Murray Life Magazine

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24 Murray Market Stories

30

Krit Stubblefield

Fort Heiman: The Forgotten Fort

56

Larry Ray

Gone Batty Aviva Yasgur

The First Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Robert A. Valentine

Notes & Neighbors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Murray Life Staff

Guess What Trivia Quiz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Paige Graves

Uncommon Mystery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Michael Cohen

Pet Pause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Emily Dowell

A Laughing Matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Murray Life Staff

Healthy Living Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Murray Life Staff

Count On It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Paige Graves

Coming of Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Robert A. Valentine and Erin Carrico

A Park for All Seasons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Royce Williams

Food: Corn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Caina Lynch

Money Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Ron Arant

A Montage of Memories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Murray Life Staff

Dining Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Murray Life Staff

Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 What’s Happening & Where

The Last Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Robert A. Valentine

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VOLUME 20 - NUMBER 3 - BACK TO SCHOOL 2013 Printed in the USA www.mymurraylife.com .........................................................................

Publisher Robert Valentine Sales Director Amy Gannon Associate Managing Editor Paige Graves Art Director Justin B. Kimbro, K-Squared Designs, LLC Assistant Art Director Amanda G. Newman, K-Squared Designs, LLC Production Devin Perkins | Amber Hyde Editorial Staff Paige Graves | Caina Lynch | Robert Valentine Internet Consultant Justin B. Kimbro, Limelight Design Company, LLC Staff Photography Justin B. Kimbro | Caina Lynch Terry Little | W. Gross Magee | Chris Ray Contributing Writers Connie Alexander | Ron Arant | Erin Carrico Paige Graves | Sandy Linn | Caina Lynch Devin Perkins | John Pollpeter | Larry Ray Robert Valentine | Aviva Yasgur Printing Copy Plus, Murray, Kentucky Murray Life is published five times annually for the Murray area. All contents copyright 2013 by Murray Life Productions. Reproduction or use of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Comments written in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the ownership or management of Murray Life. Subscription rate is $15.00 per year, two years $25.00. Subscription inquiries and all remittances should be made to Murray Life: PO Box 894, Murray, KY 42071. Subscriptions may also be made through the Web site, www.mymurraylife.com. All advertising inquiries should be directed to the Managing Editor at: PO Box 894, or by calling 270-753-5225. E-mail us at: murraylife@aol.com This magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. All submissions may be edited for length, clarity and style.

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[ $ ] the first word

Rain

by: Robert A. Valentine

rain, n: condensed moisture, falling in drops from clouds. - Webster’s Encyclopedia of Dictionaries y the time you read this little essay, we suspect we will be in the midst of the traditional summer drought. As we write, however, we hear little more than reports of flooding, public events ruined or postposed by downpours, and a general outcry against government policy, which is causing the excess of rain.

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This year, as opposed to the drought of 2012, there has been quite a change. Farmers who are used to harvesting corn (for folks; not flocks) by the Fourth of July have

counted themselves fortunate if the could plant in time to attend the fireworks display. Rivers are running dangerously “bank full” at a time when, in most years, Sunday school classes are peacefully floating downstream on innertubes and kayaks. What a surprise! We’ve got some surprises for you as well. We’re going to take you

to Murray’s downtown Farmers’ Market to show you what you’ve been missing by lounging on the back porch with an extra cup of Saturday morning coffee. You may also be surprised to learn that country music star Naomi Judd will visit the nation’s friendliest city, and we’ll tell you why. You may be surprised to learn how much goes on in your City Parks, and we’ll give you a rundown of what’s in store for your family’s recreation and entertainment long after the kids go back to school. The importance of those scary flying mice – the bats – may surprise you, as will their present

plight. You can help, and Aviva Yasgur will show you how and why. Of course, you won’t be shocked by our helpful dining guides and calendars, or the entertainment of puzzles, quizzes, jokes and trivia. The

good counsel of Ron Arant in our “Money Pages” is back, as is the “foodography” and recipes of our resident foodie, Caina Lynch (but you may be shocked at one particular corn recipe). Larry Ray returns to continue the adventure that makes Calloway County’s newest national park so important to history. We'll also reveal how you can participate in a project aimed at preserving our County's fondest memories: the “Coming of Age in Calloway” series. There’s plenty of “present” in this issue, including our usual “Notes ‘n’ Neighbors updates and a calendar of events to help you schedule your precious time. Today is just as important as those fabled “good ol’ days,” you know. We hope you will learn something, recall something, or just enjoy a helpful hint or a silly story. One thing we’ve learned for certain: it is great fun to share ideas and recollections with folks who will appreciate them. So, as the rain continues (or not), sit back, turn a page, and learn something about your own Murray Life. s

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[  ] notes & neighbors

Coming of Age in Calloway In this issue of Murray Life, we begin a new series of articles, which we hope, will be of great interest to all of our readers: “Coming of Age in Calloway.” As we detail the project in a feature article in this issue, we hope to preserve and display a number of memories of growing up in this area – memories which grow more precious every day as more and more of our “living history books” leave us. So, we’ll need your help. Whether you grew up on the Depression, during the

heyday of Rock ‘n’ Roll, or during the day when every kid has a cellphone, we’d like to read your special memory of growing up. From New Concord to Lynn Grove, from Cherry Corner to Kirksey or from Almo to Hazel and all the farms and places in between, your story matters. Now, we won’t have room for autobiographies, or the history of the War Years or the Johnson Administration. It’s the memories of growing up that matter here, and we’ll give you good examples as you read further. Please help us spread the word and collect the memories. s

Freedom Fest: Home of the Brave Every year it just gets better, and we wouldn't say it if it weren't true! The 26th annual celebration kicked off bright and early Friday morning with vendors setting up tables and displays on the Court Square and ended with spectacular fireworks burning in the Saturday night sky. Another Freedom Fest has come and gone, and what a delight it was. "This year went so incredibly well, and we almost couldn't believe our luck," said Erin Carrico, executive director of the Murray Convention and Visitor's Bureau. "We could not have had the success we did without the dedication of the community and everyone in it."

On Friday, Matty McRee and Clarence Dobbins had everyone cutting a rug on the Court Square until it was time to go home. This year, patrons were also able to enjoy an enclosed Beer Garden tucked away on the square, as well as plenty of delicious fair foods you can only feast on in the summer. A wonderful parade brought Main Street to life Saturday morning, and street fair activities continued on into the afternoon. Though events were put on hold Saturday night thanks to a bit of a cloud burst, the fireworks capped off a wonderful community event that provides family fun and gave our veterans the recognition they truly deserve. s

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[  ] notes & neighbors

A Farewell for Two Good Neighbors The long line of well-wishers wound around a large tent and out the door – or would have had there been a door. Hundreds of Murrayans and west Kentuckians came to bid a formal farewell to Drs. Randy and Ronda Dunn on the eve of their departure to Randy’s new appointment as president of Youngstown State in Ohio. Mayor Bill Wells, a well-known educator himself, was joined by Hospital CEO Jerry Penner and wife Jamie in a salute to the “First Couple” of Murray State. Many civic groups were represented include the Rotary Club who, in addition to several others, sent song leaders Dr. Roger

Reichmuth and radio personality Pete Lancaster. Perhaps the most poignant recollection of the event for the Dunns may be a beautiful quilt made from teeshirts from each of the 18 counties in the University’s service region. In his brief remarks make to the attendees, Dr. Dunn noted the pleasant presence of so many people representing faculty, administrators, staff and students, as well as folks from business, education, agriculture,

industry and the communities from across the region. Despite a welcome new home in Ohio, we do not doubt that Randy and Ronda will miss their old neighbors just as much as they will be missed by the folks in the Murray State community. s

On the Cover and Beyond Reflecting the color and dynamic friendliness of the Friendliest Town in America (just ask Mayor Wells), Justin Kimbro’s photograph of the Saturday Farmers’ Market is a fitting cover for a celebration of

community. Justin lends his artistic and technical talents to a number of civic organizations, and we are always pleased when his photography graces the cover of Murray Life. An award-winning print and on-line designer, Justin is as at home behind a camera as he is in front of the computer screen. It is his work, and the design work of his associate, Amanda Newman, that you see on every page of the magazine – and on the cover, as well. We would be remiss if we did not also thank Chris Ray, whose sketch

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of Fort Henry was featured in our last issue (“Fort Heiman: The Forgotten Fort,” Summer, 2013, pp. 30-33). So realistic is Chris’s work that our editors were fooled into thinking that it was an historic document. In fact, Chris created the sepia-toned sketch to supplement the series of article by his father, author Larry Ray, whose second installment in the saga of Calloway’s little-known civil war fortification appears in this issue. You will undoubtedly see the drawing again before the series concludes in 2014, and this time you should see it with a proper artist’s recognition. s


[  ] notes & neighbors

Legends of Theatre It may not have seemed so to the other patrons at Jasmine’s restaurant last July 3, but it was an historic meeting of sorts for fans of Murray’s 35-year-old Playhouse in the Park. By coincidence, both Richard Valentine, the founding producingdirector of the Playhouse, and Elizabeth Bussey Fentress, the executive director who guided the renovation of the theatre in the late 80s and early 90s, were in Murray at the same time. “Liz,” as she is known to most of her former cast members and fans, was presenting a workshop to the Governor’s School of the Arts; Richard was visiting family for the holidays. At the direction of Margaret Trevathan, a founding board

member and former County Librarian, an impromptu gathering of performers, volunteers and staffers started with lunch and ended with a tour of the Playhouse from Director Lisa Cope. The original building was purchased from the Louisville and Nashville Railroad in 1979, during Valentine’s tenure as director. Fentress oversaw the $250,000+ renovation after she became the fourth Executive Director. “It’s like being in the company of legends,” said Lisa Cope. The three directors (Liz, Richard and Lisa) were able to discuss strategies while they reminisced about characters who had occupied the stage (Disney star Leigh Baker

and NPR’s David Greene were mentioned, for instance) and the many changes that had taken place since the first production in 1977. Liz is now a playwright living and working in the Louisville area. Husband Larry Fentress is an attorney in the Derby City. Valentine teaches theatre at the Middle School of the Arts in Palm Beach, Florida, and lives in nearby Tequesta with wife Becky Wilson Valentine, who, as a former treasurer of the theatre board, is herself a veteran of the adventure that is approaching its 36th birthday. Many of our readers will recognize both names and many will remember their contribution to the community with fondness and excitement. For both Liz and Richard, the show goes on – just like the Playhouse they helped to create. s

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[ ď‚Ş ] guess what

Founding Females by: Paige Graves Women. You can't live with them and you can't live without them. Additionally, you can't have great political change without them either. As we celebrate ladies laboring over law, take a moment to gain some knowledge and appreciate the women who put the power in power suit.

