Murray Head Start staff pictured with the $3,000 grant check--Photo via Sherry Purdom
MURRAY HEAD START GETS GRANT
Murray Head Start is the recipient of the “Gro More Good Gardens” Grant in partnership with the National Head Start Association and the Scotts Miracle Gro Foundation. Murray Head Start’s grant funds will be utilized to launch a STEAM gardening project that will be sent to every enrolled Early Head Start and Preschool/Head Start child. Murray Head Start sends appreciation to several community partners who will them to assist with the project. Those include the Calloway County Future Farmers of America, Calloway County Public Library, Calloway County Cooperative Extension Office, Humana, and the University of Kentucky Nutrition Education Program. The STEAM kits will be distributed in Fall 2021. Murray Head Start is one of 18 nationwide programs, and the only Kentucky program chosen.
MURRAY HIGH STUDENT WINS STATE ART CONTEST
Governor Andy Beshear yesterday announced that students from four Kentucky counties earned first place in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s 2021 Adopt-a-Highway Art Contest, in which young Kentuckians play an active role in promoting a clean environment. Contest winners included Amanda Peiffer of Murray High School who won first place in the age 15-18 category. This year, there were 291 entries across the state, with participants ranging in age from 5 to 16. The top finishers in each of four age divisions will receive a $100 gift card. First- through third-place recipients for all age groups will have their pieces framed and displayed at the Transportation Cabinet Office Building in Frankfort.
WKCTC GETS SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM GRANT
West Kentucky Community and Technical College has been awarded a grant from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education in support of a Summer Bridge Program focused on improving college preparation and retention for area high school students who graduated in Spring 2020 or are graduating in Spring 2021. The amount of the grant is almost 35 thousand dollars. WKCTC admissions and K-12 staff will recruit student project participants from McCracken County, Paducah Tilghman, Graves County, and Mayfield high schools.
CALLOWAY COUNTY COVID UPDATE
The Calloway County Health Department reported 3 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the county case total during the pandemic to 3,481. Of that total, 3,421 have recovered, 11 are isolated at home, and none are hospitalized. There have been 49 COVID-19 related deaths in the county. As of yesterday, 25.7 percent of Calloway County residents have been fully vaccinated including 62.8% of those 65 and older. Calloway County’s COVID-19 positivity rate as of Wednesday was 1.58%, which is higher than Tuesday’s rate of 1.36%. No school cases have been reported this week.
KENTUCKY COVID UPDATE
At Wednesday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 710 new cases and 10 new deaths were reported, raising the total to 6,542 Kentuckians who are listed as Covid deaths. As of Wednesday, there have been over 6.28 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 3.57%, which is higher than last Wednesday’s rate of 3.11%. There are 420 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 14 less than last Wednesday, including 111 in ICU, which is 8 less than one week ago. At least 51,666 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
KENTUCKY VACCINATION UPDATE
The total number of Kentuckians vaccinated as of Wednesday is 1,837,229 which is up over 1200 from Tuesday’s total. Approximately 663,000 Kentuckians need to get at least their first dose to meet the Team Kentucky Vaccination Challenge which Governor Andy Beshear said will trigger him to lift more restrictions. At the current weekly rate, that will not happen until sometime in mid-July. Additionally, the Governor has given no timetable or benchmark that will trigger lifting of his mask mandate.
MAYFIELD MAN CHARGED WITH BURGLARY
Mayfield Police on Tuesday arrested 28-year-old Philip Vrhovnik after he broke into a home and destroyed property inside. Vrhovnik was arrested on a charge of burglary and lodged in the Graves County Jail. He was arrested and jailed last month after he allegedly began yelling and cursing at a Kentucky State Trooper who had responded to a suspicious person call.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
GEORGETOWN—Senator Mitch McConnell is concerned about dropping COVID-19 vaccination rates. During a stop in Georgetown yesterday, McConnell said everyone should be getting vaccinated, adding it’s “a good thing to do.” McConnell also said he won’t vote for President Biden’s multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure plan, but is willing to negotiate on traditional infrastructure projects like roads, bridges and ports.
