Monday, February 28, 2011

Area death

Benjamin Ray Lynch Sr., 63, of Marion died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011 at his home. The funeral is Wednesday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.

Power line down near Mattoon

A utility crew is working on a downed power pole and lines along U.S. East 60 near Mattoon.

Traffic is restricted to one lane with alternating flow controlled by flaggers at the site. Caution is advise in the area. The work could take until about 9 a.m., to complete.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Area death

William Thomas "Skee" Kinnis, 90, of Marion died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 at Crittenden Hospital. The funeral is Tuesday at Gilbert Funeral Home.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Lady Rockets draw Caldwell in region

Crittenden County will play Caldwell County at 7:30 pm Tuesday in the opening round of the Second Region Tournament at Smithland.

If it wins, Crittenden would face Hopkinsville or Union County in the semifinals.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Area death

Ophelia Johnson, 86, of Marion died Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011 at Parkview Nursing and Rehab in Lone Oak. The funeral is Sunday, Feb. 27 at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.

Courthouse basement flooded overnight

Crittenden County officials are working this morning to dry the basement of the Crittenden County Courthouse, which is home to the property valuation and child support offices and storage space for countless official records and voting machines.

Crittenden County Clerk Carolyn Byford and PVA Ronnie Heady (pictured here wading the hallway) say there is damage to records, equipment and computers. The extent is not yet known.

Local insurance agent Joe Yarbrough, who represents the Kentucky Association of Counties All Lines Insurance Fund, has been on site, Judge-Executive Perry Newcom said. The insurance company has contracted an agency from Nashville to come dry the basement and try to salvage records, computers and other items.

"They specialize in this kind of thing and after the big Nashville flood last year, I'm sure they have plenty of experience," Newcom said.

The offices on the upper floors of the courthouse remain open for business today.

There is between 2 and 3 inches of water in the basement. Crittenden County received about 3.4 inches of rainfall yesterday and last night. Newcom thinks the water backed up into the courthouse through a drain in the basement floor.


Thursday, February 24, 2011

Lady Rockets win first district title in 27 years

Laken Tabor and Summer Courtney combined for three foul shots in the final 1.4 seconds of triple overtime to lift Crittenden County's Lady Rockets over Lyon County 62-59 for the Fifth District Tournament championship Thursday at Smithland.

It was the first district title for the Crittenden girls since 1984 when coach Shannon Hodge was a junior in high school.

Crittenden had played in the district championship game the last two years, but lost.

Jessi Hodge scored 23 points to lead the Lady Rockets and Tabor got 15 points, nine during the overtimes.

Hodge, Tabor and Courtney were each named to the All Fifth District Team.

Crittenden and Lyon both advance to next week's Second Region Tournament, which will also be held at Smithland.

Area death

Carroll “Smitty” Smith, 73, of Newburgh, Ind., died Tuesday at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Evansville, Ind. He was born in Livingston County. There will be visitation Saturday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion. A graveside service will be held at Mapleview Cemetery.

Rural heritage survey set for this spring

Crittenden County ranks next to last in the number of places documented on the state’s historic registry. But that’s about to change.

Twenty-two local residents attended a public meeting Monday night at the local library to discuss what they could do to improve the community’s chronicled heritage.

“You have great resources here,” said Rachel Kennedy, executive director of Preservation Kentucky, the organization that recently received a small grant to study historic places, mostly farm-related, in Crittenden and Livingston counties.

Kennedy said the reason Crittenden County ranks 119th out of 120 counties with its 22 documented historic sites is because there are greater networks pushing other communities. It isn’t for the lack of interesting landmarks.

“The Crittenden Springs Hotel is a fascinating story,” Kennedy said. “I can’t wait for our group to get out there.”

A team from the Kentucky Archaeological Survey will be visiting several locations in the two counties starting next month. Janie-Rice Brother, senior architectural historian for Kentucky Archaeological Survey and project leader, said a group will be moving around the countryside for week-long information gathering exercises starting March 14 and April 4. If necessary, the team will be back in May. Once information and photographs are collected, professionals will catalog selected sites and save their stories for posterity. In some cases, those places could quality for the National Registry of Historic Places, which opens the door for benefits such as tax credits and tourism.

