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Corbin woman indicted for the January shooting of her caretaker

A 78-year-old Corbin woman who allegedly shot another woman in January was indicted last week by a Knox County grand jury.

‘She just didn’t care’: Prosecutor lays out case against mom in child’s death

Update: Whitley County extradition hearing set for May 6 for Knoxville man facing murder charge

A Knoxville murder suspect, who was apprehended last Thursday evening after his car crashed into a ditch in Corbin, is being held without bond in the Whitley County Detention Center pending an extradition hearing, which is scheduled for May 6 in Whitley District Court.

Corbin High School plans academic signing day on Monday (May 6)

We’ve all seen the pictures and/or the video after a star high school athlete that gets a scholarship offer to play at a major university and verbally commits to play sports at that institution of higher learning.

Sometimes it’s a production for the entire student body. The school wheels out a special backdrop in the school gym or auditorium.

The star athlete is seated behind a table that has a banner on the front listing the player’s new college on it. The player takes a seat surrounded by his parents and/or high school coaches. Then the player signs a letter of intent to accept the scholarship offer as a slew of people snap pictures with their cellphones.

For those out there, who would contend that students accepting academic scholarships is just as important as athletic scholarships, the Corbin Independent School District doesn’t disagree with you.

In fact, this month they are planning an event to honor some academic accomplishments in a similar manner.

Corbin High School Principal Steve Jewell told the Corbin Independent Board of Education Thursday that an academic signing day is planned for Monday, May 6, at the high school.

The morning will start out with faculty giving out their departmental awards to students before the academic scholarship signings will take place later that morning.

Parents will be sitting in the stands and seniors will be seated on the gym floor. Then seniors will come forward to sign the paperwork to get their college scholarships at their respective tables whether it might be the University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, the University of the Cumberlands or any number of other schools.

“We actually have one person going to Yale. We just found out,” Jewell noted.

He added it may take 30 minutes or 90 minutes to get all 180 academic signings done.

“We are hoping these academic signings will be similar to athletic signings and we will get photos of these students and what they have achieved just like we like we do with the athletes,” said Board Chairperson Todd Childers.

Also, Jewell announced that several Corbin students have been named as governor’s scholars in 10 different areas, and that three other students are on the alternate’s list to be governor’s scholars.

The Governor’s Scholars Program is a summer residential program for outstanding high school students in Kentucky who are rising seniors. The program originated in 1983 as a result of Kentucky leaders’ concern that the state’s “best and brightest” were leaving the Commonwealth to pursue educational and career opportunities elsewhere without fully understanding the potential of their talents at home. Students who are selected attend the program without charge, according to the Governor’s Scholars Program’s website.

In addition, during Thursday’s meeting, the board adopted a resolution authorizing the Corbin Independent School District Finance Corporation to issue $7 million in revenue bonds for the second phase of the Corbin High School football stadium renovation project.

Revenue bonds are the government equivalent of a home mortgage for private citizens, and are used to finance government construction projects.

Even after the issuance of these bonds, Corbin still has about $18 million in bonding potential that could be put towards future projects over the next 18 months or so, explained Bob Tarvin, vice-president of RSA Advisors, which is the group helping issue the bonds for the district.

The second phase of the football stadium project includes a new parking lot, which will have about 75-80 parking spots where some houses formerly sat. This lot will be ready for the start of next year’s football season.

Completion of the varsity club pavilion is also expected to be done before the start of the next football season. It will sit at an angle next to the end zone. It will have a fire place in the corner, benches all the way around, ceiling fans and lights, and a grilling station. School officials plan to use it for other purposes too.

Renovation of the visitor’s locker room and renovation of the visitor’s side press box isn’t expected to be completed until April 1, 2025. Once the visitor’s side press box work expansion has been completed, it opens up the possibility of instant replay being shown on the stadium’s video score board, which debuted last year.

The system to handle video replay is larger than what the existing press box on the home side of the stadium can handle.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the final calendar amendment for the 2023-2024 school year. The last day for classes will be May 17. Graduation will take place on Sunday, May 19, at the Corbin Arena.
• Met in executive session towards the close of the meeting, but took no final action.

Legal Notices for 5-1-2024

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Housing Authority of Williamsburg is developing documents related to the Annual Agency Plan process and Five-Year Capital Fund Program budgets for Fiscal Year beginning 10/1/2024 in compliance with current regulations. They are available for review at the Housing Authority office located at 600 Brush Arbor Road, Williamsburg, KY.  Office hours are Monday – Thursday, 8:30AM and 5:30PM. A public hearing will be held 1:00 PM on June 27, 2024 at the Housing Authority office.  A Special Board Meeting to approve these documents will be held immediately following the Public Hearing.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR INMATE HEALTH CARE SERVICES

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Sealed proposals for the following services will be received by the Whitley County Fiscal Court in the manner and on the date specified for the furnishing of all labor, materials, medicine, supplies and services necessary for providing full time medical service to the Whitley County Detention Center.

Providers must submit their sealed bids to the Whitley County Judge/Executive at the Whitley County Courthouse, 200 Main Street, Williamsburg, KY 40769 or P.O. Box 237, Williamsburg, KY 40769 on or before 10:00 am local time on May 21, 2024, at which time bids will be opened and read aloud in the Fiscal Court room. Bids will then be presented to the Fiscal Court at the regular scheduled meeting at 4:00 pm on May 21, 2024.

