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KY 1270 to close for cross drain replacement in southwestern Calloway County Friday

MURRAY – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans to close a section of KY 1270 in southwestern Calloway County on Friday, July 12.

KY 1270 (Edgehill Trail) will be closed at the 2.8-mile point to allow a cross drain to be replaced. This is along KY 1270 between Rayburn Road and Albert Road, about 0.3 miles west of the West Fork Clarks River Bridge.

The roadway at this site is expected to close promptly at 7 a.m. Friday. KY 1270 (Edgehill Trail) is expected to reopen later that day, around 2 p.m.

There will be no marked detour. Motorists may consider a self-detour via KY 893 (Cherokee Trail), KY 94 and KY 97.

This project is scheduled on a weather-permitting basis.

KYTC District 1 and the Calloway County Highway Maintenance Crew will attempt to provide timely notice should the work be completed earlier than expected.

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New citizen pitches in when some are opting out

MURRAY – Number 12 on the list of civics questions for the test to become a U.S. citizen asks, “What is the ‘rule of law’”?

Reika Ebert responds without a pause, not an iota of hesitation in her tone. “No one is above the law,” she said.

A newly-minted U.S. citizen, Ebert can readily rattle off responses to questions on the Naturalization Test with the same ease she rides her bike around Murray. She enjoys the freedom of the ride while paying attention to drivers less than gracious about sharing the road.

There are 100 questions prospective citizens must be prepared to answer to be eligible for citizenship, and even though those 65 years or older who have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years are permitted to study just the asterisked questions, it is likely Ebert could answer them all.

From the time she graduated from college in her native Germany, Ebert was destined to become a citizen of the world. Born in West Berlin in 1952 – “before the Wall,” she was quick to explain – she grew up with remnants of World War II evident in her neighborhood, including bullet holes and vestiges of bombed out buildings.

With both of her parent academics, Ebert understood she would complete appropriate secondary school preparation and then go on to university.  “It was completely understood, assumed that I’d go to college,” she remarked.

After completing a degree in education, she traveled with a number of friends and fellow feminists to explore places that interested her. She worked odd jobs, saving her money and planning her next international sojourn.

“I was the rebel in my family,” she declared, adding that the “hippie generation” influenced her. “I did not want a 9 to 5 job.”

She went to Africa, Canada, lived three years in Thailand where she taught German. Now she thinks about what her mother went through while her oldest daughter was exploring the world.

“Every few weeks I sent a postcard,” Ebert said.

Her adventures eventually led to a summer teaching job in the U.S., and she finally settled down enough to accept an assistantship at University of Washington and earn a master’s degree and then a Ph.D.

Her next move led to Baton Rouge, where she was hired to teach German at Louisiana State University. In 2000, Murray State University offered Ebert a job.

“Originally, I thought I would leave Murray,” she admitted. It was a small town in a remote rural region, but over time she formed strong ties to the on-campus community.

“My colleagues, my department, and my college were very international. We created cultural diversity,” she explained.

When she retired in 2017, her focus transitioned to the community. She decided she wanted to become a citizen.

In the true spirit of volunteerism, Ebert made herself useful in many areas of community life. She joined the Sierra Club, became a hospice volunteer, is a familiar figure at City Council meetings, Murray Art Guild gatherings, the Arboretum.

“I’ve grown really fond of the town, the townspeople, and the ruralness of Murray,” she said. “One can contribute in a meaningful way. It is small enough that I don’t get lost.”

The presidential election of 2024 will be her first. In an era where some are threatening not to vote at all, or to leave the country if their candidate does not win, Reika Ebert is registered and ready to cast her ballot. 

“To vote is a responsibility in a democracy. Democracy means – and needs – participation in the workings and well-being of society and the whole country. Voting is the least you can do,” she declared.

“I will always vote.”

Arnett child abuse cases advance to circuit court

MURRAY – After waiving presentation of their cases to the grand jury last month, allowing them to advance to circuit court without indictments, the Murray couple facing first-degree criminal child abuse charges for, among other things, failing to provide adequate nourishment to two children placed in their care make their first appearances before Calloway Circuit Judge Andrea Moore this month.

Samantha Arnett, 36, was arraigned in Calloway Circuit Court today; however, her co-defendant, Robert Arnett, 44, will not be arraigned until later this month.

