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The Murray Sentinel
Experiencing totality: Ancient mounds attract eclipse enthusiasts
WICKLIFFE, Ky. – License plates from Virgina, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina, among others, lined the shoulder of U.S. 51 near the gate of Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site Monday morning. While several ended up there by chance, motivated by a forecast of 15-20% cloud coverage, more favorable than conditions expected in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Carbondale, Ill., others intentionally chose the ancient site to view the rare celestial event – a total solar eclipse.
Gay Poems for Red States ‘should be read by everyone’
MURRAY – This year, April 7–13 is National Library Week, with April 8 “Right to Read Day.” In 2023, the American Library Association (ALA) documented efforts to censor 4,240 unique book titles in schools and public libraries, an increase from 2,571 the year before.
WPSD, MSU agree to postpone hearing on sanctions
MURRAY – Attorneys for WPSD-TV filed a notice of remand in Calloway Circuit Court this morning, advising that an agreement had been reached with counsel for Murray State University to postpone, indefinitely, the hearing previously scheduled for this afternoon on the station’s motion for more than $415,000 in sanctions in its longstanding dispute with the university over open records requests.
CFSB Center to host home, garden and farm show
MURRAY - Western Kentucky has a reputation for being a great place to be outdoors, and as spring approaches, it’s easy to find our minds wandering to plans for all the things that one can do out of our winter cocoons. For those who have big ideas or are looking for inspiration, the West Kentucky Home, Garden and Farm Show at the CFSB Center this Friday and Saturday might be a good place to start.
Residents voice concerns over proposed pickleball complex
MURRAY - There was standing room only in the council chambers at City Hall tonight as nearly 100 people showed up for the city council meeting. Many in attendance live in the vicinity of Chestnut Park and came in solidarity with Sue Hood, who requested time to express concerns about potential noise pollution in their neighborhood should the Murray Pickleball Association be allowed to proceed with building a proposed pickleball complex in the park.
University calls request for $415K in sanctions ‘gluttonous'
MURRAY – In a pleading filed yesterday in Calloway Circuit Court, Murray State University asked Special Judge John Atkins to reject the request for sanctions made by Paducah television station WPSD-TV after he ruled last month that the university violated the Kentucky Open Records Act (KORA), characterizing the request for over $415,000 in attorneys’ fees and statutory penalties as “gluttonous,” questioning the reasonableness of the fees and disputing how the penalty amount was calculated.
CCHD begins search for new public health director
MURRAY – The Calloway County Health Department (CCHD) is looking for a new public health director after Jamie Hughes tendered his resignation to the Calloway County Board of Health last month. After two-and-a-half years serving in the role of director, Hughes stepped down to join the human resources (HR) department at Baptist Health Paducah.
City officials respond to storm siren failure
MURRAY – As part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, Kentucky held its annual Statewide Tornado Drill on Wednesday at 9:07 a.m. While the majority of the storm sirens in Calloway County did work as expected, two of the three sirens within Murray’s city limits did not sound.
MSU and WPSD respond to motion for fees and penalties
MURRAY – Murray State University Board of Regents Chairman Leon Owens released a statement after Friday’s quarterly board meeting in response to a motion for attorneys’ fees and statutory penalties WPSD-TV filed Monday in its lawsuit against the university, marking the first time a Murray State official has publicly commented on the case.
WPSD suggests over $415K in sanctions against university for open records violations
MURRAY – On the heels of a summary judgment ruling in their favor, attorneys for Paducah television station WPSD-TV asked Calloway Circuit Special Judge John Atkins to require Murray State University to pay the station over $415,000 in penalties and fees for willfully violating the Kentucky Open Records Act (KORA) when it responded to open records requests submitted by the station in the fall of 2022.
Adult day services program reopens in Murray, struggles to rebound from Dec. 10 tornado
MURRAY – On Dec. 10, 2021, the tornado that ripped through Mayfield, Kentucky hit the old Eloise Fuller apartment complex in the downtown area, which at the time housed Generations Adult Day Services. Generations provides care for developmentally disabled and frail adults throughout western Kentucky and is one of only a handful of organizations that offer this service.
TV station prevails in dispute over public records
MURRAY – The end to the long-standing dispute between Paducah television station WPSD-TV and Murray State University over public records is in sight after Calloway Circuit Special Judge John Atkins issued his summary judgment Friday, ruling the university improperly redacted records it produced in response to open records requests submitted by the station, in violation of the Kentucky Open Records Act (KORA).
Murray City Council hears updates on recycling, water plant project
MURRAY - Thursday’s Murray City Council meeting featured a Public Works report, a report from Republic Services, which provides curbside recycling for the city, and an update on the water treatment plant project.
Library announces opening on Board of Trustees
MURRAY – President of the Calloway County Public Library Board of Trustees Lance Allison announced his resignation from the board at last night’s regular monthly meeting. Despite the surprise announcement, trustees are hopeful about finding a qualified replacement based on the overwhelming number of highly-qualified applicants who threw their names in the hat the last time there was an opening on the board.
Community comes out en force to support local poet
MURRAY - Murray poet Charley Allen-Dunn celebrated the recent release of her chapbook, “The Scar It Leaves,” at a well-attended book signing and reading hosted by the Murray Art Guild Friday night. Set in the hills of her native western Kentucky, Allen-Dunn’s anthology addresses how childhood experience can shape adulthood.
Highly-anticipated ruling in open records case delayed
HOPKINSVILLE – With the exception of the bailiff, clerk and judge, everyone in Christian Circuit Court Courtroom 2 Wednesday afternoon traveled from either Murray, Paducah or Louisville to attend the summary judgment hearing in a lawsuit between Paducah television station WPSD-TV and Murray State University over public records. The hearing, which most anticipated would take hours and end with a ruling on the case, was over in 15 minutes because a logistics issue prevented the judge from reviewing the exhibits the parties filed with their pleadings.
Judge to hear sides in open records dispute
MURRAY – A 15-month conflict between Paducah television station WPSD-TV and Murray State University over public records, which has resulted in an appeal to the Kentucky Attorney General as well as the filing of a civil lawsuit, may come to an end today as the parties are scheduled for a summary judgment hearing this afternoon.
Lessons learned through community activism [opinion]
Murray has always been my home, and I imagine that Murray will continue to be my home in the future, no matter where I am. When I moved away for college, l took pride in telling people that I came from the small town in western Kentucky that was home to Murray State University, but in the summer of 2020, I was embarrassed to call Murray my home.
Behind the camera: Reporter reflects on conflict over monument [opinion]
Driving up to the Court Square the evening of July 15, 2020, my nerves were already frayed. Less than two months earlier, in Paducah, I’d seen a small cloud of protestors blossom into a supercell that marched miles with a level of intensity that rocked my nice-white-liberal understanding of race relations.
County agencies help residents prepare for bitter cold
MURRAY – Everyone may be getting stocked up on bread and milk for the upcoming cold temps in our region, but does everyone have a place to stay warm?. Colder air will be moving into our area over the weekend, with below freezing temperatures expected throughout next week. The Calloway County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), in coordination with Murray State University (MSU), opened a warming center at the Cutchin Fieldhouse (formerly known as Racer Arena) located at 333 North 14th St. on the MSU campus. The entrance for the warming center will be located on the south side of the building.
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