Traveling Ky. Vietnam Wall viewing open

A loved one of Johnny W. Lindsey, a local man killed in the Vietnam War, creates a rubbing this morning of his engraved name that appears on the Traveling Kentucky Vietnam Wall on display through Sunday at Marion Commons. The Wall is manned around the clock and there is no cost to view or create a rubbing of one of the 1,105 names of Kentucky men killed in the war, including five each from Crittenden and Livingston counties. Besides the wall, there is information on men killed in the war, a documentary on the war and posters providing a history of and insight to the war.

For more pictures and information from today's ceremony to officially open viewing of the wall, pick up a copy of next week's issue of The Crittenden Press on newsstands Wednesday.

 
Watch Friday's Opening Ceremonies Welcoming the memorial wall.

The Crittenden Press is your primary source of news and information for this community. We’re proud to serve our community and we take great pride in bringing you real news, sports reporting and other information that helps you know what’s going on in town and across the county. Help ensure that real reporting continues in this community by subscribing today. You can subscribe online to the full version of the newspaper for only $2.95 a month. Click here to subscribe.

Show and Shine glows under autumn sunset

Marion Show and Shine rolled around again Thursday night around the courthouse, with a beautiful autumn sunset as the backdrop on a cool evening. The monthly car show has been taking place around the court square on the fourth Thursday of each month since May, weather permitting. Anyone is invited to bring their automobile to show off and add a little shine to in the early evening sunlight. The event has drawn a couple dozen vehicles each time, as well as dozens of visitors to downtown after business hours.

Pumpkin Fest, Farmers Day and Vietnam Wall

Wow! An incredible weekend gets kicked off at 9am this morning with the formal ceremony recognizing the presence of the Kentucky Traveling Vietnam War Memorial Wall. That will be at Marion Commons in front of City Hall. The Press will be there LIVE on Facebook for the opening ceremony, starting at about 9:15am.

Farmers Bank is hosting its annual Farmers Day event in town and things are starting to look a lot of fall with the Pumpkin Festival kicking off around the courthouse square today and tomorrow.

Saturday will be full of fun and entertainment at the Pumpkin Fest with a 5K race, car show, pet show, youth pageant, corn hole, pedal tractor pull, inflatables, food and much, much more!

For complete details of what's happening grab a copy of this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press. It has everything you need to know about the Vietnam War Wall, Pumpkin Festival and so much more.

The Crittenden Press is your primary source of news and information for this community. We’re proud to serve our community and we take great pride in bringing you real news, sports reporting and other information that helps you know what’s going on in town and across the county. Help ensure that real reporting continues in this community by subscribing today. You can subscribe online to the full version of the newspaper for only $2.95 a month. Click here to subscribe.

Entire county moves up drought classification

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map for Kentucky was released today, showing almost the entire state as deficient of moisture. All of Crittenden County is now classified abnormally dry, prompting Judge-Executive Perry Newcom on Monday to ban all outdoor burning until further notice.

More than 94 percent of the state is classified as abnormally dry to severe drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor. Last week, only 67 percent of the state was considered dry, but now at almost a month of only trace amounts of rain, the heat and dry conditions are starting to take a toll. Last year at this time, not an acre of Kentucky's 40,409 square miles was considered unseasonably dry.

Abnormally dry conditions mean lawns and vegetation are brown and crops and pastures are beginning to show stress. Kentucky pastureland is already suffering with 54 percent considered poor to very poor. And as of Monday, 17 percent of soybeans and 26 percent of hay was rated poor to very poor by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service in Louisville. Corn, much of which matured under normal conditions and is now being harvested, showed only 11 percent of acreage in poor to very poor condition.

Just 0.19 inches of rain prior to today's trace amounts in Crittenden County had been recorded by the local Kentucky Mesonet weather monitoring station since Aug. 27. And the outlook is no better. According to the National Weather Service in Paducah, no rain is forecast through next Wednesday with daily highs still eclipsing 90 degrees, about 10 degrees higher than usual.

Two-thirds of Kentucky's 120 have now issued outdoor burning bans. Violation of the order is punishable by fines up to $500.

