Bethany’s Hope Suicide Awareness Walk takes to the streets in W’Burg

Photos by TIMOTHY WYATT 

Approximately 70 people came out to downtown Williamsburg Saturday morning to participate in the Bethany’s Hope Suicide Awareness Walk. The walk is held annually to honor 16-year-old Whitley County High School student Bethany Faith Lawson, who took her own life in 2018. Walkers began the one-mile trek at The Green Space on Main and continued down Main Street before turning onto Depot Street and looping around to Cumberland Avenue, Second Street and Main Street back to the park.

Corbin City Commission provided with updates on Corbin Tourism projects

The status on the proposed Finger Lickin’ Musical, efforts to market Corbin as a conference and convention destination, and a number of other upcoming tourism related events were topics of discussion during Monday’s monthly Corbin City Commission Meeting.

The Finger Lickin’ Musical is a proposed musical about the life of Kentucky Fried Chicken Founder Colonel Harland Sanders, who opened his first restaurant in Corbin.

In response to a question from City Commissioner Brandon Shepherd about the status of the Finger Lickin’ Musical, Corbin Tourism Director Maggy Monhollen said that she plans to make a presentation about the musical during next month’s city commission meeting.

“We are looking at a much bigger scale. I have been working on the pieces of how to achieve that scale to present,” Monhollen explained.

Monhollen said that she has talked to all kinds of people about the project, but has been working closely with Matt Davenport Productions out of Nashville, which is kind of a one-stop shop for consultation and production.

“We want to have a better idea of what we are looking at long term in total cost, but we are going to have to make a small investment to be able to get that vision. A consultation takes a little bit of investment,” Monhollen noted.

Monhollen also updated the commission on a marketing initiative that is underway.

She noted that she had previously applied for some grant funding to enable the Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission to market Corbin as a conference and convention destination.

Monhollen noted that there is a travel writer, who was in town for two days this week, who is working on an eight-page spread for Small Market Meetings Magazine, which is a national publication for meeting planners.

In addition, Monhollen gave the commission a quick update on a number of recent or upcoming events.

• Corbin will be hosting the SOAR (Shaping Our Appalachian Region) Summit on Oct. 3-4.

“It is the premiere event for Appalachia and Corbin is graced to have the opportunity to host,” Monhollen said.

Mayor Suzie Razmus agreed encouraging city leaders to show up, show out and show participants a good time.

SOAR is a regional nonpartisan nonprofit that champions local projects, programs, and advocacy for the 54 ARC-mandated counties in Eastern Kentucky. Its mandate is to fill the economic gaps left by the decline of the coal industry. Its task is to rally our communities to help us achieve these goals together for the good of all.

• The Sweetest Week will be taking place Oct. 2-7 at participating Corbin restaurants.

“$6 gets you a yummy, ooey, gooey decadent dessert in one of our participating restaurants,” Monhollen said.

Participating restaurants include: The Depot, M&M Rooftop Garden, Sweeties Ice Cream, Folktale Coffee, Si Senor, Bubby’s BBQ, Mi Casa #3, Santa Fe and Old Town Grill.

• Octoberfest will take place on Oct. 14.

• The Keep Corbin Clean Liter Movement involved a community clean-up on Saturday, Sept. 2, and had 35 participants. Monhollen is hoping to add another community clean-up next spring.

Whitley Health Dept. launching two new online resources later this year

During the Whitley County Board of Health’s regular quarterly meeting Monday evening, Public Health Director Marcy Rein offered board members a preview of two brand new online resources that she hopes will greatly benefit the citizens of Whitley County. (more…)

Corbin sets trick or treat hours

Little ghosts, goblins, princesses and pirates now know when they will be able to hit the streets of Corbin trick or treating this year.

