Downtown Corbin Christmas Open House set for Sunday (Nov. 19)

If you are wanting to do something to start getting into the Christmas spirit, then you might want to go down to Nibroc Park Sunday afternoon for the Downtown Corbin’s annual Christmas Open House from 1 – 5 p.m.

There will be hot chocolate, treats, arts and crafts, and letters to Santa. There will be train rides and a petting zoo too.

Santa Claus will also be on site for pictures and to giveaway gifts. This is a free event for the entire family.

For more information, call the (606) 528-8860.

Speaking of Christmas, the Corbin Tourism Commission will hold its annual Corbin Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. Parade participants will line up at 6 p.m. at 19^th and Main Street.

Santa and pre-parade activities will take place from 5 – 7 p.m. at Nibroc Park.

To enter a float or for more information, call (606) 528-8860.

In the event of heavy rain or snow, Dec. 7 will serve as the make-up date for the parade.

Whitley County Public Health Inspections

As part of its duties, the Whitley County Health Department conducts routine public health inspections of various entities, including restaurants, stores, schools, mobile home parks, swimming pools, etc.

23 percent of Whitley County voters cast their ballots through early in-person voting

When it came to voter turnout last week, Whitley County voters could have done better.

Mark White is Editor of The News Journal.

According to the Whitley County Clerk’s Office, which oversees elections in Whitley County, about 30.5 percent of registered voters went to the polls to cast their ballots for governor and other statewide offices during the 2023 November General Election.

By comparison, during the last governor’s race four years ago in 2019, about 38 percent of Whitley County’s registered voters went to the polls to cast their ballots.

So what accounted for the higher turnout four years ago?

I think that a couple of things were at play here.

First, there was incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin, who four years ago was a bit of a political lightning rod. Among others, Bevin ticked off Kentucky public teachers in large numbers seemingly all but daring them to try and vote him out of office. Most that I talked to, including some teachers who had never voted for a Democrat in their life, seemed happy to oblige him.

The second thing is that this year’s gubernatorial candidates, incumbent Democrat Andy Beshear and Republican Daniel Cameron, weren’t really candidates that too many people really hated and couldn’t wait to go vote against. Generally speaking, both men were likable, but I don’t know that either candidate was all that beloved by voters either.

Whitley County voters threw their support behind Cameron in the governor’s race with a vote of 5,540 compared to 2,697 voters for Beshear. Beshear was victorious statewide though with about 53 percent of the vote to Cameron’s 48 percent.

While Whitley County voters didn’t overwhelmingly turnout to vote this month, it is interesting to take a look how voters cast their ballots. A total of 8,283 people voted in Whitley County, but 1,948 cast their ballots in-person during three days of early voting rather than on Election Day, which is about 23.51 percent. Whitley County Clerk Carolyn Willis kept the polls open for 12 hours on two of those three days of early in-person voting.

I think this shows that by and large Whitley Countians, like most people, like early voting. Hopefully, the state will make early voting permanent and possibly expand beyond three days.

Ideally, I would love to see 100 percent of eligible voters be informed about the races and 100 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots. (Yeah, it’s a pipe dream, but it is my pipe dream…LOL.)

In case anyone is interested, this year 38.07 percent of registered voters cast their ballots statewide during the 2023 November General Election.

Now to touch on a couple of other topics before I conclude this column.

• I only made it to one Veteran’s Day ceremony Friday morning, but it was a pretty good one put on by the Whitley County High School JROTC among others at the school. They always do a good job with this one.
• Monday morning, I traveled up to the road to London for The Center for Rural Development’s announcement that $30.7 million has been secured for a broadband extension in 16 counties, including Whitley, Knox, Laurel, McCreary and Bell counties. The expansion will provide broadband service to about 33,000 unserved households in these 16 counties. As the pandemic proved, this region really needs some help when it comes to high speed internet, which any more isn’t so much of a want as it is a need. Glad this is happening.

UPDATE: Body believed to be four year old found, custodian and one other arrested

UPDATE: A body believed to be that of four-year-old Chloe Darnell, who had not been seen since September, has been found, according to a release from the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department.

The release, posted early Friday morning, stated that the body has been sent the state medical examiner’s office in Frankfort for an autopsy and positive identification.

The child’s custodian, Brittany Slaughter, 24, who had also been missing for several weeks, was located unharmed Thursday night. Slaughter is Darnell’s aunt and had custody of Darnell when the child disappeared.

Slaughter has since been charged with murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence.

A man, identified as Adam Hayes, 34, has also been arrested and charged with murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence in connection to Darnell’s death. Hayes has been described in multiple Facebook posts regarding Slaughter and Darnell’s disappearances as possibly being Slaughter’s boyfriend. That information is unconfirmed at this time.

The body was recovered following a days-long search that consisted of a search of the home where Slaughter and Darnell were believed to have most recently been, including a ground search of the surrounding woods with cadaver dogs.

Assisting the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department in the search and ultimate arrests was Corbin Police Department, Williamsburg Police Department, Kentucky State Police, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Woodbine Fire & Rescue, Corbin Fire Department and the Whitley County Coroner’s Office.

An investigation is still ongoing and more details are expected at a later time.

ORIGINAL STORY: The Whitley County Sheriff’s Department is currently searching for a young girl that has not been seen since September, along with the woman that has custody of her, who has also been missing since earlier this month.

The sheriff’s department put out a release Wednesday regarding the disappearances, in which police were asking for the public’s help with any information regarding the whereabouts of Chloe Darnell, 4, and Brittany Slaughter. According to the release, the pair went missing from an Ova Lane residence in the Canadatown community.

