Herman Eugene Sawyers

Herman Eugene Sawyers, age 76, of Williamsburg, Kentucky departed this life on July 1, 2023 at the Greg and Noreen Wells Hospice Care Center in Hazard, Kentucky.
Herman was born on December 11, 1946 in Williamsburg, Kentucky to Oscar Sawyers and Gracie Sawyers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Gracie Sawyers; wife, Joyce (Privett) Sawyers; sisters, Erie Lou Hill and Thelma Clearencie O’Dell; and brother, Andy Sawyers.
He was a member of Maple Creek United Baptist Church since April of 1970.
Herman is survived by his daughter, Sonya Lewis (Jeffrey) of London, Kentucky; grandchildren, Hannah Fraley, Kevin Lewis, Alexus Lewis, Devon Lewis, and Natasha Lewis; sister, Imadean Sammons (Jennings) of Williamsburg, Kentucky; sister-in-law, Wanda Sawyers of Williamsburg, Kentucky; special niece, Stacie Hoffman (Jimmy) of Williamsburg, Kentucky; several nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends to mourn his passing.
Visitation will be 11:00 AM until the funeral hour on Thursday, July 6, at the Croley Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral service will be at 1:00 PM on Thursday, July 6, at the Croley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Curt Vanover and Bro. Jimmy Hoffman officiating.
He will be laid to rest in the Maple Creek United Baptist Church Cemetery.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.croleyfh.com.
Croley Funeral Home in charge of arrangments.

Gerald M. Wilson

Gerald M. Wilson, 75, of Williamsburg, Kentucky, departed this life surrounded with the love of his family on June 27, 2023 at the University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky.
He was born on October 4, 1947 to the late Arthur Wilson and Grace McGlamery Wilson in Evarts, Kentucky. Along with his parents he was proceeded in death by three brothers, Kenneth Wilson, Arthur Wilson Jr. and Larry Wilson.
Gerald was a US Army Veteran from 1966 – 1974, serving three tours during the Vietnam conflict.
He was a dedicated member of the Buffalo Baptist Church. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.
Gerald is survived by wife of 53 years, Brenda Wilson of Williamsburg, Kentucky; two sons, Gerald A. Wilson and wife Rosia of Corbin, Kentucky and Joe M. Wilson and wife Sonya of Williamsburg, Kentucky; four grandchildren, Chasity Meadors, Kristan Wyatt, Kizzie Wilson, and Austin Wilson; seven great-grandchildren; one brother, Ron Wilson and wife Linda Jo of Williamsburg, Kentucky; and one sister, Patricia Harp of London, Kentucky; sister-in-law, Alma Wilson of Williamsburg, Kentucky; several nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends to mourn his passing.
Funeral service was Saturday, July 1, at Croley Funeral Home Chapel in Williamsburg, Kentucky with Rev. Lester Cox and Casey Patrick officiating.
Burial followed at Highland Park Cemetery.
Military honors were conducted by the DAV in London KY.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.croleyfh.com.
Croley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Ruth Marie Hamlin

Ruth Marie Hamlin, 70, of Becks Creek Road in Williamsburg, Kentucky departed this life on June 30, 2023 at the Oak Ridge Methodist Hospital in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
She was born to Theodor M. Moses and the late Edna (Steinkamp) Moses on December 6, 1952 in Breeze, Illinois.
Along with her mother she is preceded in death by her brother, Robert Steinkamp, and husband, Bruce “Doc” Hudson.
Ruth is survived by son, Mike Hamlin of Williamsburg, Kentucky; her father, Theodore Moses of Williamsburg, Kentucky; one sister, Betty Woods and husband Ford of Williamsburg, Kentucky; one brother, Tim Moses and wife Melinda of Williamsburg, Kentucky; sister-in-law, Carolyn Steinkamp of Centralia, Illinois; nieces and nephews, Bridgette Bridgeman (Danny) of Clinton, TN, Brenda Silverman (Jonathan) of Dayton, Ohio, Julia Steinkamp of Centralia, Illinois, Jessica Davis of Williamsburg, Kentucky, Danny Steinkamp (Joni) of Centralia, Illinois, Emilie Davis of Williamsburg, Kentucky, Alex Davis (Abby) of Barbourville, Kentucky, Jacob Davis of Williamsburg, Kentucky, and Chansen Petry of Williamsburg, Kentucky; and a host of great-nieces and great-nephews, family and friends to mourn her passing.
Funeral service was Monday, July 3, at the Croley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gerald Mullins officiating. Burial followed at the Jellico Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.croleyfh.com.
Croley Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

