24 Coming of Age
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Residents of Murray
Fort Heiman: The Battle for Fort Donelson Larry Ray
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Flight of the Devil’s Darning Needle Brooke Gilley
The First Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Robert A. Valentine
Notes & Neighbors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Murray Life Staff
Guess What Trivia Quiz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Paige Graves
A Laughing Matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Robert McGaughey II
Pet Pause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Kathy Hodge
A Laughing Matter II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Paige Graves
The Murrays Are Coming! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Murray Life staff, with Evelyn M. E. Murray, FSA/Scot
Count On It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Paige Graves
Past & Present President: Dr. Tim Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Meghann Anderson
Food: Tasty Tailgating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Caina Lynch
Friendly and Growing: Murray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Pete Lancaster
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 4 - HOMECOMING 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 Ron Arant | Erin Carrico | Brooke Gilley Paige Graves | C. M. “Pete� Lancaster Caina Lynch | 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
Looking Homeward by: Robert A. Valentine
Home is where the hearth is. e call it “Homecoming.” Whatever the weather, this is a season that means an end to gardening and a drastic reduction in the weekend cookouts, and trips to the lake or campground. As much as we may love the outdoors in Lake Country, when the evening air gets cool enough for a jacket we are all reminded that home is where the hearth is.
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So, as we gather ‘round the fire, we’ll bring you some stories of bygone days. Grandfather may not be able to tell you “how it was,” but our new series on “Coming of Age in Calloway” will refresh some memories and create some new ones. We hope you enjoy the results as we begin with “Growing Up in Murray.”
Larry Ray returns in print with the third installment of his series on the county’s only real Civil War site: Fort Heiman. In this episode, Larry recounts the fall of Fort Donelson and the creation of the legend of U. S. Grant. It’s a story of heroism and friendship, and the familiar names and places will surprise you. You live in the midst of great American history. Our old friend naturalist Brooke Gilley will introduce you to that frightening captain of the late summer skies, the dragonfly. She may surprise you with tales of his long life and short visit, or with the tendency of a few of the family to take a long journey. In reality, the big-eyed creature is a good friend to humans, as you’ll learn.
story of achievement, but his service to Murray and to the University deserves a good look. City Councilman Pete Lancaster weighs with his assessment of the friendly, fast-growing metropolis that is Murray; you’ll be proud. As you sit down for one of the last few sunny mornings on the porch, or as you pull the comforter a little higher on your lap, we’ll introduce you the Scottish tradition in Murray, terrific tailgating traditions, humor, trivia, puzzles, our usual calendar of events and a dining guide to help you forget the joys of backyard barbeques as the leaves begin to deepen ‘round the back door. Welcome home.
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Newswoman Meaghann Anderson joins us again, this time with an in-depth look at the current president of Murray State University, Dr. Tim Miller. Dr. Miller, in and of himself, is quite a
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[ ] notes & neighbors
Springhill Suites Comes to Murray In a formal announcement held on the MSU campus, the Murray Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB) presented the news: a large, 85-suite Marriott hotel is expected to open by January, 2015. The new facility will increase the number of lodging rooms in Murray by nearly 25%. Kentucky commissioner of Travel and Tourism, Mike Mangeot, announced the project, which is expected to bring 35 jobs to Murray. CVB Chairman Jim Carter pointed out that event tourism produced $71 million for the Murray area in 2012, and the new facility will offer increased opportunities for overnight stays. The new Springhill Suites will feature a 2,000 square-foot meeting space and will have the capacity for catered dining in the
same area, making it a potential conference center, of sorts. Since it will be located adjacent to the existing 64-room Holiday Inn Express, a larger number of conference attendees would be only a short walk from a central meeting place. A number of restaurants are within sight on north Highway 641, as well. Priyesh Nathu, the property developer, noted that the hotel will also include a large outdoor patio, bar and lounge, a fitness center and an indoor heated pool. Erin Carrico, executive director of the Murray CVB, called the new facility “an asset to tourism in Murray and Calloway County.” In addition to increased
opportunities for multi-day conferences, the new lodging capacity will make it easier to host such events as the Kentucky Senior Games, the FLW College Fishing tournament and overflow visitors to Paducah’s annual American Quilting Society conference. An extra place or two to lay your head is just the thing for the friendliest town in America. s
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[ ] notes & neighbors
Oh, Yes! Corn Ice Cream! We received some comment on the latest recipe idea from Caina Lynch’s food column in our “Back to School” issue (pp. 40-42). Included with recipes for traditional corn-onthe-cob, Sante Fe corn pudding and Chicken and Corn chowder was a recipe for (and we’re not making this up) “Sweet Corn Ice Cream.” Comments ranged from, “You’ve got to be kidding,” to “I give up: what’s the joke?” As we proved in our test kitchens, this is serious business. The result of the recipe is a delicious (as most homemade ice cream must surely be) concoction that resembles a classic vanilla dessert more than anything else. Yes, Virginia, there is Sweet Corn ice cream, and a little
chocolate syrup doesn’t hurt it at all. We have a suggestion, if you have not yet rushed to try your hand at this frozen corn delicacy: the only drawback may be the texture. The recipe calls for stripping the kernels from the cob with plenty of the “milk” that carried much of the sweetness. The kernels, even after a gentle simmering on the stove, present a slight crunchiness that some people find, well, strange. Our experimental cooks suggest that the raw corn be pureed before insertion into the rest of the recipe to smooth out the texture. If you’ve got the nerve to give it a try, let us know how it goes. Believe us:
we were just as surprised as you will be. The ice cream, at this writing, is all gone. However, we’re not quite ready to try Asparagus Fudge Ripple, just yet. s
On the Cover Dr. Tim Miller graces our cover for this Homecoming edition. Meaghann Anderson, news editor for the Murray State News, interviewed the Interim President for a feature article in this issue (p. 20) and her colleague, Kyser Lough, snapped this portrait of Dr. Miller. Kyser, an experienced journalist in his own right, is now in service as senior graduate teaching fellow in Journalism for MSU. This is not his first featured photo for Murray Life: as a reporter for the Ledger & Times, he often
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had the first and best opportunity to snap a timely and important shot when news broke, and the Ledger & Times has been very generous in sharing their photo art with Murray Life. Our thanks for Kyser Lough and to graphic designers Justin Kimbro and Amanda Newman for helping the good look even better. We're also indebted to the many folks who dug into the albums and shoe boxes to provide photos of this issue's "Growing Up in Murray." We couldn't do this without Murray, you know. That's why it's called Murray Life. s
[ ] notes & neighbors
MSU “presents Adventures” Everyone has a story to tell, and the students of Murray State University as well as members of the community have the opportunity to learn from those stories each semester. As part of the Adventure Series, listeners have already delved into the adventures of Dr. Sonya Baker, who spoke on Sept. 17. Dr. Baker is the associate dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts as well as a professor of music at MSU. With a Carnegie Hall debut and numerous degrees, she set a tone of candid, clear thinking about life's opportunities and what is required of us to take advantage of them. Next on the calendar is a man of science and creation. Dr. Jesse D. Jones will present on Thursday, Oct. 17 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the Freed Curd Auditorium of the Collins Center for Industry and Technology. He co-authored 19 patents regarding the use of plastics and synthetic materials before he retired with nearly 33 years of experience in his field. Using his degrees in chemistry and mathematics earned at MSU, Dr. Jones has become one of the University's most distinguished and generous alumni.
Sill to come is a lecture given by Dr. Tim Miller, interim president of the University and Professor Emeritus of Accounting. He will speak on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the Freed Curd Auditorium. With multiple
speak in the Freed Curd Auditorium on Thursday, Nov. 13 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Guess is the senior vice president and marketing director of The Paducah Bank and Trust Company. After receiving her bachelor's degree from MSU, she obtained her masters from University of Louisville. With those degrees, Guess has become a community staple with a distinguished record of volunteer service and a sharp focus on education. To conclude the series, Dr. Constantine Curris will bring his expertise to the same auditorium speakers have brought to life all semester. A previous president of Murray State University as well as the University of Northern Iowa and Clemson University, Dr. Curris has served on a number of boards and commissions dealing with the improvement of higher education.
awards and a dedication to Murray spanning nearly 50 years, Dr. Miller is sure to share his story of excellence, which included his receipt of the initial Outstanding Teacher Award. Susan Guess, MSU alumna and board of regents member, will
He now serves as the Chairman of the MSU Board of Regents and is nationally recognized as an authority on modern American universities. Open to the public, and highly recommended for the younger generation, the Adventure can begin for you at any time. s
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[ ] guess what
New World Wisdom by: Paige Graves In 1492 he sailed the ocean blue—and brought a lifetime of controversy with him. However you may feel about Christopher Columbus, we look to history to see where we've been and where we could be going. Never stop exploring!
1. How many trips did Columbus make to the New World? a. 2 b. 3 c. 4 d. 5
2. The monarchs of Spain had commissioned Columbus to look for something that would bring them great wealth. What was it? a. Route by water to markets of eastern Asia b. Slaves c. New lands to conquer d. Gold
3. Which of the following was not one of the ships on Columbus' first voyage?
c. Barcelona, Spain d. Lisbon, Portugal
6. On which island did Columbus found the settlement of La Isabela, the first Spanish colony in the New World? a. San Salvador b. Hispaniola – modern day Haiti and the Dominican Republic c. Cuba d. Puerto Rico
7. On which date did Columbus and his crew first make landfall in what would be known as the New World? a. October 2, 1492 b. September 15, 1492 c. October 10, 1492 d. October 12, 1492
a. The Santa Maria b. The Nina c. The Santa Anna d. The Pinta
a. 5 b. 9 c. 14 d. 17
5. Where do many historians believe Columbus was born? a. Venice, Italy b. Genoa, Italy
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a. For the embezzelment of funds destined for the crown b. For enslaving the native population c. His crew disputed his policies d. All of the above
9. Which U.S. President declared Columbus Day a federal holiday? a. John F. Kennedy b. Lyndon B. Johnson c. Richard Nixon d. Gerald Ford
10. The first time Columbus Day was officially celebrated in the U.S. was which year? a. 1692 b. 1792 c. 1892 d. 1992
4. How many ships did Columbus have on his second voyage in 1493?
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8. Why was Columbus arrested and sent back to Spain in chains?
