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Corbin Times-Tribune - 2.24.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now we turn to the reading of the Times Tribune
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for news in Corbin, Laurel, Whitley, and Knox Counties. Your
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reader today is Janice. As a reminder, RADIOI is a
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reading service intended for people who are blind or have
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other disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material.
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Will begin with the e addition dated Thursday, February nineteenth,
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two Thoy twenty six and the first article is Opening Doors.
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Knox County School awarded nearly one million dollars with USDA
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Distance Learning brand by Macy Swafford Mount Vernon. Knox County
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Public School officials joined state, federal, and regional partners during
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that technology demonstration and roundtable discussion at the Rockcastle County
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Farmers Market, highlighting the impact of nearly one million dollars
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Disston's Learning and Telehealth grant awarded through the United States
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Department of Agriculture. Knox County Public Schools received nine hundred
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ninety eight thousand, two hundred and sixty five dollars as
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part of a two point eight million USDA Distance Learning
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Telemedicine Grant share grant shared among three Kentucky district school districts.
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The funding partner is designed to expand virtual instructions, telemedicine access,
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and community partnerships across the district, particularly in rural areas.
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Amy Pennington, director of the Academic Programs for Knox County
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Public Schools, said the grant will significantly expand how students
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learn and connect beyond the traditional classroom. All schools will
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be equipped with technology that will allow teachers and students
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to bring and guest speakers, collaborate between schools and programs,
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take virtual field trips, and form partnerships with universities and
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organizations to enhance learning through video conferencing, Pennington said. Also
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in attendance at the discussion and presentation was Superintendent Jeremy Ledford,
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who also shared his appreciation for the grant. We really
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appreciate you all in helping us get back to that
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one to one and be able to serve those kids
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in our rural areas, he said. During the demonstration, participants
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observed examples of how technology is already being used, including
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the virtual classroom connections for elementary students, health science demonstrations
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for the middle and high school students, and distance learning
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tools that allow students to engage with medical professionals and
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instructors remotely. Pennington explained that the grant will also strengthen
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the health service the Student Health Services District LIDE, noting
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that each school will receive a telemedicine and telecounseling cards
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as part of the project. These visits will be guided
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by our registered nurses who are already placed in our
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community schools and school counselors. Social workers and mental health
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partners will be able to connect students and families with
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doctors and other professionals through telehealth services available at every school.
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Pennington said. District leaders emphasize that distance learning has become
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increasingly important for Knox County schools students, particularly those who
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face barriers related to transportation, health needs, or access to
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broadband internet. It opens up so many doors for our students,
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Pennington said. Our kids who are homebound or who live
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in very rural areas are able to log in and
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be part of the classroom, whereas that wasn't always possible before.
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It's holding open so many different doors for our community.
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Beyond academics and healthcare, the technology will also support broader
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community engagement by allowing schools to connect with community resources,
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preventive care programs, and educational partners without traveling. District leaders
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said the investment represents more than just upgraded equipment, but
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a long term commitment to removing barriers for students and
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families across Knox County. By expanding both educational access and
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healthcare availability, Knox County Public Schools aims to ensure students
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to have the support they need to stay engage, succeed academically,
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and remain connected to their schools and their communities. And
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there are two pictures of people receiving the big checks
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and under one of them it says Knox County Schools
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is represented with Distant Learning Grant Cerialmonial check for nine
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hundred and ninety eight thousand and two hundred and sixty
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five dollars and inn it are was a man, I
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mean a woman, man, woman, man. It didn't say their
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names underneath. And the next picture is of three men
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and then a woman and it says Knox County School
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District officials discussed the benefits that the new grant will
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have their community. Our next article is ATF concludes downtown
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Williamsburg fire was accidental by Macy Swafford. Williamsburg. Federal investigators
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have concluded that the fire that heavily damaged the several
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buildings in downtown Williamsburg in January of this year was
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accidental and not the result of arson. According to the
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Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives find released last
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week and reported by Fox fifty six News, the blaze
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originated in the ceiling area between the roof and the
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interior structure of one of the affected buildings. Investigators determined
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there was no evidence of criminal activity connected to the fire.
