Todd County Standard

07/15/2025

Congratulations to our 2024-2025 retirees! Thank you for your service to the students of Todd County! We appreciate you!!

Pictured left to right- Mary Carney, Melanie Vincent, Laura Voth, Anita Moriarty and William Drane

07/15/2025

Congratulations to Haley Orberson, student at TCCHS for being chosen for the Governor's School for the Arts!

07/13/2025

MULLINGS … THE GREEN RIVER ACADEMY EXPRESSES THANKS FOR LOCAL SUPPORT

By Carolyn L. Wells
Todd County Standard

Several years ago the late Ms. Evelyn Bell Boone, one of the original founders of the Green River Academy Preservation Society, completed a cross-stitch picture with these words on it – “What we are is God’s gift to us. What we become is our gift to God.” Saturday, July 12, 2025, saw a group of 43 people of all ages use their God-given talents to assist the Green River Academy’s Board of Directors complete tasks at the historic Green River Academy located at 204 Goebel Street in Elkton. Aside from several of the GRA’s directors and a director’s spouse and another community volunteer, those who assisted included members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and members of the TCCHS Beta Club.

When the volunteers ended their work late Saturday morning, the installed picket fence from last year that sits on the north and northeast side of the Academy had a fresh coat of Colonial White flat sheen stain on the approximately 3650 square feet of fencing. Workers also used an assembly line movement of wood and trim from the first floor to the third floor of the 1835 building. Once the Academy, considered the beginning of formal education in Todd County, has electrical wiring and new plaster, the stored wood will be used to finish out the flooring and trim in areas of the building.

Volunteers also cleaned up several of the rooms on the first floor as the Academy has plans to host “Shadows of the Green River Academy” on Friday and Saturday, October 17 and 18. This event, a new one for the Academy, will allow the public to visit the Academy and become familiar with its interior layout. Those in attendance at this event will also learn more about the history of the Academy and some of the folks who attended it in its earlier years.

Those who assisted with the effort on Saturday included Iris Jones; Terry and Tina Frogue; George Orr; Larry Frogue; Wayne, Jean, Brittney, Elizabeth, and David Addison; William, Melanie, Owen, and Liam Turner; Earl and Lynda Oliver; Angela and Meredith Drummond; Aaron, Kayce, and Braxton Bright; Jeff Summers; Sherry and Sophie Woods; Steven Oliver; Jeanette, Peyton, and Sabrina Wellman; Caleb Johnson; Stephen Talbot; Trace Cox; Danny Laster; Omar Figueroa; Elizabeth Langley; Hunter Johnson; and Olivia Johnson. Board members included Matt Bailey; Dr. Lisa Petrie; Alisa Walsh; Laura Brock; Tonya West and her husband Glenn; and Carolyn Wells.

Matt Bailey, president of the GRA, messaged, “It’s incredible to see our community come together for a place as meaningful as the Green River Academy. Today’s work brings us another step closer to restoring this important site for future generations. We're so grateful to everyone who gave their time and energy to make a difference.”

Other members of the board expressed thanks to all the volunteers who endured the high Saturday temperatures. Laura Brock, another of the original founders of the GRA and also treasurer of the non-profit, said it well – “Goodness, we got it done today!” If you are interested in providing financial support for the efforts to rehabilitate the building, contributions can be mailed to the GRA, P.O. Box 869, Elkton, KY 42220.

The GRA’s website at https://www.greenriveracademy.com also has an option for online donations and several available Academy items for sale.

07/01/2025

Kentucky State Police Post 2
Traffic Safety Checkpoint Announcement

The Kentucky State Police (KSP) will be conducting traffic safety checkpoints throughout the Post 2 district, to check motorists for compliance with motor vehicle laws including driving under the influence statutes. KSP utilizes traffic safety checkpoints to promote safety for motorists using the public roadways and to provide a deterrent for those who violate laws contained in the Kentucky Revised Statutes.

Here are the locations in Todd County:
• US 79 at KY 102
• KY 181 at KY 507
• KY 181 at Chestnut Road
• US 79 at KY 848
• US 79 at KY / TN stateline
• KY 107 at KY 171
• KY 181 at KY 107
• KY 848 at Stateline Road

The intent of a traffic safety checkpoint is to provide for a high visibility, public safety service, focusing on vehicular equipment deficiencies, confirming appropriate registration and insurance of vehicles, and the valid licensing of drivers. Violations of law or other public safety issues that arise shall also be addressed.

