Photo via Murray High Band Twitter
MURRAY HIGH CLAIMS KMEA 3A STATE MARCHING BAND TITLE
Murray High School won the KMEA 3A Marching Band state championship at Kroger Field in Lexington on Saturday night. The Tiger band finished with 90.8 points to claim the title, with Estill County finishing a close second at 88.8. Mayfield finished third in Class A. The night featured the state’s top 30 marching bands competing for championships in five classifications.
ONE CHARGED AFTER SHOOTING AT RESTAURANT
On Friday, the Murray Police Department released results of an investigation of a shooting in the early morning hours of October 24. The Murray Police Department responded at around 1:30 that morning to McDonalds after a report of shots fired and a victim with a gunshot wound. 19-year old Elijah Ball of Dyer, Tennessee sustained an injury to his torso area while a juvenile suspect stated the discharge of the firearm was accidental. He was charged with Wanton Endangerment, Minor in Possession of a Firearm, and Tampering with Physical Evidence. The Wanton Endangerment charge will be upgraded to an Assault charge. The Juvenile was lodged in the McCracken County Juvenile Detention Center. Ball was transported to the hospital for treatment of his injuries.
MASK MANDATES LIFTED IN LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS
Based on local COVID-19 data, beginning today, Calloway County and Murray Independent School students, staff, and outside visitors will have the option of wearing masks or face coverings at school and on district property. Masks or face coverings are highly recommended for staff and students who are not fully vaccinated. Masks will continue to be required on all school transportation. Calloway County Schools requests that all parents and guardians follow the COVID -19 Daily Self Checklist every morning before letting their children enter CCSD buses, schools, and buildings. As of today, the only school requiring masks in Calloway County is Murray State University.
CCHD RELEASES WEEKLY UPDATE
It its weekly report, the Calloway County Health Department announced 21 new cases of COVID-19 from Tuesday through Friday. There are currently 34 COVID patients isloted at home and 4 are hospitalized. Calloway County’s latest reported positivity rate is 2.96% which is lower than the state rate of 5.08%. As of Friday, Calloway County was one of 70 of the state’s 120 counties outside of the red zone for COVID-19 Incidence Rates. The state reported 767 confirmed new cases and 34 confirmed new deaths Friday. There are currently 864 hospitalized, which is 148 less than last Friday, including 273 in ICU, which is 16 less than a week ago.
LANE RESTRICTION ON PORTION OF PURCHASE PARKWAY
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans a work zone Lane and load width restriction for northbound traffic on the Purchase Parkway at the Kentucky-Tennessee State Line beginning today to allow concrete deck patching on the KY 116/State Line Road Overpass. This work zone lane and 8 foot load width restriction for Purchase Parkway northbound traffic is expected to remain up around the clock until sometime late in the day on Wednesday.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
UNDATED—The United States and the European Union have agreed to remove tariffs on Kentucky Bourbon and American whiskey. The Kentucky Distillers Association says the tariffs have slashed bourbon exports by nearly half and is a win for all bourbon distillers. The change will go into effect on December 1st.
FRANKFORT—Governor Andy Beshear is reintroducing the Kynect state-based health insurance exchange. The exchange is meant to provide Kentuckians with easier access to health care and other benefits. The exchange was originally implemented by then-Governor Steve Beshear as an element of the Affordable Care Act. Governor Matt Bevin followed and shut the program down in 2016. Current Governor Andy Beshear is bringing back the program started by his father.
>>Bones Found In Henderson County Not Those Of Heather Teague
(Henderson, KY) — Officials say bones found in the northern part of Henderson County do not belong to missing woman Heather Teague. County officials say a partial human skull and other bones were dug up in the area early last week and were sent to Louisville for examination. Dental records indicate that the skull wasn’t a match for Teague. Teague went missing from Henderson County in August of 1995.
>>Owensboro’s Michael Johnson Announces Run For State Rep
(Owensboro, KY) — A new candidate is in the race for District 13 state representative. Michael Johnson announced his run for the seat Saturday morning at Kendall-Perkins Park. The Navy veteran and Owensboro native says he intends to represent the needs of all people in Owensboro. Johnson says his main objective is to focus on improving the education system as a way to reduce the workforce gap. He is a trained minister and evangelist, president of the nonprofit Truth Outreach Inc., and Vice-Chair for the Owensboro Public Schools Board of Education.
>>Family-Run Stanton Family Ministry Hands Out Food, Supplies At Mall
(Montgomery County, KY) — The family-run Stanton ministry Jesus Feeds Kentucky is sharing its resources. Workers traveled to the Jeffersonville Mall in Montgomery County to hand out food and supplies in a drive-thru Saturday morning. Hundreds of vehicles lined Main Street to receive needed items such as diapers, wipes, food, and household supplies. The organization is part of the non-profit God’s Country Ranch Ministries.
>Bill Allowing Partisan School Board Elections Passes Legislature
(Nashville, TN) — A bill that would permit partisan school board elections has passed the Tennessee legislature. The bill would leave it up to local authorities to decide whether to make the school board elections partisan. Currently, school board members are elected on a nonpartisan basis. Those who run for office are not allowed to campaign as a member of a political party. Critics of the new bill from both parties say they’re opposed to putting children in the middle of partisan politics.
>>Lawmakers Pass Bill Reducing How Much Time a State of Emergency May Last
(Nashville, TN) — State lawmakers have approved a measure that limits the amount of time a state of emergency the governor issues may continue. The bill reduces the length of time for a state of emergency from 60 to 45 says. Some legislators say it will help keep tabs on a governor’s order while others are skeptical and question whether the 15-day reduction will make a difference. The measure passed Friday during the Extraordinary Session.
>>Governor Lee Says Ford Concerned About GOP Push to Curb COVID-19 Restrictions
(Nashville, TN) — Governor Bill Lee confirms Ford and other automakers are growing concerned about GOP efforts in Tennessee to curtail COVID-19 restrictions. Lee says he has encouraged Ford and other companies that expressed similar reservations to contact lawmakers directly. Last month, Ford announced plans to build a five-point-six-billion-dollar campus near Memphis to build electric F-Series pickup trucks. Since then, Republican lawmakers called a special session for themselves to discuss proposals to block a range of COVID-19 restrictions, such as vaccine requirements. Ford CEO Jim Farley has said he’s excited over President Biden’s proposed vaccine mandates for private employers.
>>Father of Missing Hawkins County Five-Year-Old Girl Arrested on DUI Charge
(Beech Creek, TN) — The father of Summer Wells — the five-year-old Hawkins County girl who has been missing for four months — was arrested this weekend on DUI charges. Hawkins County authorities say Don Wells was arrested for driving under the influence and several related charges, including having an open container. He was released yesterday morning. The family released a statement about the incident, calling it a stupid mistake. Summer Wells was reported missing from Hawkins County in June. The family has set up a YouTube channel for updates. A reward fund for information on her whereabouts now exceeds 58-thousand dollars.
>>Audit Shows Medicaid Overpaid West Tennessee Clinic Millions
(Nashville, TN) — A state audit shows Medicaid overpaid a West Tennessee clinic four-point-seven million dollars. According to the audit, the Grove Primary Clinic in West Tennessee incorrectly reported patient reimbursements to the state. The report says the errors were either by mistake or by fraud. The audit states the clinic inflated its patient count by more than 44-thousand visits between 2014 and 2019. TennCare reimbursed the clinic for the visits. The report states the clinic must pay back the overpayments or be subject to fines.
