Banterra, a subsidiary of Banterra Corporation, began as a single facility in Ridgway in 1975.  Area Bank is a subsidiary of Hardin County Bancorp, and had its origin in 1920 as State Bank of Rosiclare.

The acquisition by Banterra brings the bank’s total to 35 banking centers in the four states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri, with total assets to just under $1.3 billion. By 2014, assets for Area Bank totaled $99.1 million and deposits at $91.5 million.

The merger is expected to be completed in October, pending regulatory approval.

“Adding Area Bank to Banterra’s portfolio makes perfect sense, specifically with our mutual commitment in offering exceptional customer service as well as their customer base being within the core of Banterra’s footprint,” said Everett Knight, chairman & CEO of Banterra Bank. “Area Bank has an almost hundred-year history in serving communities in this region, and Banterra is honored to continue that legacy.”

“It was important for us to find a bank that was not only a financially strong bank that showed continued growth, but a bank that also understood the needs of customers within our region,” said Charles Soward, president of Area Bank.

Information provided by Jennifer Spence, Banterra Bank

Murray Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Tinsley told West Kentucky Star that at one point they were pumping about 3,000 gallons of water a minute onto the fire, and they were concerned about the excess weight of the water on the buildings. 

The state fire marshall is now on the scene, but an official investigation may not be able to begin until this afternoon.  He has called for additional investigators to be sent to the scene due to the size of the damage.  The fire marshall estimated that it may be a day or two before they know how it all started.

Business Owner Affected by Fire Realizes it Could Have Been Much Worse

Though the building he owns that housed his business suffered severe water damage and a collapsed roof as a result of the Wednesday morning fire on Murray's court square, Matt Hale, owner of the Thurman Campbell Group accounting firm, is glad that it wasn't worse.

"At least this didn't happen during tax season. Another accountant saw his building collapse back in the middle of tax season, I couldn't imagine if that happened," Hale said.

Hale said that when he first got the call there was a fire on his block, his initial reaction was to remember the other events on the court square earlier this year. "My first thought was a flashback to the building that collapsed just a month or so ago (on the other side of the court square)," he said.  "You got to be prepared, I mean you hope these things don't happen, but you got to be prepared in case they do happen."

For him that meant storing vital information outside of the business's own walls. "We have a lot of paper, a lot, but a couple years ago we started storing records and backing up information offsite," said Hale, "and just last year we started utilizing cloud storage, So all we need is a few laptops and a place to work and we can get back going."

In addition to the accounting firm, the building houses the Wizard of Sportscards store. But Hale is optimistic in spite of everything. "We've got insurance, we will be ok," Hale said. "It will be a hassle to relocate, but it will be a chance to make a fresh new start too."

Based on information received that Gossum's passenger, 34-year-old Bradley Stafford of Mayfield, was in possession of a stolen handgun, detectives got both occupants out of the vehicle and conducted a search. During the search of the vehicle, detectives found illegal narcotics in Stafford's backpack. They found heroin, meth, mushrooms, drug paraphernalia and an undisclosed amount of cash.

When detectives searched Stafford's residence, they located the handgun in his bedroom. Detectives also found an amount of prescription medication not in proper containers in the bedroom.

Stafford was arrested on several drug charges, as well as possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Gossum was arrested on several traffic charges, and both were booked into the Graves County Jail. 

Paducah Police said the wreck happened on Jackson Street (Beltline Highway) behind Paducah Tilghman High School They said the preliminary investigation showed 30-year-old Joshua Reilford, of Paducah was driving west on Jackson Street next to the Masonic Lodge. As Reilford approached the intersection with 24th Street, 32-year-old Yavonda Freeman attempted to cross all four lanes of Jackson Street to turn south onto 24th Street, causing the crash.

Reilford and his passenger, 18-year-old Aubrey Anderson, of Paducah were taken to Baptist Health for treatment, as were Freeman and one of her passengers, 46-year-old Lahoma Smith, of Hickman.

Freeman had three other passengers, including a 5-year-old who was not in a booster seat. Police cited her for having no insurance and failing to have the child restrained in a booster seat.

Jackson Street was closed for several hours due to the crash.

“Last year we fought hard to secure funding for the deactivation of the gaseous diffusion plant and environmental cleanup at the Paducah site and since then have pushed DOE to expedite this contract so vital cleanup work may begin. We are pleased that DOE has responded by awarding the IDIQ contract for deactivation of the gaseous diffusion plant, which we hope will create job opportunities in the community. While the IDIQ award is a positive development, there is more work to be done to ensure full cleanup at the site is completed in a safe and timely manner. For this reason, today, we are sending a letter to Secretary Moniz urging that DOE begin IDIQ work now and commit to long-term cleanup efforts as well.”

Recent action taken by the Kentucky Congressional Delegation on behalf of Paducah:

* McConnell, Paul and Whitfield Urge DOE to Release Cleanup Funding for Paducah

* Whitfield Presses Energy Secretary on Paducah Cleanup Efforts (video)

* McConnell Advocates on Behalf of Paducah to DOE Secretary (video)

* McConnell, Paul and Whitfield Urge DOE to move quickly implementing the contract

“The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant is one of our top priorities. Hiring a contractor will create jobs to handle this next phase of the facility. I appreciate the partnership between the Commonwealth and the Department of Energy, as well as the cooperation of Kentucky's Congressional delegation and the Paducah community. ” – Gov. Steve Beshear.  

