Lora Parsons

The Ashland Beacon

Coupons, discount codes, offers for free merchandise…all are the work of stretching the mighty dollar just a little bit further in order to buy more, save more, spend big without spending big! As much as anyone else, I love a code for free shipping when placing an online order. I don’t want to pay “something” and receive “nothing.” I want product for the money I put out into the world, not just the service of delivery. I want to take what I’m giving out and turn it into something useful, something I can put my hands on. I’d rather spend a few more dollars to get to the free shipping threshold and get an even half-way useful item in my hands than to just get the items I need and have to pay shipping. Our financial system has us programmed to give AND to receive. When I give money, it is supposed to get changed into something else. It should be--just one word--REDEEMED.

When I stop and think about this word, I have to look at the root word in the middle of the prefix and suffix that have been added to the front and back end of it (remember 1st-grade word skills?) This word breaks down into three parts: the prefix, re-; the root word, deem; and the suffix, -ed. To deem something means to label it, right? To give something an identity, to determine it to be for a particular purpose. If I deem the notebook lying here to the right of me to be my research notebook, then I’ve set it apart for the purpose of taking notes in it when preparing for an article that I might be writing or a lesson I might be looking to teach at school. I’ve determined it to be used for that particular reason. Adding the “re-” to the beginning of that word doesn’t exactly mean what the fullness of the word truly means, though. If the meaning of that prefix means “again” as we were taught in elementary school, then to re-deem something should mean to simply name it again or to determine it to be set apart for something else. And, I can do that. I can decide that this notebook is now going to be used for drawing sketches in, but that doesn’t mean I can undo the parts that have already been used for research. It’s now a notebook with multiple purposes. I can’t redeem things in the same sense that we use that word in the church. When we use it in that context, we talk about Jesus redeeming us, Him being our redemption. His death on the cross made it possible for the choices that I used to make to be changed into something else. He can take the old person that I used to be and turn me into someone with a different identity, a different purpose for living. He takes the research notebook that was my life and turns it into a sketchpad for His use. He re-names me, re-determines my purpose, re-deems me to be set aside for something else.

And, as beautiful as that is, He also goes one step further. In our earth-bound way of thinking, we can only relate to what we have the ability to experience. I can understand using one notebook for two different purposes. But, the Father’s love for us is such that He doesn’t just stop there with what we can relate to through our physical experience and our physical world. He always goes beyond that because He isn’t bound by time, space, or limited knowledge. When He redeems, He goes further than turning us over to a new page. He doesn’t just cross out “Research” on the front and rewrite in red sharpie “Sketchbook.” Somehow, in His love and mercy for us, He takes the very things we used to be and allows us an opportunity to use those in new ways for His greater purposes. He literally transforms our physical experiences into moments that we can use to share Him.

So often, we hear quips like: “From my test to His testimony” or “From my story to His glory.” Those are cute little plays on words that try to allow us to wrap our minds around the deeper transformation that happens when we allow God to take control of our lives. He transforms what was our bad decisions and our shortcomings into moments that we can share Him with others. And, that’s all possible because he doesn’t just turn the page of our book; he turned the wage of our heart. There was a cost involved in our transformation, our re-deem-ing: Jesus. When we ask Him to rule in our life, He doesn’t just turn the pages that we’ve lived. He changes the pages themselves. He allows the mom who’s struggled with addiction to use her experience and new life to share Jesus’ chain-breaking power with others who struggle similarly. He takes the money-focused young businessman whose life was about worldly possessions to use his prowess to stabilize struggling families and support job skills education through his local church body. Jesus allows the very things that used to be our old identity to be part of our new identity in Him. He’s had us “deemed” for His purposes all along. We’ve always had an identity given to us by Him. We just have to recognize our need for Him to re-deem who we are, to re-name us, so that we can get in line with the bigger picture He has for our life. If we’ll give Him all of who we are, He’ll take all those parts of us, transform them into a plan for growing His kingdom, and allow us to be a part of redeeming others. He can use the old broken parts of me to help restore the old broken parts of others through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Through Him, we are Re-named. Re-purposed. Re-deemed.

