First-ever nationwide EAS alert planned

A nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System will be conducted at 1 p.m., next Wednesday. This will be the first time that a national Emergency Alert test will be conducted. TV and radio will broadcast a test warning message for two to three minutes.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Federal Communications Commission are coordinating this test with broadcasters throughout the United States.

NOAA weather alert radios will not broadcast the alert.

Read more at http://www.fcc.gov/guides/emergency-alert-system-nationwide-test-eas.

Accident at county line near Tradewater

UPDATE: The driver of one of the vehicles has died as a result of his injuries.

Local EMS and rescue personnel have responded to a two-vehicle accident near the Crittenden-Union County line at the Tradewater River. Initial reports indicated that a tractor-trailer carrying a backhoe and a dump truck had collided.

The accident did involved injuries, according to initial reports. EMS has called for an air ambulance.

More as details become available.

Rural architectural history meetings set

To Janie-Rice Brother, that old barn setting off the side of the road, falling in and covered in vines, is more than a crumbling shed. It’s history. And in documenting that history, she is willing to go to just about any lengths to get the job done.

Brother, senior architectural historian with the Kentucky Architectural Survey in Lexington, was in Crittenden County earlier this month, climbing fences, wading through sloppy barnyards, battling ticks and blazing trails through chest-high weeds to gather information and photos of several agricultural structures throughout the county. With Brenda Underdown, county historian, as her tour guide and chauffer, she more than 50 miles behind her in completing the field work of a study documenting a small portion of Kentucky’s rural heritage.

Now that the hands-on portion of an $8,800 grant project to document historic agricultural architecture in Crittenden and Livingston counties as a means of preserving the past is finished, about all that is left is paperwork. However, next week, Brother will take a break from the paper shuffling to be back in Marion to host a wrap-up meeting on the project.

“We want to express to the community how very important their cultural resources are,” said Brother, pointing to one of the purposes of Wednesday’s meeting in the judge-executive’s office of the courthouse.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m., and is open to the public — those who have had their properties surveyed and anyone interested in preservation of the unique history of rural Kentucky. 

“In short we'll have a Powerpoint presentation showing what we've seen, talk about it and answer any questions,” Brother said of the meeting.

A similar forum will be held for Livingston County residents at 7 p.m., Tuesday at the new Extension Service office in Smithland.

History museum closes for season

Crittenden County Historical Museum will close for the season after today. The repository of local history will be open for visitors for the last time in 2011 from 10 a.m., to 3 p.m., today.

The facility will re-open in April 2012.

Cardinal fans double dip at ball game

A handful of local St. Louis Cardinals baseball fans couldn't stand missing Game 7 of the World Series Friday night, but they weren't about to miss the Rocket football game either.

So, Darrick Myers brought a generator, flat-screeen TV and antenna to Rocket Stadium and rigged up a makeshift living room for himself and friends to double dip.

They were well pleased with the Cardinals' 6-2 victory for their 11th World Series title, the second most only to the New York Yankees. The Cardinals beat the Rangers in seven games.

Myers and Todd Riley are pictured above. Myers was able to see Game 2 of the World Series in person when he and his father, Ronnie, scored some tickets along the firstbase line.

As for the Rockets, these fans were not as pleased. Crittenden was shutout by visiting Madisonville. Read more about that game by clicking here.

Band, chorus fruit sale under way

Crittenden County's middle and high school band and chorus are having their annual fruit sale from through Nov. 14. The fruit sale is the biggest fundraiser for both groups. The money raised is used for the cost of trips, music, uniforms and instrument repairs.

If you would like to order fruit, see any band or chorus member or parent or call either music director. All orders are prepaid and will be delivered before Christmas.

Area death

Alton E. Belt, 82, of Marion died Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011 at Livingston Hospital and Health Services. Services are scheduled for Sunday at Gilbert Funeral Home.

Main Street lane restriction start Monday

Beginning Monday, for approximately three weeks, Main Street throughout Marion may be restricted to one lane overnight from 11 p.m., until 5 a.m. No detours are planned and there will be traffic control. Call Marion City Hall at 965-2266 for more info.

