Darren Doyle, story:
​Local pharmacist and business owner, Kasey Alford, is reaching out to the public regarding a series of letters that were mailed to customers by certain insurance companies that make the representation that Alford's Pharmacy & Drive-Thru may not be able to fill their prescriptions in the near future.  

"We understand our customers’ concerns about being able to use our pharmacy and have contacted the source of the letters related to the affected plans to work with them to resolve any issues,” said Alford. He noted that many customers are unhappy after receiving these letters.

“There's a large amount of paperwork with these giant insurance companies that must be kept up-to-date. We learned of the letters from our customers and not the insurance companies.  We are working to clear up any issues and are very concerned by the confusion caused to many in our patient base." 

Alford says he wants to assure everyone that Alford’s Pharmacy and Drive-Thru fully expects all "the paperwork" to be completed soon and that the pharmacy will continue to serve, support, and care for customers.

Alford said that the pharmacy looks forward to continuing to work with patients and their insurance carriers.                                            
"If anyone that received a letter from their insurance plan has any further questions, don't hesitate to call us at 597-1044 or drop by for a visit.  Thanks to everyone for their patience and support."

Edmonson County Schools are closed Monday, March 12, 2018 due to winter weather conditions, according to Patrick Waddell, Superintendent of Edmonson County Schools.

It will be NTI day number four for students and will not have to be made up.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
A Chalybeate couple lost their home, its contents, and several pets on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 after a fire consumed their residence near the Chalybeate Sports Complex and Park.

Firefighters responded to the 2000 block of Sulphur Road around 9am to the report of a structure fire. Although firefighters were able to respond within minutes, the home was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived. 

Neighbors and friends reported that several pets were lost in the fire. *Several headed up a relief effort; however, as a result of an earlier version of this report, the family was overwhelmed with support and they have asked that the relief efforts stop and for privacy at this time.

Both the Chalybeate and Brownsville Fire Departments responded to the scene. Firefighters worked to keep the fire out of the woods in Sulphur Hollow, which bordered the property. 

Chalybeate fire chief Daniel Johnson said firefighters returned to the scene yesterday evening because of a small rekindle.

​Also responding was Edmonson County Sheriff Shane Doyle, WRECC, and several neighbors arrived to offer any sort of help they could.

*updated 3/8/18, 11:49pm: an earlier version of this article listed the names of the homeowners as part of a neighborhood relief effort organized by friends. The owners reported that they received an overwhelming number of calls and messages of support, and that the relief effort was no longer needed, although greatly appreciated. They are asking for privacy at this time.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
A local woman walked away unharmed Wednesday afternoon after her car landed in the city park after leaving the south side of the Brownsville bridge.

An eyewitness on the scene said she saw the whole thing as the event took place.

"We were coming across the bridge-- we were driving-- and I just looked out the corner of my eye and I saw a white car, just plummet," said Lorrie Skaggs, from Lindseyville. "I said to Kevin, who was with me, 'Oh my God, a car just run off the bridge. It was flying through the air--it was airborne."

Mrs. Skaggs said her husband Kevin Skaggs, went to check the car and found the driver unresponsive at first.

According to Brownsville Police, Katie Jaggers, (30) of Brownsville, was headed north on Main Street when for an unknown reason, her 2003 Chevy Impala traveled across traffic and exited the roadway just inches from the guardrail of the southern entrance on the Brownsville Bridge.

The car then went airborne, hit the pavement of Washington Street below, then fell approximately another 75 feet down the embankment of the Brownsville City Park.

Emergency workers said Jaggers was able to exit the car on her own free will. She told officials she was uninjured and refused medical treatment at the scene. It was not known if she was wearing a seat belt.

​Brownsville Police said Jaggers was arrested and was being charged with Driving Under the Influence. Police also said Jaggers didn't know how or why the accident happened.

In addition to the Brownsville PD, members of the Brownsville, Chalybeate, and Kyrock Fire Departments responded to the scene, along with Edmonson EMS, JAWS, and the District 2 Constable.

*This article was updated at 8:46pm on 3/7/18 after the eyewitness, Mrs. Lorrie Skaggs confirmed to us the person with her was her husband, Mr. Kevin Skaggs. That information was not clear at the time of the interview.

An overturned log truck on Nolin Dam caused quite the mess on Monday as logs spilled down the south side of the dam toward the dam in the accident.

A crew was put together on Tuesday to help clean things up which involved a logging truck, loader, and a winch and cable system.

The logs were winched up the side of the dam, picked up with the loader, and placed onto the truck. They were then transported to Cub Run, which was their original destination. Shawn Monroe, who sent these photos to the Edmonson Voice, and is also the owner of the truck used in the cleanup, said the logs were owned by Paul Byler of Cub Run. 

After a few hours the logs were recovered, loaded, and delivered. A portion of the guardrail is still missing from that side of the dam so drivers are asked to use extreme caution until it is replaced.

Darren Doyle, story and photo:
A Brownsville man is facing felony marijuana trafficking and cultivating charges after a search warrant was executed at his home on Monday, March 6, 2018 around 3pm.

According the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, they received a complaint from neighbors who were reportedly participating in recreational target shooting on their property saying Brian K. Yanders, (50) of Brownsville, fired several shots from a handgun into the ground at his next door home. The neighbors reportedly told law enforcement that Yanders shot in retaliation because he didn't like the shooting going on next door. 

The Sheriff's Office said that they discovered Yanders was already a convicted felon, which made it unlawful for him to own a firearm. They obtained and executed a search warrant at Yanders home, located on Oak Tree Road in Brownsville.

