Kentucky Trivia
On December 18, 1789, Virginia passed the 4th Enabling Act, favoring and facilitating the separation of Kentucky into an independent state . Kentucky’s 9th State Convention would accept the terms the following year. Kentucky in Retrospect by Lila Jones Kington, pg: 27
December 18, 1792, the Kentucky General Assembly established an act to inspect tobacco, hemp, and flour governed by the laws of Virginia . The Act called for Clark County to house an inspection site.”
December 18, 1799, Kentucky created Nicholas County from Bourbon County and Mason County and named it in honor of George Nicholas, Revolutionary War Colonel and “Father of the Kentucky Constitution.” Carlisle is the county seat. Other localities include East Union, Headquarters, Hooktown, Moorefield, and Myers. The 41st county created, Nicholas County, covers 197 square miles.
By David Benbennick December 18, 1800, Kentucky created Wayne County from parts of Pulaski County and Cumberland County and named it in honor of Anthony Wayne, Revolutionary War General. The county seat is Monticello. Other localities include Alpha, Barrier, Big Sinking, Cooper, Duncan Valley, Fall Creek, Frazer, Frisby, Hidalgo, Mill Springs, Parmleysville, Powersburg, Rockybranch, Roger’s Grove, Steubenville, Sunnybrook, and Windy. The 43rd county created, Wayne County, covers 484 square miles.
By David Benbennick Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native John Colgan , who was born in 1840. He was the inventor of flavored chewing gum in his drug store, somewhat by mistake, in the late 1860s. During the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, he sold his Taffy Tolu and created quite a buzz. William Wrigley, Jr., came across John Colgan’s chewing gum at the fair and became quite impressed. Wrigley’s gum took off, and John Colgan faded into history.
December 18, 1860, Senator John J. Crittenden (Constitutional Unionist) introduced the Crittenden Compromise to permanently enshrine slavery in the United States Constitution and thereby make it unconstitutional for future congresses to end slavery. The Senate tabled it 12 days later.
December 18, 1890, Town Marshal Robert Edward Thompson, Hardinsburg Police Department , died from knife wounds while escorting a drunk man to jail. The subject suddenly refused to go any further and pulled out a knife.
December 18, 1896, Logan County lynched Dink and Arch Proctor , white males, for an alleged murder. The source linked to this entry had Kentucky with 135 lynchings from 1882 through 1921.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native Mary Nolan , born in 1902.
December 18, 1913, Town Marshal Rory Jay Draughn, Hazard Police Department , died arresting a man on Main Street for being drunk in public. Marshal Draughn knew the man, a candidate for county sheriff, and attempted to talk him into accompanying him to the police station. When the man drew his weapon, Marshal Draughn reminded him that they were friends and told him not to shoot. The man then opened fire, striking him four times.
December 18, 1930, Adolf Rupp coached his 1st game for Kentucky . The Wildcats beat Georgetown College 67-19 at home in Alumni Gymnasium. Coach Rupp, reintroducing the fast-break basketball system to Kentucky fans, used 17 of the 19 men on his squad in the opening encounter. Harry Lancaster, Kentucky’s future assistant basketball coach, and Athletic Director, earned Georgetown’s top scoring honors with 11 points.
December 18, 1932, Deputy Sheriff James T. Morgan, Letcher County Sheriff’s Office , suffered a fatal heart attack minutes after subduing a drunk and disorderly man.
December 18, 1933, Night Marshal Floyd Hensley, Beattyville Police Department , died arresting a man for public drunkenness. During the arrest, the man produced a handgun and shot Marshal Hensley in the neck, killing him instantly.
December 18, 1955, Deputy Sheriff Dewey Sizemore, Clay County Sheriff’s Office , died arresting a drunk man in public at Big Creek. A neighbor of the subject, also drunk, attempted to intervene when a .38 caliber pistol fell from his pocket. The neighbor then shot Deputy Sizemore five times. Despite being mortally wounded, Sizemore killed the subject.
December 18, 1962, Louisville authorities emphasized their commitment to the Sunday Law as far as they knew how to apply it. Mayor William O’Cowger stated he would use good horse sense when enforcing the law.
December 18, 1972, the Kentucky State Racing Commission announced their 1973 racing dates , including a record 246 racing days and significant changes for Churchill Downs and Miles Park.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville Native Josh Dallas, born in 1978, a television and film actor who has enjoyed many leading roles.
December 18, 1982, Eastern Kentucky football coach Roy Kidd hugged senior quarterback Tuck Woolum after the Colonels won the Division I-AA national title in Wichita Falls, Texas . Eastern defeated Delaware 17-14 for its 2nd national title in four years. The Colonels became the 1st undefeated team ever to win the I-AA title. “Oh, this has to be the greatest,” Kidd said. “To go undefeated and win the national championship, it’s unbelievable. There’s no doubt that this is the greatest team, the greatest.”
On December 18, 1997, Kentucky released seven elk in the Cyprus-Amax Wildlife Management Area, next to Robinson Forest in Perry County , the 1st time in 150 years that free-ranging elk inhabited the state.
December 18, 1999, the Wildcats spanked the Cardinals 76-46 in Rupp , the 2nd largest margin between the two teams in their 31-game series. This meeting also marked the 1st time the two teams met in the modern era when neither had a top 20 ranking. The largest rout happened in 1986 when Kentucky won by 34 points, 85-51.
December 18, 2015, authorities released inmate number 16226-032, Richard Dwight Farmer, from federal prison. He received a 24-month sentence after agreeing to a plea deal when he accepted responsibility for spending government money on family and friends as head of Kentucky’s Department of Agriculture.
On December 18, 2019, the 116th U.S. Congress, in particular, the House of Representatives, adopted two articles of impeachment against President D. Trump: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress . He became the 3rd president impeached and would soon be the 1st president impeached twice. Meanwhile, federal investigators looked into Governor M. Bevin’s pardons. They found nothing but maybe greed, which is not against the law.
December 18, 2020, Kentucky reported 3,179 new cases and 28 new deaths of individuals in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s . The governor said, “Christmas is probably my favorite day of the year, and I know we all want to celebrate the way we usually do, but this year we need to do things differently. With vaccines arriving this week, we can see the bright light at the end of the tunnel. Now we just need everyone to keep doing their part to protect one another. ” In other words, he wanted people to isolate themselves and stay away from friends and family.
December 18, 2021, Police Officer Zachary Dale Cottongim, Louisville Metro Police Department , died as he attended to an abandoned vehicle. He was standing on the side of the highway when a passing car struck him.
Sunday, December 18, 2022, Burney Jenkins, a Georgetown native and graduate of Georgetown College , celebrated his inauguration as the 1st Black mayor of Georgetown.
