2 Livingston cases among KSP's unsolved

Kentucky State Police are renewing their effort to solve unsolved cases by asking the public for assistance with leads. Two of the cases are from Livingston County.

In 2010, KSP distributed over 8,000 decks of playing cards to prisons across Kentucky depicting unsolved case information. 

 

The deck of cards highlighted 52 unsolved Kentucky homicide or missing person cases.  Since that time, three of those cases have been solved.

 

KSP hopes that sharing information with the public again will provide fresh leads that can help solve these cases and bring some closure to families.

 

Tpr. Michael Webb reviews the leads as they come in and disseminates the information to local posts.

 

“We have received hundreds of tips in the past two years that we hope will lead to more cases being solved,” says Webb.  “Not only do these tips assist with solving cases, they sometimes provide additional information about other criminal activity taking place.”

 

KSP has placed copies of the complete deck of cards on its website at http://www.kentuckystatepolice.org/unsolved_cases.htm.

They have also established a toll free tip line where tips can remain anonymous at 1-877-735-2648.  The public can also submit tips via email at kyunsolved@ky.gov. 

 

 

 

 

 

Area deaths

Lonnie Bates Payne, 73, of Cadiz died Thursday, Dec. 27 at his home. Mr. Payne is survived locally by a daughter, Angela Starnes. Private services were Friday in Cadiz.

Bonnie Kay Deckert, 58 of Marion died Thursday, Dec. 27 at Crittenden Hospital. Services are Sunday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.

Mildred Sue (Martin) King, 70, of Salem died Friday, Dec. 28, 2012 at Salem Springlake Health and Rehabilitation Center in Salem. Services are Monday at the chapel of Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Area death

James W. Brown, 82, of Grand Rivers died Tuesday at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah. Locally, he is survived by Jerry Brown and his wife, Paula of Fredonia. Services are Sunday at Lakeland Funeral Home.

Enoch funeral in Tennessee

We have updated information about funeral services for Barry Enoch, who died Christmas Day.

Enoch was a Navy SEAL, who grew up in Marion. He received the Navy Cross, the second highest medal given to soldiers who serve in the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. He authored a book about his experiences during the Vietnam War. Here is a link to the book on Amazon.

Visitation for Enoch will be from 5-8 p.m., Saturday at Anderson & Sons Funeral Home in Lafayette, Tenn. The funeral is at 2 p.m., Sunday.

You can read a great deal about Enoch online. Follow the link below to get you started.

Barry Enoch on the Web

Westeberry funeral services

Update: Services are now finalized for the Nancy Westberry funeral in Paducah. The service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday at the Grace Episcopal Church. Burial will follow in the Smithland Cemetery.  Visitation will begin at noon Saturday at the church.  Milner & Orr Funeral Home of Paducah is in charge of the arrangements.

Morris funeral changes

Services for Joe. E. Morris, 86, of Marion have been changed due to the weather. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m., Thursday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion and the funeral will be at 1 p.m., Friday. Morris died Saturday.

Belated White Christmas for Marion

Local and state highway crews are reporting 2-4 inches of snow in the area. Crittenden County's snowfall is somewhere in that range depending on what end of the county you are in. The higher amounts are in the northern part. 

In Marion, city hall will be open today, but primarily for the purpose of dealing with weather emergencies. 

"We are urging people to not be on the streets of Marion unless absolutely necessary," said City Administrator Mark Bryant. "Do not come to city hall to pay water bills today. We are not going to be shutting off water for nonpayment for the rest of the week."

Street conditions are extremely slick and hazardous, Bryant added. 

"We have been plowing since 3 a.m., and are making little headway and the storm shows no signs of letting up," the city official said.

Keith Todd, spokesman for the Kentucky Department of Highways, said the snow is wet, so drifting has not been much of a problem. Pavement temperatures have held pretty steady at 30 degrees which has aided the plowing effort early this morning. However, that is expected to change as temps drop on the back side of the storm, Todd said.

Snow has accumulated rather quickly and the blowing wind is causing some visibility issues.

"As commuters start to venture out this morning we’ve had an increase in the number of vehicles off the road," Todd said. "Remember to slow down and buckle up. Motorists are asked to use extra caution when they encounter a snow plow at work."

Stay tuned for weather updates as they are available.

