June/July 2020 | Kentucky Monthly Magazine by Kentucky Monthly Magazine

J U N E / J U LY 2 0 2 0

SCULPTOR DOUWE BLUMBERG AppHarvestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Gigantic Greenhouse

PLUS...

THE HATFIELD + McCOY FEUD PART II

Bedazzled by Daylilies COVID-19 Commentary

Display until 08/11/2020

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in this issue

ON THE COVER Douwe Blumbergâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Comair Flight 5191 Memorial in Lexington; photo courtesy of the artist

DEPARTMENTS 2 Kentucky Kwiz 3 Readers Write 4 Mag on the Move 8 Across Kentucky 9 Music 10 Cooking 42 Off the Shelf 44 Past Tense/ Present Tense

46 Gardening 47 Field Notes

48 Vested Interest Due the coronavirus outbreak and the numerous cancellations of events and activities, Calendar does not appear in this issue.

10 JUNE + JULY 16 Harvest in the Hills An

eastern Kentucky company is building a mega-greenhouse complex with an eye on transforming American agriculture

26 The Daylily Show Western

Kentucky Botanical Garden presents its annual Dazzling Daylilies Festival

featured

30 Undercover Artist Tucked

away in the hills of northern Kentucky, sculptor Douwe Blumbergâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s studio has a global reach

34 Blood for Blood Two new

players in the infamous HatfieldMcCoy feud sparked an escalation of violence; part two of a three-part series

40 View From a Virus Lexingtonbased author, life coach and motivational speaker Eugenia Johnson-Smith says the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity to reboot our lives

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 1

kentucky kwiz Test your knowledge of quotes from Henry Clay, revered Kentucky statesman. To find out how you fared, see the bottom of Vested Interest. 1. “I would rather be right than ____________.” A. Senator B. President C. Elected

8. The bitter rivalry between Kentucky and Tennessee predates the Civil War and can be traced to Henry Clay’s dislike and distrust of which Tennessee politician? A. Andrew Jackson B. Davy Crockett

2. “Statistics are no substitute for _____________.” A. Common sense B. Facts C. Judgment 3. “An oppressed people are authorized, whenever they can, to rise and break their _____________.” A. Fetters

4. As speaker of the house, Henry Clay was instrumental in the beginning of which war that ended with the Treaty of Ghent? A. Mexican-American War B. War of 1812 C. Civil War

9. “Sir, if you wish to avoid foreign collision, you had better abandon the ocean; surrender all your commerce; give up all your _______________.” A. Riches B. Prosperity C. Wealth 10. “Peaceably if we can, forcibly if we _____________.” A. Must B. Have to C. Want to

A. Good B. Honest C. Honorable 6. “How often are we ________ to charge fortune with partiality towards the unjust!” A. Expected B. Required C. Forced 7. “I have no commiseration for ____________. My sympathies are reserved for the great mass of mankind.” A. Princes B. Kings C. Presidents

B. Faith C. Christianity 12. Henry Clay ranked as the No. 1 U.S. senator of all time and is among the top four influential Americans to never serve as president. The others are John C. Calhoun, William Jennings Bryan and this first secretary of the treasury, who, like Clay, once participated in a duel. A. Aaron Burr B. “Honest” Dick Tate C. Alexander Hamilton 13. “All legislation, all government, all society is founded upon the principle of mutual ______________, politeness, and courtesy.”

Editorial Patricia Ranft Associate Editor Rebecca Redding Creative Director Deborah Kohl Kremer Assistant Editor Ted Sloan Contributing Editor Cait A. Smith Copy Editor

Senior Kentributors Jackie Hollenkamp Bentley, Bill Ellis, Steve Flairty, Gary Garth, Rachael Guadagni, Jesse Hendrix-Inman, Kristy Robinson Horine, Kim Kobersmith, Abby Laub, Brent Owen, Walt Reichert, Ken Snyder, Joel Sams, Gary P. West

Barbara Kay Vest Business Manager Jocelyn Roper Circulation Specialist

Advertising Lindsey Collins Account Executive and Coordinator John Laswell Account Executive For advertising information, call 888.329.0053 or 502.227.0053

KENTUCKY MONTHLY (ISSN 1542-0507) is published 10 times per year (monthly with combined December/January and June/July issues) for $20 per year by Vested Interest Publications, Inc., 100 Consumer Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601. Periodicals Postage Paid at Frankfort, KY and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to KENTUCKY MONTHLY, P.O. Box 559, Frankfort, KY 40602-0559. Vested Interest Publications: Stephen M. Vest, president; Patricia Ranft, vice president; Barbara Kay Vest, secretary/treasurer. Board of directors: James W. Adams Jr., Dr. Gene Burch, Gregory N. Carnes, Barbara and Pete Chiericozzi, Kellee Dicks, Maj. Jack E. Dixon, Bruce and Peggy Dungan, Mary and Michael Embry, Wayne Gaunce, Frank Martin, Thomas L. Hall, Judy M. Harris, Greg and Carrie Hawkins, Jan and John Higginbotham, Dr. A. Bennett Jenson, Bill Noel, Walter B. Norris, Kasia Pater, Dr. Mary Jo Ratliff, Barry A. Royalty, Randy and Rebecca Sandell, Marie Shake, Kendall Carr Shelton and Ted M. Sloan. Kentucky Monthly invites queries but accepts no responsibility for unsolicited material; submissions will not be returned.

A. Compromise B. Concession C. Agreement

Kentucky Kwiz courtesy of Karen M. Leet, author of Sarah’s Courage and co-author of Civil War Lexington, Kentucky: Bluegrass Breeding Ground of Power,”both published by The History Press. 2 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY JUNE/ JULY 2 0 2 0

Stephen M. Vest Publisher + Editor-in-Chief

Business and Circulation

11. “I always have had, and always shall have, a profound regard for ______________.” A. Peace

5. “Of all the properties which belong to _________ men, not one is so highly prized as that of character.”

C. John Sevier

B. Bonds C. Chains

Celebrating the best of our Commonwealth

kentuckymonthly.com

readers write PRANKS AND CONSEQUENCES

2020 GIFT GUIDE

Thank you to Bill Ellis for his story about the history of pranks in Kentucky (April issue, page 48). Here’s my favorite childhood prank. Both of my parents were chain-smokers, but they finally quit later in life. My dad smoked the unfiltered Chesterfield Kings. In 1955, I was 10 years old, and my two older brothers were Duane, 12, and Mike, 14. Somehow Mike got ahold of some cigarette loads (they look like pencil leads), and he put them in Dad’s smokes without Dad knowing it. We were sitting around the kitchen table when Dad took a big drag off his Chesterfield, and “BOOM,” that thing exploded and scattered tobacco all over his face, and the cigarette was split like a banana skin. Dad whipped us all! Terry Faris, Wilmore

SWELTERING SUMMERS Regarding Bill Ellis’ article, “Before Air Conditioning” (March issue, page 44), I was born in 1949, and I remember well growing up in the 1950s with no air conditioning. My parents put window fans in the bedrooms to draw in the cool air, especially at night. My sisters and I—all three of us—would sleep with our heads practically in the fan at night. When we three would spend the night at Aunt Lucy Early’s house on River Road in Maceo (Daviess County), fans were in the windows of the big farm house, especially in bedroom windows. My cousin, Harrison Early, who is close to me in age, would sleep outside at night on the big wraparound porch. I was not that brave. Harrison would come in for morning breakfast covered in mosquito bites. He did not care, as he said he was tough. I have fond memories of Aunt Lucy’s farmhouse, with its two-holer outhouse. My parents only had a one-holer, so we thought they were “uptown,” as they say. And in the summers, we would take Mason jars and gather fireflies so they would twinkle in the bedroom at night. We never needed a nightlight. Cindy Evans, Lewisport

We Love to Hear from You! Kentucky Monthly welcomes letters from all readers. Email us your comments at editor@kentuckymonthly.com, send a letter through our website at kentuckymonthly.com, or message us on Facebook. Letters may be edited for clarification and brevity.

featuring ky made products

GOSPEL OF THE TUB gospelofthetub.com With affordable, small-batch body care products that smell heavenly, Lexington’s Gospel of the Tub makes you feel good and smell good, too. Choose from manly scents like The Idleman, made with spiced mahogany and bourbon, or The Afters, a feminine blend of sweet orange and citrus blossom. You’ll want to try them all. Find more of our favorite products in our gift guide at kentuckymonthly.com.

K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY. C O M

UN I TI N G K EN TUC KI A N S EV ERY W H ER E .

Featured in this issue Did you miss a past issue? Visit us online for articles, blogs, recipes, events and more!

F O L LOW U S.

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 3

travel

Take a copy of the magazine with you and get snapping! Send your highresolution photos (usually 1 MB or higher) to editor@kentuckymonthly. com or visit kentuckymonthly.com to submit your photo.

MAG ON THE MOVE

Bay Area Visitors CALIFORNIA

Even when you’re far away, you can take the spirit of your Kentucky home with you. And when you do, we want to see it! 4 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY JUNE/ JULY 2 0 2 0

Cathy Wigginton of Owensboro, left, and daughter Amy Ratley of Morganfield, second from right, enjoy the view of San Francisco from the Oakland Zoo with Cathy’s granddaughter Erin Moore and twin great-grandchildren Margot and Riker Moore.

The Wallis Family

Mother/Daughter Duo

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

PARIS

From left, Jackson Lee Wallis; Becky (Massey) Wallis, formerly of Windsor (in Casey County); and David M. Wallis traveled to the islands southeast of the Bahamas.

Julie McCormick and daughter Laura Terry of Madisonville delighted in springtime in Paris before traveling to Barcelona, Spain.

Lisa and Mark Cheatham BELIZE The Campbellsville couple celebrated their 38th anniversary with a cruise to Belize. k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 5

travel

Anne Buckner and Vanda Galen

The Ruth Melson Family

GERMANY

HAWAII

Lifelong friends Anne of Morehead and Vanda, who lives in Mankato, Minnesota, visited Heidelberg Castle in Germany while on a Rhine River cruise.

Pictured at Kilohana on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, from left, are Ruthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s granddaughter Beth Jolly Huston; Ruth, who lives in Columbia; daughter-inlaw Brenda Melson of Hustonville; and daughter Cindy Greer of Tucson, Arizona.

