ColumbiaMagazine.com
Printed from:

Welcome to Columbia Magazine  
 

































 
Daily News for
Thursday, January 1, 2026
← 2025-12-31 Previous DayNext Day 2026-01-02 →

To view another day, enter a year, month and day, and press enter:
NOTE: Date must be in the form YYYY-MM-DD, like 2026-01-01.

KSP Post 15 to Conduct Traffic Safety Checkpoints

COLUMBIA, Ky. (January 1, 2026) - Kentucky State Police Post 15 will be conducting periodic traffic safety checkpoints in the Post 15 area, which includes Green, Taylor, Marion, Washington, Russell, Casey, Adair, Metcalfe, Monroe, Clinton, and Cumberland counties.

These checkpoints will be conducted as part of Post 15's highway safety efforts.


Article continues... click title or click here to read whole article.
2026-01-01 22:23:38 | Comments | Printable version | See topic Police and Fire Reports

<-Previous PhotoPhoto 1 of 4Next Photo->
In search of Red-throated Loon's location



2026-01-01 - Adair County, KY - Photo by Linda Waggener, ColumbiaMagazine.com.
It was just too irresistible a report -- birder Jeffery Sole's alert of a Red-throated Loon at Corbin's Bend on Green River Lake -- not to take a drive and see what that visitor might have seen if indeed it had stopped by. Traveling Corbin's Bend Road, all we found were icicles hanging on the lakeside cliff. Still, a visit to the website (linked in the accompanying CM story) showcased the bird, its sound and a video, making the possibility of its visit here very real. - LW

Read More... | Permalink | Comments?

Missing person in Taylor County located safely

Campbellsville Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a report of a possible missing person. Upon arrival, command interviewed the reporting party and deployed first-arriving units to conduct a hasty search of the potential cell phone ping location. The ping data indicated an accuracy radius of approximately 4,000 meters, covering a large area in the northern portion of the city limits.

During the initial investigation, command learned the subject had been exhibiting signs of early dementia over the past several weeks.


Article continues... click title or click here to read whole article.
2026-01-01 22:20:25 | Comments | Printable version | See topic Police and Fire Reports

Basketball: Indians defeat Somerset, face Taylor Co.

By Trey Stephens, Staff Writer

On Monday, December 29, 2025, the Adair County Indians defeated the Somerset Briar Jumpers 74-62 at home in their final matchup of the 2025 calendar year. The Tribe struggled early, with the Briar Jumpers taking an early lead, but as the game went on the Indians pulled ahead and began creating distance between them and Somerset.

Senior Dawson Gilbert led the Indians in scoring with 29 points, marked by an impressive second half scoring display. Other Indians that scored in double figures were senior Tylin George, with 21, and senior Landon Blakey, with 14. Blakey posted a double-double, earning 10 rebounds, followed by Gilbert with nine, and George with five. The Indians shot 51% from the floor and 31% from three point range. The Indians defense able to keep the Briar Jumpers shooting poorly, holding them to just 39% from the floor.

The Indians will look to yet again score the ball well and temper their opponents shooting when they host arch-rival Taylor County in a 20th District matchup on Friday, January 2, 2026, in. The tip-off will follow the battle between the Cardinals and Lady Cardinals, which gets underway at 5:30pmCT in John Burr Memorial Gymnasium, 526 Indian Drive, Columbia, KY. Tickets are available at hometownticketing.com.


2026-01-01 16:50:30 | Comments | Printable version | See topic Sports

2025 was a huge year for Lindsey Wilson University

By Duane Bonifer

Lindsey Wilson University adopted a new name, community service milestones were reached, Blue Raider athletics won three national titles over one weekend and a record number of graduates were celebrated. Here's a look at the top 10 stories of 2025 at Lindsey Wilson.

No. 1: Lindsey Wilson College Becomes Lindsey Wilson University
In the words of Board of Trustees Chair Denny Howell of Louisville, Kentucky, "to reflect the mission, character and direction of this incredible school," the Lindsey Wilson Board of Trustees unanimously voted on April 25 for Lindsey Wilson College to become Lindsey Wilson University. "I've always been convinced that the best teaching and learning in the world happens at small, private colleges across the United States," said LWU President William T. Luckey Jr. "That is why this move does not change our mission, who we serve or what we do, but rather it reflects the dynamic nature of who we have become." The change took effect July 1, which included a celebration of more than 200 people. And from Sept. 8-12, Columbia-Adair County celebrated the new name with Lindsey Wilson Week.

No. 2: Record Number of Graduates
LWU graduated a record number of students in 2025. At its 121st commencement in the spring, Lindsey Wilson College awarded a total of 890 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees, the largest number of spring graduates in school history. At its 122nd commencement in the fall, Lindsey Wilson University awarded a total of 974 degrees -- 121 undergraduate degrees, 851 graduate degrees and two doctorates, the largest commencement class in school history. That added up to 1,864 graduates in 2025, also a school record.


