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Federalcase Judge Alan Stout | Judge Thomas Russell | Judge Lanny King

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contents 7o

Lexie Millican Remembers the Art of South Korea

february/march 2022 ★ from the editor page 5 ★ last word page 84

12 21 22 24 26 28 30 32 35 49 51 52 54 59 64 67 74 76 80

Federal Judge Thomas Russell’s Rise to the Bench

Judge Lanny King Has the Best of Both Worlds Judge Alan Stout Looks to Faith, Family and Fairness Paducah’s Respected Role in the Federal Judiciary Probation Officers Seek to Achieve Positive Outcomes

The Courtroom Murals Inside the Federal Building Local Artists Created Mural in Federal Building Lobby New Memoir of Justice Bill Cunningham Historic Muralist Got His Start in Paducah Novel Quilt City Murders Set in Paducah Dustin Wilcox Writes About Gaming Susie Fenwick Writes About Mayfield’s Trauma Cristina Crice Writes About Her Roots Mrs. Harden Goes to Washington Cherese Clark Wilson’s Legal Career in High Heels BrightsideBLVD Brings the Tunes Mollie Dunlap Made History in the Library The Dunlap Will Add New Dimensions to Paducah Culture Farming is All About Family

History of the Federal Building

Sprocket Invests in Aspiring Entrepreneurs

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2 • PADUCAH LIFE

SEE AND HEAR MORE OF THE FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE ON

VOLUME 32, EDITION 1 executive editor/ P U B L I S H E R Darlene M. Mazzone

� associate E D I TO R S Stephanie Watson J.T. Crawford

� art D I R E C TO R Scott McWilliams

� associate art D I R E C TO R Allison Wicker

� editorial P H OTO G R A P H Y Thomas Dean Stewart

� cover P H OTO G R A P H Y Brad Rankin

� on the C OV E R Judge Alan Stout Judge Thomas Russell Judge Lanny King

� Paducah Life is published six times a year for the Paducah area. All contents copyright 2022 by Mazzone Communications. Reproduction or use of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Comments

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“I

’M JUST IN THE PRESENT,” SAID Paducah’s Sarah Stewart Holland on her January 11 Pantsuit Politics podcast. “We’re not going back to some sort of equilibrium. This is not a temporary time period. The exhaustion people feel as they keep waiting for that release to ‘normal’ is simply not going to happen. Everything is going to be different in both good ways and in maybe some bad ways.” What could be a more pertinent sentiment at this point in time as our lives and our communities have been transfigured by pestilence, politics, and gathering storms. Virtually no one’s LIFE resembles its former self as we begin another year dealing with a still raging global pandemic. Add to that the devastation suffered by our neighbors in western Kentucky and the continuing dilemma for our schools and our students. The list is, as Sarah so aptly put it, exhausting. So what do we DO? We live in the present. It’s a modus operandi that this publication has subscribed to for as long as it’s been in existence. Bloom where you’re planted. Be intentional. Savor the moment. I’m certain I have used (perhaps overused) these very phrases in many an editorial for the last three decades. The author Terry Pratchett in his indigenous novel, A Thief of Time, probably expresses this philosophy of presence as well as any I have ever read. In his prose he notes, “The universe instant by instant, is recreated anew. Therefore, he understood there is, in truth, no Past, only a memory of the Past. Blink your eyes and the world you see next did not exist when you closed them. Therefore, he said, the only appropriate state of the mind is surprise. The only appropriate state of the heart is joy. The sky you see now, you have never seen before. The perfect moment is now. Be glad of it.”

Darlene M. Mazzone darlene@paducahlife.com

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 • 5

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Federal

CASE A Look at What Lies Behind the Stalwart Stone Facade of One of Paducah’s Iconic Downtown Structures Atricles by ★ DA R LEN E M A Z Z O N E , S U Z A N N E C L I N TO N , A N D J.T. C R AW F O R D

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 • 7

A lot, it turns out. 8 • PADUCAH LIFE

n History

★ by J.T. C R AW F O R D

Set in

stone

The Tale of How the Customs House was Transformed into a Seat of Justice

Photo courtesy McCracken County Public Library

OST WHO TRAVEL DOWN Broadway in Paducah’s downtown historic district are familiar with the façade of the historic federal building located at the corner of Fifth Street and Broadway. Seated at one of Paducah’s busiest intersections, the building is hard to miss, though seldom—for most of us—entered. In fact for the past 139 years, government business of one sort or another has been carried out where the federal building now stands. In 1822, a substantial stone post office and U.S. customs house was constructed at the site. The spot was also the original home of the Chief Paduke statue unveiled in 1909. In 1937, the building we know today was constructed to replace the original post office, and Chief Paduke was relocated to his current home on Jefferson Street. The original federal building continued to serve as a post office until the 1970s when the city’s current downtown postal facility was completed. It was then that the classical revival structure was converted to the use with which we are at least somewhat familiar: office space and courtrooms. Inside, an impressive two-story lobby with the kind of stone terrazzo floors that cause whispery, echoing footsteps suggest some very important and somber activities happen within. Painted on the walls of the foyer above heavy pink marble wainscotting, murals lit by the building’s large brass chandeliers adorn the walls. They feature colorful scenes of the events of Paducah’s distant past: the occupation of Paducah by General Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War, the first locomotive built in Paducah, the advent of the riverboat, and Lewis and Clark. Both inside and out, Paducah’s federal building is the sort of place that inspires awe. Less obvious is this: Just what goes on in there?

Y THE LATE 1800S, PADUCAH HAD become a hub of activity for the area. In an effort to establish a presence and in order to conduct their business locally, the federal government established a regional headquarters and post office at Fifth and Broadway. Constructed in 1882, locals knew it as the customs house. The government added on to the building in 1900, and over the next fifty years, they initiated three renovations and added modern conveniences such as an electric elevator. In 1935, a federal bill was in the works authorizing $58,000,000 to be spent on public buildings outside

of Washington D.C. Paducah was one of the cities selected. Paducah Postmaster Fred Acker said it would be a remodeling and expansion project, not a new build. He stated that the post office was too small for the city, and it simply needed to be enlarged. In March of 1936, the Federal Government abruptly announced that instead of an addition, the post office building should be torn down and a new one erected. Government architects determined that new construction would be more financially viable and serve the growing post office most efficiently. The new federal building was set to be constructed on the same plot with construction to begin in 1937. Before the project began, however, historic flooding submerged downtown Paducah early in the year. Mail service ran as long as it could via boat from the post office until equipment and supplies were removed from the building and set up in two remote offices in Lone Oak and Avondale (mid-town). Not long after the floodwaters receded in February, workers cleaned up the post office, and business resumed. That original federal building closed Nov 6, 1937, and a temporary post office was set up at the Harbour Building on 3rd Street. The demolition of the custom house and post office didn’t set well with all of Paducah’s residents. Louis Kolb fought against tearing down the old building. He said it was an “ancient

landmark set by our forefathers” and that the new building would have “no beauty.” The 1882 building had plenty of gothic charm. The Bowling Green limestone exterior displayed strength, and the custom house had long been a downtown cornerstone and point of pride. High above the main entrance, a four-ton, limestone eagle named Elmer sat on its perch, exemplifying the virtues of liberty and freedom. In the early 1900s, the Daughters of the America Revolution commissioned sculptor Lorado Taft to create a new fountain for the city. Taken with the legend of Chief Paduke, he created a fountain with a statue of the Chief seated on top. The sculpture found a home just outside the post office. Instead of scrapping everything, many materials were reused or relocated. After a precarious and multi-stage removal process, the four-ton eagle became part of a 1937 flood memorial that sits where the floodwaters ended just shy of North 30th Street on Jefferson Street. The Chief Paducah statue was also relocated to a new base on Jefferson just past North 19th Street. And the stone exterior and floors were carefully removed and reused to build Trinity United Methodist Church on Farley Street. During demolition, workers found an unmarked, copper box set in a cavity in one of the building’s stones. A card on top said “Sealed March 10, 1882 by

Stone from the original federal building was used to build the Trinity United Methodist Church.

AUGUS T / S E P T E M BER 2021 • 9

Will L. Scott.” Inside were coins from 1881 and 1882, a $100 Confederate bank note, an ear of popcorn (which caused many to scratch their heads in puzzlement), a quantity of postage stamps, copies of the Paducah Daily News, papers from the Free and Accepted Masons who sealed the box, and a few letters. One letter from the law firm of Gilbert and Reed stated that, “If lawyers are not wanted by people in the age when this is found, a great change in society will have taken place. Would that I know what and where I shall be then.” By the fall of 1938, the new federal building was complete. The city, led by Senator Alben Barkley, held a dedication on November 11 in conjunction with the annual Armistice Day parade. Barkley Park was also dedicated that day. In addition to the post office, some of the first tenants included the Department of Agriculture, U.S. Army and Navy recruiting, the IRS, the Alcohol Tax Unit, Public Health, a U.S Attorney office, and more. The Federal Photo courtesy McCracken County Public Library Courtroom featured a bit of modern technology—air conditioning. With the expanded presence of federal government offices, the building quickly changes from being known as the customs house or post office to the Federal Building. And the city, on first inspection, were taken with the building. Whatever misgivings they had over the loss of the old customs house were quickly erased with words of praise for the new building, its style, and its spaciousness.

10 • PADUCAH LIFE

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12 PADUCAH LIFE

hishonor Judge Thomas Russell Considers it an Honor and a Privilege to Have Served as One of the Nation’s Federal District Judges ★ by DA R L E N E M A Z Z O N E

During the course of working on these pieces with regard to Paducah’s stately federal building, I have on several occasions encountered the gentlemen at the entrance, armed with both badges and decorum, there to protect the inhabitants of this grand structure. The security guards have consistently been cordial, yet restrained, in their welcoming posture on all my visits. At each visit I announce my identity, they scan my bags, and I pass through the metal detector. They ask the nature of my visit. On this particular occasion as I arrive to do one of my interviews with Judge Russell I try to make light conversation as the tall, reticent security guard leads me to a door requiring a code to be admitted (after the aforementioned security protocols). I quip, “Y’all sure protect Judge Russell don’t you?” With a cool look of resolve he replies, “We think a lot of Judge Russell.” What the future federal judge was NOT thinking about his senior year at Western Kentucky University was being protected by security guards. He wasn’t even thinking about the law, much less being on the bench one day in the future. He was just looking forward to graduation as he meandered down the hall at WKU that spring day when he saw a sign outside a classroom. Inside was a professor talking about how to apply for law school. Law school? Worth a few minutes to listen in. “It almost seems kind of hokey now that I look back on it,” says Judge Thomas B. Russell, Senior United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. “It was just a whim. When I saw some seniors in this classroom learning about law school, I just thought, why not?” Why not indeed!

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2021 • 13

FEDERAL JUDGE THOMAS BARRISTER (STUMPY) Russell is a towering figure, in towering quarters, behind a massive desk. Yes, his friends have called him Stumpy all his life. “My wife has never called me anything else,” adds Judge Russell with a chuckle. He may be of a not-so-sky-high stature, but he indeed, carries a big stick (aka gavel). The demure demeanor of this overtly humble individual belies the powerful judicial breadth of his daily docket within the walls of the often unnoticed, but certainly commanding, Federal Building in downtown Paducah. Beneath the high ceiling and soaring windows of rather imposing chambers, Judge Russell has conducted the proceedings of his delegated office since 1994. His tenure in Paducah began, however, in 1970 after his graduation from the University of Kentucky College of Law. “That chance encounter at Western changed my life,” Judge Russell says with a sense of retrospection. “I had never considered law at any point in college. I majored in English and History and then decided to get my teaching certificate in case this law thing didn’t work out,” he adds. As it turns out success was not illusive. Judge Russell applied, was accepted, and graduated second in his class. Next stop Paducah, Kentucky. Judge Russell began his career under the tutelage of veteran legal mind Henry Whitlow. “I couldn’t have asked for a better start or with more capable, conscientious people,” Russell comments. “Here were people who were the very best examples of how a legal firm should work. It became quickly apparent that these individuals put the quality of service over the quantity of their fees.” The new lawyer in town worked primarily with Mr.

14 • PADUCAH LIFE

Whitlow in the area of litigation and received his next education at the hands of an accomplished, successful local attorney. “I sort of became his go-to guy,” Russell recalls. “For those first years I was involved in almost every case he tried. That guidance and experience was invaluable. By 1994 I had tried hundreds of cases and been involved in virtually every aspect of the process.” n n n

CLOCKWISE TOP LEFT Dean David Brennen presented the University of Kentucky College of Law Hall of Fame award to Judge Russell in 2018. n Tom and Phyllis Russell met Justice Clarence Thomas after his speech to the UK College of Law. n Judge Russell with Chief Justice John Roberts at a meeting of the Judicial Conference of the United States in 2019. Judge Russell was the Sixth Circuit District Judge Representative to the Judicial Conference. n Retiring Judge Edward Johnstone and his wife, Kaye, joined newly appointed Judge Thomas Russel and his wife, Phyllis, at a welcome dinner in 1994. n There is a tradition of hanging a portrait of each federal judge who serves the Western District. Portrait artist Joy Thomas did the painting of Tom Russell who viewed it here with his mother, Eleanor Russell of Glasgow, KY.

