MARION COUNTY, KY - An 18-year-old Campbellsville man is dead following an early morning shooting in Marion County.

According to Marion County Sheriff Ray Gardner, deputies were dispatched to 1259 Penick Road in Lebanon at approximately 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning following a report of a possible shooting. When deputies arrived, they found 18-year-old Jaron J. Johnson of 103 Carden Street, Campbellsville, KY deceased at the scene.

According to Sheriff Gardner, the preliminary investigation indicates a large party was being held at the residence when a fight broke out. During the altercation, a firearm was reportedly produced and shots were fired, resulting in Johnson's death.

The Marion County Sheriff's Office is continuing its investigation into the shooting. No additional information, including any potential suspects or charges, has been released at this time.

2026 Lakefest Beauty Pageant winners...

On Thursday night around 10:30 PM, Russell County Search & Rescue was called out to assist Kentucky Fish & Wildlife on the Cumberland River, approximately one mile downstream from Wolf Creek Dam. Two individuals and their dog were reported stranded after running out of fuel on the river. Responders were met with dense fog on the water, making the search extremely difficult and dangerous in the dark.

After hours on the water, the Russell County team located the boaters — still in their vessel, banked along the riverbank. Cold but safe, them and their dog were back at the ramp by 1:00 AM. 

We’re grateful for the coordination with Kentucky Fish & Wildlife and proud of our team for getting out there in tough nighttime conditions to bring those folks home safely, said RC Search & Rescue.

Stay safe on the water — always carry extra fuel and a way to call for help!

COLUMBIA, KY. (07/01/2026) Longtime Kentucky college athletics administrator Chris Wells has been named commissioner of the Mid-South Conference.

Wells, who has served as the conference's interim commissioner since May 2025, is the sixth person to lead the Mid-South Conference, which includes schools in Kentucky and Tennessee.

Wells has been an athletics administrator for the last 25 years at Lindsey Wilson (Kentucky) University, most recently serving as the school's associate director of athletics.

"The Mid-South Conference Council of Presidents is delighted to welcome Chris Wells as our new full-time conference commissioner," said Cumberland (Tennessee) University President Paul C. Stumb, who is chair of the Mid-South Conference Council of Presidents. "As a graduate of two universities within our conference, Chris has certainly demonstrated the requisite academic acumen, but also more broadly he has an outstanding track record of commitment and professionalism within the higher athletic administration sector."

Wells said that he's "incredibly humbled" to lead the Mid-South Conference.

"I'm proud to have the support of the Mid-South Conference Council of Presidents, along with the conference's athletic directors and coaches," said Wells. "I look forward to working with them to create even more opportunities for our student-athletes."

Wells will inherit the leadership of a conference that is among the best of the 20 NAIA conferences. In 2025-26, two Mid-South members finished in the top five of the NAIA Learfield Directors' Cup, the annual award presented by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics to U.S. colleges and universities with the most successful overall athletic programs. University of the Cumberlands (Kentucky) won the NAIA Learfield Directors' Cup for the third year in a row, and Lindsey Wilson finished fifth. Overall, Mid-South Conference members won four NAIA team national titles during the 2025-26 school year.

The Mid-South Conference has seven full members from colleges and universities in Kentucky and Tennessee who compete in 12 men's sports, 12 women's sports and three coed sports: Bethel (Tennessee) University, Campbellsville (Kentucky) University, Cumberland, Cumberlands, Freed-Hardeman (Tennessee) University, Georgetown (Kentucky) College and Lindsey Wilson.

The conference also has 16 affiliate members from schools in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio and Tennessee.

As an example of the conference's high level of competition, six of the seven Mid-South Conference women's basketball teams qualified for this year's national tournament, and five of the tournament's final 16 teams were from the Mid-South Conference. In addition to the four national championships, MSC teams earned 24 top-five finishes at their respective national championships and 40 top-10 finishes.

"I truly believe that from top to bottom, the Mid-South Conference is the strongest conference in the NAIA," said Wells. "Any of our full members can win at any point. More importantly, they're also successful academically."

Wells said that another strength of the Mid-South Conference is a strong spirit of cooperation and camaraderie among members' leadership.

