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Touch-A-Truck draws crowd in Flatwoods
People line up to check out the HealthNet medical chopper at the Touch a Truck event in Flatwoods on Saturday.
FLATWOODS — The annual Touch a Truck event is always a big deal for kids but this year, the biggest draw came from the sky.
As the event started at 6 p.m. on Saturday, there was a rhythmic thumping and kids and parents quickly made their way to the senior center in the Flatwoods park.
“It’s a helicopter,” said one kid as the HealthNet medical chopper made its descent into the open lot by the park.
More than a few had to cover their faces as the blades kicked up a gust of wind and sent grass clippings flying.
Once they could, people lined up to check out the copter.
This was the fourth time the event was put on by the city’s Park and Recreation committee.
“It gets bigger every year,” said Joshua Jospeh, the chairman of the parks and rec committee, said. “It has really caught on in our area, other cities are doing it now. It’s pretty awesome.”
He explained that the event is sensory friendly and that brings out a lot of families.
“We’re so happy to see so many people come out and enjoy this,” he said, adding that it is hard to track how many people attended because they come and go during the two hour event. “But if you look around, you see tons of people.”
And what is his favorite vehicle at the event.
“I really like the ladder truck,” Jospeh said, pointing out the Flatwoods Fire Department’s truck which had a 78 foot ladder. “And the Eastern Kentucky Ghostbusters come out every year.”
Other vehicles included Greenup Library vans, the county’s mobile command center, police cruiser, a tow truck, tractors, a water rescue boat, a National Guard Hummer, a gasoline transport truck, a garbage truck, a utility truck, a rail buggy a gaggle of radio controlled cars and the Shriners brought their train to give kids rides around the park.
Stephanie Huffman, the community service coordinator for the City of Flatwoods, was torn on her favorite vehicle.
“It is between the rescue boat or the ladder truck. I guess it’s the firetruck because that ladder is amazing,” she said. “Oh, we had the helicopter. That was pretty sweet.”
Auction for Argillite center is a great day
On Saturday, the Argillite Community Service Center had music, food and an auction to continue their mission to feed their neighbors.
The center gets grants and supplies to feed people but it doesn’t cover things like electricity and other necessities to keep the doors open. So, once a year, they have an auction to help with the bills. There were grilled hot dogs or hamburgers for sale. Kentucky Memories played a set of acoustic Appalachian music for the 100 or so people in attendance.
And the people were generous this year.
“It went real well,” said Lew Nichols. “We ended up with about $4,500, which we were very pleased with.”
He added that a couple made a separate donation and with the combined funds, they will purchase a generator for the building to keep freezers and refrigerators running if the building loses power.
The center gets grants and supplies to feed people but it doesn’t cover things like electricity and other necessities to keep the doors open. So, once a year, they have an auction to help with the bills. There were grilled hot dogs or hamburgers for sale. Kentucky Memories played a set of acoustic Appalachian music for the 100 or so people in attendance.
And the people were generous this year.
“It went real well,” said Lew Nichols. “We ended up with about $4,500, which we were very pleased with.”
He added that a couple made a separate donation and with the combined funds, they will purchase a generator for the building to keep freezers and refrigerators running if the building loses power.