Editor’s Note Lincoln County Living Magazine
happened over the last few months and what’s to come!
Over the last few months, Lincoln County has been filled with the kind of moments that remind us why we call this place home. As fall rolled in, the excitement of Lincoln County High School football took center stage, bringing the community together under those Friday night lights The cheers, the wins, the losses all of it uniting families, friends, and neighbors in a shared love for the game and for each other.
October brought Halloween with it, and our streets were alive with laughter and
And who could forget our hometown mayor, Dalton Miller? His recovery and return to his jolly self have brought inspiration and joy to so many.
Now, as winter approaches, we brace for snow, ice, and the kind of cold that calls for hot cocoa and hearty soups. It’s a season of cozy nights, frosted mornings, and the anticipation of a new year. If you’re like me, it’s also a time for planning making calendars, setting goals, and thinking about what to change, improve, and celebrate in 2025
In this Winter Edition you can expect:
Community News Page 6
An excerpt from “Fifty Years of Lincoln County High School Football” Page 7
Sports Shorts Page 8
Lincoln County Basketball Schedule Page 10
What’s Happenin’ i St f d
What’s Happenin’ in Hustonville Page 16
Rex Ramsey Files Pages 20 & 22
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KAREN MOSES | PUBLISHER | FOUNDER
BOB ALLEN
Community News
Lincoln County woman inducted into KY Veterans
Written by Abigail Roberts | Photos submitted
Sharon Martin is not used to having the attention on her at a Veteran's event – she is used to being the one bringing attention to the veterans But as an Honorary Inductee into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame (KVHOF) Auxiliary recently, Martin found herself in the spotlight She was the first-ever Lincoln Countian to be inducted into the KVHOF and a part of the first group to be inducted as honorary members
Martin is not a veteran, but her countless hours spent helping veterans and planning veterans events was recognized this year as an honorary inductee
“The KVHOF added an honorary inductee platform for people that are non-veterans that work to serve veterans,” she said “General Howard Hunt nominated me ” Martin was chosen by a committee as one of nine people to be inducted as honorary members into the KVHOF
“The Ky Veterans Hall of Fame has come to appreciate the service many of our veterans receive from non-veteran individuals across the Commonwealth, and we believe it is important to recognize those efforts on behalf of our veterans,” a KVHOF letter to Martin reads
A ceremony was held in Lexington in early September during which Martin and many veterans were honored. The moving Vietnam Wall was on display during the ceremony, as well as a Spanish-American War exhibit
Martin was recognized for her hard work on what is one of, if not the largest annual Veterans Day events in the state, which is held in Danville each year, as well as numerous other veteran projects she organizes. She was also recognized for her involvement with the Lincoln County Veteran Suicide Prevention Coalition
This year marks the 14th year of the Veterans Day event Martin was also recognized for 18 years of working for Heritage Hospice and the “We Honor Veterans” program that is sponsored through the national hospice organization.
“They recognized having Heritage Hospice reach level five, which is the highest level a hospice can have for veteran care and education,” she said “There’s only two in the state of Kentucky and we are one of them ”
Martin also started what is known as Patriot Bags, which are bags of personal items sent to veterans in various nursing homes in the region as well as local food banks It is not out of the ordinary for Martin to drop everything she is doing to help a local veteran
When a Lincoln County veteran and friend, Greg Maggard, was killed in a motorcycle accident, Martin started what are now known as Maggard bags The bags are given to newly admitted veterans at Thomson-Hood Veterans Center, where Maggard worked
Martin’s contributions to local veterans are endless and it’s not out of the ordinary for her to drop everything she is doing to help a veteran in need.
“When you receive this you become a lifelong part of the Hall of Fame and our information and all the things we’ve achieved for veterans was put into a booklet, we were interviewed,” Martin said “They gave me a flag that had been flown over the capitol and it was numbered, a customized box, a challenge coin. You almost felt like you were royalty.” It was a strange feeling for Martin, as she is normally the one recognizing veterans
“It was very humbling,” she said “I thought it was a big deal but I had no idea the magnitude ” Martin said it's never about her, it's always about the veterans
“They have truly done what I could not do myself,” she said “It’s just a small thing that I’m doing They thank me, but the thank you is to them That’s why it’s so hard to receive awards or be recognized at any level because it’s not really about me, it’s about them ” Martin said she’s thankful veterans are happy with the choices she has made to serve them.
“I tell people all the time, we wouldn’t have a veterans event without the veterans,” she said “I’m very humbled to be in such a league of great people ”
WHAT'SHAPPENIN' INSTANFORD
B Y A B I G A I L R O B E R T S
C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R
If there’s one thing that’s for sure, it’s that business is booming in Stanford! Mayor Dalton Miller said the city has welcomed multiple businesses recently including a brand new Tractor Supply Company store which officially opened its doors on Saturday, Nov. 23. Miller had the privilege of being their very first customer!
