Driver injured in Friday rollover

(Update May 25, 2012, 2:30 p.m.)

Steven Clifton, age 49, of Mayfield was injured at approximately 8:05 a.m. Friday morning, in a rollover accident involving the 2006 International semi loaded with lumber that he was operating.

Reports indicate that Clifton was northbound on Jackson Purchase Parkway taking exit 52 A to I-24 Eastbound and dropped off the left shoulder of the road. His load shifted, causing the semi load of lumber to overturn. The semi came to rest on the driver’s side and Clifton was trapped for a short time. He was removed from the vehicle by another semi driver. The load of lumber spilled over the entire ramp, closing it for approximately six hours while the lumber was removed. The investigation continues by Trooper Brian Duvall.

Clifton was wearing a seatbelt and was transported to Lourdes Hospital with injuries.

Marshall County EMS responded to the incident along with responders from Palma-Briensburg and Gilbertsville Fire Depts., KSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, Marshall County Sheriff's office, and Marshall County Jail.

Semi overturns on Purchase Pkwy

(Filed May 25, 2012) A truck loaded with lumber has overturned on the eastbound ramp from Purchase Parkway towards I-24 to Nashville. Lumber and debris are scattered and motorists are advised to use caution as they approach the area of the crash. No word on the driver or injuries at this time.
Photo submitted.

The week of May 20-26, 2012 is National EMS Week

Eight ways to be prepared for a family emergency

(Filed May 23, 2012) – As families get ready for summer fun the Kentucky Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program is educating families on how to be more prepared if there is an emergency involving a child. It could be a fall from a bike…a sudden high fever or seizure...a pot knocked from the stove. What if your child started choking during dinner? What if a child was stung by a bee and suddenly couldn't breathe? Would you know what to do? Click here for important information that can keep you and the ones you love safe.

New boat ramp, fishing piers add convenience for lake access

(Filed May 23, 2012)
The Tennessee Valley Authority and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources recently built a new boat ramp at Sledd Creek on Kentucky Lake through a cooperative agreement.

"Our agencies took an unimproved ramp and upgraded it with better facilities, better parking and a better area to launch boats in the upper end of the lake," said Ryan Oster, federal aid coordinator for the fisheries division for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "Anglers and boaters will appreciate these improvements." Click here for more.

Community invited as Leadership Marshall County graduates 14 members on Wednesday

(Draffenville, KY) – Leadership Marshall County is proud to announce that the fourteen participants of the recently resurrected program have fulfilled the obligations and requirements necessary to graduate. This graduation will take place at the Marshall County Chamber of Commerce Biscuits & Business Breakfast to be held at 7:30 am on Wednesday, May 16, at Ponderosa in Draffenville. An extremely important part of the breakfast program will be the unveiling of the results from a Business Retention and Expansion project that the group took on as their class project and they are excited to share those results with the community. Click here to read more.

Photo courtesy of KY Transportation Cabinet

Section of new span loaded, ready to move to Eggner's Ferry Bridge

(Filed May 10, 2012)  Kuttawa - Hall Contracting successfully moved a replacement span for the US 68/KY 80 Eggners Ferry Bridge from an assembly area onto a barge today.  The 4-hour transfer of the 300 ton steel truss was the first step toward getting the new span moved to the bridge.

The loading process moved in fractions of an inch at times.  Some observers suggested it was like pouring molasses. Workers used huge wooden beams to construct wooden pads to support the weight of the truss and the two massive cranes used to move it.

Efforts now turn to building a ramp that will allow the cranes to be moved onto a barge so they can be transported with the truss to the bridge site.  Hall Engineers indicate moving the cranes from land to barge may actually be more difficult than moving the replacement span from land to barge. Click here for more details.

Missing juvenile located in Louisiana, Martin arrested on various charges

(Update May 4, 2012)  Graves County Sheriff Dewayne Redmon reports that Sidney Brooke Williamson, the 14-year-old female of Mayfield that was reported missing, has been located and taken into protective custody in Shreveport LA. Redmon stated that with the assistance of Agent Don Wood of the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Graves County Sheriff’s Office Detective Brad Smith, Williamson was located after several hours of follow up on leads that came into the office.

 

Shreveport LA Police Department located Tyler Scott Martin in a residential section of the city after information was given to them by Det. Smith. Martin and Williamson were inside the residence when police officers made entry into the residence. Martin was taken into custody without incident. Tyler Scott Martin has been arrested and charged with Rape in LA and is being held on Graves County KY charges of Kidnapping a Class B Felony. Shreveport officials report that Williamson did not receive any visible injuries. Plans were made to transport her back to her parents.

 

Sheriff Redmon stated that he appreciated the public’s assistance with all the information that came into the office during this investigation. He said that several good leads developed from these phone calls.

