Tuesday, September 30, 2008

PDF Full Version Subscriptions

The Crittenden Press Online will start charging for PDF versions of The Crittenden Press on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008. The entire newspaper will be available in PDF format for a fee of $2.50 per month or $20 per year. 

The Press Online will continue offering a portion of the local news for free. Those free html files will include the top three or four stories of the week, obituaries, community calendar, classified ads from The Press and Early Bird, plus web exclusives such as breaking news, podcasts and video.

For a PDF subscription, go to the subscribe link at The Press Online and follow the prompts. Subscriptions to the PDF version will be available only online. Subscribers will need a Paypal account which they will be prompted to create when they subscribe. Once a Paypal account is created, the customer may pay with a variety of methods, including credit card or bank draft.

Subscribers will be given a unique user name and password so that they can view or download weekly PDF updates of The Crittenden Press in its entirety.

Many of the things available online are never printed in the regular issue of The Press. News and sports video at The Press Online's You Tube channel is one of the most popular features. Thousands of viewers have watched sports clips, features about a local wood working shop, Dam 50 renovations and storm coverage.


Saturday, September 27, 2008

Rockets upset Mayfield


Crittenden County's football team beat Mayfield for the first time ever Friday.
The Rockets won the game 27-14 and will continue their quest for a district championship in two weeks with a home game against Ballard Memorial.

Get the latest scores, stats, photos and video at the Rocket Blog. Click here.

Pictured are Crittenden players dumping the water cooler on head coach Al Starnes following Friday's victory at Mayfield. Photo by Reese Baker.


Friday, September 26, 2008

Ky 295 accident


A Dycusburg man was seriously injured when his car went off the road on Ky. 295 near the Lyon-Crittenden line south of Dycusburg about noon Friday.

The man, Teddy Davenport, 56, was flown by helicopter to a Paducah hospital then later transferred to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. He was in critical condition Saturday morning.

Pictured is a Crittenden County rescue squad member directing the air ambulance to its landing site in a field just above the accident scene.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Crittenden gets EOC funding

U.S. Congressman Ed Whitfield is working to secure funding for an Emergency Operations Center in Marion. The U.S. House approved the funds as part of its passage of the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009. The bill will fund the federal government through March of 2009 and provide funding for defense, military and homeland security operations as well as various other spending measures. 

Among projects approved was $750,000 for the Crittenden County Emergency Operations Center. Judge-Executive Fred Brown said Thursday morning that it appears the legislation will be received favorably in the U.S. Senate, too.

"We've been trying to get money for this for the last two or three years," said Brown. "I'm just elated."

Brown said the EOC will likely be built in the industrial park on the south end of town near the Marion Ed-Tech Center. It could be located downtown near the current rescue squad building at what's commonly called the jockey lot. That and other decisions about the scope and size of the center will be made later, the judge said.

Brown envisions a metal building capable of handling a variety of emergency response activities and equipment.

"I think the rescue squad, HAZ-MAT response team, emergency management and even the fire departments, if they wanted to, could be in there," Brown said.

Brown said a consolidated emergency center is critical for the long-range well-being of the community. He said weaknesses in the local system have been identified recently during natural disasters, including the major ice storm last winter.

Brown said he will be watching the bill very closely in the next day or so as it makes its way through the Senate.



Wednesday, September 24, 2008

River level stresses water officials


Officials at the Crittenden-Livingston Water District are stressed over falling levels of the Cumberland River. The river is dropping to gravely low marks, below intakes used to suck raw water from the river at the district's water plant at Pinckneyville in Livingston County.

By Thursday evening, the river will be too low for the intakes to draw water, according to Crittenden-Livingston superintendent Donnie Beavers.

"We've been in contact with the Corps of Engineers all day," Beavers said Wednesday night as his crews continued to monitor the situation. "They think this could create a problem for us into the weekend."

The water shortage in the river is due to several factors, including a two-year drought, the drawing down of Lake Cumberland to repair Wolf Creek Dam and the rising Mississippi River.

Beavers said that a Henderson, Ky., company has been contracted to bring in a large mobile pump that will be able to draw 2,000 gallons per minute from the river and pour it into the intakes. While that should avert any serious problems, Beavers says he remains cautious because river levels could stay low for some time, as there is no rain in the immediate forecast.

"Lake Barkley is at about winter pool now, so they can't let any more water out of there," Beavers said.

The Corps of Engineers, which manages the flow of water on inland reservoirs, will be raising the wickets on Dam 52 near Paducah later this week. That should help stave off a more serious situation, Beavers.




This week's news

The Crittenden Press printed edition will be on the streets by 3 p.m., today.

Some of the things you can expect are:
  1.  An article about a couple of Alabama deer hunters busted in rural Crittenden County with whiskey, Xanax, loaded rifles and a spotlight.
  2. Chris Ordway, formerly of Marion, is elected to a statewide board.
  3. That World War II pilot from Marion has been buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
  4. The county judge has issued an outdoor burn ban until it rains.
  5. An SEC football player was in Marion this week and visited with local flag football players.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Farm Bureau closed Wednesday

Crittenden County's office of the Kentucky Farm Bureau will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008 due to mandatory training.

Larry Davidson, the local Farm Bureau Insurance agent, said anyone with claim information or other needs can contact the office Thursday morning. He apologizes for the inconvenience.

Countywide burn ban enacted


Judge-Executive Fred Brown has instituted a countywide ban on all outdoor burning for Crittenden County until further notice due to the continued hot and dry conditions. The ban is similar to the one enacted during last year's prolonged drought, with fines and jail time possible for violators. Three rural brush fires on Monday helped to prompt the action, Brown said.


