Bridge continues to drop...

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet engineers and inspectors say the have detected an additional one inch of movement in the west approach spans on the Old Ledbetter Bridge during the last 24 hours.  

The approach spans have moved about 3.25 inches total in the last three days. There has also been additional movement of soil along the bluff near the bridge on the McCracken County side of the Tennessee River.

This could become a serious issue, and to think, vehicles were crossing the bridge only a few months ago.

Two boys headed to state track

Two CCHS track and field athletes are headed to the state meet May 24 at Lexington.

See this week's Press for details.

Reports: School bus accident in Paducah

There are reports about a serious school bus accident in McCracken County.

Early indications are that several students are injured.

The bus and a vehicle have apparently collided.

Johnson's Washer/Dryer Sale

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Board names new superintendent

Crittenden County Board of Education by a unanimous vote tonight named Vince Clark as its new head of the school district to replace outgoing Superintendent Dr. Rachel Yarbrough.

Old Ledbetter bridge continues to slip

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet engineers and inspectors have detected additional movement in west approach spans on the Old Ledbetter Bridge.  On April 30, transportation officials received word two approach span sections on the McCracken Side of the bridge had dropped about 2 ft.   The Old Ledbetter Bridge has been closed and awaiting demolition since traffic moved to the New US 60 Tennessee River Bridge on July 31, 2013.

When they investigated the April 30 report, inspectors found a land slip along the bluff below the bridge had moved two of the land-based piers.   Since that initial investigation, inspectors have regularly checked the aging structure for additional signs of movement.  In the last 48 hours, the approach spans have showed 2.25 inches of both vertical and horizontal movement, indicating the moving hillside is continuing to shift the land piers supporting the approaches at the west end of the bridge.

While an earlier assessment indicated a collapse of the approach spans is not likely to impact the main truss over the river navigation channel, KYTC District 1 Chief Engineer Mike McGregor said the additional approach movement has prompted engineers to take some additional precautions.

“First, we want to again urge the public to avoid areas beneath the approach spans on the McCracken County side of the river.  Second, we will be placing solar powered navigation lights on the main truss spans and piers in case power to the existing lights should be cut by an additional drop in the approach spans.  Third, we are continuing negotiations with contractors in an effort to expedite demolition of the bridge,” McGregor said.

Engineers are continuing to monitor the approach spans for movement.   Should the approaches fall, an inspection team is prepared to immediately check the main spans of the structure from the Livingston County end of the bridge to assure it is safe for passing river traffic.

Transportation officials have been in regular communication with the U.S. Coast Guard and McCracken County Emergency Management about the bridge and the land slippage along the bluff.

According to McCracken County Emergency Management Director Jerome Mansfield, no evacuation of homes along the bluff has been ordered.  However, residents of the area have been alerted to the land slippage and asked to report anything unusual that might indicate additional movement of land along the bluff.

McCracken County Sheriff Jon Hayden and deputies have placed caution tape along the Tennessee River shoreline to keep people away from the slumping approach spans and leaning piers.  Hayden reiterated an earlier warning that the public should avoid the area along the bluff near the bridge.

While vehicular traffic was moved off the Old Ledbetter Bridge last July when the New Ledbetter Bridge opened to traffic, the threat to the stability of the old structure became of concern to river traffic.  As a precaution, the US Coast Guard temporarily closed the Tennessee River to boat traffic on April 30.  That halt in barge traffic was lifted later in the day with an advisory that boats should avoid stopping between Tennessee River mile point 5.1 and 5.5.  Mariners should review the official Coast Guard Advisory.

Among others, Mansfield had asked the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Kentucky Geological Survey to check the site for additional signs of land movement.

Transportation Cabinet officials in Frankfort have been in negotiations aimed at expediting demolition of the bridge, likely starting with the ailing west approach spans.

With the recent landslide in Washington State, and the sinkhole that developed under the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, and several sinkholes and landslides around the region, officials want residents of the area near the Old Ledbetter Bridge to be alert for any additional signs of land movement.

The Old Ledbetter Bridge opened to traffic in 1931.  It was restricted to a 3-ton load limit in January 2012 while the new bridge was under construction just upstream.  KYTC officials expedited construction of the new bridge and it opened to traffic on July 31, 2013, eleven months ahead of schedule.

Area deaths

Retha B. Clark, 75, of Marion died May 11, 2014, at Shepherds Hospice in Albertsville, Ala.
Arrangements are incomplete at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Ryley Aiden Shaw, the infant son of Caitlin Tucker and Justin Shaw, died May 8, 2014, at Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville. Myers Funeral Home in Marion is in charge of arrangements.

Bill Garnett, 79, of West Lafayette, Ind., formerly of Crittenden County, died May 10, 2014, at his home. Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion is in charge of arrangements.

CCHS SBDM to meet May 19

The Crittenden County High School SBDM council will meet at 3:30 p.m., May 19 at the high school conference room. 

Former First Lady Wilkinson dies

KENTUCKY PRESS NEWS SERVICE
Former Kentucky first lady Martha Wilkinson died Wednesday at 72. Her husband, former Gov. Wallace Wilkinson, served from 1987 to 1991.

Mr. Wilkinson is remembered for his role in the Kentucky Educational Reform Act and implementing a state lottery while Mrs. Wilkinson was an advocate for adult literacy.

She died in Florida. Arrangements are pending but it's thought she will be buried in Florida beside her husband, who died in 2002.

Both were natives of Casey County. Before being elected governor, Wallace Wilkinson and his wife founded a successful business empire which included a college textbook company, farming and coal mining interests.

Aluminum production facility to create 80 jobs

Officials have announced a joint venture between Constellium N.V. and UACJ Corporation to build an aluminum production facility in Bowling Green. The $150-million project is one of the largest in southcentral Kentucky in the past decade and is expected to create 80 new jobs.

