The Russell County School Board will meet on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at 12:00pmCT for a Special Called Meeting...

• Jordan Hilty, 19, of Columbia, KY - arrested on Friday afternoon by ACSO and charged with Sexual Abuse 1st Degree (Victim Under 12 Years of Age) and Video Voyeurism.
• Krista Lynn Meece, 48, of Russell Springs, KY - arrested on Thursday evening by KSP for Failure to Appear, Contempt of Court, Operating on a Suspended or Revoked Operators License, and Giving Officer False Identifying Information.
• William K. Miller, 29, of Columbia, KY - arrested Thursday afternoon by ACSO for Possession of Methamphetamine and Drug Paraphernalia, Fleeing or Evading Police (on Foot), and was served two Bench Warrants for Court.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 28, 2021) – With summer approaching, the Kentucky Division of Water (DOW) and the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s (KDPH) Environmental Public Health Tracking Program (EPHT) offer these safety tips to help Kentuckians enjoy the many rivers, lakes and creeks in which to boat, fish, swim, canoe or otherwise enjoy our abundant water resources.

Despite many water quality improvements, there is the potential for human health risks in any body of water. By applying common sense, risks of experiencing water-derived health issues can be greatly decreased.

DOW and DPH recommend that the public:
 

1. Avoid ingesting or inhaling the water.
2. Thoroughly clean hands and other areas that have come in contact with the water.
3. Avoid allowing open wounds to have direct contact with the water.
4. Avoid areas where swimming or harmful algal bloom (HAB) advisories have been issued.
5. Avoid water with obvious odors or surface scums.
6. Avoid getting in water after heavy rainfall, especially in dense residential, urban and agricultural areas.
7. Avoid areas below wastewater treatment facility outfalls, animal feedlots, straight pipes or other obvious sources of pollution.
8. Restrict pets and livestock from drinking the water if a bright green or blue-green surface scum is present.

More information concerning the quality of Kentucky’s water resources such as advisories may be found here.

If you experience symptoms, such as gastro-intestinal upset or rash, after recreation in natural waters, such as streams, rivers or lakes, consult your physician or call your local health department.

For more information on healthy swimming in all water bodies, visit http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/.

For more information on the Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, visit https://kyibis.mc.uky.edu/ehl/dataportal/Introduction.html.

Adair County High School will be the host of the 2021 20^th District Baseball and Softball Tournaments.

The Baseball tournament begins on Saturday, May 29^th, at 1:30 p.m. with Campbellsville versus Adair County. Taylor County will play Marion County at 4:30 p.m. on May 29^th. The Baseball championship will be on Monday, May 31^st, at 4:00 p.m.

The Softball tournament will begin on Monday, May 31^st, at 11:00 a.m. with Marion County versus Adair County. Taylor County will play Campbellsville at 1:30 p.m. on the 31^st. The Softball district championship will be June 1^st at 5:00 p.m.

Tickets for all games can be found by going to https://tinyurl.com/adairtickets or by visiting the ACHS website. Tickets are required for all fans, including Adair County fans.

Questions about the district tournaments may be directed to Mr. Brent Campbell, Athletic Director, at 270-384-2751 or by email at brent.campbell@adair.kyschools.us.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 28, 2021) – Today, the Kentucky State Police (KSP) announced new locations for some Kentuckians to complete the required testing to obtain a state permit and driver license.  Below is a list of the regional driver testing locations that are currently operational.  Residents of these counties should take note of their new regional location in order to make an appointment prior to arrival.

“KSP will continue to administer all permit and license testing for the state,” said Gov. Andy Beshear, “The majority of these new locations were selected in coordination with the recent regional locations opened by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) in an effort to reduce travel time for Kentuckians.”

Starting June 1, residents of Casey, McCreary, Pulaski, Rockcastle and Wayne counties should make an appointment on KSP’s website to conduct permit, driver or commercial driver license testing at KYTC’s Driver Licensing Regional Office in Somerset. Appointments are available Monday through Friday.

Starting June 7, KSP will begin offering regional testing services in Catlettsburg, Columbia, Jackson, Morehead and Prestonsburg. Appointments are available Monday through Friday and can be made online by visiting KSP’s website. 

KSP will offer driver testing at the Cattlesburg Driver Licensing Office for the residents of Boyd, Carter, Greenup and Lawrence counties.

KSP will offer driver testing at the Columbia Driver Licensing Office for the residents of Adair, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, Metcalfe, Monroe, Russell and Taylor counties.

KSP will offer driver testing at the Jackson Driver Licensing Office for the residents of Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Owsley, Perry, Powell and Wolfe counties.

KSP will offer driver testing at the Morehead Driver Licensing Office for the residents of Bath, Elliott, Fleming, Lewis, Mason, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan and Rowan counties.

KSP will offer driver testing at the Prestonsburg Driver Licensing Office for the residents of Floyd, Johnson, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin and Pike counties.

“In transitioning to this model we have the opportunity to offer better services and greater volume,” said KSP’s Commander of Driver Testing, Captain Marshall Johnson. “The availability of appointments will increase based upon the regionalization of testing services. KSP is working with KYTC and Kentucky’s circuit court clerks to open the remaining regional offices statewide by June 30, 2022.”

Captain Johnson released a video statement, which provides more information on the new locations and scheduling system. To watch the video click here.

Each location will offer testing services Monday through Friday by appointment only. Applicants that require testing by KSP for a permit, driver license or commercial driver license may make an appointment online by visiting KSP’s website and locating the schedule associated with their county of residence.

Prior to the appointment, new drivers should prepare for the exam by accessing the only approved Kentucky driver’s manual online or by viewing it through the official KSP mobile app, ‘kspolice’. All driver testing materials can be viewed and printed free of charge.

Upon completion and passage of a permit, driver or commercial driver licenses, applicants will need to make an appointment at one of the KYTC regional locations to obtain their official state driving identification. The transition of licensing services by KYTC was mandated with passage of House Bill 453 during the 2020 Kentucky General Assembly.

Counties having already made the transition are Adair, Breathitt, Caldwell, Casey, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Green, Hardin, Hopkins, Madison, McCracken, McCreary, Menifee, Metcalfe, Pulaski, Rowan, Russell, Webster and Woodford.

On May 27, KYTC announced that 10 more counties are joining the transition of driver licensing from circuit court clerks to the Cabinet in June. To read the release, click here. 

According to KYTC, Kentucky will continue offering the option of a standard driver’s license, but a REAL ID or other form of federally approved identification, such as a passport or military ID, eventually will be needed by people 18 and older for boarding commercial flights and accessing military bases and federal buildings that currently require identification. Federal enforcement is scheduled to begin May 3, 2023.

First-time application for a REAL ID must be made in person at a Driver Licensing Regional office. Specific documentation is required. A list of acceptable documentation and a link to take an interactive quiz that populates a personalized list of documents is available at drive.ky.gov | IDocument Guide.

As of 9:22 a.m. on Friday, May 28, 2021 the boil water advisory for customers from 2092 Burkesville Road to 6797 Burkesville Road and all side roads in between has been lifted by the Division of Water Columbia office. This means your water is safe for human consumption. You no longer have to boil your water.

Last Memorial Day, we were all experiencing an absence of normality due to COVID-19. At that time, we realized that we take many aspects of our lives for granted and that we might have a genuine appreciation for these things until they are no longer available. We could not gather with loved ones, worship with our congregations, or spend time with dear friends as we usually would. Even the little things, such as enjoying a meal at our favorite local restaurant, were put on pause. We are now emerging from the pandemic with a greater sense of appreciation for our precious liberties.

To properly honor the sacrifices of brave service members this Memorial Day, we should enjoy our freedoms with a heart of gratitude, never again taking for granted all of which we are blessed. We are fortunate to live as citizens of both the United States and the Commonwealth of Kentucky and owe our respects to those who laid down everything they have to preserve our great nation and strengthen it. 

Memorial Day was established to honor those who perished in the Civil War, which claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history. In the late 1860s, Americans began holding springtime tributes to fallen soldiers, decorating graves, and praying together. These are traditions that remain with us today. Originally known as “Decoration Day,” Memorial Day became a federal holiday in 1971. In May 2000, a “National Moment of Remembrance” was established as an opportunity for citizens to join together and memorialize the brave servicemen and women. They have lost their lives in the line of duty. This Memorial Day at 3 p.m. local time, citizens across the United States are encouraged to pause for a moment of silence to honor our fallen heroes. We also remember the families of these heroes. Families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty are known as “Gold Star Families” as they continue to preserve the memories of their loved ones.

In memory of our fallen heroes, let us appreciate the blessings of freedom like never before. President John F. Kennedy once said:

 “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” 

It is my honor to serve as your State Senator. I wish you and your family a safe and blessed Memorial Day weekend.

# # #

Note:  Senator Max Wise (R-Campbellsville) represents Kentucky’s 16th Senate District which encompasses Adair, Clinton, Cumberland, McCreary, Russell, Taylor, and Wayne Counties.  He is co-chairman of the Interim Joint Committee on Education; as well as co-chairman of the Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee. He also serves as a member of the Interim Joint Committees on Agriculture; Health, Welfare, and Family Services; Transportation; and is a liaison member on the Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation. Additionally, Senator Wise is a member of the School Funding Task Force. For a high-resolution .JPEG of Senator Wise, please visit:

https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators%20Full%20Res%20Images/senate116.jpg

The City Of Columbia is announcing some of the food trucks they have scheduled for this summer in the downtown area.

Today (Friday, May 28th), Stir It Up will be set up in the city parking lot. They will start serving at 11:00amCT.

JUNE & JULY:

June 4     Happy Hawg

June 11   Rosebud (Gradyville Country Store)

                Kona Ice of Bowling Green

June 18   Master Artisan from Burkesville

June 25   First Baptist Church

                Ben’s Jammin Ice Cream from Bardstown

June 30   (Wednesday) Chik-Fil-A from Louisville

July 2      Stir It Up

July 8      Shogun of Bowling Green (Thursday)

July 9      Kona Ice of Bowling Green

July 16    Mac Chaos from Somerset

                Ben’s Jammin Ice Cream from Bardstown

July 23    Mimi’s Ice

The City of Columbia is scheduling a “Truck It Up” for August 6, 2021. Several food trucks are being scheduled for that date.

Columbia, KY 05-26-21 - Troopers from Kentucky State Police Post 15 responded to a 2-vehicle injury collision that occurred at the intersection of KY 206 and Haven Hill Cemetery Rd. at 9:56amCT on Wednesday.  Michael Keltner, 35, of Columbia, KY was operating a 2019 Ambulance, eastbound on KY 206 with the emergency equipment activated, when he attempted to pass 87-year-old Otis Burton of Columbia, KY who was also traveling east on KY 206 in a 2007 Buick passenger car. Burton made a left hand turn off Hwy 206 onto Haven Hill Cemetery Road at the same time Keltner was attempting to pass. Keltner struck Burton in the driver’s side causing moderate damage. Burton’s vehicle continued into the cemetery striking several headstones. 

Burton was belted and was transported by EMS to TJ Health Columbia. Keltner, who was belted, continued on striking a rock wall and a telephone pole.

This collision remains under investigation by Tpr. Zach Scott who was assisted at the scene by additional KSP Troopers, Adair County Fire, EMS and Rescue.

The Adair County Fiscal Court met on Tuesday evening for a regular monthly meeting. Jim Lieb covered the meeting for 92.7 the WAVE and spoke with County Judge Exec. Gale Cowan... 

The Adair County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Tuesday afternoon at the Jim Blair Recreation Center.

Judge Cowan advised the first round of the American Relief Act money had been received in the amount of $1,864,881.50. Although some guidance has been given on how this funding can be spent, more guidance has to be obtained before final decisions can be made.

The fiscal Court gave Judge Cowan permission to purchase a 2021 Case Backhoe on state price contract from Diamond Equipment for $112,056.38, provided the specs meet approval from the County Road Foreman who was unable to attend the meeting.

The Court also approved Judge Cowan to sign a resolution for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet approving the county roads in the county road system. This list is updated every few years and gone over for any changes that need to be made. 

The Fiscal Court approved applying for a waste tire grant in the amount of $4,000 for the 2021-2022 fiscal year.

To end the meeting, Judge Cowan announced that a replacement had been named as Jailer of Adair County since the resignation of Joey White last Friday. Jamie Richard will be sworn in as the new Adair County Jailer effective June 16, 2021. Richard is currently employed by the Kentucky State Police and respectively gave his notice of resignation on Tuesday to accept the appointment of Jailer.

Judge Cowan stated that herself along with the Jail Committee interviewed 8 individuals on Friday and had several good interviews. Under KRS 71.090, until the new jailer is sworn in, the Sheriff will act as jailer. Sheriff Brockman has been to the jail and spoken with staff and did a walk-through of the jail. 

"I have been in contact with Jail Staff, Sheriff Brockman, other jailers, Department of Corrections, KACo Jail Consultant, and anyone else we could contact to make sure the jail is run safely and efficiently until the new Jailer takes office”, stated Cowan. 

