Lyon County Sheriff's Report

Lyon County Sheriff’s Office reported a series of crashes, arrests and warrant services during a weeklong span from April 14-20, including a drug-related arrest after a late-night 911 call in Lamasco.

The most serious criminal case came just before midnight Sunday, April 19, when Thomas C. Bush, 42, of Cadiz, called 911 to report someone was burglarizing his attic. Deputy Bobby Beeler responded to the Lamasco residence and found no one inside the home. According to the sheriff’s office, Bush had been using methamphetamine and was also in possession of the drug. He was arrested on charges of false reporting to law enforcement and first-degree possession of a controlled substance, second offense, involving methamphetamine. Deputies also determined Bush was wanted in Montgomery County, Tennessee, and added a fugitive from justice charge. He was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.

The sheriff’s office also reported 3 injury crashes during the period. On Thursday, April 16, Deputy Josh Travis investigated a single-vehicle wreck on Interstate 69 near U.S. 62. Authorities said Skyler P. Harris, 21, and passenger Makenna P. Hall, 23, both of Owensboro, were traveling south in a 2025 Ford during rainy conditions when Harris lost control, ran off the right shoulder, went down an embankment and struck a tree. Both were taken by Lyon County EMS to Lourdes Mercy Health Hospital with minor injuries.

On Saturday, April 18, Travis responded to another single-vehicle crash in the 3000 block of KY 1943. Authorities said Colleen G. Baldwin, 55, of Oakland Park, Florida, swerved to avoid a deer, lost control of her 2014 Jeep Patriot, left the roadway and hit a parked vehicle. She was taken to Marshall County Hospital for treatment.

Earlier in the week, Chief Deputy Sam Adams investigated a mishap at a boat ramp in Old Kuttawa when a 2004 Ford Excursion towing a boat trailer went into Lake Barkley while backing down the ramp. Authorities said driver Jacqueline Toppel, 72, of Princeton, lost control of the vehicle. No injuries were reported.

Other arrests included Angela G. Perez, also known as Angela Mallory, who was charged April 18 with fourth-degree assault, domestic violence, minor injury, and Kristy S. Moore, 45, of Cadiz, who was served a Crittenden Circuit Court bench warrant for contempt of court. Mark Thornton, 53, of Harrisburg, Illinois, was served 3 Union Circuit Court bench warrants for felony probation violations in separate cases. Deputies also served summonses on Sarah W. Riley, 37, of Marion, on a theft by deception charge involving cold checks under $300, and Amy N. Frazier, 48, of Eddyville, on a school attendance-related offense.

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE

The American Red Cross has scheduled upcoming blood donation opportunities in the area including stops in Marion and Fredonia, as part of a regional push to strengthen the spring blood supply.

A blood drive will be held at Saint William Catholic Church in Marion on April 27 from 1 to 6 p.m. Another opportunity is scheduled at Fredonia Mennonite Church on May 15 from 12 to 5 p.m.

The Red Cross is encouraging donors of all blood types to participate, noting that seasonal travel and shifting routines can reduce donations and strain supplies needed by hospitals and transfusion centers. Incentives are being offered, including a $15 e-gift card for donations made through April 30 and a $20 Amazon gift card for those who give May 1-17.

Legislative update | Sen. Jason Howell

As legislators returned to Frankfort for the final days of the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly, our focus was clear: finish with purpose and deliver results that matter to families across the commonwealth. Even in the closing hours, both chambers worked with discipline and resolve to advance policies that strengthen communities, support economic growth and position Kentucky as a place where people and businesses can thrive.

The General Assembly fulfilled its constitutional responsibility by overriding 30 vetoes issued by Governor Andy Beshear. These actions reflect a unified commitment to policies we believe best serve Kentuckians, particularly in education, school governance, energy, elections, firearms, gaming and early steps toward Medicaid reform. While differences between the legislative and executive branches are inherent to the process, our priority remains long-term stability and responsible governance. At the same time, the governor signed more than 130 bills into law this session, underscoring meaningful areas of bipartisan agreement.

Among the final measures passed was House Bill (H) 869, legislation that included several tax incentives and credits for economic expansion. It establishes a framework for sustainable aviation fuel credits to support Kentucky’s airports as competitive international hubs, streamlines pathways for farmers to bring products to market and strengthens the agricultural economy by reducing costs and improving margins. The bill also addresses the evolving needs of downtown Louisville by creating tax incentives to redevelop underutilized large office buildings, encouraging mixed-use investment, job creation and renewed economic activity in the urban core.

Senate Bill (SB) 197 makes strategic investments across several priorities including restoring support for local school districts implementing the new assessment and accountability system, strengthening local health departments and advancing the transformation of Kentucky State University into a residential polytechnic institution. It also supports completion of the Kentucky Exposition Center, funds a Louisville transportation tunnel feasibility study through the Kentucky State Fair Board and enhances oversight by the Kentucky Motor Vehicle Commission. Taken together, these efforts reflect a deliberate approach to strengthening education, public health, infrastructure and regulatory systems while advancing long-term economic development.

These are the other bills passed this week that have been delivered to the governor. 

I sponsored SB 214, which authorizes the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to accept and manage non-federal funds and grants from public and private sources. It also creates the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative pilot program to introduce youth in urban counties to agriculture. This bill brings agriculture to the urban areas, making our food production cycle tangible to those living in our major metropolitan areas. 

SB 37 designates the treeing Walker coonhound as the official state dog of Kentucky, recognizing the breed’s deep historical ties to Kentucky’s hunting heritage and outdoor traditions. The bill also includes both purebred and mixed breeds domestic cats and dogs as the official pets of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the eastern spotted skunk as the official state non-game mammal and the eastern hellbender as the official state amphibian of Kentucky. 

