Press delayed due to snow

The Crittenden Press printed edition will not be available this afternoon due to transportation issues from the printing plant south of Hopkinsville. The newspaper should be available at retail outlets before noon on Thursday. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Robbery foiled by undercover cops

What police believed was going to be a drug deal turned into an apparent attempted armed robbery at Marion-Crittenden County Park just before noon today. The whole deal went down in front of undercover officers who were hiding nearby, hoping to make a drug bust using a confidential informant.

Five men were arrested at the scene. Their identities have not been released. Most are believed to be from Eddyville.

Police fired several shots to stop one man trying to get away in a car. The vehicle eventually ran off the road and into a creek.

Det. Robbie Kirk of the Pennyrile Area Narcotics Task Force, Crittenden County Deputy Greg Rushing and Marion Policemen Chief Ray O'Neal and Officer Bobby West were watching the deal go down from hiding places near the park. It was supposed to be a two-pound marijuana transaction. However, when the alleged sellers showed up, they had something else in mind. They got out of their vehicle with a weapon and began assaulting, and attempting to rob the informant and another man involved in the transaction. Only the informant knew that cops were nearby watching the deal go down.

When police raced in to break up the fight, the man carrying a long gun dropped it and attempted to run. Another suspect tried to leave the scene in a blue car. Police ordered him to stop, but he kept backing away on a snowy road. That's when at least one officer opened fire on the car, hitting it several times on the hood. The driver backed off into a creek that runs along Old Morganfield Road.

Stay tuned for more details.

Pictured above are officers trying to get the driver of the car to get out. All of them have their weapons trained on the man behind the wheel. At first, he would not obey their orders to get out with his hands up, but State Trooper Darron Holliman finally got him out of the car. He was slightly injured from the crash, but had not been hit by any of the bullets.

School cancelled today due to forecast

Due to the looming forecast of more wintry precipitation, Crittenden County schools will be closed today, Wednesday, Feb. 9. This is the 10th day students have missed this winter.

Valentine Special: A date to see the Beatles

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW

Paid Advertisement

School back in session on Wednesday

Crittenden County schools will be back in session on Wednesday, barring any overnight weather event that could create more hazardous driving conditions. Students have missed a total of 9 days so far this winter. Only one of those will have to be made up.

Area death

Wilma May Floyd, 75, of Marion died Monday, Feb. 7, 2011 at Crittenden Hospital. The funeral is Wednesday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.

Larry Wade Smith, 61 of Marion, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011 at his residence. The funeral is Wednesday at Myers Funeral Home in Marion.

No school Tuesday

School has been cancelled in Crittenden County for Tuesday, Feb. 8.

Snowman near Dycusburg

Aliyah Frutiger, 6, built a snowman in her front yard near Dycusburg with help from her neighbor, Jeretta LeFan.

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.