Finally, the election is over. I know the candidates are relived and that goes for about everybody. It is time to take down all the yard signs, do away with those gosh awful television ads and count the votes. I don’t mind the yard signs, but every election we are bombarded with...

Last week I was thrilled to come across a Facebook post congratulating the staff of the Paws’ Print, Corbin High School’s student newspaper, on the printing of their first physical issue in many years. I immediately reached out to Niki Junker, who heads up the school’s journalism...

For over 15 years I have been writing columns complaining about the condition of Hwy. 312, Gordon Hill, in Corbin. Finally, the state paved part of the road last week. Notice I said part. They left a small section as it was and have not touched the Laurel Co. side of the 312...

With two people running for sheriff as write-in candidates in next month’s November General Election and one person running for third-district constable as a write-in candidate, you might be thinking that this must be some kind of record for write-in candidates running for office...

One of the joys of my life has been having weekly lunches with a group of guys. The group was formed before I joined them and that was over 25 years ago. We have eaten together at least twice a week and sometimes more. From the time I started eating with them only Paul Jones, Coy...

Barry Sadler. The first time I heard his name was soon after my arrival for assignment at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, as the deputy post information officer in 1967. Sadler, while a Special Forces Green Beret, was still officially a soldier stationed at Bragg, and his newly...

In recent months I have greatly enjoyed covering the regular weekly meetings of the Corbin Rotary Club. Not only do I get the chance to fill up on some great food at David’s Steakhouse, but I also have the opportunity to hear special guest speakers talk about a number of...

I hope you had a good weekend. Mine was excellent. The weather was perfect to get out and enjoy the activities that were going on in the area. My wife and I started the day by attending OctoberFest in downtown Corbin. I believe this was the most vendors we have ever had for this...

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...

You probably noticed that our News Journal name on the front page is in pink this week and we have a full page ad on A-15 about breast cancer. This is “Breast Cancer Awareness Awareness Month.” The lowest point in my life came when the doctor in Lexington told me and my wife that...

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...

This past Saturday I had the opportunity to visit the Whitley County Historical and Genealogical Society’s Heritage Day event in Williamsburg. Although I have driven by the building many times over the years, this was actually my first time going inside and checking out the museum.

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...

Next week, Oct. 2-8 is designated, “National Newspaper Week.” I know, every cause has a week and they all are special. Ours is special because we want to add emphasis to our effectiveness when some may think newspapers are relics of the past. No my friend, newspapers aren’t dead....

I spend a lot of time in the archives here at the News Journal. Part of it is conducting research on a particular topic or event for a story that I might be working on, and part of it is compiling info for the “This Week in History” box that typically appears somewhere in the...

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....

Great feedback from our sample mailing last week. Many of you took up our special offer and subscribed. During the Covid period our number of subscribers, like many other newspapers, hit a decline. Thankfully those numbers are starting to rise again. Studies show us that for a...

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...

Some of you may ask why you are getting a free News Journal? It is because we want you to join the thousands of others who read our local newspaper every week as subscribers. In this edition are subscription ads for a one time special offer of $38 for a full year subscription for...

There’s been a lot of big things happening in the world of local sports in recent days, including Corbin Redhound legend Frank Selvy being inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.