London man indicted for attempted murder of federal officers, other charges in Laurel Co. and federal court

A London man who was wanted in Virginia and led local police on a vehicle pursuit in May before allegedly attempting to shoot officers has been indicted by both a Laurel County grand jury and a U.S. grand jury.

Recent presidential debate debacle has left me feeling less-than-hopeful

Many of you are familiar with Ernest Hemingway’s book, “The Old Man and the Sea.” It was the last published work of the Nobel Prize winning author before he took his own life. The book delivers an inspirational message about the human capacity for resilience and perseverance. And no doubt many of you have read the novel or seen the movie, “No Country for Old Men.”

Don Estep is publisher of the News Journal.

I bring this up because of the choice the USA has been left with in the run for our next president. I normally don’t write about politics, but because of the debacle in the debate last week I am sharing my concern of why we are left with these two old men, plus a nut job with a worm in his brain, to vote for.

I know about age. I am turning 85 in a month. My mother lived to be almost 102. One of my best friends ever lived to 107 years of age and he was active and vibrant until his heart wore out. He swam laps each morning around an Olympic pool and his mind was as sharp as ever.

Last week, Joe Caldwell invited me to go to Cincinnati to watch the Reds along with his grandson and Paul Jones. For the three of us the ages are 81, 85 and almost 102. Paul, the one who will celebrate 102 in October, is still as sharp as ever, only suffering from hearing loss. Personally, I have had several major operations, and I still can do this job as much as ever, but I have slowed down by choice.

Thus, old men are taking a hit. Not everybody ages the same. Every president but one has left office looking much older than when they began their term. The exception is Donald Trump. I guess those many weeks on the golf course paid off.

As for the debate, the “bumbling” Joe and the “liar” Donald made me feel hopeless for our future. Since I am insulting both parties, I should get a “pass” because of age. However, in poll after poll the American public has said they do not want either candidate.

With Joe showing to be very old and Donald distorting the truth what can be done? For sure, Joe will not get any younger, and he planted serious doubts in the minds of all of us. Of course, Donald could quit telling lies, but that would not serve his purpose.

Falsehoods are a Kremlin tactic, but it is also practiced by authoritarians around the world. Trump is one of the most skilled practitioners of the dark art. The aim is to destroy the idea that we can know the truth, thus creating dependence on leaders. At least, that is what I’ve read from historians.

Trump doesn’t even have to mention politics because he has a following that will stay with him no matter what. He is more of an entertainer than a politician. At his rallies he entertains by telling stories and asking whether he would rather die by an electric battery or a shark and the crowd eats it up.

On the other hand, Biden is very limited at working a crowd to a frenzy. His speech impediment makes you hurt to listen to him.

So, this is where we are in our choices. As little as I care about politicians, it is only those at the federal level that upset me. What has happened in Washington that the Congress spends more time in investigating each other than working for their constituents? It is not all of them, though. One of my favorites has been Hal Rogers. We both attended UK at the same time, and he has helped our area tremendously.

Not only that, but Hal also gave me one of the best compliments I have ever had when I was the emcee for a program. Afterwards he came up to me and said, “You were really good. You ought to be on the Price is Right.” That’s good enough for me.

But with clowns like Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia and her wolf pack there to disrupt Congress rather than legislate, our Congress is in a sad situation.

The debate will not affect the voters from Kentucky. It is a given that Trump will win by a landslide here. Our votes count very little. It is only the six-or-eight big states that make the difference in the antiquated Electoral College. The billions of dollars that is spent on the campaigns will not be coming to Kentucky, because your vote doesn’t count as much as one from Pennsylvania or Michigan.

It is disgusting!

No doubt, a column like this gets dissenting opinions and yours is a good as mine. But remember, I get a “pass” because I’m an old man!

Enjoy the fireworks this week, but please do so responsibly

I’ve always told my dad that if you have to have a birthday on a holiday, then he has a really good one on the Fourth of July, which is a day to celebrate our country’s independence.

Mark White is Editor of The News Journal.

Most people have the day off. You have picnics and family gatherings. The day usually concludes with bright colorful fireworks displays in the night skies.

For most folks, it isn’t hard to have a good time on Independence Day.

However, most folks doesn’t mean everyone. This is especially true for many of our veterans, who have served in our armed forces to keep our country’s independence.

Many veterans – particularly ones who have served in combat zones – suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The sound of fireworks exploding in the air brings back memories of bullets flying by and explosions all around them, and familiar feelings of panic and anxiety flood their minds.

I can empathize.

When I was 12 years old, I got shot by a guy and his son target shooting at an outhouse. (No, I wasn’t in the outhouse by the way…LOL).

The bullet ricocheted and struck me in the leg about a block and a half away. I was in the hospital for five days and on crutches for a couple of months.

