Every Second Counts

The Gift of Blood Equals Life

 Deidra Bowling-Meade

 The Ashland Beacon

1, 2…

“Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood.”  Right now, the American Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. Imagine if you or a loved one cannot get blood. 

This January we celebrate National Donor Month, which President Richard Nixon declared more than 50 years ago. Two Ashland locals, Beverly Carr and Eulas Hayes,  shared their dedication and the importance of giving blood.

Carr started donating blood 43 years ago because she felt that it was good to do; however, she became more dedicated to the cause and scheduled regular appointments after her mother passed away. Carr shared, “Before my mom passed, in 2004, she was in the hospital, over and over, for years. She constantly had to get blood to keep her blood count up; even with that, it was barely possible for her to maintain a good level. When she did receive the blood, and her numbers improved, you could see new life in her eyes and in her strength. It was then I decided to become a blood donor; others donated their blood for my mom, even though they didn’t know her. I felt a bit of an obligation to pay back what had been done for her.”

Carr reached a milestone achievement this month and received her first pin from the American Red Cross for donating one gallon of blood. Carr commented, “When I received my milestone pin, I was glad to have helped those who received my blood and hope that I made a difference in someone’s life. You know, when you donate blood, you don’t personally know who will receive it.  But, while you’re lying on the table for the collection, I think about whoever it is who will get my blood. I don’t know them, but God knows, and I pray for that person, and for whatever reason it is that they’re needing blood.”

Ninety year old Eulas Hayes has been donating blood for 63 years. He saw the need for blood after being in the service. When Hayes started working at ARMCO Steel, he became more involved with donating blood and working the blood drives sponsored by ARMCO Members Choice. Hayes stated, “I got to be good friends with Gene Gross who was the plant manager. He started the program about two years after World War II was over. Our program is 73 years old in November.” Hayes worked at ARMCO as a locomotive crane operator with 41 years of service.  Even after retirement, Hayes still serves as the blood chairman for the ARMCO Members Choice Bloodmobile of Boyd County, which sponsors a blood drive held the first Friday of every month at Ashland’s Central Fire Station.

 Hayes declared, “I’ve been obsessed with blood donation. I’ve gotten to know a lot of people through this program. The good Lord has been good to me.I stay in the background and surround myself with people who will donate. We all work together.” 

Angie Fischer, who is Collection Manager for the American Red Cross, remarked on the success of their monthly blood drive, “It averages around 45 donors a month. I don’t ever remember Eulas missing a drive. He is always there, ready to go. All the ladies who work with him, they’re all as dedicated as Eulas. They know every donor and feed them. They take pride in their blood drive.” 

In addition to working one of the area’s most successful blood drives, Hayes holds the record for top blood donor. With already 40 gallons given, Hayes is on track to donate his 41st gallon in March. Fischer commented, “It’s amazing how many lives he has saved with his blood donations. I’ve never given out a blood donation pin as high as with Eulas.  I have to order his pin in advance and have it ready for him.” 

According to the American Red Cross, you save three people’s lives when you give a unit of blood. Each unit equals one pint, and there are eight pints per gallon. That means Carr has saved at least 24 people’s lives!  Carr makes a difference not only by giving blood but through her dedication to the cause. Hayes has saved over 960 lives with his blood donations and has no plans of stopping!  Hayes jokingly credits his blood donating as the secret to looking so good at 90 years old. 

The requirements for being a blood donor are minimal. You must be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, and feel well without the use of antibiotics. Blood can be donated every 56 days and up to six times a year. There are times when your body might prevent your ability to give at the appointment. It’s important to never give up and keep trying. 

Carr shared there are times she isn’t able to give due to her blood count being too low; however, she always keeps her donation appointment to see if she qualifies. Carr commented,  “I take vitamins with iron and try to eat those foods that are thought to boost that blood count.  It’s always a mystery whether or not I’ll qualify.  When you make the effort to get out and get there, then maybe miss the target by just a tenth of a point, it’s very disappointing. I fight the thoughts in my head that tell me I should just stop trying. But, when you make it a priority, you just fight those thoughts, picture all those pints of blood that were donated for my mom, shake off the negative and continue the healthy lifestyle habits to get the numbers up for the next donation.”

Fischer encourages everyone to become blood donors. Fischer stated, “Blood donation is an easy way to save lives. It doesn’t take much time, maybe only an hour out of your day.  It doesn’t cost anything. Blood needs to be on the shelf and ready when someone needs it.  Unfortunately, we stay low on it because our donor base has been down. You gotta have a dedicated Eulas Hayes.”   

The dedication to blood donation shown by Carr and Hayes is a remarkable example for others to follow. For more information on participating in local blood drives and the blood donation process, visit the American Red Cross online: redcrossblood.org.  Appointments may be booked in advance by going to the website.  Also, make plans to attend the monthly blood drive located at the Ashland Central Fire Station, 1021 Carter Ave. Make donating blood a priority. Every second counts.

