Shelly Baskin

A Hickman man is in Graves County Jail after shooting at a Sheriff’s deputy Saturday afternoon. Sheriff Dewayne Redmon says 35 year old Terry Patterson was wanted for a non-violent warrant when he shot at the deputy, then led him on a 90 mile per hour chase through Kaler, Kentucky. Redmon says Patterson then pulled into a driveway and barricaded himself in his car for an hour. He says Patterson eventually disarmed himself and was arrested.

Madisonville’s new curbside recycling program is bringing down city sanitation costs. City Sanitation Superintendent Robert Janes says when more people recycle the city makes more money from material sales, and spends less money on dumping fees. Janes says about 25 percent of city residents are using the free program, which started October first. He says they’re now trying to expand it. He says,

“The ultimate goal for us is to do curbside recycling every week instead of every other week, and then doing our trash pickup every other week. That’s our ultimate goal.”

Murray State University’s Homecoming festivities will include a celebration for reaching a 70 million-dollar capital campaign goal and the dedication of the newly named College of Business and hall of benefactors. The newly renamed Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business holds a reception and dedication Friday starting at 1:30 pm in the lobby. Following that will be the dedication of Heritage Hall, which will house the Hall of Benefactors and several university offices. MSU Alumnus Jesse. D. Jones made gifts allowing the construction of Heritage Hall.

After three years and several setbacks, the Hopkins County – Madisonville Public Library is getting a new building. Library Vice-President Gary Hunt says board members voted Tuesday to authorize the purchase of a former Save-A-Lot grocery building close to downtown Madisonville. 

The Kentucky Board of Education recognized two West Kentucky educators for their outstanding leadership and promotion of learning in the commonwealth. The KBE awarded former Murray State President Kern Alexander and McNabb Elementary principal Gregory Ross the Dr. Samuel Robinson Award at their meeting yesterday. McNabb Elementary teacher Julie Gargus nominated Ross, saying he embodied the best qualities of teaching. Michael Buckman nominated Alexander, praising his long involvement in public education.

Murray State President Dr. Randy Dunn will address the campus today for his 2012 State of the University. Dunn's remarks will focus on what he calls “The Three Prongs of Murray State University's Future.” How involved Dunn will be in that future is uncertain at this point; the president just returned from an on-campus interview for the top position at Missouri State University in Springfield. The address takes place in the Wrather Museum Auditorium at 3 pm.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report shows that Kentucky medical facilities did not receive tainted steroids responsible for a fungal meningitis outbreak that has killed 11 people in the US. However, the Kentucky Department for Public Health reports that five Kentuckians have been diagnosed with the illness after receiving the epidural injections in Tennessee medical facilities.

Local voters will decide next month whether to move forward with a Paducah and McCracken County government merger. WKMS News held a debate this morning with two men on either side of the issue. Speaking for the measure was Paducah businessman John Williams Jr., and against it, McCracken County Judge Executive Van Newberry. Williams says bigger is better when it comes to getting support for the area. He says,

Princeton’s city council voted last night to pass the second reading of their new alcohol ordinance. Mayor Gayle Cherry says applications will now be accepted for the city’s two available liquor store licenses. She says it will be at least a couple of months before the stores open. City residents voted in August to go wet. The proposed measure allows businesses to sell alcohol from 7 a.m. to midnight, except on Sunday. Liquor stores may not be located within 1,000 feet of a school or within 200 feet of a church.

Westlake Chemical Company is increasing their investment in their Calvert City plant by more than $200 million. Westlake Chemical is an international petrochemical and polymer producer. The Calvert City plant employs about 400 people.