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Magical Visit

Colonial Cottage Restaurant 3140 Dixie Highway, Erlanger 859-341-4498 thecottagenky.com

ORLANDO Teegan and Sandy Mohon of Louisville paid a visit to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Horticulture Meets Humor Mission Trip DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Jeanne Moss, left, and LaAnna Mraz, both of Elizabehtown, traveled to Santiago, Dominican Republic, on a mission trip with Compassion International. Photo by Jerry Mraz.

shopkentuckymonthly.com 888-329-0053

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Get ready for gardening season with th down-home collection of practical advice and personal anecdotes from Kentucky Monthly’s gardening columnis Walt Reichert. Organized by the season each chapter offers color photography and straightforward tips for everything from combating critters to pairing plant The Bluegrass State’s green thumbs hav proliferated, thanks to Walt’s encouraging and down-to-earth morse of gardening wisdom.

Horticulture meets humor in gardening columnist Walt Reichert’s collection. o o o o o

To order: kentuckymonthly.com 1-888-329-0053

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 7

across kentucky

BI R T H DAYS JUNE 5 Joe Bennett (1982), Elizabethtown co-host of Facebook’s popular Eric & Joe Show 6 Darrell Griffith (1958), basketball player known as Dr. Dunkenstein who led the University of Louisville to the 1980 NCAA Championship 8 Sturgill Simpson (1978), Jacksonborn Grammy Award-winning country music singer/songwriter

KET to Air ‘The Mountain Minor’ Many movies about the lives of the people of Appalachia portray those individuals as poor, downtrodden and ignorant. But one man set out to make a different sort of film that will air on KET in July. Dale Farmer (above, right) wrote and directed The Mountain Minor to show Appalachian life as it really was, not the typical stereotypes. “Although it is fictional, the film is based on my grandparents, who were from Jackson County, Kentucky,” said Farmer, who lives in Camden, Ohio. “I am honored that KET believes in the film as much as I do.” Farmer wanted to portray the characters as authentically as possible, including the music they play, which is prominent in the film. When casting the movie, he opted to use real bluegrass musicians instead of actors. The film has garnered awards from the Longleaf Film Festival, Northeast Mountain Film Festival, Jukebox International Film Festival, Queen City Film Festival, Franklin International Film Festival and Endless Mountain Film Festival. The music is performed by musicians from across the U.S., including Elizabeth LaPrelle, Dan Gellert, Trevor McKenzie, The Tillers and Asa Nelson.

Paducah Walking Tour Despite living in a time where social distancing and limited group activities are the norm, Paducah is giving tourists a chance to experience the western Kentucky city with a new walking tour. The tour includes 30 stops across the city that highlight its culture, history and architecture. “This walking tour gives listeners an inside look at Paducah’s unique experiences that are woven together to create a cohesive and fascinating story,” says Laura Oswald, director of marketing at the Paducah CVB. “Paducah’s long and captivating narrative includes an incredible amount of history, and we have made it our mission to tell the stories of our past in an easy and safe manner.” For more information, visit www.paducah.travel or call 1-800-PADUCAH.

London Bound A Hopkinsville student will be heading to London, England, to study at the Royal Veterinary College. Gabriella Lynn, a recent graduate of The Gatton Academy at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, was the sole recipient of the RVC’s full scholarship. Once she’s completed a graduate degree there, she will be able to practice veterinary medicine in the United States, Canada and several European countries. “The multiple-country accreditation allows for an endless scope of possibilities in the work field, so there’s no telling where I’ll be,” Lynn said. “I want to spend a few years working with several doctors on small animal and equine medicine, but my eventual goal is to open up a private practice.” 8 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY JUNE/ JULY 2 0 2 0

9 Johnny Depp (1963), Owensboroborn actor best known for offbeat characters such as Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean films 9 Jacqueline Coleman (1982), 58th lieutenant governor of Kentucky 13 DeVore Ledridge (2001), actress best known as Amelia Duckworth on Disney’s Bizaardvark 27 Brereton C. Jones (1939), 58th governor of Kentucky (1991-95) 30 Desi Lydic (1981), Louisville-born comedian and actress who is a correspondent on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

JULY 5 James Morris (1952), retired professional wrestler known as “Hillbilly Jim” 6 Ned Beatty (1937), actor with credits in more than 100 films 8 Mark Stoops (1967), head football coach at the University of Kentucky 9 Linda Bruckheimer (1945), author and editor from Bloomfield 12 Shannon Lee Lawson (1973), country singer/songwriter from Taylorsville 22 Gurney Norman (1937), Kentucky’s poet laureate for 2009-10 24 Crystal Wilkinson (1962), a founding member of the Affrilachian Poets 28 Sara Stewart Holland (1981), Paducah councilwoman who co-hosts the popular Pantsuits Politics podcast

music

The Young Crooner BY LAURA YOUNKIN

hase Cimala’s senior year at Somerset High School didn’t end the way he had anticipated, due to school closing because of the coronavirus pandemic. But Chase still has long-range goals in mind. He’s going to make it in the music business. And a vintage sneaker collection is helping him get there. Cimala is an engaging and focused young musician who already has recorded in Nashville and has worked with Mitch Dane, who produced Christian rock band Jars of Clay. Like many Kentucky musicians, Cimala got his start singing in church when he was around 5 years old. His mother was a music pastor, “so I was in church three or four times a week,” he said. He kept singing until middle school was a stumbling block. “Somerset is a sports town,” Cimala said, and he felt out of step with his peers, “being the only boy who sang.” He said his mother told him he had a gift and encouraged him to continue singing, even as he took up playing football. At Somerset High School, he found his niche when he got involved in the high school musical. “It was total culture shock. I felt confirmed,” he said. “I’m a theater kid who loves bubblegum pop, plays football and

sings jazz,” Cimala explained. He compares his sound to Andy Grammar and Jason Mraz and said his high school math teacher’s nickname for him freshman year was “The Crooner.” “I can sound just like Frank Sinatra,” he said. “It’s really weird.” During his sophomore year, Cimala’s mother and grandfather paid for him to go to Nashville and work with Dane. Dane helped him find his inner songwriter as well. “I would compare my sound to a more pop Michael Bublé. I have a heavy jazz influence,” he said. The love of singing, writing and recording had hit, but Cimala realized he needed to fund his budding music career. “I sell shoes on eBay,” he explained. “I saved up my money, and I have about 100 pairs of sneakers. I have vintage Jordans.” Some of the shoes are those he bought to sell for a profit, but many are from his personal collection. “My foot hasn’t grown since fifth grade. I was a size 11,” he said. Cimala played starting right tackle on the varsity high school football team when Somerset won the Class 2A State Football Championship this past school year. He also held a concert to help raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, where he explained to the crowd his approach to music. “Although my voice sounds like a jazz singer, I have taste like your sister in fifth grade,” he said. “I love boy bands. I really like that sound. I like that light feel.” Cimala is well-rounded and sees a clear path for his future. “I’ve always been an entrepreneur by nature,” he said. “I kind of found the perfect middle, with a music business degree with a focus on artist management.” He will attend Middle Tennessee State University in the fall. “I’m not just going to school for a piece of paper,” he said. He’s going to create a career in music.

We’ve missed you!

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Patio open overlooking the

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ADHERING TO CDC + KY STATE GUIDELINES FOR SAFE DINING EXPERIENCE Live at the Hive ENTERTAINMENT 101 W. Riverside Drive Augusta, KY 41002 beehiveaugustatavern.com 606.756.2137

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 9

cooking

P H OTO S P R O V I D E D B Y E S T E S P U B L I C R E L AT I O N S . R E A D M O R E A B O U T T H E F R E I G H T H O U S E AT F R E I G H T H O U S E F O O D. C O M .

MODERN SOUTHERN Sara Bradley, a finalist on the 16th season of Bravoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Top Chef, is the chef and proprietor of the Freight House restaurant in Paducah. Offering traditional Southern cuisine with a modern twist, the Freight House uses the freshest locally sourced ingredients to create innovative dishes in the manner in which they were intended to be servedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in season. Here are a few of her creative offerings.

10 K E NT U C K Y M O NTHLY JUNE/ JULY 2 0 2 0

The Freight House 330 S 3rd Street Paducah freighthousefood.com 270.908.0006

Confit Squash Casserole Yields: 10- x 12-inch casserole This light casserole is a take on the dish known as byaldi, a variation on the traditional French ratatouille, with a Southern twist. The pure and simple flavor showcases classic ingredients, but it’s much healthier than more traditional Southern casseroles.

2 pounds yellow squash 2 pounds yellow zucchini 2 pounds green zucchini 1 pound Roma tomatoes Piperade (recipe below) 3 sprigs thyme 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 1 tablespoon salt 4 tablespoons olive oil Arugula, goat cheese, red onion and sautéed red pepper slices for garnish 1. Slice all the vegetables about ¼ inch thick—a mandoline slicer works well for this. The consistency of the vegetables is important, as you’ll want them to cook at the same speed. The closer they are to the same size, the better. 2. Spoon the piperade vegetables into the bottom of a 10- by 12-inch casserole dish and sprinkle thyme over them. 3. Shingle the sliced squash, zucchini and tomatoes in an alternating pattern on top of the piperade until all are used up or there is no more room. Season with salt and pepper, and drizzle olive oil over the top. 4. Wrap the dish tightly in foil and bake for 30 minutes in a 325-degree oven. Remove foil and gently press squash and tomatoes into their own juices. Re-cover and bake for an additional 20-30 minutes. The squash and tomatoes should look fully cooked. 5. Garnish with arugula, goat cheese, red onion and sautéed red pepper slices.

Piperade 1 red pepper, thinly sliced 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced (I prefer sweet onions) 1 head fennel, thinly sliced 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 3 tablespoons olive oil

Avocado and Radish Salad If you want a beautiful, colorful starter, but not the same old leafy salad you usually make, this alternative is easy and incredibly flavorful. It also could be served as a healthy snack or super-light lunch.

Serves 4 2 ripe avocados ½ cup green onion dressing Salt and pepper 1 juicy lime 1 small red onion, very thinly sliced ½ pomegranate, seeds removed 1 teaspoon red chili flakes 4 red radishes, very thinly sliced 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds, toasted at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes Tortilla chips for garnish (optional)

1. Cut the avocado in half and remove the seed. Gently peel away the skin. In a bowl, toss the avocados in the green onion dressing and season with salt and pepper. 2. Place avocado halves, cut side down, on plate to serve. Be sure to spoon any additional dressing left in the bowl over the avocados. 3. Cut lime in half and squeeze over the avocados. Sprinkle onion slices, pomegranate, red chili flakes, radish slices and pumpkin seeds over top of each avocado half. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with tortilla chips.