Today, Moore re-appointed Department of Public Advocacy Murray Trial Office Directing Attorney Cheri Riedel – who represented Samantha in district court – to represent her in the circuit court proceedings. A discovery order was entered, and because Robert’s arraignment is two weeks away, Samantha’s case was set for a status hearing on Aug. 19 at 8:30 a.m.

Both defendants, according to the charging documents, are alleged to have intentionally abused the children or allowed them to be abused, causing torture or cruel punishment, beginning in May 2019, when the children were placed with the Arnetts – their aunt and uncle – after their parents lost custodial rights. Both have been charged with two counts (one for each child) of first-degree criminal abuse of a child under 12 years of age, a class B felony, punishable by 10-20 years of incarceration.

The couple was arrested on May 23 following an investigation that commenced with an anonymous tip to the Mayfield Police Department that two juveniles were being neglected and abused, according to the criminal complaints. A Mayfield police officer followed-up on the tip and contacted the Calloway County Department of Community-Based Services (DCBS) office, expressing concerns that the homeschooled children were not eating properly, not receiving adequate medical attention and were isolated from family and friends.

Through the social worker’s investigation, it was discovered that the children had not been seen by their primary care providers since January 2023. The Arnetts were urged to seek additional medical treatments at that time because of malnutrition concerns related to the children being underweight for their size, but the caregivers appear to have not heeded that advice as they continued to lose weight over the next 16 months.

Due to the severity of their condition, the children were referred to Vanderbilt on May 22 and immediately admitted. Additionally noting the children bore marks and bruising consistent with physical abuse, Vanderbilt staff advised the DCBS worker to contact law enforcement.

After meeting with the social worker, Calloway County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Nathan Hopkins launched his own investigation and filed a criminal complaint in Calloway District Court; Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens issued warrants, and the couple was arrested that night.

Robert posted the $5,000 cash bond the next day, and his arraignment was pushed out to June. Samantha was not able to immediately post bond and appeared in district court on May 28, where she waived formal arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty. On June 5, she waived her preliminary hearing and agreed to advancing the case to circuit court. She posted bond the next day.  

Samantha Arnett walks out of the courtroom following her arraignment today in Calloway Circuit Court. JESSICA PAINE/The Murray Sentinel

Represented by local attorney Mitch Ryan, Robert waived formal arraignment in district court and pleaded not guilty on June 18. He appeared again last Wednesday for a preliminary hearing, which he waived. He will make his first appearance before Moore on Monday, July 15, at 8:30 a.m., for his circuit court arraignment. 

“Robert is deeply saddened by the situation at hand,” Ryan said last week. “We are dedicated to ensuring that all facts and evidence are thoroughly examined and that justice is served accordingly. Our client maintains his innocence and we are committed to diligently representing him throughout the legal process. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and patience as we work towards a resolution in this unfortunate matter.”

Individuals charged with crimes are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Read our previous coverage: Foster parents arrested after children found to be extremely malnourished

Milling & Paving along KY 2075/North 4th Street in Murray starts Friday, June 7

1.7 mile project expected to take about 4 days to complete

MURRAY – A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans milling and paving along KY 2075/North 4th Street in Murray starting Friday, June 7, 2024.

This project along KY 2075/North 4th Street runs from U.S. 641-Business/Chestnut Street at mile point 0.0, extending northward to U.S. 641/North 12th Street at mile point 1.678.

The contractor plans milling starting Friday with paving to follow.

Motorists should be alert for one lane traffic with alternating flow controlled by flaggers.  Some delays are possible during the movement and placement of equipment to facilitate the work.

Appropriate caution is required where equipment, flaggers, and maintenance personnel are along the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow.

Murray Paving, Inc, is the prime contractor on this $384,435 highway improvement project.  Weather permitting, the target completion date for all work on this project is Friday, June 14.

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Timely traffic advisories for the 12 counties of KYTC Highway District 1 are available by going to www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1. Please LIKE or FOLLOW District 1.  You do not have to be a Facebook member to access this page.

Navigate traffic at goky.ky.gov or by using a map APP that includes real-time traffic information.

Gov. Beshear: Overdose deaths decline for second-straight year, nearly 10% decrease in 2023

Kentucky’s 2023 Overdose Fatality Report released

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that overdose deaths in the commonwealth have decreased for the second year in a row, with 2023 seeing a 9.8% decrease compared with the previous year. 

