Alta Mae Hensley

Alta Mae Hensley, age 72, passed away April 25, 2024 at the Heritage in Corbin, Kentucky.
Alta was born on June 11, 1951 in Corbin, Kentucky to the late William Jesse Rogers and Anna (Laney) Rogers.
In addition to her parents, Alta was preceded in death by her brothers, infant Dewey Rogers, Johnny Rogers, and Aubrey Dale Rogers.
Alta was a member of Greenland Baptist Church.
Alta is survived by her husband, Michael Hensley; son, Brent Douglas Hensley; sister, Nancy Hart; brothers, Glen Rogers (Pat) and Ralph Rogers (Laura); several nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends to mourn her passing.
Funeral service was on Sunday, April 28, at the Croley Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Luke Day officiating.
Interment was private.
Croley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

 

George Washington Hurst

George Washington Hurst, age 88, of Williamsburg, Kentucky departed this life on April 22, 2024 at Baptist Health in Corbin, Kentucky.
George was born on March 7, 1936 in Williamsburg, Kentucky to Lincoln Hurst and Axie (Partin) Hurst.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lincoln and Axie (Partin) Hurst; and his brothers and sisters, Lela Ball, Shelby Hurst, Jess Hurst, Letha Whitehead, Lillian Bowman, Henry Hurst, John Hurst, and Robert Hurst.
George is survived by his niece, Donna Hensley; and several other nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends to mourn his passing.
Funeral service was Friday, April 26, at the Croley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Rainey Whitehead, Rev. Ronnie Bowman, and Rev. Tim Adkins officiating.
He was laid to rest in the Moses Addition of Pleasant View Cemetery.
Croley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

 

Nadine Bryant

Nadine Bryant, 65, of Williamsburg, KY passed on April 23, 2024.
She was born on January 13, 1959, to the late Orie Satterfield and Della Mae (White) Satterfield. She is also preceded in death by brother, Sid Satterfiled; and two sisters, Carolyn Cox and Geanavie White.
She is survived by her loving husband, Charles Bryant of Williamsburg, KY; daughter, Amy Thomas of Williamsburg, KY; son, Phillip Nelson (Lelie) of Williamsburg, KY; grandchildren, Chyanna Dye, Harley Thomas, Dakotah Thomas, Lakesha Nelson, and Isaiah Nelson; great-grandchildren, Roy McKinley Thomas, Raymond Dye JR. Starsha Dye and Kamden Dye; as well as her brother, Donnie Petrey of Williamsburg, KY.
Funeral services for Nadine Bryant will be held on Monday, April 29, at 1:00 PM at the Croley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jason Shelton officiating.
The visitation will be on Monday, April 29, for family and friends to pay their respects.
The burial will take place at the Croley Addition Highland Park Cemetery in Williamsburg, KY.
Croley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

 

 

Out and About Kentucky Style: My younger years with Lucky

I’m not saying I’m old, but I am saying I’m old enough. If I had my choice I’d stop aging right now. When I look in the mirror I realize I’m old enough… don’t need anymore. Heck, I can remember when automobiles were advertised as having a radio and heater. Although I never drove one that didn’t have one of those taken-for-granted accessories, I do remember my grandparents having one. Now all we do is press this or turn that. With some of our modern tech all we have to do is speak it and we get results. It won’t be too far in the future when all we have to do is think it.  Now that’s scary, because I’ve had too many people in my life who have told me they know what I’m thinking.

I readily confess to enjoying modern-day conveniences, while at the same time considering myself a bit old-fashioned. There are moments when I get carried away and think of myself as a “throw-back,” maybe living a life style my great-grandparents did. But notice I said moments, not days. Those thoughts quickly pass, however.

The fact is I’m not sure how good of an early day guy I would have been. My exposure to farm life as a little kid did not do much for resume building in that lifestyle. Although my roots were in Smiths Grove, Kentucky, and I guess I was counted among the 700 population the sign at the edge of town proclaimed my family was “town folks.” It seemed like that sign was there for years, even after my family moved to Elizabethtown. I guess whoever was in charge figured others took our place so there was little need in changing the sign.

My grand-dad tried, but the farm thing just didn’t take with me. Of course, I have total respect now for anything that happens on a farm. I envy those that had that experience. But, as an eight-year-old the only thing farm related I enjoyed was my favorite tobacco stick horse named Lucky. I tied a grass string around the big end of the stick so when I rode it, he would follow my command… even made the “click-click” sound with my tongue on the roof of my mouth, following by a loved “giddy up” letting Lucky know it was time to go. Hearing my command, my grandmother knew I was on the move. It worked for me and seemed to work for Lucky, and at the end of each summer visit to my grandparents farm I would park Lucky in the nearby smoke house, until my return.