Also new to Stanford are two new businesses on Main Street – Central Kentucky Family Vision and 3 Brothers Baits
The Cumberland Family Medical Center in Stanford is also open and operating, Miller said Thanks to a $1 million investment and grant funding, the city also has two “Build Ready” sites located in the Rowland Industrial Park
“We’re talking big businesses, they are 100,000 squarefoot building pads,” he said The city was also part of a major announcement recently by the Volunteers of America Mid-States who has just received a $1 5 million grant from the Kentucky Association of Health Plans The grant will support the development of VOA’s recovery program for pregnant and parenting women in Stanford called Freedom House
With the funding, VOA has moved forward with the expansion project to start work on demolishing the Old Fort Logan Hospital and create a master plan to turn the property into a new facility for women struggling with addiction, and their children.
As the warm weather disappears and snowflakes begin to fly, Stanford is gearing up for another Christmas season, with lights and banners already decorating the town
The annual Christmas Parade is scheduled for Dec. 7. This year’s theme is Miracle on Main Street The parade will begin at 6 p m on Main Street with floats, music, Snow pageant contestants and more The night will end with the crowning of a new Snow Queen
There’s nothing like Christmas on Main Street! Mayor Miller wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and reminds everyone to remember to shop local this holiday season
“Remember our small businesses this season,” Miller said “Our new businesses are great, but our old businesses are here for a reason – we need to shop local!”
WHAT'S HAPPENIN' IN CRAB ORCHARD
O B E R T S
O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R
Santa Claus always makes a special stop in the City of Crab Orchard – sometimes on a fire truck, sometimes on the back of a Harley Davidson motorcycle You never know how Santa will arrive, but the city knows he will be there – and ready to hand out presents
This year Santa Claus will be making his stop in Crab Orchard on Saturday, Dec 14 at 4 p m Along with his holly jolly spirit, Santa will hand out gifts, cookies and candy to children The event is open to children ages 12 and under
Santa isn’t the only exciting news in Crab Orchard Mayor Jesse Harris said the city has been hard at work trying to secure new grants to help paint the water tower and provide a new lift station The grants are through the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority and Harris believes the city has a good chance of receiving the grant funding.
“There’s a good chance we will be able to get one, if not both of those projects done,” Harris said. Harris said the City of Crab Orchard is proud to announce that the storm water project is officially complete and working well for the city The storm water project was a $300,000 project that helped alleviate flooding on the west end of town The city is also working hard on large annexation projects that will expand the city limits and allow several areas and businesses to be a part of the city
“That’s going to be a whole lot,” Harris said Harris said the city police department will be receiving a new police cruiser, thanks to funding from the alcohol sales
The Crab Orchard Fire Department also recently received a $10,000 grant through the State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program. The department plans to use the funds to provide needed personal protective equipment to firefighters.
The City of Crab Orchard hopes everyone has a wonderful holiday season!
Photos and Article submitted by Jeremy Todd Ed.D.
LC Area Technology Center Principal
Article sponsored by LMI Manufacturing USA LLC.
WHAT'SHAPPENIN' INHUSTONVILLE?
B Y A B I G A I L R O B E R T S
C O N T R I B U T I N G W R I T E R
It’s that time of year again when the big man in the red suit makes his appearance across the world. On Dec. 14 he will make a stop in the City of Hustonville to spread joy and cheer and gifts!
City Clerk Robin Sullivan said the city and Hustonville Elementary have been working hard to make sure all the good little boys and girls in Hustonville will have a special Christmas this year
“Hustonville is excited to work with Hustonville Elementary and help provide gifts for children in the area,” Sullivan said
Santa Claus will make his stop on Dec 14 and from 11 a m to 2 p m , all are welcome to participate! “There will be games, food and refreshments,” Sullivan said “You can take your own photos with Santa as he hands out Christmas stockings ”
Weather permitting, Santa Claus will be in the Hustonville City Park. If it rains, he will move to the Hustonville Fire Department. “This is a free event and everyone is welcome,” she said.
Other exciting news in Hustonville includes the expansion of city limits. “We have annexed up to D J ’s gas station along U S 127,” Sullivan said “We are working on another annexation and hope to have our second reading and publish around the middle of December ”
The second annexation will encompass the Eastway Market #14, or the old “Don’s gas station” as most know it “We are definitely expanding and loving it,” Sullivan said
The City of Hustonville is excited about this holiday season and wants to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!
allrecipes.com
Letters to Santa Claus
From the Rex Ramsey Files “Killing Judge Egbert”
EDITOR’S NOTE: THE FOLLOWING IS HISTORICAL FICTION FROM LOCAL HISTORIAN, JONATHAN L SMITH, USING ACTUAL FACTS AND REAL PEOPLE FROM A REAL-LIFE 1891 CRIME STORY THE CONVERSATIONS AND THE REPORTER, REX RAMSEY, ARE MADE UP THE REST IS REAL
It took three trials but a jury of twelve Lincoln County men finally agreed today to send William Saunders to prison. They gave him two years in the state penitentiary for killing Judge Anderville Milton Egbert.
