MCC FAIR BEGINS TONIGHT
The Murray-Calloway County Fair begins tonight and continues through Saturday. Admission this year will be $12.00 per person and will include parking, rides, shows, and events. The fair association is hosting a family night with discounted admission on Wednesday to support Need Line. Thursday it’s the Mini Outlaw Tractor Pull, on Friday it’s Enduro, and on Saturday night it’s the Demolition Derby. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some shows have been cancelled, so check the fair’s Facebook page for more information.
MARSHALL MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO U4 DISTRIBUTION
29-year-old Jevan Sheppard of Marshall County has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute the drug U-47700 which is more commonly known as U4 or pink. He also pleaded guilty to distributing, possessing with the intent to distribute and importing U4 from China. With his guilty plea, prosecutors say Sheppard admitted to conspiring with others to distribute the drug. The morning of March 14, 2017, 18-year-old Karson May and 23-year-old Taylor May were found unresponsive in a home in Calvert City. Karson survived the overdose, but Taylor died in the home. Sheppard will be sentenced on the federal charges in September. He also faces state charges out of Marshall County in connection to the overdoses.
BENTON POLICE ARREST TWO
Early Saturday morning, a Benton Police officer went to a convenience store at the intersection of US 641 and Mayfield Highway, and found Brahm Riley of Mayfield in the driver’s seat. After a window of the vehicle was broken to gain entry, paramedics administered Narcan and revived Riley. Police say numerous items of drug paraphernalia were found in the vehicle, along with a baggie containing suspected fentanyl. Riley was cited to court for possession of marijuana, a controlled substance, and drug paraphernalia. About 4:10 am Sunday a Benton Police officer was dispatched for a similar complaint at the same location. Charles Breedlove of Princeton was unconscious in the driver’s seat, and there were two children asleep in the vehicle. Breedlove was charged with possession of marijuana, a controlled substance, and drug paraphernalia and then was lodged in the Marshall County Detention Center.
CALLOWAY COUNTY COVID UPDATE
The Calloway County Health Department did not issue an updated COVID-19 report yesterday. As of Monday, 34.5% of Calloway County residents have been fully vaccinated including 69.3% of those 65 and older. Calloway County’s COVID-19 positivity rate as of Monday was 1.55%, which is the same as Sunday’s rate.
KENTUCKY COVID UPDATE
At Monday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 36 new cases and 5 new deaths were reported, raising the total to 7,103 Kentuckians who are listed as Covid deaths. As of Monday, there have been over 6.68 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 2.28%, which is lower than last Monday’s rate of 2.47%. There are 283 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 31 less than last Monday, including 92 in ICU, which is 1 less than one week ago. At least 53,072 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus. As of Monday, 2,087,829 Kentuckians have been vaccinated for a 47% total, including 82% of those 65 and older.
MOHLER IS BRADY SCHOLARSHIP WINNER
Hannah Mohler is the recipient of the Mark Brady Scholarship, established for Murray High graduates attending Murray State University pursuing a teacher education course of study. Mohler is a 2021 Murray High school graduate and National Honor Society member. She plans to major in Early Childhood Education at Murray State University and teach preschool. A member of the Murray High Band, Mohler will be a member of Racer Band while attending MSU. Through the Coach Mark Brady Scholarship Endowment established with Brady’s gift to the Murray State University Foundation, graduates of Murray High School are able to apply for the $1,000 annual scholarship to lower the cost of their Racer education. Brady’s primary hope is to assist students who pursue a teaching career.
MERRYMAN HOUSE SEEKING DERBY SPONSORS
Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center is now seeking sponsors for its 7th Annual PaDucky Derby, which will be held on October 23. There are multiple sponsorship levels available. You can support survivors of domestic violence by sponsoring the Merryman House’s largest fundraiser of the year. The deadline to sponsor is July 1. For more information, contact Kayla Myers 270-448-8071.
I-24 WORK LANE CLOSURES BEGIN THIS WEEK
A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has started construction prep work for a concrete rehab project along the westbound lanes of Interstate 24, but weather conditions have pushed back the installation of a centerline barrier wall along the eastbound lanes to prepare for 2-way traffic in the work zone. This work zone runs from the 51 to 69 mile markers through parts of Trigg, Caldwell, and Lyon counties. Eastbound lanes will carry 2-way traffic from the 51 mile marker to the 65 mile marker, while 10 miles of the westbound side is closed for reconstruction. When installation begins, eastbound traffic will be restricted to one lane. The lane restriction will lengthen as the barrier wall installation progresses. Once the more than 13 miles of centerline barrier wall is in place, the contractor will set a date for westbound traffic to be shifted to one lane.
GAS PRICES HIGHER
Gas prices in West Central Kentucky are three cents higher this week at $2.88 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. After ten days of stability, the national gas price average increased a penny over the weekend to $3.05. On the week, 26 states’ gas price averages either increased by one cent or saw no movement. Only two states saw prices increase a nickel or more. Prices are poised to fluctuate in the coming week, especially in light of a recent drop in demand. This week’s demand number is expected to be higher as it will reflect Memorial Day holiday weekend travel, but it’s not likely to lead to an increase in gas prices for the majority of motorists. However, crude oil is on the rise and could prop up pump prices.
