Trevor Sherman

Last weekend’s Whitley County Small Farms Conference gave farmers, gardeners and conservationists plenty of opportunities to network and learn about a wide range of topics related to agriculture. The two-day event featured numerous guest speakers, live demonstrations, and gave vendors a chance to share information about different products and services. Event organizer Laura Rogers, Kentucky State University, estimated that about 400 people showed up to the Whitley County Cooperative Extension office in Goldbug between last Friday and Saturday, adding that she heard nothing but good feedback from visitors that she spoke to. Rogers is a beekeeping specialist, so a big part of this year’s conference focused on that particular topic. Sessions on basic beekeeping hardware, disease prevention and how to approach swarms were all covered, as well as a special presentation from Dr. Tom Seeley from Cornell University, who is a widely respected expert in the beekeeping community. Also contributing to the programming was local beekeeper Theresa Martin. President of the Whitley County Beekeepers Association, Martin has just released a new book, titled Dead Bees Don’t Make Honey: 10 Tips for Healthy, Productive Bees. Dr. Seeley provided the foreword for the book, saying, “If you are a beekeeper who seeks to pursue beekeeping without heavy reliance on chemicals to control the infestations of Varroa destructor in your colonies, then you will find this book a very valuable read. The author keeps about 25 colonies in Kentucky, and has achieved bot 99% colony survival and respectable honey harvests over the past six years.” “If you are seeking to improve the survival rate of your colonies, then you will find invaluable the ten tips that are presented in part one of this book,” Seeley added. Martin provided a condensed overview of these ten tips during her Saturday afternoon presentation at the Whitley Small Farms Conference. During her hour-long talk she informed listeners about: Acquiring local bees Encouraging more propolis Spacing colonies farther apart No overly disrupting the brood nest Not discouraging swarming Keeping colonies smaller Leaving more than enough honey for winter Feeding for survival only Insulating hives Practicing integrated pest management Martin’s book also contains information on temperature sensing equipment, helpful FAQs, several references to other materials, and more. Copies of the book are available now on Amazon. Anyone interested in learning about beekeeping is encouraged to attend an upcoming meeting of the Whitley County Beekeepers Association. Meetings take place at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Whitley County Extension office in Goldbug. Call the Extension at (606) 549-1430 for more information.

Community members are concerned about the lack of changes to the proposed Jellico Mountain logging project outlined in a new draft environmental assessment that was released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Forest Service last week, which still calls for the clearcutting of nearly 1,000 acres of forest. Last Wednesday, the USDA uploaded several documents to the project website, www.fs.usda.gov/goto/dbnf/jellico, including specialist reports detailing potential impacts on hydrology, soil, wildlife, socioeconomics, vegetation, climate change and scenery. Most notably, however, the new draft environmental assessment did little to decrease the overall scope of the logging project from the initial proposal released in 2022. Originally, the USDA proposed work in a nearly 10,000-acre section of land in Whitley and McCreary County portions of the Daniel Boone National Forest. This included just over 1,000 acres of clearcutting, and what could be considered extensive logging on another roughly 4,300 acres. Another point of contention was the proposed timeline of the work, which spanned 40 years, or through the mid-2060s. As for the new draft proposal, only about 200 acres have been excluded from the overall section of land, and clearcutting has only been decreased by approximately 85 acres. Other forms of logging will still account for over 4,000 acres of the total job, and the timeframe for completion still stands at about 40 years. The purpose behind the proposal In the fall of 2022, the USDA cited the following in its initial proposal: “Overall, the Jellico area is transitioning to mature (81 years and older) forest. Data indicate approximately 72 percent of the project area is mature forest which typically exhibits a closed canopy with an understory and/or midstory layer. Under the current management trajectory, apart from some small (less than 10 acres), isolated areas, the entirety of the area is trending towards mature forest. While desired structures, species compositions, and age classes occur in mature forest, the biodiversity provided by young (0-30 years old) and mid-aged (31-80 years old) forest is being lost.” “To counteract this loss and increase project area biodiversity by providing a mix of habitat for flora and fauna, action needs to be taken to adjust conditions such that all desired age classes, structures, and species compositions are represented across the area.” In the new draft proposal released last week, the USDA maintains their position for eliminating old growth forest in order to protect biodiversity provided by less-mature vegetation, adding the following concerning desired condition: “The overarching goal for this area is habitat diversity; specifically, a diversity of conditions in the form of varying forest communities, structures, and ages. The Proposed Action is designed to generate such diversity through human disturbance in the form of vegetation manipulation.” “The desired condition is a forest with a vast array of habitat conditions that support the maximum diversity of flora and fauna, while meeting the current and future needs of people,” the proposal added. Community