Area Death

Hattie Pearl Britt Martin Mitchell, 86, of Burna died Tuesday. Boyd Funeral Directors and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements.

Fit Camp begins Jan. 7

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For the 14th consecutive year, Full Body Fitness Studio is preparing to help men, women and teenagers kick off the new year with a healthy lifestyle. Fitness classes are designed for people of all ability levels and are offered at six times a day, four days a week.

Classes are led by Serena Dickerson, certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, at the Full Body Fitness Studio just off Chapel Hill Road in Marion.

For more information, to register or to discuss Christmas gift certificates, contact Dickerson at (270) 704-1871.

City's two liquor licenses issued

Under its new alcohol sales law, Marion is allowed two package store liquor licenses.

Both licenses have been issued, according to Heath Martin, Marion’s Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) administrator.

Both stores that will sell distilled spirits and wines are located north of downtown on Sturgis Road.

For more details and to find out who's going to be selling packaged liquor, grab a copy of this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press, which will be on newsstands after lunchtime today.

 You can subscribe here to get the full e-Edition.

Bridge scheduled for replacement

Crittenden County has received a pledge of financial assistance from the state to help rebuild a failing bridge on Cave Springs Road in the rural eastern part of the county.

The bridge is located about one-quarter of a mile north of Ky. 120 on a road that serves about a dozen or so homes, and is regularly used by heavy farm equipment and log trucks. The bridge spans Olive Branch, which flows into Wolf Creek.

County Judge-Executive Perry Newcom said modifications were recently made in order to temporarily shore up the bridge and keep it open to traffic.

Additionally, a new sign was hung, warning motorists of the provisional reduced weight limit on the bridge. The limit on the bridge will be 4 tons until it is replaced. Normally, bridges on county roads are rated for ... see the rest of this article in the Dec. 5, 2019 printed edition of The Crittenden Press. You can subscribe here to get the full e-Edition.

COUNTY CROSSINGS
Bridge Repairs or
Replacements
  Bridges on the following roads have been replaced, repaired or rebuilt in the past decade:
Bells Mines Rd.
Jackson School Rd.
Caldwell Springs Rd.
Main Lake Rd.
Nunn Switch Rd. x 2
Turkey Knob Rd.
White Rd.
Valley View Rd.
Blackford Rd.

Closed and Scheduled
for Bridge Replacement
Cottonpatch Road at Ky. 654

Bridges on the
Radar to Repair or Replace
Mexico Rd. (over Claylick Creek)
Blackburn Church Rd. (over branch of Piney Creek)
Phin Croft Rd.

Old KY Hayride plans New Year pickin' party

The Old Kentucky Hayride, a musical movement taking the community by storm, will be on stage on New Year’s Eve at Fohs Hall with a pickin’ party that’s open to anyone and admission will be free.

Billed as an Old Fashioned Country Music Pickin', it will be a community appreciation event.

“Can you remember when folks got together at each others homes and just played music and sang? Well, that's how we plan to bring in the New Year and we want you to do it with us!” organizers said in a post on the Hayride’s social media site.

Shelley Singleton, who helps organize and promote the events, posted that everyone should “Bring your guitar or just come to listen and visit with your friends and neighbors. Sit around, pick and sing with the Hayride house band and many others. Come as you are to this casual, family friendly night of fun. We'll reminisce, tell stories, play music, and have a great time!”

Marion Baptist cantata is Sunday

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The annual Christmas performance at Marion Baptist Church will be at 4 p.m., Sunday.

"Christmas Is the Gospel: God's Promises & Love," is the theme for the event, which features the adult choir and children and youth choirs. 

Longtime local musician and retired teacher Linda Brown is the director of the cantata, which features about 75 people including actors, musicians and support personnel.

A reception will follow the performance.

Cram the Cruiser tomorrow

Cram the Cruiser and Bake Sale is Thursday from 10 a.m., until 5 p.m., at Cash Express.

You can donate new toys, coats and canned goods for Community Christmas.

This effort is co-sponsored by Marion Police Department and Cash Express in Marion.

Marion Christmas Parade Highlights

Area Deaths

Jerry Tackwell, 69, of Fredonia died Thursday. Morgan's Funeral Home in Princeton is in charge of arrangements.

Anna Marybelle Jay, 88, of Marion died Friday. Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion is in charge of arrangements.

Statewide Classified Advertising

Ask us at The Crittenden Press how you can be part of the statewide classifieds program. 

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Christmas concert tonight, Sunday

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A Christmas concert featuring a 20-member band will help usher in the Christmas season tonight (Saturday) and Sunday evenings.

Life in Christ's praise band will present two nights of electric Christmas music, a combination of modern and traditional songs.

