-News from Oct. 1, 2009 issue

Local News
The Crittenden Press Full Version (PDF)

Program aims to keep teen mothers in school
High school students who have young children will now have free daycare thanks to a grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The money is being used to expand Crittenden County’s Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
Crittenden is one of 16 school districts to receive similar funding from the two-year program. Students will be housed in the Head Start annex trailer beside Crittenden Elementary School. The program is scheduled to start in February. Three teachers will be hired in December to fill the positions, including lead teacher, who must have an early childhood education degree, and two associate teachers, who must hold or be working toward a child development certificate. The teacher-to-child ratio can be no greater than 1:4.
Crittenden County currently has a half-day Head Start or preschool program for students ages 3-5. This extension of that program will concentrate primarily on younger children, from newborns to three year olds. Right now, there is funding for eight children.
“We jumped on (the opportunity), knowing that we have a large number of pregnant students,” said Head Start Director Karen Nasseri.
There are an estimated five pregnant students at CCHS right now. Last year there were seven pregnant students in the school system and three the previous school year.
Kentucky ranks 25th in the nation for teenage pregnancy. A 2004 study found that 9.4 babies out of 1,000 pregnancies were born to mothers under 18. Within the Pennyrile Health District, the number of babies born to mothers under 18 was 8.9 per 1,000 babies, according to the same survey. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says the number of babies born in the U.S. to 15-17-year-old mothers is rising.
Teenage parents will also benefit from the program in learning how to properly care and interact with their young children. The program will mandate a certain amount of time that students must spend with the children under Head Start supervision.
School officials say the program could help teen mothers stay in school instead of dropping out as so many do.
“We are constantly asking ourselves, ‘Is there anything Crittenden County Schools can participate in to take away barriers,’” Superintendent Dr. Rachel Yarbrough said. “We're looking forward to it. It will be a great partnership.”

Bull riding comes to Heritage Days
Whether you are an urban cowboy or the real McCoy, this weekend’s Heritage Days celebration will give you a chance to shoot for an eight-second horn.
Among the many new attractions at this year’s Heritage Days will be a mechanical bull. A Bowling Green company has been contracted to provide the faux rodeo event which will be prominently displayed right in the middle of the action at the intersection of Carlisle and Court streets.
West Carlisle and Court streets will be closed Friday and Saturday and East Carlisle will be closed most of the day Saturday as Heritage Days events and vendors sprawl out over town.
Heritage Days is a production of the Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce and Marion Main Street, Inc. Ron Padget is chairman of the event. He said there will be games and lots of new things for children and families. A giant inflatable slide and an inflatable bouncing house will be on the courthouse square starting late Friday afternoon and all day Saturday, along with the mechanical bull.
A car show is new to the agenda. Organizers are expecting perhaps 100 entries. Cars will be located on Carlisle Street in the Marion Baptist Church parking lot and maybe even at the old junior high school on College Street if necessary.
The annual street play will close out the event late Saturday evening. The actors are from Hardin County and the play, “Happily Ever After,” will last more than one hour.
Most of the popular Heritage Days events and attractions will be back, including an antique tractor show, the Little Miss and Mister pageant, corn hole toss, sack races and the always interesting cow chip throw.
Some activities require nominal fees, but many are free, Padget said. Food and other vending will be available downtown Friday and Saturday.

THIS WEEK’S HERITAGE DAYS EVENTS
Wednesday, 6 p.m., Community Church Service behind courthouse. Bad weather option: First Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Thursday, 6 p.m., Opening ceremonies behind courthouse. Butch Parker Band will perform.
Friday, dusk, Outdoor movie, Marley and Me. Bad weather alternate: Presbyterian Church.
Saturday, 10 a.m., Antique Car & Tractor Show, Petting Zoo, Wagon Rides, all around courthouse & Carlisle St.
Saturday, 11 a.m., Little Miss & Mister Pageant behind courthouse.
Saturday, 1 p.m., FFA Pedal Tractor Pull, Flag Building Presentation, Antique Car & Tractor Parade, all around courthouse.
Saturday, 3:30 p.m., Cow Chip Throwing Contest, Corn Hole Toss Contest, Sack Races, all off West Carlisle St., behind Ambassadors for Christ Church.
Saturday, 6 p.m., “Happily Ever After” Street Play behind courthouse.

Other activities on Saturday
Mechanical Bull Riding - Bounce Inflatables
Games - Bungee Jumping - Giant Inflatable Slide