WKDP – WCTT Local News

Today, the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame annonced a Corbin native among this year’s five inductees.

Dan Neal, originally from Corbin, got his start as an offensive lineman at the University of Kentucky before going on to play for the Baltimore Colts and Chicago Bears.  Following a back injury, Neal began a distinguished coaching career with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Arizona Cardinals, the New Orleans Saints, the Tennessee Titans and the Buffalo Bills.  He now owns and operates Coach’s Fitness Club, with locations in Louisville and Prospect.

The official induction ceremony will take place on June 15 during the 10th Anniversary Celebration.

The organization’s selection committee has chosen inductees each year since 2003.  Other 2012 inductees include: Tennessee Titan Bob Bironas, a Louisville native; former Kansas City Chief and Louisville native Mo Moorman; former 49er and Louisville native Bubba Paris; and Louisville native Chris Redman, who went on to beat the NY Giants in Super Bowl XXXV in 2001 with the Baltimore Ravens.

According to the Bowling Green Daily News, three of the competitors in Sunday’s big game are from Kentucky:  Tattoo, Prancer and Tanya.

The three dogs will appear in this weekend’s “Puppy Bowl VIII” on Animal Planet, which features more than 50 rescued puppies “competing” on a miniature football field.

Tattoo and Prancer came from the Warren County Humane Society in Bowling Green, while Tanya came from the Green River Animal Shelter in Columbia. 

The three dogs were chosen shortly after being transported to a rescue in Gouldsboro, PA, where an email was received searching  for “fuzzy puppies” to participate in this year’s show.

The dogs’ photos were chosen and they traveled in October to New York City to film the show, where Tattoo  (pictured above) was even interviewed by Jill Rappaport on the “Today” show.

The show airs at 3 p.m. Sunday on Animal Planet.

The Times-Tribune in Corbin has a new publisher.

Longtime Sentinel-Echo publisher Willie Sawyers has been named as the new head of The Times-Tribune and will oversee both newspapers.

Both papers are owned by Alabama-based Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.

Sawyers replaces Rob McCullough, who has accepted a position as publisher for the Commonwealth Journal in Somerset.

Sawyers began his newspaper career as a reporter for the Times-Tribune in 1980.  He has been publisher of the Sentinel-Echo since 1998.

The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety and law enforcement officials across the state have teamed up with the National Football League and others to spread an important message about designating a sober driver this Super Bowl Sunday – “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk.”

Troopers will increase patrols during and after the game to ensure everyone arrives home safely this Sunday after enjoying the Super Bowl festivities.

So, this Sunday, make it a team effort to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.  If you plan on driving, don’t plan to drink; and if you do drink, make the right play and pass your keys to a designated driver so they can get you home safely – or just sleep it off until you’re sober.

A man was arrested in Whitley County Thursday night after the strong odor of a meth lab led state police right to his apartment.

Troopers were on patrol on KY 779 near Bear Branch Road in Rockholds when they noticed a strong chemical odor that they traced to an open window of an apartment building where they found 36-year-old William Mays with an active meth lab.

Mays was arrested and charged with one count of manufacturing methamphetamine as well as three counts of wanton endangerment for placing other tenants in danger.

Mays was lodged in the Whitley County jail.

The Kentucky Blood Center will be taking blood donations in the Corbin area Friday at two locations.

From 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., KBC will be taking donations at the Christian Health Center on Commnonwealth Avenue. 

From 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., they will be taking donations at the North Corbin Lowe’s store on the Cumberland Gap Parkway.

Anyone interested in donating blood can contact the KBC at 1-800-775-2522 or check out their website at www.kybloodcenter.org.

Police in several counties are looking for a man they say is behind several burglaries from Williamsburg to Winchester.

28-year-old Larry Brandon Shelton of Williamsburg is the suspected ring leader in a jewelry theft ring that spans from Whitley County to Clark County.

The thefts involve more than $100,000 worth of missing gold, silver and jewels.

Shelton was serving time in prison for a previous burglary when he was released on parole and put on home incarceration.  Law enforcement officials said that he cut off his ankle bracelet and is now considered a wanted fugitive.

Shelton is a 5’9″ white male weighing about 180 pounds.  He has brown hair, green eyes and a light complexion.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact either the Williamsburg City Police at 606-549-5038 or the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department at 606-549-6017.

Seven people have been arrested so far in a drug roundup in Corbin.

The arrests come after a two-month investigation by the Corbin Police Department where officers purchased prescription pills with the help of a confidential source.

Arrested in the roundup were:  Kimberly Lewis, 26, of Corbin; Michelle Borders, 31, of Corbin; Leland Hubbard, 50, of Corbin; Mary Bradford, 45, of Corbin; Mark Alexander Rossi, 51, of Corbin; and Geneva Chadwick, 49, of Corbin.

Police are continuing the investigation and several more arrests are expected.

A school bus crash in Perry County sent several people to the hospital Thursday afternoon.

Officials say a Perry County school bus and a pickup truck collided on Highway 80 near the Knott County line.

According to officials, a passenger in the pickup suffered the worst injuries, though they are not believed to be life threatning.

The driver of the truck along with the bus driver and six students were taken to the hospital as a precaution.

A Harlan County man was killed in a collision with a large truck Thursday on U.S. 421.

Officials say 36-year-old Jack Clem of Cawood was driving north on U.S. 421 in Grays Knob when he crossed the center line and collided with an International, driven by 25-year-old Ronnie Fuson of Pineville.

State police say Clem’s injuries indicate that he wasn’t wearing a seat belt.  He was partially ejected from the truck and died at the scene.

Alcohol or drug use are not suspected to be factors in the crash.