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Edmonson County's Number One Source For Local News and Information
 Edmonson Voice Staff Report: Effective at 3 p.m. today, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is urging Warren RECC and its members to reduce electric usage as much as possible until further notice. Arctic temperatures are causing greater demands on the electric system, which could affect reliability. Consumers are encouraged to take proactive steps that can lower power bills by reducing electric use. One of the simplest ways to do this is by turning down the thermostat. Lowering the thermostat from 68 degrees to 67 degrees can result in a savings of up to 3 percent on a monthly bill. Other ways to reduce electric usage include turning off or unplugging all unnecessary electronics, battery chargers not in use, appliances, lights, space heaters, computers, TVs, etc. Be prepared before an event occurs by having an alternative heat source or be ready to move to another location. The elderly, or those who use medical equipment powered by electricity, should have another source of power available. To report power outages in Warren County, call 843-9710; outside Warren County, call toll-free 1 (888) 604-4321. 
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Greyhound Bus, Commercial Vehicles, Other Passenger Cars Involved Edmonson Voice Staff Report: KSP Troopers and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers are currently on the scene of a five vehicle commercial vehicle collision involving a Greyhound bus, two additional commercial vehicles, and two passenger vehicles. The collision occurred at approximately 8:40 a.m. this morning. Scanner traffic indicated more than 20 occupants have been transported to both Caverna and Hardin Memorial hospitals, via EMS, for treatment of injuries sustained in the collision. The extent of injuries are unknown at this time. There were multiple reports of school buses being used to transport individuals involved in the accident elsewhere and that Caverna Hospital was calling in additional personnel. Seven ambulances were reportedly dispatched to the scene. All lanes of Interstate 65 southbound have been temporarily closed due to blockage from the collision, and will remain closed for an extended period of time. All southbound traffic is being diverted onto US 31W at the 71 mile marker (Bonnieville exit), and directed back onto the interstate at the 65 mile marker (Munfordville exit) Drivers are encouraged to slow their speeds and use caution when approaching this area due to heavy traffic congestion and slick roadway conditions. Updates concerning this collision will follow. The investigation is ongoing, currently being conducted by CVE Officers and Post 3 Troopers. No further information is available for release at this time.  County offices including the Sheriff's office, County Clerk, and Circuit Court Clerk will be closed Tuesday, January 16, 2018. There will no court in session today in Edmonson County. Bank of Edmonson County will be operating on a two-hour delay. Travel conditions are very poor throughout the entire county. We will have more updates and closing announcements as they become available.  The Edmonson County Little League Basketball Board has asked the Edmonson Voice to make the following announcement regarding the current season:    Edmonson County Superintendent of Schools Patrick Waddell has announced that schools will NOT be in session for Tuesday, January 16, 2018, as a result of hazardous road conditions. The area is expected to receive more snow on Monday which will add to an already frozen landscape that covers the entire county. Secondary and narrower roads are still icy from weekend weather. Frigid temperatures are in the forecast for the next few days with lows predicted to be around zero degrees. You can view Edmonson Voice Meteorologist Landon Hampton's forecast here. Edmonson County's boys and girls basketball teams are scheduled to play Tuesday evening at McLean County in the All A Region 3 semifinals. We will have updates if that schedule changes.   Popular Facebook profile picture being used by thousands. Darren Doyle, story: The family of 10 year old Coleton Parsley, a fourth grade student at SEES who was critically injured in a sledding accident on Saturday, has provided an update as of today, January 15th. Coleton's mother, Heather Parsley, said in a statement: "Just for an update on Coleton as it has been hard to keep everyone updated.I️ truly know that God is in control and gotten Coleton this far. His vital signs are stable. One of the BP meds was able to be weaned. He is still sedated. His Chest X-ray this morning was normal. He is getting a feeding tube now as his albumin was lower than needed for him to heal. He’s getting a blood transfusion now. He’s doing well on the ventilator. He’s trying to breathe some on his own. All is stable for now. Please keep praying for God to heal his body! I️ know He is with us in this room. This hospital staff has been