Preparing for the Future with Bookhamer Life and Legacy Partners A Valentine’s Event with Family in Mind Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon Looking at our bank accounts after payday may leave us wondering what to do with what is left over, if there is anything at all by that point. After paying utilities, expenditures, and dishing out any remainder we have toward living expenses, there might not seem to be a lot left to put back. With inflation and rising living costs, the

“When Danger Draws Hearts Together: A Look at Writing Romantic Suspense A behind-the-scenes look at how a local author creates strong romance, during nail-biting suspense stories.” Rebecca Hemlock The Ashland Beacon   Valentine’s Day often brings to mind roses, candlelight, and sweeping romantic gestures. While I absolutely believe in the beauty of those moments, as a Christian romantic suspense author, my perspective on love often unfolds in darker, more dangerous places.

Blazer Jazz Band Strikes a Chord With ‘Jazzentine’s’ Fundraiser Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon     Love is in the air—and this year, it comes with a smooth jazz soundtrack. On February 16 at 6:30 p.m., the Blazer Jazz Band invites the community to celebrate Valentine’s season in a unique and meaningful way with “Jazzentine’s,” a fundraising dinner and silent auction hosted at Paul G. Blazer High School’s gym lobby. Designed to be welcoming for couples, families, and friends

Checkers Tanning Turns Up the Heat This Valentine’s Day with Premium New Beds and a Community-First Experience Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon   For more than two decades, Checkers Tanning has been a trusted name in the local community—a place where people come not just for color, but for confidence, comfort, and a moment of self-care. Now, with the arrival of two state-of-the-art tanning beds and an ongoing commitment to personalized service, Checkers Tanning is giving cli

Shop & Share Day to Benefit Safe Harbor Set for February 7 Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon   Community members across the region will have an opportunity to support survivors of domestic violence during the annual Shop & Share event on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The one-day donation drive is designed to collect essential household and food items for domestic violence shelters across Kentucky, with all items collected locally benefiting Safe Harbor of Northeast K

A Celebration of History That Belongs to Us All Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon   Black history is not a side story. It is not separate. It is not optional. It is essential—and it belongs to all of us. That powerful truth lives at the heart of the C.B. Nuckolls Community Center & Black History Museum in Ashland, Kentucky. Dedicated to preserving, uplifting, and sharing the extraordinary stories of Black Americans, the museum stands as a living reminder that Black history is

When Advocacy Meets Adorable Ellie’s Journey from GC Preschool to the Capitol Greenup County Schools   Meet Ellie. When she isn’t enjoying conversation with the Governor or soaking in the view from his podium, you can find her doing what she does best—learning, growing, and thriving in a preschool classroom at GC. Ellie’s recent adventure into the world of state government was unexpected, exciting, and unforgettable, not only for her family, but for an entire community wat

Spin Control Hedrick Shines Bright in the Limelight Charles Romans The Ashland Beacon   Chad Hedrick said his mother was from Ashland and his father was from Catlettsburg, but the whole county usually claims him. He’s grateful for that because he loves his local roots and, in all his endeavors beginning with graduating from Paul Blazer High School in 2013 to his work in news media and beyond, he has always tried to shine a light on his hometown. But Hedrick recently had an

A Lifetime of Service Honored Cindy VanHorn Awarded the Prestigious Kentucky Colonel Commission Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon   There are honors, and then there are honors that speak not just to achievement, but to character. When the Commonwealth of Kentucky bestows its highest title of honor—the Kentucky Colonel—it is recognizing a lifetime of service, integrity, and devotion to others. This distinction is not given lightly. It is reserved for individuals whose lives ref

Funds from the Farm Charles Romans The Ashland Beacon The annual Farm 2 Table Dinner held in 2025 in Greenup, Kentucky, generated massive support from the community and beyond. Local and regional businesses, along with individual community members, donated time, resources, and money to ensure that the event in Greenup County continued to be the largest event of its kind in the entire state. Funds raised during the event were set to be donated to the Greenup County 4H, G

