Darren Doyle, story and photos: A Tennessee man was transported to the Medical Center with serious head injuries after a single motorcycle crash occurred Friday night just south of the Edmonson/Warren line around 11pm. Officials said that Justin Gobell (35) of Columbia, TN was headed north on KY HWY 101 when he lost control of his 2005 Suzuki and left the roadway, traveling approximately 135 ft through the grass. Gobell, who was riding with several other motorcyclists, was thrown from the bike and suffered gashes to his head. Emergency personnel on scene said that the man was fortunate that his injuries were no worse, considering he was not wearing a helmet. The crash is under investigation by the Warren County Sheriff's Office. Also responding to the scene were the Smiths Grove and Chalybeate Fire Departments, Medical Center EMS, Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, Kentucky State Police, and the Dist. 2 Constable.
*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 good crowd attended the annual Chamber of Commerce Spring Breakfast this morning at the Edmonson County Public Library. Today's event was sponsored by Bank of Edmonson County and they presented their new mobile app to those in attendance. Some of the highlights of the app feature: bank card maintenance (disabling and enabling cards if they are lost or stolen), mobile alerts for your account changes, scheduled bill pay, and much more. One of the most convenient features is photo check deposits, which allow the customer to take a photo of a check for deposit and the deposit can be made through the app without the need to actually take the check to the bank. The app also allows the customer to transfer money from one account to another and you can always check your account balances and loan amounts. You can also use your thumbprint to sign into your account on certain devices. Michelle Coleman, Bank CEO and Patrick Merritt, Technology Officer, showed all the features of the app in a short presentation and even offered to sign up new bank customers after the breakfast, for which several took advantage. Bank of Edmonson County customers already using their online banking feature only need to download the app and follow the easy instructions. You'll need to be an online banking customer before you can take advantage of the free app. Visit bankofedmonson.com for more info on becoming an online user. Bank of Edmonson County handed out several promotional items and furnished the breakfast which featured donuts from Walden's, sausage and bacon biscuits, and an assortment of fruit.
*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, April 18, 2017. The Honorable Judge Joseph B. Hines presiding. Dewayne Denham Butts, Criminal Trespassing. Pretrial diversion for 6 months, on condition of 10hrs of community service within 60 days. No unauthorized access to Park Mammoth. Burton A. Houchin, Burglary first degree. Pleaded not guilty. Preliminary hearing 5/2/17. Edmonson District Court was held on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. The Honorable Judge John M. McCarty presiding. Clarence Z. Hawkins, Operating motor vehicle under influence of alcohol/drugs-first offense. Pleaded not guilty. Pretrial conference 5/9/17. Tonya M. Phelps, Endangering the welfare of a minor. Pleaded guilty. 45 days probated. Eric L. Sims, Speeding 15mph over limit. Continued in two weeks. Brittney C. Decker, No/expired KY registration receipt. No/expired registration plates. Failure to produce insurance card. Proof shown on all three charges, all three dismissed. Failure to notify address change to dept. transportation. Pleaded not guilty. Continued 5/9/17. Tamra Leigh Meredith, No/expired other state registration receipt or plate. Pleaded guilty, fined $150. Failure of non-owner operator to maintain required insurance, first. Pleaded guilty, fined $500: $450 of which probated. Total fines and costs: $343. *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: The Edmonson County Wildcat Baseball team honored long time Edmonson County Coach and mentor Charles Alexander at last night's home game against Butler County by retiring Alexander's number in an on-field ceremony. Alexander, who coached and influenced the lives of Edmonson County youth for over 40 years, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to junior Wildcat Ryan Lindsey. Coach Alexander stood with Edmonson County's four seniors near the pitcher's mound as Alexander's lengthy resume was announced in front of a large home crowd, which included:
Alexander's children, grandchildren, and many of his close friends attended last night's ceremony. He nodded his head and said "Thank you," as he waved to the crowd. He was given a heartfelt standing ovation as he left the field.
