CONTENTS Sept./Oct. 2017
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The great outdoors
Curtsinger’s Sunrise Outfitters celebrates 45 years
by
KENDRA PEEK
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Inspiring generations
Two career educators persevered to see their students graduate by
BOBBIE CURD
IN EVERY ISSUE Publisher’s Letter p.4
Guest Chef p.10
Where Am I? p.6
#Throwback p.40
Librarian’s Nook p.8
The Scene p.42
On this page: A mash-up of multiple
old license plates spells Curtsinger over the entrance to Curtsinger’s Sunrise Outfitters. — Photo by Ben Kleppinger. On the cover: Everything is ‘Kentucky Proud’ — a tailgating spread cooked by Danielle Dampier, owner of Danielle’s Drive-Away Café, is displayed in handcrafted Sugar Grove Pottery
Danville Gives Back p.50
pieces by Paul Muth of Danville, along with a whimsical cheese spreader from York’s Corks by Kathy (Kathy York) and a colorful, fresh arrangement of flowers from Wild Roots by Alexis Sheffield. — Photo by Robin Hart. Opposite: Tobacco fields and patches in Boyle County were once a common sight when driving through the country-
side. Today, however, it is rare to catch a glimpse of the broad leaves that turn golden as harvesting season nears. But on Jerry and Judy Rankin’s farm off of Perryville Road, they have raised 75 acres of tobacco and the sweet, earthy smell of the plants linger in the air as workers begin to cut and hang this year’s crop. — Photo by Robin Hart September/October 2017
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Publisher’s Letter
Fall is upon us
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t’s hard to believe that summer is almost over and fall is closing in quickly. I hope everyone took the time to enjoy the summer, but now our schedules return to some form of normalcy since our kids and teachers are back in school and we have the bright lights of Friday night football and everything else that goes along with our family schedules. In this issue of Danville Living, we take a look at two pioneers in our education system, Bob Trumbo and J.H. Atkins. Bobbie Curd met with both to get their inspiring stories as well as their reflections on how the education system has changed over the years. Kendra Peek had the opportunity to speak with local elementary-schoolers to get their thoughts on what they are excited about this school year. Our Ask Kids features is always entertaining and one of the best reads on our future leaders of Danville. It’s hard to imagine doing the same thing of your life for 45 years, but when you love what you do and our truly passionate about it, it makes it a lot easier. That is exactly what Joe Curtsinger has been doing at Curtsinger’s Sunrise Outfitters since 1972. We have a story about the passion around this business and want to congratulate Joe and his staff on this accomplishment. We have some great recipes from local residents that will make your mouth water and might even tempt you into
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trying to make one. Speaking of local recipes, Danielle Dampier, owner of Danielle’s Drive-Away Café, shares the story of how her business got started, along with a few recipes of her own. If you haven’t had the pleasure of trying any of her delicious food, I challenge you to do so. We continue to feature Scene photos from area events, as well as recommended books to check out from the library and much more in this issue. We continue to receive such great feedback on Danville Living and we truly love knowing that you, our readers, care about Danville and want to share your ideas and stories with us. In addition, we continue to grow our distribution with every issue. The positive comments are overwhelming, and that just drives us to continue to produce a high-quality product that focuses on all things Danville. Last, but definitely not least, I would like to thank all of the advertisers that help us produce Danville Living — we truly couldn’t do it without you. We appreciate the confidence you have in our team and product. — Larry Hensley, Publisher, Danville Living
PUBLISHER - Larry Hensley larry.hensley@danvillelivingmagazine.com
EDITOR - Ben Kleppinger ben.kleppinger@danvillelivingmagazine.com
CREATIVE DIRECTOR -Andy Mooney andy.mooney@danvillelivingmagazine.com
EDITORIAL Bobbie Curd
bobbie.curd@danvillelivingmagazine.com
Robin Hart
robin.hart@danvillelivingmagazine.com
Kendra Peek
kendra.peek@danvillelivingmagazine.com
CONTRIBUTORS Kentucky School for the Deaf, Kirck Schlea
ADVERTISING Manager - Carrie Shields
carrie.shields@danvillelivingmagazine.com
Lee Smith lee.smith@danvillelivingmagazine.com
Melanie Tackett melanie.tackett@danvillelivingmagazine.com
CUSTOMER SERVICE Manager - Candi Campbell candi.campbell@danvillelivingmagazine.com
Laurinda Bond
laurinda.bond@danvillelivingmagazine.com
Bonnie Kolasa
bonnie.kolasa@danvillelivingmagazine.com
Brenda Townes
brenda.townes@danvillelivingmagazine.com
On the web:
www.danvillelivingmagazine.com
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To subscribe:
Where will you ďŹ nd us? Danville Living will be distributed in Danville and Boyle County. It will reach those who have lived here for generations, those who have transplanted here and those who are traveling and could potentially become members of the community. All of these segments of readers have a natural eagerness to learn more about our communities. Danville Living will satisfy the curiosity with strategic placements into the hands and homes of interested and connected readers that advertisers want to reach. The majority of the circulation will be available free of charge at upscale boutiques and retail outlets who reach our select readership where they shop, as well as circulate in hotels, bed and breakfasts, real estate and medical facilities. It will also be available by mail to a preselected mailing list. How can you advertise with us? To receive more information on advertising in Danville Living as well as to receive a complimentary copy of the most recent issue, please contact your account executive or call (859) 236-2551.
Frequency: 6 times annually Circulation: Danville Living available for pickup in boutiques, hotels, real estate ofďŹ ces, other retail outlets and medical facilities throughout Danville and Boyle County. Contact your Danville Living account executive for this great opportunity to advertise in Danville Living magazine.
call (859) 236-2551
Danville Living Magazine 330 S. Fourth St. Danville, KY 40422
email: cshields@centralkynews.com
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Where am I?
Danville is jam-packed with unique and interesting places, many of which are well-known, but many others of which it might take a keen eye to spot. Do you recognize this photo from around town? See if you can guess where it is. The answer is on page 51.
Where were we last time? Outside the McDowell House on Second Street.
Librarian’s Nook
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Check this out n need of a good book? Boyle County’s librarians have pooled their efforts to bring you several excellent recommended reads, and even a recommended watch. All of these are available to check out from the Boyle County Public Library.
Featured author: B.A. Paris B.A. Paris has written two psychological suspense mysteries set in London, England, that will keep you turning the pages for sure: “Behind Closed Doors” is her first novel and “Breakdown” is her second.
