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.

 

Lawsuits

 

Marriage Licenses

 

Charges dropped against Whitley deputy jailer in contraband case

The charges against a former Whitley County deputy jailer accused of working with inmates to bring contraband into the Whitley County Detention Center have been dropped, but the case likely isn’t going away entirely.

(more…)

 

Deeds

 

NIBROC carnival worker indicted on multiple charges by Whitley Co. Grand Jury

The carnival worker accused of causing a mass panic during this year’s NIBROC Festival has been indicted by a Whitley County grand jury on multiple charges.

 

Legal Notices for 10-18-2023

INVITATION TO BID — SALE OF SURPLUS ITEMS

The Corbin Board of Education has declared various pieces of technology equipment and food service furniture and equipment as surplus property and will receive separate sealed bids for these items.  Please contact Cristie Johnson or Donna Bowling at the Corbin Board of Education at 606-528-1303 to obtain a list of the items.  To see the items, interested parties may visit the Corbin Schools website www.corbinschools.org and click the link at the top of the page.  Your sealed bid must be labeled “Surplus Sale Bid Enclosed” and include the item number(s) and description of the item(s) you want to bid on, the amount of your bid, along with your name, address, and phone number.  Bids for lots of items will be accepted as well.  All bids should designate whether amount offered is for lot, or individual item.  Submit your sealed bid to the Corbin Board of Education, Attn:  Rhonda Moore, 108 Roy Kidd Avenue, Corbin, Kentucky 40701 during regular office hours from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Bid deadline is Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 2pm.  Bids received after the scheduled closing time will be returned unopened to the bidder.  The Corbin Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all bids, and to waive informalities.

 

PUBLIC NOTICE:

Kendall’s Kitchen LLC hereby declares its intention(s) to apply for a Nonquota type 2 retail drink license no later than November 20, 2023. The licensed premises will be located at 306 South Main Street, Corbin, Kentucky 40701. The owner is Kendall Jones, 82 Stewart Ave., Williamsburg. KY 40769. Any person, association, corporation, or body politic may protest the granting of the license(s) by writing the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 500 Mero St 2NE33, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601, within thirty (30) days of the date of legal publication.

 

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

SOLICITATION OF FUEL VENDORS

Bell-Whitley Community Action Agency, Inc. announces that Coal, Wood, Propane, Fuel Oil and Kerosene Vendors are being solicited to provide home heating fuel in the SUBSIDY and CRISIS Components of the 2023-2024 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program in Bell and Whitley Counties.  The Subsidy Component will begin November 6th, 2023 and will end December 15th, 2023.  The Crisis Component will begin on January 9th, 2024 and will end March 31st, 2024 or until funds are expended.

Interested Vendors may pick up a Vendor Packet at the Bell-Whitley Office at 129 Pine Street Pineville, KY or 215 N. 4th Street Williamsburg, KY.  Clients will select vendors from an Approved Vendor List.

The Bell-Whitley Office must receive all vendor information and fuel quotes no later than 4:30 p.m. Friday, October 27th, 2023.

Minority and disadvantaged business owners are encouraged to apply.

For more information, contact Sandy Hoskins at (606) 337-3044

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion or disability.

 

ADVERTISEMENT TO RECEIVE CHEMICAL BIDS

The City Utilities Commission of 1515 Cumberland Falls Highway, Corbin KY will receive sealed bids for the time period January through June of 2024 to furnish and deliver Chlorine, Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Fluorosilicic Acid, Potassium Permanganate, Caustic Soda Liquid, Polyphosphate-Orthophosphate, Sodium Thiosulfate and Powdered Activated Carbon.

Sealed bids will be received at the CUC office, 1515 Cumberland Falls Highway, Corbin, Kentucky until Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud.

Bid forms and specifications will be available at the CUC office during regular office hours M-F 8:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. (Phone 606-528-4026 Extension 100).  The CUC reserves the right to waive informalities and to reject any and all bids.

