The next Campbellsville-Taylor County Chamber of Commerce Monthly Luncheon will be held Thursday September 14th at the Homeplace on Green River 5807 New Columbia Rd in Campbellsville. The featured speaker will be State Representative Michael “Sarge” Pollock. The event will begin at 12 noon. The September Luncheon is sponsored by Duo Broadband. The meal will be catered by Lee’s Famous Recipe. Advance tickets by reservation for the Luncheon are $15. Tickets at the door will be $17. RSVP by email peggy@campbellsvillechamber.com or call the Chamber Office at 270-465-8601. RSVP by 4 p.m. Monday September 11th.

Troopers with Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 15 in Columbia have made two arrests in an ongoing investigation into the sexual abuse of a child in Marion County. The investigation began earlier this year when KSP Troopers received a report of sexual abuse of a child.

During the investigation, Troopers discovered that Jeremy Scott Cissell, age 42 of Springfield, had engaged in inappropriate physical contact with a juvenile in Marion County. This occurred approximately 5 years ago, making the victim 9 years old at the time of the incident. It was also discovered that Megan Michelle Reed, age 37 of Lebanon, had aided Mr. Cissell during the course of the incident.

Troopers obtained arrest warrants for both Mr. Cissell and Ms. Reed. The arrest warrants were served and both individuals were arrested on August 28, 2023. Jeremy Cissell was arrested in Washington County and charged with Sexual Abuse 1^st Degree, Victim Under 12 Years of Age. Megan Reed was arrested in Marion County and charged with Facilitation of Sex Abuse 1^st Degree, Victim Under 12.

Both have been lodged in the Marion County Detention Center and are currently held on a $25,000 cash bond. The case is being investigated by Trooper Trevor Sagrecy. Other charges may be pending as the investigation remains ongoing by Trooper Sagrecy

The Taylor County Grand Jury has returned August Indictments:

A Campbellsville Doctor and his wife have been indicted by the Taylor County Grand Jury on Medicare fraud, the indictment that was released on Thursday charges Dr. John K. Garner of Campbellsville with devising and engaging in a scheme to defraud the Kentucky Medicare Assistance program and theft by deception, Garners wife Linda Marie Garner is facing charges of complicity to the crime. The charges presents only one side of the case.

Preparation is underway for a Cape Seal pavement preservation project along KY 210 in the Green County section between Hodgenville and Campbellsville. The first phase of the project is a Chip Seal treatment, which is scheduled to begin Thursday, August 24th.

The Chip Seal portion of the project will provide sealing of the existing surface. Motorists should be aware as the Chip Seal cures, they will be temporarily driving on a surface containing fine gravel until the final phase of the project is complete. The final phase will consist of a thin-layer application of asphalt which will be applied within about a week.  It is vital motorists pay attention to work zone signs and reduce speed to the posted 25 MPH limit as pavement type will transition from asphalt to gravel surface.  Police will be present during this phase of the project to further encourage a reduction in speed entering the work zone.

Pavement preservation methods are often given consideration versus full rehabilitation projects.  With reduced resurfacing budgets, we are using these methods to prolong pavement life and quality at a fraction of the cost of milling and resurfacing.  When finished, the Cape Seal will provide an extended lifespan for a stretch of road which would otherwise be in need of complete resurfacing within the next few years.  Applications of this type of treatment in recent years have been very successful in Green County along US 68 and in Hardin County along US 62.

Flaggers may be present when crews are working.  Short delays may be possible.

The project schedule will be impacted by any unfavorable weather conditions.

At last nights Taylor County Fiscal Court meeting the county agreed to enter into a local agreement with the Taylor County School District to build a new multi million dollar pool and aquatic center on highway 210 on property adjacent to the new Taylor County High School in Campbellsville.

Residential Trailer Fire

105 McNary Street

Campbellsville Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a report of a working trailer fire Monday afternoon at 3:07pm at 105 McNary Street, upon arrival firefighters found a porch on fire with flames extending into the residence, firefighters extinguished the fire, searched for occupants, removed smoke and provided overhaul. No firefighter or civilian injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time.  

Firefighters Responding:15

Responding Apparatus: Engine 4, Engine 1, Truck 1 and Engine 2

On Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 12:54 P.M., Campbellsville Police responded to a collision with injuries at the intersection of Lone Valley Road and Kentucky Highway 55 New Columbia Highway. 

Chief Shannon Wilson told 99 . 9 The Big Dawg  that a 2007 GMC pickup truck operated by 43-year old Jason L. Underwood of Campbellsville was on Lone Valley Road and attempted to cross Kentucky 55 and  pulled into the path of a 2018 Nissan Altima driven by Scott Franklin age 56, of Campbellsville. 

