Letters to the Editor

May 13, 2009 — Old Time Machinery

Editor,

The Old Time Machinery & Antique Association board members who hosted the First Annual CommUNITY Easter Egg Hunt at their show grounds on April 11, wants to recognize the ones that helped make the event possible.

The ones who helped sponsor were: First Church of Christ, Oak Grove Church of Christ, Barrett's Creek Baptist Church, Grayson United Pentecostal Church, Hopewell United Methodist Church, Cash Express of Grayson, Spea-Dee Print Shop, Grayson Lake Homemakers, Grayson Senior Citizens, O'Brien's Archery of Ashland, & Prichard's TV Repair of Westwood.

The Egg Hunt was a huge success, thanks to everyone that was involved in helping us in anyway.

Old Time Machinery and Antique Association board members



Above and Beyond

Editor,

I would like to take this chance to thank Grayson RECC. At 10p.m. one night last week, I received a phone call from my daughter telling me her electric was off. Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal but my grandbaby has some special needs and she requires several medical machines that require electricity. My son-in-law was working so my daughter was alone with her two small children.

About five minutes after I arrived GRECC had called my daughter to let her know that they would have her electric back on within the hour, however in the mean time if she needed anything to not hesitate to call them back.

True to their word the electric was back on within the hour and once again GRECC made a courtesy call to my daughter to make sure it was working and she and the girls were all right. They didn’t have to make the first call much less the second one but they still took the time to do just that. I can only imagine how busy those people were that night with the power outrage, so for them to be so kind and considerate really meant a lot to my family. I want to thank them for making my daughter feel so secure in knowing GRECC would do everything they could to see that she and her family were taken care of.

In today’s world, it’s nice to know a big company like GRECC still cares enough to go that extra mile for families in need. So once again, my family and I want to tell them Thank You for going above and beyond.

Sincerely,

Carla Morris



Remembering a friend

Editor,

During the course of several years, I have written in regards to the deaths of many of my acquaintances.

This letter is somewhat different, because William “Dugan” Bays has written his own eulogy by the way he lived his daily life.

Dugan was first and foremost a strong family man. One of his many achievements was the fact he had given his children a chance at achieving a college education and thusly he had opened the door to their future.

Dugan always told me it was important to provide for your kids before you provide for yourself.

Dugan was secondly a strong man of God and by believing in Gods’ ability to provide for us, we were given the ability to provide for our families, he often said. He was an elder deacon at the Wilson Creek Missionary Baptist Church and a leader of this his second family.

I have known Dugan for nearly forty years. I became apart of his second family and could count on his advice and assistance at anytime. Dugan often said he could count on me to be there when he needed me. I knew I could count on Dugan at anytime. He was my friend. He always told me that friends are duty bond to help each other. He was right.

When I think about Dugan, I see a man with dirty hands and a heart of gold. We worked many days together in the field and we were unashamed to tell each other about the honest love each of us held for the other. We both recognized the strong bond between us.

Dugan married his second wife, Tillie, within a few days of my own marriage. We both were lucky to have wives who cared so much for us, even though we often complained to each other about our wives, we knew how much God had blessed us.

Dugan was a strong Republican. This was often a point of contention between us and often led to some rather spirited discussions around the kitchen table.

Dugan was a caring man and often gave away more of his vegetables than he sold. He enjoyed the act of giving to others. He never wanted more than he needed and always shared with the less fortunate.

Dugan Bays never bragged about his status in life. He always considered himself a common man who worked for a living.

There are some people who live their entire lives and never make an impact upon their community; Dugan Bays was not one of these people. He improved the lives of all who knew him and I guess that is the best that can be said about anyone. He lived a God fearing, honest lifestyle and never knew a stranger. He loved and served his family and friends. While this seems insignificant to some to Dugan this was his golden rule.

Dugan often read my letters to this paper and said I had “over stated” the qualities of some of my subjects named in these printings. He said, “Sometimes less is more.”

Viewing this letter with Dugans’ eyes and mind, I can honestly say this letter doe not do justice to the lifetime of William Dugan Bays. He lived a good life, had a large family, was my best friend (and sometimes substitute father), and died according to his last wishes of not being a burden upon his family.

I talked to Dugan just days before he died, at this time he told me he was going home to God; I just wish I had another day to spend in his presence.

I will miss Dugan; he was a large part of my life. But knowing him as I did, I cannot say he would still want to be here with us. Gods’ love is eternal and Dugan deserves the best.

Respectfully,

Roger D. Haney, Sr.

Grayson



Thanks for help

Editor,

We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone who helped to make our seventh annual bluegrass show another great success.

First and foremost, the Rattlesnake Ridge Community Center for donating the use of their building and supplies. These are some terrific people and great community. To the following people we give our heartfelt thanks: Barb Marshall, Kim Duncan, Rella Duncan, Larry Carroll, Bill Gilbert, Marcella Manning, Terri Brammell, Gary Jones, Ronnie Adkins, Rudy Burchett, Curt Ferguson, Giovanni’s, Pizza Hut, Smokey Valley Truck Stop, Rosie’s Restaurant, Ron Blevins, Janie Hill, Jack Dickens, Bill Parsons, and Bush’s Florist.

Thanks to every member of The Carter County Sheriff’s Department Relay team for the endless hours of work and donations that went into having this fundraiser. Lots of gratitude to Tim Morris for taking care of the music and sound equipment. A huge thanks to the following bands for donating their time to play for the show, Chadwick’s Creek Boy’s, Bluegrass Traveler’s, and Greenbriar Junction. Thanks to Carl Smith for playing and singing also. For being a great auctioneer, we thank Gary Jones.

We raised over $2,000 that night and it will all go to The American Cancer Society Relay for Life. If I have left someone out, please forgive me, it was not intentional. Everything was a tremendous success and as the old saying goes: “A good time was had by all”.

Thanks again,

Carla Morris

Team Captain

Carter Co. Sheriff’s Department

Relay For Life Team



Thanks for help

Editor,

On March 3, 2009, I was taken to KDMC due to the fact that I had suffered from a blood clot that ruptured in my head, that could have caused death and kidney damage. I am recovering ok and would like to thank everyone that was involved from the staff at KDMC ICU, 4th floor, and all the doctors and paramedics from Boyd County EMS. Also for Portsmouth Ambulance that’s taken me back and forth to treatments. I thank my family and friends and for everyone at Scope Towers for all the prayers and support as well. Also I praise God for my church family that stood by me, and God for pulling me through this as well.

Thank You,

William T. “Bill” Smith

Ashland



Cemetery needs help

Editor,

Vahoose Cemetery was unlocked April 2009, for visitation. Will be locked back June 6, 2009. Everyone needs to pay the $20 per year per gravesite, or after this year graves will not by attended to. Some people are behind several years and need to get all fees caught up. Some people have never paid at all and need to start paying if they expect the graves to look nice. It is not fair for the few who pay every year to have to carry the whole cemetery financially, or to the caregivers who’s time, their equipment and repairs and their money goes toward the upkeep of the cemetery, make payments as soon as possible to Teresa McRoberts at P.O. Box 1076 Olive Hill, KY 41164. Donations are accepted and appreciated.

Thank you,

Teresa McRoberts

Olive Hill

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