Spring 2024 | Sweet Owen Magazine

Sweet Owen FREE

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE IN OWEN COUNTY, KENTUCKY | VOL. II | ISSUE 10 | SPRING 2024

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Adjust your thermostat Turn down the water heater Unplug electronics Close the blinds Keep lights on a timer

Contents 18 | Celebrating community and culture The Owen County Farm and Craft Market returns for another season of fresh produce and community spirit

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Friends of Animals

Embracing the Wild

Spring Calendar

Discover the heartwarming mission of Owen County Friends of Animals: saving lives, one rescue at a time

One father’s adventure in the great outdoors creating lifelong memories with newborn son

Spring has arrived, and we've got a complete list of upcoming events for the entire family

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‘The Hunting Trip’

Chamber News

Meet Harold R. Wainscott

Dale and Marianne Turner, cast members of “A Mayberry Christmas,” offer up a new theater experience

The Owen County Chamber of Commerce celebrates annual award recipients

Witness to history: Harold R. Wainscott reflects on his decade of service in the U.S. Air Force

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House of McNally

Spring Into A Good Book

Owen County Almanac

In search of a new dish? Try crispy carnitas with homemade tortillas from the House of McNally

Looking to add to your reading list?

We’ve got the latest picks for adults and young readers alike

Navigating nature’s calendar: explore the Owen County Almanac with updates from Fish and Wildlife sweetowenmag.com + spring 2024 5

1860 Georgetown Rd. | Owenton, KY 40359 (502) 484-4569 www.elkcreekhuntclub.com

sweet owen + welcome

Sweet Owen I

A CELEBRATION OF LIFE IN OWEN COUNTY, KENTUCKY

© 2024, Owen County Tourism Commission Volume II, Issue 10 March 2024 Molly Haines Riddle Editor Whitney Prather Duvall Copy Editor Owen County Tourism Commission Holly Bowling,Director Jenni Duncan, Chairperson Mike Haines, Treasurer Lindsey Tirey, Secretary Sean O’Daniel, Member Shadoe Aldridge, Member Darla House-Webb, Member

Contributors Whitney Prather Duvall, Amanda Anderson Matthews, Lyndsi McNally, Josh Rodamer, Kelly Rodamer, Matt Stafford For advertising information, email editor@sweetowenmag.com or call 502-330-8813 To submit an event, letter to the editor, or suggest story ideas, email editor@sweetowenmag.com.

Submission deadlines: 4 p.m., Wednesday, April 3, for Summer 2024 4 p.m., Wednesday, July 31, for Fall 2024 4 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 30, for Winter 2024 Published quarterly by the Owen County Tourism Commission “... find yourself here” 300 S. Main St., Owenton, KY 40359 502-563-5050

have vivid memories of spending sunny spring days on my late grandparents’ farm. My grandfather would sow lettuce while my Mama and grandmother would take me down the lane to search for the first bluebells of the season. On Memorial Day, we would cross the river in a johnboat to visit the graves of loved ones long since passed. Those childhood days of spring A PRAYER IN SPRING seemed to hold a simplicBY ROBERT FROST ity that, no matter how hard I try, I’ve yet to recapOh, give us pleasure in the flowers to-day; ture in adulthood.

And give us not to think so far away I still try to embrace the As the uncertain harvest; keep us here essence of spring and All simply in the springing of the year. replicate those cherished experiences with a modOh, give us pleasure in the orchard white, ern twist. I pay homage to Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by my grandfather by helping night; my husband in the garAnd make us happy in the happy bees, den. I scour local stores The swarm dilating round the perfect trees. for the perfect potted plants. And although the And make us happy in the darting bird johnboat has long since That suddenly above the bees is heard, retired, my family and I The meteor that thrusts in with needle bill, remember and celebrate And off a blossom in mid air stands still. those who came before us in new ways.

For this is love and nothing else is love, As we plant new seeds The which it is reserved for God above and watch them grow, we To sanctify to what far ends He will, can reflect on the memBut which it only needs that we fulfil. ories and experiences that have shaped us into the people we are today.

Springtime is a time to remember loved ones who have passed on, and to celebrate their lives and the impact they had on us. By acknowledging the cycle of life in spring, we can find a deeper appreciation for the present moment and a sense of hope for the future.

Molly Haines Riddle FIND SWEET OWEN MAGAZINE ONLINE

BY SCANNING THE QR CODE: Miss an issue of Sweet Owen? You can find digital copies of back issues by scanning the QR code. By visiting the website, you can also submit content or contact us!

sweetowenmag.com + spring 2024 7

sweet owen + volunteers

Friends of ANIMALS ANI MALS

BY KELLY RODAMER Sweet Owen Contributor

Tucked away just outside the heart of Owenton lies Owen County Friends of Animals (OCFA), a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescuing of orphaned and abandoned animals and the education of proper animal care to the community.

Set up at 80 Old Monterey Road, OCFA operates the Owen County Shelter from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5-7 p.m., Monday through Friday, with varying weekend hours. The shelter has 13 kennels, but with additional crates can house up to 25 dogs at a time. However, OCFA aims to adopt out unclaimed pets and reunite lost pets with their families as quickly as possible.

Their mission is stated on their Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/OCFAnimals, and can be summed up in this way: To educate pet owners on proper pet care, to provide adoption services and vetting assistance to those in need, and to advance spay and neuter programs to ensure a safe and long-term solution to the problem of unwanted pets.

Since its inception in 2002, OCFA has saved over 6,000 dogs in addition to helping with the rescue, recovery, and rehoming of the occasional cat, buzzard, hawk, owl, opossum, raccoon, deer, box turtle, and snapping turtle.

A day rarely goes by without a Facebook post from OCFA. They’ve become the go-to call for Owen countians who find stray dogs. The staff and volunteers aim to find owners quickly by relying on the communi8

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p CLOCKWISE: Hilari Gentry, founder and director of Owen County Friends of Animals (OCFA), with one of the many dogs to come through the shelter. OCFA has a budget of approximately $35,000 a year, relying heavily on monetary and in-kind donations. The shelter thrives off of volunteers, like those pictured here, to walk dogs, clean kennels, play with dogs in the exercise and play area, feed dogs, and do laundry. The shelter can house up to 25 dogs at a time, and the more people who volunteer, the better. — Photos courtesy of Owen County Friends of Animals

ty to like and share their Facebook posts.

Though the organization has a base of more than 10,000 followers, many don’t know that OCFA operated the county shelter from 2008 through October 2021 with no funding. The county has maintained the shelter building and paid utilities,

but no other designated funds were available to the shelter. In October 2021, the shelter began receiving funding from the Owen County Fiscal Court. In return for the funding, OCFA assumed responsibility for overseeing and paying the animal control officer previously paid through the county.

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With approximately $35,000 a year budgeted, there is still a heavy reliance on monetary and in-kind donations to run OCFA and the shelter effectively and efficiently.

“We can always use help caring for dogs at the shelter,” Owen County Friends of Animals Founder and Director Hilari Gentry explained.

“This is an organization created to address a community problem, so help from the community is more than welcome. The dogs need as much positive interaction with people as possible.”

Volunteers are needed daily and can expect to walk dogs, clean kennels, play with dogs in the exercise and play area, feed dogs, and do laundry. The shelter can house up to 25 dogs at a time, and the more people who volunteer, the better.

While most volunteers can generally expect to stay on-site, the animal control officer, transporter, and seasoned volunteers are often in the field, rescuing or reunifying misplaced or lost dogs.