1 tablespoon salt In a large sauté pan, cook all of the vegetables and salt in the olive oil, over medium heat, until translucent.

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cooking

Lamb Bolognese Serves 6 1 pound ground lamb

Spring Burrata

½ yellow onion, diced small

Serves 2

½ head fennel, diced small

1 4-ounce ball fresh burrata cheese ¼ cup fresh English peas 4-5 leaves fresh mint Zest from 1 lemon 2 tablespoons green dressing (recipe below) Freshly cracked black pepper Crunchy salt To plate, tear the burrata ball in half. Divide all other ingredients in half and place on top of the torn sides of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper.

2 celery stalks, diced small 1 carrot, diced small

4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 1 cup red wine 1 28-ounce can whole tomatoes, seeds removed 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves 1 teaspoon ground fennel seed 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons salt ½ cup heavy cream 1 pound uncooked linguine or bucatini

GREEN DRESSING

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

¼ cup mint leaves, chopped ¼ cup basil leaves, chopped ¼ cup parsley leaves, chopped

1. In a large saucepan, brown the ground lamb over medium-high heat. Drain the fat, if you prefer.

2 green onions, sliced (use both green and white parts)

2. Add the onion, celery, carrot, fennel and garlic. Cook until onion is translucent.

1 cup good-quality olive oil

3. Deglaze with red wine and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend very quickly on high. (Items should be broken but not emulsify.) Dressing will store for several weeks in the refrigerator.

12 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY JUNE/ JULY 2 0 2 0

4. Add the tomatoes, seasonings, salt and heavy cream, and simmer for 45-60 minutes. While sauce simmers, cook pasta according to package directions. 5. Add red wine vinegar and more salt, if needed.

Â˝ white onion, thinly sliced 4 large carrots, thinly sliced 1 inch ginger root, peeled and thinly sliced 3 garlic cloves, pressed 1 tablespoon vegetable oil Â˝ Meyer lemon, thinly sliced

Carrot and Lemon Soup

1 cup white wine 1 quart water

Serves 8 FOR BLENDING 1. Sweat onion, carrots, ginger and garlic in oil until onions are translucent. Add Meyer lemon and cook 2 to 3 minutes. Deglaze with white wine. Cook 3 minutes, then add water and cook until carrots are soft, about 10 minutes. 2. In a high-speed blender, blend the

vegetables in small batches with the cooking liquid and marmalade, honey, chili flakes and salt. Add oil to help blend and add water to adjust thickness. 3. Pass through a fine mesh strainer. Check the seasoning before serving hot or cold.

1 tablespoon orange marmalade 1 teaspoon honey /8 teaspoon red chili flakes

1-2 tablespoons kosher salt 1-2 cups vegetable oil (or any mildly flavored oil) Water, as needed

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k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 13

cooking

Caramelized Onion Mac and Brie Serves 6

This recipe has a few different steps, but don’t be intimidated. If you can make white gravy, you can do this. If you want to view an instructional video, search YouTube for instructions on making béchamel sauce. We are making a béchamel, but using different cheeses.

1 cup caramelized onions (2 mediumsized onions, see instructions below) ½ pound cavatappi pasta or elbow macaroni, cooked 4 tablespoons butter, unsalted ½ cup all-purpose flour 4 cups whole milk, warm (do not boil) 4 ounces Velveeta, cut into small pieces 2 cups shredded Parmesan ½ teaspoon onion powder ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped 1 tiny pinch of nutmeg 2 big pinches of salt (probably a couple more)

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2 turns of freshly cracked black pepper or a couple pinches Cooking spray 2 cups panko breadcrumbs 1 8-ounce wheel of brie (can use more if you want), cut into medium slices, rind left on 1 8-ounce jar orange marmalade at room temperature

1. Prepare the caramelized onions first. Remove skin from onions and thinly slice. Cook over medium-low heat with 2 tablespoons of butter, stirring frequently but not constantly, until they turn a rich brown color. Onions should be very tender. Make sure to scrape up all the “goodness” from the bottom of the pan. Then use the same pan to warm the milk. 2. In a large pot, cook pasta in heavily salted water until tender. Drain, but do not rinse pasta. Return pasta to pot and cover to keep warm while making the sauce. The cheese sauce should be mixed into warm pasta.

3. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium-sized saucepot. Add flour and cook over low heat, stirring constantly for 2 minutes. The mixture should have the consistency of wet sand. Slowly add the warm milk, whisking constantly. Be sure to scrape the corners and sides of the pot. Bring to a boil. (Turn up the heat, if needed.) 4. Once mixture has boiled, turn heat as low as possible and stir in Velveeta. Then turn off heat and add Parmesan and remaining ingredients. Taste for seasoning. 5. Combine sauce and caramelized onions with pasta. If mixture seems super thick, add ½ to 1 cup milk. 6. Transfer to a baking dish that has been coated with nonstick spray. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until hot and bubbling. 7. Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top and bake 5-10 more minutes. Dollop orange marmalade and slices of brie on top just before serving.

4. In a separate bowl, combine sifted flour, baking powder and salt. 5. Add the dry ingredients to the mixer in two batches. Scrape down the sides of the bowl between each addition.

Sweet Pea Cake with Lemon Buttercream Yields 3 9-inch cake pans

6. Divide mixture among the 3 prepared pans. Bake for 25 minutes or until a cake tester or knife blade comes out clean. Let cool in the pans. ICING 3 cups unsalted butter, softened 7 cups powdered sugar ¼ cup fresh lemon juice

CAKE 3 cups fresh or frozen peas 11/3 cups unsalted butter, softened 1¼ cups granulated sugar 5 eggs 3 teaspoons vanilla extract Zest and juice of 1 lemon 3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon kosher salt Cooking spray and flour

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray cake pans with cooking spray and dust with flour. 2. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Cook peas in boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes or until soft. Shock in ice water, drain well, and blend in food processor until smooth. Set aside. 3. In a mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time. Beat in the pea puree, vanilla extract, and lemon juice and zest.

3 tablespoons heavy cream 1 tablespoon lemon zest ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1. With the paddle attachment on the mixer, beat the softened butter for 2-3 minutes, on medium speed, until creamy. 2. Add powdered sugar, lemon juice, heavy cream, zest and salt with the mixer on low speed. 3. Increase to high speed and beat for three full minutes.

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16 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY JUNE/ JULY 2 0 2 0

HARVEST IN THE HILLS An eastern Kentucky company is building a mega-greenhouse complex with an eye on transforming American agriculture

BY JANE BRADY KNIGHT

hen folks think of quality farmland, the hills of Appalachia do not immediately come to mind. Traditionally speaking, the first rule of farming is to find flat land with quality soil, and this is why nine of the top 10 agricultural states in the country are west of the Mississippi River. But this is the 21st century. We have technology on our side. “We have the opportunity to combine what we have learned from conventional practices with the tools of modern technology to innovate in almost any industry. AppHarvest is taking the lead in agriculture. We are on the front lines of fixing the U.S. food system right here in Kentucky,” said Jonathan Webb, founder and chief executive officer of AppHarvest, a technology-focused agriculture company that is building 2.76 million square feet of greenhouse space near Morehead. His vision is to transform eastern Kentucky into the country’s first AgTech capital. Webb is well on his way.

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STARTING A GLOBAL MOVEMENT FROM THE GROUND UP “I always wanted to come back home and do something big,” said Webb, who grew up in Lexington and graduated from the University of Kentucky. After years of research and understanding the abundance of land, water and young talent being spawned from Kentucky’s universities, he landed on his “something big”—AppHarvest. The goal is to build the largest indoor agricultural hub in the United States, based in eastern Kentucky and the surrounding area. To truly revolutionize eastern Kentucky’s economy and the food system as a whole, several essential components must be recognized for success: leadership, innovation, jobs and talent to fill those jobs. AppHarvest does just that. Throughout our conversations, Webb emphasized the need for consistent and innovative leaders who harness the tools of technology in order to create modern 18 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY JUNE/ JULY 2 0 2 0

solutions to age-old problems. He explained to me the cracks in our current agricultural practices and how these ultimately compelled him to step forward. “Right now, our food system is a house of cards. Mexico and Canada account for more than half of the $3 billion American tomato market,” Webb said, “and production in the United States is still declining. We have to bring this industry back home. People are demanding transparency. They want to know where their food is coming from, and they want it to be grown in the U.S.” It currently takes more than 100 hours for fresh produce to be transported from seller to market in the U.S. AppHarvest solves this problem. The Morehead greenhouse complex is a day’s drive from 70 percent of American consumers. In addition to transportation time, another challenge the U.S. produce industry faces is the availability of water. Webb explained that the majority of our fruits

PHOTOS COURTESY OF APPHARVEST

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and vegetables are grown in areas now undergoing their worst drought in centuries. Kentucky is only getting wetter. Using advanced cultivation practices, AppHarvest greenhouses will capitalize on Kentucky’s record rainfall. All of its irrigation water will be supplied by rain collected on the greenhouse roof that drains into a 10-acre pond capable of storing a threemonth supply. All of the water will be recycled, with no discharge into streams or groundwater.

IN TIMES OF UNCERTAINTY, APPHARVEST PROVES RESILIENT We have entered a new decade with an unprecedented amount of uncertainty. From the economy to our healthcare system, we cannot seem to find many answers. If there is one lesson we must derive from our present situation, it is the need for more robust industries that withstand uncertain conditions. AppHarvest was built with the future in mind. “Now, more than ever, we have the ability to revamp our industries. We at AppHarvest are definitely disheartened by the coronavirus crisis,” Webb said. “We also believe that this is the time to build. We have a responsibility to create stronger 20 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY JUNE/ JULY 2 0 2 0

systems in America by combining our highly educated human resources with our technological tools. AppHarvest is taking the lead in the food industry.” The AppHarvest facility is a clean and spacious work environment. Upon entering, one sees a hand sanitizer station. Several of these stations are strategically placed throughout the farm. The complex spans more than 60 acres, leaving plenty of room for employees to work at safe distances from one another. Employees and anyone inside the plant are required to wear gloves at all times. Automated doors eliminate contact and the spread of germs from door handles. With its innovative design, the AppHarvest greenhouse facility will be able to safely operate no matter the circumstance, ensuring employees job stability while simultaneously meeting the increasing demand for fresh produce from consumers. In a time when going to a crowded restaurant is not an option, people are cooking at home more than ever. This only further plays to AppHarvest’s advantage to fulfill its mission of withstanding uncertainty: a resilient business for employees and consumers.

