-News from Sept. 17, 2009 issue

Local News
The Crittenden Press Full Version (PDF)

Salem getting Dollar General store
Land surveyors are doing preliminary work before construction begins on a Dollar General in Salem.
The small Livingston County town near Crittenden’s western border is the second in the immediate area to get one of the new discount merchandising chain’s stores.
Emily Weiss, media representative for Dollar General's corporate headquarters in Goodlettsville, Tenn., said the Salem facility will be 9,100 square feet and will look like all other Dollar General stores.
She said Dollar General stores typically employ between six and 10 people, depending on need. Information on jobs that will be available can be found at the company's Web site, www.dollargeneral.com.
Janet Hughes, a member of the Salem City Council, said the store will be located in the vacant lot just west of the former Taylor's Restaurant on U.S. 60, almost directly across from Rudolph Farm Supply.
Hughes said members of the community are excited about having a Dollar General in town.
Marion's new Dollar General opened earlier this year, and Fredonia is anticipating the opening of its store on Ky. 91/U.S. 641 next month. All of the stores are built to the same specifications. The Marion location replaced a previous, smaller store that was on Main Street between Larry Orr, CPA and Farmers Bank and Trust Co. The previous store was less than 7,000 square feet.
Dollar General has stores in 35 states and has aggressively been seeking new locations, many in smaller hamlets like Salem and Fredonia. Dollar General has opened 13 new stores in Kentucky this year and 225 stores throughout its 35-state area. “We are always looking for opportunities to grow in new communities where it makes sense for us,” Weiss said. “This location is a good fit for us.”
Salem, with a population of about 770, is the largest incorporated city in Livingston County. The community of Ledbetter has nearly twice as many people.
According to Census information, the median household income in Salem is $29,196.
The per capita income for the city was $16,156.

Stuffed deer part of tourism team
The City of Marion has a new member of its tourism and marketing staff. It’s Bucky, a full-body, mounted eight-point buck.
Whitetail deer hunting is one of the area’s biggest drawing cards. Because of that, Tourism Director Michele Edwards thought “Bucky” could be a major player in promoting and marketing Marion and Crittenden County.
The mount was donated by Joyce Stacy of Cadiz after a friend of hers had read an Associated Press article in the Hopkinsville newspaper regarding Marion’s growing popularity as a deer hunting destination. Stacy donated the stuffed animal in memory of her late husband, Riley L. Stacy, who passed away last October at 79.
The Stacys were originally from Ohio, but moved to Kentucky Lake several years ago so he could hunt and fish, said his wife.
Susan Alexander, who works in the Marion Tourism and Welcome Center as director of the Chamber of Commerce and Marion Main Street, said the taxidermy work is a great new asset for the welcome center.
“Every now and then I forget he’s in here and walk by,” Alexander said. Bucky’s presence startles her a bit, but he’s been a crowd pleaser for the most part.
“He’s put a smile on everyone’s face who’s seen him,” said Edwards. “They think he’s cute.”
Although the deer is not a huge trophy by hunting enthusiast standards – which is based largely on antler size – Bucky is still a big hit.
“He will be used as a display to promote deer hunting and deer viewing opportunities in Crittenden County,” Edwards explained.
Hunting has greater economic impact on the community, Edwards said, than any other tourism related activity.
“The Amish draw more people, but hunters spend more money when they come here,” she said. “It’s seasonal, but for 90 days deer hunting has a huge impact on our economy.”

Salem physician in critical condition
Dr. R.V. Bharne, a general practioneer in Salem for the past 33 years, remains in critical condition at Western Baptist Hospital.
Bharne was stricken by a seizure at his home last week and taken to the hospital where he was on life support for a period of time. He is no longer on life support and is breathing on his own, but has not regained consciousness.
Sharon Thompson, a clerk at Dr. Bharne’s Salem office, said the clinic remains open with she and nurse Terrie Clinton manning the office. However, no patients are being seen. Dr. Bharne has about 175 patients in Crittenden and Livingston counties.
Thompson said that patients who need to see a doctor immediately can pick up their records and take them to another physician.
Bharne, 67, is a native of India. He had practiced in New York before coming to Livingston in 1976.