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Thursday, March 26, 2026
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
LWK coming to Marion Thursday
MARION, Ky. – Crittenden County officials and business leaders will host Leadership West Kentucky for a daylong community and industry tour Thursday, March 26, beginning at Marion Methodist Church and traveling to multiple sites across Crittenden and Livingston counties.
The agenda includes stops at Riley Tool and Machine, the Marion-Crittenden County James C. Johnson Regional Airport, Fohs Hall and the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum, along with tours in Salem of the Crittenden Livingston Water District treatment plant and Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel’s Cumberland River Quarry. The day also features lunch and speakers at Deer Lakes Golf Course Clubhouse and will conclude with an afterhours gathering at The Wake Club at Lighthouse Landing in Grand Rivers.
Leadership West Kentucky is an affiliate of West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance (WKRCA), a formal alliance of chambers of commerce in 14 counties in far western Kentucky. Its purpose is to provide a unified voice for local businesses in the region and to serve as a catalyst for regional leadership and action, bringing together resources for legislative, educational, infrastructure and economic development advocacy.
Member counties are Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, McCracken, Marshall, and Trigg. Each year, applicants from every county apply to be part of the LWK tour.
Tuesday, March 24, 2026
City will host "Listening Sessioin"
The session will serve as an open forum for residents and stakeholders to share ideas and proposals related to funding priorities and expenditures for the city’s 2026-27 fiscal year budget.
City Administrator Adam Ledford will host the meeting, which is intended to gather public input ahead of the upcoming budget process.
For more information, contact Marion City Hall at 270-965-2266.
Monday, March 23, 2026
Use-of-Force Training Simulator at Marion PD
Marion Police Department officer Rome Dickerson participates in a use-of-force training scenario using a video simulation system temporarily set up at Marion City Hall. The simulator projects life-size, interactive situations, ranging from traffic stops to active threats, allowing officers to make split-second decisions in a controlled environment. In this scenario, Dickerson responds to a hallway encounter involving a potentially armed suspect while a second individual lies on the ground, testing judgment, threat assessment and de-escalation skills.
Law enforcement agencies across the country increasingly use these immersive simulators to supplement live training, as they can replicate high-risk encounters without physical danger while tracking reaction time, accuracy and decision-making.
Consider Fohs Hall for your special event
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| Click Image to Enlarge |
event? Consider holding that event at Fohs Hall.
Fohs Hall, a beautiful 100-year-old cultural arts
Fohs Hall, a beautiful 100-year-old cultural arts
center, is the area's premier special events venue.
For rental information, contact Elliot West.
For rental information, contact Elliot West.
Lyon County Sheriff's Activity Report
Among the arrests, deputies on March 15 went to a Saratoga residence to serve an arrest warrant and took Caleb M. Wellborn, 30, of Eddyville into custody on a Lyon District Court bench warrant for failure to appear. While there, Sheriff Brent White identified Michael W. Reed, 47, of Calvert City, as being in violation of parole conditions. A vehicle search reportedly turned up marijuana, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Reed was charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, second offense; possession of marijuana; and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both men were lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.
At Lyon County High School on March 16, School Resource Officer Jason Young investigated a disturbance in a lobby area and determined a 14-year-old male student assaulted another student without provocation, according to the release. The incident led to a second altercation involving the same two students. Young charged the juvenile with fourth-degree assault. The student was removed from school and released to a parent.
Later that evening, Deputy Bobby Beeler stopped a vehicle on Chestnut Oak Road near Green Road and arrested Tonya M. Breaux, 65, of Kuttawa, on a Lyon Circuit Court bench warrant for probation violation on a felony offense. She also was charged with failure to wear a seat belt, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.
On March 18, deputies served a complaint warrant on Brandon S. Ausherman, 35, of Eddyville, charging him with first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and theft by deception, including cold checks. Authorities allege he passed counterfeit currency at businesses in Kuttawa and said he is accused of similar offenses in Christian County. He was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.
Also on March 18, deputies served a Warren District Court bench warrant on Jessie A. Pytko, 37, of Bowling Green, charging her with nonpayment of court costs, fees or fines. She faces extradition to Warren County.
On March 19, Deputy Josh Travis served a Lyon District Court bench warrant on Justice M. Cordova, 31, of Salem, charging her with nonpayment of court costs, fees or fines. She was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.
Deputies also investigated a two-vehicle, non-injury crash March 21 at the intersection of Ky. 93, Ky. 293 and Ky. 1055. According to the sheriff’s office, Dakota J. Shaw, 22, of Carrollton, Ga., was driving a 2014 GMC Sierra and failed to yield at a stop sign on Ky. 1055, pulling into the path of a northbound 2011 GMC Acadia driven by Eric S. Johnson, 60, of Eddyville. No injuries were reported. Kuttawa’s fire chief assisted at the scene.
Another bridge sees weight limit drop
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| Jackson School Rd. Bridge over Dry Branch |
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has ordered a 3-ton weight limit on the Jackson School Road bridge over Dry Fork Livingston Creek following a structural review of the bridge’s substructure.