Investigation begins for 14 year old missing female

(Filed May 2, 2012)  Graves County Sheriff Dewayne Redmon reports today his office is investigating the disappearance of a 14 year old juvenile female from Mayfield.

 

Redmon states that Sidney Brooke Williamson, age 14, of Mayfield was last seen at the Graves County High School on Tuesday May 1, 2012 at 3:15 p.m. She is 5’ 04”, 115 lbs., Brown hair with Hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing jeans, black t-shirt and tennis shoes. She wears dark glasses and has braces on her teeth.

 

During the investigation, information has surfaced that she may have met a male that we believe is over the age of 18, via the internet. This person claims to be from Florida and may have come to Mayfield and picked her up at the high school located just North of Mayfield on KY 121.

 

If you have any information regarding this missing juvenile, you are encouraged to contact the Graves County Sheriff’s Office at 270-247-4501.

 

Portion of Calvert City Industrial Loop to be closed for repair work

(Filed April 27, 2012)  Jim Smith Contracting plans to close KY Highway 1523/Industrial Loop in Calvert City Monday through Wednesday, April 30 - May 2, 2012. A crew will be reconstructing a rail crossing in front of Westlake.

KY 1523 will be closed to thru traffic at KY 282 and KY 95. The crew hopes to have the road opened sometime Wednesday afternoon.

Hardin man charged with rape of 14 year old female

(Filed April 26, 2012)  Detective Sgt. Matt Hilbrecht and the Department of Community Based Services conducted a joint investigation on 44 year old male, Colito Mussolini of Hardin, Ky. According to a report from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, Mussolini was alleged to have raped a fourteen year old female. Mussolini fled the area after the opening of the investigation and was later located in Tennessee. Mussolini was charged with two counts of rape second degree.

 

I f you have any information on the crime listed or in any crime; you may call Marshall County Crime Stoppers and remain anonymous. You may receive up to a $1000 reward. Call 527-COPS.

Alcohol special election date set

(Filed April 25, 2012)  At the regular Fiscal Court session on April 17, 2012, the court set the date for an upcoming special election. The wet-dry vote election will be July 17, 2012. This special election comes after a group known as Marshall 1st gathered enough signatures to bring forth the vote.

 

The county clerk verified the petition, which was filed on March 29, 2012, contained a number of signatures equal to 25 percent of the votes cast in the last preceding election.

 

The referendum on the ballot will ask, “Are you in favor of the sale of alcoholic beverages in Marshall County?” Click here for more information.

 

"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" a musical opened tonight at Marshall County High School's Kenneth Shadowen Performing Arts Center. The photo above is a scene from the show.

Spelling Bee opens at MCHS

(Filed April 19, 2012) DRAFFENVILLE- Tonight’s opening of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in the Kenneth Shadowen Performing Arts Center at Marshall County High School drew an appreciative crowd that showed their enjoyment of the musical.Click here to read more

 

Empty Bowl Project breaks anticipated goal to feed hungry

A fun day was had by all as guests enjoyed participating in the Marshall County Empty Bowl Project that was held on Saturday, April 14. The event was held as a fundraiser to feed the hungry right here in Marshall County, with proceeds going to Marcella's Kitchen.

 

People started lining up at 10:15 a.m. Saturday to get first picks of the ceramic bowls at Marshall County’s first Empty Bowl Project event, even though the doors did not open until 11 a.m.

 

“When I looked out the door (and saw them) I wanted to cry,” said Victoria Poston, Empty Bowl of Marshall County President, pictured above. “I was so happy that people were excited to show up at the event early.” Click here to read more.

Fiscal court rejects Animal Shelter expansion, discusses filed lawsuit

Charlotte Kyle

The Lake News

 

(Filed April 3, 2012) The Marshall County Fiscal Court met in their regular session Tuesday, April 3, with members of the board and guests arriving pink-faced from the sunny Tater Day weekend. The agenda was light as Judge Executive Mike Miller called the court into order.

 

Marshall County Jailer Roger Ford was on hand to discuss minor problem items found during a recent inspection. Ford stated that all necessary changes had been completed. These included submitting daily inmate movement reports and doors not being properly labeled to aid in the event of an evacuation.

Click here to read more.

Whitfield Announces $9 Million Grant for Eggner Ferry Bridge 

(Filed March 29, 2012) 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (KY-01), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power, announced the U.S. Department of Transportation will award a $9 million grant to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for the Eggner Ferry Bridge repairs project.

 

“This announcement is important news for people in the First District of Kentucky,” Whitfield said. “The Eggner Ferry Bridge is a vitally important roadway in the region, and this will help to restore this bridge in a timely manner and relieve the inconveniences caused by the February accident.”