SB 66 modernizes Kentucky’s impaired driving laws to strengthen public safety and clarify enforcement. The bill codifies that refusing a blood test results in a court-ordered license suspension at arraignment, with additional suspension by the Transportation Cabinet upon a DUI conviction. It also updates per se DUI standards to include substances such as fentanyl, clonazepam, and cyclobenzaprine and clarifies

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Fire damages Marion home

MARION, Ky. - Firefighters responded late Saturday night to a structure fire at a vacant residence in Marion.

The Marion Fire Department was dispatched at 10:43 p.m. to 415 Maple St. on a report of flames and smoke visible. Crews arrived to find the front left corner and much of the left side of the home fully engulfed.

The residence, identified as a vacant rental property owned by Nora Belt, had no occupants at the time of the fire. However, officials noted that items inside the home and witness accounts indicated there had been very recent activity at the location.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control in approximately 30 minutes. Four Marion Fire Department members conducted an interior attack while additional personnel provided exterior support.

The Marion Fire Department was assisted on scene by the Crittenden County Fire Department, Marion Police Department, Crittenden County EMS and the Calloway County Sheriff’s Department, which was providing overnight coverage in Crittenden County.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Crews cleared the scene at 12:17 a.m. Sunday.

MPD monthly activity report

Click image to enlarge 

This report is published monthly in

The Crittenden Press full edition 

 

Heaviness settles across community

From the April 9, 2026 newspaper

There are places that sit just a little off the map, not because they are forgotten, but because they have never asked to be found. Here in our small village, what folks might call the backside of nowhere, we live without many of the things the larger world seems to require. We don’t have an interstate skirting the edge of town, a Walmart shopping center, a walk-in picture show, or traffic that hums like a restless, menacing bee. And for the most part, we have lived without something else, too, violent crime.

That absence, we have long believed, is part of the bargain, part of the deal.

There is a quiet peace to places like ours when you strip away the noise, the clutter and the constant motion that pulls the world elsewhere. What remains is a fragile kind of tranquility. And when that peace is broken, it does not scatter, it settles into the pit of our stomachs. It lingers. It hangs low over everything like a dark fog.

What happened here a couple of weeks ago has settled that way.

There are events that pass through a community like a brief storm, loud and sharp and then gone. And then there is pain that seeps into the very fabric of a place, into its schools and onto its porches, into conversations, into families, into the spirit and soul.

This one has done just that.

For the children in our schools, Deputy Rick Coyle was never just a badge or a uniform. He was presence. He was steadiness. A man who could stand in a hallway and make it feel anchored and safe. Students knew him in the easy way children know who can be trusted. It was something rare, security that didn’t have to announce itself. It was simply there... quiet, stoic and certain.

Teachers felt it, too. In rooms where the demands are constant and the certainties are few, his presence was a kind of blessed assurance. He watched without intruding. He understood without needing explanation. In him, they found not only protection, but partnership.

And beyond those walls, the wider community came to know the same man. He chose this place for his own.

After years spent in Chicago, in the hard edges and harder lessons of a city that asks much of those who serve it, after decades that included time on a SWAT team and more than 2,000 missions, he came here, not to disappear, but to give again. He taught. He mentored. He shaped younger officers across Marion and throughout this region, passing along knowledge that cannot be found in manuals or classrooms, only in lived experience. Those who serve beside him say he may well be the most experienced, most thoroughly trained deputy this county has ever known.

And so the question lingers, heavy and unresolved. How does something like this find its way here? To a place that has long stood apart from such things. To a man who had already walked through the worst the world could offer and still chose to invest himself in something smaller, quieter and, we believed, safer.

This is not simply an incident to be recorded and filed away. It is the first time in modern memory that an officer here has been shot. It is a wound layered and deep, felt by children who this week notice the absence in their hallways, by teachers who feel the difference in the air, by fellow officers who stood alongside him, and by neighbors and townspeople who are shocked and grieving.

Sheriff Evan Head and Deputy James Duncan, who stood with him on that call between Mattoon and Sturgis, now carry their own burden from that day. And so, too, does the Phillips family, who, in their own way, are left to bear the weight of a horrific act and a single, irreversible decision.

It is a burden that will not easily be set down. They all will need the steady hand of a community that understands how to stand together when there is little else to be done.

And in the stillness that has followed, in the long pause that comes after something we never expected to face, one truth remains.

Choices are forever. Whether we choose rightly or wrongly, there are consequences that do not fade.

Deputy Coyle chose to be a lawman because it is what he was called to do. Policing and his life are bound together.

And those choices, bold in one life, misjudged in another, are now something this community will carry for a long time. Something owed. Something remembered. Something that, in its weight, reminds us just how dangerous, and just how fragile, even the safest places can be.

Chris Evans, a newspaperman since 1979, has been editor of The Press for more than 30 years and is the author of South of the Mouth of Sandy, a true story about crime along the Tennessee River. You can find it on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

Quilt show Saturday at CCPL

On display this coming weeekend will be stunning quilts, crochet and needlework by local hands. 

It’s all part of a cozy celebration of creative tradition and community from 9 a.m., to 4 p.m., Saturday, April 25 at Crittenden County Public Library. 

The annual Hooks and Neeles Quilt Show is spearheaded by Crittenden County Extension Homemakers.

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Legislative Review | Sen. Jason Howell

As the 2026 Legislative Session enters its final days, we are wrapping up our work, sending legislation to the governor and preparing to return to consider any vetoes. This is where months of work come together and every bill is finalized before becoming law.  

These final days are an important part of the process. They ensure that the work Kentuckians sent us here to do is completed and that every piece of legislation is fully considered before it takes effect.

Delivering a responsible budget and real results

Over the last full week of session, we took major steps to finalize a responsible budget and make smart investments that will benefit communities across Kentucky, including those right here in our 1st Senate District.

