Friday, October 13, 2023 3:00PM Jerry is a self-taught artist from Ashland, Kentucky, who has been painting for more than 50 years. He works primarily in acrylic and focuses on African themes and famous Black individuals. His work has been featured throughout Ashland and his pieces have been sold and circulated across the country. In addition to painting, Jerry specializes in signs and window decoration.

Join us for their Ribbon Cutting at 1:00PM on August 3, 2023 Eagle Loan Co. has been around for 25 years! Their Ashland location has been open for 7 years. Eagle specializes in fast & affordable personal loans to help their clients build/rebuild their credit. On Thursday August 3rd from 1pm-4pm they will be having a Grand ReOpening/Customer Appreciation Day.  All is welcome to attend.  It is truly a honor to be a part of the Ashland, KY community and Eagle Finance greatly appreciates your support!

ASHLAND, Ky. — Three teams of teen innovators from Russell High School won cash for their business ideas at the eighth annual Glockner Dare to Dream pitch contest. They are: Locked and Loaded Game Birds, a team consisting of Jasmine Webb, Autumn Jeffrey and Gracie Bates. The team won first place and $6,000 cash, plus $200 for an idea that reduced the carbon footprint and another $250 for being a viable business idea that is practical, has low startup cost and is ready to go. Under the business model, their company will rent guns, provide ammo, bird dogs, group photos and clean the birds for the ultimate “Locked and Loaded” hunting experience. Jeffrey operates guided pheasant hunts; her family hunts pheasants as a hobby, said Melissa Wilburn, business and marketing teacher at Russell. Batter’s Eye, a team consisting of Eric Williams, Daniel Blanton and Ben Hammond. The team won third [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. – Dr. Larry Ferguson, President/CEO and Dr. Todd Brand, Chief Academic Officer at Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) are excited to announce a new partnership between ACTC and the University of Charleston School of Pharmacy (UCSOP). Any student receiving an Associate of Science degree from ACTC would be automatically granted an interview at the UCSOP, as long as they met all other application qualifications. To be eligible, a student must have earned a minimum of 60 credit hours at ACTC and notify ACTC in writing of the intent to pursue the dual credit program and meet the criteria for admission to UCSOP. “One of the challenges that colleges face in this economy is time to credential,” said Brand.  “Innovative measures that can reduce the amount of time students must spend in school to obtain their credential are being explored at schools everywhere.   Not only does reducing [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. – Starting in Fall 2021, Ashland Community and Technical College will offer credit for prior learning to person(s) who have served as a military medic and are interested in becoming a registered nurse through ACTC’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. In 2020, ACTC partnered with the Veterans Accelerated Learning for Licensed Occupations (VALLO) to develop a pathway for military medic personnel to transition to civilian registered nurse. Two new courses were developed that build upon previous military education and experience and assist students to transition into a professional registered nurse that is prepared to care for the general population across the lifespan. On completion of the first two nursing courses that were designed specifically for this population, the student will receive six (6) hours of credit for prior learning, have a total of sixteen (16) credit hours in nursing, and will be prepared for the sophomore year [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. – The Ready to Work (RTW) program at Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) gives students the opportunity to pursue an education while obtaining work experiences though services that include work-study opportunities, support services and academic and employment counseling. Two recent RTW students have found success as a part of their experiences with the program. One student, Zandra Nobles, created her own online clothing business, which is totally family-run. She completed an Associate in Arts at ACTC and went on to complete a Bachelor’s degree. “They helped me so much on navigating through the work program along with preparing and registering for classes,” said Nobles. “There were so many obstacles I faced due to transitioning from New Jersey to Kentucky, but with the Ready to Work mentors and advisors, I was able to complete and transition from ACTC to Morehead State University to obtain my Bachelor’s degree in [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. – Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC) has been recognized as being one of The Best Colleges for Associate's Degrees in 2021 by Intelligent.com. According to their website, ACTC was named the college with the “Best Experiential Learning Opportunities.” ACTC was among 180 institutions that were assessed. “Providing meaningful experiential learning opportunities for our students is critical to their individual success and our region’s economy,” said Dr. Larry Ferguson, ACTC President/CEO. “We are thankful to be recognized by Intelligent.com for our hard work and efforts in this area by our world-class faculty and staff.” Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. “For this list, we focused on institutions that offer associate’s degree programs, including community colleges, public and private universities, and technical institutes. We evaluated and ranked the institutions based on their cost, course offerings, reputation, faculty and course delivery methods, [...]

