News from Sept. 1, 2005 issue



County may reconsider Commandments

Based on legal advise and mounting pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), it appears that the Crittenden County Fiscal Court may consider reversing an earlier decision to allow a 10 Commandments monument on the courthouse lawn.

During the county court's July meeting, Rev. Tony Alexander requested that magistrates approve the placement of a stone 10 Commandments monument outside the courthouse facing Main Street.

After some discussion, a couple of magistrates suggested putting off answering the request until further research could be done on whether the county could allow the 10 Commandments there without creating legal problems. However, that idea failed to garner much support, and Alexander's request was eventually unanimously approved by those at the meeting, allowing God's laws to be etched in stone and set in the courtyard.

Early last week, the county received a Kentucky Open Records request from the ACLU, seeking information regarding the county's policy for non-governmental monuments at the courthouse and copies of other records. The ACLU is the leading advocate of the U.S. Supreme Court's interpretation of the U.S. Constitution's language separating church and state. The ACLU asked for minutes of the July 19 meeting when the fiscal court approved the monument's placement.

On Friday, Crittenden County Attorney Alan Stout drafted a memorandum and mailed it to each magistrate outlining his research regarding the proposed 10 Commandments display.

Upon request, Crittenden County Judge-Executive Fred Brown provided The Crittenden Press with a copy of the memorandum which advises the court to reconsider action taken in July allowing the monument.

The two-page memorandum lists five points, citing legal opinions and court cases, explaining the ACLU's Open Records request and outlining legal consequences the county could face if it moves forward with the plan. The memo pointed to a similar case that cost $200,000 to defend.

The fiscal court is set to meet today (Thursday) at 9 a.m., at the courthouse. The 10 Commandments issue is on the agenda for the special meeting along with five other items.

Rev. Alexander said he is disappointed. The monument is on order and about half of the necessary $1,232 has been raised to pay for it. If it can't be at the courthouse, Alexander said he would find a suitable, privately-owned location in Marion to display the monument.


City wants to develop Lake George
It's all in the preliminary planning stages, but if City Administrator Garry Barber and some other city staff members have their way, Lake George may one day be a full-fledged vacation getaway ­ or at least something close to it.

Barber said he and other city employees have been surveying the site and brainstorming about ideas for developing the shaded western shore of the lake.

Lake George is located at the end of Earl Patmor Road off of Chapel Hill Road. The lake contains 50 acres of water surface and there are several acres of city-owned land adjoining the lake. All of it is largely undeveloped other than a pavilion and some picnic tables.

Barber said the idea is to make electricity, water and sewer available at Lake George.

"It's all in the very early planning stages right now," he said. "We don't have any idea on cost estimates yet."
However, Barber said the possibilities for recreational uses are enormous.

Until recently, Marion had no place for RVs or any type of developed camp sites. Now, Jerry Mobley at S&J Barbecue has a few camper sites on his place off U.S. 60 West, but the demand remains greater than the supply during peak periods such as hunting seasons.

"We're putting the plan together right now and we're going to present it to the city council," Barber continued. "We hope to start working on this within the next year."