***This story has been updated with information from Mammoth Cave National Park Darren Doyle, story and photos: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released press information to local media outlets regarding the removal of Green River Dam Number 6. The Edmonson Voice first reported the breach in the dam on November 29, 2016 and took photos of the area prior to the formal announcement. Sources told the Edmonson Voice about the proposed removal of the dam back in early February, but we chose not to publish any of those reports until that information could be confirmed, which was Friday, March 17. According to a statement released yesterday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Green River Dam No. 6 in Brownsville will be officially removed. The removal will be performed by experienced dam removal personnel under an interagency support agreement between the Corps and the U.S. Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service. The Corps also said that dam removal will begin on March 28, 2017 and removal and excavation of the site will take several weeks to complete. Removal is also entirely dependent upon having safe conditions with regards to the Green River’s flow and height. Access at the site is limited. The Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District has coordinated with the U.S. Department of Interior Fish and Wildlife Service, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Mammoth Cave National Park, The Nature Conservancy and the Kentucky Waterways Alliance on the dam removal. The lock and dam, built in 1904, closed to navigation traffic in August, 1951, more than 65 years ago. The Corps also said that during the dam’s removal, the Nolin Lake tailwater boat ramp will be closed to boat access. Within Mammoth Cave National Park, river access downstream of Green River Ferry will be closed during the project. Upstream from Green River Ferry to the Dennison Ferry area will remain open. The immediate area of Lock and Dam #6 is restricted to public access while work is underway for safety reasons. In addition to the dangerous water currents, the greatest hazard is being struck by flying rock or concrete debris during demolition. Approaching the dam from either land or water is restricted. According to the statement, there has been a sense of urgency with demolishing the dam for public safety to keep the area safe for those who use the river for recreation especially with warmer weather approaching. “The goal is to eliminate the safety hazard at the dam,” said Michael Turner, biologist, Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District. “The greatest danger is someone being pulled under the lock or adjoining dam where water flows are not great enough to pass over the dam’s crest. This is especially hazardous when water flows are not great enough to pass over the dam’s crest and the entire flow of the river is passing underneath the structure. In such an event there would be virtually no possibility of rescue,” said Turner. Within Mammoth Cave National Park, the Green River is closed downstream of the Green River Ferry Crossing. There will be some positive environmental aspects as well, according to Turner. “We expect to see the return of many mussel species, some endangered,” said Turner in the press release. A rapid improvement in the smallmouth bass fishery can also be expected, according to Mike Hardin, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Dam removal will make opportunities available for canoe and kayak trips from Nolin Lake tailwater to Brownsville which is a little over eight miles in length. "Besides making the river safer, this project has the potential to increase paddle traffic in the area and increase visitor spending in Brownsville. Kayak and canoe trips ending in Brownsville will now be possible, which will help with the effort to make Brownsville a Kentucky Trail Town," said Deryck Rodgers, natural resources project manager, Army Corps of Engineers Nolin River Lake.
“In addition to increased recreational opportunities, restoring natural flow to Green River will greatly improve the health of the river on the surface and the health of the underground rivers,” said Sarah Craighead, superintendent of Mammoth Cave National Park. “Removal of Lock and Dam #6 is a victory for public safety, outdoor recreation and a healthy Green River. It will improve miles of the river within Mammoth Cave National Park, benefiting natural resources, local citizens and small businesses alike. “We are grateful to Senator McConnell, Representative Guthrie and our other partners who secured this win for people and nature," said David Phemister, State Director for the Kentucky Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. "Removing this lock and dam represents a great step forward in restoring the Green River's natural flows," said Cindy Dohner, the Service's Southeast Regional Director. "That's good for everything and everyone -- the aquatic species that live in the river as well as the people who enjoy it. Kentucky's anglers, boaters and the outfitters that support their passion play an important role in the Bluegrass State's tourism economy. Congratulations to the partners that made this possible." *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.
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Edmonson County Circuit Court Clerk Tanya Hodges has released a special statement regarding the process of jury duty summons' in Edmonson County. "Dear Edmonson County residents, As you may know, when court cases require a jury here in the Edmonson County Courthouse, our office has to request a jury panel from Frankfort. I, nor anyone in our office has any control as to whom is mailed a jury summons. We simply request a certain amount of names, and then the names are randomly selected from a database stored in Frankfort. It has come to our attention that several families have received a summons in the name of a deceased loved one. We know this is frustrating, and sometimes painful. We deeply apologize for these incidents and we are working hard to keep this from happening in the future. A new jury panel is currently being selected and the summons' have been mailed out. Again, we do not select these names locally, but we ask that if you or a family member receive a summons for someone who has passed, to please contact our office immediately so that we can notify Frankfort in order to remove that name from the database. We are here to serve you with respect and dignity, and we deeply care about our responsibilities, our credibility, but most importantly, you, the people of Edmonson County. Please contact our office with any needs for our services, it is our pleasure to serve you. Thank you so much." Respectfully submitted, Tanya Hodges Edmonson County Circuit Court Clerk 270-597-2584 *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.
