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August 21st Adair County Middle School Ribbon Cutting
Mayor Eddie Thomas shares details from the meeting...
Scammers are at it again!
Today (Thursday, August 13, 2026) the Adair County Sheriff's Office received two calls from citizens stating they had gotten a phone call from a male subject claiming that he was Sgt. Hall with the Adair County Sheriff's Office, and they had missed a federal jury court date and had a warrant of arrest.
According to Sheriff Gary Roy, there is no one named Sgt. Hall at the sheriff's office, and no one at the sheriff's office will call you and tell you that you have a federal warrant!
FRANKFORT, Ky. (August 13, 2026) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear recognized the lifesaving work of the Kentucky State Police (KSP) for rescuing local law enforcement officers and a Kentuckian who were under fire from an armed suspect earlier this year. The rescue, which was captured on video, was made possible by the agency’s armored 2021 Chevrolet Suburban High Country.
“Thank you to our Special Response Team for their bravery in supporting their neighbors and their local law enforcement colleagues,” Gov. Beshear said. “This example of teamwork and selflessness represents the best of Kentucky.”
On April 20, 2026, deputies with the Adair County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) responded to a disturbance at a residence on Chestnut Grove Road in Columbia. Upon arriving, one deputy and another individual came under gunfire from an armed man. They took cover but remained pinned down for several hours. Two additional deputies attempted to rescue them using ballistic shields; however, they also came under fire and were forced to take cover, leaving all four individuals trapped.
Additional law enforcement agencies, including KSP troopers and officers, responded to assist. Upon arrival, they also came under fire from the barricaded suspect.
The KSP Special Response Team (SRT) was requested to the scene and upon arrival deployed the agency's armored 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. Using the vehicle as a mobile shield, SRT troopers safely reached the trapped deputies and the civilian and brought them to safety.
“Our troopers and officers never know what they could encounter when responding to a call for help,” said KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. “By investing in advanced tools, KSP continues its mission to protect and serve the people of Kentucky while ensuring our personnel have the tools they need to safely respond to evolving public safety challenges.”
Purchased in 2021, the armored 2021 Chevrolet Suburban enhanced KSP’s ability to respond to high-risk incidents while prioritizing the safety of both troopers and the public. The NIJ III Armormax B6 armor the vehicle meets distinct ballistics protection standards required by the National Institute of Justice, including protection against rifle fire and armor-piercing rifle rounds.
“Our armored Suburban is a key piece of lifesaving equipment that is often used by our Special Response Team, allowing them to quickly deploy protective armor to critical incidents in austere locations where utilizing the Bearcat or Rook is neither feasible nor timely,” KSP Special Response Team Captain Dallas Greer said. “This Adair County critical incident is just one of many examples where the armored Suburban has been utilized to quickly and safely rescue officers and evacuate civilians while a suspect is actively trying to harm them.”
The armored Suburban is just one armored vehicle in KSP’s fleet supporting the Special Response Team. In December of last year, the agency purchased a Rook armored vehicle, a versatile tactical vehicle designed to protect officers in complex law enforcement operations, including hostage situations, barricaded subjects, riot response and natural disaster scenarios.
By investing in advanced tools like the Rook and the armored Suburban High Country, KSP continues its mission to protect and serve the people of Kentucky while ensuring troopers are equipped to meet evolving public safety challenges. To learn more about the mission of the Kentucky State Police, visit the agency’s website.
The Beshear-Coleman administration’s top priority is the safety of all Kentuckians. The Governor’s public safety actions are creating safer communities and a better Kentucky.
The 2025 Crime in Kentucky report, released in June, shows that, from 2024 to 2025, reports of serious crime decreased by 8.14%.
In April, Team Kentucky broke ground on the Department of Criminal Justice Training West: Gaines-Brown Campus in Madisonville. When completed, the $50 million project will provide state-of-the-art training to law enforcement heroes in Western Kentucky. The recently enacted state budget also allocates $13.1 million to construct a driving track at the new facility. The General Assembly did not include the full $64.8 million requested by the Governor to construct both a driving trach and indoor firing range at the facility.
