WQXE NEWS

A rainy week brought some relief to the area, but the National Weather Service says drought conditions remain mostly where they were at the beginning of last week.

According to the NWS, the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor data for the area still has much of the area in either D0 (Abnormally Dry) or D1 (Moderate Drought). Some portions of LaRue and Nelson counties were downgraded to D2 (Severe Drought).

The weather service says below normal rainfall has been experienced across much of the area over the last 30 days, while the area saw above average temperatures for an extended period of time over the last two weeks. Mostly dry weather is in the forecast the rest of this week, although the possible arrival of tropical storms from the Atlantic could bring some moisture mid-week. Rain in the area last week will likely see improved statistics on the drought monitor this week.

Several counties that declared burn bans lifted those bans after the past week. The burn ban in LaRue County remains in effect. Check with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet for more information.

A collision on Interstate 65 in Hart County Thursday resulted in the death of a driver.

Kentucky State Police Post Three says at approximately 11 a.m. CDT troopers were called to the scene of an accident at the 65.8 mile marker of I-65. The KSP says the preliminary investigation indicates a minivan with a juvenile driver was traveling north on I-65 when the vehicle collided with the rear end of a stopped commercial vehicle. The juvenile driver was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hart County Coroner’s Office.

The KSP’s investigation is ongoing. The collision was part of traffic impacts on I-65 which lasted nearly seven hours.

The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in their investigation into a road rage incident Tuesday.

The sheriff’s office says on September 23 at approximately 6:45 p.m. a burgundy Harley Davidson motorcycle was heading east on the Western Kentucky Parkway. A dark colored SUV which was also travelling east appeared to be pursuing the motorcycle at a high rate of speed.

The sheriff’s office says at around the 113-mile marker the SUV attempted to run the motorcycle off the roadway, which caused the motorcycle’s operator to lay the bike down in the right lane and then into the ditch alongside the emergency lane. The SUV then pulled into the emergency lane, and a passenger exited the vehicle, fired multiple rounds at the motorcycle’s operator, and reentered the vehicle, at which time the driver fled eastbound on the parkway.

The sheriff’s office says none of the rounds struck the motorcycle operator and no injuries were reported in the incident. Witnesses stopped to assist the operator but left the scene before the arrival of law enforcement.

The shooter is described as a white male, approximately 6 feet tall with an average build and shoulder-length hair. He was wearing a red flannel shirt and blue jeans. Any witnesses to the incident or anybody with possible information on the shooter is encouraged to contact the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office at 270-259-3024.