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Corbin Times Tribune - 6.30.26 · 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 Corbyn, Laurel, Whitley and Knox Counties. Your
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reader today is Janice. As a reminder, Radio I as
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the reading service intended for people who are blind or
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have other disabilities that make it difficult to re printed material,
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will begin with the e addition dated June twenty fifth,
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twenty twenty six. Our first article is Corbyn School Board
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honors retirees. Here's student appeal for teacher reconsideration by annyel
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James and Macy Swafford. Pardon me Corbyn. The Corbyn Board
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of Education recognized several retiring employees for their years of
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service to the district during its regular meeting last Thursday
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evening at Corbyn Middle School. Board chair Carsel Burchett called
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the meeting to order, with members Ben Childers, Kim Crawley,
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p Intendent Travis Wilder, Paul Taylor and David Hannah present.
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The meeting began with the pledge of allegiance and a
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prayer by Superintendent Wilder, who thanked retirees for their dedication
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to Corbyn Independent schools, whether they've worked in our district
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five years, fifteen years, twenty five or thirty years, they
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have left an indelible mark upon the students that they served,
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the superintendent said. The board approved a pair of agenda
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amendments before recognizing retirees with commemorative gifts, including rocking chairs
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and chrome books. Among those recognized were Ronda Jones, Brent Jackson,
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Jennifer Hannah Don Allen, Lourie Jones, Vicki Collins, and Christy Thomas.
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Several administrators and board members shared personal reflections on retirees
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career and impact on students. Brett Jackson, a longtime educator
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and coach at Corbn Middle School, received praise for his
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championship winning athletic programs and mentorship of students. Principal Evan
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Robinson described Jackson's influence as extending far beyond wins and losses.
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It's the hours of heart and love that he poured
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into all his athletes and students that won't ever hang
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in a gymnasium, not that hang in the lives of
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all students and athletes that he touched, Robinson said. During
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his superintendent report, Wilder provided updates on several ongoing district
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construction projects, including renovations to the Corbyn High School auxiliary gym,
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track facility, auditorium, and Maine Gymnasium. Superintendent Wilder said the
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district hopes to host an open house for the new
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auxiliary gym before the state's dead period ends on UH.
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He reported that work on the track facility is progressing
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as planned, with crews making modifications designed to create a
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venue capable of hosting future competitions. The auditorium renovation is
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also underway, with news speakers, seating, lighting and all improvements
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being installed. Meanwhile, work has begun on refinishing the high
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school gym floor. We want to make sure that it's
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done for decades down the road, Wilder said of the
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district's athletic facility improvements. The meeting public's comment portion featured
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remarks from two rising eighth grade students, Dylan Rodin and
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Mati matte V and Tavov, who spoke in support a
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former teacher and track coach, Chandler Powell. Rodin told board
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members that Powell had positively influenced students both inside and
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outside the classroom. He showed me how to be not
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only a better student, but also a better athlete, person
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and Christian, Rodent said. Rodin also highlighted Powell's impact on
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the middle school track team track program, stating that participation
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increased significantly under Pale's leadership and that student athletes achieved
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numerous accomplishments, including undefeated seasons, school records, and state qualifications.
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The student presented a petition containing seventy three signatures, including
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sixty six students, asking the district to reconsider Powe's removal
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to us. He wasn't just another teacher, Rodin said, he
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was one of our friends, and he wasn't just part
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of the school, He was part of us. Antavaff echoed
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those sentiments, describing Powell as an influential teacher, coach, and mentor.
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Mister Powell cares about his students and deeply invest in
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in out success. Board members thanked both students for addressing
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the board and commented them for speaking publicly about an
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issue they felt passionate about. Following the public comments, the
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board entered executive session for discussion of a personnel matter.
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No action was expected following the executive session. The meeting
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adjourned following the executive session discussion. After the regular meeting,
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the board convened for a specialized for a special call
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meeting on Monday, where members addressed several facility related items
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and employee compensation measures. Among the items discussed were changes
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order were change orders for the Corbyn High School in
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Auxiliary Gymnasium project. The board unanimously approved several bid packages,
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increasing including five thousand and six one hundred and ninety
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four dollars for Hacker Brothers, one thousand dollars for True Colors,
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thirteen thousand, two hundred eighty nine dollars for Toad Fine,
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seventeen thousand, six hundred seven dollars for Porter Athletics, and
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five thousand, six hundred thirty three dollars for Complete electrical Systems.
