News from February 5, 2009 issue

Local News
The Crittenden Press Full Version (PDF)

UPDATES Wednesday, Feb. 4
Farmers Bank in Marion is back to normal operating hours: See the bank Web site for more information, click here.

Madisonville Community College will resume classes on thursday, Feb. 5 at all locations except the Marion Ed-Tech Center.


Underdown: Worst disaster in county history
Historically speaking, Brenda Underdown says last week’s ice storm ranks as perhaps the greatest disaster in Crittenden County’s 167 years.
“There was a great ice storm in 1902, but this one is a lot worse,” said Underdown, the county’s official historian and regular columnist for The Crittenden Press.
“A cyclone hit the northern part of the county in March 1890 that was very destructive and some people died,” Underdown said.
Of course, the 1937 flood was terrible for the people near the rivers and streams, Underdown added. She said that during the flood there was only one way out of the county and that was through Fredonia.
“This is probably the worst disaster because it has affected so many people, it’s so widespread. Even in 1902 they had the telegraph lines back up in a couple of days.”
Based on the broad destruction and projected length of recovery time for electric companies, Underdown said the Ice Storm of 2009 will long be remembered.
“This is definitely one for the history books. We thought the ice storm last year was bad, but this is much worse.”
Underdown is also the county’s official weather recorder. She said that during the first few days of the ice storm and its aftermath, temperatures got no lower than 18 degrees. That low temperature was recorded at 5 a.m., on Saturday. Lows Tuesday and Wednesday of this week were predicted to be near single digits with wind chills near zero.
“The rest of the daily lows were in the 20 to 24 range,” she said.
According to her observations in Marion, there were three inches of ice covered by four inches of snow when the precipitation quit falling last Wednesday.
“There is so much damage to trees and power lines,” Underdown said. “It’s really bad for the animals and for us.”
Gov. Steve Beshear has called last week’s storm and its aftermath the worst disaster in state history. He said unprecedented measures are being taken and President Barack Obama has declared Kentucky a federal disaster area, releasing aid and federal assistance. What that will mean for Crittenden Countians has not been determined. Local officials say that rumors of FEMA reimbursements for generators or other emergency supplies are false. Also, at this point there is no federal assistance available for cleanup from the storm. Read more about these matters in this issue.


STORM CLEAN UP - Trash, debris collections
Freedom Waste is running on a normal schedule this week, picking up commercial and residential garbage, but as of now there is no indication that federal assistance will be available for cleanup of storm debris such as limbs.
Joe Buchanan, president of Freedom Waste, was driving a garbage truck on Sunday, helping pick up refuse from large trash producers in Marion. He said customers may put their residential trash at the curb for pickup, which started Monday.
Any questions may be directed to Freedom Waste’s Princeton office at 365-6200.
Buchanan said debris such as limbs and brush should not be put into dumpsters or trash cans. The landfill will not accept it.
Residents inside the city limits of Marion are being encouraged to pile up their limbs and storm debris at the curb, however, not in the street or on the sidewalk. The city will eventually have crews to come pick up the debris, but it could be days or weeks before that begins.
City Administrator Mark Bryant said the Marion debris dump will not be open in the aftermath of this storm. Bryant said FEMA will be making an assessment of the repairs and cleanup needed here and determining whether federal aid will be forthcoming.
Judge-Executive Fred Brown said the county’s debris dump at the old landfill off Bridwell Loop is now open. He said the county has no plans at this time for roadside pickup of any debris. He said rumors that FEMA has hired a contractor to pickup debris from roadsides is false.
The county brush dump will be open day and night, indefinitely. As usual, disposal is free for tree and other brush from both city and county residents.
Jamie Richardson of Marion and Stephen Lee of Burna, who work for Stephen Smith of Marion, have been hauling off limbs from around the county the last few days. On Monday morning, the two were unloading a trailer of mostly pine limbs.
Lee said he expects the work to keep him employed for several weeks. Richardson is happy to just have the work when unemployment is on the rise.
“Anybody who wants to work could have a job now,” Richardson said of cleanup after the ice storm.
County officials urge residents to never pay up front for cleanup of debris and to always get verification of the contractor’s liability insurance.
Burning debris on your own property is permitted in accordance with state laws. Because of forest fire hazards, burning within 150 feet of woodlands or brush land remains illegal in the Commonwealth of Kentucky from 6 a.m., to 6 p.m., Feb. 15 through April 30.
Residents needing to dispose of storm debris on their own property should first notify their local emergency operations center (965-3500) for instructions.
Further information about what to do about damage from a storm, and restrictions on open burning are available online once service is restored at www.eppc.ky.gov.

