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Ashland Daily Independent - 6.24.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: We now turn to the Ashland Independent to bring you
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news from in and around Ashland and Boyd County. Your
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reader today is Jane. We begin with the addition dated
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June twenty third, twenty twenty six, as a reminder Radioizer
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reading service intended for people who are blind or have
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other disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material.
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Our first article Cooper more than Bluegrass Boss by Mark
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Maynard for the Daily Independent. To most people in Ashland,
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Rainy Cooper was the man behind the legendary Bluegrass Grill,
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the hometown restaurant where great food and great memories were
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served side by side. But to generations of boys growing
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up in Ashland, he was simply Coach Cooper. He spent
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years coaching Little League baseball and elementary basketball, pouring his
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hard into young athletes. He taught them fundamentals, expected them
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to compete, and celebrated their victories with Bluegrass milkshakes. For
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a lot of kids, those milkshakes tasted even sweeter after
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a win. He was also one of the Ashland Tomcats'
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biggest supporters. Rainey often made sure players had meal tickets
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after big games, maybe before that was officially allowed. His
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son Randy was a dynamic receiver for the Tomcats, and
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a few things made Rainy prouder than seeing him cross
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the goal line at Putnam Station Stadium. The relationships didn't
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end when the seasons did. Rainey stayed connected with many
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of the boys he coached as they grew into high
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school athletes and adults. They remembered not only what he
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taught them about sports, but how he treated them. Scott Walter,
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who played for Cooper Tigers in Ashland American Little League,
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summed him up perfectly in a Facebook tribute Saturday. He
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loved to win as much as anyone, and he certainly
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helped prepare us to compete by instructing us and teaching
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us the fundamentals of the game. Walter wrote, Rainy passed
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away Friday morning. With his passing, Ashland lost not only
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a legendary businessman, but also a mentor whose influence reached
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far beyond a ball field. As a businessman, Ramie did
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something remarkable. He didn't just survive the fast food explosion
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of the nineteen sixties and seventies, he thrived through it.
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The Bluegrass Grille remained the place to eat in Ashland
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at lunchtime, Regulars packed the booths after dark. Teenagers filled
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the parking lot. Countless first dates began there. More than
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a few marriage proposals happened there. It was one of
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those rare places where good food became part of life's
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biggest moments. When Rainy closed a restaurant in two thousand
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and six, it wasn't because business had slowed. Quite the opposite.
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After nearly fifty years of working twelve to fourteen hour days,
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the sixty five year old was simply ready to retire.
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Customers were still lining up for flying saucers, twin burgers, chili, spaghetti,
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onion rings, fresh pies, and all the other favorites that
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made the Bluegrass famous throughout the Dry State. For many
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of us, the Bluegrass was also the headquarters of cruising culture.
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We'd circle through the restaurant, head down Winchester Avenue, then
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turn around and do it all over again, long before
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social media. That's where you saw your friends on a
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Friday or Saturday night. Raine had earned every bit of
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that success. He started at the Bluegrass in nineteen fifty
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six as a fifteen year old carhop after graduating from
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Ashland High School in nineteen fifty nine, he went to
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work there full time. In nineteen seventy one, he purchased
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the restaurant from Michael Wriggle, grandson of founder's arch and
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Francis Wriggle, who opened The Bluegrass in nineteen forty six.
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Along with the business came its treasured recipes. Rainie often
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said he promised the Wriggle family those recipes would remain
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with him until his death. His son Randy, and daughter
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and nat Ryan, who both worked in the restaurant for years,
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never made that same promise. Even today, it's common to
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see people on social media reminiscing about the Bluegrass and
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wishing they could have one more meal there. Everyone had
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a favorite. Mine was a twin burger with onion rings
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and a slice of strawberry pie. My connection to the
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Bluegrass started before I was born. My father worked there
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as a car hop in the late nineteen forties and
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often brought home a box of hot dogs for him
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and my mother to enjoy afterwork. Maybe that's why the
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Bluegrass always felt like home to me. I came to
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know Rainie well during my years at the newspaper. He
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was always straightforward, deeply rooted in his faith and never
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shy about sharing an opinion, especially when it came to
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the Ashland Tomcats. It didn't matter whether it was football, basketball,
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or baseball. He cared about all those teams because he
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cared about the young people wearing the uniforms. Ashland has
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been blessed for the years with men who invested their
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time in coaching boys. Rainie Cooper was one of the
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very best. The Bluegrass Grille remained one of those places
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that lives on in conversations, family stories and hometown nostalgia,
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and Coach Cooper lives on in the countless boys who
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became better athletes and better men because he took the
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time to coach them. My deepest condolences go to the
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Cooper family, especially to Charlene, his wife of sixty seven years.
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Our next article from Big Sandy Into Big Fame by
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Tammy Hetzer Woollmack for The Daily Independent. With a career
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in the upturn and new album in Purview, Adam Chaffins
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is bursting into Nashville sites like a Roman candle. The
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Luisa native has a small farm just outside the music
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city bustle. This is all the Morehead State University alumnus
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has worked for He's been background musician, played gigs and
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soaked in sessions, all behind the biggest bluegrass and modern
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country radio artist. After years of songwriting tracks for Grammy winners,
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Chaffins was ready to move out. Using his Lawrence County
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learned ways Ernest Stickler for detail, eager beaver of the
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music business, I call myself most of all a journeyman,
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shared Chaffins, talking about the ways to the top outside
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of social media, quick heyday, the plugging way to make
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a hit song. I came here and tried to make
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myself the best musician, learning from every experience this town
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gave me. From there, he found the sound of Appalachia
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right as rain. Those years in Baird Music Hall echoed
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vibrantly across Tagle Lake, playing countless college ensembles, crafting, honing
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callus's hardening. Nashville is not for faint spirit. It is
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apathetic and souls to many who flirt with celebrity or acclaim.
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Chaffins knew that going in and agreed to take the
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backstage spot as he gained ground, cultivating advisements and making
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strides beyond the studio into touring billings. That was the
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drawn of me. The dawn of me into country music,
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he said. Chaffin's upcoming album, Trailer Trash Double Wide, is
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a well constructioned and sturdy for someone who did not
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grow up playing every country streamed instrument. In the holler,
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Chaffins made up lack of front porch teachings and his
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compilation of songs. It is a mix of artistry mixed
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with the real goods he learned playing bass for billy
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strings or writing for the infamous string Dusters. It is perennial,
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like his home's humble garden, popping half runners, read high
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odd is the fries coming out of D's drive In's kitchen.
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I've been doing this for sixteen years now. There has
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been so much change in my life, he said, of
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seeing the world beyond the coal fields, times of watching
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the awards, a mass calling upon the well bred sounds
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he knew, harmony and melodies of Ricky Skaggs and Keith Whitley.
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That's my brand of country music. I am a true
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Eastern Kentucky son of us twenty three. That sweet sounding
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silvery thread running so true folksyfusion, gospel acoustics, plain song
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refrains of the country music highway This record is a
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swan song to the memories going up around these parts
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as coal mines shut down. Chaffins lived in a trailer
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in youth. His father was a coal miner until it
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dried up. He then sold used mobile homes to make
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In's meet. I think about going to school, the richest
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kids and the poorest kids altogether, he said, and the
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brutally honest parts of that. It speaks to the region
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and the loyalty of our people, taking each other under
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our wings, helping when we need one another. He Marshall's
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Eastern Kentucky images and influences implants them vividly directly in
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earshot of trailer Trash double wide. I wanted to paint
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a realistic image but still be endearing. Chaffin's described his
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twenty twenty release Some Things Won't Last. Begin his overture,
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This real life Robin Hood, King of Coal dust Country,
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relays the tale of rogue hillbilly turned millionaire. The song
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Lucky Me tells the story of hope and survival. The
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truth is nowadays, when you have access to the globe,
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you need to create your own world in music, he said,
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I try to make a statement. On June sixteenth. He
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is missing his fellow musician wife, Brett Taylor, who is
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on the road this summer opening for Nitty Gritty Dirt band.
