|
|
Post by Local News on Nov 14, 2006 16:44:41 GMT -5
Hot Judicial Races Upcoming in Appalachiancyberhillbilly.blogspot.comIn the coming months Eastern Kentucky will experience some hot judicial races worth watching. First up, in November, Laurel/Knox District Judge Michael Caperton will square off against Clay County Attorney Clay Massey Bishop for the 3rd District seat of the Kentucky Court of Appeals. The seat was vacated earlier this year by Judge Robbie Dyche (who was once himself a District Court Judge in Laurel County.) Clay Bishop has been active in Republican politics for decades and has the advantage of political experience, while Caperton, who’s represented vote rich Laurel and Knox County (and is therefore very well known in neighboring Whitley) would seem to have the largest base. Capterton’s race is being managed by Bryan Mills, editor of KyRepublicanvoice. Clay/Jackson/Leslie Circuit Court Judge Cletus Maricle has announced his imminent retirement. Word has it that colorful District Court Judge Oscar Gail House will compete against Alan Roberts of Jackson County. Both House and Maricle are from Clay County, the usually dominant county in that Judicial Circuit. If the rumor’s true and the race is set, I’d have to bet on House. He’s an incredibly charming raconteur who’s served the Circuit well as District Judge. Appalachian residents, ravaged by drugs, turning to God for helpmessiahsbranch.blogspot.comIf he wasn't at rock bottom, Steve Collett wasn't far from it, shivering inside a portable toilet that served as his shelter on a cold winter's night. Fresh out of jail with nowhere else to go, Collett started praying to Jesus, seeking help from the shambles he had made of his life because of drugs and crime. When daylight arrived, Collett stepped out of that plastic privy into a new day, having made peace and vowing never to return to his old ways. Twisted Nurse by the Seathetwistednurse.blogspot.comThe next day we drove to Kentucky, checked in to our motel and went to Possum Trot. Possum Trot, for anyone who has not heard about it from me, is in Clay County, Kentucky. It's a little place in the mountains, on 300 acres, that has 2 "barricks" (one for the men, one for the women) two outhouses, outdoor shower, indoor and outdoor cooking area, and a fire is always going (thanks to my uncles). My dad has 12 brothers and sisters and they all meet there once a year for a reunion. Most of them stay the week and the cousins and more distant relatives come and go. There's always good food and stories to hear. Time for a business trip...abreazylife.blogspot.comHey all! I wanted to stop by and let you all know that I will be leaving first thing in the morning (tuesday) for a small business trip . For those of you wondering , I work at home for my husband . He owns a very successful hardwood flooring business that he has built from the ground up and I handle all the errands and paperwork that go along with it . I also work for a company out of Knoxville part-time . I go different places and get a car count at intersections . The reason I have to get a count varies . Sometimes it is a big department store wanting to build and they want to know the best place to build in the town , or in some cases the city is looking at adding , removing , or changing the location of a red light . So far most of my counts have been in various cities/towns in Kentucky and tomorrow is the same . I am headed for Manchester, Kentucky and I will return late Wednesday or early Thursday. Petal's Photographic and Poetic Pathwaysblog.360.yahoo.com Next week is the beginning of Pride Clean-up in Kentucky...The Oneida Fire and Rescue will be picking up garbage along the highways, creek banks and hauling off old appliances that is no longer needed....Will be busy most of this week and next...So won't be around much...Wish all of you the best. Think KY Politics are Hot in 2007?cyberhillbilly.blogspot.comIn my previous post I mentioned Governor Flem “Flim Flam” Sampson of Knox County. Sampson was a peer and a law partner of Caleb Powers, another Knox County lawyer. At the turn of the century Powers was elected Secretary of State. It was from Powers’ office that the shot was fired that ultimately killed William Goebel. The shot from his office window that killed Goebel was reportedly made by Clay County outlaw, Bad Tom Baker, a legend in his own right.
|
|
|
|
Post by Local News on Jan 31, 2007 16:38:27 GMT -5
Richie Farmer vs Anthony Epps…blog.kentuckysportsradio.comWell it is time for our first match report in the UK Basketball "Greatest Player Tournament" and boy was it a doozy. Anthony Epps and Richie Farmer….two Kentucky school boy legends battled it out on the hardwood in a game that will be remembered by all. Joybenyancer.blogspot.comI'm sitting at Angela Joy Shofner's desk at her place of work in Manchester, Kentucky, using her computer to write this entry. This is the kind of thing that refreshes and invigorates life. Right now Ang's using a cool guillotine-like paper cutting machine, complete with laser light and plastic shield, to chop up some green business cards for Faye Whiting of the Willowbrook Women's Center. Joshua Timeslicric147.blogspot.comThis is the life and thoughts of Joshua. My columns I write about life and things concerning life's progress and process. I'm mainly posting my thoughts and columns because our local newspapers here would not publish them after telling me they would publish my columns. Their were some people that was suppossed to be helping me get them published sat on there hands and did nothing but talk. THIS IS A NEWS, NEWS ANALYSIS, and EDITORIAL SITE... SINCE NO ONE WILL PUBLISH THEM. Noah's Ark Animal Hospitaldancequeengold.blogspot.comNoah's Ark Animal Hospital: Vet Clinic in Manchester, KYFull service animal hospital in Manchester, KY. Dr. Deborah Kramer, DVM. Location and services.chaniascape.net The only animal shelter on Crete and one of the largest animal protection association in Greece. It has grown from the rescue of a few uncared-for dogs to a ...Noah's Ark Animal Foundation, Fairfield, Iowa A sanctuary for homeless animals. Profiles and photos of available cats and dogs, success stories, memorial page, rescue news,.. My Clay Countymyclaycounty.blogspot.comWhen I started My Clay County, I had a vision for a Web site about “Life in a small part of the world called Clay County, Kentucky.” But over the past month or so, I drifted away from my original vision and turned My Clay County into everything but a Web site about life in our small community. But I’m returning to my original vision for this Web site. From now on, the focus of My Clay County will be the beauty and the people of our community—the truly important things that make up life in a small part of the world called Clay County, Kentucky.
|
|
|
|
Post by Local News on Mar 5, 2007 16:28:27 GMT -5
Champions In The Endchampionsintheend.blogspot.comWhile on a missions trip to Manchester, Kentucky a few years ago, I heard a man attempt to defend his smoking habit by quoting these verses to our church's pastor. Unfortunately, this man obviously missed what Jesus was saying 4 verses earlier: 6 ..." And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition." We live in a world that has twisted the unchanging Word of God in the name of indulgence. Those whose heart cannot hear the message will pervert it with their mind. Spiritual strength does not come from caving in to desires but walking away from them. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus proclaims that we must DENY ourselves and take up our cross if we wish to follow Him. Kenneth Stepp and Clay Countysteppforcongress.blogspot.com Kenneth Stepp has special ties with Clay County. In 1988 Stepp married the former Wilma Smith who had been born in Red Bird, Clay County, Kentucky. Wilma Smith Stepp's parents David and Gracie Smith, and brothers Denzil Smith and Daniel Smith reside in Clay County, near Bright Shade, in rural Clay County. Wilma had attended Goose Rock School in Clay County. Kenneth Stepp, a lawyer, practices law in Clay County with the Law Offices of Carl A. Short II. Mike and Cheesemikeandcheese.blogspot.comI was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. Now I live in Clay County, Kentucky with my wife and four dogs. What more do you need to know. Appalachia in a Globalized Worldcyberhillbilly.blogspot.comToday we speak about infrastructure. But this too isn’t new. Manchester in the 19th century was one of the largest producers of salt in Kentucky. In the early 1800’s a canal system was proposed which would link the Ohio River to the Atlantic Ocean at Charleston and Savannah. It was to pass by the Clay County salt works to expand its market. (I suspect that if Hal Rogers had been in Congress at that time, that canal would have been built.) Hazmit's Bloghazmit.blogspot.comOne town that I will always remember from my journeys throughout the Commonwealth is the lovely metropolitan Manchester, Kentucky. I was honored to be the project manager on the new Judicial Center to be built in Clay County. I'd like to believe I was given that honor because I was the most diplomatic, but in all actuality it was because I fit in with the good old country boys more than any other big-city, big-feeling boys from our office in Frankfort. A Reading Celebrationthewoodybooks.blogspot.com This past Friday, the four of us had the pleasure of being a part of the 8th Annual Clay County Reading Celebration. We saw so many of our friends - including Jordan. We met Jordan several years ago when we were at a UK football game. In fact, Mommy found the first photo of us from a few years ago. Well, guess who was at the Reading Celebration? You guessed it! Jordan! If you look at the second picture, that is Jordan with us again. Hasn't she grown up? She was so pretty as a young girl, and still beautiful now! She had to tell us who she was. She had grown so much that we didn't even recognize her! It is always fun to see old friends - and meet new ones.
|
|
|
|
Post by Local News on Jun 22, 2007 20:20:33 GMT -5
In tribute to a wonderful Kentucky Mom...kentuckywildcatbasketball.blogspot.comMallie Allen, born 9/25/1936 in Manchester, KY to her final resting place 6/5/2007 in Tampa, FL. She loved to go fishing, she loved to watch the Wildcats play ball. She even loved to play a little BINGO every once in a while. Mommy, though we didn't always see eye to eye, there's one thing I know for sure, and that is you loved me very much. I love you and will miss you. Until we meet again...with all our love. Whose Mountains?cyberhillbilly.blogspot.comI don’t doubt these writers care about Eastern Kentucky. Their occasional colleague, Silas House, is born and bred of these mountains and comes from hearty Bell and Clay County mining stock. And while I’m on record as criticizing House’s politics as immature and naïve (this following his effort to run his pooch against Hal Rogers), I believe he and the others truly want to see the mountains be a better place for its folks. Ever been to Manchester?thelexingtonproject.blogspot.comEslinger is a long-haired hippie type. I first met him through a gaggle of Louisville louts who make obnoxious music of varying degrees of style, not to mention, loudness. He was the bass player for the Touched, a band that may or may not still be around. He stomps around currently with the purveyors of questionable taste and musical intent, Bad Blood. When I asked him where he was from he said, "London" (meaning, London, Kentucky for all you squares). And then had the gall to ask me if I had ever been to Manchester. Well, eastern Kentucky roots will predispose anybody to church music, either towards it or against it. Old Joe Clark Balladvianegativa.usMountain ballad, about 90 stanzas, sung during World War I, and later wars by soldiers from eastern Kentucky. Early version, as sung in Virginia, printed in 1918. Joe Clark, born 1839, lived here; shiftless and rough mountaineer of that day. His enemies were legion; he was murdered in 1885. In the moonshining days of 1870s, he ran government-supervised still. – roadside historical marker, Jct. KY 577 & 1350 White Nationalist Radio Host Publishes Letter From FCI inmatewhitereference.blogspot.comWhite nationalist radio host Hal Turner has published a letter from Chester Doles, a former National Alliance activist who was imprisoned on weapons charges several years ago. He posted an image of the letter on his website. Doles is an inmate at Manchester FCI.