Area deaths

Nancy Elizabeth Kent Westberry, of Paducah, formerly of Marion, died Monday. Services are later this week in Paducah.

Barry Enoch of Lafayette, Tenn., formerly of Marion, died Tuesday. Enoch was a former U.S. Navy SEAL, earned the Navy Cross medal and wrote a book about the Vietnam War. Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

State police offer winter driving safety tips

With the onset of winter and the possibility that motorists may have to drive in inclement weather, the Kentucky State Police (KSP) are offering safe driving tips.

 

The weather in Kentucky is unpredictable and this time of year you never know when to expect black ice, snow, icy roads or a mixture of road conditions.  KSP is asking motorists to prepare in advance for the winter driving months ahead. “Winter provides new challenges and responsibilities to the public and the Kentucky State Police,” says KSP Commissioner Rodney Brewer.

 

“We ask that drivers be prepared to meet the challenges of the upcoming winter season in Kentucky.  Plan ahead, make sure everyone in the vehicle is properly restrained, drive defensively and be sure the vehicle is properly maintained to handle the effects of cold temperatures.”

 

KSP reported that slippery roads were the contributing factor in 14,913 crashes and 63 fatalities in 2011.

Here are a few simple steps to help keep you on the road and less stressed.

 

• AVOID TRAVEL UNLESS NECESSARY WHEN WINTER WEATHER IS IN YOUR AREA.
• DECREASE SPEED.
• WEAR YOUR SEATBELT.

 

Driving Considerations

• Leave early – allow more travel time; expect delays.
• Increase distance between vehicles – it takes significantly longer to stop on snow covered or icy roadways.
• Clear all windows on your vehicle prior to travel – having unobstructed vision is vital to avoid running off of the road or having a collision.
• Illuminate your vehicles headlamps.
• Use caution on bridges and overpasses as they susceptible to freezing before roadways.
• Avoid using cruise control – cruise can cause the vehicle’s wheels to continue turning on a slippery surface when speed needs to be decreased. 

 

Be Prepared

• Ensure your vehicle has a full tank of gas in the event you are stranded for an extended period of time.
• Charge your cellular phone prior to departure.
• Take a blanket.
• Notify a family member or a friend of your travel plans prior to departure – if you travel is interrupted, someone will know

 

Collision Information

• Be patient – weather also limits our capabilities and increases our response time; also, keep in mind that we will be experiencing a high volume of requests for service.
• Attempt to move your vehicle out of the roadway if you are involved in a minor, non-injury traffic collision; especially if you are in a dangerous area such as a curve or a blind hill.
• If your vehicle is stranded or wrecked but not in the roadway, attempts to recover your vehicle will have to wait until conditions improve for safety considerations.  

 

To view KSP’s Winter Driving Tip Sheet, click here http://www.kentuckystatepolice.org/pdf/2012_Winter_Driving_Tips.pdf

 

Citizens can contribute to highway safety by reporting erratic drivers to the Kentucky State Police toll-free at 1-800-222-5555. Callers will remain anonymous and should give a description of the vehicle, location, direction of travel and license number if possible.

Fire departments responding house fire

Various area fire departments are currently on the scene of a house fire on Crayne Cemetery Road.

Area deaths

Kenneth Ray Brantley, 63, of Marion died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 at Crittenden County Hospital.
Services were Monday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.

Joe E. Morris, 86, of Marion died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012 at Crittenden Hospital. Services are Thursday at Gilbert Funeral Home.

Area death

James Clarence Woodall, 81, of Princeton died Thursday at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah. Services are Thursday, Dec. 27 at Gilbert Funeral Home.

Area death

Terry Ray McKinney, 66, of Marion died Thursday. Services are Monday at St. William Catholic Church. Myers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Major drug bust leads to Barry Beard in Marion

A major western Kentucky drug bust by state police and ATF agents led to the arrest of Barry K. Beard. 42, of Marion and his daughter, Brittany Beard, 18, on Saturday.

Investigators say Beard and his daughter were involved in a drug operation. Officers confiscated almost $100,000 in cash and drugs from his residence on Tom Minter Road in rural Crittenden County Saturday.

Beard is facing various drug and weapons charges.

The Crittenden Press printed edition will have details next week.

Bunton Cemetery back in the news

The U.S. Corps of Engineers is asking for public comment through the end of this month regarding an application for a proposed rock quarry and barge docking facility on the Cumberland River near Dycusburg.

