Rockets win opener

Crittenden County opened its football season with an impressive 54-21 victory over Lake County (Tenn.) in the Jackson Purchase Alliance Bowl Friday at Draffenville.

Click to read more.

The Rocket Blog is the place to follow Crittenden sports this season !

School board OKs tax increase

Crittenden County Board of Education hopes to generate as much as $185,000 in additional revenue with a property tax increase approved Thursday to help the district offset increased operating costs.

The board unanimously okayed a higher tax rate on real and personal property in Crittenden County, but left the levy on motor vehicles and public utilities unchanged. The new rate of 42.7 cents per $100 of assessed value on real estate and tangible assets is expected to contribute at total of $1.42 million to the district's revenue flow. 

"It's not that we want to," said board member Eric LaRue of the increase. "We have to."

Hit by rising fuel and energy costs , as well as mandated programs and pay raises by the state, the school district has struggled the last couple of years to produce a balanced budget without cuts to programs and staff. Taxpayers should see the 1.3 increase over last year's rate in a few weeks when 2008 tax bills are mailed to property owners.

This year marks second time in as many years that the school district has upped the tax on real and personal property. The tax rate on motor vehicles and watercraft is 54.1 cents per $100 and has remain unchanged since 1991. Taxes collected from public utilities has also be left at its 3-percent rate since 1991.

Stop the presses...

It is a bittersweet day at The Crittenden Press in Marion, Ky.

Today, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008, will signal the final time the big offset Goss Community Press will roll off issues of the county's weekly newspaper. Beginning next week, The Press, and sister publication The Early Bird, will be published off-site. Market conditions have made it more attractive to outsource printing operations so that the newspaper can offer a more modern, full-color product.

While it begins an exciting new era for The Crittenden Press, it's also sad to see the final issue come off the presses on East Bellville Street after more than 30 years of having the paper printed right here in Marion.

Stay tuned for more details in this week's printed edition, on newsstands today at 2:30 p.m.

Pictured is 20-year pressman Ken Sharp looking at one of the final copies of the newspaper.

Attention Dove Hunters

A correction is needed for the directions to a public dove field in Crittenden County listed in the 2008-2009 Kentucky Hunting Guide for Dove, Wood Duck, Teal, Woodcock, Snipe and Crow.

The guide states a field is located east of Marion, Kentucky via KY 120 and KY 1917. This field is now a private dove field.

The public dove field is located in this general vicinity near the Crittenden and Caldwell County line off KY 120. From Providence, take KY 120 west into Crittenden County. The public dove field is the first one on the left after crossing the county line. Dove hunters may reach this field from Marion by taking KY 120 east to a field on the right located near the Caldwell County line.
The first segment of the 2008-2009 dove season opens September 1 and closes October 24, 2008. The second portion of the season opens November 27 (Thanksgiving Day) and closes December 5, 2008. Kentucky hunters may also enjoy a newly created third segment of the dove season that opens December 27, 2008 and closes January 2, 2009.

Dove fields leased from private landowners such as this Crittenden County dove field are open to public hunting September 1, 6, 7 and 10. These fields re-open to public hunting on September 13 and close for the season on October 24. Dove fields on Wildlife Management Areas remain open for the duration of the season.

The daily bag limit for doves is 15 birds. Shooting hours on public lands are 11 a.m. to sunset from September 1 through October 24 and one-half hour before sunrise to sunset for the remainder of dove season.

On private lands, shooting hours begin at 11 a.m. on September 1, but move to one-half hour before sunrise for the remainder of the dove season. Shooting hours end at sunset for the entire season on private lands.

Damron pleads to burglary

Ronnie Damron, the man set for a third trial this week on sodomy, theft and persistent felony charges, has reached a plea agreement with the state.

Damron has pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary. The prosecution has agreed to a 10-year sentence. Formal sentencing will be Sept. 11.

A third trial was set to start Thursday in Dixon, where the case had been moved due to publicity in The Crittenden Press following two previous trials. A mistrial was declared in the first trial then Damron was found guilty and sentenced to 70 years in the second trial last summer. However, that verdict was overturned upon appeal.

Stay tuned for The Crittenden Press printed edition for details.

Guess who's 90?

One of Marion's most colorful and delightful people, Ronald F. "Tink" Hicklin, is turning 90 years old today (Tuesday, Aug. 26). Tink (seated in front) still works at the Marion Dry Cleaners, attends church regularly, plays golf, serves on the football hall of fame committee and visits daily with friends at The Coffee Shop Round Table.

