A Celebration of Life
FALL 2025
Cover art by Ron Foltz
ACELEBRATION
© 2022-2025, Owen County Tourism Commission Volume lll, Issue 16 Fall 2025
Morgan Thomas Editor
Cassie Hamilton, Ed.D. Copy Editor
Owen County Tourism Commission
Holly Bowling, Director
Shadoe Aldridge, Chairperson
Mike Haines, Treasurer
Lindsey Tirey, Secretary
Emma Engelman, Member
Darla House-Webb, Member
Sean O’Daniel, Member
Contributors
Lyndsi McNally, Josh Rodamer, Matt Stafford, Morgan Thomas, Marlene Wainscott
For advertising information, email editor@sweetowenmag.com
To submit an event, letter to the editor, photograhs, or suggest story ideas, email editor@sweetowenmag.com
Submission deadlines: 4 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 30, for Winter 2025
Published quarterly by the Owen County Tourism Commission “...find yourself here” www.visitowencountyky.org
MESSAGE EDITORfrom the
As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to paint Owen County in shades of gold, amber, and crimson, we welcome one of the most beautiful seasons in Kentucky— fall. There’s something about autumn here that feels a little slower, a little cozier, and a little more rooted in tradition.
The rolling hills and winding backroads are never more stunning than when framed by fiery maples and rust-colored oaks. Local farms bring in their harvests, from pumpkins and gourds to apples and late-summer produce. On cool evenings, the scent of woodsmoke drifts through the countryside, reminding us that the pace of life is shifting toward gathering together—whether at football games, church socials, or family tables.
In Owen County, fall means more than just a change in the weather. It’s hayrides under starlit skies, the sound of crunching leaves along walking trails, and the anticipation of festivals and community events that bring us all closer. It’s a season that reminds us how blessed we are to live in a place where tradition still holds strong, where neighbors look out for one another, and where the beauty of nature surrounds us at every turn.
As you flip through these pages, I hope you feel that sense of home and belonging that Owen County always brings this time of year. May this season be filled with warmth, community, and gratitude for the simple joys that make fall in Kentucky so special.
Morgan Thomas Editor, Sweet Owen Magazine
October is Co-op Month
By Josh Rodamer
Sweet Owen Contributor
Kentucky is among the top 10 states for deer hunting, with Owen County offering some of the best opportunities in Northern Kentucky. Unfortunately, the county has also experienced multiple deer hunting accidents in recent years. According to a study by Ammo.com, between 3,000 and 4,000 injuries occur each year due to tree stands.
A legacy of risky hunting stands still dots the landscape on public land in the county. Rotting boards and rusty nails betray the honey holes of years gone by, while the occasional lawn chair or other improvised seat still watches silently from above.
Tree stand safety education has improved significantly since those times and is now part of Kentucky’s standard hunter safety course. The use of a tree stand harness is
REE STAND SAFETY
common among most hunters today. However, accidents still happen. Many hunters connect their harness only after they’ve reached the stand, leaving a dangerous gap in safety during the climb and transition.
A quick search on YouTube reveals video after video of hunters sharing fall stories, hard-earned lessons, and the changes they’ve made as a result.
Several commercial products are available that allow hunters to remain connected to safety gear from the moment they leave the ground until they return. Correct use of these products is critical, and equipment must be inspected regularly to ensure it provides true protection — not just the illusion of safety.
The rise in saddle hunting has introduced both new safety challenges and new tools for protection. Some hunters prefer traditional tree stands, others
use saddles, and some combine both methods. Regardless of style, every elevated hunt requires climbing to reach the desired height.
Popular climbing methods include ladders, sticks and ropes. In my own experience, I’ve used nearly every approach available. Ladders are the easiest to climb, but transporting and setting them up can be a hassle. Climbing sticks come in a wide variety of types, weights and features. Many hunters modify their sticks to reduce the number needed to reach height.
The risk with climbing sticks is that they can kick out from the tree, break or cause the hunter to slip. While stick climbers typically wear a lineman’s belt, it does not provide complete protection. A fall can leave a hunter lodged in a dangerous position, potentially injured by the very sticks they climbed.