|
|
|
|
Post by Local News on Jul 19, 2007 17:31:30 GMT -5
Thursday Night Cruise-In at Lees Famous Recipe See the Photos at hotrodhotline.com Photographers: Jack & Minnie RobertsHey Guys and Gals, we just came from the Thursday Night Cruise-In, May 24, 2007 at Lees Famous Recipe Restaurant in Manchester, Ky. The weather was Super and the turn-out was Great. Everyone had a fantastic time as can be evidenced by the photos. Now enjoy the Pics and I hope to see everyone soon. God Bless! Jack Politics in Eastern Kentuckythe-goddess.orgKentucky is known internationally as having the most violent elections in the US. The BBC did a special on it in 2000, when a car carrying a county official was sprayed with bullets in Clay County, and in a separate incident a sheriff killed by an opponent. Floyd County, where I was today, is where two friends got into a fight about the Iraq war and the Republican killed the Democrat, though the Democrat drew his gun first. The moral of this story is that Kentuckians often express themselves with firearms. See the previous post about my cousin redecorating the Holiday Inn when his girlfriend dissed him at a party. It that hotel had been locally owned then, it might not have been a big deal, but being an international chain, Holiday Inn pressed the issue HARD. Some people just don't understand "armed and crazy" as a cultural norm. (Yes, I'm sorry, I gotta call them the way I see them.) Jerry Springer Material?ac14.wordpress.com So before I get started, I must say that I have been invited to the Jerry Springer show and it has nothing to do with growing up in Clay County. From the time I was 18 until I was 24, I spent a large part of my life chasing a dream to be a professional wrestler. I became quit a big star the indy circuit in Kentucky and Ohio and made a lot of good friends as well. But one of the craziest things that ever happened was my promoter calling and wanting to know if i wanted and all expenses paid tirp to Chi-town to be on the Springer show. Now, this may be a spoiler for some of you that believe there are that many inbred, transvestite, midgets to actually film a week’s worth of Jerry Soringer. They actually hire actors, wrestlers and strippers to put on a show. The wild thing is they actually pay pretty good. First Class travel to Chicago, nice lodging, free meals and somewhere around 1000 bucks in spending money. Gatewood on the Governor's racecyberhillbilly.blogspot.comI ran into Gatewood at the Wolfe County Courthouse last week. I asked him who’d win the Governor’s race and he promptly answered that it depends on who won the indie vote which he assured me he could and would swing to the ticket that promised to promote his agenda. Gatewood proudly told me there are approx. 181,000 independent voters in KY. (I looked the number up and realized he was spot on.) The winning margin in the last gubernatorial election (a blow-out by any standard) was roughly 110,000. With this year’s election expected to much closer, might Gatewood's theory be correct? Could the indies decide this? In 1999, Gatewood received 88,000 votes (15% of the total) as an independent. He did particularly well in several counties in Eastern and Central Kentucky. Consider, Clay County: This is a yellow dog Republican County that would elect a Republican Jack the Ripper over a Democratic Saint Peter any day of the week. Yet Gatewood pulled 351 votes out of nearly 1,800 cast. Kentucky Fried Feuddin'The Bourne FilesThis is an interesting family story that I have to pass along. Once upon a time (being the early 1900's), in the great region of the eastern Kentucky hills known as Clay County, two families (The Greers and The Buttrys) had a long and bloody feud, which saw the death of no less than 14 Clay Countians. The intersting twist on this feud is that the two families in question are both my ancestors, The Greers being my mother's father's family, and the Buttrys being my mother's mother's family. CLICK HERE for the Rest of the Story!Lake Cumberland Web CamClick Here for web camThe link above takes you to a Web cam focused at Grider Hill Dock and Indian Creek Lodge. Thanks to Jerry Gibson for letting us know about it. Based on their website, it appears to have been installed July 16th. There are now at least six different Webcams focused on Lake Cumberland. The "Marked Rock"penelope.uchicago.eduOn December 7, 1994, the large chunk of sandstone you see here broke off from its cliff and fell on Kentucky State Highway 66 near Eriline, a small settlement in Clay County. Two days later, the boulder found a new home in this park in the county seat of Manchester, in a straight line of sight from the front door of City Hall, about a hundred yards away. Not very many people in town are aware of it; when asking directions, ask for the town hall and fire department. CLICK HERE for more
|
|
|
|
Post by Local News on Aug 18, 2007 16:19:40 GMT -5
Clay County makes Top 10 CyberHillbilly Storiescyberhillbilly.blogspot.comHere's my take on the top ten political news stories in Appalachia over 2007. 10. The indictment of Knott County Judge Randy Thompson. 9. The legal drama which ultimately resulted in a dismissal of criminal charges followed by a pardon for Morgan County Judge. 8. Greg Stumbo and Bruce Lunsford make a run for Governor. 7. Bath County officials convicted in federal vote buying scheme. 6. The prosecution of several of Clay County's public officials on corruption charges in U.S. District Court:Since the 1800’s when a member of the family clan was a Congressman from Manchester, the Whites have been one of the most successful political families in one of the most political counties in Appalachian Kentucky. In the 90’s, differing members of the family served as County Clerk, State Representative, Superintendent of Schools and Mayor of Manchester. But in 2004 it all began to unravel. This year, the unraveling continued and apparently culminated when Daugh White, the 28 year Mayor of Manchester, entered a guilty plea to charges of racketeering in U.S. District Court.
Also caught up in the investigation were Todd Roberts, the former Chief of Police; City Councilman Darnell Hipsher; and Vernon Hacker, a former 911 official and city council member. All received lengthy prision sentences.5. Greg Stumbo's plans for future office in the wake of the Gubernatorial election. 4. Anne Northup picks Jeff Hoover as her running mate in the attempt to unseat Ernie Fletcher. 3. The ascent of Lt. Governor Dan Mongiardo as the number two elected officer in the commonwealth. 2. John Edwards visits Prestonsburg. 1. The general election campaign which brought Governor Steve Beshear to power. Have I missed anything? Anything here that shouldn't be? Honorable mention goes to the four Appalachian candidates who vied for Treasurer in the Republican primary, to Richie Farmer's stunning win in November, and to Bruce Hendrickson's bid for Sec. State (he really had us worried for a time and deserves credit for that). The biggest story in Appalachian Kentucky was of a non-political nature involving the Chief of Police in Clay City. Randy Lacy, a hero to many, beloved by all, died after being shot by the local town drunk. CLICK HERE to read all the commentary at cyberhillbilly.blogspot.com.
Veterans Dayreverendjaneausten.blogspot.com One of the towns I drive through is Manchester, KY. Manchester is a town that supports its military citizens in a big way. Several weeks ago, a deployed group returned. Two miles out of Manchester, the posters and yellow ribbons welcoming them home were blowing in a gentle wind. You could feel the joy of the entire town at their return. East of Manchester, there is a marker with a rifle forming part of a cross. At the base is a pair of boots, and the helmet rests on the butt of the rifle. This week, flowers were added and today a large 4X6 flag flew low to the ground as part of this memorial. I think this particular remembrance might be for Sgt. Stanfill, who died in an accident on the Hal Rogers Parkway just east of Manchester a couple of years ago. Even though Sgt. Stanfill perished on the road I drive several times a week instead of on a far away battle field, I am glad the citizens of Manchester --or perhaps his family-- honor his service in such a way.
Tracking mercury from the mine to the power plantGeochemistry of the Manchester coal bedsciencedirect.com Abstract The high volatile A bituminous Manchester coal bed was sampled at five mine sites in central Clay County, southeastern Kentucky. The coal bed has a high mercury concentration at certain sites, particularly in the high-sulfur uppermost lithology. Whole-coal Hg contents range up to 0.52 ppm in a sample with 3.36% pyritic sulfur. Hg is enriched in the upper lithotype at several of the sites. Arsenic content exceeds 700 ppm (ash basis) for all of the whole channel samples and exceeds 1000 ppm for several of the lithotype samples. Regional geochemical trends, from an area of approximately 75×60 km, were determined using data from this study in combination with data published by the U.S. Geological Survey. Hg, As, Pb, and Cl contents exhibit highs in the northwestern portion of the region. Within the smaller area covered by the detailed mine study, the two western sites both have a high-sulfur upper lithotype containing high levels of As and Hg. Basement structures, previously described in the study area, could have influenced the regional coal rank and geochemistry, possibly acting as conduits for mineralizing fluids.