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[ ] a laughing matter
Are You a “Key Person?” by: Robert McGaughey II Humor as a way of making a point when sermons and lessons sometimes fail. The late Robert H. McGaughey of Hopkinsville, father of Murray State’s own Dr. Bob McGaughey, had a way of collecting and creating humorous essays and comments that made you think as much as they provoked laughter. Here is one such case from a day when people typed on typewriters instead of word processors, but the point is still crystal clear.
Pxrson I am a Kxy
modxl, r is an old x t i r w x p y t vx my x kxy. I ha n o Xvxn though r o f t p x c y. It itx wxll xx xd pxrfxctl k r o w it works qu t i t a that timxs th y-onx kxys t wishxd many r o f x r a x t thxr kxy not is trux tha ut just onx b , h g u o n x timxs it ll rxncx. Somx x function wx f f i d x h t xs all somxwhat working mak ization is n a g r o n a t arx tha thx pxoplx l l sxxms to mx a t o n xwritxr: likx my typ pxrly. working pro am only , “Wxll, I f l x s r u o y o .” t k a program a You may say x r b r o x k ny proI won’t ma x bxcausx a c n onx pxrson. x r x f f i d cmakx a ctivx parti a x h t s d But it doxs x x n ou xffxctivx, nxxt timx y x h t o gram, to bx S . r x xvxry mxmb ipation of onx u arx only o y t a h t k n thi that your pxrson, and not xfforts arx t rxmxmnxxdxd, jus writxr bxr my typx am ursxlf, “I o y o t y a s and N in our a KXY PXRSO and I am organization xd in thx indxxd nxxd xxtrxmx.”
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] pet pause Animal-Focused Fun Kids Camp by: Kathy Hodge
nimals of all kinds were the focus of a fun children’s camp sponsored by the Humane Society of Calloway County in cooperation with West Kentucky Mentoring this July. Twenty kids ages 6 through 11 attended the day camp held each Tuesday in July at the A. Carman Animal Health Building on the Murray State University Campus.
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Each Tuesday of the two-hour camp was packed with information on a particular group of animals: cats, dogs, wildlife and exotics. Guest speakers brought animals and told the campers about
that type of animal and, of course, there was time for up-close-and-personal time with each of the animals. Campers met other animal lovers and learned about responsible pet care as well as how to help different types of wildlife. They were able to Animal Academy Graduation socialize with the animals and learn about the responsibilities of owning a pet They were able to and being safe around all socialize with the animals animals. Learning was enhanced by animal-related and learn about the crafts each day. responsibilities of owning a
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Coordinated by Murray State University Youth and Nonprofit Leader-ship Intern Karen Spradling, the camp was possible because of the number of volunteers who helped plan and conduct each day.
Art teacher Kellie Schuster provided animal-related crafts for each session and animal experts in the various area
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pet and being safe around all animals. .
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– Kathy Hodge
lent their expertise: Humane Society Cat Adoption/Friends of the Shelter Coordinator Kat Fick; Debbie Boaz and her search and rescue bloodhound, Gypsy; Kyle Addison and his police German Shepherd, Tonka; Hannah Wolf and her certified pet therapy dog, Samie and her cat, Rawni; Woodlands Nature Station Naturalist and Public Programs Coordinator Carrie Szwed with a screech owl and other native wildlife and Clinton Cunningham with Athena, a Burmese Python, Poopy, a Redtailed Boa, and Geckos Lizzy and
GooGoo. Veterinarians Terry Canerdy and Laura Ken Hoffman and Licensed Vet Tech Barbie Papajeski, Humane Society Dog Adoption Coordinator Brandi King, Suzy Crook of West Kentucky Mentoring, Mary Towery of the Humane Society, and other Humane Society volunteers assisted. The July camp was the first held by the Humane Society in a number of years, and from the response of children, parents and both sponsoring organizations, it won’t be the last. The camp will expand next year to include more information on how the campers can make a difference for animals, animal issues in the community and animalrelated careers.
If you have an animal expertise or an interest in helping to organize and conduct next year’s summer camp, please contact the Humane Society at 270-759-1884 or email humanesociety@murray-ky.net, reach us on Facebook or visit our office at the Weaks Community Center, 607 Poplar Street, Murray. Visit our website at www.ForThePets.org a complete calendar of events, animals for adoption and for details on all the Humane Society’s programs. s
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[ ď‚— ] a laughing matter
Howling With Laughter by: Paige Graves
We can't sugarcoat the experience that is trick-or-treating and we don't feel the need to as the thought of buckets and buckets of treats fill our heads. It might even be better to wrangle a gaggle of costumed kiddos with a sugar rush, so be safe this Halloween and have a few laughs along the way.
One Halloween a trick-or-treater came to my door dressed as Rocky in boxing gloves and satin shorts. Soon after I gave him some goodies, he returned for more. "Aren't you the same Rocky who left my doorstep several minutes ago?" I asked. "Yes," he replied, "but now I'm the sequel. I'll be back three more times tonight, too."
Everyone at the company I worked for dressed up for Halloween. One fellow's costume stumped us. He simply wore slacks and a white Tshirt with a large 98.6 printed across the front in glitter. When someone finally asked what he was supposed to be, he replied, "I'm a temp."
................................................ A local police force was wary about the new officers and how they would handle Halloween night, as vandalism was often a problem. However, the sergeant was looking forward to working with the vampire who joined the force because he was so good at stake outs.
........................................ "There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin." -Linus Van Pelt in "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"
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A man answered his door for the first trick-or-treater of the night. A well-dressed kid stood on the front porch saying, "Trick or Treat!" The man asked the kid what he's dressed up as for Halloween. The kid said, "I'm an IRS agent." The kid took 28% of the man's candy, left the house, and didn't say thank you.
Don't bother inviting the Invisible Man to your Halloween party. He won't show up. Sometimes he makes excuses, but they're all transparent.
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home. It was clearly in breach of the rule on burning leaves after dark. One of the fireman knocked on the door, and they both waited each holding their helmet in their hand. The little old woman opened the door and promptly dropping a bar of candy into each helmet. She then said, "Aren't you boys are a little old for trick and treat?"
....................................................... Just as the sun had set on Halloween, two firefighters could see a bonfire in the back yard of a
Homecoming Edition
One Halloween night, two friends were walking through a graveyard, to make trick-or-treating a little more interesting. Suddenly, they heard a tap-tap-tapping noise from a grave. When they approached the grave cautiously, they were relieved to see an old man with a hammer and chisel working dexterously at one of the headstones. They heaved a sigh of relief and said to the old man, "Why are you working so late this night, old man. You almost scared us to death.� The old man groaned and grumbled, "What am I to do? Those fools misspelled my name!"
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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] community The Murrays are Coming! by: Murray Life staff, with Evelyn M. E. Murray, FSA/Scot
his year, on October 26, Murray’s Central Park will be festooned with banners and tartans in celebration of the Murray Highland Festival. Kilted men, some with bagpipes, will be joined by folk singers and musicians, highland “coos” and border collies, bands and clans.
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Among the clans, at the head of the list, will be the Murrays. One of their famous sons, John Murray, the 19th Century military man and politician, gave his name to the upstart city that soon replaced Wadesboro as the county seat of Calloway. However, the influence of the Murrays and their fellow Scots runs deeper here than you may imagine. As the pipes begin to play and the tartan cloth is brought out of the mothballs for another Murray Festival, let’s take a look at the family after whom the Friendliest Small Town in the U.S.A. is proudly named. Evelyn Murray, president of the Murray Clan Society of North America, has written an interesting history of the family. Estimates are that there are more than a quarter million Murrays in the U.S. and
Canada. We know they came from Scotland, but as Ms. Murray puts it:
. . . the influence of the “Murrays and their fellow
“The early origins of the clan are covered in mist, but it is believed that a Flemish knight, Freskin, was given lands by King David I in the area known as Moray, and following the custom of the times he married into the ancient royal Pictish family who had ruled the ancient Kingdom of Moray. (. . .) Moray takes its name from the early Celtic mori-treb or “sea settlement.” Freskin’s descendants took the surname ‘of Moray’ or ‘of Murray’ (both versions are pronounced the same way), and took for their coat of arms the three stars with the colours blue and silver associated with the ancient province of Moray.”
Scots runs deeper here than you may imagine.
Today, that coat of arms and its three stars appear as the crest of Murray State University.
Atholl Highlanders and Blair Castle
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”
– Murray Life Staff
The Murrays have always been at the center of things in Scotland. If you’ve seen the film “Braveheart,” you know how important was the Battle of Sterling Bridge. Evelyn Murray tells us, “Sir Andrew Murray . . . is considered to be the chief strategist behind the planning for the battle of Stirling Brig [bridge]. However, he had the misfortune to die from his wounds received from this battle; Sir William Wallace is often given the credit for winning.” There are two “seats” of the Clan Murray; the original is called
Murray tartan of Tullibardine – also of green, blue and red, but in a very different design. In fact, you’ll see a great deal of clan tartans, badges and banners – perhaps even one to which you are connected. The visiting clans this year, as we go to press, include:
Highland Reign
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Today, that coat of arms and its three stars appear as the crest of Murray State University..
