MURRAY MAN CHARGED AFTER ALTERCATION
At approximately 8:35 yesterday morning, the Murray Police Department responded to an altercation that had occurred on South 16th Street. While investigating, officers learned that 41-year old Brian Brown of Murray had struck an individual and pointed a firearm at him. Officers later located Brown and he was charged with Assault, Terroristic Threatening, and Menacing. Brown was lodged in the Calloway County Jail.
HICKMAN POLICE PROBING GUN INCIDENT WITH STUDENT
Hickman police are continuing their investigation of a middle school student taking a gun into the school last Thursday. According to KYTN, Chief Tony Grogan said officers learned of the situation Thursday afternoon, which involved a 10 year old student. Grogan said an investigation began when another student informed their parents of seeing a gun while on the bus ride home. The student said the 10 year old showed them a magazine from a gun, which was seen in a backpack. The preliminary investigation concluded the handgun was never taken from the backpack at anytime during schools hours. Charges are now pending against both the mother of the student, and the student.
FREDONIA WOMAN ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES
Lyon County deputies, Kentucky State Police troopers, and Eddyville Police officers responded to a drug complaint Monday on Highway 641 North. A search of the home reportedly uncovered suspected illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia. 40-year-old Kelly Rogers of Fredonia was charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Rogers was already out on bond for a felony case in Caldwell Circuit Court. In that case, she is accused of trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Additionally, she was out on bond for a felony case in Lyon Circuit Court, where she is accused of complicity in receiving stolen property. Rogers was lodged in the Crittenden County Jail.
CCHD REPORTS 2 NEW COVID 19 CASES
The Calloway County Health Department reported 2 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the county case total during the pandemic to 3,423. Of that total, 3,360 have recovered, 14 are isolated at home, and none are hospitalized. There have been 49 covid-related deaths in the county. Calloway County’s COVID-19 Incidence Rate per 100,000 on Tuesday was 4.8%, which was the same as yesterday’s rate. There are only five red zone counties for COVID-19 cases in the state.
STATE COVID POSITIVITY RATE HOLDS STEADY
At Tuesday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 344 new cases and 7 new deaths were reported, raising the total to 6,184 Kentuckians who are listed as covid deaths. As of Tuesday, there have been over 5 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 2.89%, which is slightly lower than last Tuesday’s rate of 2.9%. There are 376 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 2 less than last Tuesday, including 116 in ICU, which is 25 more than one week ago. At least 50,061 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
MARSHALL BEGINS SEARCH FOR SUPERINTENDENT
The Marshall County School District has started the process of selecting a new superintendent to replace Trent Lovett, who is retiring. The school board posted the job opening yesterday and will collect applications through May 6. A screening committee will be set up consisting of one board of education member, a principal in the district, two teachers, a staff member, and two parents. The board will have two joint meetings with the screening committee which will give their recommendation on preferred candidates. They hope to have a new superintendent chosen before Lovett retires on June 30.
THREE KSP POST 1 OFFICERS ARE PROMOTED
Governor Andy Beshear joined Kentucky State Police last month to recognize the promotion of 30 officers at a ceremony held at the KSP Training Academy. At Post 1, Senior Trooper Cory Hamby was promoted to Sergeant and serves as the Detective Sergeant. Hamby has served with KSP for 10 years, all at Post 1 in Mayfield. Senior Trooper Jonathan Murphy was promoted to Sergeant and serves as the West Squad Sergeant. Murphy was previously assigned to Post 2 in Madisonville and has served with KSP for 9 years. Senior Trooper Michael Settle was also promoted to Sergeant and serves as the East Squad Sergeant. Settle comes to Post 1 after serving with KSP for 12 years, all at Post 16 in Henderson. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 promotional ceremony was postponed.
MSU LAUNCHES EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM
Murray State University’s Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders is preparing to launch a new Early Childhood Program. The primary goal of this initiative is to prepare young children with developmental disabilities to be successful in an educational setting by kindergarten. Eligible clients should be between the ages of two and six years old and have autism or other related needs. The program is expected to begin in August. The cost of enrollment in the program is just $15 per day for each child, and all tuition fees directly fund the day-to-day operations of the classroom. Organizers are hoping to provide scholarship opportunities to local families needing help with covering this expense. The current goal is to raise $5,000 by August, which would fully fund all children participating in the program for the entire fall semester. Visit murraystate.edu/autism for more information, including how to register, where to donate
AREA GAS PRICES RISE
Gas prices in West Central Kentucky are six cents higher this week at $2.71 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. The price is also a dollar and 25 cents higher than the price at the pump in April of 2020. Because of the jump in demand, gasoline supplies tightened to the lowest level this year, and state gas prices averages saw major fluctuations. On the week, states saw pump price changes ranging from an increase of 15 cents to a decrease of 3 cents. Today’s national average is $2.87 per gallon, which is 1 cent more expensive on the week, 12 cents higher than last month, and 94 cents higher than this time last year.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—In-person unemployment assistance is set to resume. Governor Andy Beshear and Labor Cabinet Secretary Larry L. Roberts announced yesterday that representatives will be available starting April 15th at over a dozen regional Kentucky Career Centers. The regional offices were closed down three years ago. Those needing help can start making appointments today.