The Civil War in Kentuckystevegilliard.blogspot.com The Civil War marked a major change in regional political alignment within Kentucky. The Bluegrass, old stronghold of the Whig Party, became ardently Democrat together with the Pennyrile and The Purchase. The Democratic Party in the Bluegrass and western Kentucky thus became part and parcel of the solidly Democratic South and remained so until the New Deal era when there began to show definite signs of conservative reaction in the inner Bluegrass. The Mountaineers of Eastern Kentucky, on the other band., deserted their long Jacksonian Democratic loyalty due to their unshakable allegiance to the Union and their dislike for the old slave-owning aristocracy. They adopted a sturdy Republican allegiance which remained steadfast until the New Deal Years of Franklin D. Roosevelt wooed many mountaineers back to the Democratic Party. In viewing the entire situation, however, things were not going well for the Confederates in Kentucky. On October 21 Zollicoffer suffered a mild defeat at Wild Cat Mountain in Laurel County which dashed any hopes he held of advancing on the Bluegrass. At first it appeared his force would carry the day against a regiment of Unionist Clay County mountaineers, but six additional Union regiments appeared., made up of Indianans, Ohioans., and East Tennessee Unionists., and Zollicoffer and his forces had to withdraw. On November 8th the Confederates suffered another setback in Eastern Kentucky. A superior force of Union troops defeated a Confederate contingent under colorful John "Cerro Gordo" Williams at the Battle of Ivy Mountain near the headwaters of the Kentucky River’s South Fork.
Fastest Man in Clay County?robbysparks.blogspot.com I don't know about that, but I did win this year's annual "Clay County Days 5K Race", held back in my hometown of Manchester, KY. I also finished with the best 5K time I've ever run -- 16:58. I hadn't participated in this race since 1998, but always wanted to try it again.
Clay County events from Tour Southeastern Kentuckytourseky.comClay County Cruisin' Car Show through October 28, 2007 Sundays 1pm-4pm. Come out and enjoy this monthly summer series car and motorcycle show. Prizes will be awarded and there will be live music and food vendors. Hallelujah Festival 2007 - October 5-6, 2007 - Hours of Operation: Fri 6:30pm Parade, Sat 9am-11pm. Grab a lawn chair or a blanket and come out to enjoy the FREE Hallelujah '07 event. There are events for the whole family. The Parade will be held on Friday at 6:30. Saturdays events will hold concerts all day. The day will end in a bang with a fireworks display scheduled for 10 pm. All this and more will make this years event a huge success.
Drug addiction prevention, education as a move of Godjournals.aol.com/denotchkaThe pastor of Community Church of Manchester, Kentucky, says the philosophy of his church and others in the area is that the next great move of God will be out in the marketplace -- which is why he thinks that the joint effort with Christian volunteers and the drug task force in his state has opened the doors to turning around the previously desperate and drug-ravaged mountain culture.
498 Miles And 10,000 Curvesvfrdiscussion.comI have been wanting to do this all year. I have been looking at US 421 in the Shaddy Valley area and how wonderful it looks. So I started doing some research. They call it The Snake. So US421 runs right through my home town and I know it's pretty curvy as far as I've been on it in KY. From Tyner, KY to Manchester, KY US421 is the straightest sections of road of the entire trip and these are just long straights followed by curves... then another straight... and curves. For the most part... I think these are the only straights they made on US 421. From Manchester, KY to ..... Who knows where.. 421 winds through the mountains constantly curving left then right and back left again. Every 10-15 miles God was nice enough to put a mountain to climb so you get twisties.
I've gotta be me michaelogues.blogspot.comI started my first blog about a year-and-a-half ago (Mike and Cheese). But like most bloggers, I neglected it to the point where it just died. So I started another blog (My Clay County). And another (I Think Therefore I Blog). And then another (C-Notes). Get the point? And now I'm starting another blog. Only this time, this is it. So this time, like it or not, I’m just going to be me.
Cruise In DowntownSee the Photos at hotrodhotline.comPhotographers: Jack & Minnie RobertsHey gang, on Sunday July 22, 2007, The Clay County Cruisers hosted their July Edition of their Cruise In downtown Manchester, Ky. The weather was great, and there was a great turnout, with lots of great cars as well as people in attendance. I overheard several people commenting that for a small Cruise In there are always several of the nicest cars in the Nation to be found here, and I will have to agree. And in addition to that Minnie and myself, two of HRHL's finest reporters, are always there, and that alone is worth the price of admission, oh, did I mention everything is free, no charge for anything. Junnie Kaufman was the lucky recipient of a nice HRHL shirt
End Game in Clay County Corruption Cases?cyberhillbilly.blogspot.comClay County is a great place that produces tremendous leaders. It's no coincidence that Robert Stivers and Richie Farmer are both Clay Countians and leaders of the GOP in KY. It's a big county with a big ego that teaches its young people to think big too. For over a century it's been a leader in Eastern Kentucky's economy and politics. Names like Garrard, Stivers, White, and Burns have adorned the local halls of power as well as the ones in Frankfort since the 1800's. Hopefully, with the cancer of corruption cases removed from the county, it can once again claim its place in the Sun. A footnote: Another example of Clay County's ability to create big leaders in the region is the fact that Aaron Thompson, PhD, is a finalist for EKU's Interim Top Spot. Dr. Thompson is an African American sociologist with a deft personal touch and a brilliant intellect.
From the hills of Clay County to Interstate 65ohioriver606.blogspot.comThe Democratic Party's slate of statewide candidates is scheduled to have a get-together in Frankfort, with State Party members and County Chairs making up the crowd. I will be there. I am wondering if our candidate for Agriculture Commissioner will be there, or if he is still tied up in the bureaucratic red tape in Glasgow, where the City doesn't like the way he maintains his property. His is the one office we are most likely to lose, losing to the incumbent Richie Farmer, a guard for the University of Kentucky's 1988 to 1992 basketball teams, who hails from Manchester in Clay County, and who will celebrating his 38th birthday on the 25th. There have been rumors, started mostly by people who hope the rumors come to fruition, as opposed to have been started by anyone with any official knowledge of same, that Commissioner Farmer might switched parties and become a Democrat, so as to keep his electabilty on the positive side. If he were to do that, he would be in a certain minority at least back home, where he was once proclaimed Mr. Basketball for Kentucky in his senior year of high school. Clay County, which has twenty precincts, has 1,864 Democrats; 228 Independents; and 13,279 Republicans. Would the locals ever forgive him? "Cawood, will Richie play "D" tonight?" Of course if Richie is waiting like so many others for Congressman Hal Rogers to retire, then maybe he should keep his current Party ID. But, I digress - a little.
Moonshine America? Collapse of the 'Trust Me' electionsBy Bev Harris, opednews.comIn 2007, Black Box Voting embarked on a year-long investigative series examining elections in what we call the Moonshine territories – reputedly the most corrupt local governments in America. What we found has staggering implications for the design of American election systems as a whole. Our current system only works if we trust every human link in the chain. In this report we will knock the concept of trust-based elections out the window. The very core of the voting machine controversy is not paper trails or spot check procedures. The essence of whether an election system can be trusted is whether it allows the owners of the government, The People, to view the counting and the chain of custody. Votes counted in secret, and secret chain of custody can never work unless we change human nature itself. THE "AL CAPONE" CLEAN-UP METHODKentucky has provided an excellent example of corruption clean-up using the Al Capone strategy. When the feds couldn't get at Capone for his other gangland activities, they investigated him using financial audits. Kentucky currently has an especially tough-minded state financial auditor, Crit Luallen. When you read the audits performed by her division, you find both a no-nonsense, no excuses approach and a willingness to turn things over to prosecutors. Some of the crookedest officials in Kentucky were brought down not for their drug deals, but using their financial records. The Kentucky state auditor formally disclaimed any opinion on financial doings in Knox County audit, referring the 2003-04-05 audits to multiple agencies for prosecution, citing $2.7 million in questioned expenditures. County payments were being cashed or deposited into accounts of companies other than they were made out to, owned by relatives of county officials. Nearby Knott County had nearly $13.5 million cited in questioned costs. The audit detailed 23 findings and was referred for criminal prosecution to the US Attorney, the FBI, the Kentucky State Police, and several other law enforcement agencies. When you think about it, any time an elections official is caught forging a document, it pretty much blows up the chain of custody. Kentucky may have a culture of corruption, but no-nonsense audits and a willingness to prosecute are getting traction on cleaning it up. In the end, however, you can't prosecute your way out of corruption. You still need the front-end protection: elections controlled by The People. The public needs to be able to see the counting and the chain of custody needs to be simple, and in the public view, at all times. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CALLED A CONSPIRACY THEORIST?Check this out: In August, 2007, Jennings B. White, the chief elections official in Clay County Kentucky pleaded gu ilty to involvement in a major drug ring. He had been busted for drug running, extortion, arson and bribery and was sentenced to seven years in prison. White had served two terms as county clerk. He was arrested in 2006 in connection with a drug ring headed by Kenneth Day, a former Clay county election commissioner and local businessman. Day admitted that he had bought votes at times. Elections chief White pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including money laundering for Day and taking drug cash. Other charges against White included conspiring to distribute drugs and conspiring to offer a bribe. White also acknowledged that between May 2004 and October 2006, he took part in extorting kickbacks. The word "bribe" is in the dictionary because people do it. The word "conspiracy" is in every RICO prosecution in America. “If once [the people] become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves," said Thomas Jefferson. It is your civic duty to oversee your own public affairs.
