Congressman checks in on Marion's water issue

Rep. James Comer talks with WPSD-TV and
local leaders during his visit Thursday.

Congressman James Comer brought a glimmer of hope for Marion residents when he came to town Thursday afternoon to tour Lake George and to get further details about the community’s drinking water crisis. 

Lake George, Marion’s source of raw water which is treated at the nearby plant before being piped to customers, has been drained because of a fault in the levee. While Marion has another smaller source of raw water at Old City Lake, and an option to buy some of its drinking water from the county water district, the city must find a longterm solution for raw water.

Comer said he will personally assist Marion’s appeal to the Delta Regional Authority for funding to cover an initial engineering study to see which of more than one dozen options is most viable. That cost could reach around $1 million.

Marion City Administration Adam Ledford was among local leaders that met today with Comer. Ledford told the Republican congressman that Marion residents are looking for answers right now and the city needs financial help to develop a plan. 

Ledford said no matter what course of action is taken, a solution is years away. 

Meantime, the city has issued a conserve water order. 

Staring next month, Marion will not have any guarantees of assistance from the Crittenden-Livingston Water District as a backup water source. The county system typically uses all of its 2-million-gallons-per-day capacity to serve roughly 10,000 customers three counties during summer months. 

Marion has less than one month's supply of raw water on hand at Old City Lake. An unseasonably dry summer could create a more immediate crisis for the townspeople.

Until Marion comes up with a $1 million to develop a plan that will meet Division of Water standards, the ball is in Mother Nature's court.

Marion has multiple options on the table for a lon

Coming Soon to Fredonia

Crittenden Community Hospital is expanding its service area to Fredonia and is taking with it a familiar face in the medical community. Anticipated opening date for the hospital’s new clinic, Fredonia Family Care, is July 1. 

Beverly Jones, APRN, will see patients at Fredonia Family Care, and until the clinic is open, Jones is seeing patients at Marion’s Family Practice Clinic. 

Jones has worked in healthcare for 36 years, most recently in Fredonia under retired family physician Dr. Scott Graham.

Congressman Comer visiting Lake George

Lake George is almost empty.

U.S. Rep. James Comer is coming to Marion today to get a first-hand look at Lake George and to discuss the city’s drinking water crisis. 

The congressman will meet with local leaders at the courthouse at 2 p.m., then drive out to the lake, which is now virtually dry.

The lake was emptied recently due to a leak in the levee. It is a source of Marion’s raw water, which is treated at the nearby plant and distributed as potable water to customers.

Work Zone Caution Advised near Princeton

A contractor will begin the installation of a new turn lane Tuesday, May 31 for the Caldwell County Primary School in Caldwell County on KY 91. This work area is between the high school and parkway. 

The project is expected to be complete in October.

Motorists are encouraged to reduce their speed and be aware of the work zone.

Keller vying for Mountain Laurel crown

Salem's Kate Keller, a freshman at Kentucky Wesleyan College, has been chosen to compete in the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival Pageant this weekend in Pineville.

Each May since 1931, colleges and universities from Kentucky select one representative to participate in the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival which is held Memorial Day weekend. The winner gets a $5,000 scholarship. 

During the coronation ceremony, each candidate is expected to perform an original, elaborate 15-second curtsey to the current Kentucky governor, who later crowns the queen.

Keller is a Crittenden County High School graduate and a distance runner on her college track team.

Limit lowered on bridge on 654 near Mattoon

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has reduced the load limit on a bridge along KY 654 in Crittenden County.

The bridge is one-tenth of a mile southeast of Mattoon new the River Region office. It is now restricted to a 13-ton maximum load limit. The bridge crosses Mattoon Creek.

The restricted load limit came after an inspection of the bridge found deterioration of the bridge substructure.

Truckers and farmers are asked to take note of this 13-ton load limit and avoid crossing the restricted structure with loads that exceed that limit.  The load limit is posted on signage at each end of the bridge.

KYTC District 1 engineers will evaluate the bridge to determine if it can be repaired or should be replaced.

All Kentucky bridges get a detailed safety inspection every two years with long-span river and lake bridges getting an extra walk-through safety check annually.  Bridges that have reduced load limits posted are also subject to more frequent inspections.

