BEAVER DAM, Ky. (9/23/15) — The Old Time Church Service will be back in Downtown Beaver Dam at 6:30 p.m. this weekend, Sept. 25-26. Bro. Willie Trawick will be preaching with singing from the Burden Family and Almost Home. All are welcome to attend. Bring a lawn chair. For more information, call Bro. Paul Lindsey at […]
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Old Time Church Service at BD Art Park Sept. 25-26
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Red Hill Baptist Church Fall Revival Oct. 1-3
Red Hill Baptist Church will hold its Fall Revival at 7 p.m. nightly, Oct. 1-3 and at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at the church. Soup and sandwiches will follow the Oct. 4 service. Bro. Randy Stallings will be the evangelist and Bro. Bruce Embry will provide the music with Barbara Blanton as pianist. The congregation of […]
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USDA Commits $2.5 Million To Expand New Farmer Education
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced that $2.5 million in grants is now available for projects to educate new and underserved farmers about more than 20 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency programs that can provide financial, disaster or technical assistance to the agricultural community.
The grants will be awarded to nonprofits and public higher education institutions that develop proposals to improve farmer education on topics such as financial training, value-added production, recordkeeping, property inheritance, and crop production practices.
“We want to partner with nonprofits, colleges and universities who share USDA’s priority of helping more Americans enter farming as a profession, whether they are new or underserved farmers, returning Service members, minorities, women, and urban producers or those who sell their crops locally,” said Harden.
USDA will conduct four evaluation periods to review applications, with the deadlines of Nov. 20, 2015, Jan. 22, 2015, Mar. 18, 2016, and May 27, 2016. Awards between $20,000 and $100,000 per applicant will be available. To learn more about the funding solicitation and the related Farm Service Agency programs, details can be found at www.grants.gov with the reference number USDA-FSA-CA-2015-001. For nonprofits and public institutions of higher education that are considering participation, an online informational session will be conducted on Sept. 28, 2015. Additional information is posted on the Web at www.fsa.usda.gov/outreach.
This funding builds on historic investments made in rural America over the past six years and supports programs enacted by the 2014 Farm Bill, which achieved meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. Since enactment, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has progressively implemented each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill.
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Ky. Coal Academy Mine Rescue Team Member Wins National Competition
Taber Tichenor, Kentucky Coal Academy Mine Rescue team member, accepts the 2015 National Mining Association Mine Rescue Bench Biopak Award from Ted Beck, Biomarine Inc. sales manager, and Danny Knott, KCA Mine Rescue director.[/caption]
VERSAILLES, Ky. (9/23/15) – Kentucky Coal Academy Mine Rescue team member Taber Tichenor was recently named the 2015 National Mine Rescue Bench BioPak Champion after competing in the National Mining Association’s Coal Mine Rescue, First Aid, Bench and Preshift Competition, which was held Sept. 14-17 in Lexington.
Tichenor, also of Armstrong Coal Company, Inc., Kronos Mine, was one of 43 people competing in the Bench BioPak 240R Competition, where miners are given 30 minutes to inspect and make sure self-contained breathing apparatuses work properly.
"I always appreciate the opportunity to compete in these type of events so I can be best prepared to protect the safety of myself and my mining community," said Tichenor. "Miners share a strong bond, and as many of us work closely on a daily basis and become like family, it’s important we test our skills and knowledge so we’re there for one another if called upon in a real-life emergency situation.”
During the four-day event, 65 teams from 12 states also competed in individual first aid and preshift competitions, as well as the two-day mine rescue team competition, all administered by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration.
“The last thing we ever want to experience is a disaster, but we do have to consistently test our emergency preparedness skills in case we’re faced with a worse-case scenario,” said Danny Knott, Mine Rescue team director. “National competitions are valuable because they allow us to compare our skill set with the entire nation. We are blessed to have competent reliable coal miners on this team to give their best effort in all rescue situations.”
The Kentucky Coal Academy’s Mine Rescue program, which operates out of Madisonville Community College, is made up of people working in western Kentucky area coal mines operated by Armstrong Coal Company, Inc.; KenAmerican Resources, Inc.; Pennyrile Energy LLC; and Thoroughfare Mining LLC.
For more information about the Kentucky Coal Academy’s mine rescue services, call (270) 824-1774 or (270) 871-0672.
Information provided by Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Kentucky Coal Academy.
