2- November 30, 2017 Your Hometown Newspaper News Outlook
The opinion page does not reflect the views of the KyNewsGroup.
Heaven Is
A Lot Like
By Charles Mattox
When I was about
ll-years-old I used to go
with my late father on his
forays out into the wild blue
yonder while hunting, fish-
ing and trapp'mg.
We lived along Fleming
Creek, at Martha Mills, in
central Fleming County,
the same place my father
and his before him lived,
and many of our trips were
within a five mile radius of
our home.
I've been intensifying my
research into one of Flem-
ing County's founders:
Michael Cassidy, and have
written several columns
about his adventures, from
coming to America as a
stow-away on a ship from
Ireland, to his gallantry in
N
the American Revolution-an aged member of their about two miles from Mar- Dad gigged the fish using looking completely inno-
ary War and his further tribe that had succumbed tha Mills, well, I remember our only flashlight and I cent but probably wonder-
heroics after coming to to his illness, it as a beautiful, magical staggered around blindly ing at what point I would
Kentucky in1782. He returned to Captainand enchanting place of my on the creek bank with the blurt something out or
The first time Michael John Strode's Station, near youth. I know it was also fish in a feed sack. come stomping down the
Cassidy was in the land present-day Winchester, one of my father's favorite We always operated bank with that illegal bag
which would one day be Ky., after being gone two fishing spots and in the under the standards ofoffish in my hands.
Fleming County was in weeks. The inhabitantsspring of 1974, he decided 'extreme noise discipline' But I didn't. I just started
1782 at Battle Run when he had given him up for dead to take me fish gigging when I accompanied my getting low amongst the
and others fought a deadly and greeted him warmly, there, and that's illegal all father. There were hand weeds.
skirmish in which five The next week he coaxed year long! signals for communication ' (ou know Mr. Mattox
of Cassidy's companions his Mends Mathias Spahr Dad was a self-pro- but no talking. If you had a you can't gig red horses or
were killed but Captain and Joshua Bennett to tray- claimed "straight arrow" scratchy throat and needed suckers this early," one of
John Fleming was saved el back to that same small when it came to obeying to cough, you had to just them said.
by Cassidy's valiant charge spring and stream and sur- the law-except for fish and choke it back down. If you "I know," dad replied.
through the enemy to save vey the land so he could game laws. He never wast- fell, you fell quietly! "That's why I don't have a
his wounded friend, claim it as his own for ser- ed game but did take fish So, dad's gliding through gig or any fish. I was just
In 1785 he traveled fur- vice in the Revolutionary and game out of seasonthe water, and when hescouting."
ther into Fleming County, War. But the trio was am- if the fridge was getting gigs a fish we meet at the I just laid there, quiet~
following an ancient Native bushed by five Shawneeempty, edge of the water, the fish hoping none of those two-
American path called the warriors as they traveled to I was his accomplice on goes into the feed sack and or three-pound bass start-
Warrior's Trail. He spent their destination. Bennett many of these "illegal for- we repeat the process,ed flopping!
a week reconnoitering and Spahr were killed and ays" and the one night in All of the sudden, dadIf dad got a ticket, there
the land just south of the Cassidy was nearly beaten the spring of 74 was a prime tossed the gig deep into the was no way that would be
present Fleming County to death before makingexample. It wasn't season weeds on the opposite side anything but bad news for
High School, a beautiful his escape. He would be yet to take red horse suck- of the creek and walked me.
section of land character- six weeks recovering after ers by gig (They spawnfurther away from me. Well, the game wardens
ized by rolling hills and many thought for sure he every spring and lay their A light beam from highnever found me, the fish
small streams. There was would die. But he didn't eggs on the riffles along on the creek bank hit the or the gig, and the incident
an ancient natural fresh die. He did later return to streams in creeks and water in front of me. remained a little happy
water spring there where the location, claim it, sur- streams). That didn't mat- "How ya doin' this eve- secret, one of dozens that
Cassidy watched over vey it and in 1787 he built ter to dad, he was gigging ning?" A voice called from dad and I kept and which
300 Miami and Shawnee a fortified blockhouse and bass anyway, the darkness, still brings me joy all these
hunters in their camp. He small stockade station, or So it's dark; dad's wading "Fine," dad answered as years later. I think of that
would later tell his friends fort there, near that small upCassidyCreekjustafewhis light found two game and other adventures we
the men of the group were spring, and stream. The feet from where it empties wardens at the top of the had along Cassidy Creek
engaged in a "ball game" stream retains the name into Fleming Creek. Hebank. "How are you-alland I think about the man
which they enjoyed im- Cassidy Creek to this very has a flashlight in one hand doin'?" that creek was named for,
mensely. He also watched day and where the stream and the gig in his other. Dad was standing therejust as often.
from hiding as they buried flows into Fleming Creek, We worked as a team. empty-handed in the water,
By Cecil Lawson
MAKING AMERICA TWEET AGAIN
What is the "news" in this
day and age?
