NEW CONCORD MAN ARRESTED AFTER PURSUIT
At approximately 3:45 Monday afternoon, Calloway County Deputy Jacob Hamm attempted to stop a truck on Kline Trail in the New Concord community. The driver of the vehicle accelerated in attempt to flee. Following a vehicle pursuit, which ended on Newman Drive, the driver then fled on foot. Deputy Hamm was able to apprehend the driver. A search of the area led to the discovery of marijuana and other personal items of the driver. 53-year old Dennis Payton of New Concord was arrested and charged with Fleeing or Evading Police in a Motor Vehicle and on Foot, two counts of Wanton Endangerment, Possession of Marijuana, Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence, and various traffic violations. He was lodged in the Calloway County Jail.
GOVERNOR TO VISIT MURRAY TO VIEW FLOOD DAMAGE
Governor Andy Beshear will visit Murray and Calloway County today after County Judge Executive Kenny Imes declared a local state of emergency because of flooding. Storms on Sunday caused major flooding, damaging roads and culverts, leading to multiple road closures and made travel “impossible,” in some areas. Owner of The Keg Restaurant, Darren Yates, told WSIL-TV that its the third time the restaurant has flooded since 2006. Several inches of water covered the restaurant floor after the rain moved through, but Yates says the community and local contractors have been a huge help in cleaning up. Calloway County is one of more than two dozen local governments in the state that declared local states of emergency because of the flooding.
GRAVES COUNTY WOMAN CHARGED AFTER TRAFFIC STOP
At approximately 3:30 pm last Thursday, Calloway County Deputy Sheriff Danny Williams stopped a vehicle in the Lynn Grove community for a traffic violation. During the stop, Deputy Williams located suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in the possession of the driver. It was also discovered that the driver had multiple warrants of arrest. 35-year old Tiffany Anderson of Sedalia, was arrested and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and various traffic related violations. She was also served with warrants of arrest from Fulton County, charging her with Burglary and Theft by Unlawful Taking, and from Graves County for Revocation of Bond on a pending felony case. She was lodged in the Calloway County Jail.
MURRAY MAN FACING GUN THEFT-RELATED CHARGE
At around 12:10 Saturday morning, an officer with the Murray Police Department was driving in the Bailey Road area and located a suspicious vehicle. The officer spoke with the occupants, and during that interaction, he located a stolen firearm on one of the occupants. 21-year old Avion Cavitt of Murray was charged with Receiving Stolen Property. He was lodged in the Calloway County Jail.
TWO INJURED IN TWO-CAR ACCIDENT
At 2:24 Saturday afternoon, the Murray Police Department responded to a two-vehicle injury collision at North 12th Street and Northwood Drive. 39-year old Angelita Turner of Murray told police she was stopped at the stop sign on Northwood Drive and as she started to cross 12th Street, her vehicle was struck by a vehicle that was northbound on 12th Street. 57-year old Scott Mclean of Hardin told police he was driving north on 12th Street when a vehicle pulled out of Northwood Drive in front of him, and he struck the vehicle. Both Turner and Mclean were transported by EMS to the emergency room for treatment of possible injuries.
HEAD START REGISTRATION IS UNDERWAY
The Calloway County Preschool/Head Start spring registration for the 2021-22 school year starts now. If your child will be 3 or 4 years old on or before August 1, 2021 please call the preschool at 762-7410 to schedule an appointment.
CCHD REPORTS 7 NEW COVID CASES; INCIDENCE RATE UP SLIGHTLY
The Calloway County Health Department reported 7 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total number of cases in the county during the pandemic to 3,357. Of that total, 3,262 have recovered, 45 are isolated at home, 2 are hospitalized, and there have been 48 deaths. The Graves County Health Department reported 12 new cases, while the Marshall County Health Department announced 6 new cases. Calloway County’s Incidence Rate per 100,000 on Monday was 9.2% which was up from Sunday’s rate of 8.9. While most of the counties in west Kentucky are outside the red zone, Caldwell County’s rate of 239.8 is the highest in the state, with almost four times the rate of second place Taylor County at 61.
