Beech Tree News Network

A local option petition launched this summer that would put the question of legal alcohol sales to local voters was officially submitted to the office of the Butler County Clerk earlier this afternoon for verification.  According to organizers with the group Citizens for a Better Butler County, over 2,000 signatures were gathered from local residents asking that the measure be considered by voters at a special election.  A total of 1,038 signatures are required to put the question on the ballot based on figures from the 2014 General Election.  Once received, the county clerk's office will b

New business Graham Central Station opened its doors at 1940 Beaver Dam Rd. in Aberdeen to the public Saturday the 24th. The store sells unique repurposed furniture, handmade Butler County High School and college sports memorabilia, antiques, vintage and retro collectibles, dishware, jewelry and custom light fixtures. The business opens from 9AM-5PM Tuesday through Saturday.

Morgantown Utilities is moving to their new location 1308 South Main Street, the former Morgantown Bank Morgan Manor location. According to Utility Superintendent Randall Gaskey they will be open at the new location November 16, 2015, to better serve their customers. 

With a cornhole tournament, live music, inflatables, face-painting and plenty of ice cream, the 3rd Annual Morgantown Bank and Trust Ice Cream Social went off without a hitch on Saturday, September 26.  The event took place in the area around the main bank location from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
Organizers were pleased with the turnout.

Several months ago a group from Morgantown traveled to Washington, D.C. to visit the Chinese Embassy.  Mayor Billy Phelps, Dr. Richard T. Wan, Greg Drake, and Kathern Jennings met with the Economic and Commercial Minister Counselor Tian Deyou and invited him to Morgantown.  That invitation resulted in a visit this week by the Chinese delegation.  Deyou was accompanied by Chen Yong, Qian Bin and Huang Jie, secretaries to the minister.

The ongoing legal proceedings against Timmy West, former Butler County Road Supervisor, took another twist last week when his motion to dismiss the citation and suppress evidence was rejected by Butler District Court Judge Renona C. Browning.  West, 43, was arrested while operating a county vehicle on July 3 for suspicion of driving under the influence and for other charges related to the possession of Hydrocodone.  West entered a plea of not guilty on July 23.  He resigned his position with the county on July 31.

A pair of local educators will be moving to Butler County Central Office with the start of the 2015-16 school year.  Robert Tuck, who is principal at Butler County Middle School (B.C.M.S.), will assume new responsibilities as Instruction Supervisor for middle and high school. 

Nearly 150 eighth grade students were recognized on May 28 for completion of their middle school studies and advancement to high school, as well as for various academic and attendance awards.

The Morgantown City Council acted to reduce pay for the Morgantown Utilities Board and to correct problems with ordinances covering the various boards in their regular meeting on Thursday, and it selected a new city clerk and two Utilities Board members.  Council member Allen Meredith was in the hospital and not in attendance.

What started as a mobile home fire in north Butler County has resulted in the arrest of two individuals for manufacturing methamphetamine.  Barry and Sherry Joiner of 6863 Caneyville Road are both facing meth charges after a fire broke out at their mobile home across from the 5th District Fire Department.