Highway blocked in Sturgis

A section of Ky. 365 (North Monroe Street) in Sturgis is blocked due to a building with a structural issue that creates a hazard for passing traffic.

The road is closed between US 60 and 4th Street.  The City of Sturgis plans to use an excavator to raze the building.

Motorists may self-detour via side streets.

Today last day to change party affiliation

Today is the last day for Kentucky voters who wish to vote in another party's Primary Election next year or run for office as a member of a different political party in the 2019 elections to change their registration.

Voters can change or update their registration at Kentucky's one-stop online voter portal, GoVoteKY.com, or at the county clerk's office.

Under Kentucky law, to be qualified to vote in a partisan primary election, a voter must have been a member of that party on Dec. 31 of the prior year or a new voter who has not changed their affiliation. Voters who change party affiliation after the Dec. 31 deadline are not eligible to vote in partisan races in the primary election.

Local man dies in Hwy. 91 crash

A local man died in a single-vehicle traffic accident shortly after 11pm Friday night in southern Crittenden County near the Caldwell County line about a mile north of Fredonia.

Raymond “Rick” Price, 58, was was traveling north on Ky. 91 when for unknown reasons his 2005 Ford Explorer left the roadway then overturned. Price was ejected from the SUV. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Crittenden County Coroner Brad Gilbert.

Price was not wearing a seat belt.

This was the fourth traffic fatality in Crittenden County this year and the second in December.

The Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the accident.  Assisting at the scene were Crittenden County EMS, Crittenden County Fire Department, Crittenden County Rescue Squad, Crittenden County Emergency Management and Crittenden County constables.

Area death

Former sheriff and county clerk James D. "Jim" Wheeler, 89, died Thursday at his home in Marion. Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. 

Biologist Forecasts Better Waterfowl Hunting

Cold Front to Boost Numbers

A bitter cold front is expected to wash over duck-holding areas north of the Ohio River early next week, which should mean good news for waterfowl hunting in Kentucky, according to experts at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

“The cold is coming,” said John Brunjes, migratory bird program coordinator for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “An expanding cold trough should create single-digit temperatures across much of the central portion of the country by Tuesday night. Ducks tend to move in front of cold conditions. Hunters in the field on those movement days will likely experience exceptional hunts.”

The relatively warm weather in duck-holding areas to the north has given the birds little incentive to fly south in search of ice-free water, making conditions for Kentucky waterfowl hunters more challenging.

Compounding those conditions is Kentucky’s abundant rainfall. The number of flooded areas have provided ducks protected areas to feed away from hunters. The scattered flocks of birds are not exposing themselves in open grain fields traditionally used by hunters, but instead are feeding in areas almost completely free of hunting pressure.

“Kentucky is not alone,” Brunjes said. “In speaking with biologists from Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee this week, I’ve learned those states are facing similar hunting conditions. Missouri and Illinois, in spite of having high duck numbers, have also experienced below average seasons. It’s tough across the board.”

Snow cover across the Midwest and Great Lakes regions was almost nonexistent early in the last week of December. Duck surveys in northern states revealed those areas were still retaining higher than usual numbers for this time of year. “Ducks have simply not had the need to come South,” Brunjes said.

Once cold weather does push more ducks into Kentucky, hunters should be prepared and in the field. “The first half has been tough, but there’s still a lot of season left,” Brunjes said.

For more information on season dates and regulations, go online to fw.ky.govand look for the Kentucky Hunting Guide for Waterfowl.

Waterfowl hunting should improve as the weather worsens to the North.

Area Deaths

Stephen Duane Hunt, 65, of Marion died Thursday. Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Jerry Otto Hurst, 78, of Owensboro, formerly of Crittenden County, died on Wednesday. James H. Davis Funeral Home & Crematory in Owensboro is in charge of arrangements. There will be a graveside service next Friday at Mapleview Cemetery in Marion.

