Crittenden farmers eligible for aid

USDA Declares Every Kentucky County a Natural Disaster Area – Farmers Can Now Apply For Financial Assistance

*McConnell urged USDA to approve Kentucky’s request*

Crittenden County farmers are now eligible for aid related to this year's damages from Mother Nature. But the county's farmers are not alone.

Sen. Mitch McConnell on Friday announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared every Kentucky county a natural disaster area due to drought conditions and wind damage. In September, Gov. Steve Beshear requested the disaster declaration for the state.

"Last year, Kentucky producers experienced significant losses from drought conditions and freezing temperatures," the release from Sen. McConnell's office stated. "While spring rains brought some relief, farms across Kentucky are once again suffering from a lack of rainfall coupled with wind damage from the remnants of Hurricane Ike."

Kentucky farmers interested in applying for the assistance should contact their local Farm Service Agency office for further information. In Crittenden County, the FSA office can be reached at 965-3723 or email kymarion-fsa@one.usda.gov. In Livingston County, call 988-2180 or email kymarion-fsa@one.usda.gov.

“I am pleased that USDA approved this request that enables our agriculture producers to apply for low-interest emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program to compensate for their losses,” said McConnell.

Deer season approaches

The modern rifle deer season will open across Kentucky on Nov. 8. In Crittenden County, there's no bigger event or tourist attraction. Hundreds of hunters flock to this area each year on the second Saturday in November, hoping to harvest a big buck like the one displayed in this photograph from a few years ago. The buck was taken by local hunter Sean Shuecraft.

The Crittenden Press printed edition on Nov. 6 will include a special two-page section on deer hunting. You can get a sampling of what's in store for readers by listening to the accompanying podcast interview with wildlife biologist Philip Sharp.

Subscribe Free
Add to my Page

CCES Mock Election

On Tuesday, students in grades 3-5 at Crittenden Elementary held a Mock Election. 

The balloting was part of a statewide project in Kentucky. It was sponsored by the Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson. 

You can view the results of CCHS's voting and the state's totals using the following links.

STATEWIDE RESULTS

CCES RESULTS

Firefighters busy this week

Fires Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning has kept Marion firefighters busy.

The Marion Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire on West Bellville Street at 6:30 a.m., Thursday. Despite their efforts, the home was virtually destroyed. No one was at the residence when the fire broke out. It was the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church's parsonage, however, the pastor, Robert Boggs, was not there at the time. Contractors had been doing some repair work on the home recently.

Firefighters were still on the scene at 9 a.m.

About 6 p.m., Wednesday firemen were called to a brush fire just of U.S. 641 South behind Sealing Solutions. A fire set to burn some materials had re-ignited and started burning grass and leaves toward the Tumble Extreme gymnasium. 

Marion Fire Department was able to extinguish the blaze before it damaged any structures.

Pictured above are Marion firefighters (from left) Brian Kirby, Shane Young and Mike Crabtree help wind up the fire hose after Thursday's parsonage blaze was extinguished. On the fire truck are Billy Arflack and Barb Arflack.

Health Fair Today

The big health fair rained out last week is rescheduled for today at Crittenden Health Systems.

It's a huge blowout with all sorts of booths and activities for kids and adults.

See the back page of today's Crittenden Press printed edition for details. The event starts at 2 p.m.

Natural gas prices to be higher

Bad news for natural gas customers this winter. The cost of heating your home will be more over the coming months, as natural gas prices once again increase.

 “High heating costs will again be a burden for many of our citizens,” Kentucky Public Service Chairman David Armstrong said. “Although the prices have come down since August, natural gas still costs more than it did at this time last year.”

Kentuckians can expect to pay about 17 percent more this year than last for the same amount of gas, but that remains in line with national averages. Wholesale costs for gas have more than doubled since 2002, the PSC said.

