This past week was busy in the best possible way, and I wanted to share three events I attended. I attended the Whitley Area Retired Teachers’ Association (WARTA) meeting, the Ghost Tour at the Corbin Public Library (CPL), and watched the Corbin High School (CHS) Marching band compete at the Quarterfinals at South Laurel High School.
The WARTA meeting was something I didn’t know existed until recently. For those who don’t know, I taught for one year, which is why this meeting interested me.
I walked in feeling a bit nervous since I didn’t know anyone. President Meg Judd greeted us, encouraging everyone to introduce themselves along with an interesting fact. Suddenly, a room full of strangers turned into a community of teachers with unique stories to share.
Once we got to know each other a bit, I felt much more at ease. Meg highlighted the benefits available to retired teachers and stressed the importance of ensuring that everyone is receiving what they’re entitled to. She reminded the members, “make sure you call this number. You want to make sure you’re getting this.”
Each retired teacher also fills out a volunteer log, showcasing the time and effort they’ve invested in the community even after retirement.
I realized there are retired teachers in Whitley County who likely don’t attend these meetings. I encourage readers to look into this if it applies to you. They are not only informative, but they also foster a sense of community among people who share your passions. It’s nice to feel heard and appreciated for your contributions to education.
Next, I went to the Ghost Tour at the CPL. I enjoy the Halloween season, but I prefer not to be overly scared. For those who feel the same, the Ghost Tour was perfect.
The event offered activities for all ages. I brought a group of seven, including some friends and my sister. My close friend Amber said, “Thanks for inviting us, Leeann. This is the most wholesome family event I’ve been to in a long time.” She wasn’t wrong.
We started with the ghost tour itself. I really enjoyed our tour guide. He was funny, and I appreciated that we got to go outside while Superman (John Baker, Director of Corbin Public Library) helped us cross the street.
We were served hot chocolate and apple cider, and we received bags of cookies and candy. Then, we painted pumpkins, played ring toss, and colored. There was a fortune teller named Madam Esmeralda, who had a fascinating accent. She told me about my past, present, and future. Later, we played trivia. My group was in last place for a while, but we managed to bounce up to third place by the end. I consider that a win!
Thank you, Corbin Public Library, for a fun and exciting event. I am looking forward to next year’s event.
I wish I could have seen the magic show on the second day of the ghost tour, as I love magic shows, but I was unable to attend because I was at the marching band competition at South Laurel High School to see CHS compete in the Quarterfinals.
One of my favorite things in the world is a good marching band competition, especially in the month of October, the last month of the marching band season.
Many of my favorite memories stem from my time in the high school marching band. I became drum major my senior year, and we advanced to state finals, obtaining a state championship in class 4A for the first time in Laurel County history. It was such a rewarding experience.
I had already watched the entirety of CHS’s show. When I attended the Corbin Board of Education meeting on Oct. 16, the meeting was hosted at CHS. As I was leaving, the band had just started their full run-through. I watched and noted a couple of things. The Corbin Band has a strong low brass section, and that’s coming from a flute player! I was really impressed by their full sound, especially for a Class 2A band. Another strength was their rifle team. I don’t recall seeing a single member miss a toss. They caught it every time. They had really cool props and a groovy percussion section, especially towards the end of the show. I was eager to see how they performed compared to other bands in their class.
Unfortunately, CHS did not advance to the semifinals. I was surprised because they seemed so passionate in their performance. Just as I had observed in their practices, this group of students listened attentively to instruction, demonstrated a strong desire to perform excellently, and they certainly did.
I am glad it wasn’t their last performance of the season, though. They will be showcasing their performance one more time for the community at Corbin’s Campbell Field on October 23 at 7:30 p.m.
I encourage readers to attend. Marching band kids work hard and deserve more support than they receive.
Congratulations CHS Band on a fantastic and hardworking season.
