Nothing Can Stop This Hero

     The story of this week's Billy Johnson Community Hero is one of strength and perseverance. It is a story of one person who has not let what many would call a handicap keep her from making a difference in the world that surrounds her. Gina Bryant is employed as a graphic designer at Pikeville Medical Center, but she is recognized this week for the thousands of hours she has dedicated to saving animals through her work with the Appalachian SPCA.
      Cindy May Johnson, President of the Appalachian SPCA, says Gina is definitely one of the hardest working volunteers they have.
      "She works tirelessly and for many, many hours to save animals' lives. And she does it at great expense to herself. In addition to holding down a full-time job, she doesn't even balk at the round-the-clock care that requires setting her alarm clock for every two hours to feed a newborn kitten. She is present at every single event we have and does the dirtiest jobs as well as the wonderful jobs that everybody likes (cuddling the pets). But, the bottom line is when we need help, or an animal needs help, we know we can depend on Gina."
       Gina lives with a severe hearing impairment that would be considered debilitating to most people. But with the help of hearing aids and her ability to read lips, she is able to communicate with people.
       Cathy Maynard, Vice President of the Appalachian SPCA, believes her impairment has actually made Gina the strong person she is today.
       "I don't believe there's anything that she's afraid to do. You know, I'm a little bit nervous around the real big dogs, but there's no dog that she doesn't like. She will take on some dogs that other people wouldn't even dream of taking, and she falls in love with all of them!"
       Congratulations to Gina Bryant, this week's Billy Johnson Community Hero.

Paying It Forward

(August 10, 2012) - The story of this week’s Billy Johnson Community hero is all about “Paying it Forward.” Our hero Cory Russell, a 28-year-old resident of Pikeville, did just that. A few weeks ago, the morning after his wedding, Russell overheard an elderly gentleman asking the clerk in Pikeville’s Hampton Inn for a phone book. The gentlman was trying to find an old Navy buddy he hadn’t seen since 1960. What Cory Russell did next is what makes him this week’s Billy Johnson Community Hero.

       “He [the elderly gentleman] was talking to the people in the front lobby and he was saying, ‘You know, I’m getting old and I want to find my long lost buddy and I haven’t seen him in 40 years.’ And I heard him mention his name and I said, ‘Well heck, I know the guy’s name. Come over here and see if we can’t find him.’ And so I just told him, ‘Tell you what, by no means do you have to do this, but if you can take me to my truck, I’ll take you to the guy’s front door.’ So he’s like ‘You don’t have to do that,’ and I said, ‘Look seriously, I want you to get up with this guy. I don’t want to leave here until you get to talk to him. I mean, you came all the way up to Pikeville to find him and we’re going to make it happen.’ And so I just drove him all the way to that guy’s front door.”

        Before Cory left, he shared with the two men that his good deed had already been paid forward: by the manager of the Hampton Inn.

       “Yeah, they [the elderly couple] were like, ‘Do we owe anything?’ and I was like, ‘Absolutely not, but I need to tell you before I leave that the Hampton Inn had just called and said for my generosity helping you out they comped our hotel room.’”

       We asked Cory why he did what he did that morning. He said that people have helped him all his life, and he felt it was only right for him to help someone else.

       “You know, look how many things that people have done for me. If you get an opportunity, don’t let it slide by. Pay it forward and one day, maybe I’ll need somebody’s help and hopefully I’ll be fortunate enough for someone to step up and be willing to help a hand."

       Congratulations to Cory Russell, this week’s Billy Johnson Community Hero.   

Remembering EKB's Own Randy Jones

(August 3, 2012) - Last weekend, the Annual Hillbilly Christmas in July Christmas party was held at the Shriner's hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. This event is very special for both the children and the Hillbilly Christmas in July group. On Friday, the children each picked a toy from the 6,000 delivered just this year that were donated by Hillbilly Christmas in July, Double Kwik, and hundreds of supporters.
       That brings us to this week's Billy Johnson Community Hero: the only recipient we have honored who is no longer with us, Randy Jones. Last Saturday, the Shriner's Hospital Board of Directors placed a plaque on the wall honoring Hillbilly Christmas in July, the group started by Randy and Jimmy Kinney for their contributions.
       "Randy and I walked by that wall several times. We always looked at it and thought, 'Wouldn't it be great if Hillbilly Christmas in July were on that wall?' And I'll be doggone, Saturday they put our name up there," said Jimmy.
        In the 7 years since the group was started, they have donated over $300,000 and more than 36,000 toys to the hospital, putting smiles on thousands of faces. Randy never doubted that they could make a difference. He would say, "Obstacles are what you see when you take your eye off the goal... and we are focused on the goal! We will make as large a contribution to the hospital as humanly possible!"
        And that, they have.
       "If Randy could just see what the community has done in his honor, I'm sure he would just turn over. I hope that we continue to do him justice for what an impact he had on all the people in the area, all the kids and everything. It's super,"said Jimmy.
        So this week, we remember and honor this week's Billy Johnson Community Hero: East KY Broadcasting's own and Hillbilly Christmas in July's Randy Jones.