Gentry tells of one of her fondest reunification stories. “A car with Barren County plates was stopped for erratic behavior here in Owen County. There was a super sweet female pit bull in the car. I posted pictures of the dog in some Barren County and surrounding area neighborhoods and chamber of commerce social media sites. A very relieved preacher from Horse Cave, Kentucky, contacted me and told me his home was broken into by a mentally unstable person and his dog was stolen. The dog was overjoyed when her owners picked her up.”

Stories like Tilly’s aren’t always the norm, but the goal of all lost pet posts is reunification. Unfortunately, it’s not always the case, and sometimes these lost pets become abandoned pets and take up residence at the shelter until an adoption

takes place.

While in the shelter, volunteers like Kaylan Centers, Chris Thayer, Tina Day, Kristi Gaull, and others take care of the dogs by providing them with love, care, and attention.

Gentry explains that many dogs come to the shelter in bad shape from acts of cruelty or neglect.

“They’ve not known love from humans and it’s our goal to teach them humans can be loving and to help them have positive interactions with people.”

All the love and care on-site volunteers give can only be done with the community’s support. The biggest need of the shelter and OCFA is money for vet bills. OCFA pays more than $30,000 annually for vetting services for the animals they care for and to assist community members in much-needed services they cannot afford.

A large chunk of the vet bill goes to spay and neuter orphaned, abandoned, and abused animals to fight the unwanted companion animals epidemic. More than 4 million healthy dogs and cats are euthanized every year due to overcrowding of shelters and a lack of suitable homes for these animals.

G e n t r y a n d O C FA u r g e all pet owners to spay and neuter their pets. Research has shown many health and behavioral benefits that accompany sterilization, as well as the benefits of reducing the population of animals that are unable to be properly cared for. OCFA cares greatly for the health and well-being of all animals and asks that Owen County residents familiarize themselves with proper pet safety and care, along with the county ordinances, so they can make informed decisions about becoming pet owners.

In addition to monetary donations, OCFA always needs Pedigree

dry and canned dog food (chunks), paper towels, Dawn dish-washing liquid, and Odoban disinfectant.

With a revolving door of animals, specific items are regularly added to an Amazon Wish List when needed.

Volunteer help and donations are at the heart of the success of Owen County Friends of Animals. Donating time and money is a truly selfless act, and Gentry and her team appreciate the help and support they’ve received for the last 22 years.

With every donation or volunteer hour, a dog in Owen County is shown love, care, and kindness. The team at OCFA hopes that their volunteer base continues to grow and that more Owen countians can experience the selfless love that can come from engaging with and helping an orphaned, abandoned, or abused animal.

Interested in becoming an OCFA volunteer? Text Hilari at (502) 5141894 or call Elizabeth at (502) 750-1673. v There are several ways to donate: • Mail checks to OCFA, PO Box 234, Owenton, KY 40359 • PayPal: ocanimals@gmail.com • Venmo: @ocfanimals • A m a z o n W i s h L i s t : h t t p s : // www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ ls/72RUNFLT2K5C?ref_=wl_share • Register your Kroger Plus Card to participate in the Community R e w a r d s P r o g ra m ( # 8 3 0 3 6 i n Frankfort/Louisville area or #39920 in Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati area) • Register your Amazon Smile account to donate to Owen County Friends of Animals.

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sweet owen + life

Embracing the

WILD

A family’s journey of outdoor adventure and cherished moments

M

p MATT STAFFORD is a lifelong Owen countian who enjoys a variety of outdoor activities. He’s also fond of writing on his experiences in hiking, hunting, and fishing.

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y wife, Mariah, and I have always enjoyed spending time outdoors.

We’ve hiked on our honeymoon in North Carolina, taken frequent trips to Red River Gorge, and she’ll occasionally accompany me to a local farm pond where she’ll end up reading a book on the bank after she’s caught enough fish to give her contentment.

With that said, when we welcomed our son, Colter, into the world last March, we consciously decided to instill in him a love of the outdoors from an early age. Spring was a perfect time to start. Once we reached a comfort level and adjusted to the challenges that new parents face, we brought him along in early April to a local pond to sit on the dock with his mother while I threw out a couple lines. We weren’t out long, but I was able to take a photo with my son of the first bass he ever saw. I don’t think he was cognizant enough to appreciate the moment, but I sure was. Four days later, we spent the night in my wife’s hometown of Cynthiana so I could hunt on the family farm the following morning. Her brother-in-law and I doubled up on turkeys on the season’s opening day, less than an hour after sunrise. Of course, my son did not join me on this adventure, but my wife did manage to pack him up and bring him out to us, along with my nephews, for a photo opportunity with our trophies in the glow of a cool spring dawn.

So when I felt the itch for another trip to Red River Gorge in late May, I mapped out a couple of trails I’d been longing to hike, and we headed to Eastern Kentucky, baby in tow. The Red, as climbers call it, is a hiker’s paradise. To be within an hour and a half from home, The Red is difficult not to

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take advantage of. This geological playground is home to hundreds of arches, and these features keep pulling me back every year.

On this particular trip, I intended to hike three separate, shorter trails in close proximity to one another.

I thought these three hikes would make the drive worthwhile but keep the trip short enough for the unpredictability of a 2 1/2 month old. The first stop was at Sky Bridge. Mariah carried our backpack of water while I strapped my son into a carrier on my chest. For the first little bit, all was well, although I have to admit, my audaciousness has toned down since my child came into the world.

The path leads directly to the top of the arch, a narrow sandstone bridge with a respectable drop-off on either side. Before I was a parent, I’d have strolled over this obstacle nonchalantly. With a child snuggled up to my chest, it was a different ball game.

I once joked while hiking in a stretch in Wyoming heavily populated with bears that I could spot a daddy long-leg cross the trail from 100 yards out. In this particular situation, I had no fear of bears, just a heavy price to pay for any misstep.

I avoided the wet spots on the rock from the recent rains and dug my shoes in on the dryer points, taking me probably twice as long as if I’d

been alone. We crossed without incident and continued the path that winded down and around, arriving underneath the bridge. We decided to take a break and hydrate in the sandy gap under the arch. Colter had become a little restless, and I sensed he might have been getting a little warm since he was nestled in so tight to me and probably picking up my body heat. I began unbuckling him from the carrier, but not before he started squalling. My attempts to console him were in vain. So what does every panicked father do with a crying child? Pass him to his mother.

Here we are, new parents, half a mile from our vehicle with a baby whose cries can be heard in the echoes reverberating through the forest for God only knows how long.

While the occasional uncomfortable hiker would pass by, my wife sat on a small, rocky ledge and cradled a baby in her arms with the soothing touch only a mother possesses. It didn’t take long for our boy to calm down. I snapped a photo. Mariah probably never thought much of that moment, but it was raw and beautiful: a new mother with a crying child in the middle of nowhere. No TV, toys, or gadgets to take his mind off of whatever was bothering him, just his mother softly shushing him until his eyes gradually closed. Once we packed him up on my chest again, he

was in such a deep sleep that I had to hold his head up until we arrived back at the car. We only hiked one more trail to avoid overwhelming the little fellow. Afterward, we headed toward the locally famous Miguel’s pizza joint, a mandatory stop for any Gorge trip for us, and realized our son had a diaper blowout. Luckily, a longer-than-usual diaper change and new clothes made him as good as new.