 

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO MINE

Pursuant to Application Number 861-0578

In accordance with 405 KAR 8:010 notice is hereby given that Mountainside Coal Company, Inc. 5540 KY 1809, Barbourville, KY 40906 intends to transfer permit number 861-0543 to Alden Resources LLC, 332 West Cumberland Gap Parkway, Suite 100, Corbin, Kentucky 40701.  The new permit number will be permit number 861-0578. The operation disturbs 416.50 surface acres.  No new acreage is affected by the transfer.

The operation is approximately located 2.5 miles northwest of Permon in Knox and Whitley Counties and 1.2 miles north of the intersection of Hwy 779 and Hwy 1418 and is located approximately 0.02 miles west of Flat Creek and 1.6 miles north of Cotton Creek. The operation is located on the Barbourville & Rockholds U.S.G.S. 7-1/2 minute quadrangle maps.

The application has been filed for public inspection at the Department for Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s Middlesboro Regional Office, 1804 East Cumberland Avenue, Middlesboro, Kentucky 40965-1229.  Written comments or objections must be filed with the Director, Division of Mine Permits, 300 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.  All comments or objections must be received within fifteen (15) days of today’s date.

 

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO MINE

Pursuant to Application Number 918‐0511, NW_1

In accordance with KRS 350.055 notice is hereby given that Alden Resources LLC, 332 West Cumberland Gap Parkway, Suite 100, Corbin, Kentucky 40701 has applied for a new permit (NW) for a surface contour, auger/highwall coal mining and reclamation operation. The new permit encompasses 89.58 acres of surface disturbance and 198.18 acres of Auger/HWM (shadow area). The permit is located approximately 2.0 miles east of Williamsburg in Whitley County.

The proposed operation is approximately 3.75 East of KY Hwy 25 junction with KY 92 and located 0.16 miles North of the confluence of Bradford Branch with the Cumberland River.

The proposed operation is located on the Williamsburg, Saxton and Rockholds, KY 7½ minute quadrangle maps. The operation will use a combination of contour, and auger/highwall miner methods of surface mining. The surface and auger/highwall mining area is owned by J. Andrew Croley and, his wife, Tracy Croley.

All comments, objections or requests for a permit conference must be received within thirty (30) days of today’s date. The application has been filed for public inspection at the Department for Surface Mining and Reclamation and Enforcement’s, Middlesboro Regional Office, 1804 East Cumberland Avenue, Middlesboro, Kentucky 40965‐1229. Written comments, objections or requests for a permit conference must be filed with the Director, Division of Mine Permits, 300 Sower Boulevard, 2nd Floor Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.

 

Legal Notices for 10-11-2023

INVITATION TO BID — SALE OF SURPLUS ITEMS

The Corbin Board of Education has declared various pieces of technology equipment and food service furniture and equipment as surplus property and will receive separate sealed bids for these items.  Please contact Cristie Johnson or Donna Bowling at the Corbin Board of Education at 606-528-1303 to obtain a list of the items.  To see the items, interested parties may visit the Corbin Schools website www.corbinschools.org and click the link at the top of the page.  Your sealed bid must be labeled “Surplus Sale Bid Enclosed” and include the item number(s) and description of the item(s) you want to bid on, the amount of your bid, along with your name, address, and phone number.  Bids for lots of items will be accepted as well.  All bids should designate whether amount offered is for lot, or individual item.  Submit your sealed bid to the Corbin Board of Education, Attn:  Rhonda Moore, 108 Roy Kidd Avenue, Corbin, Kentucky 40701 during regular office hours from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Bid deadline is Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 2pm.  Bids received after the scheduled closing time will be returned unopened to the bidder.  The Corbin Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all bids, and to waive informalities.

 

NOTICE:

Notice is hereby given by order of the Whitley District Court, that the following appointments have been made:

Lois Marie Lori Killian, 1571 Meadow Creek Road, Rockholds, KY 40759 was appointed as executrix on 09/18/2023 for the estate of Edward Scott Brady (deceased), 1571 Meadow Creek Road, Rockholds, KY 40759.

