Mammoth Cave National Park may be getting more mammoth.

A bill to expand the park boundaries by more than 500 acres was introduced in Congress last week.

The Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act would give the Secretary of the Interior the ability to acquire an additional 551.14 acres of land currently owned by the Nature Conservancy.

The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit. No details, such as the cost of the land, is detailed in the act.

This newly acquired land would enhance protections in the Green River watershed, further conserving the area’s wildlife and cultural heritage while generating additional tourism to Kentucky’s Second District, according to a news release from Rep. Brett Guthrie and Sen. Mitch McConnell.

The additional property includes cave passages, including Coach and James Caves, which hold prehistoric and historic artifacts, and the expansion would allow the park to manage land in Edmonson and Barren counties.

Sandra Wilson, executive director of Horse Cave/Hart County Tourism, said that tourism income has been a part of the economies of the Mammoth Cave gateway communities for over 200 years.

“Because we are located in a sensitive karst terrain area, the Green River watershed has a critical impact on our communities, as well,” she said.

“Every year, Mammoth Cave National Park draws hundreds of thousands of visitors and contributes nearly $90 million to our local economy,” Guthrie said in the news release. “This natural wonder has inspired people for thousands of years, playing a foundational role in the culture of our region. I am proud to introduce the Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act to expand protections for the cave system’s important biodiversity and rich history, ensuring that it can be studied, maintained and enjoyed by future generations of Americans.”

“Kentucky is lucky to be home to an abundance of natural treasures, among them, Mammoth Cave National Park. This extensive cave network has been inspiring Kentuckians and drawing visitors from all corners of the globe for generations. Beyond its role in driving tourism to our commonwealth, the park also plays a crucial role in the region’s economic growth, supporting good jobs for the people of Kentucky,” McConnell said in the news release.

“I’m proud to partner with Congressman Guthrie on this important initiative once again which will expand the critical habitats that the National Park Service protects and preserves in the park.”

— A map of the proposed boundary changes can be found at https://guthrie.house.gov/uploadedfiles/2025_mcnp_maca_legmap135_177967_20250507.pdf

The post Bill to expand Mammoth Cave National Park boundaries introduced appeared first on Bowling Green Daily News.

BY DAVID MAMARIL HOROWITZ

david.horowitz@bgdailynews.com

With an extensive renovation at First Christian Church set to begin, its widely used ministry Community Grocery Store is temporarily moving to State Street Baptist Church — which, in time, plans to also offer the program.

The volunteer-driven operation, previously available three days a week, lets Warren County residents choose items from its food bank free of charge once every 30 days.

Beginning May 20, State Street Baptist Church, which has its own small food pantry operation, will provide a space for the larger program Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Thursdays, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. First Christian Church volunteers will guide those at State Street Baptist Church on how to execute the program, and they plan to pass on its shelving and food following the renovation — the Baptist church plans to then offer its own community grocery store program once the initial program moves back into the Christian church, according to State Street Baptist Church Senior Pastor the Rev. Kortney Warren.

“When I became the pastor in 2021, the vision I had was to be a community church — and that means serving the community,” Warren said. “So, in what ways are we able to serve the community as Christ was serving the community? What ways can we expand what we have to reach more people? …

“We may worship differently, but we serve the same God. And that God calls us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, uplift the broken together.”

First Christian Church Senior Minister the Rev. Megan Huston anticipates the $1.7 million renovation will reach completion around November.

“A lot of the community thinks the churches are divided because that’s the most segregated day of the week — Sunday,” said Johnalma Barnett, one of the Community Grocery Store’s longtime volunteers. “I think it’s going to be a good thing for the two churches, even if it’s just for a few months, to get together on that because it shows the community that the churches are not so divided.”

A community model

The First Christian Church evolved from its decadeslong food bank to the community grocery store model in 2021, a transition that has effectively served thousands across Warren County. Food insecurity had especially risen through the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Huston saw need increase around fivefold at the food bank.

