News from July 10, 2008 issue

Local News
The Crittenden Press (PDF)
(Selected pages from Sections A & B)
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Slow growing season, operator's death raise
questions about future of farmers' market
Standing with a smile on his face and wearing his cowboy hat and boots, Greg Stallion had become a popular fixture working at Marion Farmer’s Market this year.
“Lord, he was a talker,” said Valerie Roberson, a friend of Stallion’s who often worked with him at the market. “He knew everybody that came up here; he never met a stranger.”
But on June 30, Greg’s father, Bill Stallion, who had previously worked the market until health concerns caused him to retire in 2007, found his son dead at his home. Greg would have celebrated his 55th birthday Tuesday.
Greg, who had written a book and dabbled in knife and leather making, operated the market for his family since the beginning of the year.
“It’s shocking and it still doesn’t seem real – it just blew all of our minds,” said Roberson, who was married to Greg for seven years and mothered their only child, Jessica. “We’re just taking it a day at a time and doing the best we can with the situation.”
Although the death has made it difficult, family members were back at the North Main Street market just two days after Greg’s funeral.
“It’s hard to get back out and do it again or keep yourself going, but we need to keep busy and keep our minds off of a lot of things,” said Roberson. “(Greg) would want us to keep it going, because he loved doing the market.”
Nancy Croft said Greg will be missed.
“(Greg) did a good job over there and he always had new things,” said Croft, , a teller at the Farmers Bank and Trust branch across the street from the farmers market. “The days they were closed there were numerous cars over there and even people would come in here and ask why they were closed.”
Croft, who has been going to the market since its inception in 2000, said that Greg was very nice and helpful with her and the other customers.
“I felt so sorry for them and had so much sympathy for them,” she said of Greg’s family.
The family has been involved in produce sales since 1954, but Bill’s failing health forced his son to take over the long days at the market this spring. Following Greg’s death, many questioned whether or not the market would continue, since the majority of fruit and vegetable selection at the market was courtesy of the Stallion family.
The family considered ceasing their vending at the market altogether, but Roberson said Bill and Becky Stallion, Greg’s parents, are back at the market despite struggles to stay motivated.
“She didn’t want to do the market anymore, but we gradually got her back up here,” said Roberson of Becky. “She was kind of tired of it, but now she’s going strong; it’s good therapy for her.”
Rose Crider, president of Marion Main Street Inc., which manages the farmers market, was one of those unsure of its future, but said that after meeting with the Stallion family, she was confident fresh produce sales would continue.
“It’s a convenience and it’s very popular with both locals and tourists,” said Crider. “There is always a crowd down there.”
Sales at the market are open to anyone who registers with Marion Main Street and meets minimum standards. Although other vendors are welcome, Roberson and Crider said that the Stallion family has contributed the most to the market since its inception in 2000. Crider said that members of the Amish community have also sold produce at the market, but their participation has declined recently.
In late June, The Associated Press reported that because of a slow growing season, many homegrown markets were struggling to maintain operations and adjust schedules due to weather conditions.
Roberson and Crider attributed the decline of Amish participation as well as that of others raising produce to a late start in the growing season. However, Roberson said business is beginning to pick up as produce becomes more available.
“Everything was late,” said Roberson. “But when it did kick in, it was huge.”
Crider agrees.
“Right now, it seems to be doing fine,” she said Tuesday. “I was down there this morning, and they had plenty of vegetables.”
Even with the death of Greg, who had been involved with the produce since he was a one-year-old at his father’s side, Roberson believes business won’t be affected. She said the family wants to continue with their produce sales at the market.
“We’re the main shebang,” said Roberson of the family’s place at the market. “Everybody just expects us to be here because we’ve been here for so long.”
According to Roberson and Becky, the family will maintain their normal business hours at the market, but will be closed on Sunday and Monday during the market’s season through October.
“(Greg) grew up in the market, it was all he knew and he loved it,” added Roberson. “It was the family business and he would want it to go on.”
And that doesn’t mean for just this year.
“As long as everybody’s health is okay, it’ll be here again next year. We’re going to keep it going as long as we can.”

Relay retries Friday after rain delay
 Mother Nature appears to be in favor of the American Cancer Society’s second go at this year’s Relay for Life.
Threatening storms, lighting and rain washed out the annual cancer-fighting fundraiser last month, but the forecast for this Friday shows only a few clouds and muggy evening temperatures for participants at the rescheduled affair. That’s a relief for the lead organizer of this year’s event.
“We’ve been plagued by the weather this year,” said Stephanie Elder Tuesday from her Paducah office of the American Cancer Society.
Inclement weather has already forced several western Kentucky Relay for Life events to be rescheduled this spring and summer. But even if the forecast for the make-up date in Crittenden County changes before Friday, Elder has her bases covered. If rain threatens again to wash out plans for Marion-Crittenden County Park, all events at this weekend’s abbreviated Relay will be held indoors at the Carson G. Davidson National Guard Armory in Marion.
Little has changed as far as the ceremonies originally scheduled at the park’s track, though the all-night walk for this year’s 10 teams has been cancelled. There will still be a survivor’s recognition, opening ceremonies, food and luminaries, as well as a live auction.
“The big thing we want to stress is for the survivors to come out,” Elder said.
The Relay will take place from 6 to 11 p.m., at the park.
Survivor registration will begin at 6 p.m., to kick off the Relay. All cancer survivors in Crittenden County and surrounding communities are invited to attend. Opening ceremonies will follow at 6:30 p.m., with the survivor ceremony to take place at approximately 7:30 p.m.
During the night, hot dogs, side dishes, drinks and desserts will be sold with profits going to Relay for Life. Community members will have a chance to bid on many items such as a Mary Kay basket valued at $120 and an Arbonne spa basket valued at more than $200 during the live auction at 8:30 p.m.
The Luminary Ceremony will be held at 9 p.m., and Elder said visitors are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and witness the ceremony commemorating cancer survivors and those who have lost their battle with the disease.
Luminaries will be available the night of the event until 8 p.m., for a minimum donation of $5 each.
Also during the night, cancer survivor and Crittenden County resident Kelsey Thompson will be presented with a $1,000 scholarship from the American Cancer Society, an award she has received for two consecutive years.
The goal for this year’s Relay for Life in Crittenden County remains $30,000. Elder said rescheduling the affair certainly shouldn’t affect its intended outcome.
“I definitely don't think it will hurt as far as the money,” she said. “Teams has have more time to plan and get things together, and we probably wouldn't have had great attendance (during threatening weather last month).“
Anyone wishing to make a donation to this year’s Relay for Life, can contact the American Cancer Society office at 444-0384.


