They Said It Was Just Sports… They Were Wrong.

What if your town felt like family because everyone had a place to play, serve, and grow? We sat down with Janine to explore how Owensboro’s heartbeat shows up on the field and far beyond it—through Special Olympics, the Opportunity Center, and Fresh Start—where inclusion is practical, training is hands-on, and second chances turn into steady lives.

You’ll hear how Special Olympics runs 365 days a year, not just one spring track meet. Janine shares how athletes move from B teams to 1A and 2A, how a flag football squad punched its ticket to nationals in Minneapolis, and why pure sportsmanship—applauding a rival’s great play—makes every win sweeter. We dig into the volunteer engine that keeps it all thriving and the $25,000 push to ensure no athlete is left behind because of money.

Then we step into the Opportunity Center’s kitchen and classrooms, where pop-up deli shifts teach food prep, customer service, and basic accounting, and new therapy options support independence. We also follow the path of Fresh Start, where women commit to weekly goals, take faith and finance classes, and transform court dates and ankle monitors into job offers and plans for a Habitat home. Throughout, Janine credits the faith that shaped her, the family that modeled service, and a city that still feels small in all the best ways. There’s room for lighter moments too—Cubs and Bengals highs and lows, and Rizzo the beloved dog who somehow became a ministry mascot.

If you love stories where community, faith, and grit meet real results, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who should volunteer, and leave a quick review to help more Owensboro neighbors find us. What role will you play next?

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It's been a great episode and I hope you share this with all your Owensboro friends! Thanks for the support and again, if you have questions or guests ideas, send a text!

Transcript

Welcome And Mission Of Inclusion

SPEAKER_00 0:00

That everyone has a place and everyone has opportunity to be as to be who God intended them to be. You know, every one of us have skills, every one of us have made mistakes, every one of us have gone down the wrong path, and and you can always look to to the future and to God to get on the right path and and keep uh going in the right direction.

Janine’s Owensboro Roots

SPEAKER_01 0:30

Not everyone gets seen today. We fix that. This is all things, Owensboro. Thanks for coming on, Janine.

SPEAKER_00 0:39

I'm glad to be here, Brian.

SPEAKER_01 0:41

Yeah, I'm excited. I think this is an opportunity to get to reveal part of our community that that is known, I think. I mean, especially with now being back in the Dust Bowl, the Special Olympics, and you know, they're they'd be going to the state, and there's always something going on. In fact, the flag football team is going to nationals. It's just something I think maybe not as many people heard about or know about. So I'm excited to see where this conversation goes for sure.

SPEAKER_00 1:04

Oh, there's always it's a 365-day program. We go straight from one sport to another, sometimes doing multiple sports at once. So it's uh it's a lot of opportunity for fun and fellowship and and um and winning.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

Yeah, yeah, no, I get you on that. Uh all right, so you're you're born and raised Owensboro, like you're an Owensburyan through and through. Is that a word? I don't know. But what are some of your favorite childhood memories growing up here in Owensboro?

SPEAKER_00 1:31

It was a it was an awesome place to grow up. I grew up in Trinity Hills. We okay, we played kickball and softball and hide and go seek, and we just had a lot of friends and still have those friends to this day. And it was just um it was a small it was a big town, but it had a small feel to it, to the community. And it was just a good, you know, we didn't come home until it was dark. And I got you.

Faith As The Foundation For Service

SPEAKER_01 1:58

So you're at Trinity Hills. Did you go to Newton parish? I went to Seven Hills. Oh, Seven Hills, yeah. Seven Hills. So Seven Hills, okay, and then graduated from Owensboro? Absolutely. Uh so Red Devil through and through. Absolutely. Okay, that's fine. I get it. I I'm for Apollo, but I didn't grow up here either. So you know, faith is a central part of your life. You're you helped the preschool here at church. You're you never shy away from your faith, even on Facebook and other avenues that you've been a part of. I mean, so how has your faith shaped the way you serve others and stay grounded?

SPEAKER_00 2:26

That's a simple answer. I I love Jesus, and I everything I do, that is the top priority. That is comes from that. It stems from loving Jesus and it's how I grew up. My family was was big in faith and in serving others, and it just sort of was it's just what I was taught.

SPEAKER_01 2:47

Yeah, no, that's awesome, and it's cool, and I know like one thing that I I think is really cool is that you you bring in extended family members of the church, and it like I think it's neat because you're giving them an opportunity to be exposed to the gospel, be a part of what you were a part of growing up, which is really neat. And so I think that's really cool. So keep being that cool aunt that that brings your your relatives to the church.

Why Special Olympics Matters

SPEAKER_00 3:08

Oh, yeah, absolutely. I always say if you know me very well that that you have served in Special Olympics because that is my number one passion. Um it's just a an awesome organization.

SPEAKER_01 3:19

Yeah, no, I didn't I've had a chance to be a part of it, especially when they've had the tracking field, when that that's been fun. I didn't get a chance to do it this past year or done it in the past, and it was it's definitely a fun day. And and it's one of the more, I think, fun sports environments because everybody's loving on everybody. I mean, there's not like yes, you're competing. And I and at times, like I almost want to say there's it's close to pure sportsmanship because they're even if they lose the the race, the 400 meter, they're still going up and congratulating and loving on the person that won. Um it's not that they don't appreciate what they did because they've had fun, but they're it's not as much as like, oh, I lost, it's a terrible day.

