Paducah Life Magazine - June/July 2021 by PaducahLife

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contents 54 Behind the Ropes with Ward Jarvis

june/july 2021 ★ from the editor page 5 ★ last word

The Language of the Lens

An Endless Summer at Flower Ridge Farm

Tulip Lane Gets Down in the Dirt

Paducah Flower Company Delivers Sunshine

The Hidden Azalea Garden of Randall Channell

Hayco Farm Has Room to Grow

Sowing Seeds of Happiness at Troutt General

page 84

The Fine Art of Phyllis Russell

George Mae Nelson Dunn was First Female Attorney

Bringing Back the Bookmobile

Making a Splash at Sunset Beach

Adrienne Lee Makes Shots in the Dark

Amanda Quint is the Blonde on the Pond

The Lyrical Lines of Mike Alderdice

The Vibrant Vibes of Jenna Price Art

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SEE AND HEAR MORE OF THE FEATURES IN THIS ISSUE ON

VOLUME 31, EDITION 3 executive editor/ P U B L I S H E R Darlene M. Mazzone

associate E D I TO R / editorial P H OTO G R A P H Y J.T. Crawford

art D I R E C TO R Scott McWilliams

associate art D I R E C TO R

Expand your

a year for the Paducah area. All

reach!

There are so many ways to take part in LIFE in Paducah!

Allison Wicker

cover P H OTO G R A P H Y Phyllis Russell

Paducah Life is published six times

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F RO M t h e E D I TO R

“

Y OWN RECIPE FOR WORLD PEACE IS A LITTLE BIT OF LAND for everyone,” wrote author Gladys Taber. The soil has always been a firm foundation for sustenance if other ways failed. As Scarlett declared in her own stubborn Southern way, “Land is the only thing in the world that amounts to anything, for it’s the only thing in this world that lasts.” Despite my desperate desire to abandon the farmland of my birth and youth, I now find myself at this stage of my life often yearning for its richness, its solace, its steadfastness, its simplicity. And yet, there is surely nothing more complex than nature. After reading the novel The Overstory by Richard Powers last year, I now look at the towering, leafy stands of oaks and maples outside my office window with a completely renewed sense of awe and wonder. (I highly recommend the novel. You will never see a tree in the same way again.) Adding to that marvelous mélange of newlyacquired knowledge is an interview I heard on NPR just last week with author and ecologist Suzanne Simard about the social lives of trees. Yes, you read that right. They communicate with each other. And as astounding as that sounds on the surface, with greater instrospection, it doesn’t seem surprising to me at all. Life is abundant in every ripple on a pond, beneath every stone along its shore, in the tall grasses that sprout from its shallow waters. There is no escaping the minute details that surround us at every turn as we wander among towering Redwoods or examine grains of sand that trickle through our fingers. The complexities are borne out with the simple sparrow that appears brown from afar. But if you look closely, then you see all the many hues; five or six or seven shades of brown and little splashes of ochre or white that from a distance just seemed . . . brown. In our journey on the pages of this magazine, for more than 30 years now, our mission has been to take the time to really see the truest nature of the world around us—like the beauty of a single blossom caught in all its glory by an artistic eye. This is a reminder to look carefully. Contemplate with real consciousness. Savor LIFE in all its incomparable and astounding iterations. Bloom where you’re planted.

Darlene M. Mazzone darlene@paducahlife.com

JUNE/JULY 2021 • 5

Life

is in the Details

Finding the Finer Points in Phyllis Russell’s

Fine Art Photography ★ by

J.T. C R AWFO R D

HYLLIS RUSSELL WAS HAVING A VERY bad day. It was back in February just after Paducah had been coated in a layer of ice. She’d taken a tumble and found herself in the emergency room with an injured ankle. After a period of waiting and wondering, staff wheeled her off to get a CT scan. What would the news be? Was it broken? And when could she get back to photography? As with most patients headed off to the CT room, the questions swirled. Then, amid her winter injury, a ray of sunshine. There, on the wall, an image of a sunset over the Ohio River. It was Phyllis’s own—a photo Baptist Hospital had purchased from her. Unexpectedly, she encountered the comforting beauty of her own work. Phyllis had never imagined herself as an award-winning photographer, let alone a much sought-after artist whose images would be displayed throughout Paducah. Chances are you’ve seen her work. It adorns the halls of businesses such as Paducah Bank, Country Club of Paducah, Providence Point, and both Baptist and Mercy Hospitals, just to name a few. There are many others. Her career had taken her from a teacher at Clark Elementary School to the Paducah Board of Education where she served as the Instructional Technology Coordinator. “Then we had our first grandchild,” she says. “I worked for the Rotary Club for a while, which did give me some flexibility.” Phyllis found more time to devote to being a grandmother. And she also discovered avenues to pursue her long-standing interest in photography. “I started taking classes in 2008 through WKCTC,” says Phyllis. “Randy Simmons was my very first photography teacher. I always liked to take photographs, but when I took the class, I knew I’d found my passion.” Phyllis dove in, taking more classes, reading as much as she could, watching webinars, and attending workshops. She experimented with different styles and approaches. When she and her husband traveled around the world, she applied her newfound education to photographing the people and landscapes they encountered. From Peru to Bolivia to China and beyond, Phyllis captured the essence of those they encountered. “I like to get them in black and white,” says Phyllis. “Sometimes the scenes can be very colorful, which is fine. But in black and white, you focus on faces. You see the people.” She started entering contests and earning honors. And her growing catalog of Paducah photos began showing up all over town. Then, Phyllis turned her attention to flowers. “Luckily, I have several friends with beautiful gardens and flowers,” she says. “They just tell me to come photograph or come pick them. And when I don’t have that, I can go to the store anytime and get flowers to bring home.” Phyllis loves to experiment with different techniques, lighting, and equipment. Sometimes that happens in the field, and sometimes it happens in the studio. Then there’s the myriad options when it comes to processing the photos. She’s been experimenting with multiple lighting exposures, producing images that give the viewer

8 • PADUCAH LIFE

“I absolutely love it. It’s my passion. Most people, when they are looking at a photograph, have no idea what went into it. That’s what I’m aiming for—for them to see the image in that simplistic way.”

J UNE / J U LY 2021 • 9

the feel of being able to see into the delicacy of a flower. One image could be a stacking of anywhere from three to 20 images. The final result is a singular, stunning photo of a flower. Each one draws you in, inviting you to look beyond a wide view and delve into the building blocks of nature’s beauty. “You can look at the whole picture,” she says. “Or you can just look at one tiny part of it. It’s all different, and every part gives its own reason to stop and take a look. And every flower is different. I’m loving it.” It’s a theme that flows throughout Phyllis’s work. She dives into detail, urging the viewer to bring their focus into the crucial, individual elements that come together to make the whole. Phyllis continues to study and grow as a photographer. She takes classes through Paducah School of Art and Design. Most recently, she’s been studying artificial intelligence and how it can intersect with the world of photography. Her ongoing thirst for knowledge and growth shines through her work. And it’s been recognized across the U.S. She’s won or placed in contests sponsored by the Allegheny County Garden Club (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), the Boston Flower and Garden Show, and the Garden Club of America. “I absolutely love it. It’s my passion. I’m always following the ‘what if’ parts. What if I do this? What if I do that? What if I just focus here or there? Most people, when they are looking at a photograph, have no idea what went into it. That’s what I’m aiming for—for them to see the image in that simplistic way. But creating an image like that

10 • PADUCAH LIFE

doesn’t just happen. There’s a lot that goes into it.” What’s Phyllis’s philosophy behind photography? “I’m just having fun,” she says with a smile. “Just having fun doing what I do. I work on something every day if I can. And I still love it.” When you’re out and about, take a look around. Chances are it won’t be long before you’ll run across Phyllis Russell’s work. Her passion decorates our world with an ever-expanding vision to see the depth of beauty around us.

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★ J.T.

C R AWFO R D

s n Le The Language of Art through the

Stephanie Young lets her photographic images speak for her

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” —HENRY DAVID THOREAU

13 APRIL/MAY 2021 • 13

StephanieYoung

HOREAU’S QUOTE OFTEN RUNS through Stephanie Young’s mind. “That’s something I’ve learned through photography,” she says. “I am looking at things more closely, and I actually see them. If something catches my eye, now I wonder why it caught my eye. I look for the story, and I simplify to make sure the story is told. It’s a journey I’ve been on—deciding what I want to portray in the art.” Stephanie, who began earnestly pursuing photography after retirement, is a prolific and selfdescribed obsessive artist who has a relentless pursuit for knowledge that she happily shares with us all through stories that can only be told in photos. Photography had been in the periphery of Stephanie’s life from the beginning. “I was an only child,” she says. “Mom would take photos and cut off everyone’s heads. And dad really had no interest in it. Early on, I became the family photographer, using an Instamatic or Brownie camera. There was always a camera in the house.” Later, when completing a graduate project in college, Stephanie purchased an SLR camera to complete a multi-media presentation. “That was my introduction into what I call real photography for me.” Then came a career and family. When she retired, she knew she wanted to get back to that interest she’d had years earlier. “After I retired around 2012, I got a digital SLR, and I didn’t know how to use it,” says Stephanie. “So I signed up for a class at the art school. I showed up for my first class, and Paul Aho was teaching. I think he’d just gotten here. And the first thing he said was ‘If you are here to learn how to use your camera, you are in the wrong class.’ I thought Oh darn! Here it was, the first week of school, and I had a camera I couldn’t use and a computer that couldn’t handle the images. It’s a wonder I made it through the first class.” Stephanie was not deterred, however. “I climbed that learning curve. I took a break to learn my camera and upgrade my computer.” Once she felt a bit more comfortable, she returned to classes, even retaking the introductory class that had caught her so off guard. There, she gleaned not only an invaluable education from the coursework, but she also found a cohort of like-minded photographers who continually spurred her on to better things. “Phyllis Russell really became my mentor,” says Stephanie. “She has a few more school years in than I do. She’s been so awesome at sharing with me.”