1. In what country do women make up 56 percent of parliament? A. England B. Norway C. Rwanda D. Canada

2. In what year did American women win the right to vote? A. 1920 B. 1879 C. 1905 D. 1955

3. Who was the first woman to run for President of the United States? A. Linda Jenness B. Hillary Clinton C. Belva Ann Lockwood D. Victoria Hullwood

4. Jeanette Rankin was the first woman elected to what?

7. What was the first state to allow women to vote?

A. Mayor B. Governor C. Supreme Court Judge D. U.S. Congress

A. Colorado B. Wyoming C. Utah D. California

5. Who was the first woman to be U.S. Secretary of State?

8. Who was the first woman to serve as Attorney General?

A. Elizabeth Dole B. Carol Moseley Braun C. Madeline Albright D. Condoleezza Rice

A. Janet Reno B. Betty White C. Hillary Clinton D. Carol Moseley Braun

6. Where was the first Women's Rights Convention held?

9. As one of the first leaders for women's rights, who was the first woman pictured on a US coin in circulation?

A. Rochester, NY B. Seneca Falls, NY C. Washington, D.C. D. Syracuse, NY

A. Lucy Stone B. Matilda Gage C. Harriet Tubman D. Susan B. Anthony

10. Who was the first female member of the Supreme Court? A. Ruth Bader Ginsburg B. Stella George Stern Perry C. Sandra Day O'Connor D. Sonia Sotomayor

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[  ] uncommon mystery The Day the Music Died (1999) Ed Gorman by: Michael Cohen

am McCain—everyone calls him just McCain—is a young man who finished law school and instead of striking out for new territory, returned to the little Iowa town where he grew up. There he moons after the beautiful girl he fell in love with in high school, who is in love with someone else. He tries to be nice to the girl who’s loved him since high school, meanwhile being bullied by his boss the judge and by the police chief. Some of us would think of suicide at this point, and in fact one of McCain’s old schoolmates does commit

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suicide in the first chapters of the book, thus starting an investigation that no one seems to think McCain capable of finishing. The book begins on the night of February 3, 1959, as McCain drives back from the last concert given by Ritchie Valens, Buddy Hollly, and the Bog Bopper, J. P. Richardson. Gorman captures the late fifties in small town America and its mix of innocence, provinciality, racial bigotry, complacence, and Cold War tension. He neglects neither the good side of the social cohesion of small town life fifty years ago, nor the ugly side that included coathanger abortions and the aggregation of power in the hands of two or three moneyed families.

I won’t quibble that it was a yellow, not a pink polka-dot bikini, that the record players ought to be Hi Fi rather than stereo, or that the car in Route 66 was a Corvette rather than a Thunderbird. For the most part, Gorman gets it right. His picture of 50s life is hardly sugar-coated: his people are often not happy and terrible things happen. Yet the book will still feed nostalgia for the 50s. If you have that oldtime feeling and want to go back when Ike was still in office, J. Edgar Hoover was railing about the Communist menace, John Kennedy was a rising Senator, and poodle skirts were just beginning to lose their fashion edge, you’ll like The Day the Music Died, and probably the other McCain books Ed Gorman has written, Wake Up Little Susie, Save the Last Dance for Me, Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool, and Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?. s

One of the town’s plutocrats, a spoiled and alcoholic donothing, has apparently killed his wife and himself— McCain arrives on the scene just before the suicide. But McCain discovers that the guns for the two killings were different, and as he searches for the wife’s real killer, his own family, his boss, and his old friends from high school all become part of the story.

Michael Cohen has been doing a feature commentary, “Uncommon Mysteries,” on WKMS for several years. These short mystery reviews focus on the unusual or uncommon stories which may be a deviation from conventions of the mystery genre, an odd viewpoint or historical first, or a new twist on an old plot device, such as the locked room murder or the unwilling amateur detective. This is an excerpt from Cohen's forthcoming collection of reviews.

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[

 ] pet pause Heartworm Prevention by: Emily Dowell

aisy, a terrier mix, was found in the fall of 2011, wandering around a county road. She was taken to the MurrayCalloway County Shelter, where she would be safe from vehicles. Daisy’s sweet nature charmed many visitors to the shelter, but a blood test revealed that the pretty girl had heartworms.

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are a cough intolerance.

and

exercise

While we may not immediately see the symptoms of heartworm in our dogs, the infection is still devastating to the animal. Even mild infections can cause inflammation of the lungs and heart, and long-term infections may cause permanent damage to

Heartworms (Dirofilaria immitis) are potentially deadly parasites that are passed to our pets through mosquito bites. The heartworm larvae live in the mosquito’s gut and enter your dog or cat’s bloodstream when the mosquito bites. Once in the dog or cat’s bloodstream, the larvae develop into adult worms and migrate to the host animal’s lungs. Infected animals can have between 1 and 250 worms Daisy with a handmade quilt made especially for her living in its body at one by her person, Ann Landini. time. Male heartworms can be up to 6 inches long, and internal organs and ultimately female worms are about a foot in death. Heart problems are length. Heartworms continue to common in heartworm-positive breed and multiply once inside dogs, since the presence of the the dog, living in the lungs and worms increases the workload on heart. the heart. The life of a heartworm may be disgusting, but they are often undetectable in an animal without testing. Until the infection is very severe, the only symptoms that may be noticed

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Heartworms can be treated and prevented, improving our furry friends’ quality of life. Heartworm treatment has improved greatly within the past ten years, and now has an

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impressive success rate but it is very expensive. Heartworm prevention is the much less expensive and a proactive option. Heartworm preventive medication is sold in both topical and oral doses. The monthly medication kills developing larvae in the bloodstream and effectively eliminates the chance of infection. There are many rumors and old wives’ tales circulating about heartworm prevention, but preventive medications are safe for all dog breeds when they are given as directed. If you have questions about which heartworm preventive to use, ask your veterinarian for their recommendation. Heartworm prevention is critical to keeping your furry companion healthy. Mosquitoes are everywhere and dogs are their victims as often as people are. There is no way of effectively preventing the mosquito bites, but it is possible to keep the larvae from growing into foot-long worms inside your dogs. While many dogs go untreated for heartworms and then die of organ failure, Daisy’s story is different. Heartworm-positive dogs are difficult to find homes


for and are often euthanized. Daisy’s sweet temperament charmed the Humane Society who decided to sponsor her heartworm treatment with the help of a local veterinarian. She was moved from the animal shelter to a Humane Society foster home to have her treatment. After several months of treatment, Daisy was given a forever home by Ann Landini. Daisy is no longer a heartworm positive stray, but a healthy companion for Ann. Daisy loves chasing the neighborhood squirrels during the day and enjoys cuddling and watching Animal Planet at night. She didn’t understand toys at first, but now enjoys all of the many toys Ann has bought for her. Ann reports that Daisy loves riding in the car and visiting the bank drive-thru, where the tellers keep treats. While Daisy likes playing with Ann’s cat Smokey, she is Ann’s constant companion. Heartworm infections are physical battles that no dog should have to fight. Modern heartworm preventives are effective and easily accessible. Even indoor dogs are susceptible to heartworms, going outside for even a few minutes exposes them to heartworm-carrying mosquitos. The only thing standing between your animals and a heartworm infection is your decision to use preventive medication. If you haven’t had your pup on preventives, ask your vet for a heartworm test and a monthly preventive. Daisy now is taking heartworm preventive and has a long and happy life ahead of her. This is not the case for all heartwormpositive dogs – only the ones who go through months of expensive treatment. Keeping your furry friends on regular heartworm prevention will help ensure that your four-legged companion will live a long and healthy life with you. s If you would like more information about saving animals by becoming a Humane Society foster home, contact the Humane Society at 270-759-1884, at humanesociety@murray-ky.net or visit us at the Weaks Community Center, 607 Poplar Street, Murray, KY. You can find a Foster Home Application Form on our website at www.ForThePets.org.

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[  ] a laughing matter

Education Consternation by: Murray Life Staff

Going back to school after a long and languid summer is often met with resistance. Unfortunately, resistance is futile and the brain begs to be again filled with equations, important dates in history, reading assignments and the thought of cafeteria food. Luckily, there are a few laughs to be had along the way.

Mrs. Paine and Mrs. Hacking were two kindergarten teachers at the school where my mother worked as a school secretary. During a flu epidemic, a parent called to excuse their child from school. "Is she in Paine or Hacking?" my mother asked. "Neither," the confused parent replied. "She's got a fever but that's about it."

thought for a long minute and then responded, "Sir, I don't know and I don't care." ...................................................... Recently I was grading history tests taken by my fourth grade students. The extra credit question asked students to list up to five good things Abraham Lincoln did. A student wrote, "After the war ended, Lincoln took his wife to a show." ....................................................... Luke came home from his first day of school, and his mother asked, “What did you learn today?” “Not enough,” Luke replied. “They said I have to go back tomorrow.”

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The principal was dealing with Big Arthur again. "What's the matter, Arthur?" he asked. "You make the same mistakes every time; is it ignorance or apathy?" Arthur

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain

A wise school teacher sends this note to all parents on the first day of school: "If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at school, I'll promise not to believe everything he says happens at home." ....................................................... After a day of listening to my eighth graders exchange gossip, I decided to quote Mark Twain to them: "It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." After considering my words, one of my students asked, "What does it mean to remove all doubt?" ....................................................... History lessons were about the Presidents of the United States the first week school was back in session. "George Washington not only chopped down his father’s cherry tree but also admitted it," said the teacher. "Now, Joey, do you know why his father didn’t punish him?" Joey looked up and said, "Because George still had the ax in his hand?" ....................................................... Interviewing a college applicant, the dean of admissions asks, "If you could have a conversation with someone, living or dead, who would it be?" The student thinks it over, then answers, "The living one."

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This is easy level puzzle #26...Good Luck!

This is medium level puzzle #27...Good Luck!

Instructions: Place the numbers 1 through 9 in each blank field. Each column (down), row (across) and 3x3 region must contain each of the numerals only one time.

By popular demand, we are providing two different puzzles with two different degrees of difficulty.

Again, good luck! Where is the Solution? Not sure of your answers? Turn to page 19!

If you have a favorite kind of print puzzle you’d like to see, contact us with your ideas at:

Go to www.murraylifemagazine.com We’ll see you next issue with another great puzzle!

Puzzle Editor, Murray Life PO Box 894 Murray, KY 42071

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[ ✚ ] health

Build a Bridge to Better Health by: Murray Life Staff

aomi Judd is coming to Murray, but she has much more on her mind than her music and the demands of being an internationally renowned entertainment figure.

