MURRAY – At 12:56 p.m. today, Brandon Story posted a video on Facebook with the caption, “Enjoying a nice lunch at Hih-Burger and then…” By 9:15 p.m., the 27-second video showing Murray Police Department officers arresting a man riding a mule outside the restaurant on South 4th Street had been viewed more than 207,000 times.
According to the uniform citation, MPD was dispatched to East Sycamore Street, near the Calloway County Animal Shelter about a possibly intoxicated man riding a mule down the road. When the officer arrived, he found Jonathan Mason, 39, of Murray, in front of Calloway County Fire-Rescue Fire Station 1.
Mason allegedly refused to dismount the mule and fled west down Sycamore Street before turning right on 4th Street. MPD apprehended him as he approached a truck hauling a horse trailer that was parked behind Hih-Burger.
He was charged with misdemeanors, third-degree fleeing or evading and second-degree animal cruelty. Notably, it marked the second time in as many days that Mason was arrested and charged with, among other things, animal cruelty.
Jonathan Malone (Photo provided)
Shortly after 9 p.m.* on Saturday, MPD responded to a call about an unwanted subject at Tap 216. According to the Saturday citation, the restaurant manager told officers that Mason was riding the mule when he arrived. Inside the bar, he allegedly was yelling and cracking a bull whip at patrons. The manager reported asking him to leave five times before contacting law enforcement.
Mason was charged with six counts of second-degree disorderly conduct, six counts of public intoxication, third-degree criminal trespassing and resisting arrest.
MPD also received a call that night from an employee at Big Apple Grill and Bar, this one was related specifically to Mason’s mule. According to the uniform citation, Mason allegedly brought the whip into the bar and told the employee he used it to “break” the animal in. He explained similar reasons for making the animal take a 15-mile trek to town.
After work, the employee allegedly saw Mason’s mule tied to the loading dock. She told the officer that the animal’s halter was not on properly and that he was “tired and sweating hard.” The witness reported Mason mounted the mule and whipped him an “unnecessary” number of times; he also “cross-over whipped” the animal and kicked him for dramatic effect as he left.
Animal Control Officer Lexie Manning’s assessment that the mule was approximately 100 pounds underweight was also noted in the citation. Mason was charged with second-degree animal cruelty.
Calloway District Judge set a $1,000 surety bond, which was posted the next day. Conditions of Mason’s bond included not returning to Tap 216 and staying away from the mule.
Mason will be arraigned in Calloway District Court tomorrow, Dec. 10, at 9 a.m. in all three cases against him.
People charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
*Editor’s note: The original version of this story said the call was dispatched shortly after 11 p.m. We apologize for the error.
– The City of Murray Human Rights Commission will not meet this month.
Tuesday (Dec. 10):
– The Calloway County Public Library Board of Trustees will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the library.
Wednesday (Dec. 11):
– The Murray-Calloway County Hospital Board of Trustees Quality Committee will meet at noon in the hospital’s Garrison Board Room and via Zoom (call 270-762-1102 for Zoom connection details). See agenda (updated 12.10.24).
Thursday (Dec. 12):
– The Murray Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. at the Carter Administration Building. See agenda.
– The Murray City Council will hold a special called meeting at 5:15 p.m. at City Hall. See agenda.
Friday (Dec. 13):
– The Murray State University Board of Regents will meet at 8 a.m. Check back for location and agenda.
This report in the Dec. 5 Lexington Herald-Leader, “Kentucky man sought public records from police. Instead, the chief arrested him, lawsuit says,” raised the hackles of every proponent of the open records law and the public’s right to know.
We assumed that the resulting lawsuit against the Hazard Police Department — alleging malicious prosecution, violations of the open records law, battery and false arrest — was the culmination of years of public agency obstructionism and the war on the public’s statutory rights.
But the video tells a different story. There are no absolutes — no heroes or villains. Only three people — an increasingly annoyed police chief, a befuddled “records clerk,” and a member of the public seeking information about deputies names, badge numbers, and salaries — discussing a subject none of them entirely understands, and an arrest that is based on a non-open records argument.
As it happens, an open records request for records of a city agency — including the police department — should be submitted to the city clerk. Requester Dallas Campbell may not have known this. Police Chief Darren Williams should have.
Because he apparently didn’t, Williams missed an opportunity to defuse the situation by accepting the request and advising Campbell that he would forward it to the city clerk, per KRS 83A.085(3)(b), for “[p]erformance of the duties required of the ‘official custodian’ or ‘custodian’ in accordance with KRS 61.870 to 61.882.” Or he might have advised Williams where the city clerk could be located and directed Campbell to deliver the request to the Clerk’s office.
It is apparently the primary responsibility of the hapless records clerk, caught in the crossfire, to provide accident reports to the individuals or groups identified in the statute that governs limited access to them. Accident reports are not “considered open records under KRS 61.870 to 61.884 and shall remain confidential” to all but statutorily identified people or groups. Fees for copies are substantially higher than fees under the open records law and a separate form for submitting a request for an accident report exists by statute and regulation.
