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NELSON COUNTY, Ky. — A former high school teacher and assistant football coach from Bardstown, Kentucky is headed to jail for 60 days. Jeremy Dale pleaded guilty on Wednesday to two charges of an unlawful transaction with a minor, a Class D felony, and four charges of physical harassment without injury, a misdemeanor.

In his plea deal, Dale gave up his teaching certificate and cannot coach for any organization. Also, he does not have to apply to be a sex offender.

Four young women, attending Bardstown High School when they met Dale, spoke ahead of his sentencing.

"We had a whole senior year ripped away from us," Isabella B said.

"What I endured, along with the other victims, was not only a violation of our bodies, but also a violation of our trust, safety and support," Cortney A said.

"You do not own my story," Kendal T added. "You will never get to silence me again."

"What I endured, along with the other victims, was not only a violation of our bodies, but also a violation of our trust, safety and support," Cortney A said.

As part of his plea deal, Dale will not serve time in jail for the felony offenses. Instead, he'll be on diversion -- a set of restrictions similar to parole. If he breaks diversion, he'll serve two years.

The plea amended down what was originally two charges of sexual abuse.

Bardstown City Schools fired Dale from his teaching job at Bardstown High School in February 2023, around the time he was arrested. An anonymous tip from a staff member tipped authorities off and started the investigation.

Detective Eric Williamson led that.

"It's so brave for them to come forward because it just shows that if you come forward, tell us what happened, we will be glad to investigate it," he said.

Judge Joe Ballard allowed Dale a work release.

The women and their families disapproved.

"We had a whole job ripped away from us, working for the athletics," Isabella B said. "And he gets to serve 60 days. But he gets to leave for work Monday through Friday. And I'm very upset with that."

Despite that, these women want their experience known so others will come forward.

"Nobody at the school was willing to advocate for us," Cortney said. "To any girls that are going through something similar, there's always somebody that's gonna have your back."

They all say Dale will never silence them again.

BARDSTOWN, Kentucky—The Trail Hotel, the world’s first bourbon-infused luxury hotel, is now welcoming guests in Bardstown, Kentucky. The 95-room hotel invites guests to experience Kentucky’s renowned Bourbon country with interactive bourbon experiences. The property includes eight signature suites, a four-star dining experience, five distinct bars, and an array of modern wellness amenities, and it is located steps away from the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the hotel originally opened in 1970, and it has since hosted countless weddings, banquets, and business meetings. The property, formerly known as the Holiday Inn Bardstown, was redesigned by Joseph & Joseph Architects, and it offers proximity to 11 local distilleries.

A Luxury Bourbon Experience Like No Other

The property highlights its dedication to bourbon culture with The Bourbon Butler, who bridges the gap between local distilleries, farms, restaurants, and other local tourism businesses for a curated experience.

The Trail Hotel will also debut its own private-label bourbon and rye, available only to property guests. Hand-selected in collaboration with a local distillery, this bourbon will be available for purchase and direct shipment to guests’ homes and included in tasting experiences throughout the hotel.

Elevated Food & Drink Offerings

Executive chef Marvin Woods brings Kentucky’s culinary story to life through crafted food and drink experiences. These include:

Meetings & Events With a Kentucky Flair

The hotel’s gathering spaces can accommodate anything from small corporate retreats to larger meetings with up to 140 guests. The property includes a variety of versatile indoor and outdoor venues, such as the lobby bar Embers, the Bourbon Lounge speakeasy, and the open-air Pool Reception and Lawn spaces. Customizable meeting packages and an in-house culinary team allow events to be tailored to any need.

Additional property highlights include:

“We set out to create a place where the essence of Kentucky bourbon is not just tasted, but lived,” said Dan Sirrine, general manager. “Every detail, from our curated bourbon experiences to the warm tones and textures of the design, was made to immerse guests in Bardstown’s history. The Trail Hotel is excited to welcome the world to Kentucky Bourbon Country in a bold new way.”

BARDSTOWN, Ky. — The four former Bardstown students sat in the first two rows of the Nelson Circuit courtroom, listening to a coach they said they once trusted. They were listening for one word: guilty.

Jeremy Dale, a former football coach at Bardstown High, pleaded guilty on June 4 to six counts — two counts of unlawful transaction with a minor and four counts of harassment regarding his conduct with four former Bardstown students.

That case was originally set for trial this month in Judge Joe Ballard's court.

