LCNI news18 Pages Landmark Community Newspapers, LLC December 2012

Happy Holidays!Happy Holidays!

Baker-Nantz receives American Cancer Society’s fi rst ever Mary Middleton Spirit of Hope Award

Jamie Baker-Nantz, editor of the Grant County News, Dry Ridge, Ky., was recently awarded the Mary Middleton Spirit of Hope Award by the American Cancer Society.

This award is named in memory of Mary Middleton, a civic leader, inspiring volun-teer, community activist and wife of former Kenton County Judge-Executive Clyde Middleton. She was a groundbreaker, run-ning for the Kentucky General Assembly in the 1950s – the first Northern Kentucky Republican woman to do so. She stood up for civil rights in the south prior to moving to Kentucky. In 1981, she was honored by the Kentucky Enquirer as Woman of the Year.

Baker-Nantz is the first recipient of this award by the ACS.

She and her husband, Jeff, of 24 years; daughter, Katie, a sophomore at the University of Kentucky, and her mother, Eula Stephenson, attended the 2012 Baron’s Ball Gala at Turfway Park in Florence, where the award was presented.

Baker-Nantz has been involved with the Grant County Relay For Life for more than 15 years. During her time as chairman of the annual event, the Grant County community has raised $1 million in the fight against cancer.

“I was both happy and humbled by the recognition,” said Baker-Nantz. “The Relay For Life is my way to give back. I work with an amazing group of volunteers who give selflessly in the fight against cancer. It takes Con nued on page 12

Pictured with Jamie at the American Cancer Society award ceremony are (l-r): husband Jeff Nantz, Jamie, daughter Katie Nantz, and mother Eula Stephenson.

all of us to make the event happen. I’m hon-ored that the ACS recognized Grant County for its commitment to raise money to fund research and programs.”

The Grant County Relay For Life draws a crowd of 600 to 800 each year with about 100 cancer survivors being honored during the 12-hour event.

Baker-Nantz has attended various train-ings and seminars on behalf of the ACS in

Birmingham and Dallas. She has also served as a motivational speaker and presenter dur-ing several regional/state meetings for the ACS.

The Mary Middleton Spirit of Hope award was presented by Liz Bonis, a medical reporter for Channel 12 in Cincinnati.

Baker-Nantz was interviewed by Bonis for a segment on Channel 12 about the award

2 • December 2012 • LCNI News

Newspaper Location CoordinatorMetroWest Newspapers .......................Brighton, CO ........................................ Chris HarropEvergreen Newspapers .........................Evergreen, CO .......................................... Doug BellClear Creek Courant ............................. Idaho Springs, CO ..................................... Doug BellChiefland Citizen ...................................Chiefland, FL................................... Tom Ten BroeckCitrus Publishing................................ Crystal River, FL ..................................Deb KamlotGator Bait .............................................Gainesville, FL .....................................Marty CohenGadsden County Times .......................Quincy, FL .............................................Cheri HarrisOsceola .................................................Tallahassee, FL...................................... Tim LinafeltWakulla News ......................................Crawfordville, FL ............................Tammie BarfieldWilliston Pioneer Sun-News .................Williston, FL .............................. Carolyn Ten BroeckLeader-Union ........................................Vandalia, IL ................................................Dave BellInside Indiana .......................................Bloomington, IN ......................................Ed MagoniMount Vernon Democrat .....................Mount Vernon, IN ............................Angela GeraldsSpencer Co. Journal-Democrat .............Rockport, IN ......................................Trista Lutgring Perry County News ...............................Tell City, IN ........................................Trista Lutgring Opinion-Tribune ...................................Glenwood, IA ............................................. Liz FelosVoice of the Hawkeyes ......................... Iowa City, IA ............................ Todd BrommelkampRed Oak Express ...................................Red Oak, IA.............................................Greg OrearKentucky Standard ............................ Bardstown, KY ................................... Carrie PrideTrimble Banner .....................................Bedford, KY ........................................... Dave TaylorCentral Kentucky News-Journal ............Campbellsville, KY ............................. Jeff MorelandNews-Democrat ....................................Carrollton, KY ..................................Kristin SherrardCynthiana Publishing ............................Cynthiana, KY ......................................Robin SmileyNews-Enterprise ................................ Elizabethtown, KY ........................... Pam HolcombLaRue County Herald News ............... Hodgenville, KY ................................Linda IrelandOldham Era ...........................................LaGrange, KY ................................... Jacquelyn HackAnderson News ....................................Lawrenceburg, KY .................................Ben CarlsonLebanon Enterprise ..............................Lebanon, KY ...................................... Eva Jo NugentThe Record Leitchfield, KY DeAnna Lasley

Newspaper Location CoordinatorThe Cats’ Pause ....................................Lexington, KY ......................................... Darrell BirdCasey County News ..............................Liberty, KY ....................................Brittany EmersonHenry County Local ..............................New Castle, KY ................................. Jonna PriesterNews-Herald .........................................Owenton, KY ..................................... John WhitlockCentral Office .......................................Shelbyville, KY .................................... Linda BarnettLandmark Web Press ............................Shelbyville, KY ................................... Barbara WaitsSentinel-News ......................................Shelbyville, KY ................................. Sharon WarnerPioneer News .......................................Shepherdsville, KY ..................................... Tom BarrStandard Publishing ..............................Shepherdsville, KY .............................. Cindy DishonSpringfield Sun .....................................Springfield, KY .................................Jesse OsbourneSpencer Magnet ...................................Taylorsville, KY ..................................Shannon BrockGrant County News ..............................Williamstown, KY ....................................May EvansLandmark of Maryland ...................... Westminster, MD ...........................Shiela JohnsonNew Albany Gazette .............................New Albany, MS ..............................Wayne MitchellHuskers Illustrated ................................Lincoln, NE .............................................. Darren IvyLas Vegas Optic .....................................Las Vegas, NM ................................. Tom McDonaldLos Alamos Monitor .............................Los Alamos, NM .................................... Keven ToddBrunswick Beacn .................................Shallotte, NC ................................. Stacey ManningCarolina Blue ........................................Chapel Hill, NC ..............................................VacantNews & Reporter ..................................Chester, SC ....................................... Marissa WhiteLancaster News ................................. Lancaster, SC..............................Athena RedmondPageland Progessive Journal ...............Pageland, SC .........................................Gary PhillipsRoane Newspapers ............................ Kingston, TN ....................................... Terri LikensLaFollette Press ....................................LaFollette, TN ....................................... Susan SharpMorgan County News ...........................Wartburg, TN ..........................................Judy ByrgeBedford Bulletin ...................................Bedford, VA .......................................Jay BondurantThe Gazette ..........................................Galax, VA .......................................Newsletter TeamThe Declaration .................................... Independence, VA .......................... Larry Chambers