The award is anticipated to support transitioning and preparing the site for Deactivation and Decommissioning of the former uranium enrichment facilities.  The task order provides extensive and detailed hiring preferences for the available, highly skilled labor force.

Services to be provided under the task order include, but are not limited to, Project Management (including Paducah GDP Delease Planning and Facility Transfer); Facility Modification and Infrastructure Optimization (including Stabilization and Deactivation of GDP Facilities); Decontamination and Demolition, and Environmental Services.  The Task Order will contain both firm fixed-price and cost reimbursable elements including award fee components.  The estimated award value is approximately $420 million over three years.

The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (Paducah GDP) is located on a 3,423-acre Federal reservation in Western Kentucky, approximately 10 miles west of Paducah and 3.5 miles south of the Ohio River.  It is a Government-owned uranium enrichment plant that was constructed in the early 1950’s and operated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessor agencies for producing enriched uranium to support commercial and military nuclear reactors and to support weapons development activities.  In 1993, the GDP facilities were leased to the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) for uranium enrichment operations.  DOE is preparing for return of the GDP facilities that are leased and operated by USEC.

The Department of Energy is responsible for cleaning up the nation’s gaseous diffusion buildings in accordance with the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 1992.  The mission of the DOE Environmental Management program is the safe cleanup of the environmental legacy resulting from five decades of nuclear weapons development and Government-sponsored nuclear energy research.

The award is anticipated to support transitioning and preparing the site for Deactivation and Decommissioning of the former uranium enrichment facilities.  The task order provides extensive and detailed hiring preferences for the available, highly skilled labor force.

Services to be provided under the task order include, but are not limited to, Project Management (including Paducah GDP Delease Planning and Facility Transfer); Facility Modification and Infrastructure Optimization (including Stabilization and Deactivation of GDP Facilities); Decontamination and Demolition, and Environmental Services.  The Task Order will contain both firm fixed-price and cost reimbursable elements including award fee components.  The estimated award value is approximately $420 million over three years.

The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (Paducah GDP) is located on a 3,423-acre Federal reservation in Western Kentucky, approximately 10 miles west of Paducah and 3.5 miles south of the Ohio River.  It is a Government-owned uranium enrichment plant that was constructed in the early 1950’s and operated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessor agencies for producing enriched uranium to support commercial and military nuclear reactors and to support weapons development activities.  In 1993, the GDP facilities were leased to the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) for uranium enrichment operations.  DOE is preparing for return of the GDP facilities that are leased and operated by USEC.

The Department of Energy is responsible for cleaning up the nation’s gaseous diffusion buildings in accordance with the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 1992.  The mission of the DOE Environmental Management program is the safe cleanup of the environmental legacy resulting from five decades of nuclear weapons development and Government-sponsored nuclear energy research.

Anyone who sees a white Dodge dually hauling a cattle trailer is being asked to write down the license plate and notify police.

But in Virginia, another appeals panel unanimously came to the opposite conclusion. That court said the IRS had correctly interpreted the will of Congress when it issued regulations allowing consumers nationwide to purchase subsidized coverage.  

The White House says policyholders will keep getting financial aid as the administration sorts out the legal implications.   Both cases are part of a long-running political and legal campaign to overturn the health care law.

PREVIOUS STORY:

A federal appeals court has delivered a serious setback to President Barack Obama's health care law, potentially derailing subsidies for many low - and middle - income people who have bought policies.  

If upheld, the decision could mean premium increases for more than half of the 8 million Americans who purchased taxpayer-subsidized insurance under the law.   It affects consumers who purchased their coverage through the federal insurance marketplace - or exchange - that serves 36 states.

A three-judge panel in Washington ruled 2-1 that the law, as written, only allows insurance subsidies in states that have set up their own exchanges. That invalidated an Internal Revenue Service regulation that allowed subsidies in all 50 states. Presumably, Kentucky would not be directly impacted by the ruling, since it manages its own exchanges as the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) originally intended.

It is unknown how this impacts Illinois. Illinois operates a "partnership" exchange with the federal government, and not a totally independent exchange like Kentucky.

Other neighboring states that let the Federal Government totally manage their health care exchange, and could be impacted, include Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, and Ohio. Indirectly, it is not yet known how even the state run exchanges across the nation could be impacted if the ruling is allowed to stand. The Obama Administration says the health care subsidies will keep flowing, despite the court decision.

Contradictory rulings were issued Tuesday by two federal appeals court panels. One said the federal government couldn't offer financial assistance to people in states like Illinois that use the federally run insurance market. The other court ruled the opposite.

About 168,000 Illinois residents qualified for financial subsidies to help pay for their health insurance.

The White House says policyholders will keep getting that help as the administration sorts out the legal implications. Get Covered Illinois executive director Jennifer Koehler says the subsidies remain in effect. She says the state is monitoring the court decisions.

Photos courtesy of Mark D. McCoy

A spokesman for U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth says the congressman was informed by the Department of Health and Human Services that Fort Knox is not under consideration.