Even a popular method like
one-sticking comes with its own set of risks. One of the most dangerous scenarios in any stick climbing situation is being attached to the tree with significant slack in the safety system.
When a hunter falls, the force generated can be immense. Force equals mass times acceleration. The more a person weighs — and the farther the fall — the greater the force created. As the saying goes: It’s not the fall that hurts, it’s the sudden stop.
In tree climbing, static or lowstretch rope is typically used because it improves climbing stability. By contrast, rock climbers use dynamic rope, which stretches to absorb fall forces. If a hunter falls while attached to a static rope, that force is transferred directly to the body and equipment.
This is important to understand because climbing above the attachment point or allowing the lineman’s rope to hang below can dramatically increase the fall distance. For example, if a
hunter climbs 2 feet above the rope connection, then falls, they will drop 2 feet before reaching the connection and potentially another 2 feet before the rope catches. A 200-pound hunter falling 4 feet and stopped within 1 foot would generate roughly 1,000 pounds of force.
After a fall, another risk arises: self-rescue. Hunters hanging in a typical tree stand harness, climbing harness or saddle have a limited amount of time before they risk suspension trauma — a condition caused by blood pooling in the legs, leading to reduced cardiac output and loss of consciousness.
Studies show that unconsciousness can occur in less than seven minutes. If not resolved, this can result in death. Fortunately, many safety products include documentation on self-rescue techniques. These should be reviewed and practiced before climbing a tree this fall.
While this is a serious subject, it should not discourage hunters from using elevated stands.
Pictured is the rope system connection while saddle hunting.
The risks can be managed with forethought, training and awareness. Just as ethical hunters practice their shot and woodsmanship, climbing and safety are essential skills to master.
Visit tmastands.com/safety for information about staying safe while hunting from above.
I hope you all find time this fall to safely enjoy the woods and waters of Owen County.
By Morgan Thomas Sweet Owen Editor
When Hope Lives Pregnancy Center opened its doors in September 2024, it brought more than a new resource to Owen County — it brought hope, compassion and critical services for families facing pregnancy-related challenges. This September, the nonprofit will celebrate its one-year anniversary of providing free medical care, education and tangible support to local families!
Founded in 2023 by a group of Southern Baptists, Hope Lives operates out of a leased and fully renovated building at 55 Ellis Road. Funded through donations from individuals, churches and businesses, the center
Where compassion meets community
has already served more than 62 clients and their families.
“Community support has been incredible,” said Executive Director Kelli Carper, a registered nurse and Kentucky Missionary Service Corps missionary. “We’ve had help from churches and individuals in Owen, Boone, Gallatin, Henry and Carroll counties — so many people have stepped up to meet this need.”
Everything
we offer
is
free, regardless of income or where you live,” Carper said, shown on the right. “We want people to know they have a safe place to turn — a place where hope truly lives.”
Hope Lives offers a wide range of free services, including pregnancy tests, limited obstetric ultrasounds and abortion pill reversal, all performed by a registered nurse and overseen by a licensed physician. Ultrasound services
items, placed in the secure box near the front door.
Hope Lives relies on community generosity to operate. Financial contributions can be made through the “Supporters” tab at hopelivespregnancycenter. com, and an Amazon wish list is available for those who prefer to give specific items.
The organization will host its second annual fundraising banquet at 6 p.m. Sept. 18 at General Butler State Park in Carrollton. Tickets and sponsorships are available on the website or by contacting Kelli Carper at 859-818-3735 or hopelivespregnancycenter@ gmail.com.
are especially valuable in Owen County, where no local obstetrician office exists and residents often must travel to Frankfort or Florence for similar care.
The center also provides inperson and virtual pregnancy and parenting classes, as well as tangible support in the form of maternity, baby and toddler supplies. Assistance is available not only to mothers and fathers, but also to grandparents, foster parents and adoptive families. Emotional and spiritual support is a key part of the ministry’s mission.
