Martha’s Strawberry Fields,
A Very Unique Shop

Martha’s Strawberry Fields Shop is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 :00 am until 5:00 pm.
and the phone number is 270-362-2335
photo by Mike Tierney

by Mike Tierney
Reporter--The Marshall Times

If you are looking for that hard to find collectable, glassware, pottery, or antique, look no further. All you need is the time to explore through the 1000’s of pieces of inventory in Martha’s shop located at 6383 U.S. Hwy. 641 and you will probably find what you are looking for.

What developed out of a passion for collecting finally became a business about six years ago when Martha and her husband Buster Standridge started their business on their two and half acre lot on Hwy. 641. When you first enter the building, you notice right off what a wide array of inventory Martha has amassed with so many different items and they are all beautifully arranged in a very artistic manner to enhance their viewing by the customer.

Martha likes to describe her business as, "we have some of everything ." Some of the popular collectable items you will find are Hull pottery, McCoy pottery, Shawnee pottery, Hall pottery, Fenton Glassware, Westmorland glassware, Wexford press cut glassware , and Jim Beam bottles. Martha said that in one specific item category alone, she had over 7,000 pieces of inventory. When you are at her shop do not forget to ask about items with strawberries on them, Martha’s favorite and the reason she named her shop Martha’s Strawberry Fields.

Other exciting items in her shop are old furniture, toys, oil lamps, stain glass lamps, Christmas ornaments, Coke, dolls, jewelry, teddy bears and many, many more different items. A sideline business Martha has added to her business is a very large inventory of concrete yard ornaments which are on display outdoors near the parking lot of the business. There are hundreds of popular concrete ornaments of animals, bird baths, and many other items. Martha will also hand paint the ornaments for the customers. Another interesting feature of the business is the large inventory of real live ducks, chickens, and geese Martha has at their business location for sale and viewing.

Martha said that the animals are used as attractions for the customers to enjoy.. She did say they sold a few of them to take care of the large feed bill the animals generate. "The children in particular enjoy seeing all the animals," Martha said. The different species of ducks and geese which may be seen at the shop are Roman Tuf, Blue Swedish, Faunt White Rumer, Khaki Campbell. White Pekin, Wild Mallard, African White, Muscovie, East Indies, and Embdem.

2008 Walk-in-Time show a spectacular event

Dr. Arnold Krause From Draffenville
Proudly Poses With His Mole Smasher.

by Mike Tierney
Reporter--The Marshall Times

The 2nd annual "Walk in Time" show featuring antique, tractor, gas engine, and modern equipment marked another successful year. The annual show sponsored by CADA, PAATC and Calvert City is now an annual event which is held each year at the Calvert City North Park. The director of the event, Bob Futrell, said the show featured an outstanding array of equipment both old and new. He said he was very satisfied with the dealer exhibitor participation and crowd attendance when considering the extreme heat index for the weekend.

A hospitality tent which was air conditioned was provided by Fabrik Power Systems Rental for those attending the event who needed to cool off. As last year, a large assortment of antique tractors and old engines were on display by several members of the Purchase Area Antique Tractor Club and also several other collectors of old equipment.

It was great to hear the putt putt sound coming from the old engines dating back from as far as the turn of the 20th century. The antique displays of equipment were from both local and out of state exhibitors. Dr. Arnold Krause from Draffenville had his display of collectable toy steam engine trains on exhibit at his booth which were very interesting.

He was quick to show anyone a demonstration of the tiny steam engine trains. He also had on display a 40 c 1955 John Deere Dozer which he had beautifully restored by himself over several years. His wife asked him what he was going to do with the 6,000 pound monster and he said he told her he was going to use it to smash moles in their yard.

The long list of modern equipment exhibitors included many dealers from the local and surrounding counties such as Erb Equipment Company, MH Equipment Company, Golightly Equipment, B&G Equipment, INC. Black Equipment Co., INC., C.F.I. INC. Lawn and Garden Equipment Co., Little Tractor Company, McKeel Equipment Company, Fabrik Power Systems Rental, James Sanders Implement, Cunningham Golf Vehicles, Midway Trailer Sales, Duckett Truck Center, INC., Parkway Chrysler, Leon Riley Ford, Country Chevrolet, Tri-State International, McBride of Paducah, NES Rental and Levee Lift. Cunningham Vehicles provided a free shuttle service vehicle for the event. Award plaques were given to the exhibiters for the Walk In Time antique equipment displays for certain categories.