Darren Doyle, story and photos: Nine Edmonson County students and three members of the faculty and staff were recognized and honored at the March 13, 2017 board meeting. The students recognized were recommended by their teachers for not only their academic performance, but also behavior, leadership, and other outstanding qualities shown in front of their peers and faculty. Faculty and staff members were recognized and honored under much of the same criteria. Each student, teacher, and staff member was presented a framed certificate of recognition during the recent board meeting. *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.
Edmonson District Court was held on Tuesday, March 14, 2017. The Honorable Judge John M. McCarty presiding. Timothy A. Ellison, Fugitive-warrant not required. Bond $25,000, attorney appointed. David L. James, Trafficking in controlled substance first degree, first offense, drug unspecified. Controlled substance prescription not in original container-first. License to be in possession. Pleaded not guilty to all charges. Preliminary hearing 3/28/17. Travis Lee Howard, Possession of controlled substance-first degree-first offense (meth). Possession controlled substance-2nd degree-anabolic steroid. Drug paraphernalia-buy/possess. Pleaded not guilty to all charges. Preliminary hearing 3/28/17. Jenny Duvall, Possession of controlled substance-first degree-first offense (meth). Drug paraphernalia-buy/possess. Pleaded not guilty to all charges. Preliminary hearing 3/28/17. Timothy A Ellison, Public intoxication controlled substance (excludes alcohol). Pleaded guilty. Total fines and costs $204. Kirk Desmond, Speeding 16mph over limit. Failed to appear, notice sent to department of transportation. *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.
Darren Doyle, story and photos: A two vehicle accident sent one woman and her daughter to the hospital Thursday morning on KY HWY 743, New Grove Road. Emergency personnel responded to the junction of New Grove Road and Woosley Drive around 7:30AM where according to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, a blue 2015 Chrysler 200 driven by Melissa Stewart, (46) Smiths Grove, turned into the path of Rhoda Filback, (41) of Park City, who was traveling in a red 2013 Dodge Avenger on New Grove Road. The vehicles collided, sending the Chrysler about 100 feet off the road into a field. The Sheriff's Office said airbags were deployed in both vehicles and all involved were wearing seat belts.
Stewart and her juvenile daughter were transported to the Medical Center via Edmonson EMS for non-life threatening injuries. The roadway was shut down for about an hour and a half as workers cleaned up the scene and removed the damaged vehicles. The Kentucky State Highway Department also assisted on scene. submitted to Edmonson Voice Staff On March 15, 2017, Rep. Michael Lee Meredith, R-Brownsville, presented Senate Bill 104 to the House of Representatives in Frankfort, Ky. The measure will prohibit public pension spiking, keeping House Republicans’ promise to spend tax dollars in a fiscally responsible way. The measure swiftly passed the House and Senate and now heads to the Governor to be signed into law. (photo: HOUSE MAJORITY COMMUNICATIONS) We're proud to be the number one source for local news and info in Edmonson County and we thank you for your support. Check out some familiar faces from around town as they were kind enough to be part of our latest video! Edmonson Voice Staff: The Edmonson County Middle School academic team placed third overall in KAAC Governor’s Cup State Finals, the highest overall placement in the team’s 27 years of competition. The team earned its overall standing from points earned in future problem solving, quick recall, and written assessment. Three Edmonson County students placed in written assessment testing at the KAAC state finals: Eighth grader Sarah Stewart placed seventh in arts and humanities testing, sixth grader Jonas Miller finished ninth in social studies and sixth grader Brody Johnson placed tenth in language arts. The ECMS future problem solving team placed third in state competition. According to head coach Greg Grey, team members Danyale Atwell, Taylor Dooley, Meredith Hennion, and Ava Lich spent several weeks in preparation and practice for the state topic of identity theft. Their achievement earned them the opportunity to compete in the International Future Problem Solving Conference at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, in June. Third place marked the best finish for any ECMS team in the event. “We have an outstanding group of players in future problem solving," said Coach Grey. "They are dedicated to excellence and their work, along with the superior coaching of Nick Skaggs, certainly has taken ECMS to the highest levels of success in the future problem solving competition.” The quick recall team scored the following victories during their march to the championship round: Round 1 30 to 14 over South Laurel Middle School Round 2 31 to 23 over Capital Day School of Frankfort Round 3 Teams winning both rounds 1 and 2 did not play in this round. Round 4 Bye Round 5 41 to 31 over Owensboro Middle School Round 6 40 to 36 over Campbell County Middle School (in overtime) Round 7 36 to 33 over St. James School of Hardin County “Our team played with great competitive spirit throughout the state finals," said Grey. "We trailed at halftime to Capital Day, Campbell County, and St. James, but our players showed great composure and determination to win each of those games. We were tied 35 to 35 with Campbell County at the end of regulation. Our 5-1 victory in overtime not only secured our spot in the final four but also helped avenge two losses to Campbell County earlier this season. We trailed St. James by six points at halftime, but we started the second half with a 9 to 1 scoring run. We scored four unanswered points to win the St. James match.” In the quick recall state championship game, Edmonson County faced Russell Independent from the Ashland, Kentucky, area. Coach Grey said that many coaches considered Russell to be the most dominant quick recall team in the state this year. ECMS started the game well and held on to a 6 to 4 lead at question ten. Russell rolled off an impressive 16 to 1 scoring run to take a 20 to 7 lead by question 30. ECMS fought back and at halftime Russell led by a score of 23 to 13. The Wildcats opened the second half with a strong run and by question 14, the scoreboard showed 26 to 23 in Russell’s favor. Both teams