Election board investigates complaint

 Crittenden County Board of Elections has investigated a complaint filed this morning against a local candidate, but no infraction was found.

Election officials were notified that Don Young, the Democratic candidate for sheriff, was in the parking lot of Deer Creek Church doing excavation work that was reportedly contracted recently to his construction business. Deer Creek Church is an official polling place.

Members of the local election board, county clerk and sheriff have investigated the complaint.

In Kentucky, electioneering is prohibited within 100 feet from a polling place. Officials measured the distance Young and another crew member and their equipment were from the front door of the polling place. It measured about 140 feet. The equipment did not have the candidate's name on it.

Young is running against Republican candidate Evan Head, who lives not too far from Deer Creek Church.

Donna Girten, chairman of the Crittenden County Republican Party, said that a formal complaint was also filed with the Kentucky Attorney General’s Voter Fraud and Integrity Hotline. While Girten concedes that the candidate is outside of the 100-foot distance required by law, she says it’s a questionable situation.

“He may very well be within the range of legalities, but that doesn’t make it right or ethical,” Girten said.

While You're Out Voting Today... Stop by Candy's for a meal

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Old City Lake rises amid recent rains

Marion's Old City Lake has risen about six inches in the past week or so thanks to recent rainfall.

"It's kind of weird," said City Water Plant Manager Jeff Black, who points out that last weekend's precipitation totaled about one-half inch in the gauge outside of the treatment plant. He said it didn't seem to rain that much, but runoff from the lake's nearly-2,000-acre watershed helped fill it up.

Old City Lake, where Marion is getting almost all of its raw water these days, has risen to near the top of the dam. 

"It's almost spilling over," Black said.

When the old lake spills over the dam, it's great news for Marion residents. That means there is ample supply of raw water in the system.

Right now, Marion is getting about two-thirds of its daily drinking water from Crittenden-Livingston Water District. The city is making the rest at its plant, which is only running a few days a week.

Crittenden PVA office closing at noon today

 Crittenden County's PVA office will be closing at noon today, Tuesday, No. 8.

Polls are open 12 hours today

ELECTION DAY - Polls are open 6am to 6pm

POLLING LOCATIONS

• Marion Baptist Church will again serve as a countywide voting center for any voter on Election Day. This will be the only place to vote for city residents.
• Mattoon voters will see their primary polling location moved to REPTON BAPTIST CHURCH. This is because the wireless signal available for the devices that check-in voters at Mattoon Fire Department is too weak.
• Mexico Baptist Church will serve as the primary polling location for voters in the two Frances precincts in southern Crittenden County.
• Shady Grove voters will continue to poll at Shady Grove Fire Department as their primary voting location.
• Tolu and Sheridan precincts in District 2 will again vote at Deer Creek Baptist Church as their primary polling location.

 If you have questions about the upcoming election, call the clerk’s office at 270-965-3403.

After the polls close, Crittenden County Courthouse will be open until final totals are reported.

The Crittenden Press will be reporting from the courthouse with a live feed on YouTube and Facebook starting about 6 pm.

Mt. Zion Cemetery Road closing for repairs next week

Crittenden County will have a daytime closing of Zion Cemetery Road in the western part of the county beginning Monday, Nov. 14  and lasting through Friday Nov. 18. 

The five-day road closure will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., daily and will be necessary for repair work to the road beginning at the Livingston County line for approximately two miles back toward Levias Road. 

Due to the size of the equipment being used for this repair it will not allow for passing vehicles during the work day. 

Fundraiser benefits Mary Hall Shelter

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A chili supper fundraiser will be held Friday night at St. William Catholic Church.

The fundraiser benefits the Mary Hall Ruddiman Canine Shelter.

Meals are $10 each and include soup, sandwich, drink and dessert.

Browning running as mayoral write-in candidate

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D'Anna Browning of Marion is running as a write-in candidate for 

Marion Mayor.

Browning is a member of the current Marion City Council and has lived in Marion and Crittenden County most of her life. 

Write-in candidates' names do not appear on the ballot; however, in the line below the two other mayoral candidates, voters must write in the name D'Anna Browning.

Olson vying for seat on Marion City Council

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Marion resident Wanda Olson is seeking a seat on the Marion City Council.

Olson is a life-long resident of Marion and has owned a small business in Marion for many years. 

Olson wants to put a fresh set of eyes on issues facing the city and pledges to have an open-door policy to citizens.

Belt seeing seat on Marion City Council

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Marion resident Bobby Belt is asking for your vote Tuesday.

Belt is running for one of six seats on the Marion City Council.

Belt is a longtime employee of Johnson's Furniture & Appliance and is a Crittenden County High School graduate.

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Injury accident on US 60 West, fire on KY 120

Crittenden County first responders have been summoned to an injury accident on US 60 West near Union Baptist Church.

Crittenden and Salem first responders are on the scene shortly after 2:30pm Sunday.

The accident involved multiple individuals, but none appeared to be seriously injured.

Additionally, there was a wildfire at the same time on KY 120 about a mile east of Marion. The fire had reached a field with standing corn, so additional firemen were dispatched to the scene. 

