U.S. 60 West closing near airport road

About 4 p.m., U.S. 60 West near Airport Road will likely close for 30 minutes to one hour to accommodate removal of the military aircraft that crash-landed near Frances last month. The Chinook helicopter was airlifted from a farm near Frances a couple of weeks ago and taken to Marion-Crittenden County Airport. Today, it is being put onto a transport vehicle and taken back to Fort Campbell.

The transport vehicle is too large to make the turn coming out of Airport Road onto U.S. 60, so a crane will be used to assist that turn. The highway will likely have to close while that process takes place.

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Memorial Day service today

Today's Memorial Day services in Crittenden County:

10 am at Mapleview Cemetery

11 am at Shady Grove Cemetery

Rockets in region today

Crittenden County plays Hopkinsville at 1 pm today in the regional tournament at Christian County.

Area death

Bonnie Mae Brown Prowell, 84, of Marion died Wednesday at Suburban Hospital in Louisville.

The funeral is Sunday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.

Congressman unable to attend ceremony

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, scheduled to speak at Monday's Memorial Day ceremony at Mapleview Cemetery, will not be attending due to a travel conflict. Judge-Executive Perry Newcom will be the keynote speaker.

Rocket baseball game cancelled

The Fifth District championship game that was scheduled for tonight at Livingston Central has been cancelled due to rain. The game has been moved to Saturday, May 28, at 1 p.m.

Area death

Harold Wayne James, 76, of Frances died Wednesday at his home. Graveside services are Saturday. Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Some LBL areas restricted due to storm

Severe storms moved across Land Between The Lakes once again last night. As a result of the strong winds and pelting rain and hail, Forest Service staff members are assessing widespread damage to roads, campgrounds, and facilities.

While most backcountry areas and campgrounds remain open, Redd Hollow Backcountry Area and Rushing Creek Campground will not be open for Memorial Day Weekend, due to extensive storm damage.

As of 8 a.m., Thursday morning, access to Energy Lake Campground is available from the north entrance on Road 134 only. Currently, there are downed trees and power lines blocking Road 134 off US68/KY80 (south entrance). Several areas of LBL are without power at this time. Utility crews are working to restore power to these areas as quickly as possible, once residential and business areas in the surrounding communities have been restored.

Visitors to LBL are strongly encouraged to remain cautious of their surroundings. Many trees have become unstable due to saturated soil conditions and strong winds.

Forest Service staff will continue assessing the widespread damage throughout LBL to determine the impacts of the storm. Please check the Alerts & Notices on our website at www.lbl.org for the most current conditions, or “Call Before You Haul” at 270-924-2000. LBL management and staff appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to make LBL safe for our Memorial Day Weekend visitors.

Land Between The Lakes is managed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with Friends of LBL, to provide public lands outdoor recreation and environmental education. Additional information is available on our website at www.lbl.org, or by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000.

State will fight mosquito problem

Gov. Steve Beshear on Wednesday began implementation of an initiative to combat the growing mosquito problem in Western Kentucky caused by recent floods. Treatments to kill adult mosquitoes will begin Wednesday night, weather permitting.

“Last week I ordered the development of a comprehensive plan to reduce the current mosquito population in numerous western counties and to help diminish further outbreaks later in the summer,” Gov. Beshear said. “Today we begin implementation of that plan, and I hope our swift action will bring relief to thousands of Kentuckians as flood victims begin to recover.”

Last month’s severe storms and flooding caused significant damage in the western portion of the state. Floodwaters are receding, but standing and stagnant water will remain a problem for weeks. Those pools of water are prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

The abatement plan is a two-part process, addressing both adult mosquitoes and their larvae. The treatment will begin in areas with the highest population along or near waterways where flooding is the greatest and where large numbers of mosquitoes have been reported. The first phase involves a professional contractor aerial spraying and treating more than 700,000 acres across western Kentucky. The aerial treatment, which will target adult mosquitoes, will begin each day at dusk and continue until shortly after midnight.

Planes will start the treatment Wednesday night, and the process could take three days to complete, depending on the weather. Weather permitting, areas around the state parks in Western Kentucky will be treated before the Memorial Day weekend.

Following the aerial treatment, ground crews from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will work with the Department for Public Health, local health departments and local officials on abatement follow-up. Transportation will apply treatment to target mosquito larvae in standing water to help prevent emerging populations over the coming weeks. Simultaneously, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture will continue to use its existing equipment and trucks to spray ditch lines along roads in the counties receiving the mosquito treatment.

The chemicals used for these treatments are only harmful to mosquitoes, gnats and black flies. University of Kentucky entomologist Dr. Grayson Brown, who is nationally recognized for his extensive research on mosquitoes, is an adviser to the taskforce. According to Dr. Brown, aerial spraying is the only way to control the rising mosquito population in Western Kentucky. The spray is safe for humans, pets and livestock.

Dr. Brown and officials from Public Health agree that even with increases in mosquito populations, only a small percentage of mosquitoes are anticipated to carry diseases that could be transmitted to humans. However, reducing the mosquito population is expected to further lower the chances of disease-carrying mosquitoes biting humans.
Spraying for mosquitoes is one part of a comprehensive mosquito control program. Residents can also reduce their risk of being bitten by helping to eradicate standing water in containers on their property and by taking personal protective measures, such as wearing insect repellent and long-sleeved clothing.

Citizens can contact their local health department for further information about mosquitoes. To review Public Health’s information on mosquitoes and treatments, visit http://healthalerts.ky.gov/Pages/AlertItem.aspx?alertID=40683.
The agencies on the taskforce advising the Governor are the Transportation Cabinet, the Energy and Environment Cabinet, the Finance and Administration Cabinet, the Department for Public Health, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department for Local Government, the Governor’s Office on Agricultural Policy and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

Minor damage, some outages reported from storm

A wide band of severe storms passed through Crittenden County at dusk. The storm blew down a tree, which damaged power lines causing outages for some customers in the western part of the county from around Midway to the Livingston County line.

Area death

Denver Perry James, 87, of Marion died Monday at Crittenden Hospital. The funeral is Friday at Sugar Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Myers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

School cancels baccalaureate service

Crittenden County High School's baccalaureate services scheduled for tonight have been cancelled due to the threat of extreme weather in the area.

Also, the CCHS SBDM parent elections scheduled for 5 p.m., today at Rocket Arena have been postponed until tomorrow, May 26, at 5:30 p.m. at the high school workroom.

