In most years it’s difficult to nearly impossible to pin down the top news story, but 2020 will be remembered by people across the world as the year of the pandemic.
Approximately 2,500 Kentuckians have already died from COVID-19 and the total grows each day. The first confirmed local coronavirus case was announced live by the Christian County Health Department on WHOP March 19 and there have been thousands more across the area in the months since.
Governor Andy Beshear closed non-essential businesses, closed schools to in-person learning and asked churches to halt in-person worship in March and there have been on-and-off restrictions on various aspects of society as numbers have gone up, down and then back up again. He also mandated the wearing of a facial covering when out in public.
The restrictions and mandates have certainly not been without pushback, as many argue they infringe on constitutional freedoms. Others praise the governor’s response, pointing to data that shows Kentucky performing better at mitigating spread of the virus than neighboring states, including Tennessee.
COVID is likely to again be a big part of the 2021 year in review, as the first vaccinations were administered in Kentucky on December 14 and the commonwealth and country look to emerge from the pandemic in the coming months. Mask-wearing, social distancing and restrictions remain in place until the vaccines are more widely distributed.
Governor Beshear recently told Kentuckians the end of the pandemic is in sight and better days are ahead.
The year began with major news stories coming in rapid succession. Hopkinsville Mayor Carter Hendricks was chosen as the new executive director of the South West Kentucky Economic Development Council January 6 and Hopkinsville City Council chose Wendell Lynch as his successor.
There were numerous protests downtown and at the Christian County Justice Center after news broke that Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling advocated on behalf of convicted sex offender Dayton Jones as he sought a pardon or commutation from Governor Matt Bevin. Jones received a commutation to time served and controversy arose again December 22 when the Courier Journal reported Senator Whitney Westerfield also advocated for Jones to Bevin’s lawyers—though he says he was only passing along a constituent request.
Jones was indicted federally on a child pornography production charge in April and faces a minimum 15 year sentence, if convicted.
Trigg County Sheriff Jason Barnes resigned after being charged with providing alcohol to a minor and former state trooper Aaron Acree was appointed as Trigg’s new sheriff.
WHOP celebrated its 80th anniversary in January and General Manager Mike Chadwell retired after over four decades of service to the community in March.
Jeff Sisk, who has been at WHOP for nearly 38 years, succeeded Chadwell as the station’s sixth general manager.
Their celebrations were greatly hindered by the pandemic, but Elkton, Cadiz and Todd County each marked their bicentennials in 2020.
Severe weather caused major damage to Ruff Park and the Christian County Senior Center on January 11. Five tornadoes and a microburst hit Christian County and many homes sustained roof damage.
Another EF1 tornado touched down near Crofton on March 2, the same night 24 people were killed by tornadoes in middle Tennessee.
There were peaceful protests in Hopkinsville, Elkton and Cadiz during the summer months following the officer-involved shooting deaths of Breonna Taylor in Louisville and George Floyd in Minnesota.
Social unrest persisted across the country into the fall.
Delayed by the pandemic and held exclusively online, the 2020 Rotary Radio Auction still raised $255,000 to help local high school graduates go to college. Brice Long’s Back 2 Back Foundation still delivered Christmas gifts to families in need in Christian, Todd and Trigg County thanks to funds raised in a virtual concert that aired on WHOP and Christian County Relay for Life still managed to raise $81,000, despite having no traditional Relay event.
Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel opened to the public, while Hopkinsville mainstays JC Penney and Gordman’s—which was formerly Peebles—closed their doors at the Bradford Square Mall.
The eyes of the region were on Christian County November 18 when a group from the Christian County Rescue Squad joined a search for a missing boy in Cheatham County, Tennessee and found him alive and safe within a few hours.
Wendell Lynch was elected to serve two more years a mayor of Hopkinsville in November and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell defeated Amy McGrath after a hotly contested race.
Hopkinsville lost former mayor and Challenge House founder Wally Bryan May 14 when he died suddenly at his home.
Hopkinsville City Councilman Paul Henson died following a battle with cancer October 25 and former longtime councilman and local businessman Wesley Grimes died August 20.
Wood Shed founder Wilda Mathis died January 8 and Helen Jones, the owner and founder of Helen’s Place in Kirkmansville—died February 4. WNKJ Radio host Gail Griffey passed away June 13 and former Christian County School System educator and assistant superintendent Clyde Wallace died from COVID-19 on December 2.
We are certain there are many significant stories we forgot to include in this once-in-a-lifetime year in review, but you can be assured that whatever 2021 brings, WHOP News will be here to cover it and bring it to you just as we have for nearly 81 years.