10/31/2021

Billy Wurts - A Hard-Working Man and A Life Well Lived

An obituary alone is rarely enough to tell the story of a person's life. This is especially true of Webbville's Bill Wurts, who passed away last week at the age of 83.

Nightwatchmen Masonic Riders Hit The Road To Benefit Camp Webb

Members of the Nightwatchmen Masonic Riders Association chapter of the Kentucky Widow Sons held a benefit ride Saturday, October 30 - Nightwatchmen Masonic Riders Association's Camp Webb Ride for children from Elliot and Carter counties to go to Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources conservation camp at Camp Robert C Webb.

Billy Lee Wurts, 83, of Webbville, KY passed away Thursday, October 28, 2021. Mr. Wurts was born August 15, 1938 in Harlan County, Kentucky to the late William Leo and Dorothy Green Wurts.

He is survived by one son, Billy (Christina) Wurts, Jr.; three granddaughters, Sierra Hall, Adrianna Hall, and Audrey Hall; one niece, Glenna Brickey; two nephews, Vaughn Henry, Harold Henry, and Neal Henry; and a Host of Friends & Other Relatives.

He was a Janitor.

Friends may visit the family on Monday, November 1 from 10 am -12 pm at the Wilson Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Peck Cemetery. All care has been entrusted to Wilson Funeral Home.

10/28/2021

Extension Notes - Repairing Bare Spots in Your Lawn: by Rebecca Konopka

This fall, you may notice a few bare spots in your lawn but not enough to do a complete renovation. Fall is the perfect time to repair bare spots with cool-season grasses in a few easy steps. The combination of moderate day time temperatures, still-warm soil and cool evenings encourages germination and good root establishment well before next spring.

The Carter County Fiscal Court will meet in SPECIAL SESSION Friday October 29, 2021 at 11am in the Fiscal Courtroom.

Kentucky takes center stage on no-till’s 60th anniversary

Christian County farmers John and Alexander Young stand in front of the historical marker where Harry Young planted his first commercial crop of no-till corn. Photo courtesy of No-Till Farmer.

Cathy Braveheart has become accustomed to people misunderstanding many things about her shop in downtown Grayson.

Grayson Gallery & Art Center Monthly F!nal Fr!day Event - "It's Alive!"

The Grayson Gallery will present their annual Halloween art show & sale with an opening reception for artists and the public on October 29 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

The monthly F!nal Fr!day event, entitled "It's Alive!" will feature the works of over 25 Eastern Kentucky artists from over 10 cities across the region. Various mediums with a scary and seasonal theme will be included in the more than 50 pieces on display.

Grayson - BIG Crowd for Ribbon Cutting at Murray's AutoWorx

Joined by friends, family and members of the Grayson Area Chamber of Commerce, the staff and owners of Murray's AutoWorx celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday, October 22, 2021.

Ringing Silver Bells and Raising Heroes Hope for 2021

Carla Fultz and husband Lee have a truckload of work to do as Christmas season approaches and they once again bring the "Silver Bells" program to Carter County senior citizens, and strive to meet the ongoing needs of area veterans as part of their "Heroes Hope" effort.

"Slick" and Bellew Claim State Long Jump Championship

A pair of local student athletes have returned to Carter County with a championship finish, and a second-place spot, following state-level KHSAA 2A competition at the University of Kentucky, earning their places on the track with a combined-distance long jump of 31 feet and 1 inch during regionals.

Catherine "Cat" Rebekah Sobral

Sheila Sobral has developed a couple of alternate ways of thinking about life and death following the loss of her daughter in May.

One of Grayson's longstanding Main Street business properties has been placed on the market.

The Shangri-La is owned by members of the late Arnold Collier's family.

Altice USA (NYSE: ATUS), the provider of Suddenlink broadband, television, and phone service, today announces that as a result of major investments in its advanced broadband infrastructure, the company has launched faster speeds for Suddenlink residential customers in Grayson, Kentucky.

