Whitley Co. wrestlers make history at first-ever female state championships

Val Sears

Winning a medal may be the ultimate goal when it comes to competing in a state championship wrestling tournament, but in the case of this past Saturday’s first-ever Kentucky High School Athletic Association girls state championships, the bigger, and more important, victory had already been won before anyone even stepped foot inside Lexington’s Alltech Arena. (more…)

University of the Cumberlands partners with KCTCS to empower Kentucky students with affordable education

University of the Cumberlands (UC) and KCTCS (Kentucky Community and Technical College System) are separate entities with a common vision: making higher education more accessible for students.

With that in mind, the schools have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that offers a clear pathway for KCTCS graduates to complete an affordable bachelor’s degree at UC.

The MOA communicates that UC continues to strive to improve the application, advising, and transfer credit evaluation process for seamless transfer of students from KCTCS. It also serves as a steppingstone for KCTCS and UC in their mission to offer quality education to Kentucky students from all backgrounds.

Both institutions have made strides to ensure affordability, accessibility, and relevancy for their programs in recent years.

Dr. Trey Jarboe, provost at Cumberlands, said transfer students from KCTCS account for 35 percent of all transfer credits among students currently enrolled at the university. The university has more than 6,000 students enrolled between its on-campus and online undergraduate programs.

Jarboe commented, “We are pleased to partner with KCTCS in our shared mission of providing quality education to Kentucky students. This MOA is an example of our commitment to put students first in every aspect of their college experience. We want to offer as smooth a transition as possible for all KCTCS students who choose to pursue their bachelor’s degrees at UC.”

Since its founding, KCTCS has worked to improve the quality of life and employability of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky through certificates, diplomas and associate degrees.

Among other provisions, Cumberlands will provide access to admissions and advising resources to KCTCS students as well as a guarantee that UC will maximize the acceptance and application of KCTCS graduates’ transfer credits.

“This new MOA marks the beginning of a strategic partnership that will benefit innumerable Kentucky students for years to come. Through the education and skills provided by both institutions, our students have another accessible pathway to bachelor’s degrees that prepare them for employment and career success,” said Dr. Reneau Waggoner, KCTCS acting provost and vice president of academic and student success.

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is the Commonwealth’s largest postsecondary institution with 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses.

They also are Kentucky’s largest provider of workforce training, dual credit classes and online education. Through partnerships with business and industry, KCTCS aligns programs to meeting the needs of local employers. Their colleges are united in their commitment to making life better for students, communities and the citizens of Kentucky. Find out more at www.kctcs.edu.

UC offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in addition to several certificate programs. In 2023, the university was ranked the most transfer-friendly private college in Kentucky, welcoming almost as many transfer students as 16 other private Kentucky colleges combined. UC is also one of the fastest-growing private doctoral universities in the nation. To learn more, visit www.ucumberlands.edu.

Working conditions improving at Corbin Ind. Schools, according to educator surveys

Corbin Independent School educators are feeling better about their working conditions than they did two years ago, according to the results of the recent Kentucky Impact Working Conditions Survey.

The Corbin Independent Board of Education recognized its January and February Difference Makers with plaques presented at its monthly meeting Thursday, including January winner Melanie Howard, who is seen at top, and February winner Mark Nantz, who is seen above.

Most intoxicated drivers do not get jail sentences

Intoxicated drivers seldom get jail time, at least not in first-offense driving while under the influence cases.

Mark White is Editor of The News Journal.

This is a fact that I suspect will surprise, and probably infuriate, a lot of people, but it’s true at least here locally.

First-offense driving while under the influence is a misdemeanor offense. The maximum sentence that you can get for it is 30 days in jail, but most people usually don’t get anywhere near that.

I write this in response to a comment made on one of our social media pages Friday in regards to an article about the conviction of Williamsburg attorney James Wren II on charges of driving while under the influence and reckless driving.

Wren was arrested on May 24, 2023, on his way to circuit court for the second day of a trial.

Wren, who represented himself in the case, didn’t dispute the toxicology report that showed alcohol in his system. He contended that it was the result of a medication he was taking, and not from drinking alcohol. I’ll let everyone decide for themselves whether they find Wren’s explanation credible.

The jury convicted him on both counts and sentenced Wren to serve a total of 10 days in jail, set a $500 fine for the DUI charge and a $100 fine for the reckless driving charge. The special judge in the case, Benjamin Hardy, is allowing Wren to serve his jail sentence on weekends.

In response to the article, someone posted a comment on Facebook stating that Wren “basically got away Scot free. If it was anyone else we’d get more time.”

Truth be told, probably not.