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The Hindman Native bravely brought their seven month old daughter
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along on the tour bus. Chaffins is not trying to
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shy away from where he comes from. He believes in
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the ballad of Trailer Trash, anyone can shine any way
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they want to, regardless of where you come from, Chaffins answers.
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Chaffins is being true to himself and his art and
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is unafraid to say it. Storied record producer Frank Rogers
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offered Chaffins a publishing deal on the spot, making him
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just the third songwriter in Rogers's legendary career to receive
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such an offer, right after superstars Chris Stapleton and Josh Turner.
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The fourteen songs are about the life blood of Lawrence County.
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You get baritone vocals, bassist talents, and co producer expertise.
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Chaffin's offers sage advice to area musicians avoiding the noise
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that exist in times of overnight success. The main thing
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is to believe in yourself, he continued. Eastern Kentucky needs
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bold entrepreneurs. If you feel the need to pack up
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and leave to make music, you can do that, or
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you can stay home and create from there. It is
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all about creating a community around you of people who
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support you and the music. Chaffin stepped out following ms
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U graduation, spending years on the road as an instrumentalist
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for acts like Leanne Womack, Kendall Marvel and Jake Owen
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sharpening as a bassist. I highly recommend you step outside,
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travel and see other community today, the thirty eight year
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old said, support small commerce, have hope, love your brother,
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love your neighbor, invest in music and those making it.
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Inspire people with your talents. Chaffin's album is now available
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for pre order at Adam Chaffin dot com. Next Freedom
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for All June Teeth celebrated in style in Ashland by
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Alison Scott of The Daily Independent. From what started in
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Central Part six years ago, Ashland for Changes, junetee's celebration
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has grown to crowds of hundreds filling Broadway Square and
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observance of the national holiday. Co Hosted alongside the CB
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Knuckles Community Center and Black History Museum, the event featured
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live music from Christ Temple Church and Brett Higgins and
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the family, food trucks, entertainment and more. A lot of
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people don't know about June teenth. It's been a federal
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holiday for a couple of years now, said Audre Thomas,
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Ashland for Changes Vice President. This is just a celebration
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for the community. We want to promote unity and we
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want to just celebrate freedom for all, first celebrated in
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Texas in eighteen sixty five, two years after the signing
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of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln. Now it
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commemorates the day that all enslaved Americans were freed. Betty
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Jackson has attended the events since it started and said
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she has loved watching the celebration grow. To me, it's
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grown a whole lot, even in color. Jackson said, I
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love getting to see people socialize and engage with other people.
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I don't care who it is. We're going to walk
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up and just try to make everybody feel comfortable. Everybody
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longs here. To keep up the momentum, Thomas said she
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aims to grow the event past Broadway Square, using surrounding
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blocks for additional entertainment, food trucks, vendors and more. It's
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a celebration for all. You don't have to be a
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person of color, black, Christian, straight, gay, whoever can come
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and celebrate freedom. Thomas said. There are a few people
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I don't give them too much publicity who think this
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isn't a real holiday. So I just encourage people to
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come out every year and learn and see for themselves.
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Thomas thanked additional hosts including the Christ Temple Church, Christ Center, Ministries,
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and Ashland Community and Technical College, along with many sponsors
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who helped in making the celebration possible. Recent obituaries Dareth
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Jill McGuire ninety three of Ashland, Carla Morris Willis sixty
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seven of Katletsburg, Glenn Campbell Graber eighty four, Formerlee of Ashland,
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Rebecca Lynn Leak seventy of Ashland, William Edward Bennett from Russell,
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James Clifford Beeson eighty three, and William Britain eighty seven.
