The Center helps raise $10,464 for Kingsford four

Kelly Caldwell of Somerset, a member of the bluegrass band, “The Mountain Connection,” performs a bluegrass number at the “Holiday Hootenanny” musical variety show and fund-raising benefit. “The Mountain Connection”, a progressive, high-energy bluegrass band from Southeast Kentucky, was one of the featured acts at the fund-raising benefit held Dec. 2 at The Center for Rural Development to raise funds for the families of the four Kingsford employees injured in a flash fire last September at the charcoal manufacturing plant south of Burnside.

Kelly Caudill of "The Mountain Connection" performs at "Holiday Hootennany."

A benefit performance at The Center for Rural Development—combined with monetary contributions from several key contributors—has raised $10,464 to help support the families of four Kingsford Manufacturing Company employees injured in a flash fire earlier this year at the Pulaski County plant.

Carl Skaggs, event promoter for Cumberland Productions, announced this week ticket sales from the “Holiday Hootenanny” musical variety show, held Dec. 2 in The Center’s theatre, and several last-minute contributions helped the benefit meet and exceed its $10,000 fund-raising goal.

Skaggs said Laborers International Local 576, which represents Kingsford employees, made a sizeable contribution on the day of the show and employees of Morristown Logistics Services, a supplier to the charcoal manufacturing plant, located south of Pulaski County near Burnside, stepped up with another large contribution to push the fund-raising event well over its goal.

During the night of the performance, Clear Channel Lake Cumberland sold tickets for a mini-vacation trip to the Pigeon Forge area in the front lobby of The Center to help support the families of the “Kingsford Four” in a separate fund-raising drawing.

Clear Channel’s Jeff Henderson presented Skaggs with proceeds from ticket sales to the Pigeon Forge vacation at the close of the show.

“Thanks to the involvement of these supporters and others who made contributions or purchased tickets for the Holiday Hootenanny show, we exceeded our $10,000 goal,” Skaggs said. “It was truly a community effort and involved the entire community.”

Tom Fee entertains the crowd with a Merle Haggard country hit, “Okie from Muskogee” at the “Holiday Hootenanny” musical variety show and fund-raising benefit. The show, a benefit fund-raiser for the families of the four Kingsford employees injured in a flash fire at the Pulaski County charcoal manufacturing plant earlier this fall, showcased the talents of local and regional performers in a one-of-a-kind variety show held Dec. 2 at The Center for Rural Development.

Tom Fee performs a Merle Haggard standard "Okie from Muskogee"

The Center was one of the four primary sponsors for the event providing a venue for some 25 local and regional performers to take the stage in a one-of-a-kind variety show and fund-raising benefit.

The show, inspired by the popular “Hootenanny” musical variety television show from the mid-1960s, showcased a variety of musical acts from rock ‘n roll to bluegrass, gospel, folk, and country music.

“We couldn’t have put on a better show anywhere else,” Skaggs said. “Performers played to a nearly sold-out crowd with slightly under 700 people in the audience.”

All of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to benefit the four Kingsford employees who were critically injured in a September flash fire at the charcoal manufacturing plant. One of the men later died from injuries suffered in the incident.

All of the featured performers in the “Holiday Hootenanny” musical variety show and fund-raising benefit come together on stage at The Center for Rural Development to perform the closing number. The show, inspired by the popular “Hootenanny” musical variety television show from the mid-1960s, brought together 25 local and regional artists to perform Dec. 2 in a fund-raising benefit to support the families of the four Kingsford employees injured in a flash fire last September at the Pulaski County manufacturing plant. The performance, combined with other contributions, raised $10,464 to benefit the “Kingsford Four.”

"Holiday Hootennay" performers close the show

Other “Holiday Hootenanny” sponsors included Cumberland Lake Shell Inc., Kingsford Manufacturing Company, Lake Cumberland Jammers, Citizens National Bank, Community Trust Bank, Epperson Electric, K & T Saw Shop, Key Associates Waterfront Realty, Modern Distributors Inc., Monticello Banking Company, Morristown Logistics Services, New Life Industries, Somerset Internal Medicine, Reed Brothers Insurance, Somerset Wood Products, South Midway Supply Inc., Mike Strunk, Sully’s Restaurant, Tri-B Trucking Inc., and Wheeldon’s Appliance.