In my last article, I announced the completion of Allan W. Eckert’s Winning of America series, six magnificent historical narratives that trace our nation’s westward expansion during America’s colonial and antebellum periods.

The complete set of those books is available in both hardback and paperback at the Jesse Stuart Foundation’s bookstore, located in the heart of downtown Ashland at 1645 Winchester Avenue.

Other news and notes:

• David Dick, a former CBS News Correspondent, is one of Kentucky’s best writers and thinkers. He is currently completing a biography of Jesse Stuart which we hope to have in print in time to coincide with Ashland’s sesquicentennial celebration, September 17-19 and our annual Jesse Stuart Weekend, September 24-25.
• The first meeting of the Regional Readers group took place last Tuesday with more than a dozen persons braving the snow and ice to discuss Billy C. Clark’s autobiographical classic, "A Long Row To Hoe."
• Our next meeting will be Tuesday night February 10th and we’ll be discussing Jesse Stuart’s novel "Daughter of the Legend," a fact-fiction novel set in Hancock County, Tennessee. In this novel about a romance between the beautiful Melungeon girl, Deutsia Huntoon, and "an outsider," timber man Dave Stoneking, Stuart takes an Appalachian love story and develops it into a novel that explores the tragedy and comedy of human existence.
• If you would like to join our Regional Readers group call (606) 326-1667 and Becky will add your name to the list.
• We are currently maximizing the storage space in our 30,000 square foot building by erecting palette shelves in our first floor storage area. These shelving units are standard size, 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and 11 feet tall and we need more of the steel braces that support the shelving. If any of my readers know where we can obtain these items, please give me a call at (606) 326-1667 or drop by the JSF headquarters, at the corner of Winchester Avenue and 17th Street.
• Furthermore, we’re always looking for good shelving. Anything from handsome book shelves to storage shelves to palette racks would be helpful. If you’re "downsizing" your home or business, please consider donating your shelves or display cases to our non-profit publishing organization.
• We’re still looking for volunteers to help us with data entry. We are currently undertaking the massive job of listing all of our used books and all of our collector’s books on our website. Since the new year began Caroline Wilson, Linda Phillips, and Sheila Brown have entered more than a thousand books into our system. If you enjoy books and can type, we truly need your volunteer assistance. Visit our website, JSFBOOKS.com for information about the Jesse Stuart Foundation.
• Congratulations to David R. Palmore, editor of "New Harvest: Forgotten Stories of Kentucky’s Jesse Stuart" for winning the Judy B. Thomas Board Member of the Year Award for 2003.