Man found dead had been stabbed, assaulted

Pictured is Cindy Hutchinson, 50, of Marion as she appeared in

Crittenden District Court last week. Behind her are prosecutors

Rebecca Johnson and Mary Roher. The man found dead here Monday

lived across the street from Johnson.

SECOND UPDATE:

Police are looking for Cindy L. Hutchinson, 50, of Marion in connection with a warrant for receiving stolen property. She was allegedly seen driving a vehicle belonging to a man who was found dead inside his Marion home Monday evening. Police reports say the man had been assaulted and stabbed.


The body of Leonard E. Roberts, 89, of Marion was found at 229 East Depot Street last night around 7 p.m.


Next door neighbor Nicole Bell said she called police Monday evening at 6:44 p.m., after noticing the man's car missing. Bell couldn't get Roberts to come to the door after knocking several times. She said Hutchinson had been staying with Roberts for just over a week and that she was suspicious of Hutchinson.


State police describe Hutchinson as a white woman about 5-foot-7 and weighing 180 pounds. She has brown hair. Police think she is driving the victim's 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier, which is blue and bearing a Kentucky license plate 253 BZE. 

Anyone with information concerning Hutchinson’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Kentucky State Police at 1-270-676-3313 or toll free, in Kentucky, at 1-800-222-5555.  Callers may remain anonymous.

Injury accident U. S. 641 South

Update: One person confirmed dead, Robert O. Waters, 77, of Marion. Five people were involved in the accident.  Others did not life-threatening injuries.

At least one person has been taken to the hospital following a serious two-vehicle accident on U.S. 641 between Marion and Crayne. The accident happened just before 4 p.m., today near Marion Recycling.

No other details were immediately available.

Area Death

Former county judge and sheriff J.D. Orr, 90, of Marion died Wednesday at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah. Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.


The flag at the Crittenden County Courthouse will fly at half staff through the weekend out of respect for Mr. Orr's service to his community.

Darben Plaza getting a facelift

Workers paving Darben Plaza parking lot.

The large parking lot at Darben Plaza on Sturgis Road in Marion is being resurfaced.

Local residents will be equally as pleased when the state resurfaces Main Street, which should be within days.

Area deaths

Phillip M. Belt, 67, of Marion died Monday at Livingston Hospital. Services are Friday at Gilbert Funeral Home.

Ronald M. Davidson, 65, of Marion died Monday at his home. Services are Thursday at Gilbert Funeral Home.

Tonight's swim meet in Marion cancelled

The Marion swim team's scheduled meet tonight at Marion County Club against Murray has been cancelled due to the threat of bad weather.

Traffic Alert: Parkway ramp closed in Lyon

A crash is blocking the I-69 West Kentucky Parkway westbound ramp to U.S. 62 at Exit 4 in Lyon County.  This ramp was being used as a detour to I-24 westbound due to work at the I-69/WK Parkway interchange with Interstate 24 at Exit 42.

A massive concrete beam being transported by a special truck rolled off the truck as it was taking the exit ramp. It is now blocking the southbound/westbound I-69/WK Parkway ramp to U.S. 62. This oversized load will require special equipment to handle it and will be very difficult to get back on the truck.

At this time, state transportation officials expect the ramp to be blocked for 4 to 6 hours.

During this blockage, traffic from I-69/WK Parkway attempting to access I-24 westbound will have to take the Exit Ramp to EASTBOUND I-24 and travel to I-24 Exit 45, then loop through that interchange to head west on I-24.

This extended detour is likely to be in place for much of the day while engineers determine how to reload the concrete beam.

Highway closed Wednesday in Carrsville.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to close Ky. 135 in Livingston County tomorrow (Wednesday).

The highway will be closed to replace a cross drain. The closure will be at Second Street between Fleet Street and Locust Street in Carrsville.

The roadway will be closed from 7 a.m., until 1 p.m.

There will be no marked detour.  Passenger vehicles may self-detour via side streets.  Trucks should take appropriate state routes.

WK Parkway ramp to I-24 closed

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is stepping up work on Interstate 24 westbound at the I-69/Western Kentucky Parkway Interchange at I-24 Exit 42 in Lyon County. The I-69/Parkway ramp to I-24 westbound in this work zone has been reopening to normal traffic flow on weekends.  Starting today, however, the ramp to I-24 westbound will remain closed until the project to lengthen and widen the ramp is completed. Southbound/westbound traffic on I-69/WK Parkway will detour off at Exit 4 and travel westbound on U.S. 62 to access the I-24 westbound lanes at I-24 Exit 40.

Closing the ramp and detouring I-69/WK Pkwy traffic via U.S. 62 is designed to improve safety in this work zone for both workers and the public.

All westbound I-24 traffic continues to be moved to the left-hand or passing lane at mile point 41.6 in this work zone. I-24 westbound traffic continues to have a strictly enforced 55 mile per hour work zone speed limit with double fines and an enhanced enforcement presence.

Community Garden pulling back on distribution

Due to the overwhelming demand for fresh vegetables by local residents, the Community Garden project committee has decided to pull back on its picking and distribution in order to protect the garden's resources.

Robbie Kirk said more than 150 people came Friday to get vegetables picked from the garden. The demand is so great, the gardeners think it's best to only have one distribution day starting this week. Last week, there were two distribution days. The garden simply can't keep up with demand, organizers say.

