1. The Arena opens in Corbin

The $23 million David L. Williams Ag & Expo Center Complex in Corbin — a project 10 years in the making — opened its doors in March. The facility hosted a grand opening March 10 and its first concert, featuring Montgomery Gentry, on March 12. In April, the arena received an alcohol license and was first able to sell beer during the TNA Wrestling match on May 1. The arena hosted some big name acts in its opening year — Alan Jackson, Motley Crue, Staind and 3 Doors Down all graced the stage.

At the same time, it raised concerns about its sustainability. The arena hosted no events between May 30 and July 22, but Arena Director Cliff Clinger said in July that a summer-time slowdown of events was normal. The biggest news to lately come from the arena was the announcement that it would host the 13th Region high school basketball tournament in 2010.

2. Recession: unemployment and business closings

It was a tough financial year, particularly for the auto industry in the Tri-County.

Legend Suzuki, established in 1997, and the adjoining Legend Outdoor Adventures dealerships in Corbin closed their doors at the end of the day Jan. 14 — one of the first local victims of the economic recession in 2009.

Many local manufacturers, including Aisin Automotive, Firestone, SEKRI and TruSeal, all faced layoffs or offered employees “voluntary time off” with benefits.

Goody’s announced in January it would be closing all of its 300 stores. That same month, Sam Goody in Corbin shut its doors.

By November, Whitley and Knox counties were seeing double-digit unemployment. Whitley had the highest in the Tri-County with 11.4 percent — a 3.6 increase over the prior year.

3. Murder at the Root Beer Stand

It was a tragedy at Corbin’s iconic drive-in restaurant.

Larry Wilson, owner of Wilson’s Towing, was charged with murder and wanton endangerment in connection with the fatal shooting of Tod Carter of Woodbine July 31 in the Root Beer Stand parking lot.

Wilson, who carried a gun in his tow truck, was parked at the Root Beer Stand when he allegedly shot Carter through the driver-side window.

Wilson reportedly had an about two-week long relationship with Carter’s wife, a waitress who worked at the Root Beer Stand.

In September, Carter’s family filed a wrongful death civil suit against Wilson.

Wilson’s attorney claims his client acted in self-defense. The trial is currently set for Jan. 13.

4. Nighbert’s indictment for alleged bid-rigging as transportation director

Former Williamsburg mayor and former state transportation director Bill Nighbert was indicted in September 2008, but his legal saga continued throughout 2009.

While transportation secretary, Nighbert and two other men allegedly conspired to ensure contractor Leonard Lawson, who owned and operated road construction companies, had the winning bids in public projects worth about $130 million.

The eight counts in the indictment are for an alleged bribery conspiracy, witness tampering and obstruction of justice, court documents stated.

U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves stepped aside from the case in June, citing a potential conflict of interest. In August, Jim Rummage, a former deputy state highway engineer, testified in U.S. District Court in Lexington that Lawson on four occasions gave him $5,000 in rolls of cash in exchange for confidential cost estimates. In October, U.S. District Judge Karl Forester issued an order limiting the number of recorded statements from Rummage that federal prosecutors will be allowed to introduce in the upcoming trial because of questions of Rummage’s credibility.

The trial for Nighbert is set to begin in January 2010.

5. Audits of Whitley Sheriff’s Department released

On June 16, the state auditor’s office released five audits of Whitley County Sheriff Lawrence Hodge, which found a total deficit of nearly $125,000 in the office over a three-year period.

The audits, which span from Jan. 1, 2005 until Dec. 31, 2007, were referred to the FBI for further review. Further reviews of the audit by the Times-Tribune found that the sheriff discounted his personal tax bills and other tax bills without an adequate paper trail, and raised questions on how seized evidence was logged and stored.

Hodge himself won’t comment on whether any of the $125,000 has been paid back into the office account.

The auditor’s office can suggest that a public official pay back his office’s account, but it doesn’t have legal enforcement authority. According to the auditor’s office, KRS 64.820 instructs the county attorney to file suit on behalf of the county, if necessary, to reclaim funds found to be in deficit. Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White said, however, that the county has not yet filed suit against Hodge because they are waiting to see the outcome of further investigation of the sheriff’s office by law enforcement authorities.

