Fair event moved to Rocket Arena

Tonight's Family Night event at the county fair, Cameron Mills Ministry, has been moved to Rocket Arena due to the weather. The event starts at 7 p.m., and entry is free.

Entry to the fairgrounds for the midway is also free, and you can ride all night with the purchase of a $10 armband. Armbands are $15 after tonight. The midway opens at 6 p.m.

Planned Parenthood: Polarizing Opinions in Ky.

By GREG STOTELMYER
KENTUCKY NEWS CONNECTION
Senate Republicans, including Kentucky's Rand Paul, did not have the votes this week to defund Planned Parenthood. The failed effort to block $500 million in federal support for the reproductive health organization comes as Planned Parenthood faces a backlash from an anti-abortion group's release of undercover videos.

The group alleges that Planned Parenthood is making money off the sale of fetal tissue, a claim the organization denies.

Derek Selznick, Reproductive Freedom Project director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, said a loss of federal dollars would hurt vital services such as contraception and testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

"Especially in a state like Kentucky, which is facing its own heroin crisis, HIV testing is absolutely crucial," he said. "Catching cervical cancer early with those pap smears. These are vital services that the community needs, and that would be lost."

Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky operates health centers in Lexington and Louisville as well as in New Albany, Ind. Those centers saw more than 6,700 patients last year. Planned Parenthood does not operate abortion clinics in Kentucky, but does elsewhere.

Jason Hall, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky, said Planned Parenthood should be defunded and the money redirected to what he calls "mainstream facilities" such as health departments and community health centers.

"So there's no need to provide those services through Planned Parenthood, given the questions about their practices that have been raised," he said, "but, more importantly, the fact that they are the nation's largest abortion provider."

However, Selznick noted the wide-ranging reach of Planned Parenthood, an organization he said people trust.

"The sheer amount of people that have used Planned Parenthood in their lifetime. I mean, one in five women will use Planned Parenthood or has used Planned Parenthood," he said. "Those are incredible numbers."

The president of Kentucky's Planned Parenthood affiliate, Betty Cockrum, said losing federal funds would have an especially devastating impact on those with low incomes and those who live in communities underserved medically.

Both of Kentucky's U.S. senators have expressed their outrage with Planned Parenthood and the desire to strip it of federal dollars. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell voted "no" on Monday on the bill to defund the organization. He said that will allow him, under Senate rules, to bring the bill back up for a vote later.

Kentucky House Republicans, including Rep. Lynn Bechler of Marion, have spoken out against funding Planned Parenthood in the state.

Crash blocking Purchase Parkway

There is a mutli-vehicle injury accident on the Purchase Parkway in Marshall County.

Marshall County 911 reports the southbound lanes of the Purchase Parkway are blocked between the 47 and 46 mile marker. This would be just south of the US 68 Exit 47 Draffenville Interchange.

Both southbound lanes are blocked.

The highway could blocked until around 6 pm.

Flooding, high winds possible next few days

Click to enlarge hazard map

The wettest July on record for Crittenden County, according to one weather outlet, appears to be continuing into August.

According to the Kentucky Mesonet weather and climate data monitoring station in the county, July saw almost 9 inches of rains fall, the most since the site started collecting data in June 2009. And heavy rains this first week of August have lead to numerous flash flood watches having been issued in the commonwealth through Friday, according to Kentucky Emergency Management

County emergency management officials are paying particular attention to the weather today and Thursday, when flash flooding is most likely.

Scattered to numerous showers and storms are expected today and tonight as an upper level disturbance and a frontal boundary slowly moves through the area. Any storm will be capable of torrential rainfall, gusty winds and lightning. Heavy rainfall today and tonight may cause flooding issues in areas that have seen the heaviest rains over the last few days.

Periods of showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue through Thursday into very early Friday. Torrential rainfall, gusty winds, and lightning will be the main threats with localized flash flooding possible.