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StephanieYoung

Stephanie began with travel photography. Her husband, Ralph, works with Living Waters for the World. “They do water purification systems for developing countries,” she says. “That became my opportunity to document the trips.” Later, Stephanie became involved with The Garden Club of America, branching out into floral photography. “It allows me to see things differently,” she says, “getting into the photography component of their flower shows. I’ve had such a good time with it that I am in their judging program now.” Floral photography provided Stephanie a new, diverse realm in which to learn and shoot. “I love to travel, but when you can’t and you’ve exhausted a lot of local street and landscape photography, you can find a whole new world in flowers. And it’s readily available.” Not only did she photograph a variety of flowers, but Stephanie also became fascinated with their lifecycles. “I can take photos of a flower from the time it looks good to way past trashcan time. Some of them are just so beautiful. You are not just looking at a dead flower. I took one of two roses, and it almost looked like they were talking to one another. It was like two old ladies who where just having a coffee klatch. There are stories there. And there’s more of a story in something that is deteriorating than in something new.” Another interesting photo is a flower at the end of its life, its petals departing in a wave-like motion. “I loved that,” she says. “It was serendipity. When I picked it up, the petals fell off. I thought Oh, you are speaking to me right now!” She saw the story. Stephanie has come a long way. But she also senses a long way to go. “When I started, I just had to learn my camera, my computer, and my programs. And you learn all the rules. I am at the point now where I know them, and I am fine breaking them. I am looking for a personal vision. I’ve learned that documenting what I see is not the end-all. I’ve done a 180° turn. I want to see what speaks to me and take that apart. I am going for more of a feeling. It’s a new road I am exploring. I am not there yet, but it’s taught me to see. It’s like the concept of Shoshin where you are seeing things as if it’s the first time. It makes all things new, and who knows what roads that will take you down.”

16 • PADUCAH LIFE

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J UNE / J U LY 2021 • 17

Picture

THIS W

HILE BOTH PHYLLIS AND STEPHANIE ARE SUCCESSFULLY FORGING NEW PATHS

in floral photography, they are quick to give credit to those who laid (and continue to lay) the foundation for their successes. The two photographers, and many others in Paducah, are tied together through the Paducah School of Art and Design and the Paducah Photographers Club. Both the school and the club are creating cohorts that elevate individuals to higher levels of creativity. “Those classes have acted as a hub for people who share an interest in photography,” says Paul Aho, Director of PSAD and digital photography instructor. “Basil Drossos, Paul Grumley, Phyllis, Stephanie, and others like them came together, and the classes helped focus their skills and spur them on creatively. We’re very pleased to see how we’ve served that community. None of these are degree-seeking students. Most of them have degrees previously and are doing this out of a love for photography and in exploring photography as an art form.” The school seeks to engage students to realize, visually, how they see the world. “It’s about what interests a person,” says Paul, “and what engages them within the process of seeing. The product is something that operates on an equal level with other forms of art. It’s more than just image making, it is object making. A photograph has a presence and compels a viewer to engage. And many of the students have established themselves as artists and have placed their works in commercial and private settings. They are filing a demand that exists in the community with their art, and that’s what the school is here for.” For those in this photography cohort, which consists mostly of retired professionals who chose, after their professional careers, to pursue the art of

18 • PADUCAH LIFE

Members of the Paducah Photographers Club get a demonstration from drone photographer Vick Patel in front of the Paducah School of Art and Design.

photography, they are energized and launched to new levels with every bit of imparted knowledge and inspiration. This carries over to the Paducah Photographers Club where many of them are members. The club provides members an environment in which they share their visions, spurring one another on to higher levels of creativity. Most members, in speaking about their art, will mention the PSAD and/or inspiration and imparted knowledge from other students and club members. “We have a challenge every month within a

Raven & Moth

L O C A L .

theme,” says Paul Grumley, Paducah Photographers Club member and past president. “Then we take a look at them and have a contest. The value is that we can all gain insight on how each other sees things and how that comes across through their photos.” Additionally, the club invites guest speakers and goes on field trips to interesting locations. “You learn a lot, and you get new ideas,” adds Paul. “And there’s a big overlap with the classes at the art school. And just the camaraderie is fun. It’s a creative outlet, and we get to share in that.” Through the Paducah School of Art and Design and the Paducah Photographers Club, a new community of visual artists has emerged. Together, they are making Paducah a vibrant backdrop for new ways to view LIFE through the lens.

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Find inspiration around every corner at Discovery Park of America. Start making plans to visit Discovery Park this summer! Explore ten interactive galleries inside the museum, and then walk through the beautifully landscaped heritage park and its blooming gardens. While visiting this summer, stop in for the Discovery Park Cruise-In on June 12, enjoy historical programs on the Fourth of July and take in a powerful photography exhibit opening July 21 called "40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World."

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★ J.T.

C R AWFO R D

An Endless, Blooming

Summer at

FLOWER RIDGE FARM

JUNE/JULY 2021 • 21

I F LOWER

R IDGE FARM

“It’s coming on Christmas—they’re cutting down trees—

they’re putting up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace. Oh I wish I had a river I could skate away on.”

“I’ve always been a flower nut. It comes from both sides of my family.” NADINE WILLIAMS

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

It’s Christmas season, and Nadine Williams is cozied up in her farmhouse abode tucked away in the hills of southern Illinois. The world is awash in evergreen, holly, and songs about snow. But Nadine’s mind is skating down a river that leads to the warmth of summer. There, she walks among fields of flowers. During the winter months, that summery world is found on the pages of the catalogs she peruses. There, she eyes explosions of colors as she studies the possibilities of what she might plant in the spring. When it comes to flowers, the prospects are nearly endless. And Nadine is an astute student of trends, ensuring that Flower Ridge Farm remains on the floral forefront every year. “I’ve always been a flower nut,” says Nadine. “It comes from both sides of my family. My parents were farmers, and all my grandparents were farmers. My grandmothers were big floral people and had flower gardens.” For her vocation, Nadine had been a secretary. But she always kept flower gardens around her home. Later, she worked for a flower shop part-time. “That’s when I really got the bug,” she says. Nadine decided to do some floral arranging on her own and set up shop in her basement, working a lot with dried flowers. Soon, she started to get requests for arrangements. Word spread, she added cut flowers to her bouquet of offerings, and Nadine was then in business as an arranger, doing silk work and funeral and wedding arrangements. Nadine and her husband later inherited his great, great, uncle’s farm, the perfect spot for an ever-expanding flower farm. They renovated the old farmhouse, and Nadine set up shop out back.

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F LOWER

R IDGE FARM

“It all kind of evolved,” says Nadine. “When I first started with all the cuts, I had all these flowers and didn’t know what I’d do with them. I got an old van and took off, hitting all the flower shops to introduce myself. Florists are normally very welcoming and love to get local, fresh-cut flowers. I also started selling at farmers' markets in Evansville and Paducah.” Chances are if you’ve ordered from a florist in Paducah, you’ve received local flowers from Flower Ridge Farm. One of the earliest relationships bloomed with Flower + Furbish. “Oh, Sara is one of my absolute favorites,” says Nadine. “She had a wedding, and they wanted Cafe au Lait Dahlias. They couldn’t find them anywhere. I happened to have a bucket of them at the Paducah Farmer’s Market, and one of her employees saw them. That was about eight years or more ago. It’s been great. Now I also grow for Rose Garden, Rhew Hendley, and florists from Metropolis up to Marion, Illinois.” Nadine is in a routine of planning for the seasons and being on the forefront of trends. “Every year, I analyze what might be popular and what color schemes will be fashionable for weddings. When I buy my seeds I am also thinking about what customers like Sara might like. I’ll get excited and think I’ll grow this, I’ll grow that. Before long, I can be a bit overwhelmed.” Some varieties may come, some may go, but Nadine generally keeps lycianthes, a variety of sunflowers, dahlias, zinnias, bee balm, and mints and basils for fillers. Nadine begins with seed, some bags containing thousands of them. And when the growing season hits, her days are full. “I have a tight schedule,” she says. “I mow, weed eat, take care of the beds, cut flowers, deliver them on my route, and battle weeds. Every year it’s some new invasive weed that I’ve never heard of. For example, a few years ago, there was an ocean of water hemp that moved in. I had planted 2500 dahlias, and in a few days, they were surrounded. We had to take Solo cups and cover each dahlia and kill off the water hemp. And then you're doing that on those summer days that get so hot. People have this romanticized idea of fields and fields of perfect flowers and what it’s like on a flower farm. Well, I can tell you it's usually wrong.” While she admits that there are challenges that make flower farming less charming than most imagine, it is a passion she can’t imagine being without. After the first fall frost, when the ground goes fallow and our thoughts turn toward the coming holiday season, Nadine will still be in summer mode, flipping through catalogs of beautiful blossoms. Before long, she’ll be back in her barn, planting seeds for a new season. “A lot of times when I am out here fighting with the weeds in a hundred-degree heat I question my sanity,” she laughs. “But I remember why I do this. It’s a part of who I am. If I didn’t do it, something would be missing. It brings me a lot of joy, and I really do love it all. For years, I was chained to a desk and computer. There’s so much freedom in this. Yeah, during the growing season, I am going from about 5 AM until dark. But it’s all a positive if you can deal with the heat and the weeds. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

24 • PADUCAH LIFE

Down Dirt This Micro-Farmer is Digging Deep and Discovering Life’s Answers in Full Bloom

in the

★

by J.T. C RAWFORD

I thought I was crazy for wanting to IF YOU ASK NATALIE THODOROPOULOS ABOUT THE do it.” Natalie and her husband thousands of tulips in her backyard—the impetus behind the hours upon Adrian had recently moved into a hours of selecting varieties, planting, and harvesting them for customers—she’s home on Fountain Avenue when rendered momentarily speechless. She scans the clusters of buds, each of them suddenly she saw an opportunity to shyly imparting to the world a hint of the vibrancy hidden within. The reasons start small. “A lot of the backyard are rooted deep. And the community’s response to her efforts is more than she area was concrete,” she imagined. It brings a tear to her eye. adds. “We demolished “I was feeling a little lost—trying to find where I fit in life and From left are everything, put in a in my calling,” says Natalie. “I feel like we are all so very careerMargo, Adrian, driveway, and put in a focused. And there’s so much more than that.” She began to find Natalie, and Luther patio. Last fall, we’d something magical hidden deep in the dirt when she planted tulip Thodoropoulos. finished most of the bulbs in her backyard in 2020. After a long winter, the weeks surwork, and we had these rounding peak tulip season were like a sunbeam on Natalie’s life. “I empty landscaping beds. felt like, for once in my life, I was in the right spot. It felt so right.” My husband and I couldn’t quite In Natalie’s search for life’s deeper meanings and realities, she saw an come together on what we wanted answer germinating within her childhood memories—a reality that drew upon to do with them. We both love who she was. “My grandfather, Luther, grew tulips in large beds. That sparked flowers and plants, and we were my love for them. And every time I see tulips, I think of him.” The connection going through ideas. I was standing was not only comforting, it caused her to feel firmly planted within a world back there and really felt the pull to that is ever-changing. Natalie thought about how to incorporate the beauty of do the tulip thing. So I just thought, the flowers into her life and share that with the rest of the world. plant some bulbs!” “I wanted to do u-pick tulips,” she says. “But I kept talking myself out of it.

