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Thursday, January 1, 2015
VOL. 110 - NO. 20 | 1 SECTION, 12 PAGES
214 KNOX STREET • BARBOURVILLE, KY 40906
Fugitive brother,
sister nabbed
Vehicle flips three times in
Christmas Eve crash
STAFF REPORT
A Knox County brother and sister have been arrested for the alleged robbery and assault of Dennis
Graham of Bryants Store.
Donna Kay Bays, 41, of Barbourville, and her 36
year-old-brother, David Allen Bays, of Bryants Store,
were arrested and booked into the Knox County
Detention Center Christmas Day. The siblings were
wanted for entering the home of Dennis Graham of
Bryants Store on Dec. 20, where they assaulted and
robbed him of $4,250 in cash. The arrest citation
states, “the victim obtained life threatening injuries”
during the break in.
Both Bays are being held in the Knox County
Detention on charges of first degree robbery and
second degree assault. Both also have $25,000 cash
bonds. The two are scheduled to be in court Jan. 6
at 11 a.m.
Donna Bays
PHOTO BY BOBBIE POYNTER
David Bays
Knox woman
abandons children
to evade arrest
BY BOBBIE POYNTER
[email protected]
A Knox County woman is
facing charges
on endangering
the welfare of
a minor after
fleeing and
abandoning her
Pamela Hatfield
two children in
a motel room
in order to avoid a confrontation
with police.
According to a Laurel Sheriff ’s
report, deputies responded to a
domestic disturbance complaint
at a motel off I-75 Exit 29 around
12:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24.
When officers asked the man
and woman in the room for
identification, they were told
both subjects’ identification was
outside in their truck. While
the man took officers out to the
vehicle, the woman apparently
broke out through a screened
window and fled the scene,
leaving her two seven-month-old
Two attempt
5-finger discount
Christmas
shopping
Mike Cobb consoles his daughter, Callie, as
their Explorer is loaded onto a wrecker Wednesday afternoon. As a precaution, Barbourville
firefighters cleaned the highway of debris before allowing traffic to continue on their way.
babies in the room.
The woman, identified as
Pamela Hatfield, 23, of Barbourville, was later found hiding in
the basement of a Knox County
residence belonging to Bradley
Combs.
The man in the motel room
with Hatfield was identified as
Michael Ramey, 35, of Corbin.
He was arrested on two bench
warrants, one each from Knox
and Laurel counties.
Hatfield was arrested and
charged with endangering
the welfare of a minor and on
three outstanding Laurel County bench warrants.
Both were lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center.
Combs was arrested by Kentucky State Police and charged
with hindering apprehension
of prosecution. He was lodged
in the Knox County Detention
Center.
BY BOBBIE POYNTER
[email protected]
And they walked away. . .
A two-vehicle collision at
the intersection of Hwy 11 and
Pope Hollow road could easily
have taken the lives of a Turkey
Creek father and daughter as
their car flipped three times on
a stretch of road police officers
say is known for causing a great
amount of serious and even fatal
injuries.
Callie Cob, 17, was driving a
2004 Ford Explorer east on South
KY11 when she lost control of
her vehicle on the wet road. According to her father, Mike Cobb,
who was a passenger in the car,
the vehicle slipped off the road
into a ditch, somehow bounced
back out and flipped three
times. At some point, Cobb says,
SEE CRASH, PAGE 3
New officials take office
PHOTO BY BOBBIE POYNTER
Newly-elected Knox County officials pose for a photo following the swearing-in ceremony Tuesday. Pictured from the left
are (front row) Sheriff Mike Smith, Jailer Mary Hammons, Circuit Court Judge Gregory Lay, Judge-Executive J.M. Hall,
Constable Dist. 5 Carl Bolton, Magistrate Dist. 1 Carson Gilbert, (second row) County Attorney Gilbert Holland, PVA Bill
Oxendine, Constable Dist. 1 Larry Eagle, Magistrate Dist. 5 Julio Cima, Magistrate Dist. 4 Jason Lake, Magistrate Dist. 2
Stacy Roark, Magistrate Dist. 3 Jerry Cox. (Back row) County Clerk Mike Corey, Coroner Mike Blevins, Constable Dist. 2
Reed Murphy and Circuit Clerk Greg Helton. Not pictured are County Surveyor Richard Frederick and Constable Dist. 4
Jimmy Dye. See more photos online and in next week's issue.
