August 30, 1809, David Tremble and Henry Daniel, both Mt. Sterling attorneys were drinking in a bar and got into a dispute , which lead to a duel at an unknown location. At first fire, Mr. Daniel was dangerously wounded. He received the ball on the right side, at the 7th true rib, and it penetrated the liver. Mr. Trimble escaped unhurt. Famous Kentucky Duels by J. Winston Coleman, Jr.; pg: 137
August 30, 1814, George Walker, a Republican-Democrat , became Kentucky’s 5th Class II Senator. Governor Shelby appointed George for five months.
On August 30, 1836, James Clark became Kentucky’s 13th governor. Governor J. Clark created a state board of education and public schools in every county in the state. Unfortunately, he died in office with less than a year to serve after serving in all three branches of Kentucky’s government.
August 30, 1859, Beriah Magoffin became the 21st governor . He served during the early part of the Civil War and sympathized with Confederates. Nevertheless, when the General Assembly adopted a neutrality position in the war, Magoffin held to it, refusing calls for aid from both sides. Unable to provide effective leadership due to a hostile legislature, Magoffin agreed to resign in 1862, provided he could choose the next governor.
August 30, 1906, Jamestown native Eros Bolivar “Cy” Barger made his MLB debut with the New York Highlanders. He went from Transylvania to the big leagues.
August 30, 1919, in his 9th race, Man o’ War held up the start for 12 minutes after breaking through the webbing four times in the 7th running of the 6F Hopeful Stakes before winning in 1:13.00. The Spa held 20,000 fans to see Big Red race four colts and three fillies, including Upset and Constancy, for a $30,000 purse. While the horses were still forming the starting line, a cloud burst open with heavy rain. Man o’ War possibly kicked the filly, Ethel Grey. He did kick another filly, Cleopatra. Reporters had a hard time seeing the action due to the rain. Nevertheless, Man o’ War won by four, ears flicking up easily. One reporter recalled Sam Riddle celebrating, “Like a seventeen-year-old, he had hopped and skipped about the clubhouse and paddock and congratulated his jockey and trainer repeatedly.”
August 30, 1923, Nancy Green, the original model for “Aunt Jemima,” died in an automobile accident after a truck flipped over onto the sidewalk where she was standing in Chicago. Born a Montgomery County slave in 1834, Nancy would become a household name across America.
August 30, 1930, Night Police Chief Joseph Gertrude Lockard, Barbourville Police Department , died from a gunshot responding to a disturbance in the downtown area. Despite the wounds, Chief Lockard returned fire and killed the man.
August 30, 1944, the Kentucky Dam reservoir began to fill . Six years earlier, the massive project began. At the peak of construction, TVA had nearly 5,000 people working. Kentucky Dam created the largest human-made lake in the Eastern U.S., covering 160,300 acres, featuring 2,300 miles of shoreline.
August 30, 1951, Army PFC William Holbrook from Pike County died in the Korean War.
On August 30, 1964, Louisville native Bobby Nichols won the Carling World Open by one stroke over Arnold Palmer for his 5th tour victory. He won his only major, the PGA Championship, weeks earlier.
August 30, 1967, Army PFC Edward L. Rankin from LaGrange in Oldham County died in the Vietnam War.
August 30, 1968, Marine Corps CW03 William L. Vick from Paducah died in the Vietnam War.
August 30, 1970, Bobby Nichols won the Dow Jones Open Invitational by one stroke for his 9th PGA tour win . Nichols had 12 holes-in-one in his professional career.
August 30, 1971, Army SP5 Samuel O. Small from Evarts in Harlan County died in the Vietnam War.
August 30, 1972, Governor W. Ford announced the suspension of seven strip-miming permits in Pike County. He then called for a “full legal investigation of strip-mining and the pillage which had taken over the past several years.”
On August 30, 1981, Willie Shoemaker became the 1st jockey to win a $1 million thoroughbred horse race when John Henry won the inaugural Arlington Million by a nose over The Bart.
August 30, 1982, Tammie McKenney cut 500 sticks of tobacco in five hours during the women’s speed-cutting event at the Bluegrass Tobacco Festival in Scott County . Officials thought her feat to be an unofficial women’s world record. McKenney, 17, was a high school senior from Mount Zion.
August 30, 1983, Shuttle Challenger launched STS-8 for the 1st night launch in the Space Shuttle Program and the 3rd launch for Shuttle Challenger.
On August 30, 1996, thousands showed up in Paducah to see President B. Clinton’s 14-bus caravan end his 1st full day of campaigning after he became his party’s nominee for a 2nd time. Clinton would repel Glass-Steagall three years later, causing an orgy on Wall St. which continues today. Meanwhile, the Kentucky Racing Commission closed Dueling Grounds and later that night Coach B. Curry auctioned off the 1994 UK/UofL football at the annual “Bash.”
August 30, 2008, Jalil finished 3rd in his North American debut at Suffolk Downs at 1-5 odds . Sheikh Mohammed bought him for $9.7 million in September 2005 and sent him to Europe to start his less-than-average career. He never materialized.
August 30, 2014, for UK’s opener, the Wildcats blew out Tennessee-Martin 59-14, with Patrick Towles in Coach Stoop’s 2nd year ; for Kentucky’s largest margin of victory since 2002. Meanwhile, President B. Obama bombed Iraq again.
On August 30, 2016, Rep. Russ Myer from Versailles, who floated the idea of switching political parties, released a recording of a voicemail message he received from Governor M. Bevin that he interpreted as a threat. Others saw it as average politicking. The press seemed to agree with Russ. “I want you to be very aware of what the impact of those decisions will be as it relates to you, your seat, your district, etc. Just so we have all the cards on the table.”
August 30, 2017, Kentucky’s Black leaders told Governor M. Bevin that he would be “on the wrong side of history” if he didn’t push for removing Jefferson Davis from Kentucky’s Capitol Rotunda as the 15-foot statue loomed over them (some reports have it at 12 feet). The Commonwealth removed the Confederate’s President statue 3 years, 14 months, and 1 day later.
August 30, 2019, a political consultant testified that Jerry Lundergan left $20,000 in cash and a $25,000 check in his couch . He implied Jerry made a secret illegal contribution to his daughter’s 2015 reelection campaign for Secretary of State.
On August 30, 2020, UK implemented a new strategy to contain the virus ; after sending them home last semester, they kept the kids on campus. Meanwhile, the controversial giant corn maze in McKee grabbed some attention.
On August 30, 2021, America’s longest war ended in Afghanistan, and the MIC immediately sent $5 billion to Ukraine to fight a war on Russia’s border . Ukraine’s First Lady later made the cover of Vogue to promote the war. You can’t make it up. Meanwhile, the governor announced the highest number of positive virus cases for one week; 2,619. Andy stated, “This is tragic because it is preventable.”
On August 30, 2023, Central Kentucky locals had the opportunity to view the Blue Super Moon. A Super Moon occurs when the moon is at or near its closest point to Earth at the same time as it is full. It was 222,043 miles away, about 17,000 miles closer than average. This made it 8% larger and 15% brighter than a typical full moon. The 2024 Blue Super Moon occurred at 2:26 p.m. EDT on Monday, August 19.
On August 30, 2023, Rand Paul patted himself on the back , and deservedly so.