Area death

Linda Lee Nelson, 61 of Marion died Thursday, July 29 at Livingston Hospital. The funnel is Sunday at Gilbert Funeral Home.

Fire on U.S. 60 damages home

Firemen from Crittenden County and Salem responded to a blaze at a home on U.S. 60 Thursday afternoon. The Rushing home was heavily damaged. Firemen were on the scene for almost 2 hours. The blaze started around 2 p.m.

Area Death

Former Western Auto Store operator Dorothy Ella Sprague, 93, of Salem died Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at Livingston Hospital. Visitation will be at Boyd's Funeral Home in Salem Thursday and the funeral is Friday at Whitsell Funeral Home in Sturgis.

Dossett earns scholarship with crown

Ragon Dossett, 16, was crowned Miss Crittenden County Monday night after judging in the annual Lions Club Crittenden County Fair pageant at Fohs Hall.

Dossett is the daughter Craig and Amanda Dossett.

The junior-to-be at Crittenden County High School won a $500 scholarship to Madisonville Community College, $250 gift certificate to Debbrah's in Paducah for an evening gown or prom dress and $100 in cash. She also qualifies for the state fair pageant in January.

Dossett has already taken one college English class from Madisonville so her family was excited about the scholarship.

There were 11 girls vying for the crown. Jenna Copeland, daughter of David and Chris Copeland, was first runnerup; Jordan Thurman, daughter of Jeania Short and David Thurman, was second runnerup; Shelby Dunham, daughter of James and Wendy Dunham, was third runnerup; and Olivia Adams, daughter of Ronnie and Angela Adams, was fourth runnerup.

Dossett was sponsored by Harris Gas, Copeland was sponsored by Just-A-Burgr, Dunham was sponsored by Attorney Rebecca Johnson, Thurman was sponsored by Signature Salon - Kim Lain and Adams was sponsored by Clinic Pharmacy.

Other contestants and sponsors were Kari Joyce (Farmers Bank), Brandyn Murray (family), Shelby Conway (Double Take Salon), Nikki Conger (Tiffany Burkeen and Anna Patton), Jessica Tinsley (Health Quest Wellness Center) and Elizabeth Collins (Signature Salon - Nicole Tabor).

Bobcats host playoff game tonight

The Marion Bobcats will host their first playoff game tonight, the start of a best-of-three series with league champion Tradewater Pirates. Game time is 7:05.

The Bobcats finished four the KIT League. The winner of this short series will play winner of the second-third place teams for the postseason championship.

Results from Tuesday's fair talent show

Ages 12 and under
Matthia Long - 1st place
Miracle Word Church Jr. Praise Corps - 2nd place
Daelynn Hardin - 3rd place

Ages 13-17
Angela O'Leary & LaDonna Herrin - 1st place
Bailey Hart - 2nd place
Emily Hendrix - 3rd place

Ages 18 & up
Miracle Word Church Praise Corps - 1st place
Yvette Martin - 2nd place
Sarah Hardin - 3rd place

Coal touches Kentucky

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Bobcats host Wednesday playoff game

The Bobcats' postseason game originally slated for today has been delayed a day so that a KIT League regular season champion can be crowned in a one-game playoff Tuesday night between Tradewater and Fulton, both of which finished the season at 27-13.

Marion will now host its first postseason game at 7:05 p.m., Wednesday at Guess Field. It will play the winner of Tuesday's Fulton-Tradewater playoff.

Dossett is fair queen

Ragon Dossett was crowned Miss Crittenden County Monday night during the annual fair pageant at Fohs Hall. She will reign over the Lions Club Fair which continues Tuesday through Saturday at the fairgrounds.

Find photos and more information in this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press.

Short delays on Ledbetter Bridge

Motorists can expect short delays before crossing the U.S. 60 bridge at Ledbetter Tuesday. Highway inspectors will be on the bridge from approximately 8:30 a.m., until about noon. Flaggers will be allowing one lane of traffic to cross at a time.

Louise's Flowers recognized

Louise's Flowers on Main Street in Marion has been chosen as the Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce Butsiness of the Month.

Pictured is the shop's staff - Phyllis Rushing and Teena York.

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

Extension moves to new location

Crittenden County's Extension Service has moved to a new location at 1534 U.S. 60 East.

The office is 1.5 miles from the courthouse and is located inside the former First Baptist Church.

The building was originally built by Production Credit Association. The new office officially opened Monday, July 26. It is open Monday through Friday from 8-12 and 1-4:30.

