News from October 19, 2006 issue

Parkers enjoy woodworking;
Crafts on display this weekend
The ability to turn a piece of firewood into a one-of-a-kind bowl or a stack of scrap lumber into a beautiful wooden cutting board doesn't happen overnight. Nor is it advisable for hobbyists desiring instant results.
Philip and Katie Parker can attest to that. It's taken years for the husband-wife duo to hone their skills around a table saw, lathe and carving table. But together, their hobby has morphed into a miniature business with marketable goods, some of which they will showcase at Christmas in Marion Arts & Crafts Show this weekend.
The Parkers, both retired from Kentucky's Corrections Department, spend most days in their woodworking shop. When it comes to undertaking a task and completing it, their philosophies differ; however, with stacks of wood in a climate-controlled building and a host of power tools, the Parkers have a common goal – to enjoy themselves amid a carpet of wood shavings and the aroma of fresh lumber.
"We're not trying to make a living, but we make so many things we need an outlet for them," Philip explains. "If somebody else enjoys it as much as I enjoy making it, then mission accomplished."
The Parkers recently created a gallery for their works of art in their rural Crittenden County home. Filling a glass cabinet are wooden bowls and picture frames, some containing Katie's unique hand carvings. There are cutting boards, unique wine bottle holders, small baskets and Lazy Susans, clocks and a Shaker table, which is Philip's favorite style of furniture.
The Parkers have been especially busy in the last couple of weeks preparing items for their booth at Christmas in Marion.
"It's a hobby for both of us," said Philip, whose love of woodworking began in high school shop class, while Katie developed an interest from her dad.
"My Daddy loved to tinker, so I tinkered with him most of my life," she says with an eastern Kentucky accent.
Some of their crafts have an eastern Kentucky influence, they say, pointing to a beautifully marked block of wood from a box elder tree. Scrap to most, but a commodity in eastern Kentucky, the chunck of lumber looks like little more than a scrap bound for the fireplace; however, the finished product – viewed in the couple's gallery – reveals the unique red grain that looks quite nice as a bowl.
To supply their hobby with the finest kiln-dried lumber they can find, the Parkers keep a large stock of lumber in their climate-controlled garage. Small quantities of high quality lumber are not available to small outfits like the Parkers; but the couple solved that problem by becoming wholesale dealers themselves. Their point is not to turn a profit, but simply to help out other hobbyists like themselves. Though they say the benefit of kiln-dried wood is debatable, they prefer it – and they've even crafted a solar kiln in their back yard.
The Parkers' unique cutting boards, made of walnut, cherry and cherry sap wood, are among their newest and most time-consuming creations. Each board has about six hours of work in it.
There may not be too many cutting boards like these in the future, because Philip says when a project resembles work, it's time to do something different.
The Parkers and other crafters will be at Christmas in Marion Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 12:30-4:30 p.m.

HERITAGE DAYS &
CHRISTMAS IN MARION
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, October 20, 2006
5:00PM 7:00PM St. William Catholic Church Fish Fry
5:30PM 8:30PM Rides and Inflatables Sponsored by Par 4 Plastics and CC Bar Association
7:00PM Crittenden vs Hancock HS Football Game
7:00PM Tolu Haunted House, Tolu, KY (965-3896)

Saturday, October 21, 2006
8:00AM Vendors Open
8:30AM 9:00AM Opening Ceremony, American Legion & CCHS Chorus led by
Mrs. Linda Brown
8:30AM 5PM Rides and Inflatables Sponsored by Par 4 Plastics and CC Bar Association
(Rebecca Johnson, Alan Stout, Zac Greenwell, and Bart Frazer)
8:30AM 5:00PM Straw Maze by Bright Life Farms W. Carlisle Street
9:00AM Clowns roaming the festival area
9:00AM Christmas in Marion Arts and Crafts - Homemakers
9:00AM National Guard Display and "We Care" donation drop Court Street
9:00AM Mechanical Bull Riding E. Carlisle Street
9:00AM Antique Cars
9:00AM 4-H Petting Zoo at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church
9:30AM Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean) Sponsored by KY Farm Bureau
9:30AM Sponge Bob sponsored by Yarbrough Insurance Agency
1:00PM 2:00PM Dash-for-Cash, Sponsored by The Peoples Bank (kids age 2-7)
2:00PM 3:00PM Political Speaking Front of Courthouse
2:00PM FFA Pedal Tractor Pull W. Carlisle Street