Clayton Patrick Henry, 1085 Bacon Creek Road, Corbin, KY 40701 was appointed as executor on 09/18/2023 for the estate of Jane Neill Henry (deceased), 1085 Bacon Creek Road, Corbin, KY 40701.

Candace Renee Morgan, 1900 Snyder Avenue, Corbin, KY 40701 was appointed as administratrix on 09/18/2023 for the estate of Ryan Chase Morgan (deceased), 1900 Snyder Avenue, Corbin, KY 40701.

Michael Neal, 10750 Cumberland Falls Hwy, Corbin, KY 40701 was appointed as administrator on 09/18/2023 for the estate of Florence Neal (deceased), 100750 Cumberland Falls Hwy, Corbin, KY 40701.

Larry Higginbotham, 945 State Hwy 1064, Woodbine, KY 40771 was appointed as executor on 09/25/2023 for the estate of Raymond Higginbotham (deceased), 945 State Hwy 1064, Woodbine, KY 40771.

Given under my hand this 30th day of September, 2023.

Gary W. Barton, Clerk

District & Circuit Courts

Whitley County/Williamsburg, KY 40769

 

NOTICE:

Nancy Meadows has filed the final settlement for the estate of Lorna Kaye Lanham (deceased). The settlement hearing date will be set for 11/06/2023 at 9:00 am.

Tammy Braden has filed the final settlement for the estate of Laura L. Hatfield (deceased). The settlement hearing date will be set for 11/06/2023 at 9:00 am.

Adam W. Phillips has filed the final settlement for the estate of Kenneth A. Phillips (deceased). The settlement hearing date will be set for 11/06/2023 at 9:00 am.

Exceptions, if any, must be filed prior to November 1st, 2023.

The hearing will be held at Whitley District Court, 100 Main Street, Williamsburg, KY 40701.

Given under my hand this 30th day of September, 2023.

Gary W. Barton

Whitley Circuit/District Courts

Williamsburg, KY 40769

 

NOTICE:

Notice is hereby given by order of the Whitley District Court, that the following appointments have been made:

Judy Brummett, 1252 Riva Ridge Trail, Corbin, KY 40701 was appointed administratrix on 9/12/2023 for the estate of Ronald Edward Brummett (deceased), 1252 Riva Ridge Trail, Corbin, KY 40701.

Jeffery Worley, 355 E. Reed Street, Apt. 3, Williamsburg, KY 40769 was appointed executor on 9/12/2023 for the estate of Delbert Leach (deceased), 582 Skaggs Branch Road, Williamsburg, KY 40769.  The attorney for the executor is Don Moses, 113 Main Street, Williamsburg, KY 40769.

Marjorie Lawson, 2034 Keswick Road, Williamsburg, KY 40769 was appointed executrix on 9/25/2023 for the estate of Calvin Roe Lawson (deceased), 2034 Keswick Road, Williamsburg, KY 40769.  The attorney for the executrix is Paul Croley.

Given under my hand this 30th day of September, 2023.

Gary W. Barton, Clerk

District & Circuit Courts

Whitley County/Williamsburg, KY 40769

 

NOTICE:

Michael Powers has filed the final settlement for the estate of Ruth C. Fuson (deceased). The settlement hearing will be held 11/7/2023 @ 11 am.

Exceptions, if any, must be filed prior to November 1st, 2023.

The hearing will be held at Whitley District Court, 100 Main Street, Williamsburg, KY 40701.

Given under my hand this 30th day of September, 2023.

Gary W. Barton

Whitley Circuit/District Courts

Williamsburg, KY 40769

 

NOTICE OF BOND RELEASE

Permit # 918-0497

In accordance with KRS 350.093, notice is hereby given that Alden Resources LLC, 332 West Cumberland Gap Parkway, Suite 100, Corbin, KY 40701, has filed for a Phase II & III Bond Release on Increment 2 of permit number 918-0497 which was last issued on 06/08/2021. The application covers an area of approximately 145.56 acres located approximately 0.11 miles southwest of KY 779 junction with KY 26 and located 0.15 miles southwest of the confluence of Browns Creek with Watts Creek and 01.5 miles east of Williamsburg in Whitley County Kentucky. The bond now in effect is:

Increment two (2) is a Surety Bond in the amount of $61,100.00. Approximately 100% of the original bond amount of $172,500.00 is included in this application for release.

