Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Help Pass Hate Crimes Legislation Once and For All


Southern Crittenden County News: March 20, 2009

By Michelle Henderson and Matthew T. Patton

Congratulations to Jeff and Jessica (Cox) LeFan on the birth of their son, Wyatt Jeffrey LeFan. He weighed 6lb., 5oz. and was 19 inches long. He was born at 3:54 p.m., March 16 in Wisconsin.

Terry and Debbie Joiner celebrated their anniversary on March 18. Birthday wishes are sent to Gail Bannister (Mar. 19), Derek Burris who turns 18 (Mar. 23) and Jason Smith (Mar. 30).

Nancy Kemper-Travis died on Mar. 11.

Seven Springs had 76 in attendance for Sunday School. The church is planning an upcoming Easter play.

We received an e-mail query from Shannon Buchanan who is "trying to find more information concerning my genealogy on my grandfather's side: Wendell Buchanan and my grandmother's side: Greta Jean Armstrong." She is also looking for any family pictures. Her family moved to Missouri due to employment with Chrysler and she is unable to get any of these items. If you have any information, please e-mail her at shannonilla@gmail.com or write her at 16 Joachim Dr., Eureka, MO 63025.

Jenny Patton and Aliyah Frutiger, Travis and Emma Sosh, and Star and Jacob Mahns enjoyed an outing to the Rainforest Café in Nashville on Sunday.

The Dycusburg Grocery had a sing-a-long last weekend. The grocery has live music every weekend. If you have a chance, swing down to Dycusburg and check it out.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Low Price of $45 for Dycusburg Book Until April 1

I am selling the Dycusburg book until April 1 for $45 ... a $25 discount.

E-mail me at matthewtpatton@yahoo.com if you'd like to add your name to the list (I only have three left) and I'll set one aside for you.

More than 500 copies of Dycusburg, Kentucky: A Glance at Her Past have been sold since it was published in 1999. The book, 443 pages, is hardbound with gold-embossed.

If you're interested in ordering a copy at $45, e-mail matthewtpatton@yahoo.com.

Sections of the book include:
  • Dycusburg history
  • Dycusburg school records
  • Dycusburg Methodist church records
  • biographies of prominent Dycusburg citizens
  • anecdotes and photographs
  • Masonic Lodge records
  • Dycusburg cemetery listing
  • Yancy cemetery listing
  • Federal census records
  • Dycusburg police docket (1874-1902)
  • Dycusburg newspaper abstracts.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Obituary: Keith Shewcraft, 71

MARION, Ky. — L. Keith Shewcraft, 71, of Marion died Wednesday at Crittenden County Hospital. He was born January 1, 1938 and died March 18, 2009.

He was a member of Fredonia First Baptist Church and a member of the National Trail Ride Association.

Surviving are his wife, Kay Shewcraft; one son, Shelby Keith Shewcraft of Marion; two daughters, Maria Lee Belt and Caryn Renee Steele, both of Marion; one brother, Carlton Shewcraft of Marion, Ill.; five sisters, Betty Hodges of Marion and Edna Macon, Dorothy Young, Nell Martin and Carolyn DeSpain, all of Owensboro; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

His parents were Luther and Oda Lee Patton Shewcraft.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Marion. Burial will be at Mexico Cemetery.

Friends may call from 6 until 9 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Southern Crittenden County News: Mar. 12, 2009

By Michelle Henderson and Matthew T. Patton

We start this issue with a safety alert! We've heard reports that something in the water is causing pregnancies in the area. We'll provide more on the baby boom in the coming weeks!

A cleanup was held at the Dycusburg Cemetery on Saturday, March 7. Approximately 20 volunteers were on hand to pick up limbs and trees felled during the disastrous ice storm slamming Western Kentucky in late January. Faye Stinnett reported the day was a success. Thanks to those who continue to show concern for this cemetery's upkeep. Watch this column for an announcement concerning future cleanup efforts.

Be sure to become a fan of Dycusburg at www.facebook.com to create an account if you haven't already done so.