Little league football registration

Registration for little league football is tonight (Monday) at the Marion Country Club pool. Players will also get a free swim.

Players must be in grades 3 through 6. Cost is $40 each.

Last escapee caught in Clay County

Authorities in Clay County, Ky., have captured escapee Alonzo Jackson, who walked away from a Crittenden County Detention Center work detail on June 30.

Jackson, 44, and Chase Bingham, 19, had both escaped by allegedly stealing a state highway department workers' private vehicle at the maintenance garage on Old Morganfield Road. An extensive search by local authorities shortly after the escape turned up nothing although the two were seen driving on Sisco Chapel Road and one of their jail-issued shirts was found in the roadway. The truck they allegedly took has still not been found.

Bingham was caught by state police in Clinton County, Ky., on July 4.

Police in Manchester, Jackson's home town, had been on the lookout for him since the escape. They located his whereabouts over the weekend and tried to make an arrest, but Jackson got away. A few hours later, he turned himself in to Clay County authorities, said Crittenden Detention Center's Chief Deputy Tammy Robertson.

Arrangements are being made to have Jackson brought back to Crittenden County where he will face escape and theft charges. Jackson was serving time in the Crittenden jail for convictions in Clay and Laurel counties for possession of methamphetamine precursors and theft by unlawful taking. He was serving an eight-year sentence with two years to serve when he escaped. He had been at the Crittenden lockup for only about a month when he and Bingham walked away from from their work release jobs with the state highway department.

Fair pageant is Monday night

The annual Miss Crittenden County Fair Pageant will be held Monday night starting at 6 p.m., at Fohs Hall. Here are a few of the contestants. From left, Shelby Dunham, 17; Shelby Conway, 18; Kari Joyce, 19; Brandyn Murray, 19; and Jordan Thurman, 16.

KSP looking for bank robber

Kentucky State Police seek help in finding the suspect who robbed the Integra Bank on US 41A in Poole Friday morning about 10 a.m.

The lone gunman entered the Webster County bank, brandished a handgun and demanded money. The teller complied with his demands. The suspect fled the scene on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. He was last seen traveling on foot northbound on US 41A. There were no injuries reported.

The suspect is described as a white male with a tan complexion. He is approximately 5-foot-5 to 5-6 with a stocky build. He was wearing dark colored clothes, dark sunglasses and a black baseball hat. The suspect was wearing a piece of white clothing over his face, possibly a bandana or cloth.

The Kentucky State Police request that anyone with information regarding this investigation contact them at 1-270-676-3313 or 1-800-222-5555. Callers may remain anonymous.

Flags at half staff today

Kentucky flags at all state office buildings will be lowered to half-staff today, July 24, to honor a Fort Campbell soldier who died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Sgt. Shaun M. Mittler, 32, of Austin, Texas, died July 10 in Konar, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit using a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire.

Former Southern States owner dies

J.T. May, 74, of Marion, former owner of the Southern States store Crittenden Farm Supply, died early this morning at his home. The funeral is Monday at Marion United Methodist Church.

Myers Funeral Home in Marion is in charge of arrangements.

Fair opens Saturday with mud bogs

Too much mud is not fun.

So says a couple of the boggers who will be entering trucks in this weekend’s mud bogs to kick off the Crittenden County Lions Club Fair.

Tony Davenport and his 15-year-old son have been working on a modified 1995 Chevy truck that young Tucker will be driving Saturday night.

The Davenports like a challenge, but a pit that’s too deep and sloppy can stop every rig and really put a damper on the crowd.

The pit last year for the first fair mud bog was pretty good, Tony Davenport said.

“It just depends on your preference. Some like them deep, some like them shallow so they can go through fast. That really puts on a good show for the crowd instead of getting hung up after 15 or 20 feet.”

Tucker Davenport will have plenty of horsepower under him when he accelerates through the slop. His rig is powered by a 540-cubic-inch, big block Chevy engine and an extra large carburetor.

To read the rest of this article, see this week's printed edition.

Pictured above is Tucker and Tony Davenport working on their bog truck.

FAIR SCHEDULE

SATURDAY JULY 24

2 p.m., Backwoods Mud Bogs at Fairgrounds

$10 adults / $5 ages 6-15 / 5-under free. Event held at lower fairgrounds; bring lawn chairs for seating. Contact John Carter at 704-2224.

