Almost a dozen new cases reported here

There were 11 new positive cases of COVID-19 reported today in Crittenden County, bringing its seven-day total to 42 confirmed diagnoses since the beginning of the year.

There was one 26-year-old female in today's positives. Otherwise, all were 42 or older. None were hospitalized.

Gov. Andy Beshear announced nearly 5,000 new COVID-19 cases in the commonwealth’s second-highest daily report – yesterday’s report was the highest-ever – and the state’s highest positivity rate since May 5.

The Governor has announced 10,653 cases in just two days.

Cash to sell Livingston property

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Just over 250 acres on Cave Springs Road near Salem will be sold Jan. 16 by James R. Cash, Auctioneer & Real Estate Broker.

The property is divided into five tracts, the smallest being 15.21 acres and the largest 171.73 acres.

The property is productive farmland, nearly all tillable ground. It has paved road frontage with a nice home settings and good hunting.

For more information, contact James R. Cash, (270) 623-8466.

COVID updates will be less frequent

For the foreseeable future, data on new COVID-19 cases in Crittenden County will not be available daily as it typically has been since the pandemic began.

Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom said local healthcare systems and health departments area concentrating their efforts on getting vaccine distributed. Therefore, data gathering will take a back seat for a time. 

So, updates on this website of new, local COVID-19 cases will be less frequent in the coming days. 

Fitness Anytime has January special

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Are you ready for a new gym membership? Fitness Anytime in Marion offers 24/7 access to weight and cardio equipment, including a separate area for women only. Tanning is also available.

Watch one of a dozen TVs while you work out and shower 

before you leave so you're ready for your next event.

Through Jan. 31, Fitness Anytime will give you one month

free if you pay for six months, and get two months free if 

you pay for a year membership.

Call today to enroll.

Area health departments run out of vaccine

Crittenden and other area health departments, which began administering vaccine today to residents age 70 and older, have depleted all available supplies, according to the Pennyrile District Health Department.

The Pennyrile district said on its social media site today that “Caldwell, Crittenden, and Lyon vaccine clinics are full. COVID vaccine clinics scheduled for tomorrow will be cancelled for those counties. We will announce through media and Facebook when we receive more vaccine from the state. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

In Crittenden County, a line of vehicles began forming this morning almost two hours before the clinic opened at 9am. All of the available vaccine was administered within about an hour. There were 100 doses available to residents here today.

The local health department had planned to offer vaccinations on Thursday of this week and Monday through Thursday next week. However, district health officials now say it's unclear when more vaccine will be available here.

Stay tuned to The Press Online for further details as they become available.

Line long and vaccine in short supply today

The line was long and supplies limited today as residents age 70 and above were given an opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at the Crittenden County Health Department.

The line started forming at 7:30 a.m., and the doors opened at 9 a.m. By that point, more than 60 vehicles were lined up through the parking lot and onto nearby Industrial Drive.

Officials say there were 100 doses available today and it’s unclear if more will become available so that the local health department can continue offering it as scheduled the rest of this week and next.

Stay tuned to The Press Online for details as they become available. 

Coronavirus is still raging in county

A line was already forming early this morning
at the health department, where those 70 and
older can get a free vaccine starting at 9am.

There were 31 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Crittenden County between Jan. 1 and Jan. 5, including four on Tuesday. 

Among those was a 49-year-old female who was hospitalized. 

Otherwise, all of the recently diagnosed individuals are recovering at home. 

In the seven-day period from Dec. 30 to Jan. 5, there were 50 new cases here.

Tuesday evening after just one day of in-person classes following the holiday break, Crittenden County High School announced it would be on a virtual learning plan the rest of the week due to staff quarantines. The middle and elementary schools are still having conventional classes.

Dr. Fairbanks joins Family Practice

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Dr. David Fairbanks has joined the staff of Family Practice Clinic in Marion.

He joins providers Dr. Jonathan Maddux and nurse practitioners Lee Anna Boone, Marcie Ellington and Jennifer Brown.