Reclamation work performed includes: Backfilling, re-grading, topsoil replacement, and drainage control including soil preparation and initial seeding and mulching in accordance with the approved reclamation plan, completed April 2021.

This is the final advertisement of the application. Written comments, objections, and requests for a public hearing of informal conference must be filed with the Director, Division of Field Services, 300 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, KY 40601, by 11/10/2023.

A public hearing on the application has been scheduled for 11/13/2023 the Department for Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s Middlesboro Regional Office, 1804 East Cumberland Avenue, Middlesboro, KY 40965-1229. The hearing will be cancelled if no request for a hearing or informal conference is received by 11/10/2023.

 

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO MINE

Pursuant to Application Number 918‐0511, NW_1

In accordance with KRS 350.055 notice is hereby given that Alden Resources LLC, 332 West Cumberland Gap Parkway, Suite 100, Corbin, Kentucky 40701 has applied for a new permit (NW) for a surface contour, auger/highwall coal mining and reclamation operation. The new permit encompasses 89.58 acres of surface disturbance and 198.18 acres of Auger/HWM (shadow area). The permit is located approximately 2.0 miles east of Williamsburg in Whitley County.

The proposed operation is approximately 3.75 East of KY Hwy 25 junction with KY 92 and located 0.16 miles North of the confluence of Bradford Branch with the Cumberland River.

The proposed operation is located on the Williamsburg, Saxton and Rockholds, KY 7½ minute quadrangle maps. The operation will use a combination of contour, and auger/highwall miner methods of surface mining. The surface and auger/highwall mining area is owned by J. Andrew Croley and, his wife, Tracy Croley.

All comments, objections or requests for a permit conference must be received within thirty (30) days of today’s date. The application has been filed for public inspection at the Department for Surface Mining and Reclamation and Enforcement’s, Middlesboro Regional Office, 1804 East Cumberland Avenue, Middlesboro, Kentucky 40965‐1229. Written comments, objections or requests for a permit conference must be filed with the Director, Division of Mine Permits, 300 Sower Boulevard, 2nd Floor Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.

 

PUBLIC NOTICE OF BLASTING SCHEDULE

Permit# 861-0543

Mountainside Coal Co., Inc., 5540 Kentucky 1809, Barbourville, Kentucky 40906, Telephone Number: (336) 986-0059, shall conduct blasting operations on its surface mine permit for increment 10, located near the community of Permon, in Knox and Whitley Counties, Kentucky.

The proposed operation is approximately one and two-tenths (1.2) miles north of the intersection of HWY 779 and HWY 1418.

This schedule shall be in effect from October 2023, until October 2024.

Any major alterations to the blasting scheduled will be published.  Unscheduled blasting may occur in emergency situations when rain, lightning or other atmospheric conditions or operator or public safety requires unscheduled detonation.  The nearby residents will be notified, of the unscheduled blast, by certified mail, regular mail or hand delivery and the blast shall then proceed as a regular blast.   Entry to blasting area will be regulated by signs or barriers.  An authorized company representative will prohibit access to the blasting areas by unauthorized persons at least five (5) minutes before each detonation and until the all clear signal is sounded.  WARNING SIGNAL: A one (1) minute series of long blasts five (5) minutes prior to the blast signal. BLAST SIGNAL: A series of short blasts one (1) minute prior to the detonation. ALL CLEAR SIGNAL: A prolonged blast following the inspection of the blast area. Events which could necessitate blasting at unscheduled times include, but are not limited to rain, lightning, or other atmospheric conditions, or deteriorated explosives which involve personnel, operational or public safety.    Any major alteration of this blasting schedule will be published.

