Beech Tree News Network

Big South Realty and Auction would like to introduce our newest Realtor/Auctioneer Erin Moore.

Erin Moore is a licensed Realtor and Auctioneer in the state of Kentucky. Erin is a graduated from The Kentucky Auctioneer Academy as well as The Ward Elliot Institute and became a member of the Realtor Association of Southern Kentucky and the Kentucky Auctioneer Association. 

The Butler County Board of Education met in regular session on Tuesday, May 9, at 6:30 p.m. at Butler County High School. Board members Debbie Hammers, Amy Hood, Delbert Johnson, and Aimee Sanders were in attendance.  Ryan Daugherty was unable to attend due to work. 

District Finance Officer Eric Elms presented the financial report for April.  The balance at the beginning of the month was $2,178,418.07. The end-of-the-month balance was $2,278,822.40. 

The Morgantown Police Department arrived at 303 Elmer Drive at 5:18 am to investigate a house fire.  It appeared small fires had been set in the crawl space of the house under the southwest bedroom.  Shortly after arriving the fires were extinguished and the state fire marshall was called to determine the cause of the fire.  At approximately 8:40 am Alan Gregory, State Fire Marshall determined the fire was "unnatural" and would require further investigation.

Laura Pearson contacted the Butler County Sheriff's office after her three dogs were poisoned.  According to officials, someone had placed meat scraps laced with poison in the Bingham Cemetery in an attempt to lure the dogs.  All three dogs are dead as well as a crow that came into contact with the bait.  The investigation was turned over to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Department and the EPA. 

The Butler County Grand Jury returned indictments against 49 individuals on May 3, 2017. Charges include drug trafficking, theft, assault, and robbery. All arraignments are set for June 13, 2017, at 10:00 am.
Name: Annette Jared
Address: 1904 Jenkins Blvd, Morgantown, KY
DOB: 5/7/67
Charges: Theft by unlawful taking over $500 and unlawful access of a computer first degree
Bail: $25,000
Witness: Sgt. Denny Deweese, MPD
Name: Tyler Jenkins
Address: 69 Bluett Coy Road, Roundhill, KY
DOB: 11/13/93

KPA Board of Directors education representative Deborah Givens has been named chair of the Department of Communication at Eastern Kentucky University effective July 1.

Givens has taught journalism at EKU since 2006. She earned a Ph.D. in Communication at the University of Kentucky after a 20-year career as a weekly newspaper editor and publisher. She has a Master’s in Public Administration from Western Kentucky University and a Bachelor’s in Journalism from Ball State University. She began her newspaper career as an editor for Al Smith.

UPDATE: As of 5:24 p.m. missing cow has been found dead bringing total to 12 Cows DEAD.

UPDATE: As of 4:00 p.m. Sunday 3 more cows have died.  "I watched them fall over and die within 15 minutes of each other on Saturday afternoon," said Steve Ragland. 11 cows dead, 1 missing.

MORGANTOWN – A woman whose 5-month-old daughter died under suspicious circumstances was sentenced to 12 months of home incarceration on Wednesday, concluding a criminal case in which an earlier conviction against her for first-degree manslaughter was overturned.

Brittany Garcia, 27, was sentenced in Butler Circuit Court by Special Judge Kent Howard on a charge of second-degree manslaughter.

Garcia had pleaded guilty to the charge, accepting a plea agreement recommending monitored home confinement as an alternative sentence to 10 years in prison.

On Friday, May 5, Butler County Middle School Recognized its K-PREP Proficient and Distinguished award winners.  7th grade students (last year's 6th graders) and 8th grade students (last year's 7th graders) were honored at ceremonies at the school on Friday.

Butler County Judge Executive David Fields and Morgantown Mayor Billy Phelps signed a proclamation on Thursday afternoon at the Butler County Courthouse declaring the month of May as Older American Month in the county and city. Special quest centenarian Carson Cook was on hand for the signing. She was presented a plaque by the Barren River Area Developmnet District/Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living. Mrs. Cook celebrated her 100^th birthday in December 2016.