Glasgow’s Daniel Rodriguez shields the ball as Barren County’s Austin Emerson defends. The Scotties defeated the Trojans, 5-2. Auggie Brown/WCLU Sports

Barren County’s Gabriel Nyekan sets to cross the ball as Glasgow’s Ian Parocai brings pressure. The Scotties defeated the Trojans, 5-2. Auggie Brown/WCLU Sports

Barren County’s Luke Prichard celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Glasgow. The Scotties defeated the Trojans, 5-2. Auggie Brown/WCLU Sports

Barren County’s Nathan Gerber dribbles the ball as Glasgow’s Owen Travis defends. The Scotties defeated the Trojans, 5-2. Auggie Brown/WCLU Sports

Barren County’s River Deckard kicks the ball downfield against Glasgow. The Scotties defeated the Trojans, 5-2. Auggie Brown/WCLU Sports

Barren County’s Ryder Depp and Glasgow’s Owen Travis battle for the ball in the air. The Scotties defeated the Trojans, 5-2. Auggie Brown/WCLU Sports

Glasgow’s Wilson Barrios points to the camera in celebration after scoring a goal against Barren County. The Scotties defeated the Trojans, 5-2. Auggie Brown/WCLU Sports

Barren County’s Haley Mutter and Glasgow’s Brilee Pitcock battle for the ball. The Trojanettes defeated the Lady Scotties, 1-0. Auggie Brown/WCLU Sports

Barren County’s Hannah Wilson collides with Glasgow’s Aniston Young after blocking a shot. The Trojanettes defeated the Lady Scotties, 1-0. Auggie Brown/WCLU Sports

Barren County’s Mahalia Burton passes the ball as Glasgow’s Aniston Young brings pressure. The Trojanettes defeated the Lady Scotties, 1-0. Auggie Brown/WCLU Sports

Glasgow’s Noelle Grieshop tips a cross as Barren County’s Neela Furlong looks to receive the ball at the back post. The Trojanettes defeated the Lady Scotties, 1-0. Auggie Brown/WCLU Sports

Barren County’s Shelby Byrd runs with the ball as Glasgow’s Caralee Gentry recovers. The Trojanettes defeated the Lady Scotties, 1-0. Auggie Brown/WCLU Sports

Glasgow’s Jada Wood hits at the net as Barren County’s Ellah Russell defends in a 15th District volleyball match. The Lady Scotties won, 3-0. James Brown/Glasgow News 1

Barren County’s Raegan Wilson defends at the net as Glasgow’s Gia Clark hits in a 15th District volleyball match. The Lady Scotties won, 3-0. James Brown/Glasgow News 1

Glasgow’s Kaleigh Jones serves against Barren County in a 15th District volleyball match. The Lady Scotties won, 3-0. James Brown/Glasgow News 1

Barren County’s Reagan Griffiths serves against Glasgow in a 15th District volleyball match. The Lady Scotties won, 3-0. James Brown/Glasgow News 1

Barren County’s Marley Russell sets the ball against Glasgow in a 15th District volleyball match. The Lady Scotties won, 3-0. James Brown/Glasgow News 1

Glasgow’s Preslee Martin sets the ball against Barren County in a 15th District volleyball match. The Lady Scotties won, 3-0. James Brown/Glasgow News 1

Glasgow’s Nora Kuykendall hits at the net as Barren County’s Reagan Griffiths sets to defend in a 15th District volleyball match. The Lady Scotties won, 3-0. James Brown/Glasgow News 1

Barren County’s Reagan Griffiths and Glasgow’s Aubree Norris both leap for a ball at the net in a 15th District volleyball match. The Lady Scotties won, 3-0. James Brown/Glasgow News 1

Glasgow’s Jada Wood serves against Barren County in a 15th District volleyball match. The Lady Scotties won, 3-0. James Brown/Glasgow News 1

Kentucky leaders and writers, in a chorus of grief over the death of Wendell Berry, called the writer and farmer a “literary giant,” “revolutionary” and a “Kentuckian of the highest order.”