Monday, September 22, 2008

Heritage Days Success Stories

Heritage Days in Marion was a big success. From the cow chip throwing contest to the street play, 'A New Gang in Town,' the entire festival was a big hit, according to organizers.

Judge-Executive Fred Brown said a huge crowd enjoyed events and vendors all weekend long. Pictured is a scene from the street play, Saturday evening's featured event.


All Pro Dad's Breakfast

Hey Dads and Kids…
Join us for Crittenden County's All-Pro Dad's Breakfast

In the multi-purpose room of the
Crittenden County High School
Saturday, September 27th
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

For questions e-mail Denis Hodge at:
denis.hodge@crittenden.kyschools.us
or call 270-704-0643

All Pro Dad’s Day is a monthly gathering of fathers and their kids with the simple purpose of growing closer to each other while enjoying breakfast and participating in meaningful activities.

All Pro Dad is a national charity that features NFL players, coaches, and alumni, including Tony Dungy, who speaks out on the importance of fatherhood. For more information, log on to allprodads.com




Blood supplies dangerously low


NASHVILLE, TN, Sept. 22, 2008 – The physical devastation of Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna, and Ike is matched by another consequence that is more subtle though no less important - the impact on our nation’s blood supply.

In many communities around the country, with blood supplies already low, the American Red Cross has seen its efforts hindered, halted or re-routed by the recent storms and subsequent flooding and power outages. Storm damage, flooding, and power outages have caused the cancellation of blood drives in affected areas, and many blood donors have been unable to keep their donation appointments. Prolonged power issues could mean thousands of units of lifesaving blood might not be collected.

Meanwhile, the Red Cross has activated its national network to move blood from other communities to assist hospitals in communities affected by the storms and other emergencies. The Red Cross has provided hundreds of blood products to hospitals in Texas in the wake of Hurricane Ike and to trauma hospitals in Los Angeles for the train crash survivors. Many of these blood units were type O, the type most often used in emergencies.

The result is a shortfall between supply and demand that must be made up so patients who need blood will not be placed at risk. To this week’s cancer patients and accident victims, who may require anywhere from one to 40 units of blood, that loss is significant.

A stable blood supply is important throughout the year, but during times like these your blood donation is especially important. Type O blood donors are especially needed because type O blood can be given to any patient in an emergency when there may no time to test for and match the patient’s blood type.

Please call the American Red Cross today at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit givelife.org to schedule a blood donation appointment or to learn about other ways you can help the hurricane relief efforts.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Farm Bureau closed Wednesday

Crittenden County's office of the Kentucky Farm Bureau will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008 due to mandatory training.

Larry Davidson, the local Farm Bureau Insurance agent, said anyone with claim information or other needs can contact the office Thursday morning. He apologizes for the inconvenience.


All Crittenden lights are on

As of 3:40 p.m. Saturday, Kenergy had 1,166 customers without power in the region. All Crittenden County Kenergy customers have been reconnected, according to the poer company.

The number of outages by county:

Breckinridge 3
Caldwell 1
Daviess 575
Hancock 275
Henderson 12
Hopkins 9
McLean 65
Ohio 167
Union 45
Webster 14

Heritage Days Schedule


Lots going on in Marion this morning. Here's a schedule of the Heritage Days Festival.
Street play starts at 6 p.m.


Friday, September 19, 2008

Cumberland Bridge at Lake City close Sunday

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to close the US 62 Cumberland River Bridge at Lake City starting at 6 a.m., Sunday, September 21, 2008. The bridge is expected to remain closed until approximately 8:00 p.m., Sunday evening.

The closure is to allow the contractor to continue repairs to the bridge deck. Some of the work can be done more safely without a traffic load on the bridge, so the structure will be closed to all traffic on Sunday. Motorists may use the marked detour for oversized vehicles along I-24 via Exit 40 at Eddyville and Exit 31 at Grand Rivers.

The US 62 Cumberland River Bridge, also known at The Blue Bridge, crosses the Cumberland River below Barkley Dam at theLivingston-Lyon County line. The bridge carries about 5,900 vehicles in an average day.

Heritage Days


Heritage Days is this weekend on the courthouse square in Marion, Ky.
Listen below to a podcast with event organizer Ron Padget.
Learn about the "cow chip" throwing contest !


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PSC advisory

AREA EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND UTILITIES HAVE REQUESTED THAT THE PSC REISSUE THIS NEWS RELEASE.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL FIRES ASSOCIATED WITH RESTORATION OF POWER TO RESIDENCES WITH DAMAGED SERVICE CONNECTIONS WHICH HAD NOT BEEN REPORTED TO THE UTILITY OR REPAIRED.

SEVERAL INSTANCES OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING CAUSED BY IMPROPER USE OF GENERATORS ALSO HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

THE PSC IS AWARE OF AN INSTANCE IN WHICH IMPROPER USE OF A GENERATOR HAS RESULTED IN BACKFEEDING OF ELECTRIC CURRENT INTO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, POSING A POTENTIAL THREAT TO RESTORATION WORKERS AND THE PUBLIC.