Pictured with Tink are his family and friends who honored him with a dinner at Kentucky Dam State Park over the weekend. The are (standing) Mae & Don Hodge, Gayle & Ron Alvis of Frankfort, Richard Franklin of Lexington, Jen, Jeremy & Kate Alvis of Lexington, and Ward, Kathryn & Leah Drennan of Seattle. 

Happy Birthday Tink!

Soccer registration

For boys and girls 3-12
Youth Soccer registration will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m., Thursday (today) at the courthouse gazebo. Participation is for boys and girls ages 3 to 12. Applications are available at The Main Street Grill and Coffee Shop. If interested yet unable to attend registration, contact Cory Wheeler at 704-0279.

Subscribe to podcasts

The Crittenden Press Online is now offering podcasts. 

Go online to The-Press.com and click on the Gcast icon on the left side of the page to learn how to subscribe to news and sports podcasts.

Vollebyall team wins tournament

Crittenden County High School's volleyball team won the Cardinal Classic Tournament Saturday at Smithland. See this week's sports section in The Crittenden Press for details.

Dr. Perry practicing in Princeton

Dr. Jami (Tabor) Perry, a Crittenden County native, is opening a family practice medical clinic in Princeton. Click here to read More in the Princeton Times-Leader this week.

Fugitive Update

Those two fugitives from the West Kentucky Correctional Complex in Fredonia are still at large.

Princeton Police recovered a mini van at a motel parking lot Thursday night around 5:30. They think the escapees stole the van from a residence on Calhoun Road in Lyon County. The van was stolen late Wednesday night near the Western Kentucky Parkway and U.S. 62 interchange, about 10 miles from where the van was later recovered. 

A woman in Caldwell County just east of Fredonia was confronted by the escapees earlier in the week.

The fugitives are from the Rowan County and Lexington area. Police believed Friday that they were still in the Princeton area.

ANOTHER ESCAPEE James A. Allgood also remains at large. He was last seen in Breckinridge County after walking away from a work release program at Lyon County High School in July. Allgood stole two vehicles in the area, including one in the edge of Lyon County that was owned by Randy Peek. That vehicle was found late last week in Breckinridge County by Kentucky State Police.

Obituaries Update

Charlotte Nell Fowler, 71, of Marion died Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008 at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah. Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Charlie Radcliffe Owen, 81, of Marion died at 2:26 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008 at Salem Springlake Health and Rehabilitation Center. Boyd Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Southern Fry'd CDs

Country Girl Tabatha Rowland is now selling her CD, Avoid Heat and Flame, at Crittenden Farm Supply in Marion. The music CD is also available at Akridge Hardware in Eddyville.

You can see upcoming concert dates for Rowland and her band, Southern Fry'd, at the band's Web site.

Fugitives still on the loose

The two escapees from the West Kentucky Correctional Complex at Fredonia are still at large. One of the fugitives confronted a woman on a rural road near Fredonia Tuesday.

The Princeton Times-Leader has the latest details in an article posted today on its Web site.

Click here to read the article.

Amish populations double

Amish populations in many states, including Kentucky, have doubled, a recent study found.

The Associated Press has published an article that is posted at the Courier-Journal.com. Read article.

Long-time minister dies

Long-time local minister Rev. Cortis E. Hill, 84, of Marion has died.

Hill was apparently working in is yard Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008 when he passed away.

Services will be at 2 p.m., Friday, Aug. 22 at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion. Visitation will be from 5-9 p.m., Thurday at the funeral home.

Burial will e at Mapleview Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 304, Salem, KY 42078.

No other details were immediately available.

Governor in Marion today

Gov. Steve Beshear will be in Marion Tuesday in the midst of wrapping up his "Beshear About Kentucky" tour.

Beshear will be in town for about an hour for two ceremonial check presentations before heading to Murray for his second-to-last town hall meeting on his 18-city tour of the state. 

The governor is slated to arrive at the Marion Ed-Tech Center on Industrial Drive at 3:15 p.m.

The first of the check presentations will be $500,000 for construction of a new health department on land adjoining the Ed-Tech Center. The second will be for a joint city-county venture to improve pedestrian walk-ways for students who walk to school.

This will be Beshear's first visit to Marion since taking office last December.