put together good scoring runs and with only 11 questions left in the game, ECMS had cut the Russell team’s lead to 33 to 31. Russell ended the game with an eight-point run to win the state title by a final score of 41 to 31. “I have always believed that hard work and a good attitude will take one far in life, and our success at the state finals supports that belief," Coach Grey added. "Our success was a result of great team effort. In quick recall, players gave up starting positions without a murmur because another player gave us an advantage in a game. Months of preparation, practice, and home study paid huge dividends. Even though we came up short in the quick recall championship game, our players never gave up and demonstrated the very best of our character. Our FPS team is advancing to international competition, and our quick recall is heading to a national tournament. I want to thank our school and our administrators for their support. I want to thank our parents for all they have done to contribute to our success." The team was met in Brownsville on their return home from Louisville Monday night by emergency personnel who led the Wildcats through town in a victory parade.
"I can never express my appreciation to our police, fire, and emergency responders for the escort to the middle school," said Grey. "It was very touching to see many friends who turned out to shout out congratulations during our escort and return to school. Our success would be impossible without our great coaching staff of Alan Florence, Nick Skaggs, Robin Grey, and the help of high school coach, Derek Stice. Most of all I want to thank two awesome sixth graders, Brody Johnson and Jonas Miller; four amazing seventh graders, Danyale Atwell, Taylor Dooley, Meredith Hennion, and Catherine Vincent; six dedicated eighth graders, Arey Durbin, Ava Lich, Gavin Rose, Jon Smith, Sarah Stewart and Daniel Woosley.” ECMS Principal Brandon Prunty was eager to brag on the team members, Coach Grey and the entire coaching staff. "They showed great toughness in their competitions this weekend, fighting down to the wire," he said. "And the countless hours of practice they all put in, paid off. Most people probably don't realize how much time and effort goes into being part of an academic team. They put in just as much, if not more practice time as any other team. Their performance at state was awesome. Finishing as the #2 quick recall team, the #3 FPS team, and the #3 overall academic team in the state is a great accomplishment. I also want to thank the Edmonson County Sheriff's Department, the Brownsville Police Department, and the fire departments from Brownsville, Chalybeate, and Kyrock, as well as ECMS staff, and community members for the escort back into town Monday night. Edmonson County is such a great place to live, learn, and work. The support our kids were shown hopefully will show them how special they are to us." Edmonson Voice Staff Report
The auditor of public accounts has released the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office 2015 calendar year audit. Per KRS 91A.040, a copy is available for inspection, as well as financial statements, during normal business hours. In addition, any citizen may obtain a copy of the audit for his or her personal use. A charge of $0.25 per page will be charged for a personal copy. A copy of the financial statement is available at no cost to the public, in accordance with KRS 424.220. "The audit went very well for my first year, and I was pleased with the professionalism of the auditor's office," said a statement from the Sheriff's Office. "We look forward to working with them in the future." Darren Doyle, story and photo: Fiscal Court was represented by a new county attorney today, but it was a very familiar face, one that held the position for 16 years, belonging to local attorney Greg Vincent. Vincent discussed his new role that he's accepted by appointment to accommodate the departure of former County Attorney J.B. Hines, who is now a District Judge. He said he's looking to put the county first in his role and advise the fiscal court as they vote on what they feel best suits the county. He talked about some issues of which he was made aware that were apparently in question as Hines turned over the office to Vincent's care. According to Vincent, his former bank accounts in his first stint as County Attorney were operated under his social security number, not a standard Employee Identification Number (EIN) because he was only 30 years old at the time and was inexperienced at running an office. He joked that he didn't figure on being defeated in an election and the number was never changed. He said apparently Hines' office took some issue with the way Vincent's financial records were kept. Vincent said during his previous time in office, he didn't have many ways to create revenue within his office and it did not get any funding from excess County Clerk fees as is now the case. "I didn't have a lot of monies to run the office with coming into it; but, when I closed my accounts in 2015, I had a surplus of around $45,000 that was turned over to the county," he said. He said apparently there were questions how Vincent kept records during his tenure as County Attorney the first time. "Before I left office, probably in October (2015), I set up a meeting with my successor (Hines), and I told him I'd do something for him that was never done for me, which was answer any questions he may have, to discuss budgets, how the office works, and show him anything about the county attorney's office and what he could expect." Vincent said that then Attorney Hines in fact took him up on the offer and spent a couple of hours with him. "He had a full inspection of the office, I gave him an inventory list of all the equipment, all the furniture that would be coming to him, I let him go through all the financial records, he made copies of what he wanted and I answered his questions and we went through everything," Vincent said. He said a date was set up to move in Hines' office and Vincent hired movers to take care of everything before the year ended in order for Hines to be ready to operate immediately after New Year's. After that, he said he assumed everything was in order and he had been more than open to the next administration. Vincent said that over the past two years, the county attorney's office has seen financial success, which he credited much to County Clerk Kevin Alexander's office by turning over around $80K in excess fees to the CA's office during that time.