Additional chances of thunderstorms are expected late Sunday through Tuesday as another weather system crosses the region.

Crittenden County Courthouse is open as an emergency shelter during severe weather events. After courthouse hours, Judge-Executive Perry Newcom can be reached at (270) 704-0457 to open the building.

Jeff Davis gets pardon in Kentucky

Davis

Jefferson Davis is getting a pardon from Kentucky ... of sorts.

Today, the committee deciding the fate of the Capitol Rotunda statue to the President of the Confederate State of America said it should stay put.

In a recent Bluegrass Poll, most Kentuckians said statue should remain. The survey showed 73 percent of Kentucky voters say the statue should stay put, and 17 percent said it should be moved to a museum. Ten percent of respondents were not sure what should be done with the statue. That full story can be found on The Herald-Leader online.

The following statement on the decision was issued by Gov. Steve Beshear today:

“The Historic Properties Advisory Commission by law has control over the statues in the Rotunda of the State Capitol, and recently I asked the Commission to review the appropriateness of the Jefferson Davis statue remaining in the Rotunda.

The Commission received thousands of public comments and consulted with state historians. After reviewing all the information, the consensus it reached is that the Jefferson Davis statue represented a part of the state’s history and will remain in the Capitol. However, the panel voted to establish a committee that would determine ways to ensure the statues, including Jefferson Davis, are displayed in the appropriate historical context.

While many Kentuckians feel that it would be preferable for the Jefferson Davis statue to be in a museum setting, the addition of this educational and historical context is critical. The generations to come must understand the enormous toll of the Civil War that tore apart this nation and the tragic issue of slavery at the root of that war.

Kentucky played a unique historical role as the birthplace of the presidents of both sides of the conflict. We must ensure that dark chapter of our nation’s past serves to educate in ways that ensure such a tragedy can never happen again.”

For more on the story, visit The State Journal online.

KBE selects interim education commissioner

Brown

The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) today named Kevin C. Brown, associate commissioner and general counsel for the Kentucky Department of Education, as interim commissioner of education as KBE continues its search for a permanent commissioner.

Current Commissioner of Education Terry Holliday is set to retire Aug. 31. Brown will take over the commissioner’s duties on Sept. 1 and will serve until a new commissioner is hired and on the job. He will be compensated at a salary equivalent to $150,000 a year.

KBE has asked a search firm to seek additional information on 15 of the applicants for the position of commissioner. Candidates represent both in-state and out-of-state applications. Pending review of that information, the board will conduct the first round of interviews in the process to select the next commissioner of education. Those interviews are currently scheduled Aug. 14-15.

Brown has served as an assistant attorney general in Kentucky. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management, with a minor in political science from Transylvania University. He received a Juris. Doctor degree from the University of Kentucky.

What's news this week in Crittenden County

Marion farmers' market concept

Farmers’ Market Week in Kentucky concludes Saturday, but users of the outdoor produce market in Marion have something to continue celebrating well beyond the weekend. Marion Tourism Commission has reached an agreement with Alan Stout to purchase the lot on which the local farmers’ market is located. Tourism Director Michele Edwards said the deal is expected to close next week.

Read this and the following stories in this week's issue of The Crittenden Press:

• Alcohol petition to be unveiled this week.
• Local author to speak on autism, related book.
• COUNTY FAIR: Miss Crittenden County 2015 and other fair pageant results and photos.
• COUNTY FAIR: Walton looks for victory in derby after beating cancer.
• Fredonia parade grand marshals Feagan, York.
• County replacing deficient bridge.
• AOC no longer interested in city hall for family court.
• Motorcycle crash kills Princeton man, 36.
• Fancy Farm one-of-a-kind experience.
• Democratic gubernatorial ticket candidate visits town.
• School district inks K9 Resources deal.
• July soggiest month since 2009, crops said to be in good shape.
• Blind man making way across country on bike.
• City’s tornado siren sounds 2 false alarms.
• Delinquent county property tax bills will be sold Aug. 27.