Last year, with around 35 volunteers, the program took in nearly 36,000 pounds of donated goods and served more than 3,800 households, Huston said. It also distributed more than 17,000 pounds of fresh produce, largely provided by the not-for-profit Glean Kentucky, which served southcentral Kentucky until the end of last year.

“First Christian Church loves its neighbors and walks alongside them with dignity, hope, compassion and respect while supplementing their food needs through the Community Grocery Store — that’s our mission,” Huston said. “I think we’re moving the needle for food insecurity in our community, but I also think that what’s important to us about this ministry is that it emphasizes mutual transformation. It isn’t about us fixing someone else’s problems — we know it’s a drop in the bucket — but we feel that when you meet someone with respect and compassion, that that makes the difference.”

She and volunteers described supporting community members in other ways.

“People have a story, and maybe we can help them in some other way, whether it’s helping them with other resources or just listening to them, giving them a hug, or saying a prayer with them. We try to be more than just a food source,” volunteer Julie Boca said.

“I think it’s given me a sense of purpose. And I just feel like it’s something that I really get a lot of satisfaction from. Our volunteers always say that we’re thankful that we can help people, but that we’re also blessed by helping them because we get a glimpse of what other people are going through and we get to know them on a first-name basis.”

The post Churches unite on Community Grocery Store appeared first on Bowling Green Daily News.

Butler County’s recovery center is located in Morgantown at Gasper River Association of Baptists, 530 Helm Lane. The center is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Eren Strittar, public relations specialist for FEMA Region 5, told the Daily News that personnel from FEMA along with the American Red Cross and the Small Business Administration are on-site to help residents access aid.

She said FEMA is providing grants to homeowners and renters to help with recovery efforts.

“So if you were affected, if you’re a homeowner, or even if you’re renting, you suffer damage to your property, you can go and apply to get financial assistance to help you recover from this disaster,” she said.

Residents can also apply if they suffered damage to vehicles, she said, and assistance is available if residents incurred additional child care expenses due to the storms.

“Each person, each story, each damage is different, so it all depends on (what) each individual needs,” she said.

Family-owned farms and agricultural workers can also access aid, Strittar said, for losses to “tools and equipment.” This includes tractors, plows, sprayers and other farming implements. FEMA states livestock and crops are not covered.

June 25 is the deadline to apply for aid. To apply, residents need to provide their phone number, address, Social Security number, banking information (if direct deposit is chosen) and a “general list” of damage and losses, according to a FEMA press release.

Residents can apply in person or online at disasterassistance.gov. Other ways to apply include through the FEMA mobile app or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362.

Visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4860 for more information on Kentucky’s flooding recovery.

The post FEMA urges Butler residents to access aid resources appeared first on Bowling Green Daily News.

The southern end of Bowling Green will soon be home to a 26-acre mixed use development that will house restaurants, office and living space and the community’s first Wawa store location.

Dubbed Evergreen Commons, the site is being developed by the KOIN Group, headed by Andy Shultz. It will sit on a plot of land nestled between Nasco and Bobcat of Bowling Green just a stones throw away from the Interstate 165 exit onto Nashville Road, a site that in another life was a mobile home park.

Renderings of the area show the Wawa location at the front of the property facing Nashville Road. This will be the first Wawa location in Bowling Green, opening up before another location now being built near the National Corvette Museum.

Shultz told the Daily News he expects construction on the Wawa location to begin soon.

“I would suspect, in the next few months, it’ll start rolling over there,” Shultz said. “They’re not going to want to let it sit too long.”

Wawa, a chain of convenience stores which got its start in the northeast United States, currently operates more than 1,000 stores across the country.

The closest Wawa location to Bowling Green is 206 miles away in Cincinnati. Though the company does not currently operate any stores in Kentucky, plans are in place to open up to 40 locations in the commonwealth over the next 10 years.