The winners of those categories were the following: Longest Distance Traveled - Mike & Jill McCamis, Litha, Fl. Most Engines _ Gary and Sue Ray, Dyersburg, TN. Most Lawn tractors - Don & Carolyn Williams, Elizabethtown, KY. Oldest Tractor - Lee Burkey, Kevil, KY. Oldest Exhibitor - Roy Seinner, Mayfield, KY. Oldest Engine - Ricky Stevenson, Calvert City, KY. Most Tractors - Brent Edwards, Benton, KY Most Original Condition - Norman R. Parrish, Bardstown, KY. Other events held for the crowd’s enjoyment were the Pedal Pull for children which was sponsored by Heritage Bank and also two concerts featuring The McKendrees and Reflections were presented during the weekend.

Ceremony at Lovett Park honors military

by Mike Tierney
Reporter--The Marshall Times

Last Friday night at Benton’s H.H. Lovett Park a ceremony honoring those who have served or are serving in the military was held just before the start of a co-ed softball tournament. The occasion was also to recognize the installation of a new flag pole for the main ball park.
Randy Green, President of the Marshall County Girls Softball League, and Ray Eaton, Treasurer, helped promote and organize the honoring event. At the start of the ceremony, Randy had all veterans and current military personnel go out and stand at the pitcher’s mound for their recognition.
Staff Sergeant John Brinkley and Staff Sergeant Charles Chancellor from the local National Guard unit participated in the raising of the flag ceremony. Sergeant E5 Gabrielle Koym sang the National anthem for the ceremony.
Sergeant Koym is with the 1163 Medical National Guard Unit out of Shelbyville. She is presently a senior student at Murray State University studying physical therapy. Randy Green said it was an honor to have someone like young Sergeant Koym who has served in Kuwaitt help out in the ceremony. She served in Kuwaitt from 2005 until 2006.
Several members of the softball teams are in the National Guard.

Calvert Mayor praises
Councilman Futrell for work well-done

by Mike Tierney
Reporter--The Marshall Times

During the August session of the Calvert City Council meeting, Mayor Jones thanked Bob Futrell for all the hard work he had done in organizing and directing the Walk in Time Machinery show. Mayor Jones pointed out, "Bob has put in countless hours of work on the show to make it a great event for Calvert City." Mayor Jones emphasized that it was a great job done by Bob and something that Calvert City can be proud of. He thanked all other people and organizations that were involved in putting the show on for the area to enjoy. Mayor Jones said he thought the addition of the bluegrass concert was a great addition to the event.
Mayor Jones also thanked the present Council for all their cooperation and hard work during their tenure of office. "This has been one of the most cooperative and hard working Councils I have worked with," stated Mayor Jones. "You have not always agreed on every issue but you have come together and gotten things done." The present Council members will end their terms at the end of the year and will have to seek reelection in November if they desire to stay on the Council.
In other business, Mayor Jones informed the Council that several legal issues have to be reviewed before the city can take over the Calvert City Cemetery. After these issues are addressed the city will be in a better position to take over the Cemetery, stated Mayor Jones.
The Council gave its approval to have the legal work drawn up to donate or sell the old fire Department Van which will be declared surplus. John Ward recommended that the lights be taken off it for use later on other vehicles. Ward also updated the Council of the Lone Valley Road Project. He said that work had been started and the old surface had been taken off the road. The project is targeted to be finished by the end of September.
Councilman Futrell brought up before the Council the idea of the City having a surveillance system installed for the City parks. He said that when considering the investment the city has put into improvements of the parks it may be beneficial to have a system installed. "I am not asking that the city install one just now but would like for us to check on a system as to cost and feasibility." The Council members agreed to researching what systems are available and their costs. John Ward said he would check on what systems are now available for surveillance and will get back with the Council.