Beech Tree News Network

Check your Lucky for Life lottery tickets.  The winning numbers, 6-7-10-35-42-9, were drawn on Thursday, January 12th, and the ticket was purchased at Fastway 18, better known as Exit 27 in Morgantown. The first place prize - matching all six numbers - was $1,000 per day for life but nobody was able to match all six.  The second place prize - matching 5 of 6 numbers but not the "lucky ball" -  is worth $25,000 a year for life. This was the ticket sold in Morgantown - the only one.  The minimum payment period for the top and second prizes is 20 years.

Morgantown, KY-The Butler County Public Library announces its new website, which launched on January 2.
Director of the library Kenna Martin anticipates the new website will better meet the needs of residents by making it easier to find what is available at the library. 
Among the website’s new features is a calendar that gives users an easy way to see what programs are offered at the library. Other online features to explore include the online e-book library and the library catalog online.

The Butler County Board of Education met in regular session on Tuesday, January 10, at the Butler County Education Complex.  Board members Ryan Daugherty, Debbie Hammers, Amy Hood, and Delbert Johnson were in attendance. Judge-Executive David Fields administered the Oath of Office to newly re-elected board members Debbie Hammers and Ryan Daugherty.

On Monday January 9th the Butler County Fiscal Court met for its monthly meeting at the Butler County Courthouse.  All members - Stevie Givens, Johnny Tuck, Chad Tyree, Bobby Moore, and David Whittinghill - were in attendance, as well as Butler County Attorney Dick Deye, and several visitors.

FRANKFORT – Energy and Environment Secretary Charles Snavely announced Monday that about $1.06 million in grant funding has been awarded for the cleanup of 112 illegal dumps in 25 counties across the state. 

“Illegal dumping affects safety, property values and quality of life across the commonwealth,” Snavely said in a statement. “This grant program is a great way to assist counties in improving their local communities .”

On Thursday, January 5, at approximately 10:00 p.m. Officer James Embry of the Morgantown Police Department was attempting to locate Richard (Richie) Smith in order to serve an outstanding arrest warrant. 

Morgantown, KY January 6, 2017--  Local attorney, J. Marshall Hughes, recently worked with the Bruning Foundation to obtain a $5,000 donation for the Boys and Girls Club of Butler County.  The donation will be used to fund the organization’s “Power Hour” program.

“Power Hour” is an after school program where children receive an hour of homework assistance from high school and collegiate scholars.  The program encourages young students to succeed in their academics and work to reach their full potential.  An average of 100 children attend the program each day.

MORGANTOWN — Four people accused of being involved in a double homicide in which the bodies of two people were found in a burned-out car off a rural Butler County road appeared in court Wednesday to be arraigned.

Charles "Cotton" Lindsey, 33, of Roundhill, was arraigned in Butler Circuit Court on two counts of murder and one count each of first-degree arson and tampering with physical evidence. 

Lindsey held a baseball cap as he was brought into the courtroom separately from other inmates who had court appearances Wednesday.

In 2016 there were 34 coroner calls made by the Butler County Coroner’s office and 11 provisional of death reports signed for cremations to be done.
Of the 34 calls made:
2 were ruled natural deaths
11 provisional of deaths signed for cremation (this deceased by nine from 2015)
1 ruled suicide
5 ruled accidental deaths- 3 vehicle fatalities and two accidental overdose
Five homicides compared to 0 in 2015
One undetermined death

Beech Tree News provides courthouse statistics on a regular basis. Courthouse information provided in this article is a matter of public record. The following records are from Butler County Clerk and Circuit Clerk’s offices and cover December 13^th- 31^{, 2016.}

Civil Cases:

Artie Patton vs. Robert Jessup