Ohio River Ferry Authority meets tonight

The Ohio River Ferry Authority will meet at 6pm tonight at the Crittenden County Courthouse.

The ferry authority is the local governing body overseeing operation of the Cave In Rock Ferry.

Hurricane Camp Meeting begins Monday

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Hurricane Camp Meeting returns to the rural landscape near Tolu next week.

The 134th annual non-denominational church meeting is held in an outdoor tabernacle and coincides with a youth camp that attracts nearly 100 kids for one week each summer.

Bro. Steve Stone will preach nightly. Musical guests will include The Stone Family, Classy & Grassy and Benny Hinchee.

Meals are served nightly in the dining room, and everyone loves a scoop of old fashion ice cream the canteen following church service.

Family Night for campers is Thursday.

Hogrock this week at Cave In Rock

Hogrock, the adult-only event held annually in Cave In Rock, Ill., is set for this week, June 9-12. 

Travelers headed to the four-day party in southern Illinois will be moving through Crittenden County and crossing the ferry this week.

Typically, long lines build at he ferry landing as folks head toward the event.

Rocket Youth Football Camp in June

Rocket Youth Football Camp will be June 20-22 on the high school campus. 

The camp is for youngsters age 5-15. Cost is $30 and there is a discount for families with multiple children. 

Camp is from 9-11:30 a.m., daily with lunch served afterwards. Registration will be held on the first day of camp starting at 8:30 a.m. 

Each camper will receive instruction in all facets of football from the Crittenden County High School coaching staff and current CCHS players. Campers will also receive a T-shirt. There will be flag football games at the end of workouts each day. 

Deadline for mayor, city council is Tuesday

Days away from the filing deadline for non-partisan races in the November general election, a handful of candidates have signed up to run for Marion mayor and city council.

Three are seeking to become the town's new mayor and eight individuals have filed to run for city council. Six will be elected to the council.

Filing deadline is this week at 4pm on Tuesday, June 7.

Registered to run for mayor are current city council members Phyllis Sykes, a former teacher, and Donnie Arflack, a former healthcare worker and longtime rescue squad chief. Austin Valentine, an instructor at the Earl C. Clements Job Corps, has also filed.

Two incumbents have filed to seek re-election on the council. They are Mike Byford and Dwight Sherer. The rest are Taylor Davis, Troy McGahan, Marty Wallace, Bobby Belt and Thom Hawthorne and his sister Tracy Cook.

Bridge width restriction at Smithland

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans to place a daytime lane and load width restriction on the U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge at Smithland starting Tuesday, June 7.

This lane and 8-foot maximum load width restriction is to allow a detailed inspection of the bridge structure. The restriction is expected to be in place Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m., to about 3 p.m., each day.

Motorists should be prepared to encounter one-lane traffic with alternating flow controlled by flaggers.  Appropriate caution is required where equipment, flaggers and inspection personnel are working along the bridge is close proximity to traffic flow.

The width restriction is required due to the use of a UBIV- Under Bridge Inspection Vehicle placed on the bridge deck to allow inspectors to reach all elements of the bridge structure.  Some minor delays are possible during the movement and placement of equipment to facilitate the inspection.

All Kentucky bridges get a detailed inspection every two years, with long-span lake and river bridges getting an extra walk-through inspection annually.  The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is responsible for inspecting all bridges on public roadways in the Commonwealth.

Teenager hit by car on Main Street

A 13-year-old pedestrian was hit by a motorist on Main Street near C-Plant Federal Credit Union around 5:30 p.m., today. The boy was LifeFlighted to a nearby trauma center but did not appear to have life-threatening injuries.

Armory fire today to burn up debris

Crittenden County crews will be conducting a controlled burn today on property behind the former National Guard Armory.

Plans are to burn natural debris piled up following its removal from the old Grady Field area. 

Work is being done to reclaim the land behind the armory for some type of recreational use.

This Week's Press goes deep into the water issue

In this week's Crittenden Press full edition is our most comprehensive coverage yet of Marion's drinking water issue, which is potentially just a few dry days from becoming a real crisis. Read the whole story in your community newspaper. On sale now at local newsstands and vendors across Marion, Fredonia and Salem.

Also in this week's newspaper you can read about who's running for mayor, city council and school board. 

Our annual Graduation Section is also included in this week's full edition. 

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. Try out new e-Edition newspaper emailed straight to your inbox every Wednesday. Click here to subscribe.

Copyright 2022

The Crittenden Press

Governor puts brakes on 2-cent fuel hike

Today, Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration filed an emergency regulation to freeze the state gas tax and to prevent a 2-cent increase per gallon that would have taken effect July 1.

“Kentuckians cannot afford to pay more, and I am committed to doing everything I can to help keep more dollars in people’s pockets,” said Gov. Beshear. “This law was never intended to hurt Kentuckians during tough times, but with rising prices and inflation, this increase would have a negative impact on our families and it is time to take action.”