Livingston among randomly chosen for election audit

Livingston is one of the Kentucky counties selected randomly for a post-primary election audit, according to Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

Consistent with state law, 12 randomly-selected Kentucky counties will undergo a 2022 post-primary audit. The audits will be conducted by the Attorney General’s Department of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nicholas, Monroe, Graves, Metcalfe, Jackson, Hopkins, Pendleton, Boyd, Madison, Powell, Rockcastle, and Grayson Counties to determine if any irregularities took place during the 2022 primary election.  

“Post-election audits are an important part of our efforts to protect the integrity of Kentucky’s elections and to ensure our elections remain free and fair,” said Attorney General Cameron.  “Our Department of Criminal Investigations works closely with county clerks and their staff to conduct the audit in each county, and we appreciate their partnership in this process.”

During the 2022 legislative session, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 216, which amended KRS 15.243 to expand the Attorney General's independent inquiry of potential election irregularities from not fewer than five percent of Kentucky counties to not fewer than 12 counties.  Today, these twelve counties were randomly selected in a public forum within twenty days of the 2022 primary election, as the statute requires.

State law prohibits counties from being audited in two consecutive elections.  Counties audited following the 2020 General Election were not eligible for today's drawing and include: Fleming, Hickman, Lawrence, Livingston, Anderson, and Boone. The post-election audits conducted by DCI in each of these counties did not uncover any criminal conduct. 

After completing independent investigations in each of the 12 counties drawn today, DCI and the Attorney General’s Office of Special Prosecutions will present their findings to the grand jury and chief circuit judge of each audited county.  

Today’s public drawing was live-streamed and can be viewed on the Attorney General’s YouTube Channel. 

The Attorney General’s office monitors potential election law violations throughout the year through the Election Fraud Hotline. Hotline complaints related to the May 2022 primary election can be viewed by visiting ag.ky.gov/Election-Hotline-Updates. If you suspect election fraud, report the incident to the hotline by calling 1-800-328-VOTE.

Downed tree causes power outage

A line of thunderstorms that moved through the area Saturday afternoon downeda tree on Main Street near the Dollar Store on the south end of town. 

A power line was damaged.

Kentucky Utilities was at the scene. 

KU's website indicates that the power line problem in Marion is one of six issues it's working on right now due to the storm. About 1,000 KU customers in the area are without power and that the outages could last until about 7:30pm.

Golf, swim, dine at Marion Golf & Pool

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If you love to swim, love the sun, love to golf or want to learn how to play golf, look no farther than Marion Golf & Pool.

Reduced rates are available for new members. Pool-only and full memberships are available.

Mulligans Bar and Restaurant are located on site, open for dine in or carry out.

Live music and dancing are offered each Saturday and Extreme Bingo each Thursday.

There's so much fun to be had at Marion Golf & Pool. Call and join today!

Hadlee Rich Softball Signing Day with SIC

More in next week's full edition of The Crittenden Press

Job Corps Academy has hiring event

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Looking for a new job? Attend a hiring event May 24-25 for the Earle C. Clements Job Corps Academy in Morganfield.

The employment event will be held at the Union County Extension Office.

Sign-on bonuses are offered for most positions.

Job seekers will be assisted with the online application process.

Swim team informational meeting Sunday

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Get information at Marion Stingrays Swim Team during an informational meeting Sunday.

The meeting will be held at 2 p.m., at Marion Golf & Pool, located on Blackburn Street off U.S. 60 West.

If you cannot attend Sunday, swim assessments and registration will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, June 2.

Kite Flying Contest Saturday

A Kite Flying Contest will be held Saturday at Marion-Crittenden County Airport.

Free kites will be provided to the first 20 participants.

The event begins at 8 a.m., and is designed for youth ages 7-17. 

There will are prizes offered.

Livingston County Election Results

Here are results from Livingston County’s  primary election. All races were among Republicans.

