Housing Insecurity: Local faith leaders talk challenges, resources and more

Over the years, White Flag Ministry has served thousands of meals and helped hundreds of people in need find warmth and shelter on some of the coldest nights of the year. These efforts, spearheaded by First Baptist Church of Corbin, have been well-documented by this publication and others, but as time has progressed the issues that have led people to seek out the services of this ministry have not changed. If anything, the problem has grown, making it necessary for ministry leaders to begin thinking more about people’s long-term needs, as opposed to just providing temporary assistance. (more…)

 

It can be interesting to see what riles people up on social media

Sometimes the things that people get riled up over on social media can be quite interesting.

For instance, take a recent story about Corbin officials urging people to cut their grass before the code enforcement officer had to cite them for it being too high.

It was a story that we didn’t have room for in our printed newspaper that week, so we put it up on our website and social media as web only content. (Having more stories than you can fit into the newspaper can be a nice problem to have sometimes…LOL.)

As of Monday morning, there had been over 250 Facebook comments on that story that covered a broad range of feelings, such as “seriously is this really what we have to worry about in Corbin!” and “amazing how they can tell you what to do with your own property,” to “in Lexington, if it gets over a certain height, the city will mow it and charge you for it. We take pride in having well-manicured lawns and expect our neighbors to do the same.”

Other commenters pointed out roads, such as Kentucky Avenue, with potholes that need fixing. Many don’t seem to realize that many of the roads mentioned are actually state roads, which city leaders would also love to see fixed by the way.

Most of the commenters – many of whom I suspect don’t live inside the city limits – ­were basically opposed to the ideas of a city being able to tell property owners what to do with their property.

I get this sentiment, but it misses out on one of the basic reasons why people choose to buy property and live inside a city limits, which is many of them want a certain level of rules and regulations, such as zoning.

For instance, they don’t want to invest in a $150,000 home only to have their neighbor create a junk yard next door dragging their property values down and creating a health hazard. This is literally the kind of thing that can and does happen out in the county where there are zero zoning regulations.

They don’t want to live across the street from a house with half a dozen junked up old cars up that are up on blocks.

People often choose to live inside a city so that there isn’t a decaying vacant old house next door infested with rats and snakes. This still sometimes happens in a city, but at least there is a mechanism in place for dealing with it although it might take quite a while many times.

One of the other reasons why many people choose to live in a city though is that they want zoning laws in place, which is something that I think a lot of people are missing in this debate.

For instance, many people choose to live in a residential area zoned for single family dwellings. Sometimes this is because they don’t want a lot of traffic out on the street next to where their young children play. Others just want to live on a quiet street, which is why they choose not to buy homes in neighborhoods with zoned for multi-resident dwellings, such as duplexes and apartment complexes.

Also, several people living in residential neighborhoods choose their home’s location because they don’t want a business opening up next door, such as a fast food restaurant or a rehab facility just to name two examples.

Like it or not, when you choose to live in a city, you are agreeing to abide by certain rules and regulations even if it is your own property. Your neighbors are expected to do the same.
If you don’t like it, then there is a simple enough remedy, which is move out into the county.

 

Redhounds fall in extra-inning classic at KHSAA state tournament

It took two extra innings for them to get the job done, but the Owensboro Catholic Aces were able to pull off a 5-4 victory over the 13th Region champion Corbin Redhounds Friday in round one of this year’s Kentucky High School Athletic Association Baseball State Tournament, played at Legends Stadium in Lexington. With the loss, Corbin wraps up their 2024 campaign with an overall record of 30 wins and 11 losses.

The Hounds got on the board first Friday thanks to an inside-the-park home run from Noah Cima. The Aces would score a run in the bottom of the inning, though, tying the game up at 1-1.

The score remained 1-1 until the third inning, when a Kade Elam RBI scored Cima. Good defense in the bottom of the inning, particularly from senior outfielder Bradric Helton, kept the score at 2-1 heading into the fourth.

