20 years ago, my wife agreed to put up with me permanently

This fall, my wonderful wife, Cecelia, and I will celebrate our 20-year wedding anniversary, but Tuesday marked another special date in our relationship.

Mark White is Editor of The News Journal.

It marked the 20^th anniversary of me popping the question and asking her to marry me. We had been dating for about seven months at the time.

Cecelia knew that a few weeks earlier I had been out looking at engagement rings, but somehow it never dawned on her that I was planning to pop the question. (Go figure.)

I asked her to marry me on the same day that I bought the ring. I left work early on a Friday to drive up to this jewelry store in London to get the ring, which I had seen a few weeks earlier.

I actually bought it at a jewelry store that was going out of business believe it or not. Is that confidence or what? (Not sure what I would have done if she had said no…LOL.)

After getting the ring I drove over to a church for a wedding rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner as one of Cecelia’s two best friends, Diana, was getting married the next day. Cecelia was the maid of honor and I was an usher at the wedding.

I carried the engagement ring around in my pocket during the entire rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.

My buddy, Eddie Arnold, was taking the wedding pictures, and was at the rehearsal dinner. I showed him the ring while we were in the parking lot.

After the rehearsal dinner, Cecelia and I went back to my place, which was only a few miles from the church. We were sitting on the couch watching television when the conversation turned to what we should tell people, if they asked about our relationship status.

I told Cecelia that I guessed this would depend on her answer to a question. Then she asked what question.

At that point I pulled the ring out of my pocket and got down on my knees to propose. I couldn’t tell you exactly what I said after that, but, suffice it to say, she said yes.

Needless to say that this was one of the best decisions of my life.

About three months later, we got married on Sept. 25.

(9/11 was on a Saturday that year and I tried to get her to get married on that date so that I wouldn’t ever be able to forget out anniversary date, but she wouldn’t go for it. Go figure…LOL.)

We got married by her preacher, who was actually a longtime family friend of mine, at my church.

We had decided to have a joint bank account, and I was running low on checks so I actually added her onto my checking account and ordered checks in the name of Mark White and Cecelia White before we even tied the knot.

As a matter of fact, my last check that solely had Mark White on it, went to pay the preacher for the wedding.

Also, let this column serve as a valuable life lesson for some of you younger single guys out there. You put the engagement ring on your credit card, get married, have joint money, and then let her pay for part of her own engagement ring after the wedding…LOL.

To borrow a line from Beyonce, some of you single ladies out there wanting your man to go ahead and put a ring on it sooner rather than later, might want to make sure that he reads this column.

Thank you Cecelia for saying yes 20 years ago, and I look forward to the next 20 years with you. I still love you with all my heart.

District Court Records

Editor’s note: The News Journal publishes only the final disposition of district court criminal cases except for those which are waived to a grand jury or dismissed without condition.

Lawsuits

Marriage Licenses

Deeds

Two women claim they were wrongly accused of illegal activity at Corbin cosmetology school

Tara Dizney and Kendra Arthur were among the four women indicted in 2022 in connection to the Creations School of Cosmetology in Corbin. All four subsequently had their cases dismissed in 2023 after prosecutors decided there had been no wrongdoing. Now, Dizney and Arthur have filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology (KBC) inspector and administrator, who the women allege used false information to have the charges brought forth against them.

North Carolina man convicted on multiple assault charges involving police, EMT, nurse

A North Carolina man, who was accused of assaulting several officers, an EMT and a nurse during a domestic dispute last year in Williamsburg, was convicted on multiple charges Tuesday afternoon following a two-day trial.

Sandra (Davis) Funk

Sandra (Davis) Funk, age 80, departed this life on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Beech Tree Manor.
She was born on April 13, 1944, in Jellico, Tennessee, to Joe Davis and Lillie (Cupp) Davis.
She is preceded in death by her parents; brothers, William Lee Davis and Leonard Davis; sisters, Daisy Davis, Biddie Taylor and Arlene Leach; brothers-in-law, Oscar Taylor, Jr. and James Leach, Sr.; sisters-in-law, Judy Davis, Bette Davis and Marie Davis.
She is survived by her husband, Ward Allen Funk; brother, Wallace Davis; and a host of nieces and nephews, family and friends.
She has been a second mother to all her nieces and nephews whom she loved like her own. She is a long-standing member of the Jellico Church of God.
Funeral service was Monday, June 10, at the Harp Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Wallace Davis officiating.
Burial was Tuesday, June 11, in the Douglas Cemetery in the Wooldridge Community.
Harp Funeral Home of Jellico in charge of arrangements.