SPEAKER_00 3:57

And it can be. I mean it can be, but it's also like you said, in the in the in sportsmanship, it's it's probably one of the few sports that you see the opposing coach clap for a good play that the opposing team make. Yeah. I mean, you know, if you see, and I've done that many times, you see a you know, a second baseman make a really good play, you know, you're you're applauding that. So it is probably a little bit more pure than other sports leagues.

Opportunity Center’s Training And Outreach

SPEAKER_01 4:25

Yeah, yeah. Which I mean definitely want to win. Yeah, yeah, no, I get you. And it's it's okay to be competitive. You know, part of being, I know you've been a part of Special Olympics, I know you've been a part of the special needs community. Uh, one of those avenues is the opportunity board. You got to serve on the board there. So, one, you know, I've seen on social media, and we talked a little bit beforehand. Like, I I've seen it, I kind of know what they do. Uh, but tell the listeners what they do, and then also what do you think was the most rewarding part of that that journey?

SPEAKER_00 4:52

Um, well, the opportunity center provides training for for life skills, for, you know, we're into looking for employment for for our participants. We are looking there, we've just started recently the occupational and physical therapy portion. So if that's a need, you can find that there at the opportunity center. And it just is I love going out there because you're, you know, it's just you're I'm like a rock star because they just are so appreciative of you and so supportive of you.

SPEAKER_01 5:28

Yeah, and I know lately they've jumped in on stuff through their kitchen, like through Burger Week and Pizza Week. And so that's been cool too to see the Opportunity Center, no pun intended, take the opportunity to get their name out there and to be involved in the community that way too.

SPEAKER_00 5:42

Exactly. It's um and with you not being from Orangeburg, you really don't have this history, but they used to r actually ran a deli downtown.

SPEAKER_01 5:51

Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00 5:52

And they've kind of brought that back. Rosemary has brought that back, and and now I just saw recently where they're going to start having that on a weekly basis downtown.

SPEAKER_01 6:01

Oh, cool, okay.

SPEAKER_00 6:02

Pop-up shop. And and it gives our participants an opportunity to be able to learn how to to prepare and cook and something I certainly can't do.

SPEAKER_01 6:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:12

And customer service, customer service, you know, you know, accounting, just just basic. I mean, everybody wants a place, everybody wants uh to have skills and and feel good about themselves at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_01 6:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 6:24

And they are certainly no different, and they are certainly capable of doing that.

SPEAKER_01 6:30

Yeah, well, I would say too, and I mean I work downtown at the church next to the Blue Bridge. I'm gonna probably check out that pop-up. So so follow them on Facebook. We're we're not getting paid, could be a sponsor, not a sponsor by the Opportunity Center, you know. But go check them out. Go check them out on Facebook. We'll put their link in the episode notes and see how you can get off there by supporting them through their pop-up and through other means that they do as well throughout the community. So, Janine, you we've not have shied away from this. You are a part of Special Olympics. You're a big part of Special Olympics. You're probably like the number two, uh numero two person there. But what has kept you dedicated to that community over the years?

The Community That Keeps You Coming Back

SPEAKER_00 7:07

Uh the people. Absolutely the people. It is just a community of, you know, it's not uncommon to get a text, you know, throughout the day or a pop-up on Facebook messenger of, you know, how are you doing? You know, just they're just checking on you. They're just a loving, supportive community that that if you ever get a part of, you're gonna be signing a lifetime commitment because you they just make you feel they just you're I'm just very blessed to be part of Special Olympics.

SPEAKER_01 7:40

Yeah, I mean they kind of almost feel like they almost make you feel like a superhero at times. You're like, well, I'm not, I'm not, I'm definitely not at that status personally. But if you think that, okay, you know.

SPEAKER_00 7:50

Exactly. I mean, yeah, I mean they of course they're also quick to sometimes put you in your place, too. I mean, there's really but they are just it, it it's just uh an awesome supportive community.

Athlete Growth And Path To Nationals

SPEAKER_01 8:02

Yeah, that's really cool. And I know like there's some really cool things you have to plan for the future, like said nationals, flight football team going there. And hopefully we'll be able to talk more about that. I'm talking to Janine. Uh trying to talk to Kim. Kim Johnson's when it's over Special Olympics, Davis County. I'm so trying to figure that out. Get get some ambassadors from the sport to come on and just talk about what it's gonna look like for them to go nationals. Um, and I'm excited about that, that future episode for sure. And so, you know, you've you've seen a lot of athletes succeed. You've seen a lot of athletes go from maybe they're scared of hitting the ball back when they start playing at nine or eight or whatever, and then when they're a high schooler or even a young adult, they're they're they're pushing out of the park. They're they're and so so what's a story that you can share of an athlete whose journey uh especially touched your heart?

SPEAKER_00 8:50

That that's a hard question to answer because you you see it all the time. You see the improvement. We have teams that start out as B, which is basically need a lot of instruction, limited skills, and and their goal is to move to 1A and then 2A, which is more just like Church League softball, you know, where it's like playing by the rules, and and that's your goal, and that's happened many times, although you sort of hate it when they when you leave them, you get them really good, and then they move up in a selfish coaching part of it. But you know, you you just see that improvement, that you know, that strive to to be better. And like you said, and then the ultimate goal is to be able to go to national and to world games and showcase your talents on a on a much bigger stage.

SPEAKER_01 9:38

Yeah, and just just out of curiosity, you know, we talked about flag football going to nationals. So if they do well there, the next step would be World Games.

SPEAKER_00 9:45

No, national games would be would be it Okay.

SPEAKER_01 9:49

But yeah But there's other sports that there's other sports, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:52

We've had several athletes throughout the years that's gone to World Games and competed, you know, competed in I think China.

SPEAKER_01 10:01

Okay.

Year‑Round Sports And Volunteer Needs

SPEAKER_00 10:01

But I mean, just you know, it's a lot of opportunities that I don't think people realize. I think sometimes people think it's just a track and field event on a on a particular April day when like I said, it is literally I mean, right now we have eighty-five bowlers bowling on Sunday.

SPEAKER_01 10:18

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 10:18

We're we're getting ready to start basketball, which will have probably six six teams.

SPEAKER_01 10:23

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 10:24

You know, it is we have grown and we're always looking for volunteers.

SPEAKER_01 10:28

So if if anybody's gonna be able to do it, if you if you didn't have games on Sundays, I could probably ref. Just saying.

SPEAKER_00 10:35

Oh, you you can ref on Sundays?

SPEAKER_01 10:37

Oh, I don't know, it's hard. You know, you know, I'm here.

SPEAKER_00 10:39

Yeah, well, well, you got Sunday afternoon. You're you're free then. But I mean, we we really are always looking for volunteers, and I promise you you will not be disappointed and you'll not walk away going, well, that was a waste of my time, you know.

SPEAKER_01 10:51

Yeah, yeah, you'll love on them, they'll become an a sense family.

SPEAKER_00 10:54

Um they absolutely will. And and you just realize it's not about you. I mean, I mean, that's the bottom line. And when you're out there serving others and serving whoever, it you just feel better about yourself. It takes you out of looking at me, me, me, and and it moves it to others, and you can't help but walk away feeling better.

Family Spirit And Remembering Mark Bowman

SPEAKER_01 11:16

Yeah, no, I get you. And I, you know, that's really cool you get to do that. And so, you know, we we just mentioned how Special Olympics really a lot of times feels more like family than it does sports. And so, what does that sense of community mean to you? This June, the Davis County Special Olympics flag football team is heading to nationals in Minneapolis, representing our county on the highest level. They've earned their spot. Now we're raising$25,000 to make sure money is never the barrier. Join us on the road to Minneapolis with details coming soon on how you can support the team.

Events Calendar: Track, Softball, Basketball, Bowling

SPEAKER_00 11:54

It means if I needed anything anytime I could call upon and even the parents, the parents are and the providers are so faithful in bringing them to the practices and stuff, and it's just it really is a a family. It is, and like I said, if you look at my coaching staff for softball, they're all friends, they're all you know, people that once I get them out there, they're like ready to come back the next year. And they are just good people that even extends to you know Kim taking people to doctor's appointments or you know, just in their everyday lives, just being there for them. It yeah, you know, you just cannot help but but be proud you're associated with uh we just recently had Mark Bowman, he recently passed away about a month ago.

SPEAKER_01 12:49

I think I've seen that on your saw that on your Facebook.

SPEAKER_00 12:51

And uh he would always describe it as it's the best weekend of your life.

SPEAKER_01 12:56

Nice, nice. Yeah, and for him, I mean that's cool. I mean, especially if like sports and like you know, you get to see an opportunity to get active and to see everybody they haven't seen in a while. And because when you guys do it here, I've noticed that there's other regions and counties that come to the city. Oh yeah, it's it's huge. Yeah, it's really big. And it's just something that really surprised me, I think, when I when I volunteered a few years back. I'm like, oh, I didn't realize the the stretch. I'm trying to think of like the the reach, I guess that's what I'm trying to say. The reach of Special Olympics throughout the state. Um fact that they come here uh to do their big track and field regional, I guess regional, right?

SPEAKER_00 13:32

Yeah, it's regional here for track, and then we take it ultimately to eastern Kentucky, and I don't know how many is probably there. Okay. But it's it's it's a big event.

SPEAKER_01 13:44

Yeah, it's pretty cool. So when it comes into town in April, right? It's usually April.

SPEAKER_00 13:48

April is track and field, and then we'll have softball again next September.

SPEAKER_01 13:53

Okay. And uh basketball you're kind of going into now.

What Service Teaches About Dignity

SPEAKER_00 13:56

Basketball we're getting ready to go in, we're getting ready to go into swimming, we're doing bowling right now, we're practicing flag football. They just got back from Indianapolis, okay, competing up there for the weekend. Like I said, it is it is not uncommon for Kim and Jeff to spend 12 hours on a Sunday dedicated to Special Olympics.

SPEAKER_01 14:17

So it's Yeah, no, that's awesome. It it so it's and it's worth it, like you said. You said it over and over again. So, you know, and I think you you might have mentioned this already, and so if I have, we'll just touch on it briefly. But you know, you've been a mentor, you've been a cheerleader, you've been a ch you've been a coach, you've worn all the hats when it comes to Special Olympic sports, and so you know, how how has that inspired you in return?

SPEAKER_00 14:42

Just to never give up. I mean, to just keep, you know, that everybody has a place. Everybody has talents and abilities. Even if maybe you're non-verbal, it doesn't mean you you are any less you can still communicate, you can still get your point across, you can still laugh, you can still enjoy life. And we're just all created in God's image, and it is we're just all made and to enjoy life and uh to worship God.

