EVANSVILLE -- A man accused of robbing a Dawson Springs home last month was arrested by Vanderburgh County sheriff's deputies as he was being released from St. Mary's Hospital here Thursday morning.

The two-year $17.5 billion state budget passed by the House Wednesday includes more than $4.7 million for sewer and coal severance projects in Hopkins County.

DIXON -- A video posted on Facebook showing a dog limping on a broken leg sparked an investigation that led state police to cite the Webster County Dog Pound warden with cruelty to animals Thursday afternoon.

Upcoming activities for county 4-H members and leaders will emphasize the group's motto, "Learning by Doing."

Hopkins County Health Department conducted the following food service establishment inspections March 5-11.

Jackknifing pickup truck injures 2 people

Regional Medical Center's auditorium has been named in honor of Joe Miller, vice president of strategic planning and marketing for Trover Health System.

LOUISVILLE -- A Kentucky man with a long criminal history has been sentenced to life in prison for running down and killing two little girls while fleeing from police.

FRANKFORT -- Lawmakers worried about preserving Kentucky's horse capital status presented a plan Thursday that offers a cash infusion to bolster the state's racing industry by taxing Internet betting and allowing a new form of gambling on old horse races.

FRANKFORT -- A bill aimed at protecting domestic violence victims by attaching ankle monitors to track the whereabouts of alleged abusers cleared a crucial hurdle Thursday.

DIXON -- A former Webster County Schools employee has been indicted on 23 counts of theft by deception, accused of charging more than $18,000 in personal items to the school's account.

EARLINGTON -- A man wanted in connection with a series of home invasion robberies last month was apprehended Wednesday afternoon in Earlington.

A second citation for violating Hopkins County's smoking ban is being issued, as the Health Department increases its efforts to publicize the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Dressed in my spiffy Kentucky blue polo, I showed up at the Government Center on Tuesday night for the second class of the Hopkins County Sheriff's Citizen's Academy.

PINEVILLE, Ky.(AP) -- Authorities in Kentucky's southeastern corner say they've found the largest moonshine still in years.

GRAYSON, Ky. (AP)-- An eastern Kentucky man has been released from custody after being acquitted in the shotgun death of his neighbor.

FRANKFORT -- Republican Bill Johnson bowed out of the U.S. Senate race on Wednesday, citing an internal poll that showed him distantly trailing two better-known GOP candidates.

FRANKFORT -- The Kentucky House passed a $17.5 billion two-year state budget plan Wednesday that divided lawmakers along mostly party lines in a debate focusing on its use of revenue enhancements and a jobs creation component that would pile up more state debt.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- The Kentucky Department of Highways says campaign signs that are placed on a state highway right of way will be removed for safety.

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A Kentucky advocate for organ donations predicted that a bill advanced by a Senate panel Wednesday will spur more donations leading to lifesaving transplants.

CYNTHIANA, Ky. (AP)-- A central Kentucky Parent Teacher Organization treasurer is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the group.

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Republican Bill Johnson bowed out of the U.S. Senate race on Wednesday, citing an internal poll that showed him distantly trailing two better-known GOP candidates.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP)-- University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. says the university followed its fire marshal's recommendation in closing the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house until 2011.

The new Hopkins County Humane Society animal shelter may be modeled after the Daviess County facility, which officials say would save money and speed up the construction process.

In this penny-pinching economy, many local organizations and individuals remain generous in giving money back to the community.

EARLINGTON -- The Earlington City Council approved several changes to the city code of ordinances during Tuesday's meeting.

Frankfort author Michael Embry, formerly of Madisonville, has published his fourth novel.

Muhlenberg was left off the list of counties served by the Mid-West Kentucky Chapter of the American Red Cross in a story in Tuesday's edition. The Messenger regrets the error.

OWENSBORO -- The county jailer in Owensboro wants to create a children's activity center for kids who visit family members in jail.

FRANKFORT -- Coal companies have taken an unusual stand in Kentucky by urging lawmakers to pass legislation that would increase the fees they pay to apply for mining permits.

