The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) has been requested by Post 15 in Columbia to investigate a trooper-involved shooting that occurred on Monday, April 20, shortly before 7:00 p.m. CDT in Adair County.

The initial investigation indicates that officers from the Adair County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) responded yesterday to a disturbance call at a residence on Chestnut Grove Road just before 11:00 a.m. CDT. ACSO deputies and another individual encountered Mr. Ryan Sneed, a 39-year-old male from Columbia, Ky. Mr. Sneed was armed with a firearm and began shooting at the deputy and the other individual, and they took cover remaining pinned down for several hours.

Additional law enforcement agencies, KSP troopers and officers were dispatched to the scene and upon arrival were immediately fired upon by Mr. Sneed, who was barricaded in the residence. Shortly after shots were fired, the KSP Special Response Team (SRT) was requested to respond, and upon their arrival, successfully rescued both the pinned-down deputies and another individual and escorted them to safety.

Over several hours, law enforcement attempted to communicate with Mr. Sneed and negotiate a peaceful resolution. Throughout much of the afternoon, Mr. Sneed periodically continued firing at law enforcement, who returned fire on several occasions. Shortly before 7:00 p.m., Mr. Sneed exited the residence armed with a firearm. Members of the KSP SRT discharged their agency-issued firearms, striking Mr. Sneed. Mr. Sneed was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Adair County Coroner. No law enforcement members were injured during this incident.

Throughout the course of this incident, KSP Post 15 responded to two other locations in Adair County where two separate individuals were located deceased. Initial information indicates Mr. Sneed may be a person of interest in those death investigations. Additionally, while securing the scene at the incident location on Chestnut Grove Road, KSP located an individual deceased inside the residence. KSP Post 15, Columbia, is conducting the death investigations of these three decedents. 

The KSP CIRT is conducting the ongoing investigation into the trooper-involved shooting.

KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates officer-involved shootings throughout the Commonwealth as requested by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. KSP is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation. To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSP’s standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts gathered. Timelines for completing investigations vary depending on the complexity of the case.

The Casey County Fiscal Court held their regular monthly meeting yesterday.

Judge Exec. Randy Dial reported, the State Auditor's Office is conducting the fiscal year ‘25 audit, with delays in the ‘23 audit expected to be resolved soon. The draft budget for fiscal year ‘26 was presented, and elected official salaries will remain unchanged.

Magistrates approved the County joining another Opioid Settlement agreement.

The court also approved a budget amendment of just over $1.5 million dollars for unanticipated revenue. Health insurance renewals with a 5% increase were also approved.

Monthly reports were heard from Jailer Mike Woodrum, and Coroner, Mike Brown.

Casey County Board of Education met in regular session last night.

Superintendent, Barry Lee…

One of the main topics again was water conservation.

Mayor, Dr. Sam Haddad…

Monday, April 6, Upper Brush Creek Road will be closed from 8 am to 4 pm. At the address of 2560.

Motorists should plan ahead and find an alternate route during those hours.

One person was killed and another injured in a boating accident in Pulaski County.

Jeff Henderson has details…

After a frigid winter filled with snow and ice, Kentucky’s 2026 spring turkey hunting season arrives with excitement for both hunters and biologists.

Higher-than-usual turkey brood surveys – summertime observations of young turkey poults hatched that year - signal healthy populations of gobblers for hunters to pursue in the commonwealth this season.

“All evidence suggests turkey numbers have improved over the past five years,” said Zak Danks, turkey-grouse program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “We share many hunters’ concerns about the turkey population, but the more we learn about our flock, the more excited we can be about the future.”

The spring hunting season kicks off with a youth-only weekend, April 4-5, followed by the 23-day general season starting April 18. Hunters with proper permits can harvest two birds during the season but only one a day. Legal birds are male or have a beard.

