Green River Bridge To Undergo Renovations: One Lane Operation Beginning Monday, April 29th4/24/2024 Edmonson Voice Report:
A project to repair sidewalk and railing on the bridge over the Green River in Edmonson County is set to begin, according to a statement from the KY Transportation Cabinet District 3. Beginning Monday, April 29th, the bridge will be down to one lane during daytime hours. Motorists should expect delays while the bridge is down to one lane. The project is expected to take about a month to complete. "Motorists should use slow speeds and use caution while traveling in the area," the District stated.
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Madison Doyle, story:
Edmonson County Fiscal Court met Monday, April 22, 2024. Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey called the meeting to order and after magistrates voted to approve the meeting agenda, multiple county department heads gave updates within their departments, which were all standard reports. The first item of new business was to open bids for roofing of the Community Center. Two bids were read and received by the court, however magistrates voted to table that decision until the next fiscal court meeting, to allow them to do more research to make the best decision. The next major discussion for today's agenda was to approve resolution EC 24-14, which is a recreational trails grant. Should the county receive approval for this grant, it would allow the walking trails at Chalybeate Park to be paved. A representative from BRADD spoke and said the court would not know until February of 2025 if Edmonson County will get the grant, and then best case scenario the black topping would not get started until Spring of 2026. The court also voted to:
The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled for May 13, 2024. County Clerk: New Voting Locations For Some, Important Voting Information for Upcoming Primary4/22/2024 Edmonson Voice Report:
The Primary election season for 2024 in Edmonson County is underway, with the Absentee Portal opening on April 6th, and remaining open until May 7th. Individuals wishing to vote through the mail may request their ballot, providing a valid excuse, by going to govote.ky.gov. Those wishing to get registered to vote have through the end of day on Monday, April 22nd. Clerk Kevin M. Alexander said the upcoming voting cycle will result in several citizens voting in different voting locations, due in part to reapportionment that was completed last year. Reapportionment is required every ten years pursuant to KRS 67.045, when census data is used to reestablish boundary lines of magistrate districts. “Reapportionment resulted in some changes in the districts that made it important for the County Board of Elections to establish two new voting precincts” Alexander said. A letter is being mailed out to every voter in the county detailing their voting location going forward, location address, voter's magistrate, and their school board member. “We felt this informative mailer was something that needed to be done. Obviously, it takes a while to get all the approved paperwork from Frankfort, and we are one of 120 counties” Alexander added. “We now have everyone in their correct precinct, so registered voters should be receiving these letters soon.” One precinct change is that residents of the city of Brownsville, on both the north and south side of Green River, will now vote in the Community Center at Brownsville on Election Day. The other precinct change was the establishment of a polling location at Bee Spring Park for voters in Bee Spring. “Because of previous district lines we’ve had Brownsville residents voting at the Edmonson County Middle School and at Bear Creek for the last ten plus years, so now having them at one location will be easier” said Alexander. He added that because of the shift in population to the south side of Edmonson County, it made for a larger geographic district in District Five, necessitating a second precinct in Bee Spring. “The County Board of Elections felt like the people in Bee Spring should have their own polling location instead of having to drive to Lincoln to go vote” Alexander added. “Our Fiscal Court owns a nice, fairly new building at Bee Spring Park that people can vote at and not drive as far.” Additionally, for the first time, the county will have one vote center, at the Community Center, where any resident of the county can come in to vote on Election Day. “Originally, with the bridge re-construction on Highway 70 near the Bear Creek polling location, we were concerned several voters in District Six we going to have to drive much further to go vote. Although that bridge has been completed much earlier than anticipated, we had already decided to provide this option to not just Bear Creek voters but to voters countywide” Alexander said. From May 8-May 10, and again from May 13-15, excused early voting will be conducted at the usual location in the Community Center. Voting during these requires voters to complete a form explaining why they are unable to either early vote or vote on Election Day. These six days, voting will be offered during the Clerk’s Office’s regular business hours. On Thursday May 16th through Saturday, May 18th, no excuse early voting will also be available at the Community Center. On both Thursday and Saturday, the voting location will be open from 8:00 AM-4:00 PM. On Friday, May 17th, voters can come in until 5:00 PM. “It is not a particularly large ballot this time, but there are important races and a very important question on the ballot in the Lincoln precinct, regarding the wet/dry vote” Alexander noted. “We are prepared for a good turnout.” Edmonson Voice Report:
Edmonson County High School has announced three students recently selected to the 2024 Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program, along with one student that will attend WKU's Gatton Academy. This year’s scholars are Maggie Cassady, daughter of Marty and Stephanie Cassady of the Chalybeate community, Lilly Parsley, daughter of Travis and Jessica Parsley of the Brownsville community, and Sarah Vincent, daughter of Greg and Carolyn Vincent of the Cedar Spring community. ECHS also had four students selected as possible alternates to the program. These students include Addison Browning, Lillian McGill, Emma-Claire Skaggs, and Konner Hardin. These seven students were a part of the 1,813 outstanding juniors from across the Commonwealth to apply to the 2024 Governor’s Scholars Program. The students completed a very rigorous application based on academic, volunteer, and extracurricular experience, along with the completion of an essay, and teacher/community member recommendations. A local committee formed of school staff and community members selected these seven students to have their applications forwarded to the state to represent Edmonson County High School. Cassady, Parsley, and Vincent will attend a five-week program this summer at one of three colleges in the state of Kentucky that host the GSP program. The Program’s mission is to enhance Kentucky’s next generation of civic and economic leaders. Students that attend and complete GSP will have the opportunity to receive GSP based scholarships at several colleges and universities throughout the Commonwealth. ECHS is very proud of all of these students as they represented one of the best overall performances in recent years of applicants submitted by ECHS to the program. In addition, ECHS sophomore Brayden Johnson, son of Brad and Jodi Johnson of Bee Spring, has been named to the Gatton Academy Class of 2026. Gatton applicants were evaluated based on ACT/SAT scores, high school grades, awards and accomplishments, extracurricular activities, responses to essay and short answer questions, and recommendation forms. In addition to these criteria, candidates were invited to interview with WKU faculty members, community leaders from across the Commonwealth, and Gatton Academy alumni. Gatton students will complete their junior and senior years of high school living in Florence