School board will consider tax rate Sept. 3

Crittenden County Board of Education is proposing slightly higher property tax rates for the 2026 tax year, with the increase expected to generate about $161,000 in additional revenue.

The proposed general fund levy is 51.8 cents per $100 of assessed value on real property and 52.3 cents on personal property. Current rates are 51.6 cents and 52.1 cents, respectively.

The increase amounts to an additional $2 annually for each $100,000 of assessed property value.

The district collected $2.73 million under the current rates and expects the proposed levy to generate nearly $2.89 million, an increase of about 5.9%. According to district calculations,  $467,836 of the projected total will come from new and personal property.

Of the $160,827 in additional revenue, approximately $154,314 would be allocated to instruction, $6,433 to collection costs paid to the sheriff and $80 to the building fund, according to the school district’s formal announcement of the proposed tax rates, which is published elsewhere in this edition of the newspaper.

The compensating tax rate is 50.2 cents. Because the proposed real property levy is about 3.2% above the compensating rate – below the statutory 4% threshold – it is not subject to voter recall under Kentucky law.

The school board will consider final approval of these tax rates at a special meeting, which will be at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 3 at Rocket Arena. 

Lyon County Sheriff Report

 LYON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE MEDIA RELEASE

• On Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, around 3:15 p.m., Sheriff Brent White and Reserve Deputy Scott Wathen were dispatched to a vehicle submerged in Lake Barkley at the Kuttawa Springs/Lyon County Boat Ramp off Lake Barkley Drive (KY 295 South). The investigation determined that a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado High Country pickup truck had been backed down the ramp by Evan Hays, 20, of Fulton.

  
  
  After parking the truck on the boat ramp, Hays returned to the courtesy dock to load his personal watercraft. When he got to the dock, he observed his pickup truck rolling backward into the water. The truck and trailer were submerged approximately 60 feet from the shoreline. The Lyon County Water Response Unit’s dive team assisted Stinnett’s Towing with recovering the vehicle and trailer. No injuries were reported in the incident.

• On Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, around 7:25 a.m., Sheriff Brent White responded to KY 274 approximately 10 miles south of Eddyville for a single-vehicle injury collision. The investigation determined that a 1997 Nissan Maxima driven by Benjamin M. Pawlowski, 20, of Rockcastle was traveling northwest on KY 274 when the driver failed to negotiate a curve. Pawlowski dropped his passenger-side wheels off the pavement before overcorrecting, crossing both lanes of travel, leaving the opposite shoulder, striking a ditch and coming to rest head-on against a tree. Pawlowski complained of head

C-PLANT | Monday NEWScast

 

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Today we hear from one of the new

School Resources Officers

Sheriff's Deputy Joe Witherspoon

StoryBoard will enhance park walking trail

Todd Riley of Riley Tool & Machine
fabricated the stands and placed them.

MARION, Ky. – A new StoryWalk featuring 20 permanent storyboards has been installed along the 1.25-mile walking trail at Marion-Crittenden County Park.

The displays will allow visitors to read a children’s book one page at a time as they walk the trail. The StoryWalk begins near the upper parking area and ends beside the playground off Old Morganfield Road.

Crittenden County Extension Agent Rebecca Woodall said the project is designed to encourage physical activity, early literacy and family bonding. Stories are expected to be changed monthly and may occasionally highlight community events, local history or educational topics.

Woodall hopes to place the first story in the displays by the weekend of Aug. 15. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held later after signs recognizing project sponsors are installed.

Agriculture Hall of Fame enshrines longtime farmer

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STAFF REPORT
The late Beverly Herrin has been named the 2026 inductee into the Crittenden County Agriculture and Rural Leadership Hall of Fame.

Born in 1927, Herrin began farming at an early age on his family’s farm in the Mattoon community. A 1945 graduate of Marion High School, he remained in Mattoon and farmed alongside his wife, Polly, and multiple generations of their family. He continued to be active in farming well into his 90s.