wonderful!" Coleton's sister, Caroline Parsley, an 8th grader at ECMS, reached out to the Edmonson Voice this morning via Twitter and told us that online cards could be made for Coleton. Simply click here, follow the easy steps, and your card will be printed and delivered to Coleton directly, or emailed to the family's preferred account at no charge. The Edmonson Voice report on Coleton went viral yesterday with over 250,000 views. We've received reports of prayers being sent on the Parsley family's behalf from all parts of Kentucky as well as seven different additional states. The family continues to request prayer from the public. Fourth Grader's Story Goes Viral In Region   The Parsley family. Coleton is shown bottom left. (via Heather Parsley, Facebook) SEES 4th Grader In Critical Condition With Fractured Skull THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED: CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST REPORT Darren Doyle, story: A local youth was critically injured in a sledding accident on Saturday, January 13, 2018 on a family farm on Louisville Road. According to family members who were in contact with the Edmonson Voice this morning, ten year-old Coleton Parsley crashed into a utility pole while sledding yesterday, where he suffered a fractured skull, multiple broken ribs, a hip fracture, and a torn neck ligament. After being transported to the hospital yesterday, he was airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital where he remains in critical condition. He is the son of Brian and Heather Parsley of Smiths Grove and is a fourth grade student at South Edmonson Elementary. Mrs. Parsley is a local APRN and manages A+ Family Healthcare in Brownsville. In a message sent to the Edmonson Voice, Mrs. Parsley said "Coleton needs God to intervene to get him through this." The family asked us to share a portion of a message from Mrs. Parsley that she posted on her personal Facebook page: "I️ know the Lord is in control & our family sure knows the power of prayer. I️ am overwhelmed by the outpouring of love & support that our friends, family & community have shown us. We truly need the good Lord to place his healing touch on Coleton." The family has asked specifically for prayer in their time of need. Several friends and local churches held private and public prayer this morning at 11am. "His pressures & vitals are stable at this time. Please continue to pray for God to heal him & to give us strength. Hug your kids tonight," the message said. We will have updates upon the wishes of the Parsley family. *As is the case with all published articles on EdmonsonVoice.com, comments without a first and last name and an email address are not published. All comments are subject for review and must adhere to the Edmonson Voice commenting policy which is posted on this site.   Several area churches have cancelled services for Sunday, January 14, 2018. As of now, we have received word from the following:
 Darren Doyle, photos: We drove around the county to check out the snow today, where most areas of the saw 2-3" of snow on top of 1/4" of ice. Road crews have been out non-stop, grading state and county roads and today's sunshine helped melt some of the slush. Secondary roads and parking lots are still very slick and with freezing temperatures still forecasted to hang around until Monday, drivers are still encouraged to use caution while traveling. Enjoy some photos from around the county today, January 13, 2018.   The Bank of Edmonson County has announced that it will be closed on Saturday, January 13, 2018 due to hazardous road conditions. In addition, the County Clerk's, Circuit Court Clerk's, and Sheriff's Offices will also be closed.   Several local businesses are shutting down early today as a result of Edmonson County's current winter storm warning. The Judge Executive, County Clerk, County Attorney, Circuit Court Clerk, and Sheriff's Office are closed. Bank of Edmonson County closed at noon today. Several other local businesses plan to close early as well. You are encouraged to call before traveling to any other business or local office not listed here. Local forecasts from Edmonson Voice Meteorologist Landon Hampton are pointing to up to 1/4" ice with 1-3" of snow accumulations later tonight. That is expected to be followed by low temperatures near zero for the next few days. "ALL of Edmonson County is under a Winter Storm Warning now until 4am Saturday," said Hampton. "One to three inches of total accumulation is anticipated, with a few localized areas possibly seeing more. Travel is already treacherous, and will only deteriorate as the day progress. Stay connected to the Edmonson Voice for more updates as we have them."  Emergency officials are encouraging all Edmonson County residents to limit your travel if possible as slick spots are becoming more prevalent around the county. "With already wet roads, icy spots are very difficult to see," said Sheriff Shane Doyle. "Please use caution and common sense when traveling today and tonight. It's also a good idea to have a flashlight, a charged cellphone, and plenty of warm clothes if you plan to be out. It would be best if you can stay put, but if not, please slow down and be very careful."   