Latest / Eastern Kentucky Newspapers / Corbin Times Tribune - 7.14.26

Transcript

Corbin Times Tribune - 7.14.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

0:00
Speaker 1: Now we turn to the reading of The Times Tribune
0:02
for news in Corbin, Laurel, Whitley and Knox Counties. Your
0:07
reader today is Janis. As a reminder, RADIOI is reading
0:10
service intended for people who are blind or have other
0:13
disabilities that make it difficult to reprinted material. We will
0:18
begin with the E edition dated Thursday, July the ninth,
0:23
twenty twenty six. Our first article is celebrating two fifty
0:29
Corbyn Arena host annual Fourth of July festivities on Friday.
0:34
By Sudy K. Wilson, Corbin. The Corbyn Arena held its
0:39
annual Fourth of July celebration on Friday, drawing families from
0:43
across the region for an evening of holiday activities and entertainment.
0:48
This year's event also recognized America's two hundred and fiftieth birthday,
0:53
adding special significance to the celebration. Visitors began arriving throughout
0:59
the evening with lawn chairs and blankets as they prepared
1:03
for the festivities. Food vendors were set up around the
1:07
arena grounds, offering a variety of options for at ten
1:11
des as they enjoyed the warm summer weather. The featured
1:16
entertainment for the night was live performance by Whiskey Ridge,
1:20
the only band scheduled for the event. Their set was
1:24
on was the main musical attraction, keeping the crowd engaged
1:29
as families relaxed and children played nearby as night fell.
1:34
The celebration concluded with the fireworks show that lit up
1:38
the sky above the arena. The display lasted several minutes
1:42
and drew reactions from the crowd as bursts of red,
1:46
white and blue marked the holiday. The event provided a
1:50
family friendly way for the community to gather and celebrate
1:54
Independence Day and the nations two hundred and fifty year milestone.
2:00
Even in the heat. A solid crowd stayed on the
2:03
ground for all activities, right up until the last firework
2:09
lit the sky. And there are two pictures. One is
2:13
a picture of the fireworks in with the dark sky
2:18
behind it and it says fireworks lit up the sky
2:21
above the Corbyn Arena Friday night. The other one is
2:25
a picture of the band and underneath it says Whiskey
2:28
Ridge performed live for those attending Corbin's July fourth celebration.
2:35
Our next article is death investigation underway in Knox County
2:41
by Macy Swafford Kentucky State Police are investigating the death
2:45
of a Knox County woman after she was found Saturday
2:48
evening in a residence in the Gray community. According to
2:53
KSP Post ten press release from Trooper Shane Jacob's, troopers
2:58
were dispatched dispatched around four point thirty pm to Adena
3:05
Drive after receiving a report of a death investigation. When
3:10
officers arrived, they found one adult female deceased inside the home.
3:17
State Police later identified the woman as Karen West sixty
3:21
one of Gray. Troopers said family members had reported finding
3:25
Wes dead inside the residence where she had been living.
3:30
KSP detectives in Knox County Coroner Mike Blevins responded to
3:34
the scene and officially opened an investigation to the death.
3:39
The cause of death has not been announced as a
3:41
press time. To determine the cause, Wes was transported to
3:46
the State Medical Examiner's office in Frankfort, where an autopsy
3:50
was performed. Investigators said they are awaiting autopsy results and
3:56
the case remains ongoing. Our next article is heavy rainfall
4:02
leads to downtown flooding Tuesday by Macy Swafford. Corbin Corbyn
4:09
saw and estimated two inches of rain Tuesday evening during
4:13
a heavy burst of storms that led to flooding in
4:16
parts of the city, including the underpass at roy Kidd
4:20
Avenue and North Depost Street. According to Pete Gorgan and
4:26
Jackson's National Weather Service Office, Corbin received around two inches
4:31
of rain, with the majority of the rain coming from
4:35
the north. The heavy rainfall caused street flooding in downtown Corbin,
4:40
with water collecting under the bridge by roy Kidd Avenue
4:44
and North Deepost Street, an area that has repeated flooding
4:48
issues during intense rain events. Many people took to social
4:53
media Tuesday to share photos and updates from flooding in
4:58
downtown Corbin. According to the National Weather Service in Jackson,
5:03
a flash flood warning was issued for the area at
5:06
four thirty eight pm and remained until effect until six
5:10
thirty pm. For updates on approaching storms and other weather
5:16
related conditions, residents can follow National Weather Service in Jackson
5:22
or monitor forecast and alerts from local television outlets. Our
5:26
next article is Williamsburg Annual Duck race makes a splash
5:30
for Shop with a cop by Samantha Walden, Williamsburg. More
5:35
than five hundred rubber ducks raced down the Lazy River
5:39
at Kentucky Splash water Park Saturday night as part of
5:42
Williamsburgh's Fourth of July festivities, capped off by fireworks. The
5:48
annual Duck Race raised more than one nine hundred dollars
5:52
to benefit will Williamsburg Police Departments Shop with the Comp program,
5:58
which helped provide Christmas gifts for local children in need
6:02
during the holiday season. The total raise includes the five
6:06
hundred dollars grand prize awarded to the first place winner.
