District Court Records

Lawsuits

Marriage Licenses

Deeds

Corbin man charged with choking, assaulting wife

When Knox County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a home near Corbin recently, they discovered a pregnant woman, who had been choked and beaten, and a two-year-old child asleep under a piece of used drywall that contained nails sticking out, according to a sheriff’s department release and an arrest citation.

Improvements to track at WCMS to cost extra $326K

When it heard about construction updates on building projects throughout the school district, the Whitley County Board of Education got one particularly costly bit of bad news during its monthly meeting Thursday along with several pieces of good news.

I-75 asphalt and road rehab project starts Wed. (July 26) in Whitley County

If you’re planning to travel on I-75 between Corbin and Williamsburg between now and early October, then you should be prepared for some construction delays.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) advises motorists that shoulder closures will take place on I-75 from mile points 20.045 to 24.688 in Whitley County beginning Wednesday, July 26, until Thursday, Oct. 12.

The shoulder closures are needed to accommodate guardrail replacement and ditching and shouldering in advance of milling and paving operations for mainline.

KYTC asks motorists to be aware of the work zone, expect significant delays, and to utilize safe driving habits when traveling through the area.

The date, time, and duration of work may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen delays occur. Motorists can access travel and traffic conditions at http://goky.ky.gov or contribute their reports at www.waze.com or via the Waze mobile application.

You can also get traffic information for KCTC District 11 counties at www.facebook.com/KYTCDistrict11 or by following us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/KYTCDistrict11.

Randy “Brennon” Cobb

Randy “Brennon” Cobb, age 13, of White Oak, Duff, Tennessee passed away Saturday, July 22, 2023 at his home. He was born December 18, 2009.

Brennon is survived by his father, Randy Cobb; mother, Krissy Marlow; brothers, Weston Clay Cobb, and Michael Kade Marlow; grandparents, Carl Marlow, Ruby and Troy Cobb, and Kathy Marlow; uncles and aunts, Mitchell Cobb and Leigh Ann, Carla Gregg and Derrick; cousins, Morgan Gibson and Jake and kids, Mikayla Bridges and Joshlyn and son, Jordan Silcox and Raigan and kids, Bryson Gregg, Avery Cobb, Brayden Gregg, Katelynn Gregg, and Riley Cobb; and a host of friends and family to mourn his passing.

The family will receive friends from 6 pm until 9 pm Wednesday, July 26, at the Harp Funeral Home Chapel

Funeral service will be at 11 am Thursday, July 27, at the Clairfield Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Chuck Broyles, Rev. Larry Kitts and Bro. Clyde Davis officiating.

Burial will follow in the Harvey Marlow Family Cemetery, in White Oak, Tennessee.

Pallbearers will be Weston Cobb, Jordan Silcox, Bryson Gregg, Joshlyn Bridges, Jermey Marlow, and Derrick Greggand; honorary pallbearer is George Douglas.

Harp Funeral Home of Jellico in charge of arrangements.

Out & About KY Style… Stuckey’s

Long before Buc-ees there was Stuckey’s.

Gary West is an author and News Journal columnist.

As Kentucky prepares for a second Buc-ees in Smiths Grove, Kentucky in the northern part of Warren County on I-65, the nostalgia of days gone by when a national chain of strategically located convenience stores dotted 12 major highways across the United States, including Kentucky.

Texas-based Buc-ees opened its first Kentucky store in Richmond, Kentucky, in April 2022, and when they did it brought flashbacks of Stuckey’s.

In 1937, W.S. Stuckey operated a small roadside store in Eastman, Georgia with a purpose of getting rid of an over abundance of pecans he had gathered. Soon he realized he was on to something as the emerging traveling public began stopping by.

Not long after he turned it into a larger building. And before long, others followed. Not only did travelers use his advertised clean restrooms, but also bought his pralines, pecan log rolls and saltwater taffy.

Like many early day success stories, Stuckey did his own market studies. And how he did it seemed so simple.

“He would drink a cup of coffee and drive as far as he could until he needed a restroom,” Stefanie Stuckey, his granddaughter said on her website. “That’s where he put another location.”

Eventually the chain of franchises grew to 368 stores in 30 states. Inside and out, Stuckey’s marketing was genius. The 4,000 billboards scattered throughout added to the anticipation of what was ahead.

Even though the stop might have been for the clean restrooms or gas, once inside Mr. Stuckey’s marketing plan kicked into high gear.

Limited seating encouraged customers to walk around and buy things, and while everyone went to the restroom they passed walls full of candy.

