The Medical Leader

Belfry’s 34-13 win over Sheldon Clark was somewhat of a surprise to the pundits who tabbed this game as one of the state’s best matchups last Friday.

It didn’t live up to its true billing.

It came down to a usual theme when it comes to these games: Belfry has played (and won) in big games and Sheldon Clark is still trying to get over that hump and surpass Belfry as the King of the Mountains.

Sure, Sheldon Clark didn’t help itself by committing five turnovers. It also didn’t help that three players, including the team’s top two running backs and wide receiver was ejected.

More importantly, the Cardinals may have jeopardized its playoff hopes even more. A scuffle between the two teams could lead to massive suspensions for the Cardinals’ game with Pike Central next week. With Belfry in the rear view mirror, this is the biggest game on SC’s schedule and this could assure the Cardinals at least one home playoff game.

With that being said, here’s how I graded the two teams:

Offense

Belfry A-

I was pleased with the passing attack. Morgan Bentley caught a pair of TDs in the SC game, his first two catches of the season. Belfry is slowly showing its ability to pass in certain situations and the wildcat offense with Thomas Varney at quarterback seems to add another dimension to the Pirates’ explosive offense.

SC B-

SCHS quarterback Austin Stepp completed just 1 of 12 passes and threw two picks. While the Cardinals like to run the ball behind one of its strongest lines in school history, SCHS could be much more explosive with an efficient passing game. This offense needs to find itself in a hurry.

Defense

Belfry B+

Belfry’s secondary continues to play well. Corey Charles had two picks against the Cardinals and with the exception of an early missed assignment that resulted in SC jumping ahead early, Belfry held SC in check for the rest of the night.

SC B

Sheldon Clark seemed to peak early in the game. As the hype subsided, the Cardinals found it hard to come back down to reality and play football. Following the scuffle, SC committed three fumbles and the game started to get out of reach. The Cardinals’ offensive inaccuracies may have been the defenses biggest obstacle. Belfry’s smashmouth attack wore down SC both mentally and emotionally.

Because I did not write this game for the Medical Leader, Teddy Paynter will post some stats on the game today or in the morning. In addition, we will have some photos and other game notes posted throughout the week.

See ya at the games…

Hello football fans! Belfry and Sheldon Clark is right around the corner. What’s your thoughts on the game? Can SC rebound from some serious injuries to beat the Pirates for the first time since 2006? Or will Belfry reign supreme?

What’s your thoughts.

This one should be a dandy. I’ll blog about my thoughts on the game later tonight or in the morning. I plan to debut my grading system.

See ya at the games…

Laura Ford Hall

Getting ready to climb the Great Wall of China.

AMAZING!!!!!!!

That is the word of the day.  We actually climbed the Great Wall of China!  I would have never believed that I would ever be at The Great Wall, much less climb it!

The day started with breakfast in the hotel lobby and today they had TOAST!  That’s right, toast and strawberry jelly.  Suddenly Handel’s Messiah came to my head and I literally sang “Hallelujah, Hallelujah.”   A few Chinese people looked at me, as if my blonde hair was not enough, I had to start singing from the Messiah, but I couldn’t help it… it was bread!  So, the day started off wonderfully.

We then took an hour-long bus ride outside of Beijing to The Great Wall.  The Wall came into view and all of the members of the delegation began taking photos from the bus windows.  We were in awe of being there.  Governor and Mrs. Patton had been there before, to a different section that was less touristy and had walked part of the wall, however, for us, it was the climb ahead that awaited.

From left: Laura Ford Hall, Menette May, Greg May

Several decided to stay at the bottom of the wall and enjoy the view, but eight of us took off… to make the trek up to the top: Jimmy and Kim Carter, Donovan and Debbie Blackburn, Greg and Menette May, and Brad and myself.  Figuring we would never be back again, we were gave it our best shot.  Well, the other day, when I blogged about the plane ride, I said I was happy to be 5′1″, but NOT today.  The Great Wall, built in Third Century B.C., is over 1,500 miles long, is an average of 25′ in height and width, and took 700,000 people to build.  To say the least, the steps are very uneven, with some steps higher than the length of my legs, which made the climbing very difficult.

From left: Greg and Mennette May, Debbie and Donovan Blackburn

Jimmy and Kim Carter and Donovan Blackburn made it to the first tower.  I went on to the third tower, which was very difficult, and when I got there, I cried and everyone was looking at me, even Chinese asking if I were ok, but I was just overwhelmed that I had just climbed very high onto one of the seven wonders, looking out onto God’s creation of the surrounding nature, and wanting to pick up my cellular phone to call my mother to tell her that I was on top of the Great Wall, but unable to because of her passing.  I could not help but cry.