Escapees near Fredonia

Kentucky State Police, along with correctional officers from the West Kentucky Correctional Complex in Fredonia, are currently searching for two escapees, who escaped from the Correction Complex early Saturday morning.

The search is centered around the Fredonia area where the two were observed trying to steal gas from a local residence. They were confronted by the property owner and got into a physical altercation before fleeing on foot back towards Fredonia east of Ky. 902. One headed towards Ky. 70 and the other toward Fredonia. 

Police are asking the public to take the keys from vehicles and keep houses locked while officers search the area. If either of the subjects are seen, contact Kentucky State Police at 1-800-222-5555.

Rocket Football Blog

Crittenden County sports fans can get a full dose of Rocket football every day with regular updates of news and information at the Rocket Football Blog.

This fall, Rocket fans can expect previews, stats, photographs, video and audio interviews. We will have pregame information and postgame wrapups plus lots more between games. 

Click every day to see what's happening in Rocketland.

Teen hurt in wreck

Rebecca Wright, 18, of Marion was injured in an automobile accident about 8:40 a.m., Thursday near the Crittenden-Caldwell line on US 641. 

According to state police, Wright was southbound when she entered a curve and dropped off the shoulder of the roadway. She then over-corrected causing her vehicle to cross both lanes of travel and leave the opposite side of the roadway. She then struck an earth embankment and a utility pole coming to final rest off the roadway. 

Wright was transported to Crittenden Co. ER by Crittenden Co. Ems.

Police looking for suspects

Marion police continuing searching for two men who broke into Liberty Fuels gas station last Wednesday night just before midnight. The same men are also suspected of breaking into a Princeton business early this week in similar fashion.

The would-be burglars left the store abruptly after prying open the front door with a crowbar. They left without taking anything because an alarm went off. Surveillance video caught the men on tape and police have a description of their vehicle, too. It was believed to be a dark blue or black Cadillac or Oldsmobile with custom wheels.

The alarm signaled police who were on the scene within a minute, but missed the getaway.
"You can see them on video," said Police Chief Ray O'Neal. "They took about three steps inside the store and then the alarm went off. They turned right around got back in the car and left."
O'Neal said police have the video from which they enhanced still photographs of the suspects and the car. They also have fingerprints taken from the doors.

"They didn't have on gloves or masks so we have some good evidence," he said.

Police have been combing the county looking for the car and the two suspects.

O'Neal says investigators think the same two men broke into Heaton's barbecue and convenience center on Ky. 91 on the north side of Princeton Sunday night. A videotape indicated a similar type vehicle and description of the suspects.

O'Neal said police are looking for two white males in their mid 20s to early 30s.

Airman's remains ID'd; burial Sept. 22

On March 19, 1945, 2nd Lt. Howard C. Enoch Jr., U.S. Army Air Forces, of Marion, Ky, 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.

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that Enoch’s remains, missing for 63 years, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.  He will be buried on Sept. 22 in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C.

“Welcome home, Lt. Enoch,” Gov. Steve Beshear said today.  “Rest in peace at Arlington, knowing we never forgot you.”  Gov. Beshear will order U.S. and Kentucky flags to be lowered at state government facilities on Sept. 22 to honor Lt. Enoch’s sacrifice.

Representatives from the Army met with Enoch's next-of-kin to explain the recovery and identification process and to coordinate interment with military honors on behalf of the Secretary of the Army. 

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory also used mitochondrial DNA in the identification of Enoch's remains.

Samples of DNA from family members in Lt. Enoch’s family on his mother’s side made the identification possible.  The Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs has a program to find family members of the 46 Kentuckians missing in the Korean War for whom JPAC does not yet have DNA samples.

DUI crackdown

Beginning Friday and continuing through Sept. 1,, the Kentucky State Police along with law enforcement agencies from Marion, Crittenden County and across the Commonwealth will be conducting an impaired driving enforcement campaign, Drunk Driving: Over the Limit-Under Arrest. This nationwide initiative is a concerted effort by all law enforcement agencies to reduce alcohol-related injury and fatality crashes.

During this campaign, the Madisonville Kentucky State Police Post will conduct numerous traffic safety check points in the Post 2 District. Also, state and local officers will be out in full force conducting sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols throughout the Post 2 District. Patrols will be increased in high volume traffic areas and high crash locations. Impaired drivers will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Click here to see where road checks may be conducted.