*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. Max Jackson, Edmonson Voice: If you're like so many south central Kentuckians, you turn on your local news channel mainly to hear the recent weather forecast. The problem is, the person giving the forecast usually drops all kinds of stuff in there that you don't find interesting, or he or she's got their sleeves rolled up as though they're in the middle of some kind of a crisis. You just want to know if it's going to rain or if it's going to be cold, or simply, what kind of shirt you're supposed to wear. Landon Hampton, founder of wxornotbg.com (weather or not bg . com) has found success in creating his own brand of weather forecasting, and he's breaking all the rules. You probably remember him as the guy in the suit and tie on WNKY television (Channel 40) bringing you all that mumbo-jumbo, but he decided that that particular format wasn't for him and he had a different idea. "I consider myself very blessed to have had a passion for weather instilled in me since a very early age, 4 years old to be exact," he said. "From paperback weather books to a mini-weather radio I carried around, my passion only grew as I went through middle and high school." After graduating Butler County High in 2006, he graduated from WKU in 2010 with a B.S. in Meteorology and an A.S. in Meteorological Technologies. He was a member of WKU’s first class of Meteorology grads. "After shocking my friends and family by quitting a comfortable job as a Flight Control Meteorologist with UPS in Louisville, I took a leap of faith and moved back home into my parents' basement with aspirations of launching my own weather company." Coming from a long line of entrepreneurs, he didn’t see why he couldn’t become one himself. "I launched ‘Landon’s Fast-Forecast’ in 2011, which quickly grew a following," he said. "I was then approached by Diane Dyer, owner and operator of Beech Tree News in Morgantown, to provide weather content for them digitally and through social media. This obviously increased my exposure, and also provided a new outlet to provide weather content, following their launch of an FM radio station in 2014." After spreading through Butler and Warren Counties, thanks to Beech Tree, WNKY, and the Daily News, wxornotBG was officially launched in 2013. Since then, he's continued breaking the rules, gaining more outlet partners, and reaching more and more south central Kentucky residents, as he provides weather forecasting information and content across multiple digital, radio, and broadcasting platforms. And all without scaring people to death, telling them to go buy milk and bread, and without rolling up his sleeves. Landon has officially joined the Edmonson Voice team as our very own meteorologist with the help from PBI Bank in Brownsville. Thanks to PBI, Brownsville will now have it's very own Weather SkyCam looking down at the Edmonson County Courthouse that will have a view of the town square, Brownsville skies, and current weather conditions in real time. "Becoming a partner with the Edmonson Voice is another HUGE piece to the puzzle," he said. "I was born and raised in Butler County, and one reason I launched wxornotBG was to fix what I looked at as a problem: sub-par weather coverage for rural areas." He said small towns and tight-knit communities are what helped take wxornotBG.com to what it is today, and that the Edmonson Voice is another perfect outlet for wxornotBG. "Being part of Edmonson County's top local news source is a no-brainer," he added. "The Edmonson Voice has found success in much of the same way I did," he said. "The future is digital technology and the Voice has not only embraced that idea, but found a way to bring a great network to their hometown. That's exactly what we're trying to do with wxornotBG.com. We’re providing weather info in a new & improved way, with pictures, digital weather sensors, and SkyCams that help us tell a more complete story." The Edmonson Voice has featured a Weather Page for quite some time thanks to Edmonson Drug Co. INC, but now that page will be much improved, full of local, personalized weather forecasts from Landon twice everyday, along with shots from the PBI Bank SkyCam. Landon's popular videos also break the rules. His forecasts are recorded in his own personal office, in a casual setting, oft times in jeans and a t-shirt. He regularly incorporates comedy and pop culture in his forecasts, another reason for his growing popularity. "The weather can be complicated at times, and we’re here to provide a solid educational foundation to help those we serve better understand our environment," he said. "We also like to have a little fun, too," he said with a smile. "I’m extremely excited to join the Edmonson Voice family and I look forward to where this goes in the future." *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 man to the hospital Monday, according to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office. Emergency personnel responded to the 1600 block of KY HWY 70 (Morgantown Road) around 3pm. According to the Sheriff's office, a '95 Chevy Pickup driven by Jonathan Chad Belcher (16), Roundhill, which was eastbound, left the right side of the roadway for an unknown reason and traveled down a ditch line for about 200 feet. According to officials, Belcher overcorrected as he tried to return to the roadway, which caused his truck to enter the path of a westbound 2007 Ford pickup, driven by William Lindsey, (59) of Roundhill. Lindsey was transported to Greenview Regional Hospital by Edmonson EMS for non life-threatening injuries. Belcher refused treatment at the scene.
