, and she spent those years working hard to repair the educational disparities that she saw. While some may expect this would be a formula for burnout, instead, it ignited a passion.

“It was very eye opening to see the kind of impact that the school experience has on students,” she notes. “During my time in Mississippi I also got to reflect on my own experience in the school system and came to understand the true importance of this entity in children’s lives.”

In 2021, Noelle was ready to get back to her roots and closer to family. She and her two boys—Beau (6) and Nic (4)—moved to Paducah where Noelle’s mother had relocated years earlier. She took a position teaching science at Paducah Middle School for one year before taking a position as Response to Intervention (RTI) instructor at Morgan Elementary. These days, her classroom is a bit of a revolving door, which is actually a great thing when you work in RTI. She pulls students in for intervention and instruction in areas where they are struggling. Once they’ve mastered the skill, they move back to the regular setting for those periods of learning and new students rotate in.

Noelle also participates in and pushed for the creation of a bus monitoring program for the elementary schools in the district. After seeing a small altercation when her son was getting off the bus—one that could have easily been prevented with additional adult presence—she and the bus driver

went to superintendent Dr. Donald Shively to propose a new plan.

“It felt like everyone was echoing the need for these monitors when we showed up with a plan,” she explains. “Being on the bus is a really good time to teach kids how to interact socially and to observe their social development from an educational standpoint. It’s one of the only times they get to interact with different age groups and kids they don’t know. Having a trained adult who can interact with the kids, encourage them to do homework on the drive, and keep a positive environment appealed to everyone and we got funding for the project almost immediately.”

Along with her work in education, Noelle is, unsurprisingly, living a life of service outside the classroom. She is on the Paducah Diversity Advisory Board, which works to advise the city on inclusive and equitable practices. She is also the vice president of the nonprofit Project Speak Life. Created by her mother, Dorothea Manley-Davis, the nonprofit aspires to help others find wholeness, hope, and positive expressions through the creative engagement of the arts and culture.

“My family has always believed that living a life of service is the most important thing to do. From my mother’s nonprofit work to my dad’s scholarship at Tilghman (The Constance D. Merriweather Scholarship), I was taught early on that our job is to help every generation become greater than the last,” she states. “It is important to me to pave a way and set the stones so that the next generation of children have a better way to walk through life.”

Morgan Elementary Lego Robotics team, led by coaches Noelle Meriweather and Angie Sanders, build a robotics table that they will use to practice for competitions // Morgan chess team places 2nd in the regional tournament. They have been invited to state championships.

evolved into the captivating pieces of art that are celebrated in Paducah today.

It could be said that quiltmaking is the backbone of Paducah’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City. Home to the National Quilt Museum, AQS QuiltWeek, Hancock’s of Paducah, the Quilt City USA Murals, and Fantastic Fibers at Yeiser Art Center, Paducah exists as a haven for textile artists from around the globe.

This is where Paducah’s UNESCO Creative City story begins: with a needle and thread, scraps of old cloth, and the creativity of a mother traveling the river.

Quilters gather at The Executive Inn to listen to popular lecturers during the fifth-annual AQS Quilt Show and

by Hiroko Miyama and

2013

CREATIVE CITIZEN

Bonnie Browning Executive Show Director, American Quilter’s Society

1991

1998

Q: Being creative is my stress

As a quilter, how does creativity affect your life?

Being creative is my stress reliever. I’ve drawn and sewn all my life. It gets my brain away from the thousands of details related to our quilt shows.

Q: Besides quilting, how do you use creativity in your work? Being creative lets me think outside the box to solve problems, create new programs, and give quilters a better experience when they attend our shows.

Q: What advice would you give other Paducahans on how to find their creative spirit?

Don’t be afraid to try new things.

Bill and Meredith Schroeder stand in front of the newly completed Museum of the American Quilter’s Society, known today as The National Quilt Museum.

Quiltmakers (and sisters) Pat Holly and Sue Nickels accept the Best of Show award for their collaboration, “The Beatles Quilt.”

“Ricky and Lucy” by Nancy Sterett Martin and Karen Sistek

by S USIE F ENWICK

Faith& Fortitude

One Singular Centuries-Old Structure Still Calls to Worshipers From Its Place Amid the Lush Landscape of Its Early Roots

II N THE MIDST OF DOGWOODS AND native deer, up a slightly inclined entrance once conveying horses and buggies, sits a beautifully simplistic structure that, for nigh onto two centuries, has been the place of worship for members of what is often referred to as Primitive Baptists or Old School Baptists.

Boaz Chapel is a white wood frame building, hidden in clear view, atop a hill on the East State Line dividing Kentucky and Tennessee in Hickman County, Kentucky. The church, with its east/west orientation, is nestled into a graveyard with tombstones dating back to the mid 1800’s and maybe earlier if one could verify dates on worn and weathered stones.

The church was built in the early 1800’s and is thought to be the oldest church in Hickman County. The Kentucky Heritage Council designated it as a Kentucky Landmark deeming it worthy of preservation. As generations of the faithful have come and gone little else has changed in the structure itself. Still a functioning house of worship, the church does not have electrical power or running water. A chimney and patched spot in the ceiling indicated the presence of a wood stove at one time but currently the church is not heated in the winter or cooled in the summer. In the cold winter months, services are held at church members’ homes. The remains of an old privy no longer in use sits discretely camouflaged by tin on the church’s property boundary.

Dwelling in the shadow of an old sweet gum tree and maintaining harmony with nature, the church’s interior is enveloped in wood. The wooden plank floor of the one room church is polished to a mellow luster by the feet of devoted pilgrims treading upon it for 200 years. The perfect balance and harmony of the house of worship is complimented by symmetrical windows allowing for an abundance of natural light to flood into the sanctuary.

Shed from the sweet gum tree standing sentinel, a prickly carpet of gum balls leads to two matching entry ways, one door was designated for female congregants; the other for male congregants. On entering the church, it was proper for men to sit on one side of the church while women sat on the opposite side. Pews at the church front are arranged on both sides of the pulpit to allow for the ritual of “foot washing” which is symbolic of humility and service.

The pulpit is a thing of handcrafted artistry which makes one ponder the artisan’s hand guided by the hand of

Vets Who Love Pets

God to create such a thing of beauty in a distant age of utility and necessity. An antique, wellworn, hand braided rug is the only item in the church even slightly reminiscent of luxury.

The pews are much different than modern day pews built with comfort in mind and suited for worshippers who have grown physically larger over the years. The pew backs sit very straight while the pew seats are very narrow. One has no choice but to sit straight and tall and take on the posture of attentiveness. Sitting

straight and tall lends the added benefit of deep breaths to support the tone of a cappella singing which is an important element of worship in Primitive Baptist or Old School Baptist churches.

