Local teachers recognized by international teaching platform for their work

Five Whitley County teachers were recently recognized for their dedication to education.

IXL Learning, a personalized learning platform used in schools across the globe to help educators tailor learning experiences to their students, announced its Elite 100 list last month. That list is comprised of educators from all over the United States, as well as the United Kingdom, Mexico and China. 

According to a release from IXL, the list recognizes “remarkable educators who devoted the previous year to serving students and prioritizing personalized learning.”

Among the local educators named to the list were:

Jonathan Lawson – Whitley East Elementary School

Scottie Rice – Whitley East Elementary School

Heather Roaden – Boston Elementary School

Lisa Potter-Smith – Pleasant View Elementary School

Georgette Vanover – Whitley East Elementary

Both Rice and Vanover are second-year honorees, as they have been named among the Elite 100 in a prior year. 

“For the past decade, we have had the privilege of honoring dedicated educators who make a profound impact on student achievement. Despite ongoing challenges in teaching, the Elite 100 have revitalized their students’ passion for learning by personalizing instruction and engaging learners in new ways,” said IXL Chief Executive Officer Paul Mishkin in the release. “Every student deserves a high-quality education that prepares them for success, and we will continue to support and recognize educators who make this a reality for their learners.”

IXL an all-inclusive educational platform that provides a comprehensive PreK-12 curriculum and instructional resources, actionable analytics and a state-of-the-art assessment suite. The platform is currently used by 15 million students and in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts.

IXL’s teaching and learning platform gives school districts everything they need to accelerate learning and make a bigger positive impact on student success, according to the release, which is done by utilizing more than 10,000 interactive skills to perfectly challenge and support each student at the right level.

Only one other Kentucky teacher made IXL’s Elite 100 list.

 

Kinks still being worked out of new vehicle registration system

The Kentucky County Clerks Association (KCCA) has important information for the public as it continues to work its way through the implementation of the state’s new vehicle registration system known as KAVIS. While county clerks are processing an increasing number of transactions each day, there are still significant delays and problematic transactions.

KCCA leadership has expressed its concerns and frustrations with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) on behalf of its customers and its motor vehicle staff. KYTC shared that the KAVIS team is working seven days a week to correct the programming errors that continue to plague the KAVIS system, according to a KCCA release.

In addition, too often, inconsistent information is being shared with county clerks by KYTC’s Motor Vehicle Licensing Division (MVL) about transactions, potential workarounds, and even MVL’s level of assistance with problematic transactions. This only slows down service for our customers.

“Kentucky County Clerks continue to call on KYTC officials to resolve the issues within MVL and restore dependable support to the county clerks and our customers. While many KAVIS bugs have been corrected, county clerks are still struggling with the remaining bugs, which too often results in customers being forced to make multiple trips to try to complete transactions or lengthy wait times. The goal of county clerks across the Commonwealth is to serve our customers. We appreciate our many customers who have shown us grace and patience when conducting business in their county clerk’s office, and we will continue to provide meaningful feedback to KYTC in hopes of improving our customers’ experiences. We all agree that once the software is fully operational, it will be a wonderful system, however, the status quo of long lines and too many customers forced to make multiple trips is not acceptable,” stated Tabatha Clemons, Grant County Clerk, Kentucky County Clerks Association President.

KCCA continues to request that its customers be as prepared as possible when they visit their county clerk.

The following steps will make your visit more efficient, including: bring your driver’s license or state issued identification card; bring your renewal notice and previous year’s registration; bring your Kentucky proof of insurance printed or refer to your county clerk if there is an insurance e-mail address or fax number available for your county; check your county clerk’s holiday hours for March 29 and March 30; and for any transaction by mail, online or drop-off please include a contact phone number so the clerk’s office can reach you.

Also, remember that KYTC’s web portal drive.ky.gov is available for renewals with verified proof of insurance and the customer is current with all taxes owed.

In addition, the public is encouraged to be prepared to wait longer than normal as it takes time to work through each customer’s account and merge vehicles for each customer.

