Edmonson Schools Remain Closed for Thursday, January 18th: Majority of County Roads Still Covered1/17/2024 Darren Doyle, story and photo:
Schools will remain closed in Edmonson County for Thursday, January 18th, according to Brian Alexander, Supt. of Schools. The majority of county roads and other secondary roads are still covered, which presents hazardous driving conditions for school buses. It will be NTI day #6. Mr. Alexander explained the importance of NTI days. "I know people would probably rather not have any school work to do on these days, but these are days that do not have to be made up," he said. "If we don't do NTI, then those days have to be added to the end of the school year or possibly spring break. We have heard from a large majority of parents that like starting school a bit later, so in order to end the school year before Memorial Day, we try to utilize our NTI days as much as possible. We know this may not be the first choice for some, but we feel this is the best option for the majority of Edmonson County student families."
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Superintendent of Edmonson County Schools Brian Alexander has announced there will be no school in Edmonson County for Wednesday, January 17, 2024 due to hazardous road conditions.
Main roads have been plowed with some in good condition, but secondary and side roads are still covered for the most part. State and county crews continue to work to clear the roadways. Tonight’s ECHS boys’ basketball game in Owensboro has been canceled. This will be NTI day #5 for students. The Edmonson County Courthouse is closed today, Tuesday, January 16, 2024. As a result, all county offices remain closed.
In addition, all county court sessions are also canceled. Bank of Edmonson County is operating on an adjusted schedule today. All branches will be open from 10AM until 3PM today. Mammoth Cave National Park will open park offices, facilities, visitor services, and the Green River Ferry at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16 due to overnight wintry road conditions. All secondary park roads are closed. The monthly meeting of the Edmonson County Historical Society for January is canceled. Tonight's ECHS Wildcat basketball game in Owensboro has been canceled. Most main roads have been plowed and are in decent shape but secondary roads are still covered as of 9AM on Tuesday. We will update this list as we receive information. Got closings or delays? Let us know by emailing, calling, or texting. Editor@edmonsonvoice.com, 270-597-6550, also message us through Facebook, X, and Instagram. Judge Executive Scott Lindsey has announced that the Edmonson County Courthouse will be closed on Tuesday, January 16th.
As a result, all county offices will be closed tomorrow, January 16, 2024. The Sheriff Office will also be closed, if you need assistance please contact Dispatch at 270-597-2729. Superintendent of Edmonson County Schools Brian Alexander has announced there will be no school in Edmonson County for Tuesday, January 16, 2024 due to hazardous road conditions.
Main roads have been plowed with some in good condition, but secondary and side roads are completely covered. This will be NTI day #4 for students. Sanders Will Move to Brownsville Water Treatment Plant Position Darren Doyle, story and photo: The Edmonson County Water District is losing their general manager, someone who has done most of the jobs within the district over the past three decades. Tony Sanders has resigned as general manager but has agreed to stay until a new manager is hired, according to Edmonson County Water Commissioner Greg Nugent. The water district has had their hands full over the last few years as a result of the removal of Lock and Dam #6 in Brownsville and the halted process of removing Lock and Dam #5 at Roundhill, all directed by federal agencies. The water district has had nothing to do with the decision to remove the dams. The U.S. Corps of Engineers, the Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and Mammoth Cave National Park all played roles in the removal of Lock #6 in Brownsville, which took place in 2017. The removal of Lock #5 in Roundhill began in September of 2021 , but when water levels in Brownsville began to become critical, the water district was able to convince enough decision makers to temporarily halt the dam removal in Roundhill. While Lock #6 had failed and became a safety hazard, some experts said it could have been repaired. Lock #5 was not expected to fail. Lawmakers, engineers, and federal agencies all boasted predictions about how the river would return to its natural flow, would be a better habitat for wildlife, and improve the tourism attractions for use of the river. They all got it wrong. None of their predictions came true. Edmonson County has little to offer by way of attracting tourists if you're not talking about access to the Green and Nolin Rivers and Nolin Lake. Mammoth Cave National Park offers little to help Edmonson County and many of the visitors there spend their money in the Cave City area. The Edmonson County Tourism Commission has worked very hard to promote the lake area and river activities, such as boating, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. However, the routes that used to have miles of beautiful landscapes and perfect places for those activities now look like abandoned war zones in some areas, thanks to the removal of the dams. Various federal agencies have admitted that they got it wrong but they have yet to provide any real solutions. The worst part is that the local water district could be on the hook for the solutions, and they would be solutions to problems that they not only did not create, but they also weren't in favor of from the beginning. "Behind the scenes, the Water District has worked tirelessly, and still is to figure out a way to solve these problems that we didn't create," said Commissioner Nugent. "This has been a difficult process for us here because we actually have very little control over anything. The Corps of Engineers has total control over the lake and the rivers, and anything we try to do there, we basically have to beg them." In May of 2023, the Water District called a multi-agency meeting to discuss the critical stages of the river that were wreaking havoc on the district's intake system. The drop in water level was causing sediment and algae to harm the system, along with the pumping and filtration process. Lawmakers, federal agencies, and the media were all invited; however, the Corps of Engineers chose not to attend and didn't let the district know until the day before the meeting. Several who attended the meeting murmured at the notion that mussels and fish were seemingly prioritized over the Water District's approximately 11K customer accounts, which equates to approximately 30K people in Edmonson, Grayson, and Hart Counties. The boat ramp at Brownsville remains inaccessible to trailers, and canoe and kayakers have to carry their vessels a long way to have access. It was discussed at that meeting that there is currently no boat ramp access from Lock #5 in Roundhill all the way to Green River Ferry. At the time, the U.S. COE emailed us two statements regarding questions raised at the meeting. “Green River Dam No. 5 removal efforts were temporarily suspended in July 2022 due to concerns from the Edmonson County Water District regarding water levels. We fully understand the concerns from ECWD, and their water supply remains of utmost importance. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District, in partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy, have worked collectively over the last year to perform additional surveys, data analysis and additional modeling to further analyze the effects of dam removal on water levels in the river under varying conditions. We will continue coordination with ECWD in the coming weeks. USACE is committed to keeping our stakeholders and the public informed as we collectively move forward.” "The information you have surrounding The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District’s participation in Edmonson County Water District’s public meeting yesterday is not accurate. The Corps has been in frequent communication with ECWD and has worked collaboratively with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy over the past year to perform additional surveys, data analysis and additional modeling to further analyze the effects of dam removal on water levels in the river under varying conditions. We will continue coordination with ECWD in the coming weeks. USACE is committed to keeping our stakeholders and the public informed as we collectively move forward." Later, the Corps scheduled their own meeting with many of the same agencies and water district personnel, but no media was invited. At the time, the water district told the Edmonson County Fiscal Court that the only thing locals could really take from the latter meeting was that the Corps had no real solution or funding commitment at that time. Nothing much has changed since then. Nugent said yesterday that they have held dozens of meetings to work on this issue, but that water customers really can't put into perspective how hard the district fought for locals, and the things for which they continue to fight. "Right now, our water levels are not ideal, but adequate, but again, this is only temporary and we have to have a long term solution. I will say that Representative Brett Guthrie's office has really been fighting for us, and State Representative Michael Meredith has attended every meeting and fought for the water district customers. And that's not to say the other lawmakers haven't. They all see the need here, but we really appreciate what Brett Guthrie and Michael Meredith have done." In addition to Sanders stepping down, Water Commissioner Barry Rich's term on the board expired. Since a motion to keep him on the board was not seconded, he is no longer a commissioner. "Sadly, in my opinion, we've lost a tremendous asset by losing Barry," Nugent said. "Barry is probably single-handedly the reason that the removal of Lock #5 was temporarily stopped. He actually saw the crucial water levels at the time and got others on board to stop it." Sanders submitted an open letter to the Edmonson Voice regarding his resignation. It has been my honor serving as Manager the past 10 years and working for the Edmonson County Water District for nearly thirty years. On January 9th, I requested that the Board of Commissioners accept my resignation as Manger. An opportunity opened in a different role at the Water District. I will continue to serve as Manager until a successor is found by the Board of Commissioners. I would like to take this opportunity to share a bit of information about some of the projects with which the Water District is currently involved. The Water District has received funding to do upgrades to the system through the State Cleaner Water program as well as ARPA funds through Edmonson and Grayson County Fiscal Courts. The Board and I have worked diligently with federal, state, and local officials to try and secure funds, and find a viable solution that has resulted with the removal of Locke and Dam # 5 on the Green River. This is a situation that the Water District is not responsible for and does not believe that it is the responsibility of the Water District to fund or to require our customers to pay for. Land has been procured for a new Water Treatment Plant at Wax and applications for funding have been applied for but has yet to be granted. This is a large project that will take an estimated five to seven years to complete and will require funding from more than one source in both grant and loans. We are working with neighboring Water Districts to install lines to connect with their systems to purchase water when needed. I greatly appreciate the managers and their respective boards for their cooperation and willingness to help. We have met with Governor Beshear and are working with our state legislators seeking funding for an 8” line and pump station to connect with Grayson County Water District. I want to thank all the people in Edmonson, Hart, Grayson, and Warren counties in the Water District's service area for their support during my tenure. I have made many friends and acquaintances that I will never forget. I would also like to thank all past and present Board members and my predecessor for giving me the opportunity to serve as manager. I also want to recognize and thank all my loyal and dedicated staff. It is not always easy to be employees of a water utility. Many hours are often spent away from home and family. When a line breaks, it is their duty to answer the call despite hour of the day or type weather, do repairs and restore service to customers. Treatment plant operators are required to man the plants days, nights, weekends, and holidays. The office staff is the hub that keeps the wheel rolling. They are often met with challenging and unpleasant situations. Without their dedication and hard work there would have been no chance that I could have stayed in this position all these years. --Tony Sanders Sanders has handled many complaints and has been the face of the district through their issues over the past few years, most of those being out of his control. He always publicly handled them with professionalism and always seemed to remain even keeled through the issues, even though they likely kept him up at night.