Featured non-fiction book:
Featured fiction novel:
“Isaac’s Storm: a Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History”
By Graeme Simsion
By Erik Larson
Author Erik Larson writes: “At the turn of the last century, Isaac Cline, chief weatherman for Texas, believed no storm could do serious harm to the city of Galveston, a fast growing metropolis on the Gulf Coast destined for great things. In September 1900, a massive hurricane proved him wrong, at great personal cost. The storm killed as many as 10,000 people in Galveston alone, stole the city’s future, and caused hurricane experts to revise their thinking about how hurricanes kill.” 8
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“The Rosie Project” Reference Librarian Jaime Helle recommends this novel, about a genetics professor who lives by evidence and logic. He creates a checklist to find a wife and begins the Wife Project. Rosie pauses his search when she comes to seek his expertise to find her father.
Featured DVD: “Thirty-Minute Meals: No Waiting Tailgating with Rachael Ray”
Featured sports book:
After you’ve tried the delicious tailgating recipes in this issue of Danville Living, if you still want more, this DVD from the library can provide you with even more tasty snacking ideas.
“Black Shoes and White Shoestrings: Football and Life Lessons from Old Coaches” By David Buchanan
This book is by David Buchanan, the head football coach at Mercer County High School.
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Phone: 859-236-2339 Fax: 859-236-2127 www.encompassfinancialadvising.com September/October 2017
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Snack time
Go tailgating from your own kitchen with these great recipes from Danielle’s Drive-Away Café Story and photography by ROBIN HART
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Above: Danielle Dampier’s buffalo chicken dip is a creamy concoction of chicken, buffalo sauce, cream cheese, ranch dressing and sharp cheddar. Opposite: Danielle Dampier, owner of Danielle’s Drive-Away Café stuffs a batch of fresh mushrooms as Tanisha Berry waits to take them to the oven.
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tailgating events. The menu consists of her very own jalapeño cheese spread with cranberry hazelnut crackers, oven-baked stuffed mushrooms, cranberry almond chicken salad, homemade pimento cheese and buffalo chicken dip. And don’t forget the dessert: Danielle’s signature Buckeye Brownies. Danielle says, “They’re uglier than sin, extremely messy, but extremely good.” Danielle hasn’t always worked in the food service business. She began her career in the field of education. Danielle started
ailgating season has arrived in Danville. Whether you actually go to football games and lay out a spread to share with lots of rowdy football fans, or prefer to tailgate in your own living room with a few family and friends, tasty foods are always part of the event.
Danielle Dampier, owner of Danielle’s Drive-Away Café on Lebanon Road, has planned a menu of these appetizers and has even shared a couple of recipes that are perfect for early-season
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Guest Chef
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as a teacher, became a school counselor, then assistant principal, and was principal at Jennie Rogers Elementary School for nine years before becoming a Centre College professor. While teaching at Centre, Danielle says she started cooking for other people as a hobby. After leaving Centre, Danielle says she continued cooking out of her home, then her business just blossomed. When approached about buying the building on Lebanon Road and expanding her take-out business of oven-ready casseroles and meals and other frozen entreés, her mom said, “You just changed your profession,” Danielle says. Danielle says she usually gets inspired by “studying a whole bunch of recipes and then mix them how I think they would taste good.” She also giggles, “I’m an eyeball cook. I do very little measuring.” When planning a tailgating party, Danielle says on warmer days and evenings the party foods tend to be more “snacky and picnicky.” In cooler weather, later in the season, it’s good to go with heavier, warmer foods like chili and soups. The recipes Danielle is sharing are stuffed mushrooms and buffalo chicken dip. She admits the stuffed mushroom recipe isn’t her creation. It comes from Ree Drummond of “The Pioneer Woman,” a food blog. A customer wanted stuffed mushrooms for an event but Danielle didn’t have a good recipe for them, so the lady shared Drummond’s recipe with her. Danielle describes it as a wonderful, tasty finger food that a lot of people enjoy. As for the buffalo chicken dip, Danielle says this is an example of when she adapts several different recipes to create her own. She wrinkles her nose and says some people use celery for dipping, “but I’m not that healthy — any type of crackers work just fine.
One of the first steps is to remove the stems from fresh mushrooms.
STUFFED MUSHROOMS The Pioneer Woman recipe that Danielle loves Ingredients
24 ounces, white button mushrooms /3 pound hot pork sausage • 1/2 whole medium onion, finely diced • 4 cloves garlic, finely minced • 1/3 cup dry white wine • 8 ounces cream cheese • 1 whole egg • 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated • Salt and pepper to taste • •
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Directions • Wipe off or wash mushrooms in cold water. Pop out stems, reserving both parts. • Chop mushroom stems finely and set aside. • Brown and crumble sausage. Set aside on a plate to cool. • Add onions and garlic to the same skillet you cooked the sausage in; cook for 2 minutes over medium low heat.
• Pour in wine to deglaze the pan; allow liquid to evaporate. • Add in chopped mushroom stems, stir to cook for 2 minutes; add salt and pepper to taste; set mixture aside on a plate to cool. • In a bowl, combine cream cheese and egg yolk; stir together with Parmesan cheese. • Add cooled sausage and cooled mushroom stems. Stir mixture together and refrigerate for a short time to firm up. • Stuff mixture into the cavity of each mushroom, creating a sizable mound over the top. • Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. • Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before serving.
Pro tip: The stuffed mushrooms taste better when not piping hot. Serves 8
BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP Ingredients
4 cups cooked chicken, cubed or shredded • 2 cups hot sauce or buffalo sauce • 8 ounces of cream cheese • 2 cups ranch dressing • 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded •
Directions • In a pan on the stove, mix chicken and sauce until meat is coated; heat on low for 5 minutes. • Add cream cheese and when softened; mix well with the chicken. • Add ranch dressing. • Mix well, then add shredded cheese and stir until melted. • Serve hot. Pro tips: This dip reheats well. For more kick, add a little cayenne pepper. DL
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The Beer Carrier
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Light, clean and smooth
f it’s summer and the heat is smothering, oppressive and unrelenting and I’m craving a nice, solid and — most importantly — cold beer, I’m not always going to be in the mood for a motor-oil thick, black-asnight, robust, roasty stout, or anything of the ilk.