Mary Tabor, whose family owns the property where the Crittenden Springs Hotel was located, was excited to know that the site has potential for getting on the state registry of historic places. The only problem, she said, is that most of it is gone. The hotel was booming in the late 1800s, but a nearby mining operation inadvertently sapped its greatest resource – the allegedly healing sulphur water. When they pumped the mines dry, it sucked the hotel’s water supply and destroyed the appeal of the immaculate destination for many wealthy tourists. By the early 1900s, the hotel was closed.

“The only thing left is part of the old house, which they say was the lobby of the hotel,” she said. “There’s an old cabin on the farm next to us, too.”

Bill McIntyre, field surveyor for the Kentucky Heritage Council, was interested in a couple of old barns brought to his attention. Jesse and Dorothy Hughes had a scale model of their barn, which was built more than 100 years ago. Donne Tedford and her son, James, brought a movie camera with some video of their double-crib, log barn.

“It was a grainy video, but you tell it was pegged and dovetailed,” said McIntyre, who specializes in dating old barns and cabins “It’s hard to say how old it is until I got look at it.”

Pat Carter and Donna Haire brought photographs of old cabins to the meeting.

“This was very interesting,” Carter said. “I’d like for the man who dates cabins to come see ours.”

Four people from state organizations hosted meetings here and at Smithland early this week. With information gleaned from local residents, they will develop a plan for surveying local sites. Brother said the effort must be as efficient as possible. That’s why they want help identifying sites of interest.

“This isn’t a large grant. It’s just $8,800.”

In comparison, Brother said her group had $30,000 to study Bath, a much smaller county.

The group has been consulting with local historian Brenda Underdown, who took them on a brief tour of the county Monday despite periodic rainfall.

“People like Brenda know so much about the people, places, sites and history. That’s something you don’t find too often,” said Kennedy. “And she’s so willing to help.”

Pictured above is Marion resident Lisa Beard (left) showing photographs of a Civil War-era home to Rachel Kennedy and Janie-Rice Brother.

Lake George closed; city looking for water

Lake George is closed to the public in order to protect its shores and the integrity of the water, City Administrator Mark Bryant said Friday.

Lake George is where the City of Marion generally gets the water is uses to treat to make drinking water for local residents. It stopped pulling water from the lake three weeks ago because it has dropped to a record low level due to lack of adequate rainfall over the past several months. The city had been pulling 500,000 gallons of water a day from the lake.

Bryant said police have learned that a four-wheel drive truck became stuck while “mudding”  along the shoreline recently. Bryant said the city does not allow motorized boats to use the lake because that’s where drinking water comes from.

“We certainly don’t want motorized vehicles in it either,” Bryant said. “Gas or other substances could spill into the lake.”

The access road to the lake is now gated and locked. Bryant said city officials are asking residents to refrain from fishing from the shore, too, until adequate rainfall replenishes the lake.

The city is currently drawing raw water from old City Lake behind the water treatment plant on Chapel Hill Road. The city could run alarmingly low of raw water if spring rains don’t refill Lake George.

Meantime, officials are looking at other options for raw water, including the old mine works behind the city maintenance garage. A geological survey earlier this winter found that an adequate volume of raw water potentially exists in the former fluorspar mine. An engineering firm from Paducah is also helping the city look for water there. Bryant said crews have found a shaft to the old Lucile Mine off East Gum Street. Now, they’re trying to get a pump in it and check the water.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Trafficking charges dropped against Eddyville men

District Judge Daniel Heady has found probable cause to send the cases of four individuals – each facing various charges of robbery and assault from an incident at Marion-Crittenden County Park on Feb. 9 – to the Crittenden County Grand Jury.

The judge dismissed charges of trafficking in marijuana by complicity against each of the four Eddyville men cited in the incident because no pot was found by police.

Charged are Aaron Cannon, 18; David R. Catallo, 33; Anthony G. Williams, 19; and Chase A. Bull, 18.

A 17-year-old juvenile is also charged in the alleged crime, but his case is being heard in juvenile court, which is not open to the public.

Based on the court's findings during a preliminary hearing today, charges that will be considered by the grand jury during its April session are as follows:

•Cannon, 18, of Eddyville, first-degree robbery by complicity, first-degree assault by complicity and first-degree fleeing or evading police. He is out of jail on $10,000 cash bond.

•Catallo, 33, of Eddyville, first-degree robbery and first-degree assault. He remains jailed on a $25,000 cash bond.