Registration required for FEMA assistance

Did you have flood damage?

Have you called FEMA?

Officials from the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (KYEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other agencies and volunteer organizations are actively working to help disaster survivors recover from the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding from April 22 to May 20.

But FEMA can't help you if you don't register.

Even if you reported damage to your local emergency manager, or contacted the Red Cross or other voluntary agencies, you haven't registered for federal disaster assistance. And you don't need to have completed an insurance inspection to start the federal aid process.

Individuals can register by phone by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585 for those who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired. You can also register online at www.disasterassistance.gov or on a smartphone at m.fema.gov. Registering with FEMA will take about 20 minutes.

Federal assistance may include grants for rental assistance and home repairs, and low interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to cover uninsured property losses.

Until you register with FEMA, you cannot receive federal assistance to help you recover.

Auction tomorrow on Old Shady Grove Road

BY HOMESTEAD AUCTION REALTY IN MARION

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Distinguished Alumni announced today

Recipients of the first Distinguished Alumni Awards presented by Crittenden County High School will be announced today. Feature articles on those honorees will appear in this week's edition of The Crittenden Press, which will be on newsstands after 3 p.m., today. The distinguished alumni will be honored with a luncheon on graduation day, Friday. Commencement is at 6 p.m., at Rocket Area Friday.

Accident with injuries on Ky. 297

UPDATE: It doesn't appear there were any life-threatening injuries.

Ambulances and rescue personnel are headed to the scene of a two-vehicle head-on collision on Ky. 297 near Sheridan. The wreck happened just before 2 p.m.

Motorists should avoid the area until the site is cleared.

Ky. 137 River Road reopen to traffic

Ky. 137 (River Road) has reopened to traffic in Livingston County between the 6 and 16 mile markers. A Livingston County maintenance crew is continuing efforts to clear debris and mud left behind by extended flooding along this section.

Highway personnel will be working in the area for the next couple of days. Motorists can expected to encounter one lane traffic with alternating flow controlled by flaggers as crews go about their work.

A road grader, snow plows, and rotary pavement sweepers have been used in an effort to remove a thick layer of dirt left behind by Ohio River floodwaters. A number of trees were washed onto the roadway in this area that had to be moved off the roadway and are now being cut up and remove.

Auction this week on Old Shady Grove Road

BY HOMESTEAD AUCTION REALTY IN MARION

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8th grader wins Furry 5K benefit

Jacob Berry, a CCHS eighth-grader, won the Furry 5K Fun Run benefit Saturday for the Mary Hall Ruddiman No-Kill Animal Shelter. Perry completed the 3.1-mile race in 22 minutes and 14 seconds at Marion-Crittenden County Park. Angela Starnes was the top female runner, finishing in 25:47. See this week's Crittenden Press for complete results. Pictured are participants and coordinators.

Area death

Funeral services are today at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem for Melva Shouse, 90, of Lola, who died Friday.

Rock slide damage problematic for marinas

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and a specialty contractor are continuing efforts to repair a major landslide along Ky. 93 in Lyon County. Highway engineers have indicated damage to the highway between the 8 and 9 mile marker south of Eddyville is so severe the project will require rebuilding the roadway and could take up to six weeks or more.

Heavy rain that led to near-record flooding across the region saturated the soil along a fill area causing the roadway to drop as much as 10 feet along about a 1,500 foot section of highway in the Eddy Creek area, said Keith Todd, spokesman for the Kentucky Department of Highways.

Starting Monday, a crew will drive pilings along the lower edge of the slide to further stabilize the area. Once a retaining wall is constructed, the area will be back filled and compacted to help reduce the opportunity for future slides developing at the site. Engineers are optimistic Ky. 93 can reopen at the site around the first of July.

The highway provides and important tourist route that runs along Lake Barkley through southern Lyon County serving a number of resorts and marinas. The closure cuts off Eddy Creek Marina and others from Eddyville.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet engineers say the Ky. 93 landslide is the largest in Kentucky’s 12 westernmost counties in recent memory. Early estimates indicated the cost of repair will be about $600,000 and take about four to six weeks or more to complete, depending on weather conditions.

About 2,200 vehicles travel this section of Ky. 93 in an average day. The highway is closed to through traffic between Holiday Hills Subdivision and Eddy Creek.

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Auction next week on Old Shady Grove Road

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Ky. 120 is now open

Ky. 120 at the Crittenden-Webster Line is now open to through traffic. It had been closed since April 27.

All major highways out of the county are now open.

Cave In Rock Ferry operating again

Cave In Rock Ferry is now operating. After being closed for more than a month due to near-record floodwaters on the Ohio River, the ferry resumed service at 2:30 p.m., today.

The ferry normally operates from 6 a.m. to 9:40 p.m., 7 days a week. It carries about 500 vehicles across the Ohio River in an average day.

State highway Ky. 120 should reopen Friday at the Crittenden-Webster County Line, according to the highway department.

Deer Creek Cemetery meeting

Longtime civic leader's funeral is Friday

James T. Hatfield, 68, of Marion died May 17, 2011 from complications of a Neurodegenerative disease.

He was a 1961 graduate of Crittenden County High School. He continued his education at Eastern Kentucky University earning a degree in chemistry and biology and further advanced his education with a degree in pharmacy from Samford University. He was a member of the Marion United Methodist Church.

Hatfield returned to Marionin 1971 and became a partner in City Drug Company. For over 20 years he managed the Crittenden Hospital pharmacy and finished his career as the manager of the Morganfield Walmart Pharmacy. During his lifetime, Hatfield served on numerous boards and committees, as well as professional and civic organizations. Most notably, he was the charter president of the Crittenden County Lions Club and spearheaded the beginning of the Crittenden County Fair, serving as fair board chairman for 28 years. Hatifield worked with several other community leaders having the vision to create the Marion-Crittenden County Park by obtaining grants and funds for the real estate and he served as park board chairman from 1978 to 1988. He served several terms on the Marion City Council starting in 1987. Hatfield also served on the board of directors for Farmers Bank and Trust Company in Marion until retirement in 2009.

Surviving are his wife of 47 years, Bonita Mattingly; two sons, J. Carl Hatfield and Jason T. Hatfield of Marion; three siblings, Linda and husband Jim McCormick of Lexington, Mary Catherine Hatfield of Cythiana, Ky., and Richard and wife Dee Anna Hatfield of Louisville; and two grandchildren, Jaxon and Hattie Hatfield of Marion.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James T. Hatfield Sr. and Alma Richardson Hatfield; and an infant brother, David.

