- Residents, visitors experience total solar eclipse: While predictions of just how many visitors this unique celestial event would bring to the area fell short, the first total solar eclipse to be visible from coast to coast in the U.S. drew thousands from around the world to the region to view totality, and traffic counts increased significantly in some areas. According to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet numbers, U.S. Highway 641 in Marshall County saw a 43 percent increase in vehicles traveling the roadways Aug. 19-21, the weekend of the eclipse. Preparations for the event began months to years in advance, on behalf of emergency personnel and businesses. State parks hosted a variety of events in the days leading up to the eclipse.
Defense attorney Mark Bryant (center) goes over paperwork with Tim King (left) and Becky King during an arraignment hearing in Mayfield.
- Filbeck-Cann and King owners indicted on suspicion of fraud: After months of speculation and rumor, Tim and Becky King in September were indicted on several felony and misdemeanor charges, including fraud, theft and forgery. The Kentucky Department of Insurance and Kentucky State Police launched an investigation in February and conducted a search on the Kings’ property and funeral home in early May in response to a referral from Investors Heritage Insurance in February alleging that the Kings had collected money for pre-need burial policies and did not forward the payments and applications to secure those policies. Investigators believe the activities took place at varying points from 2007 through 2016 and totaled more than $311,000. The Kings have pleaded not guilty, and a special judge – Tim Starks, Graves County Circuit Court Judge – has been assigned to preside over the case. They are due back in court Feb. 5 for a status hearing.
Dalton Lampley (right) stands with his attorney Jeremy Ian Smith Thursday, Nov. 16 in Marshall County Circuit Court in Benton. Lampley, accused of numerous felonies after allegedly driving the wrong way down I-24, must undergo two mental evaluations to determine competency before court proceedings can continue. - Garbage truck driver heads wrong way down I-24, leaves destruction in his wake: Dalton Lampley, a 24-year-old driver for Waste Path in Calvert City, was arrested in March after he allegedly drove a Waste Path garbage truck the wrong way down I-24 beginning near Paducah, reportedly causing multiple collisions and leading police on a pursuit into Marshall County. The chase reportedly ended when officers deployed spike strips on U.S. Highway 62 in Calvert City, deflating tires on the vehicle and causing the driver to strike a guard rail. Lampley was allegedly discovered to be in possession of and under the influence of methamphetamine upon his arrest. He also faces felony charges in McCracken County in connection to the incident. Hearings in the case have been halted pending the results of two mental competency evaluations. He remains scheduled for a status hearing Jan. 9 in Marshall County.
- Two indicted on federal charges in Calvert City overdose death: Two Marshall County men could face life in prison after they were indicted in federal court in June on suspicion of intentionally distributing U-4, commonly known as “Pink.” Federal investigators allege Jevan Sheppard imported substances containing detectable amounts of U-4 from China, and that both he and Thomas Hardin conspired for about four months – from Nov. 14, 2016, to March 22, 2017 – to distribute the substance, which ultimately led to the overdose death of 23-year-old Taylor May.
May and his brother, 18-year-old Karson May, were discovered unresponsive about March 14 at their Calvert City residence after police say they had used the drug. Taylor May died at the residence; Karson May was hospitalized with serious injuries as a result. Hardin and Sheppard were arrested about a week later. The two later had state charges set aside to allow for federal prosecution in the case. Sheppard and Hardin were the first defendants to be charged with U-4 distribution resulting in death in the Western District of Kentucky.
Kori Lane, far left, awaits her arraignment Tuesday in Marshall County Circuit Court. - Paducah teen charged in DUI death of Marshall County girl: A Paducah teenager was arrested in May and initially charged with murder in the DUI death of 16-year-old Sierria D. Jones of Marshall County. Kori E. Lane, now 19, was allegedly driving recklessly and speeding down Griggstown Road when she lost control of her vehicle, which left the road and struck a tree, killing Jones at the scene. Lane and Jones were allegedly drinking before the accident took place. Charges were later amended to second-degree manslaughter, after County Attorney Jeff Edwards said blood alcohol levels came back lower than first expected. Proceedings were postponed to allow Lane to complete substance abuse treatment and counseling; she appeared earlier this month in Marshall County Circuit Court for arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty. She is scheduled for a status hearing March 29.