Seven rural Kentucky health care organizations — two hospitals and five EMS services — have been awarded a total of more than $100,000 by the Kentucky Office of Rural Health (KORH) to support local education and training efforts focused on automated external defibrillators (AEDs), CPR and other advanced life-saving skills.

The funds were distributed through KORH’s Committed to the Community project, part of the larger Committed to the Heart Initiative which seeks to improve out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest survival rates among residents of the rural counties served by the state’s 28 designated critical access hospitals. Critical access hospitals and EMS services in their service region were invited to apply for funds to carry out projects that would fit with the goals of the Committed to the Heart Initiative.

Organizations receiving the funds include: Barbourville ARH Hospital, Mercy Health-Marcum and Wallace Hospital, Carroll County EMS, Franklin-Simpson County Ambulance Service, Pendleton County Ambulance Taxing District, Russell County Ambulance Service and Woodford County EMS.

Kentucky Fried Chicken will be having a Job Fair in Columbia, KY on June 1, 2, and 3, 2021 (Tuesday-Thursday). The job fair will be held at Columbia City Hall on Campbellsville Street from 10:00am-2:00pmCT each day. KFC is locating on Dohoney Trace in Columbia and is expected to open the 1st week of July.

An Adair County Grand Jury has returned numerous indictments. Click on link to view full indictment of each individual:

https://ridingthewave.com/assets/files/ADAIR-COUNTY-INDICTMENTS-MAY-24-2021.pdf

There is a Russell County Boil Water Advisory on Roy Lane off Hwy 910 and Floyd Ridge due to a water main break. Boil all water used for drinking & cooking purposes for at least 5 minutes. The advirsory is in effect until further notice.

A Russell Springs woman was taken into custody on drug charges just after 1 this morning.

Mary Durham age 35, was lodged into the Russell County Detention Center on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance 2^nd degree, Drug Unspecified, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1^st degree, 1^st Offense (Meth) and Possession of a Controlled Substance, 3^rd degree – Drug Unspecified.

Russell Springs, Ky.  (May 22, 2021) – Kentucky State Police Post 15 troopers responded to a 3-vehicle collision in Russell County on Monday night.  On May 17, 2021 at approximately 9:19 P.M., KSP Post 15 was contacted by Russell County Dispatch and requested to investigate a three-vehicle fatal collision at the intersection of US 127 and Fields Rd.approximately 3 miles north of Russell Springs. 

The preliminary investigation revealed that Ronald Mosley, age 41 of London, entered US 127 traveling south from Fields Rd. in a 1994 Ford dump truck.  Victor Cruz, age 26 of Russell Springs, was traveling south on US 127 in a 2011 Ford Focus passenger car.  Cruz’s vehicle struck Mosley's vehicle in the rear.  Cruz's vehicle then entered into the northbound lane of US 127 and struck Wesley Flatt, age 30 of Russell Springs, operating a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis.

A passenger in Cruz's vehicle, Miguel Ramirez age 26 of Russell Springs, as well as Cruz were airlifted and transported to University of Kentucky hospital in Lexington with life-threatening injuries. Ramirez was later pronounced deceased at the University of Kentucky hospital by the Fayette County Coroner’s Office. A portion of KY 127 was closed for several hours to allow troopers to reconstruct the collision.  

KSP Post 15 was assisted at the scene by the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, Russell County EMS and Russell Springs Fire Department. The collision is still under investigation by Sergeant Adam Likins.

The Adair County Board of Education is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided on a first come, first serve basis at the following sites and times:

Adair County High School
May 25 - June 4 (Tuesday-Friday only)

June 7 - July 1 (Monday-Thursday only)

• Breakfast: 7:30am-7:45am
• Lunch: 11:00am-11:25am

Adair County Middle School

May 25 - June 4, 2021 (Tuesday-Friday only)

June 7 - July 17, 2021 (Monday-Thursday only)

• Breakfast: 7:30am - 8:00am
• Lunch: 11:30am-12:00pm (May 24 - June 4, 2021) 
• Lunch: 10:30am-11:00am (June 7 - 18, 2021)

Adair County Elementary School

June 7 - July 1 (Monday-Thursday only)

• Breakfast: 7:30am-8:00am
• Lunch: 11:00am-11:30am

Adair County Primary Center

June 7 - July 1 (Monday-Thursday only)

• Breakfast: 7:30am-8:00am
• Lunch: 10:55am-11:30am

A Eubank, KY man was arrested by KSP early Friday morning for speeding and other charges.

Joshua Samples, 21, was arrested just after midnight for Speeding 26 MPH over the Speed Limit, Reckless Driving, Operating on a Suspended or Revoked License, and Failure to Wear a Seat Belt. Samples was lodged in the Russell County Detention Center.

The Jamestown City Council met on Thursday evening at City Hall. Council members welcomed a new police officer and approved other items. Mayor Nick Shearer has details…
 

The Adair County School Board met on Thursday evening for a regular monthly meeting, Jim Lieb covered the meeting for WAVE News and spoke with Supt. Dr. Pamela Stephens about what took place…

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 20, 2021) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear and Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Mike Berry announced that Kentucky will receive more than $3.6 million in federal funding to support economic growth and recovery of the state’s tourism and arts industries.

“As we sprint out of this pandemic to build a better Kentucky, we want to help provide the tools our hardest hit industries need to fulfill the critical roles they play in our economy,” said Gov. Beshear. “My administration remains committed to investing in Kentucky, and we understand the positive impact that these continued investments have on fostering a strong economy for our future.”

As part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ first distribution of American Rescue Plan funding, more than $800,000 in federal funding will be distributed to Kentucky to support the commonwealth’s $2.3 billion arts and culture industry as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the next several weeks, the Kentucky Arts Council will determine how this critical federal funding will be distributed to arts organizations throughout the commonwealth.

Kentucky will also receive a $2.8 million Economic Development Administration CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to support economic growth of the state’s tourism industry. As part of the commonwealth’s promotional efforts, this critical funding will allow for the development of a marketing campaign focused on highlighting the nine tourism regions and continue efforts to promote the state as a safe travel destination that is open and ready to welcome visitors to Kentucky.

“To ensure Kentucky remains a national leader in the tourism industry, we continue to seek opportunities that allow us to foster long-term economic growth for our partners,” said Secretary Berry. “Both the arts and tourism industries play critical roles in generating revenue for communities throughout the commonwealth, and today’s announcement is another positive step as Kentucky continues to be proactive in our efforts to build a stronger Kentucky for the future.”

This positive economic news following last week’s announcement of the commonwealth’s commitment of $5 million in federal CARES Act funding to the Kentucky tourism industry designed to prime the industry for growth through the development of marketing efforts to reach multicultural, national and international travel markets.

Today’s announcement joins a string of positive economic news in recent weeks that indicate the commonwealth is poised to emerge from the pandemic as a leader, creating more opportunities for our people in every corner of the state.

Yesterday, citing widespread vaccinations and an early reopening, the Governor announced a second major rating agency published a positive economic outlook for Kentucky. The Moody’s Analytics report said Kentucky’s economy entered the new year with gusto.

Kentucky’s economy lagged the U.S. prior to the pandemic, but the state’s recovery has benefited from earlier reopening efforts and increased demand for manufactured goods over services.

This month the Governor also announced record sales tax and motor vehicle usage tax receipts, a direct indicator of strong economic activity that also sets up Kentucky to have an estimated surplus of more than $586 million. This estimate puts the state on pace to end the current fiscal year with over $1 billion in the rainy day fund – the most money ever in a rainy day fund in Kentucky.

Gov. Beshear announced that despite COVID-19, Kentucky Main Street communities finished last year strong with a reported $45.5 million cumulative investment in downtown commercial districts. This positive economic news represents $28.1 million in private spending matched by $17.4 million in public improvements with a net gain of 842 new jobs, 122 new businesses and 66 rehabilitation projects.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury also announced May 10 that Kentucky will receive $2.183 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, with the allotment smaller than an earlier estimate because of the state’s positive economic performance.

Last week, the Governor reported that one of the big three credit rating agencies, Fitch Ratings, improved the state’s financial outlook to stable, reflecting the commonwealth’s solid economic recovery from the pandemic. The new rating highlighted how Kentucky’s employment recovery through March has been slightly ahead of the national pace.

Even with the pandemic, the Governor has announced 270 economic development projects that will create more than 8,000 new jobs. The average pay for those jobs is one of the highest in years. He is supporting our rural communities with more than $124 million in investment for 160 projects that are helping to diversify regional economies.

In March, Site Selection magazine’s annual Governor’s Cup rankings for 2020 positioned Kentucky atop the South Central region – and third nationally – for qualifying projects per capita. The commonwealth placed seventh overall in total projects, the highest of any state with a population under 5 million.

For the latest Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet updates, follow the cabinet on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn. To learn more about the cabinet, visit tah.ky.gov.

Read about other key updates, actions and information from Gov. Beshear and his administration at governor.ky.gov and the Governor’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Jacob Hall, age 21 of Russell Springs was taken into custody by Deputy Meyer of the Russell County Sheriff’s Office just before 11 last evening. Hall was charged with Alcohol Intoxication in a Public Place (1^st and 2^nd Offense), Disorderly Conduct, 2^nd Degree and Terroristic Threatening, 3^rd Degree. He was lodged into the Russell County Detention Center.

Russell County, reported another death Wednesday from. We have now had 44 deaths in Russell County from Covid19.We had 2 new cases yesterday. We had 1 case released from isolation. We now have12 active cases which are all on self-isolation.

Adair County, 9 new COVID19 case to report yesterday. We released 12 cases. We have 36 active cases with 34 of those in home isolation. We have 2 case in the hospital at this time.

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (May 19, 2021) – A project to add alternating passing sections along US 68 between Campbellsville and Lebanon begins next week. As part of the Heartland Parkway Corridor, the 2+1 configuration will be familiar to motorists who travel KY 55 between Columbia and Campbellsville. 

Work starts Monday, May 24, on the Lebanon end of the project along the westbound lane side. Construction will move toward Campbellsville and be under way through the entire corridor by mid-summer. Work will be phased to minimize impacts to traffic and maximize safety and efficiency.

Both directions of traffic will be maintained during the project with occasional delays possible for equipment and material mobilizations. Motorists should pay close attention to signs, slow down and exercise additional caution when traveling through the area, especially when workers are present. Speed limit postings will be reduced to 45 in the work zone with enhanced enforcement.

The project was awarded to Haydon Materials, LLC earlier this month in a $17.8 million contract with a specified completion date of August 1, 2022.

• Augustus Crank, 23, of Russell Springs - arrested Tuesday night by KSP and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Marijuana, and Drug Paraphernalia. He was also charged with Failure to Appear and arrested on a Parole Violation (for a Felony Offense).

• Samantha Givens, 26, and Terry Pulliam, 29, both of Edmonton - arrested Wednesday afternoon by the Cumberland County Sheriffs Office. Givens was charged with Possession of Opiates and Failure to Wear Seatbelt. Pulliam was charged with Possession of Marijuana and Failure to Wear Seatbelt.

Russell County: 2 new cases Tuesday. We had 1 case released from isolation. We now have 12 active cases of which are all on self-isolation.

Adair County: 9 new COVID19 case to report yesterday. We released 4 cases. We have 39 active cases with 37 of those in home isolation. We have 2 case in the hospital at this time.

• Joshua Burton, 25, of Columbia, KY - arrested this morning by CPD for Violating a Kentucky EPO.
• Shelby Stephan Esters, 25, of Munfordville, KY - arrested this morning by KSP for Speeding 26 MPH over the Limit, Reckless Driving, DUI 3rd or greater offense, and Possession of Open Alcoholic Beverage Container in Motor Vehicle.

The Adair County School Board will meet on Thursday, May 20, 2021 at the Adair County Board Conference Room at 6:00pmCT for a Regular School Board Meeting. The meeting is open to the public with social distancing guidelines in place. 

