Dawson Springs Klan hit with $2.5 million verdict

A jury awarded $2.5 million in damages on Friday to a Kentucky teenager who was severely beaten by members of a Ku Klux Klan group because they mistakenly thought he was an illegal Latino immigrant.

The Klan group, which is headquartered in Dawson Springs, is considered the second largest Klan outfit in the United States.

Read more at CNN.Com.

The photo above is from the Princeton Times-Leader Online, which also has coverage on the lawsuit filed against the Klan.

Sale of Kimball property complete

An agreement has been reached on nearly 12,000 acres of Crittenden and Union County land owned by Kimball International. The furniture-maker confirmed the sale this morning. The land brought just over $2,090 per acre.

The nearly 18 square miles of farm and timberland sold for $24.539 million, nearly a week after the company rejected a high bid of $23.3 million at auction on Nov. 8. The agreement closed out Kimball's sale of 27,196 acres of Indiana and Kentucky property auctioned last week.

The property in Crittenden and Union counties was purchased by a Timber Investment Management Organizaton, or TIMO, partnered with the Commonwealth of Kentucky to make at least part of the 11,759 acres of land a Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife-operated preserve. The name of the TIMO has yet to be released; however, sources close to the sale say it's Forestland Group, LLC based at Chapel Hill, N.C.

According to John Kahle, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Kimball International, the land was sold to fund the company's growth strategy, reinforcing an already-solid balance sheet. 

"Given the properties' significant value, but relative liquidity, we believed Kimball share owners would be better served by converting this investment into cash at this time," Kahle said in a news release from Woltz & Schrader Auctions, the company that handled the sale of the acreage.

See next week's edition of The Crittenden Press for full details on the sale of the Kimball property.

Kimball property update

The Evansville Courier newspaper has a story on the Kimball property in this morning's issue.

It adds some details not previously reported regarding the timber consortium and the state's partnership. The two are working together, trying to buy Kimball's nearly 12,000 acres of timber and farm land, most of which lies in Crittenden County.

The article says Kimball and the high bidder from last weekend's auction - believed to be the state and its timber company partner - are still negotiating, but hope to have a resolution by Friday.

Read the Evansville Courier story here.

Eddyville man dies in Lyon County wreck

David E. Holloman, 42, of Eddyville was killed Tuesday in a single-vehicle accident in Lyon County.

According to a Kentucky State Police report, Holloman was northbound on Ky. 373 around 6:45 p.m., when he apparently ran off the right shoulder of the road and lost control of his 1997 Ford pickup after overcorrecting. The truck struck a ditch and overturned, ejecting Holloman, who was no wearing a seatbelt.

An autopsy was requested by declined by the Lyon County coroner. The investigation is continuing by Trooper Daniel Jones.

Printable UK basketball schedule

University of Kentucky Wildcat basketball action tips off Friday at Rupp Arena. The season gets under way against VMI in Lexington, but the 'Cats will likely face their toughest opponent of the year just four days later when they travel to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face unanimous preseason No. 1 North Carolina. That Tuesday game will be televised on ESPN at 8 p.m.

UK then faces Delaware State and Longwood at Rupp Arena as part of the Findlay Toyota Las Vegas Invitational, before traveling to Sin City to face Kansas State (ESPNU) and the winner of the West Virginia-Iowa contest to finish up the tournament.

The Wildcats then return to Lexington for and eight-game homestand, the longest of the 2008-09 season. During the stay, the No. 17 Miami Hurricanes (ESPN) and arch-rival Indiana come to town. The new year then starts off with a trip to No. 3 Louisville (CBS) to face an in-state rival and former Coach Rick Pitino. 

The rest of the season is the most critical as the Wildcats enter the Southeastern Conference portion of the schedule beginning Jan. 10 against Vanderbilt. UK will face No. 14 Tennessee and No. 19 Florida twice in the Eastern Division. In fact, the season ends March 7 (CBS) in Gainesville, Fla.

Click on the image to the right to download a printable 2008-09 schedule with local times and local television and radio availability.

Veterans Day event moved to Fohs Hall

The annual Veterans Day ceremony in Marion has been moved indoors to Fohs Hall starting at 11 a.m. Rain forced the change of venue from the traditional location at Mapleview Cemetery's Veterans Memorial.

This week in the news

Readers of The Crittenden Press printed edition can expect a variety of news and sports this week.

The Press will have a full page of photos from the deer season and we're keep tabs on the Rocket football team, which is preparing for its opening round in the playoffs Friday at Marion.