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Beverly Eugene Shultz
Beverly Eugene Shultz, 75, passed away Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015. He was born in Ohio County to the late Charles Shultz and Bertha Fraley. Survivors include four children, Danny, Terri, Donna and Paula; one brother, William Shultz; and four sisters, Vickie Greenwell, Cissy Hart, Donna Mattingly and Brenda Henry. Graveside Service will be held at […]
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Thurman ‘Peewee’ Brown
Thurman “Peewee” Brown, 77, of Fordsville, died Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, at Norton Hospital in Louisville. He was born in Fordsville, son of the late Fred Brown and Elvera Brown Howard.
He retired from Montpelier Glove Factory, was a rebuilder of old Ford tractors and was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include his wife, Jessie Brown, of Fordsville; his son, Kim (April) Brown, of Fordsville; and three brothers, Erman Brown, of Fordsville, Melvin (Jeanie) Brown, of Falls of Rough, and Jim (Evelyn) Brown, of Towanda, Ill.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Geary Funeral Home, Fordsville, with burial in Fordsville Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and after 9 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
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Tania Jean Burns
Tania Jean Burns, 57, of Rockport, Ky., passed away, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 in Owensboro. She was born Dec. 25, 1957, in Louisville to Clarence Kleinhelter and the late Margret Halt Kleinhelter.
She was a member of Rockport Baptist Church and worked as a hairdresser. Tania was the former mayor of Rockport, Ky.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Margret Halt Kleinhelter.
Survivors include her father and stepmother, Clarence and Elaine Kleinhelter, of Beaver Dam; her sister, Tena Krages, of Louisville; her stepsister, Bonnie Lawson, of Louisville; her nephew, Josh Krages, of Louisville; two grandnieces and her best friend, Dolly West.
Memorial Service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at William L. Danks Funeral Home in Beaver Dam. Friends may visit with the family from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donation to the Ohio County Animal Shelter, 1582 Country Club Ln, Hartford, KY 42347. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Online messages of condolence can be made at: www.danksfuneralhome.com.
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“Airing Of The Quilts” Returning To Beaver Dam
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Bluegrass Crossings Business Centre Designated As AT&T Fiber Ready
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Doyle Ray Wilson
Doyle Ray Wilson, 83, of Beaver Dam, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, at the Beaver Dam Nursing and Rehab. He was born on Monday, Sept. 19, 1932, in Grayson County, the son of the late Hena and Ada Jewel (Shain) Wilson. He was a self-employed painter. Other than his parents, he is preceded in […]
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Driver Killed In North Ohio Co. Accident
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Blue Moon Bluegrass Festival Kicks Off Tomorrow
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Beaver Dam Arrest Reports Released – Sept. 30
BEAVER DAM, Ky. (9/29/15) —The Beaver Dam Police Department released the following reports Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Tammy Smith, 41, was charged Sept. 9 with speeding, 15 mph over.
Shawn Howell, 24, was charged Sept. 8 on a warrant for failure to appear.
Helen McKinney, 44, was charged Sept. 9 with theft by unlawful taking under $500 - shoplifting.
Christina Edge, 29, was charged Aug. 27 with fraudulent use of a credit card and forgery, second.
Rodney Jarvis, 58, was charged Sept. 9 with theft by unlawful taking under $500.
Jacob Shultz, 19, was charged Sept. 14 with speeding, 10 mph over.
Stephen Edge, 19, was charged Sept. 14 with speeding, 10 mph over.
Jesse Baker, 19, was charged Sept. 15 with possession of synthetic drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Harley Bronaugh, 21, was charged Sept. 15 with speeding.
Adam Payne, 17, was charged Sept. 15 with failure to wear a seatbelt.
James Fendal, 40, was charged Sept. 18 with no/expired registration plate.
Tim Watson, 43, was charged on Sept. 21 on a warrant from another police agency.
Cody Williams, 21, was charged Sept. 20 with speeding, 15 mph over.
Ryan Rickard, 19, was charged Sept. 24 with operating a motor vehicle under the influence.
Samantha Campbell, 24, was charged Sept. 24 with failure to maintain required insurance.
Dillon Bailey, 17, was charged Sept. 25 with speeding.
Brian McCown, 30, was charged Sept. 28 with operating on a suspended operator's license and speeding.
