Datebook: May 25 – Don’t Panic… It’s Towel Day

Towel Day is celebrated every year on May 25, May as a tribute by fans of the late author Douglas Adams. On this day, fans carry a towel with them to demonstrate their love for the books and the author, as referenced in Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. The commemoration was first held in 2001, two weeks after Adams’ death on 11 May 2001.  Check out the Towel Day Facebook Page.

Here’s Datebook for Wednesday, May 25

The Memorial Day weekend brings the Arts and Crafts show to Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park in Gilbertsville. It runs 9 to 5 with live music starting at 10 both Saturday and Sunday. Area food vendors are on hand and some craft participants demonstrate their work. There’s free admission and parking.

The Farmers’ Market of Murray – Calloway County is open at the Murray-Calloway County Fairgrounds about 2 miles from Murray off of Hwy 121 North. It’s open Saturdays from 7a.m. to 1:00 pm. Beginning June 22 the market will open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 7 to 1.

Due to recent flooding, the beach at Lake Barkley State Resort Park will be closed so it can be cleaned up. The beach will not be open for Memorial Day weekend. The park will announce the reopening of the beach soon. For more information call 1-800-325-1708 or email Nick.Edmonds@ky.gov

Use wkms.org to communicate your events as well. Thanks for listening!

morning cram [obama-cameron edition]

President Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron are holding a joint news conference in London this morning.

NPR is live-blogging the event.

Severe weather slated to begin sometime this afternoon. Conditions will make tornadoes possible.

KENTUCKY~ Paducah officials will vote next month on legalizing fireworks. FEMA centers open in McCracken/Livingston Counties. Farmers and self-employed workers can register for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. McCracken County is suing a local hotel owner over back taxes. A Mayfield-based State Trooper garners top honors. The US Drug Czar applauds/criticizes the Commonwealth’s prescription tracking system.

ILLINOIS~ State Police will be out in force in the southernmost counties next month thanks to a federal grant and Gov Quinn asks for a federal disaster declaration for flood recovery there.

TENNESSEE~ An EF-2 tornado Monday blew through Stewart County leaving two injured in the Big Rock community. Extra unemployment benefits a go!

Severe Weather Coverage [May 25]

UPDATED – 5/26 7:30am

Area Damage Recap:
Last night’s line of storms passed through the region leaving little damage. High winds pushed down some trees across roads and knocked out power in parts of Paducah affecting some 1,500 customers for a few hours.

Several highways through McCracken, Marshall, Calloway and Graves Counties were closed for a few hours overnight as crews repaired downed power lines and removed fallen debris.

It’s much the same down in Paris, Tennessee where fallen trees damaged a handful of homes on Hwy 77, White Street and on the city’s west side along West Wood Street and Forrest Heights Drive. About 2,500 residents were without power for some time for overnight, but many homes’ connections have been restored. Henry County Emergency Management Director Ronald Watkins estimates some 20-30 county homes suffered minor damage.

In Massac County, Illinois a tornado is believed to have caused damage to a farm.

McCracken County Emergency Management Meteorologist Beau Dodson says over 75 tornadoes reportedly struck southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, western Kentucky, and western Tennessee. The National Weather Service is sending out survey teams today. Dodson says damage was mostly confined to rural instances, leaving cities and larger towns spared from the most intense damage.