From left is Carter Case, Jade Bumpus, and Anna Brooke Garber
Paducah Life is published six times a year for the Paducah area. All contents copyright 2026 by Mazzone Communications. Reproduction or use of the contents without written permission is prohibited. Comments written in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the ownership or management of Paducah Life. Subscription rate is $29.95 for six issues. Subscription inquiries, all remittances and all advertising inquiries should be sent to Paducah Life, 2780 D New Holt Rd. #346, Paducah, KY 42001.
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Just imagine becoming the way you used to be as a very young child, before you understood the meaning of any word, before opinions took over your mind. The real you is loving, joyful, and free. The real you is just like a flower, just like the wind, just like the ocean, just like the sun.” —MIGUEL ANGEL RUIZ
THIS MAGAZINE IS DEVOTED TO telling the stories of LIFE here in Paducah. We talk shop with businesses that are celebrating successful milestones, we chat with individuals who tinker at hobbies and passions. We tell stories worth sharing, sometimes joyous, and sometimes heart-string tugging. We go out and meet ordinary people who have led extraordinary lives, and learn from them in ways that I never could have imagined.
A huge part of LIFE is growth, and growth is perhaps most closely associated with the young. They grow like weeds, grow up right before our eyes, grow like wildfire. We even put all these restrictions around growing; grow but not too much, grow but not too loud, grow but not too fast.
For more than 35 years, we have witnessed the growth of those young people on the pages of Paducah Life Magazine. They’re always learning something, making new connections, figuring out solutions, coming up with creative ways of doing things.
Children have the unique capability to see and wonder in ways that I think we adults have forgotten. The mystery and secret of youth isn’t wasted on the young. It flourishes there.
This issue is a tribute to them; their experiences, their choices, the things they worry about and hope for. Not just because they are the future, but because we have so much to learn from them. I have great faith they will teach us well.
To the children who fill our homes, ride down the streets of our neighborhoods on their bikes, sit in our schools, play in our parks; to the ones who are learning and growing and living each and every day—thank you. You are the renewed LIFE in Paducah.
jordan@paducahlife.com
by JORDAN PRICE
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Kudos to the Clark School PTO and Community Donors Who Saw a Need for More Safe and Accessible Playground Equipment and Moved Mountains (and a Bunch of Mulch) to Make it Happen
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If you’re a parent, you’ve probably asked your children “How was school?” in the car or around the dinner table only to be met with a shrug. You might have even probed further: “Did you do anything fun today?” or the all too familiar but incredibly unreliable, “What did you learn?” followed by more shrugs and the most exaggerated of eyerolls.
However, if you have ever asked, “What’s your favorite class?” you were more than likely met with a resounding and heartfelt, “RECESS!” You might argue that this isn’t a class, but they can’t be blamed; children are beautifully and unabashedly playful. They revel in moments where they can be free and imaginative, and
what better place for that than the playground.
George Rogers Clark Elementary School takes play seriously. Like its academic subjects, Clark considers good play opportunities a requirement for productive learning and success both in and out of the classroom. For this reason, they’ve been hard at work designing, fundraising for, and building two new inclusive playgrounds. These playgrounds come after years of thoughtful planning by the Clark PTO, and they’re now being thoroughly enjoyed and celebrated.
Natalie Garber, PTO President Elect and Playground Project Manager, and Lauren Case, current PTO President, know the ins and outs of this project. They’ve been living and breathing it since its inception.
“It started back in 2022 and 2023 when we began looking at the greatest area of need, and every time we did that, it was always the playground. So, we knew that this was going to be one of those capital projects that PTO needed to address,” Lauren said. “The playground was pretty antiquated. The biggest problem was that it was primarily a mulch-based playground from recycled tires. The teachers reported that kids would pick it up and throw it, try to put it in their mouths, and then it would dirty up their shoes and clothing. From a health and wellness perspective, we just wanted to do better,” Natalie added.
“It’s a place that everyone can play on. It’s more safe and better quality than the old playground. It’s just a great place to hang out and stuff.”
wait and reapply for the grant the following year, they were hearing parent concerns about the secondary playground located at the front of the school that was primarily used for the third through fifth grade students. That playground was designated as an outdoor space for Physical Education classes through a Project Fit grant many years ago, but as the student body has expanded it served double-duty by also being a play space. The concerns here involved an unfenced playground located just off of busy Buckner Lane.
—Student, Daniel McDowell
Not one to leave boxes unchecked or goals unmet, the PTO Playground Committee saw the need to update the K-2 playground and also to relocate the 3-5 playground, and jumped at the chance to provide a comprehensive solution to both. “One of the goals of the PTO is that all of the projects we undertake need to address all students, so by doing both of these playgrounds, we weren’t leaving any group out,” Lauren remarked. So, operation “playground” expanded yet again to fully address the growing student need across the whole school.