In 2025, hunters telechecked 30,661 birds, less than in 2024 and 2023 but more than in 2022 and 2021. Biologists say this year’s season has the potential for another high harvest, given numbers related to reproductive success two years ago:

• Brood surveys from 2024 showed 70 percent of hens with poults, compared to 62 percent in 2023. Male poults hatched in 2024 will be vocal 2-year-olds this spring.
• The average number of poults per hen increased between 2023 and 2024 not only statewide (from 2.3 to 2.7) but also in all three regions of the state. The increases in poults per hen were most significant in the east (from 1.78 to 2.28) and west (from 2.62 to 3.11).
• Last summer’s brood survey showed 3.5 poults per hen statewide. Production was greatest in the east (3.8) and in central Kentucky (3.6). Hunters should see an uptick in jakes this spring.

Danks said the optimistic brood survey data was backed up by a three-year study of nests, brood habitat use and hen behavior in three counties in western Kentucky that used transmitters resembling backpacks to track movement of more than 230 turkeys.

Preliminary estimates from that study showed the survival rate for adult hens was 70 percent to 74 percent and greater than 75 percent for juvenile hens – better than biologists predicted.

In addition, the higher-than-usual number of successful nests and higher poult survival rates in those three counties in 2024 showed the tremendous impact of the emergence of the 13-year Brood XIX cicadas in western Kentucky that year.

A separate four-year research study that involved capturing and leg banding nearly 1,300 male birds showed Kentucky’s annual harvest rate was 29 percent for mature gobblers and 6 percent for juveniles (jakes). The average year-to-year survival rate was 56 percent for gobblers and 78 percent for jakes.

“Harvest rates did not exceed the 30 percent to 35 percent threshold that past research indicated could be unsustainable, so we’re right where we want to be providing opportunities to hunters while protecting the flock long term,” Danks said. “We haven’t had such comprehensive numbers in decades.”

Hunters should familiarize themselves with the regulations before going afield. Basics include:

• Dates: General season, April 18-May 10. Youth season for hunters ages 15 and younger is April 4-5.
• Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
• Requirements: Annual hunting license and spring turkey permit (or all-in-one Sportsman’s License). Hunters 12 to 15 years old need a youth hunting license and youth turkey permit (or a Youth Sportsman’s License). Hunters 11 and under are license-exempt. Hunters under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Legal birds: Turkeys that are male or have visible beard.
• Bag Limits: Two per spring season, but only one per day. A limit of one bird per wildlife management area per season applies. A youth turkey permit allows hunters 12 to 15 years old to take one bird in either the spring or fall seasons.
• Clothing: Hunter orange not required; recommended if carrying a harvested bird.
• Tagging, recording: Fill out the Harvest Log before moving harvested bird and telecheck it by phone or online by midnight of the day it is recovered. Birds dropped off to a taxidermist or butcher must have a handmade tag with hunter’s name, phone and Telecheck confirmation number. 
• Leg bands: Harvested turkeys with leg bands should be reported to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife on the Turkey Band reporting webpage.
• Baiting/feeding: Illegal to hunt turkey over bait.
• Callers/Assistants: Callers and assistants who are not hunting do not need licenses or permits.

For all regulations, general information and videos on turkey hunting and processing, see the Spring Turkey Hunting page or the Kentucky Spring Hunting Guide, both online at the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website (fw.ky.gov).

For more discussion of the coming turkey hunting season, tune in to the Kentucky Afield 2026 Spring Turkey Live Q&A Show (recorded March 23, 2026), and to the Kentucky Afield Podcast in the coming weeks.

The Liberty City Council will have a special-called meeting on Monday, March 23rd at 5:00pm.

This is to pass a Resolution for the FEMA project to name a Designation of Applicant's Agent.

That meeting is open to the public.

Several students were recognized at last night’s meeting of the Casey County Board of Education.

Superintendent, Barry Lee…

Liberty City Council met in regular session Monday.

Mayor, Dr. Sam Haddad announced that the lake level has risen by two feet since last month…

The city is also considering replacing its entire analog water meter system with a digital one to improve accuracy and efficiency.

