The Friday Finish - Chief Red Bird's Legacy Shines - Key Location for AppalReD - Party Rewards Progress - Getting Connected
- Tim Crawford
- Jan 23
- 6 min read
January 23, 2026
Chief Red Bird’s Legacy Shines
As an alumni, a coach, and a mom, I honestly felt like I was standing right in the middle of Red Bird history and handed a whistle. Who would’ve ever thought our school gym would turn into a full-on NASP archery range? I remember sitting in that same gym as a student and never imagining I’d be back here one day as “Coach Kayla,” standing on that floor as a coach, helping host the first-ever National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) state qualifying archery tournament at Red Bird Christian School. Chief Red Bird’s Legacy of the Mountains Tournament was bigger than scores or trophies- it was proof that our little school deep in the heart of the mountains could dream something bold and turn it into reality.
Over two days, 105 archers stepped onto that line and shot for score in Elementary, Middle School, and High School divisions. We welcomed Pineville Independent School, Bush Elementary, elementary and middle school teams from East Bernstadt, and individual archers from North and South Laurel High School. At least 500 people came through our doors between Friday night and Saturday – parents, grandparents, coaches, siblings, and community folks who just wanted to see what this “archery thing” was all about. Our tournament ran two days: flights started Friday, January 16, at 6 p.m., and then picked back up on Saturday, January 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It was a NASP state-qualifying event, which means every arrow mattered. Teams and individual archers who shot high enough scores earned the chance to go on and compete at the NASP State Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky.
To even be allowed to host a NASP state qualifier, your school has to meet strict range and safety requirements. A NASP range isn’t just, “set up some targets and let ’em shoot.” There are rules for everything. We ran 15 targets, with archers shooting at both the 10-meter and 15-meter lines, all measured and taped exactly to NASP specifications. The floor was lined out in tape, the safety curtains were up, quivers were placed correctly, and every single inch of that gym had to be checked then double-checked.
Here’s the wild part: we had about five hours to turn our regular school gym into a NASP-approved tournament range. In that short window, we measured every distance, taped the lines, hung the curtains, set up all 15 targets, placed quivers, arranged bow racks, and made sure everything met NASP standards. While most people were just seeing a neat tournament, those of us on the inside knew just how close this whole thing rode to “are we really about to pull this off?” We couldn't have done it without our assistant coach, Troy Brandon Asher, and our older archers who left class to help.
Coach Kelton said it best when I asked him what the weekend felt like:
“I didn’t know how big this would be until we started doing the work. Going over the rules, measuring the range, getting team registrations and scorecards right, concessions, and guiding teams to the waiting area — it was a lot. Kayla and I learned fast. Seeing everyone pull together made it clear this was bigger than us.”
Some shifts got hectic, and there were a few head-scratching moments, but every coach I talked to reminded me the same thing: no one shows up perfect. We’re all learning. What matters is we show up for the kids, and that we care enough to figure it out. The visiting coaches were kind and encouraging, and they even gave us compliments.
Our Red Bird archers know that before you ever shoot a 10, you learn how to be safe and responsible. This weekend, they proved it. Our students absolutely shine at tournaments because they’re not just good archers – they’re respectful kids who know what this program is about. There are a lot of rules and protocols in NASP: whistle commands, how to carry your bow, when you can step on or off the line, where to stand, how to handle arrows. From day one, we’ve been strict about that at practice. We drill the whistle commands. We preach range respect and respecting each other.
The scores were only half the story. Our Red Bird archers didn’t just show up to shoot – they showed up to work. They helped set up the range, worked shifts at the gate and in concessions, and stood on the line beside younger archers to show them how to score and pull arrows the right way. When coaches from other schools walked in, they didn’t just meet “Red Bird Archery.” They met our kids acting as ambassadors for our school.
History happened in our gym last weekend, and if you were there, you saw it. If you weren’t, come next time. Every person in the stands gets to be part of our story.
I want to say a special thank-you to everyone who made this weekend possible. Coca-Cola of Middlesboro and Coach Dustin Allen of Pineville Independent School Archery. To the parents, grandparents, Red Bird staff, volunteers, and community members who donated time, money, and loud cheering voices — we saw you, and we needed you.
If you want to help to keep this momentum going, here’s the honest ask: fill the stands. Come to our tournaments and the weekend tournaments at other schools. Donations keep our arrows flying, our entry fees paid, and this program growing. This is still only the beginning for Red Bird Archery.
- Kayla Mae Smith, Development Gifts & Communications Staff
A Key Location for AppalReD Legal Aid
AppalReD Legal Aid was back at Red Bird Mission Monday offering free legal aid to qualifying residents in the Red Bird service area. Charnel Burton, Pro Bono Director for AppalReD Legal Aid, said her organization has found that Red Bird Mission is a prime location to include in their monthly 2026 rotations to serve their 37-county area that includes most of eastern and south central Kentucky.
Burton said,
“Red Bird is one of those key locations because there are so many counties that connect here. And, Red Bird has been so welcoming and so helpful to us. They reached out to us and said, we'd like to partner with you all. ”
Most of the people taking advantage of the free legal services have needed assistance with family law (generally divorce or custody), some expungements, or preparation of wills, power of attorney and living wills for the elderly. AppalReD staff provide the forms and information folks need to represent themselves (Pro Se) without hiring an attorney in most jurisdictions in eastern Kentucky.
The legal clinics at Red Bird Mission are free because AppalReD covers their costs through grants that generally fund assistance to low income households. However, some grants fund services for domestic violence victims and the elderly with no income limitations. Ms. Burton was excited about another new grant they received to serve veterans that are at risk of homelessness.
She explained how most veterans would meet the criteria, saying,
“If you've got PTSD, that's going to put you at risk for homelessness. If you're living paycheck to paycheck, or if you're trying to get disability benefits from the VA or from Social Security, the decision can make the difference between being housed and being unhoused, so we don't have any income limits, but it is restricted to veterans.”
Party Rewards Progress
Red Bird Christian School elementary students were treated with a party as they returned to classes this week in celebration of their completion of the midyear i-Ready assessments. Students who finished their test earned fun prizes for their effort and perseverance. Bristol Smith was the lucky winner of the special prize drawing for those that showed up every day last week and completed their assessment.
These assessments are an important tool for our teachers and staff, helping us understand how each student is progressing and how we can best support their learning moving forward. Principal Jennifer Wilder explained,
“Extra tutors and instructional aides, including those funded by the federal Title One program, work with K-8 students based on i-Ready test results and teacher referrals. These standardized assessments enable students and parents to set academic goals and celebrate benchmarks that lead to success.”
Getting Connected
“Tate” Adams volunteers each week at the DeWall Senior Center on the Red Bird Mission Beverly Campus. On Thursdays, he works with the men’s group on their interest, and he is available to help anyone with computer and internet issues. Yesterday, he was assisting one of the men with an email issue and helping him get started with an application for Starlink satellite broadband service.