January 21, 2025 (Bowling Green, Ky):
At the request of their power supplier, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Warren RECC is asking members to voluntarily reduce the use of all non-essential electricity tonight through tomorrow afternoon. This will help power providers across the Tennessee Valley to continue delivering reliable service during this period of exceptionally cold temperatures across the region.
 
“This is a precautionary measure,” said Butch Massey, Vice President of Engineering and Operations at Warren RECC. “Anytime we experience a period of extreme cold, it significantly increases the demand for electricity. Together with TVA, we are proactively taking steps to reduce energy consumption by asking our members to take small practical steps that can have a big impact on our ability to meet the demand for electricity.”
 
Here are some quick and easy ways to make an impact and save you money:

• Lower your thermostat to 68°F degrees or a temperature that is both comfortable and safe.
• Set your ceiling fan to spin clockwise, which pushes warm air down.
• Wear additional layers and bundle up to stay warm.
• Turn off everything when you leave a room.
• Open window coverings on the sunny side of your home. Close them overnight to retain that heat.
• Delay using washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and other large appliances until the warmest part of the day when overall heating demand is lower.

 
During temperature extremes, don’t forget to check on relatives, friends and neighbors to ensure their safety. Pets and livestock will also need a helping hand to remain safe.
 
To report power outages In Warren County, call 270-843-9710; outside Warren County, call 1-888-604-4321. Outages may also be reported through the SmartHub app or by texting #out to 85700 if you are signed up for WRECC texting.
 
To see current outages, visit www.wrecc.com and click the “View Current Outages” icon. 

Darren Doyle, story:
The Rocky Hill Volunteer Fire Department is in danger of actually shutting down unless more community members join the organization, according to Chairman of the Board Joe Carl Daugherty.

"We're in a real need here," he said. "We've got spots on our board that have to be filled, but on top of that, we need firefighters."

Daugherty said the department has had trouble retaining board members and firefighters over the last several years. He said because of the nonprofit status, the board is required to maintain a board in order to stay operational.

"We have to keep our board going, otherwise we'll shut down. And that's something that will hurt this community. Not only will it take longer for a different fire department to get here if we need somebody, but insurance rates are going to double," he said.

He is asking the local community to help by attending their next board meeting, which will be Monday, January 27th at the fire house located at 1485 Rocky Hill Road at 7PM. Board elections will be held that night.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
A devastating fire claimed the home of a Wingfield family early this morning.

Local fire departments received the first call of a fire on Pin Oak Lane, a private drive near 1633 Wingfield Church Road, just before 5AM on Tuesday, January 21st. According to emergency radio traffic, the caller lost connection to dispatch due to poor cell service in the area. The call was first described as a structure fire in the home's chimney.

The home was fully engulfed by the time fire units arrived shortly after.

The structure, which was built in the late 1920s or 30s according to family members on scene, was a total lost. The home belonged to Eddie and Amy Hackworth with their teen daughter, who lost everything in the fire. They escaped with the clothes they were wearing.

Pin Oak Lane is a narrow, private gravel drive approximately a mile off Wingfield Church Road. Its size and proximity prevented multiple firetrucks from being on scene at the same time. Firetrucks from multiple departments had to remain stationed at Wingfield Fire Department, just a short distance down the road, while two trucks at a time squeezed their way back to the house.

The Wingfield, Chalybeate, Brownsville, Richardsville, Kyrock, Bear Creek, and Lincoln Fire Departments all responded, in addition to Warren RECC.

The first call page from Edmonson County Dispatch went out to Wingfield and all the south side fire units, which eventually led to all county fire departments being paged.

Everything was lost in the fire and relief efforts are underway. To find out how you can help with the family's needs, call or text Haley Ashley at 270-392-8550.

No injuries were reported.

Edmonson Voice Report:
Edmonson County schools will be on time and in session on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 according to Superintendent of Schools Brian Alexander.

