News

Emergency Management Director Jerry Rains provided an update on missing person cases in Whitley and Laurel counties during his monthly report to the Whitley County Fiscal Court meeting on June 16. Rains described May as a “busy” month. He told magistrates his office responded to four search-and-rescue calls and worked with state officials regarding a dam in the county. Rains reported a total of 39 missing people in Whitley and Laurel counties during May. As of June 1, nine people remained missing and the year-to-date total had reached 103 cases. By June 16, the number had increased to 119 cases. Rains also mentioned the life-jacket installation ceremony at the Ballard Ford Memorial River...

The Whitley County Fiscal Court approved an application for a COPS Hiring Grant during the June 16 meeting. Judge-Executive Pat White, Jr. said the grant could help fund additional school resource officers (SROs) in county schools. Project Director Amber Owens said the county is looking to add two school resource officers through the grant program. “I think having a school resource officer at every county school would be a big asset to our community,” said White. Later in the meeting, the board approved a contract between the Fiscal Court and the Whitley County Board of Education pertaining to school resource officers for the 2026-2027 school year. “I think everything has been a pretty...

Hospital staff, family and community members gathered at the Trillium Center gym in Corbin to honor the life and legacy of Dr. C. William Briscoe, a psychiatrist who spent more than 50 years building behavioral health services in Southeastern Kentucky and whose name is carried by the Briscoe Clinic at Baptist Health Corbin. During the memorial, speakers remembered his decades of service, his mentorship and his commitment to patients and their family. Musicians Kevin Rice, Lynn Medlin and Tommy Frazier performed familiar selections throughout the service. Briscoe’s family was presented with a lifetime physician service award on behalf of Dr. Christopher Troxell and the Baptist Health Corbin staff.

The four buildings damaged in the Jan. 20 Main Street blaze in Williamsburg will have to be demolished, Mayor Roddy Harrison told the Williamsburg City Council during a special meeting Monday. “It all has to come down,” he said. This will include buildings from the corner of Main Street and South Second Street up Main Street to the former 1818 law office building that firefighters were able to save. The current owners of the damaged buildings have all agreed to build back and want to build their buildings back like they were before, Harrison added. Harrison said structural engineers have determined the façade on some of the buildings might be salvageable, but the...

Two local business representatives said they were removed from the sheriff’s office towing rotation list without being given a reason during the Whitley County Fiscal Court meeting on June 16. Quality Care Towing representative Jim Foley informed board members the company had been removed from Sheriff Bill Elliotte’s calling list post-election. “My purpose was to address the sheriff and ask for a reason,” said Foley. “We’ve never been given a reason. We were told secondhandly through dispatch.” Bo’s Tows representative Marty Gilley also addressed the board with similar concerns, saying his business had been on the list for years and had never heard of any complaints or concerns. “Sheriff wins the election, takes...

A Laurel Circuit Judge ruled Tuesday London Mayor Randall Weddle is not a bona fide candidate for the upcoming London mayoral election in November. In late April, 13 people filed suit in London Circuit Court to determine whether Weddle lived in London for one year and could run for re-election as mayor or whether he lived in Keavy and was ineligible to run. “Ultimately, upon a thorough review of all the evidence of record and the applicable law, it is the opinion of the Court that the totality of the circumstances demonstrates that the London property may be a place where Weddle transacts business, but it is not his home nor...

The intersection of KY 727 (5th Street) and U.S. 25W in Corbin is closed due to construction. Officials with the Kentucky Department of Transportation say the road is expected to remain closed until 7 a.m. on June 24.

Corbin Police Patrolman Charles Gray and 38 other law enforcement officers from across the state graduated Thursday from the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s (DOCJT) basic training academy in Richmond. “We are proud of Patrolman Gray’s hard work and dedication and look forward to his continued service to the City of Corbin. Please join us in congratulating him on this accomplishment,” the Corbin Police Department wrote in a Facebook post. The graduates of Class 569 received over 800 hours of recruit-level instruction over a 20-week period. Major training areas included traffic and DUI, criminal investigations, firearms, patrol procedures, physical training, vehicle operations, cultural awareness, defensive tactics, criminal law, bias-related crimes...

A Williamsburg native has been appointed to a council helping to support Kentucky’s prosecutors and law enforcement agencies. Attorney General Russell Coleman announced on June 12 the appointment of Renee McDaniel to the Prosecutors Advisory Council (PAC) as one of two citizen members. McDaniel is a graduate of Centre College and has served as the executive director of the Kentucky Jailers Association for nearly two decades and now owns Aggregate Management Services. “Renee McDaniel brings expertise and integrity to this role, and I’m grateful she has chosen to continue to dedicate herself to public service,” said Attorney General Coleman. “Together with the Council, Renee will be an outstanding partner in supporting our County and...

Members of the Williamsburg Future Farmers of America (FFA) returned from the Kentucky FFA State Convention in Lexington with several honors, including a state-runner up finish in the Agriscience Fair and two State Degree recipients. Seniors Emily Cooper and Zaden Housekeeper earned second place in the Agriscience Fair Division 6 – Animal Systems competition. Their research project examined chick health through egg weight and hatchability data and developed a poultry adaptation of the APGAR scoring system, commonly used in human medicine. Additionally, Cooper and Cabela Johnson were recognized with the Kentucky FFA State Degree. The degree recognizes student’s achievements in agricultural education, leadership and supervised agricultural experiences. Williamsburg FFA was recognized with...