Pastor Robert (Bob) Van Keuren

Pastor Robert (Bob) Van Keuren, age 88, of Williamsburg, Kentucky passed away peacefully on July 3, 2023.
Robert was born November 11, 1934 in Oakland, California to Paul Richard Van Keuren and Grace Elenor (Leary) Van Keuren.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary (Van Keuren) Cole and both parents.
Robert is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Vennie (Sira) Van Keuren, originally from Hayward, California; daughters, Cindy Condict and husband Jon of Griffith, Indiana, Barbie Sanguinetti and husband Jim of Santa Cruz, California, and Grace Hurst and husband Darrell of Williamsburg, Kentucky; thirteen grandchildren, Donnie (Dawn) Sanguinetti, Holly (Duane) Foley, Jonathan Condict, Jessica Condict, Darrell (Brittany) Hurst II, David Condict, Nathan (Rachel) Hurst, Chuckie (Stephanie) Condict, Nikki Sanguinetti, Monica Hurst, Jamie (Jonah Kauffmann) Sanguinetti, Levi Hurst, and Seth Hurst; nine great-grandchildren, E. J. Sanguinetti, Evan Sanguinetti, Addy Sanguinetti, Brenner Sanguinetti, Dakota Foley, Ethan Foley, Colton Hurst, Bristol Hurst, and Emma Hurst.
Robert served his country in the Navy for 25 years, enlisting at the age of 17. He served with honor in the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. He retired with the rank of Master Chief, the highest rank for an enlisted sailor. He was Pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Santa Cruz, California.
Funeral service was Saturday, July 8, at the New Zion Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Kentucky with Rev. Darrell Hurst and Nathan Hurst officiating.
He was laid to rest in the Highland Cemetery.
Military honors were conducted by the American Legion Post 88 in Corbin, Kentucky.
Croley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Raymond Harold Higginbotham

Raymond Harold Higginbotham, age 90, of Williamsburg, Kentucky departed this life on July 8, 2023 at the Heritage in Corbin, Kentucky. Raymond was born on January 9, 1933 in Williamsburg, Kentucky to Azrie Higginbotham and Verlie (Meadors) Higginbotham. He was preceded in death by his parents, Azrie and Verlie (Meadors) Higginbotham; wife, Phyllis Lynn (Creekmore) Higginbotham; brother, H. C. Higginbotham; and sister, Betty Ruth Jones.
Raymond enjoyed spending time with his family (especially his loving grandchildren), hunting, fishing, and gardening.
Raymond is survived by his sons, Larry Higginbotham (Becky) of Woodbine, Kentucky, Boyd Higginbotham of Williamsburg, Kentucky, and Shannon Higginbotham (Elizabeth) of Williamsburg, Kentucky; grandchildren, Sarah Rivera, Tabitha Buchanan, Julia Buchanan, Rachel Ward, Ben Higginbotham, Rebecca Harrison, McKayla Higginbotham, Emily Couch, Raelee Higginbotham, Azrie Higginbotham, Annalise Higginbotham, Joshua Higginbotham, and Justin Higginbotham; 17 great grandchildren; brother, Ralph Higginbotham of Williamsburg, Kentucky; several nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends to mourn his passing.
Funeral service will be at 1:00 PM on Friday, June 14, at the Croley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Doyle Lester officiating.
He will be laid to rest in the Jellico Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
Croley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Judy Ruth (Brown) Collins

Judy Ruth (Brown) Collins, 74, of Corbin, KY passed on Thursday, July 6, 2023 at Baptist Health in Corbin.
Judy was born on October 24, 1948 in Rockholds, KY to the late Opal (Terrell) Pfoff and late Robert Cecil Brown.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Donald Hal Collins; sisters Carol (Smith) Rose and Cleta Mae Smith; brothers James (Jimmy) Smith and Bobby Joe Smith.
She is survived by her only son, Donald Andrew (Andy) Collins of Corbin, KY; brother, Paul Brown of Corbin, KY; sister, Jewell (Pfoff) Farmer of Corbin, KY; and a number of nieces, nephews and other family and friends to mourn her passing.
Judy will be remembered, and deeply missed, as a loving and devoted mother, a selfless and generous caregiver to her family and friends, an excellent cook, and a bingo enthusiast.
Croley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Internship with the News Journal was an eye-opening experience

For those of you wondering about the unfamiliar reporter in the paper, it was me, Leeann Fragosa, the 10-week intern who had the time of her life at the Corbin News Journal.

Willis gets Project Gratitude Honor a Caregiver Award

Baptist Health Corbin Director of Critical Care (CCU) Eric Willis, RN, has become the Baptist Health Foundation Corbin’s first recipient of the Honor a Caregiver Award, because of a letter of gratitude recognizing him for his excellent patient care and a donation to the Foundation in his name.