To continue increasing the amount of law enforcement officers protecting the commonwealth and to support the work of KSP, the Governor recently signed Senate Bill 102 to make it possible for retired KSP troopers appointed to Trooper R Class or commercial vehicle enforcement to return and serve the agency within specific timeframes.
For four straight years, overdose deaths have decreased in Kentucky. In 2025, the commonwealth saw 22.9% fewer overdose deaths than the year prior.
Since Gov. Beshear took office, fewer Kentuckians have returned to prison after their release. For two years in a row, recidivism rates in the commonwealth have decreased, meaning that nearly 70% of those released from state custody have not returned.
In December, the Governor joined KSP and first responders in Mayfield to bring local agencies onto the new Kentucky State Police radio system. In his 2026-2028 executive budget proposal, Gov. Beshear requested funding to finish the project and ensure statewide coverage. The budget recently passed by the General Assembly did not provide the funding needed.
Last September, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman joined KSP to break ground on a new, state-of-the-art Drivers’ Skills Pad at the agency’s training academy in Frankfort. The $2.7 million project will provide troopers, officers and cadets with a facility dedicated to safely practice and refine advanced driving techniques.
In April of last year, Gov. Beshear was joined by members of the Cash family, the Kentucky law enforcement community and the Department of Criminal Justice Training to officially open the doors to the new law enforcement training facility named in honor of Jody Cash, who lost his life in the line of duty. The facility is a 42,794-square-foot facility with a 50-yard, 30-lane firing range designed for officers to learn intensive and specialized training that will support training all of Kentucky’s law enforcement agencies.
As the Governor recommended in January 2022, $12.2 million was included in the state budget for KSP to purchase body cameras, which is the first time in the commonwealth’s history that funding has been allocated for this much-needed expense.
For more information about KSP’s commitment to creating a better Kentucky by making the commonwealth’s streets safer, communities stronger and the nation more secure by providing exceptional law enforcement, click here.
Superintendent Michael Ford
City Council Meeting Agenda
The City of Columbia and Morgan Smith Industries will be hosting United States Senator Rand Paul in a visit to Columbia this upcoming Monday, August 17th at Morgan Smith Industries in Columbia. The public is invited to attend and hear brief remarks from Senator Paul.
Senator Rand Paul has been the junior United States Senator from Kentucky since 2011. In the Senate he chairs the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and serves as a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
The visit will start at 9:00amCT on Monday, August 17th at Morgan Smith Industries, 132 Industrial Park Road, Columbia, KY.
Jessica E. Randolph of Columbia, KY has been indicted by a Taylor County Grand Jury on the following charges:
COUNT 1: The Grand Jury charges that on or about May 28, 2026 in Taylor County, KY the above-named defendant knowingly and unlawfully possessed a controlled substance that is classified as a Schedule I or II, which is a narcotic drug, a controlled substance analogue; Lysergic acid diethylamide; phencyclidine; gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), including its salts, isomers, salts of isomers and analogues; or flunitrazepam, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers or aided, abetted or counseled with another in said act.
COUNT 2: The Grand Jury charges that on or about May 28, 2026 in Taylor County, KY, the above-named defendant knowingly and unlawfully possessed drug paraphernalia or aided, abetted or counseled with another in said act.
COUNT 3: The Grand Jury charges that on or about May 28, 2026 in Taylor County, KY, the above-named defendant knowingly and unlawfully possessed a controlled substance classified in schedules I or II which is not a narcotic drug or specific in KRS 218A.1415; or a controlled substance classified in Schedule III; but not a synthetic drug, salvia, or marijuana or aided, abetted or counseled with another in said act.
COUNT 4: The Grand Jury charges that on or about May 28, 2026 in Taylor County, KY, the above-named defendant took or exercised control over movable property of another with intent to deprive him thereof; or obtained immovable property of another or any interest therein with intent to benefit himself or another not entitled thereto or aided, abetted or counseled with another in said act.
An indictment is a formal charge and does not determine guilt or innocence.