FRANKFORT -- A Kentucky House committee approved a proposed $17.5 billion two-year state budget Tuesday night that includes cuts to higher education and seeks to cut the prison population, increasing use of parole for some nonviolent criminals to squeeze savings.

LANCASTER, Ky. (AP)-- Organizers of a re-enactment of the Civil War's Battle of Lancaster say they are expecting this year's event to attract more than double the number of participants as last year.

CYNTHIANA, Ky.(AP) -- A central Kentucky Parent Teacher Organization treasurer is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from the group.

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Coal companies have taken an unusual stand in Kentucky by urging lawmakers to pass legislation that would increase the fees they pay to apply for mining permits.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)-- Prison guards would face felony charges for having sexual contact with inmates under legislation that has been approved by the Senate.

HARRODSBURG, Ky. (AP)-- A 32-year-old central Kentucky woman says she delivered her newborn son on the floor of her laundry room by herself, including cutting the umbilical cord.

MANCHESTER, Ky. (AP) -- A 64-year-old man has died after Kentucky State Police say a motorist ran him over during a confrontation.

LEXINGTON, Ky.(AP) -- People wanting to learn more about horses or who are new to horse ownership can sign up for a day of training with the Kentucky Horse Council.

ERLANGER, Ky. (AP) - A high-ranking Toyota executive says the auto company's North American sales spiked around 50 percent the first eight days of March as incentives helped lure customers after a series of embarrassing safety recalls.

Hopkins County Central's High Voltage dance team brought home a pair of third-place trophies from the National Dance Alliance championships this weekend.

FRANKFORT -- Kentucky House members who opposed a revenue measure linked to balancing the next state budget will be empty-handed when school construction projects are doled out as part of the spending plan, Speaker Greg Stumbo said Monday.

FRANKFORT -- Kentucky's method of executing condemned prisoners could be in place again by May after a legislative committee raised no objection to the state's three-drug lethal injection protocol.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to continue daytime closures along Casner Road in the eastern part of Hopkins County to allow for road maintenance.

Census notification letters to arrive soon

Madisonville

LOUISVILLE -- After spending the day practicing cursive writing and discussing how money moves through a community, Mike Ice's second-graders at Dunn Elementary took out their notebooks and described what they'd learned -- in 140 characters or fewer.

Jeanie Barnett, executive director of the Mid-West Kentucky Chapter of the American Red Cross, will retire at the end of the year.

Hopkins County fire departments are working to improve command and control at incident scenes by bettering overall accountability.

RICHMOND, Ky.(AP)-- Two panels will meet Tuesday in Richmond, and an update on construction of a plant where chemical weapons will be destroyed is expected.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.(AP)-- Dinosaurs will be invading the Louisville Zoo this week.

WASHINGTON – The foreclosure crisis isn't over, but the pace of growth may finally be slowing down.

WASHINGTON – The number of newly laid-off workers requesting unemployment benefits slipped last week, the latest sign the employment picture is slowly brightening.

NEW YORK – Bank of America customers will soon be unable to spend more than they have in the accounts linked to their debit cards. It's a step that may become a common move ahead of new regulations limiting overdraft fees.

MIAMI – Toyota owners claiming that massive safety recalls are causing the value of their vehicles to plummet have filed at least 89 class-action lawsuits that could cost the Japanese auto giant $3 billion or more, according to an Associated Press review of cases, legal precedent and interviews with experts.

TOKYO – Sony Corp. said Tuesday it will start selling 3-D televisions in June, joining a competitive industrywide push to convince consumers to embrace the technology for their living rooms.

CINCINNATI – The Kroger Co.'s profit fell 27 percent in the fourth quarter, even as sales rose with a boost from the grocer's gasoline incentives for regular customers.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – American International Group will sell a second overseas life and health insurance unit for $15.5 billion to MetLife Inc. in an ongoing bid to repay billions in government aid.

Frigid winter is bad news for tomato lovers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)– Regulators on Friday shuttered banks in Florida, Illinois, Maryland and Utah, boosting to 26 the number of bank failures in the U.S. so far this year following the 140 brought down in 2009 by mounting loan defaults and the recession.