Information provided by the Beaver Dam Police Department
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Deadline To Register To Vote In Nov. 3 Election Is Oct. 5
FRANKFORT, Ky. (9/29/15) — Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes reminds eligible Kentuckians that the deadline to register to vote in the upcoming Nov. 3 General Election is Monday, Oct. 5. “Kentucky is at its best when all citizens are engaged,” said Grimes. “With less than one week left to register to vote in the […]
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Fall Forest Fire Hazard Season Begins Oct. 1
FRANKFORT, Ky. (9/30/15) — The Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF) is using noses and paws to catch arsonists as the fall wildfire season, which runs from Oct. 1 through Dec. 15, gets underway. During the wildfire hazard season outdoor burning is prohibited from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in or within 150 feet of any woodland or brushland.
Bloodhounds trained to investigate arson cases will be available for the second year. Through a partnership with the Bell County Forestry Camp, multiple bloodhounds and handlers are now available to assist KDF with wildfire arson investigation.
The Division of Forestry will also partner with the Kentucky State Police (KSP), using KSP arson investigators to assist in investigation, interviewing and arrest of arsonists.
Forestry officials agree that vigorous investigation is the key to catching arsonists, but community effort is needed if arson is to be eliminated. “Everybody loses when wildland arsonists strike: families can lose their homes, firefighters are put at unnecessary risk, taxpayers foot the bill for suppressing the fires and jobs are often eliminated when the forest resource is reduced,” said Leah W. MacSwords, director of the Division of Forestry. “To bring arson to an end, we need the entire community to get involved.”
Kentucky has an arson hotline so citizens can call to report arson. Information regarding arson or suspected arsonists should be reported by calling the Target Arson Hotline at 1-800-27-ARSON. Notifiers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 if the information provided leads to the arrest and indictment of an arsonist.
For questions about local restrictions on burning, call the local fire department and the Division for Air Quality at 502-564-3999.
Information provided by Jennifer Turner
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Dewey Dee Nabours
Dewey Dee Nabours, 76, of Olaton, Ky., passed away Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, at his residence. He was born Oct. 14, 1938, in Fairview Community, Olaton, Ky., to the late Willie Nabours and Finis Elizabeth Young Nabours.
He was a 1959 graduate of Horse Branch High School. To know Dewey was to love him. He always had a wonderful outlook on life and enjoyed every job he had and loved to make people laugh with a funny story. One of his favorite sayings was “anything worth doing is worth doing right”. He was an active member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church and loved his church family. Dewey loved farming and was a great cattleman, loved horses, four-wheeling, basketball and baseball. He will be greatly missed and we can imagine him riding a horse around heaven caring for God’s cattle. Happy trails, Dewey.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Linda Embry Nabours, of Olaton; one son, William (Christie) Nabours, of Olaton; five grandchildren, Tate, Dustin, Bradley, Jacob and Katelynn; siblings, Quinton (Mary) Nabours, Lou (Charles) Barnard, Raleigh (Rita) Nabours, Blenda (Eugene) Filback, Paul (Joyce) Embry, JoAnna (Lonnie Jr.) Phelps, Phillip (Sue) Embry, Larry (Elda) Embry and Gary (Cindy) Embry as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Cedar Grove Baptist Church, 8086 Cedar Grove Road, Olaton, Ky., with Rev. Phillip David Embry officiating. Burial will follow Cedar Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral at the church.
The family request expressions of sympathy take the form of contributions to Hospice of Ohio County, 1211 Main Street, Hartford, KY 42347.
Arrangements by Miller-Schapmire Funeral Home.
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KSP Promotes 52 Officers, Including Ohio Co. Native
Kentucky State Police Sgt. Jonathan Whittaker is pictured with Kelly Freeman and little Karly Whittaker yesterday as the KSP held its promotion ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in Lexington.[/caption]
FRANKFORT, Ky. (9/30/15) — The Kentucky State Police recognized the promotion of 52 officers throughout the state at a ceremony held yesterday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Lexington. Three lieutenant colonels, four majors, eight captains, 13 lieutenants and 24 sergeants were commissioned. Included in the 24 sergeants commissioned was a former Ohio Co. native.
Major Michael P. Crawford was promoted to lieutenant colonel and transferred to the Operations Division, as Director of Operations. A resident of Georgetown, Crawford is a 32-year veteran of the agency.
Major Scott Miller was promoted to lieutenant colonel and transferred from the Operations Division, Special Enforcement Troop, to the Administrative Division. A resident of Lexington, Miller is an 18-year veteran of the agency.
Major James Curtis O’Bannon was promoted to lieutenant colonel and transferred from the Operations Division, East Troop, to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. O’Bannon is an 18-year veteran of the agency.
Captain Robert A. Shoultz was promoted to major and transferred from Post 16 (Henderson) to the Operations Division, West Troop. A resident of Henderson, Shoultz is a 17-year veteran of the agency.
