Homestead auction Thursday

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An auction in Marion Thursday conducted by Homestead Auction Realty will sell property on Lewis Street.

The absolute auction includes only the home, outbuilding and covered carport.

The auction will begin at 6 p.m.

For more information, contact Homestead at (270) 965-9999.

Salem clinic offers weight loss program

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If you're struggling to lose unwanted weight, maybe brought on by the COVID quarantine, consider discussing your options with APRN Samantha Greer.

Greer sees patients at Livingston CARE Clinic and offers appointments with individuals wishing to weigh their options for healthy, medication-assisted weight loss. Programs vary.

Call Greer at the Livingston CARE Clinic, formerly Burkhart Rural Health, on Main Street in Salem.

Body fund near Fredonia identified, husband sought

Larry Florentine

The identity of a partially-clothed woman found deceased in a shallow grave Saturday near Fredonia has been identified by Kentucky State Police, and they’re looking for her husband.

The body found by a caretaker at Hill Cemetery in Caldwell County last weekend has been identified as that of 36-year-old Nicole Renee Florentine, of Rock Hill, S.C., which about 15 miles south of Charlotte, N.C.

KSP Post 2 is now requesting the public’s assistance in locating Lawrence “Larry” Florentine, 52, of Rock Hill, S.C.

Florentine has an arrest warrant issued for abuse of a corpse. He was last seen driving a 2020 Caspian Blue Nissan Rogue. He is a white male, 5-foot-7, approximately 170 pounds, with gray or partially gray hair and brown eyes.

No other details have been released.

KSP advises anyone who sees Florentine to call local law enforcement immediately. Florentine should be considered armed and dangerous. If anyone has information about his possible whereabouts, or information about the investigation, contact state police at 270-676-3313, or via the KSP app. Callers may remain anonymous.

Attached are photos of Florentine and the last known vehicle he was operating.

Blue Nissan Rogue

Ferry owner says it will close June 30 without adequate funding

Copyright 2020 The Crittenden Press

Another impasse in funding negotiations between the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Cave In Rock Ferry may prompt a closure at the end of June.

Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom told the fiscal court yesterday during its regular monthly meeting that funding had been cut by Kentucky, but Illinois is prepared to meet the owner’s contract proposal, which includes a three-percent increase over last year. 

Kentucky Department of Transportation’s funding plan calls for the ferry operator to be paid $464,300 in Fiscal Year 2020. Illinois has customarily matched what Kentucky pays, which means the contract for the year would be $928,600. That’s significantly less than what has been paid to Cave In Rock Ferry Company over its current two-year contract, which ends June 30.

The county judge said the state’s offer for the FY 2020 contract originally reflected a pay cut of about $300,000. After some negotiations, the amount was raised, but it’s still significantly below what the ferry owner has received to operate the service over the past two years.

“It could shut down at the end of the month if they can’t get this done,” Newcom told magistrates Thursday. “I want to know why there has been such a massive cut.”

Two years ago, the ferry operator shortened service hours from 16 hours a day to 12 hours a day because of claimed funding shortfalls. After about three months of negotiations, the state and ferry reached a compromise and it resumed normal operations in the early fall of 2018.

The ferry normally runs from 6 a.m., until 10 p.m.

Ferry company owner Lonnie Lewis said this time there will be no shortening the operating hours, it will simply close.

“I went through this two years ago when I was trying to plant my crop – corn and beans,” said Lewis, who farms land in southern Illinois and Crittenden County. “I’m just not going to go through it again. If they’re not going to do it, just tell me.”

Labor laws require employees to notified if their jobs are in jeopardy. Lewis said he will make proper notification to pilots and deckhands next week unless something changes.

Lewis said he’s asking for an increase because of equipment costs and he wants to improve the spare ferry and tug.

“If something goes wrong I want to have reliable equipment as backup,” Lewis said. 

Lewis says he’s willing to negotiate terms of the new contact. His company has operated the ferry across the Ohio River since 1994.

Crazy Train Fireworks open on Sturgis Road

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Fourth of July is two weeks away! Get ready and stock up on fireworks from Crazy Train Fireworks in Marion. 

Crazy Train Fireworks is now located in the Masonic building on Sturgis Road across from Dairy Queen. It formerly was located at the old Pantry building on the corner of Gum and Main streets.

The store carries hundreds of types of fireworks – from sparklers to mortar shells!

Stop by and check out the selection.

Where to Vote in Tuesday's Primary

Crittenden County Clerk Carolyn Byford wants to remind registered voters that there will be just one polling place for the entire county next week due to precautions aimed at avoiding the spread of COVID-19. 

