Katie Waide and Alex Thome (PHOTOS VIS MSU MARKETING AND PR)
MSU NAMES SPRING’S OUTSTANDING SENIORS
Murray State University has named Katie Waide and Alex Thome as the Outstanding Senior recipients for spring 2021. Waide is the daughter of Kent and Stacy Waide of Madisonville. She is a double major in economics and organizational communication as well as a Presidential Fellow and member of Murray State’s Honors College. She will graduate this semester and will be moving to Lakeland, Florida to work for MidFlorida Credit Union as an Associate Manager. Thome is the son of Edward and Angela Thome of Murray. He is a double major in chemistry and music performance with a minor in mathematics. Following graduation, Thome will attend Indiana University in their Master of Music, Piano Performance program. He hopes to then obtain a doctoral degree in music and teach at the university level. The spring 2021 commencement ceremonies will take place May 7-8 at the CFSB Center.
PORTIONS OF THE AREA UNDER A FLASH FLOOD WATCH
The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a Flash Flood Watch for portions of western Kentucky, southern Illinois, and southwest Indiana. In western Kentucky, Ballard, Carlisle, Crittenden, Daviess, Henderson, Livingston, McCracken, McLean, Union, and Webster counties are included in the watch area. From Wednesday afternoon through Thursday evening, there will be the potential for several rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall with 2 to 4 inches possible in those areas. Locally higher amounts cannot be ruled out. In addition to the flash flood potential of urban and rural areas, main stem rivers may also be affected.
TWO CHARGED AFTER DRUG PROBE
Detectives with the Graves County Sheriff’s Department conducted an investigation on Monday with Probation and Parole at a residence on Jimtown Road regarding drug activity. Detectives made contact with 63-year old Monty Burch and two others. 51-year old Shane Chapman and Teresa Reed reportedly consented to a search of the room they had stayed in for the night and detectives found methamphetamine, ecstasy pills, and drug paraphernalia. Detectives also found methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a loaded handgun in Burch’s bedroom. Both Burch and Chapman are currently on parole and both were arrested.
CCHD REPORTS SIX NEW COVID CASES
The Calloway County Health Department reported 6 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the county case total during the pandemic to 3,469. Of that total, 3,409 have recovered, 10 are isolated at home, and 1 is hospitalized. There have been 49 COVID-19 related deaths in the county. Calloway County’s COVID-19 Incidence Rate per 100,000 on Tuesday was 4.8%, which is lower than Monday’s rate of 5.5%. There are currently 7 red zone counties for COVID-19 cases in the state but none in the Central Time Zone.
KENTUCKY POSITIVITY RATE DOWN OVER THE WEEK
At Tuesday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 716 new cases and 10 new deaths were reported, raising the total to 6,476 Kentuckians who are listed as Covid deaths. As of Tuesday, there have been over 5.5 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 3.17%, which is lower than last Tuesday’s rate of 3.44%. There are 397 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 22 less than last Tuesday, including 103 in ICU, which is 18 less than one week ago. At least 51,211 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
HARMON ISSUES AUDIT RESULTS FOR MARSHALL PVA
Yesterday, State Auditor Mike Harmon released the Independent Accountant’s Report On Applying Agreed-Upon Procedures for Marshall County Property Valuation Administrator, Tony Henson. Only two minor issues were found. The PVA overspent in the 100, 300, and 800 account series. According to Henson, although the budget amendment was late, the overspending was due to an unexpected increase in funds primarily due to an increase in county payment. The Auditor said the PVA should have monitored his budget in order to determine that his budget line items were not overspent. The audit also found the PVA did not follow the proper procedures and did not complete the appropriate form timely for a day the office was closed other than the state’s approved holidays. No additional issues were found by the audit.
MPD REPORTS ON THURSDAY ACCIDENT
At approximately noon on Thursday, the Murray Police Department responded to an injury collision at North 12th Street and KY 121 North. 60-year old Lora Stewart of Murray told police that she was northbound on 12th Street and saw a vehicle driven by 32-year old Ericka Bradshaw of Murray stopped in traffic at the intersection of KY 121 North. Stewart stated she attempted to stop before striking the rear of Bradshaw’s vehicle. The impact pushed Bradshaw’s vehicle into the rear of a stopped vehicle operated by 46-year old Robert Yearry of Hazel. Stewart was transported by EMS to the emergency room for treatment of possible injuries.
STREET CLOSED BRIEFLY FOR VFW PARADE
The VFW will hold a Loyalty Day Parade in Downtown Murray on Saturday. The parade will assemble on South 5th Street. Starting at around 10:30 Saturday morning, the parade will move westward along Main Street to North 10th Street, where it will turn and follow North 10th Street to the Veterans Memorial in Chestnut Park. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will require Main Street to be closed between 5th Street and 12th Street for about an hour. Drivers should seek an alternate route via US 641-Business and other highways.
