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Two people were arrested at a residence on Ky. 26 in Rockholds Thursday night after Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies reported finding “Ice” methamphetamine and Suboxone and a handgun inside. According to Sheriff Colan Harrell, deputies arrested 31-year-oold Nancy A. Slayer and 35-year-old Lowell Salyer on drug-related charges. Deputies were called to the scene about 9 p.m. after receiving a tip that an individual wanted for arrest could be located in a camper behind the residence. Sgt. Kirk Mays, Deputy Andrew Lawson and Constable Ron Bowling responded and asked the individuals, later identified as Lowell and Nancy Salyer, to step out of the trailer. Both reportedly initially gave deputies false names. However, when their...

Corbin firefighters were called to Baptist Health Corbin Friday morning to battle a vehicle fire in one of the hospital’s loading docks. Firefighters said the van, belonging to Tri Tech, was destroyed by the blaze. Firefighters were paged to the scene about 3:50 a.m. in response to a call of a pressure washer fire. “When we got there, it was rolling,” said Captain Doug Brock. Firefighters had the blaze knocked down within a few minutes. However, the van and all of the equipment inside was destroyed. Firefighters said the company, based out of Lancaster, had been contracted by the hospital to clean the hood vents in the kitchen. The hospital suffered no damage to the...

The Corbin Board of Education unanimously agreed Thursday night to increase the cost of tuition for students who live in school districts with which Corbin does not have a reciprocal agreement. Tuition for the 2016-17 school year has been increased from $3,000 to $3,500. District officials explained this would affect approximately 26 students, all of whom live in Laurel County. Board members Todd Childers and Angela Morris both pointed out that even with the increase, the tuition is still lower than the $3,981 in state money that school districts receive for each student known as Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) money. The money allocated for each child is given to the school...

The Whitley County Fiscal Court is hoping to become a guinea pig of sorts for a new state project that will use recycled tires in chip seal paving projects. During a special called meeting Monday, the fiscal court approved a resolution supporting a grant application to take part in the Rubberized Chip Seal Grant program, which is being administered through the Kentucky Division of Waste Management in Frankfort. Whitley County Projects Director Amber Owens said that the state used to provide grant money through the waste tire program for rubberized mulch on playgrounds, but ceased doing that a couple of years ago over concerns it could be dangerous to kids. Owens said...

Kentucky’s Republican Presidential Caucus this past March apparently didn’t have much impact on the voter turnout for Tuesday’s Primary Election in Whitley County where about 18 percent of registered voters went to the polls to cast their ballots. “It did not. I do not think it affected it at all,” said Whitley County Clerk Kay Schwartz, whose election total results were finalized about 7:22 p.m. Tuesday less than 90 minutes after the polls closed. “I was happy with the turnout in Whitley County.” By contrast, about 15 percent of Republican voters cast ballots during the March presidential caucus. Schwartz admits that she wasn’t expecting a turnout this high Tuesday due in large...

A Whitley County Grand Jury indicted a Williamsburg man Monday morning for murder in connection with the vehicular death of a Williamsburg man, who was run over while walking his dog along a sidewalk last month. The grand jury charged Adam David Childress, 31, with murder, leaving the scene of an accident and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence in connection with the April 13 death of Richard Perkins. Childress was not transported to court Monday. Whitley Circuit Judge Paul Winchester scheduled a June 20 arraignment for Childress. Shortly before 6 p.m. on April 13, Childress allegedly drove up on the sidewalk along US25W near Town Hill where he traveled for...

Cleanup efforts are continuing on Bacon Creek following a diesel fuel spill Monday night. Whitley County Emergency Management Director Danny Moses said approximately 350 to 400 gallons of fuel spilled into the creek from Baptist Health Corbin. The fuel was held in a 500-gallon tank that feeds the hospital’s backup generator. “It is tested every morning and that is when they had a malfunction with it,” Moses said. Moses said the fuel first feeds into a smaller tank outside. A malfunction Monday resulted in a spill. The fuel flowed to a vent pipe leading up to the roof. Once it reached the roof, the fuel flowed to a downspout and into Bacon Creek. Moses...

Yet another round of layoffs is set to hit the employees at Whayne Supply in Corbin. According to a letter sent to employees at the company’s Corbin facility, obtained by The News Journal, Whayne Supply Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Joe Yoerg announced the layoffs, which will be effective July 15. “The total number is still being finalized,” Yoerg said in the letter dated May 13. Yoerg goes on to say in the letter that the layoffs will be permanent, citing “declining revenue and profitability.” Corbin Mayor Willard McBurney said he had heard about layoffs but has not heard anything as to how many jobs will be lost. However, McBurney said seeing...

The last of four Knox County individuals indicted on federal charges of conspiracy to commit tax fraud pleaded guilty Tuesday in U.S. District Court in London. Thirty-eight-year-old Brian Hamilton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the government, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Hamilton admitted to preparing fraudulent tax returns using personal identification information belonging to customers at the Bailey Switch Pawn Shop, which was provided by co-defendants Diana Hill and Patsy Carnes. The money was routed to bank accounts established by Carnes using the personal information. Hamilton faces a maximum prison sentence of 10 years on the conspiracy charge and 20 years on the wire fraud charge. In January, Carnes and Hill each...

  What began as a complaint of a domestic disturbance outside a Woodbine store Tuesday, ended in the arrest of two individuals on disorderly conduct and other charges. According to Whitley County Sheriff Colan Harrell, deputies and Constable Ron Bowling arrested 26-year-old Clayton Fowler and 29-year-old Natasha R. Shoaf after locating the vehicle near the brickyard off of Ky. 26. Harrell said Deputy James Fox noticed several firearms in view inside the car. In addition to Fowler and Shoaf, two children under the age of five. When questioned about the alleged fight, Harrell said Fowler and Shoaf gave different accounts to law enforcement. Harrell said Fowler appeared to be under the influence of alcohol....