Boaz Chapel Primitive Baptist Church is a treasure. It is living history. With the exception of cold winter months, services are held on the third Sunday of each month at 11 AM. The members of Boaz Chapel welcome visitors.

Rennie Church, D.V.M. John Kelley, D.V.M. Laura Williams, D.V.M.

LOCKED AWAY IN THE ATTIC

Hby Amanda Hutchison

THIS STORY STARTS WITH A SUITCASE.

Upstairs in the attic of Tim Story’s parents’ old home, Tim found a suitcase with the initials LCS. Tim recognized those initials, Lubie C. Story, his grandfather. Inside he found newspaper clippings from the 1930s to the 1950s. Tim lost himself in the stories. “The pictures in the newspaper are cool but the articles are even cooler,” Tim shares. “There were such great stories and the writing was very personal. Particularly, the articles of the 1950s, coming out of World War II, you see a lot of positive stories about heroism and survival.”

When he found the suitcase Tim was in the process of moving to Paducah. He was fulfilling a long-time dream to move to the city where his grandparents had lived. Tim was raised in Germantown, TN and as an operations manager

for Fed-Ex his job had taken him all over the country. “There is no place like Paducah,” Tim marvels. “I’ve seen so many towns with boarded up downtowns driven out by box stores and online shopping, but I continue to be amazed by how our community supports such a wide variety of things to do in the region. I am blessed to have met many people who volunteer and sacrifice to make Paducah a great place to live.” As a child he would often visit his grandparents, and remembers spending hours with his relatives, hunting in Ballard County, still a favorite destination.

When an opportunity to move to Paducah came through Fed-Ex, Tim jumped at the chance. Finally, he would live in the city he dreamed of. “I’m thankful to be here at this time in my life, meeting more mindful and

Tim Story is telling the stories of Paducah as preserved by his grandmother in an old suitcase locked away for generations

spiritual people than I had ever dreamed possible.”

While his grandparents and parents had strong ties to the city, Tim was relatively new and didn’t know anyone. He started reading the old newspapers and began a website called, “hisStory” to share the newspaper articles that he found in his grandfather’s old suitcase. He titled it “hisStory” as a homage to his grandfather, who he had assumed had saved the articles. Only recently, through his father, Ken Story, he learned that it was not his grandfather who saved the articles but his grandmother, Dixie Louise Prince. “I should have named the website ‘Her Story,” he reflects, “she was the one who had the foresight to save the papers.”

His grandparents, Lubie and Dixie, had grown up in Paducah during the Great Depression. They had dropped out of school after the 8th grade. Lubie worked at Kirchhoff’s Bakery and Dixie worked at the International Shoe Company. During World War II, Lubie worked at the Republic Aviation factory and when the Atomic Energy Plant opened, Lubie was one of the first group of men to work there.

His father recently shared with Tim how important these articles were to Dixie. Dixie had started saving clippings in 1932 of popular entertainers and current events. As World War II broke out, Dixie began clipping and filing war related stories. “Dixie was a compassionate person,” Ken shares about his mother. “All those reminders of the suffering and grief being experienced by so many motivated her to become a storehouse of war-time information.”

Tim spends hours reading them and sharing their stories online. “I lose myself in the newspapers,” Tim said. “I cannot just read for a minute. I can spend a whole day just reading articles.” At the suggestion of a friend, Tim joined the Facebook group “I Remember Paducah When…’ so he could share these clippings with a broader audience. He now posts photos of the clippings. People often comment on his photos reminiscing about the people and businesses of this past era. He has found that even the simplest advertisement from the paper is bringing joy to people online. When someone shares a sentimental attachment to a clipping that he posted, Tim offers to give them the original print, takes the clipping, frames it and gives it to that person. “I believe God put that suitcase in my life,” Tim reflects. “It allows me to do something positive. If it brings

joy to others, it makes me feel good in some crazy way. That’s why I do it.”

Awhile back Tim posted a clipping about a woman named Vickie Elizabeth Dycus. She was born at Riverside Hospital on May 8, 1945. Her parents gave her the initials V-E-D (Victory in Europe Day) to commemorate the day Germany surrendered to the Allies ending World War II in Europe’s Eastern Front. Vickie Dycus McGee, that very same V-E-D baby commented on the post and was immediately connected to friends who now know the origin of her name.

Recently Tim posted a transportation edition written by Don Pepper in 1956 for the Paducah Sun Democrat. His daughter, Cathy, saw the post and commented on it. When Cathy and her husband came to town for the holidays, Tim presented her with two large framed pages.

Tim has learned that even the simplest clipping can evoke the happiest memories for those he meets on Facebook. Tim gifted a framed advertisement for “Non-Stop Bus Line Paducah to Detroit,” to Ora Brooks after she had commented on the post. Ora hung this special keepsake on her wall.

Tim is bringing new life into the old articles that his grandmother cared for. It’s tedious. He says he has to be careful with the paper. He finds that if he touches them more than three or four times, they often fall apart.

For Tim this story is not about him. It is about his grandparents and Paducah. He is finding joy learning about the city’s rich history, sharing them with others, and meeting the passionate people who continue to make Paducah such a wonderful place to live. It has only been 15 months since Tim found the suitcase and started his new life in Paducah. He plans to continue delving into that old suitcase preserving the newspaper clippings that his grandmother saved many years ago, and connecting with those who will cherish them.

MyBestLife

HILLARY LANDRY

BEST MEAL

I was blessed with two grandmothers (“Mamama” and “Granny”) who are both incredible cooks. We’re talking old fashioned home cooking, before people started counting calories and carbs. My two favorites are Mamama’s fried chicken and Granny’s butter noodles. I’ve never actually paired the two, but I’ll have to try that for a big splurge!

BEST SPONTANEOUS DECISION

Skipping an entire week of law school on a whim to go to Disney World with my parents and sister. If you know me at all, you know this is very out of character, but it was the most fun week ever and I have no regrets!

BEST RECENT READ

Baby Shark , Little Blue Truck, Five Little Monkeys

Jumping on the Bed , and The Monster at the End of This Book . I have a two-year-old and a full time job, so not a lot of time for adult reading these days!

BEST ESCAPE

The beach. This is the one place where it is possible for me to block out the noise and just sit and be and bask in gratitude for all of my many blessings.

BEST MISTAKE

Sitting on the front row of Professor Bob Lawson’s evidence class my second year of law school. (If you don’t know who Bob Lawson is, he’s kind of a big deal in the Kentucky legal world.) He called on me to answer questions nearly every day, which made me incredibly nervous, but it also made me work extremely hard. Most importantly, it allowed me to get to know Professor Lawson and have a very impressive reference on my resume. I keep a letter of recommendation that he wrote for me on my desk and read it every time I need a dose of encouragement.