The project started humbly before expanding to its current impressive form. The original goal was just to replace the crushed tire substrate under the play equipment in the K-2 playground at the back of the school. This kind of material came into fashion in the 1990’s, but it’s since been replaced by better and more accessible options such as the pour-in-place rubber foundation that the Clark PTO had their sights set on. “The foundation was the big focus,” Principal Kelly Workman explained. “It would come into the school on the students’ clothes, it was difficult to walk across, and it would end up all over the place.” But when their grant for the base material wasn’t awarded that first year, the committee had to go back to the drawing board.
While trying to decide whether to
With the K-2 playground on hold due to the foundation grant, the committee shifted gears and broke ground on an entirely new play space for the third through fifth students. “We started at nothing and we fully funded that playground without any grants, just with the help of donors and sponsors. Now, the older kids have their own play space, but we preserved green space too, so that they have room to run and still support other activities,” Natalie proudly shared. In short, the PTO fully designed and paid for the 3-5 playground inclusive of the pour-inplace foundation through the help of local community partners and parent support. No small feat! This space is already well-loved by the students as it provides them with ample room to romp and play in all sorts of different and creative ways, but still gives them equipment to climb and crawl on. It’s easy to think that the older students don’t need as much in the way of physical engagement, but the specialized and intentional appliances in the 3-5 playground have their growth and development front and center.
A reapplication for the grant for the playground foundation the following year was approved and the K-2 playground work could finally begin. “It was then noted in our walk-through that the existing equipment that we would be solidifying into the ground by pouring the new substrate was quite old. It was at that point that we looked at each other and asked: do we replace this equipment and if so, what does that look like and how much does it cost?” Knowing that successful projects evolve and meet their goals even as those goals change, the PTO set to work outlining a process that would not only include the removal of the rubber mulch and the pouring of the new foundational material, but also the addition of new playground equipment for the lower elementary students. “If we were going to replace the equipment, now was the time. It was kind of now or never and we took a chance!”
“I like those things, the jaxs! There are three of them on the other playground and they’re fun.” says Jamari Chunn (pictured right). “I like the open space,” mentions Landon Dennis.
Natalie and Lauren both admitted. With this, the PTO designed and paid for the K-2 playground with the help of local sponsors, and the pour-in-place foundation was provided through the Kentucky Energy & Environment Cabinet’s “crumb rubber grant”.
A big priority with both of the new playgrounds has been accessibility. “The former playground wasn’t truly accessible to all of our students. Over the last few years, we’ve had several students move into the district that need that additional support, so now instead of sitting over to the side playing with friends, they’re actually able to get involved and play,” Principal Workman said. Both of the playgrounds feature several elements that students of different abilities can use, which makes for more inclusive play. Lauren also noted, “We collaborated with the special education teachers and the administrators. We got parent feedback, student feedback, and district input. We went through many design drafts with so many different options for equipment that would fit within the footprint and support ALL of the students.”
Safety and accessibility being at the forefront of all decision making, the committee made equipment choices that would nourish the current student body and entice the future ones. There are ramps to each of the playgrounds for easy and independent wheelchair or
walker use, as well as shaded areas both over the equipment and off to the side for quieter play. One extremely cool feature is the “ten spin” which is a modern take on a merry-go-round with molded plastic seats and safety belts. “We wanted to see the ten spin in person before we committed to it, so we went to Easter Seals of West Kentucky and Lauren and I got to see that in action before we decided to add it to our plan,” said Natalie.
Some other favorites are the “jaxs” for crawling and climbing, and the “bongos,” which are a bit like suspended stepping stones leading to the equipment. There is also leveled play where the underneath portion of the slides or the towers is also a specifically designated area for fun and games. Even the rise of the steps and the height of the monkey bars has been taken into account. Every aspect has been considered, because all students deserve to be met where they are and have a space that is designed with them in mind.
“It’s a place that everyone can play on. It’s more safe and better quality than the old playground. The slides are pretty cool. It’s just a great place to hang out and stuff,” student Daniel McDowell commented.
“I like it! My favorite is to play on those big tube things, the blue and white things that have the balls on the ends. You get on them and climb them. There are different ways to do it. We play tag and stuff on it and they are the bases. The new playground is more vibrant, and the spinny thing is literally a workout!” student Jade Bumpus further explained.
“The biggest thing that I’ve noticed, especially since I have a student that uses a walker, is that it is very beneficial
for him. He can come and go on the playground as well,” said Kenny Ford, a teacher at Clark. “At first, he was hanging out just on the picnic tables, but now he’s starting to go out there and play as well. It’s great to see!”
