Candidates must file first, then announce

As the start date of the filing period for candidates in the 2026 elections nears, Crittenden County Clerk Daryl Tabor reminds prospective candidates of campaign finance laws. The Kentucky Registry of Election Finance (KREF) requires all candidates to register their campaign before beginning any related activities, even announcing their candidacy. Candidate filing period begins Nov. 5.

While candidates for state and federal office often mention exploring a run for office, this differs from announcing your intent to run, even on social media… even if you have not raised any money or do not intend to spend money. The same rule applies from judge-executive down to conservation district supervisor. Violation of election finance laws can result in felony charges.

The first step is to register your campaign at KREF.ky.gov. A downloadable guide is available online. Questions about election finance should be directed to KREF at 502-573-2226. 

Lyon County Sheriff | Weekly Activity Report

- On Sunday, July 6, 2025, at 9:16 p.m., Deputy Bobby Beeler, KDFWR game wardens and KSP troopers were dispatched to a trespassing complaint on Green Road. The investigation led to the following individuals being charged with third-degree criminal trespassing. Each was cited to court and removed from the property:

• Hannah M. Heath, 36, of Madisonville
• Alix M. Skidworth, 30, of Henderson
• Heather G. Smith, 34, of Nortonville
• Phillip A. Teague, 30, of Nortonville
• Lower William, 37, of Madisonville

- On Monday, July 7, 2025, at 5:10 p.m., Deputy Beeler responded to a Kuttawa business on Days Inn Drive and located a woman reported to be acting suspiciously. He determined she had outstanding warrants from multiple jurisdictions. Harley J. Collins, 30, of Marion, was detained and served with the following warrants:

• Union District Court – failure to appear in a 2025 case
• Crittenden District Court – failure to appear in a 2025 case
• Crittenden District Court – failure to pay fines/costs in two 2025 cases
• Crittenden District Court – failure to appear in a 2025 case

- On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at approximately 9:13 p.m., Deputy Beeler arrested Phillip E. Young, 50, of Eddyville. He was charged with contempt of court for failing to serve jail time and failing to report for jail as sentenced. Young was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.

- On Thursday, July 10, 2025, at approximately 4:26 a.m., Chief Deputy Sam Adams responded to a two-vehicle collision at the Huck’s Travel Center in Kuttawa. His investigation revealed that a 2017 International truck and trailer, driven by Jalen B. Ore, 28, of Williamstown, N.C., was attempting to park when it collided with a parked 2018 Freightliner. No injuries were reported.

- On Thursday, July 10, 2025, at approximately 1:47 p.m., deputies served Stephanie N. Jones-Fleming, 38, of Bowling Green, with a Warren Circuit Court indictment warrant charging her with trafficking in a

Read more in the July 10 edition of The Press

 📚 NEW LOCAL BOOK RELEASE! 

“From 2 to 89” – A Life Well Lived by Gordon Blue Guess

Marion’s own Gordon Blue Guess has penned a memoir that captures nearly nine decades of life, leadership, and laughter. From 2 to 89 is a heartfelt journey through small-town Kentucky, national politics, and personal memories.

From banking to baseball, from legal pads to published pages, this book is filled with wit, wisdom, and stories featuring everyone from Mitch McConnell to Muhammad Ali—and even a mention of Babe Ruth!

🖋️ Authored in his own words
📘 Nearly 150 pages of stories and snapshots
📍 Deep roots in Marion, Tolu & beyond
🏛️ Includes personal recollections of prominent local and national figures

Coming soon to Barnes & Noble, with a local copy placed at the Crittenden County Public Library.

✨ A must-read for anyone who loves hometown history, old-school storytelling, or wants a glimpse into a remarkable Kentucky life.

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Board of Education special meeting Tuesday

There will be a special meeting / working session of Crittenden County Board of Education on Tuesday, July 15th at 5:00 PM at Central Office.  

Flower Shop Blossoms Anew

Michelle Hodge, along with her husband Brian, has taken the reins of Louise’s Flower Shop as ownership leaves the York family for the first time in 50 years. 

In this week's full edition of The Crittenden Press, read more about the changeover and what's coming up in September.

The shop in located on Marion Street in Marion right across from the Five Star Convenience Center.

NOW IN EFFECT | Local withholdings tax incease

Local employers are reminded to adjust payroll withholdings following recent tax rate increases enacted by both Crittenden County and the City of Marion. 

Effective July 1, the payroll and net profits tax rates for both the city and county rose to 1.5%. The county rate tripled from its previous 0.5% and the city’s rate doubled from 0.75%. 

Employers are required to withhold the new rates from wages earned within either jurisdiction.

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Riverport upgrade will benefit farmers

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EDDYVILLE, Ky. – Area farmers stand to gain significantly from Gov. Andy Beshear’s announcement last Thursday of a $5.7 million Team Kentucky investment in public riverport projects across the commonwealth, with the Eddyville Riverport and Industrial Development Authority receiving more than $840,000 to support ongoing growth and infrastructure upgrades.

