Calvary Catholic Cemetery A Work of Renewal with Holy Family Catholic Church Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon Present in the community of Ashland, Kentucky since 1860, Holy Family Catholic Church has been a part of the growth and story of our tri-state. Beginning in our area making calls from door to door, Benedictine Missionaries continued to support those in need and helped spread the word of God to those who were searching to listen. Moving into their thir

Camp Landing Celebrates Five Years Pamela Hall The Ashland Beacon Five years ago, the community of Boyd County was changed with the opening of the Camp Landing Entertainment District in the old KYOWVA Mall. Jason and Elisabeth Camp had a vision for the area and brought their dream to fruition. Such a milestone deserves a party! Camp Landing will have a five-year celebration on Saturday, July 18 from noon to 5 p.m. The first 500 visitors will receive

Everlasting Electrolysis by Annette Offers Life-Changing Results Rebecca Hemlock The Ashland Beacon After years of building a successful career far from home, Annette Featherstone has finally returned to her roots—and she’s bringing a little-known but life-altering service with her. Featherstone, who grew up in the area, recently moved her electrolysis business back to her hometown after a thriving practice in North Carolina. The decision wasn’t just about business; it w

Three-Peat! Ashland Claims Third Straight District 6 8u and 10u All-Star Championships Lora Stewart The Ashland Beacon The Ashland Little League 8U All-Stars captured their third consecutive Kentucky District 6 championship Thursday, battling through two hard-fought victories over Boyd-Catlettsburg to earn the title. Entering the day needing back-to-back wins against Boyd-Catlettsburg, Ashland rose to the challenge. In the opening game, Ashland built a four-run lead in th

Roots and Relic Lisa Patrick The Ashland Beacon Brittany Jiles has always loved thrifting. She started shopping at Goodwill with her best friend while they were still in high school, "back when Goodwill was still cheap." She is now taking that "love of thrifting and finding treasures" to the next level by opening her own shop in Flatwoods, which she has named Roots and Relic. Jiles has been a massage therapist for the past 20 years, but she is looking for a change of dire

Dazzle with Creative Magick Jewelry Local Artisan Clare Nemeth Gwen Akers The Ashland Beacon After a 27-year teaching career at Argillite Elementary School in Greenup County, Kentucky, Clare Nemeth wanted to expand into something new, finding her passion in jewelry designing. While teaching one day, Nemeth was invited to share her jewelry at a shop one of her friends was running in Portsmouth, Ohio. From that day forward, Nemeth knew that after retirement she wanted to

Ivy In the Valley: Budding Artist Ivy Markel Gwen Akers The Ashland Beacon Local artisan Ivy Markel, a tattoo artist, painter, and potter has always seen her world through the lens of creativity. For her, love is what drives creation, and there is peace to be found in that. A Flatwoods, Kentucky native, she began creating at the age of seven when her grandparents paid for her to have painting classes every Sunday. “I would go and I would paint for three hours, and that j

Stitching Stars and Stripes Local Quilters Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday Gwen Akers The Ashland Beacon With America’s 250th birthday coming up this Fourth of July, quilters in Ashland are honoring America’s history through a block of the month quilt sampler using reproduction fabric authentic to the Civil and Revolutionary War. Quilting dates back to the colonial period in America, with patterns and techniques being passed down over generations. The Liberty Island

Matthew West Brings Songs, Stories and Hope to Summer Motion Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon When Matthew West steps onto the Summer Motion stage on Friday, July 3, he won't simply be performing a concert. He'll be sharing stories. For more than 25 years, West has built one of the most successful careers in Christian music by writing songs that meet people in the middle of life's hardest moments. Whether it's grief, doubt, broken relationships or simply the daily struggle o

Red, White & BOOM! Summer Motion Celebrates America 250 Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon Every summer, the banks of the Ohio River come alive with the sounds of music, laughter and celebration as thousands gather for one of the Tri-State's most anticipated traditions. Summer Motion returns to the Ashland Riverfront July 1-4, bringing four days of free concerts, family entertainment, carnival rides, food vendors and one of the region's largest Independence Day fireworks displa