RUSSELL, Ky. — Work on the flyover bridge in Russell is entering a new phase and will cause periodic traffic delays on U.S. 23 by the Ironton Bridge. “They’re shipping in the steel beams which will make up the substructure of the overpass bridge,” said Department of Highways District 9 Spokesman Allen Blair. “The goal is to move and place four beams a day, Tuesday, today and Thursday, about 8 a.m. to 4 or 5 p.m., with temporary traffic stops or flagged traffic on the existing viaduct (Ky. 244) each time. “ Blair said he recommends motorists seek alternate routes into and out of downtown during those days, like the underpass off of U.S. 23 on the Flatwoods side of the construction area. “At least for the first part of this phase (about two to four weeks) they will be delivering beams on three days each week,” Blair said. The [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — Fans of the Highlands Museum and Discovery Center’s Christmas Tour of Homes can enjoy the sights from the comfort of their own homes. The tour, which usually starts at the museum and includes visits to at least a half-dozen residences in the area, will be offered virtually this year. Daryl Akers, a volunteer at the museum and on the committee to make the video, said work has been ongoing. "You’ll be able to see it on the museum’s website and we’ll probably have it done by Dec. 5," he said. He said he plans to show still photographs and videos. He said the video will be something to look forward to. "People are kind of excited about Christmas because of everything else that’s going on," Akers said. "Some are decorating early and we’re lucky we can get started early with the filming." To see the video, look on the [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — The Boyd County Public Library is closing its doors to public access due to the increase in COVID-19 cases and in accordance with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s new restrictions, according to a release from the library. While the facilities will be closed to patrons, curbside pickup and digital features will continue allowing patrons to access materials. “This is the way we keep our patrons and our staff safe, which is the goal,” said Library Director Debbie Cosper. “Stay home, stay healthy and together we can beat this.” Materials for curbside pickup can be requested through the website at www.thebookplace.org, by phone, by email or by Facebook Messenger. The newly designed website provides access to over a million digital titles in multiple formats: books, audiobooks, videos and magazines in addition to a large collection of databases and informational sites. Curbside service and phone service will be available the [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — Kentucky Power on Thursday announced a $75,000 gift to Ashland Community and Technical College (ACTC). The grant from the American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation and Kentucky Power will fund the College’s Solar SmartFlower training project. “This grant is a significant investment in our young adults and our community as they learn about energy through solar power,” said Kentucky Power President Brett Mattison. “ACTC is such a valuable resource in our community and we are glad to partner with them by helping fund this program.” The purchase of a Solar SmartFlower would be used as an educational trainer to provide power to ACTC’s specified training facilities and equipment, such as an electric car charging station. The project will open many doors for ACTC to better utilize and expand the electrical technology department so that students can learn the cutting-edge technology that is required. of today’s electricians. The Solar [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — The Highlands Museum and Discovery Center has been a lonely place for much of the last few months, with patrons largely absent because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That goes double for the museum’s fourth floor, which was remodeled a few years ago as an event venue but which has remained empty during the pandemic. It’s not empty anymore. Starting this week, the museum is using the space as a schoolroom of sorts. For a fee, parents can send their children for the school day to the museum, where they assemble on the fourth floor under the watchful eye of a proctor. They open their laptops, put on their headphones and log into their classroom Zoom meetings. For the next few hours, they do their schoolwork with their virtual classes. During breaks they visit various museum exhibits, supervised by staffers, and let off steam in the basement-level Discovery [...]