BEST REASON TO BE LATE

Taking pictures of my little girl—Vallie Rose—on the way out the door. It always runs us late, but those snapshots are so worth it. At a very young age, she already loves to dress up, accessorize and smile for the camera. This mama never misses an opportunity to capture those moments!

BEST SURPRISE

My husband proposing and the huge surprise party to follow. He involved several people to make me believe that we were going to the Columbia Theater to film some promotional materials for the Columbia Theater Restoration Project. We did go to the Columbia, but it was for him to propose in a place that is very special to me. And then he had all of our family and friends waiting to celebrate after. Best night ever!

BEST ADVICE

Never sell yourself short. And surround yourself with people who will not allow you to sell yourself short. I live by Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

BEST REASON FOR A NIGHT IN

I think every Friday night is a good reason for a night in. By Friday, my husband and I are beat from a long week of work and other activities, and we’re both ready for a chill night at home with our little girl and good take-out.

Hillary Landry is an attorney with McMurry & Livingston, a wife to Jim, and a mom to Vallie Rose.

by Amanda Hutchison

Will Water Flow Again? A

Over fifty years after its unveiling at Paducah’s City Hall, the Paducah Civic Beautification Board looks to restore the iconic fountain sculpture originally created by artist James Lee Garner

T 6’2” JAMES LEE GARNER LIKELY TOWERED OVER THE MEMBERS OF THE CIVIC Beautification Board and Paducah Council of Garden Clubs when he met with them in 1970. They were excited to commission his work, a 9-foot-tall fountain named “The Pods and Reeds” for the atrium of the recently built City Hall. James was not new to Paducah when he began his work with these two organizations. For several months in the previous year, the Paducah Art Guild held an exhibition of his work.

Over fifty years later, James can still recall creating the fountain in Paducah’s City Hall. “It was the largest fountain I had ever built,” he shares. “I accepted it as a challenge. We discussed it for several hours and I did a carving.” Water flowed

through the stems and streamed out from the seed pods. The fountain sculpture, now dry, remains in City Hall’s atrium.

The Paducah Council of Garden Clubs fundraised through a local seed and feed store. At the store they advised and assisted customers with their gardening needs. In total the two groups raised $2,000 ($500 donated by the Civic Beautification Board and $1,500 raised by the Paducah Council of Garden Clubs). In today’s world this sum would be equivalent to nearly $15,000.

The newspaper announced a “unique sculpture” would be designed by a “nationally known sculptor.” James was relatively new to the art world when he created the fountain, having just changed careers in 1965. But the art world had already taken to his talents. He had exhibited in the South and Southwest, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, was a finalist for a 14-ft library sculpture in Abilene, Texas and was an exhibitor in the Inter-Space Show in Dallas, Texas. He was interested in how to create movement in a sculpture. “People like motion and sound,” James told the Memphis-Press Scimitar in 1967, “That is the direction I’m going.” At the time of that interview, James was working on an electronic sculpture involving light, sound, and scent.

His studio, in Bloomfield, MO, was divided into two sides— one side was a formal art studio and the other was, as the Memphis-Press Scimitar described, “a handyman’s haven…complete with power saw, anvil, grinder, drill press, band saw and acetylene torch.” He experimented with materials and new technologies. Outside of his home, located in Cape Girardeau, James created a seven-foot tall one-eyed metal sentry, grasping a shield and spear. Red roses planted at the base were entwined around the sculpture.

Before making the switch to full-time artist, James was a product designer. He designed toasters, electric heaters and fans for an electric firm in Cape Girardeau. “I became interested in art in fourth or fifth grade,” he reminisces. “I made drawings and sculptures out of clay in high school and college. I was commissioned by different businesses.” As a high school student, he had won a competition from General Motors and had even sold a design to the company.

When Paducah’s City Hall was opened in 1964, it featured a simple sunken concrete fountain with multicolored lighting and two tiers overflowing into a large basin. Light glimmers onto the structure from a unique pyramidal lantern roof, a trademark feature of the buildings designed by famous architect, Edward Durrell Stone. The “Pods and Seeds” was placed on the top tier of the original fountain, allowing trickles of water emerging from the pods to land in the basin below.

The Pods’ organic style contrasts with the geometric white concrete court area, polished terrazzo floor, and surrounding planters. Six stem-like structures resembling partially open seedpods vary in height, their interiors revealing a fine mesh that catches the sunlight from above, and creates the shadows and textures on the hard surfaces of the atrium where none previously existed.

The pods align perfectly with the skylights above, demonstrating how James related the sculpture with its place. The patina of the sculpture’s surface, oxidized over years, adds a dimension of color, relating to the recently restored plantings in the atrium that creates the appearance of shadows and intriguing textures.

Currently, the fountain basin contains rocks and a wood edging. Faux reed-like grass has been added to the middle fountain tier. A prototype of the fountain still remains in City Hall. If you peek underneath the fountain, you can still see hardware from when water used to run through it. Due to leaks into the basement of the building, the water in the sculpture has been turned off.

The Civic Beautification Board wishes to bring the fountain back to its original splendor. Jackie Smith, chair of the board, shares that restoring the fountain is one of their 2023 goals. She noted that the city had recently restored the entire building excluding the fountain. Prior to the pandemic, the board, in collaboration with architect Christopher Jones, had begun research into this project, including reaching out to both the city and Roman Fountains, the company which provided the original equipment for the fountain.

Over the years, the fountain has become a landmark for Paducah. Groups, friends, and city employees choose to meet around it on their way in or out of the building. The fountain has served as a meeting place and backdrop for civic announcements, events, and even marriages. Visitors entering into the building stop to marvel at this piece of fine art located in a monumental and exceptional city hall. Today, James still creates but on a much smaller scale. The Civic Beautification Board and the garden clubs of Paducah, continue to dedicate their time to making Paducah beautiful. And the fountain, an artistic landmark, is now ready for water to flow through it once again.

Oidhche Bhlas Burns!

(HAPPY BURNS NIGHT IN GAELIC)

by Amanda Hutchison H

tHE BAGPIPES SOUND, THE FIDDLE PLAYS, SWORDS

stand, the kilts swoosh and, the dearly loved haggis makes its appearance. It’s almost like being in Scotland . . . in Paducah. In January, descendants of Scottish clans, friends of descendants, literature enthusiasts, and the curious, joined together for a dinner dedicated to Scottish poet, Robert Burns.

