Wikipedia (so great) lists six towns and cities of Union County: Breckinridge Center, Morganfield, Sturgis, Sullivan, Uniontown and Waverly. That picture of Morganfield is from the summer of 2010. This picture, from near Waverly on U.S. 60, is from 1993 or so.
The map of Union County that appears at the front of Union County Past and Present--a Kentucky Writers' Project/Work Projects Administration publication that was part of the American Guide Series and printed by Schumann Printing Co. of Louisville in 1941--does not show Breckinridge Center from the Wikpedia list but does include 12 other places: Arnold, Bordley, Boxville, Caseyville, Curlew, DeKoven, Grove Center, Henshaw, Herman, Hitesville, Pride and Spring Grove. This picture was shot in 2010, facing eastbound on Ky. 56, just after you cross the Shawneetown Bridge over the Ohio River (so terrifying) and before you get to Spring Grove.
And, so, the HP's cavalcade of Union County continues, with the UC High Braves tied with Campbell County for the lead in the KHSAA wrestling championships and action set to resume in Lexington at 8:30 Central this morning. Furthermore, the Kentucky desk is tuning back in "today's country and (my) all-time favorites" on Morganfield's WMSK 101.3 FM so as not to miss any of the interruptions with the state's only live radio coverage of the event at the Alltech Arena at Kentucky Horse Park.
Now, of course, the wrestling championships are not the only item of interest to the Kentucky desk this morning, but just those communities of Union County and the seat of Campbell (Alexandria) suck up all the label space for this post. So, we're going to go ahead and wrap up with a mention that UK's national-champion rifle team is today amid a qualifier to return to its NCAA tournament. This event is actually occurring at this very moment, and we can watch! (I'm not sure what's happening in this sport either, but ... wow! The Internet is so awesome.) This Brian Rickerd feature on the UK rifle team in Frankfort's State-Journal is pretty interesting. ("Take Anthony Davis. If I said to Davis, ‘Okay, there’s no time left and we’re down 99 points, and you have to make 100 straight free throws in front of 23,000 people.’ ...")
In conclusion: Hooray for Brian Rickerd, and hooray for the UK rifle team! Sorry to Frankfort for the lack of label. Hooray for WMSK, and hooray for Union County! Sorry to Campbell County, about which I don't have a lot of books and pictures and things because it's not where a lot of my wife's family is from. Hooray for the Internet, and, finally and as always, hooray for Kentucky!
And hooray for the American Guide Series altogether and this Union County volume specifically (and sorry to Louisville for no label for Schumann Printing Company).
ReplyDeleteUnion County's "development has not been spectacular, but it has been steady and positive," writes Earle C. Clements, fiscal-court judge, in the foreword. "... Social changes that came first with the Civil War and later with the World War influenced but did not unduly affect the county. New ideas, new ways of living were taken in stride, but always there was a proving period. Union County, with its background of Anglo-Saxon pioneers, is typically American in that it is a model of conservative, tolerant and peaceful development, and imbued with a strong determination to create and enjoy a better life. This history has been compiled so that an authentic record of this typical American community might be preserved for the information, use and guidance of our citizens and their descendants who will preserve and carry on our way of life."
This book was sponsored by the Union County fiscal court.
"Let's pin it to win it," a Union County circuit-court clerk urges in his commercial on WMSK.
ReplyDeleteBig trouble for the defending-state-champ Braves. Here are the top five teams through the quarterfinals:
ReplyDelete1. Campbell County, 106.50
2. Union County, 90.00
3. Larue County, 85.00
4. Simon Kenton, 83.50
5. Louisville Trinity, 82.00
There are 14 weight classes, and we have now reached the semifinals of the championship flight in each. Union County has surviving wrestlers in the 113-, 126 and 132-pound classes. Campbell County, however, is alive in the 120-, 126-, 138-, 152-, 220- and 285-pound classes. That's twice as many as Union. LaRue also has six wrestlers still alive; Simon Kenton, four, and Trinity, three.
"These are all crucial points moving forward here," one of the three WMSK commentators say, as 101.3 FM breaks in on "Drink in My Hand" by Eric Church for the call of Union County matches in the consolation bracket.
"PIN TO WIN," urges Greg's Body Shop of Sturgis!
ReplyDeleteAlliance Energy's Riverview Coal takes a big shot at solar and wind producers.
ReplyDelete"Call before you dig," warns the gov!
ReplyDeleteConsolation-bracket competitors could still earn third place, WMSK says. So, presumably, the championship-flight finalists determine finish first and second; the losing semifinalists then fall into the consolation bracket, which sorts out who takes third place on the podium.
ReplyDeleteThe consolation bracket in wrestling is referred to as--at least by WMSK--as "the wrestlebacks."
ReplyDeleteIf it got 0 or 1 star at The Heath Post, it's pretty much guaranteed to be in heavy rotation on WMSK amid the wrestling matches.