We approved a balanced two-year budget that continues strong support for education, fully funds pensions and brings more oversight to Medicaid. In total, the budget directs more than $32 billion toward core services and essential government functions. 

We also decided to limit spending growth in other areas to ensure long-term stability. This approach reflects a commitment to responsible budgeting while continuing to invest in priorities that matter most to Kentucky families.

Education  

Over the next two years, we increased per-pupil funding by 2 percent to continue supporting our public schools. We also committed an additional $500 million to strengthen our pension system, building on years of progress that have led to one of the most significant turnarounds in the country.  

In total, SEEK funding alone exceeds $7 billion, with additional support going toward early childhood education, student services and classroom support. These investments reflect our ongoing commitment to students, teachers and families across Kentucky.

Medicaid  

Medicaid continues to be one of the fastest-growing areas of our budget, now accounting for about $6 billion in state funding each year, second only to K-12 education.  

We took steps in this budget to increase oversight and control costs while protecting services for those who rely on the program. At the same time, we limited spending growth in other areas of government to keep the budget sustainable long term.

One-time transformative investments

As a meaningful investment in Kentucky’s future, we passed House Bill (HB) 900 to invest $1.7 billion from our budget reserve trust fund into communities across Kentucky. We are directing these dollars toward infrastructure, economic development and workforce needs without creating new ongoing costs in

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Lyon County Sherff's Report

Thomas Prevatte

On Thursday, April 9, 2026, around 3:45 p.m., Sheriff Brent White charged Thomas J. Prevatte, 46, of Princeton, on a Lyon Circuit Court indictment warrant for offenses that occurred Feb. 24, 2026. The charges were levied by a recent Lyon County grand jury and are as follows:

• Theft by unlawful taking auto (less than $10,000) by complicity
• Theft by unlawful taking all others (less than $10,000) by complicity
• Trafficking in a controlled substance, first degree, by complicity (more than 2 grams of methamphetamine)
• Drug paraphernalia — buy/possess by complicity
• Criminal attempt — fleeing or evading police, first degree (motor vehicle)
• Wanton endangerment, first degree
• Wanton endangerment, first degree (police officer)
• Criminal mischief, first degree
• Terroristic threatening, third degree
• No registration plates
• No registration receipt
• Failure of non-owner to maintain required insurance, first offense
• Operating on a suspended or revoked license
• Failure to wear seat belts
• Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, second offense
• Persistent felony offender II

Prevatte was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.

Prevatte and a Princeton female were originally charged following a Feb. 24 standoff stemming from a theft investigation in Lyon County. They were taken into custody following at standoff at Dollar General Store next to I-24 on KY 293.

In other cases:

On Monday, April 6, 2026, around 4:40 p.m., Sheriff Brent White served a Lyon Circuit Court bench warrant for contempt of court on Shane L. Jones, 53, of Kuttawa. Jones’ original charges include possession of a controlled substance, first degree (methamphetamine); possession of marijuana; and drug paraphernalia. Jones was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.

On Monday, April 6, 2026, around 5:45 p.m., Deputy Bobby Beeler made contact with a female from

Moratorium announced on city citations

City of Marion has announced a temporary moratorium on citations for rubbish and junk in residential yards as officials prepare for an upcoming free dump day.

City leaders said the pause is intended to give residents time to clean up their properties and take advantage of the free disposal opportunity. During the amnesty period, officials will focus on outreach efforts, including sending notices, distributing door hangers and speaking directly with residents about cleanup expectations.

Although a date for the free dump day has not been established, local leaders anticipate it to be held in early May.

Once the free dump day has passed, enforcement will resume and citations will be issued for properties that remain in violation. City officials said the approach is designed to encourage voluntary compliance before penalties are enforced.

Council appoints two to planning and zoning

At a special meeting recently, Marion City Council approved two appointments to the Marion Planning and Zoning Commission, naming Scott Tabor and Alec Pierce to fill seats formerly held by Joe Hunt and Casey Winstead.

The planning and zoning commission meets on an as-needed basis rather than on a regular schedule.

In related business, the council finalized passage of measures tied to nuisance enforcement and is considering issuing a request for proposals to establish a formal towing and storage arrangement. City Administrator Adam Ledford said Marion currently operates without a formal agreement and has been reviewing how other Kentucky cities handle the process.

The proposed system would be non-exclusive, allowing multiple towing providers while establishing standards for storage, insurance and procedures for abandoned vehicles. Under the plan, towing companies could eventually seek legal authority to dispose of vehicles, with proceeds first going toward city costs.

The council also approved a list of surplus property that will be advertised for sale.

Free tree seedlings in Livingston County

Livingston County Conservation District will give away free tree seedlings to county residents during the grand opening of the Livingston Central FFA Greenhouse on Tuesday, April 14.

The event begins at 9 a.m. and will continue until the seedlings are gone. Available varieties include hazelnut, common persimmon, loblolly pine, silky dogwood, pin oak, pecan and white pine. The district purchased the seedlings through the Kentucky Division of Forestry.

The greenhouse opening also will serve as a chance to support the Livingston Central High School FFA chapter through plant sales. Flowers, hanging baskets, vegetables, herbs and succulents will be available for purchase.

Visitors are asked to enter behind Livingston Central High School.

Courthouse in downtown is taking shape

Progress is being made on the new downtown

judicial center in Marion, Kentucky, which is scheduled

to open in about a year

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Sheriff's says road signs begin stolen

A Kuttawa man was arrested following a two-vehicle crash Monday morning, March 30, in the Eureka community, according to the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Brent White reported the collision occurred around 7:30 a.m. on KY 1271. A 2007 Chrysler 300 driven by Richard N. Thompson Jr., 36, was traveling westbound when it crossed the center line and struck a 2005 Ford Expedition driven by Helen M. Evans, 45, of Kuttawa.