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On September 21 Judd will join several other presenters as part of the Healthy Living and Wellness Expo scheduled for Murray State’s Curris University Center. While a number of activities will take place throughout the day, Mrs. Judd will be the featured presenter at a limited-seating special event at 7 p.m.

spokesperson for the American Liver Foundation. In 2004, she published the bestseller, Naomi's Breakthrough Guide: 20 Choices to Transform Your Life, which remained on The New York Times best-seller list for over eight weeks. In 2005, Naomi wrote her third children's book, Gertie the Goldfish, and in 2006, her book The Transparent Life hit the shelves. Hallmark Channel tapped Naomi Judd to host Naomi's New

Judd is an advocate for healthy living practices. A survivor of the oftendeadly Hepatitis-C, she tours nationally to share her personal stories and to encourage learning and practice of sound health habits in others.

A former RN, Judd was the first national

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those who desire more than just health.

– Matt Sullivan

Morning, a weekly talk show that aired 2005 to 2007. In 2007, her best-seller titled Naomi's Guide to Aging Gratefully appeared with a message of empowerment to the millions of Baby Boomers in this country. Throughout the day a number of presenters will speak on specific health topics, such as women’s health, neurology, and diet. “We’re trying to provide vital information on some of the subjects that don’t get the time and treatment they deserve,” said Sullivan. He points to the emphasis on women’s health which is often limited to women in their childbearing years. “We’re going to make sure that mature women – a growing segment of our community – get straightforward information about health matters of greatest concern to them, too,” he said.

Event Coordinator Matt Sullivan calls Judd “a great survivor.” “Naomi is a well-known international figure,” said Sullivan, the sales and marketing director for Walter’s Pharmacy in Murray. “She has struggled and survived, and she is a great spokesman for making healthy decisions.”

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The purpose is to bring “awareness and hope for

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The impact of laws and regulations on health and healthy living will be addressed, as well. Sullivan notes that a financial planner will be on hand to provide advice about preparing for a healthy mature lifestyle. An attorney will also present the latest information on navigating the rules and regulations of Medicare and other programs designed to help support health. “This is a large-scale event,” said Matt Sullivan. “The purpose is to bring awareness and hope for those who desire more than just health, but a healthy lifestyle and a lifetime of wellness. Your health is not so much a matter of luck as it is a program of practice that you can create and control.” s

Location: Murray State University’s Curris Center. The daytime event and all the seminars are free to the public. The evening event with Mrs. Judd is a ticketed event with limited seating. Tickets are available online at www.itickets.com and are $35 each. Website: www.livinghealthyexpo.com

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[ ďƒ‹ ] count on it

Write This Down by: Paige Graves

They say nothing is permanent, and luckily for most students pencil marks aren't either. Though some may prefer the pen, the pencil has a history so rich in numbers even the sword can't argue. As schools open their doors after summer, don't get caught without fresh writing utensils.

62: The number of times the annually-produced pencils could circle the globe

100: Years ago the pencil did not have an eraser to discourage mistakes

45,000: Words one pencil could potentially write

17:

March 30:

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No. 2: Preferred test-taking pencil for its softer markings

1 million:

65 feet:

Pencils used annually on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange

Height of the world's largest pencil, a Castell 9,000. It is made of Malaysian wood and polymer

National Pencil Day

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Year the pencil was invented

Average number of times a pencil can be sharpened

$50: Dollars required for the labor and materials required to produce one 10-cent pencil

1565:

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1789: Year Abraham Gottlob Werner named graphite, which is what pencils contain as opposed to lead


Answers to the Questions on page 10. Let始s see how you did!

Have I got an answer for you?

1. C. Rwanda 2. A. 1920 3. D. Victoria Hullwood 4. D. U.S. Congress 5. C. Madeline Albright 6. B. Seneca Falls, NY 7. B. Wyoming 8. A. Janet Reno 9. D. Susan B. Anthony 10. C. Sandra Day O'Connor

Sudoku Answers from page 15

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[

 ] coming of age in calloway Before the Memory Dims by: Erin Carrico and Robert Valentine

Calloway County might be all arlier this year, New around us, yet unpreserved – and York Magazine disappearing every day. Made published a series of mindful of the fragility of memory recollections from by Bob Valentine’s mother who, at people who had grown up in New 97, was only 8 years old when York City. From young children construction started on Murray to celebrities like Mel Brooks, State University, we decided to each contributed a little celebrate Calloway through the remembrance of life through the eyes of children as eyes of a child long best we could. before New York We’d like to know what had replaced Most of those London as the today’s children think children are now largest city in the about growing up in this living in the developed world – place that has a national bodies of and the more grandmothers, influential. It was reputation for friendliness, city and county an interesting playfulness and family. officials, farmers, piece, to say the least. – Robert Valentine bankers, retired truck drivers, teachers, physicians and just about However, as we discussed it around any other kind of person you can the editorial table, we began to name. We have already interviewed worry that such wonderful a number of them, but we will seek recollections of Murray and

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out many more before we’re finished with a multi-part series of articles that we call “Coming of Age in Calloway.” In a real way, we’re not interested in the official “Chamber of Commerce” version of Murray, or the City of County brochures aimed at attracting tourists, visitors or new business. We are seeking out the honest recollections of what it was like to be a kid in a place that was – and is – as much about the County as the City; as much about the acres of corn, beans and tobacco as it is about the schools, offices and factories. We want to hear about what it was like to ride a bike to the playground for a football game, and what it was like to ride the mule to the swimming hole on Clark’s River. And we’re not just interested in Murray. We’ve already had talks with people who grew up on Kirksey, Cherry Corner, New Concord, Almo, Wiswell and Hazel. There was a Faxon School, for instance, long after there was a Faxon. Still, people knew where

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they were from. We’re looking for those stories. Along the way, we’re looking for pictures, too. Some may be Polaroids with their instant color already fading; some may have been taken with the family “Brownie” by an amateurphotographer-father who insisted that everyone say “cheese” at the same time. Some may be digital photos taken with a cellphone, because we’d like to know what today’s children think about growing up in this place that has a

national reputation for friendliness, playfulness and family. To help put it into perspective, let us tease you with a recollection from the late Lester Nanny. Lester was a Calloway kid from the western side of the County. He later became one of the county’s most decorated veterans of World War II, and subsequently became the post master for Murray, was the County Court Clerk, served on the City Council and was Mayor Pro Tem for two years. In 1997 he was interviewed for a video history of Murray State University, from which this recollection comes: “It was a big thing for the county,” he recalled, “and a big thing for me. My brother was hired (this would have been in 1923) to work on the first building, which was later called Wrather Hall or the Chapel. We lived out toward Lynn Grove; so every morning he would ride the mule in to work on the building. Sometimes I would go with him to bring the mule home. I guess I was about nine or ten – I don’t remember exactly – and sometimes, if we didn’t need the mule, I would stay in town all day and play in the piles of sand they had dredged up to make the cement. Then, at the end of the day, brother and I would ride the mule home. It was a big time.”

“As the twig is bent, so grows the tree,” says the old adage. Well, in our next several issues we will examine the twigs of the county and how the towns, villages and places from which they came shaped their lives and stamped their memories with unforgettable images of life in Calloway. We’d love to hear from you, if you grew up in the County, and you can contact us by mail at Murray Life, P.O. Box 894, Murray, KY 40271. Please let us know how we can contact you, and please include childhood photos if you have them. We will treasure and return them, but digital photos or scans of high quality would be welcomed – we don’t want to lose any family heirlooms.

We began to worry that “such wonderful recollections of Murray and Calloway County might be all around us, yet unpreserved – and disappearing every day.

– Erin Carrico

This might be a good time to coax some recollections out of Dad or Grandma or Uncle Jim. Even if it’s not a good time, you may not get a better one. We hope you’ll join us in these pages in the months ahead and we hope you’ll be a part of it. s

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What do you remember about your childhood in Calloway County? Here are a few highlights from national and local history to jog your memory.

Murray, Kentucky

1930s

1930s

Star Spangled Banner becomes national anthem • The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is enacted into law • Amelia Earhart flew solo across Atlantic

1940s

1940s

WWII • Polaroid camera invented • Dead Sea Scrolls found • Gandhi's assassination

City council prohibits businesses be open on Sunday • Flood of 1937 • Murray State reaches 1,000 students

Cotton Gin on S. 4th St. burned down Dr. Rainey T. Wells retires as attorney general of Woodmen of the World • WNBS station established, named for Nathan B. Stubblefield.

1950s •

1950s

Korean War First organ transplant • Queen Elizabeth's coronation • Sputnik • DNA discovered

1960s John Glenn orbits Earth John F. Kennedy assassinated • Woodstock • F irst man on the moon • Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated • Berlin Wall built • •

Burt Lancaster produced 'The Kentuckian,' with Calloway County as the story background • Polio vaccine perfected and sent to Lynn Grove School. • American Legion welcomed public to watch Kentucky Derby on 21-inch television • First major strike by UAW at Murray Manufacturing Company • County board of education formally desegregated the county school system

1960s Voting machine came to Calloway Airport dedication held • Groundbreaking ceremony for new MCCH • Harry S. Truman came to town • WKMS hit the airwaves •

1970s

Disney World opens John Paul II becomes Pope • Apple computers are sold • World Trade Center completed • •

1980s

1970s Calloway County Public Library held grand opening of cultural center • The Murray Democrat ceased publication • Playhouse in the Park founded

John Lennon assassinated • Mount St. Helens erupts • Challenger explosion • First hole in the ozone detected • Titanic found •

1980s Dr. Kala Stroup serves as MSU's first female president • First Freedom Fest • National Scouting Museum opens • Murray named Retirement Capital of America •

1990s Hubble Telescope launched Nelson Mandela freed • World Wide Web created • Chernobyl disaster • Mother Teresa died • •

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1990s MSU Regional Special Event Center opens Murray Highland Festival begins • County Population exceeds 30,000 • •


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of busy people arranging tables displaying the surprising array of homegrown produce and handcrafted goods. By 7:00 the vendors are ready for the customers who will stroll the streets until nearly noon.

The same thing shared by heirloom quality cutting boards, seedless watermelons, all natural farm raised beef, hand decorated gourds, garden fresh vegetables, and worm manure: They can all be found most Saturday mornings at the farmers market on Murray’s court square.

Paul McDade (“the Breadman”) of Morning Star Farms has sold fresh breads at farmers markets for over 15 years. Paul’s wife, Juanita, learned the art of baking while raising their children. “My wife home schooled our children while I worked off the farm, and she baked fresh bread every day; that’s how it all started," said McDade.