Green Zebra from the Liquor Barn.
magic. You won’t regret it. They have 24 total taps, with loads of other great craft beer choices, focusing especially on fellow Kentucky breweries, and they’ve got a great patio area where you can enjoy some fresh air with your suds, which is always a welcome feature for the summer days. Although the first Thursday in August is Another good, light, beer style for your known as IPA day, and I of course partook easy-livin’ summer drinking is the saison. in that tradition, those aren’t always what I Without making myself sound like too crave this time of year, either. much like a Wikipedia article, No, the beers of choice for the saisons are old-school, French-inDog Days are crisp and clean fluenced Belgian brews originally and smooth, and almost always made for summer consumption a little lighter. And in the case of by seasonal farm workers. As Lemons Mill’s Kranbier, they are such, saisons get lumped into the pretty fruit-forward. According larger category of the “farmhouse to the board, it’s a not-too-heavy ales.” 6.7-percent ABV “cranberry ale,” It’s not the most popular style and that bareboned description is by of beer around, but I’m here to as accurate as they come. tell you you should give them a It’s not overly hoppy, nor sickDAVID try. They often highlight typical eningly sweet. However, if you CARRIER Belgian spice flavors, like cloves don’t like cranberries, you might and coriander, as well as a lot of citrus want to skip this one. Fortunately, I do. notes, all the while also having a pleasant It’s also gluten-free, although you’ll have yeasty funkiness that’s instantly recognizto stop in at their Harrodsburg taproom able. and ask them how they accomplish that
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Rooster Brew out of Paris (Kentucky, not France) makes this one, awesomely named Quiche My Ass, which I was happy to find on tap at Mallard’s in Danville. Weighing in at 5.6-percent ABV, it is described as “a hoppy saison,” and that’s true, but it’s not that different from standards of the style. It’s a little dry, a lot carbonated, and it kind of smells like a hay field, but in a good way. Drink it and pretend you’re an early-20th-century Belgian journeyman. Of course, going out and enjoying a beer at a restaurant or local bar is fun, but sometimes one needs to enjoy some good drink in the comfort of home. Danville’s Liquor Barn is always well-stocked with the mainstays as well as an ever-changing lineup of seasonals and rarities. They also have a decent variety of taps, with prices that can’t be beat. That’s where I picked up this one, Founders’ Green Zebra. It’s the newest offering in their ArtPrize series, named after the annual art competition/festival held in Founders’ hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sales benefit the cause, so you can be a beer nerd and support independent art at the same time. Green Zebra is a gose, a re-emerging German style of beer that’s uniquely both sour and salty. Founders brewed this with sea salt and added watermelon to the mix for some interesting sweetness. I think it’s best enjoyed on a back porch, in the late afternoon, in your jeans and a T-shirt, while cherishing the last days before autumn, when the shelves will no doubt be inundated with every sort of god-awful pumpkin-infused concoctions imaginable. DL
Danville Cooks
Tailgating time A handful of local UK football fans shared their favorite tailgating recipes with Danville Living to help us kick off the football
season right. “Paula and Ervin Vanover, Kitty and Donn Marston, Donna and Greg Schepman, Duane and myself tailgate together for each UK game at our barn. Everyone pitches in and shares the menu,” said Kathy Belcher. “We host tailgate parties and watch the game on a big screen TV at our barn. Our tailgate parties have grown and some-
Kathy Belcher
Kitty Marston
POTATO CASSEROLE
CHILI CHEESE DIP
One package diced hash browns • Two cans cream of chicken soup • 2 cups cheddar cheese • 8 ounces sour cream • One stick butter • Cornflakes (optional)
16 ounces cream cheese (softened) • Two cans Hormel Chili (no beans) • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
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Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees • Butter a 9x13 pan • Mix all ingredients together; pour into buttered pan • Dice one stick of butter on top • Cook until top is a little brown — about one hour and 15-30 minutes. • Sprinkle cornflakes on top (optional) •
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Directions: Layer in 9x13 pan • Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes • Serve with Fritos or Tostitos •
Paula Vanover
Donna Schepman
10 CAN SOUP
One package taco seasoning mix 2 cups chicken • One can enchilada sauce • One can green chilies • One can Rotel diced tomatoes • One can corn • Two cans “Texas Ranchero” Bush Grillin’ Beans or black beans • One can chicken broth • One can water (or more)
EASY CHERRY DELIGHT
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Directions: Combine chicken and taco seasoning • Add other ingredients • Use can of water to wash out cans and add to soup • Heat; serve with tortilla strips •
times have 25 or 30 people, especially when we combine it with someone’s birthday.” Kathy shared her potato casserole recipe. “The recipe is mine but my husband Duane makes it most of the time for all events we take potluck to. The potato casserole is an all time favorite, especially among my grandchildren, and goes with almost any tailgate menu.”
Graham cracker crust: • 20 graham crackers, crushed • One stick of butter, melted Topping: One package of Dream Whip, whipped with 1/2 cup of milk • 8 ounces cream cheese • 1 cup powdered sugar • One can cherry pie filling •
Submit your holiday dessert recipes Danville Living wants to publish your favorite recipe for a holiday dessert in our November/December issue. Whether it’s a family favorite that’s been passed down for generations or something new you just discovered and absolutely love, share it with us by emailing it to robin.hart@ danvillelivingmagazine.com or dropping off a copy at 330 S. Fourth St. in Danville, and we might include it in our Danville Cooks feature next time. Be sure to include your name and a contact phone number with your recipe (phone numbers will not be published).
Directions: • Mix crushed graham crackers with melted butter for crust and press into a 9x12 pan • Mix topping ingredients, except for the pie filling, and spread on top of graham cracker crust • Spread a can of cherry pie filling over the top • Chill before serving Pro tip: Make your own whipped cream by using 2 cups of heavy whipping cream, whipped. DL
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Ask Kids
Danville Living asks kids: Were you excited to come back to school? What were you most excited about? Photography by KENDRA PEEK
“Yes. I was looking forward to being a first-grader and in my friends’ class.”
“Yes. I was most excited to see my friends.” Caleb Huffman, first grade Hogsett Elementary School
Cali Fisher, first grade Toliver Elementary School
Allie Sisk, first grade Toliver Elementary School
“Yes, seeing my new teacher and coming to first grade.”
“I couldn’t believe I was going to first grade.”
Elaina Guest, first grade Jennie Rogers Elementary School
“Yes. I was most looking forward to being in first grade. I was hoping Mrs. (Brittany) Bruington was going to be in my class, but now I found out she was. She’s my teacher.”
Gabe Powell first grade Perryville Elementary School
Emma Lucas, first grade Junction City Elementary School
“Yes. I wanted to be in first grade. I kept saying to Ms. Contini I wanted to go on to first grade. (Most excited) about recess because I love playing Batman and tag and 1, 2, 3.” Jackson Albright, first grade Hogsett Elementary School
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“Yes. (Most excited about) going to school and going to recess.”
