Mark White

Williamsburg Police Officers Bryson Lawson and Greg Rhoades have been recognized for “acts of bravery in the line of duty,” for apprehending the perpetrator, who violently assaulted a female victim in May 2022 with a machete at an Williamsburg apartment complex. Lawson and Rhoades were the first two responders to arrive at the scene. They quickly apprehended the perpetrator as a “very fresh and active crime scene was determined,” according to a Williamsburg Police Department release. Lawson and Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Brently Patrick entered the apartment, secured the scene and started assisting the severely injured victim until other responders arrived. She was found lying on the floor covered with blood and had suffered life threatening injuries to the head and face, according to a 2022 release. On Dec. 20, the Williamsburg Police Department presented Lawson and Rhoades with the “WPD Award of Excellence” for their “acts of bravery in the line of duty for assisting in the apprehension of a dangerous criminal, and securing the safety of the victim, who miraculously survived the attack,” according to the release. “A host of other individuals involved, from EMS workers to hospital medical staff, helped save the life of one of our Williamsburg citizens.” Commonwealth’s Attorney Ronnie Bowling announced last month that the assailant, Darryl Earls, was convicted of first-degree assault in Whitley Circuit Court, and was sentenced by Judge Dan Ballou to 18 years in prison. He will have to serve a minimum of 85 percent of his sentence before being considered for parole. “Great job by first responders and healthcare workers from Whitley EMS, Williamsburg Police Department, and Baptist Health Corbin keeping the victim stable and alive from this horrible attack,” Bowling wrote in a separate release.

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A routine traffic stop by Williamsburg police late Saturday night resulted in the arrest of an Illinois man for allegedly being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun. Mohammad Jabar Read this story and more for just $.99 cents today, or subscribe to get access every day! Please login to view this content. Not a Member? Join Us

Find the fifty frontmen who dominated the last decade of continental competition Time for a football quiz – testing your knowledge on Golden Boot winners.

You just can’t fit all the news from a year into a top 10 list, like the one running on our front page in this week’s edition of the News Journal. Sure, we get the big news events in there, but that doesn’t mean there still weren’t quite a few other interesting and memorable news stories in 2024, such as the completion of a mural dedicated to Nibroc, a Corbin JROTC cadet recognized for saving a man’s life, a proposed Williamsburg housing development for senior citizens, and the inaugural Honey Festival in Williamsburg. Here are a few of some of the other interesting headlines from 2024 that didn’t quite make the top 10 list this year. January – Williamsburg man reported missing near Cumberland Falls area found alive; Sheriff reveals that accused killer confessed to shooting (Michael) Ohler after dispute over ammunition; News Journal earns first place in General Excellence at KPA awards banquet. February – Carnival worker who caused panic at Nibroc festival receives prison sentence; Baptist Health Corbin celebrates milestone with 1,000 baby deliveries; Former KSP trooper pleads guilty to charge of unlawfully entering residence as part of plea deal; Trial of Williamsburg man accused of fatally shooting stepson ends with hung jury. March – Williamsburg man, who had standoff with police in 2021, gets 10 years; Former Whitley County teacher, coach indicted for sexual exploitation of minors; Former Laurel County coach indicted for sexual-related charges involving minor; Ex-air ambulance pilot sued for flying under the influence. April – What’s The Buzz: Williamsburg independent launches its new student-led newspaper; Whitley County native, former McCreary assistant principal indicted on sex charges; $29 million set aside in budget to widen I-75; More than 400 volunteers come out to help with annual Cumberland Falls Clean-Up.; New mural scheduled to be in place in time for this summer’s Nibroc Festival. May – ‘She just didn’t care’: Prosecutor lays out case against mom in child’s death; Terry and Marion Forcht receive 2024 Award of Excellence; Immanuel Baptist Church holds groundbreaking in Williamsburg; An Act of Valor: CHS JROTC Cadet Jacen Post honored with Citation of Heroism Award after saving a life; Requesting Manpower: Fire departments struggling with lack of volunteers. June – Master Street safety concerns heard during public meeting; Knoxville man accused of pouring fuel on girlfriend; Two women claim they were wrongly accused of illegal activity at Corbin cosmetology school; Grace Health celebrates ribbon cutting for new Corbin medical campus; Corbin may take over operation of KY-312 picnic area and trail, but not Laurel Lake boat ramp. July – Six-year-old’s 911 call leads to parents arrest; Lawsuit filed by father of two-year-old who was fatally shot by another toddler last fall; New senior housing development being looked at for downtown Williamsburg area; Fleeing suspect jumps in creek, found hiding inside garbage can; Inaugural Honey Festival held in downtown Williamsburg; Fifth Street Road roundabout open for business. August – Murder, suicide suspected after pair found dead at Baptist Health Corbin; Angelia Foster named new Baptist Health Corbin President; Communist group planning rally in downtown Corbin; Pair of former KSP troopers acquitted in federal court. September – Man accused of attempted kidnapping at Whitley County school appears before judge; Man pulls up shirt to show books taped to his chest during meeting; Williamsburg woman arrested; jailed after crash involving Whitley County Sheriff; Corbin Middle School earns National Blue Ribbon honors for exceptional academic achievement. October – Williamsburg’s own Bill Bryant inducted into KBA Hall of Fame; Cumberland Run kicks off second season of racing action; WKU’s 2024 Mountain Workshops focuses on life in Whitley County. November – Whitley County voters choose Trump in U.S. Presidential race; EKU received $5 million for Corbin childcare center; Corbin City Commission accepts the resignation of Arena general manager; fire destroys Goldbug home, but not family bible, prayer table. December – Whitley Detention Center, inmate healthcare provider, Ky. Department of Corrections named in federal wrongful death lawsuit; Whitley County Judge-Executive selected as KCJEA President; CUC customers to see rate increase beginning Feb. 1; Outgoing Corbin Board of Education members recognized at final meeting.

