Glow in the Park 5K and fun run is Friday at Marion-Crittenden County Park See story on Page 10 Fundraiser for Fohs Hall Thursday, September 4, 2014 to feature food, music | Page 4 12 PAGES | VOLUME 133 | NUMBER 10 NEWSSTAND $1.00 usps 138-260 • marion ky 42064 270.965.3191 | Breaking, local news at the-press.com your home-owned newspaper since 1879 GOP numbers pass Democrats Former jailer, deputy sheriff dies last week The number of registrered STAFF REPORT Republicans in Crittenden tractor and unresponsive. Altogether, Riley spent al- served as a training instructor Riley traded in his law en- His life was that of a dedi- CPR was immediately admin- most 35 years in law enforce- with the Kentucky Depart- forcement badge for that of County has sur- cated public servant, recall istered, but Riley was later ment and a decade as ment of Criminal Jus- county jailer in 2003. He was passed that of friends and former coworkers that morning pronounced Crittenden County tice and as the police appointed to the post in Au- Democrats, ac- of Rickey Dale “Rick” Riley. dead at Crittenden Health Jailer. chief for the City of gust of that year by then- cording to Aug. Last week, Riley, a former Systems. Riley’s career in Clinton. After that, he Judge-Executive Victor “Pippi” 21 figures deputy sheriff and jailer in Riley previously had heart public service began served as a deputy Hardin following the resigna- from the Ken- Crittenden County, died at problems and cited his declin- in 1969 when he went under Crittenden tion of Jerry Gilland. He sub- tucky Secretary the age of 67. ing health as the reason for to work as a deputy in County Sheriff Wayne sequently won the special of State’s office. According to Marion Police giving up his post as county the McCracken Agent for three years. election to keep the post in Of the 6,533 regis- Chief Ray O’Neal, an ambu- jailer in August 2013. County Sheriff’s De- “He brought lots of 2004 and was re-elected in tered voters in the county, there lance was dispatched to “I was shocked,” said for- partment. From there, experience,” Agent said 2006 and 2010. are now 17 more Republicans Riley’s home on Ky. 91 North mer Judge-Executive Fred he spent 25 years with Riley of his former deputy He resigned as jailer in Au- (3,050) than Democrats last Thursday at 9:53 a.m. Brown of his reaction to learn- the Henderson Police and friend. “I thought gust last year. (3,033). At the time of the May When O’Neal and Crittenden ing about Riley’s passing. Department, achieving the at the time, with his experi- Those who worked with primary election in Kentucky, EMS arrived, Riley was found “Rick was a friend. He was a rank of deputy chief. Follow- ence, he would treat the com- Democrats held a 16-voter lead slumped over in the seat of his friend to a lot of people.” ing his time in Henderson, he munity well. And he did.” See RILEY/Page 3 in registration over the GOP. Republicans hold an edge in seven of the county’s 12 voting precincts. Also, Crittenden County stands as the sole Re- publican county among the 17 counties of the Pennyrile and School Purchase development districts in western Kentucky. Though the county in recent history has voted conservatively in national elections, Crittenden County Clerk Carolyn Byford tax vote believes this marks the first time in decades that Republi- cans have outnumbered De- mocrats in the county. tonight 2014 Relay tally eclipses $40,000 Board of ed hears The final tally for the 2014 Crittenden County Relay for Life is in. After expenses, the public comments annual fundraiser for the Amer- ican Cancer Society raised $42,233 locally, according to at forum last week PHOTO BY CHRIS EVANS, THE PRESS the Facebook page Relay for STAFF REPORT Nurse practitioner Stephanie Mundy of Tri-Rivers Healthcare pricks the finger of Crittenden County fresh- Crittenden County Board of Education will Life Crittenden County, Ky. In man Tyson Steele during health testing for a pilot project at the school. fact, since 1997, Relay for Life vote tonight (Thursday) on whether to in- Crittenden County has raised crease its property tax rates for the 2014 tax $697,571 to help fight cancer. year. Board members say they continue to get “I am so proud of this com- Freshmen undergo health screening mixed feedback from their constituents. How- munity for your awesome abil- ever, only a handful of people showed up at a ity to raise money,” said Relay public hearing held by the board last Thurs- co-chairperson Natalie Parish. day to give community members a collective Next year’s Relay for Life in to help promote community wellness