PREPARE FOR POWER RESTORATION, PSC SAYS
Check electric connections, meters – be careful with generators

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 15, 2008) - The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) is urging residents affected by Sunday’s wind storm to check electric connections and meters for damage. Damaged connections or meters must be repaired before power can be restored to a home or business.
Falling or sagging power lines may have damaged the connections between the utility company’s overhead line and a customer’s electric system. The connections are usually in the form of a masthead – a conduit connected to the service line – or, in older homes, an eyebolt which holds the line in place and an insulated line leading to the meter. In some cases, the meter or meter base may also be damaged.
Once power is restored, damaged connections or meters could pose an electrical or fire hazard if not repaired or if repaired improperly.
“It is critical that damaged connections be repaired by a qualified professional and inspected before power is restored,” PSC Chairman David Armstrong said. “In past outages, fires and severe damage have been caused by damaged or improperly repaired service connections.”
Repairing a service connection or meter base is the responsibility of the individual customer.
The meter base is the square or rectangular box on which the meter itself is mounted. It belongs to the property owner. The meter itself – the circular, glass-enclosed portion that attaches to the meter base - is the property of the utility company.
Customers with damaged connections or meters should take the following steps:
· Notify the utility company that the service connection, meter base and/or meter is damaged. The utility can then make sure that the line is not energized until repairs are completed.
· In the event that only the meter itself is damaged, contact the utility to have it repaired or replaced and your service restored.
· Contact an electrician to repair the meter base or service connection. The repair work can be done prior to power being restored in an area, thus eliminating any additional delays.
· The electrician will obtain the proper meter base from the utility. Some utilities impose no charge for the meter base, but the customer will bear the installation cost.
· Have the repairs inspected by a state-certified inspector working for your local government. The electrician should be able to help arrange the inspection.
· Notify the utility when the repairs are complete and have been approved. A utility technician will install a new meter and restore the power.
· Keep all repair records and contact your property insurer.
Residents SHOULD NOT attempt to remove any branches, limbs or trees that have fallen across service connections or other utility lines. Notify the utility to arrange for the debris to be removed.
The PSC also reminds customers using a generator for temporary electrical power to do so in a manner that insures the their safety and the safety of those working to restore power. Keys to safe operation of generators include:
· To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, generators should only be operated outside in well-ventilated areas. Do not operate generators in your garage.
· Make sure a generator is properly sized for the load you will place on it. Remember that starting an electric motor, such a refrigerator compressor, requires more electricity than the amount needed to keep it running. DO NOT OVERLOAD YOUR GENERATOR.
· Use only three-prong, grounded extension cords, properly rated for the load, to connect appliances to generators.
· DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FEED POWER INTO YOUR HOME BY ADAPTING AN EXTENSION CORD TO CONNECT A GENERATOR TO A WALL OUTLET. THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE.
· DO NOT CONNECT A GENERATOR TO INSIDE WIRING IN ANY WAY UNLESS YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS IS EQUIPPED WITH A TRANSFER SWITCH THAT PREVENTS POWER FROM FLOWING BACK INTO (BACKFEEDING) THE WIRES THAT SUPPLY YOUR ELECTRICITY.
Backfeeding poses a severe danger to workers attempting to restore electrical service. They can be severely injured or killed by power flowing back into lines which they assume are not carrying electricity. Also, if the line to your home or business becomes grounded, backfeeding can permanently damage your generator.
“Getting everybody’s power restored after a storm of this magnitude is going to take some time,” Armstrong said. “People need to be patient and, above all, remain safe.”
The PSC is an independent agency attached for administrative purposes to the Energy and Environment Cabinet. It regulates more than 1,500 gas, water, sewer, electric and telecommunication utilities operating in Kentucky and has approximately 100 employees.

U.S. 62 bridge closed Sunday

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to close the U.S. 62 Cumberland River Bridge at Lake City starting at 6 a.m., Sunday. The bridge is expected to remain closed until approximately 8 p.m., Sunday evening.

The closure is to allow the contractor to continue repairs to the bridge deck. Some of the work can be done more safely without a traffic load on the bridge, so the structure will be closed to all traffic on Sunday. Motorists may use the marked detour for oversized vehicles along Interstate 24 via Exit 40 at Eddyville and Exit 31 at Grand Rivers.

The U.S. 62 Cumberland River Bridge, also known at The Blue Bridge, crosses the Cumberland River below Barkley Dam at the Livingston-Lyon County line. The bridge carries about 5,900 vehicles in an average day.

Governor orders flags to half staff

Gov. Steve Beshear has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff on Monday in honor of a Marion soldier who died during World War II.

After 63 years, the remains of 2nd Lt. Howard C. Enoch Jr., U.S. Army Air Forces, of Marion, were identified this summer. His remains will be buried on Monday in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. Gov. Beshear has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on that day.

On March 19, 1945, Lt. Enoch was the pilot of a P-51D Mustang that crashed while engaging enemy aircraft about 20 miles east of Leipzig, near the village of Doberschütz, Germany. His remains were not recovered at the time, and Soviet occupation of eastern Germany precluded his recovery immediately after the war.

In 2004, a team from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) surveyed a possible P-51 crash site near Doberschütz. The team found aircraft wreckage. In 2006, another JPAC team excavated the site and recovered human remains and aircraft wreckage.

Last month, the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) identified Lt. Enoch's remains and returned them to his family for burial with full military honors.

Governor requests federal aid for Ike recovery

Good news for areas recovering from Sunday's destructive winds courtesy of Hurricane Ike. 

Gov. Steve Beshear on Friday morning sent a request to Washington, D.C., to declare portions of Kentucky a federal disaster area. If granted, the declaration would help recover costs for public damage in 70 or so cities and counties in Kentucky where states of emergency have been declared.

“This declaration is necessary to clear the way for federal reimbursement for work done by the state and local governments across the Commonwealth to clean up and make repairs in the aftermath of this horrific storm,” Gov. Beshear said

Crittenden County is one of those counties where a state of emergency was declared in the wake of the high winds that created widespread damages and power outages.

Friday power update

Kenergy, the local power company, says that about 4,300 homes and businesses are still without electricity in western Kentucky as of early Friday morning. Some have been out for almost five full days.