Responding to the scene was the Bear Creek Fire Department, Edmonson EMS, Brownsville Police, KSP, and the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office. *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. Fiscal Court Report: County Purchases Jail Transport Van, Emergency Management Looks For Grant, More4/24/2017 Darren Doyle, story: Edmonson County Fiscal Court met on Monday, April 24, 2017 at 9am in the upstairs courtroom of the Edmonson County Courthouse. The following items were discussed: Road Report: County Road Foreman Ray Page reported that right of way mowing and trimming had already begun county-wide as well as the first round of seasonal road paving. Sheriff Report: Sheriff Shane Doyle spoke about the recent mock crash held at ECHS and discussed its success. He credited all the local emergency workers and that it was a great thing to see all people working together.He also credited Edmonson EMS Director Keith Sanders for helping coordinate the event. Jailer Report: Deputy Jailer Todd Vincent reported that the recent county purchase of a used prisoner transport van last week has already shown positive results. He said it's already saving trips and was also used to transport non-violent criminals for service at the county ball park at HWY 70. County Attorney: CA Greg Vincent said the scheduled hearing in the current lawsuit against the county by Katie and Ken Smith was postponed for next month due to failure of the plaintiff's counsel to provide proper documents to the court. Parks and Rec: Program Administrator Greg Hudson said the use of the jailer's van was very helpful and that the annual baseball/softball jamboree had been postponed due to excessive rainfall. He also mentioned the ongoing Bluegrass Jam at Bee Spring Park every 2nd and 4th Monday nights beginning at 6pm, which is free to the public. In other fiscal court news, the court voted to:
Jim Brown with Hellervik also spoke at today's meeting and reported that he recently spent two days in Virginia to inspect a plant that will be the same as the one moved into their new location on Louisville Road. He said the size of the plant will be 10.5ft wide, 32 feet long, and 14ft tall. Judge Cannon said that while those dimensions alone didn't seem to pose problems, several area residents still opposed the plant. "Even if it were the size of a five-gallon bucket, people would still be concerned," he said. The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled for May 8, 2017. *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: The annual county cleanup event ended on April 15 but the effects are still lingering. One fire department representative addressed the fiscal court today and shared his feelings. "This was a total disaster," said Chalybeate Fire Department board member Carl Lindsey. "It's a shame that with the caliber of people we have in Edmonson County, there's no more respect for the county than for people to just come and throw their trash all over the fire departments." We reported that fire department members all over the county were very unhappy about the way the event was handled and how the public did not follow the instructions of the program, leaving a big mess for fire department members to deal with, something for which they say they didn't sign up. Lindsey said that due to the misuse of the dumpsters at Chalybeate FD, the department will not allow any more dumpsters to be used at their location. Cannon immediately agreed that changes to the program are needed and he and event coordinator Mike Clubb are already putting a plan in place for next year. According to Judge Cannon, Scott Waste's contract with Edmonson County requires them to furnish 12 dumpsters for the program each year. A representative of Scott Waste told the fiscal court today that a total of 47 dumpsters were provided by Scott's during this year's event, 18 of which were used at Kyrock and another 12 at Chalybeate. The dumpsters were stationed at each of the county fire departments with instructions of not to overfill the dumpsters and that dumping on the ground of any kind would be prohibited. It was estimated that there were four dumpsters-worth of trash dumped on the ground at Kyrock alone. Scott Waste estimated a total of $30,000 worth of their resources was spent on this year's program. According to last week's Edmonson Voice poll which appears on our homepage each week, 55% of those polled said the best solution would be for someone to provide more dumpsters at no additional cost.