David Alan Leach

David Alan Leach, age 63, of Williamsburg, Kentucky, formerly of Loveland, Ohio, passed away Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at his home.
He was born on July 8, 1960, to the late Billy D. Leach and Perna Ruth (Fredericks) Leach in Jellico, Tennessee. His paternal grandparents were the late Joe L. Leach and Geneva (Jones) Leach. His maternal grandparents were the late Charles Fredericks and Beatrice (Siler) Fredericks.
Although David was born in Jellico, and spent the first three weeks of his life in Fairview, he grew-up in Ohio, where his parents had moved for better job opportunities. He spent 38 years in the greater Cincinnati area. David spent many of his summer vacations returning to the Fairview Community in order to teach Bible School at Fairview Missionary Baptist Church and to spend time with his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
David had a passion for photography. After graduating from high school, David went to photography school for two years. He did free-lance photography for three years from his home where he processed and developed negatives from 35 millimeter film and 2 ¼ film into black and white, and color prints from his darkroom in the “old-school” way.
His first job was at Sparky’s Photo Lab where he worked for five years. Next, he worked at Consumer Product Ink (CPI) where he worked for five years doing one-hour photo processing. Later, he worked at Target doing one-hour photo processing.
David’s parents had always planned to move back to their beloved Kentucky home. After their retirement, David and his parents moved back to Whitley County where his parents built their “dream-home” on David’s grandparents’ property.
When the house was nearing completion, David tendered his resignation at his job at the Target Quick-Print and moved to the new house and submitted an application for a job in the photo center at the new Super Walmart in Williamsburg where he was blessed to work for 24 years. He recently retired from Walmart and was given a big retirement party.
David also had a passion for riding roller coasters, attending car shows, working with model trains, collecting Cincinnati Reds memorabilia, and traveling. In fact, his travels took him to Italy, Venice, France, and England.
David was a longtime member of Fairview Missionary Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents and grandparents, he was preceded in death by two aunts, Sarah Fredericks, infant Mary Fredericks; six uncles, E. G. Leach, Earl Fredericks, G. L. Fredericks, Paul Fredericks, James Carl Fredericks, and infant J. B. Fredericks.
David is survived by two aunts, Anna Mae (Fredericks) Collins, of Augusta, Georgia, and Charlotte (Fredericks) Bays, and husband, Larry, of Loveland, OH; uncle, Charles Kelly Fredericks, of the Fairview Community, special cousins, Kathleen (Leach) Fredericks, R. L. Leach, Barbara (Fredericks) Bramlett, Sandra (Fredericks) Johnstone, Alice (Fredericks) Bowling, Shawn Fredericks, Chad Fredericks, Teresa Hoover, Paula Fearnow, Steve Fredericks, Renee (Collins) Stewart, and Lara (Bays) Anglin; his church family at Fairview Missionary Baptist Church, and a host of friends, neighbors, and other relatives to mourn his passing.
Funeral service was Friday, September 22, at the Cox & Son Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Marshall Freeman, Pastor Ronald Wilson, and Bro. Larry Bays officiating.
Special singing was provided by Mrs. Sandra Johnstone, Mrs. Alice Bowling, Mrs. Lara Anglin, Mr. Asher Freeman, and Miss Addie Freeman.
Interment followed the funeral service in the Clearfork Baptist Church Cemetery.
Cox & Son Funeral Home of Jellico in charge of arrangements.

