Looking back at some other top stories that just missed the list

The year 2022 might not have been the best year in Whitley County history but compared to the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, it sure looked good by comparison.

Mark White is Editor of The News Journal.

Among the positives, you had the opening of the Mint Gaming Hall – Cumberland in Williamsburg, the groundbreaking for the Cumberland Run harness racing track in Corbin and the opening of the redesigned and renovated Sanders Café & Museum.

Williamsburg, Whitley County and Corbin school districts all announced renovation plans for their football stadiums, including the installation of artificial turf, and the family of a Williamsburg woman, who had been missing for five years, finally got some degree of closure after her remains were found in Tennessee.

On the front page of the News Journal this week, we detail the top 10 stories of 2022 as voted on by the news staff here at the paper.

Of course, you just can’t fit all the news from one year into a top 10 list, so here are some other headlines that made news in 2022.

• January – Kentucky State Police investigating pair of trooper involved shootings; Demolition work on Tracy Apartments underway; Whitley County High School Agriculture goes high tech.

• February – Corbin man sentenced to 43 years in prison in kidnapping case; Ring brought in two pounds of meth every two to three days for a year; Williamsburg waterpark expansion hits funding snag.

• March – Williamsburg school evacuated after bogus bomb threat; State closes Corbin cosmetology school; Williamsburg man accused of trying to kill sheriff, chief deputy with a vehicle; Homeless center reopens in Williamsburg; Fire devastates Davis Salvage.

• April – Corbin schools investigating ‘noose’ photo; Ex-NFL MVP speaks as part of Excellence in Leadership series; Corbin Arena wins best venue award; Identity theft scam involves ‘William Whitley’; Mural provides a message of hope for jail inmates; Deputy’s brutality lawsuit settled.

• May – Whitley County tractor accident kills London man; Snoop Dogg at The Arena; Woodbine man acquitted in 2021 fatal crash; Whitley County candidate indicted for rape in Pulaski County; Grand jury rules trooper justified in shooting case; Businessman wants to buy lot next to the Corbin Center to build hotel.

• June – Leadership Tri-County names John Bill Keck Leader of the Year; Dayspring Health buys portion of Cumberland Regional Mall; Local man dies after being thrown from lawnmower into pond; Cedaridge Ministries celebrates 35 years of service; Whitley County Board of Health approves pay raises for health department employees; Missing man found after days-long multi-agency search in Whitley County.

• July – Corbin City Commission goes back to the drawing board after debate over proposed budget; Grace on the Hill no longer affiliated with United Methodist denomination; Corbin WWII veteran Paul Jones takes ride in vintage B-25 bomber; John Baker focusing on quality and consistency as newest Corbin Public Library Director.

• August – Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird announces retirement; Clean-up continuing in southern Whitley County following flood damage; Iconic University of the Cumberlands Viaduct replacement nearly complete; University of the Cumberlands student arrested after lockdown; Historical marker dedication planned for Williamsburg military hero; Trial date set for state troopers accused of using excessive force.

• September – Weekend brawl in Corbin leads to damage at downtown restaurant; Williamsburg pedestrian dies; Four arrested in connection with business burglaries, ATM theft attempts; Renfro Supply adding new jobs with multi-million dollar expansion; Cause of Whitley County Detention Center inmate’s death still unknown; ARPA funds being used to install new statues in downtown Williamsburg.

• October – Cumberland River Behavioral Health awarded nearly $4 million federal grant; Write-in sheriff candidate James Walden arrested; Jason Caddell appointed Williamsburg Police Chief; Empty firearm found inside backpack of WCHS student; Stolen sports cards sold to Corbin business.

• November – Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Whitley County Detention Center; Corbin officials concerned about younger students using vape; Up in Flames: Rockholds Pit Stop a total loss; Bids accepted for new Kentucky Splash attraction, work expected to begin soon.

• December – Man who had standoff with police found competent; Death penalty withdrawn as sentencing option in federal murder case; Edwards gets 105-year prison sentence for roles in shootings, drug trafficking.