The Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office has announced the following pre-approved traffic safety checkpoint locations:

1. KY 728 at Nolin Dam Overlook
2. Intersection of KY 259 and KY 70 (Brownsville City Limits)
3. Intersection of S Main St and KY 70 (Brownsville City Limits)
4. Intersection of US 31-W and KY 259
5. Intersection of KY 101 and KY 743 (New Grove Road)

“In preparation for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, our office will be conducting traffic safety checkpoints throughout the county to help ensure the safety of all motorists. In accordance with legal requirements, the locations of these checkpoints will be made available to the public," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

"We encourage everyone to drive safely and responsibly.”

Darren Doyle, story:
Two men were arrested and charged with felony theft after nearly a four-month investigation of a stolen tool operation that ended on Indian Creek Road in Brownsville.

According to Chief Deputy Clay Deweese of the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, the investigation started back in March, with a Bowling Green police detective contacting Deweese about a suspect that might be located in Edmonson County.

In an interview with the Edmonson Voice, Deweese said he began his investigation soon after and that he received a tip one of the suspects could be located at 123 Indian Creek Road in Brownsville. He said law enforcement began looking for Curry Dodd, (30) of Brownsville, who reportedly drove a Ford F150 pickup.

Deweese said on April 28th he received a call from a Segal Road resident who said over $10,000 worth of tools were stolen from his construction trailer on a job site on Morgantown Road. That same day, someone reported a Ford pickup leaving that same job site at 4:30 in the morning with no headlights. 

The next day, Deputy Deweese received information that a large amount of Milwaukee tools were pawned by Curry Dodd at Walk N Talk Pawn, located on Fairview Avenue in Bowling Green. Deweese said he obtained video footage of Dodd's truck with tools in the pickup bed and that Dodd had signed the paperwork to pawn the tools.

Those pawned items contained tools that were specifically marked by the Segal Road resident who had reported his tools stolen the day before, according to Deweese, and that all the tools pawned by Dodd were seized by law enforcement. Over $2K worth of the Segal resident's tools were recovered here, Deweese stated.

Another theft was reported soon after, at a difference job site on Morgantown Road with over $1600 worth of tools begin stolen. An arrest warrant was then issued for Curry Dodd. 

Deweese stated that he arrived at 123 Indian Creek Road the next day and made contact with a female resident. He said there was a small outbuilding at the residence where he saw a large quantity of Dewalt tools in plain sight. Deweese said he received permission from the female to search the property about the same time Jeffrey Whittaker, (40) of Brownsville came out of the building and locked it up. 

Deweese said Whittaker denied any knowledge of the tools being stolen but Dodd fled on foot. Canine units were utilized and tracked Dodd out to HWY 259 but the scent was lost, he said. 

On June 11th, Deweese said that Dodd was picked up on a traffic stop on Scottsville Road by BGPD officers and that Dodd was transferred into Deweese's custody that day for the investigation. He said Dodd also denied knowledge of the stolen tools but there was enough evidence for charges. Whittaker was arrested the next day at 123 Indian Creek Road. 

In total, around $40,000 of stolen tools were discovered in the investigation, Deweese said, with most of it already being recovered.

Kentucky State Police also investigated a related theft incident on the Edmonson-Barren line during the same time, Deweese said.

Both Dodd and Whittaker were arrested and charged with Theft by unlawful taking or disposition over $10K, a Class C felony, as well as Criminal mischief third degree. If found guilty, each faces five to ten years in prison.

More charges are pending in Warren County, according to Deweese.

Edmonson Voice Report:
The City of Brownsville and Caveland Environmental Authority has merged in the water and sewer departments, with changes effective July 1, 2025.

In a statement sent to all Brownsville water and sewer customers, the City said:

"The City of Brownsville is informing all businesses and residents that, effective July 1, 2025, trash services will be billed solely by the city. Caveland will assume responsibility for billing and collecting water and sewer services.

For any inquiries related to water and sewer, you must contact Caveland directly at 508 South Dixie Hwy, PO Box 426, Cave City, KY 42127, or you may call 1-877-773-3887 or 270-773-2887.

It is essential to understand that if you are enrolling in bank drafts, you must obtain your account number from Caveland, not the City of Brownsville. Caveland will assign new account numbers to all customers. Ensure you take the necessary steps to set up your services correctly."

Caveland Environmental also released a statement on the merge:

"CEA wants to welcome customers from the City of Brownsville on July 1, 2025. This will include water and sewer. All billing and payments after July 1st will go through the CEA office. We want to assure all customers that you will receive quality service through this transition and beyond."