Election Day voting will be done only at the Crittenden County Courthouse. Due to the clerk’s staff being responsible for the election, the office will be closed to normal business, including vehicle transactions, notary applications or marriage licenses. Balloting on Election Day will be from 6 a.m., until 6 p.m. 

Between now and Election Day, voters may cast their ballots during regular office hours 8 a.m., to 4 p.m., weekdays on a machine set up in the clerk’s office. Registered voters should bring their driver’s license or another form of identification. Tuesday’s election was originally set for May, but it was postponed due to concerns over spreading COVID-19. 

The clerk’s office mailed out about 1,000 absentee ballots. Some have already been returned and Byford anticipates that most will arrive at her office by Tuesday even though they can be mailed Election Day, if postmarked June 23.

As of Tuesday, 451 voters had cast their ballots in early machine voting at the courthouse. 

Anyone with questions can call the clerk’s office at 270-965-3403 or email carolyn.byford@ky.gov. Independents may also vote in this election, but they are limited to just one race in this county. That race is for Kentucky Court of Appeals where local Circuit Judge Rene Williams is among the candidates.

HELP WANTED: Trailer Theft Caught on Tape

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Crittenden County Sheriff's Department is seeking the public's assistance in solving a theft that occurred at 2:30am Tuesday, June 16 in Sheridan.

The alleged theft was caught of video surveillance at Buntin Trailer Sales on Ky. 297. Taken was an 18-foot trailer that is capable of hauling a vehicle. It is gray and has a steel deck and tandem axles. The trailer is valued at $3,500.

Investigators are having the video enhanced in order get more details about the alleged crime, but it appears from this still capture of the footage that the thieves were driving a silver Jeep.

Anyone with information can call 270-965-3500 and remain anonymous. If your information leads to an arrest, a $1,000 reward could be available from Crittenden County TipLine and the property owner.

Dessert auction online through Friday

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Need to impress Dad with a dessert this weekend? The Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce has the answer.

An online dessert auction hosted on the Chamber's Facebook page is live through 7 p.m. Friday.

Desserts can be picked up, and payment made, Saturday at Bowtanicals.

 

Thomas estate auction Saturday

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The personal contents from the estate of Mary Ellen Thomas will be auctioned by Buntin Auction Service Saturday.

The auction begins at 9 a.m. on U.S. 60 West of Marion. 

To be sold are furniture, household items, antiques, outdoors and recreational equipment and miscellaneous tools and equipment.

For more information, contact auctioneer Curt Buntin.
 

Madisonville driver's testing office reopens

Gov. Andy Beshear today announced the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) regional driver’s licensing office in Madisonville will reopen for limited services starting Wednesday, June 17.

It is part of Gov. Beshear’s Healthy at Work initiative to safely reopen essential Executive Branch offices and services that were closed to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

“With public health and safety in mind, we are carefully resuming some high-demand, in-person public services,” said Gov. Beshear. “Those services include issuing, renewing and replacing operator’s licenses and official identification cards for our

Judge denies bond reduction in rape case

Circuit Judge Rene Williams has denied a bond reduction for the man accused of sexually abusing and raping two children under the age of 16.

The judge is pictured here in a Zoom meeting with a parole officer, the defendant and his attorney.

The Crittenden County Grand Jury has now indicted Thomas R. Irvin, 32, of Marion on multiple felony charges related to the case. He has been jailed on a $1 million bond since February.

The grand jury also indicted others in child sexual abuse cases. 

This week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press will detail the grand jury's findings in eight cases. You can subscribe online to the full e-version of the newspaper for only $2.95 a month. Click here to subscribe.

Elderly woman missing: Authorities seek help

UPDATE: She has been found safe in Princeton.

ORIGINAL POST

Local authorities are asking for the public’s help in finding an elderly woman who suffers from dementia.

Carolyn Brothers, 81, of the Hebron community in northern Crittenden County was last seen Monday night at about 10pm.

She apparently left her home sometime overnight Monday in a gray Chrysler van with license plate 305-YXL. The van has a St. Louis Cardinals sticker on the back window.

Brothers is described as a caucasian woman 5-foot-5 and 120 pounds. She has brownish, greying hair.

Anyone who sees her or the van can call central dispatching in Marion, Ky., at 270-965-3500.

Feagan's has deal for Dad

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Feagan's Furniture in Fredonia has a deal for dad this Father's Day, June 21.

Now through June 20, the furniture store is offering $25 off all recliners. 

Cloth, leather and several innovative features are available on recliners in stock at Feagan's.

Make dad relax with the purchase of a recliner this Father's Day.

Police investigating body found near Fredonia

The body of a partially-clothed woman was found Saturday in a shallow grave in a cemetery near Fredonia, and Kentucky State Police are investigating it as a possible homicide.

State police will be releasing more details later today.

