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Corbin Times-Tribune - 7.28.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now we turn to the reading of the time Tribunes
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for news in Corbin, Laurel, Whitley and Knox County's 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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We'll begin with the E edition dated July the twenty third,
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twenty twenty six. Our first article is Knox Whitley Humane
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Association host Gala for a Paul's Fundraiser. Fundraiser by Anya James, London.
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The Knox Whitley Humane Association welcome community members for an
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evening of dining, dancing and fundraising during its gala for
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Paul's Last Friday, raising support for homeless animals throughout the region.
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The event, held at Oak Hill Gardens in London, served
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as a fundraiser to help provide food, shelter and medical
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care for animals cared for by the organization. Guests enjoyed dinner,
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entertainment and opportunities to support the Humane Association through donations
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and a silent auction. Dinner was catered by Local Honey
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of London and featured a variety of dishes along with
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beer wine and specialty cocktail for attendees. One of the
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highlights of the evening was a ballroom dancing lesson led
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by professional ballroom instructor Lindsay Baker. Guests were invited onto
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the dance floor to learn basic ballroom steps, adding an
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interactive element to the night's festivities. Attendees also had the
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opportunity to bid on dozens of silent auction items, with
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proceeds benefiting the Humane Association. Auction prizes including the Seven
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Nights Day at Hilton Head Island, a weekend pontoon boat
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rental at Holly Bay Marina, jewelry from House of s
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and Jay, a date night basket, a golfing basket, a
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camping basket, specialty bourbon, and several additional items donated by
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local businesses and supporters. Knox Whitley Humane Association President Devana
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Macquette thanked those who attended and emphasized the importance of
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continued community support for the organization's mission. All donations from
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the community are welcomed and needed. Macquest said. Funds raised
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during the gala for Paul's will help Knox Whitley a
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Humane Association continue caring for homeless animals by providing daily
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necessary necessities, pardon me, veterinary care, and temporary shelter while
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pets await permanent homes. The event brought together animal lovers,
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local businesses, and communities supporters for an evening dedicated to
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improving the lives of homeless animals across Knox and Whitley Counties.
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And there are two photographs and underneath the first one,
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it looks like there's some people that are in line
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to dance, and it says ballroom instructor Lindsay Baker teaches
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attendees the bacocha. And there's another picture and there's two
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ladies and underneath that it says Knox Whitley Humane Association
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President Devana mcuett, employee k Short are all smiles at
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the gala for Paul's photo by Anyada James. Our next
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article is Whitley County man sentenced to fifteen years in
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KSP cybercrimes case by Annya James. Williamsburg and Whitley County
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man has been sentenced to fifteen years in prison after
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being convicted of promoting them in a sexual performance. Pierce
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Hamilton Hamblin forty nine of Williamsburg pleaded guilty in Whitley's
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Circuit Court as May and was sentence Monday. According to
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Commonwealth Attorney Ronnie Bowing, the case began after a mother
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reported finding a camera installed in a bathroom used by
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her children. Kentucky State Police cyber crimes detective Jake Wilson
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investigated the complaint, located the hidden camera, and recovered its contents.
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Hamblin was indicted in January of twenty twenty five. According
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to Bowen's release, investigators found surveillance footage showing a child
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unknowingly being recorded while undressing and showering in a common
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area bathroom. Whitley's Circuit Judge Dan Blue sentence Hamblin to
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fifteen years in prison. Under Kentucky law, he must serve
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eighty five percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
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Our next article is Corbin Commissioners approved balanced twenty twenty
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six twenty seven budget, make personal appointments by Anya James Corbyn.
