News

Tourism efforts in Corbin are paying off as restaurant and transient tax revenues reach their highest levels in more than five years. The Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission received its February and March financial reports from Financial Advisor Bryan Gay at the April 14 meeting. For February, Gay reported the restaurant tax revenue totaled $136,161. “That was our highest year in over five years,” said Gay. The transient tax came in at $15,797, also the highest in more than five years. Gay noted there were no fixed assets or major purchases. The net income for February was $28,197. Gay then turned to the March financial report. “Cash in bank as of March 31, we had $1,335,857,” said...

Judge-Executive Pat White Jr. recently signed a proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Awareness Month in Whitley County. He was joined by representatives of the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, Williamsburg Police Department, the Whitley County branch of the Kentucky Department of Community-Based Services and others.

The Whitley County Board of Education approved more than $685,000 in facility improvement projects during the April 16 meeting. The board approved a $640,000 contract with Ohiel Site Solutions to replace the tennis courts at Whitley County High School. The project will include a full tear-out and replacement of the courts, including new asphalt, nets and fencing. “We have worked with them before and everybody’s excited for tennis courts,” said Superintendent John Siler. Siler noted the current courts are more than 30 years old. The project will start when the tennis team’s season is finished. A separate $7,850 contract was approved with Solid Ground to provide third-party inspections for the project, ensuring...

The Corbin Arena is getting a second entrance/exit and a new sign. Corbin City Manager Scott Williamson made the announcement during the Corbin City Commission’s monthly meeting Monday. “It is a big deal folks,” Williamson noted about the new entrance/exit. Where the second entrance/exit will go and when it will be built have not been determined yet. It is still in the planning stages. Senate President Robert Stivers’ office has advised the city funds for the new Arena entrance/exit have been earmarked. Stivers helped secure the funding working in conjunction with 86th Rep. Tom O’Dell Smith and 82nd Rep. Nick Wilson. Williamson said the city wants to thank the three legislators for their hard...

Work to expand and renovate The Corbin Center is about 60 percent complete. In July 2025, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a 15,500 square foot expansion of the Corbin Center, which will include a main room with seating for 520 people banquet-style and 800 people auditorium-style. Corbin Economic Development Agency Executive Director Bruce Carpenter told the Corbin City Commission Monday the drywall in the main room of the expansion is about 95 percent complete. All the brick is up on the back side of the building. Brick work on the front side started Monday. Once the expansion work is complete, The Corbin Center will feature 36,434 total square feet, and there will...

Kyle Perkins with FK Perkins & Company addressed the Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission regarding a payroll error during the April 14 meeting. “I wanted to come personally and inform the commission of an accounting issue that happened recently,” said Perkins. “I am embarrassed to say that for the first time in over 20 years, we missed paying our staff.” According to Perkins, there was a change in payroll systems, and it did not work for the employees. “I don’t think we can apologize enough,” said Perkins. “We have defaulted back to the original payroll system that we have, and we are monitoring it very closely.” Perkins thanked the board members for being...

Outlaw Trailers has expanded into Kentucky with a new Corbin location, marked by a ribbon cutting with the Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce on April 17. CEO Dustin Martin said the business began after years of working in the trailer industry. “I started out working for a hydraulic cylinder manufacturer around 2012,” said Martin. “I sold over 300 trailer manufacturers for five years, so I was in every trailer manufacturing facility, dealing with a lot of different trailer manufacturers, which led to me selling trailers on the side, which the outlaw originated.” Martin noted the business has been in Louden, Tennessee for eight years. “ started out with four trailers,” said Martin. “We’ve...

The Corbin Fire Department is getting a new ladder truck to replace its current one, which is a quarter of a century old. During its regularly monthly meeting Monday, the Corbin City Commission approved a $1,988,741 bid from Pierce Manufacturing to construct the new truck. “It meets all of our expectations,” said Fire Chief Barry McDonald. This was one of two bids the city received for a new ladder truck, but the other bid did not meet specifications. Corbin firefighters had originally estimated a new truck would cost about $2.2 million. This truck is already in production so it will take about 14-months to complete it. The new truck will be about 90 percent outfitted....

The Whitley County Grand Jury indicted a Williamsburg man Monday for allegedly assaulting, strangling and unlawfully imprisoning his girlfriend last year. The grand jury indicted Davian Hamlin, 18, of E. Highway 904, on charges of second-degree assault (domestic violence), second-degree unlawful imprisonment and first-degree strangulation (domestic violence related). The charges stem from an Oct. 24, 2025, incident where Hamlin allegedly caused physical injury to the alleged victim by means of brass knuckles, restrained the alleged victim and impeded the normal breathing or circulation of blood by applying pressure to her throat and/or neck, according to his indictment. Kentucky State Police (KSP) Trooper Canon Calder arrested Hamlin on Oct. 24. Hamlin’s girlfriend had a...

The Whitley County Grand Jury indicted a Williamsburg woman Monday in connection with a February escape attempt, which took place at a local hospital and fractured the wrist of a deputy jailer. The grand jury indicted Misty A. Phillips, 42, of Drew Drive, charging her with first-degree escape, resisting arrest, second-degree fleeing or evading police (on foot), third-degree assault (inmate assault on correctional employee), second-degree wanton endangerment and first-degree criminal mischief. The incident happened on Feb. 7. Whitley County Jailer Jason Wilson said a detention center employee initially transported Phillips to urgent care to get glued up from a superficial cut to her wrist. Then Phillips started complaining about chest pains, so...