Typical Wawa locations normally measure around 5,000 square feet. The Daily News reported last fall that Wawa came first in the American Customer Satisfaction Index survey for convenience stores, with a score of 82 out of 100. For reference, Buc-ee’s scored an 80 out of 100.

Wawa previously identified the Bowling Green location near Exit 28 as its first site in the city. Shultz said the location in Evergreen Commons will instead become the company’s main spot in town.

“I think what they saw is just the traffic and the growth and all the stuff going out here,” he said. “There’s nothing like it on this end of town.”

Going deeper inside the site will sit the Lookout, a collection of three buildings that will be home to restaurants and some mixed-use space. This area is expected to occupy 6.25 acres of the 26-acre project and will provide up to 42,000 square feet of leasable space, according to Evergreen Commons’ website.

Shultz said “in some capacity,” up to four eateries could be housed in the Lookout inside two, 7,000 square-foot buildings.

Though specifics cannot be shared now, Shultz said one restaurant has been secured.

“The ones that we’re meeting with currently are sit-down type restaurants, which are not even out in that area currently,” he said.

Situated behind the restaurant building is a two-story mixed use building, measuring a combined 26,601 square feet.

Shultz said the second story is being eyed primarily for corporate office space. Shultz said the ground floor will likely be used differently.

“We could do office space too, but it could be for shopping, it could be for gyms … ,” he said. “ … We have a lot of interest (for) different concepts for that.”

At the back of the development sits the Cedar Point Apartments. These are being built separately by a different developer, but Shultz said once finished the project will consist of 112 multi-family housing units spread across six three-story buildings.

As for a project timeline, the KOIN Group is expecting staggered completions for the projects. Shultz estimates Wawa will finish up in under a year, with the Lookout finishing up next summer if all goes to plan.

He estimates that by the end of Q2 next year, everything will be finished.

Shultz, who owns the building housing Q Coffee Emporium on Waterbury Court, said that building was constructed to bring a more “modern, hipper” architectural style to the area, and spoke on the reason for building Evergreen Commons.

“What we wanted to do out there is kind of the same thing,” he said. “We wanted to bring something that’s not currently in Bowling Green.”

The post 26 acre Evergreen Commons on the way to Bowling Green appeared first on Bowling Green Daily News.

DAVID MAMARIL HOROWITZ

david.horowitz@bgdailynews.com

Gatton Academy at Western Kentucky University, the two-year STEM program serving gifted and talented high school juniors and seniors, expects to substantially increase opportunities through a $5 million gift announced Saturday.

The donation, from the Bill Gatton Foundation, will function as an endowment, where WKU will annually spend about 4%, or some $200,000, toward supporting students, WKU President Tim Caboni said. This will enable at least 22 students to acquire research opportunities over future summers beginning next year – double the current number, Gatton Academy Executive Director Julia Roberts said; it’ll also support students who need funds to study abroad as well as other opportunities, Caboni said.

“Our students and our alum tell us that their research and study abroad experiences are instrumental in their choosing to pursue STEM and their career decisions in the future,” Gatton Academy Director Lynette Breedlove said at the announcement, which was attended by academy graduates outside the building. “We know from our alumni reports that Gatton is working, and we are contributing to the STEM workforce pipeline through the experiences that we offer. And that endowment that Mr. Gatton made possible for our students to take advantage of, and research, is a big part of that success that we’ve had.”

An additional donation, of $250,000, will go toward a scholarship fund at LifeWorks for Autism, a nonprofit beside the campus that prepares autistic young adults for transitioning to employment and independent living.

The donation is the second-largest gift in the Gatton Academy’s history, following that which funded the building’s renovation and expansion of Florence Schneider Hall. The foundation has provided WKU more than $24.6 million in gifts, according to Caboni.

For Gatton Academy graduate Ava Blackledge, the academy’s research internship grant funded eight weeks of research on viral protein interactions with distinguished WKU professor Rodney King and the biology department. It covered summer housing and her meal plan, and a $500 grant funded DNA sequencing for her samples.