Findley tackles degree hurdles with 2+2 option
 Many students go off to college every year to find their dreams, but Chris Findley was an exception. There was a time when his dream of a bachelor's degree seemed farther away than the moon.
“Life just has a way of working out,” said Findley, a 2004 graduate of Crittenden County High School. “I am ready for what lies ahead.”
After examining his accomplishments to date, one would be hard pressed to believe anything otherwise.
It is hard to imagine some of the struggles Findley has faced to get to this point. However, through his dedication, commitment to success, and positive outlook, he is “among Murray State University's best and brightest,” according to Madisonville Community College Trustee Bonita Hatfield of Marion.
As a student of the Murray State University-Madisonville Regional Campus 2+2 Business Administration Program, Findley has not been the typical college student. Unlike the majority of his peers, Findley, 23, has the responsibility of parenthood, work and school.
Becoming a father in February of his senior year in high school, Findley knew early on that the road to his dream of a college education would be full of high hurdles. Choosing to better himself for the sake of his daughter's future, he had to make tough choices to support his family. Findley worked at McDonald's in Marion beginning at 4 a.m.. up until his classes started each day. His routine started while still in high school and continued into his first couple of semesters of college. At night, he went back to work the dinner rush.
Despite a hectic work schedule, Findley managed last year to earn an associate's degree with a business transfer certificate. Not only did he graduate with a high grade point average, he was named the Madisonville Community College Business Student of the Year for his graduating class.
Up for any new challenge and not wanting to stop with his associate's degree, Findley continued on at Madisonville Community College with the Murray State University 2+2 Program which means two years at MCC and two more years taking Murray State classes at MCC.
Findley will graduate from the program in about a year.
He credits his success to the support he received from his family, friends and current employer, Farmer's Bank in Marion. They have allowed him to seek a dream, Findley said.
"Findley is truly an example of how hard work will pay off," Hatfield said.
Appreciating what he gained from his experiences, Findley understands the importance of giving back to the community. He has been a little league softball coach and a mentor in the Gear Up and Soar Program in Crittenden County. He has even participated as a discussion leader for the University of Kentucky APES Program where he had the opportunity to educate high school juniors and seniors about business careers. He also served as the 2007 guest speaker for the Crittenden County High School Awards Night.
"Findley is a wonderful example of how hard work pays off," added Hatfield.
Findley plans to continue banking and already has his sights set on his Master of Business Administration degree.

Local fundraising offers CCHS grads more college aid
 For about $1,000 a year, a student from Crittenden County can attend Madisonville Community College.
Thanks to an aggressive Madisonville Community College (MCC) fundraising campaign and Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) funds, Crittenden County High School graduates have a greater opportunity than ever for attending college near their home.
Bonita Hatfield, a Marion resident and immediate past chairman of the Madisonville Community College Board of Trustees as well as a former Crittenden County school teacher, understands the balancing act most parents face when choosing a college for their children.
At Madisonville, Hatfield said local families can find a quality education at an affordable cost and close to home.
With scholarship money exclusively earmarked for Crittenden County students and an average of about $1,200 in KEES money, students can go to MCC and earn an associate's degree for under $4,000, said John Peters, advancement director for the college.
"When it comes down to economic factors that we all deal with these days, certainly the amount of education one can get for the money should be prime concern for parents," Hatfield said.
The annual cost for attending MCC is roughly $3,700 per year. Peters and Hatfield say that most Crittenden students qualify for at least $1,100 in scholarship money. That amount is anticipated to increase to $1,400 in the next few years as the local endowment grows.
With $1,400 from the Crittenden County endowment and $1,200 in KEES money, that's $2,600.
“For a student of a middle-income family that cannot qualify for any other type of financial aid, that allows them to go to college for about $1,000 a year,” Peters said.
The Crittenden County Endowment for Excellence started in the fall of 2004 with an aggressive fundraising campaign to help students from this county go to college. So far, MCC has received $203,000 in commitments from area benefactors and has a large part of that already in the bank. Peters hopes to reach $300,000 by next year.
Farmers Bank of Marion has been the largest benefactor so far, contributing $52,000 to the endowment fund.
Right now, MCC offers 10 scholarships for $1,100 to Crittenden County students each year. That number should go up to 14 scholarships in the amount of $1,400 by 2011, Peters added.
Hatfield, who serves along with Sharie Frazer of Marion on the board of trustees, said Crittenden County students who want to attend college but do not realize they have the resources to do so should look first at Madisonville Community College.
They will be able to do that Monday at the Marion Ed-Tech Center where a MCC representative will be available from 11 a.m., until 2 p.m. MCC staff will be able to answer questions about financial aid or general enrollment.