Three Daughters, Three Titles, One Proud Dad James Collier For The Ashland Beacon Winning a triple crown in sports is the ultimate recognition of being at the top of that sport. Ashland softball skipper Scott Ingram recently completed a special triple crown of his own after his Kittens won the 16th Region Championship, giving Ingram his third since taking over the program in 2015. But the biggest part of his three region titles is whom he was able to share them with. His

Pawsome Yoga Event Happening at the Boyd County Animal Shelter Gwen Akers The Ashland Beacon Summertime in Boyd County means fireworks, hot dogs and of course wagging tails. The Boyd County Animal Shelter hopes to add to this fun with their own summer themed events. Their June event, Poses for Paws, seeks to provide the community with a fun-filled day of yoga, nose kisses and sweet dogs ready for adoption. After a successful Christmas event, the Boyd County Animal shel

A Stroll Alongside Ashland’s Historic Structures Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon As you pass through downtown Ashland, you may notice beautiful homes and buildings standing proudly among elaborate gardens and decorative fence lines. Colonial-era homes, Gothic Revival architecture, Victorian houses, and historic Brick Row buildings line the sunlit streets that define our community. These remarkable structures often leave visitors wondering where they came from and what r

Kiwanis Club honors Father of the Year Winner Rebecca Hemlock The Ashland Beacon In a small ceremony that packed a powerful emotional punch, the Ashland Kiwanis Club continued its cherished tradition of honoring fatherhood this week, crowning the winner of its annual Father of the Year Essay Contest. But what started as a sweet moment between a proud daughter and her hardworking dad soon became a poignant journey through American history, reminding everyone in the room tha

Rail City Fest Brings Entertainment to Downtown Russell Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon Nestled along the Ohio River and situated on the eastern boundary of Greenup County is a city preparing to kick off summer with some excitement. Just after Rail City Days and Family Fun Day, taking place June 24–25, comes a two-day festival of music, demonstrations, and an entire downtown area to explore while taking in the sights and sounds. As an extension of Rail

Ashland Elks Name Pete Fraley Sportsman of the Year Pamela Hall The Ashland Beacon Each year since 1975, the Ashland Elks Lodge #350 celebrates Sports Day. As part of the celebration, held on June 20 this year, the Lodge honors a Sportsman of the Year. This prestigious award was given to someone that has made a lifetime contribution, both on the field or court and off, toward promoting local athletics. This year’s honoree was Pete Fraley, Athletic Director of Boyd County H

Boyd County Library Promises Eventful Summer Rebecca Hemlock The Ashland Beacon If you thought a summer at the library meant nothing but silent reading and overdue fines, think again. The Boyd County Library is gearing up for a season that promises to be anything but quiet. From crafting your own ancient Egyptian cartouche to stirring up magnetic slime with real dinosaur fossils—and even venturing into the spine-tingling world of Appalachian folklore—this summer’s program

The History We Share, The Freedom We Celebrate Juneteenth… The Story of Freedom That Belongs to Us All Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon Get ready, Ashland! One of the community's most meaningful and exciting celebrations is just around the corner. This Friday, June 19, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., friends, families, and neighbors from across the Tri-State area are invited to gather at Broadway Square in Downtown Ashland for the 6th Annual Juneteenth in Ashland celebration—

Ink, Art, and Heart Art 4 Aid Delivers Record-Breaking Success Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon What began as a simple idea rooted in kindness has grown into one of the region's most inspiring displays of community spirit. This year's Art 4 Aid fundraiser delivered its biggest success yet, raising an astounding $16,470.38 while bringing together artists, volunteers, businesses, sponsors, and community members for a weekend dedicated to helping others. For founder Garrett C

Growing Through the Years Charles Romans The Ashland Beacon Imel’s Greenhouse on Route 1 in Greenup, Kentucky, has been part of the community for 50 years, with many in the region unable to recall a time when owner Kenny Imel, his wife, and their family were not a crucial part of the growing season. What began as a partnership between Imel, and his brother has grown into much more than a business providing plants to local farmers, landscapers, and individuals who simply