For those facing food insecurity,
Hope Lives maintains indoor and outdoor baby food and formula pantries. A baby boutique stocked with donated clothing and supplies is also available, with gently used items accepted if they are clean, smoke-free, in good working condition and include all parts. Due to safety standards, car seats and cribs must be new. Donations can be dropped off during open hours or, for small
Pictured above left to right: Executive Director, Kelli Carper & artist Oscar Nava, who created this sign.
EVENTS
Have an event you’d like to share? Sweet Owen Magazine accepts event listings free of charge from civic groups, volunteer organizations, churches, clubs, etc. Send your event and a brief description to editor@sweetowenmag. com by 4 p.m., October 30, 2025, for the Winter (Dec-Feb) issue.
Monday, Sept. 1
Labor Day
10 a.m. Stretch & Strengthen at the Owen County Public Library
Join the weekly class to gain better balance and strength. Flowing, gentle exercises for all abilities. Exercise is great for stress relief and calming the mind. This event repeats every Monday.
Thursday, Sept. 4
10 a.m. Yoga at the Owen County Public Library
Follow a yoga practice on the big screen, bring a yoga mat or use of of ours. For all fitness levels!
11 a.m. Walk Away The Pounds at the Owen County Library
Today is the day! Join others for motivation to walk for thirty minutes. This event repeats every Thursday.
5 p.m., 2025 Homecoming Parade & Pep Rally
Square opens at 5, followed by parade at 6. There will be food trucks and live music. GO REBELS!
Friday, Sept. 5
12 p.m. Books@Noon at the Owen County Public Library
If you love reading a variety of books, this is the club for you. We meet on the first Friday of each month and welcome all!
Tuesday, Sept. 9
5:30 p.m., Knitting and Crocheting with Leah at the Owen County Public Library
Join us on the second Tuesday of each month and make new friends with others who love yarn work!
Thursday, Sept. 11
Patriot Day
Friday, Sept. 12-14
7 p.m. at the Owen County High School (Sat - 7p.m., Sun - 2p.m.)
Owen County Community Theater presents The Hunting Trip, a play written by “A Mayberry Christmas” cast members Dale and Marianne Turner.
Saturday, Sept. 13
9 a.m., Craftin’ for the Community at the Owen County Cooperative Extension Office
Join us for a fun crafting event benefiting the Educational Excellence Foundation of Owen
County. Bring non-perishable food, toiletries, or pet supplies to support local charities. Enjoy silent auctions, hands-on classes, and shopping with local vendors.
Tuesday, Sept. 16
6 p.m., Painting 101 at the Owen County Public Library
Learn basic painting and composition techniques every third Tuesday of the month. Register at 502-484-3450.
Friday, Sept. 19
2 p.m., Mystery Book Club at the Owen County Public Library
If you like mystery and suspense, this is the book club for you!
Saturday, Sept. 20
10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sweet Owen Day at the Courthouse Square
Live entertainment, vendors, kidzone, corn hole tournament, Rotary Club pancake breakfast, and 5k run/walk
Wednesday, Oct 1
1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Beginners Sour Dough Bread Class at the Owen County Extension Office
Bring large bowl with lid. Call 502-484-5703 to register, space is limited!
Thursday, Oct. 2
4:30 p.m., Bookmobile @ Monterey Dollar General
All dates/times subject to change due to inclement weather; see Owen County Public Library website and Facebook Page for updates.
Saturday, Oct. 4
11 a.m. Cemetery Walk at the Owenton I.O.O.F Cemetery
Join us as we take a walk through the pas at the Owenton Cemetery and hear the stories of our ancestors.
Tuesday, Oct. 14
5 p.m. Bookmobile @ Poplar Grove Baptist Church
Saturday, Oct. 18
The Owen County Council for the
Arts presents A House Concert featuring music by John Harrod and Honey & Houston. Follow along on their Facebook page for all upcoming details.
Thursday, Oct. 23
6 p.m., Owen County Cattlemen’s Meeting at the Owen County Extension Office
Join us for the quarterly meeting to stay informed on the industry updates, best practices, and upcoming events!
