Columns

As the year comes to an end, I can’t help but reflect on everything I have experienced and accomplished this year. There are many instances, both in my career and in my personal life, when I pushed myself out of my comfort zone. I worked on patience and kindness, prioritized my mental and emotional health, and learned to say “no” even when it was hard. I focused on musical growth and surprised myself. Let’s take a walk down Leeann’s 2025 memory lane. At the beginning of this year, I was still a teacher. I was teaching second grade at Boonesborough Elementary School. The other day, I was looking for a specific video...

You just can’t fit all the news from a year into a top 10 list, like the one running on our front page in this week’s edition of the News Journal. Sure, we get the big news events in there, but that doesn’t mean there still weren’t quite a few other interesting and memorable news stories in 2025, such as ground being broken for an expansion of The Corbin Center, Williamsburg Agriculture teacher Toraleah Shelley serving as a guest Christmas decorator at the White House, the retirement of long-time Corbin Independent Schools Superintendent Dave Cox, and a former Laurel County Sheriff’s Capt. apparently killing his mother in Berea before killing...

The past year was full of major developments in both local news and sports. While you can check out our annual review of the top news stories throughout this week’s edition, I thought that I would use my column space to revisit some of 2025’s most talked about happenings in the world of local sports. At the top of the list is the Corbin eighth grade football team’s most recent state championship, which they secured on Nov. 15 after a 26-8 win over Rockcastle County in the Division 2 title game, played at Lexington Christian Academy. This was the Corbin Middle School football program’s tenth state championship overall, and their...

Written by Diane Taylor Roberts It is well into December, and I have received four Christmas cards. This is a first. We usually receive so many that they line the door facing on both sides between our kitchen and dining room. Each year, we receive less and less. Years ago, Christmas cards were a very important part of the holiday season. The cards depicted street scenes, some had glitter, some had Currier and Ives country scenes, a jolly red cheeked Santa, carolers, or nativity scenes all with heartfelt wishes for peace and joy written in elegant calligraphy. The rising cost of postage and the cards themselves may be a significant deterrent....

Merry Christmas! That is my greeting in this space for the 38th consecutive year. Although I retired from this newspaper at the beginning of the year, I still write an occasional column and the one at Christmas is special to me. Over the years, I’ve covered almost every aspect of my Christmas stories. I’ll begin this one commenting on Christmas music. As far back as I can remember, very little has changed with the artists and the songs played. You’ll often hear, “I’ve had all of that music I can take,” from some people. I’ll agree to that in a way. Back in the 1960s, when I was a radio DJ,...

Times are tough out there for a lot of folks. There is no doubt about that. There is no shortage of stress and anxiety as the cost of living only ever seems to go up, and with so much uncertainty concerning the future. Because of this, I think it is important, especially at this time of year, to really try to find joy everywhere that we possibly can in the here-and-now. Those who know me well may find me saying this a bit surprising. I have never been what you would call an eternal optimist, but as I get older, I am learning that just about the only thing that...

Here we go again… Another election season is just about here, as the filing deadline for candidates seeking office in 2026 is set to expire on January 9. We here at the News Journal have been keeping a close eye on who is filing for which seats in recent weeks, and we have been making a concerted effort to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date contact information for each of these individuals as we go along. This is imperative, as we will soon begin reaching out to inform candidates about important opportunities for advertising and future chances to participate in Q&A’s. If you have filed to run for office in 2026...

Buddy the Elf famously said, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” If you haven’t made time to attend a concert, enjoy a Christmas play, or even just watch a holiday movie with your family, especially one filled with music, you might be missing out on the true spirit of the season. I was convinced my band days were over when I graduated from the University of the Cumberlands in May of 2024. I was so surprised and excited when I saw they were doing a community band for Christmas. That meant I didn’t have to be a student to play music with them. I...

Wow. The organizers and participants of this year’s Williamsburg Feels Like Home Christmas Parade out did themselves Saturday night. While I haven’t been to all the Williamsburg Christmas parades over the past 30 years, I have been to most, and this was one of, if not the best one that I have personally witnessed. There were numerous floats with varying themes, antique vehicles, emergency service vehicles and various groups marching down Main Street. Hundreds braved the cold to turn out and watch the parade. Great job everyone. Also, Williamsburg’s Hanging of the Green celebration on Dec. 6 has turned into a nice little festive way to start the holidays. This is a simple 30-minute...

There is an old saying that there are only two certainties in life, death and taxes. I think we probably need to add a third one to that list. Change. After all, it is inevitable. Some are big and some are small. Some are good and some are bad, but no matter how hard we might try to fight it, change is going to happen. Publisher Trevor Sherman, reporter Leeann Fragosa and myself spent some time talking about upcoming change at the News Journal this past week. Fortunately, it is nothing too major. For instance, we have been discussing getting new computers office-wide for the first time in several years. I have had my current...