New Year's Resolutions
Newlyelected
mayor looks
ahead, not
back
BY BOBBIE POYNTER
[email protected]
Two Knox
County people
were arrested
Christmas Eve
for shoplifting at
the Corbin WalMart.
A Flat Lick
woman was
arrested Dec. 24
for shoplifting at
the Corbin Walmart.
Around 3 a.m.
Christmas Eve,
Terri Davis, 32,
of Flat Lick,
was allegedly observed
Gilbert Holland, Barbourville:
"To eat better."
Terri Davis
Beverly Gray
SEE SHOPLIFT, PAGE 3
Ali Hill, Barbourville:
"To extend more grace,
compassion, and kindness to
everyone and to be a better
light for the Lord."
Inmates not forgotten
Breanna Ledford:
"To be a better person."
SEE MORE RESOLUTIONS, PAGE 2
PHOTO BY BOBBIE POYNTER
Inmates at the Knox County Detention
Center received a pleasant surprise
Christmas Eve when several members
of the community paid a late-night visit
to the facility in order to deliver some
Christmas cheer. The visitors presented each jail inmate with a handshake
and a bag of candy to help make their
incarceration during the holiday a little less unpleasant. Pictured from left
to right are Mike Corey, Melissa Corey,
Barry Rowland, Torri Thompson, David
Thompson and Mike Phipps of Operation Sharing.
David Thompson
BY BOBBIE POYNTER
[email protected]
David Thompson can’t wait to
get back in the saddle.
The newly-elected mayor is
looking forward to building a
working partnership with the
new city council and community-based organizations with
SEE MAYOR, PAGE 2
BREAKINGNEWS
@mountainadvocate.com
VOL. 110 - NO. 25 | 2 SECTIONS, 18 PAGES
214 KNOX STREET • BARBOURVILLE, KY 40906
Thursday, February 5, 2015
copy
75¢ per
Petition for alcohol sale circulating in Barbourville
BY BOBBIE POYNTER
Editor
It’s been three years
since a petition was circulated to allow alcohol sales
in Barbourville.
On Wednesday, Jan. 28,
a new petition began circulating around Barbourville.
It says: “We the undersigned registered voters
hereby petition for election
on the following question:
BY BOBBIE POYNTER
Editor
SEE AGREEMENT, PAGE 5A
Knox Unite
earns national
recognition
BY JAY NOLAN
Publisher
Congressman Hal Rogers will honor Knox County
Unite. On Tuesday, Feb. 17.
The congressman, along
with Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and
Michael Botticelli, Acting
Director, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, will all be at the
EKU Center in Manchester.
They will recognize and
honor outstanding community coalitions for their
volunteer efforts. Our local
Unite group will be honored for their extensive
work with youth.
Proof of how much the
local chapter does and
how worthy they are to
earn recognition was obvious during the chairman’s
report to members at their
SEE UNITE, PAGE 7A
City Council to get
first reading of
budget amendment
BY BOBBIE POYNTER
Editor
The Barbourville City
Council will get a first look
Thursday at the first of several amendments to the
budget as proposed by the
Finance Committee. The
amendments will affect
all departments in order to
balance the budget.
A concern has been
raised that money is beSEE BUDGET, PAGE 5A
Barbourville, only that an
election to that effect be
held.
Supporters of alcohol
sales Barbourville have
various reasons to request
the local option election.
According to trailsrus.
com, an independent
research website, who
obtained its information
from the KSP Traffic Accidents Facts Report, studies
showed that cities across
DEATH TRAP
Knox, Corbin
schools enter
into 2-year reciprocal agreement
Knox County School District has entered into a twoyear reciprocal agreement
with neighboring school
districts, including Barbourville Independent and
Corbin Independent, Bell
County Clay County, Laurel County, Middlesboro
Independent, Pineville Independent, Whitley County and Williamsburg Independent.