TiVo Inc. prevailed yet again in a long-running dispute with Dish Network Corp. over patents for digital video recorders, as a federal appeals court cleared the way Thursday for TiVo to collect hundreds of millions of dollars. TiVo shares jumped more than 50 percent.

Minister Kelvin Hopson, 42, of Johnson City, Tenn., formerly of Madisonoville, entered into his heavenly home on March 6, 2010. He was born in Madisonville.

Oddie Bell Brown, 86, of Madisonville passed away at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at Brighton Cornerstone Health Care in Madisonville. She was born July 5, 1923, in Harlin, the daughter of the late Timothy Huff and Flora Bickerstaff Huff. She was a member of Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Madisonville, where she was one of the oldest members. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jake Brown; a son, Lonzo Huff; and three daughters, Louise Foster, Shelia Brown and Jo Ann Brown (the last two died in infancy); and a brother, Alonzo Huff.

Gladys Nadine Cates Weldon, 95, of Providence died Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at Ridgewood Terrace Nursing Home in Madisonville. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Providence and a seamstress.

Johnny Carson, 93, of Madisonville died Thursday, March 11, 2010, at his home.

Linda Cardwell Cranor, 55, of Clay died Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at her home. She was a housewife.

Joyce Marie Daniel, 67, of Clay died at 8:55 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at Regional Medical Center in Madisonville. She was a member of Concord General Baptist Church in Manitou. She was the bookkeeper for Clay Drug Store for 37 years. She was preceded in death by her dad, Louis Wilson in 2000; and her mother, Ona Wilson in 2007.

Nathan Dale Tucker, 76, of Madisonville died Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson. He was a Navy veteran serving in Korea. He was owner-operator of Mid-South Home Improvement and Tucker Rentals and a member of Earlington General Baptist Church.

Oddie B. Brown, 86, of Madisonville died Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at Brighton Cornerstone Health Care in Madisonville.

Alfred Leon Howton, 88, of Madisonville died Sunday, March 7, 2010, at his home. He was an Army veteran of the Asia-Pacific Theater during World War II and drove a grader for Hopkins County for 22 years.

Mrs. Ardyth Ziese Cobb-Christman, 87, of Madisonville passed away at 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at Ridgewood Terrace Nursing Home in Madisonville. She was born June 28, 1922, in Decatur, Ill., to the late Fred W. Ziese and Ruby Pauline Ziese. She was also preceded in death by her husband, George Christman; a brother, John Ziese; a grandchild, Julie Lynn Latham; and a great-grandchild, Mason Ingram. Mrs. Cobb-Christman worked as a legal secretary and enjoyed genealogy. She was also an avid Star Trek fan.

Thelma Cox, 78, of Madisonville, formerly of Central City, died at 11:35 a.m. Saturday, March 6, 2010, at Belle Meade Nursing Home, Greenville. She was born Nov. 13, 1931, in Muhlenberg County, was a homemaker and member of Mount Zion Presbyterian Church, Central City. She was preceded in death by her husband, William L. Cox, and her parents, John William and Flora Smith Young.

Royce Earl East, 52, of Dawson Springs, died Monday, March 8, 2010, at his residence. He was an individual support staff member for Res-Care Inc.-Outwood for 11 years. He was of the Baptist faith.

MARTINEZ, Ga. -- Mrs. Leelan Vance Marshall, 79, died Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the home of her daughter, Virginia L. Marshall of Martinez after an extended illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert S. Marshall Jr.

Jack S. Williams, 75, of Dawson Springs, died Monday, March 8, 2010, at St. Thomas Hospital, Nashville. He was a civil engineer and land surveyor, veteran of the U.S. Army and was a member of Ogden Memorial United Methodist Church.

Marvene (Crowley) Ritz, 89, of Slaughters, died at 7:37 a.m. Tuesday, March 9, 2010, at her residence. She was a homemaker, member of the Slaughters Baptist Church, Sebree Eastern Star and the Mount Pleasant Homemakers.

BURBANK, Calif. – The Los Angeles coroner's office says "The Lost Boys" actor Corey Haim is dead at 38.

