Get Involved with the Challenger League This Season

Sasha Bush 

The Ashland Beacon

Baseball season is in full swing with several of the areas local little leagues holding their opening day ceremonies over the weekend. Thousands of eager baseball and softball players of all ages flocked to the fields and took the first swings of the season. For many people, baseball season is the most anticipated event of the year. For the team members of the local Challenger League, baseball season brings with it a way in which children of all ages with various special abilities can experience what it is like to run the bases of our beloved fields. They get to experience what it’s like to hear the roar of the crowd as they make contact with that first pitch or step across home plate.

The Challenger’s Program was started by Amy McGuire, the Director of Special Education with Russell Independent Schools.  Through her passion with working with these kids, she organized a partnership with the Russell-Flatwoods Little League to start with a baseball team in 2016. In 2017, she partnered with the high school basketball team at Russell, so kids had something to do in the winter months.
The Challenger League was inspired by none other than the children themselves. Taylor Stumbo, one of the coaches with the Challenger League shared, “The inspiration is derived from the kids themselves to allow them the same joys other kids find in team sports.  This is a place where the kids as well as the parents are just happy to have their child healthy and experience the joys of having a crowd cheer them on.  It is setup in a way to hopefully be peer driven, so the entire community reaps the benefits.”

Stumbo’s own son has had great success from being part of the Challenger League program over the years. “I have seen firsthand what programs such as this can do for a kid. Just look at my son, Gavin, who has Down Syndrome. He started in this program when we moved in the district back in 2018.  There is no doubt it helped ease the transition of switching schools. The relationships made from the program allowed him to be where he is now, which is the team manager for the Russell Red Devils Boys Basketball team.” shared Stumbo.

Programs such as this not only provide an opportunity to make lifetime memories for these kids and their families, but the volunteers and fans as well. Plus, with this being peer driven with their classmates, it allows for more inclusion and to form relationships outside of a school setting. These kids are no different than anyone else; they just happen to have something that makes them that much more special. Stumbo believes that the best thing anyone can do is to go out and support these kids. If you are free one evening, go out to your local ball field and watch these kids play. “Every single one of them deserves to a have a stand packed full of people rooting them on,” stated Stumbo. The memories that are built from this league will stay with these children for the rest of their lives. 

 Challenger Baseball Schedule 2023

(All games are held at the Russell Flatwoods Little League Fields)

 April 22, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

April 29, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

May 6, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

May 13, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

May 20, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

May 27, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

June 3, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.

Bluegrass Wrestling Con Back and Bigger Than Ever

Emily C. Roush

The Ashland Beacon 

It’s a new venue and new format for Bluegrass Wrestling Con.  The event produced by Time Warp will take place at the Boyd County Convention and Arts Center located at 15605 KY-180 Catlettsburg on Saturday, May 6.  This is the fourth Wrestling Con and the first one at the Convention Center.  Time Warp Owner Earl Mollette is excited to have the event there noting that the venue can accommodate more merchants, “we’re growing vendors for sure.”  He also believes its location near I-64 is also ideal because “it’s easy to get to for locals and out of town people.”  The Convention Center’s expansive size has also given Mollette the chance to make one of his long-term goals for the event a reality: live wrestling.  “We will be having wrestling matches directly after the wrestling con,” he explained. 

The addition of matches broadens both the scope and timeline of the event.  Mollette explained, “It’s an all-day wrestling event.  The con will be from noon to 5 p.m. and the live wrestling will start at 7 p.m. on the nose.”  During the con portion of the event, attendees will have the opportunity to peruse and shop dozens of vendors both local and from as far away as Charleston, Columbus, and Cincinnati.  They will also have the opportunity to meet a variety of pro wrestling legends.  As Bluegrass Wrestling Con has grown since the first one in 2021 so has the notoriety of its talent lineup.  According to Mollette, “every time, we try to get a bigger name, and we definitely try to get ones from the WWE Hall of Fame.”  The stars who will be at the May 6 event are:

• R.S./Mike Rotunda
• Ted Dibiase
• Kurt Angle
• Jerry “The King” Lawler
• Tito Santana
• Barry Horowitz
• Greg “The Hammer” Valentine
• Jimmy Hart
• Larry Zbyszko
• Bobby Blaze
• Shark Boy
• Shane Douglas
• Gary Wolfe
• Dylan McQueen

Mollette is thrilled with the talent lineup and beamed as described them. Through Time Warp events like Bluegrass Wrestling Con, he has gotten to know and become friends with his childhood heroes.  “Me and Jimmy [Hart] have become pretty decent buddies.  He calls me sometimes, and I called him for his birthday.  I worshiped Jimmy Hart.  That dude is amazing.  He is 79 and still doing this gig.  Shane Douglas and I have become buddies.  We went to WrestleCade in North Carolina together.”