The restriction effectively limits the bridge to passenger vehicles, preventing use by school buses, farm equipment, emergency vehicles and other heavy traffic.
The posting comes on the heels of a similar action late last week involving the Chapel Hill Road bridge over Crooked Creek, which was reduced to a 13-ton limit. That change has already forced adjustments to at least one Crittenden County Schools bus route, adding time and mileage for students.
Updated signage for both bridges is has been installed
The back-to-back restrictions are raising concerns about transportation impacts across the county, particularly in rural areas where alternate routes can be limited.
More details on both bridge postings and their local impact will be included in an upcoming edition of The Crittenden Press.
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Mobile home fire in Marion Friday night
No one was home at the time the fire was reported, and no injuries were reported. An indoor animal died in the fire.
A neighboring mobile home sustained heat damage, with siding melted from the exterior, but no structural damage was reported.
Firefighters from Marion, Crittenden County and Salem responded to the blaze and were on the scene for almost three hours.
Friday, March 20, 2026
Weekly Legislative Report | Sen. Howell
Before I get into my legislative update, know that I’m deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, a proud Kentuckian from Bardstown who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country overseas.
At just 34 years old, Pruitt exemplified the courage and dedication of our armed forces. Pruitt was among six airmen killed on March 12 when a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq during a mission supporting Operation Epic Fury.
Her sacrifice is a solemn reminder that our freedoms are protected by those willing to serve in harm’s way. We extend our heartfelt prayers and deepest condolences to her family, fellow airmen, Bardstown and Nelson County.
Budget process
The Senate passed a balanced and responsible state budget that protects taxpayers, strengthens essential services and positions Kentucky for long-term stability. The plan avoids using one-time dollars to fund ongoing expenses, maintains strong reserves and continues the work of reducing long-term liabilities such as pensions and retiree health costs. At the same time, it allows us to make targeted investments in the services Kentuckians rely on every day.
The budget resides in four bills.
House Bill (HB) 500 establishes a balanced two-year state budget focused on fiscal stability and key investments. It fully funds pension and health obligations, maintains about $3.9 billion in reserves and includes spending controls. The plan sustains education funding, supports universities and school safety, preserves Medicaid services, expands behavioral health care. It also invests in infrastructure, disaster response and economic development projects such as nuclear energy.
HB 503 largely maintains the House proposal while ensuring the General Assembly has the resources to carry out its duties. It includes 2 percent annual salary increases for legislative staff and funds a salary study to evaluate compensation, supporting long-term workforce planning in the judicial branch.
HB 504 maintains core judicial funding while improving efficiency and flexibility. It includes 2 percent annual raises for judicial employees, fully funds judgeships created in 2022 and provides $1 million annually for county support services. The bill also refines expense reductions, supports key facility projects, pauses new courthouse construction and increases oversight of capital projects.
HB 900 allows one-time strategic investments from the state’s budget reserve trust fund while maintaining strong reserves. It funds targeted infrastructure, economic development and emergency response projects and separates these expenditures from the operating budget to promote disciplined use of surplus funds.
With the Senate’s changes now before the House of Representatives, lawmakers from both chambers will continue working together to finalize a two-year budget that meets the needs of Kentuckians while protecting the commonwealth’s long-term financial health.
HB 1 veto
Both chambers quickly overrode the governor’s veto of HB 1, which made it Kentucky law. This
ROUTE CHANGE | BRIDGE WEIGHT REDUCTION
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| The illustration is a file photo from when work was going on to rebuild the bridge in late 2023. |
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials on March 18 ordered the bridge posted at 13 tons for all vehicles because of the load rating of the superstructure, according to a cabinet memo provided to local officials.
Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom said the bridge had previously been posted at 18 tons. He said the structure was rebuilt just over 2 years ago in the winter of 2023 by Crown Paving under specifications approved by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, but a newer approach to inspecting abutments and the standards they must meet appears to have factored into the latest review and lower weight limit.
The county expects signs reflecting the new limit to be installed right away.
Crittenden County Schools Transportation Director Wayne Winters said the change will affect at least one bus route because loaded school buses weigh about 17 tons and will no longer be able to cross the bridge. Winters said the revised route will require the bus to travel to Crayne, back to Earl Patmore Road and then back to Crayne, adding both time and mileage.
The restriction also means heavy farm equipment, fire trucks and many larger service vehicles will be unable to use the bridge.
The bridge is near the Marion City Limits in front of the city's water treatment plant.
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Genetic breakthrough could boost trophy KY bass
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife researchers say they have identified genetic markers tied to bigger native largemouth bass, a finding they believe could eventually help improve trophy bass potential in public waters across the state.
The discovery comes through the agency’s Thoroughbred Bass Program, a long-term effort aimed at selectively breeding Kentucky largemouth bass that carry those markers and stocking their offspring in lakes and other public waters.