Former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, will forever have a connection to the City of Williamsburg. On April 18, 1990, Carter was the keynote speaker at what was then Cumberland College, which later became the University of the Cumberlands, during a dedication ceremony for the new O. Wayne Rollins Center. “This day has become an important part of our history,” then Williamsburg Mayor Marcella Mountjoy said during the ceremony. “For years to come, the people of Williamsburg and Cumberland College will remember the day that Jimmy Carter came to town.” The former president began his address with some humorous anecdotes putting the audience at ease, and then moved onto more serious subjects, such as the purpose of education and achieving personal greatness, Daryl Cornett wrote in the April 25, 1990, edition of the Whitley Republican-Corbin This Week newspaper, which would later become the News Journal. “There is a total lack of relationship between even the greatest universities on the earth, those that are in our country, and the people in the third world who desperately need the benefits of what we know and of what we teach,” Carter said. Carter encouraged the administration and faculty to not draw geographical boundaries around their circle of influence, but to reach out to better the world with the blessings they have been given. “I’ve seen the universities of our great country become increasingly isolated from the communities around them,” Carter said. Carter read a number of comments from high ranking officials of some of the countries of Africa to the crowd concerning third world countries views of western universities and colleges. Some of the statements that he read from the Africans said that western schools were rarely relevant, that that the knowledge they held was not shared with those needing to know, and that one action would be better than 100 conferences held by colleges. Carter challenged the college not to be satisfied with what it had already done, but to keep striving to expand upon its benefits. Then Cumberland College President Dr. Jim Taylor listed a number of reasons why the school invited Carter to speak on the special occasion. He said that Carter’s commitment to the work ethic, his concern for moral and ethical values, and his concern for human rights were all reasons that the college invited him to speak. Carter addressed the crowd with words concerning education during the first part of his speech, but turned the later part in a more personal direction, asking the audience to think about the qualifications of personal greatness. According to Carter, the answers for the question of “What is greatness” are determined by the standards that we use to measure it. Carter encouraged the crowd to not measure personal greatness by temporal standards, such as wealth, fame or prominence, but to measure greatness by the qualities of integrity, honesty, dedication, service, compassion and love. He warned against the danger of being arrogant because of our blessings and encouraged the audience to set the right kind of priorities. “Where ever there is a small flame of truth and dedication to service and moral standards, it needs to be fanned into a more significant light that can bring warmth, peace and justice, and sharing far beyond the bounds of this university and far beyond the bounds we have set in our individual lives,” Carter said. Carter left the audience with a bit of his wisdom from his own experience. “Service to others may seem to be a sacrifice but invariably it turns out to be life’s greatest blessing,” he added. Carter served as the 39th President of the United States from Jan. 20, 1977, to Jan. 20, 1981. In accordance with the U.S. Flag Code and a proclamation from the White House, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff immediately and to stay at half-staff until sunset on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, in honor of Carter. “Jimmy Carter was a true American — he lived through his faith and values each and every day, lifting up his neighbors and serving our great country through kindness and compassion,” said Beshear. “Let us all learn from him and honor his memory by leading with love. Britainy and I are praying for the entire Carter family and our country as we mourn the loss of this American hero.” U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell echoed similar sentiments with the following statement. “President Carter lived a truly American dream. A devoutly religious peanut farmer from small-town Georgia volunteered to serve his country in uniform. He found himself manning cutting-edge submarines hundreds of feet beneath the ocean. He returned home and saved the family farm before feeling drawn to a different sort of public service. And less than 15 years after his first campaign for the state Senate, his fellow Americans elected him leader of the free world. “Jimmy Carter’s character and commitment, just like his crops, were fruits of all-American soil. After every season when life led him to lofty service far from home, he came back home again, determined to plow his unique experiences and influence into helping others; into building and teaching and volunteering; into further enriching the same rich soil that had made his own life possible. President Carter served during times of tension and uncertainty, both at home and abroad. But his calm spirit and deep faith seemed unshakeable.”

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