COMING SOON After Acquittal (Ready Or Not) Defendent Responds to Tampering with Evidence Charges Meghann Anderson Assistant News Editor
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Murray voters pass alcohol referendum Alexis Love sets The Murray State Newssights on Rio, 2B Aug. 24, 2012 thenews.org Vol. 88, No. 2 Walker in court again COMING SOON after acquittal (ready or not) Defendent responds to tampering with evidence charges Meghann Anderson Assistant News Editor Jerry Wayne Walker Jr., appeared in Calloway County Cir- cuit Court Aug. 13, for the third time after recently being acquitted of charges in con- nection to a fatal 1998 resi- dential college fire at Murray State. Walker pleaded not guilty to charges Jerry Walker of tampering Jr. with evidence in connection to the case. The fire resulted in the death Kylie Townsend/The News of Florida student Michael Minger Officials are keeping a watchful eye on local government as the city braces for a full expansion of alcohol licensing. and injury to Paducah student Michael Priddy in September of 1998. Marshall County Judge Dennis University reflects after alcohol decision Foust set a hearing for 1 p.m. on Sept. 7, after Walker entered his Edward Marlowe first-time and repeat DUI offenders. plea to charges of six counts of Staff writer Alcohol “I think that in terms of availability, tampering with evidence. more parties will be able to purchase more A Marshall County jury acquit- For years, students have returned to alcohol, and as the party continues, and as ted Walker last month of setting Murray State knowing they would have to the University they get low, rather than running to May- the 1998 fire in Hester Hall at Mur- “run south” in order to purchase their alco- any reason, containers of alcohol (kegs, field, Paducah or Paris, they'll be able to ray State. The new charges were holic partying supplies as the semester bottles, cans or beer bongs) empty or full, drive to Walmart or some nearby liquor sealed and not included in the pre- moved forward. in the Residential Colleges or College store,” Stevens said. “Those that might vious trial, after a Calloway Coun- Mac’s South-of-the-Border Beer Store in Courts. have been deterred from driving drunk for ty grand jury indicted Walker in Puryear, Tenn., and Westwood Liquors in Even though the rules surrounding the twenty to thirty minutes will probably be June. Paris, Tenn., have often been the lynchpins campus are changing, Murray State will far more likely to drive drunk for five or Commonwealth Attorney Mark for catering throw-downs, back-to-school continue to employ a zero-tolerance policy ten minutes.” Blankenship said the charges relate parties, end-of-semester castoffs, socials, on beer and alcohol, a policy held since Don Robertson, vice president of Stu- to letters used as evidence at the mixers and other gatherings. 1922. dent Affairs, however, doesn’t believe the trial in Benton, Ky. However, on July 17, after months of lob- This means venues such as the CFSB easier accessibility will play a major role in The charges also brought a bying from both sides, the citizens of Mur- Center and Roy Stewart Stadium, which campus problems with alcohol. response from Walker’s defense ray struck down decades of local ordi- host popular sporting and musical events “It was already only seven or eight miles team Monday. nance and passed a local option vote throughout the year, currently disallow away; now it’s just a little more conven- Richard Null, Walker’s defense allowing distribution of packaged liquor alcohol and will not be permitted to sell ient,” Robertson said. “You still have to be attorney, said he was pleased when within the city limits. The vote passed 53 alcoholic beverages to patrons as they are 21, but if you were going to get someone Walker was acquitted of all charges percent “yes” to 47 percent “no” with a 35 located on campus and governed by Uni- older to buy it because you were underage, earlier this month. percent voter turnout rate. versity regulations. you could’ve already done that, so I don’t “In a nut shell, they brought the While people may still head south for One major area of concern is the imme- see it making that much of a bigger differ- charges, and we filed a motion the Cosmo’s or 641 Club in Puryear for old diacy in which alcohol will be available to ence. They thought that when we went judge set it for a hearing,” he said. time’s sake, buying liquor and beer will students in the area, who by as early as (moist in 2000) it would be an issue but “I think the outcome should be the soon be as easy as driving five minutes to a October can run to the gas station nearest that didn’t happen either.” charges be dropped, and we feel vendor in Murray. them