Robert Burns was a famous Scottish poet of the late 18th century and is engrained into Scottish culture and heritage. Some of his most famous works

in 2015. “My father passed away last year,” Ashlea shares, “and I just really felt the need to share and celebrate my heritage with my son.” She researched her family lineage and learned of their connection to Castle Sween in Glasgow. With her experience in event planning, she knew she wanted to

are “Tam o’Shanter,” “A Red Red Rose,” and “Auld Land Syne.” Robert Burns dinners have been occurring for over 200 years with the first being held by Burns’ close friends five years after his death on his birthday, January 25th.

Burns dinners occur all over the world as a celebration of Burns and Scottish heritage. The dedicated meals have been occurring in Paducah for many years, but were discontinued after 2015. The tradition finally returned to Paducah this year, when Ashlea McMillan’s friends asked her, “What happened to those Scottish events you used to attend?”

Ashlea had attended one Burns Night in Murray in 2014 and one in Paducah

return Burns Nights to Paducah. She reached out to previous organizers Mary Hammond and Maurie McGarvey and together, they worked to organize this year’s event. Robert Worden was a natural choice to lead the event. He can trace his family history back to 15 generations of Scottish clans. His wife, Donna Tatum Worden,

A few lassies lined up for a quick photo at Paducah’s Burns Night. From left are Courtney Kennemore, Alison Gill, Sarah Black, Heather Coltharp, Kate Lambert, Maurie McGarvey, Ashlea McMillan, Sarah Stewart Holland, Pamela Hudson, Elizabeth Dorsey

can trace her heritage back to 19 generations of clans. “The purpose of the Burns Night,” Worden shares, “is to introduce people to their heritage or possible heritage.” Worden began the program by explaining that there would be four languages used that evening—the southern dialect of American English, Gaelic Scot, Broad Scot (the language of Robert Burn’s poetry), and Latin.

A variety of Scotch was poured throughout the program for toasts while Worden explained the significance of Scotch. In the time of Burns, Scotch was considered “the water of life.” Karla Lawrence of Artisan Kitchen oversaw the production and made most of the dishes herself. The dishes were all tied to traditional Scottish fare, and served family style to guests, creating an intimate dinner. “We wanted to awaken the guests’ senses and their minds to their possible heritage,” Worden explains.

The event included a celebration of the famed Scottish haggis. Jim Cruickshanks piped in the vaulted entree, while two people followed holding swords and the haggis decorated with antlers. Traditional haggis, a dish comprised of sheep’s heart, lungs, and liver mixed with oatmeal and spices wrapped in a sheep’s stomach was banned in the United States in 1971.

For this dinner, David Jones of Artisan Kitchen was able to purchase an American version of the haggis that was comprised of organ meats and spices. Robert Burn’s poem, “Ode to a Haggis” was read by Mary Hammond, Executive Director of Paducah

BURNS NIGHT

Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Through the night, different guests read the poetry of Burns and added interpretations and translations to help those less familiar with the noted writer. Blaise Gill, a talented junior at Paducah Tilghman High School played traditional Scottish songs on the fiddle. Local performer, Kim Yocum, sang “Flow Gently Sweet Afton.” Sarah Stewart Holland, a podcast host for Pantsuit Politics, and her husband, Nicholas, read Toast to the Lassies. Sarah included a modern twist to the evening, as she read the lyrics to Salt-n-Peppa’s 1994 hit “What a Man” in the style of Roberts Burns, as created by an AI generator. “Post covid I am more grateful than ever for these kinds of events,” Sarah shares. “The decorations were fantastic and there is something so wonderful about having an event with a theme.”

While some guests had previously attended Burns Nights, others were completely new to the event. Shannon Webb and her husband Jeremy, having spent their honeymoon in Scotland, were excited to be enmeshed in Scottish heritage once again. Jeremy waited patiently through the night for a chance to try the haggis, which he had fond memories of trying in Scotland. “The whole evening was an absolute delight,” Shannon recalls. “Nothing warms the heart like bagpipes, good company, and a wee dram.”

McCracken County’s Rich Historic Heritage

There is so much rich history and heritage celebrated in Paducah and McCracken County, much of it connected to early Scottish immigrants. For example, the county was named after Captain Virgil McCracken (1778-1813) who was wounded in the Battle of the River Raisin. Although a native of Woodford County, McCracken County was named after Captain McCracken to honor his Kentucky service during the war with Great Britain in 1812.

The organizers are already discussing next year’s plans. “We want to make the event even bigger,” Ashlea shares. As of now, the group has set a date for January 20, 2024. The event will still be catered by Artisan Kitchen, but will be moved to the lobby of the Irvin Cobb Building so they can accommodate up to 120 guests. They also plan to include lowland dancing following the traditional dinner.

This year’s event ended as it began with the ever-present bagpipes. Whether they were familiar or unfamiliar with Burns and Scotland at the beginning of the evening, everyone at the event seemed a little more Scottish by the end of the night. The participants left with bellies full of neeps and tatties, nips of Scotch, and minds perhaps able to translate a little more easily the rhythmic words of Burn’s Broad Scot poetry. Everyone sang his famous poem, “Auld Lang Syne,” as a fitting benediction to the resurrection of this all-about-the-Scots evening.

McCracken County’s Scottish Ties

Did you know Paducah has an official tartan? The county was named after Captain Virgil McCracken. Captain McCracken was a part of Clan McNaughton. A proclamation adopted by both the City of Paducah and McCracken County Fiscal Court named April 6 Tartan Day: A Celebration of all things Scottish. The McNaughton tartan is the official tartan of Paducah and McCracken County. In Scotland, Tartan Day celebrates Scotland’s Declaration of Independence on April 6, 1320.

Salt ‘N Peppa Meet Robert Burns (VIA CHATGPT)

Sarah Stewart Holland was a bit fatigued at the end of a day filled with her responsibility as a nationally-acclaimed podcaster and founder of Pantsuit Politics. Being tasked to make a short commentary during the Burns dinner, Sarah decided to merge the ancient rhymer with the futuristic application of ChatGPT with the lyrics of Salt-N-Peppa. For those who are still not immersed in the newest form of what the Internet can do for you, ChatGPT can write prose for you upon request. Upon Sarah’s request, this is how the artificial intelligence site rewrote the lyrics to the band’s classic song, What a Man, with a Robert Burns twist.

What a lad, my lassies, what a mighty fine lad

Like the roaring burn that winds its way through the glen

He’s strong and true and my heart is captured again

His touch is like fire and his kiss is like the heather

Aye the only place I want to be is together!

