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.

Flu shots available today in Marion

Crittenden County Health Department will be giving flu shots – both seasonal flu and H1N1 in one dose – from 8:30 a.m., to 4 p.m., today at the Marion Ed-Tech Center.

Cost is $25, or billed to Medicare or Medicaid.

The health department is recommending anyone over six months old to have the vaccination.

Three hurt in U.S. 641 accident

Crittenden EMS and the Crittenden County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to the scene of a car accident on U.S. 641 South around 7:30 p.m., tonight. Three people were injured after a car hit a utility pole about two miles south of Marion.

Marion City Council meets tonight

Marion City Council meets in regular session at 6 p.m., tonight at city hall. On the agenda is a discussion with architects regarding the design and cost of the proposed new city fire station.

Business After Hours at local law firm

There will be a Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event from 5-6 p.m., this evening at Frazer, Rogers and Peek Law Firm on Main Street in Marion.

The Chamber sponsors these events regularly as an opportunity for members to gather after work for refreshments and fellowship.

Deer hunter falls on Hurricane Island

A deer hunter fell from a tree stand and apparently broke his leg Saturday afternoon while hunting on Hurricane Island on the Ohio River.

Rescue personnel and PHI Air Ambulance were called to the scene.

Saturday was the first day of a two-day muzzleloader deer hunt in Kentucky.

Hurricane Island is near Tolu. The hunter was on the northern end of the island when he was injured.

Fire burns tractor, baler

Crittenden County volunteer firemen rushed to the scene of a tractor and hay baler on fire Friday afternoon on Sisco Chapel Road in eastern Crittenden County. The Kubota tractor, belonging to John Newcom, was a total loss. The baler was damaged, too.

No one was injured in the fire.

Health Quest takes Girl Iron Glory championship

Health Quest Wellness Center's flag football team won Thursday's championship in the Girl Iron Glory women's-only tournament. The event was held Tuesday and Thursday night at Rocket Stadium to raise awareness and money to fight Breast for Cancer. Five teams, which included almost 100 women, participated in the tournament.

Tonight, the Rockets will host Fulton City in high school football. The game is billed as a PINK OUT. Fans are asked to wear pink shirts. Players will have on pink socks, wrist bans and other gear. Many fundraising activities will be associated with tonight's game.

Pictured is Dr. Johnny Newcom of Health Quest Wellness Center directing his team to an undefeated championship in the flag football tournament.

Frazer posts new campaign video

Bart Frazer, candidate for Crittenden County Attorney, has posted a new video on his Web site:

CLICK HERE TO GO TO

bartfrazer.com.

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Sosh Memorial Service Friday evening

There will be a public Memorial Service for Brian Curtis Sosh at 5 p.m., Friday at the FMarion Baptist Church Family Life Center.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Brian Sosh Memorial Fund at any of the Famers Bank locations in Marion or Salem.

Sosh, a 25-year-old husband and father of three young children, died in a timber cutting accident Tuesday morning.

Christmas comes to Marion Saturday at Fohs

Crittenden Countian Pamela Buijk will be one of more than two dozen vendors displaying and selling their handicrafts during the annual Christmas in Marion Arts and Crafts Show from 9 a.m., until 4 p.m., Saturday at Fohs Hall.

Vendors like Buijk will have custom, one-of-a-kind gifts for early Christmas shopping.

Buijk is a stay-at-home artist and special event florist. Her artwork is obvious in every corner of the house. If it’s not hanging, it’s sitting on something, be it the floor, coffee table or couch. Flowers crowd her cabin's corners while her favorite artwork – painted gourds – sit in the floor, basking in the sunlight.

Buijk, who has drawn artistically since she was a child, didn't start painting gourds until a year and a half ago.

“I started looking up painted gourds online and saw the typical, run of the mill gourds,” she said. “I wanted to do something similar but different and still keep the natural beauty of the gourd intact.”

She certainly has, and to read more about her work, see this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press.

Youth basketball camp starts this morning

There will be a boys' basketball camp for youngsters in grades K-6 starting this morning in Marion.

Camp will be at Crittenden County Middle School gym Wednesday through Friday. Cost is $30 for each camper. There will be fundamental instruction, competition, a camp T-shirt, basketball games, awards and other fun.

Registration is from 7:30 to 8 a.m., today, the first day of camp.