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– Murray Life Staff
Tullibardine and the second, better known, is Blair Atholl, or Blair Castle, located about 30 miles north of the city of Perth on the southern edge of Cairngorms National Park. It is the former official home of the head of the clan (or, “Chief”), and the honorary home to the only remaining private army in the United Kingdom, the Atholl Highlanders. It is one of the most visited sites in all of Scotland. As president Murray tells us, “Currently, the chief of the Murrays is the 12th Duke of Atholl, Bruce Murray. He resides in the Transvaal, South Africa, with his wife Charmain. He travels to Scotland every May to take the salute at the annual parade of the Atholl Highlanders at Blair Castle. Perthshire. (. . .) This event is well worth attending; it is held the last Saturday in May, with the only private army in Europe parading, Regimental Colours flying and the
Pipe Band playing, complete with all the preciseness that we expect from Scottish regiments; it is an unforgettable sight.” It is unlikely that the Duke and Duchess will join us this October, but it is certain the Murrays will be well represented. It is expected that Corky Murray, the regional convener of the clan and former National Vice-President, will be joined by Wayne Murray, the current treasurer of the North American Clan Association, and former president. It was Wayne Murray who presided over the first national Murray Clan meeting in Murray in the early 1990s – the event that culminated in the tradition of holding the highland games here each fall.
Murray, Honored Clan for 2013 Davidson Donald Douglas MacGregor MacLaren MacNeil MacTavish Murray of Montgomery Tullibardine tartan O'Ferrell Pollock Shaw The best way to get more information Murray of on the upcoming Atholl tartan event is to visit the website, which can be found at www.wkyhighlandfestival.com. Murray Life thanks Evelyn M.E. Murray, FSA (Scot), President, Murray Clan Society, NA, for her comments and cooperation in preparing this article for our readers. s
So, you should see plenty of Murrays in the Atholl tartan of green, blue and red. You’ll also see at least one example of the The Murray Clan in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
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[ ďƒ‹ ] count on it
Halloween: Costumes and Calories by: Paige Graves
Whether you're taking the little ones out trick-or-treating or staying in with a bowl of goodies, Halloween can be fun for all—mainly because of the candy that is sure to be consumed. Find out the facts and choose your nightly activity wisely, because the scariest thing of all can be the days following Halloween when we trade our stretchy costumes for tight pants.
600 million:
4,800:
27th:
Average pounds of candy Americans buy for Halloween each year
Typical number of calories filling up the trick-or-treat bucket
Day in October when candy sales are highest
90%:
27 hours: Time it took to make a Marshmallow Peep in 1953. It now takes 6 minutes.
Parents who admit to sneaking goodies from their children's candy stash
46:
$44: Average amount of money a household will spend on Halloween candy
Years since the premiere of the classic TV special, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!"
25%: Percentage of children who will be dressing up as a princess
1,810 lbs: Weight of a pumpkin grown in 2010
36 million: Children who will go trick-ortreating
32,820: Population of the cryptically named Transylvania County in North Carolina
1,600+: Halloween shops across the country
10: Number of "Halloween" films that have been made.
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Answers to the Questions on page 10. Let始s see how you did!
Have I got an answer for you?
1. c. 4- they kept sending free mileage coupons 2. a. A route by water to markets of eastern Asia 3. c. The Santa Anna 4. d. 17- 1 for explorers and 16 for the press 5. b. Genoa, Italy 6. b. Hispaniola 7. d. October 12, 1492 8. d. All of the above 9. b. Lyndon B. Johnson 10. c. 1892
Sudoku Answers from page 15
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Past & Present President: Dr. Tim Miller by: Meghann Anderson
e was a student, then a husband, a teacher and then interim president. And now, he’s back for round two. Dr. Tim Miller is the man occupying room 218 in MSU’s Wells Hall until a new president is named for Murray State University. Faced with the non-renewal of his contract, former president Randy Dunn assumed the presidency at Youngstown State University earlier this year.
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However, Tim Miller is no stranger to the city of Murray, the University, or the president’s seat. His journey at Murray State began in the fall of 1963 as an undergraduate student studying accounting. 50 years later, the journey continues, but from the president’s chair rather than from a school desk. He makes Murray State history as the only student to later serve as president two separate times. But let’s rewind a few years.
Life Before Presidency In 1965, Miller met Patsy Purdom, a Calloway County native, the woman who would later become his wife and the one who stood beside him as he progressed through the ranks at Murray State. “Tim,” by the way, is a nickname made up of his initials: Thomas I. Miller is the official name of the young man who arrived in Murray in 1963.
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Receiving his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1966, Miller finished his M.B.A at Murray State in 1967, and obtained a doctorate in accounting from the University of Arkansas in 1973. He returned to Murray and started teaching in 1971. “I had a great experience as an undergraduate at Murray State, and all my experiences after that here have been just as positive,” Miller said. “I was excited to come back.” Along with teaching, Miller also led the accounting department for 17 years and served as the executive director of the MSU Foundation for more than 20 years. During that time he proved his commitment to students by earning teaching awards from students, faculty and alumni. He received the Regents Outstanding Teaching award and, in 1991, was named Distinguished Professor for Murray State.
to “later...theserveonlyasstudent president two separate times. ” – Meghann Anderson
In 2006, he accepted the interim presidency for the first time prior to the arrival of former president, Randy Dunn. Miller told the Murray Ledger & Times in an interview before Dunn took office that, in preparation for Dunn’s
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Tim Miller, 1963
arrival, he was going to work on improving relationships throughout the state – specifically at the capital. Miller’s first run as interim president lasted more than three months.
Unfinished Business This time around, Miller plans to stay until at least March of 2014, the earliest he thinks a new president could be named. “Coming into the semester I thought I was going to teach an accounting course,” Miller smiled. “Obviously that’s not how it turned out.” On June 7, Constantine Curris, chair of the Board of Regents, recommended the Board take
action to appoint Miller as interim president. “I didn’t really want to take the position at first,” Miller said. “I wanted to teach and direct the foundation. But they talked about getting a retired university president to come in as interim and I knew they wouldn’t be as familiar with the University, so I decided to go serve.” Tim Miller knows the University like the back of his hand. “I’ve spent my entire career here,” he said. “I have a great love for the University and I want to see it do its best.” While promoting Murray State, trying to improve campus and student life, and trips back and forth to Frankfort, Miller said he would be happy when things calm down. “They assured me that, within the year, they would have a new president,” Miller said. During his term of service he wants to concentrate on the interests of the students. “Sometimes we forget that's the priority,” he said. “We get involved with other things, but I want to get back to making sure we provide enough educational opportunities for all of our students.” He said meeting everyone’s needs is a big task that he plans to focus on for the next eight months. True to its awardwinning name, he believes Murray is the friendliest place he has ever been. He wants the community to know they are an important part of making the University a great place for students.
“The faculty are outstanding,” Miller said. “They really do care for students, and they show they care; they are really student oriented. I could walk down the street on any day and see someone I know. It’s a great feeling knowing your surrounded by positive people.” He may be biased toward Murray and Murray State, but he believes the facts prove that the city and the University provide a good, safe environment for students, and that, he said, is comforting to parents.
“I don’t like the trips to Frankfort because those are really long,” he says with a shake of the head. “I enjoy the helping the University, but I wouldn’t want to do it on a per-manent basis; I want to make that clear.” When Miller was a student, enrollment was approximately 3,000-4,000 students. Now, he is overseeing more than 10,000 students on multiple campuses, with many international studies programs in
“We are truly concerned about progress of students,” Miller said. “I think it's a great community and I owe a lot to the University. This is just a small way I can help pay it back, by stepping in and Our main focus should serving as interim president.” be about what is best for
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Home While Miller is not a Murray native, this is the place he calls home. After 50 years, the man who came from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, to play baseball at Murray State College would not want to live anywhere else. But along with all of the positive attributes involved in assisting the University in its search for a new president, the part he dislikes the most about being interim president is the travel.
the students; they are the reason we are here.
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– Tim Miller
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countries from Germany to China. In fact, the University is very different from the institution he served as interim president just seven years ago.
“I would rather be teaching and serving as director of the foundation, but I’m happy,” Miller said. “But I am looking forward to a new president.”
“Things have really changed since 2006,” Miller said. Aside from the growing enrollment, Miller said the other biggest difference between his term as interim in 2006 and now is the great decrease in state funding. Murray State has always been a low-cost, affordable opportunity for students and he plans to keep it that way.
We asked if he had any plans to continue his involvement as an administrator at Murray State. With a gentle smile and a slow shake of his head, he said, “This is it; I'm done. For sure.”
“We hate to raise tuition,” Miller said. “Our main focus should be about what is best for the students; they are the reason we are here.” Along with his passion for students, Miller said he enjoys the interaction he gets with students, faculty, staff and community members while interim president.
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If Tim Miller does, indeed, hang up his administrative running shoes and swear off the 500-mile round-trip excursions to the State Capitol, no one could blame him. With a lifetime of accolades for his work in the classroom, the community and the administrator’s chair, Tim Miller has earned the right to choose where he
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Tim Miller
Earlier this year, New York Magazine published a series of recollections from people who had grown up in New York City. Our friend, Dr. Debbie Owen, herself a New Yorker, shared it with us. She was enchanted with the view of New York through the eyes of children. From young children to celebrities like Mel Brooks, each contributed a little remembrance of life through the eyes of a child long before New York had replaced London as the largest city in the developed world – and the more influential. It was an interesting piece, to say the least. However, as we discussed it around the editorial table, we began to worry that such wonderful recollections of Murray and Calloway County might be all around us, yet unpreserved – and disappearing every day. We decided to celebrate Calloway through the eyes of children as best we could with a multi-part series of articles we call, “Coming of Age in Calloway.” In this, our second installment, we scan the decades from the 1930s to the 1990s through the recollections of kids who grew up in Murray. The Murray of today is, in many ways, vastly different from the Murray that played host to Ron Churchill, Joretta Fox Reynolds and John Pasco. Life seems faster, in a way and, perhaps, more complex. But, viewed through a different perspective, there are some things that have not changed so much that a common thread cannot be seen running through the lives of people who called this place “home,” no matter when their youthful feet started to run the streets and sidewalks of Calloway’s county seat. You will probably recognize many names, places and events as we show you what it was like when they were . . .