Fresh Start: A Different Kind Of Reset

SPEAKER_01 15:21

Yeah, no, that's awesome. And so we're gonna switch gears here just a little bit from Special Olympics. We're gonna move over uh to your role as Fresh Start and Treasurer as Fresh Start. And so why is the mission important to you at Fresh Start? Kind of go into it, you know. We've had Sydney Jean was actually our very first episode here on All Things Owensboro. Uh it's actually one of our most listened to as well. It's it's fourth as far as most listened to. So, you know, I think our listeners are familiar with Fresh Start, but just kind of go into, you know, what is the why is the mission so important to you and what impact have you seen it make in women's lives?

Accountability, Classes, And Real-Life Wins

SPEAKER_00 15:51

Fresh Start is an organization that I have been associated with for about two, two and a half years. And it is it's a little bit different than other organizations that serve the community well. They may live there two years, kind of get their feet back on the ground. I I have several that I have just seen move from from court appearances and and um ankle monitor to just thriving at her job now and and trying to um in the process of getting a habitat house and just and that it's just all God. It's just a w organization where you can see God move in the lives of people. I mean we've all made mistakes, we've all done things, you know. But but you've always like the like our name says, deserve a fresh start. Yes. And that's what we provide.

SPEAKER_01 16:55

Yeah. And so why do you like so yes, so that is why this name Fresh Start. And it was really cool to hear about even the story of, you know, court appearances, ankle monitors to habitat house, but but why why is Fresh Start such a big priority in your life? Hey, quick pause. I'm Brad Winter, host of All Things Owensboro Podcast. If you're looking for a church that feels like home, we'd love to invite you to First Baptist Church Owensboro. We gather Sundays at 10 30 a.m. right next to the Blue Bridge. Infos in the show notes, and if you reach out, my family will gladly sit with you.

Servant Heart Passed Down Through Family

SPEAKER_00 17:34

Well, I've had the opportunity, and it's sort of like how God sort of puts you, pairs you up with people. So I've sort of had the opportunity to to kind of be paired up and kind of be involved with people's lives and just seeing the changes and and see their willingness to take advice from from people that are a little older and then maybe have made a lot of mistakes. And and you just see the the gratitude and the the one you know that we have you know, they get their kids back and they and we we have parenting classes and financial classes and Orange Occ, Orange Boro Christian does a wonderful job teaching a faith and finance class that they're required to take.

SPEAKER_01 18:19

And yeah, I've heard really good things about that.

SPEAKER_00 18:21

Yeah, we you you can't just show up and and be in the apartment and think Cindy is gonna let you get by with that. You know, you're gonna do something you we they we require three things weekly of them to improve themselves. And so it is a it's just a good organization.

SPEAKER_01 18:43

Yeah, and I know it's growing, and you know, hopefully we'll get we can get Miss Cindy on again sometime soon. She's trying to get them packed 100 grand to do some more stuff there. I know we've talked about even sending a group out and helping with some maintenance type things, like privacy fence, whatnot. But it is a pretty I've been out there in person. It's it's a good location. I mean, I know my wife has several of those kids in her class. Um and it's just really cool when it's kind of a full circle circle moment of okay, like I'm involved a little bit in this, but then also I have other people in my life that are involved in it as well. I mean, I know they're doing a good job over there.

Sports Fandom, Joys And Heartbreaks

SPEAKER_00 19:14

So well, I appreciate you saying that because it is a it is a full-time job for Cindy, but it's a job that she does with a lot of love and determination.

SPEAKER_01 19:25

No, that's good. And so again, if you want to go back to episode one, that's where we have Cindy Gene on episode one, the very first episode. Uh it's a really good one, actually. Go back and listen to it if you have a chance. You know, you're you're involved everywhere. And so you're known for having a huge servant heart. I even talked about how even how you do that with your family. And so, where do you think that passion for helping others has come from?

SPEAKER_00 19:47

Probably my grandparents. I they they ran a small motel in uh western Kentucky in Crittenden County, and I just watched them always willing to help others, and you know, it was not uncommon for them to be wherever if someone needed help, they were there to help them. And that that came from my parents as well. It's just sort of a a family thing. My cousin, Mike, was like that. He okay, he was just, you know, if if if I'm able to help somebody and like I said, it's not because I'm such a good person.

SPEAKER_01 20:28

Oh, but you are you are Janine.

SPEAKER_00 20:30

It's because of Jesus. I mean it truly is. I mean it that that that's why.

SPEAKER_01 20:35

Yeah, that's awesome. And it it's really cool to hear you say, like, you know, because of Jesus, like he gives you that hard generosity.

SPEAKER_00 20:41

Exactly. He does.

SPEAKER_01 20:42

Yeah, that's neat. I'm still waiting to get free Bengals tickets, but it's okay. Um, so you know, talking about Bengals, uh, you're a Bengals and a Cubs fan, for better or worse. And so what's the wildest or and you have season tickets? I've been I've sat in your seats before, good seats. What has been the wildest or most memorable fan moment you've had for either Bengals or Cubs? Or give us one of each.