Any parent, even one as inexperienced as me, will tell you the difficulties when taking a child on an adventure. Yet the reward is worth any obstacles. A treasure trove awaits for those who seek it. Little memories and fleeting moments are worth any hassle of comforting a fussy child or changing a messy diaper. There’ll be days in the future where only an hour passes on a late fall morning before Colter’s patience and warmth wear thin, and he decides to call it a day long before the first deer shows up. There’ll be days on the banks of a pond where I’m so busy baiting hooks and prying those same hooks from the mouths of fish that I won’t even be able to throw my line into the water. There’ll be times when his little legs have given out and he asks for a piggyback ride along the trail.

I look forward to every single one of them. v

In search of local, outdoor adventure? Elmer Davis Lake, located just outside Owenton city limits, offers 136 acres of excellent fishing—quality bluegill, largemouth bass, sunfish, black crappie, white crappie, and black bullhead channel catfish. The lake is also great for kayaking and canoeing.

The dock, fish pier, and ramp provide easy access. For more information, visit https://app.fw.ky.gov/fisheries/waterbodydetail.aspx?wid=53.

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sweet owen + events

EVENTS

“Happiness? The color of it must be spring green.” — Frances Mayes

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., Thursday, April 25, for the summer edition.

Monday, April 1 Eclipse Glasses at the Owen County Public Library Stop by to get a free pair of eclipse viewing glasses and information about the solar eclipse happening on Monday, April 8. The offer is valid while supplies last.

10 a.m., Stretch and Strengthen at the Owen County Public Library Do you want to stretch and strengthen for better health?

Participate in these all-standing exercises. Join Miss Julie and follow the video on the big screen. This event repeats every Monday at 10 a.m.

Tuesday, April 2 6 p.m., Coconut Tree Earrings at the Owen County Public Library Come to the library and have fun making these coconut tree earrings with your family or friends. This program is for all ages (children under 12 must have an adult present. All supplies are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

No registration is required.

Thursday, April 4 11 a.m., Walk Away the Pounds at the Owen County Public Library Walk your way to better health!

Join in and walk in place to the Leslie Sansone 30-minute walking video.

Speed up your metabolism. Feel better.

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p PLAY DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS AT THE OWEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY. Meet at the library at 3 p.m., Monday, April 15, to experience the thrill of the popular tabletop role-playing game. For all skill levels and ages. New members welcome! — Photo courtesy of the Owen County Public Library

Friday, April 5 Books@Noon at the Owen County Public Library Noon, Discuss “The Identicals” by Elin Hilderbrand. After a decade of not speaking, twins Harper and Tabitha Frost switch places and lives to save their splintered family. Among old resentments,

new loves, and mistaken identity, will they be able to end their sibling rivalry for good? Pick up the next book, “This Tender Land,”

by William Kent Krueger. All are welcome to join in for good food, good company, and spirited discussion. This event repeats on the first Friday of each month.

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Monday, April 8-Friday, April 12 National Library Week Tuesday, April 9 National Library Workers’ Day 10:30 a.m., Storytime at the Owen County Public Library Did you know some animals sleep during the day and come out at night?

Come learn about these animals at the library’s “nocturnal” Storytime! This program is intended for young children and their parents or caregivers.

1 p.m., Community Event: Where the Wildflowers Grow Join the Owen County Public Library at the Senior Center to discuss native wildflowers of Kentucky and how the early pioneers used them for both decoration and home remedies. Make a dried flower luminary to take home. The Owen County Senior Center is located at 118 North Main Street, Owenton.

Thursday, April 11 Noon, Health Roundtable: Myths about Salt at the Owen County Public Library Join in to discuss low-sodium diets and learn why the idea that salt is bad for your health is a myth.

Saturday, April 13 10 a.m., Workout with Mona at the Owen County Public Library Join Mona Juett for a free workout at the library. Low impact for all abilities. Work at your own fitness level. Wear comfortable clothes.

Monday, April 15 Tax Day 3 p.m., Dungeons and Dragons at the Owen County Public Library Experience the thrill of the popular tabletop role-playing game. For all skill levels and ages. This group meets monthly. New members welcome.

Thursday, April 18 6 p.m., Gordon’s Gourmet at the Owen

County Public Library Join in as Chef Gordon discusses spring vegetables and exciting ways to prepare them.

Friday, April 19 2 p.m., Mystery Book Club at the Owen County Public Library Discuss “The Last Juror” by John Grisham. In 1970, when a young mother was raped and beaten in a small Mississippi town, murderer Danny Padgitt threatened revenge on jurors if they convicted him. He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. Nine years later, he received parole, and the retribution began. Pick up next month’s book, “Lost Light” by Michael Connelly. All are welcome.

7 p.m., “The Hunting Trip” “The Hunting Trip,” a production of the Owen County Theater Co. will be performed in the Owen County High School Auditorium, 2340 Hwy. 22, Owenton. Tickets are available by visiting the Owen County Council for the Arts Facebook page.

Saturday, April 20 7 p.m., “The Hunting Trip” “The Hunting Trip,” a production of the Owen County Theater Co. will be performed in the Owen County High School Auditorium, 2340 Hwy. 22, Owenton. Tickets are available by visiting the Owen County Council for the Arts Facebook page.

Monday, April 22 6:30 p.m., ‘Book Tasting’ Literary Buffet at the Owen County Public Library Join us for an evening of delectable samplings from across the library.

Several literary menus will be offered, featuring some of the tastiest books available. You will have the opportunity to enhance your palate as you sample a range of books, from bittersweet to fruity and delicate

to hearty. Space is limited; call the library at 502-484-3450 to register.

Wednesday, April 24 Administrative Professionals Day Thursday, April 25 5 p.m., Fish Fry at the Odd Fellows Hall You can eat in or carry out fish, hushpuppies, slaw, baked beans, and homemade desserts. The Owen County Historical Society is sponsoring the fish fry, which will be held at Odd Fellows Hall, 139 W. Seminary St., Owenton.

Monday, April 29 5:30 p.m., Evening Beginning Quilting: Lap Quilt at the Owen County Public Library Work on a “Disappearing Nine Patch” lap quilt. Learn how to assemble the quilt blocks and quilting basics. The project continues through May. Call 502-484-3450 to register.

Thursday, May 2 National Day of Prayer Saturday, May 4 Kentucky Derby 5:30 p.m., Wild Card at Elk Creek Vineyards Catch Wild Card, a four-piece band that plays classic rock, new and old country, and originals, at Elk Creek Vineyards, 150 Hwy. 330, Owenton.

Monday, May 6 National Nurses Day Tuesday, May 7 National Teacher Appreciation Day Sunday, May 12 Mother’s Day Monday, May 27 Memorial Day

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sweet owen + arts

Lights.

Camera.

Laughter.

Turners provide script for community theater’s latest production

BY MOLLY HAINES RIDDLE Sweet Owen Contributor

D

ale and Marianne Turner’s interest in theatrical arts long predates their arrival in Owen County. The couple, originally from Union, Kentucky, frequently visited Cincinnati to attend performances during their 49-year Boone County residency.

When the Owen County Council for the Arts began auditions for “A Mayberry Christmas” in 2017, the couple signed up hoping to volunteer for the production’s choir. Director Faith Clifton had other plans for the duo.

“I play the part of Aunt Bea,” Marianne said. “And Dale plays the part of Briscoe Darling.”

“Ms. Clifton chose us for those two roles instead of the choir,” Dale added. “She said she felt we would do well in them, and the rest is history. We’ve had a blast doing it.”

The 2023 performance of “A Mayberry Christmas” marked its fifth year in production (halted in 2020 due to the pandemic), with tickets for each time slot quickly selling out. The production’s success has left many involved wanting more, but as Dale points out, acquiring a script is more complex than a quick Google search.

