County weathers storm system

Several Crittenden Countians and their pets took refuge Friday in the basement of the
courthouse from the potentially deadly storms passing through the area. The courthouse
basement is generally open to the public for such purposes during threatening weather. The
system passed over Crittenden County without any injuries and only little damage reported.

UPDATE: 4:47 p.m., March 2
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Paducah continues its tornado watch for all of western Kentucky until 6 p.m., today. The NWS has also issued a wind advisory, which is in effect until 8 p.m. for western Kentucky, southern Illinois and southeast Missouri.

The roof and radio tower of Caldwell Springs Volunteer Fire
Department was ripped off during Friday's severe storms.

The worst of today's storm system blew through the area before 3 p.m., with heavy winds and heavy sheets of rain at times, though no injuries or serious damage have been reported other than the roof of Caldwell Springs Fire Department having been blown off and knocked down their radio tower. The non-emergency line into Marion Dispatch was also temporarily knocked out.

Judge-executive Perry Newcom said residents and weather spotters reported at least two separate defined funnel clouds over the county which apparently never touched down. Spotter Tony Alexander reported one in the northwest portion of the county and another was spotted near Crayne.