Williamsburg celebrates its heritage…

 Photos by TIMOTHY WYATT

The Whitley County Historical and Genealogical Society held its annual Heritage Day celebration on Saturday in Williamsburg. The event, which was held at the historical and geneological society’s museum inside the old train depot near downtown, featured various craft exhibitions and tours.

Octoberfest, Cruise-In set for this Saturday in Corbin

This Saturday, Oct. 14, downtown Corbin will be full of activity as the Annual Octoberfest Festival and the final Cumberland Valley Cruise-In of the 2023 season will take place on Main Street between 10 a.m. -5 p.m. (more…)

Tri-County Mystery Meets returns to Corbin Saturday for new show

Tri-County Mystery Meets opened its first ever production at The Pennington in Corbin in July to a sold out crowd. That show was “ The Reveal” which centered around a high school reunion. The run of that show ended in Harlan.

Now the troupe is back with a new show and new experience with “The Game of Homes.” This show brings back crowd favorites Howard and Terre played by actors Chris Campbell and Brittney Ferguson. The wealthy couple buy their dream home which promises to be the Mecca of Corbin only to discover that a couple of new characters Jasper and Abigail, played by Adam Hubbard and Mary Scott, also dwell in the home. Who will win the home? The audience decides the outcome in this immersive, audience interactive theatrical experience.

This show will be at The Depot Saturday from 7-9 p.m., and audiences will already be familiar with the excellent cuisine being offered.

The menu entrees include: Filet Mignon, meatloaf, baked salmon or pan-seared pork chops along with special Halloween themed desserts.

“We want to showcase the best of every community we perform in and offer a different experience each time. We had a wonderful reception from Corbin at The Pennington and we are looking forward to a repeat at The Depot,” said owner, Cat Rhoden Goguen. “We are really excited to help people enjoy the spooky season with a dinner theatre experience.”\

Tickets are limited and are on sale at Eventbrite. You can follow the group on their Tri-County Mystery Meets Facebook page for show information.

Cumberland Run to bring racing to southeastern KY this Sunday

(For the News Journal by Jennie Rees)

Cumberland Run opens this Sunday (Oct. 15), bringing live horse racing to southeastern Kentucky for the first time and giving the state a third standardbred track.

Cumberland Run staged its harness meet the past two years at The Red Mile in Lexington while the five-eighths of a mile track was being built. The Mint Gaming Hall Cumberland Run — the part of the property that offers year-round electronic gaming, simulcast wagering on other horse tracks and now sports betting — opened in late July.

Kentucky’s newest horse track will race 12 days: Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays from Oct. 15 through Nov. 7, with a first post of 1 p.m. Eastern.

“We’re excited to bring live racing to southeastern Kentucky,” said Ted Nicholson, Vice President of Racing for The Mint Gaming properties. “We look forward to our purses increasing each year and building Cumberland Run into a harness-racing gem while continuing to build back the standardbred industry in Kentucky.”

Mike Tanner, CEO of the United States Trotting Association said, “The opening of Cumberland Run strengths an increasingly resurgent state standardbred industry that will attract horsemen, both local and out-of-state, to breed and race horses in Kentucky.   Together with The Red Mile and Oak Grove, Cumberland Run will comprise a circuit that makes a lucrative, compelling, year-round reason to be part of Kentucky harness racing.   The sport’s future is very bright in the Commonwealth, and I’m looking forward to being in Corbin on Sunday to see it for myself.”

Cumberland Run is celebrating its opener Sunday with a one-day carnival featuring games and rides for kids between noon and 6:30 p.m. Admission and parking. While the indoor gaming facility is restricted to those at least 21 years old, the outdoor area overlooking the racetrack is open to all ages.

“I hope everybody comes out for opening day with our carnival event, bringing their families and friends,” said Henry Graffeo, Vice President and General Manager of Cumberland Run and The Mint Gaming Hall Cumberland in Prestonsburg. “We really want to make it an experience for everyone.”