SCC president to speak at July Southern KY Chamber of Commerce luncheon

The next Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce membership luncheon will take place on Tuesday, July 11, and will feature guest speaker Dr. Carey Castle, President and CEO of Somerset Community College. (more…)

Whitley County Fair set for July 12-15

Next week, the Annual Whitley County Fair will make its return to the fairgrounds, located off of Stark Road in Williamsburg. This year’s fair will feature a full slate of fun and exciting events, beginning on Wednesday, July 12. (more…)

Corbin celebrates Independence Day

Fireworks lit up the night sky Monday evening as Corbin held its annual July 3 Independence Day celebration at the Corbin Arena. Among other things, the event featured a patriotic costume contest, a live DJ, and  a foam party, which was a big hit with local youngsters.

I-75 traffic crash leads to drug trafficking arrest

A recent I-75 traffic crash near Williamsburg resulted in the seizure of suspected drugs and cash, and the arrest of a Georgia man on a drug trafficking charge, according to court documents.

Electronic Edition For 7-5-2023

Loren Connell named interim superintendent of WIS

Connell has been appointed by the Williamsburg Independent Board of Education to serve as interim superintendent.

As the interview process is underway for Williamsburg Independent School’s next superintendent, a familiar face at the school district has been appointed to an interim role to temporarily fill the vacancy.

The Williamsburg Independent Board of Education met last Wednesday for a special-called meeting to discuss the then-pending vacancy to be left by outgoing Superintendent Tim Melton, who accepted a new position last month with Knox County Schools. The board met in a closed, executive session for approximately 45 minutes before naming Loren Connell as the district’s interim superintendent.

Connell has served his entire 27 years in education at Williamsburg, where he began as a teacher and a coach before moving into an administrative role as the district’s director of instruction—a position he has now held for 20 years.

Following the board’s decision, Connell spoke to the News Journal regarding his appointment, in which he talked confidently about being able to fill the role until a full-time replacement is found.

“I’ve worked in this district my entire career and I think I have an understanding of how it works and where we need to be and when we need to be there, so I’m looking forward to setting the wheels in motion as we are moving forward,” said Connell.

“My role is just to keep pressing forward and getting ready for the start of the school year. There are still personnel to be hired, positions that need to be opened up, we need to pay the bills and ensure the fact that the building and the campus is ready to roll and that’s what I hope to do here over the immediate future.”

Connell officially assumed the role as interim superintendent on July 1, as Melton’s contract ended June 30.

Board Vice Chair Kim White told the News Journal that she expects the need for an interim will be “fairly short” since the interview process for possible replacements has already begun.

“We had a nominating committee that had a first look at resumes and applications, so they have provided recommendations and we have chosen a first round of applicants to interview,” said White.

According to White, “two or three” interviews are planned for this week. A special-called board of education meeting has since been scheduled for today, July 5, to conduct those interviews. All interviews with potential candidates are performed during closed, executive session.

White stated that an ideal timeline would be to find a permanent replacement by Aug. 1, but noted that a decision won’t be made until the board feels they have found “the best candidate for the job.”

Chivers attempts to have attorneys thrown off case, levies accusation of deceit

One of three Indianapolis men charged in connection with a 2017 Whitley County triple homicide has asked that his attorneys be removed from his case, alleging in court that they have been working against him.

CHIVERS