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p “THE HUNTING TRIP,” a play written by “A Mayberry Christmas” cast members Dale and Marianne Turner, is the latest production of the Owen County Theater Co. The cast includes a host of local talent: Blake Gaines, Bryan Starns, Travis Duvall, Jason Wainscott, Aydon Tisdale, Tommy Osborne, and Rita Osborne. The production draws from Dale’s own life experiences and is touted as a “funny, feelgood comedy.”

“The people here were really interested in (Mayberry), and they were having a good time, and the people on stage were having a good time,” Dale said. “But the problem was that to purchase a play, you have to follow the script to the word, so there’s little

leeway. The play is written, you buy it, and the people perform and have very tight guidelines.”

With the intent to offer the Council a production free of artistic restraints, Dale began reflecting on his own life’s experience to author a play

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to be performed locally this spring.

The end result, “The Hunting Trip,” is set for performance Friday, April 19, and Saturday, April 20.

“The Hunting Trip” follows the antics of five men on an annual getaway. Three of the friends have a tradition of setting off on what outwardly is a hunting expedition—though, in reality, it is the furthest thing from it.

The journey takes an amusing turn when familial obligations come into play: one man’s wife insists that her son-in-law be taken along for what she assumes is a genuine hunting experience.

Upon presenting the play to the Council, a new set of problems arose.

“At first, I think the (Council’s) response was, ‘Wow, OK. We’ve got this. Now, what do we do with it? No one here knows how to produce or direct a play,’” Dale said. “Then Veronica Gayle and Pat Pearce stepped up.”

Confident the play would become a hit, Gayle and Pearce took an eightweek course offered by the Shelby County Community Theater. Under Jack Wann’s tutelage, the pair better understood what it takes to produce a play successfully. Upon completion of the course, the two contacted Dale to confirm their interest in the production. The Turners modified the play’s draft before it was copywritten and turned over to the Council.

“I told (the Council) up front, ‘It’s your play, do with it what you want,’” Dale explained. “They said, ‘Well, how much do you want?’ I said there’s no charge; just have fun with it and make people laugh. That’s all we wanted.”

Auditions were held in December, with Blake Gaines, Bryan Starns, Travis Duvall, Jason Wainscott, Aydon Tisdale, Tommy Osborne, Rita Osborne, and Leah Swain making the final cut. Although the Turners are not acting in the production, Gayle

said the two have remained faithful to “The Hunting Trip” from day one.

“They’ve been with us every step of the way,” Gayle said. “They’ve been to almost every rehearsal. They’ve been readers whenever someone was missing and willing to step in however we needed with the creative process of filling in the gaps with different parts of the play.”

Nearly all of the cast members are new to the world of theater, including Travis Duvall, a lineman for Owen Electric Cooperative, Inc. “I was actually asked to audition for the play,” Duvall said. “I really don’t bring much experience to the play other than my background as a hunter. I told my brother-in-law I would do it if he would; it’s been a fun experience so far. I can’t vouch for my talents as an actor, but the play is for a good cause, and I’m glad to be a part of that.”

With new blood taking an interest, Gayle and the Turners say the future is bright for local theater.

“Our goal is to create an active, lively community theater for Owen County,” Gayle said. “This is like our maiden voyage, the first step in that, as far as taking it to the next level.”

“The Council’s looking for directors, writers, and actors,” Dale added. “They would love to have a list of names they could pull from and say, ‘Hey, we’ve got a play.

Would you guys come down and read through it?’ So, getting theater in Owenton is a huge goal, but it’s something that we’re shooting for.”

When playing Mayberry’s Briscoe Darling, Dale said the most crucial aspect of his performance is to make others laugh, a quality he carried with him while writing “The Hunting Trip.”

“I tried to make a play . . . that doesn’t have a purpose,” Dale explained. “There’s no hidden message in there, nothing like that. It’s just a

p DALE TURNER JOINED THE CAST of “A Mayberry Christmas” for its inaugural performances in 2017 and has continued to play the part of Briscoe Darling since. His wife, Marianne, plays the part of Aunt Bea. The production’s success led the Turners to author a play, “The Hunting Trip,” which will be performed in the Owen County High School auditorium April 19-20.

sit-down and laugh type of thing.”

The Hunting Trip has two scheduled performances: 7 p.m. Friday, April 19, and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 20, in the Owen County High School auditorium. It has a runtime of approximately 65 minutes.

Tickets for the performances are available through the Owen County Council for the Arts Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ profile.php?id=61557323220525. v

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sweet owen + downtown revitalization

JAMES ABNER, above right, recently purchased the historic Rexall building located on Owenton’s West Seminary Street.

The two-story brick structure, built in 1895, is the “capstone project” of Downtown Owenton Revival, a non-profit catalyst for downtown revitalization. Abner plans to transform the space into a restaurant.

Rexall building receiving new lease on life

BY WHITNEY PRATHER DUVALL Sweet Owen Contributor

O

ne of Owenton’s historic commercial buildings has been purchased and is another step closer to being resurrected as a viable, bustling downtown business.

James B. Abner, an Owen County native and entrepreneur, purchased the former Rexall building, a two-story brick structure built in 1895. Once it’s restored, Abner plans to open a restaurant.

“I own a convenience store in Vevay, Indiana, that I travel to daily, and

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our food is restaurant quality. I have a special love for Owen County—after all, I was raised here and graduated from Owen County High School in 2007,” Abner said.

Calling food his passion, Abner has always aspired to one day open a restaurant locally. Having looked at several retail properties and land, he felt the historic building at 135 West Seminary Street would be the best fit for his plans.

“I can’t wait to start putting life back into this old building right here in the heart of downtown Owenton,” Abner said.

Abner is no stranger to historic building renovation projects. Working hard over the past 20 years in the convenience store industry—the last four as proprietor of his own store—has allowed him to own one of Owenton’s oldest historic homes, the L.O. Cox house on Main Street.

“The former Rexall building preservation project has been a labor of love by Downtown Owenton Revival since the group’s inception in 2019.

We are so excited to see its future unfold and grateful to James for his investment in our community,” Jenni Duncan, Chairperson, said. v

sweet owen

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sweet owen + agriculture

KAREN DENGLER, ABOVE, is just one of the Owen County Farm & Craft Market’s many vendors slated for the 2024 season, which kicks off at 10 a.m., Friday, May 10. Now in its 19th season, the market continues to adapt and thrive over time while maintaining its core mission of offering locals access to fresh produce while serving as a community hub.

Celebrating community and culture Owen County Farm & Craft Market returns for its 19th season

BY AMANDA ANDERSON MATTHEWS Sweet Owen Contributor

S

ince its inception in 2003, the Owen County Farm & Craft Market has traversed several locations—from its beginnings at the former New Horizons Medical Center to the courthouse square and beyond, the market has maintained its core mission for over two decades: to offer locals access to fresh produce while serving as a community hub.

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The market’s roots trace back to the inaugural Leadership Owen County class. Focused on a community service initiative, the group opted to establish the market as a platform to highlight the bounty of local farmers and offer a space for area artisans to exhibit their creations. Now celebrating its 19th season, with a hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic, the market persists, adapting and thriving over time.

In 2011, grants from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and Kentucky Farm Bureau enabled the market to erect a pavilion behind the Owen County Farm Bureau premises.

The pavilion has become the market’s permanent home with essential amenities like electricity, water, and

public restrooms.

