Darren Doyle, story and photos:
An Edmonson County veteran received a prestigious medal in a ceremony at the 2025 Army Aviation Association of America or "Quad A," last week in Nashville, Tennessee.

CWO-4 (Chief Warrant Officer 4)Tim "T-bone" Vincent, age 66 of Bee Spring, a retired Apache helicopter pilot, received the medal, which is the fourth highest award for heroism, and the highest for aerial achievement, as he was joined by some of his fellow officers at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel.

He is known as Tim, T-bone, and Vinny, and most would agree he is a hero, although he disagrees on the latter.

Tim invited me to his home on Thursday, May 22nd and shared many stories about his nearly 30 years of military service. Most of those stories were filled with funny and fond memories of his fellow servicemen and not about the medal, which is only one of several he has received.

Tim, a 1977 graduate of Edmonson County High School, earned his nickname "T-bone" from playing high school football.

"I was a freshman and it was a situation where I had this particular good run and Mark Seabolt said something like 'Give him a bone!' And somewhere in there, he came up with T-bone, and it stuck," Vincent said.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in April of 1980 where he would go on to airborne school, then reported to Savannah, Georgia to the First Ranger Battalion where he completed ranger school. 

"I went through a lot of military schools. Pathfinder, static line jump master, halo jump master," he said. He then pointed to a photo of himself jumping from a military aircraft.

"That's me clearing the tailgate of a C-130. Those guys in the forefront there are about a half-second in front of me. That's about a 12,500 feet free fall," he said.

(photo below)

Vincent's pride in his military service goes far behind the one mission that earned him his most recent medal. I felt like I was watching a movie in my mind as he described so many of his experiences. But it wasn't a movie at all. It was very real.

So what earned him the medal? As a highly-skilled pilot of an AH-64 Apache helicopter, which is a heavily armored, twin-engine attack helicopter used by the U.S. Army and other international forces, he and fellow pilots fired the very first shots of the Gulf War in 1991.

Tim described the mission, and while it took months of preparation and training, he said it only took a few minutes to complete.

"The first shots of the war is the claim to fame," he said, which took place on January 17, 1991.

"There were two radar sites about 10 miles apart on the Iraq border and we had two Air Force Pave Lows. They had GPS back then. They wanted to lead us in. It was their mission originally and they figured out that they couldn't do it. They got us  within 16 km, about, you know, 10 or 12 miles. Then they peeled off to a release point over here. We had two teams that went to a release point about 10 km from the radar site. There was two of them, 10 miles apart and then we broke off. Four aircrafts went to this one, four aircrafts went to this one. All this was done under no (communication). We took off an hour and a half later--what they said was "Party in 10..." and that was a 10-second countdown. And we opened up on 'em."

"We took out those two radar sites. It all happened in about 2 to 3 minutes. We had flown from about 50 to 100 feet to get there, and on the way back out-- we’re coming out, (at 500ft) but what that did was open up a corridor that was 10 miles wide and 500 feet high. And all them aircraft that went to Baghdad went through that corridor at about 300 feet, and us coming out. They were like "whew, whew, whew," (he motioned with his hand as something quickly coming toward him) and the first time I ever saw a stealth fighter was that night under FLIR (forward-looking infrared). It was the first shots of the war."

Without radar, Iraqi fighters wouldn't know what was headed their way. Those American fighters coming in the corridor prepared by Vincent and others, now with no radar detecting them, opened fire on Baghdad as Operation Desert Shield came to and end and Operation Desert Storm was now underway.

Vincent said he and his buddies listened on their way out as they heard the radio communication from the fighters that went in.

"It was the coolest play-by-play I'd ever heard."

He retired in 2008 after completing 292 combat missions, 27 direct-fire engagements, 987 total combat hours, in addition to 235 total jumps from an aircraft, with 100 of them being free fall.

He asked me if I knew what a direct-fire engagement was. "Where someone is shooting back at you?" I asked ignorantly.

"Not anymore," he quipped.

He showed me a framed print of an Apache entitled "Deliverance," by artist Dru Blair, who had signed the piece. In the frame were his other medals and pins that included the Air Medal, Legion of Merit, Merit Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Southwest Asia Service Medal.

He shared more stories before asking if I could take a photo of him with his wife Maria Roslyn, and granddaughter Ariana together as we finished a cup of coffee. I was happy to oblige. As someone who never served, I love and appreciate hearing the stories from veterans, especially those from our own community, who made great sacrifice for all of us today.

He took as much or more pride in the stories unrelated to his newest medal. Stories about being a Ranger instructor and completing flight school.

He shared a personal interaction with General Norman Schwarzkopf, the leader of all coalition forces in the Gulf War. He said General Schwarzkopf noticed Vincent's uniform, which indicated his experience prior to becoming a pilot, which was already 10 years worth of service.