STATE POSITIVITY RATE NOW UNDER 5%
At Monday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 509 new cases and 15 deaths were reported, raising the total to 4,652 Kentuckians who are listed as covid deaths. As of Monday, there have been over 4.51 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 4.84%, which is lower than last Monday’s rate of 6.6%. There are 719 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 151 less than last Monday, including 180 in ICU, which is 63 less than one week ago. At least 47,592 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—Indoor capacity limits are being expanded in Kentucky. Governor Andy Beshear announced yesterday that capacity at bars, restaurants and many business and entertainment centers can increase to 60-percent starting Friday. The increased capacity includes everything from hair and nail salons and movie theaters to government offices and retail shops. The governor also recommended the same increased capacity at places of worship.
FRANKFORT—Phase One-C of Kentucky’s COVID-19 vaccination plan is underway. Many clinics, healthcare providers, and some pharmacies began administering the vaccine yesterday to those 60 and over, 16-year-olds and up with underlying health conditions, and essential workers. More doses are being provided with the approval of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, so appointments are becoming more available.
HOPKINS COUNTY—A Hopkins County business is laying off over 80 workers. International Automotive Components announced in December that it is closing its Madisonville plant, affecting 82 employees. The plant is working with Kentucky Workforce Solutions to help the employees find new careers.
ARIZONA—Authorities and Park Service officials are searching for a missing Kentucky man at Grand Canyon National Park. Officials say 40-year-old John Pennington from Walton was last known to be on the South Rim of the canyon. National Park Service officials say his vehicle was abandoned at Yaki Point, and he is believed to be traveling alone on a yellow 2005 Suzuki motorcycle.
OWENSBORO—An Owensboro toddler who suffered burns is home from the hospital. Family, friends, and community members welcomed the one-year-old girl home yesterday after weeks at Vanderbilt Hospital in Tennessee. The girl is facing a long recovery. Police are investigating how she got burned, but no charges have been filed yet.
LOUISVILLE—A Breonna’s Law rally is expected to be held at the state Capitol today. Kentucky Rep. Attica Scott is urging people to come to Frankfort for this afternoon’s rally. The Louisville-area Democrat is seeking support for House Bill 21, which would ban no-knock warrants in Kentucky. Breonna Taylor was killed last March in a drug raid on her home by Louisville police.
BULLITT COUNTY—State officials say a new interchange ramp on I-65 in Bullitt County will improve connectivity and support economic development there. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the Exit 114 interchange opened yesterday. Construction on the interchange began in January of 2019 with a projected cost of 30-million dollars.
TENNESSEE—There are over 700 new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported 689 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to over 775-thousand-700. An additional ten COVID-19-related deaths were reported, bringing the total number of coronavirus-attributed deaths statewide to over eleven-thousand-420. Fewer than 900 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized statewide.
TENNESSEE—A bill that would ban transgender kids from playing sports other than with those of their biological sex is on its way to the state’s House of Representatives. The bill passed by the Senate yesterday requires middle and high school students to play sports based on the biological sex on their birth certificate. The legislation now faces a vote in the Tennessee House. Governor Bill Lee said earlier this year that allowing transgender girls to play on female sports teams would “destroy women’s sports” and prevent girls from earning scholarships.
TENNESSEE—The state is detailing the “heroic” efforts that were used to help Memphis take over the COVID-19 vaccination program from Shelby County. Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey says the state tracked down hard to find digital data loggers and eight transport coolers before loading them on a military helicopter which flew to Memphis last Wednesday. The state also bought a new refrigerator for Regional One where the Pfizer vaccine is being stored for the city. Memphis took over the program after it was learning Shelby County wasted thousands of doses of the vaccine and stockpiled thousands more.
TENNESSEE—Some students in the state’s largest school district are returning to classrooms. Yesterday was the first day of in-person learning pre-K through fifth graders in Shelby County Schools. The district says about 30 percent of its students returned to classrooms. Students in sixth through 12th grades will return on Monday, March 8th.
TENNESSEE—A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper is out of job. THP said yesterday Trooper Sammy Allen has been fired after an “incident” at the Robertson County Jail involving an arrestee. Trooper Allen was charged with two counts of aggravated assault and one count of assault last week. Allen is accused of choking the arrestee and punching him in the groin while he was handcuffed and restrained last November.
ILLINOIS— A saliva-based COVID-19 test developed at the University of Illinois is getting federal emergency use authorization. The test, known as covidSHIELD, appeared as a green-lighted molecular diagnostic test on the FDA website yesterday. It only requires a small saliva sample and will produce results within 24 hours. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says they are now working to expand the testing to all of the state’s public universities and community colleges. The university system’s president says local school districts, companies, and other state agencies have also expressed interest in getting the tests.