28 • PADUCAH LIFE

FEATURING LUCAS-MCKEARN LAMPS

For Natalie, that meant 5,000 of them. “I wanted to test the waters to see if people were interested in what I was doing,” says Natalie. “I bought all kinds of bulbs for tulips you don’t normally see around here. I wanted it to be unique and different. I wanted to see if people liked it.” She planted about 25 varieties and chose tulips that would bloom throughout the spring season. Instead of u-pick, Natalie decided to offer bouquets of cut flowers. Adrian and Natalie’s father went to work converting a corner of the garage into a cooler. When spring arrived, the Thodoropoulos backyard burst forth in a dazzling display of colors. “And as much as I love tulips, last year was the first time I’d ever planted one,” laughs Natalie. “I harvest them when they

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are in bud form and keep them in the cooler. When they are ready to be sold, I just chop the bulb off, and they are ready to go.” Natalie set up pop-up shops at Piper’s and Frenchtown Station. For the final harvest of the season, she sold directly from her driveway. “I invited people to my farm,” Natalie smiles. “And I am proud to say that’s what it is. I microfarm. I planted and sold my crop. Sometimes people say oh, it’s a nice garden. No. We dug trenches. We were on our knees and hands in the mud. I had crates and crates and crates of bulbs. We harvested and processed them all. We have to use a cooler. It’s a little more work than a garden.” She chose the name Tulip Lane for her new venture, Lane being her maiden name and her grandfather’s last name. With her first crop, she went public. And the response brought Natalie full circle. “When we were at Piper’s, I was overwhelmed with everyone who came,” she says. “They were so shocked we had done that in our backyard. They couldn’t believe it. Not that long ago, I never gave thought as to where our flowers come from. You see them in the florist or the grocery store, and I never thought much about it. It was great to offer flowers grown in Paducah. Isn’t it more romantic to think that your flowers were grown just down the street? It makes it even more special.” The future for Tulip Lane is still a little unclear. Natalie wants to move closer to her original u-pick idea. She’s unsure of whether she’ll be planting in her backyard again for next season or if there will be an expansion to a new location. What is sure, however, is that she’s finding answers to life’s questions deep in the dirt. And she’s only scratched the surface. “I can come out with my kids, and they can do this with me. My three-year-old son, Luther, who is named after my grandfather, came up to me and kept saying, ‘I want to help you! I want to help you!’ He loves stickers, so he took our craft paper sleeves and put our stickers on them. He’s learned what a weed is. He gladly helps me weed. And it won’t be long before my daughter Margo will be able to help. This is the magic of doing this. It’s a lot of work, but it has all been therapeutic.”

For more information, follow Tulip Lane on social media.

30 • PADUCAH LIFE

ACT PREP!

IMAGINE THE DIFFERENCE 4-7 POINTS CAN MAKE. JUST ASK THESE STUDENTS.

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“The skills I learned in Sylvan’s Advanced Reading Skills class made all the difference. I could immediately see the improvement in my testing and in my classwork! Thank you, Sylvan.” — JULIANNA MOORE, PADUCAH TILGHMAN SENIOR

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J UNE / J ULY 2021 • 31

Mason Tot Denton Becomes Third Generation Waldon State Farm Agent

Susan Waldon-Denton has been joined by her son, Mason, as an agent with the State Farm Insurance Company. Mason will be a third generation State Farm Agent. His grandfather, Tot, first offered insurance in 1958, working until 2016. Susan joined him in 1986. And now, Mason will carry on the tradition with his own State Farm office. “The slogan for State Farm is ‘Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there,’’ says Susan. “Dad had been a good neighbor long before joining State Farm, so it was a perfect match. Daddy was my hero. In third grate, I wrote a paper on what I wanted to be when I grew up. I knew then I wanted to follow in his footsteps. In 1986, my dream became a reality. I was privileged to work 30 years alongside the greatest. He always said, ‘Treat people the way that you want to be treated.’ I truly have strived for 30 years to do just that.” Susan is happy to have her son follow the family career path. “I’ll always remember the day Mason started,” she says. “It was a very special time for our family, and there are no words to express how blessed I feel to have my son become a third generation State Farm agent. My dad was the most caring individual in our lives, and we were blessed with a great mentor and role model. Mason and I continue to hold ourselves to his standard of being a GOOD NEIGHBOR.”

SUSAN WALDON-DENTON

MASON TOT DENTON

831 Jefferson Street 270-442-8281

202 Lone Oak Rd., Suite 100 270-908-4220

Sunshine every day! Delivering

by A MY S ULLIVAN

★ Jennifer Rukavina Bidwell’s Forecast is Always Sunny These Days

N RAIN OR SNOW, SLEET OR HAIL, WELL-KNOWN WEATHER WOMAN JENNIFER RUKAVINA Bidwell aims to deliver rays of sunshine each day as part of her new career in the floral business. JUNE/JULY 2021 • 33

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PADUCAH F LOWER C OMPANY

Ending 15 years in 2019 as chief meteorologist at WPSD and having a non-compete agreement in place for a year, Jennifer took some time for herself to regroup and figure things out. She decided to try her hand at flower delivery. She wasn’t a stranger to the business; in high school and college she had worked for a plant nursery, where she developed a strong love for flowers and landscaping. However, she was not as familiar with the fresh flower world. After working for several months, she started training with a florist at Fort Campbell to learn flower design. “It seemed to be the one thing to do that wasn’t weather related that would make me happy,” Jennifer realized. “The flower business was a way I could still be creative and do something I really love. But I do still freelance for a show on the Weather Channel and storm chase to get my weather fix.” Husband Jeff Bidwell was fully supportive in helping Jennifer grow her business. “It was scary,” says Jennifer. “I’d never owned my own business, and neither had Jeff. I give a lot of credit to him. His support and just jumping in and trying to make this new dream a reality for me, and for us, has been beyond what has gotten me here. I could not do this job without him.” The two purchased The Paducah Flower Company, located at 2975 Lone Oak Road, in early 2019, but a cooler had to be installed, among other renovations, before it could open. Meanwhile, an opportunity arose for the Bidwells in November of that same year. The longstanding Jeannette’s

Flower Shoppe in Mayfield was going up for auction at a great price. Not wanting to see a continuing trend of aging florists retiring and closing their doors, and knowing the demand was still there, they decided to buy Jeannette’s. “It was a good way to test the waters and get some experience under our belt before we opened the Paducah shop a couple months later,” Jennifer explained. The new Jeannette’s Mayfield Flower Company had an 87-year legacy and a strong customer base, and

I would like to see people supporting their local f lorists. There is some really great talent in this town. the previous owner even still came in to make pieces for the holidays. Thus, the Bidwells decided to keep the name and feel it will always be Jeannette’s. The Paducah Flower Company, originally intended to be their first, opened in January 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Jennifer was surprised to see that it actually helped, more than it hurt, their business. When they shut down for two full weeks, they had turned off their Telaflora service, through which orders come in from across the country. “I went to the Paducah

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J UNE / J ULY 2021 • 35

the

PADUCAH F LOWER C OMPANY

store and turned it back on to see what would happen,” Jennifer remembers. She was the only florist who had a wire turned on at the time, and once it was reactivated, she couldn’t keep up with orders. As the only florist open and only supplier in Paducah at that time, she could get what she needed for the day. She stayed all morning at the shop every day and delivered in the afternoon, which enabled them to get their product out, and allowed them to grow. The Murray location at 403 Maple Street was opened in July 2020, in the middle of the pandemic. The previous owner couldn’t do it anymore, and, as a last-ditch effort, asked if the Bidwells wanted to buy it. It was hard to pass up an offer that would likely have a quick return and where the demand was inevitably higher, with only three florists in town. “Murray and Mayfield were a lot less stringent in their COVID restrictions, so we opened the shop, the wires, and the website, and it just took off,” Jennifer recounted. Since it became nearly impossible to keep up with three shops, the couple concentrated on finding really good people to run the shops for them. Dayto-day, Dee runs Jeannette’s in Mayfield; Chelsey runs the Murray store; and Christy, an experienced former floral manager at Banks, runs the Paducah shop. Jennifer works at Jeannette’s on Mondays and Jeff visits all the stores at least once a week, taking care of payroll and the books. “Through technology and the wire system, we can send things to each other, and we talk to the employees every day at the other shops. It’s not so much a schedule as it is a work flow that we emulate during the day,” Jennifer explained. The Bidwells make a great team. “Our relationship is built on teamwork— somehow it just works,” Jennifer reflects. “We are both extremely hard workers. Jeff’s work ethic is out of this world, and he wants the business to be a success so that when he eventually leaves TV, it would be a 100% all-in family business. We want to sit back later as owners and be able to go to all three stores because we’ve hired the right people to manage the day-to-day operations.” A big reason for the Bidwells’ blooming business is having community relationships. “I can’t begin to tell you how supportive the local community has been, knowing the story of the TV station. They wanted to give me a chance, and continue to do that every day. That’s what’s making us a success—the people that work for us, what we do, and the community support.” Jennifer wants not only to see her own shop continue to grow, but also the flower industry as a whole, which is struggling. “We are new, so we aren’t struggling. We are doing ok and continuing to grow. But a lot of big houses in town are struggling because they have a very large operation and COVID did a lot of harm. I would like to see people supporting their local florists. There is some really great talent in this town. We all have our own public that we serve, our own style and talent. I want to see the industry continue to thrive.” Jennifer also reflects on how rewarding it is to bring joy to people when delivering arrangements. “No, flowers don’t last forever, but they do bring joy and comfort to people. It’s a nice surprise to see how much it really does give someone. There’s one lady I deliver to that has been battling cancer who is so excited every time that I come to the door. There is a need, it does serve a purpose. That’s so important for everyone to understand. Every day is sunshine when you have flowers.” Visit thepaducahflowercompany.com or Paducahflowercompany.com or call 270-554-1005.

