Vehicular homicide suspect transferred to Whitley County Detention Center

A London man is now being held in the Whitley County Detention Center in lieu of a $250,000 cash bond in connection with a fatal Sept. 3 crash in Corbin.

James Barnes is charged with vehicular homicide when under the influence of alcohol.

City Utilities Commission discusses likely electric rate increase

Corbin City Utilities customers can brace for a rate increase in their electric bill sometime in the coming months as the City Utilities Commission continues to mull over the decision of when and how to implement it.

Details still sparse in shooting that killed two-year-old child last week

Details regarding a fatal shooting that claimed the life of a two-year-old child last week in Corbin are still sparse, though investigators have said that an investigation is still ongoing.

As Corbin football turns 100, we remember the great Roy Kidd

As we get ready to celebrate a new Redhound Complex and the 100-year history of Corbin football our spirits are saddened by the death of former Redhound great and collegiate Hall of Fame Coach Roy Kidd.

I was just a young boy, but I remember Roy Kidd playing football and basketball at Corbin High School. He also was a star baseball player, but I didn’t realize it at my young age. He brought two national championships and two runners-up trophies to Eastern Kentucky University. Kidd was one of the greatest coaches ever.

I owe it to Bob Terrell for getting to know athletes in that era better. When Bob came back to Corbin, he was always organizing events that Kidd, Tommy Adkins, Frank Selvy, and other greats would attend.

The best event I ever attended was the book signing by author Gary West of “The Boys From Corbin.” So many of the greats were there and most all of them signed my copy of the book. That was in 2013, but it seems like yesterday. I do advise you if you have not read that book no matter where you live or what team you root for, you will enjoy it.

West did a marvelous job of writing not only sports stories, but human-interest stories also. We still get requests for the book. I was in contact with the publishing company last week and they have printed another supply of the book. So if you would like to order a copy then contact me at destep@corbinnewsjournal.com and I will take orders. The cost is $25.

Like Roy Kidd and Bob Terrell, so many of the Redhound greats have passed away. We send our condolences to Kidd’s family on his passing and no doubt we will have a moment of silence in his honor at the Corbin and Frederick-Douglass game Friday night.

• It is very awkward to bring this up at this time, but so many people have telephoned and come to our office upset at the change being made on the block of Roy Kidd Avenue between Main and Depot Streets. I don’t mind at all for you to express your feelings to us at this newspaper, but be aware that we can’t do anything about it except express our opinion.

My opinion now is to see if it works and if it does, we will praise the four people responsible for the change as much as we have criticized the change.

I do know that in my 36 years as publisher of this newspaper I have not had as many tell me they were against a project as this one, not even the alcohol vote. To this date I have not met anybody, other than those who voted for the one-way street, that were for it. Even property owners on that block told me they were against it.

But now that the project is underway let’s see if it will be as bad as some have imagined. It may not be and if it is not to your liking then your voice can be heard the next time you vote.

I am more upset with the state highway department than with the official that claimed the change on Roy Kidd Avenue was needed. What has been needed for months, and now running into years, is the resurfacing of Kentucky Street in Corbin. Driving on it is like driving over speed bumps. And I still go back to the way they surfaced Gordon Hill. That is insulting to the everybody after the city had built new sidewalks there. Rather than mill the old blacktop they topped it with new and at that cut it short by about 20 feet. It looks awful.

I get worked up every time I think about how Corbin gets ignored by the state highway department. So, part of the solution would be for those candidates running for governor to tell us what they would do for our towns rather than spending millions on TV debating who let the most out of jail.

This newspaper would be a good place to start. And they could use newspapers all over the state to tell the people what they would do for them. Enough of the TV attack ads. By accentuating the positive, it would be a welcome change.

Corbin’s own Coach Roy Kidd passes away at age 91

Roy Kidd during his days as a Corbin Redhound

Nearly a week after being placed in hospice care, it was announced Tuesday morning that legendary football coach and Corbin native, Roy Kidd, has passed away at the age of 91. (more…)

Electronic Edition For 9-13-2023

W’burg woman facing DUI, assault charges to serve jail time due to non-compliance

A Williamsburg woman facing assault and DUI charges for a Labor Day weekend crash that injured three will have her case presented to a Whitley County grand jury and is expected to spend six months in jail for her refusal to comply with a search warrant.

Whitley County Public Health Inspections

As part of its duties, the Whitley County Health Department conducts routine public health inspections of various entities, including restaurants, stores, schools, mobile home parks, swimming pools, etc.

Bethany’s Hope walk to prevent suicide slated for Saturday (Sept. 16)

An annual suicide awareness and prevention walk is planned for Saturday (Sept. 16) in honor of 16-year-old Whitley County High School student Bethany Faith Lawson, who took her own life in 2018.

“Bethany’s Hope would like to invite you to come walk with us. Help us spread the message that there is hope and there is help,” a flier for the event reads. “The National Suicide Crisis Line is 988. If you are struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, please call 988. Talk to someone and choose to stay because you are fearfully and wonderfully made and tomorrow needs you in it.”

In August 2018 over the course of a 24-hour time period, Lawson became one of three people, and one of two teenagers in Whitley County to die by suspected suicide over a 24-hour time period.

Bethany’s Hope was founded in dedication and memory of Lawson as a suicide prevention, awareness and support program in Williamsburg.

The Bethany’s Hope walk will take place on Saturday, Sept. 16, at The Green Space on Main in downtown Williamsburg.

The one-mile walk starts at 9 a.m., and will be led by 82^nd Rep. Nick Wilson and his predecessor, Regina Huff.

The national suicide prevent line can be reached 24 hours a day by dialing 988. The suicide crisis text line can be reached by texting “HOME” to 741741.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month.

In Kentucky, there is a death by suicide every 11 hours. For every completed suicide, there are also 25 suicide attempts where the person doesn’t die.

Statistics also show that someone, who dies by suicide, affects at least six people.

The Youth Behavior Risk Survey shows that 18 percent of middle school students in Kentucky had suicidal thoughts, 10.5 percent of middle school students had a plan for how they were going to kill themselves, and 6 percent attempted suicide.

In Kentucky high schools, 15 percent of students had thoughts of suicide, 13 percent had a plan and 8 percent attempted suicide.

Your local community mental health center, Cumberland River Behavioral Health (Comp Care), will see anybody. It can be reached at (606) 549-1440 or (606) 528-7010.

Below are some links to resources you can seek if you or someone you care about needs help.

• Zero Suicide in Healthcare and Behavioral Healthcare – www.zerosuicide.org.
• Suicide Prevention Resource Center – www.sprc.org.
• National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention – http://actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org.
• American Association of Suicidology – www.suicidology.org.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – www.afsp.org.
• National Council for Behavioral Health – http://www.thenationalcouncil.org.

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.