Today is March 3, 1893. I’ll never forget the killing that happened on August 13, 1891 because of the people involved a town Marshall and a police court Judge
As is often the case, I was jarred awake at my rented suite in the Myers House Hotel by the Interior Journal’s office boy
Bam! Bam!, Bam! His heavy fists nearly rattled the door off its hinges Still half-asleep, I exclaimed, “What’s the emergency?”
“It’s a killin’ over in Crab Orchard, Rex! The telegraph operator notified Mr Walton, and he told me to get you on the case ”
My given name is John Robert Ramsey, but everybody calls me Rex. I was tagged with the homophone nickname after covering two train wrecks.
The sun was not yet up but it was technically morning time. I checked my timepiece and saw that I had time to splash water on my face, dress, and meet the southbound train at the depot for the short ride to Crab Orchard
That mode of transportation was much easier than riding a horse, or riding in a horse and buggy, the eleven miles
I alit at the Crab Orchard depot and walked the three-eights of a mile to the main business area Finding out the facts was easy Everybody in town was talking about it
I gathered the names of the eyewitnesses and sought them out
First, I talked to G W Lee, the barkeeper at Curtis Gover’s saloon I personally knew all these people and had imbibed on more than one occasion with them.
Curtis Gover ran a livery stable in Crab Orchard. On one side of the entrance to his business he operated a saloon. It was a popular watering hole. Not fancy like the drinking parlors at the famous resort, but nice for a livery stable saloon.
According to Lee, on the night in question, Saunders was in the saloon drinking with some other men, including Nathan Woodcock and Jim Gilkerson Those two men started quarrelling and Woodcock slapped Gilkerson’s face
Saunders, who just so happened to be the town Marshall, told Woodcock he should apologize to Gilkerson Gilkerson refused the apology and continued talking in a loud and angry tone
About this time, Police Court Judge A Milton Egbert came into the saloon and told the quarrelling men that they were disturbing the peace particularly his peace as he lived directly across the street.
Egbert told them that they should consider themselves under arrest and they should come before him at 9 AM the next morning for their punishment.
Saunders was greatly offended by Egbert’s action and told the judge, “If you are going to run this business, I’ll go home ” Egbert asked him to repeat himself, which Saunders did, and added, “This is not the first time you have tried to interfere with my duties ”
Egbert called Saunders a damn liar Saunders told Egbert that if he’ll come outside that Saunders will shoot him
From the Rex Ramsey Files
“Killing
Judge Egbert”
Egbert called him a damn fool and said, “You don’t want to hurt me ” As the two men left the livery stable and turned to the left up the street, two shots rang out and Judge Egbert was left mortally wounded
I talked to Doctor Pettus who said, “The men were only about three steps apart when Saunders fired two quick shots. One entered Egbert’s throat on the left, ranged downward and came out at his back. That was the fatal wound.”
The doctor continued, “The judge gurgled blood after being shot and asked for a doctor. Someone came and got me immediately. I found him lying in the street between the livery and his home ”
Personally, I was not surprised by trouble between the two men Sure, the murder shocked me some, but not the conflict
I make my living writing about the hard news and that means I must know the law men, the judges, the attorneys, and the known criminals It has become part of my life
I knew that Judge Egbert had bypassed Marshall Saunders a few times by giving writs and warrants to others to serve That cut into Saunders’ livelihood
Saunders was harboring a grudge about it, too. While Egbert was aristocratic and well-mannered, Saunders was rough around the edges and quick to act with violence. Saunders, though, had become sickly and feeble. He was not the imposing law man he had once been.
Maybe Egbert thought Saunders was unable to do his job effectively, but Saunders felt he had little choice but to kill the judge when Egbert usurped the Marshall’s power during the saloon quarrel
After the two-year sentence was announced, I mentioned to my editor, Mr Walton, that it seems light a light punishment for killing a man He summed it up perfectly, “After so many killings around here, Rex, life has gotten cheap I’m afraid our citizens are just used to it and allow for baseless mitigating circumstances when handing down a sentence ”
Post-script: William Thomas Saunders served out his sentence, but with an allowance for the time served in the county jail, he was back in Lincoln County within a year-and-a-half He then worked as a tollgate keeper on the Danville pike, a security guard for the L&N Railroad at Rowland, ran a coal-selling business, and was a deputy sheriff The conviction and imprisonment did not seem to have any lasting effect on his ability to work and thrive. Later, he moved to Louisville where he lived with a daughter, and spent some time in Beaumont, Texas with his son.