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The Corbyn Board of Commissioners approved the first reading of
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the city's fiscal year twenty twenty six twenty seven budget
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and made several personnel appointments during special call meeting Thursday
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at the Corbyn Government Center. Following approval of the July
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six minutes, Mayor Suzy Ramis recognized longtime Corbyn resident Oscar
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big O Davenport with the Corbyn Colonel Award for the
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memorable moment in the city's history. Ramis recalled Davenport's famous
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wheeling during the nib Roc Parade in nineteen seventy three,
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when he rode a motorcycle on one wheel from City
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Hall to Gordon Street without letting the front tire touch
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the ground. We wanted to bring big O up here
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and present him with the Corbin Colonel and thank him
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for being so iconic it to our community, Ramis said.
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The mayor joke that Davenport is no longer allowed to
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create the stunt because of liability concerns, drawing laughter from
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those in attendance. Commissioners then approved the first reading of
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the Ordnance twenty twenty six Dash five, adopting the city's
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annual budget for fiscal year running from July the first,
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twenty twenty six through June thirtieth, twenty twenty seven. The
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Ordinance establishes total resources of approximately sixteen point fifty six
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million dollars in the General Fund. Six hundred forty seven thousand,
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two hundred dollars in the ABC fund, one hundred and
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fifty thousand, six hundred eight dollars and eighteen cents in
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the Municipal A Fund, twenty five thousand dollars in the
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Local Government Economic Assistance that's LGEA fund, and three point
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eight eight million dollars in the Arena Fund. The budget
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also includes a six hundred forty seven thousand dollars pardon me,
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six hundred forty seven thousand, two hundred dollars transfer from
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the ABC fund to the general fund. May Mayor appropriations
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include approximately two point sixty seven million dollars for the
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Police Department, two point eighteen million dollars for the Fire Department,
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two point fifty eight million dollars for the Public Works,
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three point fifty three million for the Corbon Center Special Project,
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one point forty seven million for the Parks and Recreation,
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and three point forty six million for the Arena Fund
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for arena operations. City Manager Scott Williams said the spending
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plan reflects months of work by the city's budget committee
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and department heads. This budget came about as a very
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healthy budget. William said a lot of work went into this.
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William praised city departments for remaining under budget during the
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previous fiscal year and noted the city received an A
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plus audit, adding that officials expect similar results again. Commissioners
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echoed those comments, crediting the department's head for carefully managing
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city finances and noting Corbin has remained financially stable for
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several consecutive years. Officials also said that Corbin's Arena financial
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outlook continues to improve. The board unanimously approved the ordinance
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first reading. Commissioners then entered executive session under Kentucky Revive
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Statute sixty one point eight one zero point one F
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to discuss personal personnel matters that would lead to employee appointments.
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After returning to open session, the board unanimously approved several
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personnel recommendations presented by Williams. Those actions included appointing Rob
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Walters as recycling director at seventeen dollars per hour, promoting
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Cody Smith to Corbyn Center's supervisor at fourteen dollars per hour,
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and appointing Scholar Petrie as Parks project planner at fifteen
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dollars per hour and with the pay made retroactive to
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his first day in the position. The board also approved
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three point eighty three percent pay increase for City Manager
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Scott Williams and Assistant City Manager Jacob Callahan, citing their
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dedication to the city. In addition, commissioners permanently appointed Chelsea
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Chambers as Director of the Corbyn Arena at an annual
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salary of seventy five thousand dollars, after she had served
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as acting director. The board also approved a three percent
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across the board payrais for all city employees. With no
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further business. Commissioners voted to adjourn the special called meeting.
