BODY OF PADUCAH TEEN RECOVERED IN GILBERTSVILLE
Conservation officers with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources are investigating the death of a Paducah teenager yesterday near the old beach area of Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park. Witnesses called 9-1-1 after watching a young male wade into the water from the shore and not resurface. The victim was alone at the time, according to witnesses. The body of the 17-year-old boy was located and recovered shortly after 9 am and he was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy is scheduled for today at the Western Kentucky Regional Medical Examiner’s Office in Madisonville.
CALLOWAY/KENTUCKY COVID REPORT
In Friday’s weekly update, the Calloway County Health Department reported 48 new cases of COVID19 since the previous Friday. Of the 48 new cases, 40 were unvaccinated. The County case count during the pandemic is now at 3,643 with 3,543 recovered, 46 isolated at home, 5 hospitalized, and 49 deaths, but none since April 15. Calloway County’s positivity rate as of Friday was 6.11% which remains lower than the state rate of 6.97%. On Friday, the state reported 994 new cases and 4 new deaths. There are currently 444 hospitalized, which is 140 more than the previous Friday, including 132 in ICU, which is 68 higher than a week ago.
BEAR SIGHTED IN PRINCETON
Conservation officers and biologists with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources received reports Saturday afternoon of bear sightings in Princeton. These sightings follow other recent reports in the region. Last Monday, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife biologists confirmed bear tracks in southern Henderson County. On Wednesday, a bear was observed near Dixon in Webster County. Biologists believe this is likely the same bear. If you ever encounter a bear, keep a safe distance and never approach the bear. If you feel a bear is posing an immediate danger, please call local law enforcement.
JOBLESS RATES UP IN MOST KENTUCKY COUNTIES
Unemployment rates rose in 59 Kentucky counties between June 2020 and June 2021, fell in 55, and stayed the same in six counties, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics. Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the commonwealth at 4.1%. Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate at 13.1%. The Purchase Area Jobless Rate was 5.4%, with Calloway County’s rate at 5.3%. Carlisle County had the Purchase Area’s lowest rate at 3.3%, while Fulton County had the highest at 4.7%.
POST 1 DETECTIVE WINS ANNUAL AWARD
Kentucky State Police held the annual achievement awards ceremony in Lexington to honor 62 troopers and officers who put on a uniform each day to patrol Kentucky’s neighborhoods with a mission of serving and protecting their fellow citizens. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, last year’s ceremony was postponed until it was safe to hold an in-person event in accordance with Healthy at Work and CDC guidelines. Detective Michael Robichaud was named 2019 Detective of the Year. He is a 10-year veteran of KSP assigned to Post 1 in Mayfield. The achievement awards presented were for acts of service that occurred during 2019.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FORT KNOX—Generals say unvaccinated soldiers recently caught not wearing masks inside facilities at Fort Knox will be punished. They’re expected to issue about 40 reprimands to soldiers caught by senior leaders. Army officials say the reprimands can seriously damage careers. Army officials say they’re trying to keep the post’s 12-thousand soldiers and many more civilian workers safe.
LEXINGTON—Lexington Catholics may have to get out their face masks again. On Friday, Bishop John Stowe issued a message to all priests in the Lexington diocese saying it would be “very appropriate” to consider requiring masks at Mass again. It said there’s a surge of COVID-19 infections again. The message also said there’s a low percentage of vaccinated parishioners in some parts of the diocese.
MORGANFIELD—The remaining part of a Morganfield building that was hit by a car is set to be demolished. The owner of the building decided against saving the building and says demolition is set to get underway today. Fire officials say gas will be shut off this morning and power lines will be moved. A car smashed into the building last Wednesday, causing the front to partially collapse.
OWENSBORO—A nine-year-old girl is recovering after a water emergency at Owensboro’s Combest pool. Crews responded yesterday after the girl was found not breathing in the pool. She was taken to the hospital in Owensboro before being transferred to a children’s hospital in Louisville for further evaluation. Police say her injuries don’t appear to be life-threatening.
TENNESSEE—Tennessee Department of Health officials say the COVID-19 outbreak is a “pandemic of the unvaccinated.” On Friday, Tennessee Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey said almost all cases of severe illness resulting in hospitalizations or death are among the unvaccinated. About 97 percent of all hospitalizations and over 98 percent of deaths are among the unvaccinated. However, she said the state has had about one-thousand breakthrough cases among those who are fully vaccinated.
TENNESSEE—The I-40 Bridge won’t reopen at the end of this month. The Tennessee Department of Transportation says repair work will likely move the bridge reopening back to the first part of next month. Crews are installing 17 plates as part of Phase Three repairs. The bridge over the Mississippi River in Memphis has been closed since May 11th when an inspection discovered a cracked beam.
TENNESSEE—No new COVID-19 restrictions are coming to Knox County. Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs said yesterday that under no circumstances will he issue any new COVID restrictions. Jacobs made the comment in a tweet that was in response to a CNN interview where Dr. Anthony Fauci said bringing back masks for vaccinated Americans is under consideration. Jacobs said vaccines are available and he trusts people in the county to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.
TENNESSEE—Vanderbilt University is requiring faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Vanderbilt announced on Friday all university-employed faculty and staff will need to be fully vaccinated for the 2021-2022 academic year. Postdoctoral fellows will also need to be vaccinated. They have until the end of this month to file their vaccination record.
ILLINOIS—House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is tapping Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger to join the January 6th investigative panel. The move comes after Pelosi rejected two of Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s picks last week, causing him to withdraw all five of his appointees. Kinzinger has accepted the role, making him one of two Republicans on the committee, along with Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney. In a statement released yesterday, Kinzinger said he took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution and he will always answer when duty calls.