“It was a very formative experience, one that gave me a true glimpse into the life of a full-time scientific researcher,” Blackledge said. “I wouldn’t have had an opportunity like this without (the grant). I came in passionate about molecular biology but unsure of career options, and I left certain I wanted to dedicate my life to biological research.”

Speakers expressed gratitude toward the foundation, which was established by the late philanthropist and businessman Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton, who died in 2022.

“(The academy) really transforms (students’) educational careers – but also their lives,” Caboni said. “They discover for the first time what it means to be a researcher, many of them, and it puts them on a path to do really amazing things in their career.”

Roberts called the gift unbelievable.

“It is a wonderful way to carry forward the work of the Gatton Academy students forever,” she said.

The post WKU announces $5 million gift for Gatton Academy appeared first on Bowling Green Daily News.

Kennith Ray Moore, 55, pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court to three counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering and four counts of tax evasion.

An investigation uncovered evidence that Moore embezzled a total of $1,145,800 from his employer, HeathCo, which has since been acquired by Globe Electric, between 2009 and his firing in 2020.

According to federal court records, Moore carried out the scheme by directing payments to KBM Solutions, a shell company he created in 2009 to “act as a conduit for embezzled funds.”

Moore held out to his employer that KBM Solutions was a vendor doing business with HeathCo, records show.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond McGee filed a sentencing memorandum last month asking that Moore serve 46 months in prison, arguing that imprisonment was necessary because of the seriousness of Moore’s offenses and his “blatant disregard” for the law.

“Moore began stealing from his employer within his first year of employment. He stole well over $1 million,” McGee said in his filing. “Even though Moore held a good job, he was a blatant tax cheat and failed to pay over $130,000 in federal income taxes. He never even bothered to file personal tax returns.”

McGee’s memorandum said that Moore was fired prior to the discovery of the embezzlement scheme, when HeathCo found that he had falsified company financial information, resulting in false financial reporting, the defrauding of lenders and the company overdrawing its line of credit by $7 million.

When HeathCo later learned of the embezzlement scheme, it filed an insurance claim and recovered $700,000 through its insurer.

The theft was reported to the IRS, and the subsequent investigation also uncovered thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes from Moore between 2013-20 and no records of any filed taxes during his employment with HeathCo.

Moore reportedly lied during an interview with investigators, according to McGee’s filing.

“He falsely claimed that KBM Solutions was an HR company out of Michigan that did business with HeathCo,” McGee said in the filing. “He said he did not own or work for KBM Solutions during this brief interview. In fact, KBM Solutions served no purpose except to allow Moore to steal money.”

In addition to incarceration, prosecutors will seek $445,800 from Moore to be paid to HeathCo, along with $12,394.80 in legal fees to the company and $700,000 to the insurance company that reimbursed HeathCo when it reported its losses.

Moore will also be made to pay $342,155.84 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury for unpaid taxes, penalties and interest.

The post BG man to be sentenced for financial crimes appeared first on Bowling Green Daily News.

david.horowitz@bgdailynews.com

The Tennessee Valley Authority on Wednesday announced $10,000 grants for Bowling Green High, Dishman-McGinnis Elementary, North Warren Elementary, Edmonson County 5/6 Center and Edmonson County Middle School.

These grants, through TVA’s EnergyRights School Uplift program, total $2.3 million across its coverage region and go toward reducing energy costs and improving learning environments, according to the TVA.

The program partners with local power companies to provide yearlong energy management training at schools to accomplish those two aims, according to the Bowling Green Independent School District.

The Environmental Club and Science Club at BGHS promoted energy conservation this year through efforts that include an Earth Day Celebration and “Power Down Days,” offering incentives for power reduction efforts, according to BGISD.

BGHS students voted to use the grant funding for an indoor garden and aquaponics system along with activities for the school courtyard, including a cornhole set and enlarged chess and checkerboard, according to BGISD.

