Don Estep

It is hard to believe that 34 years ago this week I was being interviewed by Terry Forcht to be the publisher of the Whitley Republican. I had been the advertising director at the London Sentinel-Echo the past seven years, but when Al Smith, the owner, sold the newspaper to the Park Group of Ithaca, NY, I was eager to leave. As is the custom with chain owned newspapers, the group wanted to make changes to what was a very successful newspaper. That didn’t set well with me. In 1980, Smith offered me the job at the Sentinel. At first, I turned him down because I had never worked at...

May, what a wonderful month! It is the month for the Kentucky Derby, warmer weather and the Ossoli Club’s May Day Festival. The festival started 78 years ago and because of Covid last year’s and this year’s festivals have been a virtual event. Three years ago, for the 75th anniversary of the event, I had the honor of being the Master of Ceremonies for the festival. Then, the next year our granddaughter was in the Tiny Queen’s court. But my memories go back much further to when I was in the first grade and participated in the festival. As I wrote in my column for the 75th festival, I still have...

Vince Gabbert, Vice-President and COO of Keeneland Association told us what we have been wanting to hear for a long time at Tuesday’s Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce luncheon, that is, work will be starting soon on the facilities in Williamsburg and Corbin. We first heard about the proposed quarter-horse race track in Corbin back in 2014. Because of challenges in court and other delays some were questioning whether the track would ever be built. Recent legislation by the Kentucky General Assembly cleared the way for the facilities when historical racing machines were permitted. Recently plans were announced to build an extension facility in Williamsburg and change the Corbin facility to...

For three-fourths of my life I have worked in the media. I spent the first ten years working in radio. During that time, as a disc jockey, I wasn’t concerned with much other than entertaining my audience. In the beginning of my newspaper career, which goes back 50 years, I spent most of my energy selling advertisements. When I became publisher of this newspaper 34 years ago I became more involved with issues that affect the lives of our readers. The latest issue came last week with Senate Bill 48 that was passed by the Kentucky legislature that affects “Open Records” legislation. As the Executive Director of the Kentucky Press Association...

I wish all of you could have known Al Smith. I first knew about him from watching the program he started on Kentucky Educational Television, “Comment on Kentucky,” but I had never met him. My first contact with him came via telephone call. A lady on the phone asked if I would hold for Al Smith. He said, “Mr. Estep, I’m Al Smith and I have purchased the Sentinel-Echo newspaper in London and I want to talk to you about a job. I’m in Washington right now,” at the time Al was the Director of the Appalachian Regional Commission, “but I will be in London this weekend. Could we meet?” I...

For the third year in a row I am writing a column at this time of the year about Daylight Saving Time. Why now? Because just a few weeks ago school children were finally waiting at school bus stops with a little daylight. Then, here comes the middle of March and those youngsters have to wait in the dark. President Bush signed into law the Energy Policy Act in 2005 moving daylight time from the last of April to the middle of March. Shame! It took effect in 2007. Was that really necessary and why so early? Previous to that DST began on the first Sunday in April and extended until the...

After watching the Senate debate on SB 274 sponsored by Senate President Robert Stivers, I came to more conclusions from what I wrote last week. First I ask the questions, which would you prefer; a “win-win” situation, a “lose-lose” situation, or a “winner take all situation?” Sen. Stivers presented a “win-win” situation to both London and Corbin concerning the annexation of the area at Exit 29 in north Corbin. A “win-win” situation is what the City of Corbin is willing to do with the City of London, a situation in which both will profit. However, the City of London wants it all. I strongly urge you to understand that Sen. Stivers is not...

For decades the territory we call north Corbin has been a source of controversy because state laws prevented the City of Corbin from annexing in that area. Recently the City of London has taken action to try to make the area a part of its city by incorporating property along Interstate 75, about a 13 mile stretch to the north Corbin area. To counter, the City of Corbin has claimed it would block that action because it owns the utilities in the area. I’m guessing that London would not be successful with its attempt to annex and the area would remain at a standstill as it has for many years. All...

Ok, I had planned all weekend to write a column about the brave souls who go to bat for us in critical times like the ice storms last week that knocked power out in some places. Then I open this page on my computer and Mark White had already written a column about this subject. Nevertheless, these are my thoughts. These people who work long hours in bitter cold with snow coming down are real heroes. I can’t imagine what it would be like to do that kind of work. And how about the workers who have to dig a hole when a water line bursts and wade in the mud...

It can’t get much worse. First it was COVID and now added to it are ice storms. In my 34 years at this newspaper we have had only three ice storms that has affected our newspaper production. That is not counting snow storms that has caused us difficulties. This recent one has been the most troublesome. Not only has it caused some of our staff to be unable to get to the office, several businesses have been closed and advertising is at rock bottom. Today (Tuesday) I used my 4-wheel drive vehicle to get enough staff to our office to put out a newspaper. However, when I called our printing plant I was...