The Support Agency says its medication safety initiative for older adults in Barren, Metcalfe and Monroe counties is continuing to grow with help from dozens of local partners. The program focuses on making it easier and safer for older adults to get rid of unused or expired medications at home. It is working with 46 community partners to distribute Deterra in-home medication deactivation pouches free of charge, according to the agency.

The pouches are designed to help people safely dispose of unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medications, including many controlled substances. Program organizers say Deterra pouches provide a simple and environmentally responsible way to handle extra medications. Users place the medications into the pouch, add warm water, seal it and then throw the sealed pouch in the household trash. The medication is permanently deactivated inside the pouch.

The Support Agency reports it has completed six educational programs across Barren, Metcalfe and Monroe counties. Those sessions have focused on medication safety, proper storage and why it is important to safely dispose of drugs that are no longer needed. In addition, the agency says it has distributed Deterra pouches at three community events, making it easier for older adults and caregivers to receive the free resources.

Public health officials warn that unused or expired medications left in the home can increase the risk of accidental poisoning, medication errors, misuse, theft and environmental harm. Older adults are encouraged to review their prescriptions regularly with their health care providers and to safely dispose of medicines that have expired or are no longer needed.

Dr. Lynda Wilkerson, executive director of the Support Agency, said community partnerships are allowing the group to reach more older adults than ever before. She said that by working together, the agency and its partners are helping reduce risks from unused medications while keeping safe disposal convenient, free and accessible.

Looking ahead, the Support Agency plans to restock all participating partner sites in August to keep Deterra pouches readily available across the three-county area. Staff also expect to appear at community events throughout the summer to share education materials and hand out free pouches to older adults and caregivers. Agency leaders say these combined efforts are meant to ensure every older adult in Barren, Metcalfe and Monroe counties has easy access to safe medication disposal options and better information about medication safety.

Key Facts
– Support Agency reports continued success with a medication safety initiative for older adults
– Program serves Barren, Metcalfe and Monroe counties with help from 46 community partners
– Free Deterra in-home pouches allow safe disposal of unused and expired medications
– Six education programs and three community events have supported outreach so far
– Partner sites will be restocked in August, with more events planned through the summer

The Cave City Police Department plans a series of nighttime traffic safety checkpoints from June 30 through July 6, 2026. The checkpoints will be conducted daily between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. and will be clearly marked for drivers, according to the department. They will use the checkpoints to enforce a range of traffic laws.

Police report they will be watching for drivers operating a motor vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, as well as checking licensing of motor vehicles and operators and insurance coverage. They also plan to enforce seat belt and child restraint requirements and to look for motor vehicle safety equipment violations.

The department has released a list of approved traffic safety checkpoint locations. Checkpoints may be set up in the 400 block of Mammoth Cave Street and the 800 block of Mammoth Cave Road, Old Lexington Road at Cemetery Road, Grinstead Mill Road at Blair Road and Old Horse Cave Road at the Hart County line. Happy Valley Road at Estes Road and the 400 block of North Dixie Highway are also approved as checkpoint areas. Additional sites include Louisville Road at Happy Valley Road and the Interstate 65 interchange at Mammoth Cave Road.

The agency says the checkpoints are part of an effort to improve roadway safety during a busy travel period around the Independence Day holiday. Drivers are encouraged to allow extra time when traveling through these areas and to ensure they are driving sober and meeting all legal requirements.