•Williams, 19, of Eddyville, first-degree robbery by complicity. He remains jailed on a $10,000 cash bond.

•Bull, 18, of Eddyville, first-degree robbery and first-degree assault. He remains jailed on a $25,000 cash bond.

To read one of the original postings regarding this incident, click here.

Area deaths

Edna May “Ninnie” Fondaw, 65, of Marion died Monday, Feb. 21 at Livingston Hospital. Services are at 1 p.m., Friday at Gilbert Funeral Home.

Ruth M. Todd, 92, of Marion died Tuesday, Feb. 22 at Crittenden Hospital. Services are at 11 a.m., Thursday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Forestry agent dies of injuries

Funeral services are at 1 p.m., today at Princeton's Morgan's Funeral Home for a local forest ranger injured while fighting a wildfire in September. Don Lam, 58, of Princeton died Thursday morning at his home as a result of injuries sustained in the incident, which occurred Sept. 7 in Livingston County. Lam was forest ranger for Crittenden and several surrounding counties. See this week's printed edition of The Press for details.




Heavy community agenda tonight

Several important things are going on tonight. Here's a quick look:
  • At 6 p.m., Marion City Council meets in regular session.
  • At 6 p.m., Crittenden County's girls' basketball team opens the Fifth District Tournament against Trigg County. The game is at Livingston Central in Smithland.
  • At 6:30 p.m., representatives from Lourdes Hospital's Hospice and Palliative Care program will be at Marion United Methodist Church to discuss its services. This is open to the public. The group is also wanting area volunteers.
  • At 7 p.m., a group from Preservation Kentucky and the Kentucky Archaeological Survey is meeting the public to discuss a heritage survey of farms and rural landscape that will be conducted later this summer. The meeting is at the Crittenden County Public Library.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Historic farms sought during heritage survey

Preservation Kentucky and the Kentucky Archaeological Survey wants to meet with residents of Crittenden and Livingston counties Monday and Tuesday.

The groups are beginning a process to identify and catalog historic farm sites in the two counties, including old buildings, barns, fences, silos, landmarks and other structures.

There will be public meetings Monday in Marion and Tuesday in Smithland.

Public input is being sought before the survey begins. The project is being funded through a grant. There will be a meeting at 7 p.m., Monday at the Crittenden County Public Library and at 7 p.m., Tuesday at the Livingston County Courthouse.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Marion ball player featured on Nashville news

Marion resident Brian Farmer will be featured on a Nashville newscast tonight along with wheelchair basketball teammates from the Music City Lightning.

The show will air at 9 p.m., on WZTV Fox 17. People with smartphones can watch the newscast via live streaming video at www.fox17.com. A video file of the show will also posted on the station's Web site.

Crittenden County native Jamie Vaughan is assignment manager for the Nashville station doing the segment. Former WPSD anchor Dan Phillips is the sports reporter producing the piece.

Father of suspect now in jail, too

The father of one of the men allegedly involved in the armed robbery at Marion-Crittenden County Park last week is now in jail along with his son.

Deputy Greg Rushing served an arrest warrant on Charles E. Williams, 46, of Eddyville Thursday when he showed up at the Crittenden County Detention Center to visit his son, Anthony Williams.

The father is charged with intimidating a participant in the legal process. He allegedly threatened a confidential informant at the Crittenden County Courthouse Wednesday when his son and three other suspects were in District Court for arraignment. The confidential informant – who had been involved in the park incident – was also in the courtroom. Witnesses told authorities about the incident and a warrant was issued for the father. He was arrested the following day at 1:30 p.m.

Charles Williams was lodged in the Crittenden jail on a 10% $5,000 bond.

Students will have to make up four days

Students have missed more than two full weeks of school due to snow this winter, but right now the academic year will be extended just two extra days in late May. Two more days will made up in March and April.

School has been cancelled 12 days for hazardous conditions, but eight days were already built into the school calendar. That was figured based on instructional hours for the entire year. There are some legislative measures currently before the Kentucky General Assembly that could retroactively affect this year’s calendar and how Crittenden County School District has calculated its number of days. It’s not very likely, however, that anything will change.

That means students will have to make up two days before the end of the year and two at the end. Students were scheduled to be out of school for teacher planning days on March 7 and April 11. Now, they will go to school on those days to make up a couple of the days missed for snow.