He said that since he re-assumed the role two weeks ago, he's discovered that the CA's office currently has a lien filed against them in the amount of $2300 for unpaid unemployment taxes, which Vincent would be forced to deal with. "There have been other things like where money came from one budget to be used for something that I would think is kind of odd," he said. "I've also found were money was spent to hire a private attorney where the county was being sued by a former employee. I don't know why that was done when he could've contacted the Attorney General's Office who would have represented his office for free. There was three, four, maybe five thousand dollars or so spent on that." Vincent's point was that he felt like he had been open with Hines' office and saw no issues with the transfer, and didn't know why any of that would be in question when he clearly saw some issues that he said he will have to deal with now. He said as of now, he has fully assumed the County Attorney's office and has possession of equipment and furniture but is waiting for Windstream to complete the phone lines. He encouraged the magistrates to speak freely and often with his office. "I prefer to operate in a manner to hear what you want," he said as he addressed the magistrates. "My philosophy is that you guys are the ones that vote on the issues here. It's not my place to tell you what you should do, but rather for you to tell me what you want to accomplish and I'll figure out a way to do it, if we (fiscal court) can do it." He concluded by saying he looked forward to working with the fiscal court and is humbled by the opportunity he has once again. Darren Doyle, story: It's an all-too familiar story: Edmonson County doesn't have a surplus of funding and with large increases with jail costs among others, Judge Wil Cannon told the fiscal court today that every penny saved counts, and unfortunately, that also means cutting back some charitable donations. Cannon said the county has regularly given donations to various worthy causes over the years and has generally tried to accommodate most any cause within reason. Some of the regular and recent donations included:
Darren Doyle, story and photo: Today, the fiscal court approved the jailer's budget for the next fiscal year which was in the amount of $404,750.00. The most notable change from last year's budget comes from a ten dollar increase per inmate, per day from the Hart County Jail. The county currently pays $25 per inmate for around 20 inmates daily, which is around $500 per day. That cost will soon be rising to $35 for what the jail says are simple cost of living increases. The current contract with the county hasn't changed in over 10 years. Some have lobbied for Edmonson County to build their own jail, but the cost of which would run into the millions in the construction phase alone, something Judge Cannon has said is simply not an option the county can come close to affording right now. County Attorney Greg Vincent said that with a new Circuit Judge that will soon be appointed, it's likely that the number of felony cases currently in the court system will go down as a new judge will move to complete older cases quickly. Moving cases quicker could result in the guilty being moved to other facilities out of the county's responsibility and those found not guilty would be free. That would reduce the number of inmates for which Edmonson County is now paying. In other fiscal court news:
Sheriff Report: Sheriff Shane Doyle reported that his department is picking up two of their new police cruisers today in Lexington and will be ready for patrol immediately. It is the first two vehicles of four total news cruisers for the office, two Dodge Ram trucks and two Dodge Chargers. The other ones are scheduled to be ready soon. Jailer Report: Jailer Hank Vincent announced that the county currently has 21 county inmates lodged at Hart County Jail with three serving on home incarceration. Parks and Rec: Program Administrator Greg Hudson said that little league basketball is now complete after another successful season and baseball/softball is now underway. The annual Spring Jamboree has been set for Saturday, April 22. He also announced that Chalybeate Park will host a community-wide yard sale Saturday, April 1 under the horseshoe shelter. Anyone wishing to sell your items in a booth may do so for $10 per booth. He also reminded the court of two other upcoming events: the Pitch, Hit, and Run Competition on March 25, 2017 at 9am for ages 7-14 and the April 8th Easter Egg hunt at 11am. Hellervik: The company's field representative Jim Brown said they are still getting positive feedback from much of the community, contrary to what several might believe. He said they’ve had only one person complain to them directly but many are inquiring about buying and selling natural gas. He also said the company is now hearing from residents of Warren County as well. Judge Cannon said that his office had received a few complaints from members of community near the gas company's facility and advised them to attend today's fiscal court to both discuss their concerns and hear from Mr. Brown. He noted that no one he'd spoken to attended today's meeting. "I understand why next door neighbors would be concerned, I would be, too," he said. "But I still appreciate how Hellervik has handled their business here so far." The court also agreed to a 2% increase for the Soil Conservation District's new budget as well as:
Darren Doyle, story and photo:
The Brownsville Fire Department, Brownsville Police, and the District 2 Constable responded to an emergency call of a "commercial fire" at 404 South Main Street around 9:15pm Sunday night, but the call turned out to be a false alarm. No particular business in Brownsville is currently listed at that address, so emergency workers searched all the buildings from Edmonson Drug Company to Brownsville General Baptist Church, which were all in the 400 block. After no emergency was found, radio traffic indicated that the alarm company which reported the fire called back and said they'd mistakenly called Brownsville dispatch instead of Somerset, where the actual fire was supposed to be. While we don't normally report on false alarms, it's important to note that our local emergency workers should be applauded for their thorough care in making sure everything was ok before leaving the scene. They also used an extreme amount of money, resources, and equipment, and all the volunteer firemen still had to gear up and be prepared for anything. Coincidentally, "404" is the standard internet code for a web page that can't be located. Did you miss any headlines from The Edmonson Voice this week? Here's a recap of all our main stories from our network. Thanks for making EdmonsonVoice.com the number one local news source in Edmonson County.
