Redhounds christen new stadium with 6-0 victory over Frederick Douglass

Many words could be used to describe the events of Friday night, Sept. 15, in Corbin. Thrilling. Historic. Moving. And, perhaps most appropriate, poetic. (more…)

Forcht Broadcasting and Digital finalist for prestigious award

Pictured left to right: Mike Tarter – Forcht Broadcasting & Digital President/CEO, Greg Moore WYKY program director & on-air host, Kevin Wilson – WYKY general manager, Paula McKinney – Forcht Broadcasting & Digital traffic director, Debbie Reynolds – President, Forcht Group of KY, Terry Forcht – Founder & Chairman Forcht Group of KY, Faith Speaks – Forcht Broadcasting & Digital graphic designer and social media manager, Kate Smith – WYKY operations manager and on-air host, Amy Stroud – Forcht Broadcasting & Digital Sr. VP, and Misty Phillips, client social media manager and web designer.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Marconi Award was established in 1989 and named after inventor and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi.

These prestigious awards recognize radio stations and individuals for their excellence and performance in radio.

Some of the criteria include audience reach, innovative programming, how the station reaches and serves its audience and commitment to their community.

Forcht Broadcasting and Digital is a finalist in the Small Market Station of the Year category along with stations in Jonesboro, Ark., Crookston, Minn., St. Cloud, Minn., and Evansville, IN.

The winner will be announced at the NAB Show New York on Oct. 25.

Corbin remembers 9/11…

Corbin officials commemorated 9/11 Monday morning with a short, solemn ceremony next to Corbin City Hall. The Corbin High School JROTC presented the colors at the start of the ceremony. Corbin Mayor Suzie Razmus and Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley were two of speakers thanking police and firefighters for their service to the community.

Various businesses thanked Corbin police and firefighters with free food Monday on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, including Wendy’s and Cash Express.

2023 OFTD contest winners announced

2023 Old Fashioned Trading Days Canning Contest winners

• Fruits: Blue Ribbon – Alice Fae Weiland
• Fruits (Misc.) – Blue Ribbon – Jim Moss
• Jams (Berry) – Blue Ribbon Jim Moss, Red Ribbon Alice Fae Weiland, White Ribbon Alma Carter
• Jams (Fruit) –Blue Ribbon Marie Dusing, Red Ribbon Alice Fae Weiland
• Jellies (Berry) – Blue Ribbon Jenna Terry, Red Ribbon Rhonda Carr, White Ribbon Ella White
• Jellies (Grape): Blue Ribbon Alice Fae Weiland, Red Ribbon Jenna Terry
• Jellies (Pepper) – Blue Ribbon Jim Moss, Red Ribbon Marie Dusing, White Ribbon Sasha Block
• Jellies (Miscellaneous Fruit) – Blue Ribbon Jenna Terry, Red Ribbon Kathy Gibbs
• Preserves & Marmalade (Fruit) – Blue Ribbon Alma Carter
• Toppings – Blue Ribbon Rhonda Carr
• Fruits Canned – Blue Ribbon Jim Moss, Red Ribbon Alice Fae Weiland, White Ribbon Hobart White
• Fruits (Miscellaneous) –Blue Ribbon Alice Fae Weiland, Red Ribbon Kathy Gibbs
• Butters (Fruit) – Blue Ribbon Alice Fae Weiland, Red Ribbon Rhonda Carr, White Ribbon Jenna Terry
• Pickles (Bread and Butter) – Blue Ribbon Kathy Gibbs, Red Ribbon Alice Fae Weiland, White Ribbon Travis Fox
• Pickles (Dill) – Blue Ribbon Jim Moss, Red Ribbon Alice Fae Weiland, White Ribbon Vivian Hill
• Peppers (Jalapeno) – Blue Ribbon Amari Miller, Red Ribbon Alice Fae Weiland
• Pickled Vegetables (Okra) – Blue Ribbon Vivian Hill, Red Ribbon Alice Fae Weiland, White Ribbon Jenna Terry
• Pickled Vegetables (Misc.) – Blue Ribbon Glenna Block, Red Ribbon Kathy Gibbs
• Vegetables (Green Beans) – Blue Ribbon Kathy Gibbs, Red Ribbon Vivian Hill, White Ribbon Alice Fae Weiland
• Vegetables (Relish) – Blue Ribbon Travis Fox, Red Ribbon Alice Fae Weiland, White Ribbon Glenna Block
• Vegetables (Sauerkraut) – Blue Ribbon Sylas Miller
• Vegetables (Misc.) – Blue Ribbon Jenna Terry, Red Ribbon Glenna Block
• Tomatoes (Quartered) – Blue Ribbon Glenna Block
• Tomatoes (Crushed) – Blue Ribbon Vivian Hill, Red Ribbon Alice Fae Weiland, White Ribbon Amari Miller
• Tomatoes (Juice) – Blue Ribbon Vivian Hill, Red Ribbon Alice Fae Weiland, White Ribbon Kathy Lay
• Tomatoes (Sauce) – Blue Ribbon Kenny Carr
• Tomatoes (Salsa) – Blue Ribbon Rhonda Carr, Red Ribbon Kathy Gibbs, White Ribbon Kathy Gibbs
• Tomatoes (Soups) – Blue Ribbon Jenna Terry
• Miscellaneous – Blue Ribbon Kathy Lay, Red Ribbon Alice Fae Weiland

Vivian Hill was the grand champion for her juice.

