Top 10 'Feel Good' Stories of 2023: A life-saving kind of year

Dec. 29—From students excelling in academics to school personnel saving children's lives, to local appearances on national television, 2023 was filled with a great deal of feel-good moments.

Here's a look at The Daily Independent's top 10 feel-good stories from 2023:

1. Aubrey a hero

Aubrey Johnson, a fifth-grade student at Catlettsburg Elementary, was in her bedroom when she heard a big thump in another room of the house on March 9.

When going to investigate, she found her grandmother, Donna Duncan, on the floor without a heartbeat. Springing into action, she dialed 911 and was walked through CPR, saving Duncan's life.

"They said if I wasn't there, she would have died," Aubrey said, referring to nurses.

Catlettsburg Mayor Faith Day honored Johnson's actions by proclaiming March 21 "Aubrey Johnson Day." She was recognized at the Boyd County Fiscal Court meeting in late March, too.

2. Lives saved at schools

At Fairview Elementary School, second-grader Katlynn Eitniear collapsed on the school playground after suffering a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy — a genetic heart disease that causes thickening of the heart muscles, making it harder for the heart to pump — on Sept. 23, 2022. Her first day back at school was in January 2023.

Richard Howard, Boyd County Sheriff's Deputy, was overseeing the playground when he noticed an instructional aide waving her arms for help. Howard described the scene as any first-responder would — the former EMT detailed Katlynn's appearance, noting her fixed pupils, discolored lips and lack of respiration.

Approximately four months after the collapse, Eitniear returned to the school with a fleet of first-responder vehicles and was welcomed by a group of second-graders cheering and holding signs.

Annastasia Brianna-Mari Tipton (Annie), a 14-year-old student at Ashland Blazer High School, continues to breathe life after the school nurse, Andrew Manis, and Principal Jamie Campbell jumped into action Sept. 29, performing CPR and saving the student's life.

Lee Barker, Annie's father, said the swift actions from the faculty saved his daughter's life.

He said, "I have never seen a school do that before and I am at a loss for words. I cannot say enough good about a school that would go out of their way to do this for my family. I can't thank them enough."

3. Students get extra studious

Arnav Dharmagadda, a Russell High School senior, scored a perfect ACT score not once, but twice, and has received acceptance letters from a number of prestigious schools in the country.

As a high school student, Dharmagadda said he was heavily involved with academics and future problem solving laying the foundation in teamwork, perseverance, competition and for his interest in public policy solutions.

Miguel Pangan, a 14-year-old eighth-grader at Russell Middle School, walked away from a Mathcounts competition with a four-year scholarship to University of Kentucky College of Engineering and Western Kentucky University and a cash prize.

Pangan has placed among the top 10 in the state of Kentucky in both regional and district Governor's Cup contests.

"My parents have had a big impact and my coach. Both have helped push me to complete my goals," Pangan said.

A handful of local students from Ashland Middle School made the second team from the region to advance to national competition in the Student Technology Leadership Program (STLP).

Christian Morales, Jaden Hall, Emmanuel Aguilar, Brandon Mefford, Lyric McKeand and Kirk Walker competed against more than 600 projects involving technology to aid in community issues.

A team of Summit Elementary fifth-graders presented a state championship project on a national stage in Philadelphia. The Summit "Math Cats" were comprised of Carson Holbrook, Eli Slone, Ben Smith, Declan Ward and Connor York.

In addition to those achievements, area schools saw an uptick in school districts testing performance skills.

4. Tom Adams gets a kidney

Tom Adams, a retired paramedic and director from Boyd EMS, was sick and in need of a kidney. He said a friend of his adhered to a call put out on Facebook for a donor.

Rodney Mullannix, who also worked as a paramedic, said there was no thinking about the decision to give to Adams.

As reported by Henry Culvyhouse, Adams was so used to saving lives, he said being saved himself was "a humbling experience."

"It's difficult to be in that boat, but it's also incredibly humbling to have a friend who cares enough to not only give me a kidney, but a new life," Adams said. "This is the answer to my prayers."

