Beech Tree News Network

The deadline is over, and the ballot is set for the November election.  On the November ballot, in addition to high-profile races for the U.S. Senate and U.S. President, will be several local offices. 

Rochester and Woodbury will elect a mayor and city council/commission positions.  Morgantown will elect six city council positions.  Morgantown Mayor Billy Phelps will be up for reelection in two years.

There were several Butler County citizens at the Butler County Extension Office for a meet and greet with Congressman Brett Guthrie and his staff. Among attendees were several elected officials including: Butler County PVA Suzanne Brosnan, Judge David Fields, Mayor Billy Phelps, County Court Clerk Sherry Johnson, Magistrates Stevie Givens, Chad Tyree and David Whittinghill, County Attorney Richard Deye, City Councilmen Ronald Givens and Russell Givens, Butler County Surveyor Cody Henderson, Morgantown Police Chief Giles Taylor and Commonwealth Attorney Tim Coleman.

2016 Back to School Bash was a huge success.  A total of 422 (255 from the elementary and 167 from middle/high) students received free school supplies.   The bash featured free swimming, food, and fun for kids along with getting their free school supplies.
  

Butler County Minority Business owner, Linda J Hawkins represented her company at the (Minority Business Expo) MBA Expo in Lexington, Kentucky, Aug 4, 2016. Expo was titled, Building a Bridge to Opportunities. She met with director Ed Webb of International sales for Kentucky Exports. They extended an invitation for Mrs. Hawkins to visit Japan in 2017 with the International Trade group.
Lt. Governor Jenean Hampton was keynote speaker, also taking time to visit the Heart to Heart Publishing booth and interacted with Mrs. Hawkins about her publishing house.

The Morgantown Police Department and Butler County Sheriff's Department is looking for the following individual, Michael W. Todd, 24, height 6'1, weight 140, brown hair and hazel eyes. He is wanted for Wanton Endangerment, first degree.

On Tuesday, August 2, 2016, Morgantown Police Sargeant Denny Deweese and Chief Giles Taylor responded to 204 Thomas Street. 

Through investigation, a resident at the location had an active warrant for his arrest.  During the investigation, illegal drugs, and drug paraphernalia were found in the residence.

Signatures on three petitions for Local Option "Wet-Dry" elections that were submitted on July 25 have been verified by the Butler County County Clerk's office and an election date has been set for Tuesday, September 27, by Judge-Executive David Fields.  The petitions for the Butler County cities of Morgantown, Woodbury, and Rochester were submitted by Josh Hampton, spokesperson for Citizens for a Better Butler County, the group that conducted the petition drive last year that resulted in a countywide vote in January.  That effort came up short by a little over 300 votes.   

The Morgantown -Butler County Chamber of Commerce held its monthly luncheon last week at the Butler County Extension Office.  PBI Bank was the monthly sponsor and John Taylor, President/CEO of PBI Bank, shared a little background about himself, of PBI Bank, and the future of banking.
Raised in Chicago, Taylor attended the University of Kentucky on a swimming scholarship, earning a Bachelor's degree in business. Not happy with his job, Taylor was encouraged to return to school to take more classes in finance.

The Butler County Fiscal Court held its final regular meeting for July on Monday night, July 25th. All members were present.

One item of old business awaited the Court. Magistrates needed to make a decision regarding funding paving for North Logan School Road, in the 3rd District.

A Morgantown woman working in a road crew was injured Thursday after trying to escape from an oncoming vehicle in a construction zone on Interstate 65.

Tonya Pannell, 52, was directing traffic near a stalled semi-truck when she saw an approaching vehicle and attempted to climb the barrier wall. The vehicle swerved to avoid the semi and struck the wall, at which point Pannell fell onto the car's hood and then flipped over the wall, according to a news release from the Department of Highways.