Keavy woman indicted on two counts of theft totaling nearly $90k

The Whitley County Grand Jury has indicted a Keavy woman for allegedly stealing a combined total of nearly $90,000 from two Whitley County stores.

2023 SOAR Summit set to put the spotlight on Whitley County Oct. 2-4

SOAR Executive Director Colby Hall

Shaping Our Appalachian Region, Inc. (SOAR) has released details of its 2023 SOAR Summit agenda. The Summit, scheduled for Oct. 2-4, will include activities in both Corbin and Williamsburg, with the bulk of the programming taking place inside the Corbin Arena. (more…)

Dustin Wayne Richardson

Dustin Wayne Richardson, age 44, of Jellico, Tennessee passed away Saturday, September 16, 2023, at the U.T. Medical Center. He was born January 2, 1979 in Corbin, Kentucky.
Dustin was preceded in death by his father, Bill Wayne Richardson and wife Jackie; sister, Jade Tuesday Richardson; grandfather, Eugene Vermillion; grandmother, Jewell (Douglas) Richardson; aunt, Donna Manis; uncles, Warren Perkins, and Charlie Vermillion.
He is survived by mother, Jeannie (Vermillion) Richardson and Mike Moore; grandmother, Barbara Vermillion; nieces, Lily Anna Blankenship Williams, and Phoebe Jo Blankenship; great niece, Everleigh Williams; aunts, Sharon Owens and husband Gary, and Linda Perkins; cousins, Chad Clear and wife Sarah, Wendy and Chris Harris, Summer (Clear) Zecchini and husband Bobby, Hannah, Sarah, Emma, Bobby Owen, John Russell, Susan Manis, Angie Parrott and husband Joey, Mike Manis and wife Stephanie, Richard Perkins, Deena Norman and husband Jerry; lifelong friend, Dewayne Chitwood; and a host of friends and family to mourn his passing.
The family will receive friends from 12 pm until the funeral time at 2 pm on Thursday, September 21, at the Harp Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Vermillion-Richardson Cemetery in the Black Oak community.
Harp Funeral Home of Jellico in charge of arrangements.

Geraldine Taylor

Geraldine was a beacon of strength and love, her life a beautiful cascade of moments woven together by the threads of resilience. She was a woman of action, always ready to lend a helping hand, her generosity knew no bounds.
The love she had for her family was immeasurable, her children were her universe, her 18 grandchildren her stars, and her 41 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren her little comets.
Geraldine’s life was a celebration of love and family, a testament to her strength and resilience.
Her spirit will continue to live on through her loving children, Ronnie (Judith) Taylor, Jack JR (Gerri) Taylor, Larry (Mary) Taylor, Eulas (Vicki) Taylor, Carol (Rick) Warner, and Delores (Danny) Chacko. She also leaves behind one sister, Alma Sulfridge of North Carolina.
Geraldine is preceded in death by her parents, Walter Gray and Deloria; her beloved husband of over 64 years, Jack Taylor; her son, Joey Taylor; and her siblings, Aubrey Gray, Gene Gray, and Frank Gray.
Her funeral service was Thursday, September 7, 2023 at Croley Funeral Home.
Corley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Jacqueline “Jackie” Rawlings

Jacqueline “Jackie” Rawlings, age 89, of Corbin, Ky, passed away Saturday, September 16, 2023 at Christian Healthcare Center in Corbin, Ky.
She was born December 15, 1933 in Charlotte, North Carolina to the late Carl Bowen Tompkins and Beatrice McCuen Tompkins.
Jackie was a real estate broker and co-founder of the Rawlings Realty Company. She was a member of Grace On The Hill, a member of the Red Hat Society, and Beta Sigma Phi 1962.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Tommy Tompkins; and husband Dan Kroger Rawlings III.
She is survived by two sons, Dan Rawlings, Steve Rawlings and fiancé (Carrie Owens), all of Corbin, Ky; three grandchildren, Dr. Taylor Chadwell and husband (Dr. JB), Rebecca Rawlings, all of Lexington, Ky, and Grace Rawlings, of Liberty Hill, Tx.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 20, at O’Neil-Lawson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Bobby Joe Eaton officiating with burial following in Pine Hill Cemetery in Corbin, Ky.
Visitation is Wednesday, September 20, from noon to 1:00 p.m. at O’Neil-Lawson Funeral Home.
Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Condolences can be made to the family by visiting www.Oneilfh.com.
O’Neil-Lawson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jonathan King

