$25,000 cash bond set for man accused of sending inappropriate pictures to 11-year-old

A Corbin man is being held in the Whitley County Detention Center in lieu of a $25,000 cash bond in connection with an allegation that he sent inappropriate photos and had an inappropriate conversation with an 11-year-old victim.

Christopher Blakely

Corbin woman pleads guilty to multiple charges stemming from 2021 fatal crash in Laurel Co.

A Corbin woman, who was indicted for murder and other charges in 2022 by a Laurel County grand jury in connection to a fatal 2021 crash, has entered a guilty plea in exchange for an agreement from prosecutors.

Former Corbin pharmacist admits to fraudulent billing in federal case

A former Corbin pharmacy owner has admitted to defrauding government health programs of more than $700,000 for medications and services that were never dispensed.

Lawsuits

Marriage Licenses

Deeds

Legal Notices for 6-26-2024

NOTICE OF BOND RELEASE

In accordance with KRS 350.093, notice is hereby given that EN Enterprises, LLC., 121 Vermillion Ave., Whitesburg, KY 41858 has applied for a Phase I bond release on Increment 2 of Permit #918-0508, which was last issued on 11/27/2023. The application covers an area of approximately 33.81 acres located 1.0 mile south of the community of Duckrun in McCreary and Whitley Counties.

The permit area is approximately 0.5 mile east of KY Route 1673 junction with Kidd Road and 0.1 mile south of Jacks Creek.

The bond now in effect on Increment #2 are letters of credit totaling $106.500.00.  Approximately 60% of the original bond amount is included in the application for release.

Reclamation work performed includes backfilling, grading, fertilizing, seeding, and mulching completed in May 2024.

Written comments, objections, or requests for a public or informal conference must be filed with the Director, Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement, 300 Sower Blvd., Frankfort, KY 40601, by August 9, 2024.

A public hearing on the application has been scheduled for 9:00 A.M. on August 12, 2024, at the Department for 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 hearing or informal conference is received by:  August 9, 2024. 

Local students make Dean’s List, President’s List

A number of college students with local ties have been named to the Dean’s List or President’s List at their respective schools.

Belmont University

Williamsburg’s Jaylen Gambrell was named among the students who qualified for Belmont University’s spring 2024 Dean’s List. Approximately 44 percent of the University’s 7,338 undergraduate students qualified for the spring 2024 Dean’s List.

“Earning a place on the Dean’s List is a testament to the unwavering diligence, tenacity and commitment to scholarly distinction exhibited by Belmont’s promising students,” said Belmont University Provost Dr. David Gregory.

Dean’s List eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours and a quality grade point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C.

Located two miles from downtown Nashville, Belmont University comprises nearly 9,000 students from every state and 33 countries.

Southern New Hampshire University

Rockholds’ Paul Hagerman, and Corbin’s Terianne Hensley and Joshua Kelly have been named to the Winter 2024 President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). The winter terms run from January to May.

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.

SNHU is a private, nonprofit institution with a 91-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults.

Out & About KY Style: Thomas Walker

For me history has been important. I enjoyed it in school as an elective subject. One of the best teachers I ever had was Dr. Carlton Jackson in an American His-tory class at Western Kentucky University in 1961, when it was known as Western Kentucky State Teachers College. For some reason I didn’t make Dean’s List grades in history, although it was my favorite subject at the time.

Gary West is an author and News Journal columnist.

Years later, after writing several books, I became very good friends with Dr. Jackson, even sheepishly calling him “Carlton.” I told him about my very average grade in his class, and without missing a beat he said, “You deserved better. I’ve gotten to know you and I can tell you came away with a lot in my class.”

I don’t know why all these years later, but it made me feel better about myself.

Today, however, there are things about Kentucky history that confuse me a-bit, particularly when it comes to Dr. Thomas Walker and Daniel Boone.

Why did Dr. Walker get one-upped by Boone, even though he came into Kentucky in 1750, 19 years before Ole Daniel? Was it the movies, television, comic books, marketing in general?