Willard Speedway - A Night at the Races (photo gallery 3)

(Click on photos to enlarge)

Olive Hill and Grayson Chambers of Commerce Join Forces For "Merry & Bright Trail" 2021

Betsy Fannin and Jill York gave a glowing report during this month's Grayson Area Chamber of Commerce lunch meeting, practically bristling with excitement as they shared plans for this year's "Merry & Bright Christmas Light Trail" across Carter County.

Morehead State University Eagles' Women's Head Coach Cayla Petree motivated members of the Grayson Area Chamber of Commerce Tuesday during the organization's monthly lunch meeting, held at Kentucky Christian University.

"The way I coach is just Bam, Bam, Bam," said Petree, a native of west Texas.

Olive Hill's "It's Fall Y'all" - Hometown Goodness (photo gallery three)

Soup bean dinners with cornbread fritters and a choice of campfire-cooked desserts were extremely popular with "It's Fall Y'all" visitors in Olive Hill.

Downtown Olive Hill had plenty to offer guests during the annual "It's Fall Y'all Vendor Fair" Saturday, (October 9, 2021) as the sounds of live music blended with the aroma of soup beans, cornbread, chili and taco soup.

Funtoberfest 2021, hosted by Grayson Rotary.

Yes, there were a few princesses, including Cinderella, in the crowd during the Grayson Rotary Club's Funtoberfest 2021.

Blessed with beautiful weather, Grayson Rotary Club volunteer members brought a lively festival to Grayson Saturday, October 9 2021 with an array of interests and activities along Park Street.

Julia Collier said she didn't deal with a lot of depression during her ongoing fight against breast cancer.

"Most of the time, I laughed instead of cried," she said.

"I cried more than I laughed," her husband Tony added - who smiled often as Julia recalled the chapters in her, and their, story following a breast cancer diagnosis in February, 2019.

Grayson Gallery: September Art Show Featured First International Artist

The art of Marcos Kura, along with creations by SYYN, the art studio of Cynthia Moegling, was featured during September's F!nal Fr!day Artwalk at Grayson Gallery and Art Center.

The "new" team at Murray's AutoWorx is on the job and prepared to tackle practically any car or truck repair you might need.

"We do everything but body work," said Office Manager Taylor Bush.

Gallery Gatherings To Focus On 'Good Grief' - Starting Wednesday Evening

Sheila Sobral has developed a couple of interesting ways of looking at life and death following the loss of her daughter in May.

Sobral, lives near the Carter/Greenup County line and is well known locally from her years as former owner of The Country Market and more recently as General Manager for Dionysus Beverage Sales. Her daughter, Catherine "Cat" Rebekah Sobral passed on May 8, 2021 at their home.

She was 25 years old.

"I won't force my views on people, but I will share why I'm not in a puddle somewhere, or still in my bed," Sobral said this week as she prepared to welcome guests to "Experience Good Grief On Wednesdays" (E.G.G.O.W. for short) from 5:30 until 7:30 P.M. at Grayson Gallery & Art Center.

The casual meeting series will be focused on bringing together people who are grieving in their own ways, with a few homemade brownies, coffee and even board games to make the experience more inviting.

"We wanted a comfortable place where people could open up and share," she said, explaining the local art gallery offers a more informal space which will hopefully encourage participants to express their feelings and possibly share art related to their loss.

"You don't have to get up and say anything. No one will be asked to tell their story. It won't be like an AA style meeting. If you want to talk, we will pause and listen to you," Sobral said.

For Wednesday evening's first gathering Sobral said she wants to keep things comfortable, and have some of the eclectic music from her daughter's Spotify playlist going in the background.

Reflecting the space, Sobral said she will encourage people to bring any form of art related to their emotions, as well as works created by people who've passed. Otherwise, participants are not asked to bring anything (light refreshments will be available) and there are no fees or costs involved.

Sobral is sharing notices about "Experience Good Grief On Wednesdays" on her personal Facebook page, as well as through "The Cat Project" page on the same site.