A typical Kentucky customer using 10 cubic feet next month will pay a total monthly bill of $150.78, up $22.38 – or 17.4 percent - from the $128.40 average bill a year ago.

“Do not put off looking for assistance until your situation has become a crisis,” Armstrong said. “If you think you may need help paying your heating bill this winter, start looking for assistance now.’

For help with reducing the burden this winter, visit the following Web site for the topic listed:

• Weatherization tips: chfs.ky.gov/dcbs/dfs/Weatherization.htm
  
• Low-income assistance: chfs.ky.gov/dcbs/dfs/LIHEAP.htm
  
• Kentucky Office of Energy: www.energy.ky.gov/dre3
  

Grocers Against Cancer

Celebrity baggers are handling the carryouts today at Conrad's Food Store during the annual Grocers Against Cancer campaign. The Crittenden County Chapter of the American Cancer Society sponsors the event. Baggers include civic and governmental leaders from throughout the community. 

Pictured is Crittenden Health Systems CFO Joe Swab bagging groceries at the noon hour Tuesday. The campaign will on all day and into the early evening hours.

Be sure to drop a donation into the bin and help fight cancer.

Wireless wonderland ?

The Crittenden Press is following a big news story in Marion this week. It appears that city leaders are looking at bringing wireless Internet downtown. It would be a tourist draw and great marketing concept the mayor said.

Stay tuned to this week's printed edition of The Press to get all the details. The newspaper will be on the streets Wednesday afternoon.

Stolen truck found burned

Local authorities recovered a stolen truck Monday on a farm access road at Elizabethtown Landing in the Tolu community. 

An area farmer, John Croft, located the remains of a burned 1997 Ford Ranger Monday afternoon while tending the fields. Police were able to identify the vehicle from the license plate as one reported stolen from the area. 

The vehicle was stolen and burned sometime between Saturday afternoon and the time it was discovered Monday. There were no signs of anyone having been injured in the fire.

While on the call, Crittenden County Deputy Sheriff Greg Rushing received a call about some more property stolen from the Tolu area. Before answering the call, area residents and Rushing discovered a trailer hidden in the woods off Elizabethtown Landing Road just up from where the burned truck was discovered. The trailer turned out to the be the stolen property Rushing was headed to investigate.

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

Obituaries

Melinda B. Roberson, 60, of Marion died Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008 at her home.
She was the owner of Melinda's Ceramics and member of Bethany Baptist Church in Sturgis. She was the owner of Melinda's Ceramics. Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Bonnie Sue Tabor, 67, of Salem died Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008 at Livingston Hospital. Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem are in charge of arrangements.

Health Fair rain out

The Community Health Fair today has been postponed due to rain.

Crittenden Health Systems has rescheduled the event for next Thursday, Oct. 30. It will be held the same time and place, from 2-6 p.m., at the hospital campus.

McConnell - Lusford Debate

Watch streaming video of this morning's 8 a.m., debate

courtesy of the Paducah Business Journal. Click Here.

Gunmen reportedly open fire on WKU campus

Western Kentucky University campus was locked down early Wednesday afternoon after unconfirmed reports of shots fired at a residential hall on campus. Pearce Ford Tower is reportedly where the incident occurred.

The campus warning system was activated and students and staff were told to stay at their current location, according to the Bowling Green Daily News. Around 12:15 p.m., there were unconfirmed reports of armed men at the WKU South campus. Campus police were joined by Bowling Green city police and the KSP. 

Visit www.bgdailynews.com or www.wkuherald.com for updates.

If you are a WKU student from Crittenden County who would like to share today's experience with our readers, e-mail The Crittenden Press at pressnews@the-press.com.

McConnell making campaign visit

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, seeking a fifth term to office, will be in Marion at 10:45 a.m., Thursday at the Ed-Tech Center on Industrial Drive. 

Note that this is a new location. Many GOP leaders and McConnell supporters have been receiving emails and phone calls notifying them that the event will be at the courthouse. It has been moved to the Ed-Tech Center.

