Distinguished Alumni sought by school system

Local education leaders are looking for Crittenden County graduates with the Right Stuff.

They seek nominees for inaugural recipients of the Crittenden County Schools Distinguished Alumni Awards, which will be presented before graduation later this spring.

Nominations may be made until April 15. More information is available in this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press, which will be on newsstands after 3 p.m., today.

Applications are available online at the Crittenden County School District Web site or here, at The Press Online. Click here to Download Nomination Form www.the-press.com/DistinguishedAlumni.pdf

Area death

Bonnie Nell Alsobrook Phillips, 85, of Burna died Sunday, March 27, 2011 at Salem Springlake Health and Rehabilitation Center. The funeral is Thursday at Old Salem Baptist Church. Boyd Funeral Directors in charge of arrangements.

Business After Hours at Extension office

Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Business After Hours event from 5 to 6 p.m., this afternoon at the new Crittenden County Extension office on U.S. 60 East.

Area Death

George Earl Rice, 68, of Salem, died Sunday at Livingston Hospital. He was a barber for 35 years. The funeral is Thursday at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

River Road re-opens in Livingston

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is opening Ky. 137 (River Road) at 2 p.m., today.

Floodwaters have dropped off the roadway and maintenance crews have spent much of the day clearing mud and debris from areas that were flooded. The road had been under water for more than two weeks.

Don't forget the Lady Rockets !

REMEINDER:

The Second Region champion Crittenden County Lady Rockets invite the public this afternoon to a celebration of its historic season.

Players, coaches and fans will be honored starting at 2 p.m., today (Sunday) at Rocket Arena.

There will be cake, cobbler and ice cream for everyone. Don't miss it.

Cave In Rock Ferry re-opens

The Cave In Rock Ferry has reopened to traffic.

The ferry resumed service at about 8 a.m., today. The ferry had been closed since March 4 when Ohio River floodwaters covered Ky. 91 at the Kentucky Landing.

Police looking for Eddyville robbery suspects

Kentucky State Police are currently investigating an armed robbery which occurred just after 6 a.m., this morning at the Hampton Inn near I-24 in Eddyville.

The victim told police he was robbed at gunpoint by five black males in the hotel parking lot. The victim explained that he was using his cellular phone when the men approached him and demanded his wallet. One of the suspects was reported to be armed with a rifle. The five individuals suspected of the robbery fled the scene in what was believed to be a red Pontiac sedan.

Video surveillance indicates some of the suspects might have been traveling in a grey passenger car. Suspects are believed to be traveling east along Interstate 24 from Lyon County.

The following is a description of the suspects involved:

• Black male approximately 6’0” wearing white t-shirt, black sock cap, and grey sweat pants.
• Black male approximately 5’8” -5’11” wearing grey sweat suit and black t-shirt. Shirt possibly had Pittsburgh Steelers logo.
• Black male approximately 5’8” –5’11” wearing black hooded jacket, blue jeans, black sock cap, and dark t-shirt.
• Black male approximately 5’8”-5’11” wearing grey hooded jacket with blue jean shorts.
• Black male approximately 5’8”-5’11” wearing dark jeans, black jacket, and a tan or brown sock cap.

Each suspect is believed to be in their early 20s. The suspects were seen at a gas station in Grand Rivers prior to the robbery. One of the suspects was overheard speaking about traveling to Nashville and Memphis.

If you come into contact with the individuals, use extreme caution. Phone state police at 1-800-222-5555.

You're invited to celebrate with Lady Rockets

Crittenden County Lady Rocket basketball team is inviting the public to celebrate its historic 2010-11 championship season.

Players are treating their fans to cake, cobbler and ice cream starting at 2 p.m., Sunday at Rocket Arena. Everyone is welcome.

There will be a slide show, awards and a few gifts for the wonderful fans.

Ferry remains closed

Cave In Rock Ferry remains closed today due to high water on the Ohio River. The ferry is likely to re-open early next week if the river continues to fall as predicted.

All state highways in Crittenden County are now open. Ky. 135 near Tolu was the last to open this morning.

Groups seek assistance for victims

Friends, co-workers and classmates of victims of two house fires this week have mobilized to help them recover from devastating losses.