Schools will be out at least 9 days;
maybe more... days will be made up
Many questions remain about the situation for Crittenden County schools after last week's winter storm, but one thing is for certain – students will remain out of class at least all of this week.
Due to the prolonged power outage and the use of Crittenden County Elementary School as a shelter for people displaced from the severe ice storm, Friday will be the ninth consecutive day of public education in the county lost to Old Man Winter. If electricity remains unavailable into next week, yet more days could be in jeopardy, according to Superintendent Dr. Rachel Yarbrough.
“I don't know much more about it than that,” she said Monday evening, after helping at the CCES shelter earlier in the day.
When school starts back depends on the resumption of power at school facilities, as well the continued need for a shelter for residents without heat or water at their home. If electricity is restored, Yarbrough said it will take a few days to get the elementary school back in order after housing as many as 400 overnight refugees. If power is restored in the city, the shelter might be moved to a church or somewhere else so school can start back.
Food taken from the middle and high school cafeteria to feed people at the shelter will have to be restocked, too.
Yarbrough said the central office was trying to get up and running Tuesday on geneator power so that payroll can be met. Employees set up for direct deposit will have the money sent to their bank account. For the approximate 10 percent of district staff who still receive paper checks, either the finance staff will bring printers online or hand-write paychecks.
It is likely that all of the days missed due to the outage will have to be made up by students, but there is a possibility that the district could be granted an emergency waiver. The superintendent said the Kentucky Department of Education has no set policy on emergency days and would look at each affected district's situation on a case-by-case basis.

Fohs Hall Ball off
The eighth annual Fohs Hall Ball scheduled for Saturday night has been cancelled and at this time no new date has been established. The event is the historic community building’s major fund-raising event for the year. Additionally, the Fohs Hall, Inc., annual meeting scheduled for Monday was postponed until further notice.

Businesses coping with financial loss
Manufacturers, merchants and professional businesses in Crittenden County were trying to figure out ways to cope with lost revenue due to the extended power outage. Almost every non-essential business in town was closed for at least a week, some longer. An informal survey of about a dozen local business owners, found that insurance polices would not cover work stoppage due to natural disaster such as an ice storm. However, most said they were going to pay their employees for at least part of the lost work week whether the business was open or not.

No Livestock Sale
There was no livestock sale Monday at Kentuckiana Livestock Market on Sturgis Road in Marion. The livestock center will not be accepting any cattle until further notice or until power is restored. About 1,300 head of cattle were evacuated since last week.
Ladies Night is out
The FRYSC Ladies Night Out for Feb. 9 has been cancelled, but will be rescheduled when power returns to the area.

Things to Know...
NUMBERS
Emergency Operations Center 965-5313
Medical Emergencies 911
Kenergy 1-800-844-4832
Kentucky Utilities 1-800-981-0600
Law Enforcement 965-3500
Freedom Waste Collection 365-6200
Home Wellness Checks 965-5313
Emergency Firewood 965-5313
WMJL Radio 102.7 FM
WMJL Radio 1500 AM
WKYQ Radio 93.3 FM
WPSD TV Radio 87.7 FM

WHERE TO GO
Medical Non-Emergencies CHS clinic
Potable Water Ambulance Service at CHS
Potable Water Volunteer Fire Dpts.
Bulk Potable Water City Maintenance Bld.
Public Shelter Crittenden Elementary School
Public Shelters Sheridan Deer Creek Church & Tolu School
Kerosene Ideal or Liberety Fuels
Propane Liberty Fuels or Natural Gas Suppliers
Natural Gas Harris Gas, Salem
Natural Gas UPG or Suburban, Marion


