Beech Tree News Network

    A Chinese company is buying the Aleris Corp. -- Hancock County's largest employer -- for $2.33 billion.

    But Mike Keown, a Hawesville native who is senior vice president of Aleris and president of Aleris North America, said no changes are planned.

    The corporate name, management and products will remain the same, he said. And the $350 million expansion of the company's Lewisport rolling mill will continue.

    That's welcome news for the 700-plus Hancock County employees and for the county at large.

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 August 1-23rd.

Civil Cases:
Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance, Inc. vs. Morris Key
Allstate Mobile Home Transort, LLC. vs. T S Trucking
Kentucky Housing Corporation vs. Cody E. Everley

**Update**

Bowling Green, KY (August 28, 2016)- The body of a male that was found in the Drakes Creek yesterday in Warren County has been identified as 30 year old Victor Thomas of Bowling Green.
The investigation is still ongoing but at this time foul play is not suspected.  No further information can be released at this time.

Kevin R. Dye, 34, of 2420 Russellville Road, was arrested on Thursday, August 25, 2016, by the Kentucky State Police and charged with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.  The Butler County Sheriff's Department charged Dye with receiving stolen property (Firearm).  A search warrant on his residence recovered the firearm that had been stolen from a neighbor's home.  Dye is lodged in the Butler County Jail. The investgation is ongoing.

Two Butler County schools started the school year with new administrators. Butler County High School welcomed Adam Gish as their new assistant principal, and former Butler County Middle School teacher, Cody Donaldson, transitioned to assistant principal at the middle school.

Butler County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Monday, August 22, at the courthouse.  After approving minutes from the last four fiscal court meetings, magistrates on a 5-0 vote, approved the contract agreement with Green River Equipment Leasing for the Leonard Oak Boat Ramps at the cost of $125,312.50.
The next item on the agenda was setting the county tax rate and acceptance of the health and library tax rates for 2016.  The county tax rate remained the same at 8.2% for real estate and tangibles. 

Rebecca’s on Main, a new eatery opened its doors on Friday, August 19th on Main Street in the historic Morgantown Bank & Trust located beside Five Seasons Florist.

Owner Rebecca Richardson began renovations in April and after months of tearing down partitions and several layers of old flooring, Rebecca discovered the beauty and history of the place she was renting.

The Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation awarded the Butler County Animal Shelter with a $600 grant from the Animal Shelter Assistance program on Thursday.

In order to remain globally competitive, Kentucky manufacturers need a supply of highly qualified, technically-minded individuals. The Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing (KY FAME) was established to assist with meeting this need. The Southcentral Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (SKY FAME) is a partnership of regional manufacturers whose purpose is to implement a work-and-learn style training that will create a pipeline of highly skilled workers.

On August 22, 2016, Morgantown Police Department Sgt. Denny Deweese and Chief Giles Taylor responded to 317 Dave Gaskey Lane in regards to an illegal drug complaint that they had received.  While at the location unlawful drug paraphernalia and pills was found inside the residence.