Edmonson County Schools are closed Friday, January 12, 2018, according to Patrick Waddell, School Superintendent. "With no positive changes to the forecast tomorrow, I'm cancelling school for Friday," he said. Hit & miss rain showers today will become more prominent tonight, before a stout cold front surges southeast over the area Friday morning, according to VOICE Meteorologist Landon Hampton. This will result in a winter storm, complete with a rain to freezing rain transition Friday morning, followed by a freezing rain to sleet transition, and eventually all snow during the afternoon, with 1-4”+ of total snow/ice accumulation expected. Edmonson County is under a Winter Storm WATCH from 6am Friday through 6AM Saturday. You can view Landon's full forecast by clicking here.  Rep. Michael Meredith Files Bill Relieving Volunteer Fire Departments of Costly Audit Regulations1/10/2018 FRANKFORT, Ky. (January 9, 2018) – Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, has filed a bill relieving volunteer fire departments of burdensome and costly auditing regulations. House Bill 122, filed last week, exempts volunteer fire departments from having to report annually to the Department for Local Government (DLG) and from incurring thousands of dollars in fees for being audited by outside accounting firms. Under the exemption, they would still have to file annual reports and would be subject to audits, however, the reports and audits would be handled by the Fire Commission which has a simpler, more streamlined process. “Our small, rural communities are the backbone of this Commonwealth,” said Rep. Meredith, who serves on the House Standing Committee on Local Government. “Volunteer fire departments are often the only first responders in these areas. We need to ensure that they have all the resources they need to do their job and most importantly, to save lives. By reducing the amount of time and money needed to comply with government red tape, we relieve a tremendous burden on those committed to the public safety of rural Kentuckians.” Meredith's office said this exemption will allow small, rural fire departments, which operate solely off of donations, grants, and fees, to use their scarce resources to purchase equipment and focus their time on saving lives and property in the communities they serve.   Edmonson District Court was held Tuesday, January 2, 2018. The Honorable Judge John M. McCarty presiding. Lonnie Jenkins, Endangering welfare of a minor (two counts). Pleaded not guilty. Pretrial conference 1/16/18. Lonnie Jenkins, Drug paraphernalia-buy/possess. Pleaded not guilty. Pretrial conference 1/16/18. Nicholas Smith, Theft by deception including cold checks under $500. Continue in two weeks. Eric Shannon Vibbert, Speeding 15mph over limit, Operating on suspended/revoked license. No/expired registration plates. No/expired KY registration receipt. Continue on 1/30/18. McKenna Marie Wood, Speeding 22mph over limit, will attend County Attorney Traffic School. No/expired registration plates, pleaded not guilty, Pretrial conference 1/16/18.. Failure to produce insurance card, proof shown, dismissed. Kelly Jason Pierce, Operating motor vehicle under influence, third offense. Pleaded not guilty, pretrial conference 1/30/18. James Allen Lindsey, No operator's/moped license. Failure of non owner to maintain required insurance. Pleaded not guilty to both. Pretrial conference 1/16/18. Johnathon M. Coy, Public intoxication controlled substance. Pleaded guilty. Sentenced to 30 days in jail, credit for 8 days served. Remaining 22 days probated. Brenton Chase Mudd, Operating on suspended/revoked license. Continue 1/16/18. Kimberly Michelle Wood*, Possession of controlled substance-first degree-first offense, meth. Drug paraphernalia-buy/possess. Possession of marijuana. Pleaded not guilty to all. Pretrial hearing 1/16/17. *not the Kimberly Wood that is secretary at Edmonson County Middle School.  Edmonson District Court was held on Tuesday, January 9, 2018. The Honorable Judge J.B. Hines presiding. Krystyn Marie Rice, No/expired KY registration receipt. No/expired registration plates. Improper display of registration plates. Amend to all others, failed to appear. Joseph Lee Blankenship, Assault 4th degree minor injury. Theft by deception (four counts). Pleaded not guilty to all charges. Pretrial conference 3/6/18. Candy Elaine Vincent, No/expired registration plates, No/expired KY registration receipt--proof shown, dismissed. Failure of owner to maintain required insurance/security first. PTD for six months. Failure to wear seat belts, Failure to notify address change to dept. of transportation, dismissed per County Attorney. Darrell Appleby, Theft by deception including cold checks under $500 (four counts). Failed to appear, bench warrant issued.  