Photos via CCSD
TWO CHARGED AFTER UNWANTED PERSONS REPORT
At approximately 10 pm Sunday, Calloway County Sheriff’s Department Deputies responded to Peeler Road for a report of an unwanted person at a residence. Upon their arrival, deputies located a vehicle in the driveway occupied by 46-year old Robert Gilreath and 38-year old Billy Reed, both of Murray. Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were located in the vehicle. Reed had been a fugitive since failing to appear in August of 2020 in Calloway Circuit Court on a Bond Revocation hearing. The original conviction for that Calloway Circuit Court case was for Possession of Methamphetamine. Gilreath was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Drug Paraphernalia. Reed was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Second Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also charged with the outstanding warrant for his failure to appear. Both were lodged in the Calloway County Jail.
CALLOWAY AWAITING POSSIBLE DISASTER FUNDS
President Joe Biden has approved Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for severe flooding damage that began February 28 but it will take more time before Calloway County will see any of the funds. Calloway County saw about six inches of rain that damaged county roads, businesses, and homes. Deputy Emergency Management Director Bill Call told WSIL-TV that they are in process of requesting recovery funding from agencies like FEMA and the Calloway County Emergency Management Agency may find out if the county will be added to the list for aid by the end of the week. It could take another two weeks or more to find out if FEMA will approve their request.
AHLFIELD PLEADS NOT GUILTY
30-year old Charles Ahlfield of Mayfield pleaded not guilty Monday to attempted murder and other charges. Ahlfield was arrested after police responded on February 22 to a call of shots fired at an apartment complex. Ahlfield was charged with attempted murder, wanton endangerment, and fleeing or evading police. A pretrial conference will be held on June 14. Ahlfield remains lodged in the Graves County Jail.
CCHD REPORTS 4 NEW COVID CASES; INCIDENCE RATE FALLS
The Calloway County Health Department reported 4 new cases of COVID-19 from Saturday through Monday, bringing the county case total during the pandemic to 3,463. Of that total, 3,405 have recovered, 9 are isolated at home, and none are hospitalized. There have been 49 COVID-19 related deaths in the county. Calloway County’s COVID-19 Incidence Rate per 100,000 on Monday was 5.5%, which is lower than Sunday’s rate of 5.9%. There are currently 6 red zone counties for COVID-19 cases in the state.
STATE POSITIVITY RATE SLIGHTLY LOWER
At Monday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 213 new cases and 4 new deaths were reported, raising the total to 6,459 Kentuckians who are listed as Covid deaths. As of Monday, there have been over 5.49 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 3.15%, which is lower than last Monday’s rate of 3.46%. There are 414 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 12 more than last Monday, including 108 in ICU, which is 13 less than one week ago. At least 51,138 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
MEYER PLEADS GUILTY
31-year-old Joshua Meyer was in McCracken County Court on Monday and entered a guilty plea to six counts of rape, two counts of sodomy, two counts of unlawful transaction with a minor, and possession of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor. Meyer was arrested in 2018 after two teen girls from Tennessee told authorities he held them against their will and sexually assaulted them. In January, Meyer was sentenced to 17 1/2 years on federal charges of production of child pornography and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in illegal sexual activity. His new sentence will run concurrently with his federal sentence. Formal sentencing is scheduled for July 12.
GAS PRICES LOWER LOCALLY, HIGHER NATIONALLY
Gas prices in West Central Kentucky are four cents lower this week at $2.64 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. At 9.1 million barrels-per-day, U.S. gasoline demand recorded its second highest measurement since mid-March 2020, indicating that motorists are filling up more often. Both demand and supply have steadily increased in the past five weeks, but weekly gasoline supply builds are trending less substantial. The jump in demand combined with the small increase in supply pushed the national gas price average two cents more expensive on the week to $2.88 per gallon. This is the largest one-week national increase in the last five weeks. On the week, 35 state averages increased with the majority seeing only one to three cent jumps.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—Governor Andy Beshear is lifting a mask mandate outdoors for groups of fewer than a thousand. Beshear announced the policy change yesterday which goes into effect today, citing an increased number of Kentuckians who are vaccinated for COVID-19. The governor says those who are at such events and aren’t vaccinated should still wear a mask if they can’t practice social distancing. Masks are still required indoors.
FRANKFORT—Yesterday, Governor Andy Beshear signed a proclamation naming April 25 through May 1 Ed Brown Society Week in the commonwealth, recognizing black Americans’ contributions to horse racing ahead of the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby. The Ed Brown Society is named after Edward D. Brown, who was born into slavery in Lexington in 1850, but through his tenacity and love of the sport developed into one of the most accomplished black horsemen in the history of thoroughbred racing. Brown rode Kingfisher to win the fourth running of the Belmont Stakes in 1870, and led Baden-Baden as a trainer in 1877 to win the third running of the Kentucky Derby. Brown’s important role in thoroughbred racing was confirmed with his 1984 induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
LEXINGTON—The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is resuming the use of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Use of the vaccine was paused nationwide after several people experienced blood clots. Officials say the single-dose vaccine will continue to be used starting this week. About 50-percent of eligible Lexington residents have been fully vaccinated. Health officials say at least 70 to 80-percent of adults need to be fully vaccinated to achieve wide immunity in the community.
OWENSBORO—An Owensboro priest is back in his parish following allegations of sexual abuse. Father Joseph Edward Bradley was reinstated by the Vatican last week. An allegation of sexual abuse of a minor was made in early 2019. A second allegation also surfaced, with both dating back to the 1980s, while Father Bradley served first as Dean of Students, then as Principal of Owensboro Catholic High School. He was temporarily suspended at the beginning of March 2019 following a recommendation by the Diocesan Review Board that the allegations had been found credible. Father Bradley appealed the ruling, and the Vatican issued a decree restoring him to the priesthood. The decree forbids him from entering a primary or secondary school for the next five years. Bradley is currently retired.
OWENSBORO—Owensboro Health is making a sizable donation toward the construction of new athletic facilities at Apollo and Davies County high schools. A 200-thousand-dollar check will be presented to district officials at the opening ceremonies of the City-County Track Meet today at Apollo High School. The facilities will include new and renovated football fields, tracks, locker rooms, training rooms, bleachers, concession stands, press boxes, and other amenities.
UNDATED—Ashley Judd is sharing an update of her progress since she shattered her leg in Africa. The star of such movies as Double Jeopardy and University of Kentucky alumna posted on Instagram Sunday that she is in an uphill journey, but she is making good strides toward regaining her ability to walk. Judd shared video of her guiding her semi-paralyzed foot forward and backward repeatedly with her hand. Among other injuries, the 53-year-old actress fractured her knee in four places and caused nerve damage after she tripped over a fallen tree two months ago in the Congolese rain forest, where she was researching bonobos. Judd says in June she should be walking with a brace and a cane.
UNDATED—Kentucky is keeping its six seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The state’s apportionment population from the 2020 Census was announced as being around four-and-a-half million yesterday. That’s up by about 200-thousand since the 2010 Census. The apportionment population determines how many congressional seats each state will get.
TENNESSEE—Tennessee is keeping its nine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The state’s apportionment population from the 2020 Census was announced as being well over six-million-900-thousand yesterday. That’s up by nearly nine percent since the 2010 Census. The apportionment population determines how many congressional seats each state will get.
TENNESSEE—There are 530 new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to over 843-thousand. Half-a-dozen additional COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number of coronavirus-attributed deaths statewide standing at over 12-thousand-150. There are more than 13-thousand active cases in the state.
TENNESSEE—Tennessee schools won’t be allowed to offer both in-person and virtual instruction this fall. The State Board of Education decided earlier this month during a specially-called meeting that students who want to continue remote learning will have to enroll in a virtual school. Districts have been able to operate under hybrid models of virtual and in-person learning this school year after the Tennessee State Department of Education passed continuous learning plans. They were created due to the coronavirus outbreak.
TENNESSEE—Transportation Security Administration officials say safety is their first concern. TSA made the statement after guns were found at airports in Memphis, Knoxville and Nashville within hours of each other yesterday. They say up to 90 percent of the guns found at checkpoints are loaded. In addition to potential criminal charges, passengers who bring guns to a checkpoint can face civil penalties of over 13-thousand dollars from TSA.
TENNESSEE—The Knoxville-based Pilot Company is hosting a National Hiring Day event. Pilot is seeking to fill five-thousand positions nationwide during today’s event. Over 200 of those positions will be available in Tennessee. More information about the event is posted on the Pilot Flying J website.
ILLINOIS— Illinois House Republicans are blaming Democrats for a drop in the population reported by the Census Bureau that led to the loss of a Congressional seat. House Republicans say Democrats haven’t supported investment in businesses and schools, which they say has driven families out of the state and forced businesses to close. Governor J.B. Pritzker said yesterday that the largest amount of people leaving Illinois is teens moving out of state for college. The General Assembly is in a heated debate over how to redraw Congressional districts. Illinois’ 18th Congressional seat will be lost in the 2022 election.