The visit is a whistle stop as the Senate minority leader wraps up his campaign against Democratic challenger Bruce Lunsford. Crittenden County Judge-Executive Fred Brown said the senator will be here around 30 to 45 minutes.The public is invited.

Former President Bill Clinton will be in Paducah Friday campaigning for Lunsford.

Coroner investigating death

Crittenden County Coroner Joe Myers ordered an autopsy on an infant girl who died early Sunday morning in Marion. The autopsy was completed at the Kentucky Medical Examiner's office in Madisonville. There has been no determination that the two-month-old child died from abuse or any type of foul play; however, the case remains open and The Press is following closely the investigation. 

Olivia Leann Curnell was pronounced dead at 10:10 a.m., Sunday more than an hour after an ambulance was called to a West Elm Street home. The coroner said the girl appeared to have died several hours before the ambulance arrived.

The Press printed edition will have more details. It will be on the streets Wednesday afternoon.

Campbell obituary

Daniel Ray Campbell, 25, of Marion died Saturday at Madisonville. Visitation is Monday at Gilbert Funeral Home. The funeral is Tuesday.

Campbell was a 2002 graduate of Crittenden County High School where he was a member of the football and baseball teams.

Hicks obituary

Roy Hicks, 78, of Marion died Friday night at Crittenden Hospital. Visitation is Sunday at Myers Funeral Home. Funeral is at 11 am Monday. His wife, Lois Hicks, is among the survivors.

Powder Puff football

Here is a video slide show of last week's powder puff football game as part of the annual homecoming activities at Crittenden County High School.

Relay for Life kickoff meeting slated

Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society’s national signature activity, is on the move again in the area.

A meeting to acquaint potential participants with the overnight late-spring event has been scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday at Marion Baptist Church Family Life Center.
This year’s Relay for Life of Crittenden County will be held on May 8, 2009 at Marion-Crittenden County Park. At last year’s event, more than 100 people participated and raised more than $18,000. 

Teams of eight to 15 people each participate by sponsoring various money-raising events prior to the Relay, then take turns at the event itself walking or running around the track so that at least one person from each team is on the track during the event. More than five teams took part in last year’s event.

Entertainment is provided by local musical groups. The purpose of the Relay is to seek funds to help fight cancer and to bring about greater awareness of the disease.

The kickoff is open to the entire community.

“We encourage anyone interested in Relay for Life or just learning more about the American Cancer Society to attend,” said Stephanie Elder, regional Relay coordinator for the American Cancer Society in Paducah.

Relay for Life teams, sponsors, cancer survivors, and the entire Crittenden County community is welcome. Dinner and dessert will be provided by the planning committee. Team captain packets will be available for those interested in forming a Relay for Life team this year.

Contact Sue Padget at 704-1558 or Frank Blackburn at 705-1419 if you would like more information on kickoff or the 2009 Relay for Life of Crittenden County.

Bobcats will return to diamond in 2009

When the summer sun begins to bear down on Marion, the umpires will be back to dust off home plate for another season of Bobcats baseball.

"That's good news to me," said die-hard fan Lefty Towery Monday upon learning of the team's return. "I love it."

General Manager Gordon Guess confirmed Monday that a second season of summer collegiate league baseball will return to the city in 2009. The decision was finalized over the weekend with support from an overwhelming majority of the team's 21 investors.

“It looks like the experiment has pretty much worked,” Guess said of the effort to field and keep a squad in an organized baseball league.

He said it appears the Bobcats will join the rest of the KIT League line-up from last season – Owensboro, Fulton and Tradewater (Dawson Springs) in Kentucky; Union City, Tenn; Farmington, Mo. – with the additions of Sikeston, Mo., and Olney, Ill., possible. Depending on the number of teams in the league, the Bobcats will likely play a 49- or 50-game schedule in June and July.

Steve Fowler will return as manager for the Bobcats, as well as eight or nine players from the final 2008 season roster.