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The ATF National Response Team assisted local agency with the investigation,
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which included scene examinations, witness interviews, and forensic analysis. While
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the exact ignition source could not be definitely identified, officials
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confirmed the cause was accidental. The fire destroyed multiple downtown
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businesses and residential units, prompting an extensive emergency response and
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leaving a lasting impact on the Williamsboro community. Final lab
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results are still in the process of being tested to
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determine the exact cause of fire, according to the report
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from Fox. Our next article is Whitley Board Honors Pardon Me,
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Let Me Start Over. Whitley Board honors Boston Elementary teacher
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cheer Champions by Macy Swofford, Williamsburg. The Whitley County Board
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of Education met Tuesday for its regular monthly meeting, beginning
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with the recognitions honoring the district's February Above and Beyond
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recipient and celebrating a state championship cheerleading achievement. Superintendent John
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Syler recognized Boston Elementary sixth grader teacher Chris Johnson as
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the Above and Beyond Award recipient. Johnson was nominated by
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Boston Elementary Principal Jordan mccombers for his dedication and leadership
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to help strengthen instruction and improve outcomes in an area
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of need for our school, placing the needs of students
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in the school above personal comfort set read Superintendent Siler.
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In addition to his teaching duties, Johnson has taken on
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leadership of the school's academic team and remains an active
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member of the on site based decision making counsel. He
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also assits assist with after school clubs, oversees after school detention,
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and consistently steps in where support is needed throughout the
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school community. Board members present presented Johnson with the official
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Above and Beyond Award, recognizing him as a district's Outstanding
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Staff Member for the fourth month of February. Following the recognition,
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the board honored the Whitley Central Immediate Intermediate Cheer Squad
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for capturing a first place finish at the twenty twenty
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five Kapos Traditional Cheerleading competition in the Elementary Small division.
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The competition consists of a two point five minute routine
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performed at the state level. Superintendent Siler congratulated the team
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on earning state championship title. What an accomplishment to go
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and win at the state level. I mean, there is
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no bigger, said Siler. I also want to thank your
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parents because without your parents transporting back and forth dot
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Gas hotel rooms, that couldn't have this experience. Siler said
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that the experience demonstrated the value of dedication and hard work,
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noting that the lessons learned through the process extend beyond
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the competition itself. The Whitley Central of Intermediate Cheer Squad
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members recognized included Memory Atkins, Jasmine Avril, Abigail Carpenter, Hannah Caudel,
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Addison Davis, Lillian Huddleston, Noel Lenham, Hadley, Moses Bailey, Richardson,
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Kk Rose, Sophie Stein, Ava, Taylor Abbe, Trent Aubrey Wagers,
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Natalie West ray Lynn Whitehead. Each cheerleader was presented with
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a certificate recognizing the team's accomplishment. After recognitions concluded, the
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board continued with its regular agenda. The Whitley County High
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School Guidance Department provided a brief presentation after the school
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was selected as one of only twenty two schools statewide
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to participate as partner in the University of Kentucky Next
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Generation Dual Credit Scholarship program. The program allows eligible high
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school students to earn college credit at a reduced cost
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while still enrolled in high school, helping students get an
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early start on post secondary education and reduced future tuition expenses.
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The board also received a facility's update from Ross Terran Architects,
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an architectural firm specializing in school infrastructure projects. During the update,
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officials shared that the new Whitley County High School Tennis
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Court project is expected to go outphabid in March. Additionally,
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the Whitley Central Flooring project is scheduled to begin construction
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in May, with completion anticipated before the start of the
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next school year. Pardon me to conclude the meeting, board
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members unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding allowing the district
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to partner with Winds of Change in the Bell County
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Community Action to expand access to mental health services for students.