Area death

Sue M. Tabor, 80, of Paducah died Wednesday. Boyd Funeral Directors and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.

Justice Cunningham leaving Supreme Court

Justice Bill Cunningham of Kuttawa has announced that he will be leaving the Kentucky Supreme Court, effective at midnight on Feb. 1.

He has served 12 years on that court, having been elected to represent the First Supreme Court District of Kentucky in November of 2006. He was re-elected in 2014. 

In making the announcement, Cunningham, 74, said, “Sometimes duty requires us to go on. Sometimes duty requires us to go home. The most important part of being anywhere, is knowing when to leave.”

Before serving on the state’s highest court, he served as circuit judge and commonwealth attorney for the 56th Judicial Circuit of Caldwell, Livingston, Lyon and Trigg Counties. 

 His departure from the state’s highest tribunal closes out a career of over 40 years in public office. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Germany, Vietnam and Korea.

Area Deaths

Annalea Winders, 66, Marion, died Tuesday, Dec. 25. Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Robert Leon "Bear" McKinney, 74, of Marion died Monday, Dec. 24. Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Paul Fraser Maxfield, 78, of Southgate, Mich., a native of Crittenden County, died Thursday, Dec. 6. A Life Celebration will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 29 at Anna Mae’s on Main Restaurant in Marion.

Mr. James Connie Darnell, 72, of Smithland died Tuesday. Boyd Funeral Directors and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.

Ricky Stan Adams, 66, of Marion died Tuesday, Dec. 25. Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Farm store slashes prices

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Area deaths

Paul Delmar Tabor Jr., 55, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018 at his home in Burna. Boyd Funeral Directors and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.

Sara Kathleen Kesler, 30, of Fredonia died Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018 at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville. Boyd Funeral Directors and Cremation Services was in charge of arrangements.

Robert Glen Belt Jr., 28, known as “Little Robert” by his family and called “Bob” by his friends, died Friday, December 21, 2018. Boyd Funeral Directors and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.

For details on these obituaries

https://www.boydfuneraldirectors.com

First responders working auto accident

First responders worked an injury accident this morning near the intersection of Blackburn Church Road and Ky. 120 in rural Crittenden County. The crash happened just before 10am.

Two people were injured in the single-vehicle accident. One was being airlifted from the scene.

It appeared that an eastbound SUV dropped off the right shoulder of the road, overcorrected and rolled over on the opposite side of the highway in a cattle pasture.

The highway was blocked for more than an hour.

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Rockets win again in holiday hoops action

Hunter Boone scored a season-high 22 points as the Rockets beat Williamstown 79-60 in holiday tournament action at Hancock County on Saturday.

Crittenden finished the tournament with a 2-1 record.

Christmas Eve Open Communion

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JOIN US 

For a True Christmas Blessing

MARION UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 

Lady Rockets leave Florida with a win

Crittenden County’s girls beat the Warrirors 52-42 in the final game on its Florida trip.

Shelby Summers led the team in scoring with 17. Taylor Guess and Nahla Woodward added a dozen points apiece.

The Lady Rockets were 1-2 in the holiday tournament at Disney Word.

CRITTENDEN SCORING: Guess 12, Hayes 2, Summers 17, Woodward 12, Duncan, Boone 5, Long 4, Perryman.

Rockets fall to Whitesville Trinity

Playing in the Hancock County Christmas Tournament, Crittenden County got 17 points from Gabe Mott and 11 from Preston Turlwy but could not beat Whitesville Trinity. After a first round win for the Rockets against Eminence to earn last night’s semifinal berth, they lost 71-55 to Trinity.

Lady Rockets fall to Gonzaga

Crittenden County's girls' basketball team lost by four points to a team from Canada on Friday. The Lady Rockets closed the gap in the final period after trailing by double digits.

