Local News

A public hearing June 22 reviewed possibilities for building a Kentucky Mesonet weather station in LaRue County.

Western Kentucky University and the National Weather Service sponsor the Mesonet project, which builds weather towers across the state in an effort to allow counties to gather accurate information regarding the weather. The stations measure temperature, rain fall and humidity, among other things, and are used for agricultural, educational and weather safety purposes.

In the wake of the weekend’s escape, Jailer Ralph “Mac” Trumbo has turned over “day-to-day duties” to an administrator, according to Rodney Ballard, deputy commissioner of the Department of Corrections.

Jail Consultant Joey Stanton was appointed as chief administrative officer by Trumbo Monday, according to LaRue County Judge/Executive Tommy Turner.

“Joey’s taking a stepped-up role to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Turner said. “Mac is still jailer.”

Andy, the K-9 officer of the LaRue County Sheriff’s Department, had a reputation for being high energy and chewing on items.

Those qualities may have proven to be his downfall. In May, Andy “apparently chewed a hole in a sheet of plywood” covering his pen, poked his head through it and got stuck, according to Sheriff Bobby Shoffner.

Andy, a National Narcotics Detective Dog, died of strangulation or other neck injury, apparently from trying to get his head out of the hole.

Several Hodgenville business owners were notified last week that the “facade grants” they had applied for have been denied.

The matching grants were offered by The Kentucky Department for Local Government to businesses and residences served by the local Main Street/Renaissance Association. The grant offered matching funds to do external repairs to improve their buildings. The business owner pays the entire cost of the improvement to the building and is reimbursed for half.

Hodgenville Main Street Manager Celia McDonald learned last Tuesday of the decision.