hopkins county

Longtime Hopkins County Clerk Devra Steckler withdrew her candidacy for the post minutes before the deadline Tuesday.

 “I had every, every intention of running at least one more time when I filed on Nov. 6. And after I went to my dad’s birthday party, his 79th birthday party, it just kind of hit me Friday night,” she said. “And I was wondering if I was doing the right thing by committing to another five years. I just feel like my parents… I just felt the need that I need to be there for them.”

Hopkins County Judge-Executive Donnie Carroll says he plans to file for re-election by the end of this week. Carroll, a Democrat, says there are several projects he will focus on if given a third term.

“We still would concentrate on our road projects,” Carroll said. “We’ve been fortune enough to build some new facilities for our road departments and our animal shelters and things like that. I still would concentrate on economic development.”

The Kentucky State Police and local sheriff departments are stretching their staffs to cover a shortfall in local law enforcement presence.

Hopkins County will not seek a $4 million fundraising campaign to support the county’s planned regional sports complex.

The Recreation, Buildings and Grounds Committee Tuesday told representatives from Strategic Development Consultants the county would not need their services. 

Two Hopkins County attorneys have announced their bid for the seat of a district court judge who's set to retire in 2015.

Kate Lochte speaks with Hopkins County-Madisonville Chamber Director Lee Lingo about its upcoming I-69 Kentucky Development Conference presented by Rogers Group. The purpose of the Conference, presented by Rogers Group, Inc. is to help communities prepare for the economic benefits and transitions of the I-69 Corridor that is a planned 55 mile freeway overlapping portions of I-24 and the Western Kentucky Parkway, to improve trade and travel across western Kentucky. The Conference is on Tuesday, October 15, from 8:30 am to 5 pm at the Ballard Convention Center in Madisonville. Click here to find out more about the event and how to participate.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services has confirmed 15 cases of salmonella poisoning in Hopkins, Webster and Muhlenberg counties.

The outbreak, which was declared in mid-September, has claimed one life and left five people hospitalized. Cabinet officials say the same genetic fingerprint links at least eight regional salmonella cases. 

  Health officials are investigating a salmonella outbreak in Hopkins County, with 10 confirmed cases and one fatality.

Environmental supervisor for the Hopkins County Health Department Barry Franklin said an investigation has begun to determine the cause of the outbreak.

A natural gas leak Tuesday forced the evacuation of 885 Hopkins County High School students. No injuries were reported.

Hopkins County Sheriff Deputy Jeremy Crick said the leak started around mid-morning when an Atmos Energy service crew was performing routine maintenance in Mortons Gap. Crick said one of the crew accidentally ran over a connector pipe causing a cap to blow off. Emergency management officials notified the school as well as city authorities. Mayor Frank Stafford issued a mandatory evacuation of the area at 11:45 am. Traffic on US 41 was halted for several hours while fire crews shut off gas lines. Stafford said the evacuation of 400 residents was based more on the risk of an explosion rather than the risk of gas inhalation.

Madisonville police are asking the public's help after a rash of storm grate thefts have left exposed holes around the city.  Lieutenant Jason Lutz says the thefts ran through May and June and roughly 30 grates have been taken. He says the thefts have left dangerously large openings exposed in the ground that could lead to injuries or damage to passing vehicles.