She is making the southerly march to bring awareness to social and racial injustice.
Zola invites communities along her route to join in conversation, reflection, and solidarity.
A life-long advocate, Zola works with children with special needs and their families. She’s captured national attention in the past. In 2021 she garnered recognition for a 40-day hunger strike demanding Congress pass H.R. 40: Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act.
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| Country music legend Jeannie Seely gave the keynote address at this year's graduation. |
Despite the Monday holiday, your newspaper will be published on time.
This week's community newspaper also takes a look at where Marion is now after a few more million dollars are being earmarked for drinking water.
In local sports, Rocket baseball was at the regional tournament on Memorial Day and the CCHS track and field team will take several qualifiers to the state tournament Thursday in Lexington.
Our annual Fallen Heroes tribute to Crittenden Countians lost at war will be in this week's full edition.
And... don't forget this weekend's Rock Show at the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum.
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ESPN recruiting director/basketball analyst Paul Biancardi likes what he’s seen from new Kentucky coach Mark Pope’s recruiting strategy.
“Every coach recruits to their personal liking. Not every coach goes after one-and-done players. Some are comfortable recruiting, coaching and developing talent,” Biancardi said. “Others want highly recruited players to mix with a returning group and transfers.
“Every coach loves retaining players but that’s just not the way it is any more. You don’t know if a player is unhappy with his role or if it is NIL but there is no guarantee of retention. That’s why the transfer portal and high school recruiting is so important. Pope is different from (John) Calipari who is different from (Tom) Izzo. Everybody is different.”
Biancardi knows the “market price” for players is escalating due to NIL.
“Players and families can ask for more if they feel they deserve it and it is up to universities to decide how much money to give out. You can lose a player due to NIL or maybe get a player you would not normally get because of NIL,” Biancardi said. “NIL has leveled the playing field to some degree. Blue bloods still recruit off tradition but you still have to be competitive in the NIL world.
“This is a business. Guys who do not show promise and work may not have NIL for a second season. It’s a lot for parents to comprehend when people are offering so much money. That’s why it is important for a recruit to go to the right coach and right program. You should not make a decision just on money but a lot do. It is causing chaos for everyone.”
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Former UK track star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone showed at the USATF Los Angeles Grand Prix that she was Olympic ready for a dominating win in the 200-meter dash in 22.0 seconds, the second-fastest
Details have not been finalized on a playground upgrade at Marion-Crittenden County Park; however, $75,000 has been secured for its purpose.
As part of Gov. Andy Beshear’s announced $847,878 in grant funds awarded to 23 counties for projects using recycled rubber, Crittenden is getting about half of what it needs to install a poured-in-place rubber base for its new, large playground.
The grant money comes from the Waste Tire Trust Fund, established by the 1998 General Assembly, which receives $2 from the retail sale of each new tire in the state. The fund helps manage the approximately 5 million scrap tires generated in Kentucky each year and promotes the development of markets for recycled tire products.
“With projects like these, we are creating a new Kentucky,” Gov. Beshear said. “We are backing innovative solutions that support important values of sustainability and concern for the next generation.”
Another joint project between the Park Board and Tourism and Recreation Commission aims to build a small pavilion inside of the new playground’s perimeter fence. It will be constructed in the next 30 to 60 days and will include electricity.
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| Down Power Lines in Fredonia |
Kenergy's website shows about 2,500 customers without power in a triangle between Kuttawa, Marion and Princeton.
Kentucky Utilities' outage map shows an affected area between Marion, Eddyville and Madisonville.
Crittenden County government offices are closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day. This closure includes the Road department, Marion Convenience Center and Animal Shelter. MCC and Animal Shelter will also be closed Saturday.
•Blackford Veterans Memorial will host a Memorial Weekend service at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 25. Pastor and veteran David LaNeave will be keynote speaker and former mayor Mickey Alexander will be master of ceremonies. Music and a food truck will be there around 9 a.m.
•Burna American Legion will host a Memorial Weekend service and breakfast at 8 a.m., Sunday, May 26 at its location on US 60.
•American Legion Post 217 will host a Memorial Day Service at 10 a.m., on Monday, May 27 at Mapleview Cemetery.
•Shady Grove Cemetery will host a Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m., with lunch to follow at Shady Grove Volunteer Fire Department. District Judge Ben Leonard will be the featured speaker, Lacie Duncan and Kayla Maxfield will provide music and Clay Stevens will play taps.
