DANCING WITH OUR STARS 2024
Join us and watch local celebrities participate in the Dancing With Our Stars fundraiser at the Alhambra Theatre! The event supports the Pennyroyal Arts Council and Sanctuary, Inc. Funds are raised through community voting, and the couple that raises the the most money will win the competition. Voting is crucial as each dollar donated counts as a vote. Scroll down to find out more about our competing couples and vote for your favorites!
MEET OUR DANCERS!
BECKY DEARMAN AND NANCY ASKEW
Becky Dearman, while not born and raised here, is proud to call Hopkinsville home. Becky works as a senior technician in the Information Systems department at Jennie Stuart Health. She also serves on the board of the Pennyroyal Arts Council, the Human Rights Commission, and Hopkinsville-Christian County Library. Becky has also participated in multiple shows with Campanile Productions. When not working, Becky enjoys spending time with her wife and friends.
Nancy Askew was raised here in Hopkinsville and moved back to the area in 2019. Nancy works as a 10th grade English teacher at Christian County High School and will graduate from WKU with her Masters in May 2025. She is the current president of Junior Auxiliary but has also served on the Y Board, chaired the Annual Y Campaign, Hopkinsville Harvest Festival Committee, and a graduate of Leadership Hopkinsville. Nancy and Becky just joined First Christian Church and love giving their time to anything for Hopkinsville-Christian County. The two married, right here, on stage at the Alhambra in October 2023. They have two black lab mixes named Ruthie and Gus. If you ever need to find either of them, you can find them on their front porch listening to music and enjoying a cocktail.
DESMA AND VULENZO BLOUNT
Desma “Renea” Blount was born and raised in Hopkinsville and graduated from Christian County High School in 1983. She served as a Department of Defense (DODEA)School Administrator for 21 years, a counselor, teacher, coach, and scholar in DODEA and the Public School Education System for 34 years. Creator & Owner of Sweetpea’s Organic Quencher hand-crafted all-natural skin & hair products. Desma takes pride in nature and enjoys bike riding, exploring waterfalls, swimming, traveling, painting, cooking, fishing, and spending quality time with her family & friends. She has been happily married for 27 years to her amazing husband and best friend Vulenzo Lafayette Blount. They have three cats King- King, Joy, and Queen. Desma enjoys life to the fullest and soaking in the freshness of country living. Vulenzo “Lafayette” Blount Jr was born and raised in Teaneck New Jersey and graduated from Teaneck High School in 1984. He is the "2023 Realtor of the Year" and proudly works as a Realtor & Real Property Appraiser for Bolinger Appraisals/Bolinger Real Estate and Auction. Vulenzo has been a successful Real Estate Agent for the past 22 years. He formally worked with Coldwell Bankers – Exit Realty for 19 years. He worked at Stanley Black and Decker (Pop Fasteners) for 21 years. Vulenzo takes pride in his health and style. He enjoys bike riding, golf, roller skating, exploring waterfalls, swimming, traveling, mowing, and spending quality time with his family & friends. He has been happily married for 27 years to his Queen (wifey) and best friend Desma Renea Blount. They have two sons Kai-Justin and VeShawn; and three cats King- King, Joy, and Queen. Vulenzo enjoys making the American dream of Home Ownership a REALITY.
CAT LACY AND AUSTIN JAUREGUI
“The dancing camera girl” is what people call me. I am the owner and Lead Instructor of Cat Lacy Studio in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, specializing in photo and video lighting. I am also a DJ, artist, and the Marketing Director at Planters Bank. I founded the underground art market featuring over 120 local artists. My commitment to the arts includes serving on the boards of FRYC at Freedom Elementary, the art walk committee in Clarksville, and the Pennyroyal Arts Council. My dance journey began at age three with ballet, tap, jazz, cheerleading, and theater. In middle and high school, I added trap shooting to my activities. At UK, I was President of the shotgun team, danced in competitions, took a ballroom dance class, and photographed Lexington Clubs events. Inspired by my mother, a former DWOS competitor, and my uncle, a judge, my passion for dance is unwavering. I am always the first on the dance floor and the last to leave, driven by my enduring love for the art. Austin Jauregui is a driven professional and the owner of Dance Anytime. With expertise as an editor, videographer, website designer, and choreographer, Austin brings a multifaceted skill set to every project. Highly motivated and detail-oriented, Austin excels in creating engaging content, designing dynamic websites, and crafting memorable dance experiences. Known for a strong work ethic and creative vision, Austin consistently delivers high quality results in all aspects of business and media production.
