Evening storm damage reported

PHOTO BY CHRIS McGEE

Municipal workers help remove a post destroyed after Tuesday
night's storms felled a large tree at a home on the corner of Oak
and East Bellville streets in Marion.

Minor storm damage has been reported around Crittenden County after this evening's storm system blew through, according to Fred Brown, assistant emergency management director for the county. According to Brown, several trees are down, especially in the Marion area. "No reports of injury or major property damage at this time," he wrote.

There are some pockets of power outages due to downed trees, but crews should have things back to normal shortly, he added.

Ferry reopens

The Cave In Rock Ferry across the Ohio River has re-opened to traffic after shutting down earlier in the day due to high winds.

Storm leaves behind minor damage

An early-morning storm system that passed through Crittenden County appears to have caused only minor damage locally, with a few downed trees reported thus far, according to emergency management assistant director Fred Brown. The storms were part of system that spawned tornadoes that left dozens dead in a suburb of Oklahoma City, Okla., Monday.

Drug Court program requesting supplies for U.S. military

In celebration of National Drug Court Month, Crittenden/Union/Webster Drug Court program is collecting supplies for active-duty soldiers in Afghanistan throughout May. The program is asking the public to give items the troops need and is requesting that area agencies and businesses serve as donation sites. (Please see your local information at the bottom of this release.) 

“Drug Court provides participants an opportunity to experience freedom from addiction,” Kentucky Drug Court manager Elizabeth Nichols said. “During National Drug Court Month in May, Drug Court programs and their participants want to serve the men and women who help protect freedom for all Americans. We need the community’s support to be successful. Please donate items to help soldiers wherever you see a ‘Drug Court Works to Support Our Troops’ box with the American flag and yellow ribbon and, if you head a business or an agency, offer to serve as a collection site.”

TheCrittenden/Union/Webster Drug Court program is asking for donations of several items for the soldiers, including:

• AA batteries
• Air fresheners
• Antacids
• Aspirin/pain relievers
• Anti-bacterial gel
• Baby wipes
• Body powder
• Board games     
• Books                       
• Beef jerky

Kentucky Drug Court programs statewide are soliciting donations for the troops during National Drug Court Month. The items will be combined and presented to the military in June to be delivered overseas. There are 55 Drug Court programs in the commonwealth serving 115 of Kentucky’s 120 counties.

Amber Miller with the Crittenden/Union/Webster County Drug Court program will be at Marion City Hall Tuesday to collect items for the troops. She can be reached at ambermiller@kycourts.net or by calling her in Webster County at 389-2271 with any questions. The program ends Tuesday.

The National Association of Drug Court Professionals hosts National Drug Court Month each May to highlight the impact of drug court programs across the nation.

Ironically, the “Drug Court Works! To Support Our Troops” logo was designed by Jimmy Newland, who graduated from the Crittenden County Drug Court program in March. Newland’s logo was selected in a design contest that was hosted by Kentucky Drug Court and received 39 entries from Drug Court participants and one graduate, Newland.

The competition was judged by a Drug Court Month Committee composed of staff members from each of the seven Drug Court regions.

Area deaths

James William Daniel Noel, 28, of Metropolis, Ill., died May 17, 2013. Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem is handling arrangements.

Allen N. Grimes, 89, of Dycusburg, died May 17, 2013, in Lourdes Hospital in Paducah. Lakeland Funeral Home Chapel in Eddyville is handling arrangements.

Ag Greenhouse remains open on CCHS campus

'Click It or Ticket' campaign beginning

Beginning Monday and continuing through June 2, Kentucky State Police will be participating in the “Click It or Ticket” national, seatbelt enforcement campaign. This federal highway safety initiative focuses on seatbelt and child restraint enforcement as well as driver education.

The Memorial Day weekend begins at 6 p.m. May 24 and ends at 11:59 p.m. May 27. This traditionally marks the beginning of the summer driving season. The KSP expects a significant increase in traffic on the state’s roadways.