What a lad, my lassies, what a mighty fine lad

With his smile so warm and his eyes that shine

He’s the one that I adore until the end of time

So here’s to my love my guiding light

I’ll sing his praises until the end of my life

What a lad, my lassies, what a mighty fine lad

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by D ARLENE M AZZONE

75 YEARS

PADUCAH BANK CELEBRATES of COMMUNITY BANKING

It all started in 1948 when Harry Truman was President, the first Polaroid camera went on sale, the Paducah flood wall was installed, and the average American earned $2,950 per year. Much has changed during the last 75 years, but one thing has not changed. Paducah Bank is still standing strong in its service to the people of western Kentucky.

IN THE SPRING OF 1948, AIRMAIL PARCEL POST WAS INTRODUCED TO Paducah,

and the Jaycees shipped the first package by sending Kentucky 31 Fescue grass to a similar club in Salzburg, Austria. The first full test run to install the floodwall gates took place. It took 90 men six hours. Magnavox’s first production line in Paducah went live making radio speakers. The Kentucky Employment Services advertised for 16,000 people to harvest the strawberry crop. The job lasted for five weeks, and the crop was expected to beat the previous year’s 484 train car loads which generated $1.2 million. Roy Acuff and the Grand Old Opry Gang performed in Paducah. And Paducah Bank opened its doors on Broadway in downtown Paducah.

“It’s astounding to think that Paducah Bank has been opening its doors every day of the week since just after World War II,” says Mardie Herndon, President and CEO of Paducah Bank. “What an amazing accomplishment for one bank to stand strong through the historic changes in our own community as well as around the country for 75 years. This unique success story is a testament to the vision of scores of people throughout our history who have remained devoted to serving our customers while serving our community at large. That common thread binds us to those who came before as well as to those who will follow us from this point forward.”

“Paducah Bank has long been more than just a community bank,” adds Joe Framptom, Chairman of the Board. “Our history is rooted in a dedication to using our skills, our talents, and our resources to build a financial institution that can provide the necessary products and services to our valued clients as well as provide local leadership and insight into the future of our community. With that sense of commitment has also come a sense of responsibility to those more vulnerable among us. Programs like our Swipe and Serve project a few years ago provided food for needy individuals and families. We have ‘stuffed the bus’ for the United Way for many years as well as hammered and nailed our way through Christmas in July to provide hands-on help to homes in need of repair. Currently, we’re sponsoring the Paws With Purpose organization in Louisville, a program that trains dogs to assist individuals with physical or emotional issues. That’s truly just a few of the hundreds of programs

Paducah Bank’s “This Is Home-Mia” television commercial won multiple TELLY awards in the 2021 national competition for local, regional, and cable video projects. Above: Joe Framptom and Mardie Herndon with the prestigious Governor’s Award for the Arts presented to Paducah Bank in 2021.

Paducah Bank’s caring team members log thousands of volunteer hours every year by working together for the good of the community.

A Bank Is Born

It was a warm and humid morning on August 18, 1947, when 11 Paducah businessmen convened a special meeting. Roy L. Bishop, William F. Rottgering, M. O. DeJarnatt, Neal G. Burton, John B. Blackburn, Henry Henneberger, Lance Dossett, Fred G. Harrison, J. E. Ham, George R. Thomas, and Milton M. Livingston all had an exciting vision for a new and different financial institution for a growing community in western Kentucky. The meeting was called to order at 10 AM. Roy L. Bishop was elected Chairman of the Board and President; M. O. DeJarnatt was elected Cashier. As the meeting concluded, it seemed to those in attendance as if they knew a very special journey, one with unlimited possibilities, was about to begin.

and projects that Paducah Bank has initiated or supported throughout its long history. These are tangible examples of our belief that acts of kindness in our community are equally as important as our provision of reliable financial services. That’s why we’re planning to perform 75 random acts of kindness during our anniversary year in 2023.”

“We asked our employees for suggestions to implement our 75 random acts of kindness,” explained Susan Guess, Chief Marketing Director. “What we received was more like 700 ideas of ways we could reach out to our community with a sense of gratitude as well as a sense of celebration. One fun way we’re going to commemorate our 75th anniversary is a piece of street art at the corner of our Paducah Bank building on Jefferson. We’ve invited local creatives to submit ideas. The winning artist will receive $500 and will execute their design on the street outside our headquarters office. we freely gave to their first 75 customers, and ETC concocted a special drink for us as well. We have so many ideas up our sleeve for this coming year, and we’re excited about the prospect of inviting our entire region to join us in celebrating this incredible milestone.”

Many of our Paducah Life readers will remember some humorous ads that the bank produced over a decade ago featuring Joe Framptom in a variety of “interesting” scenarios. Those commercials and other video productions from the past can be viewed on the bank’s Instagram and Facebook sites. In addition, the bank is now producing videos in its new Social Media Studio featuring local “WOW Makers” in the community, and those can be viewed on the bank’s YouTube channel.

Paducah Bank often begins its corporate profile with the words, “an award-winning bank,” and they have the bona fides to back that up. Paducah Bank was named the Best Place to Work in Kentucky among medium-sized companies in 2006. In 2008, the bank was chosen by the Wall Street Journal as one of the nation’s Top 15 Small Workplaces. In 2015, Paducah Bank was the only Kentucky bank recognized for the effective use of social media by the Independent Community Bankers of America. In 2019, the bank was presented the Kentucky Governor’s Service Award, and in 2022, Paducah Bank received the Governor’s Award in the Arts for its continual support of creative endeavors in the western Kentucky region.

“All of these honors mean the world to us,” says Herndon. “They are testaments to our dedication to living out, each and every day, the fundamental philosophy of our bank. But at this point in our history, the most humbling perspective for us is that for three quarters of a century, virtually thousands of people have trusted our leadership and our vision to offer them the kind of financial integrity that only a community bank can fulfill. And for that, we are eternally grateful.”

In 2008, Paducah Bank was named one of the NATION’S Top Small Workplaces!

Among it’s many FIRSTS, Paducah Bank was the first to install drive-up access to the bank in 1973.

Recent Presidents

Joe Framptom

Wally Bateman

Mardie Herndon

H

Kenny Boyd Brings Energy and Experience to Baptist Health Paducah A

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF

Kenny Boyd starts early. Alarm at 4:41 AM. Head to the gym. Get ready for work and arrive on campus by a quarter after seven. Then it’s on to the tasks at hand. No day is the same, and no challenge seeks the same solution.

According to Boyd, who was named president of Baptist Heath Paducah in October 2022, that’s exactly what makes the job so rewarding. “I could never do a job where I had to do the same thing every day,” he states. “Part of what I have always loved about this work is the variety.”

And while he knows that the job is a good fit for his personality, it’s also easy to see why he’s a good fit for the job. Energetic and approachable, Boyd is known for being easy to talk to, and for having a view for the big picture as well as a passion for the details that make large systems run smoothly. Whether tackling hospital growth, quality, patient experience, or workplace safety, the Kentucky native

hopes that his leadership helps ensure Baptist provides the best care.

