Unemployment rates increase in Whitley, Knox and Laurel counties

Unemployment rates increased in Whitley, Knox, Laurel and Bell counties and stayed the same in McCreary County between October 2023 and November 2023, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Whitley County

Whitley County’s unemployment rate increased from 4.2 percent in October 2023 to 4.3 percent in November 2023. Whitley County’s November 2023 unemployment rate was 0.4 percent higher than the November 2022 unemployment rate.

Laurel County

Laurel County’s unemployment increased from 4.0 percent in October 2023 to 4.2 percent in November 2023. Laurel County’s November 2023 unemployment rate was 0.4 percent higher than the November 2022 unemployment rate.

Knox County

Knox County’s unemployment rate increased from 5.3 percent in October 2023 to 5.4 percent in November 2023. Knox County’s November 2023 unemployment rate was 0.6 percent higher than the November 2022 unemployment rate.

Bell County

Bell County’s unemployment rate increased from 5.2 percent in October 2023 to 5.5 percent in November 2023. Bell County’s November 2023 unemployment rate was 1.1 percent higher than the November 2022 unemployment rate.

McCreary County

McCreary County’s unemployment rate remained at 5.2 percent between October 2023 and November 2023. McCreary County’s November 2023 unemployment rate was 0.6 percent higher than the November 2022 unemployment rate.

Statewide unemployment

Kentucky’s unemployment rate increased from 3.8 percent in October 2023 to 3.9 percent in November 2023. Kentucky’s November 2023 unemployment rate was 0.5 percent higher than the November 2022 unemployment rate.

Unemployment rates rose in 117 counties between November 2022 and November 2023, fell in Hancock County, and remained the same in Lyon and Marshall counties, according to KYSTATS.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the commonwealth at 2.9 percent. It was followed by Cumberland County, 3 percent; Carroll, Fayette, Marion, Scott and Washington counties, 3.2 percent each; and Anderson, Bourbon, Caldwell, Jessamine, Oldham and Shelby counties, 3.3 percent each.

Magoffin and Martin counties recorded the state’s highest unemployment rates at 8.4 percent each. They were followed by Lewis County, 7.2 percent; Elliott County, 7.1 percent; Owsley County, 7 percent; Breathitt County, 6.9 percent; Russell County, 6.8 percent; Leslie County, 6.7 percent; and Clay and Knott counties, 6.3 percent each.

Kentucky’s county unemployment rates and employment levels are not seasonally adjusted because of small sample sizes.

The comparable, unadjusted unemployment rate for the state was 3.9 percent for November 2023, and 3.5 percent for the nation.

Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than actually to count people working. Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks.

Whitley County has a civilian labor force of 14,359 people with 13,735 employed and 624 unemployed. Statewide, Kentucky has a civilian labor force of 2,029,501 people with 1,949,818 employed and 79,683 unemployed.

Learn more about Kentucky labor market information at https://kystats.ky.gov/KYLMI.

Southeast Kentucky Empty Stocking Fund announces final list of 2023 donors

The 2023 Southeast Kentucky Empty Stocking Fund (SEKESF) served over 600 children with its Dec. 16 Christmas party, which is about 175 more children than last year.

The Corbin Rotary Club recently announced its final round of donations for the 2023 Empty Stocking Fund Christmas program, which brought in a total of $35,231.34 in cash donations in addition to several in-kind donations.

Empty Stocking Fund President Joe Caldwell said that purchases this year were almost equal to donations, which was very much appreciated.

“The special donation from Walmart, the toys collected from the Keavy community at their new Dollar General, the Scentsy Buddys from Valerie Collett Giles, the pizzas from Little Caesars, (use of) the gym for two days in Immanuel Baptist Church, meant successfully staying within our budget of $39,000,” Caldwell said.

“On behalf of the nearly 200 families of some 630 or more children from all three counties, and all communities within them, I want to  personally express my thanks to all contributors involved this year. It seems like we lose a few each year but we also receive donations from some new friends. Many of our strongest supporters seem to give the exact dollars as they have done for years, however, a few up their contribution. We will try and help those less fortunate than us again in 2024 which will be our 37th year.”

Caldwell added another thank you to the volunteers, who helped with wrapping and working to see the children get their gifts and bicycles.

“To those who provided services and in-kind items the same great big thanks,” Caldwell concluded.

Previous unpublished donors and the amounts given include:

• Baptist Health Corbin – $4,500.
• Cumberland Valley National Bank – $300.
• Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church – $200.
• Danny Barnett – $50.
• Tim Barnes – $50.
• Bill Crook – $100.
• West Corbin Christian Church – $100.
• David and Goldie Barton – $250.
• Archie and Karen Marr – $250.
• Ossoli Foundation (Corbin) – $1,000.
• Whitaker Bank – $500.
• Corbin Chiropractic – $250.
• Cumberland Valley Electric – $50.
• Bill Hacker as per J. Bill Sosh – $100.
• Hometown Bank – $500.
• Forcht Bank – $500.
• Grace Health – $3,000.
• Rebecca Daniel – $100.
• Michael S. Noble – $250.