"I love the fact that our seven presidents and ADs are willing to take off their institutional hats and get in a room together to work on what's best for the conference and student-athletes," he said. "The fact that we work so well together makes it a very special conference."

Before his current position at Lindsey Wilson, Wells was the school's sports information director. He led the communication efforts for four men's soccer national championships (2001, '05, '09, '11); four women's soccer national championships (2004, '06, '12, '14); a women's volleyball national championship (2017); a football national championship (2020); and a pair of USA Cycling national championships (2001, '12).

Wells was named the 2015 Clarence "Ike" Pearson recipient by the NAIA Sports Information Directors Association (NAIA-SIDA). The lifetime achievement award is presented annually to those who make outstanding contributions to the profession. He has also served as president of the NAIA-SIDA Board.

A Burkesville, Kentucky, native, Wells holds a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from Lindsey Wilson and a master of arts in sports administration from Cumberland.

The Columbia-Adair Utilities District boil water advisory that was issued earlier this week has been lifted...

The following boil water advisory was issued Friday morning...
 

The Columbia City Council will meet on Monday, July 6, 2026 at 5:00pmCT at City Hall for a Regular Called Meeting.

AGENDA

CALL TO ORDER

ROLL CALL

OPENING PRAYER

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE AMERICAN FLAG
 

1^ST ITEM:  MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES OF JUNE 15, 2026 SPECIAL CALLED MEETING.
 

2^ND   ITEM:  DISCUSSION & AUTHORIZATION TO SIGN RESOLUTION 2026-05.
 

3^RD ITEM:  AUTHORIZATION TO SIGN RESOLUTION 2026-06.
 

4^TH ITEM:  AUTHORIZATION TO SURPLUS CITY PROPERTY.
 

5^TH ITEM:  AUTHORIZATION TO SIGN COLUMBIA LARP 26/27 AGREEMENT.
 

6^TH ITEM:  AUTHORIZATION TO SIGN COLUMBIA LARP 26/27 RESOLUTION 2026-07.
 

7^TH ITEM:  DONANTION REQUEST FROM BREEDING AREA FIRE DEPT.
 

8^TH ITEM:  MOTION TO ENTER EXECUTIVE SESSION PER KRS 61.810(1)(g). 

DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN A PUBLIC AGENCY AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF A BUSINESS ENTITY AND DISCUSSIONS  CONCERNING A SPECIFIC PROPOSAL, IF OPEN DISCUSSION WOULD JEOPARDIZE                    THE SITING, RETENTION, OF UPGRADING OF THE BUSINESS.

9^TH ITEM:  MOTION TO RESUME EXECUTIVE SESSION.

MAYOR’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

COUNCIL COMMENTS

CITIZENS COMMENTS:  LIMIT 3 MINUTES PER CITIZEN OR ORGANIZATION

MOTION TO  ADJOURN 

FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 2, 2026) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear provided updates on emergency response efforts following recent storms and flooding, economic development, state parks and tourism, projects to improve local bridges, housing in Eastern Kentucky and upcoming Independence Day celebrations. First Lady Britainy Beshear provided an update on the commonwealth’s efforts to fight domestic violence. Dr. Steven Stack, secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, provided an update on the Our Healthy Kentucky Home initiative. The Governor named first responders and volunteers who have helped with emergency response and recovery efforts this past week as Team Kentucky All-Stars.

Emergency Response and Recovery Efforts Following Recent Flooding
The Governor provided an update on the dangerous flooding that impacted most of the state over the weekend. Yesterday, Gov. Beshear visited with families and toured the damage in two of the hardest hit areas: Cumberland and Madison counties.

On Saturday, the Governor declared a state of emergency for the commonwealth. Twenty-six cities and counties also declared a local state of emergency. Large amounts of rainfall hit during short periods of time, with some areas receiving more than 8 inches. Over 63 water rescues and evacuations have been conducted.

Currently, emergency management teams are conducting damage assessments in affected areas. Team Kentucky asks that people who were impacted fill out a damage assessment survey. The Governor noted that flooding has left behind debris and advised Kentuckians to proceed with caution, especially boaters on lakes or rivers this holiday weekend. Additionally, many roadways and bridges are closed due to damage. Visit goky.ky.gov for up-to-date road conditions.

