Mark White

It is kind of weird to look at a jail’s website and see your own name listed, even when you know it isn’t you. As a journalist, the first thing I usually do when I get into the office in the morning is check my e-mail. The second thing I usually do is check the websites of our local detention centers to see who got arrested. There are almost always a handful of people each day booked into the jails on various charges ranging from DUI and shoplifting to assault, sexual abuse, strangulation, etc. Last Wednesday morning, the name of one person in the Whitley County Detention Center grabbed by attention. Mark White. The...

As a journalist you get used to – I can’t say it is ever pleasant – dealing with politicians when something bad or controversial happens concerning their particular office or them personally. Some of them will make excuses. Some of them will blame somebody else. Some will try and say whatever is happening shouldn’t really be a news story. Some will try and spin what has happened. Some of them try to ignore you. You have some though, who are a no spin zone. They will just give you the facts of what has happened, both good and bad. They may offer reasons why something happened and factors related to it,...

Judge Paul Braden and Dr. John Broome, who were both honored posthumously with Luminary Awards by Leadership Tri-County Thursday evening, were two great men I feel privileged to have known personally. Judge Braden loved being a judge. (I never could make myself call him by his first name.) Even when he didn’t have much time left, Judge Braden was still hearing cases on the bench. I can remember one trial towards the end where he had another local judge on standby to take over in the afternoon, if he wasn’t feeling up to it after lunch. (It was kind of like a relief pitcher in a baseball game.) I remember one...

So, after you have been married for more than 20 years, the question arises what do you get your spouse for Christmas or their birthday? This is especially true when your spouse thinks you have too much junk as it is…LOL. The answer that my wonderful wife, Cecelia, and I came up with a few years ago is that we often get each other experiences. For instance, she has gotten me photo workshops in a lot of cool places, such as The Outer Banks, Death Valley, Charleston, South Carolina, and Savanah, Georgia, to name a few. Back in January when my birthday rolled around, Cecelia got me tickets to see former...

Every year when election season rolls around Whitley County begins its time-honored tradition of pie suppers, or, as I affectionately refer to it, the legal fleecing of the candidates…LOL. For those unfamiliar with the tradition, during each major election season various charities, such as fire departments, football boosters, churches, etc. host what are called pie suppers. While I have never actually attended a pie supper, I have had these events described to me multiple times by several people. The various entities will invite the candidates to attend the pie suppers. The candidates are typically given the opportunity to introduce themselves and say what office they are seeking. Then there is the auction portion...

At some point in my life, I want to visit every state in America. It is kind of an unofficial bucket list item for me and my wonderful wife, Cecelia. Last week, we got a little closer to that goal by visiting our southern-most state and our second most western state, Hawaii. The 50th state in the union did not disappoint. Hawaii’s Waikiki is pretty much everything it is billed to be. It was warm and somewhat humid, but not too warm nor not too humid like Florida’s Keywest or Louisianna’s New Orleans. (Seriously, only go visit those two places in the winter unless you really want to sweat…LOL.) The vibe in Waikiki...

My friend Bob Osborne, who is in his 80s, would like to see a law passed so that people don’t have to pay taxes after they hit the age of 80 years old. No property taxes. No vehicle taxes. No income taxes. Nothing. His argument is that those people have already paid enough taxes during their lifetime. Such a law would make a lot of sense and benefit a lot of seniors, almost all of whom are already on a fixed income. It would keep seniors from losing their homes because they can’t afford property tax increases, which is happening more often. I have to say it is an interesting argument. As someone,...

It was a different feeling to walk into the News Journal office last Monday following the departure of News Journal Publisher Trevor Sherman. I am now literally the last man standing at the News Journal as the entirety of our remaining staff is female; not that this is a bad thing. We have Publisher Jennifer K. Perkins, Advertising Manager Melissa Hudson, Office Manager Linda Carpenter, Bookkeeper and Classifieds Manager Jennifer Benfield and Reporter Leeann Fragosa. Ironically, when I first started at the News Journal more than 30 years ago, most of the staff was male. I have told my female co-workers that they are more than welcome to use the men’s restroom,...

As the old saying goes, the teacher is disappointed when the student does not surpass them or in this case students. I am referring to now former News Journal Publisher Trevor Sherman and current News Journal Publisher Jennifer K. Perkins. Many moons ago, I can remember when Trevor started working here doing advertising and delivering the newspapers on Wednesday. He was a fresh-faced young kid, who was an incredibly hard worker. He persevered improving his sales skills and helping out with sports. A few years later after sports editor Jim McAlister had to retire due to illness, Trevor stepped into the sports editor position quickly becoming a first-rate journalist. A few months after...

At this point, much has been said about proposed efforts to lengthen Penny Lane in Williamsburg and particularly how it might impact the Zehr property. During a recent Williamsburg City Council meeting Mayor Roddy Harrison said that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet wants to extend Penny Lane past the health department, have it turn left and eventually come out onto KY-92W. The new road would go through some of the Zehr property. Eventually, Penny Lane would become a one-way road. This is currently an eminent domain lawsuit pending in Whitley Circuit Court over efforts by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to obtain the needed property for the road. The Zehr family, who I understand...