The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. each day.

Life in Christ Church is located on Mott City Road, formerly U.S. 641 south of Marion.

Parade kicks off at 5pm on Saturday

Parking along Main Street from 3 p.m., until after today's parade is prohibited.

Troy McGahan, host of WMJL Radio’s West Kentucky Wakeup Show will be master of ceremonies for Saturday's Christmas Parade on Main Street.

The parade is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and Partners Insurance. Participants should begin lining up at the normal staging area at 4 p.m. The parade begins at 5 p.m.

Selected as judges, who will be picking top floats entered in the parade, are Tammy Owen, Melissa Jones Tabor and Viki Carlson.

There are other Christmas events going on that day, including Snack with Santa from 1-3 p.m., at the fairgrounds and Life in Christ Church is hosting a public Christmas concert that evening. Deer Creek Church's annual live Nativity will begin that night, too, following the parade.

Chocolate trays club fundraiser

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If someone you know loves chocolate, the Woman's Club of Marion has just the gift.

The annual Christmas fundraiser featuring trays of homemade chocolates and candies is now available for purchase.

Orders will be taken through Dec. 13, with delivery and pick-up on Dec. 20.

Contact any woman's club member to order.

Read about Cook's Christmas traditions

For 34 years Linda Cook taught school in Crittenden County.
Saturday's she will lead the annual Christmas Parade.

Parade Grand Marshal Linda Cook
Christmas has always been a very special time for former school teacher Linda Cook.
This one will be quite memorable, too, as she will be at the vanguard of the Marion Christmas Parade as its grand marshal.

Reflecting upon Christmastimes past, Cook recalls faces, names and traditions, most of them with regard to family and friends, but many include former students. She spent 34 years teaching in Crittenden County schools, making lasting friendships that have endured just like the holiday traditions she recalls so favorably.

Growing up as an only child, Cook remembers that yuletide traditions sprung straight from the Bible. Her mother read to her the Christmas story from the Gospels and she remembers participating in the Barnett Chapel’s Christmas plays even though the tiny church in the northern part of the county had no stage.

“We just hung a curtain,” she remembers. “And afterwards, all of the children were given stockings. There were no toys in them, just an apple, an orange and... Read More in this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press, or subscribe to the Full Online Version here.

Live Nativity this weekend

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A holiday tradition returns this weekend to a rural Crittenden County church.

Visitors of Deer Creek Baptist Church's live Nativity will notice some changes to the set this season, as well as some live additions.

Numerous church members are involved as actors or set and costume designers in the annual walk through Bethlehem depicting the townspeople and merchants at the time of Jesus' birth.

Donations of nonperishable food items will be collected and donated to the local food bank.

Security check this morning at schools

Crittenden County School District conducted a security check this morning as students arrived on campus.

Following is a statement released today by the district:

"In order to provide another level of safety for our students and staff, all Crittenden County Middle and High School students went through bag checks and wanding stations this morning upon entry into the building. Male students were searched by male staff, and female students were searched by female staff.

"Superintendent Vince Clark said these random security checks are a preventative measure that the district feels will add another layer of security to our students and staff. The Crittenden County School District is committed to their well-being and safety and takes those initiatives seriously. School leaders will critique this morning's event as they plan additional upcoming random screenings in the future."

Area Deaths

Former Fredonia Foods owner Bro. John Baker, 75, of LaCenter died Monday.  Morrow Funeral Chapel in LaCenter is in charge of arrangements.

William G. Watson Jr., 42, of Marion died Monday. Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion is in charge of arrangements.

Area death

Dwayne E. Market, 54, of Marion died Saturday. Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion is in charge of arrangements.

Leaf Me Alone! Final Pickup Days

City of Marion leaf collectors were back in action today after weather hampered efforts last week to finish up the organized, municipal fall leaf collection.

City officials say the weather has not been conducive to leaf collection, therefore, it’s somewhat imperative that the organized leaf collection continue through this week.

Residents can bring leaves to the curb and inmates working with the city will be vacuuming them up.

City Administrator Adam Ledford said the city had hoped to be done with leaf collection by now, but Mother Nature has not cooperated. The leaf collecting equipment will only work if the material is dry.

Gas line broken on Jarvis Street

First responders were assisting Atmos gas officials at the site of a broken natural gas line on Jarvis Street in the northwest quadrant of the city this afternoon.

Construction workers digging with a track hoe accidentally cut the line.

Atmos representatives were going to shut down the gas line and prepare to make repairs.

Motorists should avoid the area and nearby residents could have some disruption in their service this afternoon until repairs are complete.

The line damage was reported at about 1:30pm Monday.