As we start 2024, Your WEKT News Edge is taking the time to share some of Todd County’s top stories from 2023.
Today we bring you those stories from April to June.
On April 12th – Todd County was among 76 counties in the Commonwealth in which Governor Andy Beshear announced that President Biden had approved federal funding for counties affected by severe storms in early March. The funding was used for recovery efforts, including emergency work, repair, and replacement of damaged facilities.
On April 18th and 19th – Firefighters from Clifty, Allegre, Sharon Grove, Lewisburg, and Dunmore were called out to put out a 40-acre forest fire that started when a tree fell on a power line. Todd County Emergency Manager Daniel Smith said the fire started around noon Tuesday near the Jonah Wilson Road and Lake Malone area and wasn’t put out until early the next day.
May 4th – The Todd County FFA held its annual banquet at the Elkton Baptist Church Family Life Center. Many TCCHS senior members were doled out scholarships and awards and the 2023-24 leadership team for the organization was announced.
May 9th – A former sheriff and jail deputy in Todd County was arrested on charges of sodomy and official misconduct. The arrest came after a witness reported seeing the deputy, William Stokes, in a maintenance room at the Todd County Detention Center with a male inmate. The inmate later confirmed that he was performing a sexual act on Stokes. Video footage also showed Stokes and the inmate entering and exiting the maintenance room.
May 9th – A fatal collision that claimed the life of 58-year-old Robert Murphy occurred on Greenville Road in Todd County, resulting in two additional people receiving severe injuries. The crash involved two trucks and occurred at Judge Rager Lane’s intersection.
May 10th – Todd County resident Carson Powell, a student at Heritage Christian Academy in Hopkinsville, was among the 200 students accepted into this year’s Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs class. During the intensive three-week program, student entrepreneurs work in teams to identify real-world problems and create viable solutions through business model designs and product innovations.
May 23rd – Governor Andy Beshear presented more than $432,000 in funding to the Logan-Todd Regional Water Commission to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the partnership and provide some much-needed repairs. The funding was among $2.4 million doled out to 10 cities and utilities as part of the Better Kentucky Plan “Cleaner Water Program.” The funding for this program came from various sources, including the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, the Kentucky General Assembly, the American Rescue Plan Act, and the collaboration of judge executives and infrastructure leadership.
Funding was also given to the Todd County Water District and the City of Elkton for repairs.
May 25th – Governor Andy Beshear announced the continued growth of the Kentucky Product Development Initiative — which in the first round invested in 22 site and building development projects across the Commonwealth, including a project in Todd County. In a partnership with the Todd County Industrial Foundation Inc., the Todd County Fiscal Court was preparing to make major infrastructure improvements to the “Robertson” property. It’s a vacant, industrial development in the area, and the initiative supplied nearly $300,000.
June 1st – The Kentucky Historical Society properly dedicated the state’s first-ever Amish community with the placement of an educational marker. The site is located on Kentucky 181 – just a quarter-mile south of Penchem Tack Store.
Historic Todd County President Glenn Slack said at the time there had long been a need to increase the public awareness and appreciation of this region.
June 6th – After a brief illness, former Elkton Mayor and Todd County industry advocate John Walton passed away at the age of 79. He served as mayor from 1999 to 2006. He also chaired the Todd County Industrial Foundation and served on various community boards.
Elkton Mayor Arthur Green expanded on just how much Walton impacted Todd County.
Nearly a week after his passing, Walton was honored with the John C. Mahre Award for regional dedication and excellence at the Pennyroyal Area Development District’s annual banquet.
June 8th – 71-year-old Stevie Powell was killed in a wreck on US 68 at Arthur Henderson Road in Todd County. Kentucky State Police said an eastbound dump truck lost its load of feed causing a truck driven by Powell to run off the road and overturn. Powell was pronounced dead at the scene.
June 16th – The Edge Media Group announced its acquisition of Todd County’s WEKT – 1070 AM. For CEO Beth Mann it was a homecoming of sorts and some big plans are coming for the station that has been serving Elkton, Guthrie, and Trenton since 1977.
June 17th – Jerry Simmons, a well-known Todd County farmer passed away. Among the many things he was known for: were Jerry’s Barbeque and Simons Produce – which operated near Exit 4 in Clarksville and at the Nashville Farmers Market.
June 21st – Todd County Agriculture Agent Curt Judy was honored by fellow county agriculture extension agents from across the Commonwealth for his 44 years of service to farmers. Judy was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award during the opening picnic at the Kentucky Association of County Agriculture Agents meeting.
June 25th – A storm brought 95 MPH wind gusts to Todd County. Damage was reported on Old Trenton Road. A pole barn shop near the Kentucky Mesonet site located on Gun Club Road lost its roof and some trees were knocked down. Some corn crops also suffered minor hail damage extending to Jim Green Road.
June 27th – A ribbon cutting was held for the new Todd County Extension Office at 240 Pond River Road in Elkton. This comes after the agents were housed at 202 East Washington Street.