This project has only been completed through the diligence and generosity of the Clark PTO and other supportive community members. It was certainly no small undertaking, and as it grew and absorbed new hopes and dreams, the project became something of a gift. “That was something that was so exciting about this project personally. The PTO does so much within the school behind the scenes, but this is something the kids could be excited about,” added Lauren. “This is something they were going to see and use,” Natalie continued. “This highlights our community coming together and how we live LIFE in Paducah. We’re proud of the hard work that our school has put in.”
Even though the playground needs were easy to see, that doesn’t mean they were easy to address. Change is often hard, and it comes with lots of time and expense incurred, but change is also necessary for growth, and growing is something inherently part of a successful elementary school. With 75 years in the books, there is a lot of history and tradition to pay tribute to at Clark. But perhaps what is more commendable is recognizing student need, and responding to it, even if that means making a change. The new playgrounds at Clark will allow for all of its students to engage in safe and creative play, because after all, recess rules!
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Ava Thomas More Than Just Involved
Their very first forum addressed the topic of teen mental health — breakout groups on trauma, self-harm, self-worth, and difficulties of making sense of one’s place in the world. A later session addressed current events and politics, with Ava's own group exploring questions like where students get their news and whether young people who can't yet vote should still engage with political issues.
"We're not just doing things based off of our own beliefs," Ava explains. "It's about getting other people's perspectives and creating a space for respectful dialogue."
As a member of SEAC, Ava is also training other teens on how to bring this level of student leadership to their schools. When a lackluster conference left the SEAC team disappointed, they designed their own version of what a leadership conference should look like. Schools from around the region sent their own teams of students to learn how to engage their community at a deeper level and leverage their voice to bring change. That kind of response says a lot about who Ava is: someone who sees a gap and moves to fill it.
Community, Culture, and the African American Leadership Club
As president of the African American Leadership Club (ALC), Ava has found what she describes as an instant sense of belonging. "You instantly click with everyone there. You're not judged." With a focus on digging deep into African American history and celebrating African American culture, Ava values the way knowledge and community reinforce each other inside the room.
The club has also taken Ava beyond Paducah — to New Orleans for the Battle of the Bands, to see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and soon on a multi-day HBCU tour. For Ava, these aren't just field trips. They're windows into a wider world.
"It’s important to know our history, but it’s equally meaningful to have a space that
affirms who we are," she says. "At our meetings, we not only learn about others who have made an impact, but we also learn how to value ourselves and believe in our own greatness."
Since sixth grade, Ava has also been part of step — a performance tradition rooted in African American culture that combines synchronized stomping, clapping, and movement to tell a story. She's now part of Surge, the high school team, and is the only member with prior step experience. That made her something of an anchor as the group — and their first-year coach — figured things out together.
"We did a lot of growing together," she says. "I think that bonded us quickly. We can’t wait for our competition."
Their most recent performance, a Black History Month showcase called Black Excellence, demonstrated just how far the team has come. They're headed to competition in April.
Paying it Forward
Perhaps the thread running through all of Ava's involvement is her drive to look out for those coming up behind her, whether the work is in school or not. In the Black Coal and Roses Society (BCRS), where she's served as president of the nonprofit group for two years, she describes her role as a "big sister" — mentoring younger girls in the community through the same lessons on self-worth, resilience, and leadership she once received.
"If I could make it as easy as possible for others to not learn things the hard way," she says simply, "I will."
BCRS, which nearly acts a second family for Ava, promotes sisterhood and service through academic excellence, community service, cultural development, and the fostering of positive peer to peer relationship. The symbolism of coal that is refined over time and eventually emerges as a precious stone is an inspiring one for the young women in this group. Along with building a sense of community, the
"It’s important to know our history, but it’s equally meaningful to have a space we are."
- Ava Thomas
group is learning about everything from self-esteem to career planning, personal hygiene, mental health, and dealing with stress. “Nothing is off the table,” explains Ava. This is a place to learn about life, learn about ourselves, and grow into the confident women that God meant us to be.”
Ava carries that same instinct into Crown, an all-girl in-school program focused on self-esteem, supporting each other, and selfforgiveness. “It’s kind of like group therapy and a support group, but in the best way,” Ava explains. “Watching girls who once seemed closed-off begin to open up — and then being able to say I see why, and I see you changing — is something I really treasure.”
While adults are great at fearing for the future and, honestly, underestimating the wisdom and determination of teens, Ava is clearly painting a vivid picture of young leadership, passion turned to action, and love through service. Watching her work would lead anyone to believe that maybe the kids really will be alright—at least if they learn to follow examples like hers.
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Jase Smith A Legacy of Service
the same flock. “We doubled up,” he says with a grin. He has also begun traveling to Lexington for archery competitions. These pastimes have taught him to notice small changes, stay alert, and be aware of his surroundings.