MONDAY, JULY 265

6 p.m., Miss Crittenden County Pageant at Fohs Hall

$8 adults / $5 ages 6-15 / 5-under free. Contact Natalie Parish at 988-381.

TUESDAY, JULY 27

11:30 a.m., to 2:30 p.m., 4-H exhibits entries accepted

5 p.m., Midway opens

Wrist bands for all-night riding are $10

7 p.m., Talent Contest & Family Night at Fairgrounds

$2 each. Cost is underwritten by Farmers Bank and Conrad’s Food Store. Contact Chris O’Leary at 704-1868.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 28

9 a.m., Youth Poultry and Rabbit Show

11:30 a.m., to 2 p.m., Agriculture Division Exhibits accepted

4 p.m., Youth Pet Show Contact Bonnie Baker at 965-5236

5 p.m., Midway opens

Wrist bands for all-night riding are $15

7 p.m., Horse Show Fairgrounds

$5 everyone / 5-under free. Contact County Extension Office at 965-5236.

THURSDAY, JULY 29

8 a.m., to 9:30 a.m., Goat weigh-in

9:30 a.m., Youth goat and sheep shows

9:30 a.m., Sheep weigh-in

Show immediately follows goat show

9:30 a.m., to noon Open crafts, photography, textiles, food, canned goods accepted at Crittenden Public Library

1:30 - 6 p.m., Crittenden Library exhibits open for viewing

5 p.m. Midway opens

Wrist bands for all-night riding are $15

6-8 p.m., Exhibit hall open for viewing 4-H Club and livestock exhibits

7 p.m., Lawn Mower Pull and Lawn Mower Demolition Derby Fairgrounds. $8 adults / $5 ages 6-15 / 5-under free. Contact Anthony Wallace at 703-5912.

FRIDAY, JULY 30

8 a.m., Youth Hog Show

Youth Beef Show follows immediately after hog show

9-10:30 a.m., Check-out 4-H and Agriculture Division Exhibits, Fairground

9-10:30 a.m., Exhibits at Crittenden Public Library open for viewing

10:30-11:30 a.m., Check-out for Open Division Exhibits at Crittenden Public Library

5 p.m., Midway opens

Wrist bands for all-night riding are $15

7 p.m., Tractor Pull and Truck Pull Fairgrounds

$8 adults / $5 ages 6-15 / 5-under free. Contact Jared Belt (tractor) at 871-4502. Jordan James (trucks) at 704-9638.

SATURDAY, JULY 31

5 p.m. Midway opens

Wrist bands for all-night riding are $15

7 p.m., Demolition Derby Fairgrounds

$8 adults / $5 ages 6-15 / 5-under free.

Contact Brian Kirk at 704-1210 or Corey Nesbitt at 556-3638

Area deaths

Bobby Norris Williams, 69, of Salem, died Tuesday, July 20, at his home. The funeral is Friday at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Kay Shewcraft, 71, of Marion died Tuesday at her home. The funeral is Saturday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.

Nathan Russell, 40, of Marion died Tuesday at Caldwell Medical Center. The funeral is Saturday at Myers Funeral Home in Marion. Russell was a candidate for sheriff in Crittenden County in 2006. He died of natural causes.

William Arthur “Billy” Willbanks, 71, of Salem, died Tuesday, July 20, at Salem Springlake Health and Rehabilitation Center. The funeral is Sunday at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Water Advisory Lifted in Marion

The boil water advisory in place in Marion since Sunday has been lifted. The order was issued after a water main break and repair Sunday morning. The Division of Water requires municipalities to issue such orders when lines are breached.

Bobcats earn playoff berth

With the sweep of a double header Tuesday against Farmington, Mo., the Marion Bobcats extended their season into next week, securing a spot in the KIT League playoffs. The first game of a first-round, best-of-three series will be played next Tuesday at Guess Field beginning at 7:05 p.m.

As the season draws to a close, Bobcat center fielder Travis Jankowski continues to lead the league in hitting and stolen bases. Marion's Ryan Chesler and Derek Trovillion are tied with one other player in the league in home runs.

For more on the Bobcats, see this week's printed edition of The Press or go to the Bobcats Online.

Driver not hurt in US 641 wreck

The driver of this car was not hurt when his vehicle hydroplaned on U.S. 641 in front of Collyer's Repair just north of Crayne.

The wreck happened at about 5:30 p.m. State Trooper Matt Foster investigated the accident.

