Paducah Life Magazine - March/April 2026

The REVIVAL of the LOWER TOWN ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL May 8-9, 2026

executive editor/ PUBLISHER

Darlene M. Mazzone

associate EDITORS

Jordan Price

Hannah Hunt

Amy Sullivan

Amy Clevidence

Stephanie Watson

Caleb Buford

Susie Fenwick

Shannon Webb

art DIRECTOR

Scott McWilliams

associate art DIRECTOR

Amanda Newman

editorial PHOTOGRAPHY

Amy Wright

cover PHOTOGRAPHY

Brad Rankin

on the COVER Brandi Harless and Stephanie Felker

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. Phone: (270) 556-1914. This magazine accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photography or artwork. All submissions may be edited for length, clarity and style.

IT WAS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE THE RECIPIENT OF KENTUCKY’S GOVERNOR’S Award for the Arts for Media a few years back. And hey, not to brag, but it WAS appropriate. When we provided the submission for the award, it was so much fun to look back through scores of issues to find that in literally almost EVERY edition, during our 35 years, we had featured some form of art and/or artist—musicians, painters, sculptors, authors, quilters, actors, singers, dancers. It was pretty amazing to consider how absolutely PROLIFIC the people of our community are when it comes to art and craft. No surprise that my late friend and colleague Mary Hammond, and her team, persisted in achieving our designation as a UNESCO city. Paducah has proven, many times over, that it was deserving.

ART has been a pART (see how I did that?) of Paducah’s cultural persona since the earliest of days. Among some of those featured on the pages of PADUCAH LIFE Magazine were musician Fate Marable and national historic artist John Banvard as well as arts visionary Mary Yeiser alongside quilt advocates Bill and Meredith Schroeder. William and Constance Renzulli, assisted by Paducah Bank and many others, helped to build an arts community that became a prototype for cities across the nation. Ro Morse commissioned Robert Dafford to colorfully transform a gray wall into an art gallery. Chef Sara Bradley brought the world of culinary arts to our doorstep.

“We all know what it is to produce something with care and skill, so that in the end it is better than it really has any right to be,” writes author Patrick Bringley in his book All The Beauty In the World. “We all know how difficult it is to get really good at anything, what hard work is required and how much effort lurks behind the appearance of effortlessness. It’s something that we humans so often do: produce better stuff than is altogether reasonable.”

We’re so excited that the celebration of art and music IS BACK in 2026, thanks to a group of dedicated humans in our midst! Our community thrives when ART plays a part in our LIFE.

darlene@paducahlife.com

★ by C ALEB BUFORD

It’s B

The Lower Town Arts and Music Fesitval Has a New LIFE at the Hands of

Some Old Friends

Back!

The

Lower

Town Arts and Music Festival can only be described as uniquely Paducah.

The four blocks of the Lower Town Arts District have annually come to life as local and international musicians created a funky and vibrant soundtrack for this distinctive spring weekend. That was underscored by leisurely strolls through artisan selections. Kids avidly sprinted from a myriad of booths holding fast to their uniquely creative finds. Shoppers found a locally made piece for that blank space on the wall above the couch, all the while enjoying a locally brewed beer.

For the last three years, I have always found myself at the festival entrance at a volunteer booth welcoming festival goers and serenaded by the sounds of gleeful kids with foley sound effects—rain sticks, slap sticks, and the occasional (but classic hit) thunder tube. For me, it was a yearly reminder of how the arts are valued here.

In 2025, that melodious reminder went silent.

“Oh, dear,” I blurted out, floored seeing the Facebook post that the festival was cancelled. “This decision was made with careful consideration,” it read. My eyes kept scanning for more information. “And we recognize the impact on our community, artists, musicians, and supporters who cherish this annual tradition,” it added.

The Lower Town Arts & Music Festival has always been a celebration of arts, music and the distinctive flair of Paducah and our region. I’m excited to bring back an opportunity for everyone to come together and celebrate creativity.”

Luke McCall, Board Member

As I went to share with my coworkers, I could see the news painting the town with a unified energy. There were bunches of shares of news articles and my friends started posting their favorite memories from the festival. A whole community started the grieving process with just a click of a button. The energy in downtown Paducah was palpable and the commentary chaos ensued.

An emergency community forum was held at a local restaurant. Mayor George Bray issued a statement, and others attempted to stage their own version of the festival on a very reduced time frame. But while Paducah was entering the third stage of grief, a team of dedicated individuals consisting of Brandi Harless, Will Brandon, and Stephanie Felker were orchestrating a plan to get LTAMF back on the block while ensuring longevity and sustainability.

“The festival’s been in my backyard for a long time,” Brandi reminisced, reflecting on her nearly 15 years in the neighborhood. Stephanie has also lived in the Lower Town Art District with her family. “It’s like a birthday party for all of

these organizations who do art and music all year. It’s that moment to pause and go, ‘wow, our community is incredible.’” Brandi and Stephanie have been friends for years, originally working together for EntrePaducah, organizing workshops and conference style events. Now, over a decade later, they are putting their organizer hats back on to help plan one of the biggest festivals of the year.