Evans had just come through a curve and observed Thompson’s vehicle in her lane. She attempted to avoid the crash but was unable to do so. Both drivers sustained minor injuries and refused medical treatment at the scene.

Thompson was arrested and charged with reckless driving and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance, first offense. He was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.

The sheriff’s office was assisted at the scene by the Kuttawa Fire Department and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

In a separate matter, the sheriff’s office is investigating a series of stolen road signs reported over the past several weeks. Officials said multiple signs have been taken from roads across the county, including Bent Tree Lane, Birdie Bannister Road, Cummins Lane and Poplar Creek Road, among others.

White said the thefts pose a safety risk and strain county resources. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office.

Fund established to benefit deputy's family

MARION, Ky. – An assistance fund to help the family of critically wounded Crittenden County Deputy Rick Coyle has been established and donations can be made at any Farmers Bank and Trust location in western Kentucky. Proceeds will assist the family with travel and other expenses as Coyle remains in an Evansville Hospital. 

Coyle was shot twice last week while on duty in rural Crittenden County. For further information see this week's full edition of The Crittenden Press where will have the latest on this investigation.

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Prayer vigil tonight on campus for SRO

A community prayer vigil for Crittenden County Sheriff’s Deputy and School Resource Officer Rick Coyle will be held at 6 p.m., tonight on the Crittenden County High School football field.

Coyle was critically wounded in Thursday evening’s shooting in rural Crittenden County while taking part in an operation with the sheriff’s office.

In the event of bad weather, the vigil will be moved inside Rocket Arena.

Deputy and SRO Coyle critically injured in shooting

Rick Coyle

MARION, Ky. – A Crittenden County sheriff’s deputy who also serves as the school resource officer for Crittenden County High School and Middle School was shot Thursday afternoon during an officer-involved incident in rural Crittenden County.

The Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team is investigating the shooting, which occurred around 5 p.m. April 2 at a residence on KY 365 near Sturgis.

According to KSP, deputies with the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office, along with staff from the Kentucky Department of Community Based Services, were attempting to serve emergency guardianship paperwork when gunfire was exchanged.

Deputy Rick Coyle, who also serves as the district’s school resource officer, was struck by gunfire and airlifted to Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, Ind., where he remains in critical condition.

The suspect, identified as Ronnie Phillips, 60, was fatally wounded during the exchange.

Authorities said a female victim was safely removed from the residence, and no other injuries were reported.

Multiple agencies assisted at the scene, including the Caldwell, Livingston, Lyon and Union county sheriff’s offices, Marion Police Department, Crittenden County EMS and Crittenden County Coroner Brad Gilbert.

KSP officials said the agency was requested by Post 2 in Madisonville to lead the investigation, which remains ongoing. State police noted that further details will be released once interviews are completed and key facts are confirmed.

Cross walk today; Egg hunt tonight

Local Christians will begin celebrating Easter Weekend today with a non-denominational community event to recognize Good Friday in downtown Marion. Also, Marion Baptist Church's annual Easter Egg Hunt has been moved to tonight at 6pm due to tomorrow's weather forecast.

Beginning at 11:30 a.m., Friday there will be a cross walk along Main Street from Elm Street to West Bellville Street and will end at Marion First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Following the cross walk, there will be a Good Friday message at noon at the church then a free, light meal in its fellowship hall. 

Marion Baptist Church had originally planned its egg hunt for 10 a.m., Saturday at Crittenden County Fairgrounds. Those plans have changed and the event will be at 6pm Friday at the fairgrounds.

This Sunday is Easter, which concludes Holy Week. It is typically the most attended church service of the year, celebrating the resurrection and the promise of new life. 

Two shot, including one lawman at rural home

MARION, Ky. – A Crittenden County Deputy and another individual were shot during a confrontation at a rural Crittenden County residence around 5 p.m. Thursday.

The law enforcement officer was taken to a regional hospital. The condition of the other individual has not been released, but the coroner has arrived at the scene.

A woman inside the residence was transported by ambulance to a hospital, but she was apparently not injured in the gunfire.

Information remains limited. It appears law enforcement had responded to the residence on KY 365 between Mattoon and Sturgis, about three miles from U.S. 60, for a welfare check.

At some point, it appears the deputy was shot by an individual at the home. Investigators have not released who shot the man at the home or other details about the incident. 

Kentucky State Police Capt. Derek Smith said the Critical Incident Response Team is on the scene and that state police are leading the investigation.

The Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department, Marion Police Department and law enforcement agencies from Livingston, Caldwell, Union and Lyon counties were also at the scene. Sheriff’s departments from nearby counties will temporarily provide manpower to assist the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies throughout the county.

This post was updated at 8:45 p.m. with new information.

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Kentucky US Senate candidate Barr in Marion

Farmers Bank President Wade Berry introduces
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr at today's speaking event

MARION, Ky. – U.S. Rep. Andy Barr made a campaign stop in Marion on Wednesday at Farmers Bank as he seeks the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mitch McConnell. Barr, a Lexington native now serving his seventh and final term in the House, is among leading GOP candidates in a primary field that includes former Attorney General Daniel Cameron and businessman Nate Morris. The eventual Republican nominee will face a Democratic challenger in November in what will be a closely watched open-seat race.

Speaking to a crowd of regional officials, bankers and business leaders from across Western Kentucky, Barr introduced himself as an eighth-generation Kentuckian with a background in law, business representation and economic development. He emphasized his work on the House Financial Services Committee and his advocacy for community banks, calling them “the American dream makers” and stressing the need for tailored regulations rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Barr centered much of his message on economic growth and national security, tying both to energy production in Kentucky. He argued the state is positioned to become an “energy juggernaut” through coal, natural gas, hydro and nuclear development, particularly as demand rises from emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. He warned of competition from China in both economic and military arenas and said expanding domestic energy production is critical to maintaining U.S. global leadership while creating jobs in regions like Western Kentucky.

