Forestry: If it's daylight, fires are illegal

Kentucky forestry and local law enforcement are reminding residents that it is currently illegal to start fires during daytime hours. Violators could not only be charged for the cost to extinguish an out-of-control fire, they could face jail time and as much as a $500 fine.

Even small trash fires can get out of control in the windy, dry conditions of early spring, warn officers from the Kentucky Division of Forestry and the Forest Service of the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture. Together, the two agencies have developed an information sheet to warn people of the risks and possibles costs of daytime burning during Kentucky spring fire season. (Click on the images above to view the front and back of the flyer.)

Daytime burning, or fires between the hours of 6 a.m., and 6 p.m, are prohibited until May 1.

Area death

Mary Ann Renee McDonald, infant daughter of Misty Ladd and Mark McDonald, died Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at Livingston Hospital and Healthcare Services. Arrangements are incomplete at Boyd Funeral Directors at this time.

Lady Rockets knocked out of postseason

Crittenden County's girls basketball team lost 81-53 to Christian County Tuesday night in the opening round of the Second Region Tournament at Madisonville.

Students punished for alcohol incident

Eight Crittenden County Middle School students have been disciplined for having vodka at school. The Crittenden County School Board has punished the students with suspensions and alternative school assignments.

See this week's printed edition of The Press for more on this matter. The Press will be on newsstands at 3 p.m., Wednesday.

Paul Harvey, 90, dies

Popular radio personality Paul Harvey died Saturday at the age of 90.

His death was announced on ABC Radio Networks where Harvey and his Rest of the Story became a legend of the airwaves over the last six decades. 

See Harvey's official Web site more.

Lady Rockets play Christian County in region

Crittenden County's girls basketball team will play Christian County in the first round of the Second Region tournament Tuesday at Madisonville. Tip off is at 7:30 p.m.

See complete Second Region Bracket.

Wild Game Supper tonight at Mexico Baptist

Mexico Baptist Church in the Mexico Community of rural Crittenden County will host its annual Wild Game Supper tonight starting at  p.m. The event is free and open to the public. It drew more than 300 people last year and is growing annually.

There are prizes and giveaways and lots of entertainment, including a devotional period.

Click here to see some photographs from recent Wild Game Suppers.

President's Stimulus Watch Web Site

For all of you who don't get enough of this stuff on CNN, MSNBC or Fox, here's a Web site that lists in detail money the State of Kentucky is getting for various projects around the commonwealth.

Here is the link: Stimulus Watch.

Good luck finding anything for Marion. Go to the very bottom right links to access additional pages.

Kenergy lineman injured on job

Kenergy lineman Donnie Hunt of Marion was injured working on high voltage power lines Friday.

He was taken to Western Baptist where he was treated. Hunt was then sent to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville as a precautionary measure.

He was reportedly alert and doing well despite his injuries.

Lady Rockets fall in overtime

Crittenden County's girls' basketball team lost 51-46 to Trigg County Thursday night at Cadiz in the championship game of the Fifth District Basketball Tournament.

Both teams will advance to next week's Second Region Tournament at Madisonville. Trigg County went into the four-team district tournament this week as the fourth seed. Crittenden was the No. 2 seed.

Crittenden was trying to win its first district title since 1984.

Jessi Hodge and Jessica Cozart were named to the All-District Team.

Livingston courthouse included in review

Kentucky's Supreme Court chief justice wants to look at the state's continuing courthouse construction program to ensure the building has been in compliance with administrative procedures and state laws, The Associated Press reported today.

On that list of courthouse projects is the new justice center in Livingston County, though there is no indication that any procedures or laws were bypassed to have the Smithland facility built.

While not pointing to any specific project, Chief Justice John D. Minton wants to review the $880 million worth of projects after a story in the Lexington Herald-Leader question the court system's bonding practices to fun the building. The AP reports the state's Administrative Office of the Court will hire an attorney to conduct the review.

State clearing right-of-ways

State crews are clearing the right-of-ways in Crittenden County. Here a crew is removing storm damaged trees and limbs from the edge of Ky. 70 in the Mexico Community.

The Kentucky Department of Highways reminds motorist to use caution and slow down in areas where crews are working. Short delays can also be expected where highways are down to one lane of traffic.

New Kentucky highway maps released

The 2009 Kentucky Official Highway Map is now being distributed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to welcome centers, rest areas and state parks across the commonwealth. It is also available for download in various formats.

The popular folding map features the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. It also encourages travelers to embark upon Kentucky’s many scenic and informational driving tours, including the BikeWalk.ky.gov bicycle route that runs through Crittenden County. The map also features Kentucky's only free Ohio River ferry at Cave In Rock, Ill., and the Marion-Crittenden County Airport. 

Conspicuously missing from the map, however, is the proposed new U.S. 641 route from Marion to Eddyville. The prospective corridor, for which land purchase and design work has already begun, does not appear on the 2009 version of the official highway map as in previous editions. However, no other proposed routes – such as Interstates 66 and 69 – appear on the new map.