Check out next week's issue of The Crittenden Press for an update on crop conditions and the drought status. If the drought continues, Crittenden County could move to the moderate drought classification, which is indicated by further stresses vegetation, increased risk for wildfires and more problem algae and fungus growth, a problem already plaguing some large bodies of water in Kentucky.

Area Death

Gregory Allen Sexton, 62, died Tuesday. Myers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Kentucky Vietnam War Memorial in Marion

Opening Ceremony 9am Friday

Free Viewing all Weekend at Marion Commons

Above is video from our original Live Coverage at
Marion Commons as the Wall was erected by volunteers.

Below is video from our original Live Coverage of
the caravan that escorted the Wall into Marion
along with insight by Dr. Steve Crider a veteran
of the Vietnam War

COVERAGE PRESENTED BY GILBERT FUNERAL HOME 

Distinguished Alumni: Jonathan Burdon

Failure is an option.

For the two 2019 Crittenden County Distinguished Alumni inductees, mistakes are a fact of life they encourage others to embrace just as they have. In fact, that approach to life along their individual journeys is a large part of what brought both Jonathan Burdon and Johnny Newcom to be recognized by their hometown for their accomplishments and contributions.

“Some people can always make the right decision first,” said Burdon, an entrepreneur in digital media. “I seem to find the correct route by doing all the wrong things first.”

At only 31, trial and error has served him well. He is founder and CEO of SocialCoaster Digital Agency, or SDA Media, a Nashville, Tenn.-based company billed as one of the world's fastest growing social media influence agencies. A 2006 graduate of Crittenden County High School, Burdon started with zero and grew his vision through determination and adaptability.

For his successes in the realm of digital media, Burdon is being recognized next week with what has become one of the community’s most esteemed honors bestowed upon the people it has helped shape. He joins Newcom, a local chiropractor being honored for his work beyond the office. The private induction ceremony will be Friday, Oct. 4 in Marion.

For Burdon’s full story, as well as Newcom’s, find a copy of next week’s issue of The Crittenden Press on newsstands Wednesday or subscribe to the online edition by clicking here.

Vietnam War Wall escorted into town this afternoon

A memorial displaying the names of more than 1,100 Kentuckians who died in the Vietnam War, including five men from Crittenden County, will roll into town this afternoon with a lighted escort and patriotic welcome. It will be on exhibit at Marion Commons through Sunday afternoon.

The aluminum monument was paid for with funds from the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs and other donations. It has been traveling the state since it was unveiled in the Capitol rotunda in March 2017. The visit to Marion this week marks the first trip the Wall has made to this area.

The Wall will be free to view around the clock beginning after setup this evening, but a special ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday to officially open viewing. Family members of the five local men whose names appear on the wall are scheduled to attend. Viewing runs through about 4 p.m. Sunday, and like the national monument in Washington, rubbings of the engraved names on the wall can be made. Students will also be brought from campus to Marion Commons to view the Wall.

Livingston Hospital CEO Elizabeth “Liz” Snodgrass, a six-year U.S. Air Force veteran, will be the keynote speaker for Friday’s ceremony.

Jailer Robbie Kirk and a caravan of law enforcement and veteran motorcyclists will be escorting the Wall from the county line on U.S. 641 to its placement at Marion Commons starting at about 1:30 p.m., on Thursday.

For more more on the wall, its creator, Friday’s speaker and many more details please read this week’s printed edition of The Crittenden Press. It’s onside starting today at area newsstands, or SUBSCRIBE NOW and get the full digital version plus our newspaper archives that date back to 2008.

READ MORE ONLINE
http://crittendenpress.blogspot.com/2019/09/traveling-ky-vietnam-wall-speaker-chosen.html

https://crittendenpress.blogspot.com/2019/09/families-of-vietnam-kias-sought-for.html

Crops suffering under heat, drought

A soybean field off Ky. 70 received a much-needed drink of water Tuesday evening amid month-long drought conditions with hardly any measurable rainfall. The beans belong to local growers P & H Farms and are irrigated from the waters of Maple Lake, or commonly Maple Sink, in southern Crittenden County. While the irrigated beans appear healthy, much of their crop on the opposite side of the highway is brown and withered by the unseasonably warm and dry conditions that have gripped Kentucky since late August.

"Beans are hurting," Natalie Parish said of the crop.

