News

Whitley Circuit Judge Paul Winchester has scheduled a Sept. 21 formal sentencing hearing for a Corbin man, who is charged with failure to comply with sex offender registration and other offenses. Jason William Taylor, 42, pleaded guilty on July 30 to charges of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), failure to comply with sex offender registration, third-degree fleeing or evading police (on foot) and resisting arrest. Prosecutors recommended a total sentence of five years in prison. Whitley County Sheriff’s Major Tony Dingess arrested Taylor on Nov. 17, 2025, and lodged him in the Whitley County Detention Center where he has remained since his arrest. The Kentucky Sex Offender Registry lists one Jason...

A Williamsburg man, who is facing two indictments in connection with matter portraying a minor in a sexual performance charges, has been found competent to stand trial. Following a competency hearing in Whitley Circuit Court Thursday afternoon, Judge Paul Winchester ruled Tanner Petrey was competent to stand trial. Dr. Steven Sparks, a licensed psychologist, was the only witness and testified telephonically. Winchester has scheduled an Aug. 27 pretrial conference in the case. No trial date is currently scheduled in the case. Petrey, 26, was indicted twice in September 2024. One indictment charged him with 32 counts of distribution of matter portraying a minor in a sexual performance. The first 20 counts of the indictment...

A Corbin couple will be required to serve six months in jail as part of a plea agreement in a criminal abuse case. On April 20, the Whitley County Grand Jury indicted Ryan T. Hamblin, 29, and Brittany J. Harp, 28, on five counts of second-degree criminal abuse (child 12 years of age or under). On March 11, the couple is accused of placing the children in a situation, which caused the children to be in danger of serious physical injury. On July 30, Hamblin pleaded guilty to all five counts. Prosecutors recommended a five-year prison sentence, which will be probated for five years, after he serves six months in jail, according...

Corbin continues to celebrate 250 years of America with sports, music, carnival rides and more fun at the 74th annual NIBROC Festival this week. NIBROC returns to downtown Corbin at 6 p.m. Wednesday with carnival rides and attractions provided by Paradise Amusements Inc. The carnival will open each night at 6 p.m. For Wednesday night only, ride all you want armbands will be $20. For Thursday through Saturday, carnival armbands will cost $25. Tickets are also available for purchase at $1 per ticket or $20 for 24 tickets. A single ride ranges from three to seven tickets. WWII Navy fighter pilot and former local businessman Paul Jones will be the grand...

In the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones famously says, “Snakes…why did it have to be snakes?” Several rescuers and the victim were probably asking much the same thing Friday night after an 18-year-old hiker fell over a waterfall near the Laurel Lake Spillway and had to be hoisted out to safety by a Kentucky State Police (KSP) Aircraft Support Branch helicopter. Whitley-Laurel County Emergency Management Director Jerry Rains said copperhead snakes began crawling out after dark hindering rescue efforts. One Corbin firefighter even came face to face with one. “You don’t think about snakes as being a problem that much until you get in that terrain and it gets...

Kentucky State Police (KSP) troopers are trained to perform a lot of duties from investigating crimes to traffic control and even answering the occasional stray dog complaint. However, bald eagle rescuer probably isn’t listed in the employee handbook. Playing a pivotal role in rescuing a bald eagle earlier this summer is exactly what Trooper Trey Lovins did recently. On June 30, KSP Post 11 in London received a call about a juvenile bald eagle, which was in distress and unable to fly near Collins Lane in Corbin. Lovins responded, found the animal and was able to catch the bald eagle, according to a KSP release. After capturing the animal, KSP Post 11...

First responders from approximately a dozen agencies worked together late Friday afternoon and into Friday evening and ended up using a helicopter hoist rescue to bring an injured 18-year-old hiker to safety near Laurel River Dam. The Whitley County E-911 Center initially received the request for assistance for a stranded hiker, who had been injured. Emergency responders quickly located the caller and responded to the remote area, according to a Kentucky State Police (KSP) release. “When first responders arrived, they were met by three teenagers who had been hiking with the injured man. They explained that a group of three friends had hiked down a trail to a waterfall that empties...

Members of the Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission saw the first preview for their new website launching in October. Corbin Tourism launched its new branding identity on July 1 showcasing Corbin’s historical landmarks, natural beauty and Appalachian hospitality. In a continued effort to refresh its visual presence and invite more visitors, Corbin Tourism is in the process of developing a new website with McDaniels Marketing. During a July 21 meeting, commission members met over a Zoom call with the McDaniels Marketing team who helped develop the branding identity. The McDaniels team shared a mockup design to share their vision for how the website will look, function and be structured. “This is our...

The University of the Cumberlands (UC) set out on a wide-scale renovation plan this summer with 50 projects throughout campus facilities, including the Mary W. McGaw Music Center. UC officials listed the Mary W. McGaw Music Center as one of their key initiatives among the projects alongside renovations to the Bennett Academic Building’s second floor, upgraded classroom seating in the Correll Science Center, the development of an artificial intelligence lab in the Grover M. Hermann Library and renovations for the Faulkner Building. “As enrollment continues to grow, we remain committed to investing in facilities and infrastructure that strengthen our campus, enhance the student experience and position the University for continued success,”...

The Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission approved an increase of $5,000 to the 2026-2027 fiscal year budget during a first reading on July 21. Executive Director Emily Roberts presented the first reading of the budget after making three adjustments from the prior fiscal year’s budget. She said adjustments were made to professional services and event sponsorship because of an ongoing switch from Corbin Tourism’s old website to a new website developed by McDaniels Marketing. The third adjustment was to insurance. Chairperson Summer Jackson proposed an increase of $5,000 to retirement expenses based on the 2025-2026 fiscal year report given earlier in the meeting when Financial Advisor Bryan Gay said...