No driver testing Friday

Due to a shortage of examiners, there will be no driver testing in Crittenden County Friday.

Bevin orders flags to half-staff Wednesday

Gov. Matt Bevin has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff on Wednesday in honor of a Kentucky serviceman who was killed in action during World War II but whose remains were only recently recovered and returned home.

Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. Albert Strange, of Mammoth Cave, was 18 years old when he died in battle in the Pacific theater on Nov. 20, 1943. Assigned to Co. E, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, he was among approximately 1,000 U.S. casualties from the Battle of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands.

In May 2017, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) representatives traveled to the Tarawa Atoll to conduct excavations utilizing advanced investigative techniques. As part of this mission, investigators were able to identify the remains of Pfc. Strange.

Funeral services for Pfc. Strange will be held at noon Wedensday in Cave City.

Gov. Bevin encourages individuals, businesses, organizations and government agencies to join in this tribute by lowering the flag in honor of Pfc. Strange.

Varsity girls go first at Dawson

Anyone traveling to the Lady Rockets’ game Tuesday at Dawson Springs will need to arrive by 6pm to catch the varsity action.

It will be played first, followed by JV action in the nightcap.

This game was originally scheduled to be at Marion, but moved to Dawson.

Alabama man guilty in deer case

An Alabama man who operated as a hunting guide in Crittenden and Livingston counties has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges in Livingston County and faces 29 more charges in Crittenden District Court, many of them involving wildlife violations.

William Daniel Hassett, 31, of Vincent, Ala., had originally faced a felony robbery and burglary charge in Livingston County for taking a deer out of the bed of a pickup belonging to an 18-year-old local man who had shot it last deer season. The charges were amended down recently in Livingston District Court.

According to court records, Hassett confronted Lane Champion at a public parking lot in Salem in November of 2016, alleging that Champion had improperly taken the deer from property he was leasing next to the Champion farm. An investigation found that Hassett pulled the deer out of Champion’s vehicle and put it in his own truck.

Champion told investigators that he shot the deer on his own property, and it ran a few yards onto the adjoining land owner and fell dead. Champion alleges that he retrieved the deer, loaded it into his pickup and drove to Salem where he was confronted by Hassett.

Champion has not been charged in the matter; however, investigators confiscated the trophy buck he had taken.

Livingston County Attorney Raymond McGee said the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources conducted a “multi-month investigation” into the affairs and operations of Hassett’s alleged hunting service. Many of the charges in the two counties stem from that probe, which followed the encounter between Hassett and Champion last fall.

In Livingston County last week, Hassett’s original charges of robbery and theft were amended and merged, respectively, into one count of menacing to which he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 90 days in jail. The jail time was probated for two years.

He also pleaded guilty to a non-resident commercial license violation and two counts of making false entry or providing false information for a license. As part of his penalty, Hassett was fined $100 and ordered to make restitution to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Special Investigations Unit. He also forfeited his hunting privileges in Kentucky for three years. According to the court, Hassett forfeited about $10,000 in cash and property associated with the hunting service Axel Creek Outfitters.

In Crittenden County, Hassett is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday on seven counts of illegal taking or pursuing a deer or wild turkey; eight counts of operating on a suspended or revoked operator’s license; one violation of the non-resident commercial license law; six counts of entry onto land to shoot, hunt, fish or trap without consent; two counts of taking wildlife from a vehicle; two counts of discharging a firearm across a public roadway; two counts of being a non-resident hunter or trapper without a license or permit; and one count of violating a hunting guide law that restricts the guide from taking wildlife while providing guide services if the guide is not properly licensed.

Area death

Rudell “Rudy” Wayne Kitchens, 75, of Salem died Thursday. Boyd Funeral Directors and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.

Santa seeing children in Marion today

Mary Hall Ruddiman No-Kill Animal Shelter is getting a little help this morning from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Shelter volunteers are cooking breakfast and hosting St. Nick at the Marion Woman's Club building on East Carlisle Street until noon Saturday.

