Group Effort: Magistrate Scotty Harrison discusses the shared goal of a safe, accessible Whitley Co. District 1

A look at the new guardrails on Croley Bend Rd. in Williamsburg

Now in his third term as magistrate of Whitley County’s District 1, Scotty Harrison has seen several transformative projects come to fruition in many of our local communities. His personal involvement in getting these projects to the finish line has obviously depended largely on where the work happens to be taking place, but regardless of that, he understands the overall importance of teamwork in making sure that plans can become reality. (more…)

Local students make Berea College Dean’s List

Several college and university students with local ties have been honored for their hard work in the classroom by being named to their school’s Dean’s List or President’s List.

Berea College

Berea College is pleased to announce the students who have been named to its Dean’s List for the 2023 Spring Semester.

A student is named to the Dean’s List who achieves a GPA of 3.4 or higher while passing at least four total credits, a course load equivalent to 16 semester hours.

More than 420 Berea College students were named to the Spring 2023 Dean’s List, including both Samuel Garr and Breanna Jones from Corbin.

Berea, the first interracial and coeducational college in the South, focuses on learning, labor, and service. Supported by Berea’s No-Tuition Promise, Berea College admits only academically promising students with limited economic resources, primarily from Appalachia.

Bobby G. Lefevers

Heaven gained an angel on July 18, 2023. Bobby G. Lefevers, age 86, passed peacefully at the home he built for his family over 50 years ago. Born in Harlan County, Kentucky, he was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd; his mother, Mary; and siblings, Ravenna, Juanita, and Bill.
Bob is survived by Joyce, his loving wife of 68 years. He was a wonderful father to, Susan (Forrest), Patty and Doug (Rose). He was also a loving grandfather to Matt, Joy, and Bobby. He was also a wonderful great-grandfather to Emma and Addison.
Bob proudly served his country in the Army, and his Lord as a devoted Sunday School teacher and Deacon.
He was a retired Postmaster from the United States Postal Service.
Many people’s lives were touched by his gentle nature, wit, kindness, compassion, and knowledge. Many memories were made from his love of fishing, golf, and music.
Bob will be remembered as someone always willing to help others and for his deep love of family, friends, God, and the great outdoors.
Per his request a private graveside service will be held.
Croley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Housekeeper named new Williamsburg Ind. superintendent

Williamsburg Independent School has a new superintendent.

During the Williamsburg Board of Education’s regular monthly meeting Thursday, Tabetha Housekeeper was announced as the district’s next superintendent. Housekeeper will assume the role effective July 21, making her the school district’s first female superintendent in its 114-year history.

Loren Connell, longtime director of instruction at Williamsburg, had served as interim superintendent since July 1 following the departure of former Superintendent Tim Melton, who left the district at the end of June to take on a new role with Knox County Schools.

Connell, who told the News Journal earlier this month after being appointed as interim that he had no intention of seeking the position full-time, welcomed Housekeeper during Thursday’s meeting.

“On behalf of the district, let me welcome you to this role,” said Connell. “You’re coming to a special place and you got a great group of people behind you. Welcome to Williamsburg.”

Housekeeper began her teaching career in Winchester as a learning and behavior teacher and was later employed by Scott County Schools in Georgetown, where she served as a teacher, assistant principal and director of student services.

She addressed the board following their decision, both thanking them and describing how she plans to take on her new role wholeheartedly.

“I just want you guys to know I love my family, and they matter the most. Without them, I wouldn’t be here because what I see in this school is that you care about the people. And I would not even consider this an option for myself, except I met the people. It matters to me that you see my heart,” said Housekeeper. “And at a time I was most emptied out, you all saw leadership in me. I just want you all to know that I’m not perfect. I will make mistakes. But, I will love the people here and I will always—100 percent always—put kids first. So, I just appreciate the opportunity. Truly.”

“I just want to be part of something wonderful that gets to show kids, ‘Guess what? We can overcome our circumstances.’ There is a big, wide world out there and they can impact it.”

For the full story, see the July 26 edition of the News Journal.

Are you a winner? Corbin store sells $50,000 Powerball ticket

When it comes to the recent $1.08 billion Powerball jackpot drawing, there is some bad news and some good news for folks in Kentucky.

The bad news is that only one winning ticket was sold for the billion dollar jackpot on July 19 and it was sold in California.

The good news is that a $1 million Powerball ticket was sold in Kentucky along with two $50,000 tickets, one of which was sold in Corbin.

One $50,000 Powerball ticket was sold at Minit Mart #654, which is located at 2540 Cumberland Falls Highway.

The other $50,000 Powerball ticket was sold at D’S Grocery in Teaberry.

Kentucky’s $1 million Powerball ticket was sold at Pilot Travel Center #50 in Pendleton.

I’m thankful for our local healthcare providers

The excellent treatment I received when I had minor surgery recently at Baptist Health in Corbin prompted me to write about it in my column. I appreciate how nice everybody was that assisted in getting me prepared for the surgery and the doctor who performed it. I complimented one of the nurses and she jokingly said, “Yes we are the Dream Team.” That they were… they put me to sleep!

Don Estep is publisher of the News Journal.

I am not new to having surgery. My number of times for surgery over the years are double digit with most of it being done at Baptist Health. I have had major surgery at the University of Cincinnati and in Lexington at St. Joseph and the University of Kentucky hospitals.

As much as I dread having surgery, those who have provided the services to me have been outstanding.  It takes a special kind of people to work in the health field. I owe my life to some of them.

We are very fortunate in this area to have the quality of healthcare professionals that Baptist Health and Grace Health and others in the health field provide. And thanks to the professionals who assisted me, although I walked out of the hospital the same day, it took several people to make it happen.

