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Happy Halloween !

Trick-or-Treaters on North College Street got a dose of their own medicine Saturday night as resident Keith Cochran dressed in his own costume to scare goodie seekers.

Be careful whose door you knock on!

Halloween activities today and tonight

Marion Baptist Church is hosting its Fall Festival, which includes trunk-or-treat and inflatables from 11 a.m.,to 2 p.m., at the church.

Life In Christ Church is hosting its Fall Harvest Night with games, horse rides, inflatables, candy and more from 5-8 p.m., at the church on U.S. 641 in Marion.

Salem Baptist Church is hosting a Harvest Party including a hayride, trunk-or-treat and more from 6-8 p.m., at the church.

Johnson's staff earns state recognition

County Attorney Rebecca Johnson's Child Support office has been recognized as the Outstanding Child Support Office among counties with 1,000 cases or fewer for the second year in a row. The announcement was made Friday night in Frankfort. Pictured above is the office staff, which includes Brenda Croft, Johnson and Debbie Brown.

Political Announcement, Paid for by Rebecca Johnson

Frazer campaign announces endorsement of plan

Crittenden County Judge-Executive Fred Brown has endorsed county attorney candidate Bart Frazer's plan for ankle bracelets for some prisoners, which the judge says will save the county thousands of dollars. The endorsement of the plan has appeared in radio advertisements late this week.

The campaign has posted the audio on its Web site, click here to listen.

(This is a paid political advertisement, Paid for by Bart Frazer, Candidate)

Judge denies bond reduction for Tinsley

Circuit Judge Rene Williams denied an appeal by Pat Tinsley for bond reduction during his arraignment Friday on charges of complicity to arson and reckless homicide.

Tinsley, 49, remains jailed on a $50,000 cash bond in connection with the death of his wife, Glenda Tinsley, 47, who was killed in a house fire at their Wilson Farm Road on Aug. 1.

Investigators think Tinsley and his wife set the fire to collect the insurance money, but something went wrong and she died of smoke inhalation.

The judge set Tinsley's trial for June 16, 2011.

Several family members were in the courtroom Friday. It was Tinsley's first court appearance since his arrest one week ago.

Trick-or-Treating this afternoon on Main

This afternoon is the annual Trick-or-Treat on Main Street. Many local businesses will be participating in the event from 3-5 p.m., in downtown Marion.

Marion United Methodist Church will also be having its Trunk-or-Treat in conjunction with the event and The Crittenden Press is taking pictures for its annual Ghouls on Parade special section.

Children under 12 are welcome to participate in the downtown Trick-or-Treating this afternoon.

Area death

James T. Rorer, 63, of Marion died, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010 at Crittenden Hospital. Graveside services are Monday, Nov. 1 at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery in Hopkinsville. Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Dean Thomas, 79, of Marion died Wednesday, Oct. 27 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Ind. The funeral is Monday at Myers Funeral Home in Marion.

Candidate forum tonight at Ed-Tech Center

Tonight is the final candidate forum before Tuesday's election. The Crittenden County Economic Development Corporation and Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the public event.

Speaking begins at 6 p.m., and will include candidates for magistrate and school board.

Questions may be presented in writing for any of the candidates.

Miner killed in Union County accident

A Union County coal miner was killed Wednesday morning when he was struck by a vehicle at a mine in western Kentucky. State official told the Associated Press that 39-year-old James Jeffrey Faulk was hit by a shuttle car at the River View mine at Uniontown. No one else was hurt in the incident, which occurred just before 8 a.m., about a mile from the mine's entrance.

It is the sixth death at a Kentucky mine this year.

The underground mine employs 437 workers. Federal records say another miner was seriously injured at the site in September when a piece of roof rock fell on him, fracturing his back. The mine is operated by Tulsa, Okla.-based Alliance Resource Partners.

The incident is being investigated by the state Office of Mine Safety and Licensing.

City declares voluntary water conservation order

Along with most of western Kentucky, Marion and Crittenden County have been declared part of a Level 2 drought by the state climatologist office. Despite recent rainfall, the City of Marion’s Water and Sewer Department encourages customers to begin following certain steps aimed at conserving water. These steps are voluntary. There is no mandatory water conservation order being issued at this time.

• Water lawns less than one inch per week, between the hours of 6 p.m., and 6 a.m.
• Water golf courses and athletic fields no more than one inch per week, between the hours of 6 p.m., and 6 a.m. If critical areas show visible signs of stress, water at additional minimum rates necessary between noon and 4 p.m.
• •Use commercial car wash facilities and detail shops instead of hand washing.
• •void washing impervious and paved surfaces, except for prewashing in preparation for painting, recoating or sealing.
• Avoid using water for ornamental fountains, artificial waterfalls, reflecting pools and ornamental ponds, except for the minimum amount of make-up water necessary to maintain aquatic life.
• Avoid using water to power wash buildings and other structures except when necessary to meet public health and safety standards.
• Avoid filling hot tubs, spas and whirlpool tubs, except for health and rehabilitative purposes or for the minimal amount necessary to maintain structural integrity and the filtration system. If the drought is still present next Spring, this advisory would also include swimming pools.

There is no immediate threat to the Marion water system due to the Level 2 drought, said City Administrator Mark Bryant. However, any recent or forecasted rains are not sufficient enough to end the drought and the precautionary measures listed above may help in offsetting any problems if the drought persists, he said.

Area deaths

Nellie Hazel Smith, 100, formerly of Livingston County, died at 1:37 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010 at Oakview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Calvert City. The funeral is Thursday at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Christine Kimsey Shewcraft, 92, of Marion, died Sunday, Oct. 24, 2010 at Livingston Hospital and Healthcare Services. The funeral is Wednesday at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Band earns berth in semifinals

Crittenden County High School's band, the Rocket Regiment, has finished seventh in regional competition and earned a spot in this weekend's semifinals at Louisville. It is the first time ever that the band has advanced this far in state competition. See this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press for more details.

