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Corbin Times-Tribune - 4.7.26 · 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, radiois a reading
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service intended for people who are blind or have other
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disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material. We
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will begin with the E edition dated Thursday, April the second,
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twenty twenty six. Our first article today is Leadership Tri
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County Names twenty twenty six Leader of the Year by
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Madison Nance, Williamsburg, a career defined by building up future
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leaders and strengthening educational opportunities, was recognized Thursday evening at
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the Leadership Try County twenty twenty six Leader of the
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Year banquet. Leadership Tri County is a nonprofit organization focused
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on developing current and emerging leaders across Knox, Laurel and
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Whitley Counties. Doctor Jerry Jackson, Chancellor of the University of
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the Cumberlands, was named this year's recipient of the organization's
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annual award. During the event held at the Williamsburg Tourism
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and Convention Center, Field Representative Donna Baker attended on behalf
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of US Senator Mitch McConnell and read a letter recognizing
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Jackson's contributions. This is a well deserved recognition for your
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distinguished career and outstanding service to your community. The letter read,
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thank you for your good work to make a positive
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difference for the Tri County area and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
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You are an inspiration to all who know you. Also
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among those in attendance for previous Leader of the Year recipients,
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including Corbin Mayor Susy Ramis twenty twenty three in Knox
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County t Chamber of Commerce executive director Chlodia Greenwood twenty seventeen.
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In remarks following doctor Jackson's recognition, he noted the role
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others played in shaping his path, stating that his accomplishments
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reflect the investment of mentors and educators throughout his life.
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No one becomes a leader on their own. If there's
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anything worthy of recognition in my life, it's because someone
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else invested in me. First, Doctor Jackson said, if I
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leave any legacy I hope it is it is that
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I saw possibility in people before they saw it in themselves,
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spoke courage into their lives and helped them rise to
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become more than they imagined. This award belongs to every
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person who ever believed in me. I am grateful and
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will continue to pay that investment forward. We live in
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a moment when tearing down as loud and building up
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is rare. Let us be the rare ones. Let us
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be the leaders who call out greatness and help others rise.
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According to Leadership tri County, enrollment at the University of
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the Cumberlands has reached over twenty five thousand students under
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the Chancellor's leadership. Last year, the Chronicle of Higher Education
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named the school the nation's fastest growing private doctoral university
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among two hundred and fifteen institutions. He was also recognized
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for his dedication to public service, including spending more than
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two decades on the Baptist Health Board of Directors, serving
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on the Governor's Scholars Committee, and holding numerous church leadership roles.
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The evening also included recognition of luminary honorees, Judge Paul E.
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Braden and doctor John D. Brune, both remembered for their
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lasting impact on the region. Braden served as a thirty
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four judicial circuit for nearly three decades before his passing
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in twenty eleven. He was known for his work as
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a public defender, Commonwealth attorney and ultimately circuit judge for
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the Whitley mccrarrie counties, as well as his mentorship and
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community involvement. Doctor Broome dedicated nearly fifty years to education
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at the University of Cumberland's where he influenced thousands of
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students as a professor and adviser, while also serving his
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church in community for decades. He passed away in February
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of last year. Their respective families accepted the awards on
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their behalf. Doctor Jordan Carmack, executive director of Leadership Tri
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County MC, much of the event. During her closing remarks,
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she announced the addition of a fourth Leadership Tri County Scholarship,
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which will be awarded to a Knox County student in
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honor of Jackson. The event concluded with attendees final chances
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at a solid auction, with all proceeds benefiting Leadership Tri
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County and its scholarship program. Our next article is being
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with Pride. Baptist Health Corbin marks topping out milestone by
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Macy Swafford Corbin. Staff at Baptist Health Corbin celebrated a
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major construction milestone last February, with a topping out ceremony
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marking the placement of the final structure being for the
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hospital's new patient winging, which is expected to be completed
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in the summer of twenty twenty seven. The expansion will
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significantly increase the hospital's capacity, allowing it to care for
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up to sixty thousand patients annually compared to its current
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capacity of forty thousand. The intensive care unit will see
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one of the most notable upgrades, expanding from hid ten
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beds to twenty four beds. Hospital officials were joined by
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community leaders and project partners for the ceremony, which symbolize
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both the completion of the building's structural framework and the
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collective effort behind the project. When the final beam is
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placed on a building, it marks more than progress instill
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in concrete. It represents the hard work, dedication, and shared
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vision of every person who helped bring that structure to life,
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being imagined, planned and worked on for so long as
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now rising up behind us. Foster said the new wing
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represents more than just construction for the hospital, describing it
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as a commitment to the people of southeastern Kentucky. She
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also recognized the contributions of contractors, healthcare workers, and community
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leaders who have played a role in the project. Originally
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designed to serve approximately twenty four thousand emergency room patients annually,
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the hospital is now handling around forty four thousand patients
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each year. Foster noted the expansion will help meet that
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growing demand. Today we celebrate that growth as well, from
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ten beds to twenty four, Foster said, while also touching
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on soon being able to serve sixty thousand patients with
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the new wing. That means more patients can receive the
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advanced life saving care they need close to home. Corbin
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Mayor Susi Ramis also emphasized the hospital's importance to the region,
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calling it a vital partner for its city and the
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surrounding communities. The hospital is so important to our community.
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It's been such a valued partner for the city of Corbin,
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Ramis said. It is really a source of pride for
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the whole region to have a hospital of this caliber.
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Michael ded Rudman, vice president Coongulutan Hacker Company, the contractor
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overseeing the project, thank the local subcontractors, craftsmen and partners
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involved in the construction. These folks are vested in this project.
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They are invested in long term of this project. They
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know that they themselves or loved ones could very well
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be in this facility one day, said Rudman. Gerald Coleman,
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chief executive Officer of Baptist Health, also recognized hospital staff
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for their dedication to patient care and said the expansion
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reflects the organization's long term commitment to rule health care,
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and he also noted that investments like the Corbin Project
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are aimed at increasing access, expanding capacity, and advancing care
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in local communities. During the ceremony, a drone captured the
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moment the final being signed by the hospital staff and
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community members was placed atop the structure. The beam also
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featured in the evergreen tree, a traditional symbol of strength
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endurance in new life, which is also reflected at the
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hospital's main entrance. After the celebration today, that evergreen will
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be planted on our campus as a reminder of this
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magnificent day, said Foster. Foster closed thanking those in attendance
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for their continued support and belief in the hospital's mission
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as construction moves forward on the new wing. And there
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are two photos of this and one is a tent
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with chairs and seated people and then people standing behind them,
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and it says a large crowd gathers to watch as
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the final structure beam is placed on the new patient wing.
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And another picture says the final beam is showcased on
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a live screen before it is placed. And the last
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picture the third picture Baptist Health Corbyn President Angela Foster
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welcome staff, construction partners and Corbin officials to the topping
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off ceremony and she is standing by a podium and
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is reading or addressing the crowd. Our next article is
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London mayor indicted on felony campaign finance charges ag announces
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by Macy Swafford London. London Mayor Randall Weddell has been
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indicted on multiple felony charges related to reported campaign finance
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violations to the Andy Basheer for Governor campaign and the
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Kentucky Democratic Party. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced during
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a press conference Tuesday afternoon. Coleman said that a Laurel
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County grand jury returned an indictment charging Weddle with four
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counts of excessive campaign contributions violations. According to his office,
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two of the counts were campaign contribution restriction expenditure limits
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pertained to contributions of more than two thousand dollars indexed
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for inflation to the Andy Bashier for Governor campaign, while
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the other two campaign contributions restriction expenditure limits involve more
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than five thousand dollars to the Kentucky Democratic Party in
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one year. Each of these charges is classified as a
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Class D felony, punishable by a maximum sentence of five
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years in prison and a fine of ten thousand dollars.
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Speaking during the press conference, Coleman emphasized the importance of
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enforcing the election laws across the state. Here in Kentucky,
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we should take pride in our free fare and secure elections,
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says Coleman. Kentuckians can head to the polls and vote
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for the candidate of their choice, and just as importantly,
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they can come home confident in their integrity of that result.
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According to the indictment as posted on WKYT, the charges
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stem from actions reportedly occurring in December of twenty twenty two,
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when Weddell is accused of making more than twenty unlawful
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campaign contributions using his personal credit card while listing other
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individuals as donors. The indictment outlines multiple transactions, including contributions
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to the Andybasheer for Governor campaign and the Kentucky Democratic Party.
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The grand jury reports Wettell made contributions exceeding legal limits
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to a goubatorial campaign, totaling at least eight thousand dollars
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in unlawful donations. Additional pages detail further alleged contributions totaling
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tens of thousands of dollars to the Kentucky Democratic Party.
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According to The Kentucky Lantern, the total claim by the
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indictment is ninety three thousand dollars. Coleman said the indictment
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followed an investigation conducted by Attorney General's Office after action
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from the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance. As such, today
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I'm announcing that a Laurel County grand jury has indicted
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Randall Lynn Weddell on four felony counts excessive campaign contribution violations.
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Coleman said, I'm standing here today announcing this indictment for
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the people of London, Kentucky. For years, every time I've
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gone to Laurel County, our surrounding counties in the mountains
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up and down, I seventy five I've been met with
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Kentuckians who felt left behind by the justice system. Coleman
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also noted that the case has drawn significant public attention
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and concern in the region. The only reason I'm standing
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here today is to reassure the people of Laurel County
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and all the communities outside the Golden Triangle that the
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rule of law applies to all one hundred and twenty counties,
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he said. He added that the changes are allegations at
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this stage of the process, just as any criminal case.
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The charges of this indictment are allegations, and mister Weddle
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is presumed innocent until proven guilty, Coleman said. According to Coleman,
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Weddell is scheduled to be arraigned in Laurel County Circuit
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Court on April fifteenth and nine a m. In the
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adapt in Pardon Me in the indictment posted. The document
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was filed Tuesday, March thirty first, and lists apartments of
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criminal investigations officials as witnesses in the case. Coleman concluded
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the press conference by noting limitations on what could be
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publicly shared. We are limited in the information we can
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publicly provide at this stage in this ongoing criminal prosecution,
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he said. Eric Hiers, who manages both the Basher's guvatorial
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campaign Pardoning, provided this statement. During the twenty twenty three
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re election campaign. It was brought to our attention that
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the contributions were made to both the campaign and the
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Kentucky Democratic Party in excess of contribution limits. As soon
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as the campaign was formed of what happened, we proactively
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notified the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance and sought guidance
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for how to rectify the situation. Par their instructions, we
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refunded the contributions. The Kentucky Democratic Party also refunded contributions
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in the excess of federal limits and disclosed those refunds
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on the next campaign finance report. We trust the justice
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system to determine if these were intentional campaign finance violations
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by the donor, but the campaign and the Kentucky Democratic
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Party did exactly what they should report and refund the contributions.
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This newspaper has reached out to Mayor Weddell as well
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as the communications director with Governor's office, Scotti Ellis, neither
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responded as of press time. London City Council issued the
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following statement. Tuesday to today's grand jury finding of probable
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calls and indictment for four felony charges against the mayor
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is deeply a serious matter. As we continue our ongoing investigations,
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it is clear that further inquiry will be necessary in
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the days ahead. We will be announcing additional steps soon.
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Weddle's attorney, Guthrie True of Frankfort, made mention of how
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long investigations of the case have lingered. It is deeply
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disappointing that the Attorney General's office would seek an indictment
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on a matter of facts which have been known for
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nearly three years. True said, it seems totally calculated to
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cause embarrassment to Mayor Weddell and to interfere with his
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mayoral campaign. Weddell is seeking re election as mayor this year.
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The primary election is May nineteenth. The Kentucky Lantern Tom
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loftis contributed to this story. Our next article is Knox
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School Board recognized as cheerleaders, reviews academic process by Macy Swafford,
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Knox County. Last week, the Knox County Board of Education
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highlighted student achievements and reviewed academic performance across the district
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during its Thursday meeting, Superintendent Jeremy Ladford recognized the Knox
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Central High School cheerleaders for a successful competition season. The team,
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led by coach Joy McKeon and assistant coaches Kayla Smith,
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Ava Ladford and Paula time Were was presented with banners
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commer pardon me, commemorating several accomplishments, including first place finishes
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in the twenty twenty six fifty first District and thirteenth Region,
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seventh Region Game Day Champions, KHSAA Game Day State Champions,
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UCA Game Day Champions, in fifth place finish at UCA
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National Medium Varsity Game Day Competition. I would like to
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say to Superintendent Ledford as well as to all of
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those board members in any of our administration that helps
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to support us. We are very thankful and blessed to
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be in Knox County, said coach mckinn. Our girls worked
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very hard. This is the most important part the cheerleaders.
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There has to be a full circle of everybody and
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it needs to be successful all the way to the
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bus driver, coaches, parents and administration staff. During his report,
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Ludford outlined several district initiatives and partnerships. He thanks Steve
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Warren and his work crew for assisting with the clean
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up efforts behind NOx Central's baseball field, noting their contribution
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to maintaining school facilities and personal updates. Ledford recognized board
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Attorney Timothy Crawford for presenting evaluation and personnel law training
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in recent KD I mean k DC Kentucky Education Development
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Corporation meeting. His expertise and guidance are invaluable and we're
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fortunate enough to have him as our board attorney, the
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superintendent said. Ledford also highlighted funding received through KAY or
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CHI Saint Joseph London Communit Health Improvement Grants program. This
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grant will allow us to provide new equipment for fiscal education, recess,
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family Fitness Nights, and the Girls on the Run program,
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which integrates fiscal activity with social and emotional learning, said
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Superintendent Ledford. We have received over one hundred and fifty
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thousand dollars in grants from CHI Saint Josephine London. Their
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continued investment speaks volumes about their commitment to our students,
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family and community. He also emphasized the district's participation in
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the nationwide Read Across America initiative, noting its continued importance
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in promoting literacy within the community. The board also received
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academic updates from DeWitt Elementary, Lynn Camp Elementary, Lynn Camp Middle,
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and High School. At DeWitt Elementary, twenty twenty five KSA
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testing data showed continued academic growth. In reading, forty percent
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of students were distinguished, thirty six percent proficient, twenty four
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percent below proficient. In math, fifty eight percent were distinguished,
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twenty nine percent proficient, and thirteen percent below proficient. School
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officials noted that these results marked improvements from previous years.
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DeWitt was ranked third in the state for mathematics during
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the two thousand twenty three twenty four school year and
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has since risen to the first in state for the
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twenty twenty four twenty five testing cycle after a three
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point increase in scores. Lynn Camp Elementary mixed results in
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KSA data. The reading nine point forty three percent of
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students were distinguished, twenty four point zero six percent proficient,
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and sixty six point fifty one percent below proficient. Math
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scores showed six point sixty two percent distinguished, twenty eight
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point thirteen percent proficient, and sixty two point twenty five
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percent below proficient. Principal Emily Hanlan acknowledged a decline in
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math scores, but noted progress in reducing the number of
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students scoring at the novice level. She outlined improvement efforts
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including training in research based instructional strategies, collaborative data review sessions,
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and continued focus on unit internalization in both reading and math.