Russell Kentucky is in Full Bloom

West End Floral & Gifts Now Open 

Sasha Bush

The Ashland Beacon

A blossoming entrepreneur is making headlines in downtown Russell.  Raegan Slone, a 19-year-old with a green thumb and a flair for floral artistry, is taking the world by storm.  Slone is the proud owner of a charming little floral and gift shop with a welcoming vibe from the second you walk through its doors. West End Floral & Gifts, which is conveniently located at 306 Ferry Street, has quickly become a local favorite for customers all across the Tri-State. “I’ve always had a passion for anything and everything to do with flowers ever since I was a very young girl. I was about ten years old when I realized that this was going to be more than just a hobby for me,” shared Slone.

Despite her young age, Slone’s passion for flowers is evident in every petal she carefully selects and arranges into stunning works of art. Slone’s artistic ability and vision is unmatched and continues to blossom right before your eyes with each and every arrangement she makes. Since its grand opening in mid-January, West End Floral & Gifts has become a hub for unique and personalized floral creations, catering to the diverse tastes of the community. In addition to stunning floral arrangements, you can find all sorts of other unique and trendy gifts within the shop.

You might be thinking, “Isn’t there a business in downtown Russell that already has the name West End?” You would be correct. West End Jeweler is located diagonally across the street from West End Floral & Gifts and is owned by Slone’s mother Jackie Slone. “When I found out that I was going to have my own business on the same street as my mom’s business, I was overwhelmed with excitement. I have always looked up to my mom, and she is always there for me with anything I might need. I want to be just like my mom so having the opportunity to do what I love and have my store on the same street as my mom’s is just a dream come true,” an emotional Slone remarked.

Everyone has different paths in life to choose from and for some that path may look like going to college right out of high school. For others that path may lead to your dream career. “It’s OK if you decide not to go the college path. You don’t have to go to college to be successful, and that is something that I just recently learned,” commented Slone.

Slone is certainly living proof of that and has already seen great success at such a young age with a newly opened business. “Raegan is such a strong-willed young woman, and she grew up having the desire to not work under somebody else. She comes from a long line of strong-willed women. There is nothing wrong with working for somebody else, but when you own your own business and have yourself to answer to, you get to determine your own worth,” shared Raegan’s mother, Jackie Slone. 

When you purchase an arrangement from West End, you are guaranteed to walk away with an arrangement that is not only breathtakingly beautiful, but you are walking away with an arrangement that was made with love. “I absolutely love being able to turn people's floral requests into a reality. There is just something so special about being able to play a part in someone’s special day or occasion,” noted Slone.

Whether it's a wedding, anniversary, or a simple gesture of love, West End Floral & Gifts is the go-to destination for those seeking a touch of natural beauty. “We are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can either call the shop at 606.833.0728 or text me at 606.254.6747 for all of your floral needs or as I like to call them… floral emergencies,” explained Slone.

West End Floral & Gifts stands not just as a flower shop but as a testament to the power of youthful determination and creativity. Russell, Kentucky, is indeed in full bloom, thanks to the vibrant energy and artistic vision of this 19-year-old florist extraordinaire.

Local Teen Defies Age Norm

Graduates High School Early and Embarks on Nursing School Journey at 16

Sasha Bush

The Ashland Beacon

            While most teenagers are navigating the challenges of their final years of high school, one local teen took a leap into the world of higher education and chose to pursue a career in nursing at the tender age of just 16. In a remarkable feat of academic prowess, career-driven 16-year-old Kemi Risner has shattered expectations by not only graduating from high school ahead of schedule but also enrolling in nursing school to pursue her passion for health care.

            Risner, realized exactly what she wanted out of life during her freshman year at Boyd County High School. “I was in my freshman year of high school when COVID hit, which led to not being able to attend school for over a year. While being out of school, I realized that I wanted to go ahead and finish high school so that I could get a head start on my nursing career,” shared Risner. With her mind made up, Risner set her sights to the future and began devising a plan to set everything in motion. But first, she had to pitch the idea to her parents. “At first, I had no clue how to go about graduating early or if I could even do it. My parents didn't really want me to graduate at such a young age either. After talking to the principal at my school and getting all the information I needed, my parents supported my decision to graduate. I just felt like I was ready to see what my future in nursing would look like and was ready to get started.”

            Ever since Risner was a young child, she knew that the path God had for her would lead to a career in nursing. Risner explained, “I have always wanted to be a nurse ever since I was a little girl. I would watch movies and TV shows with doctors and nurses and would dream of being able to do what they were doing. I've always wanted to help people, and I knew that being a nurse was exactly how I would do that.”

            Things progressed quite quickly for Risner after she graduated from Boyd County High School ahead of schedule. Upon graduation, Risner enrolled and was accepted into the nursing program at Ashland Community and Technical College making her one of the programs youngest to be accepted.