STORM NEWS BRIEFS
Infant formula is available
The Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) will be providing baby formula to clients daily. Distribution was at Marion City Hall from 10 a.m., until 2 p.m., on Tuesday, but was likely to be moved to the hospital later in the week. Call the Emergency Opertions Center at 965-5313 for information on when and were formula can be picked up.
The WIC program is distributing formula in Livingston County between 8 a.m., and 5 p.m., this week at the Smithland Health Department. In Lyon County, the distribution site is Lyon County Elementary School between 10 a.m., and 2 p.m.
•Many convenience stores are now opening in communities across the region. The Store is open in Fredonia during daylight hours. It has fuel, kerosene and non-perishable foods.
At the edge of Livingston County, Salem Foods is open and Harris Gas in Salem is delivering fuel to customers.
•WMJL Radio 102.7 FM is on the air broadcasting emergency information at some point Wednesday afternoon, according to station owner Joe Myers. Electricians have been trying to get the radio on the air since early this week.
Once on the station can broadcast its signal, Myers said a loop of continuous storm information would run throughout the day. It will be updated regularly.
•Residents are being warned about the possibility of fires now that power lines are being energized. Two fires in the county last week destroyed homes on Deer Creek Church Road.
The fires were at the homes of Gary Tabor and Barry Beard. In both cases, fire crews had trouble getting to the homes due to downed limbs. Communications systems were down when one fire broke out and firemen had be summoned in person.
All of the county’s volunteer fire departments are now fully ready to respond to emergencies as communications lines are open and roads are now passable.
•Anyone needing drinking water may fill up their containers for free at the mobile water depot in front of Crittenden Hospital. Also, gallon jugs of drinking water are available from Crittenden Ambulance Service and each of the county’s five rural fire departments.
•Crittenden Health Systems began admitting patients again on Monday. Last week, all patients were evacuated to area hospitals, mostly in Evansville.
Robin Curnel, director of nursing at Crittenden Health Systems, said a FEMA disaster team arrived early this week to help the hospital provide various services. Doctors, nurses, physicians assistants and a pharmacist arrived as part of the relief team.
The hospital established a temporary clinic where patients could be checked out or refill prescriptions. That temporary clinic was supposed to open for the last time on Tuesday. Family Practice Clinic next door to the hospital opened on generator power Tuesday. The hospital pharmacy is open as is CVS in Marion. CVS is open on a regular schedule, 9 a.m., to 9 p.m.
Dr. Greg Maddux said Family Practice Clinic will be open for a broad range of services.
Curnel said the hospital is operating on a generator and has the capabilities to handle emergency care. The most serious medical emergencies will be transferred immediately to other regional hospitals, but general care is now available at Crittenden Hospital.
Finding fresh linens has been an issue, but other area hospitals are starting to help. Western Baptist sent a load Monday to the hospital and nursing home.
•Most restaurants in Marion were unable to serve last week, but by Monday some were working on ways to get their businesses back open. Glenn’s Kountry Kitchen at the Marion Country Club has been among the most innovative. It was open last weekend.
Pizza Roundup on Sturgis Road is not open to the public but owner Steve Haire has been running his pizza ovens and one gas stove. Everything is being prepared by volunteer cooks and the meals are going to the county’s only warming shelter at Crittenden Elementary School.
Haire said most of the food being cooked was either in stock or donated by others.
The schools have started cooking for the shelter, too.
•Ideal Fuels on Sturgis Road was the first gas station to start pumping fuel late last week. Its $10 maximum has been lifted. It is conserving fuel because emergency vehicles are getting gas there, too.
Tabors Chevron opened Sunday morning and is pumping unlimited volumes as is Liberty Fuels which also re-opened early this week.
Fuel has been difficult to find for most residents. The emergency command center has been fueling its vehicles with diesel provided by the Crittenden County School System.
•City Police Chief Ray O’Neal said that crime has been at a standstill. However, his office has logged countless man hours providing security for banks and pharmacies and directing traffic at fueling centers.
Paducah Police sent officers here early this week to help with nighttime patrols, giving local officers a break.
Additionally, National Guard Military Police and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources officers have been mobilized to Marion to help with law enforcement.
•Major relief supplies were brought to Marion Monday night thanks to the National Guard. Among the emergency items were 250 cots, 500 blankets, 8 pallets full of water and 4,500 military MREs (meals ready to eat). The items were distributed to shelters at Crittenden Elementary, Tolu School and Sheridan Fire Department.
More supplies were en route from Frankfort, said Greg Rushing, emergency management director.
•County officials said each of the area’s three natural gas companies – Harris, UPG and Suburban – we back in operation and delivering to customers.
•Crittenden County Courthouse is closed until power is restored to the city.
•Doctors and nurses from the health department and hospital are checking on the condition of refugees staying at the CCES warming shelter and moving them if necessary.