I took one last look at the newly received Distinguished Flying Cross medal on his kitchen table. I asked him, "Did you ever wonder why it took 34 years to get this? Do you ever think about that stuff?"

He chuckled with a quick "no."

Basic government red tape prolonged a medal that should have been awarded decades ago. If not for a friend who fought for Vincent's medal, he wouldn't have received it, but that seemed to be last on Vincent's list of wants.

"I'm not a hero by any means," he said. "But I sure served with some."

I thanked him for his service.

"Well, you're welcome. I was proud to serve my country, my state, and I was proud to serve my county," he said with a smile.

As I left his beautiful home, we walked outside on his front porch. It has a composite decking floor built around a massive, industrial flag pole with a light and Old Glory waving high. At the base of the pole where the names of six fallen fellow Apache pilots.

"Every Memorial Day I put a drink out there for each of them. I miss them." And that was all he said about it. I got a bit of a lump in my throat.

Vincent's brother John E. Vincent, a Chalybeate resident, is also a combat vet. Tim has a son that serves in the Marine Corp, Wesley B. Vincent, and he also has a daughter, Jordan Vincent.

He is the son of the late Tranze and Erma Vincent.

Finally, with Memorial Day coming up, I'd like to encourage everyone to visit EdmonsonVets.com, which is a website I created in conjunction with local VFW member Floyd Houston that contains each soldier's photo currently on display in the Edmonson County Courthouse Hall of Honor. It's a project that they all deserve.

Happy Memorial Day to everyone.

Darren Doyle, story:
Edmonson County Schools will be dismissing early today, Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 1:30PM due to the potential of severe weather.

Superintendent of Schools Brian Alexander said the forecast has a possibility of severe weather hitting our area during the regular time of buses being on the roads for afternoon routes, which will hopefully be avoided.

"We're trying to space it in between windows and we feel this is the safest choice for our students and staff," he said.

He also said this will not affect the school calendar, as the time will not have to be made up.

Darren Doyle, story and photo:
On Thursday, May 15th, the Edmonson County Board of Education voted to approve bids presented by Alliance Corporation to begin an expansion and renovation at South Edmonson Elementary School. This will be the first major renovation since the school was constructed in 1999.

The project will consist of replacing heat pumps, exhaust fans, parking lot renovations, a complete library renovation, the addition of eight new classrooms, two additional sets of restrooms, and a roof project to repair extensive roof leaks throughout the building. 

"The school district is eager to begin this project as soon as the children are on summer break," stated Callie Belliles, Director of Facilities and Safety of Edmonson County Schools. "Efforts are already being made to clean out the library in anticipation for its expansion and facelift."

Josh Long, building principal, commented on the project. "I'm extremely thrilled for construction to get started at South Edmonson. We are all very eager for the opportunity to prepare students from Kindergarten through 6th grade. Something else that makes this construction exciting is that the library will be completely renovated and remodeled, which the students will really love."

SEES Librarian Lauren Parrigan shared her enthusiasm by stating "As the librarian at South Edmonson, I am so proud of our upcoming library renovation. This updated space will give our students a place to explore, create, and fall in love with reading all over again. It's such an exciting time for our school."

According to Belliles, Alliance will begin work at the beginning of June. The Board of Education, alongside South Edmonson, will host a groundbreaking ceremony on June 14th to mark the beginning of a 14-month renovation and construction time span.

"The Board expresses their gratitude to Sherman Carter Barnhart, Alliance Corporation, STW Engineers, Baird and Arnold Consulting and Engineering for their efforts in planning and preparing this opportunity for our students," said Belliles.

According to Superintendent of Edmonson County Schools, Brian Alexander, the estimated total cost of the major project will be $5.9 million.

Darren Doyle, story:
A Brownsville woman has passed as a result of injuries attained in a crash in Brownsville on Friday night.

According to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, law enforcement was dispatched to the location near Webb's Eats & Treats on South Main Street in Brownsville at 7:27PM on Friday, May 16th, to the call of a two-vehicle collision with injuries.

The Sheriff's Office stated that through investigation it was discovered that Kristopher McCombs, (45), of Segal was operating a 1997 Chevy Blazer, headed south on Main Street. For an undetermined reason, the Blazer crossed the line and entered the path of Sheila VanMeter (67), of Brownsville, who was headed north in a 2016 Chevy Equinox, the Sheriff's Office said.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the two vehicles collided head-on and came to rest at a residence beside the restaurant.

Mrs. VanMeter was transported to the Medical Center in Bowling Green by Edmonson EMS where she succumbed to her injuries a short time later and was pronounced dead, the Sheriff's Office stated.

According to the Sheriff's Office, McCombs refused medical treatment at the scene.

The collision remains under investigation at this time by the Sheriff's Office.

In addition to the Sheriff's Office and EMS, Brownsville Fire Department and Brownsville Police also responded to the scene.