Bringing back LTAMF was no easy task. The team worked with multiple stakeholders, organizations, and committees to ensure a successful transition. Stephanie and Brandi created a committee to work with the Yeiser Art Center board to ensure that this was a shared goal and to establish how the reorganization would happen. “They all enthusiastically said, ‘we need to get focused on our mission again. We’re so grateful that someone is taking it over,” Brandi shared. They then worked to set up a new non-profit organization to serve as the host, rightfully named Friends of the Lower Town Arts & Music Festival. The foundation was built for the festival to return on its own merits rather than relying on existing organizations. This is new territory for LTAMF, but one that the group believes is more valuable to the festival and community. “Yeiser Art Center did such a great job of keeping it alive, but they were living in two worlds,” Brandi explained. “Anything that lives that long through that many handovers really deserves to be its own thing.” Stephanie added that the new organization doesn’t change

The Wheelhouse Rousters

Rooted in the river culture of West Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley, The Wheelhouse Rousters channel the working-class rhythms, stories, and ebband-flow energy of American roots music. Formed in 2013 by members of Bawn in the Mash, Eddie Coffey, Logan Oakley, Nathan Lynn, Josh Coffey, and Jake Siener have built a national and international reputation through evocative songwriting, traditional river folk songs, and dynamic live performances. Their four studio albums, including Steamboatin’, Times of Uncertainty, River Folk, and 2023’s The Adventure Never Ends, trace a musical journey from historic Paducah recording spaces to festival stages around the world. The Rousters have represented the United States at the World Folk Biennale in South Korea, collaborated on UNESCO projects, placed third in the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition, and showcased at AMERICANAFEST. Known for performances aboard iconic riverboats and appearances at major festivals, The Wheelhouse Rousters continue to carry river folk traditions forward with authenticity, momentum, and modern relevance.

SG Goodman

Kentucky born-and-raised indie rocker SG Goodman, “like Fugazi doing Woody Guthrie” (MTV) catapulted onto the scene in 2020 with her debut album Old Time Feeling—possibly the worst time to emerge, and yet, her talent was undeniable. She immediately garnered attention from NPR, Rolling Stone, and more, and took her show on the road across the world, gaining fans and followers, even landing a fan in Tyler Childers, who covered her song “Space And Time” from her debut. “Space And Time” was also covered by Mereba and Dev Hynes/Blood Orange for the Paul Schrader film Master Gardener. In 2022, she released “Teeth Marks,” a critical darling that leveled her up, gaining praise from the New York Times, who praised her “sharp eye for character and arresting voice,” landing her an NPR Tiny Desk performance, and earning her the Best Emerging Artist Award at the 2023 Americana Awards.

She clocked over 150 performances in 2023 alone, including headlining soldout tours and opening for the likes of Tyler Childers and Jason Isbell from Red Rocks to the Grand Ole' Opry.

LTAMF, but rather strengthens it. “We aren’t trying to create something new. We’re trying to capture what already existed and then elevate it with the organization.”

When festival planning began, the Friends of Lower Town board hired a festival staff that had worked the festival before, including Festival Director Will Brandon. Will describes the return as a balancing act—making room for growth while protecting what he calls the festival’s “non-negotiables.” Those standards, he says, come from years of listening to the people who make the weekend work: the artists, vendors, and returning festival-goers who know the soul of LTAMF by heart. “The basis of this festival was created by artists for artists. What do you want to see? How do you want to feel? How do you want to be treated?” Will remarked.

This year, the festival brings exciting new partnerships and experiences for everyone to enjoy. The weekend will begin with two kickoff celebrations—one with the Paducah Symphony Orchestra and another at Paducah School of Art & Design. LTAMF is also expanding its footprint back to 6th Street, a gradual return to the festival’s original layout. A second stage will be located in Etcetera Coffeehouse’s courtyard gallery, and a new children’s area—sponsored by Paducah Bank—will spotlight creativity and arts entrepreneurship. Stephanie shared how full circle it feels to welcome Paducah Bank back into the festival’s story after the bank helped fund the Artist Relocation Program that gave Lower Town its early boost. “It kind of gives me chills because it’s such a cool thing that our local community bank invested in. It’s the only reason really that Lower Town exists.”

Even with new partners, a skipped year, and the swirl of controversy that followed the 2025 cancellation, the organizers are determined that the comeback still feels like LTAMF with the same unmistakable warm and welcoming environment and the grooves of local musicians. Will puts it plainly—the goal is to keep it “free and inviting to all,” while giving the weekend “the same love, care, and attention that bigger events would have.” For Brandi and Stephanie, that’s exactly why the new structure matters; because the point isn’t to reinvent the festival’s soul, but to protect it, so the community can trust that this annual tradition won’t go quiet again.

What makes Lower Town special is its deep rooted identity in the arts. The festival opens

the neighborhood to the wider community and celebrates a truly unique piece of Paducah.”

Denise Romanak, Board Member

When the tents finally go up and the guitars start strumming, it will feel like homecoming for many. For Will, Brandi, and Stephanie, they will know that bringing this festival back was a decision they made with careful consideration. And for vendors and patrons, everyone will easily see this revival was made by those who want to make sure that this cherished event REMAINS a tradition for many years to come.