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Our next article, Annual olive Hill Homecoming celebration returns on
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July fourth weekend. The city of Olive Hill is preparing
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for one of its most anticipated annual traditions as Olive
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Hill Homecoming returns on Friday, July third and Saturday July fourth,
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bringing family friendly activities, live entertainment, and community celebration, all
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free of charge for those who attend. This year's theme
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embraces a classic patriotic spirit with red, white, and blue
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festivities honoring America's independence and the upcoming two hundred and
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fiftieth anniversary of the United States. The two day festival
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kicks off on Friday evening with live music from Chesapeake
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Band three X at the stage behind the Depot at
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six pm, followed by Shelby Lore at seven thirty pm. Saturdays,
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festivities begin early in the day with a pancake breakfast
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hosted by Olive Hill First Christian Church from seven thirty
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am to ten thirty am, offering attendees a chance to
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start the holidays surrounded by community and conversation. Beginning at
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ten am, downtown olive Hill will come alive with vendors,
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live artistry, and live chainsaw carving demonstrations, creating an interactive
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experience for attendees of all ages. Food vendors will be
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set up throughout the event area, offering a variety of
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options for visitors as they enjoy the day's activities. At
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four thirty pm. Festival attendees can enjoy music for an
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Appalachian power pop band Wats Up Betsy, at the stage
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behind the depot, before making their way to the sidewalks
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of tom T Hall Boulevard for the annual parade. Parade
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lineup will begin at four thirty pm at Olive Hill Elementary,
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with the parade beginning at six pm through downtown Olive Hill.
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Live music will follow the parade, featuring Sasha Collette and
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the Magnolias performing from six thirty pm to nine thirty pm,
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keeping the energy going into the evening. Fireworks will begin
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at dusk, lighting up the sky and concluding the day's festivities.
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We think it's important to celebrate America every year, but
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especially this year, said Crystal Brandon, president of the Olive
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Hill Chamber of Commerce. We really want to honor our
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veterans because they're the reason we are able to celebrate
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this holiday and America's two hundred and fiftieth birthday. Brandam
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emphasized that the event continues to be a cornerstone of
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community connection in Olive Hill. Everyone comes out for Olive
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Hill Homecoming festivities. It's a time to catch up with family,
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old friends and to make new ones. She said, there
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are going to be activities for every member of the family,
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no matter the age. She added, I think everyone should
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experience the Olive Hill Homecoming Parade and FESTI disease at
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least once in their life. The way the community comes
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together and everyone comes to town is just amazing to
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see and be part of. More details will be released
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as the event approaches. For updates, follow the City of
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Olive Hill and Olive Hill Chamber of Commerce on social media.
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In other news, Community Hospice seeks volunteers. Community Hospice has
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scheduled a new volunteer orientation. The two day session will
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take place Thursday, July ninth from nine am to four
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pm and Friday, July tenth from nine am to two pm.
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The training will be conducted at the Community Hospice office
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at fourteen eighty Carter Avenue in Ashland. Volunteers are needed
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for a variety of duties, but there is a particular
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need for anyone interested in providing short in home caregiver breaks,
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emotional support and companionship visitation, nursing home visits, chaplains, providing
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spiritual support, military vet to vet visits, visits at the
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care center and for volunteers to operate the hospitality cart.
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Volunteers determine when and how often they are available to
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assist a few hours a week or just occasionally. All
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volunteers must complete the required two day training to be certified.
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If interested in becoming a hospice volunteer or to reserve
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your space contract Andrea Arnett, director of Community Engagement at
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Area code six oh six three two nine eighteen ninety
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or one eight hundred nine two six six' one eight.