Edmonson Voice Report:
A KSP trooper who was indicted in March of this year on one count of unreasonable force was arrested last week and faces DUI-related charges.

According to an arrest citation, Kentucky State Police Post 3 responded at 8:23PM on May 7, 2025 to a Barren County church for a 911 hang-up where there was no answer.

Law enforcement reportedly made contact with Jarrod Lewis (28) of Hiseville where he had allegedly been drinking or had alcohol in the vehicle.

According to KSP, the hood of the truck was warm and the engine had recently been on with keys in the ignition. Troopers reportedly conducted field sobriety tests where the odor of alcohol was on Lewis’ breath, and according to troopers, Lewis' blood alcohol level showed nearly three times the legal limit.

Law enforcement reportedly found an open alcoholic beverage in the truck and according to authorities, Lewis stated he had purchased multiple alcoholic beverages.

He was arrested and placed in the Barren County Detention Center and charged with:

• Operating motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, first offense (aggravated circumstance)
• Possession of open alcoholic beverage in motor vehicle

Lewis is currently employed as a Kentucky State Police trooper but has reportedly been suspended since being indicted on a federal charge of using unreasonable force in March of this year. The federal charges are unrelated to the DUI-based offenses.

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) and Senator Mitch McConnell (KY) introduced the bicameral Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act. According to Rep. Guthrie's Office, this bill would give the park the ability to acquire an additional 551.14 acres of land from the Nature Conservancy. This newly acquired land would enhance protections in the Green River watershed, further conserving the area’s wildlife and cultural heritage while generating additional tourism to Kentucky’s Second District, Guthrie's Office stated.

The land is located near and around the former Park Mammoth Resort and Lookout Restaurant, which was recently lost in a fire.

“Every year, Mammoth Cave National Park draws hundreds of thousands of visitors and contributes nearly $90 million to our local economy,” said Congressman Guthrie. “This natural wonder has inspired people for thousands of years, playing a foundational role in the culture of our region. I am proud to introduce the Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act to expand protections for the cave system’s important biodiversity and rich history, ensuring that it can be studied, maintained, and enjoyed by future generations of Americans.”

“Kentucky is lucky to be home to an abundance of natural treasures, among them, Mammoth Cave National Park. This extensive cave network has been inspiring Kentuckians and drawing visitors from all corners of the globe for generations. Beyond its role in driving tourism to our Commonwealth, the park also plays a crucial role in the region’s economic growth, supporting good jobs for the people of Kentucky,” said Senator McConnell. “I’m proud to partner with Congressman Guthrie on this important initiative once again which will expand the critical habitats that the National Park Service protects and preserves in the park.”

You can find the full text of the Mammoth Cave Boundary Adjustment Act here.
 
Guthrie's Office also stated the following:

• This legislation authorizes the National Park Service to acquire 551.14 acres of land currently owned by the Nature Conservancy (TNC). 
• This expansion would allow the National Park to manage land in Edmonson and Barren Counties, further conserving the area’s wildlife and cultural heritage.  
• The property includes cave passages, including Coach and James Caves, which hold prehistoric and historic artifacts. 
• In 2023, the park received more than 650,000 visitors, generating $89.6 million for communities surrounding the park. This expansion of the park is expected to drive further economic growth in the local community. 
• This legislation is supported by local elected officials in the surrounding counties.
• Established as a National Park in 1941, Mammoth Cave National Park is home to the world’s longest known cave system, stretching a mapped 426 miles with many miles still undiscovered.
• In 1981, the park was named a World Heritage Site, and in 1990, a Biosphere Reserve.
• In April 2025, Congressman Guthrie welcomed Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to Mammoth Cave National Park for a tour of the park and a discussion with NPS staff about its importance. You can learn more about their visit here.

Edmonson Voice Report:
The former Superintendent of Owensboro Public Schools was sentenced yesterday to 30 years in federal prison for numerous child sexual exploitation offenses.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement.

According to court documents, Matthew D. Constant, 53, a former superintendent, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison followed by a life term of supervised release for two counts of online enticement of a minor, three counts of receipt of child pornography, two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, and two counts of transferring obscene material to a minor.

There is no parole in the federal system.   

This case was investigated by FBI Owensboro and the Kentucky State Police.

The OPS system suspended Constant without pay in June of 2023 in the midst of allegations he was involved in a relationship with an 18 year-old student enrolled in another school district. Just over one month later, Constant was arrested and charged with procuring or promoting the use of a minor and tampering with physical evidence while he was the school superintendent.

In August of 2024, Constant was indicted on the following charges:

• Two counts of online enticement of a minor
• Three counts of receipt of child pornography
• Two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor
• Two counts of transferring obscene material to a minor.

He pleaded guilty to the charges in February of 2025, which was not part of any plea deal, according to court records.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.

