{"id":2340958,"date":"2024-09-13T19:18:56","date_gmt":"2024-09-13T23:18:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/high-school-football-games-canceled-as-police-hunt-for-missing-gunman-nears-second-week\/"},"modified":"2024-09-13T19:21:28","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T23:21:28","slug":"high-school-football-games-canceled-as-police-hunt-for-missing-gunman-nears-second-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/high-school-football-games-canceled-as-police-hunt-for-missing-gunman-nears-second-week\/","title":{"rendered":"High School Football Games Canceled as Police Hunt for Missing Gunman Nears Second Week"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhigh-school-football-games-canceled-as-police-hunt-for-missing-gunman-nears-second-week%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2340958&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>In southeastern Kentucky, \u200bthe search \u2062for a highway shooter has disrupted local\u2063 high\u200c school football games and other fall sports \u200ddue \u200dto safety \u2064concerns. The assailant, identified as Joseph \u2064Couch, opened fire on Interstate 75, \u2062injuring \u200bfive people and hitting twelve\u2062 vehicles last Saturday. In the wake of the attack, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/junior-high-football-coach-dies-after-collapsing-on-field-just-before-game\/\" title=\"Junior high football coach dies after collapsing on field moments before game.\">high school games<\/a> were canceled and students shifted \u2064to virtual\u2062 learning as authorities intensified their\u2063 search for\u200c Couch in a rugged area filled\u200b with dense vegetation and cliffs. Local officials have ramped up security measures at remaining \u200dgames, while schools like Corbin High \u2064School expressed concerns about the impact on community morale and student safety. Reinforcements \u200dfrom Kentucky\u200b State Police are assisting in the ongoing manhunt, with the governor emphasizing the need to ensure the safety of residents while \u2063maintaining law\u2063 enforcement resources for the search.\u200c Amid \u200dthese disruptions, community members are rallying behind law\u200d enforcement \u200defforts to restore a sense of safety.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> <script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>As authorities keep searching for a highway shooter in Kentucky, a Friday night tradition of football, pep bands and cheering fans has been sidelined for some towns.<\/p>\n<p>Games were canceled at a handful of high schools near where the assailant opened fire on Interstate 75 in southeastern Kentucky.<\/p>\n<p>Twelve vehicles were hit and five people wounded in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/interstate-shut-hidden-shooter-opens-fire-passing-cars-massive-manhunt-underway\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">attack<\/a> last Saturday near London, a city of about 8,000 people roughly 75 miles south of Lexington.<\/p>\n<p>Security was being bolstered at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-to-review-case-of-high-school-football-coach-fired-for-postgame-prayers\/\" title=\"Supreme Court To Review Case Of High School Football Coach Fired For Postgame Prayers\">high school football games<\/a> that played on Friday evening.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities continue to search a rugged, wooded area where Joseph Couch, the suspected <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/hooded-gunman-tries-sneak-church-childrens-first-communion-congregation-wasnt-let-happen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gunman<\/a>, is presumed to be hiding. The area has cliff beds, sinkholes, caves and dense brush.<\/p>\n<p>  <script> \t\t\t\tif( ! getCookie( 'ff_subbed' ) ) if( typeof FFADS.replace_ict !='undefined' ) if( FFADS.replace_ict ) eval( FFADS.replace_ict ); \t\t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Police have urged area residents to be vigilant and look out for their neighbors as searchers try to track down the suspect.<\/p>\n<p>Schools have been at the forefront of those safety measures.<\/p>\n<p>Schools remained closed in several area districts, as students shifted to virtual learning.<\/p>\n<p>The disruption has paused a range of fall sports, including soccer, volleyball and cross country as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-early-contender-college-football-flop-season-make-pro-wrestlers-blush\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">football<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Among the schools calling off football games were North Laurel, South Laurel and Corbin high schools.<\/p>\n<p>The shooting occurred in Laurel County, and Corbin is 14 miles south of London.<\/p>\n<p>Fans faced an uncharacteristically quiet Friday evening in towns that rally around their football teams.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Friday night games are huge to our community,&rdquo; said Tackett Wilson, athletic director at Corbin High School. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a huge part of our community and our school.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Practices were disrupted as schools took extra precautions while the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-search-woman-swallowed-sinkhole-enters-seventh-day-single-clue-found\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">search<\/a> for Couch continued.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Anytime you have a disruption during your season, it&rsquo;s an issue,&rdquo; Wilson said by phone Friday. &ldquo;But you have to err on the side of caution. It&rsquo;s student safety.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Corbin officials will try to schedule a makeup football game later in the season, he said.<\/p>\n<p>Amid the disruptions, fans are rooting for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/new-police-call-audio-springfield-ohio-appears-confirm-haitian-goose-story\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">law enforcement<\/a> officers involved in the search.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Right now, we are focused on backing our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-sens-if-police-reform-is-going-to-happen-must-be-before-july\/\" title=\"GOP Sens.: If police reform is going to happen, must be before July\">front-line officers<\/a> and first responders so they can do their job in catching this guy and we can return to a safe and positive environment for our students,&rdquo; North Laurel athletic director Ethan Eversole said.<\/p>\n<p>He praised the safety plan devised by school district administrators. But students have had a big part of their lives put on hold as athletic activities have been idled.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our teams have not been able to practice all week,&rdquo; Eversole said in an ed statement.<\/p>\n<p>Kentucky State Police brought in reinforcements to aid with the search, and authorities have bolstered efforts to keep area residents safe as the search continues.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We will not pull resources away from the search for those other activities,&rdquo; Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday. &ldquo;We just want to make sure that people are ready to try to get back to their day-to-day lives, that there&rsquo;s that extra (law enforcement) presence where people can feel just a little bit better.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The day after the shooting, law enforcement officers searched an area near where Couch&rsquo;s vehicle was found, with a view of I-75. There, they found an Army-style duffel bag, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ai-powered-vending-machines-dispense-ammunition-installed-stores-around-south\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ammunition<\/a> and spent shell casings, authorities said in an arrest warrant affidavit.