Here is a breakdown by counties:

Breckinridge 5
Caldwell 17
Crittenden 22
Daviess 2200
Hancock 935
Henderson 231
Hopkins 124
Lyon 49
McLean 245
Ohio 326
Union 78
Webster 88

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Kenergy power outages

Here are Kenergy power outage numbers as of Thursday night. There are approximately 4,842
Kenergy customers remaining without power in all of western Kentucky.

Breakdown by counties:

Breckinridge 5
Caldwell 17
Crittenden 22
Daviess 2,630
Hancock 946
Henderson 245
Hopkins 132
Lyon 25
McLean 280
Ohio 363
Union 76
Webster 101

Fire guts Marion home

Marion firefighters responded Thursday night to a house fire on Brook Street that left a home gutted. No one was reported injured in the blaze.

The fire occurred at the home of Mary Watson and apparently started around dusk. Firefighters continued to look for hot spots at 9:30 p.m., as neighbors and passersby gathered along the street to watch the happenings. 

A neighbor several homes away first called 911. She said the fire appeared to start near the front of the home.

Pick up next week's The Crittenden Press for detail on this an early morning fire today at a manufactured home in rural Crittenden County.

LBL campsites, roads re-open

Remnants of Hurricane Ike swept across portions of western Kentucky and
Tennessee on September 14. Storm damage heavily impacted Land Between The
Lakes (LBL) National Recreation Area, with the most widespread and severe
damage occurring in the northeast portion.

As of this morning, LBL campgrounds and facilities have electrical power
restored and are open
. Some areas have boil water notices that may last
through Saturday. Please check the notices posted at the individual
facility or campground for details.

The main roads in LBL are now cleared. Several of LBL’s primitive roads
and trails are still blocked by down trees. Anyone visiting LBL needs to
be extremely cautious in these areas. Trail systems assessment and
clearing work continues. The northern section of the North-South Trail
System, Canal Loop Hike/Bike Trails, and Nature Station Trails are
temporarily closed. Folks who enjoy back road driving, mountain biking, or
hiking are advised to allow several days for crews to clear dangerous trees
and snags before you plan a visit to LBL.

Wranglers Horse Trails and Day Use are open, but have extensive damage.
Horse riders are asked to use extreme caution on these trails or consider
riding on roads instead.

Visitors may call 270-924-2000 for more information and updates will be
posted on the LBL website at www.lbl.org.

Utilities coming back on

The Crittenden-Livingston Water District has re-routed flow in the southern part of the county to provide water to almost all customers affected by this morning's leak on Ky. 70. The repair work will be complete later today, and again a boil water advisory will be in order for 24 hours.

Kenergy is making major progress in restoring electricity to the region. As of mid morning today, 6,609 customers were still without power in western Kentucky. That figure was over 18,000 on Monday.
 
Here are current outage figures in area counties:
Breckinridge 5
Caldwell 47
Crittenden 26
Daviess 3,835
Hancock 1,224
Henderson 314
Hopkins 149
Livingston 1
Lyon 130
McLean 415
Ohio 286
Union 75

Water leak found

Crittenden-Livingston Water District crews are now on site at the water main break on Ky. 70 between Mexico and Frances near the old spar mine site.

Customers in the southern part of Crittenden County will be without water for about three hours. By mid morning, the repairs should be complete, but those customers will need to boil their water for 24 hours as a precautionary measure.


Now, no water !

Many Crittenden Countians were greeted by dry water faucets Thursday morning, on top of recent power outages.

Crittenden-Livingston Water District crews were searching at daylight Thursday for a major water leak somewhere in the southern part of Crittenden County which drained lines throughout that part of the county overnight.

It was unclear early Thursday how long the water problem would exist. 

Stay tuned for more details.


Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Power update

The local power company Kenergy had 7,472 customers without electricity late Wednesday night. The number of outages by county as of early Thursday was as follows:

Breckinridge 5
Caldwell 47
Crittenden 29
Daviess 4,125
Hancock 1,250
Henderson 349
Hopkins 167
Livingston 1
Lyon 141
McLean 775
Ohio 438
Union 82
Webster 108

Crittenden power outages minimal now

As of late Wednesday afternoon, the electric cooperative Kenergy had 9,028 customers without power in the region. The number of outages by county is as follows:

Breckinridge 2
Caldwell 50
Crittenden 43
Daviess 4,812
Hancock 1,573
Henderson 384
Hopkins 224
Livingston 1
Lyon 165
McLean 816
Ohio 540
Union 172
Webster 246

Since the storm occurred on Sunday, September 14, Kenergy has experienced two thefts of downed copper conductor. Kenergy urges the public to stay away from downed power lines. Serious injury or death may occur from touching energized power lines that are on the ground.

FEMA Food Hoax

The State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) has received numerous inquiries regarding FEMA food vouchers for Kentucky citizens affected by Hurricane Ike winds that tore across Kentucky last Sunday. State officials have declared this a hoax. FEMA is not handing
out any type of vouchers to storm victims.

State officials would also like to remind Kentuckians to contact your local
community officials to find out where shelters or food stations may be set up
in your area.

Renelle Grubbs, director of the Kentucky Communications Crisis Response Board
(KCCRB), states "We are all vulnerable to the overwhelming nature of these
events. They can impact us emotionally, change relationships, disrupt work
and can cause financial worries. Countless stories from across the state are
underscoring Kentuckians resiliency to this incident." This process of
adapting in the face of challenges and significant sources of stress is also
known as "bouncing back". She continues, "This spirit of resiliency has been
demonstrated through problem solving, community spirit and neighbors helping
neighbors as many people's daily living has been, and for some, continues to
be disrupted."

For more information on dealing with managing disasters and stressful
situations, visit KCCRB's website at www.kccrb.ky.gov.

