All Too Human by Arthur Trickett-Wile

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According to a federal report released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Kentucky saw a nearly 10 percent increase in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness from 2023 to 2024. According to the 2024 Kentucky Housing Corporation “K-Count,” in Bowling Green, the seat of Warren County, just over 150 people live year-round without any form of long-term housing or a straightforward path to obtain it.

The individual experience of each person varies, but they all share a common struggle of survival in the streets.

View Arthur Trickett-Wile’s spring 2024 senior project documenting the homeless community in Bowling Green, Ky and those that work to help them. https://www.arthur-trickett-wile.com/homelessness-in-bowling-green

Lester Martin sleeps through the dawn on a bench along a Park Greenway Trail behind Kereiakes Park and Fairview Cemetery in Bowling, Ky. Lester says he likes the spot because it is secluded and affords him the occasional glimpse of nature. “It’s really peaceful—no one bothers you,” he said. “A lot of time you’ll see deer. I had a little possum who would sleep down under my bench.”
 


 
Margie “McGraw” Mesker, who is homeless, trades head-scratches for kisses from Panhead McGraw, her three-year-old pit-shepherd mix, outside the Lifeskills Wellness Connection in Bowling Green. Mesker is known simply as “McGraw” within the local homeless community due to her long-standing delusion that she is married to country music star Tim McGraw. “Panhead’s sister belongs to Faith Hill,” Mesker said. “But that’s God’s plan.”
 

 
Bowling Green Room in the Inn director Dewayne Conner, left, prays with Lloyd Scott during an intake session at the Salvation Army Fellowship Hall on Main Avenue. Room in the Inn partners with a dozen or more local churches to provide temporary overnight warming shelters for the homeless throughout the cold season. Lloyd and Dewayne asked for God’s help in Lloyd’s battles with temptation. “I’ve been struggling, man,” he said. “I been moving toward the dark side.” He was later banned for the season after showing up at an intake intoxicated, leaving him to find a place to stay each night for himself. “Lord, I ask that you take this burden off of Lloyd,” Dewayne said.
 

 
Bowling Green Room in the Inn director Dewayne Conner, left, prays with Lloyd Scott during an intake session at the Salvation Army Fellowship Hall on Main Avenue. Room in the Inn partners with a dozen or more local churches to provide temporary overnight warming shelters for the homeless throughout the cold season. Lloyd and Dewayne asked for God’s help in Lloyd’s battles with temptation. “I’ve been struggling, man,” he said. “I been moving toward the dark side.” He was later banned for the season after showing up at an intake intoxicated, leaving him to find a place to stay each night for himself. “Lord, I ask that you take this burden off of Lloyd,” Dewayne said.
 

 
Bowling Green Room in the Inn director Dewayne Conner, left, prays with Lloyd Scott during an intake session at the Salvation Army Fellowship Hall on Main Avenue. Room in the Inn partners with a dozen or more local churches to provide temporary overnight warming shelters for the homeless throughout the cold season. Lloyd and Dewayne asked for God’s help in Lloyd’s battles with temptation. “I’ve been struggling, man,” he said. “I been moving toward the dark side.” He was later banned for the season after showing up at an intake intoxicated, leaving him to find a place to stay each night for himself. “Lord, I ask that you take this burden off of Lloyd,” Dewayne said.
 

Posted in: Class Work, Photojournalism Projects Class, Picture Stories, Through Our Eyes

Life in the Garden, By Sean McInnis

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Faced with eviction, residents of Kentucky Gardens Mobile Home Park, come together to find a solution to help relocate after rezoning allowed for development of condominiums on the property. Many of the residents’ trailer homes are legally unable to be moved from the site because of statute requirements, leaving them to be demolished. The high cost of housing and development in the region has made it hard for many of the low-income residents to find a new place to call home.

Senior Photojournalism major Sean McInnis documented the community last spring 2024 after learning about their eviction and the challenges the locals were facing.