The Call

“I was involved with a medical malpractice case which was much of our practice at the time,” says Russell. “I was serving as a hearing officer out of town when someone interrupted with a message that Judge Edward Johnstone was on the phone. I replied that I’d call him back.” Judge Johnstone was the current Federal District Judge at the time. “The assistant came back into the room and said, ‘He says he needs to talk to you right now.’ That seemed like a call I should take.” This may have been one of Judge Russell’s most important judicial decisions. When Russell went to the phone, Judge Johnstone said, “Tom, how would you like my job?” “I had truly never considered becoming a judge of any kind,” Tom Russell remembers. “I wasn’t interested in campaigning, and I liked my work and the people I was working with. I knew of Judge Johnstone and had encountered him from behind the bench, but I really didn’t know him very well. I was pretty taken aback when I heard what he had to say.” Judge Johnstone informed Russell that he was stepping down and that Senator Wendell Ford needed a name. “I’m going to submit yours,” Judge Johnstone said with the authoritative tone of a member of the federal judiciary. The weight of those words fell upon an unsuspecting, but honored Tom Russell. “I was in a bit of a stupor,” Judge Russell says. “It just came out of the blue. Many of these appointments had some basis in politics or networking or relationships. I was privy to none of that.” Within days Judge Edward Johnstone had put forth the name of Thomas B. Russell to Senator Wendell Ford who then submitted it to President Bill Clinton. “That day he asked me to write a letter stating why I felt I could serve as the federal judge in the Western District. Looking back, I feel like I was half listening to what he was saying

F E B RUA RY / MAR C H 2021 2022 •• 15 15 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

and then was half conscious when I took pencil to pad and asked my assistant to type it up and to ‘please correct anything!’” Judge Russell says he literally thought to himself, “So that’s the end of that.” It was only the beginning. “That next week he called me up and said, ‘I think this may happen.’ I was stunned,” Russell recalls. A few weeks later he got a phone call from Senator Ford whom he had never met. “He asked me specifically, ‘Will you work hard and be fair?’ I said I could indeed and that I would be honored.” Senator Ford submitted the name of Thomas Russell to the president’s office that day. A lengthy questionnaire arrived which took Russell days to complete. An FBI investigation ensued. “I only told my wife, Phyllis, my law partners and a close friend from law school that I was being considered,” Russell says. “None of them could believe it either.” Time stood still. “My mind was in such a state Then suddenly Thomas of confusion,” Judge Russell was before memRussell comments. “This bers of the Department of was nothing I had ever Justice and subsequently considered. I certainly a Senate hearing being hadn’t sought it and questioned about his abilihere I was, waiting for ty to uphold the law, his word to come from Administrative staff in the Paducah judicial offices include from left Joe Turner, Jessie Mercer, Terri Turner, Melody Morris, Kelly Harris, Kelly Atkins, Mary Buter. opinions about legal issues the president of the of the day, his thoughts on United States about an judicial processes, and his willingness to uphold the laws of appointment that was beyond my every expectation.” the land for the United States of America. Following a review by the American Bar Association, a But the trial was not yet over. One Senator had some minutely detailed FBI investigation was rendered which additional questions that Russell was asked to provide sought information and input from what seemed like written answers to. “I was a nervous wreck,” Judge Russell anyone Tom Russell had ever known. “I had to provide says. “I didn’t practice much constitutional law. I was kind information from my sixth-grade paper route forward. of a lost ball in tall weeds. They wanted to know about literally EVERY job I had ever had,” Judge Russell says. A process which can sometimes take months if not n n n years, was surprisingly efficient in 1994. “Senator Ford was concerned that the decision might not be made before the end of the Congressional session,” Judge Russell says. “But “I left D.C. Friday morning knowing that the Senate in the last week they convened, I got a call from Senator Judicial Committee had voted favorably,” says Russell. Ford asking me to be in D.C. the next day. So, Phyllis and “The appointment was now in the hands of the Senate, I flew up on a Wednesday night for a hearing on Thursday. which was in session that day to consider nominees. It was I went to the Senator’s office for a two-hour meeting. He parents’ weekend at my son’s college in Indiana so I flew to went to great lengths to put me at ease.” DePauw. Around 11 PM that night sitting in a restaurant

The Next Call

16 • PADUCAH LIFE

with my son’s new friends, I went to a pay phone, knees knocking, unsure if I should call Senator Ford’s office. I spoke to a staffer who said, ‘It’s a horse race, but you have one of the biggest horses in the race.’” At 6:30 the next morning Thomas Russell got a phone call at the Motel 8 to let him know that he had been confirmed as the next United States District Judge for the Western District. The next week the newly-confirmed judge was baptized by fire. “I was called to a hearing in Louisville almost immediately,” remembers Judge Russell. “I was preparing to take the bench and someone asked me if I brought my robe. I just assumed they would provide that. So, they gave me one of Judge Johnstone’s to wear for this one case. Let me interject here that I am 5’ 5” and Judge Johnstone was 6’5”. So, of course, I tripped taking the step up to the chair and I’m sure it looked like I popped up from behind the bench like a jack-in-the-box.” And thus began the distinguished, dignified judicial career of federal Judge Thomas B. Russell. A vigorous sense of humor has probably served Judge Russell as substantially as his wealth of legal knowledge during his tenure on the bench. Certainly his belief in the

“I say every year that it will be my last,” says Judge Russell. “But I love what I do. It’s hard work, but it’s important work. And it’s going to be very difficult to leave behind.” privilege of public service has been a fundamental platform for the performance of the delivery of justice. “Everyone who comes through the doors of that courtroom for a trial, particularly if a criminal trial, is undoubtedly experiencing one of the most difficult moments of their lives,” Judge Russell surmises. “I feel, as do the jurors who serve, an unparalleled responsibility to provide a fair and legitimate process for each of those individuals. It’s vitally important that we get it right. “The biggest asset in my life and along this journey has been my wife, Phyllils,” concludes Judge Russell. “Without her support, patience, and attention to our family, I would not have had this opportunity of public service. We had a joint commitment that our goal was to help others.”

going through the motions Over the years Judge Russell has had more than 50 law clerks who have garnered experience in the Western District in Paducah. “I really love working with the clerks,” says Judge Russell. “They sort of become like family. I have lunch with my clerks at least two or three days a week. We talk about the law but mostly just about the stuff of life. I have so much respect for every clerk who has passed through our offices. We have a reunion every five years or so. Almost every month I get a call or an email from one of our past clerks.” The clerkship with a federal judge is a competitive process. Applicants must submit a resume, law school transcripts, writing samples, class rank, and letters of recommendation. “Most of these young lawyers are in the top 10 in their class,” says Judge Russell. “My goal is to help them grasp that the practice of law is a privilege and that they have a unique opportunity to help others.” A gag gift is often in the cards when clerks complete their time with Judge Russell. “In 2013 these three gave me a tie to remember them by,” laughs the Judge. Pictured are Zach Vanvactor, a Marshall County student who graduated from Tulane Law School. Vanvactor is now a partner with Stites and Harbison in Louisville. Andrew Hansbrough, from Bowling Green, graduated from the UVA Law School and is senior counsel for a Dallas, Texas company. And Jessica Harvey, of Benton, graduated from the UK College of Law. She works in the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. in the public corruption division. “They are all different, and they are all good to the core.”

Memorable

moments

from behinD the bench ★

by DA R LEN E M A ZZO N E

N THE LONGSTANDING TENURE OF FEDERAL JUDGE Thomas Russell, hundreds of court cases have come under his watchful eye with greatly varied details and equally as unique outcomes. But two have remained in his memory as ones of judicial distinction, particularly for a district like that of Western Kentucky. One was the nationally notable 2010 case of Steven Green, accused of murder during his military service in Iraq. The other was an anti-trust case between United States Tobacco Company and the Conwood Company. n n n

U.S Government vs. Steven Green The weeks-long trial of Steven Green was not only memorable for Judge Russell, but emotionally taxing as well. “A case like this is a very weighty responsibility,” Judge Russell admits.“For months you sit day in and day out and listen to disturbing details about a gruesome murder. It takes its toll on everyone involved especially the jury.” Steven Green was ultimately convicted and sentenced to life in prison for participating in a sexual assault and multiple murders while stationed in Iraq as an infantryman in the United States Army. Before senior Army officials became aware that Green and three fellow servicemembers were involved in the crimes, Green was discharged due to a personality disorder. When officials discovered Green’s involvement, his three coconspirators were still on active duty. They were tried by courts-martial. However, the Army had no authority to court-martial Green since he had been discharged. Thus, civilian prosecutors charged Green under what’s called the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act. The United States Department of Justice made the decision to hold the trial in Paducah. “It was a charged and emotional scene almost every day,” Judge Russell remembers. “The attorneys for the United States government had brought extended family members of the victims to Paducah from Iraq to tell their story on the witness stand.” Interestingly, the interpreter for the proceedings was the same individual who worked on the case of Saddam Hussein. “And naturally the defendant’s attorneys put Green’s family on the stand to provide details about his family life and his experience in the military, etc.” A case involving a potential death penalty is procedurally complicated and obviously fraught with grave moral considerations. However, the process is clearly delineated within federal judicial guidelines. “My job is to follow the law,” says Judge Russell. “Once the fact-finding trial was concluded with a guilty verdict,

18 • PADUCAH LIFE

there was a penalty phase to make the decision for the death penalty or life in prison. This was my first and only case with regard to the death penalty.” Months of trial preparation, a week of jury selection, dozens of pre-trial conferences and hearings with counsel, four weeks of trial, millions of dollars invested by the federal government to try the case, and the plight of an individual’s life all played out before the bench of Judge Thomas Russell inside the historic stone walls of Paducah’s Federal Building on Broadway. “That trial has proven to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me,” Judge Russell recalls. “Those were unforgettable moments in my judicial career.” n n n

Conwood Company vs. US Tobacco In the late 1990s, a very different, but nonetheless memorable, case was brought before the Western District. It involved two tobacco companies in an anti-trust suit filed by the Conwood Company. US Tobacco was the largest tobacco firm in the country at the time. Conwood charged the corporation with unfair practices resulting in the illegal interference with Conwood’s ability to compete in the marketplace. “This was a truly interesting case that arrived on our doorstep,” Judge Russell remembers. “The trial went on for more than a month. There were thousands of documents filed as a part of the process. The suit was filed in April of 1998 and wasn’t concluded until 2000. There were hundreds of motions filed in this highly contested federal litigation.” And no wonder. The final result

was an award to Conwood Company of $1.3 billion. “It was the largest anti-trust verdict in the United States actually paid by a defendant and still is today,” Judge Russell remarked. But there’s more. The plaintiff was represented by Kellog Hansen Todd and Evans based in Washington, D.C. “And on that team was a co-counsel for the Washington firm. His name was Neil Gorsuch,” said Judge Russell. “He, along with the other members of the firm, worked very closely with Paducah attorney Dick Roberts. Justice Gorsuch and Dick actually became good friends.” That friendship became evident after the funeral of Dick Roberts in 2021. Judge Russell spoke at the service. He and Dick Roberts had worked together at the beginning of Tom Russell’s career at what is now the Paducah firm of Whitlow Roberts Houston and Straub. “Dick Roberts was a monumental legal mind, not only in this community, but among the best anywhere. And as I would find out later, Justice Gorsuch agreed.” The funeral, held during the COVID epidemic, was live streamed for those away from the community to view. Justice Gorsuch and Mark Hansen were among those who joined the live stream. “They both sent very thoughtful personal notes to the family,” Judge Russell commented. “They wanted me to know that they shared my regard for Dick Roberts. Justice Gorsuch summed it up best when he wrote about how much Dick had impressed him and influenced him in his early career. The Justice expressed a desire that his life and career would have similar consequence on the lives of the young lawyers he now encounters.”

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20 • PAD U CAH L I FE

n U.S. Magistrate Judge

★ by S U ZA N N E C L I N TO N

lannyKING A Judicial Role that Offers the Best of Both Worlds

ANNY KING DIDN’T EXACTLY PLAN ON MAKING A permanent home in Paducah for 24 years. Originally from Henderson, Kentucky, he completed his undergraduate degree at Emory University in Atlanta after which he made the decision to take some time off before law school. “In the end, that decision actually served me well,” says Judge King. “I worked for Senator Wendell Ford in Washington for four years.” That experience cemented a decision to enroll at the University of Kentucky where he earned joint degrees in Law/Public Administration. Soon after graduation, he found himself clerking for U.S. District Judge Russell at the Federal Building, a position that has changed the trajectory of many a young lawyer in Paducah. Lanny King was no exception. That clerkship led to a variety of legal roles in the community: Assistant Commonwealth Attorney, conflict work for the Department of Public Advocacy, a stint as a Hearings Officer for the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice and the Kentucky Board of Claims, as well as a private practice. Eventually, the road would lead back to the Federal Building where he started.

Technically, magistrate judges are judicial officers of the U.S. district court appointed by the district judges of the court to handle a variety of judicial proceedings. What that means for Judge King is that no two days are alike. “Basically, my role is to make the job of District Judges more efficient so they can focus on those things only they can do, such as preside over trials,” said King. “Among other things, I handle the initial appearance and arraignment of those charged with a federal crime and determine whether they can be released prior to trial,” he said. “In other words, I determine whether or not they are a danger or a flight risk. Those are the toughest decisions I have to make.” Otherwise, Judge King handles a broad array of issues, essentially, anything that arises from a federal statute. “That’s challenging,” says King. “You really can’t specialize because you see something different every day.” When Lanny isn’t attending to the myriad duties of this unique judgeship, he spends as much time as possible at Lake Barkley. Swimming and hiking are favorite pastimes, and he especially loves spending time with his two children. While the ever-changing challenges of being a U.S. Magistrate Judge are many, Lanny wouldn’t have it any other way. “I absolutely love my position. I couldn’t write a job description that would be better for me,” he said. “I live a small-town lifestyle, but I’m involved in litigation just as you’d find in any large city. It’s really the best of both worlds.”

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 • 21

n Judge Alan C. Stout

★ by S U ZA N N E C L I N TO N

Faith, family, and a fair shake

Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Kentucky

HILE IT MAY NOT SOUND PARTICULARLY appealing, bankruptcy is sometimes unavoidable. Going through the process of filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 (individual) or Chapter 11 (for a business), means citizens can potentially get a fresh start by liquidating assets to pay their debts or by creating a repayment plan. In Paducah, people and businesses in that situation inevitably wind up in the courtroom of Judge Alan C. Stout at the Federal Building. A veteran of 12,000 cases as a trustee and 3,000 cases as an attorney—he practiced for 30 years in both Marion and Paducah— Judge Stout was appointed Bankruptcy Judge in 2011 and assumed the role of Chief Judge in January 2020. “The initial appointment was a life-changing event,” he recalls. Almost immediately, upon becoming Chief Judge, he faced the unprecedented challenge of Covid. “When the pandemic hit, I had just taken over, and the whole court system had to pivot,” he recalled. “Court was conducted telephonically and by video. We continued to move the cases along,” he said. “By July of 2021, regular court resumed requiring masks, social distancing, and increased sanitization. The days were very different for a year and a half.” In practical terms, the Judge does not preside over one courtroom only. “My main duty station is based out of Louisville, and I spend the majority of my time there,” he explained. “I hold court in Paducah once a month and the day varies depending on the location. Generally, it involves a lot of administrative work and presiding over trials,” he added. Asked what the most important qualities of a Judge might be, Stout is quick to answer. “I can tell you that I have learned it’s very important to be patient and to

22 • PADUCAH LIFE 22 • PAD U CAH L I FE

listen and withhold making a judgement until everyone has had their say and all the evidence is in. Then make your decision about what you’ve seen and heard.” Judge Stout brings a great amount of training and experience to the bench having previously

LIKE us on served as County Attorney of Crittenden County for 21 years as well as a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee for 25 years. He is a graduate of Murray State University and the Salmon P. Chase College of Law in Northern Kentucky. A passionate Murray State Racer, Judge Stout was named Distinguished Alumni of the college in 2021. He continues to be very involved at MSU with past service on the Board of Regents, including a stint as Chair. He is also the past president of the MSU Alumni Association and currently serves on the board of the Murray State University Foundation. The Judge and his wife, Doris, split their time between homes in Marion and Louisville. The couple’s three children all join their father in proudly calling Murray State University their alma mater. His twin off-time passions include spending time with the kids and grandkids, the latter of whom call him “Pappy,” and boating at Green Turtle Bay. Throughout a lifetime of service, not to mention a busy docket, Judge Stout is clear about priorities. “Of all the things I’ve been involved with or accomplished, the most important is my role as a father, husband, and grandfather to my seven grandkids,” he said. “And I always attribute anything that has come my way to my faith.” Otherwise, the Judge’s energies are focused on his work. “I enjoy the position,” he said. “We have a very good group of lawyers who practice in our courts. It’s very satisfying.”