AGENDA
 

**Meeting called to order**
 

***Superintendent Dr. Stephens and Adair County Board Members will open the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance***

***Prayer***

1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
2. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

CONSENT AGENDA

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
5. APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT
6. APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF BILLS
7. APPROVAL OF GRREC MEMBERS FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR
8. APPROVAL OF DISTRICT TECNOLOGY PLAN FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR
9. APPROVAL OF EMERGENCY CERTIFICATION FOR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR.
10. APPROVAL OF FAMILY RESOURCE YOUTH SERVICE CENTERS’ CONTRACTS FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR
11. APPROVAL OF AUDIT CONTRACT WITH MATHER & COMPANY FOR THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR
12. APPROVAL OF SHORTENED SCHOOL DAY WAIVER TO KDE FOR A STUDENT
13. DISCUSSION/APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER #2, WHICH PROVIDES A CREDIT BACK TO THE DISTRICT FOR CHANGING THE HANDRAIL TO BLACK VINYL COATED CHAIN LINK FENCE OF $3,196.00.
14. DISCUSSION/APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER #3, WHICH ADDS TWO ADA COMPLIANT HANDICAP PARKING SPACES AND A SIDEWALK LEADING TO THE BASEBALL PRESS BOX AT A COST OF $14,393.00
15. DISCUSSION/APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER #4, WHICH FIXES AN UNMARKED ELECTRICAL LINE AT THE BASEBALL FIELD AT A COST OF $5,242.72
16. DISCUSSION/APPROVAL OF PAY APP #4 FOR JENKINS-ESSEX CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PRESSBOX IN THE AMOUNT OF $109,016.00
17. DISCUSSION/APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER #3, WHICH SATISIFIES THE REQUEST OF THE OWNER TO ADD SUN SHADES TO THE STORE FRONT WINDOWS OF THE NEW ADDITION TO MATCH THE EXISTING BUILDING AT A COST OF $18,686.06
18. DISCUSSION/APPROVAL OF PAY APP #7 FOR JENKINS-ESSEX CONSTRUCTION FOR THE ADAIR COUNTY PRIMARY CENTER PRESCHOOL ADDITION PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $102,606.00.
19. APPROVAL OF LAKE CUMBERLAND COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY HEAD START MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES BETWEEN HEAD START AND THE ADAIR COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
20. ONE YEAR EXEMPTION OF STUDENT HANDBOOK CRITERIA FOR ACMS
21. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF PERSONNEL ACTION

REGULAR AGENDA

22. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
23. PUBLIC COMMENTS
24. PRESENTATION BY SHEILA WILLIS ADAIR COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD COACH. (Please see attachment)
25. APPROVAL OF MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – Renae Smith
26. APPROVAL OF DISRICT FACILITY PLAN - Darrell Overstreet and Dr. Pamela Stephens
27. DISCUSSION/APPROVAL OF SCHOOL BUS/MAINTENANCE FUEL BIDS FOR THE 2021/2022 SCHOOL YEAR – Steve Burton
28. DISCUSSION/APPROVAL OF SCHOOL BUS TIRE BIDS FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR – Steve Burton
29. DISCUSSION/APPROVAL OF PAINTING BIDS FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR – Steve Burton
30. DISCUSSION/APPROVAL TO ACCEPT REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) BIDS FOR XEROX MULTI-FUNCTION COPIER LEASE AGREEMENT OVER A 48 MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING JULY 1, 2021. – Jason Rector
31. APPROVAL OF CATALOG BIDS FOR THE 2021/2022 SCHOOL YEAR.
32. APPROVAL TO WAIVE FEES FOR THE GYM RENTAL AT ADAIR COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FOR A BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FOR BLAKE MARTIN’S CHILDRENS EDUCATION FUND.
33. BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS UPDATE – Steve Burton
34. APPROVAL TO SCRAP BUS #2 AND #37. – Steve Burton
35. APPROVAL OF EMPLOYEE SALARY SCHEDULES FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR.
36. ADJOURNMENT

The City of Columbia recently held a drive for local residents to sponsor flags in recognition of local veterans in our community.

The list is as follows:

These flags will be placed starting Memorial Day weekend. “We appreciate the community’s support of this project,” stated Mayor Pamela Hoots.

Acting on a tip, multiple units from the Columbia Police Department and the Adair County Sheriffs Office arrived at an apartment complex on Miller Avenue regarding a recently escaped inmate, 22-year-old Christopher Dickson of Columbia. Dickson was reportedly hiding inside the residence. Officers attempted to call Dickson out with no response. K9 unit "Matt" was prepared to enter the residence and it was at that time Dickson verbally identified himself. He was taken back into custody, peacefully without incident.

Dickson is currently facing charges related to his escape from the Class D facility on Sunday night, May 16, 2021 as well as new drug charges from his recapture.

On Tuesday morning, just before 3AM Officers clocked a vehicle on the Cumberland Parkway at over 110mph and initiated a traffic stop. Upon making contact with operator, male subject attempted throw an object from vehicle which was located and found to be a pipe with suspected methamphetamine inside of it. Party was taken into custody with no further incident.

Robert Pandolfi, 49, with a listed residence of Lakewood, California has been charged with numerous traffic violations as well as possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of a controlled substance methamphetamine.

Officer Josh Durbin was the arresting Officer. He was assisted on scene by Officer Nathan Bradshaw.

Russell County, 3 new cases Monday. We had 5 cases released from isolation. We now have 11 active cases of which are all on self-isolation.

Adair County, 7 new COVID19 case to report yesterday. We released 2 cases. We have 36 active cases with 34 of those in home isolation. We have 2 case in the hospital at this time.

The Russell County Board of Education met last night in a special session before the board’s regular monthly meeting. The Middle School Project was one of the items discussed, Superintendent Ford tells us more…

The Board then met in its regular session with several items on the agenda…

The Adair County High School Class of 2021 will hold its commencement exercises on Friday, May 21, 2021 at 7:00pmCT in the John Burr Memorial Gymnasium. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, each senior who is participating in the graduation ceremony will be given six tickets for their guests to attend. Face masks will be required. Doors will open at 6:00pmCT.

The class of 2021 is made up of 232 students. 113 students in the class have achieved a Latin honor academic recognition. 25 students have earned a Summa Cum Laude designation (weighted GPA of 4.0 or greater), 31 students have earned a Magna Cum Laude designation (weighted GPA of 3.5 to 3.99), and 57 students have earned a Cum Laude designation (weighted GPA of 3.0 to 3.49).

Seniors will also be wearing zipper pulls that denote transition readiness. 59 students have met both academic and technical readiness benchmarks, 20 students have met academic ready benchmarks, and 68 students have met career readiness benchmarks.

The motto for the Class of 2021 is, “Graduation is Not the End of Anything, it’s the Beginning of Everything.” The class chose "Home" by Philip Phillips as the class song, the sunflower as the class flower, and red, white, and blue as the class colors.

Summa Cum Laude:

1. Timothy Archey
2. Aiden Bosela
3. Maggie Brummett
4. Brayden Burton
5. Breeana Butler
6. Athena Coman
7. Elizabeth Cook
8. Kinley Darnell
9. Emilee Flatt
10. Breann Franklin
11. Alondra Fuentes Nava
12. Clay Giles
13. Jenna Grant
14. Jacob Grider
15. Hayden Hancock
16. Leslie Hardwick
17. Emma Harmon
18. Samuel Hoffman
19. Macy Partin
20. Lillian Quinn
21. Jake Smith
22. Jaidon Spires
23. Lindsey Taylor
24. Reilly Wells
25. Brennan Wethington

On Monday afternoon, May 16, 2021, employees of the Adair County Public Library called Adair 911 after a 3-year-old child was found walking in their parking lot, naked. Columbia Police Dept. Officers responded to the scene where library employees had stayed with the child prior to arrival.

Columbia-Adair County Economic Development Authority Board of Directors Meeting
Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at 8:00amCT
at 201 Burkesville Street, Columbia, KY

AGENDA

Presiding – Bobby Morrison, Chairman

Welcome, Call To Order, Determination of a Quorum, Pledge of Allegiance & Prayer

Business:

Approval of Minutes as presented – Kenzie Rowe, Secretary

Approval of Treasurer’s Report as presented – Roger Meadows, Treasurer

New Business:

1. Alisha Curry called on taxes for Bed and Breakfast/motels/etc. Is getting runaround on where to pay, referred to EDA. Seems Tourist group should get? She said lots of income.
2. Approval to get metal & fencing wire removed from land we are getting, survey, status, etc.
3. Approval for Ground Solutions, Clint Garrison to chop up all brush and trees to 8 inches.
4. Update on cutting trees, not much good timber.
5.  iGo ReGo, really impressive setup and brilliant idea. 4 locations, 400 vehicles
6. Synergy Food Group and City Grant/decision update.    
7. Todd Metals (Billy Todd) & Henry Sandusky on clearing old fencerow on joining property.
8. Project Groot update, MSE furnishing info, etc.
9. Visit update of interested group and info from Glen Ross
10. Sinkhole repair options
11. Discussion on lease land need for adjustment or rebate
12. Update on response on overdue last year land lease.

Comments:  Adair County Judge Executive Gale Cowan, Columbia Mayor Pamela Hoots

 Adair Progress/Drew Bergman, Community Voice/Sharon Burton, Columbia Magazine/Linda Waggener

Adjourn: Next regular meeting, Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at 8 a.m.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 17, 2021) – On Monday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced 1,927,168 people have received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in Kentucky.

“Overall, 54% of all Kentucky adults and 80% of Kentuckians 65 and older now have at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine,” said Gov. Beshear. “And for more good news, Kentuckians as young as 12 have started getting their shots of hope.”

On May 28, all indoor and outdoor events of any size and businesses of any capacity can increase to 75% capacity.

Just two weeks later, the state’s emerging economy is set for liftoff as final capacity restrictions related to COVID-19 end Friday, June 11. The same day, the state will also eliminate the mask mandate for all Kentuckians with the exceptions of places where people are the most vulnerable.

Gov. Beshear said the proven effectiveness of vaccinations and expanded vaccine eligibility to include 12- to 15-year-olds is allowing the commonwealth to safely and sustainably ease restrictions.

Case Information
As of 4 p.m. Monday, May 17, Gov. Beshear reported the following COVID-19 numbers:

People vaccinated in Kentucky (have received at least one dose): 1,927,168

New cases today: 285
Positivity rate: 2.78%

For more information on cases and hospital capacity, see the full daily COVID-19 report. To see a list of those reported lost to the virus today, click here.

The top 5 counties by percent of residents vaccinated are: Woodford (57%), Franklin (56%), Fayette (54%), Scott (48%) and Campbell (47%).

The bottom 5 counties by percent of residents vaccinated are: Christian (18%), Spencer (18%), Ballard (20%), McCreary (21%) and Lewis (21%).

Kentucky’s New Job Announcements, Wages Continue Upward Trend
The commonwealth’s economic outlook continues to rebound, as the number of new jobs announced by private-sector businesses trends upward, Gov. Beshear said today. Year-to-date, businesses have announced the planned and ongoing creation of nearly 2,750 full-time, Kentucky-resident jobs. That figure nearly doubles the 1,430 jobs announced throughout the same span in 2020. To learn more, see the full release.

The positive news comes after the Governor joined two major economic development events last week, the Log Still Distillery Tasting Room ribbon-cutting and the T. Marzetti Co. groundbreaking for the company’s $133 million, 220-job expansion.

More Information
To see all vaccination sites and free transportation options to and from vaccination appointments, visit vaccine.ky.gov. To see a list of vaccination sites that have openings this week, visit vaccinemap.ky.gov. If Kentuckians have questions, they should call the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline, 855-598-2246 or TTY 855-326-4654 (for deaf or hard-of-hearing Kentuckians).

For detailed information on COVID-19 vaccinations and more, visit kycovid19.ky.gov.

Sunday night, May 16, an inmate who was lodged in the Class D facility of Adair Regional Jail escaped custody.

Christopher Dickson, an Adair native has yet to be apprehended. If you have any information leading to Dickson’s whereabouts and recapture please notify authorities.

• Jose Ruiz, 41, of Russell Springs - arrested on Friday by the RCSO for Assault 4th degree (Child Abuse).
• Douglas Payton, 49, of Russell Springs - arrested by RSPD on Saturday for Possession of Methamphetamine, Failure to Signal, and No Operators License.
• Elizabeth Hadley, 31, of Russell Springs - booked into the Russell Co. Jail on Friday for Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.
• Nicholas Franklin, 41, of Russell Springs arrested by KSP on Saturday for Theft of Services.
• Anthony Wells, 40, of Russell Springs - arrested Thursday by RCSO for Assault 4th degree and was served a warrant for another police agency
• David Tarter, 73, of Dunnville - arrested Thursday by RSPD for DUI.
• Cody Gaines, 22, of Russell Springs - arrested Thursday by RCSO for Assault 4th degree (Domestic Violence).
• Randy Russell, 48, of Jamestown - arrested Wednesday by Jamestown Police for Criminal Trespassing 3rd degree.
• Tina Glenn, 41, of Russell Springs - arrested Wednesday by RCSO for Alcohol Intoxication in a Public Place, 1st & 2nd offense.
• Bladmero Domingo, 22, of Russell Springs - arrested Wednesday by RSPD for Reckless Driving, No Operators License, and Possession of an Open Alcoholic Beverage Container in Motor Vehicle.

Columbia, KY (May 13, 2021) - Kentucky State Police Post 15 troopers responded to a 2-vehicle collision in Adair County on Thursday morning. On May 13, 2021 at approximately 10:16amCT, KSP Post 15 was requested to investigate a 2-vehicle fatal collision on KY 92 approximately 8 miles east of Columbia. 

