Twice in the Tornado Path

Clara Rice spoke with KFB Claims Adjuster Caleb Kirby beside what was left of her home.

West Kentucky residents are relying on faith 

as they experience storm history repeating itself

By Tim Thornberry, Editor

Kentucky Farm Bureau News

As storm systems have moved through the Commonwealth in unusually high numbers this year, many families have endured destruction for a second time. 

During a rare December 2021 tornado event, Clara Rice and the Baldwin family of Hopkins County lost their homes only to have fate strike again last May when an EF-3 tornado blasted through an area that still has scars from the 2021 event. 

“After church that Sunday, I came home, and went about my busy day,” Rice said. “I knew the storms were coming, but I had no idea a tornado would be in the midst of it.”

A much milder storm system had moved through the area around noon that day but as nightfall approached, the warning signs of something much stronger became more evident. Rice, along with some of her neighbors, took cover in a nearby storm shelter where they waited out the passing tornado. 

“You could hear debris hitting the shelter door and it was scary for a while,” she said. “But, I continued to pray saying, ‘Lord, I trust you. If my home is there, I'm going to praise you. If my home is not there, I'm still going to praise you. You've supplied the first time and I know you'll supply again.’”

Rice’s prayers brought her through the storm, but her house was completely destroyed for a second time. After having that happen twice within the span of less than three years, one’s faith would be greatly tested but Rice never failed to recognize what truly matters in the face of tragedy.  

“God is going to supply,” she said. “He doesn't want me to worry. He doesn't want me to lose my faith. He doesn't want me to lose my joy.”

Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance Claims Adjuster Caleb Kirby was assigned Rice’s claim this time and said it’s sad to see someone go through this, especially having done it once before. 

“Ms. Clara is extremely inspirational but it’s heartbreaking to see her go through this again,” he said. “Her resilience to want to be there and be home and call that place home is much the same for most of these

Marion searching for police officer

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The City of Marion has an opening for a full-time 

police officer. 

Candidates should apply online at marionky.gov by clicking the Forms and Documents link at the bottom 

of the page. 

Some experience in law enforcement is desirable but not mandatory. For a full job description, contact Marion City Administrator Diane Ford-Benningfield.

McKenney Memorial 5K next week

The third annual Marty McKenney Memorial 5K race and walk will be held at Marion-Crittenden County Park at 6 p.m., on Friday, July 26. 

This will be a fundraising event for the Marty McKenney Scholarship Fund, which was created to honor the late track and field booster. 

McKenney was one of Crittenden County’s early track coaches and was instrumental in helping get the oval track built at the park. She passed away in 2021 at the age of 89.

Chamber After Hours at First United

The public is invited to a Chamber After Hours event from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, July 18 at First United Bank. Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce sponsors regular after-hours events to allow for opportunities to fellowship and network. 

“We hope you'll drop in, bring your friends and colleagues, and get to know some new folks! This is not a Chamber member-only event. All are welcome!” the group said in a promotional announcement about the event.

VFW serving free hot dogs today

Marion's Virgil Jones VFW members will be serving free hot dogs and drinks to kids today at Veterans Park. 

Youth are encouraged to stop by between 2-6 p.m., and enjoy a snack.

Hospital celebrates 80th July 19

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Crittenden Hospital is celebrating its 80th anniversary Friday, July 19. Free inflatables, games and food will 

be offered during the event on the hospital campus between 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

In honor of its celebration, the hospital is looking for a few special individuals, including the employee with 

the longest tenure at the hospital and the oldest individual born in Crittenden County Hospital, which originally was located on Walker Street across from Fohs Hall.

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Devin Belt of Marion has been named general manager and golf course superintendent of the Heritage at 

Marion Country Club. Belt, who is also the Crittenden County High School baseball coach, has seven years experience in the golf industry and is a distinguished golfer.

As grounds superintendent, Belt's priority is continuing to remediate the golf course's greens and to help increase the play through tournaments and new events. The Marion Country Club was developed nearly 60 years ago and is a challenging nine-hole course 

located on Blackburn Street in Marion.

