Road work scheduled in southern Livingston County

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans to close a section of KY 917 (Tucker Temple Road) in eastern Livingston County on Monday, August 2.

The road will be closed north of the Iuka community to allow full-width paving between KY 93 (Iuka Road) and KY 866 (Paradise Road), a distance of just less than 4.2 miles.

Full-width paving will allow the project to be completed in one day to minimize traffic disruptions.  The crew will attempt to minimize access disruptions to property owners along this section.  However, the roadway will be closed to through traffic in the immediate area where the paver is working.

This project is scheduled on a weather-permitting basis.

Once paving is completed along this section of KY 917, the paving crew will move to the 4-lane southbound section of KY 453 (Dover Road) just south of the I-24 Grand Rivers Exit 31 Interchange to pave at the site of a water line repair in the passing lane.  Work at this site should only take a couple of hours with southbound traffic able to pass on the shoulder.

Some delays are possible during the movement and placement of equipment to facilitate the work.

Appropriate caution is required where equipment, flaggers, and maintenance personnel are along the roadway in close proximity to traffic flow.

Clerk closed for another computer issue

Crittenden County Clerk's office has closed early today due to another glitch in the statewide computer system.

Computers issues earlier this month also hampered the clerk's ability to serve the public and transfer automobiles titles. 

Fohs Hall rentals available for all occasions

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Fohs Hall in Marion is the ideal venue for your next event. 

Whether it is a small celebration, anniversary party or corporate meeting, Fohs Hall is an historic setting with plenty of room to accommodate your needs.

The former school is the site of community events such as concerts, plays and special performances by school groups. It is also available for private events.

To learn more about space availability, contact Elliot West.

COVID gets eight more on Thursday

COVID-19 simply won't go away, and probably never will. For now, public health officials continue to track its path.

On Thursday, there were another eight cases reported in Crittenden County. There were a dozen on Wednesday. 

That makes 31 cases reported here during the seven-day period that ended Thursday. Those are the highest one-week figures since last winter.

E911 board hiring coordinator

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Candidates for a full-time position as E911 coordinator should contact the City of Marion by Aug. 13.

The successful applicant will supervise activities at the E911 dispatch center at Marion City Hall among other responsibilities.

Starting pay is commensurate with work experience.

Applicants must be certified dispatchers and have at least three years experience.

Bluegrass selling Switzer property Aug. 7

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Farm equipment, shop tools, guns and hunting equipment will be on the auction block Aug. 7 during an auction conducted by Bluegrass Realty-Auction.

Auctioneer Kenny Odom and broker Robert Kirby will conduct the retirement auction of Bill Switzer at Jeff Clements Rd., in Marion.

Check out the full list of auction items, or contact Kirby for more information.

Fundraising car wash this weekend

 

MAXED OUT: Truth Is ...

Crittenden Press columnist Kayla Maxfield tells it like it is after listening to folks around town complain of being out of the loop on real community news. Read her column, Maxed Out, regularly in The Crittenden Press.

A dozen new COVID cases yesterday

COVID-19 is back in Crittenden County with a vengeance just as schools are ramping up for a return of students to the classroom.

There were a dozen new cases reported yesterday in the county, bringing the community total to 24 new cases over the seven-day period ending Wednesday. That’s the most cases in one week’s time frame in months.

The county also reported its 24th virus-related death of the pandemic last week.

Crittenden County Fair entires due Aug. 3

After a long absence, a few Family Consumer Science categories are returning to the Crittenden County Fair. These are open to any Crittenden county resident.  Only one entry per class is permitted.  

All entries should be entered between 11a.m. – 3 p.m. on Aug. 3. Judging will take place Aug. 3. Entries can be viewed between 1-6 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 4  and between 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 5. 

Awards for first, second and third place will be given in the following classes: 

PHOTOGRAPHY

FCS 001          Best color photo – any size or subject

FCS 002          Best black and white photo – any size or subject

NEEDLEWORK

FCS 003          Crochet or knit item

FCS 004          Embroidered, cross-stitched, crewel, tatted or similar item

SEWING

FCS 005          Clothing item 

FCS 006          Non – Clothing item

PODCAST: Driver's Licensing Moving out of Town

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Crittenden County Circuit Court Clerk's office will stop renewing driver's licenses on Aug. 20. 

Listen to our Podcast with Clerk Melissa Guill.

In August, written and road testing will also cease at Crittenden County for new drivers.

Driver's licensing services are moving to regional centers. 

See this week's Crittenden Press full edition for more information.

COVID-19 claims another life in Crittenden

There were five new cases of COVID-19 reported on Tuesday and 13 cases of the virus reported in Crittenden County during the seven-day period that ended Tuesday.

Public health officials report that a Crittenden County person with COVID died last week, marking the 24th pandemic-related death since April 2020.

As of Tuesday, there had been 46 new diagnoses here during July. That, after 22 cases in June and nine in May. A resurgence in the virus began in mid June here, and across the country. 

As of early this week, Crittenden County had vaccinated 26.69 percent of its population. That’s a distance from the statewide vaccination rate where 45.3 percent of Kentuckians are fully inosculated. Kentucky trails the broader national average of 49.7 percent. 

Clerk announces plan for 2022 election bid

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Well ahead of the 2022 election which will include numerous Crittenden County offices, County Clerk Daryl Tabor has announced his candidacy.