 

SECTION 00020

INVITATION TO BID

The Southeast Kentucky Industrial Development Authority, Inc. is accepting separate sealed bids for a sewer line extension to Lots 7 and 8 in the Southern Kentucky Business Park.  Bids will be received by Bruce Carpenter, Executive Director, at the office of the Southeast KY IDA, 222 Corbin Center Drive, Corbin, Kentucky 40701 until 9:30 AM EST on October 24, 2023. Bids will be opened and read in public at 10:30 AM at the Corbin Utilities Commission Office, 1515 Cumberland Falls Highway, Corbin, Kentucky 40701. Bids must be sealed and labelled Bid for “SKBP Sewer Extension to Lots 7 and 8 Project”. If mailed in advance, bids should be addressed to Southeast KY IDA, P.O. Box 1566, Corbin, Kentucky 40702, Attn:  Bruce Carpenter.  Mailed bids must be received by 9:30 AM or they will not be considered.  Bidders who bid on this project must be pre-qualified by the Corbin Utilities Commission.

The project will consist of the Construction of 8” gravity sewer extensions to lots 7 and 8 in the Southern Kentucky Business Park.  The Contractor shall furnish all materials, equipment and labor necessary to complete the construction of the sewer lines including equipment, labor, materials and any other action or materials required for a complete line installation. Time of completion will be 90 Calendar Days.

The CONTRACT DOCUMENTS may be reviewed online at the following locations:

MSE Web Site: mselex.com under Bid Opportunities

Southeast KY Industrial Development Authority (Office Only), 222 Corbin Center Dr., Corbin, KY 40701

A.B.C., 2020 Liberty Road, Bldg. A, Suite 110, Lexington KY

Builders Exchange, 2300 Meadow Drive, Louisville KY

F W Dodge/AGC of Kentucky, 950 Contract St., Suite 100A, Lexington KY

Printed copies of the Contract Documents may be obtained at the office of Lynn Imaging, 328 Old Vine Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507 (859) 255-1021 upon receipt of a nonrefundable printing and shipping charge of $200.00.

Each bidder must deposit with his bid, security in the amount, form, and subject to the conditions provided in the information for Bidders.

The Owner may consider informal any bid not prepared and submitted in accordance with the provisions of this advertisement and/or the specifications and may waive any informalities or reject any and all Bids.

Federal and State Prevailing Wage Rates are Not applicable.

No Bidder may withdraw his Bid for a period of sixty (60) days after the actual date of the opening thereof.

Award will be made to the lowest responsive, responsible Bidder for the facilities the Owner selects for award and construction.

 

A word on gun safety to save our kids

The boy was 11 when his mom left him in charge. She had weekend plans away. It came time to put the baby to bed, so the other kids played while the boy struggled. The game was cops and robbers. It doesn’t matter who was whom. It just matters that the boy heard the shot.

The boy ran, and in the rural community, it was forever to find a neighbor with a phone. When he made it back, the house full of kids was chaos. Five-year-old Pammie lay dead.

The boy’s mom eventually turned up. She might have gone to jail. He lost track as he and all the kids ripped from home and dumped into separate foster placements. As he grew up, the trauma of that weekend would echo through the boy’s life. His little sister’s death, that marked the destruction of his family, would leave him feeling unstable, even as he built his own family.

I heard this story in guarded whispers around the Formica kitchen table as I grew up. I maintained a simultaneous awareness of my father’s childhood tragedy and an understanding it wasn’t to be talked about. I grew up knowing that none of the adults from that generation of my immediate family ever really recovered from that long-ago game of cops and robbers.

Guns are a part of our community and our culture. My husband is a retired police officer, so they have always been a part of our daily life. Because of my family experience, I see that guns in the home carry a special liability. The death of a child is an unimaginable tragedy. If you have guns in your home, you have a responsibility to prevent disaster. This means limiting access and being knowledgeable.     

