Good morning, 270. It’s Friday October 4th. This is the 270 Daily News, the newsletter that’s like finding a crisp $20 bill in your coat pocket! 🍂 

As always, we’ve curated the best of West Kentucky just for you. From the local stories shaping our communities to some weekend ideas for you and your significant other, we’ve got the news you need to know!

But enough chit chat, let’s get straight to business.

-Chase

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Weather Report

Friday:☀️High- 84 Low- 57

Saturday: ☀️ High- 84 Low- 60

Sunday: ☀️ High- 84 Low- 61

News

Paducah Mayoral Election 2024: Meet the Candidates

As the 2024 mayoral election approaches, Paducah residents will decide between two candidates with distinct visions for the city’s future: current Mayor George Bray and City Commissioner David Guess. Both candidates participated yesterday in a forum where they discussed critical issues such as the impact of inflation on the riverfront infrastructure project, the advancement of nuclear energy in Paducah, the future of post-secondary education, the repair of roads and bridges, and the ongoing lack of affordable housing.

George Bray: A Track Record of Leadership

Mayor George Bray is seeking a second term, running on his record of accomplishments during his first four years in office. Bray emphasizes the progress Paducah has made under his leadership, including economic development projects and infrastructure improvements. During his campaign kickoff, he highlighted several key achievements, such as the development of the Paducah Sports Park, improvements to the 911 system, and the new terminal at Barkley Regional Airport.

Bray takes pride in the city’s job growth during his tenure, with nearly 850 new jobs created and another 536 indirect jobs. He claims these jobs have contributed to a capital investment of $330 million and an annual economic impact of $150 million for the community. His focus on economic development has been a central part of his platform.

Looking ahead, Bray promises to continue working on issues like affordable housing, particularly on Paducah’s Southside, where he believes more incentives are needed to attract developers. He also acknowledges the challenges surrounding the City Block Project, stating that while the original developer couldn’t complete the project, he is committed to finding new solutions for the valuable downtown property.

For Bray, experience is a key theme. He emphasizes his proven leadership and willingness to learn from mistakes as reasons voters should trust him with another term. "I have a track record," Bray says. "This community has started growing again under my leadership." He presents himself as a professional and experienced leader capable of continuing Paducah’s momentum.

David Guess: A Fresh Approach for Growth

City Commissioner David Guess, Bray’s challenger, is campaigning on the idea that Paducah needs a fresh perspective and a more business-friendly environment. Guess, a local business owner, argues that his experience on the city commission has given him insight into the city’s bureaucracy, which he believes hinders growth.

Guess has made it clear that he wants to transform Paducah into a more efficient, economically vibrant city. One of his central campaign promises is to improve the city’s reputation for being difficult to work with, aiming to streamline city processes to make Paducah more attractive to businesses, residents, and tourists. His platform includes plans to focus on small business support and community involvement through his "Paducah’s Growth, Your Voice" program, which seeks to engage citizens in the decision-making process.

In terms of housing, Guess has stated that he supports more affordable housing, but his approach focuses more on inspection processes and ensuring that new housing meets community needs. While he acknowledges the importance of affordable options, he emphasizes that housing solutions must be realistic and sustainable for the city.

Guess’s campaign also focuses on infrastructure improvements, particularly road enhancements and stormwater systems, which he believes will make the city more resilient and attractive. Like Bray, Guess sees economic development as key to Paducah’s future, but he positions himself as a candidate who will be more attuned to the needs of local businesses and more proactive in reducing red tape.

Guess's campaign theme is centered around making Paducah a city where all residents can live, work, and thrive. He presents himself as a leader ready to listen to the community and manage the city with a business-minded approach.

The Decision Ahead

As the election draws near, Paducah residents face a choice between two candidates with different styles and priorities. Mayor George Bray asks voters to trust his experience and steady leadership, while City Commissioner David Guess offers a vision of transformation and efficiency. Both candidates promise to work toward a brighter future for Paducah, but they offer different paths for how to get there.