In actuality, Wren got a stiffer sentence than most people would facing the same charges although there is one big difference in his case compared to that of most people.

How do I know this? I am the person, who has typed in most of the district court records on the News Journal’s public records’ page for last 30 years, including records for most DUI cases. (Lucky me…LOL.)

First off, the vast majority of all court cases, including DUI cases, are resolved via a plea agreement. Most of the time those pleading guilty to first-offense DUI typically get a 30-day jail sentence that is probated for two years. This means that if the defendant stays out of trouble for two years, then they don’t have to serve any jail time or at least any more jail time.

Defendants also have their driver’s license suspended for a while, are ordered to take drug and alcohol education courses, and end up paying about $700 and change after fines, court costs and various fees are factored into the equation.

In fairness, most people usually learn their lesson after their first DUI and don’t get a second one.

Those convicted of second-offense DUI usually only have to serve seven days in jail with the rest of their 30-day jail sentence probated. They also get their licensed suspended for a little longer than the first time, get more drug and alcohol education classes usually, and a slightly stiffer fine, but surprisingly not a lot more.

Trials in DUI cases are extremely rare. Even rarer is when someone, including an attorney, represents themselves.

In Wren’s case, he didn’t take a plea deal, and the jury convicted him and gave him a total sentence of 10 days in jail for DUI and reckless driving. The jury could have given him a combined sentence of up to 90 days in jail.

In regards to the judge allowing Wren to serve his sentence on weekends, this isn’t uncommon for people, who get convicted or plead guilty to crimes and actually have jobs.

The idea is that we want people with jobs to keep working and keep being at least somewhat productive members of society.

Should people convicted or pleading guilty to first-offense DUI be required to serve at least a small jail sentence, say 48 hours in jail? That is another column for another day.

Before I conclude this column, let me shift proverbial gears here, and write about one more subject, which is HB 509.

HB 509 is a bill currently before the Kentucky General Assembly, which would turn the state open records law upside down by redefining what is a “public record.”

Currently, there are reports that the bill’s primary sponsor, Rep. John Hodgson, is planning to revise or overhaul the bill. We can only hope so.

Voters and taxpayers have NEVER benefitted from the Kentucky General Assembly making it harder for the press and citizens to find out hinky stuff that our governmental officials and agencies are doing. Voters and taxpayers NEVER will benefit from it either. Corrupt and lazy officials and office holders are another story. If this bill doesn’t get revised, we will be writing more about it in the weeks to come.

This bill isn’t entirely bad. One provision in the bill would require government agencies and officials to use a government-issued e-mail address to conduct government business, which would actually be a good thing. It would also require that those e-mail accounts be administered by a third-party provider.

In theory this would make it harder to make government officials’ e-mails “disappear” when people go asking about suspicious stuff.

At this point though, it would be better to scrap HB 509 altogether and start over from scratch next legislative session on a better governmental e-mail bill.

Five Redhounds, one Wildcat represent coverage area at state wrestling championships

Last week, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association held its annual wrestling state championships at the Alltech Arena in Lexington. In the boys’ competition, a total of six local athletes represented the area in six different weight classes. (more…)

W’Burg man allegedly tried to purchase items with check stolen from church

Corbin man wanted for sexual-related charges involving child

The London Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a Corbin man wanted on several sexual-related charges involving a child.

Kylin Dewayne Hutton, 24, is wanted by LPD’s Special Investigation Unit for an outstanding Laurel County warrant on charges of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and second-degree persistent felony offender. The alleged victim in those two sexual-related charges is under 12 years of age.

Hutton also has an outstanding Whitley County warrant on charges of two counts of second-degree assault, third-degree mischief and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Hutton is believed to be in the southern area of Laurel County or Corbin.

Anyone who may have information regarding Hutton or his whereabouts is asked to contact the London-Laurel County 911 Center at (606) 878-7000 or notify your local law enforcement agency.

Proposed Corbin High School Auxiliary Gym would allow for the seating of up to 400 people

Construction plans for the new Corbin High School Auxiliary Gym, an update on the second phase of construction at Campbell Field, and discussion of the status of the high school baseball and softball field renovations were some of the main topics of discussion during the Corbin Independent Board of Education’s monthly meeting Thursday.

Whitley Co. High School students to get additional training thanks to donation

Whitley County High School students who participate in classes at the district’s Career and Technology Education Center (CTE) will soon have the opportunity for even more hands-on learning.

Wanted W’burg man arrested last week on multiple charges, including gun-related crimes

The Williamsburg Police Department and Whitley County Sheriff’s Department have assisted the U.S. Marshal’s Office in apprehending a wanted Williamsburg man.