Remote working and eLearning opportunities are more important ever. That’s why Ashland Community and Technical College’s Workforce Solutions is now offering online training courses for businesses and their employees. These convenient, high-quality courses are strategically packaged and can be completed entirely online and accessed at any time, from anywhere with an internet connection. Most of the courses within each bundle can be completed in only 10-30 minutes. Choose from these options: Communication and Diversity (3 hours): What is Diversity and Inclusion? Leveraging diversity and strengths in the workplace, leading a diverse workplace, unconscious bias, group dynamics, preventing workplace discrimination, communication styles, communication barriers, communication and ethics, stress, emotions and ethics; Transitioning to a Management Role (4 hours): 5 tips for managers and supervisors, developing management skills, coaching skills, performance: coaching conversations and goal setting, delegating authority, dealing with performance issues, barriers to communication success, lead by listening, giving and receiving [...]

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Highlighting his commitment to protecting all Kentuckians, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday Kentuckians must wear face coverings in many situations if the state is going to stop the increase of novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) cases and continue to reopen the economy safely. The executive order takes effect at 5 p.m. EDT Friday, July 10. “The No. 1 thing a mask can do is protect the health and the life of yourself and those around you,” the governor said. “It can make sure we don’t lose more people than we should, it can keep our cases down and it can help us to continue to reopen our economy.” According to health experts, wearing face coverings not only protects others, it also lowers the infection risk for those wearing masks by 65%. The governor also pointed to analysis from Goldman Sachs showing that if everyone in America was required [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — Ashland Community and Technical College will use a $75,000 grant from Kentucky Power and the American Electric Power Foundation to support one of its solar power training projects. ACTC will use the grant to buy a Solar SmartFlower, which is a ground-mounted solar power system with GPS tracking to follow the sun. The device would be used as an educational trainer to provide power to ACTC’s training facilities and equipment, such as an electric car charging station. The college also will use it in its electrical technology department to teach cutting-edge technology. The SmartFlower also will aid student engagement in solar photovoltaics, programmable logic controls, electrical motor controls and battery technology, all curriculum requirements at ACTC. “ACTC is grateful for the investment of Kentucky Power and the AEP Foundation to help us deliver cutting-edge training in solar energy in our technical programs,” ACTC President Larry Ferguson said. [...]

The Boyd County Fiscal Court will not decide if November’s election ballot will include changing Boyd County’s alcohol status. That’s up to the people, said Judge-Executive Eric Chaney in Tuesday’s monthly meeting in Catlettsburg. A petition has been formed and can be found at votewetboyd.com. If it passes, Chaney said, it will land on the ballot Nov. 3. In an effort to be proactive, Chaney said, the court had a first reading of the alcohol licensing ordinance, which is identical to the one passed in Scott County. The ordinance addresses adult entertainment. Chaney acknowledged that, yes, there can legally be a strip club in Boyd County, but this ordinance would continue to prevent said establishment from selling alcohol. In other words, any place that sells alcohol in the county may not feature adult entertainment. That includes wet T-shirt contests, jello wrestling and mud wrestling. Boyd is a moist county now. [...]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, 19 rising high school seniors from nine Appalachian states began the Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy (AEA)—a 12-month, free, blended learning curriculum featuring working modules led by regional experts in business planning, market analysis, product development and other entrepreneurial services. As part of the program, students will participate in a four-week summer intensive online training, continue training over the academic year, and meet in Pittsburgh, Penn., for a final capstone pitch event in July 2021. “The creation of new, innovative opportunities in our region through entrepreneurial enterprises will be a key factor in our communities’ economic growth and recovery, particularly in light of COVID’s impact,” said ARC Federal co-chairman Tim Thomas. “While this inaugural session of the Appalachian Entrepreneurship Academy was intended to be an in-person experience, the impressive flexibility and ingenuity shown by our partners and participants will make this virtual program rewarding and beneficial for these promising [...]

CATLETTSBURG, Ky. — Residents of Catlettsburg now have more of their city to enjoy. A recent, low-cost reclamation project on the river side of the city’s floodwall has opened an area some 10 city blocks in length for residents to use in comfort and safety. “I always said that I wanted to clean up the city where it was needed and help the people of Catlettsburg take pride in and enjoy their city,” Catlettsburg Mayor Faith Day said. “This is one of those projects, and it is a way to give the city back to the people who live here.” Day said that Kenova Mayor Tim Bias assisted the Catlettsburg Road Crew with the loan of equipment and a crew of workers to remove the brush that had taken over the area. Day said the wonderful riverfront was there all along but had become so overgrown that it was seldom [...]