He released the following statement to the Edmonson Voice:

"Edmonson County Schools will be in session at regular time on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. Roads are safe to drive.  

We have made sure all buses are operational today. In addition, we will have spare buses throughout the county in case a bus would be needed that can be there in a matter of minutes. We will use this practice as long as temperatures are low.   

Heat in all schools has been running 24/7 and will continue to do so to ensure our schools are safe.  

We have a limited number of NTI days remaining and not a lot of flexibility beyond that in hopes of ending the school year at a time that we hope to and the school community expects.  

Please note the extra steps we are taking to ensure safety and still have school.  Thank you for your trust and understanding."

Brian Alexander,
Superintendent

Darren Doyle, story:
Donald J. Trump took the oath of office as 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025 at the United States Capitol.

The ceremony was moved indoors as a result of the bitter cold and wind chill temperatures in Washington D.C.

It is the first Presidential Inauguration held indoors since Ronald Reagan's second term ceremony in 1985.

Darren Doyle, story:
James David Vance was sworn in today as the 50th Vice President of the United States in the 60th Presidential Inauguration Ceremony held at the U.S. Capitol Building.

Vance represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate from 2023 until he was nominated as the United States Vice President under the 47th President Donald Trump.

Darren Doyle, story:
The Edmonson County Fiscal Court recognized the county's 200th anniversary at the Monday, January 13th fiscal court meeting.

A special cake was served and a proclamation was read by Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey celebrating the bicentennial of Edmonson County for January 12, 2025.

The county was founded on January 12, 1825 with land from parts of Hart, Grayson, and Warren Counties.

It was named for Captain John "Jack" Edmonson (1764–1813), who was killed at the Battle of Frenchtown during the War of 1812. 

Edmonson County Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey said multiple activities are scheduled throughout the year with various organizations to celebrate the 200 year milestone.

Judge Lindsey said activities will occur each month with a full list available soon.

Edmonson County Schools will be in session and on time on Tuesday, January 14th, according to Supt. of Schools Brian Alexander.

Students have been out of school for more than one school week due to wintry weather and hazardous road conditions throughout the county.

The school system has only four more NTI days remaining for this year's school calendar, which do not have to be made up. One day of last week's cancellation was deemed a "snow day," which will be made up on President's Day, Monday, February 17th.

The last day of school for students as of today is May 23, 2025.

Darren Doyle, story:
A benefit raffle has been organized by C&C Firearms & Outdoors for Mr. Oval Lindsey, who lost his home in a structure fire on Sunday, January 5th on Arthur Lindsey Road in the Mohawk community.

Lindsey was injured in the fire, suffering smoke inhalation along with several cuts. He was rescued by friends nearby that were able to break out a back window and pull him through.

According to his daughter Tina Williams, Mr. Lindsey was placed in intensive care. He was placed on oxygen, received breathing treatments and antibiotics, and was sedated so he could rest.

Mrs. Williams said her father was discharged from the hospital this past Friday where he was staying with his other daughter.

"He is still coughing but is still taking antibiotics," she told the Edmonson Voice in a private message. "His dementia is about the same. Worse at night. He will do better by being in surroundings he is familiar with. He was so happy to get to go home yesterday (Friday). We are so thankful for all the prayers."

All proceeds of the raffle will go to benefit Mr. Lindsey in a recovery effort. First prize is a Henry Golden Boy Large Loop .22LR rifle ($700 value) and second place is a Benchmade Bugout pocket knife ($200 value). The prizes are provided from both C&C and an anonymous donor.

Chances are $10 each and can be purchased in-person at C&C Firearms and Outdoors on South Main Street in Brownsville.

Darren Doyle, story:
Edmonson County Schools will be closed on Monday, January 13th due to several icy roads that remain in the county.

"We still have several roads that are completely covered, despite warming temperatures today," said Supt. of Schools Brian Alexander. "We can't have our school buses on these roads yet."

It will be NTI Day number 6 for students.

