[♪♪] >> AND WE NEED TO DO IT WITH AMERICAN WORKERS.

[APPLAUSE] >> FORD ANNOUNCES A BRAND NEW TRUCK IN LOUISVILLE.

>> HOW DID BOWLING GREEN GET ITS NAME?

THERE'S DISAGREEMENT.

HEAR THE DIFFERENT THEORIES AS KENTUCKY EDITION GOES ON THE ROAD.

>> IT'S TRUE TO GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION TO BE ICONIC AND HAVE PEOPLE SAY WHAT'S IN THERE?

>> WE'LL SHOW YOU WHAT'S INSIDE... AS WE VISIT THE MUSEUM DEDICATED TO AMERICA'S SPORTS CAR... MADE RIGHT HERE IN KENTUCKY.

>> PRODUCTION OF "KENTUCKY EDITION" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE KET MILLENNIUM FUND.

[♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO KENTUCKY EDITION FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 11TH.

I'M LAURA ROGERS, IN LOUISVILLE, FILLING IN FOR RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE'RE TAKING KENTUCKY EDITION ON THE ROAD AGAIN.

THIS WEEK, WE'LL BE REPORTING FROM BOWLING GREEN AND THE CAMPUS OF WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY... JUST AS A NEW SEMESTER IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

YOU'LL HEAR FROM LOCAL LEADERS WHO ARE WORKING TO SPOTLIGHT THE REGION... AND WE'LL TAKE YOU TO SOME OF THE ICONIC ATTRACTIONS IN THIS PART OF THE STATE...

INCLUDING A TRIP TO THE CORVETTE MUSEUM.

THAT'S COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

BUT FIRST...

HUNDREDS OF REPUBLICANS GATHERED IN LEXINGTON OVER THE WEEKEND FOR THE STATEWIDE LINCOLN DINNER.

IT WAS A CHANCE FOR THE PARTY TO CELEBRATE, NETWORK, AND HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR U.S. SENATE AS THEY CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF NEXT YEAR'S PRIMARY ELECTION.

AS OUR MACKENZIE SPINK REPORTS.

>> EACH CANDIDATE MADE CLEAR THEIR SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

>> THE MOOD AT THIS LINCOLN DINNER WAS CELEBRATORY.

WEST VIRGINIA GOVERNOR SHARED ANECDOTES ON STAGE ALONGSIDE HIS CANINE COMPANION.

A LONGTIME TREASURER KATHY BELL WAS HONORED WITH A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD BY MITCH McCONNELL.

>> NO ONE IS MORE VALUABLE, NO ONE IS MORE LOYAL, NO ONE IS MORE DEDICATED TO REPUBLICAN PRINCIPLES.

>> "CNN"'S CORRESPONDENT SCOTT JENNINGS WAS THE EMCEE.

HIS JOKES ABOUT THE DEMOCRAT PARTY'S LOW APPROVAL NUMBERS WAS A THEME THROUGHOUT THE EVENING.

REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY ARE FEELING GOOD.

>> DEMOCRATIC IN KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW IS LIKE A BEACON IN MOONLIGHT BARBECUE.

TECHNICALLY WELCOME, YOU ARE NOT HAVING THAT MUCH INFLUENCE ON THE MENU.

33%, THE LOWEST IN THE HISTORY OF THE WALL STREET POLLING.

THE PARTY OF FDR IS THE PARTY OF DNR, DO NOT RESUSCITATE.

>> THE CROWD HEARD FROM THE FOUR CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR MITCH McCONNELL'S SEAT ALL FOUR MADE THEIR APPEALS FOR SUPPORT OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

DANIEL CAMERON THE 2023 REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR EMPHASIZED HIS RECORD AS KENTUCKY'S ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> I WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL I HAD THE OCCASION TO STAND UP TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ON ESG ON D.E.I., AND I'LL TRIN TO BE THAT LEADER BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE THAT OUR VALUES ARE THOSE THAT FUEL THIS COUNTRY.

>> CURRENTLY REPRESENTING KENTUCKY'S SIXTH DISTRICT IN CONGRESS, IS REPRESENTATIVE ANDY BARR HE SPOKE ON HIS WORK WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP ON ITEMS LIKE THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL.

