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Corbin Times-Tribune - 3.10.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: We now return to the reading of The Times Tribune
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for news in Corbin, Laurel, Whitley, and Knox Counties. Your
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reader today is Janice as a reminder, radioized reading service
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intended for people who are blind or have other disabilities
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that make it difficult to reprinted material. We'll begin with
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the edition dated Thursday, March fifth, two thousand twenty six.
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Our first article for the day is Supercenter of the
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Year by Macy Swafford. The Walmart Supercenter in Corbin has
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received national recognition after being named Walmart's Supercenter of the Year,
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an honor that recognizes exceptional performance, customer service, and community
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engagement among the company's stores across the United States. The
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announcement was made last month during Walmart's Year Beginning Meeting
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the YBM in Houston. We're top performing stores and associate
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from across the country gathered for the annual company event.
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It was there that the Corbin store manager, Tasha Harrell,
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first learned that Store twelve fifty nine had earned the distinction.
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I did not know until we were at our YBM meetings,
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said the Corbin store manager, Tasha Harrell. It's just an honor.
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I'm so proud of my associates. I can't do it
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without them. According to Walmart, the Supercenter of the Year
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award recognizes stores that demonstrate excellence in operations, customer service,
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associate engagement, and community involvement. Harol said the recognition reflects
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the culture of the teamwork among Corbin store employees, which
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currently includes approximately three hundred and thirty associates. When asked
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what may have set the Corbin Walmart apart from other stores,
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Harold said, the answer comes down to the way employees
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work together. I'm all about team We help each other out.
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We succeed together, or we fail together, but we're together,
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said Harold. We have some of the best associates in
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the company. In addition to the daily customer service efforts,
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Harold highlighted the ways associates actively support the surrounding community.
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The store's team regularly participates in community events and volunteer opportunities,
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including Earth Day cleanups, handing out candy downtown during Halloween
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on Maine, and assisting with local shop with cop events.
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Associates also support the Empty Stocking Fund, which helps provide
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Christmas gifts for around eight hundred families in the area.
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We have served meals to families in need through the
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White Flag Ministry. Customer service also played a key role
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in the store receiving the national recognition. Recent customer feedback
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highlighted the Autocare Center team for helping the driver safely
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returned to the road after experiencing a flat tire, while
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a checkout associated associate was commended for delivering exceptional service.
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Harold said the store's commitment to serving the community was
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also evident following the devastating EF four tornado that struck
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parts of neighboring law last name. Several of my associates
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went over and they helped to do disaster clean up
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and they helped deliver meals, said Harold. Walmart does a
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great job with disasters. They sent a food truck to
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the London Walmart so that they could go and get
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meals loaded up and then they would deliver them to
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the community. And there is a picture of Tasha Harrol
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and she is smiling and very happy and it says
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Tasha Harrol, the Corbyn Walmart store manager, shared her discussing
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the recent honor our. Next article is Whitley Detention Center's
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first inmates graduate with Forkcliffe certification by Maisie Swafford Williamsburg.
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Although circumstances may have led them there, inmates at the
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Whitley County Detention Center are now being offered an opportunity
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for a fresh star. Whitley County Judge I mean sorry.
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Whitley County Jailer Jason Wilson and staff at the Whitley
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County Detention Center recently partnered with the re Entry and
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Employment Branch of Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet, along with
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the Kentucky Office of Adult Education, to bring a unique
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job training opportunity to the detention center through the Forcliffe
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University program, offering participants a chance to gain workforce skills
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and certification at no cost to the county. The program
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consisted of a forty hour course completed over five days,
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during which twelve selected inmates successfully earned forklift operators. Training
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followed OSHA twenty nine CFR nineteen ten DOT one seventy
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eight L safety standard, included detailed instruction on pre shift inspections, loads, stability,
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equipment operation, and refueling procedures. Participants first learned the fundamentals
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through the classroom instruction before applying those skills through practical evaluations,
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including a virtual reality forklift simulator, and hands on exercises
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designed to build confidence and workplace safety skills. After earning
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their certification, representatives from Goodwill Industries International met with participants
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to help develop job readiness skills and discuss employment opportunities
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following their release. Program partners also work with local employers
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such as Aisin, Automotive Casting and staff Mark to connect
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individuals with jobs that align with their newly developed skills.