He will begin seeing patients on Jan. 7. 

Fairbanks has 25 years experience in family medicine and emergency room services.

Dr. Greg Maddux and Dr. Gary James and who started Family Practice Clinic in the early 1980s retired in 2019 and 2020, respectively.

High school virtual remainder of week

Due to a COVID-19 exposure resulting in some staff quarantines, Crittenden County High School students will learn remotely for the remainder of this week. 

Students enrolled as in-person learners will engage with their teachers through Google classroom and other online platforms to complete work for this week. Virtual learners will continue as usual. 

Elementary and middle school students will continue to hold in-person instruction.

City Council Sworn Monday Night

 

Marion City Council members were re-sworn to office on Monday.
All of the council members elected in the 2020 November general election had previously served. 
Pictured swearing them in is city clerk Pam Enoch. Council members are (from left) Darin Tabor, Phyllis Sykes, Dwight Sherer, Donnie Arflack, D'Anna Browning and Mike Byford.

How to watch tonight's basketball games

 Here's how to watch tonight's season-opening basketball games

Lady Rockets at Lyon County

Watch on YouTube

Lyon County boys at Crittenden County

Watch on NFHS Network (subscription required)

Flooding keeps PVA office closed

 Due to a flooding issue in the basement of the Crittenden County Courthouse, the Property Valuation Administrator's office will be closed all week.

Local vaccine for age 70-plus residents

With most healthcare and first responders in the area vaccinated, local health officials are turning toward the elderly to offer vaccination for COVID-19.

Pennyrile District Heath Department, which includes Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston, Lyon and Trigg counties, will begin vaccinating residents age 70 and over starting Wednesday, Jan. 6 and continuing through Thursday, Jan. 14.

There will be no charge for this vaccination. 

“Assessment of our community healthcare workers and healthcare first responders suggest most of them have had an opportunity to be vaccinated,” said Elisha Kite, public health director for the Pennyrile area. “We will continue to offer vaccination to healthcare and first responders through all phases.”

Local health departments, including the one in Marion off Industrial Drive, will be offering Moderna vaccine starting tomorrow and on the following schedule on a first-come, first-serve basis.

“We do not know when we will receive vaccine allotments each week,” Kite said. “This makes longer range planning difficult.”

Kite also said shots at each site are subject to staffing and vaccine supplies.

YOUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS

VACCINATION SCHEDULE

(There will be no vaccinations during lunch periods between noon and 12:30)

Wednesday, Jan. 6 9am-4pm at Caldwell, Crittenden, Lyon, and Livingston

Thursday, Jan. 7 9am-4pm at Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston, Lyon, Trigg

Friday   No COVID Vaccinations

Monday, Jan. 11 9am-4pm at Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston, Lyon, Trigg

Tuesday, Jan. 12 9am-4pm at Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston, Lyon, Trigg

Wednesday, Jan, 13 9am-4pm at Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston, Lyon, Trigg

Thursday, Jan. 14 9am-4pm at Caldwell, Crittenden, Livingston, Lyon, Trigg

Friday No COVID Vaccinations

 

COVID cases spike to start New Year

Crittenden County reported 38 new cases of COVID-19 over the extended holiday weekend.

All of those individuals were reportedly recovering at home.

A number of the local cases in late 2020 and early 2021 have been attributed to the local longterm-care nursing facility.

Crittenden County has seen 446 cases of the virus diagnosed here since the pandemic began, which equals more than five percent of the county’s population. 

These most recent confirmed diagnoses are from Dec. 31 through Jan. 4. There have been 62 cases reported here in the seven-day period from Dec. 29 through Jan. 4.

School district welcomes students back Tuesday

Crittenden County School District will welcome in-person students back to class on Tuesday. It issued the following statement today for those returning to in-person learning. There will still be a number of students who opt to learn virtually. 

As we prepare to welcome our in person learners back to our buildings tomorrow, Tuesday, Jan. 5, we want to remind everyone that in doing so, we will be following the state's #HealthyAtSchool guidelines. These include social distancing, masking except while eating and drinking, checking temperatures and monitoring symptoms, and continuing to maintain sanitation and good hygiene practices. All in person learners should bring their Chromebooks and chargers back to school. Our virtual learners will resume their lessons on Tuesday, as well. Please continue to stay vigilant at home, so we can work together as a community to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 and keep our staff, students, and families healthy and safe. Thank you.  

PVA office closed for flood repairs

Crittenden County Property Valuation office at the courthouse is closed today.

The courthouse basement flooded over the New Year’s holiday and a professional cleanup crew is working to get the PVA office ready to open. 

The PVA office is in the basement. Most courthouse offices are on the second floor.

PVA Ronnie Heady said phone lines are also not working today. 

Courthouse basement floods over holiday

A sump pump apparently malfunctioned at the Crittenden County Courthouse over the New Year's holiday, leaving about a half inch of standing water in the basement.

According to County Clerk Daryl Tabor, a few records suffered water damage, but nothing vital. No equipment was apparently damaged.

Pictured are county treasurer Yvette Martin and husband, police officer Heath Martin, helping to clean up the mess.

School to resume Jan. 5 in person, virtually

The Crittenden County School District has released its Rocket Relaunch plan for a return to classes Jan. 5. All students attending in-person and virtually will resume instruction the first Tuesday of 2021.

The most noticeable difference for students and staff will be the requirement to wear masks at all times unless eating or social distancing outside. During the fall semester, students were allowed to remove masks if seated 6 feet apart inside classrooms. Many of the same Healthy At School guidelines remain in place, including wearing masks on buses.

The following link for the full Rocket Relaunch plan is being shared by the school district. 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-LMiVKrQMvFButYmMIhspvowmQ_gQPXMwDnB1BvQDts/edit?usp=sharing

Ferry closing this afternoon due to high winds

Cave In Rock Ferry has temporarily ceased operations today due to high winds that are causing potentially hazardous conditions for the Ohio River crossing.

The ferry closed at 3pm.

Based on the weather forecast, winds are expected to remain high and out of the southwest into the evening hours.  That will likely keep the ferry out of service for several hours.

 

The Cave-in-Rock Ferry will attempt toprovide timely notice when the wind speed drops sufficiently to allow service to resume.  If the ferry is unable to resume service tonight, the ferry plans to be back in service on the regular schedule at 6 a.m., Saturday.

Local 'snowfighter" featured by KYTC

A Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) District 1 equipment operator is among about two dozen snow plow operators featured in a statewide campaign to help the public prepare for winter weather.

Steve Underdown, a member of the Crittenden County Highway Maintenance Crew, is among “snowfighters” who share winter driving tips for the 2020-2021 snow and ice season in a series of Facebook graphics published by the transportation cabinet.

Among other things, Underdown advises motorists to stay off of cell phones – both for talking and texting – while driving, especially during snow and ice events.

“Driving on snow and ice is tough enough without distractions created by a cell phone,” he said.

Beyond the abbreviated social media graphic, the 13-year veteran snowfighter has some additional tips based on his observations while behind the wheel of a snow plow.

“My first suggestion is that if you don’t have to be out in the snow, don’t go,” Underdown said.  “Give plow drivers a break. We’re out there doing our part working to make highways safer for you and your family.  Our trucks are big. We need space to see what we’re doing to get the roads cleared.”

Less traffic on the road means plows can clear highways more quickly and efficiently.  Underdown also wants the community to remember that snow plows and other large trucks can’t stop on a dime.

“We’re subject to some of the same slick conditions as passenger vehicles. If you veer over the center line when you meet a snow plow, it’s difficult for us to move over because of the size of our trucks,” Underdown said. “Don’t drive like you’re on dry pavement. Drive slower and give yourself extra