Capt. Sean P. Welch was promoted to major and transferred from Post 9 (Pikeville) to the Operations Division, East Troop.
Capt. Steven J. Long was promoted to major and transferred from the Special Operations Branch to the Special Enforcement Troop.
Capt. Christian Matthew Feltner was promoted to major and transferred from the Operations Division, Special Enforcement Troop, East Drug Enforcement/Special Investigations Branch to the Administrative Division, Professional Support Troop. A resident of Hyden, Feltner is a 17-year veteran of the agency.
Lt. Kenneth K. Bowman was promoted to captain and will remain at Post 8 (Morehead). A resident of Ezel, Bowman is a 16-year veteran of the agency.
Lt. Darren S. Stapleton was promoted to captain and transferred from Post 9 (Pikeville) to Post 7 (Richmond). A resident of Prestonsburg, Stapleton is an 18-year veteran of the agency.
Lt. Howard R. Rice was promoted to captain and transferred from Post 5 (Campbellsburg) to the Driver Testing Branch. A resident of Bethlehem, Rice is an 18-year veteran of the agency.
Lt. Christopher D. Steward was promoted to captain and transferred from Post 7 (Richmond) to the Internal Affairs Branch.
Lt. James D. Heller was promoted to captain and will remain at Post 15 (Columbia). A resident of Magnolia, Heller is a 20-year veteran of the agency.
Lt. Michael T. Kidd was promoted to captain and transferred from Post 12 (Frankfort) to Post 16 (Henderson). A resident of Lexington, Kidd is a 17-year veteran of the agency.
Lt. Brent W. White was promoted to captain and transferred from Post 1 (Mayfield) to Post 2, Madisonville. A resident of Eddyville, White is a 17-year veteran of the agency.
Sgt. John Scott Felder was promoted to lieutenant and transferred from Post 12 (Frankfort) to Post 11, London. A resident of Richmond, Felder is a 10-year veteran of the agency.
Sgt. Michael C. Rogers was promoted to lieutenant and transferred from Drug Enforcement/Special Investigations East to the Facilities Security Branch as commander.
Sgt. Bruce W. Button was promoted to lieutenant and will remain at the Special Operations Branch. A resident of Shelbyville, Button is a 15-year veteran of the agency.
Sgt. Fredrick R. Cornett was promoted to lieutenant and transferred from Post 15 (Columbia) to Post 12 (Frankfort).
Sgt. Lawrence C. Newton, Jr. was promoted to lieutenant and transferred from Post 5 (Campbellsburg) to the Criminal Identification and Records Branch. A resident of LaGrange, Newton is a 17-year veteran of the agency.
Sgt. Jeffrey M. Lewis was promoted to lieutenant and will remain at Post 8 (Morehead). A resident of Vanceburg, Lewis is a 16-year veteran of the agency.
Sgt. Aaron R. Martin was promoted to lieutenant and transferred from Post 8 (Morehead) to Post 14 (Ashland). A resident of Olive Hill, Martin is a 14-year veteran of the agency.
Sgt. Norman W. Preston, III was promoted to lieutenant and transferred from the Criminal Identification and Records Branch to the Academy Branch. A resident of Lexington, Preston is a 15-year veteran of the agency.
Sgt. Kevin L. Johnson was promoted to lieutenant and transferred from Post 4 (Elizabethtown) to Post 5 (Campbellsburg).
Sgt. Donald J. Shearer was promoted to lieutenant and transferred from Drug Enforcement/Special Investigations East to Post 9 (Pikeville). A resident of Banner, Shearer is a 14-year veteran of the agency.
Sgt. Charles D. White was promoted to lieutenant and transferred from Post 3 (Bowling Green) to Post 1 (Mayfield). A resident of Clarkson, White is a 12-year veteran of the agency.
Sgt. David F. Trimble was promoted to lieutenant and will remain at Post 5 (Campbellsburg). A resident of Carrollton, Trimble is a 14-year veteran of the agency.
Facilities Security Sgt. Harry E. Rose was promoted to lieutenant. A resident of Lawrenceburg, Rose is an eight-year veteran of the agency.
Sr. Trooper Bradly L. Stotts was promoted to sergeant and transferred from Post 15 (Columbia) to the Criminal Identification and Records Branch. A resident of Columbia, Stotts is a 10-year veteran of the agency.
