Housing Insecurity: Local landlords volunteer to answer the question, ‘Why is rent so high?’

Since this series on housing insecurity began earlier this summer, one problem has been pointed to over-and-over again by those who have been interviewed. Regardless of their individual positions, when asked what the main barrier to housing security is right now, the answer at the top of the list has typically been the overall lack of low-income rental properties that are currently available. (more…)

 

Crawford recognized for ‘Excellence in Education Law’

Corbin attorney Tim Crawford has been recognized for “Excellence in Education Law” by Lawyers of Distinction.

“I thoroughly enjoy helping our public school systems in providing high quality educational services to our children and I was totally surprised I was nominated by someone and it is a shining achievement to be nationally recognized in this legal field,” Crawford said.

Crawford assists more than a dozen school boards and represents two public school education cooperatives.

The Kentucky Educational Development Cooperative in Lexington has almost 80 school boards as members. The Southeast South-Central Educational Cooperative in London, which has more than 20 school districts as members.

Crawford’s current districts include: Whitley County, Knox County, Barbourville Independent, Pineville Independent, Middlesboro Independent, Knott County, Jenkins Independent, Lewis County, Nelson County, Bourbon County and Raceland Independent.

He assists several others on an “as needed” basis.

Lawyers of Distinction, which was first incorporated in 2014, is a legal fraternity of lawyers from all 50 states as well as abroad.

In order to be selected, attorneys first have to be nominated, however, Crawford said that he doesn’t know who nominated him. Nominees are then evaluated based on 12 separate criteria.

 

Several new events coming to this year’s WC Fair

While the 2024 Whitley County Fair will be bringing back the many crowd-favorite events that have become staples over the years, this year’s fair will include several new ones that are sure to delight festivalgoers.

Among the new events planned this year is the Jurassic Mark Dinosaur Encounter, which will be available each night of the fair. According to Mark Comley, who travels around the country performing the event, it is a “fun, entertaining and educational” experience for kids of all ages.

The encounter features several life-size dinosaurs. While the dinosaurs are operated by a person, they do have animatronic-like features.

Comley said he will be performing two or three shows each night, depending on the crowd. There will be opportunities for children to interact with the dinosaurs and get their pictures taken with them as well.

There will be no additional cost for the dinosaur encounter.

Another new event this year is Fair Idol. This local spin on the hit television series “American Idol” will see contestants compete to see who has the best singing voice.

Fair Idol is schedule for Saturday, July 20 at noon on the main stage.

Anyone interested in participating can find a registration form on the Whitley County Fair’s Facebook page. Forms can be turned in at the Whitley County Judge-Executive’s Office at the Whitley County Courthouse or at the main tent at the fairground beginning Wednesday, July 17.

Last but not least, there will also be hot air balloon rides available during this year’s fair.

The rides will cost $5 per person, per ride and will only be available Saturday, July 20 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Though it is not new this year, the mullet contest is set to return for its second straight year.

There are four groups for the contest, including: toddler (5 years old and under), child (6 to 12 years old), teen (13 to 18 years old) and adult (18 years old and up).

Only natural hair is allowed. Mullets will be judged on length, quality and overall appearance.

The contest will take place Saturday, July 20 at 2 p.m. at the main tent. Anyone hoping to compete must arrive by 1 p.m to register.

 

2024 Whitley County Fair to feature full slate of live musical acts

Organizers of this year’s Whitley County Fair have announced an exciting lineup of live music that will offer festival-goers the chance to hear a wide range of genres performed by talented artists with backgrounds from all over central and eastern Kentucky. (more…)

 

ThriveKY roadshow making stop in Williamsburg on July 16

Next Tuesday, July 16, a good learning and networking opportunity is scheduled to take place at the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Office in Goldbug when the Kentucky Voices for Health nonprofit coalition presents its ThriveKY “Advocacy for Thriving Communities” roadshow. (more…)

 

Eugene Siler, a life revisited (part 8)

With the 1950’s coming to a close, it was business as usual for U.S. Representative, and Williamsburg’s own, Eugene Siler, Sr. (more…)

 

Lane reductions on I-75 in Whitley County Monday night (July 15)

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet advises motorists that there will be temporary lane closures Monday night on northbound Interstate 75 at three locations between mile points 12 and 19 in Whitley County.

