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Several years ago before I joined the staff of the News Journal, the newspaper used to do an April Fools’ Day edition with a fake front page filled with ridiculous, made up stories in honor of the day that no one could possibly take seriously. It was all in good humor. My...

Last fall when I was filling in for our sports editor, I had the privilege of being on the sidelines as Head Coach Brent Jackson led the Corbin Eighth Grade Football Team to its second consecutive state title. Also, on the sidelines, was Jackson’s wife, Jenni Lou Jackson, who had...

Downtown Corbin isn’t what it once was when I was kid when you still had downtown department stores and it was a hub for local shopping, whether it was clothing or furniture. It isn’t what it was when I started in journalism about 30 years ago after most of the downtown retail...

I thought I would take this opportunity to wish my wonderful wife, Cecelia, an early anniversary. Sunday will mark our 18th wedding anniversary. On Sept. 25, 2004, we tied the knot at my church, Gray’s Baptist Church, with her preacher, Bobby Joe Eaton, performing the ceremony....

The 39th Annual Old Fashioned Trading Days had a nice turnout last week in downtown Williamsburg. There seemed to be a pretty good sized crowd when I left Williamsburg late last Thursday afternoon. Friday morning’s entertainment was nice with the Whitley Central Intermediate...

Sometimes one decision can change the trajectory of your future, such as deciding which college to attend. During my senior year of high school, I was all set to go to the University of Kentucky. I had the student aid documents all filled out. I had a housing assignment for the...

First off, let me clarify something about last week’s column regarding the death of former Whitley County Judge-Executive and Jailer Jerry Taylor. I have since realized that there were a number of people, who took offense to the Jerry Taylor story I mentioned about his father...

Whether you loved him or hated him – and there were certainly a few people who did one or the other – you didn’t have to spend much time around former Whitley County Judge-Executive and Jailer Jerry Taylor to figure out why the guy kept getting elected so much in his life. He was...

College. It’s a great thing for many people, myself included, but it isn’t for everybody. You know what, that’s not a bad thing. Yes, the world needs engineers, scientists, astronomers, doctors and lawyers. It also needs electricians, carpenters, plumbers and farmers. I’ve long...

Flooding. The sheer terrifying force of Mother Nature unleashed in the form of flowing, rushing and rising water that leaves devastation, destruction and a trail of stinking, stagnant mud and mold in its wake. The recent massive flash flooding event in eastern Kentucky, which has...