News from October 5, 2006 issue

Farmers not crowing despite
near record yields in places
Area farmers could be crowing about this year’s bountiful harvest, but it’s hard to get one of them to do it.
“We’re fortunate to have a good crop this time, but I don’t want to brag about it because we’ve been on the other end, too,” said Philip Parish of Parish and Hooks Farms which has about 10,000 acres in production.
The local farmers had an incredible corn yield along the Ohio River, shelling about 200 bushels to the acre. But it’s not all like that, Parish said.
“We’ve probably averaged about 170 bushels to the acre,” he added. “Beans are excellent, but corn has been phenomenal.”
Like Parish, Van Hunt says it’s tough to get too excited because in farming, you never know what might happen next week or next year.
“I’ve had some corn crops a little better in places, but I have had it a heck of a lot worse, too,” said Hunt, who was combining beans Monday near Crayne. He farms about 1,200 acres in the county.
Hunt said his corn is averaging about 160 bushels per acre and beans are at about 50 bushels.
A mixture of rain and generally moderate temperatures this summer created mostly ideal growing conditions. So far this year, the area is almost 14 inches ahead of normal rainfall.
“We’ve had sufficient rainfall this and that’s allowed the spots that normally would be low yield areas to catch up with the others,” Hunt said. “There aren’t many thin spots this year. It’s a very consistent crop.”
The recent rainy weather has hindered some farmers, keeping them out of wet fields. Several have reported getting combines and grain trucks stuck in mud and muck.
“We’re about three weeks behind schedule,” Parish said.
He estimated Monday that the county’s corn crop is about 60 percent harvested. It will take another three weeks or so for farmers to get finished, and that’s according to the weather, he said.
Corn prices remain high, pushed upward by the demand for Ethanol production in the United States. Right now, yellow corn is bringing about $2.70 per bushel, according to Charlie Hunt, who buys and sells grain at Marion Feed Mill.
Charlie Hunt said that this year’s high prices are what’s making it a big boom for farmers. However, he said not everyone is enjoying record yields.
“We’re seeing some awfully big numbers, but sometimes one field is great and the next is not,” Hunt said. “Some farmers are actually not seeing a bumper crop. One particular farmer that comes to mind only made 37 bushels to the acre.”

Grand jury dismisses homicide
A Crittenden County Grand Jury on Tuesday indicted four individuals, mostly in regard to drug and alcohol charges, and dismissed two cases, including one charge of reckless homicide against a Dycusburg man.
The grand jury met Tuesday at the Crittenden County Courthouse. It did not find enough evidence to indict Mark A. Riddle, 36, in the death of Carter Peek, 49, of Eddyville. Peek died on Aug. 20 at a Nashville hospital from injuries he allegedly received during an incident outside Riverside Cafe in Dycusburg.
State police originally arrested Riddle on a murder charge, but that was amended to reckless homicide in Crittenden District Court on Aug. 30.
A grand jury does not determine guilt or innocence in a case. It only decides whether sufficient evidence exists to send a case to trial.
The grand jury indicted Carlos Everett Garrett, 51, of Ky. 297, Marion, on several charges stemming from a traffic stop on Sept. 14 by Marion police. Garrett was indicted for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, first offense; possession of methamphetamine, second offense; possession of drug paraphernalia, second offense; possession of open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle; carrying a concealed deadly weapon; and being a persistent felony offender. Garrett was stopped at the city hall parking lot after a local citizen called police.
Timothy D. Grimes, 46, was indicted on 10 felony counts, including first-degree possession of a controlled substance (meth), second offense; possession of drug paraphernalia; possession of marijuana; two counts of third-degree possession of a controlled substance (Valium and Xanax), second offense; four counts of illegal possession of legend drug, first offense (Reglan, Amitriptyline, Topomax and Sulindac); and second-degree persistent felony offender.
The charges against Grimes stem from a state police investigation on Sept. 15. According to court records, police officers were asked by Grimes’ probation officer to do a home check. When they arrived, police found the evidence which led to this week’s indictments.
Kevin Ray Little, 35, of Lonestar Road, was indicted on four felony charges, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of drug paraphernalia, second offense; two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor child; and second-degree persistent felony offender. His charges stem from an investigation by Trooper Matthew Foster on June 12. According to court records, Foster was asked to check on the welfare of the children. At the residence he found the evidence that led to this week’s charges and the children were removed from the home after social workers were called. The police report says that the social workers were called to the scene because of the “numerous animals, alcohol and trash” at the residence which created an environment unfit for children.
John Wade Lynch, 41, of Levias Road was indicted for allegedly receiving stolen property worth more than $300. The indictment described the items as tools and car parts which Lynch pawned at a local pawn shop. The items were allegedly stolen from another Marion residence, according to police reports.
Another case involving assault charges against Derrick W. Spinks were continued by the grand jury and drug charges against Rose Mary Davis, 51, of Marion were dismissed.

Mobile home destroyed by fire
A mobile home fire on North Yandell Street early Tuesday has left a family of eight displaced.
An apparent electrical fire which originated near the home's washer and dryer units started the blaze at about 7 a.m.
Deborah Ward, three of her children, her brother, sister and nephew were at the home when the fire broke out.
Neighbors heard the family screaming as they evacuated the trailer and called the Marion Fire Department.
Contents of the rental home were destroyed. The structure was owned by Eugene Williams.
Ward's three elementary school-aged girls wear sizes six and seven clothes, and her son size seven or eight. A toddler living in the home will be in need of clothes size 24 months.
Firefighters were on the scene for more than an hour.