Beginning at 9 p.m. Monday, July 15, crews will close the northbound right lane (slow lane) on I-75 at mile points 12.28, 16.35, and 19.42 for core drilling operations. Work will be complete, and lane closures will end, by 6 a.m. Tuesday, July 16.

The date, time, and duration of work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur. Motorists can access travel and traffic conditions at http://goky.ky.gov or contribute their own reports at www.waze.com or via the Waze mobile application. You can also get traffic information for District 11 counties at www.facebook.com/KYTCDistrict11 or by following it on Twitter at www.twitter.com/KYTCDistrict11.

 

Blood drive set for Monday (July15) at W’burg VFW Post 3167

As fun as summer is, it’s a tough time on the blood supply. Donors can ensure it’s a safe and enjoyable season for everyone by donating blood at next week’s Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) drive in Williamsburg.

Between warm-weather activities, family vacations and no school, donations typically dwindle during the summer months, but the need for blood doesn’t take a vacation. Summer activities often lead to an increase in accidents and traumas and a spike in transfusions.

Williamsburg’s VFW Post 3167 will host a blood drive Monday, July 15, from 4 – 7 p.m. at the KBC Bloodmobile, which will be located at 4 Veterans Lane.

All donors at this drive will receive a limited-edition “Donor Vibes” T-shirt (while supplies last) as a thank you for boosting the summer blood supply.

Blood collected at this drive will save the lives of patients in Kentucky, who require products for surgeries, diseases like cancer, traumas, organ transplants, premature births and more.

Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, show a photo I.D. and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at kybloodcenter.org.

Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome. To schedule a donation, visit kybloodcenter.org or call (800) 775-2522.

KBC is the largest independent, full-service, nonprofit blood center in Kentucky, and has been saving local lives since 1968. KBC provides services in 90 Kentucky counties and has donor centers in Lexington, Louisville, Frankfort, Pikeville, Somerset and the Tri-County area (Corbin).

 

Demo derby, mud bog, horse show events and more returning to the fair

Many of your favorite Whitley County Fair events, such as the demolition derby, horse show, mule pull and mud bog, are back again for this year’s fair, which will take place July 17-20 at the Whitley County Fairgrounds in Savoy.

Demolition Derby

The Whitley County Fair Demolition Derby will take place on Thursday, July 18, at 7 p.m. For those that don’t know, a demolition derby is where drivers face off in a pit ramming one another’s junked vehicles until only one vehicle can move.

Driver’s will typically try to ram the other vehicles with the rear of their own vehicle in order to protect the engine. Each contestant must make a legal hit at least once a minute. No sandbagging allowed.

Hitting the driver’s side door is grounds for disqualification. If the hood comes open, then the vehicle is automatically disqualified.

This year’s demolition derby will feature three categories: front wheel drive class, big car class, and minivan/SUV class.

The vehicles in the front wheel drive class must be a front-wheel drive car, which is either a four or six-cylinder. No eight-cylinder vehicles are allowed in this class.

The vehicles in the big car class are a rear-wheel drive, full-size car.

The vehicle in the minivan/SUV class is a front-wheel drive van or front-wheel drive SUV. No rear-wheel or all-wheel drives will be accepted in this class.

Sorry teenage drivers, but each driver must be at least 21 years of age, fill out an entry form and sign a waiver.

Horse Show

The Whitley County Fair Horse Show will take place Friday, July 19, starting at 6 p.m. This year’s show will feature 24 classes, including best in show.

Classes vary greatly with some designed for fun while others are designed for more serious riders.

The show will start with the lead line class, which is open to all riders ages 12 and under. Youngsters will enter the ring riding their horse or pony with an adult usually leading the animal.

The egg and spoon class involves riders holding an egg with a spoon while they ride. The last rider with their egg still on the spoon wins. The costume class is open to all ages 12 and under, and is judged on showmanship and costume appearance.

The farm hitch, i.e. wagon class, involves teams of horses that will be judged on the animals conformation and ability to work as a team.

The show will feature several other classes targeted mainly for adults, such as various pleasure classes, speed pacing, speed racking, championship racking and championship walking.

