Looking back at 2023, one thing is certain. Owensboro is on a secret mission to become the car wash capital of the world. We’re kidding, of course — or at least we think so. On a serious note, there were plenty of stories worth revisiting. Whether you’re here for the drama, the crime, the politics, or the heartwarming, here’s your 2023 Owensboro Times Wrapped.
Quick look
First, a quick look at the top stories based on a mix of website views, social media interaction, and staff picks. Miss any of these or just want to read them again? You can find them in the slides that follow.
Top news stories of the year
1 – Churchill Downs changes plans for Ellis Park project
2 – Towne Square Mall closes permanently
3 – DCPL, RPC center of multiple debates in community
4 – Major changes alter flight options for OWB airport
Top crime stories of the year
1 – Constant charged with felonies by KSP
2 – 2 teens fatally shot days apart in separate incidents
3 – 5 people overdose on cocaine laced with fentanyl
4 – Discount Motors owner, salesman charged with fraud
Top feature stories of the year
1 – World record for largest bluegrass band
2 – Local teacher wins big on wheel of fortune
3 – Local artist Graves finds new levels of success
4 – DCSO added Rhinerson to court security team
Top business stories of the year
1 – Mister B’s finally open, includes golf simulator
2 – Big Rivers opens headquarters downtown
3 – Chain restaurants galore coming to Owensboro
4 – Bath & Body Works moves to east side
In-depth look: Months-long stories
- Former OPS Superintendent Constant charged by KSP
Constant was first suspended by the school board in May when it was announced he was under investigation by the Kentucky State Police. He was arrested by KSP in late July and charged with a pair of felonies. A grand jury indicted him on one of the charges in October. The case is still pending. Here’s our in-depth coverage of each step along the way so far. - Churchill Downs changes plans for Ellis Park facility, breaks ground in east Daviess County
Churchill Downs nixed the plans to use Owensboro’s Towne Square Mall for the Ellis Park extension facility in May after the City didn’t amend its smoking ordinance. They later announced plans for a site in eastern Daviess County, and groundwork began in early December. Read our in-depth coverage of all those events here. - Protests, counterprotests following DCPL’s celebration, programming during Pride Month
Approximately 25 people representing the Daviess County Citizens for Decency (DCC4D) group protested the library’s celebration of Pride Month, distribution of materials, and/or LGBTQ+ books in the library. About 100 people showed up to counterprotest. The next week, citizens expressed opposing views on library’s programming and books during the DCPL board meeting. In mid-August, DCC4D “audited” books in the teen and juvenile sections of the library. That saga, which included plenty of feedback from the public during DCPL meetings, ended in October with the library making a couple of policy changes but keeping materials where they were. - RiverPark Center loses funding from County, closes GhostLight Lounge; Jorn departs
In April, the Daviess County Fiscal Court proposed eliminating funding for the RiverPark Center. While they didn’t directly say it was a result of complaints from the Daviess County Citizens for Decency (DCC4D), that appeared to play a role. Community members packed the room to express opposition to the proposal during Fiscal Court’s May meeting. But in June, the County approved a budget with no funding for RPC. Later that month, RPC shut down its GhostLight Lounge, a venue that hosted many events included well-attended drag shows. Then in August, RPC Executive Director suddenly was no longer with the organization. It was never made clear if he left or was fired.
In-depth look: Everything else
The rest of our year-in-review list is shown chronologically. Choices were again based on a mix of website views, social media interaction, and staff picks. So, let’s take it from the top.
- Youngman ready to make impact as Daviess County Sheriff
Daviess County started the year off with a new Sheriff in town with Brad Youngman. By the end of his first month in office DCSO was fully staffed for the first time in years, and in February he added a narcotics unit and expanded the investigations division. - Roundabout added to intersection of Old Hartford and Fairview
Roundabouts can get people stirred up in a hurry. That’s what happened when it was announced one was coming to the busy intersection of Old Hartford Road and Fairview Drive/Foors Lane at the east corner of Hillcrest Golf Course. - Boat dock project dead in the water, at least for now
For a while, Owensboro seemed destined to add a transient boat dock. Finally, after overwhelming negative feedback, that project was canned. - Taqueria La Bendicion De Dios opens brick-and-mortar location
Well-known on the Owensboro food truck scene, Taqueria La Bendicion De Dios opened a brick-and-mortar location. - Major changes alter flight options for OWB airport
First Owensboro ended their flights to Nashville and St. Louis, opting instead for a new jet service to Charlotte. But they later altered course and chose Chicago as the new destination. OWB also lost their direct flight to Orlando after Allegiant Air discontinued service here. - Scooter’s Coffee comes to Owensboro
Scooter’s opened their first drive-thru coffee location in January. In October it was announced a second location is coming to the former Shogun building. - Bar-B-Q Fest rebranded to BBQ and Barrels
With the annual barbecue festival far from what it once was, the event went through essentially a complete rebrand this year. Here’s a drone flyover of the event. - OMFA receives $1M gift to provide permanent source of income
A gift of $1 million to the museum established an endowment to provide a permanent source of income for the facility, and it’s the largest donation in the museum’s history. - Pentatonix, Owensboro native Olusola receive star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Grammy-winning a cappella group Pentatonix, which includes Owensboro native Kevin Olusola, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. - Big Rivers opens new headquarters in downtown Owensboro
In one of the bigger local economic developments in recent years, Big Rivers relocated its headquarters to downtown Owensboro. They officially opened in February then held a big celebration in May. They’ve also broken ground on a new transmission operations center near the west end of the bypass. - Monument honoring area members of KY Veterans Hall of Fame unveiled
The Region 7 KY Veterans Hall of Fame Monument was unveiled and dedicated. - Community helps local man’s dream come true of sitting in ’57 Chevy Bel Air
When Dan Doane put out a request looking for a ’57 Chevy Bel Air for his 86-year-old father, he never expected such a strong response. - Terry Woodward given star on Owensboro Walk of Fame
Local entrepreneur Terry Woodward on Tuesday became the 13th person to be inducted into the Owensboro Walk of Fame. - 5 people ages 17-22 overdose on cocaine laced with fentanyl but recover
Five people overdosed on cocaine laced with fentanyl in April. All of them recovered. A 24-year-old was later charged for the incident. - Discount Motors owner, salesman charged with fraud for rolling back odometers
Two people were charged with rolling back odometers prior to reselling vehicles, with the crimes potentially dating back to 2019. They also face drug trafficking charges. - Gramps hitting the road with new catering truck
Gramps took their signature donuts on the road with a new catering truck, which they have styled to look like a vintage milk van. - Deconstruction begins on Mount Saint Joseph buildings
With origins dating back to 1974, much of the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center was razed this year due to structural issues. - City Commissioner Larry Maglinger dies
Owensboro City Commissioner Larry Maglinger — an entrepreneur and local business owner who was also well-known for his Rod Stewart impersonations — died at the age of 73. - Baker’s Dozen opens, offering doughnuts and other sweet treats
The new bakery serve more than 30 different types of doughnuts alongside bagels, cupcakes, cookies, and other sweets. - Slim Chickens coming to Owensboro
Who’s ready for another chicken restaurant? Slim Chickens is coming to Owensboro. - New sushi restaurant to rock-n-roll on Frederica
What’s going next to Slim Chickens? Sushi, with a rock-n-roll vibe. - 2 teens fatally shot days apart, teen suspects in adult court
A 16-year-old female was shot near Bew Hawes Park. Here’s the latest on that case. Three days later, a 16-year-old male was shot in an unrelated incident. Here’s the latest on that case. - Goodwood Owensboro now open
Located on the riverfront, Goodwood offers a diverse menu with southern classics in addition to specializing in craft beers and spirits. - Parlor Doughnuts adding Owensboro location
More doughnuts? Yes. Known for their “layered doughnuts” and range of toppings, Parlor Doughnuts is adding an Owensboro location. - Renovated Cravens Pool will have interactive play features, larger footprint
Cravens Pool renovations include a larger footprint, interactive play structures, in-pool seating and zero-depth entry. - Crowe’s Nest food truck launches, specializing in chicken
Crowe’s Nest specializes in hand-breaded chicken coated in signature breading with fresh ingredients. - Towne Square Mall announces closure, owners project new vision
Already down to a handful of tenants, the mall owners announced its full closure, along with plans of a new vision for the property. - Baby box installed in Fire Station 1
Following a long fundraising effort by Owensboro Right to Life, the Owensboro Fire Department fully installed a Safe Haven Baby Box at Station 1. - Local artist Graves finds new levels of success, has big local following
With his hit single “Dirt on Me,” local artist Colt Graves gained national attention overnight. His local fan base was evident with the packed crowd during PorchFest, as well as during some controversy at the end of the summer. After his Friday After 5 performance was cancelled, Graves played his own free concert at the RiverPark Center instead. We’ve covered Graves’ journey since the beginning, and you can relive it all here. - Ortiz sells Real Hacienda to Radilla; restaurant name, menu to remain unchanged
Armando Ortiz and his family are selling Real Hacienda to Oralis Radilla, an Owensboro native who owns Don Mario with her family. - Local teacher wins big on ‘Wheel of Fortune’
Local elementary teacher Maggie Jagoe won big during her appearance on Wheel of Fortune’s Teacher Week. - Mister B’s opens Owensboro location, includes indoor golf simulator
After much anticipation, Mister B’s Pizza and Wings opened the doors to its Owensboro location in October. - KWC cuts positions, athletic programs for ‘future sustainability’
Kentucky Wesleyan College announced a series of organizational changes “to align itself for future stability,” including the elimination of positions and multiple athletic programs. - Bath & Body Works opens location in Gateway Commons
After the mall closed, Bath & Body Works opened a new location in Gateway Commons off KY 54. - Antique Mall moves locations, changes name
Owensboro Antiques and More — formerly operating as Owensboro Antiques Mall — opened the doors of its new home on Frederica Street. - Former DCMS building torn down
The site has since been leveled, but work began in mid-November to tear down the former Daviess County Middle School building. - Firehouse Subs to open on KY 54 in early 2024
Highway 54 will be getting a bit hotter in the winter with Firehouse Subs opening their doors at the top of the year. - Community sets world record for largest bluegrass band
It’s official: the world record for the largest bluegrass band was set in Daviess County. Watch the live stream of it here. - Second Huddle House now open on west side of Owensboro
Owensboro’s second Huddle House is officially open on the west side of Owensboro. - Trailblazing for inclusivity: DCSO added Rhinerson to court security team
In a move towards inclusivity, the 45-year-old Rhinerson — a Puzzle Pieces client and Employment Opportunities job seeker with Down syndrome — is the newest addition to the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office court security team.