Royce Earl East, 52, of Dawson Springs died Monday, March 8, 2010, at his home.

Mr. Edmund “Pa” Ernest Kletsch, 78, of Anton passed away at 4 a.m. Friday, March 5, 2010, at his residence.

Allie Barnett Holmes Utley, 76, of Nebo passed away at 10:55 p.m. Saturday March 6, 2010, at Regional Medical Center in Madisonville.

Roy Landis Ray Sr., 68, of Dawson Springs died Saturday, March 6, 2010, at his home. He was an Army veteran and was employed at Sun State Security.

MADISONVILLE -- Thelma Cox, 78, of 195 Adam Lane, Madisonville, formerly of Central City, died at 11:35 a.m. Saturday, March 6, 2010, at Belle Meade Nursing Home in Greenville. She was born Nov. 13, 1931, in Muhlenberg County, was a homemaker and a member of Mount Zion Presbyterian Church, Central City.

Elenora C. Stone, 87, of Madisonville passed away on Thursday, March 4, 2010, at 11:15 p.m. at NHC Healthcare in Madisonville. She was born Jan. 24, 1923, in Spencer County, Ind., to the late George Hartung and Ida Hillenbrand Hartung. She was a self-employed care provider, and she spent most of her life baby sitting and sitting with the elderly. She also worked at the Senior Citizens Center of Hopkins County. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Madisonville. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Stone.

Marvin Scott, 50, of Providence died Thursday, March 4, 2010, in Madisonville. He was born March 7, 1959, in Providence to Everett and Ruby Scott. Marvin worked with trees all of his life.

Mr. Gordon Hurst, 88, of Madisonville passed away at 12:41 a.m., Thursday, March 4, 2010, at Regional Medical Center in Madisonville. He was born Dec. 30, 1921, in Battle Ground, Ind., to the late William and Alice Downing Hurst. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Colleen Hurst; two sisters; and four brothers. Mr. Hurst was a self-employed cabinet maker.

More than 50 faculty, staff, students and community members from Hopkins and Muhlenberg counties were in Frankfort recently to show support of Kentucky Community and Technical College Systems (KCTCS) and Madisonville Community College. Along with a rally, the participants enjoyed lunch hosted by Sen. Jerry Rhoads, toured the Capitol and the Governor's mansion and learned about Kentucky history from former MCC history professor Bob Adkins. Above, Rhoads, D-Madisonville, and Reps. Rick Nelson, D-Middlesboro, and Fitz Steele, D-Hazard, meet with members of the Coal Academy. From left are Terry Sundry, Harold Burton, Dennis Mayo, Rep. Nelson, Rep. Steele, Rhoads, Bill Higginbotham, Rick Caskey, Chris Williams, Danny Knott and Al Kelty. Photo provided

My name is Bouncin' Bobby. I'm a male, beagle/bassett mix, about 10 weeks old. I'm very lovable and I want to go home with you. Call 821-8965 for more information. Photo provided.

Mayor James Noel of Nortonville was presented a plaque of appreciation from the director of the Hopkins County Central ABA youth basketball league, Troy Crist. Team members look on. Photo provided

On three Saturday mornings in February, students from Browning Springs Middle School attended free oil painting classes sponsored by the GE Volunteers. At the end of each session the students took home their own finished landscape painting.

Murray State University has announced that Wendy Gamblin is the Student of the Week for March 8-12. Gamblin is an elementary education major.

Jack Porter is the Student of the Week for March 1-5 at Murray State University-Madisonville. Porter is a health care administration student at MSU-Madisonville.

Greetings to everyone, once again, from the west end of the county. I enjoyed a delicious supper at Mom and Dad’s house tonight. Mom cooked meatloaf (my favorite) and since no one at my house likes it except me, I do not get to enjoy it very often. Thanks, Mom.

Good morning, Hopkins County. I hope this finds you and yours in good health and good spirits.

I need to report a “robin sighting” on Feb. 24. Just outside my kitchen window, this jolly fellow was hopping merrily along with not a care in the world. He seemed to not realize that he is a harbinger of spring, a most important job. Happy spring, dear friends.