“We look forward to the addition of Mr. Edwards to the Heath Middle School staff,” said HMS Principal Matthew Blackwell. “He is a proven leader in both curriculum and instruction and will help HMS continue the tradition as a high achieving school.”  

Edwards has a B.S. degree from the University of Kentucky and a M.S. degree from Murray State University.   

“I am honored and thankful for the opportunity to serve as the new Assistant Principal at Heath Middle School,” said Edwards. “I look forward to working with the community and faculty to ensure the best education is provided for our students at Heath Middle and the district of McCracken County.”

WKCTC radiography students are hosting both a 5K run/walk and 1K run/walk to raise money for their Kettering Registry Review and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists examination fees.

During the races, participants are doused from head to toe in vibrant colors at each kilometer. The race continues at the finish line with a gigantic color festival using more colored powder to create lasting memories, not to mention millions of vivid color combinations.

Last year more than 300 people were on the WKCTC campus to participate in the fun run and support the college’s radiography students. “We not only raised enough money to fund the examination fees for the 2013 class, but we also had the funds to give back to several well-deserving organizations within our community,” said David Heflin, WKCTC radiography program coordinator. “We hope to have an even bigger crowd this year to continue to build this amazing tradition.”

The 5K run/walk will be held on September 13 at 5 pm, followed immediately by the 1K run/walk. Registration for the events will begin at 3:30 pm at the Anderson Technical Building. The WKCTC campus will be closed to traffic during the event beginning at 4:30 pm.

Individuals can register for the event now. Preregistration is $25 before August 28. Registration on event day is $35. Children 12 and under are $15 per child. All preregistered participants will receive an event t-shirt. 

The registration form and event flyer are located on the WKCTC Website linked below.

Mail the registration form and check to David Heflin, WKCTC Radiography Program Coordinator, AHB, P.O. BOX 7380, Paducah, KY, 42001. Checks should be made to Kelly Deasel, Treasurer, WKCTC Radiography Club.


Information provided by WKCTC.

Officers will be checking the bridge at various times during the day and issuing citations as needed.

The Greenway Trail Tunnel project is on track to allow the Brookport Bridge to reopen around July 28th.

The report compiled by the independent Project on Government Oversight is based on comments and complaints filed by nearly 800 current and former VA employees and veterans. The group says it received allegations of wrongdoing from 35 states and the District of Columbia after setting up a special website in May.

According to Paducah police, 42-year-old Fredrick L. Pierson is charged with breaking into a home on North 12th Street and assaulting a person staying there. Pierson reportedly turned himself in to authorities and was arrested Monday morning.

Police said Pierson turned himself in at the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department about mid-morning. He was arrested and booked into McCracken County Regional Jail.

Police said nothing was stolen during the Wednesday break-in, and the victim didn’t require medical treatment. 

Ever since Obama announced that he would take executive action, he's faced pressure from opposing sides on whether to allow that exemption in the case of government contractors. He decided to maintain a provision that allows religious groups with federal contracts to hire and fire based upon religious identity, but not give them any exception to consider sexual orientation or gender identity.

George B. Stone Company, LLC, is the prime contractor on the $3.1 million project. 

Work along the Christian County section should be completed around Labor Day.   Installation of the McCracken and Marshall County section has an anticipated completion date around Nov. 1.

"Median cable barriers were developed over the years to provide an extra margin of safety for motorists.  The cables reduce the likelihood of vehicles involved in a crash crossing the median into oncoming traffic," said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet chief engineer Mike McGregor.   In the last four years, there have been 13 fatal crashes on the 93 miles of I-24 through western Kentucky.  Five of those involved crossover collisions -- two in McCracken County and three in Christian County. 

As a comparison, heavily traveled interstates in Louisville/Jefferson County recorded 26 crossover fatality crashes in about a four-year period prior to barrier installation.  That number dropped to one after installation.

Police say Griffin tried to kiss a woman, then reached into her shirt and grabbed her Saturday night.  

Officers say the woman told officers that when she told him to stop, Griffin asked her to perform a sex act with him.  

Officers spoke with the victim's husband, who says he did not see anything but Griffin told him what happened.  

Griffin had bonded out by Monday morning. Jail records did not list an attorney for him.

Calhoun lost control of his motorcycle, went into the median and was ejected from the bike. He was airlifted to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville for treatment of a head injury. Calhoun was not wearing a helmet.

Taylor did not lose control of his motorcycle, and refused medical treatment at the scene. 

Lyons is described as a white male, 5-feet-7-inches and 187 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes and multiple tattoos. He was last seen wearing a red and white sweat shirt, blue jeans and white tennis shoes. Lyons was incarcerated on several charges, including drug possession and assault. 

If you come in contact with Lyons, do not try to apprehend him, but call the Kentucky State Police or local law enforcement. 

No official arrests have been reported at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kentucky State Police Marijuana and Drug hotline at 800/367-3847 and remain anonymous. 

Participants are given minutes to present their ideas to people who provide capital for startup companies. Winners receive cash prizes and a chance to present their plans to the full Kentucky Angel Investors Network in Frankfort.

The cabinet launched the network last year and says it brings new ventures and accredited investors together.