Lady Rockets in Florida

Thursday’s Result
Middle Tenn. Christian 61, Crittenden 23
Lady Rocket Scoring Summary: Taylor Guess 9, Lili Hayes, Shelby Summers 7, Nahla Woodward 2, Jaelyn Duncan 3, Natalie Boone 2, Matthia Long, Lilly Perryman, Grace Driskill.

Today's Result
Gonzaga 44, Crittenden County 40
Lady Rocket Scoring Summary: Guess 11, Hayes 2, Summers 9, Woodward 10, Duncan 2, Boone 2, Long 4.

Saturday’s Game
7th Place Game 11:30am (CST)

MORE TOURNAMENT INFO

• Teams on Crittenden’s side of the eight-team bracket are Gonzaga High School from Canada and Berk Catholic from Pennsylvania. 
• On the other side of the bracket are Sir Winston Churchill of Canada, Poudre High School from Colorado, The Rock School from Florida and Sacred Heart of New York.
• The tournament is a three-game guarantee with the possibility of a fourth game.
• The tournament, at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports on the Disney campus, is sponsored by KSA Events (Kaylee Scholarship Association), a national promoter of high school athletic events.

Rockets beat Eminence in holiday tournament

Gabe Mott scored 24 points and Crittenden County's boys' basketball team defeated Eminence 90-60 this afternoon in the opening round of the Hancock County Aleris Christmas Tournament.

The Rockets, now 3-6, will play Whitesville Trinity (6-3) at 6pm Friday in the winner's bracket semifinal at Hawesville.

The championship game is at at 8pm Saturday. If Crittenden falls into the loser's bracket on Saturday the boys will play at 6pm.

Crittenden Scoring Summary vs Eminence - Morgeson 4, E.O’Leary 2, Towery 12, Mott 24, Guess, Dickerson 1, S.O’Leary 4, T.Boone, Winders 7, Dobyns, Carlson 11, Turley 20, H.Boone 5.

Sorrow and Joy in this Week's News

The final newspaper of 2018 is full of joy and heartbreak. 

There will be no newspaper next week as we celebrate the holidays and the Birth of Christ. We wish all of our readers and the community a very merry Christmas and Happy New Year. January 3 will be our next printed issue, but as always we will bring you Breaking News right here round the clock.

Unfortunately, there is sorrow in our community after the tragic loss of a beloved substitute school teacher. Although she passed away after the newspaper went to print, we have details of the accident that claimed her young life. Also, a family in Salem lost its home to fire last week. Find out how you can help in this week's Press.

While hearts are heavy in those respects, there are indeed blessings aplenty as the Advent season approaches. This week’s newspaper is bulging with children’s wish lists. Our Letters to Santa section is sure to light up your day.

In local news, the manhunt continues for a Crittenden County suspect in several burglaries in four counties. State police have issued a warning in the matter, and Crittenden deputies almost nabbed him Sunday. Read how he got away this time.

The school superintendent was evaluated by the board of education. See the board's findings in this week’s edition. Plus, the local football coach was recognized by his peers in a big way.

We visited with former mayor Bob Fox last week and from our conversation we’re able to look back to the future. 

The grand jury and circuit court saw some activity last week and a handful of local folks will spend Christmas in prison.

Local individuals were honored in a variety of ways by a number of groups. See who’s saluting your neighbors in this week's newspaper. 

Annexation of airport road is back in the news and there's so much other going on in the community that we cannot highlight it all right here.

There’s only one source of comprehensive news and sports coverage in Marion and Crittenden County. Never miss out on what’s going on in your community. We have our ear to the rail and always keep you posted on what’s happening. Subscribe today to ensure that real news reporting continues in your community. Get the printed edition or read the entire paper online with a subscription to The Press, starting at just $2.95.

Copyright 2018

The Crittenden Press

Local man injured in tractor mishap

UPDATE: The victim was Joe Heady, 83, of Marion. He was flown to Vanderbilt Hospital. 

ORIGINAL POST

A Crittenden County man was seriously injured in a tractor accident shortly before 4pm today.