A records clerk responsible for providing accident reports under separate statutory enactment is not the equivalent of an official records custodian or open records custodian. Perhaps the clerk should have known — but did not know due to inexperience or lack of training — that the city clerk is the open records custodian for all city agencies, that an optional standardized open records request form has existed since 2021, and that records containing public employee salaries are nonexempt public records that must be released if requested under the open records law.
As chief of the Hazard Police Department, Williams is charged with a working knowledge of the laws governing public access to the records of his office — certainly knowledge that the city clerk is responsible for open records requests delivered in person, by U. S. Mail, by fax, or by email to any sub-unit of city government, and that requests should be immediately forwarded to the city clerk.
His response is attributable to irritation rather than inexperience. But his lack of understanding and irritation is, at least in part, driven by ineffective to no balanced, informed, and practical open records training.
Responsibility for understanding the agency’s duties under the law is not Campbell’s. His knowledge of the law is imperfect but better than the chief’s. Oddly, the video suggests he almost welcomes the prospect of arrest.
But let’s be clear. Williams did not arrest Campbell for submitting an open records request. The arrest was precipitated by Williams’ demand that Campbell cease videotaping inside police headquarters and Campbell’s insistence that he was within his rights to do so.
We are assured by legal expert Michael Abate that the chief’s position is legally unsupportable, and that Campbell had the right to videotape in the non-secured areas of the building — here, the reception area. But, again, his arrest did not result from the act of submitting an open records request.
These events nevertheless raise open records issues of vital importance.
• Re-prioritizing open records training
As an assistant attorney general, I regularly trained public officials and employees about open records and open meetings — including two hour open records presentations at least twice yearly at the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training as part of it’s multi-day “New Chiefs of Police Training.” Years of open records training at that facility — two of them post-retirement — fell victim to Covid. It is unclear if they were restored.
Opportunities for records training, generally, have decreased. Ask a newly elected official what opportunities for balanced, objective, and practical open records training he was afforded, and many will answer, “None.” In at least one instance — this one involving Franklin county officials — several offers of free open records and meetings training for county officials at the commencement of the new administration were rebuffed.
What little knowledge officials gather “by osmosis” seems to be based on the belief that open government laws serve no useful public purpose, are nothing but a nuisance, and are to be evaded — even ignored — at whatever cost.
• Anti-open government arguments for lawmakers and public officials
While our sympathies may lie with Dallas Campbell in this incident, anti-open government lawmakers and public officials will point it as another example of an obstreperous open records requester monopolizing valuable public resources at the expense of the agency’s essential functions.
They will call for revisions of the law to reign in the public, ignoring (or ignorant of) the fact that the law already addresses actual instances of pure harassment if the agency can prove “intent to disrupt essential functions” by clear and convincing evidence.
Lawmakers have become experts in flipping the open government script with messaging that public records and meetings belong to them — and not the constituents they serve — and that, frankly, “it’s none of the public’s business.”
These are dangerous times for the public’s right to know.
• The 2025 legislative session
The Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly commences on January 7. Lawmakers have acknowledged their intention to dismantle vestiges of DEI and to lower taxes, but they have not indicated whether they will continue their assault on our open government laws. This is no guarantee they will not. It is far safer to assume that they will.
We must be prepared to speak with one voice in opposition to legislative encroachments on the open records and meetings laws and in vigorous defense of laws that ensure “we remain informed so we may retain control over the instruments that we have created.”
Amye Bensenhaver is a co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. After spending 25 years as the assistant attorney general, she is an expert on Kentucky’s open records and open meetings law.
MURRAY – After whittling a pool of more than 150 candidates over the last four months, the Murray-Calloway County Hospital Board of Trustees unanimously selected Tonda Haigler to be the hospital’s next CEO after current CEO Jerry Penner retires at the end of March.
With one item on the agenda, trustees wasted no time getting down to business. From start to finish, the meeting lasted three and a half minutes. Upon calling the meeting to order, Search Committee Chair Amy Futrell took the floor.
“As you all know, the search for a CEO for our organization has been a long road,” she said. “We took this entire process very seriously as we know, as a board, this is the biggest decision that we will make. We have had applicants from all over the nation, and through a tedious process, we narrowed those 150+ applications down to a top five, four of which made site visits. We brought them on site to interview with the full board, the VPs, the directors, the medical providers and the community as a whole.
Search Committee Chair Amy Futrell speaks at this morning’s special called board meeting. (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)
“We feel that all these candidates were very qualified, and (we had) a strong group to choose from. After the four site visits, we, as a board, read every comment, whether they were verbal or in writing. We studied those. We met and discussed those comments and what we, as a board, are looking for in our next CEO, as far as qualities and characteristics.
“The process and decision has been prayed over. It’s been discussed. It’s been deliberated very thoroughly and carefully. Saying all of that, as the chair of the Search Committee, I respectfully submit Tonda Haigler to be voted on as the next CEO of the Murray-Calloway County Hospital; and if this vote is a success, then I recommend we offer her a contract immediately.”
