Michelle Jordan

The Ashland Beacon

   Ashland is home to many wonderful restaurants. My husband and I take one weekend each month to try one of them out. It was two days before Christmas, and we were hungry from spending all day shopping. So, since it was my husband’s turn to pick where to eat, he suggested Tres Hermanos Nunez Mexican Restaurant, located at 807 Carter Avenue in Ashland.

   We walked into this colorful space with an outdoor seating area and lots of tables and chairs filled with customers and their holiday cheers. It was such a great atmosphere, and everyone seated seemed to be having a great time. We could not wait to be seated to enjoy a Mexican meal and drinks to relax from the holiday rush.

   Our server, Pedro, was a delight. He brought us some house-made chips and salsa to munch on while we perused the menus for the entrees. The chips were light and airy, and although the salsa was a bit too thin to stay on the chip, still made for a great appetizer.

   My husband decided to go with an order of Fajitas Tres Hermanos. ($16.99). The sizzling plate of steak, chicken, and sausage mixed with grilled onions, bell peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes and served with rice, beans, lettuce, guacamole, and sour cream.  He thoroughly loved it.

   Since, I was watching my waistline, I went with their famous Grilled Chicken Protein Bowl. ($10.99).  The menu also offered steak, shrimp, or for the veggie lovers out there, the Veggie Bowl. But whatever protein bowl you choose, they are all served together in the bowl with Mexican rice, black beans, lettuce, tomatoes, Guacamole (optional), shredded cheese and topped off with sour cream. So much goodness in one healthy bowl makes for a reorder the next time we visit.

   Never one to shy away from dessert, we ordered the fried ice cream. ($4.99). A big dip of French vanilla ice cream with a sweet, crispy coating was drizzled with chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and presented in a fried tortilla bowl.

   It was a refreshing end to a great meal. We both took home leftovers as the portions were large.

   While dining we saw a big group enjoying their company holiday gift exchange party. Everyone was having a good time and the manager was very present to ensure they had all their needs met. 

   If you are a fan of Mexican food, then this is the place to go. I would definitely have to say that this was a great meal to end the day. 

The Tres Hermanos Nunez

Cuisine: Mexican

Address: 807 Carter Avenue, Ashland, KY 41101

Phone: 606.324.0302

Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Friday - Saturday 11 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Alcohol: Full bar

James Collier

The Ashland Beacon

BOYS 64th DISTRICT

ASHLAND 4-3

   Ashland went 2-1 this week with wins over Boyd County and Fleming County while falling to Bracken County. 

   Ashland earned a key 64th District win over Boyd County Tuesday night, 77-68. Five Tomcats finished in double figures led by Rheyce Deboard’s 19. Tucker Conway added 15 including three treys. Tristin Davis kicked in 14. Zander Carter and Nate Freize each had 12. 

   In a back-and-forth affair, Ashland could not slow down Bracken County in the final stanza as the Tomcats fell 90-69. The Tomcats bounced back with a win Saturday over Fleming County, 92-70. Ashland had three players finish with 20 points or more in the win led by Carter’s game-high 26. Deboard added 25. Conway torched the nets from deep with seven 3s and 23 points. Davis rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11. 

   Ashland travels to Pikeville Tuesday for the Pikeville Invitation in a three-day event. The Tomcats meet Harlan in the opening round. 

BOYD 7-1

   Boyd County went 3-1 this week with wins over Fairview, Eastern and Central Hardin and a dis-trict loss to Ashland. 

   Boyd County opened the week with a 77-68 loss to Ashland for the Lions first setback of the season. Jason Ellis led the Lions with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Jacob Spurlock added 14. Alex Martin kicked in 12. Rhett Holbrook had 10. 

   Boyd County bounced back with a 107-65 hammering of Fairview. Six players finished in dou-ble-figures led by Martin’s 20 off the bench. Griffin Taylor netted 16, nine in the first quarter. Spurlock tossed in 14. Holbrook had 13. Cole Hicks and Ellis each added 12. 

   Boyd County needed overtime to outlast Eastern in the Stock Yards Bank & Trust Challenge. Spurlock paced the Lions with 27. Ellis had 14. Taylor added 11 and Hicks chipped in 10. 

   Boyd County defeated Central Hardin, 94-85. No stats were reported for the win. 

   Boyd County visits Johnson Central Monday and meets PRP Thursday at Leslie County in the Hy-den Citizens Bank Classic. 

FAIRVIEW 2-5

   Fairview went 0-3 this week with losses to Raceland, Boyd County and Floyd Central. 

Tanner Johnson had 22 points in the Eagles loss to Raceland. Steven Day tossed in 16. 

   Fairview dropped a district tilt to Boyd County, 107-65. Day led the Eagles with 27. Tamel Smith connected on four trifectas and had 18. Johnson added 17. 

