CeraTech assets sold at courthouse

Real estate assets of CeraTech Media, Inc., were sold at the courthouse Friday morning. The public auction was conducted to satisfy a foreclosure judgement against the company. 

The building and property on Moore Street were sold for $175,000. The high bidder was a representative of the Crittenden County Economic Development Corp., or the Western Kentucky Industrial Foundation. Early indications are that the buyer, a local community economic development group, will lease the property to a potential operator who may re-open the business.

CeraTech closed in June with the owner citing the country's economic downturn as the primary reason.

Stay tuned to next week's Crittenden Press printed edition for details.

Teddy Roosevelt visits Fohs Hall

Pete Lancaster of Murray portrayed Teddy Roosevelt during a one-man show at Fohs Hall Thursday night. Ticket sales benefited Fohs Hall, the community and civic center. 

Judge Simpson resigns

District Judge Tommy Simpson has resigned, effective Saturday. 

Simpson, who serves as District Court judge in Crittenden, Union and Webster counties, has been battling cancer for about a year. He cited health and family concerns for resigning his judgeship. 

The Crittenden Press will more details next week.

Call for Spotlight: Send us your information

The Crittenden Press printed edition is always seeking news tips and short features for its Spotlight on the Community section.

Do you have a college student who joined a fraternity or sorority, a friend who received a special award or recognition, an employee who recently completed special training or a parent who is retiring? These are just a few examples. We're looking for a variety of Spotlight features. If you think it's important to you, it's probably important to our readers.

If so, we want to know. Provide us with some basic information such as who, what, when, where and why. And please include a contact email address or phone number. 

CLICK HERE TO SEND US A NEWS OR SPOTLIGHT SUGGESTION

Food Bank Distribution Wednesday

Crittenden County Food Bank will be distributing free food from 10 a.m., until noon Wednesday, Oct. 28 at the Senior Citizens Center.

Picket not aimed at city

Union members say they are not picketing the City of Marion nor its sewer treatment facility. Instead, they are drawing attention to the absence of a work contract with Ivitts Plumbing Contractors, Inc., of Paducah. Ivitts was recently awarded a bid for work at the sewer treatment plant on Adams Street. 

The International United of Operators and Engineers have had picketers at the sewer plant entrance since Friday. 

See this week's printed edition of The Press for more information.

Paving slows traffic on U.S. 60

Highway work started today on U.S. 60 in Livingston County.

 

Two sections are being milled and repaved. One section is between the Cutoff Road and Smithland and the other section is near Burna from the River Road to Mitchell Road. 

 

Paving along these sections is expected to begin by the end of the week.  Each section is expected to take 5 to 7 days to complete once paving starts.

 

Traffic is being controlled by flaggers with a rolling lane restriction in the work zone. Motorists should be alert for equipment, flaggers, and construction personnel on the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow. Some delays are possible during the movement and placement of equipment. 

 

Jim Smith Contracting of Grand Rivers is the prime contractor on this approximately $1.15 Million highway improvement project.

Red Ribbon Week

Students Madison Travis and Matt O'Dell were among those working around town early Monday morning, placing bows at businesses as part of Red Ribbon Week. 

The "red" awareness campaign is to promote a drug-free community and a healthy lifestyle.

“SENSE OF PLACE” is Workshop Topic

SERIES EVENT IS TONIGHT

    The Crittenden County Writing Workshop Series returns for its fourth year Thursday night with a special two-hour workshop on “Sense of Place: Bringing Your Settings Alive.”
    The workshop will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Crittenden County Library. The workshop will be facilitated by local author Bob Yehling, who has been promoting his newest book, The Write Time: 366 Exercises to Fulfill Your Writing Life, at conferences and signings nationally since its release in September.
    Every story, poem, article, essay or journal entry begins at a place – a scene, a setting, a landscape. The workshop will show writers of all ages and genres how to turn those settings into living, breathing parts of the overall work. It will show ways for writers to more deeply embed themselves, their narrators or characters into relationship with their places and settings. Also, the workshop will cover specific wording and phrasing to create images that foster an immediate association with place and landscape.
    “When we read good pieces of writing, we not only connect with the emotional side of the work, but in all likelihood, with the setting and landscape as well,” Yehling said. “This is the basis of almost all good writing – and this workshop will give everyone a chance to deepen their writing of place. 
    “We live in a wonderful part of the country for writing place and landscape … now, we can bring these images to our readers, and write them to our pleasure.”
    There is no charge for the workshop. Copies of The Write Time and Yehling’s other books will be available.
    For more information, call (270) 965-3354 or (917) 826-7880, or email bob@wordjourneys.com.

Area Death: Franks

Mary Francis Franks, 93, of Marion, died Oct. 19, 2009 at Crittenden Hospital. A graveside service is scheduled for 11 a.m., Thursday at Union Cemetery.  