By agreeing to the same
terms as last year, this will
give all school districts involved two years to begin
discussions and working
on plans for the future,”
said Knox Schools Superintendent Kelly Sprinkles.
“We understand that all
districts, ourselves included, are experiencing budget issues – so from the financial standpoint, this will
not be an immediate re-
‘Are you in favor of the
sale of Alcoholic Beverages in Barbourville?’ KRS
242.020”
Those signing the petition are not necessarily
asking for alcohol sales in
Kentucky who opened
their towns to alcohol sales
actually saw a decrease in
their reported drunk driving rates.
Local residents have
SEE ALCOHOL, PAGE 5A
Lawsuit filed against
ambulance driver
BY DEAN MANNING
For the Mountain Advocate
The parents of a 14-yearold Knox County boy who
was struck and killed by a
Knox County EMS ambulance in August have filed
a lawsuit claiming negligence on the part of the
ambulance service and the
driver, Kevin French, led to
their son’s death.
According to the lawsuit
filed Monday in Knox Circuit Court, Rodney Callender and Holly Dale Johnson
are seeking to recoup the
medical and funeral expenses totaling $15,603.
In addition, the parents
SEE AMBULANCE, PAGE 5A
PHOTO COURTESY OF BARBOURVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Barbourville attorney Paul Baker and his daughter were forced off the road and into the ditch at the intersection of
Pope Hollow Road and So. Hwy 11. This is the fourth recorded crash at this intersection since the first of the year.
DOT to investigate dangerous stretch of Hwy 11
BY BOBBIE POYNTER
Editor
A particularly dangerous stretch
of highway at the entrance to Pope
Hollow Road on South KY 11 in
Barbourville has claimed even
more victims.
On Sunday, Feb. 1, prominent
Barbourville attorney Paul Baker
and his daughter were traveling
north of S. KY 11 when their vehicle was struck by a another vehicle
heading south and sliding into
their lane on the wet road. Baker
swerved in an attempt to avoid
the collision, but was unable to
do so and was struck in the driver
side doors, causing his vehicle to
leave the roadway and strike a fire
hydrant with his passenger side
front door. Baker’s vehicle had to
be towed.
This makes the fourth recorded
crash at that intersection since the
first of the year.
There have been more than 30
recorded crashes at that intersection in only two years. A great number more have gone unrecorded
due to a lack of injuries or other
vehicles involved. Tragically, two
fatalities have also been recorded,
one on April 7, 2009, in a head-on
collision, and another single vehicle crash fatality on May 29, 2012.
Barbourville Mayor David
Thompson has witnessed a large
majority of the crashes and has
been aware of many others due
to the fact that his home is located
directly in the path of vehicles that
have lost traction coming around
the curve.
“I’ve had cars upside down in my
driveway, others that have hit the
porch and still others that came to
SEE HWY 11, PAGE 5A
The community has its say
“It’s time for us to roll up our shirt sleeves and get going.”
-- Denise Wainscott, Director, Barbourville Tourism
BY BOBBIE POYNTER
Editor
Barbourville
Tourism
asked Knox County residents what they feel would
be good for their city and
county’s future.
“This is going to be a
working plan, not one that
just sits on the shelf,” said
Debbie Spencer, president
of We Make Things Happen!, who along with Barbourville Tourism, hosted
two events Jan. 29 to hear
ideas on what the community feels will help improve
tourism in the area, not
just for tourists, but for its
citizens as well.
“We’re hoping to develop our strategic action
plan,” said Tourism Director Denise Wainscott. “We
want more than just day
visitors. We want tourists
visiting our town to stay
overnight or even longer.”
Spencer began by describing several strategic
plans that have worked
out well for other communities, including outdoor adventures, horseback riding and unique
dining spots. A strategic
plan in Knott County, she
explained, was completed in only a year and a
half and included a trail
ride. It drew 10,000 people
into the community and
brought in $2.3 million in
revenue into that region.
A big plus for this area,
Spencer said, is that Knox
County has a wealth of
history, not to mention all
the firsts the area claims,
including:
• 1st settlement house
in Kentucky (c. 1750)
➢
Dr. Thomas Walker
State Historic Site
• 1st trails and roads in
KY (c. 1775) all come together in Knox County.
