Top WEKT News Stories of the Third Quarter (July to September) of 2025, sponsored by the City of Elkton, Todd County Public Library, Modern Woodmen – Kathy J. Morgan, Southern Homes Realty, and Todd County Public Schools:
A 62-year-old Hanson man was killed Sunday afternoon, July 6th, when his motorcycle ran off the road and struck a tree in Todd County. Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene in the 1900 block of Highland Lick Road with assistance from local emergency services and the coroner’s office.
The Todd County School District successfully paired all 130 students in its Adopt a Student program with community sponsors, ensuring each child received several new outfits and shoes for the upcoming school year.
Five Todd County 4-H students, including Delaney Powell, Dayton Powell, Ella McCuiston, Ava Mayes, and Milly Dossett, traveled to the University of Kentucky and earned blue ribbons at the state communications contest. Dayton Powell and Ella McCuiston both secured second-place finishes in their classes, while Ava Mayes and Milly Dossett placed third in the team demonstration category.
The South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council announced in mid-July that a new state grant would fund due diligence on 119 additional acres at the John E. Walton Business Park in Elkton.
Harley Brook Stokes graduated from the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Public Safety Academy in mid-July and began her career at Todd County Dispatch. She completed 164 hours of instruction covering radio procedures, emergency call handling, and the use of national criminal databases.
A Todd County jury awarded Louise Smith more than $4.4 million after finding that Bridge to Adulthood, LLC, and owners Brian and Katrina Comley defamed her and caused severe emotional distress. The verdict followed a three-day trial where evidence showed Brian falsely accused Smith of embezzlement to the FBI, leading the court to order over $1.47 million in compensatory damages and $3 million in punitive damages.
On Sunday, July 27, the Laity and Ministers’ Alliance of Todd County distributed 352 school-supply-filled backpacks to local families during an event at the Todd County Central High School parking lot. Over 40 volunteers, including school officials and community members, collaborated to assemble and hand out the grade-specific bags and preschool kits to help students prepare for the new school year.
In late July, Todd County emergency officials received a new drone valued at over $30,000 to assist with search and recovery operations. The high-tech equipment was delivered by the Pennyrile Area Development District as part of a federally funded grant aimed at building disaster resiliency across the region. During an end-of-month meeting, Emergency Management Director Ash Groves announced he would be the first to undergo flight training before helping other local personnel obtain their FAA licenses.
FEMA denied individual assistance for residents in Christian and Todd counties following two EF-2 tornadoes that struck the region in May, determining the damage was not severe enough to warrant the program’s activation. Governor Andy Beshear expressed disappointment with the decision and announced plans to appeal the denial after gathering more comprehensive data on the destroyed homes, chicken houses, and infrastructure.
A one-year-old child was flown to Vanderbilt University Medical Center after falling from a wagon and being run over by one of its wheels on Bells Chapel Road. Although the toddler required emergency transport by helicopter, sheriff’s deputies reported that the child was alert and conscious when help arrived.
The 4th Annual Joey Wells Memorial Golf Scramble took place at Elk Fork Country Club, raising significant funds for scholarships benefiting graduating athletes from Todd County Central High School. Since its inception in 2021, the event has awarded $24,000 to local students and set an ambitious goal to reach a total of $50,000 in scholarship giveaways by 2026.
South Todd Elementary School received a $5,000 STEM grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority to introduce students to coding using robotic BeeBots. This funding allowed even the youngest students at the school to learn basic programming skills by using tablets to control the small robots.
Glenda Bell, a dedicated nurse and prominent community leader, passed away on Friday, August 1st, leaving behind a legacy of service to the Todd County School Board and the Elkton City Council. A former nursing instructor at Vanderbilt University, she was recognized throughout the region for her extensive contributions to the local arts council and the public library system.
In early August, News Edge reporter Edward Marlowe was named a finalist for the Kentucky Broadcasters Association’s “News Reporter of the Year.” Lisa Autry of WKYU-FM in Bowling Green would win the award on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at the Excellence in Broadcasting Awards ceremony in Owensboro.
