News

A flightless bird caught the attention of several people in Williamsburg Thursday afternoon. At approximately 2:19 p.m., an Emu was spotted near IGA, which is off US25W between Main Street and Cumberland Avenue. Williamsburg Police Chief Jason Caddell said the bird apparently got loose on a farm off KY-26 a day or two ago. “How it ended up in Williamsburg, I have no idea,” he said. “Luckily, the owner was there with it by the time we got there.” (Photo courtesy of Tom Shelley)

One person died, who was found laying in a driveway near Corbin Thursday morning, but authorities say foul play is not currently suspected. “At this time, there doesn’t appear any foul play to have been involved. At this time, we don’t suspect any,” said Whitley County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Tony Dingess, who is the investigating officer. The victim’s name is not being released pending notification of next of kin. The man was discovered at approximately 10:43 a.m. at 3390 Cumberland Falls Highway. “A passerby observed him lying in the driveway,” Dingess said. “He appeared to be suffering from a gunshot wound.” Whitley County EMS responded to the scene and transported the man to Baptist...

Judge Paul Winchester recently sentenced an Ohio man to five years in prison in connection with a child sexual material investigation. On May 5, as part of a plea agreement, Tanner Jay Cooper, now 21, of Piqua, pleaded guilty to amended charges of distributing sexually explicit material without consent, which is a Class ‘A’ misdemeanor, and possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor, which is a class ‘D’ felony. The maximum penalty for a Class ‘A’ misdemeanor is 12 months in jail. The maximum penalty for a Class ‘D’ felony is five years in prison. During the July 20 sentencing hearing, Winchester followed the recommendations in the plea agreement...

Prosecutors want a Corbin woman’s probation revoked after she allegedly failed to pay her court ordered restitution for stealing from a resident’s group at the Williamsburg Housing Authority. Betsy Linda Sergent, 46, pleaded guilty on May 5 to theft by unlawful taking or disposition all others value at least $10,000 but less than $1 million, fraudulent use of a credit card/gift card over $10,000 and abuse of the public trust value at least $10,000 but less than $100,000. Per her plea agreement, Whitley Circuit Judge Paul Winchester sentenced her to a 10-year prison sentence on July 20 but agreed to probate the sentence for a period of at least five years...

A Corbin man pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge of violating graves at a local cemetery. During his arraignment in Laurel District Court Monday, Judge Skip Hammons scheduled an Aug. 11 preliminary hearing in Mark Cordell’s case and appointed the public advocate’s office to represent him. Cordell, 45, was released from the Laurel County Correctional Center at 5:32 p.m. Monday on a $5,000 bond, according to the correctional center’s website. Part of his bond condition is to have no contact with any cemetery, according to online court records. Kentucky State Police Trooper Dylon Pennington arrested Cordell at 11:32 a.m. Sunday after getting a complaint from a woman Saturday about items being taken...

A local boating race, which has generated more than $250,000 the last nine years to help local school and children’s programs, is returning Saturday. Registration starts at 8 a.m. for the 10th Annual Kayaking for Kids race. The race will begin at 10 a.m. The registration fee for the race is $20. Event organizer Amber Owens said as of Monday approximately 17 people had pre-registered for the race and have already filled out their entry forms. Owens noted most people tend to register the day of the race. Participants should bring their kayaks and supplies and drop those off at the Croley Bend boat ramp and then park their vehicle at the Ballard...

The County Wide band took center stage during Moonbow Nights, which took place Thursday at NIBROC Park in downtown Corbin. The event drew several attendees, who listened to the music and enjoyed concessions, which were being sold by vendors.

Prosecutors have recommended a total prison sentence of two years and one day for a Williamsburg man, who was charged with assaulting a school bus aide and abusing both the aide and a school bus driver during an incident earlier this year. Michael Walters, 37, pleaded guilty Thursday to charges of third-degree assault (school employee), resisting arrest and two counts of abuse of a teacher prohibited (bus aide and bus monitor). As part of the plea agreement, second-degree disorderly conduct and menacing charges were dismissed. Judge Paul Winchester scheduled an Aug. 13 formal sentencing hearing. The incident allegedly occurred on Feb. 18 at approximately 3:05 p.m. as a Whitley County school bus was...

If you enjoy listening to free musical entertainment, then NIBROC will be the place for you this week as six performers are scheduled to take the stage between Thursday evening and Saturday evening in downtown Corbin. Festival entertainment will kicks off with Williamsburg rock and country band Paint Creek performing on Thursday starting at 7:30 p.m. Paint Creek is fronted by brothers Eric and Alec Poore, who grew up in the hills of Southeast Kentucky. “Paint Creek was forged from family harmony and a passion for performing, and their dynamic sound reflects the eclectic influences of yesterday’s legends and today’s trailblazers, seamlessly weaving a show that pays homage to the band’s country...

Whitley Circuit Judge Dan Ballou sentenced a Williamsburg man to 10 years in prison Monday for failing to comply with sex offender registration. Christopher May, 67, pleaded guilty on July 14 to failure to comply with sex offender registration in exchange for prosecutors dropping a registered sex offender school restrictions charge and recommending the 10-year sentence. According to his indictment, between Dec. 16-20, 2024, May failed to report a change of address to the Kentucky State Police Sex Offender Registry as required by law. Failure to comply with sex offender registration is ordinarily a crime punishable by a maximum of five years in prison. Because of a first-degree persistent felony offender charge,...