LINDA BARNETT, EDITORLCNI NEWS MAKERS who submitted news for

September, October and November are highlighted in blueLCNI news

Jessica Adams has been promoted to Circulation customer service representa-tive, responsible for LCNI’s college sports publications and newspapers. This is a newly structured role at Central Office in Shelbyville, Ky. The adminis-trative functions of 6 of the 7 college sports publications moved to Central Office when the CSR departed her posi-tion at the Lexington, Ky. sports pub office in September.

Jessica will be responsible for handling clerical functions relative to circulation and accounting duties, maintaining sub-scriber records, mailing labels, renewals and data entry of subscriber depos-its. She will also handle correspondence with readers through mail, email and phone contact, as well as postal issues related to statements, recordkeeping and balancing.

Jessica will continue to perform some of her accounting and accounts payable duties during a transition period.

Jessica joined Landmark as front desk/AP assistant/circulation assistant in

Adams named CSR for LCNI’s college sports publications

JESSICA ADAMS

November of 2011. Prior to joining Landmark she worked in administration for RG Swimming Pools, Data Control Group and the Department of Revenue.

Community Times editor/reporter

Jacob deNobel is the editor/reporter for the Community Times based in Westminster, Md. He previously worked as a reporter for The Advocate of Westminster. He lives in McSherrystown, Pa. and graduated from Ithaca College in 2011. In his spare me, he enjoys reading comic books, baking and cycling, though never at the same me.

LCNI News • December 2012 •3

the West Las Vegas School Board policy prohibiting audio or video recordings of its indi-vidual educational program meetings.

The Optic competed in the Weekly Class II division for newspapers with circulations between 4,000 and 9,999. The New Mexico Press Association and the New Mexico Associated Press Managing Editors con-tinue to sponsor a merged con-test between the two groups.

The contest received more than 1,550 entries, the highest turnout in contest history. Judging was done by the Kentucky Press Association.

The Las Vegas Optic won 12 awards at the 104th annual New Mexico Press Association con-vention.

The 2011-12 NMPA APME Better Newspaper Contest awards were handed out at the Santa Ana Pueblo resort.

The Optic’s Maria Sanchez walked away with six awards. She won both first and second place awards for Web Adver-tising and House Advertising. She also took home second place awards for Classified Advertising and Color Adver-tising.

The Optic’s Mercy López won first place in Feature Writing and second place in General News Photo for a story and photo on the fifth anniversary of the DWI crash that killed five

members of a Las Vegas fami-ly.

López and Martín Salazar also won a first place award for News Writing for their story on the trip West Las Vegas school board members took to Las Vegas, Nev., for a conference. Salazar also took home a first-place award in the Series or Continuing Coverage category for his coverage of the scuffle between the Mora sheriff and one of his deputies.

The Optic’s Dave Kavanaugh garnered a first place award in Sports Writing for his story on the Wagon Mound boys’ bas-ketball team winning a state championship.

Tom McDonald, the Optic’s editor and publisher, won a first place award for his Editorial on

Las Vegas Op c wins a dozen awardsin New Mexico press contest

MARIA SANCHEZ

MERCY LOPEZ MARTIN SALAZAR

DAVE KAVANAUGH TOM MCDONALD

Chronicle honors vets

Veterans Appreciation week concluded with the 2012 Veterans Day Parade to honor Citrus County’s military veterans through downtown Inverness, Fla. Joining in the festivities were from left: Mike Wright, reporter; Deborah Kamlot, HR Director, and her son, David; Carol Ann Deckelmann (far right), designer, and her daughter Caty and friend Stephen Thein.

4 • December 2012 • LCNI News

December 18 is the deadline to opt out of the Retirement Plus automatic increase

If you currently participate in the Retirement Plus 401(k) plan and are contributing less than 6%, your contribution will be automatically increased by 1% beginning January 2013. To opt out of the 1% automatic increase, you can go online to www.Vanguard.com and “opt out” through the Payroll Deduction section. Or, you can simply call Vanguard at 1-800-523-1188.

If you miss the opt out deadline, contact Vanguard at any time to change your contribution amount.

Moore joins CKNJ editorial staff

LESLIE MOORE

Leslie Moore has joined the staff of the Central Kentucky News-Journal in Campbellsville, Ky., as a reporter.

A 2012 graduate of Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Ky., Moore is a native Taylor Countian, and said she looks forward to working in her hometown.

“Having the opportunity to begin my career in my hometown is something not everyone gets, and I am grateful for that chance,” Moore said.

While at Lindsey Wilson, Moore served as editor of RaiderView, the student newspaper. She received numerous awards for her work from the Kentucky Intercollegiate Press Association while earning her journalism degree.

Moore said she looks forward to working with and for the people of her hometown, and she takes the service she will provide them very seriously.

“I have enjoyed meeting people in the community and learning more about them so I can share their story with the reader,” Moore said. “I take the responsibility of reporting the news very seriously and have enjoyed developing my skills as a writer.”

She said knowing that readers depend on her to learn about local news is an incentive as well as a responsibility of her job.

Gadsden County News managing editor

Cheri Harris officially started her new job Sept. 3 as managing editor at The Gadsden County Times in Quincy, Fla. She started full-time in 1999 as a reporter at the Citrus County Chronicle and became features edi-tor in 2005. She moved to the copy desk in August 2011. Cheri is excited about explor-ing the Big Bend area, getting acquainted with members of the Gadsden County community and sharing their stories.