According to the 2023 Kentucky Drug Overdose Fatality Report, 1,984 Kentuckians lost their lives last year to a drug overdose. Fentanyl accounted for 79.1%, and methamphetamine accounted for 55.2% of overdose deaths. The two continue to be the most prevalent drugs contributing to overdoses in the state. The report also indicates that 35- to 44-year-olds had the highest number of drug overdose deaths in 2023, at 571, which was a decrease of 13.4% from 2022.

Today’s report continues Kentucky’s trend in declining overdose deaths. In 2022, Kentucky’s drug overdose deaths declined by 5% compared with 2021, marking the first decline since 2018. Kentucky was one of only eight states to see a decrease in overdose deaths while the nation saw a slight increase.

“By working together, we have decreased the amount of drug overdose deaths in Kentucky, yet still far too many lives have been lost, and we still have a long way to go,” said Gov. Beshear. “From the far west to the far east of the commonwealth, we are creating a home where fewer children will know the pain of addiction and loss of a loved one to an overdose. We have remained committed to helping our families overcome addiction and celebrate our progress and renew that commitment today.” 

The Governor added that while the state saw a smaller increase in this report, there continues to be a concerning trend of increased overdose deaths among Black Kentuckians. The latest report shows that increase has slowed by increasing 5% compared with 22% in the last report.

“This increase is concerning, despite it being smaller than previous years,” Gov. Beshear said. “We are committed to working with community partners and leaders to reverse this trend, and we are going to use recently received grant funding to increase education and outreach efforts.”

“We have made great progress this past year in providing treatment resources to more Kentuckians in different parts of the commonwealth,” Office of Drug Control Policy Executive Director Van Ingram said. “In 2023, 160,000 doses of Narcan were distributed, 3,920 calls were made to the KY HELP Call Center and 35,918 individuals utilized the 84 syringe service program sites. While all of this is cause for celebration, we must take a moment to grieve those lost and, in their names, keep working harder and being diligent in our approach, so we save more Kentuckians and their families.”

Several leaders from addiction treatment agencies joined the Governor for today’s announcement to speak about Kentucky’s intentional work to address addiction and offer more treatment services. 

“The Recovery Ready Communities process afforded Northern Kentucky the opportunity to evaluate its recovery-oriented system of care, while also celebrating the many successful initiatives and life-saving strategies implemented through partnerships,” Northern Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy Director Amanda Peters said. “As the first region in the commonwealth to receive this designation, it validates our coordinated response. We will continue to use this collaborative approach because every loss of life reminds us that there is more work to be done.” 

“Across the commonwealth, Kentuckians have put into practice numerous, evidence-based interventions that have proven to save lives and help people achieve recovery,” said Commissioner Katherine Marks of the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. “These outcomes demonstrate where progress has been made and sharpens our ongoing commitment to healing all individual lives, families and communities.” 

“At People Advocating Recovery, we know that initiating recovery can be extremely challenging,” said People Advocating Recovery CEO Tara Hyde. “Today’s milestone highlights the impact of the recovery movement and the crucial collaboration between local and state agencies and underscores the power of unified efforts in fostering more Kentuckians to achieve long-term recovery. We remain committed to ensuring every Kentuckian has access to resources on their path to wellness, because one life lost is one too many for our community.”

The Director of Pharmacy Public Health Programs, Dr. Jody Jaggers, with the Kentucky Pharmacy Education and Research Foundation said Kentucky recently launched a new website to help Kentuckians find places to obtain the life-saving drug Narcan, which is used to reverse opioid overdose. Those seeking Narcan can visit FindNaloxoneNowKY.org to find a location near them that can provide the drug at no cost.

“Naloxone – an FDA-approved opioid overdose reversal medication – continues to be one of our most important tools for saving the lives of individuals experiencing an overdose,” Dr. Jaggers said. “While we celebrate the reduction in overdose deaths for the second consecutive year, we also acknowledge there are still far too many Kentuckians lost to this preventable tragedy.”

Today’s news follows the Governor’s recent announcement that Kentucky’s Counterdrug Program helped save Kentuckians’ lives by supporting the seizure of 265,170 fentanyl pills and 208.3 pounds of fentanyl during the 2023 federal fiscal year, which runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. The group also supported the seizure of 822 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 310 pounds of cocaine, enabled 164 arrests and facilitated surrender of more than $2.3 million in cash tied to illegal drug activity in 2023. Recently, the Governor signed the 2025 State Drug Interdiction and Counterdrug Activities Plan, continuing this important, life-saving work. 

