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Thank you to everyone who stopped by the News Journal's booth at the 2026 SOAR Summit to learn more about our newspaper! 

The Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) Summit 26 is upon us. The event, which is presented by the Appalachian Regional Commission and Appalachian Wireless, starts today and runs through Friday as more than 1,000 people will pour into Corbin bringing together a broad network of leaders, employers, educators, entrepreneurs, community advocates and others helping shape what’s next for Eastern Kentucky. SOAR is a nonprofit serving 54 Appalachian Regional Commission counties in Kentucky. SOAR was born from the economic fallout of the coal industry’s decline. It’s mission today is to solve deep-seated issues of population retention and growth in Eastern Kentucky, according to the SOAR website. The 2025 SOAR Summit drew more than...

The identity of man, whose body was found in a Whitley County creek Thursday afternoon, has been identified. Whitley County Coroner Andy Croley identified the man as Joshua Oliver, 42, of Little Spruce Creek Road. According to a post on the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department Facebook page, Oliver was last seen Sept. 6 in the Little Spruce Creek area of Corbin. “It is reported that he walked away from the Little Spruce Creek Apartments. His direction of travel and clothing description are unknown. Mr. Oliver’s cell phone and other personal devices were left behind at the location of his departure,” the sheriff’s department Facebook post stated. Croley pronounced Oliver dead at 2 p.m....

A Whitley County Sanitation driver had to be flown out by emergency medical helicopter Tuesday afternoon after his garbage truck collided with a CSX train. “He was in pretty serious condition,” said Whitley County-Laurel County Emergency Management Director Jerry Rains. The crash happened at 1:03 p.m. at the Clarence Powers Road railroad crossing, which is off KY-26. Rains said he is unsure whether the garbage truck driver saw the CSX train, but the two vehicles collided. The garbage truck driver, whose identity has not been revealed, did not have to be extricated from the vehicle. “He was out and on the ground. When responders got to him, he was alert and conscious and talking,”...

Work to replace the flooring at Whitley Central Primary School is complete, tennis court replacement is underway and work to upgrade the Oak Grove Elementary School HVAC system to geothermal is starting. These were the messages officials with RossTarrant Architects delivered to the Whitley County Board of Education during its monthly meeting last Thursday. The board voted Thursday to pay $380,932.97 to Engineered Floors for floor replacement work at Oak Grove. Laith Ross, a RossTarrant senior principal, told the board this is the only invoice for the work, and the contract is ready for closure. Superintendent John Siler said this is the same surface the district previously had installed at Whitley North Elementary...

It took Corbin (pictured above) approximately 12 seconds to put up points this season. After returning the kick off for a touchdown, the Redhounds would score four more before the end of the first quarter against Western Hills (OH). Corbin Head Coach Luke Salmons said his team was not able to get a lot of film on Western Hills, but that did not stop them from taking care of business. “I was proud of our kids for coming out with a lot of energy,” said Salmons. The Redhounds downed the Mustangs 38-14. In Williamsburg, Head Coach Jerry Herron said early possessions led to the team’s success. “We got the ball early, was...

Prosecutors want a Corbin woman’s probation revoked after she allegedly failed to pay her court ordered restitution for stealing from a resident’s group at the Williamsburg Housing Authority. Betsy Linda Sergent, 46, pleaded guilty on May 5 to theft by unlawful taking or disposition all others value at least $10,000 but less than $1 million, fraudulent use of a credit card/gift card over $10,000 and abuse of the public trust value at least $10,000 but less than $100,000. Per her plea agreement, Whitley Circuit Judge Paul Winchester sentenced her to a 10-year prison sentence on July 20 but agreed to probate the sentence for a period of at least five years...

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...

Several people turned out last Saturday in downtown Corbin for the Cumberland Valley Cruise-In event.

MASTER COMMISSIONER SALES   In order to comply with the orders of the Whitley Circuit Court, the Master Commissioner will sell the property described in the following action(s) on TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2026 at the hour of 12:00 noon, at the door of the Whitley County Judicial Center, (new courthouse), 100  Main Street, Williamsburg, Kentucky. For each sale- individually: The said property shall be sold to raise the amounts hereinafter set forth, together with interest and the costs of the action, and upon the (unless otherwise indicated) following terms and conditions. (A)  AT THE TIME OF SALE THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER SHALL EITHER PAY CASH OR MAKE A DEPOSIT OF 10% OF THE PURCHASE...