Futrell made the motion, which was seconded by Vice Chair Summer Cross and followed by a roll-call vote. All of the current trustees participated – Futrell, Cross, Mayor Bob Rogers, Calloway County Judge-Executive Kenny Imes, Board Chair Steve Owens, Marti Erwin, Shawn Reynolds and Joetta Kelly attended in person; Dan Renick attended via Zoom. Gale Sharp, who was appointed to the board at the last city council meeting to fill the seat left by Jane Bright, was not present.
Trustees gather in the Garrison Board Room for Thursday’s special called meeting. (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)
“The board really worked hard on this,” Penner said after the meeting. “This was a very difficult decision – to replace somebody who’s been here for 14 years. I think they did a nice job outlining all of the things they were looking for today as well as what they’re looking for in a CEO for tomorrow.”
Haigler graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science in 1998 and a master’s degree in public health/healthcare administration in 2001. In 2006, she received a second master’s degree in business administration from Mississippi State University.
Since 2019, she has served as system vice president of ambulatory services for Baptist Health of Central Alabama, a health system which she describes in her resume as a “non-profit network of three facilities” with affiliations to the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
For the 12 years prior, Haigler rose through the ranks at the for-profit system Community Health Systems, as an administrative specialist, assistant chief executive officer and, ultimately, chief operating officer at three different facilities from 2013-2019.
“They picked an absolutely excellent candidate to be my successor, no question about that. Ms. Haigler is extremely well trained. She’s been a COO at very large organizations back-to-back-to-back. She has worked both rural and metropolitan facilities before, so she’s well versed; also, not-for-profit and for-profit, so she’s going to lead with a level of expertise from the corporate world as well as the not-for-profit world that I think will be invaluable to the organization going forward.”
You can’t just say it’s at the top of the ticket. It’s really the folks that are working hard, the leadership underneath that are able to carry out the plans that the board’s set.
Jerry Penner
About being at this point in the process of finding his replacement, Penner called it bittersweet but added, “It’s time.”
“They always say you know when it’s time,” he continued. “This will be my 43rd year in healthcare, so I’m ready to power down a little bit and spend more time with my wife and my kids. … I feel pretty good (about) retiring before age 65, and it wasn’t a forced retirement. It’s nice to go out on your own terms. Let’s face it, this year will be our most successful year in, at least, the last 14 (years), certainly, the most successful year financially.”
Penner also noted that both patient and staff satisfaction are the highest they have ever been. Staff satisfaction was in the 29th percentile when he took the reins in 2011; today, it is in the 72nd percentile. Similarly, MCCH’s patient satisfaction score has gone from 87 to over 94. But Penner was quick to say that he could not take all of the credit for the hospital’s success over his tenure.
“For me to be here 14 (years) with the same group – John Wilson, Jeff Eye, Nick O’Dell, Aaron Rucker and John Bradford – (I) could not have been successful without them. They have been tremendous in working with their directors – I’ve got 30 fantastic directors out there – those VPs working with those directors has just made this a wonderful last several years for me, and you can see it in what we’ve done (over) the last eight years. The hospital’s flourished. You can’t just say it’s at the top of the ticket. It’s really the folks that are working hard, the leadership underneath that are able to carry out the plans that the board’s set. From a CEO’s perspective, they execute those to success, and I think they’ve done it really well.”
Provided she accepts the offer, Haigler will only be MCCH’s sixth CEO in more than 50 years – preceded by Stuart Poston (1972-2000), Isaac Coe (2000-2003), John O’Shaughnessy (2004-2005), Keith Bailey (2005-2010) and Penner (2011 to present) – and the first woman.
Haigler was one of four candidates who came to Murray for on-site interviews, which respectively spanned two days and included meetings with the board, hospital directors and physician staff and culminated with a public “meet and greet” event held at the Calloway County Public Library (CCPL).
Tonda Haigler introduces herself to the audience during her “meet and greet” in October. (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)
Haigler’s “meet and greet” took place on Oct. 28. She shared that she is originally from Gulfport, Mississippi. She has been married to her husband Phillip for 23 years. They have two teenage boys, Paxton and Finley. Haigler proudly proclaimed herself to be a “baseball mom,” adding that on the weekends, she can usually be found at the baseball field, donning a visor.
My faith and family come first, and I work for them. My boys always come first. With that being said, I always have to make sure it’s for them. And it looks like it does, Murray does. I was driving around downtown, and it just put a smile on my face. I love the hand-painted signs on the sides of the buildings. I think one says, ‘Murray is home.’ I love that.
Tonda Haigler
The event lasted more than two hours, with the majority of that time devoted to a question-and-answer session with the audience, which included board members, community members and other stakeholders. Below is a selection of Haigler’s responses to questions posed by the audience.
Former MCCH Trustee Ken Winters asks Haigler a question during her October “meet and greet” event. (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)
The first question asked was about maintaining MCCH’s status as an independent hospital and if Haigler saw potential opportunities for future growth.
