Snowfall about six inches in some areas

Nancy Paris, who lives near the Crittenden and Caldwell County line, sent us these photos of the nearly six inches of snowfall that's on the ground in that part of the region.

Due to the snow, which has blanketed much of western Kentucky, the Early Bird Shopper's Guide will be delayed by a day in some areas.

School let out early today, but there's no word yet on whether students will be in class tomorrow. With temperatures dipping into the teens tonight, there's a good chance that on Tuesday they will miss their 10th day of the school year for snow. So far, only day has to be made up. Eight snow days were already built into the school calendar.

School likely to let out early today

UPDATE: SCHOOLS DIMISS AT 1 P.M.

School officials have decided to release students today at 1 p.m. Buses will run Snow Routes.

Crittenden County School officials say it is very likely that school will be turned out early today.

Officials say they will wait a few hours until snow plows are able to clear roadways, which were covered after students arrived at class this morning. Then, school will probably turn out early so bus drivers can complete their rounds before roads refreeze.

Although no specific time has been announced, school will likely be in session until at least 1 p.m., or so.

Snow started falling heavily shortly after children headed off to school. Accumulations of 3-5 inches are anticipated across the region.

I-24 down to one lane in Livingston County

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to restrict traffic to one lane along Interstate 24 in Livingston County this morning.

The lane restriction is to allow patching of potholes along both eastbound and westbound lanes between the Tennessee River Bridge and the Cumberland River bridge.

Motorists should be alert for slowing and merging traffic as they approach this work zone. Appropriate caution is required where equipment, flaggers, and maintenance personnel will be on the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow.

Welcome Salem's Clinic Pharmacy

Welcome to our newest Press Online advertiser, Salem's Clinic Pharmacy.

Woman's Club event cancelled today

Marion Woman's Club's brunch scheduled for this morning has been cancelled.

Area death

Aubrey Arnold Hollamon, 76, of Marion died Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at Crittenden Health and Rehabilitation Center. The funeral is Sunday, at Myers Funeral Home.

Log truck crashes on U.S. 60 near Rosebud

Motorists along U.S. 60 East in the Rosebud area should be alert to logs on the side of the highway and a missing guard rail. A log truck accident Thursday afternoon just before dark didn't seriously hurt anyone, but the logs made a mess and closed the highway for a time while crews moved them to the side. The logs will be picked up later.

County sheriff's department getting new guns

Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department has received a Homeland Security grant to purchase new service weapons.

The funds come in the form of a personal protection grant and will include $1,800 for the guns and $851 for 1,900 rounds of ammunition. The bullets will be used for department personnel to qualify their marksmanship with the new weapons. Three hundred rounds will be for duty ammo.

The department will purchase four .45 caliber Smith and Wesson Military Police model semi-automatic handguns. The guns are purchased on state contract from Bud’s Police Supply in Lexington.

Deputy Greg Rushing said the sheriff’s department upgrades its service weapons every six or seven years. Department personnel are currently carrying .40 caliber weapons.

The same grant helped the department purchase new body armor in 2010. That cost about $3,000.

Lady Rockets fall in opening round

Lady Rockets lost to Lexington Christian by two, 48-46

CLICK HERE FOR STATS

Crittenden Scoring

Hodge 22, Brown 3, Courtney 8, Tabor 11, Johnson 2.

Molasses spill on US 60 near Salem

UPDATE: The Livingston County Highway crew has made several passes, spreading sand along U.S. 60 between Salem and Burna this morning in response to what was reported as a leaking molasses tanker truck.

Motorists should be aware that the smell of the molasses may attract deer along the roadway during the overnight hours.

The crew has completed its work at this time and will be checking the area again throughout the day.

We have a report of a molasses spill on U.S. 60 near Salem in Livingston County. Livingston highway maintenance crews are spreading sand to absorb the sticky material. Motorists should use caution in the area. More details as they become available.

Listen to live streaming audio of today's game

A radio station in Richmond is streaming live audio of all of today's Class A State Tournament games. Tune in at noon to hear the Lady Rockets taking on Lexington Christian.

Click here for live feed.

Lady Rockets at All A Classic today

The Lady Rocket basketball team plays Lexington Christian at noon today in the opening round of the All A Classic at Richmond, Ky.

To follow the game, stay tuned to the Press Online. We will be posting updates throughout the contest.

Pictured are members of the team during a send off from the elementary school on Tuesday.

Winter storm monitored, expected to go north

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet highway engineers on snow duty are continuing to closely monitor the weather forecast this week, says Keith Todd, spokesman for the Kentucky Department of Highways. A major winter storm that will sweep across the central United States is expected to track north of western Kentucky counties with a winter mix that includes freezing rain and up to a foot of snow across Illinois and Indiana.

Kentucky highway crews will be monitoring the track of the winter storm in case the forecast changes. At this time, western Kentucky is expected to get mostly rain followed by light snow. Rain preceding the winter precipitation will prevent pre-treating by most Kentucky highway crews. However, crews will be on alert and prepared to respond once temperatures drop below the freezing mark.