Multiple injuries reported in South Main wreck

Photo by Becca Schimmel, The Press

Local authorities are responding to a two-vehicle, multiple-injury crash on South Main Street in front of Liberty Fuels. According to reports, there are four individuals involved. One male is reported to have a compound fracture to the wrist and is having trouble breathing. Another has a laceration to the head. Three of the victims are out of the vehicles, another is still in the vehicle, but is not trapped.

Crittenden County Rescue Squad was initially called to the scene, but was not needed. Crittenden EMS is on the scene.

JOB OPENINGS at Crittenden Hospital

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Miss Crittenden County crowned

Chloe McKinzie (left) was crowned Miss Crittenden County Tuesday night at Fohs Hall on Day 3 of the Crittenden County Lions Club Fair. Sierra Fields of Morgantown was crowned Miss Crittenden County Fair and will go on to compete in a statewide competition. See this week's issue of The Crittenden Press for pictures of the entire court and photos and a list of winners from all six pageants featured in this year's fair.

The fair continues Wednesday with Family Night at the fairgrounds. Entry is free, ride all night for $10 and listen to former UK basketball player Cameron Mills deliver a Christian-based message as a part of his ministry.

The fair runs through Saturday.

PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM PAGEANTS ONLINE: Click here

Flushing of city water lines continues

Some Marion water customers may experience discoloration from the tap or air in the line this week.

According to City Administrator Mark Bryant, municipal utility workers will continue the city's systematic flushing of water lines through Thursday. Work begins after 9 p.m. each night.

The flushing of hydrants began Sunday.

The City of Marion periodically flushes its system to maintain the quality of water. Water main flushing can result in discolored water. These conditions are not harmful and should not last very long. Briefly running the cold water tap may help to clear discolored water.

“Just let it run, it should clear up,” Bryant added.

Ky. political leaders rail against EPA plan

Whitfield

The Obama administration on Monday announced a plan to curb carbon emissions from the nation's power plants by 32 percent over the next 15 years. Kentucky's top politicians – Republican and Democrat alike – are speaking out against the newly-proposed EPA standards known as the Clean Power Plan.

“The finalization of these regulations will shutter more power plants across the nation, double down against affordable energy and the reliability of our grid, and deal a major blow to jobs and the economy," Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-Hopkinsville) said in a statement Monday. “(The President) views climate change as the No. 1 issue facing mankind and a legacy item he will pursue at any cost. I disagree and will continue our efforts in the House to invalidate this rule.”

Whitfield serves as the House Energy and Power Subcommittee chairman.

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, who is the Democratic nominee for governor, said he will sue to block the federal plan from taking effect because its implementation will be harmful to the state's economy.

Western Kentucky's economy, and scores of families in Crittenden County, depend on the jobs coal creates. According to the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, for the first six months of 2015, neighboring Union and Webster counties were the No. 1 and No. 6 coal-producing counties in the state. Hopkins County ranked No. 2 and accounts for a quarter of the 3,700 coal jobs in western Kentucky reported in the quarter ending in June.

The White House claims the Clean Power Plan will create 300,000 jobs when it is fully implemented, but those jobs would not be in the coal industry.

Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader on Capitol Hill, has also vowed to continue fighting the president's "war on coal," saying it will have a huge negative impact on Kentucky's coal industry. McConnell, Kentucky's senior senator in Washington, is a Republican.

And Gov. Steve Beshear also weighed in Monday afternoon.

“What is being proposed for Kentucky is disastrous – disastrous for our declining coal economy and equally disastrous for our very important manufacturing economy," the second-term Democratic governor said. "This rule leaves the Commonwealth with few, if any, alternatives to formulate a plan without significant harmful impact to rate payers, manufacturing companies and the overall economy.

(Editor's note: The Kentucky Press News Service contributed to this story.)

Major wireless outage across Southeast

According to various news sources, a major outage has occurred today across a broad spectrum of wireless and landline customers throughout the Southeast and beyond.