Darren Doyle, story, photo, and video:
Brownsville Mayor Ricky Simon invited the Edmonson Voice out to the crosswalk between the Bank of Edmonson County and the Edmonson County Community Center on Main Street today to prove a point that both drivers and pedestrians should use more caution at the location, where a lady was struck by a car and injured two years ago.

Mayor Simon said the crosswalk has been there ever since he could remember.

"As far as I know, it's been here about as long as the Community Center building has been there. With so much happening in the Community Center and Courthouse these days, lots of people park at the bank and cross the street. Even with the lights that the state has now allowed, people still need to use more caution."

Simon said he wasn't trying to "gripe" at people; he just wants to raise more awareness.

"Safety is our goal here, for both drivers and pedestrians," he said. "It's more common sense than anything for the pedestrians, but we want to encourage drivers to watch for the signs and the lights, but mostly people."

Simon said drivers are required by law to stop at the crosswalk if someone is ready to cross, especially when the lights are activated, which is done at the push of a button by a pedestrian. 

We did a live test by pushing the button and waiting for drivers to stop, which you can watch in the video below. No one did at first and several cars drove right through the sign at full speed while we waited to cross. We obviously didn't just start walking when the lights were activated.

"Common sense still prevails," said the mayor. "Obviously, we're not just going to take off without making sure it's safe to do so, and I'm sure if we had started out, the drivers would have seen us--but again--common sense. We're just offering a friendly reminder that pedestrians have the right-of-way here when they need to cross."

Mayor Simon tried the crosswalk one last time after we shot video with the same result occurring as multiple cars drove on by. Finally, Brownsville Police Chief Jeremy Hodges stopped to let the mayor cross.

"He'd better stop," joked Simon.

Edmonson Voice Report:
At the request of their power supplier, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Warren RECC is asking members to voluntarily reduce the use of all non-essential electricity. This will help power providers across the Tennessee Valley to continue delivering reliable service during this period of exceptionally hot temperatures across the region, WRECC stated.
 
“This is a precautionary measure,” said Butch Massey, Vice President of Engineering at Warren RECC. “Anytime we experience a period of extreme heat, it significantly increases the demand for electricity. Together with TVA, we are proactively taking steps to reduce energy consumption by asking our members to take small practical steps that can have a big impact on our ability to meet the demand for electricity”.
 
Here are some quick and easy ways to make an impact and save you money:

• One of the simplest ways to do this is by turning up the thermostat. Raising the thermostat even one degree can help reduce the demand on our electric system and result in a savings on your monthly bill.
• Delay using heat-producing appliances like stovetops, ovens, and clothes dryers during peak demand periods.
• Lower your hot water heater temperature to 120°F and wash laundry with cold water. Water heating accounts for 15-20 percent of the energy consumed in your home, so small changes can make a big difference.
• Turn off lights and electronics when you leave a room

"During temperature extremes, don’t forget to check on relatives, friends and neighbors to ensure their safety," WRECC said in a statement. "Pets and livestock will also need a helping hand to remain safe."
 
To report power outages In Warren County, call 270-843-9710; outside Warren County, call 1-888-604-4321. Outages may also be reported through the SmartHub app or by texting #out to 85700 if you are signed up for WRECC texting.
 
To see current outages, visit www.wrecc.com and click the “View Current Outages” icon. 

Darren Doyle, story:
The Edmonson County Fiscal Court voted to approve an increase in county fire dues at the June 23rd fiscal court meeting in Brownsville, with the first reading passing yesterday.

The increase is only the second one in over 30 years with the most recent one occurring in 2019, from $25 to $30.

The new increase, if passed on the second reading at the next fiscal court meeting, will be $50 for every property tax bill.

We spoke with Edmonson County Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey about the court's decision to raise the dues, which will go into effect on this year's property tax bills if the second reading passes. Lindsey said the decision came after local fire chiefs asked the court for assistance with rising costs and needs.

"Nobody wants to see an increase in fire dues—but the reality is, at times it is necessary," Lindsey told the Edmonson Voice today.

"The cost of operating our local volunteer fire departments has gone up significantly across the board. From essential equipment and maintenance to rising insurance premiums and fuel costs, our departments are being stretched thin."

He then gave multiple examples of rising costs that are affecting local departments, which included:

• Turn Out Gear (Helmet, Jacket, Pants, Boots, and Gloves - $4,374 per person. These have a 10 year expiration date on each item.
• SCBA Air Packs (Mask, Air Pack, Bottle for Oxygen) - $9,179.66 each
• Fire Department Frequency Radios - $1,600 each
• Hose:  50 feet of 1 3/4" Hose -  $2,618.56 -- 50 feet of 2.5" Hose - $5,153.80
• Insurance - $15,224 per year 

Judge Lindsey noted that this is only a partial list of expenses and that some of these have seen an increase in cost of more than 50% since the last Ordinance that set the dues at $30 per year.

