Kentucky Trivia ● Kentucky Tweets
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 closed the 1st legislative session west of the Alleghany Mountains: “The Transylvania Convention.”
On May 28, 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act. The act relocated all tribes to “Indian Territory” west of the Mississippi River; however, the Native Americans could 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.
Friday, May 28, 1875, Tom Ochiltree won the 3rd Preakness Stakes. Owner J.F. Chamberlin and his connections earned $1,900 in the 1 ½ mile contest. The colt skipped the 1 ½ mile May 17 Derby and finished 7th in the 1 ½ mile June 12 Belmont.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to 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.
May 28, 1925, recognizing the dreadful lack of medical resources for more than 10,000 people living in isolated areas of Eastern Kentucky, Mary Breckinridge founded the Frontier Nursing Service.
May 28, 1927, The Courier-Journal announced they obtained an exclusive piece of Captain Charles A. Lindbergh’s personal narrative of his visit to Europe, the voyage home, and his reception in New York upon his return to America. The newspaper printed excerpts over 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 primary election day, May 28, 1956, President Eisenhower told Congress the Military Industrial Complex (MIC) had shipped a record $12.5 billion worth of planes, tanks, guns, and other equipment to free world countries, also known as NATO. On his last day in office five years later, he warned us how dangerous the MIC would become.
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 the night John Davidson was to perform. The club had sold out of tickets and possibly more showed up. One hundred and sixty-five people died and an estimated 2,600 people escaped. Still, this tragedy topped any disaster in Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati history, man-made or natural. The fire is a key reason why U.S. fire standard codes nationwide are stringent.
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 1st 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 won the right to battle Mitch. Scotty and Ernie each won their races for the 6th District House Race. Big Hal would not be challenged, and Jim Bunning would go to bat for District 4 against Denny Bowman.
May 28, 2001, the federal government reported Paducah’s uranium plant and their sister facility in Ohio were, by far, the U.S.’s largest industrial emitters of chemicals (CFC 114) that eat through 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 declared that vaccinated adolescents attending summer camps did not need to wear masks; furthermore, it would be OK for the young unvaccinated children to shed them as well.