 

This grant is authorized under the Emergency Relief program within the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highways Administration. Repair work to the bridge that is eligible to be performed with this grant includes: emergency repairs needed to restore essential traffic, minimize the extent of damage or protect the remaining facilities, and permanent repairs necessary to restore the highway to the condition before the incident.

Fiscal court discussions continue on proposed animal shelter lease

 

Charlotte Kyle

The Lake News

 

(Filed March 20, 2012)  The debate continues over a proposed lease involving the Humane Society of Marshall County and the Marshall County Animal Shelter.  At Tuesday’s regular session of the Marshall County Fiscal Court, supporters of the lease, as well as those against it, came out to voice their opinions in front of the court.

 

The 10-year lease, which was proposed and discussed at a special session on March 2 before it was voted on during the March 6 regular meeting, would allow the Animal Shelter to lease the Humane Society’s facility, located on Highway 68. Commissioners Misti Drew and Terry Anderson voted in favor of the lease; Commissioner Bob Gold and Judge Executive Mike Miller were against it. Click here to read more.

Assailant injured after shots fired during early morning home invasion 

(Filed March 16, 2012)  Just before 4:00 A.M. Monday morning, two males entered the home of Jack Thompson on Oak Grove Church Road in Brewers, KY. Mr. Thompson and his wife were home at the time of the invasion.

 

Mr. Thompson heard a disturbance, grabbed a pistol and was met at his bedroom door by one of the assailants, who was later identified as Mitchell Saddoris, age 22, of Kirksey. Mr. Thompson then fired three rounds at the assailant striking him at least once. The assailant came at Mr. Thompson again when Thompson reached for a shotgun and fired striking the assailant in the right shoulder.

 

Saddoris was located on the scene when officers arrived and was transported to Marshall County Hospital then later airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center. There was a second assailant who fled the scene described as a white male wearing a yellow shirt. It is not believed that he was struck by the firearm.

The case is being investigated by Detective Dan Melone. Any information or possible identity of the second assailant may be made by contacting Marshall County Sheriff’s Office (270) 527-3112 or Marshall County Crime Stoppers at 527-COPS (2677).

Search suspended for last missing fisherman 

The Marshall County Rescue Squad suspended its search on Sunday night for the remaining fisherman of the pontoon boat that sunk on the Tennessee River below Kentucky Dam on March 6, 2012. This suspension comes after 13 days of water searches with numerous personnel and boats from various agencies.

 

Chief Carl Curtner of the Marshall County Rescue Squad said “We have searched and worked closely with many of our mutual aid counterparts daily to locate this victim, and it is unfortunate we were not able to locate him. Unfortunately this is a repeat situation and why the Marshall County Rescue Squad encourages all boaters to wear life vests and avoid these tail waters below the Dam.”

 

Curtner also added, “Our sympathies are with the families of all involved in this tragedy and it is unfortunate we were not able to locate this individual. Additionally, we will respond to any calls concerning this incident with any new details, and if waters recede, we may deploy for some bank/brush searches. Thanks to all for the thoughts and prayers for all involved in this incident.”

 

Investigations lead to arrest in meth trafficking ring

 

(Filed March 16, 2012) 

Kuttawa, KY - Kentucky State Police and DEA recently ended an extensive investigation of a large methamphetamine trafficking ring in Western Kentucky. During the investigation, KSP and DEA, along with the help of several local law enforcement agencies, have been able to identify several different individuals in the area dealing in large amounts of methamphetamine.

 

On Monday March 12, 2012, narcotics detectives seized over $110,000 cash of illegal drug proceeds. On Thursday morning, three individuals were taken into federal custody during a traffic stop near Eddyville, KY.

 

Detectives arrested Baltazar Insunza, 31-year-old Hispanic male, also identified as an illegal alien; along with Ramos Reyes, a 47-year-old Hispanic male. The subjects were stopped driving a 2001 Ford Focus hatchback which contained hidden compartments that were believed to have been used to transport large amounts of methamphetamine from Alabama to Kentucky. Also arrested in connection to the investigation was local resident Fawn Cerda, 28 years of age. All three suspects were lodged in the McCracken County Regional Jail.

 

Among those agencies assisting Kentucky State Police with the investigation include McCracken County Sheriffs Department Drug Division, Marshall County Sheriffs Department and the Pennyrile Narcotics Task-force.

Student death ruled apparent suicide

(Updated March 15, 2012, 2:45 p.m.)

According to the Murray State News, officials say the initial investigation into a male student that fell to his death and was found outside of the Price Doyle Fine Arts Center, around 9:30 a.m. today indicates the incident was an apparent suicide. The 21 year old male student was a junior from Bardstown, Kentucky.