Instead, Dale was sentenced to 60 days for the six counts. Ballard also granted Dale work release to a job outside the county Monday through Friday, which he will leave jail to attend from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and then return to jail after. Dale also has felony diversion, but he must maintain a clean record for the next five years.

The four now-college females were upset with the judges' decision to grant Dale work release after they said Dale's actions caused them to lose a normal senior year, including their own work for the school's athletic department.

"We had to lose our jobs, but he can leave jail to go to his," Cortney A., one of the former Bardstown students, said. She agreed to speak with reporters if her full name was withheld.

Cortney is currently studying to be a social worker.

"I'm honestly really ashamed with the court system right now," she said. "Victims are supposed to be protected against, that is not what happened today. He agreed to doing 60 days and then through a work release. It should have not been approved and, and it's completely shameful on that behalf."

During the court hearing inside Ballard's court, the four students talked to both the judge, the courtroom and directly to Dale.

"That was not how senior year was supposed to be, but because you had such poor judgment and crossed boundaries with me and the other girls, this was my new reality," Bailee W. said. "I didn’t go to football games, I did not enjoy cheering the basketball games, and anyone that knows me knows that I love to have fun with my friends, and I’d always been full of Tiger pride."

As one of the women cried and another's hands shook, at least four members of Dale's extended family and friends sat making comments as the four read their victim impact statements, which is a victim's rights under Kentucky law.

"Oh my god," one said.

"Wow," said another. "I hope she chokes on her words."

Their actions caught the attention of the court bailiff, who walked over and said: "If you keep laughing, I’m going to have you removed from court. One more smile and you’re out of here. There is nothing funny about this."

After Dale walked through a door toward the jail, the four college students stood shoulder to shoulder. "It's over," Kendal T. said. "We fought. It's over. That's it."

Original indictment

A grand jury indicted Dale in March 2023 on six charges in Nelson Circuit Court: two sexual abuse and four harassment, involving four minor females.

According to the indictment:

As part of the plea, Dale will have to forfeit his teaching certificate as well as not be in a coaching position — paid or unpaid — at any time for any league, church event or school event, per court records. He also is unable to have contact — directly or indirectly — with the four victims who were only listed by their initials in the offer on his guilty plea, which was offered to him in February.

Dale will not be required to register as a sex offender.

School, students enter confidential settlement agreements

The district entered a confidential settlement with Dale related to his termination in March 2023, per district records.

That settlement states "...the issue that resulted in Dale's termination has been very difficult for the students that made allegations of inappropriate behavior. Hence, reaching a settlement that protects students and their families from enduring the potential of personnel proceedings is the primary motivation."

The settlement did not disclose a dollar amount but did state that Dale's resignation letter would replace his suspension and termination letter.

Within a year, the district would be facing civil suits from four students regarding Dale's conduct.

The complaints against Dale, detailed in lawsuits, range from explicit comments to "pinning down a (student), lifting her shirt, and blowing raspberries on her stomach while (she) pleaded for help."

The suit also alleges Dale made "sexual comments" and subjected them to "unwanted physical touching," saying things like: "You all are so sexy." Another time, he held a screwdriver in his hand and made a sexual comment.

Two of the students settled with the district in August 2024, the other two settled in December 2024 for a total of about $320,000. The Courier Journal obtained the settlements through an open records request.

Both settlement agreements are confidential and prohibit the former Bardstown students from discussing what happened. The district and its superintendent also "denied and continue to deny" the allegations made by the former students.

Dale's case was one of those detailed in the nationally recognized project "Silence & Secrets," an investigation released in December by The Courier Journal that focuses on the prevalence of child sexual abuse cases involving school coaches.

The newspaper found at least 80 cases of alleged child sexual misconduct by Kentucky middle- and high-school coaches during the past 15 years, including at least eight active cases currently across the commonwealth.

The investigation prompted the first legislation regarding child sex abuse in sports in the history of Kentucky's General Assembly. That bill and a second law related to the project passed during the recent legislative session.

This story may be updated.

Stephanie Kuzydym is an enterprise and investigative sports reporter with a focus on the health and safety of athletes. She can be reached at skuzydym@courier-journal.com. Follow her at @stephkuzy.

Bourbon lovers, get ready for a week dedicated to Kentucky's favorite spirit.

Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World, will host National Bourbon Week, held this year on June 9-15, a week-long event that pays tribute to the craftsmanship, heritage, and culture that make Bardstown the beating heart of the bourbon industry. National Bourbon Day is celebrated each year on June 14.