Pitch competitions have already been held in Murray, Elizabethtown, Pikeville, Richmond and Ashland. Later this year, events will be held in Lexington and Covington.

Quota hunts help maintain a healthy deer population. Deer harvested on Land Between The Lakes are bonus deer and do not count toward statewide bag limits. All quota hunt permits will be for one deer, either-sex. There is a one antlered buck limit on Land Between The Lakes per hunter taken during the quota hunt and archery seasons. 

Here's a little more about the musicians that we found on the artists' own sites:
Tyler Barham
If in today’s music environment, online followings are the foundation of an artist’s career, then Montana native Tyler Barham is looking solid as a rock.  This Country singer/songwriter, with a voice that has been described as ringing like a bell, has built a foundation of more than 50,000 dedicated online fans with nearly nine million views.  Born in Bozeman and raised in Florence, Montana, Tyler began singing when he was nine. Although he enjoyed singing different styles of music, it did not take him long to realize his heart (and eventually his baritone voice) belonged to country music. In his early teens, Tyler competed and won various regional talent competitions, but also while in high school, Tyler discovered YouTube and began posting covers of his favorite country songs, which quickly introduced him to a worldwide audience.

In 2008 Tyler made the leap from computer screen to TV screen as a finalist on Great American Country’s nationwide talent search, Next GAC Star, and in the next few years was featured on E!’s Opening Act based on his YouTube following and was the winner of nationally syndicated radio host Radio Lia’s Your Big Break contest.

In September of 2010, with the help of industry veterans John Griffin and Dave Flint, Tyler released an independent self-titled EP that reached No. 39 on the iTunes Country Album Chart.  His follow-up EP, titled Twenty-One, which was released on March 21st 2011, his 21st birthday, cruised its way up the iTunes Country Album Chart to #19.  Building on the sales success of his previous releases, Tyler's most recent original release, Don't Cage This Heart, debuted at #56 on the Billboard Country Album Chart and #19 on the Billboard Heatseekers Album Chart which charts album titles from new or developing acts in all formats.

Tyler has also enjoyed success at GrassRoots radio with singles “17 & Young,” “Meet Me In Montana,” and the original holiday song “Coal In Your Stocking This Year” and has just shipped his new single, “More Than A Cotton Dress” to radio nationally which is being lauded by programmers as the catchy and compelling answer to the proliferation of “Bro Country.”

Tyler’s fans are not simply online.  He was named one of the Country Music Association’s (CMA) “Who New to Watch in 2013” and was recently named one of Billboard’s “10 Country Artists to Watch in 2014.”  And he received the ultimate compliment when Blake Shelton shared both Tyler’s covers of “Austin” and “Honey Bee” with his fans, Brett Eldredge tweeted Tyler’s cover of “Don’t Ya” to his Twitter following and Darius Rucker began using Tyler’s cover of “Come Back Song” in his live concerts.

But Tyler says his greatest honor has been to see the process come full circle as his original songs are now being covered by aspiring singers on YouTube.

In an industry that is coming to terms with the new model of music discovery, Tyler is steadily building on his solid foundation with a house that welcomes country music fans of all ages who love meaningful lyrics, catchy melodies and a sparkling vocal delivery.  
 
Dallas Remington
Dallas Remington is a Kentucky girl who loves to play and sing country and gospel music!   Dallas has grown up singing and playing guitar at local churches, county fairs, and various music venues. Dallas says “singing will always be a part of me.  Whether I’m singing at church, at a recital, or somewhere in Nashville, I love every minute”.

Dallas performs a variety of songs, from new country artists such as Miranda Lambert and Lee Brice to traditional country songs from artists such as Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, as well as southern gospel songs like “Keep on the Sunnyside”. ” I began playing guitar when I was nine and I love it,” says Dallas.  She hopes to continue studying guitar and learning about the music industry for many years to come.

Individuals may stop by the Metropolis Community Center on Thursday, July 24 beginning at 5 pm to pick up items, while supplies last. Due to demand, adults without children present are allowed up to three students’ supplies. All children present will take priority at the front of the line at all times.

This year’s event is sponsored by Harrah’s Metropolis, MCDAC, MidCountry Bank, Creations The Florist, Neace Lukens Insurance, Chillo’s, City National Bank, Aikins-Farmer & Miller Funeral Homes, Metropolis Rotary and Liberty Utilities. Information provided by Chad Lewis, Harrah's.

That's part of the university's response to federal mandates requiring colleges to address sexual assaults.

Benjamin Newman is SIU police chief. He says the department has investigated one sex assault this year. There were four cases last year and six in 2012.

Newman says the real number is likely to be higher because some victims don't come forward.

The (Carbondale) Southern Illinoisan reports that under the changes, incoming freshman will participate in an online awareness program.

Once on campus, student training will focus on how to help a friend who is an assault victim.

Faculty will get training on how to respond when a student reports they've been assaulted.

A lawyer for Kasem's daughter Kerri said Friday that when he went to give a Tacoma funeral home a copy of the restraining order, the home said it no longer has the remains.

A lawyer for Kasem's wife, Jean Kasem, refused to comment Friday.

Jean Kasem filled out a death certificate indicating that the remains would be taken out of state to a funeral home in Montreal. But that funeral home said Friday it has no remains of Casey Kasem and nothing about Kasem in its computer system.