Nugent said on top of the water level problems, a huge increase in contractor work in the county has led to broken lines, causing delays to water customers, in addition to boil water advisories. New housing developments, fiber lines, gas and sewer, have all brought a large increase of digging in the county. He also added that the constant mapping and marking of water lines by the district, required by the new contracting projects, has taken some employees away from their regular maintenance and repair work at times. Nugent also said the Water District was losing another "great asset" in Tony Sanders as manager. "I certainly appreciate what Tony Sanders has meant to not only the Water District but the people of Edmonson County for the past 28 years. He probably knows more about our local water system than anyone else. He started at the bottom all those years ago and worked his way up, doing about every job there is here. We are going to miss him as the manager." Nugent said the district has been plagued with other issues as a result of the water levels, one being less volume of water. "The flow is still the same, but it's less volume-- it's less water, and it makes it much more difficult to treat. Imagine placing a drop of food coloring into a large tank of water, and then placing that same drop into a small cup of water." He compared the food coloring to the substances that need to be filtered. If you drop the color in a small cup, the whole cup becomes a new color and what is necessary to "undo" that becomes much more involved than a large tank of water with the coloring, which wouldn't take as many resources. Those resources are the sole responsibility of the Edmonson County Water District. Nugent said the district would start advertising for a new manager immediately and that Sanders would remain until a replacement is found. There is still no current solution in place for the river level issues. Darren Doyle, story:
Edmonson County School Superintendent Brian Alexander has announced that all Edmonson County schools will be closed for Friday, January 12, 2024 due to a wind advisory that was issued by the National Weather Service today. The NWS is predicting winds over 50mph beginning overnight and carrying on throughout the day on Friday. Gusts are expected to be upwards of 65mph. "I just don't feel comfortable having school buses out during the high winds that are being forecast," Alexander said. "I know different school systems do things differently, but I have always said that student safety comes first and I feel this is the best decision for tomorrow." Mr. Alexander said school officials attended a webinar today with the NWS, who advised extreme caution with high-profile vehicles. The 2024 ECHS basketball homecoming is scheduled for Friday night, and is still scheduled to take place, according to Alexander; however, he said he would leave the final decision of the games and festivities to Whitesville-Trinity, who will be traveling to ECHS tomorrow. That decision will likely be announced sometime tomorrow. Mr. Alexander also said students will use NTI day #3 on Friday. According to the KY Department of Transportation, District 3, which includes Edmonson County, crews are preparing for a multiple-phase weather system that is expected to move through the District 3 area and the rest of the state beginning overnight tonight. Rain with strong winds is expected overnight with single-digit temperatures with possible snow Sunday and Monday. Heavy rain is also expected throughout the day on Friday. KYTC District 3 also stated that the strong winds Friday could cause issues for vehicles, particularly large vehicles, along with wet travel conditions. Beginning Sunday into Monday a Winter Weather System may bring some snow and slick travel to the area. Temperatures are expected to reach single digits Sunday night. Motorists should be aware of possible hazardous driving conditions, but also bitterly cold temperatures. Motorists are encouraged to use slower speeds, leave plenty of space between vehicles, be cautious in braking, and keep updated on weather forecasts. District 3 crews expect to begin anti-icing operations on roadways Saturday. Crews are prepared to respond to any winter weather that is expected Sunday and Monday. Legal Notice:
Edmonson County Property Value Administrator (PVA) Kyle White has released the following legal notice to all Edmonson County property owners. White said all owners greatly benefit from staying informed about his office's services and the different options available to them. "The most common question we have is about the Homestead and Disability Exemptions," said White. "The amount remains the same from last year, which is $46,350. This can give taxpayers who qualify an estimated savings of $400.00 from a few years ago. For homestead, you have to be age 65 anytime in 2024, own, and occupy the home. For disability, you have to be 100% disabled and currently receive benefits for the entire year of 2024, while owning and occupying the home."
Brought to you by: Edmonson County PVA Office of Kyle White, Edmonson County Courthouse, PO BOX 37, Brownsville, KY, 42210. 270-597-2381. Hodges Will Retire After 34 Years, Priddy Completes 19 years with KSP Darren Doyle, story: Roles are changing in Edmonson County with more to come. Edmonson County Circuit Court Clerk Tanya Hodges has announced her retirement at the completion of her term, which will end in December, 2024. Clerk Hodges has been part of the Clerk's Office since 1987, serving the county for 34 years in various roles in the office. Those roles include bookkeeper, deputy clerk, chief deputy clerk, and of course, the clerk. She jokingly said she'd served as everything there except maintenance. "I've loved this job and I'm thankful to have it," she said. "I have grandchildren and my mother is till with me. I would like to spend more time with them, of course. I've loved it over the years but now it's time for me to move to other things." Hodges' career in the office began immediately after her high school graduation. "I was only going to be there until Brenda Luttrell was back from a medical leave," she said. "She actually started training me at her house in the afternoons after school. Ann Stewart took a chance on a 17 year-old child and changed my career path." She said she had originally planned to be an educator but becoming part of the circuit clerk's office changed that. Former Clerk Sharon French promoted Hodges to Chief Deputy Clerk and then to Clerk after French's retirement. Hodges has served as main clerk since 2012. So what's next? A new clerk will need to run for office for the Primary Election in May of 2024; however, one must pass a test to qualify to run for circuit clerk in the Commonwealth of Kentucky for non-current clerks. There were 190 total tests taken for the 2024 election and only 58 passed, one of which was Priddy, who was also the only one in Edmonson County who was eligible to run. Priddy, who stepped down from the KSP in December, served 19 years in various roles. He most recently was the Public Affairs Officer for KSP Post 3, which includes Edmonson County. That role has now been filled by KSP Trooper Katan Parker. Priddy has been no stranger to public service, even outside of the KSP. His work earned him KSP Post 3 Trooper of the Year in 2018 and then statewide Trooper of the Year in 2019. He has been active in local programs like D.A.R.E., Cram the Cruiser, Coffee with a Cop, and multiple school programs in Edmonson County. Priddy said his involvement with local programs prompted him to seek more opportunities to serve his community at a more local level.