School officials have posted two more make-up days at the end of the calendar, which means the final day for students will be May 24 and the final day for teachers will be May 27.

Spring break April 4-8 will not be affected by the school system’s plan to make up snow days. However, it will be shortened a bit because the Monday following spring break was supposed to be one of those teacher planning days when students would have been out of school. Now, they will be required to attend.

If more days are missed for snow, the extra days would more than likely be tacked onto the end of the school calendar.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Armed robbery suspects plead not guilty

Four of the five individuals charged in last week's alleged armed robbery at Marion-Crittenden County Park were arraigned Wednesday in Crittenden District Court. The fifth suspect is a 17-year-old male juvenile who will have a separate arraignment in juvenile court. He was released to his parents on Wednesday, Feb. 9, the day of his detainment following the incident at the park.

The following charges were read by District Judge Daniel Heady on Wednesday:

•Aaron Cannon, 18, of Eddyville is charged with first-degree robbery by complicity, first-degree assault by complicity, trafficking in marijuana by complicity; and first-degree fleeing or evading police. Bond: $10,000 cash.

•David R. Catallo, 33, of Grand Rapids, Mich., charged with trafficking in marijuana by complicity; first-degree robbery and first-degree assault. Bond: $25,000 cash.

•Anthony G. Williams, 19, of Eddyville is charged with trafficking in marijuana by complicity; and first-degree robbery by complicity. Bond: $10,000 cash.

•Chase A. Bull, 18, of Eddyville is charged with trafficking in marijuana by complicity; first-degree robbery and first-degree assault. Bond: $25,000 cash.

Each was represented by their attorneys. Williams was appointed a public defender, but the other three were in court with their private attorneys. Billy McGee of Smithland is representing Catallo, Will Kautz of Paducah is represesnting Cannon and Jeremy Ian Smith of Paducah is representing Bull.

There was no bond reduction for either of the suspects. They all remain jailed in Crittenden County.

No driver's licensing on Monday

Due to a temporary, nationwide system shutdown, the driver's license division of the Crittenden County Circuit Clerk's office will be unable to issue Kentucky driver's licenses or personal identification cards on Monday, Feb. 21.

Clerk Madeline Henderson said she was notified yesterday of the situation by the Division of Drivers Licensing in the Transportation Cabinet.

"I know this will pose an inconvenience to some, and I regret it, but it is out of my control," Henderson said.

All systems should be up and running by 8 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 22, when the clerk's office opens for business.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

State police check school for drugs

Kentucky State Police's special investigations unit conducted an unannounced drug search on the Crittenden County High School and Middle School campus today. One student, who has not been identified at this time, was arrested. Police also searched the student's home.

No other details are available at this time.

Public meetings held for historic farms

Preservation Kentucky and the Kentucky Archaeological Survey wants to meet with residents of Crittenden and Livingston counties next week. The groups are beginning a process to identify and catalog historic farm sites in the two counties, including old buildings, barns, fences, silos, landmarks and other structures.

There will be public meetings Monday in Marion and Tuesday in Smithland. Public input is being sought before the survey begins. The project is being funded through a grant. There will be a meeting at 7 p.m., Monday at the Crittenden County Public Library and at 7 p.m., Tuesday at the Livingston County Courthouse.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Area deaths

Charles L. Hunt Sr., 77, of Marion died Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 at Crittenden Hospital. The funeral is Thursday at Gilbert Funeral Home. Visitation is Wednesday.


Katherine Bugg, 93, of Fredonia died Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 at Christian Care Center in Kuttawa. The funeral is Thursday at Morgan's Funeral Home in Princeton. Visitation is Wednesday.


Monday, February 14, 2011

Area death

Wanda Lee Hunt, 87, of Marion died Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 at Springlake Health and Rehabilitation Center in Salem. The funeral is Wednesday at Myers Funeral Home.

Lady Rockets' snow makeup game tonight

The Lady Rockets basketball team will host Hopkinsville tonight in a makeup game previously postponed because of snow.

Area death

Former Crittenden County magistrate Kenneth Hayden Kirk, 73, of Dawson Springs died Friday, Feb. 11, 2011 at his home. The funeral was Monday at Beshear Funeral Home in Dawson Springs. Burial was at Mapleview Cemetery in Marion.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Basketball games cancelled

The Rocket and Lady Rocket basketball games scheduled tonight against St. Mary have been cancelled. This follows an earlier announcement that homecoming ceremonies at Rocket Arena are postponed until Friday, Feb. 18.

