Beech Tree News Network

Butler County students and their families will get a big helping hand going back to school this year thanks to Stuff the Van, and Stuff the Bus.

Stuff the Van is a cooperative effort of the Morgantown Mission, the Butler County Family Resource Center, and The New Q-101.5 WLBQ. On Friday, July 15th, vans were parked at Family Dollar and Dollar General Market in Morgantown, and shoppers were encouraged to stuff the vans with school supplies for local students. Shopping lists were provided to give shoppers an idea of what to buy to help the cause.

*UPDATE*

Munfordville, KY (July 26, 2016) – Through investigation it has been determined that the body found in the Green River in Hart County on July 23, 2016 has been identified as 22 year old female Kristen Edwards of Barren County.
This investigation is still ongoing and being conducted as a Murder, and for that reason, no other details can be released at this time.
Anyone with information in reference to this case or Ms. Edwards is asked to please call the Kentucky State Police at (270)782-2010.

On Thursday Morgantown Police Officer Denny Deweese and Chief Giles Taylor executed a search warrant on the residence of Lana M. Russ, 39, of Morgantown. When the officers attempted to serve the warrant Russ refused to answer the door, and was later found hiding in a closet in the residence. Also in the home was Nathaniel A. Lloyd, 32 of Osceola, Arkansas.

Data from the KY Mesonet site near Woodbury tell that we had slightly over 10 inches of rain during the first two weeks of July.  Many places in the county saw rain totals even higher.  According to USGS data, the Green River at Woodbury crested at nearly 35 feet on July 10.  USGS (United States Geological Survey) calls flood stage 27 feet. 

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 the Butler County Clerk and Circuit Clerk’s offices and cover July 1-17th.
Deeds:
Brandi and Nathan Amos to Brandi and Nathan Amos, property on or near Hwy 70, deed for survivorship
John D. Annis Jr., James P. Rogers Revocable Trust, Charles Cecil and  Lynne Martin  to John D. Annis Jr., property on or near Taylors Lake Road, division of property

United Way of Southern Kentucky announced today that Southern Kentucky 2-1-1 services are now available to the 10-county BRADD region.

A local option ("wet-dry") petition submitted for the city of Woodbury has been rejected due to its date of submission.  The decision was reached last week after Butler County Judge-Executive David Fields received the petition from Butler County Clerk Sherry Johnson, whose office had received the petition from Citizens for a Better Butler County for the city of Woodbury.  Fields sent the petition to Butler County Attorney Richard Deye, who reviewed the petition.  According to Mr.

Smith Funeral Home was recently recognized by the Kentucky Funeral Directors Association as  being in service as a funeral home for 130 years. The recognition came during the 134th KFDA Annual Convention, held June 28-30 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville.
        Smith Funeral Home was founded in 1886 by B.F. Smith and is currently owned by Rachel and Josh Givens and Keith and Penni Lee. The business is the third-oldest business in Butler County and among the oldest funeral homes in the Commonwealth.

The City of Morgantown is in the process of applying for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in order to secure the funds to remodel Morgantown City Hall.  The project would include an addition of an elevator and handicap accessibility.   On Thursday, July 14, at 5 p.m. there was a public forum at the Eva J. Hawes Building at the Charles Black City Park. 

A new police chief will soon be on the job in Morgantown.  On Thursday night, Morgantown City Council hired Giles Taylor as the new Chief of Police on a unanimous 6-0 vote.   In 2003, Taylor graduated the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Program (The Kentucky Police Academy) becoming a certified Police Officer.  He remained in Morgantown until 2007, when he went to work for the Todd County Detention Center as a training officer. He has also worked as a commissioned Police Officer serving the Logan County Sheriff's Office.