The History of LTAMF ★

Born as the Lower Town Fair in 1981, the festival began as a neighborhood welcome and an arts-and-music showcase led by Walnut North to show Paducah that Lower Town was thriving and open to all. As the City’s Artist Relocation Program launched in 2000, the event evolved into the Lower Town Arts & Music Festival, eventually becoming a Memorial Day weekend tradition. After being scaled back in 2009, Lower Town artists Stefanie Graves and Michael Terra helped rebuild it, growing participation and expanding programming in the early 2010s. Yeiser Art Center adopted LTAMF in 2016, and it continues to reflect Paducah’s creative identity.

LTAMF STAFF & BOARD STAFF

Will Brandon

Seth Murphy

Alyssa Rickards

BOARD

Josh Coffey

Allan Rhodes

Luke McCall

Stephanie Felker

Brandi Harless

Denise Romanak

by C ALEB BUFORD

Something’s Happening Here!

And to Josh Coffey, it’s perfectly clear.

JOSH COFFEY IS THE RARE KIND OF LOWER TOWN

Arts & Music Festival musician who can stand on the main stage and point to his front door. “I’m a resident of Lower Town,” he shared, describing a life that stays rooted in the same neighborhood LTAMF transforms each year. That lived-in connection is part of why the weekend means so much to him. He is not only a performer. He is also a music educator and venue operator, and has been involved pretty heavily with LTAMF for years.

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Josh has played the festival through multiple chapters of LTAMF. From playing with the Wheelhouse Rousters and Bawn in the Mash to sharing the stage with the international act Kalihulu, Josh has plenty of memories of the festival, including some of the most iconic. One of his favorite stories comes from a set that ran a little too loud and a little too long. “The police came and shut us down because we went over due to the noise ordinance,” he recalled, laughing at the moment that turned into a local badge of honor when the City of Paducah gave Bawn in the Mash a Duke of Paducah Award that same year. Everything the festival holds becomes some of the most memorable moments, even when things don’t go as planned.

That’s why the cancellation in 2025 hit hard. “I was angry, really,” he detailed. “I didn’t understand why that was happening.” For him, the loss was not just another gig disappearing off the calendar. “It’s a weekend of joy for the community,” he recalled, and without it, something important went missing.

This year, Josh isn’t only performing. He is also coordinating the second stage beside Etcetera Coffeehouse and serving on the new board, which places him right at the intersection of music and sustainability. For the second stage, his vision is rooted in the next generation. It will be sponsored by Time on the String, their third year supporting the stage. Historically, they have used it as their studio’s recital, and the scale is bigger than most people expect. “We have about 230 students, and maybe 80% of them will perform,” he said. They also invite other local studios, like Allen Music or

Blewett Studio, to participate if their students want to perform. But as the young artists take their final bows for the day, Josh shared that the stage will become an intimate songwriter corner. “As the day turns into night, then the pros will come on,” he remarked, with singer-songwriters and smaller acts carrying the stage into the later hours.

On the board side, his vision is simple. “I love the way that the festival is now set up with the festival just functioning to support itself rather than another entity,” he explained. “I think it makes the most sense for the festival to survive.” He wants the comeback to last, not just as a one-year return, but as a permanent tradition that is stable enough to stay for years to come.

Ask Josh what he hopes a first-time festival-goer feels when live music echoes through Lower Town, and his answer lands like the thesis of the whole weekend. “I hope that they feel a part of something,” he added, “that something’s happening now and that they feel a part of it too.”

by C ALEB BUFORD

Comfortable. Familiar. Full of Heart.

Shand Stamper Says LTAMF is Like Inviting People Over to Paducah’s Artsy Living Room for a Friendly Visit

IF THE LOWER TOWN ARTS AND Music Festival has a personality, Shand Stamper describes it like a place you already belong. Even as the festival has changed hands over the years, she believes one thing has stayed true. “I feel like it has always remained very hospitality focused,” she reflected. “It’s like Paducah’s cool friend’s living room and you can come and hang out.”

That sense of comfort and familiarity is part of why Shand and her husband, Mitch, have become familiar faces at LTAMF. Together, they operate S&M Studios, named simply for Shand and Mitch. Their work is different, but pairs naturally for a festival built around craft. Shand is a metalsmith and jeweler, making pieces by hand and sourcing her gemstones from around the world. Mitch is a wood-fire potter, creating functional pieces designed to be used, lived with, and passed along. Long before she ever had a booth, Shand was a festival-goer. She remembers pushing a stroller through the crowd with her very young daughter, watching the artists set up and feeling the pull. “I remember walking the festival with her in a stroller

and was kind of having [the fear of missing out].” That feeling became a yearly rhythm but, it didn’t take too long for her to become a vendor. Over time, LTAMF did too, moving through different eras and different organizers, yet still keeping what she calls a genuinely arts-focused experience.

The same child who once napped in the back of the booth has grown up alongside the festival. Stamper laughs remembering the stages. First, a stroller tucked behind displays. Then a toddler in the grass. Now, she says, her daughter and her friends run the festival streets, shop, and get treats from the local food vendors. That is part of the magic for her. LTAMF is not just something you attend. It is something you grow with.