First responders immediately called for an air ambulance and the AirEvac helicopter landed in a field just off Ky. 1668 (Crittenden Springs Road) near where the accident happened. He was transported to a nearby trauma center.

Although it was not immediately clear how the accident happened, both tractor and victim were inside of a barn.

The Press has chosen to not name the victim until notice is properly made to his family.

Area Death

Zola Barnes, 70, of Marion died Tuesday at Morganfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Whitsell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Well-known substitute teacher dies

A well-known substitute teacher has died from injuries suffered in an automobile accident that happened Friday after leaving a basketball game in Smithland and heading toward her home near Fredonia.

Sara Kesler, 30, died this morning at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, five days after the crash, which occurred around 10 p.m., Friday on Ky. 855 North in rural Crittenden County.

Her death marks the third fatality on Crittenden County roads this year.

Kesler was driving south and coming off Kirk Bluff when she encountered an earlier single-vehicle crash in a curve. Kesler swerved to miss the vehicle that had crashed in the ditch on her side of the road. She lost control of her Toyota Prius and went off a steep embankment into a forested area.

Melissa Asbridge, 51, of Marion had been driving the Ford Focus involved in the first crash on the wet road. She was taken to Livingston Hospital by private vehicle.

Kesler freed her self from her vehicle, climbed up the steep embankment of about 80 feet and was taken by ambulance to Livingston Hospital. She was later transferred to Deaconess.

Rockets hammered by Threes at Henderson

Gabe Mott

Henderson County set a school record for 3-pointers last night, beating the Rockets 88-52 at Henderson.

The Colonels (6-1) hit 19 of 31 shots from long range.

Gabe Mott led Crittenden (2-6) with 14 points. See details here on the Rocket Basketball Blog. Mott has been averaging about 20 points a game over the last week or so and he is among the state leaders in foul shooting.

Crittenden's boys will be playing a couple of holiday tournaments. See this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press for details and follow the action daily at the Rocket Blog.

Girls heading to Florida

The Lady Rockets basketball team is heading to Florida later today and will play a three-day series in Orlando.

Crittenden's girls are 5-3 on the season after losing Monday at home to Carlisle County.

Follow the Lady Rockets' action in Florida right here at The-Press.com.

For details of basketball action over the past week, see this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press, which will be on newsstands Wednesday.

Fund established to help fire victims

Marion United Methodist Church has established a fund to accept financial contributions and other items for the Tinsley Family, who lost their home and belongings in a fire Friday night in Salem.

Ten people were living in the large, two-story home. Jay and Brandy Tinsley, their two teenage children; a grown son and his family of five; and a brother-in-law lost everything.

Most needed are household and personal items such as bedding, beds, towels, wash clothes, kitchenware, dishes and toiletries.

Those can be taken to the Methodist church in Marion. Financial assistance can be mailed to Tinsley Family c/o Marion United Methodist Church, 112 South College Street, Marion, KY. Please call to arrange drop-off of items, (270) 965-4580.

Some area gas prices drop below 2 bucks

In case you have not noticed, gasoline prices in Kentucky have fallen 5.8 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.09 per gallon yesterday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 2,623 stations in Kentucky.

This price compares with the national average that has fallen 5.7 cents per gallon versus last week to $2.36/g, according to GasBuddy.

Some consumers in the area are reporting gas less than two bucks a gallon, which is good news just ahead of the holiday travel season.

Average gasoline prices on December 2017 in Kentucky have ranged widely over the last five years:
$2.24/g in 2017, $2.25/g in 2016, $1.88/g in 2015, $2.34/g in 2014 and $3.17/g in 2013.

Including the change locally during the past week, prices yesterday were 14.8 cents per gallon lower than a year ago and are 28.6 cents per gallon lower than a month ago. The national average has dropped 26.1 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 5.7 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.

Public office holiday closings

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Fredonia church hosts Christmas program

Fredonia Cumberland Presbyterian Church Players present its Christmas program

A HEAVENLY CHRISTMAS CAROL

Sunday, Dec. 16 at the 10:50am service.

