Teen Dies in Crash; Speed, Alcohol Are Likely Factors
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM WALLEN’S TOWING & FAMILY! WALLEN’S Thank you for 83 years of service! Since 1933 952 Hwy 25W, Corbin, KYÊUÊxÓΣ£ä£ÊUÊÜÜÜ°Ü>iÃÌÜ}°V WTOWING - RECOVERY & VEHICLE LOCKOUT SERVICE WWW.THENEWSJOURNAL.NETWWW.TH tthehe ..netnet TheThe WhitleyWhitley RepublicanRepublican Corbin!Corbin! ThisThis WeekWeek News Journal S STA W N E D N VOL. 107,107, NO. 51 • WILLIAMSBURGILLIAMS , KY. DECEMBER 23, 2015 For subscription info: 606.528.9767 75¢ POLICE HELPING OTHERS Former judge gets diverted sentence for drug arrest Price could have record expunged in 2 years ■ By Mark White the [email protected] News Journal Rather than net stand trial ONLINE ONLINE: Read the ..neentire Tuesday morning text of the Price’s law license sus- for allegedly traf- pension order. ficking in drugs, a former Whitley that Price told her he needed more District Judge money to “bribe prosecutors and instead entered judges” in furtherance of her case, a plea deal that according to a Kentucky Supreme could result in Court opinion and order obtained his record being Price by the News Journal Tuesday after- expunged in two noon. Photos by MARK WHITE years. Price, who had been charged Shopping fun: Above, Williamsburg Police Chief Wayne Bird helps Dakota Herron, 2, pick out a helicopter The News Journal has also with first-degree trafficking in a toy while his sister, Abigail Martin, 9, watches. Both participated in the Shop with a Cop program Thursday. unveiled new details about what controlled substance in connection Below, Aiden Helton, 3, didn’t need much help picking out his toys from Detective Bobby Freeman. initially prompted the criminal with the March 9 incident, instead investigation into Jason Price this pled guilty Tuesday to an amended past March. charge of first-degree possession of It apparently began after a a controlled substance. In exchange Work requirement doesn’t woman, who had hired Price in a for the plea, Special Prosecutor child custody case, complained to dampen Shop-With-A-Cop her probation and parole officer See PRICE, page A-11 ■ By Mark White [email protected] Teen dies in crash; speed, One of the big questions going into the Williamsburg Police Department’s 11th Annual Shop with a Cop event Thursday was how the city’s new Community Reinvestment Program alcohol are likely factors would affect participation in the program. In other words, would parents or guard- ■ By Mark White a 1997 Dodge Neon south on ians be willing to do community service in [email protected] US25W when he veered off the exchange for each of their children going on a right shoulder of the road, which $100 Christmas shopping spree at Wal-Mart? Williamsburg police say exces- caused him to lose control of the sive speed and alcohol involve- vehicle. ment are suspected in a Vanover overcorrected, ❛❛ We are also learning about fatal crash early Saturday which caused the vehicle morning that claimed the to skid sideways across our community and that life of a teenager and has the southbound lane people volunteer and are will- left the driver of the vehi- of travel and into the cle critically injured. oncoming lane of trav- ing to do a lot more than we Williamsburg Police el before striking a tree, Chief Wayne Bird said Bird said. ever anticipated…❜❜ the crash happened on The vehicle skidded US25W near the south for about 318 feet before — RODDY HARRISON side Tobacco Shack about Gilreath stopping. WILLIAMSBURG MAYOR 3:30 a.m. Vanover was ejected ty service requirement,” Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Samuel B. Vanover, Harrison said Thursday. “It did not hinder. In fact, we are 21, of Whetstone, was driving See CRASH, page A-10 The answer was a resounding yes. getting a lot of positive feedback tonight by the parents or In 2014, 150 children participated in the whoever may be bringing them to shop. event. This year 148 children took part and “The positive thing that is going to come out of this the number would have been higher except for is we are taking our children shopping as we normally some no shows Thursday. do. We are also learning about our community and that “The worry was that we wouldn’t have as many participate because of the communi- See SHOP, page A-2 Bus driver cleared by grand Alleged shoplifters jury in death of 10-year-old Driver in separate crash also exonerated lead police on chase ■ By Mark White crash. [email protected] “We didn’t expect a true bill in either one of them,” said A Whitley County Grand Jury Commonwealth’s Attorney Allen through Corbin has issued no true bill against a bus Trimble. “The Kentucky State ■ By Dean Manning driver, who was behind the wheel Police accident reconstruction- dmannning@ when a 10-year-old boy got killed ists went through all of them and