Friends may call at Gilbert Funeral Home after 5 p.m., today or Friday morning at the funeral home from 9 a.m., until noon. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m., Friday at Marion United Methodist Church officiated by Pastor Wayne Garvey.

Memorials may be made to the James and Bonita Hatfield Family Endowment for Crittenden County students to attend Madisonville Community College. Memorials should be made to Madisonville Community College with the memo: Hatfield Endowment c/o John Peters, MCC Advancement, 2000 College Drive, Madisonville, KY 42431.

(paid obituary)

Ferry may re-open Thursday

Cave In Rock Ferry is scheduled for a Coast Guard inspection Thursday morning after which time it should be able to resume service across the Ohio River.

Ky. 135 west of Tolu at Saw Mill Hollow is now open.

Missing Dog: Reward offered

Missing

Small white poodle, approximately six to seven pounds. Last seen Monday on Shady Lane in Marion. Answers to Pebbles. Reward offered. Call 965-4451.

Primary Election Results

Crittenden County Results

12 of 12 precincts reporting / 681 votes cast countywide / 11% Turnout

Republican

Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Holsclaw/Vermillion 19

Moffett/Harmon 193

Williams/Farmer 199

Secretary of State

Bill Johnson 289

Hilda Legg 81

Auditor of Public Accounts

John T. Kemper III 242

Addia K. Wuchner 124

Commissioner of Agriculture

James R. Comer 235

Rob Rothenburger 126

Democrat

Secretary of State

Alison L. Grimes 114

Elaine N. Walker 148

State Treasurer

Steve Hamrick 83

L.J. “Todd” Hollenbach 173

Commissioner of Agriculture

Bob Farmer 81

Stewart Gritton 11

John F. Lackey 72

David Williams 63

B.D. Wilson 37

Area deaths

Former Marion City Councilman and County Fair Chairman James T. "Jim" Hatfield, 68, of Marion died this afternoon at Crittenden Health and Rehabilitation Center. Arrangements are incomplete at this time at Gilbert Funeral Home.

Arla Edna “Bobbie” Jacobs, 49, of Marion died Monday. The funeral is Thursday Myers Funeral Home.

Ferry may reopen Wednesday or Thursday

Operators of the Cave In Rock Ferry say that barring any major problems with roads or landing areas near the Ohio River, the ferry could reopen Wednesday or Thursday.

Ky. 120 is the last major highway leading out of Crittenden County that remains flooded. Highway officials say it could be several more days before waters recede enough to open that highway toward Providence.

Groups, businesses helping flood victims

Crittenden County Girl Scouts and several area business are collecting canned food and cleaning supplies for flood victims.

Donations may be dropped off at Conrad's, Food Giant, Pamida and The Daisy Patch through Monday to support the Scout effort. For more information, contact Leslea Barnes at 969-0592 or Pat Waddell at 965-2200.

Thrifty Home Medical is accepting cleaning supplies for flood victims through Friday. Call 965-0089 for info.

Also, The Peoples Bank in Marion is accepting materials for flood victims. Call 965-3188 for information.

US 60 East now open

U.S. 60 East south of Sullivan is now open to through traffic.

All of 60 through Livingston now open

U.S. 60 is now open to normal traffic flow through all of Livingston County, including downtown Smithland.

Motorists are reminded that traffic continues to be restricted to 25 miles per hour in the Ledbetter area on U.S. 60 where the highway was raised about 4 ft. to keep it above floodwaters.

Grand March photographs from Saturday

Here is a link to hundreds of Grand March photographs taken Saturday at Crittenden County High School.

Click Here

Road report for Crittenden County

Roads that remain closed

Ky. 135 West of Tolu

Ky. 120 at Crittenden and Webster County Line

U.S. 60 at Crittenden and Union County Line (expected to open later today)

Ky. 1917 closed

Ky. 132 closed at county line

Ky. 91 North closed at ferry

Roads that are now open

Ky. 135 east of Tolu

Ky. 387

Ky. 838

Ky. 295

Ky. 365

FEMA reps want to see county damage

FEMA representatives will be in Crittenden County starting today to assess damages from recent flooding.

Crittenden-County Judge Executive Perry Newcom said the assessment could lead to benefits available to individuals who suffered losses or damages from heavy rains or flooding.

Call Newcom's office to report your damage. The number is 965-5251. You need to leave your name, address and phone number.

Roads reopening as floodwaters recede

Thanks to dropping floodwaters, most highways in Livingston County reopened to traffic overnight.

However, Ky. 137 (River Road) remains closed from about the 4 mile marker to about the 16 mile marker. Livingston County Highway crews report a number of trees along Ky. 137 were pushed down by strong river currents. Ky. 137 may require extensive repairs, especially in areas where it runs directly along the river channel, according to Kentucky Highway Department spokesman Keith Todd.

Water is off Ky. 917 between Tiline and Iuka. A highway crew is clearing that section this morning and it should be open by noon.

Crews are clearing and repairing U.S. 60 East in Crittenden County. It should be open late this afternoon, too.

Highways opening this weekend

Travel corridors between Marion and Sturgis will begin opening over the next two days and the highway between Dycusburg and Eddyville is now open.

Ky. 365 at the Crittenden-Union County Line is expected to open at 8 a.m., Sunday morning. This is dependent on floodwaters dropping sufficiently to allow the approach to the Ky. 365 Tradewater River Bridge at the edge of Sturgis to be inspected for erosion damage.

Preliminary safety inspections indicate floodwaters have not damaged the roadway or bridge at this location. Engineers caution motorists that some water may remain on the roadway through the day Sunday, but is expected to drop off before dark.

When Ky. 365 reopens, it will be the only Tradewater River crossing between the Western Kentucky Parkway at Dawson Springs and the Ohio River. It will provide a welcomed relief for area commuters who have faced extended detours of a hundred miles or more to get to and from work.

At the height of the flooding a 23 mile trip from Marion to Sturgis required a 130-mile detour.

U.S. 60 is likely to remain closed between Sullivan and Marion until late Monday. State highways crews plan to begin work on U.S. 60 at Tradewater River Bridge at the county line early Monday. Crews will remove aggregate put on the road two weeks ago when flood waters began to rise.

Highway officials are advising commuters who have been parking on the roadway and boating across floodwaters at the site to be sure to avoid blocking the roadway Monday so that crews can work to reopen the road.

