Southern Crittenden County News: June 26, 2008

By Michelle Henderson and Matthew T. Patton

Attendance at Seven Springs on June 20 was 63.

Our most sincere sympathies are extended to Denis and Shannon Hodge in the sudden loss of their son, Jake.

On Saturday morning, June 20, many gathered for a spruce up at Dycusburg, organized by the Dycusburg Community Group. This was the third cleaning this year there. A very special thanks to volunteers Billy Hogue, Star Mahns, Dan and Michelle Henderson, Barbara Ethridge, Jordan Wadsworth, Rick Fondaw, Jeannie Griffin, Jamie Wood and Matthew T. Patton for their efforts. More than 50 bags of roadside trash were collected, and the Dycusburg Area Veteran's Memorial Park site was extensively cleaned. The small town is full of people with big hearts. The series of clean up days demonstrate how civic involvement can beautify an entire community. The progress is evident.

The annual Smith-Owen reunion will be held Saturday, July 5 at the home of Stanley Lott in Frances. All family members are welcome. Please bring a covered dish and your own lawn chairs. Meal served at noon.

Barbara Ethridge and her granddaughter McKenzie Noffsinger returned from a visit to New Lenox, IL, to visit Barbara's sister and brother-in-law, Carol and George Strilko.

Betty Owen of Frances is home recovering from surgery. We wish her a speedy recovery.

Rudy and Chase Matthews have returned from Washington, DC. Chase, a Purple Heart veteran, was honorably discharged after his service in Iraq. Sgt. Jonathan McMackin, who was injured in Iraq alongside Chase on March 19, 2007, paid a visit to Chase. McMackin recovered at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio while Chase was in D.C.

After a month-long stay, Lola Mae Patton was released from Crittenden Health Systems.

An additional shipment of t-shirts honoring Dycusburg-area veterans is now available for purchase at Dycusburg Grocery. A limited number is available. Nearly 50 have already sold, so be sure to get your t-shirt to proudly sport on the 4th of July. An image of the t-shirt is available for viewing at http://www.dycusburg.com/.

Why spend extra gas to see a fireworks show elsewhere when you can see a huge one right in Crittenden County? The Dycusburg Community Group will be hosting a July 4 "Red, White and Boom!" celebration and it's going to be a blast! The Dycusburg Area Veterans Memorial Park and marker dedication will be at 6 p.m., followed by fireworks at 8:30. Western Kentucky-based "Gunner T" will perform after the ceremony and before and after the fireworks. An expanded selection of food will be offered at the Dycusburg Grocery that day, including a grill outside by Evan Dew Productions with steak sandwiches, ribs, turkey and hot dogs.