BODY OF MISSING BOATER RECOVERED IN LAKE BARKLEY
The body of a Lake Barkley boater was recovered yesterday morning near the mouth of Davenport Bay. 31-year old Dustin Fox of Princeton had been missing since Saturday afternoon when witnesses said he was ejected from the boat and subsequently hit by it. He did not resurface and there were no passengers on the boat. Conservation officers responded and found an unmanned vessel going around in circles. An autopsy will be conducted, and the incident remains under investigation.
GOVERNOR VISITS MSU’S WEST FARM
Governor Andy Beshear was in Murray on Friday where he congratulated the Murray State University Hutson School of Agriculture, which has partnered with Murray’s Sunway Energy Solutions and GREE Electric Appliances in China, to build a solar HVAC system on the University West Farm. This is the first phase of the project and MSU will continue the development of phase two in collaboration with EEC’s Office of Energy Policy.
ONE LANE OF NORTH FOURTH STREET CLOSED
This travel reminder for your commute this week, beginning today, the Southbound lane of North 4th Street in Murray will be closed between Spruce Street and Olive Street until further notice for water repair work.
MURRAY MAN CHARGED IN SHOOTING
A Murray man faces multiple charges in connection to Wednesday’s shooting on Hardin Trailer Lane in Marshall County. Deputies arrived and found a a man who’d been shot multiple times, and homes in the neighborhood riddled with bullet holes. The sheriff’s office says one of those bullets struck inches away from a child in one of the homes. The man who was shot was flown to a level 1 trauma center. One suspect was arrested Thursday in Calloway County. 21-year-old Kisen Richardson was charged with assault, wanton endangerment, and criminal mischief. Richardson was lodged in the Calloway County Jail and the investigation is ongoing
MURRAY WOMEN FACING DRUG CHARGES
Four arrests have been made following a Tuesday shooting in Marshall County. The victim was transported to an area hospital and was treated and released with minor injuries. After finding the gun, deputies arrested Joshua Adams of Benton in connection with the shooting. Deputies reportedly found over 1 pound of crystal methamphetamine with a street value of approximately $50,000. Also arrested in connection to the meth discovery besides Adams was Jocelyn McCurdy of Murray, Charles Morgan of Calvert City; and Amber Amaro of Hardin, who also had an outstanding warrant from Calloway County. All were lodged in the Marshal County Detention Center.
TRIGG DOUBLE-MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED IN LOS ANGELES
A suspect in the investigation into the death of Mildred Faris and Matthew Blakeley in Trigg County has been arrested. Landon Stinson of Cadiz was located and arrested in Los Angeles last week, Detectives with Post 1 traveled to Los Angeles and interviewed Stinson in connection with the death investigation. He is being held at the Los Angeles County Jail on California charges. Law enforcement officials also served Stinson with a Trigg County arrest warrant on the charge of Possession of Controlled Substance.
CALLOWAY/KENTUCKY COVID UPDATE
The Calloway County Health Department reported 13 new cases of COVID-19 since from July 3 until July 9. The current positivity rate in the county is 1.84% over the past week, which is 1.26% lower than a week ago. The state positivity rate is 3.10%. There were 379 new cases and 2 new deaths reported yesterday. 228 are hospitalized including 68 in ICU.
PITTMAN AND NESLER APPOINTED TO PARKS COMMISSION
Governor Andy Beshear has appointed Fred Nesler of Mayfield and Jason Pittman of Murray to the Kentucky State Parks Centennial Commission. Pittman is the market president at CFSB in Murray and has also served seven terms on the Murray City Council. Nesler served as 2nd District state representative from 1993-2012. Pittman and Nesler will serve until January 1 of 2025.
STRANDED CREW MEMBERS LEAVE BOAT
Some crew members of a cruise ship stuck on Lake Barkley are getting off the boat. They were expected to disembark yesterday while others remained on board the American Jazz. American Cruise Lines says the ship remains completely safe with all onboard systems operating. Crews are assessing how to get the ship off a sandbar.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FLOYD COUNTY—Crews in Floyd County are cleaning up after strong storms caused widespread damage. Storms continued throughout the weekend, causing flood damage in many areas of the county. Authorities say part of Route 1428 at Allen was covered by water, making it impassible at times. The area also had downed power lines, blocking roadways.