It's that time of year again, when some gripe about losing an hour sleep while others are happy to see an extra hour of sunlight in the evenings, also known as "Daylight Savings Time." Be sure to set your clocks UP one hour before going to bed on Saturday, March 11, 2017, although the time change officially takes place at 2AM on Sunday morning, March 12. The Chalybeate Fire Department is also reminding the public that now is a good time to change the batteries in smoke, radon, and carbon monoxide detectors as well. "Most people never think about it, so instead of waiting until late Saturday night, you might want to grab a few extra batteries as you run errands on Saturday," said Fire Chief Daniel Johnson. For those that can't remember, it's always "spring forward and fall back." FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 10, 2017) –The Senate gave final passage to a measure this week exempting churches and other religious organizations from being required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance for ministers that do not have oral or written agreements for wages or salary in Kentucky. House Bill 306, sponsored by Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Brownsville, will relieve small churches of burdensome insurance premiums and fines for non-compliance.
“In many small community churches, pastors do not receive salaries and therefore are not church employees,” said Rep. Meredith. “These selfless servants minister to their congregations and provide essential services to the community because they are called to do so. The offerings collected at these churches should be used to sustain their congregations and maintain their churches, not to pay fines issued by bureaucrats in Frankfort.” In the past, churches have been fined thousands of dollars for failing to provide workers’ compensation insurance for these pastors. This bill will also create an exemption for caretakers who work fewer than 10 hours per week from having to be covered by workers’ compensation insurance as they should be classified as independent contractors not church employees. The measure passed the Senate by a 35-2 margin and is on its way to Gov. Bevin for his signature. Darren Doyle, story and photos: In an effort to say 'thank you' to some of the best people you'll find anywhere, we've added a new feature to the Edmonson Voice called the "Next Door Neighbor." It's an honor given to someone that's not just a neighbor, but a person that's gone above and beyond the normal realms of being neighborly. They don't do it for recognition, but it's certainly deserving. We announced this feature about a month ago and asked for you to send nominations. As they began pouring in, not only was her's the first name received, but it was mentioned many times. We're proud to present our very first Next Door Neighbor to Mrs. Vickie Walker, Coordinator of the Senior Food Pantry. Mrs. Walker moved to Edmonson County 20 years ago when her husband, a retired veteran, took a job at the Great Onyx Job Corps. She wasn't used to the type of living here in EC and she said it took some time to get used to local businesses being closed on Thursdays and convenience stores closing at dark. "I was used to something else, and I really didn't think I'd like it here," she said. "But after a while, I began to see. I started meeting people and it's just different here." The environment had such an effect on her after living here for several years that she wanted to give back to it in some way, so she started volunteering at the senior center, where she stayed busy helping with office work, bringing seniors snacks and treats, checking on individual needs, and simply being a friend. It was here that she discovered a need that wasn't being met. "There were just so many seniors that were hungry," she said. "I just felt like I needed to try to do something." She began asking for food donations around Christmas in order to provide a little cheer during the holidays. That turned into asking local businesses for help, which then turned into an annual food drive. Simply asking for a few folks to help out six years ago has now turned into an extremely driven volunteer organization on which so many now depend. As the food donations began to grow, the space in which to store them shrunk, forcing Walker to use her own house to store the food and supplies. She said N.E. Reed, who was county Judge Executive at the time, along with county employees Ann Bullock and Margret Skaggs, showed support of her efforts and Reed allowed her to use the basement at the county health department to store the food items. "We called it the dungeon," she said with a big laugh. Bullock, who served as county treasurer for 16 years, now volunteers with Vickie in the pantry's day-to-day operations and one that Vickie was quick to credit for her role in their services. "Ann is my therapist," she said with another laugh. "So many times I'd ask her, 'why do I do this? why do we do this?' And she's been there for me, I don't know where I'd be without Ann. And I also think about (former) Judge Reed. He could've said no, but he didn't." Ann was quick to stop the conversation and point out who needed recognition. "Let me tell you something, she's the main