Registration will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the main tent across the from the arena. All classes a participant wishes to enter must be selected and paid for by no later than 6:30 p.m. on the date of the show.

An up-to-date negative coggins test will be required to enter the fairgrounds with any equine.

Mule Pull

The Whitley County Fair Mule and Horse Pull will take place on Saturday, July 20, starting at 10 a.m. Gates will open that morning at 8 a.m.

A mule pull involves pairs of either mules or horses pulling a sled loaded with concrete blocks to see which team can pull the biggest load the furthest.

The classes are typically broken down by the combined size of the teams, which is determined by total weight. Bigger animals normally can pull heavier loads.

A team of draft horses can sometimes pull 10,000 pounds or more.

For more information, call the Whitley County Judge-Executive’s Office at (606) 549-6000.

Mud Bog

The 2024 Whitley County Fair Mud Bog will take place on Saturday, July 20, starting at 4 p.m.

A mud bog is a timed race with vehicles racing through a mud-filled pit. In the event that no vehicles make it all the way through the mud-filled pit, then the person, whose vehicle travels the furthest in the pit wins.

Vehicles have 60 seconds to make it through the pit, and if they haven’t made through during that time span, then they will be stopped and their distance will be marked from the tip of their front bumper.

Vehicles will have two runs with the average of the two runs determining the final time.

This year’s event will have four classes, including the new street class category.

The street class category is for vehicles that are legal to drive on the streets, and have Department of Transportation regulated tires, up to date tags and insurance.

There is also a category for vehicles with Department of Transportation regulated tires that are not over 33 inches in diameter. Vehicles that don’t qualify for the street class will more than likely be put into this class.

The third category is for vehicles with tires that are 34-38 inches in diameter.

The final category is the outlaw class.

As the rules state, “1. Run what you brung. 2. Hope the crazy was enough.”

For complete rules in all these contests, see the Whitley County Fair’s Facebook page.

This year’s fair won’t include four-wheelers or side-by-sides because of insurance reasons.

Farm and Home Exhibits

Think that you have the best looking biscuits, chocolate fudge, jar of strawberry jelly or jar of corn in Whitley County? How about the best looking crocheted craft item, decorative pillow, handmade jewelry, painting, weaving, photography or vegetables to name but a few categories?

If so, and you want to try and prove that yours is the best, then you may want to enter the Whitley County Fair Farm and Home Exhibits Contest, which will be taking place as part of the county fair July 17-19.

Registration for the farm and home exhibits will take place from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Office in Goldbug on Wednesday, July 17.

Exhibits will be open for free viewing from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 18, and Friday, July 19, at the extension office in Goldbug.

Exhibits can be picked up from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Monday, July 22, at the Whitley County Extension Office in Goldbug.

This contest includes everything from canned goods to crops, crafts and artwork.

For more information about the farm and home exhibits, contact the cooperative extension office at (606) 549-1430.

For a complete list of categories and rules for the Whitley County Fair Farm and Home Exhibits contest, see the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Office Facebook page.

(Editor’s Note: The farm and home exhibits are the only event, which won’t be taking place at the Whitley County Fairgrounds, which are located in Savoy.)

 

Fire guts Cox and Son Funeral Home in Jellico

A fire that broke out sometime Wednesday afternoon at Cox and Son Funeral Home in Jellico has completely gutted the establishment, which has been a staple of the community for more than 100 years.

Multiple agencies responded to the scene, where firefighters worked at the scene for several hours battling the blaze.

The funeral home posted the following statement on their Facebook page yesterday evening:

“All of us at Cox & Son Funeral Home are devastated at the fire and loss we have experienced today. Despite the circumstances, we are thankful that there are no injuries and that we were able to save most important documents including prearranged files, death certificates, and other important papers. We want to express our sincere appreciation to all of the first responders, fire and rescue personnel, law enforcement and others who worked diligently to contain the fire. We also want to convey our heartfelt gratitude to all of our friends, family members, and neighbors who came to our assistance during our time of need thank you. We will forever be grateful. Also, we want all of you to know that we have a contingency plan in place if anyone should need our service. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.”

For more information on the fire, see the July 17 edition of the News Journal.