At Reidland Middle School, another side of him has taken shape. As a peer tutor, Jase spends part of his day helping students in a special education classroom. He works alongside them in P.E., assists with reading and writing, and helps them build fine motor skills through daily tasks. Jase signed up on his own and was selected through a process that includes teacher recommendations. What he enjoys most is simple. “Probably some of the funny stuff our friends do,” he says, smiling. “It’s random, but it’s funny.” He has found joy and genuine friendship in his role, along with perspective. “I’ve learned that there are people who need help more than I do,” he said. “I have ADHD and hearing loss, but it makes me feel grateful for what I have.”
That perspective has been shaped, in part, by his own experiences. Following years of multiple ear surgeries, Jase began using hearing aids in elementary school. “There’s a very big change,” he said. “I got so used to not being able to hear that I would just kind of make myself hear. And now, it’s different.” It’s a shift he notices not only in how he hears, but also in the small audible details he once had to work harder to catch.
Jessie says her son’s instinct to look out for others has always been there. “He’s always been a compassionate kid,” she said. “He wants to take care of everyone.” Jase sees that same instinct in his mom. “She’s a helper,” he says simply. It’s something Jessie recognizes because she’s seen it lived out for years. When asked about themselves, both Jessie and Jase find their way back to the same person: Jessie’s dad, known to Jase as Pap.
On her family’s land, where cattle graze and horses are kept, Jase’s grandfather still spends his days working. He is steady and capable, always watching for what needs to be done. Jase spends time there too, helping with the cattle and learning alongside him. And when a winter storm once left roads uncleared and neighbors stuck, he didn’t hesitate. “Pap went and got his blade on his tractor and was clearing people’s driveways,” Jessie said. He couldn’t sit back and watch someone struggle.
That instinct to step in and do what you can is something that’s been passed down. “See the need, meet the need,” Jessie says. “It’s a family motto. That’s just how we were raised.” Sometimes, she added, helping happens quietly, where no one sees. Other times, it means speaking up or stepping forward so a need can be met. That same thread runs through Jessie Vasseur’s work as the Homeless Liaison for McCracken County Public Schools, where she helps families navigate housing instability and find support. Now it’s taking root in Jase.
At school, he is learning to offer that same steadiness in smaller, everyday ways. When asked what being a good friend means, he doesn’t hesitate. “Somebody that’ll be there,” he said. “Show up.”
There’s still so much ahead for Jase. He’s beginning to explore archery hunting as he grows older, and he talks about one day trying it from horseback. For now, his story unfolds under the western Kentucky sky, in the field with Pap, in the woods with his dad, and in small moments where he shows up for friends and classmates.
Some things aren’t taught in words. They’re learned over time, passed down in the way someone lives, and carried forward in the way someone shows up.
the woods together is a bond that strengthens their relationship and their commitment to their family’s service over self.
“He’s always been a compassionate kid,” says Jase’s mom Jessie. “He wants to take care of everyone.” Jase Smith has shown that caring philosophy in a number of ways at Reidland Middle School.
Helping Families Find Stability
As the Homeless Liaison for McCracken County Public Schools, Jessie Vasseur works closely with students and families navigating housing instability, often behind the scenes and in moments of urgency. Her with paperwork and coordination. Others bring immediate needs like families facing displacement, unsafe housing conditions, or sudden transitions.
“Homelessness is not what you think,” she said. Many families are doubled up with relatives, staying in hotels, or living in temporary situations that lack stability.
Because of federal funding restrictions, Jessie is unable to purchase basic household items like linens, towels, and bedding, making donations of new pillows, blankets, sheets, and towels especially valuable.
For families temporarily staying in hotels, DoorDash or Uber Eats gift cards
hope in the moments when families are able to move into stable housing. “Seeing those kids know they have some stability… that’s the great thing about our program. It gives stability when their lives are in chaos.”
Ways to Support
Those looking to support local families can help in practical ways by donating:
• New linens and bedding (sheets, blankets, pillows)
• New towels and washcloths
• Meal delivery gift cards (DoorDash, Uber Eats)
McCracken County Board of Education building, 300 Cumberland Ave., Paducah.
Questions about donations or the program can be directed to Jessie at jessie.vasseur@mccracken.kyschools.us
Stone-Lang Celebrates Its Sesquicentennial Anniversary!
From a pharmacopeia of 19th century concoctions to the history of hearing, the Stone-Lang Company has brought health and healing to the people of western Kentucky for 150 years. Today Stone-Lang is the region’s premier hearing rehabilitation headquarters for state-of-the-art hearing services and products along with a myriad of other healthcare and medical merchandise. Michael Stone and his capable team of professionals bring 150 years of experience (and a ton of TLC) to the provision of innovative health and hearing solutions to their clients and friends.
“My father instilled in me a stewardship for our business and our community. It was important to him, as it is to me, to provide an unparallelled standard of care to our patients, and a lifelong dedication of service to our community.”