From mid-May through the last weekend in October, the south side of the court square in Murray slowly comes to life just before 6:00 a.m. every Saturday. By 6:30 the street is full

Curtis Bucy of Bucy Farms has been offering a wide variety of produce at local farmers markets for the last 6 or 7 years. “We just always had a big garden, that’s sort of how the

hat do a former executive with one of the largest bottling companies in the world; a sixth generation tobacco farmer; a retired broadcaster; a renowned paleontologist, an insurance agent and a jet airliner mechanic have in common?

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farmers market thing all started,” he said. Curtis worked for years with his father, Jimmy Bucy, as a carpenter; now when he is not in his garden, you can find him helping folks manage their risk as an agent for a local insurance office. When Claude Miller graduated from Murray High School in the late fifties, he probably had no idea where life would take him. Graduating from Georgia Tech, Miller took an engineering position with Coco-Cola in Atlanta, and ended up traveling the world for Coke, and then Pepsi. “The wood working was just something daddy always enjoyed,” his son Jeff Miller said. Claude’s talents are now displayed downtown on Saturday mornings in the form of handmade heirloom quality cutting boards.

IN A NORMAL YEAR, WE’LL SHIP AROUND

25 semi truck loads of Watermelon ”

Jerry Copeland’s family has operated orchards in southern Graves County for years. About 20 years ago he expanded into vegetable production and has been a fixture at area farmers markets ever since. While many vendors figure prices with a calculator or opt for an electronic scale that tells weight and calculates price, Ol’ Man Copeland (as he is affectionately called) still uses an old heavy duty spring scale and figures the prices in his head, calling off the amount owed as the scale needle settles on a weight. “I’ve done it long enough I can figure in my head quicker than you can do it with calculator.” The art of Ken and Beverly Kietzke is a feast for the eyes, if not for the palette. The daughter of a renowned mural artist, Beverly traveled the Southwest with her father in the '40s and '50s. It was on a fossil dig in the badlands of South Dakota that Bev met the man who was to become her husband 15 years later. Ken Kietzke started going on fossil digs with professionals when he was in high school. After retirement, Ken started painting and decorating gourds as

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a hobby, and before long he was joining his wife downtown selling his creations. Mark Paschall’s family has farmed in southwest Calloway County since before the civil war. Mark has been recognized as an outstanding tobacco farmer several times over the years, going all the way back to his days at Calloway County High, but at the farmers market he’s known for his seedless watermelons. Paschall diversified into watermelons a few years ago, now producing between 30 and 40 acres a year. “In a normal year we’ll ship around 25 semi truck loads of watermelons," he said. A long time local farming operation, Stubblefield Farm is owned & operated by Kathy Jo Stubblefield and her brother. Specializing in farm raised beef and fresh country sausage, the current beef operation traces its roots back to the dairy the family operated for 70 years until their father retired and sold the milking herd in the late 90’s. “Daddy always raised steers to sell as freezer beef the whole time we had the dairy, and customers were always bragging about how good the beef tasted. We just raise ‘em the way daddy did,” says Kathy Jo. Retired from 33 years of teaching English at Calloway County High, Stubblefield says it was “Miss Jimmie’s” fresh country sausage that really made a hit during their first years at the market. When Jim Cantrell retired from being an airliner mechanic with Federal Express, he and his wife Jane looked for something they could do together during retirement. Last year, they sold close to a ton of worm manure. That’s right; people buy "worm castings" for fertilizer and a soil enhancer. According to Cantrell, the grounds keeper for Chattanooga’s Minor league baseball team gets 200 pounds every year to make compost tea to fertilize the ball field. Early in the season, A Place in Thyme sells a variety of flowers and bedding plants, but in the summer, their specialty is cactus of all types, in an array of whimsical pots and planters. Called “succulents,” owner Cindy Gray will correct you if you use any variations of cactus or cacti to refer to her prickly protégés. Cindy is a proud retiree of the Kentucky Department of Highways, retired after 25 years of being an asphalt inspector; 25 summers spent in the hottest place this side of Hades. Seems Mrs. Gray, like her “succulents,” thrives in the heat.


Charles Palmer has lived most of his life in Calloway County except for a short period of time when he worked as a herdsman for a large dairy farm down south. “I got homesick; one year was all I could stand, so I came back.” Palmer still operates a small dairy operation, which makes him a 4th generation dairyman, although much of his attention is now focused on his expanding vegetable and strawberry operation. The parade of customers continues, as vendors greet their weekly regulars and explain to new visitors what they have to offer. And at any one time there are a half-a-dozen people on cells phones calling someone, and the conversation always starts, “They’ve got some of this at the farmers market; do you want me to get you some?”

“Slowly Comes to Life the court square

just before 6:00AM every Saturday

By a quarter ‘til noon the flow of people has dwindled to a trickle, and vendors are getting ready to call it a day as they stack empty baskets, take down signs and fold tablecloths. If it has been a good day, loading is easy since most of the produce carried in at dawn has now been carried out by customers. And, as often as not, somebody will drive up and ask if anybody has any squash or tomatoes or green beans, apologizing for being late or for not realizing the market closed at noon. Tailgates are dropped, tarps are turned back and, in a minute, another customer heads happily home with fresh veggies in hand. It’s going to be another nice Saturday in Calloway County. About the Author Krit Stubblefield’s 25-year career in Radio & TV as a broadcast journalist included a 10-year stint as Farm Director for Kentucky Agri-Net. He currently operates Stubblefield Farm with his sister, Kathy Jo.

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Part II

In celebration of the Civil War’s Sesquicentennial, Larry Ray has compiled a history of Confederate Fort Heiman – a mystery of history right in his own backyard.

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Editor’s Note: Murray and Calloway County lie within easy drives of many vital Civil War sites. However, trips to Nashville, Paducah, Shiloh, or Vicksburg are not required if one wants to see important and historic places where history was made and the future changed. Forts Henry and Donelson are moments away by car and now you are able to visit the fort that might have changed the war – right here in Calloway County. We are indebted to Larry Ray, an avid student of the site and, as you will see, a skilled writer of history for his devotion to the subject and his willingness to share his insights into this fascinating mystery. In our last installment of this series of articles, we learned of General Tilghman’s intention to secure a well-placed site for a gun battery on the west bank of the Tennessee River near the Kentucky/Tennessee border. Larry Ray resumes his narrative at that point.

ngineers were quickly sent across the river to start planning the construction. Slave labor from Alabama and Mississippi did most of the work. The new fort – named after Colonel Adolphus Heiman of the 10th Tennessee Regiment, who commanded the 1,100 troops at the fort and oversaw its construction – was still unfinished when the Union launched an offensive in February 1862. The fort, which might have stopped the passage of Union gunboats down the Tennessee, was destined never to be completed. Time was running out and a dark cloud was brewing to the north. Union Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant wasted no time, leaving Cairo, Illinois on February 2nd. His invasion force consisted of 17,000 men in two divisions and a "Western Flotilla" Naval Flotilla of 7 gunboats commanded by Navy Commodore Andrew Hull Foote. There were insufficient transport ships this early in the war to deliver all of the army troops in a single operation, so two trips upriver were required to reach Bailey’s Ferry, just north of Forts Heiman and Henry. On February 4, with Heiman still not completed, Gen. Tilghman realized he probably could not prevent the destruction or capture of Fort Henry. Tilghman moved the Fort Heiman garrison back to Fort Henry under the cover of night to supplement that fort's defenses. Federal troops were sent across the river the next day to take Fort Heiman, but they found it empty. Fort Heiman had been abandoned, but her fight was not over. She still had a big part to play in the war.

General Tilghman

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The Battle for Fort Henry This important battle became instrumental in the early direction of the war and set the stage for a man who would one day be President of the United States. General Tilghman decided that, with the strength of the federal forces and the severe flooding inside of Fort Henry, his position was futile. He ordered the majority of the Fort Henry garrison along with the troops from Fort Heiman sent to Fort Donelson to defend it from attack. Fort Henry proved to be no match for the gunboats. The rising waters of the Tennessee made it possible for the seven gunboats to fire directly level into the Fort. General Tilghman and the survivors of a skeleton gun crew of fifty-four men would be going to a Union prison, but they stayed in the fort to delay long enough for the others to escape to Donelson. They served gallantly and with surprising accuracy, disabling the Essex and severely damaging the Cincinnati. However, the garrison was outgunned and unprotected so Tilghman, standing in his flooded fort, was obliged to surrender on the afternoon of February 6. Protecting the rear of the retreating Confederate force from Henry, Colonel Heiman could look back and see the enemy in the fort across the river that bore his name. Fort Heiman had fallen into federal hands, but her role in the war was far from over. Her greatest glory was yet to come. Forts Heiman and Henry became federal garrisons. They also became havens for refugee slaves seeking freedom. The first federal commander of Fort Heiman was General Lew Wallace who had a short and peaceful command. General Wallace is well known in history as the author of “Ben Hur,” a book that he wrote during the war. Another Federal commander was not so fortunate. Colonel W.W. Lowe was given the next command that was long and turbulent. Lowe’s command was given the responsibility of protecting Fort Heiman and maintaining patrols in the area. During this time, Camp Lowe was built close to where my home is now

Commodore Foote

Col. Heiman

Nathan B. Forrest


located just south of Fort Heiman, so that patrols could operate more easily toward Paris Landing and Paris. This was a very tense and dangerous time as Confederate partisans filled the countryside. The Federals knew they had to keep Fort Heiman from returning to Confederate hands. Heiman’s high bluffs would be ideal for Confederate artillery to attack Union gunboats and transports moving men and materials into the Deep South. The Fifth Iowa held the fort from February 1862 until March of 1863. During this time, patrols from Fort Heiman and Camp Lowe were never safe, being harassed by bushwhackers and partisans as well as large bodies of Confederate cavalry in the vicinity, including the feared Nathan Bedford Forrest. One of these patrols was involved in the Battle of Paris. There were several causalities and some were buried at Fort Heiman.