One of the returning investors calls the decision a win for the community.

“We feel like it has more benefit than the dollars reflect,” said Charlie Hunt, co-owner of Marion Feed Mill. “I think the community enjoyed having the team here.”

Troopers teaching road safety Friday

There’ll be fun and games before Friday night’s football kickoff, but it’s designed to convey a very serious message.

Friday Night Blue Lights, a Kentucky State Police program aimed at lowering the high number of crashes on Friday nights each autumn, will make an appearance in Crittenden County before this week’s football contest against Union County. Troopers will be on hand from 5 to 7 p.m., on the board of education’s central office parking lot to discuss vehicle safety and demonstrate driving simulators in a carnival-like atmosphere.

The program, undertaken before Friday night games across the state during football season, will feature a KSP rollover simulator, as well as one that shows teens what it is like to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Face-painting, carnival games, concessions and an inflatable slide will also be set up to supplement the information that will be offered to parents, teens and children of all ages.

“It’s just to remind people to drive safe,” said Mary Hollamon, president of the high school’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapter.

FCCLA has teamed with KSP and Allstate insurance to bring Friday Night Blue Lights to Marion. FCCLA is acting as the host organization for the program, but the expense of setting up the displays and attractions was underwritten by a $5,000 grant from Allstate insurance. Holly White, the school system’s community educator and wife of a state police officer, applied for the grant. She said the program will make teens aware of the dangers on the road and help lower the state’s ranking as 10th deadliest for teen drivers.

Boston club visits Marion museum

Nathan Martin (left) and his wife Barbara were among more than a dozen special guests at the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum last weekend. 

Nathan Martin is a member of the Boston Mineral Club. Nine of his fellow club members and other associates from across the country attended a four-day tour of what was once known as the fluorspar capital of the world. While in Marion, they group went on a field trip and dig to the old Columbia Mine area off Crittenden Springs Road. A mineral museum board member, Bill Frazer, hosted the dig, where the "rock hounds" scratched and milled around for precious minerals. 

Martin has made the 1,300-mile trip to Marion five times over the past few years. He said the Clement mineral collection is better than the Harvard University collection at the Mineralogical Museum on the Boston campus. 

Pictured with the Martins is Ed Clement Jr., whose father collected almost all of the specimens on display at the museum. 

"What makes this collection so special is that all of these items came from this immediate area," Martin explained.

You can access the Clement Mineral Museum's Web site any time from The-Press.com.

Traffic Advisory on U.S. 60

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to reduce traffic to one lane and place a load width restriction on U.S. 60 at the Union-Henderson County line starting Wednesday, October 15. There will be some preliminary work at the site starting on
Monday, October 13. However, the contractor does not expect to restrict traffic to one lane until sometime Wednesday morning.

Traffic will be restricted to one lane to allow the placement of a new concrete deck overlay on the Highland Creek Bridge at the Union-Henderson County line. This is on U.S. 60 between Coburn Lane and Kings Mill Road.

Traffic flow at the site will be controlled by installation of a
temporary traffic signal. Delays at the site should be minor. The work
will restrict traffic to a maximum load width of 10 feet. Due to work
requirements at the site no oversized loads will be allowed through this
work zone

Driving eastward in Union County this site is about 8 miles east of the
U.S. 60 Morganfield Bypass and 4 miles east of Waverly. Driving westward
in Henderson County the work zone is 8.71 miles west of the KY 425
Henderson Bypass and is 3 miles west of Corydon.

Once work starts, the contractor plans to have construction personnel on
site during daylight hours six days a week until the project is
completed. American Contracting & Services Inc., is the prime contractor on the
$592, 515 highway improvement project. The scheduled completion date is
November 15.

Jiminez homecoming queen

Anna Jiminez was crowed queen Friday night at the annual homecoming football game at Rocket Stadium. Senior receiver Dustin McConnell was named homecoming king. See entire court, click here.

