Mark White

The 43rd Annual Old Fashioned Trading Days festival is almost upon us. It takes place Thursday through Saturday in downtown Williamsburg. Back when we had an office in Williamsburg, for me, one of the best parts of Old Fashioned Trading Day was being able to step out of my office, walk a few feet and have lots of choices in terms of places to eat for lunch. Back then the options in Williamsburg were much more limited. The Whitley County Cattlemen’s Association is always one of my “go to” places to eat at these local festivals. They have an efficient set up where the food basically goes from the freezer to...

A couple of months ago, my wonderful wife, Cecelia, and I did something I had never done before. We purchased a new vehicle. I am not talking about a “new to me” vehicle. I am talking about a “brand new” vehicle. I am not going to lie. I enjoyed driving it home. When I pulled into the garage, the odometer displayed 85 miles part of which I put on it during two test drives. (I am sure this happiness will be much less, so when we make the first payment, which I think is due any time. Cecelia takes care of the bill paying…LOL.) For all intents and purposes our Mazda SUV...

When it comes to golf in Bell County, the course one typically hears people talk about is Wasioto Winds Golf Course at Pine Mountain in Pineville. There is good reason for this. Built in 2001, Wasioto Winds is an 18-hole championship course. It was designed by acclaimed golf architect Dr. Michael Hurdzan. He created a layout, which embraces the properties bottomland terrain and scenic Appalachian surroundings, as the Kentucky State Parks website describes it. Unlike most courses you see in Kentucky, Wasioto Winds is a links style course with lots of water and lots of bunkers. From what I recall, it is relatively flat and does not have a lot of trees...

How cool would it be to have two sitting federal judges at the same time from the little town of Williamsburg? I think I can speak for most people in Williamsburg, Whitley County and even Corbin when I say it would be pretty darn cool. While it probably won’t make the history books, Aug. 18, 2026, may be a date a lot of Williamsburg residents remember for a very long time. Early that afternoon, a ceremony was held at the federal courthouse in London renaming the building the Eugene E. Siler Jr. United States Courthouse in honor of the longtime judge. It is the only federal building in Kentucky bearing someone’s name. Siler served...

Congratulations to Corbin High School golfers Makena Myatt and Kalyn Watkins, who recently advanced to the state finals. Myatt improved on her own personal best and set the lady’s course record firing a five under 67 at Wasioto Winds Golf Course at Pine Mountain State Park on Aug. 18 to win the Kentucky 2A Section 7 Girls’ Qualifier. Myatt sank a birdie putt on the final hole. Watkins held her own shooting an 82 on what I can personally attest is a tough golf course. I imagine the course set-up for a tournament, like this one, was even tougher than usual. (I always used to take old balls when I played Wasioto...

If you read my column on a regular basis, then you know I have written several times about giving experiences instead of presents to loved ones as gifts. How many ties, coffee mugs and scented candles can you give someone? Sure, they will smile for the camera and say thank you, but is it something they really want? Giving an experience is something you can do together with a loved one, make some memories and have a good time. My dad, who has a Fourth of July birthday, and I recently took a road trip. For his birthday, I bought him a red, white and blue golf bag. It seemed fitting given his...

Back in 2014, I remember my dad and I playing golf with Thom Smith, who told us about something interesting he planned to do in the coming weeks. He was planning to take a trip to North Carolina to volunteer at both the U.S. Open Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship golf tournaments, which were being played in back-to-back weeks at Pinehurst No. 2. Many in the Corbin community are probably familiar with Thom. He used to be the transportation director for the Corbin Independent School District for several years before serving as the athletic director for the district. He is also a former golf coach at Corbin High...

Corbin High School golfers recently took a road trip to Jonesville, Virginia, to take part in the Farmers and Miners Bank Invitational high school golf tournament at Cedar Hill Country Club where they had a great showing with an individual win and a second-place team finish. Each year the Corbin High School Boy’s Golf Team and the Girl’s Golf Team join forces to play in the coed tournament. This year 87 boys and girls teed it up to crown the 2026 champions. Corbin Golfer Makena Myatt shot a bogey free four under 68 to become the 2026 Farmers and Miners champion. “She’s good. Plain and simple. Cut and dDry. We hyped this one...

Corbin Mayor Suzie Razmus epitomized what a small town festival like NIBROC is supposed to be about Friday night. Razmus was at a concert for The Wildflowers, which is a Tom Petty tribute band. She was sitting in the front row with approximately half a dozen of her besties enjoying the show and was later up dancing with her friends as the group played several classics from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. To me, this is what these festivals are supposed to all about, bringing people together to socialize and have a good time. Sure, the parking is a hassle. Once you get down to the festival though, it is typically a...

When you are the managing editor of a small community newspaper, you “get” to do some stuff editors are bigger newspaper don’t have to do, such as filling up the jug for the water cooler, taking out the glue trap with the dead lizard and checking upstairs in the attic after some of the ladies heard a noise and are convinced there is a racoon up there. (It turned out just to be a fallen ceiling tile…LOL.) The latest case in point was last Wednesday. Our long-time newspaper delivery driver, Andy Welsh, left us for the greener pastures of California. (Cannot imagine why he would want to do that…LOL.) I...