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Two world champion kayakers have become local Internet sensations after successfully going over Cumberland Falls Saturday and living to tell about it. Twenty-seven-year-old Nick Troutman, and 22-year-old Dane Jackson added traversing Cumberland Falls to their list of accomplishments including: first complete descent of Rio Alseseca in Veracruz, Mexico, descent of the powerful Niagara Gorge which gains much of its force from the water coming off of Niagara Falls, and Rock Island Side Falls in Tennessee. “Doing something like Cumberland Falls is less of a stunt and more of a personal challenge,” Troutman said of the trip down the 68-feet-high drop. “A lot people think it is a death wish,” he said. “For...

There wasn’t an empty chair left in the room as the Knox County Board of Education began their meeting Tuesday afternoon. Once seats were filled, people began to line along the walls and sit in the floor. All were eager to hear the outcome of the meeting. For weeks, the community has voiced their support for current Superintendent Kelly Sprinkles. Sprinkles’ contract was up for renewal, a subject that was originally scheduled for the board’s regular meeting 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 22. However, a last-minute decision was made to hold a special meeting at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15. A time many disagreed with, as it was during school hours. Only three...

Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison, who is spearheading an effort to allow packaged alcohol sales in Williamsburg and sales of alcohol by the drink at smaller restaurants, doesn't want to see a bar on every corner or Williamsburg turn into the wild west. For him, it's not even about being able to go around the corner to his local convenient store to buy a six-pack of beer.   Harrison told the Williamsburg Kiwanis Club during its monthly meeting Thursday that for him the effort is about helping the town progress, showing that Williamsburg is a progressive community and trying to bring in some additional business to town.   "It levels us on a playing field...

The Corbin Tourism Commission is seeking professional volunteers along with some willing hands as work begins on the restoration of the L&N 2132 and the French Broad River Pullman car. Tourism Director Maggy Kriebel said the Pullman car and the caboose would be the priorities as they are the closest to completion and the work is the least specialized. Among the work needed on the Pullman is to pressure wash the exterior, wax and buff it, paint the top and the undercarriage, replaces switches, knobs and other pieces that were removed after it left service with Amtrak in the mid 80s and fix and replace some of the upholstery. “We are looking...

3,176 Whitley County Republicans went to the county's lone polling location at Whitley County High School Saturday to caucus and their opinions on whether Kentucky should caucus again after this year varied about as much as their opinions on who would make the best president. Jim McClane, who was one of the 100 or so people waiting for the poll to open Saturday at 10 a.m., planned to cast his ballot for Donald Trump. "I don't trust Marco Rubio. I am from Texas and Ted Cruz isn't that popular there either," McClane said. "We have got to get a president in there, who is actually going to do something and protect...

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...