Distinguished Alumni Honored this Week

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This week's printed edition of the newspaper is chocked full of locally-generated articles about some Very Distinguished Crittenden County High School alumni.

Read about one of America's most decorated Navy SEALs who hails from right here in Crittenden County.

The Meth Problem is growing in Marion and we look as some numbers that are concerning.

Another interesting article you will find in the newspaper is dedicated to CCHS junior Lauren Gilchrist, who was among the Top 10 Golfers in a state tournament.

Our sports coverages brings you more than just the scores. We have the Highlights and the Details. If that's not enough, visit our You Tube Channel for the weekly Coach's Show and other video stories.

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Treatment for back, neck pain

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Want to know who has the best BBQ around?

In case you missed it, get all of the details of last weekend’s Boot Scootin’ Barbecue Contest in this week’s printed edition of The Crittenden Press.

Rain didn’t wash the taste out of any of the good food smoked on the courthouse square. 

Grab this week’s issue to see who got blue ribbons for everything from sauce and ribs to chipped pork.

A Cut Above weekly specials

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First United offers $100 bonus

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Two county roads closed this week

Higgins Road in southern Crittenden County will be closed most of the day Tuesday for maintenance and Axel Creek Road in the southern part of the county will be closed to through traffic for two weeks beginning Sept. 17.

For more on these closing, see the Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018 printed edition of The Crittenden Press or subscribe now.

Gilchrist finishes 8th in state tournament

Gilchrist hits a drive at Saturday's
All A Tournament in Richmond.

Crittenden County junior Lauren Gilchrist shot 6-over par Saturday to fulfill a goal and finish among the top 10 golfers at the All A Classic State Tournament in Richmond.

Gilchrist, a five-time qualifier for the state championship event for small schools, was 8th overall.

Read the story about her weekend round and how she approached it in this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press, which will be on newsstands on Wednesday.

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Read it today or your might hear about it next week!
©Copyright 2018
The Crittenden Press

Leaf collection rescued by inmates

Crittenden County Detention Center has come to the rescue to save a popular but costly city service for the fall.

For at least this year, a partnership between the City of Marion, the jail and county government will resurrect autumn leaf collection offered for many years to city property owners. In the city’s current budget, council members had cut out funding for the popular program as a cost-saving measure in a spending plan stretched thin.

“The citizens have expressed how important it is to them. We knew we had to get something done, and thanks to Robbie and the jail, it’s going to get done,” said Mayor Jared Byford, referring to Jailer Robbie Kirk.

Likely beginning sometime after mid-October, Kirk will assign one of his supervised mowing crews to the task. They will use the city’s leaf vacuum hauled by one of the lock-up’s own 3/4-ton trucks. Kirk said Judge-Executive Perry Newcom okayed the move since it will require the supervision of a deputy jailer on the county’s payroll.

The agreement was reached last Thursday, three days after a city hearing on a property tax increase during which time Marion’s former mayor, Mickey Alexander, brought up elimination of services like the leaf collection as one reason he could not support an additional burden on property owners. Leaf collection began many years ago under Alexander’s leadership as mayor as a way to eliminate problems like bothersome smoke and melted asphalt from burning leaves and clogged storm drains across the .... for more of this article see the Sept. 6, 2018 printed edition of The Crittenden Press or subscribe now.

Saturday's BBQ festival rain or shine

Saturday's Boot Scootin' BBQ Competition and Festival around the court square in Marion will be held rain or shine.

Organizers with Community Arts Foundation are still planning for it to happen despite an unfavorable weather forecast.

The festival is slated for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., downtown Marion.

Rusty Gate open for season

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Big Homecoming Sale at Hodge's in Marion

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Public event to discuss hospital's future

Local leaders are hosting a public forum starting at 6pm next Thursday, Sept. 13 to discuss the potential sale of the community hospital.

The meeting will be held at Marion Ed-Tech Center on Industrial Drive.

County officials and hospital directors will be there attempting to answer all questions.

Crittenden Health System's Board of Directors has proposed selling the hospital (an independent non-profit corporation) and the real estate (which is owned by the county) to Rural Health Group Consolidated, an affiliate company of a firm hired last fall to manage the hospital.

A couple of newspaper articles published by The Crittenden Press over the past few weeks have tried to answer many of the questions local residents may have with regard to the potential sale. If you have other questions or just want to listen in at the meeting next week, it is open to everyone.

Your community newspaper was responsible for first reporting this news story and bringing you all of its details over the past few weeks. If you care about information like this and want the newspaper to continue with this type of reporting, please subscribe. Only with your paid subscriptions to print or full online versions will we be able to continue covering news and sports in Crittenden County. Since 1879, The Crittenden Press has been the most reliable and most timely source of important information that affects this community. Subscribe today! 

Read it now, or hear it next week
©Copyright 2018
The Crittenden Press

Circuit clerk, sheriff offices closed Saturday

Crittenden County Courthouse will be closed Saturday due to the Boot Scootin' BBQ Competition and Festival on the court square.

BBQ festival Saturday

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Arrangements for fire victims announced

This week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press carries an article about the tragic fire that claimed four lives in the rural western part of the county early Sunday morning. 

Read about reaction to the mother's heroism and sacrifice as the mobile home was engulfed in flames.

Below are funeral arrangements, which have just been finalized, for the fire victims.

Nathan DeWayne Hillard, 18 months, of Salem, KY. died Sunday September 2, 2018 at his home in Salem, KY.
Survivors include his sister, Jessie Claire Hillard of Salem, KY.; grandparents, Kristie Dickerson of Salem, KY. and Stephen W. Dickerson of Hampton, KY.; grandmother, Janie Hillard of Salem, KY.; great grandparents, Larry W. and Hazel Dickerson of Hampton, KY.; great grandparents, Robert and Betty Prince of Milton, KY. and Robert Lee Hillard of Ohio.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lindsay Dickerson and Waylon D. Hillard.
Memorial services are scheduled for 2 PM Saturday September 8, 2018 at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion, KY.  The family will receive visitors from Noon Saturday until service time at the funeral home.
Graveside services are also scheduled for 2 PM Sunday September 9, 2018 at Hampton Cemetery.

