James Branam

James Branam, age 81, of Corbin, KY, passed away Sunday, December 3, 2023 at Laurel Heights Nursing Home.
He was born October 20, 1942 in Whitley County, KY, to the late Branlow and Gladys Garrett Branam.
Along with his parents he was preceded in death by a daughter, Valerie Branam Dixon.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Brenda Branam of Corbin, KY; three children, Kim Branam of Williamsburg, KY, Brent Branam of Jellico, TN, and Cliff (Allison) Branam of Jellico, TN; one stepson, Preston (Tina) Lambdin of Jellico, TN; eight grandchildren, Michael Lambdin, Cassie Branam, Taylor Branam, Isabella Branam, Wyatt Branam, Tyler Marlow, Matthew Huff, and Haley Huff Botts; several great-grandchildren; two sisters, Marcella (Mike) Stockton, and Jenny (Bill) Sharp; one brother, John W. (Joyce) Branam; several nieces, nephews, and a host of relatives and friends to mourn his passing.
At the request of James, he will be cremated and there will be no funeral service or flowers. James was an avid believer in organ donation.
“While I was living, I would have loved having a visit from you and bringing me flowers would have been an extra bonus. I realize times have gotten too busy, so, I hope to see you all in Heaven and I will look for you there.” – James Branam.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.ellisonfh.com
Ellison Funeral Home is entrusted with these arrangements.

Edna Mae Parham

Edna Mae Parham, age 87, passed away on Friday, December 1, 2023, in St. Augustine, Florida.
Born in Keavy, Kentucky, Edna was a daughter to the late Robert Lee Higginbotham and Flora Gibbs Higginbotham.
She was a talented quiltmaker and enjoyed sharing her quilts with others. She also enjoyed flowers and gardening.
Edna was an avid fan of U.K. athletics and especially enjoyed watching games with her beloved husband, Gene.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gene Erving Parham; five brothers; and three sisters.
She is survived by her sister, Mary Fields; and nieces and nephews, Rodney Coffey, Robert Coffey, Jennifer Coffey Webster, Frank Fields, Nathaniel Fields, Susan Cannon, Elizabeth Fields, and Flora “Tody” Coffey; and by a host of friends and family.
Visitation will be held from 1-2pm on Wednesday, December 6, at Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home, where her funeral service will follow at 2pm with Rev. Roger Miller officiating.
Burial will follow in Griffith Family Cemetery in Keavy, Kentucky.
Arrangements by Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home, where messages may be written to the family at vankirkgrisellfuneralhome.com

Pete Elmore

Pete Elmore, age 90, of Elk Valley, Pioneer, Tennessee passed away Sunday, December 3, 2023, at his home.
He was born June 14, 1933, in Westbourne, Tennessee.
Pete was preceded in death by his wife, Margarette “Sissy” Elizabeth (Bridges) Elmore; father, Jack Elmore; and mother, Katie (Albertini) Elmore.
He is survived by sons, Michael Jay Elmore, and Terry Lee Elmore; grandchildren, Noami Elizabeth Elmore, and Jonathan Elmore; great-grandchildren, Abram Elmore, Colton Lee Elmore, and Natalie Grace Michael; brother, Ronnie Elmore; sisters, Barbara Ann Banks, and Kay Myles; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and family to mourn his passing.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm on Tuesday, December 5, at the Harp Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral services will be at 7 pm on Tuesday, December 5 at the Harp Funeral Home Chapel. with Rev. Kenneth Ballard and Rev. Jacob Cochran officiating.
Burial will be Wednesday, December 6, in the Baird Cemetery, Elk Fork Road.
Military honors will be by the Jellico Honor Guard.
Harp Funeral Home of Jellico in charge of arrangements.

Coach Billy Hicks speaks about sportsmanship (2019)

Hall of Fame Head Coach Billy Hicks speaks to participants of the Corbin Redhounds summer basketball camp in 2019.

Julie (White) Bryant

Julie (White) Bryant, age 68, of Knoxville, Tennessee, formerly of Jellico, passed away early Friday morning, December 1, 2023, at her home, surrounded by her family.
She was born on June 28, 1955, to the late James White and Margaret (Henegar) White in Jellico.
Julie was a graduate of Jellico High School – Class of 1973. She was an employee of Food City for more than 25 years. She was also a long-time member of the Kentucky Hill Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Stephanie (Bryant) Arwood; three grandchildren, Destiny Sutton, Brandon Moles, and Caleb Arwood; four sisters, Lucille Honeycutt, Linda Douglas, Donna Kimberlin, and Helen White; brother, LeRoy White; five nieces, Jennifer White, Lisa Terry, Tamitha Reynolds, Teresa Douglas, and Nikki Bryant; two nephews, Wayne Honeycutt and James Douglas; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ed and Lucille Bryant; and brother-in-law, Eddie Bryant.
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, William “Mike” Bryant, of Knoxville; daughter, Christy (Bryant) Moles Terry, of Knoxville; four grandchildren, Dustin Moles, and wife, Tasha, Shane Arwood, Jr., Dawson Terry, and Carrie Mayton; seven great-grandchildren, Arianna Sutton, Matthew Sutton, Jordan Moles, Duane York, Ethan Allison, Johnathan York, and Sophia Arwood; sister, Judy White Eaches; brother, Troy White, and wife, Linda; special niece, Marion Elliott; special family friend, Georgia Mae Osborne; numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends, neighbors, and other relatives to mourn her passing.
The family will receive friends for visitation on Monday evening, December 4, beginning at 5:00 p.m. at the Cox & Son Funeral Home Chapel.
The funeral will follow on Monday evening, December 4, at 7:00 p.m. at the Cox & Son Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mark Latham officiating.
Cox & Son Funeral Home of Jellico in charge of arrangements.