36 • PADUCAH LIFE

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J UNE / J ULY 2021 • 37

Movement. Life. by S A RA H B L AC K

★

A color scheme, a line from a poem, or a spiritual idea can take Jenna Price on an adventure of paint on canvas. ENNA PRICE COULD NEVER CHOOSE JUST ONE PAINT COLOR TO BE HER favorite. Her bold use of reds and oranges vibrates off the canvas only to be tempered by an electrifying splash of blue or a verdant green. Her colors flow across the surface, creating a rhythmic dance of line and color. A senior at Paducah Tilghman High School, Jenna has had an exceptional high school career. She is an AP Scholar with Distinction, a National Merit Commended student and an All-State trumpet player in the Paducah Tilghman Band of Blue. But it is her art that truly allows her to express herself creatively. “Painting has given me the gift of providing a space to sort out my thoughts,” she says. “It forces me to think through whatever is bothering me at the moment and gives me an opportunity to express those feelings through something other than words.” She often approaches a painting with a single concept or imagery that she wants to see in her work. “Sometimes it’s as simple as a color scheme and sometimes it’s a specific word or line from a poem that has brought about a significant change in my life,” she explains. Lately, Jenna has been reading books and

38 • PADUCAH LIFE

JUNE/JULY 2021 • 39

JennaPrice

listening to podcasts, specifically about the late Ram Dass, an American spiritual teacher she looks up to. His teachings have led her to consider new spiritual and existential ideas and she has reflected on these new concepts through her paintings. “I try to translate whatever emotion I’m experiencing from that realization (or question) onto the art for others to look at and feel.” Jenna also derives inspiration from favorite artists such as Picasso and is interested in eastern traditional Hindu art. She is also a huge fan of graffiti artists, KIPTOE and Mr Cenz. Her Egoless Individuality, a large self-portrait which currently hangs in the Paducah Innovation Hub, is Jenna’s favorite creation to date. “This piece was so different,” she explains. “Because I didn’t start out with much of a plan at all. I lightly sketched and just went to work. I try to let the style and colors come into shape on their own based on my energy at that very moment.” Her choice of imagery is both thoughtful and sometimes recognizable, setting up the viewer to feel a connection with the work and to create their own ideas and meaning. “I love joyful, bright, energizing reactions and reds/ oranges tend to bring that out in the viewer,” she says. “My pieces tend to be surreal and psychedelic, as I love the viewer to feel lost in the imagery.” And she succeeds in her intention, intuitively creating electrifying moments of vibrancy, movement, and life. Decades Interlaced, a painting focused on the idea of time, illustrates recognizable images from decades past: a roller skate, a cassette tape. It shows Jenna’s interest in graffiti art with her use of flat, vibrant colors and color blocking commonly seen in traditional graffiti art. All of these elements combine to tell a story about how one might think and feel about time. Jenna’s curiosity with graffiti art led her to paint her whole garage as she had fun and experimented with the medium. Now that’s dedication! Jenna graduated from Paducah Tilghman in May and will soon begin the next significant phase in her life. With plans to attend art school, she is most excited about the people she will meet. “I feel my best when I’m surrounded by a diverse group of people… being surrounded by like-minded and equally motivated students will be inspiring and challenging.” Jenna’s openness and desire for diversity, discovery, and joy are as evident in her paintings as they are in her approach to life. As Jenna embarks on this new journey, the world will be waiting to see where her paintbrush takes her, and us, next.

40 • PADUCAH LIFE

JUNE/JULY 2021 • 41

by J.T. C R AW F O R D

WildWorld of Azalea Wonders ★

The Surprising Backyard Garden of Randall Channell

42 • PAD U CAH L I FE

O YOU RECALL THE MOMENT IN the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when Mr. Wonka swung open the door to the chocolate room and the children got their first glimpse of the magic within? Their eyes boggled as they slowly made their way along the room’s paths, hardly believing all they encountered. It was more than they’d ever imagined. If you get the privilege of visiting Randall Channell’s Paducah home in the spring, and he invites you to the little gate to the left of the house that provides entry to the backyard, you’ll find an experience akin to that in Willy Wonka—except you won’t find a world of chocolate and candy. You’ll be immediately immersed in a sea of color radiating from a dazzling display of azaleas. To say Randall is a collector is putting it mildly. And if all you thought of azaleas were the few varieties of blooming bushes most commonly found in our local landscapes, Randall is there to tell you there’s more to their world than you thought possible.

44 • PADUCAH LIFE

“I mainly have camellias, rhododendrons, many, many, many, Japanese maples and dogwoods, and the azaleas, both evergreen and deciduous,” Randall says as he begins his tour. The first stop is to see Admiral Semmes, an azalea that is part of a series borne from crossing Rhododendron austrinum and Rhododendron x Hotspur Yellow. There are eleven total azaleas in the series, all named for prominent figures from the Civil Sherry and Randall Channell

War. “I have seven of them,” says Randall, “and I am looking for the other four.” Next up are azaleas that bloom in both spring and fall. “They are rebloomers,” says Randall. “This one is called Encore, and that one is Deja Vu. There’s Forever & Ever and Bloom ’N Again. They will bloom in the spring, and then they may start blooming again as early as the summer and continue until the frost. A guy by the name of Buddy Lee developed the Encore, and I met him at a meeting one time. I am a lifetime member of the Azalea Society of America.” As the tour continues, Randall introduces you to the varieties found in his yard. He calls them by name, both by their scientific names and their commercial names. He also readily articulates those that have Japanese nomenclatures. “He’s a walking encyclopedia,” says Randall’s wife, Sherry, as she enters the backyard from their home. Randall names variety after variety, flower after flower. And when you think he might just own nearly

every azalea known to man, he is reminded of those he doesn’t have. He pulls a well-worn, folded piece of paper from his wallet. On it, he keeps his wish list— the most elusive of azaleas that he wants to add to his collection. Randall visits conventions and nurseries, and he keeps track of what’s going on in the azalea world across the U.S. And Randall is not only a consumer of azaleas, he actively participates in creating new varieties. He regularly collects blooms and seeds from his plants and works with David Mikulcik, owner of Mikulcik Nursery in Murray to create their own azalea varieties. “All of these over here are from Mikulcik. He’s a hybridizer.” “Oh! Make sure you show my favorite azalea!” adds Sherry. Randall smiles. “On my first trip to David’s in 2008, I bought this one,” says Randall. “It didn’t have a name, so he told me to name it. She really liked it, so I named it Sherry Ann.” After the tour of the yard, Randall shares photo albums showcasing blooms from years past. Each page

JUNE/JULY 2021 • 45

Azalea

Wonder

is an 8x10 photo of azaleas at their peak. “Like anyone else,” laughs Sherry, “we have photo albums of all our children.” Randall has created a world of floral wonder. His backyard is an oasis of azalea awe. And like a child, he is in a state of constant amazement once they start to bloom. “Paducah doesn’t even know this is here. And many don’t know what azaleas are all about. I just love the colors. I have about 500 here now, and I just love looking at them every year. It’s my mini arboretum.” And Randall loves to share his little world of azalea wonder.

46 • PADUCAH LIFE

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48 • PAD U CAH L I FE

With Room to

Grow

In just a few short years, this family farm has truly blossomed

by J. T. Crawford

‘CAUSE WHAT WORKS BETTER THAN BEER RIGHT ABOUT NOW? CALL IN, ORDER IT UP, AND WE’LL BRING IT OUT TO YOUR CAR OR WE’LL BRING IT RIGHT TO YOUR DOOR!

270.933.1265 / 4-8 PM

50 • PAD U CAH L I FE

N 2018, WE BROUGHT YOU THE STORY OF HAYCO Farms, a venture launched by the Hayden family from their garden in Melber. Parents Jake and Lauren, along with sons Cole, Cylas, and Crue, always had more than they needed, and even though they gave away produce and sold some to local restaurants, there remained a surplus. Then came the idea of subscription boxes. Jake and Lauren decided to dive in. Lauren sold her salon, only doing hair part time. Jake expanded their garden and got started planting. Their subscription base grew by leaps and bounds, and they were even able to donate produce to Paducah’s Community Kitchen. From sweet potatoes to cabbage, from sweet peas to broccoli, from blackberries to tomatoes, the family grew a wide variety of crops and packed and delivered boxes full of bountiful produce every week. And there was always a surplus. When we visited their family farm a few short years ago, their garden had certainly expanded. But upon surveying the surrounding acreage, it was evident there was plenty of room to grow. And grow they did. When we returned this year, we were greeted by rows of greenhouses, a bustle of activity, and a new public market area. Specifically, we came to see their flowers and hanging baskets. “We are growing our own now,” says Lauren. “And we just started this year. We’d been doing the produce boxes for a little while, and then we added 12 cold frame houses to extend our season. That really took off last year. With that, we knew we could expand the market. Jake was a landscaper, and he’d already been growing his own shrubs for about ten years. We got into shrubs and then decided to do bedding flowers, hanging baskets, and ferns.” When it comes to growing plants, Lauren didn’t see a huge difference

Lauren Hayden

when adding their flower line. Where she saw change was in introducing Hayco Farms to a new audience.“It brought us a new customer base. It’s much more broad than it used to be. It’s a totally different ballgame from where it began. I am no longer doing hair and now doing this full time. And the flowers have been great. In the early spring, there is a lot of investment into the harvest box side of the business. The flowers allow us to balance that out a little bit, and it gives people an early opportunity to come here. We love it! We have a fully-functioning, little farm market!”

For more information, visit Hayco Farms on social media.