Tpr. First Class Jerry (Jay) L. Perkins, Jr. was promoted to sergeant and transferred from Post 9 (Pikeville) to Post 12 (Frankfort). A resident of Whitesburg, Perkins is a 14-year veteran of the agency.
Sr. Tpr. Eric L. Gibson was promoted to sergeant and transferred from Post 14 (Ashland) to Post 5 (Campbellsburg). A resident of Ashland, Gibson is a 10-year veteran of the agency.
Sr. Tpr. Danny E. Caudill was promoted to sergeant.
Sr. Tpr. Bradley M. Arterburn was promoted to sergeant and will remain at the Recruitment Branch. A resident of Crestwood, Arterburn is a six-year veteran of the agency.
Tpr. First Class Paul Blanton was promoted to sergeant and transferred from the Public Affairs Branch to the Criminal Identification and Records Branch. A resident of Lancaster, Blanton is an 11-year veteran of the agency.
Sr. Tpr. Ryan T. Johnson was promoted to sergeant and will remain at Post 4 (Elizabethtown). A resident of Elizabethtown, Johnson is an eight-year veteran of the agency.
Tpr. First Class Brian S. Lee was promoted to sergeant and transferred from Drug Enforcement/Special Investigations East to Post 8 (Morehead). A resident of Van Lear, Lee is an 11-year veteran of the agency.
Tpr. First Class Hunter L. Martin was promoted to sergeant and will remain at the Collision Analysis Branch. A resident of Louisville, Martin is a 17-year veteran of the agency.
Sr. Tpr. Jonathan L. Vaughn was promoted to sergeant and transferred from Post 4 (Elizabethtown) to Post 15 (Columbia). A resident of Hodgenville, Vaughn is a 14-year veteran of the agency.
Tpr. First Class Scott A. Lengle was promoted to sergeant and will remain at Post 6 (Dry Ridge). A resident of Crittenden, Vaughn is a 14-year veteran of the agency.
Sr. Tpr. Zachary B. Thompson was promoted to sergeant and transferred from Post 7 (Richmond) to Post 12 (Frankfort). A resident of Irvine, Thompson is a 10-year veteran of the agency.
Sr. Tpr. Justin E. Sams was promoted to sergeant and transferred from Post 5 (Campbellsburg) to Post 12 (Frankfort). A resident of Frankfort, Sams is a 10-year veteran of the agency.
Sr. Tpr. Christopher T. Carter was promoted to sergeant and transferred from Post 14 (Ashland) to Post 6 (Dry Ridge). A resident of Louisa, Carter is a 10-year veteran of the agency.
Tpr. First Class Matthew Dusty Corbin was promoted to sergeant and will remain at Post 5 (Campbellsburg). A resident of Turners Station, Corbin is a 14-year veteran of the agency.
Tpr. First Class Jeremy W. Smith was promoted to sergeant and will remain at Post 3 (Bowling Green). A resident of Cave City, Smith is a 10-year veteran of the agency.
Tpr. First Class Eric L. Barnett was promoted to sergeant and transferred from Post 6 (Dry Ridge) to Post 5 (Campbellsburg). A resident of Georgetown, Barnett is an 11-year veteran of the agency.
Sr. Tpr. Jonathon N. Whittaker was promoted to sergeant and will remain at Post 16 (Henderson). A resident of Owensboro, Whittaker is a 10-year veteran of the agency. Whittaker is the son of Gerald and Charlotte Whittaker of Hartford.
Sr. Tpr. Jason T. Partin was promoted to sergeant and transferred from Post 10 (Harlan) to Post 5 (Campbellsburg). A resident of Barbourville, Partin is a six-year veteran of the agency.
Sr. Tpr. Joel A. Abner, was promoted to sergeant.
Sr. Tpr. John W. Barnett was promoted to sergeant and transferred from Post 11 (London) to Post 15 (Columbia).
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer First Class Travis J. Rogers was promoted to sergeant and will remain assigned to CVE Region 4 (London). A resident of Somerset, Rogers is a 16-year veteran of the agency.
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer II Emily R. Horton was promoted to sergeant and transferred from CVE Region 3 (Georgetown) to CVE Region 2 (Louisville). A resident of Warsaw, Horton is an eight-year veteran of the agency.
Facilities Security Officer Brian K. Taylor was promoted to sergeant.