➢ Boone Trace, Wilderness Road, Warriors Path
all come together at Daniel Boone Memorial Park
in Flat Lick
•1st town in east Kentucky to formally be established by the state assembly (1812).
➢ Incorporated in 1854.
•1st Battle of the Civil
War that resulted in casualties occurred in Barbourville (1861)
•1st College in the
mountains – Union College (c. 1879)
•In the 1800’s , Barbourville was the largest
and most progressive city
south of Richmond.
• Knox County was
formed in 1799 from Lincoln (one of Kentucky’s
original nine counties)
• Counties created from
Knox include Clay, Rockcastle, Whitley, Harlan,
Laurel and Bell.
• Knox County was
home to two Kentucky
Governors, a governor of
Missouri, a supreme court
justice, and a founder of
the state of Texas.
• Oldest continuously
running festival in Kentucky – Daniel Boone Festival
Of course, the discussion was not all about the
positives. Residents were
also given a chance to say
what they felt was wrong
in the city.
Residents
responded
with
• poor entrances into
town
• little parking for dining
• little lodging and/or
event space
• poor or non-existent
street signs
• no family activities
•poor communication
between organizations
• non-existent night
scene
• division of townfolk
and Union College
• buildings in downtown
are empty
• locals don’t support
Barbourville
SEE TOURISM, PAGE 5A
Special recognition
announced
STAFF REPORT
Leadership Tri-County,
which serves Laurel, Whitley and Knox Counties, has
announced it will have a
special tribute at its Leader of the Year banquet this
year.
Dr. Michael B. Colegrove,
Vice President for Student
Services & Director of
Leadership Studies at the
University of the Cumberlands, will be presented the
organization’s Leader of
the year award. In addition
to serving as a professor of
education, Dr. Colegrove
also achieved the military
rank of colonel, and has
a long list of leadership
accomplishments both in
military, education, church
and civic institutions.
But for the first time ever,
the group will also present
a special Memorial Tribute
to the late Charley Greene
Dixon, former Knox County Attorney, in recognition
of his many accomplishments in the field of leadership.
The event will be held
at the Corbin Technology
Center Monday, Feb. 23.
Anyone seeking information about tickets should
contact Lee Richardson at
606-523-8533.
Fiscal Court to
order new voting
machines
BY BOBBIE POYNTER
Editor
Leadership Tri-County,
which serves Laurel, Whitley and Knox Counties, has
announced it will have a
special tribute at its Leader of the Year banquet this
year.
Dr. Michael B. Colegrove,
Vice President for Student Services & Director
of Leadership Studies at
SEE FC, PAGE 7A
ALL AGES
WELCOME!
Free Petting Zoo!
JULY 2, 2015
5:30-7:30 PM
LIBRARY PARKING LOT ON
LIBERTY STREET
@ Knox County Public Library
PH 546-5339
BREAKINGNEWS
@mountainadvocate.com
Thursday, July 2, 2015
VOL. 110 - NO. 46 | 2 SECTIONS, 16 PAGES
214 KNOX STREET • BARBOURVILLE, KY 40906
copy
75¢ per
KNOX WOMAN DIES IN SINGLE CAR CRASH
BY BOBBIE POYNTER
Editor
A Girdler woman was killed
Monday morning when she
lost control and crashed her
vehicle on US 25E.
Officials say Tammy Hales,
50, of Girdler, was traveling
north on US 25 E when she
apparently lost control of her
vehicle causing her to enter the
median between the north and
south bound lanes of US 25E.
Hales was operating a
2004 Chevy Trailblazer that
went air borne when it
entered into the median. The
vehicle rolled over several
times coming to rest on its
top in the southbound lane.
Hale was ejected from the
vehicle. She was transported
to the Corbin Baptist
Regional Medical Center
where she was pronounced
dead by the Whitley County
Coroner.
The initial investigation
indicates Hale was not
wearing a seatbelt at the time
of the collision.
Deputy Ashurst is continuing
the investigation.
Hale’s funeral arrangements
have not yet been set;
however, Brooks-Durham
Funeral Home in Pineville
will be in charge of funeral
arrangements.
