Ky. 120 restricted to one lane near Ky. 132.

Traffic is restricted to one lane on Ky. 120 in eastern Crittenden County between Providence and Marion.

The lane restriction is to allow the repair of what is believed to be a sinkhole or mine subsidence on Kt. 120 about 12 miles east of Marion near the intersection with Ky. 132.  Repairs have been required at this site in the past. However, the required repairs are more substantial this time.

Motorists should be alert for one lane traffic with alternating flow controlled by flaggers.

Work at the site is expected to take about four to five hours to complete.

Medicaid expansion could change Kentucky's course, big time

Today we change the course of Kentucky's history." It is not often that a public official can say such a thing with a large measure of credibility, but Gov. Steve Beshear legitimately raised that hope Thursday, as he announced that he would expand Kentucky's Medicaid program under federal health reform. If Beshear's vision is fulfilled, Kentucky will no longer have one of the unhealthiest populations of any state, a change that will make it more attractive to employers, and any Kentuckian who wants health insurance will be able to get it.

For the news analysis, visit Kentucky Health News online.

Governor orders flags to half staff

KENTUCKY PRESS NEWS SERVICE
Gov. Steve Beshear has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff on Monday in honor of a Kentucky airman who died while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

According to the Department of Defense, Staff Sgt. Daniel N. Fannin, 30, of Morehead, died April 27 in the crash of an MC-12 aircraft near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. Fannin was assigned to the 552nd Operations Support Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.

According to an announcement from the governor's office, funeral services for Staff Sgt. Fannin will be held on Monday, May 13 at 10 a.m. Central time at Rose State College in Midwest City, Okla. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. Central time at Fort Gibson Cemetery in Fort Gibson, Okla.

Beshear encourages individuals, businesses, organizations and government agencies to join in this tribute.

Crittenden County Class of 2013 now graduates

Crittenden County High School Class of 2013 valedictorian
Vincent Devin Clark gives his speech during commencement
Friday evening at Rocket Arena.

Commencement exercises for the Crittenden County High School Class of 2013 have concluded, with 68 graduates having received a diploma.

Injury accident at Rosebud Curve

A one-vehicle accident east of Marion left this morning injured a Crittenden County woman. The wreck occurred around 10 a.m., about 11 miles east of Marion at Rosebud Curve.

Heather Green, 30, was complaining of neck and back injuries before being removed from the car, according to Crittenden County Deputy Sheriff Greg Rushing. She was transported by EMS to the hospital in Union County.

Rushing said it appeared Green lost control of her 2004 Buick Rendezvous on rain-slickened roadways as she was headed east.

Another wreck occurred earlier this morning just feet from this accident. Crittenden County Sheriff Wayne Agent said Paul Tapp of Nebo was also headed east when his tire blew out, throwing his vehicle into a guardrail. Agent said Tapp was not injured. 

Area death

Margaret “Peggy” Anna Dean Goodaker, 95, of Owensboro, died May 7, 2013.  James H. Davis Funeral Home & Crematory is handling arrangements.

Circuit clerk's office closing

Crittenden County Circuit Clerk's office will be closed Saturday.

Area death

Crawford Wayne Stallion, 77, of East Peoria, Ill., a native of Marion, died May 6, 2013, at his home. Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton, Ill., is handling arrangements.

Tony Alan Maxfield, 48, of Marion, died May 6, 2013, at his home. Boyd Funeral Directors is handling arrangements.

Area death

Bettye Litchfield Vaughan, 69, of Marion, died May 4, 2013, at her residence. Myers Funeral Home in Marion is handling arrangements.

Press seeking info on fallen heroes

The Crittenden Press is seeking photos of several men from Crittenden County who have paid the ultimate price in defense of the United States. We are also missing some information, such as birthdays.

Each year, The Press features our Fallen Heroes page just before Memorial Day. While families and the community have been wonderful about supplying us with photos of and information for most of the men, we still lack images of five from World War I, nine from World War II and one from the Korean War.

