Community Christmas short on funds

Community Christmas is in desperate need of sponsors and donations. With only a few days remaining until distribution day on Friday, there are still 38 children on the tree at the Extension Office and 10 at Pamida.

Cash donations as of Monday totaled $3,182, which is far short of the amount donated in years past.

To sponsor a child stop by Pamida or the Extension Office at 1534 U. S. Hwy. 60 East or call 965-5236 and children’s wish lists can be given over the phone. Cash donations can be deposited at either location of The Peoples Bank. Directions on where and when to return sponsor gifts are included with the angel tree cards. Contact the Extension Office for further information.

Area death

Ralph Teer, 85, of Marion died Monday at Livingston Hospital. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and Purple Heart recipient. The funeral is Wednesday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.

Cave In Rock Ferry is now running

The Cave In Rock Ferry, which stopped operating Sunday due to high winds, is back in action on the Ohio River. The ferry has been operating on a regular schedule today.

School cancelled Monday, roadways refreezing

There will be no school in Crittenden County on Monday, Dec. 13.

State highway officials say road conditions, which had improved from salting at mid-day are once again treacherous due to refreezing. Crews remain out in force in Crittenden and surrounding counties, said Keith Todd, spokesman for the Kentucky Department of Highways.

"Drifts have been a problem throughout the day. Wind has continued to blow snow across road surfaces. That has prompted most counties to start plowing in an effort to knock down drifts," Todd said.

As temperatures drop through the night, driving conditions are likely to deteriorate even further, Todd added.

Once temperatures drop below about 18 degrees, salt and other ice-fighting chemicals lose their effectiveness, the said.

"As drivers prepare for the morning commute, highway officials are asking everyone to allow extra driving time and use appropriate caution," said Todd. "Due to the temperatures down in the teens overnight some slick spots are going to remain. The cold temperatures can also cause re-freezing overnight creating an additional hazard on the morning commute."

The US Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for all of Kentucky.

Winter weather advisory

The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for one to two inches of snow. The advisory runs from 6 a.m., to 6 p.m., Sunday. There is an 80 percent chance of precipitation today.

With temperatures in the low 20s early Sunday morning frozen precipitation was accumulating on the ground and roads.

Cave In Rock Ferry was closed Sunday morning due to high winds.

See Santa Saturday at Full Body Fitness

Full Body Fitness on Jent Road just outside of Marion is hosting an open house Saturday and Santa will be there from 10 a.m., until 2 p.m. Public invited.

Read more about the event, click here.

Community Christmas seeks more help

Eight days from distribution for Community Christmas, organizers say they need more donors in order to make this holiday a special one for local children. You can still sponsor a child by taking a tag from the angel trees at Pamida and the Extension office. There are 16 families with 3-4 children on one tree and several other smaller families needing assistance. Sponsors have until Dec. 16 to purchase gifts. For more information on Community Christmas contact Mona Manley at 965-5229 or Nancy Hunt at 965-5236.

Firemen respond of mobile home blaze

Volunteer firemen in Mattoon and other area stations responded to a mobile home fire shortly after 8 p.m., Wednesday. The fire was next to Baker Church off Ky. 365.

Hospital moving ahead with expansion

Crittenden Health Systems Board of Directors approved a plan Tuesday during a special meeting that will start construction of a new operating room almost immediately.

The board also agreed to hire a new surgeon, who will start in early 2011.

See this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press for details. The Press will be on newsstands today after 3 p.m.

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Today is the 69th anniversary of the "Day that will live in Infamy." In 1941, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, drawing the United States further into World War II.

Read more about Pearl Harbor by clicking here.

Hospital board meets Tuesday in special session

Crittenden Health Systems Board of Directors will meet in special at noon Tuesday in the hospital annex board room. Directors will be considering the contract of a new surgeon and discussing a construction bid for a new $2.4 million operating room.

Kentucky playing Pitt in Birmingham bowl game

Pittsburgh and Kentucky will meet in the BBVA Compass Bowl on Jan. 8. Pittsburgh (7-5) finished in a three-way tie for the Big East title. The Panthers have had a disappointing season after opening ranked 15th and favored to win the Big East Conference. Kentucky is 6-6 after losing to Tennessee in the regular-season finale, but won only two SEC games. The Wildcats have been to five straight bowls. The Big East's representative has won all four previous bowl games in Birmingham, formerly the PapaJohns.com Bowl. That includes last year's 20-7 Connecticut victory over South Carolina. This is Kentucky's third bowl game in Birmingham's Legions Field. Wildcats coach Joker Phillips played in the Hall of Fame Bowls in both 1983 and 1984.

Christmas Parade in Marion

Christmas parade draws crowd in cold

The annual Marion Christmas Parade was held Saturday afternoon on Main Street. A large crowd assembled to see the nearly 50 entries despite the wind and cold.

The Crittenden County High School band served as the parade marshal. Also pictured is Santa and Mrs. Claus who punctuated the parade by riding a fire truck at the very end.

Building down on Main Street

A demolition crew tore down the former Dollar General Store on South Main Street today between Farmers Bank and Larry Orr CPA. The building is being razed to make room for a Farmers Bank's eventual expansion.

Stay tuned for more details in next week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press.

Family pushes for sign to warn others

The family of a teenager who drowned in the Cumberland River last summer has spearheaded an effort to get a sign posted in Dycusburg, warning others of dangerous currents.

Nineteen-year-old Travis Conditt drowned on June 23. His body was recovered two days later only a few feet from where he went under while swimming with a friend.

Lisa Conditt, his mother, said the sign means a great deal to a family that continues to grieve over the loss of the young man.

“Hopefully this may save another life and maybe Travis’ death will not have been in vain,” she said. “We wanted everyone to be warned about the dangers of the river, that it can take a life.

“The river is to be respected,” she added.

Read more of this article in today's printed edition of The Crittenden Press.

Pictured are Tommy and Lisa Conditt and their granddaughter Skye Tercero near the new sign.

Local students prepare emergency video

Are you ready for another major winter storm like we had in 2009?

Crittenden County Elementary School's STLP students have put together a short video that will help are residents better prepare for a major disaster, including ice, snow, earthquake or tornado. They provide information on what needs to be in your emergency kit.

Visit the STLP Web site, click here.

Once there, scroll down to bottom of page and click, or go directly to video

by selecting the following link:

How prepared are you?

Vehicle enforcement class tonight at Ed-Tech Center

Kentucky State Police and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division are partnering with the Crittenden County Economical Development Corporation to provide a Farmer Outreach forum aimed at forging enhanced relationships between law enforcement and the agricultural community.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., tonight (Thursday, Dec. 2) at the Marion Ed-Tech Center. Topics of discussion will include safety regulations, licensing requirements and driver qualifications. This will help farmers and other commercial drivers to understand the regulations currently being enforced by state officers.

There is no charge for the class. For more information, call 965-9294.

Band to marshal Saturday Christmas parade

The annual Marion Christmas Parade will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday. The Crittenden County High School Rocket Regiment marching band will be grand marshal. The band recently advanced for the first time to the state semifinals in its annual competition. Lineup for the parade begins at noon on West Elm Street. Parking spaces along Main Street will be blocked off starting at 1 p.m., Saturday.

WMJL Magic 102.7 is the parade sponsor. Station owner Barbara Myers said the theme is similar to last year. This year’s theme Magic’s in the Music encourages floats to have music or singers on board. Livingston County High School band will participate and the Shriners will be back with their train. New this time is an entry by local health and fitness enthusiasts. Myers said a Zumba dance group will be in the parade and put on a show in front of the courthouse.

Pictured is the school's marching band during a recent practice.