   Day led the Eagles with 20 points and 10 rebounds in their 79-61 loss to Floyd Central. Smith kicked in 18. Johnson finished with 15. 

   Fairview meets Coal Grove Friday. 

ROSE HILL 1-5

   Rose Hill fell in both contests this week with losses to Huntington St. Joe and Lewis County. 

   Rose Hill lost 89-87 in a shootout with St. Joe. Christian Blevins had 34 in the loss and hit five threes. Collin Wilburn kicked in 23. Jacob Tyler added 11. 

   The Royals fell to Lewis County, 79-35. Blevins had 13. John VanHoose grabbed 12 rebounds. 

   Rose Hill travels to Berea for their Holiday Classic in a three-day event with Jackson City on the opening day. 

BOYS 63rd DISTRICT

RUSSELL 5-3

   Russell went 1-1 this week with a win over West Carter and loss to Fleming County. 

   Damon Charles led Russell with 11 points in a 46-31 defeat of West Carter. 

   Russell fell 66-45 to Fleming County. Carson Blum and Caleb Rimmer each had 12 in the loss.  

   Russell meets West Carter in the opening round of the Raceland Derby Classic Monday and meets Ironton on Thursday. 

RACELAND 6-3

   Raceland went 3-1 this week with wins over Fairview, Elliott County and Grace Christian and an overtime loss to Ironton. 

   Christian Large led the Rams with 18 points and 10 rebounds in their 68-53 win over Elliott County. Jonah Arnett had 13. Connor Thacker kicked in 12 and Jacob Gauze had 11. 

   Raceland held on for a 56-53 win over Fairview. Large paced the Rams with 16 points. Gauze had 13 points and 12 rebounds. Arnett kicked in 11. 

   Raceland fell to Ironton, 65-60 in overtime. 

   Raceland defeated Grace Christian, 80-59. Arnett led the Rams with 14 points. Parker Ison added 13. Large and Thacker had 12. Jules Farrow netted 10. 

   Raceland meets Paris in the opening round of the Derby Classic Monday night. 

GREENUP COUNTY 1-6

   Greenup County went 0-2 this week with losses to East Carter and Wheelersburg. 

   Greenup County fell 62-61 in overtime to East Carter.  Bryson Chandley and Carson Wireman each had 14 to pace the Musketeers. Eli Adkins kicked in 10.

   Greenup County fell to Wheelersburg, 61-51. 

   The Musketeers welcomes Green Tuesday and Chesapeake on Friday. 

James Collier

The Ashland Beacon

GIRLS 64th DISTRICT

ASHLAND 6-2

   Ashland went 2-1 this week with wins over Ironton and Lewis County and an overtime loss to Rowan County.

   Kenleigh Woods paced the Kittens with 21 in their 69-36 win over Ironton. Jaidyn Gulley had 14 and Ella Sellars tossed in 13. 

   Ashland defeated Lewis County 60-43 behind 17 from Woods. Sellars added 15. 

   32 minutes were not enough for Ashland and Rowan County but the extra four minutes in overtime favored the Vikings for a 75-71 win over the Kittens. Woods led the Kittens with 32 points. Sellars kicked in 16. 

   Ashland heads to Assumption Tuesday for a three-game event and will meet St. Henry in the opening round. 

BOYD COUNTY 3-1

   Boyd County defeated Fleming County 65-64 Friday night in the Lions only game this week. Emilee Neese paced the Lions with 32 points in the win while going 11 of 22 from the field. 

   Boyd County travels to Montgomery County beginning Wednesday for the Gateway Holiday Classic. The Lions meet Campbell County in the first of three games in the event. 

FAIRVIEW 3-2

   Fairview went 0-2 this week with losses to Johnson Central and East Carter. 

   Kiera Loving had 11 points in the Eagles 57-19 loss to Johnson Central. 

   Mia Newton had 15 points in the Eagles 62-39 loss to East Carter. Loving grabbed 15 rebounds. 

   Fairview welcomes June Buchanan Tuesday and Portsmouth Thursday.

GIRLS 63rd DISTRICT 

RUSSELL 4-3

   Russell went 2-1 this week with wins over West Carter and Greenup County and a loss to Lawrence County. 

   Bella Quinn led the Devils with 15 points and Gabby Oborne added 10 in their 74-45 loss to Lawrence County. 

   Oborne poured in 22 points in Russell’s 72-33 win over West Carter. Kennedy Darnell pitched in 15 points and Kaelyn Howard had 10. 

   Shaelyn Steele had 20 points in her return from a two-game suspension to lead Russell to a 58-41 district win over Greenup County. Mia Adkins netted 12 behind four triples. Kennedy Darnell had 10. 