Schneider Hall. At the end of their two-year course of study, students will graduate from high school with a minimum of 60 college credit hours and an Associate Degree of Interdisciplinary Studies from Western Kentucky University. Students from 40 counties make up the Class of 2026. Among the students accepted include either the fourth or fifth students accepted in The Gatton Academy’s 16-year history from the following counties: Garrard, Metcalfe, and Bourbon. Overall, The Gatton Academy has had students attend from 117 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. Brayden's older brother, Brody, was a member of the Gatton Academy class of 2023. The following indictments have been returned by and Edmonson County Grand Jury. An indictment is only a formal charge and is not an admission of guilt. All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Randy Edward Chapman: Possession of controlled substance, first degree. Possession of drug paraphernalia. William James Durbin: Possession of a controlled substance, first degree. Possession of drug paraphernalia. William James Durbin: Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Persistent felony offender first degree. Willie Nelson Durbin: Possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Persistent felony offender first degree. Christopher Scott Mosby: Theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $1,000 or more but less than $10,000. Jody L. Lashley: Theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $1,000 or more but less than $10,000. Nastasshia Monique Simmons: Exploitation of an adult over $300, Theft by unlawful taking of property valued under $1,000. Sample Ballot Included Darren Doyle, story: Voters in the Lincoln district will see an option on their ballot for the upcoming Primary Election whether or not to allow alcohol sales in the district. This option will only appear on ballots of those in the Lincoln District and will not appear anywhere else in the county. Several questions have been asked as to how this works, who decided the option, and what exactly does it mean. Edmonson County Clerk Kevin Alexander answered several of those questions in an interview earlier this week. Clerk Alexander explained that when a person or group is interested in adding such an option to a voting ballot, they must first circulate a petition within that area, per KRS 241.010 (67). In order to move forward, the petition must contain the signatures of at least 25% of the registered voter turnout in the petitioned area. Signatures of those that are not registered voters in that particular district do not count, in addition to other requirements. "Once the petition is verified and the signed petition is brought in to the Judge-Executive's office, it is the duty of the clerk's office to verify the number of acceptable petitioners there are, based upon the list of registered voters in the precinct," Alexander stated. "Petitioners can be rejected for a number of reasons - not a voter in the precinct, failure to complete properly, or unverifiable information. This petition, despite the rejection of several signers due to some of the aforementioned examples, exceeded the satisfactory number of petitioners required." Clerk Alexander stated that a total of 129 signatures were required on the petition and that 154 signatures were validated. Alexander said that once the petition signature numbers were verified, Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey's Office then presented it to County Attorney Adam Turner's Officer, who also reviewed and determined it was legally acceptable. Following, Judge Lindsey's office then sent an order to the Clerk's Office for the option to be officially added to the ballot for the upcoming election, which states, "Are you in favor of the sale of alcoholic beverages in the Lincoln Precinct (E101) of Edmonson County, Kentucky?" None of the aforementioned county offices acted in favor or opposition of the petition, they simply performed their duties as required by law. One local businessman, Tony Mello, owner of Saling's Grocery and Bait Shop on Nolin Dam Road, located just east of the dam, started the petition in the area and says he has multiple reasons for initiating the option. Mello, who has owned the business since 1975, told the Edmonson Voice that he was also approached by others in the county in support of the option, including one former business owner who recently failed to gather enough signatures for a countywide option. When asked how often tourists visiting the lake ask about available alcohol sales, Mello said "In the winter time, only once or twice every day, but during the summer, it's all the time. I just tell them go 17 miles from here to Leitchfield. And over there, they've seen about $288,000 from it." Mello said that personally, he isn't interested in making more money, but say the benefits outweigh the negative. He says more revenue means higher pay for his employees, a possible tax that would bring increased revenue for the Fiscal Court, and the possibility of adding a state lodge at the Nolin State Park. His said his biggest reason is to provide a better revenue stream for the area without having to increase property tax. "We all know Edmonson County has financial issues, but people here don't want higher property taxes," he said. "We have to get money from somewhere but we need to keep those property taxes down, and that's what I'm in favor of." In the United States, dry counties are becoming a thing of the past. Arkansas leads the way with the most, with 33 out of 75 counties (44%) being completely dry. Who comes in second? You guessed it--Kentucky, with 46 out of 120 counties (38%) being completely dry, according to the KY Cabinet for Economic Development. Edmonson County is considered dry with exceptions, with alcohol sales being allowed at Park Mammoth Golf Course and the hotel/restaurant there because of the "winery" on the property. So what are the pros and cons to counties and/or specific areas becoming wet? Those in favor will agree with much of what Mr. Mello stated in his comments, which include increased revenue and tourism benefits, along with fewer DUI offenses, due to the fact that those who drink do not have to drive as far to purchase it. According to a 2012 article by the London, KY newspaper The Times-Tribune, Kentucky showed a higher number of DUI-related crashes in dry counties than their dry or moist neighbors, but an article by the American Addiction Centers noted that according to the CDC, limiting the number of days when alcohol can be sold (like limiting alcohol sales in wet areas on Sundays) has shown to decrease consumption, alcohol-related violence, and DUI-related incidents. In a study published by Montana State University in 2014, legalizing alcohol purchase in areas where a ban once existed caused an increase in crime in some instances. The study found that "a 10% increase in drinking establishments is associated with a 3 to 5% increase in violent crime. The estimated relationship between drinking establishments and property crime is also positive, although smaller in magnitude". The study also showed that strict prohibitions on the sale of alcohol were associated with a decrease in total arrests and that restrictions on local alcohol availability can play an important role in crime prevention. On the other hand, dry and moist counties in Kentucky had a higher rate of meth lab seizures than wet counties, and a 2018 study of Kentucky counties concluded that "meth lab seizures in Kentucky would decrease by 35% if all counties became wet." Mello said he would be the first person to call 911 if someone came into his store to purchase alcohol that was already under the influence or to report someone committing an alcohol-related crime. "I think there will be a lot more benefits from it," he said. "If it's not, then vote it back out. If it's not worth it in Edmonson County, Tony Mello does not want it." One of the main reasons that the county has remained dry over all the years is that the county is made up of dozens