Everyone is welcome.

Christmas cantata Sunday

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Multiple agencies fighting fire in Salem

Multiple fire fighting agencies responded to a house fire in Salem on Shelby Store Road Friday night. 

Several volunteer fire departments from Crittenden and Livingston counties were dispatched to assist with the blaze, which could be seen from downtown Salem.

Jazz concert Saturday night

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The gift for everyone on your list!

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Firemen respond to blaze in Dycusburg

Firemen from Caldwell Springs and Crittenden County volunteer fire departments were dispatched to a structure fire in Dycusburg at 9:30pm Thursday night.

Initial reports were that the blaze was on Spring Street at an unoccupied house.

Middle School PostSeason at Rocket Arena

8th Grade Basketball Tournament
at Rocket Arena

BOYS
Thursday’s Result
Crittenden 53, Livingston 42
Saturday’s Semifinals
Lyon County vs Crittenden County, 10:30am
Trigg County vs Caldwell, County 1:30pm
Championship Game
Saturday, 4:30pm

GIRLS
Thursday’s First Round
Caldwell defeated Livingston
Saturday’s Semifinals
Lyon County vs Caldwell County, 9am
Crittenden County vs Trigg County, noon
Championship Game
Saturday, 3pm

Your Local News for the Season!

Moving ever so swiftly into the Christmas holiday, The Crittenden Press presents one of its final issues of 2018 which is complete with news, information and entertainment you will find absolutely nowhere else.

This week’s Press says you may soon be paying more for drinking water. Find out who’s hiking the price, why and how much it will be.

Then there’s a sales tax issue. Local sports organizations and even the rescue squad are being summoned to the tax table by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. New enforcement of an existing tax law could have a serious chilling affect on fundraising in Crittenden County.

Jeopardy! Guess who and when!

US 641 is now open, but there’s no great joy in Mudville. Find out why reaction is subdued to the long-awaited opening of new highway between Marion and Fredonia.

A local pastor is dogging it when he gets the chance. You’ll want to read what’s going on.

The Press also has basketball summaries, rankings and more from middle school and high school sports.

There’s only one source of comprehensive news and sports coverage in Marion and Crittenden County. Never miss out on what’s going on in your community. We have our ear to the rail and always keep you posted on what’s happening. Subscribe today to ensure that real news reporting continues in your community. Get the printed edition or read the entire paper online with a subscription to The Press, starting at just $2.95.

New commercial grade internet available

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Former magistrate dies

Former Crittenden County magistrate Helen McConnell of the Mattoon community died early this morning at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville.

Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Double dose of Blue victory

There are not too many husbands and wives who share
the basketball court like Shannon and Denis Hodge,
Crittenden's girls' and  boys' head coaches. On Tuesday
the couple was all smiles with a pair of wins.

Crittenden County got a double dose of victory Tuesday night in a split doubleheader at Rocket Arena.

The Rockets picked up their first win of the season over Christian Fellowship as one CCHS sophomore scored nearly 30 points. 

The Lady Rockets continue winning. They earned a fourth victory of the season, beating Dawson Springs.

On Friday, the boys and girls will travel to Livingston for a pair of Fifth District showdowns. See this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press for all the details from Tuesday's games and get a preview of what's expected at Smithland on Friday.

Marion Baptist Cantata this weekend

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Deer Creek Church Live Nativity

Tonight is the Last Night for Live Nativity at Deer Creek Church

Don't Miss It

And When You're Looking for Christmas Gift Ideas

Check Out

Louise's Flowers

in Downtown Marion, Ky.

Area Death

Leonard Jewell Belt, 83, of Marion died Sunday. Myers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Deer hunters growing particular

According to KDFWR, there are 63 deer per 

square mile in Crittenden County. Such 

overcrowding could lead to 

misunderstandings, right? 

