SOMERSET, Ky. (Aug. 21, 2026) – The Kentucky Department of Highways will temporarily close a portion of KY 76 in the Salem Community of Russell County on Tuesday, Aug. 25, as crews replace a cross drain beneath the roadway.

The closure will take place between Hart Lane and McQueary Ridge Road (mile point 5.1). The closure is expected to begin at approximately 8 a.m. and is expected to be completed by 12 p.m.

The date and duration of work may be adjusted due to inclement weather or other unforeseeable delays.

Motorists can access travel and traffic conditions at http://goky.ky.gov or contribute their own reports at www.waze.com or via the Waze mobile application.

Traffic information for the District 8 counties is also available at www.facebook.com/KYTCDistrict8 or by following us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/KYTCDistrict8.  

The Columbia Police Department would like to remind everyone that Adair County Schools will return to regular session on Monday, August 24th, and they want to urge all motorists to use extra caution during the morning and afternoon hours, when school traffic is heaviest—especially in designated school zones.

Slow down. Stay alert. Watch for students and school buses.

To help raise awareness, the City of Columbia has placed electronic signs along the Columbia Bypass reminding motorists to slow down and drive safely during school hours.

Let’s work together to keep our students, parents, teachers, and everyone traveling our roads safe this school year! Please slow down and drive safely!

Superintindent Faulkner spoke with 92.7 the Wave about the School Ribbon Cutting - Open House.... 

The Council approved the additional funding for the new equipment. 

Jamestown Councilmen Barry Coffey sit in for mayor Regena Hinton as she was out of town for a conference for the city, Barry spoke with WAVE NEWS with more details on what took place at last nights meeting... 

According to a Facebook post, the Jamestown Volunteer Fire Dept. (Engine 3, Tanker 62, and Brush 5) was called out to a working travel trailer fire on Thursday afternoon just after 3:00pmCT. The call came in to the RC-911 Center for a report of a travel trailer fire & field fire on Wilson Road off of Fruit-of-the Loom Drive.

10 firefighters were on the scene for approximately one hour. The fire was contained to the trailer and there was no damage to other outbuildings.

The boil water advisory for West Highway 80 in Russell Springs, KY starting at 1413 West Highway 80 to the Adair County line, Highway 1870 to the Adair County line and all side roads, Deerview Ln, Lakeview Dr, Rose St, Sherry Dr, and Shepherd Dr has been lifted.

The City of Columbia is again looking at a “Day of Caring,” for Columbia and Adair County.

The last Day of Caring involved several organizations, churches, and individuals giving back to our community.

During this day, various projects will be completed for the elderly, disabled, and/or children in Columbia and Adair County. Several church groups have already expressed an interest in working that day, but we would love to have many more organizations involved. 

Columbia boil water advisory...

Sheriff Bobby Jones reports a fourth person charged in connection with a homicide that occurred on August 12th in Pulaski County.

The victim, Sherri Mitko, was found deceased inside her residence on Lower Line Creek Road on August 12th. She had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. 

Detective Jay Picard with the Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigation Division, who is working the homicide investigation, charged a teen boy on Wednesday, August 19th, with Complicity to Commit Murder.

This is the fourth person Det. Picard has charged in connection with the murder of Ms. Mitko. On August 16th, two teen boys were each charged with Murder in this investigation. That was followed by the August 17th arrest of McCoy Chaney, 20, of Somerset, for Murder, Robbery in the First Degree, and Burglary in the First Degree. Chaney is still being held at the Pulaski County Detention Center where he remains held on a $1,500,000 bond.

During this investigation, the Sheriff’s Office has been assisted by the Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force, the Somerset Police Department, and Appalachia HIDTA.

Det. Picard was assisted in the August 19th arrest by Detective Trent Massey, Detective Lieutenant Matt Bryant, Deputy Dylan West, Deputy Noah Dishman, and Deputy Barney Singleton.

Little League Basketball needs people interesting in the following for the upcoming season:

1. Coaching a Little League Basketball team. I will pass your name along to Wes Irvin.

2. Acting as a Cheer Director. Small stipend available, paid in November for Chirstmas.

3. Sponsoring Little League Basketball teams. $200 a team...will need business or person to email desired ad and which kids team you'd like to sponsor. Sponsors will have their logo on every team's jersey, plus free admission for immediate family to any games.