BUT ALSO ON HIS RECORD OF WINNING HARD ELECTIONS.

>> I'M PRO-LIFE AND I BACK THE BLUE BUT YOU WILL ALSO GET A REPUBLICAN WHO WILL WIN AND WE HAVE TO WIN THIS FIGHT.

FELLOW REPUBLICANS, I'M BATTLE TESTED AND UNLIKE MY OPPONENTS I HAVE WON THE TOUGH ELECTIONS WITH YOUR HELP, WE FLIPPED A DEMOCRAT SEAT IN CONGRESS AND WE'VE HELD IT EVER SINCE.

WITH PATRIOTS LIKE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, WE WILL NOT FAIL.

>> PISS MAN NATE MORRIS CONTINUED HIS MESSAGING AGAINST CAREER POLITICIANS IMPLYING SUCH POLITICIANS ARE THE PROBLEM IN WASHINGTON TODAY.

>> I DON'T WANT TO BE THE LONGEST SERVING ANYTHING IN U.S. HISTORY THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I'M RUNNING.

IT'S THE CAREER POLITICIANS THAT HAVE STABBED OUR PRESIDENT IN THE BACK OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

IT'S THE CAREER POLITICIANS THAT WROTE LIFE CHECKS TO UKRAINE.

IT'S THE CAREER POLITICIANS THAT HAVE SADDLED GENERATIONS OF OUR COUNTRY WITH DEBT THAT WE DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAYBACK.

>> MOST OF THE DECLARED REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR U.S. SENATE MADE SIMILAR PITCHES AT FANCY FARM TWO WEEKS AGO MINUS ONE, MICHAEL FERRIS AN ELIZABETHTOWN NATIVE WITH A GRASSROOT CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON PARENTS RIGHTS.

HE BELIEVES IN TERM LIMITS AND IS ONLY SEEKING TWO TERMSISM YOU CAN COUNT ON ME TO VOTE FOR TAX CUTS THAT BENEFIT KENTUCKIANS AND HARD-WORKING AMERICANS ACROSS THE NATION.

WE MUST SECURE OUR BORDERS AND PROTECT AMERICAN JOBS.

NEVER IN HISTORY HAVE WE SEEN THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

THAT'S BECAUSE CONGRESS HAS BROKEN THEIR PROMISES FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES.

THE JUDGES WHO ONCE RULED IN FAVOR OF THE CONSTITUTION ARE LONG GONE OR ON THEIR WAY OUT.

IT'S TIME WE GIVE THE POWER OF IMPEACHMENT OF THOSE JUDGES DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE.

>> OVER 800 REPUBLICANS ATTENDED THE 2025 STATE-WIDE LINCOLN DINNER.

THE FIRST TIME THE EVENT WAS HELD IN LEXINGTON FOR FIVE YEARS.

FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M MACKENZIE SPINK.

HAPPENING JUST OUTSIDE THE LINCOLN DINNER WAS A PROTEST ORGANIZED BY PEACEFUL BLUEGRASS RESISTANCE.

PROTESTORS SHOUTED AT THE REPUBLICAN ATTENDEES AS THEY ENTERED THE BUILDING AND MANY HELD SIGNS DEMANDING THE RELEASE OF THE SO-CALLED EPSTEIN LIST.

>> WE FELT LIKE THEY ABANDONED THEIR CONSTITUENTS HERE IN KENTUCKY TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CORPORATE DONORS AND CORPORATE OVERLORDS AND THE BILLIONAIRES.

WE DON'T AGREE WITH THE JUST THE RAMPANT OVERREACH OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

WE DON'T AGREE WITH CONGRESS RELINQUISHING ITS CONSTITUTIONAL POWER TO THE EXECUTIVES AND WE DON'T AGREE WITH THE COWARDS IN THE SUPREME COURT THAT ARE FAILING TO UPHOLD THEIR CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED POWERS TO KEEP THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IN CHECK.

>> THE FACEBOOK INVITE FOR THE PROTEST HIGHLIGHTED THAT TICKETS FOR THE LINCOLN DINNER RANGED FROM ONE-HUNDRED TO FIFTEEN-THOUSAND DOLLARS.

"OTHER" CONTINUES TO BE THE FASTEST-GROWING POLITICAL AFFILIATION IN KENTUCKY.

SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS SAYS ALMOST 18-HUNDRED PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE IN JULY, AS SOMETHING OTHER THAN A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN.

11 PERCENT OF KENTUCKY VOTERS ARE NOW IN THE "OTHER" CATEGORY.

REPUBLICANS MAKE UP 47 PERCENT OF VOTERS, WHILE 42 PERCENT OF VOTERS ARE DEMOCRATS.

MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES WILL BE MADE IN KENTUCKY TWO OF LOUISVILLE'S FORD PLANTS TO SWITCH BY 2027.

JUNE LEFFLER HAS MORE.

>> FORD WILL PRODUCE A NEW LINE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES STARTING WITH A FOUR-DOOR PICK UP SALE AT SALE FOR $30,000.

>> TO CREATE AN AFFORDABLE VEHICLE THAT DELIGHTS CUSTOMERS IN EVERY WAY THAT MATTERS, DESIGN AND INNOVATION.

FLEXIBILITY, INTERIOR SPACE, DRIVING PLEASURE AND LOWER COST OF OPENERSHIP.

BUT WE NEED TO DO IT AND BE SUSTAINABLE AND MAKE MONEY.

AND WE NEED TO DO IT WITH AMERICAN WORKERS.

[APPLAUSE] THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, FORD IN KENTUCKY ANNOUNCED 22 PROJECTS TOTALING 14.8 BILLION DOLLARS.

[APPLAUSE] TOGETHER WE'VE CREATED MORE THAN 16,000 JOBS.

>> FORD IS INVESTING $2 BILLION TO TRANSITION THE LOUISVILLE PLANT.

THAT WILL UPGRADE AND EXPAND THE FACILITY.

THE COMPANY SAYS THESE EV'S WILL REQUIRE LESS PARTS, MEANING WORKERS CAN ASSEMBLE MORE CARS IN LESS TIME.

HOWEVER, THE WORKFORCE AT THE PLANT, WILL NOT GROW.

AND MOST WORKERS WILL BE LAID OFF FOR 10 MONTHS DURING RENOVATIONS STARTING IN DECEMBER.

THOUGH MOST WILL BE REHIRED SAYS THIS LOCAL UNION REP. >> ALSO GET INTO UNEMPLOYMENT, FOR WHEN THEY EXODUS.

>> THE COMPANY PROMISES THE WORK WILL BE MORE AIR GO NO, MA'AMIC LESS TWISTING AND BENDING FOR WORKERS AND THE PLANT WILL HAVE AIR-CONDITIONING GOOD NEWS FOR WORKERS.

FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M JUNE LEFFLER.

>> THE FORD LOUISVILLE ASSEMBLY PLANT WILL PHASE OUT ITS PRODUCTION OF THE FORD ESCAPE AND LINCOLN LOUISVILLE'S OTHER FORD PLANT WILL KEEP MAKING GAS-POWERED TRUCKS.

[♪♪] >> 'KENTUCKY EDITION' GOES ON THE ROAD TOMORROW TO BOWLING GREEN.

BUT WE'LL GO BEYOND WARREN COUNTY.

SOUTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY HAS A LONG HISTORY.

OUR TOBY GIBBS LOOKS AT THE PEOPLE, PLACES, AND EVENTS, AS THE REGION WAS SETTLED, AND HOW IT DEVELOPED.

SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY INCLUDING WARREN COUNTY OF ALLEN, BARON, BUTLER, EDMONSON AND SIMPSON WAS HOME TO NATIVE-AMERICAN VILLAGES.

THE FIRST EUROPEANS IN THE AREA WERE LONG HUNTERS WHOSE HUNTING EXPEDITIONS COULD LAST FOR MONTHS AT A TIME.

THEY ARRIVED IN THE 1770s.

AMONG THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS, LOGAN COUNTY'S MALDENING STATION FOUNDED ON THE RED RIVER IN 1780 AND McFADDEN STATION ON THE BARON RIVER IN WARREN COUNTY FOUNDED IN 1785.

MANY WERE OF SCOTT'S IRISH BACKGROUND TSZ THE BARREN COUNTY SEAT OF GLASGLOW IS NAMED AFTER SCOTLAND.

MANY COUNTIES ARE NAMED AFTER WAR HEROS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND WAR OF 1812.