The Kentucky State Police advise everyone to plan ahead; however, if you find it hard to figure out if you’ve had too many drinks to drive-don’t risk it. Most likely if you’re feeling “buzzed” you are impaired and if you drive law enforcement will catch you.


The Kentucky State Police remind everyone:

· Don’t risk it. If you plan to drive, don’t drink.

· Choose a sober designated driver before going out.

· Take mass transit, a taxicab or ask a friend to drive you home.

· Spend the night where the activity is being held.

· Report impaired drivers to law enforcement.


Citizens can assist troopers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-5555 to report impaired drivers or any type of driving infractions. Just provide the direction of travel, a description of the vehicle, and the license plate number if possible.

Post 2 serves the following counties: Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, Hopkins, Muhlenberg, Todd, and Webster.

Cat on a dog

Kevin (left) and Doug Wallace caught this 49-pound catfish while jug fishing the Ohio River Tuesday. For bait, the two have been using hot dogs. It was caught at a depth of four feet, but the local fishermen have landed lots of fish at various depths. Kevin said most of their jugs are set up for fishing two and four feet. They caught this one near Dam 50 Recreation Area.

Human skull found in Salem

A human skull has been found at a home in Salem. The new owners of the home discovered it in a bag and reported their find to state police, who are now investigating.

WPSD TV has a story on it click here.

The Press will have details in its printed edition this week.

Police searching for break-in suspects

Marion police are searching for two men who broke into Liberty Fuels gas station Wednesday night just before midnight. 

The would-be burglars left the store abruptly after prying open the front door with a crowbar. They left without taking anything because an alarm went off. Surveillance video caught the men on tape and police have a description of their vehicle, too. It was believed to be a Cadillac. The alarm signaled police who were on the scene within a minute, but missed the getaway.

Officers have been combing the county looking for the car and the two suspects.

More details should be available in next week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press.

Rayloc announces layoff

BREAKING NEWS

Rayloc, which has a plant in Morganfield, has announced a major companywide layoff that will affect as many as 480 workers at its Union County facility.

Company officials told employees Thursday that the layoff would take effect within the next three months. Kevin Sheilley, executive director of Northwest Kentucky Forward, said to his understanding, the plant will transform in mid- to late-October from primarily a manufacturing facility to a distribution center, retaining about 60 of its current workers.

Despite the recent closure of Rayloc facilities in Texas and Maryland, Sheilley said the announcement of the western Kentucky closure came as a shock.

"We felt positive about the plant's ability to remain competitive," director of the Henderson-based regional economic development agency said. 

"This facility has been an outstanding operation for the company as demonstrated by their recent implementation of their highly efficient cell production system," Sheilley added in a statement on the closure made available on Northwest Kentucky Forward's Web site.

The Morganfield plant, in fact, had taken over many of the lines from the plants shut down in Texas and Maryland, according to Sheilley. Rayloc, a unity of Genuine Parts Co., Inc., remanufactures auto parts for NAPA Auto Parts, its sister company under the GPC umbrella.

Sheilley, en route to Morganfield Thursday afternoon, added that Rayloc appears to be moving more from manufacturing to distribution of auto parts.

Some employees, as many as 75 to 100 from Crittenden County, say there were offered severance packages. Sheilley said a silver lining in Rayloc cloud is that in the next 12 to 18 months, several hundred jobs will be coming online in Union County. About 600 jobs alone are anticipated by 2010 at Alliance Resources Partners' planned River View coal mine.

"Rayloc employees have an excellent reputation," Sheilley said of opportunities for the company's unemployed workers.

According to Herald-Mail.com, an online newspaper for Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, the 260 workers at the recently-closed plant in Hancock, Md., qualified for federal assistance after the facility was certified as a Trade Act-related closure. Those benefits are intended for workers who lose their jobs due to increased imports.

It is too early, Sheilley said, to attribute the Morganfield closure to jobs headed overseas or increased imports.

Adult Ed Instructors wanted

West Kentucky Educational Cooperative has several openings for Adult Education instructors in the western Kentucky region. Positions over 20 hours per week include full-time benefits. Positions are available in the following counties:

Crittenden County 17 hours per week

Livingston County 10 hours per week

Webster County 18 hours per week

A bachelor's degree is required. Send cover letter, resume and three references to Susan Jackson, 420 Wells Hall, Murray, KY 42071.