As we emerge from our Coronavirus cocoons, we are discovering just how much the world has changed. One of the most effective tools in managing change is good communications. Here are five tips for communicating change in the workplace: DEVELOP A REOPENING PLAN You’ve already thought through ways to adapt your operations to keep employees and customers safe. Put them down in a clear plan for everyone to follow. Anticipate questions (e.g. Can I keep working from home? How are you improving sanitation? What changes in service can I expect?) and implement the answers into the document. Make it clear the plan is an evolving guide that will change as conditions do – but one that puts a premium on safety. COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES FIRST With your plan drafted, share it with your employees first. Invite ideas for improvement but make it clear that everyone must buy into the [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — The city of Ashland is continuing to make adjustments to be efficient and effective while adhering to federal and state guidelines. In doing so, it made some changes on Tuesday, according to a press release. The following changes are in place: Central Park is closed to the public, but the sidewalk around the park will remain open to allow fresh air walking while maintaining social distancing. The Library Commons area is closed to the public. The city individual occupational license, net profit returns for 2019 and payment of fees due date will move to July 15 to align with the state and federal tax filings. In accordance with the Commonwealth Attorney General’s opinion, the Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday at 6 p.m. will be closed to the public. The meeting will be streamed by My Town TV. The city encourages citizens to tune in on the [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — The Ashland Alliance announced two platforms today for information sharing for the business community and the public regarding COVID-19.  Information about local business providers that are open and have methods of sharing services and products and information for local business to receive assistance for operation will be shared on the Ashland Alliance Facebook page and from the Ashland Alliance website alliancecovid.info. Information is changing hourly and daily.  It is important for the public to know what businesses are open and how to receive their services, including delivery and pick up.  It is also vital that every business understands all the assistance programs that are available and when additional sources of aid are announced. The Alliance stands ready to help with applications and any needed services that will help our community stand strong and move ahead in these challenging times. Content will be added as resources and situations change. [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — Another class of Ashland Middle School STEM students has advanced to the national level in a technology competition, winning their school thousands of dollars worth of high-tech equipment. The students, who designed and built a device to help mobility-impaired students escape from a multi-story building in an emergency, have been named national finalists in the annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest. It is the second time AMS students have gotten to the national level. The feat wins $50,000 dollars worth of technology hardware for the school, and a contingent of students will travel to New York City to pitch their project to a panel of judges. The judges will choose five national winners, each of which will win $100,000 worth of additional technology. The students developed the device, which looks like a lightly-padded seat with a tri-wheel assembly on each side that is capable of negotiating stairs, over a [...]

