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Kentucky State Police (KSP) have charged a Corbin man in connection with a child sexual abuse material investigation. At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 23, a detective with the KSP Electronic Crime Branch located Glennis Eugene Elswick, 56, and charged him with distribution of matter portraying a sex performance by a minor over the age of 12 years old but under 18 years of age, according to his uniform citation and a KSP release. Distributing matter portraying a minor over the age of 12 in a sexual performance is a Class ‘D’ felony and is punishable by 1-5 years in prison. Elswick was located, interviewed and charged as the result of an...

Whitley County officials recovered the body of a man Thursday afternoon from a creek. Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley pronounced the victim dead at 2 p.m. No foul play is suspected at this time in the death of the 42-year-old man. The cause and manner of death are pending autopsy results from the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office. The man’s body was found near 1002 Little Spruce Creek Road. The victim lived on the same road approximately 0.5 miles from where his body was discovered, Croley said. A person doing clean up saw the victim’s body and called 911. Authorities have not released the man’s name yet. Croley said he was reported missing Sunday. Whitley County...

A Williamsburg Police Sergeant was arrested Tuesday evening for alcohol intoxication and second-degree disorderly conduct. Kentucky State Police (KSP) Trooper Donnie Jones arrested Elijah Hunter, 47, at 9:33 p.m. and took him to Baptist Health Corbin for treatment before booking him into jail. He was booked in the Whitley County Detention Center at 3:12 a.m. and was released at 7:13 a.m., according to Whitley County Jailer Jason Wilson. Hunter was released from jail on his own recognizance, according to online court records. Williamsburg Police Chief Jason Caddell said after his department found out about a possible domestic situation involving one of its officers Tuesday, it contacted Kentucky State Police to conduct the investigation. Caddell...

A Siler man, who police had been searching for in connection to an Aug. 21 shooting, is now behind bars in the Whitley County Detention Center. Kentucky State Police arrested Zachary Austin Partin, 27, at 1:16 p.m. Monday charging him with attempted murder. His bond is set at $1 million. He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Whitley District Court. The incident allegedly took place at approximately 2:35 p.m. on Aug. 21, at a Harpes Creek Road residence when Partin reportedly shot 64-year-old Delbert Bolton, according to his arrest warrant. For more details, see Wednesday’s edition of the News Journal.

UPDATE: At 2:58 p.m., I-75 Southbound has reopened. Northbound lanes remain closed at this time. Drivers should continue to avoid the area and expect delays while crews work to clear the scene. Please use caution and allow extra travel time. Original post: Kentucky State Police are advising I-75 is shut down in both directions between Exit 29 and Exit 38 in Laurel County. The cause of the shutdown is a serious collision involving several commercial motor vehicles. One commercial vehicle was reportedly on fire. The crash occurred at approximately 1 p.m. near the 33-mile marker. Kentucky State Police are investigating. Northbound and southbound traffic is being diverted off the interstate onto US-25. Expect significant...

Kentucky State Police are advising I-75 is shut down in both directions between Exit 29 and Exit 38 in Laurel County. The cause of the shutdown is a serious collision involving several commercial motor vehicles. One commercial vehicle was reportedly on fire. The crash occurred at approximately 1 p.m. near the 33-mile marker. Kentucky State Police are investigating. Northbound and southbound traffic is being diverted off the interstate onto US-25. Expect significant delays and congestion. Please avoid the area and seek alternate routes if traveling this afternoon.

Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) Commissioner Julian Tackett announced he is retiring, and Senior Associate Commissioner Butch Cope won’t be far behind. KHSAA made the announcements on Monday. Tackett’s last day is expected to be later this school year, and Cope’s last day will be July 1, 2027. Tackett was named commissioner in 2010 after having previously served as sports information director from 1984-1991; business affairs director from 1991-1995; assistant commissioner from 1995-2008; and executive assistant commissioner from 2008-2010. He is the KHSAA’s seventh commissioner. “Mark Twain is attributed with the quote that says – The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day...

Kentucky State Police (KSP) is asking for the public’s assistance to locate a man wanted in connection with a shooting incident, which happened at approximately 3:35 p.m. Friday in Whitley County. The subject is identified as Zachary A. Partin, 27. He was last seen on foot near the 900 block of Harps Creek Road in the Siler community of Whitley County. His direction of travel is unknown, according to a KSP release. Anyone, who sees this individual or has information regarding his whereabouts, is urged not to approach him, and to contact KSP Post 11 at (606) 878-6622 or dial 911. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

A Boone County man is behind bars in the Whitley County Detention Center after being arrested early Sunday morning for allegedly kidnapping a teenager and strangling her among other offenses. Judge Fred White entered a not guilty plea Monday morning for Roy Wesley Cox, 18, of Erlanger, during his arraignment in Whitley District Court on charges of kidnapping-minor, first-degree strangulation (domestic violence related), third-degree unlawful transaction with a minor, first-degree unlawful imprisonment and fourth-degree assault. White set his bond at $100,000 cash, appointed the public advocate’s office to represent Cox and scheduled a Aug. 18 preliminary hearing in his case. The alleged incident happened Saturday at approximately 6 p.m. in Corbin, according...

A flightless bird caught the attention of several people in Williamsburg Thursday afternoon. At approximately 2:19 p.m., an Emu was spotted near IGA, which is off US25W between Main Street and Cumberland Avenue. Williamsburg Police Chief Jason Caddell said the bird apparently got loose on a farm off KY-26 a day or two ago. “How it ended up in Williamsburg, I have no idea,” he said. “Luckily, the owner was there with it by the time we got there.” (Photo courtesy of Tom Shelley)