The group is asking for a $10 donation for a breakfast of pancakes and sausage and a chance to sit on Santa's knee.

Bevin orders flags to half staff Saturday

Gov. Matt Bevin has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff on Saturday in honor of a Kentucky sailor who was killed in action during World War II but whose remains were only recently recovered and returned home.

U.S. Navy Fireman 1st Class Samuel W. Crowder of Louisville was aboard the USS Oklahoma on Dec. 7, 1941, during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. At age 35, he was among 429 crewmen killed when that battleship was torpedoed and capsized.

Unidentified remains from the USS Oklahoma rested in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu until June 2015. At that time, the U.S. Department of Defense authorized those remains to be exhumed and examined through DNA analysis and other advanced scientific techniques. Crowder’s family was notified of his identification in late August 2017.

Funeral services with full military honors for Crowder will be held Saturday in Louisville.

Bevin encourages individuals, businesses, organizations and government agencies to join in this tribute by lowering the flag in honor of Crowder.

Flag status information is available at http://governor.ky.gov/flag-status.

Area deaths

Lena Sue Mills, 73, of Tolu died Wednesday. Boyd Funeral Directors and Cremation Services of Salem is in charge of arrangements.

Donald L. Lynn, 72, of Marion died Tuesday. Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion is in charge of arrangements.

Fredonia bank has customer appreciation day

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Time for a flu shot

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Local escapee now in custody

Ryan Paul Parker

UPDATED 3:58 p.m.
Parker has been apprehended and charged with escape by Marion Police Department. He will be jailed at Crittenden County Detention Center. Schools had been on lockdown, but that was lifted just after 4 p.m., and parents were notified that students were being bused home. Schools normally dismiss at 3 p.m.

ORIGINAL POST
An inmate from Crittenden County Detention Center has escaped custody and remains at large.

At 1:48 p.m., Ryan Paul Parker, 26, of Marion escaped custody of a guard while being treated at Crittenden Health Systems for a suspected overdose, according to Jailer Robbie Kirk. He fled the hospital and ran across the grounds of Marion Country Club. He was last seen near the intersection of Chapel Hill Road and Arleen Street.

All authorities have been notified and are searching for Parker, including at residences of known friends and family acquainted with Parker. Crittenden County Schools are currently on lock-down.

Parker is a white male wearing a tan jail uniform - shirt and pants. He is blonde with blue eyes, is 5-9 and 160 pounds. He  also barefoot at the time of the escape, according to Kirk.

If you see the man, do not attempt to make contact, but immediately alert local authorities by calling 911. While any escapee poses a risk to the public, Kirk said he would not consider Parker considerably dangerous.

Parker had earlier appeared in district court, according to Kirk, but was remanded to jail by District Judge Daniel Heady after being found in contempt of court related to a drug test. EMS was called to treat Parker at the jail after he collapsed, Kirk said.

Parker did not harm anyone during the escape. He will be facing felony escape charges once apprehended.

Bevin orders flags to half staff

Gov. Matt Bevin has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff on Thursday in observance of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

This is in memory and honor of the more than 2,400 Americans – including two from Crittenden County – who died in the surprise attack on the U.S. Fleet’s Pearl Harbor base in the early-morning hours of Dec. 7, 1941. President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared Dec. 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy” and signed the declaration of war against Japan the following day, Dec. 8, 76 years ago.

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

Flag status information is available at http://governor.ky.gov/flag-status.

What's news this week in Crittenden County...

An Alabama man who operated as a hunting guide in Crittenden and Livingston counties has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges in Livingston County and faces 29 more charges in Crittenden District Court, many of them involving wildlife violations.