Darren Doyle, story:
The forecast looks pretty good for snow lovers all across the state, including Edmonson County for Friday, January 9th.

According to Edmonson Voice meteorologist Landon Hampton of WeatherOrNotBG, snowfall should begin anywhere from around 6AM to 9AM Friday.

"Still anticipating 4-6” of snowfall, with the opportunity to climb up to 6-8”+ in some locations. Snow rates are expected to be highest on Friday during the late morning, lasting thru late afternoon," Hampton published to his social media on his latest forecast update.

He also noted that the National Weather Service in Louisville is predicting one inch per hour at times.

Edmonson County is included among dozens of counties in a Winter Weather Warning. Local schools have already been dismissed for Friday. The Edmonson County Courthouse is also closed on Friday, including county offices, and Mammoth Cave National Park has announced their closing for Friday as well.

Check out Landon on the Edmonson Voice Weather Page for his full forecast and a live view from our Brownsville weather sky cam.

The Edmonson County Courthouse will be closed on Friday, January 9, 2025 due to the forecast of winter weather, according to Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey.

This will include the offices of the Judge/Executive, County Clerk, Circuit Clerk, and the PVA. The Sheriff's Office will also be closed to the public with officers on duty.

Darren Doyle, story and photo:
The official bicentennial of Edmonson County, Kentucky will be this Sunday, January 12th. It was formed in 1825 and named for Captain John "Jack" Edmonson (1764–1813), who was killed at the Battle of Frenchtown during the War of 1812. 

Edmonson County Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey said multiple activities are scheduled throughout the year with various organizations to celebrate the 200 year milestone.

Judge Lindsey said activities will occur each month with a full list available soon.

Darren Doyle, story:
Edmonson County Schools will be closed Thursday, January 9, 2025 due to icy road conditions in the northern portion of the county, according to Superintendent Brian Alexander.

It will be a traditional snow day, not an NTI day. As a result, school will now be in session for a makeup day on February 17th, which is Presidents Day.

Darren Doyle, story and photo:
Several frustrated parents have shared concerns on the choice to dismiss in-person school in Edmonson County this week. On one hand, those frustrations are very valid since most households with school children have to make last-minute childcare plans or other scheduling changes. When most all the roads are clear, many ask "why can't they have school today?"

On the other hand, there are a plethora of factors that go into the decision to cancel school, with several school officials involved. One of the biggest factors in Edmonson County is the stark contrast of driving quality from one side of the county to the other, which is not necessarily the fault of road crews, nor anyone else. The fact is, the northern part of the county normally sees more winter precipitation than the south, and many roads in that area are smaller county roads with little traffic and little sunshine.

Salting and plowing the roadways are essential to getting them back in safe driving condition, but without sunshine, many roads don't become completely clear until the temperature gets above freezing for a day or two.

Sunday's winter storm has had different effects on various parts of the county. Today, you can travel virtually every county and state road south of Brownsville and there are little to no slick spots. However, when you travel north, those conditions began to vary for the reasons listed above.

Some areas of Bee Spring and around the lake reported up to 3" of snow this week in spots, with at least one quarter inch of ice. On the south side, barely an inch of snow was reported with about one tenth of an inch of ice. Salting and plowing pretty much took care of the south side, but the north side still has roads that are covered at the time of this article.

We sat down with Edmonson County Superintendent of Schools Brian Alexander and asked him to explain the process, which is more complex than what appears on the surface.

"First, we want everyone to know we don't take these decisions lightly," he said. "We understand everyone has routines, childcare, and so many other factors in our lives today. We know that sometimes this puts families at extreme inconveniences, but our priority is the safety and well being of our students."

Mr. Alexander said the work begins with the weather forecast, which is much more reliable in today's times. Director of Transportation, Lannie Deweese frequently sits in on conference calls with weather and emergency officials. Planning is key for ensured safety of students.