Preparing for the Attack on Fort Donelson While the fall of both Forts Heiman and Henry was being celebrated in the North, Grant was actually in an extremely vulnerable position. He was standing in a flooded Fort Henry, with his back to the Tennessee River and far from being ready to move against Fort Donelson. Admiral Foote’s gunboats, which had suffered casualties and severe damage were back in Paducah for repairs or off on other missions. This gave Grant little or no protection from the river. He had little knowledge of Confederate strength or intentions at Dover. He had no artillery to support his infantry and was outnumbered by Confederate forces at Dover. Grant, standing in the mud at Fort Henry, was in a very bad spot militarily. Grant began to send out scouting patrols toward Dover, and they were skirmishing daily with Confederate patrols lead by

Nathan Bedford Forrest’s cavalry sent out from Donelson. By the 10th, skirmishes were increasing. The people of Calloway, Henry and Stewart Counties were having their first experience with a shooting war, and the tempo was increasing daily. There was a battle coming for Fort Donelson and it was coming soon. On the 11th, it was getting warmer and Grant ordered his troops out of Fort Henry and on the road toward Dover and Fort Donelson. Admiral Foote was in Paducah preparing his gunboats to go up the Cumberland toward Donelson. Grant was expecting a quick strike, which along with the gunboats, should make short work of Fort Donelson. He was wrong. This battle would be hard and bloody and a much worse disaster for the gunboats than Henry had been. Meanwhile, Foote’s flotilla was being delayed. The repairs and resupply of his gunboats had taken more time than planned, and his boats were undermanned. Many of his sailors had deserted after the bloody battle of Fort Henry. Those that survived would experience combat even more bloody and deadly under Donelson’s guns. Grant’s infantry and cavalry were moving toward Dover in the highest of spirits, thinking that they would soon be inside Fort Donelson. Spirits were also high among the Confederates at Fort Donelson. Reinforcements were arriving daily and they were ready for a fight. After the next three days attitudes would change in both the Union and Confederate camps. They would all be bloodied and experienced in battle with less enthusiasm for war. In our next issue: The Battle for Fort Donelson Larry Ray is Executive Director of the Henry County Fair Association and past Executive Director of the Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development. He has had a life-long interest in the Civil War.

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Summer Edition


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[

 ] community A Park for All Seasons by: Royce Williams he start of school looms; the sounds of summer are disappearing. The crack of the bat hitting the ball, parents and coaches encouraging the kids, and everything else that goes with traditional summer sports will soon be a distant memory. In the minds of many, it would seem that the hustle, fun and activity that

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centers on the Murray-Calloway County Parks is quietly settling into “the off-season.” Not so! Just ask Parks Director Tab Brockman and he’ll quickly rattle off the long list of fall and winter activities that will happen in the

community’s 164-acre playground as cooler weather arrives and the brilliantly colored leaves fall to the ground, signaling the approaching winter. “Many people think the park puts it on cruise control once summer is over,” Brockman said with a chuckle. “That simply couldn’t be further from the truth." “Co-Ed softball, fall soccer, fall baseball, Murray State intramurals, flag football and a long list of special events keep the park staff busy. We have a full calendar that stretches at least three months into the future all year long, Fortunately for our community we’ve gotten to the point where the Parks don’t have an off-season anymore,” Brockman said. Couple the laundry list of fall activities with the Park’s other regular drawing cards and it’s no surprise things don’t slow down. In addition to seasonal sports and activities, the Park has regular daily patrons at the dog

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September 21: National Day of Play in Central Park October-December: Adult Flag Football weekends at Chestnut Park & Bee Creek October 12: Bark in the Park (Humane Society) in Central Park October 12: Lion’s Club Trail Run in Central Park park, disc golf course, pavilions and walking trails. Murray’s “Playhouse in the Park” will start a new season of theatre after a busy summer of youth workshops. The Playhouse is entering it’s 37th year as one of Kentucky’s most active community theatres and has been at home in Central Park since 1979.

Fortunately for our com“munity we’ve gotten to the point where the Parks don’t have an off-season anymore.

– Tab Brockman

scheduled events that accompany a year-long background of happy dogs, flying discs, walkers, joggers and more: August-September: Fall Baseball in Central Park August-October: Co-Ed Softball in Chestnut Park August-November: Murray-Calloway County Soccer Association fall league at Bee Creek Complex (CCYSA) September-October: Murray State Intramurals weeknights at Central Park September 21: CVB’s Citywide Yard Sale in Central Park

October 19-20: MCCSA Fall Invitational Soccer Tournament at Bee Creek October 26: Murray Highland Festival in Central Park October 31: Trail of Treats Community Halloween in Central Park December 1-29: Holiday Festival of Lights in Central Park Want to learn more? Visit the Murray-Calloway County Parks on the web at www.murrayparks.org or follow @MCCParks on Twitter or Murray-Calloway Parks Department on Facebook. s

It’s no wonder Murray was named a Playful City USA for the sixth straight year. The MurrayCalloway County activity calendar is now virtually year-round and has something going on in the local Parks even during the cooler seasons. Here is a calendar of events for the Murray-Calloway County Parks as fall and winter approach – and remember, these are the

Murray has been named “Playful City USA” for six years in a row!

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2623 Wayne Sullivan Drive Paducah, KY 42003 Phone: 270-442-9726 Fax: 270-442-5058 www.computer-source.com

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[  ] food

How Corny Can You Get? by: Caina Lynch

hat has ears but cannot hear? A field of corn! And, as a child that field fueled one of my first love-hate relationships, next to cooties from the boys in elementary school. My family’s backyard garden consisted of vegetables of all varieties but at least half of our harvest land was dedicated to corn. Usually between the fourth of July and August we had one day devoted to picking, shucking, silking, and boiling corn to freeze. We go to press just as the corn is ripening, but it’s never too late to learn a little more about one of the best summer picnic foods – one that has been around for thousands of years.

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What we Americans call “corn” the rest of the English speaking world regularly refers to as

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“maize.” Modern day maize has evolved over thousands of years to become one of the most widely used vegetables. Whether it is on the cob, in the form of a syrup or starch, or even in a box of crayons most Americans benefit from some aspect of corn on a daily basis. But where did it come from? Believe it or not, maize didn’t conveniently appear when Christopher Columbus learned the ways of the early Native Americans; it has been proven to exist hundreds of years before then but in a different form. Researchers have found a Mexican grass called “Teosinte” to be the closest relative of maize. The seeds of wild teosinte are enclosed in hard shells and line a spike (which would later evolve into the cob) with five to seven rows of seeds. These seeds shatter when ripe and the seeds disperse to spread the grass; very different

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300-million acres “of About corn are cultivated across the planet…” – Caina Lynch

from the hundred-kernel cornon-the-cobs we enjoy fresh during the summer months. Maize has never grown wild and we have the early Native Americans to thank for domesticating and finding so many uses of the plant. Native Americans alone domesticated nine of the most important food crops in the world, maize included, which provides about 21 percent of human nutrition worldwide. In the hands of the Native Americans, no maize went to waste. It could be stored easily and ground for use as cornmeal. The husks could be braided to become sleeping mats, baskets, cornhusk dolls, and sometimes shoes. Native Americans let nothing go to waste and even used the kernel-free corncob to burn as fuel or made into ceremonial rattling sticks. Nowadays we label this early maize (“Indian corn”) as the multicolored corncobs with a variety of yellow, blue, red, and white kernels. Native American Indians shared their seed and knowledge with the early European settlers and taughtthem how to grow maize.


Carpets and some textile products often have a corn-based product in their dye.

According to National Geographic research about 300-million acres of corn are cultivated across the planet, including the United States being the world’s largest producer of corn. Corn is most often thought of as food. How often in one day do you benefit from a cornproduct? Consider the products around the house or work that contain cornstarch, corn-syrup, corn-based food additives, or even ethanol. In recent years this dinner staple has expanded greatly and in fact, the bulk of produced corn today does not go to food production. Here are a few common items that a particle of corn is a primeingredient in. Glue and other adhesives such as sticky-notes and envelopes usually contain cornmeal or cornstarch, which becomes sticky once moistened.

Vitamins and medicines that dissolve inside your system (the tablet’s coating that helps drugs hold their form) often use cornstarch as a binder and helps them disintegrate once ingested. It is a product that is safe and natural for the human body to digest. Dextrin, which is made from cornstarch, is used to assist with removing crayons easily from their molds. Corn products also help the paper labels to cling to crayons. One of the main ingredients in cough drops is corn syrup. It provides sweetness and helps provide the shape and candy-like texture to ease an end or beginning of season cold.

of options. However, the simplest way to prepare corn for enjoyment is add a few ears to un-salted, boiling water for 2 minutes, remove and serve with salt, pepper, and butter available for personal application!

Santa Fe Corn Pudding With a southwestern take on corn pudding, this barbecue spicy flavor will have every member at the family reunion asking for the recipe.

Ingredients 4 C. corn kernels (about 6 ears with fresh corn) 2 large eggs 1 ½ C. half-and-half 1 tsp. kosher salt ½ C. chopped roasted green chiles 1 C. crushed buttery salted crackers (Ritz Crackers) 4 tbsp. butter, melted, divided ½ C. shredded Monterey jack cheese or pepper jack cheese

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Whether you are taking the easy route and boiling a few ears of corn for dinner or want to make a casserole for a family reunion this sweet vegetable has plenty

Directions Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 2-qt. baking dish with butter or oil. Pulse 1 ¾ cups corn kernels in food processor until mixture is puréed but still a bit chunky. Set aside. Whisk together eggs, half-andhalf, and salt in a large bowl. Add whole and puréed corn kernels, green chiles, ¼ cup crackers, and 3 tbsp. melted butter. Stir to combine. Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish and scatter cheese over top. Mix together remaining ¾ cup cracker crumbs and 1 tbsp. melted butter in a small bowl. Sprinkle over cheese.

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Bake pudding until puffed and golden brown, 45 to 50 minutes. The edges should be a bit crusty and the center still a little jiggly. Serve hot. .....................

Chicken and Corn Chowder Hot soup for dinner in summer? When it’s prepared with corn and finished with a fresh topping of chopped avocado, tomato, and cilantro, of course! Ingredients 2 slices bacon, chopped 1 onion, chopped 3 tbsp. flour 1 lb. ‘Yukon Gold’ potatoes, peeled and chopped 6 C. reduced-sodium chicken broth 4 C. shredded cooked chicken 3 C. fresh corn kernels (about 4 ears) ¼ to ½ C. heavy whipping cream 2 ripe medium tomatoes, seeded and chopped 1 avocado, pitted, peeled, and chopped 1 C. loosely packed cilantro 2 limes, cut into wedges Freshly ground black pepper

Directions Cook bacon in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat until fat

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renders and meat starts to brown. Add onion, reduce heat to medium, and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle with flour and cook, stirring, until flour smells cooked but hasn’t started to brown, about 3 minutes. Add potatoes and broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to keep mixture simmering and cook until potatoes are barely tender, about 5 minutes. Add chicken and corn and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and stir in cream to taste. Heat through, about 2 minutes. Serve in soup bowls, garnished with tomatoes, avocado, cilantro, a squirt or two of lime juice, and pepper to taste.

