Beech Tree News Network

Butler County High School juniors taking the ACT college-entrance exam during the 2011-12 school year showed improvement from the previous year. 43.5% of the students met CPE benchmark standards in English, 25.4% met the benchmark in Mathematics, and 37% met the benchmark in Reading. This year improvement has been made in both English and reading. The percentage of students meeting the benchmark in mathematics is down by 1.6% from last year.

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 County Clerk and Circuit Clerk’s offices and cover July 23 – August 22, 2012.

The Butler County Fiscal Court met briefly on Wednesday afternoon to act on some items of business that couldn’t be postponed until the next regular meeting. Magistrate Keith Daugherty was absent from the meeting.

UPDATE: According to DART officials the strong odor that cause tenants to be evacuated was a combination of several household cleaning products and furniture refinishing chemicals.

Eight tenants in Building B at Oak Hill Apartments have been evacuated after a break-in of the manager’s office.  According to Morgantown Police Sergeant Andy Gidcumb the manager, Cody Flemmings’ office was vandalized.

“Several items were taken and the office was trashed,” said Gidcumb.

Kids On the Block is coming to Butler County Schools.  South Central Kentucky Kids on the block provides on-going education and prevention through puppetry for children and the community at large, in physical challenges, medical conditions, social issues and safety concerns. 

The Bullies and School Safety program has been scheduled at both elementary schools, they will be performing at Morgantown Elementary on September  10, at 8:30a.m. for 350 students in grades 3-5 and at North Butler on September 20, at 9:00a.m., for 300 students in grades K-5.

The Butler County Grand Jury returned indictments against 20 individuals on August 14, 2012. Charges include murder, rape, theft, assault, unlawful transaction with a minor, and drugs.  The arraignment date for all individuals listed below is October 2, 2012, at 10:00a.m. at the Butler County Courthouse.

Public Advised to Avoid Eating Melons Grown in Southwestern Indiana: The Department for Public Health (DPH) today reported that  cantaloupes tested in the state public health laboratory carry the same strain of Salmonella associated with a statewide outbreak that health officials say is still ongoing.

Retired US Army Staff Sergeant Don Jenkins received a Medal of Honor tribute Thursday morning at the Butler County High School Library/Media Center. The tribute was put together by Retired US Army Sergeant First Class Richard Powers for Jenkins. Powers presented the tribute to Jenkins at BCHS in front of a small crowd, including members of the Butler County Chapter NSDAR, VFW Ladies Auxillary, as well as members of the Butler County Sheriff's Department, Morgantown Police Department, and the Kentucky State Police.

During the night of August 10, unknown person or persons gained entry into unlocked vehicles in the area of Hillview Drive. Stolen from the vehicles were items including: CD`s, extension cords, personal checks, shoes, and jumper cables.

Through the course of the investigation, officers developed a suspect in the case and recovered the stolen property listed above and collected  $1,762.85 worth of forged checks that were written at: IGA, Sav-A-Lot, Bo's Smoke Shop, Fastway, and Pizza Zone in Morgantown.

Joseph Micheal Brooks (DOB 7/22/46) failed to make a curve this morning while traveling southbound on Rochester Road.  His motorcycle left the road and crashed Brooks was wearing a helment. He was transported by Air Evac to Evansville.

The Butler County Rescue Squad, Morgantown Fire Department, Butler County Ambulance Service, and Butler County Sheriff's Department responded to the accident.