“I endeavor to ensure that all our care teams have what they need and follow appropriate policies so that they can provide the highest level of care for our patients while also working in the best environment possible,” he explains. Achieving these goals includes working with corporate and local leadership to develop the best strategies and policies while also holding hospital employees accountable for the follow through. Boyd oversees allocation of resources, both monetarily and human, and helps to identify and remove barriers to employees achieving the organization’s goals.

That’s why he personally shares the hospital mission with each new employee at Baptist’s twice monthly orientation. “I learned early on that it is best as a leader to have trust and part of that trust is letting them know you,” he states. “I want to know the people I’m working with, and I’m open with my team so that they get to know me as Kenny and not just president of Baptist health. Whether you know me publicly, privately, or professionally, you’re getting the same person.”

Boyd’s goals for Baptist Health Paducah carry the same energy and excitement that is key to his personality. “For the size of the region, we have a huge expanse of services, but there is even more opportunity with our staff to continue to expand access locally to become the provider of choice for this area,” he notes. “We have an extremely engaged medical staff, and I’m just hoping to take the organization to the next level so that whether a person is looking for employment or care, they know that Baptist is the best option.”

Continued recovery from the pandemic is also, of course, not far from Boyd’s mind. The healthcare industry has learned a lot of new skills, he says, that will move the industry into the future, but there are still some challenges. “The pandemic taught us a lot. Healthcare used to be a slow-to-change industry, but with COVID, things changed so rapidly that it forced us to learn how to accelerate change by being decisive while still conducting care in a safe manner,” he states. Boyd also notes that the increase in comfort with telehealth services provides a huge boost to patient experience and is a valuable skill they plan to see stay.

Boyd was born in Germany as the son of an active U.S. military father, but he split his childhood between Germany and Fort Knox, Kentucky. He attended the University of Louisville where he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science. The ever-changing dynamics of healthcare caught his attention, however, and he went on to Webster University in Jeffersonville, Indiana for a Master of Arts in Health Services Management.

Boyd’s first job after grad school took him to Virginia. There, he learned the various aspects of hospital administration, but it was his experience starting family medicine and internal medicine residencies during that time that really stand out. This work gave him early insight into the importance of the relationship between administration and physicians, which he says are paramount to making a healthcare organization a success.

After his work in Norton, he was hired as CEO in charge of reopening a once defunct and bankrupt rural hospital in southwest Virginia. While he remembers this time as exhausting—probably the most hours he’s ever worked in his life—he also notes that it was one of the most exciting.

“There is so much complexity and so many layers to opening a hospital. In one sense, it was terrifying because there is so much to be done, but it taught me so many lessons about each piece and part of what makes a healthcare system run,” he states. “And, most importantly, it was extremely satisfying because we got to return care to a rural area that wouldn’t have had that care otherwise.” Boyd now brings more than 20 years’ experience in healthcare management and leadership to his position in Paducah.

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Faith, Family, Fl wers

The Family of Stephan Frazier Has Resurrected His Love of Life With A Second Chance For His Beloved Chevy Pick-up

by S USIE F ENWICK

STEPHEN’S FLOWER TRUCK IS A STORY OF FAITH, FAMILY, AND FLOWERS. THE Frazier-Brown family of South Fulton is on a mission to keep the memory of their son, brother, brother-in-law, and uncle alive by paying homage to the legacy of joy he left behind. Stephen Frazier passed away at age 16 in a fatal car accident just a short distance from home on his way to school. November 20, 1990, Sandra Frazier watched her son walk out the door that morning just like she did every morning. It was the morning of a parent’s worst nightmare of losing a child.

Stephen Frazier is remembered for his sunny disposition which matched his beloved sunshine yellow,1950 Chevy pick-up truck. Quick to laugh and with a perpetual grin, death couldn’t quell the joy he brought to his family and friends.

After Stephen’s death, his prized pick-up stayed covered with a tarp serving as a virtual pall in a corner of his dad, Dale Frazier’s, shop. It had been undergoing a rebuild at the time of the accident. Stephen’s truck remained broken, untouched, and motionless for 30 years.

Alexis Brown, daughter of Stephen’s sister, Melissa, and her husband Jamie, hatched the idea of putting Stephen’s truck back on the road as a flower truck. The young entrepreneur majoring in business at Murray State, along with her sister, Amelia, a University of Tennessee at Martin student, approached grandparents, Dale and Sandra Frazier. With no more hesitation than an exchanged smile, Gran and Granddaddy bought into the idea of breathing new life into Stephen’s 1950 Chevy. The journey of joy that was paused for 30 years returned in the guise of a flower truck.

Mother, Melissa Brown, embraced the idea and hoped her innate love of flowers and gardening could help her daughters. She would grow a variety of flowers and provide them at no cost for this blossoming idea. Becoming more involved in gardening proved to be a nice change of pace for Melissa who works part-time as a pharmacy technician.

As many organizations struggle to develop a mission statement, that task came easily for the family. It was simple. The Fraziers and Browns would keep Stephen’s memory alive using his truck to spread joy with flowers.

The next months were spent getting the truck road ready. Along with making sure it was in tip top shape mechanically, the truck got a fresh Corvette Yellow paint job and was re-upholstered. Painstakingly, the truck was restored to mint condition. Everyone agreed—Stephen would be very proud.

The 1950 Corvette Yellow Chevy pick-up truck is a profile in positivity. Delivering joyful jars of flowers leaves a trail of happiness just like Stephen did in the short, sweet 16 years of his life.

Even when not loaded with colorful flowers and sweet treats of Obion County honey, how can a truck bed be so empty yet so full? The bed holds a load of memories of a mischievous, happy boy who will remain forever young. Like the fine grain of the lustrous walnut wood bed, precious memories are ingrained in the minds of those who knew and loved him. Keeping the memories rolling along, Stephen’s Flower Truck hopes future bed loads of flowers make it easy and inviting to shower special people with flowers “just because.”

Enhancing the Stephen’s Flower Truck experience, The Fraziers have spruced up an old service station on Broadway in South Fulton. The Station is a perfect place to garage Stephen’s Truck while providing a base for pick-ups and drop-offs. The retro vibe of the old station is a great addition to South Fulton’s main thoroughfare. The curb appeal catches the eyes of passersby and the evocative furniture beckons one to come sit a spell in a space of a simpler, gentler time. Just as with the classic truck, plans for The Station are continually evolving.

As demand for Stephen’s Flower Truck flowers outpaced the supply cultivated by the family, relations were cultivated with local growers to assure customers received the best locally grown flowers available.

