Edmonson Voice Report:
On T​uesday, April 7, 2026, Edmonson County Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey signed a proclamation declaring April "Child Abuse Awareness Month" in Edmonson County, as a number of community members attended the occasion.

"Preventing child abuse and neglect is a community problem that depends on involvement among people throughout the community to help strengthen families and nurture our children," the proclamation stated.

"Child abuse and neglect can be reduced by making sure each family has the support they need to raise their children in a healthy environment. Effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships created among state and local government agencies, schools, faith communities, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the business community. We, the City of Brownsville and the County of Edmonson, Kentucky, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Edmonson County and urge all citizens to increase their participation in our efforts to prevent child abuse and strengthen our communities."
 
L-R: Back Row:
Wendi Allen-Rush – Edmonson County Protection and Permanency
Lauren Cottrell – Edmonson County Protection and Permanency
Judge Executive Scott Lindsey-Edmonson County
Amanda and Evan Ray – Edmonson County RNC
 
L-R: Middle Row:
Justin Willhite – Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center (BRACAC)
Trooper Katan Parker-KSP3
Leah Thompson - Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center (BRACAC)
Cindy Branstetter – Edmonson County Protection and Permanency
Misty Morgan – Edmonson County Protection and Permanency
Heather Ritter – Edmonson County Protection and Permanency
Andrea Webb – Edmonson County Middle School (ECMS) Counselor
Jennifer Chandler – Edmonson County Protection and Permanency
Wayne Decker – Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center (BRACAC)
 
L-R: Front Row:
Sabrina Durbin-Child Advocacy Center (PCAKY)
Edmonson County Sheriff James Vincent

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
If you blinked, you might have missed it but 15,000 Easter eggs were snatched up in seconds at the annual Edmonson County Parks and Rec Easter Egg Hunt at the HWY 70 Ballpark today.

Multiple fields were utilized with eggs "hidden" all over the grass and dirt as hundreds of kids dashed across the way gathering as many as they could. 

Many of the plastic eggs contained not only candy and gum, but also winning tickets that were exchanged for prizes. Those prizes ranged from balls and bats to scooters and even inflatable pools and water sports.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Vietnam Veterans both local and otherwise, were honored in the Edmonson County Community Center today to commemorate National Vietnam Veterans Day, sponsored by local DAV Chapter 32 and Auxiliary.

This year's featured veteran was Stephen Ray McCrady, Sgt First Class (E-7) U.S. Army, who was the son of Richard McCrady and Jane Webb Johnson of Edmonson County.

Sgt. McCrady enlisted in the Army at age 19 and served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970 as a door gunner, mechanic, and repairman. 

Gerald Carroll, local VFW member delivered the remarks on Sgt. McCrady, who said ​was a representative of that generation of young men who came of age with the specter of the war and draft ever presence in their youth.

"During his time in Vietnam, he flew over 1400 hours in the “Huey” which was the Army’s UH-1 Iroquois helicopter. That is an extraordinary amount of flight time, equating to almost 4 hours per day, every day he was there. No doubt many days exceeded 10-12 hour. He was initially assigned as a door gunner which was common for the new guys with little experience but as he developed his skills and ability, he was made the crew chief of his aircraft."

"Crew chiefs were normally assigned to an aircraft which was their “baby.” They lived with it constantly, took care of it and sometimes even slept with it. After a long days mission, the CE stayed on the flight line to pull a daily inspection, check for possible combat damage. Many times, they had already missed supper and they knew they would have to be up early for the next days missions. Many CEs would rather miss food, or a day off or anything else to avoid not being with their bird when it flew. They would fly with anyone just to be with their ship. There was a bond there that is difficult for the uninitiated to understand."

Carroll became emotional multiple times during his remarks.

"To the soldiers in the field the helicopters were literally their lifeline – it dropped them off and returned to pick them up, it brought hot food when available, brought them letters from home, resupplied with ammo, lit the night sky with airborne flares, provided covering fire and most importantly extracted the wounded. Men like Stephen McCrady did this job with pride and determination under the most difficult of circumstances. The helicopter was a prized target for the enemy and when the helo’s approached every gun was turned towards them. During Steve’s tour of duty, he was shot down 3 times and on a couple of occasions had to spend the night in the unforgiving jungle awaiting rescue."

"Our Vietnam Vets never received a proper homecoming, most just blended back into their lives among their fellow Americans but that part of their youth will forever be with them, the good and the bad.

Perhaps the motto of the 134th AHC sums it up best," Carroll said as he came to a close. “Heavy is the weight of freedom, Blessed are those who carry it."

Among the guest speakers at today's ceremony were Edmonson County Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey, Chaplain Freeman Ramey, KY State DAV Commander and Vietnam Vet Mike Stoyonovich, Sheriff James Vincent, Clark Arnold, Army Command Sgt. Major (Ret.), and Maurita Miller.

DAV Commander Jack Hasty rang the memorial bell as each fallen Edmonson County Vietnam Veteran was called. Those names included:

• Harvey Chambers
• Charles Wayne Graham
• Trenton Gravil
• Danny Edward Heraeu
• James Larry Hightower
• Darrell Hogan
• Ernest Edward Lane, Jr.
• Travis O. Poss
• Ernest Wayne Rutherford
• Elzie Sanders, Jr.
• Bobby Lee Tarter
• William Roy Watt 

Peytin Manor, story:
On April 2nd, Edmonson County High School received a $5,000 grant from a highly competitive regional grant program administered in partnership with the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network and managed by Battelle Education. Out of 528 applications submitted from schools across the Tennessee Valley Authority’s seven-state service area, only 339 were selected for the grant. 

The funds will be exclusively used on ECHS’s engineering pathway, which includes four courses: Introduction to Engineering, Engineering II, Manufacturing Engineering, and Industrial Engineering.

​These classes are designed to provide a comprehensive foundation in design, fabrication, and manufacturing principles. Students are already gaining experience with machining tools such as drill presses, milling machines, and lathes, as well as advanced technologies like robotic cells, waterjet cutters, plasma cutters, lasers, CNC machines, and 3D printers.

The addition will also support the purchase of a robotics and engineering work cell designed to replicate real-world automation, including robotic systems, conveyors, and the movement of materials between processes.

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