If you would like to support Kentuckians affected by this severe weather event, please visit the Team Kentucky Emergency Relief Fund. All donations go directly to survivors of emergency events in the commonwealth.

The Governor also provided an update on current weather conditions, as much of the commonwealth is still under an extreme heat warning. Team Kentucky encourages Kentuckians to stay hydrated, wear light clothing, stay in the air conditioning as much as possible, avoid going outdoors during the warmest hours, bring pets inside, and check vehicles before locking the doors to make sure no children or pets are inside. Team Kentucky has also set up cooling centers across the state.

Economic Development
Yesterday, Gov. Beshear joined local officials and leadership from Horse Soldier Bourbon to celebrate the grand opening of the company’s new $200 million distillery and full-scale bourbon tourism attraction in Pulaski County, adding another signature project to Kentucky’s growing bourbon and tourism industries. 

Kentucky State Parks and Tourism
Gov. Beshear announced that Kentucky State Parks generated $1.1 billion in economic impact in 2024, supporting 8,600 jobs and helping fuel economic growth across the commonwealth. 

Since the beginning of his administration, the Governor has signed legislation allocating $213 million for state parks renovations to ensure this success continues.

In June, Team Kentucky cut the ribbon on a $3.8 million campground renovation at Carter Caves State Resort Park. Click here for a Good News update on this project. Team Kentucky also invested $7.4 million at Lake Cumberland State Resort Park to renovate the lodge and conference center. Click here for a Good News update on this project. To follow the progress of Kentucky State Parks renovation projects, visit parks.ky.gov/improvements. 

Gov. Beshear also announced that seven Certified Local Government Program communities received $113,500 in federal grant funding to support projects focused on preservation efforts, including public education, documentation and community revitalization. 

Domestic Violence Dashboard and Annual Report
Today, to further protect against domestic violence, combat human trafficking and support survivors, the First Lady announced that Team Kentucky has launched an interactive data dashboard for the public to more easily view data; compare statewide statistics by county and area development district; and gather specific information on offenders, domestic violence shelters and support services, as well as law enforcement-related outcomes. The dashboard includes data from each of Kentucky’s annual domestic violence data reports.

Today, Team Kentucky also released the 2025 Domestic Violence Data Report, which is reflected in the new dashboard. For more, see the full release.

Awards To Improve Local Bridges 
The Governor announced $5.5 million to repair or replace 10 bridges across eight Kentucky counties and two cities. The funding will reconnect and restore safe traffic flow on previously closed or weight-restricted routes. 

Eastern Kentucky Housing
Gov. Beshear provided an update on housing for communities affected by flooding in the east. The Governor announced that Team Kentucky is providing over $1.7 million to the Perry County Fiscal Court to build five homes out of the flood plain, along with the necessary infrastructure, in the Chavies community. The Governor also noted progress being made at Chestnut Ridge, one of the eight high-ground sites in Eastern Kentucky. At Chestnut Ridge in Knott County, three more homes will be framed and sided by the end of this week. Eight high-ground communities will eventually provide over 500 new homes for flood survivors out of the flood plain.

Our Healthy Kentucky Home
Dr. Stack provided an update on Our Healthy Kentucky Home, an initiative to promote simple, positive and attainable goals to inspire and motivate Kentuckians on a journey to health and wellness. Dr. Stack highlighted important resources such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs and kynect.

Independence Day
The Governor noted that this Saturday, July 4, is Independence Day, as well as a celebration of 250 years of our democracy. Team Kentucky is hosting a celebration in Frankfort on the Kentucky Historical Society campus. For more, visit history.ky.gov.

Team Kentucky All-Stars
Following recent storms and flooding, the Governor named first responders and volunteers who have helped with emergency response and recovery as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Stars.

“From our swift water teams who conducted more than 63 rescues and evacuations, to our state and local emergency management, KSP, law enforcement and more, these teams helped save lives and we are grateful,” said Gov. Beshear. “This is the spirit of Team Kentucky. This is who we are. We lead with kindness and love, and our resilience and strength help us overcome. These heroes are true Team Kentucky All-Stars.”