A big crowd was at the Dycusburg Grocery on Friday and Saturday nights. It has been a hopping little joint lately with live music on "Open Jam" Friday nights. Bingo has started back up on Saturdays at 7 p.m. Owner Star Mahns also says the store is now accepts Visa, Mastercard and Discover.

Barbara Ethridge and Michelle Henderson flew to Harlingen, Texas and stayed at McAllen, Texas for a few days. While there, they visited Progresso, Mexico. After their stay in McAllen, they drove to Houston where they visited Jason, Nilcole, Lavinia and Jason Smith, II (or "Little Jason"). After their Houston stay, Barbara and Michelle drove back to Kentucky with Lavinia who will be visiting for a few weeks.

If anyone needs notary services, please call Michelle Henderson at 988-2758.

Share your birthdays, anniversaries and other news by e-mailing dycusburg@yahoo.com or calling Michelle at the number above.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Southern Crittenden County News: Mar. 5, 2009

By Michelle Henderson and Matthew T. Patton

We were saddened to hear the news of the death of radio legend Paul Harvey last week at age 90. Several years ago, Harvey mentioned our little town of Dycusburg in one of his reports (let's just say it wasn't anything worth bragging about). Growing up, we couldn't wait to hear "the rest of the story." Harvey's calm, dignified style of weaving a story through unique, folksy delivery was truly an art to be admired. To you, Paul, we say, "good day."

In other news, we were just absolutely thrilled and ecstatic to see our new president in his first address to Congress on Feb. 24. It's so nice to have an intelligent, well-spoken, respectable man in the highest office in our land. We remain hopeful for the economic stimulus to be effective toward getting our country headed in the right direction.

Lots of birthdays to include this week! Birthday wishes are extended to Anna Patton (Feb. 22); Donna Davenport-Walker (Feb. 13); Courtney Smith (Mar. 1); Brad McDowell (Mar. 3); Verna Mae Kinnis (Mar. 5); Demetrius Kinnis (Mar. 6); Juana Mae Stone (Mar. 6); Wilma Allen (Mar. 10); Robert Millikan (Mar. 12); Samson Pleasant (Mar. 13); Tyler Guess (Mar. 15); Dennis Guess (Mar. 15); Melissa Asbridge (Mar. 18); Joann Peek (Mar. 20); Connie Travis (Mar. 24). Anniversaries celebrated this month are: Ronnie and Phyllis Blake (Mar. 7), Lonnie and Helen Travis (March 15) and Bob and Shelia Wilkinson (Mar. 23).

More than 100 were in attendance for worship services at Seven Springs on Sunday. The church seems to be growing.

The annual cemetery fundraiser fish fry at Dycusburg will likely be held in May again this year. Donations for the Dycusburg Cemetery can be mailed to Faye Stinnett, P.O. Box 4, Dycusburg, KY 42037. The perpetual fund ensures the maintenance of the graveyard.

Share your news. Call Michelle at 988-2758 or e-mail dycusburg@yahoo.com.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Ask Congress to Help End Hate Violence

I am posting here to express my strong support for the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Protection Act.

This bill, which passed both houses of Congress in 2007 but did not become law, would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people from bias-motivated hate violence.

While all violent crimes are heinous, hate crimes are uniquely destructive, casting a pall of terror over an entire community. They don't just target a single victim. They are designed to "send a message" that an individual and "their kind" will not be tolerated, often leaving large numbers of people feeling isolated, vulnerable and unprotected.

Attacks against LGBT people are one of the more common forms of hate violence but, illogically, one of the least protected. Hate crimes as a whole declined 1 percent last year, according to the FBI, but LGBT hate crimes increased 6 percent.

It's long past time that we expand federal hate crimes law to cover sexual orientation and gender identity. And we must give local law enforcement officials the resources needed to investigate and prosecute these crimes.

Please protect civil rights by urging your representatives in Washington to give this bill full support and attention, and by urging your colleagues to support it as well.

Take action by clicking here:
http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/pass_shepard

Monday, March 2, 2009

Local Farmer Wins Tractor Pull

Snagging first place in the 10,200 lb. pro stock tractor division at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, KY, was Philip Parish driving "El Niño," pulling 244.49'.