Work zone on I-24 bridge over Tennessee River

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans a daytime work zone lane restriction on the Interstate 24 Tennessee River Bridge between Calvert City and Grand Rivers starting Tuesday, July 18.

This work zone lane restriction alongI-24 at the 29 mile marker is to allow a detailed inspection of bridges over the Tennessee River between Exit 27 and Exit 31.  This work zone will be in place each day from approximately 7 a.m., to about 5 p.m., for about two weeks anytime weather allows.

In addition to climbers, the inspection team will use a UBIV- Under Bridge Inspection Vehicle and a man-lift to access the bridge structure.

Initially, inspection work will start on the westbound bridge, then move to the eastbound lanes.  There may be times when there are work zone lane restrictions for both directions of travel.  The work zone will be taken down during the overnight hours.

Once the detailed inspection is completed, a contractor will conduct specialized testing of T-1 high-

Interstate Exchange at Eddyville closed Monday

As part of ongoing brush clearing along Interstate 24 in Lyon County, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans a brief ramp closure at the I-24/I-69 Exit 42 interchange on Monday morning, July 17.

As the brush clearing operation nears Exit 42, the I-24 eastbound ramp to I-69 northbound is expected to close around mid-morning Monday for about two hours.

Due to space limitations along the ramp, A trackhoe with a brush cutter head will have to be in the roadway - forcing the ramp to be closed for about two hours.  Once the work is completed along the ramp it will be reopened as quickly as possible.

Portable message boards will direct I-24 eastbound traffic that seeks to take I-69 northbound to detour via Exit 40 to follow U.S. 62 East through Eddyville to reach I-69 North. Any vehicles that miss the detour can travel to KY 293 Eddyville-Princeton Exit 45, loop through the interchange and return westbound to reach I-69 North.

Copperas Springs Road closed to thru traffic

From now though Friday, July 21, Copperas Springs Road in rural Crittenden County will be closed to traffic for one-quarter of a mile starting at the intersection with James Conger Road to just south of the Piney Creek Bridge. 

County Road Department will be conducting base repair work on the road. 

It was closed starting at 8 a.m., Wednesday. There are no homes in the work zone, so no traffic will be permitted until all work is complete.

Watch Courthouse Project Board's Meeting

Due to the recent 4th of July holiday conflicting with the regularly scheduled meeting of the Crittenden County Project Development Board, the group will now meet virtually at 4:30 p.m., on Thursday,  July 13. 

The board is overseeing planning and construction of the proposed new Judicial Center.

Here is a link to watch the meeting live: https://www.youtube.com/@KentuckyCourts/streams

You can also navigate to the live meeting on the Justice Department's YouTube Channel.

Interesting twist to US 641 design

A highway design very rare in Kentucky and completely unique to this region will be used to build US 641 alternate between Fredonia and Eddyville.

A number of residents who could be impacted by construction of the new highway attended a public meeting Tuesday at Fredonia. For the most part, the route is defined, but there could be a few minor tweaks.

See this week's full edition of The Crittenden Press for a complete report on details of Tuesday's meeting and a timeline of when this new road will be ready to carry traffic. 

U Bid Auction's first sale Saturday

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A new auction barn is opening art the location of the former Marion Auction Mart.

The first sale for U Bid Auction House will be Saturday, July 15.

The 9 a.m. sale features a collection of antiques, appliances, miscellaneous household, hunting, fishing, tools and other items.

Call (270) 704-3927 for more information.

Local Golf Tournaments

 Upcoming Golfing Events

•July 10 Marion Baptist Church Junior League at The Heritage.

•July 15 Par 3 Tournament (18-hole Individual play) at The Heritage.

•Deer Lakes Orange Jacket Invitational will be July 22-23 at the 18-hole course in Salem. 

•July 24 Marion Baptist Church Junior League at The Heritage.

•July 26 Quarterback Club 4-Person Scramble at The Heritage.

Major expansion plans at Livingston Hospital

We are gathering information today on a major hospital expansion in Salem.

Livingston Hospital is formally ready to announce its plans to spend millions of dollars to upgrade the healthcare facility in Salem.

The hospital has been located in Salem for 70 years and in January 2022 announced a formal affiliation with Deaconess Hospital of Evansville.

This week's full edition of The Crittenden Press will have details. 

Hodge's summer savings underway

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Hodge's Sports & Apparel in Marion is celebrating summer 

with a sale.

Great finds and great savings are part of this summer clearance 

event.

Stop by today for 30% off summer fashions.

Tourism and Rec group to meet Tuesday

City of Marion Tourism and Recreation Commission will meet Tuesday, July 18 at 8:30 a.m., at Marion Welcome Center.

This is a public meeting. 

In Our Town 10, 25, 50 Years Ago

The Crittenden Press full edition is loaded with news, information and entertainment you can find nowhere else. It's not on Twitter, Facebook or any other social media app. Here is a look at our Weekly Feature Called ThrowBack Thursdays where we gather and reprint happenings in Marion and Crittenden County as found in our newspaper archives from 10, 25 and 50 years ago. Go Here to Subscribe and Get all of the Benefits of Being a Crittenden Press full-edition reader. 