outcry In November of 2022, roughly 100 people showed up to a town hall style meeting at the Whitley County Cooperative Extension office in Goldbug. While many were there to voice their concerns about how a job this extensive could have long-lasting negative effects on the local environment, representatives from the forest service were also there to try to convince concerned citizens that the pros of the proposed work would ultimately outweigh the cons. They were mostly unsuccessful in those efforts. In addition to the new draft proposal and various environmental specialist reports released last week, the USDA also released a list of responses to comments and objections previously received during a 2022 public comment period. Included in those comments were several from Jim Scheff from Kentucky Heartwood, a conservation group who has been at the center of this debate since it began. “The scoping document states that the Jellico Project will be implemented over 40 years,” Scheff wrote in one submitted comment. “This timeframe presents numerous problems for the project analysis and approval of any management actions. Foremost is that the project will still be underway implementing the 2004 Forest Plan more than half-a-century after the Plan’s development and over 40 years beyond the Plan’s intended duration as a guiding document.” A response to Scheff’s comment read, “Forest Plan revisions are expected to occur during project implementation but such revisions are outside the scope of this project.” Timm Martin joined Scheff in submitting several comments during the public comment period. Among those were, “Does the U.S. Forest Service consider noise and traffic disturbances to neighbors when scheduling treatment jobs?” The answer to this question was “no” followed by a lengthy explanation. Martin also asked if the USFS will notify nearby residents when herbicide treatments begin. The answer to this question was “no,” although it was pointed out that signage would be posted in areas where herbicide use is to occur. Martin also enquired concerning who benefits most from clearcutting, to which he was told, “the impacts and benefits from clearcutting will be analyzed in the Environmental Assessment.” In all, a total of 144 comments and objections were addressed, and can be viewed in their entirety at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/dbnf/jellico. What next? While concerned citizens and conservationists once again reconvene to discuss the best methods for moving forward, a new public comment and objection period is now underway at the above-mentioned web address. The comment period will last through May 24, 2024, and the current estimated decision date is scheduled for sometime this fall. Community members will have a chance to voice their opinions on the matter in person during a town hall meeting that has been scheduled for Thursday, May 9 at the Merry Jeffries Community Center located at 299 South Second Street in Williamsburg. All are invited to attend

“We need more reliable employees.” This is an observation that has been made by employers with increasing frequency in recent years. Since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, many businesses have struggled to stay consistently fully staffed. If you are a local business owner or hiring agent who has had this experience, then you may want to clear off some time in your calendar to attend a special networking event taking place at the Corbin Center on Thursday, May 9. Bridging the Workforce Gap is a program that is being presented by the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet, the Kentucky Career Center and the American Job Center. It will focus on connecting employers with useful resources in their ongoing efforts to hire and retain capable employees. Aaron Poynter is the Director of the Targeted Services Branch of the Office of Adult Education in the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet. As director, he is in charge of overseeing the efforts by his team to bring state, regional and local resources together so that they are, in his words, “aligned properly and working together to make positive impacts in the work force.” Poynter will be at the Corbin Center on May 9 to offer a brief presentation at the beginning of two separate sessions – at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. – before allowing attendees to converse with representatives from a variety of different organizations. “The event on May 9 is going to be awesome,” Poynter said. “Employers that attend will gain immediate, actionable steps that will help them to begin tapping into workforce pipelines. They will have the opportunity to speak with individuals who can help them gain access to resources that will attract employees.” Much of the work that Poynter and his team does focuses on helping to remove barriers to employment for individuals who might need help navigating the judicial system, obtaining additional education and/or skills training, or simply need to know how to connect with a potential employer. “Being able to knock out all of these barriers at once instead of one at a time speeds up the rate of success,” Poynter explained. “We need to break the old cycles and help start new cycles of resources and success. We need to turn barriers into bridges.” “Employers may have some understanding of a few of the resources that we can offer, but this is going to be a one-stop shop for all of the things that are going to pour into your business,” Poynter added. “We are going to come full force and be very intentional, and will be willing to help you navigate and walk through all of the different processes.” This is a free event, and a meal will be included with both sessions. Scan the barcode accompanying this print version of this report to reserve your spot today. For more information, e-mail Poynter at [email protected] or send a message to [email protected].