“I will tell you; the independence part is what I heard across the medical staff today when I had the privilege of meeting with them,” she replied. “The fact that you all are here today shows the ownership that you have in this hospital. I have had experience with one other county-owned hospital in my hometown. My stepfather sits on that board. I’ve seen the ups and the downs; and it’s not easy, but it’s worth it. But I think the way to stay independent is to stay financially viable, and you have to be smart.
“I’m a very disciplined person. I like to have strategic plans. I like to communicate my vision. I like to have the buy-in from people. I want their input, their feedback because my ideas are not always the best. So, I’m a very participatory leader, and with that, setting out that strategic plan. Some of the opportunities that I’ve seen, first, is women’s health services. I think that you have a cancer service line now, but there’s a really huge opportunity to really focus on some of those women’s services – a breast center, the GYN surgical side, some of those various things.
“In my background, I base my decisions on data – I don’t base all my decisions on data – it helps tell a story. I think that’s maybe a missing piece that the organization hasn’t tapped into enough.
“I like to go out there and get that market data to show me where the out-migration is going and what the service lines are that can be financially viable to bring to the hospital. The key is you want to make sure that you stay true to yourself. This is a community hospital, and you’ve got to make sure that you offer what the community needs – you don’t go and offer a service that nobody wants and is not needed. But there are things that really can be financially viable and bring, possibly, more margin to the bottom line so you can stay independent, that will then prevent out-migration.
“That would take time for me to come in, assess the landscape, get to know the partners, get to know the physicians, the community leaders, get to know you, and next, create that plan and execute. That’s one of the biggest opportunities that I see.”
Haigler mentioned this mural, located at the intersection of Fourth and Main streets, in one of her responses. (Sentinel file photo)
“The thing I’ve seen about this community is the hospitality is amazing, but the second piece is that I do see myself being able to raise my family here, my boys,” Haigler said in response to a question about her impression of the community. “I have four and a half more years with them, and I want to make it great. Certain areas aren’t as safe, and the school systems aren’t as great. That’s two of the things I’m looking for, and this area, you can see it has it. And that’s important to me. My faith and family come first, and I work for them. My boys always come first. With that being said, I always have to make sure it’s for them, and it looks like it does. Murray does. I was driving around downtown, and it just put a smile on my face. I love the hand-painted signs on the sides of the buildings. I think one says, ‘Murray is home.’ I love that.”
Multiple audience members inquired about Haigler’s thoughts on maintaining service lines that are not profitable.
“I think there are certain things from a community perspective that you have to say, ‘You know what, it doesn’t make money, but it’s a service to the community,’” Haigler explained. “Now, you have to be financially viable to stay independent, but there are certain things that you are willing to do to make sure that the community is taken care of.
“When I had the ability to tour your hospice house, I actually had a tear in my eye. It was beautiful. They told me about how they had a wedding for a granddaughter for one of the gentlemen who was a resident, and that was really great. So, that’s part of being a community hospital. (In) my for-profit experience, it probably wouldn’t have happened.
“That’s why, after 13 years, I lost connection to why I got into healthcare. That’s why I purposefully looked for not-for-profit – because during COVID, when we didn’t always do what was right financially, we did what we (needed to do) to take care of the patient. … I think we just have to be smart, and I think we have to see what’s right for the community and honor and respect history.”
Tonda Haigler answers audience questions at the October “meet and greet.” (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)
Piggy-backing on the previous question, Haigler was asked if she would commit to maintaining three specific service lines – obstetrics, psychiatry and the Anna Mae Owens Residential Hospice House.
“Not knowing the full landscape of everything, I will commit to doing what is right for the organization and the community,” she said. “With the hospice house, I think the community has already said, ‘We’re committed.’ I think that’s not even on the table. I think OB is one of those things, like I said earlier for women’s services, you capture that female, you capture the whole family.
“… So, I think you have to be smart, you have to be wise when you look at these things. Behavioral health (for example), a lot of times, behavioral health is not financially viable, but if you have a lot of behavioral health patients in the ED, how do you take that pressure off of the ED and find them a better suitable setting and location? So, those are the kinds of questions I would ask myself. I think that’s where the data – from an outmigration standpoint, from a financial revenue standpoint, you have to take all that in and create that story to help make decisions. So, that’s my commitment.”
One audience member asked Haigler about how she plans to be involved in the community.
“My first involvement,” she said, “will be with my church and my boys’ school because that’s where my heart is first and foremost. Then, what I do is I seek out opportunities to provide service back to where my passion is at that moment in time in my life. Before my children, when I was a young executive, I was sitting on Young Professionals. I was on the board of United Way. I was on the board of March of Dimes after having my boys because I knew how hard it was to have children, and it resonated with me. So, I’ve always tried to find some (way to) contribute back.”