News-Enterprise receptionist/cashier

Jessica Ennis has joined The News-Enterprise in Elizabethtown, Ky., as recep-tionist-cashier. She has three children, Ethan, Emma and Eli. Jessica enjoys sports, the outdoors, children and fishing.

LCNI News • December 2012 •5

LCNI Employee Service Recogni on

Diane WestenbergerCOLLATOR

Citrus County Chronicle

25 Years of Service

Neal CardinPHOTOGRAPHERNews-Enterprise

Lee Moredock DRIVER

Cynthiana Democrat

Leonard BrightDRIVER

Central Kentucky News-Journal

15 Years of Service

Stephen ThomasREPORTER

Pioneer News

Carol GreenPRODUCTION ASSISSTANT

Carroll County Times

Erik BryantMAIL ASSISTANT

Standard Publishing

10 Years of Service

5 Years of Service

Sondra UnderwoodCIRCULATION DIRECTOR

Pioneer News

Theresa Lain BUSINESS MANAGER/

BOOKKEEPERPerry County News

Ben Martin CIRCULATION/

DELIVERYGalax Gazette

Harold “Hoppy” Turner

MAILING TECHNICIANNews-Enterprise

Ronda WaltonBOOKKEEPER

Cynthiana Democrat

Cheri HarrisMANAGING EDITOR

Gadsden County Times

DEBBIE WADDILL

Debbie Waddill joins ColumbineCourier asaccount executive

Debbie Waddill has joined the staff of the Columbine Courier in Littleton, Colo. She brings many years of advertising and marketing skills to her account executive position that is part of the Evergreen Newspapers group.

Being a former small-business owner in Littleton, Colo., has enabled her to relate to her clients in a professional, trustworthy manner. She keeps up with her business networking by attending chamber events, etc., and is well connected in the south-metro community (it helps to be a Denver native!).

One of her outside hobbies is to play tunes as a “mobile music disc jockey,” and she has worked nightclubs, radio stations, voice-over gigs, parties, etc. for many years.

Debbie is most proud of her accomplishment of earning her Bachelor’s degree just fi ve years ago as a non-traditional, adult student. With a major in Sociology and a minor in Marketing, she and her daughter, Kayla, graduated two days apart (separate colleges) and threw a huge graduation celebration bash together.

Her motto in providing outstanding customer service to her Columbine Courier clients is to “always make it easy for your customers to do business with you.”

6 • December 2012 • LCNI News

Remember When...5 Years Ago – 2007

•Employees of The News Democrat in Carrollton, Ky., decided to put together the money they would have spent on their companygift exchange and do something good for the community. The goal was to replace the one 19 inch screen TV that was shared bydisabled men who lived in a local nursing home and replace it with a large screen TV. In addition, Sales Rep Deborah Garrett andEditor Phyllis Codling sought donations from community businesses, and when all was said and done the nursing home received a 51inch plasma television along with a DVD player and 40 movies for their residents.•Cora Mae Bowman, office manager of the Galax (Va.) Gazette, retired after almost 42 years of service. When she left she had thedistinction of being the longest serving worker of the more than 1,400 LCNI employees.•Jeff Moreland, who was then general manager/editor of The Springfield (Ky.) Sun, fulfilled a dream of shooting NFL photos for Toppscards. Several times during the football season he was called upon to fly to a particular city to shoot photographs of a list of players.

10 Years Ago – 2002•The Spencer County Journal Democrat, Rockport, Ind., won the Hoosier State Press Association’s Blue Ribbon for non dailynewspapers in the Better Newspaper Contest.•In honor of its 150th anniversary, The Lancaster (S.C.) News hosted an open house on December 13 and awarded a one yearsubscription to the person bringing in the oldest paper. The winner of the promotion brought in an 1862 copy of The LancasterLedger, which was one of three newspapers that began the community newspaper in 1852. During the open house, the press crew ranthe 24 page tab, “History in the Making,” which was included in the December 15 issue.

15 Years Ago – 1997•LCNI added a new state to its collection of community newspapers with the acquisition of MetroWest Newspapers of Brighton,Colorado. The Brighton Standard Blade and Fort Lupton Press, twice weekly publications, were the two main titles, along with fourother associated paid weeklies and free shopping guides. Total circulation of the paid and free publications was over 30,000 weekly.

20 Years Ago – 1992•Gerry Mulligan, publisher of the Citrus County Chronicle, was named Distinguished Citizen for 1992 by the Citrus County (Fla.)Chamber of Commerce.•Employees of the Bedford (Va.) Bulletin moved to new quarters, thereby consolidating their operation under one roof.

25 Years Ago – 1987•The Beverly Hills Visitor and The Citrus Sun, two free tabloid newspapers circulating copies in the Beverly Hills, Fla., area, wereacquired by Citrus Publishing.

30 Years Ago – 1982•LCNI introduced a payroll savings plan for employees.

35 Years Ago – 1977•LCNI acquired the Mt. Washington (Ky.) Star, a weekly newspaper covering Bullitt County, Ky. Richard RoBards, general manager ofThe Springfield (Ky.) Sun, was named general manager of the new acquisition.

Ready to accompany Santa Claus

Brunswick Beacon General Manager Angie Su on, right, takes a photo of Graphic Ar st Tammie Davis. Tammie dressed up like an elf to accompany Santa Claus to the Bacon’s annual Holiday Happenings Christmas Expo, which took place Nov. 10.

LCNI News • December 2012 •7

This holiday season watch your child’s eyes light up when they

receive a personalized letter from Santa! Complete the form

below and mail it along with a

$5.00 DONATION TO NIE.The week before Christmas, your

child will get his/her letter!

Parents’ name: _________________________________________

Child’s name: __________________________ Boy____ Girl____

Mailing address: _______________________________________

________________________________________________________

List any special toys your child has asked for:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mail to: Santa’s NIE Letters

The Kentucky Standard110 W. Stephen FosterBardstown, KY 40004

Must be received by DECEMBER 7, 2012-paid in full.

_____ Check/M.O. Enclosed

(Make payment to: The Kentucky Standard)

___________________________Credit Card #

_____________ Exp. Date

Letters Letters

FROM

Santa!