When the festival went quiet in 2025, Shand felt the missing piece immediately. Not only because a major weekend of business disappeared, but because the reunion disappeared with it. It is where her former students stop by to say hello, where returning collectors wear pieces they bought years ago, where conversations pick up mid-sentence like no time has passed. “We love to get to hug the neck of people who have bought from us over the years,” she reminisced. “Even if we don’t sell to them… the weekend is about that connection.”

As LTAMF returns, Stamper hopes it still feels like the festival people remember; comfortable, familiar, and full of heart. And for those who have never had time to visit Paducah’s coolest living room, she offers some simple advice to make sure you get the best experience: Walk the whole show. Visit every booth. Bring a lawn chair. Most importantly, make a day of it.

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Crossroads of Sound

This special event will serve as an official kickoff for the return of the Lower Town Arts & Music Festival, uniting Paducah’s vibrant arts community for an evening that sets the tone for a creative weekend.

The Paducah Symphony Orchestra (PSO), in partnership with the Lower Town Arts & Music Festival and the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau, will launch the festival’s highly anticipated return this spring with a one-of-a-kind crossover concert celebrating the region’s creative spirit.

The symphony will collaborate with multiple artist groups and a local composer to present an event unlike anything previously seen in the area. Titled Crossroads of Sound, the concert brings together classical and bluegrass traditions in a dynamic musical experience designed to appeal to symphony audiences and folk music fans alike. PSO will team up with local artists The Wheelhouse Rousters, Bawn in the Mash, and acclaimed singersongwriter SG Goodman for the performance, featuring original arrangements by Emmy Award-winning composer Mark Evitts, a Paducah native.

“The Paducah Symphony is thrilled to collaborate with The Wheelhouse Rousters and SG Goodman for an evening of bold, new musical arrangements as we kick off the return of the Lower Town Arts & Music Festival,” said PSO CEO Reece King. “This event reflects the spirit of collaboration and creativity that defines both the festival and our community.”

Crossroads of Sound will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, at the newly renovated Williams Family Symphony Hall, formerly Walter Jetton Jr. High School. The Paducah Symphony has called the building home since 2025, following a multi-year renovation project that transformed the historic structure into a premier performance.

TICKETS FOR CROSSROADS OF SOUND ARE ON SALE NOW AT PADUCAHSYMPHONY.ORG

“The Paducah Symphony Orchestra was part of some of my first live concert experiences growing up, so coming home for Crossroads of Sound is incredibly meaningful. Getting to do it alongside my friend Josh Coffey makes it even more special. We were in a band together 25 years ago (are we old now?), and we’ve stayed close while watching each other’s musical journeys unfold. I absolutely love the work he’s doing both with his band and through his teaching studio. Paducah is showing the world it can celebrate classical music AND bluegrass, folk, and country all in the same breath. That’s the beauty of Kentucky. We’ve always been a crossroads, and the music here reflects that. It’s deep, it’s real, and it’s part of who the people are.”

—EMMY WINNER MARK EVITTS

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Paducah’s Lang Park

James M. Lang is the namesake for the 3.2-acre green space, Lang Park, located at 350 Fountain Avenue. During his extensive political career, Fountain Avenue was what would have been considered the very edge of town. Lang had both electricity and the trolley run there to ensure that the whole of Paducah received the same services. This park also boasts a statue of General Lloyd Tilghman.

Politician and Problem Solver

In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors and political ambitions, James Lang also had a deep appreciation for agriculture. He saw a need within the grain harvesting industry noticing that by the time farmers had brought in their grain crop, the market prices had dropped. He wrote to the bank, asking for a loan to help create a sort of grain storage system, which would allow the farmers and keep it until prices went back up. He received a three-page letter in return thanking him for his innovation and concern for the local farmers.

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board for hearing specialists. His license was only the second one ever issued. Michael Stone’s license was #22. The Stone-Lang family business has been on the cusp of new hearing technology and advancements since the very beginning.

Hitting A Hearing Zenith

“At the time Uncle Waddie recognized the need to carry hearing aids at Stone-Lang, Zenith’s founder was loss, but found hearing aids to be rather expensive,” Mike recalls. The company’s CEO had his engineers take every available hearing aid on they could make one that did the same thing, at a better price. They started selling the Zenith version at drugstores, which is how Lang Brothers came to provide them.

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

by S USIE FENWICK

Ashley Johnson is Showing Up. And It Matters.

Paducah Bank Makes History with the Appointment of the First Woman to Become President and CEO of the Nearly 80-Year-Old Institution

IN PADUCAH, LEADERSHIP

rarely announces itself loudly. It shows up in steady hands, long meetings, and quiet investments in things that matter.

For Ashley Johnson, it’s the kind of leadership that feels natural.

As the first woman to serve as President and CEO of Paducah Bank in its nearly 80-year history, Ashley steps into a historic role. But the milestone, she says, is less about breaking barriers and more about moving forward.

“Community banking is about believing in people before the numbers make sense,” she says. “That’s how real growth happens.”

