Recent Articles

Prisoners moved after Fiscal Court meeting

(Clinton, KY August 12, 2015) - In an early morning meeting, the Hickman County Fiscal Court voted to close the troubled Hickman County Detention Center. Local prisoners were immediately taken to the Fulton County Detention Center. State prisoners were split among several other jails in the area...

It's a decision that should come as no surprise.

Independent candidate for governor Drew Curtis and his running (and life) mate Heather Curtis submitted a 5000+ signature petition to the Secretary of State yesterday to get their names on the ballot in November.

For more on the independent candidate, follow the jump.

Candidate for Lt. Governor Sannie Overly toured the River Counties from Ballard to Fulton on Wednesday, July 29th. Overly spoke to small groups of supporters at stops in Wickliffe, Bardwell, Clinton and Fulton. She also stopped off at Columbus Belmont State Park.

...if you can't take the free form exercise of the 1st Amendment at a picnic, I have grave concerns for your ability to manage the business of the Commonwealth...

Close to six hundred Democrats gathered at Kentucky Lake for what was once called the Marshall County Bean Dinner. The annual night before Fancy Farm Picnic event is one of the many required events for Democratic office seekers. This year, the name of the event changed to honor former county Judge Mike Miller who passed away in 2015..

...GOP candidate for governor Matt Bevin provided the oddest speech of the day. He began by criticizing the event. We are "celebrating our divisions."

The candidate then went on to ask the crowd to rise and recite the Pledge of Allegiance with him. He went on to talk of the meaning of the Kentucky state flag...

More on the speeches after the jump.

The strategic take away from the 2015 Fancy Farm Picnic is that the Era of Big Federal funds flowing into Kentucky is drawing to a close...

Washington is running on empty...

(Mayfield, KY, August 1, 2015) - A smaller crowd of Democrats gathered at Mayfield High School to get their blood moving for the Fancy Farm political speaking later in the day. It was a subdued crowd - maybe because the Mike Miller Bean Dinner in Marshall County kept many out late. After almost a week of luncheons, dinners, golf scrambles and meet and greets, candidates were looking a tiny bit shell shocked...

Meg Hancock, senior, and Anna Grace McGee, sophomore, have been named state champions in the Kentucky Council of Teachers of English and Language Arts high school writing contest...

Todd Hollenbach - Mark Wilson has achieved the perfect trifecta of places polite Kentuckians don't go.

The 2015 Fancy Farm Picnic combines religion, politics and now with the addition of Matt Jones, sports.

Something else hit the Eggner Ferry Bridge early this morning.

Not a barge this time - a jon boat or a runabout.

How does one hit a bridge that big?

Keith Todd, intrepid media guy for KTC has the report.

...As far as the upcoming Fancy Farm Picnic, she said she wasn't aware that lieutenant governor candidates gave speeches. Her impression was only the top of the ticket got to address the crowds.

Then she got her letter from the committee. Jenean Hampton, candidate for the second spot in Kentucky government is working on her four minute speech.

She said that she and the committee thought she would be the first African American woman to speak at Fancy Farm. It will be a historic moment no matter how well the speech is received.

The GOP candidate is confident that all will be well...

Jack Conway holds a slim lead, 45-42, over Matt Bevin in the latest Bluegrass Poll.

"Bevin's stronghold is in Western Kentucky, where he leads Conway by 19 points in the 1st Congressional District and 13 points in the 2nd Congressional District."

Story on Kentucky.com follows the jump.

(Clinton, KY July 30, 2015) - While candidates for state office in November roam the Purchase this week before the Fancy Farm Picnic, looking for hands to shake, babies to kiss and backs to slap, the work of local government goes on. Mayors and county judges across this region struggle to find funds to support sagging infrastructures.

One such local meeting was held at Clinton City Hall this Wednesday morning. The public meeting about housing is a perfect example of the work that goes on in city halls across the Commonwealth.

The City of Clinton is applying for $400,000 from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to assist in refurbishing and upgrading two low income housing complexes. - Clinton Hills and Clinton Apartments.

The faithful came together at Murray State University's Curris Student Center to swap stories about why they support Sanders for president and to hear their candidate speak on a big screen TV via live streaming from Washington. Some of the Sanders fans brought their kids.

Both political parties plan events around the political speaking on Saturday afternoon at St. Jerome's Parish.

For information on Republican and Democratic red meat events - follow the jump.

Note to political junkies - we know there are semi-private fundraisers, golf and traveling visits by candidates.

If you know of such events - email us at editor@westkyjournal.com

The keynote speaker for The Women's Network PAC Dinner was Congresswoman Alma Adams, now in her first term in the US Congress. Now representing the 12th District of North Carolina, Adams went to Congress after winning a special election in November 2014. Adams is known as the "hat lady" in her home state...

GOP Candidate for Lt. Governor, Jenean Hampton will be the keynote speaker at "Picnic and Politics in the Park" hosted by Jackson Purchase Republicans.

Elected GOP officials will be on hand at the Park on Thursday, July 30th from 6-8 p.m. Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be available until they run out.

UNION CITY, TN- Discovery Park of America is hosting the Riders and Rockabilly Fish Fry July 24th and 25th from 5:00 until 9:00 p.m. at the Train Depot on the grounds at Discovery Park. This event is the final event of the month long Rider's and Rockabilly Music Festival throughout West Tennessee.

Admission is free and there will be live music, giant water slides, a fun kid's train and a festive fish fry both evenings.

CADIZ, Ky. (July 22, 2015) - Governor Steve Beshear, flanked by state and local leaders, today ceremonially broke ground for a new bridge on Lake Barkley - the second of the much-anticipated twin Lake Bridges in the tourism-rich Jackson Purchase of western Kentucky...

...Once completed, the Lake Bridges Project will provide a continuous, four-lane route from Aurora to Cadiz, crossing both lakes and Land Between The Lakes. It will eventually be part of a four-lane corridor from Mayfield to Bowling Green.

H. R. 1599 set to go to the House floor has generated controversy.

Should genetically modified foods, known as GMOs, be regulated at the state or federal level?

...This bill preempts state and local restrictions on GMOs or GMO food and labeling requirements for GMOs, GMO food, non-GMO food, or "natural" food.

It's the dream of nearly every girl in America to meet Disney princesses for a tea party! That's exactly what will happen for girls through age 11 who register for this special event scheduled at Graves County Middle School Saturday, Sept. 5! Party A runs from 1-2:30 p.m. Party B runs from 3-4:30 p.m.

(Mayfield KY - July 7, 2015) - Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor Sannie Overly visited Mayfield on this gloomy Tuesday, meeting with elected officials and supporters in Graves County. Shepherded around by her friend, former House Representative Fred Nesler, Overly made stops at the Graves County Courthouse and a local restaurant, where she spoke to supporters before moving on to Paducah for a fundraiser with her running mate, Jack Conway.

Murray State University's college of education and human services was host to the Kentucky Reading Project summer institute this June at the MSU Paducah Regional Campus.

...The project is a professional development initiative for Kentucky public school elementary teachers designed to improve student achievement and emphasize family involvement in literacy...