To celebrate April being “National Poetry Month,” the Todd County Public Library in collaboration with the Green River Academy has planned the “2025 Poetry Slam” organized by Nancy Dye and Carolyn Wells, former members of the English and Social Studies Departments at TCCHS.
In conversations with Dye, she expressed her admiration of and amazement at the talents the graduates of TCCHS have experienced in their lifetimes following graduation from their beloved alma mater. Allen Polk, who currently serves at the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command as the Command’s technology protection office for G-2 Intelligence, shared in communications with Dye he is enthralled to be a part of this event, one he states resembles a ‘mini-reunion’ of classmates from TCCHS.
Currently, over 20 individuals, most with ties to TCCHS, will be on hand for the “Slam” planned to begin at 6:00 PM this Thursday evening in the Community Room at the new Todd County Public Library that opened in October 2024. The room, which accommodates up to 200 people standing, will see a focus on the new library as well as on the efforts of the Green River Academy to showcase the myriad talents of Todd Countians and those with Todd County ties. Those participating in the event include Amy Bingham DeCesare, former broadcast journalist at WBKO in Bowling Green as well as a former broadcast journalist in Florida. Currently Mrs. DeCesare, her husband, and her family own The DeCesare Group, a public relations and consulting firm. She also produces a podcast hosted by her husband Jim.
Another graduate and former educator, Rosemarie Cowherd Grice, will read a selection from her new book of poetry entitled Darkness Called Us Home. Kenneth Valentine, great-nephew of the late Carl Hadden and the great-grandson of the late Joseph Newton Hadden of Hadden Mill Road, will provide via a video a reading of one of his favorite psalms. Mr. Valentine, a retired Secret Service Agent who was on three Presidential Protection Details, makes his home in Birmingham and is the author of Cheating Death and Staying Sharp, two books showcasing his life experiences coupled with his faith in God. His mother, Annette Hadden Valentine, is the author of the “My Father” trilogy about her family as well as Sixty-Six Books of the Mighty Shepherd, a compilation based upon the Bible.
Others slated to participate, some via videos, include Kathi Hall (retired Spanish educator), Ava Reed (TCCHS freshman), Debbie Wortham (physical therapist), Lindsay Slack (educator), Andrea Payne Shade (retired math educator), Susan Dickinson (marketing agent and business owner), Dr. Heather Wilkerson Turner (English educator), Orlando Andrews (certified addiction recovery coach and support specialist), Deanie Powell (elementary educator), Michael Bailey (1992 TCCHS graduate), Dr. Jaime Dye Holder (educator and administrator), Marguerite Kirkpatrick (retired school librarian), Anne Stahl (retired guidance counselor and HCC college professor), Renee Brizendine Gill (Director of Philanthropy at Second Harvest Food Bank), and Dr. Amanda Hayes (Todd County Public Library Director). (Note other presenters may be added who were unsure of their being able to participate.)
The recently announced next superintendent of the Todd County School District, Mrs. Jessica McLain Addison, will also share two poems penned by her late father. Harold W. (Doc) Arnett, a former resident of Todd County and a retired educator and college administrator, will be present as well. Dr. Amanda Hayes, a native of Hopkinsville, stated in a meeting with the former educators she is very hopeful the “Slam” will also serve as an impetus for the public to check out collections of poetry available in the library. Admission to the event, which is planned from 6:00 PM until 7:30 PM, is free with a donation jar available for those who wish to contribute to the GRA and its mission of rehabilitating the Green River Academy located at 204 Goebel Avenue in Elkton. Light refreshments will be served.
~ Article by Carolyn L. Wells
April 21, 2025