FIREWORKS
RETURN TO
CITY PARK
BY BOBBIE POYNTER
Editor
Tammy Hale
Knox will not block same-sex marriage
U.S. SUPREME COURT DECLARES BANNING SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL
BY EMILY BAKER
Reporter
For the first time in history same-sex couples can
marry in Knox County. The
United States Supreme
Court ruled Friday, June
26, that it is unconstitutional to deny same-sex
couples the right to marry.
Governor Steven Beshear
sent a letter to every
County Clerk in Kentucky
regarding the decision.
Mike Corey, Knox County Clerk, said, “The United
States Supreme Court has
the final say. I’m no lawyer,
but I don’t see any way to
appeal it from here.”
READ GOVERNOR BESHEAR’S
LETTER ONLINE AT
MOUNTAINADVOCATE.COM
PHOTO BY EMILY BAKER
Knox County Clerk Mike Corey
reads a letter from Kentucky
Governor Steve Beshear declaring Kentucky counties will
comply with the U.S. Supreme
Court’s ruling.
Mountain Advocate
welcomes newest
reporter
Yes, Barbourville, there will be
fireworks!
Barbourville Mayor David Thompson has confirmed there will be
a Fourth of July celebration and
fireworks display Saturday night at
the Barbourville Water Park.
The celebration will begin around
dusk with a DJ at the amphitheater,
as well as
NO PERSONAL available food
FIREWORKS and drinks.
Although the
WILL BE waterpark itself
PERMITTED will be closed,
FOR SAFETY the Putt Putt
REASONS, course will be
INCLUDING open and the
SPARKLERS, paddleboats
FIRECRACKERS will be running.
Long-time
AND ROMAN fireworks
CANDLES. contractor,
Pyrotechnic
Display, Inc., will once again be
shooting off a beautiful fireworks
display over Barbourville.
Mayor Thompson requests that
no one bring their own personal
fireworks, which include everying
from bottle rockets, sparklers, cherry bombs, firecrackers or Roman
candles.
“In a crowd of people the size
of what we’re expecting, we don’t
want anyone getting hurt by getting
too close to someone else’s fireworks,” said the mayor. “So, please
save them until after our show.”
Grand Jury ‘Deathtrap’ highway gets facelift
indictments
handed down
EMILY BAKER
Baker
Emily Baker
Staff Report
The Barbourville Mountain Advocate would like to
welcome Emily Baker to the
staff. Baker is originally a Clay
County resident, but don’t hold
it against her as she has lived in
SEE WRITER, PAGE 3A
The Knox County Grand Jury returned the
following indictments on Friday, June 26:
•Gracie Gabbard, a.k.a. Gracie Jones,
Gracie Phillips, 42, receiving stolen property
of the value of $500 or more, but less than
$10,000.
•Amanda Beth Cox, 34, of Rockholds, second degree robbery.
•Shane Collins, 28, of Artemus, receiving
stolen property of the value of $500 or more,
but less than $10,000.
•Steve Garland, 54, of Girdler, theft by
unlawful taking of the value of $500 or more,
but less than $10,000, third degree criminal
trespass, theft by deception of the value of
less than $500, resisting arrest, failure to notify
address change to Department of Transportation, and first degree persistent felony offendSEE INDICTMENTS, PAGE 5A
Workers coat a stretch of South Ky. Hwy. 11 with a new type of asphalt.
BY BOBBIE POYNTER
Editor
“Only time will tell.”
Barbourville Mayor David Thompson is hopeful
that there will now be less
car crashes on Hwy 11 in
front of his house.
The mayor was happy to
see the Kentucky Department of Transportation
complete resurfacing the
stretch of road at US Hwy
11 South and Pope Hollow
Photo by Robert Selvia
in front of his house in
an effort to decrease the
number of car crashes in
the area.
That small section of
road has seen more than
SEE ASPHALT, PAGE 3A
EST. 1967
CORBIN, KENTUCKY
Jerry Daniels, Donnie Hibbard
FAST, EASY & CONVENIENT! TEXT 606-528-1200
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Angela Collins, Bart Jackson