Significant expansion expected at Safetran
Marion's second-largest manufacturer should be adding several new jobs in the near future, according to a local official with Safetran Traffic Systems.
Donnie Bane, plant manager of Safetran's Marion facility, confirmed on Friday that the manufacturer of railroad signal, communication and relay equipment will be expanding. Bane said he could not comment further on the company's decision to grow the Marion operation, but added that an official announcement would be forthcoming from corporate headquarters in Louisville, perhaps as early as next week.
The announcement was made to employees on May 5. The Marion plant, one of only three Safetran manufacturing facilities, employs about 50 full-time and 25 temporary workers. The addition of new full-time jobs in Marion through the company's consolidation of operations could drive its job numbers to near or above that of Par 4 Plastics, which is nearby in the South Industrial Park.
Par 4, which had laid off around 25 workers over the past few months due to a slowdown in the automotive industry, also has good news. It recently called back about a half dozen employees and company president Joe McDaniel said there could be more coming back in the near future. Par 4 had increased its payroll to about 140 workers before layoffs began over the winter.
Local elected and economic officials have been tight-lipped on Safetran's expansion, as have plant personnel, but the additional jobs creation could be significant.
The announcement at Safetran comes on the heels of the company's decision to close its manufacturing site in Orange Park, Fla., near Jacksonville. Financial incentives from the Kentucky Cabinet of Economic Development apparently aided the company's decision to relocate the jobs.
Bane agreed that the expansion is good news for Crittenden County, where unemployment is over 10 percent. Prospective employees can contact the Marion plant to begin the application process, he said.
“I welcome anyone who wants to drop off a resume,” Bane said Monday.
Safetran is located on South Main Street at the edge of town in the former Marion Mining Bolts facility. The building is owned by John Newcom, who once operated the mining bolt plant before closing it about three years ago. Safetran started out in one end of the building but now occupies the entire facility. It's unclear if the expansion would necessitate renting space elsewhere or building a new manufacturing plant. Those questions should be answered later when a formal announcement is made.
Bane said a human resources officer will be at the Safetran plant in the near future to conduct job fairs and oversee hiring.
Safetran opened in Marion in 2002, employing 30 workers, all of whom had worked at Tyco International, which closed its doors in 2000. Many of those employees remain at the Safetran plant today.
As the auto industry has suffered during the worldwide economic recession, the rail industry is flourishing. In fact, Bane said Safetran was recently awarded a contract with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Worldwide, Safetran has installations on every continent except Antarctica and has been in operation more than 80 years. Safetran is a subsidiary of Invensys Power Systems, a global leader in technology and controls for a variety of used from oil refineries to power stations and from railways to domestic appliances.

Mother Nature inflicts damage on county... again
Mother Nature struck again last week, causing damage to both private and public properties after flash flooding and a brief hail storm.
In the early morning hours Friday, a line of severe thunderstorms passed over Crittenden County, dumping hail stones the size of golf balls and a deluge of rain that washed away portions of county roads. Though damage from both the hail and flooding was heavy in some areas, it was largely isolated to specific areas.
“We had about 20 roads damaged that were impassable to most passenger vehicles,” said Judge-Executive Fred Brown.
In the last 16 months, weather has led to extensive municipal damages. In 2008, it was an ice storm in February, followed by flooding in April and hurricane-force winds from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ike in September. So far this year it has been a massive ice storm that hit in January and last week's flash floods.
Crews with the county road department were out early Friday after dawn making repairs, hoping the patches would hold through another line of thunderstorms expected later that day. Most of the flooding damage to roads was isolated to the northeastern portions of the county around the Shady Grove and Mattoon areas. Rain in Marion was much lighter overnight, but hail pelted many areas of town.
On Cave Springs Road near its junction with Cool Springs Road, about a 20-foot length of pavement remains missing, washed away into a creek bed from rushing floodwaters. Only a concrete slab is left for traffic to pass over.
Brown said the county had to also repair 12 tiles that were washed out.
"We had many tiles, culverts and bridges gorged from material that was left over from the ice storm," he added. "This will happen any time we get heavy rains for as long as two years, because of all the limbs, trees and debris that have fallen and accumulated upstream."
Most of the patches made Friday have held thus far, despite an additional downpour Friday afternoon that dumped almost two inches of rain over a short period. Brown said he does not believe assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be available for this most recent disaster.
Meantime, hail stones more than an inch in diameter pelted roofs and vehicles in Marion in the overnight hours Thursday. Local weather watcher Brenda Underdown, who has a metal roof on her house on Oak Hill Drive, said the sound was deafening.
Hail fell for only a couple of minutes, but local body shops have been flooded with calls for estimates and repairs to vehicles.
"We've been getting flooded with phone calls and people coming by wondering what to do," said Shannon Lain, owner of Marion Body Shop.
Lain said Kentucky Farm Bureau had filed 25 claims by 11 a.m., Friday. He also said on Monday that he continues to get about a dozen calls a day about repairs. Bill Asbridge, who owns Asbridge Body Shop in the Frances area, has also seen hail damage from broken glass to dented metal. Brown's Auto Body, too, reported an increase in requests for body work.
The worst Lain has seen is about $3,000 in damages incurred to one customer's car. The heaviest of the hail appears, he said, to have been in the northeastern corner of Marion. He added that some people reported hail the size of softballs. It's the worst damage he has seen from hail since a May 3, 2003 hail storm in Paducah, when he operated a body shop in Smithland.
The same weather events that have plagued property owners and government over the last two years have kept Lain and his counterparts busy. In fact, Lain said he and his five body shop employees have had to cancel scheduled time off.
"I've canceled three vacations," he said.
The latest was this month, put on hold after last week's event.
"You've got to take the work when you can get it," Lain said.
While last week's storms left more damage in western Kentucky where clean-up from January's ice storm continues, at least two people were killed elsewhere in Kentucky from the line of activity. Gov. Steve Beshear also declared some counties disaster areas.