Mollette also described the stage personas and why he thinks event attendees will have fun meeting them.  “I.R.S. was an accountant named Michael Wallstreet, and Ted Dibiase was the “The Million Dollar Man”.  [Dibiase] used to pay people to lose matches to him.  He couldn’t win a belt, so he had his own made out of gold and diamonds.  They were a tag team named Money Inc.  Shark Boy acted just like Stone Cold, but instead of coming out drinking beer, he would pour water over his head.  He had a real good gimmick.  These characters are amazing,” he laughed.  A big draw for this Wrestling Con is Kurt Angle.  Before beginning his storied career in professional wrestling, both in WWE and TNA, he was a prolific amateur wrestler in the NCAA and Olympics.  “He broke his neck in the Olympics, and he still won.  That was his schtick.  He’d say, ‘I won with a broken frickin’ neck.’  He actually broke his neck four times wrestling.  That’s a tough dude,” described Mollette.  While many pro wrestlers create characters with extravagant backstories, others hone their personalities and strengths into a stage presence.  “Some of them aren’t characters and are just this person.  Like Greg Valentine.  He just plays a really tough guy and that’s what he is in real life,” explained Mollette.

All the featured talent at Bluegrass Wrestling Con have storied careers that appeal to literal generations of fans.  Mollette noted, “Kurt covers such a large part of wrestling.  That is a big era.  I.R.S. has two sons in the WWE right now.  Lawler, before his stroke, was in his 52^nd year of wrestling.  Wrestling manager, Jimmy Hart is 79.”  He also remarked how much wrestling culture and fandom is engrained in the Tri-State.  Mollette and Time Warp regularly host live wrestling events and pro wrestler meet and greets at their stores that draw large crowds of all ages.  “[Wrestling] is huge here, partly thanks to Bobby Blaze,” he stated crediting the prolific wrestler and Ashland native.  Mollette believes that the multi-generational aspect of wrestling fandom makes Bluegrass Wrestling Con a great event for the whole family.  “We want to get not just the older generation like myself, we want to get the younger generation too.  During the con, TVs will be set up with wrestling-themed video games that kids can play for free.  This is a family-friendly event, even the wrestling.  We get a little bit out there, but we keep it reigned in quite a bit.  We don’t get too wild,” Mollette joked. 

While filled with vendors and stars, the con portion of Bluegrass Wrestling Con is only one component of the overall event.  At 5 p.m. the traditional con will end, and Mollette and his crew will set up for the wrestling matches.  The doors will reopen at 6 p.m. and matches will begin at 7 p.m.  Attendees who purchased tickets for both the con and live wrestling can stay inside the Convention Center during the period between events and listen to podcast recording sessions.  “There will be three or four podcasts on site during the downtime.  Shane Douglass, Bobby Blaze, and Barry Horowitz for sure, and there may be more.”  Then wrestlers from across the region will enter the ring.   Time Warp plans to post teaser announcements on their Facebook page leading up to the event.  “We’ve got a lot of really good independent wrestlers coming in from out of town.  We also have a lot of local talent.” This latest Bluegrass Wrestling Con illustrates an evolution in how Time Warp has expanded programing to become more multifaceted.  People attending this event can shop the vendors, meet wrestling stars, play video games, listen to podcast sessions, and watch live wrestling.  “It’s about experiences,” said Mollette.  He continued, “we just want to have fun.  This is about bringing something to our town for everyone.  Everybody likes wrestling in one way or another.  It just takes you back.”

Bluegrass Wrestling Con is sponsored by Mr. Rogers Collectibles, A Walk in Time, Battleground Wrestling, and Appalachian Championship Wrestling.  Tickets for Bluegrass Wrestling con can be purchased online at eventbrite.com or at both Time Warp locations: 222 16^th Street in Ashland and at the Ashland Town Center.  Guests can purchase tickets for either the con or the wrestling matches for $20 each or get tickets for both components for $30 each.  Admission is free for children five years of age and younger.  There are a variety of additional meet and greet packages with the featured starts that start at $30.  There is also a $375 Ultimate VIP Package that includes admission to the con, front row seats to the live matches, and autographs and selfies with nine of the pro wrestling stars.  Attendees who purchase either general admission tickets or VIP packages will receive autographed photos of wrestlers Gary Wolfe and Shane Douglas.  In the lead up to the event, Time Warp will announce contests and giveaways on their Facebook page.  Additional updates will also be shared on their Instagram, @timewarpashland. 

