MURRAY WOMAN FOUND, FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES
At around 11 Friday morning, officers with the Murray Police Department were attempting to locate 28-year old Michaela Johnson of Murray in reference to active warrants for her arrest. She was found at a residence in Murray where approximately 1.7 ounces of methamphetamine was located. After the investigation, Johnson was charged with Trafficking in Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia, and two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance. Johnson was also charged with two counts of Failure to Appear in relation to her arrest warrants. She was lodged in the Calloway County Jail.
DEXTER MAN FACING FELONY THEFT CHARGES
On the morning of February 22, the Murray Police Department responded to the north side of Murray and took a report of a theft of construction materials and equipment from a local business. During the investigation, it was learned that the same individuals involved in this theft, stole a vehicle from a local car dealership. All stolen vehicles and items were recovered. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for 38-year old Nicholas Jarvis of Dexter for two felony counts and one misdemeanor count of Receiving Stolen Property. Jarvis was arrested on Wednesday in Madisonville and lodged in the Hopkins County Jail.
CCSD WORKS TWO CAR ACCIDENT
At approximately 5 pm Wednesday, Calloway County Sheriff’s Department Deputies responded to the intersection of Highway 641 South and Tabard Drive for a report of a two vehicle injury collision. Preliminary investigation has indicated Devontae Wilson of New Concord was driving southbound on Highway 641 while 78-year old Doris Darcus of Murray was driving northbound. Darcus attempted to make a left turn onto Tabard, failing to yield the right of way to Wilson’s vehicle. Darcus was transported by ambulance to Murray-Calloway County Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
ONE INJURED IN MULTI-VEHICLE ACCIDENT
At 1:45 Wednesday afternoon, Murray Police responded to a four-vehicle injury collision on North 12th Street near Main Street. 37-year old Layla Neagle of Murray told police that she was traveling south on 12th Street when a vehicle exited a parking lot and she struck the vehicle when it stopped in front of her. That collision caused a chain-reaction event with three other vehicles. Neagle was transported to the emergency room by EMS for treatment of possible injuries.
CCHD REPORTS 3 NEW CASES, ANNOUNCES NEXT VACCINATION CLINIC
The Calloway County Health Department reported 3 new cases of COVID-19 from Friday and Saturday, bringing the total number of county cases during the pandemic to 3,373. Of that total, 3,268 have recovered, 56 are isolated at home, 1 is hospitalized, and there have been 48 deaths. The Calloway County Health Department’s next Regional Vaccination Clinic will be March 17 at the CFSB Center. They will be scheduling appointments from the Calloway County Health Department’s sign up list of individuals in the over 70 community and others in Phase 1B and 1C, per the state vaccination guidelines. You must have a previously confirmed, scheduled appointment in order to be vaccinated at the Regional Vaccination Site.
CALLOWAY INCIDENCE RATE DOWN WHILE LYON COUNTY SOARS
Calloway County’s COVID-19 Incidence Rate per 100,000 on Sunday was 10.6% which was down from Saturday’s rate of 13.6. While most of the counties in west Kentucky are outside the red zone, Lyon County’s rate of 358.4% is the highest in the state, making it the only red zone county west of Logan County, and nine times higher than second place Rowan County’s rate of 39.1.
STATE POSITIVITY RATE NEARING 4%
At Sunday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 526 new cases and 13 deaths were reported, raising the total to 4,819 Kentuckians who are listed as covid deaths. As of Sunday, there have been over 4.59 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 4.12%, which is lower than last Sunday’s rate of 5.02%. There are 558 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 176 less than last Sunday, including 156 in ICU, which is 31 less than one week ago. At least 48,145 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
KSP RECRUITING TODAY ON MSU CAMPUS
As the deadline to apply for the next recruiting class approaches, Kentucky State Police Troopers will be on the campus of Murray State University between noon and 3 pm today. Troopers from the Kentucky State Police Recruitment Branch are scheduled to speak to two different groups of students in the Carr Health Building, first from 12:30 to 1:20 and again from 1:30 to 2:20. Before, during, and after those presentations, Troopers from Kentucky State Police Post 1 will also be set up in the Carr Health Building to speak with anyone interested in a career with the Kentucky State Police.
MPD WARNS OF SCAMS
The Murray Police Department has recently had an increase in the number of scams reported.Typically, scammers attempt to scare you into providing information or make you believe you’ve won a prize and need to provide information to obtain the prize. If you feel like someone may be trying to scam you, stop communicating with them. A number of these scams have been unemployment insurance fraud where the perpetrator gathers an individual’s personal information, and uses it to file for unemployment insurance. More information about these scams can be found at the Kentucky Attorney General’s website. Another common type of scam around this time of year is a tax scam where the perpetrator uses an individual’s personal information to file a false tax return and obtain a refund in that person’s name. The IRS provides information about these scams at irs.gov/newsroom.