Key Facts
– Cave City Police Department will conduct traffic safety checkpoints June 30–July 6, 2026
– Checkpoints will operate between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. and will be clearly marked
– Officers will enforce DUI, licensing, insurance, seat belt, child restraint and equipment laws
– Multiple locations are approved, including Mammoth Cave Street, North Dixie Highway and the I-65 interchange
– Drivers are advised to expect delays and ensure they are properly licensed, insured and buckled up

He is survived by his wife: Carla Miller, Scottsville, KY; 2 sons: Clayton Lee Miller and Colby Miller and wife, Rachel, all of Scottsville, KY; 1 daughter: Christina Mays and husband, Jason, Scottsville, KY; 1 step brother: Michael Phillips, Indianapolis, IN; 2 step sisters: Linda Askren, Indianapolis, IN and Brenda McGowen and husband, Neil, Ocala, FL; 8 grandchildren: Malique Miller, Marlee Emery, Logan Garmon, Ava Garmon, Brayleigh Epley, Kenzie Epley, Peyton Miller and London Miller; 1 step granddaughter: Taylor Brinkley. He was preceded in death by 1 half brother: Mark Miller.

Funeral service will be 11:00 A.M. Saturday at Goad Funeral Home with Chaplain Mark Hale officiating and burial in Crescent Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Friday and after 7:00 A.M. Saturday until funeral time at Goad Funeral Home.

Mark graduated from Austin-Tracy High School in 1973 and went on to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Western Kentucky University. He spent the majority of his life working in Hospitality in Texas and California; he loved the larger city life. Once home, Mark took on the role as partial caregiver for his parents until their deaths. Mark had a love for art, beautifully grown flowers, horror films, and above all…a clean house, LOL!

Mark leaves behind three siblings all of Glasgow: Patricia Rigsby, Tim Durham (Kim), and Angie Smith Meador (Joel); along with several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Mark was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Tawnya Lascala; two brothers-in-law, Jeremy Smith and Harold Rigsby; and his niece, Jessica Durham.

Mark’s wishes were for cremation with no service. The Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

Glasgow Police officers are now better equipped to respond to life-threatening bleeding emergencies, thanks to a new partnership with local health care leaders. The T.J. Community Mission Foundation and T.J. Regional Health, working through T.J. Samson Community Hospital’s newly designated Level IV Trauma Center, recently provided individual trauma first aid tourniquet kits to the Glasgow Police Department. According to the organizations, the Foundation supplied 41 individual bleeding-control kits, enough for every Glasgow police officer to carry a personal trauma kit on their utility vest while on duty.

In addition to the individual kits, officials said five advanced sling bags were donated for use by school resource officers. Each advanced bag contains roughly four times the amount of lifesaving supplies found in the standard kits, giving officers serving in schools additional tools to respond to emergencies. Kits like these are designed to help people respond to life-threatening bleeding before emergency medical personnel can get to the scene. Uncontrolled bleeding is described as one of the leading causes of preventable death after injury, and the program focuses on simple but effective techniques such as direct pressure, wound packing and proper tourniquet use.

The project also included specialized Stop the Bleed training for Glasgow officers, taught by certified instructors from T.J. Regional Health. The nationally recognized program teaches participants how to quickly recognize life-threatening bleeding and take immediate action using proven bleeding control techniques. By pairing hands-on instruction with the new trauma kits, hospital officials say officers are better prepared to provide lifesaving care during the critical minutes before emergency medical crews arrive.

Ashley Ritter, trauma program coordinator for T.J. Regional Health, said severe bleeding can cause death in as little as five minutes, often before first responders reach a patient. Ritter said putting bleeding-control kits and training directly in the hands of officers, who are often first on the scene, helps make sure immediate care can begin when every second matters. She also tied the effort to the hospital’s broader trauma mission, noting that as a Level IV Trauma Center, T.J. Regional Health is committed to injury prevention and improving trauma outcomes across the region. Ritter said providing bleeding-control kits to law enforcement extends trauma care beyond the hospital walls and helps ensure lifesaving interventions can begin as early as possible.

Randy Burns, executive director of the T.J. Community Mission Foundation, said the Foundation is honored to provide the equipment and that the health network has a strong working relationship with Glasgow Police leadership and officers. Glasgow Police Chief Guy Howie thanked the Foundation and hospital, saying the kits will give officers immediate trauma tools and training they can have ready every shift. Howie said Glasgow’s strong partnership with T.J. Samson Community Hospital shows how the community can work together and that combining resources is another way to make the community even better.