March is the busiest month of the year in the county clerks’ motor vehicle departments. Currently, 963,462 renewal notices were mailed all with a March 2024 expiration date, compared to 310,019 in January and 296,490 in February. March renewals include all farm tags, campers, trailers, March birthdate renewals, fleets, heavyweight plates, and the start of boat renewal season.

 

KSP investigating fatal crash in Whitley County

An I-75 crash Wednesday morning near Williamsburg claimed the life of a London man.

Kentucky State Police (KSP) responded to a single vehicle fatal crash that occurred after 6:41 a.m. at the 15-mile marker southbound, according a KSP release.

Through preliminary investigation, officers determined that William L. Hoskins, 66, was traveling south on I-75 when he lost control of his 2023 KIA Sportage leaving the roadway and hitting a rock wall.

Whitley County EMS transported Hoskins to Baptist Health Corbin where he succumbed to his injuries. The Whitley County Coroner’s Office pronounced him deceased.

KSP Trooper Craig Reed is continuing the investigation. He was assisted at the scene by additional KSP personnel from Post 11, Whitley County EMS, the Whitley County Coroner’s Office and firefighters.

 

UPDATE: Man arrested by KSP for child sexual exploitation identified in arrest citation as local teacher, coach

A Whitley County man arrested for child exploitation offenses has been identified through a Kentucky State Police arrest citation as being employed as a teacher and coach with the Whitley County school system when the offenses occurred. (more…)

 

Appalachian Triangle promotional video features Pinball Museum of Corbin, Sanders Cafe and Museum

With its abundant natural scenery, rugged outdoor recreation, and charming towns rich with culture and history, the Southeastern region of Kentucky abounds with one-of-a-kind experiences – and it’s soon hoping to see a boost in tourism thanks to a new marketing initiative that launched in March.

Over the past year, a coalition of eight counties and cities in Southeastern Kentucky has been working hard to launch their new initiative, the Appalachian Triangle of Kentucky (ATKY), in an effort to bring more tourism into the area and promote the Appalachian region as a one-of-a-kind regional hub for tourists in Kentucky.

Through an innovative and expressive marketing campaign, the new ATKY campaign aims to make the area a tourist hub for visitors seeking unique, authentic experiences. Although home to well-known destinations like Cumberland Falls and Daniel Boone National Forest, the region offers so much more with its wide range of diverse and exciting attractions and rich cultural heritage. Thanks to its location along major roadways, ATKY believes the region is poised to become a multi-visit getaway destination.

Funded by an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant from the Kentucky Department of Travel and Tourism, ATKY partnered with RedTag, a creative agency in Louisville, to brand the initiative, create ad campaigns, and craft an immersive website experience.

The website, visitatky.com, features several handpicked itineraries designed for tourists with different interests, such as outdoor thrill seekers or those with families. Users can also build their own custom itineraries. With its listings of destinations, amenities, and events, visitatky.com aims to be the most comprehensive guide for tourism in the region.

“We are beyond thrilled about the impact that the ATKY branding and marketing project will have on Southeast Kentucky as a whole,” said Maggy Monhollen, Executive Director of the Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission. “We are all so grateful for the support of our legislators who worked to make the funding a reality so that we had the opportunity to showcase the Southeast Kentucky region in a way that it has never been exposed before.”

When asked about his experience working with the neighboring tourism department for this one-of-a-kind opportunity, Jon Grace, the Executive Director of Bell County Tourism, remarked, “This is a unique opportunity for both Bell County and the entire coalition within the Appalachian Triangle. The chance for us to do any significant advertising on this scale is very, very rare. What the team at RedTag has produced so far has been remarkable, and I for one think it’s going to have a significant impact on our home.”

Brandon Pennington, Executive Director for City of Harlan Tourism, also expressed his excitement for the positive impacts the ATKY initiative will bring to the region.

“We are so excited here at Harlan Tourism about the launch of the Appalachian Triangle,” he said. “By pooling our resources, our thrill of adventure, and cultural heritage, we aim to draw more visitors, create jobs, and enhance community development, positioning the Appalachian Triangle as a premier destination for adventure and exploration where you will not only discover Southeastern Kentucky but you’ll also discover a part of yourself.”

Now that the initial phase of the project is coming to an end, Monhollen is looking back on the experience with a fondness for how this initiative has brought their communities even closer together to create something truly unique to the region.