Greetings Anton and neighbors. I hope you are preparing to lose an hour of sleep or whatever else you do at 2 a.m. Sunday morning. It seems like Daylight Savings Time is earlier every year, but the second Sunday, March 14, is actually the latest of the last three years of time springing forward. 

Brett Kik of Madisonville was elected to the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors at the annual convention.

Transylvania University senior Samuel Palmer was recently honored with the Greek Man of the Year award during Transylvania's Greek Awards program. He is a member of Phi Kappa Tau. The award goes to a leader from a fraternity who has contributed to the university, their fraternity chapter and to the Transylvania Greek community as a whole.

Happy Hump Day, y’all. You’ve just about got this week licked. Just a couple more days until the weekend, and you can kick back and relax for a couple more. Some of you have probably already had your coffee and some are having yours now. I’m taking a little break from dishes and laundry, so we can have our coffee and news together, you and I.

Hi, Parents,

Chelsea Howard, Jeremy Kelsey, Gregory Miller and Kaitlyn Ross, all juniors at Webster County High School, were awarded $1,000 college scholarships in the "Drive the Dream" scholarship program, sponsored by the Kentucky GEAR UP program.

The 55th annual Charleston School reunion will be at 4 p.m. March 27 at the Dawson Springs Community Center. An auction will be held at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. The class of 1960 will be recognized for the 50th anniversary of its graduation. Cost of the dinner is $10 and reservations must be made by March 24. Donations for the auction may be brought to the community center the day of the event. For more information or to make reservations, call 797-2470 or 825-9264.

State Rep. Brent Yonts, D-Greenville, welcomed several friends and family members to the House floor on Feb. 24. Pictured (from left) are Vickie Yonts, Vickie's daughter and Rep. Yonts' niece Brooklyn Yonts, local FRYSC coordinator Bonnie Gibson, Kristen Wells (who served as Rep. Yonts' floor page for the day) and her mother Susan Wells and grandmother Patsy Wells, Rep. Yonts' wife Janice and Rep. Yonts.  Photo provided

The CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Program of Hopkins County/ Family Advocacy Center commissioned two new volunteers on Nov. 23. The Hon. Susan Wesley McClure, Family Court judge (left), commissioned Jennifer Jones (center) and Martha Pleasant (right). Each volunteer completed a strict screening application and more than 30 hours of training prior to being commissioned. For more information on how to help the abused and neglected children in Hopkins County, call the CASA/Family Advocacy Center's office at 825-1582 or e-mail hccasa@bellsouth.net. Photo provided

Hello to all of you and what a great week it has been thus far. We got to wear pajamas to school to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday, the sun has been shining, daffodils are popping up everywhere, it is daylight when I get up for work and still daylight when I get home. I went to see my hair girl Tammy, who always makes me feel like a movie star. If I could choose which star I would want to be, it would be a cross between Doris Day and Lucille Ball. So things are looking up here in Hanson. Spring is around the corner and that reminds me that we spring forward with time this weekend. Casey is home this week making a visit to Kim Hill and the gang. Then we will head to Nashville to cheer on the Cats in the SEC tournament. We will meet up with the Burkes, the Schmits and the leader of our pack will be the godfather of Lake Malone and a die-hard Kentucky fan Freddie Woodlee. I dare not pack anything orange in my suitcase or he will disown me.

Good morning, Dawson Springs. The students at Dawson Springs Community Schools are hopping with activities this week just in time for spring. Members of the Panther baseball team are conducting a BBQ fundraiser. Items on the menu are half chickens for $4.50 each, whole chickens for $8 each or Boston butt for $25 each. Orders can be placed by contacting Coach Adam Locke or any member of the varsity or junior varsity teams. If you would like to place an order and aren't acquainted with a member of the team, feel free to give me a call and I'll hook you up. Orders will be delivered on Saturday, March 20, or you can choose to pick it up at Riverside Park that day before noon. All profits will be used to keep the field up to par during the 2010 season. Coach Locke and the Panthers appreciate your support.