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The Whitley County Sheriff's Department confirms that a fatal ATV accident occurred on May 3, 2016. Around 8 p.m. Deputy Joe Prewitt responded to Black Oak Road after a 911 call reported that a man had wrecked his four wheeler. Tracy Davenport, 43, was pronounced dead at the scene by Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley. No other motorized vehicles were involved, and speed is believed to be a factor. Investigation of the accident will continue by Dep. Prewitt and Coroner Croley.

A Corbin man, who allegedly plotted to kidnap his infant niece and hold her for a $50,000 ransom, had his bond quadrupled following a preliminary hearing Monday morning. In addition to conspiracy to commit kidnapping, Doyle Fox, 49, is also charged with theft by extortion $10,000 or more. After determining that there was enough evidence to send the case to the grand jury, Whitley District Judge Fred White raised Fox's bond from $25,000 to $100,000 cash. If Fox posts bond, he will also be required to wear an ankle-monitoring device, White ordered. Fox had been in the Whitley County Detention Center on a probation violation charge since Feb. 20 when he was arrested...

A former owner of a local car dealership is scheduled to be sentenced in August after pleading guilty to two counts of bank fraud. Fifty-two-year-old Gregory Wilcheck of Corbin, who owned Myers Chevrolet-Oldsmobile-Cadillac, Inc., Tri-County Cycles in Barbourville and Check Properties, LLC, pleaded guilty to two counts of defrauding a financial institution insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. According to the plea agreement, between October 2008 and November 2008, Wilcheck wrote numerous checks shuttling money between the businesses. While these checks were purportedly for “loans” given by one of the businesses to another, in reality, Wilcheck was floating the money between the businesses, identified as Myers Chevrolet-Oldsmobile-Cadillac, Inc., Tri-County Cycles in...

When Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison was a teacher and school officials were trying to find out who was responsible for something bad that happened at school, he used to tell his students, "I know somebody saw them. I know somebody saw something." Then he told his students that he just wanted the information and wouldn't reveal who told him. It usually worked, and he never revealed who gave him the information. Now Harrison is implementing a similar strategy in an effort to find out who is behind the recent vandalism at Bill Woods Park, and continuing vandalism at parks throughout town. "I just don't believe anything goes unseen so somebody knows who...

A Williamsburg man, who allegedly ran over and killed someone walking a dog along a sidewalk three weeks ago, had a blood alcohol level that was more than three times the legal limit, according to a lab report in his case. Adam David Childress, 31, is charged with murder, driving while under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident in the April 13 death of Richard E. Perkins. Shortly before 6 p.m., Childress allegedly drove up on the sidewalk along US25W near Town Hill where he traveled for about 150 feet before running over Perkins, 53, and then left the scene of the accident. About 10 minutes later, Childress...

The pool at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park will be open for business in 2016. Officials with the Kentucky Department of Parks announced Friday that $150,000 has been allocated to replace the pool liner and make any other needed repairs. Cumberland Falls Park Manager Roy Johnson said last week that after several years of patching, the pool liner was beyond repair, forcing the closure of the pool until the funding could be found to purchase and install a new liner. Johnson estimated the cost at $132,000. State Representative Regina Bunch, R-Williamsburg, whose district includes the park, thanked Governor Matt Bevin for listening to her and seeing that the funding was made available. In addition...

Less than two weeks after a Williamsburg man, who was walking on the sidewalk, got ran over and killed by a suspected drunk driver, the establishment where he allegedly got the alcohol has shut down. There is currently a sign on the door to the main entrance of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3167 that reads, "we will be closed until further notice." The VFW Post is located just outside the Williamsburg city limits between Three-Point and Goldbug. On April 19, the Estate of Richard Perkins sued VFW Post 3167 and Adam David Childress in Whitley Circuit Court for wrongful death. Childress, 31, is charged with murder, driving while under the influence and...

Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers (R-Manchester) is defending his move to attach legislation to the end of Kentucky’s biennial budget that tilts a long-running feud over occupational tax collections between the city of Corbin and the Knox County Fiscal Court in favor of the county. The measure was inserted into the budget during the final hours of negotiations over the budget bill April 14. Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin has until midnight Wednesday to sign the bill into law. Leaders in the city of Corbin are pushing for a line item veto, but say that they realize it’s unlikely. On Tuesday, Stivers defended the move saying the argument over occupational tax collections affects...

Cumberland Falls State Park will be missing two of its amenities, at least for 2016, as the swimming pool will remain closed and the Blair Conference Building has been condemned. Park Manager Roy Johnson said the pool is in need of a new liner, which will cost approximately $132,000. “We were able to patch it for the last few seasons but the damage has just gotten too bad,” Johnson said. Johnson said the pool typically brings in approximately $25,000 in revenue for the park. While it is free for guests at the lodge to use, campers pay $2 and visitors pay $5 per day to use it. Johnson said whether or not the...

Williamsburg Independent Schools will have soon have a new superintendent as the board voted unanimously Tuesday night to name current principal Dr. Amon Couch to replace Denny Byrd, who is retiring at the end of the year. The board met in executive session for approximately 50 minutes before returning to regular session and unanimously approving a motion to hire Couch. In addition, the motion called for Board Chair Dr. John Jeffries to negotiate a contract with Couch. Jeffries said Couch was selected from among four candidates, though he declined to name the other candidates. “Mr. Couch was the most qualified and had the most experience, and had previously been a superintendent,” Jeffries said. Couch,...