However, the psychological effects lasted a bit longer. For a few years, I would find myself jumping and my mind filled with anxiety whenever I heard a loud noise that sounded like gunfire, such as fireworks exploding. I was usually able to shake off that feeling after a few seconds or a minute or so.

It took a few years but the anxiety connected to loud noises went away. Hearing the sound of gunshots, at least if I know where they are coming from, doesn’t bother me. I rather enjoy fireworks, provided my neighbors aren’t setting them off after midnight on a work night.

However, I can certainly appreciate the fact that many of our veterans suffering from PTSD can’t enjoy fireworks like I do, and understandably so.

In addition, fireworks can pretty much terrify many animals when they explode, including my two geriatric cats, Gizmo and Gadget.

I am not advocating abolishing fireworks displays. People should enjoy them. They can be fun.

What I am suggesting is being conscious of your neighbors. Don’t set fireworks off after midnight. Remember that some people have to get up and go to work the next day.

If you have a neighbor, who suffers from PTSD, then give them a heads up about when you are going to be setting off your fireworks so they can wear earplugs around that time or turn up the television or radio to cover up the noise. This would also go for neighbors, who experience autism or have autistic children, who are disturbed by loud noises.

The same holds true for neighbors with pets. Give them a heads up so that they know to put their pets up for the night or to maybe give them some medication to relieve their anxiety.

For those of you living inside the Corbin city limits, remember that fireworks are only permitted between July 2 – 6 and on Dec. 31 from 10 a.m. until midnight each of those days.

Also, for those of you setting off fireworks at home on the Fourth of July, please do so safely and responsibly.

Only let children do so under adult supervision.

Have a water source handy nearby, and remember to clean-up the next day.

In addition, let me say an early happy birthday my dad and my former co-worker and buddy, Dean Manning, who was also an Independence Day baby.

Hernandez arrested for break-in, vandalism at Miller Park

A Barton Mill Road man is facing third-degree burglary and third-degree criminal mischief charges in connection with the June break-in and vandalism at Corbin’s Miller Park.

Hermes Hernandez

Some, but not all Whitley County offices closed July 4-5

If you have official business that you need to get done this week at the old Whitley County Courthouse or at the Whitley County Judicial Center, then you might want to be sure that you get down there before the close of business Wednesday afternoon as several county offices will be closed on both Thursday and Friday for Independence Day.

The Whitley Circuit Court Clerk’s Office and the Whitley County Judicial Center will both be closed Thursday (July 4) and Friday (July 5).

Every office in the old courthouse will be closed on Thursday.

The Whitley County Clerk’s Office, Whitley County PVA Office and Whitley County Sheriff’s Department’s business office will also be closed on Friday. This includes the county clerk’s office in Corbin.

The Whitley County Judge-Executive’s Office and the Whitley County Attorney’s Office in the old courthouse will both be open for business Friday.

Corbin ordinance permits fireworks this week

Shooting fireworks in honor of the Fourth of July is an annual tradition for many, but if you live inside the Corbin city limits, then keep in mind that fireworks are only permitted six days out of the year and only between certain hours on those dates.

“It has been a long lasting tradition to celebrate the July 4th holiday with fireworks and we all enjoy watching the fireworks displays light up the night sky around us. Please note the that the permitted dates and times for fireworks are, July 2,3,4,5,6 and December 31 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. (midnight). We are asking our residents to suppress the desire to celebrate with fireworks except for those days which have been appointed,” the Corbin Police Department wrote in a recent Facebook post.

The post also asks that people be considerate of friends and neighbors, who are trying to sleep, veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and the mental health of our pets.

Electronic Edition For 7-2-24

$1,000 reward being offered for info on missing Whitley County man

The family of a missing Whitley County man is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to his whereabouts.

A $1,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the whereabouts of Justin Young, who was last seen on June 14.

The Whitley County Sheriff’s Department announced on Facebook Monday that the reward is now being offered by the family of Justin Young, who was last seen in the Devil’s Creek and Travis Trail areas about 9 p.m. on Friday, June 14.

The sheriff’s department initially made a June 18 post asking for the public’s help in locating Young, 35. Monday’s post noted that he is still missing and entered as a missing person.

“Over the past weeks multiple extensive ground searches have been conducted by law enforcement, emergency management, family and friends in the Travis Trails, Devils Creek, and U.S. National Forest areas. Aviation and Kentucky National Guard helicopter searches have also been utilized. Canine searches have also been performed, yielding no results. Justin had no active cell phone, no banking accounts nor active credit or debit cards, nor digital activity/footprint,” Monday’s post noted.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department or Whitley County E-911 at (606) 549-6017.

Young is 5’9” tall and weighs about 155 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

W’burg man enters not guilty plea in child sexual abuse material investigation

A Williamsburg man had a not guilty plea entered Monday morning to 20 counts of distributing matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor over the age of 12 years old but under the age of 18 years old.

Tanner Petrey

District Court Records

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.