•Fredonia will host a Memorial Day Service at 1 p.m., which will include a flyover by AirEvac and flag changing ceremony. U.S. Navy veteran Doug Keel will be master of ceremonies and keynote speaker.
Seely is a Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and record producer from Nashville.
She has developed a tie to this community as producer of rising Marion entertainers Cutter and Cash and The Kentucky Grass.
The band's Cutter Singleton is among more than 100 seniors who will graduate tonight at Rocket Arena.
Tickets are limited due to capacity of the building. Each senior has 11 tickets to provide their family members.
Commencement begins at 6pm.
Marion and Crittenden-Livingston Water District have received around $4 million to bolster their efforts to provide drinking water security in the city and across the region.
Announcements made yesterday about two community block grants by Gov. Andy Beshear are being met with applause by local leaders.
These recent financial awards bring Marion and Crittenden-Livingston Water District's financial windfall to about $16 million at this point, and insiders say there is more to come to help improve the availability of drinking water.
Get more details in next week's full edition of The Crittenden Press.
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Fohs Hall Inc. and Crittenden County Fiscal Court have agreed to a grant application for a Recreational Trails Program for the walking trails, landscaping and restrooms phase of the Fohs Hall Park Project.
The proposed walking trail will extend from what’s known as the Hayward House property across from Fohs Hall to behind the nearby Senior Citizens Center. Fohs Hall is applying for a $250,000 gran, 20% of which will be from local funds or in-kind services. The project also has the support of Crittenden County Tomorrow and Marion Tourism Commission, Fohs Hall leaders said in a recent news release.
A public hearing will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, May 24 at Fohs Hall to hear comments on the proposed grant application.
Fohs Hall was recently notified that a grant it applied for last year to build a rotunda on the site had been denied. So it’s regrouping and devoting efforts toward a different part of its longterm plans to develop the property across North Walker Street from the historic cultural arts center.
Crittenden County High School has chosen to move its commencement ceremonies Friday into Rocket Arena based on the forecast of rain.
Graduates have been given 11 tickets for their respective families.
Building fire code restrictions have prompted that limitation because this will be a large graduating class.
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Lone Star Building Supply is located on U.S. 62 between Princeton and Eddyville.
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His son, Trent, used to “travel everywhere” playing football when he was young.
“He started playing contact football at age 4. You were not supposed to start until you were 5 but he was bigger than most kids and we snuck him there, which was probably one of the silliest things I ever did,” Dondi said. “He played football and was a middle linebacker, quarterback or tailback up until the sixth grade and then told me he loved basketball more and would rather spend time in the gym getting better. It has been basketball ever since.”
It was a wise decision. He scored 3,707 points, fifth most in state history, his five seasons at Harlan County and averaged 29.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game as a senior when he led Harlan County to the state championship game.
He originally signed with South Carolina — he was not offered a scholarship by then UK coach John Calipari — but after Mark Pope was hired at Kentucky, Trent Noah decommitted from the Gamecocks and a few days later signed with UK. He was the first UK basketball signee from Harlan County since Dick Parsons (1958-61) and only the fourth overall — Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones (1945-49), Rudy Yessin (1943-44), and Henry Farmer (1911-1913).
Dondi said it was impossible to put into words how stressful the 48 hours after his son’s decision to decommit from South Carolina were. Schools could not reach out to him until he had his release from South Carolina. However, once Pope and Kentucky reached out, Trent Noah quickly said yes to the offer.
“Obviously Kentucky could not contact us. We were on pins and needles after he made the decision (not to attend South Carolina). He walked out on a limb of faith and didn’t know what would happen,” Dondi said. “When the phone rang the first time (with a scholarship offer), it brought a lot of relief. It was not UK that called first but that gave us hope and then obviously the home run call came from UK.
“Coach Pope called Trent the first time in between a couple of speaking engagements. The next day all the UK coaches, me and his mom and him all got on a Zoom call together and it took Trent about a half-second to accept the scholarship offer.”
Dondi likely would have said yes just as quick based on his childhood.
“I was born in 1970 and was a coal miner’s son. There was a coal operator who lived here and about once a week he would tell six or seven of us kids who lived nearby that (UK All-American) Kyle Macy would be at his house. He would fly players in on his helicopter and us kids would be screaming,” Dondi said.
This spring The Crittenden Press is celebrating ten professionals in the top
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Buntin Auction Service is conducting a summer consignment sale Saturday, June 8.
Farm equipment, vehicles, tools, trailers, poultry and much more have been consigned and will be accepted through June 7. No consignments will be accepted day of sale.
