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WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt today announced that theOffice of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) will provide $11,314,447 to Kentucky in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Reclamation grants, to clean up and repurpose abandoned coal mines. More than $170 million in AML Reclamation funding will be available to states and tribes in FY 2020. “AML grants provide states, tribes and local partners with important resources to reclaim lands and waters impacted by abandoned mines, restoring the promise of the outdoors for hardworking Americans in coal country,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “OSMRE is proud to announce today the 2020 AML grants availability,” said Principal Deputy Director...

Williamsburg Police Department K-9 units had a busy year in 2019 with 38 tracks most of which were for criminals, and over 79 drug finds from searches, Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird told the Williamsburg City Council during its monthly meeting Monday. The police department currently has two police dogs, Vicko and Nitro, who are trained for multiple purposes, including tracking, drug detection and apprehension of suspects. Bird noted that the department is getting a third multipurpose dog to replace Vicko, who has been in service for about eight years. Typically most police dogs have to retire for health reasons when they get to be eight to nine years of age. Vicko...

Parents with children ages two thru five are being encouraged to take part in a series of free kindergarten readiness camps that start next week. The camps will take place at a total of six locations, and are creative learning programs for children. Each family will receive hands on instruction by a skilled professional, refreshments and a take-home kindergarten readiness kit. Door prizes will be available at each location. On Jan. 11, there will be camps at Main Street Baptist Church and Brays Chapel Church of God. On Jan. 18, there will be camps at Boston Elementary School and at the Whitley County Board of Education Annex A Building in Williamsburg. On Jan. 25...

Cumberland Falls is unique in the western hemisphere in that it is the only place on this side of the planet where the phenomena known as the moonbow occurs. With this Friday, Jan. 10 marking the first opportunity to see the moonbow in 2020, officials at Cumberland Falls State Park will be hosting a special program detailing the moonbow. “All About Moonbows” will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the former Moonbow Café near the gift shop. It is free and open to the public. “This is focused on the basics such as what the moonbow is and how to photograph it,” said Olivia Immitt, Programs Services Leader at the park. The program will...

The Whitley County Kindergarten Readiness Program hosted a How the Grinch Stole Christmas Walk on the Whitley County Courthouse lawn Saturday afternoon. The storybook walk featured large posters around the Whitley County Courthouse lawn that told the classic Dr. Seuss story. Families walked through and read the story at whatever pace they liked. Christmas lights connected the posters to make the Whoville-theme come to life. Each family received a free copy of the book “How The Grinch Stole Christmas.”

The Williamsburg Independent School Music Department presented its annual Christmas in a Small Town Christmas concert Sunday afternoon in the J.B. Mountjoy Gymnasium. Those in attendance heard from the high school choir, the high school band, the middle school band, the fifth grade band, the sixth grade band and the Jazz Band, which performed a wide variety of Christmas classics.

Hundreds turned out Saturday for the Fifth Annual Williamsburg Christmas Bazaar to pick up wooden toys, ornaments, Christmas wreaths, and a whole host of other items.

Trick-or-Treaters of all sizes turned out in Williamsburg Saturday for trunk-or-treat and trick-or-treat festivities.