There are people working to preserve history

Continuing with the historical theme from Trevor’s column, Monday I met with Diane Mitchell, her brother Rob Miller and Paul Jones at the Corbin Public Library.

Don Estep is publisher of the News Journal.

Diane set up the meeting in order to get information Paul and I could recall about Corbin’s history. I’ll admit that I did more listening than talking because Paul, Diane and Rob are a treasure chest of knowledge about the town.

Diane and Rob amazed me with the information they had already collected. The purpose of this collection is for a history room that is being developed at the library about Corbin’s past.

Then of course Paul Jones, at 100 years of age, amazed us with his vivid memory of the past. It was interesting and exciting to hear him recall the names of people and buildings that existed many years ago.

Diane is heading up a group of people who are working on this project. Already much digital work has been accomplished and more will be added. It is pleasing to know that the history of Corbin will be available to all because of their work.

I learned so much at the meeting. I wish I could share it with everybody, but that is being worked on by Diane. Sometime in the future she is working to organize a session for several people, plus stream the event so people everywhere can witness it. We will let you know when this will take place.

Some of what I learned was that the Hall-Watson building, the big building on the east side of the underpass, was built in 1913. It may be the oldest building in town. If you have better information about an older building, let me know.

I shared a little information. The building where I am writing this column is the location of the News Journal in Corbin and it was the location of the first movie theater in Corbin. It was called the Kentucky Theater.

A side note to this was told to me by my late friend Baker Reasor. He said when he was a kid he was paid to shoot his cap gun when the silent westerns were playing. He would stand behind the screen and when they started shooting he provided sound.

Please continue to be aware of this project and contribute if you have information.

• A sad ending to this column. Two of my friends passed away. Paul Estes, whom I worked with as a Trustee of the University of the Cumberlands for many years, and Ken Harp, whom I worked with in the television booth for 30 years at Central Baptist Church and delivered the News Journal for us at one time. May they rest in peace!

Toy and supply giveaway event helps families in Whitley County

Last week, folks in Whitley County who were in need of food, clothing, or even toys for young children, were in luck as the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) partnered with several other groups to present a one-day free giveaway event on the campus of Whitley County High School. (more…)

Whitley County Grand Jury reports no election issues

The Whitley County Grand Jury has found no legal issues concerning the recent May Primary Election in Whitley County, according to its monthly report issued Monday.

Pursuant to applicable law, the grand jury reviewed the reports of the various precinct officers, the election commission and the county court clerk regarding the Primary Election, which was conducted on May 16, 2023.

“After reviewing all the reports and information furnished to the grand jury, the grand jury found no information which would warrant further investigation, nor evidence of wrongdoing or abuse of the election process during the last election,” according to the report.

“The grand jury concludes that to the extent of the information provided to the grand jury, it appears that the election was conducted in a lawful and legal manner with no further inquiry being required,” the report continued.

State law requires the grand jury to issue such a report after each regularly scheduled election.

Mason named a Corbin Colonel for his work with Marvel Comics

While there are many Marvel Comics fans in Corbin, most of them probably don’t realize a Marvel illustrator lives right here amongst us.

The Corbin City Commission presented Marvel Comics illustrator Justin Mason with a Corbin Colonel during Monday’s regular monthly meeting. Also pictured are Mason’s wife and two children.

Lemonade Stand Contest held last Friday in Williamsburg

  Photos by TIMOTHY WYATT 

Williamsburg’s inaugural Lemonade Stand Decorating Contest was held Friday afternoon at the Green Space on Main, where a group of enterprising young citizens competed for the title of  Williamsburg’s “Main Squeeze.” A panel of judges gauged each stand based on a variety of criteria, including design, creativeness and color. At the end of the event, Nori’s Unicorn Lemonade was named as the winner.

State Naturalist Robert Myers shares array of knowledge during breakfast at the Falls

During a recent delicious breakfast served bright and early at the Cumberland Falls Resort Park, State Naturalist Robert Myers and Director of Interpretation and Engagement Seth Wheat shared their knowledge on different subjects, including waterfalls, birds, animals, the history of the park, and the overall enjoyment of being in the park.

Myers was eager to explain his passion for passing information about Cumberland Falls to anyone willing to listen.

