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A lawsuit against the Williamsburg Independent School District, former Superintendent Denny Byrd and former Principal Gary Peters has been dismissed in U.S. District Court in London. The parents of the victim, who are identified in the lawsuit only as John and Jane Doe, filed suit on April 29 2015, against the school district, then Superintendent Denny Byrd and then Principal Gary Peters, who have both since retired. The lawsuit alleged that the defendants violated the girl's civil rights, violated federal Title IX laws, had civil liability for commission of a criminal act and that the defendants were negligent and had grossly negligent supervision, retention and investigation of the matter. On Aug. 16,...

The Arena in Corbin is under new management. At a special called meeting Monday morning, the Corbin City Commission voted 4-0 to hire Kristi Balla to be the new Arena manager. Balla, a 1995 graduate of Corbin High School, has previously worked at other venues including the KFC Yum Center in Louisville, the Louisville Palace, a 3,000-seat concert venue, the Norva in Norfolk, Virginia, and the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip in California. City Manager Marlon Sams said it was Balla’s experience and background in the entertainment and events community that set her apart from the three finalists chosen from the 39 applicants. “It was not just in one area but...

The Corbin Police Department’s newest officer made a record drug bust Friday morning, seizing .68 kilograms (1.5 pounds) of crystal methamphetamine found in a car at a local gas station. Officer Mandy Chitwood, who graduated from the police academy in April, along with Officer Steve Meadors were called to the Speedway gas station about 8:30 a.m. in response to a complaint of a suspicious vehicle at the pumps. Meadors said he and Chitwood found to men passed out in the Ford Fusion. “We had to wake them up,” Meadors said, adding the driver, identified at 44-year-old Jerry Hart of Heidrick, gave consent to search his person and a small baggie of a...

A suspended Whitley County Sheriff's deputy, who had a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) entered against him early Friday evening, is no longer employed by the sheriff's department. Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell said that he called Sgt. Kirk Mays into his office Monday and informed him that "his services were no longer required." Mays had been employed by the sheriff's department for three years but was suspended on July 14 after his ex-girlfriend, Courtney Morgan, obtained an Emergency Protective Order against him. Among other things, the DVO order means that Mays won't be allowed to own or carry a firearm during the period of time that the DVO is in effect. "This one...

A Williamsburg man, who is accused of stealing a local attorney’s pickup truck that was parked outside of district court in Corbin last Tuesday, is awaiting an extradition hearing in Campbell County, Tennessee. Thirty-year-old Johnny Mullis was arrested Friday after he reportedly told a bystander in Caryville, Tennessee that he was wanted out of Kentucky and was going to hit the bars. “They contacted local authorities and they were able to go and locate him,” said Corbin Police Detective Rusty Hedrick noting Campbell County Sheriff’s deputies apprehended Mullis without incident. Mullis was lodged in the Campbell County Detention Center. Hedrick said Mullis has yet to appear before the court for an extradition...

A Knox County businessman, who pleaded guilty to defrauding two local banks of $1.4 million through a scheme to float checks that were later returned because of insufficient funds, will serve three years in federal prison and must repay the money. Fifty-three-year-old Gregory Joseph Wilcheck returned to U.S. District Court in London Monday for a formal sentencing in the case. Based on the pre-sentencing report, the sentencing range in the case was 46 to 57 months of incarceration. “I assure you I am truly sorry,” Wilcheck said prior to the sentence being handed down. U.S. District Court Judge Gregory VanTatenhove cited the amount of money involved, $1,408,870.68 from National City and Whitaker Banks,...

The Corbin City Commission is now guaranteed to have two new members beginning in January as Joe Shelton announced at the meeting Monday that he is in the process of moving to a new home outside the city. Shelton, who has served on the commission since 2004, said he contacted Whitley County Clerk Kay Schwartz several months ago concerning his impending move, asking her to remove his name from the ballot. “Being down here has been a wonderful experience,” Shelton said. “I would encourage anyone to run for city council, and be on city council because I think it is a very important process that we all go through.” Shelton said one...

The Corbin City Commission approved a motion Monday to have the city attorney take legal action against three restaurants that are chronically delinquent on their restaurant tax payments. City Manager Marlon Sams said the restaurants include Seasons, The Dixie, and Dino’s. “We have sent out notices several times and can’t get replies,” Sams said when asked why he recommended this during the regular meeting Monday night. “We have tried to work with each one of them,” Sams added. The restaurant tax, enacted in 2016, is a three-percent charge on all transactions. Through an interlocal agreement, 75 percent of the tax revenue is returned to the city to fund operations at The Arena. The remainder...

Following nearly four hours of testimony Friday afternoon, Special Judge John Chappell issued a six-month Domestic Violence Order against a Whitley County Sheriff’s deputy, who was accused last month of harassing an ex-girlfriend, who is a 911 dispatcher.   Chappell ruled about 6:15 p.m. Friday that there was enough evidence to issue the Domestic Violence Order against Sheriff’s Sgt. Kirk Mays.   Among other things, the order means that Mays won’t be allowed to own or carry a firearm during the period of time that the DVO is in effect.   Mays has been suspended from the sheriff’s department since the E.P.O. was taken out against him.   Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell said previously that he...

UPDATE:  A Williamsburg man who allegedly fled from district court in Corbin in an attorney’s truck last week is in custody in Tennessee. Thirty-year-old Johnny Mullis reportedly told a bystander in Caryville, Tenn. that he was wanted out of Kentucky and was going to hit the bars. Campbell County Sheriff’s deputies were contacted and took Mullis into custody without incident. Corbin Police Colonel David Maiden, who has been investigating the case, said Mullis was not armed. The two handguns that were reportedly in the truck when it was taken, have not been found. However, both the truck and the Toyota that Mullis allegedly took from his ex-girlfriend were both recovered. “The golf clubs (attorney...