High School Basketball Preview: Corbin Lady Hounds

All things considered, the Corbin Lady Hounds should be entering this season as the team to beat in the 13th Region. Just take a look at the wealth of experience on the roster, and it’s not difficult to understand why.

High School Basketball Preview: Whitley County Lady Colonels

With several young players in the lineup this season, Whitley County Lady Colonels basketball Head Coach Sean Pigman says that time on the court will be key to getting this team where they need to be by late-January, early-February.

High School Basketball Preview: Whitley County Colonels

Considering the fact that they graduated their top three scorers (Ashton Reynolds, Brayden Mahan and Jamie Fuson) from last year’s team, it would be easy to assume that the Whitley County Colonels will be at somewhat of a disadvantage coming into the new season. You’d be mistaken, though, as Head Coach Eric Swords says that he is feeling good about where his team is at right now.

WC Sheriff’s Dept. getting new Tasers

Several actions taken last week by the Whitley County Fiscal Court are expected to have a positive impact on the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department.

During the fiscal court’s regular monthly meeting last Tuesday, a resolution pertaining to coal severance project monies was approved that will provide the sheriff’s department’s road units with new Tasers. 

According to Judge/Executive Pat White, many of the Tasers currently being used are quite old and outside the maintenance agreements for them.

“They were pretty desperate to try to get new ones,” said White.

The total cost of the project is approximately $50,000. White noted that it would take care of all the Taser needs of the department’s road deputies for about five years.

Additionally, additions to the sheriff’s department’s policies and procedures manual regarding traffic stops and motor vehicle searches was approved. 

According to Sheriff Bill Elliotte, the existing manual was “very minimal” when he took office. He noted that he has been working to build the department’s policies and procedures over the past several months and called it an “ongoing process.” 

In other fiscal court business:

– The court authorized White to sign documents relating to the purchase of vehicles for the Whitley County Detention Center. 

White said that the vehicles being purchased previously belonged to the City of Williamsburg and were used by the police department. The detention center will use the vehicles for the transportation of inmates.

W’burg Turkey Trot raises over $23,000 for Shop with a Cop

The 16th Annual Williamsburg Turkey Trot drew 348 participants last Thursday morning and raised over $23,000 for the Williamsburg Police Department Shop with a Cop program. Chad Terry was the overall winner with a time of 17:22. Emma Massengill was the top female finisher with a time of 21:23.

W’burg blood drive planned Friday (Dec. 1)

While the holidays are a joyous time for many, it can be difficult on the blood supply. To ensure everyone has a safe and happy holiday season, Kentucky Blood Center is urging donors to give back by donating blood.

Local residents will have the opportunity to do so on Friday, Dec. 1, from 1 – 4 p.m. at the Williamsburg Tourism and Convention Center, which is located at 650 S. 10^th Street.

Donors, who give blood at the drive, will receive a limited-edition “Donating is My Favorite” T-shirt.

Blood donation is vital for many healthcare treatments and procedures, including the fight against cancer, traumas, surgeries, premature births, organ transplants, diseases like sickle cell disease, anemia and so much more. The generosity of Kentuckians is critical for Kentucky Blood Center to supply more than 70 local hospitals.

On average, one in four people will need a blood transfusion in their lifetime.

Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, show a photo identification and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at kybloodcenter.org.

Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome. To schedule a donation, visit kybloodcenter.org or call (800) 775-2522.

KBC is the largest independent, full-service, nonprofit blood center in Kentucky. Licensed by the FDA, KBC’s sole purpose is to collect, process and distribute blood for patients in Kentucky. KBC provides services in 90 Kentucky counties and has donor centers in Lexington, Louisville, Frankfort, Pikeville, Somerset and the Tri-County area in Corbin.

Tis the Season: Christmas Craft Bazaar held over weekend in Williamsburg

Photos by TIMOTHY WYATT

Crafty: Williamsburg’s annual Christmas Craft Bazaar was held Saturday at the Williamsburg Tourism and Convention Center, where a variety of homemade crafts, baked goods, Christmas ornaments and other items were available for sell.  Proceeds from table rentals for vendor display went to help fund the Williamsburg Police Department Shop with a Cop program.

It’s almost holiday hoops time again

It doesn’t seem possible, but here we are at the beginning of another high school basketball season. For complete details on what to expect when it comes to our coverage area teams this winter, check out this week’s season preview special section. With my column this week, I wanted to take a look specifically at some of the holiday tournaments and events that some of our local teams will be taking part in. (more…)

You may have noticed a familiar face during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade

If you were watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday morning and you thought that you caught a glimpse of someone familiar participating in the parade, then you may have been correct.

Mark White is Editor of The News Journal.

Former Williamsburg High School Band Director Zach Shannon was one of the about 400 people marching and playing as a member of the Band Directors Marching Band, which is composed of music educators from across the country. He was one of the trombone players.

For the television performance, the band played “Strike Up the Band,” “Simply Gifts,” and “Seventy Six Trombones.”

Shannon is now the band director and a teacher at Southern Middle School in Pulaski County.

Congratulations to Shannon, who made one of his one of his long time dreams come true.

I didn’t get the chance to see Shannon perform on Thanksgiving Day as I was down in Williamsburg to take pictures at the 16^th Annual Turkey Trot 5K run/walk. The annual event brought out 348 participants. Some were runners. Some were walkers.

In all, they helped raise over $23,000 for the Williamsburg Police Department’s Shop with a Cop program, which is a great cause that I personally donated to a few days ago.

For those that don’t know, the program takes about 150 less fortunate children on $100 Christmas shopping sprees at Walmart prior to Christmas so the children have presents to open Christmas morning.

I know that Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison would love to increase the amount per child at some point in the future if more donations are made. With inflation, $100 doesn’t go as far as it used to go.

I also know that the city could use a few more volunteers for the event, which is scheduled for Dec. 14.

The Corbin Police Department Shop with a Cop will be held on Dec. 12. I donated to that event last year.

If you have a little extra money and you want to donate to a good cause, then either of these Shop with a Cop programs are worthy causes.

Going out to cover Shop with a Cop when they take the kids shopping is one of my favorite events every holiday season. The smiles on the kids’ faces are priceless.

If you have a little extra money, please consider donating to many of the worthy causes we have in our community each year whether it is the Corbin Rotary Club’s Empty Stocking Program, the Corbin Lion’s Club Christmas food basket program, or the South-Central Kentucky Toys for Tots Campaign, which provides toys to tens of thousands of children across seven counties, including Whitley, Laurel, Knox, Clay, Leslie and McCreary counties, as well as Campbell County, Tennessee.

While there are many more deserving programs, these are a few of the local ones that I have been personally familiar with over the years.

Before I conclude this column, let me wish my wonderful wife, Cecelia, a happy anniversary. Thursday, Nov. 30, marks the 20^th anniversary of our first date. I met her at Ruby Tuesday’s, which was pretty much everyone’s favorite first date spot back then.

I have no clue what either of us ordered, but the date went well enough for a second date and then a third date and so forth. Next Sept 25 will mark our 20^th wedding anniversary.

Three overdoses reported over six-hour period on Nov. 22

An overdose mapping program, which is used in Kentucky, issued an alert Thursday morning that Whitley County had seen a spike and three overdose incidents had occurred within the last 24 hours.