LOOKING AHEAD One of the most pressing questions industry leaders in middle America encounter is how to reverse the

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Grant County is just a short drive from anywhere in Kentucky. Visit and spend some time at Lake Williamstown on a boat ride or fishing at Boltz Lake in Dry Ridge. Grant County is also home to Grant County Park, Webb & Piddle Parks, family-friendly hiking trails and good-natured folks.

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“brain drain.” Webb explained that, in order to revive eastern Kentucky’s economy, he had to develop a business that would attract the Commonwealth’s highly trained and intelligent young people. Kentucky is home to many outstanding public and private colleges and universities, as well as one of the top agriculture schools in the country: the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. However, after agriculture students graduate, many of them relocate to large metro areas. The AgTech industry may be the answer to keeping this talent at home. AppHarvest is building a local talent pipeline through community partnership initiatives in high schools and colleges. Last year, an AgTech program expansion launched at Shelby Valley High School’s Container Farm in Pikeville. AppHarvest also has partnered with Eastern Kentucky University, the University of Pikeville, the University of Kentucky, Morehead State University and Berea College to identify, train and recruit the next generation of high-tech farmers. The goal is eventually to install AgTech educational programming in high schools and colleges across the state. In February, Webb and his AppHarvest team traveled to the Netherlands, a global powerhouse for high-tech agriculture, with leaders from Kentucky’s top universities to learn best practices for future college AgTech programs. AppHarvest’s first indoor farming facility remains under construction and is slated to open later this year. It will begin hiring for more than 300 full-time positions within the next two months. Webb plans to grow the company by 10-20 greenhouses across eastern Kentucky over the next 10 years, meaning AppHarvest alone has the potential to create thousands of jobs for the region. Webb hopes the work at AppHarvest will encourage others to build greenhouses in the region as well. As the company continues to partner with high schools and colleges across the state, Webb and his team will be able to achieve their goal of creating opportunities and incentives for local young talent to stay in the Bluegrass State, fostering the revival of the Appalachian region. Q

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First Generation Women Achievers Touring Your Home State Frontier Nursing University Ignite Institute Facts About Kentucky Colleges

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K E N T U C K Y M O N T H LY â&#x20AC;¢ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8

The Daylily Show The showy blossoms of more than 700 varieties of daylilies delight visitors to Western Kentucky Botanical Garden in Owensboro each June for the weeklong Dazzling Daylilies Festival. This year, the event, scheduled for June 20-27, will be modified due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Garden will host guided tours of small groups and, as always, the festival concludes on Saturday with the annual daylily sale. Daylily devotees can locate a variety in the dig bed that they would like to have in their own collection, dig it up, and pay for it as they leave. The Garden hopes to celebrate Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day, June 21, with a picnic lunch or brunch. Visit wkbg.org for updates on the festival.

Throughout the seasons, there are numerous types of flowers, plants and trees to admire at the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden.

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Dazzling Daylilies Festival June 20-27 • Western Kentucky Botanical Garden 25 Carter Road • Owensboro • 270.993.1234 • wkbg.org

Manager and daylily expert Dr. Bill Tyler has hybridized numerous daylilies over the years, some of which remain unnamed and unregistered. As part of the festvities, the public is invited to bid online on the naming rights for a new daylily cultivar. The winning bidder and name will be announced during the festival.

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BY R OGE R AU GE I I

UNDERCOVER

ARTIST Tucked away in the hills of northern Kentucky, sculptor Douwe Blumbergâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s studio has a global reach

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CONVERGENCE (2017) Salt Lake City, Utah

To view more of Blumberg’s eclectic sculptures, visit douwestudios.com.

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lying his hand-built, opencockpit airplane through a golden sunrise while reveling in the beauty of Kentucky’s rural landscape is a mind-clearing experience for renowned sculptor Douwe Blumberg. He likes to dream of ideas while in flight. “It is about 5:45 a.m. I know I can be airborne in about an hour and be back when my studio staff arrives about 9:30 to begin the day’s work,” Blumberg said. “The freedom and grandeur of being engulfed by creation grounds me, and I return to earth rejuvenated.” In his fine-art studio, inconspicuously nestled among the rolling, verdant hills of Pendleton County, California native Douwe (pronounced “Dow”) and his staff create sculptural artworks for private clients, municipalities and corporations across the nation and overseas. Sitting on a ridge next to his elegantly simple and sophisticated 32 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY JUNE/ JULY 2 0 2 0

Shaker-inspired home, which Blumberg designed, his 2,500-squarefoot studio is filled with monumental works in all phases of completion. Out front, awaiting delivery, stands an 18-foot-tall face slated for a roundabout in Raleigh, North Carolina. Two large equine bronzes hang from chain hoists for a Lexington client, while the finishing touches are being put on a life-sized clay veterans memorial for the state of Nebraska. Testifying to the diverse interests of this correctly self-styled “Renaissance man” are various parts of a vintage airplane under construction alongside a sculpted motorcycle body slated for a Hollywood celebrity’s collection. ggg

Blumberg’s first career as a Saddlebred horse trainer in his hometown of Los Angeles brought him to Kentucky and instilled in him a love for the state that has not subsided. In 2002, after a decade of creating art on a strictly part-time basis, he chose to

close his barn and pursue his art full time. Though born and bred in the heart of Southern California, he always longed for a more rural lifestyle and geography, which led him to relocate to the Bluegrass State, where he met his now-wife, Marci, a Florence native. They have raised four daughters between them and just celebrated their 15th anniversary. After the couple wed, Marci quit her job with the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital to take the reins of the office management at Douwe Studios. She plays a key role in the success and international footprint they’ve acquired. Influenced by his having been a horse professional, Blumberg’s early work leaned heavily toward equine subjects. The last decade has seen his focus shift to large public artworks of all genres and styles. “I enjoy working on large pieces that allow me months and years to truly invest myself in them,” he said. “I also really love the idea of creating works that will outlast me and will bring joy and beauty to people’s lives. I’m especially passionate about

exposing people to the uplifting power inherent in fine art, especially people who might not normally encounter fine art in its traditional setting.” He has large artworks scattered across the country, from Orlando to New York and from San Francisco to the University of Wisconsin, with dozens in between. Internationally, Blumberg’s works are in the royal residences in Dubai, Bahrain and France and private settings throughout Europe. “I feel almost like an undercover agent living here,” Blumberg said. “We’re just these regular people living in the farmlands of Kentucky, and yet we’ve installed major artworks worldwide; met kings, vice presidents, celebrities, dignitaries and corporate presidents; given artist talks around the world … And then I put my jeans back on and come back to reality here. We’ve been extraordinarily blessed, and it’s really quite fun.” One of his first Kentucky works was the 2011 Comair Flight 5191 Memorial at the University of Kentucky Arboretum in Lexington. The respectful sculpture features 49 shiny aerospace alloy birds ascending skyward from a black marble platform. Each bird represents a victim of the tragedy and contains a permanently embedded “memento capsule” filled by loved ones. Viewers say the site stirs emotions at all times of the day. “The entire memorial site, infused with beauty, is intended as a place of reflection and healing,” Blumberg explained at the dedication. “To me, this place communicates the beauty that can arise from ugliness.” Another Blumberg piece in the Commonwealth is a large musically themed structure at Kentucky Classic Arts at Centre Square in Lebanon. One of Blumberg’s highest-profile works to date has been New York City’s “America’s Response Monument,” which pays tribute to the community’s response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Overlooking the National September 11 Memorial & Museum from Liberty Park in Manhattan, this classically sculpted equine bronze stands more than 16 feet tall. While traveling to its permanent site, the sculpture was

aboard the lead float in the Nov. 11, 2011 New York City Veterans Day Parade, after which it was dedicated by then-Vice President Joe Biden. Blumberg’s Las Vegas Veterans Memorial, a three-year project comprising 18 heroic-sized (10 to 12 feet tall) figures representing American military history on a 2-acre site, is the largest veterans memorial west of the Mississippi River. The impressive memorial commands a sun-rich site just off the Las Vegas strip. The prestigious 2018 Public Art Network Year in Review Award went to Blumberg’s monumentally scaled abstract face “Convergence” in Salt Lake City, Utah. “My images attest to a body of work unabashedly exploring a diversity of styles and subjects,” Blumberg said. “This is completely intentional, reflecting a deep commitment to approach each art opportunity with a creative blank slate. It is important that my artistic vision be guided solely by the site, its people and energy, rather than my past works or technical limitations, so that the resultant works truly feel organic to their sites.” Other notable recent works are his Aurora, Colorado, theater shooting memorial; an abstract herd of lifesized galloping horses in El Paso, Texas; and the University of Wisconsin mascot Bucky Badger, Blumberg’s first venture into working with illuminated stained glass, for which he partnered with glass artist Dan Barnes. Blumberg’s work also is in many private and public collections in the United States, including the offices of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. ggg

Reflecting on his move to Kentucky, Blumberg said, “People are always curious about me moving away from L.A., and I tell them that the lifestyle and natural beauty are simply more of a fit for me. Among other things, I’m only a one-day drive away from almost two-thirds of the country’s population. “I’ve always had a connection with Kentucky. As a 17-year-old aspiring horse trainer, I drove myself across the country to intern for a summer

with legendary Saddlebred trainer Don Harris at his Simpsonville barn. After that, I bought and sold many horses here during my training career and developed a love for the place and the people.” Like many classically trained artists, Blumberg’s early style leaned toward the representational (realistic), and though he still enjoys working in that style, he has explored numerous styles and materials as his artistic vision grows and matures. “That early training was an excellent launching point to equip me with the skill set and freedom to follow my artistic vision,” he said. Blumberg pays close attention to artistic influences blowing around him. “It is impossible not to receive influences from every direction one looks,” he said. “But I actually rarely go to a gallery event because I very much want my voice to be as natural and genuine as possible. It’s very intentional.” Blumberg strives to be more of an influencer than one who is influenced. “Every aspect of life is full of art to me, and it all interweaves. I sense the creators’ fingerprints in everything if I’m attuned to it, and it all informs my work. I see a supernatural artist at work in a sunrise, a baby, a tree, love … everything … oh, and flying, also!” He spent 10 years building his reproduction 1929 wood-and-fabric airplane. “Sometimes, I’ll just throw in a sleeping bag and some food and fly to a field somewhere and spend the night under the wing like the barnstormers used to,” he said. “I’ll wake up to a deer grazing, watch the sunrise, and fly home again in time for work. I love the adventure of it. “The sun just crests the horizon as I bank the plane east into the pink, orange and red sky. The sun illuminates low-lying mist in an uncanny reproduction of pink and gold cotton candy. Fog lifts and I fly low, watching egrets lift off as my shadow chases me across the green and brown fields.” He smiled and said, “While flying through grandeur like this, I am somehow reminded that I need not take myself, nor this life, too seriously.” Q

