People

“I like helping people.” That is what Jim Bruner, of Corbin, said recently when asked about his ongoing work of distributing supplies at the Dorthae Pentecostal Church food pantry. “I’m over the dock,” Bruner explained. “I make sure that everyone gets an equal amount.” Bruner is 87-year-old, but his energy and enthusiasm for lending a helping hand has not wavered after all that time. Bruner and his wife, Nancy, are actually members of Faithway Pentecostal Church in Lily. He has several friends who attend services at Dorthae, though, and he said that they recruited him to work at the church’s food pantry after finding out that he had a lot of passion...

Members of the Corbin Senior Center Citizen Center recently laced up their bowling shoes to compete in a friendly tournament against members of the Whitley County Senior Citizen Center on Aug. 28 at Cinema Social. Leading up to the event, the practice sessions included stepping out of their comfort zone to try something new, or returning to the lanes after 40 years of experience, according to team members. Above all, the team enjoyed laughing, being with others, and making memories while bowling on the lanes at Cinema Social in Corbin. The idea of the tournament came about when Corbin Senior Citizen Center Director Amber Case had a collaborative discussion with Site Manager...

Gina Hopkins and her trusty pooch sidekick, Willie, are truly a unique pair. On their own, they may be limited in how effective they can be in their efforts to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Together, however, they have proven themselves to be quite the team, reaching literally thousands of people throughout the region with their message of faith and hope. Hopkins’ home church is Community Christian Church in London. Her husband was a deacon at the church prior to his passing seven years ago. The couple raised three sons up in the church, and two have gone on to become ministers themselves. “I didn’t become...

With heavy hearts, we say goodbye to Glennis, who passed away on June 23, 2025. Born Glennis Rhodes on May 21, 1954, in Siler, KY, he was a beacon of love and laughter in every life he touched. A beloved husband, devoted father, proud papaw and great-grandpapaw, and a man whose love for family, faith, and simple country living left a lasting mark on all who knew him. He was a man rooted in the land, and he found peace in the quiet work of it. He had a keen eye for ginseng and loved roaming the hills looking for it with patience and care, just like everything else he did....

This fall, Katherine Hill (formerly Katherine Masters) will turn 102-years-old. That fact alone is impressive enough, but it is especially inspiring when considering the health-related struggles that she has faced just in the past couple of years. “I was in the hospital in Lexington for about a year,” Hill recently shared. The ordeal began one night when she was washing her face before bed. “I saw this place on my face, and I thought, ‘What is that?’” she recalled. Hill informed her son, Bruce, of the troubling discovery, and the very next day they found themselves in a doctor’s office. They were referred to another doctor in Somerset, and then to a...

Milly Burkhart, Corbin, is a Harlan native with an important story to tell about an uncle who died 12 years before she was even born. Corporal Hiram Cawood Carter was just 19-years-old when he was killed while serving in Italy in October of 1944. A newspaper clipping that was passed down to Burkhart by her mother, Ruth, said that Carter was serving with the U.S. Army’s Company K, 349th Infantry Regiment, 88th Division. The clipping also noted that he was a senior at the old Hall High School in Harlan at the time of his enlistment. Burkhart is also in possession of a hand-written letter that her uncle sent home to...

Alice Fae Weiland has long been a cornerstone to the Whitley County Extension Community Arts Center. Her unwavering dedication to preserving the art of basket weaving through the Extension Community Arts Center’s basket program has touched countless lives. With thousands of volunteer hours under her belt, Alice Fae has worked tirelessly to ensure this traditional craft continues to thrive. Because of her generous volunteerism, the Extension office has been able to offer basket weaving classes at a fraction of the usual cost, charging only for materials. While similar classes typically cost around $120, thanks to Alice Fae, participants have paid an average of just $30. This has resulted in more...

Most of us are at least somewhat familiar with the Bible verses found in 1 Corinthians that provides us with a perfect definition of what love is. If you don’t know the verses, the very first thing they tell us is “love is patient.” For proof of that fact, look no further than Jim and Dorothy Mahan. After growing up together in a holler off of Hwy. 92E near the Whitley-Bell county line, the two went their separate ways after Jim joined the Army in the early sixties. Now, after both married and Jim spent most of his adult life in another state, the two have re-united and will be...

Each year, the Lexington Comic and Toy Convention brings the industry’s best and brightest creators together for three days of celebrating all things comics. From the authors and illustrators who produce books that are sold all over the world, to the acting talent that has helped bring many popular characters to life on the big and small screen alike, the annual event has truly grown into a mecca for fans in the Bluegrass and surrounding states. Among those who have a long history with the con is Corbin’s own Justin Mason. What started out as a trip to attend the event and make what would prove to be some very...

Aaron Rowe is the scrappy senior leader, along with Javon Rider, for the Whitley County Colonels basketball team this season. He leads the team in rebounds (6 per game avg.), and also averages 5.5 points per game, but his skillset goes far beyond the basketball court. Last week, Rowe and several of his WCHS classmates made the trip to London to participate in the Skills USA regional competition, an event where young tradespeople get the opportunity to show what they can do in several different areas of work. Rowe brought home first place honors in both the job demo and welding fabrication categories. “I make a lot of things for myself,...