Rizzo The Mascot And Everyday Joy

SPEAKER_00 21:03

Oh, the Cubs. The Cubs, hands down. It was 2023, September. We're driving up to Chicago to go to the last game of the season. It begins to rain. They had they hadn't won in forever. And we were driving up, it began to rain. They canceled that Friday game, turned Saturday into a doubleheader, and they they ultimately won the division that day by winning both games. Houston lost the first game, and that place was electric. Of course, it ended up tragically with the whole Steve Bartman. Oh, 2003.

SPEAKER_01 21:43

Yeah, 2003. Yeah, yeah. So you were there?

SPEAKER_00 21:46

We were there when they clinched the division and won the division. Okay, gotcha. But yeah, let's let's move on. Yeah, that's okay.

SPEAKER_01 21:53

That's I've seen a thirty for thirty. Like that the stuff he's had to go through is pretty insane.

SPEAKER_00 21:57

It it really is insane, but yeah, I I'm I'm still recovering.

SPEAKER_01 22:02

That's okay. Uh you know, talking about a team. I mean, they won the Roller Series in twenty sixteen. They did. So that was pretty cool. But you know, talking about the Bengals. I know they're not in a good spot this year, but but what's a what's a memorable or a wildest moment you had with the Bengals?

Why Owensboro Feels Like Home

SPEAKER_00 22:15

I I I just I just enjoy going to the Bengals games because you know I just enjoy football and I probably haven't been into as many Bengals games as I have been Cubs, but just you know, just being out there and Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:32

I'd say the pregame was fun. Like I I've been there once, it was really cool and it's a it's a good time. Although I was wearing my Steelers jersey, they were nice to me.

SPEAKER_00 22:39

Um incorrectly.

SPEAKER_01 22:42

Yeah, yeah. You know, we yeah, inappropriately.

SPEAKER_00 22:45

Yeah. Yeah, that's a good thing.

SPEAKER_01 22:50

Yeah, you also have Kentucky season tickets too, but we won't go there. That's that they've kind of stooped to a new level. So uh gotcha.

SPEAKER_00 22:57

I'm still not recovered from Saturday night.

SPEAKER_01 23:00

I got you. All right, so you have a dog named Rizzo.

SPEAKER_00 23:02

Okay, now the podcast is really gonna lengthen in in time when we start talking about it.

SPEAKER_01 23:07

Rizzo's your baby, he's your dog, and so tell us about him and why you chose the name Rizzo.

Legacy, Boundaries, And Serving Well

SPEAKER_00 23:13

Well, I chose him I chose her because Anthony Rizzo, okay, the greatest Chicago Cubs that ever played. Her full name is Rizzo Addison, which if you're familiar with Wrigley Field, well, it's a street there, okay. Right there by the park. And I got her at It Takes a Village over in Evansville right before the pandemic. And if you're around me more than five minutes, you're seeing pictures, I'm just like a proud mama showing the whole portfolio of pictures of Rizzo. But uh she if she can go with me, we call her the fresh, the fresh, the dog of ministry of fresh start. Okay. I mean, all the banks. She's like the mascot. Yeah, she's like the mascot. Like uh, she's just if she can go with me, she's she's there.

SPEAKER_01 24:05

Yeah, I know she has a good bond with your nephew Zayn, too. Yeah, she loves I've seen your videos and like they they love each other a lot.

SPEAKER_00 24:11

So she and she loves Zane. She loves to uh probably and he loves her too, but yeah, maybe not in the same way.

SPEAKER_01 24:20

Yeah, no, that's cool. And so I'm I mean I I have dogs too, they're fun. Uh I've I have Izzy and Zoe, and they're both completely different, but they're fun. I mean, I try to take them. Well, I used to try to take them as much as I could up places, but you know, we've gotten really busy. And so, but yeah, that's cool. Rizzo named after Anthony Rizzo. Anthony Rizzo, who didn't he go to the Dodgers out? No.

SPEAKER_00 24:40

No, he went to the Yankees. But he retired as a cub.

SPEAKER_01 24:44

Okay, okay. I didn't uh I was thinking of uh Cody Bell Bellinger. Yeah, he went to the he went to the Yankees. He did.

SPEAKER_00 24:50

But yeah, Rizzo has been uh she uh And what kind of dog is she? She is a pit bull lab. Oh, okay. Gotcha. And she's a big baby. Yeah, she energy super energetic. She can be when she first meets you, but she's very gentle and she's very loving. Yesterday my little cousin, Ruby, was sticking her face into a cup and Reza was just going along with it because she knows she didn't have a choice.

SPEAKER_01 25:20

Yeah, yeah. That's cool. Well, you know, you've been in you've been born and raised in Owensboro, uh, over in Trin represent Trinity Hills. You know, what for you, what makes Owensboro Owensboro?

SPEAKER_00 25:30

I think it's a big community with a small town feel. Okay. You know, like you said earlier, everything sort of goes full circle because it is it is small, but it is big.

SPEAKER_01 25:46

Yeah, it has it has kind of all the amenities that a bigger city would have, but it has a small town feel. Everybody knows each other.

SPEAKER_00 25:52

Everybody knows each other. There it doesn't take long to you see a connection or oh I didn't know you knew them or or whatever. So it it definitely has a I just didn't I there's no other place I'd rather be. I graduated from the University of Kentucky, but I never had any thoughts of of moving away.

SPEAKER_01 26:11

But yeah, well I and I know we've had several people on who moved away and found their way back. We've and I've heard that a lot. There's a lot of stories of people who were like, I'm ready to leave, I'm ready to get out of here, and then before you know it, they're back here raising a family.