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And underneath this article there is a picture of students
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and it says the Whitley County Intermediate Cheer Team was
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recognized for their victory as the twenty twenty five Kapos
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Traditional Cheerleading Competition champions and the Elementary Small Division. Our
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next article is stay Supreme Court. Here's argument in Whitley
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County contract dispute by Macy Swafford Frankfort. The Kentucky Supreme
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Court heard oral arguments last Thursday in a dispute between
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king Crete Drillings, Incorporated and the Whitley County Fiscal Court
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over whether the counties and this Commonwealth are protected by
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sovereign immunity in contract disputes. An issue is whether Whitley
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County must legit pardoning and potentially pay claims arising from
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public road repair work after the king Crete claimed it
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performed additional work beyond the original bid specifications and was
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not fully compensated. King Crete's attorney, Aaron Hostadler argued that
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the sovereign immunity should not shield counties from contract obligations
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or disputes over oral modification to written bids. Council stress
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that can touch key law allows contracts to be modified
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by verbal agreement or course of performance when the written
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contract does not expressly require change orders to be in writing.
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He also argued the case should survive dismissal before the
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underlying bid documents do not prevent verbal change orders, and
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the company performed the work regardless of the written change
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order issue. Attorney for Whitley County, Griffin Terry Sumner, countered
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that sovereign immunity for tax counties from being forced into
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litigation or paying additional sums beyond what is provided in
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a written contract absent a legislative waiver. She cited state
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law and prior precedent, asserting that only the General Assembly
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can remove immunity for counties and warn that allowing contract
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claims against counties could disrupt competitive bidding and expose all
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one hundred and twenty counties in litigation. Justices questioned both
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sides on whether King Crete's claims would stand without written
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charge orders and whether claims such as unjust enrichment should
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present proceed County Council noted that King Crete admitted the
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specifications were low embidding, characterizing the claim as a strategic
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attempt to recover more than the agreed price. The court
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heard the case at the University of Louisville, with the
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proceedings being live streamed. The case was taken under advisement,
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with the justices expected to issue a written opinion on
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a later date. Our next article is Whitley Fiscal Court
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approves road project FEMA A Here's Emergency Management report by
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Macy Swafford, Williamsburg. Whitley County Fiscal Court met in regular
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session on Tuesday, approving grant related resolutions and hearing monthly
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reports from county officials. Resolution twenty twenty six NA Show one,
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a cole Severance grant project, was unanimously approved by the court.
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The resolution is intended to devote Local Government Assistance LGA
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funds toward resurfacing Little Wolf Creek Road. We have to
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have the resolution before we can get letters from legislators
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supporting the projects of Whitley County. Fiscal Court Project Director
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Amber Owens. Judge Executive Pat White Junior said paving in
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the area began a while ago, but was delayed after
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flooding required disaster related repairs. This is a little over
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half of the remaining section will be done in this project,
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which will be about one point seven miles, White said,
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and then there's about a mile left at one point one.
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The total cost of the resurfacing project was stated at
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one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. The court also unanimously
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approved Participation and the twenty twenty six Waist Tire Management Program,
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authorizing Judge Executive White to sign the agreement. The tire
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collection event as scheduled from May seventh through the ninth. Next,
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the court approved the Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA DR
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DASH forty eight to sixty public Assistance Grant, which relates
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to flooding that occurred in the county in February of
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last year. The grant will find repairs for roadway slides
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and provide reimbursement for emergency response work. The motion passed unanimously.
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An annual order of affiliation between the Whitley County Fiscal Court,
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the Law Whitley Emergency Management and the Woodbine Fired and
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Rescue Squad was also approved. The agreement outlines the county's
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working relationship with search and rescue services in required yearly
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and is required yearly by the state. During departmental reports,
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Jerry Rains described January as an unusual active month for
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Laurel Whitley emergency management. January was a very busy month.
