News

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 11 advises motorists of upcoming bridge beam placement on KY 1259 over I-75 in Whitley County at mile point 26.554. This work is part of the ongoing I-75 widening project between Exit 25 and Exit 29 in Laurel and Whitley counties. The project is designed to improve safety and traffic flow along this heavily traveled corridor. Due to the nature of the work, bridge beams must be set using rolling roadblocks on I-75 to ensure the safety of workers and motorists. Scheduled rolling roadblocks: • Interstate 75 (Northbound & Southbound) • Monday, April 13 • 8 p.m. – 7 a.m. Rolling roadblocks will be conducted: • Southbound: Beginning at Exit 29...

Currently no foul play is suspected in the death of one person, whose body was found in the remains of a structure fire Sunday morning in Southern Whitley County, according to a Kentucky State Police (KSP) release. Whitley County Deputy Coroner Charles Steve Watson pronounced the victim dead at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. The person has not yet been identified. Officials think the deceased was an adult and possibly female. DNA testing will probably be needed to confirm the victim’s identity, Watson said. The body will be transported Monday to the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort Monday for an autopsy. The medical examiner’s office will determine the cause and manner of...

Officials say one person is dead after a structure fire in Southern Whitley County. The person, who has not been identified, was found Sunday morning.Whitley County Deputy Coroner Charles Steve Watson pronounced the victim dead at 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Officials think the deceased was an adult and possibly female. DNA testing will probably be needed to confirm the victim’s identity, Watson said. The body will be transported to the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort Monday for an autopsy. The medical examiner’s office will determine the cause and manner of death. The fire was reported at 5111 Lot Mud Creek a little before midnight Saturday. Watson said fire officials knew Saturday night there...

Hunter Tye has been appointed as an agent with Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) Mutual Insurance Company at the Whitley County Farm Bureau – Williamsburg office. Tye’s appointment was announced in Louisville by Chuck Osborne, Vice President of Agency Support & Marketing for KFB Insurance. Tye has an accounting and business management degree from Union Commonwealth University. Prior to becoming a KFB Insurance agent, he worked at the Knox County Health Department. Tye also volunteers with the Barbourville Fire Department. In his new position, Tye will call on the residents of Whitley County to offer a wide variety of insurance coverage through KFB Insurance. He will work with the agency manager, Charles Tye,...

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM Kentucky) and Saint Joseph Health recently announced the 100 companies that made the 22nd Annual Best Places to Work in Kentucky list, including a Grace Health, KECH, Inc., L&N Federal Credit Union and Saint Joseph London. The winner rankings will be announced at the June 18 awards dinner at the Central Bank Center in Lexington. Winners from across the state have been selected in three categories: small companies of 15-149 employees, medium companies of 150-499 employees and large companies consisting of more than 500 employees (categories based on number of U.S. employees; only Kentucky employees surveyed). The selection process, managed by Workforce Research...

Corbin singer-songwriter Dustin Ryan has released his debut single, “Settling the Score,” with the hopes of continuing his father’s legacy while sharing a message of unity. His debut song encourages people to come together rather than trying to get even. He urges listeners to find common ground. Ryan says music has always been a part of his life, growing up and watching his father perform in bars and festivals. “I’ve never really dove into it much on my own. It was mine and my dad’s thing,” said Ryan. “After he passed, I actually stopped doing anything music for a couple of years. It was too painful because when I would sing, I...

Williamsburg’s annual Easter Celebration took place on April 4 at Briar Creek Park, featuring face painting, Easter egg crafts and coloring, photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny and free hot dogs. Mayor Roddy Harrison organized the egg hunt by age group, giving younger children the first chance to search before opening the field to older kids. Attendees also enjoyed free access to the playground throughout the event.

A mix of outdoor activities and classes are lined up in Corbin over the next couple of days for residents and tourists alike, courtesy of the Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission newsletter. The Kentucky Unnamed Botany Hike takes place at 10 a.m. on April 11 at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. The two-hour guided hike focuses on local plant life and offers an educational experience for nature lovers. Participants are asked to meet at the Cumberland Falls Visitor Center. Also returning for its second year on April 11 is the Open at Laurel Lake, a competitive two-person team fishing tournament with a $1,500 first-place prize. Folktale Coffee and Bakehouse is hosting a...

Baptist Health Corbin (BHC) President Angelia Foster served as the guest speaker at a recent Corbin Rotary Club meeting, where she shared the personal experiences that drew her to healthcare and provided an update on the hospital’s ongoing $100 million patient wing expansion. Foster joined BHC 18 months and brings nearly 20 years of healthcare experience. Foster said her journey into healthcare was not planned. “My mother was a nurse; therefore, I wanted nothing to do with healthcare,” said Foster. “In 2008, my mom retired after an illustrious career, spent the summer traveling with all of our kids… That fall, my mom got sick and from diagnosis to death was just 28...

Baptist Health Corbin (BHC) President Angelia Foster presented a $5,000 donation on behalf of BHC employees to the Southeast Kentucky Empty Stocking Fund during the Corbin Rotary Club meeting on April 2. “Many of you don’t know my background, but I didn’t grow up too much different than people here,” said Foster. “I know what it’s like to be a kid who needed an empty stocking.” Foster presented the check to Joe Caldwell, who leads the Corbin Rotary Club’s Empty Stocking Fund program. “The work that you do really makes a difference for kids and their families,” said Foster. “It gives their parents that little bit of grace that they need...