The preliminary investigation revealed that Michael Scott, 26, of Columbia, KY was traveling west on KY 92 in a 1995 GMC Sierra truck. Mimi Bairstow,  87, of Glens Fork, KY was traveling east on KY 92 in a 2006 Ford Explorer passenger car. Scott’s vehicle and Bairstow’s vehicle collided head-on at the centerline of the roadway. 

Bairstow was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Adair County Coroner’s Office. Scott was airlifted and transported to University of Kentucky hospital in Lexington with life-threatening injuries. A portion of KY 92 was closed for several hours to allow troopers to reconstruct the collision.

KSP Post 15 was assisted at the scene by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, Adair County EMS, Columbia/Adair County Fire Department, Kentucky State Highway Department, and the Adair County Coroner’s Office. The collision is still under investigation by Sergeant Adam Likins.

The Russell Springs City Council met last night, Mayor Eddie Thomas discussed part time officer and his appreciation to the citizens at last night meeting... 

Russell County, 3 new cases Thursday. We had 4 cases released from isolation. We now have 14 active cases of which are all on self-isolation.

Adair County, 5 new COVID19 case to report yesterday. We released 3 cases. We have 31 active cases with 29 of those in home isolation. We have 2 case in the hospital at this time.

According to the Adair Progress Jailer Joey White is set to resign his office. WAVE NEWS will have more details on this story later today as they’re made available.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 13, 2021) – Kentucky State Police (KSP) once again is showing their support of Special Olympics Kentucky (SOKY) by hosting the ‘Cover the Cruiser’ fundraising event at locations across the commonwealth. 
 

Starting Monday, May 17, KSP will park cruisers at a variety of public locations* and encourages Kentuckians to cover the cruisers with custom SOKY stickers for a minimum donation of one dollar, which will go directly to SOKY.

“Special Olympics emulates what Team Kentucky is building each day,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “It focuses on what we as Kentuckians have in common while accepting our differences in support of building one another up so that we can reach our fullest potential. I commend this fundraising effort by KSP and encourage everyone to stop by the location nearest them and help Cover the Cruiser.”

This fundraising event began in 2020 when the annual Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run was canceled in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The Torch Run relays on foot the Special Olympics Flame of Hope to Madison County to kick off the state summer games.

Earlier this month, SOKY President and CEO Trish Mazzoni announced that the annual summer games will resume in-person this year utilizing a condensed format to allow for proper social distancing and implementations of other safety protocols. The ‘Cover the Cruiser’ event is being held prior to the official start of the annual summer games. This fundraiser concludes on Sunday, May 23.  

“We’re excited to continue the Cover the Cruiser partnership with KSP. As they have so many times, they came through in an incredible way for our athletes last year in a time of great uncertainty,” SOKY President and CEO Trish Mazzoni said. “KSP has been a big part of our program for a long time. Their enthusiasm for doing this again this year has been incredible and we’re happy to have the opportunity to work with them.”

KSP raised $16,206 for Special Olympics athletes last year with the highest fundraising honor going to Post 11 located in Laurel County for bringing in $2,577 for SOKY.

“These amazing Kentucky athletes have always held a special place in the hearts of our troopers. So much so, that a friendly fundraising competition among posts has developed,” said KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr.

“While we appreciate the efforts of our troopers, we would not have this success without the generous support of Kentuckians.”

For more information about the ‘Cover the Cruiser’ campaign or to make a tax deductible donation visit, http://soky.org/coverthecruiser/.

Special Olympics is the world’s largest program of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The organization has been serving the needs of our athletes and their families since 1970 and welcomes 11,300 athletes in Kentucky.
 

Lt. Col. Kyle Nall with athlete Rachael Conner.

Columbia Police responded to a reported domestic violence call on Wednesday night at Trabue Apartments just after 7PM. Upon arrival, officers located a female outside of the apartment building and spoke with her. Officers observed the female had some visible injuries.

Contact was soon made with a male subject who was visibly intoxicated and began making verbal threats to officers as well as to the female victim. He attempted to become combative when taken into custody.

Stephen Kelsay, 37, of Columbia is facing multiple charges including alcohol intoxication, resisting arrest, assault 4th degree (domestic violence), terroristic threatening, and strangulation 2nd degree (a class D felony).

Officer Josh Durbin made the arrest. He was assisted on scene by Officer Evan Burton.

Russell County: NO new cases Wednesday. We had 1 case released from isolation. We now have 15 active cases of which are all on self-isolation.

Adair County: 8 new COVID19 case to report yesterday. We released 5 cases. We have 27 active cases with 25 of those in home isolation. We have 2 case in the hospital at this time.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 12, 2021) – On Wednesday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced state vaccination sites can administer Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines to Kentuckians age 12 to 15 starting tomorrow, Thursday, May 13th.

The Governor’s announcement was made on the heels of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) emergency use authorization, which supports use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine among those 12 years of age and older, and subsequent approval for the usage among younger Americans from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Starting tomorrow, more Kentuckians will have the opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and further protect themselves and those around them from this dangerous virus,” said Gov. Beshear. “We’ve seen new COVID-19 cases decline as more and more vaccines have been administered. Now, many Kentucky children and young teens have a chance to roll up their sleeves and become heroes for their communities by receiving their shot of hope.”

According to a report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, approximately 231,000 Kentuckians are in the 12-15 age group, which makes up roughly 5% of the state’s total population.

Among the three highly effective COVID-19 vaccines that are available, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only option for individuals 12-17 years of age. Consent from a parent or legal guardian is required in order for the vaccine to be administered to those who are 12-17 in Kentucky.

During Monday’s briefing on COVID-19, Gov. Beshear and Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, announced the state’s transition to a federal website – vaccines.gov – that allows Kentuckians to search nearby vaccination sites and filter the search by vaccine brand: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and/or Janssen/Johnson & Johnson. To watch a video demonstration of the site, click here.

“COVID-19 vaccines are readily available and we are shifting to focus on delivering vaccines as close to individuals as possible to provide easy access for Kentuckians in their communities,” said Dr. Stack. “Over the next couple of weeks, we will have an added focus on broadening the distribution of Pfizer to vaccination sites such as primary care and pediatric offices.”

Dr. Stack added that the state is now reaching people who might have more questions about getting vaccinated. The Kentucky Department for Public Health emphasized that:
 

• Children are less likely to develop severe illness from COVID-19, however, they can spread COVID-19 to others even when they are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Therefore, vaccinating 12- to 15-year-olds will help protect more vulnerable adults by reducing their likelihood of exposure from infected family members. This is important for vulnerable adults even if they are immunized.
• The Pfizer vaccine has proven very highly effective at preventing COVID-19 cases in 12- to 15-year-olds.
• Children represent a growing proportion of reported cases, and clusters of cases have occurred among adolescents in schools and on sports teams.
• Individuals who are fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine after an exposure to someone with COVID-19, which minimizes disruption to the individual and their family.

More Information
To see all vaccination sites and free transportation options to and from vaccination appointments, visit vaccine.ky.gov. To see a list of vaccination sites that have openings this week, visit vaccinemap.ky.gov. If Kentuckians have questions, they should call the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline, 855-598-2246 or TTY 855-326-4654 (for deaf or hard-of-hearing Kentuckians).

Because so many Kentuckians have received COVID-19 vaccines, the state has been able to increase capacity in most businesses to 60% and return child care classrooms to their traditional sizes. In addition, state officials have been able to shorten and simplify Healthy at Work minimum requirements and lift the mask mandate for smaller, outdoor events. As outlined in Monday’s release, additional restrictions will be lifted May 28.

For detailed information on COVID-19 vaccinations and more, visit kycovid19.ky.gov.

South Kentucky RECC announced today the final 2021 election results for the two open seats in districts one and five.

District one board seat, which represents western Pulaski County and a small portion of northern Wayne County, was uncontested, so incumbent director, Ms. Cathy Crew Epperson, automatically retained that seat for another four-year term.

In District five, the members elected Mr. Tommy Nelson, Jr. over incumbent, Greg Beard, to represent the area of Clinton County, southern Wayne County, and small portions of Russell County, Kentucky and Pickett County, Tennessee.  Mr. Nelson will officially be seated to the Board in June.

Tommy Nelson Jr. is a Wayne county native for fifty-nine years and a graduate of Wayne County High School. He worked with cooperatives in seven states. For twenty-two years he worked directly with members, staff, and their board of directors, also helping them with market development. He recently retired from Monticello Banking Company after eighteen years of service. He served on the board of directors of the Kentucky Center for Cooperative Development.

South Kentucky RECC President & CEO, Ken Simmons, said the co-op congratulates and welcomes Mr. Nelson and stated that the election process gives members the opportunity to exercise their right to select the director to represent their district on the board. “Holding a director election is a very large undertaking, and we make every effort to ensure the process is impartial and thorough. All members have the opportunity to vote electronically or by paper ballot, making the process as simple and convenient as possible.”

Mr. Simmons also stated, “South Kentucky RECC is fortunate to have been served the past eight years by Greg Beard.  Mr. Beard has worked diligently to learn the Cooperative business model, keep members needs at the forefront, and do all he could to assist and act as their voice.”

Mr. Beard commented, “It has been my pleasure to serve the members of District five and am proud of the work and accomplishments we have made as a Board during my tenure. I look forward to working with Mr. Nelson during this transition period.”

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 12, 2021) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear encouraged eligible Kentuckians to apply for a newly available discount through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help temporarily reduce their cost of home internet services.

The $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit program, established by Congress last year in response to ongoing economic hardships caused by the pandemic, provides a temporary discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households. The benefit also provides discounts up to $100 per household toward a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop or tablet, if the household contributes more than $10 but less than $50 toward its purchase from a participating broadband provider.

“Now more than ever, Kentuckians need reliable internet access to stay informed and connected to school, work, family, church, health care and other critical services,” said Gov. Beshear. “By providing some temporary financial assistance, this program may be what allows eligible Kentuckians to retain their service and remain online as we defeat COVID-19.”

Kentuckians can apply today through participating broadband providers or at getemergencybroadband.org.

Discounts will continue until all funding is exhausted, or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the pandemic.

A household is eligible if one member of the family meets at least one of the criteria below: 

• Has an income at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid or the FCC’s Lifeline program;
• Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year;
• Received a federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
• Experienced a substantial reduction in income through job loss or furlough since Feb. 29, 2020, and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

Additional information about the Emergency Broadband Benefit is available at www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit, or by calling 833-511-0311 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. EDT any day of the week.

In addition to today’s announcement, the Governor is preparing to expand the state’s broadband infrastructure that currently does not extend to every community, resulting in unequal opportunities among Kentuckians.

After reaching a bipartisan agreement with lawmakers and signing House Bill 320 and House Bill 382, the Governor will have more than $300 million in the Broadband Deployment Fund to begin addressing unserved and underserved communities. Combined with at least 50% required matching investments, this means a minimum of $600 million will go toward broadband expansion.

“At a minimum, $600 million will go toward broadband expansion. This investment is estimated to create over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs,” said Gov. Beshear. “Coupled with our recent broadband speed test, access mapping and the KentuckyWired project, HB 320 has the potential to push Kentucky to the forefront of broadband expansion nationwide.”

We need every Kentucky family to have access to reliable, high-speed internet access, which is critical to achieving successes in education, health care outcomes and economic growth, the Governor added.

The Adair County Fiscal Court met Tuesday night in regular session.  It was a long meeting but we covered a lot of important matters.  All of the normal agenda items were discussed and approved such as the Sheriff, Road Department, Animal Shelter, and Jail reports. 

Action items discussed were as follows:

1.  KACo Representative Kelly Harding attending the meeting to discuss the health insurance renewal for county employees. The past several years, the county has offered 3 policies for employees to choose from. It was decided to go with just one HRA plan this year, which is a better plan than any offered in the past. The Fiscal Court also agreed to increase the amount the court pays per employee from $380 per month to $590 per month per employee. This will only leave approximately $25 per month that will be paid by the employee. This is a huge win for our county employees. It’s like getting a $210 per month raise.

2.  Judge Cowan advised the court that after the lease payment is paid on the 20th of this month, the Jim Blair Community Center/Park property will be paid in full. There have been numerous improvements to the park over the past couple years and more are being planned. It’s great to go to the park and the parking lot be full of community members using the playground, walking the track, playing softball, and basketball. We are looking forward to additional improvements coming in the future.

3. The Fiscal Court approved first reading of the 2021-2022 budget totaling $10,644,499.97. The budget will now go to the Department for Local Government for review before final approval.  Anyone wishing to view the budget may contact the Adair County Judge’s Office.

4.  Fiscal Court discussed once again a water pressure issue at the Class D/Restricted Custody Facility. They voted tonight to split the total cost of $24,444.74 equally with the Columbia Adair Co. Water District.  

5. Approved a local Workforce Development Inter-local Cooperative Agreement with the Lake Cumberland Area Development District.

6.  The Fiscal Court voted to allow Judge Cowan to sign necessary paperwork for 2023 Mitigation Plan update grant application with the Lake Cumberland Area Development District.