Call Curt Buntin (270) 704-0726 to consign.
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A reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the individual or individuals responsible for vandalism at home on KY 1901 near Mattoon. Considerable damage to the home and its contents were reported to the Crittenden County Sheriff's Department.
Contact the Crittenden County Sheriff's Department if you have information that can help solve this case.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Crittenden County has three roads affected by water.
Cool Springs Road, Enon Church Road, and Providence Road – all in the eastern part of the county – have water over them. All are near the Tradewater River or its tributaries.
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It was the first time in many years that there were no felony indictments during a month.
Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Wes Hunt said it was merely an anomaly and does not suggest that crime is on decline.
There have been 24 individuals indicted this year by the grand jury over the first four months of 2024. Hunt said those numbers indicate a normal year so far with regard to prosecution of criminal activity.
Regular readers of The Crittenden Press full edition are aware that each month our coverage includes complete accounting of circuit court and grand jury. Every felony case heard in Crittenden County is reported on in your local newspaper. It's information you cannot find anywhere else other than at courtroom or from court records. This week's full edition of the newspapers has our regular report from circuit court, which includes probation revocations, bond hearings, pleadings and sentencings.
The Crittenden Press is your primary source of news and information for this community. We’re proud to serve our community and we take great pride in bringing you real news, sports reporting and other information that helps you know what’s going on in town and across the county. Help ensure that real reporting continues in this community by subscribing today. You can subscribe online to the full version of the newspaper for only $2.95 a month. Try our new e-Edition newspaper emailed straight to your inbox every Wednesday. Click here to SUBSCRIBE.
Copyright 2024
The Crittenden Press
In-person, early voting will be available beginning tomorrow in Marion.
Early voting can be done here on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Crittenden County Office Complex. Voting stations will be open from 8 a.m., to 4 p.m., each day.
Voters for all precincts may take advantage of the no-excuse early balloting. Take your driver’s license to the polling place.
This spring The Crittenden Press is celebrating ten professionals in the top
Kentucky Association of Manufacturers will be in Marion on Thursday, May 16 to meet and tour Par 4 Plastics.
Tim Capps, president of Par 4 Plastics, said the rendezvous of 30 to 40 executives from across Kentucky’s manufacturing sector is quite rare for a small, rural community. Previous venues for this event have included Toyota in Georgetown, Ashland Corporation, Woodford Reserve Distillery and the Corvette plant at Bowling Green.
“It’s an honor to have the association tour our plant and visit our community,” Capps said.
Crittenden County School District will host a meeting of the association while the leaders are in town.
Motorists traveling between Lyon and Crittenden counties are still having to self detour around a bridge on KY 295 at the county line which has been closed since early March. It appears the bridge will be remain closed for at least a few more months. There is some indication that it could be replaced at some point after July 1, at the earliest.
A routine inspection in March of the bridge that spans Livingston Creek found deterioration of structural beams underneath it. The bridge is located between Joe Peek Road in Lyon County and Millie Peek Road in Crittenden County.
This is a state bridge on a state highway and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is responsible for its repair or replacement.
Signs and barricades are posted on either side. About 675 vehicles travel across that bridge on a given day, according to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet data.
WATCH TOMORROW ON KET
Fearing an onslaught of fortune seekers on his property, the Kentucky farmer went to great lengths to remain anonymous and silent — until now.
“I initially found the 1856 Seated Liberty Half Dollar probably 20 to 30 feet from where the hoard was located,” the farmer told Kentucky Life. “I would have never believed what came next. Things that only happen in dreams. When I continued walking and saw the glint of gold – a thick reeded edge. When I pulled the coin from the ground, I was astonished when I realized I was holding a $20 Double Eagle from the 1860s. After I flipped the first clump of dirt over the next 45 minutes to an hour, the coins kept coming. I knew it was hundreds.”
On this special Kentucky Life episode, for the first time ever we hear from the farmer, as well as antique coin expert Jeff Garrett with Mid-America Rare Coin Galleries, offering their thoughts about that fateful day and the discovery now known as The Great Kentucky Hoard. We also hear from UK historian Amy Murell-Taylor on what was happening in Kentucky during the Civil War that may have led to these coins being put in the ground, and we go exploring with three guys who call themselves The Dirt Nerds as they search for buried treasure in the Bluegrass.