The poll was discussed at today's meeting, which caused county officials to shake their heads in disbelief. "What I think we have here is people coming from outside the county, all around us," said Cannon. "I'd like (the dumpsters) to be spread out around the county, but it's just not working. Our director, Mike Clubb, has recommended that we find a centralized location and put a time period on it where people can bring trash to the dumpsters. That way, we can monitor it. We have to make sure there are no chemicals, no tires, nothing thrown out on the ground." He said it's not the fire departments' responsibility to monitor who is dumping, what is being dumped, or where it's being placed. He also reminded the court that Scott Waste doesn't have to pick up anything more than their contract says, and had they chose, they could have left tons of smelly trash piled up at all our fire departments, but they chose to pick it up, with volunteers' help. "It's not Scott Waste's fault that people are throwing their trash out on the ground," he said. "This creates a huge mess that someone has to pick up. Another issue we're having is that people are climbing into the dumpsters looking for things to keep. They're not allowed inside the dumpsters, that's criminal trespassing, and dumping litter on the ground is criminal littering. We can't allow people in the dumpsters because someone could get hurt." Sheriff Shane Doyle said his department doesn't have the resources or manpower to monitor the dumpsters like they need and it's not fair to ask Scott Waste to provide any more dumpsters for free, as they've already provided four times the amount more this year than their contract required. The breakdown for the dumpsters used were:
"Right now, this is just one plan, and not everyone will be happy with it, but we have to do something different because our current program is not working," he said. *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. Fiscal Court Renews Short-Term Lease With Community Action/Head Start After Amending Agreement4/24/2017
Darren Doyle: The Edmonson County Fiscal Court agreed to renew Community Action of Southern KY's (CASOKY) lease for their use of the Community Center building today, although the terms will be changed and will only be temporary. At the previous fiscal court meeting, Judge Executive Wil Cannon presented the lease to the court, which was up for renewal, however; he noted that the organization was requesting a 5-year lease that included multiple office spaces and the use of the Community Center gym and outdoor area for the Head Start Program. The monthly rent was only $215 for use of office space and the gym. Cannon said he wasn't going to force the group out and figured a temporary agreement would work for now, but in the meantime, he wanted to make sure the organization paid their fair share of rent and utilities due to the fact that the organization wasn't a county office and received their own funding. Today, Cannon announced that terms for a temporary lease agreement with Christopher Property Management until June 30, 2018 had been reached. Cannon said the group is the representative of CASOKY. Cannon said he and the representative looked at other possible properties, but for now, they have agreed to pay 25% of the utility bills in the Community Center building, which Cannon said CASOKY thought was very fair. Magistrate Joe Durbin said he received a call from Head Start about the beginnings of the Community Center building and facility, which he said was constructed in 1969 through a federal grant with the help of then Congressman William Natcher and Gus and Elaine Parsley. The local health department was also housed in the building at that time. In addition, Mag. Durbin said he understood that the plan was for Head Start to operate in the building as well, and he was in favor of finding a way to keep the program there long-term. Cannon agreed with Durbin that they should work to find a solution but he didn't feel like county taxpayers should be paying for the utilities of Head Start when they are already federally funded. "We can't afford to house everyone," he said. "County government doesn't house programs that have their own funding. If we could afford to do this, that would be a completely different situation. That's why I believe for now, at least, they should pay 25% of the utilities in the building and that's more than fair." Cannon said that would equal around $3500 per year. Durbin said he agreed with that 100% and said that the organization paying their share of the utilities and maintenance was only fair. The court voted to allow County Attorney Greg Vincent to amend the language in the temporary lease agreement in a manner in which both parties could agree. *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: Although it wasn’t a real scenario, it was a situation that hit far too close to home than onlookers and participants would ever want to experience during the 2017 Mock Crash at Edmonson County High School. The event is an acted out scene of tragedy as high school students play the roles of those injured in a serious car accident as it is happening. The fake accident is caused by impaired driving of a student on prom night and has devastating consequences. The heartbreaking event is presented every other year to Edmonson County High School juniors and seniors around prom time and is coordinated by the Youth Service Center, local emergency personnel, school officials, and several other volunteers. In this year’s crash, senior Daniel Caudill played the role of a drunk driver with student passengers Maddie Cline, Caleb Skaggs, and Abby Alexander. Local teacher Leeann Pierce who is actually close to 8 months pregnant, was the driver in the second vehicle. In the performance, she survived the crash, but her baby did not. ECHS students Madison Alexander and Kailie Love portrayed students who first arrived at the scene. They called 911 and stayed with the victims throughout the ordeal, giving them comfort and support. Local emergency personnel used the actual local dispatch emergency radio frequency as they would in a real life situation as KSP, the Sheriff’s Office, Brownsville Police, Brownsville Fire Department, Edmonson County JAWS, Edmonson EMS, and Air EVAC were all dispatched to the scene while they performed actual emergency procedures. This year, Daniel Caudill was arrested for driving while under the influence and was charged with murder as Mrs. Pierce lost her unborn child and senior Maddie Cline was killed in the fake crash. Morgan Esters, Edmonson County Youth Service Center Coordinator, was in charge of organizing this year’s event and she discussed the impact of the mock crash.