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Sweet Corn Ice Cream If you can’t handle having a hot soup on a warm summer evening plan for a sweet and chilled ice cream that we can guarantee your neighbors won’t have. Yes, we know: but you’ll never be sure until you try it. Ingredients 2 ears corn, husks and silk removed 1 C. heavy whipping cream 1 ½ C. milk ½ C. sugar

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4 large egg yolks ½ tsp. vanilla extract

Directions Set a box grater in a large bowl. Using large holes, grate corn kernels (and their “milk”) off cobs. Discard cobs. Combine cream, milk, and corn in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk sugar and egg yolks until pale and thick; when cream mixture reaches a simmer, slowly ladle ½ cup ladleful. Reduce heat to low, whisk warmed egg mixture into saucepan, and cook, whisking, until mixture thickens a bit – about 5 minutes. Pour mixture into a medium bowl, stir in vanilla, cover with plastic wrap (letting the wrap sit directly on the mixture’s surface so a skin doesn’t form), and chill at least 2 hours and up to 1 day. Freeze in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions. Serve immediately or transfer to an airtight plastic container and freeze up to overnight. s


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[  ] the money pages

Stay the Course by: Ron Arant

hink of an instance where you planned for something. Maybe it was a party, family vacation, or house purchase. This event in your life was important to you, so you carefully planned out all of the details and felt all your bases were covered. Yet along the way something went wrong, something you could not predict or control. You wondered how it was possible, your plan was so well thought out and you followed it precisely. What else could you have done? Investment plans are similar— markets can also be difficult to predict and impossible to control. Like any good plan, the unexpected can happen but it is important to stay the course. For instance, you might purchase insurance for your vacation, or flood insurance for your house.

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definable and repeatable process in your portfolio can provide you with the comfort that regardless of the movements of the market we are following your personal investment plan.

“canDiversification, spread your

A sensible, professional advisory process involves careful planning and consideration of your financial objectives. When the markets are volatile, consider several items about the advisory process:

Regardless of the type of account you have chosen, each of our advisory solutions provides features to help weather the market volatility we are experiencing today. Perhaps the most important of these benefits is having a process. Incorporating a

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which investments among various asset classes, investment styles, geographic regions or market capitalizations, helps to control risk in your portfolio. – Ron Arant

Focus on the Long Term. Markets will fluctuate and this we can be sure of. Based on this knowledge, it is important to remember that there may be periods of time where your account may underperform. Part of a long-term investment plan assumes there will be periods of underperformance. The investment vehicles you and your Financial Consultant have selected for your account may be long-term investments, and focusing on short term returns may not be an accurate representation of their ability to meet your long-term goals. Also consider your risk tolerance when reviewing your portfolio. For example, if you are an aggressive growth investor you may be willing to take on additional risk for better


The complexities of “building, preserving and passing along wealth have never been greater. Affluent investors are increasingly seeking guidance and comprehensive solutions that consider their unique circumstances and long-term goals.

– Ron Arant

long-term results. Short-term volatility may be inherent to the portfolio you have selected. Review your investment objectives. At least annually it is important to sit down with your Financial Consultant and review your investment objectives. You may, however, find that your objectives have changed in between these annual meetings. Have your investment goals changed? Do you have a different investment time horizon than when you last spoke with your advisor? Do you feel your tolerance for risk has changed? Answering “yes” to any of these questions may be an appropriate time to discuss changes to your portfolio with your Financial Consultant.

Stick to the Process. Following an investment process may help with managing risk. Diversifying your portfolio is part of the process. Diversification, which can spread your investments amongst various asset

classes, investment styles, geographic regions or market capitalizations, helps to control risk in your portfolio. The objective of diversification is to invest in assets that may move in different directions, though diversification does not protect against loss or assure a profit. Another important part of staying the course involves your emotions. Be careful of your emotions when it comes to a long-term investment plan. It can be tempting to try to time the market during periods of volatility, but timing the market can be difficult even for many skilled professionals. Jumping out of the market at the wrong time to try to avoid declines can do much more damage than good. You may be selling when the market is down, and buying when the market is up, causing you to miss some of the best days in the markets.

Instead of relying on timing the market your customized long term investment plan can help you be prepared for swings in the market. Your portfolio may experience short term volatility with an asset allocated portfolio; however, it is important to focus on the long term and not become fixated on returns over a short period of time. Predicting and controlling market volatility is next to impossible, but by following a process-driven methodology we can help your portfolio weather the turbulent markets, in an effort to achieve your long-term goals. For more information or to schedule a review of your account please contact your Financial Consultant. s

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[  ] profile

A Montage of Memories by: An Admiring Murray Life Staff

or thousands of readers across west Kentucky and Tennessee – and, perhaps, across the world – this is a sad note, indeed. After a quarter century of regular service, the monthly magazine, Montage, is shutting down the press and turning out the light.

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Over the years Chuck Shuffett's publication was a welcome home to those who wanted a place to publish their answers to questions such as, “Did Jesse James really die as the history books tell us?” or “Who was the last man hanged in Calloway County?” It had its regular departments, including Chuck’s own opening salvo of miscellaneous mischievous observations about weather, life and politics and Leon Knott’s interminable investigations into the best places to find such delights as peach cobbler, hush puppies and a decent catfish dinner. In recent years our own editor, Bob Valentine, often appeared in print in those pages, bringing a look a history and, more often, a touch of humor. “Chuck Shuffett is the kind of editor writers like: do what you wish, but if you don’t have any inspired ideas, how about this one?” said Bob. Chuck’s suggestions were always welcome, always helpful, and usually resulted in a better piece of prose than the writer would have created on his own.

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It is a mistake to think of Montage as Chuck’s creation alone. The whole family got into the act at some point; however, it was Mimi who appeared in every issue with recipes beyond reproach and as the subject of anecdotes that were, often enough, true. She was the power behind the sales force (she was the sales force), and personal assistant, advisor and coach to the Editor himself. The Shuffetts came to Murray from central Kentucky back in the 50s as members of the radio industry. They ran WNBS and WAAW for years before starting the first successful local LPTV station. Like the iconic WNBS, the new TV station helped put Murray on the map and was another testament to the fact that, with microphone or pen, Chuck and Mimi were journalists is the purest, best sense of the word. A stroke slowed him down earlier this year, but it didn’t stop him. He claims that the combination of age (of which he has plenty) and Medicare-related paperwork led him to give up the furious editorial effort that would have broken lesser men with fewer years. Part of that

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It is sad to think that “Montage will come no more, but it would be much sadder to imagine a quarter century without it.

– Paige Graves

claim may be so, but we suspect the happy demands of grandchildren and the joys of gardening finally overcame the joys of speaking out, jamming 5 pounds of reading pleasure into a 2 pound space, and staying up all night hitting deadlines over the head with a computer. Who could blame him? It is sad to think that Montage will come no more, but it would be much sadder to imagine a quarter century without it. We were blessed to be in its circulation area and to have literary neighbors like Chuck and Mimi, and that realization is a cause for anything but sadness. Even Uncle Anse would agree. s


[  ] advertiser’s directory Need a phone number or an address to a business but can’t remember the page you saw it on? This is your guide to Murray Life Magazine’s advertisers. Enjoy! Advertiser

Page #

Advertiser

Page #

Advertiser

Page #

Bank of Cadiz & Trust Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Imes-Miller Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Northwood Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Baptist Health Paducah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Jarvis Vision Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Norma Kellum, Shop of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

BB&T Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

K-Squared Designs, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Playhouse in the Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Briggs & Stratton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Kentucky Farm Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Primary Care Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Carey’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Kopperud Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2, 3, 50

Carson Center

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Lee Jewelry Artisans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Computer Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Loft, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Der Dutch Merchant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Mattress Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Ezell’s Cosmetology School . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

MidSouth Vinyl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Dr. Young & Dr. Hoffman Family Dentistry . . .34

Murray Auto Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Fit Food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4, 34

Murray Bank, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Froggyland Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Murray-Calloway Co. Chamber . . . . . . . . . . .50

WENK/WTPR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Gear Up Cycles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Murray-Calloway Co. Hospital . . .Outside Back

West Wood Wine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Grey's Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Murray Electric System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

WKMS FM

Healthy Living & Wellness Expo . . .Inside Back

Murray Family Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

WK&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Heritage Family Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . .19

Murray Insurance Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

WNBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Hilliard-Lyons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Murray Woman's Clinic . . . . . . . . .Inside Front

Woodmen of the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Presbyterian Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 Red Bug on Third . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Rolling Hills Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Roof Brothers Wine & Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Rotary Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Stubblefield Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Thornton Heating & Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Urology Associates, H.S. Jackson, MD . . . .19

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

[  ] coming soon ... This heat will have to break sometime! Our next edition will usher in the cool evenings and pleasant days of autumn in the Heartland: we call it “Homecoming.” It’s not time to retreat from the porch swing or patio, but it’s a great season for storytelling around the fire. Our Homecoming issue will involve lots of memories and storytelling, for sure. • Why not take the whole family out for an invigorating walk through the pages of local history? Larry Ray continues his literary tour of Calloway County’s Fort Heiman with a description of the battles that “made Grant” and foretold the end of the Confederacy. • We return to our series on preserving community history with Part 2 of “Is History, History?” We’ll find out why making everything digital is both a benefit and a threat to future generations, and what’s being done in Murray to make sure the past is accurately preserved. • What was it like to grow up in Murray in the 1930s? In the 50s? The 80s? We begin our series on “Growing up in Calloway” and we still need your help: do you have a fond memory of childhood in these parts? From Hazel to Dexter; from Kirksey to Stella to Wiswell to New Concord, we’d like to hear from you.

Join the fun: submit your calendar notes or news items to murraylife@aol.com, or drop us a note at P.O. Box 894, Murray KY 42071. Photos are welcome, but they become property of Murray Life and return cannot be assured.