South Western Kentucky Economic Development Council Director Carter Hendricks reported that Todd County experienced a significant surge in residential growth, with Elkton recently named Kentucky’s third fastest-growing city. During a presentation to the Elkton Rotary Club, Hendricks highlighted that the county outperformed Christian County in residential development over the past year and is poised to benefit from thousands of upcoming regional manufacturing jobs.
Kimberly Stevenson, an 8th-grade social studies teacher at Todd County Middle School, was named one of nine recipients of the 2026 Kentucky Teacher Achievement Award. While she was a finalist for the state’s top honors, the overall 2026 Kentucky Teacher of the Year title was awarded to Michelle Gross of Spencer County Middle School during the ceremony in Frankfort on October 7th. Gross won a $10,000 prize.
An Elkton man was killed on Sunday morning, August 17th, when his vehicle ran off Milliken Chapel Road in Simpson County and struck a tree. Christopher Barker, 48, was pronounced dead at the scene after a Logan County deputy reportedly observed his vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed shortly before the crash.
An Elkton man was arrested Monday afternoon, August 18th, after he allegedly threatened to burn down a home on West Jefferson Street while carrying a container of gasoline and a lighter. Officers took 53-year-old Michael Bailey into custody approximately 500 feet from the residence and charged him with attempted second-degree arson and second-degree disorderly conduct.
Rodney Seay, a retired employee of Elkton Die Casting and a 20-year veteran of Latham Funeral Home, passed away in mid-August at his home at the age of 78. Funeral home manager Brad Shemwell remembered Seay for his two decades of compassionate service to families in their time of need and noted that Seay remained a constant presence at the funeral home even after retiring in February.
On August 24th, Hopkinsville native Sarah Francis, who is married to WEKT Team Lead John Morgan Francis, stepped into the Executive Director position of the Jennie Stuart Health Foundation to guide the foundation’s future donor engagement and program development. This followed the retirement of Tracey Clark, who led the organization since its 2018 inception and helped establish a nearly $1 million cancer care endowment.
Todd County Judge-Executive Todd Mansfield announced in early September that renovations and celebration plans were underway for the 1976 courthouse’s upcoming 50th anniversary in 2026.
A truck caused extensive damage to the Fairview Fire Department building on September 5th after swerving to avoid a vehicle that had stopped for a yard sale. Although the structure required significant repairs, Chief Marc Hampton confirmed that no one was injured and the department remained capable of responding to emergency calls.
The Western Kentucky agriculture community mourned the passing of Delbert Roeder, a highly respected industry expert and founder of Roeder Auction Company. He spent a lifetime dedicated to the farm equipment business and was previously honored as Agribusiness of the Year.
Tammi Maxwell launched a community service project that established “blessing boxes” throughout Todd County to provide anonymous access to food and essential supplies. Local partners like Kathy Morgan and the Modern Woodmen Foundation supported the initiative by installing several new pantries, including the county’s largest box at the Elkton-Todd County Park.
Trenton Police Chief Henry Hamlet rescued a woman from a burning vehicle after she drove recklessly through town due to an apparent medical emergency. Although the car overturned and caught fire after striking a porch, the woman escaped with only minor injuries thanks to Hamlet’s quick actions.
Also in September, Kentucky officials announced immediate funding cuts and new restrictions for senior nutrition programs following the expiration of federal COVID-19 relief funds and a significant state budget deficit. Consequently, the Pennyrile Area Development District was forced to prioritize only the highest-need individuals for home-delivered meals while reducing services like drive-thru sites to manage the shortfall.
On September 30th, Todd County Sheriff Tracy White pleaded guilty to an amended charge of harassment following a 2024 incident involving a dispute at a private residence in Logan County. He was ordered to pay a fine, perform community service, and issue an apology to the victim’s family.