The award, Honor a Caregiver, is given when a patient makes a monetary contribution, of any amount, to the foundation in honor of that said caregiver for the exceptional care they received. With this initiative, anyone can recognize a caregiver and donate any amount from $1 to $1 million in their name.

“Experiencing grateful patients express gratitude first hand is immense. We are tremendously blessed here at Baptist Health Corbin with exceptional caregivers and patients who embody the culture of gratitude,” said Ryan Yother, Philanthropy Officer of the Baptist Health Foundation Corbin.

Willis was a staff nurse on CCU before becoming the director in 2021.

The Honor a Caregiver Award is part of Project Gratitude, which is a system-wide initiative throughout all nine Baptist hospitals to recognize its exceptional caregivers.

This is not the first time Willis has been recognized for his dedication to his patients and staff.

Willis was the recipient of the WE SEE YOU CARE award by Hicuity Health in 2021 to acknowledge his exemplary efforts of bedside clinicians and team members from partner hospitals in leveraging acute care telemedicine to improve how care is delivered for both patients and their families.

“Eric is a trailblazer when it comes to promoting the best care for his patient,” Baptist Health Corbin wrote in a release. “Congratulations Eric, we are so proud of you.”

Anthony Powers, President of Baptist Health Corbin, stated, “We are so proud of Eric as he is honored for his exceptional care of our patients. We congratulate him as he accepts the Honor a Caregiver Award.”

Baptist Health Corbin is a 273-bed, acute care facility providing a wide variety of healthcare services to the residents of Whitley, Knox, Laurel, Bell, Clay, McCreary, Harlan and Campbell counties in Kentucky and Campbell County in Tennessee.

Corbin Rotary Club announces new leadership, new Paul Harris Fellows

On July 6, the Corbin Rotary Club installed its new lead officers for the 2023-24 term and recognized two more Paul Harris Fellows.

Mallory Davis (left) was installed as the new Corbin Rotary Club President Thursday, and Lisa Kersey (right) was installed as the new Corbin Rotary Club Vice-President.

Replacing outgoing President Chase Hail is Mallory Davis, a State Farm Agent in Corbin.

Moving up to fill Davis’ former role as Vice President is Lisa Kersey of Forcht Group in Corbin.

Hail received a plaque of recognition for his dedication as president.

“I’m so thankful for the opportunity and am looking forward to hopefully more in the future in Rotary, but am glad to have gotten through this year and hopefully did it well,” Hail said after receiving recognition. “I am very excited to introduce your new president… she is very organized, she runs a business, she runs a family, and I think she is going to be an excellent president for you… She helped me out a ton,” Hail finalized.

Hail then passed the gavel to Davis.

“I am a very proud Rotarian and am excited for this year and excited to represent the Corbin Rotary Club,” Davis said. “I am excited to have Lisa as my vice president. We work well together…I know she will do an excellent job,” Davis said.

Davis being president was exceptionally neat to see because her father was also a Rotarian president once before, and she is now able to extend that legacy.

This would be the first time in Corbin Rotary Club history that the daughter or son of a former club president is now club president.

In other Rotary business, two other Paul Harris Fellows were recognized.

The Paul Harris Fellowship is an honor given to those who significantly contribute to Rotary International and the Corbin Rotary Club.

The two Paul Harris Fellows recognized were Steve Vaughn and David Keck by outgoing President Chase Hail and J. Bill Sosh, Secretary-Treasurer.

Vaughn was a past president and an outstanding member of the club.

“Steve worked very hard as your president last year to make sure that all club members participated and were active in their service projects, and he actually received a Rotary citation for that,” Hail said before a round of applause began. “Now that I have been in his shoes, I realize how hard it can be.”

David Keck is the owner of David’s Steakhouse and Catering. The club has held its weekly meetings at the restaurant for several years. Keck has also assisted the club on many projects.

“You have helped us out on so many projects… you have been very generous and supportive,” Sosh said.

Keck shared his thanks and appreciation upon receiving the recognition.

Find out more information about the Rotary International organization by visiting www.rotary.org

Final defendant in 2019 murder case sentenced to more than 60 years in prison

The last remaining defendant in the 2019 killing of Billy Lawson has been sentenced to more than 60 years in prison.

Jordan Miracle, 26, of Williamsburg, entered a guilty plea in May to charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence, attempting to escape from a penitentiary and an amended count of second-degree robbery as part of an agreement with prosecutors. He appeared in Whitley Circuit Court on July 3 to be sentenced on those charges.

According to the Whitley Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Judge Paul Winchester ruled to follow the sentencing recommendations set forth in Miracle’s agreement. Per that agreement, Miracle was sentenced to serve 45 years for the murder charge, five years for tampering with physical evidence, 10 years for second-degree robbery and five years for the escape charge.

The sentences will all be served consecutively for a total of 65 years.