Homecoming Parade cancelled

The 2009 Homecoming parade will not be rescheduled. It was rained out two weeks ago. 

Class floats will be judged and on display at Friday night's football game against Mayfield. Senior night will begin at 7 p.m., Friday.

Homecoming coronation will begin at 6 p.m., at the Nov. 6 playoff game.

Fire under investigation

Fire destroyed a home on U.S. 60 East early Tuesday morning. Although the cause has not been determined, police believe it may have something to do with what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the owner. He was found behind a barn in the rear of the house.

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

The Press Online's main Web site has been down today due to problems with the server in Paducah.

Heavy weekend in Marion

Residents can expect heavy crowds in Marion this weekend with the annual Christmas in Marion arts and crafts show at Fohs Hall on Saturday and the annual weekend muzzleloader season for whitetail deer.

Area Death: Avery

Gary E. Avery, 51, of Marion, died Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 at his home. He was  a member of Calvary Baptist Church.  The funeral is Saturday at Dunn's Funeral Home in Eddyville.

Winterizing Jet Skis or Boats?

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Webster escapees found in Marion

Two inmates who escaped Wednesday from the Webster County Jail were apprehended in Marion early Thursday morning. 

Marion Police Officer Chuck Hoover arrested the two at about 1 a.m., after seeing them driving on East Bellville Street in a car stolen from near the Webster County Jail at about 8 p.m., Wednesday.

One of the escapees, Jackie L. Beasley, 19, is from Crittenden County. He was also involved in two auto thefts in Marion during the summer of 2008.

Beasley and the other escapee were taken into custody without incident. Stay tuned for more details in the next printed edition of The Crittenden Press.

Dog Missing in Marion

MISSING
Name- Kingston
Red & White Pomeranean/Sheltie Mix
Small Dog
White Fluffy Tail!
Went missing from 130 East Gum Street on Saturday October 10.
Please Call 965-2277
Clifton & Stephanie Etheridge

News this week

A single-vehicle accident Tuesday shortly after 5 p.m., near Shady Grove did not result in any serious injuries. Law enforcement, and initially the rescue squad, was dispatched to the scene.

This week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press will be available on newsstands today, after 3 p.m. The top stories for this week include changes in Community Christmas, a preview of this weekend's Christmas in Marion arts and crafts show at Fohs Fall, and the Kentucky Attorney General's ruling on a Crittenden County Open Records Law case. All of that will be in this week's newspaper, plus the schedule for the City of Marion's Fall Leaf Pickup and a look at the state's Castle Law, which gives citizens the right to defend their property with deadly force.

What you will not find is anything about a rumored federal drug bust in Marion. Thorough investigation has found that those rumors are baseless. 

Commuter Alert: Union County highway closed

State Route 1179 in Union County is closed between the 0.0 and 1 mile marker. The Union County Highway Maintenance Crew recently installed several new cross drains in that area with plans to add additional rip rap in the area over the next week.

However, heavy rain overnight damaged one of those drains forcing Ky. 1179 to be closed between Ky. 141 and River View Mine. The highway is expected to be closed all day today.

A crew will be at the site today making emergency repairs and adding rip rap.

After emergency repairs are complete, crews will be back in the same area next week doing additional rip rap work. However, one lane traffic will be maintained during that portion of the work.

Friday's tour postponed

The downtown heritage tour for fifth graders slated for today (Friday) has been postponed until Friday, Oct. 23 due to the inclement weather.

REMEMBER -- Today is College Colors Day in Crittenden County. Wear logo shirts or colors of your favorite college.

Class of '89 still meeting tonight

The Crittenden County High School Class of 1989 has recovered the fumble caused by the cancellation of tonight's Homecoming game. The class had intended to kick off its 20-year reunion with tailgating in the west endzone of the football field. The class will still gather at the high school – inside the multipurpose room beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Initial plans to reschedule the venue put the gathering at the James T. Hatfield Exposition Center at the Lions Club Fairgrounds; however, cancellation of Thursday's Homecoming parade changed that. A float being housed in the building caused the class officers to move the event to the multipurpose room. Classmates are asked to bring soft drinks and a side dish.

Homecoming Parade Cancelled

Due to bad weather in Marion, the Homecoming parade scheduled for 5 p.m., today has been cancelled. No official decision has been made on its rescheduled date; however, the Homecoming football game and coronation will be held during the Nov. 6 home game.

This week's Yard Sales

Regretfully, Yard Sales normally in the classified section were omitted from this week's Press.  Following is a list of scheduled sales:

Saturday only, 352 Monte Vista St., Salem. Rain or shine, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. No early sales. Lots of stuff. Something for everyone. Scrubs sizes small and medium, Home Interior, shoes, small wooden chest (child's), purses, winter clothes, coats, jackets. Come see what's here.

