TheTimesTribune.com, Corbin, KY

Breaking News

Local News

Discussion

March 17, 2007

Whitley FOI Audit

By Jennifer and Ron Woody / For the Times-Tribune

Williamsburg City and Whitley County Schools were the hardest to extract public records from. Both seemed suspicious, requiring that we submit a written request with name, phone. number, address and reason why we wanted the records. They would then forward the request to their attorney and mail it to us with in three to five days.

At Whitley County I waited 20 minutes to speak to someone while she helped two people before me, even though I was there first and she knew my request, overall budget and superintendent’s contract with salary.

At the Williamsburg Schools they were very courteous and took Ron’s name and number and stated they would let him know when he could pick up the information. Twenty minutes later Dennis Byrd, Williamsburg Independent Schools Superintendent, called back and stated that he had spoken to the district’s attorney and that Ron would need to submit his request in writing and then the district would be able to consider the request.

Wouldn’t one think that the people we trust with the education and care of our children should be the most open with their information? However just the opposite was the case with the Whitley County and Williamsburg districts. One would think that a well-run district would at least be able to provide the current year’s budget upon request.

Whitley County Government was a completely different story. Upon asking the County Treasurer (I didn’t get his name, but he deserves special kudos) for a copy of Judge-Executive Pat White’s paid property tax he directed Ron to the County Sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office found no records for Pat White so Ron left to go visit the county dispatch office for an incident report. Upon receiving his incident report and leaving the courthouse the County Treasurer informed Ron that the sheriff’s office had copies of the judge-executive’s property tax records. It seems that the judge-executive’s given name is Paschal White.

Whitley County and Williamsburg were both forthcoming with copies of the most recent fiscal court and city commission meetings. Both had books available to the public in order to get copies of the minutes.

The 9-1-1 dispatch center provided an incident report for Whitley County and Williamsburg since they dispatch for both law enforcement groups.

Text Only
Local News
  • Whitley County Sheriff's Dept. confirms 1 dead in I-75 crash

    A wreck at I-75 Southbound mile marker 1 and another at miler marker 4 have traffic stopped at this time.

    May 16, 2012

  • Williamsburg Council votes ‘YES’ to Sunday alcohol sales

    Williamsburg City Council passed the second reading of the alcohol ordinance today, allowing liquor by the drink in restaurants with larger seating capacity within the city limits.

    May 16, 2012

  • Sheriff’s dept. seeks Dollar General burglars

    At about 7:45 a.m. Monday morning Assistant Manager Lasha Hoskins arrived to open the Dollar General store on U.S. 25E just south of the Corbin city limits and found the front door had been pried open.

    May 16, 2012

  • Whitley Fiscal Court approves budget

    It was a heavy agenda at Tuesday evening’s Whitley County Fiscal Court meeting. The approval of the upcoming budget and other business kept magistrates busy for nearly two hours.

    May 16, 2012

  • 0516 car fire.jpg Two vehicles explode in Lily community

    About 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Misty Newby at her home on Copley Road off Echo Valley Road in the Lily community heard what she thought was an explosion outside near her home, she said.

    May 16, 2012 1 Photo

  • Corbin city manager resigns

    After four months and 15 days on the job, Corbin City Manager Michael “Mike” Phillips’ last day will be this Friday.

    May 16, 2012

  • Corbin City Commission holds special session

    Three ordinances were approved by the Corbin City Commission after their second readings during a special meeting Tuesday morning.

    May 16, 2012

  • Kentucky State Police observes Memorial Week

    May 13-19, 2012 has been designated National Peace Officer’s Memorial Week.
    As a part of the Kentucky State Police’s annual observance of this somber time, wreaths will be placed on the graves of the two troopers, in the Post 11, London area, who died in the line of duty serving the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

    May 16, 2012

  • Whitley County Grand Jury hands down indictments

    The Whitley County Grand Jury returned 25 indictments on Monday. Most were related to drug and theft charges.

    May 16, 2012

  • W’burg Tourism passes budget

    The Williamsburg Tourism Commission discussed and passed its budget at Monday evening’s meeting. With revenue slightly up, the board also voted to hand out some funds for local groups and events.

    May 16, 2012