COLONEL JOHN ALLEN, JOHN SIMPSON, BENJAMIN LOGAN, GENERAL RICHARD BUTLER AND CAPTAIN JACK EDMONSON.

THE BEST KNOWN MIGHT BE JOSEPH WARREN THE MAN WHO DISPATCHED PAUL REVERE ABOUT BRITISH TROOPS.

WARREN WAS A HERO OF THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL.

THE BARRENS A SECTION OF MEADOWLANDS THE COVERS THE NORTHERN THIRD OF THE COUNTY.

BOWLING GREEN IS IN DISPUTE.

SOME SAY IT'S NAMED AFTER BALLOON VIRGINIA HOME OF THE EARLY SETTLERS.

OTHERS SAY IT'S NAMED FOR BOWLING GREEN IN NEW YORK CITY WHERE THEY PULLED DOWN A STATUE OF KING GEORGE THE THIRD.

AND STEAMBOATS ON THE RIVER HELPED BOWLING GREEN GROW AFTER THE BUILDING OF LOCKS AND DAMS MADE THE RIVER EASIER TO NAVIGATE.

THE LOUISVILLE AND NASHVILLE RAILROAD CAME IN 1859 BRINGING MORE INDUSTRY.

THERE WERE DIVIDED LOYALTIES DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

BUTLER COUNTY WAS CONSIDERED A UNION STRONGHOLD BUT BOWLING GREEN SERVED AS CAPITAL FOR KENTUCKY'S CONFEDERATE SYMPATHIZERS.

CONFEDERATES OCCUPIED WARREN COUNTY IN 1861 AND UNION FORCES TOOK IT IN FEBRUARY OF 1862 AS TROOPS RETREATED INTO TENNESSEE.

AGRICULTURE WAS THE MAINSTAY OF THE ECONOMY ESPECIALLY TOBACCO, CATTLE, HOGS AND HAY.

SIMPSON COUNTY WAS RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST MULE MARKETS IN THE WORLD.

THE AREA HAS ITS SHARE OF CELEBRITIES.

EMMA CROMWELL, WHEN SHE BECAME SECRETARY OF STATE IN 1924.

ALICE DUNCAN WAS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO SERVE AS A WHITE HOUSE REPORTER.

AND ANDREW JACKSON FROM TENNESSEE, FOUGHT A DUEL IN LOGAN COUNTY IN 1806.

ACCORDING TO THE 2020 CENSUS THE SEVEN COUNTIES HAVE 271,000 PEOPLE WITH HALF OF THOSE 134,000 IN WARREN COUNTY.

FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M TOBY GIBBS.

>> THE STATE'S THIRD-LARGEST CITY IS HOME TO WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

WHERE WE WILL BRING YOU OUR SHOW THE NEXT THREE EVENINGS.

IT'S ALSO HOME TO AMERICA'S SPORTS CAR...

THE CORVETTE.

THE NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM WELCOMES A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND GUESTS A YEAR.

WE TALKED TO NEW PRESIDENT AND C-E-O BRYCE BURKLOW ABOUT WHAT THE ATTRACTION MEANS TO THE GREATER SOUTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY AREA.

>> YOU CAN'T MISS IT DRIVING DOWN I-65.

>> WE'RE PROUD OF IT IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS PEOPLE SEE.

>> THE SKYDOME BECKONS VISITORS TO THE NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM.

>> TO GET PEOPLE'S ATTENTION AND HAVE PEOPLE COME IN OFF THE ROAD AND SAY WHAT'S IN THERE.

>> WHAT IS INSIDE IS A CELEBRATION OF THE HISTORY, FASCINATION AND CULTURE SURROUNDING AMERICA'S SPORTS CAR.

>> THE NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM IS WE HAVE VEN INTO THE HISTORY OF BOWLING GREEN.

>> THE MUSEUM HAS INTRODUCED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TO THE CORVETTE AND SOUTHERN KENTUCKY.

TODAY IT WELCOMES MORE THAN 200,000 GUESTS A YEAR PLUS 50,000 TO MOTOR SPORTS PARK.

>> THAT RUNS DEEP.

THAT'S JOBS AND INDUSTRY AND CONNECTION WITH PEOPLE OVER THE WORLD GETTING TO SEE OUR BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY.