"We do this as a preventive measure around the fun activity times, with the drugs, drinking, and parties," she said. "Maybe they (the kids) can see what can happen if they do that. I think with the looks on their faces and the dead silence you hear, there's an automatic impact. Every year there's a different situation or scenario and I think this year will be very impactful for the kids." Trooper Terry Alexander was the first to arrive at the staged event and one of the first discoveries he made was that his daughter, Abby, was seriously injured. Abby was actually loaded into the Air EVAC helicopter and flown away from the scene. Edmonson EMS Director Keith Sanders credited the students and all emergency personnel for their performances and efforts in the production while discussing the lasting effects that bad decisions can have on many different lives. Caudill said although he doesn’t drink, he said he had a hard time realizing that the scenario was only a performance. He was actually handcuffed, placed under arrest, and put in the back of a deputy sheriff’s car. Several students in the crowd today wiped tears and bowed their heads as the performance seemed so real. Students acting in the production were dressed in torn prom clothes and wore makeup that was so close to real, it was actually disturbing. Sheriff Shane Doyle thanked the students for the attention and for taking the event seriously, while conveying the fact that even experienced law enforcement are affected by the event, too. "You don't understand how real it feels for us," Doyle said as he addressed the crowd. "When we're out here and we've got people screaming, it goes from being just a scenario to 'we're at work.' What you don't see is what we take home with us." A quiet group of juniors and seniors left the football field as the impact of the performed tragedy took hold. Esters publicly thanked everyone who made the event 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.
Warren-Edmonson FSA Office: Darren Doyle, photo:
Farmers and Rachers are stewards of the Earth. This is the theme of the 2017 Earth Day that will be celebrated on April 22nd. “Farmers and Ranchers work very hard each day to produce food and fiber for all citizens,” according to Sherri Brown, CED of the Warren-Edmonson Farm Service Agency. There are over 3.2 Million Farmers and Ranchers nationwide and 23 Million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program nationwide with 6,060.81 acres locally in the program. In observance of Earth Day 2017, a Chestnut Oak was planted by Brian Turner, Farm Loan Manager and Donald Dunn, District Director, Pat McCombs, County Committee member, along with Sherri Brown at the Edmonson County Courthouse. In a statement from the local FSA office, it said, "This tree will generate oxygen and serve as a symbol of our stewardship for the land." Mock Crash Scheduled For Today At High School: Public Should Not Be Alarmed By Emergency Vehicles4/21/2017 Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
Edmonson County Emergency personnel has announced that the annual "Mock Crash" will be held today at ECHS on the football field. The event is sponsored by the Youth Service Center each year. "If you live in town, you'll likely hear sirens and see many emergency vehicles," said Sheriff Shane Doyle. "Please don't be alarmed as this is part of the program." The event depicts a live car crash with severe injuries that occur due to drinking while driving, or driving while distracted. Emergency personnel work the scene as it's actually happening with local law enforcement, EMS, fire departments, and an Air EVAC helicopter which actually lands on the football field, weather permitting. The event is free and the public is invited. All juniors and seniors will watch the event live. We will have a full story later including video from today's event. Darren Doyle, story
Edmonson County High School boys basketball coach and teacher Mike McClintic, more commonly known as "Coach Mac" is recovering from a mild stroke he suffered yesterday, according to family members. His family also said that Coach Mac was taken to the emergency room due to shortness of breath around 4am on Tuesday. He apparently suffered a mild stroke after he was admitted to the hospital. His wife, Teresa McClintic, also a teacher at Edmonson County High School, said that tests are scheduled to be performed on Coach Mac's heart around 8am on Thursday and doctors will decide what to do according to the results. "We have appreciated the visitors so much," she said. "We're also very sad that several people weren't allowed to see him due