Lyon County Sheriff Reports

Here is the weekly activity report from Lyon County Sheriff's Department: 

- On Thursday, September 5, 2024, around 4:44pm, Deputy David Michelle Kent responded to a two-vehicle collision off KY 3169, 3.5 miles North of Eddyville. Her investigation revealed a 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle, driven by David Sullivan (32) of Hickory was attempting to enter the main travel lane for a parking lot when he failed to yield the right-of-way to a 2008 Pontiac Vibe, driven by Ryan Crowder (27) of Princeton. There were no injuries reported in the collision.

- On Friday, September 6, 2024, around 1:27pm, Deputy Josh Travis arrested Angel Ford (49) of Eddyville and served a Ballard Circuit Court bench warrant for felony probation violation on her. She is pending extradition back to Ballard County Jail.

- On Tuesday, September 3, 2024, around 1:33am, Deputy David Carroll responded to a single vehicle collision in Kuttawa on Days Inn Drive. His investigation revealed a 2023 International truck, driven

Lady Rocket Vball Wins All A Region

For the first time ever, Crittenden County's volleyball girls are Second Region All A Classic champion.

The girls beat Heritage Christian Saturday morning at Hopkinsville in a tough semifinal match then dispatched Fort Campbell in the championship.

CCHS, now 8-1 on the season, will advance to play in the All A Classic State Tournament Sept. 20-21 at the Bluegrass Sportsplex at Elizabethtown. 

After beating University Heights on Thursday, Crittenden moved into the semifinal round of the regional tournament on Saturday where they won a closely contested match over Heritage Christian 25-22, 26-28, 25-23. In the final set, Crittenden fell behind 9-2, but battled back for the win. 

In Saturday afternoon's championship, Crittenden County had little trouble dispatching Fort Campbell 25-15, 25-11. 

See this week's full edition of The Crittenden Press for more on the Lady Rockets' historic championship. 

Class of '74 to reunite in October

Crittenden County High School’s Class of 1974 will hold its 50th reunion during football homecoming week.  

The class will enjoy the homecoming parade route Thursday, Oct. 17 from their entry that will include rocking chairs on a flatbed truck.  Class members participating are encouraged to bring rocking chairs.   

On Friday, Oct. 18, the class will meet at the La Cantina in Darben Plaza at 4 p.m., for dinner before moving festivities to Rocket Stadium.

“We want to set a precedent and have each 50th class reunion celebrate at homecoming,” said 1974 class member Ramona Ford. “We have talked to Superintendent Tonya Driver and will have tables and chairs set up in the end zone during the football game,” Ford said. 

Tickets for the game can be purchased in advance on the GoFan app by searching Crittenden County High School or purchased at the gate with a card. No cash is accepted for athletic tickets.  

RSVP for parade participation and dinner by contacting Ramona Ford at (270) 704-3966.  

Farmers accepting bids on truck, trailer

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Farmers Bank & Trust Co. in Marion is accepting

bids on two items – a 2011 Chevrolet 2500 and a 2004 Paam box trailer. 

Sealed bids will be accepted through 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 13. Inspections may take place by contacting 

Jared Byford at the bank's main location on Main 

Street in Marion. 

Bid forms should be obtained by contacting Byford at (270) 965-3106.

Princeton Black Patch this Weekend

Princeton will celebrate with its annual Black Patch festival this weekend, presented by the Optimist Club for the past 54 years. 

The parade will be at 5 p.m., Friday. Street Fair will be downtown with various activities on Saturday, including a pancake breakfast, book sale, dog show, line dancing, petting zoo, inflatables and games, mule pull and wagon rides, cake walk, cruise in, music and more. 

The downtown street festival begins at 8 a.m., and a live county music show with Tim Rhodes will start at 6 p.m., to close out the event. 

Crittenden launches burn ban

On Thursday, Sept. 5, Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom signed an executive order creating a burn ban in the county due to dry conditions that have created a hazardous situation for outdoor burning.

The order says that “due to continued dry and unseasonably warm weather conditions and the fact that long-term weather forecasts indicate no change in the current pattern which has created an extreme danger of wildfires in Crittenden County” that the ban will be enforced immediately and will remain in place until “we have received a significant amount of precipitation necessary for the removal of this ban.”