In the news this week is a front page story on the dangers of congestion and pedestrian traffic on the north side of town where there are more retail and service sector businesses than anywhere else in the city. You'll read about what it might take for the city to install sidewalks on Sturgis Road.

Also, we are following the auction of Kimball timberlands in the northern part of the county. As of Monday, the Jasper, Ind., furniture maker had not accepted the highest bid from Saturday's big land auction.

The Crittenden Press printed edition will be on newsstands before 3 p.m., Wednesday.

More on Kimball property

The Evansville Courier is reporting this morning that negotiations could be completed today or tomorrow on the 11,759-acre land deal between Kimball and an unnamed buyer. The Press Online reported this weekend that the highest bidder was either the State of Kentucky or an agent or partner. 

State officials had said before Saturday's auction that it had discussed a partnership with a timber consortium.

The Evansville newspaper reported that the highest offer was $23.9 million, which includes a 3 percent buyer's premium over the $23.3 million high bid offered at Saturday's auction at Union County High School. The Evansville report also quotes a Kimball official as suggesting that another auction might be possible.

We will continue following this story and report details as they are available.

Read more in blog below or at the Evansville Courier online.

Crittenden Kimball property has not sold

The 11,759 acres in Crittenden and Union counties did not sell at auction Saturday.

The seller, Kimball International, did not accept the highest bid for the entire tract, which was apparently submitted by an agent of the State of Kentucky at $23.3 million.

Negotiations between the highest bidder and Kimball will resume on Monday, according to officials with Woltz & Schrader Auction Company.

What appeared to be a representative of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources was the highest bidder when all tracts were combined. Individual buyers stopped bidding when the price reached just over $23 million. The land had been offered in more than 70 individual tracts but when totaled those bids did not reach the cumulative offer.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife purchased 1,100 acres at Friday's $10.2-million sale of other Kimball property in northcentral Kentucky. There, the average price per acre was $1,709 on 5,993 acres in Butler, Breckinridge and Meade counties in Kentucky and southern Indiana. The state and 13 other buyers purchased those acres.

On Thursday, 9,422 acres of Kimball lands sold in Indiana to 72 buyers for $15.6 million.

Saturday's auction of the Kimball property that straddles the Tradewater River was the last of a three-day auction as the Jasper, Ind., furniture-maker divested itself of thousands of timberlands in Kentucky and Indiana.

Class on Islam offered Tuesday

The Ed-Tech Center in Marion will be hosting an array of community education classes the remainder of this year, including one on the religion of Islam.

Islam, Past and Present will be conducted over a two-hour period Tuesday and will answer the question, what is Islam and how does it affect us in the United States? 

Join Dr. Brent Brantley as he describes his experiences while employed by Wycliffe in Indonesia and the Middle East. His extensive travels have given him a unique perspective on the religious faith of Muslims. 

The class size is limited and registration closes Nov. 4. The cost of the class, which takes place from 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, is $22.

Classes at the Ed-Tech Center are open to anyone. For further details on this or any other classes, contact Dulcie Hardin, community education coordinator, at 965-9294 or visit www.CrittendenCountyEDC.com on the Web.

Gas under $2 in Marion

For the first time this year, gasoline in Marion can be purchased for less than $2 a gallon.

Five Star Food Mart dropped the price of regular gasoline to $1.999 Friday, shortly after noon. It has been almost two years since a gallon of gas could be purchased for less than $2 in western Kentucky. 

According to Sue Farley with AAA national office, it was Jan. 25, 2007, when gas was below 2 bucks in western Kentucky. On that date, the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded was $1.999 in the Owensboro Metro area. There are no statistics available specifically for Marion, Farley said. 

Gas prices have been steadily dropping across the nation the last few weeks, but the tumble did not begin until after the price of a gallon of regular gasoline reached an all-time high in Marion.

Less than two months ago, on Sept. 12, gas was selling for $4.149 a gallon at the same Marion convenience store. That marked the first time a gallon of gas sold for more than $4 locally.

Today, the average price of a gallon of gas in the nation is $2.314 and $2.104 in Kentucky, according to AAA's Web site.

Kimball's central Kentucky auction

For the second straight day, small bidders continued to emerge as victors in the competition for 27,212 acres of timberland being sold at auction by Kimball International, according to the auction company selling the land for the national furniture company.

Friday's sale included 5,993 acres in Butler, Breckinridge and Meade counties in Kentucky and southern Indiana. It sold for $10.243 million to 14 different buyers. The average in Friday's sale was $1,709 per acre.