Lucky wasn’t one of those fancy city slicker horses. You know the ones I’m talking about. Those with the padded stuffed heads that seemed to smile all the time. No sir, Lucky was a farm horse, and if I wanted to get somewhere in a hurry I rode Lucky.

No, I’ve never baled hay, hung tobacco, or plowed a field, but I’ve watched others do it. And I’ve got to confess, never milked a cow. I love horses though, as long as they’re on the other side of the fence where I’m in control and pet them. Horses are such a majestic animal, all powerful in their graceful gallop that seems to make the ground beneath them shake. Just thinking about them makes me want to find a $2 window. Looking back on it, Lucky was my cowboy stick horse, never a race horse. But, mind you, he could have been. He was always fast enough to get me where I needed to go.

Riding Lucky was just as real to me as the horses Roy and Gene rode. And like them I rode with a couple of six-shooter cap pistols belted around my waist. Trigger and Champion had nothing on Lucky. When I dismounted to get a drink of water out of a nearby garden hose, my loyal horse waited right there by my feet.

I’m sure my memories are no different from thousands of others. It may not have been a just-perfect tobacco stick with a just-the-right grass string, but it was something. He may not have answered to the name of Lucky, but whoever or whatever it was, he could be counted on. He could be depended on. He was there when needed.

Perhaps there really is some truth in the saying, “I’d rather be lucky than good.”

Everyone probably has a Lucky in the echoes of their mind. But my horse was perfect… followed by every command, never complained about not getting enough oats or water, and was always ready for whatever adventure I had in store for the two of us out on Little Knob Road at my grandparents house.

But on one summer visit, I forgot about Lucky, faithfully waiting for me as he stood patiently in one corner of the smokehouse. Suddenly I had outgrown Lucky. It just happened. I never went back for him, never even thought about him again until years later. The progression of life separated us physically. But now lately I’ve begun thinking about the little things, the things that were so important to a little kid of seven, eight or nine-years-old who wanted only to get as close to a farm or my stick horse Lucky.

When is the last time any of us saw a kid riding a stick horse in their front yard? Maybe it’s the pull of an X-Box or cable TV that has sent the Lucky’s of days gone-by to the barn.

There’s no excuse, get up, get out and get going! Gary P. West can be reached at westgarypdeb@gmail.com.

 

Student-Athlete of the Year: Corbin’s Jace Hatfield talks statewide recognition, hopes for the future

Corbin High School junior Jace Hatfield has a lot going on. He is a lineman on the Redhound football team. He throws shot put and discus for the school’s track and field team. He is an A student taking classes in HVAC repair, and oh yeah, he was recently recognized by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association as the Midway University Student-Athlete of the Year for archery. How does Hatfield feel about this recognition, and a wide range of other subjects? Read on to find out. (more…)

 

Corbin Police arrest Knoxville murder suspect

A report about vehicle in a Corbin ditch Thursday night lead to the arrest of a Knoxville murder suspect, according to a Corbin Police Department release.

Patrolman Dorman Patrick Jr. responded to the report of the vehicle in a ditch and determined that the operator of the vehicle was allegedly under the influence and placed him under arrest, the release stated.

“It was later discovered that this individual was wanted as a suspect in a murder that occurred in Knoxville, Tennessee. The out-of-state warrant was served at the Whitley County Detention Center,” according to the release.

Michael Merrick, 49, of Knoxville, was booked into the Whitley County Detention Center at 10:50 p.m. Thursday, according to the detention center’s website.

He was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and served with the fugitive warrant.

As of Friday, no arraignment date had been scheduled for Merrick in Whitley District Court.

Sgt. Jeff Hill and Cpl. Brad Prewitt assisted at the scene.

Knoxville case

About 9:30 p.m. Thursday, the Knoxville Police Department responded to an apartment at 3210 Atchley Ridge Way in regards to a deceased person. Officers arrived at the scene and found a woman dead inside the apartment, who had been shot multiple times, according to a Knoxville Police Department release.

About noon Friday, Knoxville Police announced that homicide detectives had obtained a warrant charging Merrick with second-degree murder in the shooting death of 49-year-old Nicole Fanney.

The shooting is believed to be domestic in nature.

Merrick allegedly left the scene prior to the arrival of officers, and will soon be extradited back to Knoxville, the release stated.

 

May Day Queen and Tiny Queen announced

Whitley Ella Hurst, the 16-year-old daughter of Jason and Crystal Hurst, will be crowned the 2024 May Day Queen during the Ossoli Club of Corbin’s 81^st May Day Festival on Friday, May 3.

Lainey Paige Williams, the 5-year-old daughter of Dr. Curtis and Mrs. Lynda-Lindsey Williams, will be crowned this year’s May Day Tiny Queen.

