After a 2024 ranking of #21, Kentucky has moved up four spots to #17 in the national public school system rankings of 2025 by WalletHub! Teachers, we are doing a great job serving our students. Let’s keep working hard and move our ranking even higher by next year!!!

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” - John Quincy Adams

Now pay attention to the Straight of Hormuz. About 20% of the global daily oil consumption transits the straight every 24 hours.

When it’s “Wear Pink Day” at the AAU Junior National Volleyball Championship, you go all out to support your wife and her team!!!

The United States must do everything possible to stay out of the conflict between Israel and Iran. As we have seen, history repeats itself, and any involvement America has with war or regime change in the Middle East does not end well.

Have an AMAZING day everyone! #naturesbeauty

HAPPY FLAG DAY!!!

It’s that easy to federalize and call out the National Guard. Who knew?

81 years ago today two Johnson County, Kentucky men found themselves among the first wave in the landings at Normandy (D-Day). Curtiss Burchett and Onda Murphy, both of Company E, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, would lose their lives on Omaha Beach that day. #DDay81

Six days ago…

Elon has gone full Kendrick…

It’s getting worse as we speak…

This is going to be a very bad, public break-up, isn’t it?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the greatest state in the Union, from the flatlands of the Mississippi River to the mountains of eastern Kentucky!!!

My grandfather Bob VanHoose worked for nearly two decades at the Fisher Body plant in Marion, Indiana. #HillbillyHighway

Picked up some of my summer reading today. This should cover June. #BookAddict #HistoryNerd #LearningIsFun

A tale of two Memorial holiday posts…

Paintsville making the political news in Jacksonville, Florida. Looks like Nicholas Hazelett and others have been working hard! www.news4jax.com/news/politic...

A brand new basketball and Snoop’s debut album… that’s one hell of a Christmas!

Did any of my friends (your parents or grandparents) out there travel the “Hillbilly Highway” in the 1940s, 50s and 60s looking for work? I am thinking about building a lesson to teach my students next year about it and sure would like to hear of the experience? Some questions to consider:

Man, this former governor was one piece of work…

Lots of people are learning about the Foreign Emoluments Clause in Article I, Section 9, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution now. At least that is a positive.

I’ve always been thankful for this piece of artwork from 2001 by legendary teacher/principal/painter and overall fantastic artist Jan Haddox! #GoHerd

The incredible story of Alfred Richardson of Warfield, Kentucky. From the Kentucky Historical Society, January 20, 1975.

What a great find today!! How fantastic is this antique button?

Bought a set of these very awesome glasses celebrating the bicentennial of 1976 and they came in the mail yesterday!

How amazing is it that the small town of Paintsville had a professional baseball team for seven seasons AND that those teams won four league titles?

Talk about a “hair raising” experience! From The Paintsville Herald, November 14, 1984.

“We are the United States of Amnesia. We do not learn from history.” From “Turning Point: The Vietnam War, Episode 5”

Great lesson today with my students on the modernization of Paintsville and Johnson County and the influence of John C. C. Mayo on that growth. We also discussed his life, his controversial use of broad-form deeds and his role locally and beyond.

William Henry Harrison’s first 100 days were better… and he was only alive for 32 of those days.

WOW!!!

DID YOU KNOW that “Kentucky giant” Smith Cook, a Shelby County native, was once considered to be the world’s largest policeman? He measured 6-foot-9 in height and weighed 275 pounds!

What a great memory… just hanging out with the late, great Hal Greer! #GoHerd

#DidYouKnow Nearly 2 out of 3 adults (65.1%) living in the #AppalachianRegion #Read at or below an 8th grade level, including nearly 1 out of 4 (23.9%) who read below a 3rd grade level. We're growing our #Appalachian #AdultEducation database, and could use your help: cutt.ly/APPLI-Adult-...

You all want to see a torn meniscus? Close up views of mine (left knee) torn to shreds before surgery (it was completely removed), September 1999.

Humanities are under attack. Teachers of subjects under this umbrella, we must continue to speak out and about the benefits of having these topics and programs so that they do not get erased and forgotten. We must learn from our past so as not to repeat mistakes in the future!

Such a cool moment!

In a couple of hours the KHSAA Boys “Sweet 16” kicks off. Some of my best childhood memories were made at Rupp Arena and I want to wish all the players and coaches the best of luck as there is nothing like playing for a STATE CHAMPIONSHIP! Enjoy the “Greatest Show In Hoops!”

RANDOM THOUGHT FOR EDUCATION Eliminate subject based standardized (end of course) testing (keep ACT). Bring back performance based assessments: writing portfolio history fair science fair math fair art fair creative writing/culinary/FFA/carpentry/welding competitions

I sure hate to hear the news that my friend and, according to records of the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation - the state’s first Mr. Basketball, Vernon Hatton, has passed away. A basketball legend in the state he sure had some amazing stories to tell! RIP my friend.

Very excited to announce that I will be joining Kentucky’s only women’s professional basketball team, the OnPoint Swish, as Player Development Coach. I am very excited for this opportunity and can’t wait to see what our organization can accomplish in the WABA!

This was an unbelievable day in eastern Kentucky.

1. Auburn makes a statement 2. UK’s Williams wins battle of the bigs 3. Bruce Pearl snaps long personal losing skid at Rupp 4. Auburn joins Indiana & UCLA with rare distinction vs UK 5. Kentucky adds another double-digit loss season www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-c...

This was a great episode. Especially since you got to hear clips of Johnson County native Donnie Butcher (Knicks) playing in the game!

GO HERD!!!

The man has lost it, he’s gone completely crazy. Who in the world posts something like this?

Maybe some of the people who “voted for all of this” will finally realize what they’ve done. “[Some] Republican lawmakers… fear it will mean severe cuts for federal programs like Medicaid…” www.foxnews.com/politics/tru...