2024 has already been a chaotic year with major headlines in politics, environmental disasters, pop culture and more. Wouldn’t it be nice to have this year’s biggest news stories in one place, written by students for students? Welcome to the Danks Digest. Every month, this column will provide you with the most important news for the high school student body. That way, you can look back on this school year and remember all that happened.
To start the month, we have a disheartening story from Georgia. On September 4th, a shooting at Apalachee High School put schools across the country on edge. The shooter, identified as student Colt Gray, was able to open fire on a classroom with an unlocked door, after being turned away from the classroom he first tried to enter. Four people were killed, including 2 teachers and 2 students.
To start the month, our WCHS football team won 42-6 on Friday, September 6th. Despite several injuries the team has suffered this year, the Jackets pulled an impressive sweep of Atherton – a tough team out of Louisville. Additionally, the Jackets and our WCHS cheerleaders traveled to California the week of September 9th through the 16th to play Warren High School, who they also defeated, securing them a 5-0 season going into October.
The Twilight festival on September 7th brought our community together with a variety of stands set up on main street and in the recently completed Versailles Market Square.
On a more state-wide note, the body of the Laurel County shooter was found on Wednesday, September 18th. The manhunt that began on September 7th with a shutdown on I-75 has now concluded after 12 days of searching through the woods of Laurel County. As of September 12th, of the 5 victims, 4 were released from the hospital and the other is expected to survive.
An honorable mention should be included for the 2024 Presidential debate, which was eventful to say the least. No matter your stance on who ‘won’, there were plenty of jabs thrown from both sides, and anyone could tell that took up the majority of both candidate’s time.
There was a second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump at The International Golf Club on Sunday, September 16th. The former president was golfing at hole 5, when his Secret Service officers found a man hiding with an AK-47 in the bushes at the following hole. The officers fired at the gunman, and Trump was rushed to safety. The man made an escape but was apprehended on I-95 approximately 38 miles from the golf course and is now in custody.
Letcher County Judge Kevin Mullins was killed by the county sheriff on Thursday September 19th, shocking the community. Judge Mullins was found in his chambers around 3:00 Thursday afternoon, with multiple gunshot wounds to the head, according to Troopers dispatched to the scene. County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines was arrested the same day, though the motive of the murder is still unknown. Kentuckians paid respects at Mullins’ funeral and visitation, which were both held on September 22nd at Jenkins Independent High School.
That’s a wrap on this edition of the digest, but be sure to check next month for updates, news, and important information.