“Ummm, yeah. (Most excited about) my new teacher.” Franky Domaika, first grade Woodlawn Elementary School
“Yep. (Most excited about) being in first grade. I really want to get all my grades done. I’m super-duper smart. I want to be a man. I want to be an inventor.” Kamarius Ziesmer, first grade Woodlawn Elementary School
“Yeah. I was excited, but nervous. I’m excited about after school. I go in my mom’s room (a teacher) and she takes me and my brother home. He’s in Mrs. (Gayle) Best’s class.” Kate Settles, first grade Perryville Elementary School
“I was most excited about seeing some friends and to let my mommy and daddy come with me. Mommy had to. Every year on the first two days, she comes with me.”
“Oh yeah. I am full of energy … (Most excited about) being in first grade, being the leader and the teacher’s helper. And I lost four teeth.” Kendall Kernen, first grade Jennie Rogers Elementary School
“Kinda. I’m most looking forward to going home. I was tired all morning.” Mason Sheperson, first grade Perryville Elementary School
“Yes. I was kinda nervous. But now I’m kind of excited. (Most excited about) recess. And learning how to read today. I learned how to read a little bit in kindergarten, but I’ll learn more in first grade.” Lane Stallard, first grade Toliver Elementary School
“Yes … all I wanted was to get a new grade.” Olivia Ruggles, first grade Hogsett Elementary School
Mary Coontz, first grade Junction City Elementary School
“Yes. (Excited about) getting on purple. (That means) doing good.” Preston Evans, first grade Jennie Rogers Elementary School
“Yes. I was just a little nervous about reading chapter books. (Most excited about) probably reading. I’m a little nervous, but I feel like I’m going to be really good. It’s weird being back here.” Rhylan Johnson, first grade Woodlawn Elementary School
“I was excited I got a new backpack and I got to go to school with my new backpack and my new lunchbox.” Trevor Williams, first grade Junction City Elementary School
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Gone fishin’ for 45 years
Curtsinger’s Sunrise Outfitters has become a local resource for hunters and fishers over its four and a half decades in operation.
Written by KENDRA PEEK Photography by BEN KLEPPINGER
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Above: Joe Curtsinger stands at the main counter of Curtsinger’s Sunrise Outfitters. Joe and his brother Billy started selling bait and tackle 45 years ago. Opposite: Curtsinger’s storefront along Stanford Road at the intersection with Gose Pike and Ky. 52 is noticeable for its animated sign and lit-up sun.
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It was August 1972 — 45 years ago — when Joe Curtsinger and his brother Billy opened a service station at the corner of Main Street and Wilderness Road in Danville, with a small area for bait and tackle. Now, he maintains Curtsinger’s Sunrise Outfitters at the corner of Stanford Road and Gose Pike, which features all things hunting and fishing. Joe said he just makes sure to get up and go to work everyday — that’s what has kept him in business for 45 years. “We try to take care of people. That’s a pretty good sign if they come back.”
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Joe said they didn’t have a lot of bait when they started, but his dad, also named Joe, was an avid fisherman. “Dad, he actually had a factory job and he was working that. The service station started doing more and more. We didn’t fool with a lot of bait at that time,” Joe said. “Dad wanted to fool with bait, so he quit his job after about a year and came into the station.” They used a small space in the service station to sell bait and tackle supplies. “We built on the side of (the station) out of block … we were up there for 12 years,” Joe said. They decided to leave the station and relocate when the service company wanted to turn the location into more of a convenience store. “We wouldn’t have had room to do what we were doing. So we got out of it,” he said. “We bought this corner out here.” The lot was low, so they had to do some
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A group of long-time customers of Curtsinger’s call themselves the Loafers and visit the store on a daily basis. — Submitted photo
work to fill it in and level it out. They moved into a building next to the one they use now, which had been burnt inside. “We gutted it and remodeled it enough that we could move into it,” Joe said. He said they focused on the sporting goods — hunting, fishing and tackle — and decided not to deal with cars anymore, because “we got tired of working on cars.” “At that time, there was a service station on every corner. I didn’t feel like we needed another one,” Joe said. For eight years, the store stayed there in the building they had repaired. Then, they built the new store where the shop is currently around 1990. “We’ve been here ever since,” he said.
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Since he was young, Joe has been a bow hunter. His grandfather and dad were avid fishermen, a sport his brother Billy picked up on. “Billy would rather fish than eat. He still fishes every chance he gets.” But for Joe, the bow has been his thing. “When I was little, they used to make fun of me because I carried one around. I just really enjoyed archery,” he said. He can fish, too, and did with his family. That’s part of what prompted them to carry bait in the first place — no one, Joe said, was carrying minnows at the time, unless they went out of town. “We just started fooling with bait,” he said. “Dad, he really enjoyed the bait business. That was his cup of tea.” Around 1992, his dad was killed in a car accident. And Billy got out of the store “years” ago.
Joe Curtsinger says his store carries thousands of arrows.
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So now, it’s just Joe at the helm. He said he keeps at it because, “What else would I do?” “Everything I’ve got is tied up in this,” he said, smiling. “I’m too old to make a career change.” The shop stays busy and he tries to stay on top of everything. “It’s not something you can just slack up on. If you do, the big outfits will gobble you up.” It is still a family affair. Now, Joe’s daughter Jessie and son Paul help in the store, and they both intend to stay put. “I love doing this,” Paul said. Joe is proud when talking about his kids. “They grew up in this stuff. They know more than anybody in the country about it,” he said. “Jessie knows more than any guy
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Paul Curtsinger checks out a customer in early August, a few days before Curtsinger’s celebrated its 45th anniversary of being in business.
that’ll walk in about it.” And sometimes, she said, she surprises the guys that walk in. Jessie started working there when she was about 19. “I would come in and clean occasionally in between whatever other job I was doing at the time,” she said. “I just ended up staying.” All of Joe’s other kids have worked there at some point, too. nnn
Archery is still Joe’s favorite.
“If I had the time to do it right, I would probably rather bow hunt than anything I’ve ever done,” he said, describing the process. “You have to really want to do it. You have to have a passion for it.” Jessie, the youngest in the family and the only girl, got her first bow when she was 4. “He actually custom-made me my first compound bow. My brothers called it the ‘Barbie bow.’ It was pink and had white limbs,” she said, while manning the cash register at the store. “They actually didn’t make bows small enough back then for little kids like they do now.” She would go to bow shoots with her dad and her brothers, Joey, Mark, Paul and their late brother Eddie. These days, Jessie still prefers archery to
Above: Fishing rods, hooks, bait and more sit for sale inside Curtsinger’s. Right: Customer Jeremiah Ferguson practices with a PSE Stinger X bow in a target practice area in the back of Curtsinger’s.