In an effort to humanize and call attention to the sacrifice of each of these men, we are asking the community to once again dig deep for photos and information on the following soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors:

World War I

• Pvt. William Curry: Army, died Nov. 26, 1918.
• Pvt. John E. Samuel: Army; died Sept. 26, 1918, of disease in France.
• Pvt. Harry W Threlkeld: Army, Born 1893; died Dec. 12, 1918, of disease in Warwickshire, England.
• Cpl. James C. Turner: Army; died from disease, date unknown.
• Sgt. Maj. Freda E. Baker: Army; died from  disease, date unknown.

World War II

• Sgt. Forrest E. Brantley: Army, born 1913, died Jan. 13, 1945, in Belgium.
• Pfc. John W. Freeman: Born 1918, died 1943 in the United States.
• Pfc J.D.  Hodge: Born 1915; died 1944 in Italy.
• Sgt. Herbert A. Hoover: Born Aug. 29, 1904; died Oct. 14, 1944, Germany.
• Staff Sgt. Denver L. Marvel: born: 1920; died 1943 in Luzon, Philippines.
• Pfc. Carter Shewcraft: born 1925; died: 1945 in Austria.
• Pfc. James B. Truitt: Born 1910; Died July 11, 1944, in France.
• Sgt. Jack L.Woody: Army Air Forces, born 1910; MIA Dec. 14, 1945, in the Pacific Theatre.
• Pfc. James C Yandell: born 1919, died 1944 in Belgium.

Korean War

• Sgt. James R. Bissell: Army; born 1928, died: June 2, 1951, as  POW taken from Dec. 6, 1950 fighting near Hagaru, North Korea.

Information and/or photos can be e-mailed to thepress@the-press.com.

Jail breaking taking a little more time

Work to raze the former county jail continues this week, but has slowed a bit as workers encountered reinforced, concrete walls and bars on cells.

The library owns the old jail building and is having it torn down to make room for more parking.

A new jail was built next door a few years ago.

Stroke, osteoporosis screenings offered Tuesday

Residents living in and around Marion can be screened to reduce their risk of having a stroke or bone fracture. Marion United Methodist Church will host Life Line Screening Tuesday at the church on  112 S. College St.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of permanent disability, and 80 percent of stroke victims had no apparent warning signs prior to their stroke. Preventative ultrasound screenings can help you avoid a stroke. They are fast, noninvasive, painless, affordable and convenient.

The screenings also identify potential cardiovascular conditions such as blocked arteries and irregular heart rhythm. A bone density screening which assesses osteoporosis risk, is also offered Tuesday and is for both men and women.

Packages start at $159. All five screenings methods take 60-90 minutes. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (877) 237-1287 or visit www.lifelinescreening.org. Pre-registration is required.

How UK fans will be affected by launch of SEC Network

The biggest change for Lexington-area Kentucky Wildcats fans as a result of Thursday's announcement that the Southeastern Conference and ESPN will launch a new SEC Network cable channel next year is this: There will be fewer UK game broadcasts on WKYT-TV, and more Cats contests on the ESPN family of networks.

For the story, visit The Herald-Leader online.

UK releases 2013-14 non-conference basketball schedule

KENTUCKY PRESS NEWS SERVICE
UK has announced its 2013-14 men's basketball non-conference schedule. The schedule features a season-opening game in Rupp Arena against UNC-Asheville on Nov. 8 followed by a home date on Nov. 10 against Northern Kentucky. It marks the first time since the 2009-10 season the Wildcats open at home with multiple games.

For the third straight year, Kentucky participates in the State Farm Champions Classic, taking on Michigan State on Nov. 12 in Chicago, according to a news release from the university's athletic's department.

UK will return home for four straight games as a part of the Keightley Classic beginning on Nov. 17 with Robert Morris. The rest of the tournament – named in honor of Bill Keightley, the former equipment manager known as “Mr. Wildcat” – includes games against Texas-Arlington (Nov. 19), Cleveland State (Nov. 25) and Eastern Michigan (Nov. 27), who is co-hosting the tournament.

Kentucky will ring in December with a pair of neutral-site games, including a Dec. 1 matchup with Providence in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and a Dec. 6 date in Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas against Baylor. The game against Baylor will be part of a doubleheader featuring both the men’s and women’s teams against the Baylor Bears.