Kasem died last month at age 82. His daughter wanted the body autopsied.

The Marketbasket Survey tracks prices for several food groups _ beef, pork, poultry, dairy, grains and fruits and vegetables. The latest survey found that pork had the largest increase with an average price jump of 8.2 percent.

The city currently has two sections of trail available to the public. In 2008, the city opened a 1.75 mile trail segment between Noble Park and County Park Road. In 2012, the 1.67 mile segment between Campbell Street (next to Paducah Expo Center) and U.S. 45X (North 8th Street) opened. Once the phase under construction is completed, the Greenway Trail will stretch 4.6 miles.

A passenger on the second motorcycle, 28-year-old Crystal Cowen of Grand Rivers, was thrown from the vehicle and sustained severe injuries.

The driver of the second motorcycle left Cowen on the side of the road and fled the area.

Gainey and Cowen were taken to Baptist Health Paducah for treatment, and Cowen was later airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

Police later identified the missing motorcycle operater as 37-year-old Kevin Bowler of Ledbetter. Attempts to locate Bowler have proven unsuccessful.

Anyone with information on Bowler's whereabouts are urged to contact the McCracken County Sheriff's Department, as there will be pending charges.

Investigation determined that 83-year-old Elbert Harris of Goreville, IL, was driving east on Ogden Landing Road. Harris was in a conversation with his passenger, 74-year-old James McKeller of Tunnel Hill, IL, when they approached the intersection of Metropolis Lake Road.



Harris failed to stop at the intersection and proceeded across Metropolis Lake Road, where the truck struck the concrete foundation and a large pile of debris.



Harris told deputies that he and McKeller had been fishing in the area and were unfamiliar with the roadways.



Demolition of Carneal Chapel had begun on Thursday. The concrete foundation was still in place, as well as a large pile of debris.



Harris and McKeller were transported to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

During an interview with Lyell, he was attempting to hand money and other items to a family member when he threw two baggies that contained a white crystal substance on the ground.  They were recovered and it was determined they contained methamphetamine.

Lyell and Moore were lodged in the Graves County Jail and charged with trafficking methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with physical evidence.

Honeywell Representative Peter Dalpe said the current contract expires August 1 at midnight, and negotiations will begin Monday.

Here is the letter in its entirety:

Next week, representatives of Honeywell and USW Local 7-669 will begin negotiations for a new contract for the bargaining unit, which represents 134 hourly workers at the Metropolis facility. The current three-year contract expires on August 1. The company will bargain in good faith to pursue a new labor agreement that is fair to employees while continuing to control costs and allow the plant the necessary flexibility to maintain the site’s competitiveness in a challenging global marketplace.

Honeywell has demonstrated its commitment to Metropolis by investing $177 million over the past 10 years in capital improvements, including more than $50 million in safety projects. This includes Honeywell’s 2012-13 investment of more than $40 million to reinforce the plant against natural disasters to comply with post-Fukushima standards. These investments allowed us continue to operate this facility and preserve some of the highest-paying hourly jobs in the region.

As you know, the Metropolis Works operation has not been profitable for more than a decade, with losses during that time reaching $300 million. Today, we face some of the most challenging market conditions in our history, with nuclear power generation at the lowest levels since 1999. This bad situation has been compounded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s practice of flooding the market for several years with uranium and UF6 from its extensive inventories at less than fair market value. This practice, which is being challenged in federal court by our marketing partner ConverDyn, has significantly reduced demand and driven prices down.

Throughout the bargaining process, I would ask everybody to remain focused on your jobs and work safely at all times. Your fellow workers, the community and our customers are counting on it. We will communicate important updates to you as they become available and post the same updates on our Metropolis plant website.

Jim Pritchett

Plant Manager

Honeywell Metropolis Works

“Ranges are established places where people go to shoot rifles, pistols, shotguns, even archery,” said Bill Balda, Hunter Education Supervisor with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “Rarely are all of these done at the same time and at the same range.”

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has public shooting ranges (tube, trap and skeet, and archery) on select wildlife management areas in Kentucky. A complete list is available online at fw.ky.gov. These public shooting ranges are self-serve – trap and skeet ranges are open to organized clubs or groups and must be reserved 30 days in advance – and users must comply with the posted rules. Some of the guidelines are based on courtesy; the majority focus on safety.

“When you get to a range, there should be a sign that clearly marks what the range is for,” Balda said. “Be aware of what you can and cannot use on each range because these ranges are placed and have safety zones according to the firearms they’re designed to handle.”

The basic rules of firearms safety still apply at the range: Treat every firearm as if it’s loaded. Keep the action open and the firearm unloaded until you’re ready to fire. Make sure you point the firearm in a safe direction. At a range, that’s designated as toward the target. Never point it at yourself or others. Keep your finger off the trigger until you’re ready to shoot. Know your target and what’s in front of or behind it.

“Probably the most common thing I see on rifle ranges is people still handling a firearm on the firing line while people are down range,” Balda said. “For safety and courtesy that’s something you shouldn’t do when people have gone down range to work on targets.” The same applies for shotgunners. “From time to time people need to go down to the trap houses and reload the thrower,” Balda said. “Again, you should not be handling your firearms when someone does that. Most shotgun ranges are pretty good about having a rack to put your shotgun in when you’re not shooting.”