See photos from other homecoming events, including parade and powder puff football game, click here.

See results, stats and video of 41-19 Rocket homecoming victory over Ballard Memorial, click here.

Crittenden approved for federal disaster aid

Crittenden County is among numerous other Kentucky counties approved today for federal disaster aid related to damage from high winds in mid-September from Tropical Depression Ike.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear made the announcement today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted his request for disaster relief aid for 33 counties, including Crittenden, Livingston and all surrounding counties.

"I am pleased that these Kentucky counties that were so severely affected by the devastating winds that struck Kentucky will be able to receive much-needed federal assistance as they recover from these terrible storms,” said Gov. Beshear.

The declaration was authorized under a disaster declaration issued by President Bush and will make federal assistance available to the following counties: Ballard, Boone, Breckenridge, Bullitt, Caldwell, Calloway, Campbell, Carlisle, Carroll, Crittenden, Daviess, Fulton, Gallatin, Graves, Hancock, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Jefferson, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, Meade, McCracken, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Oldham, Shelby, Trigg, Trimble, Union and Webster. Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation.

Former chief's funeral is Monday

Kenneth E. Winn, 63, of Marion died at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 9, 2008 at his home after a battle with cancer.

A long time Marion police officer and former chief of police, Winn had retired from the department in July of 2007. He had been a local police officer for 32 years.

Winn was a member of the Marion United Methodist Church, a lifetime member of the Kentucky Chief of Police Association and a member of Michigan Long Bow Association.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy “Dottie” Winn , Marion; son, John E. Winn and wife Kelly of Hickory, Ky.; daughters, Saundra Winn, Marion and Karen and husband Jerry Gibson, Gilbertsville, Ky.; grandchildren, Kaylee Winn and Andy Gibson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Herschel and Novella Beckner Winn.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m., Monday, Oct. 13 at the Myers Funeral Home in Marion. Burial will follow at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Caldwell County.

Visitation is from 3 to 8 p.m., Sunday at Myers Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to “The Elevator Fund” c/o Marion United Methodist Church, 112 S. College St., Marion, KY 42064

Obituary

Thomas Kendall "T.K." Decker, 86 of Marion, died at 5:46 p.m., Tuesday October 7, 2008 at Livingston Hospital & Health Services in Salem.  Myers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Ky. 654 North closed starting Monday

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to close Ky. 654 in Crittenden County starting Monday.

The road will be closed during daylight hours near the six-mile marker to allow a highway maintenance crew to replace one cross drain and install two new cross drains to help improve road drainage in the area. This is on Ky. 654 North in the Crittenden County Amish community near the Mt. Zion Church Road intersection north of Mattoon.

To make the job site safer for workers and the traveling public, Ky. 654 North will be closed to all traffic between the hours of approximately 7 a.m, and 4 p.m., each day. If all goes as planned, the highway will reopen to traffic at the end of each workday, said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spokesman Keith Todd.

There will be no marked detour. Motorists who regularly travel this section of Ky. 654 North should make advance alternate travel plans.

The project is expected to be complete by Oct. 17, weather permitting.

Sunday set aside to get healthy

Organized by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service in cooperation with local officials and other organizations, more than 70 of Kentucky’s counties, including Crittenden, will participate in Second Sunday, an effort to get Kentuckians healthy.

Second Sunday is an event when an entire state can come together on a single day to encourage its citizens to collectively get outdoors to de-stress, get healthy and connect personally with their fellow citizens. This is an open invitation to “Be there – Be Healthy!”

Crittenden County will be utilizing Marion-Crittenden County Park for its activities from 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday. Participants can walk or play sports of their choice (bring your own equipment) and are encouraged to register at the shelter located near the concession stand.

Burn ban lifted in Crittenden County

Crittenden County’s ban on outdoor burning was lifted Wednesday morning after Tuesday’s rainfall, according to Judge-executive Fred Brown. The ban had been enacted for fear of blazes spreading uncontrollably after a two-month, late summer drought.

