Edmonson Voice Report:
An Edmonson County Grand Jury recently returned the following indictments for March, 2026. An indictment is only a formal charge and is not an admission of guilt or verdict.

​William Lee Mills, Trafficking in a Controlled Substance First Degree, First Offense (>= 4 grams Cocaine), One Headlight, Failure of Non-Owner to Maintain Required Insurance- First Offense, Failure to Produce Insurance Card. 

Rose Ann Gregory, Trafficking in a Controlled Substance First Degree, First Offense (>= 4 grams Cocaine)

Rose Ann Gregory, Possession of a Controlled Substance First Degree, Possession of a Controlled Substance First Degree KRS 218A.1415, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Darren Doyle, story:
A school bus driver escaped with minor injuries after a rollover crash this morning on Nolin Dam Road. No students were on the bus at the time of the crash.

According to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, on Friday, March 27th, an Edmonson County School bus was headed east on KY HWY 728 (Nolin Dam Road) around 7:40AM. The Sheriff's Office stated that for an unknown reason, the bus dropped off the right shoulder of the roadway, overcorrected, and flipped onto its side. 

The bus then slid down the roadway and over an embankment, where it rolled again and landed upright, the Sheriff's Office stated. The driver of the bus was identified as Dennis Knight, (59) of Bee Spring, who was transported to the hospital with minor injuries, according to the Sheriff's Office, and they confirmed there were no students on board at the time of the incident.

Superintendent of Edmonson County Schools Brian Alexander spoke on the incident.

"We are beyond thankful no students were on this bus and we are equally thankful the bus driver is safe," he said. "We cannot comment on specific injuries or health status due to confidentiality."

Alexander also said the school district has investigated the matter as required by Board policy and State law and that no incriminating evidence of any kind has been discovered in the incident.

Also responding was the Kyrock Fire Department and Edmonson EMS.

Edmonson Voice Report:
A project to widen the U.S. 31-W Bypass in Bowling Green began last night as crews began setting up the construction zone and lane closures. According to KYTC District 3, these long-term lane closures will create significant traffic impacts in the area. Major delays and traffic queues are expected.

KYTC said in a released statement that during construction, U.S. 31-W will be reduced to one through lane in each direction from KY 234 (Fairview Avenue) to Park Street. A single left-turn lane will be maintained on U.S. 31-W at the intersection with KY 234.

Access to the hospital, medical facilities and businesses will remain open from U.S. 31-W throughout construction. However, additional access points are available outside the work zone. The work zone is expected to remain in place until fall 2027.

"The widening project addresses multiple issues along the U.S. 31-W Bypass corridor from the intersection with KY 234 north to Park Street," the statement said. "Left-turn lanes at the KY 234 intersection will be lengthened to increase capacity. A dedicated through lane along with a lane for right turns and straight through movements will also be added."

In addition to intersection improvements, a center two-way left-turn lane will be added along the corridor, and a raised median will manage access near the KY 234 intersection. The project will widen the current four-lane roadway to five lanes.

Scotty’s Contracting and Stone LLC was awarded the $7.4 million contract in January.

Darren Doyle, story:
Magistrates voted to approve the purchase of a new vehicle that will house and transport the county's Jaws of Life apparatus, which is overseen and operated by Kyrock Volunteer Fire Department, and contracted by the county government.

In yesterday's Edmonson County Fiscal Court meeting, the court voted to award the bid to one of two sealed bids received for the vehicle project, which was Paul Miller Commercial Vehicle Center, according to County Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey.

Their bid was in the amount of $91,009.48; however, Judge Lindsey said the build for the vehicle was quoted with a timeline of a five-month build and the county needed it sooner than that.

"While we were discussing and trying to make the best decision, it was found that Paul Miller Commercial Vehicle Center had gained access to a vehicle that met the criteria for the Jaws of Life vehicle, and it was available almost immediately," he said. "The price for this vehicle was $97,669, but was available now, instead of a five-month lead time. We felt that although it was a little more cost, it was worth the added expense to procure the vehicle now instead of having to wait for the five-month build time."