Mario Francisco Cima

Mario Francisco Cima departed this life Wednesday, November 29 at Albert B. Chandler Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky at the age of 70, with his loving wife of 38 years, Janie Cima, by his side.
Mario was a uniquely special man. He loved life almost as much as he loved people, and he wasn’t shy about sharing that love. Anyone who was fortunate enough to cross paths with him was greeted with an earnest smile and a welcome ear.
He had the uncanny gift to make each person he met feel special, as if for the moments they spent together, they were the only two people who existed. He had a truly genuine light about him that will be forever missed.
Mario was a proud graduate of St. Camillus Academy and a member of the All Regional Basketball Team as a high school sophomore. He was a Kentucky Colonel, a life-long Corbin Redhounds fan and member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He also worked at U.S. Steel, TruSeal Technologies and played/coached basketball.
Mario was preceded in death by his parents, Armando O. Cima and Jesse Marie (Johnson) Cima; an infant sister, Bernadette Cima; a nephew, Aaron “Hank” Cima; and a grandchild, Dustin Waters.
He is survived by his wife, Janie Cima; his sons, Mario (Cayla) Cima, II, Nicholas Cima (Ashley Caudill), Timothy (Sarah) Waters, Dave (Carrie) Waters; his siblings, Giulio (Tracy) Cima, Julia C. Jones, Michael A. (Robbie) Cima, Maria (Ray) Disney, Gina M. (Dan) Valentine, Gino G. (Laura) Cima, Leonardo “John” Cima, Edmondo O. (Lisa) Cima, Carmen L. (Steve) Bohn-Lein, Armondo O. (Karen), Cima, II, and Jerome F. (Staci) Cima; and grandchildren, Coby Cima, Gavin Cima, Andie Cima, Mason Cima, Jonah Cima, Anna Kate Cima, Megan Childress, Ginger Waters, Hannah Hunley, and Sophia Waters; as well as a host of other nieces, nephews, grandchildren and others who will mourn his passing.
A funeral mass will be held Monday, December 4 at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 703 Master Street, Corbin, KY, with Father Damian Anumba.
Graveside burial services will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
Hart Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

W’burg Health and Rehabilitation Center wins Best of Kentucky award

A Whitley County health care and assisted living facilities was recently recognized as one of the best facilities in Kentucky.

On Nov. 16, the Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities/Kentucky Center for Assisted Living (KAHCF/KCAL) honored the top long-term care facilities in Kentucky at their quality awards banquet and Williamsburg Health and Rehabilitation Center was honored with a Best of Kentucky – Nursing and Rehabilitation Award.

“We are honored to recognize these deserving providers at the top of their class,” said KAHCF/KCAL Interim President Ruby Jo Lubarsky, “During a tumultuous time of staffing shortages, our providers have faced these challenges with innovation and positivity. Each winner and their team have kept their residents’ quality of life at the heart of their work.”

The Best of Kentucky – Nursing and Rehabilitation honorees must possess a CMS star rating of four or higher to apply.

“Receiving this award is wonderful, but the true honor is being trusted with the care of our residents. All the recognition belongs to our staff, who ensure that our residents receive excellent care,” said Williamsburg Health and Rehabilitation Center Administrator Laura Creekmore.

Other health care and assisted living facilities with local ties that received Best of Kentucky – Nursing and Rehabilitation Awards, include: Harlan Health and Rehabilitation Center in Harlan, Knott County Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hindman, and Wolfe County Health and Rehabilitation Center in Campton.

Long-term care providers attended the annual meeting and expo and were energized by general sessions challenging them with strategies to cope with stress on the job, hiring and retaining quality staff and regulatory issues. On Nov. 16, KCAL held its “KCAL Day” for Assisted Living Communities. More than 100 vendors exhibited during the expo showcasing the latest innovations to providing quality care.

Established in 1954, the Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities (KAHCF) is the trade association that represents the proprietary and nonproprietary nursing facilities and personal care homes across the Commonwealth. Kentucky Center for Assisted Living (KCAL) was established in 2018.

Santa Claus is coming to Baptist Health Corbin Thursday (Dec. 7)

Santa Claus will be at Baptist Health Corbin on Thursday, Dec. 7, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Have your child’s picture taken and then enjoy cookies with Mrs. Claus and the elves. Like Baptist Health Corbin’s Facebook page and download your photos for free.

If your child has written a letter to Santa, encourage them to drop it in Santa’s special mailbox. The letters will be published on the Baptist Health Corbin Facebook page so Santa will be sure to see them.

Door prizes for boys and girls will also be drawn during the event.

“Come and enjoy the spirit of Christmas with us!” Baptist Health Corbin wrote in a release.

Baptist Health Corbin is a 273-bed, acute care facility providing a wide variety of healthcare services to the residents of Whitley, Knox, Laurel, Bell, Clay, McCreary, Harlan and Campbell counties in Kentucky and Campbell County in Tennessee.

High School Basketball Preview: Lynn Camp Lady Cats

This year’s Lynn Camp Lady Wildcats High School Basketball Team will look a lot different from last year’s squad (6-25) with the departure of five seniors from last year’s team, including the top rebounder and top three scorers, who combined for 832 of the team’s 1,309 total points last season.

Full circle: Philpot returns to CHS as superintendent of ongoing construction project

As a member of Corbin High School’s Class of 2018, Aaron Philpot was always career-minded. Now he has the unique opportunity to return to his alma mater as a professional in the construction business. (more…)