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Paducah Has a Respected Role in the

federal judicial system

F YOU WATCH ANY TELEVISION SHOWS where “the feds” are involved, the term AUSA can frequently be heard in the backrooms of corporate boardrooms where unscrupulous players fear the knock at the door of the federal government’s prosecutors (think Billions). High crimes don’t often fall into the jurisdiction of western Kentucky’s US Attorney’s office. But the very presence of these capable prosecutors protects their constituency with professionalism and expertise.

n n n

SETH HANCOCK By Suzanne Clinton

Assistant United States Attorney and Branch Chief of the Paducah Satellite at the Federal Building, Seth Hancock heads up a team that includes Assistant US Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, Assistant US Attorney Raymond McGee, legal assistant Tammie Dodds, and paralegal Christy Crockett. Together, they work to bring criminals to justice in Western Kentucky. “Fortunately, we have a really top-notch bunch of people,” said Seth. “That means it’s not as much work as it might be to supervise them.” The US Attorney’s Office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in western Kentucky including offenses such as terrorism, child exploitation, violent crime, financial fraud, health care fraud, narcotics, human trafficking, and public corruption. The office also defends the United States in civil law suits and works to recover assets from fraud committed against the United States by working with federal, state, and local law enforcement. “Some of the most commonly encountered crimes are drug cases which most of the time is going to be just larger scale meth amphetamine. We also deal with cases involving synthetic opioids,” Hancock explains. “We prosecute a lot of

24 • PADUCAH LIFE

firearms related crimes which are primarily felons in possession of firearms, but also more violent offenses. If a civilian commits a crime at Ft. Campbell, we handle that. We also deal with minor crimes and petty offenses that occur at Land Between the Lakes,” he said. “There’s also an increasing number of white-collar offenses that are being prosecuted out of Paducah like wire and mail fraud, sometimes in the hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars,” he added. “Generally speaking, our primary duties are like an iceberg,” said Hancock. “Everyone thinks of us of as being the face of the prosecution of the United States when presenting cases in court. There’s a whole lot more that goes into that,” he explained. “It starts early on. We’re coordinating with federal agents from agencies like the FBI, ATF, DEA, and Homeland Security. They present us with case files and investigative materials. We sit down and review those. It may be reports, written documents, video proof, audio recordings, body cam videos, or lab reports,” he said. “We look at all that and then make decisions on whether or not the case is appropriate for federal prosecution. Sometimes cases are more appropriately handled in state court. If there isn’t enough proof, we don’t take the case,” Hancock said. Once a decision is made to prosecute, Hancock’s team swings into action in court. By anyone’s reckoning, it’s a serious and complicated job. As one might imagine, many if not most situations, don’t necessarily get easier with experience. “The subject matter of the cases we deal with can be tough to deal with sometimes,” Hancock admitted.

Fortunately, the challenge is made at least somewhat easier by those on the extended team. “We are extremely blessed with the quality of law enforcement in this area,” said Hancock. “Whether that’s Paducah Police Department or the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, they are a topnotch bunch of folks and we are lucky to have them.” A Reidland graduate, Seth earned a bachelor’s degree at Centre College in Danville before heading off to law school at the University of Louisville. He met his wife, Lisa, while working as Assistant Commonwealth Attorney in Paducah. She is a native of Lone Oak. They have two children, a son and a daughter. In his off time, Seth coaches his son’s baseball team and is a history buff specializing in the Civil War (an interest sparked by the Ken Burns Documentary) and the War of 1812. “For me personally, I’m from Paducah originally and have lots of friends and relatives in McCracken County as well as the surrounding counties,” he said. “If a defendant has committed a heinous crime, we need to be able to get justice for that community. And, for a time at least, help that situation.” n n n

LEIGH ANN DYCUS By Dustin Wilcox

Within the federal courthouse in downtown Paducah, Leigh Ann Dycus has worked as an assistant U.S. attorney since 2018—primarily to prosecute drug and gun crimes, violent sexual crimes, and crimes against children.

“It’s absolutely rewarding, especially in these crimes against children, when you get a predator or somebody who is targeting children off the streets,” Dycus said. “That has a direct impact in our community. You feel like you’re making the community that you live and work in a safer place for not only you but other people to raise their families.” On a day-to-day basis, Paducah native Dycus interacts with a variety of investigative agencies at the local, state and federal levels. Several federal agencies have established presences in Paducah, including the Drug Enforcement Agency; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; the U.S. Marshals; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “We have active investigations where we’re conferring with law enforcement and using our resources to investigate and prosecute cases,” she said. “Some of my day might be spent in court upstairs with Judge Russell or Judge King conducting hearings or appearances.” The federal courthouse in which Dycus works is one of four U.S. attorney’s offices in the western district of Kentucky, the others being in Louisville, Bowling Green and Owensboro. The Paducah office handles cases originating in such counties as McCracken, Calloway, Christian, Hopkins, Ballard, and Graves. “In court, I represent the interests of the United States and any victims that there may be to that person’s crime,” Dycus noted. “We would be in court with the judge, a defense attorney, and the defendant who had been charged with a crime. We might try cases in court in front of a jury.” Dycus worked as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney for McCracken County before transitioning to federal law. She’s also served on the boards for the Police Foundation and the Child Watch Advocacy Center, and was a founding member of the McCracken County deferred prosecution program. “When I transitioned over to the role of Assistant United States Attorney with the federal system, I certainly brought that background with me, that knowledge, and the contacts that I had made with local prosecutors, investigators, agencies, and child advocacy centers,” she said. “A lot of times, those cases may originate in state court, and then we adopt those cases for federal prosecution if the elements fit a federal crime.” After graduating from law school at Southern Illinois University, Dycus spent about a year at a small firm but pivoted to state work with the intention of helping people in her community—eventually landing in one of the most stately buildings in the city. “I always tell people the Paducah federal courthouse is the best kept secret in Paducah because people drive by it every day and nobody has a clue what goes on inside,” she said.

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 • 25

n n n

by S U Z A N N E C L I N TO N

US Probation

officers

employ supportive tactics to achieve positive outcomes

MARKWALKER For the past eighteen years, Mark Walker has been working with individuals who have been sentenced or indicted in federal court. Obvious are the downsides of running afoul of federal law. Less obvious, however, are the potential positive outcomes. “We are really here to help [individuals] succeed,” said Mark. “That help begins when they are released on conditions of supervision,” he added. “Our office makes recommendations to the court on whether we think this person is or is not a risk of non-appearance or danger to the community. The court can impose conditions that may reduce those risks. And those become conditions of their supervision,” Mark said. Throughout his career, Mark has witnessed the success of some individuals and it is just these positive outcomes he focuses on in his work at the Federal Building. Perhaps not surprisingly, success is most often linked to employment. “What’s most rewarding is when I see individuals make that turn in their life,” Mark said. “And it’s really that self-worth they get by gaining employment. I’ve had individuals with very little work history eventually achieve a lawful occupation and then begin making a contribution not just to themselves but to their families. I hear them reflect and say things like, ‘I never really thought I could do this, but I’m doing it.’” This means businesses helping as well. “Locally, we have a lot of employers who are good about giving people a chance and opportunity,” explained Mark. “We are very

fortunate that’s the case in the Paducah area. It’s refreshing to see our local community and employers are willing to help,” he said. And the work doesn’t stop with the individual. “We also build a relationship with families,” Mark explained. “When people go to prison, it doesn’t just impact the individual. It also impacts their families, wives, and children. We work to develop that social structure that will help us help them.” Lastly, help comes from the court and the judges themselves at the Federal Building. “I believe our court goes above and beyond to try to give people a chance to succeed,” said Mark. “Our judges care about the people that come in front of them. It makes us more able to have a positive impact on the lives of these people. We do what we can to show them the system isn’t just out to get them, we are actually here to help.”

Mark Walker and Rebecca Spayde Provice In-depth Information on Convicted Individuals with the Ultimate Goal of Fair Sentencing

26 • PADUCAH LIFE

REBECCASPAYDE Rebecca Spayde’s path to her current role at the Federal Building began in the Southern District of Florida when she got a “foot in the door” job with the intent of becoming a probation officer. From there, a national job hunt led her to Paducah and the role she holds today. “There isn’t a lot of turn over [in the industry],” explains Rebecca. “You find the good spots and stay where you are. It’s very rewarding.” Where Rebecca is, in Paducah, has been a satisfying professional and personal arrival. “I love Paducah. It’s so charming,” she says. “It reminds me a

lot of my hometown in Florida, so it’s been a very easy transition.” Rebecca’s specific role begins following a guilty plea or conviction. It’s her job to provide the judge all the information necessary to assist in imposing an appropriate sentence. To do this, she compiles what’s known as a presentence report. The report takes into account the client’s history, physical and mental condition, and family situation, among other things. “For me, it’s about providing all of the information to the judge to assist him in imposing an appropriate sentence,” said Rebecca. “One that is fair and impartial. Sufficient but not greater than necessary. My job is doing right by the court and doing right by the judge so she/he can come to a decision confidently,” she added. Rebecca makes every attempt to create a rapport with not just the client, but with the families as well. “I think about who would be a good third party for me to reach out

to,” she says. “I ask them a series of questions, explain my role in the process, and give them a clear understanding of the steps that have to be taken in the system. I often visit the client at home to see where they plan to live. I try to keep everyone involved during the entire process. Then I summarize the investigation for the judge and include the history and information from the interviews and background work. I try to note any trauma, substance abuse, or mental health issues. We use a kind of rubrick to score those.” These characteristics and the nature of the offense helps to provide Rebecca and Mark with a “guideline range” for submission to the judge involved. “We also try to help our judges in designating appropriate facilities for the clients,” Rebecca adds. “The report can aid in identifying the best location for the offender, and can also provide helpful information to supervising officers. It’s a very collaborative process, and we do all we can to create a successful outcome for each unique situation.”

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 • 27

n n n

by DA R LEN E M A ZZO N E

DaMN yankee!

The Artistic Inspiration of John Folinsbee for the Federal Building Murals was Thrwarted by the Southern Outrage of Paducah’s Women’s Club

N 1938, EDWARD ROWAN, CHIEF OF THE U.S. Government’s Section of Fine Arts, invited John Folinsbee to submit designs for the federal court house in Paducah, KY. At the time, Folinsbee was working on a project in New York and accepted the invitation, “since it was only a 24-hour train ride from New York with a change in Louisville.” According to the archives of the Section of Fine Arts dedicated to Folinsbee, he and his son-in-law, Peter Cook, who was to assist with the murals, arrived in Paducah at 9 AM on a September morning. “The postmaster greeted us cordially,” Cook remembered, “and offered us a drink, which due to the early hour we declined. After pouring himself a liberal bourbon and water, the three of us got down to business.” It was reported that the postmaster often remarked, “I never have a drink unless I’m alone or with somebody.” The overarching profile of 1938 Paducah was that it was a “community that had garnered a regional prominence as a major port for steamboat traffic and for its brick factory and iron foundry.” Consequently, the postmaster suggested that the murals depict the industrial success of Paducah. Unfortunately, while the postmaster appeared to be in favor of industrial subjects, others in Paducah were not so sanguine. Trouble arose in November when Folinsbee submitted his first sketches for review. The site called for two large murals (10 x 6) to be placed on either side of a central door in the court room. Rowan approved of both of them but a citizen’s oversight committee comprised primarily of members of the Women’s Club, did not. The first objection seemed to be the lack of figures in the proposed murals. “I was appointed as a landscape painter to design scenic murals recording the beauty of Paducah,” Folinsbee told the Louisville Courier Journal. “While figures

28 • PADUCAH LIFE

may be included in an illustrative way, my work is to be based primarily on the really charming landscape qualities which impressed me during my first visit.” Martha Grassham Purcell, president of the Women’s Club, retorted, “It appears that Mr. Folinsbee cannot paint figures. If Mr. Folinsbe cannot paint figures, there are those in Paducah who can.” Apparently it was not just the figures that raised the ire of Mrs. Purcell and the rest of the Paducah clubwomen and their allies. At issue, according to the Courier Journal, was whether the artist’s murals would be “historical in nature or depict the industrial development of Paducah.” It would seem that the locals were NOT convinced that a northern artist could adequately depict Paducah’s “stunning history” and its role in the “winning of the west.” Irvin Cobb even got in on the act. Cobb sent a letter to the

regional WPA officials that a suitable subject would be the Battle of Paducah during the Civil War, or an image from the frontier days when the Paducah region was secured against Indian attacks by General George Rogers Clark (known as the Hannibal of the West). Cobb’s implication was clear. A Yankee had come down from New York and was deciding what kind of history would be immortalized on the walls of the new federal building! The WPA director responded, “How can anyone believe that a scene depicting a group of Indians shooting at white men from behind trees will prove more ‘uplifting’ than the dignified design which Mr. Folinsbee has created is beyond me.” Even though Edward Rowan sided with the artist’s original designs, he did not like the controversy and soon wrote to Folinsbee to adjust the subject of one of his murals. Folinsbee complied and depicted Lewis and Clark chatting in front of the old courthouse rather than the railyard. (Mrs. Purcell did not find this design satisfactory either.) That being settled, the murals were completed and installed in September, 1939 one year after Folinsbee was commissioned to create the art. In the end, the forced revision of Folinsbee’s original concept for the murals was cause for regret among local critics—none of whom dared challenge the clubwomen earlier. An unidentified clipping in the Paducah files at the National Archives remarks, “It is a pity the artist wasn’t permitted entirely free choice as to his subject matter. The city’s rather meager history can hardly be expected to prompt the individualistic effort on the part of a painter.”

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n by DARLENE M AZZONE

No egg on their Faces!

Amatuer Artists Worked Several Months on a Mural for the Federal Building Lobby After the Ealier Distaste of Courtroom Murals Painted by a Northern Artist

T TOOK SEVERAL YEARS FOR THE INDIGNATION TO FIND ITS WAY ONTO THE WALLS of the beautiful Federal Building on Broadway, but it indeed did finally happen. After much controversy more than 30 years prior, local amateur artists took it upon themselves to create a paneled mural which would eventually be installed high above the gleaming marble floors of the building’s lobby. Fourteen Paducah artists, working together for more than a year, produced a 72-foot mural depicting THEIR version of Paducah’s illustrious history (as opposed to that of John Follinsbee). The project involved 5,000 hours of work AND 1,200 EGGS! The mural was painted on 12 light-weight 4x6 foot pressedwood panels. It was offered to the federal government as a gift and was accepted for hanging by the General Services Administration. “The mural shows Paducah in the early Indian and logcabin days, the steamboat era, Civil War period, and the first days of the railroad,” commented a Courier Journal article in 1961. “No names are involved in the story back of the mural work, because the artists want the painting to be identified as a community effort. Only one or two of the 14 who produced the mural had any art training before the start of the project.” In the matter of painting material, it was found that a mixture of ground colors and egg yolk was better than oil, the article relates. Thus, hundreds of yolks from farm fresh country eggs found their way into an artistic dedication to the history of this rural river town. “The work was done in the basement family room of the home of one of the artists,” Courier reporter Harry Bolser wrote. “During the early days of the project it would have been difficult to have explained to a casual visitor why at one end of the room a male member of the group is posed with an ax in hand while, at the other, women would be pinning up material in the shape of a Civil War bustle.” Even after 30 years, THIS writer has a feeling that the local artists were still very aware of the public displeasure with the “damn Yankee” who had left his signature work on the vaulted walls of the federal courtroom. The headline of the Courier article read The Mural Omelet! ABOVE: Several of the mural artists posed beneath the lofty mural in 1961. From left are Beulah Tucker, Polly Newman, Virginia Smith, Nancy Paro, Mabel Williams, Virginia Reed, David Reed, Mary Pat Boswell, Opal Reid, Morris Boswell, and Admiral E.E. Paro.