<\/p>\n<p>A short distance away, they found a Colt AR-15 rifle with a sight mounted to the weapon and several additional magazines. The duffel bag had &ldquo;Couch&rdquo; hand-written in black marker.<\/p>\n<p>Couch is believed to have fired 20 to 30 rounds in the attack, investigators said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-style: italic;\">The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> <label>* Name<\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> <\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> <label>* <\/label> <br \/> <input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> <\/div>\n<p> <label>* Message<\/label> <br \/> <textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea>  <\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\">  <\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! ( opts[inputs[i]]=document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"' + inputs[i] + '\"]' ).value ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .required-message' ).style.display='block'; \t\t\t\t\t\treturn; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction input[type=\"submit\"]' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).src=firefly_loading_gif_url; \t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='inline-block';  \t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( 'ma subbing' );  \t\t\t\t\tif( firefly_post_id ) opts['post_id']=firefly_post_id;  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Send the data using post with element id name and name2*\/ \t\t\t\t\tvar posting=jQuery.post( firefly_ajax_url, opts );  \t\t\t\t\t\/* Alerts the results *\/ \t\t\t\t\tposting.done( function( response ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif( response.success ) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log( response.data ); \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-submitting-img' ).style.display='none'; \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction .firefly-sc-confirm' ).style.display='block';  \t\t\t\t\t\t\tdataLayer.push( { 'event': 'submit-correction' } ); \t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><script>console.log(\"ad slot (BA1)\")<\/script> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\">  <\/div>\n<style> \t\t\t \t\t\t.insticator-unit.type-commenting{margin: 0 10px 25px 10px}@media screen and (max-width:1060px){#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{margin: 0 auto 25px auto !important;}}#div-insticator-ad-cmt-1, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-2, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-3, #div-insticator-ad-cmt-4{height: 280px !important; width: 336px !important} \t\t<\/style>\n<div class=\"insticator-unit type-commenting\">\n<div class=\"insticator-ads\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-1\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-2\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"insticator-ads additional\">   <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\t\t\tif ( ! getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tInsticator.ad.loadAd(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\"); \t\t\t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-3\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"div-insticator-ad-cmt-4\").remove() \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t<\/script> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As authorities continue their search for a highway shooter in Kentucky, the usual Friday night festivities of football games, pep bands, and enthusiastic fans have been disrupted in several towns. A number of high schools near the site of the shooting on Interstate 75 had to cancel their games. Last Saturday&#8217;s attack near London, a small city about 75 miles south of Lexington, resulted in twelve vehicles being struck and five individuals injured. To enhance safety at high school football events held on Friday evening, security measures were increased. The suspected gunman, Joseph Couch, is believed to be hiding in a rugged area filled with cliffs, sinkholes, caves, and dense vegetation.<\/p>\n<p>Local police have urged residents to remain alert and watch out for one another as they work to locate the suspect. Several school districts have closed down schools entirely while students transition to virtual learning due to safety concerns. This disruption has affected various fall sports including soccer, volleyball, cross country as well as football. Schools such as North Laurel High School and Corbin High School canceled their football games following the incident that took place in Laurel County; Corbin is located just 14 miles south of London.<\/p>\n<p>The absence of Friday night games has left communities that typically rally around their teams feeling unusually quiet. Tackett Wilson from Corbin High School emphasized how significant these games are for local culture: \u201cFriday night games are huge for our community.\u201d He acknowledged that any interruption during the season poses challenges but stressed that student safety must come first.<\/p>\n<p>Corbin officials plan to reschedule some football matches later this season if possible. Meanwhile, fans are showing support for law enforcement involved in the ongoing search efforts. North Laurel athletic director Ethan Eversole expressed solidarity with first responders while commending the safety protocols established by school administrators; however he noted that students&#8217; athletic activities have been significantly impacted: \u201cOur teams haven\u2019t been able to practice all week.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kentucky State Police have deployed additional resources to assist with locating Couch while ensuring community safety remains a priority during this time of uncertainty. Governor Andy Beshear stated on Thursday that resources would not be diverted from searching for Couch despite other activities needing attention: \u201cWe want people ready to return to normalcy with an increased law enforcement presence so they can feel more secure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Following the shooting incident last weekend where Couch\u2019s vehicle was discovered nearby I-75 along with an Army-style duffel bag containing ammunition and spent shell casings\u2014investigators also found a Colt AR-15 rifle equipped with a sight and multiple magazines close by\u2014the authorities believe he fired between 20-30 rounds during his attack.<\/p>\n<p>This report has been reviewed by The Western Journal based on information from Associated Press sources which may have undergone modifications prior to publication for editorial compliance<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2340959,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/844316fc4a4441eb8899e5aae7d86708-scaled.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[40880,40879,39544],"class_list":["post-2340958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-canceled-games","tag-high-school-football","tag-missing-person"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/844316fc4a4441eb8899e5aae7d86708-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2340958","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2340958"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2340958\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2340959"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2340958"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2340958"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2340958"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}