Deidra Bowling-Meade
The Ashland Beacon
The Holy Family School Cross Country Team is taking the area by storm with this year’s team. In the Boyd County Early Cross Country Showcase held in August, Holy Family School faced 25 schools and more than 400 runners in the field. The Holy Family Girls Elementary Team got first place with a time split of 1:03 1-5 split and an average of 11.17.
To qualify for a team trophy, schools must have five or more runners in a division. The girls’ team for this race included: Akachi Udeagwu, Allison Peacock, Allie Pinkston, Sadie Wheeler and Vivianne Miller. In the Boys Middle School Division, the Irish also ran with Godspeed. Seventh grader Gus Listerman placed third in the Boys 2000 meter with a time of 10:01.00, and seventh grader Andy Listerman placed sixth with a time of 10:09.00.
Jennifer Darnell is the coach of this outstanding young team, who started running two years ago. Darnell is impressed with the team’s mental toughness and camaraderie. Darnell stated: “They encouraged each other to keep going when it was tough and they wanted to walk. Between this year and last, they continued to run. Now they’re concerned with completing a timed mile in fewer seconds every time we practice. They work hard as a team during each race, knowing that together as a group, we have the tools to win for our school! We’re seeing our kids finish with individual awards because they’ve worked hard to shave seconds off of yesterday’s run. You can palpably watch their mental toughness develop and strengthen. That’s the gold trophy for me! They’re learning a skill that they can take with them for the rest of their lives. No matter what life hands them as adults, they’ll always have a pair of running shoes and the road.”
There’s no doubt that all the children who are participating in Holy Family’s Cross Country Team have a genuine excitement and passion for running and growing as a team. Somtochi Udeagwu who is a runner in fifth grade at Holy Family shared, “There are a lot of new kids on the team that are very good at pacing and running. Some goals that I've set are to beat my little sister that's very fast. I enjoy running because I love having fun outside and my friends and I really enjoy it. I enjoy seeing how we've improved in our running.” When asked what the future holds for cross country at Holy Family, Udeagwu’s replied, “I think we're gonna bring home that trophy.”
Abigail Young, a sixth grader at Holy Family, was all smiles when asked her about the Irish’s success against the surrounding schools. “It’s a big deal! We have gotten a lot better and are a close team. No one brags. The middle schoolers cheer for the elementary, and the elementary cheer for the middle schoolers,” said Young. Young is encouraged having Coach Darnell leading the team. Young says of Coach Darnell, “She’s nice, encouraging and helps you keep going.” Young has already set a goal to run a mile in eight minutes. With the Irish’s perseverance this season, other runners better watch out!
Holy Family’s Cross Country Team is bringing new recognition to the school’s athletic program. Principal Eric Boos says, "Holy Family has a proud athletic tradition. In recent years, our community has rallied to provide more and more athletic opportunities for students. Coach Darnell has done an exceptional job leading Irish Cross Country. That's evident from our team's recent success. I'm thankful for all she does for the students of Holy Family. Our school is hungry for athletic growth. I am committed to it. Our parents are committed to it. We have so many opportunities for growth. Holy Family is already an environment of academic excellence. Athletic excellence is next."
It seems that no hindrances will stand in the way of Holy Family’s Cross Country Team. They are living out the scripture of Hebrews 12:1, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Through hard-work, dedication and encouraging one another, the Irish are ready to run.
Pamela Hall
The Ashland Beacon
The Broadway Nights Summer Concert Series winds up this Friday on the Judd Stage on Broadway Square. September 9 is the conclusion of the series, which was originally scheduled through August. The September concert was added after the June concert was canceled due to inclement weather.
“We have been so pleased with the local support of the Broadway Nights Summer Concert Series,” said Brandy Clark, Executive Director of Visit Ashland. “The attendance has been wonderful and we want to invite everyone to bring a lawn chair and come on out for our final concert of the season!”
Visit Ashland has partnered with Kindred Communications to present the Broadway Nights Summer Concert Series this year. Kindred Communications, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary of operation, is a locally owned and operated media company that is known, not only for their six great radio stations, but also for their community involvement and the events that they organize. Broadway Nights is the newest in a long list of events that they are involved in.
Reeves Kirtner, Vice President and Associate General Manager of Kindred Communications, has helped to organize the Broadway Nights Summer Concert Series. “We have enjoyed our partnership with Visit Ashland for Broadway Nights,” said Kirtner. “Brandy has a great team at Visit Ashland and we appreciate them so much. They have worked hard this summer to make sure that all of the “i’s” were dotted and the “t’s” were crossed for Broadway Nights. We anticipate that next year the series will grow and be even bigger and better!”
Appearing on September 9 will be Jeremy Short and the Good Fellows. The show starts at 7 p.m. Not only can those attending experience a great evening of music, they can also partake of the delicious food available from various food trucks, drinks served by The Mill, and even a game of corn hole. It makes for an all-around entertaining and enjoyable evening with friends and family.