Dishman-McGinnis STEAM Teacher Kayla Rogers has shared energy-saving tips through her curriculum, and those tips are part of morning weekly meetings at the school, according to BGISD. The school also studies monthly energy efforts through BGISD’s facilities department, BGISD stated.

Dishman-McGinnis will use its funding for school-wide enrichment activities, one being a summer trip to Mammoth Cave, according to BGISD.

The post TVA announces $40,000 in regional school improvement grants appeared first on Bowling Green Daily News.

Robert Ernest Beach III, 39, 760 Campbell Lane, #106, first-degree fleeing or evading police, first-degree criminal mischief, second-degree criminal mischief, leaving the scene of an accident/failure to render aid or assistance; $5,000 cash bond.

Braxton William Broyles, 18, c/o Warren County Regional Jail, four counts of theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $10,000 or more by complicity, theft by unlawful taking of property by complicity (firearm), theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $500 or more but less than $1,000 by complicity; $10,000 cash bond in defendant’s name only; possession of a handgun by a convicted felon; combine bond with other indictment.

Jaimonis Antonio Shields, 18, 1624 Westen St., #F5, theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $10,000 or more by complicity; $5,000 cash bond in defendant’s name only.

Dustin Blake Carter, 34, 223 Woodford Ave., theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $1,000 or more but less than $10,000; $5,000 cash bond in defendant’s name only; two counts of theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $1,000 or more but less than $10,000; $5,000 cash bond in defendant’s name only.

Jasmine Denise Lynn Siederman, 29, 19 Ethington Drive, Adolphus, theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $1,000 or more but less than $10,000; $5,000 cash bond in defendant’s name only.

Freddie Thomas Carter, 74, 809 Henry St., Franklin, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (firearm enhanced), possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to or improper signal; transfer bond; possession of a handgun by a convicted felon; combine bond with other indictment.

Darryll Derrell Childs, 42, c/o Warren County Regional Jail, first-degree fleeing or evading police; $6,000 property/surety bond secured with 50 percent cash.

Thomas Calvin Duncan, 71, 624 E. Fourth Ave., first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, no or expired registration plate, failure of owner to maintain required insurance, obstructed vision and/or windshield; transfer bond.

Conner Alexander Gass AKA Connor Alexander Gass, 22, 1300 Brookwood Drive or 1029 Shive Lane, Apt. K-10, first-degree wanton endangerment, third-degree terroristic threatening; transfer bond.

Mayron Gilree, 33, c/o Tyger River Prison, Enoree, South Carolina, theft by extortion valued at $10,000 or more; $10,000 cash bond.

Dwane Randall Holschuh, 28, c/o Warren County Regional Jail, theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $1,000 or more but less than $10,000; $6,000 cash bond in defendant’s name only.

Tre’Shawn Martez Hutchins, 26, c/o Warren County Regional Jail, two counts of aggravated first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (fentanyl, firearm enhanced), first-degree fleeing or evading police, first-degree wanton endangerment (police officer), four counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, three counts of first-degree criminal mischief, disregarding a traffic control device, disregarding a stop sign; $5,000 cash bond.

Malaya Zenoria Coleman, 23, 2883 Boyce Fairview Road, Alvaton, aggravated first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (fentanyl); $5,000 cash bond.

William Duane Keller, 46, 2195 River St., #A, first-degree strangulation; transfer bond.

Breon Thomas Lewis, 34, 1560 Collegeview Drive, three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, tampering with physical evidence, first-degree persistent felony offender; $5,000 cash bond.

Tabata Holanda Morales, 23, address unknown, theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $1,000 or more but less than $10,000; $5,000 cash bond in defendant’s name only.

Geraldine Jorquera Vasquez, 25, Queens, New York, theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $1,000 or more but less than $10,000; $5,000 cash bond in defendant’s name only.

Ramo Mujic, 30, c/o Warren County Regional Jail, five counts of theft of mail matter, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, first-degree persistent felony offender; $7,500 cash bond.