Traffic safety checkpoints will allow the Kentucky State Police the opportunity to periodically concentrate its efforts in checking for violations of Kentucky traffic and regulatory laws that will ultimately increase the safety of the citizens within the Commonwealth. Drivers encountering a traffic safety checkpoint are requested to have their operator’s license, vehicle registration receipt, and proof of insurance readily accessible. Drivers with this information in hand, those with no violations of law and minimal roadway congestion can reasonably expect to be delayed for only a brief time period.

For a list of KSP Post 2 checkpoint locations, visit our website,

Public Affairs Website for Kentucky State Police.

06/27/2025

Case of measles confirmed in Todd County.

06/25/2025

The June 2025 Todd County Grand Jury report.

06/14/2025

Local author Mike Sears has a new book. Check out The Academy or any of his other books on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Mike-Sears/author/B0CVLHCPZ4?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1731865695&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&fbclid=IwY2xjawK56iFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF2UFg3YVloY1hhSlRxMFd6AR6bn42y-eSXLDWxIwoRtTd0IGXBexTDw9DHybGSlo5LqsTKd5jgoiq9AfpwJQ_aem_Gu6JsyB8k6EPKHnoQdAicw&ccs_id=fdb9c650-9ad3-4d16-890b-b128cd00db52

06/13/2025

MULLINGS … MS. EVELYN MORGAN BELL BOONE – A LIFE DEVOTED TO HER FAMILY AND HER BELOVED TODD COUNTY

By Carolyn L. Wells
Todd County Standard

Born July 21, 1927, Ms. Evelyn Morgan Bell Boone, a transplant to Todd County originally from Falmouth, Kentucky, passed away at Hearthstone Place on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. The youngest of four children of Raymond and Minnie Morgan, Ms. Evelyn graduated from Covington High School and later attended Belmont Woman’s College in Hopkinsville. Those who knew Ms. Evelyn will share she worked in several roles during her 97 years of life with many of those years in the public sector. A former choir director at Petrie Memorial Methodist Church, Ms. Evelyn also worked a short time as the first volunteer director at the Todd County Welcome Center. Most Todd Countians, however, will recall Ms. Evelyn through her years of ownership of the Todd County Standard following the death of her second husband, Benjamin Edward Boone, III.

Friends of Ms. Evelyn will immediately reflect upon her zest for life and her love of Todd County. A journalist in her years of ownership of the Todd County Standard, Ms. Evelyn also penned two books later in life. Those two collections, Precious Memories and Newspapering and Politicking, reflect her memories of many people and events in Todd County as well as her observations regarding journalism and politics. She also later in life contributed articles to the Kentucky New Era, again sharing with her audiences many of Todd County’s unique people and events. Since Ms. Evelyn’s second husband died suddenly in their first year of marriage, Ms. Evelyn shared in an interview with Eastern Kentucky University years ago that she had the task of learning how to run a newspaper, and those who recall the local newspaper of the past will note she quickly and expertly learned the roles of newspaper owner and editor.

To know Ms. Evelyn was to know her life saw sorrow with her loss of her first husband, Caleb Norris Bell, Jr., and then the loss of their daughter, Clara Elizabeth Bell Borsch Bowden, in a freak weather-related accident. Because of Clara having three younger children, Ms. Evelyn left Todd County and made her home in St. Joseph, Louisiana, for several years. In St. Joseph, she again worked in journalism and also assisted with the creation of an arts council in that community. During her earlier years in Todd County, Ms. Evelyn was very active in many organizations. She was one of the original members of the Pennyrile Arts Council, a member of the original Todd County Chamber of Commerce, a board member for the Pennyrile Area Development District (PADD), a member of the Pennyrile Drug Council, a board member for the Todd County Board of Education, a volunteer with Citizens for Academic Excellence (CAE) in Todd County, a board member of Sanctuary, Inc. in Hopkinsville, and a founding director of the Green River Academy Preservation Society in Elkton. She also became the first woman mayor of Elkton, serving in that capacity for two terms.

