I-24 one lane eastbound for a time Tuesday

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will set up a work zone area along Interstate 24 eastbound just east of the Kuttawa exit from 10 a.m., until about noon Tuesday, June 30.

 

This restricted area will allow Kentucky State Police to gather additional information for a crash reconstruction investigation of a June 22 multi-vehicle fatal crash at the site.

 

All eastbound traffic will move to the left-hand or passing lane in this work zone. Motorists should be alert for slowing and merging traffic as they approach the 44 mile marker in Lyon County which is just east of the I-24/I-69 Exit 42 interchange.

 

Here is information from the double-fatality accident

Accident occurred around 8 a.m., June 26, 2020 on I-24.

Through investigation, troopers discovered 47-year-old Johnny R. Clark of Joelton, Tennessee, was operating a 2018 International box truck eastbound around the 93 mile marker, in the right lane of travel. 65-year-old Jeffrey Clark of Hartford, Illinois was operating a 2016 Western Star tractor-trailer westbound on I-24 around the 93 mile marker, in the right lane of travel. 22-year-old Dalton Dodd of Clarksville, Tennessee, was operating a 2006 Pontiac G6 westbound on I-24 in the left lane of travel, beside Mr. Clark’s vehicle.

For an unknown reason, Johnny Clark’s box truck crossed the eastbound lanes of travel, crossed the median, traveled through the cable barrier, and entered the westbound lanes of travel. Dalton Dodd’s vehicle entered the westbound, right lane of travel to avoid a collision with Johnny Clark. Dodd’s vehicle sideswiped the front driver’s side of Jeffrey Clark’s vehicle. Mr. Dodd’s vehicle continued off the westbound, right shoulder of the roadway, and up an earth embankment.

Johnny Clark’s vehicle continued across the left, westbound lane of travel, striking Jeffrey Clark’s vehicle in a head on manner. Both operators were in their vehicles when they caught fire.

Dalton Dodd was uninjured in the collision. Johnny Clark and Jeffrey Clark were pronounced deceased at the scene by the Christian County Coroner’s Office. The investigation is ongoing by Trooper Brian Graves.

COVID confirmed case makes 10th

Crittenden County has reached double figures in confirmed COVID-19 cases. Since early March when records began being kept, this county has seen 10 confirmed cases.

The latest is a 55-year-old man, who is self-isolating at his home in Marion.

Of the other nine previous confirmed cases, eight have recovered and one passed away.

Of the roughly 9,100 people who live in the county, .001 of the population has been infected. 

Crazy Train Fireworks on Sturgis Road

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Fourth of July is Saturday! Get ready to light up the sky 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.

Greer joins Livingston CARE Clinic

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APRN Sam Greer is accepting new patients at Livingston CARE Clinic in Salem.

Livingston CARE Clinic is located on Main Street in the former Burkhart Rural Health Clinic.

Greer sees patients for wellness visits, chronic care management and treats patients of all ages for many conditions.

To schedule an appointment on Thursdays or Fridays, call the Livingston CARE Clinic.

Need life insurance? Call Grant Rogers

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If you're shopping for life insurance, talk to Grant Rogers.

Rogers is a WoodmenLife representative serving Crittenden County and the surrounding area. 

Currently WoodmenLife is offering $100,000 worth of life insurance for as little as $17.24 per month.

Contact agent Grant Rogers for information about WoodmenLife's products, which also include investment opportunities.
 

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Clinic offers weightless 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.

Godzilla Dust Cloud headed this Way

A vast cloud of Sahara particles which has been dubbed by scientists as the “Godzilla dust cloud” will be evident in western Kentucky this weekend. The first signs could show up Friday evening and the effects could linger through next week.

This Sahara dust could has been blanketing the Caribbean, and it is heading toward the United States with a size and concentration that experts say hasn’t been seen in 50 years. A similar cloud settled into the Ohio Valley in 2018.

The thickest part of this weekend’s cloud will be over the Gulf Coast, but some of it will make it to the Ohio Valley.

Usually the dust cloud is fairly thin and produces some nice reddish sunrises and sunsets, but this Sahara event might be too dense to provide much magic in the skies. 

Across some its path, the "smog like" particles in the air can create health issues, but it's not expected to be strong enough in western Kentucky to be of real consequence. 

Yoder Road closed at Crooked Creek crossing

Swinging Bridge, a destination for many in the Amish community,

will no longer be open to public access.

Crittenden's Back-to-School Date Is Set

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Classes will resume for the fall semester at Crittenden County Schools on Aug. 25 with a traditional in-person format, with some safety precautions in place.

That is two weeks later than originally planned. The delay will allow the school district to continue preparing for the challenges of returning to the classroom under pandemic requirements. 

Parents who have concerns about sending students back to the classroom in a traditional format, can arrange for others options. 

Student temperatures will be checked daily and there will be increased disinfecting and sanitizing in each school. 

Social distancing will be required. Cloth masks will be required, too, but only when social distancing cannot be achieved and at any time students are moving from area of the school to the other. 

See more in next week's full version of The Crittenden Press.

Florentine caught in Colorado

Larry Florentine, the man wanted in connection to the woman's body found near Fredonia, has been arrested in Denver, Colo.

Florentine, 52, once lived in Colorado.

Denver Police Department arrested him this week. His vehicle was also found abandoned this week in another, but police did not specify the exact location. 