Development Has No Disability with the Aktion Club

 Sasha Bush

The Ashland Beacon

“I pledge on my honor to follow the objects of the Aktion Club. To better my community, my country, and myself. To help those in need. To demonstrate loyalty to our community and nation. And to encourage others to do the same.” This is the pledge of the Aktion Club, which was recited proudly on Tuesday, Jan. 23. The Ashland Breakfast Kiwanis Club and the Ashland Kiwanis Club held their first charter ceremony for the newly formed Aktion Club of the Ashland Tri-State where both Kiwanis clubs had the privilege of installing the first officers and members.

Aktion Club is the only service club for adults with disabilities with more than 12,000 members worldwide. The mission of the Aktion Club is to provide adults living with disabilities an opportunity to develop initiative, leadership skills, and to serve within their communities. I’m sure that we have all heard the saying that actions speak louder than words; this club is a true testament to that. Aktion Club empowers its members to not only be themselves but to also work together with friends to implement plans through action. As an extension of Kiwanis International, Aktion Club shares the mission of serving children around the world. Through their service within the Aktion Club, members can become leaders in their community.

The Aktion Club prides itself on its core values which include:

Character Building: The ability to do the right thing, even when it might be the unpopular choice

Leadership: The ability to listen, communicate, serve, and guide others

Inclusiveness: Accepting and welcoming differences in other people

Caring: The act of being concerned about or interested in other people or situations.

Karen Wurts, one of the local Aktion Club Advisors, shared, “I just feel like anyone with special needs has so much to offer and so much to give to the community and to be able to give them this opportunity to serve is just such a blessing.”

“When people discover their desire to serve, they decide that serving others isn’t just something they do—it’s their way of life. Aktion Club can provide opportunities for members to discover their desire to serve. The service-club experience helps people of all ages accept their ability to make a difference, enhance their knowledge of their own passions and convictions, and develop empathy with those in need in their communities,” stated the Kiwanis Aktion Club website.

Aktion Club helps its members develop skills for building coalitions that address community needs and enhances their ability to create strong connections through conversation. It is through these connections that the members of the Aktion Club can also experience personal growth.  For club advisor, Tina Potter, this is one of the greatest things to witness, “One of my favorite things about the formation of the Aktion Club here in our area is just being able to witness the fellowship and see the smiles that being part of something and making a difference brings to their faces.”

If you or someone you know are interested in signing up to be part of the Ashland Tri-State Aktion Club, you can find more information on the official Aktion Club website at www.aktionclub.org. You can also reach out to the local Aktion Club for information about how to sign up by emailing them at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The Aktion Club of Ashland Tri-State also has a new Facebook page with useful information.

Boyd County and Greenup County Forge New Partnership for Economic Growth

Sasha Bush

The Ashland Beacon

In a landmark move, Boyd County and Greenup County have joined forces to establish a strategic partnership aimed at fostering economic growth and prosperity for both regions. This collaborative initiative, “The Northeastern Kentucky Economic Development,” was unveiled on Wednesday at the Bellefonte Country Club, in a joint press conference. This partnership marks a significant step toward harnessing shared resources and expertise to create a thriving economic landscape.

Leaders from both counties highlighted the undeniable benefits that this new partnership would bring about, emphasizing the synergies that will drive innovation, attract investments, and bolster local businesses. Boyd County Judge Executive, Eric Chaney was eager to share the news of this historical partnership between the two counties. “This is about two counties coming together to push economic development to the next level. For the last five years, we’ve been busting out project after project, finding creative ways to attract companies to our community, and focusing economic development through tourism. With a record-breaking amount of project announcements and more in the pipeline, my team and I thought, ‘How do we take this even further?’ ‘How can we make ourselves stand out even more?’”