Kyrock is the contracted Jaws of Life for the County, per Resolution 21-26 signed in 2021 and is a 5 year contract that runs through 11/22/2026. Judge Lindsey provided the Edmonson Voice with the language of the resolution, which states:  

OBLIGATIONS OF PARTIES
a.) County. The County shall provide a truck and maintain same for the transport of Jaws, and shall be responsible for any damages to Jaws.
b.) KVFD. KVFD shall provide for the storage of said truck at the KVFD firehouse and trained manpower to staff the truck. KVFD agrees to a certain extrication agreement with Edmonson County EMS. Said storage and extrication service shall be at no charge to the County or any person.

When emergency calls are received for local vehicle accidents, Jaws is also paged in cases of entrapment, or if the matter of entrapment is unknown, no matter from what district the call originates. Kyrock responds with Jaws in all areas of the county. While many times they are dismissed before they arrive at an emergency scene, they must always be ready to respond 24/7, on top of their regular fire department calls.

The new truck will reportedly be equipped with everything needed to better handle and transport Jaws equipment in case of local emergency.

Darren Doyle, story:
The local legends were honored once more this year in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of their phenomenal feat of winning the KHSAA boys' basketball state championship in 1976.

The Kentucky State High School Athletic Association honored former members of the Wildcats along with cheerleading team members at this year's state championship game, held at Rupp Arena in Lexington. 

The 1976 Region 4 Champion Wildcats were ranked 14th out of 16 teams going into the Sweet Sixteen tournament and made history with their legendary run to the school's championship victory.

They defeated Betsy Layne, 77-72, Harrison County 61-57, and then Shelby County 53-52 in the semifinals. They then defeated Christian County in the championship game 74-52 on Saturday, March 27, 1976.

The KHSAA had decided that the 1976 tournament would be the final year of a single class, winner-take-all tournament. A multi-class system was set to be put in place for the following 76-77 season in order to allow similarly-sized schools to compete against each other. However, instead of signing the final documentation, the KHSAA commissioner threw the papers in the trash immediately after the Wildcats' win, seeing that a small school could compete with everyone else. They became the team that "saved the tournament."

Kentucky remains the only state in America with a single-class state basketball tournament besides Delaware; however, Delaware has already announced they will change after next season.

These stories and more are documented in the Edmonson Voice video series "50 Years as Champions," which is a 5-part event, first released on February 27th. The series finale is set to be released this Friday, March 27th, which is the actual 50th anniversary of their championship night.

The series is available for free streaming exclusively on The Edmonson Voice Facebook Pages, YouTube Channel, and this site, under the Sports Page tab "50 Years as Champions." 

Edmonson Voice Report:
​The FBI Louisville Field Office has seen an increase in reported fraud schemes targeting Kentuckians through unsolicited phone calls in which scammers impersonate law enforcement or government officials to extort money or steal personally identifiable information.

Criminal scammers represent themselves as officials from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies across Kentucky, and contact victims using spoofed phone numbers and a variety of other tactics to appear legitimate. Currently, the most prevalent variation of this scheme seen by FBI Louisville is the scammer impersonating a local sheriff’s office. The scammers falsely accuse the victim of not reporting for jury duty or missing a court date and may claim an arrest warrant has been issued against the victim. The scammers pressure and instruct the victim to immediately pay a fine to avoid arrest or other negative consequences. To increase the perceived legitimacy of the fraud or impersonation, scammers may also use Artificial Intelligence (AI), provide official-looking court documents, or may already have personal identifiable information about the victim. In the instance of the scammer impersonating a local sheriff’s office, fraudulent federal court or federal agency documents are often used.

Government and law enforcement impersonation scams come in various forms, most commonly through phone calls and emails, and they all seek to exploit victims through intimidation. Scammers use an urgent and aggressive tone, refuse to speak to or leave a message with anyone other than their targeted victim; and urge victims not to tell anyone else, including family, friends, financial institutions, or other law enforcement departments about what is occurring. Payment is demanded in various forms, with the most prevalent being cash deposited into cryptocurrency ATMs, prepaid cards, and wire transfers.

Be advised, the FBI and legitimate law enforcement authorities will not call members of the public to demand payment or threaten arrest, nor will they request or accept payment via cryptocurrency ATMs.

In 2025, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received over 39,949 complaints regarding government impersonation scams, with victim losses exceeding $833 million nationwide. In Kentucky, 475 complaints were received through IC3 in 2025, and victim losses exceeded $3.15 million.