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Four in other, news FORMER RC ceo pleads not guilty
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to fraud charges By Deborah. Yeder Kentucky. Lantern Tim, robinson
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the FORMER ceo of what was Once kentucky's largest and
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fast growing addiction treatment, company has entered a not guilty
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plea in federal court to fraud charges related to finances
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at The luisa based. Company, robinson who founded what Became
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Addiction Recovery care OR arc as A singer halfway house
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in two thousand and eight In Eastern, kentucky entered the
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Plea wednesday AND Us District court In, ashland according to
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federal court, records he was indicted on the fraud Charges june,
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fourth and has resigned AS. CEO a company spokeswoman Said robinson's,
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Lawyer MICHAEL. B, fox did not immediately respond to a
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request for. COMMENT, arc which at its peak had about
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eighteen hundred residential treatment beds and one three hundred and fifty,
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employees has foundered over the past year amid reports of
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AN fbi investigation into possible health care, fraud closing programs
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and laying off hundreds of. EMPLOYEES, arc a for profit
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company owned By Tim robinson and his, Wife, leela received
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nearly all of its revenue From, medicaid the government health
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plan for low income, individuals but charges in the federal
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indictment involve a separate matter of Allegations robinson defrauded two
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financial firms by selling them the same federal tax credits
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and refusing to repay. Them the allegations are laid out
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in a civil lawsuit filed this year by the. Firms
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the federal indictment alleges That robinson in twenty twenty two
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and twenty twenty three committed fraud by selling federal tax
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credits To buyer one And buyer, two but failed to
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repay either firm WHEN arc received the, money instead spending
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it on operational cost and debt. Obligations the tax credits
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where federal funds employers could claim during the pandemic for retaining.
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Employees the federal lawsuit Alleges robinson sold the same tax
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credits to two financial firms with a pledge to repay
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them with interest WHEN arc received the money from the.
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Government the federal charges also seek forfeiture of any assets
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used in commission of federal. Offenses they carry a penalty
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of up to thirty years in prison and five hundred
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thousand dollars in. Fines the judge set the case for
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Trial august. Tenth In. Ashland, Next ashland mayn sentenced to
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twenty years on long list of. Charges By Aaron snyder
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Of The Daily, independent An ashland man will serve a
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twenty year sentence on various charges stemming from a slew of.
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Cases JEFFREY. A, hearn forty, two pleaded guilty several weeks
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ago to fentanyl, trafficking for which he will serve eight,
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years according to The Commonwealth Attorney's. Office On, Thursday hearn
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pleaded guilty to numerous charges across five, cases tacking on
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twelve additional years of. Incarceration in, total he will serve twenty.
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Years hearn said and front Of Judge John vinson And
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Boyd County Circuit court that he is guilty of four
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counts of wanton endangerment of a police, officer two counts
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of fleeing evading police in a motor, vehicle one count
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of fleeing evading on, foot one count of meth, possession
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one count of tempering with a monitoring, device one count
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of possession of a firearm by a convicted, felon and
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operating on a suspended. License in, Total hearn's guilty Police
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thursday equated to twelve years in addition to the eight
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years for trafficking. Fentanyl next seventy five year old gets
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fifteen years on sex abuse. Charges By Aaron snyder Of
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The Daily, independent a seventy five year Old Ashley man
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was sentenced to fifteen years in prison on three counts
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of first degree sexual. Abuse WALTER. E darby pleaded guilty
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to the charges In april twenty twenty. Six lord sentenced
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him On thursday when he appeared in front Of Judge
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John vincent via video. Conference he received five years on each,
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count running. Consecutively court records show the crimes took place
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at various times throughout a nine year. Period Between april
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twenty ten And march twenty. Nineteen The Commonwealth's Attorney office
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submitted a victim impact statement to the court for filing.
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Purposes it was not read. Aloud When vincent Asked Allison,
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day public defense, attorney if she or her client would
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like to make any, comments she said, no But darby
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spoke up and said he desired to say. Something i'm,
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stupid ignorant and a, fool he, said that's what got me.
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Here darby must register as a sex offender and have
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no contact with the. Victim next woman sentenced to six
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years on escape tampering Charges Byron snyder The Daily. INDEPENDENT
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a twenty five year Old flatwood's woman pleaded guilty to
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three charges and received a six year Sentence thursday In
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Boyd County Circuit. Court this concludes excerpts from recent editions
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of The Ashland Daily. Independent your reader has Beend jane
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on behalf of everyone here at. RADIO i thank you for,
27:17
Listening keep on listening and have a good. Day