God wrecked my lifeIt's the most beautiful wreck I've ever seenamandabolin.blogspot.comGod is just giving me so many opportunities to serve Him. His glory and renowned are all I seek to glorify when I am speaking. Sometimes I don't even know what I'm saying. I have practiced a lot (thanks to all the traveling in the car by myself latetly). I spoke at Gray Fork Baptist Church in Manchester, KY this morning. Surrounded by the beautiful mountains and remnants of the fall foilage, this church encompasses the country culture. The warmth spread into my heart as members started filling this beautiful church. The light shown through the beautiful cross shaped windows. The blue stain glass created a serene illumination of the sky. The souls inside were kind and I could tell that most were hungry for the Word. The pastor, Mr. Boo Smith allowed me to speak and is interested in a partnership with international missions. This is an amazing opportunity for these people to get involved and see the hands and feet tha their money supports. I am very excited to see what God is doing for this little church. Boo spoke on how to be a Christian on Mission in the first with spiritual awakening. <><><
Hazard: Mellowing Out After All These Yearscyberhillbilly.blogspot.com Lyndon Combs over at KY Political Watch has an interesting story on a political scandal that rocked Hazard in the early 1980’s.Hazard used to be a wild place. I grew up on the Leslie County - Clay County border, and my dad would drive every day to Arry, Kentucky, located at the Perry County - Knott County line, where he worked for Starfire Coal Company. I was raised up on a steady diet of wild Hazard stories; shootings, knifings, bar room brawls. To a young country boy growing up in a dry county, Hazard seemed like Las Vegas. I remember one incident rather well. A Smallwood boy I went to school with in Leslie County was several years older than me. He always talked and acted tough. Shortly after he turned 18 he shot a man in Hazard at the Hillbilly Palace. The victim had made the cardinal mistake of being better than the defendant with his fists. Thankfully, he lived and my schoolmate went to the pen. As a young lawyer I once represented two men who'd been charged with several felonies stemming from a bar brawl at the so called “Big I” Club. They'd resisted arrest so the charges exceeded their actual misdeeds-- as is typical in that sort of situation. (Naturally, hell hath no fury like a cop whose perp has resisted arrest.) The prosecutor and I worked out a plea deal at the preliminary hearing to keep the case from going to circuit court. It wasn’t a great deal, but it was enough to make then District Judge Monty Gross raise several questions and several more points. He waxed eloquently (Judges always wax eloquently) for more than 20 minutes before eventually-- reluctantly-- accepting our plea. I was annoyed as I departed (lawyers occasionally get annoyed at Judges, but seldom make the mistake of showing it… I did once and it wasn’t a wise move… but I digress). Anyways… annoyed I was, but I shouldn’t have been. Judge Gross had just done me a big favor. The next day one of the clients called and said to me: “you shore must be a good lawyer… I didn’t think the Judge was going to let us off on that good of a deal.” I think I got at least two more cases out of that one. Perhaps there are some lessons for young lawyers in that story, but the take away for purposes of this post is that a bar-fight in Hazard in the 21st century was now considered to be a big deal. In the olden days a round of fisticuffs-only at a Perry County bar would be good news-- nobody got shot.
|
|
|
|
Post by Local News on Feb 4, 2008 19:06:23 GMT -5
Blog attacks Robert Stiver's anti-tax stancetheprincipal.blogspot.comRepublicans in the Kentucky General Assembly have conflated the concept of conservatism with opposition to any and all tax increases. This is unfortunate and incorrect. Properly understood, conservatism is an attitude of realistic prudence toward politics and society, not a rigid position on any single issue. The most recent manifestation of this Republican misunderstanding is in the apparent opposition of every GOP representative and senator to an altogether sensible, and indeed much too modest, increase in the cigarette tax. Sen. Gerald Neal, D-Louisville, was right in saying that no legislator has articulated a good reason for this resistance. Sen. Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, called the cigarette tax "bad policy" because as the tax went up, fewer people would buy cigarettes, thus decreasing revenue. But this argument ignores the benefits of both badly needed short-term revenues and long-term savings from the improved public health that reduced smoking would produce. Funds from taxing a vice like smoking can be used to promote conservative social virtues. There is virtual consensus, for example, that expanded early childhood education would improve Kentucky in myriad ways. Yet for want of money too little is done in this regard and even existing educational programs are effectively cut. Being anti-tax at the federal level is completely consistent with conservative, and constitutional, principles. The national government is supposed to be one of limited powers, but now grossly exceeds them. Its bloated bureaucracy poorly performs functions that under federalism, to which conservatives at least pay lip service, should be state responsibilities.
Cyrus makes gossip blog with visit to Clay Countycelebrity-gossip.net Miley and Leticia CyrusIt was a typical day in the life for Miley Cyrus, who was spotted with a big grin on her face as she made her way into the Los Angeles studio on Wednesday April 9. Wearing a black tank-top with white trousers, the Disney sensation was accompanied by her mother Leticia, who’s kind enough to chauffeur her daughter to her daily duties. Meanwhile, the 15-year-old singer recently spoke about a visit to kids in poverty-stricken Clay County, Kentucky, where she shot a short documentary in support of Save The Children. “My parents are from Kentucky, so I’ve seen that my whole life, but I never got to go there and actually show the world what’s there,” Cyrus told press. “Some people are just like, ‘It’s America — that doesn’t exist.’ But it does exist here. And that’s something that gets overlooked.”
Southeastern Kentucky Political Corruption; More of a Tradition than a Raritytheruraldemocrat.typepad.comIt has been well documented for decades that Southeastern Kentucky may be the most politically corrupt region in Kentucky and probably this part of the United States. Over the years our trash is being noticed and many of those corrupt politicians are going to jail. I know I have probably missed a few people, if so, let me know via a comment. I know a few regional elected officials were convicted in the BOPTROT investigation as well. Remember: these people were indicted and or convicted in the last 25 years, If I listed our indicted elected officials for the past 100 year I would stop writing! Clay County• Longtime Manchester Mayor Daugh K. White was sentenced to 84 months in prison for accepting political kickbacks and extortion. • Manchester City Manager Kennon White pleaded guilty to accepting political kickbacks, extortion and mail fraud. • Manchester assistant police chief Todd Roberts pleaded guilty to similar charges as Daugh White • Manchester City Councilman Vernon Hacker and 911 Director Vernon Hacker also plead guilty to similar charges as White. • Clay County Clerk Jennings White plead guilty to his involvement in a major drug ring • County election commissioner Kenneth Day plead guilty to his involvement in a major drug ring CLICK HERE to read the entire list.....
Last night in Okolonaohioriver606.blogspot.comLast night (Thursday) in Okolona, the UAW Union Hall played host to the Metro Democratic Club's 2008 United States Senate Debate between the three candidates who reside in the Louisville Metro area. Except only two of them showed up, Dr. Michael Cassaro of Prospect and Mr. Greg Fischer of Louisville. The other Metro area candidate was not in the Metro area last night, but he did send a number of his staffers and supporters including my friend Taylor Coots. Another U. S. Senate candidate, Kenneth Stepp, made his way to the Hall from Manchester, Kentucky down in the east. Stepp was introduced to a round of applause. All in all, it was a good night and I am hopeful there are more of these back-and-forth sessions between the candidates. And hopefully, there can be fuller participation. The Metro Club debate was intentionally only for those candidates from Jefferson County. There will be others in the state, as well as the usual KET show, so stay tuned.
Side roads offer better view than parkwaytnphotographs.blogspot.comI started to call this post the Daniel Boone Parkway. After all that was the next part of our journey. However that part turned out to be a bit disappointing, partly due to my expectations. I was thinking "Parkway" like the Blue Ridge Parkway. Roads winding through wilderness with hiking trails, cabins, and pulloffs for motorists to enjoy the view. None of that is the Daniel Boone Parkway. What the Daniel Boone Parkway is: a quick way to get through the Daniel Boone National Forest. No stops, no pulloffs, no cabins, no motorists out to see the view. We got off at Manchester and headed south. The side roads are always better than the main drag. I knew that. The new, revised plan is to head down highway 11 to Barbourville, 225 down to Artemus, and 92 over to Pineville. Most all this is on side roads, and it looks interesting on the map - a new map we got a the Shell station in Hazard. The drive from Manchester down to Barbourville is ok. Not a great opportunity for photographs, but pleasant enough. Much of the land is swampy and untilled. Much of the rest of the land is too hilly to till or graze cattle.
The Best Seat In The HouseWatching high school sports with Mike Marsee of The Advocate-MessengerThe forecast of one or two snowy days this week raises the possibility of some schedule changes at a time when coaches and athletic directors least want them. The threat of snow at this time of year always makes me recall my senior year in high school at Jackson County, the undisputed leader in all-time snow days. We were hosting the 49th District and had made all sorts of preparations to put on the best event possible. (What we lacked in basketball prowess we made up for in hospitality.) But we got slammed by an honest-to-goodness winter storm — and not just a dusting that seems to close school there for three days — right in the middle of the tourney. The games went on, but the crowds were low and the atmosphere was that of a Tuesday night game in January. The biggest crowd seemed to come from Oneida Baptist, a boarding school in neighboring Clay County, which sent a convoy of buses through the snow with not only its teams but virtually its entire student body. Be sure that if bad weather strikes this week, officials at the host schools will make every effort to get the games in when they’re supposed to be played, and that any decision to postpone will come much later than it usually would.
Senator Stivers Says Overcrowded Jails #1 Challenge Facing County Gov, Vows ReformA blog devoted to making sense of the Flat World from the not so flat Appalachian mountains of Eastern KY.Senator Robert Stivers (R-Manchester) is steadily building a reputation as a workhorse in the KY General Assembly. Stivers, a Clay County attorney whose father was a Circuit Judge, is frequently sought out by locals here in Wolfe County on various state issues, despite the fact that he’s a Republican and has to commute nearly 1.5 hours just to get here. In the absence of executive leadership on the issue of overcrowded jails, Stivers, who Chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee vows the Committee will take action: "If the governor is missing in action, we'll take action by ourselves," said Sen. Robert Stivers, R-Manchester and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "To me, this is the No. 1 issue facing county governments and county government budgets."
Old Joe Clarkrmfo-blogs.com Old Joe Clark Homeplace from russellmay.comI’ve been playing guitar to unwind lately in-between slinging the coffee and drawing the comics. While most of the fledgling guitarists I knew in high school and college were trying to be the next Van Halen, I was drawn more and more into bluegrass…which explains my complete lack of coolness during adolescence (well, that’s one of the reasons anyway.) These days I’m interested in the stories behind a lot of the folk/bluegrass tunes that I’ve got stored in my head and fingers. Many of them come from Irish/Scottish tunes that made their way over on boats, and morphed over time into fiddle tunes, and then to the guitar. Many times they had lyrics that recounted specific incidents, or characters that grew larger than life over time. Often, as time went on, the lyrics would be dropped altogether to many of these and played as instrumental pieces. I’ve been playing this particular song for over 10 years, and only recently learned it was originally about a man from Clay County, Kentucky during the 1800s. The melody was a tune that was bouncing around back then, without lyrics, until his friends and acquaintances began making up rhymes to the tune about him. Here’s a footnote in history: Joe Clark was murdered sometime around the 1880s, shot, from what I understand to be an attempt by an ex-girlfriend to gain some property. Well, anyway, the tune that bears his name is jaunty enough to make history overlook his girl problems.