7.  The Adair County Fiscal Court accepted a generous donation to the fiscal court tonight as well. The Adair County Extension Board has generously donated a surplused van to the Fiscal Court for Sheriff’s Office use. This van will be a tremendous asset to the Sheriff’s Department. Judge Cowan, Sheriff Brockman, and the entire Fiscal court would like to thank the members of the Adair County Extension District board for this donation.

At the end of the meeting, Judge Cowan addressed the court with an update on the Missing Money claim at the Adair County Regional Jail. Judge Cowan told the court she received a call from Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo) who carries the counties liability insurance last week. They will be issuing a check to the county in the amount of $150,000 which is the policy limit. This claim has been investigated and closed by both Kentucky State Police and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office.

The Adair County Fiscal Court meets twice a month, the 2nd Tuesday of each Month at 6:00 p.m. and also the last Tuesday of each month at 4:00 p.m.  All meetings are currently being held at the Jim Blair Recreation Center and are open to the public.

A couple of arrests were made Tuesday on assault charges…

Lucas Diaz-Ramirez, 27, of Russell Springs, KY was taken into custody by Trooper Scott of the Kentucky State Police and charged with Assault, 4^th Degree (Domestic Violence) with no visible injuries. He was lodged in the Russell County Detention Center just before 11 last night.

Kimball Smith, 56, of Russell Springs, KY was taken into custody by Officer Justice of the Russell Springs Police Department on Tuesday afternoon. Smith was charged with Assault 4^th Degree (Domestic Violence) and Disorderly Conduct, 2^nd Degree. He was also lodged in the Russell County Detention Center.

Russell County, 7 new cases Tuesday. We had 2 cases released from isolation. We now have 16 active cases of which are all on self-isolation.

Adair County, 8 new COVID19 case to report yesterday. We released 5 cases. We have 27 active cases with 25 of those in home isolation. We have 2 case in the hospital at this time.

It was a busy meeting last night for county leaders in Adair county at their regular monthly meeting for May. County Judge Gail Cowan spoke with Jim Lieb with WAVE NEWS following the meeting...

Area police departments are joining the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety in reminding motorists to Click It or Ticket.

The annual campaign is part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) high-visibility enforcement effort that runs May 24 - June 6. The campaign helps increase seat belt enforcement with traffic safety checkpoints and saturation patrols.

Of the 783 roadway deaths last year in Kentucky, 597 were occupants of motor vehicles. Of those killed in motor vehicle crashes, 342 were not wearing a seat belt, car seat or booster seat. Six of the 342 were children age 9 and under, four of which were improperly restrained.

According to NHTSA, more than half of those killed at night are unrestrained. In Kentucky last year, 261 roadway deaths occurred at night. Of those, 162 were unrestrained.

Also according to NHTSA, when worn correctly, seat belts reduce the risk of death by 45% for front-seat vehicle occupants and by 60% for pickup truck, SUV and minivan occupants. Additionally, child seats are 71% effective in reducing infant deaths, 54% effective in reducing toddler deaths and 67% effective in reducing the need for hospitalization. For older children, the use of belt-positioning booster seats lowers the risk of injury to children in crashes by 59% compared with the use of vehicle seat belts.

For additional information on seat belts, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/seat-belts. 

For additional information on child seats and boosters, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats. 

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 11, 2021) – On Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced 1,882,396 people have received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in Kentucky.

“No matter where you are in the state, you can sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine near where you live or work,” said Gov. Beshear. “Now, when you get a shot of hope at many Kroger or Walmart locations, you can even earn a free shot at winning the lottery. It’s easier than ever.”

Case Information
As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, Gov. Beshear reported the following COVID-19 numbers:

People vaccinated in Kentucky (have received at least one dose): 1,882,396

New cases today: 758
Positivity rate: 3.15%

For more information on cases and hospital capacity, see the full daily COVID-19 report. To see a list of those reported lost to the virus today, click here.

Gov. Beshear, Dant Family Cut Ribbon on Log Still Distillery Tasting Room
Today, Gov. Beshear joined members of the Dant family who lead Log Still Distillery and local officials in Nelson County to cut the ribbon on the distillery’s tasting room, signifying a major step forward for a two-phase project expected to create 146 full-time jobs with $36 million in total investment. To learn more, see the full release.

More Information
To see all vaccination sites and free transportation options to and from vaccination appointments, visit vaccine.ky.gov. To see a list of vaccination sites that have openings this week, visit vaccinemap.ky.gov. If Kentuckians have questions, they should call the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline, 855-598-2246 or TTY 855-326-4654 (for deaf or hard-of-hearing Kentuckians).

Because so many Kentuckians have received COVID-19 vaccines, the state has been able to increase capacity in most businesses to 60% and return child care classrooms to their traditional sizes. In addition, state officials have been able to shorten and simplify Healthy at Work minimum requirements and lift the mask mandate for smaller, outdoor events. As outlined in today’s release, additional restrictions will be lifted May 28.

For detailed information on COVID-19 vaccinations and more, visit kycovid19.ky.gov.

Statewide Testing Positivity Rate: 3.25%.

Deaths: We are sad to report 1 new death today. We have experienced a total of 426 deaths resulting in a 1.92% mortality rate (about 1 in 52) among known cases. This compares with a 1.47% mortality rate at the state level and a 1.78% mortality rate at the national level. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the families and friends who have lost loved ones.

Hospitalizations: We presently have 8 cases in the hospital. This is 6 less than what we reported yesterday. We have had a total of 1,230 hospitalizations resulting in a 5.55% hospitalization rate (about 1 in 18) among known cases. The state hospitalization rate is 4.94%. The latest data shows that 86.67% of Lake Cumberland’s ICU beds are filled, and 20% of ventilator capacity is being utilized.

Total (Cumulative) Cases: The Lake Cumberland District has experienced a total of 22,144 cases since the onset of the outbreak. This means that 10.6% of our total population has been a confirmed case. However, we do not know how many additional people may have had COVID-19 and were either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic and never tested. Of our total cases, 0.48% are reinfections, and 1.18% contracted the virus after having received at least 1 dose of the vaccine.

Released (Not contagious) Cases: We released 49 cases today from isolation. Released cases include: Adair: 3; Casey: 5; Green: 4; McCreary: 1; Pulaski: 18; Russell: 8; and, Taylor: 10. In all, we have released 97.4% of our total cases.

Active (Current) Cases: Taking into account deaths and releases, our active cases decreased by 16 more than the new cases we added today. This leaves us with 146 active cases in our district across all 10 of our district’s 10 counties. On 12/10/2020 we were at our peak number of active cases, 1,343.

Where Did Cases Visit Prior to Isolation: The most common places cases visited prior to isolation are (in descending order): Family, Businesses, Schools, and Medical Facilities. Of our active cases, 4% can not be tied back to another known case (community-spread cases).

New Cases: We report that our total case count has increased by 34 today: Adair: 10; Casey: 4; Green: 1; McCreary: 6; Pulaski: 7; Russell: 1; and, Taylor: 5. Our current new case growth rate is: 1.001. This means our total case count is projected to double every 537.33 days. The most new cases we ever added in a single day was on 12/30/2020 when we added 301 cases.

Today’s new cases include:

Adair: A 36-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Adair: A 6-year-old female who is self-isolated, Asymptomatic;
Adair: A 8-year-old male who is self-isolated, Asymptomatic;
Adair: A 11-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Adair: A 28-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Adair: A 8-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Adair: A 18-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Adair: A 8-year-old male who is self-isolated, Asymptomatic;
Adair: A 5-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Adair: A 8-year-old male who is self-isolated, Asymptomatic;
Adair: A 6 months -old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Adair: A 2-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Adair: A 31-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Casey: A 18-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Casey: A 18-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Casey: A 14-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Casey: A 67-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Green: A 48-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Green: A 60-year-old female who is released, Resolved;
McCreary: A 35-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
McCreary: A 38-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
McCreary: A 4-year-old male who is self-isolated, Asymptomatic;
McCreary: A 8-year-old male who is self-isolated, Asymptomatic;
McCreary: A 56-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
McCreary: A 51-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Pulaski: A 32-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Pulaski: A 63-year-old female who is released, Resolved;
Pulaski: A 47-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Pulaski: A 66-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Pulaski: A 62-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Pulaski: A 6-year-old male who is self-isolated, Asymptomatic;
Pulaski: A 2-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Russell: A 66-year-old female who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Taylor: A 14-year-old male who is self-isolated, Asymptomatic;
Taylor: A 58-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Taylor: A 19-year-old male who is released, Asymptomatic;
Taylor: A 44-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Taylor: A 13-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic;
Wayne: A 27-year-old male who is self-isolated, still symptomatic

A close look at the numbers today may appear that our Adair, Green, and Wayne totals are off. This is because we deleted 3 cases in Green that did not meet the case definition, 1 case in Green that did not meet the case definition, and we removed 1 duplicate entry from Wayne.

The death we report today is a 74-year-old individual from Taylor who had been hospitalized.

We report more new cases today than for the same time period last week. This caused our districtwide 7-day-average-incidence rate of new cases per 100,000 to go up. This begins another week of several weeks’ worth of increasing cases for our area. This is not surprising since our COVID-19 vaccine uptake rate is lower than the state average in all 10 of our district’s 10 counties. Again, this serves as a reminder that the pandemic is not over, and that our citizens need to take the vaccine. The vaccine is very effective and is readily available in all counties. Of our almost 18,000 new cases since early January, only 1.18% of them had taken at least 1 dose of the vaccine. This means that almost 99% of our new cases since the vaccine started becoming available were among people who had not taken any doses of the vaccine. The statistics are even better for those who have been fully vaccinated.

Our 7-day average incidence chart is now showing 0 counties in the “green-on-track” range; 5 counties in the “yellow-community-spread” category, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, McCreary, and Wayne; and 5 counties in the “orange-accelerated” range of community-spread: Adair, Casey, Pulaski, Russell, and Taylor. We are thankful to not have any “red-critical” counties now. Keep in mind, some of our 7-day-incidence data will be skewed over the next few days as we are reconciling our data against the state data.

Don’t forget that at both the world level and in several states, we are seeing sharp increases in new COVID-19 cases. Therefore, please do not assume that the pandemic is completely behind us and take the vaccine as soon as you can. Also, until the vaccine is widely available, and a significant percentage of the population has taken it, let’s all do our part in slowing the spread of COVID-19 by wearing our face coverings, avoiding crowds (especially in confined spaces), social distancing when around others, increasing our hand hygiene, increasing our general sanitation, and by avoiding touching our faces.

A Russell County man has been taken into custody on several bench warrants and other charges…

Perry Bishop, 26, of Russell Springs, KY was taken into custody by Deputy Bunch with the Russell County Sheriffs Office. Bishop had several bench warrants and was also charged with Criminal Trespassing – First Degree and Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition (over $500 but under $10,000). He was lodged in the Russell County Detention Center.

Russell County, 1 new case yesterday. We had 8 cases released from isolation. We now have 11 active cases of which are all on self-isolation.

Adair County, 10 new COVID19 case to report Monday. We released 3 cases. We have 24 active cases with 22 of those in home isolation. We have 2 case in the hospital at this time.

Russell County Judge Executive Gary Robertson spoke with WAVE NEWS following last nights Russell County Fiscal Court meeting, and explains what took place... 

The Adair County Fiscal Court will meet in regular session on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 6:00 P.M. CT at the Jim Blair Center located at 901 Hudson Street, Columbia, KY. This meeting will be open to the public and following all guidelines for social distancing set by the Governor. There will be NO Facebook Live.

ACTION ITEMS ON THE AGENDA:

• APPROVAL OF 2021-2022 COURT FACILITIES REIMBURSEMENT FORM (BLUE FORM)
• KELLY HARDING-HEALTH INSURANCE
• VAN ACCEPTANCE FROM COUNTY EXTENSION BOARD
• PERMISSION TO PAY ANY FEES ASSOCIATED WITH VAN TRANSFER
• 1^ST READING OF 2021-2022 FY BUDGET
• APPROVAL OF 2021-2022 STANDING ORDERS
• SEASONAL ROAD DEPT. EMPLOYEES
• LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INTERLOCAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
• WATER ISSUE AT CLASS D DISCUSSION
• APPROVAL FOR JUDGE TO SIGN NECESSARY PAPERWORK FOR 2023 MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE GRANT APPLICATION WITH LCADD
• PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE FOR BIDS FOR JAIL MEDICAL CONTRACT

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 10, 2021) – On Monday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced more than 80% of Kentuckians 65 and older have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. To date, 1,875,554 people have received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in Kentucky.

“No matter where you are in the commonwealth, you could get vaccinated tomorrow with a very short drive,” said Gov. Beshear. “We need people to keep getting vaccinated. It’s proven to be incredibly safe and effective.”

Gov. Beshear said 852 out of 857 (99.42%) of all Kentuckians who died due to COVID-19 on or after Feb. 1, 2021, were unvaccinated.

The Governor also announced that on May 28, the state will lift the curfew on restaurants and bars and will allow bar seating.

Gov. Beshear and Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, reminded Kentuckians that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may approve Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds this week.

Dr. Stack said on kycovid19.ky.gov’s Desktop Dashboard, Kentuckians can now see positivity rates by county.

Kentuckians Who Get COVID-19 Vaccine Dose Can Earn Free Chance to Win $225,000
Gov. Beshear said individuals who get a COVID-19 vaccine dose at participating Kroger and Walmart locations between today and May 21 are eligible to receive a coupon for a free Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball 225 play.

Coupons are only available to Kentuckians 18 or older on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. To learn more, click here or contact a local Kroger or Walmart pharmacy.

Case Information
As of 4 p.m. Monday, May 10, Gov. Beshear reported the following COVID-19 numbers:

People vaccinated in Kentucky (have received at least one dose): 1,875,554

New cases today: 167
Positivity rate: 3.25%

For more information on cases and hospital capacity, see the full daily COVID-19 report. To see a list of those reported lost to the virus today, click here.

The top 10 counties for highest number of first vaccine doses administered May 3-9 are:

Jefferson (6,553); Fayette (2,850); Boone (1,670); Kenton (1,536); Hardin (903); Campbell (864); Daviess (683); Warren (578); McCracken (551); and Oldham (506).

Kentucky to Receive More Than $2.1 Billion from American Rescue Plan Act
Today, Gov. Beshear announced the commonwealth is receiving $2.183 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, with the allotment smaller than a previous estimate because of the state’s positive economic performance. To learn more, see the full release.

General Fund Receipts Surge in April, Road Fund Receipts Set Monthly Record
Gov. Beshear said the state’s economy is continuing to strengthen, with April 2021 logging record-breaking gains in sales and motor vehicle usage taxes.

Sales tax receipts in April were $486.5 million, an all-time monthly high. They were more than 40% higher than last April. Motor vehicle usage tax receipts hit over $64 million, producing an all-time record for this tax type in the road fund. To learn more, see the full release.

Ahlstrom-Munksjö to Build $70 Million Second Facility in Madisonville
Finland-based Ahlstrom-Munksjö, a glass fiber tissue producer, will build a second facility in Madisonville with a $70 million investment expected to create 51 high-quality jobs, Gov. Beshear announced today. To learn more, see the full release.

Apple Invests $45 Million in Kentucky iPhone Glass Manufacturer
Today, Apple announced it is awarding $45 million from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund (AMF) to Corning Inc., to invest in Corning’s glass innovation center in Harrodsburg. Corning is a supplier of precision glass for iPhones, Apple Watches and iPads.

The funding will increase Corning’s U.S. manufacturing capacity and will support research and development for technologies that enable better durability and longer product life. Corning has already received $450 million from Apple’s $5 billion AMF over the last four years. Apple’s investment helps support more than 1,000 jobs across Corning’s U.S. operations; approximately 40% of those jobs are in Kentucky.

More Information
To see all vaccination sites and free transportation options to and from vaccination appointments, visit vaccine.ky.gov. To see a list of vaccination sites that have openings this week, visit vaccinemap.ky.gov. If Kentuckians have questions, they should call the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline, 855-598-2246 or TTY 855-326-4654 (for deaf or hard-of-hearing Kentuckians).

Because so many Kentuckians have received COVID-19 vaccines, the state has been able to increase capacity in most businesses to 60% and return child care classrooms to their traditional sizes. In addition, state officials have been able to shorten and simplify Healthy at Work minimum requirements and lift the mask mandate for smaller, outdoor events. As outlined in today’s release, additional restrictions will be lifted May 28.

For detailed information on COVID-19 vaccinations and more, visit kycovid19.ky.gov.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 10, 2021) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced the commonwealth is receiving $2.183 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, with the allotment smaller than a previous estimate because of the state’s positive economic performance.

“Our economy is surging and strong,” Gov. Beshear said. “We are in a strong position to sprint out of this pandemic with continued positive economic indicators and with this funding that will create jobs, momentum and a better quality of life in every corner of the commonwealth.”

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced state allocations today based primarily on each state’s share of the nation’s number of unemployed individuals from October through December 2020. The commonwealth performed better than expected in the fourth quarter of 2020, when the preliminary data was used. Based on the improvement in Kentucky’s employment numbers, the initial estimate of $2.441 billion was lowered to $2.183 billion.

Gene Sperling, who is coordinating the implementation of the American Rescue Plan for the White House, talked Monday to Gov. Beshear and State Budget Director John Hicks about the change ahead of the Treasury Department announcement. The change is the latest sign of a healthy and strengthening Kentucky economy that is outperforming many other states.

“The commonwealth will receive $2.183 billion for the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, with half available later this month to assist Kentucky with responding to the impacts of the pandemic,” Director Hicks said. “The preliminary estimated amounts available during the budget process did not yet recognize the level of reduction in the number of unemployed Kentuckians. Kentucky’s downward revision was the seventh largest among the states with better unemployment figures.”

Kentucky will soon submit a request for the funds to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The Governor said the final allocation does not impact the bipartisan agreement reached by lawmakers and his administration during the 2021 regular session, which will use nearly $1.3 billion to boost the state’s economy by expanding broadband, delivering clean drinking water and building new schools. The plan is expected to create more than 14,500 new jobs.

Gov. Beshear said the state’s economy is continuing to strengthen, with April 2021 logging record-breaking gains in sales and motor vehicle usage taxes.

Sales tax receipts in April were $486.5 million, an all-time monthly high. They were more than 40% higher than last April. Motor vehicle usage tax receipts hit over $64 million, producing an all-time record for this tax type in the road fund.

The Office of the State Budget Director released April’s receipts Monday, and general fund receipts surged in April with an increase of 59.1%, year-to-date up 10.8%. Road fund receipts increased 59.9%, year-to-date up 5.5%.

Sales tax collections, which reflect March sales, were supported by the $1,400 stimulus checks and February’s weather likely delaying some purchases. Sales tax receipts have risen 9.5% for the 10 months of fiscal year 2021.

The dramatic increases are not just in comparison with the prior year’s COVID-suppressed receipts but in comparison with any prior periods in history.

The money will be added to the current fiscal year general fund, which is estimated to have more than $586 million in surplus and a $12 million surplus in the road fund. The estimate puts the state on pace to end the current fiscal year with over $1 billion in the rainy day fund – the most money ever in a rainy day fund in Kentucky.

Last week, the Governor announced that one of the big three credit rating agencies, Fitch Ratings, improved the state’s financial outlook to stable, reflecting the commonwealth’s solid economic recovery from the pandemic. The new rating highlighted how Kentucky’s employment recovery through March has been slightly ahead of the national pace.

Even with the pandemic, the Governor announced 270 economic development projects that will create more than 8,000 new jobs. The average pay for those jobs is one of the highest in years. He supported our rural communities with more than $124 million in investment, for 160 projects that are helping to diversify regional economies.

In March, Site Selection magazine’s annual Governor’s Cup rankings for 2020 positioned Kentucky atop the South Central region, and third nationally, for qualifying projects per capita. The commonwealth also placed seventh overall in total projects, the highest of any state with a population under 5 million.

The Governor continues to urge every Kentuckian to be vaccinated so we can save more lives, end the pandemic and continue our economic momentum in the post-COVID world.

GRAMBLING, La. – The culmination of a season unlike any other is set as No. 3 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) will face No. 6 Northwestern (Iowa) in the NAIA Football National Championship. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT on Monday, May 10 at historic Eddie R. Robinson Stadium in Grambling, La.

Lindsey Wilson (10-0, 7-0 Mid-South Bluegrass) enters the title game undefeated after playing its season out in its entirety in the spring.

“Obviously everyone knows we played our season in the spring,” said Lindsey Wilson Head Coach Chris Oliver. “It was a very challenging fall; for our guys and for myself mentally. I certainly tried to keep abreast of other scores across the country, scores in the GPAC and the other conferences that were playing, but at the same time it was mentally challenging to see some other teams playing and us not being able to do that.”

After a lopsided victory over Pikeville (Ky.) on February 12, the Blue Raiders settled-in and made a statement each and every week. On the season, the team from Columbia, Ky., is outscoring its opponents by an average of 31.9 points per game. In fact, the closest game they have played came back on March 5 in a 34-14 win over conference rival Georgetown (Ky.).

“We got to game one and almost had it canceled due to an ice storm that just barely missed us,” Oliver explained. “We were fortunate to get to play that Bluegrass Division schedule. We didn’t have any games canceled due to COVID. Once we got into that rhythm with our guys and back into the rhythm of playing, it sort of felt like getting back on the bike. I’m really proud of how our guys have handled all the challenges that have come with this.”

The Blue Raiders have had all the weapons on offense a team could want, and that group is led by one of the top quarterbacks in the nation in Cameron Dukes. The senior has been electric for his team throughout his career. In three less games than a season ago, Dukes has just two less passing touchdowns (33) in 2020-21.

Outside of the skill game, the turnover battle could be where the game is won. Lindsey Wilson is 58-2 all-time in games that it has won the turnover battle.

“One of the biggest keys to the game for us, first and foremost, turnover battle is where it’s at,” mentioned Oliver. “The statistic is really off the charts when we win the turnover battle. We’ve been really fortunate to do a great job of ball security recently, so that will be a big one for us.”

Jaylen Boyd has also been a special player this season for the Blue Raiders. The running back has been a workhorse in a deep, talented backfield and has added eight touchdowns this season.

Northwestern (11-1, 8-1 GPAC) has been a revolving door of storylines, and the championship will be no different. After a year that the team played out its entire schedule in the fall, the team returned to action on April 17 for the first round of the playoffs, a 139 day layoff of competition. The time away, however, didn’t seem to phase the team as the Red Raiders have made it back to the championship game, looking for the third title in team history, first since 1983.

“A big secret to our success as a team, and it might be something you might see more in the baseball world, but we work with a mental performance coach with our football program,” said Northwestern Head Coach Mike McCarty of how his team overcame the rigors of the full fall schedule. “We work with Ethan Miller Performance and he does a great job. He meets with our guys weekly and it’s huge. It is just the mental approach they take to every single day. It has really helped them with all of the changes.”

Once of the unexpected changes happened at the quarterback position, however, leading into the title game. Tyson Kooima was injured on the final play of the semifinal victory against Morningside (Iowa), so the team will turn to junior Blake Fryar to take the snaps. Fryar will not enter Monday night’s game with the experience, but he will enter with some of the biggest weapons that a quarterback could ask for.

“I think every one of the guys really feels for Tyson,” said McCarty of his team’s feelings after Kooima’s injury. “We have a really close-knit group on our team and a lot of these guys were teammates in high school and have known him when they were even younger, before high school. They feel for Tyson. At the same time, Blake has been in our program for three years and our guys see the work that Blake puts in each and every day. Blake is one of the hardest workers on our team and our guys really believe in him and are excited for him to get the opportunity.”

Fryar will have the comfort of one of the most deep and talented wide receiving corps in the nation when he suits-up on Monday night. Shane Solberg leads the team with an average of 130.6 yards per game, but Michael Storey and Cade Moser can hurt any team as well. In fact, while Morningside focused their efforts on Solberg in the semifinal battle, Moser came away with 303 yards receiving on 11 receptions.

“We feel like we’ve got several weapons on the outside,” said McCarty of his wideout group. “Shane leads the nation in receiving yards and is our all-time leading receiver, a record he broke, really, early in his junior year. He is our slot, a great route runner, and has tremendous ball skills. (Cade Moser) had 303 yards for us last week and I was blown away when I saw the stat sheet. Cade has been injured for us off and on for the last couple of years, missed half of this year and half of last year, otherwise Cade may be the be the best receiver in the country. Michael Story is our third guy and Mike gets overlooked sometimes. Mike made an incredible catch last week, the game winning touchdown against Morningside, and had about 100 yards. (He) just gets overshadowed by those other two guys.”

Game Quick Facts

Time: 6:05 p.m. CT

Date: Monday, May 10, 2021

Location: Eddie R. Robinson Stadium, Grambling, La.

Game Previews: Lindsey Wilson | Northwestern

Live Coverage: ESPN3 | Live Stats | Lindsey Wilson Radio | Northwestern Radio

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 7, 2021) – On Friday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced 1,851,835 people have received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in Kentucky.

The Governor also said this week that Kentucky’s sales tax receipts from April hit $486.5 million and the state’s vehicle usage tax receipts hit over $64 million. These are the highest ever reported in the history of the commonwealth and are generated solely from economic activity.

“Our economy is heating up. We are doing it right – safely and sustainably,” said Gov. Beshear. “We cannot give up now. We are picking up economic momentum while putting the health and safety of our people first. We are lifting more restrictions each month as we get more folks vaccinated, open our schools and protect our neighbors from this virus that has already killed more than 6,500 Kentuckians.”

Case Information
As of 4 p.m. Friday, May 7, Gov. Beshear reported the following COVID-19 numbers:

• People vaccinated in Kentucky (have received at least one dose): 1,851,835
• New cases today: 638
• Positivity rate: 3.50%

For more information on cases and hospital capacity, see the full daily COVID-19 report. To see a list of those reported lost to the virus today, click here.

More Information
To see all vaccination sites and free transportation options to and from vaccination appointments, visit vaccine.ky.gov. To see a list of vaccination sites that have openings this week, visit vaccinemap.ky.gov. If Kentuckians have questions, they should call the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline, 855-598-2246 or TTY 855-326-4654 (for deaf or hard-of-hearing Kentuckians).

Because so many Kentuckians have received COVID-19 vaccines, the state has been able to increase capacity in most businesses to 60% and return child care classrooms to their traditional sizes. In addition, state officials have been able to shorten and simplify Healthy at Work minimum requirements and lift the mask mandate for smaller, outdoor events. As outlined in today’s release, additional restrictions will be lifted May 28.

For detailed information on COVID-19 vaccinations and more, visit kycovid19.ky.gov.

Russell County, 7 new cases Thursday. We had 3 cases released from isolation. We now have 22 active cases of which are all on self-isolation.

Adair County, 2 new COVID19 case to report yesterday. We released 3 cases. We have 13 active cases with 11 of those in home isolation. We have 2 case in the hospital at this time.

Last night the Adair County School Board met and approved the redo bill and several other items that was on the agenda for school leaders at this months regular meeting... 

Dr Stephens shared with WAVE Listeners what took place at last nights meeting... 

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 6, 2021) – On Thursday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that on May 28, all events and businesses with 1,000 or fewer people present can increase to 75% capacity.

In addition, starting May 28, indoor and outdoor events with more than 1,000 people can be held at 60% capacity.

“The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now projecting a sharp decline in COVID-19 cases by July. I’m hoping we’ll be fully done with all capacity restrictions by July. That is my expectation,” said Gov. Beshear. “We don’t have to be patient for that much longer, but we do have to finish our work and protect the people around us.”

The Governor also clarified that small groups of individuals are no longer mandated to wear facial coverings indoors in private businesses or homes if all individuals present have received the final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior.

Case Information
As of 4 p.m. Thursday, May 6, Gov. Beshear reported the following COVID-19 numbers:

People vaccinated in Kentucky (have received at least one dose): 1,842,521

New cases today: 655
Positivity rate: 3.51%

For more information on cases and hospital capacity, see the full daily COVID-19 report. To see a list of those reported lost to the virus today, click here.

FEMA Awards Flooding Public Assistance to 16 Additional Counties
Today, Gov. Beshear announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency made 16 additional Kentucky counties eligible for public assistance after severe storms and flooding Feb. 27-March 14. The counties include: Bell, Calloway, Clark, Edmonson, Graves, Harlan, Leslie, Letcher, Menifee, Owsley, Perry, Pulaski, Union and Whitley. Clay and Estill counties also were awarded public assistance; these two counties were already designated for individual assistance. These counties reached the qualifying threshold after the initial submission of the request for a Major Disaster Declaration and before the declaration was granted.

Update on Unemployment Insurance
Today, Amy Cubbage, general counsel for Gov. Beshear, updated Kentuckians on unemployment insurance (UI). Cubbage said claimants have made over 12,000 in-person appointments at the 13 Kentucky Career Centers across the state. In addition, UI staff have received more than 2,300 phone calls from claimants since May 1. More than 125,000 claimants have completed registrations since the UI system temporarily shut down to prevent fraud.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available for Nine Counties
Individuals who became unemployed or those who are self-employed and had work interrupted as a direct result of the severe flooding between Feb. 27 and March 14, in the nine counties included in President Biden’s Major Disaster Declaration, are eligible to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits. The deadline to apply for DUA assistance is June 5.

Work Search Requirements
The Office of Unemployment Insurance is reinstating work search requirements, effective May 9. To learn more, see the April 22 release where the reinstatement was initially announced.

More information on DUA and work search requirements will be posted tomorrow on kcc.ky.gov.

Kentucky’s Economy Building Momentum, Surging Ahead
Gov. Beshear said that one of the big three credit rating agencies, Fitch Ratings, improved the state’s financial outlook to stable, reflecting the commonwealth’s solid economic recovery from the pandemic. To learn more, see the full release. He also said that last month, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky at the very top of the South Central region and third nationally for 2020 economic development projects. Finally, the Governor said he learned this morning that Kentucky’s sales tax revenue for April set an all-time record.

First Lady Beshear Invites Kentuckians to ‘Shop & Share’ This Mother’s Day Weekend
Today, First Lady Britainy Beshear joined the Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence (KCADV) and Kroger to ask Kentuckians for help supporting the commonwealth’s 15 regional domestic violence shelters through Saturday’s annual Shop & Share event. To learn more, see the full release.

The First Lady also thanked teachers and nurses during Teacher Appreciation Week and on National Nurses Day.

PACCAR Parts Breaks Ground on Louisville Distribution Center
Today, Gov. Beshear congratulated PACCAR Parts, as the distributor of aftermarket parts for heavy- and medium-duty trucks, trailers, buses and engines, broke ground on a $52.2 million, state-of-the-art parts distribution center in Louisville Riverport Authority’s Phase 5 development, an investment expected to create 80 full-time jobs. To learn more, see the full release.

$21.6 Million Grant Expanding Assistance for Kentucky’s Newly Injured, Ill Workers to Remain on the Job
Gov. Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman announced today the state has received a $21.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to boost efforts to help newly injured and ill employees remain at or return to work. To learn more, see the full release.

More Information
To see all vaccination sites and free transportation options to and from vaccination appointments, visit vaccine.ky.gov. To see a list of vaccination sites that have openings this week, visit vaccinemap.ky.gov. If Kentuckians have questions, they should call the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline, 855-598-2246 or TTY 855-326-4654 (for deaf or hard-of-hearing Kentuckians).

Because so many Kentuckians have received COVID-19 vaccines, the state has been able to increase capacity in most businesses to 60% and return child care classrooms to their traditional sizes. In addition, state officials have been able to shorten and simplify Healthy at Work minimum requirements and lift the mask mandate for smaller, outdoor events. As outlined in today’s release, additional restrictions will be lifted May 28.

For detailed information on COVID-19 vaccinations and more, visit kycovid19.ky.gov.

Curtis Dean Montgomery, 27, of Columbia was arrested by Columbia Police on Wednesday afternoon and charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Public Intoxication of a Controlled Substance (Excluding Alcohol), and was served a warrant for another police agency. Montgomery was lodged in the Adair County Regional Jail.

Russell County Sheriff Derek Polston reports the arrest of 35-year-old Jeffrey Newland of Russell Springs. Newland was taken into custody just after 4:00amCT this morning and charged with a total of 12 felonies plus 2 misdemeanor charges.

Charges include:

• 2 counts of fleeing and evading 1st degree (motor vehicle)
• 2 counts of Wanton Endangerment 1st degree (Police Officer)
• 5 Counts of Wanton Endangerment 1st degree
• 1 count of fleeing and evading 1st degree (on foot)
• Possession of a controlled substance 1st degree 1st Offense (Meth)
• 1 Count of Possession of a controlled substance 1st degree (Heroin)
• Resisting Arrest and
• Operating on a suspended driver’s License

A call was received from Russell County Dispatch involving Newland at a residence where he would not leave and was causing problems. Deputy Clint Pace responded to the scene off North 127 on Stevens Lane. The suspect initially left before the deputy arrived. Russell Springs Police Officer Jeremy West made contact with the vehicle at a church but Newland took off which led to a police pursuit. Deputy Pace encountered Newland's vehicle on North 127 near Russell Springs Elementary School and activated his lights and siren, along with Officer Jeremy West. The pursuit continued up North 127 to the intersection of Hwy 76 where the suspect attempted to turn but couldn't and crashed into a tree. The suspect then fled on foot and and was apprehended in a field a short time later. Newland was treated and released at Russell County Hospital.

Deputy Clint Pace and Russell Springs Officer Jeremy West are the investigating officers. The case will be presented to the Russell County Grand Jury.

Sheriff Polston wants to caution the public of more arrests involving heroin in Russell and surrounding counties. They are going to continue to patrol our roadways and make drug-related arrests in their effort to battle drugs in Russell County.

If you suspect illegal drug use or activity in your neighborhood, please contact the Russell County Sheriff’s Office Drug Wanted Persons Tipline at 270-343-8116. All callers will remain anonymous.

Russell County: We have 5 new cases yesterday. We had 2 cases released from isolation Wednesday. We now have 18 active cases of which are all on self-isolation.

Adair County: 4 new COVID19 case to report Wednesday. We released 3 cases. We have 14 active cases with 12 of those in home isolation. We have 2 case in the hospital at this time.

T.J. Regional Health will be offering a bariatric seminar for people who have been thinking about bariatric surgery. The seminar will take place every 3rd Monday of each month at T.J. Health Columbia Primary Care located at 810 Jamestown Street, Columbia. People seeking more information regarding bariatric surgery are encouraged to attend the information seminars to learn more about the program so you can move forward with confidence. During the seminars, you will hear directly from the surgeon and care team about everything it takes to achieve weight loss surgery success. Lifestyle changes, how the procedures work and how you may feel after surgery will be discussed. The next meeting will be held on Monday, May 17th, 2021 starting at 5:00pmCT. For more information, please contact Megan Asberry at 270.659.5945.

The bariatric surgeon, Dr. William P. Klapheke, will be speaking with Mike Scales on the "Mike in the Morning Show" on 92.7 The WAVE on Monday, May 17, 2021 at 7:45amCT.

On Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 6:34amET, Campbellsville Police received a call of a suspicious vehicle in the area of Melrose Drive. Officers responded and came into contact with a vehicle being operated by 34-year-old Andrew Edwards of Campbellsville. While officers were speaking with Edwards, he accelerated his vehicle at a high rate of speed almost striking an officer as he fled. Officers pursued Edwards for approximately 2 miles before ending the pursuit. 

At approximately 12:19pmET, Campbellsville Police were contacted that an individual matching Edwards’ description was walking on Bengal Road. Officers responded with the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and located Edwards who was arrested without incident and lodged in the Taylor County Detention Center. Edwards was charged with Fleeing or Evading Police 1^st degree (Motor Vehicle), Wanton Endangerment 1^st degree (Police Officer), Operating on a Suspended Operators License, Reckless Driving, Public Intoxication, Resisting Arrest, and Menacing.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 5, 2021) – On Wednesday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced 1,837,229 people have received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in Kentucky.

“Because so many Kentuckians have rolled up their sleeves for these vaccines, these shots of hope, we’ve been able to increase capacity in most businesses to 60% and return child care classrooms to their traditional sizes,” said Gov. Beshear. “We’ve been able to shorten and simplify Healthy at Work minimum requirements. We’ve been able to lift the mask mandate for smaller, outdoor events. That’s all because of you. And as more Kentuckians get vaccinated, it will be safer to lift even more restrictions.”

Case Information
As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 5, Gov. Beshear reported the following COVID-19 numbers:

People vaccinated in Kentucky (have received at least one dose): 1,837,229

New cases today: 710
Positivity rate: 3.57%

For more information on cases and hospital capacity, see the full daily COVID-19 report. To see a list of those reported lost to the virus today, click here.

More Information
To see all vaccination sites and free transportation options to and from vaccination appointments, visit vaccine.ky.gov. To see a list of vaccination sites that have openings this week, visit vaccinemap.ky.gov. If Kentuckians have questions, they should call the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline, 855-598-2246 or TTY 855-326-4654 (for deaf or hard-of-hearing Kentuckians).

For detailed information on COVID-19 vaccinations and more, visit kycovid19.ky.gov.

Columbia Police were called to the baseball field at Lindsey Wilson’s Sports Park on Russell Road on Wednesday afternoon. Students and staff were on the field when a male subject walked onto the field and began approaching players and coaching staff speaking incoherently and became verbally aggressive. 

Upon arrival, the party was no longer on the property, but the male subject matching the description given by coaches was located on Carrie Bolin Drive. He was detained and found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamine and was additionally found to have an active warrant from Russell County. 

Curtis Montgomery, 27, of Russell Springs has been charged with public intoxication and possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) along with being taken into custody for his outstanding warrant. 

Officer Adam Cravens was the arresting Officer. Sgt Charles Greer, Officer Nathan Bradshaw and Deputy Derek Padget also responded to the scene.

Mowing cycles are underway and illegally placed items along state maintained right-of-way areas are being removed. 

Residents, business operators and property owners along US and KY routes are reminded no signage is allowed on right of way other than official highway signs and items approved through a permit process.