Aside from proper handling of firearms, there are two other safety measures to keep in mind. Eye and ear protection are required at all times. Depending on the weather, an anti-fog lens cleaner may need to be applied to safety glasses. “Another thing that helps keep your glasses from fogging up is to take off your hat,” Balda said. Hearing damage is irreversible, and the sound of your firearm going off should not be the signal to protect your ears. Balda advises wearing ear plugs and ear muffs when shooting anything other than a .22 caliber firearm. “With a .22, I recommend one or the other,” Balda said.

As more people visit the shooting range with the fall hunting season drawing closer, be even more aware of what’s going on around you. Don’t be bashful about calling for a cease fire if you observe a potentially dangerous situation. “Everyone should stop shooting and figure out what’s going on and fix it,” Balda said. “It’s not a big deal. Just get it done. If someone gets hurt then it’s a big deal.”

Kevin Kelly is a staff writer for Kentucky Afield magazine, the official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. He is an avid angler with a passion for muskellunge and stream fishing. Get the latest from the Kentucky Afield staff by following them on Twitter: @kyafield.

EARLIER STORY:

A Ukrainian official said a passenger plane carrying 295 people was shot down Thursday over a town in the east of the country, and Malaysian Airlines tweeted that it lost contact with one of its flights over Ukrainian airspace.

Anton Gerashenko, an adviser to Ukraine's interior minister, said on his Facebook page the plane was flying at an altitude of 33,000 feet. He also said it was hit by a missile fired from a Buk launcher, which can fire missiles up to an altitude of 72,000 feet.

Malaysia Airlines said on its Twitter feed that it ``lost contact of MH17 from Amsterdam. The last known position was over Ukrainian airspace."

It was the second time that a Malaysia Airlines plane had gone missing in less than six months. Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared in March while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. It has not been found, but the search has been concentrated in the Indian Ocean far west of Australia.

The Donetsk region government said Thursday's plane crashed near a village called Grabovo, which it said is currently under the control of armed pro-Russian separatists. The region where the flight was lost has seen severe fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia separatist rebels in recent days.   

A launcher similar to the Buk missile system was seen by Associated Press journalists near the eastern Ukrainian town of Snizhne earlier Thursday. On Wednesday evening, a Ukrainian fighter jet was shot down by an air-to-air missile from a Russian plane, Ukrainian authorities said Thursday, adding to what Kiev says is mounting evidence that Moscow is directly supporting the separatist insurgents in eastern Ukraine.

Security Council spokesman Andrei Lysenko said the pilot of the Sukhoi-25 jet hit by the air-to-air missile was forced to bail after his jet was shot down.

Pro-Russia rebels, meanwhile, claimed responsibility for strikes Wednesday on two Ukrainian Sukhoi-25 jets. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said the second jet was hit by a portable surface-to-air missile, but added the pilot was unscathed and managed to land his plane safely  Moscow denies Western charges that is supporting the separatists or sowing unrest in its neighbor. The Russian Defense Ministry couldn't be reached for comment Thursday about the Ukrainian jet and Russia's foreign ministry didn't respond to multiple requests for comment. Earlier this week, Ukraine said a military transport plane was shot down Monday by a missile fired from Russian territory.   

But Quinn calls Rauner's plan "a dumb idea'' that would hurt everyday people. Quinn appeared in Chicago to announce he's expanding a job-training program. He noted Illinois' unemployment rate dropped again in June. Quinn says he helped pull Illinois out of the recession and ``it's quite important we keep the momentum.''

Mark Wilson, who helps organize the political speaking each year, said he’s expecting 10 to 12 national media outlets to attend this year’s picnic, including The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times.

This year’s picnic is Saturday, Aug. 2. The political speaking begins at 2pm.

The annual picnic, known for its hot barbecue and politics, is sponsored by St. Jerome Catholic Church and is held on its campus in Graves County. Picnic organizers expect a crowd of 15,000-20,000 guests this year compared to 10,000-12,000 in most years.

Federal prosecutors asked the Legislative Audit Commission to wait 90 days before questioning former members of the Quinn administration over the Neighborhood Recovery Initiative begun in 2010.  

The bipartisan commission agreed to hold off. But lawmakers did not agree on how long to wait.     

Republicans wanted to call witnesses in October. Democrats rejected that.   The investigation has been a focus of Republicans looking to tarnish Quinn's reformer image. A state audit found poor program management and misused money.  

Republicans have alleged Quinn used the $55 million program as a political slush fund to secure votes. Quinn has denied that claim. 

“At Banterra, we strive to support the communities that we serve and we are honored to contribute to this worthy Paducah cause,” said Keith Wilke, Commercial Officer for Paducah’s Banterra locations.  “Sister Marie Moore Patient Mission Fund with the Lourdes Foundation particularly serves patients that are less fortunate and need financial assistance, and we feel it is important to assist those in need when we are able.”

Each year, the Sister Marie Moore Patient Mission Fund assists approximately 500 patients.  

Information provided by Suzanne Farmer, Lourdes.