"This ignited a desire for me to continue my career of service in Edmonson County." In December, KSP Post 3 Commander Tim Adams stated this about Daniel Priddy: "I would like to congratulate Trooper Daniel Priddy on a successful 19-year career with the Kentucky State Police and we wish him the best as he embarks upon his next chapter in life." So even though Priddy's name will be on the ballot for the Primary Election in May, he will run unopposed and will be the next Edmonson County Circuit Clerk, beginning in January of 2025. He has already been active during local court sessions as he prepares for the job. Darren Doyle, story:
A Lindseyville woman spent Christmas in jail after she was arrested on felony drug charges as a result of findings during a traffic stop, according to an arrest citation. The citation stated that Edmonson County Chief Deputy Tim Jackson witnessed a driver on Morgantown Road traveling erratically at a high rate of speed on December 23rd, around 5PM. As a traffic stop was initiated, the driver was identified as Laura McCain, (63), Lindseyville. The citation stated that McCain was showing abnormal behavior, giving unclear answers, and admitted to having illegal substances in the vehicle when questioned. Deputy Jackson stated in the citation that he removed over 7 grams of methamphetamine from the vehicle. She was arrested and charged with Trafficking in controlled substance, first degree, first offense, meth (> 2gms) and Improper equipment. She was lodged in the Hart County Jail and remains on a $5000 cash bond. Darren Doyle, story:
A Bowling Green man was arrested and faces felony drug charges after local law enforcement responded to a domestic disturbance call on Christmas Eve in Chalybeate. According to an arrest citation, the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 hang up call around midnight on Christmas Eve. The citation stated that deputies found a subject, later identified as Jerry Britt, (38) of Bowling Green, hiding in the garage of the residence on Noah Bledsoe Road. Britt was listed as the husband to a female caregiver of a 99 year-old resident of the property. Neither Britt nor the caregiver, who was listed as the victim, resided at the property. The citation also stated that Britt had a hypodermic needle and a knife in his pocket and originally gave deputies a false social security number. Deputies also discovered that Britt was not to be allowed on the property, according to the document. The citation further stated that Britt admitted to both smoking and injecting meth while he was on the property and that a meth pipe was found in plain view on the countertop. Britt's current address did not match the address on his driver's license, the citation also stated. He was arrested and charged with:
Darren Doyle, story and photos: Edmonson County High School's 11 million dollar Career Center project is running smoothly and on schedule, according to Superintendent of Schools Brian Alexander. The project will basically change the entire back half of the entire school with a state-of-the-art nursing facility that will actually resemble areas of a hospital, and a new welding shop that will be like none the school has ever seen. The new addition was made possible by $10 million in state funding that was specifically earmarked for this project-only. "We wouldn't have this without the state funding coming through," said Mr. Alexander. "We are confident that the new construction and the upgrades we're making to our older portions will be a game changer for so many students." The school has had the same welding and auto mechanic shops since the school was originally built in 1981. While the nursing program was added to the school's curriculum just a few years ago, it is currently being facilitated in an old home economics room. Other career courses like engineering and electrical pathway classes are also being held in standard classrooms. The new construction will allow large square foot expansions for both the auto mechanic shop and the current welding shop, both by about 50%. The former welding shop will become the new shop for electrical and engineering classes. The auto shop will see a new office, classroom space, and a new vehicle lift, to name a few improvements besides the expanded size. Alliance Corporation is in charge of the construction and Alexander said the process has gone extremely well up to this point. "Alliance has a lot of Edmonson County people working for them and on this job and you can tell they have a lot of pride in their work. These guys are on it and they're doing a great job." The job site supervisor is local resident Andrew Bolton. "It also sure doesn't hurt to have a local guy like Andrew on the site everyday," Alexander added. Callie Beliles, Director of Facilities and Safety for Edmonson County Schools, led us on a tour today of the new facilities as well as the old with descriptions of the improvements.
Some of the project is expected to be done by this June but other parts like remodeling of the old shops will come later, due to the nature of the construction. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, earnings for those with bachelor degrees averaged around $55K per year with skilled trades averaging about the same; however, the cost to attend two-year trade schools are normally much less than a four-year college or university. ECHS offers programs that allow students to gain both college and trade school credits while attending high school. The new facilities will play a crucial part those programs. Among the new hands-on areas of the new project, will also be administrative areas, office space, storage, and classroom space. ECHS hosted Governor Andy Beshear in February of last year, who made the announcement of the $10 million award for the facility. Another year has come and gone for Edmonson County and the Edmonson Voice is proud to continue to be our county's number one source of local news and information. While we have enjoyed a much-needed vacation over the Christmas and New Year Holiday season, we have also tallied up the numbers for our most viewed articles this year.