Matt Bailey, president of the Green River Academy Board of Directors, posted on the Green River Academy’s website, “Evelyn had a gift — the rare ability to make people feel seen, heard, and important. With her, you felt like what you did mattered. Like you mattered. And she had a rare and natural way of reminding you of that.” Laura Brock, another founding member of the Green River Academy Preservation Society and the caregiver for Ms. Evelyn in her later years, stated recently Ms. Evelyn always reflected the sobriquet the late John Walton gave her the first time he met her in the Welcome Center. Mr. John’s sobriquet, “Sunshine,” reflected the bubbly personality Ms. Evelyn possessed. Another friend of Ms. Evelyn, Mrs. Jane Harper of Russellville, commented in the last few days Ms. Evelyn’s attitude was always such a positive and joyful one, continually pushing aside the sadnesses that had been part of her life. Mrs. Harper, a retired educator, added she always loved being around Ms. Evelyn because of her charismatic personality and warmth.

Staff members at Hearthstone shared as they checked on Ms. Evelyn in recent days that she was always so thankful for all the assistance and care they provided. Laura added whenever she visited with her that Ms. Evelyn always wanted to know what was occurring within the city and county. Last year Laura took Ms. Evelyn to Elkton City Hall to be one of the first two people to sit in the new rocking chairs in front of City Hall. Laura also arranged a private viewing of the Todd County Public Library last summer, and Ms. Evelyn sat in awe of the spectacular facility now a part of Todd County. She also was able to visit the park last July on her birthday shortly after new playground equipment had been added.

Mrs. Beth Boyd, one who has known Ms. Evelyn for many years, added when she would chat with Ms. Evelyn at Hearthstone and inquired how she was, Ms. Evelyn always responded she was “great,” adding, “It is up to me to decide how I am each day, and I choose to be great!” Mrs. Vicki Hall Kennedy of Clarksville and a former Elktonian, also commented Ms. Evelyn was such a talented lady, one who collaborated with Ms. Vicki’s mother back in the 40’s on musical events. That ability to collaborate was a quality reflective of Ms. Evelyn as she touched the lives of so many who became a part of her life for over nine decades. The Green River Academy’s initial fundraising campaign years ago included the words “This place matters.” For Ms. Evelyn, that “place” was the entire Todd County community she loved so dearly.

06/12/2025

Evelyn Bell Boone, former Elkton mayor, Todd County Standard owner and civic leader, has died.

Tonight, our light is dimmer in Todd County. We’ve lost one of our great ladies — a woman who didn’t just live in this unique place; she helped build it, word by word, story by story.

With an open heart, Evelyn Morgan Bell Boone (1927–2025) chronicled the heartbeat of her people for decades as a journalist, elevating the everyday lives of Todd Countians into inspiring and heartfelt stories. She looked for the stories that mattered — the steady lives, the quiet heroes, the ordinary moments that gave this county its soul.

With her husband, Ben Boone (1916–1974), she operated the Todd County Standard — and after his passing, she kept it running and became one of the few women in Kentucky to helm a newspaper.

She rode the backroads of the county, peering over the wheel in pearls, her notepad never far from reach, ready to take down a narrative. She knew the worth of a good story and the power of a kind word. From the streets of Guthrie to the hills of Kirkmansville, she found the good in folks and reflected it back to them.
As such, she was a natural fit to represent working families, and easily became one of Elkton's first female mayors.

Even after some time away — caring for family and life beyond the county line — Evelyn came back. She helped open the Old Courthouse Museum and began writing again, both for the Standard and for the Kentucky New Era, making sure the people of Todd County still had a voice.

Evelyn had a way of meeting people where they were, listening more than she spoke. She made folks feel seen — not for what they had or what they did, but for who they were. Under her pen, unsung individuals became the kind of heroes worth reading about. Evelyn told the stories no one else thought to tell — the quiet victories, the steady lives, the working men and women who, through her words, became extraordinary.

In 2009, she joined John Walton, Laura Brock, Sharon Shanklin, and Matthew Colin Bailey to form the Green River Academy Preservation Society — saving a piece of the county’s history from the wrecking ball. She didn’t just help preserve a building. She helped restore a purpose. Evelyn knew that history wasn’t just brick and mortar — it was people, memory, connection.

It was Evelyn who dreamed up Green River Academy’s “Supper in the Cemetery,” a gathering of food and remembrance among the old stones at Glenwood Cemetery — a celebration of the lives that shaped this place. She believed in honoring the past not by sealing it away, but by setting a table and inviting folks to sit with it.

Evelyn had a gift — the rare ability to make people feel seen, heard, and important. With her, you felt like what you did mattered. Like you mattered. And she had a rare and natural way of reminding you of that.

Evelyn Boone was one of Todd County’s finest — not because she tried to be, but because she simply couldn’t help it. Rest easy, Miss Evelyn.

