Sturgis Rally draws 23,000 bikers
Local authorities say there were few problems despite the large number of bikers that passed through Marion and Crittenden County heading toward last weekend's 11th annual Little Sturgis Rally. Rally organizers estimated a crowd of about 23,000, which equates to about $750,000 for admissions alone.

In Crittenden County, two minor U.S. 60 motorcycle accidents ­ one in front of Food Giant and the other near Rogers Group rock quarry ­ left two riders slightly injured. One man was treated and released at Crittenden Hospital, the other refused treatment after rear-ending a car Sunday morning driven by Alan Beard of Marion. The first accident was Saturday morning and resulted in a leg injury, but nothing serious.

"I honestly believe that between 1 and 3 p.m., Saturday was the most people I have ever seen in downtown Marion," said Marion policeman Ray O'Neal, who was on duty during that period and monitoring traffic along Main Street. "It was literally bumper to bumper between the red lights, from Tabor's to the courthouse. It looked like New York City."

Meri Orr, who works at Dairy Queen in Marion, said the restaurant was full most of the weekend.

"It seemed like we had 23,000 in here at times," she said.

The Rally is sponsored by the Sturgis Chamber of Commerce, Sturgis Kiwanis Club and the Union County Fair Board. Profits are distributed to area charities. Last year, Rally organizers paid out $200,000 to charitable organizations. This year, the group will exceed $1 million in charitable donations since the Rally began in 1992.

City council examines annexation
It's a bit early to be sure, but judging the attitude of the Marion City Council in regard to annexation, it appears that only a handful of local residents may be affected.

The council has been talking about annexing additional areas into the city limits for about two years. As the process grows closer to reality, some issues have surfaced, including the absence of an accurate map depicting the current city boundary.

Ronnie "Doorknob" Hughes, the city councilman assigned to head up the process, has found that the map detailing the city limits, and on file with the State of Kentucky, is inaccurate. Hughes rolled out the big map Monday night during the council's regular monthly meeting and pointed to several places where it appears to be wrong. For instance, the map shows homes that have always been considered inside the city limits to be outside and likewise it shows some places, such as part of the B&G Broiler houses, to be inside the city confines when they are not.

Hughes said the map is obviously inaccurate, which leaves annexation planners without a starting point.

"I will be meeting with Doorknob and Wayne James (the city maintenance supervisor) to start working on finding the starting point," City Administrator Garry Barber said after the meeting. "We will begin compiling a list of residents who are now outside the city, but who have city services."

The city appears to be targeting for annexation only those 60 or so property owners who are outside the city, but have water and/or sewer services supplied by the municipality.

While it is unclear exactly how many residents are outside the city but enjoy water and/or sewer service, local officials estimate that about 50 to 60 are in that category. About 15 of those have just city water.

And of course, there are some residents inside the city who do not have sewer service. Separately, the council is working toward solving most of those problems, too. Members discussed that issue Monday and talked about expediting plans to offer sewer to places in town that currently are unserved.
As far as annexation goes, Councilman Fred Brown said, "We need to annex those who have city services and let the rest go for now."

The city's rolls show that about 1,730 homes or properties have a water meter. Of those, a handful are physically outside of the city boundaries. In recent years, the city has extended services outside of its limits but required those recipients to sign an agreement indicating they would accept annexation into the city if and when that time arrived. The time is apparently growing closer and it would take 55 percent of those targeted for annexation to stop it. Most of those who would be affected have never signed such an agreement.

"That's something we only started doing recently," Mayor Micky Alexander said.
Property owners who are eventually brought within the city's confines would be subject to its tax, which equals just under $25 for every $10,000 in assessed value. For instance, a home worth $50,000 would cost the owner less than $125 per year in taxes. In return, the city provides services such as water, sewer, police and fire protection.

Two of the eight or so areas most likely to be targeted for annexation are on the north and south ends of town near the stockyard on U.S. 60 East and out U.S. 641 past the industrial park. There has also been some discussion about taking into the city the area near the airport. A need for water, sewer and city fire and police protection for the planned airport expansion project has prompted the consideration.

It remains unclear if the council will give its blessing to the annexation plan. There appears to be some division among city leaders as to what areas should be annexed. Councilman Dwight Sherer said Monday that he would not support annexation except for those residents who now have city water and sewer.
Barber said the first step will be compiling a list of residents who receive service but live outside the city.

"Then we'll have somewhere to start," he said.

Davidson house gets 60 more days
Marion City Administrator Garry Barber recommended giving Barry and Cindy Davidson another 60 days to bring their old home on North College Street into compliance with building standards.

The old home has been at issue for several months. The city had earlier recommended demolishing it because it was in ill repair and unkept. The Davidsons hired attorney Marvin Wilson of Eddyville who has been their spokesman at the last two city council meetings.

Barber told the council Monday at its regular meeting that he had personally inspected the home and found that progress was being made, despite an inspector's report a few days earlier which found that little had been done. Barber said it appears as though work has been done in earnest to make the house safe on the exterior, which is what the city has been asking for all along.

The council will review the matter in a couple of months to make sure progress continues, which would save the unoccupied house from demolition.

The Davidsons pledged to continue making improvements to the building, which some consider to have historic significance.

Salem man charged in counterfeiting case
A cashier at the Tambco Convenience Center at Salem recognized a $50 bill as being counterfeit last Thursday and notified police. State police and the Livingston County Sheriff's Department located Lasharma Hill, 27, of Paducah who was charged with trying to buy gas with the counterfeit money. Trooper Michael Williams said that Hill had a $50, two $20s and a $10 bill.

Police say that Hill told them that she had gotten the money just minutes earlier from George Rice, 60, of Salem. A search of Rice's residence turned up marijuana and firearms. Rice was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a forged instrument and possession of marijuana, firearm enhanced. Rice told authorities that he did not give the fake money to Hill. He was taken to Livingston Jail, and released after posting a $5,000 bond. Hill was charged with possession of a forged instrument and placed in the Crittenden County Jail under a $2,500 bond. The two were scheduled to appear in Livingston District Court this week.