Tuesday, Oct. 28
National First Responders Day
Thursday, Oct. 30
5 p.m. Ghost Stories at the Odd Fellows Hall
Join us for an evening of spooky ghost stories, stories of Owen County’s mysterious past, and a potluck!
Friday, Oct. 31 Halloween
Tuesday, Nov. 4 Election Day
Tuesday, Nov. 11 Veterans Day
Saturday, Nov. 22
10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Chamber Marketplace Craft & Vendor Expo at Owen County High School
The Owen County Chamber of Commerce presents the 2025 Chamber Marketplace Craft & Vendor Expo, an event designed to give businesses without a storefront an opportunity to showcase items in front of holiday shoppers.
Thursday, Nov. 27 Thanksgiving Day
Saturday, Nov. 29 Small Business Saturday
TRIAD HEALTH TRIAD HEALTH SYSTEMS SYSTEMS
At Triad Health Systems, we're committed to keeping you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Visit us for your flu shot and take the first step towards a flu-free season.
CARROLL COUNTY
Primary Care & Optometry: (502)732-1082
Behavioral Health: (502)732-1092
Pharmacy: (502)466-2428
GALLATIN COUNTY
Primary Care & Optometry: (859)567-1591
Behavioral Health: (859)567-1296
Pharmacy: (859)567-1314
OWEN COUNTY
Primary Care: (502)484-2117
Behavioral Health & Optometry: (502)484-2595
Pharmacy: (502)484-5888
You do not need to be a Triad patient to use our pharmacy!
We accept prescriptions from any provider.
PRESENCE PAST OF THE Tracing a Family’s Path Across Centuries
By Matt Stafford Sweet Owen Contributor
It’s late summer 1778, modern day Madison County, Kentucky at Fort Boonesborough. A marksman takes his place at the southwest bastion of the structure, fitting his rifle through a hole in the timber. He attempts, in vain, to hold the stock steady as it involuntarily rises and falls in his shoulder, the unfortunate result of an anxious heartbeat. His target is 60 yards away, a Native American warrior at a conference under a giant elm tree. The warrior is standing guard over a white man negotiating terms to avoid a siege of the fortress.
At this makeshift conference table under the same elm tree (where Kentucky’s first legislative session and worship service occurred years prior) representatives from each party, the settlers at the fort and their Native American/
British counterparts, are on their final day of negotiations. Among them is none other than Daniel Boone, speaking with his adoptive Shawnee father, Blackfish, who accepted the frontiersman as his own son following the capture of Boone and his fellow salt makers at the Blue Licks earlier the same year. This would mark a reunion of sorts between the Shawnee leader and Boone, just months after Boone had escaped captivity and travelled 160 miles in four days to warn and prepare his fellow settlers of the impending siege. The various tribes had schemed a ruse. After Boone had informed Blackfish that the land they occupied had been bought from the Cherokee, Blackfish conferred with a Cherokee representative at the council who had confirmed Boone’s statement. Knowing well that he could not return
Front and back of William and Leah’s markers, photos taken during the grave marking ceremony.
to the British empty handed, Blackfish intended to take prisoners or scalps and faked contentment at the arrangement previously agreed upon by the Cherokee. He insisted upon the “long shake,” and when the warriors, outnumbering their frontiersmen counterparts 2:1 grabbed the settlers for this ruse, a tussle ensued.
The marksman in the southwest bastion had set his sights firmly on the breast of one of the warriors, marked by a necklace of bright trinkets. “What a fine target,” he thought. When the fight ensued after the “long shake,” he squeezed his trigger, and the warrior fell lifeless to the dirt. What occurred over the next several days was the last major attempt by the Native Americans to take the fort by the Kentucky River. Thanks to steady marksmen, strong women and Providence for a heavy rain to douse the flames from fiery arrows, the fort stood at the end of the siege and
Blackfish headed north across the Ohio with the Shawnee. The frontiersman that fired that first shot, and who continued to serve in the defense of Bryan’s Station and with individuals such as George Rogers Clark, was my 4th great grandfather, William Stafford.