We Love Bloggingmattkimgubler.blogspot.comI drove to Manchester, KY today since I had to take off from work to avoid going over 40 hours... times are tough. It's an hour away but worth the drive because they make the best deer jerky which I've been craving since the start of deer season came and gone. I bought 20lbs of Jerky and 30lbs of Summer Sausage and split it with my dad. We shall never go hungry again.
New Judge in Townrcjusticewatch.blogspot.comJamestown - There was a new judge in town last week and he took on some of the more talked-about cases: those of Leon Grider, Melinda Wilson and James S. Faller II. Judge Cletus Miracle of Clay County was appointed to hear the cases by the Administrative Office of the Courts after Judge Vernon Miniard recently recused himself. Miracle set April 1 at 9 a.m. as the time to hear motions in the state's case against Grider and September 29 as the date for the trial in that case to begin. He said he would address a request by the prosecution for the trial to be moved to another county at the next hearing date. In that case, the Commonwealth is accusing the pharmacist of illegally providing medications to police informants. In Wilson's civil suit against the City of Russell Springs and Police Chief Joseph M. Irvin, Miracle said he would rule on the city's motion to dismiss the suit and any other motions on that same April 1 court date. The greatest portion of the judge's time in the Russell Circuit Courtroom was devoted to Faller's allegations against state and local police officers. In his most recent suit Faller has alleged that, among others, officers of the Kentucky Bureau of Investigation are intimidating grand jury witnesses. He had previously made accusations against least one of the officers listed in this case, as well as many other local officials, in federal court. That case was dismissed and that dismissal was upheld on appeal. During his appearance before the judge last week, Faller made numerous allegations, many relating to crimes he said were perpetrated against others, who he identified in the courtroom. In the end the judge called to the bench those people who Faller had identified as being intimidated and swore them to appear at the grand jury meeting on February 19. Judge Miracle also directed no one in the suit to have any contact with those sworn to appear before the grand jury. In his instruction last Wednesday, Jan. 23, the judge asked that none of the law enforcement officers listed in the suit . . should have any contact with those people. Those sworn in included Leon Grider and Faller's secretary, both of whom Faller asked for permission to communicate with but the judge stressed that no one involved in the suit is to communicate at all with those he swore to appear before the grand jury.
Former Manchester FCI inmate jumping into politicsRunning for Mayor in Campbell County, Tennesseefredcole.net/blogNothing can change the history of yesterday. We only have power over what we do today and what we will become in the future. I’m 50 years old and grew up in a time in our country when kids smoked pot, grew long hair, and listened to rock and roll. We weren’t criminals, just young people with anti-institutional sensibilities. Unfortunately for me, I became prisoner of the war on drugs. At the time I was an employed, taxpaying homeowner; I was married, the father of two fine children ages three and seven, and had a history of being involved in my community. But I violated the law of the land. I accepted responsibility and was sentenced as a non-violent first offender to 60 months, more time than courts give to many child molesters, thieves and murderers. I was sentenced under particularly harsh mandatory minimum laws passed at the height of a “get tough on crime” era in the late 1980s. Those laws have since been revised more rationally. I served 18 months in the Federal Prison Camp at Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama; and 28 months at the Federal Prison Camp in Manchester, Kentucky. I spent 6 months under the thumb of the halfway house in Knoxville, five of those months in home confinement wearing an electronic monitor. My sentence included four years of supervised release, but my judge turned me loose almost two years early because my record of good conduct was exceptional—I was not the norm, and they rewarded my success on the road to becoming a good citizen once again with freedom. Once the judge let me go and my sentence was completely satisfied, I applied to have my civil rights fully restored, and that was granted to me by the State of Tennessee. I have the franchise of citizenship that grants me opportunity to exercise the legal right to seek election to the office of Campbell County Mayor, and I chose to do so. CLICK HERE to read the entire blog at fredcole.net[/b]
A Tribute to Sgt. Edward Philpotexpressionsstudio.typepad.comHow do you even begin to Honor those who gave it all? My friend Renee who lost her brother back in October of last year has been on my mind. I wanted to share with you her brothers story and just remember those we have lost. Most importantly remember those loved ones they left behind as well. Grieving is a process that continues on long down the road and we all handle it in so many different ways. A traumatic death shatters the world of the survivor. It's a loss that doesn't make sense as the survivor tries to make sense and create meaning from a terrible event. So remember whoever you are to take that extra time to lift those people up as well. You are all in my Prayers continually. CLICK HERER to read the entire blog at expressionsstudio.typepad.com.
|
|
|
|
Post by Local News on Apr 22, 2008 15:15:58 GMT -5
One bear hugbellgardensbaptist.orgDear Friends and Family, Bill was recently greeting students as they filed into the school gym for a Crusader program. A fifth or sixth grade boy took Bill's hand and as they looked at one another the boy said, "Preacher Bill, you're my hero." The very next boy in line took Bill's hand and said, "You're my role model." Bill swallowed hard, trying to take in what the boys had said, when the third boy in line, hearing what the other two had said added, "I now have a different attitude about life and I want to thank you for helping me." Last week, the Crusaders had programs in Pike County, about two and a half hours away. We stopped for gas and as Bill was waiting in line to pay for it, a man walked up and said, "Preacher Bill, you're a long way from home." Bill found out that the man was from Clay County on a business trip. He said he saw Henry and Homer when he was in grade school. He told Bill, "Thank you for having retreats at Youth Haven Bible Camp." He said his grandson came home from Youth Haven three weeks ago and announced that he had gotten saved. Last weekend, the man saw his grandson being baptized at their church. He asked, "How many people's lives have you toughed through the years?" We don't really know, but it is for God's glory and not our own. He has given us the opportunities through the years and we give Him all the credit. As we finished a program and the team was loading equipment into the van at Blackberry Grade School in Pike County, a second grad teacher asked if Bill would speak to a student that talks about Bill all of the time. The boy has no role model at all and has a tough time at home. She brought him to see Bill and they talked for a while about many things; then Bill asked him what he had learned from Henry and Homer that day. The boy replied, "Jesus will keep you away from drugs and alcohol." Bill asked him if he loved Jesus and the boy nodded that he did. As they parted, Bill asked him for a hug. He grabbed Bill in a bear hug and Bill noticed that the teacher was crying. We are so thankful for these opportunities to reach children. Joyce is the buyer (purchasing agent) and she makes sure that we have plenty of food for whatever activities are going on at camp. Of course, the children like hot dogs and chicken nuggets, while the adults like ham and barbequed chicken. Sometimes it can be challenging to have plenty for everyone and hopefully the things they like. We are so thankful fo rthe children and teenagers that attend retreats and summer camp. We also appreciate the adults that participate in the Friends of Youth Haven Dinner, Couples Retreat, Work Camps and Dental Clinics as they sacrificially donate their time for the people of Kentucky. We are so thankful for those of you who are reading our letter. We know that you support us, Kentucky Mountain Mission and Youth Haven Bible Camp through your prayers and financial contributions. We want to thank all of you because you are a vital part of God's work here in southeastern Kentucky. God bless each one of you, Bill & Joyce Holeman
Kentucky Mountain Mission
The Quick 10: 10 of the Most Common Place Names in the U.S.by Stacy Conradt, mentalfloss.comI grew up in a town called Ottumwa and I think it’s pretty safe to say that there aren’t too many of those scattered across the United States. These 10 places, though, are likely to show up more than once on a cross-country road trip. 10 of the Most Common Place Names in the U.S. 1. Franklin - 37, including five in Wisconsin and three in New York. 2. Salem - 36. I wonder which one is home to the Days of our Lives Salem? 3. Washington - 32, including eight in Wisconsin. Wouldn’t that get confusing? 4. Springfield - 32. Guess what? Five in Wisconsin. Springfield, Vermont, was the town chosen to hold the premiere of The Simpsons movie, but in reality, the actual location of The Simpsons’ hometown remains a mystery. 5. Clinton - 31, including three in New York and three in Wisconsin. 6. Georgetown - 27, including two in Georgia (makes sense), two in Indiana, and, yes, two in Wisconsin. 7. Greenville - 26. Three in New York, but only one in Wisconsin! 8. Madison - 26. FYI, Madison, Connecticut, is the hometown of Bootsy Collins. 9. Fairview - 26. Two each in New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Kentucky… but none in Wisconsin. 10. Manchester - 25. The biggest of these is Manchester, New Hampshire, with about 110,000 people.
The Mint Julepby Joseph Byrd, northcoastjournal.comMama was born and raised on a small farm in Calhoun, Clay County, Ky. Among bits of acquired knowledge she passed along was the following injunction: "Never drink whiskey made in a town on the Ohio River. The water's awful. It spoils the taste." This is interesting advice considering that my father, at the time I was born, owned Byrd's Distillery, in Louisville. However, it was not a bourbon distillery; it seems to have specialized in the mint-flavored gin and apricot-brandy line of products popular in the early years after prohibition. My mother also taught me how to make a mint julep. Her basic instructions, as I recall them, were: "There are two things that can spoil a mint julep. One is too much sugar, the other is too little whiskey."
It’s finally local food timeBy: Susie Quick, honestfarm.orgHope to see you Saturday morning to celebrate the first produce offerings. For CSA members, we’re gearing up for the first pickup on Thursday, May 22nd from 3 pm until 7 and will have some wonderful fresh produce and eggs for you to enjoy. You will receive an email with details about your basket next week. Instead of using boxes this year we decided to utilize reusable shopping totes and encourage our customers to bring their own tote (or basket) if they wish. We have some for CSA members offered at our cost, which is $2.50. Of course, we have plastic and paper bags on hand for backup. This Saturday come by the farm stand (in front of the store) for some of our first pickings from the garden. We’ll also have the first local tomatoes on the market – hydroponically grown in Manchester, KY. I’m usually not a fan of greenhouse tomatoes but these really are tasty (and have a wonderful tomato aroma) so until real summer tomatoes are ripe and ready let’s enjoy this preview!