Ky. 295 is now open between Dycusburg and Eddyville near the Crittenden-Lyon County Line.

Local trooper bags alleged armed robber

Kentucky State Trooper Matt Foster of Marion arrested a man yesterday that police believe attempted to rob a Beulah gas station.

At 7:05 p.m., Thursday, state police received a call from the Hopkins County Central Dispatch in reference to an attempted robbery at the Kangaroo Express on Ky. 70 in Webster County. The clerk advised that a white male had come into the store and stated that he did not want to hurt them and that he had a gun. The clerk was able to escape to the outside of the store and the suspect fled from the scene in a vehicle.

Twenty minutes later, Trooper Foster stopped a vehicle on U.S. 41 A south of Providence that matched the description of the suspect’s vehicle. The driver, Jerry D. Trammell, 59 of Garner, N.C., was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon and speeding. He was lodged in the Webster County Detention Center where he was later served a warrant charging him with first-degree robbery.

Area death

Update: Derrick Cozart, 45, of Marion died this morning at Western Baptist Hospital. Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The funeral is at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 12. Visitation is from 11 to 1.

Crittenden flooded highways report

Most major highways coming into Crittenden County remain flooded and closed. U.S. 641 south of Marion is the only major highway open at this point.

Those closed include the following:

Ky. 295

Ky. 120

Ky. 91 North

Ky. 365

U.S. 60 East

U.S. 60 West (at Smithland)

Area Death

Billy W. McKinley 71, of Marion died Thursday, May 12, 2011 at his home. The funeral is Saturday at Gilbert Funeral Home. Web updates are be

Authorities seeking barrier bandit

Local authorities are looking for someone who used a backhoe to remove a gravel berm built on U.S. 60 near Sullivan to keep motorists from driving into backwater covering the highway. If know who removed this barrier, please call the sheriff at 965-3500.

Website problems last 24 hours

Many of you may have noticed the lack of posts or disappearing posts from The Crittenden Press Online over the past 24 hours. Our service provider has had technical problems. Everything appears to be operating normally now. We will repost items deleted and recreate this week's poll question. If you voted yesterday, please do so again as your vote was cancelled during the website downtime.

Thank you for your patience

Military will bring helicopter to airport today

UPDATE: 11 a.m., Aircraft has been delivered to Marion Airport. Photo shows the approach.

Sometime this morning, the U.S. Army will be transporting to Marion Airport by air the helicopter that crash-landed last week near Frances. The disabled chopper has been stripped down to a shell by military personnel working in the field off Lark Loop where it went down a week ago Wednesday.

Another large helicopter will be hooking onto the crippled aircraft with cables and towing it to town sometime after 8:30 a.m., this morning, according to neighbors who have been observing activity at the site.

The chopper will be stored temporarily at Marion Airport while the military's investigation continues. Eventually, it will be loaded onto a tractor-trailer transport vehicle and taken back to Fort Campbell.

Update on flooding in Livingston County

U.S. 60 in Livingston County remains closed to all through traffic between Smithland and Burna and in downtown Smithland.

While floodwaters are dropping slowly, some sections of U.S. 60 near the Birdsville Y (River Road intersection) remain covered by floodwaters.

Some local residents and emergency personnel have been fording the floodwaters and traveling this section to access and check on flooded homes. U.S. 60 remains officially closed, however.

"The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reminds motorists in the strongest possible terms that when you choose to travel on flood-covered highways that are marked as closed, you are doing so at your own risk," said Keith Todd, spokesman for the Kentucky Department of Highways.

The highway remains closed in downtown Smithland, too. Local traffic is being allowed through side streets at Smithland to help those hit by the flooding to have better access for recovery efforts.

The Livingston County Sheriff, Livingston County Emergency Managment, Kentucky State Police, and the Kentucky National Guard will maintain policing authority through this area and may cut off traffic at any time as needed to accommodate continuing flood response and recovery efforts.

"U.S. 60 will not be reopened to through traffic until all water is off the roadway and highway support and drainage structures along this extended section can be fully inspected and checked for safety," Todd said.

U.S. 60 south of Sullivan still under water

State highway officials say U.S. 60 near Sullivan will remain closed for at least four or five more days as floodwaters from the Tradewater River slowly recede.

Keith Todd, spokesperson for the Department of Highways, said that once water is off the road, crews will need about a day to inspect the highway and bridge and to make repairs.

The Ohio River is forecast to be at less than 50 feet at Shawneetown by Friday morning, which should relieve some of the flooding from the Tradewater River.

About 2,000 vehicles use the section of U.S. 60 at the Crittenden and Union County Line each day. This photograph was taken this morning overlooking the bridge at the county line just south of Sullivan. Todd took the photo for the highway department.

Area death

Rickey Calvin Hackney, 21, of Salem died Sunday, May 8, 2011 at his home. The funeral is Thursday at Gilbert Funeral Home. Visitation is from 5-8 p.m., Wednesday.

Officials anticipate slow recession of water

County officials continue to anticipate a very slow recession of floodwaters. Most roads, streets and highways closed late last week when the Ohio River reached its crest are still under water and closed.

Fifty homes in Crittenden County have been evacuated and floodwaters are affecting many others in the Shady Grove, Tolu, Dycusburg and Weston areas. Many residents are trapped behind flood waters with no way out other than boating. If you need emergency assistance, call 965-3500.

Roads closed for high water

Here are lists of known state and county roads closed at press time due to high water:

COUNTY ROADS

Axel Creek

Charlie May

Enon Church

Emmaus Church

Phin Croft

Weston

Providence

Hebron Church

Cool Springs

Gum Creek

Bells Mines

Dycus

Tabor Now Open

Cottonpatch

Blackburn Ch.

Old Ford’s Ferry

Blackford Ch.

Baker Hollow

M. Wesmoland

Caney Fork

Barnett Chapel

Railey & S.Railey

Claylick Creek

Templeton

E’town Landing

Willard Easley

Millie Peek

Wolf Creek

Ray Peek

Owens

Streets in Tolu and Dycusburg

STATE & FEDERAL HIGHWAYS

Ky. 135 Ky. 1917

Ky. 132 Ky. 91 North

Ky. 120 Ky. 387

Ky. 365 Ky. 295

U.S. 60 East & West (in Livingston)

Softball Form for 16-under girls

16-under girls' softball registration

Crittenden County Dugout Club is now accepting applications for 16-under girls' softball players.

Print out the registration form (click here) and send to PO Box 5, Marion, KY 42064 with the proper payment.