Stakeholders review Tonda Haigler’s resume before the Q&A session starts. (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)
“I’ve been in physician recruitment since I started in healthcare,” Haigler said when asked about her strategy for recruiting physicians.
“With that being said, part of it’s the community and the commitment to the organization that draws physicians in. I’ve heard it loud and clear, the thing that attracts them here is that it’s independent and they’re invested in the community. The other part is that you have great school systems, and it’s safe here. Hands-down, that’s easy – I have to recruit to a capital city (presently) where the cost of living is higher, and you have to send your kids to private school. Some of those are benefits you already have here.
“The other piece is being competitive with salary because you want to retain them. You don’t just want to get them here and have them be here for a couple of years and then go somewhere else. That’s where my strength comes in. My team can recruit someone, but it’s the retention part; it’s making sure the operations are strong in the hospital, that they get the tools and the resources they need and that they feel welcome in the community. That’s a huge piece.
“One thing I’ve done at three organizations, we implemented what’s called POST – physician onboarding support team. The second part is: they’re here now; don’t just cut them off. We’re still checking on them, taking them out into the community; we’re still ‘recruiting’ them even though they’re here. I put myself in their shoes. How would I want to be treated? I wouldn’t want to be forgotten just because I’ve got a name badge now.”
Another audience member posed a question about Haigler’s level of comfortability working in a hospital that is a public agency.
“All of my experience, to be quite honest, has a been for-profit experience or now where I’m at (in a not-for-profit hospital), and it’s not public,” she replied. “You know, it’s part of the set-up here. In all honesty, there’s nothing to hide. Full transparency.
“But I will be honest, I think there are certainly times that we’re talking about something strategic that probably needs to be somewhat close to the vest until we’re ready to publicize it. Timing is everything. So, it’s not holding back, it’s just timing. But transparency is the best approach to everything.”
A poster showing Haigler’s qualifications sits outside of the meeting room during her “meet and greet” session in October (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)
We hope you enjoyed the story you just read! To bring it to you, our reporters had to attend, record and photograph all four “meet and greet” sessions so that we could report substantively as soon as this long-awaited decision was made. That took planning and foresight, but it also took a lot of time. Contributions from readers like you allow us to pay our staff for the time they put into producing quality news that matters.
But it gets even better! Through our partnership with NewsMatch, your support goes twice as far! Until Dec. 31, all contributions will be matched dollar-for-dollar (up to $1,000/donor), and recurring donations will be matched at their 12-month value. Double your impact by donating today! The community will thank you, and we do, too.😊
MURRAY – In this morning’s special called meeting, the Murray-Calloway County Hospital Board of Trustees unanimously voted to offer the CEO position to Tonda Haigler.
“We feel that all these candidates were very qualified, and (we had) a strong group to choose from,” Search Committee Chair Amy Futrell told the board this morning. “After the four site visits, we, as a board, read every comment, whether they were verbal or in writing. We studied those. We met and discussed those comments and what we, as a board, are looking for in our next CEO, as far as qualities and characteristics.
“The process and decision has been prayed over. It’s been discussed. It’s been deliberated very thoroughly and carefully. Saying all of that, as the chair of the Search Committee, I respectfully submit Tonda Haigler to be voted on as the next CEO of the Murray-Calloway County Hospital; and if this vote is a success, then I recommend we offer her a contract immediately.”
Search Committee Chair Amy Futrell speaks at this morning’s special called board meeting. (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)
Haigler currently lives in Montgomery, Alabama, with her husband and two sons. Since 2019, she has served as system vice president of ambulatory services for Baptist Health of Central Alabama, a health system which she describes in her resume as a “non-profit network of three facilities” with affiliations to the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
For the 12 years prior, she rose through the ranks at the for-profit system Community Health Systems, as an administrative specialist, assistant chief executive officer and, ultimately, chief operating officer.
Haigler graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and earned a master’s degree in public health/healthcare administration in 2001. In 2006, she received a second master’s degree in business administration from Mississippi State University.
A poster showing Haigler’s qualifications sits outside of the meeting room during her “meet and greet” session in October (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)
This is a developing story. Check back this afternoon for the full write-up.
MURRAY – A 76-year-old Murray man was arraigned in Calloway Circuit Court on Monday, attending via Zoom from the Kentucky State Reformatory in La Grange, Ky., on charges of possession or viewing matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor and promoting a sexual performance by a minor.
Gary White, Sr., is already serving 12 years after pleading guilty in a 2021 case to 10 counts of distribution of matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor, first offense, and two counts of possession or viewing matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor, both class D felonies.
According to court records, the charges were the result of an undercover online investigation regarding an email account that was traced back to White.
White entered a plea agreement with Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney James Burkeen whereby charges in another 2021 case (21-CR-00152) were dismissed, namely two counts of promoting a sexual performance by a minor under 16 years old, which were related to incidents that occurred in February 2010, according to court records.