He said it has been his and the school board's decision to follow the practice of closing schools prior to a weather impact rather than taking the chance and experiencing one in the middle of the school day.

"The last thing we want is to be in a hurry to get kids home if it starts snowing while school is in session. That presents safety issues that we want to completely avoid. I've always believed it's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to our students."

After a weather system has impacted the county, other factors are now included, the main one being the roads themselves, but also power outages in areas of the county. He said if the main roadways are covered, which include KY HWYs 101, 259, 185, 728, and 31W, the choice to close school is clear, as all other roads will be hazardous as well.

When those roads are clear, another process then begins, which includes school personnel all across the district physically getting out, usually before daylight, and traveling the roads throughout the county themselves. Not just roads are included, but also bus turnarounds.

"Most people don't realize, but road crews push snow sometimes into our bus turnarounds, and they can't help it," said Alexander. "Our buses obviously have to have safe turnarounds, and this is a factor as well."

He also spoke to the varying conditions across the county, such as is the case today, January 8th.

"There is a great deal of difference in the weather and roads from the northern part of the county to the southern part.  Secondary roads may be fine in one part of the county, but bad in another.  However, a decision must be made for the entire school district. We can't have school at South Edmonson when that area is clear but Kyrock is experiencing issues," he said. "Right now, we can't get our parking lot cleared at Kyrock, which had more snow than the other schools. There has been zero sunshine for four days. It makes a difference."

Lastly, he discussed the decisions to have NTI days (non-traditional instruction) which do not have to be made up, and old fashioned 'snow days,' which must be added back to the calendar somewhere.

"We want the kids to have the longest summer breaks as possible. We start school later than almost any other school around, so the NTI days allow us to be off from school without making them up. School districts are awarded 10 per year and the districts choose how they are used. We try our best to be out of school before Memorial Day and before June if at all possible. These factors limit our flexibility in the school calendar."

Alexander said he knows parents and guardians are frustrated at times.

"We apologize for the disruption that these issues bring on families, but we have to make decisions based on safety first, and for all students in the district at once. We will never take theses decisions lightly and will always put forth our very best effort for all students, faculty, and staff," he said. "Our best effort will always be our standard."

Darren Doyle, story:
Due to continued icy road conditions in the northern part of the county, as well as many secondary roads throughout, Edmonson County Schools will not be in session on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, according to Superintendent Brian Alexander.

He said multiple roads remain icy throughout the northern part of the county which prohibits safe bus travel. It will be NTI day #5 for students.

Tuesday's ECHS boys and girls basketball games at Logan County are rescheduled for Monday, January 27th.

The City of Brownsville has released the following statement:

"The City of Brownsville has issued a boil water advisory for all businesses and residents from City Hall and North to the bridge due to a main water line break.   Samples have been taken and as soon as the lab returns the results the city will inform the public that the boiled water has been lifted."

Darren Doyle, story:
Most, if not all City of Brownsville water customers will experience a delay in water service today, Monday, January 6th due to a main line break near the Courthouse square, according to Mayor Ricky Simon.

"We've discovered a leak somewhere in the area of the square, but we haven't located the exact spot," Simon told the Edmonson Voice. "We hope to have the issue fixed within a couple of hours but we're not sure at this point."

Simon also said he was unsure how many customers this would affect but wanted all city customers to be aware.

"This is something that just happened and we apologize for the short notice and inconvenience, but we'll have it fixed as soon as possible."

Darren Doyle, story:
Edmonson County Schools will remain closed on Tuesday, January 7th due to slick driving conditions, according to Superintendent of Schools Brian Alexander.

"Our main roads are in good shape but our secondary roads are still in very poor condition," he said. "On top of that, we still have parking lots that are in rough shape. We are monitoring the situation closely and will make a decision for Wednesday as soon as we can."

It will be NTI day #4.

Edmonson Voice Report:
Representative Michael Meredith of Oakland will remain Chair of the Kentucky House’s Banking and Insurance Committee, House Speaker David Osborne announced this week.
 