It's a wonderful problem to have, Kirk added. The project has been a great success. However, in order to avoid over-harvesting the garden and stressing the resource, distribution will be on Friday only starting this week. Distribution will be from 9 to 11 a.m., at the Farmers Market on Main Street next to McDonald's.

The garden, known as the Victory Garden, is located near the park. It is being tended by local churches and inmates from the Crittenden County Detention Center. The jail is also using produce from the garden in its kitchen.

Murals will be formally dedicated tomorrow

The murals were painted by Sherri Wright-Mayo, a former 

Marion resident, and Nancy Drone, of Eldorado, Ill.  

They have been collaborating for over 10 years on projects

 in private home and businesses in Kentucky and Illinois.

Marion’s historic past will be celebrated at 2 p.m., tomorrow (Tuesday) during an official dedication of the mural-scape located on East Bellville Street. The nine murals are located between the old fire station and the USDA building.  A ceremony will be held at the old fire station where Mayor Mickey Alexander will offer a brief history of each mural. Officially dedicating the murals will be Sarah Ford, Chairperson of Marion Main Street.  Becky Proctor Gorman of The Kentucky Heritage Council will also attend the ceremony.

The murals depict the city of Marion during the period of 1880 to 1946. Represented in the murals are The Marion Depot, The Marion Hotel, Marion’s Tobacco Factory, The Marion Bank, Wallingsford’s Livery Stable, The Marion Distillery, The Opera House, Marion’s Graded School and The Kentucky Fluorspar Mill.

Brenda Underdown is the official historian of Marion and Crittenden County.  She said each mural depicts meaningful eras of local history.

“All the buildings represent an important part of our history: the old school, the old hotel and city hall.  The things that were important during that time.  We hope this will be a way for people to remember an important part of our history,” Underdown said.  
 
The murals were painted by Sherri Wright-Mayo, a former Marion resident, and Nancy Drone, of Eldorado, Ill.  Drone teaches art at the Harrisburg, Ill. Middle School.

Friends since childhood, they previously collaborated on murals at both the Marion Country Club and at The Welcome Center.  They have been working together on projects for over 10 years.

“We've also done work in private homes and businesses in Kentucky and Illinois and in the schools in Marion as well as the Harrisburg Middle School,” Drone said.

Responders fighting wildfire on Brown Mines Road

Volunteer fireman have responded to the scene of a wildfire at 1920 Brown Mines Road. According to initial reports, the fire had started in a field and spread to a nearby forested area.

Marion gas stationed robbed Thursday night

Stinnett

UPDATE: Marion police were able to act quickly to apprehend a suspect after Ideal Gas Station on Sturgis Road was robbed Thursday night.

Arrested and charged with first-degree robbery was Brandon Stinnett, 31, of Marion.

The station was allegedly robbed at 9:39 p.m., and the suspect was arrested at his rented home on North Weldon Street 17 minutes later. The suspect's home is only a few blocks from the gas station.

Chief of Police Ray O'Neal said an arrest was made quickly because seven law enforcement officers responded immediately and witnesses were able to provide a description of the suspect and the direction of his travel on foot.

Police say Stinnett used a stun-gun to hold up the 23-year-old attendant. Stinnett allegedly took about $650 from the station. Officers say cash and other evidence was found in his home.

Stinnett is lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center. No bond has been set at this time.

Area Deaths

James McCain, 85, of Marion died Wednesday at Pembroke Nursing and Rehab in Pembroke, Ky. Services are Sunday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion

Herman Douglas Reed, 81, of Marion died Tuesday at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. Services are Saturday at Myers Funeral Home in Marion.

Local musician, Hendrix, dies

Local musician and former postman Eddie Hendrix died July 4 while playing with fellow musicians in Illinois. Services are Saturday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion.

Local rescue units helping Ohio River search

Crittenden County Rescue Squad members are helping search the Ohio River between Golconda, Ill., and Berry's Ferry on the Kentucky side for a missing father who they think drown yesterday while fishing and swimming with his two children.


The three were in a boat when the father got out to swim and disappeared, according to reports.


Crittenden rescue has provided its mobile command post, boats and personnel to help with the search from the Livingston County shore.


The name of the man has not been released.

Press rack sales delayed one day for Fourth

Due to the Fourth of July holiday, rack sales of The Crittenden Press printed edition will not begin until Thursday.

The newspaper normally goes on sale at newsstands on Wednesday afternoon.

Crash blocks U.S. 60 for short time

A single-vehicle accident involving a loaded dump truck caused some traffic delays on U.S. 60 East at midday Tuesday.

The driver of the truck did not appear seriously injured, but was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure.

The truck belonged to Tim Johns Trucking. The driver's name was immediately released.

The highway was re-open to both lanes of traffic around 2 p.m.

Law enforcement looking for red pickup

Law enforcement in Crittenden and Livingston counties are looking for a red Ford pickup truck believed to have run another vehicle off the road at the intersection of Crittenden Springs Road (Ky. 1668) and U.S. 60 west of Marion.

According to reports, the long-wheel base Ford truck headed westbound toward Salem.

Anyone with information should call 965-3500.

The incident happened about 9 a.m., today.

Area death

David Lee Doyle, 69, of Marion died Thursday, June 28 at his home. The funeral is this morning at the Chapel of Boyd Funeral Directors.