And then, there were the final four and ½ who made it all the way to the top of the fifth tower: Greg and Menette May, Debbie Blackburn, and Brad Hall (I am counting myself as the ½ because I made it almost there… I just couldn’t go anymore).

From left: Laura Ford Hall, Greg May, Menette May, Debbie Blackburn

After the climb of the Wall, we visited the Summer Palace of the Emperor Qui, which was first built in 1100 A.D.  We had a community and idea exchange with our Chinese counterparts, which included talk about garbage services, drug problems, roadways and highways, and health care and cancer survival rates.  During the talks, we found that we had much in common with our Sister City, but many things are different.  Some of the differences included garbage pickup, which is only allowed during the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. so garbage pickup trucks are never seen.  Like eastern Kentucky, the Chinese also have a drug problem in their area but not with prescription medication, rather they mainly have trouble with cocaine and opiates… and this is mainly in the cities and among the high school and college student population.

Regarding health care and cancer survival rates, we learned that over 300 million Chinese are claimed smokers.  There are no smoking bans in China whatsoever, including no “smoking” or “non-smoking” sections in restaurants.  Lung cancer kills a significant amount of Chinese people, followed by esophageal cancer due to the hot temperature of their foods… it damages the esophagus.  The Chinese government has recognized that America has the greatest healthcare, especially when it comes to cancer and the country cannot even touch our “five-year survival rate” that they are striving for.

Beginning on Friday, even more business talks will take place, and when we arrive in our Sister City of Ankang, the business leaders will sign the Sister City agreement and discuss all various areas of the economy, coal mining, crime rate, etc.

However, tomorrow, we head out by plane for a 2 hour flight to Xi’an, China to see more of the country… I am especially excited to see the terra cotta soldiers and horses at the Emperor’s Tomb because my mother, who taught art at Pikeville College for 41 years, taught me about these amazing statues from the time I was a young girl.  I brought copies of all of her textbook notes with me so I could be reminded of all of the information my mother taught me and have a part of her with me, as I know she would have loved to be there.

Finally, the closing thought of the day is another addition to the China Diet… climbing the Great Wall.  If the Chinese do this often, it will DEFINITELY help them to stay slim.  Climbing to the third tower was the most difficult physical thing I have ever done in my life.  If I continue to eat only rice and my occasional sneaky Nutter Butter or Pop Tart, and if I continue to walk the amount we have been trekking across China, I am sure to come back at least 15 pounds slimmer from my China Diet.

The worst thing about today… as I was struggling up the stone steps complaining about my legs, two approximately 90-year-old Chinese women with white hair passed me as if I were the tortoise and they were the hare.  Even more proof that the China Diet does work!

Laura Ford Hall

Laura Ford Hall

Today was another busy day for the Pikeville Delegates to China.  The Chinese government and our Sister City of Ankang, has treated us royally, allowing us the privilege of taking in all of the wonderful things that China has to offer.

Living in a country that is just over 200 years old, I think some Americans take for granted the historic value of buildings, architecture, places where important events took place.  Today, we were able to see some such sites, including our first stop in the very middle or inner circle of Beijing, the Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City

Much like New Circle Road in Lexington, Beijing has 6 “rings” and in the center of all of the rings is The Forbidden City.  Built in 1406, the city, or complex, consists of 980 surviving buildings with 8,707 rooms and covers 7,800,000 square feet.  We walked into the first section of the city and thought, “this is beautiful and amazing,” but we kept going through tunnels and doorways and the city seemed to go on and on forever.  It is easy to see why it was called a “city.”  I felt like Lara Croft in Tomb Raider… going through level after level in the ruins to get to the end of the game.  It took quite a bit of time to walk the distance from the entrance of the city to the exit.

Walter and Pam May at the Forbidden City

The city was “forbidden” because it was built for the emperor and was only used for himself, his servants, his concubines, and the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government. The emperor had 3,000 concubines… can you imagine financially supporting 3,000 women?

The Forbidden City served as the imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty… for five centuries.  Commoners were not allowed into the Forbidden City unless they were on trial.  The emperor served all of the following roles: Supreme Legislator, Commander of the Army, Moral Leader, hierarch, Supreme Judge, Patron of Learning, Chief Examiner, Chief Administrator, and Chief Bureaucrat.

When I walked into the Inner Court of the City, I recognized it from many movies such as Bruce Lee’s “Enter the Dragon” and “The Last Emperor,” filmed in 1987, was the last movie that the Chinese government allowed to film there.

