Kentucky Biker Rally Time

The Kentucky Bike Rally at Sturgis is coming up July 18-21. 

Bikes, campers, trailers and more will increase traffic through Crittenden County as the event draws near. 

Cost of vehicle inspections rising

Cost for a sheriff’s department motor vehicle inspection is going up from $5 to $15 one week from today on Monday, July 15. 

The increase is due to legislation passed this spring as part of House Bill 833 that requires a uniform, electronic filing system to be used for inspections.

 If the sheriff’s department makes a “house call” to do an inspection, there is a $20 trip charge in addition to the inspection fee. Kentucky law requires that all out of state vehicles and salvage vehicles be inspected. 

Inspections include verification of Vehicle Identification Number and operation of blinkers, brake lights, head lights and other functions to assure a vehicle is suitable for operating on public roadway.

Tapestry to present Pink Floyd album

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The merger of rock and light opera will entertain audiences 

during a two-hour performance by the Tapestry July 13.

Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon is the majority of the 

content to be performed by the group in its return to Fohs Hall. 

The band features vocals by Corey, Michelle and Corey Crider, along with local youth Cale Tabor, all of Marion. Other band members are professionally trained and will entertain the crowd with the Pink Floyd tunes, along with other recognizable songs sprinkled throughout from arts like Phil Collins and Van Halen.

Tickets are $15.

Sheriff Seeks Your Tax Advice

No one wants to pay taxes, right? 

How about paying them later?

That is a question being posed by Sheriff Evan Head, who is responsible for collecting county property taxes every fall. 

The sheriff is proposing a later start date for tax collection beginning this year, which would be in line with last year’s temporary schedule. In 2023, tax collection was delayed a month from its traditional time frame because the county was moving from the courthouse to its new complex in Industrial Park South during October. 

Typically, over the past few decades, county taxes have been collected starting Oct. 1 with a two-percent discount period for the first month. Historically, the face value of the tax bill is owed during November and December, and anything paid after Dec. 31 of each year is subject to a late fee. 

The timing of tax season in 2023 coinciding with a move to the new complex prompted an adjustment in the routine schedule. 

“It would have been impossible to have collected in October last year because during the move we didn’t have an office set up or computers to record payments,” Head said.

So, a decision was made to begin collections in November. Payments in that month were awarded the early two-percent discount. Face value was charged on bills paid in December.

“We had some people who liked it, particularly farmers,” Head said. “Some of the farmers said it was the first time they had ever gotten the discount because they get their crop money in November and that’s when they are usually able to pay their taxes.”

Head says his office is interested in making tax payments as palatable as possible for property owners. If starting collections later, which allows the discount period in October, is more favorable, Head wants to facilitate that change.

The penalty period would start as always at the beginning of January. 

“It would be helpful to know if there are any negative reactions to the possibility of moving collections to November and giving the discount period from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30,” the sheriff said.

The sheriff suggests that taxpayers can contact his office at 270-965-3400 or via email at evan.head@crittendencountyky.org with comments regarding the possibility of changing the schedule for tax collections this fall to start on Nov. 1 rather than Oct. 1.

“We need to have a decision made on this by July 30,” Head said.

Also under consideration for this fall during tax collection season is acceptance of credit or debit cards for payments, something the county did not accept last year. If so, there would be a flat $2.50 fee for debit card and a 2.5-percent fee for credit cards. 

Postage stamps going up July 14

The price of postage is going up this month. Increases by the U.S. Postal Service take effect July 14. 

The new rates include a five-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 68 cents to 73 cents. 

The additional-ounce price for single-piece letters will increase from 24 cents to 28 cents. 

Domestic postcards are going up to 56 cents from 53. A First-Class Mail Forever stamp in 2014 was priced at 49 cents.

Tabor Road closing 2 days next week

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans daytime closures of Tabor Road in southern Crittenden County on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 9-10 to make improvements to the rural road that’s getting heavy traffic as a bypass because the bridge is out between Dycusburg and Eddyville.

Tabor Road (CR 1220) runs south from the intersection of KY 902 and KY 855 to connect with KY 1113 at the Crittenden-Lyon County Line.  It has been getting a high volume of traffic since KY 295 was forced to close March 7 due to substructure deterioration on the Livingston Creek Bridge.

Heavy traffic has created a number of issues along the 1.2 mile section of Tabor Road.  With assistance from Lyon County personnel, the KYTC Crittenden County Highway Maintenance crews plan to place gravel along the roadway to reinforce the shoulders.  Placement of equipment needed for the work will require the roadway to be closed.

Tabor Road in Crittenden County and the state section of KY 1113 in northern Lyon County will be closed to through-traffic from 7 a.m., to 5 p.m., for two days next week.  This closure includes all of Tabor Road (CR 1220) in Crittenden County and all of KY 1113 in Lyon County between KY 902 and KY 1943 (Skinframe Creek Road).

Maintenance workers will provide emergency vehicle access as necessary, and will allow local residents access with some delays likely.

KYTC District 1 engineers are continuing environmental permitting and design work to expedite construction of a new Livingston Creek Bridge on KY 295 about two miles south of the Dycusburg community.  Current expectation is that design and permitting efforts will progress enough to allow contractors to bid on the bridge replacement project in late summer or early fall.

Bucket blowout July 4 only

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Stuff your bucket and save 20%. That's the deal being offered from 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday, July 4 at H&H Home and Hardware.

The hardware store on Sturgis Road is giving you 20% off everything you can stuff in their Freedom Buckets. Read ad for details.