Story by Ciara Benham, Staff writer 

Jan. 23 marked one year since a deadly shooting at Marshall County High School in Benton, Kentucky, left two students, Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope, dead and 18 others injured.

One year later, MCHS and others in the community banded together to remember the incident on what is referred to as the “one-year mark.” Superintendent of Marshall County Schools, Trent Lovett, explained how MCHS intended to go about the day as respectfully as possible.

“We have not called it an anniversary because an anniversary is something that you celebrate and this is not something that we celebrate,” Lovett said. “But, at the same time, we want to not forget and remember those who were injured and remember those, Preston and Bailey, who we lost.”

Marshall County had their schools in session on the one-year mark. Lovett said this decision was made by the students as well as the families of the victims.

“The majority of our students wanted to have school,” Lovett said. “We talked with them about how we wanted to commemorate the day. We wanted to be sensitive to their needs and their wishes, and the students wanted to have as normal of a day as possible.”

The high school had several events planned for the students and their families. Each student attended their four classes for a shortened period of time, then had the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities during the afternoon.

Lovett explained there were a variety of events to aid students in different parts of the healing process. There were both somber and uplifting activities that the students could choose from.

Outside of MCHS, places around the community also participated in the day of remembrance.

Establishments such as the Marshall County Public Library, Marshall County Hospital, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and several churches also paid tribute to the one-year mark in their own ways. Marshall County police officers attended the remembrance ceremony in Mike Miller Park and the first responders have been invited to attend a breakfast at MCHS on Jan. 25.

Marshall County Hospital staff decided to support the students while also remaining respectful to the sensitivity of the day.

Beth Cavanah, director of human resources at Marshall County Hospital, spoke about how the staff commemorated the incident by respecting the students’ privacy without exploiting the situation.

“We have placed an ad in the newspaper letting the students know we support them,” Cavanah said. “Many will be wearing ‘Marshall Strong’ shirts to show support.”

In September, the Marshall County Public Library conducted the Community Table Project to assess the community’s needs after the incident of Jan. 23. Part of that assessment included information on how the commnity, including students and staff, would like to approach the one-year mark.

Tammy Blackwell, branch manager of the Calvert City branch of the Marshall County Public Library, explained that the feedback received from the project suggested that the community felt the commemoration should be conducted in a low-key manner, and the library’s branches acted accordingly.

“We have not planned any events or programs for Jan. 23,” Blackwell said. “Instead, each of our branches will be marking the occasion with two lit candles.”

Many people and organizations have made strides to commemorate the one-year mark in the Marshall County community and beyond.

Lovett emphasized the range of support that Marshall County has felt over the last year.

“It’s not just Marshall County, the whole surrounding area has been great with its outreach and the support they have shown,” Lovett said. “It is one of those things you appreciate and means so much, but you certainly hope you never have to repay it.”