Darren Doyle, story:
A man and woman were arrested yesterday and charged with burglary after a neighbor's call.

According to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a trespassing call at 3759 Otter Gap Road on Monday, May 5th around 3PM. A neighbor said they observed two individuals at the residence that shouldn't be there and that the individuals were removing items from the home, the sheriff's office stated.

Deputies made contact with Chad Whitson (54), Bowling Green, and Madison Deckard (30), Chalybeate, who were with the items in the yard, according to the sheriff's office, with some of the items having the resident's name on them.

Both were placed under arrest and charged with: Burglary second degree (Class C Felony) and Criminal Trespassing.

They were lodged in the Hart County Jail.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
After three years, the specific timeline for the rebuild of Sunfish-Round Hill Road remains unknown as Edmonson County Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey says "complexity of the work," and things "factored in that we were not accounting for," are some of the issues the county is facing with the massive road project.

The county road off of HWY 70 (Morgantown Road) and HWY 187 (Sunfish Road) first began to collapse in the summer of 2022 due to the parallel Cub Creek that had exceed its original banks and began eroding the base of the road. The initial extensive repair was attempted by the Edmonson County Road Department, under the direction of then supervisor Greg Carroll, hired by the fiscal court led by former Judge/Executive Wil Cannon.

According to the current Judge/Executive's Office during a March 2024 interview, the more the road crew worked on the repair, the more repairs were needed. Eventually, the entire base of the road failed and was dug completely down to the creek, at a depth of nearly 20 feet from the top of the road. This is when Judge Lindsey said the county discovered that they didn't have the funds to rebuild the road. As a result, portable barriers with "Road Closed" signage were placed on both sides of the breach.

However, in April of 2023, Donald Hardison, a Muhlenberg County man, was found deceased in a 2007 Ford Expedition after driving off the closed road into water at the construction site of Sunfish-Round Hill Road. It is unclear whether or not the barriers were in place when the man drove into the water. At the time, Judge Lindsey said they had been placed in the correct areas but it was not known where they were at the time of the accident or if the man simply avoided and driven around them. It is an approximately 20 foot drop off from the roadway to the bottom.

Regardless of where they are placed, the barriers alone can still be driven around fairly easily. In December of 2019, Alexandra Richardson was able to drive around the same barricade on Oak Hill Road, where flooding had caused the water to be several feet over the road. She drove into the water while intoxicated with her 20 month-old son and another juvenile. The boy died as a result of the crash and Richardson was charged and convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 years in jail.

Nearly three weeks passed after Mr. Hardison's accident before Edmonson County Fiscal Court voted to take a more permanent action to avoid the possibility of anyone else driving into the drop off. Some Sunfish residents attended the May 8, 2023 fiscal court meeting and demanded action be taken immediately. The court voted that day to place large loads of rock at both breaches which still remain today, along with "Road Closed" signs.

The breach is well over 100 foot long by 20 foot deep, and still has a portion of Cub Creek running into the original base.

Judge Lindsey announced to the Edmonson County Fiscal Court on March 18, 2024, that he had found a possible solution for funding, which was estimated to cost around $900K. He said that while the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had agreed to pay for the project, the county would have to cover the initial cost, which they didn't have. Lindsey said that the county could secure a line of credit through the Kentucky Association of Counties, a state governing body of county offices in KY, (KACo). He also said that he hoped the work would be done in 2024, which did not happen.

We followed up with Judge Lindsey last week about the status of the project that has disrupted the lives of many Sunfish area residents, and asked for an update.

The credit line was secured in June of 2024, according to Judge Lindsey and the $900k has been borrowed. The funds have been placed in a separate account, ready for use.

Lindsey said a variety of factors have hindered the project but that he feels they have all been addressed and the county is close to moving forward.

"Some of the factors that took some time to complete were having to do with the geo-studies that were completed in and around the roadbed to make sure that the foundation the road was being rebuilt on was strong enough to support the road," he said. "Or does it need to be secured by using engineering methods like rail and cribbing that would add strength to the affected area. There were several other tests that were done as well."

He also said due to the water issue from the creek, rerouting the water under the road without eroding the road base had to be part of the solution. If not, the road would continue to fail as a result of the same issue.

"There were also multiple options presented as to the possible placement of the road based on the information gained from the results of the engineering studies. Once the best option was chosen, we had to obtain the right-of-ways and permissions to use that model from the landowner. That has now been discussed and verbally agreed to, and we are moving forward using that information."

Lindsey said he had hoped the entire project could have been completed last year.

"Unfortunately, due to the complexity of the work, and things that factored in that we were not accounting for originally, the project hasn't moved forward as quickly as we had hoped or intended."

He said the county hired an engineering firm, Arnold Consulting Engineering Services, (ACES) who was an approved state vendor, and one that the county has used for other projects in the past.