The riverport is a key part of the area’s infrastructure supporting agriculture, particularly for transporting grain and fertilizer.

Eddyville Riverport received $750,000 from the construction and maintenance fund for its ongoing Dolphin Project, which involves the installation of mooring dolphins, offshore structures used to secure barges. An additional $91,928 was awarded for a paving project totaling $183,876, aimed at improving traffic flow and safety within the port area.

According to project guidelines, eligible grants are reserved for new construction or major repairs to riverport infrastructure such as docks, wharves, loading equipment, roads, rail access, storage buildings and related facilities, not for routine maintenance.

Amanda Davenport, executive director of the Eddyville Riverport and Industrial Development Authority, said these investments come as the port prepares for a significant expansion, with work expected to begin next spring or summer on a new water inlet.

Groundwork for this expansion was laid in 2022 when the port received a federal Port      Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant to construct the new inlet, approximately 300 feet long, 110 feet wide and 30 feet deep, on Lake Barkley at Cumberland River Mile 43. That addition will increase the available waterfront for loading and unloading.

State funds have also supported the installation of four new mooring dolphins, expanding the port’s current capabilities of three loading cells and eight fleeting cells.

“With this expansion, we’ll be able to double, or possibly even quadruple, the number of barges we can handle at one time,” said Davenport. “This is a game-changer for industry in western Kentucky.”

The funding announced last week is the final round of awards as part of a $2 million allocation announced in 2022.

Davenport hopes the paving project to improve land ingress and egress will be finished by harvest time this fall.

Marion man dies in tractor-trailer crash

BEECH GROVE, Ky. — A Marion man died Tuesday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer on KY 56 in McLean County.

Kentucky State Police said Brad Jones, 59, was driving eastbound in a 2016 Kenworth when he exited the right shoulder of the highway around 5:20 p.m., lost control, and crossed both lanes before the vehicle overturned onto the driver’s side, blocking the road.

Jones was transported by ambulance to Baptist Health in Madisonville, where he was pronounced dead.

KY 56 was closed for about four hours as troopers investigated the wreck. The collision remains under investigation.

Responding agencies included KSP Post 16, the McLean County Sheriff’s Office, Beech Grove and Calhoun fire departments and McLean County EMS.

Independent of what really?

This is a newspaper column by publisher Chris Evans, published in The Press last week just ahead of the July 4 Holiday Weekend.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m mighty fond of fireworks, grilled chops and a cold drink on the Fourth of July. But if you’ll humor me a moment, let’s reflect, not just celebrate. It seems to me that somewhere between dumping tea in Boston Harbor and thumbing reel after reel through a smartphone, we’ve traded liberty for a comfortable leash.

We told King George to shove off back in 1776 with ink, powder and prayer. Ironically, he was the only absentee ruler we’ve ever known. Imagine you at 18, home alone with mom and dad on vacation, and you decide to invite grandma over for the weekend. The noose just gets tighter.

Americans decided we’d chart our own course with a boss closer to home. Fast-forward to today, and here we are calling Uncle Sam like helpless children every time it floods, snows or we forget how a budget works. One hiccup from Mother Nature, and the FEMA hotline lights up like a Chick-fil-A drive through when the theater lets out.

Now I’m not suggesting government doesn’t have its place, it surely does. Roads don’t pave themselves and I do appreciate that man with the badge when things get squirrely. But we’ve become a people addicted to rescue. Got a crop failure? Call the USDA. Need broadband in the holler? Beg a grant from the FCC. Something’s in the air. Who has the number to EPA?

And I say this as a man who enjoys the AC in July and August, not as a doomsday prepper with a bunker full of beans. Although my Boy Scout motto does urge preparedness.

Truth is, we’ve mistaken convenience for freedom. Take that glorious moment when we first snatch the car keys at 18. Lord, we think we’re free as a bird. But within a week, we’re tied to a gas pump, haunted by insurance premiums and wondering why tires cost more than a month’s rent. We wanted independence and got a payment plan instead.

Our ancestors carved out a living with little more than grit, faith and a stubborn mule. Today, we panic if the Wi-Fi blinks. We’ve grown so cozy suckling at the warm teat of bureaucracy that we’ve forgotten how

Insurance hits Crittenden schools hard

Commercial and workers compensation insurance policies for Crittenden County Schools are being hit with a 22.3% increase. 

Property insurance is increasing by 3.7%; however, most notably is an 185% increase in educators liability insurance and an 86% bump in automobile insurance.

The district’s policies are through Higgins Insurance of Hopkinsville.

“Our agent will be here in July to present information,” Superintendent Tonya Driver said. “He explained it was an anomaly that we were getting educators liability insurance as cheap as we were before.”

Driver said through conversations with other superintendents in the region, she has learned that some districts’ overall insurance costs have gone up 30%.

Caldwell gets $91K to feed kids

Caldwell County School District is among six recipients of a combined $91,900 in grant funding from No Kid Hungry Kentucky, aimed at expanding access to nutritious meals for children in rural communities during the summer months.

