News

A Corbin man died Monday during a three-vehicle crash near the intersection of Cumberland Falls Highway (US25W) and Ward Cemetery Road, which occurred at approximately 3 p.m. Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley pronounced John P. Canada-Love, 38, dead at the scene at 3:50 p.m. from multiple injuries he sustained during the incident. He died instantly in the crash. Canada-Love was on his way to work in Barbourville when the collision occurred. He was only approximately two miles away from home, Croley said. Canada-Love was driving a 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Series pick-up truck north on Cumberland Falls Highway when he approached a 2017 silver Honda HR-V operated by Jennifer Kirk, 42, of...

A Whitley County Sheriff’s deputy and five children were transported to the hospital by ambulance after a police vehicle collided with a Whitley County school bus Monday afternoon, but no one apparently required an overnight hospital stay, officials said. “We are just thankful it wasn’t worse than what it was,” said Whitley County Superintendent John Siler. “It was unfortunate, but we are just thankful there were no serious injuries.” Whitley County Sheriff Bill Elliotte echoed similar sentiments. At the time of the crash, the sheriff’s deputy was attempting to respond to a deadly wreck on Cumberland Falls Highway (US25W). There was a total of 36 people on the bus at the time of...

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 11 advises motorists of bridge beam placement on KY 1259 over I-75 at mile point 26.554. This work is part of the ongoing I-75 widening project between Exit 25 and Exit 29 in Laurel and Whitley counties, aimed at improving safety and traffic flow along this heavily traveled corridor. To safely set the bridge beams, rolling roadblocks will be utilized on I-75 to minimize traffic impacts. The existing structure is being replaced to meet current design standards and allow for construction of the widened interstate. Scheduled Rolling Roadblocks Monday, April 6: 8 p.m. – 7 a.m. Tuesday, April 7: 8 p.m. – 7 a.m. Wednesday, April 8: 8 p.m....

The Fine Arts Association of Southeastern Kentucky, Inc. presented The Barter Players’ production of Alice in Wonderland to Corbin Middle School on March 28. The Barter Players, based out of Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, take their shows across the country, bringing live performances to people who may not otherwise have access to them. “For Alice in Wonderland, we’ve gone as far as here in Kentucky, Ohio and Wisconsin,” said Stage Manager Sydney Sutherland. Sutherland noted that the cast rehearsed the production for just ten days before taking it on tour. Each actor has an additional tour job to help keep the group organized on the road. “We set up ourselves every time...

Leadership Tri-County recognized a former beloved University of the Cumber-lands professor, faculty athletic representative and director of academic advising with a luminary award during its 2026 Leader of the Year banquet Thursday. Luminary awards are memorial tributes by the organization to outstanding leaders from our region, who are no longer with us. Dr. John Broome spent nearly three six decades at the University of the Cumberlands and First Baptist Church of Williamsburg dedicating his life to faith, family and service. Broome, who died in 2025 at the age of 90, was a devoted husband to his beloved wife Mavis Broome. She preceded him in death in 2017. Starting in 1966, Broome shaped the...

Paul Braden wore a lot of hats in his life both before and during his 16-year stint a circuit judge for Whitley and McCreary counties. Beyond the courtroom, he mentored young men through coaching youth sports, built homes for Habitat for Humanity, and championed causes like protecting an-imal habitats and helping children in need. Leadership Tri-County recognized Braden with a luminary award during its 2026 Leader of the Year banquet Thursday. Luminary awards are memorial tributes by the organization to outstanding leaders from our region, who are no longer with us. Braden was born in Appalachia, Virginia. He graduated from Middlesboro High School in 1957 and Lincoln Memorial University in 1961. After serving...

First responders had to extricate two people trapped in a pick-up truck Friday afternoon after it collided with a train in Rockholds. The pair were then flown out by emergency medical helicopters. The wreck occurred about 2:19 p.m. near the intersection of KY-26 and Tyes Ferry Road around the 9000 block of KY-26, according to social media posts by Rockholds Volunteer Fire Department and Woodbine Fire and Rescue. When units arrived on the scene, they located the pick-up truck on the side of the railway with two occupants entrapped. Fire units from four local volunteer fire departments quickly extricated the patients from the vehicle. Whitley County EMS treated them at the scene...

Photos by LEEANN FRAGOSA The Williamsburg City School Performing Arts Theatre students brought The Music Man Kids to stage on March 26 through a play production in the auditorium, with lead roles like Zaden Housekeeper as Harold Hill and Laylee Wyatt as Marian Paroo. The production was directed by Robin Root, with help from technical director Cooper Powell, assistant technical director Kylie Paradise and lighting assistant Pascual White.

A candidate for first-district magistrate in Whitley County was arrested early Tuesday morning on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident/failure to render aid. The incident happened at approximately 10:45 p.m. on Monday. Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Derek Lovett arrested Coleman Jack “C.J.” Clark, 50, of Rockholds, at 12:15 a.m. Tuesday. When contacted by the News Journal Tuesday afternoon, Clark admitted he was the person who was arrested, but he declined to make any further comments about the case. The incident happened on KY-6 approximately three miles south of Corbin. Lovett was dispatched to a single vehicle accident with property...

The Whitley County Fiscal Court is getting a used 2014 loader, but they cut $15,000 off the purchase price by trading in some old equipment. During a special meeting on March 25, the fiscal court voted to purchase a used loader from Trucks and More out of Cripple Creek. The purchase price was listed as $53,000. The current loader is being replaced due to significant repair issues. Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr. noted something counties can now do is trade in old equipment towards the purchase price of newer equipment. Trucks and More offered to let the fiscal court trade in three pieces of equipment for $5,000 each towards the purchase price,...