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B Y R O N S O O DA LT E R PA R T T W O O F T H R E E I N S TA L L M E N T S

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Two new players in the infamous Hatfield-McCoy feud sparked an escalation of violence

BLOOD for BLO OD

SUMMARY OF PART I Since the turbulent times of Civil War along the Border States, there had been hard feelings, punctuated by acts of murderous violence, between the Hatfields of West Virginia and the McCoys of Kentucky. The former, under the leadership of the powerful William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield, seemed by far the stronger and more financially stable, benefiting from Anse’s canny business sense and political contacts within his home state. For his part, Randolph “Old Ran’l” McCoy had always struggled to support his large family on land that was unyielding and unforgiving. At one time, the clans had seemed compatible. Members of the two families intermarried, shared friendships, and often worked together. Devil Anse

himself employed several McCoys as laborers in his timbering operation. Beginning during the Civil War, the series of events that led to the savage taking of lives reflected a set of unwritten laws and traditions that left little room for the proverbial turning of the other cheek. In 1887, when Old Ran’l found himself outmaneuvered by Devil Anse, he turned to his in-law, politically connected and vengeance-minded lawyer Perry Cline, for help. This was precisely the opportunity the ambitious Cline had been looking for, ever since Devil Anse had finessed him out of some 5,000 acres of prime timber property. Further adding to Cline’s thirst for payback, Anse’s son, Cap, was directly responsible for the shooting death of Cline’s nephew, Jeff McCoy. Q

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1887: CLINE UPS THE ANTE Perry Cline’s first order of business was to have Kentucky reinstate the five-year-old murder indictments and arrest warrants against Devil Anse and several of his friends and relatives for the execution-style killings of three of Ran’l’s sons. Aware that Anse’s West Virginia political connections were certain to fight extradition, he announced significant Kentucky state bounties on the Hatfields and hired “detectives”—glorified bounty hunters—to ford the Tug River and bring them back to Kentucky by force. Tom Wallace, Cap Hatfield’s accomplice in killing Jeff McCoy, was among the first to experience Cline’s wrath. Bud and Jake McCoy, Jeff’s brothers, captured Wallace and conveyed him to the Pikeville jail. He escaped and was working a moonshine still when two of Cline’s bounty hunters came upon him. This time, all that was returned to Pike County for the reward was Wallace’s scalp. Meanwhile, Cline was using his considerable political influence and connections to see Kentucky gubernatorial candidate and former Confederate Gen. Simon Bolivar Buckner elected. He managed to deliver a large portion of the state’s votes; when Buckner won the election, he followed Cline’s advice and put Franklin Phillips in charge of the campaign to arrest and return the Hatfields to Pike County. It was an ominous choice. Phillips called himself “Bad Frank,” and few who knew him would have questioned the moniker. He was a career troublemaker and lawbreaker, currently serving in the unlikely post of deputy sheriff of Pike County, Kentucky. Phillips had been indicted for crimes in three states, walking free only through the influence of his foster father, Col. John Dils, the most powerful political figure in Pike County. Oral tradition has him riding with Frank and Jesse James in his youth, pointing to the fact that he named one of his sons Jesse James Phillips. Approachable when sober, Phillips reportedly could become instantly homicidal when in his cups—which occurred with greater frequency as time passed. He was, in the words of one chronicler, “a flamboyant egotist, mean on drink and full of his own self-importance.” He had acquired thousands of valuable acres on both sides of the Tug and was relatively well-to-do. Yet, despite 36 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY JUNE/ JULY 2 0 2 0

being financially comfortable, Frank had developed a reputation over time as a hired gun—and he was apparently well-suited to it. As historian Dean King wrote, “Despite some obvious flaws, Bad Frank was driven, single-minded, and fearless.” He was precisely the type of man Perry Cline was seeking to lead the incursions into West Virginia in search of Hatfields. Perry Cline was demonstrating to Devil Anse in the most effective way possible that times had changed; the Hatfields were now facing the very real possibility of a legal reckoning. In response, a letter arrived on Cline’s desk reading, in part, “We … do notify you that if you come into this country to take or bother any of the Hatfields, we will follow you to hell or take your hide … If you don’t keep your hands off our men, there is not a one of you will be left in six months.” Cline was undeterred—as was Bad Frank when he received a like warning. With the Pike County election of 1887 imminent, according to King, “The Hatfields … sent word to [Phillips] to stay away or, failing that, to come unarmed and without warrants. Otherwise, they warned, they would kill him.” Unfazed by the death threat, Frank Phillips advised the Hatfields in return that he would indeed attend the election, with warrants in hand. Should any Hatfields show up, he “would either capture or kill them.” THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE HATFIELDS Meanwhile, an exchange was taking place at a much higher level. Newly elected Gov. Buckner wrote to West Virginia Gov. Willis Wilson, requesting that he arrest the Hatfields under Kentucky indictment and turn them over to him for trial. Wilson refused. Further assisting the Hatfields’ case was John B. Floyd, the state senator whom Anse had helped to elect. After several back-and-forth communications, the result was a stalemate. Frustrated with the political war of words, Perry Cline sent Frank Phillips across the Tug River to bring in the Hatfields and their indicted accomplices. Over the next several months, he would repeatedly cross the Tug into West Virginia, sometimes with the proper extradition papers, sometimes not, with posses that varied in number from two to 40 men. Meanwhile, the Pike County sheriff fired Phillips, ostensibly for putting too much energy into

capturing Hatfields and not enough into his deputy’s responsibilities. Nonetheless, Bad Frank continued in his dogged pursuit with increasingly successful results. Cline and Phillips had succeeded in getting Devil Anse’s attention. The patriarch was now fully aware that the combination of the law and a group of determined bounty men posed a real threat to his family and supporters. It was at this point that the Hatfields perpetrated the most heinous act of the decades-long conflict: Someone—tradition has it that the author of the plan was Anse’s younger brother, Elias (ironically known as “Good ’Lias”)—determined that, in order for the family’s legal woes to disappear, Old Ran’l McCoy and his family had to die. THE RAID In the light of a full moon on a brutally cold Jan. 1, 1888, a party of nine or so Hatfield men, reportedly emboldened by drink and under the command of Devil Anse’s uncle, “Crazy Jim” Vance, dismounted and crept up to the clearing in which sat Ran’l’s dogtrot home—two cabins joined by a covered walkway. Inside the main cabin were Ran’l; his wife, Sally; their 25-year-old son, Cal; and a small grandson. In the smaller structure—the kitchen—slept three of McCoy’s daughters and his 5-year-old granddaughter. The oldest daughter was 29-year-old Alifair. Earlier, word of the Hatfields’ plans had been leaked to the McCoys, but inexplicably, Ran’l had done nothing either to spirit his family to safety or to prepare for the attack. And now, it began. At around 10:30 p.m., Vance ordered the McCoys to come out; when they refused, the attackers opened fire and battered open the front door of the kitchen. They then set fire to the main cabin. The McCoys returned fire, Ran’l at one point shooting the fingers off one of the torchbearers. But they were hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned. When Alifair appeared in the kitchen doorway, Cap Hatfield took deliberate aim and fatally shot her in the chest.* Cal McCoy managed to wound one of his attackers before breaking for the surrounding woods, but a rifle ball to the head ended his flight. As Sally attempted to run to her stricken daughter, a blow from Vance’s rifle butt broke two of her ribs. Still, she was trying to crawl to Alifair, when a crazed Johnse Hatfield brought his pistol down, fracturing her skull. Meanwhile, the flames were swiftly engulfing the main house. When they ran out of water, the desperate McCoys poured buttermilk on the flames, but their efforts were futile. Finally, they ran from the house, Ran’l still in his nightshirt and wielding a double-barreled shotgun. He managed to wound two more of the attackers before running into the woods and out of danger. Miraculously, the other children survived, stunned but unhurt. The members of the Hatfield party made their way back to their mounts and rode off into the night, having failed in their attempt on Ran’l’s life. Across the nation, newspapers railed against the actions of what Louisville’s

*Although Alifair clearly identified Cap as her slayer before she died, blame later fell on young Ellison “Cotton Top” Mount, the mentally challenged, illegitimate son of Devil Anse’s late brother, Ellison. And there, in the eyes of the law, the blame would remain.

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“I will protect the citizens of Kentucky or die in the attempt.”

Courier-Journal referred to as a “murderous gang.” The repercussions of this night’s action would haunt the Hatfields for years to come and cement in the minds of the reading public the image of the backwoodsman as a mindless barbarian. THE BATTLE OF GRAPEVINE CREEK Rewards soon were posted for the capture of those responsible for what was now being referred to as the New Year’s Day Massacre. Of more immediate concern to the Hatfields, however, was the increased activity of Bad Frank Phillips and his cohorts. Even as Kentucky Gov. Buckner was again requesting from his counterpart, West Virginia’s Gov. Wilson, that the parties indicted for the earlier killings of the three McCoy brothers be surrendered forthwith, Phillips was continuing what one chronicler described as his “lightning raids” into Hatfield territory. “If the governor of West Virginia is determined to continue the protection of his murderous pets,” he self-righteously declared, “I will protect the citizens of Kentucky or die in the 38 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY JUNE/ JULY 2 0 2 0

attempt.” Within days of the two young McCoys’ burial, and in the unshakeable conviction that he was the arbiter of the moral right, Phillips raised a 24-man posse that, according to oral tradition, included an understandably vengeful Ran’l McCoy. Over the days that followed, the posse—acting on Phillips’ orders—seized anyone, including women and children, who might warn the Hatfields of their approach. Meanwhile, the fugitive Hatfield raiding party had spent several days hiding in the woods, receiving aid from relatives and neighbors. Eventually, Cap Hatfield, Jim Vance and his wife left the group and set off on their own, only to run directly into Bad Frank’s posse. Vance decided to stay and fight but insisted that Cap try to escape. After a brief exchange of gunfire with Phillips and his men, Cap broke for freedom, leaving Vance to stand alone against more than 20 men. Things could end only one way. Finally, a bullet from Phillips’ powerful, .45-90 Winchester took off the top of Vance’s head. Meanwhile, Cap borrowed a horse from a local farmer and rode directly to Devil Anse’s cabin to sound the alarm.

