News

Replacement of some of the playground surface at Rotary Park and the amount of activity, which takes places after dark there, were two of the topics of conversation during Monday’s regular Corbin City Commission meeting. Corbin Parks and Recreation Director Jacob Roan noted the rubberized surface under the playground equipment needs replaced in at least two areas, but the cost of replacing it with another rubberized surface is too expensive. Roan showed commissioners samples of four synthetic grass surfaces, which ranged in quality and price. Roan noted the highest quality synthetic grass has a price tag like the rubberized surface, but the cheaper of the synthetic samples is in the city’s price...

Williamsburg City School teachers will receive two additional days off during the 2026-2027 school year after the Williamsburg Board of Education approved revisions to the district’s calendar at its July 16 meeting. Superintendent Tabetha Housekeeper said the changes were made after listening to staff feedback. “The calendar revisions I’ve shared with you would not change anything for students, but it would give our teachers a few days off,” said Housekeeper. Sept. 11, which is during Old Fashion Trading Days, was originally a professional development (PD) day but is now off for teachers. Similarly, Feb. 1 was originally a PD day but is now off for teachers. Professional development days on Jan. 4 and April...

Williamsburg Independent Schools plans to purchase a new school bus after learning two of the district’s current buses will not pass inspection. “They are too old to pass inspection,” said Superintendent Tabetha Housekeeper. “While we know we don’t have additional funds this year, we have to get children to school. This has to be a priority.” Housekeeper credited Finance Officer Dalton Sizemore and Director of Transportation Scott Hamblin with developing a financial plan to purchase a new bus. The district currently has five bus routes with four full-size buses and one small bus purchased last year. The smaller bus seats 22 students, and each of the full-size buses seat approximately 58 students. “What...

The City of Corbin finished the 2025-2026 fiscal year on June 30, 2026, with a surplus of over $225,000. “We are operating essentially in the black if you want to put it in business terms,” noted Corbin City Commissioner John Baker, who is on the budget committee. During a special called meeting Friday, the Corbin City Commission held the first reading of the budget ordinance for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, which started July 1, 2026. The commission approved the second reading of the budget during its regular monthly meeting Monday. This year’s budget includes a 3 percent across the board pay increase for all city employees. Baker noted the annexation of property in...

This Saturday, the Corbin Creator Fair will open its doors yet again, but vendors and patrons may have to wait a while longer for its next show. Organizer Tonya Wood manages the fair as well as Corbin Con and the Corbin Card Show. She said she began the Creator Fair in July 2025 because the spots at Corbin Con allotted to craft vendors always filled up quickly. “I mean, they would go lightning fast. All the way up to the end of the show, I would have people messaging me and wanting a space for crafts,” Wood said. “I decided to make a whole show dedicated to crafts, because there was...

The Williamsburg Volleyball team is getting a new head coach this season. Marissa Downs graduated from Williamsburg High School in 2024 and helped lead her team to the Elite 8 of the KHSAA State Volleyball Champion for two consecutive years. During her playing career, she was awarded All District and All Region multiple times and named 13th Region Player of the Year in 2023. She also received the Kentucky Colonel Award in 2024. “Coach Downs is excited to lead the sport she loves and continue the Williamsburg tradition of success in volleyball,” the school’s Facebook post said.

Several recent Corbin events have gone well and a few more are on the horizon. This was part of the message Corbin Downtown Director Jacob Roan and new Corbin Arena General Manager Chelsie Chambers delivered to the Corbin City Commission during its regular monthly meeting Monday. Roan said the “Yappy Hour” event July 18 proved to be a hit as Corbin Animal Clinic and the Downtown Corbin program hosted the pet friendly event. “It was a successful event, and we had a great turnout downtown. We are going to be doing some more events with them. I think community was pleased to have their fury friends walking the streets downtown and everything...

Several community members visited the Green Space on Main on July 18 for the Community Picnic and Jeepin’ on Main event. The event featured a watermelon eating contest, Jenga, corn hole, inflatables and lots of ducks.

Corbin is getting a Kroger Marketplace. The Corbin Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing Thursday afternoon to consider a request for a plat approval for a Kroger Marketplace. The store will be built on the old King’s Truck Stop property in southern Laurel County off Exit 29. The new store will sit on nearly 19 acres of land and measure approximately 100,000-square-feet. It will be approximately 40,000 to 50,000-square-feet larger than a typical store. In other words, the two existing Kroger stores in Corbin would come close to fitting inside the new store. Construction is expected to take approximately 10 to 12 months to complete, weather permitting. The start date is contingent...

The Whitley County Grand Jury indicted four people in separate cases Monday for fleeing or evading police. Three of the cases involved use of a motor vehicle. The grand jury indicted Stanley Kidd Jr., 40, of Corbin, on charges of first-degree fleeing or evading police (motor vehicle), third-degree fleeing or evading police (on foot), third-offense operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance, driving on a DUI suspended license, resisting arrest, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and first-degree persistent felony offender. On Feb. 16, Kidd allegedly failed to obey the signals of Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Derrek Lovett to stop a vehicle and then to...