By Laura Ray/For The Sentinel
MURRAY – The Murray City Council celebrated more than just civic duties Thursday night – they celebrated champions. During its regular monthly meeting, the council passed a resolution to honor the Murray State University women’s basketball team for their extraordinary 2024–2025 season under the leadership of Head Coach Rechelle Turner, recognizing their record-setting 25-win season and their title as Missouri Valley Conference Champions.
Turner, in her eighth season at the helm, was also honored for becoming the winningest head coach in program history, notching her 136th career victory. The resolution praised both the team’s performance and their role as outstanding ambassadors for Murray State and the wider community.
The spotlight also shone brightly on Katelyn Young, who made history by becoming the all-time leading scorer in MSU women’s basketball history and the 14th all-time leading scorer in NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball, amassing an impressive 3,029 career points.
In a rare gesture, Mayor Bob Rogers presented Young with a key to the city – an honor he has bestowed only three times during his administration. “The people of Murray make all the difference,” Young said, thanking the community for its support of the team.
The resolution concluded with a statement of civic pride: “The City of Murray congratulates and honors the Murray State University Women’s Basketball Team for an extraordinary year and takes enormous pride in the achievements of our hometown team.”
The council also received an update from City Administrator Jim Osborne on last week’s severe storms, which included a tornado and what he called a “generational rainfall event.” Thanks to early preparation and interdepartmental coordination, the city avoided major damage, with crews removing 11 downed trees and keeping most roads passable by the next morning.
Other business at Thursday’s meeting included a discussion on a new in-house water sampling service that saved the city nearly $900 in its first month. Public Works Director Shane Knight reported that the initiative is projected to save the city nearly $8,000 annually and could benefit local residents, farmers and restaurant owners by offering quicker service at a rate of $35 per test.
The Cemetery Committee report also led to the approval of new maintenance guidelines and signage at the city cemetery, along with a mowing contract with the Calloway County Jail. It was also decided to remove the angels at the top of the gates due to deterioration.
Additional updates were shared on ongoing infrastructure and development projects, including the announcement of a new McDonald’s at the intersection of North 4th Street and U.S. 641 N, where the David Taylor preowned car lot is currently located. Other new commercial projects include the construction of new 55 and up apartments on Brooklyn Drive and a new assisted living senior housing development on Robertson Road South.
The state is reportedly in the design phase for its planned roundabout at “Five Points.” Designs and plans for the business loop are being updated while the state obtains a conditional letter of map revision (CLOMR), FEMA’s comment on a proposed project that would, upon construction, modify the existing regulatory floodway. The city plans to bring this project to bid in late 2025.
The HWY 80 Sewer Extension and Lift Station were reported as 90% complete. Contact Murray Project Manager Marisa Stewart with any questions at 270-762-0350 ext. 1134 or marisa.Stewart@murrayky.gov.