219 N. Weldon Fri., Sat. and Sun., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Clothes, baby clothes, knives, what nots, pit bull puppies, books, shoes all sizes, misc. 

Moving sale Sat. 9 a.m.-?, 1763 U.S. 641 South. Clothes, baby and household items, furniture and more. No early birds. 

First Baptist Church of Fredonia will have a free yard sale Sat. from 8 a.m.-noon at the church's Family Life Center on Cassidy Ave. All items are truly free. 

Furniture for sale between 3-6 p.m., Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Can be seen at 227 Second St. in Marion. Excellent condition. Stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer, living room suite, two bedroom suites, kitchen appliances. 

Oct. 8, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., 3001 U.S. 60 East. Junior size 5, boys to 3T, FP high chair, Exercaucer, play yard, king comforter set (blue), books, CDs, movies, small tables, odd chairs, misc. J. Kirk. 

Garage sale Fri., 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., 220 Old Morganfield Rd. Old quilts, pie safe, girls bike, gas grill, stereo with built-in DVD player, girls' clothes size 7-10. 

Yard/barn sale, 2331 U.S. 60 West behind heart shaped pond in pole barn, Fri. and Sat., Oct. 9-10, 9 a.m.-?  

2 more cases of H1N1 at Crittenden schools

Crittenden County School District has received official confirmation of two more students enrolled at Crittenden County Elementary School who have contracted the H1N1 influenza. Four other students were confirmed with the flu last month.

In the newest cases, school officials have also confirmed that one of the students has returned to school and is back in regular attendance. The other student is absent from school and is expected to return on the Tuesday after fall break. 

"We are continuing with our sanitization procedures both during the school day and in a more intense manner for any classroom where students have been sent home for illness of any kind," said Superintendent Dr. Rachel Yarbrough.

Dr. Yarbrough said next week’s scheduled fall break is coming at a good time for the Crittenden County Schools. "We will also continue thorough sanitization procedures in all schools over the fall break time frame," she added.

Fredonia man in tractor accident

A Fredonia man was injured mid-morning today in a tractor accident near Fredonia. Tommy Baker was on his tractor and was hit by a vehicle before noon today. He was flown to Vanderbilt Hospital where he is being treated for back and ankle injuries.

Homecoming Parade still on

Although there will be no football game Friday night, the Homecoming parade will be held Thursday in downtown Marion as scheduled. 

Parade Coordinator Kim Vince said only in the case of inclement weather will the parade be cancelled. There is a chance of rain Thursday, and Vince says a decision on whether to continue with the parade will be made by 3:30 p.m.

Friday football game cancelled

The Rockets' Homecoming football game scheduled for Friday night has been cancelled.  Fulton County has forfeited. Homecoming festivities will be re-scheduled for the first round of the playoffs, Nov. 6, which will be held at Rocket Stadium. More details will be forthcoming.

October 8 edition available late today

One of the big stories in this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press concerns a U.S. Postal Service recommendation that some of Marion's residents move their mailboxes curbside. Some residents are concerned, others aggravated at the recommendation, which they learned of through a mailing last week.

Also, residents of the Hickory Hills area of Marion are urged to be vigilant following an attempted break-in late Sunday night. 

Read about these and other community happenings in this week's edition, available on newsstands after 3 p.m., today.

Ferry closed due to high winds

 

The Cave-in-Rock Ferry has temporarily ceased operation today due to high winds on the Ohio River.  Winds estimated at 15 mile per hour and higher are coming up the river and have created high waves that have forced the ferry to close until the wind speed drops or the wind direction changes.

 

The Cave-In-Rock Ferry connects KY 91 with Illinois Route 1 across the Ohio River betweenMarion in Crittenden County, and Cave-In-Rock in Hardin County, Ill.

 

The ferry normally operates from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.  The ferry carries about 500 vehicles across the Ohio River in an average day.

 

The Cave-In-Rock Ferry is operated by an independent contractor with joint funding from KYTC and IDot through a ferry authority.

 

The Kentucky Department of Transportation will attempt to provide timely notice when the ferry is able to resume operation.

WIND ADVISORY: Before Noon Today

The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for today in Crittenden and surrounding counties. Local wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph are possible today as strong winds aloft mix down to the surface shortly before noon.

Yard Sales Galore!

There are more than 60 yard sales in Crittenden County registered for this weekend's 200-mile U.S. 60 Yard Sale from Meade to Livingston counties. 

Some yard sales started today, but most begin Friday. The annual Highway 60 Yard sale has dozens of registered sales in Livingston and Union counties.

The sale runs concurrently this year with the annual Crittenden County Heritage Days.