to visiting hours." Mrs. McClintic said she and her husband are in need of prayer. "Mike and I both love our jobs and we love our 'kids.'" Coach Mac, who led the 2016-17 Wildcats to their first district championship in 24 years, is highly respected by his players, students, and fellow faculty members. Edmonson Voice Staff Report: The Edmonson County Sheriff's Office has reported that a stolen ATV has been recovered in Butler County after a pursuit through the woods. Authorities said the Butler County Sheriff's Office and the Kentucky State Police served a warrant at a residence in Butler County when a man on the property who was pulling a field disc with an ATV unhooked the disc and took off into the woods after seeing law enforcement. Officials said the operator of the ATV, James Hope of Morgantown, lodged the ATV between two trees and became stuck where he was then apprehended. Officials said Hope told law enforcement that he purchased the ATV from someone but didn't know his name. The ATV had been reported stolen since April 6, 2017 from the David Davis farm on Morgantown Road in the Segal community. Officials said that in addition to the ATV, Davis also reported hand tools, car parts, and a chainsaw as being stolen from his barn. Entry to Davis' barn was gained by removing a door from it's track, according to the sheriff's office. Authorities said Butler County Chief Deputy Heath West loaded up the ATV and delivered it directly back to Mr. Davis. The ATV was reported slightly damaged but still operable. Hope was charged with Receiving stolen property under $10,000, Possession of controlled substance-first offense-first degree-drug unspecified, and Drug paraphernalia-buy/possess. The Edmonson County Sheriff's Office said they have suspects regarding the incident and the case is still under investigation. If you have any information regarding this burglary, please contact the sheriff's office at 270-597-2157. *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. Several students and a teacher were recognized at the April 10, 2017 Edmonson County Board of Education meeting. Once monthly, the board recognizes students, staff, and faculty members that go above and beyond their normal responsibilities. Those recognized are chosen by other faculty and administrators and show qualities of leadership, caring, and overall exceptional work or behavior. ECHS recognitions went to Leeanne Pierce (teacher), Governor's Scholars: Kolbie Vincent and Olivia Forester; DECA members: Levi Meredith, Mollie Cassady, and Kailie Love. 5/6 Center recognitions went to Brody Johnson, Lily Jayne Vincent, and Jonas Miller.
Also honored was Presley Kendall, Governor's Scholar, who was unable to attend Monday night's meeting. Darren Doyle, story and photos: Two local fire departments are speaking out against the county wide cleanup event that wrapped up today after tons of garbage were dumped on the grounds next to the dumpsters and around fire department property after the containers were filled. Mike Clubb, member of Kyrock Fire Department and a coordinator of the event said misuse of the event will cause fire department members and other community volunteers to have to not only clean up the excess trash, but also provide a destination for it to be placed. "We said absolutely no dumping on the ground and all the dumpsters were clearly marked for the fill line," Clubb said. "Instead, we have people dumping trash everywhere, all over the fire department property, overflowing the dumpsters, it's a shame. Scott Waste won't haul the dumpsters if they're overflowing. They have to be level full, so anything above level has to be removed and placed somewhere else." He said garbage of all sorts, shapes, and sizes were scattered all around the overflowing dumpsters and fire departments throughout the county. Kyrock and Chalybeate seemed to be misused the most. Carl Lindsey with the Chalybeate Fire Department just pointed to the Chalybeate dumpsters while shaking his head. "If this is how this program is going to be used, this fire department is against it," he said. "If the county is going to put this on then they're the ones that need to see to it. We can't have someone at the fire department all the time watching people. It's a shame that this is done to try to help the county and people mistreat it like this." The event was advertised on the Edmonson Voice and got a huge response. In the flyer, it plainly stated, "Absolutely no dumping on the ground, no chemicals, no tires. Dumping on the ground can result in littering fines." Lindsey said those dumping on the ground should have to pay hefty fines.