2023 Vegetable Show Winners

• Apples – first place Alice Fae Weiland
• Bell Peppers – first place Charles Blakely, second place Glenna Black, third place Alice Fae Weiland
• Gourd – first place Macie Carr
• Green Beans – first place Doug Hufziger, second place Alice Fae Weiland, third place Kirby Lewis
• Banana Peppers – first place Jim Moss, second place Travis Fox, third place Alice Fae Weiland
• Cayenne Peppers – first place Marie Dusing, second place Kathy Lay, third place Travis Fox
• Jalapeno Peppers – first place Alice Fae Weiland, second place Kathy Lay, third place Marie Dusing
• Hot Peppers – first place Alice Fae Weiland
• Potatoes – first place Justin Miller, second place Alice Fae Weiland
• Okra – first place Travis Fox, second place Alice Fae Weiland, third place Jim Moss
• Garlic – first place Alice Fae Weiland
• Onions – first place Sammie Miller, second place Alice Fae Weiland
• Plum Grannies – first place Hobert White
• Pumpkin (Best) – first place Doug Hufziger
• Winter Squash – first place Charles Blakely, second place Hobert White
• Sweet Corn – first place Kathy Lay
• Sweet Peppers – first place Hobert White
• Tomato (Heirloom/Yellow) – first place Hobert White, second place Charles Blakely, third place Kathy Lay
• Tomato (Cherry/Small) – first place Jeremy Shannon, second play Kirby Lewis, third place Kathy Lay
• Tomato (Slicers/Hybrids) – first place Sammie Miller, second place Alice Fae Weiland
• Gourd Basket – first place Makenzie Carr
• Vegetable Basket – first place Alice Fae Weiland, second place Amari Miller, third place Hobert White
• Honey (Light without Comb) – first place Thomas Jones
• Honey (Dark without Comb) – first place Mike Gibbs
• Flower Arrangement – first place Kathy Lay

Alice Fae Weiland was named the grand champion for her vegetable basket.

Three-for-three: Lady Jacket seniors talk regional All ‘A’ three-peat, their hopes for state tourney, more

WHS Volleyball Seniors

With victories over Oneida Baptist Institute, Jackson County and Pineville, the Williamsburg Lady Jackets volleyball team recently won its third consecutive All “A” regional championship title. The accomplishment means they will return to the All “A” state tournament later this week at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond. (more…)

Paul arrested on charges of strangulation, firearm possession by a convicted felon

A Williamsburg man is facing charges of strangulation and firearm possession by a convicted felon in connection with a recent domestic altercation.

BHC Chief Medical Officer stresses importance of early lung cancer testing at luncheon

Baptist Health Corbin Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Worthy was the keynote speaker during the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce monthly membership luncheon Tuesday.

Baptist Health Corbin Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Worthy has a message for you if you are between the ages of 50 and 80, you either smoke or have quit smoking within the last 15 years, and if you smoked one pack of cigarettes per day for 20 years or more or two packs per day for 10 years or more.

You need to get tested for lung cancer because the earlier lung cancer is caught, the more likely a patient is to survive and survive for longer periods of time.

The five-year survivability rate for types of cancer vary from 99 percent for prostate cancer patients compared to only 18 percent for lung cancer patients.

This is due largely to lung cancer typically being diagnosed at such late stages after it has spread to much of the body.

“We have to change this dynamic,” Worthy told members of the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce during its monthly membership luncheon Tuesday in Williamsburg.

“We have to shift the diagnosis to the other side of this curve. We have to catch these cancers earlier and the good news is we have the technology to do that.”

Recent research shows that more than 80 percent of lung cancers may be cured if detected early enough.

“Early detection dramatically decreases death rates from lung cancer. It shifts that curve up to 95 percent survivability if we get it early,” Worthy added.

The good news is that most insurance carriers and Medicare cover the low-dose CT scan that Worthy is recommending if you meet the previously listed criteria. (The procedure does require preauthorization.)

There is no preparation for the scan. It does not require needles, injections or contrast. Most scans take less than 15 minutes.

A national lung screening trial involving 53,000 people, who received annual screenings over a three year period with low dose CT scans, resulted in a 20 percent reduction in lung cancer mortality.

