Matthew Duncan (Photo via CCSD)
WANTED MAN NABBED IN CALLOWAY COUNTY
Calloway County Sheriff’s Deputies responded Thursday afternoon to the 4000 block of Brooks Chapel Road in an attempt to locate 33-year old Matthew Duncan of Hardin. The Calloway County Sheriff’s Office concluded a months-long investigation into the theft of a handgun which resulted in the issuance of a warrant for Duncan’s arrest. A Graves County grand jury had also indicted Duncan on various felony charges. Duncan was arrested and charged with Theft of a Firearm, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Tampering with a Witness. Duncan was also served the Graves County indictment, charging him with Burglary, Theft by Unlawful Taking, and being a Persistent Felony Offender. He was lodged in the Calloway County Jail.
FLASH FLOODING CLOSES SPEAKER TRAIL
Flash Flooding impacted Calloway County and surrounding counties over the weekend with nearly 4 inches of rain reported at our WNBS studios and reports of around 7 inches of rain in other parts of Calloway County. The flooding closed Speaker Trail at the Panther Creek Bridge between KY 1536 and Cherry Corner Road due to major erosion of pavement on the approach and riprap around the bridge. Signs and barricades have been posted.
HARDIN MAN FACING DRUGS AND WEAPON CHARGES
Kentucky State Police have arrested a Marshall County man on numerous drug charges. Troopers learned a package containing illegal drugs was being shipped via FedEx. Troopers intercepted the package which contained approximately 10 pounds of suspected marijuana and 1 pound of suspected hallucinogenic mushrooms. Troopers obtained a search warrant for the residence of 42-year old Ronnie Mardis of Hardin. During a search of the residence, Troopers located more suspected marijuana, other drugs, and packaging materials. Mardis was arrested on seven drug charges and a charge of possession of a Handgun by Convicted Felon. He was lodged in the Marshall County Detention Center.
CALLOWAY COVID POSITIVITY RATE CONTINUES TO FALL
The Calloway County Health Department reported 12 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday. The county currently has 155 cases isolated at home and 7 are hospitalized. Calloway County’s current positivity rate is 7.5% which is lower than the state rate of 12.8%. Saturday, the state reported 2,815 confirmed new cases and 6 new deaths. There were 1,780 hospitalized as of Saturday, which is 409 more than last Monday, including 487 in ICU, which is 130 higher than a week ago.
ROAD WORK IN MARSHALL COUNTY
A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to establish a work zone along U.S. 62 in northern Marshall County starting today. The project includes construction of a center turn lane through Possum Trot, and a left turn lane for U.S. 62 at the Industrial Parkway intersection to assist with traffic heading into the Calvert City Industrial Area. Appropriate caution is required where equipment, flaggers, and construction personnel are along the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow.
HICKMAN AND GRAVES COUNTIES RECEIVE KADB FUNDS
The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board approved $3.4 million dollars for agricultural diversification and rural development projects across the commonwealth at its monthly board meeting last week. Among the projects approved, the Hickman County Board of Education was approved for nearly $43,000 in Hickman County funds for equipment and teaching materials to train students in agricultural workforce skills. Additionally, over $50,000 in County Agricultural Investment Program money was approved for Graves County as well as $79,000 for Trigg County.
MITCHELL WINS BAAR AWARD
Dr. Chris Mitchell was recently awarded the Robert Baar Award for Excellence in Choral Music from the Kentucky chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Mitchell is a Professor of Music at Murray State University. The Baar Award is named in honor of Robert K. Baar, an outstanding master musician who retired from Murray State and developed KYACDA’s Summer Choral Workshop. Any member of KYACDA is eligible to nominate a candidate for the award. The award is presented annually at the Summer Choral Workshop.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—The Kentucky Supreme Court is upholding new state laws limiting the governor’s executive powers. Governor Andy Beshear won an injunction in February preventing several laws passed by the legislature from taking effect. The Kentucky Supreme Court found Saturday that the Franklin Circuit Court had abused its power in issuing the temporary injunction. The high court ordered the lower court to dissolve it, clearing the way for the Republican-backed laws to take effect.