As normal, accidents and tragedies unfortunately lead the headlines, but our readers also enjoyed some sports stories, good news, and inspirational articles as well. Here is the list of the most viewed articles this year--just click on a photo to view the article: Darren Doyle, story and photo: We've seen Santa Claus at a few different places recently and we asked him if he would take a few moments for an interview. When he said "yes," the visions of sugarplums began to dance in our heads and we sat down with the world's most famous sleigh pilot. EV: We're only a few days away from Christmas and we've seen you in Edmonson County several times over the last few weeks. How is that possible during what would seem to be your busiest time of the year? SC: Well, the credit goes to Mrs. Claus and the elves. There's no way I can handle everything by myself. She is currently overseeing everything at the North Pole and the elves are seeing to the reindeer and finishing up the toy making and preparation for Christmas Eve. I have other homes all over the world that I stay in during the summers and I even have one here in Edmonson County. EV: Do you and everyone at the North Pole work all year round? SC: For the most part, yes; however, everyone takes a vacation immediately following Christmas. The elves usually go to the Bahamas and spend some time recharging the batteries while Mrs. Claus and I also head south. We might be gone from anywhere from a couple weeks to a month, it just depends. EV: We've seen you several places, but you never have any elves with you. Do they stay at the North Pole? SC: Ho, Ho, Ho! No...elves are everywhere. Not all of them are small with pointy ears, either. I have hundreds of thousands of undercover elves that work with me 24/7, all year long. They could be anyone: teachers, policeman, someone at the grocery, or even your own brother or sister. How do you think I keep such a close eye on everyone? We also incorporated the "Elf on a Shelf" a few years ago. You may only see them at Christmas, but they send reports to the North Pole everyday. EV: Do you really put coal in stockings of those on the naughty list? SC: Well, I did until a few years ago when the price of coal went sky-high! These days I use rocks instead, and they come right from the driveways or yards of those that get them. I know it doesn't help Kentucky's coal industry, but hey... EV: We heard someone call you "Skip" the other day. Do you sometimes go by another name? SC: Skip is a nickname I was given long ago. It stands for "Santa Klaus In Person." EV: When are the naughty and nice lists finalized? SC: They're not. It's never too late to be transferred from one to the other. But hey, there's only been one person on this Earth that was perfect, and that was Jesus, the reason for the season, so I know that everybody else makes mistakes, including me. As long as you're making an honest effort to be good, you'll be on the nice list. EV: No doubt you get this question a lot, but what do you say when someone asks you if you're the real Santa?
SC: Christmas is a wonderful time of celebration and love. There's so much more to Christmas than just me and what goes on at the North Pole. I can best answer that in a poem that I wrote long ago.. I can answer your question that should explain, I’m sure this will make it all quite plain. Does God live in your heart? I think that’s where we should start. God is a spirit that lives within you, The spirit of Santa is like that too. Santa’s spirit, like God’s, wants you to be good, Not just sometimes, but all the time you should. Anyone can be Santa , even you can play the part, All you need is love in your heart. Be kind and generous to others, Make all you meet your sisters and brothers. Still, the question remains, “Am I Santa?“ You must search your heart for the answer, No fair asking Prancer or Dancer…… EV: Wow, that's amazing. You obviously have plenty to do and places to go. Is there anything else you'd like to tell our readers? SC: Sure, I'm headed back to the North Pole where we'll be loading up and getting ready for the big night. Make sure everyone goes to bed early on Christmas Eve... MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT! HO, HO, HO!! **a version of this article was first published in the Edmonson Voice on December 21, 2016. Edmonson Voice Report: An Edmonson County Grand Jury Recently met and returned the following indictments: David Cordero Mize: Possession controlled substance first degree - first offense, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Failure to wear seat belt. Natasha Jane Crowder: Possession controlled substance first degree- first offense, Possession of drug paraphernalia. Justin Lee Basham: Possession of controlled substance first degree - first offense, Possession of drug paraphernalia. Raymond Robert Fox: Possession of a controlled substance first degree (2 counts), Improper turning. Lisa Darlene Lindsey: Possession of a controlled substance first degree. Nicholas Lee Williams: Theft of services valued at $1,000 or more but less than $10,000. Darla Jo Richards: Theft of a legend drug - first offense, Criminal trespassing. Dillon Scott Hart: Possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, No brake lights, Improper equipment, No or expired registration receipt, Failure to produce insurance card, Failure to notify address change to dept. of transportation, Failure to wear seat belt. Robert Gene Saltsman: Possession of a controlled substance, Resisting arrest, Disorderly conduct, Menacing, Criminal trespassing, Public intoxication, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of marijuana. Samantha Jane Tanner: Theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $1,000 or more but less than $10,000, Criminal mischief first degree, Persistent felony offender first degree. Ezra Marlin Brian Deering: Cultivation of marijuana 5 or more plants first degree, Persistent felony offender first degree. Nicholas Lee Williams: Theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $1,000 or more but less than $10,000.