(2) The Cat Project | Facebook

Grayson Gallery & Art Center is located in the former Grayson Fire Department at the corner of Third Street and Carol Malone Boulevard in Grayson.

Story and Photo by TIM PRESTON

Carter County Post

Tobacco Settlement Oversight Committee Update: Flannery reports Carter County to receive $130,292 from state’s agricultural development fund

Frankfort, Kentucky (October 5, 2021) – State Representative Patrick Flannery is pleased to receive notification from the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee that Carter County will receive $130,292 in funding through the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund. The funding is specifically approved by the Kentucky Agriculture Development Board (KADB) for a County Agricultural Investment Program (CAIP.)

“I am happy to announce that Carter County will be receiving $130,292 in agriculture development funds. The legislature takes pride in the conservation of our agricultural legacy, and that is most certainly seen through our teamwork with the Agricultural Development Board and the Department of Agriculture as we continue to make strides in funding opportunities. This money specifically will be a tremendous asset to our local operations, and I look forward to seeing how this will benefit our communities, as well as the communities around it,” Flannery said.

This funding stems from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement fund that was established as a result of an accord that was reached in 1998 between four major tobacco product manufacturers and 46 states. The legislature created the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. Legislators moved the KADB to the Department of Agriculture during the 2021 Regular Session to better serve the mission of the fund.

To learn more about the Tobacco Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee, please visit the Committee section of legislature.ky.gov.

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10/04/2021

Quietly Roaring Back To Life: And yes, I tried to blame the dog

When you have a major event in your life, you tend to assume everyone knows about it - particularly when you lean toward sharing your entire story on social media.

That assumption is absolutely false, as proven by Carter County Sheriff Jeff May when I hobbled up next to him, relying on a cane and a "walking boot," during the 2021 Carter County Fair.

"What have you done to yourself?" the sheriff asked after I made the incredibly strenuous journey of 20-30 feet from my car to his vehicle.

"You didn't see the pictures?" I asked, somewhat stunned.

(Warning - these are gross images)

For those who don't know, "Mr. I've jumped out of airplanes, and wrestled 20-foot pythons" (yeah, that's me) broke the absolute daylights out of my right ankle on Memorial Day weekend.

I have only foggy memories of what passed between then and Labor Day, 2021.

What really happened?

I've made up (fabricated/lied) several incredibly heroic stories about what happened - including, but not limited to, tales of a mama grizzly bear with cubs, a high-altitude-low-opening skydiving mission, and a violent encounter with an angry redhead.

Truth is, I stepped off a tiny step and fell down with my full weight on my ankle while twisting around and trying to catch myself. Look up "spiral fracture" for more specifics.

Yes, I initially blamed the dog.

In the initial shock of the moment, I thought my dear friends' dog had somehow gotten behind me and caused me to fall. With much, much time to review the incident in my mind, I

eventually determined the ghost-faced Golden Retriever may have actually saved my life.

Reviewing the scenario, I realized the dog yelped as my head hit her ribcage, and she essentially kept me from splattering my brains out on a concrete patio.

God knows I love dogs for a reason!

Credit to the crew

I did attempt to stand up before realizing how seriously I'd hurt myself, although that effort was instantly abandoned - both due to breathtaking pain and the sheer visual of my leg bent at an absolutely unnatural angle.

We called 911 and I just laid there (Alys held my hand the entire time), until the ambulance arrived.

By my experience, it takes a lot to surprise any Paramedic/EMT/First Responder, so I was a little worried when they both looked at my leg, grimaced in unison and basically said something like, "Oooooooooh, man. That may be the worst one ever!"

I was in good hands.

Carter County EMS Supervisor/EMT Ronnie Wallace and Paramedic Steven Rigsby were absolute professionals. They actually had me laughing at two or three points during their initial evaluation. They've probably used those same jokes and observations a million times before, but it was amazingly effective. Before I knew it, we were in the ambulance and on our way to a hospital.