corbinnewsjournal.com while getting off the bus in March. there is no indication of any kind Corbin Police responding to a shoplifting com- While issuing its monthly report of criminal conduct. They were just plaint at JC Penney Sunday night, found them- Monday, the grand jury issued no accidents.” selves in a high-speed pursuit through downtown true bill or no indictment against Jonathan A. Chatham, a fourth- that came to an end after reaching the end of a bus driver Amanda Woliver con- grade student at Whitley North dead-end road. cerning a death investigation of the Elementary School, had just got- Thirty-two-year-old Kelda L. Messer and boy. ten off the bus about 4:20 p.m. on 27-year-old Jessica E. Mitchell are each facing The grand jury also issued no March 23 near his home on Ky. 779 multiple charges after police reportedly recovered Giving spirit: Curt Hampton, a Georgia missions direc- true bill or no indictment against with three other children. $3,191 worth of merchandise reportedly stolen tor, addressed a crowd at Mountain Ash Baptist Church Rachel Adams and Daniel Jones Kentucky State Police stated from JC Penney and Belk. Saturday afternoon where 23 people from Hampton’s in connection with a separate that as the bus began moving away churches gave away 462 backpacks to local youngsters. July death investigation that also See CHASE, page A-10 For more photos see page A-5. involved a fatal motor vehicle See JURY, page A-11 A-2 — NEWS JOURNAL — DECEMBER 23, 2015 KSP investigating hit-and-run wreck FREEDOM FROM SMOKING involving Whitley EMS ambulance STOP SMOKING CLASSES ■ By Dean Manning or tag number off the truck,” Cochran said of [email protected] the ambulance crew. OFFERED AT: The ambulance was carrying a patient, but Kentucky State Police are searching for officials said neither the patient, nor either of the driver of a pickup truck involved in a hit- the two crew members were injured. and-run incident with a Whitley County EMS The ambulance suffered minor damage to Whitley County ambulance Monday afternoon. the driver’s side mirror and window, but was Officials with Whitley EMS said the wreck driven from the scene. occurred about 12:20 p.m. on U.S. 25W south Whitley County Sheriff’s deputies were ini- Health Department of the intersection with Fifth Street Road. tially called to the scene to investigate. Kentucky State Police Trooper Lloyd However, because the ambulance is a coun- Cochran, public affairs officer at Post 11 in ty vehicle, the investigation has been turned London, said the ambulance was traveling over to Kentucky State Police. GET THE north on U.S. 25W when the black pickup Anyone with information about the truck truck crossed the centerline and sideswiped or the driver is asked to contact Kentucky the ambulance before continuing south. State Police at 878-6622. Callers may remain SMOKING “They weren’t able to get a make or model anonymous. MONKEY Rupp Arena bound... OFF YOUR Two tickets to paradise: BACK! Amber Fincher of Corbin won the Corbin Backpack Club’s raffle of two tickets ARE YOU READY TO QUIT SMOKING? to Saturday’s annual UK v. UL basketball clash at Learn how to overcome your tobacco addiction so Rupp Arena in Lexington. Presenting her with the tick- you can enjoy the benefi ts of better health, extra mon- ets is Backpack Club Board Chair Doris Moore. Proceeds ey in your pocket, and healthier relationships. from the raffle went to sup- port the organization’s con- tinuing efforts to provide food Freedom From Smoking is seven sessions intend- to almost 800 needy students at Corbin Independent, Knox ed to be held over a seven week period. This program and Whitley County schools. The tickets were donated is facilitated by the Whitley County Health Department by Tom Blair of State Farm Insurance in Corbin. and helps you gain the skills and support to become a Photo by DEAN MANNING non-smoker for life! Get the monkey off your back! Gray, Woodbine residents among 13 arrested Sessions begin on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 in Thursday Knox County drug sting from 2 pm - 4 pm and held weekly for Three Gray residents and a • Jason Wyatt, 34, of Gray, Knox County Sheriff Mike 7 weeks ending February 23, 2016 Woodbine man were among charged with second-degree Smith said deputies secured 13 individuals arrested in a trafficking in a controlled sub- arrest warrants for the individ- sweep of suspected drug deal- stance uals after undercover officers Classes will be held at ers in Knox County Thursday • Johnny Eads, 43, of Gray, made controlled purchases of morning. charged with first-degree traf- Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, 368 Penny Lane, Williamsburg KY “Operation Silent Sweep” ficking in a controlled sub- methamphetamine and/or conducted by Knox County stance Suboxone from each of them.