To see the entire project visit: https://wkuvjp431.tilda.ws/lifeinthegarden


The Kentucky Gardens Trailer Park is home to a diverse community. Residents enjoy the quiet and peaceful sanctuary they have created.

 


Larry Wimpee takes his dog Spike on a short walk around his trailer. A retired brick lawyer, Wimpee says he has been living in the park for 13 years and has enjoyed sitting under the awning covering his front porch. Wimpee is frustrated and unsure how he is going to relocate due to his old age. “I’m working on moving now, trying to find a place, trying to find the money to do it,” Wimpee said. “I don’t even have a car.”

 


Brandon Vincent looks across the trailer park while taking a break from working on his bikes. “If we don’t start to help ourselves, we might end up in a position to have no help at all,” said Vincent.

 


The people of the park deliberate into the evening during a meeting to discuss the status of their current situation. Resident Star Morse (fourth from left) led attendees in brainstorming ideas for different fundraisers, and shared recent communications she had with the park owners, Eddie and Joy Hanks. With the park’s large Hispanic population, Leyda Becker, the Bowling Green International Community Liaison translated for the Spanish speaking residents.

 


Karma Silz looks through papers she received from the park owners informing residents of the current timeline in construction now giving them until 2026 to move out. Despite time extensions by the owners and months of fundraising, roughly half of the park had decided to vacate, leaving their trailers to be demolished.

 


A construction crew works to tear down resident Larry Wimpee’s trailer. The workers tore down the metal siding with crowbars and electric saws.

 

Posted in: Class Work, Picture Stories, Student Work, Through Our Eyes

Life Plays On: A caregiver caught between two generations – By Madeline Powell

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Virgil Bowlin balances the care of his music, children, and mother. Ultimately navigating being a caregiver across different generations.

Senior Visual Journalism & Photography major Madeline Powell documents the life of Virgil Bowlin, a musician and music instructor who finds himself raising his kids while at the same time caring for his mother.  Her multimedia project examines “The Sandwich Generation,” a growing group of adults who juggle responsibilities while trying to live their own lives. To see the entire project visit: http://madelinepowellmedia.com/lifeplayson

 

Posted in: Advanced Short Form Doc, Mountain Workshops, Student Work, Through Our Eyes, Web Narratives

Student Spotlight – Adin Parks

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Adin Parks is a Junior, Visual Journalism & Photography major from Louisville, Kentucky. Last summer he interned at the Evansville Living Magazine and is the chief photographer on staff at WKU Herald. Here is some of his work from the past year at WKU.

https://parksshots.com/

Parks video “Living Twinkle Jon Stinkle” was part of his final for the Intro to Short Form Documentary class last year.

Clowning isn’t just a hobby for Bowling Green senior Cassidy Resch; it’s a lifestyle. Resch has performed as clown Twinkle Jon Stinkle since early 2023, using their background in theatre and dance to supply their clown with life. Resch is a clown, with or without makeup.

“Everyone’s a clown,” they said. “Few are brave enough to show it.”

Although Resch does not dress as a clown often, they said they enjoy doing so to go out and meet all sorts of people. The musical theatre major hopes to be a clown or on stage for their future career.

 

After school, Asher and his girlfriend, Harley Frazier, relax while taking turns playing a video game.

A young farmer awaits the small animal auction to begin during the 40th Annual Southern Kentucky Horse Drawn Machinery Consignment Auction.  The one day event draws in thousands from the Amish and Mennonite communities looking to purchase non-motor driven equipment and farm animals.

Greek life members of the Fraternities Sigma Chi, Iota Phi Theta and Sorority Phi Mu all participate in chants before the parade begins at the WKU’s annual Homecoming Parade on Friday, November 10th 2023 in Bowling Green KY.

Posted in: Intro to Short Doc, Student Work, Through Our Eyes

Student Spotlight – Kayden Mulrooney

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Kayden Mulrooney is a Junior, Visual Journalism & Photography and a Political Science major from Louisville, Kentucky. She will intern at the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer this summer as their staff photographer. This fall she produced multiple videos as part of the Advanced Short Form Documentary class.  She currently serves as the Web Visuals Editor for the Talisman Magazine.

http://kaydenmulrooney.com/

For Lori Mutter, beekeeping is more than just a hobby.