There’s even some misdirection here and there as to where Walker first came into Kentucky. For me the internet did little to straighten it out. Cumberland Gap gets credit for the chosen path, but for an average geologist without any surveying credentials where exactly in the Gap.

In the 18th century it took several days of dangerous foot-by-foot travel to negotiate the naturally eroded notch through the Cumberland Mountains. Today a visitor to the area can cover the same distance in fewer than two minutes through a 4,600-foot long man made underground tunnel. From 1770 and 1825 an estimated 300,000 people crossed through Cumberland Gap when it was the main artery for westward expansion.

The word “tourism” had not entered the nation’s vocabulary.

It is important to note that less than 50 years after Kentucky became a state in 1792, thousands of curious visitors began flocking to Mammoth Cave each year, possibly making it Kentucky’s first tourist destination.

Although many, including myself, associate Cumberland Gap with Middlesboro and Bell County, history reveals that Walker actually made his entry into Kentucky in Johnson County near Paintsville.

Walker, a physician and surveyor, spent 20 weeks leading a six-man search party for suitable sites for settlements.

It was rough going. Warring Cherokee and Shawnee Indians weren’t exactly a welcome committee with gift baskets. The forest was nearly impenetrable, and when paths were found they were usually blocked by rocks. Snakes, bears and bull elk were hazards to keep an eye out for.

Dr. Walker’s notoriety seems to have fallen through the historical cracks. When I asked some tourism folks in Bell County about Walker a few years back they became upset with me.

I read where Thomas Walker came into Kentucky in Johnson County I said to them.

“Don’t start that rumor,” one quickly responded.

It’s easy where the Walker and Boone confusion goes from when our own tourism people want to put their own spin on history. Sounds similar to the stories that are put out by the bourbon industry.

Oh well, Walker was credited with discovering coal and actually using it. He also became the first white person to build a house in Kentucky. A replica stands at the Dr. Thomas Walker State Historic site near Barbourville, Kentucky.

In an odd sort of way another Walker, Dumas Walker has perhaps become more famous than the first white man to enter Kentucky. All it took for Dumas was a song by the Kentucky Headhunters, a slaw burger, fries and a bottle of ski. But when it came to shooting those marbles, I wouldn’t bet against the good Dr. Walker.

It seems that the Walker’s, no relationship that we know of at this time, and Boone have become great stories in Kentucky history.

There’s no excuse, get up, get out and get going! Gary P. West can be reached at westgarypdeb@gmail.com.

Several local students among University of the Cumberlands 2024 graduates

Just under 6,000 students make up this year’s University of the Cumberlands graduating class. Approximately 170 graduates completed an associate degree, 1,250 finished a bachelor’s degree, 3,770 received a master’s degree, 270 completed an educational specialist degree, and 530 earned a doctoral degree. Graduates represented many different ages, ethnicities, backgrounds, and cultures, but they all now have one thing in common: they made it.

“Graduates, today marks a significant milestone in your lives,” said Dr. Larry L. Cockrum, university president, during commencement ceremonies. “You have persevered through years of hard work and now stand here, ready to take on the world. I am honored to congratulate each and every one of you on your outstanding achievements.”

The graduating class represented 49 states in the U.S. and the territories of the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico, as well as 18 countries around the world. Among undergraduate students, two-thirds grew up in Appalachian areas, just over half competed in university athletics, and the majority of graduates were involved in a combination of different music ensembles, campus ministries, clubs, and campus organizations.

The Class of 2024 performed 41,574 hours of community service. That equates to 5,197 8-hour workdays, or 1,040 40-hour work weeks. University of the Cumberlands designates graduates who complete 200 or more hours of community service as Hutton Scholars. This year, the graduating class had 84 Hutton Scholars.