“This program has been around for a long time… We catch people and talk to them because a lot of people don’t know about our program. We stumble upon new people from California, Iowa, and Georgia… they’ve never heard of this place in their life until they stumbled upon it, or I stumbled upon them. That gave us an opportunity to reach more people,” Myers said.

Wheat explained how they came up with the event initially and the success that came with it.

“One of our most important responsibilities is to interact with our guests,” Wheat said. “We thought this would be a great idea… one of our supervisors in the Frankfort office who has worked with us for years, Ron Vanover, encouraged us to come to what is called ‘Breakfast with the State Naturalists’. It was a very informal program. We started at about 8 a.m., introduced ourselves…Robert gave a brief history of the park and the unique things you can find here at the Falls.”

Myers not only discussed the breathtaking waterfall, but also emphasized the enjoyment of the park’s fun trails and the various animals found. He further went into depth about the rich history they want to preserve and keep alive.

Individuals who attended the event developed a deeper appreciation for nature and Cumberland Falls, discovering a unique combination of natural wonders and captivating history.

“To me, it’s a very unique way to combine the things that are great about our natural world or the things that are great about our history, to present that to people in an exciting and engaging way… It’s a way to take that thing that was so much fun growing up and share it with people,” Wheat said.

Wheat explains that although there are no definite plans set in place, they have plans to do another event like this one due to the success and turnout. They also hope to go to other parks. They would like to go to the natural bridge, bring people together on the bridge itself, interact with them, and go up to Pine Mountain with Robert and other staff.

In 2024, they will be celebrating their 100th anniversary, so they hope to have, and are currently planning, a number of events for that.

“We want people to come, whether they are from out of state or in-state. For instate individuals, we want them to come into their own backyard and discover or rediscover this natural environment that has created a moonbow that happens every month. It is in nowhere else in the world except for Africa,” Myers said.

To spread the word, Myers encouraged readers to share the information with their friends, while Wheat directed people to visit their website parks.ky.gov, contact the Falls at (606) 528-4121, and follow their social media accounts for updates on upcoming events and program specials.

Whitley Co. BOE approves district-wide raises

Employees of the Whitley County School District will be receiving a second wage increase in just over a year’s time following a decision made last week by the Whitley County Board of Education.

The board met for their regular monthly meeting on June 15, where the district’s salary schedule for the 2023-2024 school year was set, which will include a 2 percent pay raise. Superintendent John Siler said the raise would be district-wide.

“Across the board, every employee,” said Siler.

Board Chair Brenda Hill said that being able to provide raises is always something the board is happy to do.

“I just feel like they all deserve a raise for all the work they put in,” said Hill. “We have a great group and they work very hard and anytime we can reward them, we’re pleased to be able to do that.”

This year’s raise will differ from those provided last year in that they were based on an employee’s role within the district. For the 2022-2023 school year, employees who held classified positions—or non-teaching personnel—received an 8 percent raise, with all other district employees receiving a 4 percent raise.

In other board of education business:

– The ongoing construction to upgrades on the track at Whitley County Middle School has hit a bit of a roadblock after the discovery of unsuitable soils found below the existing track.

Suzanne Irwin, a project architect with Ross Tarrant Architects, said that discussions have already begun on how to best and most-economically solve the problem.

“We have been in the process of defining what needs to happen there and we are awaiting pricing on a solution from that,” said Irwin. “There were several options given and we talked through that and we’re looking for another alternative that I believe will be a better solution.”

That project originally included a full resurfacing of the track, but was later adjusted to include new concrete below the track as well due to multiple cracks found within it. Other facets of the project included improving the existing lane for the long jump/triple jump and adding a second lane, while also upgrading the shotput and discus throwing area and moving them behind one of the endzones.

The project was initially projected to be complete in June, but has since been pushed to late July. Completion will likely be delayed again due to the soil issue, according to Irwin.

Whitley County Grand Jury indicts 15 people on drug-related charges

The Whitley County Grand Jury handed down 15 drug-related indictments while issuing its monthly report Monday morning.

Firefighters battle blaze at Whitley County home twice in one day

A home located on Stoney Fork Road in Whitley County caught fire in the early-morning hours of Monday, June 19.