The news broke late Monday that Berry died at 92. He was a farmer, author of dozens of books, former English professor and defender of land.

Silas House, a bestselling Kentucky author of “A Parchment of Leaves” and many other books, shared a photo on social media Monday night with Berry and a dog named Liz.

“Wendell Berry has passed. Another great light gone out,” House, former poet laureate of Kentucky, wrote. “There are so many ways he influenced me but most of all what I keep thinking is that he was so good to me. Generous with his time and words. Complex. Brilliant. Revolutionary.”

Kentucky writer, farmer and advocate Wendell Berry dies at 92

Barbara Kingsolver, a bestselling author of “The Poisonwood Bible” and many other books, wrote on Instagram Monday night that Berry was a “prophet, good farmer, gentle literary giant, Kentuckian of the finest order and friend to all that is good.”

Berry was “the mentor who surely meant more to me than any other,” Kingsolver wrote. “All I can do with my grief tonight is go to my shelves and put my hands on his books. Our world will go on needing him, and the words will be here, even as his soul rests with the day blind stars.”

Joyce Carol Oates, bestselling American author of “Zero-Sum” and many other works, called Berry “a wonderful writer.”

“Long before it became a more familiar subject Wendell Berry was conscious of the endangered natural environment; indeed, Berry helped to raise this consciousness in the American tradition of Thoreau & Emerson in his idealism & reverence for life,” Oates wrote on social media. 

The Kentucky Arts Council shared that it’s “both saddened by the passing of Wendell Berry, one of our greatest literary artists, and celebrating a Kentuckian who truly understood that ‘art is a way.’”

“He used his gift to exalt what matters most: the land from which we come, the food that blesses us, and the people who steward both,” the council wrote on social media.

Gov. Andy Beshear wrote on social media that Berry was a “a literary giant and a great Kentuckian.”

He added: “His writing reminded us to live simply and to love our neighbors.”

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said Berry “captured the way so many of us feel about Kentucky.”

“I keep coming back to his stories about love of place and caring for our neighbors,” Coleman wrote on social media.

Republican Sen. Aaron Reed, whose district includes Berry’s hometown, said Henry County “was more than Wendell Berry’s home. It was the ground beneath much of his writing about land, honest work, family and community.”

“He lived a long, consequential life,” Reed said in a statement, “and his work and words will endure.”

This story may be updated. 

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Linda Blackford for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com.

T.J. Regional Health and Graves Gilbert Clinic are beginning formal talks on a possible long-term partnership.

Graves Gilbert Clinic announced Tuesday, Sept. 1, that its physician members and owners overwhelmingly supported selecting T.J. Regional Health as the clinic’s preferred partner to explore an affiliation, according to a press release. The two organizations will now enter a due diligence period to shape what officials describe as a long-term affiliation.

“This is an exciting opportunity for both organizations and, most importantly, for the patients and communities we serve,” said Neil Thornbury, CEO of T.J. Regional Health. “Graves Gilbert Clinic has built a respected legacy of clinical excellence, and we believe bringing our organizations together will allow us to build on that legacy while creating an even stronger healthcare system for the future. At the center of everything we do is a shared commitment to delivering exceptional care close to home.”

Graves Gilbert Clinic patients should continue seeking care as they normally would, the release stated. Existing appointments and clinic operations will continue without interruption.

“On behalf of GGC’s Board of Directors, physicians and providers, and all our employees, we are excited by this partnership with T.J. Regional Health,” said Dr. Samer Kalakish, Chairman of the Graves Gilbert Clinic Board of Directors. “The shared values and cultures of our two organizations are a natural fit. This alliance with T.J. will allow GGC to continue providing high- quality healthcare to our patients in Bowling Green and all of southcentral Kentucky.”

The goal is to design a partnership that helps families across southcentral Kentucky continue to count on exceptional healthcare close to home for generations to come. According to the release, both Graves Gilbert Clinic and T.J. Regional Health have cared for local families for nearly a century.