Main Stage
9:00AM 10:00AM Pepsi's "Wheel of Fortune" Giveaway Sponsored by Pepsi
10:00AM 10:30AM Deer Creek Church, Sunshine Puppeteers
10:30AM Little Miss Heritage Days (Line-Up) at Ambassadors for Christ Church
10:30AM 11:00AM Deer Creek Church, One Purpose Signing Team
11:00AM 1:00PM Little Miss Heritage Days Pageant, Sponsored by Beta Signa Phi Zeta Alpha (Rain Venue - Family Life Center)
1:00PM 1:30PM Hog Calling Contest, Sponsored by Marion Feed Mill (Rain Venue - Family Life Center)
1:30PM 2:00PM Building Of The Flag Program, Sponsored by The Farmers Bank
3:00PM 6:00 PM FREE CONCERT by Southern Fry’d Band, Sponsored by Tourism Commission

Other Activities
7:00AM 5:00PM Marion Feed Mill Grand Opening
8:00AM 10:00AM VFW Breakfast @ Lodge, 412 North College Street
8:00AM 4:00PM VFW Yard Sale in Basement of Lodge, 412 North College St.
9:00AM 5:00PM Christmas in Marion Arts and Crafts Show @ Fohs Hall
9:00AM Friends Of Crittenden County Public Library Book Sale
9:00AM 4:00PM Marion Tourism Photo Contest - Marion Tourism & Commerce Center
9:00AM 4:00PM Chamber Art Show - Marion Tourism & Commerce Center
9:00AM NWTF "Jake" Day on the Old Marion High Lawn, College Street
9:00AM Crittenden County Historical Society Heritage Exhibits @ Cabin on N. College St. -Apple Cider Making Demonstration
-Log Cabin walk-through
-Pony and Cart
9:00AM United Methodist Women Bake Sale on church lawn
9:00AM 5:00PM Louise's Flowers Sidewalk Sale & Customer Appreciation Day
9:00AM Mineral Dig meet at Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum
11:00AM 1:00PM Crittenden Co. Historical Society Bean & Ham Lunch, 124 E. Bellville St.
-Sun Catcher Stained Glass Give-A-Way
-Indian Corn decorations for sale
4:00PM Crittenden Health Systems drawing
5:00PM Fohs Hall Community Arts Graveyard Tour @ Mapleview Cemetery, W. Bellville St.
7:00PM Flourescent Dig, Ben E. Clement Mineral Museum
7:00PM Tolu Haunted House, Tolu, KY (965-3896)

Sunday, October 22, 2006
12:30PM 4:30PM Christmas in Marion Arts and Crafts - Homemakers
9:00AM Mineral Dig meet at Mineral Museum

Suspect damages cruiser
It seems like every time the Marion Police Department gets a new cruiser, it’s immediately broken in by an unruly suspect.
The department’s brand new cop car was damaged Friday night when officers Bobby West and Ray O’Neal arrested a suspected drunk.
The man, 28-year-old Charles Kenneth Shook of Travis Street, allegedly assaulted the officers and then head-butted the inside door of the cruiser, causing $1,500 in damage.
The police car has only 900 miles on it, but now will have to have the entire door replaced, said Police Chief Kenneth Winn.
This is the fourth time an angered suspect has damaged a police cruiser.
Officers eventually used their Taser gun to subdue Shook. He was charged with public intoxication, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, two counts of assaulting a police officer, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance and criminal mischief, first degree.

Neighbors volunteer to fire blasts

Rocket boom is back
The boom is back.
Traditional fireworks blasts following Rocket touchdowns return Friday night.
Rocket fans Nathan and Stefanie Graham, who live at the end of Chadd Street, have donated fireworks and their back yard to revive a long-standing Crittenden County tradition.
Like many other Rocket fans, the Grahams were disappointed to learn the post-score booms would not be fired effective the start of this football season.
“Last year when there were complaints, we said it’s just a few weeks out of the year, and it means so much to the players and parents,” Stefanie Graham explained.
While the couple are not from Marion, they have a fourth grade son, which has gotten them involved in local sports.
The Grahams were among the first to volunteer their property – which is adjacent to the gravel parking lot behind Rocket Stadium – to set off the loud blasts.
Recently, while traveling through Missouri with his job as a lift technician, Nathan Graham purchased some fireworks comparable to those used in the past.
“He bought eight, and if we use all of those we'll get some more,” Stefanie Graham said.
While the couple can hear play-by-play action via the stadium's PA system, one of the Grahams plans to attend the game, while the other stays home and lights fireworks following each touchdown beginning Friday night.
“We tried one of them in the front yard,” Stefanie said. “They have the spray of lights and a boom, they're just like a little version of what they used to have.”