When I think about Ted Forcht, I can’t help but smile. The guy was just funny and made you laugh. If you spent any time at all around him, then you probably had a smile on your face before you left Ted’s company. Given the health problems he had during his life, which included...

Here it is Memorial Day, or as we used to call it decoration day. As a child I remember when crowds would gather, bring lunches, having singing and linger at the cemetery. Things have changed with the passing of time. Now fewer people decorate and the stay lasts for only a few...

To the Editor: I just read Teresa Brook’s column in the May 15 News Journal paper, and it brought tears to my eyes. We had a similar experience when my grandson was born, and I (even as a grandma) can imagine exactly how that must’ve been for her. Thank God for her miracle (and...

To the Editor: I have been a resident of Corbin for more than 40 years. I pay my city taxes. I have never asked the city for anything. However, my home is off Sanderlin Drive, so I must drive it several times almost every day. It is a dangerous road that connects Fifth Street to...

The Kentucky Retirement Systems Board of Trustees grabbed the wheel two years ago this month and abruptly overcorrected a pension system whose tires had dropped off a steep shoulder on the side of a road winding toward a very uncertain future for the commonwealth’s retirement...

Trent Knuckles is publisher of The News Journal. U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell claims he will introduce a bill that would make the purchase of tobacco products illegal for anyone younger than 21-years-of-age. Read this story and more for just $.99 cents today, or subscribe to get...

The first weekend in May is one of my favorites. The Kentucky Derby is special whether you attend or watch it on television. Preceding the Derby will be the May Day Festival Friday night at the Corbin Arena. Last year I was honored to be the Master of Ceremonies for the 75th...

I’m convinced there is a certain percentage of people who do things simply because other people would prefer they didn’t. Call it an oppositional-defiant streak. I remember a case, when I was on the city of Corbin’s Code Enforcement Board, where someone we had cited for property...

No matter what time of the day or night, or the day of the week, when you travel on Interstate 75 it is clogged with traffic. Recently I have made trips to Georgia and traffic was extremely heavy. Each time I’ve driven to Lexington latlely it has been the same way. In addition to...

Last week, the News Journal reported the Whitley County Health Department has given out 90,481 “clean” (unused) needles since its needle exchange program began in January 2017. That’s 2.4 needles per man, woman and child living in Whitley County, or 9.9 per person over the age of...

I joined my fellow members of the House in passing several good, meaningful pieces of legislation this week, aimed at improving the quality of life for all Kentuckians. This is our last full week of this legislative session, with only eight legislative days left in the 2019...

When I was a kid, I loved jukeboxes. They were regular fixtures, particularly in pizza places. I remember going to Pizza Hut and begging my mom and dad to give me a little money for the jukebox so I could play a song I liked. “Centerfold” by the J. Geils Band was always one of my...

Don Estep is Publisher Emeritus of The News Journal. A Railroad Museum at the Depot would be part of an attraction that could attract visitors to downtown Corbin. However, spending upwards of $500,000 is a lot of money to gamble on it happening in a railroad museum. Read this...

To the Editor: The Corbin Kiwanis Club has established priorities to help improve the quality of life for our people. The Annual Chili Supper is a key part of our fundraising effort to support scholarships for Corbin and Lynn Camp High School Students each year. Students apply...

Gotta brag just a little this week. For the third straight year, the News Journal was named best newspaper, among large weekly publications in Kentucky, at the Kentucky Press Association annual convention last month. This is a big deal to those in our profession. Our category is...

To the Editor: In March 1951, I was serving with the Marine Security Guard detachment at the top secret U.S. Naval Air Missile Test Center at Point Mugu, Calif. My assignment was base patrol operator in a radio equipped jeep. Late one afternoon I was instructed to take three...

Don Estep is Publisher Emeritus of The News Journal. This morning I picked up some litter that had been thrown from passing motorists. While doing it a question passed through my mind. What priority does litter have on the list of government responsibilities? Read this story and...

Citizens mired in apathy. International money and foreign agents influencing domestic politics. Americans ensconced in a bubble of prosperity and isolationism, unconcerned about other nations. Greed and self-interest dividing us, damaging our reputation abroad and superseding a...

I know I’m probably in the minority when I say I prefer my coverage of local sports to be as free from bias as possible. Give it to me straight, no chaser. I like reading/hearing interviews with opposing players and coaches. I like honest analysis of in-game strategy rather than...

While watching America’s Got Talent Monday night three men called the “Texas Tenors” brought the house down with their performance. They had the longest ovation of the night. I told my wife, “They are going to win one of the two spots to move forward in the show.” When the votes...