JOE AND TIERRA LEAVELL
Joe T. Leavell, the son of Joe and Vendella Leavell was born and raised in Hopkinsville, KY and is a 2007 graduate of Hopkinsville High School. Joe attended the University of Kentucky where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology. Joe has a passion for working with the youth in our community. For the past six years, he has served as Assistant Director of Upward Bound at Hopkinsville Community College and previously the Assistant Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Hopkinsville/Christian County. Joe also serves as the current Pastor of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Hopkinsville, previous Head Coach for Christian County High School’s Boys Track Team, Assistant Cross Country Coach for Christian County High School, Christian County Chamber of Commerce Board Member, Pennyroyal Arts Council Board of Trustee. He is also a 2016 Leadership Hopkinsville graduate and member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc.
Tierra, born and raised in Louisville, KY and has lived in Hopkinsville, KY since 2014. She graduated from Louisville Male Traditional High School in 2008. She attended the University of Kentucky, where her and Joe met, graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Communications in 2012. She later went on to obtain a Masters of Science in Human Development and Leadership from Murray State University in 2019. She currently serves as the Family Resource Center Coordinator at Pembroke Elementary. A member and First Lady of Mount Olive Baptist Church, she enjoys serving on the media and hospitality ministries. Tierra is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Joe and Tierra have been married for ten years and have four children Jarae, Kaliyah, Karleigh and Jordan plus their dogs Rocko and Drako.
Mount Olive Baptist Church is sponsoring Joe and Tierra Leavell.
KILEY AND BRANDON KILLEBREW
Brandon and Kiley Killebrew have been married for eight years and are both proud Christian County natives who attended opposing high schools, but happily found each other. The Killebrews are very involved community members and are proud to serve the area that they call home. Brandon grew up in Herndon and graduated from Christian County High School before attending Western Kentucky University where he graduated with a degree in accounting. He spent the next few years living in Bowling Green and in the middle Tennessee area before returning home to raise his family. Brandon has been the controller at Huhtamaki Folding Carton for eighteen years, and now also owns and operates ProLift Garage Doors of Western Kentucky. Kiley grew up in the Pembroke area and graduated from Hopkinsville High School. She graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in political science and a minor in history, and she then studied gemology, jewelry design/repair, and stone setting at the Gemological Institute of America. She owns and operates J. Schrecker Jewelry, working as a jeweler and appraiser at the store which is located on South Main Street in the heart of Historic Downtown Hopkinsville. Brandon and Kiley are both active members of the Rotary Club of Hopkinsville, and have each chaired a Rotary Auction - Kiley in 2018 and Brandon in 2023. They are both past presidents of the Rotary Club as
well. Brandon currently serves on the Rotary Board of Directors and Kiley serves as a member of the Advisory Committee and as the meeting speaker coordinator. Brandon and Kiley are the first husband and wife to each have served as president and auction chair of the Rotary Club of Hopkinsville. Additionally, Brandon has served on the Board of Directors of the Hoptown Hoppers and the Dyslexia Association of the Pennyrile. He's a member of the Christian County Historical Society and the Athenaeum Society, and he is a graduate of the Hopkinsville City Diplomats program. Brandon is a long-time basketball season ticket holder at his alma mater, WKU, and enjoys spending time there with his old college friends. Kiley is also a graduate of Hopkinsville City Diplomats. She was a member of the 2007-2008 Adult Leadership Hopkinsville-Christian County class which helped build Project Playground, and later served as Leadership program coordinator and board chair. She is a member of the Women’s Jewelry Association, the Historical Society of Christian County, 100 Women Who Care, and she currently serves as board chair for the Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County. The Killebrews have two children - Haley (19) and Preston (13), and they are members of Living Hope Baptist Church. In their free time, they enjoy playing trivia, kayaking, taking weekend trips, and working hard to make Hopkinsville and Christian County a phenomenal place to live, work, and raise a family.
CRAIG AND KATIE RICHARDSON
Craig Richardson is a native of Hopkinsville and graduated from University Heights Academy in 2003. He has been practicing as a local attorney since 2020 at Richardson Craig, Attorneys at Law. He is a graduate of Leadership Hopkinsville-Christian County and serves on the boards of the Pennyroyal Arts Council and The Bruce. Craig is the Senator-elect for District 3 and will represent Christian, Caldwell, and Muhlenberg counties in Frankfort starting in January. Katie Richardson is an Oncology Clinical Pharmacist at Jennie Stuart Health. She was born and raised in Madisonville, KY and graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2011 with a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree. Craig and Katie have a 5-year-old daughter, Collins. They are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where Craig teaches Sunday School and Katie works in the children’s Primary. In their spare time they enjoy spending time outdoors, cooking and baking, and cheering on the Kentucky Wildcats. Both Craig and Katie share a love for Hopkinsville and Western Kentucky and enjoy giving back to the community. Why did Craig and Katie decide to be celebrity dancers? “We are so excited to be part of this year's Dancing With Our Stars to help raise money and awareness for Sanctuary, Inc. & Pennyroyal Arts Council. Christian County is one of the most charitable communities in the Commonwealth, so let’s get to work!” Craig & Katie are being mentored by Ali Lancaster and are sponsored by Richardson Craig, Attorneys at Law!
