50TH COVID-RELATED DEATH REPORTED IN CALLOWAY COUNTY
The Calloway County Health Department yesterday reported the county’s 50th death related to COVID19. It was the first COVID-19 related death in the county since April 15. The Calloway County Health Department will resume case reporting during the weekdays due to the increases in cases. A report will be issued today with the breakdown of cases that have occurred over the weekend through today. The County positivity rate stands at 8.98% which is slightly higher than the state rate of 7.89%. At yesterday’s statewide update, 783 new cases and 2 new deaths were reported. 486 are currently hospitalized, which is 139 more than last Monday, including 159 in ICU, which is up 55 from a week ago.
BESHEAR STOPS SHORT OF MASK MANDATE FOR SCHOOLS FOR NOW
Governor Andy Beshear issued “strong” recommendations Monday that Kentucky school districts consider requiring some form of masking for students in the upcoming 2021-22 school year. The governor said school districts should consider requiring students and staff who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and those younger than 12 to wear masks inside school buildings. For districts that want to optimize the number of in-person learning days in the upcoming school year, Beshear said they should consider requiring all students and adults to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status.
ONE INJURED IN CAR VS MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
At approximately 8:30 Monday morning, Calloway County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an accident at the intersection of Highway 94 and Crossland Road and located a motorcycle off the roadway and a passenger car in the roadway. According to the accident report, 32-year old Joseph Dublin was eastbound on a motorcycle and Lucy Paschall was westbound and failed to yield the right of way while she was attempting to make a left turn onto Crossland Road. Dublin was transported by ambulance for treatment of non life threatening injuries.
NO INJURES AFTER VEHICLE STRIKES STORE
At 9:46 Saturday night, the Murray Police Department responded to a non-injury collision near the intersection of South 4th Street and Sycamore Street. Upon arrival, officers located a vehicle that had struck a building on the east side of the intersection. 69-year old David Williams of Constantine, Michigan told police he was stopped on Sycamore Street when he started to make a right turn onto 4th Street, but swerved left to avoid a vehicle and struck the building. No injuries were reported.
TWO CHARGED AFTER FRIDAY TRAFFIC STOPS
At about 2:30 am Friday, Calloway County Deputy Jacob Hamm stopped a vehicle on Highway 121 South in the New Concord area for a traffic related offense and a container of suspected methamphetamine was located. 48-year old Randall Carter of Paris, Tennessee was arrested and charged with Trafficking in a Controlled Substance. At approximately 6:30 am Friday, Calloway County Deputy Jon Michael Hill responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint on Sunset Drive in the Almo community. 45-year old Stephanie Wecker of Hardin was located and found to be in possession of various drugs and paraphernalia. She was charged with multiple drug possession charges as well as an outstanding Marshall County warrant. Both were lodged in the Calloway County Jail.
CCSO ARRESTS TWO AFTER PURSUITS
At approximately 7 pm Saturday, Calloway County Deputy Jon Hayden attempted to stop a vehicle on Highway 121 South in the New Concord community for a traffic related violation. After a pursuit, 20-year old Jose Antonio of Murray was charged with Fleeing or Evading Police, Wanton Endangerment, and various other traffic related offenses. At approximately 3 am Sunday, Calloway County Deputies Jon Hayden and Jacob Hamm attempted to stop a vehicle on Highway 121 South in the New Concord community for a traffic related offense. Following a pursuit, 42-year old Josiah Nixon of Nashville was arrested and charged with Fleeing or Evading Police, Possession of Methamphetamine and Drug Paraphernalia, and various other traffic related offenses. Both were lodged in the Calloway County Jail.
CCHS FFA TEAM TAKES 2ND, CLARK FIRST AT WKU EVENT
Calloway County High School’s Future Farmers of America competed last week at Western Kentucky University in the state FFA Floriculture Career Development Event. The team placed 2nd in the state, and upcoming senior Sunny Clark was named the Individual State Champion in the event. Along with Clark, team members included Westin Tolley, Savannah Pittman, and Annabel Wilmurth.