No other details were immediately available.

Photo by Melissa Tabor

Former Marion man pleads guilty

The former Marion resident and former pastor of a Fairfax County, Va., church has pleaded guilty to molesting two boys in the 1990s.

Tommy R. Shelton Jr. pleaded guilty Monday in Virginia to two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. Shelton would not serve jail time but would be required to register as a sex offender.

The Fox television station in Washington, D.C., says the judge may not accepted the plea deal.

Shelton had lived in rural Crittenden County, but has recently moved.

Read More, click here.

Free health screenings Tuesday

Free health screenings and physical exams are available from 8 a.m., until 4 p.m., Tuesday, July 20 at Crittenden County Elementary School. The services include sports physicals, eye exams and teeth cleaning. Call 965-3525 for an appointment.

Boil water notice in Marion

UPDATE: The boil water advisory will remain in effect until at least noon on Tuesday.

Original Post: There is a boil water notice in effect until further notice inside the City of Marion due to repairs made after a water main break on South Main Street.

Motorcyclist killed in wreck

A Hudson, Ill., man was killed Friday evening in a motorcycle crash in Crittenden County.

Donald F. Bollman, 42, died at the scene along Ky. 387 (Dam 50 Road).

Bollman lost control of his motorcycle and ran off the road. No other vehicles were involved.

The crash remains under investigation.

One injured in Thursday wreck

One person was injured and taken to the hospital Thursday following a single-vehicle accident on U.S. 60 East in the northern part of the county.

No other details were immediately available.

Passenger vehicles only this weekend in Smithland

Deck work on the U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge at Smithland in Livingston County is entering a critical phase that will require strict enforcement of vehicle width restrictions this weekend, said Keith Todd, spokesman for the Kentucky Department of Highways.

A concrete pour in the work zone will prohibit commercial trucks and many wider vehicles from crossing the Smithland bridge through the weekend and will make 10- to 15-minute delays likely Friday night into Saturday morning.

No vehicles over seven and a half feet wide will be allowed to cross the bridge during this critical work. This will essentially restrict the bridge to passenger vehicles and standard pickups.

There will be an enhanced police presence at the bridge this weekend.

All semis, other commercial vehicles and vehicles pulling trailers should follow the marked detour provided.

Texting law goes into effect today

The ongoing effort to make Kentucky roads safer takes a big step as a new law that bans texting and data downloading for all drivers kicks in today.

Kentucky recorded more than 57,000 crashes last year – and more than 200 fatalities – attributed to driver distraction and inattention.

The law bans texting for drivers of all ages while the vehicle is in motion. For drivers over 18, it allows the use of global positioning (GPS) devices and reading, selecting or entering a telephone number or name for the purpose of making a phone call. Texting is allowed only to report illegal activity or to request medical or emergency aid. The measure also bans all cell phone use for drivers under age 18.

As of today, Kentucky’s highway death toll was 45 fatalities below the same date a year ago. According to Chuck Geveden, director of Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, the texting ban is aimed at further reducing fatalities.

“Even though our total number of fatalities for 2009 was less than 2008, those killed in crashes resulting in distraction, inattention and cell phone use increased,” Geveden said. “This legislation is sure to save lives, prevent injuries and cut down on crashes across Kentucky.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving distracted drivers, and more than a half million were injured. Inexperienced drivers under 20 years old have the highest proportion of fatal crashes attributed to distracted driving.

The use of a global positioning system is allowed in vehicles, but manually entering information must be completed while the vehicle is stopped. Emergency and public safety vehicles are exempt when the use of a personal communication device is essential to the operator’s official duties.

In December 2009, Gov. Steve Beshear launched his Eyes on the Road effort --an executive order prohibiting text messaging by state employees who are driving government-owned vehicles. In April 2010, Gov. Steve Beshear signed the law banning texting for all drivers and cell phone use for drivers under 18.

Law enforcement officers will issue warnings until Jan. 1, 2011. On or after Jan. 1, violators will be liable for fines of $25 on a first offense and $50 on each subsequent offense.

Miller is Crittenden's Lion of Year

Dean Miller has been serving as a Lions Club member for more than 40 years. He’s been president 14 different times, vice president, secretary and treasurer.

Now he’s the Lion of the Year.

Crittenden County Lions Club recently made Miller, 66, its member of the year for 2009.

The 45-member Crittenden County Lions Club does a variety of things in the community including buying eyeglasses for the needy and organizing Lunch with Santa at Christmas time. However, its biggest chore is putting together the Crittenden County Fair, which kicks off next week.

Miller has been a member of the local Lions Club for about 10 years. Prior to that he was an active member at the club in Shelby, Ind., where he operated a paving business until his retirement.

Miller currently serves as vice president of the local club. David Copeland is the Crittenden County president will be replaced by Jeff Ellis in September. Other new officers who will begin their terms this fall are Zac Greenwell, treasurer, and Mike Byford, secretary.

Perry Newcom is the Lions Club’s fair chairman. The fair will be held at the club’s 22-acre fairgrounds starting July 24 with mud bogs and ending July 31 with the demolition derby.

Pictured above is Lions President Dave Copeland and Miller.

Man shows up drunk for court

A Nashville man showed up in Crittenden District Court allegedly drunk Wednesday morning.

After recognizing that Mark A. Kimbel smelled of alcohol, Judge Steven Hayden ordered deputies to investigate further. The man was asked to blow into a portable breathalyzer, which registered about .145. He was arrested and taken straight to Crittenden County Detention Center, charged with alcohol intoxication in a public place.

Kimbel had appeared in court to answer a charge of driving on a suspended or revoked license.

For more on Wednesday morning's regular session of Crittenden District Court, see next week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press.

Lyon man killed in mine

EQUALITY, IL - The Associated Press has reported that authorities have identified the miner killed at a troubled Peabody Energy mine in southern Illinois as a 61-year-old Kentucky man. He was struck by a piece of heavy underground equipment at Peabody Energy's Willow Lake mine on Friday.

The Saline County coroner's office identified the man as Thomas N. Brown of Eddyville, KY. He was a section foreman.

The mine has been closed while officials from the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources investigate the accident.

MSHA recently singled out Willow Lake as particularly dangerous, the AP reported Monday. The agency has fined Peabody $230,000 for violations at the mine since late 2008.

Area death

Former school board member Don Travis, 68, of Marion died Saturday, July 10 in Evansville. The funeral is Tuesday at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Fatal shooting in Clay

A Clay woman was accidentally shot and killed early Friday on a front porch in Clay.

Sara Nale was with friends on the front porch at 300 L&N Railroad Bed Road in the Webster County community when a firearm accidentally discharged, the bullet striking her in the neck. When state police arrive, Nale was dead. No foul play is suspected, but the shooting remains under investigation. An autopsy was ordered.

The shooting happened at 1:30 a.m.

Health Fair called off today

The Crittenden Health Systems Health Fair scheduled for today at Marion Commons has been postponed due the chances of inclement weather. It is rescheduled for next week, 8 a.m., to 1 p.m., on Friday, July 16 rain or shine. Lunch orders from the grill will be saved for next week.

Area death

Billie Sue Wilkie, 84, of Salem died Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at Salem Springlake Health and Rehabilitation Center. The funeral is Saturday at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Man jumps off TN River Bridge

A Princeton man was taken by PHI air ambulance to a Nashville hospital Wednesday after he jumped off the Tennessee River Bridge on U.S. 62 near Kentucky Dam. The bridge connects Livingston and Marshall counties.

Kentucky State Police received a call at about 2:30 p.m., regarding the incident. Upon arrival of emergency personnel, it was determined that the 51-year-old man had intentionally attempted to take his own life by jumping from the bridge.

Boaters on the Tennessee River rescued the man within minutes of him jumping. A household electrical cord was found around the man's neck at the time of his rescue. It is believed that he was trying to hang himself.

Responding agencies included Livingston County EMS, Burna Fire Department, Grand Lakes Fire Department, Smithland Fire Department and Livingston County Rescue Squad. Kentucky State Police is conducting a non-criminal investigation.

Frazer posts new video

Bart Frazer, candidate for Crittenden County Attorney, has posted a new video Quiz the Candidate on his campaign Web site. Click here to go there.

Paid Political Announcement

Paid for by Candidate, Bart Frazer

Person missing in Cumberland River

UPDATE: The female was found slightly injured later in the night. No other details were immediately available.

Livingston County rescue personnel have been dispatched to the Cumberland River to look for a missing person.

Searchers were launching rescue boats shortly after 10:30 p.m., at the Ky. 70 ramp across the river from Dycusburg, near where a 19-year-old Crittenden County man drowned two weeks ago.

Other Livingston rescue units were searching farther down river around the Tiline boat ramp near the Cumberland Campground. Initially, three rescue boats were dispatched to the scene.

Patriotic Service Wednesday Night

Marion's annual Community Patriotic Service is at 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 7 at Marion Baptist Church Family Life Center.

There will be a volunteer community choir. Singers should be at the church by 6:15 p.m.

Area churches are being asked to move their normal Wednesday service to this event.

Combat vetean Cpt. Barkley Hughes of Marion will be the keynote speaker.

Emergency personnel at U.S. 60 accident

UPDATE: Crittenden EMS and other rescue personnel responded to a single-vehicle accident on U.S. 60 northeast of the Rosebud community just before 8 p.m., Tuesday. One victim, the female driver of a pickup, was extricated and taken to Evansville's Deaconess Hospital by PHI air ambulance. No other passengers were in the truck. The victim's name was not immediately released.

Pilot killed in crop dusting crash

The pilot of a Robinson Model R44 helicopter spraying a corn field near Frances was killed when the chopper struck a utility line and crashed at about 5:45 p.m., Monday.

Timothy Earl Watson, 55, of Georgiana, Ala., was flying the aircraft, spraying fertilizer and fungicide at the Parish and Hooks Farm off Caldwell Springs Road when the deadly crash occurred. He was working for Forest Tech, LLC of Lawrenceville, Ga. The pilot had four years experience in agriculture and forestland work.

Other members of the spraying crew said they believed the sun may have affected the pilot's vision. The helicopter clipped the static or top line of a Big Rivers electricity transmission line and fell straight down. The craft burst into flames and the pilot died on impact. Electricity was out to about 4,500 customers in several areas of Crittenden and surrounding counties for about an hour following the crash.

For more information, see this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press.

The photograph above was taken by Natalie Peek, who lives nearby and took the picture Wednesday while the chopper was refilling its spray tank on a portable landing platform. The pilot is in the cockpit while two crew members reload the chopper with chemicals.

Helicopter crash

A helicopter spraying crop fields near Frances has crashed. It appears that the aircraft struck a power line, causing it to crash. There is power outage in the area. No information on possible survivors.

Swim meet tonight at Princeton

Marion swim team's meet Monday evening at Princeton is at the city park, not the country club.

One escapee caught

One of two men who escaped from Crittenden County Detention Center last week has been caught.

Chase Bingham, 19, was caught in Clinton County by state police.

The other escapee, Alonzo Jackson, remains at large.

Double fatality on 60 East

Kentucky State Police have identified the two victims in that double-fatal accident on U.S. 60 East of Marion Friday afternoon. Carlos A. Aguilar, 22, and Ronnie Lee Pitre Jr., 27, both of Marion, died as result of injuries sustained in the single-vehicle wreck about three miles northeast of Marion.

They were the only occupants of the vehicle traveling east on U.S. 60 when it crashed, according to state police from apparent high speed. It is still not clear which individual was driving the 2002 Ford F-250 pickup. The truck went off the road and struck a tree. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene by the Crittenden County coroner’s office. Neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt. The accident happened at about 2:30 p.m. The highway was closed for more than 3 hours following the accident.

Rittenberry dies in accident

Richard Rittenberry, 62, of Burna was killed this morning when the log truck he was driving crashed on US 62 west of Paducah in McCracken County.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PADUCAH SUN

Still no leads on escapees

The two Crittenden County Detention Center inmates who escaped from a work detail Wednesday remain at large. There has been no sign of the two men, nor the private vehicle they allegedly stole from the highway department where they were working.

Area Death

Nellie Laverne Linzy, 86, of Marion, died Thursday, July 1 at Crittenden Hospital. Arrangements are pending at Body Funeral Directors in Salem.

Traffic advisory: Webster County

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to close state highway Ky. 270 in Webster County starting Tuesday, July 6. The closure is to allow base repairs between the Clay and Lisman communities. The work is expected to take about 4 days. The work will require Ky. 270 to be closed just west of Slover Creek Road. Motorists are encouraged to detour via Ky. 132, Ky. 1340 and Ky. 874. Ky. 270 is expected to reopen to traffic on Friday, July 8.

UPDATE: Benny “Butch” Hunter, the highway contractor injured yesterday in Princeton, remains in critical, but stable condition at the Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. The worker is employed by Weststate Construction of Hopkinsville. They are constructing 2 new turn lanes on Ky. 91 at the entrances to the Caldwell County Schools Complex.