Two Decades In  Ashland Student Worship Pastor ‘Feels Like I Just Started’ Mark Maynard, Kentucky Today      Brad Callaway’s two decades of ministry as student worship pastor at Unity Baptist Church make him something of a rarity. When Callaway entered student ministry, the average tenure in the role was just one and half to two years. Yet 20 years later — and approaching his 46th birthday — he continues serving the same church and the same community. “It seems like a lon

Greenup County Health Department Extension Services to Host Dining with Diabetes 2026 A Dinner with Your Healthy Future in Mind Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon Diabetes can be debilitating, as the condition affects blood sugar by preventing the pancreas from producing the correct amounts of insulin needed to break down sugar in the body. Insulin has a main function as a hormone that unlocks cells, allowing glucose to feed them as it enters their structures. Our bodies t

Raceland Middle School Students Get a Glimpse of Uganda Jarrod E. Stephens The Ashland Beacon   When you enter a typical classroom, you will find kids engaged in daily work that requires a computer and sometimes a textbook. Education in the 21st century has become increasingly difficult as kids are continually immersed in technology and games. It’s easy to overlook your blessings when you don’t look up. However, sometimes a return to the simplest forms of learning can rend

Greenup’s Threaded Treasure Local Cross Stitch Shop Brings Community Closer Stitch by Stitch Ellen Keaton The Ashland Beacon In the heart of Greenup, Kentucky, a quaint cross stitch shop is quickly becoming the heart of the town’s stitching community. “Bluegrass Blessings” is nestled in a small shopping center at 2027 Ashland Road, Greenup, and offers more than a selection of colorful threads and patterns—it’s a warm gathering place where stories are shared, friends are ma

Hop on the Gravy Train with the 7th Annual Gravy Bowl A Contest that will Stick to your Bones Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon Gravy is steeped in culture dating back to ancient Greece, where it was produced using drippings from the cooking of meats. The drippings, referred to as juice or jus, have been tied to ancient Rome, where they were then used in cooking and as wine additives. By the time of its arrival in medieval France, gravy had begun to make way for sprucin

The Power of a Dream Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and A Legacy That Still Moves Us Forward Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”Those words, spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., are more than a quote etched into history—they are a challenge. A call to courage. A demand that we keep moving forward even when the road ahead is steep, uncertain, and uncomfortable. Yesterday, friends, family, comm

“Sole”fully Expressive The Beauty of Wearing What Makes You Happy Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon   If shoes could talk, the pairs lining Alisa Bartram’s closets would be throwing a glitter-filled parade in her honor. Sparkles, bold colors, whimsical shapes, and the occasional Santa-themed heel would march proudly, each one telling a story about a woman who never stopped believing that fashion should be fun. For Alisa, shoes aren’t just something you wear to get from point A

The Beginning of a Journey into the Unknown with Axel Steele Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon   A day may look different for all of us as we wake up each day, perceiving the world as being one way or another based on what we know of it. For a child, the world may look much different than it does to an adult, whose day may present challenges of work, conflicts, and outcomes based on interactions with our surroundings and others who may be near to us. Where one of us may s

Bundle Up! Wurtland Coat Drive Spreads Warmth Across January Rebecca Hemlock The Ashland Beacon   The Wurtland Union Church and Meeting House Inc., a longtime local charitable organization, is spearheading “Bundle Up!”, a community coat and warm accessories donation drive that runs throughout January 2026. Organizers describe the effort as a community-wide push to ensure every family in the area can face winter’s chill with dignity and warmth, while also supporting the res

The Heart of Ponderosa Educators Who Inspire, Lead, and Lift Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon   From the moment the doors open each morning at Ponderosa Elementary School, something special hums through the hallways. It’s more than the laughter of children, the buzz of learning, or the quiet focus of classrooms at work. It’s a shared belief—one that excellence is not a destination, but a daily commitment. At Ponderosa, that belief lives and breathes through its staff: educato