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4-H exhibits will be entered Monday, July 27 with public viewing beginning Wednesday, July 29.
Check out the additional schedule of events, including the annual fair breakfast and demolition derby next weekend.
WARTIME JOURNAL | PART 4
As this four-part series on the wartime journal of Charles “Woody” Curry comes to a close, the final entries carry readers through the last stretch of World War II in the Pacific, and back home again for one Livingston County sailor who saw it all from the deck of a wartime cruiser.
Curry, who grew up in Carrsville and graduated from Hampton High School, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in May 1944 at just 18 years old. What began as a journey away from rural western Kentucky quickly became a sometimes terrifying front-row seat to history as he served aboard the USS Boise during the campaign to retake the Philippines.
From bombardments and air raids to kamikaze attacks and invasion landings, Curry recorded it all in a diary he kept throughout his service. It was a diary he was not technically supposed to keep in such detail, but one he maintained anyway. That decision left behind a rare, firsthand account of war through the eyes of a young sailor. The final section of his journal reflects a war moving toward its conclusion.
Entries describe bombardments along the Philippine coast, the devastation
of Manila, solemn moments following the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and continued operations as American forces pushed forward. By mid-June 1945, Curry notes USS Boise preparing to head back toward the United States, marking the end of his wartime experience.
After the war, Curry returned to civilian life and, like many of his generation, went back to work. He found work in Gary, Ind., as did a number of people from this area, before returning closer to home where he worked on the river as both an engineer and pilot on towboats, navigating the same waterways that had shaped his upbringing along the Ohio River. Later, he worked at the General Tire plant in Mayfield, building a life rooted in steady work and family.
In retirement, Curry enjoyed simpler pursuits such as camping trips, time on the water and woodworking. It was the kind of quiet, hands-on activities that suited a man who had seen far more than most. Today, Curry lives at Salem Springlake nursing home in Salem, where he has resided for the past couple of years following a stroke. Though his mobility has declined, those who know him there say he remains sharp and engaged, and still willing to talk about his days as a Seaman First Class in the Navy.
To staff and residents alike, he is more than just a veteran. He is a storyteller, a living connection to a defining chapter in American history, and, in many ways, a hero in their midst. Curry is believed to be the last living World War II veteran from Livingston or neighboring Crittenden counties.
His diary, written in simple, steady entries by a teenager far from home, preserves not just the movements of a ship or the milestones of a war, but the experience of a generation. What began in those pages with flying fish, changing clocks and a long journey across the Pacific ended with a return home, and a life that, like many of his fellow veterans, was built not on what he saw in war, but on what he did after it.
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| Young Woody Curry back home in Gary, Indiana |
March 1, 1945 – June 15, 1945
The final section of the journal captures the closing months of the war in the Pacific, when hard fighting continued but the broader outcome was no longer in doubt. The sailor’s entries move from bombardments and troop landings to ruined cities, dry dock repairs and solemn remembrance after the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. As the ship heads toward Borneo and carries MacArthur once more, the journal takes on the feel of a war entering its last act. March 1945
We had recreation today but I didn’t get to go. I’m supposed to go
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| CVS is located in Darben Plaza |
“We’re experiencing temporary staffing challenges at our Marion, Kentucky, pharmacy and, as a result, the pharmacy will be closed on Saturdays for the next couple of months. We’re in the process of onboarding new team members and plan to resume normal operating hours soon. Patients can always visit any open CVS Pharmacy for support. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our patients,” Guarino wrote.
According to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, it is becoming increasingly difficult to fill specialized pharmacy roles. Experts link the demand for pharmacists to an aging population across the country. The Census Bureau estimates the population over age 65 will double by 2060, creating a greater need for pharmacy services. Additionally, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the pharmacy job market will continue to grow, with over 14,000 job openings this year alone.
Research supports that the demand is even greater in a rural area like Marion. The Rural Health Information Hub reported that “while 20.0% of the population is rural, only 13.9% of pharmacists work in rural areas.” University towns can have a flooded market, while small towns struggle. Studies indicate that there are 46% fewer pharmacists per capita in rural communities than in urban communities. The results of the high demand include longer hours and a lack of relief coverage for vacations and illnesses for small-town pharmacists in places like Marion. Consequently, that can also make it difficult to recruit and retain small-town pharmacists.
