MPD URGES CAUTION WITH FIREWORKS
With the 4th of July approaching, the Murray Police Department reminds everyone of the state laws and city ordinances regarding fireworks. No aerial fireworks can be ignited by any individual under the age of 18 and cannot be set off within 200 feet of any structure, vehicle, or person. When using any type of ground or hand-held sparklers, any person under 18 must be supervised by an adult and not ignited within 50 feet of any structure or vehicle. Also, the use of fireworks or other explosives that are unreasonably loud, raucous, jarring, disturbing, or a nuisance to someone of reasonable sensitivities within the area of audibility, is unlawful. Police remind you the reason for these laws is for your safety and the safety of those around you.
VICTIM OF ALLEGED CARJACKING ARRESTED
The victim who reported the alleged carjacking incident Saturday night in Graves County was arrested yesterday. 54-year-old Shannon Wilson of Graves County reported that he was operating his vehicle on US 45 near Wingo and encountered two individuals walking who made him exit the vehicle and forced him to lay in a ditch, as they drove away in his vehicle. Video surveillance proved that parts of the incident didn’t occur. Wilson acknowledged that he was not truthful about the car jacking. The vehicle he reported stolen was located abandoned in Mayfield on Sunday. Sheriff’s deputies and detectives continue to investigate the incident as Wilson claims the vehicle was stolen from him from a different location as to what he had originally reported, and that it was not a car-jacking. Wilson was arrested and charged with Filing a False Report to Police.
CALLOWAY COUNTY/ KENTUCKY COVID UPDATE
The Calloway County Health Department reported 1 new case of COVID-19 from Saturday through Monday. Currently, 5 cases are isolated at home, and none are hospitalized. The county positivity rate as of Monday was .73% which was up from Sunday’s 0% rate. At yesterday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 69 new cases and 2 new deaths were reported. The state’s current positivity rate is 1.87%, which is lower than last Monday’s rate of 1.95%. There are 169 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 33 less than last Monday, including 53 in ICU, which is 5 less than one week ago.
MSU OFFERING RACER ORIENTATION DATES
Murray State University is offering two dates, July 8 and August 5, for its Racer Nation Orientation program. Formerly known as Summer Orientation, Racer Nation Orientation is the required new student program for incoming freshmen and transfer students, and is available both in-person and in a virtual format if desired. Murray State recently concluded several successful orientation dates throughout the month of June. Incoming students and their families should visit murraystate.edu/orientation to register.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
LOUISVILLE—Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is calling on Governor Andy Beshear to end the federal pandemic unemployment bonus in Kentucky. The Kentucky Republican made the remarks yesterday while visiting the UPS corporate office in Louisville. McConnell criticized Beshear, saying the extra benefits are the reason employees aren’t returning to the workforce. He also criticized the initiative offering 15-hundred dollars to the first 15-thousand Kentuckians who return to work, saying continued borrowing and spending is not a good option.
FRANKFORT—Over 20 new laws are going into effect today in Kentucky. Among them are measures on school choice, increasing the penalty for child pornography and making some election procedures implemented last year permanent. Another law changes police standards and expands the number of acts considered professional wrongdoing.
FORT CAMPBELL—There’s a new commander at Fort Campbell. Colonel Andrew Jordan took over from Colonel Jeremy Bell during a change of Command ceremony yesterday. Colonel Bell was honored for his exceptional service during the ceremony and his wife was recognized for her support of Fort Campbell and its surrounding communities. Colonel Bell recently said being commander of the post is like being the “mayor of the city” of Fort Campbell. Bell thanked the surrounding communities for their support.
FRANKFORT—Secretary of State Michael Adams announced last week that Kentucky’s voter registration numbers remained stable for May. For a second month, Kentucky saw a small net gain of voters with 116. Democratic registration dropped by 1,687 since April 30 while Republicans saw an increase of 981 registered voters. Unaffiliated voters saw an increase of 822 registrants since April 30. Complete registration statistics are available on the State Board of Elections website.
FRANKFORT—The deadline is approaching to be entered for Kentucky’s first Shot at a Million drawings. Kentuckians must sign up by 11:59 p.m. tomorrow to be eligible for the first drawing. Drawings will be held Friday, with one winner in the adult category receiving a million dollar prize. One winner in the 12 to 17-year-old category will take home a full scholarship. About 428-thousand adults and 15 young people have signed up for the drawings.
HENDERSON—The Henderson Utility Commission is a firm no on an offer to buy Henderson Municipal Power and Light. The utility commission is recommending that the city turn down an offer from Big Rivers Electric to purchase HMPL. Revised numbers from the offer were presented to the utility commission at its meeting yesterday, but members agreed that the purchase doesn’t improve things for customers moving forward. The Henderson City Commission will have the final say on the deal.
HENDERSON COUNTY—Henderson rescue officials say the body of a missing Owensboro fisherman has been pulled from the Ohio River. Officials say the body of 24-year-old Kue Gay was recovered yesterday morning near the Newburgh Lock and Dam. Gay went missing there over the weekend after going into the water after a net. Authorities are warning people about the dangers of being on the river at night.
TENNESSEE—The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is issuing a statewide AMBER Alert on behalf of the Memphis Police Department. Memphis police are looking for seven-month-old Braylen Hunter Clark, who is described as Black, over 27-inches long and 18 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He’s believed to be with his non-custodial father Barry Medlock. A second-degree murder warrant has been issued for Medlock after Braylen’s mother was dropped off dead at a hospital on Sunday.
TENNESSEE—It’s been two weeks since a five-year-old East Tennessee girl was reported missing. Summer Wells was reported missing on the evening of Tuesday, June 15th after she was last seen outside her family’s Rogersville home in Hawkins County. A reward fund for information about Summer has been finalized. Anyone who wants to contribute can visit any Civis Bank and request to put money in the Church Hill Rescue Squad Summer Wells Reward Account.
TENNESSEE—Tennessee’s senior senator is asking the CDC to end the mask mandate on public transportation for people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Marsha Blackburn is one of six Republican senators supporting a resolution requesting that the CDC update its guidance for mask wearing in confined spaces. They’re requesting the mandate be lifted on public transportation throughout the U.S., including airports, commercial planes, buses and rail systems. Blackburn says she’s calling on the CDC to follow the science.
TENNESSEE—The Tennessee Department of Health is updating the state’s coronavirus numbers. TDH said yesterday there have been nearly 866-thousand-740 cases of COVID-19 in the state since the outbreak began. The state says there have been 12-thousand-550 COVID-19 related deaths in Tennessee. The numbers reported yesterday were from Friday.
TENNESSEE—The Museum of Appalachia is closed today. The museum is shut after a strong thunderstorm knocked down several trees, blocking the museum’s entrance and exit. The museum is asking volunteers to help clean up today.
ILLINOIS—Illinois officials are extending the expiration dates on state driver’s licenses and ID’s to January 1st, 2022. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced the move yesterday, which includes those set to expire between July and December 2021. The extension does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses and CDL permits. White says the policy change is intended to ease congestion at Driver Services facilities.