30 • PADUCAH LIFE

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 • 31

BOOKS

by Constance Alexander

In the Beginning Retired Justice Bill Cunningham’s new memoir follows his boyhood journey growing up between prison bars and a backyard river

APPY FAMILIES ARE NOT ALL ALIKE, AND anyone reading Justice Bill Cunningham’s memoir, I Was Born When I Was Very Young, would agree that Leo Tolstoy got it wrong. Cunningham’s family was happy all right, and his childhood was filled with the usual ups and downs, but his autobiography has none of the hollow sitcom endings of an episode of Leave it to Beaver or Ozzie and Harriet. Nor does it contain shocking revelations. So those seeking tales of abuse, alcohol, gambling, and other vices might choose more prurient reading matter. The book covers the first fifteen years of Cunningham’s life, the years that give birth to who we are. His approach is straightforward and at times poetic, flowing back and forth between the past as he lived it, mostly in Eddyville, KY, with intermittent flourishes that explain the historical context. The narrative begins with a bold confession: “I came within one hundred yards of being born in prison.” Ironically, the retired state Supreme Court Justice was born across the street from the Kentucky State Penitentiary. On the day of his birth, October 15, 1944, the day dawned sunny and warm. Six days earlier, the St. Louis Cardinals had won the World Series. On the international front, World War II was slowly drawing to a close. “Our brave American soldiers were punching their way across Europe. Just at the hour I was born,” he says, “they were routing the Nazis out of the ancient city of Aachen.” Contrasts between his life in Eddyville and what was happening elsewhere in the world provide readers with glimpses of the past interspersed with accounts of life on the river and how it affected Cunningham’s early years. Since his father was assistant lockmaster on Lock and Dam F, he grew up on the Cumberland, daily observing its vicissitudes.

32 • PAD U CAH L I FE

“Walk out the front door of my house,” he explains, “and there was the prison and its inhabitants. Walk out the back door and there was the Cumberland River with its dual personality. Neither was all good. Neither was all bad.” Regarding the river, he recounts the inevitability of backwater and describes it as an annual “visit” that showed up with the same gifts every year—mud and water. On the other hand, he reflects on the beauty of Lake Barkley, created from the lock and dam system his father worked on, musing about what tourists see when they frolic on the manmade lake and its surroundings. He suggests that outsiders have no idea what was lost when dams were constructed, close-knit communities disrupted, families displaced, to create Land Between the Lakes. “The robust lushness of that scene is unadulterated, free of memory or history to them,” he

FRESH FALL FARE!

observes.“It has the magnificence of the painting on canvas, placed in order by a gifted hand.” The photo on the front of I Was Born When I Was Very Young features Cunningham as a toddler, decked out in a onesie that buttons up the front, and saddle shoes with slightly scuffed toes. Facing the camera with an unapologetic gaze, he pokes his tongue out of the right corner of his tiny mouth, leaving the viewer to wonder if he, in spite of the obvious decorum of the occasion, is a bit of a wise guy. A wry sense of humor, often self-deprecating, is evidenced in many of the anecdotes that make readers smile, or even laugh out loud. My favorite is the highlight in the chapter entitled, “The Church Hot Tub and Television.” With tongue in cheek, Cunningham explains how growing boys at Eddyville First Baptist were devoted to attending baptisms. “The main feature was the baptism of young girls,” he confesses. He details the delicate, lightweight dresses girls wore, and how they primly pushed down flowing hems to prevent ballooning as they descended into the water. “Their clinging dresses became completely transparent,” he declares. When the ever-vigilant church ladies recognized what was going on, they devised a strategy to limit the girls’ exposure to the greedy eyes of adolescent boys. Nevertheless, Cunningham insists, “It was the only time we’d see naked girls at church.” Throughout the book, humor mingles with more sobering interludes. He admits to a thread of mental illness on his father’s side of the family and alludes to his own persistent feelings of loneliness that emerged at puberty. He tells of a deep-seated sense of isolation that drew him to the river for meditation and renewal, but the river, “paid me no heed nor solace. And so here we are,” he reports, “both of us still side by side, the river and me—still sharing the loneliness.” Dedicated to “dislocated people everywhere,” retired Justice Bill Cunningham makes his first 15 years come alive with anecdotes about sports, school, teachers, and pranks, as well as insights about his parents, race, the slow death of local newspapers, and young people’s devotion to technology. If there is any moral in Cunningham’s story, it is that he recognizes the great good fortune he enjoyed by the accident of his birth. He blurts out the truth right on page eight: “Looking back at my DNA and my upbringing, there was no way I could fail in life. It was like God set up this stage with all the right props and supporting actors and actresses and then placed me there. Instead of having to work to succeed,” he says,”I’d have to work to fail.” Succeed he does in this compelling and inviting memoir, so much so that this reader awaits another installment, covering the years beyond the first fifteen. “I Was Born When I Was Very Young” is available through www.billcunninghamonline.com.

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Paducah’s first

The Story of John Banvard, Nearly Forgotten Millionaire Painter

★

by M ATT J AEGER , S CHOOL O UTREACH C OORDINATOR M C C RACKEN P UBLIC L IBRARY

URALS . . . PADUCAH HAS A LONG HISTORY with them. The timeline, working backwards, includes: CURRENT DAY: Murals have popped up all over the place, like inside Mellow Mushroom and on the side of Make, as well as the Quilt City USA murals which debuted in September 2017. SPRING OF 1996: Robert Dafford and his team of artists began designing and painting our floodwall murals. To date, the floodwall showcases more than 50 life-size murals that tell a near comprehensive history of the city, from the pioneer days, to the transportation boom, to the Atomic Age and beyond.

FALL OF 1961: A team of artists, organized by Admiral E.E. Paro, created twelve wooden panels to hang in the post office section of the Federal Building at the corner of 5th and Broadway. The murals, which relay the early history of Paducah, were painted with an egg tempura that took more than 1200 egg yolks to create. The murals still hang above the old post office windows. One is pictured below. FALL OF 1938-39: As part of the New Deal and commissioned by the Section of Fine Arts under the U.S. Treasury Department, renowned New York artist John Folinsbee (and his son-in-law Peter Cook) painted a pair of 6.5 x 10.5 murals to hang in Paducah’s Federal Building at 5th and Broadway. Still visible today in the federal courtroom, one mural called “The River” depicts a river scene at the foot of Broadway with Owen’s Island visible in the background, and the other, called “Early Town,” depicts a street scene with two men (reportedly George Rogers Clark and Meriwether Lewis) chatting in front of Paducah’s old courthouse. Folinsbee’s work immediately met with controversy. Many Paducahans were upset (most notably Irvin Cobb and the Women’s Club of Paducah) that a northerner had been sent down to evaluate and depict life in a southern town. The controversy likely led to the citizens of Paducah creating their own mural in 1961. But who was Paducah’s first muralist? Of course, we can’t ever really know for sure. There have likely been painters as long as there have been residents. But one of the earliest, and potentially the most

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 • 35

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famous in his time, was a man named John Banvard (1815-1891). Never heard of him? Not surprising. Today, Banvard has nearly been forgotten. But in the mid-19th century, John Banvard was among the most recognized artists in the world. He’s credited with being our nation’s first artist millionaire, and he traveled the globe to showcase his work, commanding huge, and sometimes royal, audiences. Banvard was a painter of panoramas, the most famous of which was his “Three Mile Painting” of the Mississippi River, a painting on a rolling scroll (comprised of three “square” miles of canvas) which depicted the life and scenery up and down the entire length of the mighty river. Though not originally from Paducah, the brief time he did spend here prompted the panoramic work that would make him his fortune. Born in New York in 1815, Banvard left his home and family at the age of 15 to seek his own path in life. He traveled the rivers, finding work on showboats as an entertainer and teaching himself to paint and draw at the time. Malarial sickness aboard one of the boats landed Banvard in Paducah around 1834/35. Reduced to near bones and left begging on the street, Banvard was taken in by a Paducah resident named John Betts. Betts was the head of Paducah’s board of health, ironically charged with keeping sick people out of Paducah. But Betts was also a fledging theater owner (his theater somewhere between First and Second Street in Paducah), and so in exchange for room and board, Banvard agreed to paint the sets and scenery at the Betts theater. Banvard honed his painting skills at Betts’ theater, and while still in Paducah, developed his idea for his scrolling panoramas, first painting scenes of Venice and Jerusalem. Stretched on rollers, the long canvas scrolled by, giving audiences a glimpse of exotic scenery and locales they wouldn’t otherwise have been privy to in those days. In essence, his work was a predecessor to motion pictures. To learn more, you can read a whole lot more about Banvard’s rise and fall at www.atlasobscura.com/articles/foer-files-banvard-s-folly.

Banvard left Paducah in the late 1830s and headed to Louisville where he painted a panorama of Dante’s Inferno, and then ultimately returned to rivers to paint his crowning achievement, the entire 3000-mile length of the Mississippi River. Ever the showman, Banvard perfected a lecture that accompanied his scrolling painting of the Mississippi. In 1846, he took his act on the road and was met with near immediate success. In the subsequent years, he performed across the U.S. and throughout Europe, which included an audience with Queen Victoria. In eight years, he amassed such a fortune that he is considered America’s (and quite possibly the world’s) first millionaire artist. Partly due to P.T. Barnum, Banvard would ultimately lose his fortune and die virtually destitute in South Dakota. Nearly all of his work has been lost. But for our purposes, we’ll simply remember John Banvard on his way up . . . a brilliant muralist who developed his skill and artistic talent right here in Paducah.

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F E B RUA RY / M A R C H• 2022 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 37 • 37

H by Stephanie Watson

Big, Hairy,

Audacious Deal Sprocket leaders have a world view of Paducah becoming a top tech destination in the next decade

Y FIRST ASSOCIATIONS WITH THE WORD “ECOSYSTEM” ARE ANYTHING BUT digital. An image from a 5th-grade textbook appears: a squirrel sits in a tree with acorns and falling leaves. The leaves feed worms, who, in turn, feed the tree by decomposing the leaves. The tree also houses the squirrel, who eats or buries the acorns, spreading the seeds and growing more trees. The climate plays some part in it all, and on and on it goes in a symbiotic fashion for the good of the individuals as well as the good of the whole. This is a pretty basic biological principle, but what happens when the world is no longer physical, but virtual, and the exchanges we make are digitized? Digital ecosystems emerge. Monica Bilak is the founder of Sprocket, a nonprofit innovation lab that’s been working on the application of this idea in Paducah for some time. “We are building an ecosystem that can ensure Paducah’s economy is modern, competitive, and geared toward future-thinking growth,” she explains. In large cities, these ecosystems often develop organically. The individual stakeholders—a variety of businesses, tech systems, talent, infrastructure, investors, and innovators—are either already located in big cities or they are quickly attracted to them in a way that makes this symbiotic cycle quickly develop. In rural areas like our own, the development of these ecosystems requires more purposeful planning and effort.“We’re trying to get our economy leveled up so that we can take Paducah into the direction the rest of world is heading. In a big city, someone is generally managing each part of a digital economy separately. You have no idea how difficult it is to pull off something like this in a city the size of Paducah. But we’re doing it!” Bilak says. Bilak describes herself as a “woman who just likes to get things done,” and her work on this project actually started during her time with Paducah Public Schools as a homeless student coordinator, grant writer, and strategic thinker for the district. “We had a local company in town that needed workers,” she recalls, “and it was a really high growth industry. It was a great job, but we didn’t have the offerings to prepare students to work for them. At the same time, we noticed that 75% of our students are low-income. The only way to combat that is with wealth generation, which these jobs could provide.”

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“We are building an ecosystem that can ensure Paducah’s economy is modern, competitive, and geared toward future-thinking growth.” - Monica Bilak, founder of Sprocket

SPROCKET Under Bilak’s leadership, the district decided to engage students in high-tech industries so they would be prepared to take high-paying, high-growth jobs. In turn, Paducah would also benefit from the increase in tech-centered talent. Sprocket emerged as the “innovation lab” they would use to figure this out. The Paducah Public Schools Innovation Hub was built, a key-to-career technology pipeline established, and, along the way, the digital economy in Paducah kept growing. Then the pandemic hit. “People had an ‘aha’ moment with COVID,” Bilak says. “The pandemic made us realize that we are still all connected because of technology. The digital economy is literally the economy we live in. We used to have an industrial economy, but that’s no longer the case. Even to get a product from a factory to market, it requires technology. Digital processes are embedded in every industry sector on the globe, in education, in healthcare. But, to an extent, they are also invisible because well-designed technology has no friction.” Bilak and her team at Sprocket took advantage of this unprecedented awareness. They started an adult coding program, Beer:30 nighttime tech trainings, Tech on Tap technology and innovation meetings, and, just recently, even started offering “lunch and learn” meet-ups with Bilak for those considering entrepreneurship or starting small businesses. Sprocket hosted the Kentucky Governor’s schools

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for Entrepreneurs this year, created numerous partnerships for growing innovation and small businesses in Western Kentucky, and even provided the technology and space for an episode of 60 Minutes to be filmed after tornadoes ravaged Mayfield. Perhaps their most noticeable recent achievement, however, is the opening of their coworking space. In December 2021, Sprocket opened its doors to the community with a ceremony that celebrated the future of the city’s digital economy and the entrepreneurs and tech business that locate here. This space is located in one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the Coke Plant, and is the first of its kind in our area, offering tech-powered flexible workspace options for remote workers, freelancers, and small businesses who desire to be part of a creative and forward-thinking community. During the opening ceremony, Sprocket’s board chairman John Truitt shared the organization’s “big, hairy, and audacious 10-year goal”: to make Paducah a top-10 destination in the U.S for tech companies to locate and grow their business. If you think this goal sounds lofty, you aren’t wrong. Rural communities like our own generally have 30% less jobs in the digital field when compared to urban areas. “We’ve been building the talent piece for a while, and the coworking space and our other programing is the next step so that people with new or tech-enabled companies can connect and organically build and grow right here,” Bilak says. And at least three new startup companies are already doing so. In conjunction with the opening of the coworking space, Sprocket joined forces with Codefi, a nonprofit based in Cape Girardeau, Missouri that specializes in building digital economies in rural areas, to host a software-based startup competition called 1st50K. This program offers startups $50,000, Codefi development coaching, an office at the Sprocket’s coworking space, and countless opportunities to

network and grow their business in Paducah. Almost 200 people from around the world applied, and after a stringent review process, nine finalists were chosen to participate in TechFest, an event where they could showcase their products. The next day, finalists pitched their business proposals to entrepreneurs, executives, and technology specialists from our area. Three winners were chosen, and in September 2021 they relocated to Paducah to start the work of building their businesses. In addition to the 1st50K winners, Paducahans can expect to see the work of four local companies who won the West Kentucky Innovation challenge to pop up soon. When asked what the future holds for Paducah’s digital economy, Bilak doesn’t miss a beat. “The people who are searching and seeking for this are finding us. I mean, suddenly 60 Minutes is recording here. We are unique because we are a strong network of highly connected people. This allows us to leverage resources quickly. In 10 years, we hope to have a steady stream of talent. People will understand why it is important to learn technical skills. Hopefully our youth coding kids are national champions, and we’ll have a robust investor network with new companies being created. There will be a vibrant job market for local and remote workers. We will be a top destination for tech companies seeking talent and building their businesses.”

