Coach Tom Greer’s retirement leaves plenty of great memories

Football in Corbin is very similar to basketball in Kentucky. The local fans eat it, digest it and live it from year to year.

Don Estep is publisher of the News Journal.

In 2020, Tom Greer, a former Redhound player with plenty of coaching experience, became Corbin’s head coach. This week Greer announced his retirement.

In four years at the helm Greer established a record of 46 wins against only five losses. That ranks as the best winning percentage in the 100 year history of Corbin football.

What ranks as high as his record is his character. That is something every Corbin fan and especially the parents of the players can appreciate the most. Greer’s Christian leadership sessions will be remembered along with his many wins.

Greer was a role model for his players. They learned more than just football, his players learned the value of character, of prayers and church attendance. Greer was exceptional.

As for his coaching ability, that speaks for itself. I told Coach Greer after the 2022 season I thought that team was the best I had ever seen at Corbin. Now I have to add to that because last year’s team was that good, and maybe better.

Although Corbin did not win the state championship last year, I still think they were the best team in the state.

Old timers will be questioning my judgment, but it would be hard to place any team above what we have witnessed the last two years.

Our thanks to Coach Greer for providing us with outstanding football during his four years as head coach. But as he wrote on Facebook, “after 33 years of coaching and 34 years in education, I have prayed and reached a peacefulness about stepping down as the head coach.” That is a classy way to explain his decision.

The new coach will undoubtably be under a lot of pressure to maintain the excellence that has been the tradition in Corbin football.

However, Greer has left the next coach a world of talent.

Superintendent Dave Cox and the Corbin school board has provided the football program with some of the finest facilities in the state.

I have followed Redhound football for over 70 years and the opening game last year in the new complex was one of the top events I have witnessed.

I wish my buddy Bill Crook could have lived long enough to see the huge crowd, probably the biggest in the 100 year history of Corbin football, and the new facilities. He would never have quit talking about it.

No doubt, many coaches would like to become the head coach at Corbin because the program is among the best. The task of selecting that person will be interesting.

Writing about Greer’s retirement is special. We thank him for his cooperation with our sports reporters and wish him a happy and rewarding future.

Again, thanks for the memories!

Whitley County included in requested presidential disaster declaration

Following severe weather in April, Kentucky’s federal congressional delegation sent a joint letter to President Joseph Biden, urging his approval of Gov. Andy Beshear’s request for a major disaster declaration, which would release federal funding assistance in 11 Kentucky counties, including Whitley County.

The letter was signed by U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Rand Paul, and Representatives Hal Rogers (KY-05), James Comer (KY-01), Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03) and Andy Barr (KY-06), showing bipartisan support for Beshear’s request for a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Kentucky stemming from April’s severe weather.

In addition to the severe wind, thunderstorms, mudslides, and flooding that hit the Commonwealth, more than a dozen tornadoes swept through Kentucky. At the height of the storm’s impact, more than 32,000 customers were without power. Tragically, 22 Kentuckians were injured and one Kentuckian perished because of the storm conditions.

“Kentucky has faced a number of major disasters in recent years. As you know from your previous visits, in just the past four years, Kentucky has been devastated by some of the worst tornadoes and floods in state history,” the delegation wrote in the letter.

“Kentucky has received eight major disaster declarations since 2020, not including COVID-19. Further, some counties included in the governor’s request have been included in as many as six major disaster declarations, and thus, federal assistance is needed.”

Beshear submitted the request on April 30, 2024, for the tornado and severe weather event that began on April 2, 2024.

The letter seeks assistance for the following counties, including: Boyd, Carter, Fayette, Greenup, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Mason, Oldham, Union, and Whitley.

Whitley County Emergency Management Director Jerry Rains said that he is “cautiously optimistic” about getting the federal disaster declaration, and it’s just a matter of waiting for President Biden to make his decision at this point.

Rains said that after the storm, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) came down and did a joint damage assessment with him in Whitley County where a total of 21 homes were surveyed.

The survey showed that 10 homes were destroyed in the Diamond Acres RV Resort. Out of the remaining 11 homes surveyed, four had major damage, three had minor damage and four were affected. All of the residents did have insurance.