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The second reading of the budget ordinance was approved during
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Monday's regular meeting see related story. There's a picture of
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a woman and two men, and underneath it, it says
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Mayor Susy Raymonds and City Attorney Bob Hammond's presented Oscar
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Big o' davenport with the Corbin Colonel Award. Our next
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article is Corbyn City Commission authorizes grant search for Carnegie
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Center restoration by Amya James Corbyn. The Corbyn Board of
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Commissioners authorized city staff Monday to explore grant opportunities that
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could help fund the restoration of the Historic Carnegie Center,
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while also approving the city's annual budget and accepting more
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than four hundred thousand dollars for local road improvements. The
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commission's primary discussion centered on a presentation by Anne Hacker,
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who provided an update on efforts to preserve the historic
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Carnegie Center, which formerly served as Corbin's public library. Hacker
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said the restoration committee has worked for years to preserve
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the building, calling it an important part of Corbin's history
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and a potential community asset for future generations. The group
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has already secured two five thousand dollars matching grants and
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raised donations that funded a new roof, tuck pointing work,
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and restoration of the building's front windows and entrance. An
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engineering study determined the structure as sound and capable of
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being restored, she said. However, Hacker told commissioners the project
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has reached a financial roadblock. She said the committee hopes
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to eventually renovate the building into a community gathering space,
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where also creating rentable office space to generate income for
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the facility's long term maintenance. Hacker also said recent conversations
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with Kentucky Heritage Council member Rob Mueller may open additional
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funding opportunities for the project. Following the presentation, commissioners unanimously
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approved EMOTION, authorizing City Manager Scott Williamson to research available
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grants and determine whether the city could serve as the
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fiscal agent for the future grant applications. I'd be happy
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to see what grant opportunities are available, Pennington told the
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commission The board also unanimously approved the second reading of
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the Ordinance twenty twenty twenty six DASH five, adopting the
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city's fiscal year twenty twenty six through twenty seven budget.
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Commissioners also approved Resolution twenty twenty six DASH two, accepting
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a four hundred and seven thousand dollars Local Arena Road
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Program LARP grant from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for roadway improvements, parks,
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downtown updates, and During the department reports, Parks and Recreation
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Director Jacob Rohne highlighted the success of the city's first
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Yeppie Hour, held Saturday in partnership with Corbin Animal Clinic
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in downtown Corbin Rown updated commissioners on plans to improve
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playground surfacing at Rotary Park after reviewing multiple options. City
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officials are considering installing synthetic turf in two high use
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playground areas at an estimated cost of thirty thousand dollars
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to forty five thousand dollars. He also addressed ongoing vandalism
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at the park, saying surveillance cameras have documented numerous incidents
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involving people damaging property or attempting to force open restroom
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doors during the overnight hours. Commissioners praised the Parks and
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Recreation Department maintenance efforts, while noting that several suspects connected
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to recent vandalism have already been identified in are being
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prosecuted financial and tourism updates. A finance representative presented investment
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Option four, approximately seven hundred and thirty thousand dollars in
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city reserve funds. Commissioners voted to transfer the funds into
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a twelvemonth certificate of deposit at Hometown Bank with a
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four percent interest rate. Corbyn Arena General manager Chelsea Chambers
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thank commissioners for the opportunity to leave the arena and
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report it that Lauren Daggle recent's concert attracted visitors from Florida, Michigan,
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and Illinois. She also said that the arena's Facebook page
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has grown to approximately sixty thousand followers, and announced the
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venue has become a verified artists venue on Spotify. A
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tourism representative introduced Corbin's tourism new branding package, including the
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redesigned logo that will accompany the organization's upcoming website. She
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also reported welcoming visitors from across Kentucky as well as Indiana, Florida,
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and Minnesota, and several international travelers. During June Police Report
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public Comments, police Chief Rusty Hendrick said officers have handled
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multiple calls at Walmart since the re d Taylor's recent
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annexation into the city. He said the store management has
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complemented the department's response times and noted service has improved
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since Corbyn Police assumed responsibility for the area. During public comments,
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Corbyn resident Andrea Cox thanked the city officials and law
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enforcement for what she described as Corbin's quietest Fourth of
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July in more than a decade, citing a significant decline
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in illegal fireworks complaints. She also requested that missing school
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traffic signs be replaced before classes resumed, and raised concerns
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about overgrown visitation vegetation and obstructions in an alley near
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nineteenth and twentieth Streets. The meeting concluded after additional department
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updates and routine businesses and Routine business Our next article
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is Corbin School Board reviews student handbook, announces Hall of
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Honor nominations by Anya James Corbin. The Corbin Independent Board
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of Education discussed revisions to the district's student handbook and
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heard updates on the upcoming school year during Tuesday night's meeting.
