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. 

World War II Veteran Finally Honored for His Service

(June 29, 2012) -  After 66 years, this week’s Billy Johnson Community Hero finally received the recognition he deserves. When World War II veteran Scott Spradlin of Pike County was discharged from the war in 1945, he had earned many awards for his service. The building in St. Louis, Missouri, that housed these records, however, burnt down. So when Spradlin found a package containing 11 medals in his mail a few weeks ago, he wasn’t expecting it.

        “I was kind of surprised. After 66 years, I’d always forgot about them.”
        In 1943, 18-year-old Scott Spradlin was called to military service. Never having been away from home, he was taken overseas to Naples, Italy, where he received medical training. Serving as a medic on the combat medical team, Spradlin dealt with several horrifying situations on a day-to-day basis.
       “This guy was one of the soldiers in the infantry, and he stepped on a landmine and blew both of his feet off. That was my first patient to operate on and I had to take care of him. I had to put tourniquets on him and bandage him up and by the time he was done, someone else was screaming and hollering. I did that for 2 years, until the war was over.”
       Spradlin describes living conditions during the war as rough and challenging. He says he and his fellow soldiers slept outside, often in freezing temperatures.
       "You sleep in a hole in the ground. You get a bath every 30 days and clean clothes every 30 days and you sleep in a hole if you sleep at all because you're fighting, shooting, and walking. And you don't ride, you walk."
        But while his brave act of patriotism was traumatizing, Spradlin says the experience also gave him a new perspective of the world.
      “You wouldn’t take anything for your experience but you wouldn’t go through with it again for a million dollars. It changes your outlook on life. If you have any idea what I went through. It’s an experience you’ll never forget.”
      Congratulations to Scott Spradlin, this week’s Billy Johnson Community Hero.

Volunteering on Vacations

(June 22, 2012) - While most people are packing their bags to go to the beach or the amusement park this time of year, this week’s Billy Johnson Community Hero is spending his vacation giving back to his community. Jimmy Parsons spends 40 hours a week working for the Kentucky Department of Transportation as the Traffic Count Tech for the District 12 Office in Pikeville. He spends his vacation time every year, however, helping others.
"I do World Changers events and it’s through Southern Baptist. I’ve been in different states and all across the country doing this. And I take my youth group to them and they participate in it as young kids. First one I ever went to, I just got hooked.”

      Jimmy understands how important it is to mentor young people and teach them things that will help them in life. When he and his group aren’t traveling to help other people, Jimmy’s hosting groups of young people who come into our region and help.
    “They sacrifice a week of their time to come and sleep on a floor or on a cot and provide the labor for the low-income people in our communities. You’d be fascinated to see some of these kids; they’re actually good carpenters.”
     Jimmy Parsons truly believes in helping others live better lives. What vacation time he has left after his time for World Changers, he spends volunteering for other groups.
    “That’s not the only problem I work on. I work on Habitat, I’ve done two or three Habitat builds. And I do Higher Call, which is a church-building outfit. We’ve built two churches here in Pike County.”
    But Jimmy says he does it all because he feels led to do so.
    “I am a soldier for the Lord. I am a witness through him. And I do all things through His strength. Nothing on me, nothing for me, and I want it to all be for him.”
    Congratulations Jimmy Parsons, this week’s Billy Johnson Community Hero. 

Vietnam War Vet and Local Shriner Gives Back

(June 15, 2012) - Sometimes, you hear on the radio or read a story about someone who ran into a burning building and saved somebody's life, and he/she is called a 'hero'.  But, many of our Billy Johnson Community Heroes are recognized because of their long-time commitment to their community.  And, this week's hero, Mr. Sylvester Ramey of Elkhorn City has done just that.  Mr. Ramey, a Vietnam War Veteran, retired underground coal miner and business owner, understands how important it is to give back to your community.  In addition to serving many years as a volunteer firefighter, he still volunteers for the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife teaching hunter safety to young hunters.  "I've been involved with the Department of Fish & Wildlife doing hunter education classes for years, and I'm still the president of the Sportsman's Club here in Elkhorn City," explained Mr. Ramey.  "I was one of the first volunteers when they started the volunteer program for hunter education.  I was one of the first 1,000 in the state certified to do that."
     Mr. Ramey says, though, that probably the most rewarding thing he does is with the Shriners, helping transport children and their families back and forth from treatment.  "What we do in the Shriners at the local level is transport children to and from the Shriner's Hospital, whether it be in Cincinnati or Lexington," explained Mr. Ramey.  "Some of the most rewarding experiences I've had is working with the kids at the hospital.  It's amazing, and they will touch your heart.  They always seem to have a smile on their faces, too.  It makes you feel like you have had a small part in putting that smile on that child's face."
     Thank you, Mr. Sylvester Ramey, for understanding the importance of giving back to your community!