In addition to toting flowers around, the family business has also begun to host events. One of their most popular is the twin cities’ Banana Festival “Peace, Love and Foliage First” event. Held under the bistro lights of Fulton’s Pontotoc Park, Stephen’s Flower Truck coordinates the catered event. The truck is loaded to overflowing with buckets of fresh flowers and greenery arranged into colorful bouquets. The hospitality extended by the Frazier-Brown family flows as sweetly as the local honey they market. The event is a much-anticipated favorite and it sells out quickly.

Pop-ups, dance recitals, weddings, and lots of other special events: you name it and the family is ready to load the handsome, fine-grained, walnut bed of Stephen’s Flower Truck and continue the mission of keeping Stephen’s memory alive while spreading buckets and bouquets of joy.

To follow the joy, LIKE Stephen’s Flower Truck on Facebook and follow on Instagram @stephensflowertruck

A Q & A with

Basil Drossos

Basil Drossos Examines Our World, Both Near and Far, From an International Perspective

by Stephanie Watson

HAVING LIVED IN 11 CITIES IN NINE countries during his 30 years overseas, you could say Basil Drossos is a man of the world. As a retired General Motors Corporation executive with three decades of experience in the automotive industry worldwide, Drossos brought a wealth of international insight to Paducah when he and his wife, Genie, returned to her hometown in 2006.

Since their return, Basil has been committed to civic involvement, education, and the arts. Basil serves as chairman of the advisory board for the University of Kentucky School of Engineering Paducah Campus and serves on the board of the Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center. He is a member of the President’s Advisory Council at Centre College of Kentucky. He has served on the boards of the Barkley Regional Airport and the Citizens Advisory Board for the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Oh, and, he also speaks six languages.

In light of inflation, political upheavals, and a continued state of post-pandemic economic recovery, PADUCAH

LIFE asked for Basil’s insight. Here’s what he had to say about the state of the economy, international relations, and lessons that he learned during his time abroad.

The economy has felt unpredictable lately. In your opinion, what is the status of the world economy and America’s role in it?

This has been a difficult time in the U.S. Given the onset of the pandemic, the U.S. economy has come out of that scenario probably in stronger fashion than anywhere else in the world. Things are now complicated by the war in Ukraine, for Europe and for Russia, but the U.S. economy is coming out better than most. Our economy appears to be very resilient despite the inflation, and we’re on the right track. So, I’m very optimistic. There are great unknowns in terms of political instability, but as has often been the case, the U.S. economy seems to be strong and resilient. Business is good. We may have an induced downturn in order to tame inflation, but in the long term—and even though a lot of us are suffering in the meantime—that’s the right thing to do. So, I’m very optimistic. but you can’t live and work all around the world for 30 years and not be a glass half full kind of person!

Which countries are most important in terms of economic relations for the United States right now?

All! Most people think of China because it’s the second largest economy in the world and, depending on the exchange rate, will surpass the US economy in size by

Q&A with Basil Drossos

2030. However, it’s very, very important to maintain our relationships with Latin American, African, and Asian countries. Even countries with economies much smaller than ours and in seemingly obscure places have a lot of very important raw materials that we need. Lithium for batteries comes from high in the Andes in Bolivia and Chile, for example, and lithium is critically important in today’s world. Indonesia is one of the biggest producers of nickel, a component in a host of modern products. So, when I say all, I really do mean that all of our economic relations are important in their own way because the modern world is so interconnected.

Can you speak to Paducah’s economy and what you’re excited for in terms of its future?

We’re very fortunate that we have a very broad-based economy, which is not dependent on one single thing. We do have to recognize, however, that the underlying foundation of the economy in our community is the Gaseous Diffusion Plant, both when it was operating to enrich uranium and now in its remediation. That facility brings in $320-$340 million dollars of federal money each year to support that remediation effort. And most of that money is wages and salaries which are paid locally by the major contractor. These people are earning and spending in our local economy. So anybody who thinks that somehow the Gaseous Diffusion Plant is kind of off the radar, isn’t looking at the right radar screen.

Because of the geography that I mentioned earlier, we really service a quarter of a million people in the surrounding areas when we consider that our reach goes about 50 miles or so in any direction. We have a vibrant healthcare industry that is the second largest

employer in the region after hospitality. The healthcare industry provides high benefit jobs with a wage structure which is terrific for this economy. The river industry does the same thing. It’s a major employer offering high wages and strong benefits. Hospitality, which is also a huge employer in our area, has lower paying wages but they have increased since the pandemic. Even though the federal minimum wage has not been increased, it looks like our effective minimum wage is more around $15 now, and the benefits structures have also improved.

In your lifetime, you’ve seen an incredible “flattening” of the world, as we’ve become more connected. How have we embraced this change and where do we still have room for growth? When we first went overseas to Peru and Venezuela back in 1977, it was very expensive and difficult to even make a phone call to another country. In today’s world, no matter where you are you can communicate instantaneously with whomever you wish. That’s a tremendous boost in productivity, personal as well as professional. And that is only going to continue. Every technological advancement brings both good points and difficulties, but we learn to utilize the good points to improve productivity and lifestyle. At the same time, we learn to accommodate the difficulties. We’re now hearing discussions about artificial intelligence and how inevitably, kids will use it to cheat. So, do you remember when the electronic calculator was introduced? We were forbidden to bring them to the classroom. And then when the internet came out, we were forbidden to use it for research. Those perspectives are laughable now. Change needs to be embraced. And if you don’t embrace it, you’re destined to failure.

Why choose to come back to Paducah after you’ve been everywhere else? Apart from the fact that we live in a lovely home on 18 acres right in the middle of town that has been in Genie’s family for three generations, there’s a lot to be said for a community like Paducah. We all know Paducah punches above its weight, and it looks, feels, smells, and tastes like something more than a river town with 25,000 people. I say that in a complimentary way because we are more than that, and the reason is geography. If you think of a rough geographical triangle created by St. Louis, Nashville, and Memphis, we’re smack dab in the middle. So even though it’s never ever captured in any micropolitan statistical tables, our economic zone goes out about halfway toward each of those cities. That makes our economic reach closer to 250-300,000 people. And that’s why we have two major hospitals here. That’s how we have the hospitality business that we have. That’s why we have a performing arts center, amateur theater, and a symphony orchestra with decades of success.

What lessons from your international experiences would you most like to pass on to others?

People around the world are all very much alike. We all want what’s best for our families, which generally includes wanting a better life for the next generation. We want to be able to put food on the table and provide for good education for our kids. That’s the same everywhere, whether it’s the bottom of the social ladder or the top. And even though there are some things that superficially make us all think that we’re different, we’re not. We’re really all the same.

What is your advice for raising kids with an awareness and appreciation of the world when you have a career that keeps you in one locale?