Michael Dwayne Burns: Strangulation first degree, Assault fourth degree (domestic). Robert J. Wright, Jr.: Theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $1,000 or more but less than $10,000. Jerry Wayne Bruce: Arson second degree, Persistent felony offender first degree. Darla Jo Richards: Theft of a legend drug first offense, Possession of a controlled substance not in original container, Criminal trespass first degree. Jordan Kendrick Keown: Trafficking in a controlled substance first degree first offense, Trafficking in a controlled substance first degree first offense (fentanyl, >= 10 D.U), Possession of drug paraphernalia. Raymond Robert Fox: Possession of a controlled substance first degree, Assault fourth degree (domestic). John Thomas Waters II: Theft of mail matter. Wendy Leanna Browning: Possession controlled substance first degree, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Alcohol intoxication in a public place. Jason Michael Luttrell: Possession controlled substance first degree, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Public intoxication, Failure to produce insurance card, No or expired registration plates. Harley J. Thompson: Theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $1,000 or more but less than $10,000 (two counts), Criminal mischief first degree (two counts). An indictment is only a formal charge and is not an admission of guilt. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Darren Doyle, story:
A Wingfield man was charged with driving under the influence of a substance after a crash on Saturday night, according to traffic citations from the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office. According to the documents, the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene of a single vehicle crash on Wingfield Church Road around 10:22PM on Saturday, December 16th. The citation stated that Scotty Webb, (68) of Wingfield, was operating a 2000 Chevy S-10 pickup when the truck exited the left side of the roadway and crashed into a ditch. The citation also stated that while law enforcement was gathering his personal information, Webb showed strange behavior, and that law enforcement discovered more than 5gms of methamphetamine on his person. The citation listed "drug involvement" as a factor in the crash. Webb was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries. He was charged with Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a substance and Trafficking in controlled substance, first degree, first offense, 2gms of meth or more. The Chalybeate and Wingfield Fire Departments also responded, along with Edmonson EMS. Grinch Arrested At Bourbon Barrel Christmas Tree In Attempt To Steal Affordable Christmas12/18/2023
Thanks To Santa, Grinch Has Change of Heart, Returns Gifts **This story was first published in the Edmonson Voice on December 18, 2021** Darren Doyle, story: The Grinch was at it again this year, this time at the Bourbon Barrel Christmas Tree in Chalybeate; however, thanks to Kentucky State Police and Santa Claus, the Grinch had a change of heart and a local charity for Edmonson County children will benefit. Kentucky State Police Post 3 Public Affairs Officer Daniel Priddy responded to a 911 call at the popular Christmas location where it was reported that the Grinch was trying to steal Affordable Christmas donations so that kids throughout the county would be empty-handed this year. "I happened to be close to the area so I called for backup, which was Santa himself," Trooper Priddy said. "Since he responded with me, we were able to catch the Grinch in the act and he was taken into custody and placed in the back of my cruiser." While Trooper Priddy continued his investigation, it was Santa who took charge of the situation.
"It was Santa who had the idea to explain the meaning of Christmas," Priddy said. "He also explained how much it meant to all the boys and girls in our area. The Grinch’s heart grew right before our very eyes, three sizes larger, in fact. His eyes watered and he knew that he'd done wrong. He was a changed Grinch right there in the back of my cruiser. For the rest of the night the Grinch became The Holiday Cheermeister," Priddy said. Santa, who had stopped in Edmonson County just long enough to check in on all the boys and girls as he begins checking his list twice with only one week until Christmas, said he did not want to see the Grinch thrown in jail. "We all have bad days sometimes," Santa told the Edmonson Voice. "Sometimes we just need a friend to remind us that a better day is ahead and that someone out there cares about us. That's all I did as I explained to him the meaning of Christmas and why the Affordable Christmas Program is so important." Trooper Priddy said the Grinch apologized to Cody Vincent and Jon Vincent, the creators of the Bourbon Barrel Christmas Tree and promised he'd never do it again. "I believe he was very sorry after Santa Claus talked to him," Cody said. "He really meant it from his heart when he apologized to us and brought us back the donations." There is no fee to visit the Bourbon Barrel Brothers' Christmas Tree; however, freewill donations are collected on site for the Edmonson County Affordable Christmas program. No charges were filed against the Grinch and he was put on the nice list, according to Santa. Darren Doyle, story:
Edmonson County Schools will be closed on Thursday, December 14, and Friday, December 15, due to student and staff illness, according to Superintendent of Schools Brian Alexander. These will be NTI Days 1 and 2 for the 23-24 school year. "We have been monitoring student and staff attendance rates for two weeks," Alexander stated. "Student numbers have been low, but we have been able to sustain an attendance rate that would keep us in school. Today is the first day that we have had staff numbers that make it less than feasible to continue without a break from school so that we can combat the spread of illness." Alexander said there has been a stomach bug, as well as Flu A & B, Strep and a small number of COVID cases that have led to this decision. "We will come back on Monday, December 18, and Tuesday, December 19. Many of our schools have programs at the school-wide and classroom level that our students look forward to." "This is a special time of year and we regret the need to close school but the health and safety of our students is our first concern." Sheriff and Clerk's Budgets Approved Darren Doyle, story: A new director for Edmonson County Parks and Rec was hired at last night's Edmonson County Fiscal Court meeting. Magistrates voted unanimously on the hiring of Cody Stewart, a county resident, to be the new director. Parks and Rec formerly had two