BREAKING: False alarm regarding discharged firearm causes panic during NIBROC Friday night

Crowds of NIBROC attendees were sent fleeing in panic Friday night after a firearm was allegedly fired during the festival, though officials report that no firearm had been discharged and no one was injured. The person responsible for causing the hysteria has reportedly been arrested.

Shortly after 10 p.m. Friday, droves of festivalgoers could be seen running away from Depot Street, prompting those in attendance at the concert to soon follow suit. As people fled, they stated that a gun had been fired in the vicinity.

Police and EMS soon flooded the scene.

Officials told the News Journal shortly after the panic that there had been no shots fired. Reportedly a fight had broken out between two individuals near one of the rides, which lead one person to yell out, “Shots fired.” The statement apparently prompted those nearby to flee.

About 10:45 p.m., the Corbin Police Department released the following official statement on their Facebook page, “Please be aware that tonight at NIBROC a carnival employee called out ‘shots fired’ causing the people in the area to panic and flee the scene. There were NO SHOTS FIRED AT NIBROC TONIGHT. The employee has been taken into custody without incident.”

By about 10:30 p.m., the concert and carnival rides had resumed operation as normal.

This is a developing story. More information will be provided as it is available.

KSP investigating double fatality in Gray early Friday evening

Kentucky State Police responded to the scene of a single vehicle double fatality in the Gray community of Knox County early Friday evening.

A pickup truck left the roadway and struck a tree before catching fire. The northbound lanes of US25E are shut down and an alternate route has been set up to by pass the collision, according to state police.

Kayaking for Kids raises over $21,000 this year

Photo by TIMOTHY WYATT

On the water: More than 75 participants took to the Cumberland River this past weekend for the seventh annual Kayaking for Kids event, raising more than $21,000 for community organizations and local school resource centers. In the kayak division, Damon Hicks took first place, Ben Prewitt took second place and Sebastian Hicks took third place. In the jon boat division, Ralph Carte and Aaliyah Carbajal took first place, Jason and Katie Kersey took second place and Stacey Rains took third place.

Hounds, Colonels to once again battle atop region’s volleyball scene

One of the most fierce rivalries in all of 13th Region sports is set to pick up right where it left off last year when the Corbin Lady Hounds and the defending region champion Whitley County Lady Colonels get their 2023 seasons underway next week. (more…)

Out and About KY Style: Kentucky Basketball HOF Meet and Greet

If you are a high school basketball historian and even followed some of the stars into their collegiate careers, mark your calendar for August 12.

Gary West is an author and News Journal columnist.

The Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame will be inducting 14 former prep greats and coaches at the Historic State Theater in downtown Elizabethtown. This group has as much statewide appeal as many of the classes before them and gives those who attend an opportunity to visit and share a story or two.

The High School Basketball Hall of Fame began selecting members in 2012, and this group of inductees rivals many of the past with records, achievements, and careers that continued into the college years.

Eastern Kentucky is well represented by Ervin Stepp, the number two all-time national high school scorer. Playing at Phelps High School he averaged 47 his junior year and 53 his senior year in 1980. He is a former Mr. Basketball.

Whitesburg’s Brigette Combs, in 1985, was a Miss Basketball who later was part of two Final Four teams at Western Kentucky University, playing for Paul Sanderford.

Craig Eversoll starred at Warren Central High School in Bowling Green in 1982, averaging 26-points a game. He went on to play at Virginia Tech.

Perhaps no other player flew under the nation’s basketball radar in 1962 more than Glasgow Bunche’s Charles “Big Game” Hunter. Many observers felt he could have played at any powerhouse in the country, but he chose to play for legendary Abe Lemon at Oklahoma City University. At 6’5” he was a rebounding machine as well as leading his region in scoring in 1961 and 62.

A first team all-stater, he posted a double-double playing in the Kentucky-Indiana All Star Game in 1962.

Greg Smith, joins his brother Dwight as a member of this Hall of Fame. In 1964, he led Caldwell County High School to the Sweet Sixteen before heading to Western to play with his brother, Clem Haskins, and Wayne Chapman. Greg also was part of the world champion Milwaukee Bucks and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Other inductees include:  Wayne Golden, Shawnee; Ronnie Daniel, Shawnee; Adia Mathis, Iroquois; Patti Jo Hedges, Western High; Jerry Eaves, Ballard; John Burr, Adair County (Jim Richards WKU high school coach); Tim Mudd, Elizabethtown girls: Chris Renner, Ballard coach.

“We’ll have a ‘Meet and Greet’ after the formal ceremony,” said Rick Walters, a Hall of Fame board member. “It will give those in attendance a chance to talk to and get a photo with the inductees. The Hall of Fame Museum is located across the street from the Historic State Theater and features a rare collection of Kentucky basketball memorabilia and film clips from days gone by.

Tickets for the Hall of Fame ceremony are $25 and can be purchased at the museum, and at the door on August 12.

Elizabethtown is in the eastern time zone, so for those traveling from the Western part of the state will be able to gain the extra hour on their return home.

There’s no excuse, get up, get out and get going! Gary P. West can be reached at westgarypdeb@gmail.com.

