Saturday, February 28, 2009

Paul Harvey (1918-2009)

The world lost a talented broadcaster today. May he rest in peace.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Ice Storm Was Not God's Punishment

I want to take a few moments away from our regularly scheduled programming, so to speak, to make a point to say that I certainly do not feel the ice storm was God's punishment on a sinful Crittenden County.

Some will argue that the ice storm in January, Sept. 11, Hurricane Katrina and even physical handicaps are of God's punishment.

Those of us who were raised in a Christian environment who learned about a God of love will know that this argument is wrong ... and shallow. It's an argument from those who truly do not know God. Again: The winter storm of 2009 was NOT a punishment from God Almighty. I was raised to believe there are false prophets of Christianity, and I believe sometimes those false prophets give Christianity a very, very bad name.

I implore you to look at this link (http://dnkfreed.blogspot.com/2007/10/punishment-vs-consequences.html). I feel this person, like me, knows the difference between punishment and consequences.

Southern Crittenden County News: Feb. 26, 2009

By Michelle Henderson and Matthew T. Patton

Amongst all of the recent destruction due to the winter storm, the area is starting to look a little more normal, and flowers (including buttercups) are starting to bloom. Maybe folks in this area of the county think differently than some, but we definitely and certainly don't think the recent ice storm was a God's punishment. Rather, we saw God in the form of the many who helped their neighbors throughout the area. For more on this subject, visit www.dycusburg.com.

Everyone enjoyed listening to Jim Johnson, Keith Travis, Joe Bennett, Rod Bennett and Rick Holsapple perform at the Dycusburg Grocery on Friday night. That night, owner Star Mahns celebrated her 28th birthday.

More and more dogs and cats are coming out of the woodwork (literally). If you own pets, we urge you make sure they are getting proper care, including being spayed and neutered. To let a dog or cat run wild is absolutely inhumane. These wild, roaming animals are suffering and are a nuisance to the area.

We extend birthday greetings to Rudy Matthews (Feb. 28).

The Dycusburg Community Group (DCG) is coordinating a community cleanup, focusing particularly on empty lots at Dycusburg. If anyone is interested in volunteering, please contact Star Mahns at the Dycusburg Grocery at 988-3004. The date is to be determined. The efforts are being led by Rick Holsapple.

The next meeting of the DCG will be held soon. Watch this space for more information.

Curtis and Jeannie Griffin treated Michelle Henderson and Barbara Ethridge to dinner at China Buffet in Eddyville on Sunday. Jeannie Griffin is having surgery next week.

Share your news by calling 988-2758 or e-mailing dycusburg@yahoo.com.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Southern Crittenden County News: Feb. 19, 2009

By Michelle Henderson and Matthew T. Patton

People are still cleaning up from the ice and wind storm that hit the state a few weeks ago. Needless to say, this will be a long road to full recovery. Several people reported broken bones, strep throat and all sorts of ailments and maladies. This is a winter storm that we won't soon (though we'd prefer to) forget.

Our sympathies are extended to the family of Joann Chaney, 76, of Dycusburg who died last week in Nashville. She was retired as substitute Dycusburg postmaster, was a former sales representative for Avon in the Crittenden County area and was a member of Dycusburg Baptist Church.

We also send our thoughts to the family of Ellie Mae Blake-Martin-Belt, 84, who died Feb. 14. She was a member of Seven Springs.

Alena Lambert sang with Joe Bennett at the Dycusburg Grocery recently. Owner Star Mahns says anyone who wants to come "pick and grin" at the store on Friday nights is welcomed. Call 988-3004 to confirm.

Josh and Star Mahns have been visiting family in Indiana.

Several from this area attended the National Farm Machinery Show at Freedom Hall in Louisville, including Larry, Margaret, Philip, Natalie, Rett and Calie Parish; Craig Boone; Chris Watson; Sean Wesmoland; Crystal Watson; Jared Belt; Floyd Turley; Nicky and Jonathan Waters; Chris Hooks and family; Jonathan Millikan; Jenny Patton and Travis Sosh. Snagging first place in the 10,200 lb. pro stock tractor division was Philip Parish driving "El NiƱo," pulling 244.49'.

Share your news. E-mail dycusburg@yahoo.com or call Michelle at 988-2758.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Obituary: Joann Chaney, 76

DYCUSBURG, Ky. — Joann Chaney, 76, of Dycusburg died Monday at Alive Hospice Center in Nashville, Tenn.