Jonathan King, age 86, of the Wooldridge Community passed away Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at the Lafollette Medical Center. He was born April 30, 1937, in Jellico Creek, Kentucky.
Jonathan was preceded in death by parents, Dewey and Flora (Ross) King; brothers, Arvel Lee, Boyd, Abel, David and Charles King; sisters, Geneva Marler, Priscilla Fincher, Velma Hackworth, and Joyce Reeder.
He is survived by wife, Phyllis (Webb) King; son, Jonathan Ross King and wife Heather Ann; granddaughter, Olivia King; stepsons, David, Robert and James King, brother, Robert Wayne King, sister, Nola Douglas; special sister-in-law, Gerri King; special nephew, Jacob Murray; special friends, Roger Kidd, and Brandon Kidd; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and family to mourn his passing.
Funeral service was Saturday, September 16, at the Harp Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Mike Moses and Rev. Ben Morris officiating.
Burial followed in the Douglas Cemetery in the Wooldridge Community.
Military Honors was conducted by the Jellico Honor Guard.
Harp Funeral Home of Jellico in charge of arrangements.

Noah Adkins named Somerset Community College Health Science Division August Student of the Month

A student, who is currently enrolled in second-year studies in the Somerset Community College (SCC) Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) Program, has been named the recipient of the SCC Health Sciences Division’s Student of the Month for August.

Noah Adkins of Williamsburg is the Somerset Community College Health Sciences Division’s Student of the Month for August, seen here with MLT faculty Donna Ratliff and Kimberly Land. He is now a candidate for the Health Sciences Division’s Student of the Year Award to be presented in May 2024.

Noah Adkins of Williamsburg received the award and is now a candidate for the Division’s Student of the Year to be announced in May 2024.

Adkins is attending SCC on the Presidential Scholarship and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa International Honorary. He serves on the MLT Program’s Advisory Committee.

Medical laboratory technicians work in clinical laboratories to collect patient specimens and perform tests in areas, such as blood banking, clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology, serology and urinalysis. Adkins became interested in the profession while taking a dual credit phlebotomy course taught by DeeDee Bishop at Whitley County High School.

Adkins was recommended for the award by Donna Ratliff and Kimberly Land who stated, “Noah is an exceptional student. He is academically successful. He is courteous and respectful to his instructors and classmates and is a team player. He is an example of the type of person needed in the medical laboratory profession.”

Adkins is the son of Mary and Travis Adkins of Williamsburg and is a 2022 graduate of Whitley County High School.

He is expected to graduate with an Associate of Applied Science Degree from the Medical Laboratory Technician Program in May 2024, with plans to work in the southeastern portion of the state following graduation and, ultimately, further his education.

Varsity Redounds get hands-on while guiding next generation of CHS golfers

“The golf course can be a very intimidating place.” This is what Corbin High School boys golf coach Joe Roberts had to say recently when asked what it feels like to be a young golfer just starting out in the sport. (more…)

Increasing suicide awareness by ‘Chalking the Walk’ at Baptist Health Corbin

Abagail Dezarn, Lilly Shearer and Makayla Isaacs were among a group of eight North Laurel High School JROTC cadets, who helped ‘Chalk the Walk” in front of Baptist Health Corbin Monday as part of National Suicide Awareness Month. Baptist Health Corbin is attempting to raise awareness about suicide by hosting a virtual event where they are encouraging people to create positive messages with sidewalk chalk, and then to submit pictures of those messages to brcmarketing@bhsi.com to be judged. Entries can be made through Sept. 18, and first, second and third place winners will be announced on Sept. 27.

Increasing sepsis awareness…

Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison (Above) and Corbin Mayor Suzie Razmus (Below), signed proclamations recently declaring September as Septsis Awareness Month in their respective cities. Sepsis, which is the body’s life threatening response to infection, can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death. Awareness of the signs and symptoms of sepsis along with rapid diagnosis and treatment of sepsis can save lives and improve outcomes for sepsis survivors, as the risk of mortality from sepsis increases by 4 – 9 percent for every hour treatment is delayed. Several Baptist Health Corbin officials were on hand for the proclamation signings.