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Board members approved the meeting minutes, financial management reports, and
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personnel recommendations before considering operational items. One of the primary
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discussions centered on the district's student handbook. Board members recommended
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having an additional staff review the handbook language before final
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approval to ensure policies are clearly understood by parents and students.
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The board also discussed whether Meta's smart glasses should be
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specifically addressed in the handbook. Attendees said the devices are
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currently treated as telecommunication devices under existing policy, but board
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members agree the technology may warrant being specifically referred in
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future revisions. The board approved operational items with the exception
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of the student Handbook, which will receive additional review before
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returning for consideration. Superintendent Travis Wilder announced the nominations are
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now being accepted for the Corbin Independent Schools of Honor.
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Nomination forms are available through the district and this year's
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honorees will be recognized during Homecomings Act festivities. Wilder also
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announced that Assistant Superintendent doctor Benjung has been selected to
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speak at an upcoming education conference in August. He reported
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that with the exception of work continuing at the Corbyn
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Middle School, district facilities remain on schedule as staff prepares
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for a new school year. Students will return to class
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on August twenty fourth for a half day's schedule. Board
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members also recognize the retirement of longtime athletic director Tag Wilson,
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thanking him for years of service of Corbin Independent Schools
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and his leadership and athletic administration at both the district
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and state levels. Several board members also expressed appreciation for
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the retirement of longtime educator Tammy Hart, recognizing her years
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of dedication to Corbin students and staff. The board concluded
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the meeting following a brief executive session for personnel matters.
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A superintendent evaluation is expected at a later date, and
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there is a picture, and underneath the picture it says
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Corbin Independent School Board of Education members met in special
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session Tuesday evening, and it looks like there is a
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man and two women and then two other men. Next
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article is Whitley Fiscal Court approves road funding agreement budget
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amendment by Amya James Pardon Williamsburg. Whitley County Fiscal Court
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approved several agreements and financial measures during its Tuesday meeting,
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including a major road improvement agreed agreement with the Kentucky
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Transportation Cabinet and a first reading of a budget amendment ordinance.
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Following approval of the meeting agenda and routine financial business,
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magistrate's unanimously approved an agreement with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
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for the Local Area Road Program LARP. Judge Executive Pat
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White Junior said the project represents more than three million
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dollars in road improvements when the county's required matching funds
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are included. The funding will support improvements on sixteen county roads,
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with more than eighty percent of the project funded through
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state grant dollars. Magistrates said the program will allow the
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county to complete several large paving projects that otherwise would
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have been difficult to fund through the county budget. The
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court also approved a contract through the Kentucky Law Enforcement
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Protection Program LPP allowing the Whitley County Sheriff's Office to
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purchase upgrade duty firearms. Sheriff Bill Elliot said the department
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delayed replacing his sight arms in order to apply for
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the grant, which will cover the majority of the cost.
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We're excited that we received that money, Elliot said, noting
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the high cost of firearms and related equipment such as
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duty hosters. The court also approved an amendment to the
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county's Computer Aided Dispatch CD contract. Ambulance Director Amber Owens
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said the update software will allow information entered by the
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nine to one one dispatchers to be transmitted directly to
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ambulance crew's tablets, providing real time directions and call information
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while reducing communication delays in other business. Fiscal Court accepted
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the County Treasurer's Fiscal Year twenty twenty six settlement approval
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for KRS four to two four dot two two zero
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Annual Financial Report, authorized publication of the County Audit Report
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in lieu of publishing the full Treasurer's settlement approved Detention Center,
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inmate and canteen account reconciliations. Approved the Whitley County Sheriff's
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second quarter report and budget amendment. Renewed in agreement with
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Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College allowing e MS students
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to complete clinical ROD time with the County Ambulance Service.
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Approved a petition adding Rebel Road to Whitley County Road System.