The answer became clear to Chaney rather quickly… “We have to take this regionally. We have to start leveraging our assets collectively. At the same time, creating the case study for how healthy regionalism looks. Two counties, along with our regional chamber of commerce, are going to set the precedent of true regionalism in the Commonwealth. I am excited to start this new journey in partnership with Judge Hall and Greenup County.” 

Greenup County Judge Executive, Bobby Hall, echoed these sentiments with a statement of his own, “After one year serving as the Judge Executive in Greenup County, I must agree with Jelly Roll…’I want to tell you that the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason!’ What is in front of Greenup County and Boyd County is so much more important than what is behind us!  We are working together to move Greenup County and Boyd County into the 21st century with industrial type jobs and manufacturing jobs.”

It is no secret that over the years both counties have witnessed far too many of its families move away in hopes of a finding good paying jobs. “We have got to make sure that OUR people stay in Boyd and Greenup County,” declared Judge Executive Hall. By working together, both counties can leverage their unique strengths to attract new industries, create jobs, and to ensure that both of their respective communities thrive in the face of any economic challenges. The Northeastern Kentucky Economic Development promises to bring improved infrastructure, expanded job opportunities, and an overall enhancement of the quality of life in both counties. As this collaboration unfolds, it stands as a testament to the power of regional cooperation in driving economic growth and prosperity.

White Oak Wellness Brings Holistic Healthcare and Home School Support to South Ashland

Sasha Bush

The Ashland Beacon

White Oak Wellness opened its doors for business on Thursday, January 18. This innovative new business is conveniently located at 2828 Holt Street, in South Ashland and is quite unique with all that it has to offer.  From holistic health care to a diverse selection of homeschooling opportunities, White Oak Wellness is sure to become a fan favorite for all who enter.

Candice Steele, the Owner/Founder of White Oak Wellness is a certified herbalist, Doula, and also holds a BA in Elementary Education. Steele has been working in holistic health care options and offering homeschool classes for about 12 years now and just recently decided it was time to give her business a home base. “I had recently experienced an uptick in people requesting my services, so I decided that it was time to just put it out there in the public eye and see what happens,” explained Steele.  

White Oak Wellness currently offers a wide array of services including the following: Individual wellness consultations, muscle testing/kinesiology, bodywork, homeopathy, sound healing, weekly wellness classes that will focus on mindfulness, forest soaking, diastasis recti support, pelvic floor support, face yoga, Qi Gong, and dance. Steele also offers birth work classes such as doula, lactation support, and childbirth classes. Steele also offers an on-site apothecary which includes natural supplements and care products.

Something that is unique to White Oak Wellness is the center's support for homeschooled families throughout the community. Offering classes from music to math, White Oak Wellness strives to put the needs of homeschooled families at the forefront of every class added to the schedule.  The curriculum that Steele offers goes beyond traditional subjects, aiming to foster a well-rounded education. Parents in the South Ashland community and beyond will appreciate the alternative learning opportunities provided by this holistic hub. The interactive and engaging classes create a vibrant learning environment that complements the diverse needs of homeschooling families. Steele is very passionate about holistic living and believes that education should extend beyond textbooks. The classes not only focus on academic excellence but also on the mental, emotional, and physical development of the students.

As this new venture unfolds for Steele, it is poised to redefine education and modern health care by emphasizing a holistic approach. “My intention is to make available community gatherings, educational opportunities, and offer services to others via wellness session work, consultations, classes and by offering natural products,” noted Steele. With over 12 years of experience under her belt, Steele knows her craft very well and is looking forward to catering to the community’s needs for holistic healthcare options and homeschooling support.

            The best way to reach Steele to inquire about classes or homeschool offerings is by reaching out to her on the White Oak Wellness Facebook page or by visiting her website: steelecandeice6.wixsite.com/mysite. At the moment, Steele shared that her store hours will vary from week to week, so it is best to check her Facebook page for the most current and up-to-date information on hours and classes offered.