If you are interested, please call 270-634-7202 or email: daniel.hedges@adair.kyschools.us.

The Property Maintenance Code Enforcement Board will hold a meeting, on Thursday, August 20, 2026 at 5:30pmCT at Columbia City Hall. The purpose of this meeting is to hear a nuisance appeal from property owner at 806 Greensburg Street, Columbia, KY.

This meeting is open to the public.

There is a boil water advisory for West Highway 80 in the Royville community of Russell County, KY starting at 1413 West Highway 80 to the Adair County line, Highway 1870 to the Adair County line and all side roads. Until further notice, boil all water used for drinking and cooking, bringing the water to a rolling boil for 3 minutes.

Russell County School Superintendent Michael Ford gives us a recap of Monday's meeting...

Sheriff Bobby Jones reports an additional arrest in connection with a homicide that occurred on August 12th in Pulaski County.

The victim, Sherri Mitko, was found deceased inside her residence on Lower Line Creek Road on August 12th. She had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

Detective Jay Picard with the Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigation Division, who is working the homicide investigation, charged McCoy Chaney, 20, of Somerset, on August 17, with Murder, Robbery in the First Degree, and Burglary in the First Degree.

This is the third person Det. Picard has charged in connection with the murder of Ms. Mitko. On August 16, two teen boys were each charged with Murder in this investigation.

Chaney was arrested without incident at the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office and lodged at the Pulaski County Detention Center where he remains held on a $1,500,000 bond.

During this investigation, the Sheriff’s Office has been assisted by the Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force, the Somerset Police Department, and Appalachia HIDTA.

Sheriff Jones was thankful for the assistance from other agencies. “The Sheriff’s Office has worked non-stop since we were first called on the night of this homicide, and we are indebted to our partners for their help. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Ms. Mitko, and we will continue to investigate all leads in this investigation as they develop.”

There is a boil water advisory in Russell Springs for Deerview Lane and Lakeview Drive. Until further notice, boil all water used for drinking and cooking purposes, for at least 3 minutes.

There is a boil water advisory in Russell Springs, KY for a portion of Rose St, Sherry Drive, and Shepherd Drive. Until further notice, boil all water used for drinking and cooking purposes, bringing the water to a rolling boil for 3 minutes.

Butler Drive in Russell Springs, KY will be closed on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 from 7:30 a.m. until approximately 2:30 p.m. for road repairs. Please use an alternate route and use caution around the work area.

We appreciate your patience as these improvements are completed.

According to Kentucky State Police, 35-year-old Brandon Earles escaped from a work detail near the Casey County Schools bus garage in June 2026. The Casey County Sheriff’s Office said Earles was found at a home, with no other details released. 

The Columbia Police Department is proud to announce the swearing-in of two certified police officers, Corey Meyer and Colton Nunn, on Monday, August 17, 2026.

The swearing-in ceremony for Officer Meyer and Officer Nunn took place at Morgan Smith Industries LLC in Columbia, Kentucky, with Kentucky U.S. Senator Rand Paul in attendance.

Corey Meyer previously served as an EMT with the Russell County Ambulance Service, a Deputy Sheriff and School Resource Officer with the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, and a Police Officer with the Jamestown Police Department. Meyer graduated from the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training in 2020.

Meyer will serve as the Columbia Police Department’s Adair County High School Resource Officer and will also serve as a Patrol Officer when school is not in regular session.

Colton Nunn previously served as a Police Officer with the Edmonton Police Department. Nunn graduated from the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training in 2025 and will serve as a Patrol Officer.

The Columbia Police Department is excited to welcome Officer Meyer and Officer Nunn to the department. We look forward to their commitment to serving and protecting the community of Columbia.

An Adair County Grand Jury has returned indictments against seven individuals. Indictments are legal accusations and do not determine guilt or innocence.

The Jamestown Elementary School SBDM Council will meet on Tuesday at 3pmCT...

Pulaski County Sheriff Bobby Jones reports that two teen boys have been taken into custody in connection with a homicide that occurred on August 12th in Pulaski County.