150th Kentucky Derby saw one of the best finishes in event’s history

Wow! Saturday’s 150^th running of the Kentucky Derby had one of the best finishes of any derby that I can recall watching.

Mark White is Editor of The News Journal.

Mystic Dan (18-1 odds) beat out Sierra Leone (9/2 odds), to win the Kentucky Derby by a nose with third place finisher Forever Young (7-1 odds) sandwiched in between them in a photo finish.

In live time, pretty much no one could tell which of the three horses had won the derby. It took a few minutes for track officials to declare Mystic Dan the winner over Sierra Leone by a nose with Sierra Leone beating out Forever Young for second by a nose.

I found myself wondering for the first minute or two after the race ended about whether the race might be a dead heat, i.e., a tie. That would have been something for the ages.

This year’s race proved why the Kentucky Derby is often called “the most exciting two minutes in sports.”

Something tells me that Williamsburg resident Phillip Perkins, who is an unofficial Kentucky Derby historian, probably had a ball watching this one even if he wasn’t there for it in person.

Phillip went to his first Kentucky Derby at the ripe old age of 12 when he and his brother hitchhiked there, and at one point he had a streak of attending 71 consecutive derbies. I don’t know how many he got in all before the streak ended during the pandemic.

Long about 2017, Phillip’s grandson, Cody Perkins, and his wife, Sarah, had a one-of-a-kind sports coat embroidered for Phillip with the names of every Kentucky Derby winner since 1875. Tammy Detillier, a former student of Perkins, spent three months embroidering the coat with the name of each Derby winner.

From the pictures I saw on Facebook Saturday, Phillip was once again wearing the coat, which he brings out for special occasions.

If you are reading this Phillip, I hope you had a great time Saturday and will still be with us for the 151^st running of the Kentucky Derby next year.

Now to touch on a couple of other topics before I conclude this column.

• Best wishes to Steven and Susan Jett. Steven stepped down this month as the South Union Mt. Zion Baptist Association Director of Missions, and Susan stepped down as the secretary of the organization. The couple came there 8.5 years ago after working in international missions for 25 years.

The couple isn’t exactly retiring, just slowing down a little bit, which is something that they have both earned.

Steven plans to continue teaching part time at the University of the Cumberlands. Susan plans to continue as the director at Emergency Christian Ministries, which means that Steven will still be helping out there too.

• Back in November 2022, nearly 100 people turned out for a town hall style meeting over the U.S. Forest Service’s proposal for clear cut logging of about 1,000 acres in the Daniel Boone National Forest in Jellico Mountain area.

With the exception of forest service officials, there was a clear consensus from pretty much everyone else, who spoke out at the 2022 meeting, that clear cutting is a terrible idea.

“I find it disgusting. Clear cutting on steep slopes should be outlawed,” said one person, who identified himself as a former logger during the 2022 meeting.

This Thursday (May 9) at 6 p.m., there will be another town hall meeting at the Merry Jeffries Community Center in Williamsburg to discuss the new draft environmental assessment for the Jellico Mountain project, which isn’t a whole lot different than the original proposal.

I would encourage anyone remotely interested in the local environment to attend Thursday’s meeting, and to log onto www.fs.usda.gov/goto/dbnf/jellico to leave a public comment for the forest service about the project.

The comment period will last through May 24, 2024, and the current estimated decision date is scheduled for sometime this fall.

Corbin man facing felony assault, DUI charge after crash

A Corbin man is facing a felony assault charge in connection with a Sunday evening vehicle crash near Corbin.

David Rose

S.C. man arrested for indecent exposure at Williamsburg’s The Golf Course

A July 15 arraignment date has been scheduled in Whitley District Court for a South Carolina man, who allegedly jumped into a pond naked at a local golf course last week. Drug involvement is suspected, according to his arrest citation.

Medical flight lawsuit involving drunk pilot could be moved to federal court

One of the defendants in a Whitley County lawsuit in which an emergency medical helicopter flight took off from Baptist Health Corbin while the pilot was under the influence is seeking to have the suit moved to federal court.

Legal Notices for 5-8-2024

NOTICE:

Notice is hereby given by order of the Whitley District Court, that the following appointments have been made:

Charles Donald Bruce, 505 Tanager Drive, Mandeville, LA 70448 was appointed administrator on 4/2/2024 for the estate of Charles Robert Bruce (deceased), 256 Ruffian Trail, Corbin, KY 40701.  The attorney for the administrator is Wesley Tipton, P.O. Box 1284, Corbin, KY 40702.