character here," she said as she pointed to Vickie. "She's done this all this time and hasn't taken one dime of pay, she's used her car, her gas, her time, everything." As Vickie shook her head in disagreement, Ann continued. "She stays on her phone, and I'm not teasing, from morning 'til bedtime, trying to help somebody." And that's the name of the game, helping others. They don't keep track of how many people they help during the year because they say that's not the point, but the number easily adds into the thousands, all of which are Edmonson County residents. This past summer, they partnered with Feeding America and distributed a tractor-trailer load of food to over 400 families in just under 2 1/2 hours. If you average just 2-3 people per household, that's over 1,000 people in less than three hours. They also adhere to guidelines as to who can use the program. To qualify, you must be senior over 60 or disabled and show proof of limited income and you must be an Edmonson County resident. The program does not apply to anyone outside of the county. Vickie said she also takes issue when someone calls and asks for "free food." "I don't like that term because it isn't free," she said. "Somebody worked for this. We're not here to give handouts or let someone take advantage of us. We want to feed hungry people." The pantry operates in cooperation with St. John's Thrift store, which allows them to have non-profit status. The store recommends those in need to the pantry's services. Other recommendations come from Community Action, Lifeskills, and the Edmonson County Senior Center. Vickie said that since the new facility has moved from the "dungeon" to the Community Center building, which was headed up by current Judge Executive Wil Cannon, they're getting more donations than ever. "Now we've got people that walk through and they ask us what we're doing," she said. "After we tell them, they'll hand us a 20 dollar bill or make another donation. One lady handed me a $500 check during the Santa's Secret Hands Auction. I thought I was going to hit the floor." Vickie also expressed thanks to the current fiscal court and magistrates for the support they've shown her pantry, especially over the course of the last year. We presented her a certificate of thanks that named her as our very first Next Door Neighbor. As she wiped the tears from her cheek, she said a simple "thank you." "I can't express my gratitude to Edmonson County," she said. "I haven't lived here my entire life, but this county took me in with open arms. Edmonson County is family-oriented and it's special. I just wanted to do something here that could make a difference and everything has fallen into place." After speaking with her for over an hour she still wanted no credit for her efforts. "It's the people in the county that make this work," she said. "Edmonson County is a place where people stick together. It's just a good county." To make a donation to the Senior Food Pantry or to find out more ways that you can help, contact them at 270-779-1203. Got a suggestion on who needs to be a Next Door Neighbor? Email us at: community@edmonsonvoice.com "Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification." --Romans 15:2 KJV
Edmonson Voice Staff Report: Local authorities said a felony drug trafficking arrest was made yesterday after the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office responded to an anonymous drug complaint. Sometime around 4pm yesterday, law enforcement officials said they contacted David L. James, 57, of Brownsville, in the Family Dollar parking lot in relation to a drug complaint that he was selling drugs. Officials said that while they were speaking with James, they found suspected hydrocodone in his possession, which was bagged in plastic wrap along with an unspecified amount of cash. James was arrested and charged with Trafficking in Controlled substance-first degree-drug unspecified, Prescription controlled substance not in original container, and License to be in possession. Along with the pills and cash, a cell phone and vehicle were seized on scene. James was transported and lodged in the Hart County Jail. The sheriff's office was assisted by the District 2 Constable. Edmonson Voice Staff Report: The Kentucky State Police responded to a complaint this morning at 2840 Sunfish School Road of an unknown male subject that appeared to be passed out or deceased in the caller's back yard. According to Troopers, KSP found a white male later identified as Timothy Ellison (30) Brownsville, under a large piece of plastic. Officials said that Ellison was reportedly naked and obviously under the influence of an illicit substance. Ellison was arrested without incident. It was determined that Ellison was also a fugitive out of Muncie, Indiana for trafficking in dangerous drugs. He was lodged in the Hart County Jail. Authorities said that a further investigation led Troopers across the road to 2835 Sunfish School Road to the home of Travis Howard (40) and Jenny Duvall (30). According to Troopers, consent to search was granted by Travis Howard and during the search, Troopers reported that they discovered approximately three grams of crystal Methamphetamine and two vials of anabolic steroids in the residence.