of churches whose doctrines teach abstinence from alcohol. Those roots run deep and most of the churches have specifications in their Church Covenants (a basic creed) that state something along the lines of abstaining from the sale and use of intoxicating drinks a beverage. The stipulation is one of the ways local churches choose to be separated from the secular world. In the Lincoln Precinct alone, there a half dozen of these churches or more, with most, if not all, their members opposing the measure. While no churches have reached out to the Edmonson Voice specifically, we have spoken to many residents in the district that are against local alcohol sales; many of which did not want to be named. We spoke with one voter of the area, Mr. Shane Wilson, who expressed his opinion on the upcoming vote. He said a large group of concerned citizens are strictly against the measure because they feel more harm than good will come from it. "Edmonson County is a great place to live," Wilson said. "We are a county rich in traditional Christian values that is tucked away from the fast paced, big city life. There’s a large amount of people that want to keep the peaceful and slower-paced living separate from the speed and dangers of certain aspects of society. Concerned citizens against this measure truly believe it will be more harmful to our children and future generations by making a drug more easily available and will bring more crime, dangers, addictions and tragedies into our community." Mr. Wilson said while the economic benefits have been presented in the area, he felt they would be limited to only a few businesses, but the negative impact, including that on our youth, would be much more negative than any financial gain. "There are also negative economic aspects as well since crime, traffic accidents, vandalism, etc. are all known to increase in communities to move from dry to wet. There is also a big difference in what people do in their own homes versus what is publicly allowed and what would be an increased accessibility of alcohol to our youth in our community." SAMPLE BALLOT One argument that we've heard in not only this conversation but also in many others, is how Edmonson County is behind the times, with no real way of growing or developing a better economy. Many are happy with a "Mayberry"-type feel, enjoying small town life while traveling outside county lines for work and shopping. Mr. Wilson said he likes the way of life here and he and others want to keep it as long as possible.
"The people that stay here are the ones that have religious or family ties or just love the community values that we have," he added. "Many people like keeping a distance between their work or big city life and the things that go along with that and enjoy coming home to the peacefulness and safety in our county. This measure is a threat to that way of life. Concerned citizens that are against this feel that voting this measure in will put more dangers on our roads, make drugs more accessible to our youth and also impact families and homes in a much more negative way than people can imagine, if they haven’t been around and seen the affects that alcohol can have. For us concerned citizens that love the safety and peacefulness in this county, we are wanting measures like alcohol sales to keep a distance away from our community. Naturally, we know that more populated areas have passed these measures and our hopes are that our community will not adopt and bring this into our county. Nolin Lake has brought a large number of people into our county to enjoy this slower paced way of life and the beauty of our county. We are a vacation spot for many but we don’t want vacation and tourism to dictate our normal day to day community life and values." Mello said he understood why area churchgoers weren't happy when the petition was started, and said he chose not to go door-to-door or have a standard campaign-type push for the measure. "If they are a church member, I wouldn't ask them to sign the petition. I wouldn't even think of it," he said. "I wouldn't want it to be used against them and someone would use it against them." While this magisterial district now has two polling precincts - Lincoln (E101) and Bee Spring (E102), Clerk Alexander reiterated that the subject area for this vote are ONLY the voters of Lincoln. Those voter ballots contain the question. "Additionally, if a person is registered in a party other than the Democrat or Republican, they may vote in regard to this one question on a ballot," Alexander stated. Darren Doyle, story and photo: While no one has celebrated the detours pertaining to the total bridge replacement on HWY 70 at Bear Creek near the HWY 187 junction, commuters are looking forward to the project completion, which is supposed to result in the bridge reopening as soon as next week. However, another bridge nearby will undergo a complete closure and replacement, resulting in yet another detour in the area. A project to replace a bridge on KY 187 (Sunfish Road) in Edmonson County is expected to create a long-term closure beginning on Thursday, April 18th, according to Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3. The road will close at Whetstone Creek at mile point 2.2 and is expected to last 60 days, they said in a statement. The state transportation cabinet announced that the the new bridge on KY 70 will open before closing the bridge on KY 187, but nothing has been announced as of today, Weds, April 17th. The cabinet added that it's possible weather could delay the closing. "A signed detour using KY 70, KY 238, and KY 185 will be in place," the statement said. "Motorists should allow extra travel as the detour will distance to the commute."
Edmonson Voice Report:
The VFW Department Of Kentucky just announced that Brownsville Police Officer Austin Meredith was selected as Police Officer of the Year and EMT Derek Esters was selected as EMT of the Year. Recommended by Keith Sanders, Derek started working at Edmonson County Ambulance Service as a part-time EMT on October 8, 2014. He was hired as a full-time EMT on February 17, 2020. Derek began his paramedic training on January 4, 2021 and became licensed as a Paramedic on May 3, 2022. "Derek volunteers to work additional shifts when needed to ensure that our ambulances are adequately staffed," a statement from the VFW local post 6937 said. "Derek regularly participates in continuing education training to maintain and improve his skills as a Paramedic." Derek also serves as a volunteer firefighter with Kyrock Volunteer Fire Department. Recommended by Brownsville City Police Chief Jeremy Hodges, Officer Austin Meredith is a two-year veteran with the Brownsville Police Department. The VFW stated that he has established himself as a self-motivator working predominantly night shift. "Officer Meredith is responsible for over 70 drug arrests during his time with the Police Department and multiple others, assisting local and state officers," the VFW stated. "Officer Meredith can be seen patrolling the city during his work week and has established a good working relationship with area businesses, schools and citizens. He is highly visible throughout his shifts, whether providing additional security for high school ball games or participating in traffic enforcement." During a traffic stop on March 30, 2023, a subject backed into Officer Meredith's patrol car on Main Street in Brownsville in an attempt to flee the scene. Meredith pursued the subject and took heavy fire during the chase. His vehicle was disabled but in the process of calling for backup from county and state units, he was able to rejoin the pursuit in another unit's vehicle. Meredith was able to stay collected despite the life-endangering situation for himself and many others. He was also awarded the Kentucky Sheriff's Association Medal of Valor for showing courage in an earlier deadly force encounter in 2021 while serving as a deputy for the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office. Both men reside in Edmonson County with their respective families.