Mart E. Jones, 230 Mac Bennett Drive, Williamsburg, KY 40769 or Rhonda Floyd, 230 Logan Road, Corbin, KY 40701 were appointed executors on 4/16/2024 for the estate of Margaret Cleo Johnson Jones (deceased), 40 Lawson Street, Williamsburg, KY 40769.

Kenny Ray Prewitt, 2208 Highway 1481, Williamsburg, KY 40769 was appointed administrator on 4/16/2024 for the estate of Raymond Lewis Prewitt (deceased), 2218 Highway 1481, Williamsburg, KY 40769.

Teresa Campbell, 770 Savoy Clear Creek Road, Williamsburg, KY 40769 was appointed executrix on 4/16/2024 for the estate of T. J. Powers (deceased), 775 Savoy Clear Creek Road, Williamsburg, KY 40769. The attorney for the executrix is Hon. John L. Reynolds, P.O. Box 57, Williamsburg, KY 40769.

Whitley County Sheriffs Department, 200 Main St., #4, Williamsburg, KY 40769 was appointed public administrator on 4/23/2024 for the estate of Randy Floyd Sulfridge (deceased), 2304 White Oak Road, Williamsburg, KY 40769.

Gordon Trent Johnson, 1234 Luffiness Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32221 was appointed executor on 4/23/2024 for the estate of Wolford Henry Johnson (deceased), 415 Tyes Ferry Road, Rockholds, KY 40759. The attorney for the executor is Don Moses, 113 Main Street, Williamsburg, KY 40769.

Martha Bryant, 360 Lot Mud Creek Road, Williamsburg, KY 40769 was appointed executrix on 4/23/2024 for the estate of William D. Bryant (deceased), 360 Lot Mud Creek Road, Williamsburg, KY 40769. The attorney for the executrix is Don Moses, 113 Main Street, Williamsburg, KY 40769.

Ariel Lynn Veach, 1136 Ellison Bend Road, Williamsburg, KY 40769 was appointed executrix on 4/23/2024 for the estate of Jeannie Michelle Lay (deceased), 111 Elmer Lawson Road, Williamsburg, KY 40769. The attorney for the executrix is Don Moses, 113 Main Street, Williamsburg, KY 40769.

Sandip Patel, P.O. Box 1282, Williamsburg, KY 40769 was appointed administrator on 4/23/2024 for the estate of Anjanaben Patel (deceased), 1746 S. Highway 25W, Williamsburg, KY 40769.  The attorney for the administrator is Hon. Mary-Ann Smyth, P.O. Box 425, Corbin, KY 40702.

Paul David Steely, P.O. Box 300, Williamsburg, KY 40769 or Paul Steely, 51 Charles Street, Williamsburg, KY 40769 were appointed administrators on 4/29/2024 for the estate of Stella Davidson Steely (deceased), 51 Charles Street, Williamsburg, KY 40769.

Johnny Philpot, Jr., 1510 Old Corbin Pike, Williamsburg, KY 40769 was appointed administrator on 4/23/2024 for the estate of Johnny Philpot, Sr. (deceased), 1510 Old Corbin Pike, Williamsburg, KY 40769. The attorney for the administrator is B. Newman, 2420 Frankfort Avenue, Suite 300, Louisville, KY 40206.

Given under my hand this 30th day of April, 2024.

Gary W. Barton, Clerk

District & Circuit Courts

Whitley County, Williamsburg, KY 40769

NOTICE:

Margaret G. King has filed the final settlement for the estate of Ansley Billy Powers (deceased). The settlement hearing will be held 6/4/2024 @ 11 am.

Mildred Johnson has filed the final settlement for the estate of James Robert Black (deceased). The settlement hearing will be held 6/4/2024 @ 11 am.

Roy David Powell has filed the final settlement for the estate of Delmas Powell (deceased).  The settlement hearing will be held 6/4/2024 @ 11 am.

Lisa Correll has filed the final settlement for the estate of Bobby C. Hart (deceased). The settlement hearing will be held 6/4/2024 @ 11 am.