If you have the opportunity for international assignment, take it. People are always worried about the kids, but generally, the youngsters adapt right away. Outside of that, any opportunities you can provide your children with the chance to travel internationally will broaden their understanding of the world.

Can you share some final thoughts on Paducah?

We truly live in a great community. We’ve embraced the arts, we’ve embraced tourism, we’ve rebranded ourselves. Our city had a big feature in February in Southern Living magazine. Probably most importantly is that our UNESCO status is worth its weight in gold in terms of providing for economic development and growth. People and organizations find us that would have never known we existed if it were not for our UNESCO status.

We also have two excellent education systems here in McCracken County, along with outstanding opportunities for higher education. We have Murray State nearby as well as their Paducah campus. We have a community college which is consistently ranked among the best out of the 10,000 community colleges in the country as ranked by the ASPEN Institute every two years. We even have the University of Kentucky College of Engineering extension campus. Wholistically, this city has a lot to offer.

by S TEPHANIE WATSON

Advanced Aviation just a

HOP , Skip, and a FLYT Away

HopFlyt Brings The Future Of Commercial Aviation To Paducah

HOW WAS YOUR LAST DRIVE TO NASHVILLE? LOUISVILLE? ST. LOUIS?

Longer than you hoped and probably less enjoyable than you imagined? Paducahans love their proximity to several big cities. But the commutes? Not so much. So, imagine this: What if you could take those same trips in about 40 minutes, without doing the driving, and for about the cost of an Uber Black? In the near future, it appears this will be a possibility.

“eVTOL aircraft is going to change the way we move about our lives,” says Rob Winston, co-founder of HopFlyt. “Suddenly, you’ll be able to move about in cities five times faster than before and point to point in ways you’ve never imagined.”

HopFlyt

eVTOL, which stands for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, is the latest innovation in movement in and between cities. A combination between the maneuverability of a helicopter and the comfort of commercial aircraft, it allows for travel that is fast, efficient, comfortable, and affordable. Rob and Lucille Winston—the husband-and-wife engineering duo who cofounded HopFlyt—were offered incentive packages from four other states when they were looking to relocate operations from Maryland. Lucky for us, Paducah was just the right fit.

In February, Sprocket hosted an official welcome reception with HopFlyt, the McCracken County Fiscal Court, the city of Paducah, and the Barkley Regional Airport Authority as they celebrated the company’s choice to transition its commercial development and operations to Paducah. These entities will jointly provide hangar and office space, along with funding for renovations to accommodate HopFlyt’s needs as staffing for the design, engineering, and manufacturing of the aircraft advance.

On the cutting edge of aerospace design, HopFlyt will develop their flagship commercial aircraft, the Venturi, at the Barkley hangar space. The Venturi will hold four people and be able to fly like an airplane and take off and land like a helicopter.

“Our design is different than other companies working on eVTOL aircraft because it can fly like a bird, vectoring both lift and thrust whereas as others just use lift,” Rob Winston explains. “The wing design, which is unique to HopFlyt, also adds efficiency, contributes to longer battery life, and increases the versatility of the aircraft’s applications. The nimbleness and scalability of the design allows for a wide range of use, from commercial flights to medical support, firefighting, agriculture, humanitarian aid, and more.”

The company is also developing two smaller varieties of the aircraft—named the Squall and the Cyclone—that will have drone-like applications and allow HopFlyt to engage the full range of the advanced aerial mobility market. And because the aircrafts will be electric (with some models expected to be hybrid initially), its environmental footprint is helping bring aviation into a sustainable future.

The Winstons hope to have commercial operations fully transitioned to Paducah in six months, but it will be a few years before you can spot the Venturi in Paducah’s skies. With many of the components still in development phases and needing to be custom-made, the Winstons expect it to be ready for test flights in about three years’ time. They are also

HopFlyt cofounders, Rob and Lucille Winston at the official reception hosted by Sprocket.

working on a military application of these aircraft. Those operations will take place in Texas.

Bringing HopFlyt to Paducah was a community effort led by Paducah native Steve Reid, who is also now Chief Financial Officer for the company. After meeting the couple through a former business associate and hearing about their intentions to move the company out of Maryland, Reid set about helping to develop an incentive package with both state and local backing as well as collaboration with city and county entities. Local and state incentives, high quality of life, and cost-of-living considerations—along with the proximity and accessibility of the University of Kentucky’s School of Engineering and faculty— combined to make Paducah an ideal environment for HopFlyt’s growth.

The Winstons bring with them decades of experience in both the aviation and engineering industry. Lucille has applied her passion for engineering throughout her career. Her technical experience spans from testing ISS hardware with NASA, to working as an aircraft propulsion engineer for the US Navy, to serving as lead engineer for aerospace defense programs. A lifelong fascination for aviation led Rob to get his pilot’s license at 16 and own his first airplane at 19. He is a retired U.S. Marine who worked as an operational test pilot, aircraft program manager, NASA test engineer, aircraft designer and builder before creating HopFlyt. The couple met while working at NASA. They have been married— and working on exciting engineering side projects—for more than 30 years.

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LastWord the

LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL , built in 1894, was designed to teach over 100 students and served the community for nearly 60 years before its closure. The building housed various students after that time, last serving as the location of Head Start from 1973-1980.

The building no longer stands, but a newly formed organization is hoping to build a new community center at its former location on a stretch of land along south Eighth Street between Ohio Street and Tennessee Street on Paducah’s Southside. The Lincoln High School Historical Foundation, founded by Paducah-McCracken County NAACP President J.W. Cleary, will honor the school’s memory as an early and important center of Black education in Paducah. Once built, the facility will live up to Lincoln High School’s legacy by preserving its memory and meeting the needs of local nonprofits and community groups.

PHOTO COURTESY PADUCAH HISTORICAL PRESERVATION GROUP

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

—Nelson Mandela

RAIN - A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES performs songs from Abbey Road & the Rooftop Concert LIVE, in addition to all your favorite hits

This mind-blowing performance takes you back in time with the legendary foursome delivering a note-for-note theatrical event that is the next best thing to seeing the Beatles.

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MARDIE HERNDON Leadership since 2013

IN 1948 A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE CREATED A BANK THAT THEY BELIEVED WOULD SERVE THE FINANCIAL NEEDS OF THEIR COMMUNITY WELL INTO THE FUTURE. THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

Now, 75 years later, Paducah Bank is the community’s only locally owned bank in continuous operation. Many presidents have passed through the halls of this institution. And in 2013, Mardie Herndon, the current President and CEO, joined that succession of gifted leaders. “It is a great privilege to be a part of such an historic institution,” says Herndon. “All of us at Paducah Bank are excited to envision the next generation of customer service.”