Three counts of kidnapping that Miracle initially faced stemming from his role in a failed escape attempt at the Whitley County Detention Center last April were dismissed as part of the agreement.

Miracle was the one remaining defendant left in each of his two cases, with all other individuals having pled guilty for their roles in each.

The two other men charged in Lawson’s death, Jamie and James Muse, each entered guilty pleas for their roles in Lawson’s death in March.

Jamie Muse entered a guilty plea to charges of murder, tampering with physical evidence and an amended count of second-degree robbery. James Muse entered a guilty plea to charges of first-degree robbery, tampering with physical evidence and an amended count of facilitation to murder. Prosecutors recommended a total sentence of 60 years for Jamie Muse and 15 years for James Muse.

Both men were sentenced Monday in Whitley Circuit Court, prior to Miracle’s plea. Winchester ruled to follow the recommendations for their sentencings as set forth in their agreements.

The two other men facing charges in the WCDC escape attempt, Nicholas Rucker and Paul Brock, have also entered guilty pleas in their cases. In February, Rucker pled guilty to charges of attempting to escape from a penitentiary. In March, Brock pled guilty to attempting to escape from a penitentiary and three counts of kidnapping. Rucker and Brock have also both been sentenced.

Case History

Lawson’s killing took place in a building located at 12076 US25W near Jellico, Tennessee, where he operated a game room.

His body was discovered after several people became concerned when they couldn’t get in touch with him and went to the establishment looking for him. He was stabbed 39 times.

Kentucky State Police Detective Billy Correll testified during a preliminary hearing in February 2019 in Whitley District Court that Jordan Miracle and Jamie Muse each claimed that the other was responsible for Lawson’s stabbing, and that James Muse drove the trio away after the killing. Then their vehicle broke down a few miles from the crime scene.

On the day Lawson’s body was discovered, Tommy Leach Towing contacted police after towing James Muse’s black Kia Spectra. Police found red stains inside that looked like blood and three unmatched kitchen type knives in the front passenger side floorboard of the vehicle.

In April 2022, Brock and Rucker participated in an attempted escape from the WCDC. During that incident, detention center staff were lured into a cell by a fabricated medical emergency before the pair allegedly locked the staff members in the cell and jammed the lock.

Rucker and Brock eventually made their way to the WCDC control room, where they threatened to kill the correction officer on duty if he didn’t open the doors. The pair were ultimately unable to get out as the last door standing in their way was locked, and police showed up a short time later.

According to police, Miracle participated in the planning stages of the escape.

Photo Gallery: Cumberland Valley Cruise-In

Numerous people attended the Cumberland Valley Cruise-In, which was held Saturday in downtown Corbin.

Cameron lays out his vision for Kentucky during campaign fundraising stop in Corbin

Republican gubernatorial nominee Daniel Cameron told the crowd of nearly 100 people in Corbin Monday evening that he has a vision for Kentucky that “reflects your values.”

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron addressed about 100 supporters inside the Corbin Center Monday night during a special fundraising event that was hosted by Terry and Marion Forcht. Cameron is the Republican gubernatorial candidate, and will challenge sitting Governor Andy Beshear this fall.

“I am proud to be part of a party that isn’t ashamed of the name Jesus Christ. Like most of you in this room, I assume that you don’t identify yourself as your title at work,” Cameron told the audience. “You think of your identity as a Christ follower, and as a husband or wife, or as a parent. That is certainly the way that I relate and walk in life.”

The crowd was gathered at the Corbin Center for a campaign fundraising event, which was organized by Corbin businessman Terry Forcht and his wife, Marion.

Cameron said that what we have seen the last three and one-half years from his opponent, incumbent governor Andy Beshear, has been values that reflect anything other than the values of people in Whitley County or in any of the other 119 counties in the state.

“What we have seen from Andy Beshear has been a value system that says he would rather stand with Joe Biden and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence than stand with the hard working men and women of Kentucky,” Cameron said.

Cameron noted that there are 27,000 fewer Kentuckians working since Beshear took office.

In 2020, when the pandemic struck, Beshear decided to lock down schools to keep students out and to unlock our jails. Beshear released about 2,000 inmates from jails and prison, and about one-third of those went on to re-offend, Cameron said.

The Biden administration has repeatedly said that it wants to get rid of the fossil fuel industry by 2035, which Cameron notes would destroy the competitive advantage Kentucky has with reliable and low cost energy, thanks to coal and natural gas.

AG Daniel Cameron poses with Marion and Terry Forcht, who hosted the special fundraising event for the gubernatorial candidate at the Corbin Center Monday evening.

“The Biden administration wants to get rid of all that and Andy Beshear is absent and silent,” Cameron said.

“We should make sure that any ideas that would try to destroy or undermine our coal and natural gas industry do not make their way here to Kentucky,” Cameron said to a round of applause.

