Beech Tree News Network

The Morgantown City Council decided to pursue a raise in the property tax rate that would be equal to “a penny on $100” at their regular monthly meeting Thursday night.  The Council also favored increasing penalties for delinquent property tax and blighted property and proposed to change how the police chief gets paid to comply with state law.  Council member Sharon Johnson was absent from the meeting.
 

Monday night was the regular monthly meeting of the Butler County Fiscal Court. All members were in attendance along with a few interested bystanders.

After approving the minutes of prior meetings, the squires approved litter abatement payments to: Woodbury Lodge-Grand Lodge of Kentucky--$595, Gilstrap Community Center--$584, BCHS Soccer Boosters--$612, Butler County Shrine Club--$602. A blanket motion to make the payments passed by a 5-0 vote.

Pam Fazel, a veteran educator, has been named assistant principal at Butler County Middle School.  The hiring was announced by Principal Tim Freeman just prior to the start of the school year.  Fazel's hiring completes a summer of transition for the middle school as Fazel takes over as assistant principal for Freeman, who was hired as principal after Robert Tuck moved to Central Office as a middle/high school instructional supervisor.  Also, at the middle school, Sherlyn Bratcher was hired earlier this summer as the new guidance counselor, replacing Dr. Ron Harpe, who retired. 

The questions have been debated in Kentucky for years:

Should public schools start in early August or after Labor Day?

Should the school year end by Memorial Day or in mid-June?

School districts in some states start after Labor Day, but Kentucky districts, over time, have started the year earlier and earlier.

The search for a missing man on Green River ended Monday morning with the recovery of his body.

Search and rescue teams located the body of Phillip Leedy, 42, of Bowling Green, Monday morning after he had gone missing on Friday while canoeing the Green River.

According to the Warren County Rescue Department, Leedy's body was located shortly after 11 a.m. on Sunday.

The Butler County Fiscal Court held a special session on Monday night. All magistrates were present.

Outgoing Emergency Management Director Terry Hunt was scheduled to appear before the Court. However, Hunt was unable to attend. Fifth District Magistrate Bobby Moore reported to the Court that the county will receive "a little over $41,000" in aid from FEMA for the two late-winter snow storms that struck the region.

On Friday afternoon Butler County Judge Executive David Fields and Morgantown Mayor Billy Phelps signed a proclamation declaring August Purple Heart Month in the County and City, encouraging Butler County residents to show their appreciation for the sacrifices Purple Heart recipients have made in defending our freedoms, to acknowledge their courage and to show them the honor and support they have earned. They were joined by V.F.W. Post 5837 Ladies Auxiliary President Lynda Knight, V.F.W Post 5837 Ladies Auxiliary Americanism Chairman, and Veteran Sharone Nash , Purple Heart Recipient.

School starts in Butler County on Thursday, August 6th, and thanks to some help from D93’s Tony Rose, some of the returning students will have free school supplies.
Rose annually conducts the Stuff the Bus promotion to gather supplies for area students. Rose’s stuffed bus dropped off pencils, pencil boxes, note books, folders, and other supplies at the studios of WLBQ 101.5FM in Morgantown on Thursday, and those supplies will be distributed to local students.

At its 2015 Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference, Greg Drake II was recognized by the National Association of County Agriculture Agents.  The NACAA communication awards program recognizes Extension educators that excel in communicating with the public about agriculture issues and Cooperative Extension programs.  Drake was recognized in the “Radio Program” award division for a segment of “Butler County Ag.

More Than 1,200 Volunteers Participate in United Way of Southern Kentucky’s Seventh Annual Day of Caring