Post-storm house cleaning

Pressure washing
Get your home or business cleaned by professional pressure washers at Bingham Pressure Washing in Marion. Call 704-9442.


Be careful with food

During power outage, food will spoil

The thousands of Kentuckians left without electricity after high-powered winds swept through the state Sunday afternoon are strongly encouraged to follow food safety guidelines endorsed by the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) to prevent food contamination and related illness.

DPH staff recommends keeping freezers closed to maintain the proper temperature for frozen foods. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours and for 24 hours if the freezer is half full.

DPH cautions that a refrigerator will only hold its temperature for about four hours, meaning food items such as milk, dairy products, meats, eggs and leftovers should be placed in a cooler surrounded by ice if the outage lasts for more than four hours. Dry ice can be used to keep refrigerators cold. If the outage lasts for several days, 50 pounds of dry ice should preserve food in an 18-cubic foot full freezer for two days. (You must be careful when handling dry ice. Never touch dry ice with bare hands or breathe its vapors in an enclosed area. Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide, a gas).

“Horrible situations like this one emphasize the need for emergency preparedness in the home,” said William Hacker, M.D., DPH commissioner. “Food that is improperly stored or handled can lead to foodborne illness, which can be debilitating and in some cases life threatening.”

If left without power, purchase one or more coolers, ice and a digital, dial or instant-read food thermometer, DPH recommends. Public health guidelines also recommend keeping appliance thermometers in the refrigerator and freezer, no matter how long the power has been out. The refrigerator temperature should be 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below; the freezer should be 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.

“If you are not sure a particular food is cold enough, take its temperature with a food thermometer,” said Hacker.

DPH recommends limiting the opening of freezer and refrigerator doors, even if an appliance has been out but returns to function within a couple of hours. If the freezer is not full, DPH strongly advises that poultry and meat items be grouped away from other foods to prevent juices from contaminating other items.

When the refrigerator and/or freezer are operating again, follow these guidelines to decide what to do with foods:
  1. Refrigerated foods should be safe as long as power is out for no more than four hours.
  2. Throw out any perishable food in your refrigerator, such as meat, poultry, lunchmeats, fish, dairy products, eggs and any prepared or cooked foods that have been above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours. Bacteria can multiply to unsafe levels under these conditions.
  3. Fresh fruits and vegetables are safe as long as they are still firm and there is no evidence of mold or sliminess.
  4. If an appliance thermometer was kept in the freezer, read the temperature when power comes back on. If the appliance thermometer stored in the freezer reads 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, the food is safe and may be refrozen.
  5. If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine the safety.
  6. If the food still contains ice crystals or is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, it is safe to refreeze.
  7. Raw meats, poultry, cheese, juices, breads and pastries can be refrozen without losing too much food quality.
  8. Prepared food, fish, vegetables and fruits in the freezer can be refrozen safely, but food quality may suffer.

“Remember, you can’t rely on appearance or odor of the food to determine if it’s safe,” said Hacker. “Food that has thawed or was held above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for more than two hours should be thrown out because bacteria may multiply to unsafe levels.”
To remove spills and freshen the freezer and refrigerator, DPH recommends washing with a solution of two tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in one quart of warm water. To absorb any lingering odors, place an open box or dish of baking soda in the appliance.

Kenergy Wednesday Update

The energy cooperative Kenergy made progress in Crittenden and surrounding counties Tuesday and into Tuesday night.

As of 5:50 a.m., today, Wednesday, Sept. 17, Kenergy has 10,871 customers without power in western Kentucky. Outages by counties are as follows:

Breckinridge 5
Caldwell 108
Crittenden 269
Daviess 5,414
Hancock 2,098
Henderson 474
Hopkins 302
Livingston 3
Lyon 71
McLean 620
Ohio 1,056
Union 141
Webster 310

In addition to Kenergy crews, the power cooperative now says it has 54 additional men from neighboring utilities assisting restoration efforts. The cooperative is asking for patience and understanding.

Kentucky Utilities made marked progress in Marion Tuesday, also. It reconnected the south red light at U.S. 60 and U.S. 641 and the surrounding businesses. No word on the exact number of outages for that company.


Latest power update

Kenergy had 7,472 customers without power as of late Wednesday night. The number of outages by county early Thursday was as follows:

Breckinridge 5
Caldwell 47
Crittenden 29
Daviess 4,125
Hancock 1,250
Henderson 349
Hopkins 167
Livingston 1
Lyon 141
McLean 775
Ohio 438
Union 82
Webster 108

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Kenergy Outage Update

Here is an update from Kenergy at 7:45 p.m., Tuesday, September 16.

Systemwide Outages 12,230, according to the energy cooperative.

Breckinridge 5
Caldwell 278
Crittenden 314
Daviess 5,869
Hancock 2,202
Henderson 721
Hopkins 353
Livingston 3
Lyon 106
McLean 670
Ohio 1,191
Union 153
Webster 365

More lights going out

While the number of customers without electricity region wide is declining, the power outage in Crittenden County is increasing, according to the latest numbers released by Kenergy, the energy cooperative that serves much of Crittenden County.

The power company says that various issues are causing numbers to go up in Crittenden. They are indicating that the power outages could be longer than at first expected.

In Crittenden County, Kenergy said 196 homes were without power Monday night, but this afternoon that figure has gone up to 346.


According to Kenergy's latest update, issued at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, approximately 14,000 Kenergy customers remain without power in western Kentucky. Outages by counties are as follows:

Breckinridge 5
Caldwell 383
Crittenden 346
Daviess 6428
Hancock 2589
Henderson 1013
Hopkins 616
Livingston 3
Lyon 200
McLean 752
Ohio 1736
Union 203
Webster 362

Power Update

The following is an update from Kenergy. As of Monday night, 18,000 Kenergy customers remained without power.