The auction was conducted by Woltz & Schrader Auctions.

"For the second day in a row, the larger bidders were in there pitching, but the smaller buyers once again asserted themselves and purchased much of the land," said Rex Schrader, president of the auction company. "It will be interesting to see if this pattern holds Saturday when we sell the 11,729 acres in the Sturgis area."

Saturday's sale includes the land known as the "Game Trails" hunting property, which has been featured on numerous outdoor programs because of its world-class deer hunting. The Saturday sale will be at Union County High School.

"We're seeing bidders who are seeking to purchase the land for its investment value, which is considerable because of Kimball's careful management of the extensive hardwood timber stands. But we are also seeing many bidders – and buyers – seeking land for their own personal use for recreation and personal enjoyment as well as its investment value," said Schrader.

With a two-day total exceeding $26 million, Kimball officials were pleased with the turnout for the first two days. About nine thousands acres sold in Indiana sold on Thursday for over $15 million.

Merchants seeing green and orange this week

For some merchants and restaurants, today through Sunday will the be the biggest sales weekend of the year. 

Britt Hodge at Hodge Outdoors Sports in Marion said today, the Friday before opening of the modern rifle deer season, is the biggest single day of the year for the till. Hunters clad in bright orange flock to local stores, especially those carrying ammunition, hunting licenses and outdoors gear, such as Hodges.

Restaurants are also among local businesses that benefit greatly from an influx of hunters to Crittenden County. 

While hundreds of outdoors tourists pile into the county in the coming days, most local observers agree that there are not as many hunters as there once were when private property was largely open to hunting guests and public lands like Westvaco were available for hunters. 

Nowadays, most private lands are leased for $8 to $25 an acre, or they have been purchased by recreational-minded out-of-staters at values ranging from $1,800 to more than $2,000 per acre. 

There is no public hunting property left in the county.

Outdoorsmen and local leaders will watching closely the public auction of more than 11,000 acres in Crittenden and Union counties Saturday. The State of Kentucky has expressed an interest in buying a stake in the large unbroken tract of land that now belongs to Kimball International, a furniture company. The state wants the land for public recreation, including hunting. The sale will take place at Union County High School Saturday.

For outdoorsmen, this is the pinnacle of the hunting season. For local merchants, it's a stressful, yet rewarding period.

The rifle deer season runs for 16 straight days starting Saturday. It includes three full weekends of hunting before closing Sunday, Nov. 23.

In case you missed last week's podcast with local wildlife biologist Philip Sharp, a link is posted below. Sharp says this weekend should be one of the best hunting opportunities in years for those seeking to harvest a nice buck.

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Hart named to Academic All-District Team

Marion native Brad Hart is one of three University of Kentucky Wildcat football players to be named to the Academic All-District IV Team, according to a UKAthletics.com posting from today. The team selection is made by sports information directors and is sponsored by ESPN The Magazine.

Hart, a long-snapper for the 6-3 SEC football squad, has a 3.90 GPA with a major in finance. He has been Coach Rich Brooks' starter as snapper for field goals and extra points the last two seasons. The son of Keith and Valerie Hart of Marion, the 6-1 sophomore has also been active in community service.

Hart joins fellow special-teams player Tim Masthay, the Murray native who is the team's punter and kick-off specialist, and cornerback Robbie McAtee as selections made by SIDs. Hart, McAtee and Masthay will advance to the national ballot for the Academic All-America team, which will be announced in December. To be nominated for the Academic All-America process, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.30, be a sophomore or higher in academic and athletic standing, and be a starter or key reserve. The Academic All-District IV team is comprised of players from the states of Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama.

Voter turnout a record

Unofficial results from the 2008 general election indicate that more than 1,825,000 Kentuckians voted in the 2008 general election, setting a new record for voter turnout in the commonwealth. The Office of the Secretary of State estimates the turnout percentage to be 63 percent of the 2.9 million registered voters in Kentucky. Sixty-four percent voted in Crittenden County.

Final numbers will not be available for several months until after the precinct rosters are scanned and voter credit is assigned to registered voters.

The previous record, set in 2004, was 1,809,102, but was 64.7 percent of the 2004 electorate.

“I am delighted that so many Kentuckians chose to participate in this historic election,” remarked Secretary of State Trey Grayson, Kentucky’s chief election official. “The record breaking turnout speaks volumes to Kentuckians commitment to the democratic process.”

