Beech Tree News Network

A Morgantown plant is set to receive $400,000 in tax credits to help expand its facility.  The announcement was made today by State Representative C.B. Embry, R-Morgantown (17th District) that Delta Plastics Company has received approval for up to $400,000 in tax credits from the Cabinet for Economic Development toward the expansion of their Morgantown facility.

After a conditional resignation and much discussion in the community, local school chief Scott Howard has decided to remain as superintendent with the  Butler County School District.  That decision was made official earlier tonight at a called meeting of the Butler County Board of Education .  At the meeting Howard withdrew his resignation and the Board unanimously approved that decision. 

A Morgantown man is in custody tonight after he drove his pick-up truck into a mobile home. Edward W. (Eddie) Hall,58, of Morgantown, was arrested earlier tonight after his vehicle left the road and crashed into a mobile home at 167 McKendree Chapel Road.  The owners, Gary and Beverly Dalton, were in the home at the time but were not injured.  After failing a field sobriety test and breathalyzer, Hall was placed under arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol and placed in a Kentucky State Police cruiser.  Air bags were deployed in Hall's truck.

After five years at the helm of the Butler County School District, Superintendent Scott Howard has announced his intention to resign from the position.  Howard made the announcement earlier tonight at a called meeting of the Butler County Board of Education.  The superintendent cited a desire to spend more time with his family and ready for a new challenge as contributing factors for his decision.  Howard said he is interested in remaining in the Butler County School District in some capacity.

In a letter released at the meeting Howard said the following:

UPDATE: The names of the individuals involved in Sunday's accident has been released.  The driver was a 37 year old male, Silasgarzas Vivas of Libertyville, Ohio.  He was air lifted to Vanderbilt and his condition is unknown at this time. Male passenger, Jose Santos Salique-Guzman, 36, of Beaver Dam, Kentucky, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident by Deputy Butler County Corner, Brian McKinney.

Ron Bunch, president and CEO, of the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce brought a message to Morgantown on Thursday advocating a regional approach to economic development - a strategy that he says has brought over 500 jobs to Butler County over the last 2-3 years.  Bunch was in town as the featured speaker at the Morgantown-Butler County Chamber of Commerce's July luncheon.  As the BG Chamber's top executive, Bunch said the regional approach is market driven as counties are not competing against other counties when it comes to economic development but rather are competing against other

Local firemen from multiple departments responded to and early morning fire in the Sugar Grove area of Butler County.  The house, located at 4359 Sugar Grove Road, was destroyed in the blaze.  Nobody was in the home at the time of the fire and no fire-related injuries were reported. The house was owned by Greg and Melissa Hayes and was occupied by Ashley Kane.

According to a neighbor, the fire started around 3:30 a.m.  Firefighters from the Second District, Third District, Fifth District, and Morgantown departments all responded to the scene.   

A Morgantown woman is recuperating today after being bit by dog - a red Pit Bull - yesterday in the parking lot of a local business.  

Wanda L. Embry, wife of State Representative C.B. Embry Jr., was attacked yesterday afternoon shortly before 3 p.m. as she was attempting to enter The Kompany Hair and Day Spa, located on G.L. Smith Street in Morgantown.  

"This is a really, really stupid idea."  With those words, Morgantown Police Chief Billy Phelps made clear to Beech Tree News where he stands on the possibility of the Morgantown Police Department being disbanded in favor of the city contracting with the Butler County Sheriff's Department for police services.  

Kentucky had a primary election on Tuesday, May 22, and only 6 percent of Butler County's registered voters showed up at the polls.  Since no locally contested races were on the ballot, voters only had a presidential primary from which to choose.  With President Barack Obama running unopposed on the Democratic ticket and with Republican Mitt Romney essentially having secured his party's nomination, most voters chose to stay home.