"They have been doing the testing and engineering for the blueprints and planning to rebuild the road. They are handling the engineering and scope of work for the project. We will take sealed bids for the reconstruction once ACES gets the bid packet finalized."

Judge Lindsey said while no specific time period has been discussed by ACES, he said it is a priority and they are working on that now. Once they submit all the information to the county, the fiscal court will advertise for bids, which would take two to three weeks, then those bids will be opened and read at the following meeting.

"It is the goal of all involved to be able to get this project completed this year," Judge Lindsey said. "We want to get it completed as soon as possible."

Darren Doyle, story:
A Wingfield man was arrested and faces multiple felonies after a suspicious vehicle call yesterday.

On Thursday, May 1st, Edmonson County Sheriff deputies were dispatched to the Beaver Dam Creek Baptizing Center for the call of a suspicious vehicle with a male subject passed out behind the wheel. According to the Sheriff's Office, a deputy located the vehicle at the location and saw drug paraphernalia in plain view.

The operator was identified as Samuel Lamb, (33) from the Wingfield community, who told law enforcement he had just fallen asleep, the Sheriff's Office stated. Another deputy arrived on scene and deployed a K-9 unit, who gave a positive alert on the vehicle. A search of the vehicle resulted in more drug paraphernalia, suspected methamphetamine, and a shotgun, according to the Sheriff's Office.

It was discovered that Lamb was a convicted felon, which resulted in enhanced and additional charges.

He was arrested and charged with: 

• Possession Controlled Substance 1st Degree, 3rd or Greater Offense (Methamphetamine) Firearm Enhanced
  
• Drug Paraphernalia-Buy/Possess(Firearm Enhanced) 
• Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon
  

He was lodged in the Hart County Jail where he is currently listed with no bond.

Edmonson County Circuit Court was recently held where a Grand Jury returned the following indictments*:

Jerry Matthew Napier, Possession of handgun by convicted felon, Persistent felony offender, second degree.

Jerry Matthew Napier, Robbery first degree, Fleeing or evading police first degree, motor vehicle, Wanton endangerment first degree, Criminal mischief first degree, Fleeing or evading police third degree, Reckless driving, Persistent felony offender first degree.

John Christopher Corneilson, Assault third degree, Resisting arrest, Disorderly conduct second degree, Careless driving.

Michael Edward Monaco, Burglary third degree, Criminal mischief first degree (two counts).

*An indictment is only a formal charge and is not an admission of guilt. All parties are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

​Photos and story by Joseph Barkoff.

With the sun behind the clouds and slight breeze blowing through the grass and trees, it was a beautiful day for an Easter Egg hunt in Edmonson County Saturday April 19, and a couple hundred plus folks turned out the Edmonson County Highway 70 Sports complex to take advantage.

Just before noon, at 11:00 a.m., with the four baseball diamonds each designated an age group the music stopped.

There were approximately 16,000 eggs divided and spread across the four outfields with age groups: 0-2, 3-5, 6-9 and 10-12 at the ready.

Each fence line stretched children from home plate to the outfield.

“Go,” the words came over the P.A. system from Edmonson County Parks and Rec Director Cody Stewart.

Like controlled chaos, the children spread across the now swarmed fields and by the end some kids had to carry full baskets and use an extra hand by the end of the hunt, one kid explained.

​Stewart, 34, is from Brownsville, born and raised, he said.
 
This is just my second event with the Easter Eggs,” Edmonson County Parks and Rec Director Cody Stewart said before the hunt began. “I’ve worked here just over a year.”
 
“This is a community event,” he said. “A free event.”
 
There are around 16,000 eggs this year, Stewart estimates.
 
In the past there were only 12,000 eggs, he explained. This year, Edmonson County Public Library director asked if they could donate some eggs. So, they added another 2,000 or so eggs with prizes instructing kids to redeem them at the library.
 
Plus a few other places donated some eggs, Stewart said.
 
As well as prizes from the library, other surprises waiting to be discovered included candies and prizes like a light up scooter and Slip and Slide sets complete with a sprinkler.
 
Stewart enjoys seeing the community come out, he said.
 
“Oh man, just all the community coming out and getting together and giving away some good prizes” Stewart said when asked his favorite thing about the event. 
 

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
An early morning fire claimed the main building at Park Mammoth Resort, more recently known as part of the same property as The Maple Retreat.

Fire departments were paged around 3AM on Saturday, April 19th to the report of a fully involved fire at Park Mammoth and the surrounding woods, which was reportedly called in by a driver on I-65.

Firefighters ran into trouble before even getting to the fire, as the entrance to the building was blocked off by two large gates with large rocks in front of them. Firefighters were first able to remove the gates, then use a winch and cable to hook to the rocks and drag them out of the way. The structure was nearly gone by the time trucks were able to drive up the hill to the building.