Mrs. Chaney was retired as substitute Dycusburg postmaster, was a former sales representative for Avon in the Crittenden County area and was a member of Dycusburg Baptist Church.

Surviving are her husband of 49 years, James Chaney; one son, Vic Chaney of San Francisco; three brothers, Don Green of Mayfield, and Ronnie Green and Kerry Green, both of Dycusburg; three sisters, Ginny Brown of Eddyville, Nancy Rideout of High Ridge, Mo., and Betty Guier of Cadiz; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by four brothers. Her parents were Tom Green and Mae Henry Green.

Services will be at noon Friday at Lakeland Funeral Home in Eddyville with the Rev. Jeremiah Burdon officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville.

Friends may call from 4 until 8 p.m. today at Lakeland Funeral Home.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Dycusburg Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 4, Dycusburg, KY 42037.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

The Paducah Sun: Newspapers Adjust to Readers' Need for Weather Information

Newspapers adjust to readers' need for weather information

By Leigh Landini Wright
llandini@paducahsun.com
270.575.8658
Saturday, February 07, 2009

MARION, Ky. --- Chris Evans knows the news business never stops.

Evans, editor of The Crittenden Press, drove his family to Paris, Tenn., his hometown, immediately after the ice storm and continued on to Jackson, Tenn., to buy generators and find a cell phone signal.

The Press had already printed its Jan. 28 edition. The paper had little information about the winter storm, so Evans and his staff put together a special two-page copier paper size edition filled with basic information about water, power, phone service and emergency services.

With no power throughout the county, the pages served as the sole source of public information. The Press distributed the special edition free throughout town and to the shelters.

Radio station WMLJ was knocked off air for the first week of the storm. Some residents could listen to WPSD’s radio feed if they had battery-operated radios.

“I feel like we’ve met our obligation to the community,” Evans said. “We felt like we needed to keep people informed.”

Evans relied on a freelancer to post updates to the newspaper’s Web site and his editor’s blog. Without Internet service, he couldn’t access the newspaper’s e-mail account where emergency agencies sent information.

Evans called former resident Matthew Patton, who lives in Pennsylvania, with information to post to the blog (crittendenpress.blogspot.com) and access to e-mail.

Patton also called friends and family in the area, Evans said. He said readers from outside Kentucky relied on the site for news about their hometown.

During the days after the storm, The Press office ran off a generator and produced this week’s edition a day early.

Evans said he wanted residents to have up-to-date information.

The Press also published its free shopper, The Early Bird, with storm stories. “We almost canceled it, but it’s a free publication and total saturation, so I figured we might be able to get it to everybody.”

The Press office regained power and Internet on Thursday.

Staff from The Herald-Ledger in Eddyville and The Metropolis (Ill.) Planet used The Paducah Sun’s ad production area as home base for this week’s editions. Both are Paxton Media Group properties.

The other local Paxton properties, The Tribune-Courier in Benton and The Cadiz Record, were able to operate and print normally.

Leigh Landini Wright can be contacted at 575-8658. Article reproduced with permission from The Paducah Sun (www.paducahsun.com).

Friday, February 6, 2009

Ice Doesn't Slow News

As the deadline of The Crittenden Press coincided with a massive ice storm in Western Kentucky in the last week of January, Editor and Publisher Chris Evans knew the edition would be overtaken by events.

Recalling an ice storm the previous winter, a one-column headline on the front page announced "Deja vu." But as all of Crittenden County, including Marion radio station WMJL, lost power, last winter's experience helped the newspaper become the sole source of local information at a critical time.

For more, click here:
http://www.uky.edu/CommInfoStudies/IRJCI/CritPressIce.htm

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Wreck at Dycusburg (Feb. 4, 2009)

Aaron Springs, 23, was operating a 1998 Dodge Stratus southbound on KY 295. Kenneth Kemper was operating a 1988 Ford F-150 pickup truck northbound on KY 295. The two vehicles struck head-on. Mr. Springs’ vehicle rotated counter-clockwise and came to rest upright, facing west, partially on the southbound shoulder of the roadway.

Mr. Kemper’s vehicle overturned as a result of the collision and came to rest on its passenger side on the northbound shoulder of the roadway. Mr. Kemper was transported by Lyon County EMS to Lourdes Hospital in Paducah, KY for treatment. Mr. Springs was flown from the scene by PHI to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, IN for treatment. Neither driver was wearing a seat belt.

Source: Kentucky State Police Post 2 Madisonville

Winter Storm 2009: Jan. 29 and Jan. 30 reports







These two reports were produced for The Crittenden Press.