Colonel takes center stage

Local News

Discussion

February 12, 2008

Anonymous The Times-Tribune Tue Feb 12, 2008, 08:41 AM EST

By Brad Hicks / Staff Writer

Things got underway at Monday’s meeting of the Corbin Tourism Commission to bring a musical of Corbin’s most famous resident to life.

“The Colonel Sanders Story” is being written by Bo List and composed by Christopher Tolliver. The proposed large-scale, outdoor musical would take place in Corbin and would be a biographical play of the life of Col. Harland Sanders.

List, a native of Lexington, said aside from having his own secret recipe for fried chicken Sanders possessed heroic qualities, such as working with poor and orphaned children, pioneering the highway system in the area and standing up for senior citizens’ right to work, which deserve celebration.

“What excites me about this is before he was the face on a bucket of chicken, he was a hero in this community,” he said. “I can think of a no more colorful character when the state, and the nation for that matter, is wanting to get in touch with its heroes. I think Col. Sanders is someone worth celebrating and is uniquely a Corbin success story, and is uniquely a national success story for that matter.”

Those involved foresee the musical as a annual, outdoor event during the summer and performed at an outdoor amphitheater in Corbin.

However, before work can begin on the construction of an outdoor amphitheater, a feasibility study must be conducted. The study, which would be conducted by the Institute of Outdoor Drama and estimated to cost between $16,500 to $20,000, takes into account a profile of the community to see if there would be ample support for the event.

“The feasibility study will be an invaluable tool in just finding out if it’s viable,” List said.

Corbin Main Street Manager Sharae Myers was on hand to seek approval of a grant from the tourism commission to aid in the funding of the study. The grant, through the Center For Rural Development, may award up to $20,000 but a 20 percent cash match is required by the community. Interest from the members of the commission was evident, as they unanimously approved the motion regarding the grant application.

“Mr. List, you certainly have us excited about this,” said Chairman Don Estep.

“It will transform Corbin if we can pull this off,” said board member Suzie Razmus.

List was confident that Corbin could support such an event and the area would benefit greatly from the production. He cited the outdoor play “Tecumseh!,” held in Ohio, as an example of such an outdoor production. While it costs approximately $1.3 million to stage, it usually takes in around $10 million for the economy of its community.

In other business, the commission tabled the request for lighting funds at the Corbin soccer fields and a pledge for lighting at the tennis courts located at Corbin High School. Estep said more research is needed before the request will be revisited, although the deadline for a pledge from the commission for the tennis court lighting is Feb. 21.

Also, items were donated to be displayed in the Tourism Community Room until a railroad museum is put into place. While these items came from an anonymous donor, they were given in honor of Joshua Paul William Walker Eaton.

Text Only

Local News

Police search for suspect in highway beating
It was called by some as “road rage,” but Barbourville Police say last Saturday evening’s fight at a city intersection was definitely an assault. And they are still looking for the man who police say threw the first punch.

May 24, 2012
Woman gets five years for drugs
In U.S. Federal Court Wednesday, Heather A. Collins, who was called by Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove as a “kind of leader for the group,” was sentenced to five years after using prescription forms to acquire various drugs.

May 24, 2012
Father, son rearraigned for meth charges
A son and father were rearraigned Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in London.

May 24, 2012
Hounds hold on
Corbin Coach Rob Ledington rolled the dice after his Redhounds took a 6-0 lead, but it paid off with an 8-7 win over Whitley County as Corbin advanced to the 50th District Championship tonight with an ace up their sleeve.

May 23, 2012 1 Photo
Drugs suspected in fatal Knox County crash
Drug use may have been a factor in a crash Monday in Knox County in which an 11-year-old boy was killed, according to Kentucky State Police Post-10 Harlan Public Affairs Officer Trooper Shane Jacobs and Sgt. Jimmy Young.

May 23, 2012
Marie Rader wins 89th Rep. District Primary
Republican Marie Rader won the primary election for the 89th District House of Representatives.

May 23, 2012
Barton wins another circuit court clerk term
Whitley County voters went with experience when it came to electing the next circuit court clerk, choosing incumbent Gary Barton, according to unofficial election results.

May 23, 2012
Bunch victor in 82nd House District
For incumbent State Representative Regina Petrey Bunch, the votes came in bunches Tuesday night.

May 23, 2012
Voter turnout higher than expected
The election day ran fairly smooth in Whitley, with the exception of several precincts losing power briefly and a few complaints regarding signs being too close to polling places.

May 23, 2012
Kenneth S. Stepp to face Hal Rogers in fall
Two Democrats, Kenneth S. Stepp, of Clay County, and Micheal Ackerman, of Rowan County, running for the Fifth Congressional District ran a heads-together race in the 30-county district.

May 23, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Colonel takes center stage

Site Map

Contact Us