Fortitude and a Commitment to Others Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon   Created to intercept British supply ships on Oct. 13, 1775, the United States Navy was then named the Continental Navy, playing a key role in the outcome of the American Revolution. After successfully maneuvering through the American Revolution, the Navy was consolidated, only to be revived in 1794 as part of a military restructuring. During the Civil War, the U.S. Navy was utilized to block southern

Boyd County Middle School Honoring Veterans with Quilts of Valor Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon   Beginning in 2003, Quilts of Valor has been working hard alongside volunteers nationwide in support of U.S. veterans. What started as a dream soon flourished into reality as founder Catherine Roberts sewed quilts for veterans. The premise of the quilts is for selected veterans to be presented with a quilt honoring their service while keeping them safe and warm as they em

Go For the Gold with the YMCA’s No Boundaries Games Gwen Akers The Ashland Beacon   This year, the Ashland YMCA is proud to announce their third annual No Boundaries Games. Modeled after the Special Olympics, the No Boundaries Games celebrate and welcome all, giving individuals from all across the region the chance to make new friends and compete for the gold. Launched three years ago after YMCA CEO Scott Campbell saw an opportunity to create an event like the Special Oly

Craft and Vendor Boutique Launches Holiday Shopping Season Grace Phillips The Ashland Beacon   The first snow flurries of the year are forecast for this week, making it the perfect time to begin your Christmas shopping. If you're searching for unique, one-of-a-kind, or handmade items, the Boyd County Convention Center is the place to be on Friday and Saturday, November 14 and 15. The 7th Annual Boyd County Craft and Boutique Show will be open from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on

Making Music in the Military Melyssa Brookshire Jarrod E. Stephens The Ashland Beacon   Life is sometimes compared to a journey that we all embark upon when we are born, and our choices navigate a pathway that is unique to us. At the completion of high school some choose a career while others choose college or the military. Some even choose a combination. That’s the case for Raceland-Worthington High School Band Director, Melyssa Brookshire. During the day you can find Me

Want an Adventure Vacation That Checks All the Boxes? Let’s Talk Portugal! Part 1 In the Series Alison Christie The Ashland Beacon My great friend Laurie Lewis and I took an amazing trip to Portugal, and we can safely say we traveled from north to south — and most definitely west. We stood on the cliffs of the most southwestern tip of Europe in Sagres, and we even flew three hours west to the Azores. (More on that later!) We began our journey flying from the States to Por

Celebrating Abraham Lincoln’s Legacy Dinner with the Republican Party Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon             Grab your calendars and get your tickets, it’s almost time for “The 2025 Boyd County GOP Lincoln Dinner.” In honor of President Abraham Lincloln and his historically recognized accomplishments with the Republican party, dinners are held each year commemorating his service. Elected in 1860 Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican President of the United St

HANKSgiving Concert Brings the Tri-State Together to Tackle Hunger Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon   As the nation faces the uncertainty of an impending government shutdown, the Ashland community is stepping up in a big way to support families who may be impacted—especially those relying on SNAP and other food assistance programs. Total Media Radio, Kentucky Bluebird Grill & Pub, Facing Hunger Foodbank, and River Cities Harvest are joining forces for HANKSgiving: Songs for S

Building Awareness… One Story at a Time Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon   While Type 1 diabetes cannot yet be prevented, Type 2 diabetes is often manageable — and in many cases, preventable. A healthy diet, consistent physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight can make a tremendous difference. Even small changes, like swapping sugary drinks for water or taking daily walks, can improve overall blood sugar control. For those already living with diabetes, management m

Hot Coco, Letters to the North Pole, and Lunch with Santa Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon             Grab some pencils and note pads, it’s time to get those letters to Santa Claus sent before Christmas. Every year almost seven million letters are written to Santa Claus and shipped through the Post Offices internationally. More than 1 million of the letters written globally arrive from the United States. When considering what to add to our letters to Santa it’s good to

New Test, New Era The SAT Becomes Kentucky’s Next Big Step for Students Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon     Big changes are coming for Kentucky high schoolers — and this one could redefine how students across the state prepare for college. After years of bubbling answers on ACT sheets, juniors will soon be logging in for something entirely new. The Commonwealth is turning the page on an old tradition and embracing a modern, digital future for college admissions testing. Ke

Crabbe Elementary and City of Ashland Unite for a Cause Let’s Make a Difference! Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon What started as an active movement focused on bringing communities together through volunteering and community services is now on its 33 rd year of successful recognition. Starting in 1992, Make a Difference Day has been held every fourth Saturday in October. Created by USA Weekend magazine and the nonprofit organization Points of Light, Make a Difference Da

A Haunting History How Halloween Creeped into America Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon   Every October 31st, the streets come alive with witches, superheroes, ghosts, and giggling goblins holding buckets full of sugar. Porch lights flicker, haunted houses open their creaky doors, and pumpkin-scented everything fills the air. But while we might think of Halloween as a night of costumes, candy, and clever pranks, it wasn’t always that way. Believe it or not, the holiday tha

Unshakable Spirit  One Woman’s Fight Against Breast Cancer Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon Change can come in many forms. We learn at an early age that while some things are permanent, others never stay the same. The truth is that even what we know to be permanent is slowly changing all the time. Buildings around us deteriorate, either to be repaired or to fall apart many years later. What someone may see now could look very different in the future. Like the buildings,

A Life Saved on the Road Kentucky’s Mobile Cancer Fight Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon   While driving through Kentucky, someone will notice the beautiful rolling hills, mountainsides, and winding rivers spanning through the state. Scattered among the hills and trees are communities filled with hardworking people striving to live life to their fullest potential. Each town is different, as resources are limited based on location availability or funding options. Where o

Breast Cancer Awareness Community Resource Fair, Unity for a Cause Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon Detecting breast cancer may be difficult. The presence of cancer isn’t always capable of being checked visually or by touch, as it could be deep within tissue. Where human detection may be limited, X-ray, ultrasound, and chemical methods have been developed, allowing the unseen to be viewed. The late 19th century was full of innovations and technological advancements that

When the News Hits Home A Breast Cancer Journey from Ashland Rebecca Hemlock The Ashland Beacon   Tiffany Jobe, a 46-year-old resident of Ashland, Kentucky, is sharing her battle with breast cancer in a candid narrative that underscores the emotional and practical challenges of a cancer diagnosis—and the powerful role of community and medical care in guiding patients through the storm. Jobe was diagnosed in July and began chemotherapy at the end of the month. She faces a

Rooted in Faith, Fueled by Family Surviving Stage 4 Breast Cancer Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon   Treatment for breast cancer varies with each administration, as everyone’s bodies will react differently. Where one person may benefit from immunotherapy, which utilizes drugs to elevate the immune system, others may require a different approach involving surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. At times, a combination of treatment methods may be used to not only slow the can

Fighting Spirit and the Battle for Life A Journey with Breast Cancer Gideon Thompson The Ashland Beacon   In a world full of distractions and routine-based living, we move along through life sometimes unaware that change comes in many forms. Without notice, our bodies can find themselves in conflict with raging battles that prevent us from continuing a normal path. Taking notice of loved ones, friends, family, and even strangers we pass in a day, we may find that they or o

A Reminder in Pink Leah Adkins Urges Women Not to Skip Their Mammograms Sasha Bush The Ashland Beacon   When life is running smoothly and you feel perfectly healthy, it’s easy to assume nothing is wrong — especially when there’s no family history of illness and no warning signs. But for Leah McCormick Adkins, what began as a routine mammogram during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic quickly turned into a life-changing discovery. Her story is a powerful testament to the