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On Tuesday, September 3, 15-year-old McKenna Letcher sadly passed away in a traffic accident. 

The news shook many throughout the state of Kentucky, with Pulaski County High School holding a moment of silence prior to its home football game against George Rogers Clark High School and the Estill County Board of Education encouraging students to wear black and purple in Letcher’s honor. 

Yet around Clark County, words and actions for support of family and friends were evident as well. 

Among many, Clark County Judge-Executive Les Yates posted the following message on his Facebook page. 

“Katrina and I express our most sincere condolences to the family of young McKenna Letcher,”  he stated. “I know I speak on behalf of all the people in Clark County in offering our prayers for God’s comfort in this time of loss.”

Clark County Youth Athletics, an organization often at the local Dairy Queen on Fulton Road for fundraising purposes, teamed up with the restaurant from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 4. 

“All of the proceeds made from tonight’s [sic] CCYA DQ night will go to the family of McKenna Letcher. Let’s show up as a community for this family,” stated a post on CCYA’s Facebook page. 

One night earlier, a group of local individuals – including Clark County Property Valuation Administrator Jada Brady – gathered in front of GRC. 

They were joined by a teenage group from Calvary Christian Church.

Their objective was to pray not only for Letcher’s family and friends, but also for students of the school in general. 

Local resident Jess Toews helped organize others to gather for the night. 

“I personally do not know the family…I just tried to decide, ‘how can I help this situation?’”, she said. “It’s about the people…and making a change and trying to do what we can on the outside to help them on the inside.” 

Certainly not least, students gathered in the GRC courtyard on Wednesday, September 11 to remember Letcher with her family present. 

“I know what it’s like to lose a loved one,” said freshman Ella Kate Matthews, who helped organize the event. “I lost my mom about three weeks ago, and I just felt like I needed to do something.” 

“She was a great friend and a loving, supporting person,” said fellow freshman Lula Osborne. “We came together and we said that we were going to do something memorable…we were going to do something that would never be forgotten, especially by the parents.” 

George Rogers Clark High School Principal Luke Toy also addressed family in attendance. 

“You’re still part of the GRC family,” he said.