Darren Doyle, Editor: The Edmonson Voice published a Letter to the Editor on Monday, January 8, 2018 from Kelly Witt, a resident of Crump Road in Rocky Hill. It resulted in dozens of our readers commenting on the article itself as well as our social media pages. The letter basically called out Windstream for their poor service and products with no end in sight as county residents are forced to pay the same rates as other areas. In the past, we here at the Voice have spoken against Windstream publicly for their lack of concern for the services they provide in our county and Windstream has never made a single attempt to rectify any of our concerns, and to our knowledge, the same holds true for other residents, minus a few temporary fixes here and there. Someone named Phillip McAbee, who listed his title as Windstream President of KY Operations, left a comment on the published letter and said he wanted to find solutions to these problems and left his email address. Below is a copy of the email our editor sent him yesterday, to challenge him to make good on his word. Mr. McAbee, We received a reply from Mr. McAbee early this morning. Below is his response. Good morning. I really want to help and is why I've been reaching out, I've had several individuals send me their information yesterday. I'm excited to get the chance to try to find a resolution to their specific issue. Mr. McAbee also left us two telephone numbers and we plan on following up with him about this situation. We are urging ALL EDMONSON COUNTY WINDSTREAM CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCING ISSUES to contact him at the email address he provided to us, phillip.mcabee@windstream.com, and share your concerns with him directly. Edmonson County is about to find out exactly what is important to Windstream. Let's hope it's the people of Edmonson County. *As is the case with all published articles on EdmonsonVoice.com, comments without a first and last name and an email address are not published. All comments are subject for review and must adhere to the Edmonson Voice commenting policy which is posted on this site.  Small Crowd Attends Night Meeting  Darren Doyle, story: Edmonson County fiscal court was held on Monday, January 8, 2017 at 6pm as one of the two annual night meetings for the county government. Approximately 25-30 were in attendance in addition to county officials. Neither County Treasurer Margret Skaggs nor County Attorney were present due to illness. Road Report: County Road Foreman Ray Page reported tiles, dirt work and backhoe work had been done in various districts, mowing of right-of-ways was still ongoing, and the county ditch work was still being completed. He also said all new road signs have been installed in each district that had made requests. Parks & Rec: Parks Director A.B. Webb said he was currently back to handling all of Parks and Rec's business by himself after the departure of Greg Hudson. He reminded the court about the ongoing Bluegrass Jam, held every 2nd and 4th Monday night in the Community Center at 6pm. Sheriff’s Report: Sheriff Shane Doyle updated the court on the previous plumbing problems experienced by his office where an office sewer drain had been stopped. It has been temporarily fixed and it was discovered that the roots of some landscaping shrubs had grown into the drain pipes. He said final work will be completed upon warmer weather.  Jailer Report: Deputy Jailer Todd Vincent reported there were 18 county inmates currently housed at Hart County Jail with one on home incarceration. Two inmates were recently ordered to be taken to the emergency room, for which the county must foot the bill. County Clerk: Kevin Alexander reminded the court that his office had recently received clearance through the state for voting precinct, (no more church voting), all in Rocky Hill old Atmos plant. Transfer taxes:$40K, 485K, changes in the Rocky Hill area. He reported a total of approximately $475K in funding that was turned over to county offices from tax revenue gathered by his office. The court also:
The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled for January 22, 2018 at the Edmonson County Courthouse.  80% Of Purchase To Be Funded By Grant  Darren Doyle, story and photos: The Edmonson County fiscal court voted to purchase new JAWS extricating equipment for Edmonson County Emergency Management in the amount of $27,721, 80% of which will be funded from a grant secured by EM Director Pat Prunty from Homeland Security. Local Emergency Management secured the grant for $22,800 in October of 2017. Emergency workers have tested four different companies' extrication equipment over the past few months in order to make the best purchase in the opinion of those who will be the operators. After multiple tests, local emergency personnel voted on the Genesis Company, whose bid was $27,721. Prunty said that EM had estimated that the new setup would cost around $30K. The court voted to make the purchase and the county will make up the difference from the grant at $4,291. Prunty said the summary of the Genesis equipment was that is was easier to use, more powerful, and the best unit overall out of the four that were tested.  