Corbin City Manager Marlon Sams said that he was ready for area residents to be able to see the full experience this weekend.

“I am just looking forward to the grand opening for the track. After several years of waiting, we have a track. I am excited. I think it will be good,” said Sams.

There has not been horse racing in the eastern part of Kentucky since Thunder Ridge harness track 114 miles away in Prestonsburg closed in 2018. In addition to The Red Mile, there is harness racing in Oak Grove near Hopkinsville in southwestern Kentucky.

Daily purses for overnight (non-stakes) races will average $110,000 a day, a substantial increase over the Corbin meets staged at The Red Mile.  The minimum purse will be $8,000, topping at $20,000, better than or competitive with other Midwestern harness tracks.

Horses eligible for the Kentucky Sires Stakes program will compete for considerably more. The meet will include Kentucky sires stakes legs and finals for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds with races categorized by gait (trotters and pacers) and sex. The preliminary legs will be worth $30,000 for 2- and 3-year-olds and $35,000 for 4-year-olds. Each final will carry a $70,000 purse.

Grace Health Medical Campus to open doors for operations on Nov. 6

The Grace Health Medical Campus in Corbin is opening on Nov. 6.

Grace Health officials hosted a tour of their new Medical Campus facility Tuesday. Pictured: Chief Operations Officer Jeff Campbell and Chief Financial Officer Chad Stevens.

“This state-of-the-art facility, located at 14662 N US Highway 25E, Corbin, KY 40701, is set to become a cornerstone of healthcare excellence in our community, offering a comprehensive list of services to meet the diverse needs of our residents,” Grace Health wrote in a release.

The Grace Health Medical Campus will feature primary family care, internal medicine, pediatrics, dental, pharmacy, and behavioral health services. This integrated approach to healthcare expansion aims to enhance accessibility to high-quality medical care for individuals and families residing in our community.

In a strategic collaboration that underscores the commitment to excellence, Grace Health has partnered with Baptist Health Corbin to provide enhanced diagnostic services to the Medical Campus. This partnership ensures that patients have access to advanced diagnostic services, further elevating the standard of care delivered at the facility.

As part of this momentous development, several Grace Health local clinics will transition to the Grace Health Medical Campus. The Gray Clinic, Bishop Street Clinic and Pharmacy, Falls Highway Clinic, and both Pediatrics Clinics will now be under one roof. Consolidating services is expected to streamline operations and promote a collaborative healthcare environment.

Grace Health cordially invites the community to a public open house on Oct. 25, from 3 to 5 p.m. to celebrate this significant milestone. This event will allow the public to explore the facility and learn more about the comprehensive services offered at the Medical Campus.

The grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for spring 2024, where the community can come together to celebrate the impact of the Grace Health Medical Campus.

“Grace Health remains steadfast in its commitment to providing compassionate and high-quality healthcare to our community.  The opening of the Medical Campus represents a significant step forward in achieving this mission.  We look forward to the opportunity to serve you and your loved ones for many years,” the company wrote in the release.

Grace Health was established in 2008 in Knox County, Kentucky, as a primary healthcare provider and recognized as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), proudly serving Bell, Clay, Knox, Laurel, Leslie, and Whitley counties.

For more information, visit gracehealthky.org.

Inaugural Oktoberfest brings food and fun to W’Burg

Photos by TIMOTHY WYATT 

The innaugural Oktoberfest event took over the Green Space on Main in downtown Williamsburg Saturday night, where crowds of people came out to dance, drink, eat and enjoy several musical performances. Justin Taylor and the Lonely Ridge Band kicked off the evening’s musical numbers, who was followed by Savanna Dean Reeves. Williamsburg’s own Paint Creek wrapped up the slate of artists. In addition to food and drink vendors, there were also several local shops setup during the event.