Statewide in 2012, during the four-day Memorial Holiday weekend, 17 people were killed on Kentucky’s roadways. During that same period in the Post 2 District, two people were killed.

This campaign’s two-week duration will be highlighted by troopers aggressively targeting those people who choose not to wear seatbelts or use child safety restraints.

Throughout the Post 2 District, troopers will conduct saturation patrols in high-traffic areas and high-crash locations in which intensified speed and impaired driving enforcement will take place.

KSP will be partnering with local law enforcement agencies to conduct traffic safety checkpoints in the Post 2 District. KSP utilizes traffic safety checkpoints to promote safety for motorists and to provide a deterrent for those who violate laws contained in the Kentucky Revised Statutes. For traffic safety checkpoint locations in your area, please refer to the web site: www.kentuckystatepolice.org/posts/press/post2_checkpoints.htm.

Citizens can assist by calling toll-free, in Kentucky, (800) 222-5555 to report any type of unsafe driving behaviors. Callers should provide the direction of travel, a description of the vehicle, and the license plate number if possible.

The Post 2 District serves the following counties: Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, Hopkins, Muhlenberg, Todd and Webster.

House fire devastates family

A Crittenden County family lost all of their possessions in a house fire Tuesday afternoon. The Powell family, who lives on Caldwell Springs Road with their seven children, lost virtually everything in the blaze.

The family is primarily in need of household items and clothing, including the following sizes:

• Size 4 diapers for 12- to 18 month-old boy
• Size 6 boys
• Size 7-8 boys
• Size 6, 8/9/10 girls
• Size 12/14 girls
• Size 33/34 men's pants, large shirt
• Size 14 women's pants or shorts, large shirt

Items may be dropped off at the Health Quest Wellness Center gymnasium in Marion.

CCHS grade cards mailed today

Crittenden County High School end-of-year grade cards were mailed today. They should be arriving in your mailbox within the next few days. If you did not get your report card,  call CCHS at 965-2248 or e-mail Kathy Harris at kathy.harris@crittenden.kyschools.us.

Area death

David Nathaniel Fouts, 22, of the Lola Community of Salem, died May 9, 2013, in Rivas, Nicaragua. Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem is in charge of arrangements.

Health Benefit Exchange will connect Kentuckians with health insurance, assistance

KENTUCKY PRESS NEWS SERVICE
Gov. Steve Beshear Wednesday announced the launch of public education and awareness efforts for the state’s health benefit exchange, called kynect: Kentucky’s Healthcare Connection.

Kentuckians can visit the website at kynect.ky.gov to learn more about the program, which is expected to help more than 600,000 uninsured Kentuckians get coverage through private insurance plans or Medicaid and the Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP).

“When I issued an executive order last year creating a state-based health benefit exchange, I did so to ensure that our health benefit exchange would be designed to best meet the unique needs of Kentuckians,” Beshear said in a statement. “Today I am pleased to introduce kynect: Kentucky’s Healthcare Connection to the state. Individuals, families and small businesses will be able to use kynect for one-stop shopping to find health coverage and determine if they are eligible for payment assistance or tax credits to help cover costs.”

Open enrollment for individuals seeking to purchase insurance through kynect begins Oct. 1 and runs through March 31, 2014, with coverage beginning as soon as Jan. 1, 2014. Open enrollment for small businesses also begins Oct. 1, but businesses with fewer than 50 employees will be able to choose to enroll employees in plans offered through kynect at any point after that date, according to a news release from Beshear's office.

During open enrollment, Kentuckians will be able to compare and select health insurance plans and discover if they qualify for programs like Medicaid and KCHIP by using the kynect website, a toll-free contact center, a mail-in application or in person.

With kynect, individuals will find out if they qualify for payment assistance and special discounts on deductibles, copays and co-insurance. Small businesses will be able to use kynect to enroll their employees in health plans, and businesses with fewer than 25 employees may qualify for tax credits by using kynect, the news release said.