LOUISVILLE—Folks in Oldham County will get a chance to meet the finalists who want to become the next superintendent of the county’s school system. A public forum will be held at Oldham County High School at 5:30 this afternoon. There are three finalists to replace Greg Schultz as Oldham County Schools superintendent. Sharla Six is an assistant superintendent for Franklin County Schools; Jason Radford is an assistant superintendent with Boone County Schools; and Brent Deaves is an assistant superintendent for support services within Oldham County Schools.
KNOTT COUNTY—A missing Knott County three-year-old has been found safe. Troopers with Kentucky State Police say a volunteer found Madlyn Clawson yesterday evening. She was taken to the hospital to be treated for scratches and other possible injuries. Authorities say Madlyn walked away from her grandparent’s home late Tuesday afternoon but have not released where she was found.
KENTUCKY—Kentucky State Police are facing backlash over a Facebook image posted on the site. The cover image depicts a helicopter and law enforcement officers standing in front of various vehicles with the slogan “Our color is gray, Our gender is Trooper.” The post generated thousands of comments and shares, many calling it tone-deaf. Chris Hartman with the Fairness Campaign spoke out against the image saying “a uniform and a profession are not an identity,” calling the post “irresponsible.” The image was pulled as the KSP Facebook cover photo, but is still on the page. State police say the phrase has been used at KSP for the last 25 years to demonstrate the agency’s commitment to racial and gender inclusivity. Hartman called the saying racist and transphobic.
SCOTT COUNTY—One person is dead and one has been rescued following a kayaking accident in Scott County. Officials say a couple was kayaking near Great Crossing Park yesterday and were close to the dam when both of their kayaks capsized, plunging them into the water. The woman surfaced, and crews rescued her. The 26-year-old man was pulled from the water and taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Fish and Wildlife is leading the investigation.
OWENSBORO—The case is proceeding against a teen charged in the murder of Corban Hentry in Owensboro. The 17-year-old defendant made a court appearance yesterday afternoon, where probable cause was found to continue prosecution. His next court date is May 26th. Henry was found dead with a single gunshot wound in August 2020 in the 15-hundred-block of West Fifth Street. The teen facing murder and other charges was arrested Tuesday.
TENNESSEE—There are over 900 new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to 850-thousand-885. Nearly a dozen additional COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number of coronavirus-attributed deaths standing at close to 12-thousand-230. Over 800 coronavirus patients are hospitalized statewide.
TENNESSEE—Tennessee lawmakers want to cut unemployment benefits by more than half. They passed House and Senate bills yesterday that would cut the state’s unemployment benefits down from 26 weeks to 12 weeks. If signed into law by Governor Bill Lee, Tennessee would be tied for last in the country for the number of weeks the unemployed could collect benefits.
TENNESSEE—The National Weather Service is still investigating recent storms. About a dozen tornadoes touched down around the state on Tuesday. The National Weather Service says it wants to see pictures and videos of the storms and damage after tornadoes were reported in Davidson, Robertson, Cheatham, Sumner, Trousdale, Jackson, Smith, Dekalb, White, Bedford and Cumberland counties. Pictures and video can be submitted on the NWS Nashville Facebook or Twitter pages.
TENNESSEE—The Tennessee State Fair is being moved from one Mid-State county to another. The state approved legislation yesterday to allow the fair to be moved out of Davidson County so it can be held at the Ward Agricultural Center in Wilson County. The legislation was previously passed by the state House and signed by Governor Bill Lee. The legislature’s approval allows for improvements to facilities and upgrades to road and traffic infrastructure.
TENNESSEE—The state’s largest school district is on a hiring spree. Shelby County Schools wants to hire 250 people to serve as Specialized Education Assistants. The role is designed to provide an additional layer of support for teachers and students, and help eliminate any learning loss caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Recruitment events are being held every Thursday afternoon through June 17th at the SCS Board of Education.
ILLINOIS—Illinois House lawmakers are hoping to add penalties for Scott’s Law violations. The law requires drivers to move away from the side of a road where emergency crews are helping someone. There is currently a 250-dollar fine for violations of the law. A proposed amendment would add community service as a punishment for breaking the law. The amendment would also add language emphasizing the need for drivers to slow down and pay attention to emergency vehicles. The proposal moved out of the Transportation Committee unanimously yesterday and is headed to the floor for discussion.
