I thought I would take the opportunity in this week’s column to brag on some local folks, who have received awards for various accomplishments or who will soon be receiving awards or who have received some recognitions.
In case you missed it, WYMT reporter Buddy Forbes did a nice story Thursday on retired News Journal Publisher Don Estep being selected to receive the East Kentucky Leadership Foundation’s Media and Technology Award. Here is a link to the story at https://www.wymt.com/2025/04/17/retired-corbin-newsman-receives-eklf-media-technology-award/.
Don will receive his award on April 24 during the East Kentucky Leadership Conference on the Manchester campus of Eastern Kentucky University. I am happy to see my friend and former boss and former neighbor being recognized in this way.
Congratulations also go out to Marion Forcht, who received the Nancy Mitchell Women in Leadership Award during the recent Fifth Congressional District Lincoln Club Banquet. Some of her more notable contributions include: serving on the board of trustees for the University of the Cumberlands, as well as many statewide boards, such as the University of Kentucky’s Center on Aging Foundation, the Kentucky Governor’s Historic Properties Advisory Commission, Kentucky’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform, the Governor’s Mansion Centennial Committee, the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, and the Kentucky Historical Society Foundation.
Marion, whose office used to be on the other side of the wall from mine, is a smart, nice lady, who I have had the privilege of knowing for over 30 years.
In addition, let me offer congratulations to Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison, who was recently inducted into the Fifth District Lincoln Club Hall of Fame at the Fifth Congressional District Lincoln Day Banquet.
Roddy has led the City of Williamsburg as mayor since 2004. He served on the city council for over a decade prior to that, and he has also served the community as a longtime educator and a volunteer coach.
In addition, he serves on the Executive Board for the Kentucky League of Cities, and is a board member for the Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency, the Whitley County Board of Health, and the Cumberland Valley Area Development District, among several other appointments. He is also a member of the University of the Cumberlands Alumni Hall of Fame.
While I don’t know him personally, I did get the chance to meet Corbin High School Senior Henry Anderson recently, who has been nominated and accepted into the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
“Whenever I started the application process, really I was pretty much consumed by getting my essays in and getting my letters and making sure my grades were up,” he told the Corbin Board of Education recently.
“I never really realized the impact that me going to the Naval Academy would have on my community because I am not just representing myself. I am representing the school system. I am representing teachers, and my hometown. Whenever I am up there I plan to make you all proud and that you haven’t wasted time on me.”
This is an extremely difficult feat to accomplish.
According to U.S News & World Report, the United States Naval Academy only has a 9 percent acceptance rate.
I look forward to seeing what great things Henry will do in the future.