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F E B RUA RY / M A R C H 2022 • 41

Qbrick Rakesh Ramachandran is leaping into the high tech entrepreneurial pool with global ideas calculated in a small-town setting

H by Stephanie Watson

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picnic table on a drizzly gray day in the back parking lot of Paducah’s iconic Coke Plant. He looks like the kind of person who would win a technology startup competition: round tortoiseshell glasses, caramel leather tennis shoes, understated puffer jacket, and beanie. He’s 30-something, with an easy smile, laid-back demeanor, the kind of person who you’d like to have coffee with so you can ask him about Bitcoin purchases and investing in digital futures. Rakesh is one of three winners in Sprocket’s 1st50K startup competition, but this win is by far his first brush with success. Between the ages of 18 and 25, Rakesh worked for the tech giant Dell, a multination cloud brokerage company called Jam Cracker, and, eventually, as a team manager for an international tech company with customers in the U.S., North America, South America, and Japan. Rakesh was set to go big places fast, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that scaling the corporate ladder just wasn’t a part of who he was. After quitting his job, moving back home to his small hometown in Southern India—-to the chagrin of his entire family we might add—he decided to accept his calling and jump all in. With a big smile on his face he remarks, “I just realized I am an entrepreneur. This is just who I am.” When becoming an entrepreneur, “The first hurdle is yourself” Rakesh explains. “You have to push yourself to take that risk, right? It’s like throwing yourself into the water without actually knowing how to swim.” Since taking that leap, Rakesh’s work has taken him across the globe. He’s lived in Bangalore, Dublin, and Colorado Springs. He’s attended startup workshops, trainings, and networked with innovators around the world. And where has he chosen to take the next stages of his venture? Right here in Paducah. Rakesh’s startup is Qbrick, a platform that uses blockchain technology to help businesses to digitalize their processes, monetize their assets, and securely create traceable, immutable and auditable records of their work. If your head is buzzing a bit, you aren’t alone. This business is a highly

complex one, full of mathematical computations, quantum resistant encryption, blockchain vaults existing in the metaverse, and anything and everything dealing with the tech-enabled future of business operations. But it also grounds itself in basic business principles: supply, demand, location and movement of goods, quality control, and, of course, capitalizing on the human motivation to buy and own. Its applications are diverse, and, according to Rakesh, “the possibilities really are endless.” “Blockchain,” he explains, “is the foundation of our work. It is the engine which connects the physical and the virtual world. And the virtual world is powered by this engine. Blockchain is the ledger which keeps a record of everything happening in the virtual world.” The implication for consumers is more concrete.“Imagine,” he says, “buying a product at Walmart. You pick up a product, scan its QR code, and now you can know the complete history of the product. Imagine the opportunities of having the history of a product and the supply chain to which it belongs digitized. Think of the implications for local and organic farming, locally brewed beer, vintage bourbons—consumers can know and practice better discretion about the purchases they make.” At the community level, it’s all about exposure to ideas and information, he explains. This technology can move the economy in a digital direction while giving consumers more information about the products they purchase. It also gives businesses a secure record of the processes they’ve used throughout production. And Paducah’s role in it all? We will see. An obvious advantage of being home to a business like Qbrics is the value it adds to our digital economy while also attracting other innovators to our city. It can mean bringing other companies like his to our town, which means new jobs, more money, and the powerful move from an industrial economy to a robust and exciting digital future. With support from organizations like Sprocket and a sophisticated tech-enabled co-working space, Rakesh is surrounded by future-thinking entrepreneurs and is “jumping in and learning how to swim.” “When you have a few other swimmers around you, it makes it easier to take the leap. It is human nature to avoid risk but being around others gives you more energy and courage to do the swimming. The more success that happens around you, the more you are finally able to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Rakesh comments. That light, it seems, is a robust and energized digital economy in Paducah’s future.

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by Stephanie Watson

High Tech Meets Healthcare in Paducah Dr. Bernard Miller plans to test a new cholesterol technology which will allow patients to get immediate results without getting stuck

FEW PEOPLE APPLY TO MEDICAL SCHOOL WITH A CLEAR PLAN to not practice clinical medicine, but Bernard Miller III, M.D. knew from the start that medical research would be his niche. Miller is the founder and chief of MD Health Partnerships, a long-time research physician, an entrepreneur, and a passionate advocate for solving the problem of racerelated health disparities in our country. He’s attended ivy-league institutions, completed medical school and residency training in some of the top medical centers in the United States, and even worked for the National Institute of Health in Washington D.C. His next stop is Paducah, and his next goal is to revolutionize healthcare screening. Miller is one of the winners of Sprocket’s 1st50K startup competition, and his company, Noninvasive Diagnostic Instruments, is developing an in-office, noninvasive lipid test that hopes to revolutionize the experience of identifying

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and treating high cholesterol in a clinical setting. In the U.S., approximately 30% of adults have high cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, the number one and number five causes of death in the United States. One-third of U.S. adults didn’t get their cholesterol checked in the last five years, and 8% of them have high cholesterol but do not know it. Additionally, only about half of U.S. adults who could benefit from cholesterol medicine are currently taking it. These statistics worsen in underserved urban and low socio-economic rural areas. Because of this, blood cholesterol and triglyceride level testing is an important and often-used procedure. Currently, such tests require a visit to the doctor, followed by a trip to the lab for a blood test, and a second visit or phone call from a physician communicating results and a plan of action. To complicate matters, the test usually requires an 8-12 hour fast for accuracy, which creates an additional hurdle in delineating who requires treatment and who needs a repeat test. Miller’s noninvasive device simplifies that process by using an advanced sensor hooked onto the patient’s finger, measuring cholesterol and triglyceride levels in-office. Much like a pulse oximeter, the final iteration of the device will be clamped onto a patient’s finger, where it will collect data from 18 built-in transmitters and two receivers. In moments, a physician will be able to diagnose and treat cholesterol problems. No lab. No blood. Healthcare screening at its finest. Point-of-care (POC) tests like Millers are particularly important in rural settings like our own because distance often slows down care. “We place the patient at the center of our operations by bringing the lab to the patient, instead of requiring the patient to go to the lab,” Miller explains. Since moving to Paducah, Miller has heard first-hand from community

members who would benefit from his device. “I recently spoke with a man whose family member had labs drawn at a Paducah hospital. He then had to wait two weeks to come back to Paducah and discuss the results with his doctor,” Miller explains. “This device would be great in a place like this because the results are instantaneous. “Winning the 1st50K startup competition and $50,000 is helping us overcome our first major hurdle of testing human subjects with the device,” Miller explains. “We’re also working with our nonprofit, the Ruth Lee Miller Heart Health Research Foundation, to educate people on the importance of cholesterol screening and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.” While the instrument is still in the preliminary testing phase, it shows good agreement between the device’s results and those from traditional testing method. Conducting clinical trials right here in Paducah is the next step. This involves a host of players, making the timeline for Miller’s work a long one. “It’s going to take years,” Miller says, “but Kentucky is a great place for this type of work because there’s a lot of help for small businesses, especially technology-based businesses. Organizations like Sprocket and Kentucky Innovation Fast Program provide a lot of resources and support with the kind of grants this will take.” As a medical hub for our region, Paducah is primed to both support and benefit from this work. With time, many also hope businesses like Miller’s will attract other innovative, tech-based companies to our area so that we will continue to see our digital industries grow.

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F E B RUA RY / MAR C H 2022 • 45

A Pattern for Success Susan Spencer is unfolding a future with an eye on the myriad elements involved in fashioning world-class apparel manufacturing systems

by Stephanie Watson

USAN SPENCER HAS A PHILOSOPHICAL VIEW OF CLOTHING. “WE FORGET THAT wearing clothing makes us human,” she explains. “Our relationship to our clothes really changed with industrialization; whereas everything else became democratized in the previous century, fashion did not. It didn’t meet anybody’s needs, and it doesn’t serve people well.” Spencer is the CEO of Seamly Systems Inc. and one of three winners of Sprocket’s 1st50K startup competition. In September, she brought herself, her big ideas, and her new business to Paducah. Speaking to Spencer is truly a treat. She is articulate, high-minded, and visionary about democratizing the fashion and apparel production industry. “I am building a tech stack to assure apparel production in America. 100 years ago, we were making clothing ready to order. Then, we went crazy with industrialization. The minimum order for a piece of clothing is now 5,000 items and will

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likely be made in a textile mill with synthetic fabric. This type of production is killing our earth and producing clothes that don’t really fit us. This isn’t who we are, and this isn’t what we want to wear,” Spencer explains. Spencer’s startup tackles these issues head-on. Seamly is Spencer’s pattern drafting and design software that creates “reusable, scalable, sharable custom-fit patterns” using techniques generally reserved for bespoke clothing and haute couture. Pulling from her extensive knowledge of sewing methods and historical pattern drafting techniques, Spencer has designed a program that truly democratizes fashion because it supports the creation of clothing that can fit anyone, yet it’s affordable and easy-to-use. Research has shown, Spencer explains, that modern fashion only fits 20% of the population and the remaining 80% must put up with poorly fitting clothing. Using CAD engineering methods, this software creates patterns that scale to the exact measurements a client sends to a designer. From there, the custom-fit sewing pattern is sent to a clothing manufacturer, and then it is shipped direct to the client. If you’ve ever stood in a dressing room begging for a piece of clothing to fit, you know how revolutionary this is. “I’ve taken the traditional methods of pattern making, removed the ethnic bias toward a tall, skinny, European ideal that never existed, and removed everything that doesn’t add value from the process of making custom-fit clothing. We are removing outdated industry assumptions while producing artisanal results,” Spencer adds. This passion for well-made, equitable clothing is a personal one. Spencer comes from a long line of seamstresses. Her grandmother and great-aunts were county fair competition winners in sewing, and she learned to sew when she was four. She remembers analyzing the stitching of her grandmother’s handiwork, noting that this type of artistry is hard to find today. Spencer made many of her clothes growing up, but it wasn’t until she left her job as a network security manager for a NASA global network to stay home and raise her kids that she really became interested in pattern making. Spencer recalls buying a book on the subject. “It was terrible. The outcome isn’t a given. You still must do a manual adjustment every time you create a new piece. So, I went through 150 pattern-making books, did a comparative analysis of pattern-making systems, and decided to create an e-pattern to rule them all.” Along with producing better clothing, her programs

allow for this type of production with little to no additional cost when compared to current methods.“The on-demand market is where the profits are,” she notes. “This process produces 40% less waste and only requires 40% of the labor. You only produce what you sell.” Previously, this type of pattern-making could only be done with paper and pencil, meaning custom-fit designers might be able to produce 50 pieces in a month or two. And with over 30,000 designers already using the beta-phase of her software, more people than ever are participating in the on-demand market. “With a reusable and remixable format,” Spencer notes, “designers don’t have to start from scratch. It also provides quality assurance, removes business risk, and sustains a type of production that is good for the planet because everything that is made is sold.” By working with Sprocket and becoming a recipient of the 1st50K investment, Spencer is expanding her business, building a strong marketing strategy, and networking with other innovators, creatives, and business owners in our area. And while she has traveled the globe from Madrid to Shenzhen promoting and building her product, she’s excited to be tackling the next phase right here in Paducah. As her business grows, Spencer hopes to employ coders in the area and possibly even open a cut-and-sew operation to produce the clothing her software helps design. “I think the labor force in Paducah would fit the production model I’m helping to create,” she explains. “Paducah has individuals that would enjoy artisanal and creative work. This type of work isn’t the sweatshop we often imagine. Laser cutters and other highly advanced equipment are used, and people are able to take part in the creative process of producing a beautiful product.” She’s imagining a future that may include creating fashion design classes at Paducah School of Art and Design. She would even love to open a fabrication lab that could expand on Paducah’s current brand as a textile destination. Her software is currently in use in MIT’s popular two-semester Fabricademy, a program that focuses on the development and application of new technologies in the textile fabrication industry. “There is such a great range of opportunities here,” Spencer states. “I’m hoping that Paducah’s brand as an international UNESCO Creative City for Arts and Crafts can strengthen our brand as well as help us meet our goals. We’ll see! The future is unfolding daily.”

F E B RUA RY / MA R C H 2022 • 47

48 • PAD U CAH L I FE

Quilt City

Murders ★

by D USTIN W ILCOX

Author Bruce Leonard Places a Murder Mystery within the Confines of Quilt City USA

OURNALIST BRUCE LEONARD HAS penned stories for publications from California to Oregon, but only in Paducah at the seasoned age of 54 did he write the novel he set out to write at 19: Quilt City Murders, a “cozy mystery” set to debut this February through TouchPoint Press. Bruce didn’t mean to land in Paducah. In 2017, his father was dying and his mother needed help, so he left Los Angeles to cover local arts for the Paducah Sun. A

long-time artist himself, Bruce quickly came to appreciate the “outsized arts community” that had developed in the city of roughly 25,000. Shortly after Bruce landed in Paducah, his father died. Bruce spent much of his time at the Sun reeling from this tragedy and yearning for more challenge in his career. “It was to the extent where I couldn't face going into work,” Bruce said. “[Moving to Paducah] proved to be a mistake—and yet it was the single-best thing that’s ever happened to me.” That’s because Paducah—its vibrant arts and locales —directly inspired the plot of Quilt City Murders. After a trip to the city’s National Quilt Museum, Bruce knew it was high time to write his first novel. “I became part of a very small writers’ group and banged out something that I hoped could be the beginning of Quilt City Murders,” Bruce said. Quilt City Murders follows the exploits of journalist Hadley Carol with the Paducah Chronicle, a composite of all the newsrooms in which Bruce has worked. Intrigue ensues after Hadley finds a dead body while throwing copies of that morning’s Chronicle into the Ohio River. Soon more bodies soon show up around town—including some quilters. Around the time he wrote the novel, Bruce met his wife, Sedonia Sipes. He said his experiences in Paducah with Sedonia, a Murfreesboro native, taught him how to “celebrate” Paducah. As such, there are scenes involving and references to the Mellow Mushroom, Carson Center, Noble Park and more. “Because I didn’t grow up in Paducah, I made sure that locals gave me their two cents about it,” Bruce said. “The other beta reader who wasn’t from Paducah said they had a sense of knowing what the town was like.” Bruce said his Paducah-based debut novel will appeal to readers young and old and from a variety of backgrounds, though he noted women might be particularly drawn to the plight of the protagonist. Amid the impending publication of Quilt City Murders, Bruce is already writing a crime novel for TouchPoint called Hard Exit—based in Malibu and Los Angeles, another area familiar to the author.