From teachers to politicians, we’ve all too often heard the phrase, “Those that don’t learn from the past are destined to repeat it.” However, the past can pleasantly revisit us without feeling the need to provide us a lesson in the process. My father has spent countless hours
uncovering and studying a trove of historical and ancestral records that have revealed wonderful
nuggets of information. That ancestor of mine went on to marry Leah Westerfield, a member of one of the first Dutch families to settle the state and a survivor of one of the worst massacres in the state’s history carried out by Native Americans against white settlers. William was given a land grant for
CONTINUED ON PAGE 20
All living decendants of William and Leah.
Matt Stafford and his son Colter. Colter is one of seven in the latest generation of decendants.
his military service, ultimately settling in nearby Carroll County. His wife, Leah died right here in our beloved Owen County. Fast forward about two centuries…while my mother has spent her entire life in Owenton, my father was born and raised in a farmhouse on the outskirts of Liberty, KY in Casey County. After graduating from Eastern Kentucky University and spending two years in the Marine Corps, Dad accepted a job as the county’s first Extension 4-H Agent, moving two hours north and eventually falling in love with my mother. And, as they say, the rest is history.
It’s always seemed odd to me how our family history has come full circle. My father now calls Owen County home, a stone’s throw away from our family cemetery where a few of our Commonwealth’s first patriots are buried, unbeknownst to him at the time of his arrival in Owenton. Some would label it fortuitous. I call it destiny. Had the settlers surrendered the fort at Boonesborough, the remaining forts on the frontier and the state as a whole may have been lost. Had my father never accepted the job in Owen County, I never would’ve been here. It appears my distant forebears and my father both discovered a peaceful life in this part of the country. It is because of figures like William, his insistence to hack out a home on the frontier with his bare hands and defend it with his life that we’re able to call this place home. Though history can be quite controversial, it is as immutable as the Almighty. We cannot alter the decisions made by the ones that came before us. Right or wrong, we are all living as direct consequences of
the choices made many years before we were glints in our fathers’ eyes. Funny how the past is so actively playing a role in the present.
This season brings me more joy than any other…football, hunting, bonfires, hay rides, reenactments…all remind me of the innocence of childhood in autumn when the weather allowed for as much fun as you were willing to have with a light jacket on. So the next time you’re sitting around a fire and gazing up at the same stars your ancestors once looked upon from a bed in the dirt, I encourage you to discover your own past. It may be more relevant to your present than you think. You never know the treasures of information you can uncover with just a little digging.
Pictured left to right: Matt, Kristen (Matt’s sister), Dallas (Matt’s dad), and Mike (Matt’s brother) during the grave marking ceremony.
Pictured below: Matt and his brother Mike at William’s marker during the grave marking ceremony.
Chamber Chamber
SATURDAY | NOVEMBER 22 | 10 AM - 2 PM
2340 HWY 22 EAST | OWENTON, KY.
CHRISTMAS BAKE OFF | UGLIEST SWEATER CONTEST
CHRISTMAS BAKE OFF | UGLIEST SWEATER CONTEST
CAROLING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE | SANTA CLAUS
CAROLING AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE | SANTA CLAUS
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AROUND THE SQUARE AND MORE!
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AROUND THE SQUARE AND MORE!
SATURDAY | DECEMBER 13 | 1 PM - 6 PM
PARADE PARADE UPCOMING EVENTS
COURTHOUSE SQUARE | OWENTON, KY.
ANCHORED SERVICE
The story of Owen County’s Connie Gayle, whose call to serve never ended.
By Marlene Wainscott Sweet Owen Contributor
Owen County native
Connie Gayle served in the U.S. Navy from 1975 to 1988 as a hospital corpsman. Because her service began during the Vietnam War era, Gayle is classified as a Vietnam-era veteran.
Military service ran in her family. Her father, George West Gayle, served in the Pacific Theater during World War II as a U.S. Marine.
Gayle decided to enlist when she was 19.
“I wanted to go see things, and I wanted an education,” she recalled. “It was most definitely an education.”