The release also included information regarding a red 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer that Slaughter had most recently been connected to.

Sheriff Bill Elliotte told the News Journal Thursday afternoon that the vehicle has since been recovered. Additionally, a search warrant has been obtained for the residence where Darnell and Slaughter were believed to have most recently been staying.

According to Elliotte, police have been on the scene conducting the search since approximately 10 a.m. Thursday and he expects that search to continue throughout the rest of the day.

“We got a lot going on with it,” said Elliotte.

Corbin Police Department, Williamsburg Police Department and the Kentucky State Police are assisting in the search. Cadaver dogs have been brought in to assist as well. Elliotte said they will also be performing ground searches in the wooded areas around the home.

“We’re working our tails off. We’re going to bring this baby home one way or the other,” said Elliotte.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Whitley County Dispatch at (606) 549-6017. The reference number for the case is 23-118-0392.

More details will be provided as they are available.

Anxiety levels are high as Corbin plays Boyle County

It never gets old. The anxiety of an upcoming sports game that has a lot on the line.

Don Estep is publisher of the News Journal.

In this case it is the Corbin-Boyle Co. football game coming up this Friday. Both schools have excellent teams and the winner of this game will move on toward a 4A run for a state championship. The loser goes home.

Last year Boyle Co. edged out Corbin in the state championship game. The teams were so evenly matched that it could have gone the other way.

I have been around long enough to see this scenario play out several times. It is always exciting. Corbin fans will be at Danville to cheer the Redhounds on to victory.

I prefer high school football over college and pro football. Last Friday night’s game against Taylor Co. packed in great excitement. It was the best game I’ve seen this year. Only a win over Boyle Co. could top it.

• On April 5, 1961 I stayed up late to watch the Jack Parr TV show. That night Orson Bean filled in as the guest host. He introduced a young lady who was making her first television appearance. It was Barbara Streisand who was 18 years of age. When I heard her sing I knew immediately she would be a star.

Bean said when she starting singing, “It was like God singing through her.” The audience gave her a standing ovation which was rare for a late night show.

Unlike now, it was back at the time when we had music that I enjoyed. I had several favorite female singers at that time like  Julie London, Judy Garland, Doris Day, Dinah Washington and several others, but as good as they were I had never heard a better voice than the young Barbara Streisand had that night.

Of course the rest is history as Streisand went on to become a huge star in movies, on Broadway, TV appearances and with her recordings.

Monday night I was up late again to watch Stephen Colbert in a rare interview with her. He was at her home to talk about her new book, “Ask Barbara.” It was a delightful interview.

No matter what your views are about Streisand, there is no denying that she is very talented and has one of the best voices ever.

• The older one gets it seems the quicker time flies. Christmas season is here again and it starts in downtown Corbin this Sunday with a “Christmas Open House.” The hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

There will be music by the Corbin High School Band, a petting zoo, face paintings, crafts, free hot chocolate and of course, Santa Claus.

But no matter how fast time seems to fly, it always seems to slow down during the winter months. But before that happens we now have a season of joy during the Christmas season.

CHS athletic director talks about direction of Redhound sports at Rotary meeting

It should surprise no one to hear that the outlook for athletics in the Corbin Independent School system is very positive. Last week, Corbin High School Athletic Director Tackett Wilson spoke to the Corbin Rotary Club about the many reasons for why that is. (more…)

White proclaims National Nurse Practitioner Week in Whitley County…

Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr. recently signed a proclamation declaring Nov. 12-18 as National Nurse Practitioner Week in Whitley County. He is pictured with local ARPN Adam Prewitt.

New entertainment destination arrives in Corbin combining movies, bowling, gaming and a full restaurant

There’s more to entertainment than movies, and Corbin now has a full service entertainment complex in town.

Cinema Social, previously known as TriCounty Cineplex, has relaunched with a diverse array of entertainment. Still in the same location at I-75’s Exit 25, Cinema Social has expanded to include an eight-lane luxury bowling alley, a full service restaurant and bar, a simulation suite featuring golf and other sports, and a state-of-the-art arcade and gaming area complete with Omni Arena, an immersive VR community gaming experience.

Owners Greg and Suzie Razmus saw the need for more family and group entertainment options in their city.

“When the pandemic hit our community,” explained Suzie Razmus, “we felt such a loss socially and missed seeing friends and family. Our theater gave us the ideal footprint to add more engaging entertainment to bring groups and families together for a memorable night out.”

The new entertainment complex claims “Where Cinema Meets Social,” with plenty of seating and lounge areas for groups to gather. A full service bar and restaurant serving a casual dining menu with craft cocktails and beverages is available to enjoy throughout all areas of the entertainment center, including in-theater.

Greg Razmus began work on the theater’s expansion in Spring 2021.

“We knew the challenges would require a big investment to bring the latest technology and immersive experiences,” Greg explained. “Especially with Omni Arena, our Simulator Suite, and Hyperbowl, which is an energetic mix of bowling and gaming, we felt it was important to promote community and have fun in the most advanced way possible. It also adds a big boost to our parties and packages. Now families and groups will really appreciate the variety of party options available.”

Cinema Social is currently open Thursday through Sunday and is located at 1871 Cumberland Falls Highway in Corbin. More information and online ticketing is available at cinemasocial.com.

Whitley Board of Health approves Christmas bonuses, discusses sale of Corbin property

Whitley County Health Department employees will once again be receiving some extra cash for the holidays.

Fifth St. roundabout taking shape

Work on a new roundabout in Corbin is well underway, but state transportation officials say that it isn’t expected to open until sometime next year.