Leonard Eugene Strunk

Leonard Eugene Strunk, age 63, of Williamsburg, KY, passed away Monday, August 7, 2023 at Baptist Health Corbin.
He was born November 20, 1959 in Cincinnati, OH, to the late Nelson and Betty Cox Strunk.
Along with his parents he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Elliana Woods.
He is survived by his wife, Deborah Strunk of Williamsburg, KY; daughter, Emily Ann Woods (Justin) of Corbin, KY; two sisters, Nancy Hampton (Jimmy) of Knoxville, TN, and April McIntosh (Ernie) of Williamsburg, KY; several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews; and a host of relatives and friends to mourn his passing.
Funeral service will be 3:00 PM on Thursday, August 10, at the Corinth Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Steve Jett and Rev. James Hodge officiating.
Interment will be in Cumberland Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be 1:00 PM until the funeral hour Thursday, August 10, at Corinth Missionary Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers the family request that contributions be made to Corinth Missionary Baptist Church.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.ellisonfh.com.
Ellison Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Otis Ray Baker, Jr.

Otis Ray Baker, Jr., 80, passed away Saturday, August 5, 2023, at his home in Corbin, Kentucky.
Born November 21, 1942, in Bell County, he was the son of the late Otis Ray Baker, Sr., and Rachel Baker.
Otis was a member of Poplar Grove Baptist Church. Additionally, he was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a member of the Hugh Harris Masonic Lodge. A talented musician, Otis enjoyed the time he spent playing in his band, Otis Ray and the Greenfields. He also thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his family, as well as fishing.
In addition to his father and mother, Otis was preceded in death by his brother, Willie Baker, and his son-in-law, James Overstreet.
He leaves behind his loving wife of 61 years, Mary E. Baker; daughter, Deborah Lynn Baker; son, Darryl Wayne Baker and fiancé Jennifer; daughter, Kaye Denise Overstreet; grandchildren: Holly James Overstreet, Brandon Baker (Shapell) and Paige Baker (Markelle); and sister, Flora Jean Simpson (Robert). Other relatives and many friends also survive him.
Dearly loved, Otis will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, August 13, in the Hart Funeral Home Chapel with Bobby Joe Eaton officiating.
Burial will follow at Felts Chapel Cemetery in Corbin, Kentucky, with members of the West Knox Volunteer Fire Department serving as pallbearers.
Military rites were conducted by the American Legion Post 88 Honor Guard.
The family will receive friends from 12-2 P.M. Sunday at Hart Funeral Home, located at 1011 Master Street Corbin, KY 40701.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children.
Hart Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

W’Burg Housing hosts Back to School Bash Foam Party

 Photos by TIMOTHY WYATT 

The Housing Authority of Williamsburg, along with several local sponsors, held a Back to School Bash Foam Party last Wednesday outside the housing’s main office at Brush Arbor. Area students were invited to partake in a number of activities, including a foam pit and water slides, dancing and a free lunch. Those who attended received backpacks with free school supplies and new shoes. 

Competency evaluation expected for W’Burg man who shot at mother

A Williamsburg man, who is accused of shooting at and attempting to rob his mother during a January incident that led to a day-long manhunt, is expected to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

71st Nibroc happening this week

Last Saturday evening just after 9 p.m. I drove past the Root Beer Stand and it was dark and there were no cars there. As I proceeded down Main Street in Corbin there was hardly any sign of life.

Don Estep is publisher of the News Journal.

There were people out in restaurants and at the theater, but the lack of seeing people left an empty feeling in me.

I thought to myself, “How different it was when I was in my teens…” On a hot summer evening in August the town was alive with activity.

We had fun driving from one drive-in to another and meeting friends. We would go from the Wing Drive-In to Gerry’s, to the Hungry Hound, then across town to the Dairy Delle.

There would always be a gang of kids standing around the pool halls, the Lunch Queen and at the Youth Center. Those were the “good old days.”

Obviously, it is a different world we live in today. Air conditioning, computers, TV and the like keep us indoors. But the one big obstacle is daylight savings time. We had more time to enjoy activities after dark back then. I would like it better if we had standard time all year long.

A polling group made a survey recently of people around 70 years of age and asked them if life was better 50 years ago. Sixty-six percent of them said “yes.”

Fifty years ago that same company took a poll of the same age group and asked the same question. The result was the same. Sixty-six percent said life was better 50 years ago.

We tend to remember the good times and romanticize about them. Perhaps 50 years from now a poll could be taken and the outcome would be the same. At least I hope so, and I hope that young people will be experiencing a better quality of life.

This takes me back to the first Nibroc Festival 71 years ago. I was 12 years old and I remember it well. It was more of a community affair then, but of course we had more businesses downtown and a better opportunity to organize activities.

The festival has moved through several stages. To me, the best stages were the times when townspeople would dress up in old fashioned wear and stores would decorate their windows with historic items.

The other favorite was during the concert era. Bruce Carpenter brought us some of the top artists in the country and the concerts were free. They are still free, but we can’t afford the bigger names.

The one best festival for me was the 50th anniversary celebration. The weather was perfect. The activities were great. Our own Gary Edwards and Carl Hurley provided excellent entertainment.

I was younger and more active in helping with the festival then and I experienced how much work  Carpenter put in to making Nibroc a good time for all.

In the beginning Loraine Hodge, Chamber of Commerce secretary, worked to make the festival a success. After businesses moved from downtown to shopping centers Carpenter has worked for years to keep it that way. The festival is happening this week.

Come out, and have fun at Nibroc!