"I've got a hundred dollar bill for every name turned in that the county could catch with a $500 fine dumping this stuff out on our property," he said. "Firefighters are out here as volunteers and we offer our property for this program. You see what we're dealing with now," he said as he pointed to piles of smelly garbage on the ground. Clubb said that the amount of trash scattered around was enough to fill several more dumpsters. Scott Waste provided two dumpsters at each fire department earlier in the week. Lindsey said he planned on attending the next fiscal court meeting, which is scheduled for Monday, April 24th at 9am to speak to the court in person to voice his concerns. "This has to stop," he said. "I know the majority of people use this how its supposed to be used, but it only takes a few to ruin it for everybody." While at both Kyrock and Chalybeate today taking photos, there was a steady stream of folks arriving to dump their garbage in the overflow, but since there were fire department members at both stations, they were turned away with trucks and trailer loads full of junk. The county and Scott Waste join together each year to bring the free service to Edmonson County. Unless there are major policy changes to the event, Clubb said it's likely to be discontinued. "This is something we do to help our county, but if it can't be done right we'll have to stop it," he said. *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. MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky., April 14, 2017 – Green River and Nolin River within Mammoth Cave National Park have reopened to river users following completion of the demolition of Lock & Dam No. 6 near Brownsville, Kentucky by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
River access at Dennison Ferry and Green River Ferry is open to canoes and kayaks. Entering and exiting the river by canoe and kayak at Houchin Ferry is not recommended. In the park, motorboats may launch at Green River Ferry only. Park managers plan to make minor, temporary improvements at Houchin Ferry to ease canoe and kayak access. Park staff will prepare a visitor use study of the area later this year. As the river adjusts to its new lower level following the breach and removal of Lock & Dam No. 6, river banks are draining, drying and slumping. Trees falling into the river will become debris during flooding and may pose hazards to navigation. The US Army Corps of Engineers has opened the tail water ramp below Nolin Dam. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that, at approximately River Mile 3, they encountered "whole trees still anchored by stumps...from bank to bank." These trees are in the river due to bank failures that have occurred since November 2016. Paddlers on Nolin River will encounter downed trees and may need to make multiple portages. As time progresses, it is anticipated that these river obstructions will clear themselves and Nolin will become more friendly to more skill levels. Edmonson Voice Staff Report: Edmonson County sixth graders got hands-on experience during the 5/6 Safety Camp today as local emergency and specialty professionals gave safety demonstrations on a variety of subjects. Edmonson EMS, Chalybeate Fire Dept, the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, Edmonson County Saddle Club, EC PAWS, Animal Control, and others were on hand to show the students how to handle various situations in several categories. Students enjoyed animal safety demonstrations with live horses while also watching the Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit "Tango" in action. The event is sponsored every year by the Edmonson County Family Resource Centers and Community Education.
Edmonson Voice Staff: Recently, House Bill 13, the Bowling Green Veterans Center Bill, was signed into law by Governor Matt Bevin. Sponsored by Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Brownsville, the measure commits $10.5 million in matching state bonding funds for a veterans’ nursing home in Bowling Green. A statement from Representative Meredith's office said "Committing the funds was a necessary step for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to begin construction on the much-needed facility. A commitment letter will now be sent to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, moving the project onto the active federal funding list." The Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs (KDVA) conducted a market assessment and feasibility study for the State Veterans’ Nursing Home Program, which concluded that south central Kentucky was the area most in need of a veterans’ nursing home. The statement also said "Rep. Meredith has led the charge on the this issue since 2016 to ensure the brave men and women who have selflessly served our country have access to quality healthcare." All Fridays are good, but we hope you have a really good one today. However you celebrate Easter, we wish you a happy Good Friday and wonderful Easter weekend.