Edmonson Voice Report:
According to a social media post on X, The Kentucky Department of Highways District 3 has announced that the Bear Creek project is nearing completion. The post said that contractors are soon to be finished with the project that is one month ahead of schedule. The bridge has been closed since February 5th and has caused delays for commuters in the area. A detour has been in place since that time that routes through Bee Spring, causing anywhere from an additional 10-25 minutes of drive time.
Juvenile Passenger Treated at Hospital Darren Doyle, story and photos: A small child was transported to the hospital on Tuesday afternoon after a three car collision occurred on Chalybeate Road, according to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office. Emergency personnel responded to the crash around 2PM on Tuesday, April 9th in the 2000 block of Chalybeate Road, near Chalybeate Food Mart. According to Sheriff James Vincent, a Dodge Ram pickup driven by James Steen, age 73 from Bowling Green, that was headed south on HWY 101 had slowed down to allow someone in front of him to turn. A Ford F150 driven by Carlie Spear, age 20, from Brownsville was also headed south behind the Ram and could not stop, striking the Ram from the rear.
The Ram was then pushed into the northbound lane of traffic where it struck a 2015 Toyota Tacoma pickup, head on, driven by Sean Martin, age 39 of Smiths Grove. Martin's vehicle also occupied a female juvenile passenger in a car seat who suffered superficial wounds. The juvenile was transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries. She and Mr. Martin were treated and released. Responding to the scene were the Chalybeate, Brownsville, and Wingfield Fire Departments, Edmonson EMS, and the Sheriff's Office. Darren Doyle, story and photos: It wasn't a total eclipse in Edmonson County today, but it was pretty close as the sky looked more like dusk or dawn than it normally does around 2pm on a sunny day. Cloud cover hid part of the eclipse for some of its duration, but skies were sunny throughout the county at its peak, which was around 2:04PM. Today's event, known as "The Great North American Eclipse," stretched from Texas to Maine in the U.S. and in Kentucky, was seen best in Henderson. Using a simple filter taped on the end of a 400M zoom lens, we grabbed these photos of today's events: Madison Doyle, story:
Edmonson County Fiscal Court met today, April 8, 2024. Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey called the meeting to order and then led the court in the pledge of allegiance per usual. Multiple county department heads gave their standard updated reports since the last meeting. County Clerk Kevin Alexander stated that an announcement on voting times will be coming soon. Moving into new business, the second reading for the financing of the Sunfish Roundhill Road Project was voted on and approved. Judge Lindsey stated that on April 25, 2024, he will be attending a hearing to make sure "all of our ducks in a row" and that all information is correct, and then the court can began with the bidding process for this project. You can read more about that here. At the last fiscal court meeting, it was voted on that the county gets a new countywide alert system, TextMyGov, rather than the current system, Code Red. Today, magistrates approved to finalize the deal with TextMyGov, and Judge Lindsey is now able to sign the contract to allow Edmonson County to be part of this program. Today's meeting was only 35 minutes long, and there were no other major discussions. The court also voted to:
The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled for April 22, 2024 at 4 pm. Darren Doyle, story:
A Bowling Green man faces multiple charges after a traffic stop resulted in the discovery of meth, according to the Brownsville Police Department. A BPD officer stated that he observed a Dodge Durango cross the center and sidelines as it was headed north on Main Street on Wednesday, April 3rd around 8PM. Upon a license plate check, local dispatch advised the officer that the vehicle's insurance needed to be verified and a traffic stop was initiated at Casey's General Store in Brownsville, police said. The operator was identified as Mark Puckett, (50) of Bowling Green and a glass meth pipe was observed in plain view in the ashtray of the vehicle, according to Brownsville Police. After a probable cause search of the vehicle, the officer discovered 7.5 grams of suspected meth and a digital scale. Puckett was arrested and charged with:
Puckett was transported to and lodged in the Hart County Jail where he is being held without bond, according to the jail website. Darren Doyle, story:
Three individuals were found dead in the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 2nd, according to Kentucky State Police. KSP reported that at approximately 2:40 a.m. KSP Post 3 received a call from Brownsville Police Department requesting assistance with a suspicious death. Troopers responded to the residence located on Carder Street. Troopers reportedly located Harold K Hendrick, 56, of Oakland, Carrie H. Canady, 44, of Bowling Green, and William D. Payne, 37, of Bowling Green unresponsive inside of the residence. They were pronounced deceased at the scene by the Edmonson County Coroner. Brownsville Police did not have any comment as KSP is in charge of the investigation. KSP did not release any further details and the cause of death for the three individuals has not yet been released. The investigation is ongoing and is being led by Detective Jason Warinner. Domestic Violence Call Leads To Arrest Of Man Allegedly Threatening to Kill Law Enforcement4/1/2024 Chalybeate Man Faces Multiple Felony Charges Darren Doyle, story:
A Chalybeate man faces multiple felony charges after law enforcement said he threatened to kill them in an altercation last Sunday. According to an arrest citation, the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence on Sulphur Road on March 24th at 3:24AM for a possible domestic disturbance. The citation stated that the suspect, identified as Ronald Holland, (49), told the responding deputy that he was under the influence of an unknown substance and became aggressive with the officer. Backup was called for and Holland became more aggressive, the citation stated. Officers said Holland was instructed to put his hands behind him but Holland refused and he was tazered with no effect, according to the citation. After a physical altercation with deputies, Holland grabbed a kitchen knife and attempted to stab both deputies, as stated in the citation. Holland was tazered again as deputies continued to fight the subject but Holland grabbed another kitchen knife and threatened to kill law enforcement as the fight continued out the front door, the citation stated. According to the citation, Holland then swung a metal pole at the deputies while he continued to attempt to stab them as one deputy removed a female subject to safety. Kentucky State Police was requested for assistance and Holland barricaded himself in a bedroom, armed with two knives as he continued threatening to kill law enforcement, the citation stated. Law enforcement eventually was able to talk Holland into exiting out the back window of the residence and he was taken into custody, according to the Sheriff's Office. Holland was arrested and charged with:
He was transported to and lodged in the Hart County Jail where he remains on a $20,000 cash bond. Moves On For Governor's Consideration Frankfort, Kentucky (March 28, 2024) – Representative Michael Lee Meredith announced Thursday evening, March 28, 2024, that Edmonson County will receive $6.5 million in funding for the Edmonson County Water District under legislation approved by the Kentucky House and Senate and sent to Governor Andy Beshear for his consideration. “I’m incredibly pleased that we were able to include this money in House Bill 1,” Meredith said. “This situation has been incredibly difficult for both the folks in our community and the folks at the water district and this ought to provide some relief for the issue.” The funding includes $1 million to connect Edmonson County Water District with Grayson County water to relieve stress on the Northern part of the system; $3.5 million to provide matching funds for a federal water grant that Congressman Brett Guthrie is working to secure to build a new intake tower on Green River; and $2 million to Edmonson County Fiscal Court to pass through to the water district for emergency infrastructure improvements. “Our community has been through a great deal as we’ve watched friends and neighbors deal with water shortages because of the removal of Lock and Dam #6 in Brownsville and the process of removing Lock and Dam #5 at Roundhill, all directed by federal agencies,” Meredith added. “All of those decisions were out of our hands locally, but we’ve borne the burden of them. I’m hopeful this will make a big difference and folks will find plenty of clean water when they turn on their faucet.” Meredith was able to secure the funding as part of HB 1, legislation that provides $2.7 billion over the next two years to fund projects within state government and in communities throughout the Commonwealth. The bill was approved by the House and Senate and now goes to the Governor for his consideration. "We're already making differences," --Kevin Shaw, Edmonson County Water District General Manager Darren Doyle, story and photo: Kevin Shaw, newly hired general manager for the Edmonson County Water District says he is excited about the future for the local utility company, despite the ups and downs, (a lot of downs) that have come around the District. Focusing on his experience, new ideas, and an eager team, Shaw is looking to help Edmonson County with some of their past water woes. With over four decades of experience in utilities, dating back to 1978 at a summer job for the water company in Caneyville, through waste water management, WRECC, and plenty more, he is hoping to use it for the betterment of Edmonson County and all District customers. Coming out of retirement from managing the Grayson County Water District for a number of years, he also wants local folks to know that he isn't an outsider. He farmed for many years in Edmonson County in the Sunfish community were he made lifelong friends, not only there, but also throughout the county and region. "I'm one of you all," he said. With the Lock and Dam number Five project set to resume sometime this summer, the Water District is preparing for more challenges. Most of those challenges were not brought on by the District, but Shaw's approach to working with the Corps of Engineers is different than others. "What you'll find, is that my perspective is different than most. It probably won't be as popular with most people. We can't treat the Corps of Engineers like enemies," he said. "They've been tasked for a job for a very long time in American history, to take care of our waterways and our reservoirs." Shaw then described an infrastructure model he once saw in Memphis of how the waterways work in this part of the nation, with all the water sources that feed into the Mississippi, starting with streams, creeks, rivers, and so on. "It shows how it all comes together. Their task is to make sure that all those waterways are taken care of properly. It's such a big-picture thing that sometimes we forget how and why it started." He then explained how the plowing, disc-ing, and planting of fields creates silt runoff, that here, eventually makes its way to the Green River, then on to the Mississippi, then bottlenecks somewhere in New Orleans before heading to the ocean. "Stuff from Sunfish, KY ends up in New Orleans and the Corps has to manage it all," he said. "We're filling rivers up with silt and they have to handle it down there to get barges in and out for the entire nation. You have to put that into perspective before you can understand what their true goals were." Shaw didn't deny that several of the problems that the Edmonson County Water District currently face were brought on by the dam project, but he said his job is mitigate and find solutions for them, period. "The Corps built dams and lakes that would help control silt and flooding. As luck would have it, we got two nice lakes out of it, we get to enjoy them and play on them. Consequently, we also wound up with water systems on them. They weren't built for play or for utilities, but they've allowed us to use them and you gotta keep that in perspective. The way I've always approached the Corps...they are powerful, and the old analogy, 'it takes an act of Congress,' well it truly takes an act of Congress to change the Corps, because that's where they get their direction." "I understand that the Corps probably made a bit of an error on their original estimate on the effect of our water system. It's unfortunate. Could we have managed it differently? Maybe so, but I look at it as we're at ground zero on this right now and we just have to move forward. We have to manage it." With the river in already critically low levels, their has been enormous concern with the District intake system. They can't treat the water if they can't get the water from the river. When asked should the consumer be concerned with our current water supply, he replied, "I appreciate their concern." "We're going to do everything in our power, that if that intake is struggling to meet our needs, to figure out a resolution for it and I'm confident we can. I'm equally confident we can do it without an interruption of service." Shaw didn't say much else about the Corps but discussed how he continues to reach out (as the previous leadership did) to Congressman Brett Guthrie, Senator Mitch McConnell, and state legislators Rep. Michael Meredith and Senators Steve Meredith and David Givens. He said those conversations have been productive and he remains positive about securing resources for solutions. "The Nature Conservancy has been kind enough to purchase, and it's onsite, a pump, and it cost somewhere around $100,000. It will pump all the water we need to the treatment facility that's on Green River," he said. "It's our goal, that if the day comes that the intake is out of water, we position that diesel pump somewhere on the banks of the Green River and pump it into the intake structure, which will still function as it is, until we come up with a final resolution." He also noted that the Nature Conservancy didn't necessarily lobby for the removal of the dams, it was just a bonus to them, as it lines up with their mission of preservation. When asked about the Wax plant, Shaw said he knows that customers have been frustrated, and rightly so. "The first thing I'd say about the whole Wax area, outside of the one incident of the boil water notice (not advisory) with the high turbidity, we sample throughout our system, in several locations," he said. "We've never had a sample to come back bad. We might've had a sample that we had to do a check on or something, but I wouldn't even say that for sure. To my knowledge, we've not ever had a sample that said it was contaminated." He said had