5. WWII vet turns 100

Virgil Headley hit the century mark this April, and reflected on the work he has accomplished.

As Aaron Snyder reported, Headley was raised in the mountains of Lincoln County, West Virginia, growing up on a hillside farm. By the time he turned 14, he was on the side of that hill plowing away. His dad worked as a mail carrier three days a week. Headley joined his father on the Saturday prior to his 16th birthday, delivering mail on a mule.

Headley had a slew of various jobs post-Navy. Among the workplaces in 1950 and '51: Chrysler in Detroit, a steel mill in Ashtabula, Ohio, Heinz Ketchup in Canton, Ohio, and a steel mill in Fremont, Ohio.

One of his great granddaughters asked him about the secret to a long life. His answer: "Keep your mouth shut and don't tell anybody anything."

6. A boy and his dog

Aaron Adkins and his service dog, Rotelli, are living proof that a dog is a man's best friend.

After a long-waited journey of raising funds to get the dog, Adkins's mother, Paula Profit, said he bonded quickly with Rotelli and mentioned how she could see the female service dog making a difference in his life right from the start.

As Lee Ward reported, the 15-year-old sophomore at Ashland Blazer High School had been diagnosed with epilepsy, autism, severe ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, anxiety, weather-related PTSD, asthma, allergies and mixed receptive expressive disorder.

"She is very, very, very smart and their bond already is so amazing," Profit said. "By the second day, they already had bonded and, typically, dogs don't start with the client right away, but their bond was so strong. It probably would have traumatized her if she didn't go to school with him."

7. Locals appear on TV

A junior at West Carter High School received a golden ticket on the show "American Idol," pushing him to Hollywood.

Corey Hedge, 17, of Carter County, received a yes from two of the three judges for his audition in Nashville. He said singing has been a passion of his and, although he was eliminated in Week 1 in Hollywood, this seemed to have propel his music career.

Hedge called it a "crazy, crazy experience."

Brittani Ratcliff, a 2005 graduate of East Carter High School, earned a spot on the Food Network's "Chopped."

"It is insane. I'm used to super strict time limits and a set amount of time. I'm used to fast pace and long hours. I thought I would be perfect for a competition like this. I wasn't wrong but I was shocked at how quick that time runs down. It's a different kind of crazy and it'll humble you in a quick second," Ratcliff told reporter Mary Jane Epling with a laugh.

Ratcliff said she owes a lot of her success as a chef to her grandmother, to whom she was often attached while cooking together growing up.

8. Black-owned art gallery in Ashland

Ashland's first Black-owned gallery in the city's history opened its doors mid-October to the public.

Owners Jerry Johnson and his wife Doris Johnson said it was a dream come true opening the Heritage Art Gallery. Typical for Jerry, people will reach out around the month of February wanting to showcase his artwork to commemorate Black History Month.

Jerry said, "Usually when people want to see my work, it's always during Black History Month. Now they can see it every day; that means a lot to me."

9. 'Mac' and Jimmy

Donald McDonald and Jimmy Carter were two of 25 students in the graduating class at Plains High School in 1941.

McDonald, a Boyd County resident, said during Carter's presidency he was welcomed to the White House a few times. When Carter campaigned in the 1970s, McDonald helped arrange a tour in Ashland.

"I could go and come any time I wanted to in Washington, seemed like," McDonald said. "Just had to check in and let them know who I was."

As Aaron Snyder reported, Carter was the "brain of the class," McDonald said. When asked what his favorite school subject was, the sharp-witted McDonald replied, "None of them." He was more of an athlete, standing out in both wrestling and baseball.

10. Olive Garden opens

Olive Garden, now located inside the Ashland Town Center, opened its doors to the public May 1.

As Henry Culvyhouse reported, kitchen and wait staff gathered to count down as general manager Anthony Gillispie wielded the giant pair of scissors provided by the Ashland Alliance.

"This is a super special day and it's exciting to finally open," Gillispie said after the ceremony. "We've had a lot of really great practice over the weekend and we're happy to be here for Ashland."

(606) 326-2657 — ajohnson@dailyindependent.com