Off to the Races

Downs Brings Derby Fun to Holy Family

 Deidra Bowling-Meade

 The Ashland Beacon

For 150 years, Kentuckians and people around the world come to celebrate one of horse racing's greatest events traditionally held the first Saturday in May—The Kentucky Derby.  It’s considered the most exciting two-minute sports event in the history of sports. Skyler Downs who is a Louisville native and third grade teacher at Holy Family School in Ashland wanted to share that excitement with her class and the other students at the school. She gave students a taste of Louisville traditions leading up to derby day.

Downs described the experience, “This past week, Holy Family students learned all about the Derby festival that takes place in Louisville and the Derby and Oaks races. We went through all of the events leading up to Derby including: Thunder over Louisville, Hot Air Balloon Glow and Race, the great Steamboat Races, The Brownstable Brown Gala, and of course the races themselves. We made our own derby hats and talked about how fashion has changed at the derby throughout the years. Students also created their own jockey silks and horses to race.”

Students were very interested in the betting side of the derby. Third grader Chris Miller, exclaimed, “I liked learning how to bet. Then, I can win money!”

Downs explained, “I gave them a run down on all the possible ways to win at the Derby. We talked about the odds and what they mean and then made our own bets on horses this week. We also discussed where all the money goes that Churchill Downs makes through the derby. Students were pleased to hear that some money goes toward charity such as the Churchill Downs Foundation, which helps the surrounding neighborhoods of Churchill Downs.”

Oliver Womack who is another third grade student in Downs class commented, “I learned that a lot of that money goes to scholarships.” With a smile, he continued, “You can earn a lot of money if you win the derby!”

Third grade student Austin Pereira noted what fact he found the most interesting about the derby, “I love that Kroger makes the rose blankets.”

The week concluded with first through fifth grade students racing their own stick horses in a pretend derby. Downs led the students in their own two minutes race of greatness. Students were eager to pose with their decorated horses and jockey-inspired t-shirts.  

Downs shared, “My favorite moment during this week was definitely seeing students really get into the creation of the derby horse. I loved seeing their creativity show in the making, designing, and naming of the horses!”

Even though we live in Kentucky, most of us won’t get to see the Twin Spires, hear the bugle call to the post or see the thoroughbreds run on the dirt track. Downs offered the students a week of memories they will always remember.

Downs remarked, “The Derby has been a big part of my life. We celebrate the Derby all week long in Louisville, and I wanted to bring a little part of that here to Ashland! I think it is important for students to learn about the historical events that take place in their own state especially one that people around the entire world know about. I love getting to share my love of the Kentucky Derby with my students!”

Local Veterinarian Makes a Difference

By Pamela Hall

The Ashland Beacon

As pet lovers and owners, we consider our fur babies or feather or reptilian members of the family much like our children. We are diligent in tending to their care, well-being, and health needs because we love them. We feed and water them when they are hungry and thirsty, show them love and affection, and take them to the veterinarian when they are ill.

Pet owners across the world feel no differently about their pets. However, imagine if you lived in a place where consistent veterinary care was not available. Imagine if your beloved pet was ill, but no medical service was available. Such is the case on the Pacific island of Saipan, a U.S. Territory.

Last month, Dr. M. J. Wixsom, a local veterinarian, traveled to Saipan to make a difference in the lives of the animals on the island. Her two-week visit was sponsored by a non-profit group called Boonie Babies. The organization rescues boonie dogs and places them with foster homes or assists in the adoption of the animals.

According to www.booniebabiessaipan.com, many combat dogs were used to help sniff out enemy soldiers during WWII and were left on the island when the war ended. Through the years, the dogs, of which there were many different breeds, crossbred with each other until their distinctive breeds were unrecognizable. Thus, boonie dogs, a breed now all their own called American Village Dogs, came into existence. They come in all shapes, colors and sizes and roam the island living on whatever scraps they can find. Most are homeless, starving, and in poor health. They suffer from mange and are covered with ticks. Since there is not a certified veterinarian in the whole of Saipan, the animals lack treatment. Sterilization is desperately needed to help ease the overpopulation problem of the animals.