"These dues directly support the volunteers who show up day and night to protect our homes, property, and loved ones. It’s not just about buildings or trucks—it’s about the safety of our community members in an emergency situation."

The JE also said he spoke with several insurance companies and asked about the difference in homeowners' insurance that a trained volunteer fire department can make on their insurance premiums.

"Although they could not give me an exact savings or cost because of the many variables involved, one of the agents that I spoke to stated that the close proximity to a fire department causes a significant decrease in the cost of the local community's homeowner's insurance premiums. They also stated that many companies will deny coverage to any home that is more than five miles from a fire department. Speaking from personal knowledge of a situation, one of my good friends received an increase in their insurance because of a clerical error that was corrected based on the proximity of the Fire Department that covered their district. The error incorrectly showed their home being within 5 miles of their fire department, because in reality, they were more than five miles from the fire department that covered their district, their insurance increased by $670 per year."

Judge Lindsey described local fire departments as a "a committed group of public servants that want nothing more than to keep their community safe."

"While no one likes increases in fire dues, taxes, or anything else that costs our hard working families money out of their pocket, we feel that this increase is warranted and most everyone will agree that an extra $20 per year to support our fire departments is a small price to pay for our ability to have lower insurance rates, and more safety and security in our communities. The increase in dues is simply to help offset some of the operational costs of the fire departments. The last thing that we should want is to have a volunteer fire department that cannot afford the operational expenses that it takes to keep our community safe."

Edmonson County has seven fire departments, which are all 100% volunteer, which include Lincoln, Kyrock, Bear Creek, Brownsville, Chalybeate, Rocky Hill, and Wingfield.

The second reading is expected to pass at the July 14th Edmonson County Fiscal Court meeting.

Darren Doyle, story:
A two vehicle accident on Nolin Dam Road resulted in the death of one woman yesterday evening, according to Kentucky State Police.

In a released statement, KSP said that around 7PM on Monday, June 23rd, Kentucky State Police Post 03 was contacted by the Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office requesting assistance with a possible fatal collision and troopers arrived on the scene at the 3900 block of Nolin Dam Road (KY 728).

According to police, a white 2001 Mercedes-Benz, operated by Laura McCain, 64, of Lindseyville, was traveling east on KY 728 and was attempting to make a left turn into a gravel parking lot. Ms. McCain entered the path of a red 2015 Jeep Wrangler, operated by Raymond Jaggers, 35, of Mammoth Cave, that was traveling westbound on KY 728, KSP stated. Ms. McCain was taken to Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Medical Center, where she later succumbed to her injuries.

KSP was asked about Mr. Jaggers' injuries as well as any additional factors in the crash, to which KSP replied "Neither were mentioned."

The investigation is ongoing and will be led by Trooper Grant Robertson, who was assisted at the scene by the Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office, Edmonson County EMS, and other KSP personnel.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
A Smiths Grove woman was dragged from a wrecked car moments before it burst into flames after a crash today on 31W in Edmonson County.

According to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, law enforcement was called to the scene of a crash in the 17000 block of Louisville Road at 2:19PM to the report of a car on fire that had crashed into a utility pole and overturned.

Law enforcement said Karen Johnson, (56) of Smiths Grove, was traveling north in a 2012 Chevy Impala when she apparently suffered a diabetic medical episode. Johnson's car left the roadway, struck a utility pole and overturned completely, landing upright in the grass. 

The Sheriff's Office stated that a nearby resident, Jakob Maynard, pulled Mrs. Johnson out of the car moments before it burst into flames.

Law enforcement said she was treated for non life-threatening injuries and diabetes-related issues before transporting her to the hospital in Bowling Green.

In addition to the Sheriff's Office, the Rocky Hill, Chalybeate, and Brownsville Fire Departments also responded to the scene, along with Edmonson EMS and Warren RECC.

Darren Doyle, story:
Last week, the Edmonson County Fiscal Court passed the second reading of their annual budget numbers for the fiscal year from July 2025 to June 2026 in the amount of $12,191,215.00, which is up by about a million dollars from last year's budget.

The following increases were included in the county budget, according to Edmonson County Treasurer Tammi Willhite:

Fiscal Year 25/26                    Current Fiscal Year 24/25

GENERAL  - $5,057,765                $3,792,538
ROAD - $ 4,980,090                   $3,686,288
JAIL - $ 608,860                      $564,900
LGEA- $ 25,000                       $19,000
ROOM - $ 175,000                     $166,000   
OPIOID - $ 343,000                    $320,000
PARKS & REC - $ 452,500               $417,850
E911 - $ 76,000                       $131,500
E911 WIRELESS - $ 366,000            $295,000
CLERK SPECIAL FUND - $ 108,000         $90,000
ARPA  $ 0                            $1,660,000

TOTAL $12,191,215.00                $ 11,143,076.00

The new fiscal year also shows no more ARPA appropriations, as the remaining funding will be transferred to the county's general account.

