February 6, 1902… James Howard was convicted of complicity in the murder of Governor Goebel and sentenced to life imprisonment. His earlier trial ended with a death sentence. Mrs. Louis Burgin Couring, 38, died in San Antonio of pneumonia. She was from Versailles and was one of the handsomest women in Central Kentucky. The Legislature adjourned Monday for the day out of respect to the memory of Governor Goebel, who died that day two years ago. The spot where the first sermon was preached in Kentucky has been located and will be marked by a stone. The place where an elm tree stood in Mercer County is the spot where the Rev. Mr. Tinsley, in 1776, delivered the first sermon heard on Kentucky soil. The tree was shattered by lightning in 1862. The sleet of last week was the heaviest ever known here. A great many fruit, ornamental and shade trees are ruined, and it will take years to replace them. The Versailles Council will act on the application of the Interurban Railroad Co. for a franchise to run through Versailles, at their meeting tonight. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Landsberg, former residents of Versailles, have returned to their home in New York City after a visit with the S.W. Landsbergs. The oldest inhabitant has been scratching his head again to recall a sleet at all comparable with the present one in extent, duration or destruction. The shade trees of Versailles were nearly all destroyed. C.A. Reid, formerly assessor of Woodford County, has moved his family to Wilmore. Oscar Vest, who ran a saloon in Midway last year, has moved to Owenton. Mrs. W.T. Hawkins offers for rent her cottage on the corner of Higgins and Turner streets. It is described as one of the most desirable dwellings in Midway. The ground hog saw his shadow Sunday. As a consequence, we are to have six weeks more of winter. The ground hog is claimed by many as an infallible prophet of weather. Others say he is no good. There is great agitation in Midway for a public library. Most schemes revolve around trying to get the money from the “Ironmaster,” Mr. Carnegie. The worse sleet in years visited this community last week. It began Wednesday night, and the destruction of trees was great. All during the night the crash and boom of breaking and falling limbs could be heard. The sight which met the eye the following morning was almost indescribable. Passage on the sidewalks was impossible and the few pedestrians who ventured out kept strictly in the middle of the road, where walking was not so dangerous. The trees along Winter and Turner streets seem to have been damaged the most, some of them being almost ruined. The sight was beautiful to behold, although one could but sigh at the ruin wrought. The telephone companies suffered considerably, and the local system had to be reconstructed almost entirely. These temporary lapses in the use of telephones demonstrates how absolutely indispensable these conveniences are in both public and private affairs. In fact, it is hard to realize how people ever got along without them. February 8, 1923… An appeal is being made to all Woodford County to help raise funds for a new academic building at the Midway Orphan School. The present classrooms are located in the basements of the dormitories and are poorly lighted, poorly ventilated and too small. A.A. Delong will sell on Feb. 20 a 162-acre farm three miles north of Versailles and adjoining the lands of Lister Witherspoon, W.G. Lehman, Senator Camden, Mrs. Lucas Broadhead and the Harris estate. It is known as the McBrayer Moore farm. Dr. S.A. Blackburn is a candidate for representative from Woodford to the Legislature. Mrs. Lister Witherspoon, 72, died last Wednesday after an illness of more than a year.