• Last week the City of Corbin ran a half page ad of notification that a delinquent tax list would be placed on the Internet. Cities are not required to publish notices about the delinquent taxpayers, but counties are required to run all delinquent taxpayers one time in the newspaper in the county with the largest circulation, which in this case is the News Journal.

While I applaud the city for trying to increase awareness of delinquent taxpayers, putting the notice on the Internet is like hiding the list in a place where very few will take the time and effort to see it.

Not so when the list is published in a newspaper. One reason is curiosity. It is a natural that about everybody taking the paper will look to see if their name is on the list perhaps by mistake if they have already paid or if their neighbor’s name or somebody they know is listed. It is that easy to do.

For some people this would be a major embarrassment and no way do they want their name associated with not paying their taxes. Then there are others who don’t care no matter who sees it.

Fair warning to those in Whitley County who have not paid last year’s taxes. The delinquent list will be published soon in this newspaper. As of now there is over a half-million dollars in unpaid taxes in Whitley County.

This is a shame. Tougher laws should be passed by our legislators.  It is kind of like a situation in a homeowner’s association when one does not pay their monthly bill. It is not fair that all the others are paying for the delinquent one to have insurance, yard work and other upkeep for free. In the city and county the delinquent ones are getting roads, law enforcement protection, health services and many other benefits while the good citizen foots the bill.

In both cases tougher laws are needed!

Corbin City Commission approves public meeting code of conduct

After a rare 2-2 split vote last month over the topic of a public meeting code of conduct, the Corbin City Commission unanimously approved a revised version of the policy during its regular monthly meeting Monday.

Some Roy Kidd Avenue street parking being eliminated, NIBROC street closures announced

The elimination of some street side parking along Roy Kidd Avenue and the closure of some streets for NIBROC were two of the topics discussed during the Corbin City Commission’s monthly meeting Monday.

Ribbon cutting held to commemorate new learning center at Vanbeber Court

There’s a new community resource for area residents of all ages thanks to a collaborative effort between the Corbin Housing Authority, Corbin Independent Family Resource Center, Save the Children and the Corbin Public Library.

A ribbon cutting was held last Friday at the Vanbeber Court Apartments off Master Street to commemorate the official revealing of a Learning Center of Excellence aimed at providing growth, development and educational opportunities for the public.

The building the center now resides in is within the apartment complex and had sat vacant for many years, mothballed and left to time. Robert Hayes, director of the Corbin Housing Authority, said that he felt led to do something with the space in a way that could be helpful to the community.

“When I had this building sitting here not being utilized…I said, ‘Let’s try to do something to touch the lives of people in Corbin,” said Hayes. “It was like a blank slate.”

The center has several play zones geared toward specific areas of development, including dramatic play, a sensory area and others to help build fine motor skills and help with critical thinking. The center will also provide a variety of other resources for young minds through the help of Save the Children.

“We’re trying to teach these children there’s lots of ways to be smart. You can be compassionate, you can be good in math, you can be good in art, you can do good in music or in a spatial activity like playing a sport, you can be a good listener. We’re trying to raise the self-esteem and help inspire some of these children,” said Hayes.

Additionally, the center has a room devoted toward helping adults receive their Commonwealth of Kentucky High School Equivalency Diploma and other further education.

Anyone interested in taking advantage of the center’s resources can contact Save the Children at (606) 215-2186. Space is currently only available to those who qualify and are registered for the offered programs.

Trial set for former Corbin Housing Authority director accused of theft

A jury trial has been set for the former Corbin Housing Authority director accused of taking more than $100,000 in housing authority funds over a three-year period.

Samuel McCoy, 49, appeared in Whitley Circuit Court on Monday for a status hearing, where prosecutors asked for a jury trial date to be scheduled. McCoy’s attorney asked that the trial date be set after the first of the year in hopes that the case could be resolved beforehand.

Prosecutors and McCoy’s defense team have been attempting to reach an agreement in the case via mediation, though have yet to be able to come to terms on one.

A jury trial date was scheduled for February 26, 2024. If the case goes to trial, prosecutors said that it is expected to take three days.

McCoy faces a variety of charges in connection to the alleged thefts.

He was indicted in June 2021 on charges of theft by deception $10,000 or more, theft by deception over $500 but less than $10,000, abuse of the public trust, and second-degree forgery. He was again indicted in November 2021 on charges of fraudulent use of a credit card over $10,000 within six months, and for fraud by authorized persons, business organizations or financial institutions over $10,000 over a six-month period. From April 2018 through April 2021, McCoy allegedly used a Mastercard, which had been legally issued to the Corbin Housing Authority, to obtain merchandise and services of the value of $10,000 or more over a six-month period, according to the indictment.

According to his indictments, between April 2018 through April 2021, McCoy allegedly used a Mastercard, which had been legally issued to the Corbin Housing Authority, to obtain merchandise and services of the value of $10,000 or more over a six-month period, according to the indictment.

During that same time period, he allegedly unlawfully acquired goods and services with a credit card he was not authorized to use for personal gain and he allegedly did so with the intent to defraud the Corbin Housing Authority.

McCoy allegedly took unapproved salary and lived in an apartment at the housing authority for free without approval and gave himself about a $40,000 a year raise without board approval. The free rent accounted for about $17,000 of the alleged theft. He also allegedly falsified and forged documents for personal monetary gain.

McCoy was terminated from his position as director in April 2021—one that he had held for more than five years—for unrelated reasons. Following his departure, an interim director found a number of inconsistencies in the housing authority’s ledgers.

In total, McCoy is accused of taking $119,629.53.

He was arrested in June 2021 following his first indictment, but is currently out on bond.