LEXINGTON—Funeral arrangements are set for a Lexington teen killed in a hit-and-run crash last week. The funeral for 15-year-old Tamaris Mack will take place tomorrow afternoon at the Salvation Army on West Main. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m.
LEXINGTON—Authorities are investigating the death of an inmate in Lexington’s Community Corrections. Officials say 40-year-old inmate Shareef Hasan Martin was seen suffering from apparent medical distress last Tuesday evening. Martin was transferred to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead less than an hour later. Lexington Police and the Fayette County Coroner’s Office are looking into Martin’s cause of death. The jail is also conducting a routine internal investigation. Martin was jailed last Monday for allegedly violating an order of protection.
OWENSBORO—Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport has a new airport director. The airport board announced yesterday that current Operations Manager Tristan Durbin will take over the position. Board chair Madison Silvert says Durbin will make an excellent representative to guests coming into Owensboro.
OWENSBORO—Kentucky Representative Brett Guthrie is discussing the COVID-19 vaccination process with health leaders in Owensboro. The Second District Representative was in Owensboro yesterday touring the vaccine clinic at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital. Guthrie is encouraging people to get vaccinated.
LOUISVILLE—Senator Mitch McConnell is giving American corporations some business advice. During a stop at a Louisville hospital yesterday, Senator McConnell said corporate America should stay out of politics, referring to Major League Baseball’s decision to move its all-star game out of Georgia and statements by Atlanta-based companies over the state’s new voting law. McConnell said Republicans buy stock and support those companies too, calling the decision to get involved with the controversial issue “quite stupid.”
WOODFORD COUNTY—Woodford Reserve’s special Kentucky Derby mint julep cups are on sale. The cups for the mint julep charity program went on sale this week with silver-plated cups selling for one-thousand dollars. A small group of gold-plated cups are 25-hundred dollars each. This year’s cups honor Black jockeys with proceeds going toward the Project to Protect African-American Turf History.
FRANKFORT—A Kentucky distillery is releasing a supply of Kosher whiskey due to arrive in retail stores next month. Buffalo Trace Distillery first released the Kosher line of whiskeys last year. The distillery started working with the Chicago Rabbinical Council in 2010 and it’s believed to be the first authentic Kosher whiskey. Buffalo Trace Distillery is expected to release the whiskey annually after Passover.
TENNESSEE—There are nearly one-thousand new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported 986 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to over 818-thousand. Nearly 40 additional COVID-19-related deaths were reported, with the total number of coronavirus-attributed deaths statewide standing at close to 12-thousand. The 12-thousand-553 active cases reported were the lowest number in nearly three weeks.
TENNESSEE—The largest sustained COVID-19 vaccination center in the state is opening in Memphis today. This site is being opened by the federal government. It’s expected to have the ability to give up to three-thousand vaccinations a day, seven days a week. That will not affect the vaccine supply that’s being given to Shelby County and the state.
TENNESSEE—Governor Bill Lee says he’s committed to meaningful criminal justice reform. Governor Lee will kick off Second Chance Month by hosting a discussion on criminal justice policy with conservative leaders like former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich. Others participating include former Texas Governor Rick Perry and legal experts. The discussion is set for this morning at 11:15 Central Time.
TENNESSEE—Officials at Amtrak say the Biden Administration’s infrastructure plan will provide money for a route between Nashville and Atlanta. Amtrak said yesterday that portions of 80-billion-dollars in federal funding meant for rail would go for a line with stops at the Nashville International Airport, Murfreesboro, Tullahoma, and Chattanooga. Amtrak says it expects the commute between the two cities to take just under seven-hours. Currently, the only Amtrak service offered in Tennessee is through Memphis.
TENNESSEE—Netflix has something new for Dolly Parton fans. The Dolly Parton: A MusiCares Tribute premieres today. The Sevier County-native was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year in 2019 and was the first country artist to receive the honor. Performers at the organization’s annual fundraising gala and tribute concert included Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, Kacey Musgraves and many more.
ILLINOIS—Officials from Governor J.B. Pritzker’s administration say they hope to have Illinois begin Phase Five of the reopening plan by the beginning of summer. Pritzker’s Chief of Staff Anne Caprara and other administration officials appeared before a Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday morning to discuss the state’s response to COVID-19 and a safe reopening. Caprara says the state will need at least five million adults vaccinated to move into Phase Five of the reopening plan. The number equates to 50-percent of the state’s population over 16-years-old. Just over 40-percent of people over 16 have been vaccinated so far.