   Russell heads to Bullitt East Monday in the Queen of the Commonwealth and a matchup with defending Region 3 Champion, Meade County. 

RACELAND 3-5

   Raceland went 1-2 this week with a win over Ironton St. Joe and losses to Martin County and Coal Grove. 

   Nim Maynard had 19 points and Reagan Mackie kicked in 13 in the Rams 70-45 loss to Martin County. 

   Maynard paced the Rams with 11 points in their 44-22 loss to Coal Grove. 

   Raceland bounced back with a 47-34 win over Ironton St. Joe. Maynard led the Rams with 23 points. 

   Raceland travels to Bath County for the Mike Bromagen Ladycats Legend Tournament for three games beginning Monday with a matchup against Powell County. 

GREENUP COUNTY 4-3

   Greenup County went 2-1 this week with wins over Minford and Elliott County and a district loss to Russell. 

   Rachel Bush led the Musketeers with 18 points in their 41-40 win over Minford. Emily Maynard netted 12. 

   Bush went off for 28 points in the 57-45 win over Elliott County. Maynard added 19 including four triples. 

   Maynard paced the Musketeers with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 58-41 loss to Russell. Bush had 10. 

   Greenup County welcomes Tolsia, WV Monday night and South Point on Thursday.

Family Connection & Community Ties

By: Brittany Hall

The Ashland Beacon 

Everyone loves that hometown feel around the holidays. We love the comfort and familiarity of the lights, the traditions, the shopping and time with family and friends. There’s something special about going into your favorite stores and restaurants to prepare for the Christmas season. Part of the “Christmas magic” of shopping, part of what makes it special, are the local stores that we know and love. Often times we know the owner(s), we grew up going in with our parents, grandparents, and friends. There is a certain comfort and sense of normalcy in that, which we are losing in our society. We go there for the nostalgia, the memories and the smiles, and the “How’s your mom and dad?” or “How are the kids?” 

It’s this atmosphere that store owner Bryan Hall is hoping to create at Bluegrass Collectors. Even though this is their first holiday season in operation, he has already noticed the repeat customers coming in for all those reasons and more.

“It has been a very positive aspect to have folks who continue to show up and support your business,” Hall said with a smile.

So, what makes Bluegrass Collectors unique and a newly favored destination? Every item offered is as individual as the customer themselves. Those one-of-a-kind gifts that are specifically chosen with care and thought can be found there.

“I enjoy being able to help people find their loved ones a gift that isn’t your ‘run of the mill’, made in bulk gift. For lack of a better term, a lot of our gifts show an effort and intimate knowledge of a person,” Hall said. 

But, Christmas isn’t all about shopping and gifts - it’s about family time and community, as well.

“The thing I will take away from our first holiday season is really working with my family.”

Hall co-owns the niche store with his parents, Greg and Devonna Hall. Along with them, you may even be greeted by special helpers Avery and Taylor, Bryan’s daughters.

“My daughters coming in and seeing all the new items is always something I enjoy. Our family dynamic has changed just by getting to spend time with my family. Planning and organizing the store for holidays allows for more time together.” 

Along with a stronger family connection, the returning customers have allowed a deeper sense of community within Boyd and Greenup counties.

“I have always been a fan of shopping local. For me, the relationships you make with those in your community are so important. It may be cliche, but the idea that the money you spend in a local business usually stays in your community is the most important thing for me. I love shopping at many of our local shops and have developed some amazing relationships with other local business owners,” Hall stated.

Hall is no stranger to those strong family and community ties, having worked with several schools coaching local students in baseball and basketball. In both arenas, community and family support is absolutely necessary. 

Those familiar stores and friendly experiences are not just about shopping though.

“Shopping local shows a sense of caring for your local community,” Hall says.  “That you care about the businesses that sponsor your little league teams and other local events.”

Opening a family business is no small feat, and it seems like everyone has an opinion or advice to share. When asked about advice that he had been given that had stuck with him, he recalled, “The best advice that sticks with me, especially in this business, is that ‘you make money when you buy, not when you sell’. I have taken that to mean I have to put the work in to go out and find the right inventory and find things at a price point that is fitting to our local community.” 

No one is exempt from feeling the effects of the trying times that our country is in. Business owners are no different. The Halls are very thankful for every customer that walks through their door.

“Someone choosing to spend their money with my business is not something I take lightly,” he says. “It is a great honor to have people share in your business and take the time to visit your business,” Hall gratefully adds. 

So if you’re looking for a unique gift for that unique loved one, go experience this one-of-a-kind family owned and operated local business. Bluegrass Collectors is located at 1417 Diederich Boulevard, Russell, KY. Hours of operation are Monday thru Friday 10-5, Saturday 9-2, and Sunday 1-4.