The Spook House by Ambrose Bierceterror.ccOn the road leading north from Manchester, in eastern Kentucky, to Booneville, twenty miles away, stood, in 1862, a wooden plantation house of a somewhat better quality than most of the dwellings in that region. The house was destroyed by fire in the year following - probably by some stragglers from the retreating column of General George W. Morgan, when he was driven from Cumberland Gap to the Ohio river by General Kirby Smith. At the time of its destruction, it had for four or five years been vacant. The fields about it were overgrown with brambles, the fences gone, even the few negro quarters, and out-houses generally, fallen partly into ruin by neglect and pillage; for the negroes and poor whites of the vicinity found in the building and fences an abundant supply of fuel, of which they availed themselves without hesitation, openly and by daylight. By daylight alone; after nightfall no human being except passing strangers ever went near the place. It was known as the “Spook House.” That it was tenanted by evil spirits, visible, audible and active, no one in all that region doubted any more than he doubted what he was told of Sundays by the traveling preacher. Its owner’s opinion of the matter was unknown; he and his family had disappeared one night and no trace of them had ever been found. They left everything - household goods, clothing, provisions, the horses in the stable, the cows in the field, the negroes in the quarters - all as it stood; nothing was missing - except a man, a woman, three girls, a boy and a babe! It was not altogether surprising that a plantation where seven human beings could be simultaneously effaced and nobody the wiser should be under some suspicion. One night in June, 1859, two citizens of Frankfort, Col. J. C. McArdle, a lawyer, and Judge Myron Veigh, of the State Militia, were driving from Booneville to Manchester. Their business was so important that they decided to push on, despite the darkness and the mutterings of an approaching storm, which eventually broke upon them just as they arrived opposite the “Spook House.” The lightning was so incessant that they easily found their way through the gateway and into a shed, where they hitched and unharnessed their team. They then went to the house, through the rain, and knocked at all the doors without getting any response. Attributing this to the continuous uproar of the thunder they pushed at one of the doors, which yielded. They entered without further ceremony and closed the door. That instant they were in darkness and silence. Not a gleam of the lightning’s unceasing blaze penetrated the windows or crevices; not a whisper of the awful tumult without reached them there. It was as if they had suddenly been stricken blind and deaf, and McArdle afterward said that for a moment he believed himself to have been killed by a stroke of lightning as he crossed the threshold. The rest of this adventure can as well be related in his own words, from the Frankfort Advocate of August 6, 1876: “When I had somewhat recovered from the dazing effect of the transition from uproar to silence, my first impulse was to reopen the door which I had closed, and from the knob of which I was not conscious of having removed my hand; I felt it distinctly, still in the clasp of my fingers. My notion was to ascertain by stepping again into the storm whether I had been deprived of sight and hearing. I turned the doorknob and pulled open the door. It led into another room! “This apartment was suffused with a faint greenish light, the source of which I could not determine, making everything distinctly visible, though nothing was sharply defined. Everything, I say, but in truth the only objects within the blank stone walls of that room were human corpses. In number they were perhaps eight or ten - it may well be understood that I did not truly count them. They were of different ages, or rather sizes, from infancy up, and of both sexes. All were prostrate on the floor, excepting one, apparently a young woman, who sat up, her back supported by an angle of the wall. A babe was clasped in the arms of another and older woman. A half-grown lad lay face downward across the legs of a full-bearded man. One or two were nearly naked, and the hand of a young girl held the fragment of a gown which she had torn open at the breast. The bodies were in various stages of decay, all greatly shrunken in face and figure. Some were but little more than skeletons. “While I stood stupefied with horror by this ghastly spectacle and still holding open the door, by some unaccountable perversity my attention was diverted from the shocking scene and concerned itself with trifles and details. Perhaps my mind, with an instinct of self-preservation, sought relief in matters which would relax its dangerous tension. Among other things, I observed that the door that I was holding open was of heavy iron plates, riveted. Equidistant from one another and from the top and bottom, three strong bolts protruded from the beveled edge. I turned the knob and they were retracted flush with the edge; released it, and they shot out. It was a spring lock. On the inside there was no knob, nor any kind of projection - a smooth surface of iron. “While noting these things with an interest and attention which it now astonishes me to recall I felt myself thrust aside, and Judge Veigh, whom in the intensity and vicissitudes of my feelings I had altogether forgotten, pushed by me into the room. ‘For God’s sake,’ I cried, ‘do not go in there! Let us get out of this dreadful place!’ “He gave no heed to my entreaties, but (as fearless a gentleman as lived in all the South) walked quickly to the center of the room, knelt beside one of the bodies for a closer examination and tenderly raised its blackened and shriveled head in his hands. A strong disagreeable odor came through the doorway, completely overpowering me. My senses reeled; I felt myself falling, and in clutching at the edge of the door for support pushed it shut with a sharp click! “I remember no more: six weeks later I recovered my reason in a hotel at Manchester, whither I had been taken by strangers the next day. For all these weeks I had suffered from a nervous fever, attended with constant delirium. I had been found lying in the road several miles away from the house; but how I had escaped from it to get there I never knew. On recovery, or as soon as my physicians permitted me to talk, I inquired the fate of Judge Veigh, whom (to quiet me, as I now know) they represented as well and at home. “No one believed a word of my story, and who can wonder? And who can imagine my grief when, arriving at my home in Frankfort two months later, I learned that Judge Veigh had never been heard of since that night? I then regretted bitterly the pride which since the first few days after the recovery of my reason had forbidden me to repeat my discredited story and insist upon its truth. “With all that afterward occurred - the examination of the house; the failure to find any room corresponding to that which I have described; the attempt to have me adjudged insane, and my triumph over my accusers - the readers of the Advocate are familiar. After all these years I am still confident that excavations which I have neither the legal right to undertake nor the wealth to make would disclose the secret of the disappearance of my unhappy friend, and possibly of the former occupants and owners of the deserted and now destroyed house. I do not despair of yet bringing about such a search, and it is a source of deep grief to me that it has been delayed by the undeserved hostility and unwise incredulity of the family and friends of the late Judge Veigh.” Colonel McArdle died in Frankfort on the thirteenth day of December, in the year 1879.
|
|
|
|
Post by Local News on Jun 3, 2008 19:42:49 GMT -5
Poverty - A reporter’s responseGary Tuchman, 360 Correspondent ac360.blogs.cnn.comHaving this blog site opens up a lot of opportunities for those of us who work on Anderson Cooper 360. It gives us the space and the time needed to take you behind the scenes and show you what happens before, during, and after we work on a story. And now is a good time for me to do just that. On the day before the Kentucky presidential primary, we decided to do a story on poverty and politics. In travels around the country I have done since the primary and caucus season began, I have talked with many poor Americans who in high proportions, feel Washington hasn’t a clue about what they are going through. While many Americans feel people in abject poverty should just “get a job,” many of the poor truly want honest steady work, but for a variety of reasons, can’t get it. And now with four dollar a gallon gas, driving to find a job (particularly in wide-open rural areas) is prohibitively expensive. So with all that in mind, we decided to do a story on poverty and politics. We reported the story in Manchester, Kentucky, which is the county seat of Clay County, on the day before that state’s primary. A day after our story aired, I received a letter from a Kentucky state senator. It wasn’t the warmest note I’ve ever received. Senator Robert Stivers, who represents a district in the eastern part of the state, accused me of looking down on rural America. He added that “it is very popular in your rarified circles” to do just that. He also declared I went out of my way “to videotape (my) stereotype of Manchester residents.” He went on to say “Manchester has many new buildings, including a new courthouse. Several new and exciting projects are taking place in Clay County.” Now, let me initially tell you that I hear where Mr. Stivers is coming from. This part of Kentucky is his home. He is proud of his home, and would like the rest of the nation and the world to see positive things about where he is from. In addition to the new buildings, there are some charming restaurants, beautiful mountain scenery, nice homes, and notably, very kind people. I talked to Senator Stivers on the phone after I received his letter and he told me about federal monies that are being spent on some important projects in Clay County. They include a new facility for a branch of Eastern Kentucky University, a special intervention program for at-risk youth in schools, and an innovative anti-drug abuse program. He also told me there are extensive infrastructure modifications taking place. But what I told Senator Stivers on the phone, and what I tell all of you now, is that we did not come to Clay County on this particular visit to do a story about the courthouse, the buildings, and these projects. That could indeed be an inspirational story for another time; but on this story, we needed to concentrate on people who are suffering with poverty and how they feel about presidential politics and the presidency in general. We came to Clay County for a specific and objective reason. According to U.S. census data, it is the poorest county in Kentucky when it comes to per capita income which is $9,716 a year. It is the second poorest county east of the Mississippi river. (Jefferson County, Mississippi is $7 a year poorer.) Almost 40 percent of the people in Clay County live under the poverty level. In his letter to me, Senator Stivers wrote that while many of the residents in Clay County face poverty, they do it with hard work and dignity. He then said, “it is obviously too much to expect that CNN would have found a story in that.” Well, my feeling is that is the story we did. I interviewed people who were for the most part scared to go on camera, but decided to speak to talk to me precisely because their dignity is so important to them. I don’t know all the things about their pasts that have led these people to be in their predicaments. But I do know when a middle aged woman at a lunch counter tells me “we’re below poverty honey. I don’t know how much lower we can go,” it’s something that demands reporting in 21st century America. When a young man tells me the only way things will change is “if a poor man gets in as president, and that’s never going to happen,” that is a sentiment we need to capture. And then, when I ask the mayor of Manchester, Kentucky about response from national politicians, and she tells me “it’s like nobody cares,” I know we’re on to a sad but frank portrayal of America’s poor. I was curious what that mayor, Carmen Lewis, thought about our story after it aired. She was also made aware of the letter that Senator Stivers wrote to me and I was curious if she shared his sentiments after seeing our finished report. Instead though, she said she believed it showed the truth, and that she hopes some good comes of it. Certainly, when we do stories on poverty in places like New York City or Los Angeles, people know there are lots of other wonderful parts of those cities. Because Manchester, Kentucky gets on television so rarely, there is understandably more sensitivity. But I think almost all of our viewers get it. This is a snapshot of a national problem. Senator Stivers says I am in “rarified circles.” That is the only criticism I don’t take in stride. I’ve spent weeks in tents in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’ve slept in cars and RV’s in the flooded streets of New Orleans after Katrina. I don’t consider myself or the colleagues I am friends with part of any “rarified circle.” But nevertheless, I respect Senator Stivers’ opinion. After all, he obviously takes pride in his home. So Washington; take note. When you have 40 percent of people living in poverty; at the very least, something is not right.