However, outdoor burning near wooded areas is restricted to between the hours of 6 p.m., and 6 a.m., during Kentucky forest fire hazard season, which ends Dec. 15. Violators face fines and possible jail time.

A look at venison

A study in Minnesota and other Midwest states is looking the possibility of lead contamination in deer meat because the animals are generally harvested with bullets made of lead.

Read the entire article, click here.

In other hunting news, a Johnson City, Tenn., man died in a hunting accident in Tennessee. He was going archery hunting and carrying a pistol, which fell out of his pocket and discharged. Read the entire article, click here.

Youngsters enjoy Farm Day at CCES

Crittenden County Elementary School fourth-graders soaked up a plethora of extra knowledge Tuesday during Farm Safety Day. Not all presentations were related to agriculture – some others included a discussion of electricity safety and rides in a bucket truck from Kenergy Corp., a cancer discussion and nutrition information – but one of the favorite stations was the goat display. Wade and Sue Buntin brought four of their goats to discuss raising the livestock for dairy and meat production, but the children were most interested in petting, even milking the animals. Above, one of the fourth-graders takes at turn at the milk bucket with Sue Buntin's help. Many of the presentations were made possible by the county's UK Cooperative Extension Service.

Caution: Chemical release

State officials have received a report of a hazardous chemical release at the ARKEMA plant at
Calvert City caused by some type of power outage about 11:30 a.m. 

As a precaution, a number of roadways have been closed to traffic and
residents of surrounding areas of Livingston County immediately south
and west of Smithland have been ordered to shelter in place.

U.S. 60 is closed from Ky. 937 CutOff Road to the Old Ledbetter School,
approximately mile point 7.827 to about mile point 5.5.

Ky. 453 is closed from Coons Chapel Road to Ky. 2225/Jake Dukes Road, mile
point 5.082 to mile point 13.827.

ARKEMA reports a very small amount of Hydrochloric acid and 142b
refrigerant were released. The plant has sounded an all clear for their
employees and plant site. ARKEMA expects to have news release shortly
with additional details on the release.

Kentucky Emergency Management officials have asked to keep the listed
roadways closed and area residents to remain sheltering in place for
about an hour to assure that the released material as dissipated.

Madisonville soldier dies in Iraq

Gov. Steve Beshear has recognized today the sacrifice of a Kentucky soldier who died October 5 supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

According to the Department of Defense, Sgt. William P. Rudd, 27, of Madisonville, died of wounds suffered from enemy small arms fire while on a combat patrol in Mosul, Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.

The governor will order that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on the day of Sgt. Rudd’s interment, for which arrangements are pending.

Homecoming week under way

Crittenden County High School homecoming week got off to a messy start Monday evening with a banana split-eating contest at Dairy Queen. Fifteen high school students squared off in teams of three to see who could eat the desserts the fastest. The winning team of Alex Wood, Lindsay Kirk and Justin Kinnis, all seniors, took three rounds to put away the competition and a combined nine banana splits courtesy of the host restaurant. Above, Saundra Winn does her part keep her team competitive in the finals.

Homecoming week continues all week leading up to Friday's night's game against Ballard Memorial. Other festivities include:

• Tuesday: Relay Games, halftime of both soccer games at the soccer field
  
• Thursday: Homecoming parade, 5 p.m., downtown Marion
  
• Thursday: Powderpuff foofball game, 6:30 p.m., Rocket Stadium
  
• Friday: Homecoming coronation, 7 p.m., Rocket Stadium before kickoff. Homecoming attendants are freshmen Bryce Willis and Jenna Odom, sophomores Brian Berry and Jessi Hodge and juniors Dyllan Thornton and Olivia Adams. Homecoming king candidates are Dusty McConnell, Rodney Robertson and Josh Urbanowski. Homecoming queen candidates are Mary Hollamon, Anna Jimenez and Meredith Lanham.
  