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You don't usually don't have a January where you have
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two major downtown fires in London and Williamsburg. Rain said,
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I just want to thank everybody that was part of
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that fire Williamsburg. We had a lot of help, and
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I was glad we had a lot of help to
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show up. Rain's also addressed the winter weather impacts, noting
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that between January twenty fourth and February the first, his
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department responded to seventeen weather related calls for service. Additionally,
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Rains discussing you initiative track missing persons cases across Laurel
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and Whitley Counties. As of today, there have been twenty
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missing person the cases that I'm tracking. Rain said twelve
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of those twenties were resolved in one day or less.
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He reported that the Whitley County Sheriff's Department had four
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cases law County Sheriff's Department nine, Corbyn Police Department one,
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Kentucky State Police two, London Police Department three, and Williamsburg
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Police Department one. Rains noted that six of the missing
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persons were foster children. I'm just trying to keep statistics
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on that stuff this year and already seen some patterns
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of where these kids are going missing, he said. Following
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the completion of the departmental reports, the meeting was soon adjourned.
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Our next article is Bluegrass Care, Let Me start over.
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Bluegrass Care Navigators feature Corbyn Rotary by Macy Swafford Corbyn.
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At the weekly Corbyn Rotary Club meeting held last Thursday
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at David Steakhouse and Buffet, members heard a personal and
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emotional presentation from Bluegrass Care Navigators highlighting the organization's hospice,
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palliative and supportive care services across southeastern Kentucky. Guest speaker
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Back Worcester, an Associate director of Philanthropy for the Bluegrass
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Care Navigators, traveled from Lexington to speak with the club
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about the organization's mission and the role community support plays
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in providing care beyond what insurance and medicare cover. Worcester
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said she chose not to lead with statistics, instead sharing
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her personal connection to hospice care and the reason she
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now works for the organization. April fourteenth, twenty fifteen, was
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the day I was introduced to hospice care. Booster said
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the concept was foreign to me. I was twenty six,
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working full time, attending graduate school, and planning the wedding.
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Death and dying were not on the top of my mind.
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She explained that her father had been badly the heart
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disease for more than a decade, and when medical treatment
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could no longer prevent his heart from failing, she found
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herself suddenly responsible for difficult decisions. I felt extremely overwhelmed.
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I couldn't sleep, eat, or concentrate, Wooster said. Wooster described
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how Bluegrass cair Navigators provided support not only to her father,
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but to her entire family during that time. She she
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recalled staff members explaining what to expect, encouraging meaningful moments
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such as playing her father's favorite music, and simply being
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present during the most difficult hours. They also sat with
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us when we didn't want to be alone with our
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thoughts when everything felt crushingly heavy, she said. Although her
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father passed away the next day, Wooster said Her experience
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with Bluegrass Care Navigators continued through bereavement counseling, which later
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helped her again when her mother entered hospice care just
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five months later. That journey is the reason I advocate
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for the organization today, Wooster said. During her remarks, Wooster
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emphasized that Bluegrass Care Navigators is not limited to end
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of life hospice care, but also provides palliative care, dementia care,
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bereavement counseling, and caregiver support. The organization serves Laurel, Whitley, Knox,
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clay Vale, and Harlan Counties through its Barbarville regional office,
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as well as additional counties across central and northern and
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eastern Kentucky. They are there when you are ready for them,
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Wooster said, and they're there even when you're not. She
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address the common misconceptions about hospice care, noting that hospice
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does not always mean the end is immediate, and that
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some patients improve and later transition out of hospice services.