Already, the company proposing to develop the quarry has removed graves from a pioneer family cemetery. Descendants of those buried at Bunton Cemetery have raised issues regarding the removal and have met with federal officials about their concerns.

See this week's Crittenden Press printed edition for details. The newspaper will be on newsstands after 3 p.m., today.

Flu is widespread, many students sick

State health officials say the flu is widespread in Kentucky, and they are recommending vaccinations for everyone except infants younger than six months old.
 
The Department for Public Health said in a statement on Wednesday that widespread flu activity means there are outbreaks in at least half of the regions in the state. 

In Marion, Jill Croft, ARNP, says the flu is in full force. She is treating both A and B strands of the virus.  
Health Commissioner Stephanie Mayfield says the agency is "strongly urging" anyone who hasn't gotten vaccinated to do so, especially if they are at risk for complications.

Students have been affected by illness. Crittenden Middle School has dropped below 90 percent attendance in recent days.

Community Christmas struggling in final hours

With only hours left before Friday's distribution day, Community Christmas organizers said they still have 33 children that need sponsorship.  

Angel tags are available at Farmers Bank and at the County Extension Office through noon on Thursday.  

Community Christmas organizer Nancy Hunt said sponsor items will be due between 9 a.m., and 4 p.m., Thursday at the National Guard Armory in Marion.

Families will pick up items at their appointed time at the armory on Friday. Distribution begins at 9 a.m.  Appointment times were arranged for families when they initially registered for Community Christmas.  

Hunt said monetary donations are down $1,300 from last year at this time.  

"Our goal of $10,865 was based on what we were able to provide last year. However, if we do not have all children sponsored we will need to provide some gift vouchers for those children which means the teen vouchers and food vouchers will be of lesser value this year," Hunt said.
 

Cash donations can be taken directly to Farmers Bank or dropped off at the Extension Office.

For more information on how to help sponsor a child for Christmas, call the Extension office at 965-5236.

Area death

Benetta Mae Roudebush, 81, of Salem died Sunday at CrittendenHospital. Services are Thursday at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Area deaths

Euell Kenneth Guess, 76, of Fredonia died Wednesday, Nov. 28. Services are Tuesday at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Janice Walton, 65, of Salem died Sunday. Services are Wednesday at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Area deaths

Mildred L. Croft, 88, of Lola died Tuesday. Services are today at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Lula June McKinley, 74, of Marion died Thursday. Services are Sunday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.

Duke Energy studying Lola's breeze for wind farm

Duke Energy is studying the wind speed and collecting other data from a test tower between Hampton and Lola in Livingston County. There's a chance the company might put up to 100 windmills in that area. 

See this week's Crittenden Press printed edition for details. Issues will be on newsstands today after 3 p.m.

Police need help finding Salem woman

UPDATE: State police say that Croft has been found. They say she had been involved in a single-vehicle accident that left her car in a deep ditch.

Mildred L. Croft

The Kentucky State Police are asking for the public’s help in locating 88-year-old Mildred L. Croft of Salem. 

Croft has not been seen since 6:30 p.m., Monday. She is described as a white female, with white hair, and blue eyes, standing 5foot-3 and weighs approximately 133 pounds. 

Croft left her residence driving a blue 2002 Mercury Sable with Kentucky registration plate 074-ELD. It is unknown where Croft was heading to, and it is unusual for her to be driving at night.

Car similar to one she was driving.

If anyone locates or has information concerning MS. Croft, please contact the Kentucky State Police at 1-800-222-5555.

2-year-old with local ties dies in Eddyville accident

Kentucky State Police conducted a death investigation Friday in Eddyville when a two-year-old boy fell from a skid steer and was fatally injured. Police received a 911 call at 12:35 p.m., advising that the child had been severely injured and was being transported to the Caldwell Medical Center’s emergency room by a private vehicle.

The child, Charles Bobinsky IV of Eddyville had been riding with his grandfather, Charles Bobinsky, 52, of Eddyville, who was operating a skid steer loader on his private property.  The child fell off the skid steer and received a massive head injury, state police said in a news relesae. The child died at the Caldwell hospital. The boy has relatives in Crittenden County, including his father Jason Mullinix.

The investigation is continuing by Master Trooper Chris Anderson.