PAVEMENT WORK BEGINS IN BENTON
A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans early morning concrete pavement work along U.S. 641 through downtown Benton this week with 24-hour construction activity starting August 2. This work zone includes all of the one-way sections along Main Street and Poplar Street in Benton. The early morning and overnight construction activity is aimed at limiting traffic disruptions and enhancing the safety of workers along the busy work zone. Delays are possible during the movement and placement of equipment to facilitate the work. Motorists should be alert for trucks hauling materials into and out of the worksite.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—Governor Andy Beshear is issuing his mask recommendations for the upcoming school year. Beshear offered guidance yesterday that included recommendations for districts to require masks for all unvaccinated students, faculty, and staff. Beshear also recommended that all students under 12 be required to wear a mask for any indoor activities, and that districts wanting to avoid athletic disruptions should require masks for all students, faculty, and staff. Beshear says he hasn’t ruled out issuing mandates if schools don’t comply with the recommendations.
LEXINGTON—The University of Kentucky is launching a study this summer to help officials understand COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among minorities. The school says the study will take a deep dive into why some communities are left unsure after vaccination recommendations are made by medical experts. Reverend Clark Williams of Shiloh Baptist Church says a mistrust of the pharmaceutical and medical industries, along with a history of vaccines being used to experiment on Black people, are playing a role in keeping some minorities from getting the vaccine. Researchers at UK want to combat hesitancy.
BEREA—Power is back on in Berea and several nearby communities after citywide outages. More than five-thousand from Berea to Paint Lick and over to Kirksville lost power late yesterday morning. The outage shut down gas pumps, darkened busy intersections, and left homes and businesses without electricity. Power was restored mid-afternoon, and the cause of the outage is under investigation.
MADISONVILLE—Baptist Health in Madisonville is beginning to restrict visitation. Patients will only be allowed to bring essential caregivers to appointments or tests, with limited exceptions. Surgical patients, inpatients, those receiving critical care and women in labor will be allowed one person with them, while both parents will be allowed in the NICU. The new rules go into effect tomorrow.
FRANKFORT—Tomorrow is the last day to enter to be the next winner of the Shot at a Million vaccine lottery. The drawing is Thursday and the winners will be announced on Friday. Winners between the ages of 12-to-17 will receive a full scholarship to a state college. To register you must complete an online entry providing your information and the location where you received your COVID-19 vaccination.
LOUISVILLE—The state’s largest school district is expected to recommend a universal mask wearing policy for the new school year. It would require everyone to wear a mask when they’re inside a Jefferson County Public Schools building, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status. The county Board of Education is expected to discuss the recommendation today during a meeting. The recommendation goes beyond the suggestion Governor Andy Beshear made yesterday for districts to require unvaccinated students and staff members to wear masks during the 2021-2022 school year.
OLDHAM COUNTY—The state is giving Oldham County Schools nearly two-million dollars for a school zone safety project. The money will be used to add turning lanes on Highway 1793. That’s where Harmony Elementary, North Oldham Middle and North Oldham High schools are located. Governor Andy Beshear announced earlier this year the investment of nearly 25-million dollars in highway safety projects near schools.
TENNESSEE—There are nearly 900 new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to over 884-thousand-400. An additional eleven COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number standing at nearly 12-thousand-700. There are over 700 COVID-19 hospitalizations in Tennessee.
TENNESSEE—A significant step is being taken towards potentially reopening the I-40 Bridge. The Tennessee Department of Transportation is expected to start stress testing the bridge tomorrow. TDOT says it will monitor bridge sensors to learn about the stresses being transferred to the support system. The bridge over the Mississippi River in Memphis has been closed since May 11th after a crack was found in a beam.
TENNESSEE—Leaders at the state’s largest hospital are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Vanderbilt University Medical Center says those notified through Vanderbilt Occupational Health will be required to get the first dose of an approved vaccine or apply for medical exemption by August 15th. They must be fully vaccinated or have an approved exemption by September 15th. All other employees are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated.
TENNESSEE—The special primary elections to replace Tennessee State Representative Mike Carter of Ooltewah are being held today. The former District 29 representative passed away from pancreatic cancer in May and his wife Joan was appointed to fill the seat on an interim basis. DeAngelo Jelks is running unopposed on the Democratic side, as is Gr