that been the case, there would have been a boil water notice, not an advisory. He also noted the difference in a boil water notice and advisory is the first requires you to boil your water before consumption, and the second is simply that, an advisory. They advise you to boil your water, not require it. "We constantly monitor the system, we take chlorine samples from different locations to make sure we're keeping that where we need it and the proper amount of it. The water, by drinking water standards, is safe to drink. It's safe. Are we doing the best job we can at the Wax plant? What I will tell you is that we're doing better now than we have for a long time. The thing I would ask is that the whole Water District community, is that they be patient with us and give us a chance. We are going to do different, we're going to do better. I'm not going to beat anybody up or anything up for what was past, and I can only apologize for the inconvenience that was had. We know we need something different than what's at Wax. We don't quite know yet what that is or where it will be, but it will be different. We have to replace that treatment plant. Either with another source of water or another plant. That won't come quick, but it's absolutely at the top of the list of importance to employees, to me, and to the new water board." The Board consist of Chairman Jimmy Mills, Vice Chairman Jarrod Beatty, Secretary Blake Aubrey, Treasurer Darren Dennison, and board member Josh Brooks. Shaw noted all the recent leadership changes that include staff, four out of five new board members, and of course, the general manager. "You got a lot of staff that's excited about making change," he added. "We can't change it overnight. We're already making differences. With patience, good change will come." Darren Doyle, story:
The Edmonson County Judge/Executive's Office has announced that the Green River Bridge in Brownsville will be down to one lane during normal working hours next week while the Kentucky Department of Transportation inspects the bridge for upcoming repairs. "The inspection is scheduled to begin the morning of April 1st, and will last up to four days," said Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey. "The bridge will be down to one traffic lane during that time. Please be safe in that area and allow extra time for travel during these times and days." Over $200K worth of refurbishment is scheduled this year on the bridge. Edmonson Voice Report:
A Warren County man was arrested on child pornography charges on Tuesday, March 26th according to the Kentucky State Police. The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Electronic Crime Branch arrested Bryer Mccayne Williams Scott, 25, on charges related to child sexual abuse material. According to KSP, Scott was arrested as the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children investigation. The KSP Electronic Crime Branch began the investigation after discovering the suspect sharing images of child sexual exploitation online, KSP stated. The investigation resulted in a search warrant at a residence in Bowling Green on March 26, 2024. Equipment used to facilitate the crime was seized and taken to KSP’s forensic laboratory for examination, officials said. The investigation is ongoing. Scott is currently charged with ten counts of distribution of matter portraying a minor in a sexual performance. These charges are Class-D felonies punishable by one to five years in prison. Scott was lodged in the Warren County Detention Center on a $50,000 bond, according to the jail website. Madison Doyle, story:
Many topics were discussed at tonight's fiscal court meeting. The meeting began with Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey leading the court in the pledge of allegiance, and multiple county department heads giving updated reports since the last meeting. County Clerk Kevin Alexander stated that the Clerk's office will be closed on Good Friday (this Friday) and this Saturday. The first major item of business discussed was the jail budget for the 2025 fiscal year. The budget is increasing to $564,900. Edmonson County Jailer Todd Vincent said the budget was increasing due to the price increase of supplies and materials, such as radios and gas. Salaries for all employees will remain the same. The second major item of business discussed on was the County Employee Fiscal Year 2025 pay increases, which was voted on a 3% raise across the board (minus elected officials). This is a 3% decrease from last year. District 2 Magistrate TJ Massey shared his reasoning for why he chose the 3% increase. "I think it's really hard to pick and choose which employees deserve the raise and which ones don't, so I think this 3% is a pretty safe blanket." All of the other magistrates said they agreed and were in favor of the 3% increase; there were no other suggestions. It was also approved to get a new countywide alert program, Text My Gov- iWorq Systems. The current system is Code Red, which is used to send out alerts for boil water advisories, etc. The new system is easier to maneuver and free for users. It is a text alert system where you can choose which alerts you would like to receive. It will also cost the county $250 less per year than the current system. The court also voted to approve an ordinance that will allow the county to essentially borrow money from KACo to finance the Sunfish Roundhill Road Project. It was also voted approve an ordinance that will put around $41,000 back into ARPA funds. County Clerk Kevin Alexander said that a couple years ago, magistrates approved the purchase of new election equipment. At the time, former Judge/Executive Wil Cannon wanted to use ARPA funds for the purchase. Alexander explained that the Clerk's office purchased all equipment necessary, and this $41,000 can't be used for any of their needs. This ordinance will allow the money to be placed back into ARPA funds and potentially be used for something else. The court also voted to:
The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2024 at 4 pm. Completion of Roof Replacement Marks Milestone in Preserving Mammoth Cave National Park’s Historic Infrastructure and Enhancing Visitor Experience Story and photos courtesy of Mammoth Cave National Park: MAMMOTH CAVE, KY. – Mammoth Cave National Park officials and invited guests gathered at The Lodge at Mammoth Cave on Friday, Mar. 22 to mark the completion of the Mammoth Cave Hotel Roof Replacement Project. The project was funded through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund and fixed major structural issues with the park’s main hotel building. “This facility improvement project was made possible by the funding we received through the Great American Outdoors Act,” said Superintendent Barclay Trimble. “The Act presents an opportunity for parks such as Mammoth Cave to address large-scale projects that cannot realistically be funded through other means. The hotel project is a perfect example of that need, and the final result is a building we can all be proud of.” The original hotel structure was built in 1965 and had a virtually flat roof. The design did not allow water to drain off correctly. During periods of heavy rain, dozens of roof leaks would appear throughout the building and impact visitors using the restaurants, retail shops, and lodging rooms. The exterior windows of the building were also failing, and the configuration of the hotel lobby and hallways were arranged in a way that was often confusing to visitors trying to pass from one side of the building to the other. In 