Flooding takes a bite out of prom

Due to the flooding on U.S. 60 East near Sullivan and Sturgis, the Crittenden County High School Prom location has been moved.

It had previously been scheduled at Camp Breckinridge Museum in Morganfield.

Prom is now going to be held from 8 p.m., until midnight Saturday at the Princeton Country Club.

Area death

Mary Mildred Kimberlin, 84, of Salem, died Friday, May 6, 2011 at Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Paducah. Graveside services are Monday at Hampton Cemetery.

About 50 homes affected by flooding

Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom estimates that about 50 homes are directly affected by floodwaters in this county.

Newcom said the Ohio River was forecast to crest yesterday, but it came up another inch in Tolu last night.

The Cumberland River continues to rise in Dycusburg because of releases at Barkley Dam.

According to the National Weather Service web site, it appears that the Ohio River will recede enough by the middle of next week to allow U.S. 60 to re-open near Sullivan, but that's unverified by any government or transportation officials.

A bit too early for a disc and tractor

It's still a little too early to start doing serious farm work as Jared Belt will attest. Belt was trying to disc a field in front of Par 4 Plastics for Jamie Hunt Farms today when the big rig got marred up in the mud.

Local farmers are working up the ground there, at the industrial park, to help the local FFA Chapter learn more about farming.

More than 13 inches of rain in the last 30 days has made any type of farm work risky.

Dr. Yarbrough Statement on Lock-Down

FROM DR. RACHEL YARBROUGH

SUPERINTENDENT CRITTENDEN COUNTY SCHOOLS

Please let me take this opportunity to fully update all of you on the circumstances that led to the decision of a lock-down this morning on the high school/middle school campus of Crittenden County Schools.

Late last night one of our custodians found several bullets in a restroom on our campus. School officials were notified immediately about this situation as well as local law enforcement officials. We did not have any verbal or written threats associated with this incident. A determination was made last night that we would conduct a lockdown first thing this morning at the middle and high school campuses. Local law enforcement officers were also present early this morning monitoring entrances into our campus as well.

All student lockers, book bags, and purses were thoroughly searched by school personnel. The search took our school personnel approximately one hour.

No weapons or contraband were found. All inside and outside campus areas have been secured and declared as safe. Thanks for your patience with us in getting the accurate information to each one of you. I appreciated all of the school staff, administration and law enforcement officials who made our students safety the number one priority this morning and always.

We will continue to review and improve our safety measures and be as proactive as possible. I certainly want us to always err on the side of caution. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at 270-965-3525.

Lock-down lifted at schools

School officials in Crittenden County have lifted a temporary lock-down enforced this morning at the high school and middle school campus. Superintendent Dr. Rachel Yarbrough said the lock-down was a precautionary measure while school officials searched purses, lockers and backpacks. School officials were on alert because a custodian found several rounds of ammunition inside the school Thursday night while cleaning.

"There have been no threats, but we were just being very cautious," Dr. Yarbrough said.

The ammunition found was bullets for a high-caliber .223 rifle and a .32 handgun. Seven bullets were found.

During a lock-down, no one is allowed to leave or enter the building, and all students are confined to their classrooms and not allowed in the hallways. Dr. Yarbrough said the lock-down was lifted about 9:15 a.m., after a thorough search of the building. After being notified of the custodian's discovery Thursday night, Marion Police conducted a thorough search of the campus.

This morning Marion Police officers were stationed at each entrance to the schools during the lock-down.

Military says don't disturb parts

Military officials are asking residents to not pick up debris from the chopper that crash landed last night in the Frances area. They say their request is for safety concerns. Debris is scattered for about two miles southeast from the crash site.

"Please ask them leave it where they find it, don't consolidate, etc.," said Kimberly Tiscione, public affairs officer with the 160 Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell.

Citizens can report the location of debris to Marion Central Dispatching at 965-3500.

"We appreciate their concern and assistance," said Tiscione.

Pictured is the downed chopper in a field off Lark Loop in southern Crittenden County.

Military weighing options on chopper removal

Kimberly Tiscione, public affairs officer with the 160 Special Operations Aviation Regiment at Fort Campbell, has confirmed the Chinook helicopter that went down last night near Frances was on a routine training mission.

Such missions are common in the region, she said.

"Thankfully no one was seriously injured," she added. "A couple of the crewmen had minor injuries and were treated at the scene."

Tiscione said the military has sent an assessment team to the site and safety investigators will follow. The aircraft is damaged to such degree that it cannot be flown out, she said. There are several options available for removing it, Tiscione explained, and the Army is trying to decide what will be the easiest and safest.

Among the options, the chopper could be lifted out with another aircraft or put onto a transport vehicle and taken away by road.

"It's too early to know exactly what's going to happen," she said.

Update on helicopter crash in Frances

The U.S. Army helicopter that crash landed near Frances last night at dusk was a Chinook, dual-rotor aircraft.

It had apparently been on a training mission, practicing refueling maneuvers with a large fixed-wing cargo plane such as a C-130. The fixed-wing plane customarily flies above and slightly in front of the chopper, refueling it with a long hose and drogue pod. The military practices the refueling exercise because on extended flights it's necessary to refuel the choppers, which don't carry a great deal of fuel.

Parts of the aircraft and what appears to be sections of the refueling mechanism are being found as far as two miles from where the aircraft went down on Lark Loop just off Brown Mine Road. Tony Travis, an employee of the Crittenden-Livingston Water District, found a couple of large pieces near Maple Sink early this morning. One piece looks like a shroud that might be used to cover the fuel line. Other parts of what looks like rotor material were found nearby.

A former military pilot with connections to Crittenden County says the plane was almost certainly on a training mission because there were reportedly seven crewmen aboard. Normally, a Chinook would have a crew of just three or four. On training missions there would be extra pilots so they could each take turns at the controls, said the former pilot who asked not be identified.

He also said the military was likely sending a crew from Fort Rucker, Ala., to investigate. Fort Rucker is home to U.S. Army aviation. A team of investigators – comparable to the FAA or NTSB for commercial crashes – is en route to the scene and expected shortly, according to local authorities.

Military officials picked up the crew last night and left a small unit of four men to guard the aircraft until military investigators arrive. None of the crew were seriously injured. Read more in our previous post.

Pictured is Tony Travis looking at what appears to be a small section of rotor. This piece was in a field near the intersection of Ky. 855 South and Main Lake Road.