Area death

James Franklin "Frank" Watson, 80, of Kewanee, Ill., formerly of Livingston County, died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011 at Toulon Health Care Center in Toulon, Ill. He was a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard. Schueneman-Tumbleson Funeral Home in Kewanee was in charge of arrangements. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m., Nov. 11 at New Union Baptist Church in Lola, where he will be buried in the church cemetery.

Food distribution slated for Friday

Crittenden County Food Bank will be distributing groceries from 8 a.m., to noon Friday behind the former health department on North Walker Street in Marion.

Crittenden jobless rate up slightly

Crittenden County's jobless rate for September 2011 rose slightly from the previous month bet remained below the statewide average.

According to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, the county's unemployment rate  last month was 9 percent, up 0.2 percent from August 2011. But like 71 other Kentucky counties, the latest figure was lower than a year ago. In September 2010, the jobless rate in the county was 9.4 percent.

Statewide, the unemployment rate was 9.6 percent last month

Ambluance service discussion tonight

Crittenden Health Systems (CHS) has scheduled what it is calling an public informational meeting for 5:30 p.m., today at the Ed-Tech Center in Marion in regard to its ambulance service. At the meeting, the hospital will address the public on how the service operates and its role in the community. Residents are encouraged to attend and are free to ask questions of hospital leadership.

CHS has asked Crittenden Fiscal Court for financial assistance to keep the ambulance service alive.

Additional meetings have been slated for Nov. 14 and Nov. 18. No times have been scheduled as of yet.

Crittenden producers qualify for aid

Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program enrollment for 2010 crop year losses begins Nov. 14

“Producers across the state experienced several natural disasters during the 2010 crop year that caused hardship and financial losses to many agricultural operations,” John W. McCauley, Farm Service Agency State Executive Director McCauley, said today.

Crittenden and all but 10 Kentucky counties qualify for assistance if they have at least a 10 percent production loss that affects one crop of economic significance.

For more information on SURE program eligibility requirements contact the local county FSA office in Salem at 988-2180 or visit www.fsa.usda.gov/sure.

Area death

Bonnie Riley, 66, of Eddyville died Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011 at the Caldwell Medical Center following a long illness. Services will be Friday at Morgan's Funeral Home in Princeton.

No drivers’ road test Friday

There will be no road test Friday in Crittenden County for those looking to receive their driver’s license. The examiner is in training.

City leaf pick-up starts today

The City of Marion has begun picking
up curbside leaves as of today.

The City of Marion has begun its annual ritual of curbside leaf pick-up today. Cleanup of the fallen leaves will cover particular areas set aside for each weekday until Dec. 9 except for Nov. 24 and 25 when city services will be shut down in observance of Thanksgiving.

Click on image for an enlarged chart indicating areas and pick-up dates. Call Marion City Hall at 965-2266 for further details.

Stout sworn as federal bankruptcy judge

Alan Stout of Marion was sworn Tuesday as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Kentucky.

The swearing in ceremony was held at the federal courthouse in Paducah, where Stout often practiced as an attorney for the past 30-plus years.

Pictured is Stout, 54, robed for the first time and making comments following his swearing in.

Behind the new judge are U.S. District Court-Magistrate Judge David King and U.S. District Court Chief Judge Thomas B. Russell.

There will a more formal investiture in U.S. District Court in Louisville next month.

Local soldiers home from Iraq by holidays

Crittenden County's handful of soldiers with the Kentucky Army National Guard's Task Force Legion, as well as all U.S. troops in Iraq, will be home for the holidays, guarantees President Obama. However, word on any future action is uncertain according to Guard headquarters in Frankfort. Inside this week's edition of The Crittenden Press, read reaction from the families and an interview with three of our local soldiers serving in Baghdad.

Also, city officials plan to start cracking down on illegal burning inside Marion and are even considering some pretty drastic measures to address the issue. A local 22-year-old is having her first novel published, and Crittenden Health Systems explains their need for financial assistance to keep the ambulance service alive.

Area deaths

Brenda Kay Hunt, 64, of Marion died Friday, Oct. 21, 2011 at her home. Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Anna Lois Campbell, 80, of Marion died Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011 at her home. Services are scheduled for Friday at Gilbert Funeral Home.

GOP's Williams in town Wednesday

Kentucky's Republican nominee for governor, David Williams, will be in town Wednesday. The Williams-Farmer team will be making a campaign stop at 11:30 a.m., downtown at the Italian Grill across from the courthouse.