For the full story and the following headlines, pick up this week's edition of The Crittenden Press:

• Teens seek solutions to school taxing issue
• Alabama man facing several hunting violations
• Pick-up of city leaves started
• GOP challenger looks to unseat Sen. Ridley
• New chiropractor’s office opens
• Massages can help ease cancer patient woes
• Teens explore medical careers
• Local jobless rate up from October 2016
• Ag Census 2017 now en route to farmers
• Board of ed explores CCMS-CCHS library
• Low-sodium targets on hold in cafeterias
• Local KFB women recognized
• Proposal offers drop in KU bills
• MY 2¢ WORTH: Change starts with conversation
• Ky. farming industry rebounds 3.5 percent
• Community Christmas help dips to 59
• FORGOTTEN PASSAGES: Greatest Generation had many war brides
• Circuit judge attends 2017 judicial college
• Families unite after discovery of relative in California
• Thieves taking vending money
• VAUGHT'S VIEWS: Wiseman does lots that Calipari, others like
• SPORTS: Coach finds hope despite 4-point loss to Trigg County
• SPORTS: Champion scoring big in 2-2 start
• SPORTS: Too much Boyd beats Rockets

First United groundbreaking Thursday

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First United groundbreaking Thursday

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Growing Deer Creek Nativity starts Saturday

Deer Creek Baptist Church members will tell you their place of worship has seen much growth as of late.

Having monthly activities helps to bring in a bigger crowd, elders say, as the church regularly hosts themed events such as Hallelujah Parties, Pumpkin Carvings, Grandparents' Day and a Veterans Day ceremony. Next up is the three-day Nativity scene, a live replica of Bethlehem  based on early biblical descriptions of the city. It is centered around Jesus Christ’s birth.

The Nativity will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 9-11.

Longtime church members Donna Hearell and Wade Buntin organize the project, while Denise Byarley designs the costumes. The three collaborate with many other members who work behind the scenes and are just as vital to the project.

The church intends to make this year’s nativity scene bigger and better than before. The Bethlehem scene will be complete with detailed props, new characters and overall realistic scenery.

“Every member of the church contributes, and it is one big group effort,” Hearell said. “In other words, it truly takes a village to make this thing run, and the experience itself is all about the atmosphere. You can smell the smoke and hear the blacksmith working, for example."

In addition to the usual scenery of Bethlehem, they will be introducing a variety of new characters into the scenes, outside of the usual residents who have been used for years. Roman soldiers will now be patrolling the streets while peasants are making their rounds begging for food. Water gatherers will be posted at the district well, and local fisherman will be used to portray life in such a time.

Two camels will be mixed in with the variety of other farm animals used in the display, and it is has been suggested there will now be a city wall surrounding this replica of Bethlehem. There are descriptive plaques throughout the city meant to guide attendees and tell the story of each section. Organizers are working toward steady improvement and aim to offer an unforgettable experience to both returning and first-time spectators.

Deer Creek Baptist Church is located 5 miles out Ky. 297 from its intersection with U.S. 60 West.

This is an abbreviated article from a longer piece published in the Nov. 16 issue of The Crittenden Press. 

City Leaf Collection Schedule

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Christmas Parade one of largest ever

Deer Creek Baptist Church won the parade float contest.

Marion's annual Christmas Parade had a potentially-record 54 entires and lasted for almost a full hour Saturday along Main Street.

See video of parade below.

The winning float entires are as follows, including a tie for second place.

• 1 Deer Creek Church
• 2 Lola Baptist Church 
• 2 Hurricane Church
• 3 Repton Baptist Church

Bevin orders flags to half-staff Saturday

Gov. Matt Bevin has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff Saturday in honor of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Lee M. Smith, 35, a Fort Campbell soldier who died while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.

Services for CW2 Smith will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Larkin Sunset Gardens in Sandy, Utah.

According to the Department of Defense, CW2 Smith died Nov. ‎11 at Camp Taji, Iraq, due to injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. The incident is under investigation.

Gov. Bevin encourages individuals, businesses, organizations and government agencies to join in this tribute of lowering the flag in honor of CW2 Smith.

Flag status information is available at http://governor.ky.gov/flag-status.

Parade is at 5pm Saturday