Grayson also noted the success of the election, “On the whole, this election was very successful. Outside of some isolated challenges, there were few complaints or issues for election officials to address. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our county clerks, county boards of elections, the state board of elections, and the thousands of poll workers across Kentucky who sacrificed to make this election run so effectively and efficiently.”

Livingston County election results (final)

Salem Mayor
Rell Peck - 245

Salem City Commission
Janet Hughes - 227

Judy Hodge - 193

Stanley C. Wallace - 161

Gary A. Ivey - 113

Jamie James - 76

Smithland City Commission

James M. Terry - 94

Joe A. Thomason - 67

Two seats remain open

Grand Rivers City Council

Brenda Lady - 155

Dianne Bingham - 131

Bill Huffman - 127

Oliver L. Hunt - 123

Frank J. Buchanon - 119

Pat Gorbett - 118

Rodney E. Gray - 107

William "Billy" McGee Jr. - 102

Randell O'Bryan - 99

Carrsville City Commission

No candidates ran; four seats remain open

Board of Ed District 2

Samantha Richie Williams - 470

Jack Cothran - 403

Soil and Water Conservation District

Darrell Jones - 1,877

Dale Calendar - 1,729

Deanna Brasher - 14

Bobby Williams - 13

President of the United States
John McCain/Sarah Palin - 2,890
Barack Obama/Joe Biden - 1,622
Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez - 58
Chuck Baldwin/Robert E. Thornberry - 12
Bob Barr/Wayne A. Root - 11

U.S. Senate
Mitch McConnell - 2,382
Bruce Lunsford - 2,142

U.S. House of Representatives
Edward Whitfield - 2,615
Heather Ryan - 1,848

Find complete statewide results

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See previous election results from Crittenden County

Click Here

Find complete nationwide results

Click Here - NPR Web site

Like our coverage?

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Election results from Crittenden County (final)

Totals from tonight's election will be posted as available by precinct.

Marion City Council (5 of 5 reporting)
James "Jim" Brown - 818
Janet Crider Pierce - 797
Dwight Sherer - 771
Michael R. Byford - 743
Donald Arflack - 700
Darrin Tabor - 630
Scott Tabor - 596
Bill Frazer - 503

Board of Ed District 4 (2 of 2 reporting)
Pam Collins - 361
Ronald "Red" Howton - 170

President of the United States (12 of 12 reporting)
John McCain/Sarah Palin - 2,604
Barack Obama/Joe Biden - 1,254
Ralph Nader/Matt Gonzalez - 40
Chuck Baldwin/Robert E. Thornberry - 12
Bob Barr/Wayne A. Root - 20

U.S. Senate (12 of 12 reporting)
Mitch McConnell - 2,268
Bruce Lunsford - 1,615

U.S. House of Representatives (12 of 12 reporting)
Edward Whitfield - 2,517
Heather Ryan - 1,323

Find complete statewide results

Click Here

See previous election results from Crittenden County

Click Here

Find complete nationwide results

Click Here - NPR Web site

Like our coverage?

Send us an email with your comments.

Caldwell selects new judge-executive

Sitting Caldwell County Judge-Executive Sherman Chaudoin, a Republican, was beaten Tuesday in his attempt to keep the seat he was appointed upon Van Knight's death in April. Chaudoin was bested by Democrat Brock Thomas, a Caldwell County sheriff's deputy.

Meantime, Fredonia elected a new city council. Glenna Rowland, Hannah Brasher, Hearl "Denny" Jones, Kenneth Rennison, Steve Stewart and Angela C. Blair will serve on the council beginning in January. Blair nudged out Melissa Faughn by only two votes to become the sixth member of the council.

Live from election headquarters

Visit periodically tonight for updates on the scene at the courthouse as results come in from around the county. Polls close at 6 p.m., so updates will come thereafter.

Election Blogging By Daryl K. Tabor of The Crittenden Press

8:44: Turnout in Crittenden County was 64 percent according to County Clerk Carolyn Byford. Last week, she had predicted turnout would be in the mid-60s.

8:40: With 85.3 percent of Kentucky's precincts reporting at this time, McConnell leads Democratic challenger Lunsford 52-48. In the First Congressional District race, 83.4 percent of precincts have reported and Whitfield is running away 2-1 from first-time candidate Heather Ryan. Republicans lead in three of the five other congressional races. McCain will easily claim Kentucky with its eight electoral votes.

