By JOHN MARTIN ARNETT
MCHS79, Inc.
County Judge Executive Matt Wireman has announced that the county has established an award to recognize those who have worked to improve the lives of the citizens of Salyersville and Magoffin County and to memorialize Carter Conley, the long-time leader of the Magoffin County Rescue Squad. The award was created in cooperation with MCHS79, Inc., the non-profit group representing the Magoffin County High School Gold Ring Class of 1979.
“The Carter Conley Memorial Hometown Hero Award is given annually to residents who have given their time, talents, skills and energies to making this a better place to live or making our lives easier and better”, said Wireman.
This year’s recipient is Jincy Bailey of Salyersville.
Mrs. Bailey has organized and run the Miss Magoffin County Pageant for more than 30 years, since assuming leadership in 1991. She accompanies every Miss Magoffin to the Miss Kentucky pageant as an event sponsor, advisor and supporter. She also organizes the Miss Firecracker pageants during the Independence Day celebration.
In addition, she has served as site manager and events coordinator for the Salyersville Renaissance Center for five years and helped oversee the renovation of the building. She still sits on the board of directors for that facility.
She also works as an administrative assistant for the Magoffin County Board of Education.
“It’s hard to look around the community and find someone who has given more, over a longer period, than Jincy Bailey,” said MCHS79 vice president Dee Dee Carpenter.
The late Carter Conley, who founded and led the rescue Squad since 1976, passed away in September, 2021, from complications of COVID-19. His lifetime of commitment to the people of Magoffin County serves as a model for others.
“Jincy Bailey has encouraged, inspired and led by example to show young people, especially young women, how much they can accomplish if they are willing to put forth the effort to succeed,” said Judge Wireman.
“We’ve previously honored our Healthcare Pioneers, longtime local entertainer Terry Miller and the local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans. We think uplifting the people who make Salyersville and Magoffin County better today are just as important as the city’s founders.
Contributions through civic works, the arts, volunteerism, leadership and quality of life issues should be acknowledged, too”, said Wireman.