Groundbreaking in Mayfield: A Realization of Hope in Tornado Recovery Efforts

Yesterday, Governor Andy Beshear, U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, and Mayfield Mayor Kathy O’Nan broke ground on a new city hall and police station in Mayfield, marking a significant step in the ongoing recovery from the devastating 2021 tornadoes.

“We made a promise to the people of Western Kentucky that we’d be here until every home, life, and building is rebuilt,” said Beshear. “Today, we’re taking a big step in making good on that promise.”

The $48 million facility replaces the city hall and police station destroyed in the tornadoes. As the third anniversary of the disaster nears, Senator McConnell reflected on the journey ahead: “This is a big step forward, but there’s still more work to do.”

This project represents not just physical rebuilding but the enduring resilience of the Mayfield community. As Governor Beshear noted when remembering the groundbreaking of the first home construction after the tornado, "The groundbreaking of the first home built after the tornado was a beacon of hope, and today is a realization of hope."

Local Links

🥁 United States Marine Band “The Presidents Own” will be performing a free concert in collaboration with the Paducah Symphony Orchestra.

🎵 Band directors at MSU & WKU are collaborating on a composition to honor an alumnus killed in a collision with a semi-truck this summer.

🐺 Learn about the legendary and spooky “Beast of LBL”

📜 Governor Andy Beshear makes Time100 Next 2024 list.

🏥 Baptist Health hires new sports medicine specialist Dr. Luke Beggs.

⚡️ Photos of Paducah Power System lineman in Florida helping restore power after Hurricane Helene

270 Life

Date Night in WKY for under $20

Whether you want to do something fun with your spouse or you're going on a first date, there are a lot of ways to do something fun together that won’t break the bank.

🍿 Have a movie night

• Head to Cinemark on a Tuesday night for discounted tickets, you WILL have to sneak in your snacks if you want to keep it under 20.

⭐️ Laser light show and star gazing

• Go see a laser light show at the Golden Pond Observatory at LBL for $8 per person, with music themes such as an Elvis theme, they also do the night sky in a 40-foot dome.

🚘️ Go cruisin’

• Feel like your back in the 80’s and get some friends together and go out cruisin, or join a group already doing it like the Paducah Car and Cruise this Saturday or the Ridin’ with Reese Cruise in Benton on Saturday as well.

🍂 Head to a Fall Festival

• Most are free to get into, there’s usually free live music and plenty to see and do that you and your significant other would enjoy. Head to the River Folk Festival this Weekend at Memorial Park in Calvert City for a fun-filled and affordable date night!

🎃 Have a pumpkin carving contest

• You can find two decent-sized pumpkins for under $20 and then put on a good Halloween playlist and start carving. Have your kids or a friend judge the contest, and the loser does the cleanup!

💃 Go out dancing

• Put on your dancing shoes! A night out dancing with your partner can be very romantic, and O & A’s Piano Bar is having a dance party tonight at 7.

If none of these ideas are your fancy, there’s bound to be something in the events section below. But don’t let the budget be an excuse, there’s plenty of things you can do if your creative to create a night to remember. 💘 

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As part of your membership, you’ll get an ad free experience, exclusive articles, a much more detailed events page, and a special weekend round up of all the things you might’ve missed each week!

📆 Things to do

Friday 10/4/24

Paducah

Haunted Horse Drawn Carriage Rides: 6 pm at the Paducah riverfront. Event details here.

Pumpkin Bash at Dry Ground Brewing: 8-10pm, details here. 

Wicked Paducah Walking Tour: Event by Atomic City Fun Center, 6:30-7:30pm. Learn more here.

Nosferatu With Radiohead: A Silents Synced Film: 7-8:30pm at Maiden Alley Cinema.

Glow Tennis: Noble Park Tennis Courts @ 7pm. Info here.

Dance Party: DJ Lindsey Hargrove at O&A’s Piano Bar downtown. Details here.

River City Ghost Tours: By Market House Theater, tours at 6:15, 7:30, and 8:45. See more here.

Murray

Messy Friday: Craft time for 3-5 year olds at the Murray Art Guild from 9-10am.

Live 2 Lead: leadership event from 9am-4pm. Speakers include Jon Gordon, Michael JR, Malcolm Gladwell, and Chaunte Lowe. Get tickets.

