Trevor Sherman

We are now into what I like to call “full blown spooky season,” meaning the calendar is getting jam-packed with Halloween activities. There really are too many events to count in the local area, but here are a few that I am aware of that should help you to get into the spirit… See a scary movie This past weekend I had the opportunity to see The Exorcist: Believer, which is the latest installment in the Exorcist film franchise. Now, nothing will ever be able to top the original. That is a given. With that being said, though, I don’t think this movie really set out to do that at all....

I have had the opportunity in recent weeks to chat with a few different folks about various ongoing efforts in our local communities. There was the conversation that led to the story on the Corbin Community Backpack Club a couple of weeks ago, a conversation that has me contemplating some sort of a retrospective piece on the Fine Arts Association of Southeastern Kentucky, and there was the conversation that resulted in this week’s story about the local 4-H Club. Honestly, I talk to people all the time who are tasked with leading groups, organizing events, planning projects, etc., and a common theme that keeps popping up is the need for more...

"Where do you guys sell the paper at?” Surprisingly, this is a question that I get asked fairly frequently... The quick answer is, “pretty much all over Corbin and Williamsburg,” but this week I thought I would take the time to be specific, and let everyone know exactly where to look. First of all, let me just say that the simplest (and most cost effective) method for picking up the News Journal would be to take advantage of our ongoing Festival Subscription Special, which will continue through the end of Old Fashioned Trading Days in Williamsburg next week. You can get physical copies delivered to your mailbox, and enjoy full access...

The 2023 high school football season got started off with a bang last week. Here are a few of my thoughts after witnessing the action that took place in week 1... • The Redhounds are the real deal. Of course, Corbin is always strong in most athletics, especially football, but this team truly looks next level. I was on the sideline at the 2023 Pigskin Classic at the University of the Cumberlands last Friday night, and oh boy, domination doesn’t even begin to describe how the Hounds handled their opponents from Hughes, OH. First of all, the Smith twins, Jacob and Jarod, more than lived up to the hype. These two...

Here we are, once again in the wake of another NIBROC Festival. For 71 years, the annual event has taken over downtown Corbin for a weekend full of fun, excitement and memories. This year’s festival was no different in that that regard. Here are some of my main takeaways from NIBROC 2023: People were glad to see the News Journal booth back on Main Street again this year. Things started off a little slow, but once folks began coming by our booth there was a pretty steady stream for the duration of the weekend. There were a lot of familiar faces who stopped by to say hello, and I am...

Ready or not, festival season is upon us again. This time next week downtown Corbin will be packed with folks ready to seek thrills on carnival rides, indulge in greasy and/or sugary treats, hear some great tunes, and maybe participate in a friendly competition or two. For the past several weeks we have had info in the paper previewing the 2023 NIBROC Festival, and in the August 9 edition we will have a special insert that will include the entire schedule of events. Before we get to the actual start of the festival, however, I wanted to go ahead and let everyone know what our plans are here at the...

Last week, my wife and I took our two kids down to the Sevierville/Pigeon Forge area for a few days. It was our last little family getaway before back-to-school season really goes into full gear, and I am happy to say that, overall, everyone enjoyed the trip. One of the main reasons we decided to go to Pigeon Forge was to take the kids to Dollywood. Neither one had been before, so we figured now would be a good time since they are both big enough to go on rides and enjoy most of the offerings there. We all did a rollercoaster together, and while I think it was the...

This week I would like to take just a few moments to offer a few of my main takeaways from this year’s Whitley County Fair. First and foremost, kudos to everyone who had a hand in making the fair happen again this year. People simply do not realize the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to make an event like this a reality, so if you were involved in any way, shape or form – thank you. Now, I was not present for every offering on the schedule, but I was there for much of it. Allow me to go rapid fire as I offer up some of...

Sometimes when I am looking for something in particular in our archives, I will stumble upon something else that catches my eye. Inevitably, I veer off for a moment to read a little bit about whatever it is, and then, before I know it, I find myself going down a completely different rabbit hole in search of information on a new topic. Such was the case last week when I ended up flipping pages of old Whitley Republicans in search of reports concerning the southern Whitley County community once known as Packard. Depending on where you reside in the county, the story of Packard may be one that you’ve heard many...

Last spring, an op-ed ran on this Opinion page concerning magistrates. The author briefly summarized the history of the position, and went into detail about the many functions that go along with holding the title. In Whitley County, we have four districts, each with its own magistrate. I will admit that, until I looked into it further, I wasn’t totally sure what all these individuals were tasked with doing on a day-to-day basis. I’m fairly certain that many of you reading this will also be unaware of the exact job description for our local magistrates, which is why I thought it might be worth the time to check in with each...