There are plenty of places to learn about gun safety, including hunting safety and concealed carry classes. Adults should learn the rules, model gun safety and teach the youth in your life to take them seriously. Here are the highlights:

• All guns are always loaded. Many accidents happen because someone thought the gun was unloaded.

• Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. Some guns only need a little pressure on the trigger to fire.

• Never point a gun at something you aren’t willing to destroy. You can’t shoot what you aren’t pointing at.

• Be sure of your target and what is behind it. Be aware of the broader area to avoid unintentional damage down range.

• Be sober when handling guns.

• Lock guns when not in use. Use a trigger lock or a safe to keep guns away from children when you aren’t there to supervise.

Talk to the children in your life about guns. Let them know that television, movies, and video games are not real life. The way guns work there is not how they work for real. Make a game out of seeing where a character is not following gun safety rules. Talk to the people that care for your youth. Ask their friends’ caregivers about guns in the home.

If you want your youth to learn how to use guns, supervise them. Be clear with them that there always needs to be a grown-up in charge when guns are out. Teach them what to do if they find a gun–stop; don’t touch; get a grown-up. Teach them what to do when they are with friends and someone has a gun. Help them practice leaving the area when someone is not following gun safety rules. Give them the confidence to say, “this isn’t safe, and it isn’t cool. I’m leaving.”

Reduce the chances they will need those tools by always storing your guns securely. Children cannot die from guns if they don’t have access to them. Keeping a gun in your purse is not secure if you set it down in your shopping buggy. If the gun is not attached to your body, control access by using a trigger lock or a safe. There are many kinds out there to meet your needs. Many police departments give away gun locks for free. A best practice is also to store ammunition separately.

The steps to preventing child gun deaths in the home are simple. Please do your part to help.   

For more information and a great time, bring your children to our local free gun safety trunk or treat event: Saturday, Oct. 28 from 12:00 to 2 p.m. at the Kentucky Splash Waterpark.

For more information about gun safety, visit https://projectchildsafe.org or go to https://kidshealth.org and search gun safety.

 

Jonathan Kerns Tramell

Jonathan Kerns Tramell, age 59, of Orlando, Florida, formerly of Lima, Peru, and Cookeville, Tennessee, passed away suddenly from a heart attack on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, in Orlando.
He was born on December 10, 1963, to missionary parents, Redford Cherry Tramell and the late Elizabeth (Hindley) Tramell in Lima, Peru. His paternal grandparents were the late Herman Kerns Tramell and Alice Cherry Tramell.
Jonathan is descended from Hiram Kerns Tramell, who moved from the Capuchin area to Jellico as a young man in the 1880’s. The Tramell family became one of Jellico’s most prominent families who produced at least two lawyers and built the building that once stood at the corner of North Main Street and Fifth Street. That building was originally known as The Mammoth Brick, and later became known to many as The Tramell Building. That location is the present location of the Jellico Municipal Library. In addition, the Tramell Family eventually owned a few thousand acres of property which was valued for its timber and coal.
Jonathan spent his youth in Peru before moving to Knoxville to attend high school. After he graduated from high school, he moved to Cookeville, Tennessee to attend TTU – Tennessee Technological University – where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He was a veteran of the United States Army, having attained the rank of First Lieutenant.
He was an employee of Universal Studios Orlando Resort where he worked as a Senior Engineer in charge of IT Compliance and Security.
In addition to his grandparents, he was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth Tramell, in 2019.
He is survived by his wife, June Tramell, of Orlando, FL; father, Redford Cherry Tramell, of Lima, Peru; two brothers, Marcos Tramell, and Andrew Tramell, and wife, Jennifer, all of Nashville, TN; two nieces, Julianna Tramell and Rachel Tramell; two nephews, Keins Tramell and Daniel Tramell; and a host of friends, neighbors, and other relatives to mourn his passing.
Graveside services was held on October 11, at the Jellico Cemetery with Mr. Ben Sage officiating. Interment immediately followed.
Cox & Son Funeral Home of Jellico in charge of arrangements.