The Sitar Family lost all of its belongings in a house fire Wednesday night on East Depot Street in Marion. The mother, Beverly, has four children in middle and high school, and her mother also lived at the residence. On Tuesday, Cassie Seaburg, an employee of Crittenden County Detention Center, lost her home on Lone Star Road to fire. She has a four-year-old son.

Friends and classmates of the Sitars have started two projects to help them replace clothing and household items. Sheena Cartwright, who works at H&R Block in Marion and is a sister Ms. Sitar's boyfriend, said clothing can be left at the H&R Block office on South Main Street in Marion. Sizes are listed below. Crittenden County Middle School students Jessi Brewer and Maeson Myers are heading up an effort to collect household items such as towels, dishes, bedding, etc. Those items can be delivered to the school at the end of classes on Wednesday, March 30. Students are also taking up cash contributions each morning for the next two weeks to help their classmates.

Jail employees are likewise accepting items to help their co-worker. Tammy Robertson, a supervisor at the detention center, said clothing and toys are being accepted for Seaburg and her son, Joey.

Sizes of fire victims for clothing donations:

Chris Sitar, high school student, 32/32 pants and medium to large shirts.

Jonah Sitar, high school student, 32/32 pants and medium to large shirts.

Faith Sitar, middle school student, 0-1 pants, small to medium shirts.

Stephanie Sitar, middle school student, women's large or extra large shirts and pants.

Beverly Sitar, 8-10 pants and large shirts.

Beverly's mother, large T-shirts and large sweat pants.

Cassie Seaburg, large shirt and size 10 (33 waist) pants.

Joey, 7 pants, youth medium shirts, and Star Wars toys.

Area deaths

James Wilson Hanks, 55, of Marion died early this morning Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah. Funeral services are Monday at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Orlin Millikan, 93, of Marion died Wednesday at Crittenden County Health and Rehab. The funeral is Saturday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.

Wind creates trouble for firefighters

High winds are making it extremely difficult for firemen battling a blaze at a structure on East Depot Street in Marion. The fire is believed to have originated in a residence adjacent to the former Brown Physical Therapy building. Firefighters from Marion, Crittenden County and Mattoon departments are on the scene.

Area death

Marcella Louise Cosby, 68, of Marion died Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at Crittenden Hospital. A memorial service is Saturday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.

This week's poll question on pot

This week's Crittenden Press Online poll question closely mirrors one asked to Crittenden County students a few months ago as part of the KIP Survey. We thought it would be interesting to see what our online readers say, too.

Next week's printed edition of The Press will include a feature on how students responded this question and other similar ones about drugs. Results from our online poll will be published, also.

Press continues series on drugs, alcohol

This week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press will be on newsstands today after 3 p.m. Featured this week is the second in a series of articles about the school-based KIP Survey which studies trends among students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 regarding tobacco, alcohol and drug use, among other things.

We have picked out some interesting data to feature. Some of it is printed in the picture graphic below. Click to enlarge the data package. Also, please see this week's newspaper for the accompanying article and more.

Firemen called to blaze on Lone Star

Volunteer firemen have been called to a house fire on Lone Star Road. According to initial reports, the fire was at a doublewide mobile home. No one was inside the home between Piney and Crayne Cemetery roads.

Curriculum meeting is tomorrow

The public is invited to the Crittenden County High School's curriculum committee meeting at 3:15 p.m., Wednesday at Rachel Gavin's classroom in the high school.

The committee will be discussing the type of schedule to propose for high school classes next academic year.

Area deaths

Anna Pearl Jones, 64, of Fredonia died Sunday at Salem Springlake. The funeral is Wednesday at Morgan’s Funeral Home in Princeton.

Toney Bell Ringstaff, 75, of Burna died Monday at Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah. The funeral is Wednesday at the chapel of Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Ky. 91 closed between Fredonia and Princeton

UPDATE: Highway is now open

A tractor trailer has overturned near Crider on Ky. 91 between Princeton and Fredonia. The Kentucky Department of Transportation has closed the road. Early reports indicate the truck may be carrying some type of explosive material, perhaps ammonium nitrate and other chemicals or materials.

It's unclear at this time how long the highway will be closed. A detour has been established via Ky. 70 and Ky. 139.