SMITHLAND, Ky. – Livingston County Board of Education held its regularly scheduled July meeting Monday, July 13, 2026, at 5 p.m. Board Chairperson David Kitchens called the meeting to order with all members present. Before the meeting, Livingston County Schools honored this year’s retirees with a retirement reception and recognition ceremony. Retirees in attendance included Dr. Troy Tedder, Amanda
Following the adoption of the agenda, Superintendent Amy Ramage and the board recognized Tammy Doom with the July LiveRED Staff Award in honor of her selection as the Kentucky Association for Pupil Transportation Driver Trainer of the Year. This statewide recognition reflects Doom’s outstanding leadership, commitment to student safety and more than 22 years of service to Livingston County Schools.
The board also presented Livingston Hospital with the first Community Partnership Award of the 2026-27 school year. Director of Community Wellness Crissy Carter and Chief Executive Officer Shane
Following the approval of consent items, Ramage presented her monthly report. She reminded board members that the August meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Aug. 10, as established in the regular meeting schedule. Ramage also shared a reminder about the districtwide Cardinal Kickoff, scheduled for Monday, July 27, from 5-7 p.m. at Livingston Central High School. She also updated the board on several facilities projects taking place across the district, including painting at South Livingston Elementary and repairs to the sign at North Livingston Elementary.
A key topic in the superintendent’s report was the cost analysis of staff meal incentives requested by the board at its June meeting. The board reviewed three options for providing complimentary staff meals: daily, once a week or once a month. After considering the projected costs, the board voted to provide one free meal per week to all staff members during the 2026-27 school year.
Business items included the approval of district funding assurances, KSBA policy and procedure updates, and the staff, substitute and coaches handbooks for the 2026-27 school year. The board also approved updates to the Livingston County Child Nutrition Procurement Plan to align with recent legislative changes.
The Livingston County Board of Education’s next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Livingston County Board of Education office.
Stop by Thursday and Friday, July 24-25, for special savings, giveaways and a chance to win. Recliners start at $299, queen beds with two nightstands are $399, and sofa-and-loveseat sets start at $850.
Visit Brantley Furniture at 121 W. Main St. in Princeton. Congratulations on 26 years!
CRITENDEN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
Members review $2.2 million carryover
Crittenden County Board of Education met for its July working session on Tuesday, June 14. All members of the board were present. This meeting was also labeled as a special session. Like in June, the board uses a multi-hour working session to think, discuss and plan out the important matters of the school district before making them official policy at its regular monthly meeting.
“Think of it like a snapshot,” Cook explained. Winters concurred, citing a host of reports she could pull to create such a document.
“It is helpful to know how much money we have,” Winters stated.
Winters went over a balance sheet with the board, indicating the district finished fiscal year 2026 with $2.2 million carryover, some of which is already committed toward expenses.
“It is crucial that we have some carryover,” Winters added, as tax monies and state SEEK dollars come
Director of Special Education George Cavanah presented details about how the district is reimbursed from Medicaid.
“Federal law requires the district to provide services like speech, occupational and physical therapy, and nursing support to eligible students with disabilities, regardless of cost,” he said. "Medicaid billing lets the district recover a portion of the costs already being spent on those services.”
Cavanah reported the district has been reimbursed $163,000 in the last three years, and he expects that number to rise.
“We’ve slowly added more services and are learning how to bill for them,” he explained. Speech and occupational therapy services are the primary way the district is reimbursed by Medicaid. Cavanah also told the board that an increasing number of students qualify for services. Board member Ryan McDaniel
The key phrase is “power-driven bicycle.”
Under a Marion ordinance written more than two decades ago, anyone operating a power-driven bicycle on city streets must have a valid operator’s license. Those without a license may operate them only on private property or property where they have permission, West said.
The issue has resurfaced as modern e-bikes have grown in popularity. While today’s battery-powered bicycles are far more advanced than earlier versions, West said the ordinance was originally adopted after a former local retailer, Electric Recreation, began selling battery-powered recreational vehicles years ago.
Now, faster and more capable electric bikes have renewed enforcement concerns.
West said many people — including parents purchasing e-bikes for children — do not realize the
Some parents have told police they spent $1,500 or more on an e-bike, only to learn their child cannot legally ride it on city streets, including those in neighborhoods, without a license.
The issue is not limited to children, West said. Adults without a valid driver’s license also are operating power-driven bicycles illegally on city streets.
Police have received complaints about electric bikes being operated with multiple passengers, including children riding together on public streets and even on state highways through Marion.
West said city ordinance also prohibits bicycles of any kind from being operated on sidewalks.
The ordinance does not classify every provision the ame. For example, the section referring to two brake horsepower applies to the ordinance’s definition of motorscooters and mopeds, not the broader category of power-driven bicycles.
Violations can carry consequences. Operating without a required license is a misdemeanor offense and carries a $100 fine. For riders under 18, parents or guardians also can be cited if they knowingly allow violations.
