Casey Northcutt

The Paducah/McCracken County Convention Center Corporation will enter the next fiscal year with a balanced budget. 

McCracken County citizens will get their chance this November to decide whether or not to merge the county with the City of Paducah. 

Doug Hall and Dianna Johnson farm poop. Technically, they farm chickens for Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, but they supplement their income by hoarding giant piles of decomposing chicken manure for compost.

The Paducah City Commission disapproves of a local organization’s intention to fly the Confederate flag. 

The Paducah-McCracken County Convention Center Corporation presented its 2012/2013 budget to the county Fiscal Court yesterday. CCC Treasurer Hal Sullivan gave members what he called a “bare bones” budget requesting $100,000 to help with insurance costs and maintenance issues. The money will also help pay the Carson Four Rivers Center for management services. Sullivan says the CCC is trying to pare down its spending so local governing bodies can assist other organizations in need.

The American Quilters Society’s annual show is winding down in Paducah, and quilters have seen nearly every fabric, design and stitch associated with the art of quilting. The city has been covered in quilts. Yet, as the 150th anniversary of the Civil War continues, Casey Northcutt investigates a time when fabric was scarce and quilts were relief supplies sent to soldiers.  Of the quilts women did manage to piece together, only a portion remains today, serving as a testament to the hardships of the time.

Joint U.S. Coast Guard/National Transportation Safety Board hearings on the January crash of a cargo ship into the Eggners Ferry Bridge concluded Friday with testimony from vessel pilot Michael Collins. Collins was the last in a line of Kentucky Transportation workers, ship crew and representatives of vessel owner Foss Maritime who testified on policy, regulations, bridge lighting and ship conditions. Foss Senior Vice President of Operations Scott Merritt gave testimony Wednesday. After the hearing concluded, he said he could not confirm if his company would seek litigation.

River Pilot Michael Collins says he tried to steer the Delta Mariner through an alternate span of the Eggners Ferry Bridge with confidence he would clear the road deck prior to the accident.

Testimony provided during the Coast Guard hearings on the crash that collapsed a portion of the Eggners Ferry Bridge has provided some answers for those who's livelihood depend on the bridge traffic. Some information shocked Aurora restaurant owner Bertha Wilson who attended hearings earlier in the week:

 “I guess it’s just real disappointing to know there just wasn’t better facets in place to check these navigation lights and things like that, and I’m kind of focusing for that first day because that’s when I was there and hearing that. It’s hugely important like we know now.”

The fourth day of the Eggners Ferry Bridge Hearings began with testimony from the former third mate on the Delta Mariner.