The order prohibits all outdoor burning.

Livingston County had issued a similar order earlier in the week as had other nearby counties. 

Auction Sept. 10 features 73 acres

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Harris Real Estate is selling 73 acres in eight tracts 

Sept. 10 in Crittenden County's Amish community.

The property features 3 homes, barns and two ponds.

The sale will begin at 6 p.m., at 202 Mount Zion 

Church Road near Mattoon.

Kleinik estate open house Thursday

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An open house for the estate auction of Portia Kleinik will be held between 2-7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 5 at 

12 Love Cemetery Rd., in Marion.

Real estate and personal property will be sold on Saturday, Sept. 14 behind Buntin Trailer Sales in Sheridan.

The property will be sold in two separate tracts and combined.

Homestead Auction and Buntin Auction Services are collaborating on this sale.

Livingston judge issues burn ban

Livingston County Judge-Executive Teris Swanson on Tuesday issued an executive order implementing a temporary burn ban due to drought conditions.

The order states that the ban will remain in effect until conditions improve. The ban includes campfires, recreational fires, agriculture burning, trash or debris burning, fireworks and any other activity involving the ignition and sustained burning of materials outdoors. 

Outdoor grilling and cooking on a contained cooking device are exempt.

Hodges joins Health First's Princeton staff

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Sharon Hodges, APRN-BC, has joined the staff of Health First Community Health Center in Princeton.

Hodges is a nurse practitioner whose care includes family practice and gerontology.

Transportation assistance is available through Health First, as well as discounts on healthcare and prescriptions.

For an appointment with Hodges, call (270) 365-9455.

Lyon County arrests, sheriff's reports

Here are last week's news releases from Lyon County Sheriff's Department:

- On Sunday, August 25, 2024, around 3:10pm, Sheriff Brent White was on patrol in Kuttawa when he located Eric L. Poe (35) of Kuttawa at the Recreation Area. Poe was arrested on a Failure to Appear bench warrant from Lyon District Court. He later posted a cash bond and was released from custody.

- On Sunday, August 25, 2024, around 8:15pm, Deputy David Carroll was dispatched to a single vehicle collision on KY 293 near the Saratoga community. His investigation revealed a 2006 GMC Envoy, driven by Ryan W. Hensley (42) of Paducah left the roadway after the driver reported swerving for a deer. The vehicle collided with a driveway embankment and utility pole. Both Hensley and his female passenger declined medical treatment at the scene. Deputy Carroll was assisted by Eddyville Fire Department, Lyon County EMS, and K.U.

- On Monday, August 26, 2024, around 11:15am, Sheriff Brent White responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of US 62 and KY 810 South. The investigation revealed a 2017 Nissan Sentra driven by Kiya M. Hazelwood (18) of Benson, AZ was at the intersection of KY 810 and was attempting to turn onto US 62 West bound when she failed to yield the right-of-way and pulled into the path of a Kenworth semi-truck and trailer driven by Robert W. Cannon (40) of Falls of Rough, which was East bound on US 62. Hazelwood and her passenger, Ella K. Patterson (18) of Kuttawa were injured and were both transported by Lyon County EMS to Paducah hospitals. Cannon was not injured in the collision. The Kentucky State Police, Kuttawa Fire Department, and Lyon County EMS assisted Sheriff White at the scene. 

- On Monday, August 26, 2024, around 2:24pm, Deputies with the Sheriff’s Office served the following arrest warrants:

Sharon M. Willis (62) of Dana, KY – charged with Contempt of Court bench warrant from Floyd District Court.

Eric Roberts (29) of Prestonsburg, KY – charged with 1 count of Criminal Mischief-3rd Degree, 59 counts of Wanton Endangerment-1st Degree, and Persistent Felony Offender-II.

- On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, around 8:30am, Chief Deputy Sam Adams served a Lyon District Court bench warrant on Michael Keller (48) of Princeton. Keller was charged with the Contempt of Court bench warrant and remanded to District Court as it was in session at the time. Keller was later released after pleading guilty in a theft case. 