Things get a little fuzzier as we move along here

We were somewhere around the Kentucky/West Virginia border when the drugs began to really kick in.

If I remember it right, the ambulance crew made a decision to take me to St. Mary's Hospital in Huntington because they were having trouble finding a pulse in my foot.

Medications were administered along the way. I remember I was extra amused at myself for recognizing the state line by the amount of potholes suddenly encountered at that point on I-64. And, that's practically all I can recall.

Once at St. Mary's, I was again in good hands. I was particularly impressed by the hospital staff's approach to the job, and never once registered any level of the "That's not my job"/professional/political/hatefulness I've encountered at other area hospitals. Everyone who worked with me honestly seemed happy to be there.

The team took care of my surgery, kept me comfortable and went out of their way to make sure I had everything I needed once I got home.

Weeks later

For some reason, I thought I'd be back up and around in a couple of weeks. In reality, I barely saw the sun for about eight weeks, and spent most of that time practicing "elevation and ice" therapy.

I was completely unable to work and the entire experience left me "mushy" inside and out. My surgeon approved me to bear weight with the help of a "walking boot" and a cane just before the 2021 Carter County Fair began, and (like an idiot) I resolved to get out there and take a few photos.

I really didn't walk far, and had a fair board member standing by give me a ride anywhere, but my enthusiasm for taking photos of the "power wheels" races set me back and I had a seriously angry, inflamed and throbbing limb when I got home. I could barely get myself to the potty chair for days after.

H.E.L.P.

I'll wrap this one up with a personal salute and my appreciation of Eddie and Jean Adams and everyone who helps her run H.E.L.P. - which is short for Health Equipment Loan Program.

The team delivered two walkers (one with wheels and one without), and a bedside toilet to our house. They even had a "knee scooter" on standby if I needed it. They came back and picked the stuff up once I was back on my feet.

H.E.L.P. is a non-profit organization born of the Adams' desire to help others, and the project has grown to the point they have equipment and supplies in every room of their home, as well as their garage and a rental space. For more information, or to help support the effort, visit their page on Facebook or

Donations – HEALTH EQUIPMENT LOAN PROGRAM (wordpress.com)

Roaring Back?

Revisiting my coverage of this year's Carter County Fair, I found the press pass they made for me while I was scheming about how to get back to writing and photographing the local scene. This year's theme highlighted a most-excellent dinosaur show, which I can testify was as much fun for the adults as it was the children.

The "roaring back" theme also reflected organizers' efforts to again host an actual county fair after last year's event was cancelled due to Covid-19. The 2020 fair couldn't happen, but volunteers including local students pulled together and offered a series of "drive-in" movies at the fairgrounds near Grayson's city limits.

It was the first chance many people ever had to experience a drive in movie, and my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I know it took a lot of time and effort, but it was an outstanding way to help relieve some of that pandemic lockdown frustration.

So, I'm quietly roaring back to life and taking a baby-steps approach to rebuilding myself. Let me know if you find a good story to chase as I get back to it.

Tim Preston - Community Journalist

Carter County Post

Jesse Keith Whitley - "Those are shoes that won't ever be filled."

Jesse Keith Whitley knows he will always be compared to other country music artists, especially those from his own family, although he chooses to not focus his attention on that fact.

"Those are shoes that won't ever be filled. Those are some big ones! I'm not my dad. I'm not my mom. I'm not my grandma or my grandpa," Whitley said Saturday evening as he prepared to entertain the crowd waiting to hear him sing at Bayso's Sports Pub in Grayson.

"We treat shows like this just the same as the big shows," Whitley said, confirming a recent sold out performance at Renfro Valley with an audience of 62,000 people.

"To me it shows just how easily things change as people come into the room," he said of the more intimate space at Bayso's. In addition to solo songs with only his guitar, Whitley was accompanied by guitarist Kirk Roth, who recently co-produced the new album from Breaking Ground.

Bearing a famous name can be a mixed blessing, Whitley said.