Ashley didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a CEO. She actually majored in agriculture at Murray State—a field she chose deliberately. Ag, like finance, has long been shaped by male leadership and Ashley was curious about how she might contribute in spaces where women were less common. She wasn’t looking to stand out. She was looking to do meaningful work.

Her early career with the USDA deepened that perspective. Working with agriculture data and statistics, she learned how numbers tell the story of real communities; crop yields shaped by weather, production trends affecting family farms, policy decisions influencing rural livelihoods.

When the finance opportunity arose, it was encouragement from mentors, colleagues, and family that helped her see herself differently. At Paducah Bank, nearly 70 percent of employees are women, and collaboration defines the culture. “Everyone has a voice here,” she explains. “We don’t lead by hierarchy. We lead together.” The shared leadership, and the culture it fosters, has carried the bank through record-setting financial years and into its next chapter of growth.

Ashley’s daughter recently marked this moment with the perfect coffee mug. It proclaims Girl Boss. “It’s meaningful not just because I’m the first woman,” Ashley says. “It’s meaningful because it shows what happens when opportunity and trust intersect.”

“Everyone has a voice here.We don’t lead by hierarchy. We lead together.”

Paducah Bank’s influence is woven into the city’s story. From Lower Town’s revitalization to longstanding support of the Carson Center and the National Quilt Museum, the bank has partnered with visionaries willing to imagine what could be. “Some of the places people love most in Paducah exist because someone was willing to take a chance,” Ashley says. “We want to be the bank standing behind those chances.”

For Paducah Bank, “why” has always been service to neighbors, to entrepreneurs, to families, and its own employees. “We’ve been here for 78 years,” she says. “Our purpose hasn’t changed. We exist to strengthen the community that strengthens us.”

Ashley’s commitment to Paducah extends well beyond her office. She has served on the board of the Barkley Regional Airport Authority, helping oversee the development of the new airport terminal. “I remember walking through that building while it was still under construction,” she says. “Seeing it now, knowing we were part of making that possible…it’s special.”

She has also been deeply involved with United Way, where early service on campaign and allocation committees eventually led to board leadership. That experience gave her a firsthand view of how coordinated community investment can change lives. “United Way taught me that impact isn’t accidental,” she says. “It takes structure and people willing to show up.” Those experiences inform how she leads today seeing the larger ecosystem around every financial decision.

Ashley’s leadership style is grounded in empathy. A mother of three— including a son adopted internationally as a teenager—she understands

both the weight and the joy of responsibility. “Love doesn’t require the same language,” she says of her family’s journey. “And leadership isn’t about control. It’s about connection.”

Inside Paducah Bank, this philosophy shows up in flexible time off policies built on trust, leadership development programs, and a newly established employee assistance fund designed to help team members facing unexpected hardship. “When we announced it, the first question was, ‘How can we contribute?’” Ashley recalls. “That tells you who our people are.”

When asked what she would say to young people, especially young women who aspire to leadership roles, Ashley doesn’t hesitate. “Ask for what you need,” she says. “Say what you think. You don’t have to be right every time but don’t silence yourself.” She encourages young professionals not to put themselves in narrow lanes too early. “Don’t put yourself in a box,” she says. “Be open to possibilities you didn’t plan for.”

She also speaks candidly about balance. “There are seasons,” she says. “When you’re raising a family, when you’re building a career; it won’t always feel even. Give yourself grace. Keep going.” And if confidence wavers? “Make yourself big,” she says with a smile. “Sometimes your posture has to lead before your confidence catches up.”

As Paducah Bank prepares for its 80th anniversary, Ashley is focused on purposeful growth; continuing record performance, expanding thoughtfully, and ensuring the bank remains deeply rooted in the communities it serves. “After all is said and done, I hope people say we helped make things possible,” she says. “That we showed up when it mattered.”

Abstraction Spirits Blends Art, Heritage, and Collaboration in Downtown Paducah

On the eve of an approaching snowstorm, guests gathered at the bar for a new distillery’s late-January grand opening.

The atmosphere was unhurried and convivial, a fitting debut for a space that invites conversation. A build-your-own oldfashioned menu encouraged experimentation, while classic cocktails and a few originals, including the Lion’s Tail (a bright balance of bourbon, maple, and lime served up in a coupe), showcased the bar’s thoughtful, playful approach to flavor.

Inside a three-story building on Jefferson Street, Abstraction Spirits is a new downtown Paducah distillery offering a distinctly creative vision of Kentucky heritage. The historic space features a tasting room and informal gallery displaying the work of several regional artists. The result is a bar designed for conversation, a place where spirits and art are treated as natural companions, each deepening the experience of the other.

“You basically get the artwork for free,” says owner Frank Dietiker. “It’s an added pleasure. It adds a story.”

That philosophy began to take shape in early 2023, when Dietiker participated in a private barrel selection through a bourbon club in Louisville, tasting whiskey straight from the cask. On the drive home with his wife and friends, the conversation shifted from flavor notes to labels, artwork, and what the bottle itself could become.

A few months later, the idea crystallized at an art collectors’ event in Napa Valley. Surrounded by paintings, Dietiker noticed the table conversation drifting away from art toward bourbon. It was a small moment that confirmed there was room for a brand fluent in both worlds.