Rapid Fire Fun

SPEAKER_00 26:22

Exactly. And then and this is where my mom is and family, and and like you said, I'm involved in with my cousin helping them out and being part of their lives, and so I I gotta be in their business. So I gotta do it. Yeah, yeah. Somebody has to be nearby, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 26:38

So all right, well, well, this is uh the last question before we go into rapid fire, and then we'll have a question that we ask every single person that comes on the show, and we'll ask that at the rapid fire. Okay. But this last question before we get in rapid fire is you know, something I've I've added here recently to episodes is talking about legacy. It's probably something that we don't really think about a whole lot. Uh and in fact, it's probably pretty morbid to think about. But you know, think about that dash in between the years and your grave, your your grave, eventually your tombstone. But you know, between your service to the Owensboro Opportunity Center to Special Olympics Davis County, uh Fresh Start, I mean, like you you've been involved in a lot of things. And so what's the legacy you hope to leave in Owensboro and be? Wow, this took a I know, I know. This took a turn. I know. This took a turn.

One Big Takeaway And Closing CTAs

SPEAKER_00 27:22

We got fun with Rizzo and Yeah, we were talking about Rizzo. I was all happy, and now we're we're talking about putting me in the ground. But I I guess just that that I was willing, and and and everyone should serve others. I mean that that's just how I live. You know, I I'm like you said, I'm the preschool coordinator here at First Baptist, and and I'm always, you know, and I'm very fortunate that people are willing to to help in the preschool. But I was just I'm always saying it's about Jesus, and it truly is. That's not just a line I'm using to to to reel in my faithful volunteers, but it really is and when you're serving others, then you're not worried about yourself. You're not sitting at home thinking, you know, you're not into yourself. And I just think when you're serving others, you are just uh much happier, much more content. And that's what I'm always trying to do. And if I'm able to do it, I mean I've kind of learned as I've gotten older it's okay to say no. You know, because then it's sort of I'm I was blessed to retire from the auditor's office after 36 years. I was able to retire. And I just feel like that is my next role, but it's it is okay to say no. You know, sometimes you know, life has to be boundaries. Yeah, it has to be boundaries. But if all possible, I think when you serve others, you'll be the one rewarded.

SPEAKER_01 28:55

Yeah, no, that's awesome. And so, yeah, no, that's really good. And I think you'll be definitely be one that's remembered as someone who just serves, serves relentlessly, serves in the name of Jesus, you know, like and I think that's a pretty cool legacy to leave behind. Uh, one day, not right now. One day, I was about to say, do you know something? Yeah, right. Uh no, I don't know anything. I'm not God.

SPEAKER_00 29:14

And also rem remember me as a Kentucky fan.

SPEAKER_01 29:17

Yeah, they're dedicated.

SPEAKER_00 29:19

That hopefully beats Tennessee this weekend.

SPEAKER_01 29:21

Yeah, we'll see. But all right, let's jump into 270 seconds of fame. This is Rapid Fire. Uh, they're fun questions, and it's just kind of a quick answer. Whatever pops in your head, which can be dangerous. It's gonna be dangerous. We'll see how it goes. Are you ready, Janine? I'm ready. All right, what's your favorite ice cream flavor? Man, you didn't um or if you're dairy-free, you know, what's your favorite? I've seen a dairy free.

SPEAKER_00 29:47

Right now, I am on peppermint.

SPEAKER_01 29:49

Okay, peppermint, okay. Peppermint from Kroger. Oh, okay. There you go. All right. Uh, sweet tea or unsweet tea? Neither. Absolutely neither. Uh so what's your go-to drink? Dye Coke. Diet Coke, all right. Uh, what's your go-to Owensboro comfort food? Or like something, maybe not Owensboro comfort food, but something that you strictly can get regionally or here.

SPEAKER_00 30:08

Oh, Big Dipper.

SPEAKER_01 30:09

Big Dipper, okay. What's your favorite thing to get at Big Dipper? A cheeseburger. A cheeseburger. Do you like their ice cream? I do. Usually throw in a pineapple Sunday. Okay. Do you what which one's better, Wonder Whip or Big Dipper?

SPEAKER_00 30:20

That's a tough call because Wonder Whip has just recently moved in close to my house. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 30:26

They opened the uh location number two on Portugal.

SPEAKER_00 30:29

But uh probably I probably my go-to is is Dipper.

SPEAKER_01 30:33

Is Dipper? Okay, gotcha. Uh, I've heard I've this is what I've always been told, although I I like both. Uh but Wonder Whip for the burgers and Big Dipper for the ice cream.

SPEAKER_00 30:43

But if you always did a cheeseburger at Big Dipper, I think you have a different opinion on the I think it's just because before it was out there on 60, it was a little further out.

SPEAKER_01 30:50

Oh, a little further out, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:52

But now that it's closer to me, I'm sure it's it's probably a virtual pie.

SPEAKER_01 30:56

Yeah, gotcha. Alright, so uh when it comes to Owensboro staples, are you more of a mutton burgoo or a fried chicken? I didn't know fried chicken was a staple.

SPEAKER_00 31:04

I was gonna say, I didn't know that was a staple.

SPEAKER_01 31:06

I should have checked these before I started.

SPEAKER_00 31:08

Let's go with fried chicken.