CATLETTSBURG, Ky. — The city of Catlettsburg has been approved for a grant to improve its baseball complex near U.S. 23. “We have Little League that plays here, Senior League, and there are a lot of other different leagues that come up here to play,” Catlettsburg Mayor Faith Day-Pike said. “And this is the home turf of Catlettsburg Little League, which is also the oldest charter in the state of Kentucky. We also have a really good walking track, and it gets utilized by a lot of people.” Pike said she believed that three laps around the track is roughly a mile. Pike said she has always thought that more should be done with the ball fields and the playground area. The main reason for this, she said, is that by renovating and improving the complex, it would make it better for the residents of Catlettsburg and those who visit [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — Emily Aliff wasn’t thinking about winning a contest when she sat in a wheelchair at the top of a third-floor stairwell at Ashland Middle School last October. The eighth-grader was wondering how a genuinely impaired student would get down to the ground floor and then to the exit doors if the school building were on fire. Emily and a number of other AMS students who were with her that day are still pondering the problem and working on solutions, but today they definitely are thinking about winning a contest. Ashland Middle School for the third year in a row has been named the state winner of the Samsung Solve For Tomorrow contest, which it won nationally in 2018. Their winning project, which already has earned the school $15,000 worth of high-tech gear, is devising a system to assist mobility-impaired students down from upper floors during fires and similar emergencies. [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — The three bronze sculptures sitting at the Port of Ashland were lit up for the public for the first time Friday night. The City of Ashland hosted a dedication ceremony for the group of statues at the riverfront. The lighting ceremony took place after a brief presentation at the Paramount Arts Center. Two videos showcasing the progress of each statue and the works by Ginés Serrán-Pagán were shown and he shared why he made the statues for the community. Serrán-Pagán is a world-renowned Spanish artist and created the pieces of art given to the city by an anonymous donor. “I think it’s wonderful that someone thought enough of their hometown to do that (donate these statues). I know I would if I could, but I think it’s wonderful,” said Terri Wonn of Ashland. “You have to see it to believe it. This was the first time I’ve seen [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. – Kentucky Power on Thursday announced a $100,000 gift to the Highlands Museum & Discovery Center. The grant from the American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation and Kentucky Power will fund sponsorship of a multi-use theater in the new discovery center. “This grant is a major investment in our children and our community,” said Kentucky Power President Brett Mattison. “As part of our 100th anniversary celebration this year, Kentucky Power pledged to complete 100 Acts of Appreciation to give back to the communities we serve and to say thank you. This grant is No. 100 and a wonderful way to mark this milestone. The theater and the entire discovery center will provide an environment where children can explore and express their individuality and get excited about learning for years to come.” Construction on the museum’s discovery center is set to begin in 2020. The theater will be among 16 exhibits and will give [...]

Dear Prospective Parade Participant: The Christmas season is rapidly approaching, and the Ashland Alliance’s Winter Wonderland of Lights parade will take place on Tuesday, November 26 in downtown Ashland. The theme for this year’s WWOL’s parade is “Candy Cane Christmas”. Judging criteria for the float competition: is “Best Overall”, “Best Theme” and “Runner-up”. There will be prizes of two $500 awards and a $300 award for runner-up. The parade will also feature a band competition, with the winning band leading next year’s parade. Please find the Application Form and the Rules and Regulations, as set forth by WWOL and the Ashland Police Department. When you sign the Application Form, your signature signifies you have read and will abide by the rules for the parade.  I will send you a staging area map with your participation confirmation letter. If you need to work on your float/vehicle decorations before the parade, please [...]

MOREHEAD, Ky. — Morehead State University’s long-standing reputation for academic quality and student success continues to have a long-standing national ranking to go with it. Morehead State University has been recognized for the 16th consecutive year as one of the top public universities in the South in the 2020 edition of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. The newest rankings include MSU as 19th in the Top Public Regional Universities-South division, moving up from 23rd in last year’s rankings. “We are deeply committed to advancing Morehead State’s standing as a public regional university in the South, all for the benefit of our students, their families, and the Commonwealth,” said Dr. Joseph A. (Jay) Morgan, MSU president. “This shows our strength.” The rankings place emphasis on acceptance rates, graduation rates, admissions selectivity, alumni giving rates, and small class sizes. Class size and personal attention have always been strengths [...]

CATLETTSBURG, Ky. — The Boyd County library has about $3.5 million in its building fund as it prepares to construct a brand new library branch in the Summit area. Boyd County Library Director Debbie Cosper said leaders of the library are hoping to have plans for the new library facility done in the next few months and put out a bid on a contractor this Fall. Cosper told the Boyd Fiscal Court the total cost for the new building is expected to be $4.5 million. Judge Executive Eric Chaney asked if the costs will be paid for through the building fund or if the costs will be financed. "Part of it will be financed," Cosper said. "About two thirds of it will be financed. We've paid for the land. We'll pay for the architect....and about a third of it will be paid for as well." Construction will begin in the spring. "Do [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — Things will be heating up in Ashland on Saturday, Sept. 28 with the arrival of the 15th Annual Great Bowls of Fire Chili Fest and Cook-Off. Local organizations and community members will be putting their chili and salsa creations to the test to raise funds for a local non-profit. The 15th Annual Great Bowls of Fire Chili Fest and Cook-Off is scheduled for Saturday, September 28 in the parking lot beside the Paramount Arts Center on Winchester Avenue. The event will be hosted by the City of Ashland and will benefit the Ashland Community Kitchen. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with chili and salsa tasting tickets priced at $1 per bowl. Ashland Community Kitchen Executive Director Desmond Barrett said the festival will help the organization feed those in need in Boyd County. “The 15th Annual Great Bowls of Fire Chili Fest [...]