Area death

Muriel Roach, 97, of Salem, died Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010 at Salem Springlake Health and Rehabilitation Center. The funeral is Monday at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Husband indicted in fatal fire

A Crittenden County Grand Jury has indicted the husband of a Marion woman killed in an Aug. 1 house fire on Wilson Farm Road.

Pat Tinsley, 49, also of Marion is charged with second-degree arson by complicity, a Class B felony, and reckless homicide, a Class D felony.

Results of a state police investigation were presented to a special Crittenden County Grand Jury Friday and a sealed indictment was returned for Tinsley, who was arrested at 4 p.m., later that day at the the Crittenden County Ambulance Service, where he is a part-time EMT. Commonwealth Attorney Zac Greenwell and State Police Det. Scott Smith met with grand jurors for an hour and half, presenting evidence in the case. Jurors then deliberated for almost three more hours before returning the indictment just before 1:30 p.m.

Tinsley’s wife, 47-year-old Glenda Tinsley, was killed in the fire at their two-story brick home amid a set of bizarre circumstances. It was initially reported by the victim that an intruder was in the home. From her upstairs bedroom, Glenda Tinsley apparently talked at length with a police dispatcher and then called a co-worker while the fire was raging downstairs. Investigators determined quickly that the fire was set, apparently after finding kerosene in the house, according to members of Glenda Tinsley’s family.

Police say they believe the wife had something to do with the fire, too, precipitating the complicity to commit arson charge against the husband.

Pat Tinsley alleges that he was at his mother’s home in Tolu, about 20 miles away, when the fire was reported by his wife.

It is very rare for Circuit Judge Rene Williams to call grand jurors to the courthouse between regular meetings. The grand jury meets regularly on the first Monday of each even numbered month. The grand jury just met on Oct. 4 and was not scheduled to meet again until Dec. 6.

The judge had not convened a special grand jury in several years, and it is generally done only in high-profile cases that warrant immediate attention. Deliberations of grand juries are secret and not subject to the Kentucky Open Meetings Law or the federal Freedom of Information Act.

A grand jury does not determine guilt or innocence. It simply determines whether enough evidence exists to indict a person and send their case to circuit court.

Tinsley was jailed at the Crittenden County Detention Center on a $50,000 cash bond.

Area death

Robert Allen “Bob” Phillips, 69, of Marion died Friday, Oct. 22, 2010 at Parkway Nursing and Rehab Center in Paducah. The funeral is Sunday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.

Special grand jury convened this morning

UPDATE: Jurors deliberated until after 1 p.m., then left the courthouse.

A special grand jury has been convened this morning (Friday) at the Crittenden County Courthouse. Jurors reported at 9 a.m. Their deliberations are secret and not subject to the Kentucky Open Meetings Law or the federal Freedom of Information Act.

Although local authorities are not saying what evidence the grand jury is hearing, it's very likely that something has broken in the investigation of the Aug. 1 fatal fire that killed 47-year-old Glenda Tinsley.

The grand jury meets regularly on the first Monday of even numbered months. It just met on Oct. 4 and was not scheduled to meet again until Dec. 6. It is rare for Circuit Judge Rene Williams to call grand jurors to the courthouse between regular meetings. It has not happened in several years and generally is done only in high-profile cases that warrant immediate attention.

The Press will continue to follow developments in this matter. A grand jury does not determine guilt or innocence. It simply determines whether enough evidence exists to send a case to circuit court, generally as a felony.

Firemen on scene of barn, field fire

Several volunteer firemen are on the scene of a fire that has destroyed a barn and got into a field and the woods near the former Winlow Park. The fire started just before 2 p.m., and the first men on the scene called for extra help to extinguish the blaze about 30 minutes later.

Community Christmas registration is Friday

Families seeking assistance with food or gifts for the holidays can register for Community Christmas from 9 a.m., to 3 p.m., Friday at Emmanuel Baptist Church. There will be a second signup period from 2-6 p.m., Nov. 5. Bring proof of household income. Questions concerning eligibility should be directed to Kathey Penn at 965-4763.

Questions concerning Community Christmas can be directed to Nancy Hunt at 965-5236 or Mona Manley at 965-5229. Community Christmas is a project of the Inter-Agency Council. Families with children and households with only adults can apply. These are the only two signups.

Police need help with old cell phones

Emergency dispatchers say they’ve been inundated with what they believe are 911 calls from children playing with cellular phones.

Lt. Marty Hodge, communications officer for the Marion Police Department which runs the emergency dispatching center, said countless calls are creating potentially hazardous situations. The number of “911 hang-up calls” is increasing and Hodge thinks it’s because there are so many old cell phones lying around the home and toddlers find them interesting.

Federal law requires cell phones to be able to dial the emergency 911 number even if they have been de-programmed or had their memory card removed.

“We have had about 40 calls from one child,” said Paula Miniard, a dispatcher in Marion.

Cellular phone calls to 911 show up on the computer screen at the call center, but because the phone is normally no longer programmed, it’s not traceable.

“We can’t figure out where it’s coming from,” said Police Chief Ray O’Neal.

By policy, if dispatchers receive a 911 hang-up call, they immediately try calling the number back to see if a real emergency exists.

O’Neal said new technology is coming to Marion’s communications center that should improve the police’s ability to pinpoint calls, even from disconnected cell phones.

Hodge said police are asking citizens to remove and properly dispose of batteries from used cell phones.

“Simply taking the SIM Card out does not disable the phone’s ability to dial 911,” he said.