Big Dawg local news - Wednesday, July 29, 2026…

Big Dawg local news - Tuesday, July 28, 2026...

A federal grand jury has indicted a former Taylor County law enforcement officer on charges that he used his agency's DEA registration to fraudulently obtain thousands of prescription painkillers over a nearly three-year span- allegedly claiming the pills were for K-9 training that never happened.

A grand jury indicted Brian Pickard earlier this month on 10 federal charges. The indictment lays out several counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, a felony under federal law, for a series of purchases dating back to April 2022.

According to the indictment, Pickard repeatedly used the Taylor County Sheriff's Office DEA registration number to buy large quantities of Oxycodone and Hydrocodone- Schedule II controlled substances- by claiming the pills were for a K-9 training program.

Prosecutors allege that program was fake: the pills, according to the indictment, "were never used for training."

The purchases outlined in the charging document are substantial. Several counts describe single transactions of 100 Oxycodone pills and 1,000 Hydrocodone pills at a time, with the alleged scheme running from an April 6, 2022 purchase through an October 17, 2024 purchase- a pattern prosecutors say repeated roughly every few months for more than two years.

Taylor County Chief Deputy Josh Patrick confirmed Pickard is no longer with the department. In a statement, Patrick said Pickard was placed on administrative leave in March 2025 after Sheriff Benningfield identified discrepancies in an invoice sent to the department. Patrick said a prompt internal investigation followed, Pickard was suspended, and the case was referred to Kentucky State Police.

"Brian Pickard is no longer employed by the Taylor County Sheriff's Office," Patrick said, adding that the office is "cooperating fully with the Kentucky State Police and other federal agencies as the investigation continues," and remains "committed to transparency, fiscal integrity, and serving the community with the highest level of professionalism."

Each of the 10 federal counts carries a maximum penalty of four years in prison and a $250,000 fine, along with three years of supervised release. The indictment also includes a notice of forfeiture, meaning the government is seeking to seize any property connected to the alleged scheme.

Pickard's case is being heard in the federal courthouse in Bowling Green. 

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A Taylor County Grand Jury has returned indictments against several individuals. Indictments are legal accusations and do not determine guilt or innocence.

Big Dawg local news - Tuesday, July 7, 2026

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will evaluate the US 68 and Durham Street/Central Shopping Center intersection in Campbellsville during the next three months to determine the most efficient traffic control option while maintaining safety.

With the current resurfacing project underway and before final striping takes place, the signal will be converted to flash mode on Tuesday, July 7th. Traffic on US 68 will have a flashing yellow indication, meaning motorists should proceed with caution, while traffic on Durham Street/Central Shopping Center will have a flashing red indication and must stop before entering or crossing US 68. Signage and message boards will be installed to alert motorists of the change.

As conditions at intersections warrant, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet engineers study traffic flow to determine the most appropriate traffic control method to use. Recent traffic movement evaluation confirms the number of vehicles entering and exiting Durham Street and the shopping center is much lower compared to the traffic traveling on US 68.  Because of these low side-street traffic volumes, the signal often stops traffic on US 68 when little or no cross traffic is present. Collision history is also included in the evaluation, using comparisons to signalized and unsignalized intersections along the adjacent US 68 corridor.

The evaluation will last at least 90 days, with the intersection operating in flash mode. After the study is complete, traffic engineers will analyze the observation period to determine whether the intersection should remain signalized or be permanently converted.
 

Big Dawg local news with Larry Smith - Monday, July 6, 2026...

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.

Big Dawg local news with Larry Smith - Thursday July 2, 2026…

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