Former City Councilman and Democrat Richard Covington has filed for the upcoming city council election this year.
According to Covington, he cites his 17 years of service on the Hopkinsville City Council as the experience that uniquely qualifies him to serve on the legislative body.
During his 17 year tenure on city council, Covington reportedly initiated and led the effort to establish flood control measures for the city.
The former councilman says he has no axe to grind with anyone and simply enjoyed public service and helping people.
If elected, Covington vowed to represent Ward 7 with a strong and active, but responsible voice.
The Ward 7 seat is currently held by Democrat Peggy Rogers Everett, who is seeking re-election.
                                                           **

Austin Peay State University announced today the creation of a center to study military life at the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences.
According to university officials, the purpose of the center is to support research activities to develop a more in-depth understanding of all aspects of military life as they impact individual service members, military families and communities and the nation.
Officials say an event to officially announce the creation of the Center for the Study of Military Life at APSU will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 9^th in the Morgan University Center Ballroom and the event is open to the public.
The keynote speaker for the February 9^th announcement will be, Sociology Program Director at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, Doctor Morten Ender.
                                                           **

In a move that came as no surprise, 8^th District State Representaitve John Tilley has filed for re-election.

Tilley had said numerous times that he intended to run for another term, but waited until the filing deadline to seal the deal. The Democrat faces Republican school teacher Max Sturdivant, Jr. in the general election.

                                                **

01/31/2012/am

There is now a Democratic primary to face Republican Congressman Ed Whitfield in November.

Benton Democrat Charles Kendall Hatchett filed his papers with the Secretary of State’s office and will face Doctor James Buckmaster of Henderson in the primary.

Hatchett ran for Congress multiple times in the 1980’s and lost in a landslide to Congressman Whitfield two years ago. He has an Associate’s Degree from the University of Kentucky in banking and has worked in a variety of fields—including being a part-time auctioneer since 1976.

                                                **

01/31/2012/am

There are now three candidates in two area State Representative elections.

There will be a Republican primary in Christian and Hopkins County for District 9, where incumbent Myron Dossett of Pembroke will face current District 10 Representative Ben Waide of Madisonville. Waide was re-districted out of the 10^th and placed in the 9^th, leaving he and Dossett little choice other than running against each other.

Awaiting the winner of that race is Democrat Scotty Parsons of Collins Bridge Road, Dawson Springs. Parsons graduated from Christian County High School with the class of 1955, before getting his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in agriculture and education from the University of Kentucky.

Parsons taught in the Montgomery and Dawson Springs school systems before serving as Assistant Superintendent for the Hopkins County School system from 1974 until 1997.

Meanwhile, the 16^th District now has two republicans and one Democrat running to replace Representative Martha Jane King.

Republican Kent Wilson of Olmstead has filed against Logan County Magistrate Jo Orange for the primary, with the winner to face retired Logan County Attorney Tom Noe in the November general election.

                                                **

01/31/2012/am