Alyssa Skaggs, 20, of Columbia, KY was traveling East on Hwy 619 (Bernard Ridge) in a 1995 Pontiac Grand Am, when she dropped off the shoulder of the roadway and overcorrected, causing the automobile to flip on its top.
Skaggs was transported to Russell County Hospital for treatment of her injuries.
Deputy Chad Fox is the investigating officer with the Assistance of Deputy Mike Sinclair and Russell Springs Fire Department, and Russell County EMS.
Arnet Irvin, 60, of Russell Springs was arrested by RCSO Deputy Bolin early Tuesday morning. Irvin was charged with Trafficking in Controlled Substance, 1st degree, 1st offense (Meth) and Drug Paraphernalia Buy/Possession. He was lodged in the Russell County Detention Center.
On Monday afternoon, new Jamestown Police Chief Nathan Antle was officially sworn into office. Mayor Regena Hinton led the ceremony as Chief Antle was sworn in, after his unanimous approval as chief from the City Council.
Former Police Chief Jeff Kerns will be assuming his new position as School Resource Officer at Jamestown Elementary on Wednesday, the first day of school for Russell County students.
By Gabby Barnes
Agriculture Educator, FFA Advisor
Each year, the National FFA Organization recognizes high-quality programs across the country with their chapter rating contest. The contest looks at 15 of the chapter's activities throughout the year, and evaluates the overall impact of the chapter in their community and school. This year, Adair County FFA earned a gold rating at the state level, and was selected as one of the top 19 chapters in Kentucky.
After advancing to the national level, Adair County FFA received a three-star rating, which is the highest rating possible. This places Adair County FFA in the top 4% of chapters in the country!
It is an honor to be recognized at such a high level, but it would not be possible without fantastic FFA members and a supportive community. Each activity included in the application required enormous amounts of planning and work from FFA members, parents, and alumni & supporters. Featured activities included events such as our annual Farmer Appreciation Lunch, crop scouting, the new greenhouse grand opening, and so many more that are only made possible through the support of our community.
The judges that scored the applications were able to learn about what makes Adair County FFA so wonderful. They read about our FFA members teaching children about agriculture through the Farm Safety Days and reading programs. They learned about how we work with the NRCS to prepare for the land judging contest each fall. What they read about was only a small portion of what we do, but it was enough to prove we are worth celebrating. Adair County FFA is officially being recognized as one of the best FFA chapters in the nation!
If you have served as a judge or guest speaker, allowed FFA members to use your farm for practice, or simply made the time to come by and grab a bite to eat when we are cooking in the ag shop, thank you. Our success would not be possible without you!
LEBANON, KY (August 10, 2026) – Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 15 Troopers and Detectives have arrested a Marion County School teacher following an investigation into allegations of sexual contact with students.
In late May 2026, KSP Post 15 received a request for assistance from the Lebanon Police Department to investigate allegations of possible sexual contact between Adam McRay, age 34 of Lebanon, and at least two juvenile students. Mr. McRay was employed by Marion County Schools as a teacher and served as the Marion County High School Band Director at the time of the alleged offenses.
On Thursday, August 6, 2026, the investigation was presented to the Marion County Grand Jury, which returned an indictment on Adam McRay, charging him with 17 counts of Sexual Abuse 1st Degree.
On Monday, August 10, 2026, Detective James Ford served the indictment on Adam McRay at a residence in Marion County. Mr. McRay was subsequently arrested and lodged in the Marion County Detention Center.
The investigation remains ongoing and is being led by Detective Ford. Additional charges are potentially forthcoming in other counties.
WAVE news spoke with Russell County Judge Executive Randy Marcum following the Monday morning meeting...
The Adair County Public library is looking for individuals who can commit to a four-year term to serve as library trustee.
This position is strictly volunteer. Trustees must commit to the following: one meeting each month, online certification classes and participating in library events.
If you are a resident of Adair County and are interested in representing the Adair County Public Library, please come by the library (located at 307 Greensburg Street) and pick up a trustee description and application.
Deadline for applications is August 21, 2026 by 4:00pm. Please turn in applications to the Adair County Public Library. No phone calls please.
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