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other shooting sports and is the president of the White Oak Archery Club in Junction City. She is certified in the National Archery in the Schools Program and to teach 3D archery. When asked which one is a better archer between herself and Paul, they grin, before Jessie says, “probably him.” nnn
There have definitely been some changes over the years, but through it all, Curtsinger’s has stayed true to its focus on hunting and fishing. “Most of it is all tied into hunting and fishing. We’re not real diverse,” Joe said. His personal opinions affected the stock the store carried in the early years. “When I first started, I looked at every-
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A photo of Joe Curtsinger, left, taken years ago, ran with an article in The Advocate-Messenger about a gnat that was infecting deer. Curtsinger has become a local resource for hunters, fishers and archers over the years.
thing and I would say, ‘Now is that something I would use?’ If I wouldn’t use it, I wouldn’t buy it,” Curtsinger said, explaining that now he tries to stock things other people want a little more, “whether you think they would work or not.” Some of the items the store sells include deer feed, minerals, game cameras, feeders, lights, muzzle loaders, rods and reels, ammunition, targets, bait, tackles, knives, hatchets, safety harnesses, scopes, range-finders, Ori-
on coolers and more. “We carry more crossbows than anybody in the (region), I’d say, and the biggest selection of compound bows I’ve ever seen anywhere,” Joe said. “… Arrows, thousands of arrows.” There are about 300 bows kept in stock, so the can fit “about anybody,” as well as 100 crossbows, he said. They fill CO2 paintball tanks and sell “thousands of artificial baits,” too, he said. People can also buy their game club memberships and hunting and fishing licenses in the store. And archery lessons are available, taught by Jessie. One of the biggest changes in the years has been the growing number of women involved in shooting sports.
“It’s not such a male-dominated sport anymore,” Jessie said. “There are more women hunters, fishers, and more women into archery than there’s ever been.” Her dad agreed. “Fifteen years ago, I had two ladies that came in and bow-hunted. I bet I’ve got at least 100 now,” Joe said. “(Women) have realized they can do it, too. And the companies have realized it, too. It used to be you couldn’t find equipment to match up to a lady.” The addition of archery and fishing programs in local school systems have had an impact on those participating in the sport, Joe said. “I have a lot of kids come in,” he said. “We have more kids coming in and more women than we ever had.”
Want to visit? Curtsinger’s Sunrise Outfitters is on Facebook and its website is curtsingerssunriseoutfitters.com. The store is at 1389 Old Stanford Road, Danville. The store is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Some of those kids are teenagers involved in their schools’ bass fishing teams. “The school fishing program is one of the neatest things I’ve seen come along in a long time. I just can’t believe it’s took off like it has,” he said. “It’s all the way through college now. One of these days, these sponsors will be recruiting kids right out of school to pro-
fessional(ly) fish. It will be like basketball or something.” One sport that’s seen a lot of new interest is bow fishing. The sport is what it sounds like — fishing with a bow and arrow. “That’s the one thing over there we’ve had the biggest increase in. It went way up,” he said. Joe said he thought it was because there are a lot of people rediscovering (or discovering for the first time) the sport of bow fishing. “They hadn’t been doing it for so long, but it’s like they’ve rediscovered it. A new bunch has picked it up. That’s been real big the last few years,” he said. For many years, Joe said, fishing was king in popularity, but now he thinks archery has surpassed it. “We probably do more archery now than
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we do fishing, but we still do a big fishing business,” he said. Because of the seasonal nature of the job, Joe said the different types of bows — muzzle-loading, fishing, archery — have their own seasons of popularity. “It’s just a short window on a lot of this stuff,” Joe said. “Typically, we stay pretty busy most of the time. We’ve had a pretty good year this year. It’s not been too bad.” nnn
Joe said he doesn’t know that there’s any secret to what’s kept him in business for 45 years, except to do what’s right by people. “Just work hard and try to take care of people. That’s all I’ve ever done,” he said. “I don’t think there’s no big secret.”
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Paul said he thinks it’s the customer service that’s been provided over the years. “Dad’s very honest about products and everything,” Jessie said. “He’s had some of the same customers since he opened the doors An old photo taken inside the former Curtsinger’s shows Joe Curtsinger’s dad, also Joe, left, and grandfather, Raymond, right, with a friend JT Underwood and a slew of fish caught by the two Curtsinger men. Joe Curtsinger said it was taken in the early 1970s and that his dad and grandfather had been out fishing. Underwood, their friend, just happened to be in the store and helped them hold the fish for the photo. — Submitted photo
on Main Street.” She said he’s also got a group of customers that calls themselves the “loafers,” all men who are original customers and visit at least once a day. After all this time, Joe admits he’s become a bit of a resource for some people. He is starting to help third and even fourth generations of the same families. “I’ve met more people than you can imagine. I’ve been doing this for 40-some years — you’re going to meet a lot of people,” Curtsinger said. “I am now selling bows to people’s grandkids — a matter of fact, I set a bow up the other day for someone who was a great-grandchild of someone I set one up for many, many years ago. That’s a long time.” DL
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Decades of
LEARNING Two friends known for their educational careers and contributions to Danville Schools share stories about persevering to graduate those who “aren’t supposed to.”
Written by
BOBBIE CURD Photography by
BEN KLEPPINGER
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S
Sometimes, it’s the story
behind the story that really needs to be told. In this case, there are two stories: J.H. Atkins and Robert Trumbo. These gentlemen could easily fill a book apiece with their career journeys — stories of success in the field of education, social service and activism, the paths they’ve paved for others who’ve come after them, the recognition and awards they’ve received over the years ... But this story, which is definitely not a comprehensive depiction of their lives, is about learning.
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J.H. Atkins and Bob Trumbo, facing camera, speak with students Amelia Cloud, Eleanor Levi and Ryota Kanehara in a hallway of John W. Bate Middle School.
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J.H. has 24 years of education experience under his belt, and that’s only counting his background with Danville Schools. He agreed to talk about his life in education as sort of a back-to-school offering for this time of year. It was his idea to bring in Bob — “I have this guy, J.H. says to me, that you need to meet and talk to about his experience in education …” Bob was born in Danville, attended Bate and Danville High, went off to college and grad school, then returned back home to teach. Danville Schools even created a position for him just to get him back; “We want you. You’re a local boy who’s done well …” Bob says they told him. After all, J.H. says an upcoming, newly formed career fair will be donned the Robert P. 34
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Bob Trumbo and J.H. Atkins stand outside John W. Bate Middle School, whose namesake, a former slave, began efforts to provide public education to black children in Danville near the end of the 19th century, and worked in education in Danville for 59 years. The school’s full name and the image of Bate have been added to the front of the school since this photo was taken.