Fourth suspect booked by police

The fourth suspect in the armed robbery at the park Wednesday turned himself in to police yesterday after he was discharged from the hospital. Aaron Cannon, 18, of Eddyville is charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree assault, trafficking in marijuana and first-degree fleeing or evading police. He was driving the car that tried to get away when police converged on the scene. Officers fired five shots at the vehicle before it ran into a creek off Old Morganfield Road. He is lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.

Homecoming postponed until next week

The basketball homecoming festivities scheduled for tonight at Rocket Arena have been postponed until Friday, Feb. 18.

A decision has not been made on whether to cancel tonight's basketball games. School officials are weighing their options and will make that announcement later today.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

School cancelled for Friday

School is cancelled for Friday, Feb. 11 in Crittenden County.

Area death

Andrew Thomas “Tom” Johnson, Jr., 60, of Nashville, Tenn., died Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011 at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. He was preceded in his death by his parents, Tom and Marjorie Johnson of Marion. There will be two services. One is on Saturday, Feb. 12 at Woodlawn Roesch-Patton Funeral Home in Nashville. Another service will be held from 4-6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 19 at Gilbert Funeral Home, Marion.

Sturgis Rally is cancelled this summer

The Little Sturgis Rally scheduled for July 14-17 this year has been cancelled, according to the event's official Web site, http://www.littlesturgisrally.net/.

The rally generally draws thousands of bikers, partiers and motorcycle enthusiasts to the Union County Fairgrounds. It has given tens of thousands of dollars to area charities and many groups from the region have held fundraising events around the rally.

Games, practices cancelled

High school and Upward games and practices for Thursday, February 10 have been cancelled. The Rockets' game with Dawson Springs has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 15.

I-24 open with slow traffic

UPDATE: I-24 is now open in both lanes in both directions. Proceed through area with caution.

Interstate 24 is open at the Cumberland River Bridge with police escorting traffic through the accident scene at 10 mph.

Crittenden County Public Library closed

The Crittenden County Public Library is closed today due to the snow.

Suspects remain jailed after alleged robbery

Three suspects in the alleged armed robbery Wednesday at City-County Park remained jailed at the Crittenden County Detention Center.

Another suspect was taken to the hospital, where he was treated for non-lifethreatening injuries due to an automobile accident as he was trying to flee the scene. A fifth suspect is a juvenile. Pictured are three of the four adults charged in the incident. See details in earlier posts.

I-24 closed due to multi-vehicle accident

Livingston County Rescue Squad is searching the Cumberland River near Interstate 24 where the driver of a vehicle involved in an early-morning accident is missing.

Interstate 24 remains closed at the Cumberland River Bridge at the Lyon-Livingston County Line. A multi-vehicle collision, involving several commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles occurred before daylight this morning. The interstate could be closed until about 10 a.m.

The driver of a van involved in the wreck cannot be found and rescue personnel are starting to look in the river below. Fog on the river was hampering efforts shortly after sunup.

A detour has been established along U.S. 62 between I-24 Exit 31 at Grand Rivers and Exit 40 at Eddyville. However, driving conditions on U.S. 62 are reported to be hazardous due to yesterday's snow, and temperatures near zero.


Wednesday, February 9, 2011

No school Thursday, officials caution motorists

There will be no school in Crittenden County Thursday. It will be the 11th day students have missed this witner due to snow. Students will not have to make up all of those days, however. As it stands, they will likely only have to make up three days.

Because of the latest winter snow storm, state and local officials urged motorists to restrict travel in western Kentucky because of hazardous driving conditions. Caldwell and Christian counties are among areas with the largest amounts of snowfall. Snow amounts exceeded forecasts, and plunging temperatures limited the effectiveness of salt treatments, said Keith Todd, spokesman for the transportation department.

“Transportation Cabinet crews will do everything possible to keep roadways open,” Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock said. “But when conditions are hazardous, motorists should drive only when absolutely necessary.”

Crashes blocked I-24 in Christian County and the Purchase Parkway in Marshall County for a time on Wednesday.