CATLETTSBURG, Ky. — The cherished annual tradition of the Labor Day parade in Catlettsburg is just around the corner. The parade starts at 10 a.m. in Catlettsburg and is part of a weekend-long series of festivities to celebrate the holiday honoring the American worker. “We are really excited about the Labor Day event,” Catlettsburg Mayor Faith Pike said. “A lot of people are involved and have been working real hard to make this year a great event.” The mayor said this year’s Labor Day Celebration will be one of the biggest events to date. Each year Labor Day fills the city from one end to the other as residents and tourists enjoy the parade, vendors, and special musical guests. This year The Oak Ridge Boys are headlining musical events on Monday night. Saturday in Catlettsburg will be filled with rummage sales, Horticulture Expos, and reunions. Sunday there will be church [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — For young professionals age 21 to 39 years old who live in Ashland, Catlettsburg, Russell or the six other cities within Boyd and Greenup counties, the Young Professionals Association has a variety of networking events and community service projects. Affiliated with Ashland Alliance, the Chamber of Commerce in Ashland YPA was formed in 2003 and has around 75 members this year. The current president of the organization is Ryan Reames, a wealth advisor with Hilliard Lyons in Ashland. He got involved with YPA eight years ago when a high school friend was board president at the time. “I showed up to a meeting, became a member of the board,” Reames said. “I got involved.” YPA members meet the first Thursday of every month unless it’s a holiday. Events rotate between a happy hour, a lunch social at a restaurant, and a lunch-and-learn program at the library. Young [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — The Ashland Alliance is pleased to announce the 40th Annual Community Leadership Development Program schedule is complete, and registrations are now being accepted. The 2019 theme is "Bridging Leadership for 40 Years" It will take place September 4,11,18, 25, October 2, 9,16, & 25. Day 1, September 4 will begin with a half-day of leadership activities, and a few tours. The program will wrap-up with a leadership workshop and graduation luncheon on October 25. Each day features different, behind-the-scenes explorations of business, government, education, cultural aspects of our community and a 30 minute leadership component. These are presented through speakers, forums, field trips, training exercises and other activities. CLD was the first leadership program in the state and has been successful since its inception in 1979. This is the premier program for new employees, individuals who have recently relocated or returned to our area and for lifelong [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — The 40th Community Leadership Development Program team is finalizing the schedule for this year’s program. It will take place September 4, 11, 18, 25, October 2, 9, 16 & 25. Day 1, September 4, will begin with a half-day of leadership activities and a few tours. The program will wrap-up with a leadership workshop and graduation luncheon on October 25. Each day features different, behind-the-scenes explorations of business, government, education, cultural aspects of our community and a 30-minute leadership component. These are presented through speakers, forums, field trips, training exercises and other activities. CLD was the first leadership program in the state and has been successful since its inception in 1979. This is the premier program for new employees, individuals who have recently relocated or returned to our area, and for lifelong residents to make valuable business contacts and become familiar with our region in a casual environment [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — More beers, more bands, more vendors and more people — the 2019 Firkin Fest had more of everything compared to past festivals, an organizer said. “Year after year it keeps growing. Last year we had record attendance and this year it seems even bigger,” said Ashland in Motion director Whitney Lowe. “That’s encouraging to us, the Ashland in Motion board and the Firkin Fest committee, to keep making it stronger every year and keep expanding.” Figures provided by AIM, the downtown revitalization organization which hosts the festival, show a record 1,265 tickets sold. That is nearly double the 750 sold in 2015, the first year of the festival. Ticketholders had their choice of 152 brews, also a record — there were 100 in 2015 and the number has grown steadily since then. The increase in brewer participation reflects the exposure they receive from Firkin Fest, according to one brewery [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. – Kentucky Power has awarded 13 grants totaling about $12,000 to a dozen eastern Kentucky schools as part of the FIRST robotics program and the Teacher Vision Grant program. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a multi-national robotics competition that teams professionals and high school students to solve an engineering problem in an intense and competitive way. Grant amounts range from a few hundred dollars for elementary and middle schools up to $6,000 for high schools. The Teacher Vision Grant program provides small grants to individual teachers to use in their classrooms. Grants range from $100 to $500 each, and are limited to one per teacher and two per school. “Kentucky Power is critically aware of the need for strong science and technology education programs,” said Brett Mattison, Kentucky Power’s president and chief operating officer. “We are proud that our robotics grants can help our [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — Professional tennis will again return to Ashland in 2019, with the Braidy Industries $60,000 Women’s Tennis Classic at the Ashland Tennis Center July 20-28. The tournament’s inaugural event last year included 14 players who played in the 2018 U.S. Open and was embraced by the local community. It was awarded the Tournament of the Year by the Kentucky Tennis Association. Tournament Director Jack Ditty, who accepted the prestigious state award in Louisville in January, touted the many benefits the tournament is contributing to the local area. Proceeds have helped with renovations to the Ashland Tennis Center, including court and facility improvements; courts were resurfaced ahead of last year’s tournament to meet strict professional standards. “It’s not just a great event,” Ditty said. “This will have a lasting affect in our community.” American Gail Brodsky won the 2018 singles championship, her first $60,000 USTA Pro Circuit title. She [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — Local nonprofit continues tradition of First Friday with all things Kentucky Derby on May 3. Ashland in Motion will host another First Friday on the eve of the 145th run for the roses on Friday in downtown Ashland from 5 p.m. until midnight. Whitney Lowe, director of Ashland in Motion, said the downtown block party features a cruise-in, live music, an outdoor beer garden, extended downtown shopping hours and children’s activities. Lowe said the First Friday Cruise-in welcomes all cars, trucks, jeeps and bikes to display their rides and connect with area car enthusiasts. Lowe said all makes and models are welcome and dash plaques will be given to the first 50 registrants. Lowe said attendees are encouraged to vote for the May’s People Choice Award winner, sponsored by NAPA Auto Parts. A press release from Ashland in Motion said the cars may begin parking at 3 p.m. [...]