Learning the Symptoms

Nurse Shares DVT Journey

Gary Newman

Ashland Beacon

Just outside of the scope of a month of DVT awareness, many still don’t know much about this condition that can cause a series of severe problems and in some cases, death.  The Mayo clinic website points out, “Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in the body, usually in the legs.”

ICU nurse, Brandy York can tell you all about it. She’s been through it, and emerged determined to share what she’d learned with others about the danger of DVTs and the serious issues they can cause.  For her, she didn’t fit the typical profile for a DVT patient.  She was very active, not overweight, didn’t travel, worked 3-4 12-hour shifts, didn’t take any hormone drugs, so why would she ever think she’d have a blood clot in her leg, but she had one.  It was an unprovoked blood clot in her left lower calf. 

“It all started with what I thought was a Charlie horse that didn’t diminish with any normal methods, and the next day it was super sore. I resorted to massaging my calf, even asked husband to rub my leg because it hurt,” York recounted, “Then, the soreness went away over the next couple of days.” While the soreness had subsided, some new symptoms had arisen.

While the symptoms of a deep vein thrombosis usually present as site soreness, warm, swelling, they can become serious quickly because blood clots in the veins can break and travel through the bloodstream into the lungs, blocking blood flow (pulmonary embolism). PEs often attribute to difficulty breathing, and even death.  They are very serious. 

“Then I started having shortness of breath when making my bed, panting when walking up the stairs, I had stabbing chest pains, and upper back pain,” remembered York, stating, “In the very back of my mind, I suspected a PE, but I told myself it was everything but that.”

“I was singing at First Baptist Church of Russell the song ‘Through the Fire’ by Jason Crabb, and everyone commented on my breathing, noting how I couldn’t get a full breath,” she shared, adding, “I’d waited a week after the chest pain and shortness of breath, I went into urgent care and told them how to treat me and I was wrong.”

The medical team went after what the nurse on the patient end of treatment had learned in nursing school. There are textbook risk factors such as sedentary lifestyle, being overweight, use of hormonal prescription drugs, post-surgery or trauma, and distant travel. DVTs carry a few signs like swelling, redness, warmth, and pain.

“A lot of waiting was out of fear because ignorance is bliss,” she said about the delayed trip to seek treatment and somberly recalled, “When I was told to get to the hospital, I thought, ‘I have a 5-year-old and I could’ve died.’”

Treatments for blood clots include oral anti-coagulants like Xarelto, Coumadin, and others and EKOS treatment which involves a procedure to shrink a clot where it lives. 

If you suspect you may have a DVT, take some advice from Nurse York, who declared, “I always tell people from now on I will never, ever, ever rub a leg pain or Charlie horse again.  If you can’t walk it out, or stretch it out, then check it out. I tried to rub it out, and it nearly killed me.”

In addition to being aware and getting treated, there’s a lot to say for preventing DVTs.  Maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, during travel you should take breaks frequently, in air travel get up and stretch as available, compression socks, avoid hormonal pharmaceuticals.

After a period of being on anti-coagulants, there came the time where York would back off from the blood thinning medications to be able to do a clotting study, but there was some fear involved in that.  After all, she’d seen cases professionally where these events had gone really badly, even fatal.  “What was worse than the physical recovery was the mental recovery,” York admitted, “It’s almost like a PTSD situation.  I tend to panic.”

York, who is now fully recovered in addition to nursing leads worship at House of Grace and performs with Grace Harmonies concluded, “That’s where my faith comes in!  That song (Jason Crabb’s ‘Through the Fire’) is my testimony because of how He brought me through this. He chose to spare me.”

100 Units of Blood & 1 Kidney

Ashland Hero’s Donation Journey

Deidra Bowling-Meade

The Ashland Beacon

   Who is your favorite superhero?  What powers does he/she possess?  Superheroes are known for their exceptional skills and ability to save the day with a flying leap, quick speed, and super strength.  We all love a hero even though the superheroes in the comics and movies are unrealistic.  True heroes do exist in the world. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes; they are idealized for their courage, outstanding achievements, and noble qualities.  One individual who wouldn’t describe himself as a hero but clearly embodies these characteristics is Ashland native Jim Stanley, who is worthy of praise this March as we celebrate American Red Cross Month and National Kidney Month.  Jim Stanley is a recent donor of 100 units of blood and a kidney donor from 1996.  Who can say they have made such contributions in their lifetime?