J UNE /J U LY 2021 • 51

H by J. T. Crawford

Sowing Seeds of Promise from

The General Store Crystal Troutt promises that she can help any potential gardener find success

DO YOU ENJOY THE BEAUTY OF FLOWERS BUT ARE NOT sure where to start when it comes to growing them yourself? Many of us are intimidated by starting anything from seed, but Crystal Troutt at Troutt Old Time General Store encourages people to learn that it’s not as hard as you think. And the payoff is worth it. “Flowers like Zinnias are super easy to grow. You can sow those directly into the ground or in pots. I think if people knew how easy they are, they’d have no problem planting flowers,” says Crystal. And since the variety among species such as zinnias is nearly endless, color and size options are abundant. “Most flower seeds are opposite of vegetable seeds,” adds Crystal.“You don’t have to start them indoors. That makes it a whole lot easier.” In addition to Zinnias, some of the most popular flower seeds Troutt carries are peonies, morning glories, clematis, and sunflowers, which come in a wide variety. “There’s one called the Red Mexican Torch, and it grows like a tree. It has single-pedal flowers, and you get multiples off the branches. And the stems feel like velvet.” The Red Mexican Torch is just one example of the diversity found within one variety. “I try to get seeds for flowers that are easy to grow,” adds Crystal. “Some do need a little bit more help. Seeds like those for the nasturtium like to be scored and sometimes soaked a little to promote growth. But the great thing about them is that the leaves and flowers are both edible. So sometimes you have to think about things other than just how pretty they are. You’ll definitely find something unique here.” Crystal recommends buying seed from someone who can guide you on how to plant and what to expect. “I want people to feel encouraged about gardening,” she says. “We always try to test everything before we sell it here. That way we can share how best to grow these flowers and enjoy them and the process.” Crystal begins stocking seeds in January. While most of us don’t have spring flowers on our minds in the dead of winter, it’s a good time to plan. And it’s a good time to pick up those unique seeds that will be sold by the time warmer weather rolls around. “We’ve been growing for over twenty years now,” says Crystal.“And I am always learning something new. I just love it, and I love to share that with others.”

J UNE /J U LY 2021 • 53

★

by M IC H A E L

MAZZONE

Ward Jarvis originally saw himself on the tee. He now finds himself behind the ropes.

“

When I talk to my dog, I don’t stutter.

”

I know he’s not going to judge me. PADUCAH’S WARD JARVIS, A LIFELONG STUTTERER, IS NOW COACHING PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS BASED ON THE TECHNIQUES HE’S DEVELOPED TO MANAGE HIS STUTTER.

WARD

JARVIS

IN 2018 PGA GOLFER Brendon Todd was ranked 2,045 in the world of professional golf. He now ranks in the top 40 on the PGA tour. Paducah’s Ward Jarvis gave Brendon something to think about after his topple from the top. Now Ward is sharing those same thoughts with other professional golfers facing similar performance challenges. It all started with his stutter. As an aspiring young golfer, Ward Jarvis set his sights on the PGA tour. He was inspired by Paducah golfer Russ Cochran and encouraged by many competitive successes. However, what came naturally to him early on eventually became more of a challenge, and Ward ultimately realized his dream of a career on the tour was not in the cards. It was years later, as Ward dove Ward has been instrumental in my resurgence on the PGA into the etiology of his stuttering, a Tour, helping me create a mental process to navigate the challenges I face weekly. He has an innate ability to connect with the player disability that he had lived with since about performance anxiety and has helped me go from intense childhood, that he connected the anxiety to minimal stress during my competitions. I truly enjoy dots and identified similarities in his our journey together!” —BRENDON TODD, PGA PRO GOLFER performance both as a speaker and on the golf course. Currently Ward Jarvis, shame.” Two professionals were instrumental in helping Performance Coach, finds himself working with PGA Ward manage his stuttering. Janel Coughlin, a teacher at tour golfers. Most notable is Brendon Todd, who has been Clark Elementary School, provided interventions, many open about his “full swing yips”—an expression used to of which are recognized in performance circles today. describe a loss of fine motor skills under pressure. “She helped me feel comfortable in uncomfortable “Stuttering has been my life experience,” explains environments,” Ward explains. “On a weekly basis we Ward. “You don’t really get over it, but I do have a unique would make a call to Dillard’s and ask for a red sweater. way of thinking about it and techniques I use to manage For a stutterer, not knowing who is on the other end of it. Sometimes my words would just not come out. I the phone is tough. Answering the phone was difficult for couldn’t move air.” me. There were times in my life when people hung up on Ward was an outgoing kid and when he was given a me when I was trying to order pizza!” Dr. Laurie Ballew, speaking part in the preschool play, he now thinks back to a Paducah speech therapist at the time, also provided vital that as a pivotal moment. “I think about how excruciating consultation to Ward and his parents in those years. this must have been for my parents. Should we give Ward In his current coaching role, Ward draws on his own a speaking part? They let me go for it and I have often experience with the yips. Following several years of thought if they had not made the decision to let me try, I competitive golf success, Ward won the Marshall County might have some job in a basement crunching numbers,” Invitational when he was a high school freshman at Ward laughs. Ward largely credits his parents’ support Paducah Tilghman. with his current success. “About a month after this win,” Ward recalls, “I’m in Others were also instructive for Ward in dealing with a routine high school match, I get over a short putt, and his challenge. “Everyone knew I stuttered,” he says, “so the thought went through my head, what if I miss this, there was acceptance of it and much more support than

“

56 • PADUCAH LIFE

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PRIMARY CARE FOR THE UNIVERSE OF YOU J UNE / J ULY 2021 • 57

BEHIND THE ROPES WITH TOMMY THOMAS Ward Jarvis’s uncle, Tommy Thomas, had his own unique experience behind the ropes as a young golfer. An accomplished golfer himself, Tommy founded and played on the first Paducah Tilghman Golf team in 1960. But it was during a momentous visit to the Masters that Tommy Thomas found himself going from behind the ropes to out onto the course due to some stormy weather. “I went to the Masters in 1961 to see Sam Snead and Ben Hogan play,” said Tommy. “To my eye Sam was beautiful to watch. He had a strong, flexible, rhythmic swing. I watched him practice every day during the tournament.” On that memorable Saturday, Tommy was following Snead and a slight drizzle began to fall. Tommy is holding the rope eight feet behind the world-renowned golfer when Snead turned to the young Paducahan and said, “Son, you’ve been watching me every day haven’t you?” “Yes sir, Mr. Snead,” Tommy replied. “Why aren’t you watching Jack and Arnie?” he asked. “Because you are the greatest thing I have ever seen Mr. Snead,” Tommy said. To which Sam Snead commented, “You play golf? You any good?” Tommy replied in the affirmative. “Then get over here and hold my umbrella.” And that’s how Tommy Thomas wound up walking up the fifth fairway at the Masters holding Sam Snead’s umbrella. Shortly after, the horn was sounded to suspend play. Snead said to Tommy, “You want to walk with me to the clubhouse?” (Did he need to ask?) As the two neared the clubhouse, the horn sounded again to resume play. Tommy continued to walk with one of golf’s greatest players for the next four holes. On the ninth tee, Snead went to his bag, gave Tommy $20 and said, “You go get three hot dogs and three Cokes and take them to the bottom of the hill on number 10. There’s a flat spot. You wait there. That’s where my ball is going to be.” Tommy fetched the dogs and anxiously waited at the designated spot on the tenth hole. Tommy saw Snead approaching twirling his club like a baton and whistling. “You got those hot dogs boy?” he shouted to Tommy. “I went out to the fairway and stood with Sam Snead and his caddie as we ate our hot dogs! When finished, Mr. Snead hit his shot and asked his caddie to give me the umbrella. I continued with him to the 14th green.” There, Snead put his hand on Tommy’s shoulder and said, “You’ll have to give the umbrella back to the caddy because TV coverage starts on the 15th hole. Once I get to 15, the TV cameras will be on me, and I don’t want you to get in trouble for being inside the ropes with me,” he said to the star-struck young golfer from a small Kentucky river town. Tommy turned to the famous golfer and said, “This has been a dream come true.” About a week after the tournament, Harry Bolser, the Louisville Courier Journal stringer for western Kentucky, called Tommy and said he and some others were watching the Masters on TV and thought they saw Sam Snead talking to a young man that looked like Tommy.

58 • PADUCAH LIFE

and I missed it. I got the yips.” Consequently, Ward began to view his golfing yips as a stutteringlike behavior. “From a mental standpoint you have two elements of behavior. For example when you learn to ride a bike, you learn to balance, pedal, etc. As you become comfortable riding, these thoughts are automatic. The same is true for speaking,” Ward says. “As you learn to speak as a child you’re more deliberate and conscious until it becomes automatic. A clash occurs with our ability to predict pain in the future. Then we go into control mode and try to control our environment, but that control gets angled back at the automatic ability and then comes gridlock.” Ward considers the day he met Russ Cochran as another hinge moment in his journey. His uncle Tommy (Tommy Thomas, an accomplished amateur golfer himself) introduced Ward to Russ at the Country Club of Paducah. Ward was mesmerized by his newfound relationship with a PGA player. It got even better when Russ invited Ward to travel with him to the St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis. “I remember thinking, I’m going to a PGA tour event with a PGA tour player. I’ll never forget going to Southwind and being mesmerized with the environment; the elite abilities on display.” A self-described big picture guy, Ward made the decision, when his PGA dreams had faded,

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to get a business degree and perhaps become involved in the business side of things on tour. He later began to explore opportunities as a caddy, and with some advice from Russ Cochran found his way to the Nationwide Tour caddying for University of Tennessee player Tim Turpin. The duo finished 10 under and was paired with PGA regular Keegan Bradley. After establishing a family back home in Paducah, Ward walked off the links and into a career in sales for a few years. “Believe it or not, I went to work for a uniform company where I had to make hundreds of calls a day to potential customers. Yeah, maybe not the best career choice,” Ward chuckles. Ward ultimately found a career in emergency management as a Paducah firefighter. However, near the end of his caddying experience, Ward received a call from Brendon Todd, now in his first season at the PGA.“Brendon couldn’t break 75 and was hitting multiple balls out of bounds each day,” Ward remembers. “He had the full swing yips.” But by 2014 Brendon had made a comeback and won the Byron Nelson. “I sent him acongratulatory text,” Ward recalls. “He had good success for a couple

270.908.0006 J UNE / J ULY JUNE/JULY 20212021 • 59• 59

WARD

JARVIS

of years, but at the end of 2015 he missed 42 tournament cuts. He went from being ranked 45 to a world ranking of 2,045.” Over the past 15 years Ward has taken a “deep dive” into the what’s, why’s, and how-to’s of stuttering and began making the connection to golf. He began development of a system and discussed it with some local golfers. “I was aware of Brendon’s situation. He was even considering other careers at the time.” In August 2018, Ward sent Brendon a text about his new ideas, a conversation ensued, and the two now have a weekly dialogue. Brendon is currently ranked in the top 40 among professional golfers.