The body of Nicole Florentine, 36, of Rock Hill, S.C., was found in a shallow grave in Hill Cemetery in Caldwell County. 

Her husband is being held on a charge of abuse of a corpse. 

Stay tuned for details as they emerge.

You will not read this anywhere else

Have you seen this week's full version of the newspaper?

The June 25 issues of The Crittenden Press has four or five major news articles with information you will find nowhere else on the planet.

If you're interested in what's going on our neck of the woods, there's just one place to get the real news, trusted news, accurate news with details, interviews and comment from people in this community. We have it all every week in the full version of The Crittenden Press.

In this week's edition you will find:

• New details about that body in Fredonia
• Cell phone fate at CCHS
• Whether the ferry will close
• What's up at the swinging bridge
• Details of a near-record meth bust
• Farm and Livestock reports
• Election returns
• Victory garden produce schedule
• And, much, 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.

Copyright 2020

The Crittenden Press

Outdoor concert at Mulligans Friday

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Summer kicks off at Marion Golf & Pool Friday night with free swimming for kids, corn hole and putting contests and live music by local vocalists Corey and Michelle Crider, along with other members of their band, Small Batch.

Corey Crider is a trained opera singer, but he and Small Batch are pulling out country and classic rock, modern country and some folk and blues favorites for this special concert.  The Criders are members of a larger band, Tapestry, which blends rock and opera. They performed two sold-out shows last spring at Fohs Hall.  Small Batch, as the name implies, is a smaller version of that group of professionally-trained artists with a playlist spanning multiple musical genres.

The event will be held outdoors at Mulligan's Pizzeria & Pub, which will offer their full menu plus additional food and drink specials. Lawn chairs are welcome. 

Consignment auction Saturday

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A huge variety of farm equipment, machinery and miscellaneous items will be sold during a consignment auction Saturday behind Buntin Trailer Sales. Buntin Trailer Sales is located on Ky. 297 near the Sheridan community.

There will be a little bit of everything for the farmer at this auction.  Auctineer Curt Buntin has been taking consignments for this sale since late February before the auction was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Sold will be tractors, farm equipment, trailers, lawn mowers, recreational vehicles, outdoor equipment and hand tools. You don't want to miss this one.

Judge Williams, conservatives carry the day in counted ballots

Circuit Judge Rene Williams carried the county with 75 percent of the votes cast in the First District Appeals Court Judge race and other conservatives were top vote-getters in balloting in Crittenden County Tuesday. 

President Donald Trump (R) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) were top vote-getters in their GOP primaries and presidential hopeful Joe Biden (D) and senatorial candidate Amy McGrath (D) led the way on the Democratic ticket.

Results are incomplete as hundreds of mail-in ballots have not been counted.

It could be early next week before final totals are known here and statewide.

For details of Election Day and Early Voting, see this week’s full version of The Crittenden Press.

One Polling Place Open Today for Primary Election

Just one polling place is open today for the entire county due to precautions aimed at avoiding the spread of COVID-19. 

Election Day is here and ballots may be cast only at the Crittenden County Courthouse no matter which precinct you live in.

Due to the clerk’s staff being responsible for the election, the courthouse office will be closed to normal business today, including vehicle transactions, notary applications or marriage licenses. 

Balloting in today's primary election is 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. 

Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked today, June 23, in order to be counted. 

Livingston CARE Clinic accepting new patients

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APRN Sam Greer is accepting new patients at Livingston CARE Clinic in Salem.

Livingston CARE Clinic is located on Main Street in the former Burkhart Rural Health Clinic.

Greer sees patients for wellness visits, chronic care management and treats patients of all ages for many conditions.

To schedule an appointment on Thursdays or Fridays, call the Livingston CARE Clinic.

EBT benefits available for Crittenden School students

It's not too late to apply for EBT benefits for Crittenden County students.

Because of COVID-19, each student in the Crittenden County School District is eligible to receive an electronic EBT card with up to $313.50 per student.

The debit card can be used for food purchases at participating groceries. 

The online application process is extremely quick and easy, and every child in the home who was enrolled in school during the 2019-2020 school year is eligible.

The deadline has been extended until July 10.

Apply at benefind.ky.gov.

Suspect in Fredonia case still at large

Larry Florentine

Larry Florentine, 52, of Rock Hill, S.C., remains at large as Kentucky State Police continue searching for him as part of their investigation into a body found near Fredonia on Saturday, June 13.

Florentine is the husband of a woman whose body was found in a shallow grave at a cemetery a short distance southeast of Fredonia. The shallow grave was found by a caretaker at Hill Cemetery in Caldwell County, who then alerted authorities.

The deceased woman has been identified by state police Nicole Renee Florentine, 36, of Rock Hill, S.C.

Police have issued a warrant for Mr. Florentine for abuse of a corpse. He was last seen driving a 2020 Caspian Blue Nissan Rogue. He is described by police as 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.

Stay tuned to The Crittenden Press which will include further details that are beginning to emerge in this case. You can subscribe online to the full version of the newspaper for only $2.95 a month. Click here to subscribe.

Board of Education Live meeting Tuesday

Crittenden County Board of Education's regular monthly meeting will be broadcast live on Facebook starting at 5 p.m., on Tuesday, June 23. 

To watch, tune into the school district's page at www.facebook.com/CrittendenCoSchools.

If you would like to address the school board, please submit questions to the following email address by noon Tuesday crittenden.boe@crittenden.kyschools.us.