There are four confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Wayne County at press time (April 6), according to officials with the Lake Cumberland District Health Department.

Three of the individuals were hospitalized and the fourth was self-isolated, according to health officials.

The fourth case in Wayne County did not appear to be connected with any of the other local cases, according to Amy Tomlinson, Public Health Preparedness Manager with the LCDHD. No other details about the patient were provided except that the individual is apparently in the hospital.

They reported a total of 33 cases in the 10-county Lake Cumberland area, with Pulaski County reporting the largest number of infected people at 24. Five of those had been released from isolation.

Sadly, area health officials announced the death of one Pulaski County man from COVID-19. David Pitman, 62, died Thursday, April 2 from pneumonia related to COVID-19. Pitman worked for the City of Somerset until he retired last year as he battled cancer.

Pitman was apparently one of the people who attended a church service in Pulaski County where a number of residents were exposed to COVID-19.

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A building in downtown Monticello was destroyed by fire on Sunday, April 5, and officials think it was arson.

The two-story building, located on South Main Street between the Farmer’s Market and City Hall, has been vacant for quite some time and was recently damaged in a vehicle accident.

Monticello Fire Chief Steve Ferrell said that it appears the fire was set when someone thew something into a window at the back of the building.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 8:53 p.m., but because of the condition of the old building, did not enter it.

Firemen were on the scene to control the blaze until about 1 a.m. Ferrell said the structure was a total loss.

The building was owned by the City of Monticello.

The Monticello Fire Department also responded to a woods fire on Saturday, April 4, in the Parmleysville area.

Ferrell said that firemen battled that blaze before it was turned over to forestry officials.

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A Wayne County man died Sunday, April 5, as the result of injuries he sustained in a bulldozer accident.

Bobby New was flown from the local hospital to the University of Kentucky Medical Center after he was extricated from a bulldozer. New was pronounced dead at 5:59 p.m. by the Fayette County Coroner.

Emergency officials were notified of the accident at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Sunday, April 5. It occurred on Highway 1275 South in a field near the roadway.

The Monticello Fire Department responded to the scene to provide extrication services. New was reportedly trapped in the tracks of the bulldozer.

Once he was freed from the accident, New was transported to the Wayne County Hospital and airlifted to Lexington.