Judy Hetterman, the former Owen County Cooperative Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Science, highlights the pavilion as a significant milestone for the market.

Additionally, securing grant funding in 2017 for the Double Dollars program stands out as another noteworthy achievement. This initiative empowers shoppers participating in WIC, SNAP, or other Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition programs to double their vouchers, enhancing accessibility to fresh, locally sourced produce.

Double Dollars isn’t the only way the market works to support the community. Each year, the market starts with the Judge/Executive’s Cookout, a partnership with the

sweet owen

Owen County Drug Prevention Coalition. Kids Day, held once a month, encourages the participation of the county’s youngest residents in purchasing and eating fresh, local food.

On Kids Day, the market gives out $2 to each child present to purchase items independently and offers activities like petting zoos, bouncy houses, and face painting.

Vital to the market’s makeup each week is the presence of food vendors such as Big Tricky’s Catering, Sisterly Touch, Fast Lane Foods, and BubbyQ, offering a respite from the day-to-day fare.

Several of the market’s original members, including the Ayres family, Jim Bush, and Patty Petzinger, remain active participants to this day.

Throughout the market’s journey, some farmers have departed due to various reasons, such as relocation or pursuing different paths. Despite the inevitable changes, which can at times be poignant, such as the loss of Ken Hanson of Hanson’s Baskets, the enduring presence of the market is a testament to the steadfast support of the community.

The anticipation among vendors is palpable as the Owen County Farm & Craft Market gears up for another season.

Kelly Rodamer, Baked Provisions “I have great expectations for the upcoming market to provide Owen

countians a way to support their local community. From fresh produce to homemade bread and handcrafted items, a lot of time and effort goes into each product and it’s a fantastic way to pump into the local economy.

“The goal of Baked Provisions is to provide a fresh, quality product that sparks joy. Each of our treats and loaves gets prayed over as we bake and again as we package. The community matters so much to us, and we want the very best for all who frequent the market.”

Karen Dengler, Dengler Family Farm “My family has owned farmland in Sweet Owen since the 1970s. We moved here permanently in 2023 and are happy to call Owenton our forever home. We want to help be part of this wonderful community and share our knowledge of herbs and the benefits of herbal and native plants through the products we make and sell.”

April Swope, Astro Pantry “My partner, Joshua Doane, and I, started our business in April 2023.

We sell freeze-dried candy and snacks. We are new vendors for the Owen County Farm & Craft Market, joining in 2023. We love how closeknit all the vendors are at this market. It’s our favorite place to setup.

It really is like family. I’m an Owen County native and love that I get to see all the familiar faces.”

Raye Scott, The Field Farm “We are so excited to be attend-

ing the market this year as regular vendors of produce, soap, wooden kitchen utensils, artwork and more.

The Field Farm is family-owned and operated and we’re going into our third year of existence. We are excited to meet customers, make friends, and provide the community with delicious locally-grown produce and handmade soap.”

Elijah Ayres, Ayres Family Orchard “I’ve always enjoyed attending and working the market. It’s a great sense of community, not only among the vendors, but the customers as well.

We have very high hopes for the market and hopefully growing it to attract more vendors. As for the orchard, we are planting more apple trees this spring, and we are expanding into the Christmas tree business! I also hope we can host more events like the trick-or-treat held in October, which is fun for everyone.”

The 2024 season will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Friday, starting May 10 and continuing through Oct. 5. Market organizers are excited about the potential return of the Farm-to-Table Dinner. This event has previously served as a fundraiser to support initiatives like Kids Day and pavilion maintenance costs. Stay updated by following the market’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ owencountyfarmandcraftmarket. v

The Owen County Farm & Craft Market 2024 season opens at 10 a.m., Friday, May 10, and continues weekly through the first Friday in October.

The Market offers a monthly Kids Day and a weekly lunch vendor. Market organizers are excited about the potential return of the Farm-to-Table dinner. For details, follow the Market’s Facebook page at www.facebook. com/owencountyfarmandcraftmarket.

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sweet owen + chamber of commerce

CHAMBER NEWS The Owen County Chamber of Commerce formally recognized its 2023 Outstanding Businessperson of the Year and Business of the Year award recipients at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting, held Jan. 11, at Perry Park Golf Resort.

Outstanding Businessperson of the Year The 2023 Outstanding Businessperson of the Year award proudly goes to Stanley Patton, the Field Sales Manager at Broadlinc, a distinguished internet service provider in Owen County. Patton is a resident of Owen County, and his unwavering commitment to the community and remarkable achievements in sales have earned him this well-deserved honor.

Starting as a sales representative at Broadlinc, Patton quickly ascended the corporate ladder, achieving the feat of acquiring 300 customers in less than a year. His dedication to his team’s success is evident as he guides and motivates them to reach the same extraordinary milestone.

Those who nominated him for the award praised his outstanding work performance, approachability, and dedication to serving Owen County residents, even in remote areas.

Stanley’s contributions extend be-

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BROADLINC FIELD SALES MANAGER STANLEY PATTON, center, is the recipient of the 2023 Owen County Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Businessperson of the Year Award. The award was presented Jan. 11 at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting, held this year at Perry Park Golf Resort.

yond his professional life. He mentors and coaches local children in various sports, demonstrating his commitment to nurturing the next generation.

Alongside his wife, Sara, Patton is the proud parent of three children.

Business of the Year The 2023 Business of the Year award is presented to Addiction Recovery Care (ARC) Eagle Creek, a residential treatment center dedicated to

helping women overcome addiction.

Located in the former hospital facility, ARC Eagle Creek worked tirelessly for months to restore the building, just as their staff helps women rebuild their lives in the community.

The nominations for ARC Eagle Creek were accompanied by heartfelt testimonials, describing the facility as a “valuable asset to the community,” a “sanctuary of healing and restoration,” and an organization that is “transforming lives and communities.”

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Beyond its exceptional work guiding individuals toward recovery, ARC Eagle Creek has become integral to the Owen County business community.

The involvement of its staff, including Campus Administrator Chris Whitenack, in various community events and organizations demonstrates its commitment to the betterment of Owen County.

The Owen County Chamber of Commerce commends ARC Eagle Creek for its dedication to helping individuals on the path to recovery and for its significant contributions to the Owen County business community. They exemplify the positive impact that united businesses can have on a small town when working together and supporting each other.

Join us in congratulating Stanley Patton, the Field Sales Manager at Broadlinc, and Addiction Recovery Care (ARC) Eagle Creek as the esteemed recipients of the 2023 Outstanding Businessperson of the Year and Business of the Year awards, respectively.

Tiny Treasures Daycare & Preschool officially opens its doors The Owen County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 19 to celebrate the grand opening of Tiny Treasures Daycare and Preschool.

The journey toward opening Tiny Treasures began in February 2023 with in-depth research, followed by the acquisition of the building in June 2023. The founders, with deep roots in Owen County, have always envisioned creating a space that mirrors the care and attention they would want for their grandchildren. Recognizing the growing need for additional childcare services due to more parents working outside the home, Tiny Treasures aims to be a vital asset to the community.

GINGER AND RICHARD “TATER” DAVIS, center, opened the doors of Tiny Treasures Daycare & Preschool Jan. 24. The business is located two miles from Owenton and welcomes children from infants to age 5 and offers a preschoolbased curriculum tailored to each age group.

Richard “Tater” and Ginger Davis, have been Owen County residents since birth and share a profound connection with the community.

They bring years of customer service experience and are known for their successful business, Davis Excavating LLC. Their family values and community spirit are at the heart of Tiny Treasures.