- On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, around 9pm, Deputy Michelle Kent charged Richard P. Bryant (56) of Broomfield, CO on a Lyon Circuit Court bench warrant for Probation Violation (for felony offense). Bryant was previously convicted of felony drug and related offenses. He is accused of violating his probation while out of state. Bryant was extradited back to Kentucky and lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.

- On Thursday, August 29, 2024, around 8:35pm, Deputy Michelle Kent responded to a commercial vehicle incident in Kuttawa. Her investigation revealed a 2018 Freightliner was on US 62 when it pulled into the Huck’s Travel Center with a tire on fire. The Kuttawa Fire Department responded to the scene and quickly extinguished the blaze. The driver, identified as Frederick L. Tate (43) of St. Louis, MO, was not injured. 

- On Saturday, August 31, 2024, around 5:52pm, Deputy Josh Travis and a KSP Trooper served multiple warrants on Amanda G. Fitzgerald (42) of Madisonville after she was extradited back to Kentucky from Tennessee. Fitzgerald was initially investigated by multiple out-county-agencies and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office beginning in 2020 and 2021 following complaints of counterfeiting and after a search warrant was executed on Travis Road. Fitzgerald was charged with the following offenses:

Lyon County charges:

Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument-1st Degree (complicity)

Theft by Unlawful Taking $1,000 < $10,000 (complicity)

Forgery-1st Degree (complicity)

Possession of a Forgery Device (complicity)

Crittenden County charges:

Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument-1st Degree

Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition All Others

Caldwell County charges:

Criminal Possession of Forged Instrument-1st Degree

Criminal Possession of Forged Instrument-1st Degree

Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition All Others

Fitzgerald was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.

- On Sunday evening, September 1, 2024, Deputies responded to the Lee S. Jones Park for a complaint involving a motorbike being driven on the soccer fields. This was the third vandalism complaint received over the holiday weekend at this county facility. A deputy located a family with a young child operating the motorbike inside the fenced-in area of a soccer field. The motorbike was impounded and the adults were identified. On Monday, September 2, 2024, Sheriff Brent White charged Jamie M. Fair (48) of Eddyville with one count of All Terrain Vehicle Violations on Public Property. She was cited to an October court date in Lyon District Court. The public is reminded that no all-terrain vehicle nor motorbike use is allowed at the Lee S. Jones Park and all park property not otherwise open to pedestrian access must have prior approval from the County before accessing it.   

Main Lake Road road work starts Tuesday

Starting Tuesday, Sept. 3, contractors will begin work to repair Main Lake Road bridge just off KY 855 South. 

Periodic road closures will be required during the two-week planned repair period. 

Work is expected to be done by Sept. 17, weather permitting. 

Motorists are encouraged to use caution in and around this work zone for the safety of all involved, said Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom.

Sen. Howell participates in ag, PFAS meetings

Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, recently participated in a meeting to provide state legislators with the latest information on hot agricultural topics, including the H5N1 Bird Flu outbreak, disaster resilience in agriculture, and PFAS, or "forever chemicals," in agriculture. 

"The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) provides opportunities for state legislators to build bridges of understanding about what agriculture offers. Our recent meeting in Louisville also provided this opportunity. It was enjoyed by all of the attendees and allowed for conversations and relationship building between legislators, which will allow for further conversations after the meeting concluded," said state Senator Annette Sweeney, R-Iowa.

Louisville hosted the 2024 NCLS Summit, where more than 5,800 legislators and policy members from across the United States and its territories joined Howell and his fellow Kentucky lawmakers and staff to connect and collaborate. 

The Agriculture Task Force, organized by NCSL, was created to examine state and federal agriculture policy issues. The task force helps develop NCSL agriculture policy, studies critical agriculture and rural development issues facing the states, explores policy options to address these concerns, and serves as a conduit for state legislative communication with Congress, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other federal agencies.

 "This task force is beneficial because it allows all of us to see what issues other states are dealing with, whether it be unique to one state or a common challenge," Howell said. "It's an honor to be a member of

Guardsmen hosting military reunion

Guardsmen are planning a reunion at the former National Guard Armory in Marion on Saturday, Sept. 7.