—MICHAEL STONE
Front from left are Taegan Thompson, Lauri Ezell, Maria Smith Back from left are Crystal Thompson, Lakyn Bastani, Mike Stone, Evgeniya Tsukanovich
by C ALEB BUFORD
Join In. Ha ve Some Fun. TRY YOUR BEST.
It’s a great mantra for everyone, but especially for Special Olympian Patrick Murray
ERRRRRRNT! THE piercing notification of the end of the game rang through the gymnasium, as one player passes the basketball to a referee and the players run back to line up for the postgame handshake. Even with the scoreboard still glowing overhead, Patrick Murray seemed less focused on the final score than on what the game had given him: another chance to connect with his teammates and to be part of something bigger than himself.
After nearly two decades away from being a part of the Special Olympics, Patrick has found his way back to the league and this time on his hometown team. and is setting the best example of dedication and teamwork for others in our region.
Patrick’s journey with Special Olympics started soon after he graduated from Lone Oak High School and began attending Stewart Home & School. The school was hosting a Special Olympics football game and was recruiting players. One of his teachers encouraged him to join.
Patrick was hesitant at first, but soon found a renewed passion for sports. Through his time at Stewart, Patrick competed in many other sports, including soccer, softball, bowling, basketball, and track. He even tried snowboarding.
After moving around the country a few times and losing touch with Special Olympics, Patrick found his way back home to Paducah. Though the area was familiar, a lot had changed. New businesses, new people, and the connections he once had were lost to time. Pattie Sanders, Patrick’s aunt, noticed the toll isolation was taking on him. “He needs something to do,” she remembers thinking. “He needs some way to connect with friends and some outlet to get out, do something, meet people.”
Pattie was introduced to Special Olympics through a chance encounter at a football game. Sitting in the stands watching her granddaughter, she sat next to the mother of the Paducah Tilghman mascot and learned about his autism and his participation in the Special Olympics. When Pattie brought the idea up to Patrick, he lit up, remembering the time he spent with the Special Olympics in the past. Now, Pattie says she’s seen a transformation
in Patrick’s openness to new experiences, physical fitness, and social skills. “Now I’m the guy that people say, ‘you socialize way too much’,” Patrick shared with a grin.
Patrick’s newfound confidence has led him far, winning multiple medals for a variety of different sports. “I think the most fulfilling thing to do in sports is going with the team,” Patrick shared, and his support for others around him is abundantly present. He has found that inclusive sports have created not only an opportunity for him but also for the entire community—to see how a little kindness and confidence can create new opportunities and build stronger communities for everyone, regardless of ability.
Patrick continues to compete in Special Olympics and is excited to keep playing with his current teams while trying new sports in the future. He has his eye on golf, bocce, soccer, flag football, and tennis. Looking back on the past few years, he hopes others will be encouraged to give it a try too. His advice is simple: “Just come in, try your best, and have some fun.”
Devon Wright, son of our editorial photographer Amy, tagged along for Patrick's photo session. Devon also participates in the Special Olympics and just completed his first season with the league. His team, The Stallions, coached by Holly Hillman, won their first bronze medal at the Kentucky State Tournament this year. Patrick gave Devon a thumbs up on his choice to be a part of Special Olympics.
Celebr it y Stat u s
Emily Black’s Grammy Nomination Provided an Invitation for a Night of Glamour Among Music’s Most Celebrated Performers
Emily Black and her husband Fowler at the 2026 Grammys
FOR THE TRUE ARTIST, THE CREATION process itself is the driving force. It’s all about the need to bring something new into the world. It’s internal. It’s visceral. It isn’t about the spotlight or recognition. The work is the reward.
Of course, if a Grammy nomination happens to come calling, one might take just a few moments to revel in a little bit of applause for a job well done. And partying with some of the music industry’s biggest stars doesn’t hurt either.
Such was the experience for Paducah vocal artist Emily Black when, back in February, she traveled to Los Angeles to celebrate one of music’s biggest nights and be honored for her Grammy nomination (her third).
The recognition comes from her work with Conspirare (Latin for “to breathe together”), an Austin, Texas-based Grammy-winning choir and nonprofit performing arts and music education organization that believes in the power of music to change lives, inspire peace, and foster belonging.
Emily had followed Conspirare since her days in college, admiring the group that had become one of the most well-known professional choirs in the United States. Through a composer she worked with, her name was floated as a possible addition. Emily received a call in 2022, asking if she’d like to be a part of a project called House of Belonging
“That was my first Grammy nomination with them,” says Emily. When House of Belonging received a nomination, Emily’s son was still very young, so she decided to stay home and forgo the ceremony. A first Grammy nomination but zero red carpet moments.
For many artists, just being nominated once is a lifetime achievement.
Even though Emily had received the Grammy nod it seemed inevitable that there would be more, and eventually, she’d get to attend a ceremony in all of its opulence.
