AUDIT FINDS REVENUE BOND ISSUE WITH MCSD TAX SETTLEMENT
State Auditor Mike Harmon yesterday released the state mandated routine audit of the sheriff’s settlement for 2019 taxes for Marshall County Sheriff Eddie McGuire. The sheriff’s financial statement fairly presents the taxes charged, credited and paid for the period April 16, 2019 through May 15, 2020, however, one finding of the report will be referred to the Marshall County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. According to the audit, the Marshall County Sheriff failed to obtain a revenue bond in accordance with state law. Since the revenue bond was not obtained, the amount of tax collections in the sheriff’s custody was at risk for potential loss and the sheriff was not in compliance. According to the sheriff, he was unaware of what occurred and was under the impression that he had obtained a revenue bond. The auditor recommended the sheriff consult with the county attorney for guidance on the non-compliance.
MCCH RENOVATES LAB DEPARTMENT
Murray-Calloway County Hospital recently renovated a new Clinical Laboratory Department on the first floor of the North Tower. The new Lab area will provide additional space for offices and storage, and a larger lab area giving staff the ability to do more tests efficiently. This gives physicians the timeliest information to aid them in the diagnosis and treatment of their patients, which is crucial to the patient’s plan of care. Approximately 70% of medical decisions are based on lab results. The Laboratory consists of Chemistry, Hematology, Blood Bank, Microbiology, and Pathology Departments all staffed with dedicated employees utilizing the most up-to-date instrumentation available to provide the most accurate and timely results.
MHS STUDENTS RECOGNIZED FOR SPANISH EXAM SCORES
Several Murray High School students were recognized for their excellent performance on the 2021 National Spanish Exam, earning one gold, seven silver, and three bronze medals along with six honorable mentions for their performance on the national level. Additionally, Garrett Herndon placed second in Kentucky on the Level 4 exam. Hayde Vega placed second and Amanda Peiffer placed ninth in the state on the Level 3 Exam, while Maggie Mae Drew placed second and Raegan Settle placed seventh on the Level 2 exam. Nationally, Garrett Herndon was named a Gold Honoree. Maggie Mae Drew, Raegan Settle, Caroline Koenig, Amanda Peiffer, Eliana Purcell, Hayde Vega, and Andia Karanja were Silver Honorees, while Luke Cross, Mary Browder Howell, and Kyra Shutt were Bronze Honorees.
CCHD REPORTS NO NEW COVID CASES OVER THREE DAY PERIOD
The Calloway County Health Department reported zero new cases of COVID-19 from Saturday through Monday, leaving the county case total during the pandemic at 3,498. Of that total, 3,439 have recovered, 9 are isolated at home, and 1 is hospitalized. There have been 49 COVID-19 related deaths in the county. As of yesterday, 28.7 percent of Calloway County residents have been fully vaccinated including 65.5% of those 65 and older. Calloway County’s COVID-19 positivity rate as of Monday was .89%, which is lower than Sunday’s rate of 1.19%.
STATE POSITIVITY RATE DECLINES
At Monday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 285 new cases and 6 new deaths were reported, raising the total to 6,662 Kentuckians who are listed as Covid deaths. As of Monday, there have been over 6.46 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 2.78%, which is lower than last Monday’s rate of 3.25%. There are 389 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 15 less than last Monday, including 112 in ICU, which is 3 more than one week ago. At least 52,238 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus. As of Monday, 1,927,168 Kentuckians have been vaccinated for a 43% total, including 80% of those 65 and older.
GOVERNOR APPOINTS FOUR TO WKCTC BOARD
Governor Andy Beshear has appointed Butch Bradley, Jay Simmons, Kenneth Hurt, and Erika Mehta as members of the West Kentucky Community & Technical College Board of Directors. The 10-member board is composed of seven community leaders appointed by the governor and three members consisting of elected representatives from WKCTC faculty, staff, and student body. Charles Murphy of Hickman is the current board chair. Bradley, of Paducah, is an attorney at Grumley, Riley, & Stewart. Simmons, of Mayfield, is the superintendent of the Carlisle County Board of Education. Hurt, of Paducah, is a tax consultant. Mehta, of Murray, replaces Donna Pearson, who resigned, and shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term ending April 3, 2025.