6:10
Cindy Todd claimed the first place and received a five
6:14
hundred dollars grand prize. Sherry Stronk finished second and won
6:19
her choice of a two nights day at the Kentucky
6:22
Splash campground or five day passes to the water park.
6:27
Kentucky Splash manager and event organizer dit Anne Brewers expressed
6:31
her appreciation for the community support. We want to thank
6:36
everyone who came out to our Duck Praise and contributed
6:40
to the Shop with the Cop program, Brewer said. And
6:44
there is three pictures. The first one is a picture
6:48
of the rubber ducks floating and underneath the caption reads
6:52
the rubber ducks float toward the finish line. The next
6:56
one is a picture of a woman holding their duck
6:59
and money, and underneath it says Cindy Todd poses with
7:03
her winning duck and five hundred dollars grand prize. The
7:07
last picture is a picture of a rubber duck with
7:10
sunglasses on and it says the annual Duck Race raised
7:14
more than one nine hundred dollars to benefit the Williamsburg
7:18
Police Department Shop with a Cop program, which helps provide
7:23
Christmas gifts for local children in need during the holiday season.
7:29
Our next article is Corbyn City Commission approves Walmart annexation
7:34
Parks Department agreement by Anya James Corbyn. The Corbyn Board
7:40
of Commissioners met Monday evening for a special call meeting
7:44
approving an annexation ordinance, a planning and zoning recommendation, and
7:49
a new employee Expectation agreement for the Parks and Recreation Department.
7:55
May Mayor Susy Raymons called the meeting to order at
7:59
five pm at the Corbon Government Center. Present for the
8:03
meeting were Mayor Raymonds, Commissioners John Baker, Alison Moore, Brandon Sheppard,
8:09
and James Gambrel, along with City Manager Scott Williamson, City
8:14
Attorney Bob Hammonds and City Clerk Tory Brock. The board
8:19
unanimously approved the minutes from its June fifteenth meeting before
8:23
moving into the evening's business. The first item of new
8:27
business was the second reading of the Ordnance two O
8:32
two sixty four, which annexes a track of property located
8:37
at sixty South Stuart Road in the City of Corbin
8:40
and establishes its zoning classification. Following the required second reading,
8:46
Commissioners unanimously approved the ordnance, officially bringing the property into
8:52
the city limits. The board then considered a recommendation from
8:56
the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding a platt review for
9:00
the property owned by r JV Properties. Code Enforcement Officer
9:05
Mike Mahon explained that the Planning and Zoning Commission has
9:12
approved the plant request during its previous meeting and was
9:15
recommending it for final approval by the Board. He explained
9:20
that the request involved dividing the property into multiple lots,
9:24
noting that one parcel already had a prospective buyer. Commissioners
9:29
reviewed a map of the property included in their meeting
9:33
packets before unanimously approving the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation.
9:40
The final item on the agenda focused on an employee
9:44
Expectations Agreement with the Parks and Recreation Department. Assistant City
9:49
Manager Jacob Rohn told commissioners the document was created to
9:54
clearly outline employee responsibilities, workplace conduct, tendance, expectation, and day
10:02
to day duties. He explained that the agreement would provide
10:06
supervisors with a consistent standard for accountability after employees acknowledge
10:12
and sign the agreement. Commissioner More praised the agreement, saying
10:17
that she hoped it would eventually serve as a model
10:21
for other city departments. I think we should make this
10:24
through all departments. More said this was great. Roan credited
10:30
Parks and Recreation Director Scholar Petrie for with developing the
10:36
document after identifying areas where clearer expectations were needed among
10:41
maintenance staff. He said each Park and Recreations employee, along
10:46
with Petrie as supervisor, would sign the agreement to acknowledge
10:50
the outline expectations. Commissioners unanimously approved the Employee Expectation Agreement,
10:58
with no additional business to come before the board. During
11:01
the special call meeting, Commissioners voted unanimously to adjourn and
11:07
there is a picture of that meeting and it says underneath.