Article continues... click title or click here to read whole article.
2026-01-01 09:47:17 | Comments | Printable version | See topic Lindsey Wilson University


Birthdays and Anniversaries for January 1
Business Birthday, Burton Ace Hardware | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Anniversary, Adam and Karen Darnell (1999) | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Anniversary, Donna and Charlie Parnell | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Anniversary, Dwayne and Debbie Martin (1981) | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Anniversary, James and Tonya Feese (1994) | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Adam Wesley Bennett (1986) | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Ashley Bennett | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Benji Coffey (1983) | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Brandon Frausto | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Chris Maynard (1972) | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Conner Wayne Chrisman (2009) | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Connie Copeland | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Dale Johnson | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Joey McClister (1987) | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Kathy Dean | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Ken Hill | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Landon Corbin (2004) | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Loretta Turner | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Michael R. Jones | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Rita Campbell | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Ruth Eleanor Stevens Brock | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Taylor Calhoun | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Teresa Milby | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Vera Raines (1937) | (Updates/Corrections)
Happy Birthday, Willie Wooley (1986) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Rebecca Diane Edwards, Green Co., KY (1960) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Walter Earl Walters, Somerset, KY (1943-2019) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Delores Clements Carrier, Liberty, KY (1930-2019) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Willie Leon Tungate, Campbellsville, KY (1931-2019) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Geneva Lee Harris Durham, Green Co., KY (1932-2020) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Larry Lewis McClister (1956-2007) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, James E. Troutman, Adair County, KY (1928) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Lonnie Hedgespeth, Taylor Co., KY (1931) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Mary Helen McElroy, Russell Co., KY (1940) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Betty Lou Dean, Taylor Co., KY (1938-2011) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Mrs. Theda Ganal Polston Baker, Cumberland Co., KY (1933) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Ancil Lane, Taylor County, KY (1935) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Joann Bottom, Russell County, KY (1935) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Oreta Ann Tucker, 66, Russell County, KY (1946) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Dale Johnson, Adair County, KY (1953) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Danny Roy Muncie, Taylor Co., KY (1943) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Lula Pearl Smiley, Adair Co., KY (1925-2013) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Dorkis F. Burton, Adair County, KY (1964-2014) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Anna Lee Burris, Hustonville, KY (1923-2014) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Lola Shaffer, 95, Adair County, KY (1919-2014) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Bobby A. Gaddie, 72, Taylor County, KY (1943-2015) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, James Welby (Jimmy) Baker, Cumberland Co. KY (1940-2015) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Mr. Leland Sammons, 73, Taylor Co., KY (1942-2015) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Donnie Roe Tucker, 73, Russell County, KY (1942-2015) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Douglas Coy Wolford, 70, Casey Co., KY (1946-2016) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Vena Raines, 79, Adair Co., KY/Wayne native (1937-2016) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Bill Cundiff, 64, Adair County, KY (1953-2017) | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Bobby Gene Flatt, 54, Russell Springs, KY (1967-2021) Obituary | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Carmelita Mascarenas, 70, Taylor Co., KY (1950-2020) Obituary | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Connie Sayers, 68, Casey County, KY (1951-2019) Obituary | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Donnie Keith Dyer, 70, Adair County, KY (1950-2020) Obituary | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Ethel Faye Braddock, 53, Burkesville, KY (1968-2021) Obituary | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Gladys Ruth Simpson, 90, Russell Springs, KY (1930-2020) Obituary | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Guinevere Elaine Jones, 82, Greensburg, KY (1939-2021) Obituary | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, John Henry Dotson, 73, Taylor County, KY Obituary | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Mitchell Howard Collings, 63, Greensburg, KY (1958-2021) Obituary | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Peggy Janes Waggener, 81, Columbia, KY native (1939-2020) Obituary | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Robert K. Reff, 76, Taylor Co., KY Obituary | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Ronald W. Upton, 51, Russell Co., KY Obituary | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, Wayne Payton, 62, Casey County, KY (1957-2019) Obituary | (Updates/Corrections)
In Memory Birthday, William (Billy Ray) Wethington, 75, Liberty, KY (1945-2020) Obituary | (Updates/Corrections)

Events scheduled for Thursday, January 1, 2026
All events are listed in Central Time. Submit your upcoming event using our Contact Form.
6:00amCTNew Years Day | (ID:69995, Comment)
8:00amCTCity Hall closed today | (ID:70052, Comment)
County offices closed today
  • Adair Co. Judge Executive Larry Russell Bryant's Office
  • The Adair Co. Road Department
  • Green River Animal Shelter
  • The Adair Co. Recycling Center
| (ID:70061, Comment)
Adair Co Clerk's Office closed today | (ID:70066, Comment)
County Attorney's Office closed today | (ID:70077, Comment)

 






























 
 
Quick Links to Popular Features


Looking for a story or picture?
Try our Photo Archive or our Stories Archive for all the information that's appeared on ColumbiaMagazine.com.

 

Contact us: Columbia Magazine and columbiamagazine.com are published by Linda Waggener and Pen Waggener, PO Box 906, Columbia, KY 42728.
Phone: 270.403.0017


Please use our contact page, or send questions about technical issues with this site to webmaster@columbiamagazine.com. All logos and trademarks used on this site are property of their respective owners. All comments remain the property and responsibility of their posters, all articles and photos remain the property of their creators, and all the rest is copyright 1995-Present by Columbia Magazine. Privacy policy: use of this site requires no sharing of information. Voluntarily shared information may be published and made available to the public on this site and/or stored electronically. Anonymous submissions will be subject to additional verification. Cookies are not required to use our site. However, if you have cookies enabled in your web browser, some of our advertisers may use cookies for interest-based advertising across multiple domains. For more information about third-party advertising, visit the NAI web privacy site.