A Calvert City man, 25-year-old Benjamin “Buddy” Pierce has been charged in connection to the incident. Pierce faces third-degree unlawful transaction with a minor charges; police allege Pierce provided the alcohol Lane and Jones consumed the night of the accident.
- County options 300-acre site for industrial park: Marshall County Commissioners Bob Gold, Johnny Bowlin and Dr. Rick Cocke on Dec. 5 authorized Judge-Executive Kevin Neal to sign a three-year option agreement for 300 acres on the southwest side of U.S. 641 South across from South Marshall Middle School at a cost of $30,000 annually. Neal said the court identified 10 industrial park locations in a 2015 study and the U.S. 641 site was No. 2 on the list.
The site is known as Southwest One, and the yearly option fee will be paid from funding generated through the Purchase Regional Park, and provided by Purchase Area Development District grants.
Fire crews work to extinguish the flames in September from Allendale Apartments in Benton. - Residents displaced after apartment complex catches fire: More than 20 residents of 15 rental units in the Allendale Apartments were displaced after fire broke out in the complex Sept. 20 on Golf Course Road in Benton. No one was injured in the blaze, but the building was destroyed.
Residents, businesses and nonprofit groups rallied to support those displaced; fundraisers, clothing and food drives, and donation points were set up throughout the county to help fire victims.
- Marcella’s Kitchen purchases new building to relocate facility: Marcella’s Kitchen board of directors in August purchased the former Stilley Professional Building on George McClain Drive in Benton to renovate and open a new community kitchen. Renovation efforts are already under way and include plans to convert the facility – which once housed six doctors’ offices on the campus of the former Marshall County Hospital – into a commercial kitchen and dining hall. The community kitchen, which seeks to feed those in the community who might not otherwise have means to eat, has been operating since its inception in 2011 at the Draffenville Community Center. Volunteers have since served more than 100,000 meals.
Volunteers attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Marcella’s Kitchen location in Benton. - County restructures E-911, hosts town halls on funding issue: County commissioners voted in May to dissolve the county’s seven-member advisory board and place control of the Criminal Justice Information System LINK/NCIC with Sheriff Kevin Byars to remain compliant with federal and state regulations. Day-to-day operations fell under the responsibility of the department’s director in the new ordinance. Commissioners elected to change the subsection of the ordinance requiring the 911 director to report to Alliance meetings and instead establish a voluntary nine-member advisory board consisting of the sheriff and chiefs of police for Benton and Calvert City or their designees, three fire department representatives as chosen by the county fire chiefs, the county EMS director or his/her designee and the county animal control director or his/her designee. The advisory board serves as responders’ conduit to the director concerning policy and procedure within the agency.
The ordinance does not pertain to solving the county’s E-911 funding issue, which has been the source of some confusion among elected officials and residents. The county hosted a series of 11 town hall meetings throughout the county, presenting options for possible revenue streams to fund the agency. When Marshall County 911 services were implemented in the county in 1992, surcharges applied to county landlines funded the department. Since then, landline usage has declined considerably, and rising equipment costs have resulted in continuing budget shortfalls. The county has subsidized the service in recent years, but that cost is becoming a difficult burden to bear. Subsidies have risen from about $125,000 in 2010 to $320,000 budgeted for the 2017-18 fiscal year.
Some proposals included a fee imposed on property taxes to fund the department. The issue has not yet been resolved.
Marshall County Sheriff (from left) Kevin Byars, Deputy Luke Rudd and Maj. David Maddox stand for a photo after the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association awards ceremony in Bowling Green. - Deputy pulls man from burning car: A Marshall County Sheriff’s deputy earned statewide recognition accolades after saving a man from a burning vehicle. Deputy Luke Rudd in early June was working the scene of another accident on U.S. Hwy. 68 near Palma when a car driven by Samuel Overby, 30, of Benton, sped past. Rudd got in his own cruiser and pursued the driver; during the chase Overby’s car left the road, hit a ditch and rolled twice before it struck a tree.
Overby was trapped inside when the vehicle caught fire. Rudd broke out the back glass of the passenger car, climbed through the rear and cut Overby’s seatbelt, pulling him free from the wreckage as the fire spread into the car.
Rudd in August earned the Woodmen of the World Life Saver award for his actions, and in September became the first MCSO deputy to be awarded the Kentucky Sheriff’s Association Medal of Valor. Rudd, who began his career as a dispatcher, has served as a deputy with MCSO for just over two years.