I-75 bridge deck restoration begins Tuesday, Oct. 3 in Whitley County

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 11 Office advises motorists lane closures will take place on I-75 southbound at mile point 14.56 in Whitley County beginning Tuesday, Oct. 3, until Tuesday, Oct. 17. Northbound lane closures will occur at a later date following the completion of the southbound bridge deck overlays.

Driving lanes will be reduced to 10-feet wide across the bridge with a temporary barrier wall placed on the bridge deck. Wide loads will not be permitted past exit 15 in the southbound direction. Detour signage is in place.

The speed limit will be reduced to 55 miles per hour and double fines will be strictly enforced in the project area.

Motorists are advised to use caution during this period and be aware of signage, road crews and other drivers. The work is dependent on weather conditions. The date, time, and duration of work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur.

Motorists can access travel and traffic conditions at http://goky.ky.gov or contribute their own reports at www.waze.com or via the Waze mobile application. You can also get traffic information for District 11 counties at www.facebook.com/KYTCDistrict11 or by following District 11 on Twitter at www.twitter.com/KYTCDistrict11.

Cumberlands ranks number one in Kentucky for social mobility

For the second year in a row, University of the Cumberlands (UC) was ranked the top institution in Kentucky for empowering students in social mobility. In other words, when compared with other Kentucky colleges, Cumberlands is the best at giving students what they need to move up in the world socioeconomically.

“From our founding, Cumberlands has remained focused on providing young people with an education and training that prepares them for life after college,” said Dr. Larry L. Cockrum, university president. “Part of our mission is to make college more affordable. When a student graduates, it is our hope that they have the knowledge and training to earn a job that keeps them financially stable and that they don’t have to worry about a mountain of student loan debt.”

“Social mobility,” in essence, is the ability to move between socioeconomic groups – in this case, the ability to move from a lower group to a higher one because you’re bringing home more money. When you have higher earning potential, such as through higher education or specialized certifications, it allows you to be more “mobile” between socioeconomic groups.

It’s for that reason that colleges are effectively avenues for social mobility. The benefit of a high social mobility can last for generations.

In a recent ranking by U.S. News and World Report, University of the Cumberlands ranked first in Kentucky among all higher education institutions, with the runner-up Kentucky school, Eastern Kentucky University, placing more than 100 spots below UC nationally tying for 184^th with nine other institutions of higher learning

Cumberlands ranked second in the Southeast for private universities and sixth nationally for Christian universities. It’s the second consecutive year for UC to rank the best among Kentucky schools for social mobility.

Overall, UC tied for 55^th nationally with Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, and University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

To view the full rankings list, visit https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings.

This social mobility ranking comes after the university made Money magazine’s list of best colleges in America, outranking the University of Kentucky and Bellarmine University, among other schools. Money ranked schools based on where college students’ “tuition (and time) is likely to pay off.”

Also, in recent months, Cumberlands has made headlines for including free textbooks for its entire student body as part of tuition costs, with no added fees. Additionally, the school was ranked among the best online non-profit universities in the nation by EDsmart, ranking first in Kentucky and seventh nationwide. Cumberlands was also ranked the most “transfer friendly” private school in Kentucky, based on Counsel on Postsecondary Education (CPE) data.

To learn more about what Cumberlands includes in tuition and the academic programs offered, visit www.ucumberlands.edu.

Friday Night Highlights: Sept. 29, 2023

Friday was another good night for coverage area high school football teams… (more…)

Knox Co. getting over $25,000 to repave portion of Gray road

Knox County is getting over $25,000 in discretionary road funding to repave a portion of a Gray road.

Gov. Andy Beshear announced a new round of discretionary road funds Thursday, totaling more than $6.1 million, to 42 local governments.

“Local streets and roads help connect and define a community, but roadway needs can quickly mount up and overwhelm a local government’s budget,” Beshear said in a release.

Knox County is getting $28,500 to resurface 0.35 miles of Sam Parker Road.

“On behalf of Judge-Executive Mike Mitchell and the Knox County Fiscal Court we would like to thank Gov. Andy Beshear for his support in additional funding received … This, along with other road funding already allocated, will enhance driving conditions throughout Knox County and are scheduled to start next week,” the Knox County Fiscal Court wrote on its Facebook page Thursday.

Also, McCreary County received $305,000 to resurface 2.64 miles of Corder Flats.

The discretionary funding is administered through the Department of Rural and Municipal Aid at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC).

Forcht Bank Ice Cream Machine provides sweet treats at First Priority Volleyball Tournament

The 16 teams participating in the First Priority Volleyball Tournament Saturday in Whitley County got a sweet treat courtesy of the Forcht Bank Ice Cream Machine, which paid a visit with some free ice cream.

Williamsburg BOE sets tax rates, will remain the same as previous year

Tax rates for those living within Williamsburg Independent School’s taxing district will remain the same for the coming year.