Bobby Joe Nuckols III, 27, c/o Warren County Regional Jail, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants (fourth or greater offense within 10 years), first-degree fleeing or evading police, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, operating a motor vehicle while license is suspended for DUI, leaving the scene of an accident/failure to render aid or assistance, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle, disregarding a stop sign; $10,000 cash bond in defendant’s name only.

Frankie Sullivan Parks Sr., 66, 619 McElwain Court, trafficking in a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school (firearm enhanced), possession of drug paraphernalia; transfer bond; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; combine bond with other indictment.

Tracy Lynn Rook, 39, 693 Chandlers Road, Auburn, first-degree bail jumping, second-degree persistent felony offender; $5,000 cash bond.

Maria Rostas, 38, New York, New York, engaging in organized crime (criminal syndicate), theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $1,000 or more but less than $10,000, second-degree unlawful transaction with a minor; $7,500 cash bond.

Angela Marie Shofstall, 43, Madisonville, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (fentanyl), first-degree possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure of owner to maintain required insurance, operating a motor vehicle with an expired operator’s license, failure to notify the Department of Transportation of change of address, no or expired registration plate, no or expired registration receipt; transfer bond.

James Edward Spivey, 46, c/o Logan County Detention Center, theft by unlawful taking of property (firearm), first-degree persistent felony offender; $5,000 cash bond in defendant’s name only; possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, first-degree persistent felony offender; $5,000 cash bond in defendant’s name only.

Chase Garrison Stone, 49, c/o Warren County Regional Jail, first-degree strangulation, fourth-degree assault (third or greater offense within five years, domestic), third-degree terroristic threatening; $10,000 cash bond.

Israel Venegas, 40, c/o Warren County Regional Jail, two counts of third-degree assault, criminal attempt to disarm a peace officer, resisting arrest, second-degree disorderly conduct, menacing, public intoxication, first-degree persistent felony offender; $15,000 cash bond.

The post Warren County grand jury returns indictments appeared first on Bowling Green Daily News.

The widening project itself will be handled by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, and will widen a 1.3 mile stretch of the road to three lanes from Flea Land all the way to and including the bridge over Interstate 165.

Judge-Executive Doug Gorman told the Daily News the project has been “a couple years in the making,” and said the county will aid in “coordination” for the project.

“Anytime the state does something, if it’s in the city they work with the city, if it’s in the county they work with us,” Gorman said.

Gorman said easements like this and rights-of-way acquisition are the early steps in projects of this type, so a full timeline is not yet known. KYTC’s highway plan, which outlines road improvement projects across the state, lists $8.8 million in fiscal year 2025 for the project.

Also, wheels are turning on installing a storm shelter in the Hadley community in the northwestern portion of the county after magistrates voted unanimously to start the process for the structure at the Hadley Community Center.

Currently, the only storm-rated shelter in that area is inside the Hadley Volunteer Fire Department.

The Hadley VFD covers around 550 households in the area. Hadley VFD Chief Russell Justice told the Daily News the safe room at the department was originally intended for firefighters staying at the firehouse, but is now flocked to by residents during severe weather.

“I’ve had over 40 people at one time there in the fire department,” Justice said. “A lot of people (have) been asking me, ‘when are we going to get a safe room,’ I said ‘well, we’re going to try to get one here.’ ”

Since Bowling Green and Warren County were struck in December 2021 by several tornadoes, and because severe weather events are becoming more frequent in this part of the country, the county and the City of Bowling Green alike have invested in public storm shelters.

Shelters now dot parks and public spaces across the community. Eight of them are spread across Warren County parks and the city is installing shelters at various locations as well.

Ronnie Pearson, head of Warren County Emergency Management, told the Daily News that each time a disaster strikes, funding is set aside for projects that make communities less susceptible to disaster.

“The Hadley Community Center approached us that they would like to have one up there,” Pearson said. “This is step one.”

