-News from December 10, 2009 issue

Local News
The Crittenden Press Full Version (PDF)

Crider, Johnson at vanguard of Christmas event
Community spirit and pride in their hometown are common denominators for this year’s Marion Christmas Parade grand marshals.
Rose Crider and Margaret June Johnson each have long histories of community service. Their shared respect for Marion and Crittenden County is unmatched and together they’ve made a difference in the way people view their fair city.
“They have been a driving force behind much of the effort to preserve the historic integrity of downtown,” said Marion Main Street, Inc., Director Susan Alexander.
Crider served eight years as director of Main Street, Inc, and Johnson was among the charter members of Main Street’s Board of Directors. Renovation projects by the community development group have led to the construction of new sidewalks, decorative lamp posts and other beautification efforts in the city.
“They, along with some others, had a great deal of foresight,” Alexander said. “They had a vision and have never lost it.”
Together, Crider and Johnson will share Main Street starting at 2 p.m., Saturday as they lead the parade, which runs from Elm to First streets. The theme of this year’s Christmas Parade is “The Magic of Christmas.” It is sponsored by WMJL radio station.
Crider and Johnson indeed have a great deal in common in regard to their service to this community not withstanding the fact that they also share a grandson, James Harrison Crider. His parents are Kenny Crider and Rebecca Johnson Crider.
Rose Crider taught kindergarten for several years, has been active in the Crittenden County Extension Homemakers, a former board member of the Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce and is a member and former Sunday school teacher at Marion Baptist Church.
Johnson and her husband, the late James W. Johnson, were co-founders of Johnson’s Furniture and Appliances, Co., Inc. , one of the oldest businesses remaining in Marion. She was a charter member of the Crittenden County Chamber, has been a member of the Marion Woman’s Club for 59 years and worked on the committee on which Marion was named an All-Kentucky City three times. Johnson is also a member of Fohs Hall Inc., the Fohs Hall Community Arts Foundation, the American Legion Auxiliary and a past member of Extension Homemakers. She is an active member of the Marion United Methodist Church.
Johnson maintains an interest in the family business, of which her son, James C. Johnson, is president. Her granddaughter, Patti Merrill, is the third generation to have a hand in the family furniture stores and she is also keeping up the tradition of community service for which her grandmother is pleased.
“Marion is a great place to live,” said Johnson, who grew up in Princeton, but moved here about 60 years ago. “I am proud of this community and the people. You don’t find people like this in every community.”
Unfortunately, Crider will not participate in the parade because of a fall she took recently, which resulted in a broken arm. She was in the hospital early this week.

4-year-old killed in Joy wreck
The death of four-year-old Damien Crain in a tragic automobile accident last week has left his family and friends with emotional trauma that will be long-lasting.
Crain died in a crash Wednesday, Dec. 2 when his mother lost control of her vehicle and slammed into a bridge abutment on a cold and rainy night near Joy in rural Livingston County.
Some of the first people to the scene knew the boy and were deeply troubled by the wreckage and loss of life, said a spokesperson for the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department.
Crain was a preschool student at Crittenden County Elementary. His teacher, Stacy Hardin, said understanding, and explaining the young boy’s death to classmates is heart-wrenching.
“This is the most difficult thing I have had to face in my entire 15 years at school,” Hardin said.
Crain had enrolled in the preschool program in January.
“He was a very enthusiastic and energetic little boy,” Hardin said. “He loved race cars, trucks, building things with his friends and he liked sausage on a stick.
“Most of all he loved puppy dogs. Anytime you would see Damien, you would almost always  see him with his favorite stuffed puppy dog that he  wanted to take everywhere. Damien loved to try new activities and accomplish new goals,” his teacher added. “When he would learn something new, his smile would light up our  entire classroom and he would always say, ‘Me did it!’”
His smile is greatly missed in the preschool classroom, his teacher said.
“It is so hard for  me to think about the void that will be left in our classroom,” she added.
Donations are being accepted at Boyd Funeral Home to help the family with funeral expenses.
His mother, Andrea Crain, 25, of Salem could face criminal charges as a result of the accident and her son’s death. She was driving a 1996 Toyota Camry northbound on Ky. 133 in the long straight flat just south of Joy Store. The accident happened at 10:30 p.m.
Investigators say that her vehicle left the road and she overcorrected, sending the vehicle into a spin. It had traveled along the shoulder for about 200 feet before striking the end of a bridge. The impact literally tore the car in half, Peck said.
Peck said the child had been secured in a booster seat with a shoulder belt, but died on impact.
The road was wet but not icy, according to reports.
Charlotte Williams at the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department said the accident was very traumatic for family, friends and for the rescue workers and deputies who were dispatched to the scene.
The mother was taken to Livingston Hospital, then to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. She was originally listed in serious condition.
Peck said Monday that charges have not been filed against the mother, but he indicated that the investigation is continuing. He said her blood alcohol content was taken at the scene using a portable breathalyzer test. County Attorney Billy Riley said Tuesday that blood samples taken from the mother at Livingston Hospital will be requested via a search warrant.
Riley said he didn’t know how long it would take before results would be available.
The deputy said the mother had walked from the scene to a nearby home to summon help. When she and nearby residents returned to the scene and found the child in the wreckage.
The boy’s funeral was Tuesday at Boyd Funeral Directors in Salem. Donations are being accepted to help cover funeral expenses.

Vince earns national certification
Kim Vince, a Crittenden County High School social studies teacher, has become the first teacher in the school district to earn a prestigious National Board Certification.
She completed the nearly year-long process in June of 2009 and found out only recently that she passed the four-part portfolio section and the written exam.
"I hope it gives the students confidence in me, that I'm going to do the best I can to help them learn as much as possible," Vince said of her accomplishment. "I went through this to achieve something and I want them to achieve something as well."
Superintendent Dr. Rachel Yarbrough said she and the Board of Education applaud Vince for her time, effort and commitment. She also encourages other teachers to follow in Vince's footsteps.
"We appreciate her professionalism and dedication to improving student learning each and every day,” Yarbrough said. “Crittenden County High School is fortunate to have such a highly qualified educator on the team.”
The Crittenden County native has been teaching upper class social studies for seven years at CCHS. She earned her undergraduate degree from Western Kentucky University and her master's from Murray State.
Earning the certification allows Vince to be able to teach anywhere in the country and has moved her to the highest rank for teachers – Rank 3. The certification also secures her an annual $2,000 pay raise from the state.
Earning the certification entails a lengthy process. It consists of creating a portfolio encompassing writing in the classroom, a large group discussion, a small group discussion, and it takes into account what the teacher has done to increase his or her knowledge base. The components are written and videotaped then sent to a review committee.
Reflection is a major part of the process, Vince explained.
“You can't just say your students did a good job or a bad job, you have to figure out why and change it if they didn't do well,” Vince said.
The portfolio has to meet 12 standards, which include knowledge of subject matter, reflection, professional contributions and family interactions, to name a few.
The exam was six questions ranging in topics including U.S. history, world history and economics.
Vince said the topics other than U.S. history were challenging because she’s been focused on state history in her own classroom and hasn't concentrated as much on other topics.
The certification lasts for 10 years and has to be renewed prior to expiration. Vince plans on having to renew her certification twice before retiring. The renewal process is much less intensive than the original certification process, consisting of one portfolio entry, instead of four, and no exam.
Less than one-third of teachers pass the certification process the first time. If they don't pass they can take that part over one time and do not have to re-do the entire process.