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Ronald (Ron) Churchill grew up in downtown Murray, causing mischief like every other boy growing up in the 1930s. Living above the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home offered the perfect set-up for the comings and goings of a busy downtown square. Ron chuckles as he remembers playing down by the train depot. At that time, the train came through Murray daily from Paducah, Kentucky all the way down to Paris, Tennessee. He and the Parker boys were good friends with all of the hobos that would be near the train. Many of the hobos would come and go, but the boys would hang out with them to pass the time. His mother never knew, but he was sure she would not have been pleased. There would be days at the train depot when as many as 12 crates of coon dogs would be waiting for the afternoon train. The howling could be heard from blocks away. Buddy Parker raised coon dogs and people from all over the United States would order a dog; they would be shipped by train. The dogs could be heard on his farm, which was then where the Central Park is now located, at all times of the day. “Oooo me, that was a sight and sound. All that barking! The dogs were just lined up in those crates, waiting to be shipped off. I would hate to have been on that train.” If the winter was cold and snowy, as it often was, sledding was in order. The best hill around was on Fifth Street, right in front of the First Christian Church. Children would line up by the dozens waiting to zoom down the steep hill. It has been the best-kept secret around, according to Ron. “I am pretty sure we weren’t suppose to be doing that, either. It seemed like a good idea at the time.” In between the railroad tracks and Fourth Street there used to be a cotton gin with fields (what is currently the area of Hih-Burger). Ron and his friends would roll around in those cotton balls for hours, “just like floating on air.” A bit farther down Fourth Street where it ended, was a gravel pit. In the summer, the gravel pit would pool with water right there on the edge of the highway. One day, the boys were swimming naked and his two aunts passed by. “Oh, I got into a whole mess of trouble that day. Not only did my aunts catch me, but I was also swimming naked on the highway for everyone to see. Yes sir, I was in trouble for that one.” More than sixty years later, Ron still lives in Murray with Ann, his wife of sixty years. When asked why he never really lived anywhere else, he replied, “Well, it just seems to be the place for me.”
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“My daughter in Atlanta, after reading "Before the Memory Dims" in the recent Murray Life, encouraged me to share the memories about her great-grandfather, my grandfather, J. I. Fox who was a deputy sheriff in Calloway County for 12 years, Sheriff from 1938-1941 and Chief of Police in 1950.” Joretta Randolph has memories even clearer that the sepia-toned photos she has treasured from her girlhood in the 1940s and 50s. The memories, like so many childhood remembrances of family, are of specific moments. She still has her grandfather’s fountain pen and one of his candidate cards from 1945 when he ran, unsuccessfully, for another term as Sheriff. “I was 6-yrs. old then and can remember going around the county campaigning with him and my grandmother. One of my favorite memories of those trips was when he would stop at a country grocery and buy some ‘white crackers and peppermint candy’ – a gourmet snack!” “My grandmother loved flowers and would always come home from those campaign trips with a bouquet of wildflowers. When we got home I told my mother, ‘Grandmama picked some weeds today.’ I was reminded of those flowers a couple of weeks ago when our daughter, who graduated from Calloway County in 1993 was home for her 20th class reunion and made a bouquet of ‘wildflowers.’ It was so much like Grandmama's bouquet from the 40s.” She still has the "typed copy (smudges and all) of his campaign speech which he wrote and recorded (for a radio campaign speech) to the Citizens and Voters of Calloway County. I always like the way he ended his speech: ‘With God as my helper and the Law as my guide, I will, if you choose me your Sheriff, receive your vote of confidence as a challenge to the greatest service that is within my being.’” Written on the back of one old photograph, a memento of J. I. Fox’s second year as Sheriff, is the description, "Two moon-shine liquor stills caught on east side of Calloway County. Summer 1939." On one edge of her grandfather’s campaign card is the letter “A” in two corners. “We kids would collect cards from all the candidates and play ‘Authors’ with them; four of the same card made a ‘book’. The one who collected most ‘books’ was the winner. We didn’t have video games back then!” she laughs. It is not everyone who, on seeing a bundle of wildflowers, can be transported back in time to a sepia-toned world filled with adventure, excitement and grandparents.
Many youngsters in Murray in the late 40s and early 50s couldn’t wait until Bisbee’s Comedians made their annual summer appearance. A big colorful tent with a stage and rows of folding chairs on the grass first sprang up on Main Street west and opposite of the College Presbyterian Church and later on Sycamore where the Murray Drive-In eventually located. It looked like an old-time church revival. But, instead of a preacher man laying on hands and saving sinners, there was Tobey, a red-headed, freckle-faced bumpkin in high waist baggy pants and his snaggle-toothed girlfriend, Suzie, singing bawdy songs, telling racy jokes, and acting out a farce where our heroes were “wise enough to play the fool” and outwit the always over confident, over matched villainous city slicker from up north. I’m sure not all parents approved, but, fortunately for me, mine loved any kind of theatre and Bisbee’s was Southern melodramatic, over-the-top story telling at its funniest.
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Editor’s Note: Blake McReynolds is the youngest of our contributors. Now a student at Murray State, she is spending part of her “free time” as an intern for the Murray Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, located on a corner opposite from the family store where she “grew up.”
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Growing up in Murray, I have had the unique opportunity to experience the warmth and friendliness of the community my entire life, which is not a chance many individuals get. My grandparents owned Corn-Austin Company when I was younger and I spent a lot of my time in the store. From birth up until the store closed, I was always hot on their heels, asking what I could do or how I could help. I have met so many people of various ages that were customers and have grown up witnessing the kindness, warmth and genuine love of people in my hometown. By the time I was 13, there were many people who would let me wait on them and even help them shop. Looking back I realize how much this has aided me in becoming the person I am today. Now, after the store has been closed for almost ten years, the customers I waited on still remember me and will stop and ask me how my life is. The relationships created in Murray are genuine and are from the heart. Once you know someone here, you know them for life. It may be years before our paths cross again, but it is always such a beautiful I was born in Murray in 1952 and other than my time away for and genuine (if not serendipitous) occasion law school, I have lived here my entire life. Like many others, I have when we do. the "Murray curse" – a deep belief that I would not be satisfied living Some look down upon the small town anywhere else. life, but let me say I feel truly blessed to call My childhood memories of Murray are special to me. It was like Murray my hometown, and no matter where growing up in Mayberry. I remember eating out with my parents at I go I will always have a love and appreciaThe Triangle, Rudy's or Hi-Burger and they could name every person tion for the people that continue to make in the room. Not only that: they knew were they lived, what they did Murray what it is: Finest Place We Know. for a living, and where they went to church. Of course, Murray was much smaller in the 50s and 60s. From this background, I'd like to share what happened to my best childhood buddy, Charlie Gibbs and me, when we were 9 or 10 years old. We grew up next to each other and loved to camp out in the back yard. One night we sneaked out to explore the town and somehow ended up at the Carman Motel on Main Street across from Oakhurst. There we found a soda machine with a glass door you could open leaving the bottle tops exposed. Rather than pay for them, we simply popped the tops off and “captured the pour,” so to speak. We thought we were really cool drinking all this "free" soda in the middle of the night. Well, I'm sure we made some commotion (two boys laughing and jumping around like Mexican jumping beans), because it wasn't long before a Murray City Police car quickly pulled in behind us. We took off running, Charlie to the north and me to the west. Somewhere near Robertson School, a young police officer, Martin Wells, collared me and put me in the back of his patrol car. He sternly asked, "Young man, what's your name?" "Charlie Smith," I replied. The next thing I know Mr. Wells is pulling into my driveway at home. I asked myself, “How could he possibly know who I was or where I lived?” He walked me to the front door and rang the doorbell. The porch light came on, the door opened and there was my father in his underwear. "Macon,” said Mr. Wells, "meet Charlie Smith." Well, the next day, I had to apologize to Mrs. Hull at the motel and perform any work she required for her restitution. She had prize rose bushes (you know: the kind with a lot of thorns) and I pulled weeds and dodged thorns for what seemed like an eternity. Lesson learned. Continued on page 44 I still see Martin Wells from time to time, and he usually asks, "How's Charlie Smith?" In my mind, Sheriff Andy Griffith could not have handled this any better. murray life magazine s Homecoming Edition
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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 this third installment, Larry Ray resumes his narrative.
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Part III: The Battle for Fort Donelson
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.
The Earlier Story In our previous installments in this series of articles, we learned of Confederate General Tilghman’s intention to secure a wellplaced site for a gun battery on the west bank of the Tennessee River near the Kentucky/Tennessee border. Construction of Fort Heiman began on the western shore of the river on a bluff well situated to command the river with cannon. General Grant’s Union advance up the Tennessee forced construction to stop, and Col. Adolphus Heiman’s force moved to Fort Henry, directly opposite on the eastern shore. The poor location of Fort Henry (it was easily flooded), and the absence of favorable artillery positioning led Gen. Tilghman to retire most of his force to Fort Donelson on the Cumberland, only 10 miles away. Tilghman covered the retreat with a handful of gunners, but eventually surrendered the fort to Grant on Feb. 6, 1862. The Tennessee was now blocked to vital southern traffic. A week later, fearing rebel reinforcements for Fort Donelson, Grant moved his forces up the Cumberland and overland from Fort Henry. Both sides were confident and in high spirits, but that was about to change.
