Brock Mardis (Photo via CCSD)
MARDIS KICKS OFF CCSD WEBSITE’S MOST-WANTED FEATURE
The Calloway County Sheriff’s Office has implemented a new “Most Wanted” option on their website callkyso.com. In conjunction with this new option, they have named Brock Mardis as the first entry. Beginning in August of 2018, they have sought to locate and apprehend Mardis for numerous dangerous and violent offenses. Mardis has active warrants of arrest for Rape, Sexual Abuse, Wanton Endangerment, Unlawful Transaction with a Minor, Fleeing or Evading Police, Unlawful Imprisonment, Trafficking Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Mardis has also failed to appear for pending cases involving the charges of Menacing, Resisting Arrest, Unlawful Transaction with a Minor, Illegal Sale of Alcohol, Selling Alcoholic Beverages to Minors, Bail Jumping, and Driving Under the Influence. Information received since 2018 has indicated Mardis may have traveled to New York and/or Florida and may also have changed his appearance to avoid detection. Crime Stoppers in both Calloway County and Marshall County have agreed to provide a reward for information leading to the arrest of Mardis. Anyone with information can call 270-753-3151.
MURRAY HIGH RANKED 8TH IN KENTUCKY BY US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT
In the newly released U.S. News & World Report, Murray High School is ranked eighth out of Kentucky’s 382 high schools, and is recognized as one of the best high schools in the nation with a 95.72 out of 100 score. U.S. News and World Report ranks Murray High School nationally at #765, after 23,000 U.S. and District of Columbia high schools were assessed. Only 226 Kentucky high schools made the national-ranked cut. Dupont Manual in Louisville was named Kentucky’s number one ranked high school.
TORNADO CONFIRMED IN HENRY COUNTY
The National Weather Service says northwest Tennessee storm damage in Henry County was caused by a tornado. The NWS says Wednesday’s damage to dozens of homes and a car dealer was caused by an EF-1 tornado. The tornado had winds of 95-to-100-miles-per hour.
AUDIT RELEASED FOR GRAVES COUNTY SHERIFF
State Auditor Mike Harmon yesterday released results of the state required routine audit of the sheriff’s settlement of 2019 taxes for Graves County Sheriff Jon Hayden. According to the Auditor, the sheriff’s financial statement fairly presents the taxes charged, credited and paid for the period April 16, 2019 through May 15, 2020. The Auditor did find that the Graves County Sheriff’s Office lacks adequate segregation of duties which is common for small departments and is a repeat finding which was included in the prior year audit report. A lack of segregation of duties or strong oversight increases the risk of undetected errors and fraud. The Sheriff responded that the office will institute measures to adhere to the recommendations.
CALLOWAY COUNTY COVID REPORT
The Calloway County Health Department reported 2 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the county case total during the pandemic to 3,473. Of that total, 3,412 have recovered, 11 are isolated at home, and 1 is hospitalized. There have been 49 COVID-19 related deaths in the county. As of yesterday, 23 percent of Calloway County residents have been vaccinated including 60% of those 65 and older. Calloway County’s COVID-19 positivity rate as of yesterday was 3.19%, which is lower than Wednesday’s rate of 3.34%. The Murray Independent School District this week has reported 1 new student case and 2 students are quarantined. The Calloway County School District reported no new cases. Murray State University has reported 2 student cases this week.
KENTUCKY COVID REPORT
At Thursday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 796 new cases and 10 new deaths were reported, raising the total to 6,497 Kentuckians who are listed as Covid deaths. As of Thursday, there have been over 5.53 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 3.12%, which is lower than last Thursday’s rate of 3.36%. There are 422 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 18 less than last Thursday, including 97 in ICU, which is 24 less than one week ago. At least 51,363 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
KENTUCKY VACCINATION REPORT
Fewer people are losing their lives to coronavirus. The nation’s weekly average of deaths is at its lowest point since October, dropping 80-percent since January. Experts say this shows COVID vaccinations are having a significant impact on older adults.
The total number of Kentuckians vaccinated as of yesterday is 1,751,541 which is up over 9,500 from Wednesday’s total. Governor Andy Beshear says approximately 750,000 more Kentuckians need to get at least their first dose for the state to meet its 2.5 million-vaccine Team Kentucky Vaccination Challenge which Beshear said will trigger him to lift more restrictions. At the current rate, that will not happen for 79 days, which would be around July 17. Additionally, the Governor has given no timetable as to when he intends to lift his mask mandate.