He said a “pre-application” will be sent to FEMA and the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management. If approved after a review process, a full application will be sent to the county.

If a grant application is made available, Pearson said it would likely be worth between $400,000 and $450,000, an amount that would cover all expenses with the shelter.

“These are not cheap, because of the spec they’re built to,” he said.

The process is slow. Pearson said for reference, the grant that allowed the county to purchase a building near the Bowling Green-Warren County Regional Airport for the new emergency operations center was applied for in 2023.

“That grant was submitted in late ‘23, and we’re not building yet,” he said. “That’s the length of time it takes.”

Fiscal court will meet again Friday, May 23.

The post Three Springs widening project moves forward appeared first on Bowling Green Daily News.

The 2024 Drug Overdose Fatality Report released earlier this month by the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet showed that overdose deaths declined for the third consecutive year, totaling 1,410 in 2024, a 30.2% decrease from the 1,984 fatalities recorded in 2023.

For the same period in Warren County, drug overdose deaths dropped from 29 in 2023 to 17 last year.

The 17 overdose deaths recorded in the county last year represent the 14th-highest number recorded among all Kentucky counties.

The report identifies a number of factors contributing to the decrease in overdose deaths, including the more than $29 million distributed in grant and pass-through funding from the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, the distribution of more than 170,000 doses of naloxone — more commonly known as Narcan, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose — access to treatment and recovery services through programs funded by the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort and the certification of 21 counties as Recovery Ready communities, a designation that identifies a community’s efforts to make addiction treatment available to its residents.

“I am thankful that more Kentuckians are alive and in recovery today compared with last year,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said in a statement announcing the 2024 report’s findings. “But we still mourn and grieve our 1,410 Kentuckians who lost their life last year to addiction and the many more who we lost before that. Every life lost is a child of God, and someone’s mom, dad, son, daughter and loved one. We won’t stop until every Kentuckian is saved from addiction.”

Kentucky’s drop in overdose deaths mirrors national trends, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention having reported a 17 percent decrease in overdose deaths in the U.S. between July 2023 and July 2024, the largest year-to-year decrease seen to date in the country.

Among recorded fatalities in Kentucky last year, fentanyl was the most prevalent substance, identified through toxicology reports in 878 deaths.

Methamphetamine was identified statewide in 716 drug overdose deaths in 2024.

“I think the combined efforts of what we’ve referred to as the three-legged stool of treatment, prevention and law enforcement is what has caused this result,” Bowling Green-Warren County Drug Task Force executive director Tommy Loving said about the decrease in fatalities.

Last year, drug task force agents seized slightly more than 10,000 fentanyl tablets, about 30 grams of fentanyl in powder form, 67 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 17 pounds of cocaine, 449 pounds of marijuana and about 2,100 THC vape cartridges, according to data from Loving.

While cocaine was identified as present in about 20 percent of statewide overdose deaths in 2024, Loving noted that seizures of cocaine and crack cocaine have been on the rise in Warren County.

“I’m not sure what that means but we’re watching it closely,” Loving said.

Stephen Parrott, advanced EMT field supervisor for Med Center EMS, said that more widespread access to Narcan, available at the Barren River Health Department, LifeSkills and several stations in various public parks, has had a hand in lessening fatalities.

Consequently, paramedics have had fewer occasions to use Narcan when responding to overdose calls, with Parrott saying that 142 deployments of Narcan by EMS were recorded in 2024, down from about 350 in 2023.

Parrott also said he believed Kentucky was helped by legislation passed in 2023 that decriminalized fentanyl test strips, exempting them from statutes classifying drug paraphernalia.

“I like the fact that we have these numbers decreasing,” Parrott said. “My personal opinion is the continuous talking about how well we’re doing is good, but it also can give a false sense of security. People are being more cautious, but we’ve got to continue talking about this issue, making sure everybody is on board and knows that this is a problem.”

The post Overdose deaths fall in Warren, statewide appeared first on Bowling Green Daily News.