Boonie Babies was able to sponsor Dr. Wixsom, who spent two weeks performing spays and neuters, along with other medical treatments on animals brought to the clinic. She was assisted by a former Coast Guard Academy classmate and veterinarian technician, Kathy Hamblett from Alaska. The two worked harder each day than they were contracted due to so many animals needing care. 

The contracted schedule each day was from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., but they usually didn’t finish until at least 4:30, sometimes 6:30 or 7:30.

“They were flying in animals from nearby islands,” Dr. Wixsom explained, “so we hardly had any downtime. They don’t often get skilled, experienced small animal veterinarians to come there, so they wanted to make use of the time we were with them. Sometimes it’s three to six months before they get another veterinarian.”

Dr. Wixsom was able to take a portable ultrasound machine and an otoscope with her which enabled her to do more than just routine spays and neuters. However, the lack of medications and other needed instruments caused limitations that unfortunately didn’t always ensure a positive outcome.

For example, an ultrasound was performed on one dog that came to the clinic and a mass was revealed. Dr. Wixsom did surgery to remove the mass but once inside, it was determined that the cancer was too far gone. The owner had Wixsom euthanize his pet while still under anesthesia.

Another dog was diagnosed with diabetes, but there was no insulin for dogs available. The dog died before they were able to get the needed medicine.

“If there had been insulin there, I think I could have saved the dog’s life,” Dr. Wixsom sadly remarked.

One animal she was able to help to a certain degree was a cockatoo. The bird had broken its leg in Feb., and there was no veterinarian available for treatment. Of course, the leg hasn’t healed properly. However, Dr. Wixsom was able to teach the owner some husbandry techniques for the leg to help it heal better and enable the bird to live longer.

“I’m the type of person that wants everything fixed and well,” Dr. Wixsom explained. “The parts that we weren’t able to fix still bother me.”

Although there was very little free time, Dr. Wixsom was able to do a bit of sightseeing and also go scuba diving while in Saipan. In fact, she was able to get certified as a scuba diver while there.

As for the cultural differences, she explained that although many things were familiar, a lot of things were very different. The food was a mix of Japanese, Chinese and Philippine cuisine.

“And really weird American food,” she added with a laugh. “The grilled octopus and sushi were not really to my liking.”

Although the work was hard and the days were long, it was rewarding to know that it was making a difference for the animal population in Saipan.

“I met some wonderful people there,” Dr. Wixsom said, “however, the bottom line is that without the continuous care of a veterinarian, animal care suffers.”

Saipan and the boonie dogs certainly prove that statement to be true. Thank you Dr. Wixsom for making a difference.

A Slice of History

Giovanni’s Celebrates 60 Years 

 Lora Parsons

The Ashland Beacon

If you’re from around here, you know there are nights when you want pizza, and there are nights when you ONLY want Giovanni’s pizza. It’s in a class of its own. As iconic as Snyder’s chips, Heiner’s bread, and Crisp’s Dairy Treat are to our area, so is Giovanni’s a true local legend. Entering its 60th year this spring, it’s no wonder we measure all other pizza to this local staple. Giovanni’s has been around for multiple generations and has become our measuring stick for good Italian food.

In 1964, Jim Lemaster, the original owner, established the first of today’s 103 franchises when he sold for $300 a 1930 Model A Ford he’d been restoring. This money was used to purchase a pizza oven to help him and his wife, Nancy, open their first restaurant in Wheelersburg, Ohio. At that point, he worked the midnight shift at Detroit Steel in New Boston and drove there to work after having spent all day at the restaurant. With business limited by the small population of Wheelersburg, the Lemasters decided to relocate their home and restaurant to Ashland, opening on the corner of 13th Street and Carter Avenue. At the time that was only the second pizza place in town. Current owner, Tom Lemaster, Jim and Nancy’s son, was five years old at the time and fondly recalled “Dad selling pizzas out the front door and supplies out the back door.” Selling their family-made sauce recipe and supplies in bulk birthed the idea of starting a chain and offering franchises to the many family, friends, and customers who expressed an interest in getting a piece of the pie, after falling in love with the recipe the Lemasters had perfected.