EASTPARK — Having a plan B in case Plan A doesn’t work out isn’t enough to ensure success, some high school seniors learned Thursday. “You’ve got to have plans A, B, C and D. You’ve got to have backups to your backup,” Crabbe Elementary School principal Uriah Tolbert said to 19 African-American seniors from schools in Boyd and Greenup counties. Tolbert dispensed his advice along with some insights from his own life during the 26th annual NAACP Senior Salute at Ashland Community and Technical College’s EastPark campus. Raised by his grandmother and an aunt in Ashland, where he attended Hatcher Elementary and graduated from Paul Blazer High School in 2004, Tolbert credited scores of teachers from elementary on up who guided him to academic and career success. He still has the certificate he received as one of the students honored in the 2004 Senior Salute, and he brought it with him [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — The Ashland riverfront trail will soon be paved in asphalt, replacing the crumb rubber that previously covered the path. The Boyd County Fiscal Court donated the rubber that was added to extend the trail during a volunteer work session last June. City Manager Michael Graese said the city recently realized the rubber mulch material wasn't working out. It has since been removed. “The mulch was very difficult to walk on,” he said. Graese said the total paving cost for the entire 1,150-foot trail extension that loops below the blue and green bridges will be $38,397. The city has been given $5,000 via the FIVCO Area Development Fund Capital Improvement Project that will be used for the paving and the remaining amount will come from the city's paving funds, he said. Graese noted the city's total paving budget for the year is more than $1 million. “It’s something that’s more [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — Decorated as USTA Kentucky’s Tournament of the Year for its 2018 debut, Braidy Industries $60,000 Women’s Tennis Classic returns July 20-28 to the Ashland Tennis Center. Last year’s event faced a tight time schedule after replacing a faltering California tournament on the USTA Pro Circuit calendar. The new site delivered thanks to what tournament chairman Jack Ditty M.D. called a truly collective effort from the Ashland community. “We were notified in March that we had an opportunity to do the tournament and had to start from scratch,” said Ditty, “even though we had some experience from years past.” Ashland hosted lower level USTA Pro Circuit events for five years beginning in 2004. The Braidy Industries Tennis Classic is again presented by Bon Secours Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital. Ditty praised the “enthusiasm and energy” of Craig Bouchard (Braidy’s chairman and CEO) as well as OLBH’s commitment. Coming off last [...]