ATT has told news gathering agencies that there is a connectivity issue at a major hub.

It is affecting perhaps millions across the United States.

Outages have been reported from Washington DC to San Francisco and from Indianapolis to Huntsville, Ala and many places in between.

Although the outage has had an effect on many local customers of AT&T and other wireless carriers, the Marion 911 Dispatching Center remains in operation. Although most calls will not got through on a cellular phone when its carrier is experiences an outage, calls 911 will work.

Police looking for Webster escapee

UPDATE: The suspect was apprehended without incident around 1:15 p.m. Tuesday at a residence in Clay.

- - - -

State and local authorities are looking for a Webster County inmate who escaped from a work release program this morning in Clay.

At approximately 8:02 a.m., the Kentucky State Police Post 2 Madisonville was contacted by the Webster County Detention Center in reference to an escapee, Steven D. Long, 32.  The escapee was on work-release as part of a mowing crew, doing work in the area of the park in Clay.

Long was last seen fleeing on foot on Taylor Street in Clay.  He was wearing Khaki pants and no shirt.  He might possibly be in a white, Chevrolet Impala.

If you come into contact with him, do not try to apprehend him; dial 911 or contact the Kentucky State Police at 1-270-676-3313 or toll-free, in Kentucky, at 1-800-222-5555 or your local law enforcement.

The escapee is:
Steven D. Long
Age: 32        
Sex: Male        
Race: White
Height: 5’ 6” - 5’10”
Weight: 155 - 160      
Hair: Brown    
Eyes: Brown

Another false alarm

The city alarm system malfunctioned again this morning. The warning siren that went off at around 8:30 AM was a false alarm.

Back to School Savings at Hodge's

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Spruce up the Kitchen with Slate

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GET IT ONLINE: Back to School Special

The Press Back to School Section

Last week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press included a comprehensive BACK TO SCHOOL section. It's something The Press publishes every year.

Information in this section is important for parents and students. Because it is so vital to our community, The Press is making this section available FREE ONLINE.

Click the image or this LINK to view the PDF files of the special BACK TO SCHOOL SECTION.

Two die in US 62 crash near Princeton

Kentucky State Police is investigating a single-vehicle, fatality-collision that occurred at 5:37 a.m., this morning on US 62, approximately two miles west of Princeton.

A preliminary investigation revealed that Ronnie Ross, 54, of Princeton was operating a 1998 Dodge Caravan eastbound on US 62.  For an undetermined reason, the vehicle crossed into the westbound lane of travel and onto the emergency strip.

The vehicle exited the westbound shoulder of the roadway and entered a ditch, before becoming partially airborne.  It traveled across a field, then down an earthen embankment and overturned onto its top. The vehicle came to rest on its left side, against an earthen embankment.  

Ross and a passenger in the vehicle, Perry Dirden, 61, of Princeton were pronounced dead at the scene by the Caldwell County Coroner.  Ross was wearing a seatbelt. Dirden was not wearing a seatbelt.

Two other passengers in the vehicle had to be treated for injuries:  

Sherry Whitehair, 40, of Princeton was flown by Air Evac to the Tristar Skyline Medical Center in Nashville for treatment.  She was not wearing a seatbelt.  

Travis Whitehair, 17, of Princeton was transported via ambulance to the Caldwell Medical Center where he was treated and released. Whitehair was wearing a seatbelt. 

All four occupants had to be extricated from the vehicle.

Trooper Ben Sawyer is continuing the investigation. Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department, Princeton Police Department, Princeton Fire Department, Caldwell County EMS and the Caldwell County coroner assisted at the scene.

  

Early-morning siren caused by malfunction

Marion residents were awakened to the emergency sirens going off at about 3:15am this morning, but it was a false alarm.

Police Chief Ray O'Neal said this isn't first time the system has malfunctioned. The company that installed the alarm system will be notified, the chief said.