A
Look Back at 1985
The
year 1985, that sure doesn't sound like all that long ago, but in
reality it is now 40 years ago. Hard to believe that the years have
gone by so quickly. Let's take a look back at some of the things
that were happening in that year through the pages of The Crittenden
Press.\
January
* Weather
dominates the front pages during the first of the new year.
Temperatures in the county plunged to 20 degrees below-zero or colder
as an arctic cold front moved through western Kentucky dumping an
additional two to five inches of snow on the area. Strong winds
produced a wind chill of 50 to 60 below zero. Heavy rains from last
fall and now cold and snow have kept farmers from finishing the work
of harvesting their crops.
* Councilman
Bernard Wood became mayor following the resignation from that post of
Bobby R. Fox, who had served as plant accountant at Marion's Moore
business Forms, who plans to move to that company’s administrative
unit at Dento, Teas.
* The
first baby of the new year was born at Crittenden County hospital on
Jan. 3rd, 1985. Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Wheeler were the
proud parents of Troy Woodson Wheeler.
* Gas
dips below $1.00 at area stations. For the first time in about seven
years, gasoline prices in Marion have dipped below a dollar a gallon.
I was surprised to see it get back under a dollar, said Randall
Chandler, operator of Randall's Repair on South Main Street.
Chandler lowered his price to 99.9 cents a gallon for full-service
regular last week.
* Crittenden
County students have already missed 16 days of classes this month due
to bad weather and slick roads and will probably be in school until
mid June.
February
* Continuing
cold temperatures have created floating and slushy ice in the Ohio
River.
* The
week of Feb. 14th, brought six to eight more inches of
show accompaniment by 30 mile per hour winds which whipped up to four
to six feet high in some sections, closed some roads, shut down
schools and interrupted businesses and postal services.
* Two
long-term projects finally see some good results. The
Crittenden-Livingston Water District finally secured funding to begin
construction and the first public event was held in the newly
-renovated Fohs Hall.
* For
the first time in three years, the United States Postal Service is
raising its rates. It will now cost .22 cents to mail a letter.
March
* Three
New businesses open in Marion. 1. Sport It, offered uniforms and
equipment for ball teams. It was owned and operated by Kathy and
Jeff Allen and Edna Thurmond, and was located on East Bellville
Street in the site formerly occupied by Granny's Kitchen. 2. Nick's
Restaurant owned and operated by Nick Hatfield was located in the
former Cruce's Coachman on the Princeton Road and 3. Hook's Drugstore
opened in Marion's Darben Plaza. Donald Perry was the store's
pharmacist and the pharmacy was to be equipped with the latest
state-of-the-art pharmacy computer.
* Marion's
Beaver's Brothers Texaco will be flying a new company flag within six
months, according to co-owner Jerry Beavers. Texaco notified
Beavers, that it is planning on closing most of its stations in
Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois because of heavy competition. We've
been with “Texaco for 25 years, and it's be a pretty big change for
us, said Beavers. They will still sell Texaco brand motor oil and
grease, but will find a new gasoline and diesel fuel supplier.
April
-
* Wind
gusts estimated at up to 50 miles per hour downed power lines in the
county, interrupting electrical service to about 100 households
serviced by Henderson-Union RECC.
May
*
State closes Marietta's Cafe, owned by Marieta Stallins of Marion,
has been closed by the Kentucky Division of Unemployment Insurance
for alleged non-payment of more than $2,000.00in taxes.
*
Chrysler Corp. dealership is slated to open here April 1st.
It will occupy the former J. R. Chevrolet-Buick-Chrysler location on
on the Sturgis Road. Larry Buckman, is general manager for the
dealership.
June
*
Business continues as usual this week for Marion's Potter and
Brumfield plant even though it was “sold” Friday when a
Minneapolis, Minn. based company achieved a buy out of its parent,
AMF. The sale of the AMF stock was agreed to after Minstar
sweetened its original offer. AMF spokesmen also had no projections
on what might happen to any of its various divisions.
* The
long awaited boat ramp construction project at old Lock and Dam 50
may be completed within three weeks, according to a representative of
Louisville's Kamex Construction Co.
July
* Two
drown swimming in Ohio River. Two Tolu residents – Shannon Wade
Todd, 20, and his 12 year old nephew, Larry Kenneth Todd, drowned
Monday evening while swimming in the Ohio River at the old
Elizabetown ferry landing.
* Our
community was saddened this by the passing of Dellar E. Woodall. By
the measure of most, Mr. Woodall, 99, had observed the happenings of
Crittenden County for a long time. Maybe his greatest days were when
he was a custodian for the Marion school system. More than one
graduating class adopted him as one of its own. Many of the leaders
of the community testify of the the time, Mr. Woodall, although not a
member of the faculty, taught them a lesson more important than
history or geometry. His texts covered subject such as
integrability, honesty and hard work.
* Marion's
Police Chief William Ollie Brown, is Kentucky's longest serving
police chief. When Brown was named, chief in 1957, there were only
three full-time officers in Marion. Brown said the city had no radio
communications system, there was no dispatcher. When an officer had
to leave his post to check out a complaint or crime, there was no way
to get in touch with the police until he returned to the telephone.
August
* Deputy
Sheriff, Perry Glore unloaded marijuana at the Marion landfill where
it was burned. The truckload of pot, cut by officers on Weston Road
north of Marion was valued at $40,000.
October
* Work
began Marion's new Shell convenience store to be located at the
corner of Main and Bellville Streets, also included will be new
quarters for Goodwin-Lynn Insurance and Myers Auto Parts.
November
* Democrat
John May wins election, over incumbent Judge H. M. “Roni”
Asbridge to win a four-year term as Crittenden County's chief elected
official. Deputy Sheriff Perry Glore, a Republican, beat his
Democratic opponent Ronald “Red” Howton and Republican County
Clerk Danny won his post for another four years over his Democratic
challenger Troy Jennings.
* The
Crittenden County High School Rocket football squad amassed a 13-1
record for the season to claim the state Class A Football
championship downing Paintsville in play at Louisville's Cardinal
Stadium.
December
* Potter
and Brumfield officials confirmed this week the company, including
the Marion plant, is to be bought by Siemens A. G. a West German
electronic company which already has a umber of U. S. subsidiaries.
* Boyce
Moodie announced he had purchased the former Frontier Spar Co. and
was preparing to reopen that mine located near Salem.
***
A look
back in our past always brings back memories, sometimes good and
other times not so good.