The Kentucky Office of the Health Benefit Exchange within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services will oversee the operations of kynect. The KHBE was created by an executive order Gov. Beshear issued in July 2012, as part of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirement for a health benefits exchange to be active in each state by the end of this year. KHBE currently is funded through federal grants, and is required to be self-sustaining by 2015.

“Starting today, we are undertaking a major education and awareness campaign to ensure that all uninsured Kentuckians understand how kynect can help them and their families find affordable health coverage,” CHFS Secretary Audrey Tayse Haynes said in the news release. “In the coming months, kynect staff will be attending community events, adding more information to our website, and opening up a toll-free hotline. We want everyone to know a healthier future for Kentucky is on the way and where to go to apply when open enrollment arrives.”

Through kynect, all Kentuckians will have access to available elements of the ACA, including:

No one can be denied coverage due to a pre-existing health condition or lose coverage because a family member gets sick;
Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging women more than men for the same coverage; and
Children will be allowed to stay on their parents’ health insurance plan until they reach the age of 26.

“We are very excited about the launch of kynect and open enrollment this fall,” Carrie Banahan, executive director of the KHBE, said. “In addition to the peace of mind and better health that comes with quality health coverage, individuals and businesses with fewer than 25 employees may be eligible for premium assistance and tax credits by using kynect to purchase health insurance.”

U.S. Senate passes measure that protects 'freedom to fish' in Cumberland

KENTUCKY PRESS NEWS SERVICE
The U.S. Senate has passed bill which contains Sen. Mitch McConnell’s measure protecting access to critical Kentucky fishing waters, according to a news release from the Kentucky senator's Washington office.

McConnell’s legislation prevents a move by federal officials to barricade portions of the Cumberland River near the Barkley and Wolf Creek Dams. The federal barricades would negatively impact local Kentucky communities that rely heavily on fishing and tourism business. McConnell’s bill was included within the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which passed the Senate a few minutes ago, the release said.

The measure stops the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from installing physical barriers that would block fishing access to the tailwaters of these dams, limits the Army Corps’ ability to designate “restricted areas” to times when operation conditions create hazardous waters — rather than 24 hours a day — and gives states the right to enforce public access to these areas.

“Many Kentuckians are struggling in this economy and the last thing they need is the nanny state shutting down a critical local resource. Many in our state have depended on these waters for years and it’s outrageous for the federal government to make such a decision with complete disregard for the people affected most directly by the policy. Blocking fishing access to the tailwaters of Lake Barkley and Wolf Creek will not only rob fishermen of a beloved pastime, it will also impair tourism in the area and negatively affect the Kentucky economy,” McConnell said in the news release.

Last month, McConnell met with local elected officials, anglers and local residents at Lake Barkley to hear firsthand their concerns regarding the Army Corps’ plan and was told that the proposal to install barricades and to block access to areas which are popular with anglers in Kentucky would have a major impact on the communities near the Barkley and Wolf Creek Dams.

McConnell took action because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, without cooperation or explanation, continues its plan to block fishing access to the tailwaters of these dams.

Area death

Mayme L. Phillips, 88, of Ledbetter, died May 13, 2013, at her home. Funeral services are Thursday. Burial was in Hampton Cemetery. Friends may call  5–8 p.m. today at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem.

Press photos available online

See a picture in The Crittenden Press you like? You can now find copies of newspaper photos online. Even event photos, such as graduation, not used in the paper will be available.

Pictures can be purchased in all sizes, framed or matted. The photos you order will be mailed directly to you.

Just click on the link to see what is available.

Movie times posted

Chamber awards banquet May 30

Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting and awards dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. May 30 in First Cumberland Presbyterian's fellowship hall. Tickets are $25 for members and $30 for non-members. RSVP reservations by Monday to susan@crittendenchamber.org or call 965-5015.