SPEAKER_01 31:09

Project churches, right? Uh, what's your funnest memory from your years uh helping with Special Olympics?

SPEAKER_00 31:17

Oh gosh. Um it's probably a mark story of just some of his, I mean, his like I said, he just recently passed away, and just going back and looking listening to videos and listening to his laugh and and just teasing him and and just you know, he was a special, special guy.

SPEAKER_01 31:38

Yeah, yeah. Gotcha. Alright, so if you could just if you had to describe Special Olympic athletes in one word, what would it be? Determined. I was obviously in grit, so that yeah, that works. Uh so biggest Bengals heartbreak, was it the Super Bowl loss or a regular season collapse?

SPEAKER_00 31:55

No, it was the Super Bowl loss when on on that play there towards the end of the game.

SPEAKER_01 32:02

Yeah, yeah. And I feel like Yeah, I had so I had Jackson Brett or uh Brett Jackson on uh from Apollo, and he's a huge Bengals fan. That was exactly his issue.

SPEAKER_00 32:10

Yeah, we should have won that.

SPEAKER_01 32:12

Well, you know, I shoulda, could've. It's alright. Uh we'll move on. But uh what life as a Chicago Cubs fan, uh, has it been more tears or more joy?

SPEAKER_00 32:22

More joy. I my mom she listens to all the games, and of course, there are times when you know we're just really not that good. But she she's kind of taught me to just enjoy each game, okay, regardless of whether you're gonna make the playoffs or not. You know, just enjoy. So I've kind of taken that attitude, so more joy.

SPEAKER_01 32:42

Okay. Uh so your happy place, is it Wrigley Field or I'm I'm skipping on the name right now for Bengals. Pay Cor. I was gonna say Paycom, but I knew it was Pay Corps.

SPEAKER_00 32:51

Oh, it's Wrigley Field. There is nothing prettier and more calming than a baseball field.

SPEAKER_01 32:56

Okay, so would you rather have a like front row, first row or a box, a suite at the Bengals game, or would you rather sit on the roof at Wrigley Field? Oh gosh, or the roof across Wrigley Field.

SPEAKER_00 33:08

That's a hot I probably since it's football season, I'd rather be at Pay Corps right now on a book. Can you arrange that? Say what now? Can you arrange that for me? I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 33:19

I was gonna go there last Thursday. I'm glad I didn't. Uh that would have been a hard break for sure for me. Uh your dog Rizzo, uh, what's the funniest thing he's ever done?

SPEAKER_00 33:28

Everything, Brad. She's awesome.

SPEAKER_01 33:30

I say he is.

SPEAKER_00 33:31

But yeah, yeah. She um I well, the other day she was, she had put her toy down and I took it, and she was just all of a sudden she started looking around just like she was, you know, human. Like, what'd I do with it? Like, I knew it was just right here. Like, what's happening?

SPEAKER_01 33:47

That's awesome. All right, so if Rizzo could talk, what would she say about your sports fandom?

SPEAKER_00 33:52

That I'm too intense. That she definitely sometimes does she have to leave the room? At times she has, she does, she leaves the room for that, and when I start singing, but okay, gotcha, gotcha.

SPEAKER_01 34:04

She probably doesn't want to start howling.

SPEAKER_00 34:05

So she uh it's not a pretty sight.

SPEAKER_01 34:09

Yeah. So, you know, that's something you've I've seen a lot on Facebook, your dad's Corvette. You know, you talked about your dad in his car. Uh did you ever sneak off in it or dream about it?

SPEAKER_00 34:17

Or uh no, no, because I wanted to live. I didn't want the dash coming that quick.

SPEAKER_01 34:24

That was his baby, huh?

SPEAKER_00 34:26

Oh, that was definitely his baby. He loved his uh he loved cars and he he was very proud of it.

SPEAKER_01 34:34

Yeah, did he have more than just a Corvette or was it?

SPEAKER_00 34:36

Oh yeah, he had a 63 Corvette. It was red that my mom used to take us to school in.

SPEAKER_01 34:40

Really?

SPEAKER_00 34:41

Of course you couldn't get by with it now because we were in the back of the car laying down. You know, you gotta have car seats now.

SPEAKER_01 34:48

Oh man, the old school, old school. Oh yeah, yeah. I I'm not saying I'm old, but no, but 63 Corvette, I'm sure that was pretty nice. Oh, it was.

SPEAKER_00 34:56

Yeah, he had several cars. That was his passion, was uh NHRA and drag racing.

SPEAKER_01 35:02

Okay. Did he like restore cars or oh yeah, he okay yeah.

SPEAKER_00 35:05

If you wanted to get him out of bed and that Corvette, like he completely rebuilt it. It was all chrome and so the engine and stuff, like he absolutely loved cars and and drag racing. That's cool.

SPEAKER_01 35:18

That's cool. Did he ever do any of that himself? Like drag racing? Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_00 35:22

He he loved, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 35:23

That's pretty cool. All right, uh, Skyline Chili, do you love it or hate it? I hate it. Hate it? Well, why do you hate it?

SPEAKER_00 35:29

I I don't like chili at all. Oh, really? Okay, yeah, so it wouldn't matter what name you put in front of it.

SPEAKER_01 35:34

Okay, it's just gonna be bad. Uh I actually had Ritzy's chili the other day, and it was pretty good. Um, best Owensboro Festival, is it the barbecue fest, romp, or porch fest? Probably romp. Romp, okay. What's what's been your have you been to romp?