Tompkinsville Chief of Police Channing Cain met with Columbia Chief of Police Evan Burton at the Columbia Police Department earlier this week, to discuss current law enforcement operations, public safety initiatives, and trends each agency is experiencing while on patrol within their respective communities.

Chief Cain and Chief Burton attended the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training together in 2012, where they were classmates and roommates.

“I would like to congratulate Chief Channing Cain on being sworn in as the Chief of Police for the Tompkinsville Police Department.”

“Partnerships between law enforcement agencies are essential to enhancing public safety, sharing ideas, and working together to better serve our communities.”

Evan Burton
Chief of Police

Boil water advisory issued Thursday morning at 7:25amCT...
 

The Russell County High School SBDM Council will have a Special Called Meeting on Thursday, July 2nd, 2026 at 3:30 PM at RCHS in Room 100.

AGENDA

The Jamestown Police Department would like to welcome Corey Meyer as the departments newest officer. Meyer is a 2020 graduate of the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training. Meyer was sworn in by Mayor Regena Hinton and is looking forward to serving the City and the citizens of Jamestown.

Adair County Emergency Management is opening a temporary Cooling Station at the Adair County Annex Basement, 424 Public Square, Columbia, KY.

With dangerously high heat and heat index values forecast this week, this site provides a safe place to cool down from the extreme heat.

* Location: Adair County Annex Basement, 424 Public Square, Columbia, KY
* Doors facing the historic Courthouse will be open Tuesday (June 30th) until Friday (July 3rd) at 4pm.
* Open to the public.
* Will have an air-conditioned space, seating & water.

Heat safety tips:
* Limit time outdoors and take frequent cooling breaks.
* Drink plenty of water; avoid alcohol and caffeine.
* Check on neighbors, older adults, and those without air conditioning.
* Never leave children or pets in vehicles.

For any questions, call Adair County Judge’s Office at 270-384-4703 or Adair County E911 Center at 270-384-4760.

Russell Springs Mayor Eddie Thomas has details on Tuesday evening's meeting...

The City of Columbia Planning and Zoning Board will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, July 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. in City Hall.

The purpose of the Public Hearing is to discuss Data Centers and moratorium for further study.  

All interested citizens will have the opportunity to give written or oral comments at the Public Hearing. Senior citizens are encouraged to attend and comment. Handicapped persons needing assistance or aid should contact the City Clerk’s office at 270-384-2501.

The Russell County ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY Cleanup days for July 1 & 2 have been cancelled due to the heat.

Superintendent Michael Ford has details on the meeting...

COLUMBIA POLICE DEPARTMENT ENCOURAGES STORAGE UNIT OWNERS AND RENTERS TO CHECK THEIR UNITS FOLLOWING RECENT BREAK-INS...

The Columbia Police Department is encouraging all storage unit owners and renters to inspect their storage units following recent break-ins reported within the City of Columbia.

On June 29, 2026, at approximately 2:02 p.m. (CST), the Columbia Police Department was dispatched to another local storage facility in reference to a reported break-in involving a storage unit. This incident follows a similar burglary investigation that occurred on Saturday, June 28, 2026.

To help reduce the risk of becoming a victim, the Columbia Police Department recommends the following:

• Check your storage unit regularly for signs of forced entry or missing property.

•Report any suspicious persons, vehicles, or activity around storage facilities immediately.

•Use high-security disc or cylinder locks, which are more resistant to cutting and tampering than traditional padlocks.

•Maintain insurance coverage for the contents of your storage unit.

•Document all property stored inside by taking photographs and recording serial numbers, makes, models, and other identifying information. This information can be invaluable when investigating thefts and recovering stolen property.

The Columbia Police Department appreciates the cooperation of the community and reminds everyone that prompt reporting of suspicious activity can help prevent crime and assist law enforcement in identifying those responsible.

If you have information involving these incidents, please contact the Adair County 911 Dispatch Center at (270) 384-6464 or submit an anonymous tip through the Columbia Police Department Crime Tip-Line, Cally’s Line, at (270) 378-2259.