KNOTT COUNTY—A Kentucky State trooper is recovering after being shot in Knott County. Officials say the trooper had pulled over a vehicle that had been reported stolen when he and the driver exchanged gunfire. The trooper was shot, and another trooper who had come in as backup shot the driver. The trooper who was shot was taken to the hospital and released, while the suspect remains in ICU.
WASHINGTON DC—A Lexington Rabbi is among those who spoke at a national rally protesting antisemitism. Rabbi Shlomo Litvin with Chabad of the Bluegrass shared a message at the No Fear Rally in Washington, DC yesterday. Litvin spoke about the importance of integrating a person’s background, faith, and community, and about having pride in one’s faith. The Rabbi said he is proud to represent a state where progress is being made on Holocaust education. The gathering comes after an increase in hate crimes against Jews in America.
LAUREL COUNTY—A Laurel County congregation is meeting again following a fire that destroyed their church. Winding Blade Holiness Pastor Todd Hignite led about 60 people in worship yesterday under a shelter on the church’s property. The theme was rising from the ashes and being unified in the face of catastrophe. About seven-thousand dollars was raised toward rebuilding efforts at the service.
OWENSBORO—The Owensboro Board of Education is considering several proposals for renovation of the OHS athletic facilities. Athletic Director Todd Harper’s wish list includes changes to existing fields and a new indoor facility to accommodate multiple sports. Harper says the indoor facility could provide a practice and playing space for almost any sport, including soccer, football, lacrosse, baseball, softball, dance, and cheer, as well as for the band and color guard.
LOUISVILLE—Students and staff in the state’s largest school district who haven’t been vaccinated for COVID-19 must wear masks inside district facilities. A message was sent to Jefferson County Schools parents yesterday after the Centers for Disease Control announced new guidance for school districts to reduce the spread of the virus. As of today, the new policy applies to students and staff on buses for summer programming, however, masks aren’t required outside on JCPS property. The first day of the new school year is Wednesday, August 11th.
LOUISVLLLE—A global shortage of computer chips continues to impact Ford Motor Company workers in Kentucky. The Kentucky Truck Plant is down this week. The plant will run just two shifts the weeks of July 19th, July 26th and August 2nd. The Louisville Assembly Plant will run on a reduced schedule the week of July 19th.
TENNESSEE—A federal judge is temporarily blocking Tennessee’s new bathroom sign law. The law requires businesses and government facilities open to the public to post a sign if they let transgender people use multi-person bathrooms associated with their gender identity. The law was blocked late last week after two Tennessee business owners filed lawsuits claiming it violates First Amendment rights. The law went into effect on July 1st after Governor Bill Lee signed the legislation in May.
TENNESSEE—Masks, temperature checks and contact tracing are things of the past at one of the state’s largest school districts. Knox County Schools says students and staff won’t require them during the 2021-2022 school year. KCS also says it will allow extra-curricular activities and visitors again. However, the district says it will continue to consult with the county health department and review COVID-19 guidance from the Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Department of Health.
TENNESSEE—The Tennessee State Library in Nashville is inviting Tennesseans to take a tour. Saturday was the first of the so-called Second Saturday Tours. The library is offering guided tours of the new facility through October. The tours include interactive exhibits and access to the state’s archives.
TENNESSEE—A Tennessee soldier who died while fighting in World War Two will be buried in Dayton next month. Private Warren G.H. DeVault of Rhea County was killed while fighting in Germany in November of 1944. Troops weren’t able to recover his body at the time of his death and his unidentified remains were buried at an American cemetery in Europe in 1951. Private DeVault’s remains were disinterred in 2019 and identified last year.
ILLINOIS—The community of Washington is mourning after four people connected to the high school were killed in a crash. Hundreds gathered at the high school yesterday evening to remember the three students and 47-year-old driver Seth Phillips, who were killed last Wednesday. Phillips was a family member of a high school employee. Following a memorial, students, staff, and family released balloons outside in honor of those who died.