The state gas tax is set by statute, both in its rate and how it is calculated. The current rate of 26 cents was set to increase under a trigger, resulting in a price hike on both regular and diesel fuel. The Governor has looked for ways to relieve the financial burden on Kentuckians and asked the Department of Revenue to file this emergency regulation.

The funds collected through the state gas tax contribute to the Road Fund, which year to date is up 2.3%.

Farmers hosts Shred Day Saturday

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Avoid identity theft by shredding personal documents.

Farmers Bank & Trust in Marion wants to help you alleviate the risk of having your identity stolen by offering a free shred day event on Saturday, June 4.

Get rid of unwanted documents safely and at no cost.

Between 9 a.m.-noon, Farmers Bank will host Shred Day on West Carlisle Street between the main bank location on Main Street and the Crittenden County Courthouse.

Summer Food Program for Children

Courtesy of Crittenden County School District, free summer meals are available to anyone under 18 years old. Meals will be provided each Monday in June, starting on June 6. 

The packages will include five breakfasts and five lunches. 

Pickup points are behind Crittenden County Elementary School from 10:30 a.m., to noon; Farmers Market 10:30 to 10:50 a.m., Shady Grove Fire Department 11:20 to 11:40 a.m., Williams’ Mobile Home Park 10:30 to 10:50 a.m., Mattoon Fire Department 11:20 to 11:40 a.m., Tolu Fire Department 10:30 a.m., to 10:50 a.m., and Caldwell Springs Fire Department 11:20 to 11:40 a.m., each Monday in June.

Marion Golf & Pool hosting Summer Slam Saturday

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Swimming, corn hole and live music are on tap art Marion Golf & Pool Saturday during Summer Slam. 

The pool will be open to the public from 2:30-9:30 p.m., and 

live music begins at 3 p.m. Enjoy fun with friends and a meal at Mulligans Bar and Restaurant.

Stay for a spectacular fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.

Membership specials for the nine-hole golf course and pool are available. Ask about discounts.

Choose Fohs Hall for your next event

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Once a school, historic Fohs Hall is an ideal location for your next event.

Available as a rental for parties, weddings, receptions and concerts, the building recently received a sound and light upgrade that further 
improved its value as a cultural arts center.

Next week Fohs Hall will host a children's production featuring 
local youth.

Visit the new Fohs Hall website, fohshall.org. 

Bus drivers sought in Crittenden County Schools

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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.

FAWNING SEASON: What to do and don't

A brand new fawn crossed the road this
morning in Crittenden County.

As more people venture outdoors with the onset of warmer weather, encounters with newborn animals are likely to occur. Though young wildlife may seem vulnerable, the mother is likely nearby.

This is why the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources recommends leaving young animals undisturbed.

"This time of year, anyone spending time outdoors has the chance of accidentally stumbling upon baby animals," said Ben Robinson, assistant director of the department's Wildlife Division. "The parents will often leave their young unattended, but they usually aren't too far away."

Late spring, the peak of deer fawning season, also brings an influx of calls to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife from well-intentioned people concerned about seemingly abandoned young wildlife.

"The best thing to do is leave them alone, even if they look abandoned. Chances are, they're just fine," Robinson said. "The mother will be watching and listening from a distance."

Deer fawns are carefully groomed by their mothers to minimize their scent and therefore reduce vulnerability to predators. They survive by spending much of their time motionless and bedded down

Summer Meals for Crittenden Kids

Courtesy of Crittenden County School District, free summer meals are available to anyone under 18 years old. 

Meals will be provided each Monday in June, starting on June 6. 

The packages will include five breakfasts and five lunches. 

Pickup points are behind Crittenden County Elementary School from 10:30 a.m., to noon; Farmers Market 10:30 to 10:50 a.m., Shady Grove Fire Department 11:20 to 11:40 a.m., Williams’ Mobile Home Park 10:30 to 10:50 a.m., Mattoon Fire Department 11:20 to 11:40 a.m., Tolu Fire Department 10:30 a.m., to 10:50 a.m., and Caldwell Springs Fire Departmetn 11:20 to 11:40 a.m., each Monday in June.

Ask about First United line of credit

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Have you considered a home equity line of credit? 

Talk to Charlie Day at First United Bank in Marion to determine whether you qualify.

A home equity line of credit can help you finance 

major expenses such as home improvement, medical expenses or college tuition fees. 

Charlie Day can put First United Bank to work for you.

Memorial Ceremony: Blackford Veterans Walk of Honor

Class of 2022 conferred diplomas Friday

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Diplomas were conferred Friday night to Crittenden County High School's Class of 2022.

A near capacity crowd at Rocket Arena watched commencement for nearly 80 graduates. 

Eleven valedictorians spoke as did Principal Dr. Melissa Quertermous and Superintendent Vince Clark. 

See The Crittenden Press's comprehensive coverage of the Class of 2022's graduation ceremonies in next week's full edition. 

Pictured are graduates enjoying the customary "cap toss" at the end of Friday's ceremony.