Anyone who follows Corbin High School athletics knows that the Redhounds are no strangers to the spotlight. Since the very beginning, the school’s history is highlighted with countless athletic achievements by both teams and individuals. For this reason, it takes a lot to say that any particular week was “bigger” or “more important” than another. This past week has certainly been noteworthy, though. Let’s start with former CHS football coach Larry “Cotton” Adams being honored this past Sunday at the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s 2024 Hall of Fame banquet. During Adams’ time leading the football Hounds (1981-1994) the team won a state championship title in 1982 and a state runner-up title in 1990. Congratulations to Coach “Cotton” Adams on this honor! Adams was not the only person from Corbin to receive recognition this past week, however, as Athletic Director Tackett Wilson was named Administrator of the Year by the Kentucky Athletic Administrators Association. Anyone who knows Wilson knows that he works incredibly hard at a job that has no shortage of daily challenges. As for me personally, I appreciate his willingness to help me out with scheduling interviews with CHS student-athletes whenever I ask. It certainly makes things a lot easier to know that I have someone at the school who will do their part to make sure that these young men and women get the attention and recognition that they deserve for all of their efforts on the court, on the field, and in the classroom. Congrats, Tackett! This was also a big week for the Corbin baseball program, as the Hounds defeated visiting Johnson Central and Madison Southern over the weekend to be crowned the champions of this year’s David Iery Invitational. Not only that, but the team’s pitching coach, Casey Bargo, was selected as the number one overall pick in the 2024 Frontier League draft, which is a professional partner league to Major League Baseball. Bargo, a native of Corbin who played his high school ball at Madison Central High School, was selected by the New England Knockouts, based in Brockton, Mass. The Knockouts will kick off their inaugural season next week. Before returning to Corbin, Bargo played college baseball first at Lincoln Trail College in Illinois, then at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and finally at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. Congratulations to Coach Bargo, and to the entire Corbin High School varsity baseball program, for their recent successes!

Social media has been filled in recent days with photos of excited teens attending their junior and senior proms, but the Train Station event venue in Corbin is asking, “What about the moms?” “Mom Prom is a ladies night out for charity in which women wear their old prom gowns, bridesmaids dresses, wedding gowns, or other formal attire, and dance the night away for a worthy cause,” explained Train Station owner Michelle Eidschun. “It is a real prom with a DJ, a tackiest dress contest, a contest for best hair, and a game to crown a queen.” Eidschun stressed that this event, happening Friday, May 10, at The Train Station, is for all women, not just moms. She hopes that this will end up being just one of many similar events that will take part across the country in order to raise funds for various charitable organizations. “Men are allowed as escorts, but this is a celebration of the women in our community,” Eidschun explained, adding that she would consider anyone interested in attending to purchase advance tickets due to the level of excitement and response that the event announcement has been getting in recent days. For more information, visit The Train Station’s official Facebook page or call (859) 788-0531. The Train Station is located on Fifth Street Road in Corbin, inside the former Felts Music Place building.

After four years as the head coach of the Corbin High School varsity football program, Tom Greer has announced his resignation. In addition to stepping down from his coaching duties, he will also be resigning as the school district’s Director of Safety and Director of Pupil Personnel. “Although I have held a variety of athletic coaching positions, and have loved them all, being given the honor of coaching the Redhound football team holds a special place in my heart,” Greer said in a post on his personal Facebook page Monday afternoon. “Coming back to Corbin to coach was like coming home to where I learned to be a Redhound and what it means. But after 33 years of coaching and 34 years in education, I have prayed and reached a peacefulness about stepping down as the head coach and retiring.” Greer went on to thank the Corbin community and the school district for their support. He said that he does not know for certain what he will do after retirement, but said that he will continue to love and support the entire Redhound community. Greer is a 1983 graduate of CHS, helping the 1982 Hounds win a state championship title in his senior season. He left Corbin for other opportunities in the mid-nineties, but returned in the early 2010’s to take on administrative roles in the school system and help coach the varsity football team. Greer took over as head coach in 2020, and in the past four seasons has led the Redhounds to a 46-5 overall record, including a state runner-up finish in 2022. He said that he is excited about the talent that the team has coming back next year, and he looks forward to seeing what they will be able to accomplish under the guidance of a new head coach, which the school district will now begin a search for. “There’s not a better school district in the state of Kentucky,” Greer said of Corbin. “From preschool all the way up to high school, it is a great school and community. If Corbin is going to do something, they will do it at a top level.”