Police identify suspects in robbery at park

The Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force has released the names of suspects involved in the apparent armed robbery at Marion-Crittenden County Park just before noon today. See details in earlier post.

Arrested were David R. Catallo, 33, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Chase A. Bull, 18, of Eddyville; Aaron Cannon, 18, of Eddyville; and Anthony G. Williams, 19, of Eddyville. Additionally, an unnamed 17-year-old juvenile was arrested. The men and juvenile face a variety of charges, including assault, first-degree robbery and trafficking in marijuana by complicity.

Investigators say Catallo, Bull, Cannon and the male juvenile came to Marion to sell two pounds of marijuana for $1,800. The deal had been set up by an unnamed confidential police informant and Williams, according to Det. Robbie Kirk of the narcotics task force.

Three local lawmen and Kirk were watching the transaction from a nearby hiding place with plans to bust the drug deal once it was complete. However, the plan went sour when three men got out of one car – one armed with a long gun – and began assaulting the confidential informant.

Kirk said the informant was not assaulted because of his involvement with police. He said robbery was the motive.

"They were just going to beat him up and rob him," Kirk said. "It happens all the time in the drug business."

Kirk said Williams had helped arrange the proposed drug deal, but knew the other four were going to take the informant's money and run. Police found no drugs, but did recover a muzzleloading rifle, which was used in the commission of the crime.

Pictured above is Det. Kirk with three of the suspects on the ground at Lower Park Drive at the park. Marion Police Department, Crittenden County Sheriff's Department and Kentucky State Police all assisted at the scene.


Press delayed due to snow

The Crittenden Press printed edition will not be available this afternoon due to transportation issues from the printing plant south of Hopkinsville. The newspaper should be available at retail outlets before noon on Thursday. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Robbery foiled by undercover cops

What police believed was going to be a drug deal turned into an apparent attempted armed robbery at Marion-Crittenden County Park just before noon today. The whole deal went down in front of undercover officers who were hiding nearby, hoping to make a drug bust using a confidential informant.

Five men were arrested at the scene. Their identities have not been released. Most are believed to be from Eddyville.

Police fired several shots to stop one man trying to get away in a car. The vehicle eventually ran off the road and into a creek.

Det. Robbie Kirk of the Pennyrile Area Narcotics Task Force, Crittenden County Deputy Greg Rushing and Marion Policemen Chief Ray O'Neal and Officer Bobby West were watching the deal go down from hiding places near the park. It was supposed to be a two-pound marijuana transaction. However, when the alleged sellers showed up, they had something else in mind. They got out of their vehicle with a weapon and began assaulting, and attempting to rob the informant and another man involved in the transaction. Only the informant knew that cops were nearby watching the deal go down.

When police raced in to break up the fight, the man carrying a long gun dropped it and attempted to run. Another suspect tried to leave the scene in a blue car. Police ordered him to stop, but he kept backing away on a snowy road. That's when at least one officer opened fire on the car, hitting it several times on the hood. The driver backed off into a creek that runs along Old Morganfield Road.

Stay tuned for more details.

Pictured above are officers trying to get the driver of the car to get out. All of them have their weapons trained on the man behind the wheel. At first, he would not obey their orders to get out with his hands up, but State Trooper Darron Holliman finally got him out of the car. He was slightly injured from the crash, but had not been hit by any of the bullets.


School cancelled today due to forecast

Due to the looming forecast of more wintry precipitation, Crittenden County schools will be closed today, Wednesday, Feb. 9. This is the 10th day students have missed this winter.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Valentine Special: A date to see the Beatles

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW
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School back in session on Wednesday

Crittenden County schools will be back in session on Wednesday, barring any overnight weather event that could create more hazardous driving conditions. Students have missed a total of 9 days so far this winter. Only one of those will have to be made up.

Area death

Wilma May Floyd, 75, of Marion died Monday, Feb. 7, 2011 at Crittenden Hospital. The funeral is Wednesday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.

Larry Wade Smith, 61 of Marion, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011 at his residence. The funeral is Wednesday at Myers Funeral Home in Marion.

Monday, February 7, 2011

No school Tuesday

School has been cancelled in Crittenden County for Tuesday, Feb. 8.

Snowman near Dycusburg


Aliyah Frutiger, 6, built a snowman in her front yard near Dycusburg with help from her neighbor, Jeretta LeFan.