Information provided by the Kentucky State Police
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Funding Available For Child Abuse/Neglect Prevention
OWENSBORO, Ky. (9/30/15) — The GRADD Community Collaboration for Children (CCC) Regional Network is currently offering a total of $5,000 in mini-grants to enhance and promote programs aimed at preventing and building awareness of child abuse and neglect. Organizations within Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union, and Webster counties are eligible to apply. A portion […]
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Young’s Hardware & Furniture Closing after 85 Years
Jim Acquaviva, one of Young’s Hardware & Furniture stockholders, stands next to an art piece that his daughter, Marybeth Acquaviva, made using various hardware parts. After serving Ohio County and the counties beyond for 85 years, the store’s last business day will be on Oct. 10.[/caption]
BEAVER DAM, Ky. (9/30/15) — Since 1930, Young’s Hardware & Furniture in Beaver Dam has helped provide its customers with the supplies needed to tackle anything from simple do-it-yourself repairs to big renovation projects. But its 85-year run will soon be over as the store has announced it's going out of business and will be closing its doors forever on Oct. 10.
The announcement came in a letter, dated Aug. 31, taped to the store’s front door. The letter also included a thank you message to “the generations of loyal customers that we have had the pleasure of serving the last 85 years.”
Before the store developed its eight-and-a-half decade history with its customers, Jim Acquaviva, one of the store’s three stockholders, said its beginnings were founded by his wife’s great-great grandfather, D.G. Young. He built the building at its current 212 North Main Street site for his son, C.T. Young, who was the store’s first manager, running the store until the 1970s.
Connie Hoskins, D.G. Young’s granddaughter and a stockholder of the store, said before D.G. built the store, he owned a lumber company in town. Since a hardware store didn’t exist at the time, he thought one was needed in Beaver Dam.
“That was his motivation, thinking there was a need for one here,” Hoskins said.
When C.T. decided to branch out and create Young’s Manufacturing Co., he hired Basil Keown to help manage the store for several years.
“Basil was a friend of his from school age. They tried to further the community, and I think they have,” Hoskins said.
Then, Larry and Joy Arnold took the management reins for more than 35 years, until April 2012, when Jim and his wife, who is C.T.’s granddaughter, Melissa Acquaviva, bought Larry’s shares of the company. Jim said not only has this made it a 100 percent family-owned business since 2012, the generational family has always carried some part of its ownership since its founding.
But it’s not just the family that has helped carry the store through its long run. Supplying its customers with a variety of essentials has also been a key factor.
“We’ve supplied, literally, thousands of people in this community and the surrounding counties with the tools that they use. When we opened (back in 1930), that was the time when people were making things, and working on their farms, and used hand tools to do everything, we didn’t have all of the fancy electronic drills and stuff, so we had more hardware and tools and things like that,” Jim said.
As the business grew and their inventory selection widen to furniture and mattresses, Jim said it expanded into the adjacent buildings. One of those former buildings was a clothing store called Dad ‘N’ Lad Shop. It now carries the mattress section of the shop. The other, which now holds the store’s furniture section, was called Westerfield’s Grocery.
With the long history the store has had in Ohio County, and the positive impact it has had with its customers, it was able to generate and serve generational customers.
“I have customers that come in here and say they remember their grandfather bringing them here, and their father bringing them here, and now they come here. It’s kind of a small town treasure, if you will, in that regard,” Jim said.
But with its doors closing soon, many have already expressed their condolences to Jim about the loss of Young’s Hardware & Furniture.
“I’ve had several customers call and just want to talk to me and tell me a story about when they came in, or when their daddy brought them in and bought them their first bicycle, or they have a house full of furniture from the store, as they’ve always gotten their stuff here, and they don’t know where they’re going to get it now because they’ve always,” he said.
While it’s heartbreaking to hear the store will never get to serve those customers who depend on its merchandise after Oct. 10, he said the customer volume and sales aren’t there anymore, which led to the store’s closing. This is due to big box stores and online retailers snapping up the store’s usual customer base.
But Jim’s not mad about the store closing for good. He said 85 years is a great run for a family business, and this is merely a seasonal change the family has already accepted.
“We’re going to try to accept it with grace. We’re going to try to close with our heads held high, and leave doing the best we can to sell this business out, and move on to whatever God has in store for us next,” he said.
If any merchandise is left after the store’s Oct. 10 closing, then a one day auction will be held on Nov. 14 to sell off the remaining inventory.
[caption id="attachment_30694" align="aligncenter" width="582"]
Jim Acquaviva, one of Young’s Hardware & Furniture stockholders, stands in front of the store that the original owner, D.G. Young, built in Beaver Dam, Ky., in 1930.[/caption]
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OC Trail Town Task Force Meeting Tonight
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