Beech Tree News Network

Courthouses will be closed statewide and all court services will be unavailable Monday, August 6, as the Kentucky Judicial Branch shuts down for the first of three furlough days in 2012. This will be the first time since Kentucky’s modern court system was formed in 1976 that the Judicial Branch must close courthouse doors to balance its budget.

"Final Finish is about bringing new business and services to Butler County, new things that haven't been done," said Eric Ingram, one of three brothers involved in the company. 

Located at 382 Gardner Lane in Morgantown, brothers Eric, 34, Jay, 32, and Chase, 29, are gradually transforming Final Finish from a standard body shop into a multi-service company with reach well beyond Butler County.

The first candidate has filed for the upcoming Morgantown City Council election. Dionne Cannon Merritt turned in her paperwork just after noon today in the Butler County Clerk's office.

The filing deadline for all upcoming local races is 4 pm on August 14th. Other elections being contested this fall include Mayor of Rochester and Woodbury; City Council in Rochester and Woodbury; Butler County Circuit Clerk; and school board seats for 1st, 2nd, and 5th districts. Elections will be held on November 6th.

A van caught fire a little after 6:30 pm ,on Wednesday evening, in the southbound lane of the William Natcher Parkway.  Morgantown Volunteer Fire Department responded but the van was totally engulfed when they arrived.  The driver, Yanier C. Alvarez of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and six passengers were traveling from Owensboro, where they work at Tyson.

Around 12:30pm Wednesday, July 25, Butler County EMS, Butler County Rescue Squad, Fourth District Fire Department, and Butler County Sheriff’s Deputy Heath West responded to a motorcycle accident in the 4,000 block of Love-Lee Road in Butler County.  Matt Hudson, 23, of Morgantown was riding a friend’s motorcycle when he lost control and wreck.  Hudson was not wearing a helmet.
Hudson was transported to the Medical Center at Bowling Green by Butler County EMS.

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 June 21 – July 22, 2012.

Corporate leaders and city officials were on hand Monday, July 23, as a local company was recognized for its work.  Corvac Composites, LLC, located on Industrial Drive in Morgantown, was honored with two Outstanding Awards from Honda - one of its primary cutomers. For the second year in a row, Corvac received the "Quality of Excellence" Award.  Additionally, the company received the "Excellence in Delivery" Award. Previously, Corvac has received similar awards from Toyota and Chrysler.  

It was a busy Saturday night for the Butler County Sheriff's Department as they set up roadblocks in the county as a part of Operation B.L.U.E. Lights. 5 people were arrested, 3 for DUI, and 14 citations were issued for infractions during the night.

Butler County Sheriff's Deputy Heath West said that the campaign is to "ensure that people are being safe and aren't driving impaired."

West wants to remind people that the current campaign will run through October 1st; during this time road checks will be set up sporadically across the county.

Shirley E.Givens, Butler County Clerk, pursuant to KRS 424.130, releases the 2011 Delinquent Property Tax Bills (Certificates of Delinquency). The list is also available for public inspection during the hours of 8-4 Monday-Friday, and 9-12 on Saturday at the County Clerk’s office at the Butler County Courthouse.

The list may also be inspected on the county’s website:

On Saturday evening just prior to 8:00pm a natural gas leak occurred on Highway 231 in Morgantown. The road was briefly closed and Sonic was shut down.  According to Randall Gaskey, Superintendent of Morgantown Utilities, Chad Johnson ruptured a 2” gas line on his property.