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Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley has identified the victim who died after an incident at the Williamsburg Firestone Industrial Products Plant. Croley said Jack Henson, 51, of Corbin, died from injuries he sustained while at the plant. Henson was pronounced dead at 11:38 a.m. on Wednesday. Read more about the incident here: https://thenewsjournal.net/one-person-dies-wednesday-morning-after-accident-at-williamsburg-firestone-industrial-products/

A Williamsburg man was under the influence of alcohol, speeding and operating a motor vehicle while his license was suspended for driving while under the influence when he hit another vehicle on I-75 nearly two years ago killing a two-year-old and seriously injuring the child’s mother. It took jurors about one hour and 45 minutes Thursday afternoon to convict Matthew Paul Croley, 36, of the wanton murder of Patrick Flores, and first-degree assault for injuries caused to Flores’ mother during the crash. The jury also convicted Croley on three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment for endangering Flores three siblings, who were also in the vehicle at the time of the crash,...

Whitley Circuit Court jurors recommended a 25-year prison sentence for a Corbin jewelry store robber, who had seven prior felony convictions before he picked up an eighth felony conviction Thursday afternoon. The nine-man, three-woman jury needed less than 15 minutes to convict Lonnie D. Huff, 48, of Emmalena, on a charge of complicity to commit first-degree robbery. Jurors could have convicted him of second-degree robbery, theft by unlawful taking value $10,000 or more or acquitted him. Jurors needed about twice that amount of time to recommend their sentence. In his closing argument during the sentencing phase of the trial, Commonwealth’s Attorney Ronnie Bowling urged jurors to recommend a life sentence for Huff, who...

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) advises motorists that I-75 northbound at mile point 7.5 in Whitley County is closed due to a four-commercial vehicle crash. A detour is in place in Tennessee for northbound traffic: Traffic to detour at the Jellico exit and take U.S. 25 into Williamsburg. Expect delays and road closure of up to an estimated two to three hours.

The family of Douglas Harless has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Laurel Circuit Court against the London Police Department, City of London, Kentucky, and several London police officers in connection to the fatal police raid that killed Harless in his own home late last year. The Sept. 10 lawsuit also names several London Police officers or now former London Police officers in their individual capacities, including then Chief Jerry Hollon, Lt. Andrew Jackson, then Sgt. Ashley Taylor, Sgt. Elbert Riley, Detective Landry Collett, Detective Wesley Wolfe, Lt. Troy Truett, Sgt. Jonathan Jackson, and Patrolman Josh Morgan and other unknown defendants. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for violations of...

One person had to be flown out by emergency medical helicopter following a two-vehicle crash Saturday morning near Exit 15 that involved a moped. About 9:50 a.m., Richard Vance, 60, of King Mt. Spur, was driving a 2002 Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck north on US25W when he went to make a left hand turn into the parking lot of the Shell Station near Exit 15, said Williamsburg Assistant Police Chief Brandon White. Vance turned into the path of a 2024 Honda moped, which was heading south on US25W and being driven by Ngoc Nguyen, 26, of East KY-204. Nguyen was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Vance told police...

Just because you have pictures of naked children on your computer, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you are in possession of child pornography, or so defense attorney Cliff Wilson successfully argued to a Whitley Circuit Court Jury Wednesday afternoon. The nine-man, three-woman jury deliberated for approximately three hours before reaching their not guilty verdict on all counts shortly before 6:30 p.m. in the trial of Barry Thomas McMurry, who was tried on over 200 counts of possession of a matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor. “Those photos don’t depict a sexual performance by anyone,” Wilson told jurors during his closing argument. He noted that the pictures were downloaded from...

Long-time Corbin Primary School Principal Travis Wilder has been selected to replace Dave Cox as the next Corbin Superintendent. The Corbin Independent Board of Education held a special-called meeting Tuesday at the Corbin High School Media Center where they deliberated in executive session for about one hour before naming Wilder to replace Cox, who will retire effective Aug. 1. Wilder said that he was overwhelmed, overjoyed and humbled when he got the call from the board of education Tuesday afternoon informing him about their decision. “My family was in tears. I was in tears. This is a large task, but I am excited for this new chapter,” Wilder said. Wilder has been principal...

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Corbin Independent Board of Education is searching for its next superintendent. After about nine and one-half years as serving as superintendent, Dave Cox has announced his retirement effective Aug. 1. “It just seemed like a good stepping off point. Things are going well and I think the district is in a good position right now,” Cox said Thursday. Cox is retiring after 33 years of service in the Corbin Independent School District. Cox was a student at Corbin from sixth grade through high school graduation. He received his undergraduate degree from Eastern Kentucky University, and specialty degrees from then Union College (now Union Commonwealth...

The body of a Gray fisherman, who disappeared in the water when his boat capsized on Laurel Lake Sunday, has been recovered. About 12:15 p.m. on May 4, John Myrick, 26, fell into the water near the City Dam on Laurel Lake when his new fishing boat capsized. Myrick’s brother, Christian Myrick, was able to make it to shore and contact authorities, but had to be hospitalized afterwards. He was released from the hospital Monday. Laurel and Whitley County Emergency Management Director Jerry Rains said that Myrick’s body was recovered about 3:15 p.m. Friday about 40 feet from City Dam on the Lynn Camp Creek side. Groups taking part in the search...