2018 the park drafted an action plan to fix the roof issues, but it was clear that the repairs were beyond the financial resources of the park concessioner or the park’s traditional funding methods. While park officials researched various funding options, the GAOA was enacted in 2020 and the Mammoth Cave Hotel Roof Project was selected as one of the first projects to be funded. Over the last two years the almost 60-year-old building received a new roof, a reconfiguration and expansion of the interior lobby, installation of new energy efficient windows and insulation, and a complete facade update. The remodeled and redesigned building is now ready to welcome park visitors. The building has also seen several additional months of remodeling beyond the GAOA project by the park concessioner, ExplorUS. The concession provides food and beverage, retail, lodging, and cave tour transportation services for Mammoth Cave National Park and operates the newly remodeled hotel. They worked closely with park officials to complete a remodel of two hotel restaurants, four accessible lodging rooms, a conference room, and three bathrooms in conjunction with the Hotel Roof Project. ExplorUS also repurposed a retail storage room into a coffee shop for an enhanced visitor experience. “ExplorUS has been hard at work keeping our visitor services up and running throughout the Hotel Roof Project all while making their own improvements to this building,” said Trimble. “Through our productive partnership and their further investment, they have helped to update and modernize the hotel facility at Mammoth Cave.” During the ribbon cutting event Superintendent Trimble, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Contracting Services Miguel Montano, and the CEO of ExplorUS Frank Pikus, each addressed the crowd in front of the hotel. They then cut a red ribbon to officially reopen the building. Event guests toured the newly rehabilitated facility to view the new improvements and learn about future park projects planned for the hotel area including the construction of four family sized cabins, a redesign of the back entrance of the hotel and accessible Heritage Trail, and reconfiguration of the hotel parking lot. GAOA’s National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund is part of a concerted effort to address the extensive maintenance backlog in national parks. Supported by revenue from energy development, the fund provides up to $1.3 billion per year for five years to the National Park Service to make significant enhancements in national parks to ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation, education, and enjoyment for current and future visitors. Darren Doyle, story:
Students were surprised this morning with a visit from Kentucky State Police search dogs at Edmonson County High School and Middle School. The search was facilitated by school and district administration with KSP, the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, and five canine units. According to Superintendent Brian Alexander, students were placed under lockdown, and instructed to place personal belongings in the hall. After all students and staff were behind closed and locked doors, the dogs and their KSP handler searched the halls and parking lots. Parents and students were notified by one call, social media, and staff by email after the students were placed under lockdown, but before the dogs entered the building. "The safety of our students and staff is always our first priority," said Mr. Alexander. "And we thank KSP and local law enforcement for their assistance in keeping our schools drug and weapon-free." Mr. Alexander said today's search led to two vehicle searches, where a vape containing a banned substance was discovered in one vehicle. Darren Doyle, story and photos: A portion of Sunfish-Roundhill Road that has been closed since 2022 may finally see a rebuild after a plan is currently being put in place to secure funding for what is now a massive hole where one man died almost a year ago. According to Edmonson County Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey, the portion of the county road that runs parallel to Cub Creek began to fail in 2022 when the banks of the creek expanded into the road base, causing what seemed to be an erosion slide. County crews first expected the project to be fairly simple, taking about a week to repair. However, crews soon found out the more they tried to repair, the more repairs were actually needed. It got to the point that the entire base of the road had failed and was dug completely down to the creek, at a depth of nearly 20 feet from the top of the road. At this point, the funding required to repair the road was far more than the county could afford, according to Lindsey. Judge Lindsey said that one of the first items of business after he was sworn into office in January of 2023 was to find any and all funding solutions to repair the massive hole. What he found was both good and bad. Lindsey said that Mr. Ryan Hembree, the coordinator for Kentucky Emergency Management Federal Program, visited the site on September 19, 2023 with a member of the regional FEMA team out of Atlanta, GA to evaluate the project, requested by Lindsey. Soon after, a letter of funding allocation was received by Lindsey's office, but it required the county to cover the costs up front, to the tune of nearly $900K. "Trying to fund this ourselves without emptying the county's bank account is just nearly impossible," Judge Lindsey said. "We got the allocation letter from FEMA on November 2, 2023 and began the search for funding options at that time. The main obstacle that we had to overcome is that with FEMA work, the county is responsible for paying for the work up front. With a projected cost of almost $900,000, the county could not afford to pay the upfront cost out of our budget alone, and had to seek out other funding options." Another obstacle is the time frame of getting an actual check from FEMA. It doesn't happen overnight. "The repayment process from FEMA is a lengthy one, and our last major FEMA road project, Brooks Road, was paid out by FEMA eighteen months after the work was completed and submitted. Our road department budget could not sustain that kind of expense for that length of time without shutting down all other operations until the FEMA payment was received." Luckily for the county, an option was discovered that would grant the county government a line of credit through the Kentucky Association of Counties, or KACo, and during the last Edmonson County Fiscal Court, magistrates voted to approve to apply for the credit line with KACo Leasing Trust. Once the credit line is approved, the county will seek other firms to complete the work. "It should take four to six weeks for the credit approval and then we'll bid the work out to road engineering firms," Judge Lindsey said. "We'll also be utilizing local and state crews but this is a major project that requires more resources than we have." On April 28, 2023, Donald Hardison died when he drove off the end of Sunfish-Round Hill Road down a 20ft drop off into water below. At the time, the county said someone had moved the "road closed" barriers that Hardison either apparently did not see or simply drove around them. After the accident, the county dropped loads of large rock at the end of the road on both sides of the hole to help prevent another tragedy. County officials said vehicles could not go around the barriers where they were originally placed, however, they weren't aware that someone had moved the barriers.