KENTUCKY AND OREGON RESULTS-- PLUS CLAY COUNTYdownwithtyranny.blogspot.comWhen I woke up this morning CNN had a little feature of Clay County, Kentucky. I was only half-awake so I don't recall exactly how many people they interviewed but I'd guess that-- apart from the normal-looking mayor or Manchester, there wasn't a full set of teeth between at least half a dozen people. I'm usually sympathetic when I see a place mired in poverty and misfortune-- and, although Clay County is mired in both, sympathy isn't what the CNN report drew out of me. I'll explain in a minute but let me give you some of the facts first. Clay County is the poorest county in Kentucky and the 18th poorest in America, most of the poorer ones being desolate Indian reservations. The per capita income is $9,716.00. As of the last census the population was 24,556, of whom around 15,000 are registered to vote-- 13,092 Republicans and 2,013 Democrats. That's right. Clay County, dirt poor, rampant unemployment and it's overwhelming Republican. The county is also 94% white and 40% are living below the poverty line. Early this morning CNN was making the point that there was scant interest in today's election in Clay County. Today 649 Democrats voted (32%) and 2,569 Republicans voted (19.6%). Hillary took 85% of the Democratic vote and McCain took 74% of the Republican vote. On the Senate side Lunsford got 48.5% of the Democratic vote and Greg Fischer got 26.2%. The first and the last person they interviewed was a kind of elderly obese woman sitting in a cheap restaurant sharing her tales of woe. At the end the reporter asked her what she thought about Hillary Clinton. She started shouting about the Bible and how a woman's place is in the home. That said, Kentucky Democrats gave a corrupt Zell Miller type quasi-Democrat, Bruce Lunsford, their nomination for the U.S. Senate, virtually guaranteeing another term for an even more reactionary and more corrupt Mitch McConnell. Statewide 459,093 (65.5%) voted for Hillary and 209,869 voted for Obama (30%). On the GOP side, McCain took 142,836 (72.5%) and the runner-up was Huckabee with 16,367 (8.3%). Obama, in losing to Hillary, took more votes than all the Republicans combined.
360 was so goodacanderfan-360.livejournal.com360 was so good last nite. I really liked it. Gary Tuchman had a piece about Clay County Kentucky. This is the porrest county in the state and the residents don't seem too excited about the election. I don't balme them. None of the candidiates seem to want to help people like that. I say good for Hilary for staying in until the end. Until there is a nominee no one should drop out. And I think Obama is being a bit cocky. He is assuming he will be the nominee. There is no gurantee he will be the democrat nominee. Besides when a person gets cocky the can screw things up. Too much confidence can be a bad thing. Michelle Obama is being attacked for a comment she made, and Barack dosen't like it. Well you know what too bad. If you are going to put yourself out there and campaign for your spouse then you and your comments are fair game.
Clay County: Poor, Dumb, Jobless and Smokingpageonekentucky.comClay County is Poor, Dumb, Jobless and Smoking. At least that’s the view from CNN this morning. Kentucky’s poorest county– and one of the poorest in the country– was featured on CNN in a story about voter apathy. Let’s just say it was disappointing that CNN chose to portray the worst of the worst and leave it at that. We all know the Bluegrass State isn’t em. Though, we loved it when the woman who kept saying “honey” screamed, “It’s the Bible! A woman’s place is in the home!” when she was asked about Hillary Clinton. Hoo boy.
Caramel Coated Freak in Habit Formespnchick1920.livejournal.comDear Clay County (specifcally one resident)... Ummmm, the Bible does not say that a woman's place is in the home. The Bible does not say anything about women working. Heck, most women worked the fields as well. And God placed women in leadership positions. I mean...would Esther have been able to convince Xerxes not to exterminate all of the Jews if all she had done was stay in the house? Could Deborah have been a judge if she just stayed in the house, as you claim the Bible says? Hmmm...better yet, what about the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31? I mean, we just read that scripture in church on Sunday & I DISTINCTLY remember reading something about her choosing fields to buy & making a profit for the household. Making a profit indicates having a job. Said job may have been outside of the home. Does that make her any less virtuous? Don't think so. I mean, there are PLENTY o' reasons not to vote for the Wicked Witch of the Senate, but the "fact" that the Bible says a woman's place is in the home should not EVER be one of them. The fact that you yourself are a woman spewing such bull**** it is REALLY scary. This is why your county is THE poorest in Kentucky. Do better. And please don't procreate. We're trying to improve the quality of the gene pool. Thanks!
Long March to closurewhereistheoutrage.netSenator Hillary Clinton has won Kentucky. The media has cleverly picked up on her hint to the SuperDelegates (Obama can’t win the White Vote). So, I’m looking at this interactive graph that the NYT has on their web site. The graph is kind of cool. It gives you a ton of information that is mostly unusable. I’m not sure what I can do with the fact that Clay County, Ky has a median income of $19,700 and 7% college grads. Oh, and Hillary Clinton won that county. Maybe, I was wrong. Maybe there is something that I can take out of this. There is a county in the US where the median income is less than half the American median income. This is really poor (po’).
|
|
|
|
Post by Local News on Jun 24, 2008 16:17:27 GMT -5
VW-Based Camaro Replica/Buggypriceofhistoys.com Although I’ve seen a couple of these for sale over the years, this heavily “buggified” second-gen Camaro-style body mounted on a shortened VW Beetle chassis (with a secondary tube frame on the rear) is still very rare so I’ve been able to find out very little about it — if anyone knows anything about the history of the manufacturer, please do mention it in the comments. The body is a single piece with no doors (although this example does have removable t-tops) and is finished in a metalflake green. I’m not sure if this one has been modified to fit a new windshield and top, because most of the ones I’ve seen (one, two) are running a flat windshield with no top. Anyway, Wayne, the current owner, is asking $5,000 — amusing because of course an actual Camaro is dime-a-dozen — or is willing to trade for a beach buggy or motorcycle. He’s located in Manchester. CLICK HERE for more information.
From Harlan to Richmond through Manchesterlourite.blogspot.com.....from this point on we were determined to make it to Richmond, KY as the GPS indicated we "only" had 132 miles to go. The next actual towns, all Kentucky, we passed through (in order) were Harlan, Hyden, Manchester and then Richmond. Nothing incredibly notable other than the on going theme of TRAFFIC (more vehicles dropped from the sky). Somewhere in this stretch of the journey is were we rode through a working quarry, very strange. The road remained very thrilling all the way to Manchester, after Manchester the elevation changes we have grown to love pretty much ended although there were sections with long sweepers but also with an increased abundance of straigh stretches...nice since it is apparent no one in the state of Kentucky can drive.....
|
|
|
|
Post by Local News on Sept 16, 2008 4:09:03 GMT -5
Confessions of a Growing Mind: thoughts on life and growing in Godreccenterwreck.wordpress.comGolfing, life, ministry, and other thoughts.....Today I am both excited and nervous as I sit here waiting to go golfing for the first time in three years. Golf is a sport, that while I have never been very good at it, I have always enjoyed playing. There is something about competing against yourself that is a lot of fun to me. Knowing that nothing anyone else does should affect my play. Hopefully today will be as fun as some of my past outings and I won’t totally suck! Besides thinking about golf this week has been a week of reflecting on ministry and why I am in it. As Erin was preparing to go before the KMM board of directors this week we began talking about why she wanted to do ministry both here in KY and in general. Over and over I encouraged her to just share her heart for Christ and ministering to young women to the board. I knew if they could see that heart the way I have seen it they would accept her with no reservations to KMM. As I began talking with her about her passion for discipling and mentoring, I began reflecting on my own passion for ministry. I was and still am convinced that God has called me to use sports and recreation as a tool to bring others into a relationship with Him. While bowling is not necescarilly my strongest gift, I have seen countless opportunities to get involved in the lives of the kids and adults in my community through this medium. The LCRC has truly become a bridge to the Gospel and to the local church. As I think about that and also building relationships with the kids at the High School I am really excited about the future here. While the long hours do stink and get tiresome, I really do have peace about what God has called me to do. Even if that means spending more time developing the Youth Center in Clay County, I still see where God is blessing me with and opportunity to use sports for his Kingdom and am truly excited about that! My Dad’s life verse for ministry is John 9:4, which says, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no man can work.” ESV. More and more I am finding God is calling this verse to be my verse for my passion to use sports for Christ. As our world keeps getting more and more corrupt and more and more of the kids we are working with slip into eternity, I want to be vigilant and passionate about the calling God has given me show His love to others through sports…
|
|
|
|
Post by Local News on Sept 23, 2008 19:54:39 GMT -5
Civil War Stories of InspirationBy John E. Carey, civilwarstoriesofinspiration.wordpress.com Salt, the primary chemical in most meat curing processes of the time, also proved a critical element in human and animal nutrition and health, as well as leather tanning and industrial processes such as affixing dyes in uniforms. Without salt, the manufacturing of shoes was next to impossible – leading some Southern manufacturers to make wooden shoes. Salt, and salt production facilities, consequently became valuable military targets, especially by Union troops hoping to deprive the Confederacy of all kinds of valuable assets in support of the Union Navy’s blockade. Salt Recognized as EssentialEven before Major Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter on April 13, 1861, leaders in the future Confederacy knew salt had become a valuable, even an invaluable, commodity. On January 6, 1861, the Alabama Senate passed a law regulating the prices of “absolute necessities.” It provided that “salt, wheat, flour, bacon, lard, cotton, leather shoes, [and other unnamed commodities] shall not be sold for more than 60% over last April’s prices.” Nearly every state of the Confederacy had some salt production. Salt was “mined” by removing rock salt from the earth, or by extracting a dirt and salt mixture from the ground, then boiling the compound in water to extract the salt from the mix. Other methods of salt production included distillation of sea water: evaporation of the non-salt bearing water from sea water, usually in salt flats near the seashore, to produce a brine called “yellow salt.” But yellow salt usually required further expensive processing making the total process cumbersome. Beginning in the late summer of 1861, Confederate Brigadier General Felix Kirk Zollicoffer started sending wagon trains of salt south from the Goose Creek Salt Works in Clay County Kentucky. On October 21, 1862, about 500 U.S. troops worked 36 hours to destroy the salt works along with about 50,000 bushels of stored salt. In November, the price of the salt used in the curing of pork rose from 50 cents to $2.00 per bushel because of the shortage caused by the Goose Creek action.