NIENIE

Letters to Santa generates $575 for Bardstown’sNIE program

LCNI’s circulation focus should always be on paid in-county subscribers and single copy. However, if you need funds to raise money for your current NIE Program, here is an additional idea to use next year.

The Kentucky Standard came up with a unique way to raise funds for its NIE program. For a $5 donation people in the community could request a letter from Santa for their little ones.

The Kentucky Standard ran the accompanying ad on this page in their newspaper as well as on their Facebook page.

People clipped the bottom portion of the ad and returned the completed form to the Kentucky Standard office. The newspaper staff then used the information on the forms to complete a mail merge and sent the Santa letters to the children who signed up for one. The letters were printed on colorful paper, and Crystal Dones, NIE coordinator, decorated the outside enve-lope with decorative stamps, return label and ornament shaped postal stamps.

This promotion was a great community service item as well as bringing in funds for the NIE program. The newspaper received 115 requests for Letters from Santa, which in turn, raised $575 for NIE.

If interested in this promotion, contact Brandi Cheatham, Kentucky Standard cir-culation manager, for copies of the ad and Letter from Santa. Her e-mail address is bcheatham@kystandard.com.

Circula on Successes

8 • December 2012 • LCNI News

Brunswick Beacon celebrates 50th

anniversary

Billy Stanley, son of Beacon founder Robert Stanley, brought along a copy of the fi rst edi on of the newspaper, which was originally called the Shallo e Press, to the 50th anniversary celebra on of the Brunswick Beacon. The fi rst edi on published on Nov. 1, 1962. In the smaller photo is Robert Stanley, who was unable to a end the Beacon’s anniversary celebra on. Beacon Managing Editor Stacey Manning spoke with him by phone the day of the celebra on. “It was an honor to be able to chat with the newspaper’s founder and then stand side-by-side with its previous owners, Eddie and Carolyn Swea . What a unique and rare experience for a si ng editor to have,” she said.

Celebra ng 50 years serving Brunswick County, N.C., from le are Billy Stanley, son of Beacon founder Robert Stanley; Carolyn and Edward Swea , long me Beacon owners; Angie Su on, general manager; and Stacey Manning, managing editor.

Beacon Adver sing Sales Representa ves Jim Cochran and Anne Hewe ham it up while ge ng ready for the celebra on.

Circula on Assistant Sam Tyndall helped man the raffl e table, where door prizes were given away at the Nov. 15 event.

LCNI News • December 2012 •9

Some of The Brunswick Beacon staff pose for a photo in their new Beacon T-shirts. The T-shirts celebrate the Beacon’s 50th anniver-sary and were a gift along with a travel coffee mug with the

Beacon logo. The design on the back was created by Beacon Graphic Artist Keith White, second row, second from right, who has his on backwards to show off the logo.

Lookin’ good in Beacon’s anniversary T-shirts

Who can top 27 years?Beacon Graphic Ar st Dorrie Brennan, far right, was honored as the Beacon’s longest-serving employee. She has been with the newspaper for 27 years. Also pictured are Beacon Religion Columnist Fran Salone-Pelle er, far le , and General Manager Angie Su on, second from le .

10 • December 2012 • LCNI News

Weis joins Lebanon as ad sales repThe Lebanon (Ky.) Enterprise has hired

Jessie R. Weis as its new advertising sales representative.

Weis, a native of Nelson County, graduat-ed from Nelson County High School, where she played basketball against Enterprise Publisher Stevie Lowery. Unlike Lowery, who warmed the bench, Weis went on to play at the collegiate level at St. Catharine College in Springfield.

There she earned her associate’s degree in liberal arts and then transferred to the University of Louisville where she earned her bachelor’s degree in communication art and design. While she graduated from the University of Louisville, Weis confesses to bleeding blue.

Weis has worked as a graphic designer for GBA Printing in Bardstown and as an admissions counselor at St. Catharine College.

Most recently, she worked as a sales pro-fessional for Lifetouch National School Studios in Bardstown.

She is married to John Weis and they have three children, Gabe, 4, Tucker, 1, and Charlee Rae, 2 months.

JESSIE WEIS

She and her family live in Springfield where they attend Cornerstone Christian Church.

E-town sales rep Paul Delaney has joined The News-Enterprise, Elizabethtown, Ky., as an adver-tising sales rep. He is married to Tami and is the founder and director of Delta Cross Military Ministry.

Monitor circula on administrator

Lori Moukadam joined the Los Alamos Monitor team in September as circula on administrator. A na ve of New Mexico, Lori opened her fi rst business in 1999 selling and trading old Navajo jewelry and art. In 2002, she and her husband opened a new business selling handmade Oriental rugs. The economic downturn forced them to close the business in 2010. Lori lives in Los Alamos and has a 20-year-old son, Christopher.

Monitor circula on assistant

Aaron Pitchkolan joined the Los Alamos Monitor in early November as circulation assistant. He grew up in Aurora, Colo., attended and played soccer at West Virginia University where he graduated with an International Studies degree. He went on to play professional soccer since 2005 and has played for teams in Dallas, San Jose, Rochester, Puerto Rico, and San Antonio. Aaron’s hobbies include watching all Denver area sports teams and enjoying the Los Alamos outdoors.

Sugar high for ForrestForrest Berkshire, editor of The Kentucky Standard, Bardstown, received a unique birthday cake from his staff made of Krispy Kreme donuts over a glazed bundt cake. Susan Turner, presentation editor, created this amazing concoction.

LCNI News • December 2012 •11

P.O. Box 549 Shelbyville, KY 40066-0549

Have you moved recently? To avoid delays in receiving important HR documents such as benefit information and W-2s, see your publisher, manager, local HR representative or email Laura Marlin at lmarlin@lcni.com to update your address.

MICHELLE LINGLE

Lingle rejoins LCNI as Opinion-Tribune sales rep

Michelle Lingle has rejoined the Landmark family. She is the new sales representative for the Opinion-Tribune in Glenwood, Iowa. She previously worked at the Red Oak (Iowa) Express in composition.

Michelle grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. She has lived in Glenwood for five years with her husband Dale and children – Chris, Logan, Codie and Zoe. Her children are a part of the Glenwood School community. Her husband Dale works at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska.

Michelle’s hobbies include photography, art and riding their motorcycle.