Judge-Executive

Garrett Gruber* 710

Michael Williams 698

Sheriff 

Bobby Davidson* 1,116

Joey Crawford 283

Jailer

James Utley 422

Benji Guill* 931

Coroner

Amanda Nelson 409

Jeff Armstrong* 950

Magistrate District 1

Dennis Jones* 34

Brent Stringer 50

Bill Lipham 104

Cody Cherry 42

Joe Ledbetter 37

Magistrate District 2

James Robert Oats 46

Mark Long 173

Franklin Walker* 142

Magistrate District 3

Brad Hunter* 238

Kristine Quertermous 90

Magistrate District 4

Amber Armstrong 118

Klay Southern* 172

Zackery T. Champion 135

District Judge

(nonpartisan)

Brandon Knoth 1,087

Matt Schalk 296

Jennifer Nelson 504

* Incumbent

ELECTION TOTALS From Tuesday's Primary

Find More Details in the May 19, 2022 edition of The Crittenden Press 

Some sights from the courthouse Tuesday as results from
the county's primary election were read by Judge Newcom

FINAL TOTALS FROM TUESDAY, MAY 17 PRIMARY ELECTION 

CRITTENDEN COUNTY, KY

United States Senator - Republican

Arnold Blankenship 57

Dr. Valerie Fredrick 49

Paul V. Hamilton  46

Rand Paul  1,464

John Schiess  18

Tami L. Stainfield 40

State House of Representatives Dist. 12 - Republican

Lynn Bechler 1,198

Jim Gooch Jr. 489

Crittenden County PVA - Republican

Todd Perryman 952

Jason Champion   194

Misty Dalton Hicks 596

Crittenden County Clerk - Republican

Daryl K. Tabor 1,024

Ashley Guess Smith  222

Belinda Williams  492

Crittenden County Sheriff - Republican

George Foster 71

Ray Agent  416

Evan Head  570

Heath Martin 310

Chuck Hoover 387

Crittenden County Jailer - Republican

Athena Perry-Hayes 1,130

Tony Harper 262

Michael A. Puckett 262

Crittenden County Magistrate District 2 - Republican

Daniel Kemper 102

Matt Watson 94

Matt Grimes 184

Crittenden County Constable District 2 - Republican

Jamie Davis 156

Jimbo Dalton 183

Crittenden County Magistrate District 3 - Republican

Willard Guill 119

Robert Kirby 142

Crittenden County Magistrate District 5 - Republican

Dale Willingham 97

Greg Rushing 108

Travis Perryman 146

Crittenden County Magistrate District 6 - Republican

Van Hunt 80

Jeff James 30

Scott L. Belt 110

Bob Rowley 76

United States Senator - Democrat

Joshua W. Blanton Sr. 64

Charles Booker 200

Ruth Gao 29

John Merrill 47 

Tonight's Election Returns Live from courthouse

Follow election returns LIVE at either of these links below by The Crittenden Press

Presented by H&H Home and Hardware of Marion

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PVA closed at noon today

 Crittenden County's PVA office closed at noon today due to the election.

Live Coverage from Tonight's Election Results

The Crittenden Press team will be covering tonight’s election returns from the Crittenden County Courthouse beginning shortly after polls close at 6pm.

We are planning live coverage on our electronic platforms, including YouTube and Facebook, as well as followup coverage on our website and in this week’s full edition of The Crittenden Press. Tonight’s election coverage is presented by H&H Home and Hardware in Marion.

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel below to be notified when we go live. It's free!

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School district seeking bus drivers

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Bus drivers are needed in the Crittenden County School District.

Hourly wages vary from $15.65-$23.47 based on experience.

Apply today at www.crittenden.kyschools.us.

Red wolf pups born in LBL

An unexpected litter of critically endangered American red wolves were born April 22 at the Woodlands Nature Station in Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. Once prevalent throughout the southern United States, red wolves are now the most endangered canine in the world and are only found in captivity and eastern North Carolina. 

The Woodlands Nature Station is home to the only captive breeding pair in Kentucky and has been involved with the Red Wolf Recovery Program since 1991.

Jasper, the 75-pound male, defied the odds as he was widely considered too old to successfully breed at 13 years of age. However, Jasper’s genes are considered the seventh most valuable of all male red wolves alive, making this litter an especially welcome surprise for red wolf recovery efforts. Ember, the four-year-old female and first-time mother, gave birth to five pups: three males and two females. One male did not survive. The remaining four pups, dubbed the “Fantastic Four” by the Nature Station