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More than eighty inmates at the detention center qualified for
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the program through those staff ultimately selected twelve participants to
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partake in the first training group. While officials said narrowing
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the list was difficult, they also expressed hope that the
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program can continue in the future so that more individuals
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will have the same opportunity. Employers from Aision and staff
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Mark also visited the detention center during the training, meeting
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with participants and discussing how the certification could help them
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transition back into the workforce once they returned to their communities.
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Whitley County Detention Center office manager Felicia Ford described the
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program as a way designed to support the re entry process,
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helping individuals rebuild their lives step by step and reminding
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them that their past does not divine define their future.
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Steve Drake, CEO of Forcliff University, said the initiative represents
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a first of its kind pilot program that could serve
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as a model across the country. Everybody here came together
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to build a program that I think is going to
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be a valuable across the nation, said Drake. This is
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our pilot and hopefully it works out for you guys.
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Drake explained that the training went far beyond a traditional
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certification course that relies only on video and written tests. Instead,
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the participants spent four to five hours in the classroom
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instruction before transitioning to virtual reality training, allowing them to
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learn the mechanics and safety of operating a forkliff without
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the risk associated with first time equipment used. Throughout the
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five day program, participants practice driving and operating a forklift
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in a VR simulation where they were evaluated on safety
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and performance. After successfully completing the simulation portion, they moved
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on to operate an actual forklift in a controlled environment.
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Scott Palaiso, vice president of Forkcliffe University, who once participated
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in a re entry program himself, worked directly with the
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group throughout the week, guiding participants through the hands on
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portion of the training and helping them build both skill
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and confidence. And there is a picture of some guys
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and it says the twelfth inmates who participated in Forklife
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University successfully completed the course and they earned their certifications. Oh,
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I'm sorry, there's more to this article the way it
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was on the computer at didn seid, so let me
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pick up. Palaso said. Each of the twelve participants demonstrated
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dedication and an enthusiasm throughout the program. It gives us
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real opportunity to be able to leave jail and to
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be able to return to work and be able to
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provide for our families, said Philip Burchett, an inmate at
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the Whitley County Detention Center who just recently graduated from
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the program. It's a real opportunity, it's a shot. It's
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given us that chance. Another participant said the program represented
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more than job training, it also provided vauable life lessons.
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I learned to work in a structured environment, discipline, safety,
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and how to provide for my family the right way,
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said Darren Canada. I want to get back into society
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and provide for my family the right way like I can,
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and this right here is the next step for doing
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that for me. By the end of the five day program,
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all twelve participants successfully completed classroom instruction, virtual realities simulations,
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and hands on forklift operation. Each earned their certification, a
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credential that could help open doors to employment opportunities and
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provide a renewed sense of purpose once they are released.
