"Square Dancing Resilience, Little Library Drive, Login Screen Defeat, SkyWarn Spotters!"

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Exciting Stories from Morehead/Rowan County & Surrounding Communities - Square Dancing, Little Library, Local Man vs Login Screen, SkyWarn Spotter! 📰🌟

Joe Clark

Apr 23, 2026

Serving Morehead / Rowan County & All Surrounding Communities

Rowan County Coroner’s Office Attending Statewide Training Conference in Bowling Green

The Rowan County Coroner’s Office is participating in the 2026 Kentucky Coroners Association Annual Conference this week in Bowling Green, joining coroners and deputy coroners from across the Commonwealth for advanced training and professional development.

The conference features a full schedule of sessions focused on critical and emerging issues in the field, including drug abuse trends, forensic toxicology, and the identification of new and evolving substances. Additional training topics include medicolegal death investigations, leadership development, and mental health awareness.

Presenters for the event include Lt. Joshua Shaffer of the Knoxville, Tennessee Police Department; Laureen J. Marinetti; Stuart A. Kurtz; Kevin Shanks; P. Michael Murphy; and Lionel Phelps, among others—bringing a wide range of expertise to attendees.

While members of the Rowan County Coroner’s Office are attending the conference, Deputy Coroner Derek Lewis remains on duty locally, ensuring that all calls are covered and that services to the community continue without interruption. Officials expressed their appreciation for Lewis’s dedication and willingness to step up during the team’s absence.

The Rowan County Coroner’s Office emphasized its commitment to ongoing education and training as a means of better serving the residents of Rowan County.

For continued coverage of local updates and community news, stay with The Morehead Minute.

Pictured (left to right): Deputy Coroner Alex Hill, Rowan County Coroner John P. Northcutt, and Deputy Coroner Jarrod Caudill. Photo courtesy of the Rowan County Coroner's Office.

Rowan County FFA Claims Regional Titles, Advances to State

The Rowan County FFA continues to make its mark across the region, earning multiple first-place finishes at recent regional competitions and advancing to the state level.

The Small Engines Team secured 1st Place in the Region, showcasing their technical skill and knowledge in engine repair and diagnostics. Team members include:

Brody Barnette
Mason Utcheck
Tyler Cromer
Dalton Jent

With this victory, the team will now move on to compete at the State Competition.

In addition, Rowan County FFA also claimed 1st Place in the Regional Agriculture Mechanics Contest, further demonstrating the program’s strength in hands-on agricultural education. Team members for this event include:

Andrew Roland
Zachary Wilson

Highlighting the day’s achievements, Cody Katron earned Individual High Score in the Agriculture Mechanics Contest — a standout performance among top regional competitors.

These accomplishments reflect the dedication, hard work, and preparation of both the students and their advisors.

Congratulations to all involved — and best of luck at the State Competition!

Go Vikings!

Preserving Traditional Square Dancing: Cultivating Community Connections Through Dance

Square dancing is a traditional dance form involving four couples facing the middle of the dance floor.

It dates back to before colonization of the Americas and has variations across regions in Europe.

A crucial component of square dancing is the caller, who guides participants through the dance, keeps them from bumping into each other, and ensures the flow of the dance.

However, finding skilled callers can be challenging as the practice is not as common nowadays. Modern square dancing comes in various styles, such as western squares of the southwest and traditional square dancing of Appalachia.

Dance Caller Hazel Jodock emphasizes the importance of preserving these diverse forms of square dancing to maintain cultural heritage and build community.

Engaging in square dancing offers a unique opportunity to interact with others and forge connections in a society that often feels divided. Square dancing brings together people from different backgrounds who may not have crossed paths otherwise.

Participants, including students and members of the community, come together to enjoy the dance and build relationships.

The practice of switching partners during dances allows individuals to meet new people and foster connections in a meaningful way.

Despite the decline in popularity compared to the past, the future of square dancing in these hills looks promising.

Help Fill the Little Library at City Park

The Morehead–Rowan County America250KY Committee is asking for the community’s help in stocking a new Little Library at City Park.