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Board members also unanimously approved change orders related to the
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district's tennis and track renovation project with Della May. The
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approved changes included an increase of seventy two thousand, nine
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hundred ninety dollars for track repairs, an additional three hundred
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two thousand dollars for an amphitheater, access drive, DAMA, true
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vision and site fencing. Also approved during the special called
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meeting was a one time five hundred dollar reward payment
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for all full time district employees. Chief Financial Officer Ronda
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Moore explain that the reasoning behind the payment, noting that
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the district is not anticipating an increase in seek funding
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from the Kentucky General Assembly. Board members felt like, rather
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do that, pardon me. Board members felt like, rather than
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do a one percent raise that really isn't funded as
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much as when you divide that over multiple payrolls. More said,
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people really don't see a big increase because it's taxed.
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So they felt like if they did a one time payment,
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then all staff get a five hundred dollars extra payment.
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More said the district plans to distribute the payment in December,
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shortly before Christmas break. What will happen is lower paid people.
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One percent for them would have been less than five
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hundred dollars. Of course, your higher paid people may not
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be getting as much as a one percent raise, said More,
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but it will be an opportunity for those staff members
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to get a little extra income. There and then there
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is a picture, and beneath the picture it says Superintendent
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Travis Wilder presents don Allen with her gift. Our next
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article is London Council approve approval to budget by Macy Swafford, London,
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London City Council met in a second specialized call session
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Wednesday morning to conduct second readings and final approvals of
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several ordinances relating to the city's budget, personnel structure, transparency
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requirement and ethics policies. Mayor Randall Weddle, Councilman Kelly green Smith,
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and Acting City Attorney Eric Edwards were absent from the meeting.
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City Clerk Ashley Taylor read summaries of each ordinance before
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a council voted unanimously approved the Ordnance twenty twenty twenty
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six Dash eleven, which amends the city current fiscal year
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twenty twenty five twenty six budget to reflect actual revenues
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and expenditures through the end of June. The ordinance adjusts
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the appropriations across several departments and leaves projected carry forward
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balances of approximately nine hundred forty five thousand, three hundred
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thirty dollars in the General Fund and one point four
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to seven million in the garbage Fund. Council then approved
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Ordinance twenty twenty six Dash twelve, establishing the city's budget
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for fiscal year twenty twenty six twenty seven. The budget
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projects approximately fifteen point nine million dollars in general fund revenues,
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five point four million dollars in garbageree fund, garbage fund revenues,
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eight hundred fifty thousand dollars in alcohol fund revenues, one
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hundred and seventy thousand dollars in municipal aid revenues, and
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five hundred fifty thousand dollars in FEMA funding. Councilman John
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Bruner cast the loan dissenting vote on the ordinance, as
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he had during Tuesday's first reading. There's been a good
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deal of talk about this council slashing the public safety
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portion to the city. Bruner sat at wednesday special meeting
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the fire department. Last year it was two point five
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million dollars. The new year would be two million, six
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hundred and forty seven thousand dollars, actually an increase in
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the budget. Despite explaining the process behind the ordinance, Bruner
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was still the loan dissenting vote for Ordnance twenty twenty
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six Dash twelve on Wednesday. The ordinance contained several ms
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pardon me related restricts and conditions tied to certain Fire
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Department appropriations. The ordinance states those appropriations are expressly conditioned
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upon the surrender of the certificate of need to the
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state not later than August first, twenty twenty six. It
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further requires the city to notify a Laurel County nine
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to one one by August first, twenty twenty six that
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it shall not be dispatched on an EMS run unless
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requested to do so by Ambulance Incorporated or another agency
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through mutual aid. The ordinance also requires the city to
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enter into a mutual aid agreement with Ambulance Incorporated of
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Laurel County and discontinue expenditures related to prescription drugs, advanced
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life support services, and medical director associated with the EMS program.
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The EMS provisions generated significant public discussion ahead of the
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ordinance approval. Prior to the meeting, Ambulance Incorporated of Laurel
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County President Karen Jones released a statement responding to speculation
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surrounding the proposal. There have also been suggestions that Ambulance
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Incorporated of Laurel County is responsible for requesting that the
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con or con be withdrawn. Jones road, I want to
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be clear that Ambulance Incorporated values and respects its long
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standing working relationship with the London City Fire Department, and
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we continue to collaborate in serving our community. Jones added
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that the London City Fire Department plays an important role
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in protecting the health and safety of our citizens. Social
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media users also voice concerns regarding the ordnance. Local attorney
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Brandon West publicly stated his office would represent first responders
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pro bono if adverse action was taken against them, and
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would likewise offer representation to individuals fined by the city's
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Ethics Board for filing what he described as a valiant complaint.
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The budget ordinance also references rising insurance calls. The discussion
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comes after the City of London received a notice of
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conditional renewal from Kentucky League of Cities Insurance Services k
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LCIs dated April the seventh, warning that the city's liability,
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property and workers compensation coverage could be sub subject to
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premium increases of twenty five percent or more, reduced coverage limits,
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and increased deductibles due to unfavorable loss results. Council members
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stated that they did not receive the notice until a
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couple of days prior to Tuesday's special call meeting. In
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response wants increased litigation against the city contributed to higher
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insurance costs. The reality is simple. When the same small
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group of individuals continues filing lawsuit after lawsuit against the city,
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the insurance company sees that as an increased risk. Wegel said,
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we risk when risk goes up, the premiums goes up.