Outages by county were as follows:
Breckinridge 5
Caldwell 504
Crittenden 196
Daviess 7,221
Hancock 3,124
Henderson 1,429
Hopkins 1,270
Livingston 1
Lyon 253
McLean 1,476
Muhlenburg 7
Ohio 2,254
Union 314
Webster 534

Kenergy said that it is in an "extended outage situation" and does not expect to be 100 percent restored system-wide until the latter part of the week. Clean-up will take weeks after all power is restored, the electric cooperative said.


Monday, September 15, 2008

Power update

Kentucky Utilities still has approximately 250 customers in Marion and Crittenden County area without power. Judge-Executive Fred Brown says that KU officials think many of those will be reconnected today and the rest by Tuesday afternoon.

Kenergy, the other electric cooperative that serves the area, still has 19,000 customers remain without power in western Kentucky. In addition to Kenergy employees, crews from
Tennessee and Bowling Green are arriving today to assist in the restoration efforts. Judge Brown says that Kenergy officials also believe they will have all power restored at some point Tuesday.

Boil Water Notice

Crittenden-Livingston Water District has issued a boil water notice for customers in northern Livingston County.

The advisory will be in force until further notice. It was issued due to the power outage that interrupted supply lines in that part of the county.

The notice affects about 300 customers. For more information, call the water district office in Salem, Ky., at (270) 988-2680.

Water district flowing again

Power has been restored to the Crittenden-Livingston Water District plant in Pinckneyville and the district has started refilling its water towers.

All water district customers should be back on line by early afternoon, according to Donnie Beavers, district superintendent.

The district started shutting off water to some areas early Monday morning in order to maintain sufficient water supplies at the hospital and nursing home in Salem.



State of Emergency

Crittenden County Judge-Executive Brown has declared a state of emergency here.

Brown signed the order Monday morning. By doing so, the county will be able to request federal and state emergency relief funds; however, Brown says he is not sure whether the county will qualify such funding.

Water and power companies continue to struggle to restore services to customers in Crittenden and surrounding counties.

The Crittenden-Livingston Water District is still without power at its plant in Pinckneyville on the Cumberland River in Livingston County. The district is being supplemented by the City of Marion, but cannot continue to serve all customers in the two counties. The district is closing off some valves, temporarily shutting off water to some customers, in order to make sure Livingston Hospital and the Salem Springlake nursing home can have water.

Jackson Purchase Power has dedicated a crew a repairing the lines to the water plant, but will not know the extent of damage until mid morning Monday.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission notified Jackson Purchase Power that the matter was grave late Sunday night for the water district customers, especially those that provide life-support functions like the hospital and nursing home. Donnie Beavers, superintendent of the water district, said only then did the power company move to solve the issue in Livingston County.




Power Update

Kenergy, the electric cooperative, reports the following update of power outages in the 14 western Kentucky counties it serves.

Currently, Kenergy has over 19,000 customers without power. Numbers by counties
are as follow:

Daviess 8,901
Ohio 1,971
Webster 1,192
Union 1,251
Muhlenburg 7
McLean 1,082
Lyon 244
Livingston 9
Hopkins 1,299
Henderson 2,033
Hancock 1,133
Crittenden 264
Caldwell 447
Breckinridge 5

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Latest Storm Update

Widespread storm damage continues to created problems in Crittenden and surrounding counties. The Crittenden-Livingston Water District's plan at Pinckneyville has been without electricity since 8:30 a.m., Sunday. Water District Superintendent Donnie Beavers has issued a "conserve water" notice for the two counties.

Beavers said that the district's reserves will be emptied by early Monday unless power is restored overnight. The district is working on a backup plan in case Jackson Purchase Power, which services the plant, is unable to restore electricity.

Widespread power outages continued into the nighttime hours in Crittenden and other counties. 

Crittenden Judge-Executive Fred Brown said that he will in touch with state emergency management officials early Monday to determine whether he will declare a state of emergency. Several other western Kentucky counties have already declared emergencies, including Caldwell, Union and Lyon.

Hurricane Ike remnants batter county

After battering the Texas and Louisiana coasts, what was left of Hurricane Ike turned its destruction toward the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys, leaving a trail of  damage that left its mark on Crittenden County.

Around the county, downed trees and power lines seemed to be the worst of the harm left by the remnants of Ike as its passed through western Kentucky as a tropical depression. No injuries have been reported, but some areas of the county could be without power for as long as 48 hours according to Wesley Cullen, a dispatcher at Marion Police Department, which had been operating on backup generator power until about 6 p.m.

Little rain fell on Crittenden County, but steady, strong winds in the morning left tree limbs, roof shingles and other debris strewn across Marion and rural areas. 

In fact, in town, several homes suffered serious damage from uprooted trees, including one on East Depot Street (pictured above) that smashed a carport and two vehicles under the weight of a felled tree. Sporadic power outages occurred inside Marion, with pockets of the city without power as dark fell. The stoplight at Gum and Main streets remained inoperative all day long.

Despite power outages and roads hampered by downed trees or limbs, schools will be in session Monday with buses traveling where possible, according to District Director of Pupil Personnel and Transportation Al Starnes. No serious damage or power outages appear to have occurred at any of the county's three schools.

Across western Kentucky, including Crittenden County, road and utility crews worked into the dark removing trees from roads and power lines. 

The Crittenden Press welcomes your reports or photos of extensive damage from Tropical Depression Ike. E-mail your photos or information at pressnews@the-press.com. Please include your name and location.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Gas prices soaring in Marion

The threat from Hurricane Ike to refineries in Texas apparently caused the price of gasoline in Kentucky to soar Friday afternoon.

