Published: April 24, 2008 10:47 pm            

TIM PRESTON: Paula isn’t coming

I hear the excitement in people’s voices when they talk about reports that the Food Network’s Paula Dean is coming to Grayson soon. The bad news is, Carter County is nowhere on her travel schedule, according to a spokesman for her sponsor Smithfield Packing Company.

The Paula Dean rumors began to recirculate several weeks ago when Smithfield announced plans to shift smoked ham operations from Kinston, N.C., to Grayson and invest $10 million in the facility most people still call Cook’s.

Like an idiot, I heard this and said, “Who is Paula Dean?” As soon as I said it, I thought the ladies in the office were going to beat me to death with staplers to punish my ignorance.

It turned out I was one of at least three guys in the newsroom who weren’t familiar with Dean. To correct our deficiency, we logged on to youtube.com and soon found ourselves repeating the word “spatchuler.” As word spread around the office that I didn’t know Dean, her fans told me more about her background and it didn’t take long to determine this lady is indeed impressive.

I told the guy from Smithfield about local excitement for a Dean visit and suggested he do whatever he can to get her here. He said he will work on it and let us know if they can make any arrangements for that to happen. If I hear anything, I’ll let you know.

Gallaher recognized

A dozen Kentucky companies were recently recognized by the state’s Cabinet for Economic Development as “outstanding” small businesses, including The Gallaher Group of Ashland.

Chris Quinn, president of The Gallaher Group, said the business began 32 years ago as a commercial print shop and now offers a variety of services including graphic design, full-color printing, specialty and promotional items, and full-service marketing, along with printing and mailing the local “Bridges” magazine. The company, which has 35 employees, recently consolidated three locations into one shop on Armco Blvd.

Also on that list

In addition to The Gallaher Group, the state recognized two Pikeville companies as outstanding small business operations — Interstate Natural Gas Company with 280 employees and Southeast Telephone, which has 300 workers.

Best places to work

King’s Daughters Medical Center was near the top of the recently released list of “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” as ranked by the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

KDMC was No. 3 on the list of “Large Companies,” just behind Edward Jones and Frankfort Regional Medical Center.

The list of best “Small/Medium Companies” also recognized Floyd County’s Saint Joseph Martin (formerly Our Lady of the Way Hospital) at No. 16.

Crystal for GO Radio

WUGO FM in Grayson has once again been selected by the National Association of Broadcasters to receive a Crystal Radio Award, the “most coveted award in radio.”

The local broadcasters have been in the field of finalists for a Crystal Award 10 times during the past 20 years, and the 2008 honor is their fourth. The station previously won Crystal Awards in 2005, 2003 and 1999, recognizing their local programming, public service and community involvement.

Also awarded

Staff members at 800 WVHU were also recognized in recent days by members of the West Virginia Associated Press for excellence in three categories.

Morning show host Tom Roten was awarded top prize in the “Best Interview” category for his 2007 interview with presidential candidate Ron Paul.

Sportscasters Chris Tatum and Mark Wood won the “Best Play by Play” award for their 2007 broadcast of the Huntington High School vs. Artesia game from Durham, N.C., and Sports Director Paul Swann was recognized as “Best Sportscaster” as well as receiving an honorable mention for his Sports Talk program.

Dave at JSF

Writer Dave Lavender will be signing copies of his new book “Dave Trippin: A Day Tripper’s Guide to the Appalachian Galaxy of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia,” from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Jesse Stuart Foundation at the corner of 17th Street and Winchester Avenue. The 273-page book features information about a nearly a dozen destinations in each of the three local states.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.

        

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