The Sheriff's Office said they found what appeared to be suspicious dead space in the home that looked to be a boxed-in room with no door or access. After searching, they reportedly discovered a false wall held in place with velcro and after removing, a hidden marijuana grow station was discovered.

Authorities found over one pound of processed marijuana along with several plants. A homemade filtration system had been rigged through a bathroom fan, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Yanders was arrested and charged with:

• Possession of firearm by convicted felon
• Cultivating marijuana-five plants or more-first offense
• Trafficking in marijuana-more than 8oz, less than 5lbs
• Possession of marijuana

Yanders was transported in the Hart County Jail.  ​

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
A Buffalo, Kentucky man was uninjured today after his Volvo tractor-trailer overturned on Nolin Dam, hauling a load of logs around 2:15pm on Monday, March 5, 2018.

According to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, Joseph C. Blair, (43) of Buffalo, was headed east on KY 728 (Nolin Dam Road) when something apparently broke and shifted on the truck. 

The driver said he heard a popping noise that sounded like "metal-on-metal," and his load shifted to the right as he was bearing right onto the dam. The momentum caused the trailer to shift and the the truck to overturn into the guardrail just on the east entrance to the dam.

One of the trailer tires was busted but it was not clear if the tire blew before the truck overturned. A sheriff's deputy said it was also possible that a strap securing the load broke, but the accident was still under investigation at the time of this report.

Blair told the Edmonson Voice he knew he was fortunate to have been able to escape unharmed.

Mr. Blair said he was uninjured and refused medical treatment at the scene. 

The Corps of Engineers said the dam was unharmed during the accident and the State Highway Department would be in charge of replacing the damaged guardrail.

The road remained opened until a commercial wrecker service could respond.

In addition to the Sheriff's Office, the Lincoln and Kyrock Fire Departments responded to the crash as well as the KY Dept. of Transportation, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Edmonson EMS, and the District 5 Constable.

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
A rear end collision involving two vehicles sent two people to the hospital yesterday, according to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities said they responded to the junction of KY HWY 3019 and Veterans Highway (KY HWY 101/259) yesterday around 2pm where Robert Weikel, (51) of Brownsville, who was driving a 2000 Ford F150, had stopped on Veterans to turn left onto 3019.

According the Sheriff's Office, Sharon Starnes (63) of Chalybeate, who was driving a 2002 Ford Excursion, was headed north on Veterans and didn't see the pickup. Mrs. Starnes was reportedly unable to stop and struck the pickup in the rear end. 

Both Mr. Weikel and Mrs. Starnes were transported to local hospitals for non-life threatening injuries. A family member of Mrs. Starnes said she suffered pulled muscles and cracked ribs but was recovering at home. 

"She was very fortunate and the good Lord was watching over her," the family member said. 

No update was available for Mr. Weikel.

Also responding to the scene were the Chalybeate and Brownsville Fire Departments along with Edmonson EMS.

​Darren Doyle, story and photo:
The annual Countywide Cleanup event has been scheduled for April 2nd through the 7th this year, but big changes have been made to the program that has been littered with all sorts of trouble for county officials, fire department personnel, and those trying to utilize the service over the years.

For the past several years, Scott Waste has provided dumpsters at each Edmonson County fire department during the event, which allows county residents to dump their trash and unwanted items not normally placed in their regular trash cans. Most all items are allowed, including large items and furniture; however, dumping tires, paint, and other chemicals have always been prohibited.

Last year, county officials said the program was grossly abused as each fire department was left with a huge mess after program users failed to follow the rules of the event that specifically stated no dumping on the ground and dumpsters cannot be filled over level-full. Several fire departments spoke out against the program and some even wanted the program scrapped altogether.

Many users of the program were unhappy because a large number said that the dumpsters stayed too full for most residents to use. Some said they cleaned up at their homes to haul a truck or trailer-full of junk to the dumpster only to find that there was no place available to dump the trash; yet they dumped it anyway because they had no other place to leave it.

Scott Waste provides the dumpsters at no additional cost to the county or residents; however, all Edmonson County Scott Waste customers pay for the service anyway. While there is no separate charge on the bill, it's all lumped together.

This year, the county has made big changes to the program in order to keep fire department volunteers from dealing with the huge mess and to ensure that Edmonson County residents who pay for monthly Scott Waste services are the only ones benefiting from the program.

Edmonson County Solid Waste Coordinator Mike Clubb said he and Judge Executive Wil Cannon have worked in conjunction with local fire departments and Scott Waste to make changes to the program.

No more dumpsters will be placed at fire departments. There will be one location only during this year's event, which is the rock quarry location at Kyrock, near the Kyrock firehouse. Hours for the program will be Monday through Friday, (4/2-4/6) 7:30am - 5pm, and on Saturday (4/7) 7:30am - 3pm. Access to the dumpsters will be secured by a locked gate after hours, with no exceptions.

In addition, anyone wishing to dump trash must first show proof of residency of Edmonson County, most easily done with a valid driver's license or other photo ID with an Edmonson County address. Users must also provide a recent Scott Waste bill or other proof from Scott showing that the user is a current customer.

"We know that some people aren't going to like this year's regulations and restrictions, but this program was always intended to serve Edmonson County residents only who are Scott Waste customers," said Mike Clubb. "We can't ask Scott Waste to do more than their part of the agreement, and our fire departments aren't responsible for this cleanup. In order to prevent illegal dumping and other problems, these are the changes necessary to keep this program here."

Clubb also said video surveillance will be utilized in order to monitor proper use of the dump site. He also said no one is allowed to enter the dumpsters.

Large items like furniture and mattresses are still allowed, but they must be placed inside the dumpster and cannot exceed the level-full line. No dumping on the ground will be allowed, with no exceptions, and tires, paints, and other chemicals are still prohibited.