Choosing the Navy and Corpsman Path
“I always wanted to work in the medical field. When I took the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)
in high school, they told me I needed to go into electronics, but I knew what I wanted to do,” she said. “I wanted to be in the medical field, so they let me enlist to be a hospital corpsman. A recruiter came to school on career day, and I talked to them about joining the Navy.”
Gayle completed basic training in Florida.
“It was a different experience, but I didn’t go into it with any fear. I was excited about doing it,” she said. “It was the first time I had ever flown, and I was able to go to Disney World.”
After basic, she spent her first year in the Navy in school and training.
“I went to Great Lakes to corpsman school and then on to Oakland Naval Hospital in California for hands-on training. It was a huge military hospital. Many active-duty military came to this hospital to be treated, including those from Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms and personnel from the ships docked there.”
Service Overseas: Okinawa
After a short leave at home, Gayle was assigned to an Army hospital in Okinawa, Japan.
“The Navy was taking over the facility; as a result, I was considered a ‘plank owner’ of the Okinawa Naval Hospital, which meant that I was on the original crew of the facility,” she said.
The term “plank owner” originated in the Navy to describe crew members present when a ship was commissioned, giving them bragging rights to one of the deck’s planks. Today, it applies to anyone who is part of a commissioning crew of a Navy ship or activity.
Gayle spent a year and a half in Okinawa, serving in the obstetrics clinic in labor and delivery.
Service at Home and Abroad
Her next assignment was at Naval Air Station Memphis, where she worked in the dispensary and emergency room for two years.
After fulfilling her four-year contract, she re-enlisted for another four years and was able to choose her duty station. She chose Scotland.
The Royal Air Force Station in Edzell, Scotland, had been an airfield during World War I and II. In the 1960s, it became part of a U.S. Navy communications and monitoring network.
“It was a very high-security area,” she said. “I worked the dispensary, which was like an outpatient clinic or urgent care. We had a small ER and a sick call.”
Her time in Scotland became one of her fondest memories.
“There was a woman in Scotland; she was the chaplain’s wife,” Gayle said. “She had a huge family, 13
children, and they had adopted several of them. She was pure of heart. She was so calm and took care of so many people. I never could understand why she wanted to take care of us when she already had so many to take care of, but she was such an amazing woman and led a godly life.”
“It gave me a different perspective on culture. Seeing different cultures makes you appreciate your own and gives you a greater understanding of other cultures, too. You see how different people live and see how fortunate you are to have the things that you have that you often take for granted. You become an ambassador of your own country and community.”
corpsman in charge of the battalion aid station.”
During this time, Gayle reenlisted for another four years. She was then assigned to Naval Air Station Brunswick in Maine, where her duties included working in the dispensary, ER, pharmacy and medical records.
Final Duty Stations and Nursing Education
After three years in Scotland, Gayle returned to the United States and served at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina.
“I worked in the dispensary, mainly taking care of the recruits. We saw many heatrelated illnesses. We had a cool room team where some had to be immersed in ice water to reduce their body temperature. While there, I became the
“When I fulfilled my last enlistment contract, I decided not to re-enlist due to diminishing GI Bill opportunities,” she said. “I used my GI Bill to obtain my RN from Thomas More College. While in school, I worked at the Owen County hospital as a nursing assistant and in the ER. After graduation, I went to Carroll County Memorial Hospital.”
Gayle worked at Carroll County Memorial Hospital in Carrollton for 30 years, retiring in 2021.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
A Journey of Growth
While traveling was an exciting part of her military career, Gayle said each station taught her skills that proved invaluable both in service and in nursing.
“The time I served helped me develop my independence and I became more self-sufficient,” she said. “It opened many doors for me and gave me so many experiences. It helped me discern the character of people. In other words, I was able to distinguish between the positive influences and the negative influences in my life.”
From Service to Sourdough
Beyond her Navy career and nursing, Gayle and her sister, Veronica, have run a home-
based bakery called Daily Bread for more than 15 years. They craft baked goods, jams and jellies, and have participated in Homegrown By Heroes, a Kentucky program that helps shoppers identify products from veteran-owned farm businesses.