Firefighters then worked to contain the fire from spreading further into the woods. Trucks were not able to drive to the back of the building due to the steep elevation that overlooked 31W and I-65. 

Rocky Hill Fire Chief Tim Compton said the cause of the fire was not known but as far as he knew, there was no power to the structure at the time. While the building was lost, the fire was contained away from the woods.

In addition to Rocky Hill, the Chalybeate, Brownsville, Wingfield, Kyrock, Lincoln, Park City, Cave City, Glasgow FireLadder 2, and Horse Cave Fire Departments responded to the scene, as well as the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, and the Barren/Metcalfe EMS.

No injuries were reported.

MAMMOTH CAVE, KY – Green River Ferry infrastructure in Mammoth Cave National Park sustained extensive damage to its navigational cables and support towers during last week’s historic flooding event. The vehicle ferry operation will be closed for several months until repairs are complete.
 
“Our team is assessing the damage at the Green River Ferry to determine if we can simply make repairs to the existing cables and towers or if a full reconstruction of the system is required.” said park Superintendent Barclay Trimble. “The ferry is an important link for our visitors, staff, and local communities to cross the Green River, but, unfortunately, the damage we are seeing from the flood is not easily fixed.”
 
The Green River Ferry shuttles vehicles across the Green River using a system of heavy cables and four 20-foot-tall towers. The navigational cables are held in place by four approximately 11,000-ton concrete anchors that are set deep into the riverbank.
 
Traditionally during the month of April, the water level at the Green River Ferry crossing averages between 15 feet to 22 feet with a water flow just under 5,000 cubic feet per second. During the recent flood, the river reached a crest of 59.54 feet with a water flow of just over 55,000 cubic feet per second. This high volume of water caused one of the concrete anchors to be physically pulled from the riverbank and moved 20 feet downhill. It also caused extreme stress on the four support towers which are now leaning slightly. Until the cable system and towers are repaired, the ferry cannot operate.

While the vehicle ferry operation and boat ramp are closed, the Green River Ferry day use area will remain open. Hikers can use the accessible Echo River Spring Trail and picnic area, and river paddlers can continue to use the canoe and kayak ramp. Future closures of the Green River Ferry area may be required once a construction plan has been fully developed, but the park will announce any temporary closures in advance.
 
The Green River Ferry Road North will remain open to passenger vehicles only. Recreational vehicles and vehicles with trailers are prohibited.
 
For directions to Mammoth Cave National Park and information on how to reach the areas on the opposite side of the Green River, please visit the Directions and Transportation website.

Edmonson Voice Report:
A Glasgow man was sentenced this week to 30 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of children.  

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations Nashville, and Chief Guy Howie of the Glasgow Police Department made the announcement.

According to court documents, Christopher Michael Marsh, 38, was sentenced to 30 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of distribution of child pornography. Between September 2021 and January 1, 2022, Marsh recorded himself engaged in sexual abuse of an infant, and on January 1, 2022, he distributed the recorded child sexual abuse material.

In November of 2024, Marsh pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bowling Green to charges of sexual exploitation of children and distribution of child pornography.

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by HSI Bowling Green and the Glasgow Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Nicholas Rabold, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, and Jo E. Lawless, of the Louisville Office, prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

Darren Doyle, story and photo:
Edmonson County will receive $1.3M for work and upkeep on state roads, as announced during Monday's fiscal court meeting.

Blake Williams, a representative from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3 spoke at the meeting and explained the breakdown of where state road funding will go in Edmonson County.

There was a total of $127,961 remaining from the previous year's allocation that will carry over. In addition, funding is allocated for the following:

• Routine maintenance for 89 miles of rural secondary roads: $437,500
• Asphalt resurfacing on 4.3 miles of HWY 1075, Sunny Point Road, beginning at HWY 185 and extending east to the intersection of HWY 187: $527,711
• Asphalt resurfacing of 1 mile of HWY 2336, Jock Road, beginning at HWY 728 and ending 400ft south of Silas Hunt Road: $108,672
• State flex funds: $236,481 to be distributed amongst districts

Total allotment: $1,310,364, which is an increase in $86,026 from last year's funding.

No other major business was discussed at the fiscal court meeting.

​Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
Don’t call it a comeback, they are already here. Neither is it an expansion at the Edmonson County Library in Brownsville.
 
It is in fact a renovation, with an open house hosted by the Edmonson County Library Monday, April 14th in Brownsville.
 
With a designer on hand from the architecture firm responsible for the upgrades to come, Brandstetter Carrol Inc. out of Lexington, some light refreshments and the layout of the new plan on an easel, folks from around the county could come in and place a sticker on a map of the area to represent where they live and see some of the vision to come. 
 
“It is not an expansion, it is just a renovation,” Edmonson County Library Director Alicia Edwards said. “We are trying to utilize the space to the best of our abilities.”
 
