Area deaths

John Benjamin Smith, 82, of Salem, died June 28, 2013, at his home. Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem is handling arrangements.

Phyllis Gayle Blake, 64, of Marion, died June 26, 2013, at Crittenden Hospital in Marion. Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion is handling arrangements.

Fire department resets meeting

The date for Shady Grove Volunteer Fire Department’s annual meeting has been altered due to next week’s holiday. Originally set for July 4, the meeting has been pushed back a week to July 11. Open to the public, the meeting begins at 7 p.m.

Area death

Calvin Glen “Tiny” Hunter, 52, of Salem, died June 26, 2013, at Livingston Hospital and Healthcare Services in Salem. Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem is handling arrangements.

Wanda Gayle Sterling, 77, of Morganfield, died June 26, 2013, at Methodist Hospital in Morganfield. Myers Funeral Home in Marion is handling arrangements

Grimes warns of 'annual minutes' scam

BUSINESS LEXINGTON
Kentucky businesses have less than one week to file an annual report with the Secretary of State’s office and pay the accompanying $15 filing fee.

More than 60 percent, or roughly 122,000 entities, had already filed for 2013 as of June 20, according to a media release from Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes’ office, with about 63 percent of them filing their reports online.

Those that fail to meet the July 1 deadline will be listed in bad standing with the office and receive a final 60-day notice. Failure to comply with the notice will result in administrative dissolution of the business entity or revocation of authorization to conduct business in the state.

Entities that are already registered can gain access to 2013 annual report forms pre-populated with information from the organization’s previous filings at the Secretary of State’s website. Reports can be filed in person or by U.S. mail, but Grimes encourages entities to file their reports online, in the interest of “saving both businesses and the state time and money.”

In addition, Grimes reissued a warning about a confusing and official-looking solicitation reportedly received by some Kentucky businesses. The mailing from an entity called Corporate Records Service asks recipients to provide information on shareholders, corporate directors and officers for a “2013 Annual Minutes Form” and instructs them to pay a $125 fee. Corporate Records Service is not registered, affiliated or associated with the Secretary of State, Grimes said.

“Businesses should exercise caution before providing information or payment to Corporate Records Service, or any other entity that makes misleading requests,” Grimes said.

Heat index advisory issued

The combination of temperatures as high as 95 and elevated humidity could produce a heat index of up to 105 today, according to the National Weather Service. Special care should be taken for elderly, children, the sick, those working outdoors and pets.

Replica Vietnam memorial comes to Hoptown

KENTUCKY NEW ERA
The 63rd annual Western Kentucky State Fair kicks off Friday in Hopkinsville and runs through July 6. And in addition to the familiar pageants, tractor pulls, fireworks and midway, there will be a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

The traveling wall is an 80-percent replica of the memorial in Washington, D.C. Fair-goers will be able to spend time viewing the wall, taking etchings and leaving flowers or mementos like visitors at the memorial in the nation’s capital.

Marion's old city hall razed

The City of Marion's old city hall and fire station have been razed by Belt Construction Inc. of Marion. All that was left early Tuesday afternoon was a small pile of bricks left to be hauled off. Check out this week's edition of The Crittenden Press for more on the demolition and what use the city has in mind for the property.

The local construction company won the contract for the job with a $4,000 bid for demolition and removal.

Kentucky National Guard turns 221

The Kentucky National Guard today is celebrating more than two centuries of service to the Commonwealth and the nation.

The Kentucky Militia, the forerunner of the Kentucky National Guard, was formed on June 24, 1792, by Gov. Isaac Shelby.

The celebration will be held at Frankfort’s Boone National Guard Center. The event will recognize the Kentucky Guard's contributions over the past 221 years. 

Abramson pushes tax reform while addressing school superintendents

Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson on Wednesday urged school superintendents to support proposed tax code recommendations if they want to see public education funding increased. “The day of sitting around and complaining is over. We need to take action,” Abramson told the opening session of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents Summer Institute at Bowling Green's Sloan Convention Center. “You cannot cut your way out of this situation,” he said.

For more, visit The Daily News online.

UMWA taking fight for benefits to Washington

In its campaign to salvage health care benefits for retired Peabody Coal miners and spouses, the United Mine Workers of America will conduct a lobbying campaign in Washington next week. The UMWA said approximately three dozen union members and retirees will “blanket Capitol Hill” Monday through Wednesday, lobbying for legislation to preserve health benefits threatened by the bankruptcy of Patriot Coal Corp. Peabody Energy Corp. created Patriot in 2007 by spinning off several coal mines in the eastern U.S., including four in Henderson and Union counties, into the new company.