11:12
Members of the Corbyn City Commission met Monday in a
11:16
special session. Our next article is Kentucky State parks generate
11:21
one point one billion in economic impact Frankfort, Kentucky Governor
11:27
Andy Basheer announced last Thursday that Kentucky State parks generated
11:31
one point one billion in economic impact in twenty twenty four,
11:36
supporting eighty six hundred jobs and helping fuel economic growth
11:41
across the Commonwealth. Team Kentucky has made historic investments in
11:46
Kentucky State parks because we see how they strengthen the
11:49
communities they serve and contribute to our record breaking tourism industry,
11:55
said Governor basher Every upgraded lodge, campground, marine and golf
12:00
course helps attract more travelers to our new Kentucky home,
12:05
ensuring our state parks remained destinations for families to enjoy
12:10
for generations to come. A new study conducted by the
12:14
Tourism Economics found that Kentucky State parks welcomed nine point
12:20
three million visitors in twenty twenty four, with nearly a
12:24
million a loan coming to Cumberland Falls. Kentucky State parks
12:29
also generated an estimate five hundred ninety one million dollars
12:34
in direct spending, including one hundred twenty million dollars in
12:38
park operations and four hundred and seventy one million dollars
12:42
in visitor spending. The park's direct impact included one hundred
12:47
and sixty four million in spending on lodging and accommodations,
12:52
including hotels, motels, short term rentals, and other lodging. One
12:57
hundred and twenty seven million dollars in flood i mean
13:00
in food and beverage purchases, including full service restaurants, fast
13:06
food outlets, convenience stores, and alcohol purchases, seventy eight million
13:12
dollars in recreation and entertainment, including purchases at parks, museums, theaters,
13:18
and other entertainment venues, forty six million dollars in retail purchases,
13:24
including souvenirs, general merchandise, and purchases at malls and local retailers,
13:30
forty nine million dollars in gasoline purchases, and fifteen million
13:34
dollars in transportation costs, including public transportation, bus tours, airfare, taxis,
13:42
and ride shair. State park visitation reached communities in every
13:47
region of Kentucky. The Kentucky State Park system is vital
13:51
to our new Kentucky homes, heritage, and legacy, and we
13:55
now have proof of parks massive financial impact SAD Tourism,
14:00
Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Linda case Brier. These numbers
14:05
demonstrate how much the parks truly contribute to our commonwealth
14:09
and underline the importance of continuing to invest in them
14:14
so that the future generations can enjoy the same incredible experiences.
14:19
We've known for years how significant state parks are to
14:23
the commonwealth, not just in terms of revenue, but allowing
14:28
free access to the public to the Commonwealth's natural wonders,
14:33
said Kentucky State Parks Commissioner Mark Callen. Our parks play
14:38
host to weddings, family reunions, hiking trips, and visitors from
14:43
all over the country. This report shows how all of
14:47
these events and tourists pay dividends to Kentucky and why
14:51
we need to further our commitment to funding capital projects
14:56
and updates for the park's system. To see full Economy
15:00
Comic Impact report, visit Kentuckytourism dot com. The governor announced
15:06
that seven hundred and twenty thousand dollars in new grant
15:10
funding is available for Kentucky trail towns to repair, enhance,
15:15
and promote recreational projects. Recently, the governor announced that twenty
15:20
twenty five was the best year on record for tourism,
15:24
the fourth consecutive recording break breaking year, generating fourteen point
15:30
six billion dollars in economic impact and supporting ninety six thousand,
15:36
nine hundred ninety three jobs. Kentucky is home to forty
15:40
four state parks, including seventeen resort parks thirteen golf courses.
15:46
For more information about Kentucky state parks, visit Parks dot
15:51
Ky dot gov. And there is a picture, and underneath
15:55
the picture it says Cumberland Falls welcomes nearly a million
15:59
vs each year, according to park officials. Our next article
16:04
is new dashboard gives Kentucky residents access to domestic violence
16:09
data by Anya James Frankfurt, Kentucky. A new interactive dashboard
16:15
designed to improve access to domestic violence data across Kentucky
16:20
is now available, allowing residents and community leaders to explore statistics,
16:26
compare trends, and locate victim resources by county and area
16:30
development district. Kentucky First Lady Brittany Bursher announced Thursday the
16:37
launch of the Kentucky Domestic Violence Dashboard, an online tool
16:42
developed by the Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis Center that compiles
16:47
information from the state's annual domestic Violence report. The dashboard
16:52
allows users to view statewide statistics, compared data or by
16:57
a county and area development district, and access information on
17:02
domestic violence shelters, support services, offenders, and law enforcement outcomes.