14 people indicted by information in Whitley County

A total of 14 people were recently indicted by information in Whitley Circuit Court on charges ranging from vehicle theft to drug possession and burglary.

The following individuals waived their right to indictment by a grand jury and were indicted by information in September, according to court records.

Local jackpot announcement briefly had me really excited

For about 10 minutes last Wednesday afternoon, I got really excited.

Mark White is Editor of The News Journal.

My wonderful wife, Cecelia, and I were having lunch when she noticed on Facebook that a $1 million winning Mega Millions ticket had been sold at the Circle K on Gordon Hill.

Since this is where I almost always buy my lottery tickets, I started getting really excited. I figured that my chances of winning $1 million had just dropped down from one out of a billion to one out of a few thousands.

When she went to the restroom, I got my wallet out, which is admittedly a mess, and started looking through my old lottery tickets. I usually only check then every two or three months unless I’ve heard that somebody at my usual lottery ticket location has won big.

I dug and I dug in my wallet, but couldn’t find the ticket for last Tuesday’s drawing. So I went through my wallet again looking for the ticket from last Tuesday’s drawing.

Then it hit me. I hadn’t bought my tickets Saturday as usual at Circle K on Gordon Hill. Saturday we went to West Virginia to celebrate my father-in-law’s birthday and I bought my lottery tickets some place off the interstate when we stopped to get gas.

Bummer!

Not too long after I made this realization, I found the ticket for last Tuesday’s drawing. I hadn’t matched a single number.

Oh, well. The excitement over the possibility of winning was nice while I had it.

In case anyone is wondering, the winner of the $1 million was George Cerveny of Corbin, who didn’t match the Mega Ball, but did match the first five numbers in the drawing. I hope Cerveny and his wife enjoy the money. The clerks at the store were excited for him when I stopped by there last Wednesday to buy my tickets for the next drawings.

I’m not a big gambler, but I do like to play the lottery. I usually buy a ticket for every Powerball and Mega Millions lottery drawing every week.

Yeah, I know that I am in all probability not going to win, but I get $10 of enjoyment each week just thinking about what I could do with the money if I won big.

My wife tells me buying lottery tickets isn’t a need and that it is a want. I jokingly tell her that it is a need for me because it gives me hope of not having to work until the day I die…LOL.

The closest I ever came to winning big was a situation where I was one digit away from winning $100,000 about 25 years ago.

It was the Powerball and I matched the first four digits exactly and came within one digit of matching a fifth number, which would have given me the $100,000. (Matching five numbers with no Powerball number now would get you $1 million.)

That one stung for a while.

I did win $100 for matching four numbers, which came in handy that year during my vacation to Indianapolis.

Now let’s talk about football briefly before I conclude this column.

A couple of weeks ago when seemingly everyone in Whitley County was at the Corbin-Frederick Douglass football game, I got the chance to check out the other local big game that night, which was Whitley County vs. Bell County.

The first half of Whitley vs. Bell was one of the best halves of a football game that I have ever watched.

New head coach Matt Rhymer has these kids ready to play. I don’t think they have the numbers yet to make a serious run in the playoffs, but I think they are going to get there.

This Colonels team is one that opponents better come in ready to play and not be looking at the next game down the road, or they are liable to get beat.

Colorado woman indicted for manslaughter in 2022 crash that killed two in Knox Co.

A Colorado woman was indicted Friday by a Knox County grand jury on multiple charges in connection to a November 2022 crash that killed two people and injured two others.

Carolyn Sue Moore

Carolyn Sue Moore, 76, of Corbin, Kentucky, passed away Monday, September 25, 2023, at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.

Born September 25, 1947, in Wadestown, West Virginia, she was the daughter of the late Harley and Maxine Hennen.
Carolyn was a member of Eastview Baptist Church in Connersville, Indiana.

Carolyn could best be described as a woman who enjoyed life’s simple pleasures. She found great joy in spending time with her family, particularly with her grandchildren. Meanwhile, she enjoyed working in her flower garden, talking with friends, and watching her favorite soap operas, “The Young and the Restless” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

Carolyn leaves behind her beloved family: her loving husband of 57 years, James “Jim” Moore; son, David Moore and wife Lois of Fishers, Indiana; son, Matthew Moore and wife Katrinia of London, Kentucky; two grandchildren, Brendan Moore of Fishers, Indiana, and Justin Moore of Morehead, Kentucky; two sisters-in-law, Pattie Moore and Charmane Moore, both of Corbin, Kentucky; and brother, Roger Hennen and wife Emily of New Martinsville, West Virginia. She is also survived by several other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, September 29, in the Hart Funeral Home Chapel with Bobby Joe Eaton officiating.

Burial will follow in McFarland Cemetery with David Moore, Matthew Moore, Brendan Moore, Justin Moore, Ben Jones, and Tim Owens serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 12-2 pm Friday at Hart Funeral Home.