The part Edwards is most excited about is a designated Children’s Area.
 
“The big exciting part is that we are going to get a designated children’s area,” Edwards said. “And that is the main reason we started this. A children’s area off to its own because we think it’s only fair to the kids to have their own safe little space, but it’s also really fair to the adults not to have to hear all the kids playing.”
 
There will also be an outdoor children’s area attached they will be able to enjoy, she added.
 
Another cool feature is what is called a “Makerspace.”
 
“A makery is [a space] they can use it to be able to utilize a 3-D printer, a poster printer,” Edwards said. “The community can come in and use it for free.”
 
She thinks they will have sewing machines as well, Edwards said.
 
“What we try to do here is provide everything for people so they don’t have to go to Bowling Green,” Edwards said.
 
They plan to include a teen area that will offer young studiers more separation for quiet reading or studying as well, she said.
 
“I think what people don’t realize is we provide free notary services, all free printing,” Edwards said.
 
As well, they do GED testing and provide manuals for the test, she said.

What about the company from Lexington?

They have a fantastic reputation with the public libraries,” Edwards said. “I went to Russel County Public Library, and they had just recently built theirs in 2018, I think, and I was just amazed by it.”

Edwards has only been with the library since 2023 and didn’t think renovation was going to be directly in her future, she said. But when it became a thing, she knew they would be the one they would want to contact.

“BCI understands every library has unique operations, existing needs, and future goals, and the firm uses this understanding to achieve unity and efficiency,” it says on the BCI website under library projects next to the photo of their main library architect Monica Sumner.

They try design the building and its spaces based on where the building is located, BCI interior designer Courtney Keilman said.

“We don’t want to design some random futuristic building in the middle of a traditional town,” Keilman said.

She is excited to see the full picture when it is done, she said.

“One of the things we are doing is expand some windows down to let some natural light in the space which it really needs,” Keilman said. “I am really excited to see how that completely changes the look of the space and how it feels on the inside.”

They also hope to include flexible community meeting rooms and comfortable public seating to enjoy the natural light they hope will pour in, according to the ECPL media handout.

Why does this all matter?

“This renovation is an investment in the future of Edmonson County—providing access to education, technology, creativity, and connection,” the ECPL said on its handout. “Libraries today are more than books—they’re places where communities come together, and this project is a commitment to that vision.”

​

Edmonson Voice Report:
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Driver's Licensing and Pop Up Program has announced their return to the Edmonson County Community Center for driver's license and ID services.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, May 1st from 9:30AM until 3PM. Edmonson County residents can start making appointments as soon as this Thursday, April 17th for REAL ID licenses, or other services offered from regional driver's license offices.

According to a released statement, staff will arrive early and begin service at 9:30AM with lunch hour being from 12PM to 1PM.

Darren Doyle, story:
Edmonson County Emergency Management is seeking any Edmonson County residents that experienced property damage during the recent April flood for possible relief through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA).

ECEM Director Terry Massey is requesting any resident that has sustained flood damage to email his office with photos and a description of the damage.

"We are working on covering as much as we can," he said. "FEMA is funded by your tax dollars."

Residents are asked to send information by email, only at [email protected] for record keeping purposes.

Edmonson Voice Report:
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman issued a consumer alert and encouraged Kentuckians to protect their genetic data following 23andMe’s bankruptcy announcement.

According to a statement from AG Coleman, the California-based 23andMe collects and analyzes people’s genetic code and uses DNA samples for a variety of purposes, including helping people trace their ancestry and detect personal health risks. The company, which filed for bankruptcy last month, announced plans to sell its assets.

Given the sensitive consumer data 23andMe has amassed, Attorney General Coleman's statement reminded Kentuckians of their rights under the Kentucky Genetic Information Privacy Act. "Kentuckians have the right to delete the consumer’s account and genetic data and the right to request and obtain the destruction of any samples of genetic material held by the company," the AG's statement read.

“We have laws in place that protect Kentuckians’ rights and their personal information,” said Attorney General Coleman. “Every Kentuckian who did business with 23andMe should consider taking the proper steps to safeguard their sensitive information.”

Coleman said consumers can delete their account and personal information by taking the following steps:

1. Log into your 23andMe account on their website.
2. Go to the “Settings” section of your profile.
3. Scroll to a section labeled “23andMe Data” at the bottom of the page.
4. Click “View” next to “23andMe Data.”
5. Download your data: If you want a copy of your genetic data for personal storage, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding.
6. Scroll to the “Delete Data” section.
7. Click “Permanently Delete Data.”
8. Confirm your request: You’ll receive an email from 23andMe; follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request.

To Destroy Your 23andMe Test Sample, according to Coleman:   If you previously opted to have your saliva sample and DNA stored by 23andMe, but want to change that preference, you can do so from your account settings page, under “Preferences.”  