Previously listed donors include:

• Rhoda Woods – $100.
• Corbin Flower Shop – $100.
• June Martin and Laura Clifton – $250.
• George G. Shackleford – $100.
• Ronald Timperio – $50.
• Harold Huddleston – $100.
• Owens – $100.
• William K. Champlin – $250.
• Greg and Suzie Razmus – $250.
• American Freight Service – $1,000.
• Pratts Landscaping LLC – $4,000.
• Jack T. Cloyd, CPA – $500.
• State Farm Agencies of Corbin – $533.34.
• Insurance Service Center – $1,000.
• Don and Judy Estep – $100.
• Tipton & Tipton Law – $200.
• David and Brenda Birch – $500.
• Susan Levine Living Trust – $200.
• Rebecca Myers – $250.
• Community Trust Bank – $1,000.
• Tri-County Storage – $500.
• Michael and Debra Haggard – $100.
• Frances Chadwell – $50.
• Jerry R. Chadwell – $50.
• Tri-County Liquor of Corbin – $100.
• John and Donna Woods – $100.
• The Forest Corp. (Memory of Dennis Lynch) – $200.
• Jen and Tom Shelton – $100.
• MC Griffith – $100.
• Marr & Miller Accountants – $100.
• Linda Norwell – $100.
• Joan Black – $500.
• Mitchell Tax & Accounting – $100.
• Steve Surmont – $100.
• Pennington Wellness – $100.
• Forcht Bank – $250.
• Hampton Inn (Corbin) – $250.
• Wallen’s Towing – $250.
• Daylen Wallen – $100.
• Marion Ed McNeel – $150.
• Joan Barton – $100.
• Brenda Carpenter Jones – $100.
• Davis Salvage Company – $500.
• Patil Foundation Inc. – $1,000.
• Walmart Store Number 1259, Corbin – $4,000.
• Rotary Foundation District 6740 – $1,500.
• Rotary Club of Corbin, Ky. – $750.
• Sudhir and Shobhana Patel – $252.
• Pam Razmus – $100.
• Paul Jones (in memory of Shirley Jones) – $100.
• Joe and Lola Caldwell (in memory of Shirley Jones) – $100.
• Two Great Friends of SEKESF – $500.
• Jerry and Helen Rickett – $200.
• Tim Bryant – $56.
• Mildred Burkhart – $100.

Whitley Co. Sheriff’s Department presents Whitley Co. Fiscal Court with $100,000 in excess fees

The Whitley County Fiscal Court accepted a $100,000 payment of excess fees from the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department during a special-called meeting last Friday.

The sheriff’s department operates on a budget comprised of several different revenue sources, including collected taxes, fees and subsidies from the fiscal court. Both the sheriff’s department and the Whitley County Clerk’s Office operate on a calendar year instead of a fiscal year, so accounts for those two offices have to be closed out at the end of each year.

Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White, Jr., said that the excess fees are what are left over after each office pays what they have due. The amount provided to the fiscal court by the sheriff’s department will likely end up being slightly higher once all administrative tasks are finished.

“That was just the preliminary amount. There will be more coming when the books are closed out and everything is final,” said White.

The $100,000 was returned to the sheriff’s department to help pay for their early-year expenditures for 2024.

Next week’s All ‘A’ tournaments present us with a golden opportunity as a community

Next week, the All “A” Classic state championship basketball tournaments will be held in Corbin for the very first time. For those who are not familiar with the event, trust me when I say that it is very, very difficult to overstate what an amazing opportunity this is for literally every business in our local area. (more…)

Corbin BOE approves construction documents for upgrades to CHS athletic fields

A full facelift is in the works for many of Corbin High School’s athletic fields.

Whitley County Whiteout: Several inches of snowfall hit area

Aerial photography by TIMOTHY WYATT 

Big Freeze: With several of inches of snowfall from Sunday night through Tuesday morning, local road crews have been working around the clock to try and clear roadways to make them as safe as possible for travel. According to Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White, Jr., the road department has been “terribly busy,” and despite their best efforts, many of the county’s roadways remain covered. “A lot of areas where people have driven on them, it makes it so much harder for a scraper blade or salt to break the snow and ice up and get it back to blacktop.” White said Tuesday night’s extremely cold temperatures will likely create dangerous commutes for those who have to travel Wednesday morning, though he expects conditions to improve by evening. 

Pictured: A look from above at the downtown Williamsburg area covered in several inches of snow and ice. 

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Editor’s note: The News Journal publishes only the final disposition of district court criminal cases except for those which are waived to a grand jury or dismissed without condition.

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