ReplyDeleteOK, Union County appears to have had a couple of very good consolation rounds this morning, and now we're listening to the championship-bracket semis. Current team scores:
ReplyDelete1. Campbell County, 106.50
2. Union County, 105.00
3. Simon Kenton, 101.50
4. Louisville Trinity, 91.00
5. Larue County, 89.00
Right now, we've got a Braves wrestler, Trae Blackwell, in a 113-pound semifinal against Gus Adams of Union Larry A. Ryle. It appears that we're missing Toby Keith's "As Good As I Once Was" from the studio in Morganfield while we're listening to the action from near Spindletop. What a shame.
Blackwell wins in a "major decision"!
ReplyDeleteAnd now, in a break before Union County's next championship-flight semi--Brock Ervin, at 126 pounds, vs. Campbell County's Sean Fausz--we get an ad for a law firm who claims it "will go to the mat for you."
From the Union County Past and Present preface by William R. Breyer, state supervisor of the Kentucky Writers' Project: Union County's "history, except during the Civil War period and when floods or other natural disasters have struck, is uneventful. Its people have worked hard, enjoyed simple pleasures, built their agrarian society without receiving, or seeking, fame or notoriety in the world outside. Because of Union County's very adherences to the normal, its story may be a richer contribution to the whole body of knowledge of American folkways than if that story were a recital of spectacular events, studded with the exploits of celebrated men and women."
ReplyDeleteTranslation: "Sorry, but the fiscal court paid for us to come down here and do this thing."
Anderson County sports fans, you have a good one in John Herndon:
ReplyDelete"John Herndon @ANewsJPHerndon
"Got word that Chris Fitzpatrick has made the state wrestling medal round. On my way to Lexington to see my boy put a flying drop kick on one
"12:54 PM."
OK, Ervin of Union County has beaten of Fausz of Campbell County.
ReplyDelete"Campbell County looks like they're going to be hard to beat, but they're not going to be impossible to beat," says WMSK.
That's two Braves to advance to tonight's finals. The third championship-bracket Union County wrestler, Jayce Carr at 132 pounds, is about to begin a match with Corey Ahern of Union Ryle.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to have moved back to Kentucky, and I wholeheartedly urge all Heath Post readers, writers, subscribers, whatevers to do same.
ReplyDeleteUnion County Past and Present, Page 3: "Within that length of the Ohio River which forms sinuous boundary of Union County lie two inhabited and cultivated islands: Slim and Wabash. They were somewhat important in the early years of navigation and doubtless witnessed scenes of violence and terror, for they were in proximity to up-river Diamond Island, the haunt of banditti, among whom the more conspicuous were the Harpes and the Masons, who attacked and plundered passing boats, frequently murdering both passengers and crews, until at length a detachment of Kentucky militia shot or dispersed them in a surprise raid--as related by Fortescue Cuming in his Tour to the Western Country, embracing the years 1807-9."
ReplyDeleteUNION COUNTY'S CARR ADVANCES TO TONIGHT'S FINALS, TOO!
ReplyDeleteSo, the Braves will have three wrestlers competing for weight-class championships tonight. That's three of three Union County wrestlers who had made the semifinals. CLUTCH!
Wabash is four miles down the Ohio River from Uniontown.
ReplyDeletePage 5: "Once the island housed fifteen or more families, but the introduction of the corn-picking machine in 1938 has cut the population to one family and a few farm hands.
"... For some reason, doctors were never attracted to the island. An old Mrs. Kettles, steeped in the lore of ancient home remedies, long tended the sick. ...
"Education has not been neglected. In 1910, Miss Emma Whitworth started a shanty-boat school. The county school superintendent interested himself in its development, with the result that a building was erected in 1911 on ground given by Nace Waller on condition that it would revert to him in case the school discontinued. This happened in 1923, after years of support, the accumulation of a good library, and an attendance from twenty to thirty pupils."
Here were the standings entering tonight's finals in the 14 weight classes:
ReplyDelete1. Campbell County, 178.50
2. Union County, 164.00
3. Larue County, 148.00
4. Simon Kenton, 145.50
5. Louisville Trinity, 139.50
Well, five weight classes in, Union County has claimed three state championships, including two in come-from-behind fashion in the last 10 seconds of the match. With victories at 113 pounds by Trae Blackwell, 126 pounds by Brock Ervin and 132 pounds by Jayce Carr, Union County is now within six points of Campbell County for the team title, 182-176.
But that's it. The Braves are out of opportunities to add to their team total. When Campbell County's Garth Yenter, at 120 pounds, beat Nick Paden of Larue County a little earlier to complete a personal 65-0 season and win his second state title, it clinched the team title for the Fighting Camels of Alexandria.
The action rolls on on iHigh.com.
"KHSAA Events @khsaaevents
ReplyDelete"Tonight's attendance of 4,917 is an all-time wrestling finals record, besting the old mark of 4,537 set in 2009. #khswr
"8:45 PM "
Great coverage. Good effort by Union County, but the burghers from Northern Kentucky are always worthy opponents.
ReplyDeleteA Union County winery is offering "Wrestler's Red, an homage to Union County High School's rich tradition in winning wrestling state championships."
ReplyDelete