Photo via CCSD
MURRAY MAN INJURED WHEN VEHICLE STRIKES TREE
At approximately 3:15 Tuesday afternoon, Calloway County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 2700 block of Potts Road for a report of an injury collision. Preliminary investigation has indicated Scott Watson was driving a northbound vehicle on Potts Road when, for reasons still under investigation, the vehicle exited the roadway and struck a tree. A passenger, 39-year old Samuel Anderson of Murray was transported from the scene by Life Flight medical helicopter to a trauma center in Nashville for treatment of life threatening injuries received during the collision.
FAIR BOARD MEETS WITH SHERIFF TO DISCUSS RECENT INCIDENTS
The Calloway Fair Board members met with Calloway County Sheriff Nicky Knight yesterday in regards to discontinuing parties at their facility. The meeting was initiated by the Calloway Fair Board, after learning of the felony arrests of three individuals from Tennessee overnight Saturday who were all in town related to an event at the Calloway County Fairgrounds. The Sheriff and Calloway Fair Board agreed on their commitment to the safety of the community, but also acknowledged any potential discontinuation of rentals could cause a financial hardship for the non-profit entity. The Calloway Fair Board has agreed to more strictly limit the venues in which they will rent their facilities. Sheriff Knight said he thinks this is a step in the right direction for the safety of Calloway County residents and local first responders.
CITY COUNCIL MEETS TONIGHT
The Murray City Council will meet tonight in regular session. The Council will receive a Property Tax Update, a Public Works Committee Report from Danny Hudspeth, and a Cemetery Report from Linda Cherry. The Council will also consider multiple Municipal Orders for boards and commissions. If approved, Dr. S.G Carthell and Peggy Munke will be reappointed to the Human Rights Commission for three year terms, with Carthell as the Chairman. Bobby Martin will be reappointed to the Senior Citizens Board for a one year term. Bobby Futrell and Craig Fortenberry will be reappointed to the Murray Calloway County Airport Board for three year terms. Darren Yates and Dinesh Patel will be reappointed to the CVB Board for three year terms, and Cami Duffy will be appointed to the Planning -Commission for a four year term.
CALLOWAY SCHOOL BOARD MEETS TONIGHT
Also, the Calloway County School Board will meet tonight in regular session. Among items on the agenda will be consideration of invoices for the Calloway County Schools Auxiliary Gym project for just over $81,000, and the Calloway County School HVAC project for just over 1.15 milliion dollars. Tonight’s meeting begins at 6 at the Board Office on College Farm Road.
CALLOWAY POSITIVITY RATE REMAINS UNDER 1%
Calloway County’s latest reported COVID-19 positivity rate is .93% which is lower than the state rate of 5.37%. The next county case report will be released on Friday. As of Wednesday, Calloway County was one of 68 of the state’s 120 counties outside of the red zone for COVID-19 Incidence Rates. The state reported 994 confirmed new cases and 36 confirmed new deaths Wednesday. There are currently 688 hospitalized, which is 74 less than last Wednesday, including 175 in ICU, which is 38 less than a week ago.
MCCONNELL AND COMER ATTEND BARKLEY GROUNDBREAKING
Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell and First District Congressman James Comer joined state and local leaders in Paducah yesterday to break ground on Barkley Regional Airport’s new terminal project. The airport received $32 million in federal funding to construct its new terminal and apron through the FAA Airport Improvement Program discretionary funding, entitlement funds, and CARES Act relief funding.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—Top Kentucky officials are contributing to the effort to get COVID-19 booster shots to people in the commonwealth. Governor Andy Beshear and Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman hosted a booster shot clinic yesterday in the Capitol rotunda. More than 200 shots were made available to members of the public, as well as state officials and lawmakers. Beshear says booster shots are needed to increase immunity against the delta variant.
HENDERSON—Shamrock Technologies in Henderson is reporting that PFAS chemicals have been found in soil and groundwater around its facilities. The company reported the issue to state environmental leaders and city officials this week. Mayor Steve Austin says no problems were found with the city’s drinking water and that it is safe. PFAS chemicals are found in items like food packaging, fabrics, and cleaning products, and have been linked recently to health concerns in people and animals.
HOPKINS COUNTY—Hopkins County is getting funding for infrastructure improvements. Governor Andy Beshear and area leaders announced the funding yesterday in Mortons Gap as part of the Better Kentucky Plan’s Cleaner Water program. Mortons Gap will receive 109-thousand dollars toward improvements. State representatives Jim Gooch and Melinda Gibbons Prunty were at the event with Beshear, along with the Hopkins County Judge Executive and the mayors of Mortons Gap and Nortonville.
SALYERSVILLE—The Salyersville city council is short a member after removing one of its own for using a racial slur. Councilman Ray Jackson was removed from his position last night after using the slur during a meeting in October. Mayor Pete Shepherd and other city and county leaders condemned Jackson’s statement at the time and the councilman issued a statement saying he regretted his words and was not a racist. Jackson says he plans to present his appeal in circuit court of the unanimous vote to remove him.
PULASKI COUNTY—Major infrastructure work is underway in Pulaski County. A 50-million dollar road project will connect the towns of Somerset and London, with Highway 80 heading east flowing onto a new four-lane 461. Numerous crashes have happened at the intersection of Highways 80 and 461, and a growing industrial area is adding urgency to the project. The project should be finished around June 2023.
HARRISON COUNTY—Workers at the 3M manufacturing plant in Harrison County say they want more say in the federal vaccination requirements for all employees. Dozens of 3M employees gathered outside of the plant on Wednesday, protesting the January 4th deadline to get vaccinated. That deadline was set by the federal government weeks ago for most private employers with 100 or more workers. While many of those companies have the option for employees to get tested in lieu of the vaccine, 3M does not as they are contracted by the federal government.
LEXINGTON—Efforts to get more school-aged children vaccinated across the state are continuing this week. On Wednesday, clinics across Fayette County wrapped up, as hundreds of Lexington children are said to have gotten their Pfizer shots. As of data released this week, a little more than 25-hundred kids aged five to eleven years old have been vaccinated since that age group was approved for the COVID-19 vaccination nearly two weeks ago. Officials with Wild Health say they are planning another vaccination clinic for December 1st for young students in the area to get their second doses.
FLOYD COUNTY—After more than three decades on the job, a former front-line health care worker is celebrating a big lottery win to kick off her retirement. Just last week, a Floyd County woman received a massive check after winning 200-thousand dollars on a ten dollar Kentucky Lottery scratch-off ticket. The best part is, the woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, purchased the scratch-off on the first day of her retirement and after working for more than a year-and-a-half on the front lines during COVID-19. After taxes, she is taking home 142-thousand dollars.
TENNESSEE—Governor Bill Lee says he expects to sign the package of bills that limit COVID-19 restrictions, such as mask mandates, this week. But he told reporters yesterday there are still some issues they’re working through before it’s ready for his signature. The School Board Chair for Metro Nashville Public Schools — Christiane Buggs — says they’re reviewing the legislation and won’t be able to respond until they see the final version of the law. Metro Public Schools currently have a mask mandate in place. Under the proposed law, a mandate could only be implemented during severe conditions. Buggs says they have a moral obligation to keep students safe.
TENNESSEE—Tennessee is due to receive some six-and-a-half billion dollars from the infrastructure bill for improvements to roads and bridges. The state’s transportation department is lining up projects now that will help solve congestion issues in larger cities and accessibility in smaller communities. Projects include widening Interstate 65 from the Kentucky border to Nashville and making improvements to Interstate 40.
TENNESSEE—The former speaker of the Tennessee House says he’ll retire when his current term ends next year. Glen Casada’s decision leaves his 63rd District House seat without an incumbent for the first time in 20 years. Casada’s legislative career spans more than 20 years. He resigned his post as Speaker of the House two years ago following a NewsChannel Five investigation that revealed racist and sexually explicit text messages between him and his former aide, Cade Cothren.
TENNESSEE—Authorities say at least 20 people have been arrested in connection with a Middle Tennessee methamphetamine ring. Investigators in Wayne County say an otherwise routine drug bust last year led officers to discover hundreds of pounds of meth in four different counties. A Wayne County grand jury Monday indicted at least 20 people in connection with a ring that distributed meth that came from Mexican drug cartels. Of the 20 suspects, 16 are from Tennessee while four are from Alabama.
TENNESSEE—Luke Combs picked up the big award last night during the Country Music Association Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, winning for Entertainer of the Year. The Female Vocalist of the year award went to Carly Pearce while the Male Vocalist of the Year went to Chris Stapleton. Old Dominion took home the Vocal Group of the Year award.