Catholic managed one run in the fourth inning to once again tie the score up, 2-2, but Corbin responded in the top of the fifth when senior Walker Landrum brought in Lucas Tarvin with an RBI triple. Fellow senior Mikey Neal then brought Landrum home with an RBI single, and the Aces opted to make a pitching change, replacing starter Luke Quinn with Ben Hyland.

A two-run homer by Owensboro Catholic’s Barrett Evans in the bottom of the fifth quickly erased the Hounds’ two-run advantage, once again tying the game, this time at 4-4. The score would remain unchanged through the sixth and seventh innings. It was in the seventh that Corbin Head Coach Cody Philpot brought starting pitcher, senior Jeremiah Gilbert, off of the mound, replacing him with junior Will Freeman.

After one extra inning the game remained tied at 4-4. In the ninth inning, the Redhounds threatened to bring in the go-ahead run when sophomore Clay Botner made it to third base. He was unable to make it home, however, and after the Aces put a runner on base in the bottom of the inning, Philpot replaced Freeman with Helton on the mound.

Catholic loaded the bases with one out, and catcher Brady Atwell was thrown out going home. With two outs on the board, the Aces finally managed to push another run across, giving them the win in an instant classic at this year’s state tournament.

Corbin will lose four key players to graduation this year in Helton, Gilbert, Neal and Landrum, but they have many key players set to return to the lineup in 2025, including Cima, Botner, Elam, Tarvin, Cam Estep, Cooper McCauley and more.

 

New Corbin Tourism Director will be keynote speaker at Southern Ky. Chamber luncheon Tuesday (June 11)

New Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission Executive Director Nancy Conley will have a busy first week when she officially takes over the reins of the organization next Monday (June 10).

Conley will be the guest speaker at the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s monthly membership luncheon Tuesday (June 11). The luncheon will be held at The Corbin Center, which is located at 222 Corbin Center Drive.

The luncheon is slated to take place from 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The cost to attend the luncheon is $15 per person.

You can register for the event by going to http://www.southernkychamber.com/events/details/june-2024-membership-luncheon-423.

You can also register by calling (606) 528-6390, or by e-mailing whitney@sky-eda.com.

The luncheon is being sponsored by Hometown Bank.

Old Town Grill will cater the luncheon.

Later that day at 5:15 p.m., Conley will hold her first Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission meeting at the Corbin Tourism Welcome Center, which is located at 101 N. Depot Street.

During a May 22 special meeting, the Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission voted to hire Conley as its next executive director replacing Maggy Monhollen, who resigned as tourism director in late March in order to become general manager of Cumberland Falls State Resort Park.

Conley’s background encompasses a 15-year career in tourism with the City of Berea where she works in the business and tourism development department.

 

Area schools name new principals, others still vacant as searches continue

When students return to class next school year, there will be several new faces greeting them with new principals at Corbin Middle School, Corbin High School, Williamsburg Independent School, Oak Grove Elementary School, Whitley Central Intermediate School, Boston Elementary School and Whitley County Middle School.

The Corbin Middle School Site-Based Decision Making Council announced late Tuesday afternoon that Evan Robinson has been selected to replace Christi Lefevers as principal. Lefevers has accepted a position with the Kentucky Department of Education as a recovery leader.

Robinson has 15 years of experience as a language arts teacher and as an assistant principal, where he helped cultivate a culture where every student can thrive.

The Corbin High School Site-Based Decision Making Council has announced that Shannon Dixon has been selected to replace Steve Jewell as principal. Jewell is retiring effective Aug. 1. Dixon will continue to serve as assistant principal until then.

Dixon has been assistant principal at CHS for the past three years. She has 16 years of experience in education as a high school English teacher and assistant principal in multiple districts.

The Williamsburg Independent School District announced late last month that Principal Marc Taylor has been named assistant superintendent of operations at the school. So far, there has been no word about his replacement.

Oak Grove Elementary School Principal Tonya Faulkner has been named as preschool coordinator for the Whitley County School District.

Gina Wilson has been selected to replace Faulkner as Oak Grove principal. Wilson started her education career as a first-grade teacher at Oak Grove and more recently has served as assistant principal at the school.

Heather Roaden has been named as the new principal at Whitley Central Intermediate School. Her previous position was principal at Boston Elementary School. School officials haven’t announced a new principal at Boston yet.

