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Knox County deputy jailers had their hands full Friday, Feb. 26, with the excessive number of inmates they have to haul over and back from circuit court. But, by that time, however, the worst was nearly over. The Knox County Detention Center is set up for 35 inmates; however, Jailer Mary Hammons says the jail can hold up to 50 inmates comfortably. After that, it becomes a lot more difficult. “If the number of inmates starts getting up above 50, we have to think about how we’re going to care for all of them,” said Hammons. On an average Friday indictment day in circuit court the jail could have an extra 60...

Over the last three months voters in both Barbourville and London have approved packaged alcohol sales and Williamsburg residents will likely be voting on a similar measure this June. Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison said he plans to submit a petition to Whitley County Clerk Kay Schwartz's office around March 23 that would allow the sale of packaged alcohol in stores and allow alcohol sales by the drink at restaurants that seat at least 50 people and derive at least 50 percent of their profits from the sale of food. The measure is equivalent to what Corbin currently has, and what London and Barbourville voters recently approved. "It is all around us. I...

The News Journal brought home a total of 24 Excellence in Kentucky Newspaper Awards, including a second-place award for General Excellence in the large weekly newspaper division, during the Kentucky Press Association's annual banquet Thursday night. "I'm very proud of our staff for the hard work that they put into producing a quality newspaper for our readers every week. The record number of KPA awards we received this year represent an ongoing commitment to top-notch journalism here at The News Journal," said News Journal Publisher Trent Knuckles. The News Journal received seven first place awards, eight awards for second place, six third place awards and three honorable mentions. "The News Journal is...

A Corbin man accused beating his girlfriend so severely that she had to be taken to the hospital emergency room Saturday night, pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree assault – domestic violence. Fifty-five-year-old Tony Johnson, who is also facing one count of public intoxication – controlled substance, was arraigned Tuesday in Whitley District Court via video from the Whitley County Detention Center. Judge Fred White set the case for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday. Johnson’s bond remains at $15,000 cash. Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Johnson about 10:15 p.m. at a residence on McKeehan Crossing Road off of U.S. 25W. According to Sheriff Colan Harrell, deputies were called to the scene...

After nearly two weeks of waiting, the Corbin Tourism Commission is moving forward with a request from Wasatch Railroad Group to pay the company an additional $10,000 for moving L&N 232, along with its coal tender and a caboose from Bainbridge, Ga. to Corbin. The initial vote at the regular meeting on Feb. 9 ended in a 3-3 deadlock. At a special called meeting Monday night, the seventh commissioner, Sudhir Patel, was in attendance and cast the deciding vote in favor. Patel said he voted in favor to help keep a good and healthy relationship with Wasatch Railroad Group. The company made the only bid to move the pieces that were gifted...

Dr. William "Will" Franklin Graham IV, the grandson of world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham, has been selected as the keynote speaker for the University of the Cumberlands' 11th Annual Excellence in Leadership Series, which is sponsored by The Forcht Group of Kentucky. Graham will speak about "Christian Leadership" as part of the event, which will be held in the University's O. Wayne Rollins Center on April 12. Graham is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). He is the oldest son of Franklin Graham. The first of Will Graham's crusade-style events - called Celebrations - took place in...

Sherrie Mays, MSN, RN was named Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for Baptist Health Corbin. Sherrie joined Baptist in 1983 as a staff nurse.  In 1995, she was named Director of Women’s and Children’s Services. Leadership for the Surgery Department was added to her responsibilities in 2001.  In 2014, with a growing surgical service, the hospital asked Sherrie to focus all of her administrative energies as the Director of Surgical Services. Sherrie has served on multiple System Teams, including the Material Management and Standardization Team, Wrong Site Surgery Team and the Surgical Team.  She has also been an active member on the hospital’s Emergency Preparedness and Management Team and the...

The big question on everyone’s mind now that Barbourville residents have approved the sale of alcohol is will it be sold on Sunday. The answer is yes. The second reading of Barbourville's Resolution 2016-1 was held last Friday; however, the vote by the city council to approve the ordinance was not unanimous. Council member Wilma Barnes was missing, and Councilmember Sherman Lawson was the sole no vote. The 20-page ordinance took Mayor David Thompson nearly an hour to read Thursday, but after all was said and done, the hours were officially set for city alcohol sales. According to the ordinance, alcohol can be sold Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to midnight. Sunday...