FLORENCE PAXTON MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT HONORS ITS EARLY FOUNDER By Vicki Hunkler The Florence Paxton Memorial Ladies Golf Tournament, which will be played July 26-27 for the 67th time, was known as the Sun-Democrat Women’s City Championship in 1954 when it was established. Marian Widener raised the silver trophy as the first champion while Florence Paxton looked on with pride. The tournament has been an integral part of Paducah’s golf history ever since. Pat Sabel, Lillian Lee, Mary Jane Harris, Wanda Mullinax, Sue Haley, Nell Florence, Nancy Fowler, and Marilyn Whedon were among the contenders during those early years. Former Chairman, Bob Grimm, who ran the event for many years, realized how important it was to Mrs. Paxton to support ladies’ golf, just as her husband promoted men’s golf. Florence always attended once she no longer played, telling a clever story or joke at each awards luncheon and leaving with a bouquet of

60 • PADUCAH LIFE

Brendon’s comeback has received both print and TV coverage pertinent to his work with Ward. “I immersed Brendon into the world of stuttering,” says Ward. Ward describes some of the techniques as: connect with your best under pressure and identify ways to create certainty amidst uncertainty. “We developed a process for him that builds up your best and connects with your best under pressure.” The publicity around Ward’s work with Brendon has led to work with other professionals and amateurs including David Duval; Cole Hammer of the University of Texas; as well as players from the University of Kentucky, Alabama, Oklahoma State, and Murray State. “I can still get ‘locked up’ on occasion,” Ward admits, “but I’m much more effective now in dealing with my

Avid golfer Florence Paxton swings with style in this photo from 1938.

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FRESH SUMMER ITEMS! stutter. The brain is a constant prediction machine. It has to prepare and enable speech and movement. If I can control my internal environment, set the stage, order it; it frees me to be more fluent.” Because of Ward’s evolving fluency on and off the links, he has created a natural evolution, once unimaginable, of using his love for golf and his control techniques to help others perform at their highest level.

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roses as golfers from Paxton Park, Rolling Hills, and the Country Club of Paducah applauded. After a few years, the best golfers in the area referred to the largest tournament, and the only three-day competition in the area, as The Paducah Sun Tournament, until Kendra Mitchell, a staff member of the newspaper, decided it was time for Florence Paxton to be honored and remembered. The tournament was re-named and is still sponsored by The Paducah Sun. According to today’s tournament director, Chris Hunkler, PGA, The Florence Paxton Memorial is now a two-day format that rotates between Paxton Park, Rolling Hills, and the Country Club of Paducah. Lady golfers from the area compete in four flights, plus a junior and senior division. “The tradition of this tournament is what makes it unique, and we really want to see it continue,” comments Chris Hunkler. Jessica Stephens, who plays for Bellarmine in Louisville, is the defending champion. Florence Paxton would be very proud.

JUNE/JULY 2021 • 61

She Would Not Be Deterred H

by Amy Sullivan

Georgia Mae Nelson Dunn was Paducah’s first female attorney

N OUR FACEBOOK PAGE THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MARCH,

Paducah Life celebrated Women’s History Month and the women who are making history of their own right here at home. In this edition of Paducah Life, we honor the drive and determination of the late Georgia Mae Nelson Dunn, who humbly paved the way for western Kentucky women in the legal field 90 years ago. Georgia Mae Nelson Dunn was the first female attorney to practice in Paducah and McCracken County beginning in 1933. Retired attorney David Boswell worked with Georgia Mae for the last few years before she died. Boswell and his wife Katherine, David Sparks, and Diana Douglas, are spearheading an initiative to ensure Georgia Mae’s legal legacy is commemorated. She will be memorialized with a display and portrait in the McCracken County Courthouse. Georgia Mae Nelson was born in Carterville, Missouri, in 1908, and came to Paducah in May 1924 after she graduated at the age of 16 from Metropolis High School. She moved to Paducah to work for Judge Emmett Bagby, a bankruptcy referee appointed by the Federal Courts. In a 1993 interview archived at the University of Louisville Oral History Center, Georgia Mae recalled, “I was fascinated with the stories he [Judge Bagby] told me about the people he had known and people that we heard about in history…he was the one that got me really interested in studying law.” Georgia Mae’s family was against her going to law school, thinking her too young to go far away from home to “the big city.” To deter her, they arranged for her to work for a bank for a couple of years, but law school continued calling her. Her family finally gave in, and Georgia Mae boarded a train to the city of Louisville to live at the YWCA and attend the Jefferson School of Law, one of four women in a class of 75. She attended class six nights a week while working at the busy law office of Beckham Overstreet during the day. She graduated and passed the Kentucky bar in 1931 at age 23. Having relatives in California, Georgia Mae went to Los Angeles after graduation to work in a law firm doing secretarial work, as female lawyers were not hired in those days. She returned to Paducah in 1933 to be with her family, and was employed by Tom Waller, partner in Waller and Threlkeld, as a legal secretary. She later opened her own office, doing court reporting and depositions and, gradually, more legal work, which led to her becoming the first woman attorney in Paducah. “In fact, she was one of the only female attorneys in western Kentucky at that time,” David Boswell emphasized, “aside from Nancy Day Montgomery in Hickman, who didn’t go to law school, but ‘read the law.’ Women (and men) could do that in those days; study law and take a test.” Getting started in the legal profession was not easy for a woman at that time, but Georgia Mae’s natural propensities kept her on track, and she tried to be thorough in whatever she was employed to do. In 1945 Georgia Mae ran for county attorney against well-known, well-liked, 16-year veteran candidate, John Kirksey. She said the consensus at the time was a

Georgia Mae was a very humble and quiet lady, but she had steely resolve and was constantly willing to take on the system in her quiet way. -DaviD Boswell

J UNE / J U LY 2021 • 63

H Georgia Mae woman couldn’t win that office. Thus, her 1945 July campaign ads emphasized how she, a woman, was qualified for the position. Regarding this remarkable race, David Boswell added, “Georgia Mae was a very humble and quiet lady, but she had steely resolve and was constantly willing to take on the system in her quiet way. She lost this race, but she had the moxie to run, and that was the important thing.” For the next four or five years, Georgia Mae did whatever it took to be able to continue to practice law—secretarial work, bookkeeping, court reporting. Along the way she was met with notions about women lawyers characteristic of the time. For example, when she applied to rent an office space owned by a prominent lawyer, he refused, not wanting to be associated with a woman. For a time she went by GM Nelson Dunn, and when people called the office asking for Mr. Dunn, only to discover she was a woman, that was usually the end of the conversation. And when she signed up to go to her first local bar meeting, one of the senior members of the bar called her and told her she may not want to attend due to the rough talk that went on during the meetings. Yet go she did, and it didn’t take her long to be elected secretary, then treasurer, and, eventually, president. Times, they were a-changin . . . at least somewhat. Despite the challenges she faced, David Boswell, who practiced with Georgia Mae from 1971-1995, said she never spoke ill of anyone. “If she had a bad day I never knew it. She would recall her slights in a factual and humorous manner, saying, ‘That’s just the way it was in those days.’” In 1950, Judge Roy M. Shelbourne appointed Georgia Mae federal court clerk at Paducah. She resigned mid-career in 1953, after her marriage to Earl Dunn, Paducah druggist, jointly deciding with her husband to become a housewife. Upon her husband’s death in March 1959, Georgia Mae returned to the law in the office of Attorney Adrian Terrell, of Terrell, Schultzman, and Hardy, doing title work. She developed her own practice and did work for the successor firm, Terrell, Boswell, and Sims, until the end of her career. Another first for Georgia Mae was election to the Church Council of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in the early 1960s. She was a member of the church council for a total of 20 years. When asked during the aforementioned 1993 interview whether she was conscious about how unusual it was for a woman to be a lawyer, Georgia Mae answered, “There was a woman lawyer in Louisville that I knew…she was very active and successful, and I remember she told me never to ask a favor as a woman, relying on somebody to do me a favor because I was a woman. I always remembered that. I never did do that.” “She was pretty remarkable, because title work is really risky work, and a lot of malpractice claims arise out of title work. She never had a claim or a

64 • PAD U CAH LIFE

suit over the course of her 62-year career,” Boswell noted. Boswell retired in early 2021, reaching his 50th year with the McCracken County bar. When he was getting ready to sell his building, he walked in and saw Georgia Mae’s photo where it had publicly hung in the office since her death in 1995, and knew he needed to do something special with it. He decided she needed a public place of recognition. County Judge Executive Craig Clymer agreed to his request to have Georgia Mae’s portrait hung in the McCracken County Courthouse. “We are having a portrait, given to us by her nephew, Tom Nelson and his wife, Janice, along with a bio, framed and hung on the second floor of the courthouse, where composite photos of other lawyers are hung. We hope to have a ceremony with an in-person group and a speaker. There are a number of Kentucky judges and justices who hope to attend,” Boswell added. Boswell’s presentation to the local bar in February via Zoom about the project revealed how many people remembered her, especially young female lawyers. Attorney Diana Douglas remembered her fondly.“Georgia Mae was an amazing woman. I wish I had gotten to know her. I think she said or wrote something to the effect that she ‘just did it.’ She refused to be deterred,” Douglas said. “I don’t want her to be forgotten.”