Throughout his career, Herrin worked to produce high-quality beef and pork by continually learning about new production practices, according to information provided by the Crittenden County Extension Service.

He was willing to experiment with different farming methods, including retained ownership of feeder cattle and the use of different feed components. One improvement he particularly enjoyed discussing – and proudly showing to others – was the addition of Romagnola bulls to improve his herd’s genetics through increased hybrid vigor.

Herrin was known for helping younger and less-experienced producers, offering both assistance and constructive criticism. He mentored many farmers and helped several build successful operations through his advice and willingness to share what he had learned. His best advice often began with the familiar phrase, “Well, there’s a little story behind that.”

His community involvement included service with the Masonic Lodge, Young Farmers Association, University of Kentucky Extension Council and Mt. Zion Cemetery Board. At Repton Baptist Church, Herrin served as a deacon, treasurer and Sunday school teacher.

Herrin also served more than 20 years as a supervisor with the Crittenden County Conservation District, including several years as board chairman. He played a major role in the district’s successful application for an atrazine remediation grant for Marion’s Lake George and Old City Lake watershed area. The district continues to receive and use funding from that grant today.

Described as a hard worker, provider, frugal farmer, good friend and mentor, Herrin was also remembered for his faithfulness to his family and church.

Herrin died in April. His legacy continues through his family and the many farmers he mentored during his lifetime.

THURSDAY newsCast | A trip to city hall

 

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Today we have an extended interview with

City Administrator Adam Ledford about some

capital spending on the horizon for Marion

Water leak blows a second time

SALEM, Ky. – Crittenden-Livingston Water District (CLWD) continues to wrestle with a troublesome water line break near its Pinckneyville plant south of Salem after two repair attempts failed on Monday.

The leak is on a line near the water plant, according to district Superintendent Abbie Adamson. The line feeds district customers on the south side of the Cumberland River. However, Grand Rivers and Ledbetter are not affected by the situation because they are being supplied by other means.

CLWD crews repaired the leak for a second time Monday night, but the repair failed when the pump was restarted.

“When we turned the pump on, it blew apart again because of the initial surge of pressure,” Adamson said.

The district has called Murtco, a company which has been working on a zone-metering project for the water system, to assist with the repair. The contractor was expected on site early this morning with ductile iron pipe, a more durable material than what district crews had available for the previous repairs. Adamson said Murtco will make the repair.

For a second day Livingston schools are out because of the leak.

CLWD customers on the north side of the Cumberland River, such as Salem, Burna and Crittenden County, are not affected by the leak.

UPDATE: Shelby Road WORK DELAYED south of Salem

UPDATE: This work has been postponed due to weather and will begin August. 26.

ORIGINAL POST

SALEM, Ky. – Shelby Road in Livingston County will close at the Crittenden County line beginning at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, for repairs to the bridge over Claylick Creek.

The bridge is about 4.5 miles south of the U.S. 60 and Ky. 133 intersection in Salem. Shelby Road connects with Axel Creek Road in Crittenden County.

Motorists should plan to self-detour. Message boards will be placed ahead of the closure, including along Ky. 70 in Crittenden County.

The road is expected to reopen around 8 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, after repair materials have cured. About 440 vehicles travel that section of Shelby Road daily.

BOIL WATER ORDER IN LIVINGSTON

ORIGINAL POST : SALEM, Ky. – Crittenden-Livingston Water District has issued a boil water advisory for all customers south of the Cumberland River following a major water line break.

The advisory affects Livingston County customers between the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, except those in Grand Rivers and Ledbetter. Grand Rivers is receiving water from North Marshall Water District, while Ledbetter is producing its own water. The City of Smithland has also issued a boil water advisory.

The advisory is expected to remain in effect for 24 to 48 hours while water samples are collected and test results are returned. The break disrupted schools and caused water service issues across much of Livingston County.

