Photos via Murray Police Department
MPD HIRES NEW OFFICERS
The Murray Police Department has announced the hiring of two new officers. Officer Quason Million and Tristan Jones were sworn in recently by Mayor Bob Rogers. Officers Quason Million and Tristan Jones will be attending the Department of Criminal Justice Training, Upon their graduation they will continue their training through the department;s field training Program.
CALLOWAY POSITIVITY RATE CONTINUES TO FALL
The Calloway County Health Department will announce its weekly COVID-19 update tomorrow. Calloway County’s latest reported positivity rate is 2.1% which is lower than the state rate of 5.05%. As of Wednesday, Calloway County was one of 74 of the state’s 120 counties outside of the red zone for COVID-19 Incidence Rates. The state reported 984 confirmed new cases and 18 confirmed new deaths Wednesday. There are currently 762 hospitalized, which is 107 less than last Wednesday, including 232 in ICU, which is 44 less than a week ago.
MSU’S PRESENTATION OF WILDE’S PLAY BEGINS TONIGHT
The Murray State University Theatre Arts program will present Oliver Wilde’s classic play, “The Importance of Being Earnest” at 7:30 pm Thursday through Saturday and on Sunday at 2:30 pm in the Robert E. Johnson Theatre. In one of Wilde’s most renowned comedies, two bachelors get caught in the creation of alter egos, both named Earnest, in an attempt to escape their mundane lives. The pair struggle to keep up with their own deceptions as they try to win the hearts of two women, creating a tangled tale of disguise and misadventure. General admission tickets are $16 and can be purchased at the box office or at murraystatetickets.universitytickets.com.
KSP BEGINS TRAFFIC SAFETY CHECKPOINT
The Kentucky State Police will be conducting traffic safety checkpoints throughout the Post 1 district. The intent of a traffic safety checkpoint is to provide for a high visibility, public safety service, focusing on vehicular equipment deficiencies, confirming appropriate registration and insurance of vehicles, and the valid licensing of drivers. Violations of law or other public safety issues that arise shall be addressed. Supervisory-approved traffic safety checkpoint locations are conducted in the counties of Ballard, Calloway, Carlisle, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, McCracken, Marshall, and Trigg.
RACER DAY IS SATURDAY
Murray State University will host a Racer Day event from 8 am until 1 pm Saturday. Geared toward prospective students and families, the open-house style event will provide helpful information through sessions with recruitment and admissions staff, financial services, housing and more. Attendees can also attend a session with their academic area of interest and take a tour of campus. Students will have the opportunity to complete the on-site admission process and are encouraged to bring their official transcript and test scores. Registration for the free event is available at murraystate.edu/racerdays. Complimentary tickets for Saturday’s Racer football game are available as well.
GAS PRICES HIGHER
Gas prices in West Central Kentucky are three cents higher this week at $3.09 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. The national average price for a gallon of gas is higher at $3.40, but the two-cent rise over last week is the smallest weekly increase in a month. The drop in demand has helped slow price increases, but elevated crude prices continue to put upward market pressure on pump prices, which will likely keep rising as long as oil prices are above $80 per barrel. The national average of $3.40 is 21 cents more than a month ago, $1.27 more than a year ago, and 79 cents more than in 2019.
FALL BACK THIS WEEKEND
This weekend marks the end of Daylight Saving. Kentucky residents will turn their clocks back an hour before heading to bed Saturday night. Fire officials across the commonwealth say this is a perfect time to check carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms and replace batteries if necessary. It’s also a time to make sure everyone in your household knows escape routes in case of fire.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—Kentucky’s rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination for children is underway. The FDA gave final approval Tuesday night for administering the vaccine to children between five and eleven-years-old. Officials say vaccinations will initially be given in pediatric and primary care offices, as well as designated pharmacies. Kentucky Children’s Hospital is planning a vaccine clinic, but specific public clinics for children won’t be widespread.
WASHINGTON DC—Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell accuses Democrats of pushing ahead on a “long march toward socialized medicine. The Senate Minorty Leader spoke on the Senate floor and said it all started with Obamacare. McConnell said Democrats aim to continue their efforts in President Biden’s sweeping social spending bill. He again called it a “Trojan Horse” for expensive new government programs, fueled by the “far left.”
FRANKFORT—Former State Representative Charles Booker is officially in the race to unseat U.S. Senator Rand Paul. Booker filed yesterday to run in the 2022 Democratic primary, which could lead to him taking Paul’s Senate seat. The Kentuckian says he will defeat Paul because people in the commonwealth are tired of “being ignored and abandoned and left behind.” Family and friends were with Booker yesterday to witness his filing.
MADISONVILLE—Warrior Coal in Hopkins County is set to hire dozens of new miners. Company officials say 50 to 60 new miners are needed to help meet a growing global demand for coal. Officials say mining prospects are looking better as the price of coal had dipped below the price of natural gas. Judge-Executive Jack Whitfield spent time as a coal miner at age 25, and says he’s excited about Warrior Coal choosing to hire a large number of new miners.
OWENSBORO—Owensboro Convention Center’s new sports floor is nearly complete. City officials say they are hoping to host more sporting events on the multi-purpose floor, including basketball, volleyball, handball, and futsal tournaments. Convention center and Visit Owensboro officials say the floor adds the final piece to attract more tourists to the area.
TENNESSEE—Nearly 600-thousand kids in Tennessee are now eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opened eligibility for children five-to-eleven this week. At the height of the COVID Delta variant surge in Tennessee, close to 40 percent of positive cases were among kids. Some health departments across the state will start vaccinating kids today.
TENNESSEE—There are over one-thousand new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to over one-million-284-thousand. Over 40 additional COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number standing at 16-thousand-450. There are over 860 COVID-19 hospitalizations in Tennessee.
TENNESSEE—Governor Bill Lee is appointing the mayor of a West Tennessee county to the Megasite Authority of West Tennessee. Governor Lee made the announcement of Tipton County Mayor Jeff Huffman’s appointment yesterday. Lee said the Megasite Authority will play an important role in the success of the project which will see Ford build a massive facility to build electric trucks. He added that the site needs leaders with expertise and integrity.