17:09
The announcement coincided with the release of the Kentucky's twenty
17:14
twenty five Domestic Violence Data Report, which found that domestic
17:18
violence levels remained relatively stable statewide statewide, while arrest increase
17:25
slightly over the previous year. For Cumberland Valley Area Development District,
17:30
which includes Bell, Clay, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Rock, Rockcastle,
17:37
and Whitley Counties, law enforcement agencies responded to eight hundred
17:42
and five reported incidents of domestic or dating violence in
17:47
twenty twenty five, resulting in two hundred and twenty arrest.
17:53
The region also recorded one thousand, one hundred and ninety
17:57
two protective orders entered, with eight hundred and sixty seven
18:01
served by law enforcement an average service time of eight
18:05
point sixty three days. Statewide, law enforcement officers filed thirty
18:11
three thousand, seven hundred eighty six electronic JC three reports
18:17
documenting domestic or dating violence incidents during twenty twenty five,
18:23
leading to eight thousand, three hundred one arrest. Kentucky courts
18:28
issued twenty thousand, one hundred twenty nine emergency protective orders
18:33
and temporary interpersonal protective orders, while fourteen thousand, three hundred
18:38
thirty eight individuals received services through zero vs. Fifteen regional
18:46
domestic violence programs. Crisis hotlines answered nineteen thousand, four hundred
18:51
eighty one calls during the year. The report also found
18:56
that domestic violence continued to effect thousands of Kentucky Chus children.
19:00
According to the data, twenty two thousand, six hundred and
19:04
forty one children were present during police reported domestic violence incidents,
19:10
including nine than three hundred forty three children age five
19:14
or younger. In one thousand, six hundred thirty six incidents,
19:19
a child was the one who called the police for help,
19:24
while firearms were present in four hundred thirty eight incidents
19:29
involving children. Every Kentucky in and every person should be
19:34
safe from these heinous crimes, and Team Kentucky is committed
19:38
to making progress as we create a safer Commonwealth for everyone.
19:44
Missus Bursheer said in a news release. This new resource
19:48
will help us better target services across Kentucky so every
19:53
survivor knows they have the support needed to seek justice,
19:58
rebuild their lives, and move forward. Governor Andy Basheer said
20:03
the administration continues working with community partners to expand services
20:09
for survivors while strengthening public safety across the commonwealth. No
20:14
one should have to experience domestic violence, which is my administration,
20:20
which is why my administration has worked to increase support
20:23
for services and make sure our people are safe for
20:27
Sheer said. By working with partners across the commonwealth, we're
20:31
making sure survivors and their families have the support they
20:35
need to move forward. According to the report, assault remain
20:40
the most common domestic violence related offense in Kentucky. During
20:45
twenty twenty five, courts recorded four two hundred eleven domestic
20:51
violence assaults convictions, seven hundred and twenty six dating violence
20:57
assault convictions, than five hundred and fifty six convictions for
21:02
violating protective orders, four hundred twenty five strangulation convictions, one
21:08
hundred forty three stalking convictions and twelve domestic violence under
21:14
murder twelve domestic violence murder convictions. Officials said the dashboard
21:21
was created following legislation passed by Kentucky's General Assembly in
21:25
twenty twenty two and twenty three requiring the annual collection
21:30
and publication of statewide domestic violence data. The reports compile
21:35
information from across Kentucky State Police, the Administrative Office of
21:40
the Courts, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in
21:44
zero v Andrew Wriitzel, Executive director of the Criminal Justice
21:50
Analysis Center, said the new resource will help law enforcement agencies,
21:55
victim advocates, and policymakers identify trends while improving support for survivors.
22:03
Quality data is out there to team Kentucky's shared mission
22:08
to make sure our people are safe and feel safe.