Pomp ‘Till You Drop: Creating a WKU Homecoming Float

There is one word that strikes a chord in the hearts of every member of Greek life: “pomping.” For one week, fraternities and sororities spend hours making tiny balls of tissue paper to turn into a float for Homecoming. Alpha Delta Pi, Kappa Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta joined forces to create their float before the homecoming parade on Saturday, Nov. 15. Talisman videographer Kayden Mulrooney went behind the scenes to capture the work that goes into each float.

Posted in: Intro to Short Doc, Student Work, Through Our Eyes

Emilee Arnold

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Senior Visual Journalism and Photography student Emilee Arnold of Bowling Green, Ky heads into her final year at WKU, documenting some of her strongest work. Spring 2024 Advanced Photojournalism class focused on in-depth phicture stories combined with her advanced lighting class, prepared her for her summer internship at The Chautauquan Daily. Here are a few of her pictures from the past year.

 

Warren County Regional Jail inmate Donald Weaver, serving the last day of his sentence, shoots a basketball toward the goal in the gymnasium in Bowling Green, KY on February 28, 2024.

 

Children in a Bowling Green, Kentucky apartment complex home to many in the city’s Tanzanian-American community gather around a backdrop before a portrait shoot on April 8, 2024. Tanzanian- and Congolese-Americans make up a significant portion of the city’s refugee population, with over 1,200 immigrants arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 2018.

 

Kelly Carr hugs her daughter Everleigh Gant after Gant finishes singing her favorite song during breakfast at Auburn Diner in Auburn, Ky on February 6, 2024.

 

David Dye cuts the hair of a client at Dye’s Barber Shop in Bowling Green, KY on February 7, 2024. “I’ve been here for over fifty years,” Dye laughs. “I probably gave him his first haircut.”

 

 

Posted in: Advanced Lighting, Internship, Introduction to Photojournalism, Student Work, Through Our Eyes

Dominic Di Palermo

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A junior transfer student from Chicago, Dominic Di Palermo has spent his past year in WKU’s Visual Journalism and Photography program, becoming involved in student publications and and trying to make the most of his time. Di Palermo secured an internship at the St. Louis Post Dispatch during the summer of 2024 where sports drove his passion.  Here are a few images from stories and assignments Di Palermo worked on this past year.

Dijana Muminovic spends time with her father Kemal Muminovic in a hospital room at the Medical Center in Bowling Green, Ky. on Friday, April 19, 2024. Kemal Muminovic who was battling Stage 4 gastric cancer passed away the following Wednesday, April 24.

 

Jamie Mueller (left), who’s been homeless for around six months, and Corinthians Robinson, who’s been homeless for almost five months, embrace during a memorial service for their friend John Paul “JP” Yarborough hosted by New Life Evangelistic Center on the train tracks where he was struck at the intersection of Florida Street and North 1st Street in St. Louis, Mo. on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. Mueller claimed to have been the first person to find his body earlier that week. “I knew he was was struggling,” Mueller said. “I definitely did. As we all are.”

 

Alpha Gamma Delta freshman Addileigh Wofford, left, pulls the rope while her coach Alumn Baylee Lackey screams at her during the annual WKU Greek Week “Tug” competition on Friday, April 19, 2024.

 

Portland Timbers goalkeeper James Pantemis (41), middle, dives past St. Louis City SC’s defender Anthony Markanich (13), right, and defender Joakim Nilsson (4) to save a goal during the first half of a game at CityPark stadium in St. Louis, Mo. on Saturday, June 8, 2024.

 

Posted in: Internship, Introduction to Photojournalism, Student Work, Through Our Eyes

Documenting a Mennonite family by Emilee Arnold

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Junior Visual Journalism & Photography major Emilee Arnold gained access to a family of seven children growing up in a Mennonite community in rural Western Kentucky.