US 60 open at one spot, still closed at many more

COULD BE WEEKS BEFORE TRAVEL IS BACK TO NORMAL

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has reopened a section of US 60 in eastern Union County. US 60 had been closed due to high water near the 25 mile marker between Waverly and Corydon near the Union-Henderson County Line.

The Union County Highway Maintenance Crew had planned to open US 60 to one lane traffic through the area Wednesday afternoon, but water was over the road in several places around a number of curves along almost a mile-long section. During the night floodwaters continued to drop in the area allowing it to reopen to full traffic flow by about 11 p.m.

Reopening of US 60 in the Highland Creek area allows a more direct route for commuters between Morganfield and Henderson. The detour for this section led trucks hauling materials into an out of Union County and daily commuters on an extended trip along rural secondary highways through the Smith Mills community.

With so many highways closed by floodwaters, about the only other access to Union County was via KY 56 to the Shawneetown Bridge to the west or KY 56 to US 41- Alternate to the east.

Even with US 60 open in eastern Union County, highway officials continue to advise motorists to buckle up, slow down, and use caution in the area. Water is at the edge of the pavement. With ditches in the area still flooded, even a minor traffic crash could put a vehicle in 10 feet or more water.

US 60 continues to be closed to all traffic along an extended section in southern Union County between Sullivan and Sturgis. US 60 is closed in Crittenden County due to flooding near the Tradewater River Bridge.

US 60 is closed farther to the west in Livingston County where several extended sections are covered by floodwaters between Burna and Smithland. US 60 is also closed where it joins US 51 and US 62 to cross the Ohio River between Wickliffe, Ky., and Cairo, Ill. About a two-mile section of the bridge approach in Ballard County is under 6 feet of water in some places.

With river levels along the lower Ohio and its tributaries expected to remain at near-historic high levels for an extended period, and the likelihood many miles of flooded highways will need repairs after floodwaters recede, highway engineers say it could be several weeks or more before land travel returns to normal across the region.

16-under girls' softball registration

Crittenden County Dugout Club is now accepting applications for 16-under girls' softball players.

Print out the registration form (click here) and send to PO Box 5, Marion, KY 42064 with the proper payment.

Circuit Clerk's office closed Saturday

The Crittenden County Circuit Clerk's office at the courthouse will be closed Saturday, May 7.

One slightly injured in military helicopter crash

A military helicopter crash landed in rural Crittenden County at dusk, slightly injuring one of the seven-member crew.

The chopper had been flying low in the Frances area right before it crashed. Witnesses said the chopper had been part of what appeared to be a refueling exercise with a larger fixed-wing plane. Aircraft from the nearby Fort Campbell military base often conduct refueling and other maneuvers over Crittenden County.

Tony Maxfield said this time, he knew something was wrong.

"I was on the phone and heard it," he said. "It started popping and making a noise and I heard it go down."

Maxfield, who lives on Lark Loop off Brown Mine Road, was the first to reach the downed chopper. It went down a few hundred yards behind his house in a field near a fence row. The crew members were fine, he said, other than one man who had deep cut on his leg.

"He's going to need stitches that's for sure, but they'd already treated (the wound)," he said about the crew.

Maxfield said the helicopter was in tact other than the rotors, which were damaged.

"There were pieces of rotor all over the field," he said. "A piece about as long as I am tall was broken off of every rotor.

"They hit pretty hard," he said. "I think the rotors broke off when it hit the ground."

The aircraft skidded a few hundred feet when it crashed landed just before 8:30 p.m., Maxfield estimated.

Crittenden County emergency personnel had converged on the scene by about 9 p.m. They initially had trouble finding the aircraft. The other military plane continued to circle the downed chopper, flying very low over the area and prompting 911 calls from several residents.

The crash occurred on a farm owned by Frances resident Jim Defreitas. He and Maxfield were the first ones to reach the aircraft and notified authorities of its whereabouts.

A military team from Fort Campbell was dispatched to the scene. The military asked local authorities to secure the area until the team arrived.

Pictured is an example of a plane and helicopter refueling; however, this is not the actual aircraft. The actual chopper was a twin-rotor Chinook.

Salem Red Cross Shelter closed

The Red Cross Shelter that had been operated at the Salem Christian Life Center is now closed.

State highways closed for high water

In Crittenden County:

KY 135

KY 120

KY 387

US 60 E

KY 838

KY 295

KY 365

KY 1917

KY 132

KY 91 N

I-24 intersection to reopen today

U.S. 62 is expected to reopen at noon today at the 16 mile marker in Lyon County.

This is just west of I-24 Exit 40 at the entrance to Hucks Truck Stop and Southwest Grill.

The traffic signal at this intersection is likely to remain in flashing mode.

Several area farmers have provided irrigation pumps to remove water from Amos Lake, which had backed up into the intersection.

Some water may remain over the roadway at this site so extra caution is required.

This week's Press full of news!

Don't miss this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press. It's packed full of news!

Among the things you'll find in this week's printed edition, which will be on newsstands after 3 p.m., today:

1. A local woman hits it big in the Kentucky Lottery

2. A local attorney is a finalist for a federal judgeship

3. Flooding is second worst to only the Great Flood of 1937

4. Relay For Life and many other events around the area are postponed because of the flood.

5. School attendance figures show flood has little impact on classes

Ohio River highest since 1937

The Ohio River is at its highest since the Great Flood of 1937. According to the National Weather Service and NOAA, the river was at 55.94 feet this morning. That's 22.94 feet above flood stage and 9.7 feet below where it crested in 1937 at 65.64.

This is the worst flooding since installation of the modern dam systems on local rivers.

As of Wednesday, the Ohio River had exceeded its projected crest of 55.8 feet as measured at Shawneetown, Ill. Below are historic high crests of the river at Shawneetown:

1. 65.64 ft. on Jan. 30, 1937

2. 55.94 ft. at 6 a.m., Wednesday*

3. 55.60 ft. on March 14, 1945

4. 55.30 ft. on Jan. 19, 1950

5. 54.60 ft. on March 20, 1964

6. 54.40 ft. on March 12, 1997

*Note: The river has likely not reached its crest

Roads closed for high water

Here are lists of known state and county roads closed at at this time due to high water:

COUNTY ROADS

Axel Creek

Charlie May

Enon Church

Emmaus Church

Phin Croft

Weston

Providence

Hebron Church

Cool Springs

Gum Creek

Bells Mines

Dycus

Turkey Knob (Update: Now open)

Cottonpatch

Blackburn Ch.

Old Ford’s Ferry

Blackford Ch.

Baker Hollow

M. Wesmoland

Caney Fork

Barnett Chapel

Railey & Railey South

Claylick Creek

Templeton

Valley View (Update: Now open)

Wolf Creek

E’town Landing

Willard Easley

Plus several streets in Tolu and Dycusburg

STATE & FEDERAL

HIGHWAYS

Ky. 135

Ky. 1917

Ky. 132

Ky. 91 North

Ky. 120

Ky. 387

Ky. 365

Ky. 295

U.S. 60 East

U.S. 60 West (in Livingston)

Game wardens helping flood victims

Crittenden County Emergency Management Director Greg Rushing said rescue efforts continue today in areas affected by flooding. Anyone caught behind flood waters or facing other flood-related issues can call 965-3500 for assistance.

Local game warden Randy Conway and other Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources agents were in Crittenden County (pictured) today using boats to reach people stranded behind flood waters.

Rescue efforts are being mounted to remove people stranded, but food and other supplies will not be taken to flood victims, Rushing said.

A regional Red Cross Shelter has been established in Salem for anyone who needs a place to go.

Ky. 91 flooded at Crider

Ky. 91 between Fredonia and Princeton is flooded near Crider. A motorist commuting to Marion was required to detour the site, later passing the information along to The Crittenden Press. The water may be passable by truck, but not car.

River scheduled to crest tomorrow

The National Weather Service and NOAA are still forecasting the Ohio River will crest tomorrow. The new high level predicted is 55.7 feet. The current river level is 55.35 feet.

Note: Local government and emergency management officials are saying the river will likely crest higher than this figure due to the large amount of rainfall in the past two days.

Even at 55.7 feet, flooding in Crittenden County would be the greatest since the 1937 flood.

County rainfall up to 6.5 inches in last week

Crittenden County has received 6.5 inches of rainfall over the past week. Below are daily totals as measured near Mattoon by the Kentucky Mosonet Weather Station:

April 26 - 1.19

April 27 - 1.00

April 28 - 0.00

April 29 - 0.00

April 30 - 0.19

May 1 - - 1.80

May 2 - - 2.32

TOTAL - 6.5 INCHES

Rescue workers continue work Tuesday

Crittenden County Emergency Management Director Greg Rushing said rescue efforts will continue Tuesday in areas affected by flooding. He said about a dozen homes will be either flooded or immediately threatened by tomorrow.

"Transportation is one of the biggest issues right now," he said. "We need to caution motorist about driving around barricades. It may not look like it, but there's a lot of current in that water."

Most highways into the county are shut off by flood waters. Only U.S. 641 is still passable.

Rushing said anyone caught behind flood waters can call 965-3500 to request assistance. He said rescue workers will help evacuate people from their homes, but will not take food or other items to places surrounded by water.

A regional Red Cross Shelter has been established in Salem for anyone who needs a place to go.

Rushing said normally reliable Ohio River flood reports don't appear to be accurate right now because of the great amount of rainfall over the past couple of days. Ohio River forecasts are still showing a predicted crest Wednesday around 56 feet. It is currently at about 55 feet. Rushing said state emergency management officials believe the river is actually going to rise about four more feet before it crests.

"We're looking at a history making flood for our lifetime," he said Monday night.

Police will ticket motorists disregarding signs

Troopers with the Kentucky State Police have been directed to issue citations to anyone disregarding traffic barriers due to flooding. These barriers have been placed in areas due to public safety concerns. Motorists who disobey these devices are putting their lives at risks as well as emergency personnel charged with rescuing them, the state police said in a news release. With an abundance of warnings in place, troopers and local officers continue to receive reports of travelers disregarding these measures.

Flood waters are rising to record levels and are covering roadways which have never been flooded before. Motorists are urged to drive cautiously to avoid traveling into unexpected flood waters. If travel is necessary, please be reminded to stock your vehicle with items much like you would for winter weather. The roadways which are traveled during the morning commute could be flooded by the evening commute. Motorists should develop a contingency plan in the event they can not make it back to their residences.

Shelter opens in Salem for two counties

The Pennyrile District Health Department which serves Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston, Lyon and Trigg counties wants to inform those living in this area of shelters for those in need.

A Red Cross Partner shelter will be opening tonight at the Christian Life Center in Salem, Ky. It is located at 209 Highland Street and can be reached at 988-2361. This shelter will be opening up at 8 p.m., for those living in Crittenden and Livingston counties. Please bring with you any medications, clothing, towels and a pillow. Meals will be provided.

Livingston County residents that live west of the Cumberland River can go to the Red Cross shelter at Margaret Hank Memorial Church located at 1526 Park Ave in Paducah. The phone number is 442-3575.

Ohio River now expected to crest at 56 feet

With additional rainfall, the Ohio River is now expected to crest at 56 feet Wednesday at Shawneetown, Ill.

Here are historic highs on the river:

1. 65.64 ft. on Jan. 30, 1937

2. 55.60 ft. on March 14, 1945

3. 55.30 ft. on Jan. 19, 1950

Ky. 295 closed south of Dycusburg

Floodwaters from Livingston Creek have gone over the road south of Dycusburg on Ky. 295. The highway is now closed to through traffic.

U.S. 60 is closed between Marion and Sullivan, U.S. 60 is closed west of Burna and Ky. 120 is closed at the Tradewater River at the Webster County Line. That leaves U.S. 641 as the only major highway still open into or out of Crittenden County. Most detours around those major highways are also fraught with flood problems.

Rainfall continues to produce flash flooding

Spring showers continue to create problems for motorists and land and homeowners along or near creeks, streams or rivers. Flash flooding continues to be a serious problem today as more rain is forecast.

Crittenden County received 1.8 inches of rain Sunday with perhaps an equal amount to fall again today.

April left 13.85 inches of rain on the county. There were 14 days of measurable rainfall last month, including nine of the last 12 days of the month. These figures come from the Kentucky Mesonet Weather Station near Mattoon.

Flooding on the Ohio River will get some relief later this week when the river reaches its highest point then begins to drop

Flash flooding creates more Union issues

Flash flooding overnight has created hazardous travel conditions in Union County.

U.S. 60 is now closed on the northern end of Union County near the Henderson County Line due to water over the road. This is between Waverly and Corydon. Water is also over Ky. 359 along the normal detour for this section.

U.S. 60 is also closed at the south end of Union County at the Crittenden County Line, leaving just two routes open into and out of Union County. They are Ky. 56 West to the Shawneetown Bridge and Ky. 56 East to U.S. 41-A.

Almost 70 Counties in Kentucky, including Union and Crittenden, have declared a state of emergency due to widespread flooding. Gov. Steve Beshear has also issued a statewide emergency declaration.

Area deaths

Robert Eugene Henson, 69, of Burna died Saturday at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah. The funeral is Tuesday at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Velma Ruth Richardson, 92 of Marion died Thursday, April 28 at Crittenden County Health and Rehabilitation Center. The funeral is Monday at Myers Funeral Home.

News organizations report bin Laden dead

Major news networks are reporting that Osama bin Laden, the 54-year-old leader of jihadist organization al-Qaeda, is dead.

President Barak Obama is scheduled to speak momentarily on national news networks about details of this significant national security matter.

U.S. 60 West closed, too, for several days

Floodwaters have now covered U.S. 60 West between River Road and Dyer Hill Curve in Livingston County. It now closed to all traffic and will be for several days. Water is covering the pavement at a half-dozen locations along the highway in that area.

U.S. 60 near Sullivan closed for several days

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has once again closed U.S. 60 East in Crittenden County near the Union County Line just south of Sullivan. The road was closed around 5 p.m., and is not expected to reopen until river levels drop later in the week. Approximately 2,000 vehicles travel this section of U.S. 60 in Crittenden County in an average day.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet personnel spent most of Saturday night placing and compacting gravel fill to raise the level of the highway in an effort keep it above rising floodwaters and maintain one lane of travel. However, water has continued to rise at this site creating soft spots and potholes in the 150-yard section of fill, said highway department spokesman Keith Todd. With floodwaters already near the top of the fill placed last night, highway engineers do not believe they can add enough material to keep the roadway open, Todd explained.

There is no practical detour for this location. Motorists traveling from Marion to Sturgis and points east will have to detour via the Western Kentucky Parkway and Pennyrile Parkway to reconnect with U.S. 60 at Henderson.

This closure and the closure of US 60 between the 14 and 15 mile marker in Livingston County at 7:00 p.m. tonight will severely limit travel through the Ohio River border counties west of Henderson. Motorists are asked to avoid unnecessary travel.

Highways closed in area counties

COUNTY	ROADS CLOSED	ROADS OPEN
	DUE TO HIGHWATER	BUT WITH HIGHWATER
Caldwell	KY 1592 MP 2-3	KY 126 MP 4-5
		KY 128 MP 2-3
Henderson	US 60 MP 19-22
	KY 414 MP 0-1
	KY 136 MP 0-10
	KY 268 MP 0-8
	KY 811 MP 0-6
	KY 3522 MP 0-1
Hopkins	KY 70 MP 0-1	KY 892 MP 5-7
	KY 85 MP 4-7	KY 1221 MP 1-2
	KY 293 MP 1-3
	KY 370 MP 0-1
	KY 862 MP 3-5
	KY 1033 MP 1-2
	KY 1034 MP 0-1
	KY 1220 MP 0-3
	KY 2280 MP 0-1
McLean	KY 85 MP 0-3	KY 56 MP 3-4
	KY 85 MP 5-8	KY 136 MP 11-13
	KY 136 MP 7-13	KY 593 MP 3-4
	KY 256 MP 5-9	KY 2107 MP 2-4
	KY 891 MP 0-3
	KY 1155 MP 4-7
	KY 1589 MP 1-2
	KY 2110 MP 0-2
	KY 2385 MP 2-4
Union	KY 130 MP 15-17	US 60 MP 0-3
	KY 360 MP 5-8	KY 141 MP 11-19
	KY 360 MP 11-13	KY 492 MP 9-11
	KY 667 MP 1-17	KY 760 MP 0-3
	KY 668 MP 0-2
	KY 871 MP 3-6
	KY 923 MP 2-3
	KY 1452 MP 0-2
	KY 1508 MP 3-6
	KY 1637 MP 0-3
	KY 923 MP 0-1	FLOOD GATE -923
	KY 2918 MP 01
Webster	KY 109 MP 9-12	KY 143 MP 8-9
	KY 120 MP 0-2	KY 2837 MP 1-2
	KY 132 MP 0-1
	KY 132 MP 3-4
	KY 132 MP 5-6
	KY 138 MP 10-11
	KY 143 MP 1-2
	KY 143 MP 3-7
	KY 493 MP 0-2
	KY 1525 MP 0-1

U.S. 60 closing at Birdsville Y tonight

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to close U.S. 60 in Livingston County between the 14 and 15 mile marker at 7 p.m., tonight.

Ohio River floodwaters are starting to cover one of the travel lanes near the intersection with Ky. 137 (River Road) about 2 miles east of the Cumberland River Bridge at Smithland.

Based on predictions, water is expected to soon be about 2 feet deep along this section of highway. Water is expected to remain at this elevated level through early Thursday with a slow drop after that.

Highway engineers have surveyed this site and determined that it would be both impractical and unsafe to attempt to temporarily raise the level of the roadway to maintain a travel corridor along this section of highway, said Keith Todd, spokesman for the Transportation Cabinet. Lane markers are being placed along the edge of the roadway to allow the National Guard to cross in military vehicles in case of an emergency.

However, due to both the depth and span of water at this site, it will be closed to all traffic starting tonight.

A nearby section of U.S. 60 in Livingston County was elevated using gravel fill to keep the roadway open during the 1997 flood. However, floodwaters are expected to exceed 1997 levels, putting water over several extended areas of U.S. 60.

With river levels expected reach historic high levels and remain elevated for several days, travel will be limited along U.S. 60 and other highways through the Ohio River counties west of Henderson. In many cases, potential detour routes are already covered by floodwaters. Motorists should avoid unnecessary travel.

One lane now open on 60 East

U.S. 60 is now open at the Crittenden-Union County Line. Floodwaters had temporarily closed the highway last night just west of the Tradewater River Bridge between Marion and Sullivan.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet personnel worked through the night hauling and compacting gravel fill to raise the road above threatening flood waters. In spite of heavy rain that buffeted the area, crews were able to reopen the highway to one of lane traffic about 5 a.m., this morning.

Flaggers will control one-lane traffic flow across the 150 yard long section through the day.

Engineers tentatively plan to close U.S. 60 again tonight and continue working on it to stay ahead of rising flood waters.

Due to the Tradewater River floodwaters already covering other crossings on secondary highways in the area, there is no practical detour for this section of U.S. 60.