Beech Tree News Network

FRANKFORT - Kentucky’s annual unemployment rate dropped to 5 percent in 2016 from 5.3 percent in 2015, while nonfarm employment gained 28,100 jobs, according to the Office of Employment and Training. It was the lowest annual jobless rate for the state since 2000 when the rate was 4.2 percent.

Morgantown Elementary Principal Chad Flener was named Principal of the Year at the Kentucky School Counselors Conference in Lexington.  Every counselor is the state is encouraged to nominate a deserving Principal, MES counselor Linda Tyree nominated Flener.
Mrs. Tyree's nomination included the following:

McPherson Realty and Auction is pleased to announce Melissa L Embry as a new agent on our All-Star team. We are excited to have Melissa join the firm and invite her many friends, family and former clients to contact her for all your real estate needs.

Kentucky’s not even close to being the best state in the country, according to a rank­ing released Tuesday.

 Butler County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Monday, February 27, at the Butler County Courthouse.  Several were in attendance due to the anticipation of a vote concerning the 911 Dispatch Service in Butler County.  Once again First District Magistrate Stevie Givens made a motion to table Fourth District Magistrate David Whittinghill's motion for the county to take over fiscal control of the 911 Dispatch Service.  Fifth District Magistrate Bobby Moore provided

Bowling Green, KY  — Monday, February 27, 2017 — The Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center (SKyPAC) has announced the regional award recipients of the 2017 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards whose award winning works will be on exhibit in the Wedge Children’s Gallery now through Friday, March 10, 2017 with an award ceremony and reception honoring the students on Saturday, March 4, 2017 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM. 
 

Ronnie C. Dortch served as Circuit Court Judge for Kentucky's 38th Judicial Circuit consisting of Butler, Edmondson, Hancock and Ohio Counties from 1992 until his retirement on January 6, 2017. Prior to his retirement, the Judical Conduct Commission initiated a preliminary investigation upon receipt of information that, from 2014 to 2015, Judge Dortch engaged in a sexual relationship with a woman who was indicted in a felony criminal case in which he was presiding.

The World Trade Center Kentucky is proud to announce the Fall 2016 graduates of its International Trade Certification Program.

Some rejoice at the thought.  Others recoil.

Either way, it’s “very, very likely” charter schools are coming to Kentucky, said Rep. John “Bam” Carney, the House Education Committee chair who on Friday filed a bill that would allow an unlimited number of charter schools throughout the state.

Carney thinks the change will be methodical – “I certainly don’t expect charters to pop up all over Kentucky overnight” – but it’s time to acknowledge, he said, that for some students, they’re stuck right now in schools that aren’t serving them well.

FRANKFORT - Kentucky legislators took the first step Tuesday in creating a new way of funding higher education that would funnel $1 billion to public universities and colleges based on their graduation rates and other performance measures.

The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee voted 12-1 to pass Senate Bill 153, which has been under construction for months by university presidents, the Council on Postsecondary Education and Sen. David Givens, R-Greensburg.