The Wildcats return to Rupp Arena on Dec. 10 to host Boise State before renewing the annual rivalry with North Carolina on Dec. 14 in Chapel Hill, N.C.

UK closes out the 2013 calendar year in Rupp Arena with a Dec. 21 date against Belmont before hosting the annual Louisville game on Dec. 28.

Beginning in January, the Wildcats will face an 18-game Southeastern Conference schedule with nine home games and nine road games. The conference schedule will be announced at a later date, the university said.

Prior to regular-season action, Kentucky hosts a pair of exhibition games. The first will be Nov. 1 against in-town rival Transylvania for the third straight year followed by a matchup against Montevallo on Nov. 4.

Some ACT tests to be taken old-fashioned way

Kentucky high school students who haven't completed required end-of-course testing online will be taking their tests the old-fashioned way.

After sporadic problems last week with the online test, which is provided by ACT Inc., the Kentucky Department of Education sent an email Saturday morning to testing coordinators throughout the state announcing that it is moving to pencil-and-paper tests for all students who have not yet taken the tests online this year.

The email said that ACT had told the education department late Friday afternoon that it was suspending the online system on Monday "due to technical issues."

"ACT is attempting to re-open the online system as soon as possible; however, (the education department) believes stabilization of the end of course assessment program is now the priority," according to the email from Rhonda Sims, director of the education department's Division of Support and Research.

For more, visit The Herald-leader online.

Murray State offers online grad degree in public administration in fall

For more than 30 years, the graduate degree option in public administration has been available at Murray State University in the traditional classroom setting. In fall 2013, however, the program in its entirety is being made available in an accelerated, online format, allowing potential students the opportunity to complete the program off-campus.

For more on the story, visit the Murray Ledger & Times online.

Downtown collision causes only slight injuries

A two-car collision just before 6 p.m. at the downtown intersection of Main and Bellville streets in Marion left one car incapacitated, but caused only slight injuries to the occupants of both vehicles, which included young children.

Marion City Police Officer Jerry Parker said the driver and passenger of a blue sedan received some abrasions and minor cuts, but the children--including toddlers and a baby--were OK. The driver of the other car, a Chevy Camaro, also suffered only minor injuries.

According to Parker, the sedan hit the Camaro in the in the passenger-side door, but the sports car was still drivable.

Area death

Lola Mae Shire, 78, of Marion, died May 2, 2013, at Salem Springlake Health and Rehabilitation Center in Salem. Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem is handling arrangements.

Robert Reed Croft, 70, of Paducah, formerly of Livingston County, died May 2, 2013, at Baptist Health in Paducah. Milner & Orr Funeral Home in Paducah is handling arrangements.

Area death

Rhonda Watson, 57, of Salem, died May 1, 2013, at Salem Springlake Health and Rehabilitation Center. Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem is handling arrangements.

James B. Williams, 89, of Marion, died May 1, 2013, at Crittenden Hospital. Myers Funeral Home in Marion was handling the arrangements.

Shawneetown bridge shut for period after being struck by barges

The KY. 56/Ill. 13 Ohio River Bridge at Shawneetown was closed for a period this morning due to a barge hit.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the H.B. Stewart was pushing 15 empty barges when it grazed a pier at 5:38 a.m., this morning. The bridge did no re-open until just before 9 a.m.

The impact with the second pier out from the Kentucky side of the river broke several cables holding the tow together.  The pilot reported only minor damage to the  barges.

The incident prompted the Coast Guard to order the Shawneetown Bridge closed to traffic. A Kentucky Transportation Cabinet bridge inspector was dispatched to run a safety check on the bridge before traffic can resume.

The Shawneetown Bridge connects Ky. 56 (Morganfield-Shawneetown Road) at the 0-mile marker with Ill. 13 across the Ohio River between Morganfield and Shawneetown. About 3,800 vehicles cross the bridge in an average day.

The 3,200-foot structure opened to traffic in 1956, maintaining a historic transportation link that started with ferry service at the site as early as 1802.