Local News The Crittenden Press (PDF)
(Selected pages from Sections A & B) WARNING: PDF files will take longer to download, especially on low-speed ISPs. State police investigating at hospital Kentucky State Police are investigating an apparent breach in security involving medications in the hospital operating rooms at Crittenden Health Systems.
All of the equipment inside the two operating rooms and recovery area have been subsequently checked and all of the medications in those areas have been seized by state police for further analysis. The security breach was discovered April 1 and police are looking into the matter as a criminal investigation. Det. Lonnie Kavanaugh with Kentucky State Police Post 2 in Madisonville is the lead investigator. He was called to Marion last week after hospital administrators contacted Marion Police Department regarding some suspicious damage to vials of medication and other medical solutions in the operating room. Police Chief Ray O'Neal said the case was immediately turned over to Kentucky State Police when Det. Kavanaugh arrived. Investigators spent several hours at the hospital collecting evidence. According to Kavanaugh, it is apparent that at least some of the drugs in the operating room had been tampered with, but it is not clear whether the medication in the vials and capsules were tampered with, stolen or diluted.
Kavanaugh said a variety of drug containers were taken into evidence. Hospital officials characterized the volume of drugs tampered with as "a significant amount," but did not disclose further details.
The drugs that may have been tampered with included those used for anesthesia and pain, such as morphine or Demerol. The state police lab will be checking the vials and capsules to determine whether the solutions and compounds in them are the original drugs or whether someone siphoned the medication and replaced them with other solutions. "You could tell by the naked eye that some vials had been pierced with a syringe," the police detective said.
Test results from the lab work will not be available for another month or longer, which is routine based on a backlog of cases at the lab, Kavanaugh said.
"It's not like you see on television where the results are back the next day," he explained.
The drugs in the operating rooms are kept under tight security, according to the hospital and the detective. Whoever breached the security system had an extensive understanding of the locks, keys, codes and combinations necessary to defeat the four-tier security system. An anesthetist preparing a patient for surgery discovered a vial that had apparently been tampered with, police said. After alerting hospital administrators, other suspicious discoveries were found in the operating rooms, and police were notified.
Hospital personnel and pharmacists have checked all other stores of medications and found no indication of foul play in any other part of the facility.
Crittenden Hospital is a 48-bed acute care facility. In a news release issued by the hospital Tuesday afternoon, it said that "Crittenden Health Systems emphasizes that there is no evidence that the apparent theft affected the care provided to hospital patients in any way."
The hospital would not say how many surgical procedures had been performed between the last drug inventory and the discovery of the apparent criminal tampering. Kavanaugh said inventories had been done routinely, almost every other day and sometimes more frequently.
The press release noted that the hospital has taken additional steps to protect its pharmaceutical supplies by adding a more sophisticated security system. It said, "out of the abundance of caution, we are implementing a number of measures to help prevent or detect any breaches of security in the future, including the installation of hidden cameras, replacement of locks, fingerprint-only access and other new access controls.
"We believe that, as a result of the measures taken in response to this event, the hospital's supply of drugs is more secure than ever," the news release said.
As part of its own internal investigation, the hospital has drug tested all workers with access to the areas breached last week. The results of those tests have not been made public.
Following is Crittenden Health Systems' complete news release issued Tuesday On Tuesday, April 1, Crittenden Health Systems staff discovered that a significant amount of anesthetics in a hospital storage area had been tampered with. Hospital officials immediately contacted Kentucky State Police and are cooperating with KSP in the ongoing investigation. In order to avoid jeopardizing the police investigation, we cannot provide additional details about the apparent theft of drugs at this time. Anyone who may have information about this crime is encouraged to contact Detective Lonnie Kavanaugh with the Kentucky State Police Post 2 at (270) 676-3313.
In response to this incident, the hospital has reviewed its facilities and procedures to protect the security of its drug supplies. Out of an abundance of caution, we are implementing a number of measures to help prevent or detect any breaches of security in the future, including the installation of hidden cameras, replacement of locks, fingerprint-only access, and other new access controls.
Crittenden Health Systems emphasizes that there is no evidence that the apparent theft affected the care provided to hospital patients in any way.
Crittenden Health Systems acknowledges the vital interest of the community in security matters involving the hospital. Our commitment to providing the highest quality of hospital care includes protecting the security of our patients and our drug supplies. We note that our team of hospital employees shares this commitment, and have demonstrated a high level of professionalism in helping with the investigation. We believe that, as a result of the measures taken in response to this event, the hospital's supply of drugs is more secure than ever.
