Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
Last week, President Donald Trump signed into law Congressman Brett Guthrie’s (KY-02) Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (H.R. 4256/S. 2076) into law.
 
“Alzheimer’s disease is devastating on multiple levels: For the person who suffers with it, and for the families and friends who must help their loved ones fight this terrible disease,” said Guthrie. “As the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s – currently over 5 million people – is expected to rise, we need more information about what causes it and how to help treat it. I was proud to introduce the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act to address this need. I want to thank the many advocates in Kentucky and the around the country who are fighting Alzheimer’s every day, my fellow members of Congress and the Senate for supporting this bill, and President Trump for signing the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act into law. I look forward to seeing this bill implemented, and I will continue to support Alzheimer’s research in Congress.”
 
The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act will create a public health infrastructure to support prevention, treatment, and care for patients with Alzheimer’s and related neurological diseases. Guthrie introduced the bipartisan House bill with Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20), and the Senate companion was introduced by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). Following its passage in the House and Senate late last year, President Trump signed the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act into law last week.
 
Specifically, the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act will:

Build an Alzheimer’s and related dementias network by establishing Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Public Health Centers of Excellence and awarding cooperative agreements to public health departments, which will help the Centers and state, local and tribal public health departments develop and carry out Alzheimer’s interventions. This crucial support will help the Centers and public health departments across the country strengthen their efforts aimed at increasing early detection and diagnosis, reducing risk, and preventing unnecessary hospitalizations of people living with Alzheimer's and related dementias.   

​Require robust data analysis and reporting through Cooperative Agreements with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that will ensure data on Alzheimer’s, cognitive decline, caregiving, and health disparities are analyzed and disseminated to the public in a timely manner.

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
The Department for Public Health (DPH), within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), now reports “widespread” flu activity in Kentucky for the first time this flu season. Widespread is the highest level of flu activity, which indicates increased flu cases or flu outbreaks in at least half of the Commonwealth’s regions.

“We strongly encourage anyone who hasn’t received a flu vaccine, particularly children six months and older and those people at high risk for complications related to the flu, to get a flu shot,” said Jeff Howard, M.D., commissioner of DPH. “Also remember to cover your cough and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth because germs are spread this way. Be sure to frequently wash your hands with soap and water and stay home if you are sick with flu-like illness.”

DPH reports weekly influenza activity to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The weekly report is located online at https://healthalerts.ky.gov/Pages/FluActivity.aspx and is updated each Friday by noon. Kentucky currently is reporting 1,457 laboratory-confirmed cases of flu. The report consists of laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza that are defined by molecular virus testing and positive virus culture test results. Rapid positive influenza tests are not included in this report, but are used as an indicator of flu-like illness circulating across the state.

The number of flu cases to date this season (1,457) is comparable to the number of cases at the same time last season (1,411). One of the hardest hit areas currently is Louisville Metro, which has confirmed more than 550 cases recently. Overall, approximately 882 cases have been confirmed in Louisville Metro this flu season, which is up from just 179 cases confirmed at the same time in the previous flu season.

Four adult deaths and one pediatric death have now been linked to the flu in Kentucky this flu season. At this time in the last flu season Kentucky had twelve flu-related deaths, all adults. During the entire flu season there were 333 flu-related deaths in Kentucky last year, five of which were pediatric.   

​

​The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends flu vaccine for all individuals six months of age and older. People who are strongly encouraged to receive the flu vaccine because they may be at higher risk for complications or negative consequences include:

• Children age six months through 59 months;
•  Women who are or will be pregnant during the influenza season; • Persons 50 years of age or older;
• Persons with extreme obesity (Body Mass Index of 40 or greater);
• Persons aged six months and older with chronic health problems;
• Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;
• Household contacts (including children) and caregivers of children aged ≤59 months (i.e., aged <five years, particularly contacts of children aged <six months) and adults aged ≥50 years;
• Household contacts and caregivers or people who live with a person at high-risk for complications from the flu; and
• Health care workers, including physicians, nurses, and other workers in inpatient and outpatient-care settings, medical emergency-response workers (e.g., paramedics and emergency medical technicians), employees of nursing home and long-term care facilities who have contact with patients or residents, and students in these professions who will have contact with patients.