To Revoke Permission for Your Genetic Data to be Used for Research, according to Coleman:   If you previously consented to 23andMe and third-party researchers using your genetic data and sample for research, you may withdraw consent from the account settings page under “Research and Product Consents.”

Darren Doyle, story, photos, and video:
Green River has finally crested and levels are going back down but experts say the excessive water amounts from the recent flood will hang around for a while.

Brownsville officially received just over one foot of rain between Thursday, April 3rd and Sunday, April 6th, resulting in the worst local flooding since 2011. While impacts from the recent February flooding were severe, Green River rose to levels approximately 8 feet higher yesterday than February floods.

Green River rose nearly 50 feet in about three days as heavy rains drenched Edmonson and the surrounding counties but Edmonson County Water District General Manager Kevin Shaw said it on its way back down, albeit very slowly.

Earlier today, Edmonson County Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey declared a state of emergency in Edmonson County. This basically cuts through any red tape that could possibly hold up efforts in getting things back to normal.

Multiple state and county roads were closed throughout the event, with several closures still in place today. The good news is, the local water supply hasn't yet been in danger and Nolin Dam is doing the job exactly for which it was designed.

Some good news is that the flooding hasn't really impacted the Edmonson County Water District in a negative way, according to ECWD General Manager Kevin Shaw.

"So far, the biggest affect for us is simply a matter of inconvenience. The road out to the water treatment plant is underwater, which is causing us to have to use ATVs through the backwoods to get there, but it could be lots worse."

He said there have been no issues at the treatment plant itself and thankfully no issues with power.

"This event affected water in four or five states," Shaw said. "Most people don't think about it, but the Ohio River cresting will affect how fast our river goes down, and it (the Ohio) may not crest for two or three more days."

He said it's possible that the local intake might see some negative affects from extended sand and silt, but he was also hopeful that the intake area becomes larger.

"It's possible that the hole around the intake washed out a little bigger," Shaw said. "So far, so good here."

Nolin River Lake Manager Deryck Rodgers said that while the lake pool is currently sitting at it's third highest level in lake history, the lake is doing exactly what it's supposed to do. The biggest flood happened in 2011 with a similar event happening in 2010.

"This kind of water is all about what we do," Rodgers said. "Our primary function here is providing a downstream flood-risk management benefit. The whole purpose that the lake was constructed was part of a comprehensive plan to reduce flooding damages in the Ohio River basin. Part of the Green River project was to build these four dams, the Nolin, Barren, Green, and the Rough River Dams. We operate these dams as a system to control flooding on the Green and the lower Ohio."

Rodgers said when they hold the water back as they are now, it's never a fun time but it's exactly what they were designed to do and he said the Corps of Engineers is proud to be part of providing that benefit to the local community.

The entire spillway basin is currently underwater, but that's all backed up from the Nolin River and Dismal Creek. No water is currently being let out of the lake. You can see in the video above where the muddy waters of the creek meet with the dark green waters of the Nolin, which creates a line across the water.

Rodgers said there are no concerns with the lake at this time and that from an operational and safety perspective, everything is good.

"A lot of our time has been spent not only at the dam but also out in the recreation facilities on the water," he said. "We've got marinas, the state lodge, and a lot of other people working, trying to take care of business right now so we can continue serving the public when summer comes around."

Darren Doyle, story, photos, and video:
Edmonson County is experiencing a second round of severe flooding in only a few weeks as torrential rains fell countywide over the past two days.

While wind damage was reportedly at a minimum, flooding is the main concern with this weather system. Things are likely to become worse as river and creek levels continue to rise with even more rain in the forecast. Some areas could even see a possibility of a foot of rain over the course of a few days.

More than seven inches of rain has already been recorded in Brownsville, going back to Wednesday of this week.

All of the normal flood prone areas are closed today, which include:

• Cedar Grove Church Road
• Blackgold/Grassland
• Segal Road HWY 655 at Asphalt
• Bear Creek Bridge on HWY 238
• Bear Creek Bridge on HWY 70
• North Alexander Creek Bridge at Oak Hill Road
• Oak Hill Road Bridge in Brownsville (Near Mohawk Street)
• Willie Webb Road

In addition, Mammoth Cave National Park has announced the following closures: 

• Joppa Ridge Road
• Green River Ferry (South)
• Houchin Ferry Campground Area
• Dennison Ferry

Water levels are anticipated to rise even more as the Green River crests, which will likely back up creeks, making matters worse in some areas.

Residents experienced flooding in areas that are not usually prone to problems. More rain is in the forecast all the way through Sunday.

The Edmonson County Courthouse closed early today due to flooding.

County officials are urging all drivers to obey "road closed" signs as flood waters are dangerous. As the old saying goes, "turn around, don't drown."