Brodhead, KY

Laurel County Sheriff John Root is reporting Deputy Travis Napier tried to pull over a speeding vehicle traveling north on I-75 just south of London. The driver, later identified as 20-year-old Gregory Sartin of London, kept going when the deputy activated his emergency equipment. Sartin kept switching lanes and eventually got off at exit 38, where Major Chuck Johnson had the exit ramp blocked. Sartin tried to go around the cruiser but couldn’t and was stopped. Sartin was found in possession of synthetic drugs. In addition to drug possession, he was charged with speeding, fleeing or evading police and others. Sartin was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center. Also assisting on the investigation were Deputy Greg Poynter and K-9/Sgt. Gary Mehler.

Three men have been indicted for the use of excessive force during an arrest, conspiring to cover up that excessive force, and illegally entering a home.

DANVILLE, Ky. (KT) – Pastor Jonathan Grizzell of Hedgeville Baptist says there’s a benefit that comes from giving, and an even bigger benefit that comes from doing. He’s getting the best of both worlds after his congregation decided to rally for a family and church that is struggling with flood recovery in the Blackey, Roxanne and Jeremiah areas of Letcher County. Those places became the target after a new church member told the pastor that they had family in that part of eastern Kentucky.

This Labor Day holiday the London Police Department, Laurel County Sheriff’s Department and Kentucky State Police join the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety for the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. The campaign runs now through September 5th. While law enforcement officers patrol for impaired drivers year-round, officials say impaired driving-related crashes tend to increase during the Labor Day holiday period. Last year in Kentucky there were 4,670 total crashes involving an impaired driver, resulting in 2,187 injuries and 194 deaths. During the Labor Day holiday weekend, there were 69 crashes involving an impaired driver, resulting in 29 injuries and 4 deaths.

COVID-19 has prompted a central Kentucky school system to push back their first day of classes. Berea Independent School District will be starting classes on Monday.

The Kentucky Department for Public Health reported 54 new COVID cases in Russell County. Neighboring Pulaski County was among the counties with the highest number of cases in the state at 163. Wayne County reported 76 cases, Casey had 46 cases, Adair had 44, Clinton had 33, and Cumberland had...

Laurel County Sheriff John Root is reporting Detective Robert Reed and Detective Taylor McDaniel charged an East Bernstadt man with receiving stolen property. Deputies were called out to investigate the report of a vehicle stolen from a business off South Laurel Road back in June. The vehicle was later involved in a hit and run that damaged a Laurel County ambulance at a service station in north London. The vehicle was recovered and video surveillance of the suspect was posted on the Sheriff’s office Facebook page. Several tips came in from the public on the suspects possible identity. As a result of that along with information developed by investigators, 34-year-old Rex Smallwood was arrested. He was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.

Here’s how much the man, who wishes to remain anonymous, took home after taxes.

RICHMOND, Ky. (WKYT) - With the power of love, anything is possible. One Richmond couple is using that power to guide people from drug addiction. Jasmine’s House is a facility for women as they begin their journey to sobriety. It opened at the first of the month, and Marie and Mike St. John say they are already guiding clients to recovery.

“Currently due to the rise in COVID cases across the district we would not have all staff present during the first days of school,” Berea Independent Superintendent Diane Hatchett said.

Laurel County Sheriff John Root reports that Deputy Drew Wilson and Deputy Brian France was at a business off North Laurel Road around 12:30 in the morning and noticed a motorcycle pass by at a high rate of speed. Deputies went after the rider, which they noted was traveling near 100 mph. Deputies say the rider turned off his lights and was passing vehicles and running traffic lights. Deputies were joined by officers with the London Police Department to get the motorcycle stopped in the middle of town on Main Street. The rider, 26-year-old James Roberts of London, was determined to be under the influence. He was arrested and charged with fleeing or evading police, DUI, speeding and several other traffic offenses. Roberts was lodged in the Laurel County Correctional Center.

In the Laurel County Health Department’s weekly update on Kool Gold’s London News Now, Public Health Director, Mark Hensley, said it’s the third week in a row of declining COVID numbers. Hensley said said there were 280 new cases from August 8th through the 14th. There were 6 new hospitalizations. Laurel County still remains in the red in the latest community transmission levels. Hensley said the health department continues to offer COVID vaccinations Monday through Friday from 8am to 3pm. They continue to offer the PCR COVID tests on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For more information visit their Facebook page or their website.

A Stanford man was arrested Saturday night by the Russell County Sheriff’s Office on a host of charges that included drugs, wanton endangerment, and traffic violations, according to jail records. Anthony Drury, age 38, was arrested by Deputy Corey Meyer with the RCSO and charges with fleeing or evading...

Berea Independent School District in Kentucky has delayed the first day of school due to a COVID outbreak among teachers. And two large East Coast districts mandated masks on the same day the CDC loosened its K-12 guidelines last week. But those three districts are most certainly the outliers as...

The Mercer County Titans girls soccer team started their season with a 2-2 draw against the Nelson County Cardinals Aug. 10. The Titans ventured to Lincoln County to take on the Patriots in a 12th region matchup Saturday, Aug. 13. Mercer fell short 0-2 on the road as the young team tries to find their rhythm.

RICHMOND, Ky. (WKYT) - Governor Andy Beshear has called on all Kentuckians to help as flood clean-up and recovery efforts continue in eastern Kentucky. When it comes to a natural disaster, like we saw in Eastern Kentucky, every bit of aid can help, and it doesn’t matter where it comes from. Richmond Police officers decided that they wanted to do what they could to help out, so they called for donations.

Laurel County Judge-Executive David Westerfield said non-perishable food items are needed desperately for the victims of the devastating flood in Eastern Kentucky. This week they’re accepting food items to be distributed to those in need. Donations of non-perishable food items are being accepted at the Laurel County Road Department on McWhorter Street from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Judge Westerfield is hoping to take a truckload of food soon to Fleming Neon where it will be distributed to other areas throughout the region affected by the devastating floods. For more information contact the judge’s office at 606-864-4640 or visit their Facebook page.

Sydney Holcombe, formerly a digital strategy consultant for The Holler Creative, a digital marketing agency based out of Corbin, Ky., is joining Lumber King in early August. She will be taking on the inaugural role of marketing director, connecting the dots for the company online and aiding in building advertising strategies at corporate and individual store levels to accomplish company goals and drive business forward.

Landy Lin ‘22 has been named to a prestigious post-graduate fellowship. Lin, a first-generation Bonner Scholar and Shepherd Intern, was named as a National Hunger Fellow earlier this summer. The Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship “trains and inspires new leaders in the movement to end hunger and poverty in...

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (WYMT) - If you make the trip out to North Laurel Little League, it will appear business as usual. But the last week has been anything but business as usual, with the team on the heels of a Great Lakes Region Championship appearance and reaching the brink of the Little League World Series.