Amber, the director of Tiny Treasures, is equally embedded in the community. Married to Johnny Hopkins, also from Owenton, she has devoted the last 10 years to childcare, working with infants through preschool-age children. Her passion for childcare and her expertise in early childhood education are integral to the quality of care at Tiny Treasures.

“We thank God for giving us the ability to bring this business opportunity to our community,” said Ginger Davis. “We have a great team that will provide our children a safe, loving, caring, and learning environment.”

Tiny Treasures is conveniently located approximately 2 miles from Owenton, providing easy access to families. It welcomes children from infants to age 5 and offers a preschool-based curriculum tailored to each age group. While there is no after-school program currently, the curriculum is designed to nurture and educate young minds in a loving environment.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tiny Treasures Daycare and Preschool to our business community,” said Owen County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jenni Duncan. “Their commitment to providing a nurturing environment for our youngest residents is not just a valuable service, but a vital investment in the future of our county.”

Tiny Treasures officially opened its doors Jan. 24, operating from 6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday-Friday.

The facility participates in the CCAP program. v

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Presented by Owen County Tourism

OWEN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

OWENTON, KY Benefitting the Wyatt Cole Memorial Scholarship Fund

sweetowenmag.com + spring 2024

23

sweet owen + service

Introducing. . .

Harold R. Wainscott

BY MARLENE BROWNING-WAINSCOTT Sweet Owen Contributor

Harold R. Wainscott dedicated a decade of his life to serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1961.

His service took him to the Pacific atomic testing area in the Marshall Islands, where he held the crucial role of a weatherman. In this capacity, Wainscott bore witness to significant historical moments, including the world’s first test of a thermonuclear device (AKA the “hydrogen bomb”) and various atomic test shots, some conducted in space and others underwater. Alongside numerous comrades who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, Wainscott became recognized as one of the “Atomic Veterans” due to his involvement in atmospheric and underwater nuclear weapons tests.

Operation Ivy “I joined the Air Force because I received my draft notice,” Wainscott recalled. “I had just turned 21 and was single. I had eight weeks of basic training in Texas and got my first choice of Weather School at Chanute Air Force Base near Rantoul, Illinois.”

From there, he boarded the U.S.S. Shanks to Hickman Air Force Base in Hawaii.

“I worked in the Terminal Weather Station there for a few weeks and had an opportunity to volunteer for duty in the Pacific testing area in the Marshall Islands for Operation IVY. I volunteered because the idea of such an adventure interested me.

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By the end of 1951, I was working in the Terminal Weather Station at Eniwetok Atoll. The Eniwetok Atoll is a close-knit circle of coral islands and one of the islands is called Eniwetok as well. It was the largest island and was long enough to have a 6,000foot runway for larger aircraft.”

During this time, Wainscott witnessed the world’s first thermonuclear device test on Nov. 1, 1952, “There were only two test shots in Operation IVY. Those shots were both in November. The first was codenamed ‘Mike.’ Generally, it is called the hydrogen bomb, but to be accurate, it was a device. To be called a bomb, it had to be an actual weapon. Nobody knew how large the explosion would be. The device was on Elugelab Island. There is a very large crater there now and Elugelab was vaporized. I saw that explosion from the last evacuation plane. The second test was codenamed ‘King.’”

In 1952, Harold received orders for duty at Godman Airforce Base in Fort Knox. He flew into Cincinnati on Christmas Eve, 1952, and married in Owenton before reporting for duty at Godman. During his four-year assignment at Godman, his son was born in 1954.

“I reenlisted for another six years and received orders to return to Hickman Air Force Base.”

Operation Hard Tack “I had not been working in the (Terminal Weather Station at Hickman) very long when I received a call from Navy Commander

Daniel Rex,” Wainscott said. “He was looking for some volunteers for a special project in Fleet Weather Central at Pearl Harbor.”

The project would send Wainscott and seven other carefully selected men to the Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands, where Wainscott previously served.

“We were testing, by hand, what was to become a weather modeling computer program. When finished, it would hopefully make short-range forecasts of wind direction, velocity, and various high altitudes. We were using old-fashioned merchant calculating machines to test the formulas the scientists had dreamed up. These machines were state-ofthe-art at the time. They could add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Each one cost hundreds of dollars, and we had several. They only did what a $1 handheld calculator does now, but it was nearly a miracle back then.

“The sole purpose of this project was to track radioactive fallout from atomic tests at Bikini and Eniwetok. The results were good enough to cause a computer building to be constructed.”

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The IBM 704 computer needed a building that could be climate-controlled. As a result, concrete blocks were shipped from the states to the island to construct a building the size of a small gymnasium to hold the computer. The 704 was the only computer at the time that could handle complex math.

“They installed refrigeration and air conditioning units in the building to keep the computer cool and prevent overheating,” Wainscott continued.

We had to wear our heavy fatigues when we worked there. My job was to feed weather data from all over the Pacific into the computer. Our weather program was considered a success.”

Shot Oak In Operation Hardtack, test shots were given names from North American trees and shrubs. One of the test shots was called “Oak.” The Oak Shot detonation was a nine-megaton hydrogen bomb (one of the largest shots in Hardtack and 700 times greater than the Hiroshima Bomb).

“This bomb was several megatons and was expected to be quite hot,” Wainscott explained. “Full fatigues and headcover were required.

The announcement said, ‘At the countdown time of H minus 30 seconds, a marker flare will show the test position. Your eyesight will be lost if you do not use shot glasses to view the test. If you do not have glasses, you must turn away. Please obey this warning!’

“A needle-sharp point of blue-white light is stabbing at our eyes through the black glass of our masks. The device was emitting the radioactive spectrum, all of it, in all directions. It was churning and turning, in a boiling motion, as it burrowed into the mushroom’s center. Greens and browns and reds that were never meant to be

HAROLD R. and BETTY WAINSCOTT

in the sky. I had a taste in my mouth like a penny on my tongue. There is no sound at all. All of that unimaginable power, and still there is no sound.

Then, we see the shock wave coming.

The wall of a perfect expanding dome of vapor approaching. Some were not braced for it and were knocked backward. We were watching a show that should never be seen.”

At the time of testing, Operation Hardtack included more nuclear detonations than all prior nuclear explosions in the Pacific Ocean put together. This was due to the discussions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that led to a moratorium that would end nuclear testing. Additional tests were added to Hardtack in case it was the last chance. Hardtack served as the end of the nuclear device testing in the Marshall Islands.

Upon his return to civilian life, Harold endeavored to acclimate to a world beyond the military. Initially, he assumed the role of a foreman in a

plastics factory, followed by a position as a programmer with the Kentucky Department of Highways. In 1976, he transitioned into teaching programming at a vocational school, where he remained until his retirement in 1987.

Over the years, Wainscott kept in touch with many of his friends from his service. He attended reunions all around the country and created a newsletter/website called “The Wetokian,” which allowed those who served to share their stories about their time on the islands and provided a way for everyone to keep in touch. Today, he lives in Owen County with his wife, Betty.

Wainscott received the rank of Master Sergeant during his service and several commendations, “I looked upon most all my assignments and duties as a great adventure, and of course, the computer experience I had in service helped me in my civilian careers. I was fortunate to have things work out so well.” v

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sweet owen + recognition

Chronicling untold veterans’ stories

Browning-Wainscott first-place winner in Who Powers You contest

BY LANNY BRANNOCK Courtesy of East Kentucky Power Cooperative

I

t was the World War II veteran hat that gave only surface information about its wearer, Owen County native Jarl Lee Harris, that prompted Marlene Browning-Wainscott to start asking questions about his service.