There are 24 people per square 

mile in the county.

A more seasoned hunter is being increasingly particular about what it shoots, according to a local wildlife biologist.

While the statewide deer harvest during rifle season set a new record at almost 107,000 whitetails, it’s clear from Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) harvest data and from observations of wildlife officials that most hunters are being more selective.

Philip Sharp, a private lands biologist who lives in Crittenden County, said wildlife officials conducted an on-site survey of animals brought to Family Butcher Shop on the first Monday of the modern firearms season. They were there to collect samples from carcasses and to collect other data, such as the age of harvested animals. KDFWR is being vigilant about checking for Chronic Wasting Disease in Kentucky animals. The wildlife team collected brain stems and lymph nodes from various deer brought to the Amish butcher for processing.

“We’re seeing an older age structure in ... (for the rest of this article see the December 6, 2018 issue of The Crittenden Press printed edition, or get it now online for just $2.95 per month).

Area death

Troy Allen Swinford, 82, a long-time resident of Ledbetter died Friday. Boyd Funeral Directors and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.

Special bowlers earn big awards

Crittenden County Rockets Special Olympics bowlers competed in Louisville last weekend at the Kentucky Special Olympics Bowling Tournament.

All bowlers competed individually, and some also earned medals for optional paired competition.

Local athletes pictured are (from left) Amber Notestine, bronze for individual ranking and silver in doubles; Justis Duncan, silver for individual ranking; Tahla Trail (kneeling), bronze for individual ranking and silver in doubles; Mandy McConnell, silver for individual ranking and gold in doubles; Hunter Miles, silver for individual ranking; and David Walker, fifth place for individual ranking and gold in doubles.

CCMS sweeps tournament openers

Tyler Belt and Micah Newcom scramble for a loose
ball in CCMS's playoff win Thursday at Livingston.

Crittenden County Middle School's seventh-grade boys' and girls' basketball teams both won Thursday night in the opening round of their Middle School District Tournaments at Burna.

The Lady Rockets beat Trigg County 30-11 and the Rocket boys beat Livingston by 5.

The Crittenden teams will advance to the morning session tournament semifinals on Saturday at the Livingston Middle School gym.

CCMS's seventh-grade girls play at 9am Saturday and the boys play at 10:30. The championship rounds are at 3pm for girls and 4:30pm for boys. All games are at Burna.

US 641 Ceremonial Opening Today

NEW HIGHWAY NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Press Editor Daryl Tabor drove the entire route from Fredonia

to Marion today after the ceremony. Take a ride with him

on our YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/qIdKW_W5Il8

News you've been Waiting for!

The big news this week is that the new US 641 highway should be open soon after you read this, perhaps before. We have an in-depth look at what those along both the new and old 641 can expect in the coming days and well into the future as things like address changes and road names are affected by the first new highway built in this county in more than 50 years.

Just as big this week is news of what business is going into the old Shopko building.

Local law enforcement is looking for a man wanted for questioning in a number of burglaries. They need your help to find him.

If you are interested in helping the needy this Christmas season, now is the time to get involved. Community Christmas is short on funds. Read what you can do to help.

A Fredonia government leader has a new position as president of a statewide group. 

Several area newspapers are bought by the group that owns the Paducah Sun. 

Local deer hunters have grown mighty particular. See what that means for the harvest.

There’s band news, a couple of retirement stories about some community servants, Brenda Underdown’s regular history column and all the sports details you can find nowhere else. 

There’s only one source of comprehensive news and sports coverage in Marion and Crittenden County. Never miss out on what’s going on in your community. We have our ear to the rail and always keep you posted on what’s happening. Subscribe today to ensure that real news reporting continues in your community. Get the printed edition or read the entire paper online with a subscription to The Press, starting at just $2.95.

Copyright 2018

The Crittenden Press

Job Corps seeks residential counselors

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Main Street getting asphalt surface

Main Street in downtown Marion will be limited to one lane on Thursday while a contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet repaves a section of the roadway, which has been in poor repair lately.