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[ ďƒŤ ] seen around town

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[  ] dining guide Shogun Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill 816 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 759-5551

August Moon 1550 Lowe’s Dr. . . . . . .(270) 759-4653

Baldy’s Grill 901 Coldwater Rd. . . . .(270) 762-0441

Big Apple Café 1005 Arcadia Circle . .(270) 759-8866

Burrito Shack

Willow Pond Catfish Restaurant

706 N 12th St., Suite 9 (270) 761-7486

The Keg 1051 N 16th St. . . . . . .(270) 762-0040

Feral's 216 N. 15th St. . . . . . . .(270) 759-3663

501 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 753-4521

Bad Bob’s Bar-B-Que Tumbleweed Southwest Grill

806 Chestnut St. . . . . . .(270) 767-0054

807 Walmart Dr. . . . . . .(270) 873-2300

Coldwater Bar-B-Que & Catering 8284 Hwy. 121 N. . . . .(270) 489-2199

El Mariachi Loco Fiesta Grill 604 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 761-8226

GigaBites Deli 104 N. 15th St. . . . . . . .(270) 761-4335

Gloria’s World Village Food 124 N. 15th St. . . . . . . .(270) 759-3233

Hibachi King 801 Walmart Dr.. . . . . .(270) 761-3889

HRH Dumplin’s 305B S. 12th St. . . . . . .(270) 753-0000

Jasmine Restaurant - Thai & Asian Cuisine 506 N. 12th St. Suite E (270) 761-8424

Magnolia Tea Room 306 Gilbert St. . . . . . . .(270) 492-6284 Hazel, KY

La Cocina Mexicana 501 S. 12th St. . . . . . . . .(270) 767-1627 Murray

La Cocina Mexicana

Ann’s Country Kitchen 318 Main St. . . . . . . . . .(270) 492-8195 Hazel, KY

Tom’s Grille

214 North 15th St. . . .(270) 761-4444

406 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 759-9000

16814 Hwy. 68 E. . . . .(270) 474-2202 Aurora, KY

Cracker Barrel

Aurora Landing Restaurant 542 Kenlake Rd. . . . . . .(270) 474-2211 Aurora, KY

650 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 762-0081

Domino’s Pizza 110A S. 12th St. . . . . . .(270) 753-3030

Belew’s Dairy Bar US Highway 62 East . .(270) 354-8549 Aurora, KY

Brass Lantern 16593 Hwy. 68 E. . . . . . 270-474-2773. Aurora, KY

Happiness Restaurant 638 N. 12th Street . . . .(270) 293-4952

Holmes Family Restaurant 1901 N. 12th St. . . . . . .(270) 767-0662

Hungry Bear

Cindy’s on the Barge 888 Kenlake Marina Ln.(270) 474-2245 Hardin, KY

Cypress Springs Resort 2740 Cypress Trail . . . .(270) 436-5496 New Concord, KY

Eagle Nest Marina & Dockside Bar and Grill 500 Eagle Nest Rd. . . .(731) 642-6192 Buchanan, TN

1310 Main St. . . . . . . . .(270) 753-7641

Laird’s Bar-B-Que 77 W. Main St. . . . . . . .(731) 247-3060 Puryear, TN

Martha’s Restaurant 1407 N. 12th St. . . . . . .(270) 759-1648

Mary’s Kitchen 11205 Stadium View Dr..(270) 759-2036

Matt B’s Main Street Pizza

Kentucky Dam Village 166 Upper Village Dr. .(270) 362-4271 Gilbertsville, KY

1411 Main St. . . . . . . . .(270) 759-1234

314 Main St. . . . . . . . . . (270) 492-6392 Hazel, KY

Latin Lovers 716 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 767-0026

Los Portales 506 N. 12th St. . . . . . ...(270) 767-0315

Olive Pit 905 Mineral Wells Ave.(731) 642-5030 Paris, TN

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[  ] dining guide Mr. Gatti’s Pizza 804 Chestnut St. . . . . . .(270) 753-6656

Mugsy’s Hideout 410 Main St. . . . . . . . . .(270) 767-0020

Nick’s Family Sports Pub 614 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 762-0012

Pagliai’s Pizza 970 Chestnut St. . . . . . .(270) 753-2975

Papa John’s Pizza 656 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 753-6666

Pizza Hut 1113 Chestnut St. . . . . .(270) 759-4646

Pizza Pro 1304 Chestnut St . . . . .(270) 767-1199

Renfro’s Hih Burger Inn 413 S. 4th St. . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-1155

Rudy’s, “On the Square” 104 S. 5th St. . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-1632

Sirloin Stockade 922 S. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 753-0440

Culver’s

Murray Donuts

818 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 761-2858

Quizno’s Subs

Dairy Queen 1303 Main St. . . . . . . . .(270) 753-4925

1203 Chestnut St. . . . . .(270) 753-8880

Sammon’s Bakery

Dinh’s Vietnamese Cuisine 1407 Main St. . . . . . . . .(270) 761-7655

974 Chestnut St. . . . . . .(270) 753-5434

Sonic Drive-In

Dunkin’ Donuts 302 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 761-3865

217 S. 12th St. . . . . . . . .(270) 759-9885

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt and Bubble Tea

Fazoli’s 507 Rushing Road. . . . .(270) 761-5555

602 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 761-9999

Subway

Fidalgo Bay Coffee Shop 1201 Payne St. . . . . . . . .(270) 761-4800

622 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 753-7827

Taco Bell

Fifth & Main Coffees 100 S. 5th St. . . . . . . . . .(270) 753-1622

402 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 753-8758

Taco John’s

Hardee’s 505 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 753-3246

1100 Chestnut St. . . . .(270) 753-9697

Victor’s Sandwiches

KFC 205 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 753-7101

1301 W. Main St. . . . . .(270) 753-7715

Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers

Little Caesar’s Pizza 500 S 12th St. . . . . . . . .(270) 761-7777

1111 Chestnut St. . . . . .(270) 759-4695

Yogurt Your Weigh

Snappy Tomato Pizza 1550 Lowes Dr. . .(270) 761-7627

McDonald’s

Spanky’s

Penn Station East Coast Subs

9505 Hwy. 641 N. . . .(731) 247-5527 Puryear, TN

506 B North 12th St. . . .(270) 761-1818

107 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 753-5548

110 S. 12th St. . . . . . . . .(270) 761-7366

1304 Chestnut St. . . . . .(270) 761-7564

Zaxby’s 1209 N. 12th St. . . . . . . . .(270) 792-2375

Tom’s Pizza 506-A N. 12th St. . . . . .(270) 753-9411

Backyard Burgers 801 Paramount Dr. . . . .(270) 759-2480

Boulders 317 Chestnut St. . . . . . . .(270) 761-9727

Brother’s Barbeque 1415 Main St . . . . . . . . .(270) 761-7677

Burger King 814 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 759-8266

Captain D’s 700 N. 12th St. . . . . . . .(270) 753-9383

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[  ] calendar of events The Murray Life Calendar of Events is graciously provided by the Murray Convention and Visitors Bureau. The CVB is your source for information on everything from dining, shopping, recreation and fun in the community to relocation. Learn more at www.tourmurray.com.

information call 270.759.1752. Tickets may be purchased at playhouseinthepark.net.

Downtown Saturday Market

through october Continuous Every Saturday through October Murray, Kentucky's downtown transforms itself on the south side of the square on Saturday mornings in May through October from 7a.m.-12p.m. It becomes the site of the Saturday morning farmer's market selling fruits, vegetables, flowers, home made goods and even fish! This 10-plus year tradition gives local folks a place to come, get some good fresh produce and visit everyone.

LBL Hummingbird Weekend

august 2-4 Celebrate the amazing spectacle of these tiny birds. On Friday evening, enjoy dinner in our backyard gardens amongst the hummingbirds. Then, join us for the main festival on Saturday and Sunday. For more information please visit www.lbl.org

First day of class for Calloway Co. Schools

august 7

Disney’s The Jungle Book

july 26-29 Enjoy our local community theater, Playhouse in the Park, as they present Disney’s The Jungle Book. The play tells a great story about Mowgli, an orphan boy raised among animals in the wild jungles of India. For more

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First day of class for Murray Independent Schools

august 8 Great Beginnings, Murray State University

august 17 Thousands of students, new ones and returning Racers, will

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hit the campus during the weekend. Restaurants may be stuffed with parents and families saying “goodbye” until next weekend, and there will be a run on big box stores and groceries. The area around MSU will be slow going most of Saturday, but business will pick up for everyone. To paraphrase Gov. Schwarzenegger, “They’re back,” and the young people who make Murray so special are home, again. For more information visit murraystate.edu

Lovett Live presents Holly Williams

august 20 Tickets may be purchased at ticketmaster.com

Classes begin at Murray State University

august 21

For more information visit murraystate.edu

The Odd Couple

aug. 30 - sept. 8 This play is about Felix and Oscar, who are an extremely odd couple: Felix is anal-retentive, neurotic, precise, and fastidiously clean. Oscar, on the other hand, is the exact opposite: sloppy and casual. They are sharing an apartment together, and their differing


lifestyles inevitably lead to some conflicts and laughs. For more information call 270.759.1752. Tickets may be purchased at playhouseinthepark.net.

Every Day in Murray The West Kentucky/Wrather Museum

Ice Cream Festival

september 6-7 Free ice cream! Purity Ice Cream, Bristol Broadcasting and Murray Main Street team up again to bring to life one of downtown Murray’s most exciting events. This year the event will include inflatables, a bungee jump, a Nascar simulator, a homemade ice cream contest, a car show, food, children’s activities, and of course, a large variety of free ice cream. Wrist bands may be purchased for unlimited use of the inflatables/rides. For more information call Murray Main Street at 270-759-9474.

Preserving the visual and emotional traditions of the Jackson Purchase Area. Located at North 16th Street and University Drive on the campus of Murray State University, the museum is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. handicap access. For more information, call 270.809.4771.

The Cheri Theater Murray has a seven-screen movie theater located on Chestnut Street. For a list of current movies and times, please call 270.753.3314 or visit www.moviesinmurray.com.

Murray State University’s Fine Arts The University presents a variety of performances form dance to plays, from symphonies to choir concerts. For current information, call 270.809.ARTS.

The Clara M. Eagle Gallery at Murray State University The gallery offers a variety of exhibitions throughout the year, from student artwork to national tours. Art ranges from drawing to sculpture, from photography to multimedia. For more information, please call 270.809.6734.

Playhouse in the Park Calloway County’s 30-year-old community theatre. Playhouse presents a variety of plays throughout the year. For detailed information, please call 270.759.1752

The Murray Art Guild

Fall Citywide Yard Sale

september 21 Clean out those closets, it’s time for Murray’s bi-annual Citywide Yard Sale. Applications to participate can be found at www.tourmurray.com and

A nonprofit organization that offers workshops and exhibitions for children and adults. Stop by and see some of the area artists at work. The Guild is located in downtown Murray at 500N. 4th Street. For additional information, please call 270.753.4059.

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[ ď‚Ś ] calendar of events returned to the Murray Convention and Visitors Bureau. Participants may also set up at Central Park. Official yard sale maps will be available for sale for $2 and the cost to participate is $10. The Citywide Yard Sale is a fundraiser for Freedom Fest. More information on this event can be found on the website or by calling the Murray CVB at 270-759-2199.

PROOFS: Photography Exhibit

october 4-28 The Murray Art Guild holds their annual art exhibit in the Robert O. Miller Conference Center. For more information visit murrayartguild.org.