After visiting the “Forbidden City,” our very tired delegation visited the Fu Rung Restaurant for lunch where, we were again, served on a round, lazy-Susan type table.  During lunch, ideas were exchanged among city officials and leaders.

The Pattons and the Blackburns

After lunch, we went to the Temple of Heaven.  This was my personal favorite spot of the trip so far.  The reason is because that the Temple of Heaven is where all of the Chinese go to “hang out.”  You could see their culture so clearly.  People playing instruments, choirs singing… all in unison, no harmony, and instruments I had never even seen before, but it was so very interesting to me (especially the music).  The Temple of Heaven was beautiful and is where the people of the Dow religion would go to worship the god of Heaven.  There are many gods in that religion including god of Heaven, Earth, rivers, wind, etc.  This temple was built up high to worship the god of Heaven.  It was very beautiful, and what made it even more special were that two weddings were taking place at the Temple while we were there.  It is apparently, a special place for weddings for the people of Beijing.

After this, we went to The Pearl Market… where we were BOMBARDED by sales men and women… especially me because of my blonde hair.  They would yell “blonde hair! Blonde hair!” They would pull my arms, my clothes, touch my hair and get right in my face… “Come buy a bag… you need a bag.”  “Come in to my shop, just come and look around.  I’ll make a special price for you because you are beautiful!”  Well… they made me feel good anyway, but with hundreds of salespeople trying to beg you to look at their merchandise… I was about to have an anxiety attack.  Though, the upper levels of The Pearl Market are very respected, visited by the wives of U.S. Presidents, the top floors sell the “greatest pearls found in the world.”  And, as we were waiting to leave, a caravan of black cars pulled up and the wives of the Pakistan leaders were escorted up to the top level of the market to shop for the finest jewelry.

Dinner was not wonderful… now I will return to the subject of the China diet… ok rice everyday on a small plate, no bread, no desserts at all… no wonder the Chinese are skinny.  But, I do have to add an element to the China diet… bicycles… everyone has them and they ride them everywhere.  Also, there are scales in the hotel room.  This is the first hotel I have been to that had scales to weigh yourself.  I barely ate anything, and neither did anyone else.  I actually snuck Nutter Butters into the restaurant and Greg and Menette May snuck in a Snickers bar.

Brad and Laura Ford Hall at the Olympic Site

After dinner, we visited the site of the 2008 Olympics… a beautiful site to see.  The architecture of The Birds Nest and The Water Cube were amazing.

Two major cultural differences to note today both have to do with restrooms.  In China, the toilets we know… the ones with the seats… they can’t be found.  In their place are “squatty potties,” at least that is what we have termed them.  Also, bathrooms do not provide toilet paper.

To close today, I just would like to say that I am very thankful for the Kellogg’s factory in Kimper.  I brought 3 boxes of Pop Tarts with me on this trip and because of the Pop Tarts, I will survive.  I know Jesus went 40 days without food, but I do believe that was divine intervention and I thank the Lord for all of my food… especially Pop Tarts at this time.  Though, they will have to be rationed and though I am a giving person, I have a VERY high price on my Pop Tarts right now.  I think I will start at $50 a pack… I have already had some offers from members of the delegation. :  )

We are truly enjoying ourselves.  It is a new culture… across the world.  I look forward to The Great Wall of China tomorrow and am in awe that I am blessed enough to get to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Laura Ford Hall

Man playing a Sheng at the temple.

Grandfather and Child

Laura with Ankang Officials Mr. Woo and Leia

Chinese Wedding

Joshua Ball, Managing Editor

The Medical Leader is flirting with the blogosphere, and I certainly think we are embarking on a long relationship.

The same newspaper that brought you the state’s first-ever free E-Edition is offering the region’s first newspaper blog. This diary will offer insights, views and commentary of the news that matters to you.

So, log on, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy our new blog.

Got a suggestion? Feel free to drop me a line at joshua.ball@pikevillehospital.org.

Thanks for reading the Medical Leader.

Joshua Ball

I tried my very best to join the delegation of local leaders that left for China on Sunday, but I had two problems: my 6-foot-6 frame would not fit comfortably in any way shape or form in economy class on a nearly 14-hour jet ride across the world and I would find myself filming my own version of the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmer.

On a more serious note, Laura Ford Hall, wife of Pike County Chamber of Commerce President Brad Hall, has volunteered her services as a blogger during the group’s two-week stent in China as part of a Sister City program.

Laura will provide details of the group’s trip - and, as you can see in her blog, her fear of eating anything unique - and insight on the delegation’s journey to Ankang, the Chinese community that is participating with Pikeville in the Sister City program.

Check out Laura’s thoughts and photos in our next entry.