Beginning in August 1987, this paper had two editions

As of August 12, 1987 our staff had two newspapers to publish – the Whitley Republican and Corbin! This Week.

Don Estep is publisher of the News Journal.

The same stories were in each edition, but to give identity to both we would make up the Whitley Republican with all Williamsburg related stories on the front page and the Whitley masthead also on the front.

After we shot negatives of that edition we would then take off Williamsbrug related stories on the front page and replace them with Corbin news of interest along with the Corbin masthead.

That was a lot of work just to satisfy the ego of both areas. After four and a half years of doing this I asked Terry Forcht if we could change the masthead and combine the two editions under the name the News Journal.

With his permission the two editions became the News Journal in August of 1992. This change saved us hours of time. We didn’t do away with the Whitley Republican and Corbin! This Week, we continue to this day to include them as part of our masthead.

That change gave us greater growth and identity. When dealing with advertising agencies we no longer had to explain that the other names were those of a newspaper, the News Journal said it all.

Following the success of this newspaper Terry Forcht purchased a copycat paper that had started in Somerset called Pulaski Week and we started a newspaper in London called Laurel News Journal.

I then had three newspapers to oversee. Printing all of them became a major headache. We took them from one printing plant to another and finally we thought we had one that could handle the job at Danville. But after several weeks there the press crew threatened to walk out if we didn’t leave because our job was too big.

They gave me one week to find another printer. I got the Lexington Herald Leader to print us. Later Terry came up with a solution to our printing problems. Next week I’ll write about it.

Three local students awarded with Forcht Bank Community Impact Scholarships

Forcht Bank has awarded three graduating high school seniors a scholarship of $5,000 each as part of its Community Impact Scholarship for the 2023-2024 school year.

Regional President Michael Sharpe presents a $5,000 scholarship check to Sydnee Moore, alongside her parents, Kelli and Allen, at the Richmond Forcht Bank branch.

Jackson Utter, Chloe Simpson and Sydnee Moore will each receive $5,000 to help further their education.

Moore, of Corbin School of Innovation, plans to major in communication disorders: Utter, of Grant County High School, plans to major in biology; and Simpson, of Green County High School, plans to major in occupational therapy. All three students plan to continue their education at Eastern Kentucky University.

As the name describes, the focus of the scholarship is on the impact each student made on enhancing their community amid other responsibilities, like academics, sports, and employment.

Market President Josh Myers and Financial Center Manager Marla Durrett present a $5,000 scholarship check to Chloe Simpson at Green County High School.

“The commitment of Forcht Bank to education reflects a deep understanding of our role in community development and prosperity. By investing in the educational endeavors of local students, the bank is not only fostering individual growth but also nurturing potential future leaders who will continue to drive positive change within their communities,” said Forcht Bank President and CEO Tucker Ballinger. “This dedication to education and community support is a testament to the bank’s recognition of the long-term benefits that such investments can yield, both for the individuals involved and for the broader society.”

This year, over 100 high school seniors applied with six students reaching the final stage for in-person panel interviews.

Market President Craig Houchens presents a $5,000 scholarship check to Jackson Utter at the Crittenden Forcht Bank branch.

The three students, who reached the final stage for interviews but were not awarded the full Community Impact Scholarship, were each given a $500 scholarship.

Applicants were evaluated on various areas, including GPA, two essays, honors and awards, employment and extracurricular activities, and community involvement and volunteering. Eligible students included any graduating high school senior that resided in a market/county that Forcht Bank serves and has a physical presence.

For more information on the Community Impact Scholarship, please visit: https://www.forchtbank.com/Discover/Community-Impact-Scholarship.