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Our Story Resumes On February 13, the Union flotilla arrived, bringing six gunboats and another 10,000 Union reinforcements on twelve transports. A snowstorm arrived that night with strong winds that brought the temperatures down to around 10 degrees with 3 inches of snow. There was much suffering on both sides. The next day, the gunboats began firing on the fort as they had done at Fort Henry. The gunboats pressed to within 400 yards before being forced to withdraw. The Confederate artillery pummeled the fleet. Commodore Foote himself was wounded and later died from his wounds. The damage to the fleet was terrific. The flagship St. Louis was hit 59 times, Carondelet 54, Louisville 36, and Pittsburg 20. Foote had miscalculated following his easy success at Fort Henry. The Union fleet was severely damaged and General Grant was seriously considering retiring to Fort Henry. However, the Confederates were surrounded by well-armed Union soldiers and the Federals still controlled the river below Fort Donelson.
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in the snowstorm and some, ironically, burned to death when the woods caught fire during the fierce fighting. Things were getting worse for the Confederates and Union reinforcements were still arriving. General Buckner believed that another escape attempt would cost them 75% of their men, and that he could not hold his position. Generals Floyd and Pillow made questionable and possibly even cowardly decisions to leave and turned over their command to General Buckner, who agreed to stay behind and surrender the army.
To the Union’s benefit, Confederate General Lloyd Tilghman, who commanded all three Forts, was taken prisoner at Fort Henry. This created a problem of command at Fort Donelson: Generals Simon Bolivar Buckner and Bushrod Johnson were the only professionals among the Generals in the Fort, but they were outranked by politically-appointed Generals John B. Floyd and Gideon J. Pillow.
Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest was enraged at the very thought of surrendering his command and led his 700 cavalrymen and about 800 others in a daring and successful escape from the fort along the route that is now the road to Erin, Tenn. Many historians argue that many thousands more could have escaped from Fort Donelson if it had not been for the questionable decisions of the commanders. Forrest would go on fighting, setting what many consider an all-time record for covering the retreats and correcting the errors of those in higher command. He would eventually rise to the rank of Lieutenant General (3 stars) and become one of the South’s most famous commanders. Forrest may have sworn on that cold night to someday come back to drive the gunboats from the rivers; he did, in fact, come back to Fort Heiman in 1864 to claim important victories that would enshrine him among his admirers (and detractors) as a military legend that lives on even today.
Despite their unexpected naval success, the Confederate Generals were still worried about their chances. After a confused and failed Confederate attempt to escape, the Union forces were poised to take Donelson the next day. Nearly 1,000 soldiers on both sides had been killed, with about 3,000 wounded still on the field; some frozen to death
Buckner, a West Point classmate and friend of Grant, sent him a note asking for terms of surrender. Grant responded with his now-famous position that the only terms were “Unconditional Surrender!” U. S. Grant became an instant hero in the North and was known from then on as “Unconditional Surrender Grant.” This popularity during the
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war contributed to his eventual election as President. Later, General William Tecumseh Sherman was quoted as saying that “Grant made Donelson and Donelson made Grant.” Buckner surrendered to Grant at the Dover Hotel, which is now called the “Surrender House,” and was sent to prison. Up until this time, the war had not been going well for the North. The fall of Forts Heiman, Henry and Donelson were the first significant Union victories in the war. This was a major military accomplishment that opened up the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers to the movement of gunboats, men and supplies into the very heart of the Confederacy. It was a pivotal point in the Civil War. Within weeks Nashville fell, and soon the state and most its valuable resources were in Union hands. The Confederacy struggled to recover, but it never would. Many historians now argue that this was where “The South Lost the War.” I also feel that after the fall of these three Forts, it was just a matter of time for the Confederacy. The flood gates of Union military transportation were now wide open.
Fort Donelson became a Federal garrison and regular patrols were based from Forts Donelson, Henry and Heiman to secure the area. The entire nation probably regarded the three forts to be part of history; battlements whose usefulness to the Confederacy, at least, was at an end. Grant went on to take Memphis, further crippling Confederate use of the Mississippi. Little more than a year after Fort Donelson, despite being the victim of political intrigue and slander in the army and in Washington, he completed the siege of Vicksburg. The Mississippi “became a Federal stream,” and Grant was moved east to deal with the mythic Robert E. Lee at the Army of Northern Virginia. Soon after the fall of Fort Donelson, however, the world – and a surprised host of Union soldiers – would know of Fort Heiman, again. In our next issue: Fort Heiman Returns to Life Larry Ray is Executive Director of the Henry County Fair Association and past Executive Director of the ParisHenry County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development. He has had a life-long interest in the Civil War.
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[ ] food
Tasty Tailgating by: Caina Lynch ost folk’s memories of Murray State football games actually happen a few hours before the game. As much as we all love the excitement of those powerful tackles and the spell-binding performances of Racer Band, some of the best experiences of those Saturday game-days happen in the parking lot. I'm talking about Racer Tailgating.
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For generations tailgating has been a pre-game tradition for family, friends, and students. These traditions have been around long before the first Thoroughbreds tailgating event. Historians have pointed out that at the Battle of Bull Run in 1861 was enjoyed by spectators up on the hill. Union supporters arrived with baskets of food to watch the opening battle of America’s Civil War. Perhaps with shouts
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of “Go Big Blue!” to the Union soldiers, a chant that would later resonate through stadiums across Kentucky, supporters socialized amongst the tension and excitement with death in the distance. Today we tend to think of a grill with burgers and hot dogs while anticipating game time when we talk about tailgating. Shortly after World War II the popularity of pre-football partying began, but with a much more common vehicle: the station wagon. In the '60s and '70s school parking lots increased and so did the lots around football fields. This encouraged the students and family members to pull up the wagon, pop the tail open, and have a good time with burgers and beers before the game. As the years passed and technology provided new
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opportunities, tailgating took on a life of its own. Coolers loaded with ice and beverages sprouted wheels and gas grills became portable: allowing hearty meals just before kickoff, rows of parking spots transformed into camps and communities. Across the country today, we see pregame rituals that happen just outside the gates of the field. The scent of hamburger smoke fills the air above the tails and tents. Face-paint decorates the cheeks of young ones with mascot prints. Solo cups, of what is sure to be sweet tea, are glued to the hands of the next generation. Students and townspeople gather around tailgates and under tents to enjoy the festivities before the game. With Murray State’s Homecoming right around the corner on October 19, Tent
want to fill up your stomach and – let’s be honest – you’ll need the extra energy to keep up with the enthusiastic cheerleaders. ....................
Honey Barbeque Chicken
City preparations are well underway. A tradition since 1989, Murray takes tailgating to the next level with nearly 50 tents set up on the east side of the track at Roy Steward Stadium. Alumni come back to their Alma Mater for this big event every year to support the university and student funded organizations and clubs. It is a chance to mix and mingle with members of the community and alumni of their own organizations. Rain or shine, Tent City prepares Murrayans for the Homecoming game! Tailgaters are encouraged to bring a snack or beverage to the tails of their friends’ trucks. One thing is certain, Murray State “Blue and Gold” colors and a positive attitude are required to attend! Since that first fall game, football and food have been inseparable. You wouldn’t go to a Super Bowl party without snacks of some sort to munch on before and during the game, and the same goes for tailgating. Good food is the top priority when planning for a tailgate. Especially since all your friends will be all over your tail if the food is good. So before you grab a seat in the stands for a few hours you may
The tradition that invites today’s wellequipped and well-fed fans to parking lots around the field is the same one that drew a crowd to the battlefield 1861: the friends, the party, the game. In fact, two out of three are satisfactory for some fans— and probably in that order. And don’t forget that, for some of us, the fun actually starts in the kitchen long before the tailgate is dropped and loaded. Here are a few recipes that will make anyone stop by your tent for a taste!
Honey Barbeque Chicken This homemade barbeque sauce adds a sweet and savory bold flavor to your chicken. It takes about an hour to cook to perfection, perfect for tailgating events that start hours before kickoff.
2 tbsp. lemon juice 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce ¼ tsp. ground black pepper BBQ Chicken Ingredients Vegetable cooking spray 6 bone-in chicken breasts 8 chicken drumsticks Honey Barbecue Sauce Directions Coat food grate with cooking spray; place on grill over medium-high heat (350° 400°). Place chicken on grate, and grill, covered, 5 to 10 minutes on each side. Reduce heat to low (under 300°); grill, covered, 40 to 50 minutes for breasts and 30 to 40 minutes for drumsticks or until done. Brush with 1 cup Honey Barbecue Sauce during last 10 minutes of grilling. Serve with remaining 1 cup sauce.
Chicken and Vegetable Stew For those later fall football games and it’s already chilly by late afternoon, a stew is much easier and warmer than lighting up the grill. This chicken and veggie stew will warm your stomach and soul.
Sauce Ingredients ¼ c. butter 1 medium onion, diced (about 1 c.) 1 c. ketchup 1/3 c. water ¼ c. honey
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Ingredients 1 (32 oz.) container fatfree chicken broth 4 skinned, bone-in chicken breast halves (about 2 ¼ pounds) 1 medium onion, chopped 2 celery ribs, chopped 1 (14 oz.) package frozen white corn 1 (16 oz.) package frozen baby lima beans 1 (14 ½ oz.) can crushed tomatoes ¼ c. ketchup ¼ c. chopped country ham 1 tbsp. sugar 3 tbsp. red wine vinegar 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce ½ -1 tsp. hot sauce 1 tsp. dried marjoram Directions Bring broth to a boil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken, onion, and celery, and return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes or until chicken is tender. Remove chicken from pan, and let cool. Remove chicken from bones, discarding bones; shred chicken. Add corn, and remaining ingredients and chicken to Dutch oven. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes or until beans are tender.