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Worcester's also explained by Philothampic support is critical to the
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organization's work. While Medicare and insurance cover many school core services,
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donations funds. Items and programs are not reimbursed, including integrative
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medicines such as music, art, massage, therapy, grief counseling, and
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emergency needs like betting, food, heaters or air conditioners. In
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all the chaos, with all the amazing care my parents received,
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I never received a bill, she said. Turns out that
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was just not part of dying. That's part of what
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Phili pardon me, Philithioperic covers. She noted that Bluegrond Care
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Navigator's staff logged more than two point nine million miles
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last year, traveling to patients' homes, nursing facilities, and remote
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areas to provide care, often during severe weather and at
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all hours. Our staff meet you where you are not
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in respond to your needs, Wooster said. Wooster encouraged rotary
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members to help spread awareness of the organization services, saying
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many families express regret that they did not learn about
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Bluegrass Care Navigators sooner. Our biggest goal is that you
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learn about us before you face these situations, she said.
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Now there is a correction, and it says In last
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week's edition, Catherine Ruby's column included an erraneous date for
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the London Corbet and Rotary International Dinner. It is scheduled
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for April the eleventh at the Corbin Arena. Are over
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for forty five thousand rotary clubs around the world with
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one point two million members. Our next article is Kentucky
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Splash Accepting Applications for seasonal employment by Macy Swafford. Williamsburg,
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Kentucky Splash Water Park and Campground is now accepting applications
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for seasonal employment ahead of the upcoming summer season. New
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applicants will be required to attend an in person hiring
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event with on site interviews on Saturday, February twenty eighth,
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from nine am to twelve p m. According to the announcement,
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all seasonal positions are currently available, including lifeguards, slide attendants,
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concession workers, admission staff, birthday party host, mini golf attendants,
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park services and maintenance. Applicants may complete an application in
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advance by visiting ww dot Kentucky splash dot com, or
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they may obtain an application in person during the hiring event.
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Individuals ages sixteen and older are encouraged to apply. Kentucky
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Splashwater Park and Campground is operated by the City of Williamsburg,
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which is an equal opportunity employer. And complies with the
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American Disabilities Act. Our next article. Local superintendents endorsed pre
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k All initiative by Macy Swafford Frankfurt. Superintendents from Whitley
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County Schools, Law County Public Schools, and Corbin Independent Schools
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have joined more than ninety education leaders across Kentucky and
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Is endorsing the pre K for All initiative, urging lawmakers
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to expand access to publicly funded preschool programs statewide. According
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to a release last week from the office of Governor
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Andy Bsher, ninety three school superintendents representing more than half
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of Kentucky's school districts and a letter to members of
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the General Assembly calling for funding of pre K for
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All in the twenty twenty six twenty seven state budget.
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Local signatures include John Seller of Whitley County Schools, Denise
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Gribble of Law County Public Schools, and Travis Wilder of
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Corbin Independent Schools. The letter, sent to the state lawmakers
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February fifth, emphasizes that early childhood education is critical to
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student success and that too many children enter kindergarten without
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skills needed to succeed. Superintendents noted that expanding access to
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pre K programs would help address learning gaps before students
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reach elementary school. Education leaders from across the state have
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stated clearly that Kentucky students and our families cannot wait
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for seers said in the release, pre K access for
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every four year old must be a priority to this
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session to move our state forward. State officials estimate that
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only about fourteen thousand of Kentucky's fifty four thousand four
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year olds currently have access to pre K programs. Supporters
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of the initiatives say universal access would improve kindergarten readiness
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while also benefiting families and the workforce by reducing child
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care costs and allowing more parents to return to work.
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The pre K for All initiative has also received support
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from education and business organizations statewide. Then Kentucky Association of
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School Administrators, representing more than three thousand, three hundred education leaders,
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has endorsed the effort, along with dozens of Chamber of
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Commerce and local government leaders. Since the initiative lawns last year,
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more than sixty six thousand Kentuckians have contacted state legislation
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urging them to support expands preschool funding. According to the
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Governor's office. For more information on the initiative, visit pre
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k Al dot Ky dot gov. All three superintendents reached
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out for comment, but did not reply as of press time.
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This concludes the reading of the Times Tribune. Please stay
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tuned for continued programming. Thank you for joining me and
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on behalf of everyone here at RADIOI. This is Channis,
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Thank you and wishing you a very good day.