As we start a new year, here are some of the things I would like to see happen this year. Realistically I know much of what I want will not happen, but let’s dream. First, I want the General Assembly to change the border of Whitley County. It should extend beyond exit 29 of I-75...

The year 2022 might not have been the best year in Whitley County history but compared to the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, it sure looked good by comparison. Among the positives, you had the opening of the Mint Gaming Hall – Cumberland in Williamsburg, the groundbreaking for...

Since this week’s edition is serving as a retrospective of the most talked about events of the past 12 months, I would like to take the opportunity to look back at the biggest sports stories of 2022.

We made it! The freezing temperatures and the snow and ice put a damper on this year’s Christmas. But we are here and warmer weather is on its way for the New Year. Because our family could not gather together due to the weather, and because I was ill from a recent surgery, our...

Let me start off this week’s column by wishing a happy 50th birthday to my wonderful wife, Cecelia. She turns 50 today (Dec. 28). Few people are as enthusiastic about their birthdays as my wife is. She would do a month long celebration of her birthday if I would let her. Even...

I thought I knew what cold felt like until last week, but the blast of frigid arctic air that hit our region late Thursday night taught me otherwise.

I can still remember the first Shop with a Cop program that took place in Williamsburg in 2004. Williamsburg Police Officer Kenny Shaw and Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Jerry Noe, unbeknownst to each other, had started raising money for a shop with a cop program for their...

Wishing you a Merry Christmas from the staff at the News Journal along with the many businesses that have placed a Greetings ad in this edition of our paper. It is that time of the year that affects people in different ways. I call it the three stages of a Christmas experience....

I slowly, methodically backed my way into the foul lane dribbling the basketball low to the ground. The defender with hands held high, would be no match in preventing me from scoring. Thousands were watching as I positioned my 10-year-old body for a hook shot I had practiced at...

I have a ton of respect for the performers in all of our local drama clubs. I cover a lot of sports for the News Journal, and while I am always impressed with the amazing feats of athleticism that our young athletes are able to pull off on the court and/or field, there is just...

Just a reminder that the 2022 City of Williamsburg Feels Like Home Christmas in a Small Town Parade is slated for Saturday evening on Main Street, and the Jellico Christmas Parade is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday. A lot of work goes into the planning of community events, such as...

Now that we’ve all had a few days to absorb the events of last week’s state football championship, allow me to offer up a few thoughts…

Much praise has been given to the Corbin Redhound football team and its coach Tom Greer. I would like to add my congratulations. It was a great year and they were a yellow flag and an extra point away from being state champions. Nevertheless, the team played a great game and they...

Our founding fathers were some pretty smart folks. When they created this country, they did so with the idea of giving the people a way to peacefully address their grievances with the government. On Nov. 17, we got to see this in action locally as about 100 people gathered at the...

In 1939 the Corbin Redhound football team went undefeated with an 11-0 record. Since there wasn’t any playoffs then the state’s best team was determined by the Litkenhouse ratings and that team was Corbin, state champs. That is the year I was born and that is the only Corbin team...

Local sports has been front and center for me in recent weeks, with the Corbin Redhounds making their historic run to another state championship title game and the 2022-23 high school basketball season tipping off this week.

There is no IF about it. You KNOW that under age vaping IS a SERIOUS problem in your community when the local school board sends out an open letter to the community urging stores that sell vaping products to place them behind the counter, like Corbin did last week. We aren’t just...

Thanksgiving! I give thanks for many things in my life, God, family, country and more things that I can fit in this column. But because it is my newspaper column I am giving thanks to Terry Forcht, the many staff members that have worked here, our advertisers and especially you,...

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, among both men and women. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. I have a particular interest in informing people about the symptoms of lung cancer because I have battled lung cancer twice. The first time...

Seldom have I seen a candidate work as hard as Seth Reeves did in his campaign for district judge and not win an election. Seth was all over the place and campaigned for over a year only to come up about 200 votes short. His work ethic is very impressive. He has some good ideas....