Whiskey Whoopie Pies Sweet treats are a must at any event when food is involved. Here is a cookie sandwich that the folks at Southern Living swear by, it is easy to eat and gets easier with each bite. Prepare them in advance and pull out of the freezer the day of to minimize the chances of a last-minute food frenzy. The
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southern whiskey kick may not have gone over smooth with those first “Go Big Blue!” supporters above the Union battlefield, but we’re pretty sure you’ll enjoy it. Cookie Ingredients 1 c. granulated sugar ½ c. butter, softened ¼ tsp. table salt 1 large egg 1 large egg yolk 1 ¾ c. all-purpose flour ½ c. unsweetened cocoa 1 tsp. baking soda 1 ½ c. buttermilk Parchment paper
Photo source: www.southernliving.com
Filling Ingredients 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened ¼ c. butter, softened 2 tbsp. whiskey (your preference) 3 ½ c. powdered sugar ¾ c. toasted chopped pecans Directions Prepare Cookies: Preheat oven to 350°. Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and egg yolk; beat just until blended. Sift together flour and next 2 ingredients; add to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Drop spoonfuls of batter onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
medium speed until smooth. Add powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, beating at low speed just until blended after each addition. Assemble: Turn half of cooled cookies over, flat sides up. Dollop each with about 2 Tbsp. filling, and sprinkle with pecans. Top with remaining cookies; press gently to spread filling to edges. Serve immediately. Or place pies on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze 8 to 24 hours or until firm. Store in freezer up to 3 weeks. Let stand 1 hour before serving. s
Murray State University Homecoming 2013
October
Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheets 5 minutes; cool on wire racks completely.
19
Prepare Filling: Beat cream cheese, butter, and whiskey at
vs. Austin Peay
Homecoming Edition
2623 Wayne Sullivan Drive Paducah, KY 42003 Phone: 270-442-9726 Fax: 270-442-5058 www.computer-source.com
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[
] community Why Is Murray So Friendly and Growing? by: Pete Lancaster
have lived in Murray for most of my adult life, and I cannot imagine moving again to any other location on the face of the planet. I came to college here, and was fortunate upon graduation to be offed a job with Murray State University where I worked for over 20 years. This is home for me and I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to live and work among the citizens of “the Friendliest Small Town in America.” It is a designation we are proud to accept.
I
There are many reasons why we were selected for that very exciting designation, and each of them may help explain why Murray is growing while other cities in the Commonwealth are not.
The Reasons When USA TODAY and RandMcNally teamed up to decide how to promote the best places in America to live, they sent teams of people to visit and observe the citizens of the town throughout America that had qualified for consideration. They sent a team to Murray. The people of Murray
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treated them the way anyone would like to be treated. We were selected for doing what comes naturally to people who live and work in midAmerica – and particularly in Murray, Kentucky. A major college or university can be the difference between being a good place to live, and a great place to live. Murray State University provides the community with a constant influx of new residents. Many small town mayors and city council constantly worry about how to attract new talent to their communities. College towns have that influx built in! Murray is focused on doing all we can to make it possible for our locally trained grads to stay put (so to speak). So, our University and our community have a close working relationship. We know that the cooperation makes each of us stronger. Each provides the other with many cultural and sporting
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events that are open to residents and students, alike. Organizations like Murray’s Playhouse in the Park community theatre, or high school and university music, art and theatre, or sports teams events and games are well attended and supported by the whole community. Our elementary and high schools are constantly ranked at the very top for the entire state. Their success is success for everyone. Murray has a very vibrant economic core. We have a variety of quality corporations who have
place to live and work: that should be enough. And that is why Murray-Calloway County is the fastest growing area in the Jackson Purchase, and why Murray is among the top 10 fastest growing cities in Kentucky. Our Convention and Visitors Bureau is constantly fielding question from organization interested in coming to Murray for sponsored events. Among the recent groups hosted by Murray are: The Kentucky Senior Games, 2011 and 2012 • The FLW Tour Stop, 2011 and 2012 • The FLW College Fishing National Championship 2011 • The United States Tennis Association Kentucky Mixed Doubles Championship 2011 •
chose to locate here because of the opportunity to choose workers from a region of quality people whose rural-rooted families instilled in them an honest and friendly work ethic. Visit any of our many restaurants and you’ll be impressed with the friendliness and knowledge of the young women and men serving and preparing your food.
“while’Murray other
is growing cities in the Commonwealth are not.
”
– Pete Lancaster
We have people here who recognize and promote the maintenance of our downtown. It is an incubator for small businesses to get started and, when they begin to grow, new ones are encouraged to start up in their places. A community’s core is downtown, and you can tell a great deal by the looks of a “town square.”
The Proofs Corporations that are considering Murray as a location for their business can look at these awards among others: Friendliest Small Town in the U.S.A. • A Playful City U.S.A. • One of the 100 Best Communities for Young People • A Nationally recognized Retirement Community • Chamber of Commerce of the Year •
Over and Over again, our Chamber of commerce reports hearing comments like, “This town is so friendly!” and “We love it here . . .
Perhaps that is why we are not prone to roll over and accept nonsense from a corporation which may offer to locate here, but which makes unreasonable demands on our sense of fairness and ethics. This region will provide an employer with a great workforce and a fine
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we visited the lakes for years, and we just decided to move here.” Add to all the solid evidence of stability and growth the fact that this is a wonderful familyoriented region. There is an abundance of churches offering the opportunity for people to worship as they choose. We have a community park system that provides all types of opportunities for youth sports, swimming and recreation; an amphitheatre, pavilions and playgrounds. There is a diverse medical community and a hospital that is a credit to the region.
’Friendly’ “starts, but
is where it certainly not where it ends.
”
– Pete Lancaster
When you add it all up, it is easy to see why the Murray-Calloway County community is prospering
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and growing. “Friendly” is where it starts, but certainly not where it ends. If you’re one my fellow citizens, you know that it starts and ends with you; your devotion to a safe and prosperous community and your willingness to share the great promise of this place with others. If you’re not a citizen, we would be pleased to welcome you “home.” Contact the Chamber or the CVB;
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call the Mayor of the County Judge. We’re not afraid to let you in on the worst-kept secret in mid-America: Murray and Calloway County. s C. M. “Pete” Lancaster is a veteran radio personality and current member of the Murray City Council. His observations about the area are probably biased by decades of life in Murray, but the editors are not inclined to contradict him.
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I like movies. As far back as I can remember I’ve always liked movies; all sorts of movies. The summer of 1951 I turned six and we moved from Louisville where my father had been Director of Air Pollution Control for that city. Mother had gone to Murray Teachers College, graduating and marrying in 1943. In 1946, fresh out of active service, dad had been in charge of building married housing units for WW II vets entering Murray State on the GI Bill. (Those units are still being used in a housing compound in the 1600’s block of West Main). They loved the town. So when I was to start school we moved back. My parents wanted my sister and I to grow up here. Murray was a “friendly town” even then. My son use to roll his eyes whenever I would mention that we didn’t have a television set until I was a teenager. Outside of school and church, there were very few organized activities for kids – unlike all the opportunities there are now. So it was, “Out you go.! Come back by suppertime,” preferably without open wounds and bringing back all the brothers you left with. So we invented all sorts of games and adventures. We used our imaginations. But Saturday afternoon! That was the time to be transported to foreign lands, exotic times and daring exploits. It was time for Saturday afternoon movies at the Capital Theater. The Capital Theater was located on Main Street between 3rd and 4th Streets and across from the Bank of Murray. In the 1950s my sister and I, for fifty cents, could get two tickets and popcorn for an afternoon smorgasbord of cinematic treats. A cartoon feature was usually first on the bill. Along with this were two or three “shorts” from a variety of features: “Travel Talks,“ “Little Rascals,“ “History in Review,” “Passing Parade,“ and of course “Let’s go out to the Lobby” to entice the sales of sodas and popcorn. But any connoisseur knew to buy their popcorn on the way in and thus avoid last minute rushes to the lobby and the possibility of missing any film time. Then it was time for the current serial. There were serials about G-men, Dick Tracy, Buck Rodgers, Nancy Drew (Girl Detective), jungle explorers, and “The Perils of Pauline.” Each week they would escape from one misadventure only to be trapped again. “Are you a fallen man?” The main feature was changed two or three times a week and the Previews of Coming Attractions would insist the next film was “never before seen,” “everyone’s talking about” and “Must See!” But Saturday’s feature was the one that mattered. It might be Jungle Jim or Gene Autry or John Wayne; a comedy, western or horror film. Magic carpets of celluloid could transport you to the deserts of North Africa or the pirate waters of the Caribbean – or even the moon and beyond. The Hero would finally triumph and we would emerge into the bright late-afternoon sunlight. The world stood out sharp and clean. Good had won out and Evil was beaten. Over the years I moved into more complex and subtle films, and into fancier theaters. But I will always remember those wondrous Saturday afternoons at the movies: all mine for the price of two tickets and popcorn.
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Patsy Purdom Miller was born and raised in the city of Murray. Growing up in a small, white house across from Oakhurst, the University was just as much a part of her growing up as the rest of the city. Now, as the wife of MSU President Tim Miller, she hosts gatherings in Oakhurst, the traditional home of presidents. Closing her eyes to reminisce, the still-youthful Murray native recalls her teenage years. “I was the first one of out of my group of friends to get a car when I turned 16. It was an older car daddy bought me.” Laughing, she said, “Everyone would throw in a quarter for gas. Things sure have changed.” Some of her first memories of that car were sneaking into the drive-in [theater] with her friends and cruising around Murray. “One time I was driving and talking,” she recalled. “I’m still kind of known for this today and I was not paying attention to where I was going.” Cruising around with her girlfriends, they ended up down by some railroad track heading toward the lake. “They said, ‘Patsy, where are you going?’ Honestly, I had no idea. Apparently, they were going to let me drive until I figured it out. Well, I went through a red light, not thinking about it (you know, it wasn’t on purpose) right by where the old national hotel used to be. Now it’s the Sleep Center, going down Main Street and up toward the court square.” After driving through the red light, a Murray police car started following them. Once the cop flipped his lights and sirens on, she was a woman on the run. “Well, instead of stopping like I should have, I thought I could outrun him,” she said. “I mean, I was 16; I was really, really naïve.” Her passengers were no help in evading the police. “My friends are telling me, “Turn here! Now go this way!” she said. “So I pull in behind what is now the Vietnamese restaurant by Matt B’s and I stopped the car.” Right behind her was a Murray police officer, lights flashing blue and red. “He asked me to get out of the car, asked my name. I told him my name was Patsy Purdom, and he asked if I knew I had run a red light.” The officer told her he was not going to tell her father about the incident, but he expected her to learn a lesson from the mishap. “And that was it,” Patsy said, with a note of surprise in her voice after all these years. “He really didn’t tell my parents. They never knew.” “That’s what it was like growing up in a small town,” said the First Lady of Murray State University. “Everybody knew everybody. I wouldn’t want to have to live anywhere else.”