The funding supports programs that provide meals to children who might otherwise go without while school is out. Many students rely on school breakfasts and lunches during the academic year, but summer often brings increased grocery expenses for families — particularly in rural areas. A recent survey found that 94% of rural Kentucky families reported higher grocery bills during summer.

“Summer meals are a lifeline for kids and families who rely on school meals throughout the school year,” said John Cain, program director for Kentucky Kids Eat. “We’re excited to support the programs that are making dependable nutrition accessible to families in all corners of the state.”

Through non-congregate meal programs — which allow meals to be picked up or delivered for consumption off-site — more families in Caldwell and similar counties will have greater access to consistent, healthy food options for their children. These methods have proven especially effective in overcoming transportation and logistical barriers in rural communities.

Other recipients of this summer’s No Kid Hungry Kentucky grants include Frankfort Independent, Owen County and Warren County school districts, UMC Food Ministry, and Feeding America, Kentucky's Heartland.

Caldwell County Sheriff Activity Report

On July 4, 2025, Caldwell County Sheriff’s Deputy Ashley Copeland arrested Donnie Adams Jr., 34, of Princeton, Ky., on multiple warrants out of Union County. Adams was lodged in the Caldwell County Jail.

On July 5, 2025, Deputy Copeland arrested Timothy Daniel, 33, of Princeton, Ky., on a warrant out of Caldwell District Court. Daniel was lodged in the Caldwell County Jail. Deputy Copeland was assisted by Deputy Lamb.

Also on July 5, Deputy Lamb arrested Michael Earley, 26, of Princeton, Ky., on a warrant out of Caldwell District Court. Earley was lodged in the Caldwell County Jail. Deputy Lamb was assisted on scene by Deputy Copeland.

Activity report from Lyon sheriff

LYON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT

On Monday, June 30, 2025, at 8:43 a.m., deputies served Dayyan S. Felder, 25, of Gaston, S.C., on a Lyon Circuit Court bench warrant for a probation violation after he was extradited back to Kentucky from South Carolina. Felder was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.

Later that day, around 8:30 p.m., Deputy Bobby Beeler responded to the 100 block of Panther Creek Road after a parked and unoccupied vehicle rolled down a residential driveway and crashed on Panther Creek Road. No injuries were reported.

On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at approximately 6:53 a.m., Sheriff Brent White conducted a traffic stop on a 2013 Chevrolet on U.S. 62. The investigation revealed the operator had a suspended license and did not have an ignition interlock device affixed to the vehicle. Meagan N. Edwards, 40, of Eddyville was charged with driving on a DUI suspended license, first offense.

At approximately 8:30 a.m. that same day, Captain Dennis Beckett served a criminal complaint summons on Clint A. Puckett, 30, of Benton, charging him with theft by unlawful taking–shoplifting related to an

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A trip to Louise's Flowers to Visit the New Owner 

Cunningham Honored with Street Dedication

A newly named street in Kuttawa now bears the name of retired Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Bill Cunningham, honoring his decades of public service. During a lakeside ceremony attended by more than 100 people on July 3, the city proclaimed it “Bill Cunningham Day” and unveiled Justice Bill Cunningham Court at Silver Cliff Park.

Speakers praised Cunningham as a soldier, judge, author and Lyon County native and recognized him for his honesty, courage and commitment to justice. His son, Josh, shared personal reflections on his father’s daily discipline and compassion.

See next week’s full edition of The Crittenden Press for complete coverage and photos from the tribute event. Also, see video HERE on our social media site.

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'Tis the season | LEDBETTER BRIDGE work

LEDBETTER, Ky. — The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will implement daytime lane restrictions on the U.S. 60 Tennessee River “Ledbetter” Bridge beginning Tuesday, July 8.

Crews will conduct a detailed inspection of the bridge using an under-bridge inspection vehicle starting at 8 a.m. daily for about three days. A team of climbers will also perform a hands-on inspection during this time.

Traffic will be restricted to one lane, alternating sides of the bridge as work progresses. Motorists should be alert for flaggers, signage and arrow boards directing traffic across the bridge, which connects McCracken and Livingston counties and carries about 6,500 vehicles per day.

The lane restriction is expected to end by 3 p.m. Thursday, July 10, weather permitting. Drivers are urged to use caution in the work zone.

Once this inspection is complete, crews will move to the U.S. 60 Cumberland River “Smithland” Bridge around Friday, July 11.

TODAY | KY 120 closed 2 hrs near county line

A two-hour closure is scheduled for KY 120 in Crittenden County around 4:45 p.m. today, June 30, as a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) contractor relocates equipment.\

The shutdown will occur near mile point 15 in a narrow curve, approximately 1.5 miles from the Crittenden-Webster County Line and the Tradewater River. The roadway is expected to be blocked for about two hours.

Drivers are urged to plan ahead and take alternate routes during the closure.