The problem is not isolated to Crittenden County, but is not yet overwhelming crops statewide. According to Monday's USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service office in Louisville, only 17 percent of Kentucky's soybean crop is poor to very poor. In fact, more than half of the state's beans, 57 percent, are considered fair to excellent.

According to the Kentucky Mesonet weather monitoring station in Crittenden County, prior to this morning's trace amounts, only 0.04 inches of rain had been recorded locally since Aug. 27, and September's average daily high of 88.4 degrees is almost 10 degrees warmer than normal.

City Hall Parking Lot Must Be Emptied Thursday

Starting at 2pm on Thursday, the parking lot in front of Marion City Hall and the police station, known properly as Marion Commons, will be closed off in order to make room for the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall that is coming to town for the weekend.

Marion Police Chief Ray O'Neal says the parking lot will be closed as it occupies the Wall through Sunday afternoon.

Local military veterans and other law enforcement will be guarding the Wall round the clock while it is set up at Marion Commons.

For more more on the wall, its creator, Friday’s speaker and many more details please read this week’s printed edition of The Crittenden Press. It’s onside starting today at area newsstands, or SUBSCRIBE NOW and get the full digital version plus our newspaper archives that date back to 2008.

READ MORE ONLINE
http://crittendenpress.blogspot.com/2019/09/traveling-ky-vietnam-wall-speaker-chosen.html

https://crittendenpress.blogspot.com/2019/09/families-of-vietnam-kias-sought-for.html

Woman, children reportedly uninjured in wreck

A woman and two children reportedly escaped harm this morning when their vehicle left a rain-slicked roadway in what is known as the Deanwood Curve about 9 miles east of Marion on Ky. 120. According to a first-responder on the scene, the driver appeared to be OK as were the children. The vehicle was headed east and left the north side of the roadway around 10:15 a.m., failing to make the sharp curve and coming to a rest in a grassy clearing. The occupants were checked out by Crittenden EMS at the scene, and Kentucky State Police is working the accident.

About 75 Meet at the Pole to pray

About 75 high school and middle school students gathered this morning for the national Meet Me at the Pole service on the Crittenden County campus.

A number of local church youth groups provided music and snacks for the event and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes was partly responsible for the program.

Shelby Brown, Chasity Conyer and Kate Keller spoke during the gathering, which has become a regular tradition at Crittenden County schools for many years since the grassroots, student-led, faith-based movement started in 1990.

In addition to prayer, speakers provided short devotionals, testimony and read scripture.

Farmers Day is Friday

Click Image to Enlarge

A display of Crittenden County's farm heritage will surround Farmers Bank's downtown location Friday during its annual Farmers Day celebration.

Several contests – including the annual apple pie baking contest, scarecrow contest and photography comest – will be held, and several special displays will help celebrate the importance of agriculture in Crittenden County.

There will also be a chance to shop, as several artisans will be selling their homemade goods.

Festivities kick off at 9 a.m., and the bank invites everyone to stop by and enjoy the annual event.

Disc golf tournament planned for November

Marion’s disc golf course will host its first tournament in November.

Last Wednesday, Marion Tourism Commission approved an early November Professional Disc Golf Association-sanctioned tournament at the newly developed, 18-hole course. The course spans Marion-Crittenden County Park and adjacent City of Marion-owned property where the Victory Gardens are located.

As a courtesy to the city’s restaurants that collect a 3 percent prepared food tax that funds Tourism, commissioners OK’d the contest with the stipulation that food cannot be sold on the course.

The amateur tournament will serve as a fundraiser for Crittenden County Lions Club. Lion Rodney Travis is organizing the event. Tourism is not charging for use of the course.

The request to use the course, which is already being used but not fully complete, caught commissioners somewhat by surprise with no policy in place for reservation of the course.

For more on this story, grab a copy of tomorrow's edition of The Crittenden Press.

CCEDC lands new investor, new directors

Last week was big for Crittenden County Economic Development Corp. (CCEDC). The group added a new investor and two new directors were added to the board.

According to Chris Cook, CCEDC chairman, Crittenden Community Hospital joined CCEDC as $5,000 investor, which entitles them to a seat on the board. Don Buchanan, the hospital's CEO, will be representing the organization on the board.

