CCES hosts literacy night

Crittenden County's Early Childhood Council is sponsoring an event to promote literacy at Crittenden County Elementary School.

On Monday night, three- through five-year-olds will be treated to reading and camping time, hot dogs, chips and s'mores.

Activities begin at 5:30 p.m.

The event also counts as a credit toward Community Christmas.

Dilapidated Marion home being razed

One of Marion's nuisance homes will soon be gone. Gary Baulos, who acquired the unkempt West Bellville Street property earlier this year, is having the house torn down. The previous owner, who could not keep up the property, handed it over to Baulos, who maintains several rental properties in the community. This summer, Marion Planning and Zoning Coordinator Terri Hart said Baulos may decide to rebuild on the lot.

Jenkins estate auction Saturday

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The home and personal property of the late Robert Jenkins will be auctioned by Bunch Brothers Auctioneers & Realty Company on Saturday.

Among the items to be auctioned are a 4 or 5 bedroom, 5 bedroom brick home located one block from South Main Street in Marion.

Numerous pieces of antique furniture and other personal effects are included in the sale.

For more information, contact Bunch Brothers.

Area Death

Ronald Carter Fritts, 71, of Marion died today at Baptist Health Paducah. Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Local burn ban could be lifted soon

Showers and storms expected tonight could be enough to lift the countywide burn ban in effect the last few weeks for Crittenden County.

But as leaf-burning season nears, residents should not assume any amount of rain is enough to reduce dangerous wildfire risks. Judge-Executive Perry Newcom will announce here and through other public outlets when the ban is lifted. And if it is, Kentucky’s fall forest fire hazard season still restricts legal burning.

The Commonwealth’s 6 a.m.-to-6 p.m. Burning Law prohibits daytime burning if the fire is within 150 feet of woodland, brushland or fields containing dry grass or other flammable materials. The restrictions continue through Dec. 15.

According to the National Weather Service, there is an 80 percent chance of rain and possible storms before 1 a.m. tonight.

Highway 135 will close on Thursday

State highway Ky. 135 in rural, northern Crittenden County will close for repairs Thursday.

Also known as the Tolu-Carrsville Road, a section will close just west of Tolu, which will allow for repairs of a base failure. The closed section will be about half way between Ky. 297 at the E-town Landing intersection and Ky. 723.

Buses will be allowed to run that morning prior to the closing of the roadway. The work should be completed about 2:30pm.

Band places third over weekend

Crittenden County Marching Band's Paris Anderson, Trevor Eifler and Tate LaRue perform their 2019 show "Happiness" at Friday's home football game. The band placed third in their class Saturday at the West Kentucky Tournament of Champions. This weekend, they complete in Hopkinsville at the regional band competition. They will advance to state semifinals Oct. 26 in Bowling Green if they finish eighth or higher among the 11 bands competing.

Area Death

Harold Brad Lanham, 85, of Marion died Sunday. Myers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Absentee voting begins today

Absentee balloting for the Nov. 5 general election in Kentucky begins today on the voting machine in Crittenden County Clerk Carolyn Byford’s courthouse office. It will run through Nov. 4 for those who due to age, illness or physical disability cannot go to their polling place. Regular office hours are Monday and Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Voter registration is now closed until after the election.

On the ballot are statewide races for governor/lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, agriculture commissioner, treasurer and auditor.

Injury accident on 723 in Crittenden County

Crittenden County Rescue Squad and EMS have been dispatched to a two-vehicle injury accident in rural Crittenden County near the Livingston County line north of Salem on Ky. 723.

The head-on crash occurred about 5:30pm.

At least three people are reportedly injured.

Former substitute teacher is sentenced

The former substitute teacher who investigators say brandished a knife and threatened students earlier this year while working at Crittenden County Elementary School entered an Alford plea last week in Crittenden Circuit Court.

Jaken S. Orten, 23, of Dawson Springs was sentenced last Thursday by Judge Rene Williams.

Orten was a substitute teacher on Jan. 15 when he brandished a knife in front of two elementary school students and said, “Sit down or I will kill you.”

The school district terminated him as a substitute the following day after learning of the incident, completing an internal investigation then turning the matter over to authorities. 

For complete details of his sentencing, see this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press.

Area Death

Leonard Henry Brantley, Jr., 66 of Marion died Friday. Myers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Youth Deer Hunt this Weekend

The annual youth deer hunt is today and tomorrow, giving young gunners ages 15 and under an early chance at getting a whitetail deer.

A two-day muzzleloader season is next weekend and the popular modern firearm deer season begins on Nov. 9 and runs through Nov. 24.

Youth hunters this weekend must be accompanied by an adult while enjoying outdoors and they must abide by normal hunting regulations. 

Greenwell has real shot at state golf title

Rocket junior Sam Greenwell is in the clubhouse with an even-par round of 72 and is currently tied for third place overall in the Leachman Auto/KHSAA Boys’ State Championship Golf Tournament at Bowling Green Country Club.

Shortly after finishing his opening round about 5pm Friday, Greenwell was headed back to the practice tee as a slight drizzle had begun to fall, signifying that the rain that had threatened, but held off all day was finally showing up.

Tee times have yet to be posted for Saturday's final round, but Greenwell knows he's in contention for a state championship and wants to make sure his game is clicking today in case he has to tee off real early for the last 18 holes tomorrow.

“There are a couple of things I need to work on,” he said. “I’m just three strokes back. If I can work on these things and maybe go lower tomorrow I might have a shot to bring home a win.”

Greenwell made the turn at 3-over, but turned on the putter down the stretch, carding three birdies on the back nine and closing near the tournament lead. Greenwell birdied Nos. 12, 14 and 15 to finish 3-under on the back nine.