Currently, only 5 percent of patients, who qualify for lung cancer screening, receive it.

Lung cancer screening is especially important in Kentucky.

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, and Kentucky ranks the worst in the nation out of 50 states and the District of Columbia for rates of new lung cancer cases at 87.6 per 100,000 people compared to the national rate of 56.7 per 100,000 people.

Southeastern Kentucky leads the state in terms of cancer-related deaths due in part to higher amounts of people smoking. Statistics show that 80 – 85 percent of lung cancer patients smoke.

“We are at the epicenter for lung cancer in the United States. We more than any other population group of people need to get our folks in for this screening,” Worthy said encouraging those in attendance to spread the word about early screening to friends and family members. “It’s the battle for cancer we really have to have here in Kentucky.”

Baptist Health Corbin was the sponsor of Tuesday’s chamber of commerce luncheon.

Vice-President Mark Steely noted that the hospital is currently in the process of installing a new CT scanner, and that the hospital is in the early stages of a major new expansion.

The patient tower will expand the emergency department and the critical care department and will allow for private patient rooms.

Steely said that planning will probably take about one year to complete followed by construction, which is expected to take about two years.

David’s Steakhouse provided catering for Tuesday’s luncheon.

Next month’s chamber luncheon will be held at The Corbin Center on Oct. 10.

Congrats to organizers on a successful Old Fashioned Trading Days weekend

Last week’s 40^th Annual Old Fashioned Trading Days festival proved to be a hit as always.

Mark White is Editor of The News Journal.

Although I wasn’t down at the festival Friday and Saturday, I spent most of the day and part of the early evening in downtown Williamsburg Thursday enjoying the festival and getting other work done.

While the crowd wasn’t as big as I have seen it in the past, it has been a long time since the festival had that many vendors, especially food vendors selling all kinds of good eats.

I especially enjoyed Low Down South Thursday evening. This group has a nice classic rock kind of vibe. Some of the gospel artists that I heard Thursday were pretty good too.

Congratulations to the organizers for another great festival.

Also, a shout out to News Journal Sports Editor Trevor Sherman, who manned our booth down at Old Fashioned Trading Days Friday and Saturday evening.

Trevor was busy during both NIBROC and Old Fashioned Trading Days this year signing people up for our big give away, which featured camping chairs from WD Bryant, free passes from the Corbin Pinball Museum, free movie passes from Tri-County Cineplex, free product coupons from Pepsi Cola of Corbin, and free buffet coupons from David’s Steakhouse.

Our big winner was drawn Monday morning and it was Heather Hopkins of Corbin. Congratulations Heather. Thanks to everyone, who entered.

Now for some other thoughts before I conclude this column.

• September is National Suicide Awareness Month.

I got the chance to check out some pretty good sidewalk chalk art Monday morning, which was drawn by members of the North Laurel High School JROTC program at Baptist Health Corbin.

(The only problem with sidewalk art is that after you see it, you kind of hate to walk on it…LOL.)

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached 24 hours a day by dialing 988 if you or anyone that you know just needs someone to listen.

Texting and chatting with 988 is also available for people in a mental health or substance use crisis. Individuals in crisis can additionally text “HOME” to 741741.

• While on the topic of suicide awareness and prevention, there will be a one-mile Bethany’s Hope walk on Saturday, Sept. 16, starting at The Green Space on Main in downtown Williamsburg.

The one-mile walk starts at 9 a.m., and will be led by 82^nd Rep. Nick Wilson and his predecessor, Regina Huff.

In August 2018, 16-year-old Bethany Faith Lawson became one of three people, and one of two teenagers in Whitley County, to die by suspected suicide over a 24-hour time period.

Bethany’s Hope was founded in dedication and memory of Lawson as a suicide prevention, awareness and support program in Williamsburg.

• While Trevor was busy at Old Fashioned Trading Days Friday night, I spent part of the evening taking pictures at the Williamsburg High School football game. The Jackets looked pretty good on their way to a convincing win against Waggener.

Glad Williamsburg High School is planning major renovations for its football stadium after this season. It is definitely needed, particularly the lighting.

Speaking of football stadium renovations, Corbin High School debuts its $9 million plus stadium renovation this Friday.

Prediction, if 6A Frederick Douglas can’t beat Corbin Friday, then the Redhounds go undefeated during at least the rest of the regular season, and possibly all the way to a state championship.

Fatal crash victim laid to rest Monday

The body of a Whitley County man was laid to rest Monday after he was killed during a fatal single vehicle accident Thursday afternoon.

Williamsburg BOE adjusts plans for pending football stadium renovation

Plans to upgrade Ralph Prewitt/Finley Legion Field at Williamsburg Independent have been scaled back temporarily, with the full-scale project expected to be done over a two-year period.