Columns

The Jan. 20 Main Street blaze in Williamsburg, which destroyed four buildings, will have a legacy downtown beyond just the fire. Initially, it appeared much of the buildings could probably be rebuilt. However, Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison recently announced all four structures will have to be demolished due to the extent of the damage. While it is theoretically possible to save the buildings, it would triple the building costs. As someone, who worked in downtown Williamsburg on Second Street across from Croley Funeral Home for 25 years, I got emotional when I heard these buildings were burning in January and again after I saw the aftermath. I walked by them nearly every day...

By John Curtis White We are now officially about half way through the 2026 MLB season and a lot of things have happened. The Braves and Rays have come back after having tough 2025 seasons, the Dodgers remain amazing, some stars have fallen off, while others have come out of nowhere. Here are some players who were either great last year and not great this year, or players who were injured or not great last year but really great this year. First, Ronald Acuna Jr. has been underwhelming this year. Last year Acuna Jr., playing in only 95 games (coming back from ACL tear) was amazing. He hit 21 home runs...

The greater Corbin area used to have not one but two golf courses. Both are now closed. I miss one of these courses. The second one not so much…LOL. I suspect many of you, who played both courses, probably agree with me. I am talking about the old Tri-County Country Club and Sweet Hollow Golf Course. Both were nine-hole courses, but not every nine-hole course is created equally. Tri-County was in western Knox County between Old Barbourville Highway and the Cumberland Gap Parkway. When I say located between the two roads, I mean literally. The entrance for Tri-County Country Club was off Old Barbourville Highway. Cumberland Gap Parkway was visible from the...

If you read my column last week, you know that I joined the London Community Band after several years of not participating. Since then, I’ve been to a couple of rehearsals, and I wanted to update you on how it’s going. I can’t believe how many years have gone by since I last participated. It feels like it was only a couple years ago. After thinking about it though, I don’t think I have participated since I graduated high school in 2019. There are members of the band I haven’t spoken to or even seen in person since then, and some I hadn’t seen in even longer. That’s a hard thought...

When I was 12 years old, I was shot by a couple of guys target shooting at an old outhouse a couple of blocks away. (No. I wasn’t in the outhouse…LOL). I heard some bangs beforehand, but it was July 1. I figured some kids were probably setting off firecrackers and I did not think much about it. The men were using a .22 rifle and did not think the bullet would go through the outhouse. However, it ricocheted, travelled a couple of blocks and struck me in the leg. I was in the hospital for five days, and on crutches for two months. The doctors did not remove the bullet. They...

By John Curtis White The NBA finals just concluded, and it was one of the most exciting finals in recent history. The New York Knicks ended up winning in 5 games to end a drought that had lasted since 1973. One reason that this year’s finals was so exciting was the fact that the Spurs led by 10 or more points in every single game. Here is my recap of the 2026 NBA finals. First, Game 1 where the Knicks won 105-95 in San Antonio. At one point in Game 1, the Spurs were up 65-51 with 6:31 left to go in the 3rd quarter and ended up choking the game...

The Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission recently sponsored its annual Burger Week, which has proven to be a success each year. I’m all for honoring beef. I love a good steak and a good burger probably a little more so than the next guy. However, I would love to see someone organize a Wing Week too. Local restaurants could have a week-long special on wings. You could have a contest with two categories of winners like they do with the Williamsburg Chili Cookoff. You could have a judge’s choice award and a people’s choice award. A secret panel of judges could anonymously go around to all the participating restaurants, sample the wings and...

In 1996, Greg Norman entered the final round of the Masters Golf tournament with six-shot lead over his closest competitor, Nick Faldo. When the day started, nearly everyone expected Norman to pull out the win and probably in big fashion. This wasn’t meant to be. Norman struggled and ended with a final round 78. Faldo shot a final round 67 and got the five-shot win. It was painful to watch. You really had to feel sorry for Norman. Going into the final round of this year’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in New York, Wyndham Clark began the day with a six-stroke lead. By the time my dad and I tuned into the final round...

That’s What I Thought by Diane Taylor Roberts Thirty Years Ago I made several really good friends while attending Cumberland College in the late 70’s and I am still friends with all of them today.  I had lost touch with one dear friend, Carolyn Bargo Bowman.  We were such good friends in college, we graduated, then I moved to Tennessee and we lost contact with one another.  By chance we met in Williamsburg again in 2024.  True friendships are timeless.  Decades can pass, yet when you reunite, the conversation flows and you pick up right where you left off. It is the beautiful realization that some bonds are never broken...

Last Friday morning, I got on Facebook and was devastated to learn Jack Walker had died. Mr. Walker was a cherished member of our local band community, and the news hit me hard. Mr. Walker was a prominent figure in the band world who impacted generations of students. He was someone I had a great deal of respect and appreciation for. He believed in me when I was in high school band. He encouraged me when I was doing well and reassured me when I felt like I wasn’t. He fought for me because he believed in me. I remember one time he told me I was a great musician, and hearing...