In 2023, the state supported the distribution of more than 160,000 doses of Narcan were distributed. The state’s Treatment Access Program also allows those without health insurance to enter residential treatment, and the Recovery Ready certification helps communities support residents who are seeking help for drug or alcohol addiction. 

The state is also leading the nation in the number of residential drug and alcohol treatment beds per capita. And last year, Gov. Beshear announced a new searchable website to help people in recovery find housing, FindRecoveryHousingNowKY.org

The administration has also recorded the three lowest recidivism rates in over a decade. This year, Gov. Beshear announced a new website to support Kentuckians seeking second chances find a job, get an education or continue recovery. The site also connects business leaders with resources to help them hire second-chance talent. 

The Governor has continued to fight the state’s drug epidemic since his time as attorney general, when he led the nation in the number of individual opioid lawsuits filed by an attorney general. Now, Gov. Beshear is working to make sure the hundreds of millions of dollars in settlement funds go to support treatment and the communities impacted.  

Additional treatment resources are available by calling the KY Help Call Center at 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357) to speak one-on-one with a treatment specialist.  

Visit the Kentucky State Police website to find one of KSP’s 16 posts where those suffering from addiction can be paired with a local officer who will assist with locating an appropriate treatment program. The Angel Initiative is completely voluntary, and individuals will not be arrested or charged with any violations if they agree to participate in treatment. 

About The Report

The 2023 Kentucky Overdose Fatality Report is compiled by the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center using data from the Office of Vital Statistics, the Office of the State Medical Examiner and Kentucky’s coroners. These numbers are subject to change.  

For the first time since 2018, the nation marked a 3% decrease in overdoses according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report published in May.

The CDC report includes both the deaths of Kentucky residents and nonresidents in their reporting. Kentucky’s overdose report includes only the deaths of Kentucky residents, which has been the standard since the Kentucky General Assembly first required this annual report. The Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy includes resident deaths only to better target harm reduction and prevention activities for Kentuckians.

Observing Pride Month through poetry

By Constance Alexander/For The Sentinel

June has been National Pride Month since 1970. Part celebration and part protest, the roots of this tribute to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community reach back to June 28, 1969, in New York City, when The Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in lower Manhattan, was raided by police. Part of a pattern of harassment and social discrimination by law enforcement, the attack sparked six days of protests and galvanized the gay rights movement. America’s first pride parade was held on the one-year anniversary of Stonewall and has continued and proliferated around the U.S. and the world since then.

June also marks the anniversary of the slaughter at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, where a single assailant, armed with an automatic weapon, killed 49 people and wounded 53 more. It was the deadliest shooting in the U.S. since the September 11 attacks, and the deadliest in modern American history until 2017, when a shooter in Las Vegas master-minded a massacre that killed 60 and wounded at least 413.

Constance Alexander wrote the poem, “Counting Coup” a few days after June 12, 2017, for a community memorial service at the First Presbyterian Church in Murray, Ky.


Counting Coup

By Constance Alexander

For native American warriors, counting coup was a way to demonstrate bravery in war. Although killing was a part of war, the greater act of courage was to get close enough to touch the enemy.

On this, the day after,
we look back in anger
fists clenched
choking on prayers
and platitudes
the best we can do
 
in the face
of an automatic
assault weapon.
This, the best
I can do,
is a poem
 
without rainbows
or rhyme
an old impulse
to heal the wound
with image
and metaphor
 
Eight stanzas
tell the story:
Early Sunday
fifty died
fifty-three injured
at Pulse a disco bar
 
in Orlando.
A man twenty-nine
armed with an
AR-15 and
a smaller handgun
played God
 
because he once
saw two men
kissing. And then
the worst (up ‘til then)
mass shooting
in U.S. history.
 
When law enforcement
arrived and finally
penetrated
the kill space
they slipped in
pools of gore,
 
bodies piled
like unfolded
laundry. Blood
everywhere.
If anyone’s alive
they called
 
to survivors,
If anyone’s alive
please raise
your hand.
That’s what they said
Please raise your hand.
 