MIT professor seeks secret to longer life

Lenny Guarente, a biology professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is trying to learn how to manipulate the genes that could extend human life.

Guarente said a low-calorie diet – below 1,500 calories daily – triggers anti-aging genes called sirtuins. That can extend the life span by something like one-third, according to an article at EarthandSky.org. Read More.

This week's issue

The Crittenden Press printed edition is following several stories this week, including injuries to Nick Duncan of Marion during a house fire Monday. 

A Crittenden County Grand Jury indicted 16 individuals on a variety of charges, mostly drug and theft of metal items. Details of those cases will appear in this week's printed edition.

Also, The Press will have a complete wrapup from last week's fair and local results from the federal school program No Child Left Behind.

The Press will be on sale at newsstands Wednesday afternoon.

Pictured is contestant Danielle Byarley.

Fire destroys Marion home

UPDATE: Nick Duncan was injured in the fire and was airlifted from Crittenden Hospital Monday afternoon to a regional hospital.

A fire reported just before 1 p.m., Monday destroyed the home of Junior and Debbie Duncan of Marion.

Firefighters arrived at the Jarvis Street home within five minutes of the dispatch, but the front of the structure was already engulfed by the fire, with flames having burned through the front and north side of the home. 

More details will be available in this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press.

Sneak-a-Peek and more

An orientation for incoming Crittenden County preschoolers and their parents will be held at CCES on Aug. 14. No times have been announced yet for the orientation, but the briefing is a separate event from the elementary school’s Sneak-a-Peek on Monday (tonight).

For further information on the preschool orientation, call 314-6032.

Orientations and open houses for other schools in the district include:
CCES Sneak-a-Peek, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Monday. Parents and students can meet teachers, visit classrooms and complete paperwork.
CCMS Orientation, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Tuesday in the gymnasium. The orientation is for all incoming sixth-graders and their parents.
CCMS Open House, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Tuesday. The open house is for all middle school students and their parents.
CCHS Open House, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Tuesday.

Derby crowd-pleaser returns

Two years ago, it was a big hit in its debut. And Jared Belt thinks it will be again this year when trucks will be allowed in this year's Crittenden County Lions Club Fair demolition derby.

"The crowd loves it," Belt, organizer of this year's derby said Friday, just one day before the fair's most popular event takes place.

Belt said the truck heat debuted in 2006 to much success. The event this year will be a single, winner-take-all heat.

As organizer of the event this year, Belt has had calls every day about the derby. Because of the interest, he's not concerned about participant numbers even though some neighboring county fairs have seen a drop-off in derby entries due, in part, to the increased value of scrap metal and the dwindling number of operational rear-wheel drive cars.

"Our numbers will be affected a little, but I don't think we'll have the problem some others have had," Belt said.

Though the derby, which begins at 7 p.m., Saturday at the fairgrounds in Marion, is typically the highest draw of the week-long fair, Belt said attendance at Thursday's truck pulls was one of the best ever.

"It'll have to be pretty good to beat last night," he said Friday of expected derby crowd in comparison to the truck pull onlookers.

Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for ages 6-15 and a free for anyone 5 and under.

Participants in this year's derby can sign up at the fairgrounds Saturday, prior to the 7 p.m., start. For information, contact Belt at 871-4502.

1968 Reunion

Crittenden County Class of 1968 reunion arrives this weekend, Aug. 8-9. The 40-year reunion will be Friday and Saturday, with an informal picnic and social scheduled for the respective days.

On Friday, planners have slated a picnic that will begin at 4:30 p.m., at Marion-Crittenden County Park. Those planning to attend are asked to bring chips, cookies or a two-liter drink.

A dinner and social will begin at 4:30 p.m., Saturday. The meal will be at Conger’s Country Kitchen, located at Marion Country.

“You still have time to let us know if you plan to come,” said Sheila Truitt, one of the reunion organizers.

To contact Truitt or for more information, call 965-2490.

New doctor's clinic

A new sign has gone on up East Bellville Street indicating that a new doctor's office will be opening soon. The signage was installed Friday morning where the Wild Hair Salon was formerly located across from Five Star.

The name on the sign is Marion Healthcare Clinic and Wound Care Center. It appears to be an independent clinic that is not affiliated with any of the others in Marion, Salem or Princeton.

We're waiting for a formal announcement from the new doctor.

The building is owned by Thom Hawthorne, owner of the Marion Cafe.