SPEAKER_00 35:48

No, I haven't been to Romp. Really?

SPEAKER_01 35:49

I thought okay, I thought.

SPEAKER_00 35:50

But you didn't even say the Apple Fest back in the day. Apple Fest, oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, that's what I was saying. The Lions Club took that on.

SPEAKER_01 35:56

Yeah. Yeah. Why was it your favorite?

SPEAKER_00 35:59

Caramel Apples.

SPEAKER_01 36:00

Oh, okay, gotcha. You can go to Reed's and get one. You can, you can. It's just not the same, I guess.

SPEAKER_00 36:04

It's just not the same.

SPEAKER_01 36:05

Yes. Which which, by the way, Reeds, not a sponsor could be. Uh, I'm trying to get Valerie on. Their apple cider slushes are like amazing. Amazing.

SPEAKER_00 36:14

They're they're fighting as well going when we leave here.

SPEAKER_01 36:17

Yeah, well, I have to go out there today, too. All right. Uh, what's if you could have dinner with any Cubs player past a prison, who would it be?

SPEAKER_00 36:25

I mean Anthony Rizzo. I'd take my dog and let him earn.

SPEAKER_01 36:29

There you go. Maybe he can sign her or something. I don't know. Yeah, he could sign her. Uh if you had to pick uh Bengals win the Super Bowl or Cubs win another World Series. Oh gosh. I know these are hard questions.

SPEAKER_00 36:39

These are hard questions. I I don't think I can answer that. I guess the Bengals since the Cubs. I know I'd probably pick the Cubs because my mom's a bigger Cubs fan, and that would bring that'd be pretty cool, yeah. Yeah, that'd yeah, that'd make her happy.

SPEAKER_01 36:54

Yeah, so this is on a this is a side note, like just out of this, but and we can go on, we can do a whole other episode on this, but like do you think the Bengals stay in Cincinnati?

SPEAKER_00 37:03

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 37:03

Okay, you think they have to, right? They stole after they stole the Wudad chant from the Saints who day, they have to. Nah, we're done. We're done with this. All right, we got one more question and then we'll we'll go into the serious question, and that is uh faith, family, or food. What's the number one thing that makes Owensboro feel like home to you?

SPEAKER_00 37:23

Faith, family, or food? All three. Yeah. I mean, uh, I'm blessed to to attend First Baptist, and I think it's a loving community, you know, that cares for each other and serves God. Uh I think like you said, the food is we have unique, I mean, we can argue all day the different hamburger places with a barbecue or pizza or or whatever. And what was the last one?

SPEAKER_01 37:53

Uh Faith, family, or food.

SPEAKER_00 37:56

And my family. Yeah, your family is. I was gonna say, oh yeah, how yeah, them. But yeah, I'm blessed with my family, and that's where I, you know, that's where I enjoy being. And I don't know if they always enjoy me, but but that's a whole different podcast.

SPEAKER_01 38:10

It is. Well, Janine, you passed. So good job. That was fun. That was that was really fun to go through some of those questions. You know, and I always like to have all of our guests leave one thing. Like, if you listen to the whole episode and you're like, man, if they listen to the whole whole episode, I just want them to walk away with this one thing. Could be encouraging, inspiring, challenging. Uh, what is one thing you want to leave with our audience?

SPEAKER_00 38:32

That everyone has a place and everyone has opportunity to be as to be who God intended them to be. You know, every one of us have skills, every one of us have made mistakes, every one of us have gone down the wrong path, and and you can always look to to the future and to God to to get on the right path and and keep uh going in the right direction. Alright, that sounds good.

SPEAKER_01 39:02

Hey, I'm hoping that Joe Flacco does something for you guys over in Cincinnati. Not again against my Steelers, but we well, you never know. But yeah, and then I hope your Cubs do well. You know, they're out of the playoffs, but they were able to clinch it this year um and go back to the playoffs for the first time in a couple years, so that was nice. And yeah, so it was cool to hear about your dog and what you do with Special Olympics. Look, if you're listening to this episode again, we will have all of these links in our episode notes. We'll have the Special Olympics website and Facebook page. We'll have the Opportunity Center in there, we'll have Fresh Star for Women in there. Uh I will not include any Bengals or Cubs links in there. I'm sorry. But it's been fun. I've enjoyed our conversation, it's been great. Uh Janine, thanks for all you do. One for Owensboro, but thanks for coming on as well.

SPEAKER_00 39:41

Well, I appreciate you having me and letting me tell a little bit of my story and and what I'm passionate about.

SPEAKER_01 39:48

Yeah, thanks. All right, Owensboro. We'll see you next week. Go ahead and share, share, subscribe, make it, give us a rating. We haven't had one of those yet. You know, I'm sounding a little selfish here, but go out there and rate us. Tell us how good or bad we are, so the whole other part of the world can see us too. Um, I've enjoyed getting to get to get Owensboro stories out to the world. I mean, you guys are just a small part of that, but but you're also a big part of that, and we appreciate those who've come on um and those who are listening. So have a good week, Owensboro. We'll see you next. Thanks for tuning in to All Things Owensboro, where we celebrate the stories, people, and places that make our city special. If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves this town as much as you do. Until next time, Owensboro, keep loving local, supporting one another, and making Owensboro a place we're all proud to call home.