The Crittenden County junior made some good putts to bolster the round, but left two or three on the lip that might have put him even closer to the top of the leaderboard, including a rimshot on the final two holes.

He bogeyed three holes on the front nine, three-putting twice and getting into the sand trap on another hole.

“And I do need some dinner, too,” the golfer said as he loaded his gear to head off to the practice tee as daylight waned in Bowling Green.

This is Greenwell’s first trip to the state golf tournament. He qualified for the All A Classic State Championship Tournament a few weeks ago, finishing eighth overall at 2-over-par at Gibson Bay Golf Course at Richmond.

Greenwell is the first CCHS golfer to earn a state tournament berth since 1995.

Marshall County's Jay Nimmo leads the tournament at 1-under-par.

Dollar General still considering new Marion store

Dollar General has yet to commit to building a second store in Marion, but discussion at a public meeting this week revealed a location where the corporation is considering placing another discount variety.

At Thursday's Marion Planning Commission meeting, city Planning and Zoning Coordinator Terri Hart told commissioners during a discussion on city developments that Dollar General is considering property along South Main Street that lies within the city limits. The meeting discussion in no way confirms the location of a potential new Dollar General outlet or even that one will be placed in Marion.

"We are currently in a due diligence phase for a new store on South Main Street in Marion, which means we’re interested in adding a store to Crittenden County, but have not committed to doing so quite yet," Crystal Ghassemi, public relations director at Dollar General Corp., told The Crittenden Press today. "Based on our current timeline, we anticipate a final decision to be made in the coming months."

To learn the proposed location and follow this story, pick up next week's issue of The Crittenden Press and subscribe to our newspaper.

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Campbell retiring from military

One of the highest-ranking military officers to hail from Crittenden County will be hanging up his star this year.

Brig. Gen. Scott A. Campbell, a 1978 graduate of Crittenden County High School, Frances native and 37-year veteran of service in the Kentucky Army National Guard will be recognized with an official retirement ceremony Nov. 15 in Frankfort. A one-star general, Campbell has served since 2017 as Kentucky’s Deputy Adjutant General-Army, second in command of all day-to-day operations.

Campbell, not yet 60, lives in Elizabethtown.

He was raised in the Frances community and has served at every level of the National Guard, including commanding forces in war zones. He joined the Guard in 1981, and three years later received his commission after attending officer candidate school. Prior to commissioning, he served as an enlisted member of Co. Alpha, 1st Battalion, 123rd Armor based at the armory in Marion.

Above, Campbell speaks at a November 2016 ceremony at Mapleview Cemetery dedicating a memorial cross to a local man killed in the Korean War.

The Crittenden Press will have more on the general leading up to his retirement ceremony.

Planning commision approves zoning

Marion Planning Commission this evening approved zoning requests for two properties to allow for commercial development.

Approval for a highway business district designation for 17 acres currently outside of town will allow for the undeveloped property to go through the final steps of annexation at a city council meeting on Oct. 21. The owners, John and Keith Travis, currently have no plans for the property that lies off U.S. 641 just south of Marion.

The same zoning designation was approved for 3 acres off South Main Street between West Cruce Lane and the former used car lot operated by Denny Woodall. Terri Hart, planning and zoning coordinator for the city, said there are no particular plans for development of the property that belongs to Newcom Properties. However, the wooded area will be cleared.

Above, Hart discusses planning business with commissioners (from left) Joe Hunt, Paul Belt, Bill Frazer and Ray Agent. Commissioner Gary Baulos is obscured.

New Salem medical clinic open

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The Salem office staffed by Dr. Stephen Burkhart for many years has re-opened. Burkhart retired earlier this year and the clinic was purchased by Livingston Hospital & Healthcare Services. 

Alicia Clark and Sharon Hodges are APRNs at the new Livingston CARE Clinic. 

Appointments are accepted and walk-ins welcome.

Old Kentucky Hayride returns Nov. 2

The Old Kentucky Hayride, a celebration of bluegrass and country music, returns to Fohs Hall in Marion early next month. Tickets are on sale now for the Saturday, Nov. 2 event. The show begins at 7 p.m.

In March, local musicians revived the once-popular local event from the mid-20th century, drawing a standing room only crowd at the community center. Because of overcrowding, tickets will be limited for next month's encore performance.

Several local musicians and performers will portray some of the most noted names in bluegrass and country music, including Lacie Duncan and Patsy Cline (above) and others portraying Little Jimmy Dickens, Hank Williams Jr. and Luke the Drifter, a pseudonym once used by Hank Williams Sr.

Tickets can be purchased at the Imogene Stout Market on Main at the corner of Poplar and North Main streets in Marion from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday or anytime at Journey Massage Therapy on South Main Street in Marion or directly from Cruce.

For more on the show, see next week's issue of The Crittenden Press, on newsstands Wednesday.

Inmate injured in fall on courthouse stairs

Deputy Rick Mills attends to the injured inmate.

A male inmate who was leaving Crittenden Circuit Court this morning when he fell down a flight of stairs and was injured. 

The incident happened just before 11am when about five inmates were being escorting from the courtroom back to Crittenden County Detention Center. 

The inmate, who we are not identifying at this time, was bound in shackles and cuffs for the walk back to the nearby jail. It is common practice when inmates are taken between the jail and courtroom for appearances before the judge.

Other inmates who witnessed his fall, said the man toppled headfirst down about three or four stairs, coming to rest on the landing area between the upper and main floors of the courthouse. 

Although he appeared to have been knocked unconscious for a time, according to witnesses, and was bleeding out of the back of his head, the inmate was responsive and talking by the time ambulance personnel arrived and took him to Crittenden Community Hospital. 

The extent of his injures are unclear at this time.