On Sunday, May 28, 1775, Boonesborough hosted the 1st recorded public worship service in Kentucky. The Reverend John Lyth, an Episcopalian clergyman, conducted the Anglican Church service. The service marked the end of the 1st legislative session west of the Allegheny Mountains, known as “The Transylvania Convention.”
On May 28, 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act. The act required all tribes to move to “Indian Territory” west of the Mississippi River. However, Native Americans could choose to stay in their homes if they gave up all tribal claims and became U.S. citizens.
May 28, 1861, under direction from President Lincoln and after Kentucky declared neutrality, the federal government set up the Military Department of Kentucky. Located just north of Louisville, it encompassed an area within 100 miles of the Ohio River. A native Kentuckian, Major Robert Anderson, of Fort Sumter fame, commanded the troops.
On Friday, May 28, 1875, Tom Ochiltree emerged victorious in the 3rd Preakness Stakes. The owner, J.F. Chamberlin, and his team earned $1,900 in the 1 ½ mile race. Prior to this win, the colt did not participate in the 1 ½ mile May 17 Derby and finished 7th in the 1 ½ mile June 12 Belmont.
Localtonians celebrate the Birthday of Newport native Andy Kirk, born in 1898. The jazz artist played the saxophone and tuba and led the Twelve Clouds of Joy, a popular band during the swing era.
On May 28, 1925, Mary Breckinridge founded the Frontier Nursing Service due to the severe lack of medical resources for over 10,000 people in isolated areas of Eastern Kentucky. Born into one of Kentucky’s most illustrious families in 1881, she was the granddaughter of former U.S. V.P. and Confederate Secretary of War John C. Breckinridge. Her father, Clifton Breckinridge, was Ambassador to Russia’s last Czar and as a result, Mary was educated by private tutors in Washington, D.C. and St. Petersburg.
On May 28, 1927, The Courier-Journal announced that they had obtained an exclusive piece of Captain Charles A. Lindbergh’s personal narrative detailing his visit to Europe, the voyage home, and his reception in New York upon his return to America. The newspaper printed excerpts over a period of 10 days.
May 28, 1933, Deputy Sheriff Morgan Pelfrey, Breathitt County Sheriff’s Office, died by a gunshot while removing a drunk man from a large memorial service at a cemetery in War Creek.
May 28, 1937, less than one month before her 18th birthday, Anna Mac Clarke received a diploma from Lawrenceburg High School, which at the time was referred to as the “Colored High School.”
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to the “King of Honkytonk” Jenkins native Gary Stewart, born in 1944 in Letcher County.
May 28, 1949, the Louisville Colonels fired their manager Fred Walters and replaced him with Mike Ryba. Walters remained in the Red Sox organization as a scout. Ed Doherty, the new President, made it clear he harbored no ill will, he liked Fred.
May 28, 1951, Army PFC Walter Toler from Rowan County died in the Korean War.
May 28, 1952, Marine Corps SSGT Rollins M. Bryant from Manse in Garrard County died in the Korean War.
On May 28, 1956, during the primary election day, President Eisenhower informed Congress that the Military-Industrial Complex (MIC) had sent a record $12.5 billion worth of planes, tanks, guns, and other equipment to free world countries, also known as NATO. Five years later, on his last day in office, he cautioned Americans about the severe implications of the MIC’s unchecked growth. Unfortunately, the MIC has continued to operate unabated since 1956.
May 28, 1964, Kentucky State Police Officers, Trooper Elmer Mobley and Trooper Cecil Uzzle died when their patrol car crashed into several large rocks that had fallen into the roadway in heavy fog.
May 28, 1966, City Marshal James Strong, Jr., Corydon Police Department, died from a gunshot as he arrived at the scene of a domestic disturbance call that resulted in a shoot-out.
May 28, 1968, Army SFC George N. Walker from Adolphus in Allen County and Marine Corps LCPL Charles E. Ward from Pineville in Bell County died in the Vietnam War.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Harrodsburg native Sicily Yoder, born in 1969. Sicily was an Indie author who published close to 100 Amish romance novels and cookbooks from 2004 – 2014.
On May 28, 1977, the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire occurred on the night of a John Davidson concert. The club had sold out of tickets, and possibly more people showed up. One hundred and sixty-five people died, and an estimated 2,600 people escaped. This tragedy remains the worst disaster in the history of Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati, whether man-made or natural. The fire played a significant role in establishing stringent fire standard codes nationwide in the U.S.
May 28, 1980, the federal government notified Governor John Y. Brown Jr. that they would cut off $140 million in federal aid to four Kentucky counties unless they set up mandatory auto-exhaust inspection programs. The counties include Jefferson, Boone, Campbell, and Kenton.
May 28, 1986, for the 1sdt time since the federal speed limit became effective over a decade ago, the Department of Transportation decided to withhold funds if states inadequately enforced a 55-mph limit.
May 28, 1991, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in favor of Illinois over Kentucky regarding a dispute between their Ohio River boundaries. The court reaffirmed the original boundary set in 1792. Historically, Kentucky has asserted ownership of the entire river up to the Illinois bank. Illinois argued they own 100 feet into the river from their shore. The win was significant for riverboat gambling, emergency services taxes on buildings that jut into the river from the Illinois side. Illinois fishermen started the dispute by refusing to buy Kentucky fishing licenses.
On primary day, May 28, 1995, Steve Beshear secured the nomination to compete against Mitch. Scotty and Ernie both won their races for the 6th District House Race. “Big Hal” Rogers faced no opposition, and Jim Bunning would represent District 4 against Denny Bowman.
On May 28, 2001, the federal government reported that Paducah’s uranium plant and their sister facility in Ohio were the largest industrial emitters of chemicals (CF 114) in the U.S., which are known to deplete the Earth’s ozone layer.
May 28, 2007, the Creation Museum, located in Petersburg, opened. The museum promotes a Young Earth Creationist (YEC) explanation of the origin of the universe based on a literal interpretation of the book Genesis.
On May 28, 2013, the faculty of Transylvania University took a vote of no confidence in President Owen Williams, the 1st such vote in the school’s long history. However, the trustees voted to stand by their man. Both sides kept their opinions quiet for 24 hours till after graduation. Owen, the school’s 25th president, would resign a year later, having worked from 2010 to May 2014.
On May 28, 2014, King’s Daughter Medical Center in Ashland agreed to pay Uncle Sam $40.9 million after allegedly billing the federal government for heart procedures that never occurred. It was the largest healthcare fraud fine in Kentucky’s Eastern District, consisting of 67 counties. But, again, not one white-collar greedy cheater went to jail.
On May 28, 2015, after a recanvas of the primary race between Matt Bevin and James Comer, Sec. of State Allison Grimes stated she thought Bevin would keep his 83-vote victory, but nothing would be official till the June 8 certification.
May 28, 2019, Louisville native Will Smith made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
May 28, 2020, Lexington high school graduates drove through the Kentucky Horse Park in an unprecedented commencement event. Meanwhile, Governor A. Beshear announced two weeks of declining coronavirus cases and deaths, with totals of 9,184 and 409, respectively.
On May 28, 2021, the federal government announced that vaccinated adolescents attending summer camps were not required to wear masks. Additionally, it was deemed acceptable for young unvaccinated children to also go without masks.