For the full story, visit The Gleaner online.

Area death

Nina Mae Watson, 81, of Salem, died June 19, 2013, at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah. Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem is handling arrangements.

Bridge work to affect area traffic

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KyTC) plans maintenance work on a number of area bridges starting Monday.

KyTC District 1 Bridge Crew will be using a snooper truck that will require lane restrictions at the following locations and start times:

• Monday, 10 a.m.: U.S. 68/Ky. 80 Lake Barkley/Cumberland River Bridge at Canton, also known as the Henry Lawrence Memorial Bridge at U.S. 68 mile-point 8.588 in Trigg County. Traffic will be restricted to one lane with an 8-foot maximum load width.
• Monday, 1:30 p.m.: Interstate 24 Tennessee River Bridge eastbound lanes at I-24 mile-point 29.243 at the Livingston-Marshall County line.
• Tuesday, 8:30 a.m.: U.S. 62/U.S. 641 Cumberland River Bridge at Lake City, also known as the Eureka Highway Bridge and the Blue Bridge, at U.S. 62 mile-point 2.852 at the Livingston-Lyon County line.
• Wednesday,8:30 a.m.: U.S. 45 Ohio River Bridge in McCracken County, also known as the Irvin Cobb Bridge and the Brookport Bridge, at U.S. 45 mile-point 13.429 at the Kentucky-Illinois state line. Traffic will be restricted to one lane with alternating flow controlled by flaggers and an 8ft. maximum load width.

A work zone lane restriction will be in place at each of these locations for about one to two hours. Motorists should slow down and use appropriate caution where equipment, flaggers, and bridge maintenance personnel will be along the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow.

Sutton to retire from PADD

Pennryile Area Development District Executive Director Chris Sutton has announced his retirement effective Jan. 1, 2014. Sutton has been with PADD for almost 25 years.



"This decision, though far from easy, comes at a point when PADD is stronger than ever both financially and programmatically and when we enjoy historically strong staff and board leadership and engagement," Sutton said.

Crittenden County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom said Sutton has been an asset to the region.


"Chris has been instrumental in many of the economic and infrastructural improvements that have so positively impacted our area and will certainly be missed," Newcom said.

Kenergy plans outage to upgrade service in Crittenden

About 190 Kenergy members who live in the Marion area can expect to lose power beginning about 8 a.m. Friday while the electric cooperative upgrades a power line.

The outage is expected to last about two-and-a-half hours. It will affect members in Crittenden County who live along Lewis Croft Road, Phin Croft Road, Siloem Church Road, Deer Creek Church Road, Highway 723, Highway 838 and Claude Belt Road.

In case of inclement weather, the upgrade will be postponed until Monday beginning about 8 a.m.
For more information about this outage, call Kenergy at (800) 844-4832.

Farmers continue to make progress on crop planting

Helped by a stretch of favorable weather, Kentucky’s farmers continue to make up ground on getting their row crops planted. As of Sunday, 95 percent of the state’s corn crop had emerged, and 79 percent was rated in good or excellent condition, according to a USDA weekly report. Corn has grown to an average of 21 inches, with the most advanced corn averaging 35 inches.

For more, visit The Gleaner online.

Area death

Orbin N. Penn, 74, of Marion, died June 19, 2013, at Lourdes Hospital in Paducah. Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion is handling arrangements.

Area death

Jack Little, 78, of Marion, died Monday at Princeton Health and Rehab. Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion is handling arrangements.

Area deaths

Mary Etta Feagan, 75, of Fredonia, June 16, 2013, at her home. Morgan's Funeral Home in Princeton is handling arrangements.

Arlene Mae Summers, 76, of Marion, died June 16, 2013, at her home. Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion is handling arrangements.

UMWA: Patriot Coal ends settlement talks

The United Mine Workers of America said Wednesday that Patriot Coal Corp. has walked out on negotiations aimed at seeking a settlement regarding planned cuts to health insurance for some 22,500 retired union miners and family members. The UMWA warned of a possible strike at Patriot’s union mines, which includes the Highland Mine near the Union-Henderson county line.

For the full story, visit The Gleaner online.

Area death

Edna Lee Shewcraft Macon, 85, of Owensboro, died June 12, 2013, at the Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson. James H. Davis Funeral Home & Crematory in Owensboro is handling arrangements.