Ky. 1405 in Webster to have daytime closures

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans daytime closures along short sections of Ky. 1405 in Webster County starting today.

These daytime closures on weekdays are to allow the repair of a number of base failures along Ky. 1405 north of Slaughters to prepare for asphalt paving at a later date. Local access will be maintained for property owners on each side of the closure point.

The closures will be at various points along the entire four miles of Ky. 1405 between Ky. 138 and Ky. 1835.

These daytime closures are expected to continue through about May 31.

Timely traffic advisories for the 11 counties of KyTC Highway District 2 are available by going to www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict2. You do not have to be a Facebook member to access this page.

Relay fund-raising event held Friday

Signature Salon is teaming up with Calvary Baptist Church Relay for Life team. Stylists will be hosting a cut-a-thon 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Friday with a percentage of each cut going toward Relay for Life, and ultimately cancer research. Walk-ins for the fundraiser are welcome.

Ky. 1433 down to one lane

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has restricted traffic to one lane on KY 1433/Parker Store Road in Livingston County.

The contractor is repairing a number of slides along KY 1433 between the 0 and 1 mile marker. This is on the Burna end of KY 1433 south of US 60.

Traffic in this area will be restricted to one lane with alternating flow controlled by flaggers. There will be occasional delays of 10 to 15 minutes as this crew goes about their work.

This work zone is expected to be in place during daylight hours for about 2 weeks.

Timely traffic and work zone information is available at www.facebook.com/kytcdistrict1. You do not have to be a Facebook member to access this page.

Loaded Union County bus overturns; 25 hurt

Updated 11:03 a.m. Sunday: All but one out of hospital.

-  -  -  -

KENTUCKY TRANSPORTATION CABINET PHOTO

Traffic backs up along U.S. 60 in Livingston County near the scene
of an overturned Union County bus loaded with a girls' softball
team headed for a game  at Livingston Central. Numerous injuries
were reported.

A Union County school bus loaded with a girls' softball team overturned at 4:42p.m. on U.S. 60 in Livingston County approximately three miles east of Smithland at the intersection with Smithland Dam Road. More than two dozen were injured, but as of mid-day Sunday, only one victim remained hospitalized.

According to a Kentucky State Police post-accident news conference, all occupants--21 students and four adults--were injured and were transported to area hospitals--Lourdes and Baptist Health hospitals in Paducah--by at least five area EMS organizations. One patient was transported by PHI Air Medical. No injuries appeared to be life-threatening, according to the spokesperson.

Crittenden EMS was also requested to help with transporting patients, but was not indicated to have been utilized.

The bus was westbound on U.S. 60 en route to a Livingston Central softball field in Smithland when for an unknown reason it ran off the right shoulder at "Rock Curve" between Silver Mine Road and Smithland Dam Road. Authorities report the driver appeared to have overcorrected, causing the bus to spin around 180 degrees before overturning onto its passenger side, where the entry doors are located. It landed 10 to 15 feet off the roadway.

The driver, Robin Black, 49, of Sturgis, was transported to Lourdes where she was treated and released.

Jeremy Tackett, athletic director for the Union County School District, told the Henderson Gleaner Saturday morning that only one player remained hospitalized. “She had surgery on a broken femur and should be released Monday,” he said. Authorities said there were 28 people on the bus, four of whom were adults.

A few students had to be extricated by mechanical means--the jaws of life, according to a spokesman.

No names of the victims have been released, not even those of the adults as of this time.

The road was closed until around 9:15 p.m.

KSP Post 1 personnel were assisted at the scene by the Livingston County Sheriff's Office, Smithland and Burna Fire Departments, Livingston County EMS, Mercy Regional EMS, Crittenden County EMS, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, PHI Air Medical, Livingston County Emergency Management and the county rescue squad.

The investigation continues by Senior Trooper Eric Fields.