Family sees its tree have one last celebration

Local News

Related Photos

November 23, 2009

By HEATHER PYLES, Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Mon Nov 23, 2009, 07:07 PM EST

Somerset — For 28 years, the pine tree grew. And every Christmas until their two sons were grown, Joelyn and the late Jerry Prather would stop by their tree to observe its progress.

“It had sentimental feelings for us,” Joelyn Prather said.

The couple got the idea to plant a Christmas tree on the property of their first house in 1980.

“We just thought it would be a neat way to celebrate his first Christmas by having a live tree,” Joelyn said, about their decision to plant the tree for their first son Jay’s first Christmas.

The tree wasn’t planted until February 1981, after the ground had finally thawed enough to allow the couple to plant the tree in their yard in Maplewood Subdivision. Joelyn and Jerry would have another son, Joel, and every year they would celebrate another Christmas with their children alongside the ever-growing tree.

And when it came time for the family to move, they decided to place a clause in the property deed that would allow them to visit the tree.

“Our Realtor laughed and said ‘I’ve never had anybody to put a clause that they can come back and visit a tree,’” Joelyn said.

Once the couple’s two children grew up, their many visits to the beloved tree thinned, with a majority of those visits being drive-bys to check on the growth of the tree that had found its place into a family’s heart.

But on Monday morning, Joelyn was surprised to see a City of Somerset crew gathered around the tree. Curious, she drove on, only to return to her home, located only a block away from where the tree stood, to see that it was gone.

“My heart just jumped out of my chest when I saw the tree was gone,” she said.

Joelyn would soon receive a phone call from property owner Ralph Rutherford, who explained to her that he felt the tree had reached its peak. The sentimental treasure had endured its fair share of cold winters and harsh summer storms. The branches are heavy with age.

The tree was moved to the Fountain Square, the center of the county and the city for this year’s holiday festivities.

Rutherford told Joelyn that he thought the time had come to allow a whole city and county enjoy its beauty — and story.

“It can have a last little celebration and everyone can enjoy it,” Joelyn said.

Text Only

Local News

Local man airlifted after two-vehicle crash
May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Mopar Mania to highlight Cruise
May 25, 2012 1 Photo
‘Dry’ forces concerned about wet signs
May 25, 2012 1 Photo
Visitors rave about beauty of Lake Cumberland in May
May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Pulaski’s Memorial Day weekend to be packed
May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Locally-born Rotary leader Pigman dies at 78
May 24, 2012
Technology summit gets underway
May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Local Democrats diss Obama
May 23, 2012
Floyd edges incumbent in city council run-off
May 23, 2012
Pulaski carries Girdler to win

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s primary election, it was impossible to miss the colorful signs dotting nearly every Pulaski roadway. The names in the race for the 15th State Senatorial District seat popped out: A.C. Donahue. Chris Girdler. Mark Polston.

Once citizens hit the ballots, however, the results mirrored the dimensions of the signs themselves: Chris Girdler stood the tallest.

Girdler, deputy district director for Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers, ran away with the votes inside Pulaski County’s borders, earning 3,926 votes for 62.05 percent of the total number cast.

That number more than doubled the next highest vote-getter, businessman Mark Polston, who raked in 1,624 votes for 25.67 percent.

However, Polston — who owns Classic Carpet, a home-flooring business located just off the southern 914 bypass — can claim a moral victory ... three of them, in fact. In all three counties in the district other than Pulaski — those being Adair, Casey, and Russell Counties — Polston actually edged out Girdler.

In Adair, Polston beat Girdler 629 to 394. In Casey County, it was 538 to 417, and in Russell, it was 1,862 to 1,038.

Polston said he just “couldn’t pull it out with the numbers” and that “the machine worked for” Girdler in Pulaski County.

“I think that was their strategy — I think they had a Pulaski County strategy all along,” said Polston. “They played the political game well.”

Polston said the difference between his and Girdler’s campaigns was that “mine was a very, very grass roots campaign,” he said. “I did not have a political machine behind me. I understand how this process works, and in this instance, he prevailed.”

As for why Girdler didn’t take three of four counties, the winning candidate — since there are no Democrats in the race, winning the Republican primary was effectively a final victory for Girdler — said he didn’t have an answer for that.

However, “I believe things happen for a reason and I hope the long and strenuous campaign will only heighten my desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past,” said Girdler.

“Regionalism is a goal of mine, and I look forward to helping all four counties,” he added, noting that he campaigned heavily in each of them.

Sen. Vernie McGaha, the long-time state senator whose seat the candidates were vying for, actually supported Polston after Liberty’s Todd Hoskins dropped out of the race earlier this month.

Donahue, a local attorney, got 556 votes in Pulaski County, 8.79 percent of the vote. He only received 145 votes in Russell County, 74 in Adair County, and 75 in Casey County, where hometown candidate Hoskins almost matched him with 71 votes despite no longer being officially in the race.

Polston said he’s “still digesting” what happened, and though “the process has been a very good experience for me,” he wouldn’t commit to running again in the future. “I wouldn’t shut the door to anything, but I’m not opening any doors either.”

Still, “I think I got a lot of people involved in the process that had not been involved before and would not have been otherwise,” he said. “A lot of people got out and worked really hard, got motivated to talk to friends and neighbors. I think a lot of people became involved through this campaign that are going to be involved for a long time.”

Girdler stressed his “positive message” and said that Rogers is a “mentor and good friend” that he would turn to for advice in dealing with a frequently combative legislative body in Frankfort, one for which Girdler hopes to help change the culture.

Girdler said that he was “confident and optimistic” during the day Tuesday because he’d “worked extremely hard.” Nevertheless, the realization that he’d won gave him “chill bumps,” he said.

“I’m absolutely honored,” said Girdler. “The position of state senator is more than an honor, more than an office. It’s a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.

“I pledge to be the people’s state senator,” he added. “I look forward to working with everyone to move this region forward.”

May 22, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Family sees its tree have one last celebration

Site Map