22:12
Right Sol said, our new dashboard will help us further
22:16
prevent crime while supporting victims and helping law enforcement, agency
22:21
advocates and other stakeholders. The Kentucky Domestic Violence Dashboard and
22:27
the complete twenty twenty five Domestic Violence Data Report are
22:31
available through Kentucky's Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. Our next
22:37
article is Baptist Health Corbin announces renovations to enhance behavioral
22:41
Health Services Corbin. Baptist Health Corbin is investing in the
22:47
future of behavioral health care with renovations planned for its
22:51
behavioral health services units, creating an enhanced environment designed to
22:56
support healing, confort, and recovery for patients. The renovation project
23:01
will begin with the updates to Adult Psychiatric Unit and
23:06
will continue in phases to include Adolescent Unit, Senior Unit,
23:10
and Detox Unit. The improvements are designed to create a
23:14
more welcoming, therapeutic and patient centered environment while ensuring Baptist
23:21
Health Corbin continues to meet growing behavioral health needs of
23:26
the region. Behavioral health is an essential part of overall health,
23:31
and every patient deserves to receive an environment that protects dignity, healing,
23:37
and hope, said Martha Brunner, breeding patient care Manager at
23:41
Baptist Health Corbin. These renovations reflect our commitment to providing compassionate,
23:47
high quality behavioral health services in a setting that supports
23:52
recovery for patients of all ages. Renovations will include updated
23:57
patient rooms, refreshed common areas, improved finishes, and enhancements designed
24:03
to foster a calming and therapeutic atmosphere. Work will be
24:08
completed in phases to minimize disruption to patient care, and
24:13
services will remain available throughout the renovation process. Baptist Health
24:19
Corbon offers comprehensive behavioral health services for adolescents, adults, seniors,
24:25
and individuals seeking treatment for substance use in psychiatric disorders.
24:31
The hospital's multidisciplinary team provides inpatient psychiatric care, detoxification services, counseling,
24:40
and support design to help patients achieved improve mental wellness,
24:48
creating healing spaces in an important part of caring for
24:52
our patients. Bruner Brooding said these improvements will allow us
24:57
to continue delivering exceptional behavior healthcare in an environment that
25:02
promotes safety, comfort and recovery. Additional details regarding renovation timelines
25:08
and project milestones will be shared as work progresses. For
25:13
more information about behavioral health services at babdist Health Corbon,
25:19
visit Baptist Health dot com. Our next article is Williamsburg
25:24
Celebrates Freedom at its second annual Fourth of July Parade
25:28
by Samantha Walden, Williamsburg. Despite temperatures reaching eighty eight degrees
25:33
during Saturday's summer heat wave, the Williamsburg Community line the
25:37
streets to celebrate America's two hundred and fiftieth birthday during
25:41
the second annual Fourth of July Parade in downtown Williamsburg.
25:46
Festivities began at the corner of the second in Main Streets,
25:50
where Corbin Fire Department led a ceremonial raising of the
25:54
American flag. Whitley County Judge Executive Pat White Junior then
25:59
addressed the opening his remarks with a quote attributed to
26:04
President John F. Kennedy. My fellow citizens of the world,
26:09
ask not what America will do for you, but what
26:13
together we can do for the freedom of man, White said,
26:18
before reflecting on the sacrifices made by American founders. Many
26:23
of us forget. When the founders of our country were
26:26
fighting the revolution and citing the Declaration of Independence, most
26:31
expected to give their lives as a results of their efforts.
26:34
White continued, So as we celebrate today, let's appreciate their
26:39
success in creating a great, great country. They expected to
26:44
lay down their lives, but they stood up for their
26:46
freedom and changed the world and made our lives possible.
26:51
White encouraged those in attendance to reflect on the nation's
26:54
history and their responsibility in preserving its legacy. Now, what
27:00
will we do? He asked? Let our generation be reminded
27:03
of our heritage as we celebrate this two hundred and
27:06
fiftieth birthday of our country, and let us be reinvigorated.
27:11
May God bless you and God bless the United States
27:15
of America. Following Judge White's patriotic speech, the parade made
27:20
its way through the heart of downtown as families line
27:25
the sidewalks, waving flags and cheering for participants. More than
27:30
fifty entries took part in this year's parade, featuring local businesses,
27:35
civic organizations, veteran and community groups. Participants included TPE Solutions, Walmart,
27:43
Pixie Dust Boutique, VFW Posts thirty one sixty seven, and
27:49
Doctor Moses DMD, along with local veterans and many others.
27:54
The route was filled with patriotic displays of red, white,
27:58
and blue, with floats, decorated vehicles, and community members portraying
28:03
historical figures Betsy Ross and George and Martha Washington. Event
28:08
organizer Jana Moore expressed gratitude for the community support that
28:13
made the celebration possible. We want to thank Roddy Harrison,
28:18
pat White, Carbon Fire Department and everybody who came. More said,
28:24
this concludes the reading of the Time Tribune. Please stay
28:27
tuned for continued programming. Thank you for joining me and
28:31
on behalf of everyone here at RADIOI. This is Janice,
28:35
wishing you a very good day.