Columns

I don’t bowl. If I tried to lift a bowling ball my arm would probably fall off. But I am sad to hear about the closing of Forest Lanes. The many groups and individuals who were league bowlers are going to miss it more than me. I don’t know the circumstances that has led to the closing of the bowling alley, but somehow I hope somebody can come to the rescue of those who bowl. Forest Lanes has been the host for several state bowling tournaments that brought hundreds of visitors and thousands of dollars to the area. The bowling alley has been a great asset to the area also as...

Like several of you, I was there for the first NIBROC Festival. A contest had been held to name the festival and Corbin spelled backwards was chosen. The carnival rides were located on a lot at 7th and Main Streets. The festival was mostly a hometown affair until the downtown businesses left for shopping centers. The early years were fun. Most employees of the downtown stores participated in various ways, such as dressing up in yesteryear’s clothing to men growing beards. It seems like everybody was involved. The sidewalks were crowded with merchandise for sale. Windows were decorated to blend with various themes. During the day there was always a crowd...

It’s NIBROC week! I know there’s some negative Nellies out there who complain incessantly about it, but not me! I love NIBROC! I get so immersed in it these days that by the time Sunday rolls around I’m totally exhausted. It takes me a week to recover. There’s just so much to do. I conducted a short interview with my nine-year-old daughter, Rachel, to get her take on the festival. She is pretty representative of kids around her age, I think. Here are some highlights: Me: “Rachel, NIBROC is this week. Do you like NIBROC?” Rachel: “It’s AMAZING!!! Can we ride that one ride that takes us up high and spins us in circles? And the...

Timely tips - planning for the fall-calving cow herd • Spraying or using a pour-on for flies while cattle are gathered can supplement other fly control methods. Remember to work cattle early in the morning when it is cool and handle them gently to minimize stress. • Continue to watch for pinkeye and treat if necessary. Minimize problems by clipping pastures, controlling face flies and providing shade. Monitor the bulls’ activity and physical condition as the breeding season winds down. • Fescue pastures tend to go dormant in August, so look for alternatives like warm season grasses during this period of time. Try to keep the young calves gaining weight. Go to...

Storing home canned foods If you are lucky enough to have some home canned foods on hand (through your own or someone else’s hard work), be sure to store them properly so that you can enjoy the taste of summer throughout the coming year. Once jars have cooled for 12 to 24 hours and sealed, the screw bands should be removed for storage. This prevents the bands from rusting onto the jars and allows undamaged bands to be reused. The outside of the sealed jars should be washed to remove any food residue, then rinsed and dried. For best quality, all home canned foods should be stored in a cool, dark, dry...

Just the other day, I heard someone actually say the following: “There is absolutely nothing good on TV anymore.” Then, they started to wax nostalgic about the days of “Hee Haw,” “Love Boat,” “Dallas” “The Waltons” and of course, the ultimate, hands down, best go-to show in television history — absolute required viewing for anyone who considers themselves a true American … “The Andy Griffith Show.” Actually, I always found that last one to be pretty boring, but I’ll concede it does have a certain charm for those who yearn for the “simpler days of yesteryear.” While I do think there were some things that were better in “the good old days,”...

When the men’s Olympic basketball team takes the court in Rio this month few of its players, and perhaps even fewer of the fans, will remember what took place 44 years ago at the 1972 Games in Munich, Germany. There has never been such an Olympics, before or since. Swimmer Mark Spitz won an unheard of seven gold medals, gymnast Olga Korbut from Russia burst onto the world scene, and the U.S. men’s basketball team lost to the Russians in the most controversial game ever played. But it was what happened away from any of the competition, back in Olympic Village, that brought the world to its knees. For Munich in 1972,...

U of K Poultry Specialist stresses sanitation in multistate salmonella outbreaks Salmonella outbreaks associated with contact with live poultry in backyard flocks that began in early June are now affecting people in 45 states, and Kentucky appears to have the highest number of illnesses. University of Kentucky poultry specialists are stressing the importance of preventing bacteria for backyard flock owners. “The most important thing poultry owners can do is review their sanitary measures,” said Jacqueline Jacob, University of Kentucky Poultry Extension Project Manager for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “Many of the cases in the current outbreak are linked to backyard flocks, so we want to remind folks of simple...

Choosing the right college major If you are headed to college but still not sure what you want to do, you are not alone. Many students are in the same boat. Choosing a major is an important step toward a rewarding career, but many students change majors at least once; many workers also change careers, some more than once. Choosing a worthwhile major is one step in a life process that you may be making up as you go. How do you decide? Do what you want, not what others want. Are family members or friends telling you what you should be doing with your life? They very likely want the best...

Since the Corbin City Commission banned the NIBROC Festival from Main Street several years ago, you may have noticed it’s a little smaller than it used to be. Fewer vendors. Less room for the carnival. Musicians that, while still very talented, are not the national acts we’d become accustomed to. It’s just unfortunate reality. We can change that reality if we want. Perhaps find a way to build it back again and utilize our Main Street to celebrate our community festival for a few days like almost every other community on earth. The Chicken Festival manages to pull it off somehow. Too bad we can’t. Maybe some day. Quite frankly, I still think NIBROC...