Underdown releases second book Every week, Brenda Underdown spends hours pouring over microfilm, newspapers and volumes of recorded history to chronicle the past with her weekly column in this newspaper. And, she’s been doing so for the last five years.
“I enjoy so much digging up the history of our past and sharing it,” Underdown said.
Such meticulous research and dedication has earned Underdown the title of Crittenden County’s historian laureate and legions of loyal readers. It has also led to the release of her second published collection of those columns on the county’s history.
“Forgotten Passages: Volume II” is now on sale. The terra cotta hardback cover embossed in gold lettering hides nearly 100 columns and 253 pages of local lore.
“The book contains the articles that were in The Crittenden Press from 2006 to 2007,” Underdown said. “I’ve also added new information and lots of pictures that weren’t originally in the articles.”
The author covers every corner of the county with her research, from Tolu to Dycusburg, Shady Grove to Crayne, Marion to Mattoon and virtually every community within the 364 square miles of Crittenden County. Peppered throughout the book from Underdown, a retired school district employee, are stories on many of the one-room community schools.
The history within the book dates back to the founding of the county in 1842, encompassing the Civil War and other periods of war and the local heroes who fought. Landmarks, characters and the once-rich mining industry grab ink, as well as several humorous tales.
And loyal readers who may think they’ve read it already are in for a surprise.
“Sometimes after an article has been published, I will get calls from people that share more information or new pictures and also help me with corrections that need to be done,” Underdown says in her blog.
That’s right. Earlier this year, she added the Internet as another tool in her repertoire, regularly posting updates to stories and new snippets yet to be printed in The Crittenden Press. She also posts many of the comments she receives on her work.
“I welcome these calls and enjoy hearing from everyone that enjoys the articles,” she wrote.
A link to her blog can be found on The Press’ Web site, www.the-press.com.
But don’t expect Underdown to forsake the printed word anytime soon.
She will have her book for sale during this month’s Backroads Festival at the Crittenden County History Museum on East Bellville Street in Marion. Each copy of “Forgotten Passages: Volume II” is $30 if purchased either of those days – April 25 and 26 – between 10 a.m., and 2 p.m. Copies of her first volume should also be available.
For those eager to receive a copy ahead of time, contact Underdown by calling 965-2082, e-mailing bunderdown@apex.net or writing her at 139 Oak Hill Drive, Marion, KY 42064.
A shipping charge of $3 will be added if a copy is requested by mail.
Hollamon president of FCCLA Mary Hollamon literally grew up on the FCCLA circuit. At six, she attended her first Family, Career and Community Leaders of America national convention. At 16, she has been named the Kentucky FCCLA president.
Hollamon was nurtured in FCCLA by an active chapter at Crittenden County High School but also by her mother, Dawn, who has long been the advisor of the club which promotes character development, creative and critical thinking and career preparation among teens.
The CCHS junior and five others from Kentucky schools sought the club presidency. Hollamon was elected in late March and is the the second Crittenden Countian in three years to hold the position of state president.
"The candidates are interviewed by the committee in a round robin situation. They also have a luncheon with the committee, and during the opening session the candidates present a speech in front of the entire delegation (approximately 2,000 people) and answer a situation question on stage," Dawn Hollamon said.
She is always proud of her students; but the fact that her daughter was elected state president is an even sweeter accomplishment.
"As an advisor I'm always nervous for my students to compete, but as her mother I think it magnified my nervousness. I knew she was very qualified but I also knew the competition was very stiff," Dawn Hollamon said. "I am very proud of her, she has worked hard to earn this honor."
As president, Mary Hollamon will lead executive council meetings and will be involved in the monthly government of Kentucky FCCLA. Hollamon admits the position will keep her busy, since it requires travel to various sites around the state.
"I want to make sure we increase membership and increase participation in different programs," Hollamon said, noting she expects no radical changes to occur in FCCLA this year.
In addition to Hollamon, two other CCHS FCCLA members were elected to regional positions. Kara Berry will serve as the 2008-2009 regional president and Kari Joyce regional vice president of individual programs.
Also announced at the state meeting were results from chapter competitions. Crittenden County FCCLA won the State FACTS (Families Acting for Community Traffic Safety). Individually, Saundra Winn received first place in financial planning; while Brittany Phillips and Summer Shuecraft earned first place for their Chapter Service Project.