Snowfall about six inches in some areas

Nancy Paris, who lives near the Crittenden and Caldwell County line, sent us these photos of the nearly six inches of snowfall that's on the ground in that part of the region.


Due to the snow, which has blanketed much of western Kentucky, the Early Bird Shopper's Guide will be delayed by a day in some areas.

School let out early today, but there's no word yet on whether students will be in class tomorrow. With temperatures dipping into the teens tonight, there's a good chance that on Tuesday they will miss their 10th day of the school year for snow. So far, only day has to be made up. Eight snow days were already built into the school calendar.

School likely to let out early today

UPDATE: SCHOOLS DIMISS AT 1 P.M.

School officials have decided to release students today at 1 p.m. Buses will run Snow Routes.

Crittenden County School officials say it is very likely that school will be turned out early today.

Officials say they will wait a few hours until snow plows are able to clear roadways, which were covered after students arrived at class this morning. Then, school will probably turn out early so bus drivers can complete their rounds before roads refreeze.

Although no specific time has been announced, school will likely be in session until at least 1 p.m., or so.

Snow started falling heavily shortly after children headed off to school. Accumulations of 3-5 inches are anticipated across the region.

I-24 down to one lane in Livingston County

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to restrict traffic to one lane along Interstate 24 in Livingston County this morning.
The lane restriction is to allow patching of potholes along both eastbound and westbound lanes between the Tennessee River Bridge and the Cumberland River bridge.
Motorists should be alert for slowing and merging traffic as they approach this work zone. Appropriate caution is required where equipment, flaggers, and maintenance personnel will be on the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Welcome Salem's Clinic Pharmacy


Welcome to our newest Press Online advertiser, Salem's Clinic Pharmacy.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Woman's Club event cancelled today

Marion Woman's Club's brunch scheduled for this morning has been cancelled.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Area death

Aubrey Arnold Hollamon, 76, of Marion died Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at Crittenden Health and Rehabilitation Center. The funeral is Sunday, at Myers Funeral Home.

Log truck crashes on U.S. 60 near Rosebud

Motorists along U.S. 60 East in the Rosebud area should be alert to logs on the side of the highway and a missing guard rail. A log truck accident Thursday afternoon just before dark didn't seriously hurt anyone, but the logs made a mess and closed the highway for a time while crews moved them to the side. The logs will be picked up later.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

County sheriff's department getting new guns

Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department has received a Homeland Security grant to purchase new service weapons.

The funds come in the form of a personal protection grant and will include $1,800 for the guns and $851 for 1,900 rounds of ammunition. The bullets will be used for department personnel to qualify their marksmanship with the new weapons. Three hundred rounds will be for duty ammo.

The department will purchase four .45 caliber Smith and Wesson Military Police model semi-automatic handguns. The guns are purchased on state contract from Bud’s Police Supply in Lexington.

Deputy Greg Rushing said the sheriff’s department upgrades its service weapons every six or seven years. Department personnel are currently carrying .40 caliber weapons.

The same grant helped the department purchase new body armor in 2010. That cost about $3,000.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Lady Rockets fall in opening round

Lady Rockets lost to Lexington Christian by two, 48-46


Crittenden Scoring

Hodge 22, Brown 3, Courtney 8, Tabor 11, Johnson 2.


Molasses spill on US 60 near Salem

UPDATE: The Livingston County Highway crew has made several passes, spreading sand along U.S. 60 between Salem and Burna this morning in response to what was reported as a leaking molasses tanker truck.

Motorists should be aware that the smell of the molasses may attract deer along the roadway during the overnight hours.

The crew has completed its work at this time and will be checking the area again throughout the day.

We have a report of a molasses spill on U.S. 60 near Salem in Livingston County. Livingston highway maintenance crews are spreading sand to absorb the sticky material. Motorists should use caution in the area. More details as they become available.

Listen to live streaming audio of today's game


A radio station in Richmond is streaming live audio of all of today's Class A State Tournament games. Tune in at noon to hear the Lady Rockets taking on Lexington Christian.


Lady Rockets at All A Classic today


The Lady Rocket basketball team plays Lexington Christian at noon today in the opening round of the All A Classic at Richmond, Ky.

To follow the game, stay tuned to the Press Online. We will be posting updates throughout the contest.

Pictured are members of the team during a send off from the elementary school on Tuesday.