FRANKFORT—Governor Andy Beshear is expected to address the Commonwealth this afternoon. The address will be made after the Kentucky Supreme Court said on Saturday that a temporary injunction blocking new laws limiting the governor’s powers was improper. Officials for the Governor’s Office say the ruling will “dissolve Kentucky’s entire state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic.” Governor Beshear’s press conference is set for 4 o’clock in Frankfort.
LEXINGTON—Blue Grass Airport service is back underway after major resurfacing work was completed on the runway. Airport officials closed the facility to traffic late last week and began repaving the seven-thousand feet of runway. The project is required every 12 to 15 years because of wear and tear. The terminal remained open throughout the weekend.
LEXINGTON—Lexington Police are investigating a pair of weekend shootings. The first happened early yesterday morning at the Waffle House On South Broadway, where one of the three victims at the scene died. About 15 minutes later, another gunshot victim found at Tates Creek Road and Armstrong Mill was taken to the hospital in critical but stable condition. Police aren’t commenting on whether the two shootings were connected.
OWENSBORO—Debris and inclement weather are responsible for delaying the Owensboro HydroFair. Boats finally hit the water yesterday afternoon where fans watched them reach speeds of up to 170 miles per hour. The race was named after long-time hydroplane racer Scott Pierce who died last year. Final attendance numbers aren’t in, but the event was expected to draw between 20- to 25-thousand people.
HENDERSON—An Ellis Park horse barn is destroyed after a fire. The blaze broke out early yesterday morning, with response from multiple agencies. No humans were believed to be in the barn at the time of the fire, and all seven horses were rescued. Training resumes today, and races will begin again Friday after being canceled yesterday. The cause of the fire is under investigation but is believed to be electrical as no foul play is suspected.
OHIO COUNTY—Authorities say one person is dead after a single-vehicle crash in Ohio County. The crash happened yesterday morning in the 300-block of Hardinsburg Road. The sheriff’s office says 35-year-old driver Adam Vanmeerteen went into a skid and hit a tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
UNDATED—Kentucky Democratic lawmakers are asking federal representatives to allow refugees from Afghanistan to make the state their home. State House and Senate Democratic floor leaders Joni Jenkins and Morgan McGarvey say they’ll ask the state’s congressional delegation and Governor Andy Beshear to allow refugees to stay in Kentucky permanently. Jenkins and Morgan say they’ve received support from Louisville-area Congressman John Yarmuth. Thousands of Afghans have been evacuated from the Asian nation since its government fell to the Taliban earlier this month.
FLOYD COUNTY—A Floyd County man is celebrating a new Kentucky State Fair record. Dwight Slone’s one-thousand-663-pound pumpkin beat the previous record by 69 pounds. He received a prize of one-thousand-663 dollars for his record setter. The Kentucky State Fair continues through August 29th at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville.
TENNESSEE—President Biden is promising to support Tennessee following deadly flooding in the Mid-State. Biden was briefed by FEMA administrators yesterday about the flooding in Humphreys and surrounding counties. Governor Bill Lee says he’s heard from the President and will be requesting assistance from the federal government. The flooding has killed at least 22 people and dozens of others are missing.
TENNESSEE—Tennessee Emergency Management Agency officials say they’re transitioning to recovery from rescue efforts following deadly flooding. At least 22 people are dead and dozens more are missing in Middle Tennessee. As much as 17 inches of rain fell within a six-hour period Saturday morning with another round of severe weather hitting the same area on Saturday night. The National Weather Service says Saturday’s flooding in Dickson, Hickman, Houston, and Humphreys counties is the deadliest in Mid-State history.
TENNESSEE—The state’s largest county is reporting a record number of active COVID-19 cases. The Shelby County Health Department reported nearly 83-hundred active cases yesterday. The new record is more than 300 cases above the previous high number of active cases reported on January 12th. The one-thousand-118 new cases reported yesterday is the second highest on record.
