Closure of Paducah processing center could delay mail delivery | Page 4 Crittenden County Elementary Thursday, April 9, 2015 School honor roll | Page 9 14 PAGES | VOLUME 133 | NUMBER 40 NEWSSTAND $1.00 usps 138-260 • marion ky 42064 270.965.3191 | Breaking and local news at the-press.com your home-owned newspaper since 1879 Free dumping offered by county CCHS teens accepted to new math, science academy Just in time for spring By JASON TRAVIS In his remarks last month during cleanup, Crittenden County will STAFF WRITER the signing ceremony to finalize legisla- offer free dumping next week Two Crittenden County High School tion that created the academy, Ken- at its convenience center off students have been selected to join the tucky Gov. Steve Beshear said much U.S. 60 East. The program will inaugural class of the prestigious Craft like the Gatton Academy, which is lo- see the disposal center open 8 Academy for Excellence in Science and cated on the Western Kentucky Univer- Mathematics. sity campus, the Craft Academy a.m. to 4 p.m. April 17 and 18, Kaitlyn Gayle Wheeler, the daughter provides another tool for the state in according to Solid Waste Coor- of Bill and Kory Wheeler of Marion, and preparing its future leaders. dinator Sue Padget. Large Audrey Lee Smith, the daughter of On March 30, both Wheeler and items, including furniture and Chris and Stephanie Smith of Fredo- Smith received their class schedules for appliances, will be accepted, nia, are two of 60 students represent- Wheeler Smith the fall semester during the academy’s but tires will not be taken. Dis- ing 36 counties in Kentucky selected to orientation day. posal of household garbage will be part of the Craft Academy’s Class of For Wheeler, attending the Craft still require a fee. 2017. school juniors and seniors across the lows students to finish high school Academy means gaining additional The academy will open in August on Commonwealth to attend a boarding while also completing up to two years rigor in her educational experience. Her the campus of Morehead State Univer- school-type academy on the Morehead of university coursework. In addition, first semester will focus on mathemat- MPD has opening sity in Morehead, Ky. campus. House Bill 232 authorizes the students have the opportunity to par- ics and psychology. However, she The Craft Academy was created dur- Craft Academy to issue state scholar- ticipate in their local high school grad- wants to explore all the various educa- for new patrolman ing the 2015 General Assembly as a ships and high school diplomas. It will uation as well as the Academy Marion Police Department line item to allow exceptional high provide college-level curriculum that al- graduation. See ACADEMY/Page 4 has an opening for a patrolman following the resignation last Wednesday of police veteran Jerry Parker. Police Chief CCES enacts Ray O’Neal said Parker resigned in Power of pink good standing nut-restricted Parker after seven years with the department. MPD currently has five offi- food policy cers – Bobby West, Heath Mar- By DARYL K. TABOR tin, George Foster, Robert Harris PRESS EDITOR and Chief O’Neal. It’s a lunch-time staple for many American fam- ilies with children, but Paul tosses hat in a peanut butter and presidential ring jelly sandwich can be U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Ken- a serious health risk to a growing number tucky is now ready to test how of people, particularly much change voters want, both the youngest segment for their government and for of the nation’s popula- the GOP. tion. That’s why the local The tea party favorite and school district has enacted frequent antagonist of leaders a peanut/nut-restricted pol- of his Republi- icy at Crittenden County Elemen- can Party tary School. began his The restrictions are campus-wide and started White House See NUTS/Page 14 campaign Tuesday, kick- ing off the run with a rally in Paul downtown Louisville. He was then left for early nominating states with a Crider showcases pitch aimed at the libertarian PHOTO BY CHRIS EVANS, THE PRESS corners of the GOP. Crittenden Health Systems Auxiliary at any given time has hundreds of donated books for sale to pa- vocal gift at Carson Paul, whose father Ron has trons of the hospital for only a quarter each. Not only do the books help those in waiting rooms and run unsuccessfully for presi- patients convalescing pass time, they generate money that goes into improvements at the hospital. dent hree times, begins the Pictured above (from left), Barbara Riley, Muriel Hughes and Melva Harris display their carts filled Center on April 18 2016 race as the second fully with dozens of books of just about every genre. By JASON TRAVIS declared candidate, behind STAFF