This is the second project of its kind funded by the T.J. Community Mission Foundation, following a 2021 effort that provided Stop the Bleed kits to Columbia Police and the Adair County Sheriff’s Department. Foundation and hospital leaders say the latest partnership underscores their ongoing commitment, together with local law enforcement, to improve emergency preparedness and enhance public safety throughout south central Kentucky.

Key Facts
– T.J. Community Mission Foundation and T.J. Regional Health donated 41 trauma first aid tourniquet kits to Glasgow Police.
– Every officer receives a personal bleeding-control kit to carry on duty.
– Five advanced sling bags were provided for school resource officers.
– Officers completed specialized Stop the Bleed training from T.J. Regional Health staff.
– Officials say severe bleeding can cause death in as little as five minutes.
– The initiative builds on a 2021 project that supplied kits to Columbia Police and the Adair County Sheriff’s Department.
– The partnership aims to improve emergency preparedness and public safety in south central Kentucky.

Western Kentucky University’s Glasgow campus is preparing for a leadership transition as longtime regional campus leader Dr. Derick Strode moves into a new role overseeing one of the university’s flagship academic programs.

WKU announced that Strode has been named director of The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science, effective July 13. His departure marks the end of his leadership of the university’s regional campuses, including the Glasgow campus, where he has overseen enrollment growth, expanded access to higher education and strengthened partnerships with area schools.

Stephanie Prichard will serve as interim director. Prichard currently serves as assistant director. A search committee will be formed within the next month to begin a search for a permanent director.

University officials also said no decision has been made about who will oversee WKU’s dual credit program following Strode’s departure.

Dr. Derick B. Strode

While Glasgow-area students know him for his work leading the regional campus system, Strode is returning to familiar territory. He previously served at The Gatton Academy from 2008 to 2021, where the university says he helped shape many of the program’s signature initiatives during its formative years.

In announcing the appointment, WKU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Bud Fischer said Strode brings extensive institutional knowledge, strategic leadership experience and a commitment to student success. Fischer said a search committee considered an outstanding pool of candidates before selecting Strode.

The Gatton Academy is one of the nation’s premier residential programs for academically gifted Kentucky high school students, allowing participants to complete high school while earning college credit at WKU.

Fischer said he is confident Strode’s leadership will position the academy for continued excellence and innovation as it begins its next chapter.

KEY FACTS
Dr. Derick Strode is leaving his leadership role with WKU Regional Campuses, including the Glasgow campus.
He will become director of The Gatton Academy on July 13.
Stephanie Prichard has been named interim director
WKU will form a search committee within the next month

A Glasgow quilter is being recognized for her craftsmanship at a major regional event in Tennessee. Shelley C. Stauffer of Glasgow received an honorable mention award at the 45th Annual Quilt Show and Competition, according to organizers. The event was hosted June 19-20 by the Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennessee at the Knoxville Expo Center in Knoxville. Stauffer was honored for the exceptional quality of her quilt titled “Double Wedding Ring.” Her work was entered in the Large Pieced – Solo category of the competition.

Organizers describe the annual show as a highly competitive event featuring about 200 quilts. They report that more than $7,800 in awards were given this year. The Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennessee is a guild that works to advance the knowledge and appreciation of quiltmaking. The group says it focuses on both craftsmanship and artistic expression, as well as the historical significance of quilts. The guild also sponsors and supports charitable projects intended to offer encouragement to people in need.

Members promote friendship and community through shared quilting activities. The organization reports it has approximately 100 members, ranging from novice to master quilters. Those members work in a variety of quilt styles, including traditional and art quilts, modern designs, miniatures and bed-sized projects, and both hand- and machine-stitched pieces.