Turkey Knob Closed Today for Repair

Turkey Knob Road in the northern part of Crittenden County around the Amish area will be closed today for repairs.

Closure will be about 0.7 miles from Fords Ferry Road. The road will be shut down until around 3 p.m.

What's up with Mr. Bear here?

Black bear sightings have become quite common around the region over the past couple of weeks.

An article in this week's full edition of the newspaper traces one of Mr. Bear's travels through Crittenden and Livingston counties.

We also talked to some wildlife specialists about what to do in case you encounter one of these Kentucky critters and try to explain exactly what bears are doing in this neck of the woods.

Also, we have a first-hand account from a local teen who came face-to-face with a bear on a local riverbank. 

CCHS SBDM meets Monday

Crittenden County High School Site-Based Council will meet at 2:30 p.m., Monday, July 15 in the high school library.

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Middle school football practice begins

Crittenden County Middle School pre-season football practice will begin at 5:30 p.m., on Thursday. 

Practices will be each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday on campus. 

Contact coach Ethan Dossett at (270) 969-8166 for more information. 

Tabor Road remains closed today

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans another daytime closure of Tabor Road in southern Crittenden County on Wednesday.

Personnel from KYTC crews in Crittenden County and Lyon County spent Tuesday graveling shoulders along Tabor Road.  In spite of persistent showers, the team made good progress on maintenance efforts aimed at enhancing safety and making it easier for vehicles to meet.

The plan to continue work with another closure on Wednesday.  

Tabor Road (CR 1220) runs south from the intersection of KY 902 and KY 855 to connect with KY 1113 at the Crittenden-Lyon County Line. Tabor Road has been getting a high volume of traffic since KY 295 closed at the 9.4-mile point between Dycusburg and Kuttawa on March 7 due to substructure deterioration on the Livingston Creek Bridge.

Heavy traffic has created a number of issues along the 1.2 mile section of Tabor Road between KY 902 and the Crittenden-Lyon County Line.  The gravel being placed along the roadway to reinforce the shoulders is to address some of those issues.  Placement of equipment needed for the work requires the roadway to be closed.

Tabor Road in Crittenden County and the state section of and KY 1113 in northern Lyon County will be closed to through traffic from 7 a.m., to 5 p.m., today to facilitate the maintenance work.  This closure includes all of Tabor Road and KY 1113 between KY 902 and KY 1943 (Skinframe Creek Road).

Wagoner sale Saturday

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The personal property of Danny Wagoner will be auctioned Saturday at Bright Hill Rd., in Princeton.

This large sale will feature vehicles, farm equipment, mechanic tools, hand tools, recreational and outdoor items, guns, ammunition, furniture and household 

items and collectibles.

This sale is being conducted by Buntin Auction 

Service, Curt Buntin auctioneer.

Kentucky Biker Rally Time

The Kentucky Bike Rally at Sturgis is coming up July 18-21. 

Bikes, campers, trailers and more will increase traffic through Crittenden County as the event draws near. 

Cost of vehicle inspections rising

Cost for a sheriff’s department motor vehicle inspection is going up from $5 to $15 one week from today on Monday, July 15. 

The increase is due to legislation passed this spring as part of House Bill 833 that requires a uniform, electronic filing system to be used for inspections.

 If the sheriff’s department makes a “house call” to do an inspection, there is a $20 trip charge in addition to the inspection fee. Kentucky law requires that all out of state vehicles and salvage vehicles be inspected. 

Inspections include verification of Vehicle Identification Number and operation of blinkers, brake lights, head lights and other functions to assure a vehicle is suitable for operating on public roadway.

Tapestry to present Pink Floyd album

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The merger of rock and light opera will entertain audiences 

during a two-hour performance by the Tapestry July 13.

Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon is the majority of the 

content to be performed by the group in its return to Fohs Hall. 

The band features vocals by Corey, Michelle and Corey Crider, along with local youth Cale Tabor, all of Marion. Other band members are professionally trained and will entertain the crowd with the Pink Floyd tunes, along with other recognizable songs sprinkled throughout from arts like Phil Collins and Van Halen.

Tickets are $15.

Sheriff Seeks Your Tax Advice

No one wants to pay taxes, right? 