to pick up a six-pack. Bonnie Higginson, vice president of Aca- like our chances our good.” Per the Student Life Handbook, by Lowell Stevens, junior from Murray, said demic Affairs, was in agreement, but said Null also said he was pleased which every student must abide, Murray he believed the ready availability could the University would maintain a watchful Murray State installed sprinkler State prohibits the use or possession of pose problems for the local area if not alcoholic beverages in residential colleges. monitored effectively and met with a strict Students are not permitted to possess, for policy on drunk driving in order to deter see ALCOHOL, 3A see WALKER, 3A Racer Band reports record numbers Alex Berg Nov. 7 - 10 in the famous Lucas Oil representation of Murray State. Staff writer Stadium in Indianapolis. “We are a community that At the event, the Racer Band learns together and supports each The Murray State Racer Band will perform in an exhibition in other, continuously raising the topped off the start of school with front of 90 high school bands and bar for ourselves,” he said. a record number of interested stu- thousands of spectators. The high number of members dents, breaking its previous high Fannin said being the premier this year raised the bar for the of 244 members by more than 50 – event at a competition such as band as it created some, what Fan- at 310. this, for a band member, is like nin called, logistical drama. On Aug. 15, the number broke performing at the Super Bowl. Uniforms posed the greatest the previous record held for more Fannin also said the band’s logistical problem. Each uniform than 30 years. recruitment performances at sev- is custom-made and takes 150 “We had a great retention rate eral high schools in the area, the days to make. from last year. Approximately 185 media attention received at the Each member has their own out of 244 members returned Festival of Champions competi- size, and it creates the possibility from last year’s group,” said assis- tion and the members themselves of wardrobe problems. However, tant director of bands John Fan- do a great job of recruiting and other necessities such as instru- nin. replacing positions. ments are more easily compensat- Fannin said the large retention Bailey Boyd, senior from Mur- ed. rate and growth of this year’s ray, said some difficulties exist for Despite the small logistical tri- band is mainly due to the band’s large groups. fles, Don Robertson, vice presi- major performances throughout “The large number of members dent of Student Affairs, said the the season. will make it more difficult to play large number of members is a He said many members want to together, but it will also make a tremendous asset to the Universi- return to perform at competitions bigger and better sound,” she said. ty because it enhances campus such as Bands of America’s Ryan Knight, president of Racer life and spirit. Marching Band Grand National Band and native of Benton Ill., Contact Berg at aberg1 Michelle Girmaud/Contributing photographer Championship, which will be held said the band is the best possible @murraystate.edu. Students perform on the steps of Lovett Auditorium Sunday, in front of a crowd of about 300 people. WHAT’S BASKETBALL FACILITY PROFESSOR’S WELCOME NEW FACES CAMPUS REALITIES Contractors still on schedule Bolin challenges students to Football transfers bring big- Tradition continues to entertain, INSIDE for January exhibition, 6A enjoy Murray State careers, 5A school experience , 1B inform freshman students, 5B The News 2A News August 24, 2012 News Editor: Chris Wilcox Assistant Editor: Meghann Anderson This week Phone: 809-4468 Twitter: MurrayStateNews If you would like an event to appear in Friday Saturday Sunday Monday the This week section, fill out a form in •3 p.m. Soccer vs. Arkansas State; •10 a.m. Racer Week Explores Down- •9:30 a.m. Sunday School Winslow •4 p.m. Student teaching abroad The Murray State News office at 111 Wil- Cutchin Field, open to all town Murray; Curris Center, 1st floor Cafeteria, open to all meeting; Alexander Hall, Room son Hall, fax to 809-3175 or email infor- •5:30 p.m. International Game Night •7 p.m. Capture the flag sponsored •1 p.m. Soccer vs. Evansville; Cutchin 3101E mation to [email protected]. Mixer; Wellness Center, open to all by christ Ambassadors; Quad, open Field, open to all •4:30 p.m. Murray State Speech and Please submit events by noon on •6 p.m. Madeline Bartly Solo Exhibi- to all •4:30 p.m. Murray State Muay Thai; Debate Team information meeting; Wednesdays. We cannot guarantee •7 p.m. tion; Murray Art Guild, free admis- Paducah Improv; Playhouse Martial Art Room, Carr Health Wilson Hall room 314, open to all all items received will be published.