Adequate supplies of flu vaccine are available for this year’s season. Vaccinations can be given any time during the flu season but providers are encouraged to administer the vaccine as soon as possible.

During the 2016-17 and 2017-18 influenza seasons, ACIP recommended that Flu Mist not be used because of concerns about low effectiveness against influenza A (H1N1). However, ACIP recommends that FluMist once again be an option for vaccination during the 2018-2019 influenza season for persons for whom it is age-appropriate and who have no medical contraindications. The change in recommendation is a result of the influenza A (H1N1) strain being changed in the current FluMist formulation. 

Due to the timing of the decision by the ACIP regarding use of FluMist, the Kentucky Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) will not be offering FluMist for VFC or KCHIP patients during the 2018-2019 influenza season.  However, some private providers will offer FluMist this season for their patients.

The flu vaccine is especially important in light of the severe season experienced last year across the U.S. The CDC reports that more than 900,000 flu-related hospitalizations occurred and more than 80,000 people died as a result of flu. Of the pediatric flu deaths reported in last year’s season, more than one-third of these occurred among healthy children between the ages of 6 months and 4 years.

It is especially important for pregnant women to be vaccinated before or during pregnancy.  Antibodies cross the placenta and provide immunity to infants up to 6 months of age, when the infant is eligible to receive their dose of flu vaccine.

DPH relies on sites such as doctors’ offices, hospitals and health departments to help track the level of influenza activity in the state and to identify which strains of the flu are circulating in Kentucky. These voluntary sites collect data and report influenza-like illness (ILI) cases according to age groups each week. This sampling represents only a small percentage of influenza cases for the state, but contributes to the ongoing assessment of flu activity in the Commonwealth and helps determine the weekly level of flu activity.

Infection with the flu virus can cause fever, headache, cough, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing and body aches.  Flu can be very contagious.  For more information on influenza or the availability of flu vaccine, Kentuckians should contact their primary care medical provider or local health department. 

Influenza information is also available online at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm.

Madison Doyle, photos:
The 2019 ECHS Basketball Homecoming took place on Friday, January 4th as 16 young ladies, their escorts, attendants, and last year's queen took center court in Brownsville. 

Macy Wrye was crowned senior queen by last year's winner, Abby Alexander. Macy's escort was Preston Dunn.

The homecoming court was made up of Freshman Princess Rachel Hennion, escorted by Austin Lindsey; Sophomore Princess Heather Todd, escorted by Nick Johnson; and Junior Princess Mia Goad, escorted by Brock Stethen.

Little Miss Wildcat and Little Mr. Wildcat attendants were London Simon, escorted by Tripp Woods, and Honor White, escorted by Jase Ellis.

The Lady Cats enjoyed a win over district opponent Trinity 67-54, while the boys were edged in a tough battle 62-59.

Two Facing Multiple Felonies After Pursuit, Vehicle Recovered

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
A short pursuit in Warren County has resulted in the arrest of two individuals and the recovery of a stolen vehicle from the Wingfield community, according to the Warren County and Edmonson County Sheriff's Offices.

Early on New Year's Day, a Warren County deputy reported that he noticed a vehicle at the Lonnie White Boat Ramp before 8am, according to a press release. As the deputy turned into the boat ramp parking area, the vehicle sped away on Barren River Road. According to officials, the vehicle failed to stop when the deputy activated his emergency lights and a short pursuit began.

Deputies discovered the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Edmonson County and was eventually stopped with assistance from Bowling Green Police and Kentucky State Police. According to the release, the driver was identified as Joseph Raby (36) of Bowling Green, who was arrested without incident; however, Mya Bailey (40), also of Bowling Green, was taken into custody by KSP after an attempt to flee the vehicle, according to officials. 