Then, Conspirare went back into the studio for their 2025 release advena: liturgies for a broken world. “The album reimagines traditional choral forms like the Mass and Requiem,” says Emily, “exploring themes of exile, identity, and the impact of strict religious upbringings. It also reflects on immigration and displacement, topics that feel very relevant today.”
The album’s impact and connection to audiences were undeniable. Inevitably, another Grammy nomination came knocking. This time, Emily knew she had to make the trip to Los Angeles for the ceremony with her husband Fowler.
“It was too cool of an opportunity to pass up,” she says. “It’s pretty wild. I kept using the word surreal. For Best Choral Performance, which is one of the more niche categories, the ceremony takes place in the afternoon. That’s when they recognize categories like Jazz, or Opera, or
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Emily Black (fourth from right) and members of Conspirare at the Grammy Premiere Ceremony
American Roots, or Orchestral. We went to the Peacock Theater for that, and it lasted almost four hours. There were a lot of cool performances. The Recording Academy does a good job of honoring these artists. The Premiere Ceremony didn’t feel secondary—it felt meaningful and intentional, with a lot of focus on why art matters.
“Then we went across the way to the Crypto.com arena to where the main show is held, the one that is aired on TV. It was amazing to experience the smorgasbord of all of the best artists of our time. It was also surprisingly humanizing. You’re in this huge room with incredibly famous people, but they’re just people, making their art. I also found the speeches really inspiring.”
Emily found the production of the show rather amazing, from three performance stages that featured artists such as Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber, with each one being prepared as another was being used. There were strictly timed commercial breaks with countdown clocks indicating when audience members needed to return to their seats. And when it came to food, it was just typical arena fare.
“The concessions were basically what you’d find at a sporting event—hot dogs and nachos,” laughs Emily. “It was funny seeing people in formal gowns eating stadium food. I was like this is weird.”
While celebrities were everywhere, Emily says she only had one real encounter. “After the ceremony, we were outside trying to find our Uber. We ended up passing Jamie Foxx, who was just walking down the street. He made eye contact, nodded, and I said, ‘Congratulations.’ We also saw Lisa Loeb nearby. She walked up and spoke to him. It was surreal seeing both of them just out on the street like that. There were all these black SUVs lined up with dark-tinted windows, clearly for the biggest celebrities.”
The entire day was nine hours plus, but Emily felt that every moment was worthwhile. While it is a show about awards, for those involved, it kept coming back to their art, which made the whole day possible. For Emily, it was a true celebration of bringing music to life, and the day was simply a reflection of long hours and tons of work behind the scenes.
And even though Conspirare didn’t walk away with the win, it will not be surprising to see the group, along with Emily, back at the Grammys again. “Right before the Grammys, we recorded a brand-new piece that had been in development for about six years by composer Joby Talbot,” says Emily. “He’s a British composer known for orchestral works, ballet, and film scores, but also for choral music.
“His first major choral work, Path of Miracles, made a huge impact in the choral world. This new piece is called Piedra de Sol, based on a long poem by Octavio Paz. We recorded it, and it’s a big deal. They’re hoping to release the album in late summer so it qualifies for next year’s Grammy cycle.” And whether or not that call comes again, the work and the life-changing connection from artists to audiences—the real reward—continues.
The Ris e and Fa ll of CHAR DOWNS ’ MURAL ART
After a Devastating Fall, Char Downs Has Risen to the Artistic Occasion With the Help of Painters and Friends Who Are Supporting Her Goal to Finish the Next Quilt Mural
BACK ON A SEEMINGLY
normal day in October 2025, Lower Town artist Char Downs climbed a ladder in Pinecone Gallery to continue painting on what was to be this spring’s addition to the Quilt City USA Murals Project on the floodwall by the convention center. But it wasn’t a normal day, and Char, instead of stepping onto a sturdy table, fell to the concrete floor.
She had already been taking precautions, sitting on a cushion, scooting across the table before standing because she was still recovering from hip surgery in the spring, a process that had gone slower than she wanted. Now, Char found herself on the unforgiving floor, pain shooting everywhere and no one within range to hear her cries for help. Her husband Jay had just left to run some errands, and Char did not have her phone. No visitors were expected at the gallery—she thought it would be a quiet time to work. Instead, Char spent two agonizing hours before Jay returned. The postman came in at the same time and called 911 for Jay. Within a few minutes, an ambulance was speeding Char on the way to the hospital.
★ by JOHANNA COMISAK RHODES
Char Downs
Char’s left hip was severely injured, her left shoulder was smashed, her left leg shattered. After two major surgeries, a blood transfusion, a rod and 12 cables wrapped around the bones in her left leg, what she calls a “reverse shoulder” because there weren’t enough unbroken bones to work on and more than four months of pain and PT, Char is finally able to pick up a paint brush and resume work on the quilt she left behind. The healing is not over yet—Char will be in recovery for another 14 months.