Those who knew Jim Lemaster would tell you that the success of his business was due to his hard work and dedication to quality food. And, while those were certainly driving forces behind his many years of success, it’s also apparent in the continued work of his son, Tom and daughter, Vickie. They have taken over the family business and continue to focus on the people and communities they serve. Tom takes great pride in the fact that local franchise owners are all encouraged to invest in their local area--from Little League Baseball teams to teachers. Lemaster’s father ingrained in him the idea that, “the community takes care of Giovanni’s, so Giovanni’s needs to take care of the community.” The mutual affinity between the business and its customers can easily be seen in folks who have moved away from this area and return for visits. Over and over, the Lemasters and local franchise owners hear stories of Giovanni’s being at the top of the list when out-of-towners come back home. Lemaster said, “In this area, we’re just dominant because it’s what we all know. It’s one of those things you’ve known all your life, so it becomes part of home.”

Spanning six decades, four generations, six states and over 52,000 square miles, the Giovanni’s brand has far-exceeded what Tom imagines his dad must have envisioned back in 1964. He attributes the company’s success to continuing what his dad practiced during the years he was running the business: a willingness to grow and adapt. Part of that growth recently has been the development of an app for online ordering. It also includes a customer incentive program offering rewards for purchases--and double points for purchases on Tuesdays. Streamlining the customer experience with technology of this sort attempts to ensure that what happens at one location also happens at another. Giovanni’s gift cards, for example, are now able to be used at any franchise, not just at the issuing location. It also enables the company to move forward with plans to make gift cards available at retail locations like Walmart and gas stations, alongside other gift cards from larger chains. The company has also recently hired a social media manager whose creative posts rival the advertising campaigns of the largest of pizza companies. (Follow “Giovanni’s Pizza Inc.” on Facebook to find out just how entertaining pizza can be!) Growth and adaptability have been commonplace guests at the Giovanni’s table, and the Lemasters have no intentions of stagnating now.

Another reason for the company’s continued success under Tom’s leadership is the fact that he has experienced both sides of the business--retail and corporate--in addition to having been present nearly his whole life to observe what his parents did daily at the corporate office. He also owned and operated his own restaurants for over 30 years. He acknowledges that this has been a real asset to franchise owners who run into issues or have questions: “There’s nothing a franchisee could ask that I couldn’t answer,” and his experience allows him to back that up. While the truth of that can’t be argued, there’s another element to the company’s success that can’t go unmentioned: Tom’s cousin, David Grant. Grant’s childhood also consisted of being raised by a family in the pizza industry and his more than 40 years of dedicated work to the company are equally responsible for its long-term success. Grant, who recently retired, “was responsible for opening up new stores, talking to franchise owners that sort of thing. He did that side of it while I did the office side,” Tom explained. It’s clear, in trying to pinpoint the success of the corporation, that this isn’t just a one-man show. While someone has to steer the ship, many hands are required for true success, and Tom knows this well.

Though his experience and expertise regarding all things Giovanni’s have been something he’s proud to have earned over the more than 40 years that he’s also been in the business, he acknowledges that it’s time for him to start slowly turning over the reins to his sister, Vickie. She’s worked by his side, learning the ropes and as time goes, finds herself with an ever-increasing list of responsibilities, handed down most directly by her brother, but also passed down indirectly from her father and mother.