Olivia Beachy, 8, salutes during a Bible verse recitation at Franklin Mennonite School on March 31, 2023. Students at the school memorize 100 Bible verses throughout the year alongside their courses in math, science, history, and English.
Olivia Beachy, 8, collects eggs from the chicken coops in her family’s yard in Auburn, Ky. as part of her evening chores on March 28, 2023. “The reason I make lists of chores all the time is so they learn how to help each other, and how to be responsible for what’s around them,” said Valerie Beachy, Olivia’s mother. “I’ve said that idleness is the devil’s workshop.”
Isaac Beachy, 16, talks with his mother about his cross tattoo during a family dinner on Sunday, April 2, 2023. The tattoo is a point of contention with his mother, who dislikes the tattoo but is “glad it is what it is”.
The Beachy family enjoys a homemade meal of deer steak and potatoes at their residence.

Valerie Beachy and daughter Olivia, 8, pray facing the back of the room during a service at their Mennonite church in rural western Kentucky.
Posted in: Through Our Eyes

Aging in America by Brett Phelps

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Junior Visual Journalism & Photography major Brett Phelps  has spent the past year documenting 87-year-old Billy Salsman as she struggles to live on her own as a childless widow. Her failing health and loneliness is taking a toll on her making day to day life a challenge.

Eighty-seven-year-old Billie Salsman is among the 6 million Americans age 85 or older. She has no children and has lived alone since she became widowed in 2008. Salsman has a multitude of health issues and has recently suffered from three strokes that have affected her speech, swallowing, and mental processing. She lives on a limited retirement income and cannot afford to reside in an assisted living or nursing home facility without losing her home. Salsman’s social life is limited to the neighbors who drive her to the grocery store and doctors appointments and the therapists who provide in-home services To combat her loneliness, Salsman passes the time reading the Bible and researching her family’s genealogy, as Salsman no longer attends in-person church services. Salsman credits her longevity to her Christian faith, “You must remember the word ‘joy.’ Put Jesus first, then others, and then yourself.”

Eighty-seven-year-old Billie Salsman selects a necklace to wear to her doctor’s appointment at her home in Hodgenville, Kentucky on April 7, 2023. According to Salsman, her husband gave her jewelry for birthdays, anniversaries, and Christmas over the years. “I enjoy dressing up on occasion, but it’s hard for me to with my arthritis.”

 

Salsman winces in pain as she uses an assistive device to pull her leg into the bed at her home in Hodgenville, Kentucky on the evening of April 6, 2023. “I sleep with my Bible, and sometimes when I hurt bad, I beg God to relieve the pain. I take my Bible and lay it on that spot. And you know, I soon doze off to sleep.”

To stay close to God and to combat loneliness, Salsman reads her Bible at her home in Hodgenville, Kentucky on April 23, 2023. Salman reflected, “God is the word. I feel close to him when I read my Bible.”

 

Salsman takes a moment to reflect at her late husband’s tombstone in Hodgenville, Kentucky on April 9, 2023. “My companion, James Salsman, died on September 17, 2008. He was a good Christian husband, and I thank God that he chose such a good person for me. I miss him. I miss him bad,” shares Salsman.

 

Posted in: Class Work, Introduction to Photojournalism, Student Work, Through Our Eyes

The Road Home by Rhiannon Johnston

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Rhiannon Johnstone, a junior in the Photojournalism & Documentary program at Western Kentucky University tells a story of the life of a long-haul trucker, Bobby Coffey-Loy. Bobby juggles driving 8,000 weekly miles while caring for his terminally ill mother. Seeking connection and understanding on the road, Bobby turns to the LGBTQ+ Trucking Network, a support system he founded with his husband Ricky. Rhiannon built an interactive multimedia experience to help you better understand the story.

Please view the entire project at http://rhiannonjohnston.com/theroadhome

Posted in: Through Our Eyes