MSU campus saddened by death of student, classes cancelled Thursday

(Filed March 15, 2012)  Earlier today a male student at Murray State University fell to his death from an upper floor of the Price Doyle Fine Arts building on campus. Details are few at this time. Murray State Police, detectives and administrators are on the scene.

 

According to Murray State News, students are being encouraged to talk to professionals confidentially regarding the Fine Arts building incident this morning. They can visit the Counseling & Testing Center in room 104C of the Applied Science Building (Call 809-6851) or the Psychological Center on the fourth floor of Wells Hall (Call 809-2504).

Classes have been cancelled campus-wide for the remainder of the day.

Bridge to repaired by Memorial Day Weekend

Aurora, Ky. (Filed March 8, 2012) – Gov. Steve Beshear announced this morning in Aurora the award of an emergency contract to repair and reopen the damaged Eggners Ferry Bridge over Kentucky Lake by Memorial Day weekend – saving the crucial summer tourism season for the tourism businesses around Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

The contract, with a low bid of $7 million, was awarded by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to Hall Contracting of Kentucky Inc. Last month Hall Contracting completed repairs ahead of schedule to reopen the Interstate-64 Sherman Minton Bridge in Louisville.

The Eggners Ferry Bridge, which carries U.S. 68 and KY 80 across Kentucky Lake between Marshall and Trigg counties in western Kentucky, has been closed since the night of Jan. 26, when a cargo vessel struck and tore away a 322-foot-long span of the 80-year-old bridge. Click here to read more.

Brothers still missing, one recovers

(Filed March 8, 2012)  Emergency responders, hindered by windy conditions on the Tennessee River, spent Wednesday resuming the efforts to recover two missing fisherman after their boat capsized at Kentucky Dam on Tuesday morning. Witnesses at the scene state that three spillway gates were open at the time of the incident and that the pontoon boat was pulled towards the flow, then the force of the spillway water swept the boat and three passengers under.

 

Rescue personnel from surrounding agencies continue to search for Gene May, age 63 and his brother, James Ray, age 65, both of Graves County. A third brother, Roy May, was rescued shortly after the incident and is recovering.

 

Aurora Ross Fire Department rescue personnel is pictured above during a thorough search of the waters at Kentucky Dam for two missing fishermen, near the site where their pontoon boat capsized just before noon today.

Search continues for two missing fishermen, one survivor

(Update March 7, 2012, 2:15 p.m.) The search continues this afternoon for the two fishermen that are unaccounted for after a pontoon boat with three men aboard capsized under the Kentucky Dam at the Tennessee River. One man was pulled to safety by another boater. The survivor was wearing a life jacket but reports indicate that the other two men were not.

 

Marshall County Rescue Squad, Marshall County Sheriff’s Department, East Marshall Fire Department, and Aurora Ross Fire Departments are continuing to comb the area.

 

Search and Rescue in process after boat capsizes below KY Dam

(Filed March 7, 2012,  12:00 noon)

Marshall County, KY. – Emergency Rescue workers are on the scene below the Kentucky Dam on the Tennessee River. Reports indicate that a boat had capsized at approximately 11:00 a.m. Tuesday Morning with three individuals on board. One person has been accounted for but two others are still missing as of noon.

We will provide more news as it becomes available.

No school for Marshall Thursday

(Filed March 6, 2012)  Marshall County Schools will not be in session on Thursday, March 8, due to the girls qualifying for the Kentucky High School State Basketball Tournament that will be played at noon on Thursday in Bowling Green. This day will be made up on Friday, May 18. School will be in session on Friday, March 9.

Midnight traffic delay set for Thursday on I-24

(Filed March 5, 2012)  A Paducah Power System utility crew plans to halt traffic for a brief time on Interstate 24 in Marshall County at 12 midnight on Thursday, March 8, 2012. The traffic stoppage at I-24 mile point 24.47 in Marshall County is to allow the installation of an overhead fiber optic line. This aerial crossing is near the KY 95 Overpass on Interstate 24.

Group wants liquor sales in Marshall County

(Filed February 28, 2012)  A group working toward county-wide liquor sales in Marshall County held its first public meeting last Monday in the Marshall County Courthouse. According to one of the organizers Tracy King approximately 100 people attended the meeting.

 

King said the group named Marshall County 1^st has a campaign based on economic development and to bring more tourists to the area, more jobs and to build up the tax base.

 

There have been talks among business people in Marshall County for years about the value of alcohol sales. The only “wet” area in Marshall County is Calvert City which approved a liquor by the drink referendum several years ago but has only one restaurant that serves alcohol year round.

 

King said Marshall County 1^st will hold a public meeting again on March 12 at 6 p.m. in the upstairs courtroom of the Marshall County Courthouse in Benton.