TOSH FARMS DONATES TO MSU
Murray State University has received a generous gift through Tosh Farms to fund a swine finishing learning laboratory on the University’s North Farm. The “Tosh Wean-Finish Facility” will allow for student-centered instruction and research through the University’s Hutson School of Agriculture. The new 2,125-square-foot swine finishing learning laboratory was completed last year. The Tosh’s gift covered all engineering and construction costs as well as all internal equipment in order to be operational. Tosh Farms is a family-owned business located in Henry, Tennessee. Jimmy Tosh is the owner and CEO of Tosh Farms/Pork and has two sons, Jamey and Jonathan. Jonathan is a 2004 graduate of the University’s Hutson School of Agriculture and Jamey taught swine science at Murray State as an assistant instructor.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—Governor Andy Beshear on Thursday announced 157 new vaccination sites bringing the state’s total number of vaccination locations to 567. Beshear said that the President said last week that every American adult who wants a shot can get one by the end of May. New locations include 10 Kroger sites, 10 Walmart sites and 136 independent pharmacies. To see lists of all sites, organized by program and provider brand, visit vaccine.ky.gov.
FRANKFORT—Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams has been selected to serve on the Commission on Election Integrity, a national commission bringing together leaders at the forefront of election reform at the state level. The Republican State Leadership Committee named Adams to advise policymakers on best practices for conducting secure elections. In 2020, Kentucky served as a national model in how it conducted its elections, earning wide praise. In the face of a pandemic, the Commonwealth saw historically high voter turnout and a smooth, secure election.
FRANKFORT—A newly passed bill in the Kentucky House would allow to-go alcoholic drinks permanently. The measure was approved Friday and would allow bars and restaurants in the commonwealth to sell sealed containers of alcohol and cocktails for delivery and to-go orders as part of meal purchases. The bill has already been through the Senate and now heads to Governor Andy Beshear’s desk.
LEXINGTON—More Fayette County students are back in the classroom full-time. Grades six, nine, and 12 returned to their buildings today. Sophomores and juniors will be virtual for another week. The district has added UV lighting and air purifiers to its buildings, and students will have assigned seats in classrooms and lunchrooms to create ease in contact tracing.
CLAY COUNTY—Kentucky State Patrol is investigating a death in Clay County. Troopers say human remains were found in Big Creek over the weekend. The remains have been sent to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville for identification. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Clay County Coroner’s Office assisted in the investigation of the scene.
FRANKFORT— A permanent monument in honor of Kentucky’s COVID-19 victims will be built. Governor Andy Beshear announced the creation of a fund to develop the monument on Saturday. The announcement was made during a memorial service commemorating the one-year anniversary of Kentucky’s first COVID-19 case on Saturday. The service was held in front of the state Capitol, where the lawn was covered with small American flags for each of the Kentuckians who have died from the virus.
WASHINGTON DC—A colossal missed opportunity for the American people. That’s how Senator Mitch McConnell is describing the nearly two-trillion dollar stimulus bill passed by the Senate. Senator McConnell said on Saturday that “Instead of working together to fight COVID-19, Democrats decided to exploit the crisis by jamming through unrelated liberal policies they couldn’t pass honestly.” The aid package will provide 14-hundred dollars to most Americans.
LOUISVILLE—A rapper is donating to Kentucky’s historically-black schools. Louisvillian Jack Harlow announced on Saturday that he’s donating 500-thousand dollars to Kentucky State University and Simmons College of Kentucky. Harlow made the announcement after he and fellow rapper Quavo beat 2Chainz and Lil Baby in the B/R Open Run two-on-two basketball game. Quavo plans to donate money to two historically-black schools in Georgia.
TENNESSEE—There are nearly 13-hundred new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported one-thousand-278 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to nearly 783-thousand-500. An additional four COVID-19-related deaths were reported, bringing the total number of coronavirus-attributed deaths statewide to nearly eleven-thousand-550. There are less than 750 COVID-19 patients hospitalized statewide.
TENNESSEE—Phase 1C of Tennessee’s COVID-19 vaccination plan is starting. As of today, those 16-years-old and older with serious medical issues and pregnant women can register for a vaccination appointment. Caregivers of those with high-risk medical conditions are also eligible. It’s estimated there are more than one-million Tennesseans included in Phase 1C.
TENNESSEE—Tennessee National Guard troops are being deployed to the Middle East. Over 350 soldiers left from the volunteer training site in Smyrna yesterday. The 1-181st Field Artillery Regiment was sent to Fort Bliss, Texas yesterday before it’s deployed in support of operations throughout the Middle East. The 1-181st is based in Chattanooga with units in Pulaski, Lawrenceburg, Fayetteville, and Dayton.
TENNESSEE—A prescribed burn is scheduled for this week in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Fire management officials plan to burn 175 acres between today and Thursday. National Park Service Crews will conduct the prescribed burn to reduce the amount of flammable brush along a park boundary with residential homes. The burn will be done in Wears Valley to the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area.
ILLINOIS—U.S. Senator Dick Durbin says the American Rescue Plan is good for Illinois. The Illinois Democrat says the COVID-19 relief bill includes 275 million dollars for vaccine distribution in the state. Durbin also says 85-percent of adults in the state will receive help from a stimulus check. The relief bill passed the Senate 50 to 49 over the weekend with no Republican support. The House will vote tomorrow to approve Senate changes before the bill goes to President Biden for signature.
