Kentucky Trivia ● Kentucky Tweets
June 30, 1780, the Virginia Assembly divided Kentucky County into Fayette, Lincoln, and Jefferson Counties. The new counties all became effective on November 1, 1780. At the time, the territory was home to five established communities: Boonesborough, Fort Harrod/Boiling Springs, St. Asaph, later called Logan’s Station, McClelland’s Station, and Leestown.
Kentucky 1780 On June 30, 1802, the government repealed the hated Federal Excise tax on whiskey sales and transportation of distilled spirits . There was much celebration in the streets. “The Lexington Light Infantry paraded and fired 17 vollies of musquetry, the beels rang joyful peal, the bonfires blazed and shouts filled the air.” The Squire’s Sketches of Lexington by J. Winston Coleman, Jr. pg: 24
June 30, 1817, Lexington laid the cornerstone for Fayette Hospital , the 1st psychiatric hospital west of the Allegheny Mountains and the 2nd in the U.S. From statehood in 1792, Kentucky boarded the mentally disturbed at public expense with individuals willing to provide care for them. Alternatively, a few were sent to Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Breckinridge County native George Washington Swink , born in 1836. The landowner and Colorado politician is said to have been the holder of the 1st timber claim certificate in the U.S., issued by President Grover Cleveland in 1887.
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native Matt Winn , born in 1861.
June 30, 1923, Deputy Sheriff Jesse Peters, Harlan County Sheriff’s Office , succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two months earlier while attempting to arrest a man for being drunk in public.
June 30, 1925, John T. Scopes, variously termed the hero and “GOAT” of the Tennessee evolution case , came up missing days before his case went to trial. The young school teacher possibly headed to Chattanooga or his hometown of Paducah to get some peace and quiet before the storm.
June 30, 1933, Policeman Charlie W. Howard, Corbin Police Department , died while investigating a disturbance at a local restaurant. He and two other officers entered the restaurant, and Policeman Howard sat down across from one of the persons involved and began speaking to him. The man suddenly fired a pistol underneath the table; Howard bled to death within a few minutes.
June 30, 1934, Patrolman Richard D. Coffee, Greenup Police Department , died after responding to a restaurant after receiving complaints from a drunk patron. Patrolman Coffee arrived and told the man to go home and return when he was sober. The man went home, obtained a gun, returned, and shot Patrolman Coffee.
June 30, 1947, as Col. Matt Winn celebrated his 86th birthday in Louisville with family , slot machines reappeared in Covington in the 1st comeback since February when an anti-slot group sued the Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney.
June 30, 1968, Army SGT James V. Denham from Richmond died in the Vietnam War.
June 30, 1969, Army CPL Rex D. Harlow from Glasgow in Barren County died in the Vietnam War.
June 30, 1974, Miles Park’s stewards put up the wrong horse as the winner in a photo finish .
June 30, 1975, Muhammad Ali (48-2) fought Joe Bugner (51-6-1) in Merdeka Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia . A $2 million purse lured Ali to only his 2nd fight in a Muslim country. The rematch with Bugner didn’t generate much hype, so Ali was persuaded to say this might be his last fight to drum up interest. Ali danced around the ring most of the battle, throwing combinations every so often, and won the 15-round decision with ease.
June 30, 1978, Spectacular Bid won his 1st race , at Pimlico, by 3 1/4 lengths.
June 30, 1980, Deputy Sheriff Hiram A. Ritchie, Perry County Sheriff’s Office , died and another deputy was seriously wounded during a gun battle with five men near Buckhorn Lake.
June 30, 1984, basketball legend Larry Bird ducked under some trees to line up a golf shot during the 3rd annual Children’s Charity Golf Classic at the Greenbrier Golf and Country Club in Lexington.
On June 30, 1989, the Belle of Louisville , one of the last authentic steamboats, became a National Historic Landmark . Originally named Idlewild in 1914, she started her service on the Allegheny and Mississippi Rivers. In 1931 she ran trips between the Fontaine Ferry amusement park near downtown Louisville and Rose Island, a resort about 14 miles upriver, along with many out-of-town trips. In 1934 Idlewild stayed in Louisville till after WWII. In 1948, Avalon became her name for the dying wish of an ex-Captain. By 1962, Avalon fell into disrepair until Jefferson County Judge Marlow Cook bought her at an auction for $34,000 in hopes of restoring the city’s connection to the waterfront. Belle of Louisville made her 1st cruise in a race against the steamboat Delta Queen in 1963.
By Bo June 30, 1990, retired jockey Bill Shoemaker won his 1st race as a trainer , sending two-year-old filly Tempest Cloud to her maiden victory at Hollywood Park.
June 30, 1991, one year after his 1st victory as a trainer, Bill Shoemaker recorded his 1st Grade I win with Alcando in the Beverly Hills Handicap at Hollywood Park.
June 30, 2000, Governor P. Patton joined more than 100 state and local officials and dedicated the new stretch of 421 near where Madison, Rockcastle, and Jackson counties meet . Before the state blasted out 3.4 million cubic yards of dirt and rock, the steep, winding, and dangerous road caused many accidents and deaths.
On June 30, 2010, Army Sgt. 1st Class Kristopher D. Chapleau, 33, of La Grange , died in Afghanistan of injuries sustained in a non-combat incident during Operation Enduring Freedom.
On June 30, 2013, German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that classified leaks by Edward Snowden detailed NSA bugging of European Union offices in Washington and New York and an EU building in Brussels. Snowden has resided in Russia for the past decade and received Russian citizenship in 2022.
June 30, 2014, a divided Supreme Court gave corporations more personal rights when they ruled companies could deny birth-control coverage to their employees .
On June 30, 2019, Campbell County Deputy John Sayers served 61 years, 11 months, and 21 days . His career spanned 14 Kentucky governors, from Happy Chandler to Matt Bevin, and 12 presidents, from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Donald Trump. Mr. Sayers served longer than any Kentucky officer in recorded history.
On June 30, 2020, after seven days of waiting, Kentuckians received their election results due to the coronavirus pandemic . Amy McGrath defeated Charles Booker for the Democratic Senate primary, and almost 29% of Kentuckians voted in the highest turnout in a Kentucky primary since 2008. Meanwhile, Governor A. Beshear, in his daily announcement, became more pointed in the state’s directive that Kentuckians must wear a mask to prevent spikes.
On June 30, 2021, after the World Health Organization advised individuals to continue wearing masks , Governor A. Beshear took advice from the CDC instead and told fully vaccinated Kentuckians they did not have to wear masks.
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