Off to the slammer Brunswick Beacon General Manager Angie Su on pouts as she heads off to the slammer for the annual MDA charity lockup.

Review 2013 benefit deductions

on January 4 paychecks

If you enrolled in a 2013 Landmark benefit plan, deductions asso-ciated with your enrollments will begin with your paycheck dated

January 4, 2013.

Please take a moment to review your check stub carefully and immediately report any discrepancies to your publisher,

manager, HR representative or the Central Office HR department (1-800-633-4393).

12• December 2012 • LCNI News

Con nued from page 1

Baker-Nantz wins American Cancer Society award

and her work with the ACS.“Your relentless and selfless service to the

American Cancer Society has been admired by many,” said Ashley Clos, ACS NKY Executive Director. “Jamie is a once in a lifetime volunteer! Jamie’s enthusiasm, determination, and focus to support the mis-sion of the American Cancer Society to help people stay well, get well, and fight back against cancer is second to none.”

“Jamie is the true embodiment of what an American Cancer Society volunteer is. She is a passionate, dedicated, and an unwaver-ing leader in the fight against cancer and uses her position in the community to fur-ther our mission.” - Kila Hanrahan, ACS Community Representative.

In addition to the ACS “Spirit of Hope” Award, Baker-Nantz was honored during the 2012 Grant County Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet with a Community Service award for her work with the relay, as well as

her work as a member of the chamber’s board of directors and work in several com-munity projects.

Baker-Nantz is involved with Santa’s Wonderland, a Christmas festival in Williamstown, as well as the U.S. 25 Yard Sale. She also has organized more than 20 election forums, which the News co-spon-sors with the chamber of commerce and has organized several food drives in the com-munity.

She is a member of the Dry Ridge Homemakers and First Church of Christ.

She has previously served as a 4-H pho-tography club leader, 4-H judge and a mem-ber of the Grant County Adult Education Advisory Board.

In 25 years, the chamber has only recog-nized three individuals with community service awards.

“This woman is involved in so many things that people don’t even realize. She doesn’t do it for the recognition but just because she wants to make her community a

better place and that’s why we wanted to honor her with this award,” said Wade Gutman, executive director of the Grant County Chamber of Commerce.

Baker-Nantz and Ken Stone, publisher of the Grant County News, were also honored in the spring by the Kentucky Daughters of the American Revolution with the Project Patriot Business Award for service to veter-ans.

“Veterans are honored and observed by numerous newspapers in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It would take an outstanding newspaper to compete with The Grant County News in honoring veterans from our community. Hardly a weekly paper comes to Grant County or a neighboring resident without an article concerning veterans or military personnel on active duty. Being supportive of our nation’s heroes makes you proud of our local Grant County News,” the Capt. John Lillard local DAR chapter wrote in its nominating letter.

CCT home delivery zone manager

R. Stephen Lee joined the Carroll County Times Circula on Department Nov. 26 as Home Delivery Zone Manager. Stephen comes to the Times with valu-able experience in the distribu on of newspapers as a Zone Manager and Assistant Director of Distribu on at the Bal more Examiner, and as a Distributor at the Bal more Sun. He also has years of sales and sales management experience in other industries. Stephen is a veteran of the Army serving our country during Opera on Desert Storm. He lives in Randallstown with his wife Angela and two daughters, Autumn and Angelique.

Time is running out for 2012 Flexible Spending Account funds

If you have money le in your 2012 Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you have un l December 31, 2012 to incur expenses for the 2012 plan year or you will forfeit the remaining balance.

Unsure if you have funds le ? You can verify your FSA balance by calling ADP at 1-800-654-6695. You can also check your balance by registering online at www.fl exdirectadp.com. For a list of eligible health care expenses go to h ps://www.adpcobrafsa.com/wcms15/697-healthcare-eligible expenses.

If you are fi ling a claim for reimbursement from your FSA, the deadline is March 31, 2013. Claims for expenses incurred in 2012 will not be considered for reimbursement if received a er March 31, 2013. Claims can be fi led online at www.fl exdirect.adp.com or forms are available at www.lcni.com.

LCNI News • December 2012 •13

PERSONALLY SPEAKINGPut up your dukes - let’s fi ght!

JAMIE BAKER NANTZ

Editor

Grant County News

I hate cancer! It’s ugly and sneaky and sucks.

Cancer has always been a dirty word in my family. My loathing of this disease started because my mom lost five of her eight brothers to various forms of can-cer.

Growing up I heard the word – cancer – used in hushed tones, almost as if my mom and her sisters were looking over their shoulder to see if it was like a boogeyman sneaking up on them.

My sister was diagnosed with cancer when I was a teenager. She refused to talk about it and had surgery without me even knowing it. Thankfully, she beat cancer.

I really began to think a lot about cancer when I saw it take my cousin, a beautiful woman in the prime of her life. She was kind and funny until the cancer moved from her lymph nodes to her brain and bones. Then she became weak, tired and finally she couldn’t fight anymore and she died. She was in her early 30s and then she was just gone.

In 2009, my stepfather, really more like my dad, was diagnosed with lung cancer. We went to countless doctors. He had surgery and was pronounced cancer free, but cancer wasn’t done.

In March 2010, the cancer was back with a vengeance and ravaged his body. The doctors told us that they couldn’t cure him but with chemotherapy they’d buy us some time. We were told the chemo, despite the horrible effects it had on him, was working.

Ron seemed to rally and actually gained a little weight. He smiled a little more and we kept fighting.

In June, he got sick again.From his hospital bed, his hands bent

with the arthritis that pained him, he held our hands and told us not to cry and not to worry because he wasn’t afraid of death and he knew his next home would be better than this one.

He even managed a weak smile and told us he loved us.

Three days later, he left us, peacefully, on June 26, 2010.

But cancer wasn’t finished with my family. While my dad was fighting can-cer, my only brother was diagnosed with

cancer. I watched a man, who had raised his children and retired from a career working for the railroad, that was ready to kick back, fish, garden and enjoy his grandchildren, wither before my eyes.

