Beech Tree News Network

BOWLING GREEN --  A contractor will be closing a section of U.S. 231 (West GL Smith Street) in Morgantown beginning Tuesday, March 10 and setting up a detour.

The closure of U.S. 231 will be in both directions from Old Logansport Road to KY 70. Motorists will use KY 70 and Old Logansport Road as the detour. The closure is expected to last until midsummer. Boat Factory Road will still be accessible and access to businesses on the closed portion of U.S. 231 will be available on Old Logansport Road.

The Circuit Court Clerks of Kentucky made 2014 a momentous year in the fight to save lives.  With 998 Kentuckians on the waiting list for an organ transplant, there is no better time to join the Kentucky Organ Donor Registry.

West Central Kentucky gas prices rose eight cents to $2.281 according to AAA East Central’s Fuel Gauge report.

This week’s West Central Kentucky average price:  $2.281

Average price during the week of Feb. 23, 2015:  $2.204

Average price during the week of March 4, 2014:  $3.381

The following is a list of the average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas: 

Bowling Green:  $2.291

Elizabethtown:  $2.358

Louisville:  $2.291

Owensboro:  $2.249

Paducah:  $2.213

The Morgantown-Butler County Chamber of Commerce held its monthly luncheon on Thursday, February 26.  Chamber President James Runion welcomed everyone.  Morgantown Church of the Nazarene Pastor Ruth A. Morgan blessed the food. Green River Catering provided the food.

 On Wednesday, Butler County Sheriff Scottie Ward responded to an animal complaint on Rochester Road. 

“There were 22 dogs found at 8235 Rochester Road (South Hill).  The dogs had food and water but had been left loose in the house,” said Ward.

 The Butler County Sheriff's Department assisted Kentucky State Police in apprehending an Edmonson man wanted for raping two underage girls.

“We received a tip that Dalton was at a home in Butler County,” said Deputy Heath West.

 Jason Dalton, of Edmonson County, was arrested at a home on Leonard Oak Road in Butler County.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection are investigating a site in Ohio County where extremely high concentrations of the toxic element arsenic have been detected in the soil, state officials confirmed Wednesday.

Farmers, you may want to check your barn.  According to Butler County Sheriff Scottie Ward, there have been several thefts on local farms in recent weeks.

“Individuals are stealing barn wood off barns in the middle of the night,” said Ward.  There has been thefts on Carl Pharis Road, Neafus, Welcome Road, Long Branch School Road and Lumbstown Road.”

Butler County joined the growing list of counties in Kentucky with Right To Work ordinances on Monday night. The Butler County Fiscal Court voted 4-1 to approve the second reading of an ordinance "relating to the promotion of economic development and commerce by regulation of certain involuntary payments required of employees in Butler County. (Right To Work Ordinance)."

The Butler County Grand Jury returned indictments against 36 individuals on February10, 2015.  Arraignment date for all the individuals is March 10, 2015 at the Butler County Courthouse.  Charges include rape, sodomy, burglary,  theft, drugs, and flagrant non-support.