One County Resident Has Been Recommended By Outgoing Admin Darren Doyle, story and photo: Judge Executive Wil Cannon discussed the need for another Parks and Rec program administrator with magistrates at Monday night's fiscal court meeting after the resignation of Greg Hudson. Cannon asked the court for their preference on how the hire should be made, whether a committee would be appointed or allowing Cannon to make the hire himself. While Hudson's position was a full time county role, Cannon said his replacement will be part time only, due to cutbacks in the county budget. He said the job will pay $12 per hour and will be less than 100 hours per month. One magistrate asked if the job could be done part time, to which Cannon replied, "It will have to be." Judge Cannon said local resident John Kiernan had showed interest in the position, and Mr. Kiernan was the sole recommendation from Hudson as he departed. Kiernan was present at the meeting and addressed the court. He said he works full time at Country Oven Bakery but his schedule will allow him to have the necessary time available for the job requirements. "I've been involved with Parks and Rec for the last nine years coaching," he said. "I'd just like to see us keep moving forward and not step back. I want to keep our (little league) boards together and just keep moving forward."  John Kiernan speaks at fiscal court. Kiernan has applied for the parks admin position. Kiernan has two children in the program with a smaller one to join the program soon. He said he's coached baseball, basketball, and soccer. "I talked with John for about an hour the other day," said Judge Cannon to the magistrates. "I think he'd be a great candidate for the position but to be fair, we can accept applications for however long you want if that's what you want to do." After a brief discussion, Magistrate Edd Rich motioned for Judge Cannon to make the hire. Magistrate Mark Woosley asked to also allow Parks Director A.B. Webb to join Cannon. Cannon agreed and also asked Magistrate Joe Durbin to join, which completed a three-man committee. The motion was seconded for the committee and applications will available for the next two weeks. The Edmonson Voice will have the full job posting available.   Patrick Waddell, Superintendent of Edmonson County Schools has announced that schools will not be in session on Monday, 1/8/18. "There is too much ice in the northern part of the county," he said. "While 90% of our roads are great, you can't see all of the ice and that is a concern."  Annual Rates As Low As $50, Online Signup Available  Edmonson Voice Staff Report: The Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce has announced that their 2018 membership drive is now underway. Membership forms will be mailed to existing members for the 2018 year by the first week of January. Forms can also be acquired at the Chamber office, located in the Edmonson County Courthouse, and can be accessed on Chamber's website, www.edmonsonchamber.com. Businesses, organizations, and individuals are all welcome to join. “Membership is easier than ever,” said Rhonda Clemmons, Chamber Director. “The entire process can be completed online, including payment." Clemmons also said that the local Chamber is entirely member-funded and the annual membership drive allows the organization to continue its printing, advertising, promotion, quarterly events, e-newsletter, and website. It also permits the Chamber to continue regional memberships in groups like The Southern Kentucky Film Commission, which has brought film making to Edmonson County. This year, the Chamber is also providing a business spotlight for any Gold, Silver, or Bronze member to be featured in the Edmonson Voice, the county's leading local news source, which reaches 16,000 readers each week. "We've had many positive comments from local business owners that have seen a growth in the local economy by the film industry's arrival in Edmonson County and we hope that growth continues.” Clemmons said. “Efforts also continue on the Trail Town initiative, which we hope will tap into state advertising opportunities to better market our community to outdoor enthusiasts.”  Greg Hudson Resigns From County Parks & Rec To Become Park Director For City Of Leitchfield1/3/2018 Hudson Will Oversee Brand New Program For Leitchfield  Greg Hudson (EV file photo). Darren Doyle, story and photo: Edmonson County Parks & Rec Program Administrator Greg Hudson has resigned from his position to accept a new role as Leitchfield's Park Director. Hudson said he was recently contacted by the City of Leitchfield about the new position and that it would be a completely new organization as there had been no official Parks and Rec program in Leitchfield. Hudson said that parks there were overseen by local tourism and public works. "This was a job opportunity that I simply couldn't turn down," said Hudson. "I'm extremely grateful for my time spent here and for the progress made in all our park programs." During Hudson's tenure in Edmonson County, the local parks program has seen major improvements by having effective independent little league boards for baseball, softball, and basketball, has seen the resurrection of local youth soccer, the facilities are in the best shape seen in modern times, and more people are participating in park programs than ever before. Annual programs like the Freedom Fest, Halloween on the Square, and the community Easter egg hunt have been extremely popular under the leadership of Hudson, and he's also tried a host of other programs to include more youth, including concerts and movies.  