Biologists in the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ Fisheries Division worked with the Center for Aquaculture Technologies on the study. According to the agency, the work marks a significant step in a decades-long challenge of trying to improve largemouth bass size potential in colder climates without relying on non-native fish.
“For more than 50 years, biologists have been trying to increase the size potential of largemouth bass,” Fisheries Division biologist Adam Martin said in a release. “In many states to our south, that effort involves stocking non-native Florida bass or first generation (F1) hybrids. Stocking Florida bass has increased bass size in many lakes in warmer climates, but despite other attempts, it hasn’t worked so far in areas colder than southern Tennessee.”
Martin said more northern states such as Kentucky have not had strong options for improving genetics until now.
The research involved a genome-wide association study using whole-genome sequencing. Fisheries staff collected fin clips from 300 largemouth bass from waters across Kentucky, including 150 fish weighing more than 5 pounds from 30 lakes and 150 slower-growing bass under 3.5 pounds taken from the same lakes. Officials said all samples were confirmed as pure largemouth bass before sequencing began.
Researchers then examined more than 3 million genetic markers per fish to identify markers commonly found in trophy bass but rare in smaller fish.
State officials said the findings now give biologists a way to screen broodfish for both genetic purity and desirable growth traits. Fish carrying the strongest combination of markers could then be bred in hatcheries, with their offspring eventually stocked into public waters.
Over time, those selectively bred fish could reproduce with wild bass and gradually spread the desired growth genetics through wild populations, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife said. The state plans to market fish produced through that effort under the name “Thoroughbred Bass.”
“This process is very similar to the traditional selective breeding programs used in agriculture for millennia,” Fisheries Division Assistant Director Jeff Ross said. “The only difference is that we are using genetic markers to pick which fish to breed. Most importantly, we can use bass caught right here in Kentucky - which preserves local adaptation and genetic integrity.”
Agency leaders said the program is intended as a long-term, science-based investment in Kentucky’s bass fisheries.
“The Thoroughbred Bass Program represents a science-driven, sustainable investment in Kentucky’s bass fisheries,” Fisheries Division Director Dave Dreves said. “By combining advanced genetics with traditional hatchery practices, we are working to ensure that future generations of anglers have the opportunity to continue to catch exceptional bass in Kentucky waters.”
Officials also said the program could help offset the effects of angling pressure, which some research suggests can influence fish genetics by disproportionately removing larger or more aggressive bass from a population. Introducing more fish with genetics tied to larger size could help strengthen those fisheries over time.
Despite the breakthrough, anglers will have to wait at least another year before the first selectively bred fish are produced.
Martin said the first production of Thoroughbred Bass had been anticipated for 2026, but the department is still waiting on manufacture of the screening panel needed to identify trophy markers in broodfish. Because bass spawn only once each year, that delay means the state will likely miss this year’s breeding window.
Biologists will instead spend the spring and summer collecting and testing hundreds of wild largemouth bass to prepare for 2027 production, according to the department. Additional trophy bass from around the state also will be tested to further verify the markers and determine which ones are most important.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife said more information is available in the Thoroughbred Bass Program interim progress report posted on its website.
SBDM meeting today is cancelled
Today’s CCHS SBDM council meeting has been cancelled.
A special called SBDM meeting will be held Monday at 5pm in the CCHS library.
Grand Opening Ceremony tomorrow
The event, hosted in partnership with the Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce, will be held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the company’s new office at 411 S. Main St. A ribbon cutting is scheduled for 4 p.m., followed by an open house. This is at the former Belt Realty location.
Rite Temp offers heating and air conditioning sales, service and installation and is licensed and insured.
The grand opening marks both a change in ownership and the company’s move to its new Main Street location from Mott City. Community members are invited to attend and tour the facility.
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
March is National Nutrition Month
March is National Nutrition Month — a great time to focus on your health and wellness.
Whether you’re looking to improve your daily nutrition, find the right vitamins, or explore supplements that fit your lifestyle, the knowledgeable team at Glenn’s is ready to help.
Stop by Glenn’s Apothecary in Marion or Glenn’s Prescription Center in Salem and get expert guidance you can trust.
Your health starts with the right choices — and the right support.
Tree giveaway at Conservation District
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| A mature white pine |
Distribution will take place at the district office, 118 E. Bellville St., Marion. A total of 1,200 trees will be available.
This year’s selection includes baldcypress, pecan, pawpaw, hazelnut, eastern redbud and yellow poplar. The Kentucky Division of Forestry has also matched the district’s purchases with additional seedlings, including white pine, bur oak and northern red oak.
Trees will be packaged two per bag, with a limit of six bags, or 12 trees, per person. Residents from throughout Crittenden County, both urban and rural, are encouraged to participate.
The conservation district said the annual program helps maintain the county’s strong forest resources while encouraging the re-establishment of wildlife habitat.
Monday, March 16, 2026
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Pleasant Hill, Paris cemetery meeting March 24
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| Click Image to Enlarge |
Anyone with interest in the cemeteries' upkeep is encouraged to attend or consider sending donations that will help with mowing and maintenance costs.
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