Kentucky Life - The Great Kentucky Hoard
KET Saturday, May 11 • 7 pm
KET2 Wednesday, May 15 • 1:30 pm
Watch on-demand at KET.org and on the PBS app
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The Crittenden Press is your primary source of news and information for this community. We’re proud to serve our community and we take great pride in bringing you real news, sports reporting and other information that helps you know what’s going on in town and across the county. Help ensure that real reporting continues in this community by subscribing today. You can subscribe online to the full version of the newspaper for only $2.95 a month. Try our new e-Edition newspaper emailed straight to your inbox every Wednesday. Click here to SUBSCRIBE.
Copyright 2024
The Crittenden Press
The Crittenden Press' Queen for a Day, chosen just in time for Mother's Day, is Margie Walker of Marion.Walker accepted a call to temporarily care for three children, then was granted full custody five years ago.Though she didn't become a mother biologically, her heart is full beyond belief from the relationships she has made with her children.Thank you to our Queen for a Day partners:
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Crittenden County schools will be dismissing at noon today due to the threat of severe weather this afternoon.
All after-school activities, including sports practices, are canceled for today.
To fly you'll need a REAL ID in one year.
Kentuckians are encouraged to be “REAL ID Ready,” because in one year, starting starting May 7, 2025, federal enforcement of the new identification system begins and the state's REAL ID will be required to board U.S. commercial flights and military bases,
“We want Kentuckians to be able to board a domestic flight or visit a loved one stationed on a military base without any snags in their plans, and taking the time now to make sure you have a form of REAL ID to ensure you can get to where you need to go,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “With many acceptable forms of REAL ID available, like a REAL ID driver’s license, military ID or passport, Kentuckians have several options to travel.”
State-issued REAL ID driving and identity credentials must be requested in person at any Driver Licensing Regional Office operated by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). One million Kentuckians have already opted for a REAL ID license or ID cardState REAL ID credentials are not the only forms of approved ID that federal authorities will accept. A valid passport or passport card, military ID or Department of Defense ID are other common forms of acceptable ID.
The full list of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved credentials can be found here. A Kentucky REAL ID is not valid for international travel.
Kentucky offers two versions of all driving and ID cards: a standard or REAL ID. A Kentucky REAL ID displays a black cutout star. A standard version displays the Kentucky Unbridled Spirit logo or the words “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES.” To find more information on the differences, click here.
“We don’t want anyone to get grounded by having the wrong ID and miss that important flight to a wedding or access onto a base to watch your child’s football game,” Transportation Secretary Jim Gray stated. “Applying for a REAL ID at one of our regional offices requires documentation so now is the perfect time to start gathering those before visiting an office. REAL ID driver’s licenses can be requested even if you’re not due to renew.”
For more information, visit www.realidky.com.
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Condemned by the City of Marion due to structural issues, the building was also formerly a high school built in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
Owner Tommy Wright said a contractor from Webster County will be razing the building. It could take a couple of weeks, he said, to tear it down and remove all of the debris.
See more in this week's full edition of The Press about efforts to salvage some of the old building and where its historic clock might end up.
The 6-2, 206-pound Davis had been perceived by many to be a likely commit to national champion Michigan but Kentucky recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow worked his Ohio magic again with the Cleveland star.
“I really was not surprised that he picked Kentucky,” said Cleveland Heights High School coach Mac Stephens. “I knew from way back that he was more than likely going to play in the SEC or Big Ten. Kentucky checked all the boxes for him and Vince is a phenomenal recruiter. Kentucky also does some things in the run game that really appealed to him.”
“I have known Vince for a few years now. He is a phenomenal guy and has a big personality. Vince has recruited other kids here, but I could tell there was a different level of interest in Marquise. Even Vince recognizes Marquise is so much better than even what we saw last year. I think you are going to see even a better version of him next season. He’s bigger, faster and strong as an ox.”
Davis is ranked as the nation’s No. 106 recruit by On3.com and 165 by 247Sports. Davis had a remarkable junior season when he was named the Gatorade Ohio Football Player of the Year. He ran for 2,405 yards and 34 touchdowns and on defense had 91 tackles and three interceptions, including one for a touchdown. The linebacker also had three forced fumbles.nCleveland Heights won the Greater Cleveland Conference and reached the OHSAA Division I regional semifinals.
Stephens said it was “pretty unusual” for a junior to be named the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year but also felt his star player should have won several awards that went to seniors.
“Here is the thing that a lot of people don’t realize. He was first team all-star at strong safety as a
Revenue from booze has hit an all-time record for the City of Marion this spring.