8:03: Oops. Had to adjust totals after following the wrong line off my recapitulation sheet. It didn't change any of the outcomes, but total votes in some races are significantly different. Republicans still show a clean sweep in the county despite my mistake. The final totals are now reflected on the entry reflecting totals. McCain got 2,604, Whitfield 2,517 and McConnell 2,268. Clerk Carolyn Byford is ready to go home after her longest day of the year, so it's time to go. From about 5 a.m., to 8 p.m., makes a long day for election workers.

7:49: That's a wrap for Election 2008 in Crittenden County. All the numbers have been totaled, unofficially. McCain gained more votes than anyone in the county with 2,379, just slightly more than Whitfield's 2,308 and McConnell's 2,080 in their respective races. At least five separate election workers are tallying numbers to ensure they match and no mistakes have been made. Only election workers remain in the courthouse as they wrap up the election.

7:37: All 12 precincts have been filled in on my recapitulations sheet. Most of the crowd that has gathered in the hallway has dispursed, having totaled their sheets for results. The phone continues to ring inside Byford's office as The Paducah Sun and other newspapers call every 10 minutes for results.

7:29: Pam Collins bested Red Howton by a 2-to1 margin to join Chris Cook and Bill Asbridge, both of whom were re-elected tonight without opposition, and Eric LaRue and Phyllis Orr. Totals from two precincts remain uncounted.

7:18: All five incumbent city council members - Dwight Sherer, Darrin Tabor, Janet Crider Pierce, Jim Brown and Donnie Arflack - will return for two more years with former councilman and mayor candidate Mike Byford joining the group. Bill Frazer and Scott Tabor came up short on their bids to join the city government. Brown was the leading vote getter with 818. Frazer received the least with 503.

7:02: With only five of the 12 precincts total on my recapitulation sheet, it looks as if McCain, McConnell and Whitfield will run away with the county's favor, though the McConnell race is the closest. It will be a clean sweep for the GOP. At present, it looks like Howton will be ousted by Collins. Scott Tabor and Bill Frazer appear to the two lowest vote totals for city council.

6:55: All 12 precints are now in, but it will be some time before the final totals are available. Not sure what's going on outside, but the hallway just erupted in laughter as Byford read off the latest results.

6:47: All but two of the 12 precincts have reported in. Totals from each precinct are being tallied and read to the crowd gathered awaiting results.

6:22: Fords Ferry 5 followed right behind with the next precint totals. Frankie and Dennis Vailes, along with Roberta Shewmaker have completed their long day. "It went pretty smooth," Shewmaker said. "It wasn't that bad." Shewmaker is sticking around to hear results.

6:20: Precinct 1 at the courthouse is the first to report its totals for the day. Pat and Jim Carter brought up the totals from the basement and are headed home for the evening. "Oh my," Pat said when ask if it had been a long day. Her husband could only shake his head in agreement.

6:13: No problems reported by County Clerk Carolyn Byford as she awaits the first precinct to report in. Smooth thus far, she reports, as the chatter from the hallway grows louder.

6:01: Absentee totals are in. John McCain has almost double the votes Barack Obama has received - 163 to 86. In local races, Bill Frazer and Scott Tabor are the odd men out of the council race and Pam Collins has 16 votes to Howton's 7 in the school board race. Sen. Mitch McConnell and Rep. Ed Whitfield also hold commanding leads.

6:00: School board candidate Red Howton and councilman Jim Brown have joined a filling hallway awaiting returns.

5:50: Ten minutes until polls close and the absentee ballots are announced. Three of the eight candidates for city council - Mike Byford, Donnie Arflack and Bill Frazer - have taken a seat in the courthouse hallway awaiting totals. Each has grabbed a pencil and a recapitulation sheet to tally the votes from the city's five precincts.

Balloting heavy early Tuesday

Voting in Crittenden County to help elect a new president got under way at 6 a.m., with little waiting apparent from a spot check at four Marion precincts. A short line at Crittenden County Elementary School moved quickly just after polls open. Although lines are not too long, precinct workers say balloting is heavy so far.

Election officers at one Marion precinct said about eight people were lined up waiting to vote before balloting officially started. In Frances, poll officials said about a dozen were outside waiting for the 6 a.m., opening of the doors. 

Voting has been steady and it appears the will be a large turnout locally as is expected nationwide.

Among contested offices other than president are a tight race for Kentucky's U.S. Senate seat and District 1 congressman, as well as local contests for Marion City Council and one race for school board.

The Marion Woman's Club will host its annual Election Day Luncheon at its building on East Carlisle Street and the Lady Rocket basketball team is selling pork chops on Main Street.