During National Bourbon Week, visitors and bourbon lovers canimmerse themselves in exclusive tastings, behind-the-scenes distillery experiences, special releases, and bourbon-inspired events throughout Bardstown. From engaging master distiller panels to curated cocktail experiences and live music, this celebration is a multi-day event for anyone who appreciates America’s native spirit.

“As we kick off the second annual National Bourbon Week, we’re proud to celebrate not only Nelson County’s deep-rooted bourbon heritage but also the growing economic impact this event brings to our community,” Stacey Phelps, president of Visit Bardstown, said in a news release. “This weeklong celebration is a true toast to the spirit, craftsmanship, and community that make us so special. Whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or just discovering your love for bourbon, there's no better place to be than Bardstown during National Bourbon Week.”

This year’s schedule includes a wide range of events with culinary offerings, cocktails, classes, tastings and more. Distilleries include Log Still Distillery, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Heaven Hill Distillery, James B. Beam Distilling Co., Preservation Distillery, Old SteelHouse Distillery, Lux Row Distillers, Maker’s Mark Distillery, and Barton 1792 Distillery, all of which all planning special events for the week.

Here's what to know about the 2025 National Bourbon Week hel in Bardstown, Kentucky:

What is National Bourbon Week?

National Bourbon Week is a community-wide celebration of Bardstown, Kentucky and its ties to bourbon's history, growth and evolution. Home to some of the most iconic distilleries in the world, National Bourbon Week in Bardstown is more than just a festival — it’s a tribute to the past, present, and future of bourbon.

When is National Bourbon Week?

The 2025 festival runs June 9-15.

What's new at National Bourbon Week?

New this year, Bourbon Capital Alliance’s "The Mash Up" brings together its nine partner distilleries for a special evening at the just-opened Bespoke in Bond event space. "The Mash Up" will pair each distillery with a local culinary partner to showcase the distinctive flavors found in each distillery’s unique mashbill. In addition, proceeds from a blind bottle pull that evening will be directed to a local community cause.

What is happening on National Bourbon Day?

On Saturday, June 14, celebrate National Bourbon Day in downtown Bardstown with activities for all ages, including a brand-new Kids Zone offering free family fun.

For those of age, eight local distilleries will offer free samples from 12-4 p.m. For those who prefer something different, Bardstown Rotary Club will host a beer garden.

“We can’t wait to welcome locals and visitors alike for a full day of celebration,” said Randi Mouser, executive director of Bardstown Main Street. “Our downtown shops will be open and ready with great summer deals. ”

Where to get more information for National Bourbon Week

For more information, a schedule of events and tickets, visit nationalbourbonweek.com.

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.

This story was updated to add a gallery.

BARDSTOWN, Ky. — The Bardstown Aquatic and Sports Center is officially under construction.

"It's going to be incredible," Project Manager Kim Huston said, wielding a golden shovel full of groundbreaking dirt. "It's exceeded all my expectations."

The center will open in two years, some time in early 2027 after construction is expected to wrap up in late 2026. It's a short wait compared to two decades.

"Twenty years ago, we started this project," Huston said to a crowd of laughs. "Thank you for your patience."

With slides that weave in-and-out of the building and athletic swimming pools, the center also offers more courts for the Parks and Recreation Department.

Credit: Courtesy: Luckett & Farley

Renderings of the Bardstown Aquatic and Sports center show slides weaving through the building.

"From expanding popular sports like volleyball, basketball pickleball, cheerleading—to launching entirely new offerings such as archery, futsal, soccer," Director Daniel Jeffries said.

Among all the thanks, Huston gave a special shout out to Priscilla Ice.

She kept the dream alive with a petition—the second attempt before the third time charm.

"I didn't think it would go down," Ice said, clutching a collection of newspaper clippings and the petition—artifacts of the long road here, like a drawing inspired by a similar center in Fort Knox.

Now it's coming true, bigger than before.

"Something that my grandchildren will be able to enjoy when I'm long gone," Ice said.

The center cuts down on the high school swim team's drive to Lebanon too.

"It's exciting to be able to put a little bit more time back in their day and allows kids to be kids and families to be families," Lance Blanford, with Bardstown City Schools, said.

While the Bardstown City Pool will eventually be demolished, you still have one more chance to swim in it this summer.

"This pool was built in the 60s, I think it's time for a new one," lifeguard Alex Brockman said, adding that "the space is gonna be a big thing."

After diving into the dirt, it'll take more than a year-and-a-half before anyone can dive into the water.

At $4.4 million raised for the project, $600,000 is still left to be raised.