C-PLANT | Monday NEWScast

 

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Today we visit with Jenny Zimmer

who grew up in Marion in the1940s and

has been writing for The Press

LYON COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT

On Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, around 10 a.m., deputies served a Lyon District Court criminal summons on Stanley Puryear, 61, of Eddyville. He was charged with seven counts of theft by unlawful taking. The case involves a period when Puryear was an employee of a local business. The case was investigated by Chief Deputy Sam Adams. Puryear is set to appear in Lyon District Court on Aug. 19, 2026, to answer to the charges.

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, around 1:38 p.m., Sheriff Brent White observed a dump truck operating on KY 93 South with no license plate displayed on the rear of the vehicle. He attempted to stop the dump truck on KY 93 near KY 1055. The operator disobeyed multiple directives to stop and turned off KY 93 onto KY 1055, where he continued to disobey directives to stop. The dump truck finally stopped at an abandoned home on KY 1055, where the driver was taken into custody without further incident. He was identified as Maxx T. Phebus, 32, of Earlington. Phebus was charged with improper display of registration plates, failure to or improper signal, first-degree fleeing or evading police, failure to wear a seat belt and driving on a DUI-suspended license, second offense. Phebus was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center. White was assisted by the Eddyville Police Department and Kentucky State Police. Note: This is the second time in recent days Phebus has been arrested in Lyon County. In the early

Fohs Hall to celebrate 100 years

Click Image to Enlarge

Fohs Hall is turning 100.  Special events are being planned for later this year to commemorate the construction of the building, donated to the community by geologist Julius Fohs.

After it ceased being used by the Crittenden County Board of Education in 1980, it was renovated and has been used as Marion's premier cultural events center.

Watch for additional information coming soon about the 100-year celebration. 

Forging heirlooms in rural Crittenden County

Ashton and Randy Samuels pose
with a custom built sign for
their business.

MAROIN, Ky. – Minnie Pearl once famously said “Take the backroads instead of the highways.” That’s good advice, because one never knows what kind of treasure can be found along those paths. Travelling up one of Crittenden County’s backroads, for example, will lead you to Eight Gables Forge, a father and son craftsman team who are developing their art and skill in every creative project they complete.

“A lot of people don’t know about us,” Randy Samuels explained of Eight Gables Forge. The forge is located on the Samuels’ farm off Blackford Church Road in rural Crittenden County. Samuels started it as a hobby in 2018. His son, Ashton, quickly became interested in learning too. As their skills increased, so did the demand for their product.

Eight Gables Forge specializes in making knives. “I love to forge Damascus steel,” Randy Samuels described. For Samuels, the draw to Damascus is the challenge that it brings. “It is two different materials,” Samuels explained. The two different types of steel that Samuels uses makes the knife easy to sharpen and also for it to hold that edge. Samuels layers pieces of the two types of steel and forge welds them together to create a billet, or “finished blade blank.” He twists it, warping the layers to create complex, swirling patterns that Damascus is known for. Then Samuels hammers it back out into the desired blade shape. This is where Samuels gives it “character.” 

The process alone is why Samuels refers to it as a challenge, but the challenge is multi-faceted. He is looking for the right steel for the knife he is creating. “There may not be enough landscape to show off the pattern,” he explained. The initial forge weld is critical. “You have to have a good weld,” Samuels added. He also takes into consideration what kind of style of Damascus the knife will have. The number of layers of initial steel impacts the style in the end product. For example, ladder Damascus will only have 13 layers, where Diamondback will have 104 layers.  

While Samuels loves Damascus steel, that’s not the only type of metal he uses at Eight Gables. Many of his creations are made with used metal that he has found or that has been given to him. From bush hog blades to railroad spikes, Samuels uses each piece to create something new. One particular knife Samuels

THURSDAY NEWScast | A very ferry conversation

 

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Today we have a conversation with

Cave-In-Rock Village President Marty Kaylor

with regard to the ferry's closure

Road work on "Back Way" to Eddyville

A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will restrict traffic along KY 373 in Lyon County beginning Thursday, Aug. 13, for milling and paving.

This is a common commuter route from southern Crittenden County to Eddyville.