Talk of the town: Hounds, Colonels set to meet as district opponents for the first time

Since the 2015 season, with the exception of 2020’s covid cancellation, the Whitley County Colonels and the Corbin Redhounds have met on the gridiron in an annual game played for bragging rights in the county. So far, the Hounds have dominated the series, compiling a 7-0 record against the Colonels. Things are going to mean a whole lot more now, however, with both teams competing in the same district for the first time. (more…)

Corbin City Pool extends season thanks to new inflatable dome

Thanks in part to an inflatable dome, which was purchased by supporters of local swim clubs, local residents will have the chance to utilize the Corbin City Pool for an extended time this fall and hopefully for an extended amount of time this spring too.

However, new hours for the pool have yet to be determined. This is, in part, because summer lifeguards, who are primarily high school students, have gone back to class.

Stivers giving legislative preview during Oct. 30 joint chamber luncheon

Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers will be delivering a 2024 legislative preview later this month during a joint address to the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Knox County Chamber of Commerce, and the Manchester/Clay County Chamber of Commerce.

The joint chamber address will take place on Monday, Oct. 30, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at The Corbin Center, which is located at 222 Corbin Center Drive. The event had originally been scheduled for Oct. 10, but was delayed.

Immediately following Stivers address, he will be presented with the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 MVP Award for ensuring passage of several top priorities of the business community, including reducing taxes and supporting signature industries.

Due to anticipated high attendance, you must pre-register in order to attend.

You can do so by calling (606) 528-6390, or by e-mailing stephanie@wearesouthernkentucky.com.

You can also register for the event by going to http://www.southernkychamber.com/events/details/october-2023-membership-luncheon-408.

The cost to attend the chamber luncheon is $14.

Southeastern Kentucky Rehabilitation Industries is sponsoring the luncheon. LaDonna’s Catering will provide the meal.

Sunday kitchen fire closes Corbin Applebee’s, reopening date unknown

Patrons at one of Corbin’s most popular restaurants will be looking for a new place to eat for the time being after a Sunday morning fire significantly damaged the kitchen of Applebee’s restaurant, which is located off Exit 25.

Photo courtesy of Corbin Fire Department

Corbin Fire Capt. Eric Philpot said that at 9:30 a.m., about five Applebee’s employees were at work getting ready for the restaurant’s opening when the fire was fire reported.

“They were just getting everything turned on for the day, getting their food prepped for the day. One of the employees reported to her manager that she thought she saw a fire in the kitchen area so they called 911 and evacuated the building,” Philpot said.

“When Battalion Chief Chad Jackson arrived at the scene, there was smoke and flames coming from the roof of the building. We had an entry crew make entry into the back of the building into the kitchen area and they found the fire in the kitchen around the cook area.”

It took firefighters less than five minutes to get the blaze under control and they remained on scene for about two hours afterwards.

“We had some overhaul to do just to make sure there was no fire that spread into the roof area or the walls,” Philpot said.

Philpot said that the kitchen area was badly damaged by the fire, which also damaged the roof area where the hood system was above the cooking area.

The storage areas and dining area didn’t sustain any fire damage. The storage area closest to the kitchen sustained a medium amount of smoke damage and the dining room suffered minor smoke damage.

Thanks to employees being at the restaurant the fire got reported to authorities quicker than it would have otherwise.

Philpot said that the fire alarm had just started going off informing the manager as firefighters arrived at the scene. When firefighters got there, the blaze was already coming through the roof over the kitchen.

“Thankfully the employees being there allowed us to get there really quickly,” Philpot added.

No one was injured during the blaze.

Philpot said that a manager told him that a similar fire at an Applebee’s restaurant in Tennessee has caused that store to be shut down for three months.

So far, the cause of the blaze is under investigation, and hasn’t been determined.

Philpot said that it would likely be a group effort between the Corbin Fire Department, the electric company, the gas company, and the Applebee’s insurance carrier to determine the cause of the fire.

A total of 10 Corbin firefighters responded to the blaze along with two fire trucks and two other fire department vehicles.

The franchise is owned by Quality Restaurant Concepts, according to the fire department. Quality Restaurant Concepts LLC was started in 1988 under a different name as an Applebee’s franchisee, and now has 60 Applebee’s locations, according to its website.