She’s been asking veterans about their stories ever since, now going for more than a decade.

Browning-Wainscott is the 2023 Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Who Powers You contest first-place winner. An Owen Electric member, she received a $1,000 check for her decades-long work in interviewing and publishing the stories of veterans in Owen County.

“I was shocked and humbled because I knew there were so many other people nominated,” Browning-Wainscott said. “It’s a privilege to share the importance of preserving the history of the veterans. I truly appreciate Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives and Owen Electric for the opportunity.”

During that fateful first meeting with Harris, Browning-Wainscott learned that Harris, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 96, was more than just an ordinary citizen, or even an ordinary veteran.

“I really wish I had someone to share my story with,” Browning-Wainscott recalled Harris saying from her chance meeting with him more than a decade ago at her business in downtown Owenton.

“Jarl was known in this town as the ‘sign guy,’” she continued. “He was very artistic. He had painted signs for

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MARLENE BROWNING-WAINSCOTT

the historical society and the funeral home. He was the guy who went to McDonald’s to drink coffee. No one knew who he was in terms of a veteran. And I said I would love to talk.”

And they did.

Harris, the ‘Sign Guy of Owenton,’ was also an incredibly brave warrior.

He was a Purple Heart recipient who spent time in the U.S. Army serving as a paratrooper and a member of the 101st Airborne Screamin’ Eagles.

He was part of the D-Day invasion.

He liberated Nazi concentration camps. The 101st participated in many battles during World War II, including the Battle of the Bulge. Later, Harris would serve in both the Korean and Vietnam wars.

The story told by Harris and written by Browning-Wainscott, was published in The News-Herald. But as it turned out, it was only the first veterans’ story she would tell. The

reaction to the Sign-Guy-War-Hero’s tale was immediate.

Browning-Wainscott did not stop at story or two or three.

She started with the World War II veterans, then moved on to the Korean War veterans, and finally, the Vietnam veterans. She’s still conducting interviews to ensure that every person has a chance to preserve their history and tell their own story.

“I was fortunate to be someone they felt comfortable telling their story,” she said. “Many of them had stories that were difficult. And the stories are about preserving the veterans’ legacies so that young people, and the people in the community, understand that the guy walking into McDonald’s to get his coffee also served in three wars, received a Purple Heart, and jumped on D-Day so that people have a chance to say, ‘Thank you for your service.’” v

sweet owen + eats

House of McNally WHILE AMIGOS IN OWENTON is my favorite Mexican eatery, I know I can recreate Ernesto’s carnitas at home when I don’t feel like going out. This is a super easy recipe that your family will ask for over and over.

The key is to season with your heart and don’t be afraid to experiment. As for the homemade tortillas, you’ll be glad you did it and you’ll find these are easy and so much better homemade than store bought. I hope you enjoy this as much as the House of McNally does.

Crispy Carnitas with Homemade Tortillas For Carnitas: 1 Pork Butt 2 tbsp. Chili Powder 2 tbsp. Cumin 2 tbsp. Onion Powder 2 tbsp. Garlic Powder 1 tbsp. Sea Salt 1 tbsp. Black Pepper

1 tbsp. Red Chili Flakes Olive Oil For Tortillas: 2 Cups Masa 2 Cups Hot Water 1 Tbsp. Sea Salt

For Carnitas: Mix together spices and drizzle oil over entire pork butt. Add spices to butt, and depending on the size of your pork, you may have leftover spices. Keep that in a sealed container for the next batch. Add your butt to a crockpot with the fat side up and slow cook on low until internal temperature is 145-degrees. This will take about eight hours. Once pork has reached doneness, shred and in batches, add to a hot skillet with olive oil to reach the desired crispiness.

For Tortillas: Mix hot water to masa until you have a play-dough like consistency. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes in a bowl covered with a damp kitchen towel. Form dough into 2 tbsp. balls and place in an unzipped ziplock bag and either use a tortilla press or rolling pin to press into a 4” tortilla. Heat a skillet on medium-high heat and cook tortillas for one minute per side. Keep cooked tortillas in a kitchen towel or a tortilla warmer until ready to serve.

I assemble mine with homemade tortillas, thinly-sliced radish, pico de gallo, cojito cheese, and a mixture of mayonnaise and hot sauce. Enjoy! u LYNDSI McNALLY is a resident of Owen County, wife, and mother of two boys. She makes her living as a Family Support Worker for HANDS at the Three Rivers District Health Department and often entertains her hundreds of Facebook followers by sharing photos of home-cooked meals.

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sweet owen + reads

Spring into a good book Embrace the season of renewal with a fresh read; compiled by MOLLY HAINES RIDDLE MidGrade Series

The Women Kristin Hannah St. Martin’s Press 480 Pages, $30

Homeward Angela Jackson Brown Harper Muse 400 pages, $17.99

W

omen can be heroes, too. When 20-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these unexpected words in Kristin Hannah’s “The Women,” it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing and being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different choice for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of them—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.

But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

“The Women” is the story of one woman gone to war,

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The Unmaking of June Farrow Adrienne Young Delacorte Press 320 Pages, $25.50

Pages & Co.: The Last Bookwanderer Anna James Penguin Young Readers 304 pages, $13.99

but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country have too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, “The Women” is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.

In Angela Jackson Brown’s “Homeward,” the country is changing, and the world is being turned upside down.

Nothing—and no one—will ever be the same.

Georgia, 1962. Rose Perkins Bourdon returns home to Parsons, Georgia, without her husband and pregnant with another man’s baby. After tragedy strikes her husband in the war overseas, a numb Rose is left with pieces of who she used to be and is forced to figure out what she is going to do with the rest of her life. Her sister introduces her to members of the Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee—young people are taking risks and fighting battles Rose has only seen on television. Feeling emotions for the first time in what feels like forever, the excited and frightened Rose finds herself becoming increasingly

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p KRISTIN HANNAH is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels, including the international blockbuster, “The Nightingale,” which was named Goodreads Best Historical Fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People’s Choice award for best fiction in the same year. A former attorney, Hannah lives in the Pacific Northwest. — Photo by Kevin Lynch

involved in the resistance efforts. And, of course, there is also a young man, Isaac Weinberg, whose passion for activism stirs something inside her she didn’t think she would ever feel again.

June Farrow is waiting for fate to find her in Adrienne Young’s “The Unmaking of June Farrow.” The Farrow women are known for their thriving flower farm—and the mysterious curse that has plagued their family line. The whole town remembers the madness that led to Susanna Farrow’s disappearance, leaving June to be raised by her grandmother and haunted by rumors.

It’s been a year since June started seeing and hearing things that weren’t there. Faint wind chimes, a voice calling her name, and a mysterious door appearing out of nowhere—the signs of what June always knew was coming. But June is determined to end the curse once and for all, even if she must sacrifice finding love and having a family of her own.

After her grandmother’s death, June discovers a series of cryptic clues regarding her mother’s decades-old dis-

appearance, except they only lead to more questions. But could the door she once assumed was a hallucination be the answer she’s been searching for? The next time it appears, June realizes she can touch it and walk past the threshold. And when she does, she embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future, but also uncover the lingering mysteries of her small town and entangle her heart in an epic star-crossed love.

In the final installment of Anna James’s Pages & Co. series, Milo, Tilly, Oskar, and Alessia venture into Arthurian legend to find the first bookwanderer—the wizard Merlin— and discover that the magic of bookwandering is not what they thought.