Motorists should closely monitor the weather forecast for changes that may impact travel across the region. Even a small change in the track of this storm could substantially alter the forecast for western Kentucky, Todd said. Motorists who plan to travel cross-country this week, particularly those traveling northward into Illinois and Indiana, should monitor news media as they travel and pay close attention to the localized weather forecast.

Seniors, parents can attend college aid meeting

There will be financial aid representatives at Crittenden County High School from 9 a.m., to 5 p.m., tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 1) to help high school seniors and their parents complete and submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

Parents may show up at their convenience. Bring your Pin # (www.pin.ed.gov) and all 2010 tax information.

For more information, contact Jeremey Wheeler at 965-9294.

Conrad's Movie Machine has the latest releases

Before you get snowed in, remember to stop by and get a new release from the Conrad's Movie Machine.

Keep up with the very latest releases all the time at The Press Online.

Just click on the Movie Machine logo on the lefthand side of this page. Click here to go there now.

Area deaths

Clarence V. Adams, 79, of Jasper, Ind., died Wednesday, Jan. 26, at Memorial Hospital and Healthcare Center in Jasper. There is a memorial service today at the Christian Church of Jasper. Funeral services are Sunday at Salem Baptist Church. Boyd Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

Lois Chittenden May, 98, of Hampton died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011 at Salem Springlake Health and Rehabilitation Center. The funeral is Saturday at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Salem develops plan for community park

Salem City Council discussed moving ahead on a Community Park development during its regular monthly meeting last week.

The ambitious plan calls for a three-phase construction project that will cost about $1.8 million. The project has been on the table for quite some time, and council members hope to kickstart development through an application for a Land and Water Conservation grant.

Salem has applied for state and federal grants in the past, but has been denied in recent attempts.

Phase one of the park would be the most expensive, since it will include a community center, commercial building and a parking lot.

Basketball courts and a picnic pavilion are part of phase two. A walking trail that will encircle the park is the major part of phase three. Also in phase three, are plans for tennis courts, a soccer field and additional picnic areas.

Salem Mayor Rell Peck hopes to begin soon excavating the site for phases one and two.

The community park will be located just west of downtown, off U.S. 60 between Salem and the Tambco Convenience Center.

School open 2 hours late today

Crittenden County school will be in session today, but will open 2 hours later than normal. Bus routes will be delayed on the same schedule, 2 hours later.

One man dies in I-24 wreck this morning

Snow-related traffic crashes in Lyon County this morning resulted in one death, and closed part of I-24 for nearly an hour.

A truck driven by Charles Sivells, 46, of Gilbertsville was westbound on I-24 near exit 40 at 7:50 a.m., when he drove across the U.S. 62 overpass, lost control on the snow-covered roadway and struck a bridge rail. The truck went into the median, hit a guardrail and came to rest. Sivells and his passenger, Clinton Sivells, 21, got out of the truck out of concern for their safety, according to state police.

Five minutes later, state police say a truck driven by Sherry Reed, 31, of Eddyville, crossed the same ice covered bridge and lost control. Her truck went into the median striking Charles Sivells. The truck continued forward striking Sivells’ truck and then the guardrail. He was thrown about 20 feet and suffered a broken left leg and other internal injuries. He was taken to Caldwell Hospital, where he later died. Reed was taken to Western Baptist Hospital with what appeared to be non-life threatening injuries.

New quilt block goes up in Mattoon

The latest, local tourist attraction has gone up on a carport in rural Crittenden County.

Neil Decker, a representative of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, hung the county’s third decorative, wooden quilt block last week on Virginia McDowell’s outbuilding in Mattoon, next to the old school.

Painted quilt blocks started popping up on barns, outbuildings and public facilities a few years ago as a way for Kentucky to promote rural tourism. The idea was inspired by an Ohio artist, who put a painted block on her family's barn in honor of her mother who had been an avid quilter. The idea caught hold in eastern Kentucky then quickly spread across the state as counties sought to draw curious motorists off the beaten paths of four-lane highways.

The state’s agriculture department got involved to help spur the effort forward. Crittenden County’s FFA class has been helping by designing, constructing and painting the quilt blocks.

The quilt block on McDowell’s garage is a “Mariner’s Compass.” The county’s other two quilt blocks are a “Carpenter’s Wheel” at Marion Inn at 2362 U.S. 641 and a “Barn Lot and Trees” at Crittenden Farm Supply at 312 West Gum Street.

McDowell, who is sponsoring the newest block, learned to quilt from her grandmother when she was nine years old. Her husband, son-in-law and grandson were all Navy men, and at one time, she had quilted the Mariner’s Compass design.

The quilt block is painted on a piece of Alucabond just larger than five foot square.

For more about the quilt block project or for an index of quilt blocks hanging on buildings throughout Kentucky, go online to http://www.quiltindex.org.