Murray Bank Customer Appreciation Day: 11am-1pm, show up at any Murray Bank location and enjoy a free meal! BBQ, potato salad, baked beans and chips, along with a fresh frozen treat from the #TMBIceCreamMachine!

Fairway to Heaven Golf Scramble: At the Murray Country Club at 10:30 am, lunch provided by Sirloin Stockade. Support KY Young Life and register here.

King Kaiju at Big Apple Bar and Grill: 8:30 PM 11:00 PM, $5 cover fee. Event here.

Marshall County

Dr Morgs. Haunted House: 7-11pm at the Marshall County Stave Mill Construction Site. Admission: $8

Saturday 10/5/24

Paducah

Western KY Poultry & Small Animals Swap Fall Festival: 8am-2pm at Traders Mall. Details here.

Paducah Downtown Farmers Market: 306 North 2nd Street, Paducah, KY 4200 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Soft Grand Opening Weekend: A&K Permeant Jewelry 10am-6pm at 3331 Lovelaceville Road, Suite D Paducah, KY. More details here.

Rural King 10th Annual Celebration: 10am-2pm, food, child activities, and more. View details.

Wooftober: 10am at Noble Park Dog Park. Bring your pup in their Halloween costume for the Dog costume contest and see the other dogs spooky looks as well. Event page here.

Steak Class: Learn to cook the perfect steak from Kentucky BBQ Supply Company at 12pm and will last 3-4 hours. For price and event details, click here.

Paducah Cars & Cruise: 5pm at 306 North 2nd Street, Paducah, KY 42001. More details here.

A Different Sound live: From 7:30-9pm at the Clemons Fine Arts Center

Hayley Payne live: at The Country Club of Paducah from 6-10pm. Hayley’s website here.

Murray

Downtown Farmers Market: 7am-12pm

Creative Arts Bazaar & Bake Sale: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM at the Murray Woman's Club 704 Vine Street Murray, KY, more here.

MSU Mini Cheer Clinic: 8:30-11:30 AM at the CFSB Center, get tickets here.

Paint your Pet: 9:00 AM to noon at the Murray Art Guild,403 Maple StreetMurray, KY, register here.

Bullseye or Bust Charity Dart Tournament: 4:40-7:30 PM at Big Apple Bar and Grill, 1005 Arcadia Circle Murray, KY, see more here.

The Little Shop of Horrors: Cinema International: 7:30 PM 9:30 PM at the Faculty Hall North 16th Street Murray, KY, event info here.

Mayfield

Just for Boo: Vendor and Craft show at the Mayfield-Graves Fairgrounds, 10am-3pm. Details here.

Pressed Flower Pumpkins: Head to Honey Hill Farms to decorate pumpkins from 2-6:30pm. Event page and address here.

Marshall County

River Folk Festival: 5-8pm at Memorial Park, live music, food, and fun. Details here.

A Centered Space: Poolside Yoga @ Lakehouse Inn at Sledd Creek with Alison, $15. Last of the season!

Ridin’ with Reese: Memorial Cruise-in & ride starting at 10am at Central Elementary in Benton. Details here.

Karaoke at Dam Brewhaus: 7pm at 1894 US 641 N., Benton, KY

Cade Doyle Band live: at The Beer Garden (3540 US Hwy 641 Nth, Benton, KY) from 7:30-11:30pm. $5 cover charge.

🔒️ Premium members get West Kentucky’s most extensive weekend events list sent to them on Thursday to help prepare for weekend plans plus much more… PLUS, help us to make a better and better experience for our readers.

📸 270 Cam

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Sports

Friday Night Lights Matchups! 🏈 

All games start at 7pm

Paducah Tilghman @ Logan County

Crittenden County @Murray

Apollo @ Graves County

Caldwell County @ Mayfield

Hopkinsville @ Calloway County

Ballard Memorial @ Russellville

Fulton County @ Caverna

Saturday 10/5/24

Murray State Football takes on South Dakota at home! 2pm CT

Today’s Quote

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Hope you have a great weekend! See ya Monday!