"The decision was made to remove proposed highway projects on the new map to reduce confusion for travelers," said Mark Brown of the Transportation Cabinet's office of public affairs.

For spring/summer travel, the map highlights several driving tours across the Bluegrass, including the Country Music Highway, Kentucky Quilt Trail, Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Kentucky Artisan Heritage Trail and Lincoln Heritage Trail.

“Travelers can use this as a great tool for navigation or to plan a trip to one of our beautiful state parks and attractions,” said Commissioner Mike Cooper, Department of Travel. “From Pikeville to Paducah, this map showcases many of Kentucky’s hidden treasures.”

Motorists can find current road conditions for interstates, parkways and major routes by dialing 511 or visiting 511.ky.gov. Toll free numbers for police assistance and roadside emergencies including SAFE Patrol are also included on the new map.

The 2009 edition of Kentucky’s Official Highway map can be viewed at transportation.ky.gov/planning/maps/officialmap/ohm.asp.

School 'disaster days' bill clears House

A bill that would allow the state to excuse school districts from making up certain days missed because of Tropical Storm Ike last September and the ice storm of 2009 passed the Kentucky House of  Representatives 92-6 today. It will need final passage in the Senate and the governor's signature before Crittenden County school officials begin considering an adjustment to the calendar that currently shows May 28 as the last day for students.

House Bill 322, sponsored by Rep. Mike Cherry (D-Princeton), was amended by the House to permit, rather than require, the state education commissioner to excuse up to 10 “disaster days” from school districts' calendars in counties identified as federal disaster areas at the local school board’s request. The original bill would have required a waiver from the commissioner, who would also be allowed to waive up to 10 disaster days in districts that were not designated federal disaster areas.

In Crittenden County, one of the counties declared a federal disaster area related to both weather events, the board of education on Tuesday evening amended its school calendar to account for the 13 days already missed during the 2008-09 academic year. Three of those days have already been covered by extra time built into the school calendar. A variety of methods have been used to account for the remaining 10 days missed because of the winter storm, including tacking days onto the end of the original calendar that would have sent students home for the summer on May 15.

But Superintendent Dr. Rachel Yarbrough said earlier today, before learning that the bill cleared the House, that the district might seek to cash in on at least a portion of those allowed disaster days, if the legislation becomes law. If all 10 days were used, the last day of school could be May 14, one day earlier than initially scheduled.

However, it did not appear from discussion at Tuesday's meeting that the local board of education would seek the full 10-days if a waiver request were made.

Soccer meeting is Tuesday for registration

All parents of children participating in the Crittenden County Youth Soccer Association's spring league are encouraged to attend at meeting at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday in the second-floor meeting room of the Coffee Shop. Registration will also be held at that time.

Missing hunters' bodies discovered

The bodies of two missing teenage duck hunters were discovered in Kentucky Lake Tuesday evening.

McKenzie Stanley, 18, and Jacob Scott, 17, had been missing since Jan. 10 when the boat in which they were hunting from sank during a storm. A third hunter, Trevor Williams, 18, also died but his body was soon discovered in the cold waters of the lake. A fourth hunter, Tyler Heathcott, survived the accident.

The first of the two missing teens was discovered around 4:30 p.m., Tuesday. The second around dusk at 6 p.m.

Marshall County Coroner Mitchell Lee confirmed the discovery to The Paducah Sun. 

Rockets lose in distrct tounament

CCHS boys basketball team lost 70-57 to Trigg County in the opening round of the Fifth District Tournament Tuesday at Cadiz.

Gaige Courtney scored 22 points and finished his career ninth on the boys' all-time scoring list.

Courtney (23) and teammate Casey Oliver (4) are pictured.

Lady Rockets win district tournament opener

Crittenden County's Lady Rocket basketball – on fire recently – beat Lyon County 48-38 in the opening round of the Fifth District Tournament Monday night at Cadiz.

The CCHS girls will play for the district title Thursday against home-standing Trigg County. Both teams have already earned a berth in the Second Region Tournament next week at Madisonville.

See details in this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press, on newsstands at 3 p.m., Wednesday.

Moore Hill area accident

UPDATE: An auto accident near Moore Hill on U.S. 60 West early Tuesday morning left one driver with a probable broken arm, but no other serious injuries were reported from the two-vehicle accident. Drivers involved in the wreck were Jimmy Watson and Ronnie Newcom, both of Marion.

No other details are available at this time. 

Local men win coyote contest

Jason Brown (pictured) and John Bontrager won the inaugural Coyote Hunting Contest sponsored by Hodge's Sports & Apparel in Marion. The one-day hunt was held Saturday. This week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press chronicles the men's hunt through wind, rain and snow. 

The Press will be on newsstands at 3 p.m., Wednesday.