Legal Notices for 6-21-2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that The Forest Corporation d/b/a Forest Hills Shopping Center has filed an application with the Energy and Environment Cabinet to construct two (2) clear span bridges approximately 40 feet in length at points along Bacon Creek for the purpose of connecting property owned by The Forest Corporation. The property is located at 1019 Cumberland Falls Highway (U.S. 25 W), Corbin, Kentucky approximately 1.9 miles east of Interstate 75 Exit 25 and approximately 0.9 miles west of the intersection of U.S. 25 W and KY 26. Any comments or objections can be submitted via email to DOWfloodplain@ky.gov Kentucky Division of Water, Floodplain Management Section, 300 Sower Blvd., Frankfort, KY 40601. Call 502.564.3410 with questions.

PUBLIC NOTICE:

In accordance with 702 KAR 4:180, the Whitley County Board of Education will conduct a Public Hearing on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. at 300 Main Street, Williamsburg, Kentucky.  The public is invited to provide comments regarding the District Facility Plan.

LEGAL NOTICE

APPLICANTS SOUGHT FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BOARD

The annual meeting of the Cumberland River Behavioral Health Board, Inc. will be held at our Corbin Office, 1203 American Greeting Road, Corbin, KY 40701 at 7:00 p.m., July 17, 2023. The Board of Directors for the current fiscal year will be appointed. Citizens interested in serving on this Board should contact the Cumberland River Behavioral Health, Inc., Nominating Committee, P.O. Box 568, 1203 American Greeting Road, Corbin, Kentucky 40702 no later than July, 10, 2023

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO MINE

Pursuant to Application Number

918-0504 AM-2

In accordance with KRS 350.070 notice is hereby given that Alden Resources LLC 332 West Cumberland Gap Parkway, Suite 100, Corbin, Kentucky 40701 has applied for a permit for an amendment to an existing permit for a surface, auger/highwall coal mining and reclamation operation. The amendment will add 80.23 surface acres and 90.65 Auger/HWM acres affecting 503.56 acres located 5.25 miles east of Rockholds in Whitley & Knox Counties.

The proposed amendment area is approximately 5.25 miles east of Rockholds in Whitley & Knox County Kentucky, and is approximately 0.64 miles east of KY 1064 junction with Terrell Hollow Road.

The proposed amendment is located on the Rockholds, KY 7½ minute quadrangle map.  The amendment area will use a combination of contour, and auger/highwall miner methods of surface mining.  The surface mining area to be disturbed by the amendment is owned by Freda Mae Brock, Garry Jr. & Amber Inman, Vickie Sams, George Williams & Judy Burns, Brian Elliott, Rita Singleton, & Ella McCreary, Harold Grant, Jerry McKinley, Gary Grant, Ray Decker, Arthur Foley, Verna Decker, and Kristina Hensley.

The application has been filed for public inspection at the Department for Surface Mining and Reclamation and Enforcement’s, Middlesboro Regional Office, 1804 East Cumberland Avenue, Middlesboro, Kentucky 40965-1229.  Written comments, objections or requests for a permit conference must be filed with the Director, Division of Mine Permits, 300 Sower Boulevard, 2nd Floor Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO MINE

Pursuant to Application Number 918-0508, Renewal

In accordance with KRS 350.055 notice is hereby given that EN Enterprises, LLC 121 Vermillion Ave Whitesburg, KY 41858 has applied for renewal of a permit to an existing surface coal mining and reclamation operation located 1.0 miles south of Duckrun in Whitley County. The operation will disturb 105.57 surface acres and will underlie 0.0 acres, and the total area within the permit boundary will be 105.57 acres.

The existing operation is approximately 0.5 miles east from the intersection of KY 1673 and Kidd Road and located 0.5 miles west of Jacks Creek.

The operation is located on the Hollyhill U.S.G.S. 7-1/2 minute quadrangle map. The surface area is owned by Paul Wilburn.

The application has been filed for public inspection at the Department for Surface Mining and Reclamation and Enforcement’s Middlesboro Kentucky Regional Office, 1804 East Cumberland Ave., Middlesboro, KY 40965.  Written comments, objections, or requests for a permit conference must be filed with the Director, Division of Permits 300 Sower Boulevard, 2nd Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601.