   Jim Stanley grew up on Garfield Avenue in Ashland, attended Hager Elementary, Putnam and was a 1970 graduate of Paul Blazer High School. He started working at the refinery at Ashland Oil in 1974 where his donation journey began. Stanley recalled, “I started donating blood at the refinery for a blood drive in 1975. The American Red Cross would make regular visits there over the years. I started donating blood because in 1975 my mother had a hysterectomy and had to have a unit of blood.  At that time, if someone needed whole blood, the family was asked to replace it.  I replaced the unit of blood my mother used.  I just felt good doing that, so I didn’t stop!  I have O- blood, which is called the universal donor.  That means anyone in an emergency can use my blood. The American Red Cross really likes people with O- to donate.” 

   According to the American Red Cross, “Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.”  Giving blood is such a worthy cause.  Stanley has given blood for over 45 years and only took time off when he donated a kidney and was recovering from a rare cancer called parathyroid carcinoma. Stanley commented, “I restarted donating blood again after being cancer free for a year. On Feb 20, 2023, I completed my 100th pint of blood, which has been my personal goal. Giving blood always made me just feel good about helping others in a way that is easy and needed. Donating blood has really fallen off over the years for some reason, and people don’t feel the need to donate. I remember at the refinery blood drives, there would be well over 100 people giving blood for an eight-hour shift. At one time, I signed up to be a bone marrow donor if needed. This was all just something I felt I needed to do. I guess you could say it was my calling to help others in my own special way.”  Jim’s actions even encouraged his wife, Patty Umberger Stanley, who regularly went with Jim when he gave blood, to start donating blood also.

   Jim Stanley’s courageous act didn’t stop with giving blood; he donated a kidney to his brother in 1996.  Stanley shared, “My older brother Skip was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Over the years, his kidneys started to fail and he had to go on dialysis. In 1994, he asked if I would mind being tested to see if I could possibly donate one of my kidneys. So, after discussing this with my wife, Patty, I decided to start the testing process. I went through blood tests, kidney functions, and ultrasounds, and then I had to lose some weight. All of this was a two-year process. Finally, in July of 1996, we were given the go ahead for the surgery at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio.  They warned me about the dangers and pain I would have following the surgery. It didn’t matter as I knew Skip depended on this surgery. Live donor surgery was still in the learning stages. I underwent radical nephrectomy for my left kidney. The incision was around 17 inches long with the removal of one of my ribs also. Luckily, this has improved over the years as now most surgeries are now laparoscopic. I was off work for three months, and it took me about one year to totally recover. Skip lived for another 10 good years before passing from a different surgery. He was able to see his first grandchild born.”

   Jim’s wife, Patty, shared her emotions as Jim was going through the kidney donation, “As his wife, I felt so blessed that he was willing to donate a kidney to his brother.  I knew it was going to be hard on us as a family.  He was off work, and we had a 12, 16 and 19-year-old at the time to take care of.  I did a lot of praying, and as usual, God always took care of us.  We look back at all the trying times and know God is so good!” 

   Since Jim has donated a kidney, his way of living life has changed.  “I do have to watch what medicines I take so as to not harm my remaining kidney. I’m not supposed to use NSAIDs (aspirin, Aleve, etc.) only Tylenol for pain relief. I’ve had a few MRIs and CT scans, and I have found out that over the years my remaining kidney has actually grown in size to make up for the loss of its twin! I keep check on kidney function with yearly blood tests.  I really can’t tell any difference physically other than not being able to do a few sports because of the lack of muscle where the surgical scar is located. Golf is one sport that I can’t do anymore but it’s ok; I wasn’t very good at the game anyway! I never regretted donating a kidney and would do it all over again.”  Above all, Jim became a Christian and was saved on March 3, 2015.  “I have been so blessed by God over the years!” proclaimed Jim. 

   God’s plan for Jim continues as he inspires others with his story.  Jim Stanley is one of a kind through his courageous, noble, generous, and loving heart.   He brings hope to others through graciously being a donor.  This March, consider becoming a donor and make a difference.