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J UNE / J U LY 2021 • 65

BRINGING BACK THE

by Amy Sullivan

BOOKM BILE

1968 IS THE YEAR THE FORMER CARNEGIE

Library began its bookmobile services to Ballard, Livingston, and McCracken Counties. It operated for 13 years before being discontinued in 1981 due to rising fuel and operating costs. Thirty-eight years later, in 2019, the library proudly announced its plans for the return of its bookmobile service – this time in the form of a more modern Brary Bus. Brary Bear has been the library’s mascot and co-star of the weekly Story Time program with Ms. Nicole for the past five years. Brary’s first appearance was in 2018 on a smaller librarian-powered outreach vehicle, the Brary Bike – a “bike” mobile that could hold about 200 items. Until COVID-19, the Brary Bike was pedaled around town by a library staff member. The Brary Bus was originally scheduled to begin service in 2020, but factory shut-downs during the pandemic postponed the acquisition of the vehicle as well as its planned

66 • PAD U CAH L I FE

ceremonial ribbon cutting. But that didn’t bring the bus to a complete stop. The bookmobile made its long-awaited debut unofficially on April 5, at Paducah Middle School, with the library giving away free books while the middle school gave away free meals for its students. The bookmobile officially launched on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at the first Paducah Homegrown Farmers Market of the year. The result was worth the wait. You can’t miss the bright red-orange and yellow vehicle coming, with its adorable graphic wrap rendition of the Brary logo created by Nikki May. The more modern-style vehicle is a lot easier to drive and maintain, and does not require the driver to have a special license, unlike the traditional bookmobile. As one of the first library services to be in-person since COVID-19 hit, the bookmobile will start out slowly, with a fixed route to locations in McCracken County only. “The possibilities are exciting!” Lesley Garrett, bookmobile coordinator, exclaimed. “It’s such a large, spread-out

county and we are excited to get out to the corners of it and reach populations that have difficulty getting to our physical building.” The bookmobile can hold up to 1,000 DVDs, books, and audiobooks for browsing and checkout, depending on the size of the materials. Paducah Bank generously donated $10,000 for an opening collection that consists of a Kentucky collection, young adult and children’s materials, and popular recommendations from adult services. The spacious bus has room for carts that can be wheeled off via an industrial-grade lift, to bring the collection to those unable to board the bus for browsing. There are extendable shelves, installed by Auto Trim Design of Paducah, and a canopy to shade patrons on hot summer days while they make their selections. Lesley is excited to take the library’s Homebound Services program on the road. The primarily postal service program began in 2011 and was led by Cathy Edwards for almost ten years, until her recent retirement. Making homebound services mobile in an official McCracken County Public Library vehicle was part of the plan for the addition of the bookmobile. Courtney Harger is the newly appointed Bookmobile Outreach Clerk who will assist Lesley and serve as a backup for vacation days in order to provide continuity of service. The duo will assist patrons in checking out and returning materials and putting things on hold. They will also provide story time programming, with occasional guest Courtney Harger and appearances from Lesley Garrett Ms. Nicole and Brary Bear, among others. Farmers market Saturdays and food truck Fridays on designated evenings in June and July are among the planned special event stops for the Brary Bus over the summer. Matt Jaeger, School Outreach Coordinator for the library, also hopes to coordinate school visits around the community at summer programs, back to school nights, parent teacher nights, and school fairs. For those who may have trouble with their library cards, the bookmobile will house a little free library so that patrons can still take advantage of books from the bus. In addition, the library’s little free pantry will go mobile as well, with Lesley personally keeping a small stock of items for those in need.

For more information, or to view an interactive Google map of the scheduled destinations for the Brary Bus, visit Mclib.net/brarybus. To request a bookmobile stop at a local facility or get more information about the program, email lgarrett@mclib.net.

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68 • PAD U CAH LIFE

Making a

SPLASH

at Paducah’s Sunset Beach

H by J.T. CRAWFORD

Sunset BEACH

Y THE EARLY 1920S, THE VOGUE SUMMER ACTIVITY was being seen at the beach. Men donned their striped suits and straw boater hats and escorted their best gals to the nearest waterfront. The women were ready to exhibit the latest in ladies’ swimwear, a shift in fashion that brought bathing suits into the modern era. Swim caps kept their hair in place, and suits that featured lower necklines and shorts that ended well above the knee raised a few eyebrows. While ocean breezes blow far from Paducah, most residents made do with river recreation. By the nineteen-teens, one enterprising businessman decided to take swimming for pleasure up a few notches with the opening of Sunset Beach. Captain Joe Billings was familiar with what the river had to offer. He was with the Ayer-Lord Tie Co., a towboat organization that had worked in the Paducah area since the 1800s. He knew the river well, and the large sandbar that formed every year near the Illinois side of the Ohio River spoke opportunity to him. Located directly across from the foot of Kentucky Avenue, he envisioned a full-service beach—a place to get away (just a bit) from town and enjoy a beach atmosphere like none other. Plus, he had the boats to shuttle patrons back and forth.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Keep Listening

70 • PAD U CAH L I FE

One of the first mentions of Sunset Beach appears in a 1924 edition of the Paducah Evening Sun where the writer opines that “this year bids fair to be a banner year for friends of Neptune, who are exceedingly anxious to feel the cool waters of the Ohio and the soft warm sand of Paducah’s natural bathing beach.” The beach boasted a long list of amenities. There were partitioned men’s and ladies’ dressing rooms on the docked showboat Cotton Blossom. Between the two dressing rooms, there were 412 lockers. A concession stand provided all that was needed for the day—sandwiches, cold drinks, ice cream, candy, confections, and cigars. The area was fully lighted to allow recreation to continue after dark. The Delco lighting system required sixteen powerful batteries and included a searchlight that shined on the water. Red buoys marked the safe swimming areas around the beach, and lifeguards paroled the shore. Two springing diving boards were anchored in deeper water

J UNE / J ULY 2021 • 71

Sunset BEACH for those seeking to show off their prowess for aerial tricks. Launched from the foot of Kentucky Avenue, the 71-passenger Naldnah shuttled patrons from the shore to the beach at ten- to fifteen-minute intervals. Before opening the beach in 1924, Captain Billings, who had run the beach for four years at that point, boasted that he could meet every patron’s needs, from “furnishing bathing suits to accommodating a ‘presidential convention.’” Sunset Beach often hosted swimming and diving exhibitions, and Roy C. Manchester, Boy Scout leader and representative of the Red Cross Life Saving Corps observed “Water Safety Day” by teaching life-saving skills. Organized beach parties were a regular part of the paper’s social sections. For example, Mrs. C.G. Warner and Mrs. J. L. Woodworth hosted a swimming party and sandwich spread for members of the Business and ProfessionThe existence of Sunset Beach allowed for al Women’s club. That same exhibitions of swimming prowess. In July 1924, expert year, Miss Marion Linkmeyer swimmer and Paducahan Dewey Devers swam from Sunset of Aurora, Indiana experienced Beach to the foot of Broadway with both hands manacled a bash held by her friends behind his back. Using just leg strokes and body motions, in Paducah. The party was conveyed to Sunset Beach by it took him 47 minutes to traverse the river. motorboats. They enjoyed a delicious supper, swimming, contests, and a marshmallow roast around a campfire. By the end of 1924, it was estimated that upwards of 10,000 people had visited the beach that year. More than 400 came opening day in 1925 with over 1,000 visiting on the 4th of July. Improvements continued year after year, including the expansion of covered barge seating areas and the installation of a Caliaphone calliope. Captain Billings sought to make the sandbar the premier hangout for a Paducah summer. While the beach was popular, inviting the public to swim in the depths of the Ohio River came with risk. Captain Billings maintained barriers marking the safe areas in which to swim. When patrons went beyond, however, there was often the need for rescue by lifeguards. In 1927, 16-year-old Estelle Vaughn from Centralia, Illinois drowned. In 1928, 14-year-old Gerald Graves drowned, and 12-year-old Irene Thompson had to be resuscitated by Captain Billings. While we cannot find an official notice of the closing of Sunset Beach, by the early 30s, it was mentioned as a memory in the newspaper. Later, swimming in the Ohio was by and large replaced by going to the Noble Park pool and the new Kentucky Lake beach.

72 • PAD U CAH L I FE

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Shot A

by J.T. Crawford

Dark in the

Adrienne Lee trades her rod and reel for a bow and arrow and a new take on fishing

T’S NEARLY 1 AM ON A STILL, KENTUCKY SUMMER NIGHT. THE BLAZING HEAT OF THE DAY has given way to a balmy low of about 70 degrees. The surface of Kentucky Lake is serene. Even the gentle lapping of water against the shore has calmed into silence. It is only during the peak of summer that you’ll find halcyon nights such as these. Then, from the horizon, a light emerges. It grows, coming closer, breaking through the inky blackness. At first, it’s hard to tell what is going on. The glow illuminates the nearby tree line and penetrates into the water, generating what appears to be a floating orb below an oncoming craft. Once your eyes adjust, you make out the vague shape of a boat. Its central figure is a stunning lady poised on a forward platform. She stands tall, bow and arrow in hand, eyes trained upon the water. Suddenly, she draws back the string, sending an arrow sharply into the depths. She quickly moves her hand to the reel on the bow and vigorously rolls in the line attached to the arrow. In just a few moments, she pulls from the water a carp—one that is nearly long as she is tall. The entire scene is akin to something from an ancient Greek tale. Adrienne Lee has been on the water for hours already. And she, along with her husband Tyler, will be running up and down the lake until sunrise. Their singular goal is to harvest as many carp as possible via the sport of bowfishing. “I’ve always loved being outdoors,” says Adrienne.“I grew up in Ballard County where my parents have a 150-acre farm. So I grew up fishing—rod and reel fishing. Around 2016, I was dating my now-husband, Tyler. And as anyone in a relationship with an outdoorsman knows, there will be times he’ll be away doing things like hunting or fishing. He had been bowfishing and got to where he was doing that all the time. I wanted to spend more time with him, so I decided to join him. I didn’t know if I’d enjoy it, but I absolutely fell in love with it.”