His cancer diagnosis came in late May and on September 18, 2010, cancer took him away from us. The big strapping man I’d always been a little intimidated by shrank to less than 100 pounds. He had to have help getting in and out of bed and even holding a straw to take a few sips of water. When he fell off the toilet, we picked him up. When he was too weak to go to the bathroom, we diapered him and loved him through his tears and apologies for needing us to take care of him. Then he was gone too.

All the while that my father and brother were battling cancer, there was Nicole, the funny and kind woman that my dear nephew made his wife and is the mother of his two children. She was diagnosed with colo-rectal cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and radiation. She lost her hair and eventually had to have surgery and now has a permanent colostomy bag.

Cancer doesn’t care if you’re young or old. It crept up on my cousin, Julie, who is pretty and feisty and a great mother to a young son. She continues her battle with breast cancer.

My other cousin, Lana, who is only two years younger than me is also battling breast cancer. So far, she’s winning.

There have been countless others that I’ve met throughout my career as a jour-nalist. I’ve had the privilege of telling their stories.

There was Nikki, the little girl diag-nosed with cancer when she was just a small child. She’s now thriving and has children of her own.

Then there was my dear, sweet friend, Verna Lee. She loved all animals, big and small, wild and tame. She was the kind-est, gentlest soul I’ve ever known. Throat cancer took my friend away and how I miss those long, heart-to-heart lunches we used to have.

One of the toughest stories I’ve ever written was about little 6-year-old Daniel. He lost his leg below the knee. Doctors attached his foot backward to his knee cap to fit him with a prosthetic leg.

When I interviewed him for a story, his parents couldn’t speak for the tears that streamed down their face. I asked Daniel if he was mad when the doctors told him he had cancer.

This pair of bright blue eyes, wise beyond his years, looked at him and sim-ply said, “No, I wasn’t mad. I was just sad.”

I cried the whole way home after that interview. Daniel died just a few months later.

I hate cancer and now you know why.I’ve watched it take wonderful, kind,

decent people and just wear them down to nothing but a bag of bones.

It would be easy to throw in the towel and let cancer think it had won, but I’m too stubborn and I’m going to fight.

How you ask? I’m going to keep on sup-porting the Grant County Relay For Life by purchasing raffle tickets from the teams and making an effort to attend their bake sales and luncheons. I’m going to stay up 12 hours at the event and I’m going to keep on fighting.

My dad looked at me from his death bed and said, “I’m sorry, babe. I won’t be at the relay and I won’t get my (survivor) medal.”

I told him it was OK because as long as I was able I’d walk for him.

I guess some people think I’ve become a walking, talking billboard for the American Cancer Society and the Relay For Life, but it’s the only way I know to fight cancer.

I just hope that others that I can use my voice so that others will join me and we can show cancer that we’re not going to throw in the towel.

14• December 2012 • LCNI News

RAMSEY SCOTT

Scott hired as reporter at Canyon Courier

Ramsey Scott, the new Jefferson County government reporter at Evergreen News-papers, moved to Colorado after a brief stay there in 2005 while driving across the coun-try. It took the beauty of the mountains to get him to move away from the coastal waters of his home in South Carolina.

While spending his formative years at the College of Charleston writing plays and fic-tion, Scott was always drawn to journalism. In 2009, he decided he was tired of making up stories and went back to school to become a journalist.

After spending three years at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where he acted briefly as editor-in-chief of the student newspaper, “The Metropolitan,” he worked for a year in northeast Wyoming as a report-er for a local daily newspaper.

While he enjoyed his time in Wyoming, his goal was always to come back to what he calls his “adopted home.”

Running buddiesMarion County’s “Girls on the Run” from Glasscock Elementary and Lebanon Ele-mentary schools par cipated in the end-of-season 5K at Keeneland in Lexington Saturday, Dec. 1. “Girls on the Run” is a program for girls age eight to 13 years old. The program combines training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, upli ing workouts. The objec- ve of “Girls on the Run” is to educate and

empower girls at an early age. Pictured is Stevie Lowery, publisher of The Lebanon Enterprise, and her running buddy, nine-year-old Madison Marshall.

Chronicle collatorAnthony Murphy has joined the Citrus County Chronicle in Crystal River, Fla., as a collator in the mailing department. He has lived in Florida for 24 years and is active in his church and sports. He is single and describes himself as very easy to get along with.

Keep in mind…Expiration of Middle Class Tax Relief

will result in less net payThe Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 is set to expire on

December 31, 2012.If Congress and the President do not extend this act, the Social Security

withholding rate (FICA) will increase from 4.25% to 6.2% for employees onJanuary 1, 2013. This means less take home pay beginning in January.

For example, an employee earning $25,000 per year will have an additional$500 a year or $19.23 per pay period deducted from their pay for FICA.

Wai ng for the hayrideCousins Logan Underwood and Braden House wait under a tree to go on the hay-ride while at ColorFest at Bernheim Forest recently. Braden is the son of Crystal Dones, circulation assistant at The Kentucky Standard, Bardstown, and Logan is the son of Sondra Underwood, circulation director at The Pioneer News in Shepherdsville, Ky.

LCNI News • December 2012 •15

Giving it his best shotLancaster News Staff Photographer Aaron Morrison will do anything to get the best shot. Above, he’s taking a picture of the City of Lancaster’s annual Christmas ornament for an advertisement and didn’t want any glare.

Citrus machine operatorThe Citrus County Chronicle’s packaging department welcomes Machine Operator Steve Larkin as a new member of their team. Steve come to the Chronicle with many years of experience in newspaper pre-press, press and packaging. He has lived in Florida for one year and enjoys sports, the sunshine and the beach.

Knows her role wellStevie Lowery, publisher/general manager at The Lebanon (Ky.) Enterprise, has a small part as a reporter in the Melodrama, “Desperate Director.”

Joins Cynthiana press team

Don Pilosky was hired as a press helper for the Cynthiana (Ky.) Democrat in July. His family members include his wife, Tammy, stepson Jason Henderson, and son Trey Pilosky. Don enjoys fishing and hunting.

At home with Lore a Lynn

Bud and Linda Ireland visited Hurricane Mills, Tenn., recently. They toured Lore a Lynn’s planta on house – but didn’t get a glimpse of the legendary country music diva. Linda is the editor of The LaRue County Herald News in Hodgenville, Ky.