Howard was arrested and charged with: Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Deg (meth), Possession of controlled substance 2nd deg (anabolic steroid), and Drug Paraphernalia-buy/possess. Duvall was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Deg, (meth) and Drug Paraphernalia-buy/possess. They were both lodged in the Hart County Jail. Sheriff Shane Doyle also assisted KSP in the incident. Edmonson District Court was held on Tuesday, March, 7, 2017. The Honorable Judge Joseph B. Hines presiding. Patricia Jane Mills, Theft by deception-including cold checks under $500 (three counts). Pleaded guilty. Court costs of $184, terms and conditions recommended by County Attorney accepted. Jason Michael Weedman, Burglary 2nd degree, Criminal Mischief 1st degree, Public intoxication-controlled substance-excludes alcohol. Pleaded not guilty to all charges. Preliminary set for 3/14/17. Shawn M. Kinser, Theft by deception-including cold checks under $500. Case dismissed as checks paid. Tasha Renee Jones, Speeding 18mph over limit. Failed to appear. Jeffery Alan Cowles, Theft by deception-including cold checks under $500 (seven counts). Continued 3/21/17. Nelson Machuca, No operator's/moped license. Proof shown, dismissed. Christopher D. Hack, Speeding 10mph over limit. Failed to appear. Dustin J. Hunt, No tail lamps. License to be in possession. Both counts dismissed. Edward Michael Samac, Speeding 18mph over limit. Assigned to County Attorney traffic school program. Olusola N. Akindamini, Failure of non-owner operator to maintain required insurance-first. No/expired KY registration receipt. Failed to appear. Edmonson Voice Staff Report: On February 16, 2017, the Kentucky Magistrates & Commissioners Association honored Representative Michael Meredith at the State Capitol in Frankfort for his work as committee chairman. “Chairman Meredith is an outstanding public servant and we are privileged to work him on issues facing Kentucky’s Counties” said JC Young, Executive Director of the Kentucky Magistrates & Commissioners Association. “He is a hard working elected official that is passionate about his causes and we are proud of his work as Chairman of State House Local Government Committee”. “We are truly grateful to have such advocates for counties serving in those roles” said Elbert Bennett, Caldwell County Magistrates & President of the Kentucky Magistrates & Commissioners Association. Chairman Meredith understands the needs of our communities and represents us well.To serve as Chairman of that Committee is a huge honor and well deserved” commented Bennett. Rep. Meredith said that he was humbled to be recognized and equally honored to serve in the role. "I truly appreciate the work done by our local governments and look forward to addressing issues together”, he said. Formed in 1952, the Kentucky Magistrates &Commissioners Association is a statewide non-profit organization that is the voice for all Kentucky Fiscal Courts in Frankfort. Besides legislative advocacy, the association also provides training, education, and serves as a local government resource to county elected magistrates and commissioners. Edmonson Voice Staff: photos courtesy of Troop 597: Edmonson County Boy Scout Troop 597 first became an active Troop in 2014 and is sponsored by the Edmonson County Lion’s Club. Troop 597 conducts several community outreach programs in Edmonson County ranging from assisting the local DAV with flag ceremonies to assisting Edmonson County Parks and Recreation with projects. Troop 597 enjoys camping at a range of locations from Mammoth Cave National Park to Wildcat Hollow Scout Reservation. Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in Boy Scouts of America. The designation "Eagle Scout" has a long history since its founding over one hundred years ago. Collegiate Scholarships are available for Eagle Scouts within the following categories: Academic, Merit, Religious, Civic and Institution Specific. Eagle Scouts may receive advance placement for enlisting into a branch of the U.S. Military. The possible advanced placement by Service: Army: E-2, Navy: E-3, Air Force: E-2, Marine Corps: E-2 In 2014 it was reported that 413 Eagle Scouts graduated a U.S. Military Academy – U.S. Military Academy: 139, U.S. Naval Academy: 99, U.S. Air Force Academy: 150, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy: 25, and U.S. Coast Guard Academy: Not Tracked. To join Troop 597 a boy must be 11 years old or have completed the 5th grade, and complete the Scouting application form. Troop 597 meets on Monday nights at the Edmonson County Lion’s Club at 6:00 p.m. If you have any questions you can contact Troop 597 at ectroop597@gmail.com or Facebook message at Edmonson County Boy Scouts Troop 597. House Passes Rep. Meredith’s Bill to Ease Regulatory Burden on Small Religious Organizations3/4/2017 FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 3, 2017) –The House passed a measure this week exempting churches and other religious organizations from being required to purchase workers’ compensation insurance for certain ministers and caretakers in Kentucky. House Bill 306, which is sponsored by Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Brownsville, will relieve small churches of burdensome insurance premiums and fines for non-compliance.