J UNE /J U LY 2021 • 75

Bowfishing dates back to ancient civilizations. But its popularity as a sport locally has grown exponentially in recent years due to the increase in Asian carp in our local waterways. Bowfishers enjoy the hunt, and it helps to reduce the invasive carp population. Most use compound bows, the same that are used for deer hunting. They are then equipped with a fishing reel with the line attached to an arrow. And unlike deer hunting, the bows do not have to be heavy-duty, nor does the hunter need to use a lot of draw weight. Tyler and his friends started bowfishing from the bank. Now, Adrienne and Tyler have a boat with a lighting rig and a platform for standing. “I’m awful at bowfishing during the day,” laughs Adrienne.“You have to use polarized sunglasses to see them in the water. So you can see them, but I’m not the best at it. At night though, with the lights, you can see them easily. There was a tournament recently with about 15 different teams. Imagine all those boats at night with their lights on in the middle of the lake. It was just crazy.” A typical night of bowfishing might begin at 6 PM and end around 7 AM.“I usually make sure I have nothing going on the day before or the day after,” laughs Adrienne.“I am absolutely exhausted. Fun but tired.” Like with most fishing ventures, some days are better than others. Adrienne describes times that they may

76 • PAD U CAH L I FE

see only a few fish. Then, there are times such as one day last year, when they harvested about 150. “And it’s super important to be responsible with your harvest,” she says. “Some people eat carp. Some use it for bait. And some use it for fertilizer. We sink a lot of them for turtles to eat. You just don’t want to leave them floating or on the bank.” Beyond the thrill of the sport itself, Adrienne enjoys the new world bow fishing has opened. “I love the camaraderie of the community,” she says.“It’s crazy how many friends I’ve made. And being a female hasn’t been an issue. The outdoors community has always seemed to be mostly men. But there’s not a lack of women at all. And social media has opened my eyes to that. There’s not a lack of representation of women but a lack of recognition. As for me, I feel at home on the boat. The guys treat me no different than they treat one another. I absolutely love it.” What’s the biggest draw for Adrienne? “It’s pure adrenaline,” she says. “When you come across the fish, and you see all of them there, you get a rush. You get so pumped and excited. That first time I went out, I got about 20 fish. I hadn’t shot a bow in my life. You couldn’t get the smile off of my face.”

If you are interested in bowfishing, Adrienne suggests visiting MuddyFlatz in Kuttawa, a local store dedicated to the sport. Bows are available at Paducah Shooter’s Supply, and additional products can be found at Kentucky Lake Outdoors.

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Blonde

on the Pond

Amanda Quint steps out of the stacks and onto the pond for a fish tale of her very own H by J.T. CRAWFORD

Blonde on the Pond

MANDA QUINT IS ALWAYS READY TO GO. RODS AND reels, tackle, and a pair of boots are all she needs. And they are rarely far away. And after a long day of work indoors at the McCracken County Public Library, she can often be found hopping into her pickup truck and heading to one of her favorite ponds in search of a few bass. There, the librarian, complete with name tag still on her shirt, will cast from the shore, often until the sun’s retreat forces her to pack up until tomorrow. Amanda never tires of bass angling. And what started as a hobby and turned into a passion has garnered a lot of attention. “My family has had a farm in Massac County for over a hundred years,” says Amanda. “I live in the house I was raised in, the one my great grandfather built in 1924. Being on a farm, I grew up fishing. It became second nature. Later in life, I was looking for a hobby, and I thought I’d get back to it.” There was a learning curve and plenty of trial and error. But after some experimentation, Amanda started to land some pretty big fish. She’d learned about the yearly cycles of fish populations, how they are affected by seasons and weather, and where she’d be most likely to find them. “I just dove in. And my friends kept telling me that I was good at it and needed to start something public like a fishing show. So I came up with the name Blonde on the Pond, recorded some silly little videos and put those out there, and people liked them. It just kind of grew from there.” While she excelled quickly with her fishing skills, Amanda is also engaging and humorous with a down-home charm. Her bubbly personality caused even those who knew nothing about fishing to watch and follow along. “Now the kids at work have me doing TikTok,” she laughs. “I know nothing about it. I had 1400 followers in no time, and they were amazed by that. But I still know nothing about it. I just tell them I got the quick attention of the country folks and rednecks.” Amanda loves to share her passion for fishing. As her skills grew, she started to teach classes. “I was working at the Metropolis Public Library and connected with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources about donating poles. With that, we were able to check out rods and reels. I’d make up little packs with the lures, I’d show people how to tie the jigs on, and send them off to fish. I’d see people like single mothers come in because their kids wanted to fish, and they had no idea what to do. They just wanted to get their permits and get going. It was awesome to see so many people be able to do it.” 2020 was a challenging year, of course, but Amanda was pleased to see the increase in interest in fishing. “I got to do a lot of virtual stuff,” she says. “I even was involved in some virtual tournaments. I connected with a group called Hooked in the Bluegrass, and now there are two, virtual tournaments a year. You do it all by video, and they use checks to make sure weigh-ins are done correctly during the tournament time frame. I got Female Angler of the Year with them last year.”

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For Amanda, bass fishing is now second nature. She’s had enough experience to see patterns and learn how fish behave and think. And because she practices catch and release, she’s making fishy friends, of sorts. “I guess they become like your children,” she laughs. “There are some fish I’ve caught multiple times. There’s one, which was my personal best, in a pond just north of where I live. It was 7.67 pounds when I first caught it, and when I caught it again, it was 7.76 pounds, and she was full of eggs. I was like, Oh, I am so happy to see you! I said hi and sent her back. There’s another one that is very distinct that I’ve caught three times. I call him Ol’ Broke Back because his tail is shaped funny. I have photos of every time I’ve caught him.” Amanda has acquired some sponsors and now has a weekly radio show in Missouri on KYMO. She’s even been approached about doing some TV segments. But for her, the true joy comes from getting out on a pond and spending time chasing the next catch. “It’s just a fun thing to do, and it’s a rush. Plus being out in nature is amazing. I am out there nearly every day. When I started, I just wanted to catch big fish. I accidentally caught a bass on a little jig for crappie. And it was a huge rush. It was like I caught Moby Dick or something. I loved it and knew that’s what I wanted to do. So I learned as much as possible. I read and watched a lot of videos online, especially from the legends like Bill Dance and Roland Martin.” Not only will Amanda continue to grow Blonde on the Pond, but she also wants to share the joy with others as they learn to fish.“Anyone can do it,” she says. “I love seeing other people get into it. I love to see girls get into something other than being on their phones all day. As things continue to open up, I’ll be doing some fishing classes. In the last class I did at the Metropolis Library, I watched these little girls making jigs and getting excited about it. That’s a thrill. Now, I’ll get pictures from kids showing me their first fish. That gets me. I love it.” To get started, Amanda says to know the laws and regulations of your state, get a permit, practice water safety, and learn all you can.

“I came up with the name Blonde on the Pond, recorded some silly little videos and put those out there, and people liked them. It just kind of grew from there.” - AmAndA Quint

J UNE / JU LY 2021 • 81

H The

Lyrical Lines of by J. T Crawford

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IF YOU GET A CHANCE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH Mike Alderdice, which few get to, you’ll notice a brilliant glimmer of life in his eyes. It’s a flame of thought that constantly searches the recesses of his brain like a frenetic man with a torch. He’s an avid listener and observer, and he uses incoming information to search through paths in his mind, deciding which to take when the moment is right. And when it comes time for him to speak, he’ll have a multitude of thoughts to pull from, many of which will cause you to pause and contemplate. Mike has a different way of looking at the world around him. And even if you don’t get a chance to converse with him, you can hear his voice through his poetry. “I was lucky enough to be born when my mother was probably too young to be having kids,” says Mike. “And her mother did the same, and her mother did the same. So I had my great grandparents until I was in my mid-20s. They were educators. She was a teacher, and he was the superintendent of Livingston County Schools. They pushed me to read a lot when I was a kid. I liked to read the short stuff because I didn’t have much concentration at the time. I read poems—“Hiawatha’s Childhood” by Longfellow, stuff like that.” Mike was drawn to works by poets from Byron to Sandburg. “My

great-grandparents didn’t teach me a lot about the Beat Poets,” says Mike. “So it’s about to that point where they stopped. But I got a lot of romantic poetry shoved in my head. I love Poe. That’s romantic poetry, too, because he celebrates death. Maybe it’s just horror, but I consider it romantic. But one thing I really learned is an appreciation for the way people string words together.” Then came music. “Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Don Henley,” says Mike.“I found these people who were really cranking out a lot of emotion. So my great-grandparents got me into poetry, but then there were other little things along the way.” It was only natural that Mike would then begin to write. And write he does.“I put out about four or five poems a day,” says Mike. “Now two or three of them will get thrown away. In others, I may only like a couple of lines. So I’ll salvage those and do something with them later.” The ones that make a final cut are often posted to Mike’s Facebook page for the world to enjoy. His habit of viewing the world through the lens of Romanticism means that nearly anything can turn into a work. For a while now, he’s been studying the photographs of his cousin Ramón Fernández, allowing his thoughts to translate the images into verse. “I could write a poem above olives,” says Mike.“And I have. He had a great photo of an olive tree. Kalamata was a booger to rhyme, but I managed,” he laughs. Mike’s poems easily transport you to another place and time—and feeling.“It’s romantic,” he says. “It’s nostalgia and Americana. I don’t know. We just have an amazing language. It’s Anglo-Saxon, French, and Latin mixed together. Putting those words together is a lot of fun for me.” And what Mike sees and experiences in the world around him swirl about his mind, begging to be put in some sort of order. “I don’t know what caused my brain to be wired like it is, but I do see things differently,” he adds. And for that, we’re all the richer.

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“Kalamata was a booger to rhyme, but I managed,” says Alderdice of his poem about olives.

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A DROP OF DEW BY MIKE ALDERDICE

The world is in a dewdrop Reflected by the light Contained within a bubble That forms during the night But when the sun comes calling And the light can enter free We see the world within Just come to be

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Encircled by the moisture That waters everything A sphere of purest mountain air A life-sustaining ring Let the blindness of your age Come down; one thing rings true You can see the world Within the dew

The world is in a dewdrop Reflected by the light It shines right through the water And it makes the world so bright The earth is just a giant reef That lives within a sea And there’s you inside the dew Right here with me

JUNE/JULY 2021 • 84

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