This will be another remote learning day, with typically in-person learners working remotely, and virtual learners continuing work on Pathblazer and Edgenuity platforms.
Cold temperatures will set in over the weekend, and that's why Crittenden County Emergency Management is planning to have the courthouse open as a warming shelter Friday and Saturday nights.
Th crash pictured here happened on U.S. 62 between Eddyville and Princeton about 1:30pm this afternoon.
Caldwell County Sheriff Stan Hudson investigated the crash where a 2006 Chevrolet pickup operated by Jennis Shelton, 25 of Eddyville left the ice-covered road and overturned several times. The driver refused treatment.
I-24 in Livingston County reopened early this afternoon after crashes had halted traffic part of the day. Other crashes between the Kentucky-Tennessee State Line and Paducah have caused traffic delays since early morning on I-24.
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Large sections of I-24 are still blocked heading into Thursday afternoon by the biggest ice storm in a decade in western Kentucky, according to the West Kentucky Star.
More overnight freezing rain and sleet Thursday morning made I-24 impassable from Livingston County to the Tennessee state line .
From Fort Campbell to Lyon County, hundreds of vehicles were .... for the remainder of this article, go to the West Kentucky Star website.
Gov. Andy Beshear has issued a State of Emergency as a dangerous winter storm blanketed much of the commonwealth in a wintry mix of snow and ice amid plunging temperatures. The State of Emergency directs the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (KYEM) and the Department of Military Affairs to execute the Kentucky Emergency Operations Plan and coordinate the response across state agencies and private relief groups.
It also directs the Finance and Administration Cabinet to provide funding for the response and authorizes the Division of Emergency Management to request additional resources.
As of about 10 a.m., Kentucky Emergency Management reported about 70,500 Kentucky customers with power outages.
Locally, Kenergy is reporting an outage in the northeast portion of Crittenden County and into Webster County, affecting about 270 customers. Kentucky Utilities has no local outages at this point; however, there are a number of customers in the Louisville and Lexington area without power. The closest KU power outage is in Central City where only five customers are without electricity.
Thursday will be another NTI Day for students, with in-person learners connecting remotely with teachers, and virtual learners continuing their Pathblazer and Edgneuity work.
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Information gathered from this speed test will help local and state leaders determine whether funding should be appropriated to improve internet speeds in Marion, Crittenden County and beyond in rural Kentucky.
You should take this test with whatever device you typically use to access the internet, email or online apps. Data will be compiled across Kentucky to determine whether adequate speeds and internet availability exists in your area.
Deadline to take this test in Monday. Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom is encouraging everyone who uses the internet to take few moments to complete the online test survey.
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Local authorities say roadways are hazardous due to the overnight icing.
The sheriff's has crashed his cruiser this morning on U.S. 60 and Police Chief Ray O'Neal says Marion streets are "as slick as I have ever seen."
O'Neal is urging everyone to stay put unless it's an emergency.
"We already have 10 vehicles off the roads," O'Neal said shortly before 6:30 a.m.
Marion City Hall has also announced it will be closed today.
Wednesday will be a remote learning day for students.
In-person learners will connect with their teachers via Google classroom or other means as instructed by their teachers, and virtual learners will continue their work on Pathblazer and Edgenuity.
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Precipitation is expected to begin tonight and last through Thursday. Western Kentucky could see up to one-half inch of ice. There is a 70-80% chance for at least a quarter inch of ice accumulation during winter storm event.
A specialist with the National Weather Service (NWS) says the storm is projected to be similar to the ice storm of 2009. But we should not see near the amounts that we saw in 2009,” Pat Spoden of the NWS.
Temperatures could break records this weekend with predictions of cold weather around zero.
Pictured is the NWS map showing when precipitation is expected to begin tonight and early tomorrow.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) highway snowfighters have been pretreating roadways today across the region.
“This is forecast to be the kind of severe winter weather that presents us with multiple challenges – a prolonged storm with freezing rain, bringing a buildup of ice that not only makes for slick roads but also can bring down tree limbs and power lines,” Transportation Secretary Jim Gray said. “The ice will be followed by snow and possibly single-digit temperatures.”
Weather forecasts call for a mix of rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow beginning tonight, moving west to east. There could be 1 to 3 inches of snow in some places. Motorists are encouraged to exercise extreme caution as this winter weather reaches the area.
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Crittenden County reported seven new cases of COVID-19 over the past weekend, bringing its seven-day total to 24 for the week of Feb. 1-7.
There have been 20 deaths and 577 cases of the coronavirus diagnosed in Crittenden County since the pandemic began last spring.
Crittenden County’s mortality rate from COVID-related issues is higher than of any of its neighboring counties. See this week’s full edition of The Crittenden Press for details.
The motive is to put a stop to so-called "jake braking" or engine braking in the city limits.
See this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press for details to this developing story and other issues brought before the city council Monday.
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