Particularly, with yard sales and property sales commonly taking place in spring, related signs must be placed beyond right of way limits. Crews will not mow around illegally placed items. Items placed on right of way areas create significant delays for mowing crews and are potential hazards for mowing operators and passing motorists. They can create additional hazards by blocking sight distance or distracting drivers, particularly at intersections. All sale activities including parking should be off right of way limits.

It is also illegal to attach items such as flyers, posters, balloons or streamers to stop signs, highway markers or any other road sign or utility pole. Illegal placement on utility poles presents additional obstacles and potential dangers for utility crew workers.

Removed items will be taken to each county’s KYTC maintenance facility and held for a short period of time. Unclaimed materials will be trashed or recycled.

Date Issued:  5/5/2021

Time Issued:  9:40amCT

A BOIL WATER ADVISORY is in effect for consumers of Columbia Adair Utilities District at Roley Yuma Rd., Dry Creek Rd., Dixon Walker Rd., 14585-14711 Knifley Rd. The advisory has been issued due to a main line leak.

Following such an event, the potential exists for bacteriological contamination of the water supply therefore this Boil Water Advisory has been issued as a precautionary measure. Until further notice, boil all water used for drinking and cooking, bring the water to a rolling boil for 3 minutes before using. The advisory will remain in effect until the situation has been corrected and test results have shown the water to be of an acceptable quality.

For more information concerning the Boil Water Advisory, contact Lennon Stone at Columbia Adair Utilities District, 270-384-2181.

May 5, 2021

As of 8:55 a.m. on May 5, 2021 the boil water advisory for customers on 7993-12069 Knifley Rd and all side roads in between has been lifted by the Division of Water Columbia Office. This means your water is safe for human consumption. You no longer have to boil your water.

Thank You

Columbia Adair Utilities District

Columbia Police were dispatched to a reckless driver complaint in the area of Campbellsville Street and White City, Tuesday night. Vehicle matching description was located parked on Parrot Avenue with a male subject near vehicle.

When approached by Officers, party threw an object into lawn at residence later found to be a prescription pill. While male was detained it was also discovered he was in possession of suspected methamphetamine. Thomas Bradshaw, 55, of Burksville has been charged with tampering with physical evidence, possession of a controlled substance drug unspecified, and possession of methamphetamine.
 

Officer Evan Burton was the arresting Officer. He was assisted by Officer Gary Roy and Deputy Brandon Hitch.

Timothy Mullins, age 40 of Clay City, was arrested by Officer Justice of the Russell Springs Police Department just before 8 a.m. yesterday morning. Mullins was charged with Trafficking in a Controlled Substance 1^st Offense (Heroin), Drug Paraphernalia – Buy/Possession, No Registration Plates, No Registration Receipt, Unapproved or no Eye Protective Device (Motorcycle), Operating on a Suspended or Revoked Operators License, No Motorcycle Operator License, Failure of Non-Owner Operator to Maintain Required Insurance, 1^st Offense Failure to Produce Insurance Card ant Improper Registration Plate. He was lodged into the Russell County Detention Center.

Tiffany Johnson, age 31 of Russell Springs, was arrested by Officer Tarter with the Jamestown Police Department just before 6 last evening. Johnson was charged with Trafficking in a Controlled Substance, 1^st Degree, 1st Offense more than 2 grams of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia Buy/Possession. She was also lodged into the Russell County Detention Center.

Michael Burchett, age 30 of Albany was taken into custody on charged of Trafficking in a Controlled Substance 1^st Degree, 1^st Offense (Drug Unspecified) just before 11 a.m. yesterday morning and lodged into the Russell County Detention Center.

Russell County, 5 new cases Tuesday. We had none released from isolation. We now have 15 active cases of which are all on self-isolation. The new cases yesterday are males ages 29 and 49, females ages 4, 13 and 53.

Adair County, 5 new COVID19 case to report today. We released 2 cases Tuesday. We also had a death reported from April. We have 13 active cases with 11 of those in home isolation. We have 2 case in the hospital at this time.

The Russell County Boil Water Advisory in the Hwy 76 area from the Hwy 80 intersection down to Scales Foley Road has been lifted. You no longer have to boil your water.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 4, 2021) – On Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced 1,835,176 people have received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in Kentucky.

“We’re getting closer to reaching our 2.5 million–vaccine Team Kentucky Vaccination Challenge every day, but we need to pick up the pace, especially among younger Kentuckians,” said Gov. Beshear. “There are vaccination appointments available every week, at many different times throughout the day. At some sites, you don’t even need an appointment. Get it done, for yourself and for your community, so we can reach our goal and relax more restrictions.”

Case Information
As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 4, Gov. Beshear reported the following COVID-19 numbers:

People vaccinated in Kentucky (have received at least one dose): 1,835,176

New cases today: 776
Positivity rate: 3.47%

For more information on cases and hospital capacity, see the full daily COVID-19 report. To see a list of those reported lost to the virus today, click here.

Top 5 counties by vaccination rate: Woodford (55%), Franklin (54%), Fayette (52%), Scott (45%) and Jefferson (44%).

Bottom 5 counties by vaccination rate: Christian (17%), Spencer (17%), Ballard (19%), McCreary (20%) and Lewis (20%).

More Information
To see all vaccination sites and free transportation options to and from vaccination appointments, visit vaccine.ky.gov. To see a list of vaccination sites that have openings this week, visit vaccinemap.ky.gov. If Kentuckians have questions, they should call the state’s COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline, 855-598-2246 or TTY 855-326-4654 (for deaf or hard-of-hearing Kentuckians).

For detailed information on COVID-19 vaccinations and more, visit kycovid19.ky.gov.

The Kentucky State Police (KSP) will be participating in the annual Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) International Roadcheck from May 4-6. This enforcement campaign occurs in the U.S., Canada and Mexico to ensure commercial motor vehicles and drivers are compliant with regulations.

“International Roadcheck reminds motor carriers and drivers of the importance of proactive vehicle maintenance and driver readiness,” said CVSA President Sgt. John Samis with the Delaware State Police. “International Roadcheck also aims to raise awareness of the North American Standard Inspection Program and the essential highway safety rules and regulations in place to keep our roadways safe.”

KSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) Inspectors will ensure the vehicle’s brake systems, cargo securement, coupling devices, driveline/driveshaft components, driver’s seat, exhaust systems, frames, fuel systems, lighting devices, steering mechanisms, suspensions, tires, van and open-top trailer bodies, wheels, rims, hubs and windshield wipers are compliant with regulations. Inspections of motor coaches, passenger vans and other passenger-carrying vehicles also include emergency exits, electrical cables and systems in the engine and battery compartments, and seating.

Inspectors will be looking for critical vehicle inspection item violations, outlined in the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria. If a violation is found, the vehicle will be placed out of service and will not be able to operate on the road until the identified issue is corrected.

KSP Major Nathan Day, Division Director for the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Troop says the International Roadcheck program is an important component of highway safety.

“This 72-hour, high volume inspection and enforcement blitz ensures that commercial trucks are operating safely on Kentucky roadways,” says Day. “Our main focus is preventing crashes and ensuring everyone makes it home safe.”

Vehicles that successfully pass inspection, without any critical vehicle inspection item violations found after a completed Level I or Level V Inspection, should receive a CVSA decal. In general, vehicles with a CVSA decal are not re-inspected during the three-month period during which the decal is valid. Instead, inspectors focus their efforts on vehicles without a valid CVSA decal.

During the inspection, CVE inspectors will check the driver’s operating credentials, hours-of-service documentation, seat belt usage, and for alcohol and/or drug impairment. A driver will be placed out of service if an inspector discovers driver-related out-of-service conditions.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the lighting violation “lamps inoperable” was the number one vehicle violation in 2020, accounting for approximately 12.24% of all vehicle violations discovered that year. During last year’s International Roadcheck, the top driver out-of-service violation category in North America was hours of service, accounting for 34.7% of all driver out-of-service conditions.

International Roadcheck is a CVSA program with participation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada, and Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transportation and its National Guard.

Russell County, We had 1 new case Monday. The new case is a 91 year old male. We had 2 cases released from isolation. We now have 10 active cases of which are all on self-isolation. We also had another death reported yesterday from an individual who had been released in April but later died from complications related to Covid19. We now have a total of 43 deaths in Russell County.

Adair County, No new cases to report on Monday, We released 4 cases yesterday. We have 12 active cases with 10 of those in home isolation. We have 2 case in the hospital at this time.

During the month of April 2021, there were 16 traffic accidents investigated by the State Police working in the Post 15 area in the 11 counties of Adair, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Green, Marion, Metcalfe, Monroe, Russell, Taylor and Washington.

There were three fatal collisions during the month of April in the Post 15 area.
Donald E. Cocanougher age 27 of Mercer Co KY was killed on 04/16/2021 in Casey Co KY.
Michael D. Reeves age 26 of Mercer Co KY was killed on 04/16/2021 in Casey Co KY.
Courtney Feduccia age 23 of Green Co KY was killed on 04/21/2021 in Green Co KY.

This brings our yearly fatality count to 12 compared with 5 through this same period in 2020.
Statewide fatality count stands at 216 compared with 199 through this same period in 2020.

During the month of April 2021, there were 1171 citations written, 300 courtesy notices written, 393 complaints answered, 144 motorists assisted, 56 criminal cases opened and 430 criminal arrests made.

Trooper Nick Hale
Public Affairs Officer
Post 15, Columbia

Date Issued: 5/3/2021

Time Issued: 1:15 P.M.

A BOIL WATER ADVISORY is in effect for consumers of Columbia Adair Utilities District for customers from 7993-12069 KNIFLEY RD AND ALL SIDE ROADS IN BETWEEN. 

The advisory has been issued due to main line leak.

Following such an event, the potential exists for bacteriological contamination of the water supply therefore this Boil Water Advisory has been issued as a precautionary measure.

Until further notice, boil all water used for drinking and cooking, bringing the water to a rolling boil for three minutes before using.

This advisory will remain in effect until the situation has been corrected and test results have shown the water to be of an acceptable quality.

For more information concerning the Boil Water Advisory, contact Lennon Stone at Columbia Adair Utilities District, 270-384-2181.

ADAIR COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

424 PUBLIC SQUARE

COLUMBIA, KENTUCKY    42728

(270)384-2776

FAX (270)384-5049

ADAIR CO. SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT ACTIVITY REPORT FOR APRIL, 2021

39 WARRANTS OF ARREST SERVED

6 CRIMINAL CASES OPENED

1 CALL RESPONSE REPORTS WRITTEN

5 DOMESTIC ABUSE CASES WORKED

6 NON-INJURY ACCIDENTS WORKED

2   INJURY ACCIDENTS WORKED

14 OUT OF COUNTY TRANSPORTS

22 CITATIONS WRITTEN FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

34 CIVIL PROCESS PAPERS SERVED

2 CRIMINAL SUMMONSES SERVED

70 SUBPOENAS SERVED

169 HOURS OF COURT SECURITY PROVIDED

423 VEHICLE INSPECTIONS DONE 

2         ANIMAL COMPLAINTS

1 MOTOR ASSISTS

769 911 CALLS

14 ALCOHOL/ DRUG RELATED

There is a boil water advisory on Highway 76 from the 80/76 intersection, over to Scales Foley Road due to a water main break and this will be until further notice.

Kentucky State Police Post 15 will be conducting periodic traffic safety checkpoints in the Post 15 area, which includes Washington, Marion, Taylor, Green, Casey, Russell, Adair, Metcalfe, Monroe, Clinton, and Cumberland counties. These checkpoints will be conducted as part of Post 15’s highway safety efforts. Troopers will be checking for violations of Kentucky traffic and regulatory laws relating to motor vehicle equipment safety, licensing of drivers, motor vehicle registration, and operation of motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants.

David Bermingham, age 33 was taken into custody by Fish and Wildlife Resources, around 1:30 this morning on charges of Probation Violation (For Felony Offense), Fleeing or Evading Police, 2^nd Degree (On Foot) and Obstructions/Interference with an Officer. Bermingham was lodged into the Russell County Detention Center…

• William Sinclair, 34, of Jamestown, KY arrested by Jamestown Police Officer Lee Smith on Saturday morning for Fleeing or Evading Police on Foot 2nd degree, and 2 counts of Probation Violation (for a Felony Offense).
• Jamie Sharp, 32, of Russell Springs arrested by the Russell County Deputy Corey Meyer on Friday evening for Criminal Trespassing 1st degree.
   

• Donald Smith, 39, of Pikeville, KY arrested by KSP on Saturday afternoon for Disregarding a Traffic Light, Driving on a DUI Suspended License, and DUI 4th or more offense.
• Isaac Dalton, 32, of Albany, KY arrested by Albany Police Dept. Officer Cross on Saturday morning for Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 
• Joshua Roy, 39, of Liberty, KY arrested by Columbia Police on Friday afternoon for Driving on a DUI Suspended License 1st Offense, No Other State Registration Receipt, and Failure of Non-Owner Operator to Maintain Required Insurance.