As Stuckey’s became the top go-to roadside convenience store, first in the south and then the westward expansion, they sold friendliness first. But, it wasn’t long until almost everyone who entered came away with a pecan log roll. The store became a travel experience . . . stopping and shopping. Fresh orange juice, country hams, gift boxes, ice water, apple cider, jellies and air conditioning were a part of the billboard message and art on the exterior of the teal blue roofed buildings. And so was “free shipping” in big letters.

While interstate highways began to find their way onto maps, so did Stuckey’s location literature find a home in the glove box of many automobiles.

As important as the food, restrooms and gas were to Stuckey’s customers, Mr. Stuckey had figured that every kid would want to leave with a rubber alligator or piggy bank. He also knew that every family was collecting mugs, salt and pepper shakers or a shot glass. Today you don’t have to look any further than Cracker Barrel or the new Buc-ees to see that Stucky’s was on to something.

W.S. Stuckey was a practical man. He tried to put himself in the heads of the traveler. That was why he located his stores on the northbound side of the roadways. His reasoning made sense.

“When families are headed south they are in a hurry to get there,” he said in a publication. “Heading north might be a little slower.”

One of those northbound lanes was on 31-W at the corner of Hwy. 101, a couple of miles from, believe it or not, Smiths Grove.

In the early 60s, Stuckey’s son, Bill had an idea. Since the business was taking care of food and gas, why not lodging. Stuckey’s Carriage House Inn opened, four of them. However, they were short lived and after a few years closed.

“I remember working at Stuckey’s as a kid,” recalled Cathy Higgins Howard. “My dad had been an attorney in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, when he decided opening a Stuckey’s store in Kentucky would be a better opportunity for our family.”

Ralph Higgins’ Stuckey’s opened near Smiths Grove fourteen miles from Bowling Green, in what might be considered “in the middle of nowhere.” It was so successful that before long he had stores in Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois and Georgia.

“I worked there through high school fixing burgers, making shakes and ice cream and the gas pumps,” Cathy Howard said. “My older brother Fred and I were there a lot. I remember gas was 39¢ a gallon.”

Today there are only thirteen of the original free standing Stuckey’s around. A merger with the Pet Milk Company in the mid-60s left the stores in a time warp of which they never fully escaped. Interstate highways left many of the locations isolated, and the Middle East oil crises in the early 70s didn’t help.

Stefanie Stuckey now owns the Stuckey’s brand and is trying to bring it back to life although she is up against the likes of the super store Buc-ees, and giant travel centers that look more like a Wal-Mart than a gas station.

Remnants of the yesteryear Stuckey’s can still be seen forever. Though not appealing to traveling families, the high pitched roof structures have given way to discount liquor stores, adult only shops and service stations.

Buc-ees in Smiths Grove, is slated to open in June 2024 at I-65 exit 38.

By the way, the experience that a young Fred Higgins gained from working for his dad, Ralph, at Stuckey’s led to him opening over 200 Minit Mart Convenient Stores throughout Kentucky and several states beginning in the late 60s.

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

Judy Chandler

Judy Chandler, age 73, of Rockholds, KY passed away Saturday, July 22, 2023 at Baptist Health Corbin.
She was born September 13, 1949 in Bell County, KY, to the late Alfred and Lucy Goodin Daniels.
Along with her parents she was preceded in death by a sister, Teresa Daniels; and one brother, Bobby Daniels.
She is survived by her husband, Lloyd Chandler of Rockholds, KY; three children, Curt Chandler (Brenda) of Rockholds, KY, Bobby Chandler (Claudia) of Williamsburg, KY, Daniel Chandler (Sasha Nantz) of Rockholds, KY; nine grandchildren, Kevin Chandler, Lisa Murphy, Heather Chandler, Matthew Chandler, Deidra Chandler, Raylyn Nantz, Rylee Chandler, Ryder Chandler, Riaden Chandler; six great-grandchildren, Noah, Adian, Brody, Cody, Kaylee, Cade; two sisters, Rosa Lee Stepek of Lima, OH, Shirley Hamblin (Arnold) of Williamsburg, KY; several nieces, nephews, and a host of relatives and friends to mourn her passing.
Graveside service will be 2:00 PM on Wednesday, July 26, at Chandler Cemetery with Rev. Pete Fields officiating. Interment will be in Chandler Cemetery.
Visitation will be 5:00 PM on Tuesday, July 25, at the funeral home.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.ellisonfh.com.
Ellison Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.