To say that Robert Hayes had his work cut out for him when he took over the job as Corbin Housing Authority director two years ago would be a pretty major understatement. The previous director had been indicted and is now scheduled to be sentenced later this month after pleading guilty to theft by deception and abuse of public trust charges. He has also been ordered to pay the City of Corbin nearly $120,000 in restitution, so things have been a bit of a mess to put it mildly. However, by recommitting to responsible and ethical practices and refocusing on the intended mission of the housing authority, Hayes and company have managed to drastically shift how the local public housing entity is operating on a day-to-day basis. These ongoing efforts were discussed in detail at a recent meeting of the Corbin Rotary Club. “Housing authorities receive a score from 1-to-100 from the federal government for the physical properties and the financial health of the organization,” Hayes explained during his presentation to the Rotary Club. “When I took over, the score was 62 and someone called from the Louisville field office saying we were about to lose our housing authority.” “It was all boots on the ground,” Hayes said. “Our current score is 93. That is a miracle to go to that in two years.” So, how did the housing authority manage to raise its score so much in that relatively short amount of time? As Hayes explained, it didn’t happen overnight. “We had a culture problem,” Hayes said. “It used to be pretty gloomy days at the housing authority, but we have been moving forward in a very positive way and I can honestly say that the state of the housing authority is now well. We play it by the book, with revised guidelines and personnel policies.” Hayes added that full transparency has been a goal of the housing authority since he took over operations, and with an occupancy rate that has stayed at-or-near 100 percent, he said that he has plenty to keep him busy without getting involved in any kind of scandals on top of it. “Basically, I am managing three separate entities, and we approach them each with separate board meetings and bank accounts,” Hayes said. “There is the Corbin Housing Authority, the Cooper Building on Main Street, and there is also the McBurney Building on Master Street.” When it comes to the Cooper Building, Hayes said that extensive renovations have required a great deal of time and resources, but that it was also necessary in order to ensure the viability of the building moving forward. In addition to improvements to the façade, as well as new outdoor lighting and seating, he said that all 27 apartment units inside have been updated, making things much more aesthetically pleasing throughout. “We have done all of this as part of a larger downtown revitalization initiative,” Hayes said of the newly remodeled Cooper Building. “We definitely want to fit into that bigger picture.” Hayes also explained that the Cooper Building does not receive any sort of government subsidies, and that it has to support itself. When it comes to rent, he said that he is currently charging just below the market standard. Speaking about the McBurney Building, Hayes said that the housing authority serves as “part of the governance” of the property, but that it will be completely turned over to them in another six years. When it comes to managing the housing authority, Hayes said a big part of the job is learning how to navigate federal funding. “Most of all the money that I deal with is federal money, so there is a lot of red tape and regulations,” he said. Another daily concern is ensuring open lines of communication with city officials, because as Hayes explained, public housing has a cooperative agreement with the city, meaning the mayor has an automatic seat on the board of directors. Hayes maintains a presence outside of the local community as well. As a regional director for public housing, he has input on happenings in an area that accounts for approximately a fourth of the state. In June, he and a colleague from Lexington will be hosting a conference focusing on integrity and compliance in governance. Officials from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will be in attendance, and information will be geared towards mayors and board members as topics of discussion will range from cooperative agreements, to budgeting, to interactions between executive directors, cities, and boards of directors. Another topic that Hayes touched on during his presentation was that of tenant screening. “We have fought drugs in Corbin diligently,” he said. “I do not put up with any drug activity on the grounds. It was a battle for a while, though, to be honest.” Hayes also said that all applicants are required to undergo a criminal background check, as nobody with a conviction of manufacturing an illegal substance will be accepted. Those who have had to register as a sex offender will also be disqualified, and other criminal offenses will be handled at the director’s discretion. “It took us too long to get everything cleaned up to just accept anybody who walks in the door,” Hayes said of the mandatory background checks. For more information on the Corbin Housing Authority, contact them at (606) 528-5104.