If a partnership is finalized, the combined system would unite more than 300 providers across a full range of primary care and specialty services, the release stated. The move could create new opportunities to coordinate care, expand access to services, and keep medical decisions local.

Key Facts
– Graves Gilbert Clinic has named T.J. Regional Health its preferred partner to explore a long-term affiliation
– The two organizations are entering a due diligence period to shape a possible partnership
– A combined network would unite more than 300 providers across primary and specialty care
– Officials say patients should continue care as usual with no appointment or operations changes
– Both providers say the goal is to expand coordinated care and keep medical decisions local in southcentral Kentucky

Harold was born on December 10, 1934 in Warren County, Kentucky to the late William Randolph and Mattie Herald Watts. He was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Geneva Watts, and a niece, Carolyn Watts Britt. He is survived by his nephews, Jim (Gale) Watts and Tony (Cindy) Watts; nieces, Linda Watts and Lisa Watts; nephew-in-law, Terry Britt; He is also survived by several great and great-great nieces and nephews, and many cousins and friends.

Harold has a talent for repairing and restoring cars (especially Corvettes), and loved going to auctions. He never met a bargain he didn’t like.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 5, at Johnson Vaughn Phelps Funeral Home with burial to follow at Martinsville Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 4 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to the Martinsville Baptist Church Cemetery Fund or Hospice of Southern Kentucky.

He leaves behind his beloved wife Janice, his daughter Felicia Rucker and her husband David, his grandson Aren Childress and his wife Cierra, and his great-granddaughter Marie Childress. He is also survived by his brother Alton Childress and his wife Joyce.

Lannie will be cremated, and the arrangements will be private.

Naomi was born in Barren County, KY on November 16, 1950, a daughter of the late Geneva (Proffitt) and Clyde T. Butler.

Naomi was a retired beautician. She was a member of Fountain Run First Baptist Church. Naomi loved to travel, talk and get to know people, working in her flowers, watching hummingbirds, helping people, watching sports and especially the UK wildcats.

Naomi is survived by her husband of nearly 57 years, James Evans “Jim” Jordan;
a daughter, Nanette Jordan, of Austin, KY; and a son, Jeremy Jordan, and wife,Stephanie, of Glasgow, KY; six grandchildren, Jessica Strode (Timothy), Mikayla King (Bruce), Natalie LaFever (Ryan), Kendall Esters, Kolton Esters, Karsyn Esters; great grandchildren, Ryan Dale, James, Abel, Ava, and her granddogs and grandcats.

Naomi is also survived by a sister, Nelda Biggerstaff, of Tompkinsville, KY;two brothers, David Butler and Darrell Butler, both of Tompkinsville, KY.

Other than her parents, she is preceded in death by a son, Jeff Jordan.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon on Friday, September 4th at Yokley Trible Funeral Home in Tompkinsville, KY. Visitation is Friday morning after 10:00 a.m. until service time at 12 noon. Private graveside services will be held at Fountain Run Cemetery.

Derrick was born in Glasgow, KY on May 28, 1994, a son of Billy Graves and the late Lee Ann (Davis) Graves.

He was a 2013 graduate of Monroe County High School. He enjoyed shooting pool, riding motorcycles, and living his best life.

Derrick is survived by his father, Billy Star Graves, three sons, Hayden Graves, Paxton Marion, and Corbin Graves, all of Tompkinsville, KY; a brother, Eric Graves; two half sisters, Brookie Davis and Kelly Pruitt, all of Tompkinsville, KY; grandmother, Louise Graves, of Tompkinsville, KY and grandfather, Randall Shirley of Scottsville, KY.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 3rd at Yokley Trible Funeral Home in Tompkinsville, KY, with burial to follow at Brown Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 2, 4-8 p.m., and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m. at Yokley Trible Funeral Home

Mrs. Spencer had requested cremation; a choice that the family is honoring. There are no services planned at the present time. Arrangements entrusted to Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home.