10 YEARS AGO

July 4, 2013

• The Crittenden Press polled its readers by asking, “What is your biggest concern about Kentucky’s future?” Most of the online voters viewed poverty and drug abuse as the major problems facing the Commonwealth. The results were as followed; Poverty, 31%; Drug Abuse, 26%; Education, 22%; Public Health, 9% and Other, 12%. 

• Retiring faculty and staff members were recognized for their dedication and service to the Crittenden County School System at the June 25 Board of Education meeting, Special recognition was given to Anna Jay, Dena Duncan, Lynette Miller, Janet Stevens, Ruth McClure, Freda Roberts and Marceia Ellis. 

• Crittenden County’s 8-under Lady Wildcats softball team won the league championship and the post-season tournament. The girls beat Caldwell County A’s 9-3 and knocked off the Caldwell County White Sox 15-3 for the championship. The girls finished the season with an 11-1 record and won two in the

Boys, Girls Youth Basketball Camp

Boys and girls can sign up for the three-day Crittenden County Youth Basketball Camp July 19-21 at Rocket Arena. Cost is $30 per camper and there is a half-price discount for siblings. 

The camp is for participants in grades K through 8th. There will be two sessions per day with K-3 from noon until 2 p.m., and grades 4-8 from 2-4 p.m. 

All campers will receive a T-shirt. Instruction will be from Lady Rocket and Rocket coaching staffs and high school players. There will be daily ice cream and money shots. 

For more information, call boys’ coach Matt Fraliex (615) 975-3958.

Stamps Going Up to 66 cents today

First-class stamps are going up again. It has only been about seven months since the last increase. Beginning Sunday, July 9, Forever Stamps will cost 66 cents. 

Stamps had gone up from 60 to 63 cents in January.

In April, the postal service made the announcement about the second increase this year. It will also bump up the price for sending domestic postcards to to 51 cents. A 1-ounce letter or postcard mailed to another country will increase to $1.50. There will be no change to the single-piece letter and flat additional-ounce price, which remains at 24 cents.

Stone Family sings at Piney Homecoming

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The annual homecoming celebration at Piney Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church is Sunday.

Bro. Steve Stone will deliver the morning message.

A meal will follow the service, and the Stone Family will sing in the afternoon.

Everyone is welcome.

Traffic affected next week at Smithland bridge

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans a work zone lane restriction on the New U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge at Smithland on Wednesday, July 12 and Thursday, July 13.

Traffic will be restricted to one lane from approximately 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., each day, to allow the first detailed inspection of the new bridge structure which opened to traffic on May 15.

641 Connect meeting July 11

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The Kentucky Department of Transportation will host a public meeting for Lyon and Caldwell county residents July 11 to present final plans for the reconstruction 

of U.S. 641 at Fredonia to U.S. 62 at Eddyville.

The meeting will be an open house format, allowing attendees to view exhibits and talk to representatives about the project.

Written comments also will be accepted by Aug. 15 to Kyle Post, P.E., KYTC District 1 Office, 5501 Kentucky Dam Rd., Paducah, KY 42003.

All oral and written comments will be part of the official meeting record and later compiled.

The meeting is planned or 5 p.m., at the Fredonia Cumberland Presbyterian Church Activities Building.

Court moving to city hall starting July 25

There will be no disrict, circuit or family court proceedings held during the week of July 17-21 while the courts and clerks pack up to temporarily leave the downtown courthouse, which will be torn down soon to make room for a new justice center. 

Crittenden County Circuit Court Clerk will reopen at its interim site at 208 South Main Street on Monday, July 24. 

All court proceedings beginning July 25 will be at Marion City Hall’s council chambers. Family Court will convene at city hall for the first time on Tuesday, July 25. District Court’s first session at city hall will be Wednesday, July 26 and Circuit Court will hear its first docket there Thursday, Aug. 10.

US 641 meeting Tuesday at Fredonia

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will host a public meeting from 5 to 7 p.m., on Tuesday, July 11 at Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Fredonia to announce a route for the final section of the new US 641 highway that will ultimately finish the super 2-lane between Marion and Eddyville. 

The first 5.5-mile section of the new highway between Marion and Fredonia was opened Dec. 6, 2018 after six years of construction. 

For more on the meeting in Fredonia, see Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s advertisement in the full edition of this week's Crittenden Press newspaper.

Sheriff announces new courtroom safety rules

Crittenden County Sheriff Evan Head has issued a notice about courtroom safety in Marion. 

Going forward, no purses, backpacks, fanny packs, pocket knives, food or beverages will be allowed in the courtroom during district, circuit or family court. 

Cell phones must be silenced before entering the courtroom. If a phone rings during court, the phone will be confiscated by bailiffs and kept for the remainder of the proceedings. 

The sheriff said these rules are being enforced to provide for general safety and security.

Path led Akridge away from Fredonia plans

Fredonia native Jay Akridge took a different course in life. 

Rather than coming home from college to help run the family's generational ag and hardware business, influencers along the way encouraged him down a path that has led to notable benefits for thousands of Indiana farmers. 

It all started with the University of Purdue. Continue reading this Farm Progress article here.