KSP ASKING FOR HELP IDENTIFYING REMAINS
Detectives with Kentucky State Police, Post 1 continue to investigate the discovery of partial human remains located early Sunday morning in the waters of Lake Barkley in Trigg County north of the US 68/80 Barkley Lake Bridge. At this time, detectives are requesting any information that may assist in the identification of the partial remains which include a black and blue size 10 Nike Air Max shoe, a pair of gray size medium Hanes thermal pants, a pair of black size 36 MNML jeans, and a black size medium belt. Anyone with information should contact the Kentucky State Police at 1-800-222-5555.
THREE NAMES SUBMITTED FOR CHAMBER BOARD
The appointed Nominating Committee of the Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has presented its Slate of Board Members to serve a three-year term. The candidates are Darren Yates, the Owner of The Keg & Yates Event Center. Jennifer Apple, Chief Client Officer with CFSB, and Nathan Crafton, CPA with Pierce, Keller & Associates. Candidates must be an active member in good standing and must have agreed to accept the responsibility of a directorship. If no petition is filed by Monday, the nominations shall be closed and the nominated slate of candidates shall be declared elected by the Board of Directors at their regular July Board Meeting.
I-24 WORK BEGINS TODAY
A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans a work zone shift for westbound traffic on I-24 today. Beginning at about 7 am, I-24 westbound traffic will be shifted with the eastbound lanes carrying 2-way traffic from mile point 64.5 to mile point 56.5. A concrete barrier wall will separate the two traffic lanes. The traffic shift will allow the contractor to replace 10 miles of concrete pavement along the westbound lanes in Trigg and Caldwell Counties. The work zone has a strictly enforced 55 mph speed limit with an enhanced police presence.
CALLOWAY/KENTUCKY COVID UPDATE
The Calloway County Health Department reported 1 new case of COVID-19 yesterday. Currently, 6 cases are isolated at home, and none are hospitalized. The county positivity rate as of Tuesday was .73% which was the same as Monday’s rate. The state’s current positivity rate is 1.88%. At yesterday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 244 new cases and 5 new deaths were reported. There are 176 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 18 less than last Tuesday, including 52 in ICU, which is 3 less than one week ago. 70.1% of Calloway County residents 65 and older have been vaccinated, which is lower than the 83% total of Kentuckians in that age group.
GAS PRICES LOWER, BUT MY GO UP BY THE WEEKEND
Gas prices in West Central Kentucky are three cents lower this week at $2.79 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. At $3.09 per gallon, the national gas price average is at its highest of the year and could increase even more heading up to the Independence Day holiday weekend. Tuesday, 89% of U.S. gas stations are selling regular unleaded for $2.75 or more. Road trippers will pay the most to fill up for the holiday since 2014.
TOWN AND GOWN CONCERT IS SUNDAY
The Murray State University Town & Gown Community Band will present its Freedom Fest Concert of American Music at 6:30 Sunday night on the lawn in front of Lovett Auditorium. The band is in its tenth season under the direction of Dr. Todd E. Hill, professor of music at Murray State. The program is free and the public is cordially invited. The forty-minute program will dismiss in time for attendees to get to favorite viewing locations for the Freedom Fest Fireworks display in Murray following the concert. Our national march, John Philip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever” will close out the program.
MARSHALL FISCAL COURT VOTES TO KEEP PRICEY CHAIRS
WPSD reports that Marshall County Fiscal Court voted Tuesday to keep the more than $17,000 purchase of “24/7 chairs.” Two commissioners voted to keep the chairs, along with Marshall County Judge Executive Kevin Neal. The chairs were already delivered, but leaders were still split on the price tag. On Tuesday, District 1 Commissioner Justin Lamb and District 3 Commissioner Monti Collins voted to keep the chairs to avoid any possible legal penalties the county could face for breaking the contract to buy them. Neal said he was pleased with the outcome, standing by his statement that the chairs are a good investment.
TWO INJURED IN VEHICLE VS BUGGY ACCIDENT
At approximately 7:06 Monday morning, Graves County Sheriff’s Department Deputies responded to a motor vehicle accident involving a horse and buggy. 36 year old Kim Wilson of Mayfield was northbound on US 45 towards Mayfield and collided with the rear of a northbound horse and buggy which was operated by 50 year old Levi Stutzman and passenger 48 year old Katie Stutzman both of Mayfield. The Stutzman’s were ejected as the horse broke free and ran away. The Mayfield Graves County EMS responded and transported the Stutzman’s to Jackson Purchase Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
LOUISVILLE—Former state Rep. Charles Booker is expected to make a public announcement tomorrow. The “special announcement” will be made at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage in Louisville. The Democrat has been considering running for the U.S. Senate in 2022 against Republican Rand Paul. Booker’s hopes to run against Senator Mitch McConnell in 2020 ended with a loss to Amy McGrath in the Democratic primary.