Tickets are $25.00 and include the meet and greet, dinner and speeches by Paul, Representative Ed Whitfield, gubernatorial candidate and Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer; gubernatorial candidate Hal Heiner, and local candidates from surrounding counties.  

The meet & greet begins at 5:00 pm and photo opportunities will be available.

Dinner is a catered catfish buffet with all the trimmings that begins at 5:30 pm.

Tickets are available at http://goo.gl/M4TBrm or contact the Marshall County Republican Party at (270) 527-2740 or Calloway County Republican Party (270) 753-9418.

Every purchased ticket is also a chance to win a .380 handgun with laser sight & holster. For more information, you may call the numbers above or email awatson.marshallcountygop@gmail.com.

Lodging is available at the Kenlake State Resort Park and reservations can be made by calling (800) 325-0143. A portion of the event profits will return to the local Republican Party.

Noam Pikelny, Punch Brothers member, along with Grammy Award-winning fiddle player Stuart Duncan will bring their much anticipated duo tour to The Clemens on Saturday, October 18th at 7:30 pm. Pikelny is a recipient of the Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Bluegrass. Combined with Duncan’s acclaimed fiddle playing, this show is a must-see.

The Blind Boys of Alabama will perform on Friday, February 13th at 7:30 pm. The audience will hear a variety of gospel music as well as covers of more mainstream tunes by greats like Bob Dylan. The history and raw talent of this band alone is reason enough to see this show, not to mention their remarkable passion and energy.

The 25th Anniversary of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Saturday, March 28th at 3 and 7:30 pm, is the story of legend Buddy Holly’s rise to fame. The “World’s Most Successful Rock ‘n’ Roll Musical,” this show features many of Holly’s greatest hits including “That’ll Be the Day,” and “Raining in My Heart.”

Feet Don’t Fail Me Now will close the 2014-2015 Arts in Focus season on Friday, April 24th at 7:30 pm. A Rhythmic Circus Production, Feet Don’t Fail Me Now is an inventive and progressive performance of rapid-fire tap dancing along with a variety of musical genres to create a show that “presents a wildly creative view into the indomitable power of the human spirit.”

In addition, Arts In Focus will produce a One Book, One Campus, One Community Read, the Backstage Pass Coffee House Series, as well as a student/community production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

To purchase season tickets and stay up to date on all Clemens Fine Arts Center events, call 270-534-3212 or online www.artsinfocus.org. 

Information provided by WKCTC.

The camp offers a variety of activities tailored to the challenges stroke survivors face, including crafts, games, music, water aerobics and hiking/walking. There are also educational sessions, discussion groups and informal chats with stroke experts.

Cheryl Crouch, coordinator of the monthly Stroke and Head Injury Support Group, said the camp is always a positive time for everyone involved, from the patients to the caregivers and even the volunteers themselves.

“One of the previous campers told me ‘After my stroke, I didn’t think I would ever have fun again but the camp proved me wrong!’” Crouch said.

The event is hosted through the joint efforts of Crouch and the Murray-Calloway Endowment for Healthcare. The deadline for participants to sign up is Thursday, July 31. Volunteers are welcome and needed for the camp.

Residents within Calloway County may attend the camp for $50, and those outside of Calloway County may attend for $100. For more information, call 270-293-9442 or come by the Endowment office at MCCH on the second floor of the North Tower.

The Endowment is supporting attendees through scholarships and is accepting donations to go toward the cost of sending people to the camp. To contribute, call 270-762-1908 and designate your donation for Stroke Camp Scholarships.



Information for article provided by Kyser Lough, Murray-Calloway County Hospital.

The seminar schedule is listed as follows:

July 31 Mobile Marketing

These days almost everyone has a smart phone. Smart phones are a goldmine of untapped marketing opportunities. Learn why and how to use text message marketing, mobile apps and mobile responsive Web site design successfully as a marketing tool.

August 28 Social Media

Learn how to use social media like a pro. Focusing on search engine optimization and social media friendly Web site design, this class will teach the inner workings of social media and how to diversify social media usage to optimize the return on investment.

September 25 Videography, Photography and Graphic Design

A picture speaks a thousand words. Giving customers a visual image can establish a company brand more than many other marketing avenues. Show then tell. Learn why and how to use these three visual marketing tools together to create a memorable and lasting brand.

To register for marketing seminars call 270-534-3335 or visit http://ws.kctcs.edu/westkentucky/course/course.aspx?C=579&pc=5&mc=&sc=

July 31 is the deadline for submissions for what is, in effect, “The Final Yearbook” of the schools. Alumni have an opportunity to reminisce about school memories, friendships and achievements and have their stories and photos published.

The book is being jointly sponsored by alumni groups from Heath, Lone Oak and Reidland High Schools, which ceased to officially exist in June 2013 when they were consolidated to form the new McCracken County High School. The publisher of the book is Acclaim Press.

Officially titled Heath, Lone Oak and Reidland High Schools—a Century of Community Education and Excellence, “The Final Yearbook,” will feature personal biographies from alumni and students of the three schools.The book committee invites all who attended the schools to submit brief vignettes (up to 150 words) detailing their background, years at school and life after leaving school, with “then and now” photographs.