Lindsay Danielle Dickerson, 26, of Salem, KY. died Sunday September 2, 2018 at her home in Salem, KY.
Survivors include her mother, Kristie Dickerson of Salem, KY.; father, Stephen W. Dickerson of Hampton, KY.; daughter, Jessie Claire Hillard of Salem, KY.; brother, Clayton Caleb Dickerson of Marion, KY.; grandparents, Larry W. and Hazel Dickerson of Hampton, KY.; aunt Tammy (Richard) Doom of Smithland, KY. and several cousins.
She was preceded in death by her son, Nathan D. Hillard.
Memorial services are scheduled for 2 PM Saturday September 8, 2018 at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion, KY. The family will receive visitors from Noon Saturday until service time at the funeral home. 

Waylon DeWayne Hillard, 32, of Salem, KY. died Sunday September 2, 2018 at his home in Salem, KY.
Survivors include his mother, Janie Hillard of Salem, KY.; daughter, Jessie Claire Hillard of Salem, KY.; sisters, Mary Frances Hillard of Salem, KY., Heather Renee Hillard of Lebanon, KY. and Melissa Jane Hillard of Radcliff, KY.; step sister, Santana Maddox of Lebanon, KY.; grandparents, Robert and Betty Prince of Milton, KY. and Robert Lee Hillard of Ohio.
He was preceded by his father, Bobby Wayne Hillard; son, Nathan Hillard; step brother, Jeremy Scott and sister, Angela Dawn Hillard.
Memorial services are scheduled for 2 PM Saturday September 8, 2018 at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion, KY.  The family will receive visitors from Noon Saturday until service time at the funeral home.

Kenneth Shelby Belt, 76, of Salem, KY. died Sunday September 2, 2018 at his home in Salem.  He attended Salem Methodist Church.
Survivors include his daughters, Kristie Dickerson of Salem, KY. and Stacy Meadows of Paducah, KY.; brothers, Donald Belt of Lola, KY. and Jewell Belt of Hanson, KY.; sister, Velvie Walker of Evansville, IN.; 3 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Cenia Belt; 1st wife, Beverly Belt; 2nd wife, Sandra Linzy; daughter, April Belt; granddaughter, Lindsay Dickerson and great grandson, Nathan Hillard.
Memorial services are scheduled for 2 PM Saturday September 8, 2018 at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion, KY.  The family will receive visitors from Noon Saturday until service time.

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Big Meat Sale at A Cut Above in Marion

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Victory Gardens done for season

Distribution has ceased at the community Victory Gardens planted by Crittenden County Detention Center. Jailer Robbie Kirk said the plots, now at the end of the growing season, could not produce enough to sustain daily giveaways. The jail maintains a lease on the property from the City of Marion through at least the close of 2019, meaning the gardens should be back in production next spring.

Homecoming parade deadline is Thursday

Deadline to participate in the annual Crittenden County’s football homecoming parade is Thursday. All entries must be declared this week.

The parade will be held on Main Street in Marion starting at 5 p.m., on Thursday, Sept. 13.

 The theme is "Crittenden Turns Up the Spirit!"

Golf carts and ATVs are prohibited and all drivers of motorized vehicles must be at least 18 years old.

Lineup will begin at 4 p.m. To register or for information, email glenna.hoeszle@crittenden.kyschools.us or leave a message with the high school office at (270) 965-2248.

Area Death

Elouise Howard, 88, of Burna died Sunday. Boyd Funeral Directors and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.

Four dead in early-morning house fire

Coroner Brad Gilbert investigates the scene.

NAMES RELEASED
Update 7:15pm
Investigators have released the names of the victims of this morning's fire near Lola.

Dead are Kenneth Belt, 75; his granddaughter Lindsey Dickerson, 26; Waylon Hillard, 32; and the couple's 18-month-old child Nathan Hillard.

The cause of the fire has not been determined. Foul play is not suspected. The investigation will continue by Kentucky State Police.

See this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press for further details.

Update 12:21pm

Four people have now been confirmed dead in this mobile home fire, according to County Coroner Brad Gilbert. The identities have still not been released, but it appears that the dead include two young adults, an elderly adult and a very young child, according to authorities.

Updated 9:41am
Two people are confirmed dead and investigators fear that perhaps two more may have perished in a mobile home fire early this morning in rural Crittenden County near New Union Church.

Firemen from Crittenden County and Salem volunteer fire departments were dispatched to Watson Cemetery Road at 4am Sunday, an area near the county line not far from Lola, Ky.

One six-year-old child was reportedly rescued from the home by a family member who lived nearby. That rescue, purportedly occurred before firefighters arrived on scene, according to investigators, who have yet to interview the survivor or the person who allegedly rescued the child.

Three adults and another child were believed inside.

Crittenden County Sheriff's Deputy Chuck Hoover said two are confirmed dead and the investigation is continuing. The state police fire investigator and state police detectives had arrived on scene by 9am. The state fire marshal was also en route.

Crittenden County Coroner Brad Gilbert had been on the scene since before daylight. Gilbert said identities will not be released until the investigation at the location is complete, perhaps later today or tomorrow.

Investigators are asking motorists and curiosity seekers to please avoid the area as fire trucks and those conducting the investigation need ready access to the scene without added traffic.

Raw video from the scene this morning

shows firefighters and law enforcement