News

Assuming 34th Judicial Circuit Judge Dan Ballou gets confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become the next U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky, which is not guaranteed, what would the process be to replace him as circuit judge in Whitley and McCreary counties? Gov. Andy Beshear would appoint an interim judge. First, Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Lambert would notify Beshear about the vacancy. The Administrative Office of the Courts would then send notices to local attorneys notifying them of the vacancy, and a replacement would be appointed. Attorneys can recommend someone or nominate themselves for the vacancy. Interested attorneys would complete an application and return it to the...

  The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet advised motorists traveling north on I-75 in Laurel County late Thursday morning to be prepared for delays near the weigh station due to accident reconstruction and pavement repairs stemming from a fiery fatal crash Wednesday afternoon. A tractor trailer driver was killed and another tractor trailer driver was injured due to a chain reaction crash, which occurred at approximately 1 p.m. Wednesday near the 33-mile marker. Laurel-Whitley Emergency Management Director Jerry Rains said three semi-trucks and a passenger van were involved in the wreck on the northbound side near the weigh station. “It appears that trucks were lining up to go into the scales and somehow a semi...

The city of Corbin has reached an agreement with Into Action Behavioral Health to provide the new substance use disorder treatment and recovery services facility with $50,000 of the city’s opioid settlement funds. During a special called meeting Monday, the Corbin City Commission authorized Mayor Suzie Razmus to sign all documents relating to the memorandum of understanding with Into Action Behavioral Health. “They have presented us with their action plan and their business plan. It does fall within the guidelines of the uses through KRS for the opioid abatement money,” Razmus explained previously. The memorandum of understanding notes Into Action’s strategy will include evidence-based strategies for opioid use prevention, outreach, harm reduction,...

If you live in the Corbin Independent School District and your tax bill goes up this year, then it won’t be because tax rates have increased. It will be because property assessments have increased. During a special called Aug. 19 meeting, the Corbin Independent Board of Education Chief Financial Officer Rhonda Moore presented the board with two options for setting tax rates for 2026. She noted property assessments have increased this year, which means the tangible property/personal property tax rate would decrease. Tangible property includes things, such as a business’ inventory. One option would have involved increasing the real estate property tax rate slightly and the other involved keeping the real estate...

A Woodbine woman is facing a theft charge after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from an 88-year-old woman. Laurel County Sheriff’s Capt. Richard Dalrymple arrested Jasmine M. Elswick, 27, at approximately 10:17 a.m. on Aug. 26 charging her with theft by unlawful taking value at least $1,000 but less than $10,000. Elswick allegedly gained access to the bank account of the woman without the victim’s knowledge or consent and used money in the account to pay more than $9,000 in personal bills, according to a Laurel County Sheriff’s Office release and her arrest citation. Elswick was booked into the Laurel County Correctional Center at 11:20 a.m. She was released on her own...

2026 property tax rates are dropping slightly in the city of Corbin. During a special called meeting Monday, the Corbin City Commission held the first reading of an ordinance setting the tax rates. The real estate tax rate decreased from 27.8 cents per $100 of assessed value in 2025 to 27.0 cents for 2026. Out of this 27.0 cents per $100 of assessed value, 19.98 cents is earmarked for general expenses, 5.40 cents is earmarked for the police and fire pension fund, and 1.62 cents is earmarked for the library fund. The tangible property tax rate decreased from 32.83 cents per $100 of assessed value in 2025 to 31.32 cents per $100...

Congressman Hal Rogers, Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers and 82nd Rep. Nick Wilson went to the Williamsburg Tourism & Convention Center Tuesday afternoon, and they came bearing large ceremonial checks to help pay for local projects. Suffice it to say, they drew a crowd of approximately 100 people with additional chairs having to be set out for people in the audience. “These funds represent more than an announcement. They represent an investment in our community, in our future and new opportunities available to people, who live and work here,” noted Corbin Economic Development Director Bruce Carpenter. “We are grateful for the partnerships and dedication that make this possible. We look forward...

Kentucky State Police are advising I-75 is shut down in both directions between Exit 29 and Exit 38 in Laurel County. The cause of the shutdown is a serious collision involving several commercial motor vehicles. One commercial vehicle was reportedly on fire. The crash occurred at approximately 1 p.m. near the 33-mile marker. Kentucky State Police are investigating. Northbound and southbound traffic is being diverted off the interstate onto US-25. Expect significant delays and congestion. Please avoid the area and seek alternate routes if traveling this afternoon.

A Whitley County resident, who unsuccessfully ran as a write-in candidate for sheriff four years ago, is taking another crack it. James Walden filed to run as a write-in candidate for sheriff Monday, which was the last day candidates could file to run as a write-in candidate. He will face incumbent Sheriff Bill Elliotte, who is seeking re-election. Elliotte won the 2026 May Republican Primary for sheriff beating out second place finisher Scott Bunch by a 381-vote margin. Four years ago, Walden was one of two write-in candidates for sheriff, who challenged Elliotte in the General Election. In 2022, Elliotte garnered 7,277 votes in the November General Election to 893 votes for write-in candidate...

Back to school preparations were in full swing during the Williamsburg Independent Schools Back to School Bash Thursday. Students and parents had the opportunity to meet teachers and pick up free school supplies and other goods from vendors.