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022 • 49

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Trading in the

Arcade

Paducah Life contributor Dustin Wilcox put money in the machine, then created a career writing about it

by Dustin Wilcox

I’M DUSTIN WILCOX, A JOURNALISM STUDENT AT MURRAY State University. You may have seen my recent contributions to Paducah Life Magazine in the past couple of editions or heard my words on the news at the WKMS radio station. Journalism is no game, but my pen in hand actually did find its way to the published page in just such a genre—gaming. You see, I have an insatiable hankering for coin-operated video games — the sorts of machines found nestled in pizza parlors, roller rinks, bowling alleys, and the Lake Barkley State Resort Park. I couldn’t tell you exactly how this interest came about, but I CAN say my limited access to these experiences growing up in Hopkinsville only bolstered it. In February 2017—after 15 years spent playing these games whenever I had the chance—I started a blog devoted almost exclusively to the topic: Wilcox Arcade. To this day, I share news, reviews, and editorials on all things arcade gaming. (Well, except for prize redemption games, which I find pretty distasteful.) What I write for Wilcox Arcade isn’t full-on trade journalism, since that sector is already duly covered by the decades-old and well-regarded RePlay Magazine in Tarzana, California. I did, however, desire to get in on that action, so I phoned the publication in 2018 to ask if I could contribute some writing. To my delight, Vice President and Editorial Director Key Snodgress offered me a monthly column titled “The Player’s Perspective,” covering everything from calls for greater game variety in venues to the impact of COVID-19 on operators. Key even sent me to Schaumburg, Illinois, to cover a company’s rebranding initiative when I was just 17 years old. The people I’ve met, conversations I’ve had, and things I’ve seen during my time with RePlay have meant the entire world to me. Plus, the experience I’ve gained at RePlay has paid dividends in other areas of my life. Who knows if I’d have my positions at Paducah Life and WKMS without the bylines to back me up?

Writing for RePlay has shown me that with enough determination, and a little luck, no niche is too obscure for western Kentucky. Although I’m not sure what my ultimate career trajectory will be (I still have a year until I graduate), after all that classroom time is complete, I look forward to what’s out there. The sky might darn near be the limit, regardless of where I’m located. There is, of course, plenty to be said for those who choose to relocate to big cities, but in the meantime, I’m tickled pink that I get to write about arcade games from my dorm room in the quiet little town of Murray. As of 2022, I’m also getting a hearty kick out of writing about Paducah for this publication, too. I’m grateful to those of you who’ve enjoyed my writing so far— and I plan to provide you with even more in the future. In the meantime, might I recommend you visit your nearest arcade for a taste of the happening hobby on which I’ve built my career?

F E B RUA RY / MAR C H 2022 • 51

Bless Your Heart Mayfield H by Susie Fenwick

OU NEVER STOOD A CHANCE AGAINST THE DARK ferocious beast of a tornado unleashed on you and yours last December. Looking at the 2.1 million cubic yards of a tangled mess of debris left behind, one wonders how 22 Graves Countians perished in the historic storm. How could it have been so many? How could it have been so few? Two weeks before Christmas when children should have been nestled in bed with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads, terrified mamas and daddies and papaws and mamaws were tossing their precious babies in bathtubs for shelter from the storm. With a prayer that “the Lord their souls to keep and a plea to angels to watch them through the night and keep them in their blessed sight” and with extra layers of protection provided by blankets and bibles, the innocents were prepared to set sail and ride the storm out in porcelain tubs. The mangled remains of the candle factory will stay tangled in our memories. The agonizing hunt for storm survivors made all the more traumatic with the uncertainty of how many workers were actually on duty that evening. Was there 7 or 70 potential casualties? The fear of the unknown was embedded in our psyche like the steel beams through workers’ cars in the parking lot. As proclaimed by Governor Beshear, it did indeed seem to be a Christmas miracle when the death toll remained lower than what one could have possibly hoped. As many small American towns over the decades, Mayfield has taken it on the chin when it comes to economic prosperity. Once its largest employer, the tire plant, closed in the 1990’s, the community hopped on the dizzying, brightly colored carousel of economic development hoping to grab the brass ring of new and promising opportunities. The much-hyped hemp processor, GenCanna, proved to be a pipe dream with promises of economic glory going up in smoke.

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The regional industrial park with all the makings of a world class manufacturing site never panned out. Cropland it was, and so it will remain. By attrition, Mayfield’s court square had lost many of its old historic buildings leaving new architecture on all sides but the west. The storm destroyed what was left. The historical presence looms larger in our memories than its physical presence occupied in reality. Nonetheless, Mayfield, KY, the county seat of Graves County, Kentucky, seemed to have found its sweet spot. Number one in agricultural sales for the state of Kentucky, the county enjoyed a bumper crop for 2021. Agriculture has consistently been the rising tide lifting economic boats across the county. October provided lighthearted moments with each weekend lifting spirits with “Haunted Graves” activities. Community spirit was evident in the creativity displayed in hay bale art across the county. The old trees about town provided just the right amount of fall color to insure the perfect autumn backdrop breathtaking in its splendor. Catapulting from fall fun into the Christmas season, Mayfield had enjoyed its Christmas parade around the court square and the town was decorated and ready for a festive holiday season. Growing up and still residing in southern Graves County, Mayfield was a place I frequented for much of my childhood and adulthood only on an “as need basis.” It was an important day when a trip to

the courthouse was necessary. Especially in a county as large as Graves, the county seat holds a position of particular prominence. It hearkens back to days of dressing up to go to town and getting your business done and getting back home to get your work done. I should have been less intent on my business and more intent on visiting the treasures of grand old churches downtown. I had the best intentions and had a grand plan to visit the old churches. The clock ran out on December 10, 2021. I should have taken time to worship in the First Presbyterian Church of Mayfield sanctuary and maybe joined the congregation as they faced the magnificent stained glass depiction of the resurrection and joined in heartily singing “Jesus Christ is Risen Today.” But I didn’t, and now they are lost. If I had been a tourist in a strange city, I would most certainly have marked these sites and made a point to put them on my agenda. I should have done better by you Mayfield.

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F E B RUA RY / M A R C H 2022 • 53

connecting to my

roots by Christina Crice

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HIGHLY CONNECTED TO MY ROOTS, OR AT LEAST THAT’S WHAT I thought. I was raised in the country in a large family setting. While I only have two sisters, my mother was the oldest of eleven children and my father was in the middle of eleven children. As a child, my family lived close to most of our father’s family and thus my sisters and I spent time with them on a regular basis. I spent many summers with my grandpa and grandma while my parents worked. I have so many wonderful memories of my time there. I remember the creek that ran behind the house that all the cousins played in when we were together, racing walnut shell boats and leaves down it to see who’s made it to the barn first. In the fall, there would be tables on the lawn full of apples drying in the sun which was covered in cheese cloth as the day grew dark. I remember days sitting on the front porch helping my grandmother shell purple-hull peas, snap beans, and shuck corn. One of our favorite things to do was to roll down the hill in the front yard, laughing until it hurt but then getting right back up and doing it again as my grandmother watched and laughed from the porch. My cousins, sisters, and I had many adventures in the woods discovering caves and never even once thought about snakes or getting lost. Often, we would be sent to the chicken coop to retrieve the day’s eggs and I can still smell the mouth–watering smells of the smokehouse along the way. When my grandfather was home, he would listen to “The Swap Shop” on the radio while we sat on the floor and played marbles. I would watch as my grandmother made hook rugs or talked on the telephone to her sisters, all at the same time because of party lines. None of these memories can beat our Sundays together. All my aunts, uncles, and cousins would gather for lunch which seemed to last straight through until dinner. This always included homemade ice cream, which was a team effort; some would turn the hand crank while others would keep ice and rock salt on the top. Those days were some of my earliest lessons in working together to accomplish a goal and watching out for each other. As I grew, the specific events changed but not the lessons. My grandfather raised tobacco and hogs. So, the work was hard and long some days. I remember the tobacco most of all because tobacco-stripping was the best

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part. It was better than following the tobacco setter through the fields with a wooden peg in hand and replanting anything that went into the ground upside-down. It beat walking through the hot fields and dusting the plants for worms or even worse, having to pull worms off if I saw one. Then there was the topping and the cutting, and the spiking, and the hanging. I did enjoy climbing up in the rafters of the barn as the tobacco was hung to dry and be fired. However, the final step, tobacco stripping was the best part because of the people. You see, when the uncles, aunts, friends, and community came together to strip tobacco stories were told. My great uncles told stories about my grandfather, my aunts and uncles told stories about my father, and then there were just stories about growing up. During these recent times of physical distancing, I have spent many hours talking with my dad. He lives on a large parcel of land and this spring, together with my sister’s family, we began building a tree house “for the grandkids.” Let’s just say, since this was our outlet during the pandemic, the treehouse has developed into a bit more of a family retreat. My father is always doing things like this; it’s his way of teaching his grandkids the simple life. Nevertheless, my dad and I have spent some evenings on the deck of that treehouse talking about my grandparents. The more we talked, the more questions I had. I learned that my memories while accurate were incomplete. So, I kept asking questions and listening to stories and began to fill in the gaps. I only remembered my grandfather as a farmer but he worked construction and for the county road department and farmed after that was done. I knew my dad and his siblings all went to church but didn’t know that my grandfather would take them and sit outside in the car waiting for them. I loved to watch my grandpa plow the garden with the family horse, but it turns out he often had more than one garden. I would see my grandpa giving most of his produce to neighbors and friends, but I didn’t know that while he did this to help, he also loved to talk and tell stories so taking them a bushel basket of produce or stacking watermelons by the side of the road so neighbors would stop was also his way of CHRISTINA staying connected.

Over the years, I have watched as my father would grow a big garden and give much of it away. In more recent years he would grow turnips so he could take them to his brother who was battling cancer just because he loved them and said they were one thing that tasted good. I guess the lessons of his father were not lost on him. During the pandemic I have learned so much more about my family roots, the roots of my father’s childhood. Why, you ask? Because I, like so many, have been forced to stop and be still. This stillness gave me the time to listen and ask questions. It allowed the time to pay closer attention to my dad, thinking about the lessons he taught me over the years. I have often asked myself; how did he know what lessons to teach and why did he feel they were important. I have been forced to stop and look at my past as I look forward and envision the future for my children. I have wondered if I live true to the roots of my childhood. Do I pass on the stories of our family, faith, and lessons of living a simple life that was passed down to me? Am I living with the same joy, the same simple-ness, the same intention, the same integrity, and out of the same lessons as the generations before me? While I know it’s part of who I am, I also know that when those lessons are not guarded, they get lost in the busyness of the world. All of this time spent on the porch of that treehouse has birthed a new future for our children; a future steeped in the roots of these childhood lessons. In the summer of 2020, our family opened The Cabin Porch Farm and Flowers. We have spent time on the farm together; planting, learning, and listening to the stories of neighbors and the community. While I am always honored to tell my story, the bigger honor is to hear the stories of others. Roots run deep, and when we share them, we connect to each other and to ourselves in a whole new way.

CRICE

Christina Crice is a country girl at heart who enjoys exploring off-the-path destinations. She is a story-seeker; always looking to find adventure behind the scenes and loves to connect through shared stories of life and faith. Christina leads volunteers and children as the Director of Children’s Ministry at Immanuel Baptist Church and spends the rest of her time helping to build a place for families to discover the peacefulness of flowers at The Cabin Porch.

F E B RUA RY / MA R C H 2022 • 55

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A New Place. A New Face. A New Member of the

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IFE IS SOMETIMES SERENDIPITOUS. My first stories for PADUCAH LIFE Magazine are all about bringing new faces, new ideas, and new talent to Paducah. As a somewhat recent transplant—I left the west coast for Paducah a little over three years ago—I still clearly remember the pull this charming town had on me. This is the same pull I’ve heard described time and time again in the interviews I’ve done for this edition. In Paducah, there is an ease of living that we get without giving up any opportunities. Making connections is easy, navigating town is easy, finding amazing schools for my kids is easy. Yet, as I’ve been told by Paducah natives countless times since moving here, we really do live so much bigger than we are! I am still frequently surprised and excited by the recreational, artistic, musical, educational, cultural, and economic opportunities available. It’s just an easy place to live and have fun! I remember a night very soon after moving here when my husband and I took our daughter for a walk down Jefferson Street. The cicadas were singing, the air was thick, and magnolia trees shaded the street in that familiar gothic fashion that has always captured my imagination. I was raised in the South, and the old beauty of Paducah feels like coming home to me. Even more importantly, the innovative, forward-thinking people of this town excite me. Every person I have interviewed for this edition is a person I’m excited to have leading the way in a town where I choose to live and where I choose to raise my family. Paducah’s roots are strong, and its future is one I’m excited to be a part of. I look forward to joining you as we explore and share all the things that make PADUCAH LIFE so amazing.

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H by J.T. Crawford

Mrs. Harden Goes to Washington

AMEE HARDEN LIVES A LIFE OF CURIOSITY. She’s learned that there’s much education to be gained from the backgrounds and diversity of others, and she consistently positions herself to discover as much as possible about the world around her. That innate curiosity eventually led her to the prestigious White House Fellows class of 2021-2022. It’s Paducah’s cinematic version of Mrs. Harden goes to Washington! SaMee naturally credits her dad, longtime WPSD reporter and media personality, Sam Burrage, as an early influence in her quest for success. “For decades, my dad brought us unique stories about people around the region,” SaMee remembers. “He was always willing to learn something new and share it with us.” SaMee is also quick to point out a wider community that rallied around her, giving her the education, confidence, and know-how that continue to inspire her. “My father was obviously a huge influence,” says SaMee, “simply because of who he was as a person. He brought me along to anything he could—work or events he emceed or hosted—anything in the community that he attended. I saw how he operated in different environments and how he interacted with this community. My father loved this city and the people. That was one of the first lessons that has always stayed with me.” SaMee also watched her mother, Barbara Burrage, and how her life intersected with others, especially in the community of faith. “I gained a lot through her and Ninth Street Tabernacle Baptist Church. My paternal grandfather was a pastor there. Church was a significant part of my life, and that of my parents, during my childhood in Paducah. Those were some of the first times I tried public speaking, and my church family rallied around me. I felt a considerable amount of love growing up at Ninth Street. Simple opportunities like giving a Sunday school speech in front of the congregation or serving on the church

dance team – those experiences were invaluable. I did not even know it at the time, but I was honing leadership skills.” Additionally, the Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club of Paducah was instrumental in SaMee’s life. Ironically, the Boys and Girls Club was important in her father’s childhood, too. Sam Burrage essentially grew up in the Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club. Sam was a huge ping pong and chess enthusiast, so he spent many days of his youth there, as did SaMee. Sam transferred his love of the club to SaMee, and she, too, spent much of her childhood and teenage years there. Then, there were SaMee’s years at Paducah Tilghman High School.“At Tilghman there were opportunities to explore novel academic pursuits” she says. “First, I received an excellent education. And I was involved in many different groups, everything from prom planning to speech and debate. I learned to form bonds with peers and developed a myriad of skills.” Lastly, one of the major influences on her life was her time at the Market

