-News from January 7, 2010 issue

Local News
The Crittenden Press Full Version (PDF)

County gives building to community groups
Crittenden County magistrates agreed to a plan Monday morning to give the former health department building to local organizations that serve the needy.
“This will help them consolidate all of their services into one place,” said Crittenden County Judge-Executive Fred Brown.
The county’s health department has moved from the corner of Second and Walker streets to a new $1.2 million facility at the Industrial Park South.
That left the building at 402 North Walker Street virtually vacant. The health department will still use part of the facility for storage, but all of its services are now conducted at the new site off Industrial Drive next to the Marion Ed-Tech Center.
The health department’s former building, a 2,700-square-foot structure, was built about 50 years ago. Services were moved because the health department had outgrown the facility. The new building is being paid for through grants equalling about $1.1 million and a $100,000 loan from the City of Marion Revolving Loan Fund.
Magistrates approved a plan to allow Pennyrile Allied Community Services (PACS) outreach program headed by Kathy Penn to move from the basement of the courthouse into the former health department building. Additionally, Crittenden County Food Bank and Crittenden County Cares, two community-based volunteer organizations, will also make it their headquarters.
Other than routine maintenance, Judge Brown said expenses will be minimal. He said utilities generally cost about $300 per month. The health department and PACS will pay one-third of that estimated cost each and the county will pick up the balance.
Crittenden County Cares is the organization born to assist local citizens with housing and other needs after Habitat for Humanity’s local chapter folded a few years ago. The local food bank provides free food to area residents once a month. Crittenden County Hunters for the Hungry will also use the former health department for storing its venison until distribution is arranged through the local food bank.
The PACS office in the basement of the courthouse will be turned into a storage area for the county clerk. That will allow voting at the courthouse to be done in a room instead of in the hallway, County Clerk Carolyn Byford said.

Group needs help cleaning historic cemetery
Dr. Scott Giltner of Louisville and the Gov. Isaac Shelby Chapter Sons of the American Revolution are planning a spring Grave Marking and Dedication Ceremony at two cemeteries in the Fredonia area.
The ceremony will honor three, possibly four, Revolutionary War veterans, including Robert Leeper, who is buried at the Old Fredonia Cemetery. Leeper died Jan. 25, 1823. He was married to Jane Neel Leeper, who died May 3, 1850. She was the daughter of Col. Thomas Nell, who along with his sons, died in the war.
Following the Leeper dedication, a second ceremony will take place about 150 yards away at the Livingston Presbyterian Church Cemetery, also known as Centreville Cemetery. Marker dedications will be held for Lt. Col. James Hawthorn and John Elder. Hawthorn will be recognized as a national hero for his command at the Battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina. Elder died Oct. 21, 1799, and his tombstone has been documented as the oldest tombstone in Caldwell and Crittenden counties.
Additional information is still being sought to verify Revolutionary War involvement of William Hamilton, who at 50 died on Oct. 27, 1800.
Fredonia historian Don Boone, who owns property where Centreville Cemetery is located, says people from South Carolina, Indiana and Illinois are expected to attend the dedications.
The Caldwell County Cemetery Board is seeking assistance in cleaning up the two cemeteries, and has scheduled a clean-up day on Jan. 9.
“The last clean-up was five years ago, add the ice storm of January 2009, and it’s in bad shape,” Boone said.
The cemetery board will provide chainsaws and tools, but volunteers are needed to carry broken limbs and to straighten stones.
Family names known to be at the cemeteries are Armstrong, Brasher, Bugg, Byrd, Cox, Driver, Davidson, Deboe, Elder, Emily, Freeman, Hamilton, Harmon, Leeper, Lowery, Loyd, Pemberton, Smith, Travis, Vogel and probably more than 100 lost and unmarked graves.
For directions to the cemeteries, call Boone at 545-9120.
The clean-up will begin at 8 a.m., and will probably last until about noon. During a break for refreshments, the cemetery board will discuss some details of people buried in the cemetery and the cemetery's history while seeking help from volunteers to identify veterans’ graves.