• Friday: Rockets vs. Ballard Memorial at 7:30 p.m.
  
• Friday: Homecoming dance is from 9:30 to midnight
  

Special section this week

In-market readers of The Crittenden Press printed edition will find a special medical supplement in this week's issue. The Healthy Living section is full of valuable information about local and regional services and providers in the healthcare and related fields. 

We encourage you to take time to look through the special section and to even keep it around for months to come. The special section is certain to provide a valuable resource for future healthcare needs.

Online viewers will be able to view or download copies of the special section free of charge in PDF format starting Wednesday afternoon.

Only McConnell backs bailout plan

Congress today gave final legislative approval to a $700 billion bailout plan to faltering banks. The measure, now loaded with lots of "sweeteners" through amendments tacked on by Senate, heads to the president's desk for his expected approval.

After failing to pass the House on Tuesday, the Senate took up the bill and passed it 74-25 Wednesday night. Kentucky's two senators were split on the bill, with Sen. Mitch McConnell voting yes and Sen. Jim Bunning casting a no vote. Friday's 263-171 approval in the House did not include support from Rep. Ed Whitfield, who also voted against the bailout on Tuesday.

US 60 Yard Sale

This weekend is the 175-mile U.S. 60 Yard Sale and many Crittenden and Livingston county residents will be participating in the event.

Thousands of motorists are expected along a seven-county portion of U.S. 60.

Department of Transportation officials encourage everyone using the highway to be cautious of the increased vehicle and foot traffic.

PVA offers help for illegible tax bills

Tax bills for about 7,000 properties in Crittenden County have been mailed to landowners , but many have found their invoice unreadable, said PVA Ronnie Heady.

Heady said the carbon copy mailed to taxpayers is illegible on many tax bills due to a problem with equipment, and the complaints have been rolling in. To counter the problem, Heady said recipients are welcome to come by his courthouse office and either have a new copy printed or have the unreadable numbers filled in by his staff. 

"We are terribly sorry for any inconvenience," the PVA said.

New tax bills will not be mailed out, Heady explained.

Interview with the Lt. Gov. of KY

Press managing editor Daryl K. Tabor interviewed Lt. Gov. Daniel Daniel Mongiardo, who was in Marion Thursday morning for a brief visit.

Subscribe Free
Add to my Page

Museum temporarily closed

Crittenden County Historical Museum is temporarily closed until a new curator can be found. 

The museum has been closed since Saturday, when Dot Meredith left as curator. Crittenden County Historical Society will meet Tuesday to address what will be done for the remainder of the season. The museum closes for winter Nov. 1.

Livingston issues burn ban

Following several other western Kentucky counties, Livingston County Judge-Executive Chris Lasher has issued an order restricting outdoor burning. Lasher issued the burn ban today, prohibiting all burning in the county until the an is lifted.

At least 47 Kentucky counties have issued restriction on outdoor burning because of the extremely dry conditions created by two months of virtually no rainfall. In fact, all 13 counties in the western most fire district of the state have now prohibited burning of any kind. Crittenden, Caldwell, Lyon, McCracken, Livingston, Union, Webster, Marshall and Hopkins counties are just some of the counties restricting burning.

The state forest fire hazard season also began today, limiting outdoor burning across the state to between the hours of 6 p.m., and 6 a.m. The statewide restricts remain until Dec. 15, even if a county burn ban is lifted.

The image above shows the counties in red with a burn ban in effect as of today.

Financial Market Crisis

Special podcast report with Gordon Guess, former president of Peoples Bank in Marion. Guess is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank Board. He discusses the current financial market crisis. Click here.

Accident Update: Fatality

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

Teddie Davenport, 56, was flown by helicopter to a Paducah hospital then later transferred to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. He died shortly after 4 p.m., Tuesday.