What cOunts as adequate
coverage of the day's rel- turned into "news" that is
= ant events? ........
! ' :ithen :passed along to our:
lnose quesuons: nave, reading public
stayed with me evers ce of" the some-
I was a young, idealistic what slower pace of life
student taking government
and political science classes
at Morehead State Univer-
sity and first witnessed the
growing influence of the
internet on American life
just a few years after gradu-
ation.
As a child of the 1980s, I
grew up aware of the poten-
tial of networked computers
but never foresaw how they
would become central to
the lives of billions of peo-
ple three decades later.
Today we are saturated in
a sea of minute by minute following the election of The differences in "nat- to negotiate the main-
information being thrown Donald Trump as Presi-rative" have served, atleast stream media's narratives.
at us through our social dent. for me, to highlight the dif- The mistake Ithink many
media news feeds and His supporters and ferences between people people make in wanting to
through more traditional staff are very conscious in what exactly counts as a criticize the mainstream
outlets such as television, that their version of real- news today, media and its narratives is
radio, and yes, even print ity, their often-"alternative Since the end of the Cold that they assume this nar-
newspapers, facts," are at odds with War, the end of George H. rative, the "story," is some-
I think working at a ru- what mainstream media W. Bush administration in how fixed and unchanging.
ral, weekly newspaper at sources are reporting, and 1992, and the election of When I attend a fiscal
this time has given me a their constant criticism of Bill Clinton as President, court meeting, or talk to a
unique perspective on the those sources highlights conservative voices have coach, or interview some-
process of how the events those differences as a dif- actively developed alterna- one in the community, I am
I witness each day get ference in the "narrative." tire media outlets and pro- entering different contexts
Our own Governor Matt
Bevin has als6 been critical
of how larger media sourc-
es in the state have cov-
ered his own administra-
tion, and he has dealt with
it by limiting his availability
to reporters for interviews,
by singling out the Louis-
ville Courier-Journal and
Lexington Herald-Leader
for criticism, and by going
directly to Facebook to
speak to the public.
And of course, President
Trump carries on his daily,
sometimes hourly battle
with CNN and the Wash-
ington Post through his
posts on the social media
platform Twitter.
The NewHope Clinic in
Owingsville is holding a raf-
fle for a hand-made "hood-
ed" cradle, shown above.
All proceeds will go to
help support the mission
of NewHope Clinic, which
continues to serve the un-
insured and under insured
across this region.
Raffle tickets are avail-
able at the following loca-
tions: NewHope Clinic, Peo-
ples Bank, Bath Hometown
Pharmacy, Small Town
Charm Boutique and Gifts
and Christian Social Ser-
vices. Tickets are $3 each
or four for $10.
The drawing will be done
live at NewHope Clinic on
Saturday, December 9th at
noon. The winner will be
called and cradle will be de-
livered.
Please help support this
worthy local cause!
here, there aren't as many
things going as in nearby
Lexington, which makes it
easier to encapsulate the
news in a weekly narrative
form for readers.
It also shows me how
other media such as radio
and occasionally television
portray our local communi-
ty from a news perspective.
The key word I just
used, "narrative," has been
thrown around a great deal
in the last few years, espe-
at the national level
Realty
Phone:859-234-0888
r~ Cell: 859-588-6906
.... =~"~ Fax: 859-234-3220
Email: allisonsconcrete@hotmail.com i
When an apple a day isn't enough,
call the Physician Referral Line
Matching you to
the right physician
at the right time
is our specialty.
Terms: Cash or Check with Proper ID Da of Sale
Call today--
the service is free!
e e
meted them by saying that that already exist - I don't
mainstream media outlets i create them:
have a"liberalbias " . It is my job to high-
In 2017 that has become fight that context, to raise
a truism among most awareness of how the im-
Americans who identify as mediate event - whether
conservative, and they now it's the county's increasing
have access to a wide vail- jail bill, or a drug arrest, or
ety of media outlets that the latest sports team's win
cater to those values. The or loss, or this or that orga-
internet has become a ten- nizations latest fundraiser
tral part of that effort. - fits into things that have
And nowadays it is often already happened, and fits
social media itself that is into things that happening
part of the news, as with at the same time.