“This project has been a process and a coming together, and it is full of heart and soul,” Monhollen said. “It is a prime example of why we are proud to be Appalachian. We are so excited to see the launch of the campaign and all of the experiences we will be able to share with our visitors.”

With the March launch, ATKY is excited to welcome visitors to their region this spring and hopes local Kentuckians will be among the first to check out all this little pocket of the Bluegrass state has to offer. Be sure to visit their website to begin planning your trip to the Appalachian Triangle of Kentucky.

In addition to the website, ATKY has also produced a video highlighting various attractions and places throughout the ATKY region, which can be accessed at https://vimeo.com/916727767 or by logging onto the Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission’s Facebook page.

The 1:36 long video shows footage from scenic vistas throughout the region, in addition to clips showing Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort’s Cumberland Star riverboat, the Pinball Museum of Corbin, kayakers along the Cumberland River, and Sanders Café and Museum in Corbin. It concludes with footage from Cumberland Falls. There is also a 30-second long version of the video.

The Appalachian Triangle of Kentucky is a coalition of eight counties and cities – Rockcastle-Mt. Vernon, London-Laurel County, City of Corbin, Whitley County, Bell County, Barbourville, Manchester, and the City of Harlan – committed to promoting tourism and highlighting the diverse attractions within their borders. By combining resources and efforts, the initiative seeks to position southeastern Kentucky as a premier regional destination for travelers seeking authentic experiences.

Learn more at visitatky.com. ATKY can also be found on social media at Tik Tok, Facebook @Appalachian Triangle of Kentucky, and Instagram @visitatky.

 

Tickets to see UK vs. UT basketball made for a wonderful birthday gift

My wonderful wife, Cecelia, got me a really great birthday present back in January that I got to enjoy Saturday afternoon.

It was tickets to the University of Kentucky vs. the University of Tennessee basketball game in Knoxville. The mid-level seats were pretty good and had a nice view of the court. (The exception being the two Tennessee fans seated right in front of me, who kept standing up during much of the game…LOL.)

It was a great game with UK ahead for much of it. At times they were up by a pretty comfortable margin. Before the game ever started, I told Cecelia that I thought this one was probably going to come down to the final possession and I was close to being right.

With UK up by as many as 11 points with under one minute to go, many UT fans headed towards the exit. They missed a heck of an ending as the Vols kept chipping away at UK’s lead. The final was a UK victory 85-81.

A UK basketball victory is always great. A UK victory surrounded by whining Tennessee fans, well, to quote the old commercial that is priceless…LOL.

In all seriousness, I have to give it to Vols fans. Overall, they were a pretty classy bunch. I may have to dislike the Vols a little bit less after the experience.

I posted a picture Saturday afternoon on Facebook with the view from our seats.

This prompted my co-worker, Jennifer Benfield, to text me saying, “I just saw where you are. You have THE BEST wife!”

I would have to agree.

A few years ago, a former professor of mine, Liz Hansen, posted on Facebook how she and her husband don’t buy each other many presents these days. Instead, they opt to give themselves experiences going different places and enjoying different things.

Cecelia and I are already doing some of that, and hope to do more in the coming years, particularly if we can ever get to the point where we can retire.

If they can, I would recommend that people try and give themselves some more experiences in life. I know it can be difficult to manage, but it is worth the effort if you can do it.

After Saturday’s game, Cecelia and I stopped at Chick-Fil-A to eat dinner. We bumped into two guys at the restaurant. One was wearing Kentucky blue and the other Tennessee orange. As it turned out, they were brothers. I didn’t get their names, but one lived in Corbin and the other lived in Jellico.

It can be a small world.

Cecelia and I made it a weekend and spent the night in Knoxville Saturday.

Sunday morning we went to McKay’s bookstore, and then Cecelia went to Costco after dropping me off at the mall off Kingston Pike.

I suspect that many of you would probably be surprised to learn there is a RadioShack inside the mall. I usually stop in there for sentimental reasons, if nothing else, when I am at the mall in Knoxville.

