News from June 26, 2003 issue



Salem author publishes police novel
The peaceful surroundings of western Kentucky inspired author James H. Walker to begin his newly published novel. No, the action and adventure book based on police life didn't come from his experiences in the area, but he was inspired to start writing the book while living in Salem.
"It was a good place to write ­ nice and quiet," Walker said of Salem.

Walker, 67, spent seven years of his childhood, from age nine to 15 on a family farm in Livingston County. He attended grade school at Smithland before his parents moved out of state. He lived in Ohio and and other midwestern and southern states, but he and his wife returned to Salem in 1994 to begin writing the adventure novel "Inside Your Local Police."

"Inside Your Local Police" is an action packed adventure novel that chronicles the exploits of two detective lieutenants as they work to solve three homicides. It follows James MacDonald and Dick Sherman as they weave their way through bank robberies, escaped prisoners domestic gang fights and numerous other assorted crimes on their way to bringing murderers to justice.
Walker based much of his novel on his experiences in policing and many of the other officers he had worked with. He was also tired of the stereotype many people have of policemen and used to book to uncover their human side.

"I am tired of reading about bad cops. The cops in this book are good police officers, but human," he said. "They make mistakes like everyone else, what makes them great is, they have seconds to make life and death decisions and most of the time they make the right ones.

"I have worked with police officers from Cleveland, Ohio to Florida, from local to federal and have found most to be, dedicated, honest and hard working," Walker continued. Yes there are some who get caught up in the money thing and some get overly ambitious for promotion, but on average considering they have few civilian friends they can count on, they are outstanding."

Walker is not new to the writing scene. His first book was published in 1979 called "Man In Blue." At the time he was a police officer and resident of Waite Hill, Ohio. He has subsequently published 23 articles in magazines, newspapers and anthologies.

He is currently working on a children's short story called "Bushy Tail the Squirrel" and a book of poetry "Rambling in Rhyme."

Although Walker now resides in Corydon, Ind., he still returns to western Kentucky to visit family. His mother, Susie, keeps a home in Carrsville. Also, his sister Virginia Faye Hughes is a resident of Joy and a brother Robert Joseph Walker resides in Hampton.

"Inside Your Local Police" by James H. Walker was published by iUniverse, Inc., and is available online at Barnes & Noble (www.bn.com), amazon.com, iuniverse.com and book stores across the country. Paperback copies are sold for $11.95 and hardcover sale price is $21.95.

Hurricane Camp Meeting features spiffy cabins
Anna Easley and Sue Mills' cabin at Hurricane Campgrounds looks like something off of HGTV.
From a faux finish on the once plain white exterior to country accents and homey bedspreads and rugs, the two have transformed their little cabin into a cozy retreat.

The two women grew up together in Tolu and at annual Camp Meetings, but they never camped at Hurricane until last year.

"I always came but never got to camp, and I always wanted to," said Easley.

Mills, whose country cooking draws hundreds during the week of Camp Meeting to the old-fashioned dining hall, is a third generation Hurricane attendee.

The cabins at Hurricane are owned by the Hurricane board of directors but they're maintained by individuals who occupy them.

"Susie Hardin had this cabin for years, and we put our name on the list to get one when one became available," Easley said.

When the two learned last year they'd be getting the cabin, they began talking about how they could fix it up.

"We wanted something unique looking, and we were sitting and thinking about what we could do about the cabin, and Sue said, 'When you think about cabins you think of log cabins,'" Easley said. "We decided to paint it like a log cabin."

Easley's daughter D'Anna grabbed paint and brushes, while Mills and Easley wallpapered, added appropriate rugs and hauled beds and decorations to their new summer hideaway.
"We added shutters, window boxes and Sue carried this and that over there," Easley said. "And I think we started something."

Many people remarked Monday night, the first night of Camp Meeting, that the Hurricane grounds and cabins look better than they ever have. Other families have added decorative touches to their cabins ­ and followed suit in the dining hall ­ which further enhances the grounds.

Services are held every night through Sunday at Hurricane Camp. Singing and preaching begins at 7 p.m., with special music every night and the service by Russ Davidson, a Marion native who now preaches at a church in Salem, Mo.

Camp crowds have been large the first two nights and organizers predict biggers ones toward week's end. It would be advisable to bring along a lawn chair just in case all of the wooden seats are full.

RALLY TIME!
Dycusburg gears up for Twitty & third biker bash
Michael Twitty, son of country music legend Conway Twitty, will be the featured performer at this year's Dycusburg Biker Rally at Stacy Sutton Park off Ky. 902 in southern Crittenden County.
The rally is expected to bring in another big crowd. It opens Thursday and runs through Sunday with nightly entertainment and biker games.
Only those age 18 and older may enter. Cost is $20 for a weekend pass, which includes the Saturday night concert featuring Twitty. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
Sheriff Wayne Agent said his department and the Kentucky State Police will be working together to provide extra patrols in the area. "We want them to keep the partying inside the rally grounds," Agent said.

4th reunioners hosted by old Hayward lawn
The 23rd annual Marion High School reunion will be held July 4 weekend and reunion goers will have a new place to meet and greet one another. The local group that's renovating the old Hayward House, otherwise known as the old hospital on North Walker Street, is hosting a gathering July 2 and 3 on the lawn of the historic old home, hospital and school. Refreshments will be served early to mid afternoon each day and seating will be available on the lawn.
The reunion will be held Friday, July 4 beginning at 3:30 p.m., at the Marion Country Club. Dinner will be at 7 p.m. The memory room at Fohs Hall will be open Tuesday through Friday next week.