Water tower in Crayne to be razed
For nearly a quarter of a century, the Crayne Water tower has been a landmark on the southern Crittenden County horizon.
Within a couple of weeks, it will be gone, a victim of progress.
Crittenden-Livingston Water District is having the tower taken down by a contractor. The 200,000-gallon, light blue standpipe tank has not been used in several months. Maintaining it is too expensive if it's not in use, so the water district is dropping it in the coming days at a cost of $7,500.
Preferred Tank and Tower of Henderson will be doing the work. District Superintendent Donnie Beavers says the contractor plans to use torches to cut the tank in two near its base and fall it much like cutting a tree.
The tank stands 80 feet tall and its footprint is about 20 feet in diameter. It's made of steel and was built in 1985. During its service, the tank served water customers from Mott City to the southern city limits of Marion.
The tank is located in the middle of property owned by James R. Dorroh, who sold the small lot to the water district years ago. Beavers said Dorroh will have first right to buy the land back at its original selling price.
"Mr. Dorroh was kind enough to work with the water district years ago when we needed to buy the land, and we appreciate that," Beavers said. "He was willing to do that for the good of the people of the county."
The holding tank at Crayne is one of six water district tanks in the two counties. There is a 600,000-gallon tank on Wilson Hill in Marion, a 150,000-gallon tank at Moore Hill near Marion, a 200,000-gallon tank between Burna and Salem, a 100,000-gallon tank at Joy and a 400,000-gallon tank south of Smithland off Heater Store Road. There is also a 300,000-gallon tank at the water plant at Pinckneyville.
When the water district built the large tank on Wilson Hill above Marion three years ago, it rendered the Crayne tower useless.
Beavers said the elevation of the new tank overcomes that of the Crayne tower which would back up water in Crayne too long causing it to go stale in the tank.
The Crayne tower is a standpipe tank like the one at Moore Hill which was built in 1974. Some of the tanks, like the one on Wilson Hill, are elevated leg tanks.
"The one at Moore Hill needs to be replaced," Beavers said. "It was originally built to provide water to the City of Salem. It's outdated and we're looking at trying to get some federal stimulus money to replace it."

Three months remain for Relay to reach $24,000 goal
Crittenden County Relay for Life is three-quarters of the way to its goal of $24,000.
More than 200 people from the community, including cancer survivors, team members and committee members took part in Friday’s Relay, held indoors for the second year in a row because of inclement weather. More than $18,000 has been raised thus far, according to Stephanie Elder, community representative for the American Cancer Society.
Participants grilled out, took part in a silent auction and helped raise additional funds to fight back against cancer. They also enjoyed the entertainment of the local signing team, cloggers, a praise band and more.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better Relay for Life event with the weather conditions at the time,” Elder said. “We had a great turnout despite having to move inside.”
A decision to move the Relay inside the Carson G. Davidson National Guard Armory was made last Wednesday, two days prior to the scheduled event at Marion-Crittenden County Park. Recent downpours had left the park too soggy, and forecasts had accurately predicted additional storms for Friday.
“We were able to introduce Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society to a great deal of people in Marion,” Elder added. “More lives will be saved and more cancer patients will be able to celebrate more birthdays because of the donations the residents of Crittenden County made.”
The American Cancer Society’s current ad campaign bill the organization as the official sponsor of birthdays.
“Nearly 200 luminarias lined the inside of the armory to celebrate those who have won the battle against cancer, to remember those we have lost to cancer and to recognize those caregivers who have so graciously taken care of our loved ones when they were ill,” she added.
Donations from local businesses also helped the volunteers in setting up and preparing for the 13th annual Relay event in Marion.
“We are grateful to have such supporting businesses in this community. We could not have put on this event without them,” said Sue Padget, who co-chaired the event for a second year with Frank Blackburn.
“We are truly making great strides in the fight against cancer,” Blackburn added.
While the Relay is now over, contributions toward the goal will be collected until Aug. 31. Contributions may be sent to: American Cancer Society, Relay for Life of Crittenden County, 3140 Parisa Dr., Paducah KY 42003 or by contacting the American Cancer Society office at 444-0384.
While another $6,000 is needed to reach the current goal, plans are already being made for next year’s fund-raising event. A wrap-up meeting for team captains, the 2009 planning committee and anyone who is interested in joining the 2010 planning committee will be next week.
“We should have next year's date by then,” Elder said.
A location and time for the meeting are still to be determined, but more information can be obtained by calling Padget 704-1558 at or Blackburn at 704-1419.
Relay teams for 2010 can take advantage of early sign-up without paying the registration fee.
“For a limited time, the $100 registration fee will be waived for any team that signs up for next year’s event now,” Elder said.
For more information on registration for next year, contact Elder at 444-0744.