Trnmp's reliance on Twit- It is my job to point out
ter and Governor Bevin's to my readers that things
occasional turns to Face- don't happen in isolation
book to speak directly to from one another but are
the public without having part of the bigger commu-
uity.
I also know, as I cover
things, that I don't always
have all the information
available to me at that
time. Reporters try to be
thorough, but we are also
aware that stories continue
to unfold, and the rest of
the story may have to be
told later.
In many ways, I feel
fortunate to work at an
old school weekly print
newspaper, because I have
the opportunity to watCh
events unfold at a slower,
more natural pace than in
the 24 hour news cycle that
characterizes the main-
stream media environment
today.
In the end, social media
and the rise of "alterna-
five" narratives are just two
more pieces of the greater
historical narrative that
each diligent journalist
contributes to each day.
We write for today, to
be sure, but we also try to
keep the facts straight for
future generations as well.
BREAKFAST
& LUNCH
SERVED BY
OAKLEY
1ST CHURCH
OF GOD
PERSONAL PROPERTY
A partial list includes: Oak Dresser, Walnut Dresser Both w/Beveled Mirrors, Oak Chest of Drawers, Oak
Washstand, 5 Drawer Oak Chest, Cherry Side Table, (2) Oak Childrens Chairs, Oak Library Table, Oak
Washstand, Oak Folding Table, Oak 3 Drawer Chest, Spinet Desk, (2) Upholstered Chairs, 7' Farmhouse
Table, 8 Odd Chairs, Primitive Cupboard, Chimney Cupboard, Corner Shelf, and A Screened Front
Cabinet, Left Handed Desk, Fold Up School Desk, Oak Drop Leaf Table, Reproduction Jelly Cupboard,
2 Reproduction Mantles, Camel Back Trunk, Christmas Sleigh, Captains Chairs, Office Chairs, Odd
Benches. Wrought Iron Table & Chairs, Glass Top Table w/umbrella and 4 Swivel Chairs, (2) Lounge
chairs and Side Table, Sleigh, Metal Lawn chairs, Misc. Rugs, Granite Ware, Canning Jars, Antique
Paint Boxes, Wash Tubs, Stone Crocks, Cream Cans, Wood Dough Bowl, Concrete Yard Ornaments,
Grinder Wheels, Iron Implement Wheels, Sprinkler Buckets, Granite Buckets, Pots & Pans, Old Coal
Shovels, Iron Skillets, Old Childs Sand Box, Lamp w/Prisms, Picket Fence, Crock Bowls & Pitchers,
Old Store Trays, (2 Stone Chicken Waterers, Wooden Washtub, Old Sewing Machine, Round Dough
Bowl, Rolling Pins, Oil Lamps, Yam Winder, Saucy Walker Doll (Still in Box), Chenille Bed Spread,
Childs Bath Tub, Childrens Golden Books, Keeneland Pictures (Down the Stretch and Tall Thunder), 5
Gallon Brown Crock, Old Kerosene Heaters, Haines, Pottery, Vintage Burlap Sacks, Metal Cabinets,
and Lots More!
12' Homesteader Cargo Trailer, 5' x 10' Homesteader Cargo Trailer, 12' Tandem Axle Bumper Hitch
Trailer, Tore Zero Turn Mower, Stihl Weed Eater, Stihl Chainsaw, Gas Pressure Washer, Rear "line
Tiller, Statesman Lawn Seeder, Several Sets of Aluminum & Wood Extension Ladders, Extension
Cords, Hedge Trimmers. Skill Saws, Crow Bars, Concrete Tools, Tile Laying Tool, Shop Vac, Squares,
Hammers, Misc. Tools, Log Chains, Straps, Come-A-Long, Jack Stands, Brick Carriers, Screws,
Bolts, Wood Splitter (Maul), Shovels, Hoes, Pitchforks, Trash Cans, Steel Post Driver, Pipe Wrenches,
C-Clamps, Pet Taxis, Rail Road Spikes, Horse Shoes, Saw Horses, Building Supplies, Tool Boxes, Gas
Cans, Wheel Barrows, Chest Type Freezer, Refrigerator and too much more to list!
Owner: Belinda Tingle and the Late Charles Tingle
ANNOUNCEMENTS DAY OF SALE TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER ANY PREVIOUS ADVERTISEMENTS.