The following local residents received a degree in Fall 2023, Spring 2024 or are set to complete their degree in Summer 2024:

Corbin graduates

A-G

Kaitlyn Adkins, Sophie Anderson, Maggie Ballou, Catelin Ball, Mary Barnett, Trinity Barker, Britnee Barnett, Elijah Batt, Trevor Baxter, Kaitlynn Baxter, Corinne Bertrand, April Bray, Alyssa Bridges, Jeremiah Brock, Trey Broughton, Ashley Bruck, Camron Campbell, Mikiah Carnes, Russell Carr, Alexandria Cerveny, Savannah Champlin, Cole Clark, Taylor Colyer, Alexander Conley, Dalton Cook, Matthew Creekmore, Emily Culler, Torri Day, Landon Dopel, Misty Dowd, Cody Driggers, Katie Earnest, Zoe Erwin, Abigail Eubanks, Felicia Eversole, James Faulkner, Ryan Fields, Abbigail Fox, Brookelin Fraze, Andrew Giles, Miranda Giles, Katherine Gorjup, Laura Green, Megan Gregory, Harleigh Grubb,

H-O

Courtney Hall, Michael Hall, Emily Hamblin, Hannah Hamblin-Flora, Emma Hamilton, Jasmine Hampton, Christopher Harris, Zachary Hash, Karen Helton, Kara Helton, Kelsi Hendrickson, Nicholas Hibbard, Ashley Hill, Katelyn Hopper, Chelcey Howington, Adam Hubbard, Jeana Hubbard, Destinee Johnson, Skyler Jones, Oran Kersey, Kayla Knuckles, Emily Kretzer, Jeanette Lawson, Amara Lewis, Rebecca Lewis, Tammy Lewis, Courtney Lockaby, Daniel Lowe, Summer Martin, Jennifer Mason, Lisa McCreary, Amy McEndree, Hannah Medlin, Rachel Medlin, Sydney Messer, Teresa Messer, Ashley Miniard, Madison Mirandilla, Julia Mitchell, Kristin Mitchell, Lindsey Morgan, Anthony Morton, Zachary Myers, Elizabeth Neeley, Jacqueline Noell, Sherry Osborne,

P-W

Destini Parks, Alexander Partin, Savannah Partin, Shreya Patel, Taylor Perry, Sarah Phipps, Madison Proffitt, Summer Rains, Christina Rice, Maribeth Robinson, Madeline Saylor, Callie Schoolcraft, Braden Sevier, Brandon Shelley, Lona Shepherd, Vanessa Sibert, Jaron Singley, McKenzie Slone, Presley Smiddy, Kenlee Smith, Lucinda Smith, Zachary Smith, Emilee Steely, Ashley Stepp, Courtney Stevens, Brooke Stewart, Halia Stidham, Joel Bengt Emanuel Sundell, Alexis Swafford, Benjamin Taylor, Matthew Taylor, Patience Taylor, Jillian Teague, Jonathan Thomas, Trisha Thomas, Whitney Turteltaub, Sarah Vanover, Debra Waggoner, Summer Walter, Jamie Walters, Lauren Walters, Ryan Wells, Stephen Wells, Autumn Whitis, Brittany Wilkerson, and Michael Williams

Rockholds graduates

Hunter Asher, Allison Baker, Gabrielle Cox, Erica DeBoard, Kimberly Ferrell, Allison Hughes, Alexis Imel, Cindy Inman, Michaela Lawson, Kelsey Thomas

Williamsburg graduates

A-E

Kiara Abanto, Dorian Bachlaj, Stacey Baird, Dylan Barnes-Moran, Tammy Barton, James Bennett, Joseph Bigelow, Emilee Blakley, Rebecca Blakley, Nicholas Bollmer, Tara Bowlin, Daniel Brennenstuhl, Andrew Bruce, Jody Bunch, Brenda Caddell, Amanda Campbell, Cathy Campbell, Pedro Carvalho, Ashley Chapman, Madison Chapman, Chia Chun Chiang, Ashley Cheek, Brandon Cheek, Naveen Cherukuri, Rachel Clifford, Theodore Clifford, Chrystian Coleman, Colton Conlin, Karen Contreras, Mickayla Coppock, Kami Corcoran, Michael Crawford, Andrea Creager, Amber Creekmore, Ashley Culver, Gopi Chand Davuluri, Ricardo Nunes Lopes De Matos, Beatriz De Souza, Kimberly Douglas, Jerton Evans, Ruth Evrard,