WKCTC BEGINS SERVICE AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS
Fourteen recipients of the WKCTC Guarantee Community Connections Service Award were announced yesterday. The Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club of Paducah will receive a $2,500 donation and 30 scholarships worth $15,000. Edward Smith, the club’s unit director, said the college’s donation will help the club to recover from issues as a result of COVID-19. Other recipients announced Thursday were the United Way of Paducah- McCracken County, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Hispanic Ministries and Outreach, Merryman House Domestic Violence Center, Alexander-Pulaski Branch-NAACP, Mayfield Graves County Branch-NAACP, Paducah-McCracken County-NAACP, United Way of Mayfield/Graves County, and West Kentucky Alumni Association. The second group of recipients will be announced May 6th. The money comes from a $15 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
LICENSED HEMP GROWERS DOWN SHARPLY
Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Ryan Quarles announced the Kentucky Department of Agriculture has licensed 445 hemp growers to cultivate up to 12,000 acres and 140 hemp processors and handlers for 2021. The 2021 numbers reflect national trends for hemp production. According to a review of states with hemp programs, 30 out of 40 states reported reduced or significantly reduced applications for 2021. Processors and handlers reported $130 million in gross product sales in 2020. That compares with $193 million in gross product sales in 2019. Processors reported spending nearly $139 million on capital investment projects in 2020, as compared to over $207 million in 2019. Last year, Commissioner Quarles sent a letter to Kentucky’s federal delegation to describe how the FDA’s “bureaucratic paralysis” regarding CBD is hindering growth in Kentucky’s hemp industry. Quarles serves as NASDA’s president and recently pressed FDA leaders in a meeting for action on CBD guidance.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
HARDIN COUNTY—A deadly crash involving a school bus is under investigation. Kentucky State Police say the crash happened Monday afternoon on East Highway 221 in Bledsoe. KSP says the bus was stopped to drop off a student when a pickup driven by 73-year-old Donald Anadell crashed into the back of the bus. Anadell was flown to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries. The driver and students on the bus were uninjured.
LEXINGTON—The dorms at the University of Kentucky will be returning to normal capacity in the fall. University officials say more than 60-percent of current students have been vaccinated, which drove the decision to operate at full capacity. UK officials are encouraging students to get vaccinated, but vaccination is not required to attend campus or live in the dorms. The university is working on updating its safety protocols.
LEXINGTON—Lexington Police say two of the department’s cruisers collided while searching for a suspect. The collision happened yesterday afternoon in the area of Pierson Drive while police were circling the area after the suspect they were seeking ran. No officers were injured in the crash. The suspect was found and arrested a short time later.
OWENSBORO—A group of Apollo High School students in Owensboro are getting a boost in their college money. Independence Bank surprised the six students yesterday with grants ranging from a thousand dollars to 15-thousand dollars. The event was part of a larger award ceremony that took place last night and included more than 100-thousand in awards. The ceremony was live streamed on Apollo High School’s official Facebook page.
FORT KNOX—Fort Knox is planning to build a new elementary school at the installation that will open in 2024 or 2025. About 69-million dollars has been set aside for the project. Schools on military installations are built to higher anti-terrorism and force protection standards than civilian schools. The additional protection impacts construction costs.
TENNESSEE—There are nearly eleven-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 846-thousand-500. Close to 20 additional COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number of coronavirus-attributed deaths standing at nearly 12-thousand-190. Over 820 coronavirus patients are hospitalized statewide.
TENNESSEE—Knox County Schools could revise its mask policy today. A specially-called meeting of the school board will be held to decide if the policy will come to an end later today or remain in place until August 1st. If the policy is changed, students wouldn’t be required to wear masks the last few weeks of school. The meeting was called after Mayor Glenn Jacobs put an end to Knox County’s mask mandate earlier this week.
TENNESSEE—The state’s largest school district is hiring. Shelby County Schools’ annual SCS Preview Day will be held on Friday, May 14th at American Way Middle School in Memphis. Shelby County Schools will provide potential employees information about working for the district during the event. Anyone interested is asked to register by May 5th.
ILLINOIS—An emergency housing bill is headed to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s desk. The state Senate passed the proposal yesterday that would provide assistance to people across the state who have been struggling with housing payments or homelessness during the pandemic. The bill is designed to help provide a solution for people struggling when the moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures come to an end. The legislation would automatically stall evictions through next March and stop foreclosure proceedings and filings through May 1st. Money distributed through the program would go directly to landlords.
