FISCAL COURT APPROVES EXPANDED INTERNET ACCESS TO THE COUNTY
At last week’s special called meeting, the Calloway County Fiscal Court approved an agreement with WK&T to bring internet services to unserved and underserved residents in the county, while also providing free services to all the Calloway County Fire-Rescue stations. The project will allow over 4,000 Calloway County residents and businesses outside of Murray to have access to internet service, with the exception of those living in the northeastern part of the county, which is expected to be included in a second phase of the project.
CCHD REPORTS 28 NEW COVID CASES, 1 NEW DEATH
The Calloway County Health Department reported 28 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. Of the 28 new cases, 25 were unvaccinated. Currently 156 are isolated at home, 13 are hospitalized, and one additional death was reported on Friday, raising the county death total to 52. Calloway County’s current positivity rate is 16.7% which is higher than the state rate of 10.46%. Friday, the state reported 2,612 new cases and 5 new deaths. There were 976 hospitalized as of Friday, which is 351 more than last Friday, including 286 in ICU, which is 91 higher than a week ago.
MISD, MSU TO REQUIRE MASKS INDOORS
Governor Andy Beshear is strongly encouraging individuals to wear masks while indoors at public places. Beshear says with the rise of the delta variant, the virus is changing. The Murray Independent School District will require face masks/coverings indoors when students K-12 return on Thursday. Also per state mandate, face masks or coverings are required at all times when using school transportation. Universal masking applies to all individuals, including visitors, vaccinated and unvaccinated. Masks are not required outdoors. All of Kentucky’s public universities and colleges are requiring indoor masking for the fall semester.
NO DEMOCRATS SPEAK AT FANCY FARM PICNIC
The Fancy Farm picnic and fundraiser is often attended by prominent state political figures, but some were absent from this year’s event. No Democrats attended the event, instead holding a counter-event in Louisville called Fancy Vaxx that focused on COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Governor Andy Beshear attended a farmer’s market in Frankfort Saturday, while Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul remained in Washington to work on the infrastructure bill. There are no statewide elections in Kentucky this year.
THREE JUVENILES INJURED IN IRVIN COBB ROAD ACCIDENT
At approximately 10 pm Saturday, Calloway County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an accident report an located a vehicle off the roadway with significant damage. Deputies said a juvenile was operating an eastbound car on Irvin Cobb Road and for reasons believed to be related to speed, the driver failed to negotiate the curve at the intersection of Beane Road. The vehicle struck a tree, overturned, and hit an embankment. The driver was transported via ambulance to Murray-Calloway County Hospital for apparent minor injuries while two juvenile passengers were also transported with serious injuries.
MURRAY WOMAN FACING DRUG CHARGES IN MAYFIELD
Mayfield police said that a Murray woman was arrested Saturday on numerous charges after she initially was discovered unconscious. 22-year old Linzey Banks was charged with multiple counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and promoting contraband in the first degree. Banks was also served on an outstanding Calloway County warrant for. She was lodged in the Graves County Jail.
MCCH PREPARES FOR GOLF CLASSIC
The tenth annual Golf Classic hosted by the Foundation at Murray-Calloway County Hospital will be held September 17 at Miller Memorial Golf Course. The last tournament brought in around 100 golfers, raising close to $27,000. One hundred percent of the proceeds go toward the Enduring Hope Campaign in the building of a new regional cancer center. The golf tournament is a 4-person scramble with morning and afternoon sessions available. Registration forms are available by calling 270-762-1291. Pre-registration is required.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is warning of a text scam. Officials say a text phishing attempt reported last week is not a message from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet but a hoax. The scammer poses as the state agency looking to validate driver’s license information. Recipients are being warned not to click the link. The Transportation Cabinet does not send text messages that solicit personal information.
LOUISVILLE—There are about 200 open teaching jobs in the state’s largest school district. Most of the openings within Jefferson County Public Schools are because of a recently expanded online school and positions newly created with federal COVID-19 relief funding. However, the district says it’s had record retention. The first day of classes for JCPS students is Wednesday.
FORT KNOX—Students in Fort Knox Community Schools start the new school year today. The district’s Superintendent Josh Adams says he’s happy classes are being held in person this year. Adams says he recommends parents regularly monitor the DoDEA school pages for potential updated information.
LEXINGTON—Police are investigating after a chaotic scene outside a karaoke bar in Lexington. Officers say three people were shot outside Survivors Karaoke early Saturday morning. Two others showed up at the hospital saying they’d been hit by a car while running from the scene of the shooting. All five victims have non-life-threatening injuries.
LEXINGTON—Governor Beshear is recognizing the impact of farmers markets on their communities. Beshear declared the first week of August Farmers Market Week while attending the Franklin County Farmers Market Saturday morning. Beshear says farmers markets help Kentuckians access healthy, fresh foods. All but five of Kentucky’s 120 counties have active farmers markets.
TENNESSEE—The state’s largest school district starts the new school year today. There are over 112-thousand students in Shelby County Schools. Students are returning under a universal mask mandate. Other COVID-19 precautions include social distancing, sneeze guards on desks and tables, sanitizing stations, cleaning common areas twice a day, and bathrooms at least four times daily. Face masks are not required by students and teachers at Knox County Schools.
TENNESSEE—Students in Knox County Schools return to classrooms for the first day of school today. KCS is not under a mask mandate. There have been nearly 54-thousand cases of COVID-19 in Knox County. There are over 61-thousand-500 students in Knox County Schools.
ILLINOIS—Some residents are unhappy with a new policy requiring masks indoors at the Illinois State Fair. Fair officials announced the decision Friday, applying the policy to everyone regardless of vaccination status. Some have said they won’t attend the fair because of the policy, while others say they don’t mind. New CDC guidelines recommend wearing masks indoors while in public spaces.