>> HOME TO PERMANENT AND ROTATING EXHIBITS AT THE NEWEST EDITIONS THE SKY WALL THAT DISPLAYS VIDEOS ON A SCREEN SPANNING 270 FEET.

>> INSIDE OF OUR SKYDOME WE HAVE A LED SCREEN WHERE WE CAN TELL STORIES.

>> THE SKY WALL TELLS THE STORY HOW THE CORVETTE IS WOVEN INTO AMERICAN POP CULTURE.

>> WE HAVE BRAD PAISLEY'S CAR, CARS FROM MOVIES AND THE CAR FROM STAR TREK, PLAY MOVIES AND CLIPS THAT RELATE TO THE CARS.

>> FROM BARBIE TO BETDY POOP AND M&M'S THE CORVETTE HAS BEEN CENTER OF POP CULTURE.

HIS COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS ON DISPLAY HERE.

>> AS YOU WALK THROUGH THAT SPACE THERE'S BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS OF RACE CARS.

AND WE ALSO HAVE OUR McMICHAEL FAMILY GALLERY THE SPACE THAT FOCUSES ON STEM AND STEAM EDUCATION.

>> IT HOLDS SPECIAL EVENTS INCLUDING THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION COMING UP THIS MONTH.

>> WHAT I'VE GROWN TO LOVE THIS COMMUNITY AND THE INDIVIDUALS WE MEET EVERYDAY.

>> LAST ECONOMIC STUDY CONDUCTED IN 2022 SHOWED SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

>> DURING THAT TIME WE HAD 200,000 GUESTS AND WE KNOW 35 MILLION HAS BEEN THROUGH HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND SHOPPING AND THE.

>> THE NATIONAL CORVETTE MUSEUM LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FUTURE AND A VISION THAT AIMS FOR STRATEGIC AND MEANINGFUL GROWTH.

>> BRINGING NEW PEOPLE INTO THE COMMUNITY AND GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT CORVETTE AND AMERICAN MANUFACTURING IT MEANS THE WORLD TO US.

>> LOCATED JUST ACROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM THE MUSEUM, THE GENERAL MOTORS ASSEMBLY PLANT IN BOWLING GREEN ... HAS EXCLUSIVELY MADE THE CORVETTE SINCE 1981.

THEY MADE CLOSE TO 43,000 OF THEM LAST YEAR.

OUR ROAD TRIP THIS WEEK EXTENDS TO AREAS AROUND BOWLING GREEN AND WARREN COUNTY.

LIKE NEARBY NOLIN LAKE STATE PARK IN EDMONSON COUNT, THE PARK OPENED TO THE PUBLIC NEARLY 30 YEARS AGO.

AND AS OUR FRIENDS FROM KENTUCKY LIFE RECENTLY LEARNED, THERE ARE A LOT OF ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGES TO ENJOY.

[♪♪] >> WE ARE WITH THE PARK MANAGER HERE AT NOLIN LAKE STATE PARK.

THANK YOU FOR LETTING US BE HERE TODAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

GLAD YOU ARE HERE.

>> NOLIN IS A YOUNG ONE, ABOUT 30 YEARS OR SO.

BUT SINCE THE PLACE FIRST OPENED HOW HAS IT EVOLVED TO WHERE IT IS TODAY?

WHAT IS THAT LIKE?

>> THE FACILITIES HAVE CHANGED WE KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND USE.

WE'VE INCORPORATED WATER THROUGHOUT OUR CAMPGROUNDS THAT IS NOW FROST FREE OUR CAMPGROUNDS STAY OPEN YEAR-ROUND.

>> THAT IS GREAT.

>> THE LAKE WAS IMPOUNDED IN 1963 HERE AT NOLIN.

WAS CREATED FOR FLOOD CONTROL.

AS THIS RESERVOIR IS FULL IN THE SUMMERTIME IT'S AROUND 5800 ACRES IN THE WINTER THE DRAWDOWN IS 2800 ACRES.

WE WERE ACQUIRED IN 1996.

WE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN 2001 WITH RENOVATIONS.

WE HAVE 333 ACRES AND 1200 BIKING AND HIKING TRAILS AND PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

>> OBVIOUSLY THE WATER IS A BIG DRAW HERE AND FISHING I WILL GET HERE WHICH I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO.

BUT ABOVE AND BEYOND THE GREAT FISHING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WHAT ARE OTHER ACTIVITIES HERE FOR FOLKS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE OFFER TONS OF OPPORTUNITIES ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMERTIME.

BOATING TO BE DONE ON THE LAKE.

WE TRY TO KEEP THE FUN IN THE SUN AT THE PARK HERE, THE TRAILS WE DO LEAD HIKES WE ARE ABLE TO SEE THE WATERFALL, ABLE TO SEE NATIVE PLANTS AND TREES AND IDENTIFICATIONS.

>> WHEN WE CAME IN THIS MORNING WE SAW AN ESCAPE ROOM.

WE HAVE BEEN TO A LOT OF STATE PARKS WE HAVE NOT SEEN ESCAPE ROOMS.

TELL BUS THAT.

>> CHIP, WHEN CAMPERS GET HERE THEY WANT TO DO MORE THAN CAMPING.

WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY TO DO AND WE DEVELOPED A BREAK OUT OR ESCAPE ROOM THAT WE ALLOWED THEM AN HOUR TO SEE IF THEY CAN SOLVE THE PUZZLES AND GET OUT.

>> HOW DO PEOPLE DO?

>> SOME GET TRAPPED.

NO, MOST MAKE IT OUT.

BUT IT IS DECEIVE -- TO SEE WHO GETS THE BEST TIME.

>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF FUND.

>> KENTUCKY STATE PARKS IS AN HONOR TO WORK AT KENTUCKY STATE PARKS.

I LOVE BEING ABLE TO PUT A SMILE ON A KID'S FACE AND WATCH SOMETHING NEW SEE SOMETHING THEY HAVE NOT SEEN BEFORE AND I WANT TO LEAVE A LEGACY OF THAT.

AND I WANT SOMEONE TO FILL IN MY SHOES FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS.

[♪♪] >> CHECK OUT MORE STORIES ON KENTUCKY LIFE WITH CHIP POLSTON SATURDAYS HERE ON KET.

[♪♪] >> SPECTATORS FROM 47 STATES AND 9 COUNTRIES CAME TO EASTERN KENTUCKY THIS WEEKEND FOR THE ANNUAL BOONE FOREST RALLY.

THE RACE SEES RALLY CAR TEAMS COMPETE IN HIGH-SPEED NAVIGATION THROUGH APPALACHIAN TERRAIN.

SUPPORTERS OF THE EVENT SAY THAT EASTERN KENTUCKY IS UNIQUELY SUITED FOR MOTORSPORTS RALLIES.

>> WE DO OVER 200 EVENTS A YEAR ALL OVER EASTERN KENTUCKY BUT THE MOST TOUGHEST CHALLENGE WE DO IS THIS WEEKEND CALLED THE BOONE FOREST RALLY AND IT CROSSES INTO ROCK CASTLE, LEE, OWSLEY AND JACKSON COUNTIES AS WELL AS THE DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST.

IT'S 80 MILES OF RACING THROUGH GRAVEL ROADS AND PUBLIC ROADS AND ONE THING WE DO DIFFERENTLY OUR MOTTO IS COMMUNITY FIRST RACING SECOND.

WE HAVE A CAR EXPOSE OR A CAR SHOW IN EVERY COMMUNITY WE'RE AT START AND FINISH EVERYDAY WITH OUR DRIVERS.

>> EVERY YEAR THE ORGANIZERS CHANGE UP THE TRACK AND BETWEEN 2023 AND 2024 IT CHANGED QUITE A BIT.

BETWEEN 2023 AND 2025 LESS OF A CHANGE-OVER ALL IT'S GREAT.

>> IT'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY.

I'M NOT A BIG RACING FAN BUT AS A BOY I LOVED RACE CARS AND THAT IS WHAT I LOVE SEEING IS THE KIDS IT'S SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY.

YOU HAVE YOUNG KIDS OLD ADULTS AND GRANNIES THEY ARE ALL HERE ENJOYING THE FOOD, THE MUSIC, AND, OF COURSE, THE RACE CARS OVER THERE.

>> THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT MOTOR SPORTS IN KENTUCKY IS HOW FRIENDLY EVERYONE.

EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE NATION PEOPLE HAVE A BAD SIGMA THEY ARE RAMP BUNGCIOUS AND NOT SAFE.

EVERY MOTOR SPORT IN THE NATION IS SAFE AND POLICIES AND IN GENERAL YOU HAVE THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE NATION.

>> RALLY CAR IS BY FAR THE DRIVER AND THE CODRIVER THE MOST TECHNICAL, MOST GUTSY DRIVERS ON THE PLANET.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SAFETY BUT THEY ARE RUNNING 100-MILE-PER-HOUR ON A GRAVEL ROAD.

IT TAKES TALENT AND NERVE AND A LOT OF SKILL AND PRACTICE TO GET TO THIS LEVEL WE ARE AT.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

WE HAVE TO WORK ON PARKING WE HAVE TO WORK ON VIEWING AREAS.

BUT WE GOT THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR IT.

NEXT YEAR WE'RE HOPING FOR A NATIONAL EVENT.

THIS YEAR WE HAD 35 CARS NEXT YEAR WE ARE HOPING FOR 80 TO 100.

IT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHERE WE ARE AT FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, 10 YEARS FROM NOW.

>> BASEBALL'S PEE WEE REESE, THE CINCINNATI-NORTHERN KENTUCKY AIRPORT, AND MULE-DRIVEN STREETCARS ALL FIGURE PROMINENTLY.

'THIS WEEK IN KENTUCKY HISTORY'... FROM OUR TOBY GIBBS.

[♪♪] >> DANIEL AND REBECCA BOONE MARRIED IN NORTH CAROLINA ON APRIL 14TH, 1756, 11 YEARS BEFORE DANIEL BOONE'S FIRST VISIT TO KENTUCKY IN 1767.

THEY WOULD BE MARRIED 57 YEARSAL HER DEATH IN 1813.

>>> LEXINGTON INTRODUCED MULE DRAWN STREETCARS ON AUGUST 12, 1882.

30 MULES PULLED 15 WOODEN CARS UP AND DOWN NINE MILES OF TRACK.

AN EXTRA MULE WAS USED TO PULL CARS UP A HILL ON SOUTH BROADWAY.

>>> FOUR RUNWAYS OPENED IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY ON AUGUST 12, 1944 FOR WAR TRAINING.

AFTER THE WAR, THAT TRAINING FACILITY WOULD EVOLVE INTO THE CINCINNATI NORTHERN KENTUCKY AIRPORT.

>>> WE HAVE A TRIO OF HISTORIC SPORTS MOMENTS.

THE FAMED RACE HORSEMAN OWE WAR LAST OF LOST HIS ONLY RACE IN 1919 TO A HORSE NAMED UPSET IN THE SANFORD STAKES IN SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK.

THE U.S. OLYMPIC BASKETBALL TEAM FEATURES THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY'S FABULOUS FIVE WON THE GOLD MEDAL DURING THE LONDON OLYMPICS ON AUGUST 13TH, 1948.

THE U.S.

BEAT FRANCE 64-21.

>>> THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTED LONG TIME BROOKLYN DODGER SHORTSTOP PEE WEE REECE ON AUGUST 12TH 1984.

HE WAS A 10-TIME ALL-STARS WAS KNOWN FOR BEFRIENDING YAKKY ROBINSON IN 1947.

AND THAT IS WHAT WAS HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN KENTUCKY HISTORY I'M TOBY GIBBS.

JOIN US TOMORROW FROM BOWLING GREEN.... AS WE GO ON THE ROAD.

BOWLING GREEN AND WARREN COUNTY ARE EXPECTED TO DOUBLE IN POPULATION BY THE YEAR 2050.

AND THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE THINKING AHEAD.

WE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE B-G 2050 PROJECT.... AND THE EFFORT TO ANTICIPATE HOUSING NEEDS, TOURISM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND MORE.

THAT'S TOMORROW.... ON KENTUCKY EDITION.

WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN, 5:30 CENTRAL FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" WHERE WE INFORM, CONNECT AND INSPIRE.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR KENTUCKY EDITION EMAIL NEWSLETTERS AND WATCH FULL EPISODES AND CLIPS AT KET.ORG.

KET.ORG.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.