Leeann Fragosa

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....

One of the best parts about working for the News Journal is the places I get to go and the different people I get to meet. One of those places that I was able to attend this week was the Louisville Orchestra performance during their In Harmony tour stop at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park on Friday, Sept. 19. The event drew people from all over the world, all there for different reasons, whether it was the music itself, the art, or nature, or perhaps a blend of all three. I met individuals who had been there more times than they could count, and some individuals who had never been there at...

You have probably heard of the Backpack Club. Whether you were a backpack kid yourself or knew someone who was, odds are you are familiar with the positive impact it has on children in need. I witnessed this impact firsthand when I visited the Corbin Community Backpack Program on Monday, Sept. 15. I saw around 12 volunteers from the University of the Cumberlands (UC) show up to help the program fill bags of food for children in need. Crates quickly filled up with food that would go directly to kids who need it in Whitley and Knox counties. Each UC volunteer took turns adding different food items to a bag, which...

Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My mom used to sing to me when I was little. I’d sit in our living room messing around with her big Yamaha keyboard, fascinated by how her fingers made these beautiful chords while mine just… didn’t. I wanted to learn. I was in elementary school when she started teaching me chords, and before long, I was playing and singing in church. That spark grew into something bigger as I got older. In seventh grade, I joined the high school marching band and picked the flute as my instrument. At the time, it was the cheapest...

When I posted the news about Corbin High School’s new cell phone policy, I didn’t expect 200+ comments, dozens of shares, and a public debate to follow; however, that is exactly what happened, and I am not entirely surprised. The comments were filled with passionate individuals, as this is an essential topic in our community. I saw comments of frustration, sarcasm, even a meme at one point, but it was all wrapped into one underlying theme: people care. In case you missed it, Corbin High School has implemented a new cell phone policy in response to Kentucky law KRS 158.165, which restricts phone use during instructional time. To enforce this, they...

As August approaches, I notice people everywhere preparing for the new school year. A friend of mine recently said to their child, “It’s time to go school-supply shopping,” which made me realize that I am not involved in these back-to-school activities. Since joining the News Journal two weeks ago, I've observed friends buying supplies, purchasing new clothes, decorating their classrooms, and trying to adjust their sleep schedules. It definitely feels strange, considering I was applying to schools just a month ago. Reflecting on my journey, it's been a long path toward becoming a teacher. Since the fall of 2019, I embarked on this journey with a major in elementary education,...

As I’m writing my first article for the News Journal since 2023, it feels like consuming the first gulp of an ice-cold bottled water—familiar, yet insanely satisfying. Some of you may remember me, and some may not. My name is Leeann Fragosa, and I am officially working with the News Journal again. Since accepting the position, I’ve felt an overwhelming wave of excitement. I’m eager to dive in and do my best. This isn’t technically my first time here; I have some background with the paper. In the summer of 2023, I completed a 10-week internship with the News Journal. It was the summer before my final year of college. During those...