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For those who participated, the program represented more than a
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certificate and represented a chance to move forward and to
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begin building a new path. Our next article is Knox
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County man to appeal sixty year federal sentence for production
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of child pornography by Jamie Slavin London. A Corbn man
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facing five decades in federal prison after his sentencing last week,
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will appeal his conviction. Jerry Dunn, sixty, was sentenced Thursday
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by US District Court Judge Robert Wyer to sixty years
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in prison following his previous conviction of five counts of
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production of child pornography and one count of one count
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of possession of child pornography. According to the testimony at
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trial September twenty second, Dunn engaged in the production of
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child pornography Specifically, a search of Dunn's phone revealed photos
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of Dunn sexually abusing a minor victim. Under federal law,
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Dunn must serve eighty five percent of his prison sentence
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should it be upheld. Upon his release from prison, he
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will be under the supervision of the US Probation Office
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for Life. Paul McCaffrey, First Assistant a United States Attorney
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for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Olivia Olsen, Special Agent
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in Charge FBI Louisville Field Division, and Colonel Phillip J. Burnett,
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Junior Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the
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conviction on Friday. The investigation was conducted by the FBI
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and the KSP. Assistant US Attorney Justin Blankenship is prosecuting
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the case on behalf of the United States. The United
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States Attorney's Office prosecuted this case as part of Project's
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Safe Childhood, a nationwide wide initiative launched in two thousand
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and six by the Department of Justice to combat the
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growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by
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the US Attorney's Office and the Criminal Division Child Exploitation
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Obscenity Section CEOs projects Safe Childhood Marshals federal, state, and
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local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who
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exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify
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and rescue victims. On Monday, Dunn's attorney, Abraham Maschiney, filed
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notice with Eastern District that the defense is appealing the
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final judgment in the United States Court of Appeals for
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the Sixth Circuit. For more information about Project's Safe Childhood,
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please visit their website. Next article is Moses to step
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down from Whitley County Extension role by Macy Swafford. Whitley
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County Courtney Moses announced last Wednesday that she will be
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stepping down from her role with the Lincoln County co
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Op and I'm Sorry Whitley County Cooperative Extension Service, with
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her final day set for Friday, March twenty seventh. Moses
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has served as the county's Community Arts Extension Agent for
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a number of years, a position she described as one
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of her most meaningful experiences of her life. Serving as
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your community Arts Extension agent has been one of the
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most meaningful chapters of my life, she wrote in a
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letter addressed to the community The relationships I've built with volunteers,
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council members, artists and community member will always hold a
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special place in my heart. In her statement, Moses reflected
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on the personal and professional impact of her work in
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Whitley County, crediting the community for shaking her journey. Moses
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said her decision to step away comes as she begins
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a new chapter focused on family and farming. As I
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begin a new chapter, I will be focusing on farming
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full time and spending more time with my family, she wrote.
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While this decision wasn't easy, I'm excited for what's ahead
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and thankful for all this the community has given me.
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Moses and her husband, Paul Dingle, operate Good Time Times
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Organic Farm with their two children, Hans and Charlie. The
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farm offers fresh produce during the Whitley Counties Farmer Market season,
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and its products are commonly featured at local restaurants, including
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the Wrigley. She also emphasized her commitment to in during
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a smooth transition during her remaining time with the Extension Office.
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I'm committed to making this transition as smooth as possible,
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and we'll be working closely with Extension staff. Teaching artists
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and volunteers during my remaining weeks, Moses said. Moses closed
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her message by thanking the community for its continued support
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over the years. Our next article is Knox grand jury
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amend's assault charge for South Laurel man by Macy Swaffer, Barberville.
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A local man has been indicted by Knox County Grand
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Jury in connection with a reported assault incident that occurred
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over Christmas. According to the Knox Circuit Court indictment, Sean
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Bennett Asher, thirty seven, of Corbin, has been charged with
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fourth degree assault, a misdemeanor offense. The indictment states that
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on or about December twenty fifth, in Knox County, Asher
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committed the offense by putting methan fat out into the
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coffee of a woman, causing her to suffer physical injury.
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The incident was investigated by the Knox County Sheriff's Office,
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which reported the case last month upon Asher's arrest. According
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to their release at the time, Deputy David Dunn took
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a report on February sixteenth from a woman who stated
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she had been assaulted. The woman told authorities that she
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woke up Christmas Day and was watching her child open
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gifts while drinking a cup of coffee when her boyfriend
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Asher told her she was about to find out what
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he had done, later admitting to placing methamphetamine in her
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coffee and planting needles in her vehicle after learning After
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learning she may have been drugged, the woman went to
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the hospital on December twenty sixth to have lab performed.
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Lab work performed, test results reportedly came back constant for
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meth and fetamine. She told officers feared what Asher might
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do next. Following the investigation, Asher was arrested and lodged
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in the Knox County Detention Center, initially charged with second
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degree assault before the grand jury returned in this demeanor
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count last Friday with a not guilty plea entered at
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Monday's arrangement. Asher is free on a two thousand, five
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hundred dollars bond and is next scheduled to appear in
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Knox District Court on April fourteenth for a pre trial conference.
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An indictment is a formal charge that does not imply
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guilt or innocence. All defendants are presumed innocent unless until
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proven guilty in a court of law. Our next article
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is corbent Tourism welcomes new member, elects officers by Macy
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Swafford Corbyn the Corbent Tourism and Convention Commission Let me
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start over. The Corbent Tourism and Convention Commission held a
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special called meeting Tuesday where commissioners elected new officers, welcomed
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a newly appointed member, and heard a proposal for a
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possible new Christmas theme welcome sign for the city. Before
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addressing the items on the agenda, commissioners heard from Dustin
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Hood with Celebration Lighting, who presented a concept for custom
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holiday sign that could be installed near the movie Theater
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exit in Corbin. It would say Welcome to Corbin, said Hood,
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when explaining the design of the lit up sign would
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also have a train designed to it as well. This
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would be replacing the Interstate entrance currently. The Christmas decorations
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placed along the exit are typically located near Arby's McDonald's.
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Hood noted that the placement often leads visitors to believe
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the decorations belonged to a nearby businesses rather than the city.
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There are a lot of people that reach out think
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that Arby's is said Hood, to get something more specific
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to the city that keeps in the theme of locomotive.
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We just we were just curious if this would be
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something the board would be interested in. According to Hood,
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the proposed sign would measure approximately twelve feet tall and
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forty feet long. The piece was originally estimated at around
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fifteen thousand dollars, though the company currently has a promotion
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that would reduce that cost by thirty percent. No formal
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action was taken during the meeting, however, Commissioners ask Celebration
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Lighting to further review possible locations along the exit area,
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and also to give them time to explore whether the
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City of Corbin may be willing to partner in sharing
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the cost of the project. Commissioners also welcome newly appointed
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member Holly Lawson of HMW Management, which operates Fairfield by
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Marriott In and Tueds located below the Corbyn Arena. Lawson
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attended the first meeting following her recent appointment by the
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Corbon Board of Commissioners and will fill the seat soon
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to be vacated by Ish Patel. During the meeting, Lawson
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expressed her enthusiasm about serving with Corbin Tourism. In other business,
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the Commission conducted its annual offices officers elections. Sumner Jackson
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was selected to serve as chairperson, Genie Cummins was elected
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Vice chairperson, and Kristen M. Smith was chosen as Secretary Treasurer.
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Each officer was later unanimously approved by the commission. Commissioners
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also received an update on the ongoing rebranding initiative for
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Corbon Tourism. McDaniel's marketing has provided several mood boards for
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commissioners to review as a work towards selecting a new
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visual direction for the organization. Members of the public are
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also encouraged to view the mood boards and provide input.
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The displays are available at the Corbon Welcome Center for
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the community feedback as rebranding the process continues. For more information,
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residents may contact Corbon Tourism at six six five to
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eight eighty eight six zero. Our next article is objection
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deadline approaching for Jellico logging project by Macy Swofford, Whitley County.
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An environmental conservation organization, is encouraging public participation in the
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federal objection process regarding a proposed forest management project in
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the Jellico Mountains of southeastern Kentucky. Kentucky Heartwood a non
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profit group focused on protecting public lands and forests, recently
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announced their assistance for those wishing to participate in the
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objection period is now open for the US Forest Services
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propos used Jelico Vegetation Management Project and the Daniel Boone
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National Forest. According to the Kentucky Hartwood, the US Forest
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Service has issued a draft decision noticed indicating plans to
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move forward with the project, which would involve forest management
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activities and portions of the Jellico Mountains spanning McCrary and
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Whitley Counties. The organization said the decision comes after a
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previous environmental assessment commit period held from April to May
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twenty twenty four. Individuals who submitted comments during that period
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are now eligible to file formal pardony to file formal
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objections as part of the federal review process. The project
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could impact approximately nine thousand, five hundred acres of forest
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in the Jellico Mountains over a period of about forty years.
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The group said. The proposal includes timber harvesting and vegetation
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management activities that may involve large scale clear cutting in
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certain areas. In the public statement, the organization expressed concerns
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about potential environmental impacts associated with the project, including logging
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on steep slopes and in headwater areas Kentucky. Hartwood also
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cited independent geological analysis that it said worn of landslide
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prone terrain within parts of the project area. Additionally, the
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group noted that the project proposed area wood includes habitat
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for endangered Cumberland darter, a fresh fish species freshwater fish
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species native to this region. The organization said it believes
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the Forest Service and environmental assessment does not sufficiently address
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potential impacts to the species or downstream communities. Kentucky. Hertwood
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also raise concerns about possible increases in flooding and erosion
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risk for communities located downstream of the project area. As
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part of its outreach, the organization is encouraging individuals who
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previously participated in environmental Assessment comment period who subject formal
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objections to the US Forest Service during the current review window,
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which ends this Monday. The project area is part of
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the larger Daniel Boone National Forest, federally managed forests that
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spans more than seven hundred thousand acres across eastern Kentucky.
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The US Forest Service uses vegetation management projects such as
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the Jellico Proposal to guide activities including timber harvesting, wildlife
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habitat management, and forest health improvements. The objection process allows
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eligible participants to raise concerns before a final decision is implemented.
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The deadline to file an objection is Monday, March ninth.
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Our next article is Corbyn Rotary Welcome Senior Center Director
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by Madison Nance Corbyn. The Corbyn Rotary Club Welcome Amber Case,
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director of the Corbyn Senior Citizen Center, as its guest
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speaker last Thursday to update members on the center's program
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and ongoing project. Case, who has served in her role
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for three years, informed Rotary members about services offered to
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seniors in the community in plans for the future. At
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this time, the center is awaiting completion of a kitchen
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remodeling project. We're just waiting on some more things from
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the state to complete it. But our hope for the
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start on is that this summer until renovations are complete,
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the center has secured back up location at the First
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Christian Church to continue hosting programs. The center partners with
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Cumberland Valley Area Development District, which operates in conjunction with
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the Kentucky Department for Aging and Independent Living. Among its
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primary services are daily congregate meals offered Monday through Friday,
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as well as home delivered meals and frozen meal options
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for those outside the immediate service area. Case said the
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center currently feeds ninety six seniors each day. This meal,
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it provides a source of proper nutrition and we ensure
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its daily check in. Case said. We get to see them,
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we knock on their door. We know that they're okay.
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If there's a problem, we know how to get a
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hold of emergency services. Kse said. The state allocates ten
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dollars twenty nine cents for home delivered meals and nine
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dollars and nine cents for congregate meals as part of
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its funding structure for senior nutrition programs. The center opens
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at eight am, providing coffee, tea, and cheese, and sometimes breakfast,
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and closes around one pm. In addition to meals, seniors
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participate in activities including cards, bingo, Gypsey style games, trivia,
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and murder mystery events. The center aims to host bingo
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three times a week and has also introduced an outreach
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program featuring in home Being Go once or twice weekly.
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Participants receive being go numbers and can call in to
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claim prizes if they win. Other offerings include chair yoga
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on Tuesday at Fierce Fitz Studio and regular bingo games
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on Wednesday. The center is also working to add water
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aerobics to its programming. Transportation services are available as well,
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including rides to medical appointments in home services such as housekeeping,
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personal care, and occasional chore assistance including tasks like porch sweeping,
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are also provided. This concludes the reading of the Times Tribute.
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Please stay tuned for continued programming. Thank you for joining
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me on behalf of everyone here at Radioisle. Missus Janice,
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wishing you a very good day