Public shelter
Bill Farmer, 96, who spent a night last week at the Red Cross shelter at CCES along with his wife Birdie, said this year's winter storm was one of the worst he has seen. But maybe not the worst.
Farmer said an early 1950s and 1917 storm rivaled this year's. But, those times were made much easier due to the comparitively-primitive conditions of the day.
Almost 92 years after the fact, he still remembers at the age of four seeing the horses driven up and down the roadway in Crayne in order to keep the ice busted.
Late last week, the Farmers were evacuated to Henderson by their son Mike Farmer.
Very little sleep
Utility lineman and law enforcement used city hall in Marion as an overnight bunkhouse the last few days. One of the few warm, lit places to recover from long, cold hours in the weather, the makeshift Emergency Operations Center provided and adequate respite.
Earlier this week, lineman were also using the hospital to bed down for the night.
Cherry
Rep. Mike Cherry of Princeton said on Monday that the state's coordination of relief efforts with the federal government seemed to be going smoothly.
"All things considered, I think we're plugging along," the Democratic lawmaker said.
Princeton, where the Cherry calls home and co-owns Capitol Cinemas, was hit hard by the ice storm, but power and water to most of the city had been restored by Sunday. The theater was up and running most of the weekend.
He said the legislature will move forward as planned, looking for answers on how to close the state's nearly half-billion-dollar projected shortfall while the executive branch continues to work with the feds to get Kentucky back to normal.
Guard call-up
Garrett McMackin, a member of the local National Guard unit, was glad to be called to duty to help with recover from the ice storm. On Monday, McMackin, 20, was helping stand guard at a local bank as it opened to the public for transactions.
The day before being called up, McMackin was laid off from his job at Food Giant in Sturgis, leaving him to wonder what he would do for employment. With the call-up, McMackin was making almost $200 a day while on active duty.
•The City of Marion paid its employees last week with a little help from a briefcase full of money and a police escort.
City Administrator Mark Bryant, concerned with getting employees their bi-weekly checks, worked with Farmers Bank to get cash to workers since the city's electronic payroll system was not an option. Bank President Gareth Hardin was able to get Bryant $15,000 in cash to meet a portion of payroll.
Many employees agreed to forego compensation so that others could be paid with the limited funds.
•Residents of Crittenden County with court dates missed or scheduled for the coming days can rest easy for a few days.
Circuit Court Clerk Madeline Henderson said Monday that because of the prolonged power outage, many court dates will have to be rescheduled for family, circuit and district courts. Henderson's office will be sending notices for district and circuit court, while the attorneys will be responsible for rescheduling in family court.
Grand jury, scheduled to convene Monday, and district court have already suffered from a judicial system shut down without electricity. Henderson said she will be talking with Circuit Judge René Williams to reschedule grand jury. Jurors will be notified of the new reporting date.
A few cases on the circuit court docket are slated for next Thursday, the longtime clerk said. Whether or not those cases will be heard depends on restored power to Crittenden County Courthouse and the court's calendar.
•Crittenden County Clerk Carolyn Byford said she's pretty sure the state will drop any penalties that may have been incurred from payments through her office made late by the power outage that has shut down the courthouse.
She has yet been able to get in touch with offices in Frankfort to confirm that, however.
"I tried and tried the day before we left," she said Monday.
Taxes and licensing due between Jan. 28 – when power went out across all of Marion, including the courthouse – and the time the power is returned to her office should qualify for penalty abatement, Byford said. However, that is just a guess at this point, she clarified.
Vehicle licensing due in January was already delayed due to a holdup on the state's end, pushing delivery of January notices into February.
When power is restored, Byford's office, as well as other courthouse offices, will reopen to the public
•There is plenty of drinking water available at the City of Marion’s Maintenance Garage on the east end of Elm Street.
The bulk loading station is open for residents to fill up their own containers with potable water.
•Although the shelter at Crittenden Elementary School is the primary refuge for most people, other shelters have opened in Tolu and Sheridan.
At Tolu the old school, which is now a community center, started cooking meals this week and was planning to open as an overnight shelter for the first time Tuesday night.
At Sheridan, the fire station is preparing meals for residents and providing a warm place to sleep overnight. Monday night Sheridan’s fire department hosted 60 refugees.
•Crittenden County Health and Rehab is trying to get an additional generator in order to open another wing so that more patients can be accommodated.
Nursing home administrator Bob Briley said he is getting requests for new admissions and hopes to have space available in the coming days.
•The Kentucky National Guard is bringing in portable showers later this week. The showers will be available at the Crittenden Elementary School shelter.
•Additional information will be published in next week’s Early Bird and The Crittenden Press. In the meantime, information is being updated at The Press Online. If you can view the Internet, please pass along any important information to your neighbors who may not have accesss. Also, tune to WMJL Radio 102.7 in Marion.