TOWN HALL MEETINGS SET ON FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
The public is invited to virtual town hall meetings June 9-18 to discuss improving outcomes for Kentucky children and families involved in the state foster care system. Anyone with an interest in making the foster care system better is encouraged to attend one of the regional meetings which will be held via zoom. The meeting for our area is from 10:30 am until noon on Wednesday. Registration is required by contacting cfcrb@kycourts.net. Findings from the meetings will be reported to the Kentucky Citizen Foster Care Review Board and included in the CFCRB’s annual recommendations to the Supreme Court of Kentucky, the governor and legislature.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—Labor Cabinet Secretary Larry Roberts will retire at the end of June in order to spend more time with his family and according to Governor Andy Beshear, Jamie Link will lead the cabinet as secretary beginning July 1. Roberts began his career in state government in 1973 as an investigator with the state Labor Department. He held various positions over 33 years with the Labor Cabinet, including as secretary under Gov. Steve Beshear from 2013 to 2015. Link most recently served as the executive director of the Kentucky Communications Network Authority. Link also served as the chief executive officer of the FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010.
LEXINGTON—Kentucky Transportation Secretary and former Lexington Mayor Jim Gray says officials are investigating possible changes after several deadly wrong-way crashes in the city. Two wrong-way crashes happened over the weekend in Lexington. A crash Saturday afternoon left six people dead, including the wrong-way driver, along with a mother and her four children. Another wrong-way driver was killed Sunday morning. A Lexington news station reports that at least 17 people have been killed in six different Lexington wrong-way crashes in the past two-and-a-half years.
OWEN COUNTY—Many in Owen County are mourning as funeral arrangements have been set for a mother and her four children killed in a crash. A funeral will be held for Catherine, Santanna, Karmen, Jack, and Brayden Greene Thursday at Owenton First Baptist Church. Father Jim Sichko prayed for the victims at the crash scene and is paying for the Greenes’ funeral and burial costs. Owen County Schools is providing grief counselors to the community, especially those who attended elementary school with three of the Greene children. Friends and strangers have also stepped forward to offer help, and a GoFundMe page has been set up.
BARBOURVILLE—A building that has stood in Barbourville for about a century is demolished after part of the roof caved in. Officials with the Barbourville Fire Department say a hole in the roof of the Union National Bank Building on Liberty and Knox likely led to rot that finally caused a corner of the roof to give way yesterday. First responders evacuated nearby buildings and cut electricity and gas to the area while arranging for a crane to knock down the rest of the building. The building was unoccupied and no one was hurt, but it is surround by a library, law offices, and other businesses, making its natural collapse a public safety hazard. No word on the cost of the demolition.
FORT KNOX—Training is underway on the Fort Knox Range Complex. Officials at the post announced over the weekend that troops will be using military aircraft and land vehicles, as well as firing large caliber weapons in their training area over the next two weeks. Residents in the area were warned to expect increased noise and vibrations during all hours of the day.
PROVIDENCE—An investigation is underway after several dogs were found dead inside a Providence home. The dogs were found in kennels inside the residence after a concerned neighbor reported an odor from a home in the 300-block of Jefferson Street. Police believe the dogs died from neglect, and officials are looking further into the case.
HENDERSON—The Henderson Utility Board is unanimously recommending against the acquisition of Henderson Municipal Power and Light by Big Rivers Electric Corporation. The board sent a letter of negative recommendation on the deal yesterday to the city commission. A recent study showed the sale provides a large economic benefit to the city, but could have a negative impact on customers. The Henderson City Commission meets today.
TENNESSEE—New data show that Tennessee is one of only six states that has vaccinated less than half of its adult population. State health officials say vaccination rates in the Volunteer State began falling in April, a decline that has continued. In Nashville, health officials say 48 percent of the city’s population has received its first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Around the state, vaccination rates are lower than Nashville’s rate.
TENNESSEE—The latest Census figures show more than 836-thousand Tennesseans do not have health insurance. Governor Bill Lee is pushing to have a Medicaid block grant waiver program approved by the Biden Administration to help pay for insurance those residents. The Trump Administration had approved the waiver but Lee is waiting to see whether Biden will apply new rules to the waiver. Lee wants to receive the grant money in a lump sum — which would be the first time that has happened for the state.
TENNESSEE—Ashland City’s planning commission has approved plans for a subdivision to be built on top of an historic site that local residents are trying to preserve. Under the proposal, more than 200 homes will be built on what’s known as the Braxton Lee Homestead. It’s the oldest standing structure in Ashland City and was a meeting spot for pioneers in the 19th century. A representative for the developer says they plan to protect the house and will work with the county to turn it into a museum.
TENNESSEE—According to a nationwide study of states and dangerous driving habits, Tennessee ranks in the top ten states with the least distracted motorists. The report comes from two groups called WhistleOut and We Save Lives. They say an average of 260 teenaged drivers are killed every year during the deadliest days of summer — between June and September. Distracted driving is blamed for at least 60 percent of fatalities. Tennessee is ranked eighth among all states for least distracted drivers.
TENNESSEE—Anglers across Tennessee will head out across the state this Saturday. That’s when the state holds its annual Free Fishing Day — when anyone can fish for free without a license in any of Tennessee’ public waters. Communities plan special events to support Free Fishing Day.
ILLINOIS—Illinois lawmakers are moving forward with changes to a massive criminal justice reform law. The state House and Senate both approved a trailer bill that is designed to make it easier for law enforcement to implement the new law. The bill also includes a provision that prevents officers involved in or witnessing an incident where deadly force is used from viewing body cam footage before writing their official report. The bill is headed to the governor’s desk.