Companies A and B that formerly used the armory for its headquarters typically host an annual get-together, but it’s also open to all military and their families, according to Tony Harper, a retired sergeant with the former guard unit.

The pot luck lunch event begins at 10 a.m., and ends at 2 p.m. It will include fellowship and recognition of former members who have passed away.

Harper said this will be the 11th year for the reunion, but the first at the armory in about five years. The U.S. Army closed Marion’s armory in 2019. It was first opened in 1964, but the unit began in 1925.

Game time decision: A Brunch of Sandwiches

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Fuel up for the Rockets' home game at A Brunch of Sandwiches!

Free Drink Friday with every online order.

Use the app to order and pick up at the drive-thru window.

Is your dumpster gone? One's on the way

Businesses owners and other commercial customers in Marion and Crittenden County were caught off guard this week when their trash dumpsters began disappearing. 

It appears that at least one commercial provider has been removing their trash receptacles without notifying customers. This comes as the county’s new commercial franchise agreement is set to begin next month with a new commercial provider. 

Almost a year and a half ago, Impact Waste Service was awarded a 5-year exclusive franchise to collect residential and commercial waste in Marion and Crittenden County. Impact rolled out its residential service in 2023 and is this week working to deploy dumpsters to city and county businesses and other commercial customers.

Brittany Cates, office manager for Impact, told The Press this morning that employees are making deliveries in earnest, trying to avoid a lapse in service.  Even the company owner is out delivering dumpsters, Cates said. Deliveries began earlier this week and she predicted that by Sunday most of them would be deployed.

If you are a commercial customer and have not been contacted by Impact Waste – whether your dumpster has or has not already been removed – you should call Impact at 270-584-9030 to arrange for service. 

A public hearing on the franchise and changeover was held Wednesday at the Crittenden County Office Complex. Customers of GFL stated that their dumpers were removed without any prior notice, and at least one customer said she was charged a pickup fee and contract termination fee. A customer service representative with GFL confirmed that pickup fees are being charged against accounts. Attempts by The Press to reach by phone GFL’s governmental services regional manager and/or a GFL supervisor in this area were unsuccessful. 

Crittenden County Judge-Executive said based on his understanding of the regulations governing the changeover, any fee associated with early termination of the previous service contract is not acceptable. “That’s the reason there was an 18-month wait period, so customers could be released from contracts,” the county judge said.

Commercial trash customers who have agreed to automatic payment withdrawals from their bank accounts may want to be aware of charges they might incur before those transactions are executed.

The Press will have further details on the new commercial franchise agreement in next week’s full edition of the newspaper. 

KY 365 closed next week

KY 365 in Crittenden County will be closed for approximately three days next week as the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet replaces a cross drain at the 2.33 mile point.

Message boards have been placed on the roadway at Mattoon Fire Department and near Sturgis to notify motorists of the pending construction and closing. The messages boards say that the closure will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 4.

The drain is located just north of Chandler Farm Road, and southbound traffic on KY 365 will not be able to access that county road.

There will be no marked detour, but motorists may detour around the blockage by utilizing U.S. 60 through Sullivan, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said.

First United has Rocket debit cards

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First United Bank wants to help their Crittenden 

County customers show their Rocket spirit.

The Marion bank is also waiving debit card 

replacement fees for a limited time. 

Rocket debit cards are available at the First United's Marion Banking Center, located at 305 N. Main 

Street.

Water district special meeting Wednesday

Crittenden-Livingston Water District will hold a special-called meeting at 4 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 28 at Deer Lakes meeting room in Salem.

T.L. Maddux, chairman of the board, will facilitate the meeting with the following agenda items: Appointment of acting superintendent; consideration, discussion, approval of resolution accepting

Cleaner Waters Grant; and appointing authorized official for signing necessary documents for pending grants and resolutions.

Estate sale this weekend in Marion

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Household and shop items from the Sam Smith estate will be sold Friday and Saturday in Marion.

Located at 409 N. Walker St., the sale will include tools, furniture, dolls and much more.