City cracking down on water meter vandals

City officials say stealing water is a crime and police are working to have those skirting the law prosecuted.

City Maintenance Director Brian Thomas said that over the last 18 months or so, there have been at least a dozen residents caught stealing water by breaking locks off secured city water meters.

At times, the culprits are damaging water meters, which are costly to repair or replace.

“It can be $300 and that’s just parts. It doesn’t include two men out there digging it up to replace it,” Thomas said about some of the meters that have been tinkered with and broken lately.
City Police Chief Ray O’Neal said one woman was put in jail last week for stealing water and damaging a meter. She also received a hefty court-ordered restitution sum.

The charge in court is theft of services and can lead to fines, up to a 365 days in jail and restitution costs.

The police chief said anyone caught altering meters in order to gain illegal use of water services will be accordingly charged.

A fun place to shop near Fredonia

Click Image to Enlarge

One of the most fascinating new places in the area is Pleasant Valley on Ky. 91 between Fredonia and Princeton.

It's a bulk grocery store, gift and novelty shop and a sit-down place to eat.

The deli has sandwiches, soups and more. And there are plenty of fine candies and deserts around the store.

Check them out. You'll see how much fun one place can be for lunch, groceries and gifts.

There is also a wide assortment of outdoor furniture, fire pits and accessories.

No driver's testing June 30

There will be no driver’s testing Friday, June 30 in Crittenden County. According to Circuit Court Clerk Melissa Guill, both the written and road exams have been cancelled for that day due to a shortage of license examiners.

Governor orders flags to half-staff

Gov. Matt Bevin has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff today in honor of Sgt. William M. Bays, 29, a Fort Campbell soldier who died while supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel.

Services for Sgt. Bays will be at 2 p.m. today at Belmont Cemetery in Allensville.

According to the Department of Defense, Sgt. Bays died on June 10, 2017 in Peka Valley, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, of gunshot wounds sustained there. The incident is under investigation.

Gov. Bevin encourages individuals, businesses, organizations and government agencies to join in this tribute of lowering the flag in honor of Sgt. Bays.

New Location – Grand Opening

Click Image to Enlarge

Area death

Johnie Richard Young, 81, of Marion died Tuesday. Myers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Cindy bringing dangerous weather to area

Tropical Storm Cindy could bring flooding to Crittenden County

Tropical Storm Cindy will be making landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border today, packing with her torrential rains that could cause life-threatening weather across a swath of the Southeast, including western Kentucky. Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom has been in a conference call today with the National Weather Service, which is notifying area leaders of the potential hazards Cindy will bring to the area Thursday and Friday.

"They are predicting rainfall from 5 to 6 inches in some areas, 2-4 inches in general, gusty winds, significant wind shear, possible small tornadoes and possibly small hail risk," Newcom said.

According to DarkSky.net, an online weather center, the chances of rain in Crittenden County should start around 8 a.m. Thursday and continue through late-night Friday.

"The moisture from Tropical Storm Cindy will combine with an approaching cold front to cause heavy rain and possibly some flooding. A few strong thunderstorms are possible Thursday through Friday evening. An isolated weak tornado is possible Thursday afternoon and night. However, the main hazards with any storms will be heavy rain and lightning. The heavy rain and thunderstorms will end Friday night in the wake of a cold front," reads a NWS hazardous outlook bulletin.

As usual, the courthouse basement will be open as a storm shelter.

What's news this week in Crittenden County...

With the purchase of three properties fronting West Bellville Street, the school system has opened up new possibilities for redeveloping the joint middle/high school campus. It has also taken steps toward alleviating both safety and logistical concerns related to accessing the grounds. Last Thursday, Crittenden County Board of Education agreed during a special-called meeting to pay owner William Tabor his asking price of $69,900...

For the rest of this story and the following headlines, pick up a copy of this week's issue of The Crittenden Press:

• Gilkey to head CCES
• Council debates Marion’s substandard housing crisis
• MY 2¢ WORTH: City housing, future condemned?
• County, city populations in steady decline
• Local BBQ competition returns July 15
• Road weight limits again discussed by magistrates
• Cozart billed by ‘Today’ as ‘phenomenal father’
• Cumberland River Homes adding to Salem facility
• Woman, 52, dies in crash last week
• Kentucky 34th in child well-being
• FORGOTTEN PASSAGES: Commissioner tours 1879 county schools
• Baseball Legacy: Pros with local ties
• Crittenden teachers honored at Campbellsville ceremony
• City cracking down on water thieves who damage meters

County roads targeted for improvements

In case you missed this article that ran recently in The Press printed edition:

Sixteen short streets or roads in communities across Crittenden County will be getting a fresh coat of pavement at some point this year.