FREE MEDICARE EVENT COMING IN JUNE
Learn about signing up for Medicare at the Welcome to Medicare Virtual Fair for people turning 65, retiring, or joining Medicare because of a disability. There is no cost to attend. This event is made possible through a grant from the federal government. Anyone who registers can attend all or part of this online event. You will need a computer or mobile device to participate. Get trusted, unbiased Medicare education from the State Health Insurance Assistance Program national network. There will be expert SHIP presenters on Medicare eligibility, enrollment, costs, and coverage options. The Virtual Fair will be held on June 23 from 2 pm to 5 pm. To register, go to shiptacenter.org/about-medicare/news.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
WASHINGTON DC—Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell has promoted Tiffany Ge of Louisville to serve as his Legislative Director in his personal office in Washington, DC. Ge joined the Senator’s office in 2017 as Legal Counsel and manages an extensive legislative portfolio. As Legislative Director, Ge will oversee all Kentucky-focused legislative matters for the Senator and manage the policy staff. She will continue to serve as Legal Counsel and handle the Judiciary and Law Enforcement policy portfolios. She will be a key link with the Senator’s leadership office and communicate daily with Kentuckians.
LEXINGTON—Keeneland’s Derby Day event is back for 2021. The event was canceled last year because of the pandemic. Organizers of the sold-out event expect about six-thousand people in attendance, with about four-thousand of those in the general admission area. Fans will be able to watch the Run for the Roses happening at Churchill Downs on over a thousand TVs. Food, drink specials, and live music will also be a part of the celebration.
LAWRENCE COUNTY—A Fallsburg Elementary School fourth-grader is home again after being flown to the hospital following a freak accident. The boy was returning from an outside class when a wheel broke off a trailer being hauled on State Route 3 by the school. The wheel crossed two lanes, a ditch, and the ridge by the school sidewalk before it ricocheted off the building onto three students. The injured child’s mother says her ten-year-old son suffered a concussion and lots of bruising and abrasions.
SCOTT COUNTY—Some Kentucky business owners are hopeful now that the commonwealth’s mask mandate has been relaxed. Owners of Queenslake Farm are excited to be able to welcome back larger scale events, such as horse shows, weddings, and fundraising events. Under new rules, those attending outdoor events with fewer than a thousand people no longer have to wear masks.
MUHLENBERG COUNTY—Authorities say the body of a missing Muhlenberg County man has been found. Deputies say 21-year-old David Brooks Jr. had been missing since April 8th, when he was last seen at Bryan Lake Campground. His body was found Sunday afternoon in a remote area near the McLean County line. Authorities are investigating the death, but say foul play is not suspected.
OWENSBORO—Owensboro’s PorchFest OBKY is set to return after being canceled last year. The 2021 event will be held June 12th on Griffith Avenue. Over 30 performers will be featured across eleven stages. Organizers say they will follow state safety regulations, but that mask-wearing will likely not be enforced. Several food trucks have already reserved spots, but more are still available for vendors. This year’s title sponsor is Independence Bank.
OWENSBORO—Kentucky’s Commissioner of Agriculture says the Commonwealth needs a firm reopening date. During his Restaurant Roundtables stop in Owensboro yesterday, Ryan Quarles pointed at other states that have opened from coronavirus restrictions. He said Kentucky doesn’t need a metric to fully reopen, it needs a specific date. Governor Andy Beshear has said many capacity and distancing restrictions will be lifted when two-and-a-half-million Kentuckians have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
SPENCER COUNTY–-An administrator for a Kentucky school district is on paid administrative leave. A lawsuit filed by a teacher says multiple sexual harassment situations involving Spencer County Schools Superintendent Chuck Adams created a “hostile and abusive work environment.” The suit also claims the Spencer County School Board failed to take disciplinary action. The teacher alleges Superintendent Adams visited her classroom frequently, texted and called her during personal time, and conversations were often not work related.
TENNESSEE—There are nearly 12-hundred new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to nearly 844-thousand-250. Close to a dozen additional COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number of coronavirus-attributed deaths statewide standing at over 12-thousand-160. There are close to 800 active cases in the state.
TENNESSEE—One of the state’s largest school district’s says its mask requirement policy will remain in place until August 1st. Knox County Schools Superintendent Bob Thomas made the announcement yesterday. The announcement was made after Governor Bill Lee announced mask mandates in 89 of the state’s 95 counties will end late next month. Thomas said the school district’s policy could change if the school board or health officials follow the Governor’s lead.
TENNESSEE—The mask mandate for Knox County may be over. Mayor Glenn Jacobs said yesterday the requirement would be lifted by the end of the day. However, Jacobs didn’t address the Knox County Health Department’s authority to set public health policy. The mayor’s office says it consulted with the law department before dropping the mandate.
TENNESSEE—The FBI is searching for a missing Ohio woman who’s believed to be in Tennessee. Authorities say 34-year-old Amber Eichner was last seen in Genoa, Ohio on April 14th. Eichner has full custody of her four children who were dropped off at a family member’s home in Tennessee by her husband John Eichner on April 21st. Amber’s cell phone was last pinged near Cleveland, Tennessee on April 23rd.
ILLINOIS—A new healthcare law is on the books in Illinois. Governor Pritzker signed a massive healthcare reform plan yesterday. The proposal was the fourth and final initiative of the Legislative Black Caucus to become law in recent months. The package provides training, expanded healthcare service access, and programs to address maternal and infant mortality, including funding to safety net hospitals with prenatal care. Measures to address racial inequalities in the healthcare system are also included.