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The mayor continued by stating that the rise was not
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caused by everyday citizens or some citywide problem, but instead
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it was the direct result of repeated legal actions and
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ongoing turmoil created by the same circle of people. Wettel
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added that the increase is not necessarily permanent, and that
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the city remains financially secure and in good shape. It
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has been. It has been a coordinated effort that has
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cost the city's financial actually and unfortunately the taxpayers are
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the ones who end up feeling it. Weddell stated, my
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focus remains on protecting the city, protecting taxpayer dollars and
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moving London forward. While a number of plaintiffs are represented
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by a single attorney, Wettele's comments didn't acknowledge the pending
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lawsuit filed by survivors of Doug Harliss, who was fatally
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shot in December of twenty twenty four as London police
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trying to execute a search warrant outside the city limits
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at what turned out to be the wrong address. In
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other news, Council also approved Ordinance twenty twenty six Dash thirteen,
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establishing a new pay and classification plan for city employees
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and non elected officers. The ordinance sets staffing levels across
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city departments, establishes compensation schedules, and continue use certain employee
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benefit provisions. Additionally, Council approved Ordnance twenty twenty six Dash fourteen,
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which expands the city's transparency requirements by requiring the publication
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of the previous five years of Adults in Special Apartment,
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the previous five years of Audits and Special Audits on
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the city's website. The final ordinance approved, Ordnance twenty twenty
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six Dash fifteen, amends the city's Ethics Ordinance by expanding
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disclosure requirements, revising nepotism provision, modifying complaint procedures, and esta
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establishing civil penalties for violations. The full ordinances can be
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read on the City of London's website under the Ordnance
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Directory tab our next article. As Laurel County Clerk announces
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Wettel will not appear on November ballot. Macy Swafford, London,
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Laurel County clerk Tony Brown announced Wednesday that Mayor Randall
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Weddle will not appear on the November third general election ballot,
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following tuesday's Laurel Circuit Court ruling that found Weddle is
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not a bonafide candidate for the office of mayor. In
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a public notice issued Wednesday, Brown said he had received
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a certified copy of Laurel's Circuit Court Judge Michael OL
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Caperton's June twenty third order granting an emergency motion for
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removal followed by petitioners challenging Weddell's residency qualifications. As chair
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of the Laurel County Board of Elections, I am giving
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notice that Randall Weddle will not appear on the November three,
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twenty twenty six general election ballat for Mayor of London, Kentucky.
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Brown wrote, as a result of this order, matt or
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will be the only Mayor of London will be the
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only Mayor of London candidate listed on the ballot. The
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announcement follows a fourteen page ruling from Judge Caperton, who
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concluded that Weddell's actual residence is located in Kivy rather
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than within the City of London. As required by Kentucky
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law for mayoral candidates. The case was brought by James
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Phelps and other petitioners, who argued that while Weddell owns
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property in London, he primarily resigns at a home in
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the Kivy area. After hearings held May twelfth and thirteenth,
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additional briefing by both parties and inspections of both properties,
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the court sided with the petitioners. Kentucky law states that
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a candidate for mayor shall be a resident of the
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city for not less than one year prior to his
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or her election. In reviewing the evidence, capertain her testimony
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from neighbours, law enforcement officers, utility officials, and Weddell himself.
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Witnesses testified that they observed little activity at the London property,
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while security details and other evidence pointed to the kiv
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residents as Weddell's primary home. The court also reviewed water
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usage records from both properties. Testimony from London Utility Commission
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Superintendent Larry Creech indicated that the usage at the London
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property was substantially lower than what would be expected from
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a family of three, while water consumption at the kiv
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residence was consistent with an occupied household capertain additionally reviewed
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business filings, court records, need transfers, and conducted personnel inspection
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of both residency. Ultimately, upon a thorough review of all
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the evidence of record and the applicaal law, it is
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the opinion of the Court that the totality of the
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circumstances demonstrated that the London property may be a place
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where Wettele transacts business, but is not his home nor
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his resident. The judge wrote. The ruling noted that the
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Kiv residents contained closets full of clothes, fully furnished rooms,
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functioning appliances, vehicles in the driveway, pets, and all manner
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of other activity that indicated it was the family's primary residence.
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By contrast, the court found that the London property generally
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lacked many basic utilities, including a washing or drying machine,
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and contained very few personal articles of any kind. The
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judge further noted that there were no vehicles or pats
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present at the London property during the court's inspection. The
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order ultimately states it is hereby ordered that the emergency
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motion for removal filed by the petitioner's b and hereby
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is granted and that the respondent, Randall Weddle, is not,
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for the foregoing reasons, a bonafide candidate for the upcoming
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London mayoral election in November of twenty twenty six. Shortly
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after the ruling was announced Tuesday, Weddell issued a public
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statement accepting the court's decision, while expressing disagreement with this conclusion.