To avoid becoming a victim of this scam or any other online fraud scheme, the FBI urges the public to “take a beat” before acting. Resist pressure tactics and take time to asses if the situation is real. The FBI specifically encourages Kentuckians not to provide or verify personally identifiable information to someone they have only met online, over the phone, or through unsolicited contact. They also should not send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other assets to individuals they have not met in person. Learn more about scam prevention at www.fbi.gov/takeabeat.

If you believe you are a victim of this scam, or any other online fraud scheme, timely reporting is key. Cease all contact with the scammers immediately, notify your financial institution and safeguard all financial accounts, contact your local law enforcement, and file a complaint with the IC3 at www.ic3.gov.

Darren Doyle, story:
Edmonson County Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey testified in Washington, D.C. today in at the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands’ Legislative Hearing on behalf of Congressman Brett Guthrie's Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act. Lindsey testified to the economic and cultural impacts this bill would have on Kentucky’s Second District. 

“The legislation before you today would help strengthen that impact while also protecting critical natural resources," Lindsey said in a portion of his prepared remarks. "H.R. 3286 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire approximately 551 acres of land currently owned by The Nature Conservancy and incorporate it into Mammoth Cave National Park."

He also added, "No organization is better equipped to protect these natural and cultural resources than the National Park Service and the experts at Mammoth Cave National Park. I also want to emphasize an important point: this acquisition involves land already owned by The Nature Conservancy. No additional private property is involved. The property is already under a conservation easement that restricts development, and because of its nonprofit ownership status, the county is not currently collecting property taxes on it. Therefore, the transfer of this land into the park will not reduce our local tax base."

Rep. Guthrie stated he was grateful to the House Committee on Natural Resources for taking an important step to advance the bill with today’s legislative hearing.

​“My bill will not only improve the visitor experience at the Park, but it will also expand countless economic opportunities for the local communities surrounding Mammoth Cave," stated Guthrie.

​The Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act was introduced by Congressman Guthrie and Senator Mitch McConnell on May 8, 2025. 

This bill would give the park the ability to acquire an additional 551.14 acres of land from The Nature Conservancy. Guthrie's office says this newly acquired land would enhance protections in the Green River watershed, further conserving the area’s wildlife and cultural heritage while generating additional tourism to Kentucky’s Second District.

Darren Doyle, story:
The Edmonson County Lions Club has announced a new outdoor venue on their property that will be called "The Quarry Amphitheater," according to the Edmonson County Lions Club Facebook Page. 

"Something exciting is beginning to take shape in Edmonson County, as work has started on the future The Quarry Amphitheater — a unique outdoor venue that will bring live music, festivals, and community gatherings to our area in a clean, family‑friendly, all‑ages setting," they said in a Facebook post.

According to their page, The Lions Club is currently in the very early stages of this project, as they are now clearing and evaluating the area.

​The Lions Club also said they are currently looking for local volunteers, equipment, and helping hands to assist with the early stages of work.

"If you have access to equipment, experience operating machinery, or you’re willing to lend some good old‑fashioned manual labor, your help could make a huge difference as we begin preparing the site," they said.

The community is asked to reach out to any member of the Lions Club to find out more.

Edmonson Voice Report:
The 1976 Edmonson County Wildcats were honored at last night's Region 4 boys' semifinal round at Diddle Arena.

The Wildcats defeated Bowling Green High School 64-52 on Saturday, March 13, 1976 in the same arena. Edmonson County faced Lewisburg in the first round, winning 73-53, and then won a heated battle over Franklin-Simpson in the semifinals 59-58 to advance to the championship.

It is still the only KHSAA Region Championship for Edmonson County basketball.

The regional tournament championship is a topic of discussion in The Edmonson Voice docuseries "50 Years as Champions," now available on all the Voice platforms. 

Edmonson Voice Report:
Kentuckians participating in lawful, state-regulated wagering and charitable gaming activities would be better protected under legislation filed last week by two House Committee Chairs, Representative Michael Meredith and Representative Matthew Koch, according to a released statement from the Kentucky House Majority Caucus.

The statement also said that House Bill 904 aims to modernize and strengthen regulations around various forms of wagering in Kentucky, including sports betting, horse racing, fantasy sports contests, and charitable gaming, while adding consumer protections and oversight by the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation.

