News from March 18, 2003 issue


Constables get blue lights back
Magistrates have restored county constables with the power to run blue emergency lights on their vehicles, but with some restrictions and a measure of caution.

It was the most discussed issue during Tuesday's regular meeting of the Crittenden County Fiscal Court. The issue was raised by District 6 constable Billy Arflack and Eddie Jack Myers, who is running unopposed in a special election for District 4 constable. Myers will take office in November if elected.
Arflack said he had discussed the proposal with a couple of other constables and Sheriff Wayne Agent.

County Attorney Alan Stout cautioned the fiscal court to use its power to restrict the use of the blue lights. Stout told magistrates that only they may authorize constables to use emergency lights on their vehicles.

"That's about the only control you have," he said.

Arflack said the lights would be used only to help at traffic accidents, other emergency situations or when "we were sure somebody was DUI."

Stout urged the constables to use extreme caution in regard to pulling drivers over for DUI. The county attorney said that without proper training it's difficult to prosecute cases unless the officer is certified to administer field sobriety tests. In fact, Stout encouraged magistrates to give constables authority to use blue lights only for traffic control or under the authorization from the sheriff.

The county currently has five constables, Arflack, C.L. McDaniel, Roy Todd, Jim Blackburn and Loyd Patton.

There have been several situations arise in the past regarding constables using blue lights and sirens. The county stripped constables of their rights to use emergency lights and sirens a few years ago after some well-documented incidents.

"I understand the problems that you've had in the past and some have made a mockery of law enforcement," Myers told magistrates, "but we have both been with the fire departments for several years and have never abused red lights."
Myers was also previously a deputy sheriff.

Magistrate Dan Wood said he had no problem with current constables and believes they will exercise good judgment with blue lights, but he asked "what about if there is a personnel change? That could create problems."

Stout reminded magistrates and the two constables at the meeting that the fiscal court has the power to allow blue lights, but it can also disallow the use at any time.

Other magistrates talked about situations in the past that led to the removal of blue lights from constables' vehicles. Then, after the lengthy discussion, the court approved the use of blue lights by constables only at traffic accidents or under the direct authority of the sheriff.

Jeep Ramble highlights Backroads
Planners hope a new event will spice up the 15-year-old Backroads Festival next month.

The Backroads 4X4 Ramble, hosted by Paddy's Bluff, is expected to bring a whole new spectrum of tourists to this year's April 23-24 festival, planned jointly by Marion Main Street and the Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce.

Paddy's Bluff owner John Travis said he hopes his regulars will see the new event as an opportunity to bring their families to town. He thinks newcomers will see the coinciding festival as a way to provide activities for the family while dad or mom are four-wheeling.

The day of the Ramble, said Travis, drivers and families will be treated to an evening of entertainment with a bonfire and live music by the blues-country rock band Soulshine.

"Lots of people bring families and kids to the park now," Travis said of the 650-acre preserve that opened a year ago to all-terrain and sport utility vehicle enthusiasts.

The Ramble invites afficionados of ATVs to meet at Marion-Crittenden County Park for a highway tour of the Amish country, past the Ohio River and on to Paddy's Bluff ATV Park. The park opens its miles of trails ­ some extreme ­ to Jeeps, four-wheelers, motorcycles and custom 4x4s every weekend.
Hours are now 10 a.m., to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. In April, the park will begin staying open until 8 p.m.

The trails which visitors take are an individual choice, said Travis.

"It just depends on how good your nerves are," he said, laughing. But the park has built a solid following.

"We have a lot of regulars who come over from Illinois and up from Tennessee," he said. "And we also pull from Madisonville, Mayfield and Paducah."

Travis said the idea to tie in a Paddy's Bluff event with the annual Backroads Festival came from Keith Stout, Larry Curnel and Troy Johnson ­ some regular Jeepers.

"They came to me with it back in late January," Travis said. "There's a big rally at LBL every year, and we kicked it around and decided to do it. We'd like to have a big turnout in Marion."
Travis approached the recently formed Marion Tourism Commission in February to pitch the notion. Commissioners jumped on the bandwagon, readily agreeing to add the Ramble to the festival's marketing efforts.

As in the past, the Backroads Festival is scheduled to coincide with the annual Paducah, Ky., show and sale of the American Quilter's Society. Marion Main Street Director Rose Crider said it would be difficult to gauge how many visitors to expect with the addition of the Backroads Ramble, but she said the community is geared up and ready to greet visitors.

"For the last 15 years we've welcomed company to our community. We hope that people who have been here before will come back to see us and we're excited about first-time visitors," Crider said. "And of course we urge our own citizens to come out and enjoy the festival."

For more information or to reserve a vendor booth at the courthouse, contact Jeanne Hodge at the Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-755-0361 or 965-5015, ext. 101. Or call Crider at 704-0134 or 965-2748, or visit www.marionky.com.


Citizen wants adult business laws
A local resident asked the Crittenden County Fiscal Court Tuesday to consider implementing some countywide regulations to restrict any potential adult-oriented businesses that might establish here.

Linda Schumann told magistrates that the Family Foundation of Kentucky is encouraging local governments to be proactive in regard to initiating regulations for adult businesses before they're up and running.

"Right now Crittenden County does not have any regulations to prohibit adult, sexually-oriented businesses," Schumann said. She cited a situation in Larue County where an adult business "popped up virtually overnight."

Schumann said Lyon County had recently enacted regulations similar to those she recommended to the Crittenden Fiscal Court.

County Attorney Alan Stout said he would go through the sample regulations that Schumann presented to the court and report back his findings during the April meeting.

Stout said he is aware of other counties that have for many years been wrestling with adult-oriented businesses.