16• December 2012 • LCNI News

Employees vote in Beacon Offi ce Poli cs 2012 Elec onTo help relieve some of the stress and tension of Election Day, Brunswick Beacon Managing Editor Stacey Manning appointed herself to be the office elections commissioner for the first-ever Brunswick Beacon Office Politics 2012 Election. Throughout the day Tuesday, co-workers had the chance to vote in several fun categories. Winners were later announced, and each winner received a certificate that was hung on the wall in the breakroom. The winners were:

THE SPAMMIE: Most likely to forward a funny email or picture ................................................ Dorrie Brennan and Chrisa PowellTHE CHAMPAGNE: Most sparkling personality ................................................................................................................. Anne HewettSQUIRREL: Most easily distracted .......................................................................................................................... Jim Cochran BACK IN THE DAY: Most nostalgic ..................................................................................................................... Dorrie BrennanTHE JUMPER: Biggest risk taker ....................................................................................................................... Stacey ManningTHE SHAKY HANDS: Person who consumes the most caffeine ....................................................... Norm Harding and Jim CochranMR./MS. CLEAN: Person with the cleanest work space .......................................................................................... Angie SuttonTHE OSCAR: Person with the messiest work station ..................................................................................................... Rachel JohnsonTHE ABACUS: Person you can always count on ................................................................. Dorrie Brennan and Christy WilliamsonTHE EARLY BIRD: Who’ll you’re most likely to find in the office when the sun comes up ............................................. Cindy TurnerTHE CHEERLEADER: Person with the most office spirit ........................................................................................... Anne HewettTHE MOUSE: Quietest hard worker ....................................................................................................................... Michael PaulTHE SILLY STRING: Most likely to pull an office prank ............................................................... Stacey Manning and Angie SuttonTHE PICASSO: Most likely to doodle during a meeting ........................................................................................................ Keith WhiteTHE WHY NER: Person most likely to ask why we’re doing something .......................................................................Tammie DavisTHE THINKER: Person most likely to think outside the box .................................................................................. Stacey ManningTHE MCGUYVER: Person who can fix any problem ......................................................................................... Christy WilliamsonMR. OR MS. MANNERS: Most polite ................................................................................................................... Chrisa PowellTHE JUGGLER: Person who best manages several things at once ............................................................................ Christy WilliamsonSPACE INVADER: Look out, Pilot, he’s bringing the Beacon to Southport .............................................................. Walter IsaacsonTHE ADAPTER: Person most adjusted to repeated technology changes to do her job ................................................ Kim BleeckerTHE TECHIE: Person most likely to take something apart just to put it back together again .......................................... Sam TyndallPRETTIEST SMILE ................................................................................................................................................................ Julie LaMayTHE COLLECTOR: Person who has looked at every single quarter that comes into the Beacon office ................................ Sue SmithMR. ADVENTURE: Person who has traveled the most miles in Brunswick County .................................................. Wallace BerkleyTHE SINGER: Person most likely to burst out into song ............................................................................................. Laura LewisNICEST NEW GUY: Nicest new hire at the time of the election ............................................................................... Brian SlatteryTHE HUGGER: She’ll chase you with her love ........................................................................................................ Anne HewettTHE PHANTOM: Co-worker you rarely see ............................................................................................................. Michael PaulTHE BALLOT STUFFER: Person who may or may not have voted for herself for every category ................................. Shelagh Clancy

LCNI News • December 2012 •17

January BirthdaysJanuary 1

Mike Farner ........................................ Pioneer NewsJanuary 2

Tom Favot .......................... Citrus County ChronicleMarc Hampson ....................... Carroll County TimesBobby Orr ...................................... Red Oak ExpressChristy Williamson ..................... Brunswick BeaconPhyllis Wingate-Lucas .................. News & Reporter

January 3Laura Caskey .................................. Lancaster NewsJohn Struck ............................... Standard Publishing Elizabeth Zaremba .................. New Albany Gazette

January 4Alan Conder .................................. News-EnterpriseKate Leiter .......................................... The AdvocateBecky Martin ........................... Cynthiana DemocratDebbie Reinle ............................ Kentucky StandardBarbara Rutledge ........................... Lancaster NewsA.B. Sidibe ......................... Citrus County Chronicle

January 5Sue Armstrong ....................... Carroll County TimesJeff Cundiff .................................... News-EnterpriseDan Sykes .......................................... Central Office

January 6Kim Bent .......................................... Canyon CourierTheresa Holland ................ Citrus County ChronicleMark Osborne .......................... Standard Publishing

January 7Mike Garner ............................ Roane County NewsTony Martinette ................................ Central OfficeBen Sheroan .................................. News-Enterprise

January 8Vicki Blake ................................. Perry County NewsDebbie Selvidge ...................... Roane County NewsJohn Whitlock ..................................... News-Herald

January 9Matt Hines .............................. Roane County NewsTheresa Tapia .................................. Las Vegas Optic

January 10Richard Matthews .............................. News-Herald

Charlie Nichols ........................... Brunswick BeaconMartin Salazar ................................. Las Vegas Optic

January 11Donya Baker ............................. Standard PublishingAllison Shepherd .......... LaRue County Herald News

January 12May Evans ................................ Grant County NewsDarren Ivy .................................. Huskers IllustratedMelvin Mills .......... Central Kentucky News-Journal

January 13Nick Desjardins ............................. News-EnterpriseMartha Leigh Farmer .................... News-EnterpriseJoye Fulsom ............................. Roane County News

January 14Brian LaPeter .................... Citrus County ChronicleDave Taylor ..................................... Trimble Banner

January 16Dawn Andrew ................... Citrus County ChronicleNancy Bobby .......................... Carroll County TimesJanie Bowen ................................... Anderson NewsDave Munch ........................... Carroll County TimesTori Nefores ........................... Carroll County TimesKendy Sawyer ................................ The Declaration

January 17Scott Armstrong .................... Carroll County TimesJoe Foreman .................................. Opinion-TribuneMike Rice ................................. Cynthiana DemocratMatt Tichenor ........................... Kentucky Standard