Throughout his remarks, Barr leaned heavily on themes of persistence, work ethic and opportunity, citing his own narrow 2010 congressional loss before later winning the seat as evidence of determination. He said he is running to “restore the American dream” amid rising costs and economic uncertainty, pledging to use his experience and relationships in Washington to deliver for Kentucky. Barr also highlighted his support of former President Donald Trump and positioned himself as a candidate who can win statewide by appealing to both Republican and swing voters.

Pictured is Barr speaking with local airport board chairman Jim Johnson.

Almost forgotten hero restored to glory

This the stone after it was restored
and reset on a large base

SMITHLAND, Ky. – An interesting discovery was made in November 2024 in the Smithland Cemetery.  While filling in holes in the cemetery with a tractor, it was discovered, leaning up against a tree, a very old monument for Chaylon Gorden, a man who died in 1923 at the age of 43.  

Who was this man whose stone was carelessly propped up against a tree at the bottom of the hill? With the help of Livingston County cemetery historians, Wanda Trail and her son, Mark Trail, it was discovered that Chaylon Gorden was a hero in his day.

Newspaper archives revealed that in 1901 Chaylon and a friend, William Webb, were on the steamboat, the City of Golconda, which was headed to Paducah from Smithland when the boat sank in a storm just off Cottonwood Bar in the Ohio River.  As it turns out, Gorden, a 21-year-old Black man, and William Webb, another young Black man, rescued a White woman, the wife of the boat’s engineer, and her child from the sinking vessel.  Twelve or more drowned in the incident.  Among those who perished were passengers from Smithland, Paducah, Grahamville, and Evansville. The vessel included Smithland Cemetery committee member Billy Downs’ great-great uncle, Watts Davis, who was taking five head of cattle to market in Paducah.  

The Smithland Cemetery Committee felt Chaylon Gorden deserved better than to have his stone propped up against a tree.  Henry & Henry Monument Company of Marion picked up and cleaned his stone, then remounted it on a base. Henry & Henry delivered the restored monument to the Smithland Cemetery and replaced it on a concrete base, located as nearly as could be determined where Chaylon is buried. The cemetery association is grateful to Henry & Henry for its help in a very worthwhile historic restoration.  

The Smithland Cemetery is maintained solely by charitable, tax-deductible donations. 

This araticle was submitted by the Smithland Cemetery Committee
The article first appeared in the March 26, 2026 Crittenden Press

Murder trial ends abruptly with plea deal

MARION, Ky. – After more than four years of waiting, the Timothy Paris murder trial came to an unexpected and abrupt end Monday when a plea deal was reached midway through the proceedings.

Paris, 41, was accused of shooting his father during an argument in the winter of 2022.

What had been scheduled as a four-day trial concluded in less than two days, bringing a sudden close to a case that has drawn significant attention across the community.

For full details on how the case unfolded and what led to the agreement, see this week’s edition of The Crittenden Press. Visit our website to subscribe for full access.

Pictured is defendant Timothy Paris shaking hands with this attorney Richard Walls.
 

City council special meeting Tuesday

Marion City Council will hold a special called meeting at 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 31 at the Crittenden County Office Complex. The meeting was originally scheduled for Marion City Hall but has been relocated because of a trial underway at city hall.

Items on the agenda include confirmation of mayoral appointments to the Marion Planning & Zoning Commission, consideration of issuing a request for proposals for towing and vehicle storage services, and discussion of two resolution, one declaring certain city-owned property as surplus and another designating an agent to handle required documentation for disaster relief and emergency assistance funding.

Legislative Update | Sen. Jason Howell

With the end of the 2026 Regular Session in sight, work in Frankfort has entered a busy final stretch. These closing weeks often bring some of the most consequential conversations of the session, as legislation developed and debated over the past several months begins moving through the remaining stages of the process.

Three pieces of legislation I sponsored have made it to the governor’s desk for signature this week.

Senate Bill (SB) 5 makes it easier for Kentucky schools to buy fresh, local food by removing certain bidding rules and defining what counts as “Kentucky-grown.” It supports student health and boosts local farming. The bill allows school boards and districts to work more directly with in-state farmers to bring nutritious food into school meals. The measure supports student health, strengthens local agriculture and advances the broader Food is Medicine initiative led by Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell. The bill takes effect immediately upon its filing with the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office. 

SB 73 lets small Kentucky producers make and sell tallow- and pork-based cosmetic products from home under state safety rules, thus supporting local entrepreneurship. It adds rules for farm-based poultry sales and further protects working livestock dogs. Local governments can collaborate with nonprofits to care for stray horses with liability protections, too.

SB 158 sets clear rules to protect consumers when buying optional financial products tied to vehicle purchases, such as debt cancellation or value protection plans. The bill ensures these products are optional, clearly disclosed and priced separately from loan interest. It prevents lenders or dealers from requiring consumers to purchase them as a condition of financing or a vehicle sale. The bill stipulates that vehicle value protection agreements are not insurance products and must be disclosed as such, applies enforcement under Kentucky’s Consumer Protection Act and establishes additional regulatory standards for these agreements. There is now a regulatory framework for credit personal property insurance, including limits on coverage, consumer disclosure requirements and oversight by the Department of Insurance. The legislation applies to new agreements beginning Jan. 1, 2027. 

Other bills are moving quickly between the House and Senate as lawmakers work through a wide range of policy issues before sending legislation to the governor for consideration. The volume and variety of proposals reflect the broad scope of issues the Kentucky General Assembly has taken up this year, from education and workforce initiatives to regulatory oversight, economic policy and public safety.