Blue lights
Law enforcement officers are running their blue strobe lights while patrolling areas of the city and county during the winter storm’s aftermath.
City Police Chief Ray O’Neal said that operating the blue lights does two things by making them more conspicuous in neighborhoods. First, residents will feel safer, he said; and, two, it also lets people know where officers are if they need to flag down help.
“They were doing it in other counties with good results,” O’Neal said. “So starting Monday night, our officers were running their lights while patrolling in the city.”
County deputies and wildlife conservation officers, called in to provide additional security, were also doing the same in rural areas.
O’Neal said he wanted to be sure to let residents know so they are not alarmed when they see the blue flashing lights.
Paducah City Police have also been helping increase patrols in Marion since early this week. Paducah is providing nighttime officers to work the late shift so that Marion policemen can get some rest one week into the recovery from this storm.

Water, food need careful attention
Nancy Hunt, Crittenden County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences, said she has been fielding many calls about freezers and disinfecting water. Hunt said the information comes from Maine’s cooperative extension service.
“They have more experience in the situations we are facing in Crittenden County and the surrounding areas,” Hunt said.
A boil-water order remains in effect for Crittenden County residents who utilize Crittenden -Livingston Water District.
Unless you are absolutely certain your water supply is not contaminated, purify all water before using it for drinking, preparing food, brushing teeth, or washing dishes. If the water contains sediment or floating material, strain it through a cloth before purifying it. If you have access to heat or power, water can be made safe by boiling. If not, you will have to treat it with chemicals.
• Boiling (preferred method): Boil water at a rolling boil for 10 minutes to kill any disease-causing bacteria.
• Chemical treatment: If you can't boil water, chemical treatment will kill most disease-causing organisms. Any of the following three chemical treatments will purify water.
• Chlorine bleach. Household bleach is a good disinfectant for water. Before using, check the label to be sure hypochlorite is the only active ingredient in the bleach. Do not use bleach that contains soap.
Since the amount of chlorine in bleach is variable, use the following table to determine the appropriate amount needed to purify water. Mix the bleach thoroughly in the water, and let it stand for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight chlorine odor. If it doesn't, repeat the dose and let the water stand for an additional 15 minutes.
• Iodine. Household iodine from the medicine cabinet will purify water. The iodine should be 2 percent United States Pharmacopeia (U.S.P.) strength. Add 20 drops per gallon of clear water and 40 drops per gallon of cloudy water.
• Water purification tablets. Water purification tablets will also purify water. These tablets are available at drug stores. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
• Water From the Hot Water Heater. Your hot water heater or water pressure tank could supply many gallons of safe water during an emergency. Before using water from the water heater, switch off the gas or electricity that heats the water. Leaving the power on while the heater is empty could cause an explosion or burn out the elements. After turning off the power source, open the drain valve at the bottom of the tank. Do not turn the water heater on again until the water system is back in service.
Boiled water stored in sterilized containers will keep for six months to one year.
In addition, the American Red Cross is urging awareness to food safety. Perishable foods should not be held above 40 degrees for more than two hours. After weekend temperatures at or above 50 degrees, it is important that foods even suspected of spoiling be disposed of.

Atmos offers natural gas safety in wake of storm
NEWS RELEASE
In the wake of last week’s devastating storm, Atmos Energy, Crittenden County’s supplier of natural gas, has issued a set of tips for customers.
• If you suspect a natural gas leak in your home or outside, call our 24 hour emergency toll-free number 1-866-322-8667 or dial 911.
• For all other service calls, call our toll free number, 1-888-286-6700.
• Forced air furnaces or central heating furnaces require electricity to operate the blowers and electronic ignition. The appliance should return to the normal operations once the power is restored.
• Appliances such as space heaters, water heaters, gas grills and gas ranges should continue to work.  However, please note, gas ranges and gas grills may need to be lit manually.  If you need assistance with that, please contact a local appliance service contractor. 
• Be aware of the carbon monoxide that may be produced if a gas appliance is operating improperly. Carbon monoxide, or CO, is a poisonous, colorless and deadly gas.  Ranges, ovens or grills should not be used as a heating source for inside your home. 
Contact Atmos immediately in the event of an emergency situation.