The wind picked up a little more at Douthitt Park Tuesday afternoon as the band picked another tune. The sweet sounds of a fiddle, some guitars, a banjo and a dobro pierced the air, while festive folks tapped their toes and hummed to the song - in this case, the “Martha White Flour Song”, a tune that “self-rose” to perfection by Flatt and Scruggs.

The Bluegrass band playing that little ditty just finished up a set, when someone took a picture of the dobro player, Bob Elam. He smiled and told he photographer, “You just tore the camera up.” Elam’s a member of “High Falls Jamboree” a band headed up by Glenn Duff, who years ago headed the work program at what was then Lees College. After finding out that he now lives in Winchester, Elam pointed out, “But I’m originally from Wolfe County. There’s so many Elams from Wolfe and Morgan County that when you shake a tree, one of us falls out.” Before firing up another tune, Elam laughed and told the picture taker, “Hope you don’t put my picture on a wanted poster.”

With the grill firing up on overtime duty, some 150 persons filled the park to enjoy the food and fun, plus to enjoy a milestone of sorts. Tuesday was the eighth annual celebration of the Kentucky River Chapter of the Senior Circle, and despite the winds whipping up the tablecloths on the picnic tables, people like Annette Napier of Jackson came to enjoy the day. “This is where I get to see some old friends, and this gets me out of the house.” Napier was one of several in line under the picnic shelter, waiting her turn to load up on hamburgers, hot dogs, cole slaw, baked beans and desserts. She liked the trips the Senior Circle took over the past few months, and looked forward to more. “We went to Buckhorn Lake not too long ago, and we’re all wanting to head over to Natural Bridge this Summer.”

“Where’s the end of this line?”, asked Rev. Walter Strong of Saldee, who along with his wife Gladys came to the shindig and quickly made their way behind others as the line snaked along the picnic shelter. While most of those who attended hail from the four counties the Kentucky River Chapter covers - Breathitt, Wolfe, Owsley and Lee - some visitors were seen and made welcome. One of them was Kenneth Chappell. “So far, my wife and I like what we see.” Chappell made the drive from the Tyner community of Jackson County to hear the music and munch on the goodies, plus to do something else. “We like to socialize, and we like social get-togethers. We need to stay active, and these people around us do a great job of that. It’s a great organization to join, and we’re going to do so today.”

The cost wasn’t much - $15 a year to join - and those still young at heart could also become a member. “All you have to do is be 50 years of age,” said Beth Allen, who obliged to the wind by wearing a Wildcat Blue sweater to the festivities. Allen, who is Advisor to the Senior Circle in this region, pointed out that the key to the group’s effectiveness and growth are the many activities they plan. “We want people to be aware of things like their health, their nutrition, and their well-being. Plus, they need to stay active. And this is why we have activities like this. Not just to celebrate our existence, but to keep the mind and body sharp.” Indeed a brouchure passed out at the park showed among the events planned for the year include a trip to Cape Cod along the New England coast this October.

While door prizes were being handed out, Rita Duff watched her husband’s band take a breather under the picnic shelter. “Actually the wind’s not too bad today. When it dies down, it feels pretty warm outside, and the folks here like that. This is our third year coming down here to the Senior Circle, and Glenn and I always enjoy talking to our friends and neighbors, as well as performing for them.”

“Everybody feels like they know somebody here,” Allen continued as the sun began to hide behind the hills across the river. “We’re fortunate in that we have over 300 persons in our region who are members of the Senior Circle, and that supports the 60,000 persons who are members nationwide. But this is where the grassroots effort begins. Right here at home, with people getting together for fellowship and socializing.” In fact, the event that was sponsored by the Kentucky River Medical Center drew noted Breathitt Countians such as the personable Donny Rentfrow, Chief Executive Officer of the Jackson hospital; Breathitt County Coroner George Griffith; and County Judge-Executive Harvey J. Richardson.

Moments later, the High Falls Jamboree band broke into a Gospel classic, “Will The Circle Be Unbroken?”, and hands began to clap around the park. A loud cheer went up after the song, with Doris Newton and Dr. Masja Ott leading the loudest cheers nearby at a picnic table. Beth Allen announced that another cakewalk was about to take place, and those who wanted to enter please line up. Just then, someone inside the shelter said, “Uh, oh, look out! They’re going to have another cakewalk. Lord, they fight over themselves over that cakewalk to win a prize.”