6. Investigation into Bill Sparkman’s death

The death of part-time census worker Bill Sparkman created a firestorm of national media speculation and revived some of those negative, eastern Kentucky stereotypes.

Sparkman, of London, was found dead Sept. 12 in a clearing near a cemetery in a remote area of Clay County. His feet and hands were bound by duct tape and his census federal identification badge was taped to his head. He was wearing only his socks and the letters “FED” were scrawled across his chest, apparently with a felt-tipped pen or marker.

The story brought national media outlets to Laurel and Clay counties, and fueled beliefs that anti-government sentiment had led to Sparkman’s murder. The Times-Tribune even received a suspicious fax claiming “I did it” and warning of the federal government’s “enemies,” which it turned over to investigators.

On Nov. 24, Kentucky State Police announced the conclusion of their investigation — Sparkman had hanged himself while staging it to look as if he were murdered. He had recently taken out two accidental life insurance policies which in total would have paid out $600,000. Sparkman had previously been treated for cancer and apparently thought it had returned.

7. Swine flu illnesses and deaths

The first swine flu cases started to appear in the Tri-County in July. The first to officially be diagnosed in Whitley County was an 8-year-old Corbin boy. Flu activity became widespread around October, and several schools closed for days due to illness. Whitley County High School freshman Cierra Jones battled H1N1-related pneumonia in a Tennessee hospital for weeks in late September and early October before recovering.

At the height of flu activity, two Knox County residents died from H1N1, and both Baptist Regional Medical Center and St. Joseph-London restricted patient visitation because of the risk of spreading swine flu.

8. Laurel deputy not indicted for fatal shooting

Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Sapcut, who shot and killed an allegedly fleeing suspect, was cleared by a grand jury Oct. 18 from any criminally responsibility for the man’s death.

The grand jury’s report stated the jurors heard “a multitude of evidence, from six witnesses, over the course of two days, regarding the events that led to the death of James Ernest Goforth” on June 26.

Ultimately, grand jurors did not find sufficient evidence of criminal responsibility regarding Goforth’s death.

A civil suit is still pending by the Goforth family.

9. Court battle over occupational taxes in Corbin and Knox County

On June 3, Corbin technically won its fight for its share of Knox County occupational taxes collected within the city limits, but the ruling by Judge Roderick Messer was appealed by Knox County on July 2.

The fight began in April 2008 when Corbin filed suit claiming a share of the tax Knox County collects from its citizens who work in the portion of the city that lies inside Knox County.

Currently, Corbin gets 75 percent of Whitley County’s occupational tax collected from workers inside the Whitley County portion of the city. But it collects no portion of the Knox County money reaped from the Knox County section of the city.

In his ruling, Messer ordered that when the city of Corbin enacts the occupational tax it has already approved, Knox County will be required to credit any occupational taxes it collects from within the city of Corbin to the city of Corbin.

In 2005, Corbin established its own occupational tax, but the city has yet to enact it.

The case is currently awaiting a ruling in appeals court.

10. University of the Cumberlands’ battle over state funding

University of the Cumberlands’ battle to keep $11 million in state funding continued this year with arguments before the Kentucky Supreme Court.

In 2006, the General Assembly passed a bond issue to provide $10 million for construction of a pharmacy school at the Williamsburg Baptist College and appropriated $1 million for scholarships. Lawmakers said at the time their intent was to alleviate a shortage of pharmacists in Kentucky, especially in southeastern Kentucky where the college is located, and to keep more Kentucky trained pharmacists in the state.

But various groups objected to the public funding of a religious institution and the Rev. Albert M. Pennybacker, the Kentucky Fairness Alliance, and the Jefferson County Teachers Association sued. The controversy heated up after the university expelled a gay student who posted comments on the Internet about his sexual orientation.

The attorney representing the University of the Cumberlands argued in September that the 2006 appropriation from the Kentucky General Assembly did not violate the state constitution’s ban on public funding of sectarian educational institutions because of the purpose of “public health.”

But the justices seemed skeptical.

“But what occurs in that building to produce the public health?” Justice Lisabeth Hughes Abramson asked. “Is it not education?”