F E B RUA RY / M A R C H 2022 • 59

H SaMee Harden House Theatre.“I started performing back in elementary school,” says SaMee,“doing plays like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In high school, we did plays like The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe. It was yet again another opportunity to practice skills such as speaking, memorization, and demonstrating stage presence. All of those encounters in my early life exposed me to new opportunities and gave me the freedom to hone what I was learning in a safe environment.” After graduation SaMee attended the University of Louisville, and she was intrigued by the Theatre Department. Through theater, she met one of her mentors, Dr. Lundeana Thomas, a UofL professor and founder of the African-American Theatre Program. “I also met Dr. Yvonne Jones,” says SaMee, who helped SaMee deepen her intellectual curiosity, and taught SaMee about academic rigor. “Both of these professors really helped me when I applied for my Fulbright scholarship. They, along with Dr. Mordean Taylor-Archer, supported me in my academic, professional, and personal journeys.” For a while, SaMee thought she’d go into the foreign service. To that end, while at American University for graduate school, she took a class on international law, and had a chance conversation with a professor who encouraged her to apply to law school. “Once I started researching the benefits of a legal education,” she says, “I realized that’s exactly what I wanted to do—go to law school.” She received a scholarship and attended Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Having learned the value of personal instruction and mentorship, SaMee, as a young lawyer, clerked for several federal judges. And like most of her mentors, they are still a part of her life today. SaMee entered the Department of Justice Honors Program for a few years before working at a law firm in Washington, D.C. She then moved into the U.S. Attorney’s Office as a federal prosecutor, working both civil and criminal cases. Toward the end of her tenure there, she specialized in child exploitation cases. “It was some of the most noble work I could do,” she says. She assumed she was on her chosen career track, but then . . . Facebook came calling. “They recruited me,” says SaMee.“I’m not a tech person at all, so I had no idea I could work at Facebook. But I quickly learned about the business of big tech and the power of innovation.” At Facebook, SaMee was a Data Privacy and Public Policy Manager. “Our team was tasked with creating policies to protect user data and identifying bad actors who engaged in

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data abuse. Policy was much different than my work as an attorney. Policy work is more upstream. You’re trying to create infrastructure to thwart negative downstream effects as opposed to reacting to something that has already occurred.” Then in 2021, SaMee was selected for the White House Fellows program. “President Lyndon B. Johnson established the program in 1964,” she says. “Per the President’s Executive Order, 11 to 19 Fellows are selected each year from across the country. This year’s class is the most diverse class to date. Young leaders come to D.C. for a year and work with White House Staff, Cabinet Secretaries, and other top-ranking government officials.” SaMee is working with the Office of Personnel Management, the chief human resources, and personnel policy arm of the federal government. “I’m now seeing all these connections between the things I’ve done in my life,” SaMee says. And SaMee was able to share many of those learnings with her father, Sam, before he passed away last year. “My father transitioned Veteran journalist Sam Burrage with his young daughter, SaMee. in early August, and one of the greatest gifts I could have received is that he and I were able to talk about the Fellowship. He knew that I was one of nineteen people chosen in the country. There was a sweetness to that.” SaMee isn’t sure where life will lead, but she’s proud of where she’s been. “When I’m in a group, and we’re introducing ourselves, and people say ‘I’m from New York’ or ‘I’m from L.A.,’ I am so happy to say that I am proud, proud, proud to be from Paducah. Where I am now is a direct product of the community in Paducah. I was nurtured, and I blossomed at home. I carry those lessons closely and guard them with my heart.” And while SaMee credits many others for pouring out their lives and mentoring her, she is no doubt influencing others. Wherever she goes, she exudes the influences of Sam and Barbara Burrage, Ninth Street Tabernacle Ministries, the Oscar Cross Boys and Girls Club, Paducah Tilghman High School, and the Market House Theatre. The community of Paducah gave her the resources and environment needed to foster a community-minded professional who is ready to change the world.

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H by J.T. Crawford

An Intimate Portrait Veteran White House photographer Pete Souza will be WKCTC’s 2022 featured artist in March

HOTOGRAPHER PETE SOUZA HAS HAD A FRONT-ROW SEAT FOR SOME PRETTY big moments in American history. He started his career working for two small newspapers in Kansas. From there, he worked as a staff photographer for the Chicago Sun-Times; an official photographer for President Ronald Reagan; a freelancer for National Geographic and other publications; the national photographer for the Chicago Tribune based in their Washington bureau; and an assistant professor of photojournalism at Ohio University. Then, in 2009, he was invited to be the Chief White House Photographer under President Barack Obama. In addition to the national political scene, Souza has covered stories around the world. After 9/11, he was among the first journalists to cover the fall of Kabul, Afghanistan, after crossing the Hindu Kush mountains by horseback in three feet of snow. Also, while at the Tribune, Souza was part of the staff awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2001 for explanatory reporting on the airline industry. Souza has published several books including the New York Times bestseller Obama: An Intimate Portrait. He was also the subject of the 2020 documentary The Way I See It. “As a photographer, I was aware of Pete Souza’s images more than I was about the man himself,” says Todd Birdsong, Director of the Clemens Fine Arts Center. “Yes, his work is a testament to his talent as an artist and photojournalist, but it is his ability to also be a historian on these incredible journeys with two of America’s iconic presidents. Sousa archived the day-to-day life and events of the White House in an authentic and personal way which is what makes him such a renowned photographer. His contribution to the historical record of our government at work reveals a humanistic side of Presidents Reagan and Obama. We are very excited to bring Pete Souza to the community this spring.” On Saturday, March 26 at 7:30 PM, Pete Souza will be at West Kentucky Community & Technical College’s Clemens Fine Arts Center as their featured artist for the season. Hear Souza reflect on the insights he gained as a photographer under presidents Reagan and Obama. Tickets are available at the Clemens Fine Arts website under the Featured Artist section.

F E B RUA RY / MA R C H 2022 • 63

Coming Full Circle Paducah native Cherese Clark-Wilson hopes to bring her career successes and her passion for advocacy back to her hometown with a nonprofit designed to inspire the next generation of African American girls.

64 • PAD U CAH LIFE

by Ana Moyers

CHERESE CLARK-WILSON IS THE EMBODIMENT of an empowered woman, and she does it all in her PowerHeels. The Paducah native graduated from Paducah Tilghman High school in 2001, and furthered her education at Spelman College in Atlanta, graduating with a degree in political science (pre-law) before graduating from Georgia State University Law College with a Juris Doctorate in 2012. Cherese began her career in law as a Capital Defender Death Penalty Investigator in Georgia as the coordinator of evidence during sentencing phases for capital cases. She then took the position of Felony Crimes Investigator at the Clayton County Public Defender Office where she brought her passion for helping others to the courtroom. Clayton County gave Cherese’s clients a platform to receive the help they desperately needed. She recalls one of her first preliminary hearings, defending the case of a mentally ill client charged with countless offenses, stating that law enforcement officers just did not know how to handle him. Cherese caught so many indiscrepancies among law enforcement officers that the case was dismissed. This marked a substantial victory for her as she was able to get a dismissal at the elementary stages of her career as a third-year law student. It is this compulsion to help people and push for advocacy that drives her practice of law and also fueled her shift from defense to family law. “In my third year of law school, I was served with divorce papers by my then husband,” Cherese said. “I decided to go into family law because I wanted to provide the representation that I should have had.” It is her personal experiences that enrich her practice. Cherese takes a relatable approach to family law. She is transparent with her clients and does not shy away from the truth of the case.“They love my approach to keep it real,” ClarkWilson said. Where most lawyers shake hands, Cherese hugs. She wants her clients to see her as human and an advocate. She cannot guarantee results, but what she can guarantee is an impassioned fight for her clients. Cherese Clark-Wilson, a founding partner of Clark, Lowry & Lumpkin, is an award-wining attorney. Her unique leadership and approach to family law has landed her on lists such as: the 2016 and 2017 Super Lawyer “Rising Star” of Georgia, National Top 100 Black Lawyers for the State of Georgia, National Top 40 Under 40, and

the 2017 Top 10 Family Law Attorneys by the American Jurist Institute. In spite of her extensive resume, Cherese pursues different avenues for advocacy. She is the owner and creator of Legally Speaking Tees and the developing nonprofit PowerHeels. Legally Speaking Tees is an online boutique specializing in personalized apparel, glassware, and gifts. As COVID-19 continues to change daily operations and routines, Cherese has discovered crafts as her outlet for the stress of the world and the courtroom. Cherese uses her 4-H sewing skills to create custom pieces with a message. She has taken her mission of empowering individuals to her boutique; she is able to say so much without saying anything at all through statement tees. Ultimately, the boutique is something that Cherese plans to leave for her children. PowerHeels is a nonprofit organization aimed at empowering young African Americans and other minority girls. The nonprofit was developed after her divorce. During this time, she received numerous questions from friends and family, looking in from the outside, asking her how she was keeping it all together while battling a divorce. “I had my hands in so many different things,” Cherese said. “It literally was like I was wearing heels all the time going upwards and I was powering through it.” PowerHeels is still in the infant stages of development with the goal of teaching young girls how to transition and find their voice. She took inspiration from a local organization in Paducah from her childhood that provided resources and empowerment to young children. “I think that we’re losing a lot of the generational nuggets that I and previous generations were given,” says Cherese, “and I want to now be that generational nugget for the next generation. I want young women to know their power.” Cherese hopes to expand the reach of PowerHeels and the nonprofit’s message. She also hopes to bring PowerHeels back to her hometown of Paducah and provide children with events, webinars, scholarship opportunities, and university tours to broaden their horizons and opportunities. Cherese’s ultimate goal is to pour back into the community that poured into her. “When I come home, I feel so embraced,” Cherese said. “So coming home, pouring back, and the full circle moments, are what I would say Paducah means to me.”

F E B RUA RY / M A R C H 2022 • 65

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MUSIC Q&A

★

by T HOMAS D EAN S TEWART

Dominique Tipton, better known by the name Kasper BrightsideBLVD, is a 30-year-old music producer, cinematographer, and music video director based in Paducah. PADUCAH LIFE Magazine recently sat down with him to learn a little more about his career and LIFE in Paducah.

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MUSIC

Q&A ★ Kasper BrighsideBLVD

Where did you get your start in music production and directing music videos?

Who do you draw inspiration from?

Growing up, my parents always kept music in the house and eventually my dad gave me a computer for DJing. The computer had a program where I could DJ and mix and over time, I just blended mixes together. I got my first big music production placement in 2013 with Rittz who signed previously with Strange Music [record label] and Big K.R.I.T who was previously signed to DefJam Records. That spiraled into producing for the likes of Jackie Chain, previously with Universal Records, Big Hud, and Supa Villain. Supa Villain was a good friend of mine that I produced for that passed away. Using that big burst of energy that I had for him, I kind of shifted my music journey into filming. I put audio production to the side and thought, ‘I want to try something that doesn’t remove music from my life.’ I do a lot of things, from music production to recording artist to video production. I’m a one-man band.

I really admire Outkast, their music, their style and fashion, and their production. I listen to a lot of classical and Bossa Nova music. I really enjoy Sade, Timbaland, Stevie Wonder, Bobby Caldwell, Patrice Rushen, and Organized Noize. I could sit here and name a billion, there are so many. When it comes to filming, I draw inspiration from John Singleton. He did movies like Boyz n the Hood, Four Brothers, and the FX television show Snowfall. 50 Cent is a good example of what I’m trying to do. He created great music over time but when his music started to lose popularity, he took what he had and created TV shows like Power and BMF and so much more, and there’s not too many guys like me that do music and then turn around and do film. It’s a new lane.

What are the origins of your creator name BrightsideBLVD? When I first started mixing music, I wanted to come up with my own name and Kasper is the first thing I thought of, but I wanted to make it a little funky with the K. I grew up listening to Outkast. They were a big influence of mine in music and some friends made fun of the name I chose, so the inner Leo in me told me I had to keep that name. The BLVD came about when I got really serious with video production. It’s an acronym for Believing and Living Vivid Dreams. I just wanted the name to be a street, or an avenue for all artists to shine. That’s where the Brightside comes from. So, anyone who visits BrightsideBLVD is welcome to shine; all walks of life are welcome.

How would you describe your style? My style of music is kind of laid back, relaxed. I can adapt into any situation as far as trying to convey an emotion with the artist I’m representing or producing for. My filming works the same. I want them to kind of blend together. Any music I produce, I usually have a visual for it. So whatever story we’re broadcasting in the music, we’ll put it out into the world visually. Storytelling is what describes my style, whether it’s about presenting a mellow story or it’s about emotion, anger and betrayal, love, or deceit, I try to incorporate it into my music and channel it into my filming.

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Where would you like music to take you? The one thing I want people to know about where I want it to take me is that it’s not about me, it’s about the people around me. I want other people to shine brightly. That’s what BrightsideBLVD is about. Wherever my music and my films take another person is where I want to be as well; in the background shining.

As a creator, what do you like about LIFE in Paducah? I’m not originally from here, and I’ve had more opportunities here than where I was from! LIFE in Paducah has welcomed me.

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F E B RUA RY / MAR C H 2022 • 69

★

by R OS E M AR I E S T E E LE

A Trip Takes Shape. A Perspective Shifts.

Lexie Millikan, Executive Director of the Yeiser Art Center, Explores Her New World View of Art and Craft After Traveling to South Korea

HE PATH OF LEXIE MILLIKAN’S LIFE JOURNEY LOOKS LIKE A curved free-motion quilting stitch that has taken this seasoned textile artist from the plains of the Midwest to Paducah—our historic Southern river town that opened a surprising door of global cultures and creative experiences as a UNESCO city.

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LEXIE MILLIKAN

Lexie’s love of the handmade is in her DNA. She grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota and mountains of Idaho where her parents practiced a self-sufficient lifestyle. Hunting, fishing, canning, woodworking, weaving, and creating various forms of functional art were part of her daily life. She knew she had the creativity vibe but didn’t quite know how to pursue it. After high school, Lexie relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, to be closer to artistic opportunities. Soon after her arrival there, Lexie took an Introduction to Textiles class at the community college. “It was like a light bulb went on and never went off,” said Lexie. “You can go to college for this? OKAY!” She was all in. She enrolled in the Kansas City Art Institute’s fiber program. Upon graduation she began her professional career. It was a visit back home to see her parents that introduced Lexie to her future husband Darron Millikan, a Marion, Kentucky, native who was staying at her parent’s hostel in South Dakota for Sornchat Chanthawarang the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Though love and marriage may have been (Thialand), Meehee Kim the catalyst that brought Lexie here, it was destiny that landed her in (curator) & Lexie Millikan Paducah. While doing an artist residency at A.I.R. Studio in Lowertown, Lexie attended a gallery exhibit opening at Yeiser Art Center and made important creative connections that eventually led her to her positions as Fiber Artist in Residence at Paducah School of Art & Design and Executive Director at Yeiser Art Center. Lexie was always aware of Paducah’s UNESCO Creative City designation and its relevance to the community’s cultural pedigree, but it hadn’t resonated with her personally until Mary Hammond, Executive Director of the Paducah Visitors Bureau, asked her to represent both textile arts and Yeiser Art Center along with a team of Paducah educators, musicians, potters, and culinary professionals at the Sabores y Saberes Artisanal & Gastronomic Festival in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico, in 2018. San Cristóbal is known for its handwoven textiles. Lexie fit right in with her handmade quilts display and needlework demonstrations at the Paducah booth. Prior to the trip, Lexie prepared 250 shibori indigo-dyed cotton napkins for an authentic farm-to-table meal cooked up by Paducah chef Sara Bradley as part of the festival. Lexie’s second encounter with the Creative Cities Network occurred when Paducah was invited to be a part of the 2021 Jinju Traditional Crafts Biennale to held in 2021 in South Korea. After answering a call to exhibit her work, the curator Meehee Kim chose several of Lexie’s pieces and invited her to attend. “With the pandemic I wasn’t sure the trip would work out but I was excited about the possibility,” said Lexie. After completing the process of COVID protocols, Lexie was soon on her way.

