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The Corbin Board of Education unanimously agreed Thursday night to increase the cost of tuition for students who live in school districts with which Corbin does not have a reciprocal agreement. Tuition for the 2016-17 school year has been increased from $3,000 to $3,500. District officials explained this would affect approximately 26 students, all of whom live in Laurel County. Board members Todd Childers and Angela Morris both pointed out that even with the increase, the tuition is still lower than the $3,981 in state money that school districts receive for each student known as Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) money. The money allocated for each child is given to the school...

The Whitley County Fiscal Court is hoping to become a guinea pig of sorts for a new state project that will use recycled tires in chip seal paving projects. During a special called meeting Monday, the fiscal court approved a resolution supporting a grant application to take part in the Rubberized Chip Seal Grant program, which is being administered through the Kentucky Division of Waste Management in Frankfort. Whitley County Projects Director Amber Owens said that the state used to provide grant money through the waste tire program for rubberized mulch on playgrounds, but ceased doing that a couple of years ago over concerns it could be dangerous to kids. Owens said...

Kentucky’s Republican Presidential Caucus this past March apparently didn’t have much impact on the voter turnout for Tuesday’s Primary Election in Whitley County where about 18 percent of registered voters went to the polls to cast their ballots. “It did not. I do not think it affected it at all,” said Whitley County Clerk Kay Schwartz, whose election total results were finalized about 7:22 p.m. Tuesday less than 90 minutes after the polls closed. “I was happy with the turnout in Whitley County.” By contrast, about 15 percent of Republican voters cast ballots during the March presidential caucus. Schwartz admits that she wasn’t expecting a turnout this high Tuesday due in large...

If you live in Williamsburg and have a vehicle parked along a city street that hasn't been used in quite some time, then you might want to move it onto your property if you want to keep it and avoid a tow bill. The Williamsburg Police Department started towing abandoned vehicles Thursday and say it is something they plan to continue doing throughout the city if necessary. "We have been getting complaints for a while throughout the city but more particularly on South Third Street because it is a really congested street. City Park is there. You have the library," noted Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird. "One of the biggest complaints...

The Corbin Tourism Commission received some financial help Saturday in its on-going effort to return the L&N 2132 locomotive, along with its coal tender and caboose to their former glory. The board of directors of the L&N Historical Society, which held its quarterly meeting over the weekend in Corbin, presented the tourism commission with a check for $5,000 to go toward the restoration efforts. Sid Johnson, president of the historical society, said when he initially heard of the plans for the museum, he was skeptical, especially because those plans included returning 2132 to Corbin to serve as a centerpiece. “I didn’t have a lot of hope for it,” Johnson said. “We are very...

Yet another round of layoffs is set to hit the employees at Whayne Supply in Corbin. According to a letter sent to employees at the company’s Corbin facility, obtained by The News Journal, Whayne Supply Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Joe Yoerg announced the layoffs, which will be effective July 15. “The total number is still being finalized,” Yoerg said in the letter dated May 13. Yoerg goes on to say in the letter that the layoffs will be permanent, citing “declining revenue and profitability.” Corbin Mayor Willard McBurney said he had heard about layoffs but has not heard anything as to how many jobs will be lost. However, McBurney said seeing...

A Corbin man is facing numerous charges in Knox County after he allegedly led Kentucky State Police on a high-speed chase through Corbin Thursday night, hitting a car at a local dealership and driving the wrong way on U.S. 25E in the process. Thirty-seven-year-old Jason Sevier was arrested following a vehicle and foot pursuit that reportedly began when Trooper Chris Saunders attempted to make a traffic stop for expired tags on the Toyota Camry Sevier was driving. Saunders said in the arrest citation that he attempted to make the stop about 9:15 p.m. “Sevier) accelerated and ran a stop sign at Engineer St. and continued to flee,” Saunders wrote in the arrest...

A Georgia man has been charged with wanton endangerment for allegedly pointing a gun at a truck driver in north Corbin Thursday morning. According to Laurel County Sheriff John Root, 39-year-old Cornelius Dixon of Fayetteville, Ga. was arrested just before 2 a.m. Root said deputies were called to investigate after the truck driver reported that a man in a white Dodge ram pickup truck pulling a box trailer pointed the pistol at him at a gas station on West Cumberland Gap Parkway. Deputies located the truck in the parking lot and questioned the driver, later identified as Dixon. Root said Dixon has a .357 revolver on his hip. Through the course of their investigation,...

A shots fired call late Thursday evening led to the arrest of a Rockholds' couple on drug possession charges. In addition, one of the suspects was also charged with adult abuse after a handicapped adult was located inside the home. Julia Lynn Tackett, 36, pleaded not guilty Monday afternoon to charges of first-degree, second-degree and third-degree possession of a controlled substance, controlled substance prescription not in original container, possession of drug paraphernalia and knowingly abuse/neglect of adult. Trevor Anthony Powers, 47, also pleaded not guilty Monday afternoon to charges of public intoxication, first-degree possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. During Monday's hearing, Whitley District Judge Cathy Prewitt scheduled...

"Today we recognize the National Day of Prayer and we gather here," Rev. Ande Myers told a group of about 100 people gathered Thursday morning for the 17th Annual Williamsburg Kiwanis Club National Day of Prayer Breakfast. "As we think about our nation and our needs and our world and her needs, we recognize that prayer and God's guidance and assistance is so necessary in our lives and our world." Myers noted that one thing we can't do is compel people to pray. "You know what we can do? We can develop that look of longing in our own lives. We can lift up our neighbors. We can pray for those...