Beech Tree News Network

UPDATE: Sandra Clark and Craig Clark pled guilty to second degree animal cruelty in Butler County Court.  The pair was sentenced to 180 days of jail time, must pay the veterinarian bills totaling more than $1,000, paid the Butler County Animal Shelter for housing the animals, and are expected to make a $250 donation to the Shelter. 

The jail time and $250 of their fine was suspended under the following conditions: 

The city of Morgantown's Industrial Holding Corporation (I.H.C.) met  Monday night, December 22, in a called meeting at the Eva J. Hawes Community Building.  The I.H.C, which consists of the members of the Morgantown City Council, approved the minutes from the November 13, 2014 meeting.  Next, they discussed liability insurance for the I.H.C. board. 
“We haven’t had any liability insurance for the I.H.C. board,” said Mayor Linda Keown. 
The council approved the purchase of liability insurance for the I.H.C. board at the cost of $1,679.70 per year.

A familiar face will be leaving the Butler County Courthouse at the end of the year but another one will be taking her place.  Butler County Clerk Shirley Givens is retiring at the end of her term on December 31 and longtime deputy clerk Sherry Johnson will be taking over as the new clerk.  Both Givens and Johnson - cousins - are veterans of the office.  

A 2006 Butler County High School  graduate has come back to Morgantown to open a new business.  Dr. Ryan Jackson is the owner Jackson Chiropractic, PLLC, one of Morgantown's newest businesses.  Jackson Chiropractic is located at 119 West Ohio Street (Suite B) in Morgantown - which is actually directly behind PBI Bank.  A ribbon-cutting ceremony with local officials, joined by family and friends, was held last week.    

Monday, December 1, marks a transition in the lives to two women who have served the citizens of Butler County for three decades. 

Local firefighters and emergency personnel responded to a fire this afternoon, Friday, November 28, at Aleris International's Morgantown plant on Gardner Lane.  The fire apparently started in the shredder building of the facility - not in the main part of the plant.  As of approximately 5:00 p.m. the fire was contained, though still burning.  No injuries were reported.

Plant operations are continuing as scheduled with workers reporting to evening shifts.    

All county fire departments responded, as well Butler County EMS and members of the Butler County Rescue Squad.

The Butler County Sheriff's Department, in cooperation with the Butler County School District, has placed an additional resource officer at a local school. 
According to Butler County Sheriff Scottie Ward, Deputy Jaman Childers has been sworn in as a part-time deputy sheriff.  Deputy Childers will be working three days per week, 24 hours, and will split his time between North Butler Elementary and Morgantown Elementary.  Childers, a Butler County native, recently retired from the Kentucky State Police.

Although Kentucky Cooper was not on the agenda, discussion of the current situation with the company dominated last week's council meeting, which was held Thursday, November 13, at the Eva J. Hawes building.  According to city officials, Kentucky Cooper has not made a payment on their loan several months and time is running out for them to do so.  

"These are the people who have given us freedom in our country," said U.S. Army veteran Doug Odle, referring to the veterans standing on the Butler County High School gynasium floor.  Mr. Odle's comments came after the veteran recognition portion of the annual community Veterans' Day program - "Butler County Salutes our Veterans" - held at the high school.  The crowd gave those in attendance a rousing standing ovation in appreciation for their service.

A Butler County man convicted of sexual abuse in 2011 has been court-ordered to pay his victim more than $1.8 million dollars.

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Russell, on Tuesday, ordered Jeffrey Lawan Renfrow to pay $1,896,800 in damages to the victim.