employees, a parks director, which was A.B. Webb, and a parks program director, which was John Kiernan. A committee made up of former Program Director Kiernan, Dist. 2 Mag. T.J. Massey, Dist. 4 Mag. Mickey Johnson, and Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey, interviewed applicants and recommended Stewart to the court for hiring. The position will pay an annual salary of $55,000 and combines the two former positions. The director position focused mainly on the mowing and maintenance of all parks while the program position focused on youth sports and events facilitated by the Parks and Rec Department. Magistrates have discussed contracting all the mowing, which will allow the newly hired Stewart to combine responsibilities, Massey said in a previous meeting. County Clerk Kevin Alexander reminded the court about the upcoming limitations his office will face at the end of December through early January with state system updates. Alexander reported that beginning Friday, December 29, 2023, through roughly midweek of January 8-12, there will be no vehicle transfers in the entire state of Kentucky. This is due to the state providing a new and updated system for vehicle transfers; however, Alexander said that Edmonson County is scheduled to be included in the first group of system updates. He also added that the Clerk's Office will be closed on December 25th-26th, the 29th-30th, and January 1st and 2nd. He also informed the court that a petition to include a wet/dry option on the next election ballot in 2024 was requested by a local resident and is currently available for signature at the Clerk's Office. He informed the court that new polling places would be added to next year's elections, with more details coming later. They include one at the Community Center for all Brownsville residents (District 4) and another at Bee Spring Park for those in Magistrate Gary Bagshaw's District. The court also heard from Roadway Management Technologies CEO Candler McCollum, who gave a presentation on his company that offers sensors on county vehicles that obtain road condition data. He gave a demonstration how the sensors work, and through vibration recording, said the system gives real-time data of the conditions of the roads. None of the magistrates had any questions or comments after the presentation. The court also voted to approve the 2024 Edmonson County Sheriff's budget in the amount of $991,300, with $267,300 coming from Fiscal Court. That is up from last year's amount of $872,300 with a $232,800 Fiscal Court contribution, and a total of an 8.79% increase. The County Clerk's annual budget was also approved in the amount of $3,848,605, which was up from $3,720,000, a 9.6% increase. The court also voted to:
The next fiscal court meeting date was scheduled for Wednesday, December 27th at 9AM. Darren Doyle, story: Local law enforcement is seeking information on a robbery that occurred at the Dollar General Store in Chalybeate, located on HWY 101 on Friday, December 8th. According to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, officers were requested to respond to the Dollar Store at approximately 8:46PM to the report of a robbery. The sheriff's office stated that an unknown white male, who appeared to be unarmed walked into the store and handed the cashier a note, demanding an unknown amount of cash. The male subject then left the store in an unknown direction, the sheriff's office said. Officers said they are currently working with the corporate office to acquire better video footage of the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact Chief Deputy Tim Jackson at 270-929-3678 or Deputy Colton Starcher, 270-597-2157. The sheriff's office said callers can remain anonymous. Kayaks & More, Edmonson County Public Library, and Anthony Madison Honored at 2023 Chamber Dinner12/8/2023 Madison Doyle, story and photos: Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual banquet and awards at the Hidden Homestead last night, December 7, 2023. The dinner was the first sellout in several years. Kayaks and More was awarded Business of the Year, Anthony Madison was awarded Citizen of the Year, and the Edmonson County Public Library was awarded Chamber Servant of the year. The night began with Chamber President Darren Doyle addressing the crowd, with a dinner catered by Pig Diner. Doyle also gave a recap of various accomplishments and accomplished goals since January of 2021, including almost tripling the annual revenue, which he said means they can now triple their budget beginning in January of 2024. He also noted that the Chamber has helped facilitate or co-sponsor multiple events, including the annual Mammoth Cave Area Day, a College and Career Fair at ECHS, and the Big Brownsville Bash. Doyle also mentioned a few things the Chamber has in the works, including a feature magazine of Chamber members which will be available throughout the region. Anthony Madison, owner of Madison's Flowers in Brownsville, was awarded Citizen of the Year. Madison started his floral business in his garage, working only with silk flowers, because he could not afford a large flower cooler. The business grew over time, and has now been in Brownsville for over 30 years. "Even with recent health issues faced by him and his wife, along with several setbacks, he continues to be that same, selfless person, continuing his giving, even when he was in need himself," said Chamber President Darren Doyle. Chamber Servant of the Year was awarded to EC Public Library. Doyle said even though the library has been around for a long time, its new leadership and eager team members are serving the county and community like has "never been seen". They are promoting activities for all ages every single week, and are always looking for ways to help our area, specifically our children, he said. Chamber Vice President Josh Casey introduced the Business of the Year recipient, Kayaks and More. Casey said that while their business is somewhat a competitor with his own business, C&C Firearms and Outdoors, he has never felt like a competitor or an enemy. "Many of you know, I'm not originally from here," Casey said. "But I've always felt welcomed, and these people [Kim and Tony Polson] have always treated me as a friend, and we are truly honored to present them with this award tonight." The Chamber said they look forward to see what success and accomplishments will come next year. Visit edmonsonchamber.com to become a member. Edmonson Voice Report:
An Edmonson County Grand Jury recently returned the following indictments: Michael E. Coburn: Assault third degree, Resisting arrest, Alcohol intoxication in a public place. Travis Earl Basham: Torture of a dog or cat with serious injury or death (three counts), Cruelty to animals second degree (thirty one counts). Ronald Wayne Bedwell: Possession of a handgun by a convicted felon (two counts), Trafficking in a controlled substance first degree first offense (>= 10 D.U., firearm enhanced), Trafficking in marijuana less than eight ounces (firearm enhanced), Tampering with physical evidence, Terroristic threatening third degree, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Menacing. Seth Ryan Wayne Bedwell: Trafficking in a controlled substance first degree first offense (firearm enhanced), Trafficking in marijuana less than eight ounces (firearm enhanced), Possession of drug paraphernalia. Jimmy Allen Rich: Unlawful transaction with a minor first degree victim under 16 years of age (four counts), Unlawful transaction with a minor victim under 18 years of age, Criminal attempt to commit unlawful transaction with a minor first degree victim under 16 years of age, Unlawful use of electronic means originating or received the commonwealth to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activities by solicitation. Randall Scott Decker: Trafficking in a controlled substance first degree first offense (>= 2 grams meth), Trafficking in a controlled substance first degree first offense, Tampering with physical evidence, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Public Intoxication. An indictment is only a formal charge and is not an admission of guilt. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Darren Doyle, story:
The boil water advisory issued on December 5th, 2023 by the Edmonson County Water District has been lifted, which includes all customers on the south side of Brownsville. Communities impacted by this advisory are Chalybeate, Rhoda, Pig, Wingfield, Cedar Springs, and Rocky Hill. For additional info, or to sign up for call alerts, contact the Edmonson County Water District office at 270-597-2165. Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff: It almost seemed as if there were no surprises at the annual Edmonson County Industrial Authority Christmas Dinner and awards ceremony Tuesday, December 5th at Tayvin Gardens in the Chalybeate community. Almost. Perennial powerhouse Yahagi American Molding Inc., Yami, as it is called, won “Industry of the Year.” No surprise. An Edmonson County High School teacher thought he was there just as another visitor who was invited alongside a few other faculty in support of the vocational program at the high school. Surprise. Brandon Meredith of Meredith Welding Technologies was awarded “Business of the Year.” The bait strung out to get him to the dinner was IA President Kevin Alexander, who also serves as Edmonson County Clerk, speaking about the 10 million dollar grant awarded to the school to remodel the vocational facilities where Meredith teaches welding. Yami was unable to send a representative to accept their award for “I don’t know how many years in a row now,” Alexander said. “I wish they could have been here tonight,” he said about Yami. Alexander felt like his team had done a pretty good job keeping Meredith’s award “under wraps,” he said. In 2011, he was a one-man operation, Alexander said about Meredith, while today, he is a 15-man operation. Meredith was originally a student in the welding program at ECHS and the pathway to success for him was already laid out, he just had to “pick the ball up and run with it,” he said. He humbly referred to his original instructor Mr. “Woody” Woodcock, not wanting to take credit for following in Woody’s footsteps, he said. “It’s easy to follow a road that’s already plowed,” he said. He had no idea the award was coming and was flattered to be honored, but it was a double-edged sword because he said it was as well unnerving how he was one of only a couple people in the room to not know he had won. He credits his success to the program’s success and the ability to do high level instruction. “For the level that we are at, for the business we target, the customers and how we service them, we have to have a very selective hiring process,” he said. In attendance at the dinner was 9th District senator David Givens. He enjoys spending time in Edmonson County because it reminds him of his hometown area back in Green County, he said. Givens noted there are ways to grow a community with industry successfully, and while there are ways to go about in positive and negative ways, he feels Edmonson County is growing itself in positive and responsible ways, he said. Edmonson County executive recruiter Jon Sanders also spoke briefly. He gave positive news about the 17.6 acre industry park site where he feels the County is now able to compete equally with surrounding areas. Over the past year, they have competed a Phase 1 Environmental Study to present data to potential buyers the land, ground water and soil are free from hazards and contaminants, ready to build. A geophysical study to essentially map out the area underneath where building occurs. As well as a geo-technical study that consists of boring into the ground to test for things like soil compaction, he said. The point of the testing allows businesses to utilize the data for planning, engineering and construction. Having it done before a business shows interest in the area allows the Authority to compete with rival counties for business. A year ago, they did not have the information available, while every other property in the region did, he said.
“So now, that means that if an industry wants to build on that property, that 17.6 acres, it is ready to be built on, next week,” Sanders said. “If someone wanted to.” With 50 acres on a second site, but no road access to 31W, the goal over the next 12 months is to develop a plan on the concept of creating six to seven tracks for six or seven businesses and creating access to the highway, he said. “All we got to do is raise the right bait and hopefully we can land the fish,” he said. ***UPDATE: DECEMBER 7, 2024, 2:07PM***
THE BOIL WATER ADVISORY HAS BEEN LIFTED. Edmonson Voice Report: On December 5th, 2023 the Edmonson County Water District issued a boil water advisory for all customers on the south side of Brownsville but not including the City of Brownsville. Communities impacted by this advisory are Chalybeate, Rhoda, Pig, Wingfield, Cedar Springs, and Rocky Hill. The advisory will remain in effect until water samples have been taken and the threat of contamination has been eliminated to the satisfaction of the Environmental Protection Agency. You must boil your water to a full boil for at least three minutes. If there are any questions you may call The Edmonson County Water District office at 270-597-2165. |
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