F-K

Lynnai Frock, Andrew Fuson, Vijay Raju Gadde, Olivia Gammon, Dylan Giles, Samantha Gillis, Anand Amish Gowda, Andrew Gray, Blake Gresham, Gabriel Griffin, Whitney Grubb, Andrea Haddix, Kandra Haider, Lillie Hall, Candace Hamblin, Emily Hart, James Haus, Matthew Hill, Benjamin Hollis, Thomas Holzkamm, Tanner Huddleston, Diane Hughlett, Sharon Holczer, Mikaylee Hunter, Francis Idoris, Taylor Jackman, Chaz Jarboe, Chaynee Jarboe, Emma Jarboe, Jaden Johnson, Brady Jones, Kaitlyn Jones, Meena Keelu, Rebekah Kersey, Daniah Abdul Razzak Khan, Shreeya Khanal,

L-P

Anthony Lawson, Madeline Lawson, Melissa Lawson, Shawnda Lawson, Anna Lay, Emily Leach, Rachel Lee, Marilyn Lewis, Dakota Lipsteuer, Elijah Mattingly, Maik Maurer, Erin Maxey, Samuel McCullah, Erin Metzger, Caleb Minner, Sabian Mitchell, Jaycie Monhollen, Samantha Monhollen, Emily Moore, Emily Moses, David Mullis, Syam Praneeth Nalli, Yasash Reddy Nandikonda, Anne Ngarhasta, Benjamin Nichols, James Overholser, Carly Oliver, Vedasree Padigapati, Stacy Pals, Kaitrin Parrett, Rebecca Partin, Emily Pasley, Noah Perkins, Victoria Petrey, Katlynn Powers, Leah Powers, Sylvia Powers, Lesleigh Prewitt,

R-Z

Alyssa Rector, Amy Rector, Hailey Richardson, Jordan Richardson, Korrey Riddle, Alex Ritchie, Keano Roberts, Caleb Rose, Liam Savio, Michael Schrenker, Martin Seve, Anastasiia Shatalova, Lindsey Shope, Vincent Sparrow, Benjamin Stargel, Sydney Stargel, Hannah Stephens, Matthew Strickland, Crystal Sullivan, Hermione Xue Teng Tan, Ashley Taylor, John Thomas, Latasha Thornton, Laura Vogt, Angel Wagers, Daniel Walls, Jacob Williamson, Melanie Wilson, Brittany Worley, Jordan Zecchini

Other local graduates

Jessica Bray of Keavy, Megan Ellis of Siler, and Leann Fragosa of Cannon

This year, two graduates were named Presidential Scholars as recognition of their academic excellence and significant research in their major field of study. Presidential Scholars perform an advanced independent study or creative activity, then give a thesis and oral presentation of their discoveries before their major’s academic department and a select committee. Both Anthony “Cage” Grubb of Barbourville, and Samuel “Blake” McCullah of Williamsburg, were approved as Presidential Scholars for 2024.

Each year, University of the Cumberlands distributes campus awards to students nominated by the Cumberlands community and decided by a select committee. This year, the winner of the A.T. Siler Memorial Service Award is Madison “Madi” Fields, a junior from Barbourville. The 2024 T.E. Mahan Memorial Service Award recipient is Chaz Disney, a junior from Corbin. Jordan Richardson, a graduating senior from Williamsburg, won the 2024 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. The 2024 winner of the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award is Kristin Mitchell, a graduating senior from Corbin. The Gorman Jones Campus Leadership Award was given to Haleigh Hopper, a graduating senior from Barbourville. Graduating senior Josh Carey was awarded the 2024 T.J. Roberts Campus Leadership Award.