Cameron noted that Beshear claims to be compassionate, but there was nothing compassionate about shutting down Kentucky’s churches during the pandemic.

“There was nothing compassionate about a governor that tells big business that they can play by one set of rules, but that small businesses have to shut down and be considered non-essential. That is not compassion. That is not leadership,” Cameron contended. “This is why I think Kentuckians are ready for a new direction, a course correction, if you will, come November.”

When Cameron took the attorney general’s job nearly three and one-half years ago, he pledged to do it with neither “fear nor favor.”

“It has been an honor to serve as the 51^st Attorney General of Kentucky and fighting human trafficking, fighting child abuse, standing up for the unborn, looking out for our most vulnerable in our communities and bringing in nearly $900 million into this state to fight the opioid epidemic,” Cameron said.

“It has been an honor to serve in that capacity and stand up for constitutional rights. It is a great honor to be here tonight as your Republican nominee for governor to carry the mantle of the party of Lincoln, to carry the mantle of a party that is advocating constantly for small businesses, for teachers, for law enforcement, for every single Kentuckian across our 120 counties.”

Cameron said that a recent poll has him and Beshear tied with each of them having 47 percent of the vote, which he feels like is a good position to be in at this point in the race.

“I think if you are an incumbent governor and you are tied with a challenger that just came out of a 12-person primary, if you are tied with that person – regardless of whether you are a Republican or a Democrat – you should be concerned,” Cameron said.

“We feel like we are in a good position to win. I think, in my judgment, that it has very little to do with me. It has everything to do with you all in this room. It has everything to do with you all wanting to see your vision and your values reflected in the leadership of this state.”

Cameron took questions from the crowd at the close of the event, but he only received one from Corbin Mayor Suzie Razmus, who asked who Cameron’s lieutenant governor running mate was going to be.

Cameron replied there are several good potential running mates out there, and that his campaign is actively working on that.

He anticipates making an announcement soon, possibly next week.

SCC president speaks about appeal of community colleges at luncheon

Sometimes there are students that can’t afford to go to a four-year university. Sometimes there are students that aren’t quite academically where they need to be yet.

Dr. Carey Castle, who is president and CEO of Somerset Community College (SCC), was the keynote speaker during the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s monthly membership luncheon Tuesday.

The 16 state community colleges that are part of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) realize that there are various reasons that students might choose to attend a community or technical college, including life events, which prevent them from attending class on a full-time basis. About 66 percent of students are part-time.

“We understand students have other lives. That things happen outside of school. We understand some are supporting kids or just trying to make ends meet,” noted Dr. Carey Castle, who is president and CEO of Somerset Community College (SCC).

“When they come in, we can assess them academically and help them get that background they need to be successful in regular classes and to complete a program they choose,” Castle added.

KCTCS offers students tools to help get them through school, such as tutoring or help with child care, he said.

This was part of the message that Castle delivered to the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce during its monthly membership luncheon Tuesday, which was held at The Corbin Center.

Castle noted that the community colleges have the same required standards as any of their sister universities.

“Our instructors must be qualified to the same level, and classes must meet the same criteria. Our classes will directly transfer to all of these state universities and institutions,” Castle said. “We’re not cheaper; just less costly. Students are getting the same quality teachers at a level they should expect from a university.”

About half of students enrolled at SCC are on a transfer track to go onto a four-year university while paying about half as much for tuition their first two years of college.

Forcht Bank sponsored Tuesday’s Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce monthly membership luncheon, which was held at The Corbin Center. Above, Mike Sharpe spoke briefly during the event.

Castle noted that 66 percent of students paid zero tuition due to financial aid, and 89 percent of students got some type of financial aid in 2020. In addition, 73 percent of students graduated without any type of student loan.

During the last academic year, KCTCS had 101,000 students enrolled, awarded 38,000 degrees or certifications, and taught over 1.2 million credit hours.

KCTCS also graduated 14,500 people with over 30,000 target industry credentials.

“Those students, our employees and our alumni contribute about $3.5 billion to the Kentucky economy. Yet, we don’t have a football or basketball team … We don’t have dormitories either. Remember, our focus is on communities,” Castle said.

Castle noted that degrees from community colleges have value.

On average, people with an associate’s degree make $154 more per week than those with only a high school diploma. Also, the unemployment rate for those with an associate’s degree averages 4.6 percent compared to 6.2 percent for those with only a high school diploma.

“On average, SCC graduates will earn $8,200 more per year or nearly $340,000 more over a 40-year career before promotions and raises, but our value to students and communities doesn’t stop there … Each dollar spent on education by a student at SCC will be multiplied to $7.20 for the student in value, $4.40 for the taxpayers in added revenue and public sector savings, and $11 for society for other revenue and social savings,” Castle said.

Forcht Bank was the luncheon sponsor for Tuesday’s chamber luncheon.

Bojangles provided the catering.