Together, they must journey into Greek and Roman mythology to bargain with the trickster Loki and find a way to untangle the Alchemist’s grip on the world’s imagination. And to save Pages & Co. and protect the very foundations of bookwandering, the friends will have to learn the true power of imagination, all while an unexpected enemy stands in their way.

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sweet owen + outdoors

Owen County Almanac An exploration of the great outdoors BY JOSH RODAMER

I

n 1949, “A Sand County Almanac” was first published post-humorously for its author, Aldo Leopold. That work, now combined with “Essays on Conservation from Round River,” is a classic nature and conservation text that walks readers through the natural idiosyncrasies of each month at the writer’s Wisconsin farm. An Owen County Almanac, likewise, will touch on the seasonal outdoor pursuits and happenings in Owen County. Additionally, you will find a summary of recent Fish and Wildlife Commission meetings, which affect said pursuits.

Spring The return of spring across the commonwealth brings a variety of outdoor adventure options for several types of enthusiasts. The familiar mating display of the American Woodcock ushers in hopeful birders wishing to catch a glimpse of their favorite warbler species. Smaller impoundments and farm ponds begin to heat up with largemouth bass as they progress through their spawning. Elmer Davis Lake provides an excellent opportunity for these anglers to cast their way into the spring and summer fishing seasons. Hunters strain their ears as the sun wraps its rays faintly over the ridgetops, hoping for those first gobbling turkeys to betray their roost. The keen eye will also spot the

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emergence of Purple Cress, one of the first wildflowers to show themselves.

In all cases the outdoor enthusiast is met with a less desired spring return, that of the tick. From pets to pantlegs, these parasites begin their annual explosion of activity. Although ticks are active at all times of the year, certain varieties will become more active in spring. Adults and nymphs of the Lone Star Tick and American Dog Tick become active in March and maintain their activity through September. Adult Blacklegged Ticks, commonly called the deer tick, have peak activity between October and June with their nymphs active between May and August. The Winter, Asian Longhorn, Gulf Coast and Brown Dog Ticks round out the species you may encounter in the commonwealth.

Ticks are disease vectors, meaning they can transmit a variety of bacteria, virus, and protozoa. It is important to note that not all ticks can transmit the same diseases, and not all bites result in disease transmission. For example, the Lone Star Tick is unable to carry Lyme Disease and therefore lacks the ability to pass that disease to a host.

The Blacklegged Tick can, however, carry Lyme Disease but will need to be attached to a host for about 36 hours before transmission occurs.

A close family member contracted Lyme Disease this past year, but never

noticed the tick. This was likely due to the fact ticks will release once full, usually after a few days, but up to two weeks. Additionally, tick saliva contains anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant molecules that aid in keeping the host blissfully unaware of their activity.

The first symptom our family member experienced was a stinging itch on their side, followed by high fevers and fatigue. They later developed the stereotypical bullseye rash. Originally believing the incident to be a spider bite, a misdiagnosis at the doctor led to two weeks of antibiotics that yielded a smaller yet still present rash.

Forty-eight hours after the first round of antibiotics were completed, symptoms returned with another rash on their ribcage and a swollen face. A trip to the dermatologist resulted in a correct diagnosis, confirmational tests and 30 days of antibiotic treatment. In this case the symptoms abated after second-round antibiotics and there have been no further issues. Some will also experience continued symptoms by acquiring Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS).

The Lone Star Tick has gained more concern in recent years with the increase of Alpha-gal Syndrome.

Although it has not been completey ruled out that other ticks could cause the syndrome, up to 20% of people who have been tested where Lone

sweet owen

Star Ticks are common have the antibody that causes Alpha-gal. Alpha-gal Syndrome is referred to as the red meat allergy or mammalian meat allergy. It is an immune response to the Alpha-gal sugar molecule found in most mammals and products made from mammals. Tick saliva contains the molecule that the body may see as an intruder and issue an abnormal immune response called an allergic reaction. There are a variety of symptoms associated with such reactions with a spectrum of severity including itching, hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The syndrome can become quite severe when an individual’s immune response grows to the level of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction and a medical emergency marked by a drop in blood pressure requiring medical treatment.

If you are so unfortunate to develop Alpha-gal Syndrome, there is no treatment or cure. The person must avoid meat, including pork, beef, rabbit, lamb, goat, bison, and venison.

Meat products, such as gelatins and cow milk, as well as some personal care products, should be avoided to prevent an allergic reaction. All hope is not lost, as recovery is possible over time. If the individual can avoid additional tick bites and products that aggravate their allergy, they may see it resolve over months or years. Another Lone Star Tick concern is STARI. Not to be confused with my children’s lemon-lime soft drink of choice at their favorite Owenton pizzeria, STARI is a southern tick-associated rash illness.

It can mimic Lyme disease; however, it is not caused by the same bacterium that causes Lyme and usually resolves after treatment with oral antibiotics.

Lone Star and American Dog Ticks can also transmit tularemia and spotted fever. Tularemia is a rare bacterial

disease with mild to life-threatening symptoms. Spotted fever, sometimes called Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, can also be mild to life-threatening and requires prompt treatment with the correct antibiotic.

As is true in so many parts of our lives, prevention is the best medicine to avoid tick bites. Experts recommend treating clothes, shoes, and gear with 0.5% permethrin, a personal favorite of mine. Permethrin is applied to clothes, not to the skin, and allowed to dry. It will maintain its effectiveness through several washings. The use of EPA-recommended insect repellants is another tool in the prevention box. Try using products that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone.

I typically apply a product if I expect to travel through the woods or tall grasses and weeds. Last but certainly not least is to inspect yourself and your pets. Whether it is my children or myself, I apply the gaze of a vain Disney villain and search for ticks to remove. One of our family’s worst tick experiences involved my children becoming covered in tiny seed ticks while working on a secluded property in Pendleton County. We stripped their clothes, rushed them home for baths, and then spent the next hour picking tiny ticks off their bodies with tweezers.

Although that was a terrible experience, it has not kept us from the outdoors, and I hope the aforementioned information doesn’t discourage you from an outdoor pursuit. Enjoy the woods and waters of Owen County!

F&W Commission Corner At the time of this writing, the December meeting of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission has recently passed.

Normal, quarterly meetings have three parts; action items, discussion items, and new business. Items are introduced as new business, moved to discussion items at the next meeting, and then presented as action items that will be voted upon unless the members vote to stop the item’s progression. These votes typically result in changes to regulations that affect our outdoor pursuits. Notable action items at the December meeting included a prohibition on wild pig hunting, recommendations for legislative changes involving commercial guide licensure authority, creating new fundraising permits, adding provisions for special hunting regulations on select WMAs, elk hunting season and permit recommendations, updating deer quota hunt recommendations, creating new regulations on wildlife disease reporting, modifying commercial trout line regulations, modifying water bodies open to commercial fishing, and eliminating minimum size limits for channel catfish in several bodies of water. All these action items require approval by the legislature. At the time of this writing, the March meeting has yet to occur, but sportsmen and women should be aware of Commission discussions on drone use and cellular trail cameras that have or will happen at the March 1 Commission meeting.

Specifically, the Commission is discussing prohibitions on cellular trail cameras and drone use on WMAs. If these items concern you, contact your commissioner. Owen County sits in the Fifth Commission District, and Josh Lillard is our commissioner. He has also been elected Chair of the Fish and Wildlife Commission. You can reach him via email at FW.CommissionDistrict5@ ky.gov or by phone at (859) 750-3142. v

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