So begins the day after.
We have graduated
to a new level of
mass murder.
If anyone’s alive
please raise your hand.
 
You, you, and yes
you. Please raise
your hands.
Raise them.
Your hands.
Raise them.
 
And be counted.

constance alexander

Recipient of a Governor’s Award in the Arts, Constance Alexander has won numerous grants, awards, and residencies for her poetry, plays, prose, and civic journalism projects. Contact her at constancealexander@twc.com.

Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or length, provide proper attribution and link to our website.

Foster parents arrested after children found to be extremely malnourished

MURRAY – A Murray couple was arrested last week after two juveniles in their care were admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, for severe weight loss with supporting evidence of malnutrition and physical abuse.

Samantha Arnett, 36, and Robert Arnett, 44, were each charged with two counts of first-degree criminal abuse of a child under 12 years old, a class B felony, which is punishable by 10-20 years in the state penitentiary for each count.

Calloway District Judge Randall Hutchens set bail on Friday at $5,000 each. Robert posted bond the next day. His arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday, June 11, at 9 a.m. However, Samantha remained in jail and was arraigned in Calloway District Court Tuesday.

Noting that Robert was no longer in custody due to posting bond, Hutchens asked Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney James Burkeen for his recommendation for reducing Samantha’s bond, but Burkeen requested that the bond amount not be changed.

Hutchens granted Samantha’s request for a public defender, after confirming she has not been employed for 10 years. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday, June 5, at 9 a.m.

According to court documents, the children have been under the care of Samantha and Robert Arnett, who are their aunt and uncle, respectively, since May 2019, when their parents lost custodial rights.

On May 20 of this year, the Mayfield Police Department received an anonymous tip that the two juveniles were neglected and abused. A Mayfield police officer conducted a brief investigation and contacted the Calloway County Department of Community-Based Services (DCBS) office, noting he felt duty-bound to report the evidence of which he was aware.

In his report, the officer expressed concerns “for the children’s wellbeing as they were isolated to their residence,” noting that the children were homeschooled, and that they were not being medically evaluated or eating properly.

Shortly after receiving the report, a DCBS social worker interviewed the Arnetts, both of whom said they did not believe either child had any medical conditions and further advised that both children “eat a lot” but were not gaining weight; however, neither caregiver had an explanation for bruising and other marks on the children’s bodies.

When questioned alone, Samantha told the social worker that she has had difficulty at times getting the children to eat but added that she did not believe they were losing weight. Upon further questioning, she acknowledged the possibility that at least one of the children had lost weight.

Samantha said that both children had been evaluated by medical personnel who advised that they were healthy despite not gaining weight. She also stated that blood work had not revealed any potential underlying cause of their weight loss.  

Through the social worker’s investigation, it was discovered that the children had not been seen by their primary care providers since January 2023. At that time, the Arnetts were advised to seek additional medical treatment because of malnutrition concerns related to the children being underweight for their size as determined by the children scoring in the 13th percentile compared to others their age and gender; but the Arnetts “refused to seek further medical attention for the juveniles.” Since then, the children had lost an additional seven pounds, approximately.

The children were referred to Vanderbilt by DCBS and their primary care providers on May 22 and, “due to the severity of their conditions,” were immediately admitted. At the time, medical staff at Vanderbilt advised that the children would need to stay in the hospital for at least five days. They also noted marks and bruising over various parts of the children’s bodies that were consistent with physical abuse. Vanderbilt staff further stated that “law enforcement needed to be contacted and a forensic interview needed to be scheduled and conducted.”

On May 23, the social worker contacted the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) to launch a criminal investigation, and the couple was arrested that night.

An anonymous source with personal knowledge of the situation described the children’s gaunt appearance, likening their sunken cheeks and an apparent lack of subcutaneous fat to “photos you see of starving children in Africa.” The source also noted that the couple’s biological child appeared to be well-nourished and showed no signs of abuse or neglect.

As of today, the children are still at Vanderbilt, but they are starting to show signs of improvement, according to the source. Upon admission, they were placed on a restricted calorie diet, which is considered standard treatment for those who are extremely undernourished to avoid “refeeding syndrome,” a potentially life-threatening condition that causes fluid and electrolyte shifts and other metabolic complications, according to the National Institutes of Health; however, those calorie restrictions have now been lifted.

Individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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