"It's a little bit of both (good and bad). People hold you to a different standard."

While he does not shy away from singing some of the songs his father made famous, Whitley hopes listeners will check out his original efforts, including the recently released "Red, White and Blue" song and video which was found in the Lynyrd Skynyrd catalog.

Red White and Blue - YouTube

The video for Red White and Blue includes combat footage taken by Army veteran Justin Daye.

"We cut it on a Wednesday and released it on Saturday afternoon," he said with a smile.

Whitley said he's also looking forward to his next recording sessions.

"We're fixing to do a more 'southern rock' album. That's the direction we're going. That's what I love to play."

Story and Photo by TIM PRESTON

Carter County Post

10/03/2021

Holly Forbes - Lockdown Allowed Fine-Tuning for 'The Voice'

Photo by Tyler Golden/NBC

Area music lovers and others nationwide have become enthralled with local musician Holly Forbes' performance as part of the 2021 season of "The Voice" on NBC.

Forbes, of Catlettsburg, credits unexpected down time during the Covid 19 pandemic for helping her land a "blind audition" for The Voice's quartet of celebrity coaches.

"This would be my fifth time auditioning for The Voice," Forbes said Friday, explaining stronger during this season's effort.

I think when the pandemic and lockdown happened I really spent a lot of time practicing - livestreaming and working on my voice."

Have You Ever Seen The Rain - Holly Forbes (piano cover) - YouTube

Drops of Jupiter (Train) - Holly Forbes - YouTube

Tough Competition

While Forbes blind audition performance of Elton John's "Rocket Man" earned her a coveted "four chair turnaround," the vocalist is quick to agree she faces a gang of incredibly talented musicians as she advances to the the next stage of competition.

"I yeah, I totally agree with that. There some amazing singers," she said, nervously citing particular concerns about Jeremy Rosado and Wendy Moten.

"Jeremy is incredible and he's my close friend on the show, and Wendy Moten is just amazing," she said.

Forbes said her decision to face the celebrity panel with a rendition of Elton John's song "Rocket Man" was not an especially tough call.

"Elton John has always been one of my favorite musicians. Period. I just thought it was a cool, classic song I could bring my personality to."

Holly Forbes' 4-Chair Turn Performance of Elton John's "Rocket Man" | The Voice Blind Auditions 2021 - YouTube

Team Kelly

Forbes said she is thrilled to have Kelly Clarkson as her coach.

"Kelly ... I just grew up listening to her. I was in Seventh Grade when she was on American Idol," she said.

"It was between her and John (Legend)," she added, pausing before further explaining, "And Ariana (Grande)!! And, I love Blake (Shelton) too!"

Forbes shares a hearty giggle as she explains at least one person, her daughter Violet, was not particularly pleased with her mom's decision to sign up with Team Kelly. Violet, she notes, is a major Ariana Grande fan.

"She watches her all day and goes to sleep watching her," Forbes said, pointing out Violet "was angry - she wanted me to go to Adriana's team."

Next?

"The battles are next," an NBC spokesman said last week, explaining The Voice contestants will pair up to perform duets which will begin the elimination process and ultimately determine this season's champion. Forbes said her duet battle song "has not been officially determined yet."

"The next and final blind auditions will be Monday and Tuesday," the network spokesperson said. "Then, next week the first episode of the battles begin October 8th and 9th. We do not know when Holly will appear next."

Friends and Family

Her participation in The Voice would be practically impossible if not for the support and assistance of a band of friends and family who've come to call themselves "The Village," Forbes said.

"All those people! My parents, Seth's mom and immediate family ... They're very invested," Forbes said.

"It's everything knowing that you have people rooting for you and supporting you," she said, adding she was beyond humbled to receive a flower bouquet from Catlettsburg Mayor Faith Day and members of the city council.

It's amazing. I just love our little town and our Tri-State area," she concluded.

Photo by Tyler Golden/NBC

Story by TIM PRESTON
Carter County Post

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