Retired educator and local historian Diane Mitchell’s relationship with the town that she calls home goes back generations. Someone in her family lineage has resided in the Corbin area since its very inception, meaning she is uniquely suited to offer glimpses of what life has been like here through the years. For this reason, she is working hard to ensure that future generations will not forget important chapters in the storied history of this community. “I was born in Corbin,” Mitchell said. “My aunt was a school teacher at the East Ward School, and I decided early on that was what I wanted to be too. I graduated from Corbin High School, where I was in the band, and then I went to Union College.” Mitchell said that after receiving a college education at Union, and later at the University of Kentucky, she began her teaching career at the Fort Knox Army School. After working there for three years, an opening at her high school alma mater brought her back home to Corbin. “My mother was sick at the time, so I really wanted to be back here to help her,” Mitchell explained. “So, that’s what I did. In 1965, I came back to Corbin and taught English, French and journalism for the rest of my career.” In all, Mitchell taught for 34 years, retiring in 1996. Retirement didn’t slow her down, though, as she has stayed active in the community through service in different clubs and on various boards. One area where Mitchell has grown to be particularly active is the collection and preservation of the history of her hometown. In recent months, she has been hosting special “memory meetings” at the Corbin Public Library where people can discuss local history, share historical documents, and engage in discussions about how best to make sure important historical information doesn’t end up getting lost to time. “I have just been experimenting with the meetings to see how many people would be willing to come, and willing to help save history,” Mitchell said. “What Corbin needs is all of its history collected together into one place so that if people want to know something they will know where to go find it out.” For now, Mitchell says that place is the Corbin Public Library. “We’ve been working upstairs in the history room,” Mitchell explained. “The Friends of the Corbin Public Library (of which Mitchell is a member) has raised some money to help buy some equipment that was needed. We also bought two cabinets for the storage of things like old newspaper records and photographs.” Mitchell also mentioned that several old photos and records have been digitized, and can be accessed electronically on computers at the library. Those digitization efforts are still in progress as new documents are procured. Saving the Carnegie For years, Mitchell has been at the forefront of the campaign to restore the old Carnegie Library, located on Roy Kidd Ave. She said that her original intention was to have that building serve as the hub of historical information pertaining to Corbin, but she admits that it has been a slow and arduous process to get the century-old structure back to a point where the general public can be welcomed back inside. “I am just one member of a larger group who has been working to restore the building,” Mitchell said of the Carnegie restoration efforts. “It is one of the few historical buildings left standing, and I have worried about it for a long, long time.” Although there is still much more work to be done, Mitchell and company have slowly but surely managed to make progress in restoring the old Carnegie Library. Through various fundraisers and grant applications, they have been able to secure the structure, and have made some upgrades to the façade. “The building is pretty much stabilized now,” Mitchell said. “When restoration efforts first got underway, we were told that the building was in good shape to be 100 years old, but if we didn’t do something it would probably fall down within ten years. The architect told us when we did a grant-funded feasibility study how we needed to proceed. The first thing we had to do is actually buy the building, and then we did roof repairs. Then we made repairs to the brick walls.” Most recently, the Carnegie, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is getting its windows replaced. Some have already been installed, and others should be arriving soon for installation. What next? So, what would Mitchell like to see happen in the ongoing fight to preserve the history of the town that her family has called home for generations? “We need a Corbin Historical Society,” she said. “We need a group of people who are interested in preserving the history of Corbin, and who will help to get all of that together. We need to collect that history, because if you don’t collect it while people are still alive, then it gets gone and can be very hard to find later. That’s what I am trying to do.” Along with aiding in the collection of various physical records, Mitchell has also interviewed several community members who have long histories in Corbin. She said that she thanks the people of her hometown, and she hopes to see more come forward in the near future to assist in this important work. For more information on how to attend an upcoming meeting, how to contact Mitchell concerning the donation of historical records and data, or to learn how to contribute time and/or resources to projects at the Corbin Public Library and the former Carnegie Library, contact the CPL by calling 606.528.6366.