“We have been extremely pleased to partner with Visit Ashland for the initial year of presenting the Broadway Nights Summer Concert Series,” said Mike Kirtner, President and CEO of Kindred Communications. “We appreciate the listeners in Ashland for their support, not only of the Broadway Nights Summer Concert Series, but of all of the Kindred Communications stations. We’re looking forward to building an even stronger relationship with those listeners and with Visit Ashland in the future.”
Don’t miss the conclusion of the Broadway Nights Summer Concert Series, September 9 at 7 p.m. on Broadway Square featuring Jeremy Short and the Good Fellows. It will be a great night of music and entertainment for everyone to enjoy.
Sonya Newman
The Ashland Beacon
When most people turn 40 there may be a party, but that party doesn’t enter a time machine and project through 40 years of rock music that is going to tour and put audiences back into the memorable moments that made them love songs and made them love the bands that performed them. California based rock band NIGHT RANGER is marking their 40th year by doing just that as the ATBPO Tour pulls in for a Friday night stop at the Paramount Arts Center. They tour supporting their 13th studio album, ATBPO (or ‘and the band played on’).
Currently, Night Ranger is led by Bassist and lead singer Jack Blades, who has performed on all but one studio album when he left the band from 1989-1996 joining Tommy Shaw and Ted Nugent in Damn Yankees. Drummer and vocalist Kelly Keagy and lead guitarist Brad Gillis are original members. Lead and Rhythm guitarist Keri Kelli, who’s played for an accomplished list of rock artists and groups joined the band in 2012. Night Ranger is rounded out by keyboardist, Eric Levy.
When you go, prepare to be transported to a pure rock world with layered guitar work, driving melodies, and ballads that you'll be able to sing along with no matter how old you are. You’ll hear major hits like, ‘(You Can Still) Rock in America’, ‘Sing Me Away’, ‘Goodbye’, as well as top 10 hits ‘Sentimental Street’ and ‘Sister Christian’. It wouldn’t be out the realm of possibility that you would hear a song or two from the ATBPO album. There might be a couple of popular songs from other artists that band members have been a part of. In a perfect world, you may even hear a Damn Yankees tune or two.
Local music historian Tracy Rowsey reflects ‘As a teenager in the 80’s, I got to see a lot of bands because I had connections. These bands played small venues, not huge festivals.” He noted many bands were maxing out in 8,000 -10,000 people venues. “It was cool to see bands like Kiss, Whitesnake, and others, but I never got to see Night Ranger,” he relayed, continuing, “It’s taking me back to my old concert days and get to see that band in a smaller venue.” He concludes, “A lot of people our age still love the music, but don’t want to fight the crowds of the huge festivals.”
Night Ranger will take the stage at the Paramount Arts Center on September 9 at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m). Tickets are available at www.paramountartscenter.com or by calling the box office at 606.324.0007.
Adam Black
The Ashland Beacon
It was a home run for 14 baseball players as they were inducted into the CP-1 Hall of Fame.
With a 90 percent chance of rain, inductees and organizers had high spirits that the rain would hold out until after the ceremony, which took place at the Central Park Baseball field.
“How many of us haven’t had a rain delay down here,” CP-1 Hall Of Fame Organizer Mark Maynard said.
Friends, family, and inductees all came out to the field for the event, where they each spoke at the podium about their honor, and sharing stories from their times on the Central Park fields. “We are excited that this is the fourth annual CP-1 Hall of Fame
ceremony,” Maynard said. “We have about 50 Hall of Famers already but we want to get to 100.”
The 14 inductees to the CP-1 Hall of Fame consisted of players from little league teams in the 50s, then the 60s and 70s including Larry Stevens, a hard-throwing pitcher during the early days of the Tomcat Dynasty Era in the 1960s. Stevens, who came in a wheelchair because he is suffering from a disease that has also taken away his ability to communicate, was able to share what an honor it was to be inducted. He had the crowd laughing after he broke off the line of the day when in his broken sentences was able to clearly get out: “I got a hit off Bill.”
Many other inductees shared their stories with short and sweet thank yous to their families and friends, with several getting choked up when giving thank yous to deceased parents. “It meant so much to me to see them there,” Larry Castle said. “I want to thank my parents for pushing me and giving me one of the best times of my life.”
Once the ceremony was finished inductees received a plaque and baseball with their names on it and mingled among friends and family at the event. Several inductees also gathered at dugouts at the field to see their names engraved on a brick built into the dugout.
“This has really been a great day and I’m so honored,” Castle said, “To hear all these stories and see teammates again it feels like we never left.”
Once the venue cleared out a downpour of rain came rolling into the area, making several to believe that God was watching out from the event. “I have no doubt in my mind that this ceremony was supposed to happen here at the field,” Maynard said. “He was looking out for us today.”