In even-numbered years, the General Assembly meets for 60 legislative days, and we are now approaching the final portion of that calendar. Over the coming days, legislation passed by both chambers will move through the governor’s review period, when bills may be signed into law, vetoed or allowed to become law without a signature.

Lawmakers will then return for the final legislative days of the session to consider any vetoes and complete the remaining work before adjourning sine die, and formally closing the 2026 session on April 15.

One major piece of unfinished business remains the state budget, which outlines Kentucky’s spending priorities for the next two fiscal years. Budget negotiations are continuing as lawmakers work to reach an

Murder trial continues today in Marion

MARION, Ky. – Testimony resumes this morning in Crittenden Circuit Court in the Timothy W. Paris murder trial at Marion City Hall.

Paris, 41, is charged with killing his 80-year-old father, Jerry Paris, on Feb. 28, 2022, at the elder Paris’ home off Blackburn Church Road in rural eastern Crittenden County. Investigators allege that Paris shot his father twice with a .41-caliber handgun during a confrontation at the residence. He has been held on a $1 million bond since his arrest.

A jury was seated Friday morning, and a number of witnesses testified for the prosecution in the afternoon, including law enforcement officers who responded to the scene after a 911 call from the victim’s other son, Eric Paris, who lives in Henderson.

A 911 recording made to Marion emergency dispatch was entered into evidence on the trial’s first day.

Testimony and recordings indicate that the defendant and his father had gotten into an altercation on the night before the fatal shooting. Both of Jerry Paris’ adult sons were at the Crittenden County home when it happened, along with a grandchild. The defendant had a shotgun in his hand during that initial encounter, according to testimony. 

After Timothy Paris and his father were separated, the defendant’s brother and his family returned home to Henderson. The next day, Eric Paris attempted to reach his father by phone, but his calls went unanswered. Shortly thereafter, testimony showed that the accused called his brother and admitted he had shot their father.

Former Crittenden County sheriff Wayne Agent testified that when he arrived at the scene and found the elder Paris dead, he also located Timothy Paris at a secondary residence near the victim’s home. The former sheriff testified that the defendant admitted to him that he shot his father.

The prosecution is expected to continue presenting its case this morning when the trial resumes at 8:30 a.m. Expected to testify today are the medical examiner and the case’s lead detective. 

The defense did not present an opening statement Friday, opting to defer until the start of its case after the prosecution rests.

Three days this week are set aside for trial.

C-PLANT | Monday NewsCast

 

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On Today's show with visit with Lee Conrad

to discuss a very uncomfortable yet urgent topic.

Conrad is outgoing chair of the

National Mental Health Alliance in Kentucky

and a Crittenden County native.

Marion flushing water system overnight

 

City of Marion will flush its drinking water distribution system beginning Sunday night, March 29, through early Friday morning, April 3, as part of routine maintenance and efforts to support water quality. 

Flushing will occur nightly from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. during that period. 

City officials said customers may experience temporary low water pressure and could notice discolored water during the process.

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LWK coming to Marion Thursday

MARION, Ky. – Crittenden County officials and business leaders will host Leadership West Kentucky for a daylong community and industry tour Thursday, March 26, beginning at Marion Methodist Church and traveling to multiple sites across Crittenden and Livingston counties.

The agenda includes stops at Riley Tool and Machine, the Marion-Crittenden County James C. Johnson Regional Airport, Fohs Hall and the Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum, along with tours in Salem of the Crittenden Livingston Water District treatment plant and Pine Bluff Sand and Gravel’s Cumberland River Quarry. The day also features lunch and speakers at Deer Lakes Golf Course Clubhouse and will conclude with an afterhours gathering at The Wake Club at Lighthouse Landing in Grand Rivers.

Leadership West Kentucky is an affiliate of West Kentucky Regional Chamber Alliance (WKRCA), a formal alliance of chambers of commerce in 14 counties in far western Kentucky.  Its purpose is to provide a unified voice for local businesses in the region and to serve as a catalyst for regional leadership and action, bringing together resources for legislative, educational, infrastructure and economic development advocacy.

Member counties are Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, McCracken, Marshall, and Trigg. Each year, applicants from every county apply to be part of the LWK tour.

City will host "Listening Sessioin"

City of Marion will host a public listening session on Thursday, April 9, at 6 p.m. at Marion City Hall, 217 South Main Street.

The session will serve as an open forum for residents and stakeholders to share ideas and proposals related to funding priorities and expenditures for the city’s 2026-27 fiscal year budget.

City Administrator Adam Ledford will host the meeting, which is intended to gather public input ahead of the upcoming budget process.

For more information, contact Marion City Hall at 270-965-2266.

Use-of-Force Training Simulator at Marion PD

Marion Police Department officer Rome Dickerson participates in a use-of-force training scenario using a video simulation system temporarily set up at Marion City Hall. The simulator projects life-size, interactive situations, ranging from traffic stops to active threats, allowing officers to make split-second decisions in a controlled environment. In this scenario, Dickerson responds to a hallway encounter involving a potentially armed suspect while a second individual lies on the ground, testing judgment, threat assessment and de-escalation skills.

Law enforcement agencies across the country increasingly use these immersive simulators to supplement live training, as they can replicate high-risk encounters without physical danger while tracking reaction time, accuracy and decision-making.

Consider Fohs Hall for your special event

Click Image to Enlarge

Planning a bridal shower, class reunion or special 

event? Consider holding that event at Fohs Hall.

Fohs Hall, a beautiful 100-year-old cultural arts 

center, is the area's premier special events venue. 

For rental information, contact Elliot West.

 

Lyon County Sheriff's Activity Report

Lyon County Sheriff’s deputies made several arrests over the past week, investigated a school assault and worked a two-vehicle crash at a busy intersection, according to a sheriff’s office media release.