Prior to his sentencing in July 2022, White’s attorney Chris Hendricks filed an objection to a victim impact statement submitted by the Commonwealth. He argued that the crimes to which White pleaded guilty did not involve any victims who were identified by name. The impact statement submitted was written by the alleged victim in 21-CR-00152, and the charges related thereto were dismissed pursuant to the agreement.
Hendricks further moved the court to consider probating the sentence, citing, among other things, White’s comprehensive sex offender presentence evaluation which categorized his as being “not high risk of being detected again for a sex crime. The nature and duration of his sexual offense is not indicative of a sexual fixation on children.”
The pleading also noted that White “has already been punished harshly as a result of his actions. He no longer enjoys any relationship with two (2) of his children nor with his mother. He has been ostracized from his church where he was once very active. It is reasonable to believe that the stress and anxiety of being charged with these offenses (especially the nature of the offenses), their pendency in this Court, and the possibility of incarceration that looms over Gary contributed in some ways to the decline in his health and mobility in recent months.”
In lieu of incarceration, White proposed five conditions to assure the court that “while he is in the community, he is leading a law abiding and productive life and not in need of correctional treatment,” including completing a community-based sex offender treatment program, having no contact or communication with anyone under 18 years old, not accessing the internet or possessing any devices capable of accessing the internet.
White was sentenced to 12 years’ incarceration, pursuant to the plea agreement, which consisted of five years for counts 1-5 (distribution), five years for counts 6-10 (distribution) and two years for counts 11 and 12 (possession). Calloway Circuit Judge Andrea Moore probated the sentence for five years but imposed an alternative sentence of 365 days in the Calloway County Jail.
The following September, Hendricks filed a motion to amend the alternative sentence to home incarceration, arguing that White’s advanced age – 74 at the time – and poor health were already straining the jail’s resources. The motion was granted.
His first probation violations were reported in October 2023. According to the supervision violation report, White received a written warning from his probation officer, Kevin Patterson, on Oct. 11 about possessing pornographic images on his phone. Per weekly reports the officer received from Pay Computer Monitoring Service (PCMS) that White viewed images showing female nudity on Oct. 25 and again on Nov. 19. He was arrested on Nov. 23, 2023.
In December 2023, White was sanctioned to spend 30 days in the Calloway County Jail in lieu of revoking his probation.
In January, Patterson received notification that White was discharged from his sex offender treatment program for being noncompliant with conditions of the program. A revocation hearing was scheduled but had to be continued due to White being in the hospital.
In April, Patterson was notified that White “once again” viewed erotica on four occasions. Another revocation hearing was scheduled. When White did not appear in court for the hearing, he was arrested. A surety bond was set at $10,000, which was posted eight days later.
Patterson received notice from PCMS on June 10 that White had “once again” viewed material of a pornographic nature on two occasions.
“This officer respectfully requests the aforementioned violations included as additional grounds for revocation due to this being the offender’s 8th instance of possession of material that violates his conditions of supervision and offender having been discharged from (sex offender treatment program),” he wrote in his report.
At the June 17 probation revocation hearing, Moore reinstated White’s 12-year sentence, and he was remanded to the Kentucky Department of Corrections.
The grand jury indicted White on the new charges on Nov. 15. – two counts of possession or viewing matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 12 years old, three counts of possession or viewing matter portraying a sexual performance by a minor under 18 years old and five counts of promoting a sexual performance by a minor under 16 years old, class C, D and B felonies, respectively.
The five counts related to possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) date back to White’s initial arrest in June 2021, according to the indictment. The five counts of promoting a sexual performance concern two victims. The indictment cites incidents that occurred in January 2005 and July 2009. Notably, one of the victims is identified by the same initials as the victim identified in 21-CR-11052.
On Monday, White was appointed a public defender and entered a plea of not guilty. His next court appearance is Monday, Jan. 21, at 8:30 a.m.
Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Kenny Gene Story, Sr., passed away December 18, 2024 at his home in Turlock, CA.
Kenny will be buried alongside his grandparents, Henry and Norma Russell and his brother Kelly Reed Story in the Fossett cemetery on Friday, January 3, 2025 at 12 pm.
Imes Funeral Home is entrusted with caring for his family.
Mr. Roy E. Schmidt, age 83, of Murray, Kentucky, passed away Monday, December 30, 2024, at the Murray-Calloway County Hospital in Murray, Kentucky.
A public graveside service will be held at 12:00 p.m., Friday, January 3, 2025, at the Murray City Cemetery with Steven Hunter officiating. There will be no public visitation held prior to the graveside service.
J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services are in charge of local arrangements.
Ms. Pamela Vaneen (Mahan) Young, age 82, of Murray, Kentucky, passed away Monday, December 30, 2024, at the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House in Murray, Kentucky.
Per Pam’s request, no public service or visitation will be held.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071.
J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services are in charge of local arrangements.
Miss Opal Paige Shaw, newborn daughter of Brandon and Whitney Shaw, was born on December 27, 2024 with a beautiful heartbeat but then was never able to take a breath on her own, leading to her passing on to her heavenly home on December 28, 2024.
No services are planned at this time.
