Beech Tree News Network

A North Butler Elementary student was selected Butler County Winner in the 2014-2015 Grandparent of the Year essay contest sponsored by AARP Kentucky, the Kentucky Retired Teachers, and the Butler County Retired Teachers' Association.  Lucas Johnson, is among thousands of Kentucky fifth graders who participated in the 14th Annual Essay competition for  2014-2015.  Students submitted essays answering why "My Grandparent should be the AARP Kentucky Grandparent of the Year"  to their 5th grade teachers who select the school's winner.  Each participating school winner and school receives recognition certificates.

Lucas' essay about his Pap Leroy Johnson...

The Grandest Pap in the World
I would like to nominate my magnificent pap, Leroy Johnson, for the Grandparent of the Year Contest.  Because he gives me advice, loves kids, loves doing things with me, and also makes the best burgers.
Since my mom and dad divorced, he’s the shoulder I lean on for advice through a hard time.  I can tell him anything about everything.  I feel more comfortable telling him my concerns instead of my parents.
Pap loves my siblings and me just as much as my mom and dad.  He plays football, basketball, baseball and lots of other sports with me.  When I play sports with m siblings, I’m just playing a sport, but when I play with Pap, he makes it better.  He shows me what I’m messing up on rather than fussing at me.
Every Friday, I like riding the bus to his house.  If he knows I’m coming, he’s always on the front porch waiting for me.  As soon as I get there, we go to a Chinese restaurant in Bowling Green.  We always get our favorite dessert, chocolate ice cream.  He tells funny jokes that make me laugh and stories about when he was young.  Instead of playing with toys, he had to play with empty bottles.  I really enjoy his jokes, stories, and time.
Another thing that makes my pap special is that he takes me to the pond every summer to fish.  While we are out in the boat, he tells me about when he was my age and he would go fishing with his pap.  The funny thing is though they would go home empty handed, his pap would say, “ We should have used the old jumpers,” in other words, crickets.  Pap and I always come home with tons of fish and Pap and I say, “We used the old jumpers!” in a funny old man voice that makes us proud.
Every time we go hunting, pap always goes.  As soon as the dogs start to bark, he goes, “Sh, I’m hunting wabbits!” in the most hilarious voice that reminds me of the rabbit off of “Loonie Toons.”  He’s the best jokester in my eyes.
Every Fourth of July, I help him grill the best burgers around.  He lets me put BBQ sauce and melted butter on them.  It isn’t just the burgers that make me love him.  It’s his company with me.  I enjoy every second of it.
I hope that you choose my pap, Leroy Johnson, for the contest.  I love him more than words could ever explain.

As the county winner, Lucas, receives a framed certificate for his efforts, and the essay was submitted for district competition.  He and other district winners then become eligible to participate in the state finals.  In a recognition ceremony the "Grandparent of the Year" and student are honored at the Annual KRTA Convention in Louisville in April.  The state winner also receives a $100 saving bond. 
The essay competition is a unique was AARP Kentucky and KRTA recognizes the significant contributions that older Kentuckians make toward shaping the lives and values of youth across the Commonwealth. Across the country and in Kentucky, an increasing number of adults 50 and over are the primary caregivers to minor children.  The 2010 census data showed nearly 87,000 grandparents in Kentucky serve as primary caregivers for their grandchildren. Almost 48,000 of these children live in homes where the grandparent is responsible for them.
The "AARP Grandparent of the Year" essay contest is organized by the local Retired Teacher Association, who help secure local school participation, promote the activity and serve as local contest judges.

The Butler County Retired Teachers presented Lucas with a certificate and a gift during their luncheon on Monday.

 Butler County Spelling Bee winner Ethan Clark was also recognized with a gift and certificate. The Butler County Spelling Bee, hosted by the Butler County Retired Teachers and Butler County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, for students up to grade 8 was held on Wednesday, February 11, 2015. The winner of the 2015 County Spelling Bee was Morgantown Elementary 5th grade student, Ethan Clark, son of Kevin and Tammy Clark of Morgantown.
He will compete in the Ford Motor Company Kentucky Derby Festival Spelling Bee to be held at the Kentucky Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 21, 2015. Ethan is the son of Kevin and Tammy Clark of Morgantown.