With a slogan "Keep the Change," Tabor has publicly announced his desire to seek his first elected term.

He was appointed last fall to fill the unexpired term of former Clerk Carolyn Byford.

Will students have to wear masks at all?

Crittenden County Board of Education met in regular session Tuesday and passed a measure that will make masks optional at school this year.

See this week's full edition of this week's newspaper for all the fine details on masks, and what's happening with school construction plans. The blueprint for a new high school has changed due to some stumbling blocks at the originally proposed site. So now, the football field is right in the way. 

Get the scoop in this week's Press, which will be on newsstands Wednesday after lunch and in your mailbox Thursday. 

Ask us about getting the entire newspaper emailed to your inbox every Wednesday so you never miss an issue.

Driver's licensing, testing will end here in August

Crittenden will join eight more Kentucky counties in making the transition in August to a new, secure driver-licensing model, administered by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC).

The traditional issuance system of licenses and permits initiated at the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in each county is being phased out. It is being replaced by a network of KYTC Driver Licensing Regional Offices intentionally located across the state. Eighteen regional offices have been opened statewide to date, with more to come. KYTC and Kentucky’s circuit court clerks are working together to smoothly complete the transition statewide by June 30, 2022.

“It’s a new era of driver licensing in Kentucky,” Gov. Andy Beshear said “We are using technology to offer more service options than ever before, such as online appointment scheduling and, for the first time, online license renewal. After many years of issuing driver licenses, circuit court clerks will be able to focus solely on court business and driver licensing will be executed at new regional offices whose only business is licensing.”

Making the transition in August will be Bath, Carter, Crittenden, Cumberland, Jackson, Lawrence, Lyon, McLean and Warren counties. 

Crittenden County Circuit Court Clerk Melissa Guill said in-person licensing services will cease in Marion on Friday, Aug. 20. From then on, licensing services will be performed at KYTC’s regional offices.

With the August transition, 49 of Kentucky’s 120 counties will have made the transfer of services.

Residents of counties making the transition may renew or apply for a REAL ID or new standard card

Car fire at Marion Recycling Center

An automobile caught fire behind Marion Recycling and required a run from the Crittenden County Volunteer Fire Department.

Firemen quickly extinguished the blaze with no further damage.

The recycling center is located on Mott City Road between Marion and Crayne. 

Marion residents seek legislative assistance

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In a paid advertisement, Marion residents Bryant and Evelyn Hayes are encouraging City of Marion water customers to ask local legislators for help.

The cost of rising water bills being a concern, the Hayeses say government officials should help Marion receive part of the Kentucky Infrastructure Grant.

Both Rep. Lynn Bechler and Sen. Robby Mills can be reached by calling the Frankfort switchboard. 

Bechler's home phone number was listed in a paid advertisement in the Early Bird Shopper's Guide this week. He has called The Crittenden Press office today asking that calls in reference to the advertisement be made to his office in Frankfort (the number which is listed at right), and not his home.

A look back at the county fair

 

There's nothing quite like a county fair, and it's that time of year in Crittenden County.

Join us this week in The Crittenden Press as we take a stroll down memory lane, looking back at some of the last 48 years of county fairs in Marion and how it all got started.

Our full edition of the newspaper will be on newsstands Wednesday and in your mailbox Thursday. We will also have an interesting podcast to post later in the week as a companion to our newspaper fair coverage. 

Livingston transitions to regional driver's license offices

A new era of driver licensing services, offering an array of options and conveniences for obtaining or renewing driver’s licenses and state identification cards, will begin in 10 more Kentucky counties this week, including Livingston. Crittenden is expected to begin transition, too, perhaps in August.

The traditional trip to the local Office of the Circuit Court Clerk is being replaced in those counties with a visit to a secure, specialized Driver Licensing Regional Office operated by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC).

“To make a better Kentucky, we have to strive for constant improvement in our public services and the manner in which they’re delivered,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “The transition to licensing through a network of Driver Licensing Regional Offices, with modern services and more choices for cardholders, takes this essential service to the next level.”

Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, Garrard, Hickman, Livingston, Magoffin, Martin, Morgan and Muhlenberg counties will make the transition this month. The Office of Circuit Court Clerk in each of those counties ceased in-person driver licensing services today and licensing services will instead be performed at

Crittenden County Sports Briefs

 SOCCER

CCYSA registration is Aug. 1

Registration for fall youth soccer at Marion-Crittenden County Park begins Aug. 1. An online registration portal is available at the Crittenden County Youth Soccer Association (CYSA group site on Facebook). Also, updates will be posted there as the season draws near. The soccer season will begin Aug. 30 for children born in years 2008 through 2013 and on Sept. 6 for players born in 2014 through 2019. For more information or assistance registering call, 270-969-8042.

FOOTBALL

Junior Pro registration is Saturday

Registration for Crittenden County Junior Pro Football for players in grades 3-4 and 5-6 will be held on Saturday, July 31 at Rocket Stadium. Players in grades 5-6 can register starting at 8:30 a.m., and players in grades 3-4 can begin signing up at 9:45 a.m.

GOLF

QB Club fundraising tournament

Crittenden County Quarterback Club will host its annual fundraising Hardin/Myers Memorial 4-Person Golf Tournament Wednesday, Aug. 4 at Marion Golf & Pool. Register by calling 270-704-1225.