Trumbo College and Career Fair in honor of Trumbo’s esteemed career. Graduates are invited to come back and participate by sharing their stories of success. “I just don’t even get why …” Bob says, turning a bit in his seat, admitting he’s uncomfortable tooting his own horn about his past. J.H. laughs, then says, “Let’s tell her a few stories ...” n n n
A yearbook photo shows Bob Trumbo when he worked in vocational careers.
J.H. came to Danville in ’72 to teach, but was drafted into the military. He returned in ’84 and resumed teaching. “I’m not sure if I realized immediately I was a teacher. I just felt so good doing it.” He’d planned on pursuing a law degree after college but had a change of heart. “I was excited about coming back to Bate. I taught mostly eighth-grade history, social studies, civics.” All the kids started out with an A in his class. If you got something less than an A, it’s because you earned it yourself. “I always say ‘I was firm, but I was also fair.’” Back then, there was a lot of support for the schools — especially from the parents. “If I called home and said, ‘your child is not performing well in class,’ I knew I had parents’ support. That’s changed in the last 40 years,” J.H. says. Back then, if a kid got into trouble and you sent them down to the office, you knew the system. “You knew the Assistant Principal E.G. Plummer or Principal Alex Stevens, you knew there was going to be some results and some consequences. And the kids knew that, so …”
Above: Photos show Bob Trumbo throughout his career in education, including a photo with a student and his retirement cake. Left: An old newspaper clipping includes a photo of a young J.H. Atkins.
“The identity was that I was Mr. Trumbo, not Bobby.” He accomplished that goal; still today, those same students he had — some only four years younger than him — will only call him Mr. Trumbo. “I always used to let them know: You don’t have to like me, but you have to respect me. And you’re going to learn. But you don’t have to like me.”
nn n
Bob graduated college in ’72, did his student teaching at Bate and returned to work at Danville High School that same year. There were positions — one in Atlanta, one in Indiana — he was looking at, but says he’s very happy he stayed. “There’s a lot of reasons why now, I’m glad I didn’t remove myself from this community,” he says. He began teaching distributive education, which later became life skills, to mostly at-risk students. Danville sent him off to U.K. for a summer to study on it, then as the program became a success, Bob would be recruited by the Kentucky Department of Education to visit other schools and share the model he developed. The state really should have paid him, Bob says and laughs. But he got time off
from school and they paid for his travel, he says. And it was nice to be able to share what he’d done with the program, why it was working and how the kids’ lives were affected. But his success didn’t come without some struggle. “I had all of these kids — a lot of the kids I taught I grew up with.” So first things first, he says: They had to establish identities.
nnn
Both men say to get respect from a student, as a teacher, you must first show you respect them. “Regardless of how right or how wrong a student was, he or she needed to be treated with respect. How can you try to teach them to respect each other if they didn’t think I respected them,” J.H. says.
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School districts and teach“ ers sometimes now are forced just to teach kids to be ready for the tests rather than just teach them the content and get them prepared for real life. That was the fun part of teaching history — you taught kids real life stories, real life situations. — J.H Atkins
”
“I think that’s why we were successful in our fields,” Bob says. “We garnered respect.” J.H. says the students had to realize he cared about them. “If you care about them, show them some respect ... We didn’t have a lot of discipline problems. I’m not sure if that was because we were black or male, not sure.”
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But one thing J.H. knows for sure: “I guarantee you, for a lot of them — we were their first black teachers.” Bob, who is a self-proclaimed storyteller, gets into a couple of scenarios he recalls about kids who came into his classroom and made it clear to him they were raised in racist environments, basically admitting their prejudices to him. It was also clear to the two former educators when they were supported by teachers and administration, and when they weren’t. The support from a principal or vice principal during a moment when a student and their family voiced racist comments went a long way in establishing the two men’s roles as men of power within their schools. “They didn’t see us as no ‘step’n fetch’n.’ We didn’t carry ourselves this way. Neither did our families,” Bob says. It was important to them, Bob says and J.H. agrees, that they dispelled the myths about young black men. They held themselves high and proud, gave and got respect. And it definitely wasn’t always easy back in the day. “We were both bent out of shape,” J.H. says. “But we were determined not to satisfy that stereotype about black males.” Bob felt he had taken the distributive education and vocational programs as far as he could and they were doing well, so he jumped back into teaching history. He worked to bring on the first African-American studies course at Danville, and did so while calming nerves that it “would not create a race war.” “I told them there wasn’t going to be a riot …” and he told them he could teach it without books. “I have black history books at home, a library full of them. You can teach about what you know. I know what it is to be black. I’m a very proud black man, very proud of my heritage and my
I always used to let them “ know: You don’t have to like me, but you have to respect me. And you’re going to learn. But you don’t have to like me.
”
— Robert Trumbo
lineage …” For Bob, the importance of teaching black history is about pride. “We were in turmoil with race relations going into the ‘80s…” he says, and it was important not only to educate those who were ignorant because of how they were raised, but to educate the black kids, arm them with intelligence and some understanding about where they came from. Eventually, he moved to a vocational counselor’s role, where he said he had to be “very creative.” Black kids were not being guided toward four-year colleges — unless
it was Kentucky State — and were mostly led down a vocational path. He remembers clearly how someone told him they thought all black kids “wanted hands-on careers.” Bob says he had to clear the air on that situation. “There’s nothing wrong with KSU; most of my friends and family attended ... I said there’s nothing wrong with it, but all black kids don’t have to go to KSU. And some want to be — and will be — doctors and lawyers and teachers and preachers.” Bob stood up to a lot of policies and procedures he knew weren’t fair back in the day, and says he did so firmly but with respect. Sometimes changes were made, sometimes they weren’t.
Bob Trumbo says he’d be remiss not to mention the impact Helen Fisher Frye had on his life, growing up as a black man in Danville. Frye, who died in 2014, was a local civil rights leader in Danville, was president of the local NAACP chapter, the first African-American to enroll at Centre College, and the first African-American woman to receive a master of arts in library science from the University of Kentucky in 1960. “She was very, very important to race relations in Danville,” Bob says.
Being a part of any change is important to them. Both men have served and serve on city committees, different panels and groups. “Everything we could do to make sure we were a part of this,” Bob says, adding there
have been successes and downfalls. “But the pitfalls were nothing compared to the accolades we received.” J.H. nods his head, “That’s right.” The two men have received numerous awards and recognitions, with some cross-
Please Submit your event info and story ideas to Bobbie Curd, Arts & Entertainment Editor, bobbie.curd@amnews.com
(859)236-2551
YOUR TOWN. YOUR NEWS. ONLINE AND IN PRINT.