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I have always believed that the public service is about
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showing up, doing the work and putting the people of
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London first, Weddell wrote. While I respectfully disagree with today's decision,
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I accept it and remain grateful to the Judge Capertain
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for his careful consideration of this matter. We'll also thank
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London residents for their support. Most importantly, I want to
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thank the people of London for the trust you have
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placed in me. Serving as your mayor has been one
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of the greatest honors of my life, he stated. Looking ahead,
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Weddell said his focus remains on serving the city through
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the remainder of his term. My focus now is exactly
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where it has always been, serving this city. I intend
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to finish my term strong and continue working every day
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on behalf of our community and keep doing the job
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the people elected me to do. Weddle's attorney, Carmen g Lycerino,
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later released his statements, saying the mayor would accept the
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court's decision despite maintaining that he is a resident of
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the City of London has dedicated his time, talent and
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treasure to making city government work for the citizens of London.
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Lacerino said, while he remains that he is a resident
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of the city, Mayor Weddell will accept this decision and
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expresses his thanks to Judge Caperton and most importantly, the
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people of London. He intends to finish his term strong
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and will continue to do the work he was elected
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to do. Attorney Brandon Voker, who represented the petitioners, did
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not respond to requests come for comment by press time.
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Our next article is Baptist Health celebrates the life of
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doctor C. William Briscoe Corbyn. Baptist Health Corbyn hosted a
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celebration of life service last Wednesday, honoring doctor C. William Briscoe,
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whose medical careers spanned more than fifty years and has
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left a lasting impact on healthcare across southeastern Kentucky. Family members,
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friends and colleagues gathered to remember Briscoe's dedication to patient care,
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particularly in the field of behavioral health, where he helped
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expand services for generations of residents. Attendees reflected on Briscoe's
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role in establishing establishing the Trillium Center and the Briscoe Clinic,
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as well as the creation of the C. William Briscoe
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Fund through the Baptist Health Corbin Foundation to support behavioral
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health patients in years ahead. Through stories, photographs, and shared memories,
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Those in attendance celebrated a physician whose compassion, leadership, and
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commitment to serving others continue to influence the community he
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called home. And there is a picture and the caption
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says Kevin Rice Lynn made DLin and Tommy Fraser sing
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beautiful renditions of the popular Christian Folks songs and the
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photo is by Macy Swiffer. Our next article is Whitley
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School Board host annual Whitecoats Ceremony by Kaylee Beth Roberts Williamsburg.
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Last Thursday, the Whitley County Board of Education held their
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board meeting for the month of June. At the meeting,
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Whitley County students and employees were recognized for their hard
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work during the past school year. Pam Blakely Cafeteria manager
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at Oak Grove Elementary School was awarded June's Above and
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Beyond Award for her outstanding service and dedication for their
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athletic achievement in tennis. Two students, Micah Jones and Jackson
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McLaughlin were recognized for their accomplishment as tennis doubles Region
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champions and for advancing to the state tournament. The largest
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part of the award presentation was the Whitecoats ceremony, which
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was a celebration that honored students who received certification in
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phlebotomy and patient care. Students involved in the phlebotomy certification
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process had to successfully complete thirty venue punctures and tencapulary
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or fingersticks. For the patient care certification, students had to
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complete those two requirements as well as monitoring vital signs,
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performing ekg's, and other health care trainings. Once the requirements
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are completed, these certifications are given through the NHA or
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the National Health Care Association. The ceremony recognizing these students
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for their hard work was implemented by implemented in twenty
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twenty by Superintendent John Seller. Students who received Flebotomy technician
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certifications are Rachel Baker, Gabrielle Collin, me Lai Dawson, Growley,
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Sarah Hill, Abigail Lawson, Zoe Overbay, Hailey Rodriquez. The students
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who received Patient Care Technicians certifications are for Leech to Day,
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Madeline Ferris, Dawson Coley, Abigail Lawson, and Hannah Nelson. Along
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with the award presentations, the board also discussed fiscal matters
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such as cost and progress of various renovations and the
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renewal of the school's resource officers contract with the Whitley
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County Fiscal Corp. About the Fiscal Court contract renewals, Superintendent
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Siler said, just Tuesday night, June sixteenth, the Fiscal Court
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met and they approved and signed a contract to keep
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our school resource officers within their jurisdiction. Siler continued, it's
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been a great partnership. They've given us support and helped
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our school resource officers get things that they need so
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they can keep our students in a safe at our schools.
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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 Radioisle. This is Janice
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wishing you a very good day.