|
|
|
|
Post by Local News on Oct 2, 2008 20:49:23 GMT -5
Red Chip Featured Company: Gulf Western Petroleum Corp.blog.qualitystocks.net Gulf Western Petroleum Corporation (GWPC.OB) is a Houston-based company capitalizing on domestic sources of natural gas and oil. This exploration and development company actively seeks domestic opportunities to maximize growth and returns for its stakeholders. With a number of projects and leaseholdings in Texas, Kansas, and Kentucky, Gulf Western works to leverage its core competencies to strengthen its presence in the energy sector. Gulf Western holds about 5,600 acres of property in Kentucky. Exploration for oil and natural gas supplies in the Appalachian Basin are being performed at the Baxter Bledsoe and the Bell Prospects. Gulf Western owns a 100% working interest in the 2,200 acres at Baxter Bledsoe Prospect, located in Clay County, Kentucky. The company also owns a 100% working interest on the 3,400 acres at the Bell Prospect, located in Bell County, Kentucky. There is a potential to acquire an additional 5,000 acres of coal bed methane leases in adjoining Knox County.
|
|
|
|
Post by Local News on Oct 6, 2008 19:34:45 GMT -5
The Ryder Cup in Kentuckysylvia.newcities.org The cover story of the New York Times the morning after the Ryder Cup American victory was of course, you guessed it – the New York Yankee Stadium and its demise. Now, I’ll admit, seeing the old catcher and icon –Yogi Berra standing in his uniform would have been worth the price of admission, I had another thought or two. Being in the heartland and being a Kentuckian, I feel that our successes are rarely acknowledged by the east coasters. The freshness of the Kentuckians who led the twelve golfer team was incredible. But, the big time press types have a much greater time with our failures – the CNN video of Clay County for instance. Little did CNN care to pick up on the story of reading scores in Clay County going out the roof that followed that story. We did attempt to let them know but they ignored our messages. I do have to admit however that as long as Kentucky remains 48th in nearly every index that gives sway to progress, we deserve much of what we get. But, it is a little chicken and the egg. I have questions of readers: (1) is Kentucky and the heartland treated unfairly by the national press? And (2) instead of complaining, is there something we should do about it? (One answer is to finally get our act together and climb out of the statistical basement).But, we could create our own press and take advantage of the moment when people are rejecting the “old insiders” in favor of fresh new faces and thoughts.
|
|
|
|
Post by ClayLive on Oct 29, 2008 20:04:13 GMT -5
Friday Night Ghost Story: THE SPOOK HOUSEspookyvillage.info On the road leading north from Manchester, in eastern Kentucky, to Booneville, twenty miles away, stood, in 1862, a wooden plantation house of a somewhat better quality than most of the dwellings in that region. The house was destroyed by fire in the year following - probably by some stragglers from the retreating column of General George W. Morgan, when he was driven from Cumberland Gap to the Ohio river by General Kirby Smith. At the time of its destruction, it had for four or five years been vacant. The fields about it were overgrown with brambles, the fences gone, even the few negro quarters, and out-houses generally, fallen partly into ruin by neglect and pillage; for the negroes and poor whites of the vicinity found in the building and fences an abundant supply of fuel, of which they availed themselves without hesitation, openly and by daylight. By daylight alone; after nightfall no human being except passing strangers ever went near the place. It was known as the “Spook House.” That it was tenanted by evil spirits, visible, audible and active, no one in all that region doubted any more than he doubted what he was told of Sundays by the traveling preacher. Its owner’s opinion of the matter was unknown; he and his family had disappeared one night and no trace of them had ever been found. They left everything - household goods, clothing, provisions, the horses in the stable, the cows in the field, the negroes in the quarters - all as it stood; nothing was missing - except a man, a woman, three girls, a boy and a babe! It was not altogether surprising that a plantation where seven human beings could be simultaneously effaced and nobody the wiser should be under some suspicion. One night in June, 1859, two citizens of Frankfort, Col. J. C. McArdle, a lawyer, and Judge Myron Veigh, of the State Militia, were driving from Booneville to Manchester. Their business was so important that they decided to push on, despite the darkness and the mutterings of an approaching storm, which eventually broke upon them just as they arrived opposite the “Spook House.” The lightning was so incessant that they easily found their way through the gateway and into a shed, where they hitched and unharnessed their team. They then went to the house, through the rain, and knocked at all the doors without getting any response. Attributing this to the continuous uproar of the thunder they pushed at one of the doors, which yielded. They entered without further ceremony and closed the door. That instant they were in darkness and silence. Not a gleam of the lightning’s unceasing blaze penetrated the windows or crevices; not a whisper of the awful tumult without reached them there. It was as if they had suddenly been stricken blind and deaf, and McArdle afterward said that for a moment he believed himself to have been killed by a stroke of lightning as he crossed the threshold. The rest of this adventure can as well be related in his own words, from the Frankfort Advocate of August 6, 1876: “When I had somewhat recovered from the dazing effect of the transition from uproar to silence, my first impulse was to reopen the door which I had closed, and from the knob of which I was not conscious of having removed my hand; I felt it distinctly, still in the clasp of my fingers. My notion was to ascertain by stepping again into the storm whether I had been deprived of sight and hearing. I turned the doorknob and pulled open the door. It led into another room! “This apartment was suffused with a faint greenish light, the source of which I could not determine, making everything distinctly visible, though nothing was sharply defined. Everything, I say, but in truth the only objects within the blank stone walls of that room were human corpses. In number they were perhaps eight or ten - it may well be understood that I did not truly count them. They were of different ages, or rather sizes, from infancy up, and of both sexes. All were prostrate on the floor, excepting one, apparently a young woman, who sat up, her back supported by an angle of the wall. A babe was clasped in the arms of another and older woman. A half-grown lad lay face downward across the legs of a fullbearded man. One or two were nearly naked, and the hand of a young girl held the fragment of a gown which she had torn open at the breast. The bodies were in various stages of decay, all greatly shrunken in face and figure. Some were but little more than skeletons. “While I stood stupefied with horror by this ghastly spectacle and still holding open the door, by some unaccountable perversity my attention was diverted from the shocking scene and concerned itself with trifles and details. Perhaps my mind, with an instinct of self-preservation, sought relief in matters which would relax its dangerous tension. Among other things, I observed that the door that I was holding open was of heavy iron plates, riveted. Equidistant from one another and from the top and bottom, three strong bolts protruded from the beveled edge. I turned the knob and they were retracted flush with the edge; released it, and they shot out. It was a spring lock. On the inside there was no knob, nor any kind of projection - a smooth surface of iron. “While noting these things with an interest and attention which it now astonishes me to recall I felt myself thrust aside, and Judge Veigh, whom in the intensity and vicissitudes of my feelings I had altogether forgotten, pushed by me into the room. ‘For God’s sake,’ I cried, ‘do not go in there! Let us get out of this dreadful place!’ “He gave no heed to my entreaties, but (as fearless a gentleman as lived in all the South) walked quickly to the center of the room, knelt beside one of the bodies for a closer examination and tenderly raised its blackened and shriveled head in his hands. A strong disagreeable odor came through the doorway, completely overpowering me. My senses reeled; I felt myself falling, and in clutching at the edge of the door for support pushed it shut with a sharp click! “I remember no more: six weeks later I recovered my reason in a hotel at Manchester, whither I had been taken by strangers the next day. For all these weeks I had suffered from a nervous fever, attended with constant delirium. I had been found lying in the road several miles away from the house; but how I had escaped from it to get there I never knew. On recovery, or as soon as my physicians permitted me to talk, I inquired the fate of Judge Veigh, whom (to quiet me, as I now know) they represented as well and at home. “No one believed a word of my story, and who can wonder? And who can imagine my grief when, arriving at my home in Frankfort two months later, I learned that Judge Veigh had never been heard of since that night? I then regretted bitterly the pride which since the first few days after the recovery of my reason had forbidden me to repeat my discredited story and insist upon its truth. “With all that afterward occurred - the examination of the house; the failure to find any room corresponding to that which I have described; the attempt to have me adjudged insane, and my triumph over my accusers - the readers of the Advocate are familiar. After all these years I am still confident that excavations which I have neither the legal right to undertake nor the wealth to make would disclose the secret of the disappearance of my unhappy friend, and possibly of the former occupants and owners of the deserted and now destroyed house. I do not despair of yet bringing about such a search, and it is a source of deep grief to me that it has been delayed by the undeserved hostility and unwise incredulity of the family and friends of the late Judge Veigh.” Colonel McArdle died in Frankfort on the thirteenth day of December, in the year 1879.
|
|
|
|
Post by ClayLive on Sept 2, 2013 9:31:49 GMT -5
The Final Flight
On Writing and Appalachia
by Brad King
When I tell stories about my family and its relationship to Clay County, Kentucky and the County Seat of Manchester, people tend to think I exaggerate. I can understand why. The stories that come from that part of Appalachia tend to be wrapped in what seems to be hyperbole. You hear about poverty, feuds, grudges, anger at the government, lack of formal education, and a general desperation, but since most people aren’t around those things on a day-to-day basis they don’t seem real. These stories must be fiction... Read the entire blog at: sofarappalachia.com/2013/09/01/on-writing-and-appalachia/
|
|