“It is an honor to be named to serve a second term as Chair of the House Banking and Insurance Committee,” said Representative Meredith. “This role comes with great responsibility, and I am committed to building on the progress we’ve made to strengthen our banking and insurance industries while ensuring the highest levels of consumer protection.”
 
The House Banking and Insurance Committee is tasked with addressing legislation aimed at ensuring the safety of funds in Kentucky’s financial institutions and the effective regulation of insurers operating in the state. This includes banking, credit unions, investment firms, insurance, and consumer finance. The Committee works to maintain a well-regulated and secure financial system for the citizens of the Commonwealth.
 
“I’m incredibly pleased to see the direction this committee is heading in under the leadership of Representative Meredith,” Osborne added. “Committees are the backbone of the legislative process, serving as the critical mechanism by which complex issues are studied, debated, and refined. They allow legislators to focus on specific areas of policy, and provide a dedicated environment for public input, enabling citizens, experts, and advocacy groups to have their voices heard in the policymaking process.”
 
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a committee chair “serves as the parliamentary head of a committee. The chair sets the committee’s agenda, determining when—or in many states, whether—bills will be considered.”
 
In addition to leading the House Banking and Insurance Committee, Representative Meredith will also serve as a member of the House Licensing, Occupations, and Administrative Regulations Committee; and the House Local Government Committee.
 
The 2025 Regular Session will convene on Tuesday, January 7 and legislators will meet for 30 legislative days before adjourning by March 29. Kentuckians can keep up to date with legislative activity by visiting legislature.ky.gov or following @KYHouseGOP on Facebook, Twitter, and most major social media outlets.

Several county offices have announced that they will be closed on Monday, January 6, 2025, due to hazardous road conditions.

The Edmonson County Courthouse will be closed, which includes the offices of the Judge/Executive, County Clerk, Circuit Clerk, and the PVA. The Sheriff's Office will also be closed to the public with officers on duty.

Bank of Edmonson County plans on delaying their opening until 10AM on Monday, January 6, 2025 due to hazardous road conditions.

The 10AM opening is pending on available power, which was available at the time of the announcement.

Darren Doyle, story:
A Kentucky State Trooper was injured in a rear end collision today on I-65 in Hart County, according to KSP.

KSP reported that around noon today, Trooper Landon Key had just concluded working a collision on Interstate 65 at the 57-mile marker northbound. Trooper Key was still on the outside shoulder with his emergency equipment activated when his state police cruiser was rear-ended by a vehicle traveling north, according to police. Trooper Key was transported to T.J. Samson Community Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries and released. The vehicle operator was given a citation for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.

Kentucky State Police Post 3 reported an increase in collisions due to the weather conditions, including 9 non-injury and 5 injury collisions today.

"Please try and stay in today, if you have to leave your residence, try and leave early, buckle up, and move over for vehicles on the side of the roadways," KSP Post 3 said in a released statement.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
A local man was injured in a house fire today but is still alive, thanks to two friends who were close by.

Emergency personnel responded to 191 Arthur Lindsey Road at around 1:30PM on Sunday, January 5th to the report of a structure fire.

As firefighters arrived, they found the homeowner, Mr. Oval Lindsey, (77) with injuries outside his residence, which was engulfed in flames.

According to Chalybeate Fire Chief Daniel Johnson, two friends, who were visiting relatives nearby, saw the fire and came to the rescue of Mr. Lindsey. Chief Johnson said Allen and Courtney Johnson were able to break him out through a back window.

Johnson said Mr. Lindsey sustained several cuts and was suffering from smoke inhalation and was taken to the hospital via Edmonson EMS for non-life threatening injuries.

It was unclear of the origin of the fire but those on scene speculated it came from a wood burning heat source inside the home.

Responding to the scene were the Chalybeate and Wingfield Fire Departments, Edmonson EMS, Warren RECC, Edmonson County Water, and the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office.