Imes Funeral Home & Crematory is entrusted with caring for her family.
Mr. Gary B. Haneline, age 81, of Murray, Kentucky, passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2024, at Spring Creek and Rehab in Murray, Kentucky.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Bro. Tim Palmer will officiate, and burial will follow in the Coldwater Church of Christ Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 27, 2024, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 2167, Lexington, Kentucky 40588
J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services are in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Joe Russell Arnold, 82 of Murray, KY, passed away Monday, December 23, 2024, at the Murray Calloway Co. Hospital, Murray, KY.
Friends may visit with the family Thursday, January 2, 2025, between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. at the Blalock-Coleman Funeral Home, 713 S. 4th St., Murray, KY 42071. Followed by Masonic Rites.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of the Blalock-Coleman Funeral Home in Murray, KY with Elder Scott Brown officiating. Burial with military honors will follow the service in the Murray City Cemetery, Murray, KY.
Blalock-Coleman Funeral Home & Cremation Services is privileged to be entrusted with the care of Mr. Arnold.
Keith Wayne Starks, 64, passed away Wednesday morning, December 18, 2024, at Baptist Health Paducah after a long hard fight with cancer. His courage and strength have been an inspiration, and he will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services. Brandon Phillips will officiate, and burial will follow in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, December 21, 2024, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services are in charge of arrangements.
Funeral services for Mr. Charles S. “Chuck” Foster will be 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at Byrn Funeral Home in Mayfield, KY. Rev. Rufus Harris and Rev. Ronnie Stinson, Sr. will officiate. Entombment will follow at Highland Park Mausoleum.
Visitation will be 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at the funeral home.
Mr. Gary Starks, age 62, of Murray, Kentucky, passed away on Monday, December 16, 2024, in Benton, Kentucky at his son’s home after an extended illness.
The funeral service for Gary will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 20, 2024, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation. Rev. Mike White will officiate, and burial will follow in the Sinking Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday, December 19, 2024, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
Expressions of sympathy may go to the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071.
J.H. Churchill Funeral Home and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Ruth Schulz, age 80, of Murray, Kentucky, passed away, Saturday, December 14, 2024, at the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House in Murray, Kentucky.
A private graveside service will be held at a later date at the Powell Cemetery in Lafayette, Kentucky.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071.
J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Tonya Gay (Pridemore) Jones, age 61, of Murray, Kentucky, passed away, Thursday, December 12, 2024, due to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle wreck.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services with Luke Puckett officiating. Burial will follow at a later date in the Coldwater Church of Christ Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Coldwater Church of Christ, 8467 State Route 121, Murray, Kentucky 42071 or the Caring and Sharing Program, c/o Glendale Road Church of Christ, 1101 Glendale Road, Murray, Kentucky 42071.
J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
Major Billy J.T. Osburn, 93, of Murray, passed away on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House.
The funeral service honoring the life of Mr. Billy Osburn is set for 12 pm on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at Imes Funeral Home & Crematory, downtown Murray. Bro. Andy Harrell will officiate and burial with military honors will follow at KY Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville.
His family welcomes visitors from 11 am until 12 pm on Tuesday at the funeral home.
Imes Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Betty Jo Purdom, age 85, of Murray, Kentucky, passed away on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at Spring Creek Nursing Home with her family by her side.
A memorial graveside service will be held on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the Murray City Cemetery. John Dale will officiate, and entombment will follow. There will be no public visitation prior to the service.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the following: First United Methodist Church, 503 Maple Street Murray, KY 42071, Murray Country Club Women’s Golf Association, PO Box 310 Murray, KY 42071, or to the Alpha Chi Chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma – Murray State University, 711 Main Street Murray, KY 42071.
J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Ricky L. Parrish, 69 of Hazel, KY, passed away Monday, December 9, 2024, at the Murray Calloway Co. Hospital, Murray, KY.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, 2024, in the chapel of Blalock-Coleman Funeral Home in Murray, KY, with Bro. Mike White and Bro. David Cunningham officiating. Burial will follow the service in the Hicks Cemetery in Murray. Friends may visit with the family after 12:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.
Blalock-Coleman Funeral Home & Cremation Services is privileged to be entrusted with the care of Mr. Parrish.
Mr. James Mike Noland, age 73, of Cadiz, Kentucky, passed away Monday, December 9, 2024, at the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House with his children by his side.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
Expressions of sympathy can go to the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071.
J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Maria Judy, age 72, of Murray, Kentucky, passed away on Monday, December 9, 2024, at the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House in Murray.
A celebration of life party was held in August of this year where Maria got to enjoy loved ones and friends who traveled from around the country. It was a special event that allowed her to enjoy friends and family while she was still in good health. It was her wish that no visitation or funeral services be held.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, KY 42071.
J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Lillian Mae Lawrence, 88, of Kirksey, passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2024 at her home.