Burn Ban Lifted in Crittenden County

Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom announced Saturday that recent rains have provide sufficient moisture to allow the county's burn ban to be lifted, effectively immediately. 

Although the burn ban is lifted, the state wildfire season restrictions remain in effect, which prohibits burning during daylight hours from 6 a.m., to 6 p.m. Burning can be done at night.

Daylight Saving Time ending

 Set your clocks back one hour before going to bed Saturday night.

Daylight Saving Time will be gone until March 12.

Press owners receive state journalism award

Crittenden Press editor and publisher Chris Evans spoke Thursday night in
Lexington to professional journalists from across Kentucky as part of the
annual Al Smith Dinner and Award Presentation.

BY AL CROSS FOR KENTUCKY TODAY

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The loss of community newspapers "has left our country ripe for an invasion of mistruth," and the remaining newspapers must adapt to the digital age to survive, an innovative weekly editor-publisher told an audience of journalists and their supporters Thursday night.

Chris Evans and his wife, Allison Mick-Evans, of The Crittenden Press in Marion, Ky., received the Al Smith Award for public service through community journalism from the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues (publisher of The Rural Blog) and the Bluegrass Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The award citation mentions that the Press was an early adopter of online journalism and uses it frequently to serve Crittenden County, pop. 9,000.

Evans recalled a statement attributed to World War II Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto: "You cannot invade [the] mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass."

"We are losing community newspapers, one blade of grass at a time," Evans said. "Losing those town criers has left our country ripe for an invasion of mistruth. Study after study has found that the most trusted media are local.

“Forces that are eroding national trust in media can be blamed on two things. One is that blurred line between commentary and news, and No. 2 is that there is a decline in rural journalism. Myths are finding a foothold in our society because there isn't a journalist in every county and every parish in the country. There's not a journalist behind every blade... READ MORE.

Crittenden schools closing Friday, Monday

Crittenden County Schools will by closed Friday. The school district issued the following notice at 12:30pm today.

Due to rapidly falling attendance numbers from widespread illness among staff and students, we are canceling school on Friday, Nov. 4, and Monday, Nov. 7. Friday will be a non-school day. Monday will be an NTI day, with students working from home on assignments that will be sent home today.

Because it is a KHSAA-scheduled playoff game, Friday night's football game will still be played. We urge everyone who is sick, however, to please stay home to help prevent the spread of further illness. 

Our custodians will deep clean all buildings during this time to further mitigate the spread of sickness. We hope our Rockets are feeling better soon and look forward to seeing everyone back on Tuesday, Nov. 8. 

Polling locations provided by Crittenden County Clerk

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The information at right pertains to polling locations in Marion and Crittenden County.

Crittenden County Clerk Daryl Tabor encourages voters to know ahead of time where they are to vote. If you have questions, contact him at (270) 965-3403.

Election Day is Tuesday, and there are a number of political offices that will see a major change in January.

There are 11 Marion residents seeking the six-member seat on the City Council, and several key positions will see a change next year as a result of retirements, including that of the PVA and sheriff.

Read this week's Press for a recap of all political races.

Crittenden burn ban remains in effect

Livingston County lifted its countywide burn ban early this week, but Crittenden County’s burn ban remains in effect. 

The state wildfire season is also underway which makes it unlawful, even in Livingston County, to burn within 150 feet of a brushland or woodland during daylight hours from 6 a.m., to 6 p.m. 

In Crittenden County, under the current burn ban, open fires are prohibited at any time, any where.

Bus drivers sough for Crittenden County Schools

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Crittenden County School District continues to search for individuals interested in joining its transportation team.

The district is in the middle of a "Keep Education Moving" campaign, and is encouraging individuals who may be interested in the benefits available to bus drivers to please apply.

There is a shortage statewide of bus drivers, which is affecting many school district. Locally, the board of education has been beefing up the salary and benefits for bus drivers in an attempt to attract new applicants.

To learn more call the Crittenden County Board of Education.

Charity auction Saturday in Salem

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A charity auction will be held Saturday, Nov. 5. All proceeds will benefit Cumberland River Homes in Salem.

The auction will are held in the red gym behind the Cumberland River Homes office, located at 111 N. Hayden Ave., in Salem.

Doors open at 8 a.m., sale begins at 9 a.m.

Salem fatality on highway 60

Updated twice with additional details: Last 12:17pm

There was a fatal automobile crash west of Salem on US 60 late last night, according to Livingston County 911 Dispatch which reported the highway was blocked for several hours.

The crash involved a tractor-trailer hauling a large dump truck known as a "Yuke" and another passenger vehicle. It occurred at about 7:45pm. 

According to the accident report, a mini van traveling west driven by LaDonna Baker, 47, of Smithland sideswiped cargo being hauled by the tractor-trailer and crashed. The tractor-trailer traveled a bit farther down the road until it was safe to stop. The truck was hauling a large rock truck from the nearby quarry, investigators said.

Baker was pronounced deceased at the scene by the county coroner.

The crash remains under investigation by Livingston County Deputy Bobby Beeler. Commercial Vehicle Enforcement and Deputy Donald Crawford were also involved in the investigation. 

The wreck was near Old Salem Church Road and Victory Auto Sales.