The result was Abstraction Spirits, a collaborative project in which the spirit and

DEAR JENNIFER, this thank you has been a long time in getting to you. We have made two moves and I have finally gotten online again. You were remarkably helpful in the listing and eventual sale of our home. We feel that your special attention to everything involving the listing, photos, and sale could not have been performed in a more professional manner. Your personal touch in dealing with us as individuals, assured us of a successful outcome and made each step so easy for us. Your wonderfully warm and infectious personality added so much more to our relationship with you. What started as a business relationship, became a friendship. You were highly recommended to us, but we could never have expected the wonderfully talented professional and human being you are. We are enjoying the Florida sunshine thanks to your efforts!

With sincerest appreciation, Frank and Judy Sublette

Jennifer S. Palmer, CRS

the artwork are given equal importance. By sourcing small batches of aged whiskey early on, the team was able to focus on curation and storytelling from the start, treating each label as a unique artistic statement.

One of Abstraction’s most notable collaborators is Louisville-based artist Keith Anderson, whose equine-focused artwork has appeared as official commissions for the Kentucky Derby and on commemorative bottles for Woodford Reserve. Anderson’s bold, dynamic style brings movement and color to Abstraction’s labels. “Even if you don’t like bourbon,” he says, “you can come here and enjoy the art.”

That same collaborative energy extends closer to home; nowhere is it more evident than in one of Abstraction’s most talked-about releases.

A limited-release light whiskey, finished in a gin barrel, illustrates the playful spirit of the brand. Dietiker conceived the idea after realizing that while many gin producers age gin in used whiskey barrels, he had never seen the process reversed. If it failed, the plan was to lean into the novelty.

Patrick Koetting, Abstraction Spirits’ director of sales and a co-owner, remembers being unconvinced. “This is

probably the most egg-on-my-face moment I’ve had,” he says, laughing. “I’ve been doing this a long time, and I just didn’t think there was any way it would work.”

Then he tasted it. “I took a sip and suddenly I’m trying to figure out how to walk it back, because it was amazing.”

The unexpected success became part of the story, and so did the label. Featuring artwork by Paducah-based artist Sandi Johnson, the bottle depicts a medieval, armor-clad raccoon wielding a sword: Sir Trash Panda. What began as a tongue-in-cheek experiment became one of Abstraction’s most memorable releases.

Looking ahead, the team is preparing for its first in-house distillation this spring: a gin slated to be the inaugural run on Abstraction’s shiny new still. Tentatively titled Lady Ginny, the release will mark a shift from sourcing toward production. The year ahead includes plans for guided tours, tastings, and small events that open the process to guests.

Behind the bar, tastings unfold at an easy pace, with room for conversation. John Biller, the bar manager, says tasting whiskey is nostalgic. “For me, rye always brings me right back to Christmas. Baking spices, warmth, that feeling of being a kid again.”

Blending classic distilling traditions with contemporary art, collaboration, and a sense of play, Abstraction Spirits is a natural fit for downtown Paducah. “Some people are drawn in by the whiskey,” Dietiker says. “Others by the artwork. We want to meet both of those people.”

Art of the Label

Keith Anderson

Abstraction Spirits features work by Louisville-based artist Keith Anderson, whose equine-focused paintings have earned national recognition through commissions for the Kentucky Derby. Anderson made history as the first African American artist—and the first Brown-Forman employee—to design the Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby bottle. He was selected for back-to-back commemorative bottle commissions in 2018 and 2019, and later created the Official Art for the 146th Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks in 2020.

Original works by Anderson are displayed throughout Abstraction Spirits’ tasting room, creating an informal gallery that underscores the distillery’s art-forward approach to Kentucky heritage.

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Preservation of the Past

Fast forward five years and thousands of photographs, programs, brochures, postcards, maps, and miscellaneous memorabilia. “Without the help of our volunteer Johanna Rhodes, we would not have nearly as many items on line as we do.  We do not have the staffing or the time or money to digitize everything we have,” Nathan admits.

Blushing after those accolades, I turn back to the task at hand—backfilling high school collections of newspapers and photographs, finding time to add more items from Irvin Cobb’s personal collection stored in the archives, getting ready to scan some World War I letters and family histories—so much of the past sitting here waiting to be made available to library users.

“Since development of our historical (digital) site, we’ve added almost 50,000 items that are searchable for staff to help patrons find information,” Nathan says. Almost 20,000 of those are available for public viewing by going to the library’s online digital site.

Actually, providing these digital resources ties in nicely with the library’s mission to patrons, says Nathan. These databases allow patrons from around the world to use a few key strokes to find and view information about McCracken County, western Kentucky, and the surrounding area.

“Often individuals and establishments will not know what to do with items they find after a loved one has passed or as their business is closing, and they will contact us to see if we can provide archival storage as well as digital access to them,” says Nathan looking around at the boxes

McCracken Co. Library Preservation of the Past

filling the shelves in his office. We can, he says, if it fits with the library’s mission.

This has been the source of a number of newer collections added in the past couple of years, like collections of photographs taken by Walter “Dub” Beasley who owned Beasley Monuments and those snapped by Jack Bray who took out his camera to capture bits of Paducah history.

“One of my favorite collections includes our African American newspaper collection which is a valuable asset,” says Nathan. “Other great items came from the Johnston Brothers (Bob and Jack) who were just looking to share what they have in their personal collections.”  Nathan notes the huge number of photographs in the Broadway United Methodist Church/James Curtis Estate collection, the Paducah Rotary collection, the WPSD-TV collection and the Troop One Boy Scouts collection as some of the most notable.

“I’m also very fond of our Oral History collection, not just our Kentucky 1974-1979 original collection, but also our access to the Ohio River Portrait, Black Paducah Oral Histories and the Kentucky Ordinance Work Oral History Projects that we’ve been able to add,” recounts Nathan.

What’s popular on the digital site? Many people look for photos from the 1937 flood, even 90 years after the event. “People are always looking for houses they lived in or storefronts they frequented or were owned by relatives,” Nathan relates.

"People are always looking for houses they lived in or storefronts they frequented or were owned by relatives.”

Nathan Lynn

This volunteer frequents school collections, City Directories and for fun, the Postcard Collection.

There is always a backlog of items waiting to start the process to become part of the library’s official history of the area, a process that includes scanning, formatting for the database, and being paired with the proper information (creating metadata). Numerous steps are involved.

And even with a backlog to choose from, the collection needs more variety.  Not all of the county is covered equally at present because of the way people bring in items to add.  “We would love more photographs from Paducah’s Southside,” Nathan says. “And we want more rural photographs, ones from Grahamville and Reidland and Lone Oak and Ragland. Patrons can drop off photos and memorabilia. They’ll be scanned, and then they go back to the owners.”

If you are wondering how to access these thousands of items at your fingertips, just go to the McCracken County Public Library website, click the main menu, select Research and Learn, click on History and Genealogy, and then choose Digital Collections. It’s a great way to spend time learning about your community.

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Samantha Payne From Paducah to the Pentagon

After high school, Payne attended Western Kentucky University before transferring to the University of Evansville, earning a degree in education. She moved to Atlanta to teach, a job she loved—but love did not pay the bills. “I was hungry,” she said. “I enjoyed teaching, but I couldn’t live on the salary. I knew I needed another path—one that would pay for my education.”

That path was the U.S. Air Force. At 26—older than many recruits—Payne joined with the intention of serving four years and earning a master’s degree in a medical related field. Instead, she took a battery of aptitude tests and was selected for one of the most demanding roles in the military: a cyber-Chinese language analyst. She learned Mandarin at an intense pace, studying long days until she could understand Chinese news broadcasts within a year.

For 13 years, Payne worked on classified cyber and intelligence missions, supporting national security efforts. Her expertise led her to leadership roles at the Air Force Institute’s Chinese Aerospace Studies Institute—where she found joy returning to her teaching roots—and eventually to assignments few service members ever experience.

Payne has served in the Pentagon, the office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the White House, where she worked on the National Security Council as a policy advisor for emerging technologies. There, she helped write global policy on artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and biotechnology, crafting talking points for the Vice President, President, and National Security Advisor, and helping organize the world’s first global AI summit in the United Kingdom. She completed a congressional fellowship and worked in the office of U.S. Representative Marc Veasey of Texas on defense, public health, veterans’ issues, cyber policy, and foreign affairs.

Today, she serves as a Department of the Air Force Congressional Liaison, accompanying members of Congress around the world, coordinating travel, and ensuring national security and military priorities are met on the ground.

“I’ve seen policy from every angle—executive, legislative, and now military,” Payne says. “It all connects.”

Payne’s rise through the ranks has not come without adversity. While learning Chinese early in her career, she was struck by a vehicle during a training exercise, leaving her with chronic pain and nerve damage. Despite this injury and the physical demands of the military, she has continued to serve.

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service for her leadership and innovation. Now an E-8 Senior Master Sergeant, Payne has one rank left to achieve and plans to serve approximately 25 years.

“The Air Force and I are clearly not done with each other yet,” she says. “I’ll be finishing strong, serving with purpose, and investing in the next generation of Airmen.”

Despite living at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., Payne will always stay connected to Paducah. Her father and stepmother still live here, and her family’s influence—from her aunt Donna Hawkins, a retired Paducah educator and now a minister, and Uncle Henderson, the chaplain at Baptist Health hospital, to her involvement in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.—continues to shape her commitment to education, service, and mentorship. She proudly carries Paducah with her wherever she goes.

“When I teach or brief on China or strategic competition, I do it with Kentucky flair,” she says. “I don’t hide my accent. People say I’m hospitable—and that’s Paducah.”

Payne is also a mother to 13-year-old Aniyah, an artistic, NASA-dreaming teen who has already met female astronauts and imagines her own future among the stars. Payne is engaged to Kenneth Powell, who she met last Valentine’s Day, with plans to marry in Las Vegas in 2026.

And even now after the White House, Capitol Hill, and global summits, Payne remains grounded in faith, purpose, and possibility. “When I found out I had three more years left, I did not think I wanted to continue to serve,” she admits. "But I grew up in the church and I’m very spiritual. I know that God is telling me we have more to do here.”

