Recent News

By Eugenia Jones {Editor} [email protected] In law enforcement and 911 emergency dispatch, no two days are alike, and no two calls are the same. The McCreary County Sheriff’s Department recently reported the following two incidents. A Speedy Recovery McCreary County Chief Deputy Dustin Ridner recently responded to a McCreary 911 Dispatch call regarding a man…

The new turn lanes improve access from U.S. 27 into Whitley City Elementary and Community Park Road SOMERSET, Ky. (July 1, 2025) – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 8 Office advises motorists that a turn lane installation project on U.S. 27 in Whitley City is scheduled to begin this week. The $1.89 million project,…

By Eugenia Jones {Editor} [email protected] Unbeknownst to most, 15-year-old Ryleigh Taylor has recently been singing her heart out and working her way through American Idol auditions rece. For a time now, the rising McCreary Central freshman had dreamt of auditioning for American Idol, but had decided to wait until she got a little bit older…

By Eugenia Jones {Editor} [email protected] The McCreary Journal reminds readers that an indictment does not indicate one’s guilt or innocence but represents that enough evidence exists in a case to pursue the matter in a court of law. The McCreary Journal also notes the possibility of individuals having the same or similar names. Individuals are…

By Eugenia Jones {Editor} [email protected] Foul odor deemed non-hazardous by Norfolk Southern, EPA, and Domermuth Environmental Photos by Eugenia Jones & submitted After weeks of tolerating an unbearable odor, pressure from residents in a Pine Knot neighborhood finally led to the remediation of a smelly problem.  Photos show the waste content on Norfolk Southern railcars…

By Eugenia Jones {Editor} [email protected] McCreary County Fiscal Court met Friday (June 27, 2025) in a meeting set initially to approve bids for the 2025/2026 Fiscal Year. However, several additional items of business were added to the agenda, including discussion and action on Resolution 20250627-001, which authorizes McCreary County to join the Coalition for Environmental…

By Eugenia Jones {Editor} [email protected] Approves superintendent contract; approves communication platforms for students/staff/parents During their regular meeting on June 24, 2025, the McCreary County Board of Education approved the contract for newly hired School Superintendent Clint Taylor. The name of the newly hired principal at Pine Knot Primary was also announced during the meeting. The…

By Eugenia Jones {Editor} [email protected] It was a typical Saturday (6-28-25) patrol night for McCreary County Deputy Sheriffs Alex Jones and Chris Carter, who were traveling northbound on Hwy 27 in Whitley City at approximately 10:15 p.m. Typical, that is, until the two deputies suddenly met a Jeep Cherokee going southbound near Larry’s Mini Mart,…

By Eugenia Jones {Editor} [email protected] Folks from McCreary and Scott Counties don’t typically cheer for each other when it comes to UK/UT sports, but when it comes to protecting their local communities and each other, residents from both sides of the state line are proviing they are on the same team. Last week, elected officials…

By Eugenia Jones {Editor} [email protected] For McCreary County Public Library’s Youth and Adult Program Coordinator Holly Daugherty, it was a dream come true when the community gathered at the McCreary County Park on Saturday to cut the ribbon and celebrate the official opening of McCreary County’s Readers to Leaders Storybook Trail. Daughtery, who had always…