West said at least one juvenile has already been charged after repeated warnings.
However, police say their goal is education rather than writing citations.
“We don’t want to see anyone get in trouble or get hurt,” West said.
West said he is asking parents to learn the rules, understand what type of electric bike their children are using and help prevent unsafe situations before an accident happens.
On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 7 a.m., Sheriff Brent White responded to several 911 calls on McKinney Road off Sunnyside Loop. Following an investigation, he detained Rickie A. McKinney, 63, of Kuttawa. McKinney was later lodged in a mental health hospital pursuant to a court order and faces charges of falsely reporting an incident and a wireless emergency phone service violation upon his discharge from the hospital.
On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, around 8:45 a.m., Chief Deputy Sam Adams charged Robert L. King, 51, of Benton on a Marshall District Court complaint summons with possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle, second-degree criminal mischief, improper equipment and failure to report a traffic accident. He is due in Marshall District Court to answer to these charges Sept. 1.
On Thursday, July 16, 2026, around 11:42 a.m., Chief Deputy Sam Adams and Sheriff Brent White responded to West Main Street and West Dale Avenue for a collision complaint. Chief Deputy Adams’
The home of Linda Gilland was a total loss, Crittenden County Fire Chief Scott Hurley said. Gilland escaped safely, but nothing inside the residence was saved.
The call came in around 9:30 p.m., and firefighters remained at the scene until about 1:30 a.m.
Departments responding were Crittenden County, Salem, Fredonia, Tolu-Sheridan and Caldwell County.
Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom said legislators from both states spoke directly Friday and discussed a potential solution proposed by Illinois officials. He said all parties have tentatively agreed to pursue the proposal, with Kentucky lawmakers taking the option back to Frankfort for consideration while Illinois legislators do the same in Springfield.
Newcom said he is hopeful progress is being made but remains guardedly optimistic that a compromise can be reached soon.
The ferry, which provides a vital Ohio River crossing between western Kentucky and southern Illinois, suspended operations June 30 after the previous operating contract expired without a new agreement.
The prolonged closure continues to disrupt commuters, businesses and tourism throughout the region, forcing lengthy detours and limiting access to destinations on both sides of the river.
Meanwhile, local leaders continue encouraging residents and businesses affected by the shutdown to contact the Kentucky governor’s office, the transportation departments in both Kentucky and Illinois, and lawmakers in both states to emphasize the economic and personal impacts of the closure.
WARTIME JOURNAL | PART 3
Part 3 follows the journal into some of the most dangerous and dramatic months of the war in the Philippines. The entries record kamikaze attacks, invasion landings, repeated general quarters and the presence of General Douglas MacArthur himself as USS *Boise* helped cover the drive back into Luzon. It is a section filled with tension, fatigue and the growing sense that the war, though far from over, is beginning to turn decisively in the Allies’ favor.
By the fall of 1944, Livingston County sailor Charles “Woody” Curry had been in the Navy only a few months, but the war around him had already intensified. Curry, who grew up in Carrsville and graduated from Hampton High School, enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 18 in May 1944.
Shortly after joining, he began keeping a personal diary. Seaman First Class Curry wrote in the tiny journal book almost daily. Those notes have now become a rare local record of a young Kentuckian serving in the Pacific during World War II. In the first two parts of this series, Curry’s journal followed his long voyage across the Pacific and his early months aboard USS Boise, a Brooklyn-class light cruiser that served as part of the American fleet pushing back Japanese forces across the Pacific.
By the time his journal entries begin in this week’s third in a four-part series, the war has settled into a dangerous rhythm for Curry and the crew of the USS Boise. The ship operates around the Philippines during some of the fiercest fighting of the Pacific campaign, supporting invasion landings and bombarding enemy positions along the coast.
Curry’s entries describe frequent air raid alarms, long stretches at general quarters and the growing threat posed by Japanese suicide pilots. Kamikaze attacks had become one of the most feared dangers for sailors in the Pacific, and the journal captures how regularly those threats appeared. The entries also mention historic events unfolding around the ship. During this period, Gen. Douglas MacArthur came aboard USS Boise as American forces prepared for the invasion of Luzon, part of the campaign to retake the Philippines from Japanese control.
Despite the danger, Curry’s writing remains straightforward and almost understated. One line might describe a tense air attack while the next mentions a movie on deck or letters arriving from home.
The mixture of routine and danger reflects the daily reality of life aboard a warship. The third installment of Curry’s wartime diary follows the crew of USS Boise through invasion operations, kamikaze attacks and the grinding months of combat that carried Allied forces deeper into the Philippines. For the young sailor from Livingston County, the war was far from over, but the balance of the conflict was beginning to shift.