“When I was five years old, I said I wanted to work at the Capitol and the White House, standing on the couch pretending to talk to audiences,” she says. “And it happened. I want people from Paducah—especially young Black girls—to know that where you start does not limit where you can go.”

From Paducah to D.C., Samantha Payne’s story reminds us that our roots are the foundation that carry us forward.

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So, she drew up plans for the flag and submitted them to the city commission. The proposal was adopted and all that’s officially left to do now is make the presentation to the city. No date has been set for this ceremony.

“We want this to be everybody’s flag,” she said, “so Chief Paduke was selected as the person to be honored on the banner. He, of all the famous persons connected with Paducah, really belongs to all Paducahans.”

Flag makers at first suggested that a standard picture of an Indian be used as a symbol of Chief Paduke, thus saving several dollars on the cost of the flag.

But, wanting the flag to be perfect down to the last detail, Mrs. Campbell balked at this idea and went to great lengths to have a picture made of Chief Paduke from the statue on Jefferson Street, from which the drawing on the flag was made.

It was reported back in 1827 that the Paduke chief, long since moved from this area with his people, returned in his older years to pay a last visit to General William Clark. He died of fever in the swamps before he could see Clark, who, at the time, was away on a trip.

Clark returned a few months later, history says, and decided to start his own town. He called it Paducah in honor of his deceased friend.

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New Air Ser vice Opens Door to Visitors from Chicago

BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY, BARKLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT WELCOMED A NEW DAILY United Airlines service to Chicago O’Hare and Houston George Bush Intercontinental. “These new routes, operated by SkyWest Airlines, will change how visitors reach Paducah and create opportunities for tourism growth,” said Alyssa Phares, President & CEO of the Paducah Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The service will offer 14 round-trip flights weekly, connecting western Kentucky to more than 270 destinations worldwide. “This new flight changes the conversation about how people can get here from Chicago. We’ve attracted visitors willing to drive from Nashville, St. Louis, and Louisville for years. Now we can invite travelers from Chicago to fly directly into our backyard,” Alyssa added.

Chicago has consistently ranked high among the CVB's website visitors, regularly accounting for 15% of new users. The data tells a clear story: Chicagoans are already interested in Paducah. Direct flights remove the potential barrier of a five-hour drive and open the door to more spontaneous weekend trips.

The convenience of a small regional airport also adds to the appeal. Shorter lines, easy parking, and stressfree security make Barkley an attractive alternative to congested airports and long drives. For weekend travelers and special event visitors, that simplicity matters. It also means visitors arrive relaxed and ready to explore rather than worn out from the journey.

In December 2025, Chicago was the top source of website traffic outside Kentucky with users exploring events, restaurants, and things to do. The shoulder season campaigns drove nearly 5,000 clicks from the Chicago market alone, putting Paducah’s arts scene, dining, and UNESCO Creative City designation in front of new audiences. The Houston route serves a different purpose, giving western Kentucky residents and business travelers convenient access to one of United’s largest global hubs. The evening return flight makes same-day business trips possible, and connections through Houston reach destinations across the western United States.

Beyond leisure travel, reliable air access strengthens Paducah’s ability to attract meetings, conferences, and group travel. Tourism growth supported by air service creates ripple effects across hospitality, retail, and the broader local economy.

THE Art OF INSURANCE

We know you love your family as much as we love ours (as in the case of Susan’s granddaughter Gracie Opal). And we know you want to protect them in every way possible. Susan and Mason are happy to meet with you to discuss all the potential plans from State Farm that carefully insure the safety and security of every beloved member of your wonderful family. Call us today! Become a member of OUR family.

LastWord the

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“The more I think it over, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.”

—VINCENT VAN GOGH

ERIN GRAY’S grandmother and uncle, among other family hobbyists, instilled creativity and exploration in her from a young age. “I treasured visits to my uncle’s art studio, sat in awe as my grandmother put paint to canvas, and excitedly participated in my father’s entrepreneurial innovations. I have picked up the mantle from these artists in my family who have gone before me,” Erin explains.

Erin blurs the boundaries between painting and sculpture by piping acrylic paint into three-dimensional flowers and forms. Unexpected materials—resin, canvas, wood frames, ink, and reworked paint remnants—add playful mixed-media energy.

VIEW ERIN’S ART AT THE 2026 LOWER TOWN ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL.

Dr. James K. Hunt, DMD

Dr. Allison Reed, DMD

Dr. Ethan Shelton, DMD

CHANGE Matters.

SO DO THE PEOPLE WHO BRING THE WOW.

For 78 years strong, Paducah Bank has been committed to Paducah—and for the past 20 years, we’ve celebrated WOW. We’re here for the neighbors, families, students, organizations, and businesses who make this community stronger, kinder, and more connected. Because change doesn’t just happen in big moments—it happens from classrooms to Main Street, from volunteer projects to small acts of kindness that ripple outward. That’s why we’re proud to introduce Changemakers, with WPSD Local 6 and The Paducah Sun—to shine a light on the good happening all around us and celebrate the ones who turn care into action. Know someone creating positive change? Nominate a WOWmaker. Visit wpsdlocal6.com or paducahsun.com (click on the contest tab)

Learn more at paducahbank.com