Underwood was transported to Taylor Regional Hospital by Campbellsville Taylor County EMS for treatment,  Franklin and his passenger, 53-year old Tanya Franklin, were not injured.

Location: Kentucky Highway 55 and Lone Valley Road

Agencies Involved: Campbellsville Police, Campbellsville Fire-Rescue, and Campbellsville Taylor County EMS.

Investigating Officers: Officer Ian McCullough

Approving Supervisor: Chief Shannon Wilson

COLUMBIA, Ky. (August 11, 2023) — The Kentucky State Police (KSP) announced that 51 cadets have graduated the agency’s training academy and are now ready to report for duty across the commonwealth.

Cadet Class 103 graduates increase the number of KSP troopers protecting Kentucky’s 120 diverse counties to approximately 940, which is the highest number of troopers the agency has employed since 2006.

During the ceremony, KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. pledged the agency’s commitment to continue providing exceptional training and critical resources to the 51 graduates to ensure a successful and long career in law enforcement.

“I am pleased to welcome these new cadets to the ranks of trooper,” said Commissioner Burnett “It’s been a hard-fought journey for each of them and they have more than earned the honor to wear our badge.”

Cadet Class 103 reported to the KSP training academy on February 26 to embark upon 24-weeks of intense training to learn the job skills necessary to perform the duties of a state trooper. These graduating cadets will uphold the mission of KSP to promote public safety through service, integrity and professionalism using partnerships to prevent, reduce and deter crime and the fear of crime, enhance highway safety through education and enforcement, safeguard property and protect individual rights.

The graduates of Cadet Class 103 received more than 1,000 hours of classroom and field study in subjects such as constitutional law, juvenile and traffic law, use of force, weapons training, defensive tactics, first aid, high speed vehicle pursuit, criminal investigation, computer literacy, hostage negotiations, evidence collection, radio procedures, search and seizure, crash investigation, drug identification, traffic control, crowd control, armed robbery response, electronic crimes, sex crimes, hate crimes, domestic violence, bomb threats and hazardous materials.

KSP Post 15 Captain Bradley Stotts is excited to welcome new troopers to Columbia. Captain Stotts said, “These new Troopers will be a welcome addition to Post 15 area to assist in the goal of making our communities a safer place to live. I look forward to seeing them report to post and begin their careers.”

The Post 15 graduates of the 103^rd KSP Training Academy included: Noah Brown, Liberty, Ky., Joshua Smith, Campbellsville, Ky., Trenton Tooley, Summer Shade, Ky., and Jordan Tucker, Parkers Lake, Ky.

Several members of the graduating class received special recognition during the ceremony. The Salutatorian was awarded to Trooper Trent Tooley.

Twenty-six cadets earned their associate degree in General Occupational and Technical Studies from the Bluegrass Community and Technical College during their 24-weeks at the training academy. These cadets benefited from the new hiring guidelines established by the state legislature in 2017. Through this revision, anyone who possesses a high school diploma or GED, and has three years of full-time work experience can apply for employment as a KSP Trooper and earn an associate degree during the training process. The Post 15 trooper who received their associate’s degree is Joshua Smith, Campbellsville, Ky.

KSP’s recruitment branch is currently accepting applications for the upcoming cadet class 104, which is slated to begin January 2024. The deadline to apply is by close of business August 31.

For more information about career opportunities with KSP visit the website.

A Knifley man was injured Sunday afternoon in motorcycle collision,  Adair County Sheriff Josh Brockman told 99.9 The Big Dawg the accident occurred 9 miles east of Columbia, upon arrival sheriff Brockman found that Mathew Lee age 47 of Knifley was traveling east on  Allan School House Road on his 2006 Harley Davidson when he failed to negotiate a curve and left the roadway, Lee wass treated at the  scene by Adair County EMS and transported to TJ Health of Columbia for additional treatment, the Sunday motorcycle mishap was investigated by Sheriff Josh Brockman.

On August 4 at 3:21 a.m. the Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a one vehicle injury accident on Scott’s Ridge Road (Hwy. 527) near the Marion / Taylor County line. Responding deputies found that a (16) year of age male operating a southbound 2015 Ford Focus failed to negotiate a curve, traveled off the roadway, and overturned. The driver and two passengers sustained minor injuries. A third passenger, Bryson C. Skaggs (18) of Campbellsville, Ky. was found ejected from the vehicle and sustained serious injuries. Marion County EMS transported Skaggs to Springview Hospital where he pronounced deceased at 4:47 a.m Friday morning.

Marion County Rescue and Raywick Fire assisted at the scene. Deputy Sheriff Tristan Hayden continues with the investigation.