When all is said and done, the cost of the project should be covered by FEMA, all except for the interest the county will be required to pay for the use of the credit line. The road closure is located nearly right in the middle of Sunfish Roundhill Road and has caused detours along HWY 70 and HWY 187. With the addition of the Bear Creek Bridge replacement project that began in early February, commuters in the area have faced extremely inconvenient detours. "My hope is that this project can be realistically completed this year," Lindsey said. "It's long overdue." Madison Doyle, story and photos: Last night at Tayvin Gardens, the Edmonson County Hall of Distinguished Alumni (HODA) Committee hosted the 2024 annual dinner and induction ceremony where four new members were honored, which included Jimmie Gipson (d.), Keith Madison, Noah Everett "N.E" Reed (d,), and Scottie Woodcock. HODA inductees are selected by the HODA committee, but the nominations are submitted by the public. In order to be selected, the inductee must have attended an Edmonson County High School for at least two years, and they may be living or deceased. Committee Chair Amanda Lich shared that the purpose of the HODA is to honor those who attended a school in Edmonson County that have shown excellence in their lifetimes. 2023 Inductee Johnny Webb gave opening remarks to the crowd that generated several laughs. He said it was an honor to be included in a group of "such amazing, outstanding people", and how blessed and proud he was to be from Edmonson County. ECHS junior Kenadi Swihart led the crowd in the pledge of allegiance, and ECHS junior Lucas Jones gave the invocation. ECHS Principal Jonathan Williams spoke at the event and said the purpose of the HODA is for "those kids over there," as he pointed to a group of ECHS students volunteering at the event. "We want these kids to know you can accomplish all of these things being from Edmonson County, and hopefully someday some of them will be inductees in the HODA as well." The first inductee was the late Jimmie Gipson, a 1959 graduate of Brownsville High School. He was employed by Houchens Industries for 55 years, serving as the CEO for the last 26 years. Under Jimmie's leadership, Houchens expanded from a single grocery store to become the largest ESOP in the country. Jimmie received many honors over the years, including Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Yound, honoree in the WKU Hall of Distinguished Alumni and the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame, and recipient of the Lou Fox Award for Charity and and Community Service from Associated Wholesale Grocers. Jimmie's award was accepted by his son, Clark Gipson. The second inductee was Keith Madison, introduced by 2023 inductee Johnny Pete Vincent. Keith is a 1969 graduate of Edmonson County High School and grew up in the Lindseyville community. At age 17, he signed his first professional baseball contract, starting his journey in a career in athletics. Keith played with various teams, including the Montreal Expos and the Cincinnati Reds. His collegiate coaching career began at Mississippi State University in 1977. In 1979, at the age of 26, Keith became the youngest head coach in NCAA Divison 1 baseball, when he was hired to coach the University of Kentucky Baseball team. He remains the winningest coach in UK baseball history. He currently serves with the Christian Mission organization SCORE International, and he also publishes Inside Pitch, the official magazine of the American Baseball Coaches Association. He is the Chairman of the American Baseball Coaches Association. He and his wife, Sharon, live in Wilmore, Kentucky. The next inductee was the late Noah Everett 'N.E.' Reed, a 1965 graduate of ECHS, and grew up in the Mohawk community. He served as the Judge/Executive for Edmonson County for 21 years, first elected in 1993. He developed the first county Parks and Recreation Department and Industrial Authority of Edmonson County. He continued to serve Edmonson County after retiring from office as a District 4 Director of WRECC and a Board Member of Edmonson County Water District, as well as a member of the Edmonson County Lions Club. He was a devoted church member to Oak Grove United Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and song leader. His award was accepted by his loving wife, Beverly Reed. The last inductee of the night was Mr. Scottie Woodcock, introduced by 2023 inductee Jeanne Alexander Patton. Scottie is a 1951 graduate of Brownsville High School. At an early age, he found success in being a small business owner or manager in several ventures, including the Gulf service station, Woodcock General Store, and Western Auto. Scottie also played a crucial role in bringing the first factory, Kelwood, to Brownsville, creating many jobs for the people of Edmonson County. In 1989 Scottie made a career change and became a loan officer and board member at the Bank of Edmonson County. He served a myriad of volunteer and civic roles, including Brownsville City Council, Brownsville Water District, Edmonson County Lions Club, and the Washington Meredith Masonic Lodge. His professional success and service to the community led him to be named Mr. Brownsville in 1964. Scottie noted that in just a couple weeks, he and his wife, Ethel, will be celebrating 73 years of marriage. Another award was given, which was the 2024 Edmonson County High School Honorary Alumnus award, which was given to Mr. Jeff Jacobs. Information on how to submit a nomination for the 2025 class will be available from Edmonson County High School in the near future, which will be published on the Edmonson Voice. March 15, 2024 Darren Doyle, story:
A Bowling Green was arrested after an attempted traffic stop led to a pursuit and the discovery of drugs, according to an arrest citation. The citation stated that an Edmonson County Sheriff's Deputy clocked a vehicle headed south on Veterans Memorial (HWY 101) southbound on Wednesday, March 13th around 11PM, where the vehicle was traveling 75mph in a 55mph zone. Upon the deputy activating emergency lights, the other vehicle accelerated and a chase ensued for approximately 5 miles with speeds exceeding 100mph. The vehicle eventually stopped where an open bottle of alcohol and a quantity of marijuana was found within 50 feet of the vehicle, according to the citation, and through investigation, law enforcement determined the items were thrown from the vehicle by the passenger. The citation also stated that the driver and passenger admitted to switching seats at some point during the incident and that after law enforcement discovered the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, a search was conducted where marijuana, scales with marijuana residue, and several empty "airline style" alcohol bottles were discovered. An unopened bottle of alcohol and a packet of rolled marijuana were discovered behind the vehicle, the citation stated. The driver was identified as Alexander Church (19), of Bowling Green, who was found to have over $1700 in cash in his pocket, the citation stated. Church also appeared to be under the influence of marijuana, as also stated in the citation. Brownsville PD also assisted in the incident. He was arrested and charged with:
He was transported and lodged in the Hart County Jail. |
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