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Sipping iced-tea on her back porch in the heat of the summer, Kate Apperson Reeves recalls life in Murray as she was growing up. “You know, Murray is much the same as it was then. But, in some ways it has changed so much.” The mid-70s were an interesting time in Murray. Much of the turmoil of the Vietnam War and the civil movements did not directly affect daily life in the community. Murray existed as a friendly, small town, much like today. The downtown square housed several pharmacies, the Dairy Queen was in existence and the local paper, just off the square, was the place to be for Kate Apperson. Walter Apperson, Kate’s father, was publisher of the Murray Ledger & Times while she was in high school. At that time, she worked in advertising, selling what we know as business. After grabbing her afternoon lemonade at the pharmacy around the corner, she would roll into her afternoon work beside her father. Another job she held, at sixteen, was to proof the paper on Saturday mornings, earning her $50.00 a week. “Weddings were the worst. So emotionally charged and unbelievable! I hated doing announcements. Oh, there was always a scene at the front [desk] over something. People get passionate about their papers!” The paper was the source of being for Murray. The place was constantly buzzing with phone calls and visitors, with her father putting out the best newspaper possible. It was almost humorous – even the time she had a paper thrown in her face Her social life was buzzing as well. A buttercream-colored, Delta convertible was her ride around town. The city kids would hang out at the Dairy Queen and the Murray Country Club. The county kids could be found around the courthouse and Main Street was for cruising in between. Kate’s high school boyfriend worked at the Murray Country Club and while she was cruising, she would stop by and leave love notes for him on his car. Prom is much the same as it now, with another tradition that has remained the same: The Grand March happened at the Student Union Ballroom, and Kate was escorted by Lee Stewart. Several years later, in 1981, tragedy struck close to home and to downtown. Fire engulfed the Ledger in the middle of the night. As the fire burned rapidly, the circulation manager ran into the building grabbing all of the subscriber files, saving the addresses. The paper never missed an issue. The Mayfield Messenger offered the use of their press and the Ledger successfully printed the morning after the fire. At that time, Kate was living in Natchez, Mississippi, and her father called her to come home. Kate and her husband, Dave, moved back to Murray and began work at the paper once again, bringing it back to life. She picked up advertising again, and Dave learned circulation. They are both still here. “I miss Murray every single time I leave home. I get so homesick. This is where I live. I left family and friends to find money, but family and friends are so much better.”
Too many stories; not enough time. Nevertheless, we take our look back to Kirksey in our next installment, and you won’t want to miss a single decade of it. 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.
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[ ] 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Jarvis Vision Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Northwood Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Baptist Health Paducah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
K-Squared Designs, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Playhouse in the Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
BB&T Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Kentucky Farm Bureau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Primary Care Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Briggs & Stratton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Kopperud Realty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2, 3, 50
Presbyterian Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Carey’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Lee Jewelry Artisans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Carson Center
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Mattress Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Computer Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
MidSouth Vinyl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Der Dutch Merchant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Murray Auto Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Ezell’s Cosmetology School . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Murray Bank, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Dr. Young & Dr. Hoffman Family Dentistry . . . .4
Murray-Calloway Co. Chamber . . . . . . . . . . .50
Froggyland Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Murray-Calloway Co. Hospital . . .Outside Back
Gear Up Cycles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Murray Electric System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Grey's Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Murray Family Dentistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
West Wood Wine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Heritage Family Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . .19
Murray Highland Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
WKMS FM
Highway 80 Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Murray Insurance Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
WK&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Hilliard-Lyons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Murray State University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
WNBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Imes-Miller Funeral Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Murray Woman's Clinic . . . . . . . . .Inside Front
Woodmen of the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Red Bug on Third . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Robert Billington, Jr. & Assoc. Insurance . . .13 Rolling Hills Nursery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Roof Brothers Wine & Spirits . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Stubblefield Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 The Murray Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Thornton Heating & Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Urology Associates, H.S. Jackson, MD . . . .19 WENK/WTPR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
[ ] coming soon ... 2013 can’t last forever, and the happy, chilly close to the year is on the way. Our next edition will usher in the happy season of Holidays in the Heartland, and in a burst of creativity, we call it the “Holiday” edition. As we prepare for a fresh start in 2014, we’ll look back as we consider the future. • You’re only a short drive from Calloway County’s only official civil war site, and the original battlements of Fort Heiman are never easier to see than in the winter. Larry Ray continues his literary tour of Fort Heiman with a description of the battles that brought the old fort back to life and helped create a military legend for the Confederacy. • LBL Naturalist John Pollpeter returns to our pages with a look at our newest natural neighbor: the armadillo. We think of him as a desert dweller, but we’d better get ready to change our mind as the ‘dillo moves north. • What was it like to grow up around here in the 1930s? In the 50s? The 80s? We continue our series on “Growing up in Calloway” with a look at Kirksey through the eyes of children from times gone by. We still need your help: do you have a fond memory of childhood in these parts? 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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[ ] 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) 492-1215 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.
The Art Hop kicks off the Murray Art Guild’s “Proofs” photography exhibit in the Robert O. Miller Conference Center. For more information on the Art Hop, contact the Murray Art Guild at 270-753-4059. Art exhibits will be featured at galleries and locations around Murray.
Downtown Saturday Market
Florida Georgia Line
The Homeplace Snap Apple Night
through october
october 10
october 19
Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com and the CFSB center.
Join our Halloween ceebration 1850-style. As the sun sets, gather around the bonfires for warmth, companionship, and the scariest stories yet! During intermission, take part in an oldtime snap apple play party, but be prepared for the unexplained as you follow the lighted trail beyond the security of the fires. This event will be held rain or shine, so be prepared for the weather. Chairs and blankets are welcome. Call 270-924-2000 for more information.
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.
The Homeplace 35th Anniversary Celebration
october 12 - 14 This fall marks the 35th anniversary of The Homeplace. Celebrate with us and enjoy some of the most popular programs that we’ve offered at The Homeplace over the past 35 years. See oxen, railsplitting, tobacco firing, and come away with several delicious recipes— and these are just a few of the events! Call 270-924-2000 for more information.
Art Hop
october 4 Bike, drive, or walk around Murray and visit various art exhibits for a night of culture, food and friends. Stops include the Curris Center Art Gallery, Clara M. Eagle Gallery, Murray Art Guild, Robert O. Miller Conference Center and more.
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The Homeplace Storytelling Festival
tales that celebrate the history and culture of the region. This event will be held rain or shine, so be prepared for the weather. Chairs and blankets are welcome. Program free with HP admission. Call 270-924-2000 for more information.
Proofs Photography Exhibit
october 4 - 29 This annual exhibit showcases some of the region's best photography. Hosted by the Murray Art Guild, this juried exhibit fills the Robert O. Miller Conference Center with the work of local photographers. The exhibit is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.- 5p.m. For more information on this event contact the Murray Art Guild at 270-753-4059.
Shrek: The Musical
october 19
oct 18- nov 3
The Storytelling Festival features the finest local storytellers as they spin their stories and tall
Playhouse in the Park presents Shrek: The Musical. This great tale brings the hilarious story of
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everyone's favorite ogre to dazzling new life on the stage. In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre — not a handsome prince — shows up to rescue a feisty princess. For more information call Playhouse in the Park at 270-759-1752 or visit playhouseinthepark.net to purchase tickets.
Empty Bowls Project
october 18 Empty Bowls Project Soup Dinner is hosted by the Murray Art Guild. The guild collects donations in exchange for a meal and complimentary bowl, and all proceeds benefit Needline. For more information on this event contact the Murray Art Guild at 270- 753-4059.
MSU Homecoming
october 19
Every Day in Murray The West Kentucky/Wrather Museum 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.
MSU Homecoming Parade begins at 9:30 a.m. downtown and ends at 15th & Main. Tent City will begin at 11:00 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. Come out and cheer on the Racers at 3 p.m. as they play Austin Peay at Stewart Stadium. For more information about times and events visit raceralumni.com or call Murray State University Alumni Association at 270-809-5600.
The Clara M. Eagle Gallery at Murray State University
Ghost Walk and Historical Tour
The Murray Art Guild
october 19 Civil War era Confederate soldiers and local citizens tell their stories! The first tour begins at 6:30 p.m.; the price is $10 for adults and children 12 and under are FREE! This event is
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 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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[ ] calendar of events
Moonlight and Magnolias
Scottish vendors, highland cattle, sheepherding and much more! There are events the whole family will enjoy! For more information visit wkyhighlandfestival.com or call 270-753-2225. .
october 24 - 27
Trail of Treats
sponsored by Fort Heiman Camp #1813. For more information contact Sara Dixion at 270-435-6099.
Murray State University’s theatre department is putting on this great production. If you like the film "Gone With the Wind," or if you are a movie buff and want to have a great laugh, then this play is for you! The play is located in 310B Wilson Hall in the Studio Theater. For more information email cgullixson@murraystate.edu, or call 270-809-4421 for reservations.