We invite you to spend some time with Ms. Evelyn by listening to her oral history interview, conducted by the Berge Oral History Center:
https://oralhistory.eku.edu/items/show/3374

06/10/2025

Congrats to Ms. Carolyn Wells, secretary of the TCCHS Alumni Association for being selected as the recipient of the June 2025 Making a Difference Award!

05/29/2025

Todd County Grand Jury report.

05/26/2025

SPEAKER: MEMORIAL DAY NOT JUST A DAY OFF FROM WORK

BY ADAM MAY
Special to the Todd County Standard

The tradition of honoring Americans who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom was renewed Sunday afternoon, as residents of the small Todd County town of Trenton gathered and remembered.

Kaitlyn Beluardo, a Trenton resident who served six years in the National Guard and four as a 25U Signal Operations Support Specialist with the United States Army, reminded that Memorial Day is not just a day off from work.

“It’s a day to pause, reflect and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to this country,” said Beluardo. “And here in the peaceful surroundings of Trenton, Kentucky—surrounded by friends and neighbors—it feels especially right to humbly bow our heads together and remember.”

The 32-year old Beluardo, whose husband, Brock, also served in the Army, expounded on the need to pause and reflect.

“It’s a sacred moment of national communion. We gather not to celebrate war, but to remember sacrifice,” she continued. “We gather not to glorify conflict, but to give thanks for courage—for lives given so that ours may be lived freely.”

Many who come home from war continue to battle mental health issues and Beluardo remembered them.

“We honor those who did come home, forever changed from their experiences in war time. It’s not a sacrifice often talked about, but it is one that deserves awareness,” she said. “Mental health challenges are profound within our troops and sometimes the mental turmoil faced by our service members is greater than any physical dangers that they faced during war. Seventeen veterans each day lose their lives to mental turmoil and associated su***de. We remember you, brothers and sisters, we honor you and the battles you faced while overseas and here at home and we pray that you have found your rest.”

Evoking memories of the March 29, 2023 collision of two Army Blackhawk helicopters that were performing a training mission over nearby Trigg County, Beluardo remembered those nine Fort Campbell soldiers and all of the other American service members who have died through the centuries while preparing for war.

“We also honor the heroes who gave their life and service to our country during training missions. Not every life is a life lost to combat,” she said. “They remained dedicated to preparation for future missions. This sacrifice reflects their loyalty and commitment to stand ready and to protect and serve this country at any moment. They served faithfully no matter where they were. We are thankful for your devotion and we honor you.”
There is also a message of hope and resilience embedded within Memorial Day.

“This day we do not just mourn, we lift our eyes to God with gratitude,” said Beluardo. “Thank you Jesus for sending us these brave warriors and families. Our lives are forever changed for their acts of bravery and selflessness.”

In their sacrifice, Beluardo noted that those men and women helped preserve an American way of life that has often come under attack over the last 249 years.

“We remember that in every act of service, every life given, hope is not lost,” she continued. There is a light that continues to shine, a reminder that love is greater than fear and that courage is greater than comfort and that the spirit of those that we have lost is never truly gone, it lives on in the freedoms that we enjoy every day.”

Concluding her remarks with a challenge to those inside Trenton Presbyterian Church, Beluardo asked them to honor the fallen with how they live their lives.

“Let us not be passive recipients of that freedom, let us not take their sacrifice for granted. Let us live lives in honor their sacrifice,” said Beluardo. “Let us build a country and a love founded in God. A country that is kinder, more just and more compassionate. Let us serve our neighbors, care for the vulnerable and carry the torch of the service members left behind.”

The ceremony, traditionally held at Edgewood Cemetery in Trenton, was moved to the church this year and the church will remain the host for the foreseeable future, according to City Commissioner Joyce Edwards, citing the unpredictability of weather in late May.

There is a long history of Trenton hosting a Sunday afternoon service, as it began when the local Garden Club organized the first event in 1962. Their first project was improving and beautifying Edgewood Cemetery, according to local historian Carrie Joy Brookshire. Flags continue to be placed on graves of veterans in that cemetery each year in advance of Memorial Day.

The club continued to host the service until it dissolved several years ago and the City of Trenton took over.

Following Beluardo’s remarks, Julie Hamlet—a Trenton resident and teacher at Todd County Middle School—read the names of over 200 Trenton area residents who have served in the military during the country’s history.

“It is because of these great men and women that hope abounds for us today,” Hamlet said. “It should fortify us as a people to continue to have a steadfast love and a determination for our country.”