Both were arrested and lodged in the Warren County Jail. The Edmonson County Sheriff's Office confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen by Ms. Barbara Buchannan in Wingfield a few days ago.

​Raby was charged with speeding 15 mph over the limit, reckless driving, operating on a suspended license, driving under the influence-aggravated circumstance-first-degree, fleeing and evading police (motor vehicle) first degree, Wanton endangerment-police officer (18 counts), theft by unlawful taking or disposition (automobile, $500 or more-under $10,000), tampering with physical evidence, Possession of a controlled substance (meth, first degree) drug paraphernalia- buy/possess, and criminal mischief-first degree.

Bailey was charged with receiving stolen property under $10,000, tampering with physical evidence,  possession of a controlled substance-first degree- third or more offense; drug paraphernalia-buy/possess, and public intoxication.

An Edmonson County Grand Jury returned the following indictments in December, 2019. 

Robert Trent, Possession of controlled substance, first degree, second offense, meth. Tampering with physical evidence. Drug paraphernalia-buy/possess.

​Brian Spencer, Flagrant Non-support. Persistent felony offender, second degree.

Michael L. McKinney, Criminal possession of forged instrument first degree (two counts). Failure to produce insurance card. No registration receipt. Operating motor vehicle with expired operator's license. Drug Paraphernalia-buy/possess. Possession of marijuana. Possession of controlled substance first degree, meth. Prescription controlled substance not in original container. Theft of motor vehicle registration plate/decal. Unlawful possession of meth precursor first offense. Possession of controlled substance first degree. Persistent felony offender first degree. 

​Jamario Coleman, Flagrant non-support.

Annie J. Bush, Arson second degree. Wanton endangerment first degree (8 counts). Criminal mischief first degree.

Tara E. Burns, Intimidating a person in the legal process (two counts). Menacing (two counts). Retaliating against participant in the legal process (two counts). 

Brandon Blanton, Bail jumping first degree. Persistent felony offender first degree.

Shawn Besau, Unlawful taking over $500.

Michael Joseph McGrew, Possession of controlled substance first degree, meth. Cultivate in marijuana, less than 5 plants. Unlawful possession of meth precursor. Persistent felony offender first degree.

Zachary A. Kinser, Criminal mischief first degree. Theft by unlawful taking under $500.

Silas D. Kinser,  Burglary second degree. Persistent felony offender first degree. 

Alexander L. Jennings, Wanton endangerment first degree. Complicity to assault first degree. Assault fourth degree.

Kory Houchin, Flagrant non-support.

​Cheryl L. Henry, Possession of controlled substance first degree, meth. Cultivate in marijuana, less than 5 plants. Unlawful possession of meth precursor. 

Charles Henry, Possession of controlled substance first degree, meth. Cultivate in marijuana, less than 5 plants. Unlawful possession of meth precursor. Persistent felony offender, second degree.

Michael E. Hartenhoff, Receiving stolen property over $500. Tampering with physical evidence.

Billy Hardin, Fleeing or evading police in motor vehicle, first degree. Three counts of wanton endangerment first degree.  Three counts of wanton endangerment first degree, police officer.  Speeding 26mph or greater over speed limit. Reckless driving. Failure to or improper signal. Improper passing. Disregarding stop sign. Criminal mischief first degree. 

Zachary Farmer, Criminal mischief first degree. Theft by unlawful taking over $500.

Anthony B. Davis, Assault first degree.

Brandon Embry, Unlawful transaction with a minor first degree, victim under age of sixteen.

Donald K. Bartley, Criminal possession of forged instrument second degree. Theft by deception including cold checks greater than $500, less than $10,000. Forgery, second degree.

James Adams, Theft by unlawful takings over $500.

Note: An indictment is only a formal charge and is not an admission of guilt. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. ​​