The county has received $102,949 in discretionary funds from the Kentucky Department of Highways to resurface local roads. Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom said he and Road Foreman Audie Maraman surveyed the county’s roads and streets and created the priority list, which was adopted by the fiscal court recently.

“These are short roads that never get much attention,” Newcom said. “They probably don’t get anything done to them but once every 20 years.”

Newcom said the roads are largely in some of the most densely populated areas of the county such as Dycusburg, Crayne and Tolu.

Rogers Group will be doing the paving, Newcom said.

Here are the roads that will be getting new pavement as part of the program:
•Church Road near Crayne for 0.186 miles from U.S. 641 to Crayne Cemetery Road.
•Stallions Drive near Crayne for 0.056 miles U.S. 641 to Church Road.
•Stevens Drive near Crayne for 0.109 miles from Church Road to end of county maintenance. 
•Railroad Avenue near Crayne 0.130 miles from U.S. 641 to Reiters View Road.
•Dycus Road near Dycusburg for 0.403 miles from Ky. 295 to Ky. 70.
•Fifth Street in Dycusburg for 0.160 miles from Walnut Street to Spring Street.
•Spring Street in Dycusburg for 0.362 miles from Ky. 70 to Walnut Street.
•Third Street in Dycusburg for 0.125 miles from Ky. 70 to end of county maintenance.
•Fourth Street in Dycusburg for 0.011 miles from Fifth Street to end of county maintenance.
•Lafayette Heights near Frances for 0.252 miles from intersection with Ky. 70.
•Lake View Drive 0.213 miles from intersection with Chapel Hill Road.
•Twin Lake Drive 0.157 miles from intersection with Chapel Hill Road.
•School Avenue in Tolu for 0.128 miles from intersection with First Avenue.
•Church Avenue in Tolu for 0.145 miles from intersection with School Avenue.
•Croft Alley in Tolu for 0.145 miles from intersection with School Avenue.
•Todd Alley in Tolu for 0.098 miles from School Avenue to end of state maintenance.

Gilkey new CCES principal

Jenni Gilkey today was picked to be the new principal at Crittenden County Elementary School. The school's SBDM tapped Gilkey, a 22-year educator, to replace Melissa Tabor, who is retiring this summer. Gilkey has most recently served as assistant principal at the school.

See this week's issue of The Crittenden Press for more on the story.

Centershot archery begins Wednesday

Click Image to Enlarge

Economic development forums planned for late June

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles invites anyone interested in strengthening the bond between agriculture and manufacturing to three forums scheduled across the commonwealth later this month. The nearest one will be in Princeton.

The Linking Agriculture for Networking & Development (LAND) forums aim to expand upon the existing supply chain for agricultural products to the manufacturing sector. Registration in advance is required, and the registration deadline is Tuesday.

“Agriculture is economic development, and it’s only natural that our farmers and agribusinesses should work with our manufacturers,” Commissioner Quarles said. “These forums will enable stakeholders in these important economic sectors to build mutually beneficial relationships that will generate income and jobs in Kentucky.”

The schedule of LAND forums is as follows:

• June 27: Bath County Cooperative Extension Ag Center, 2914 East Highway 60, Owingsville
• June 28: Jeptha Creed Distillery, 500 Gordon Lane, Shelbyville.
• June 29: University of Kentucky Research and Education Center, 1205 Hopkinsville Street, Princeton.

Each forum will begin with networking at 10:30 a.m. local time. Presentations will include Commissioner Quarles, regional agricultural leaders, and industry management discussing successful collaborations and referencing resources to foster additional development. The program will include lunch with locally sourced farm ingredients and will conclude at 1 p.m.

The forums are intended for agricultural leaders, manufacturers, economic development professionals, local and state officials, educators, and other stakeholders. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers are facilitating the forums with the financial support of the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and other regional sponsors.

There is no cost to attend the forums, but seating is limited. For more information, or to register, go to kam.us.com/linking-agriculture-for-networking-development-land/.