How about paying them later?

That is a question being posed by Sheriff Evan Head, who is responsible for collecting county property taxes every fall. 

The sheriff is proposing a later start date for tax collection beginning this year, which would be in line with last year’s temporary schedule. In 2023, tax collection was delayed a month from its traditional time frame because the county was moving from the courthouse to its new complex in Industrial Park South during October. 

Typically, over the past few decades, county taxes have been collected starting Oct. 1 with a two-percent discount period for the first month. Historically, the face value of the tax bill is owed during November and December, and anything paid after Dec. 31 of each year is subject to a late fee. 

The timing of tax season in 2023 coinciding with a move to the new complex prompted an adjustment in the routine schedule. 

“It would have been impossible to have collected in October last year because during the move we didn’t have an office set up or computers to record payments,” Head said.

So, a decision was made to begin collections in November. Payments in that month were awarded the early two-percent discount. Face value was charged on bills paid in December.

“We had some people who liked it, particularly farmers,” Head said. “Some of the farmers said it was the first time they had ever gotten the discount because they get their crop money in November and that’s when they are usually able to pay their taxes.”

Head says his office is interested in making tax payments as palatable as possible for property owners. If starting collections later, which allows the discount period in October, is more favorable, Head wants to facilitate that change.

The penalty period would start as always at the beginning of January. 

“It would be helpful to know if there are any negative reactions to the possibility of moving collections to November and giving the discount period from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30,” the sheriff said.

The sheriff suggests that taxpayers can contact his office at 270-965-3400 or via email at evan.head@crittendencountyky.org with comments regarding the possibility of changing the schedule for tax collections this fall to start on Nov. 1 rather than Oct. 1.

“We need to have a decision made on this by July 30,” Head said.

Also under consideration for this fall during tax collection season is acceptance of credit or debit cards for payments, something the county did not accept last year. If so, there would be a flat $2.50 fee for debit card and a 2.5-percent fee for credit cards. 

Postage stamps going up July 14

The price of postage is going up this month. Increases by the U.S. Postal Service take effect July 14. 

The new rates include a five-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 68 cents to 73 cents. 

The additional-ounce price for single-piece letters will increase from 24 cents to 28 cents. 

Domestic postcards are going up to 56 cents from 53. A First-Class Mail Forever stamp in 2014 was priced at 49 cents.

Tabor Road closing 2 days next week

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans daytime closures of Tabor Road in southern Crittenden County on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 9-10 to make improvements to the rural road that’s getting heavy traffic as a bypass because the bridge is out between Dycusburg and Eddyville.

Tabor Road (CR 1220) runs south from the intersection of KY 902 and KY 855 to connect with KY 1113 at the Crittenden-Lyon County Line.  It has been getting a high volume of traffic since KY 295 was forced to close March 7 due to substructure deterioration on the Livingston Creek Bridge.

Heavy traffic has created a number of issues along the 1.2 mile section of Tabor Road.  With assistance from Lyon County personnel, the KYTC Crittenden County Highway Maintenance crews plan to place gravel along the roadway to reinforce the shoulders.  Placement of equipment needed for the work will require the roadway to be closed.

Tabor Road in Crittenden County and the state section of KY 1113 in northern Lyon County will be closed to through-traffic from 7 a.m., to 5 p.m., for two days next week.  This closure includes all of Tabor Road (CR 1220) in Crittenden County and all of KY 1113 in Lyon County between KY 902 and KY 1943 (Skinframe Creek Road).

Maintenance workers will provide emergency vehicle access as necessary, and will allow local residents access with some delays likely.

KYTC District 1 engineers are continuing environmental permitting and design work to expedite construction of a new Livingston Creek Bridge on KY 295 about two miles south of the Dycusburg community.  Current expectation is that design and permitting efforts will progress enough to allow contractors to bid on the bridge replacement project in late summer or early fall.

Bucket blowout July 4 only

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Stuff your bucket and save 20%. That's the deal being offered from 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday, July 4 at H&H Home and Hardware.

The hardware store on Sturgis Road is giving you 20% off everything you can stuff in their Freedom Buckets. Read ad for details.