January 18Charlie Felts ....................................... Galax GazetteJeff Moore .................................... News-Democrat/ News-Herald/Trimble Banner

January 19Sam Green ............................. Carroll County TimesRoger Soard ............................ Cynthiana Democrat

January 20Jackie Lytton ..................... Citrus County Chronicle

January 21Leonard Bright ................. Central Ky. News-JournalDee Lowman .......................... Carroll County Times

January 22Kelli Borders ...................................... Sentinel-NewsJohn McLeod ........................... Cynthiana DemocratDavid Shoemaker .................... Clear Creek Courant

January 23Tom Barr ............................................. Pioneer NewsDahna Lineberry ................................ Galax GazetteMarty McLaughlin .................. Los Alamos MonitorSteve Weedman ..... Spencer Co. Journal-Democrat

January 24Brian Dunwoody ..................... Los Alamos Monitor

January 25Margie Cross ............................. Kentucky StandardMatt Hermann .......................... Perry County NewsRhonda Smith .......................... Roane County NewsMarissa Campbell White ............. News & ReporterTom Wilmoth ................................. Bedford Bulletin

January 26Scott Cederholm ........................................... PLG-TVJamie Chapman ...................... Carroll County TimesCandy Phillips ..................... Citrus County ChronicleLinda Skillman ................... Citrus County Chronicle Carolyn Ten Broeck ..... Williston Pioneer Sun-News

January 27Eric Hill .................................... Cynthiana DemocratCindy Steinberg ................... Maryland Special Pubs

January 28Brian Edwards ........................ Carroll County TimesJason Vertrees .............................. News-Enterprise

January 29Tabatha Barry .......................... New Albany GazetteTrecia Kindred ................................ LaFollette PressPortia Oldham ............................... News-EnterpriseSteve Thomas ......................................Pioneer News

January 30Goose Lindsay ......................... Roane County News

January 31Angie Barmer .......................... New Albany GazetteSonya Foster ................................. News-Enterprise

Happy Holidays from FloridaFor the first time in over eight years, the Citrus County Chronicle built a float to participate in the Crystal River Christmas Parade. Kudos goes to Yvonne Sheperd, inside sales rep, for providing the truck, trailer and all of the decorations. Mike Wright, reporter, sat high on the truck waving to the big crowd, and Erin Worthington, reporter, sat at the desk typing a letter to Santa. Deb Kamlot, HR Director, with her son David and Carol Ann Deckelmann, designer,

with her daughter Caty, also participated, wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas. Courtney Pollard, advertising sales rep, and Gerry Mulligan, publisher, assisted the Citrus County Chamber by helping with the set-up and organization of the parade. The weather was perfect, there was joy in the air and everyone was in the holiday spirit.

18• December 2012 • LCNI News

Funniest six minutes of my life

Jennifer Corbett, center, is shown with her horse Gilroy as they play a game of donkey basketball as a fundraiser for the Nelson County girl’s basketball team.

By Jennifer CorbettReporter/PhotographerThe Kentucky Standard Mixing donkeys and basketball seemed

odd, yet intriguing when it was first brought up in the newsroom.

Sure, why not? This will be a funny story I can tell my grandchildren in 60 years.

“Back when I was 25 years old, your grandma played a six-minute game of basketball, while riding a donkey.”

It’s a story that not many people can tell.

Leading up to the game was interesting, to say the least. People would ask about the game. How does it work? What if you get thrown off the donkey? How do you dribble the ball?

Truth be told, I didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was to show up at the game 30 minutes beforehand and I would receive instructions on where to go.

Walking into the Nelson County High School gym the day of donkey basketball was terrifying at first, my heart almost leaped out of my chest.

Hundreds of people lined the bleachers for the spectacle, which made me even more nervous. Soon, they called for the riders to go to the back to listen to instructions for the game.

There we were broken off into four teams, ranging from eight to nine players on a team. Two teams would play for two six-minute halves. The remaining two teams would follow suit. The winners of both rounds would then compete in a “championship” game.

I was assigned to team one, which would later be called “the assets.”

“Both feet have to be on the donkey to make a shot, no six legged shots,” a man in a maroon shirt told us. The man said he travels around the country with his herd of donkeys. He has run many donkey basketball games before.

He tells us to stay away from the “cata-pult zone” — the rear end of the donkey. When we jump on the donkey, we have to sit near its neck. Don’t hit the donkey and make sure to have your donkey with you at all times.

The donkey I’m assigned is named “Gilroy.” Gilroy seems nice. His fur is black, except for some white spots on his face and stomach.

Team one, which was my team, and team two were selected for the first round. Four people from each team had to start the game and I was one of the cho-sen few.

When we walked out onto the court, it was time to get our helmets. My team chose the red helmets; the other team had blue helmets.

The red team was assigned to go to the end of the court that was closest; the blue team was assigned to the other end. Maneuvering Gilroy to the red team’s side was difficult. He wanted to face side-ways instead of forward.

Before I knew it, the referee blew the whistle and the game started. Gilroy moved quicker than me. I tried several times to jump onto his back, but to no avail. Gilroy was a lot taller than he looked.

I asked the referee for help.He held out his hand and gave me the

boost I needed. He told me to move closer to Gilroy’s neck, which was difficult because Gilroy had the pointiest back-bone I have ever felt.

Once I was on, though, I knew there was no getting off. I tried following peo-ple who had the ball. We went down to

one end of the court, back to the other. Adam Wheatley, a board member of the Nelson County Board of Education, who was on my team, had the ball.

“Adam! Adam! Give me the ball!”He did.My first instinct was to shoot, so I just

went for it.One thing I didn’t realize, though, was

that we were at the other team’s goal. A girl from the other team told me I just scored for their team.

I was embarrassed, but only for a few seconds. It was all in good fun, and the scorekeepers were nice and didn’t give the other team the point.

I laughed it off and went on with the game.

The rest of the game consisted of run-ning up and down the court, with some players being thrown off their donkeys. I was able to complete a successful pass to my teammate, who tried to make a shot.

Unfortunately, no one “officially” scored during that half.

The next half, however, the blue team scored one goal. So, my team lost.

But in the end, the experience is surely something I’ll never forget. It was truly the funniest six minutes of my life.