Photo via Kentucky State Police
MISSOURI WOMAN CHARGED AFTER MULTI-COUNTY PURSUIT
Kentucky State Police arrested a Missouri woman Saturday morning after a multi-county pursuit. Around 8:45 am, an eastbound vehicle passed a Trooper on Interstate 24 at a high rate of speed. The Trooper pursued the vehicle on Interstate 24 through Lyon, Caldwell, and Trigg County before entering Christian County. Troopers with Post 2 successfully deployed a tire deflation device at the 83 mile marker and Christian County Sheriff’s deputies deployed one near the 84 mile marker, disabling the vehicle. 57-year old Kathleen Kummant of St. Louis was taken into custody without further incident. She was charged with Fleeing or Evading police, Wanton Endangerment, Reckless Driving, and Excessive Speed. She was lodged in the Christian County Jail.
SOTOMAYOR INDICTED BY GRAND JURY
A Calloway County grand jury indicted an Almo man last week on charges related to the death of a Murray State University student. The grand jury found enough evidence to advance the case of 22-year old Julius Sotomayor. He is charged with murder, tampering with physical evidence, and theft by unlawful taking in connection to last month’s death of Sarah Townsend of Farmville, Virginia. Her body was discovered in a ditch along Fox Road near the Cherry Corner community of Calloway County. An autopsy determined that she had been shot multiple times. Sotomayor remains in the Calloway County Jail on a 1 million dollar cash bond. He is expected back in court next month.
WISCONSIN MAN INDICTED FOR MURRAY HIGH THREATS
A Racine, Wisconsin man was also indicted by a Calloway County Grand Jury last week for his alleged role in a pair of false reporting incidents that targeted Murray High School. 19-year old Kya Nelson is facing three counts of terroristic threatening after allegedly making a series of phone calls to Murray Police Department 911 Dispatch on the morning of January 25 that indicated an active shooter situation was in progress on the Murray High campus. The scene was repeated the next day when 911 Dispatch received a report that bombs were about to explode at Murray High. No actual threat was found following any of the calls. Nelson waived extradition and is lodged in the Calloway jail awaiting an early May appearance in Calloway Circuit Court.
CCHD REPORTS 1 NEW COVID CASE
The Calloway County Health Department reported 1 new case of COVID-19 on Saturday and none on Friday, bringing the county case total during the pandemic to 3,446. Of that total, 3,384 have recovered, 13 are isolated at home, and none are hospitalized. There have been 49 COVID-19 related deaths in the county. On Thursday, Murray-Calloway County Hospital reported a COVID-19 test positivity rate of 2.89%. Results may include those from other counties who tested at the hospital.
COUNTY POSITIVITY RATE HOLDS STEADY
Murray State University reported 3 student cases last week. Neither local school system reported any new cases last week, but Murray Independent School District reported that two students were quarantined. Calloway County’s COVID-19 Incidence Rate per 100,000 on Sunday was 5.1%, which is the same as Saturday’s rate. There are now 11 red zone counties for COVID-19 cases in the state, but the only red zone county west of Louisville is Logan County with a rate of 30.6.
VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE THIS WEEK
The Murray Regional Vaccination Clinic is scheduling online appointments for administration of Moderna COVID-19 first doses at the CFSB Center. This week’s clinic will be held from 2 pm to 6 pm on Thursday, and from 8 am until noon on Friday. Appointments are currently available for those 18 years of age and older. Please visit MurrayKYvaccine.org to schedule an appointment and make sure you select April 22 or 23 to see available appointments.
KENTUCKY POSITIVITY RATE REMAINS UNDER 4%
At Sunday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 275 new cases and 4 new deaths were reported, raising the total to 6,338 Kentuckians who are listed as Covid deaths. As of Sunday, there have been over 5.27 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 3.48%, which is higher than last Sunday’s rate of 3.08%. There are 394 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 15 more than last Sunday, including 98 in ICU, which is 6 more than one week ago. At least 50,756 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
13 MHS STUDENTS JOIN ACT 30+ CLUB
The Murray High School guidance office announced 13 students will be joining the ACT 30+ club, bringing the total to 54 Murray High School students who have achieved a 30 or above on the ACT. This year’s ACT 30+ inductees are Issac Bourne, Emily Burditt, Ainsley Byers, Caleb Cauley, Luke Cross, Maggie Drew, Joshua Eaton, Alyssa Harrell, Caroline Koenig, Amanda Peiffer, Eliana Purcell, Chase Renick, and Katelyn Stanczyk. Renick was recently recognized with earning a 36, which is the highest possible ACT composite score. A special inductee luncheon will be held later to recognize these 30+ club students.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—The Kentucky Supreme Court will be hearing two separate cases involving challenges to Governor Andy Beshear’s executive powers. One case involves three bills passed by the General Assembly that were initially vetoed before the vetoes were overriden. The second case is brought by Goodwood Brewing in Scott County in an attempt to uphold a previous temporary injunction on restrictions against the business’s operations. Both cases were able to bypass the Court of Appeals to be heard directly by the Kentucky Supreme Court.
HENDERSON—No one is hurt after a house fire in Henderson. The blaze broke out over the weekend at a home in the 17-hundred-block of North Elm Street. Initial reports said that the fire started at a shed, but when crews arrived, they say the back of the house was on fire. No one was home at the time. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
BELL COUNTY—A man was injured after he returned to his overturned vehicle to retrieve his Bible. The crash happened Friday afternoon near the Bell County Forestry Camp near Frakes. Firefighters were able to get the man out of the vehicle, where he was airlifted to a hospital in Tennessee with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
OWENSBORO—Owensboro’s downtown trolley will resume operations next month. Owensboro Transit System says the trolley will return on Sunday, May 1st. The trolley servicing the downtown area only has been out of operation for a year over coronavirus concerns. Seating will be limited when service returns.
TENNESSEE—The TBI is investigating an officer-involved shooting in East Tennessee. The TBI says Roane County Sheriff’s deputies and deputies from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office were fired at during a standoff in Harriman last evening. Deputies returned fire hitting a man who was taken to the hospital. No deputies were injured.
TENNESSEE—Knoxville continues to respond to the officer-involved shooting death of an Austin-East Magnet High School student. Eternal Life Harvest Center held a prayer walk yesterday following last Monday’s shooting of 17-year-old Anthony Thompson, Jr. Those who participated in the march carried Bibles and prayed along their route. They marched to Austin-East where there’s a memorial for Thompson.
TENNESSEE—A Japanese fisherman is celebrating a big win. Daisuke Aoki won the Bassmaster Southern Open at Douglas Lake over the weekend. Aoki reeled in just over 43 pounds to win the event in the Great Smoky Mountains. He claimed a check of nearly 52-thousand dollars with the win.
ILLINOIS—First Lady Dr. Jill Biden is making her first trip to Illinois in a year. Biden will be in Dixon this afternoon, along with education secretary Miguel Cardona. Governor J.B. Pritzker’s office says he will also join the First Lady. The group will tour Sauk Valley Community College before giving remarks. This is Dr. Biden’s first trip to Illinois as First Lady.
