Looking back at 2024

More great news was made in 2024 for Manchester and Clay County.

We saw new projects being announced, numerous community events and more opportunities becoming available.

Let’s take a look back at some of the biggest stories of the year.

January 2024

-Police say John Lee Couch, 44, of Manchester, a female, stabbed Rufus Smallwood, 77, 32 times, then robbed him and left him in a ditch on Crawfish.  Police obtained video evidence of Couch with Smallwood on the day of the incident.  She entered a not-guilty plea.

-Sealed bids were being accepted to begin the demolition of the Manchester Dry Goods building on Bridge Street.

-County Judge-Executive Tommy Harmon and the Clay Tourism Committee announced the return of Clay County Days slated for Memorial Day weekend.

 

-A dispute left one man shot in the face on Brushy Branch.

-Bobby Roberts, of Curry Branch, was charged with sexual abuse 1st and promoting a sexual performance by a minor.  He was later indicted on the charges.

-Janzlee Brandenburg was crowned the CCHS Basketball Queen.

-For the first time in 40 years, Clay County High School has a new Tiger mascot.

-A Clay Detention Center inmate crew saved a pet from a burning home on Burning Springs.

-John “Snake Man” Northern, 69, was walking on Muddy Gap Road when he was struck by a vehicle. Northern was lying in the roadway wearing all-black clothing.  It was unknown if he had a medical emergency before being struck.

-The Clay Sheriff’s Department charged two Georgia men after they were found with a large amount of methamphetamine transported to the county for distribution.  The FBI took over the case, and both men later entered guilty pleas.

 

-The Clay County Tigers captured the 49th district basketball crown by demolishing North Laurel 79-42 in the finals.

-Manchester Distillery purchased the old Rawlings-Goins property downtown for bourbon barrel storage.

-Kentucky Transportation officials met with Beech Creek Road residents about the upcoming highway expansion.

-In the strangest story of the year, Lockard’s Creek and Manchester Fire Department members and Dr. Joey Massey saved the life of a horse involved in a multi-vehicle accident on the Hal Rogers Parkway.  The horse was trapped in the wreckage, and they worked with Allen’s Towing and Bill Warren Towing to remove the animal.  Luckily, Dr. Massey was in traffic on the road and rendered tranquilizers to calm the animal.  He later said the animal suffered no broken bones.

 

-Manchester resident Cassie Saylor appeared on the Netflix reality show “The Circle.”

-Manchester Lumber breaks ground on their new location at the junction of U.S. 421 and Ky. 80.

-The Clay County High School Choir performed in Washington, D.C.

 

During their gala, SOAR recognized Barb and Tess Lipps with the Appalachian Humanitarian Award.

-For the first time, Clay County has a Community Guide published by The Manchester Enterprise.  

-Solid Rock House of Prayer, at Burning Springs, was burned by a possible arsonist.

-County Judge-Executive Tommy Harmon announced a new county garage would be built at the old Shamrock Coal property.

-A major thunderstorm and straight-line winds caused significant damage to a building at Beech Creek Apartments.  A shelter at Rawlings-Stinson Park collapsed as Roger Glenn Hibbard barely escaped with his life.

-Residents at Laurel Creek had to be evacuated as a gas well fire was burning at Vinland Energy.  It took over three million gallons of water to keep tanks cool and stop a possible explosion.  Rescue personnel worked 26 hours to extinguish the fire.

 

-The Clay County Days Festival returned to the streets of downtown Manchester.

-The Clay County Board of Education approved a pay increase for all certified and classified.  The board has increased salaries by 18.5% over nine years.

-Senator Roberts Stivers and 1 Clay County hosted the mayor of Louisville and a delegation of business leaders from the state’s largest city.  They came to Manchester to hear and see all the improvements being made.

-Renee Smith, former Instructional Supervisor with the Clay Board of Education, was named the new school superintendent for Jackson County.

 

-First National Bank President Rex Greer passed following a brief illness.

-The Clay Historical Society and Clay County Cruiser’s hosted the Blast from the Past Car Show.  The show was part of the many events sponsored by the society in honor of their 40th Anniversary.

-AdventHealth of Manchester donated $14,000 to the Clay Board of Education in support of the Backpack Program.

 

-Michael Edwards, of Manchester, was charged in a carjacking in Jackson County that led to the death of Tracy Clemmons, the owner of the truck being stolen.  Also charged was Richard Marcum, of Jackson County.

-Over 50 counts of sexual abuse charges were handed down by the Clay Grand Jury.

-The Manchester Tourism Commission donated $65,000 to the city of Manchester.

 

-A shooter on I-75 sprayed bullets on several vehicles, causing a massive manhunt.  Due to security reasons, local schools across the region were closed.  The man was later found dead by a YouTube couple looking for the reward for his capture.

-Senator Robert Stivers announces he’s working on obtaining federal funding for expanding the Hal Rogers Parkway.

-A skull found on Ky. 66 at Red Bird in 2020 was identified as a Flat Creek woman missing since 2016.  The remains were identified as Angela “Toot” Smith, last seen at her home in 2016.  The case is still under investigation.

-The Redbird Ranger District and Clay Historical Society celebrated 100 years of The Clubhouse, the Redbird Ranger office built by the Fordson Motor Company in 1924.

-13-year-old Braxton Downey died following a motorcycle accident.

 

-1 Clay County announced they were partnering with Impact Outdoor Adventures to build Stone Coal Disc Golf at the Cross Mountain Campground.

-Carmen Smith was crowned the 2024 Clay County Homecoming Queen.

-The Kentucky Department of Transportation held groundbreaking ceremonies with Gov. Andy Beshear on the new District 11 highway office.  The Governor didn’t come empty-handed as he announced funding for a new county garage and several other projects.

-Three Clay County elementary schools placed in the top 50 in the state for academic scores.

-The Clay Historical Society held a successful Walking Tour of Courthouse Hill with actor portrayals.

-New playground equipment was installed at Rawlings-Stinson Park.

 

-The Clay County Sheriff’s Department made another huge bust of contraband being brought to the Manchester FCI.

-Haley Jo Fields won the Commonwealth’s Attorney race.

-The first Dollar General Marketplace opened in Clay County at Burning Springs.

 

-Legends Hall Clay County Basketball Museum opened at the high school.  

-The Christmas Parade was a huge success, and many said it was the best they’d ever seen in Manchester.

-The Clay Board of Education gave out over 2,000 gifts to all elementary students and awarded $1,500 Christmas bonuses to each employee.

-Former City Police Officer Shawn Curry was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his actions during an arrest.