This Hero Says It Doesn't Take Much to Give Back

(July 27, 2012) - For this week's Billy Johnson Community hero, volunteering time to support causes close to her heart is a way of life. Pikeville resident Karen Prater spends nearly all her spare time supporting the many organizations she volunteers for. She is a member of the Pikeville Rotary Club, a board member of Jenny Wiley Theatre, and a member of the Pike County Arts Council, as well as a volunteer for several YMCA events and the Artists Collaborative Theatre. Karen knows everyone can't be as involved as she is, but she says we can all do something.
     "Even one person can make a difference for someone else, even if it's one person to help with one little thing that you may not think in the grand scheme of things matters. But sometimes just doing something like the YMCA 'Strong Kids Campaign.' There may be some child that could not go to the Y otherwise and that one thing that we do that helps with that campaign could make a difference in that child's life."
      She stresses that making a difference doesn't require a lot of time or money.
      "Everybody can come up with an hour or two in their week that they are doing something that really isn't relevant, whereas you could take that hour and help make a difference. It doesn't take a lot of time, and it doesn't take a lot of money, you just have to have the desire to want to try."
       One of the causes most dear to Karen Prater's heart is supporting the coal industry. And she says that goes all the way back to her childhood.
       "I grew up as a coal miner's daughter. Both my grandfathers were coal miners and pretty much everyone in my family on both sides was involved in the coal industry. Either they were trucking or they were mining coal, so I help with 'Friends of Coal' to try to continue to support the industry and promote the industry to make people aware that coal mining is not a dirty, bad, ugly thing. It is a good thing and it is our way of life in this area."
       Congratulations to Karen Prater, this week's Billy Johnson Community Hero.

Baby Steps for Future Generations

(July 20, 2012) - This week's Billy Johnson Community Hero, like many others, saw a need in our region, went to work, and didn't stop until she accomplished her goal.
     Five years ago, our hero Kay Hammond, realized that young women and couples in eastern Kentucky were experiencing unplanned pregnancies and didn't have many resources for support. So in 2007, the Appalachian Pregnancy Care Center opened its doors, giving much needed support, counseling, and supplies to expectant mothers and their newborns.
     "I really believe that the Appalachian Pregnancy Care Center really is a life-changing ministry. We offer really a comprehensive system of support and services for many women who are experiencing unplanned pregnancies and their newborns."
      The pregnancy care center Kay and her group started is a non-profit organization that gives free services to its clients. The workers are all volunteers and the organization relies on several fundraisers and donations to exist.
      "We don't get any federal money. We get a small grant from United Way. We basically just depend on people who have a heart for our clients and for babies. We've been able to survive with that."
       In addition to the Appalachian Pregnancy Care Center, Kay Hammond has donated her time to many other organizations across the region. She says that no matter what people may say, one person can make a difference!
       "I look back on my own life and I certainly can remember key individuals who absolutely have made a difference in my life. I hope I can be that kind of support for these girls and anybody. You know, if you have a heart for people, you can make a difference. What more important thing could you invest in than future generations?"
        Congratulations to Kay Hammond, this week's Billy Johnson Community Hero.

Turning the Gears for Kids

(July 13, 2012) - The story of this week's Billy Johnson Community Hero started a little over a year ago. In March 2011, Mick Polly noticed a child in his neighborhood in Whitesburg, Kentucky, trying to ride a broken bicycle. Motivated by this situation, our hero went to work. He fixed that bicycle and then another one. Next, people started bringing their old or broken bicycles to Mick, who would repair them and give them to children in need. Fixing that one bike has now escalated into an impressive total of 435 bicycles. And even if you tried, you couldn't buy one of these bicycles from Mick Polly.
     "I get a lot of people come in to buy my bikes. No, you're not going to buy a bike. I only have a couple of rules. One, you've got to be a child. Two, try hard in school. All you've got to do is say you're trying and stay out of trouble. And you have to mind your parents or grandparents, whoever is raising you."
      The word about Mick Polly's mission has spread throughout Letcher County. Now, people are bringing him bicycles by the dozen, both used and new. He even works with local churches to help children who attend but may not have a bicycle.
      "I had a church contact me here not long ago about some young children. I talked to them and said whoever can have perfect attendance for a month, I'll give them a bike. I had 4 boys and 2 little girls that went every Sunday and every Wednesday."
       Mick says that anyone can make a difference in a child's life.
      "If you don't think you can make a difference, really think again. Think about, in the case of a child, would you want someone to help your child? Next thing you know your community will get behind you. People in eastern Kentucky are so anxious to give, and they are the biggest hearted people in the world anywhere. You can make a difference in someone's life. All you have to do is want to."
       Congratulations to Mick Polly: this week's Billy Johnson Community Hero.
   

This Hero Says It's Easy Being Green

(July 6, 2012) It seems that more and more, we see on the television and hear on the radio about the importance of recycling, or being “green.” This week’s Billy Johnson Community Hero truly believes in taking care of… and giving back to nature. Kelly Scott is a science teacher at Pikeville High School and her beliefs have definitely caught on with her students. This year, Kelly says she is more involved than ever. One program she engages in is a water-sampling project through the state called “Watershed Watch.
     “I’m getting way more involved this year so that, one, I know what’s happening where I live. I collect samples here at the school, but I also collect samples at my house so I know the water quality where my dogs go and play in the creek. Everybody can do it. It’s free and you only have to sample 3 times a year: once in summer, once in fall, and once in spring.”
      Kelly says she does this because she truly believes in it. But she knows that being an educator, she can use her passion to teach.
      “It is more about education… and it’s more about this trend across America and across the world about being a “citizen scientist” where you collect data. You become part of this bigger picture.
       In addition she is also very involved in the PRIDE group. In fact, because of Kelly’s passion, Pikeville High School has a very active group called Panther PRIDE. But she says it all started because she, personally, wanted to do something!
      “It all started with me just wanting to make a difference. I just think it’s very sad. We have such an amazing ecosystem here. We have beautiful trees, and we have beautiful land. We have beautiful forests and so many other things. But litter takes away from it. Everybody can do something. Recycle something, pick up something, or plant something. It’s all very easy.”
     Congratulations to Kelly Scott, this week’s Billy Johnson Community Hero.