Exceptions, if any, must be filed prior to June 1st, 2024.

The hearing will be held at Whitley District Court, 100 Main Street, Williamsburg, KY 40701

Given under my hand this 30th day of April, 2024.

Gary W. Barton, Clerk

District & Circuit Courts

Whitley County, Williamsburg, KY 40769

NOTICE:

Notice is hereby given by order of the Whitley District Court, that the following appointments have been made:

Garry Bates, 980 Browning Acres Road, Corbin, KY 40701 was appointed as administrator on 04/01/2024 for the estate of George Isaac Bates, Sr. (deceased), 21 Bates Lane, Corbin, KY 40701.

Susan P. Fulton, 23336 Sorrell Lane was appointed as executrix on 04/01/2024 for the estate of Edith B. Perry (deceased), 930 Hwy 511, Corbin, KY 40701.

Michael Ray Hardy, 109 Redbud Ct, Nicholasville, KY 40356 was appointed as administrator on 04/15/2024 for the estate of Donald Ray Hardy (deceased), 79 Ashley Ave, Corbin, KY 40701.

Curtis Blankenship, 2735 West Pine Hill Road, London, KY 40744 was appointed as administrator on 04/22/2024 for the estate of Velvet Ilene Mitchell (deceased), 1651 Frankfort School Road, Corbin, KY 40701.

Jeremy W. Bryant, 993 Oak Grove Church Road, Corbin, KY 40701 and Stephanie Mullins, 48 Freeman Hollow Road, Rockholds, KY 40759 were appointed as co-executors on 04/22/2024 for the estate of Karen Jane Bryant (deceased), 150 Freeman Hollow Road, Rockholds, KY 40759.

Lee Alsip, 4235 Bee Creek Road, Corbin, KY 40701 was appointed as administrator on 04/22/2024 for the estate of Diana Alsip (deceased), 4235 Bee Creek Road, Corbin, KY 40701.

Jason Flannery, 2631 Maple Creek Road, Williamsburg, KY 40769 & Cody Lewis were appointed as administrators on 04/22/2024 for the estate of Edna Elliott (deceased), 2451 McNeil Corn Creek Road, Rockholds, KY 40759.

Pamela Potts, 173 King Mountain Spur Road, Williamsburg, KY 40769 was appointed as executrix on 04/22/2024 for the estate of Richard Shyllberg (deceased), 179 King Mountain Spur Road, Williamsburg, KY 40769.

Given under my hand this 30th day of April, 2024.

Gary W. Barton, Clerk

District & Circuit Courts

Whitley County, Williamsburg, KY 40769

NOTICE:

Darrell Osborne has filed the final settlement for the estate of Roscoe Osborne (deceased). The settlement hearing will be set for 06/03/2024 at 9:00 am.

Exceptions, if any, must be filed prior to June 1st, 2024.

The hearing will be held at Whitley District Court, 100 Main Street, Williamsburg, KY 40701

Given under my hand this 30th day of April, 2024.

Gary W. Barton

Whitley Circuit/District Courts

Williamsburg, KY 40769

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

     The Public Service Commission of Kentucky issued an order on April 11, 2024, scheduling a hearing to be held on May 23, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, in the Richard Raff Hearing Room at the offices of the Public Service Commission located at 211 Sower Boulevard in Frankfort, Kentucky, for the purpose of direct and cross examination of witnesses in Case No. 2023-00422. This is an examination of the Electronic Investigation of Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company Service Related to Winter Storm Elliott.

This hearing will be streamed live and may be viewed on the PSC website, psc.ky.gov.

Public comments may be made at the beginning of the hearing. Those wishing to make oral public comments may do so by following the instructions listed on the PSC website, psc.ky.gov.

Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company

220 West Main Street

Louisville, Kentucky 40202

One arrested after stolen Tenn. truck recovered in southern Laurel Co.

Deputies recovered a stolen Tennessee truck early Monday morning in southern Laurel County, and arrested a Somerset woman, who was allegedly found hiding nearby, according to a Laurel County Sheriff’s Department release.

Toni Hutchinson

Electronic Edition For 5-8-24

Dayspring Health CEO stepping down

Dayspring Health will soon be seeing a change in leadership.