By 1:30 p.m., Friday, gas was selling for as high as $4.14 per gallon of unleaded in Marion, while one of Crittenden County's four service stations decided to shut off the pumps altogether for the weekend. Today's activity at the pumps followed a run on gasoline in Marion and around the region Thursday night as customers panicked over a rumor of escalating prices.

Friday marked the first time on record that the price for the lowest grade of gasoline rose above $4 per gallon in Marion. 

Friday's activity across the state prompted Gov. Steve Beshear to declare a state of emergency, enacting a law that would allow the attorney general to prosecute anyone accused of price gouging as of Sept. 12. Customers are encouraged to report any suspected price gouging.

Flu Shots Available

The Crittenden County Health Department is planning flu clinics a little earlier this year. 

A flu clinic will be held on September 24 at the Marion Ed-Tech Center from 8:30 a.m., until 4 p.m.. Due to the high gas prices, the clinic is providing flu clinics on the same day in Dycusburg and Tolu. This is an effort to accommodate people living in the outer areas of the county and make it easier for them to get their flu shot. 

The Dycusburg flu clinic will be held at the Dycusburg Bapist Church on Spring Street in Dycusburg from 8:30 to 11 a.m., and the Tolu flu clinic will be held at the Tolu Community Center, which is the old elementary school, from 1 to 4 p.m. 

Cost is $20 for a flu shot or the clinic will bill Medicaid or Medicare. Bring your card with you.

In Livingston County, flu clinics are scheduled for September 25.
Grand Rivers Senior Community Center
8:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Salem Baptist Family Life Center
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. 
Smithland- Livingston County Senior Citizens Center
8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.


Amish refuse to pay fines

Three Graves County Amish men fined for not displaying a slow-moving vehicle emblem on their horse-drawn buggies have two more months to pay, but say they still do not plan to do so, the Paducah Sun is reporting today.

“I was prepared to go to jail,” Jacob Gingerich told the Sun after court Thursday morning. “I would take jail time before I would pay my fine because I think that would be admitting guilt.”

The men say their Old Order Swartzentruber Amish sect does not believe in the emblems because the fluorescent triangle signs are too worldly. Instead they use lanterns and reflective tape.

Gingerich, Emanuel Yoder and Levi Zook each owe $20 fines and $128.50 in court costs from their February convictions. The fines were due Thursday, but Graves District Judge Deborah Crooks said the Kentucky Court of Appeals has not ruled on the men’s appeal.

“Until they do, I’m not going to impose the obligation,” she said.

She set a new deadline of 10 a.m. Nov. 14 for the men to pay. That is the same day nine Amish men, including Yoder, are set to go on trial for subsequent counts of the same charge. William Sharp, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union in Louisville, is defending the nine. Public defender Robin Irwin continues to appeal the February convictions.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Obituary: Update


Retired school teacher Mildred Irene Decker, 78, of Marion died at 4 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 at her residence. Myers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

About Town: On the Street Interviews

Memories of 9-11
Press Online Podcast
On the street interviews from Marion, Ky.


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Traffic Advisory

Traffic is restricted to one lane on U.S. 60 in Crittenden County. A KYTC crew is using a track hoe to repair a gully near the 17 mile marker. This is just east of the Mattoon community near the U.S. 60 intersection with Ky. 365.

Appropriate caution is advised. The work is expected to take a couple of days.

Xtreme tracker starting production


Cinterion Wireless Modules of Issaquah, Wash., the market leading supplier of GSM wireless modules worldwide, and Xtreme Tracker, LLC®, of Marion, Ky., a leader in fleet management, are announcing today the commercial launch of XT1™, a cutting-edge fleet management solution powered by Cinterion’s market leading wireless modules. 

The sophisticated XT1™ system helped pre-launch adopters improve fleet and equipment productivity and increase profits in the first months of use.

The XT1™ and subsequent models will be manufactured in Marion inside the former Tyco Building. Tyler Manufacturing and Par 4 Plastics, two other Marion companies, will be providing some of the components and assembly of the Xtreme Tracker device.

To read more about the partnership between Cinterion Wireless Modules and Xtreme Tracker, and the start of production on this innovative new system, go to BusinessWire.Com.



Wednesday, September 10, 2008

CATS Scores

Here are school district CATS scores for the 2007-2008 school year, which were released today. These numbers represent district wide trends. The scores are first with trends from 2007 in parenthesis.

Western Kentucky
  1. Ballard County 85.7 (+3.0)
  2. Caldwell County 85.5 (+1.9)
  3. Calloway County 86.5 (+ 1.4)
  4. Carlisle County 87.4 (+ 4.4)
  5. Crittenden County 82.6 (-0.3)
  6. Fulton County 76.0 (+5.5)
  7. Fulton Independent 77.1 (+0.5)
  8. Graves County 92.7 (-1.7)
  9. Hickman County 88.1 (+3.4)
  10. Livingston County 77.6 (-0.5)
  11. Lyon County 83.7 (-2.2)
  12. Marshall County 87.4 (-0.6)
  13. Mayfield Independent 81.4 (-0.6)
  14. McCracken County 90.1 (-2.0)
  15. Murray Independent 92.4 (+1.1)
  16. Paducah Independent 80.3 (+1.0)

Remembering 9-11

Crittenden Press Online Podcast
Interview with Brian Wilkes of Marion, who witnessed the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center while working for Verizon in New Jersey on Sept. 11, 2001.


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Pressure washing


Get your home or business cleaned by professional pressure washers at Bingham Pressure Washing in Marion. Call 704-9442. 