Elsie Johnson, Leitchfield's City Tourism Director, discussed how Hudson came to be their decision for the new hire. "It's always a hard decision when we hire someone for a role like this who lives outside our city limits, but when we saw the continued growth that Edmonson County Parks showed under Greg, we felt like he was the perfect person for us," she said. Johnson said Hudson will not only oversee all city ball programs for boys, girls, and adults, he will also be in charge of aquatics, which includes a new water park with over 50 employees. Hudson will also oversee park maintenance, pavillion rental and management, and a nine-hole disc golf course. The city already has plans of expanding that into another nine holes in the future. "We're so excited to have him on board and we anticipate plenty of growth with his addition," Johnson added. Edmonson County Judge Executive Wil Cannon said Hudson's resignation is a huge loss for the county. "I hate to lose him," said Cannon. "Virtually every improvement we've seen in our parks over the past few years is directly related to Greg." Cannon said Hudson's replacement will be cut back to a part time position, due to countywide budget cuts that are affecting all county offices. "Most people don't realize that Greg volunteered a lot of his time while doing things for the county," said Cannon. "He did lots of things not in his job description just because they needed to be done. They'll be some things we'll cut back, like the movies and some of the concerts, but we're going to continue our Freedom Fest, Halloween, and Easter events, and we're going to continue our bluegrass jams at the Community Center. All those have been successful thanks to Greg."  Cannon also said he was going to leave the hiring process options up to fiscal court where the court will either form a committee to accept applications, conduct interviews, and make the hire, or the court could also agree to allow Cannon to make the decision. Judge Cannon also said Hudson's replacement will be a government go-between from the local league boards and fiscal court. Leagues will still be directly run by each league's respective boards, made up of coaches and parents. "I don't mind to make the decision myself, but I'm not a dictator and I want our fiscal court to have their say in this process," he said. Hudson will begin his duties in Leitchfield on Monday, January 8, which will be the same date his official resignation will take effect; however, Hudson said he will still be a resident of Edmonson County and will help his replacement move into their new role. "I still live here and I still care about what happens here," he said. "I want to see our community continue to grow and prosper so I want to help whomever steps in. I certainly don't want to just walk away." Hudson has served as Parks Program Administrator since 2015.  **UPDATE: JANUARY 3, 2018, 12:20PM--The Clerk's Office has informed us that systems are back up and running. The state has reverted back to the old system.  County Clerk Office staff members (courtesy StudioDD). Edmonson County Clerk Kevin Alexander announced that the sweeping, statewide changes implemented by Department of Transportation’s KAVIS Point-of-Sale collections for county clerk’s offices throughout the state have not performed well, and no timetable has been given to clerks as to when operations will be back up and running. “I know it's very frustrating for customers, and it’s equally frustrating to us as an office. The State had told us they expected everything to perform just fine, and it’s certainly not done that.” “We’re hopeful things will work as they are supposed to as soon as possible, but at this point, we simply don't know when they'll have it up and performing. I know offices throughout the state are dealing with the same issue.” Alexander asked citizens to call to make sure the system is working before traveling to the office as no electronic transactions can take place until problems are corrected at the state level. “With the weather being cold like it is, I would ask the public to call before getting out to make sure the system is up” Alexander said. "We apologize to the public for any inconvenience, but we're at the mercy of the state's system." You can reach the Edmonson County Clerk’s Office at 270-597-2624.  |
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