MOREHEAD, Ky. — Morehead State’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Ashland office will host the 2019 Northeast Kentucky Small Business Awards to honor and recognize small business owners, small business champions and young entrepreneurs (under age 40) in Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Greenup, and Lawrence counties on Thursday, May 9. This year’s small business award categories include: New Business (operating less than two years), Emerging Business (operating for two to five years), Retail/Wholesale, Service, Professional, Construction/Contracting, Downtown Business and Family-Owned. The Young Entrepreneur category includes individuals under the age of 40 (as of May 15) who have owned/operated a successful small business for two or more years. The Small Business Champion category recognizes individuals who assist small businesses through advocacy and support efforts that help improve business, regulatory, and/or financial opportunities for small business owners. Champions may include bankers, attorneys, CPAs, politicians, economic development officials, etc.   The public is encouraged to nominate [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — Several local philanthropic organizations made sizable pledges to the new Clark Family Discovery Center campaign at the Highlands Museum on Saturday night during Dancing with Our Stars. The John W. Clark Oil Company pledged $125,000 and Clarks Pump-N-Shop pledged another $125,000 to the Clark Family Discovery Center, bringing the total pledged amount to $250,000. “The Clark family presented us with a big pledge,” Highlands Museum and Discovery Center Director Carol Allen said. “We're incredibly excited. There were three presentations total. And, the architect and design team are already at work.” The Clark family were among several charitable donors at Dancing with Our Stars. The Foundation for the Tri-State presented a check for $61,000 with $51,000 of those funds pledged by the Woodlands Advised Fund and $10,000 from the Mansbach Foundation Fund. The Woodlands Foundation also presented a $50,000 pledge to the Clark Family Discovery Center. The Clark Family Discovery [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — Braidy Industries, Inc. announced today that the the Company’s Board of Directors will grant post-secondary scholarships and internships at Braidy to graduating seniors at local high schools. Braidy has expanded the program to add three more schools to the eight included in the grant program last year. The 11 schools participating across three counties will be East Carter High School, West Carter High School, Carter Christian Academy, Boyd County High School, Fairview High School, Greenup County High School, Holy Family School, Paul G. Blazer High School, Raceland High School, Rose Hill Christian School and Russell High School. “We continue to invest in the talented and driven youth of Eastern Kentucky,” said Braidy Chief Executive Officer Craig Bouchard. “Developing future leaders of Appalachia is a top priority for Braidy. We also welcome students to our Advanced Integrated Technology program at ACTC, which empowers youth to become the leaders of [...]

ASHLAND, Ky. — Youthful technology buffs are seeking a twofer in a competition to apply high-tech knowhow to community problems. Student groups at Paul Blazer High School and Ashland Middle School are among five state finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition. It is the same competition an AMS team won last year, netting $170,000 worth of computers and other hardware for their school. The Blazer project uses a rooftop-based drone to scan the multi-building campus during lockdowns, faculty adviser Jay Hale said. The team of students, who are members of Blazer’s Student Technology Leadership Program, are designing the drone for production via 3-D printer, and will program it to transmit photos to the school resource officer and administrators. The middle school project is an app- and  web-based compendium of veteran benefit information to help veterans and their families navigate the often complex sea of resources and requirements, according to adviser [...]