Key Facts
• Shelley C. Stauffer of Glasgow received an honorable mention award.
• The award came at the 45th Annual Quilt Show and Competition in Knoxville, Tennessee.
• Stauffer’s quilt, “Double Wedding Ring,” was entered in the Large Pieced – Solo category.
• The show, hosted by the Smoky Mountain Quilters of Tennessee, took place June 19-20 at the Knoxville Expo Center.
• Organizers say the event featured about 200 quilts and more than $7,800 in awards.
• The Smoky Mountain Quilters guild has about 100 members ranging from novice to master quilters.

The Barren River Area Development District is testing a new way to gather public input, using an outdoor, come-and-go format at the Temple Hill Fairgrounds near Glasgow. The community meeting took place Tuesday, June 23, 2026, and was designed to let residents see which development ideas are under consideration and to share their own suggestions. Community members could walk through displays, review various planning concepts and respond directly to the proposals, according to BRADD. Residents used green stickers to show their approval of specific ideas and red stickers to indicate disapproval. They also had the option to write their own ideas on sticky notes and add them to an ideas board for BRADD staff to review.

Officials say this was the first time BRADD tried this type of meeting outdoors. BRADD Director of Community and Economic Development Russ Hurd said about 21 people stopped by the Temple Hill Fairgrounds during the come-and-go session. Hurd said windy conditions may have affected attendance and made the outdoor setting less conducive to a heavy turnout. Even with the smaller crowd, Hurd described the event as a success and said all of the input gathered would be analyzed.

BRADD plans to compile the data collected at the meeting, including sticker responses and written suggestions. The compiled information will be discussed with Barren County leaders during quarterly meetings, according to Hurd. The goal, BRADD says, is to use the community feedback to help guide future planning and development decisions in the area.

– Barren River Area Development District held a come-and-go community meeting at the Temple Hill Fairgrounds near Glasgow.
– Residents marked green stickers for ideas they approved and red stickers for those they did not.
– Attendees could add their own suggestions on sticky notes.
– BRADD Director Russ Hurd said about 21 people took part in the event.
– Windy conditions may have reduced turnout at the outdoor meeting.
– BRADD will compile feedback and review it with Barren County officials at quarterly meetings.

The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy has postponed a planned report and press call on the use of opioid settlement funds. The event, originally scheduled for Thursday, June 25, has been moved to Tuesday, June 30 at 10 a.m., according to the organization. The upcoming report will provide the most comprehensive look yet at how the settlement money connected to the overdose crisis has been spent, according to KyPolicy. The funds are intended to serve as restitution for lives lost and communities harmed by opioid overdoses.

Local governments and oversight committees are charged with deciding how to allocate the money among prevention, treatment, recovery and related services. In Glasgow, officials finalized members of a new opioid abatement fund committee on June 16 to help guide local spending decisions. That committee and others like it across the state may look to KyPolicy’s findings as they evaluate current projects and consider new proposals. The report’s delay gives local leaders and advocates more time to prepare questions and review how settlement dollars are currently being used in their communities.

The report will also include recommendations for how the money should be used in the future. Those recommendations are expected to focus on making sure the settlement dollars address addiction, treatment and recovery in ways that have a measurable impact. Opioid abatement funds have become a critical resource for Kentucky communities working to respond to the ongoing overdose crisis.

It also underscores growing public interest in transparency and accountability around opioid settlement spending. KyPolicy’s analysis is expected to add data and context to that discussion. Local officials will likely weigh how closely to align their own plans with the upcoming recommendations.

Key Facts
– KyPolicy has postponed its opioid settlement funds report and press call
– The event was originally scheduled for Thursday, June 25
– It is now set for Tuesday, June 30 at 10 a.m.
– The report focuses on how opioid settlement money tied to the overdose crisis has been spent
– KyPolicy says it will offer recommendations for how the restitution funds should be used in the future
– The findings could inform local decisions, including work by Glasgow’s opioid abatement fund committee finalized June 16