MSU Homecoming Weekend

october 17-19 For more information visit murraystate.edu

by an old-time snap apple play party. There will be warm cider to drink and people should dress for chilly weather. For more information, visit www.lbl.org.

Murray Highland Games

october 26 Enjoy a celebration of ScottishCeltic heritage featuring all things Scottish such as: bagpipes, music, and athletic competitions, including caber-tossing, sheath toss, weighted throws, stone throws, and more. Also on hand will be clan tents, Scottish entertainers, a genealogy tent, Scottish vendors, highland cattle, sheepherding and much more! The Murray Highland Games feature events the whole family will enjoy.

Empty Bowls Project

october 18 Murray Art Guild murrayartguild.org

Snap Apple Night

october 19 Halloween traditions of Scot-Irish settlers will be celebrated at Land Between the Lakes on Saturday. Snap Apple Night at The Homeplace begins with tales told at a blazing bonfire, followed

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[  ] nature

Gone Batty: The Myth and Reality of Bats by: Aviva Yasgur remember my first experience with a bat. It happened years ago when I was in high school, during a summer youth group retreat in the mountains of Pennsylvania. One evening during this idyllic week of stargazing, swimming, and short-lived summer romances, a bat somehow got into our cabin. It was flying around and around in manic circles. We campers were shrieking, huddling inside our sleeping bags, terrorized. One girl – I don’t remember who she was anymore – started chasing the bat around with a broom. Eventually, the bat flew out the door, and, I imagine, heaved as big a sigh of relief as we campers did at the same moment.

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The incident only lasted about one minute at the most, but I remember my feelings as if it were yesterday. I felt scared for

my life as if, somehow, the bat was some vicious monster on a mission to attack us and infect us with rabies. How lucky that we had escaped with our lives! How brave that the one girl had risked her life to chase the dangerous creature away! Many years have passed since that day. Over fifteen years of working as a naturalist and environmental educator have changed my thinking about bats. Nowadays, I’m more likely to associate the words “cute” or “awesome” with bats, rather than “scary” or “vicious.” I’ve come to realize what amazing creatures they are, both in terms of their unique biology and their environmental benefits. Looking back now, I wonder why I had felt that way about the bat in our cabin. Why was I so scared of it? Why did I think that it was so creepy and gross? And I wasn’t some freakish weirdo – this is how

Bats in a batbox, Photo by Darrin Samborski

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Bats are one of “ the most misunderstood creatures on earth” – Aviva Yasgur

most people feel about bats. Why? Bats are one of the most misunderstood creatures on earth. Because they emerge only after dark and are secretive during the day, people do not see bats very often. Even when we see them, we don’t get a very good look. They are usually flying fast and high above our heads; it’s dark at night and hard to see. As a result, most people don’t even know what color bats are (spoiler alert: they’re not black!), let alone much else about their lives. Moreover, the fact that bats seem to be featured in scary movie scenes along with black cats, witches, and bubbling cauldrons doesn’t help either. Many of the things we think we know about bats turn out, upon investigation, to be myths based mainly on rumor and superstition. And many of the truths about bats remain unknown to even the most learned people. Many Harvard professors probably can’t name a single type of bat that lives in Massachusetts. (We’ll give Murray State professors the benefit of the doubt for now)


Bats in Trouble Recently, bats in the United States have been facing a difficult challenge from a devastating disease called White-nose Syndrome. In less than a decade, mil-

It’s hard to imagine the same thing being true for birds, fish, or even insects. Below is a short Myth/Reality quiz about bats. Read each statement and answer whether you think it is Myth or Reality. Then, check out the answers with explanations below, and see how you rank on the “Bat I.Q. Scale.”

lions of bats in 22 states and Canada

Bats: Myth or Reality?

have died from this disease, which was first detected in the United States in New York in the winter of 2006-2007.

1. Bats are black _________________ (You get to start off easy – I already gave you that answer!)

Since that time, it has been steadily spreading west, with the first cases reported in Kentucky in 2011 in Trigg County. The disease is not known to affect humans, but sadly it has been shown to be extremely deadly to bats. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife has described White-nose Syndrome as “the most serious disease threat to wildlife Kentucky has ever seen.” In the Eastern United States, where bats have been suffering from the disease for almost a decade, the bat population is thought to have dropped by 80 percent. This huge decline in bats could have dire repercussions on the rest of the ecosystem, with bats being the number one predator of night-flying insects such as mosquitoes. The name “White-nose Syndrome” comes from a white fungus that appears on infected bats, typically growing on their nose, wings, and ears. The disease seems to make infected bats wake up during hibernation, causing them to use up energy too quickly and therefore starve to death. Scientists are trying to learn more about White-nose Syndrome and how to prevent its spread. For now, however, it continues to spread every year. No cure or effective prevention is yet known.

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Bats suck blood _________________ Bats are blind _________________ All bats live in caves _________________ Most bats carry rabies _________________ Bats are rodents _________________ Bats make tequila _________________

Answers: 1. False. Bats look black to us, but this is because we see them at night when it’s dark. Even a bright red cardinal would look black to us if we saw it in the dark. Most bats are actually brown. In fact, two of our more common species of bats are called, appropriately, the Big Brown Bat and the Little Brown Bat. (Scientists can be so creative, huh?) The most common bat in Land Between The Lakes is the Red Bat, which is the reddish color of a redheaded person’s hair. There is a Yellow Bat in the western United States whose fur is (you guessed it) yellow! 2. True for some bats, but none that live in the United States. Vampire bats really do exist, and they really do feed on blood, but not anywhere near Murray, Kentucky! There are three species of vampire bats, and they all live in the New World Tropics, from Mexico south into South America. They typically feed on the blood of cows, horses, pigs, and birds. Rather than sucking blood, they use their teeth to make a small incision, and then lick up the blood that comes out. They even have a special substance in their saliva that keeps blood from clotting. In contrast, all of the bats that live in Kentucky eat insects. In fact, bats are the number one predator of night-flying insects such as

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mosquitoes, which are our true blood-suckers! 3. False. Just like many people mistakenly think that owls are blind in the daylight (they’re not), they assume the same about bats. We even have a common phrase, “blind as a bat,” which sounds good, except that it isn’t true. Fruit bats, which live in Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, have large eyes that they use to search for fruit and flowers. Our Kentucky bats have fairly small eyes because they rely most on hearing to detect their insect prey. They don’t have outstanding vision like owls or eagles, but they’re not blind either. 4. Depends what season it is. Horror movies love to show images of bats flying out of caves, a scene that is supposed to foreshadow creepy things to come. And it’s true – many bats do use caves for shelter at certain times of the year. However, many bats only live in caves during the winter when they are hibernating. Because they are so insulated from the outside (have you ever been to Mammoth Cave during the middle of January? Or the middle of July? The temperature is always in the 50s!), caves offer bats the perfect conditions for staying safe during the winter. Come spring, though, most bats relocate to their summer roosting areas – often in hollow trees, under flaps of tree bark, or these days, in humanprovided bat boxes. Only some species of bats live in caves year-round. 5. False. Rabies is a serious disease, and bats can carry it. Because of this, you should never handle a bat. However, bats are no more likely to carry rabies than any other species of mammal, and are less likely than some. In fact, only a fraction of one percent of bats carry rabies. That’s nowhere near a majority. The two most common animals that carry rabies in the United States are raccoons and skunks. 6. False. Bats are small and furry, and many people think of them as “flying mice,” but studies have shown that bats are actually more closely related to primates than to rodents. One common trait that many rodents share is their propensity to have fairly large litters of babies. On the other hand, most bats only have one baby per year. And they invest a lot of energy into that one baby. If you think that human pregnancy can be difficult, imagine being a bat – their babies weigh about onethird the weight of the mother. If we were like bats, a 150pound woman would give birth to a 50-pound baby! 7. True. Tequila is distilled from the juices of the agave plant, which grows in the western United States. Long-nosed bats are nectar-feeding bats that also live in the western United States. They use their long nose to obtain nectar from flowers, much like hummingbirds use their long beak and tongue, and one of the main plants they feed on is agaves. Indeed, longnosed bats are the main pollinators of some species of agaves. Without long-nosed bats to pollinate them, agaves might not survive, and humans might not have tequila! s

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[ $ ] the last word

One Row Over, Two Seats Up by: Robert A. Valentine

he young man watched the girl one row over, two seats up. From his vantage point in the classroom he could only see the back of her. After a full term of college he had memorized her: the hair always “up” in a bun or a twist, with only a red-brown wisp hanging down, almost touching the collar of her blouse, which was usually white. There was always a wisp. One row over, two seats up.

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Rarely, she might turn her head slightly when the professor began to roam the room, or when he used the chalkboard to the right of the classroom. Then he could see her delicate profile like an ivory cameo from the last century. From the first time he saw her, one row over, two seats up, he had been fascinated. He had served in the navy; he had seen some action during the war in the Pacific and had stood up under heavy seas. He had taken his measure and the measure of some other fellows, too, but there was something about this tiny elegant creature that took his courage. A hundred times he had rehearsed his little introductory speech. A hundred times he had prayed she would drop a book or pencil to give him a reason to speak without seeming forward or “fresh,” as people might say.

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A hundred times he had held back and watched her walk out of the room while he pretended to make a last note. One or twice he thought she had looked at him, but that was probably wishful thinking. A hundred times he had said and done nothing, except to hope. The entire Fall term had nearly passed. Then – suddenly, it seemed – the professor announced the end of class. As he collected the examinations, he complimented them

“Watch it, man,” the big fellow brusquely slurred as he hurried after his friends. The young man knelt to retrieve his books, trying to keep her in view, but there were too many people. A book slipped, then a notepad, then another book. By the time he had gathered everything under one arm again, the classroom was empty. He hurried to the door and looked left – the direction she always took after class – but he could see no trace. “That was it,” he thought. “Last chance.” He turned to go back to his apartment and the long, empty summer that lay ahead. And there she was, standing as if to bar his way. There was a set to her face he had never seen before; a purposeful intensity in her eyes that surprised him amidst her perfect and gentle features.

on their work during the term and encouraged them to keep up their reading. When he wished them “good luck,” there was brief polite applause. Then chairs were scraping and chatter broke out. He collected his books without looking; without taking his eyes off her. As she rose, he did, too. “Excuse me,” he recited to himself, “but would you like to . . . .” And then a burly student brushed past, knocking books from his arm.

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She held out a small scrap of paper as she said, “If you want to go out with me, you’re going to have to ask.” Then she turned and walked away leaving him to stare in stunned, mute happiness at the campus telephone number written in a strong, delicate hand. I know this is so, because she told it all to me on the occasion of their 50th anniversary, or thereabouts. I could be wrong about the date: time meant so very little to them after the end of that semester. s




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