Thanks for making the Edmonson Voice our county's number one source for local news and information. Edmonson District Court was held on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. The Honorable Judge John M. McCarty presiding. Blake Vanover, Speeding 18mph over limit. Pleaded guilty. Failure to produce insurance card. Dismissed. Fines and costs $179. Sandra Keith Kenner, No/expired registration plates. Failure of owner to maintain required insurance/security first. Improper display of registration plates. Careless driving. Pleaded not guilty to all charges. Pretrial conference 5/9/17. John Bruce Patton III, Theft by deception-including cold checks under $500. Failed to appear, $250 bench warrant issued. Craig A. Hudson, First degree possession of controlled substance/drug unspecified-first offense. Drug paraphernalia-buy/possess. Pleaded not guilty to both charges. Pretrial hearing 4/25/17. Zachary A. Kinser, Reckless driving. One headlight. Possession of controlled substance-first degree-3rd or more offense-drug unspecified. Unlawful transaction with a minor-2nd degree. Drug paraphernalia-buy/possess. Pleaded not guilty to all charges. Pretrial hearing 4/25/17. Darren Doyle, story and video:
Green River Lock and Dam #6 is officially gone. As of Monday, only a small portion of the lock wall remained and was scheduled to be demolished by the day's end. The north side wall has been broken into pieces that resemble large riprap and excavation workers were clearing out thick, wooded areas surrounding the original parking area. Mike Turner, Corps of Engineer project manager, said that the entire process has been very smooth. "The entire dam and lock wall removal should be finished by Friday," he said. "We still have plenty to do, but this portion should be complete." Workers left an original wooden post just upstream from the dam with it's hanging sign that reads "DANGER DAM." "There was no reason to tear that down," said Turner. "We wanted to leave that for history's sake." Turner said that while the top concrete portion of the dam had been removed, the area would be re-evaluated when lower water levels were present to be sure enough of the dam is gone. Crews are now working on the finish grade work to complete the project. County Discusses Possibilities Of Moving Head Start and Community Action Out Of Community Center4/11/2017
Darren Doyle, story: The Edmonson County fiscal court discussed the lease agreement between Community Action of Southern Kentucky, which also includes the local Head Start program, with the county and their use of the Community Center building. The lease agreement is up for renewal and according to Judge Cannon, the terms of the renewal are the same, with the exception of a five year term instead of four, and is for the amount of only $215 per month. According to Cannon, that amount is only for the office space used by Community Action and has nothing to do with Head Start, nor their use of the Community Center gym. Furthermore, Cannon said neither Head Start nor Community Action pay anything for utilities, which the county pays all for the building, excluding the County Clerk's Office which is funded by that office alone. Cannon said that the Head Start program uses the south end lawn of the building for a playground area, but that is becoming a conflict with county employees and smoke breaks. "Apparently, according to Head Start rules, their children can't be around people that are smoking, so when county employees go out for a smoke break, the kids have to do something else if they're on the playground," said Cannon. He also said that it sometimes becomes difficult to hold meetings in the Judge's office due to the noise coming from the Head Start program outside the window. He added that occasionally, prisoners are near the area for a number of reasons and that children shouldn't be around that, either. "It's not that we don't want to work with Head Start or Community Action, but our courthouse just isn't a very good place for that sort of thing." According to County Attorney Greg Vincent, a rental analysis was performed on the property which compared the facility to similar ones in Bowling Green, Louisville, and other governments. The analysis showed that the facilities being used by CA and HS are valued at a $33,000 per year rental income, compared to only $2800/year that the county currently receives.
Vincent also added that according to the language in the lease, Community Action can use the entire building, not just their office, which he said shouldn't be the case. The office space alone being rented by CA for $215/mo was valued at $539/mo. Cannon said that no other county government in the district provides these services for Head Start and that with Edmonson County's current budget situation something needed to change. "These programs do lots of good and we don't want to see them stop, but there has to be a happy medium for their continued use and benefit the county as well," he said. Cannon suggested that Head Start move to a different location so that the county can use the entire Community Center. "It's not that we want to make money off of Head Start, but we need office space for other county offices," he said. "We have no space left for anything. Every nook and cranny is full, every closet is full, we simply have no space left." Magistrate Mark Woosley suggested extending the contract for one year instead of the 5 year lease the organization is requesting, but at bare minimum, requiring Head Start to pay their share of the utilities for that period, which is estimated to be around $3500 per year. Laura Thomas, local Head Start Director said she was unaware of the discussion and was "unable to make a statement regarding the accuracy of any of the information at this time." She also said she would research the situation, consult the central office, and try to address the issue as soon as possible. Requests for comments from Community Action were not immediately returned. The court agreed to postpone the vote on the lease until the next meeting, which is scheduled for April 24, 2017 at 9am. |
Archives
November 2024
|