The funeral service honoring the life of Mrs. Lillian Mae Lawrence is set for Thursday, December 12, 2024 at the Heritage Chapel of Imes Funeral Home, 1804 Highway 121 Bypass North, Murray. James Stom will officiate and burial will follow at Kirksey Cemetery.
Her family welcomes visitors from 5-7 pm on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at the Heritage Chapel.
Imes Funeral Home is entrusted with caring for her family.
Mr. Bobby Williams, 74, of Murray, passed away on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at his home.
The funeral service honoring the life of Mr. Bobby Williams is set for 12 pm on Friday, December 13, 2024 at the Heritage Chapel of Imes Funeral Home, 1804 Highway 121 Bypass North. Bro. Sammy Cunningham will officiate and burial with military honors will follow at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville, KY.
His family welcomes visitors from 10 am until 12 pm on Friday at the Heritage Chapel.
Imes Funeral Home & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Ms. Sandra “Sandy” Willis, age 81, of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, passed away Friday, December 6, 2024, at the Pavilion Hospice House in Lebanon, Tennessee.
J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Shirley Tucker, age 85, of Murray, Kentucky, passed away, Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at the Passion and Purpose HomeCare Assisted Living for our SENIORS in Murray, Kentucky.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, December 9, 2024, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services with Bradley Smith officiating. Burial will follow in the Murray Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Monday, December 9, 2024, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Anna Mae Owen, Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071.
J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Ellen (Small) Jones, 75, of Puryear, TN died peacefully on Monday December 2,2024.
Visitation will be held at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at11:00 a.m. until time for the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. Entombment will follow in the Murray Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts and donations may be sent to Calloway Humane Society or charity of your choice.
J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Loretta Jeffs Barrow, age 76, of Murray, Kentucky, passed away Monday, December 2, 2024 at the Anna Mae Owens Residential Hospice House.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 7, 2024, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services with John Dale and Johnny Parker officiating. Burial will follow in the Murray Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 6, 2024, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, KY 42071.
J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. James “Jimmy” H. Baker, 60, of Murray, passed away on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at Murray Calloway County Hospital.
A memorial service is set for 12 pm on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at Imes Funeral Home, 311 North 4th Street, Murray. John C. Carey will officiate and military honors will follow.
His family welcomes visitors from 11 am – 12 pm at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Imes Funeral Home to help defray final expenses. Imes Funeral Home, 311 North 4th Street, Murray, KY 42071 or call 270.753.7000.
Imes Funeral Home & Crematory is entrusted with caring for his family.
The Calloway County Fire Protection District Board of Trustees will meet at 6 p.m. at Fire Station 1, 101 East Sycamore Street.
The Murray Board of Education will hold a SPECIAL CALLED MEETING at 6 p.m. at the Carter Administration Building. See agenda below.
Thursday (Dec. 5):
The Murray-Calloway County Hospital Board of Trustees will hold a special called meeting at 9 a.m. in the hospital’s Garrison Board Room. See agenda below.
The Murray Tree Board will meet at 4 p.m. at City Hall. See agenda below.
MURRAY – Around 8:15 p.m. this evening, the Murray Fire Department responded to a house fire on North 19th Street, which resulted in the closure of College Farm Road for approximately two hours. Assistant Fire Chief Eric Phelps was present at the scene and confirmed this was the second call the MFD received about the home today.
A fire hose stretches down North 19th Street to supply Engine 1. To get to the closest fire hydrant, the hose had to cross College Farm Road, making the road closure a necessity. (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)
Firefighters thought they had extinguished the initial fire, presumably caused by a space heater. The tenants were not home when the first fire started, but the landlord was notified.
Although it was not completely destroyed, the first fire left the home untenable. A neighbor said that, during the first fire, flames were shooting out of the gable vent on the south end of the home.
Remnants of the foam used to fight the active fire are can be seen around Engine 1. (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)
Gas and electricity services to the home were disconnected earlier in the day, so there were no delays in fighting the fire the second time.
Phelps explained that it is not common for a structure to reignite, but it does happen more often in homes where people hoard. He reported chest-high clutter throughout the home with pathways to navigate through the rooms.
After taming the re-ignited flames, firefighters eventually found the culprit – a memory foam mattress that had previously not been visible. Phelps likened the fire potential of memory foam to diesel. After the mattress was removed, they were able to successfully extinguish the fire.
A Murray Fire Department firefighter stands behind Engine 1 Friday night. (JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel)
As of 10:20 p.m., College Farm Road is open to traffic.
Let’s hear it for independent media!! In this age of corporate media domination, independent outlets must unite. Here, at The Sentinel, we are proud to support our sister publications in the region and could not be more thrilled to announce a unique alliance with Bazooka Reloaded, allowing us to offer exclusive online access to their publication. Print editions can be found in select stores, restaurants and coffee shops in Paducah and Murray.
Editor’s note: The Murray Sentinel is not affiliated with Bazooka Reloaded. We bear no responsibility regarding its editorial content. Please direct all inquiries to Bella at bazookareloaded@gmail.com or call 442-BAZOOKA (442-229-6652).