Mule rider dies

A woman riding a mule in Land Between the Lakes died at about 1 p.m., Tuesday when she fell from the animal and hit her head on a gravel trail south of Wrangler’s Campground on Trail No. 7.

Rhonda Hogan, 54, of Elizabethtown had camped with her husband and had gone out for an afternoon ride with him, the Paducah Sun reported this morning. Something unknown spooked her mule, which bucked and ran down Wrangler Horse Trail No. 7, throwing her, Trigg County Coroner John Mark Vinson told the Paducah newspaper.

Hogan hit her head on creek gravel lining the trail.

Vinson pronounced Hogan dead at the scene, near Forest Service roads 174 and 353.

Several Crittenden and Livingston county residents regularly use the LBL trails for riding their mules and horses or riding in animal-drawn wagons.


Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Junior Pro Football video

Local photographer, videographer and computer guru Reese Baker of Fredonia has posted a nice video clip of the Junior Pro Rocket football team playing at Caldwell County last weekend. 

You can access the video by clicking here to be re-routed to You Tube.

Monday, September 8, 2008

This week's issue

This week's issue of The Crittenden Press will include several items of interest, including a schedule for next week's Heritage Days Festival in Marion. The feature event next week will be a three-act street play about the outlaws of pioneer Crittenden County. The Press will have details on the play, its cast, and more about what residents and visitors can expect from Heritage Days.

Additionally, The Press will take a look at the medical examiner's final report regarding the death of 12-year-old Jake Hodge in June. The state medical examiner found that the cause of the teen's death was from natural causes. The family speaks about the love shown to them over the past three months.

The Rocket football team got some bad news this week on star running back Rodney Robertson, who broke his hand during a game Friday. He will be out for six weeks.

Stay tuned for details to these and other local news stories in this week's full-color edition of The Crittenden Press, available at newsstands late Wednesday afternoon.


Saturday, September 6, 2008

US 641 accident


The driver of this 1989 Ford Ranger pickup truck was taken to Crittenden Hospital, but did not appear to have life-threatening injuries.

The wreck happened about 4:15 p.m., Friday as commuters were heading home from work, stalling traffic for more than an hour near Crayne.

The driver, James Jones, 44, of Marion was cited for DUI and having no insurance.

Deputy Sheriff Don Perry is the foreground taking a photograph of the accident scene. The wreck happened in a yard just north of Crayne, across from the West Kentucky Bowhunters lodge.



Friday, September 5, 2008

Fugitives caught in Georgia

Escapees Jesse James Sebastian, 43, and James Ernest Whisman, 26, who escaped from the West Kentucky Correctional Complex last month, have been caught in Georgia.

The two men allegedly stole a vehicle from Trice Hughes auto dealership in Princeton three days ago and had made it to Georgia before being apprehended.


Pressure wash for fall

Are you thinking about having your home or office pressure washed this fall?

If so, it's time to schedule the job. Bingham Pressure Washing in Marion, Ky., serves Crittenden, Caldwell, Lyon, Livingston, Webster, Union and McCracken counties. 

Whether it's residential or commercial, Bingham Pressuring Washing offers reasonable rates and fast, quality service. Call today, (270) 704-9442.


Fredonia suspects in school

PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) — As authorities continue to search for two fugitives from a western Kentucky work farm, a principal says he has surveillance video of them inside his school.
Kentucky State Police said James Whisman and Jesse Sebastian slipped away from the Western Kentucky Correctional Complex in Fredonia on Aug. 18.

WPSD-TV in Paducah reports that Principal Glen Ringstaff reviewed surveillance video from the Caldwell County School Campus in Princeton and found the men had twice broken into the school building.

When Ringstaff documented two intruders late at night, he called the Kentucky Department of Corrections and officers identified them as Whisman and Sebastian.
School Superintendent Carrell Boyd said video showed the men inside the building on Wednesday and again on Sunday. Food was missing from the cafeteria both times.

Nicaragua mission

Kory and Katie Cunningham of Hardin Baptist Church provided us with a link to a video showing scenes from their summer mission trip to Nicaragua. Katie is the daughter of Alan and Doris Stout of Marion and a former member of Marion United Methodist Church.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Press one day late

Just a reminder for readers of The Crittenden Press printed edition. This week's issue will be a day late due to the holiday Monday.

The Press will be available at newsstands Thursday at 2 p.m. Mail subscribers will receive their newspaper Friday.

Also, this week's newsstand price goes up to 94 cents. With tax, that's one dollar.


Obituaries: Update

Amy Hill Tabor, 27, of Marion died 11:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008 at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah. Myers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Iva Isabelle Belt Boone Terry, 90, of Marion, died Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008 at Crittenden Health and Rehabilitation Center. Myers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Obituaries Update

Elsie Campbell, 74, of Morganfield - Whitsell Funeral Home in Morganfield
Dorothy Lynn Wade, 77, of Paducah - Milner & Orr Funeral Home in Paducah
Edwin D. Munsch, 71, of Paducah - Boyd Funeral Home in Salem
Lora Mae Franklin, 92, of Marion - Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion

Monday, September 1, 2008

Injured Iraq war vet hurt in ATV crash

A 23-year-old Dycusburg man who continues to recover from severe wounds suffered in the Iraq War, was hurt this weekend in an ATV crash near his home.

According to state police, Chase Matthews was thrown from his four-wheeler Saturday evening while traveling along Ky. 295 in Dycusburg. He was reportedly thrown from the ATV when it overturned after striking an earthen embankment.

Matthews, who was not wearing a helmet, was taken by ambulance to Crittenden Hospital for treatment of injuries.

Matthews, as a National Guard soldier with the Marion detachment, was severely injured in 2007 by a roadside bomb. In the attack, he lost parts of both legs and sustained other serious injuries.