A Whitley County community was put on alert Monday afternoon when the fiscal court posted on its official Facebook page that a report had come in of a pack of wild dogs attacking a two-year-old child. Read this story and more for just $.99 cents today, or subscribe to get access every day! Please login to view this content. Not a Member? Join Us

I was talking to Economic Development Director Bruce Carpenter after the conclusion of last Thursday’s Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event called, “Bridging the Workforce Gap,” and I commented to him that the morning’s proceedings had really served to change my perspective on some things. I am aware that it is not uncommon for jails, including ours here in Whitley County, to offer certain educational and/or job training opportunities to those who are incarcerated, but I have also never thought about the potential of jails to be what I called “employee factories.” “That is the idea,” Bruce told me, and I must say, I am very excited about how a newly developed workforce preparedness initiative could have an immensely positive impact on our local community. The “Bridging the Workforce Gap” informational and professional networking event, held at the Corbin Center, featured a presentation by Aaron Poynter, Director of the Re-entry and Employment Services Branch of the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet’s Office of Adult Education. Poynter had much to say during his talk, but the overall focus was on collecting resources, and then making those resources readily available, when it comes to removing barriers between Kentuckians and gainful employment. Many of the folks who inhabit our local jails are experiencing the end results of having to deal with barriers to success, so it makes perfect sense to really centralize resources there. Poynter pointed out that approximately 95 percent of incarcerated people will eventually be released back into society, meaning the vast majority of those men and women who find themselves behind bars for one reason or another will get the opportunity to go back to their respective communities and contribute positively to those communities. The idea behind this initiative is to utilize that time in jail to help ensure that released inmates will come back to their homes fully equipped to obtain gainful employment, pay taxes, have health insurance, and generally be considered an asset to the community, as opposed to continuing to be a drain on local and state-level resources as a result of repeated incarcerations. Whitley County Judge Executive Pat White, Jr. attended the “Bridging the Workforce Gap” event, and when I asked him what the success of a program like this could do here, he pointed out that, in his 18-year tenure, an approximate 25 million dollars has gone to pay for incarceration expenses alone. To his point, imagine how many road repairs, economic development projects or new pieces of equipment could be funded with all of that – YOUR taxpayer dollars. White said that a holistic approach like this could really change people’s lives, and I wholeheartedly agree. It could change the lives of not only the people receiving the resources directly, but their families, their friends, and by extension, all of Whitley County. I was told that Jailer Jason Wilson is fully on board with these efforts, and while the initiative is still in its infancy, there are many examples from all over the state showing how this type of an approach can boost employment rates while also reducing recidivism at detention centers. Sounds great doesn’t it? So, what exactly needs to happen? Basically, there are a whole bunch of people coming together right now to pool resources and do what they can to help make sure local employers stay fully staffed and the jail isn’t constantly beyond max capacity. Poynter talked about changing people’s trajectories, and establishing new cycles of positivity and success. This might start with obtaining a GED. It may start with addiction recovery. It may start with getting an ID card. Whatever it is, there is someone who can offer guidance. I sincerely hope that we will see and hear about many success stories in the years ahead because of this initiative, because as Poynter highlighted, any person who is gainfully employed immediately becomes 33 percent less likely to re-offend. That’s huge, and it’s exactly the kind of thing that would greatly benefit not just us in Williamsburg and Corbin, but throughout the entire region, the state of Kentucky, and even the nation as a whole. Let’s get back to local impact, though, because that is what we’re most concerned about right here where we work, live, and play. Who are these individuals who can help struggling people overcome barriers and help employers reap the benefits of a more robust local workforce? I am going to list everyone present at last week’s event below. If you can use any (or all) of these resources, then I strongly encourage you to reach out. Best of luck to all who are involved in this exciting new initiative, and like I said, hopefully we can offer some updates in the future that will include stories of success through hard work, dedication, and a commitment to the betterment of our collective community! Resources: • Aaron Poynter, e-mail: [email protected] • Horizon Health KY, Employment Services Dept.: 606-657-2030 (London) or 606-703-0076 (Williamsburg) • Carla Henson with Kynect healthcare services, e-mail: [email protected] • Ken Corso with KY Adult Education (Clay, Knox, Laurel and Whitley), e-mail: [email protected] • Tonya Fields, Manager of the Corbin Goodwill Opportunity Center, e-mail: [email protected] • Kentucky Chamber Foundation – visit www.kychamber/foundation or call (502) 695-4700 • KY Dept. of Corrections Re-entry Employment Program Administrator Erin Shifflet, e-mail: [email protected] • KY Career Center Veteran Employment Counselor Steven Garcia, e-mail: [email protected] • KY Career Center VR Counselor George Gaertner, e-mail: [email protected] • Alana Reynolds, Putting Kentuckians First Navigator, e-mail: [email protected] • Sandy Birkholz with Lake Cumberland Area Development District (LCADD), e-mail: [email protected] • Cris Ritchie and Lisa Meade with the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program (EKCEP), visit www.ekcep.org • Pamela Bentley, Development Manager with Groups Recover Together of London, e-mail: pamlea.bentley@joingroups