Today's News

Joel Ray’s Restaurant in Hodgenville celebrates its 54th anniversary this weekend.

Joel Ray Sprowls bought the restaurant June 6, 1959, and for 14 years it operated on a 24-hour, seven days a week schedule. Several Grand Ole Opry superstars have dined there, including Faron Young, Tammy Wynette, Bill Monroe, Englebert Humperdink and the Johnny Cash Band.

William Chesser of Magnolia recently accomplished something he had not thought possible.

Chesser, 67, recently received his GED – a high school equivalency diploma. It took almost two years of studying but he stuck to it and can now be called a graduate.

Chesser said it was something he had always wanted to do but working and supporting a family left him with little spare time. So when the opportunity presented itself after retirement, he took the plunge.

United Way of Central Kentucky’s record-breaking campaign is providing money to 20 organizations in its five-county service region this year, a high for the agency.

It also plans to fund two organizations for the first time: Breckinridge County Schools and Shepherd’s Pie food pantry in LaRue County.

United Way’s fundraising campaign yielded more than $1.1 million to further its mission, increasing allocations by more than $153,000, said Executive Director Christopher Wilborn. In all, $873,528.37 will be distributed.