“This one-of-a-kind book will give alumni and students the opportunity to record their thumbprint in time, while sparking the memories of our friends and activities,” said Acclaim Press Publishing Consultant Duane Sikes.

Widows, friends and family members are also encouraged to send in biographies, photos and materials on behalf of their loved ones now passed on so that they, too, can be included in “The Final Yearbook.”

The book committee is also looking for brief stories (500-words or less) school memories and/or nostalgic photos.

Those who didn’t receive a brochure in the mail can call one of the book committee members listed below, or download a brochure by visiting Acclaim Press’s website, www.acclaimpress.com and clicking on the Heath, Lone oak, and Reidland High Schools option on the publisher homepage.

For more information about the project, contact one of the following book committee members:
Heath:
Gary Jackson 270-462-3551 gjackson@brtc.net
Judith Wasko 270-841-7138 judithwasko0903@comcast.net

Lone Oak:
Buddy Rushing 270-554-3726 rushing245@comcast.net
Dave Osborne 270-554-3817 dlosb@bellsouth.net

Reidland:
Ron Spann 270-898-8933 rongspann@bellsouth.net
Emma Lou Wells 270-898-3152 de_wells@bellsouth.net

Information provided by Sarah Shanahan, Acclaim Press.

Find out more about this commemoration of a century of Heath, Lone Oak and Reidland High Schools history below:

If you are having a yard sale and would like your leftover goods picked up or you have an item you need assistance with in moving, call the church office at 270-247-2204 for a pick-up. Items not sold at the yard sale will be donated to the JU Kevil Center or other local charities.

This year’s sale will be held on Sept. 20 at a location to be announced. Last year the yard sale raised about $10,000 to help the Needline and Food Pantry that provides emergency food and utility assistance for local needy families.

Anyone interested in assisting with the sale, before the sale or the day of, can volunteer by calling the church office. Due to space limitations, clothing items are not being accepted.

‘The Trooper Project,’ sponsored by the Kentucky State Police Citizen’s Academy Alumni Association, will include a seven-and-a-half foot tall bronze statue of a trooper at the new KSP Training Academy in Frankfort.  KSP is partnering with the CAAA to raise funds to build the memorial, as tax dollars will not be used to support this effort.

The Honor Hike event will take place August 22-24 and the troopers’ progress will be updated via social media throughout the 25-mile hike. KSP Commissioner Rodney Brewer, along with Lt. Col. Jack Miniard, will hike the Grand Canyon from rim to rim asking supporters to donate one dollar to ‘The Trooper Project’ for their effort.

Brewer says the concept behind the hike is larger than the trek across the Grand Canyon and hopes that it will generate interest in ‘The Trooper Project’. “The statue is all about those who have made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives in the line of duty,” says Brewer. “It’s also about all the troopers who have served since 1948 and made tremendous sacrifices on a daily basis to protect the citizens of the Commonwealth.”

KSP records indicate that the agency has lost 27 officers to line-of-duty deaths since its inception.

‘The Trooper Project’ has enlisted the services of acclaimed sculptor, Benjamin Victor. His impressive and detailed works are displayed with pride across the U.S. and the world. The 35-year-old Victor is the only living sculptor to have two statues in the U.S. Capitol. 

The agency has already received a pledge of support from the Kentucky State Police Professional Association and interest from several private corporations across the Commonwealth.

For more information about ‘The Trooper Project’ and scheduled fundraisers, visit the website at www.TheTrooperProject.com. Contributions can be made through The Trooper Project website or by mailing a donation to: The Trooper Project, 919 Versailles Road, Frankfort, KY 40601.

The workshops are based on the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program developed at Stanford University. Some of the topics include how to control pain, manage stress, solve problems, how to start an exercise program, and communicate better with your health care provider and family members. The program provides tools for people living with chronic health conditions.

Living Well Workshops are held for six weeks, two-and-a-half hours each week. The workshop helps people suffering from diabetes, arthritis, asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, and lung disease. “I enrolled in the class in 2012 because a friend of mine told me about it and it sounded like something I’d be interested in,” said Beverly Williams, 66 from Mayfield. Williams has suffered from arthritis and high blood pressure for the past 10 years.  “The workshops helped me understand different ways to deal with it, including an exercise plan and improved diet.”

The Living Well Workshops are taught by a licensed facilitator, delivered through a partnership with Jackson Purchase Medical Associates, Murray State University’s School of Nursing, Department of Community Leadership and Human Services, Kentucky Department of Aging and Independent Living, Lourdes Hospital and the Kentucky Department of Public Health Chronic Disease Prevention.

The Living Well Workshops are free and open to the public.  Program dates are July 15, 22, 29, August 5, 12 and 19 from 9:30 am-noon at the Lourdes Medical Pavilion, Suite #401.  For more information, call 270-804-2818. 

The Lily Pad at Easter Seals West Kentucky opened its doors to children and new staff on Sept. 30, 2013. The Lily Pad is the first prescribed pediatric extended care in the region and accepts children from six weeks to 12 years old with medical conditions that may otherwise keep them out of typical childcare centers.

Banterra started their Cardinal program in Evansville in 2012. This year, all Banterra branches in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri will sell Cardinal tickets for specific community days, each event benefitting a local charity. Check www.banterra.com for on-sale dates and details.