Your WEKT News Edge continues its look back at 2024.
Listen or read below the third quarter report:
JULY 2024
- JT Calvery was named Elkton Fire Department’s newest Fire Chief, after former Chief Derrell Waggoner retired after serving 45 years with the department.
- Various agencies assisted in the investigation and arrest of 32-year-old Whitney Harper, of Hopkinsville, after an investigation into an Elkton man’s death from June 18th. Harper was charged with second-degree manslaughter, after reportedly giving fentanyl to the victim, who then died from a fentanyl overdose. 62-year-old Kimberly Moorefield, of Hopkinsville, and 41-year-old Shannon Moorefield, of Elkton, were also arrested in the case. All three were indicted by the Todd County Grand Jury in August.
- In early July, plans were announced for the new Dollar General Market in Elkton.
- Mark Hoover was killed in a wreck on Butler Road in Todd County. Sheriff’s deputies say a truck driven by 35-year-old Adam Jones collided with a horse and buggy driven by Hoover when the horse crossed into his lane. Jones was arrested and charged with murder, DUI, and first-degree wanton endangerment.
- Retired Elkton Police Chief Bruce Wayne Marklin passed away in early July.
- On July 8th, WEKT announced the hiring of Caitlin Brooks as its new marketing specialist. Brooks lives in Elkton and focuses on Todd and Christian County businesses.
- The owners of Lighthouse Coffee & Cafe announced the closure of their Elkton restaurant after five years of operation.
- The annual Back2Back Foundation’s Brice Long & Friends benefit concert exceeded expectations, raising a total of $107,750.
- Former Elkton Mayor Nancy Camp passed away following a nine-month battle with cancer. Camp served as mayor from 2005 to 2013, spent 20 years on Elkton City Council, and 47 years working at Elkton Bank and Trust.
AUGUST 2024
- 29-year-old Edwin Chaparro, of Clarksville, was killed after a roll of aluminum came off a tractor-trailer and collided with his vehicle. The accident occurred on U.S. 79 in Todd County.
- A jury convicted former Todd County Sheriff W.D. “Billy” Stokes of third-degree sodomy. The verdict found Stokes guilty of engaging in “deviant sexual intercourse” with an inmate at the Todd County Detention Center in April 2022, where he was employed as a deputy jailer.
- Your WEKT News Edge learned of an investigation by Kentucky State Police and others in connection to Todd County Sheriff Tracy White. The incident occurred in Logan County and was captured on video and shared via the YouTube channel LackLuster. Sheriff White was indicted in early December in Logan County on charges of harassment and menacing.
- On August 7th, Susan Penick, a loan officer at Elkton Bank and Trust, was named the newest member of the Elkton Rotary Club. She was invited to join the club by Todd County Attorney Jeff Traughber.
- Governor Andy Beshear announced $100,000 in funding to help nearly 200 employees at Novelis in Guthrie to receive skills training through a Bluegrass State Skills Corporation grant.
- Longhurst & Ladell’s in downtown Guthrie announced its August 31, 2024 closure. The building now houses Guthrie Main Street’s store – Main Street Market at Longhurst’s.
- Country View Creamery near Trenton won gold medals at the Kentucky State Fair for their cheese. The honors included gold medals for Natural Italian Artisan or Farm Style Cheese, Cheese Curd Artisan or Farm Style Cheese, and Natural Artisan or Farm Style Cheese.
- In late August, Todd County Fiscal Court approved $1.75 million in funding from the Kentucky General Assembly. The funding will pay for upgrades or renovations at Todd County Central High School’s Technology Center and parks across the county.
- Billy Goat Hill shared plans for an expansion and relocation to the intersection of U.S. 68 and Old Quarry Road. The farm store closed on August 31, 2024, but the restaurant remains open on Elkton’s Square.
- Governor Andy Beshear announced the appointment of Elkton’s Eston Glover to the Energy Planning and Inventory Commission Executive Committee. Glover is the board chair of the Pennyrile Regional Energy Agency and will serve a term through August 15, 2028.
SEPTEMEBER 2024
- The Todd County Library announced a September 7, 2024, closing date for its East Main Street location. The library would open about a month later at its new location on South Main Street.
- Kentucky House Appropriations and Revenue Committee Chairman Jason Petrie was honored by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.
- Todd County Schools District 3 Board Member Dr. Kelley Groves stepped down after accepting a Teacher Support Specialist position in the district.
- Buc-ee’s confirmed plans to open a location at Exit 89 off I-24 in Oak Grove. Construction is expected to begin in the spring and open in 2026.
- The 1973 Rebels football team was honored and inducted into the Todd County Central High School Athletic Hall of Fame. The team boasted an impressive 9-3-1 record and was crowned the Region 1 Mid-South champions. The team made a memorable post-season run, clinching a victory against Glasgow to secure the Region 1 Class A Championship.
- In a letter dated September 23, 2024, sent from Deaconess CEO Shawn McCoy to Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville officials it was confirmed that a Letter of Intent has been signed between Deaconess and Jennie Stuart Health to “explore an affiliation.” The potential merger is now being dealt with in court.
- At the beginning of the 2025-26 academic year, Murray State University will be under new leadership. Through a letter to students, President Dr. Bob Jackson announced his retirement from the position effective June 30, 2025.
WEKT’s 2024 Year-in-Review is sponsored by: Kathy Morgan, of Modern Woodman of America, Southern Homes Realty/Back Country Builders, Blount Rural Health Center, City of Elkton, Todd County Attorney Jeff Traughber, Elkton Bank and Trust, Novelis, Todd County Health Department, and Todd County Public Library.