Together, Connie and Veronica have become familiar faces at local farmers markets, where their smallbatch recipes, neighborly smiles and “buy local” spirit keep customers coming back.
Today, Connie enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and serving her community alongside her sister through Daily Bread.
Gayle represents the many women who proudly served their country and who continue to make an impact in their communities. Her story is a reminder that service takes many forms and that the values learned in uniform carry forward into every season of life.
AIM FOR ADVENTURE AIM FOR ADVENTURE
Strengthening the Community, One Member at a Time
By Morgan Thomas Sweet Owen Editor
When Carmen Williams opened the doors of Owen County Fitness in 2022, she brought more than weights and treadmills — she brought a mission: to help her community live stronger, healthier lives at every age and fitness level.
I understood the need for health services in our area,” says Carmen, shown above. “Exercise isn’t just great for our physical health, but our mental health, too.”
A certified personal trainer since 2020, Williams specializes in aging adults, holding certificates in “Aging with Arthritis,” “Motivating Older Adults” and “Strength Training in Older Adults.” Her passion for wellness is matched by a deep understanding of small-town life and the value of having resources like a gym close to home.
Pictured above: Senior Strength Training & Mobility class
A Place for Everyone
A Gym That Grew With a Vision
Owen County Fitness was born when Williams purchased the existing Master Fit gym in April 2022, rebranding it with a broader vision for community health. Her journey started years earlier, in 2016, when she opened Gallatin County Fitness, which remains open today. Members of either location now enjoy 24/7 access to both facilities — a major convenience for those who live or work in either county.
Both gyms are designed to be accessible and welcoming to people of all fitness levels. Williams has made sure of that, starting with equipment that is clearly labeled and supported by a custom YouTube channel featuring instructional videos. QR codes on each machine connect directly to the demos. From user-friendly machines to equipment built for serious bodybuilders, there is something for everyone. The gym is also intentionally arranged with dedicated areas for strength training, cardio and stretching.
“Whether you’re just starting or have been working out for years, there’s a place for you here,” Williams said.
Classes That Inspire
One of the most popular offerings is the Senior Strength Training & Mobility class, held every Monday at 11:30 a.m. at the Owen County location. It’s $5 and open to both members and nonmembers. The class is one of Williams’ favorites. She and a handful of dedicated trainers — some of whom were inspired to get certified themselves through the gym — lead a variety of offerings, with more in the works. Fitness challenges and contests occasionally appear on the gym’s Facebook page to keep the community engaged and motivated.
Flexible Memberships
and Affordable
Access
Membership includes 24/7 gym access, with staffed hours available throughout the week. Options range from individual to four-person family memberships, as well as tanning-only packages. Guest passes are available for $5 a day. Discounts are offered to students, seniors, health care workers, veterans, and
employees of local companies such as NAS, Nucor, Belterra and Dorman Products. The gym also accepts SilverSneakers, Silver & Fit, and Renew Active — programs that can qualify seniors for free membership.
Giving Back
Williams is passionate about making a difference beyond the gym walls. Owen County Fitness is a member of the
Chamber of Commerce and a regular participant in community events such as golf scrambles and Project Graduation. A painting class led by Williams is hosted at the local library every few months. In partnership with the Owen County High School art department, the gym displays student-created art. A free clothing rack outside the facility offers coats and gently used items to anyone in need — available year-round and stocked by the community.
Constantly
Evolving Owen County Fitness continues to grow. Recently, the gym added two brand-new tanning beds, including both laydown and stand-up options. More
CONTINUED ON PAGE 28
of
Better
Than Takeout Burrito Bowl
This recipe is so good you’ll want to break up with your favorite takeout spot.
What You’ll Need:
Chicken breasts
Bag of shredded cabbage (the lazy person’s slaw)
Let’s Get Cooking (Sort of):
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
8 oz canned green chiles (for that mild kick)
1 jar of your favorite salsa (restaurant style is best)
Mexican rice (follow directions on the box)
Black bean and corn salsa
2 tsp salt, 2 tsp pepper
1 tbsp of each: cumin, chili powder, & onion powder
Throw it all in the slow cooker. Once the time is up, grab a hand mixer and shred the chicken. Yes, really. It’s the best hack you’ll ever learn.