While the Giovanni’s brand has seen many twists and turns over the past six decades, the adaptation and growth has been steadied by one consistent thing: the strength of its franchisees and the loyalty of its customers. The entire Lemaster family readily acknowledges that their efforts would be entirely in vain if not for those groups of people: “Franchisees were willing to take a chance on getting into the business, and our customers have been there to support us for 60 years. We’re only as successful as our customers who are willing to buy our product.” As easy as it would be to give credit to savvy business decisions and tasty recipes, the Lemasters know that the lion’s share of credit for Giovanni’s success rests with the loyalty of the folks who have partnered with them over the years and with the communities they’ve been privileged to serve. Sixty successful years isn’t an accomplishment they could have earned on their own. The real celebration is not about what the Lemaster family has achieved for the company but about what the company has received through the loyalty of franchisees and customers who over the years have become more like family and friends. The community is certainly grateful for the 60 years Giovanni’s has been around for birthday parties and church events, but the Lemasters would claim that they’re truly the ones who should be grateful for being invited to share in those celebrations along the way. Here’s to another 60 years!

Greenup County Native to Play Rock the Country

Charles Romans

The Ashland Beacon

The popular Festival Event Rock the Country will be coming to the Boyd County Fairgrounds April 19 and 20. Headliners will include Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Brantley Gilbert, Travis Tritt, Nelly, Gavin Adcock, Elvie Shane, Sadie Bass and Dee Jay Silver. The two-day event will be open to RV and Car Camping, for those who wish to be closer to the action as Country Music Legends take the stage in a no-holds-barred music extravaganza. Information on tickets, camping, and the full lineup is available at https://www.rockthecountry.com/ashland. All tickets must be purchased online, so get yours and the wristband now.

The festival will be kicked off in Boyd County by Greenup County native Kyle Fields. Fields said that his grandmother bought him a guitar when he was 13 years old, and music has been a huge part of his life since. In 2012 Fields relocated just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, but he still remembers gathering at his grandmother’s house for Sunday dinner or on holidays and listening to his uncle play guitar.

Fields shared that his preferred genre of music tends toward classic country, but he is a fan of all different types of music. “I like the fiddles and the steel guitars,” Fields said. “But, I love everything. On my phone, I have everything from Bob Marley to Metallica and George Jones.” Not only is he into classic country, but classic rock as well. Recently his wife slipped the Beatles into his music list, and he is enjoying that along with the Rolling Stones and all the other great music from that era. But the love of good music, he said, is the common thread that ties all the random genres together. “I’ve been fortunate over the years that a lot of different people have exposed me to new music because there is a lot of good stuff you might not catch otherwise.”

It was a booking agent in Nashville that got the Greenup native involved in the Rock the Country event. About six or eight months ago, Fields said the agent was talking to him about the upcoming event and asked if he would like to be involved. “I’m definitely looking forward to it. It’s going to be a good show, and the biggest crowd I’ve played in front of.“ Fields is also looking forward to coming home to play and commented on how the entire area comes together to be ‘home.’ Fields remarked, “Whenever I get to Olive Hill on I-64, I feel like I’m home.”

Fields finds joy in entertaining and songwriting; it's not only a reflection of his identity but also his favorite pastime. Fields shared, “Things are going great right now and I feel really blessed. We’ve had the opportunity to open for Clay Walker and Diamond Rio, and with Rock the Country coming up, I’m just on cloud nine right now.”

Fields is expecting a huge crowd and said that a lot of people have reached out to him to tell him they will attend. He has also seen a lot of positive buzz on social media as well. “It’s going to be a good homecoming, and I can’t wait for it,” Fields declared.

Fields is on all the social media channels and really enjoys hearing from his fans. He has music on Apple, Spotify, and Amazon and plans to be back in the studio recording soon. The journey to get to where Fields is now hasn’t always been easy, but he knew it was what he wanted to do with his life. And his advice to those hoping to make music is simple: “Keep going and don’t give up. It’s easy to get discouraged, but the payoff for keeping going is worth it.”