The Calloway County Middle School Academic Team won its 4th consecutive regional championship Saturday at the First Region Tournament held at Fulton City High School with 18 teams participating. The Lakers advance to Lexington for the State Tournament. The Lakers totaled 30 team points followed by Paducah Middle with 25 team points. In the area of fine arts, Halee Bergman was named regional champion followed by Sam Morehead in second place. The Lakers Sam Morehead took 2nd place in science. In the team events, the Lakers claimed the top spot in Future Problem Solving and the second spot in Quick Recall.
The Future Problem Solving team composed of Halee Bergman, Rebecca Tucker, Madison Erwin, Sierra Todd, and Bobbi Brashear were named regional champions. The Quick Recall team composed of Joe Brashear, Bobbi Brashear, Halee Bergman, Sam Morehead, James Harrison, Jaewon Kang, Cole Emerson, Chance Roberts, and Claire Umstead were named regional runners-up. In addition, the Lakers received the student participant voted Hume Sportsmanship award. The Lakers are coached by Mitch Hultman, Beth Morehead, Robin Simmons, Jeanetta McCallon, Lynn Melton, Zach Rudolph, Whitney Pile, and Scott Pile.
Salvage workers began removing a 322-foot span of the Eggner’s Ferry Bridge from the Delta Mariner on Saturday.
Lt. Jennifer Jessee, a U.S. Coast Guard public information officer, said Saturday’s operation cut debris near the port-side waterline. This debris snagged the ship to the bridge’s pier. A crane suspending a basket over the water allowed workers inside to cut the steel trusses. Jessee said weather like lightning and high winds could create unsafe conditions and halt salvage work. Snow and ice could also slicken decks and slow the operation. Beyond unexpected weather issues, no other problems are expected. State transportation officials are hoping to get results from an inspection on the Eggner's Ferry Bridge today. Dive teams inspected the bridge in recent days after a ship ran into it over a week ago.
The public enjoyed a one-time-only viewing of the Eggner’s Ferry Bridge and the Delta Mariner when the U.S. Forest Service opened the Fenton Recreation Area of the LBL. Fenton and the LBL area along U.S. 68 due to the bridge collapse for safety reasons. From 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday the park reopened the area to allow spectators to see the damaged bridge and ship. Almost 1800 people visited Fenton to see the bridge. LBL Area Supervisor Bill Lisowsky said he thought the viewing reminded people of other opportunities for recreation in the LBL and was a good event to expose new visitors to park amenities.
About 500 people braved the water for charity on Saturday afternoon to participate in the West Kentucky Polar Plunge, which benefited Kentucky’s Special Olympics athletes. The record crowd at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park raised a total of $91,258 for the organization, surpassing last year's total by over 25,000 dollars. Gary Gupton, Special Olympics Kentucky president, said that seeing this many people come out to support a cause that he is so personally invested in was humbling. Gupton’s son, Grant, has Down syndrome and plays golf, basketball and softball in the games.
Each jumper had to raise a minimum of $75 to participate, but the statistics show the average per-person donation was double that.
James Harrison, an 8th grade student at Calloway County Middle School, won the school-level competition of the National Geographic Bee and a chance at a $25,000 college scholarship. The school-level Bee, at which students answered oral questions on geography, was the first round in the 24th annual National Geographic Bee. Sixth grader Cody Orr placed 2nd. Seventh grader Sam Morehead, Adrienne Johnson and Logan Eastwood tied for 3rd place. The kickoff for this year’s Bee was the week of November 14, with thousands of schools around the United States and in the five U.S. territories participating. The school winners, including Harrison, will now take a written test; up to 100 of the top scorers in each state will be eligible to compete in their state Bee March 30. Winners from each state will travel to Washington D.C. on May 22-24 to compete for a $25,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the Society, and a trip to the Galapagos Islands, courtesy of Lindbald Expeditions and National Geographic.
A western Kentucky couple has been arrested after Hopkins County sheriff’s detectives found the remains of a woman in a shallow grave. Sheriff Frankie Latham said Stephanie Osborne, 27, and her husband, Joshua Osborne, 30, of Nebo were taken into custody Wednesday night. They are charged with complicity to commit murder and tampering with physical evidence. Detectives found what they believe to be the remains of Sherry Hays, 46, of Nebo at a home where Joshua Osborne once lived. Latham said the couple led detectives to the remains. The Osbornes lived with Hays when she was reported missing in November. Hays was last seen leaving the shared home Nov. 2 with her belongings in a bag.
A court martial has been delayed for a Fort Campbell soldier charged with killing his estranged wife and her former mother-in-law. A military judge granted a request by prosecutors and Sgt. Brent Burke’s lawyers to postpone the proceedings, which were scheduled to begin Monday at Fort Campbell. Burke has been charged with violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice in the deaths of Tracy Burke, and her former mother-in-law Karen Comer, at a home in Rineyville in September 2007. A civilian judge dismissed the charges against Burke after a prosecutor cited evidence problems with the case, and the military filed charges against him less than two weeks later. Burke is a defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit brought by Tracy Burke’s family. Burke is being held in a civilian jail.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
Authorities have two people in custody for the Friday night murder of a Fort Campbell soldier, including his own wife. Jarred Long was arrested in Colorado over the weekend in the murder of Vincent Goslyn Junior, who was found dead Friday night in Christian County. The victim's wife, Jessie Goslyn, was also arrested.
An education proposal from Governor Haslam is meeting skepticism from Tennessee state lawmakers. Legislators are worried a move to eliminate requirements for average classroom sizes will lead to larger classrooms and negatively impact student performance. State Senator Jim Tracy told members of Murfreesboro and Rutherford's Education Associations that they're putting the breaks on the legislation in the General Assembly. Haslam also wants to eliminate the state salary schedule and give local school systems authority to set up pay structures based on student test scores and teacher evaluations.
Long time Nashville radio DJ David Hall passed away over the weekend. Hall worked at WKDF-FM and WGFX before going to Lightening 100 in 1993. The man many associated to as the voice of Nashville rock radio most recently hosted the weekday afternoon show "David Hall Rocks Y'all." The cause of death wasn't reported as of last night. Hall also worked at WNBS while he attended Murray State University.
Tennessee's Air National Guard is making a few changes. One is they're getting rid of six C-130 cargo planes. They're also expected to add new intelligence and unmanned vehicle squadrons. The C-130s are heading to Puerto Rico to replace other planes that are being retired.
Planned Parenthood is suing Tennessee's Department of Health for dropping them from federal funding for AIDS and syphilis testing. The organization argues the drop in grant contracts is politically motivated because of their abortion services. Grant money that pays for HIV prevention and syphilis elimination is distributed by the state through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tennessee health spokespersons say officials can't comment on pending litigation.
The state legislature in Tennessee is getting a flurry of proposals to make changes to the new teacher evaluation system. legislators rushed about 20 bills to make last week's deadline. Some Democrats want this year to be a trial run, while some educators say the system is unfair and time consuming. Others argue average teachers are entitled to make tenure instead of just those with top ratings.
Opry Mills is getting one new tenant guaranteed to draw customers as it heads toward reopening. Converse has announced opening its first outlet store in Tennessee there for the grand reopening event planned for March 29th. The city issued a building permit for a space for the store last month. The new store marks the company's 57th in the U.S.