The work zone will extend 3.6 miles between U.S. 62 and KY 1943. Milling is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, followed by paving beginning Monday, Aug. 17. Paving is expected to take about three days, weather permitting.

Motorists should use caution and follow directions from flaggers.

Caution on US 62 and I-24

Motorists should use caution along eastbound U.S. 62 and Interstate 24 in Livingston and Lyon counties following a diesel spill Wednesday.

The spill begins near Kentucky Dam at U.S. 62 mile point 0 and continues east through Livingston and Lyon counties, including near the I-24 Exit 40 interchange at Kuttawa. Diesel also was reported in the right lane of eastbound I-24 through about mile marker 47.

Cleanup is underway, and no lanes are blocked. Rain forecast for Wednesday afternoon could create additional slick conditions.

POSTAL DELIVERIES disrupted today

An issue involving a private contractor responsible for transporting U.S. Postal Service mail across western Kentucky disrupted some deliveries Wednesday, particularly in ZIP codes beginning with 420.

The disruption could affect mail service for the next couple of days. The contractor transports mail between Paducah and smaller post offices throughout the region.

"Due to an issue involving a new contract carrier, mail for a majority of the 420 ZIP Code prefix area did not receive mail on Monday, Aug. 12. The Postal Service anticipates mail delivery will resume for our customers on Tuesday. We apologize to those who were inconvenienced by this unfortunate situation," said Susan Wright, communications director for the USPS.

 Attempts to reach the contractor for comment also have been unsuccessful.

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LYON COUNTY SHERIFF’S ACTIVITY

On Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, just before 9:30 p.m., Kentucky State Police reported a vehicle traveling at an excessive speed on Interstate 24. Deputy Bobby Beeler and a state trooper made contact with the 2026 Hyundai on I-24 westbound near the 40-mile marker. Beeler arrested the operator, Sandera L. Reyes-Valenzuela, 36, of Granite City, Illinois, and charged her with no operator’s license and speeding. She was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center and later transported to the Christian County Jail because of an ICE detainer.

On Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, around 2 a.m., Beeler was dispatched to a suspicious incident on KY 730 West. A resident called dispatch to report a dump truck in the yard of a neighbor whom he believed to be in the hospital and not at home. Upon arrival, Beeler located the dump truck with a man passed out inside. The man was identified as Maxx T. Phebus, 32, of Madisonville. He was arrested and charged with third-degree criminal trespassing, second-degree criminal mischief, alcohol intoxication and possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle. Phebus was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.

On Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, around 3 p.m., the Eddyville Police Department and Lyon County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding a subject who had left Circuit Court and was driving a Nissan Titan pickup truck on a suspended operator’s license. The vehicle and its operator were located on West Dale Avenue. The driver was identified as Brandon S. Ausherman, 35, of Cadiz. He was arrested by Sheriff Brent White and charged with improper registration plate for having a plate on a vehicle to which it was not assigned, second-offense failure to maintain insurance, no or canceled registration receipt, no or canceled registration plate, operating on a suspended or revoked operator’s license and second-degree possession of a controlled substance. Ausherman was lodged in the Crittenden County Detention Center.

On Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, around 6:30 p.m., Beeler located Elizabeth L. Wright, 24, of Eddyville. She was arrested on a McCracken District Court bench warrant for failure to appear as it pertained to a fraudulent use of a credit card case. She later posted a cash bond and was released from custody.

On Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, around 10:42 a.m., Chief Deputy Sam Adams responded to a two-vehicle

Lane restrictions on I-24 this week

Daytime lane restrictions are planned along Interstate 24 in Livingston and Lyon counties Monday through Friday, Aug. 10-14, while crews cut brush and clear overgrowth along guardrails.

The work zone will extend from the Tennessee River Bridge near Exit 31 at Grand Rivers to Exit 45 at Eddyville. Crews will begin in the eastbound lanes and progress toward Eddyville before shifting westbound and working back toward the bridge.

Lane restrictions will be removed after each workday. Nearby entrance and exit ramps may be temporarily blocked as crews move through the area. Motorists should slow down and use caution.