Anse, along with a handful of friends and relatives, rode to Vance’s rescue, only to find his body lying where it fell. Meanwhile, Phillips continued his hunt for Hatfields, cornering six fugitives, including another of Anse’s brothers, and returning them to the Pike County jail. For the time being, the news publications generally favored Phillips and his men, painting them as righteous instruments of the law. With popular opinion behind him, Phillips mounted yet another raid, this time crossing the Tug at the head of a 33-man posse. They rode straight to Cap Hatfield’s home on Grapevine Creek, where Devil Anse, Cap and nine other armed men waited. Among them were two state-sponsored lawmen. Gov. Wilson had issued arrest warrants on Phillips and his posse for Jim Vance’s death, and he had sent a constable and a special deputy to serve them. Gunfire broke out and lasted for some two hours. The Hatfields were outnumbered by more than three to one, and once again, the outcome was predictable. Four of their party were wounded, including the special deputy, Bill Dempsey, who suffered a shattered leg. All but Dempsey fled into the woods, leaving the deputy at the mercy of the posse. The badly bleeding Dempsey, who had had no part in the feud, told Phillips that he was unarmed and dying, and begged him not to shoot anymore. Nonetheless, Phillips, ignoring the protests of some posse members, drew his pistol and literally blew the lawman’s head off. Suddenly, the wind of popular opinion shifted. As both sides placed hurry-up orders for more guns, the formerly pro-McCoy newspaper editors now condemned the coldblooded actions of Phillips and his manhunters. No one on either side, it seemed, was to be perceived as a “good guy”; to the rest of the nation, both families had displayed a savagery utterly foreign to the tenets of a modern, civilized society. The feud itself was far from over and would take a few unexpected twists and turns before the guns were stilled.

Legendary Character and Room to Breathe...

COMING IN PART III Although the so-called Battle of Grapevine Creek represented the last full-blown shooting confrontation between the two sides, it certainly did nothing to put an end to either the bitter feelings or the violence. As Bad Frank Phillips continued his relentless hunt for the indicted Hatfields, the law stepped in to bring a reckoning to the years-old killings of the three McCoy brothers. Now, with his own brother and an uncle dead and another sibling behind bars, Devil Anse Hatfield was forced to take stock of what the feud had cost—and was yet promising to cost—him and his extended family. For his part, Ran’l McCoy had lost five children before their time and would soon lose another. Finally, in one dramatic act, the courts took a drastic step to ensure that the war between the Hatfields and the McCoys was over. The question was, would it work? Q

Part III of “Blood for Blood: The Hatfield-McCoy

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Feud” will appear in the August issue.

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 39

View From a Virus

Lexington-based author, life coach and motivational speaker Eugenia Johnson-Smith says the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity to reboot our lives

eah, sure, I’m a bad mother … No cure. I’m just a little virus that has totally turned the world upside down in as little as a few months. But what have I really done? I’ve made some people sick. I’ve even caused some to pass away. I’m not proud of that, and for that, I am sorry. But I have also caused some positive ripples to flow from me through homes, neighborhoods, cities, countries and the world. Ripples like people helping each other, ripples like watering the seeds of creativity that once lay dormant in the souls of so many, ripples like forcing you, society, to jump out of the boxes you were so content with living in. It was I, COVID-19, that prodded you with the hot poker, making you get out of your comfort zone. But there are many other viruses you human beings have been content to let run rampant through your neighborhoods, cities, countries and world. Viruses like hatred, intolerance and gun violence. Divisions based on race, religion, sexuality, socioeconomics and politics. You, society, were OK with those things hurting and 40 K E NT U C K Y M O NTHLY JUNE/ JULY 2 0 2 0

killing as long as the victims didn’t look like you, think like you, believe like you, dress like you, or vote like you. Yeah, those viruses were OK because they didn’t touch you, your family, your friends or your pocketbook. But I, COVID-19, can’t see race, sexuality, party lines or class. When society could have done something about the viruses that plagued your neighborhoods, cities, countries and world, you did nothing. Society just stood there and watched. Watched as citizens were abused and gunned down in the streets. Watched as places of worship were burned, bombed and shot up. Watched as women doing the same jobs as men were paid less. Watched as teachers were turned into babysitters, psychologists and miracle workers. Watched as the homeless begged, walked and slept in your streets. Watched as those who thought, looked and believed differently became victims of hate crimes. Watched while children were stripped from the loving arms of their parents and locked in cages, scared and alone. Society watched as those in high-powered positions took advantage of those they were entrusted to protect. Watched as politicians elected to be the voice of the people, for the people were struck with amnesia, only to seek personal gain, glory and popularity while in office. Watched as millions were denied health care and higher education because they couldn’t pay. Watched as the pharmaceutical companies held medication for ransom from those who needed it to live. Watched while thousands starved to death in one of the wealthiest nations in the world. These are viruses society has the ability to defeat, yet you do nothing. Even the Israelites didn’t get it. They could have made it to the promised land in two weeks, but it took them 40 years to figure it out. Hopefully, it doesn’t take society 40 years to stop watching, to come together, and to take action—the kind of action you have taken against me, COVID-19! Think of me as your time in the wilderness. Think of me as your reset button on life. Think of me as your reboot, your do-over. You may be thinking you had a good thing going and don’t want a do-over or a reboot. That may be true for you. But for many, a reset, a reboot or a chance to start over with a fresh new look on life might not be such a bad thing. And if you really think about it, was the life you were living really, truly your best life? Could you do better? Should you have done better? Will you now do better with this chance?

I once heard that a problem is just an opportunity for growth or transformation. Growth and transformation are not always easy, fun or quick. But in the end, it is worth it if the focus is on the outcome and is not lost while on the journey. There will be times of uneasiness and despair, and the clouds of doubt will creep in like weeds trying to block out any light of hope. The citizens of the United States are getting restless while waiting to get back to normal—a normal that, if you open your eyes and really look at it unfiltered, would be a normal to which many people would not be in favor of returning. I didn’t do all this to have you, society, just go back to business as usual—the status quo. I, COVID-19, am your come-to-Jesus moment. I, COVID-19, am your teaching moment. I, COVID-19, am your life-changing moment. I, COVID-19, could be your final moment. I, COVID-19, am your wake-up moment. I, COVID-19, am your defining moment. I, COVID-19, am your unifying moment. I, COVID-19, am your conversation moment. I, COVID-19, am your hopeful moment. I, COVID-19, am your new normal. The new normal is where Gov. Andy Beshear reads the numbers of your fellow Kentuckians I have touched, and the number I have caused to pass on. You also hear the hope of those who have recovered from my infection. But they are not just numbers, not just statistics. They are your friends, families and co-workers. In the words of the governor, “We will get through this; we will get through this together.” You will not be getting back to the way things used to be any time soon. I, COVID-19, am here. “You can’t be doing that!” I am your new normal. The new normal is where masks and gloves are worn whenever you leave your homes. The new normal is where your temperatures are taken as you enter restaurants, workplaces, medical facilities and churches, and before you are granted access to public transportation. The new normal is tele-health appointments, staycations and Zoom meetings. The new normal is where social distancing and 20-second hand-washing are a must. The new normal is where, if you are exposed to me, you will have to selfquarantine for 14 days. The new normal is where you long for a simple handshake, a hug from a friend, and the opportunity for mass gatherings. I, COVID-19, hope that society’s new normal will be better than the old normal. I hope the creativity, unity and ingenuity I have sparked in the hearts and minds of so many Americans continue. I hope I ignite the passion that lights the fires to start the movement of being better together. Working better together is no longer watching and waiting to take action against the societal viruses that have plagued you for so long. Action is required to move from normal to a new normal that is a better normal—a new normal filled with hope, love, unity and compassion for all. Q

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k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 41

off the shelf

Vintage Recreation

(P)-Paperback (C)-Clothbound (H)-Hardback

Men of Industry

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Americans flocked to regional amusement parks, where they would find live music, rides, games and picnics. Although the parks’ attractions were much simpler than today’s hair-raising, lightning-fast rides and tech-heavy simulator experiences, they were great places for recreation— something with which many hardworking folks were unfamiliar. Part of the Images of America series, Lost Amusement Parks of Kentuckiana focuses on the Louisville and southern Indiana region. The image-heavy 127-page book is full of photos of people, places, events and memorabilia from Glenwood Park, Rose Island, White City, Fontaine Ferry and Kiddieland, some of which stayed open until the late 1960s. There are also photos of a steamboat named Idlewild, which would transport patrons to the amusement parks across the Ohio River. If the old steamer looks familiar, it’s because the steamboat has since been renamed the Belle of Louisville. Author Carrie Cooke Ketterman is a Louisville native with a fascination for vintage amusement parks.

From 1870 to 1900, America grew because of the Industrial Revolution. As this growth was taking part across the country, the same was happening in Louisville. This 150-page book focuses each chapter on the man or men who dominated their respective industries that resulted in the Louisville we know today. This history includes an in-depth look at Paul Jones Jr., who trademarked the name of his bourbon company, Four Roses, which remains a leader in the industry. John P. Morton got his start as the manager of a bookstore that also published a small newspaper. Through mergers and name changes, that paper grew to become The Courier-Journal. Many names and companies in the book are still prominent in Louisville today, and it is interesting to see how time has shaped the industries over the last 100-plus years. Historian Bryan S. Bush of Louisville has written magazine articles and history books pertaining to the Civil War and Kentucky. He served on the board of directors and as curator for the Old Bardstown Civil War Museum and Village and is an artillerist in Civil War reenactments.

