Submitted photo Ethan Bentley, a Dorton fifth-grader, appeared at the February meeting of the Pike County Board of Education along with his adopted grandparents, Carlos and Blanche Mullins. Ethan was the county winner and the regional runner-up of the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association/AARP Grandparent of the Year Contest.

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Chad Abshire

Staff Writer

PIKEVILLE, Ky. — The winner of a countywide grandparents essay contest was recently selected at the February meeting of the Pike County Board of Education.

Dorton fifth-grader Ethan Bentley was the county winner of the Pike County Retired Teachers Association/American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) Kentucky Grandparent of the Year Essay Contest.

Ethan wrote a heart-wrenching tribute to his “adopted” grandfather, Carlos Mullins. Carlos and his wife, Blanche, took Ethan in after his mother died and his father abandoned him.

Ethan was also runner-up on the regional level. PCRTA President, Virgil Osborne, said the contest originally ended in a tie for first place with Ethan one of the victors

Jaley Adkins, of Southside, was the second place winner and Keirston Stafford, of Blackberry, was the third place winner. The contest was open to every fifth grader in the state and had the theme: “Why My Grandparent Should Be the Kentucky Grandparent of the Year.”

Other winners and their schools were:

Bevins - Lindsey Scaggs; Elkhorn City -Lakin Puckett; Feds Creek - Lindsey Adams; Johns Creek - Adam Thacker; Kimper - Madison Estep; Majestic Knox - Dailey Storm Prater; Millard - Kaylin Swiney; Mullins - Abby Crowell; Phelps Elementary - Kara Stevens; and Pikeville - Saraiah Peters.

Each of the top three winners received cash prizes. Ethan received two cash prizes for his county and regional win.