Feeling a bit low with all the gloom and doom that surrounds us, like a lone gunman practically shutting down the entire area last week, a bitter presidential election, wars going on and climate change causing havoc, I went to our newspaper morgue and opened the book that contained what was happening 30 years ago.
What a difference it was in 1994. In my column at that time, I wrote about this newspaper being the fastest growing newspaper in the state. We had full page ads from Save-A-Lot, Food World, Piggly Wiggly and Kroger. Automobile dealers filled the pages with ads. Two pages from Tincher-Williams, and two from Marine Myers to go with several other full page automobile ads. Later came the Internet and changed everything. The Internet has become newspaper and radio’s worst enemy when it comes to advertising.
But the best thing in our newspaper then was a full-page article in color about my late sister, Bena Mae Seivers, and writer for this newspaper, winning a “Trip of a Lifetime” on Queen Elizabeth 2 to England, Wales and Scotland from Country Accents Magazine. She had entered a contest and sent pictures to the magazine of her newly decorated kitchen.
She said when the phone rang, she thought it was a hoax and started to hang up, but the woman on the other end assured her that it was for real. She said when she hung up the telephone she was shaking with excitement.
The next year, in 1995, because of Bena Mae’s popularity, this newspaper published a book she wrote called “Simple Pleasures” that contained stories and recipes. It sold out quickly.
Those were exciting times for us at this newspaper. We were growing fast and became the largest paid circulation weekly in the state. Even though newspapers everywhere have had it tough in recent years, I am pleased that the News Journal is still strong.
My mood changed today when I was reviewing stories for this week’s edition of our newspaper. I was elated when I read that the City of Corbin will become aggressive on removing junk cars in yards. City Manager Scott Williamson stated, “we can get more aggressive,” in regards to junk cars in the city limits. This is excellent news.
The city has become more active in removing dilapidated houses and buildings. It is a slow and complicated process, but work is progressing.
Another matter discussed at the City Commission meeting was speed limit changes on South Kentucky Street going from 25 mph to 15 mph.
As hard as the police try to enforce speed limits, it is almost impossible to catch all speeders.
I almost got hit the other day on Sanderlin Drive, with a posted 15 mph limit, by a car flying by. On the street where I live it is posted 15 mph, but many ignore the speed limit. I do see the police department trying to control this problem, but it is hard.