By Deborah Kohl Kremer

Lost Amusement Parks of Kentuckiana By Carrie Cooke Ketterman Arcadia Publishing, $21.99 (P)

The Men Who Built Louisville: The City of Progress in the Gilded Age By Bryan S. Bush, The History Press, $21.99 (P)

42 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY JUNE/ JULY 2 0 2 0

An Intense Journey Even with the urging of his wife, it took P. Shaun Neal 27 years to finish, but Nicholasville construction worker Neal’s novel Mama’s Song, set in rural 1949 Rowan County, is a crafty work of art. In this compelling book, Colby Grayson learns that coming-of-age is sorely more than a passing formality in his eastern Kentucky farming community. On his 13-year-old shoulders rests the nearly impossible task of helping his family survive after the untimely death of his father, Vernon. The circumstances are daunting, even for the strongest of mature adults. He knows there is a tobacco crop to raise and a household of hungry mouths to feed. And then, there’s the matter of Mama’s singing, which is consequential to a family secret. Steeped in the sense of place and traditions of the past, where “hardship was more than tolerated, where it was expected and accepted,” the community reaches out to heroic Colby and the Graysons—both overtly and stealthily. But what beckons, the good folk find, is eerily more than their assistance in the fields and help with financial resources; it’s their help in confronting the harsh reality of Mama’s need to sing. By Steve Flairty Mama’s Song By P. Shaun Neal, Bottom Dog Press, $18 (P)

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k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 43

past tense/present tense by Bill Ellis

A Bald-Headed Man Can Never Have Too Many Hats

f you look at pictures from the early part of the 19th century to about 1960 or so, most men wore hats in public or at work. The styles varied: fatigue, porkpie, fedora, flat top, bowler and western cowboy. Ladies wore wide-brimmed hats to church, and men wore business hats most everywhere. Baseball caps with logos were worn only by baseball players. The names Stetson and Panama come to mind. During this same time span, women wore hats whenever they went out of the house—not only to church but also shopping or to most any function in public. Women’s hats sported artificial flowers, feathers and other ornaments. Some small hats atop their lovely heads were called pillboxes. Other styles included the beanie, the beret (also worn by some men, particularly in France, I suppose), the floppy straw hat, the trilby … the list goes on, certainly outnumbering the styles available for men. Today, there is only one lady in 44 K E NT U C K Y M O NTHLY JUNE/ JULY 2 0 2 0

our church who wears a hat every Sunday, and I see few women with hats on Easter. My wife cannot recall the last time she wore a hat and gloves. I recall, way back in the 1940s and ’50s, farmers coming to my father’s welding shop in Shelbyville wearing straw hats in various states of decline. Both of my farmer grandfathers wore old “Sunday-go-tomeetin’ ” hats to labor in the fields, with the crowns disintegrated away from sweat produced in their farm labors. I recall wearing a baseball-bill hat in the old welding shop, turned around backward when I wore protective goggles. In the latter part of the 20th century, formal hat-wearing seemed to suddenly cease. I wonder why. Was it a matter of style? Today, people wear headgear in bad weather, but the styles vary. Baseball-style caps are available in various colors, depicting sports teams and businesses from hardware to fishing equipment to beer brands. ggg

People collect all kinds of things— souvenirs and memorabilia. My parents had a great desire to travel, but not early in their marriage, when my father worked for $20 a week at the Kentucky Utilities gas plant in Danville in the early 1940s. After Pop got out of the Army in 1946, we took a long motor trip to Miami, Florida. That whetted their appetite for travel. Somewhere, my parents bought me a hat with a dolphin on it. It is long gone, but I

still recall it. Every once in a while, we took weekend trips after his welding shop closed down for the weekend at noon on Saturday. I still have a carved wooden letter opener from an overnight stay at Natural Bridge State Park when I was a little kid around 1950. What do you collect? I don’t mean something of real value; rather, something reminiscent of your life that applies to no one else. I reckon you can tell from the picture that I have quite a hat collection—mostly the baseball type with a bill to keep the sun from burning my skin. Some people have said I am thin-skinned. I am one of untold millions of “follically challenged” males in this country. I have tried to let grow what hair I have on my head to an optimum length, but it curls around my ears in a clownish fashion. Therefore, I have resigned myself to cutting the fuzz on top of my head down to my bare skin. Officially, I have more hair in my nose and ears than on my head. It has become fashionable for mature men to shave their heads, often complementing this look with a full beard. Did this all start with actor Yul Brynner? The vicissitudes of life have been fairly kind to me. My hairline began receding when I was burning the midnight oil at Georgetown College. Then I got married and had kids, a mortgage, car payments—you know the routine. My naturally thin red hair, what’s left of it, is now almost white. As a kid, we did not use sunscreen, an omission for which I have paid dearly. I have had several minor skin operations to remove pre-cancerous growths. I am much more careful now than ever before. My SPF 70 sunscreen sometimes distracts my golf opponents, one of whom recently said: “Now I know what it feels like to play golf with a ghost.” ggg

I recently counted my hats, and I have at least 70. (There could be others hiding under books and old clothes.) These range from winter caps with earmuffs to a broad-brim Tilley hat for the golf course, fishing and other outdoor adventures. My baseball-style caps come from many sources. Almost all of them appear to made in China, thereby been have encouraging the Chinese to purchase our corn and soybeans, I suppose. I purchased most of my hats and caps over the years going back to the 1980s. As I look at each, I am reminded of some time and place in Several are from 2020 my life. trips within the United States and abroad to Ireland, Scotland, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and other distant places. I recall a trip to see polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba, on the Hudson Bay; a cruise to Greenland, where I bought the last faded hat in the shop; a fishing trip to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wallyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Placeâ&#x20AC;? in Manitoba, where I had a magical day catching brown and rainbow trout and smallmouth bass on mosquito-infested lakes. I cherish three hats that belonged to my deceased Georgetown College football teammate, Tom Dowling. They were given to me by his widow. Thanks, Mary Ann. Every time I wear one, I recall Tom and the old days of playing for Coach Bob Davis. Two hats were given to me by Webb Dunlap, a classmate and fraternity brother at Georgetown College, class of 1962. The logo â&#x20AC;&#x153;U.S. Stands for USâ&#x20AC;? is a plea for civility in our deeply divided nation. The mission statement of U.S. Stands for US is, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We believe in the essential unity of the human race when its members express what they know to be the best within them â&#x20AC;Ś And we believe in Community.â&#x20AC;? Webb told me U.S. Stands for US is â&#x20AC;&#x153;expressly not a political or religious statement. Rather, it is a call to action on behalf of community.â&#x20AC;? You can check out the website at usstandsforus.com. I suppose some of our readers also collect hats and other ephemera from trips to places far and near. I know ex-servicemen who wear hats denoting their military units or service area. Drop me an email with a story and a photo of your favorite hat.

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k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 45

gardening by Walt Reichert

Plan a Victory Garden Next Year

y the time you read this, I hope coronavirus is just a bad memory. But as I write this in early April, it is still raging and messing with our lives. You know anything that moves the Kentucky Derby to fall has been disruptive! If there is anything good at all to come from this virus, it’s that people are taking a look at becoming more selfsufficient. Empty shelves and long lines just to get in grocery stores will do that. The spring of 2020 found people scarfing up not just toilet paper but vegetable and herb plants of every description. When I visited a local garden center in early April to buy cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower transplants, the shelves were absolutely empty. (I knew I should have started my own from seed!) People were letting the flowers sit and were instead going for anything that could be grown to eat. While the memory of long lines and empty shelves is still fresh, why not take time now to start planning a food garden for next year? It’s too hot to work outside all day anyway. Sit a spell and plan a Victory Over COVID-19 garden for next year.

Some Planning Tips Build one or more raised beds. A 4- by 8-foot raised bed will fit in even the smallest yard and can produce a remarkable amount of food. Build several and you can feed your family all year with the produce you grow. Plans for raised beds are all over the internet, but the simplest ones require only three 8-foot by 6-inch boards, with one board cut in half to form the ends. Use eight brackets on the ends for added support, and you have your bed. I’m no carpenter, but I can make these in less than an hour. Start a compost pile. Buying enough soil to fill a raised bed can be expensive, so make your own soil. Food scraps (no meat), grass clippings, leaves, etc. piled up eventually will produce compost. Turning the pile every week or so moves the process along faster. You can fill your raised bed next spring with a ready-to-grow medium. Build a bin to house your compost or just leave it in a pile—perhaps in an out-of-the-way place in the yard so as not to incur the wrath of neighbors. If space is limited to one or two raised beds, grow vegetables that are efficient in small areas. Those would include all of the leafy greens, onions, carrots, beets, cherry tomatoes, peppers and bush-type summer squashes. Let those with more room grow the space hogs like corn and melons. If both space and money are in short supply, choose vegetables that are not only space-efficient but are also the most pricey to buy at the grocery. Carrots and dried beans,

for example, are space-efficient, but they are relatively cheap produce. If you want the biggest bang for your buck, go for cherry tomatoes, leafy greens and peppers. Use vertical space. Adding wire frames to the sides or ends of beds enables you to grow upward, doubling or tripling the space you have for vegetables. Cucumbers, pole beans and climbing peas are good choices for growing vertically. Plan to order early. If this season is any indication, seed supply outlets and farm stores are going to sell out of seeds and plants early. Get your lists ready and order seeds in early January. If you don’t want to fight the crowds for transplants next year, grow your own. (How to do that is fodder for another column.)

Succession Planting The key to growing a lot of food in a little space is to do what’s called succession planting, which means following one crop with another so that the bed is always in production and never idle. Spring crops go first, followed by summer crops, followed by fall crops. If you really want to be productive, you can use bent-over PVC pipe and a row cover to grow leafy vegetables such as spinach and lettuce all winter long. Succession planting requires knowledge of the best season to grow vegetables in our Kentucky climate and a willingness to map out a plan that takes advantage of the best growing conditions for your crops. Here are a few possible growing scenarios that would work in an 4- by 8-foot bed: Plant leaf, butterhead or Romaine lettuce in early spring. Follow that with green beans that will give you two or three pickings. After the beans are spent (throw the pulled-up plants on the compost pile), follow with broccoli and cabbage or cauliflower—all three of those grow better in fall than in spring. Plant green peas in early spring. Follow with bushtype summer squash (yellow or zucchini), followed by beets, carrots or turnips. Plant spinach or lettuce in the spring, followed by tomatoes (if you put them in cages, you can get six in a bed), followed by spinach and lettuce again. Or follow the peas with peppers, followed by a root crop such as carrots or beets. The combinations are nearly endless and depend on what your family can use. You may have seen the comments on social media: “Our grandparents were called to war; you are called to sit on the couch. You can do this!” I say, why sit on the couch when there’s a Victory Garden to be planted?

