A Murray man is behind bars on drug charges following a Sunday traffic stop. According to Murray Police, 29-year old Apollo Tolmie was stopped for driving with an expired registration. Officier Chris Greenfield arrested Tolmic after allegedly finding meth precursors, marijuana, a pipe with meth residure on it, hydrocodone pills, powder cocaine, and a large butterfly knife. Tolmie was charged with possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, marijuana, promoting contramand, a prescription drug not in the proper container, and carrying a concealed weapon. After being booked on nine charges, Tolmie was lodged in the Calloway County Jail.
A replacement span and equipment required to lift it onto the Eggners Ferry Bridge successfully traveled down Lake Barkley, through the LBL Canal, and up Kentucky Lake to the bridge site yesterday. The 30-mile trip by water took about an hour longer than expected. Spectators lined overlooks along the lake to watch the span and accompanying cranes move toward the awaiting bridge. Engineers are optimistic the cranes and barges can be positioned to allow the span to be lifted into place on the awaiting piers sometime today. A crew will then start installing reinforcing steel and forms to allow a new concrete deck to be poured on the structure sometime over the next 12 days.
For the next three weeks, Kentucky State Police will be taking part in two highway safety initiatives in an effort to reduce fatal and serious injury collisions on Kentucky Highways. Beginning today, Troopers in the Post One district will be taking part in the TACT enforcement mobilization. TACT stands for Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks. This highway safety initiative focuses on hazardous moving violations by commercial motor vehicles or other vehicles in close proximity to commercial motor vehicles. The enforcement areas of Interstate 24 and the Julian Carroll Parkway have been selected based upon crash data along those roadways. Beginning the weekend of May 19th, Troopers will also take part in the national Click It or Ticket campaign. This annual highway safety initiative predominantly focuses on occupant restraint violations to include seatbelt, child restraint, and booster seat violations. Troopers all across the Post One district will be working extended shifts to allow for increased patrol for these violations. The Click It or Ticket campaign lasts through June 3rd. Both the TACT and Click It or Ticket mobilizations are intended to take place around the Memorial Day holiday due to an increase in traffic volume along Kentucky roadways.
The Trigg County Sheriffs Department received a tip in reference to drug activity on Twin Trees Road in Cadiz. The Sheriffs Department responded to the scene and located an active methamphetamine lab. The The Kentucky State Police charged Tracey Wagner and Tiffany Wagner with Complicity to Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Trafficking Methamphetamine, and Bryan Martin was charged with Complicity to Manufacturing Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. All were lodged in the Christian County Jail. Kentucky State Police were then requested to assist in the investigation, removal, and clean up of the lab.
Murray High School juniors, Heatherly Paschall and Elizabeth Wall, have been invited to participate in the 2012 TQI Summer Honors Camp for Future Educators. The Murray State University Teacher Quality Institute is hosting the 2012 the camp for high school students who have completed their junior or senior year and are considering teaching as a career. This week long campus experience is aimed at allowing the participant to explore careers in teaching and the development of personal leadership skills. The Summer Honors Camp will be conducted on the campus of Murray State from June 3-7.
The former Murray State University student who pleaded guilty to charges related to having pipe bomb making material in Hester Hall dormitory may re-enroll in classes if he chooses. David M. Wilson pleaded guilty to misdemeanors related to materials used to make a pipe bomb that were found in his dorm room. He met with the university judicial board last week. Six members of the judiciary board — made up of faculty, staff and students — voted to allow Wilson back on campus for class, use of libraries and to eat at university dining halls. Wilson is banned from living in or visiting any dormitories. Should Wilson decide to come back, he will be on disciplinary probation for one year.
Land Between The Lakes recently hosted four public meetings to gather ideas on how to address the significant facilities, campgrounds, and roads maintenance budget challenge. LBL is seeking to identify at least $1 million in savings through decreased costs and increased revenue. LBL asks members of the public to review potential options and take the Budget Reductions Public Survey to provide ideas for the future of facilities and roads. The survey is available through May 21 on www.lb.org under Alerts & Notices.
Governor Beshear is ordering state office flags be lowered today to honor police officers. Today is Peace Officers Memorial Day. It's for all federal, state and local law officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Beshear invites all residents to participate.
An audit of the state Department of Agriculture under former commissioner Richie Farmer is in the hands of state boards. The Personnel Board voted to review the findings. The audit was also presented to the Executive Branch Ethic Commission. The audit alleges misuse of state funds under Farmer.
Scientists say the tobacco leaves that cause hundreds of thousands of deaths for smokers each year might be the key to preventing Parkinson's disease. U of L neurologist Dr. Robert Friedland said the tobacco mosaic virus causes antibodies that "may be protective against Parkinson's." Friedland hopes the discovery will eventually lead to a vaccine against the brain disorder.
When it comes to the best states for working moms, the Bluegrass State is not among the top. A report by the National Partnership for Women & Families ranks all states in the nation and considers policies on paid family leave benefits, use of sick days, and workplace support for nursing moms. Kentucky is number 24 with a "D" score, while the number one state is California.
Drivers in Kentucky should be pleased to find prices at the pump continue to drop. Last week, they fell an average seven-point-three cents to start the week at three-58 a gallon. Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan says that while pump prices may continue their decline outside the West Coast, any refinery blip certainly has the potential for localized hot spots.
The 19-year-old Memphis native and former Middle Tennessee State student charged with killing her roommate last year is found guilty of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence. The jury delivered the verdict yesterday for Shanterrica Madden in the death of MTSU women's basketball player, Tina Stewart, concluding the killing was intentional but not pre-meditated. Madden was out on bond but was taken into custody after the verdict. She faces 15 to 25 years for the murder and another three to six for tampering with evidence when sentenced July 16th.
Tennessee eighth-graders are making slight progress in science achievement. The 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress released scores yesterday showing the percentage of students scoring at or above proficiency rising from 28 to 31. The score is about the same as the national average and ranks Tennessee 32nd in the U.S.