            As Kemi navigated the challenges of nursing school over the last two years, she remained grounded, recognizing the responsibility that comes with being one of the youngest students in her cohort. She was determined to prove that age is not a barrier to success and hoped to inspire fellow teenagers to pursue their dreams with the same tenacity and drive that has kept her going. Embarking on such an adventure is enough to make anybody nervous but young Risner didn’t let that stop her from going after her dreams. Risner shared, “I was for sure nervous about being the youngest one in the program. I guess I thought that if people knew my age and how young I was that they would treat me differently. For the most part, this wasn't true at all, and I have made many friends that treat me the same as anyone else.”

            Of course, any journey worth traveling doesn’t come without its share of obstacles. “I feel like my biggest obstacle was just having to get everything done in such a short amount of time in order to get accepted into the program. I needed to complete three more prerequisites before I could start the program, so I had to get them all done that summer,” noted Risner. She went on to add, “There were many times that I felt like giving up and thought that I would fail. When I felt this way, I would study harder and pray that God would help me through it, and He always did!”

            With just one semester left in her program, Risner is excited to graduate with her RN this May. An emotional Risner shared, “Nursing school is definitely the hardest thing I have ever done, but I am so glad I decided to do it. At the beginning of the program, it seemed like it would never end. Now that I have one semester left, I can't believe how far I've come. I will forever cherish the memories I have made in this program and all of the people I've met that have helped me along the way. I hope that one day a little girl looks up to me like I looked up to the nurses in my childhood.” The sky is the limit for this determined young lady as she already has her sights set on her next big goal, which is to obtain her BSN upon graduation and later she hopes to obtain her masters.

            As Risner prepares to don her nursing scrubs and steps into the world of health care, she represents a beacon of inspiration for those who dare to dream big, regardless of their age. The future looks bright for this young trailblazer as she paves the way for a new generation of early achievers and proves to us all that age really is just a number and does not define who you are or who you are meant to become.

Midnight in the Afternoon at the Highlands

Lisa Patrick

Ashland Beacon

It might have been the middle of the afternoon on New Year’s Eve, but anyone walking into the Highlands Museum between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. would never have been able to guess that. Children wearing pajamas were everywhere around the Clark Family Discovery Center looking like they were getting their last bursts of energy out before it was time to go to bed.

For the second year in a row, the museum hosted its New Year’s at Noon party, which Kim Jenkins explained as “a kid-friendly introduction to the traditions of New Year’s Eve.” With New Year’s Eve falling on a Sunday this year, the museum adjusted the time a little and referred to it as New Year’s “after noon.” Jenkins stated that the event was “a tremendous success.” The museum welcomed 253 guests and “the place was hopping!”

All of the pint-sized attendees (and some not-so-pint-sized) got to enjoy all of the fun new activities in the Clark Family Discovery Center plus added party entertainment like face painting, make-your-own fortune cookies, and dance parties in the new Active Energy Theater. The Center even boasts a “sensory room” for children who need a few minutes to get out of the noise. It was used by a few of the attendees to take a short breather before rejoining the action.

Around 3:30 p.m., everyone headed downstairs to the main floor to participate in a New Year’s Eve “Toast.” The museum offered little packs of gummy snacks and small cups of sparkling grape juice for families to “toast” in the “new year.” While the attendees were picking out a spot on the floor to get the best vantage point for the annual balloon drop, museum employees and a few high school student volunteers were ready and waiting on the mezzanine to empty trash bags full of balloons over their heads.

At 3:45 p.m., Jenkins, also dressed in her pajamas, went upstairs on the mezzanine to start the “official” countdown to the New Year. When she reached zero, confetti cannons started exploding and 400 balloons rained down into the audience. Excited children were scooping up balloons and running around with them. Siblings and friends were having balloon wars, and little ones were clutching onto them as their new favorite toys. Because there were more balloons than people, several children were able to get more than one. Then, the real fun started as the kids started stomping on any balloons left on the floor. The sound of popping balloons was only topped by the giggling laughter of the children as they popped them.

The museum’s plans didn’t stop with the New Year’s event though. Jenkins said, “it’s very busy at the Highlands.” There are “lots of birthday parties scheduled” and the next Kentucky Chautauqua performance, an event that brings history to life with performers dressing as historical figures and telling about their lives, is on Jan. 11. The museum will also be open on Jan. 15 with activities for families to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. The museum is starting to book up with school tours and “we’re putting the finishing touches on our biggest fundraiser, the wildly popular ‘Dancing With Our Stars’ that will take place on Feb. 3.”

The Highlands Museum and Discovery Center is located at 1620 Winchester Avenue in downtown Ashland. Family memberships for the museum begin at $100 for a year for two adults and up to four children, with an added cost of only $10 per year for any additional children. Membership also includes free and half-price admissions at other participating locations including COSI in Columbus and the Cincinnati Children’s Museum. For further assistance, call the museum at 606.329.8888.