The “work” is on “Mary’s Mural,” a reproduction of an antique quilt owned by longtime director of the Paducah Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Mary Hammond who passed away in March 2024. Char says the pattern is a traditional grandmother’s flower garden. And it’s obvious the quilt was wellused and well-loved. “The quilt has to be reproduced exactly—the worn places and tears that have been stitched over,” says Char. It was selected for the project to honor Mary by a group of Mary’s friends, who also spearheaded a drive to finance the project.
A little background. Char was selected by the Murals Project Board to be the first artist when the program began in 2016 and painted a quilt by internationallyknown quilter Caryl Fallert, who also had a studio in Paducah in the early 2000s. Char investigated different methods of painting and how large murals are applied to various surfaces, traveling to visit Mural City, USA in Philadelphia. Finding some materials unavailable, Char finally chose Pellon, s synthetic fabric quilters use on the back of quilts, at Hancock’s Fabrics in Paducah. The material is usually hung on a wall, painted with the quilt design using a fluid acrylic
Lower Town neighbors from left Jeff Neubert, Allan Rhodes, and Eric Romanak assist Richard Glasscock as they install a “rotating easel” in Pinecone Gallery.
paint and then applied to the floodwall (in the case of Paducah).
Artist and friend Stefanie Graves has spent numerous hours painting on the latest quilt for Char, starting soon after Char’s fall. In fact, she came almost every day in January. And by that time, Stefanie was able to use the “rotating easel” that is allowing Char to paint at all during this stage of her recovery. While Char was still in rehab husband Jay went to neighbor and woodworker Richard Glasscock asking him if he could make something for Char to use in painting so, as Jay said, “She won’t ever have to get on a ladder again.” This “rotating easel” that looks like a drafting table with rollers and displays 24-inches of work space at a time, is the result.
“I think this is going to open up the world faster for you than anything else, and I’m pleased to be a part of it,” said Richard when he and other neighbors brought the “easel” to Pinecone Gallery and set it up the end of December. Char readily agreed. But her left shoulder and arm were in too much pain for Char to even move them spontaneously. It would be the beginning of February before Char could roll her wheelchair into the gallery and pick up a paint brush.
In the beginning Char could only work 15 to 20 minutes before having to lay the brushes down. Now, she paints three hours a day. Char began Mary’s Mural on July 11, 2024, and she has given herself a May deadline to finish it. Jay whispers, “It’s scheduled to be unveiled by June 11.” That should be attainable. With a paint brush in hand and a smile on her face, Char says, “This has brought light back into my life.”
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The Lamon family continues a 75-year legacy of making LIFE in Paducah more beautiful
by Jordan Price
THROUGH AN OVERSIZED ALUMINUM screen door, in and among rows lined with dazzling chandeliers, robust armoires, and upholstered chair sets, sits Joy Lamon Walden, the matriarch and current owner of Lamon’s Furniture and Antiques.
This year marks the Lamon family’s 75th year in business. This legacy began in 1951 when Zelphia Lamon, Joy’s mother, started the business. Paducah was booming and many working men and women were moving to the city to snatch up lucrative jobs in the atomic industry. The shop started off simply, providing necessities like hot plates and economical bedroom sets to the workers who were renting out singular rooms in family homes around town.
“Zelphia would get out and try to fulfill that need for people. She would gather up all the things someone would need to furnish a room like a chest of drawers and a bed frame,” Joy recalled.
“She would always take care of her customers because the customers take care of us,” Sherry Kahne, Joy’s niece, added. “She knew hard work and determination would make a difference and once she got started, you couldn’t stop her. She would make sure that everyone had proper furniture and a household as warm and as full of beautiful things as possible.”
Joy and Zelphia have/had a knack for knowing if there was a market for something. “Zelphia had a good eye,” said Sherry. “She could look at a piece and see its worth, even if it was hidden under a layer of dust or long forgotten in
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probably dates back to the 1700s. To have that kind of age and that kind of value is just truly a find,” Joy remarked. Sherry’s niche is Iranian rugs and Lamon’s has a beautiful collection. “We have a guy,” Sherry confides, “and having that direct contact is so important because when people buy stuff online, they can’t feel it or look at it. They don’t know how it’s going to wear, but here, you can just pop in and you can feel the corner of it and appreciate the quality.”
Paducah and Lamon’s have bolstered each other for several decades, and that partnership is something truly admirable. “We’re lucky in that because we’ve been in business for 75 years, we’re often people’s first call when they’re downsizing or remodeling. We have the opportunity to go in and purchase items when people are moving. We also attend estate sales and auctions to help support the local community,” Sherry explained.
Through its history, Lamon’s has traded basics for beauty, and they’re committed to helping each person that walks through the door treasurehunt their way to an expressive and exclusive find.
