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Community members can prevent a blood shortage by giving blood at an upcoming back to school event. The Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) is hosting a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 29 at the Whitley County Back to School Ready Fest event. Donors will receive a limited-edition “Only You Can Prevent Blood Shortages” t-shirt and a $15 Walmart gift card while supplies last. Summer months tend to bring a decline in donations as families travel for vacations. The organization provides blood to more than 70 local hospitals. Donated blood cannot be manufactured, so volunteer donors are essential to maintaining blood supply for patients in need. Blood donors must be at...

On my first day at the News Journal, my Nana, for reasons I truly cannot imagine, thought I worked at Waffle House. She told a few of our relatives as much, which prompted my brother to send a me a confused text. When I got back to the house that evening, she opened the door smiling and asked if I was making people breakfast. I do not remember exactly what she said when I told her, “No, Nana, I’m working at the newspaper,” but knowing her, she probably laughed at herself and said something like, “Oh, flitter.” I am glad she could still laugh in moments like that. She was...

It has been a busy summer for Corbin middle school and high school golfers. Corbin Lady Redhound golfer Makena Myatt competed in the LPGA USGA Girls Golf National Championship by PKBGT. The three-day tournament was played at Pine Needles in North Carolina. Myatt was one of 56 girls from across 16 countries, who competed. She finished in 10th place with a 10-over-par for the tournament. Myatt also competed in the 47th Kentucky Girls Junior Amateur at Frankfort Country Club where she finished in the top 10. In addition, Myatt competed in the Kentucky Girls Junior PGA Championship at Bardstown Country Club. Over two days, she shot 8-over-par finishing tied for fourth place. In the Bluegrass Golf Tour...

The Carnegie Center of Corbin has done what it can to renovate and preserve the old Carnegie Library building off Roy Kidd Avenue, and now it needs help from the government to finish its work. This was the message Carnegie Center of Corbin board member Anne Hacker delivered to the Corbin City Commission during its monthly meeting Monday. Hacker began her presentation reading a poem called Echoes of Silence, which is about dyeing buildings. “When its walls collapse one by one to the ground, and an echo of silence is its only sound. Where it stood, we remember with sighs of remorse. Why didn’t we fight for its life with full force....

The Carnegie Center of Corbin has done what it can to renovate and preserve the old Carnegie Library building off Roy Kidd Avenue, and now it needs help from the government to finish its work. This was the message Carnegie Center of Corbin board member Anne Hacker delivered to the Corbin City Commission during its monthly meeting Monday. Hacker began her presentation reading a poem called Echoes of Silence, which is about dyeing buildings. “When its walls collapse one by one to the ground, and an echo of silence is its only sound. Where it stood, we remember with sighs of remorse. Why didn’t we fight for its life with full force....

Replacement of some of the playground surface at Rotary Park and the amount of activity, which takes places after dark there, were two of the topics of conversation during Monday’s regular Corbin City Commission meeting. Corbin Parks and Recreation Director Jacob Roan noted the rubberized surface under the playground equipment needs replaced in at least two areas, but the cost of replacing it with another rubberized surface is too expensive. Roan showed commissioners samples of four synthetic grass surfaces, which ranged in quality and price. Roan noted the highest quality synthetic grass has a price tag like the rubberized surface, but the cheaper of the synthetic samples is in the city’s price...

Williamsburg Independent Schools plans to purchase a new school bus after learning two of the district’s current buses will not pass inspection. “They are too old to pass inspection,” said Superintendent Tabetha Housekeeper. “While we know we don’t have additional funds this year, we have to get children to school. This has to be a priority.” Housekeeper credited Finance Officer Dalton Sizemore and Director of Transportation Scott Hamblin with developing a financial plan to purchase a new bus. The district currently has five bus routes with four full-size buses and one small bus purchased last year. The smaller bus seats 22 students, and each of the full-size buses seat approximately 58 students. “What...

Several community members visited the Green Space on Main on July 18 for the Community Picnic and Jeepin’ on Main event. The event featured a watermelon eating contest, Jenga, corn hole, inflatables and lots of ducks.

Corbin High School Volleyball Coach Krystal Jones said this year’s Lady Redhounds are entering the season with a focus that extends beyond wins and losses. “I try not to measure success of a season based on wins and losses,” said Jones. “When our girls leave this program, I’m far more concerned with the human they are than any stat they report or put up.” Jones said chemistry and accountability have become priorities throughout the program. “We’re competing here as one team, so that has been really fun to watch,” said Jones. “You can have the greatest players, but if you don’t have chemistry, it does not mean anything.” Jones said players use accountability...

Corbin High School’s new auxiliary gym is open and operational right on time for the beginning of the season for the Lady Redhound Volleyball Team. The auxiliary gym is a 15,000 square foot multipurpose facility on the corner of Early Street and 20th Street behind the Corbin Career Center. It is stripped for volleyball and basketball and includes an observation deck, a divider curtain, locker rooms, a concession stand and seating for up to 400 people. Corbin Superintendent Travis Wilder said the cost for the facility totaled slightly less than $6 million. The total includes construction, equipment, custodial supplies and more. He said the time table for construction experienced some hold...