Kentucky Kernel · Liberty, KY
Building from the ground up is daunting. Moving from one place to another to establish a future for your children is brave. However, the first-generation student taking the world by storm is empowering, entering a new and strange chapter, hoping to inspire the generation after. Being the first in her family to receive higher education, sophomore political science major Angelica Victoria Garcia is a first-generation student. After arriving in the United States from Mexico, Garcia’s parents initially wanted to stay for a couple of years so she could get established in elementary school. However, after Garcia’s teachers noticed how well she took to school, her parents decided to stay to further her education, and then let her decide whether she wanted to attend college. “They always let me know that if I wanted to go to college it was definitely an option, I just had to work hard for it,” Garcia said.
The Advocate Messenger · Danville, KY
Nearby: Danville, KYDANVILLE, Ky. — Danville is set to receive a clean financial audit for 2026 as city officials continue work on more than $37 million in funded water and sewer projects and plan several major infrastructure improvements. The Danville City Commission received an update on the city’s annual audit during its Nov. 9 meeting. Auditors said the report was in final review and they were prepared to issue an unmodified, or clean, opinion on the city’s financial statements. Auditors also reported no adjusting entries were needed in any city funds. The city’s separate audit of major federal programs cannot be finalized until a federal compliance supplement is issued. Auditors have already reviewed Danville’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program using the previous year’s requirements as a guide and reported no instances of noncompliance or internal control deficiencies.
The Advocate Messenger · Berea, KY
Nearby: Berea, KYDANVILLE, Ky. — Pottery produced in a Danville kiln that sat unused for more than 20 years is now featured in an exhibit at the Kentucky Artisan Center in Berea. Dragon Fire II features work created during the second firing of the restored Jackson-Powell Anagama Kiln. The exhibit opened Nov. 7 and will remain on display through Jan. 30, 2027. Most of the pieces are available for purchase. The kiln was built in Danville in 1993 by the late Stephen Rolfe Powell and Dr. Mack Johnson and follows traditional Japanese wood-firing construction. The firing process takes place over several days, with temperatures approaching 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit. As fire moves through the sloped kiln, wood ash settles on hundreds of pieces, creating a natural ash finish on the pottery. The kiln fell out of use in 2005 and remained dormant for about two decades. A community effort surrounding the Art Center of the Bluegrass eventually led to its restoration.