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Approved employee pay rates as presented. Approved the first reading
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of Ordnance twenty twenty six NASH six, the county's budget amendment.
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Finance officials said the amendment reflects surplus funds remaining after
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the close of the previous fiscal year. The court also
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approved an agreement with the Medical Transport Services allowing the
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county EMS crews to assist with non emergency patient transfers
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involving hospital bed installation and patient moves. Treasurer Nick Wilson
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also informed the court that one county bank account would
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be closed and replaced after fraudulent checks were created using
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the account and routing numbers. Officials said the banking County
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attorney have been notified and the matter is under investigation.
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During monthly reports, Whitley Laurel Emergency Management Director Jerry Raines
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reported assisting Jackson and Cumberland Counties with recent flood damage assessments,
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and said the county has responded to one hundred and
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thirty seven missing person cases so far this year, with
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ten cases still active as of June thirtieth. Opioid Response
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Coordinator Darryl Hurst updated magistrates on summer outreach efforts, including
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home visits, youth mentoring, football practice visits and community gardening activities.
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While schools are out on summer breaks and there is
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a picture and underneath the picture, it says Whitley County
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Fiscal Court members met Tuesday in a regular session for July.
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Our next article is Weddele attorney says Brashear fundraiser destroyed
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evidence in campaign contribution case. In a court filing, former
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London Mayor Randall Weddle's attorney said the pre trial discovery
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process revealed Basheer's chief fundraiser deleted text messages by Tom
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LOFTUS Kentucky Lantern Frankfurt. The attorney for the former London
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Mayor Randall Weddle, says that in the spring of twenty
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twenty three, chief fundraiser for Governor Andy Basheer's re election
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campaign destroyed vital evidence in pending criminal case against Weddell
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for making excess campaign contributions to Bresher. Weddell was indicted
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by the Laurel County Grand Jury on March thirty first,
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in an investigation by Attorney General Russell Coleman. The indictment
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consists of four counts of making excess campaign contributions totaling
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ninety three thousand and late twenty twenty two to Brashear's
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campaign for reelection as governor and to the Kentucky Democratic
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Party the KDP. Weddell has pleaded not guilty, and a
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hearing in Laurel's Circuit Court is scheduled for the case
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on Wednesday. In a memorandum filed earlier this month in
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preparation for the hearing, Weddell's attorney, Guthrie True of Frankfort,
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said that the information he received from the prosecution during
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the pre trial discovery process shows that the attorney General's
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star witness, who solicited the contributions at issue, has destroyed
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vital evidence. The star witness, True is referring to James
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Lucas Johnson, who was a main fundraiser for Brasher's gubertorial
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re election campaign and the KDP in twenty twenty two,
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and remains in that role now as basher Can continues
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to raise money for superpacks that are funding his exploration
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of a possible run for president in twenty twenty eight. Indeed,
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right after the meeting in which Mayor Weddle reported the
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contributions problem to the Governor, the Attorney General star Witness,
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the high ranking fundraiser in question, deleted vital text messages
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between himself and Mayor Weddle that were exchanged at the
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time of the contributions were made texts that prove Mayor
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Weddle's innocence, True wrote in the mimigram. What's more, the
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discovery makes it clear that these are just a sampling
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of the many issues that the trial court will have
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to address. This case is nothing but blunder piled upon blunder.
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True decline to elaborate when asked by the Kentucky Lantern
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on Tuesday about his broadside, which is an entrance reduction
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to a memoriam offering a detailed argument to move the
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case from Laurel County to Franklin County. Kevin Graut, the
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spokesman for Coleman's office said court rules governing pre trial
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publicity prohibit him from commenting on the memorandum. If Johnson
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indeed deleted the messages from his own phone, he did
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not delete the same messages from Weddele's phone. True, got
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those Johnson wettletax from Weddell's phone and file them with
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the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance years ago when the
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registry was making its own initial investigation of the same matter.
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This concludes the reading of the Times Tribute. 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 Janice
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wishing you a very good day.