The joint venture will produce finished aluminum body sheets for cars and trucks. The company will supply these parts to the country’s major automotive manufacturers.

“This is a huge investment in Kentucky – one that further solidifies our role as a key player in the auto industry,” Gov. Steve Beshear said in a statement. “It’s also exciting to see companies from two different continents jointly choose Kentucky as the place to manufacture an innovative product. I want to thank both Constellium and UACJ for putting more Kentuckians back to work, and I look forward to seeing this partnership’s impact on vehicles around the world.”

Constellium, a European aluminum company, and UACJ, a Japanese aluminum company, both will supply the aluminum coils that will then be treated and processed in Bowling Green. The joint venture is subject to regulatory approval.

The companies chose Bowling Green for many reasons, including its location to customers and highly skilled workforce, according to a news release from Beshear's office.

Construction on a 225,000-square-foot facility at the Kentucky Transpark is expected to start this summer. The facility is also designed to allow for future expansion.

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KyTC removing rail crossings in Webster

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KyTC) Webster County Highway Maintenance Crew has been on the attack for about the last year, taking out abandoned rail crossings along rural highways.

In the last few months they have taken out several rail crossings in the Providence area.  Today, they pulled old tracks and ties out of a crossing on Ky. 143 in Webster County.  The crossing, once part of the old Tradewater Railway and earlier part of an Illinois Central Railroad Line that served coal mines and industries through Webster and Crittenden counties, was abandoned in about 1996.

When a salvage company took up the tracks and ties for recycling, they left the old rail crossings intact to avoid having to re-pave the roadways the tracks crossed. The Webster County Highway Crew has been systematically pulling out the old rail crossings. They’ve pulled four or five such crossings in about the last year and have plans to remove one more. The last crossing along Ky. 2837 in Webster County will likely be removed in a few weeks as maintenance schedules allow.

The crossings are filled back in with temporary asphalt. Traffic will be allowed to run on the area for a few months so the new base and pavement can settle. A paving crew will then come back and add a finish coat of asphalt to fully restore the roadway. A couple of the old rail crossings were removed in areas where paving projects are scheduled this summer.

While most of the highways were scheduled for a full day closure, KyTC Webster County Superintendent Chris Martin says his crew has been able to pull most of the crossings in less time than that.  The crossing they pulled today along Ky. 143/Diamond-Fishtrap Road at mile-point 0.48 just west of Ky. 109 near the Blackford community was completed and reopened to traffic around noon.

One little known quirk of Kentucky law, in places where the railroad was there first, the crossing generally belongs to the railroad. In areas where the state highway was there first, and a rail line was built across it, the crossing generally belongs to the Transportation Cabinet. The Transportation Cabinet and the railroads work in a cooperative effort to keep rail crossings in good repair. Once a rail line is officially listed as abandoned, highway crews can remove the crossing.

Friday last day to register Relay team online

Noon on Friday will be the deadline to get your Crittenden County Relay for Life team online.  

 

You can register your team online at by following this link.

 

"I will be ordering shirts Friday afternoon," said Karami Underwood, a Relay for Life specialist with the American Cancer Society's Paducah office.

Geologists survey old Ledbetter Bridge area

A group from the Kentucky Geological Survey is walking the bluff and shoreline around the Old Ledbetter Bridge this morning, checking on the land slip that caused movement of two approach piers on the bridge last week.

Additionally, McCracken County Sheriff’s Deputies and McCracken County Emergency Management personnel have placed warning tape around the base of the bridge on the McCracken side. There have been several reports of people hiking beneath the bridge in spite of warnings for the public to stay away.

While it appears the approach span and piers continue to be fairly stable at this time, there is always a threat of additional land movement that might cause hazards for anyone below the bridge structure. This is especially so as we expect several inches of rain in the next few days. The area received about 3.5 inches of rain in the two days prior to the land slip last week.

Slight risk of severe weather Friday

The National Weather Service office in Paducah has issued a hazardous weather outlook that includes a slight risk of severe weather on Friday.

Thunderstorms are possible starting late this afternoon over southeast Missouri, then spreading across the remainder of the area overnight. A few storms could become severe mainly after midnight tonight, with large hail and damaging winds being the main hazards.

Thunderstorms are forecast for all or part of the area from Friday through Tuesday night. During this time, the best chance of storms looks to be on Friday, which will include a slight risk of severe storms.  Large hail and damaging winds are again the primary concerns, with locally heavy rainfall also a possibility.

Welcome: Hodge Sales and Service

The Crittenden Press Online Welcomes Hodge Sales and Service, your area Scag dealer in Sullivan, Ky., to our Web community.

Visit Hodge Sales and Service to see a variety of new and pre-owned lawncare models in stock. They also have a wide selection of ATVs and utility vehicles for the farm or fun.

Click Here to Visit them Online.

RSVP by tomorrow for Chamber Dinner

Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce will host its annual meeting and awards dinner at 6 p.m., Thursday, May 15 at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church's fellowship hall.

Cost is $28  per person for Chamber members and $30 for non-members.

A catered meal will be provided by Conrad's.

RSVPs should be made by May 9 to the Chamber office: susan@crittendenchamber.org or 270-965-5015.

Jasis seeking jailer post

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Fire deparatment selling barbecue chickens

Sheridan Volunteer Fire Department is having a barbecue chicken sale as a fundraiser.

The chickens will be cooked May 17 and can be picked up at the fire department between noon an 1 p.m.

Chickens need to be ordered by May 14.

To order, call John Croft at (270) 969-0004, Evan Head at (270) 969-4878 or Randy Hayes at (270) 704-5256.

Johnson's Big Washer/Dryer Sale

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