Author Lynne M. Caulkett has completed her latest book, Sweet Dreams. Her granddaughter, Kayci Manosky, was the inspiration for the book, which is set to be released soon.
Sweet Dreams is a fictional story of a young girl and her horse. Kayci and the horse Grand Illustrator, a Tennessee walking horse owned by Rose Shaeffer of Brooksville, are pictured on the cover.
Kayci, 13, attends Powell Middle School. She has been riding horses since she was 2 years old. Two years ago, Kayci won top honors at the Just-A-Bit horse show in Brooksville, taking first place for the entire season with her blind horse, Cheyenne.
Kayci, who belongs to the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association, recently won third place in the association's national essay competition. Her essay, titled "Why My Tennessee Walking Horse is My Best Friend," tells of her relationship with Grand Illustrator.
Kayci trains with Grand Illustrator, and the two have formed a close bond. Kayci was invited to attend the Tennessee Walking Horse Breaders' and Exhibitors' Association Hall of Fame Club's annual dinner in Shelbyville, Tenn., where the group will honor her for the essay, later this month.
Caulkett, a native of Michigan, lives in Spring Hill with her husband, Jim. She shares her love of horses with her three children and eight grandchildren. As the owner of Bridle Path Ranch near Brooksville, she owns three horses, 15 chickens, a Pekingese puppy and a bunny.
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
The Hernando Youth League Dixie Debs Fast Pitch Softball Team, was recently honored by the Hernando County Commission with a proclamation congratulating the team for winning the state championship.
The team had been collecting donations to help defray travel expenses to the World Series in Jackson, Tenn. It was estimated that it would cost $8,000 to get to Tennessee and play in the series.
Following the commission meeting, Foster Perry, on behalf of DAB Constructors, presented the team with a check for $3,000 to help with their travel expenses.
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The Lions Club in Spring Hill was the setting for the Hernando County Orange Blossom Country Music Association's annual competition. Local winners - the county's top country singers and songwriters - go on to the state competition, Oct. 16 and 17, in Mulberry. The national competition will be in March in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Singers in various categories were allowed to perform twice for the judges. Songwriters had to submit original songs on CDs prior to the competition. The original songs were reviewed, and the winners were announced at the end of the competition.
Orange Blossom state president Beverly LaVertu attended to support the group, which has grown over the past six months from five members to more than 80. Hernando president Pete Doolittle was the master of ceremonies.
The five judges - Mike and Mary Rodriguez, Teresa Castellano, Jane Russell Geddings and Ray Stanbro - volunteered their time for the daylong event. First-, second- and third-place winners were announced in each category (if there were enough competitors), but only the top two move on to state competition.
In the new country female vocalist (ages 13-16), Terry Benoit took first place. In the new country adult female vocalist, Jenny Rimmer won first place; Dietra Green, second, and Jessica Gregory, third.
In the new country adult male vocalist category, Kevin Longhorn won first place; Scotty Urban, second, and Randy Lee, third. In the traditional country adult female vocalist category, Eileen Orrio took first place; Jan Carroll, second, and Bobbi Hamilton, third. In the traditional country adult male vocalist category, Pat Golden won first place; Joe Liuzzi, second, and Steve Stephenson, third.
In the new gospel female vocalist (ages 7-12), Jessica Doolittle took first place. New gospel male vocalist (ages 13-16) was won by Shawn Doolittle. In the new gospel adult male vocalist category, Buster Benoit took first place. Dave Stewart won first place in the traditional gospel adult male vocalist category, and Michelle Triplett took first place in the bluegrass adult female vocalist category.
In the new country female entertainer (ages 13-16) category, Terry Benoit won first place. In the new country adult female entertainer category, Jenny Rimmer won first place, and Dietra Greene took second place.
In the new country adult male entertainer category, Scotty Urban took first place; Brian Chytka, second, and Randy Lee, third. In the traditional country adult female entertainer category, Jan Carroll won first place, and Eileen Orrio, second. In the traditional country adult male entertainer category, Pat Golden won first place; Steve Stephenson, second, and Joe Liuzzi, third.
In the new gospel female entertainer (ages 7-12) category, Jessica Doolittle took first place. In new gospel male entertainer (ages 13-16), Shawn Doolittle won first place. In new gospel adult male entertainer, Buster Benoit won first place. In traditional gospel adult male entertainer, Dave Stewart won first place. Michelle Triplett won first place in the bluegrass adult female entertainer category.
In new gospel duet category (ages 7-16), Shawn and Jessica Doolittle took top honors. In new country adult duet category, Kevin Longhorn and Brian Chytka took first place, and Ron and Dietra Greene, second place. In the bluegrass duet category, Buster Benoit and Michelle Triplett won first place.
In the new country songwriters category, Jenny Rimmer's original song won first place, Kevin Longhorn took second, and Dietra Greene won third place. In the traditional country songwriter category, Pat Golden won first place, and Dave Preston, second place.
Sponsors of the event included: Sears, Belk, Wal-Mart, Ruby Tuesday, Papa John's Pizza, Outback Steakhouse, Johnny Carino's, Applebee's, Victoria's Steakhouse & Lounge, Doolittles Once Upon A Time, Publix, Java Bean and the St. Petersburg Times. Special recognition was extended to the Lions Club for the use of the hall and for the dinner. Curtis Hewitt volunteered his time and his sound system for the event.
The Hernando County Orange Blossom Country Music Association meets at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at Victoria's Steakhouse & Lounge, 11738 Broad St., Brooksville. New members are welcome.
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The Hernando County Education Foundation recently hosted a luncheon at Suncoast Elementary School for 150 new Hernando County teachers. Kathy Reitz, executive director for the foundation, acted as emcee for the program.
The foundation was founded in 1989. Its mission is to enrich the quality of public education in Hernando County, to encourage business and community involvement in the public education system and to provide financial resources to support the foundation's programs, which are funded by donations.
The foundation supports mini-grants of $300 to $500 for teachers, the Teacher of the Year program and other endeavors.
Members of the 2004-05 board of directors include: Gus Guadagnino, president; Royce Decker, vice president; Lorrie Jackson, second vice president; Doris Bedell, treasurer, and Ray Pinder, secretary.
Board members include: Reggie Miller, Lori Bainum, Morris Porton, Scott Twyman, Kirk Wilson, Jonnie Sprimont, Tim Stoops, Roy Gordon and Barbara Sweinberg. For information about the foundation or to make a donation, contact Kathy Reitz at 797-7029.
NOTES OF THANKS
I would like to comment on two subjects, both related to my daughter, Carlee Mae, who was killed in an automobile accident last month.
First, I'd like to thank the paramedics, sheriff's deputies, Florida Highway Patrol and anyone else who was at the scene of her accident. I cannot imagine a more difficult and painful experience than to lose the life of someone you are trying desperately to save. I appreciate your efforts and pray that you can focus on the lives that you have saved. Ultimately, either way, its not your call.
Secondly, I'd like to publicly thank Hernando Times staff writer Robert King. He wrote a couple of articles on Carlee that were both accurate and inspiring. It is refreshing to have a journalist who is neither afraid nor ashamed to mention the Lord in his writings. I'm sorry that he is leaving our area and hope the folks in Indianapolis appreciate his work.
