Thank You For Visiting
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Scottsville native Emma Guy Cromwell, born in 1865 in Simpson County. Emma was a suffragist, women’s rights activist, and early female politician. She became the 1st woman to hold a statewide office in Kentucky when elected State Librarian in 1896 by one vote in the Kentucky Senate. Later she won elections for Secretary of State and Kentucky State Treasurer. She also served as State Park Director, State Bond Commissioner, and Director of Archives.
September 28, 1875, the Red Mile ran their 1st race, named the Lexington Stakes. A small crowd witnessed Odd Fellow cross the finish line 1st. Today, the Red Mile hosts the Kentucky Futurity, the 3rd leg in the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters. The track is the 2nd-oldest harness racing track globally and the oldest horse racing track in Lexington. The historical track is one mile and made of red clay.
On September 28, 1926, a long-standing row over land in Frenchburg, confined to an argument for 20 years, broke out in gunplay and ax-wielding on Indian Creek. Three members of one family died, and one member from the other would die later.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Waltersville native Harold Hurst, born in 1933, in Powell County. Harold played under Coach Rupp for two seasons and won two SEC Championships. In 1953, his first season, the Wildcats were also the Helms Foundation National Champions. This team finished unbeaten 25-0. Though they won the Southeastern Conference title and could have played in the NCAA title, they chose not to participate because star players Frank Ramsey, Cliff Hagan, and Lou Tsioropoulos had already graduated, thus making the team invalid. The rule no longer exists.
September 28, 1934, Detective Sergeant Eugene M. Hagan, Louisville Police Department, died from a gunshot while on a stakeout investigating a series of holdups.
September 28, 1941, just days after playing in the U.S. Women’s Amateur tournament, an unknown assailant murdered Marion Miley, 27, in an apartment in the Lexington Country Club. Her 50-year-old mother, Elsa Miley, was mortally wounded. In an era of great amateurs, Miley had established dominance.
September 28, 1951, Marine Corps PFC Kenneth J. Boothe from Bracken County and Army PFC Robert L. Green from Bell County both died fighting in the Korean War.
On September 28, 1953, at 4:17 p.m., 22 persons perished in a chartered plane crash at Standiford Field. The plane destination was Ft. Knox, with 38 soldiers on board. Those aboard the crashed airliner, except the crew, were Puerto Rican. Two crewmen died.
September 28, 1969, Army SGT Thomas J. Gabbard from Highland Heights in Campbell County died fighting in the Vietnam War.
September 28, 1971, Governor and Mrs. Louie B. Nunn held an auction at their Glasgow home. Even though the First Family of Kentucky was not present, Mrs. Nunn commented to the press that she “would rather go to an auction sale than eat when I am hungry.” Governor Nunn’s term would expire in two months and the family would be moving to Lexington.
September 28, 1976, Muhammad Ali (53-2) fought Ken Norton (37-3) in Yankee Stadium, New York. Ali was offered $6 million to fight Ken Norton for the third time. Ali knew it would be difficult, and it was. Norton was well ahead after seven rounds, but Ali fought back and pulled even by the 14th round. However, Norton’s corner thought he was ahead and they told him to stay out of trouble. Ali won the 15th round and the fight.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native Sarah Wright, born in 1983. Sarah is best known for her starring roles on Quintuplets and Marry Me. She has also had recurring roles on the shows Parks and Recreation and Mad Love.
September 28, 1989, Angela Williamson, born a male, arrived at the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women in Pee Wee Valley. This, after state doctors determined, “For all practical purposes, she is a female and it would be appropriate to treat her as such.”
On September 28, 1993, Jamal Mashburn stated, “Everybody should have the same opportunity I had,” when he announced his $500,000 gift to UK to endow a scholarship program for needy youngsters. The “Kentucky Excel Program” seeks to identify promising eighth-graders from low-income minority backgrounds and match them with a UK mentor.
Kentucky Trivia: In the years after his retirement Jamal has built an investment portfolio that would make the average hedge fund billionaire blush. Today Jamal owns over 100 food franchises, including Papa John’s, Outback Steakhouse and Dunkin Donuts. He owns five car dealerships, a waste management company and even sits on the board of directors of newspaper chain McCLatchy. He’s also was an early investor in a cannabis company.
On September 28, 2000, the First Baptist Church of Frankfort voted to sever its 122-year-old ties to the Southern Baptist Convention, saying the denomination “moved dramatically away from…historical Baptist beliefs.” The church is believed to be the 1st in Kentucky to leave the nation’s largest Protestant denomination since it revised its statement of faith in June.
On September 28, 2006, Kentuckian Joseph “Joe” Johnson received the Carnegie Medal for Heroism and $4,000. Joe said he never considered himself a hero when he rescued Joshua Woosley from a burning car in Butler County. The driver died and while Joe was saving a life, bystanders were yelling at him not to get close.
September 28, 2013, a Keeneland exacta won Santa Anita’s GIII $250,000 Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares three-year-olds and upward.
September 28, 2017, an anonymous law enforcement official stated that Rick Pitino was Coach 2 in the FBI’s investigation of bribery in college basketball. The complaint cited Coach 2 as a central figure in the recruitment sting operation, which rocked the UofL’s men’s basketball program and resulted in Pitino’s suspension as head coach. Pitino lost his job the following month.
On September 28, 2020, Governor A. Beshear stated, “too few citizens wearing masks are partially to blame for the state’s 3rd surge.” Next, he claimed Kentuckians were casual about the virus and, “The virus is here, and it waits for us to get casual. We have to do better; we have to act with urgency.” He then, slowly, put down his glass of kool-aid. Next, according to the Lexington-Leader, UK students partied off campus despite another record-breaking week for positive cases.
Positives: 456 / 66,939
Deaths: 5 / 1,162 – 1st death 3/16/20
50&over: 1,131 / 49-30: 30 / 29&under: 1
On September 28, 2021, the Fayette County Public Schools board approved a new plan to address the transportation worker shortage, which all of America faced. The board voted to pay stipends for drivers and monitors who showed up for work and they voted to pay a one-time payment of $200 to employees who got vaccinated. Uncle Sam covered the cost, he just printed more money.