On November 14, 1779, surveyors Walker and Smith walked off course while establishing the border between Kentucky and Tennessee. In what is now Simpson County and Robertson County, Tennessee, a pronounced dip pointed south created a triangular-shaped portion of land known as the “Simpson County Offset.”
By David Benbennick November 14, 1806, Kentucky created Casey County from Lincoln County and named it in honor of William Casey, Revolutionary War Colonel. Liberty is the county seat. Other cities and towns located in the county include: Bethelridge, Clementsville, Creston, Dunnville, Middleburg, Phil, Jacktown, Teddy, Upper Tygart, Walltown, Windsor and Yosemite. The 46th county created covers 446 square miles.
By David Benbennick
Localtonians wish a Happy Birthday to Louisville native Joshua Fry Speed , born in 1814. A businessman and confidant of Abraham Lincoln, he studied at a private school and then at St. Joseph’s Academy in Bardstown (1832-33). He left Louisville in 1835 for Springfield, Illinois, where he and Lincoln became friends. During the Civil War, Lincoln offered him the position of Treasury Secretary, but each time Speed declined. However, he did serve as the President’s adviser on western affairs. In 1842, J.F. Speed returned to Louisville to marry Fannie Henning.
On November 14, 1914, Kentucky shutout Louisville 42-0 in Lexington , setting the “Governor’s Cup” overall record at Kentucky 3 and Louisville 0.
On November 14, 1935, The Thoroughbred Club of America honored William Woodward at its 4th annual testimonial dinner at the Lafayette Hotel. Three hundred attended. The first three recipients were Col. Bradley, J.K. Widener, and Desha Breckinridge, who had passed. Meanwhile, within walking distance, UK opened its impressive Bible display, which included two Codex Bezae Bibles. Miss Margaret I. King, the librarian, orchestrated the month-long event.
November 14, 1948, Trooper Harold J. Toll, 34, did in an automobile crash while en route to a call for assistance in Anderson County. His death came only three months after being commissioned. In honor of his service, a five-mile stretch of the U.S. 127 bypass in Anderson County has been designated the “Trooper Harold J. Toll Memorial Highway.”
November 14, 1950, Kentucky’s Department of Finance cracked down on an unidentified ring of bootleggers selling state-owned Buicks on the “black market.” The state also addressed the rampant use of state vehicles for personal use.
On November 14, 1955, Kentucky announced a $3 billion highway improvement plan , while 740 Kentucky teachers demanded a pay raise immediately.
November 14, 1956, the Kentucky Fair Board voted not to sell beer or other alcoholic beverages at the 1957 Kentucky State Fair. Beer had been sold for many years, however church and temperance groups protested and now a section of the fair would be dry. Beer sold in sporting events on other part of the Fairgrounds.
On November 14, 1961, James F. Smathers of NY, inventor of the first successful electric typewriter, recalled his visit to Lexington and the IBM plant . Smathers, who retired in 1953, wanted to see his baby being mass-produced.
On November 14, 1966, Muhammad Ali (27-0) fought Cleveland “Big Cat” Williams (65-5-1) in the Houston Astrodome. Williams, 33, once a formidable fighter, was worn out by this time. He had been shot in the stomach by a police officer, attacked by a girlfriend with a meat cleaver, and gone toe-to-toe twice with Liston, being KO’d early in both fights. Ali became concerned that Williams might be badly hurt if the about took too long. An indoor-record 35,460 saw Ali, in his own words, “the night I was at my best.” Howard Cosell told boxing writer Thomas Hauser, “The greatest Ali ever was as a fighter was against Williams. That night, he was the most devastating fighter who ever lived.” He also did the Ali Shuffle for the 1st time as a pro before knocking out Williams in the 3rd round lived.
November 14, 1967, Army SP5 Paul E. Johnson from Lookout in Pike County died fighting in the Vietnam War.
November 14, 1973, was not a good day for President Nixon . The Ashland Oil, Inc. Chairman told the Senate Watergate Committee that his firm made an illegal corporate contribution to Nixon’s reelection campaign. Chairman Atkins pleaded no contest and received a $1,000 fine in a Kentucky federal court two days earlier. On the same day in Washington, D.C., a federal court ruled that it was illegal for Nixon to fire the Watergate prosecutor.
November 14, 1976, the primary phase of Jefferson County’s Swine Flu immunization campaign ended with 47% taking the vaccine . Epidemiologists stated 60-70% of a community must take the shot to stop a pandemic.
November 14, 1984, The Courier-Journal ended a five-day, five-report expose titled “Up in Smoke
November 14, 1993, The Kentucky Cycle opened on Broadway
November 14, 1994, an 11-year-old Breckinridge Elementary School student found a $40,000 diamond and turned it in. After the press hounded him for weeks, he called off his parade and shopping spree.
November 14, 1997, George Edward Arcaro, known professionally as Eddie Arcaro, passed away . The Hall of Fame jockey once won more American classic races than any other jockey in history. He is the only rider to have won the Triple Crown twice; 1941 on Whirlaway and 1948 on Citation. His other Kentucky Derby wins were Hoop Jr. (1945) and Hill Gail (1952).
On November 14, 2000, Florida officials demanded a written explanation of why they should accept late new vote totals for the presidential election held on Tuesday, November 7 between Bush and Gore . Meanwhile, elementary students from Nicholasville visited the clean and rejuvenated land in Martin County where the infamous coal-sludge spill occurred.
November 14, 2004, Adair County native Evelyn West a.k.a. Evelyn “$50,000 Treasure Chest” West and “The Hubba-Hubba Girl,” died . The burlesque legend of the forties, fifties, and sixties was a fixture in St. Louis and got hauled to jail at least a half dozen for obscenity. Evelyn West was best known for her large (39½ inch) bustline and insured them for $50,000 through Lloyd’s of London in 1947. Quite the comedian, she would often quip to her audience, “I know you’re looking at my shoes.”
November 14, 2008, a jury ordered a Kentucky KKK grand wizard Ron Edwards and two former lieutenants to pay 19-year-old Jordan Gruver $1.5 million for lost wages and medical expenses and $1 million in punitive damages. The racists beat him close to death at a county fair.
November 14, 2013, Mitch joked with the press about how bad HealthCare.gov operated under President Obama . The senator accepted $75k from the health insurance firm that charged $155 million to fix the technical problems.
November 14, 2019, Governor Matt Bevin finally conceded he lost reelection eleven days after Kentuckians voted and before officials completed the recanvas.
On November 14, 2020, the state reported positive coronavirus cases quadrupled since mid-August in Kentucky nursing homes . The homes accounted for 60% of Kentucky deaths related to the flu strain. For the 2nd day in a row, the one-day record for positive cases got broken with 3,303 cases as the virus seemed to be peaking in Kentucky and the nation. Meanwhile, locals read about a 2015 no-knock warrant the Lexington police served on the wrong house.
November 14, 2021, on Meet the Press , Chuck Todd asked , “Do you regret giving credibility to the Steele Dossier?” Rep. A. Schiff, the #1 pusher of the document replied, “I don’t.”
On November 14, 2022, Rep. J. Comer, the top House investigator, said he had evidence that federal health officials used grant dollars to keep private scientists on the script and have them deny that COVID-19 originated with a lab accident despite scientific evidence to the contrary. Comer investigated Dr. Fauci and President Biden without success.
Moon Fire 