Amy Colleen (Marion) Gibbins

Amy Colleen (Marion) Gibbins, age 66, of Jellico, Tennessee, passed away early Wednesday morning, September 20, 2023, at the home of her daughter, in Williamsburg, Kentucky.
She was born on December 15, 1956, to the late John Marion and Alice (Siler) Marion, in Jellico, Tennessee. Her paternal grandparents were the late George and Lora Marion. Her maternal grandparents were the late Albert and Emma Siler.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her grandson, Jaxson Nicoles McClain, and nephew, Jonathan Wooton.
Amy is survived by three daughters, Mary Ramsey, and Donny Wells, of Williamsburg, KY, Amanda Chambers, and husband, Michael, of Jellico, TN, and Karen Elmore, of Williamsburg, KY; three grandchildren, Elizabeth Chambers, Katharine Chambers, and Johnathan Chambers; two sisters, Joyce Troxell, and husband, Robert, of Jellico, and Alice Wooton, and husband, Rick, of Krypton, KY; several nieces and nephews, Chrystal Napier, and husband, Randy, Brandon Wooton, and husband, Samuel, Kelly Wooton, and wife, Karissa, Samantha Miller, and husband, Cody, and Vanessia Troxell; great-nieces and great-nephews, Keelan Napier, Trysten Wooton, Ryder Napier, and Emma Wooton; and a host of friends, neighbors, and other relatives to mourn her passing. So we now bid farewell to Amy using her favorite expression, “Good night, sweet dreams, and good dreams.”
Funeral service was Friday, September 22, at the Cox & Son Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dale Byrd officiating. Special singing was provided by Jesse Byrd.
Cox & Son Funeral Home of Jellico in charge of arrangements.

Game for the ages on the 100th anniversary at CHS

In 70 years of watching high school football and viewing it from every corner of the state, plus attending several state championship games, I have never been in an atmosphere like the one Friday night for the game between Corbin and Frederick Douglass.

Don Estep is publisher of the News Journal.

It was electric! And the many thousands of fans that attended the game got their money’s worth. Most of the time a defensive game is dull. Not this one. Every play had you on the edge of your seat.

Speaking of fans, that was the biggest crowd ever at Campbell Field. I don’t have an exact count, but the best guess is over 7,500. The stands were filled early and fans were standing all around the field.

The excitement was because the number one (Frederick Douglass) and the number two (Corbin) teams were battling, plus it was a historic night as Corbin was celebrating 100 years of football.

This newspaper published a special 100 year football history magazine which we are making available free this week to all new subscribers and to regular subscribers who do not have it. All you have to do is come by our office at 215 north Main St. in Corbin to pick it up.

I was involved in the planning and activities. Thanks to Dave Cox, Superintendent of Corbin Independent School, he asked me to serve on a committee. Mr. Cox did a marvelous job of leading to what became a perfect night of celebration.

As for me, I did a halftime recap of the 100 years of football which was on the new video scoreboard. Thanks to Danielle Hardin and her student staff at CHS who did a splendid job of editing the video.

Then I was asked by Derick Eubanks, of WCTT radio station to announce the game along with Ronnie Bowling and Jeff Barnett. I don’t know if this would have happened if my friend Julio Cima had not insisted I announce one more time.

It had been 32 years since I had announced a game. I can tell you that there is a lot of difference between announcing between the ages of 21 to 51 and 84 years.

It was difficult because I don’t have the breath support, having had lung surgery, and my eye sight is not what it used to be. But Ronnie and Jeff bailed me out. Thanks guys!

For some reason I kept calling Frederick Douglass “Franklin Douglass.” I take a pass on that because of age. I’ll have to live with that in my last hurrah.

I must thank Coach “Cotton” Adams for the generous remarks he made about me at halftime. That made all the work I have done on the event very worthwhile.

Sad to say, but that is it for me. In the radio booth I realized that age does have its limits.  I’ve had many years of wonderful experiences and the Redhound victory capped it off Friday night.

Lady Colonels hosting Annual First Priority Volleyball Classic this weekend

This Saturday, the defending 13th Region champion Whitley County Lady Colonels will be hosting their Annual First Priority Volleyball Classic at Whitley County High School and Whitley County Middle School. (more…)

Williamsburg tax rates set for 2023, will see decrease due to higher assessments in city

Tax rates are decreasing in the City of Williamsburg.

W’burg man indicted for cultivating 43 marijuana plants

The Whitley County Grand Jury indicted eight people on drug-related charges Monday, including a man accused of growing more than 40 marijuana plants.