What’s known at this point is a young to middle-aged female was found by a caretaker mowing the grass at Hill Cemetery off Ky. 91 in Caldwell County between Fredonia and Princeton.

Caldwell County Sheriff’s Department, Caldwell County Coroner and Kentucky State Police were at the cemetery Saturday afternoon and into the evening as they processed the potential crime scene and recovered the body.

Caldwell County Coroner Dwayne Trafford said the corpse was sent to the state medical examiner in Madisonville. He said there is no preliminary indication of cause of death.

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

You can subscribe online to the full electronic version of the newspaper for only $2.95 a month or get the mailed version each week with news you can find nowhere else. Click here to subscribe.

Copyright 2020 The Crittenden Press 

Shooting investigation missing shots

Local police continue to investigate that alleged Friday night shooting in downtown Marion. However, they're coming up empty on the shot part.

Although one man faces charges in the incident, and charges could be filed against another person, police say it does not appear that shots were fired at all. A set of coincidences may have sparked the report of gunshots. 

See this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press where we will have a complete report from the investigating officer. 

I-24 eastbound traffic will detour Tuesday

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans a 3-hour detour Tuesday afternoon June 16 for eastbound traffic along Interstate 24 in an extended work zone in southeast Caldwell County and Trigg County from the Caldwell line to the Cadiz/Hopkinsville exit.

 

Eastbound motorists on I-24 should be prepared to encounter a detour starting sometime around 2 p.m., between the KY 139 Princeton/Cadiz Exit 56 Interchange and the U.S. 68 Cadiz Exit 65 Interchange.  There will be a marked detour for eastbound traffic along KY 139 South to U.S. 68 East through Cadiz.

 

This temporary detour is expected to be in place until about 5 p.m., Tuesday to allow repairs to a damaged section of guardrail.  

To help reduce delays along the marked detour via KY 139, motorists from the Paducah area planning to travel I-24 East into Tennessee on Tuesday afternoon are advised to consider an alternate route via I-69 South and U.S. 68 East between Exit 25 at Calvert City and Exit 65 at Cadiz.

 

There should be minimal impact to westbound traffic along I-24 during this closure and temporary detour of eastbound traffic.

 

Case No. 9 of COVID-19 confirmed in Crittenden

Crittenden County has had its ninth confirmed COVID-19 case. 

This one is a 77-year-old woman who is self-quarantined at her home in the southern part of the county.

Of the nine confirmed cases here, one person has died, one remains hospitalized and this latest case is being carefully monitored. Otherwise, the rest have recovered.

As of late last week, the five-county Pennyrile Health District reported a total of 63 cases with four deaths – one in Crittenden and three in Lyon County. 

Here are case counts as of late last week:

Lyon 18

Trigg 17

Caldwell 12

Livingston 8

Crittenden 8*

  *Crittenden is now at 9

Show and Shine Cruise-Ins are Back this Month

Marion Show and Shine will return to the courthouse square on Thursday, June 25. 

Similar events were held last summer and fall and experienced great participation, said organizer George Richter. The first in a series of monthly events will start at 5:30 p.m. Show and Shine cruise-ins will be held monthly through October. 

There is no registration or entry fees and no prizes are awarded. However, there will be door prizes given away. 

For more information, call Richter at 270-965--2348 or email geom3m5@bellsouth.net. 

Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the cruise-ins and the event has its own Facebook page at Marion, Kentucky Show and Shine. “I think people are looking forward to these because they’ve been strapped down with regulations and such,” Richter said.

Shots allegedly fired near courthouse in Marion

LATEST UPDATED (Monday, June 15)

Police continue to investigate this incident and may have more details later today. Stay tune for updates. 

==============

ORIGINAL POST

Law enforcement had part of Main Street blocked off for a time Friday evening in Marion for an investigation into shots fired near the courthouse.

One person has been taken into custody. Sheriff Wayne Agent said the man was initially held on suspicion of DUI. 

Duvall

The suspect has been identified as Jeremy Duvall, 49, of Marion and has now been charged with felony first-degree wanton endangerment, second-degree disorderly conduct, first-degree possession of a controlled substance and not having prescription medication in its original container. 

The shots allegedly fired did not hit anyone. The investigation is ongoing.

The sheriff said it was not a random incident. There was an apparent target, he said. 

Stay tuned for details as they are released. 

COIVD-19 postpones history in Crittenden County

The Crittenden County Historical Museum on East Bellville Street will tentatively open for the season on July 1. 

The museum’s board of directors met early this week and decided to postpone its opening for a bit longer due to fears associated with the current pandemic.

The museum, which attracts many guests each spring and summer, generally opens in April. It could have reopened to the public on Monday of this week, according to state guidelines. 

The Ben E. Clement Museum, about a block away, did open.