Among the arrests, deputies on March 15 went to a Saratoga residence to serve an arrest warrant and took Caleb M. Wellborn, 30, of Eddyville into custody on a Lyon District Court bench warrant for failure to appear. While there, Sheriff Brent White identified Michael W. Reed, 47, of Calvert City, as being in violation of parole conditions. A vehicle search reportedly turned up marijuana, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Reed was charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance, second offense; possession of marijuana; and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both men were lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.

At Lyon County High School on March 16, School Resource Officer Jason Young investigated a disturbance in a lobby area and determined a 14-year-old male student assaulted another student without provocation, according to the release. The incident led to a second altercation involving the same two students. Young charged the juvenile with fourth-degree assault. The student was removed from school and released to a parent.

Later that evening, Deputy Bobby Beeler stopped a vehicle on Chestnut Oak Road near Green Road and arrested Tonya M. Breaux, 65, of Kuttawa, on a Lyon Circuit Court bench warrant for probation violation on a felony offense. She also was charged with failure to wear a seat belt, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.

On March 18, deputies served a complaint warrant on Brandon S. Ausherman, 35, of Eddyville, charging him with first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and theft by deception, including cold checks. Authorities allege he passed counterfeit currency at businesses in Kuttawa and said he is accused of similar offenses in Christian County. He was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.

Also on March 18, deputies served a Warren District Court bench warrant on Jessie A. Pytko, 37, of Bowling Green, charging her with nonpayment of court costs, fees or fines. She faces extradition to Warren County.

On March 19, Deputy Josh Travis served a Lyon District Court bench warrant on Justice M. Cordova, 31, of Salem, charging her with nonpayment of court costs, fees or fines. She was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.

Deputies also investigated a two-vehicle, non-injury crash March 21 at the intersection of Ky. 93, Ky. 293 and Ky. 1055. According to the sheriff’s office, Dakota J. Shaw, 22, of Carrollton, Ga., was driving a 2014 GMC Sierra and failed to yield at a stop sign on Ky. 1055, pulling into the path of a northbound 2011 GMC Acadia driven by Eric S. Johnson, 60, of Eddyville. No injuries were reported. Kuttawa’s fire chief assisted at the scene.

 

Another bridge sees weight limit drop

Jackson School Rd. Bridge over Dry Branch

A second posted weight restriction in less than a week on a rural Crittenden County bridge is creating immediate concerns for local travel and transportation.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has ordered a 3-ton weight limit on the Jackson School Road bridge over Dry Fork Livingston Creek following a structural review of the bridge’s substructure.

The restriction effectively limits the bridge to passenger vehicles, preventing use by school buses, farm equipment, emergency vehicles and other heavy traffic.

The posting comes on the heels of a similar action late last week involving the Chapel Hill Road bridge over Crooked Creek, which was reduced to a 13-ton limit. That change has already forced adjustments to at least one Crittenden County Schools bus route, adding time and mileage for students.

Updated signage for both bridges is has been installed

The back-to-back restrictions are raising concerns about transportation impacts across the county, particularly in rural areas where alternate routes can be limited.

More details on both bridge postings and their local impact will be included in an upcoming edition of The Crittenden Press.

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Mobile home fire in Marion Friday night

 

A mobile home fire last night in Marion resulted in a total loss of one trailer and damage to another.

No one was home at the time the fire was reported, and no injuries were reported. An indoor animal died in the fire.

A neighboring mobile home sustained heat damage, with siding melted from the exterior, but no structural damage was reported.

Firefighters from Marion, Crittenden County and Salem responded to the blaze and were on the scene for almost three hours.

Weekly Legislative Report | Sen. Howell

By KY State Senator Jason Howell

Before I get into my legislative update, know that I’m deeply saddened to learn of the loss of Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, a proud Kentuckian from Bardstown who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country overseas.

At just 34 years old, Pruitt exemplified the courage and dedication of our armed forces. Pruitt was among six airmen killed on March 12 when a KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq during a mission supporting Operation Epic Fury.

Her sacrifice is a solemn reminder that our freedoms are protected by those willing to serve in harm’s way. We extend our heartfelt prayers and deepest condolences to her family, fellow airmen, Bardstown and Nelson County.

Budget process

The Senate passed a balanced and responsible state budget that protects taxpayers, strengthens essential services and positions Kentucky for long-term stability. The plan avoids using one-time dollars to fund ongoing expenses, maintains strong reserves and continues the work of reducing long-term liabilities such as pensions and retiree health costs. At the same time, it allows us to make targeted investments in the services Kentuckians rely on every day.

The budget resides in four bills.

House Bill (HB) 500 establishes a balanced two-year state budget focused on fiscal stability and key investments. It fully funds pension and health obligations, maintains about $3.9 billion in reserves and includes spending controls. The plan sustains education funding, supports universities and school safety, preserves Medicaid services, expands behavioral health care. It also invests in infrastructure, disaster response and economic development projects such as nuclear energy.

HB 503 largely maintains the House proposal while ensuring the General Assembly has the resources to carry out its duties. It includes 2 percent annual salary increases for legislative staff and funds a salary study to evaluate compensation, supporting long-term workforce planning in the judicial branch.

HB 504 maintains core judicial funding while improving efficiency and flexibility. It includes 2 percent annual raises for judicial employees, fully funds judgeships created in 2022 and provides $1 million annually for county support services. The bill also refines expense reductions, supports key facility projects, pauses new courthouse construction and increases oversight of capital projects.

HB 900 allows one-time strategic investments from the state’s budget reserve trust fund while maintaining strong reserves. It funds targeted infrastructure, economic development and emergency response projects and separates these expenditures from the operating budget to promote disciplined use of surplus funds.