“Small rural churches are the cornerstone of many Kentucky communities,” said Rep. Meredith. “Many congregations are small and members and pastors work for little or no pay because of limited budgets. This measure will prevent smaller religious organizations from being bankrupted by onerous and unnecessary fines.” In the past, churches have been fined thousands of dollars for failing to provide workers’ compensation insurance for volunteer and part-time pastors. This bill will create an exemption for caretakers who are unpaid and work fewer than 10 hours per week from having to be covered by workers’ compensation insurance. The measure passed the House and is now headed to the Senate for consideration and, if passed, will be signed by the governor into law. Edmonson District Court was held Tuesday, February 28, 2017. The Honorable Judge John M. McCarty presiding. Christina M. Sullivan, Theft by deception-including cold checks under $500 (two counts). Failed to appear. $250 bench warrant served. Darrell W. Ray, Theft by deception-including cold checks under $500 (three counts). Continue on 4/11/17. Larry W. Decker, Failure to notify owner of damage to unattended vehicle. Pleaded not guilty. Pretrial conference for 3/14/17. Elizabeth N. Buckman, Speeding 22mph over limit. Failure to notify address change to dept of transportation. Continued in two weeks. Cody Vincent, No/expired registration plates. Failure of non-owner operator to maintain required insurance-1st. No/expired KY registration receipt. Proof shown on all counts, all counts dismissed. David W. Patterson, No/expired KY registration receipt. Failure of owner to maintain required insurance/security-1st. Continue in four weeks. Leila M. McCrady, Failure of owner to maintain required insurance/security-2nd or more offense. Pleaded not guilty. Pretrial conference 3/14/17. No/expired KY registration receipt, proof shown, dismissed. No/expired registration plates, proof shown, dismissed. Failure to produce insurance card, proof shown, dismissed. Charles E. Vincent, No/expired Ky registration receipt. Failure to produce insurance card. Proof shown on both counts, both dismissed. Ashlie Lindsey, Operating vehicle with expired operator's license. No/expired registration plates. No/expired KY registration receipt. Failed to appear, $250 bench warrant issued. Blake Vanover, Speeding 25mph over limit. Continue on 3/14/17.
Whitney T. Lambirth, Speeding 18mph over limit. Continue in two weeks. Kirk Desmond, Speeding 16mph over limit. Continue in two weeks. Richard J. Smith, Assault 4th degree minor injury. Pleaded not guilty. Appointed an attorney. Pretrial conference for 3/21/17. Jason Michael Salyer, Trafficking in controlled substance-first degree-second or more offense-meth. Trafficking marijuana-less than 8oz-second or more offense. Trafficking in controlled substance-3rd degree-second or more offense-drug unspecified. Endangering welfare of a minor. Pleaded not guilty on all counts. Pretrial hearing for 3/7/17. Paul Mason Logsdon, Driving DUI suspended license-2nd offense. Failure of non-owner operator to maintain required insurance-first. Pleaded not guilty. Pretrial conference for 3/14/17. Danny Lee McGrew, Hindering prosecution/apprehension-1st degree. Possession of controlled substance, first degree, first offense, meth. Drug paraphernalia-buy/possess. Carrying a concealed deadly weapon. Operating on suspended/revoked license. Pleaded not guilty. Pretrial hearing 3/7/17. Timothy D. McGrew, Hindering prosecution/apprehension-1st degree. Possession of controlled substance, first degree, third or more offense, meth. Drug paraphernalia-buy/possess. Pleaded not guilty. Pretrial hearing 3/7/17. Julie Elizabeth Maze, Trafficking in controlled substance-first degree-first offense-meth. Trafficking marijuana-less than 8oz-first offense. Trafficking in controlled substance-3rd degree-first offense-drug unspecified. Endangering welfare of a minor. Pleaded not guilty on all counts. Pretrial hearing for 3/7/17. Jackee L Gable, Drug paraphernalia- buy-possess. Pleaded guilty. Sentenced to jail 3/10/17 at 6pm, 3/12/17 at 6pm. Laura June French, Possession of controlled substance, first degree, second offense, drug unspecified. Pleaded not guilty. Wave pretrial hearing. William D. Gross, Failure of non-owner operator to maintain required insurance. No operator/moped license. Failure to register transfer of motor vehicle. Pleaded not guilty to all charges. Pretrial conference for 5/9/17. The Edmonson County Sheriff's Office has issued a release advising all residents to be aware of potential scam attempts during tax time. It's that time of year again when taxes are in the front of everyone's mind. That also means that scammers are very active now trying to trick you out of your hard earned tax return. Here are a few things to watch for to identify these scammers: 1. The IRS will never call you and ask for payment over the phone. 2. The IRS will never ask for payment by any sort of gift card, pre-paid card, credit card, or wire transfer from Western Union or any other company. 3. No one will ever verbally abuse you or curse at you from a reputable company or government office. 4. Never give any personal information over the phone (Date of Birth, Social security number, driver's license number, address) if asked. 5. If you feel that a scammer has called you and they identify themselves from a government agency or reputable business, hang up and call the phone number listed on the official website. 6. Please call and report if you have given money to anyone using the methods listed above. 7. It's always best to hang up as soon as you realize it's a scam. It is common for these scammers to have thick foreign accents, and to bully you into giving information or providing payment. They may use vulgar language or threats of being arrested. Don't fall victim to these vultures who prey on people's good nature. If you've been the victim or have questions, please call for a deputy at 270-597-2729 (dispatch) and we will do our best to help. The phone numbers used are usually untraceable and it's very hard to track these scammers down. |
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