WWW.AMNEWS.COM
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ing over that they share. Both received the Anchored in Tradition Award from the Danville Alumni Association in different years, and both received the Ann Black Award, given by the KEA Central District for outstanding contributions to civil and human rights in Kentucky. nn n
Today, the atmosphere of education has changed, J.H. says. He says there’s always been accountability, there’s always been testing. But it was never such a public thing as it is now. “School districts and teachers sometimes now are forced just to teach kids to be ready for the tests rather than just teach them the content and get them prepared for real life,” J.H. says. “That was the fun part of teaching history — you taught kids real life sto-
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The Robert P. Trumbo College and Career Fair is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29 in the Danville High School Gym. Graduates are invited back who are willing to “pass it forward” and share their success stories and career journeys with middle- and high-schoolers. Interested graduates can email or call J.H. Atkins at (859) 236-5818 or jh.atkins@centre.edu.
ries, real life situations. They still did OK on the national achievement tests, but the state and everybody’s coming up with these specific guidelines of what kids ought to
know and they test it, and kids probably know 10 times what’s on the test, but they don’t get any credit for that.” After 11 years at Bate, J.H. retired 13 years later as principal of Toliver. J.H. says he always tells people the joy of teaching eighth grade and being an elementary school principal is kids of that age keep you young. “They’re always on the go; you got to keep moving. You can’t be in the office behind closed doors. You have to keep moving if you’re going to teach those kids.” But the community atmosphere has changed too, he says. “When I say ‘community,’ I’m talking about moms and dads, and grandmammas and aunts and cousins, and everybody else — that whole village concept to me is what made education successful for kids I en-
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I ask the two if they have a specific success story, or a remembrance of a kid they felt like they really got through to. “Not one in particular,” Bob says. “A lot of students I felt I made a difference with. Several came back to see me year after year.” “I tell folks my biggest success is the students who graduated from high school who weren’t supposed to,” J.H. says. “There it is,” Bob says. “There it is.” DL Ca
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countered, and it always is what made it successful for me,” J.H. says. Back in the day, in J.H.’s neighborhood, they had Miss Jane, Miss Dorothy, Miss Alice, Momma Sally, Aunt Alberta and Miss Louise. “They were all the neighborhood moms, and if one of them told you to stop doing something, it got back home before you did. And this was before cell phones — matter of fact, no landlines, even. But it still got back to the house before you did. It was a community thing.” J.H. says we have to get back to the village concept to where we’re all responsible for each and every child who’s out there. And it’s not a black-or-white thing, either he says. “I’ve always been drawn to kids from the other side of the tracks. I felt like I was raised on the wrong side, too. Bob and I have both been told lots of times in our lives that we weren’t going to amount to anything.” “That’s right,” Bob says. “And it never was about color to me. I pulled just as hard to help the white kids who wanted to graduate. I have some success stories who were white, too …” “Any child who gets lost, it’s a failure for the whole community, not just that child’s family,” J.H. says. “I think that’s part of what’s missing today.”
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#Throwback
In 1895, fire escapes were installed on both the male and female dormitories. This photo was used in an advertisement for the fire escape company.
Happy Birthday, Jacobs Hall! Jacobs Hall, a National Historic Landmark, will celebrate its 160th birthday on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017, during the Jacobs Hall Museum’s Annual Candlelight Tour. On Nov. 11, 1857, the superintendent of the Kentucky Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, now Kentucky School for the Deaf, moved his family and all of the female students into the elegant and spacious Victorian Italianate building later named Jacobs Hall. KSD superintendents lived in Jacobs Hall continuously until 2002. Female students moved to newer housing in 1965. More birthday party news will be posted on KSD’s website, ksd.kyschools.us, as well as shared by the Heart of Danville Main Street Program (downtowndanville.com) and The Advocate-Messenger (amnews.com). Photos courtesy Kentucky School for the Deaf 40
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This is the earliest photograph of Jacobs Hall. In 1865, staff and students posed for an unknown photographer. The youngest student was 13; the oldest was in their 30s.
In 1898, the girls’ croquet club teams faced off on the south lawn. These girls all graduated by 1901.
Clockwise from above: A group of female students pose on the lawn in about 1910; In the late 1950s, the two-story enclosed arcade (right) still connected Jacobs Hall to Kerr Hall for the convenience of staff and administration; The colorized photo from a 1900s postcard shows the school’s orchard on the east side of Second Street, across from Jacobs Hall; In 1939, Chauncey Alcock took an aerial photo of the KSD campus. This detail shows the back porch and the white covered walkway running from the girl’s entrance to the dining hall/chapel (Kerr Hall) north of Jacobs Hall.
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The Scene
Angela Correll, center, is greeted during the reception.
“Guarded”
at Pioneer Playhouse Pioneer Playhouse held a special reception on July 14 to celebrate its new Kentucky Voices play, “Guarded,” based on the novel of the same name by Stanford author and businesswoman Angela Correll. — Photos by Larry Hensley
Mike Perros, Pete Chiericuzzi
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Above: Mimi Becker, Michael Hughes Right: Cynthia Rogers, Robby Henson, Heather Henson, Hal Rogers
Above: Ron Scott reads the feature about his house in Danville Living as he waits for “Guarded� to begin. Right: Noelle Dilbeck, Laurie Ellis, Danielle Hensley
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The Scene Kiwanis Club of Danville hosted a veterans recognition lunch at the Danville Country Club Thursday, July 27. The event featured Heather French Henry, Miss Kentucky 1999 and Miss America 2000. Henry is now Deputy Commissioner of Veterans Affairs for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She has served as deputy commissioner and commissioner of Veterans Affairs under two governors. The veterans who attended, and some who didn’t, were given personalized certificates of thanks, and Kentucky veterans were given Kentucky veteran pins. Henry signed the certificates and visited with veterans one-onone after the lunch. — Photos by Ben Kleppinger
Kent Loomer, Bruce King, Miss Kentucky 1999 and Miss America 2000 Heather French Henry, Doug Walker, Winston Cox
Kiwanis veterans recognition lunch
Roy Camic, Debbie Wagner
Above: Rick Janz receives a certificate. Left: Heather French Henry, Clifton Taylor
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Gene Worthington gets a hug from Heather French Henry.