The Black Bean and Corn Salsa: The Using Hero (This part is so easy it feels like cheating.)
1 can of black beans, draned and rinsed
1 can of corn, drained
4 oz canned green chiles
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
Juice of 2 limes (squeeze hard for extra flavor)
Mix it all together and let the flavors get to know each other for an hour. This is called “marrying the flavors,” which is a fancy way of saying “let it sit there while you do something else”
This is where you get to be an artist. Start with a foundation of rice, pile on the glorious chicken and salsa, then top it all with whatever you want. I go for sour cream and fresh avocado, but you do you. Shredded cheese? Pico de gallo? More salsa? No one’s judging.
This is a surefire way to make a healthy-ish meal that tastes way better than what you’d get delivered. Enjoy!
LYNDSI McNALLY is a resident of Owen County, wife, and mother of two boys. She makes her living as a Community Health worker at Three Rivers District Health Department and often entertains her hundreds of Facebook followers by sharing photos of home-cooked meals.
TALES for a ChillyEvening
Practical Magic
Alice Hoffman
286 pages, $9.99
The Academy
Elin Hilderbrand & her daughter Shelby Cunningham
432 pages, $21.00
For more than two hundred years, the Owens women have been blamed for everything that has gone wrong in their Massachusetts town. Gillian and Sally have endured that fate as well: as children, the sisters were forever outsiders, taunted, talked about, pointed at. Their elderly aunts almost seemed to encourage the whispers of witchery, with their musty house and their exotic concoctions and their crowd of black cats. But all Gillian and Sally wanted was to escape. One will do so by marrying, the other by running away. But the bonds they share will bring them back— almost as if by magic...
First Published: July 1, 1995
Genre: Fantasy, Magical Realism, Romance, Witches
It’s move-in day at Tiffin Academy, and while students celebrate a surprise ranking as the #2 boarding school in the country, not everything adds up— dorms are outdated, the sports teams are terrible, and academics take a backseat to parties and school dances. Still, the campus is gorgeous, class sizes are small, and the food is top-tier, thanks to a chef from New York. But just as the excitement builds, chaos erupts. A new app, ZipZap, begins spreading anonymous gossip across campus—no one is safe. From queen bee influencer Davi Banerjee to the mysterious new history teacher Simone, outsider Charley Hicks, and quirky Admissions Director Cordelia Spooner, secrets start to unravel.
Releases: Sept. 16, 2025
Genre: Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary
Once a gifted alchemist, Helena Marino is now a prisoner—of war, and of her fractured mind. The Resistance she fought for has been crushed, her allies slaughtered, and the world overrun by corrupt guilds and necromancers who now rule Paladia with undead armies. Official records claim Helena was a minor healer, but gaps in her memory suggest otherwise. Could her forgotten past hold the key to the Resistance’s final plan?
To find out, Helena is sent to the High Reeve, a ruthless necromancer with secrets of his own. Trapped on his decaying estate, Helena must uncover the truth hidden in her mind—and survive long enough to reclaim what was lost.
Releases: Sept. 23, 2025
Genre: Fantasy, Dark Romance, Fiction
Rocky, still anxious, nostalgic, and funny, is living in Western Massachusetts with her husband Nick and their daughter Willa, who’s back home after college. Their son, Jamie, has taken a new job in New York, and Mort, Rocky’s widowed father, has moved in.
It all couldn’t be more ridiculously normal . . . until Rocky finds herself obsessed with a local accident that only tangentially affects them—and with a medical condition that, she hopes, won’t affect them at all.
With her signature wit and wisdom, Catherine Newman explores the hidden rules of family, the heavy weight of uncertainty, and the gnarly fact that people—no matter how much you love them—are not always exactly who you want them to be.
Releases: Oct. 28, 2025
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary
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