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.
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A look back in our past always brings back memories, sometimes good and other times not so good.
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