The bids shall be submitted in a sealed envelope marked “INMATE HEALTH CARE SERVICES BID”.  The Whitley County Fiscal Court reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any informalities therein. The Whitley County Fiscal Court reserves the right to accept the best bid, which, in its judgement is deemed most advantageous to the County.

The primary contact regarding this RPS and the bid process is Amber Owens, Project Director. Any questions should be directed to Ms. Owens in writing at P.O. Box 237, Williamsburg, KY 40769 or aowens@2geton.net.  Details for this RFP can be requested through the same.

Amber Owens, Project Director

Whitley County Fiscal Court

(606) 549-6000

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Whitley County Fiscal Court will receive Proposals from Qualified Construction Managers for both Pre-construction Phase services and Construction Phase services for the Whitley County Detention Center Expansion.

Interested and qualified Construction Managers (CM) can receive a copy of the official Request for Proposals (RFP) by submitting a one-page letter of interest to:

Whitley County Fiscal Court

Attn: Judge/Executive Pat White Jr.

200 Main Street, Suite 2

Williamsburg, KY 40769

An authorized representative of the Whitley County Fiscal Court will receive CM Proposals until 10:00 AM, Tuesday, May 21, 2024.  Proposals received after this date will not be accepted.

Sealed proposals shall clearly indicate a Proposal for Construction Management Services.

Proposing Construction Managers will be required to meet certain qualifications set out in the RFP, which include the following:

1. CM Experience
2. Payment and Performance Bonds
3. Professional Liability Insurance
4. Ability to Provide Experienced Office and Field Staff

Questions concerning Request for Proposals or the Project should be addressed to:

Judge/Executive Pat White Jr.

200 Main Street, Suite 2

Williamsburg, KY 40769

606.549.6000

pwhite@2geton.net

INSPECTION PERIOD

FOR THE PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT ROLL

The Whitley County real property tax roll will be open for inspection from May 6th through May 20th, 2024 under the supervision of the property valuation administrator (PVA) or one of the deputies, any person may inspect the tax roll.

This is the January 1, 2024 assessment on which state, county, and school taxes for 2024 will be due about September 15, 2024.

The tax roll is in the office of the property valuation administrator in the county courthouse and may be inspected between the hours 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Any taxpayer desiring to appeal an assessment on real property made by the PVA must first request a conference with the PVA office. Conferences may be held via videoconference, where available, or by telephone; or you may exchange correspondence requesting a conference with the PVA via email or fax. Written documentation supporting your opinion of value will continue to be required. However, you will be instructed on the best method to submit your documentation after contacting our office regarding your request to have a conference. The PVA office is located at: 200 Main St., 2nd Floor, Courthouse, Williamsburg, KY.

Any taxpayer still aggrieved by an assessment on real property, after the conference with the PVA or designated deputy, may appeal to the county board of assessment appeals.

The appeal must be filed with the Whitley County clerk’s office no later than one workday following the conclusion of the inspection period. Please contact the county clerk’s office to receive instructions on the method the office is using to accept appeals this year and to obtain a form that can be used to file your appeal.

Any taxpayer failing to appeal to the county board of assessment appeals, or failing to appear before the board, either in person or by designated representative, will not be eligible to appeal directly to the Kentucky Board of Tax Appeals.

Appeals of personal property assessments shall not be made to the county board of assessment appeals. Personal property taxpayers shall be served notice under the provisions of KRS 132.450(4) and shall have the protest and appeal rights granted under the provisions of KRS 131.110.

The following steps should be taken when a taxpayer does not agree with the assessed value of personal property as determined by the property valuation administrator.

(1) He must list under protest (for certification) what he believes to be the fair cash value of his property.

(2) He must file a written protest directly with the Department of Revenue, Office of Property Valuation within 30 days from the date of the notice of assessment.

(3) This protest must be in accordance with KRS 131.110.

(4) The final decision of the Department of Revenue may be appealed to the Kentucky Board of Tax Appeals.

Ronnie Moses

Property Valuation Administrator, Whitley County

website: http://qpublic.net/ky/whitley/

Martin lends beekeeping expertise during Whitley Small Farms Conference

Last weekend’s Whitley County Small Farms Conference gave farmers, gardeners and conservationists plenty of opportunities to network and learn about a wide range of topics related to agriculture. The two-day event featured numerous guest speakers, live demonstrations, and gave vendors a chance to share information about different products and services. (more…)

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.

Mary Lou Willis

Mary Lou Willis, age 82, of Clairfield, Tennessee passed away Friday, April 26, 2024, in LaFollette.
She was born May 23, 1941, in Pruden, Kentucky. Mary was a member of the Pruden First Baptist Church; she worked as a bookkeeper and then as a nursing aide.
Mary is preceded in death by father, William Lee Willis; mother, Emaline (Davis) Willis; brothers, John, Emery, Charles, Edward and William Willis, II; and special nephew, David Willis.
She is survived by special nephews, Jack Willis and his daughter, Carley Willis, Daniel Willis and wife Tracy, and their children Melody Raper and husband Ray, Justin Willis and wife Kayla, William Lee Willis and wife Amber; neice, Diane Willis; special friends, Brenda and David Helton; and a host of friends and her church members at Pruden First Baptist Church to mourn her passing.
Graveside service will be at 1 pm on Monday, April 29, in the Highland Park Cemetery, Davis Addition in Williamsburg, Kentucky with Rev. Michael Partin officiating.
Harp Funeral Home of Jellico in charge of arrangements.