opportunity to voice their opinion on the tax- Crittenden County will be May STAFF REPORT heart rate, oxygen levels, weight, allow for improvement in test lev- ing proposal. In fact, only five people took the 29. Creating good health habits is body mass, hydration and body els during the school year. podium to share their concerns – two against the aim of a pilot program for fat, among other things. "Overall, they were a very and three in favor. freshmen at Crittenden County "If they find a problem with a healthy group of kids," said The board has proposed as much as a 4- Shopko donates High School. particular student, the student's Mundy. "The highest cholesterol percent increase in taxes. That is expected to money to CCHS Denis Hodge, a health and parents will be alerted," Hodge was 202." generate $134,577 above last year’s local tax physical education teacher, said said. "The main thing we want to The nurse practitioners do- revenue in order to address increased expen- Local retailer Shopko and 21 ninth-graders were put through do is help them learn at an early nated their time toward the project ditures and declining funds from state and Eagle Graphics, which makes a battery of tests early last Thurs- age that good health starts with in order to promote community federal governments. The proposed increase Crittenden County Rocket Spirit day by volunteer nurse practition- awareness." wellness. Materials used for the would take the tax rate from 46.1 cents per Wear available at the retailer, ers from Tri-River Healthcare in The students will examine their first day of testing were provided $100 of assessed value of real and personal recently announced they have Marion and Salem. Stephanie test results and discuss ways to by Tri-Rivers Healthcare and Liv- property to 47.8 cents. The difference would donated $311.13 to Crittenden Mundy, NPRN, and Kristee Shoul- improve their lifestyles and per- ingston Hospital and Healthcare amount to $17 more in taxes paid on property County High School this year. ders, NPRN, pricked and squeezed sonal health by making healthy Services in Salem. valued at $100,000. Over the past three years, almost two dozen fasting students choices in a variety of forms. If the test group proves benefi- One resident to speak out at last week’s Shopko and Eagle Graphics as soon as they arrived for class "We will test three times during cial for students, Hodge said it will forum against the measure believes any ad- have donated $105,284.20 to last week. They tested for choles- the school year," Hodge said, hop- be broadened to a larger segment high schools in the communi- terol, blood sugar, blood pressure, ing that early awareness might of students. See TAX/Page 4 ties they serve. Enrollment up at local schools School district ups dropout age to 18 beginning next school year Enrollment is up at Critten- By JASON TRAVIS school attendance age from to identify the drive to get the time is that by adopting it be- an implementation grant once den County schools. Central STAFF WRITER 16 to 18 at the beginning of requisite number of school fore winter break, the school the policy goes into effect. office officials report the ele- Starting next school year, the 2015-16 school year. districts to comply. district qualifies for a $10,000 Crittenden County Schools mentary school has 642 stu- students in Crittenden According to the state’s Since that threshold has planning grant. Those funds was one of the few school dis- dents enrolled, the middle County will have to stay in website Graduate.Ky.gov, 152 been reached, the remainder will be held to explore pro- tricts in the area that didn’t school has 297 and the high school until they are adults. school districts in Kentucky of Kentucky’s districts are grams to help engage stu- participate in the Blitz to 96 school has 365 for a total of At the Aug. 26 Crittenden have already adopted the new forced to implement a com- dents and keep them in campaign, despite a financial 1,304 students in the district. County Board of Education dropout policy. The “Gradua- pulsory attendance age of 18 school longer. incentive to do so. At that meeting, board members gave tion Bill” made adoption vol- no later than the 2017-18 Clark said there is going to time, school officials stressed final approval to a policy on untary until 55 percent – or school year. be a state summit this winter the state needed to implement transfers and withdrawals 96 – of the state’s school dis- Superintendent Vince where ideas will be shared on a clear plan to engage stu- Public meetings and attendance requirements.