Above: Richard Caldwell, William Jenkins, James Hunn, Lawrence Hogue, Bruce Nichols Right: Dillard Abney Left: Jeannie Bellsmith, Henry, Dustin Bonner
Heather French Henry, Ken Portwood
Leo Hill
Heather French Henry, Mauri Wilcoxson
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The Scene The 2017 Back to School Block Party was held July 30 at Millennium Park. Organizers say over 3,700 people attended the event, which was met with clear skies and mild summer temperatures. The event included free food, games, inflatables and giveaways, including vouchers which Danville students could take to school to receive a free backpack and school supplies. This was the fourth year for the event. — Photos by Kendra Peek
Complex Step Team from Louisville
Back-to-School Block Party
Above: James L. Hunn Left: Tori Yates, Lynette Goggins
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Amy Matthews, Lorrie Sims
Boyle County Fire Department Lt. Patrick Denham, firefighter David Spanyer, firefighter Michael Riley
Left: Dawn Camick gives away crayons. Right: Adrian Ogle, Rashea Ford
Xyahne Wilkinson, Porsche Dunn, Shakari Reed
Kathleen Sinkhorn, Sandra Clark
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The Scene
Preston sings as he holds an Elvis fan’s hand.
A visit from The King
Dennis Preston, Wilma Brown
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Elvis impersonator Dennis Preston, who is a former Boyle County School District band director, serenaded guests at Pioneer Playhouse during the final week of shows of “Elvis Has Left the Building.” — Photos by Kirk Schlea
Enter the Danville Living photo contest Danville Living wants to publish your best photos of Danville and Boyle County in our magazine. If you’ve taken a photo that captures something beautiful, fun, amazing or even silly about living in Danville and Boyle County, submit it to our photo contest and you could be featured in the next issue of Danville Living! Photos should be taken inside Boyle County and you should include the names of any people featured, along with a short description of what’s happening. Photos should be emailed to robin.hart@danvillelivingmagazine.com no later than Oct. 11. The winning photo as chosen by the Danville Living staff will be featured in the next Danville Living, and noteworthy runners-up will also be published. Limit two entries per photographer per issue. September/October 2017
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Danville Gives Back
Mutts With Manners Training program benefits inmates and dogs. / By KENDRA
PEEK
S
ince its launch in 2009, Mutts with Manners has directly changed the lives of more than 200 dogs and countless people — both the inmates who have become dog trainers and families who have adopted the dogs. “I hope it’s saving dogs that would not have been saved and changing the lives of inmates that would not have been changed,” said Cheri Carbone, director of the program. “They’re learning to love something and being loved back … the unconditional love of a dog is important.” It’s also indirectly saved the lives of at least 230 dogs in the Danville-Boyle County Humane Society, she said, opening space and giving them a chance at finding their own homes. Mutts With Manners began after Carbone, a local trainer, received calls from the Danville-Boyle County Humane Society and the Northpoint Training Center asking if she would be interested in starting a program locally. “I was. I always felt like I was put here to do things with dogs, and I was brought to Danville for a reason,” she said. “It’s what God wants me to do.” Dogs are selected for Mutts with Manners based on their personality, their manners and how long they’ve been in the shelter — those that are “least adoptable” are prime candidates for the program. “Occasionally, we’ll take dogs out that have been at the shelter since they were born,” Carbone said. They are all at least a year old, but some are much older, she said. “There’s a dog in there right now that is seven or eight … They’re the best, they’re
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The Matthews family adopted their Mutts with Mannors dog, Sammie, right, in 2011 when she was about 1 year old. Pictured from left are Mackenzie Matthews, 13, with their other dog, Jake, mom Paige Matthews, and Bailey Matthews, 17. Paige said it was very nice to get a dog that already knew commands. — Photo by Robin Hart.
so easy, so happy to have a place when they finally get one,” Carbone said. “They’re grateful for someone saving them. Puppies aren’t as aware. Dogs who have been in situations or homes and lost it are grateful to have a place.” Inmates have to pass certain criteria to become trainers and participate in the program. “We have to make sure that someone’s not going to be abusive or take advantage of the dog in some way.” Many of the trainers, she said, have gotten to be very good at it. Carbone said she has encouraged them to study hard at what they’re doing, something that could help them get employment after they’ve completed their sentence. When adopted, each dog comes with its own “instruction manual,” a journal kept by the trainers from the first day it comes to Northpoint, through the time it leaves.
“They journal daily with what the dog did each day … They also include a list of the hand signals and the different commands they taught so people can see the process of the signal used,” she said. The dogs are all clicker-trained, a relatively new concept, Carbone said. She has been encouraging adopters to get a clicker for training, and is now working to raise enough funds to be to send a clicker home with each dog. Basic commands — come, sit, stay — are taught to the dogs, as well as socialization. Some have learned tricks during their six to eight weeks of training, something Carbone encourages. “Tricks help people make a connection to the dog,” she said, sharing how one dog was taught to read flashcards; while another has learned how to count; and another can jump over the trainer’s back. All of the dogs are crate-trained and all
have been completely vetted, she said. People ask if they are “house trained,” Carbone said, which is a bit of a misnomer for these pups. “There’s no ‘house’ in prison. No couch, no countertops,” she said, explaining that the dogs do know what “off” and “leave it” mean, so it’s easy to train them further. New owners are encouraged to continue using the crate for the first month after adopting a dog. She said dogs are placed with people based on their personalities. “We choose the home that’s going to be best suited for the dog. Some people want the dog based on looks. Some people are disappointed because we won’t let them have that dog,” Carbone said. It costs $150 to adopt a dog from Mutts with Manners. Sometimes, the dogs are adopted by a veterans group to become service dogs. “It’s rewarding,” Carbone said. They work to get sponsors for those dogs, so there’s no cost to the veterans. Others have gone to rest homes. Some dogs have gone to homes out of state. One of the biggest needs, Carbone said, is for foster homes to host the dogs after coming out of training and before being placed, or for the rare occasion that a placement doesn’t work out. Other needs are for volunteers: people to do home visits before a dog is placed; people willing to take the dogs to PetSmart or PetSense, and people willing to just take the dog out in public. Financially, Carbone said, they are trying to find sponsors for each dog to have their own bath mat, which would go with them when they leave Northpoint. That way, she said, each dog gets something of their own, something that smells like them, to keep at their new homes and help with the adjustment phase. It’s most rewarding, Carbone said, when the dog becomes part of the family. “(People) will send us pictures of the dog in their home. We’ll relay that back to the inmates,” she said. “And we’ve had many people send a thank you for training their dog.” To learn more about Mutts with Manners, visit the Facebook page or www.muttswithmannersdanville. com. DL
Where am I? The garden area outside the Boyle County Public Library
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