After the votes were counted Friday afternoon, the following young ladies make up the May Day Queen’s court: first runner up, Macey Suzanne Disney; second runner up, Alexandra Herren; third runner up, Audrey Grace Mahan; fourth runner up, Jayden Hope Fox; fifth runner up, Karlee Jaye Dickerson; and sixth runner up, Sophia Luke.

Completing the court (in alphabetical order) are attendants Macie Leigh Bailey, Whitley Elizabeth Calico, Sophia Marie Cima, Layla Grace Cloud, Chase Danielle Dixon, Sharae Danielle Felts, Abigail Brooklynn Fortney, Alexiandria “Lexi” Hollingsworth, Korbyn Augusta Kelsch, Kylie Marie Kilgore, Ayliana Marie McKay, Brooke Lindsey Mills, Miah Brynleigh Morgan, Anslee Rose Mouser, Emma Lynn Robinson, Mary Elizabeth Simons, Addy Mae Wilson and Alexa NaShae Wright.

The Tiny Queen’s court is as follows:  first runner up, Sadie Elizabeth Strickland; second runner up, August Blake Taylor; third runner up, Maria Elizabeth Moore DiFebo; fourth runner up, Nora Campbell Coleman.

Tiny Queen attendants (in alphabetical order) are:  Sophia Jane Allen, Quinn Harper Baker, Lorelei Parker Grace Foley, Alonah Cheryl Grantlin, Ramsey James Harris, Avery Noelle Martin, and Charlotte Annalee Preston.

The May Day Festival is sponsored annually by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs’ (GFWC) Kentucky Ossoli Club of Corbin.  This year’s festival will be held at The Corbin Arena at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 3.

 

Eugene Siler, a life revisited (part 5)

Entering into the year 1957, Congressman Eugene Siler, of Williamsburg, continued to establish a track record of being a strong advocate for the people of his district from his seat in the United States House of Representatives. (more…)

 

Terry and Marion Forcht Receive 2024 Award of Excellence from East Kentucky Leadership Foundation

Terry and Marion Forcht have been named the 2024 winners of the Award of Excellence for Private Individuals by the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation.  The Forchts were presented the award during a dinner and ceremony at the 36^th Annual East Kentucky Leadership Conference, which was held this year in Corbin. (more…)

 

One of my priorities in life has been to travel and see the world

My journey today is about travel. My wife and I love to travel. We have traveled to most of the states and a few foreign countries. However, I have reached the point in time, because of my age, that we no longer can makes the trips we otherwise would take.

Another reason is that I hate airports, and driving on the Interstate is insane. Therefore, our future vacations may be closer to home.

As a child my parents never had vacations. The longest trip I took then was to Louisville to visit my sister. Otherwise, our annual trip to Big Spring Union Baptist Church just above Middlesboro in the Virginia, Tennessee area was about all the travel I experienced for many years.

It was always on a Sunday and there was all day preaching and dinner on the ground. As kids we would walk across the little wooden bridge to the General Store to get snow cones. I would spend most of my time with a friend, Glenn Parks, also from Corbin. He later became a teacher in the Corbin City Schools. His parents made him suffer through the reunions too.

The most memorable trip was when my father did the unthinkable and bought a Chrysler DeSota convertible. It was very unlike him because he was a conservative, church going, low key contractor. But one Friday he came home from an out of town job driving that monster of a car.

It had wooden doors and long air horns on each front fender that sounded like a freight train coming when he would sound them off. Again, very unlike his character.

But as kids we loved it. When that big car with fluid drive would tackle the mountain where the tunnel is located from Middlesboro to Cumberland Gap it would struggle to make it up the mountain. When faster cars would pass us my dad would blow those big air horns. What fun it was for us.

Needless to say, he didn’t keep that car very long. I think the family shamed him out of it. He traded it in on a Hudson Hornet.

Everything changed for me when I got married. Vacations became a priority for me and Judy. For 59 years we have ventured to many locations. My favorite in the states was in the northwest and up into Canada. That vacation was a little longer than most. It lasted three weeks.

From Mount Rushmore to the Badlands to Jackson Hole, to Glacier National Park, plus many other stops like Lake Louise, Banff, Butchart Gardens,  and Vancouver all in Canada, plus many other places, I highly recommend traveling to these locations.

In the early years of our marriage the trips were mostly to Florida where the kids could play on the beach. I have paid for those dearly with many skin cancers taken off.

There is not a place where we have travelled that I didn’t enjoy. There were times when we might not could have afforded a vacation, but by saving and cutting out some unnecessary expenses, we managed it.

I am so glad we took those trips. They hold special memories for us. Life is too short not to take a little time off and do the things you enjoy most.

Now I have just over a month to surprise my wife with a trip for our 60th anniversary. This is tough because we don’t like crowded airports and driving tires me out, so I have to get imaginative. I’m working on it and I guarantee whatever, she will like it.