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Academic highlights for Lynn Camp Elementary included a benchmark growth
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in reading in math, first place finishes and district academic
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team competitions at the junior, varsity and rookie levels ten
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winners and the Knox County Arts Show, and strong performance
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in cultural climate and safety. Indicators of the KSA at
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Lyn Camp High School, reading scores were reported at eight
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percent distinguished, forty four percent proficient, forty eight percent below proficient.
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In math, two percent of students were distinguished, forty one
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percent proficient fifty seven percent below proficient. School leaders identified
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improving overall school culture as a primary focus, with efforts
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centered on reducing behavior incidents, increasing parental involvement, and boosting
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academic performance. At the middle school, the KSA data is
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in reading was ten percent distinguished, twenty seven percent proficient,
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and forty eight percent below proficient in math, four percent
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of students distinguished, twenty five percent proficient, and seventy percent
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below proficient. A key area of focus at the Knox
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Pardon me A key area of focus at the high
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school is reducing novice performance among students in special education
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due to an increase in students with individualized education programs.
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The school has added an additional collaborating teacher to better
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support the student's needs. Despite challenges, the high school reported
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several academic successes. On the twenty twenty four to twenty
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five KSA assessment. Lynn Camp High School earned a green
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rating in ranked among the top forty percent of high
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schools in Kentucky. All thirteen deca's participants advanced to state competition,
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and the LHS squire was selected to participate in the
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University of Louisville Honor Choir. Our next article is Silas
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House earned Southern Book Prize for debut poetry collection by
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Macy Swafford Lexington. Eastern Kentucky author Solace House has been
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named twenty twenty six Southern Book Prize winner for Nonfiction
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for his debut poetry collection All These Ghosts, adding another
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milestone to his decorated literary career. House said the recognition
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is especially meaningful because of how the award is selected.
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That award means a lot to me because you're made
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of finalist by booksellers, and then readers and booksellers picked
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the winner of that. House said, a lot of awards
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can be political and all and have a small panel
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of judges. But I love this award because it's one
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that the people choose their favorite book. All of These
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Ghosts marks House's first published collection of poetry, though he
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said the form has always been part of his life. However,
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a key turning poet came following his appointment as Kentucky
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Poet Laureate in twenty twenty three, when he was invited
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to write and perform a poem for the inauguration of
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Kentucky Governor Andy Bursheer. How said, the inaugural poem gained
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widespread attention and became a catalyst for his transition into
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publishing poetry more openly. When he was inaugurated, he asked
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me to write a poem for that. House said that
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poem became popular and it led to lots of publishers
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asking me if I had a collection of poetry. That
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momentum ultimately led him to compile All These Ghosts, a
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collection he described as the most personal work to date.
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The collection is deeply rooted in the region House calls home,
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with strong ties to Laurel Knox Counties. In lots of ways,
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this is my most revealing work, he said. A lot
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of my poems in the book are about my childhood
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and my family, a lot of personal stories. As a
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book more about the Tri County area than any other
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literature of his, House describes it as a book he
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hopes more people back home will read because of the
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way many in Eastern Kentucky can relate to it. House
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Is upbringing in Eastern Kentucky played a central role in
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shaping both the themes and storytelling found throughout the book.
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I grew up around people who were constantly telling stories,
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and I'm so thankful I was around so many people
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who knew how to tell a story, he said. Growing
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up in Eastern Kentucky just gave me such a deep
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sense of community that it just naturally leads to stories.
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While the book reflects the culture and experiences of Appalachia,
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House said it themes are universal. Ultimately, these stories are
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about family and community and anybody that can relate to that,
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he said. In addition to the Southern Kentucky Book Prize,
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House was set to be indicted into the Kentucky Writers
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Hall of Fame. This concludes the reading of the Times Tribune.
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Please stay tuned for continued programming. Thank you for joining
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me and on behalf of everyone here at radio. This
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is Janice wishing you a very good day.