The victim, Sherri Mitko, was found deceased inside her residence on Lower Line Creek Road on August 12th. She had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

The Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigation Division responded to the scene and began to develop information and evidence in the investigation.

As a result of the evidence and information obtained, the two teens were both charged with Murder on August 16th.

Sheriff Jones emphasized that the Sheriff’s Office is continuing to follow up on any leads and conduct a thorough investigation. Sheriff Jones wants Pulaski County citizens to be aware that this is an isolated incident and there is no public safety risk at this time.

Dr. Rand Paul will present the "Small Business of the Week Award" to Morgan Smith Industries in Columbia, KY on Monday, August 17, 2026 at 9:00 AM CT. Morgan Smith Industries is located at 132 Industrial Park Rd, Columbia, KY.

Senator Paul will then speak at the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at 11:45 AM ET.

COLUMBIA, KY. (08/16/2026) Lindsey Wilson held its first summer commencement ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 15, by celebrating people who showed up.

As graduate student David Browne told his fellow 291 Lindsey Wilson graduates in his commencement address, "showing up matters."

"We started this journey with questions," said Browne, an Elizabethtown, Kentucky, resident who earned a master of education degree in counseling. "We had moments of doubt. We had moments where balancing school, work, family, and life felt impossible. But we kept showing up. And showing up matters."

Lindsey Wilson awarded 292 degrees at its 124th commencement ceremony, held in Biggers Sports Center -- 37 bachelor of arts degrees, 251 master degrees and four doctorate degrees.

Lindsey Wilson awarded a total of 1,449 degrees at its December and May commencement weekends in 2025-26, which were held over five ceremonies. The 292 degrees awarded at the university's inaugural summer commencement on Saturday afternoon raised the total number of graduates during 2025-26 to 1,741 -- the largest class in the school's 123-year history. LWU's previous largest class of graduates was 1,733 in 2024-25.

'The power of transformation'

A high school dropout who saw the inside of a prison before he was 16 years old, Browne said that his educational and professional successes are examples of "the power of transformation."

"The last grade I completed was the eighth grade," said Browne. "I dropped out of school during the ninth grade and walked away from an education that I did not understand the value of at the time. I was not thinking about college, careers or the person I could become. I was making decisions based on where I was in life at that moment, and those decisions led me down a path filled with addiction, incarceration and consequences. I spent years running from the person I had become, not understanding that the person I needed to face was myself."

Browne -- who earned a pair of associate degrees and a bachelor's degree in engineering before enrolling at Lindsey Wilson -- said his life changed when he learned "one of the greatest lessons I have ever been taught: the pain to change had to become greater than the necessity to remain the same."

Browne recalled that during his recovery, which is now more than 13 years, he felt called to enroll in Lindsey Wilson's graduate program in counseling.

"When I started this journey toward becoming a counselor, I was not just earning a degree," he said. "I was rewriting a story that once seemed impossible to change. I was preparing myself to sit across from people who feel the same hopelessness I once felt. I was preparing myself to meet people who believe their mistakes, their addiction or their past have already decided their future. And I want them to know what I had to learn: your story is not over."

In addition to opening new professional opportunities, Browne said that earning a Lindsey Wilson degree also comes with new obligations.

"This degree represents knowledge, but it also represents responsibility," he said.

And Browne reminded his fellow graduates that the greatest contributions they will make will come in the difference they make in the world.

"Our greatest impact may not come from the titles we earn or the accomplishments listed on our resumes," he said. "Our greatest impact will come from the lives we touch, the hope we provide, and the people who are able to believe in themselves because we believed in them first."

Lindsey Wilson University is a vibrant liberal arts university in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church, the mission of Lindsey Wilson is to serve the educational needs of students by providing a living-learning environment within an atmosphere of active caring and Christian concern where every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a real human being. Lindsey Wilson offers 30 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The university's 29 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.

View Online: http://lindseywilson.meritpages.com/news/Lindsey-Wilson-Universitys-First-Summer-Commencement-Ceremony-Caps-Off-Largest-Class-in-School-History/61171

The Russell County Board of Education will hold its regular August meeting on Monday, August 17, 2026 beginning at 5:00 p.m. in Room 114 of the Russell County Schools Auditorium/Natatorium Complex (ANC).