Darren Doyle, story:
In 2024, $720,000 in state funding was allocated for the support of a new Kentucky Trail Town grant program. Legislation allowed certified Kentucky Trail Towns eligibility up to $30,000 in funding for recreational projects, including trail development and maintenance, project enhancements and marketing efforts. Brownsville was recently named one of the 19 Trail Towns in Kentucky that will receive a portion of $543,374 in funding, which is the maximum award of $30K. 

According to a press release from Governor Andy Beshear's Office, Brownsville plans to use grant funding to enhance accessibility for travelers by providing an ADA-compliant launch ramp, as well as new signage, a trailhead bike rack, community events and marketing initiatives. Vanessa Ulm, director of the Edmonson County Tourism Commission and representative of Brownsville Trail Town, highlighted the importance of improving access to trails and waterways.  

“Time on the trails has the ability to connect us with nature, encourage healthy lifestyles and offer opportunities to relish in the local flavor of our communities, and this generous grant will allow us to greatly enhance our efforts in these endeavors as our community and visitors continue to seek a bevy of outdoor experiences," she stated.

According to the release, the Kentucky Trail Town program is a tourism and economic development program designed to provide a strategic plan for communities to capitalize on recreation opportunities. Each Trail Town has made the public commitment to share their outdoor opportunities, culture, history and stories with guests seeking adventure. 

Neighboring towns Cave City, Horse Cave, and Park City were also awarded the maximum amount.

The 30 certified Kentucky Trail Towns are: Berea; Brownsville; Burkesville; Campbellsville; Cave City and Horse Cave; Columbia; Dawson Springs; Elizabethtown; Elkhorn City; the Harlan County Tri-Cities of Cumberland, Benham and Lynch; Hazard; Hyden; Irvine and Ravenna; Jamestown; Liberty; Leitchfield; Livermore; Livingston; London; Manchester; McKee; Morehead; Morgantown; Munfordville; Olive Hill; Park City; Pikeville; Royalton; Slade; and Stearns.  

MAMMOTH CAVE, KY. – A new-to-science species of ancient shark has been discovered through an ongoing Paleontological Resource Inventory (PRI) at Mammoth Cave National Park. The new species of obruchevodid petalodont, called Clavusodens mcginnisi, was identified by researchers through fossil teeth collected from deep inside the Ste. Genevieve Formation within Mammoth Cave.  
 
“The fossil discoveries in Mammoth Cave continue to reveal a wealth of new information about ancient shark species,” said Superintendent Barclay Trimble. “Researchers and volunteers collected samples from the main Mammoth Cave system and from smaller isolated caves throughout the park that have provided new data on previously known ancient sharks and revealed several species that are brand new to science. These discoveries help scientists to better understand the relationship and evolution of modern shark species within this relatively small geographic region.”
 
Clavusodens mcginnisi, or “McGinnis’ nail tooth,” was discovered from a number of small teeth found throughout the Ste. Genevieve Formation rock layer in Mammoth Cave National Park. Its name is derived from the shark’s back teeth which superficially look like old iron nails because of their flat crowns and long tooth bases. Nick-named “Chipmunk sharks” for their small size and chisel-like front teeth and crushing back teeth, members of the Obruchevodidae were between 3-4 inches in length. Their small size allowed them to avoid larger predators as they foraged on crustaceans, worms, and small brachiopods found along the sea floor. The species name, mcginnisi, honors retired National Park Service superintendent and naturalist David McGinnis, whose 39-year career started at Mammoth Cave National Park.
 
The Ste. Genevieve Formation at Mammoth Cave is a layer of rocks that date back to approximately 340 million years ago. The rocks consist of limestones and shales which formed on the bottom of a warm ocean reef. The majority of fossilized sharks are found in invertebrate hash beds, a rock layer made of skeletal and shell parts of crinoids, blastoids, corals, gastropods, and brachiopods. Prior to the discoveries made at Mammoth Cave over the last several years, no shark fossils were known from the Ste. Genevieve Formation. To date, over 70 species of sharks and other fish have been identified from this geologic layer, including four new species.
 
Visit Mammoth Cave National Park PRI to learn more about the park’s ancient shark research and view images of ancient shark discoveries in our Shark Photo Gallery.

Edmonson Voice Report:
An Edmonson County Grand Jury recently returned the following indictments:

Sasha Marie Williams, Bail jumping first degree.

Richard Lee Kuykendall, Sexual Abuse first degree.

Deborah Ann Cowles, Wanton endangerment first degree. Assault fourth degree (domestic).

Bobby Joe Bishop, Jr., Unlawful transaction with a minor, first degree-victim under 16 years of age. Rape, third degree (two counts), Sodomy, third degree (two counts).

Marquise Lynn Cornelius, Bail jumping first degree.

Joshua Glenn Tate, Assault second degree, Assault fourth degree (domestic), Resisting arrest.

Christopher Dale Matthews, Theft by deception of property values at $1,000 or more, less than $10,000.

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.