With the Senate’s changes now before the House of Representatives, lawmakers from both chambers will continue working together to finalize a two-year budget that meets the needs of Kentuckians while protecting the commonwealth’s long-term financial health.

HB 1 veto

Both chambers quickly overrode the governor’s veto of HB 1, which made it Kentucky law. This

ROUTE CHANGE | BRIDGE WEIGHT REDUCTION

The illustration is a file photo
from when work was going on
to rebuild the bridge in late 2023.

A state-ordered weight reduction on the Chapel Hill Road bridge over Crooked Creek is forcing immediate changes for school transportation and could create problems for farmers, emergency responders and other large vehicles in that area of Crittenden County.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials on March 18 ordered the bridge posted at 13 tons for all vehicles because of the load rating of the superstructure, according to a cabinet memo provided to local officials.

Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom said the bridge had previously been posted at 18 tons. He said the structure was rebuilt just over 2 years ago in the winter of 2023 by Crown Paving under specifications approved by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, but a newer approach to inspecting abutments and the standards they must meet appears to have factored into the latest review and lower weight limit.

The county expects signs reflecting the new limit to be installed right away.

Crittenden County Schools Transportation Director Wayne Winters said the change will affect at least one bus route because loaded school buses weigh about 17 tons and will no longer be able to cross the bridge. Winters said the revised route will require the bus to travel to Crayne, back to Earl Patmore Road and then back to Crayne, adding both time and mileage.

The restriction also means heavy farm equipment, fire trucks and many larger service vehicles will be unable to use the bridge.

The bridge is near the Marion City Limits in front of the city's water treatment plant. 

Genetic breakthrough could boost trophy KY bass

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife researchers say they have identified genetic markers tied to bigger native largemouth bass, a finding they believe could eventually help improve trophy bass potential in public waters across the state.

The discovery comes through the agency’s Thoroughbred Bass Program, a long-term effort aimed at selectively breeding Kentucky largemouth bass that carry those markers and stocking their offspring in lakes and other public waters.

Biologists in the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ Fisheries Division worked with the Center for Aquaculture Technologies on the study. According to the agency, the work marks a significant step in a decades-long challenge of trying to improve largemouth bass size potential in colder climates without relying on non-native fish.

“For more than 50 years, biologists have been trying to increase the size potential of largemouth bass,” Fisheries Division biologist Adam Martin said in a release. “In many states to our south, that effort involves stocking non-native Florida bass or first generation (F1) hybrids. Stocking Florida bass has increased bass size in many lakes in warmer climates, but despite other attempts, it hasn’t worked so far in areas colder than southern Tennessee.”

Martin said more northern states such as Kentucky have not had strong options for improving genetics until now.

The research involved a genome-wide association study using whole-genome sequencing. Fisheries staff collected fin clips from 300 largemouth bass from waters across Kentucky, including 150 fish weighing more than 5 pounds from 30 lakes and 150 slower-growing bass under 3.5 pounds taken from the same lakes. Officials said all samples were confirmed as pure largemouth bass before sequencing began.

Researchers then examined more than 3 million genetic markers per fish to identify markers commonly found in trophy bass but rare in smaller fish.

State officials said the findings now give biologists a way to screen broodfish for both genetic purity and desirable growth traits. Fish carrying the strongest combination of markers could then be bred in hatcheries, with their offspring eventually stocked into public waters.

Over time, those selectively bred fish could reproduce with wild bass and gradually spread the desired growth genetics through wild populations, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife said. The state plans to market fish produced through that effort under the name “Thoroughbred Bass.”

“This process is very similar to the traditional selective breeding programs used in agriculture for millennia,” Fisheries Division Assistant Director Jeff Ross said. “The only difference is that we are using genetic markers to pick which fish to breed. Most importantly, we can use bass caught right here in Kentucky - which preserves local adaptation and genetic integrity.”

Agency leaders said the program is intended as a long-term, science-based investment in Kentucky’s bass fisheries.

“The Thoroughbred Bass Program represents a science-driven, sustainable investment in Kentucky’s bass fisheries,” Fisheries Division Director Dave Dreves said. “By combining advanced genetics with traditional hatchery practices, we are working to ensure that future generations of anglers have the opportunity to continue to catch exceptional bass in Kentucky waters.”

Officials also said the program could help offset the effects of angling pressure, which some research suggests can influence fish genetics by disproportionately removing larger or more aggressive bass from a population. Introducing more fish with genetics tied to larger size could help strengthen those fisheries over time.

Despite the breakthrough, anglers will have to wait at least another year before the first selectively bred fish are produced.

Martin said the first production of Thoroughbred Bass had been anticipated for 2026, but the department is still waiting on manufacture of the screening panel needed to identify trophy markers in broodfish. Because bass spawn only once each year, that delay means the state will likely miss this year’s breeding window.

Biologists will instead spend the spring and summer collecting and testing hundreds of wild largemouth bass to prepare for 2027 production, according to the department. Additional trophy bass from around the state also will be tested to further verify the markers and determine which ones are most important.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife said more information is available in the Thoroughbred Bass Program interim progress report posted on its website.

SBDM meeting today is cancelled

 Today’s CCHS SBDM council meeting has been cancelled. 

A special called SBDM meeting will be held Monday at 5pm in the CCHS library.

Grand Opening Ceremony tomorrow

Rite Temp Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC will celebrate new ownership and a new location with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, March 20 in Marion.

The event, hosted in partnership with the Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce, will be held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the company’s new office at 411 S. Main St. A ribbon cutting is scheduled for 4 p.m., followed by an open house. This is at the former Belt Realty location. 

Rite Temp offers heating and air conditioning sales, service and installation and is licensed and insured.

The grand opening marks both a change in ownership and the company’s move to its new Main Street location from Mott City. Community members are invited to attend and tour the facility.

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