Starting around 10am Thursday traffic will be restricted to one lane on Main Street between the US 641 intersection at Gum Street extending northward to about Depot Street.

The work should take about three hours.

Detour is blocked at Frances

UPDTE: 2:20pm
The roadway is now re-opened.

pdated
A semi is stuck in a ditch on Ky 70 near Frances at the Ky 855 intersection, and according to motorists stuck in the traffic jam, a wrecker trying to pull out the tractor-trailer is now stuck in a ditch.

That means there may need to be a detour for the 641 detour! 

Both lanes are blocked and traffic is backed up about one mile. State officials say it could be two hours, or close to 2pm, before it the road is cleared.

The Press: A gift that arrives every Thursday!

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No mail today

There will be no US Postal Service mail services today as the country marks a day of mourning for the late President George H.W. Bush.

The delivery of your printed edition of The Crittenden Press this week could be affected in some areas.

Open Enrollment Deadline is Friday

Time is dwindling for Medicare open enrollment and Partners Insurance in Marion is offering free Medicare reviews through the final day of open enrollment, which is this Friday, Dec. 7.

What is Medicare open enrollment?

It is also known as the annual election period or annual coordinated election period which refers to the annual opportunity for Medicare plan enrollees to reevaluate their coverage, including supplemental policies, and make changes if so desired.

During Medicare open enrollment, a beneficiary can switch Medicare Advantage plans, switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare or vice versa, join a Part D prescription drug plan, switch from one Part D plan to another, or drop Medicare Part D coverage entirely. 

Medicare open enrollment ends this week. Act now and changes are effective on January 1.

For further online study of Medicare's Open Enrollment, click here.

This is a Paid Advertisement

221 East Bellville Street • Marion, Ky.

270-965-2239

​Monday - Friday 8:30pm - 5:00pm

Health Department issues Christmas tips

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Missionaries rewarded through hardships

Tanner Tabor said he spent days upon days preparing for his six-day mission trip to Haiti. Strategically packing his bags to get the most out of the limited space, and preparing himself spiritually for doing God’s work in the Caribbean.

In the end, he and 18 other missionaries mostly from Marion’s Life in Christ Church were reminded of words from the Gospel of Matthew, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”

Their luggage was lost during the outgoing flight and they ran out of water while ministering to native Haitians in the small mountain village of Cap Rouge on the northern coast of the island. Tabor, a Marion insurance agent on his first out-of-country mission, said he went to spread God’s love and word, but in the end, he received the greatest blessing. “The big takeaway for me was that these people have so little, but they complain about nothing,” Tabor said.

When the missionaries learned they would not be seeing their luggage, they took a page out of the Haitian playbook and simply made do. They shared what clothing they had taken in carry-on bags and washed their underwear in rainwater. Then, it quit raining and they ran out of water for bathing or washing.

Natalie Morrison, who works in Marion as a clerk in the courthouse, said she grew in her faith from going on the trip. “I went there to serve, not to be served, but spiritually I was served in so many ways,” she said... Read the rest of this article in the November 29, 2018 printed edition of The Crittenden Press.

Area Death

Freda Evelyn Ramage Morrill, 87, of Marion died Sunday. Myers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

TRAFFIC ALERT: US 641 closed near Fredonia

US Highway 641 just north of Fredonia at the county line is now closed to through traffic. The highway will be closed for about a week.

The extended closure of US 641/KY 91 will allow for further construction at the southern tie-in area of the new US 641 highway. The closure was announced late last week.

All traffic will need to divert through a variety of detours. The state has posted one marked detour via KY 902 at Fredonia to KY 70 at Dycusburg to return to existing US 641 at Mott City. This detour adds about 10 miles to a trip between Fredonia and Marion.

2018 Marion Christmas Parade

Sponsored by Partners Insurance

and Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce