The center had halted its recycling of plastic for several weeks due to a pandemic issue that affected the repository where its recyclables are taken.
That matter has cleared up and recycles can now be dropped off for free at the center in on U.S. 60 West in Marion from 8am to 3:30pm weekdays and 8am to noon on Saturdays. The convenience center is located next to the county maintenance facility.
The Crittenden County Health Department has a limited amount of Moderna vaccine and is offering it to individuals age 70 and over who are on oxygen. The shots will be available while supplies last.
Call the health department (270) 965-5215 after 10am today to make your appointment.
Odd year sessions are limited to 30 days and the General Assembly must adjourn by March 30 as opposed to even year sessions that have 60 days with adjournment no later than April 15. The first week of an odd-year session is usually reserved for organizational work but because of these unsettled times bills were brought forth, voted on, and sent to the Governor for his action. A number of bills were passed during the week and I will address four (4) of them in this update.
The first bill passed by the House this session was House Bill 1 (HB-1). HB-1 is aimed at keeping businesses, schools, nonprofits, and other organizations safely open during the remainder of the pandemic that was brought to our shores by China. HB-1 provides clarity and reassurance for businesses, schools, parents, and nonprofits. It would allow any of these entities to remain open and operational if they follow a comprehensive operating plan detailing how they will adhere to safety guidelines established by either the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the executive branch, whichever is least restrictive. HB-1 also prevents the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) from restricting, modifying or suspending in-person non-custodial parental visitation for children in state care. Furthermore it requires the CHFS to establish guidelines for long-term care facilities that choose to allow in-person visits if it is deemed necessary to the residents’ health and mental well-being. I voted YES, HB-1 passed the House, and was sent to the Senate for its consideration where it also passed. It has been sent to the Governor for his action.
In the 2020 session the General Assembly passed a bill giving the Attorney General authority to regulate abortions, but the Governor vetoed the bill and there was no time for the legislature to override his veto. This year’s House Bill 2 (HB-2) does the same thing. It gives the Attorney General rather than the CHFS the authority to enforce the Commonwealth’s abortion laws and to seek both criminal
The military tank that’s been in front of the former Kentucky National Guard Armory for several years is getting ready to be gone.
The Department of the Army has already moved it off a concrete pad in front of the building to the east parking lot where it will soon be loaded onto a trailer and taken to an undeclared location.
The armory building was recently donated to the county. Plans are in the works to utilize the building in a variety of ways, including storage and a recreation center.
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As of this morning, two Crittenden County roads previously covered in backwater from nearby steams or creeks are open. Those now open are Cool Springs and Providence roads.
There were among three local roads covered by water late last week.
Only Enon Church Road remains under water.
Grab a copy of this week's Crittenden Press or view the full edition online when it's published on Wednesday.
We've got the scoop on this $7.2 million development that's coming to Marion.
Marion City Council will meet in special session on Thursday to formally approve the plan.
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Unfortunately, there was no new information shared today from area leaders or health officials about forthcoming availability of more vaccine.
School teachers, who originally expected to be among the first to receive the vaccine, are now likely to not to get it until February, according to a local school administrator.
Of the cases reported today, most were elderly, age 64 or older. One, however, was a teenager. None were hospitalized.
Over the seven-day period ending yesterday, there had been 50 positive cases in Crittenden County.
There have been 496 cases diagnosed here since the pandemic began, which is approaching six percent of the county’s population. There have also been six Crittenden County deaths reported as COVID related.
Motorists may have noticed the longer waits from the Bellville Street approach to Main Street since new blacktop was laid before the holidays. That construction project took out detectors woven into the pavement that tells the stop light when to change.
Keith Todd, spokesperson for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, said new radar-sensing detectors are being installed today and will be wired up, which should make for more timely color changes on the stop light.
“These radars detect when a vehicle pulls up to the light,” Todd said. “We’ve had some complaints lately about the wait times from Bellville Street.”
An average of 9,825 vehicles pass through that intersection each day.
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A vaccine clinic for residents age 70 and older last Wednesday at the county health department distributed about 100 doses in about an hour before supplies were exhausted. Almost 1,000 doses were distributed last week to individuals over 70 in the five-county Pennyrile District Health Department's area, including Livingston, Caldwell, Lyon and Trigg counties.
Most local first responders and healthcare workers, who have requested the vaccine, have received it. Based on the state's phased plan for rolling out the vaccine, particular sectors of the general public are next in line, including the elderly. However, a nationwide hiccup in the distribution process is creating availability issues.
Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom says he is meeting this morning with other community leaders from the region and may know something afterwards.
Stay tuned to The Press Online and the weekly newspaper for updates on the vaccine situation in Marion.
Crittenden County Property Valuation Administrator's office continues to recover from last week's flooding inside the courthouse.
PVA Ronnie Heady says his office has set up a temporary office site inside the county clerk's office where he and his staff are trying to help anyone in need of assistance.
You may also email the PVA at RonnieD.Heady@ky.gov with any requests for service.
The PVA's office, which is in the basement of the courthouse, was greatly affected by several inches of water that seeped into the basement during heavy rains over the New Year's holiday. A sump pump malfunction allowed the water to back up into offices and storage spaces downstairs.
At 23, he’s possibly the youngest fire chief ever to head Salem Fire Department. He takes over the reins from his father, Troy Newcomb, who had served as fire chief at Salem since 2017. Coincidentally, Troy Newcomb was in 1982 the county’s youngest fire chief ever, taking over at Grand Lakes Fire Department in Grand Rivers at the age of 18. He served there until 2011.
“I have ridden in a fire truck my whole life,” says Daniel, a 2015 graduate of Livingston County High School. He is also the Livingston County Emergency Management director and county animal control officer.
He explains that serving the community as a firefighter is a passion, and it’s getting tougher to find volunteers with the enthusiasm to serve.
Jerry Newcomb, Daniel’s late grandfather, was the first fire chief at Grand Rivers starting in 1969.
“People ask if it’s a hobby,” Newcomb said, “I tell them, no, it’s about helping people in the ...
For the rest of this article see the full edition of The Crittenden Press Jan. 7, 2020 issue.
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Fifteen new cases of COVID-19 were reported today. These diagnoses were made on Friday.
These cases bring the last seven-day total to 45, and the county total to 484 since the pandemic began.
None of the cases from Friday required hospitalization. Ages ranged from 13 to 72 with many young adults in the latest list.
Across Kentucky, cases are up, too.
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There were eight new cases of COVID-19 reported in Crittenden County today. None were hospitalized. These were cases confirmed yesterday.
There were 50 new cases reported here in the seven-day period from Jan. 1 to Jan. 7.
After returning to class earlier this week, a pandemic issue prompted the district to shutter the high school all this week and Monday.
In other school developments, trade school will resume after a lengthy hiatus. Students enrolled in trade school at Princeton will need to check their school district's social media sites or contact school advisors for a current schedule for next week.
Due to recent heavy rainfall and rising creeks, there are three Crittenden County roads that are under water and impassable by vehicle, according to the county road maintenance department
They are the following: