Frank Kelly (Photo via CCSD)
THREE CHARGED AFTER REPORT OF DRUG ACTIVITY
At approximately 1:45 Monday afternoon, Deputies with the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office responded to Brooklyn Drive for a report of possible drug activity. After further investigation, one person was arrested and two other people were cited for drug related offenses. 22-year old Alvin Rowe of Murray and 31-year old Amber Amaro of Aurora were cited for Possession of Marijuana. 30-year old Theodore “Frank” Kelly of Murray was arrested and charged with Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon, Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Trafficking in Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Kelly was lodged in the Calloway County Jail. The Murray Police Department assisted with the investigation.
MURRAY MAIN STREET ACHIEVES 2021 ACCREDITATION
Governor Andy Beshear announced Tuesday that 27 Kentucky Main Street Program communities finished last year with a reported $45.5 million cumulative investment in downtown commercial districts. This total represents $28.1 million in private spending matched by $17.4 million in public improvements. Additionally, these communities finished the year with a net gain of 842 new jobs, 122 new businesses, and 66 rehabilitation projects completed in Main Street districts. The statewide program also recently announced that Murray was one of 23 communities that achieved national accreditation for 2021 as certified by both Kentucky Main Street and the National Main Street Center. Paducah is a participating affiliate program.
BOND REDUCED FOR CRAWFORD
Fifty-year-old Randolph Crawford appeared in Marshall Circuit Court on Tuesday after he was arrested in December as part of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children Investigation when he was discovered sharing child pornography online. Crawford has pleaded not guilty. He was charged with seventy-four counts of distribution of matter portraying a minor in a sexual performance and twenty counts of possession of matter portraying a minor in a sexual performance. Judge Jamie Jameson ruled that Crawford’s bond be lowered from $25,000 to $8,000. Crawford will be required to wear an ankle monitor, and he can’t possess any device capable of internet access. A status hearing will be held on July 13.
CALLOWAY COUNTY COVID REPORT
The Calloway County Health Department reported 1 new case of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the county case total during the pandemic to 3,493. Of that total, 3,430 have recovered, 13 are isolated at home, and 1 is hospitalized. There have been 49 COVID-19 related deaths in the county. As of yesterday, 27.7 percent of Calloway County residents have been fully vaccinated including 64.4% of those 65 and older. Calloway County’s COVID-19 positivity rate as of Tuesday was 1.57%, which is higher than Monday’s rate of 1.33%. The Calloway County School District has reported 1 new student case this week. The Murray Independent School District has no new cases and no students from either system are currently quarantined. Murray State University has reported one student case over the past week.
KENTUCKY COVID REPORT
At Tuesday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 758 new cases and 23 new deaths were reported, raising the total to 6,620 Kentuckians who are listed as Covid deaths. As of Tuesday, there have been over 6.35 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 3.15%, which is lower than last Tuesday’s rate of 3.47%. There are 415 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 19 less than last Tuesday, including 109 in ICU, which is 7 more than one week ago. At least 51,843 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
KENTUCKY VACCINATION REPORT
The total number of Kentuckians vaccinated as of Tuesday is 1,875,554. That means 42% of Kentuckians are vaccinated including 80% of those 65 and older. Approximately 625,000 Kentuckians still need to get at least their first dose to meet the Team Kentucky Vaccination Challenge which Governor Andy Beshear said will trigger him to lift unspecified additional restrictions. At the current rate, that will not happen around July 27. Additionally, the Governor has given no timetable or benchmark that will trigger lifting of his mask mandate.
WKCTC MOVES TO SUMMER SCHEDULE
Starting May 14, West Kentucky Community and Technical College begins its summer work schedule. WKCTC offices will be closed Fridays for the summer work schedule beginning this Friday through July 30. Many of WKCTC’s employees also continue to work from home. Student Services personnel are available Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 5:30 pm. The WKCTC bookstore will be open Monday-Thursday from 8 am to 4 pm. The college’s Call Center remains open 24/7 and individuals may call 855-469-5282 with any questions. WKCTC’s Kitchens Cafe will remain open during its regular hours during the summer.
COMER PROBING NRPC BACKLOG
First District Congressman James Comer and a group of Republican lawmakers wrote Archivist of the United States David Ferriero regarding the massive delays veterans and their families are encountering while requesting their records from the National Personnel Records Center. The NRPC stores the personnel, health, and medical records of military personnel including active, discharged, and those deceased from all branches. As of March, there was a backlog of almost half a million records requests. These records are often necessary for proceeding with a military burial, obtaining VA benefits, and more. Comer said that our military men and women and their families deserve far better than these delays adding that NRPC must clean up its act, address the backlog immediately, and give these families and Congress an explanation and timeline for fixing it.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—After a year marked by a global pandemic that disrupted the nation’s supply chain and cattle prices, Kentucky cattle producers joined Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Ryan Quarles on Monday to commemorate the month of May as “Kentucky Beef Month.” With more than half of Kentucky farms raising cattle, the state is home to 38,000 beef cattle producers according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. The Commonwealth is 14th in the nation for the total number of beef cows and calves with an inventory of 2.15 million head as of January 1. With nearly a million beef cows, Kentucky boasts the largest beef cattle inventory east of the Mississippi River and the eighth-most in the nation.
WASHINGTON DC—Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is claiming Dr. Anthony Fauci is “fooling with mother nature and allowing super-viruses to be created.” During a hearing yesterday on Capitol Hill, Paul blasted Fauci for what he said was ongoing research in the U.S. where deadly viruses are created for pandemic research. Paul claimed this research is being shared with the Chinese and added Fauci helped fund research and the infamous Wuhan Laboratory. Fauci denied most of Paul’s claims and added that he agrees the U.S. needs to continue to investigate the origins of COVID.
WASHINGTON DC—Senate Democrats and Republicans are butting heads over the federal government’s role in U.S. elections and voting rights in America. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell testified before the Senate yesterday and called the sweeping Democratic legislation a “partisan effort” to take over how we conduct elections in our country. The Kentucky Republican said Democrats are trying to take over voting under the “false pretense” that they’re saving democracy, even though he claims it’s not in crisis.
FRANKFORT—The U.S. Department of Transportation is helping states impacted by the hacking of the Colonial Pipeline. Kentucky is one of ten states to fall under major disaster declarations. The move allows semi drivers to transport overweight loads of gas to interstates. It also allows semi drivers to skirt federal laws on how long they can drive.
LEXINGTON—School COVID-19 vaccination efforts are targeting their efforts after Pfizer’s vaccine was approved for those 12-years old and up. Fayette County Public Schools is partnering again with Wild Health to hold vaccination clinics this month. The district’s goal is to make the shot convenient to get.
FORT CAMPBELL—A group of Fort Campbell soldiers is facing charges for allegedly running a gun ring. The three soldiers were arrested yesterday by ATF agents and the Army’s Criminal Investigation Department. They’re accused of buying and transporting nearly 100 illegal guns to Chicago. The Justice Department says some of the guns have been linked to a mass shooting in Chicago.
TENNESSEE—The Tennessee Valley Authority is considering retiring the Cumberland Fossil Plant. The TVA filed a plan to study the retirement of the plant in Stewart County yesterday. It’s one of the largest coal plants in the country. Its retirement is being considered after the Biden administration set a goal of having the country reach 100 percent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035.
TENNESSEE—Clarksville police are asking for help finding a runaway teen. Police say 16-year-old Caribbia Brunson could be in the Nashville or Springfield areas. Brunson also goes by CeCe and is described as black, five-three, 135 pounds with red hair and gray colored contact lenses. She left her home on March 20th.
TENNESSEE—There are nearly 660 new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to over 854-thousand-900. An additional 16 COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number of coronavirus-attributed deaths standing at close to 12-thousand-300. Over 680 people with COVID-19 are hospitalized across the state.
TENNESSEE—Tennessee is opting out of all federally funded pandemic unemployment compensation programs. The aid will come to an end in July. Governor Bill Lee announced yesterday that Tennessee will no longer participate in federal pandemic unemployment programs because there are over 250-thousand jobs open in the state. Governor Lee said it’s time for Tennesseans to go back to work.
TENNESSEE—The Tennessee branch of a national motor club says the shutdown of one of the nation’s biggest gas pipelines is no reason for panic. Triple-A Tennessee says the cyber attack on the Colonial Pipeline could cause some brief shortages at gas stations. However, Triple-A also says it’s not a reason to hoard gasoline. Officials say drivers should buy the gas they need and keep last year’s toilet paper shortage in mind when hoarding led to a bigger shortage.
TENNESSEE—Humphreys County will be the center of the biker world in Tennessee later this month. The Tennessee Motorcycles and Music Revival Festival will be held at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch and Campground May 20th through the 23rd. Thousands of people are expected to camp at the 35-hundred-acre venue in Hurricane Mills during the four-day event. The festival will include music, dirt-track racing, Harley-Davidson demos, and hand-crafted custom motorcycles.
ILLINOIS—The Illinois Senate is considering a proposal that would address the special education program age-out date. The plan would allow students to stay in special education programs until the end of the school year when they would age-out. The current age cut-off is 22-years old and is effective on the student’s birthday. Legislators are being asked to make the change so that affected students can finish the school year with their peers.