KATE RUSSELL AND
JOEY MEDIEROS
Kate is the founder and co-owner/co-brewer of Hopkinsville Brewing Company She was raised on a sailboat and lived in various locations on the West, Gulf, and East Coasts, and was homeschooled until receiving her GED at 16. She graduated from Cornell University with her bachelors degree in psychology before enlisting in the US Army as a signals intelligence analyst. She discovered Hopkinsville when she was assigned to Fort Campbell in 2004 and fell in love with the area, deciding it was the perfect place to raise her children. She is a graduate of Leadership Hopkinsville-Christian County, and serves on the board of Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library. She is vice president of the Kentucky Guild of Brewers and holds a masters degree in Brewing Science & Operations from Auburn University. In her spare time, Kate is an active baseball and volleyball mom to Bobby (Shawnee Community College) and Maeby (Christian County High School).
Joey is the co-owner/co-brewer of Hopkinsville Brewing Company. A Navy brat, he was born in Key West, Florida, before moving and spending his childhood in Rhode Island, where he joined the Army. He retired after 26 years (14 enlisted, 12 commissioned) out of Fort Campbell and remained in Hopkinsville. Joey completed the City of Hopkinsville Diplomat Program and Leadership Hopkinsville-Christian County. He recently graduated from Auburn University with a masters degree in Brewing Science & Operations. As his culminating non-thesis, he took a deep dive into the beer scene of Hopkinsville and Christian County between 1850 and prohibition, and presented his findings at a History on Tap event in conjunction with Museums of Historic Hopkinsville-Christian County. He has two adult children, Joseph and Jessica, who reside in Murfressboro and Clarksville, Tennessee, respectively. In his spare time, Joey enjoys fiddling with all things beer and evidently now dancing.
Kate & Joey are being mentored by Kayce Castile and are sponsored by the Hopkinsville Brewing Company!
MARY ANNE GARNETT AND CALEB LANCASTER
Mary Anne was born and reared in Christian County on the family’s farm. She was a 2013 graduate of Christian County High School and continued her education at Murray State University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agriculture. For the past 5 years, she has been making use of those degrees as a 4-H Youth Development Agent in Christian County. She enjoys working with the youth of Christian County teaching them all kinds of new skills from cooking, public speaking, agriculture literacy, and so much more. Mary Anne is an active partner in her community. She is an associate member of Junior Auxiliary of Hopkinsville Kentucky and served on the Pennyroyal Arts Council board. She is a member of 100 Women Who Care Hopkinsville, KY and attends Southside Church of Christ. Within her job she continues to use 4-H programming in conjunction with other local organizations for the betterment of youth in this community.
Caleb Lancaster is a dedicated volunteer and passionate sports enthusiast. The son of Jim and Leslie Lancaster, Caleb has established himself as a beloved figure in his community through his unwavering commitment to service and sports. Caleb is a custodian at H&R Agri-Power and also volunteers his time as a custodian at Freedom Elementary School, where his hard work and positive attitude are deeply appreciated by all who know him. His dedication to his duties is matched only by his enthusiasm for athletics. An active participant in the Christian County Special Olympics, Caleb showcases his talents in basketball, bowling, track & field, and softball. His involvement in these activities demonstrates commitment to teamwork and personal excellence. A true sports fan, Caleb's loyalty lies with the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans. Caleb comes from a close-knit family. His older brother, Coby and wife Alex, reside in Knoxville, Tennessee, while his younger sister, Macy and fiancé Jude, live in Hopkinsville. Their bond remains strong, with Caleb often sharing stories of his volunteering and sporting achievements with his siblings. Caleb is very dedicated and passionate about everything he does and full of community spirit. His contributions and positive outlook continue to inspire those around him, making him a cherished member of his community. During football season you can often find Mary Anne and Caleb cheering loudly for the Tennessee Titans. At any point during these games if music starts playing in the stadium, you can find them dancing side by side! Mary Anne & Caleb are being mentored by Brooke Bailey Abner and sponsored by H&R Agri-Power.