LOUISVILLE—Kentucky’s first drive-thru COVID-19 testing site is closing. Today is the last day to get a test or vaccine at the UofL Health site on the Corner of Brooks and Liberty in Louisville. It first opened in March of last year. UofL Health officials say anyone who needs a vaccine or testing should go to its Urgent Care Plus locations throughout the region.
FRANKFORT—Today’s the last day to register for Kentucky’s first Shot at a Million sweepstakes drawing. Kentuckians must sign up for the COVID vaccine incentive by 11:59 tonight to be eligible for the first drawing. The first winners will be announced on Friday. An adult will win a million dollars and scholarships will be awarded in the 12-to-17-year-old category.
FRANKFORT—A number of Kentucky businesses are standing against Governor Andy Beshear’s back-to-work incentive program. Some businesses say providing a 15-hundred-dollar incentive for those who are going back to work now is unfair to employees who came back during the pandemic. Some owners say they will not be hiring anyone until August to avoid being unfair to current employees. Beshear says there may be “mixed feelings” about the program, but the incentive is what’s best for the commonwealth’s economy.
LEXINGTON—Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says the fallout from addiction will continue as the country moves beyond the pandemic. The Kentucky Republican made the remarks at a conference in Lexington focused on addiction recovery in the workplace. McConnell says Kentucky has received a “very significant amount of money” to deal with the issue. Addiction Recovery Care CEO Tim Robinson says it’s important to “incentivize employers” to give those in recovery a second chance by hiring them.
OWENSBORO—Kentucky Wesleyan College is requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for all on-campus faculty and staff. KWC announced yesterday that faculty and staff had been told that the deadline to be fully vaccinated is tomorrow. School officials say the mandate is part of the employment policy at the college now. Those who don’t comply will face further discussion with school officials.
TENNESSEE—Dozens of new laws will go into effect in Tennessee tomorrow. Several of them are intended to protect children. Among them is Truth in Sentencing legislation that will ensure parole and probation aren’t options for anyone found guilty of certain violent crimes typically targeting women and children. Another law named for East Tennessee toddler Evelyn Boswell could charge parents with a Class A misdemeanor if they don’t report children missing to law enforcement within 24 hours.
TENNESSEE—Tennessee’s permitless carry legislation is among dozens of laws that will go into effect tomorrow. The bill allows Tennesseans 21 and over and members of the military over 18 to carry open or concealed handguns without a permit. Those who carry without a permit can’t have any felony convictions, current orders of protection, pending charges or convictions for domestic violence or stalking, or have been adjudicated as a mental defective. The constitutional carry law also increases penalties for gun-related crimes.
TENNESSEE—Agriculture is important to Tennessee. That was the message from Governor Bill Lee last night as he spoke to the state convention of the Future Farmers of America in Gatlinburg. Governor Lee told the 15-hundred students agriculture is the state’s number one business. Lee was named an honorary Future Farmer of America for his work promoting the importance of agriculture.
TENNESSEE—Tourists visiting the Smokies are having a major economic impact on communities near the park. The National Park Service reported yesterday that over 12-million people visited the Great Smoky Mountains National Park last year. They spent one-billion dollars, supporting over 14-thousand-700 jobs in the area. The total economic impact on the area was nearly one-and-a-half-billion.
TENNESSEE—A copyright lawsuit against Dollywood is over. Papers filed in a federal court in Knoxville last week show a California production firm and the Dollywood Company have agreed that the claims by Mendelson Film Productions have ended and can’t be resurrected. The records don’t show the case was settled, however, the two sides had been in settlement talks. In 2019 Mendelson had sought 150-thousand dollars from Dollywood, claiming the park used the song Christmas Time Is Here during a seasonal show without authorization.
ILLINOIS—Health officials say 71-percent of Illinois adults have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The state has surpassed President Biden’s goal of having at least 70-percent of the state’s adults vaccinated by Independence Day. Experts say more can be done to reach out to those who haven’t been vaccinated. Officials say those who aren’t vaccinated are now susceptible to variant strains that are more contagious.