WRITER Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. But he Corey Crider doesn’t perform could face as many as 20 rivals close to home very often. Usu- for the nomination before the Auxiliary books fund CHS projects ally he’s performing in faraway lead-off Iowa caucuses early cities like Chicago. Currently, next year. STAFF REPORT Auxiliary sells books for a mere health care facility. he is in Texas rehearsing for — The Associated Press It’s not the library, but the quarter each. “It’s the best moneymaker Amarillo Opera’s upcoming pro- hospital is a place where time can “Twenty-five cents isn’t too we’ve ever had,” said auxiliary duction of “Les Miserables.” be passed more gently with lines much for anyone,” said Muriel member Melva Harris. But this month, for one of a book. Hughes, one of the ladies in pink The ladies accept used books Meetings night only, Crider will perform Crider - Crittenden County Election Whether it is in the waiting who manages the hospital foyer from anyone, and they’re not par- at Paducah’s Carson Center, Board will meet at 9 a.m. Fri- room or convalescing in a bed, and gift shop. ticular about the genre. However, where he’ll have the opportunity to showcase his day in the county clerk's office. local hospital patrons are fortu- Donors give the books to the Harris said love-inspired books vocal talent fewer than 50 miles from his home- - Livingston County Board of nate to have a seemingly endless auxiliary, which turns the profit seem to move the quickest. town. The Marion native will be a guest soloist supply of reading material avail- into bedding, mattresses, chairs “When people get through April 18 as the Paducah Symphony Orchestra Education will meet at 7 p.m. able in the lobby. for the waiting room and even Monday for its regular monthly Crittenden Health Systems’ some remodeling projects at the See BOOKS/Page 5 See CRIDER/Page 4 meeting in the North Livingston County Elementary School li- brary in Burna. - Crittenden County Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday for its monthly work- ing session in the Rocket Arena Rural hospitals’ future appears bleak without community support conference room. Lindell and Pauline Dolan inevitable and, yet, equally department stores that local hospital and affiliated - Crittenden Fiscal Court will owned and operated a small painful. As I watch our state popped up in town. When services. meet at 8:30 a.m. next Thurs- country grocery store until Chris and country’s health care people forsook Dolan’s Gro- “The only way for rural day in the judge-executive’s the late 1970s in rural west- Evans system move into the dawn cery in order to save less hospitals to survive is ern Tennessee where I grew of a new era under the Af- than two bits on a gallon of through community sup- courthouse office. First reading Publisher of of the 2015-16 Crittenden Fis- up. It was a thriving business The Crittenden Press fordable Care Act, I wonder milk, they lost more than port,” Hunt says with the cal Court budget will be given. for many years, serving cus- just how affordable – and they ever bargained for. And luxury of hindsight and a - Livingston Fiscal Court will tomers from a fairly broad how accessible – treatment we lost part of Americana. distinct understanding of area. However, when Wal- will be in the coming years, We’ve seen the same right what’s in store for the meet at 5:30 p.m. next Thurs- mart opened 8 miles up the About Town especially for rural folks. I here. When I first came to future. day at the judicial center in road in the county seat, their have a feeling that this Crittenden County, there I have talked with Hunt, Smithland. business was inevitably crip- the auction company showed change will be of the painful were country groceries in Dy- hospital CEO Greg McNeil pled. up to sell everything. It was variety. cusburg, Mattoon, Tolu and and other administrators and Dolan’s Grocery pumped my grandparents’ store. My Rural hospitals like the Sheridan. They are all gone, health care workers in the gas, sold feed, milk, bread, disheartenment was real one in Marion serve almost and that bit of our culture last few weeks since the facil- cold drinks, canned goods half of Kentucky’s entire pop- will never be recaptured. ity held its annual business even for a young boy. There and a variety of in-season to help pack boxes and load ulation. Like the hospital Our rural hospitals are meeting and unveiled its fresh vegetables. There was a cars as the auction ended, I here, most of them in small headed down the same path somewhat optimistic, yet very facebook.com/Thecrittendenpress wood-burning stove and a recall the sadness that filled communities serve a large of extinction unless we recog- tenuous financial condition.