Readers may contact Walt Reichert at editor@kentuckymonthly.com

46 K E NT U C K Y M O NT HLY JUNE/ JULY 2 0 2 0

field notes by Gary Garth

Safe at Home with Your Takibi

everal months ago, when something called coronavirus was barely garnering a 6-inch story on page 4 of the local newspaper, my computer beeped with a message from a colleague in California by way of Montana with an invitation to participate in a camping trip to Death Valley National Park. The trip was planned for early March, she said, and would consist of about a dozen people, including a handful of media types, an outfitter/ guide and a few industry folks. The late winter timeframe came with the promise of friendly weather while avoiding the sizzling summer temperatures for which Death Valley is famous. Coronavirus, with the death and havoc it would bring, was an insignificant blip on the national health radar. I signed on, unsure of what exactly to expect. Death Valley National Park is about a two-hour drive from Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport and sprawls across 3.4 million acres along the California-Nevada border. All but a sliver of the park is in California. It is the largest national park outside of Alaska. Hemmed by mountains, the valley floor stretches nearly 150 miles. Most of the park is designated wilderness, much of which is surprisingly accessible via a maze of unpaved, hardscrabble roads. A few are accessible only by fourwheel drive or all-wheel drive, but many are family-vehicle friendly. We spent our first afternoon in a trio of rented Jeeps crawling along Titus Canyon Road, a 24-mile-long, one-way trek that follows a craggy, winding path through a fold between Funeral and Grapevine mountains. About halfway through the lonesome, rocky route, we encountered a family of three in an aging Nissan Altima, a sedan that struck me as more suited to the Watterson Expressway than Titus Canyon. We paused to offer help, but no help was needed. They were picnicking. Death Valley is a land of extremes.

It has sand dunes and sidewinders, scorpions and ghost towns. It is the hottest recorded spot on the planet (134 degrees F on July 10, 1913) and the driest place in North America, with an average of less than 2 inches of rain annually. (Kentucky is drenched with about 45 inches of rain annually and is relatively cool by comparison, with a recorded high heat mark of 114 degrees F on July 28, 1930, in Greensburg.) Rare but intense Death Valley thunderstorms generate flash floods that can move boulders the size of cars. Its most visited and well-known spot is Badwater Basin, which—at 282 feet below sea level—is the lowest point in the continental United States. But about 16 miles west of Badwater Basin, snow-capped Telescope Peak towers 11,331 feet above the valley floor and is the park’s highest point. The park is a dazzling, desolate and sometimes dangerous place speckled with piercing light. Nighttime also sparkles with starlight and moonlight, earning Death Valley a designation as an International Dark Sky Park. We emerged from Titus Canyon and traveled south along the valley floor; crossed Panamint Mountains; and finally, in the fading light, made camp and prepared for Takibi time. Our hosts had camp mostly set up by the time we arrived. I stowed my gear, dug through my pack for a jacket against the evening chill, and returned to the crackling fire, where camp cook Meredith Terhardt was marinating pork steaks for the grill. We were camping just outside the park boundary, and the fire was the reason why. Inside the park, campfires are restricted to designated fire rings, and one of the things our hosts wanted to demonstrate was the fire pit—officially the Takibi Fire & Grill. It seemed a nifty setup—something of a collapsible pit, well made from stainless steel with a simple design. I gave it little mind. The fire was roaring and the steaks sizzling under a

cloudless sky awash in starlight. The next evening, following a day roaming through a park nearly surreal in its landscape and natural lighting, I watched while Wayne Coxen took about 30 seconds to assemble a Takibi and another couple of minutes to get a fire going in it. This time, I was more attentive. Watching Coxen, I realized this would be a near-perfect tool for river camps, shore lunches and deer camp. It weighs 24 pounds, is nearly indestructible, and comes with a lifetime guarantee. A carrying pouch is included. It is as simple as it is functional and has apparently been a staple for camping, cooking and general outside gatherings in Japan for decades. Now, it is being given a fresh push into the U.S. You can add a slew of accessories (oven, grill pan, coal bed and more), but the basic unit (base plate, fireplace, grill bridge and grill net) are all that’s really needed. “There have only been two returned during the entire time they’ve been in production,” said Coxen, content coordinator for Snow Peak USA, the company that makes the Takibi. “I have mine set up in my backyard right now, but I use it on road trips and when camping. And I use it on the river.” A couple of days later, I flew home. Within weeks, the world was engulfed by coronavirus and its deadly manifestation, COVID-19. Kentucky and most of the country was in lockdown. Death Valley National Park was closed due to the virus. Gov. Andy Beshear was reminding citizens daily to be safe at home. I glanced at the bag in the corner of my office and recalled what Coxen had said. “I have mine set up in my backyard.” “Let’s try this,” I suggested to my wife. We did. You should, too. For information on the Takibi, visit snowpeak.com/takibi.

k e n t u c k y m o n t h l y. c o m 47

vested interest

Vest Moments in Sports History

he quarantine caused by the pandemic has been rough on sports fans. Weeks have turned into months—without even highlights. The other day, I caught myself watching strangers playing computer baseball games on ESPN. Brad McNew, Rockcastle County’s baseball coach, must be suffering, too, because he organized a 12th Region baseball tournament online, using MLB The Show 2020. “It generated a sense of community across our region,” said the Rockets’ Ethan Fain. Not having an NCAA Tournament in March and April was devastating. In case you missed it, a Twitter user took projections from ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi and simulated the tournament, telling John McCarthy of The Louisville Cardinal, “I used advanced statistical algorithms.” The University of Louisville defeated No. 1 seed Kansas 74-69 to win the title. As in 2013, there will be no banner to recognize the 2020 champs, but Shively Sporting Goods has commemorative T-shirts. I was there for the 2013 championship (that never was). As proof, I grabbed confetti from the Georgia Dome floor following the 82-76 win over Michigan. “I am grateful we were students at UofL during the golden age of basketball,” wrote Bar, after news that the Cards were again under investigation for misdeeds STEPHEN M. VEST during the Rick Publisher + Editor-in-Chief Pitino regime. “We enrolled on the heels of the 1980 title and were there when they won in ’86. Between, there were two Final Fours and the original Dream Game! Those banners are still hanging in the rafters.” I sent Bar some of that confetti. A few years later, when Crawford Gym,

where those great UofL teams practiced, was torn down, Bar sent me a piece of one of the nets, which sparked memories of my personal highlight reel, two of which came in Crawford Gym. Clip No. 1: I was 12 and playing center field for the Beechmont Rams. We were up by 1, but speedster Jimmy Friend had reached third. His father, who looked like Michael Landon in Little House on the Prairie (dark curly hair and all), was coaching third. The batter hit a drive to left-center that should’ve been deep enough to score Jimmy, but I had a bead on it. I made the catch, and for the first time in my life, I turned left (as I should), and as I came out of my 360-degree pirouette, I fired the ball to our catcher, Mark Nemes (the state senator’s brother). My throw one-hopped into Mark’s glove, and he tagged Jimmy out at the plate. Pa Ingalls was dejected. My dad leaped for joy. Clip No. 2: I picked up my dribble in the backcourt in a game against Phi Kappa Tau. Bar and I had just pledged Kappa Sigma, and Mic Wilson, a University of Kentucky graduate and our adviser, was coaching our team. When the Phi Taus backed off, leaving me alone in the backcourt, my only option was to heave it and hope a teammate caught it. As I drew back, I could see Phi Tau Paul Shaughnessy laughing and Mic stomping his feet, screaming, “Noooo!” Too late. The ball left my hand and soared. Days passed. Nothing but net. As SEC television commentator Joe Dean would have said, “T’was string music, folks. String music.” Clip No. 3: I took a badminton class with Robbie Valentine in Crawford Gym. The teacher, who was a professional badminton player, said he would spot anyone 18 points in a game to 21, and if they beat him, he’d give them an “A.” Ambidextrous Robbie said he needed only 15 points if he had a partner. The teacher agreed, but only if he (the teacher)

could pick the partner. The teacher chose me. Robbie placed me at the net and said, “Little fella, you stop any dink shots, and I’ll handle the rest.” At 6-foot-6, the former Radcliff star could reach each sideline by switching the racket from one hand to the other. I stopped two or three dinks. We won 21-19. Clip No. 4: I told fellow UofL sports information staffer Mark Coomes about Clip No. 2, and he said not only could I not have made that shot, he bet me $5 I couldn’t even throw a basketball from the location I described. Fans were filtering into Freedom Hall for the 1986 Metro Conference Championship, which the Cards won 70-69, but they had not yet started warm-ups. I walked to the general area where I said I had picked up my dribble. Cardinal Bird Kelly Everman told me to get off the floor. Coomes passed me a ball and said: “Prove it, bucko.” I drew back and chucked it. As I scurried out of the way of the oncoming teams, the ball came down—nothing but net. “I was a witness to Clip No. 2! It was a Jimmy Chitwood moment,” Bar said, comparing my shot to the gamewinner in the 1986 classic Hoosiers. “If anybody doubts it, I’m happy to supply a signed testimonial.” Clip No. 5: I was crossing the Calhoun School playground in a summer rain when a local athlete whom I recently had regaled with the tales of Clips No. 2 and 4 called me out for the same reasons shared in Clip No. 4. “Hey, Vest, 10 bucks says you can’t hit the rim,” he yelled as he threw me a warped, blisterd ball. As before, I drew back to shoot. Images of Mic, Paul and Mark flashed before me. For a second, I could hear Kelly yelling, “Get off the floor.” I chucked it as I quick-timed it to my car to get out of the rain. Again, days passed. I was putting on my seat belt when the ball came down— nothing but net. I guess he was right about me not hitting the rim.

KWIZ ANSWERS: 1. B. President, an office Clay sought three times; 2. C. Judgment; 3. A. Fetters (chains used to subdue prisoners or slaves, of which Clay owned at least 50 during his lifetime); 4. B. War of 1812; 5. C. Honorable; 6. C. Forced; 7. A. Princes; 8. A. Andrew Jackson; 9. B. Prosperity; 10. A. Must; 11. C. Christianity; 12. C. Alexander Hamilton; 13. B. Concession

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