Casey County deputies arrested a man accused of wandering onto porches and acting erratically along Martins Creek Road.

According to the citation, Ronnie Johnson was reported by several residents who said he was ringing doorbells and behaving strangely. When deputies arrived, Johnson claimed someone was trying to kill him and continued making statements the report describes as “making no sense.”

Deputies determined he was under the influence of a controlled substance and placed him under arrest. Johnson was taken to the Casey County Jail.

Casey County deputies executed a major drug search warrant Saturday evening at a camper on Merritt Ridge Road, leading to multiple arrests and the seizure of meth, cocaine, pills, cash, and drug-making materials.

According to the citation, deputies found large quantities of suspected methamphetamine, cocaine, baggies, scales, syringes, and nearly three thousand dollars in cash inside the camper where 47-year-old Amanda Lay was located. Lay later admitted to selling drugs and trading pills.

During the operation, deputies also searched a nearby vehicle listed in the warrant, recovering additional meth and drug paraphernalia.

A second arrest was made at a nearby trailer, where 24-year-old Julia Carmicle was found hiding under clothes. Deputies say a glass pipe and syringe were beside her, and she admitted they were hers.

Both women were taken to the Casey County Jail on multiple felony drug charges.

Casey County deputies say a Liberty man is facing multiple charges after crashing his truck while intoxicated.

According to the citation, 24?year?old Thomas J. Luttrell wrecked his Toyota Tacoma on Shugars Hill Road. When deputies arrived, Luttrell reportedly admitted to being intoxicated.

Field sobriety tests showed several clues of impairment, and a breath test later registered point?one?eight?two, more than twice the legal limit.

Luttrell is charged with careless driving, no registration plates, and DUI – first offense. He was taken into custody following the crash.

The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) division will join law enforcement agencies nationwide February 24-26, 2026, for Operation SafeDRIVE, a high-visibility initiative designed to reduce crashes involving commercial motor vehicles.

Operation SafeDRIVE, short for Distracted, Reckless, Impaired, Visibility Enforcement, is supported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and focuses on identifying unsafe driving behaviors by both commercial and passenger vehicle drivers. These behaviors are among the leading contributors to serious and fatal crashes on interstate and highway systems.

Throughout the three-day operation, KSP’s CVE officers will increase enforcement on designated portions of Kentucky interstates, and CVE inspection activities will rise across the commonwealth, including at weigh stations. Additionally, select KSP Posts are dedicating resources to enhance this initiative.

Officer Steven Douglas, East Commercial Vehicle Enforcement spokesperson, said the initiative plays a critical role in improving roadway safety for everyone.

“Commercial vehicle drivers spend countless hours on Kentucky’s roads, and their safety is directly connected to the actions of surrounding motorists,” Ofc. Douglas said. “Operation SafeDRIVE allows us to address preventable behaviors that put lives at risk and reinforces the shared responsibility we all have when traveling alongside large vehicles.”

KSP encourages motorists to keep the following safety tips in mind when driving near commercial vehicles:

• Give trucks room to maneuver: Large vehicles make wide turns and need additional space to change lanes safely.
• Stay focused and distraction-free: Avoid using mobile devices or engaging in activities that take your attention off the road, especially around commercial traffic.
• Use caution in work zones and high-traffic corridors: Reduced speeds and increased congestion can limit stopping distance for large vehicles.
• Be patient during passing maneuvers: If a truck is traveling at a steady pace, avoid aggressive passing or sudden lane changes.

This initiative aligns with the FMCSA’s national "Our Roads, Our Safety" campaign, which educates all drivers on safe practices for sharing the road with large vehicles.

The Kentucky State Police remain committed to their mission of enhancing public safety through service, integrity and professionalism. By fostering partnerships and focusing on both education and enforcement, KSP works to prevent crashes, protect property and uphold the rights of citizens. Learn more about Commercial Vehicle Enforcement here.