RadioShack stores used to be everywhere. When I was younger, both Corbin and Williamsburg had a store. Now, they are almost extinct. I was surprised to learn from the store manager that are actually about 50 of the stores still left in existence.

Unfortunately, the one at the mall in Knoxville won’t be for much longer as it is going out of business.

I did take advantage of the 50 percent off sale and buy one of those little Nintendo retro gaming systems with about 600 some games built in. I plugged it in and played for a few minutes last night. The Spyhunter game was still pretty cool.

 

Forcht Bank presents ‘Roll for the Dough’ at regional tournaments

Putting for a pay day: During halftime of each game of the 2024 boys and girls 13th Region championship tournaments, Forcht Bank presented “Roll for the Dough,” which gave lucky contestants from each participating school district a chance to win cash by putting a ball through a hole from mid-court. At right, Regional President Mike Sharpe introduces a pair of local students to the crowd in the Corbin Arena.

 

Raising Colon Cancer Awareness…

Baptist Health Corbin partnered with Kentucky Cancer Program, Kentucky Cancer Link and Cinema Social for  Movie Night: Education on Colon Cancer Prevention last Thursday.

The hospital had an inflatable colon set up in the lobby of theater before Dr. Jahan Miremami delivered a presentation about colon cancer prevention.

Afterwards those present were treated to a free movie, Ordinary Angel.

 

George I. Bates

George I. Bates, age 81, of Corbin, Kentucky, passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Baptist Health in Corbin, Kentucky.
George was a loving husband, and devoted father and grandfather, who was born in Jellico, Tennessee, a son of the late John Calvin Bates and Sylvania Perry Bates.
George was a renowned historical masonry restorer who’s craftsmanship was well known throughout southeastern Kentucky. He was also a veteran of the US Marine Corp.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Nancy Cox Bates; brothers, Henry Bates and Johnny Bates; sisters, Joanne Corey, Cynthia Davis, and Bobbi Perkins.
George is survived by his four children, Dinah Bates Smith (Charles), George Bates Jr. (Lisa), Rosia Bates Wilson (Jerry), and Garry Bates (Felicia); grandchildren, Sarah Jane Peace (Jason), Chasity Elaine Meadors (Josh), Kristan Wyatt (Justin), George Isaac Bates III, Catherine Barbara Brown (Michael), Garry Isaac Bates Jr. (LeAnne), Kizzie Faye Barbosa (Ryan), and Kristien LeeAnn Woolum (Christian); twelve great-grandchildren; sister, Elsie Bates Crawford (John); and by numerous nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
Visitation will be from 11am until 1pm on Saturday March 16, at the Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home, where his funeral service will be held at 1pm with Rev. Andrew Darden officiating.
Burial will follow in the McFarland Cemetery in Corbin, Kentucky, with military honors by the American Legion Post #88 of Corbin.
Messages may be written to the family at vankirkgrisellfuneralhome.com.

 

Director of benefits for KY Chamber of Commerce speaks at Tuesday luncheon

Being a member of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce or any chamber of commerce has a number of benefits.

“There is nothing like the connections and the networking and the relationships that you will build through your chamber, your local chamber specifically,” said Shawna Burton, who is director of member benefits and partnerships for the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. “What the local chamber does is really bring you opportunities like this, such as monthly networking lunches, ribbon cuttings and opportunities to save money. It is the friendships and the relationships that you are building that go so much further than anything you could do by being in a directory or being listed on a website.”

Burton was the keynote speaker for the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce monthly membership luncheon Tuesday, which was held at The Corbin Center.

She spent most of her address talking about how membership in the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce or the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce can give you access to reduced prices on health insurance coverage through a partnership with Anthem called ChamberAdvantage, and how chamber members can get a discount on their workers compensation policy through Clearpath Specialty.

During the luncheon, new member plaques were presented to the Knox County Fiscal Court, KCEOC Community Action Partnership, La Donnas Catering, and Union College.

Greg Razmus, who is a member of the chamber’s board of directors, noted that the chamber is in the midst of a membership drive with the goal of getting 100 new members to join, and/or getting former members to rejoin the chamber.

KCEOC Community Action Partnership sponsored Tuesday’s luncheon.

La Donnas Catering provided the meal for the luncheon.