Donations of new or gently used children’s books are now being accepted, with a focus on titles for babies through young readers—including picture books and chapter books.

The goal is simple: spark imagination, encourage learning, and share the joy of reading with local children.

Drop-Off Locations:
• Morehead Police Department
• Rowan County Public Library

Collection Dates:
April 22 – May 15, 2026

This effort is part of the America250KY initiative, investing in literacy and the future of our community—one book at a time.

If you’re able, consider donating—and don’t forget to spread the word.

Editorial: Stuck in Morehead Traffic

If you’ve tried to navigate downtown Morehead lately, you already know—something’s not working.

All levels of government have their share of issues to tackle, but one that continues to be overlooked is the growing traffic problem right here in our own backyard. And it’s no longer an occasional inconvenience—it’s becoming a daily frustration.

Take a drive through some of the busiest points in town and you’ll see it firsthand. The I-64 on/off ramps at Flemingsburg Road. The Kroger Center intersection. Topside Trail leading toward Huck’s, Cattlemen’s, and McDonald’s. The junction of Main Street and Flemingsburg Road near Wendy’s. And the Morehead Bypass meeting Flemingsburg Road. These aren’t just busy spots—they’re bottlenecks.

Last week alone, getting from one side of town to the other turned into a maze of side streets, turnarounds, and delays. And if you’re honest, you’ve probably done the same—anything to avoid sitting through another backed-up light cycle.

This isn’t just a matter of impatience. It’s a sign of growth outpacing infrastructure.

Morehead has expanded—new businesses, increased traffic flow, and more people coming through town than ever before. That’s a good thing. Growth is something communities work hard for. But our roadways weren’t built with this level of demand in mind, and it’s starting to show.

At some point, this conversation has to move from quiet frustration to real discussion. Whether it’s traffic studies, signal timing adjustments, road expansions, or long-term planning—something has to give.

Because right now, the way things stand, getting across town shouldn’t feel like navigating a puzzle.

And judging by the number of brake lights lining Flemingsburg Road on any given afternoon—it’s safe to say you’re not the only one feeling it.

Become A SkyWarn Weather Spotter!

Severe weather impacts communities across the country every year—and here in Kentucky, that’s nothing new. To help keep the public safe, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) created the SKYWARN program in partnership with local organizations.

SKYWARN is a nationwide volunteer network of nearly 290,000 trained severe weather spotters, including many amateur radio operators. These volunteers play a critical role by reporting real-time conditions—such as damaging winds, heavy rain, tornadoes, ice, and snow—directly to the NWS, helping improve forecasts and warnings.

Want to get involved? There are two ways to become a trained SKYWARN spotter through NWS Jackson, KY:

In-Person Training: Free classes are held periodically across eastern Kentucky in partnership with county Emergency Management. These sessions are open to the public unless otherwise noted.
Online Training: If you can’t attend in person, you can complete a series of online modules covering spotting procedures, reporting criteria, and safety. The training takes about 2–3 hours total. After completion, you’ll be contacted for any additional local requirements.

For more information or to get started, visit the national SKYWARN page or access the online training modules here: https://www.meted.ucar.edu/training_course.php?id=23

Breaking News: Local Man Defeated by Login Screen

Well… it finally happened.

In a stunning display of technological brilliance, I have somehow managed to lock myself completely out of our new newsletter system. Not “forgot my password” locked out. Not “wrong email” locked out. I mean full-blown, locked-the-keys-in-the-car-with-the-engine-running level locked out.

After several heroic attempts (and a few conversations with support that have so far gone into the void), I’ve made the executive decision to retreat—temporarily—to our old, familiar stomping grounds.

So for this week, The Morehead Minute is back on the original platform… not because it’s part of some grand strategy—but because your editor got outsmarted by a login screen.

We’ll be back up and running on the new system as soon as I regain access (or admit defeat and start over like it never happened).

Until then, thank you for sticking with me—and if nothing else, I hope this at least gave you a laugh at my expense.

—Joe

From The Archives

Taken in 2018, this is a photo of the former Coopers Chapel here in Rowan County. Cooper's Chapel was the very first Church of God in Rowan County.

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