Today, Lamon’s specializes in oil paintings and art, good furniture of all styles and ages, and lamps and lighting. “We like all styles, but we just want whatever we have to be high quality and the best of that era,” Joy stated.
“The goal is to continue it as long as we have the health and fortitude to do so,” Sherry said with optimism. “I hope that the great grandchildren of my mother will carry it on,” Joy added. “We all have our own interests and styles and that bodes well for the future of Lamon’s.”
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THE Art OF INSURANCE
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Coming Home Winning
Some lives begin in ease. Others are tempered in fire.
THE JOURNEY TO manhood for Logan Bryce Martin was marked by hardship, sacrifice, and the quiet determination to make something better of what life handed him.
Logan Bryce Martin claims Paducah as more than a hometown. It is the place where his life began to expand and his dreams took form.
When Martin arrived in 1989, after years spent between Hickman and Fulton, Paducah opened before him as a much larger world. It beckoned as a place of opportunity, challenge, and possibility. Paducah was where he found mentors, structure, and the encouragement to imagine a life bigger than the potential hardship the world might have assigned him.
“Paducah was spread wide open,” he said. “It gave me opportunities I didn’t have before.”
At Paducah Tilghman, Martin found one of his first true outlets in
football. He played from middle school on and became the only freshman of his time to play varsity all four years. In a town where Friday night football still carries pride and memory, this was no small distinction for the 1995 Tilghman High School graduate.
Football was to become only one thread in his story.
At the heart of Martin’s life and at the heart of his memoir, Funeral for My Father: Because Grace Isn’t Always Earned, is his mother whose strength carried his family through years of struggle. She raised five children through instability, sacrifice, and strain. He remembers a home she held together against nearly impossible odds. Martin recalls the meals she stretched, the standards she kept, and the quiet courage she showed day after day. He remembers nights when his mother would say she was “fasting.” He later understood that meant there simply was not enough food, and she had chosen to let her five children eat first.
“If they can have it, I can have it,” he said referring to those who achieved success.
That conviction carried him far beyond western Kentucky. Football opened doors to college and professional opportunities including time with the Chicago Bears organization, NFL Europe, and the XFL.
Martin later enjoyed a successful engineering career, wide travel, and retirement before age 50. Yet Martin’s deepest accomplishment may be neither athletic nor professional. It may be his willingness to tell the truth.
He speaks with gratitude about the people in Paducah who helped steady his path. These people include coaches who pushed him, teachers who corrected him, and pastors and community leaders who saw promise in a young man determined to make something better of his life. They provided the impetus for a young man with a burning desire to do better and make something of himself.
In Funeral for My Father, he writes candidly about pain, endurance, and the long shadow cast by his father. The memoir is not defined by bitterness. Instead, it reflects resilience, moral clarity, and the determination to move forward with grace. Even in recounting difficult truths, Martin returns to a theme that seems to define his life: doing what is right even when it is hard.
Paducah remains at the heart of Logan Bryce Martin’s testimony. It is the place where his dreams were tested and his character refined. Paducah is where the boy once known as Little Jimmie began the long journey toward becoming Logan Bryce Martin.
That journey, and the man it shaped, may be his greatest victory of all.
LastWord the ★
“The person who works with their hands, their brain, and their heart is an artist.” —MARCUS PIERRE
At only 5 years old, ADRIC BARNETT is already putting art into the world, like this linocut print that he designed, painted, and stamped. “I picked rainbow colors because when you put them all together, it’s like a mixed-up rainbow,” he explained. As for the “cutting” portion of the work, “Mommy helped me,” he admitted.
Considering the sharp tools involved in etching his delicate design into the lino block, we think that was probably for the best (and that he’s lucky to have such a supportive “assistant”).
His process is an equal mix of whimsy and sensibility; this young artist knows what he likes, but is open to experimentation.
“My favorite is paint, but I also like markers and crayons,” he shared.
When he’s not painting or drawing, he enjoys playing with his brothers, and particularly likes center time, snack time, and going to the gym when at school. And while he has an artistic talent that he might choose to explore later, when asked, he said he wants to be a police officer when he grows up.
MOLLY THOMPSON HAS BUILT HER CAREER ON RELATIONSHIPS
Many first met Molly through her work with the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, where she connected with local leaders, small businesses, and families. She’s known for the way she listens, shows up, and follows through. Her relationship with Paducah Bank started with one of life’s biggest decisions, buying her first home. “When I bought my house, Paducah Bank was there to guide me through the process. I felt cared for, and that’s something I’ve carried with me ever since.” Paducah Bank Market President Susan Ybarzabal shared, “Molly brings a warmth and compassion that reflects exactly how we want our customers to feel.” Molly brings that same belief in relationships to her role as Private Wealth Relationship Manager at Paducah Bank.