SENTENCING DATE FOR SIMONICH MOVED
A sentencing date for 56-year old Peter Simonich has been continued until July 27. Marshall County deputies arrested Simonich last September after receiving a complaint about him. An investigation revealed that he was in possession of child pornography. Simoich pleaded guilty in March to twelve counts of possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor.
MASK ORDER ENDS IN MCCRACKEN COUNTY
According to WPSD TV, McCracken County Judge Executive Craig Clymer has ended an executive order requiring masks and social distancing. Clymer signed the executive order in May of 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clymer says those who haven’t been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are “strongly encouraged” to wear masks and social distance. The order does not apply to Court of Justice facilities inside the McCracken County Courthouse because an order from the Kentucky Supreme Court requires facial coverings to enter judicial facilities.
CALLOWAY FISCAL COURT MEETS WEDNESDAY
The Calloway County Fiscal Court will meet in regular session on Wednesday. There will be a Public Hearing for CRA & LGEA . There will also be second reading and public hearing for a 2020-21 Budget Amendment. Approval of Code 84, the first reading of the 2021-22 Budget, and a hearing on Nuisance Abatement. The meeting begins at 9 am Wednesday at the Court House Annex.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—Kentucky will continue to participate in federally funded pandemic unemployment insurance programs. Governor Andy Beshear said yesterday he isn’t ready to opt out of the programs yet. Governor Beshear said doing so would be a shock to the state’s system and threaten its recovery. Both Indiana and Tennessee are terminating such benefits next month.
LEXINGTON—Casting is underway for a national courtroom show to be filmed in Lexington. Shooting for Relative Justice starts this spring. The show takes family fights from the living room to the courtroom. The show will be filmed in the old Woodhill Cinema movie theater.
FRANKFORT—Governor Andy Beshear says he doesn’t believe there will be a mask mandate in place for next school year. Governor Beshear said yesterday he expects school settings to be “very, very normal” in the fall. The state’s mask mandate and capacity restrictions will end on June 11th. Public travel, health care settings, and schools are among the exceptions at this time.
OWESNBORO—A tent used by Owensboro Health during the coronavirus outbreak is gone. During the outbreak the tent has been used to help with social distancing, then to help patients with respiratory issues stay separate from others at the hospital. Recently it was used to administer an antibody infusion process. However, now the hospital says it no longer needs the tent as more people are being vaccinated.
TENNESSEE—There are over 200 new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to nearly 858-thousand-360. An additional four COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number of coronavirus-attributed deaths standing at nearly 12-thousand-330. About 670 people with COVID-19 are hospitalized across the state.
TENNESSEE—The bridge inspector who missed a cracked beam on the underside of the I-40 bridge over the Mississippi River in both 2019 and 2020 is out of a job. The Arkansas Department of Transportation announced yesterday that the inspector has been fired. The massive crack in the I-beam was discovered one week ago. Arkansas officials say there’s evidence of the crack from a 2019 drone video.
TENNESSEE—The Tennessee Department of Transportation says it has a plan to repair the I-40 bridge in Memphis. TDOT said yesterday it’s a two-phase plan to repair the bridge that was built in the late 1960s. Phase one will require steel plates to be installed on both sides of the fractured beam to provide stability. Designs for phase two are being worked out with a contractor to be hired soon.
TENNESSEE—The Strong Act is now law in Tennessee. The bill signed by Governor Bill Lee at Berry Field Air National Guard Base will give additional education opportunities to Tennesseans who served in the U.S. Military. It’s designed to provide members of the national guard funding to get their bachelor’s degree while serving. The new law is part of a larger education goal to equip 55 percent of Tennesseans with a degree or occupational certificate by 2025.
TENNESSEE—June 12th will be observed as Women’s Veterans Day in Tennessee. Governor Bill Lee signed a bill yesterday that will honor female veterans on that day annually. The legislation received unanimous support in the Tennessee House earlier this year. Women make up about ten percent of the state’s military veterans.
ILLINOIS—Illinois continues to move to a return to normal. Fully vaccinated people are no longer required to wear a mask after Governor J.B. Pritzker updated an executive order in response to new federal COVID guidelines. Masks are still required in Illinois schools and daycare centers. Additionally, Illinois’ eviction moratorium will end in August. Governor J.B. Pritzker made that announcement yesterday, saying that the state will work with stakeholders to start an “orderly, gradual phase out” in the coming months. This decision comes as the state announced a new rental assistance program for continued pandemic recovery.