“We created a nationally-recognized structure for sports wagering in the Commonwealth a few years ago,” said Meredith. “House Bill 904 would bring us in line with much of the country in governing fantasy contests. Our goal is to make sure consumers are protected and have access to the products they are demanding in the marketplace.”

Main Provisions of the Bill:

• Legalizes fixed-odds wagering on horse racing (a form of betting where payout odds are set at the time of the wager and don't fluctuate like traditional pari-mutuel pools; this would allow tracks to offer it and modernize horse betting options, similar to what's allowed in states like New Jersey and Colorado).
• Raises the minimum age for sports wagering (and related activities like fantasy contests) from 18 to 21 (this would align it more closely with other age-restricted activities and add protections for younger adults).
• Bans certain proposition bets (prop bets) on individual college players from Kentucky teams/universities (to help protect in-state college athletes and maintain integrity; wagers on out-of-state college players would still be allowed).
• Regulates and legalizes fantasy sports contests under the oversight of the Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation (bringing them into a formal regulatory framework, similar to many other states).
• Adds consumer protection measures, such as strengthening safeguards for bettors, potentially including self-exclusion lists or other tools to prevent problem gambling, and improving oversight of charitable gaming and fantasy operators.
• Prohibits participation in certain "predictive markets" wagering (event contract trading on outcomes).
• Includes other updates to excise taxes, technology requirements for wagering systems, and general modernization of gaming laws.

 
Koch added, “It is important that we ensure safeguards are in place to protect consumers and maintain the integrity of lawful wagering and charitable gaming. The Wagering Consumer Protection Act would build on the General Assembly’s previous work to strengthen industry oversight and establish a regulatory framework that supports the long-term success of these industries.”
 
The bill was introduced on March 4th. For more information on HB 904, please visit legislature.ky.gov.

Darren Doyle, story:
A local man was arrested and charged with multiple counts of criminal abuse and endangerment after his children were allegedly found playing in the road, unsupervised. 

According to a press release issued by the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, on Sunday, March 1st, deputies responded to a residence on Fairview Church Road in reference to two juveniles under the age of 5 that were observed playing in the roadway with knives. Deputies reportedly made contact with the witnesses that reported the incident. According to the witnesses, the children were wet and cold and without supervision, the release stated. The Sheriff's Office stated that the witnesses were unable to provide information as to the juvenile's residence.

According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies canvassed the immediate area and responded to a nearby residence on Fairview Church Road in an effort to locate a responsible adult, and after approximately 30 minutes of knocking and
announcing their presence, another juvenile answered the door.

Deputies entered the residence and located the children’s father, identified as James Atwell, 44, of Smiths Grove, unconscious in a back room, the Sheriff's Office stated. According to law enforcement, an adult sibling of the children arrived on scene and advised that Mr. Atwell had been responsible for supervising the children while their mother was at work.

"Deputies determined that Mr. Atwell was manifestly under the influence and posed a danger to himself and others," the press release stated. "Mr. Atwell admitted to consuming alcohol and marijuana."

Atwell was placed under arrest and transported to the Hart County Jail. The children were released to the custody of their mother, the Sheriff's Office stated.

Atwell was charged with

• Three counts of Criminal Abuse 2nd Degree-Child 12 or Under
• Three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Minor
• Possession of Marijuana
• Drug Paraphernalia- Buy/Possess

Ferry service resumes after major repairs to flood-damaged infrastructure ​

MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky. – The Green River Ferry in Mammoth Cave National Park will reopen March 5 and resume daily operations from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST. Ferry service was suspended while the park repaired navigational cables and support towers that were damaged during a flood event in spring 2025.  
  
Ferry system replacements included: 

• two-1,000-foot navigational cables that guide the ferry across the river 
• four 20-foot-tall towers which hold the navigational cables in place (some were replaced, some were stabilized) 
• 15.5-ton concrete anchor that was damaged and dislodged from the riverbank during the flood 

 
While drydocked, the ferry was sandblasted and repainted and received a new generator and engine. The vessel also received its United States Coast Guard inspection and certification which is required every five years. 
  
Ferry operations are subject to water levels on the Green River and may be affected by high or low water. Learn more about navigating in and around Mammoth Cave National Park on the Directions and Transportation webpage.