Whitley County High School alumna Amanda Croley has been named the new principal at Whitley County Middle School. For the past 12 years she has worked as assistant principal at the high school.

 

Corbin launching the Fitness Court® Friday (June 7)

On Friday (June 7), the City of Corbin will unveil an outdoor Fitness Court^® at the corner of Poplar Street and Seventh Street, improving and enhancing the quality of life for Southeastern Kentucky residents.

This capital project is a featured part of the 2024 initiative launched by National Fitness Campaign (NFC), a nationwide wellness consulting firm that partners with municipalities and schools to plan, build and fund Healthy Communities. NFC’s award-winning initiative is now planning its 500th Healthy Community in America and is poised to deliver vital outdoor wellness programs helping to fight the obesity epidemic across the country.

This year, the City of Corbin and dozens of other select recipients from around the country were awarded a $30,000 grant from NFC to help support the program. In addition to grant funding, local funding contributed to make the project possible in Corbin.

“We are thrilled to offer more opportunities for the people of Corbin to live a healthier lifestyle,” said Mayor Suzie Razmus. “We encourage residents to use the new Fitness Court^®, access online training via the onsite QR code, and to utilize the studio space for fitness classes, such as yoga or Zumba.”

“The City of Corbin Parks and Recreation Department is excited to partner with the National Fitness Campaign to offer even more diverse fitness opportunities for the residents of Corbin and Southeastern Kentucky,” said Jacob Roan, Corbin Parks and Recreation Director. “Our department strives to develop and maintain facilities that provide healthy opportunities to all people of our region. The Corbin Fitness Court^® is the latest addition to Corbin’s wide-reaching parks and recreation system.”

The new Corbin Fitness Court^® at Poplar & Sevent is the world’s best outdoor gym and allows users to leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout using seven stations. Created for adults aged 14 and older, the Fitness Court^® is adaptable for all fitness levels.

Users can also download the free Fitness Court^® App – a coach-in-your-pocket style platform – that transforms the world’s best outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience. The Fitness Court^® App is available for iOS and Android.

“We are excited to have the City of Corbin join us in the journey to health and wellness as we make a positive impact building healthy infrastructure across America,’’ said Mitch Menaged, Founder of National Fitness Campaign. “The addition of the Fitness Court^® along with ongoing engagement in healthy lifestyles demonstrates a tremendous commitment to the community.”

Residents are invited to attend an opening day launch event Friday at 10 a.m. to try the Fitness Court^® and learn about upcoming community wellness events and programming. For more information, contact Corbin Parks and Recreation at (606) 528-6657.

NFC is a wellness consulting firm – founded in San Francisco in 1979 – that offers grant funding, project management and master planning services to cities, schools and sponsors to build healthy communities.

 

Run, jump, throw: What a week for area track and field teams

It has been a busy, busy week as far as local sports are concerned. Many of our area youngsters are continuing to compete in various youth sports leagues, and many more are signing up for summer camp opportunities. We have learned who will be the next head coach of the Corbin High School football program. We have seen Corbin tennis players make deep runs in state tournaments, and we have seen new regional champions crowned in high school baseball and softball. (more…)

 

Corbin, Williamsburg bring home state titles from KHSAA track meets

Last week, coverage area teams competed in the 2024 Kentucky High School Athletic Association Track and Field State Championships. Results from the meets, held at the University of Kentucky, are as follows… (more…)

 

WCDC inmates receive pre-release class on resources in community

Photo by TIMOTHY WYATT

A pre-release class was held last Thursday morning at the Whitley County Detention Center for a group of female inmates that are scheduled to be released sometime in the coming weeks. A number of representatives from local organizations were on hand to discuss the resources that they offer, including Keith Barnett (pictured) with Whitley County Adult Education. According to information shared during the class, inmates are provided with a packet upon release that contains educational material from each organization, including contact information.

 

New CHS football coach introduced to community

On Monday, a special reception was held at Campbell Field in Corbin for the Redhound football program’s newest head coach, Luke Salmons. (more…)