Joshua Ball

(See below each post for larger photos)

Laura Ford Hall

First of all, I must say that I cannot believe I am in China… I never dreamed I would be across the world in such a different culture.  Though I have been out of the country, I have never experienced anything quite like China, and the trip getting here was long and tiresome.

Today (Sunday, Oct. 11), the Sister City Delegation from Pikeville made the trek across the world to China to meet with officials and visit our Sister City of Ankang, China.  Somewhat like an exchange program, the Sister City program allows business, city, economic, and industrial leaders in a community to visit a community in another part of the world that has many similarities.  During the visit, the delegation will share ideas with the leaders from the Sister City and will hopefully gain knowledge and build relationships to make our global community stronger.  Ankang is a coal mining community much like Pikeville, similar in size, etc.

The Pikeville Delegation includes (pictured in the group photo) Governor Paul Patton and First Lady Judi Patton, Greg May and wife Manette, Walter E. and Pam May, Hobart Johnson, Debbie and Donovan Blackburn, Jimmy and Kim Carter, Brad and Laura Ford Hall (I am not pictured because I was taking the photo).

The day began as we left from Downtown Pikeville at 5:30 a.m., to board a plane in Lexington at 9:30 a.m. From Lexington, we flew to Chicago on a 90-minute flight.  Then, after a short stop at the Chicago O’Hare Airport, we boarded a Boeing 777 for the 13 hour and 34 minute flight across the globe to get to China.  Though I have flown many times, it amazes me that I was flying over Alaska, Russia, Siberia (see Siberian photo).  WOW!!!

Flying over Siberia

The plane ride was tough.  After about 9 hours, everyone was getting very tired.  Wishing I could afford first class (rumored to be $15,000), I was stuck in economy… this is the only time I am happy to be short.  Being 5-foot-1 is fine during times like these.

When we got off of the plane in Beijing, our temperature was examined, but we all successfully made it through the Health and Customs Inspections.  We were picked up by the Mayor of Ankang and a representative of the Ankang Government in a nice tour bus.  While riding along, I learned two very important things: I was glad I was on a big bus because there are no road rules in China except this… the bigger the vehicle you have, the more right-of-way you have.  I definitely learned that the more you honk the horn, the better off you are… if you are a big bus, you’ve got it made, if you are in a small car… watch out, if you are on a bicycle… well, I wouldn’t even chance it!

On some roads, there were some guide lines (similar to our double yellow lines), but on many roads, there were no lines and people just drove wherever, trying to maneuver in and out of the way.

One exit we stopped at was crowded because it was the end of the work day, and because of the traffic jam, I noticed people just getting out of the car and talking to one another… especially taxi drivers.  This was very weird to me.  We were stuck in traffic, but instead of waiting patiently and listening to music, drivers were just getting out of their cars, socializing, smoking a cigarette until the traffic started moving again.

When we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted by a welcoming party of very nice guest associates.  Our rooms are beautiful and more high tech than any hotel I have stayed at in America… everything, including the “Do Not Disturb” notice or “Please Clean My Room” notice is controlled by buttons beside the door that light up outside and notify the front desk.

All lights come on and off when you enter or exit a room.  Quite disturbing, however, were gas masks found in the hotel closet.  I am not sure why we have those, but I was alarmed to see them.  Quite surprising and wonderful was I found a Bible in our hotel room.  I was told that I should not bring a Bible into the country.  However I “snuck” one in only to find a beautiful leather bound, silver lined Bible in Mandarin Chinese and English.

Once we got to our rooms, we quickly changed to go to a Seafood Restaurant… I do not know its name, but I do know that what I had heard was true… the food is brought to you live and cooked in front of you.

Tanks of fish, shrimp, crab, lobster, shark, and other swimming creatures I had not seen before were in beautiful aquariums.  I felt like I was at Seaworld, only to realize that the poor things were there for people to select to be eaten.  Now, I am not a vegetarian in America… but for the next two weeks, I definitely am… we were all sent to beautiful round tables where we were brought dish after dish placed on a round table that we would rotate from person to person.  We had no idea what we were eating, so I was able to use the most important word I had learned in Mandarin Chinese “Rusu” (Roo-soo) which means “I am a vegetarian.”

So, I have concluded so far that China is beautiful… all of the buildings are decorated so artistically with bright and beautiful colors.  I can’t wait to see more.  The flight was long, but I believe it was worth it to get here.  Although, for my last thought of today, I must say “China is a lot like weight loss camp.”  :  )

I believe I will come back about 20 pounds skinner, which is fine with me.  I’ll let you know how my “China diet” progresses.

Laura Ford Hall