Also last week, Crittenden Fiscal Court re-appointed Magistrate Todd Perryman to replace Donnetta Travis, who resigned her seat after taking a new job in Paducah.

Travis’ resignation also left a vacancy in secretary and treasurer positions on the economic development board. The board will have to elect new officers at its upcoming Oct. 23 meeting.

At that meeting, the board will also appoint two additional at-large directors.

Rockets fall to No. 8 in football poll

Crittenden County's football team dropped another slot this week despite being idle last Friday.

The Rockets, who play Friday night at Union County, are ranked No. 8 in the latest Associated Press Class A Football media poll.

Ranked No. 5 after starting the season 3-0, the Rockets dropped to seventh following a loss to Class 2A's No. 5 team Caldwell County. Crittenden was No. 8 in the preseason poll.

Class A Rankings
KY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
ASSOCIATED PRESS
1. Pikeville 5-0
2. Paintsville 3-1
3. Ky. Country Day 5-0
4. Williamsburg 4-1
5. Campbellsville 3-2
6. Raceland 2-2
7. Newport Cent. Catholic 3-2
8. Crittenden County 3-1
9. Ludlow 3-1
10. Pineville 4-1
tie. Hazard 3-1
Others receiving votes: Louisville Holy Cross, Berea, Bethlehem, Fulton County, Eminence.

Podiatry care at Crittenden Community Hospital

Click Image to Enlarge

If you're having trouble with your feet, you need an appointment with Dr. David A. Dowell, a podiatrist who has a clinic at Crittenden Community Hospital. 

Dr. Dowell will be in Marion Oct. 9 and Oct. 23. He works with wound specialists to treat lower extremity wounds, and his focus is on helping patients maintain mobility and prevent future wounds. His primary interest is wound surgery but also will discuss elective procedures to prevent future wounds.

Dr. Dowell treats patients twice a month in Marion. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and Des Moines Medical University. 

To make an appointment, call Crittenden Community Hospital at (270) 965-5281.

Pumpkin Festival this weekend

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A host of activities will be centered around the courthouse in Marion Saturday for the annual Pumpkin Festival celebration. Marking the arrival of fall, the event features the popular FFA pedal tractor pull for kids, inflatables and dash for cash, a car show, and live entertainment and vendor booths.  

The Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce sponsors the event, which this year will also include a special appearance of the Kentucky Traveling Vietnam Wall. Located in front of Marion City Hall, the exhibit features the names of all Kentuckians who died in combat in Vietnam, including five from Crittenden County. The exhibit is co-sponsored by Marion Main Street, Inc.

All outdoor burning in county prohibited

Early-morning rains today were not enough to reduce fire dangers in Crittenden County, prompting Judge-Executive Perry Newcom to enact a county wide outdoor burning ban that affects some summertime cooking.

The ban is effective immediately and is in response to "the continued dry and unseasonable hot weather conditions and the fact that long-term weather forecasts indicate no change in the current pattern," Newcom said in the proclamation warning of extreme danger of wildfires in the county.

All outdoor burning is prohibited under Kentucky statute and generally includes:

• Burning of forest, grass, crops, woodlands, marshes or other similar areas.
• Burning leaves or debris.
• Campfires, bonfires and warming fires.
• Open pit cooking and charcoal grilling.
• Use of fireworks and welding may also be prohibited or regulated.

Violation of a burning ban is a misdemeanor punishable by law. The fine as established by statue is anywhere from $50 to $500. Last Tuesday's drought map for Kentucky (shown above), the latest available from the U.S Drought Monitor, shows moderate drought (tan) across 26 percent of the state and abnormally dry conditions (yellow) in another 40 percent. The areas are expected to expand with this week's map.

More details on the dry weather and burn ban can be found in this week's edition of The Crittenden Press, on newsstands Wednesday afternoon.

Coffee with the Congressman Oct. 1

U.S. Rep. James Comer will host Coffee with the Congressman with community leaders and elected officials in Marion to learn more about what he can do to help the residents of Crittenden County. The second-term congressman will be at the Marion Ed-Tech Center at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1. He will make a short presentation about the happenings on Capitol Hill that affect Crittenden Countians, opening up the floor for questions and answers afterward.