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Weatherwise, Saturday proved to be a near perfect fall day with slightly cool temperatures in the morning making way for pleasant temperatures throughout the day for a few local events. Turnout was great in downtown Corbin for the annual Octoberfest celebration, which was held in conjunction with the final Cumberland Valley Cruise-In of the season. I think I attended all or pretty much all the Cumberland Valley Cruise-Ins this season. Turnout was great for each of them with several antique cars and trucks on display. I don’t know about anyone else, but I have always liked looking at antique cars. Vehicles from back in the 1950s and 1960s really had a lot...

It’s been a busy time at the Whitley County Fairgrounds, and the festivities this month are just getting started. Last Wednesday, I took my daughter and her friend down to see the Great Pages Circus underneath the new open air structure, and I was blown away. I have seen this particular circus perform in our local area before, and they always do a great job regardless of the venue. The fairgrounds provided the perfect setting, however, and you couldn’t have asked for better weather on the night of the show. See some of the photos that I took while at the circus elsewhere inside this week’s edition. On Saturday, I was back at...

For the past three years, the arrival of the fall season has meant live horse racing right here in Corbin, KY. If you have never seen the races for yourself at The Mint – Cumberland Run, then go ahead and mark your calendars right now, because you won’t want to miss out on the fun and excitement. Racing will kick off at The Mint – Cumberland Run, located at 777 Winners Lane just off the Corbin Bypass, on Saturday, Oct. 11. On that day, The Mint will be partnering with WD Bryant ACE Hardware and Recteq Grills to present a special “Grill Off” event where visitors to the track will...

September was Suicide Awareness Month, a time in which people talk openly about an issue that often stays hidden. As a therapist and supervisor of crisis mental health services, it is likely that I have at least one conversation a day about suicide and the prevention of it. However, this is not the norm. Many people are uncomfortable talking about it which is isolating for those who have thoughts of suicide. The fact remains, however, that it is way too common for people to have these thoughts. Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in Kentucky, with 800 Kentuckians dying by suicide each year. Additionally, suicide is now the second-leading cause...

If you are looking for something to do during the month of October here locally, then you are in luck as several events and celebrations are planned, including a full day of events this Saturday in downtown Williamsburg. The Whitley County Historical and Genealogical Society & Museum will hold its 20th Annual Heritage Day on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. It is located at the old Williamsburg Train Depot off Main Street near the railroad crossing. There will be exhibits, tours, door prizes, and a scavenger hunt this year. This is a neat little event each year that showcases what the historical and genealogical society has to...

I don’t have to tell those in charge of the Corbin Arena about the parking disaster caused by two sellout crowds to the Leanne Morgan show Saturday night. They are already aware of what happened. Never again should two big events be booked so close together at the Arena. Because of the mammoth problem of getting vehicles exiting after the 4 o’clock show and trying to get those into the 7 o’clock show, never has the Arena been assaulted with so many negative comments from people all over eastern Kentucky, and perhaps further, on the Internet. I saw comments from people in Georgetown, Lexington, and Somerset, that said, “Never go...

There is a true phenomenon known as Southern Hospitality that is alive and well. There is something special about the way people treat one another in the south. It is much more than a cliché; it is a way of life. People in the south know how to make you feel at home and it is deeply rooted, for it has been passed down for generations. One of the defining characteristics of southern hospitality is it is all inclusive. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, in the South everyone is treated with the same level of respect and kindness. Southern hospitality places a strong emphasis on family and...

There are certain moments in your life that will forever be seared into your memory. Several years ago, I was in the office one morning when Trent Knuckles came in the door and informed us that a friend of mine had killed himself. I was in shock. I was floored. “I just spoke to him 24 hours ago!” I exclaimed. At the time, I didn’t have a clue anything was wrong. The friend and I had bumped into each other the prior day. We were both over at the courthouse waiting to speak to the same official. We hadn’t seen each other in a while. We chit chatted for probably half an hour as we...

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...