Murray Highland Festival
october 26 The Highland Festival is a celebration of Scottish-Celtic heritage. The events will be hosted at Central Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring all things Scottish such as: bagpipes, music, athletic competition including: caber-tossing, sheath toss, weighted throws, stone throws, etc., Clan tents, Scottish entertainers, genealogy tent,
october 31 This fantastic, family-friendly event is becoming a tradition on Halloween night in Murray, Kentucky! Walk the trails in Central Park from 5 -7 p.m. collecting candy from different organizations in town that support families and youth. This is a safe and fun environment for children to trick-or-treat! For more information contact MCC Parks at 270-762-0325.
Here Come the Mummies
november 21 If you enjoy good music and singing mummies then this is the show for you! Tickets go on sale Sept. 13 on Ticketmaster.com or at the CFSB Center box office. For more information visit www.herecomethemummies.com .
Honk!
november 21 - 24 MSU’s theatre department is putting on this great production. Honk will treat audiences to equal amounts of laughter and tears. This is a joint production combining the talents of the departments of music and theatre. Faculty and students from each department will work together to bring you this magical production. The play is located in 310B Wilson Hall in the Studio Theater. For ticket information or to reserve seats call 270-809-4421.
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Holiday Open House
november 15 - 17 Kick-off your holiday shopping with discounts, deals and open houses all over town. Many businesses will have extended hours during the open house. Remember, shop Murray first! Call the Chamber of Commerce at 270-753-5171 for more information.
Murray Art Guild Holiday Sale
november 15 - 17 Buy local and support the arts by purchasing a Christmas gift from the annual Murray Art Guild Holiday Sale. Local artists set up in the Robert O. Miller Conference Center with art, crafts and other handmade goods. For more information call Murray Art Guild at 270-7534059.
Christmas in the Park
nov 29 - dec 31 Thousands of lights adorn Central Park during the holidays! Drive through, enjoy the sights and get in the holiday spirit with the whole family. For more information on Christmas in the Park, call 270-762-0325.
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[ ] nature
Flight of the Devil’s Darning Needle by: Brooke Gilley he green-hued leaves of summer have exchanged their colors for a palette of golds and rusts of autumn. So, too have we exchanged our t-shirts for sweaters and sweet tea for hot apple cider. The crisp air of fall has brought on many changes, and all around us we can see the signs of the season. We see not only the various colors, but the migration of birds such as Canada geese and ruby-throated hummingbirds. We may even bear witness to the exodus of monarch butterflies on their way to their wintering grounds in Mexico. However, very few of us will take notice of the flight of the “devil’s darning needle,” more commonly known as the dragonfly.
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All around the world dragonflies have inspired many
cultures. They have also earned a variety of very colorful nicknames, such as the aforementioned “devil’s darning needle.” It was told, in a bygone day, that a dragonfly would come in at night and sew up naughty children’s mouths!
The longest flight “recorded by one overzealous dragonfly was 100 miles.
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– Brooke Gilley
There may not be any record of neatly-stitched naughty lips, but the legend may have served to correct bad behavior just as the myth colored our view of the dragonfly. Another popular nickname given to them is “snake doctor” since it was thought that dragonflies would
Dragonfly emerging. Photo by John McGregor
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follow snakes and stitch them up if they had been injured. In Japan, the dragonfly is a symbol of courage, strength, and happiness. Their journey south no doubt adds more to their mystique. Dragonflies, despite their ominous nicknames, pose no threat to human beings. They cannot sting and will not bite unless grabbed intentionally by a human hand. If they are grabbed, they simply pinch with very strong jaws, which they would rather use on food instead of us. Their normal diet as adults consists of bees, butterflies, moths, and mosquitos. Most of a dragonfly’s life, however, is spent as a nymph. The nymphs are hatched from eggs that have been deposited by their mothers into rotting wood or the stems of plants growing around their aquatic world. Once the eggs hatch, nymphs look very different from their adult counterparts with the exception of their large eyes. They resemble an elongated spider but sport six legs instead of eight. As a nymph, they eat a different diet of aquatic insects (such as mosquito larvae), small fish, and tadpoles. Once they have eaten enough and grown enough the nymph form will crawl onto a stem from the water. It will shed its skin to
spring and south in the fall is the Green Darner dragonfly. The Green Darner is a beautiful dragonfly and one of our largest with a wingspan of four inches in length. Its body, as the name would imply, boasts a Immature male Green Darner. Photo by Rita Venable lovely shade of green on the upper reveal a subadult dragonfly, portion of its body where the much the way a butterfly wings are attached, while the emerges from a cocoon. It will abdomen of a mature male is still take some time until the more of a turquoise blue. The dragonfly reaches maturity to dragonfly’s overall body length mate – about two weeks. As a is approximately three inches subadult it may have different long. Their large eyes give colors from true mature them nearly 360-degree dragonfly. eyesight. They can travel at speeds exceeding fifty miles per There are an estimated 25 to 50 hour, fly straight up and down, species of dragonfly thought to as well as hover like a be migratory out of the 5,200 helicopter. species found around the world. There are about a dozen Even though mass migrations species in the United States of insects have been known to that are thought to show some occur for a very long time, form of migratory behavior. scientists wanted to find out The most well known species in more about this little the United States to journey understood phenomenon in north in dragonflies. So, in 2006, fourteen Green Darners were outfitted with transmitters weighing about a third as much as a paper clip. These radio transmitters were designed for use on insects, small birds, and bats to allow scientists to study disease transmission and to find ways to control
migrating insects thought to be pests. Each of the fourteen Green Darners were followed seven days out of their migration time, which occurs from August to November. After those seven days the battery power within the radio transmitters failed. The information gathered showed that the Green Darners have a distinct stopover period, as well as days where actual migration takes place, just as birds do when they journey south. The stopover days were rest periods for them; weather may have also played a factored into whether the dragonflies would fly or not. Imagine this little insect being battered as it flew by strong gusts of wind. Another detail found was that average flight distance was 7.5 miles per day, and the longest flight recorded by one overzealous individual was 100 miles.
Few of us will take “notice of the flight of the ‘devil’s darning needle’.” – Brooke Gilley
Dragonfly migration sometimes takes place in large swarms of hundreds of thousands or even millions that congregate along sea coasts or lakeshores and then fly en masse, while other times it takes place in much smaller groups. Normally dragonflies show some kind of territorial behavior towards each other, but no aggression is shown during these time periods of movement
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southward. And, unlike Canada geese, there is no distinct leader of these groups as they fly. They will lay eggs once they reach their destination, but the adults that head south will not return in spring. Still, even with the information gathered by these scientists, little is known about why this migration takes place. It is thought that the Green Darner’s young can emerge earlier the following spring and then migrate north to occupy ponds that might still be too cold for resident dragonflies to emerge from their watery depths. Therefore, Green Darners can take advantage of all those early hatches of bugs before “locals” can get to them. However, it can take a nymph (young dragonfly) up to four years to reach maturity and then it will survive four to seven weeks as an adult. So, one wonders if this theory holds water. Whatever the reason for this insect to make such a journey, they have been doing it long enough to entice other creatures to notice their flight. American kestrels migrate at the same time as peak dragonfly migration to take advantage of the flying dragonflies as a nice snack while on the wing, which means instant protein for the tired and hungry kestrels. Maybe the kestrels know the reason for the Green Darners’ migration. I wish we could too. Until we do know for certain, be sure to get outside and keep your eyes open for the flight of s the “devil’s darning needle.”
Eastern Pondhawk. Photo by Brooke Gilley
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[ $ ] the last word
I’ve Got a Story For You by: Robert A. Valentine
his is the season of stories. Whether gather ‘round a fire or after dinner when families gather for homecomings or holidays, it’s time to tell the old favorites. Some are more important than others.
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To me, the most important are the stories of your own family. As people gather from different cities, or even different nations, we have a chance to hear their stories and to make them ours. We shouldn’t miss the opportunity. If you are of my generation (the one which remembers Eisenhower, polio shots, and Ozzie and Harriett), ask yourself: How many times did I long to leave the Christmas dinner table, but was forced to sit and listen as Grandpa retold the tale of the day he came home from France (or Korea, or Japan, or Hopkinsville)? How badly did I wish to escape another reliving of the trip to Louisville (“and there were no four-lane highways back then, I can tell you”) that took four days, or of the Blizzard of ’32 and all its tangential legends of survival (“and we had to melt snow for drinking water!”).
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Boring? Certainly; or so they seemed then. Relevant? No, not at all to a generation which believes in its own omniscience and the power of its youthful wisdom. Essential? Absolutely. If you can remember the Jack Benny Show, or when Johnny Carson took over for Jack Paar, then you are old enough to realize that all those stories make up your life. Grandma’s stories of loneliness during the absences of war give you the courage to go on; Uncle Bill’s tales of making hard decisions for the good of family give you the wisdom you now have – and you didn’t even have to make the mistakes to learn from them. Our family’s stories are the stuff of our very beings, and should not be ignored. They should not be missed so that we can play a video game, go to a mall, or watch one of the current mind-improving offerings of the television. Those things are not your family; those things do not know your story.
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If you doubt me, ask yourself: Is there someone whose story you would wish to hear again, but cannot? What would you give to hear once more that story of Dad’s proposal to Mom, or of Great Aunt Amelia’s trip to the March on Washington? You can’t hear those voices any more, except in memory. Now, you realize that hearing the story every year at Thanksgiving was not enough, even though you thought you knew it by heart. Now, you realize it is a precious part of your being and you want more of it, but it is far too late to do anything about that desire. Whatever your age or your memory, give the gift of story. Don’t worry about fidgeting feet or bored expressions; don’t succumb to the whining or the pouting; don’t wait until you think you can tell that story so that it will be better than anything on TV. Just tell the story. Someday, years from now, someone will open that gift and a life will change. Well, that’s my story. Now, it’s your turn. s