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So how much water loss could one water leak account for? In terms of the water loss rate, the answer to that question would be 17 percent. For more than a decade, Williamsburg officials had been looking for “the big one,” as in a large water leak, that would account for the city’s high water loss rate. In late January, they discovered a large water leak under South Second Street near the Williamsburg Senior Citizens’ Center that was gushing about 100 – 150 gallons of water per minute, and caused a nine-foot cavern under the road. “I don’t know what kept the road up,” Mayor Roddy Harrison told the city council during...

The Williamsburg City Council is moving forward with efforts to help land a privately-owned facility to treat veterans for post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse in the city. The Williamsburg City Council met in executive session for 59 minutes during its regular monthly meeting Monday before returning to regular session and voting to authorize Mayor Roddy Harrison to negotiate a lease with Troy Dorman for the property located at Savoy, which is owned by Williamsburg. Harrison said that he can’t provide a lot of the details regarding the lease because it is still to be negotiated, but the property will be leased for a nominal fee for a period of two...

Laurel, Bell, Knox and Whitley County’s COVID-19 incidence rates were all within the top 20 highest incidence rates in the state Thursday. The Whitley County Health Department announced 21 additional COVID–19 cases on Thursday, bringing the county’s total number of cases to 3,338. There are currently 91 active cases of which five people are hospitalized. A total of 3,215 people have been released from isolation in Whitley County. The Whitley County Health Department has reported a total of 32 confirmed COVID-19 fatalities with the five most recent deaths being reported on Feb. 22. With the new cases, Whitley County’s COVID–19 incidence rate stands at 39.4, which was the 12th highest rate in the...

A Williamsburg woman and a Rockholds man are both accused of allegedly hiding drugs inside a body cavity during unconnected vehicle traffic stops by two different law enforcement agencies over a two-day period, according to court documents. Both were passengers in their respective vehicles when the traffic stops took place, according to arrest citations. The first traffic stop took place Friday morning in Williamsburg and led to the seizure of 10 grams of crystal methamphetamine, according to a Williamsburg Police Department release. Williamsburg Police Officer Dorman Patrick Jr. arrested Courtney B. Canada, 24, of Hoss McCullah Road, and charged her with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance more than two grams of...

If Christopher G. Creekmore had just come to the door of his 137 Mt. Morgan Road home in Williamsburg when police knocked on it on Jan. 27, then he likely would have just gone to jail because of a warrant for his arrest from Knox County. Creekmore didn’t answer the door though, and instead officers went inside looking for him where they also found suspected methamphetamine, and marijuana seeds, according to court documents. Williamsburg Police Officer Dorman Patrick Jr. arrested Creekmore, 45, on charges of second-offense first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), third-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana. Williamsburg police officers initially...

Local law enforcement officers arrested a man for DUI Saturday afternoon, who was parked behind an elementary school in a car that had been reported as stolen, according to arrest citations. Kentucky State Police Trooper Donnie Jones arrested David Allen Randle, 34, of Louisville, and charged him with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of a controlled substance, no operator’s license, failure to produce auto insurance card, no auto insurance, possession of drug paraphernalia, no registration receipt, no registration plates and improper display of registration plates. Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Prewitt also charged Randle and Hannah E. Volter, 30, of Keavy, with receiving stolen property under $10,000 in...

A tractor-trailer fire Thursday night closed down Interstate 75 at Exit 25 in north Corbin. West Knox, Corbin, Keavy and Lily firefighters responded to the scene where the flatbed truck loaded with plastic containers was burning. “It was pretty much fully involved,” said West Knox Fire Chief Darryl Baker. “They were stacked together, so it didn’t allow us to get in between them to get it out,” Baker said of the plastic containers. Baker said firefighters were paged to the scene at 8:30 p.m. “The driver said he heard something pop behind the cab,” Baker said when asked about the cause of the fire. “He pulled over and once he got out, he could...

(OpEd By Dr. Ryan Quarles, who serves as Kentucky’s Agriculture Commissioner.) Across the nation and around the world, the number of coronavirus cases is on the rise. This alarming trend has raised concerns that the economic lockdown from the spring could return. Leaders in Frankfort can and should be creative in using available resources and developing guidelines to prevent further damage to Kentucky’s economy this winter while also encouraging Kentuckians to follow CDC guidelines. When the pandemic first began, I worked in Frankfort to make sure that agriculture remained open for business. As the providers of our food and fiber, our hard-working farmers needed to continue working to make sure Kentucky,...

The arrival of autumn brings beautiful fall colors, holiday excitement and for hunters, deer hunting in Kentucky. About 300,000 Kentuckians hunt deer each year. The state’s deer herd also draws thousands of hunters from other states throughout the different seasons, contributing heartily to the commonwealth’s tourism industry. Deer hunting greatly benefits Kentucky’s economy - resulting in over $550 million in total economic benefit each year. Deer hunters annually spend more than $350 million in the Bluegrass state, sustaining more than 13,000 jobs and returning nearly $90 million in local, state and federal tax revenues. Modern gun deer season produces the majority of Kentucky’s annual deer harvest. This year, the firearms deer season...

(OpEd By Dr. James Finck, who is an Associate Professor of History at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha. He is Chair of the Oklahoma Civil War Symposium. Follow Historically Speaking at www.Historicallyspeaking.blog.) With the election this week, I want to address an issue I have heard from both sides but which has been much more prominent with Joe Biden. Biden claims that if elected he can unite Americans whereas Trump is dividing us. What Biden and all politicians do not understand is that they can only unite their side. As much as Democrats hate Trump, Republicans disliked Obama and very much dislike Biden. Justified or...