Marion collected $25,664.48 in taxes and license fees from legal alcohol sales during the first quarter of 2024, which ended March 31.
That’s higher than last year’s first quarter by more than $1,600 and higher than any other previous quarter since legal liquor sales began here in 2019.
For more on this matter see the May 2, 2024 full edition of The Crittenden Press.
The Crittenden Press is your primary source of news and information for this community. We’re proud to serve our community and we take great pride in bringing you real news, sports reporting and other information that helps you know what’s going on in town and across the county. Help ensure that real reporting continues in this community by subscribing today. You can subscribe online to the full version of the newspaper for only $2.95 a month. Try our new e-Edition newspaper emailed straight to your inbox every Wednesday. Click here to SUBSCRIBE.
Copyright 2024
The Crittenden Press
This spring The Crittenden Press is celebrating ten professionals in the top
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Crittenden County Project Development Board will meet at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday at Crittenden County Office Complex. The board is overseeing demolition of the existing courthouse and construction of a new justice center in town.
An active milling and paving operation is underway along I-24 eastbound and westbound between the 29 and 33 mile marker as part of a maintenance project to renew the roadway. Heavy traffic through the work zone has resulted in backups of up to 5 miles. Peak delays have been observed 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
To avoid traffic delays in the I-24 work zone, motorists should consider a self-detour along U.S. 62 between I-24 Eddyville-Kuttawa Exit 40 and I-24 Calvert City Exit 27 until the milling and paving operation is completed around August 1.
Motorists who travel U.S. 62 between Exit 40 and Exit 27 should be aware of heavier than usual traffic following the alternate route.
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STATE BUNGLES APRIL RENEWAL NOTICES
If your vehicle registration was to expire in April, you may not have realized it. Because of a glitch in the Kentucky Revenue Cabinet, notices that should have gone out in March for April renewals are just now being mailed.Crittenden County Clerk Daryl Tabor says his office had nothing to do with the late mailings, but believes his clerks will bear much of the negative feedback from frustrated auto owners once they get their renewal notices. Tabor said June notices were mailed early by the state, but April and May were not sent on time.
Tabor said Crittenden County is waiving any late fees or penalties for April renewals, which actually became delinquent on Wednesday.
“Drivers need to know that their decals could be expired and if they’re pulled over, they will get a ticket,” Tabor said.
The clerk points out that automobile owners do not need a renewal notice to go ahead and pay their April taxes and registration fees. For the fastest service, go to Drive.Ky.Gov to renew online if possible. You may also go to the clerk’s office to renew in person.
Online renewals are not available if previous balances are owed or if insurance information is not on file.
Kentucky’s new Automated Vehicle Information System (KAVIS) was launched in January and has been hampered by rollout problems. The system is used by county clerk staff to perform vehicle and boat transactions and to generate user data used to mail notices. April’s delayed renewal notices are the latest in a series of growing pains since the state started KAVIS. The state said changes were necessary to replace a 1970s-era computer system.
“He was the guy who sacrificed it all and did whatever was asked of him. He started and then Walter (McCarty) did in that spot but he did not care because he wanted to win. He was selfless,” said former UK teammate Derek Anderson.
“We all voted for him as team captain. Usually you do not have a senior captain coming off the bench but he was different. He was tremendous for us with his sacrifice and effort. He cares more about UK than he does anything else and always has. That’s his passion. We knew who he was and he was our captain. He was an impactful person and an impactful player. It just went hand in hand with him.”
Anderson valued Pope so much as a teammate that he flew into Lexington from Los Angeles on the day of Pope’s introductory press conference as UK’s new coach and flew back to LA later the same night.
“I was not going to miss that,” Anderson laughed and said. “I would have flown more than four years to be there for him.”
Maybe that’s why Pope gave the national championship trophy to Anderson to hold after the new coach carried it off the bus when it rolled into Rupp Arena to mimic UK’s 1996 national championship reception.
“We were on the bus talking about who should take the trophy and somebody said I should take it because I had better hands. So rather than take a chance on breaking it, I did it for the team just like Mark used to do things for our team.”
Anderson said UK athletics director Mitch Barnhart knew the support Pope would have from former players when he hired him following John Calipari’s resignation. The initial UK fan base may not have seemed overly thrilled with the pick but Anderson knew that would change.
“You are getting a coach who believes in Kentucky and believes you will win. No one could have wanted this job more than him and no one understands the history better,” he said. “Mark loves Kentucky and has
