Mattress storein Lexington, KY

Cleanup efforts at Ashland, the historic Henry Clay Estate in Lexington, were underway Monday after hurricane-force winds blew through Friday, felling at least 15 trees on the property, including some that are centuries old.

“We’re probably going to be shuttered for at least a week,” Henry Clay Estate Executive Director James Clark told the Herald-Leader Monday.

According to Clark, there was no significant damage to the estate’s main structure — the historic mansion that was home to the famous Kentucky statesman for nearly half a century.

The estate’s smokehouse, however, did take some roof damage after it was hit by a fallen tree, Clark said. A separate cottage on the property seems unscathed.

The same can’t be said for more than a dozen trees across the leafy estate. One elm that was at least a century old came down, along with a spruce that was at least 200 years old. Ashland’s ancient blue ash trees — which are 300 years old — only lost a few limbs, Clark said. A few other Kentucky Coffee Trees and some Hackberries were also casualties.

“I would say the clean up of trees alone will be around $20,000,” Clark said, adding the estate lost another $10,000 in revenue from canceled and refunded tours.

Monday morning, a crew of at least seven volunteers was clearing limbs and sorting them into piles ahead of the arrival of a woodchipper, Clark said. Huge limbs were still hanging in surviving trees, so the cleanup effort will be demanding, the director noted.

He advised against visitors coming to look at the damage, given the safety concerns at this time.

For Henry Clay, who served as senator, speaker of the house and secretary of state during his life, Ashland was a refuge. In his own words, Clay described it as his own personal “Promised Land” and considered himself more blessed than Moses.

Ashland was also where at least 120 people were enslaved by Clay throughout his life. On Clay’s 600-acre plantation, enslaved men, women and children worked long hours to make every amenity and luxury of Clay’s estate possible. They grew, harvested and processed hemp, raised livestock and cooked and cleaned for the Clays.

An 1845 account posted on the estate’s website describes its various amenities in Clay’s day: “Then there is a stone cheese house and a stone butter-house. Ashland being celebrated for the quantity and quality of butter made there at. His chicken-house, dove-house, stables, barns and sheds are all in perfect repair, spacious, neat, and in order. There is also a large green house filled with choice plants and beautiful flowers.”

Today, the estate’s grounds are home to an arboretum of more than 600 trees, gardens and various historical buildings.

If you would like to support clean-up efforts, the estate takes donations at its website at henryclay.org/donate.

Do you have a question about Lexington for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.

Clean up began first thing this morning in Lexington, after a wind storm left trees on the ground, knocked out the electricity to thousands of homes, and left many intersections in the dark. Damage citywide is estimated in the millions.

“Like people all over our city, I was out in my yard this morning, picking up limbs, checking on neighbors, and on roof damage,” Mayor Linda Gorton said. “City workers have been out since the storm began yesterday, helping citizens stay safe, and now assisting in the clean up. On days like this I especially appreciate our city employees, who offer a helping hand and put the people they serve first. After all many of these people may be needed to clean up storm damage in their own yards.”

Gorton provided an update on storm cleanup work:

ELECTRIC SERVICE

Kentucky Utilities estimates that currently, about 45,000 – 50,000 households and businesses in Lexington are without power. Ten schools are without power. The company hopes to have an estimated time of restoration tomorrow or Monday. This is the third most significant weather event in the last 20 years for KU, said KU spokesman Daniel Lowry.

KU crews continue to work around the clock to protect the public, assess and repair damage and safely restore customers. LG&E and KU have secured an additional 1,200 off-system resources from utilities from surrounding states. They are joining forces with the hundreds of LG&E and KU employees and area contractors in this massive, multi-day restoration event.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

Police responded to over 300 weather-related calls overnight, including trees and/or wires blocking roadways, traffic lights not working, power outages, alarms and traffic hazards. Because of increased demand for service, officers were held over from first shift, and third shift came in early.

Power inverters were deployed in intersections without power to operate the traffic signals, and barricades were placed to alert motorists of blocked roadways.

As of noon today over 20 intersections were still without power and either being controlled with an inverter or motorists are treating them as a four-way stop. Approximately 15 roadways are still blocked due to trees or wires.

FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES

Fire also responded to almost 300 calls yesterday, including calls for downed wires.

There was one structure fire on Courtney Avenue that was likely caused by a tree falling on the electrical wires to the home.

To increase its numbers and respond faster yesterday, Fire staffed HazMat 1, Collapse Truck 1, reserve Engine 37, Engine 38 and L17 with company officers, Academy instructors and students.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Lexington residents can take their storm debris – trees and yard waste – to the former Old Frankfort Pike Landfill, 1631 Old Frankfort Pike, at no charge.

The site will be open from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. beginning Sunday, March 5, to Friday, March 10. “We will extend that deadline, if needed,” Gorton said.

A Fayette County driver’s license or other proof of residence in Fayette County is required.

The entrance is off Old Frankfort Pike. The city will recycle the debris and turn it into mulch.

TRAFFIC SIGNALS

The Division of Traffic Engineering is working to get traffic signals up and operating. Currently there are about 20 traffic signals that are dark. Power inverters are in use at 25 signals. About 100 signals have twisted heads so motorists cannot see the face of the signal.

STREETS & ROADS

Work continues to clear Lexington’s streets of storm debris. The division has cleared 42 streets and has about 20 more to do.

PARKS & RECREATION

Three city golf courses are closed because of downed limbs – Lakeside, Picadome and Kearney Hill Golf Links.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

The Lexington Division of Emergency Management is asking anyone who has experienced property damage in Fayette County due to today’s wind storm to report it using the online form.

The information will be used to determine total property damage from the storms in Fayette County.

State and federal funds may be available to offset some of the cost of storm damage, but it will take time for the assessment to take place.

This is not a promise of storm damage financial relief. This is for damage assessment only. Damages must be from the March 3, 2023, extraordinary wind event.

Reports will only be taken using this online form. Paper reports, emails or social media reports cannot be accepted.

When filling out the form, please note that some fields will automatically fill in, such as the address, city, state and zip code. Please attach any pictures you may have of the damage. Describe the nature of the damage in as much detail as you are able.

MEDICAL DEVICES

People who do not have electricity, but have medical devices that require electricity, can call 311 for assistance.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Friday's storms may have passed but there is a lot of damage across the Commonwealth being assessed as recovery efforts continue Sunday.

Storms with near-hurricane-force winds ripped through the Bluegrass Friday causing massive power outages and damage throughout the state.

As of late Sunday, five weather-related deaths were reported in Kentucky.

Gov. Andy Beshear said the first death occurred in Simpson County; he then reported deaths in Edmonson and Logan Counties.

"Let's continue to be there for one another as we mourn these losses," tweeted Gov. Beshear.

The Fayette County Coroner's Office reported a death in Lexington after a tree fell on a car. Officials say the car was blocked by a tree in the road. As one of the occupants attempted to remove the tree, another limb fell on the car, seriously injuring one and killing another.

The Fayette County Coroner identified the victim as 41-year-old Erica Yeary.

Gov. Beshear held a briefing Saturday morning to give updates on the storm damages and outages across the bluegrass.

In regard to the outages, Beshear said, "when it comes to power, this is going to be a multi-day event."

Gov. Beshear reported a fifth death related to the storms as an 84-year-old Bath County man.

Our Storm Tracker Weather Team recorded two wind gusts of 70 mph at Blue Grass Airport around 3:30 p.m.

We've just recorded two wind gusts at the Blue Grass Airport to 70 mph, just under hurricane force. They've occurred on the back end of the t-storm line and now sun has emerged. A squall line east of I-75 is also causing high gusts in east central Kentucky.#kywx pic.twitter.com/wtdbrOlGfw

— Bill Meck (@BillMeck) March 3, 2023

As of 1 p.m. Sunday, roughly 225,000 people are still in the dark across the state, with just over 37,000 customers without power in Fayette County and just over 65,000 customers without power in Jefferson County.

To view current outages, click here.

"Our crews are working safely and as quickly as possible to restore power to all impacted customers," tweeted LG&E and KU.

Power outages also plagued passengers at Bluegrass Airport Friday night.

There were multiple cancellations and delays due to power issues and the high winds outside, with one group of passengers waiting hours for an Allegiant flight to Orlando.

It left fliers like Donna Campell frustrated.

Well, we're all waiting and waiting. What happens? They tell everybody it's canceled flight, get out, go. Rude," Campbell said.

"We're all tired. We're all frustrated. We have places to go, people to see things to do. We don't need this."

After a near six hour wait, the Allegiant flight passengers were told they had been rebooked on a flight for Saturday morning.

Bluegrass Airport did tweet Saturday morning power had been restored but still urges fliers to check their flight status to be safe.

As winds ramped up, so did reports of damage throughout Kentucky.

Debris flew off of the Fayette County Courthouse and into the street:

A tree fell into a home in Somerset:

Trees and limbs caused damage on Pemberton Street in Lexington:

The Castlewood neighborhood in Lexington also suffered damage:

As the sun came up Saturday, more damage became visible in Lexington including a massive tree, close to 300 years old that was ripped from the ground by the strong winds.

A closer look at this fallen tree - the base is at least double my height. @LEX18News pic.twitter.com/sjzibJgOQL

— Evelyn Schultz (@EvelynSchultzTV) March 4, 2023

To view more photos of storm damage, click here.

Officials have asked Fayette County residents to report any property damage by filling out this online form.

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Disgraced reality TV star Julie Chrisley will serve her prison time in Lexington, Kentucky, following her conviction in a federal tax-evasion case.

Julie Chrisley, 50, was scheduled to self-report to the Federal Medical Center in Lexington by noon Tuesday, according to records filed in the Northern District of Georgia. FMC Lexington is an “administrative security federal medical center with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp," the prison's website says.

She was originally slated to serve her time in the federal prison camp in Marianna about two and a half hours away from Pensacola, where her husband, Todd Chrisley, 54, begun serving his 12-year sentence Tuesday afternoon, court records say. It is not clear why she was instead rerouted to the Kentucky facility.

Back story:Reality TV couple, Todd and Julie Chrisley, to report to Florida prisons next week

Previous reporting:Federal judge recommends reality TV couple, Todd and Julie Chrisley, serve prison time in Florida

"Cushy" Florida prison:Pensacola Federal Prison Camp, home of Todd Chrisley, deemed 2nd cushiest U.S. prison. What we know.

The "Chrisley Knows Best" stars, who portrayed themselves as real estate tycoons, were found guilty in June of tax evasion and defrauding community banks out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans, which funded their luxurious lifestyle. Julie Chrisley was additionally convicted of obstruction of justice and wire fraud.

The Chrisleys spent millions on designer brand clothes, luxury cars and real estate, including two mansions in Nashville, Tennessee, reportedly worth about $9 million.

They are appealing their conviction.

Notorious inmate in Tallahassee:Ghislaine Maxwell teaches 'etiquette' class in Tallahassee prison, reports say

From Russia with love:Maria Butina, Russian woman who admitted being secret agent, released from Tallahassee prison

Contact Christopher Cann at ccann@tallahassee.com and follow @ChrisCannFL on Twitter.

NORMAN, Okla. – Junior shortstop Erin Coffel delivered a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning as part of a six-run frame which aided an 11-run effort from the No. 14 Kentucky offense as UK downed UIC 11-0 in five games Sunday to conclude the 2023 Oklahoma Tournament in Norman.

Alexia Lacatena pitched four shutout innings on Sunday, allowing just three hits to the 16 batters she faced, while walking two and surrendering no runs. Stephanie Schoonover pitched a perfect fifth inning in relief of Lacatena to nail down the run-rule win, throwing just 11 pitches with nine of them recorded as strikes and two K’s in the frame.

Offensively, UK scored 11 runs on eight hits and were aided by six Flame errors in the contest. Margaret Tobias and center fielder Kayla Kowalik were the only UK players with multiple hits Sunday afternoon, as the Wildcat offense was balanced throughout the day.

Kentucky with Sunday’s win improves to 12-5-1 on the 2023 season as UIC falls to 0-17 through four weekends of action. The Wildcats will head home to Lexington and John Cropp Stadium for the first time this season as it opens the 2023 home slate of games on Wednesday afternoon at 5 p.m. ET against Dayton. The game will be broadcasted live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app. Tickets for UK’s home opener are available at UKathletics.com.

Key Play

The key play in the game was Erin Coffel’s grand slam in the bottom of the third inning to put the Wildcats up 10-0. Coffel led all players in the game with four RBI.

Key Player

The key player was Grace Lorsung, who hit a solo home run out to left field in the bottom of the second inning, which was UK’s first hit in the game and got the Kentucky offense out of the gates to begin a four-run second inning.

Key Stat

The key stat from Sunday’s 11-0 win was eight. This was Kentucky’s eighth shutout win of the season, surpassing last season’s total of seven shutouts on the 2022 year.

Run Recap

Grace Lorsung hit a one-out solo home run to left in the bottom of the second inning to give Kentucky a 1-0 lead. Kayla Kowalik scored another run on an RBI single up the middle with Vanessa Nesby playing Kowalik on a Flame throwing error as four runs crossed in the bottom of the second. UK 4, OU 0

In the bottom of the third, Lauryn Borzilleri came to the plate with runners on the corners and one out, and bunted to attempt to squeeze in a run. After an out was recorded at the plate, the UIC catcher threw behind a runner and the ball went all the way to the wall, allowing Borzilleri to score on the play, a four-base error. Erin Coffel then hit a grand slam after Kowalik and Nesby reached to make it a 10-0 lead for the Wildcats. UK 10, UIC 0

In the bottom of the fourth, Rylea Smith reached on an error and Meeko Harrison’s pinch hit RBI single through the right side scored Smith. FINAL – Kentucky 11, UIC 0

For the latest on UK Softball, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @UKSoftball.