Nov. 29, 1944 – Feb. 28, 1945
We pick up diary entries from where they left off in last week’s second segment in the four-part series. Although things are pretty calm for a few days, the war comes calling full blast in early December.
We are making it O.K. The ocean has been as smooth as glass all day. I’ve just come from on deck where we heard some records.
We are still continuing on our way without any trouble.
I had the noon watch and I’ve got the midnight watch tonight. It is really pretty here tonight. The moon is so bright it is almost like day.
Two ships have been damaged in Leyte Gulf by Jap suicide pilots and several crew members killed. One ship is in bad shape.
It has been quiet all day but we had an attack by a Jap plane a few minutes ago. He dropped the torpedo and just missed diving into the ship. He
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| Gary Damron is a local school bus driver much of the year and is also mayor of Salem. |
Damron, who describes himself as semi-retired, stays plenty busy. He is mayor of Salem, drives a school bus for Crittenden County Schools and this summer added another title: bus driver for the Paducah Chiefs collegiate baseball team. A local company, West Tennessee Motor Coach owned by Denis Hodge and Wayne Winters, has the contract to transport the Paducah ball club this summer.
The Chiefs play in the Ohio Valley Summer Collegiate Baseball League, an organization with strong local ties. The league was developed in part through the efforts of the late Gordon Guess of Marion, a longtime supporter of baseball. Marion was also part of the league’s early history as the Marion Bobcats were among the original OVL teams when it began play in 2010.
Today, the summer collegiate league includes teams primarily from western Kentucky, including the Paducah Chiefs, Henderson Flash, Hoptown Hoppers, Madisonville Miners and Fulton Railroaders. Full Count Rhythm from Hendersonville, Tenn., is the league’s only team outside Kentucky.
For Damron, the job is more than just driving a bus. It’s a chance to stay connected to baseball and build relationships with young players who come from across the country to compete during the summer.
Damron said he enjoys being around “these fine young men and ballplayers” and getting to know their stories during the season.
The assignment does come with some long nights. For road games, Damron leaves his home in Salem, picks up the team bus in Fredonia, travels to Paducah to load the players and then heads to opposing ballparks. A trip to Henderson, for example, is about 93 miles one way from Paducah.
After the final out, Damron makes the same trip in reverse, sometimes not arriving home until around 2 a.m.
Despite the miles and late hours, Damron says being around the game and the players makes it rewarding.
The Ohio Valley League regular season concludes July 18, followed by postseason tournament play.
The ferry, which connects Crittenden County, Ky., and Hardin County, Ill., remains closed while contract negotiations continue. Its two-year contract expired June 30.
The two states and ferry owner have not reached a compromise for a new contract.
Those wishing to leave comments about the ferry crossing may contact the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet 502-564-8100, Illinois Department of Transportation 217-782-7820, Kentucky Legislative Hotline 800-372-7181 or Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s office 502-564-2611.
Multiple commercial building roofs were lifted off their respective buildings in downtown Eddyville. Trees and power lines also came down as a result of the storm. Businesses and buildings on Fairview Avenue, West Dale Avenue, Main Street, Trade Avenue, Funway Drive and Newman Drive were affected. Thankfully, there were no fatalities or major injuries reported.
Approximately 16 businesses and buildings were impacted by damage from the storm, which produced high winds, large hail and significant rainfall. Most of the affected buildings remained closed Friday as damage assessments and surveys were conducted. Cleanup and overhaul operations will continue in this area through next week.
On Friday, July 10, 2026, just after 4:30 p.m., Deputy Josh Travis responded to a single-vehicle collision on U.S. 641 approximately 2.5 miles north of Eddyville. His investigation revealed that a 2018 Toyota Highlander, driven by Franklin T. Smith, 78, of Horse Branch, was northbound on U.S. 641 when a deer entered his path, resulting in a collision. No injuries were reported in the accident.
On Saturday, July 11, 2026, around 6:10 p.m., law enforcement agencies received a suspicious person report regarding a male subject looking in windows in the Eddyville area. A description of the vehicle the male was operating was provided to law enforcement. An officer with the Eddyville Police Department located the vehicle and later conducted a traffic stop. Another report provided to Deputy Sheriff Luke Fraley indicated a similar suspicious incident involving the same vehicle and suspect. The male subject was identified as James Carnett, 41, of Bartlett, Tennessee. He was arrested by a Kentucky State Police trooper and charged with reckless driving, first-offense DUI, failure to have a license in possession and first-degree possession of a controlled substance, first offense (methamphetamine). Carnett was later lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.
