Funeral services were held last weekend for a well known man who died after being injured in a vehicle accident.
Joe Birdwell, 71, of Columbia, died Wednesday, July 29 at the UK Medical Center from injuries sustained in a crash earlier that day on Louie B. Nunn Cumberland Parkway, authorities said.
A report by Kentucky State Police Trooper Jason Warriner said the accident occurred around 3:40 p.m. as Keith Coffman, 45, of Bowling Green, was traveling westbound in a 2019 Ford pickup.
Coffman, who was “towing trailers,” left the right shoulder of the roadway “for an unknown reason,” and the trailer he was towing “struck pedestrian Birdwell…and a 1997 Dodge pickup, which was parked in the westbound emergency lane,” Warriner said.
“Our long term goal is to be a craft distillery on the Bourbon Trail,” said Junior Cecil. He said he hopes that other businesses in the county will benefit from the tourist traffic generated by the new business.
County Judge/Executive John Phelps also pointed out that the distillery will directly benefit the county by adding anywhere from 12 to 20 jobs as the operation grows.
Cecil said he and his partners in the operation, Dr. Michael Wilson and Kevin Dailey
A Livingston man was injured in a motorcycle crash on Bolestown Road around 3:45 p.m. Saturday, July 18.
According to Tennessee Highway Patrol’s preliminary information, Lathan Allen Jones, 51, of Livingston, was riding a 2019 Yamaha R3 south on Bolestown Road “at a high rate of speed” when the motorcycle left the roadway on the right and rolled over. The speed limit in the area is 45 mph.
Jones is charged with reckless driving, unlicensed, uninsured, helmet law, and speeding.
The Livingston Fire Department was called out two weeks ago Tuesday night to multiple house fires, likely caused by lightning strikes during a lightning storm.
LFD Chief Rocky Dial reported that the department responded to three homes that night that had been struck by lightning.
Firefighters were dispatched to Cookeville Highway, Hillcrest Drive and Golf Drive.
The fire on Cookeville Highway was the first one called in around 10 p.m. The home had
Wednesday, July 1st
2:00 p.m.: Archery Program
Archery is the art, sport, practice, or skill of using a bow to shoot arrows. … Historically, archery has been used for hunting. Now, it is mainly a competitive sport and recreational activity. Come out to Cordell Hull State Park to learn a little about archery and enjoy some target practice with Interpretive Rangers Abbey and Jordan.
Saturday, July 4th
As protests continue around the country, the youth-led movement in Cookeville marched to city hall Thursday, June 18, calling for justice for Breonna Taylor and in remembrance of black LGBT+ victims.
Organizers and attendees of the Youth for Inclusion Initiative met at Centennial Plaza at Tennessee Tech University before beginning their march at 4:45 p.m. They shared stories, amplified the voices of minority attendees and chanted.
One organizer said they were there to amplify black voices and rally the community
A Livingston man pled guilty to sex crimes in the June session of Overton County Criminal Court, which was conducted a week ago Monday.
Brandon L. Thomas, 38, of Livingston, was indicted on the charges of sexual battery by an authority figure and indecent exposure.
At the time of the incident, Thomas had supervisory power over the victim who is a minor under the age of 18.
Sexual battery by an authority figure
As another week passed, the Monroe County count of positive COVID-19 cases moved to 21 as of early June.
However, as Monroe County Medical Center is continuing free testing for coronavirus, numbers are expected to continue to rise with the added testing.
On Friday, May 29, one case was confirmed by the Monroe County Health Department’s Director Jill Ford.
Then on Monday, June 1, Ford released information that four additional cases had been
Construction of the new Tompkinsville By-pass is continuing and is on schedule, according to Wes Wyatt of the Kentucky Department of Transportation.
“There is still lots to do, but we anticipate the road opening to traffic in late fall or early winter of this year,” he said.
The roadway, when completed, will connect Highway 163 from the Edmonton Road side north of Tompkinsville (across from Ben Hall Road) to Celina Road to the south, near Jane Yokley Cemetery Road.
There are always many decisions that need to be made by school districts, as one school year ends and planning for another one begins. Add in all the issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic–which preempted the 2019-20 school year in March–and the challenge is even greater.
The Wayne County Board of Education met on Thursday, May 21, and took one of the initial steps required by the state for the next school year. They adopted three different calendars for the school year, with opening dates reflecting scenarios