Following a 15-hour flight and four-hour taxi ride with a very cordial driver, Lexie arrived at her hotel in Jinju last November. After a short isolation and testing, Lexie was finally able to explore. She met Fernando Zaccaria from Italy and Sornchat Chanthawarang from Thailand, who were also staying at the hotel and participating in the round table discussion. “It’s like being at summer camp. You are in this unique situation with new people and you become close really fast,” said Lexie. At the roundtable discussion, Lexie shared her philosophy about her work, which is influenced by the many cultures that make up America. She is inspired by the quilters of Gees Bend and traditional Japanese shibori dying. She is also influenced by the quilting that her German, Scandinavian, and Scottish Canadian grandmothers and great grandmothers did out of necessity. Many of the people in the audience were interested in discussing technology in the creation of craft. Though technology is always moving the world of art forward, Lexie sees a shift back to natural processes and slowly made projects. She personally likes the challenge of making what she can with the smallest amount of equipment. “The pandemic created a resurgence in making things by hand. You can create amazing things with basic equipment. There’s something pure about taking it back to the original process.” Seeing her work exhibited alongside other artists at the Gyeongnam Culture & Art Center was illuminating. “The whole thing was surreal…all these phenomenal crafts. Some of the other work that people are doing comes from traditions that are thousands of years old…there is a different reverence for it because of that history. They have a way of really respecting their elders and the experiences that came before.” Being immersed in Korean culture gave Lexie a different perspective on our American traditions. “People in other countries are intrigued by the US,” said Lexie. “Here we are a young melting pot of cultures which heavily influences everything we create. We have different concepts about art verses craft. I think America invented the idea of a hierarchy between fine art and craft. Other countries have a way of blurring this line because of their high regard for craft.” One of the most memorable Jinju moments was an evening gathering over beer and popcorn with Professor Jeong, Meehee Kim the exhibit curator, Maria Poll from Estonia, Fernando Zaccaria from Italy, and a colorful character they called “Maestro,” a master of the Korean traditional masked dance. “Those moments connecting people from very different cultures are magical,” said Lexie. “You don’t’ actually need that much to communicate. A lot can be said through gestures, facial expressions, and translation apps on your phone. This ability to connect around art is the most powerful thing.” Lexie’s personal experiences with the Creative Cities Network have truly enriched her life. “Though I’ve always considered myself an open-minded person, there’s been a shift in my perspective on creativity and understanding of other cultures.” Lexie proudly promotes the UNESCO designation with community leaders. “Our Creative City designation is so special and should be celebrated. In order to see the impact of this creative network on a greater scale we need community support and understanding. We need to continue to support creative opportunities and cultural exchange in our region.”

Lexie Millikan & Jinju artist Dahyeon Park

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Mollie Dunlap ★

by A MY S ULLIVAN

This Paducah Native Toiled Long, Well, and with Small Means, Effecting Much in the World of African American Literary Studies

HE SOON-TO-BE RENOVATED JETTON SCHOOL building is being named for a Paducahan who we should all know about, but seemingly few do. Mollie Ernestine Dunlap was a librarian, bibliographer, and educator who championed the civil rights of black librarians in the United States. A pioneer for African American educators, she is the perfect persona to perpetuate as the Marian Group renames the renovated historic school building “The Dunlap.” Born in Paducah on September 2, 1898, Mollie Ernestine Dunlap attended elementary and secondary schools in Paducah and continued her education at

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Wilberforce University, where she concentrated on elementary education and English. From 1918 to 1923, Dunlap was an instructor at Wilberforce University. She then relocated to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, after accepting a position as a librarian in 1925 at WinstonSalem Teachers College, where she began her professional training in library science. According to Albert P. Marshall in the Handbook of Black Librarianship, there was more of an educational drive among black people there than in probably any other state in the country. This created an increased demand for black teachers as well as librarians. In 1928, Dunlap received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio State University. After receiving a Rosenwald Fund scholarship, she attended the University of Michigan where she earned her second bachelor’s degree in 1931 and a master’s degree in 1932 in library science. She became the librarian at Wilberforce University in 1934. At her first meeting of the North Carolina Negro Library Association in 1934, Mollie Dunlap was elected as the organization’s first vice president. This group played a significant role in improving library services for blacks in North Carolina and in 1943 petitioned the American Library Association for chapter status, becoming the first African American Library Association. Dunlap also helped draft the resolution from the American Library Association for equal treatment of black librarians. In 1947, Mollie Dunlap became the library director at Central State College and guided the construction of the Hallie Q. Brown Memorial Library, where she created the African American collection and

Photograph courtesy of Central State University Archives, Wilberforce, Ohio.

became the university archivist in 1968. Her official papers are held at the college’s library. Dunlap’s research includes the first study focused on the reading habits of black college students. In 1935, she published a study of “Special Collections of Negro Literature in the United States.” She was assistant editor of the Negro College Quarterly from 1944 to 1947, where she published several bibliographical studies. Coauthored with Anne O’H. Williamson, her study “Institutions of Higher Learning among Negroes in the United States of America: A Compendium,” was published in 1947, providing data that allowed for comparative analysis of those institutions. In 1949, Dunlap wrote “Despite Discrimination: Some Aspects of Negro Life in the United States.” Her most significant work, the “Index to Selected Negro Publications Received in the Hallie Q. Brown Library,” is an indispensable reference source for those studying the African American education experience. Mollie Dunlap received the distinguished Alumnus Award of the University of Michigan on April 2, 1976. In Notable Black American Women, Book 2, (1991) Casper Jordan documented the citation that was read by Russell E. Bidlack, then dean of the School of Library Science: “Mollie Dunlap worked with talent in the place that came to her. Sought by others, she resolved to stay, creating, enlarging, teaching hosts of students of the treasures of her world. She would fit equally the tribute made by one Librarian of Congress for another long ago, for she toiled long, well, and with small means effecting much.”

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it I heard ... on NPR

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Music to Our Ears

The Residential and Artistic Development of the Former Walter Jetton School will Add a Lively New Asset to Paducah’s Cultural Climate ★ by A MY S ULLIVAN

IVE YEARS AGO, MARIAN GROUP founder and principal Jake Brown, of Louisville, foresaw a new future for a dilapidated domicile in downtown Paducah. With only a portion of the spacious building offering affordable apartments for the past 20 years, Brown’s group recommended a revised renovation to resurrect a landmark at 401 Walter Jetton Boulevard. The city of Paducah and the Paducah Symphony Orchestra (PSO) have partnered with the Marian Group, all supporting the common goal of continuing to build Paducah’s cultural community. In 2023, Paducah will welcome the transformation of the historic Walter Jetton school building into a new facility that

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will provide even more affordable housing units and promote music education in our city. The building will be known as “The Dunlap,” named for Paducah native Mollie Ernestine Dunlap, a prominent librarian, educator, and bibliographer who fought for civil rights for African American librarians across the country. Funding from the Kentucky Housing Corporation, Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits, traditional construction and capital loans provided by PNC Bank, plus a $100,000 roof grant from the City of Paducah are making the project a reality. The $14.6 million project broke ground in August 2021, about 100 years after the building’s original opening. Completion was originally estimated to take 18 months, though COVID-19 and overall inflation have impacted progress somewhat. However, the developer expects only a 30- to 45-day delay, hoping to stick closely to the original estimate. From 1920 to 1980, the Jetton building served as an educational facility, opening as Augusta Tilghman High School in 1921 and later becoming Walter C. Jetton Junior High School. When educational instruction ended, the building served as host to community functions and cultural events, including PSO concerts, for many years. In 1999, a portion of the schoolhouse was renovated and reopened as the Jetton Schoolhouse Apartments. An additional 21 housing units will be constructed in 2022-2023, totaling 42 affordable apartments available inside the Dunlap. Meeting Lowerton’s and Marian’s mission of serving low-income residents, musicians, and artists who meet the threshold of 60% or lower median income can rent these housing units, some of which might be available by the end of 2022, according to Jake Brown. The attached symphony hall where PSO performed for the first half of its 40-year history, has been vacant since. Exposure to the elements and water caused significant deterioration, and the developer is excited that this section is being resurrected. “This was a wonderful facility,” said Reece King, PSO Executive Director. “It was fantastic acoustically, and it’s something that is a milestone and anchor in our past. We have the opportunity to go home, in a sense, and the Paducah Symphony, in a couple of years, plans to move its administrative

theDunlap

The Dunlap will be an innovative approach to affordable housing and economic development, incorporating art and music to enrich Paducah’s creative culture and economy. It will create a community for living, learning, and working inside the historic schoolhouse. For more information, visit paducahky.gov/dunlap-project-jetton-schoolhouse.

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offices to the old high school. It will also allow us to make a dream come true that we’ve had for quite a while and open a music academy.” John Williams, Jr., VP of Development for the PSO, noted that the choral parts of the Paducah Symphony have been thriving and on stage for decades. “The choral programs have never had a true home however,” Williams said. “We’ve had lots of gracious hosts, but there’s something about having your own place, being able to put your signature and put your sound in that space and bring it alive.” Jake Brown was pleased at PSO’s excitement and said it was a “no brainer” for Marian to partner with the group. “With the Symphony’s plan to offer youth and children choruses, summer music camps, low- or no-cost music lessons, and free concerts for residents and students in the neighborhood as part of their outreach, we knew we had a viable project,” Brown said. PSO concerts will continue to be held at the Carson Center, but affordable, private lessons will be offered at The Dunlap. The facility will be home to music education in Paducah, reaching students, giving them new opportunities between high school and college, and enhancing their lives in wonderful ways. The Dunlap will continue to serve the Paducah community by facilitating affordable educational programs and services, revitalizing its symphony hall, providing opportunities for young musicians with its music academy, and supporting the performing arts in Paducah. Paducah Life Magazine plans to be there in 2023 to showcase the finished product!

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H by Amy Sullivan

Farming is a

Family Affair

Joel, Fox, Daisy Mae and Elise Grimes

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OEL AND ELISE GRIMES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN raised on a farm, but they both remember falling for farming while spending time on their grandfathers’ homesteads as young children. Whether or not it was due to genetics, when they got married, they both knew they wanted a farm. The couple now cultivates a bumper crop of items at their growing Grimes Family Farm in West Paducah. Joel and Elise moved to the country in West Paducah in 2003 and acquired nine acres. When the land next to them became available, they decided to purchase it as well. Later, the tract behind them went up for sale, and they bought it, too, eventually leading to a total of 60 acres over the past 18 years. A few fowl were the first to find a home at the farm. Chasing chickens was not new to Elise – when she was little, her mother said if she ever went missing on her grandfather’s farm, they knew to look in the chicken house where she would be sucking her thumb and tickling her nose with a feather. When the chickens started producing more, they started selling eggs to family, friends, and neighbors. Not long afterwards, an opportunity presented itself for Joel to buy bovines. They purchased five cows and a bull, and that’s where they truly started their business. Going with grass-fed beef, the Grimes recently added three more Dexter cows and two heifers to their closed herd. They sold some beef by shares and are now ready to get the meat processed and sell it by the cut. “Somewhere along in there we also got some goats,” Elise recounted. “We have a rather large herd of goats – 56 females and 31 males – and we sell goat products as well as the goats occasionally, though Joel would rather sell them as pets.” At the time of this writing, the herd has expanded with the recent birth of 22 kids, and they are expecting more! The Grimes have continued to grow not only their herd of farm animals, but also the number of items they produce. They raise bees to make honey and beeswax products; cultivate blackberries raspberries, heirloom apples, popcorn, and cherries; and grow lots and lots of flowers – Elise’s specialty. Business was booming for the Grimes every Saturday in 2021 from the first weekend in May until the last weekend in October at their downtown Paducah farmer’s market booth. It was filled with bundles of bright bouquets of bachelor buttons, snapdragons, sunflowers, zinnias, marigolds, and cosmos that bedazzled buyers. Succulent sedum and sumac berry plants were paired with pints and quarts of fresh raspberries and blackberries, oregano, basil, and lemon balm, cartons of eggs, honey jars, and more. “This is our fifth year at the farmer’s market, and I originally started going because we had a mix of different things to offer,” Elise remarked. “I’ve always

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GRIMES FAMILY FARM grown zinnias and marigolds – they make pretty bouquets, so I started cutting those. Then I went to beeswax products and candles. I picked cherries from our cherry tree, candied and dehydrated them, and those were popular for a while. Customers liked the flowers so I kept making bouquets, but the year the tornado came through Lovelaceville, it came right across our property and took out our barn and cherry tree. We had to let it grow back and it’s not producing yet.” But Elise still had her flowers, 1130 Gholson Road and customers continued to enjoy West Paducah, KY 42086 them, so the next year she grew 270-703-8849 more and different flowers, and she grimesfamilyfarm.com started expanding her business, Email: grimesfamilyfarmky@gmail.com selling to florists. “A lot of flowers Facebook - @grimesfamilyfarmky I cut for filler is what grows Instagram - grimesfamilyfarmky naturally on the farm. I try to grow very interesting things. A lot of people seem to like the different, unique bouquets.” Elise’s daughter, fittingly named Daisy Mae, helps with flower arranging and selling at the market. Mother and daughter have different styles, Elise going with a wildflower, freeform or whimsical look and Daisy, a recent graduate of the Paducah School of Art and Design, gravitating towards a more formal, even style. The Grimes emphasized their work truly is a family affair, with their son Fox as Joel’s right-hand man working with the animals, cutting hay, and whatever needs to be done around the farm. Son Jesse and daughter-in-law Jessika assist from their home in Clarksville maintaining the Grimes Family Farm website. Granddaughter River always loves to visit and pet the chickens, goats, donkey and ducks. Located at 1130 Gholson Road in West Paducah, the Grimes Family Farm is open 9 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday. Customers can call and order delivery of seasonal offerings including farm fresh eggs from free range chickens, grass-fed beef by the pound or in shares by halves, fresh cut flowers, honey, goat products, blackberries, raspberries, or pesticideand herbicide-free popcorn. It’s a family affair!

Grimes Family Farm

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F E B RUA RY / M A R C H 2022 • 83 AUGUS T / S E P T E MBER 2021 • 83

LastWord the

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THOMAS DEAN STEWART is an editorial photographer who’s brought his unique creativity to the likes of the Associated Press as well as local businesses like the Johnson Bar and Barrel and Bond. If he isn't spending time making art with his family, he’s reading contemporary novels, adjusting his Spotify profile (after playing the Frozen 2 soundtrack all day for his two-year old) or planning his next photo shoot. He’s ALSO now providing editorial photography for the magazine you have in your hand.

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