Photos via KSP
DOVER WOMAN KIDNAPPED AND KILLED IN LIKELY MURDER-SUICIDE
Kentucky State Police Detectives responded yesterday to a report of a kidnapping that took place in Cadiz. KSP dispatch was notified just after 8 am that a female had been taken from a parking lot at a business on Lafayette Street. Evidence collected suggested that the 53-year-old Tammy Beechum of Dover had been taken by force. Detectives investigated and began a search for 65-year-old Thomas Hungerford of Cadiz who was described as the estranged boyfriend of the victim. Yesterday afternoon, Troopers spotted the suspect’s vehicle on US 27 in Lancaster. After a brief pursuit, the vehicle stopped near the city of Stanford. Troopers responded and located the bodies of both Beechum and Hungerford inside the vehicle. The deaths appear to be a result of a murder suicide and no other suspects are being sought.
CITY COUNCIL MEETS TONIGHT
The Murray City Council will meet tonight in regular session. The Council will consider Ordinance 1815 on first reading amending the city’s budget ordinance. The Council will also consider Ordinance 1814 on second reading amending chapter 96.03 concerning the AD Valorem Tax for the purpose of adopting the Annual County Assessment for property within the city as a basis for AD Valorem Tax Levies. Also on the agenda is a Public Hearing on the AD Valorem Tax for 2021 which will be held before the second reading of Ordinance 1814, and consideration of a Park resolution. The meeting begins tonight at 6:30 in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
CCHD REPORTS 33 NEW COVID-19 CASES
The Calloway County Health Department reported 33 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday with only 4 of those cases over 60 years of age and 26 of the 33 new cases unvaccinated. The county currently has 150 cases isolated at home and 11 are hospitalized. Calloway County’s latest reported positivity rate is 9.67% which is lower than the state rate of 11.66%. Wednesday, the state reported 2,576 confirmed new cases and 44 confirmed new deaths. There were 2,257 hospitalized as of Wednesday, which is 236 less than last Wednesday, including 651 in ICU, which is 3 more than a week ago.
PAVING BEGINS ON COLDWATER ROAD AND INDUSTRIAL DRIVE
A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans asphalt paving along sections of Coldwater Road and Industrial Drive in Calloway County starting today. The Coldwater Road paving will run from the KY 121 intersection at mile point 0 extending southeast to the intersection at Five Points. Industrial Drive and Chestnut paving will begin at mile point 0 of KY 94, extending to the U.S. 641-Business for about .7 miles. Motorists should be alert for one lane traffic with alternating flow controlled by flaggers in these work zones. Some delays are possible during the movement and placement of equipment to accommodate the work.
MSU RECOGNIZED BY FORBES AND WSJ
National accolades continue to be received by Murray State University, as the institution has been recognized by both Forbes and the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education for quality and value. Forbes has named Murray State as one of “America’s Top Colleges” in 2021 and is the highest-ranked regional public university in Kentucky. Murray State has also been recognized again this year nationally by the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education. The rankings are based on multiple factors in areas including school resources, student engagement, student outcomes, and learning environment.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—Governor Andy Beshear announced Wednesday that Flutter Entertainment, the parent company of PokerStars, has agreed to pay the Commonwealth of Kentucky $300 million to settle a lawsuit brought against the internet gambling site in 2011. Beshear said the General Assembly will be able to direct the money to critical areas, like education, health care and economic development.
ESTILL COUNTY—COVID-19-related attendance issues have led Estill County schools to close for the remainder of the week. The Board of Education announced yesterday that the district will not have school the rest of the week. Today will be a staff work day, and there will be no school for students or staff tomorrow. The district cites an increase of COVID-19 cases and quarantined students for the move.
DAVIESS COUNTY—A Daviess County Sheriff’s Office bailiff is facing a DUI charge. Officers say supervisor of court security Debra Crandall was cited yesterday morning for driving under the influence and confirmed she was operating a DCSO vehicle at the time. Police say the 49-year-old hit several cars and exhibited slurred speech and poor balance at the time of the crashes. Police say Crandall told them she had taken a prescribed Ambien the night before.
OWENSBORO—An Owensboro man is facing 25-years in prison after pleading guilty to a deadly 2018 shooting. Court officials say 32-year-old Travon Anthony pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced yesterday. Authorities say 52-year-old Todd Raley died a week after being shot in the 32-hundred-block of West Second Street.
HENDERSON—Officials say construction has been okayed for Section One of I-69 Ohio River Crossing. The approved case came after an environmental study was completed. Section One improvements will focus on the area of the road in Henderson that extends Kentucky 425 to U.S. 60. The project is expected to start in early 2022 and continue through 2025.
TENNESSEE—There are over 47-hundred new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to nearly one-million-200-thousand. Nearly 100 additional COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number standing at close to 14-thousand-700. There are nearly 32-hundred COVID-19 hospitalizations in Tennessee.
TENNESSEE—A Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper killed in an off-duty crash is in his final resting place. A funeral was held yesterday at the Walnut Street Church of Christ in Dickson for Trooper Aaron Rumford. Trooper Rumford was killed on September 12th when his motorcycle hit a car in Nashville. Rumford served the Nashville District in Wilson County until 2018 when he was selected for a position in the Executive Protection Unit.
TENNESSEE—The first Black sheriff of the state’s largest county says he’ll run for another term. During yesterday’s announcement, Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner talked about his accomplishments and the things he says still need to be done. Since being elected in 2018, Bonner says maintaining SCSO’s training accreditation and managing its budgets are among his biggest accomplishments. The budget management by Bonner has allowed SCSO to return eight-million dollars to the Shelby County Commission.
TENNESSEE— Sevier County-native Dolly Parton is part of a show honoring old friend and late Country Music Hall of Famer Kenny Rogers. Kenny Rogers: All In For The Gambler was recorded at Bridgestone Arena before Rogers passed away in 2020. Other performers include Chris Stapleton, Idina Menzel, Lady A, Little Big Town and Reba McEntire. It premieres tonight at 8 on CBS.