According to Treasurer Willhite, all of the county's $2.3M in Federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds have either been appropriated or spent, with no outstanding payments to be made to any entity.  

Approximate ARPA appropriations include:

• $130K for voting equipment
• $650K for Edmonson Water improvements
• up to $210K for local fire department equipment ($30K ea)
• $245K for new ambulance/equipment
• $130K for new dispatch equipment
• $150K premium pay for county employees during the COVID shutdown
• $67K for road department skid steer
• $430K for PEP Beautification project
• $30K for architectural design for animal shelter
• 1.5% transaction fee to an account management/protection firm

"Last year, we were eligible to do a loss revenue based on the calculations performed by Compass (the contracted fund management company); we were able to transfer the remaining ARPA funds to our general fund and utilize them towards regular government expenses."

In June of 2023, the Fiscal Court voted to allocate $430K to Preserving Edmonson Pride for a Courthouse/Community Center beautification project, but the project has been on hold ever since the county found out it would be responsible for relocating utility poles with their own funding. Without the poles being moved, the proposed work cannot be done. So far, Willhite said only $17K of that allocated money has been used on the beautification project, with the recent painting of the Community Center. 

The court also voted for cost of living increases for county employees of 2% with elected officials receiving a 2.9% raise.

​Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
Edmonson County is growing.
 
Edmonson County is also preparing for their growth and future, starting with their kids.
 
South Edmonson County Elementary School on Chalybeate School Rd. broke ground Saturday, June 14th as one thing in preparation of things to come.
 
“We’re adding classrooms in the back and restrooms upstairs and downstairs in the back,” Edmonson County Superintendent of Schools Brian Alexander said before the groundbreaking ceremony.
 
They are expanding the media center of the library and redoing the roof in a couple of spots as well as expanding the parking lot area, Alexander said.
 
“Parents, when they come in for afternoon pickup, things like that, and events and things like that, we don’t want to have people parking in the grass and sitting out on the road,” Alexander said. “That’s a safety feature as much as anything else.”
 
“I am very excited to be able to do this,” he said. “One of my goals when I became superintendent was to improve facilities and we’ve been able to do that.”
 

​He is proud to be able to break ground on the project and said one thing that makes it easier is how well he feels he and the Board share a similar vision and work together to achieve it, Alexander said.
 
The money is from a bonding allotted to each school district “based on a formula that allows how much money they can bond,” Alexander said.
 
One reason they are doing this, he said, including Kyrock, is because “we know Edmonson County is getting ready to grow,” he said.
 
With houses being built across the street from South Edmonson and the developments throughout Chalybeate and Edmonson County, it sure seems like it just might.
 
They want to stay ahead of that, Alexander explained. They never want to be caught having to expand with mobile trailers resulting in kids to be out in the weather to move around, he said.
 
“It’s a very exciting time to be a part of Edmonson County Schools,” Alexander said.

​As the event began, the first speaker was Edmonson County Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey. He welcomed everyone and the “new chapter” he said is opening in Edmonson County.
 
The expansion of the school and then the ability to retain students after 4th grade through to 6th grade will benefit the school, the students and their families plus the community for generations to come, Lindsey said.
 
District 19 Kentucky Representative Michael Meredith stopped by to not only share in the excitement for the new growth in the county but offered commendation for the county to see down the pike and prepare for the future, he said.
 
South Edmonson Principal Josh Long shared in everyone’s excitement.
 
“It’s very exciting,” Long said. “(I’m)Just thankful for the opportunity that Mr. Alexander and the Board members have given us. I’m really excited we get to keep kids from kindergarten through sixth grade, and we get them to that point and prepare them for middle school.”
 
Currently, after fourth grade, students go to the 5/6 Center for fifth and sixth grades. The 2025-26 school year will be the final one for the 5/6 Center.
 
“We are really excited to get the opportunity to help them get prepared before middle school,” Long said.
 
The construction is scheduled to start in the next couple weeks or so, weather permitting.

Darren Doyle, story: photo courtesy of Department of Homeland Security & Government Affairs
In a turn of events from yesterday, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, M.D. (R-KY) told the Edmonson Voice this morning that he had just received a phone call from President Trump, who stated that the "uninvite" he had received from today's White House Picnic was all a misunderstanding.

"He actually just called me a few minutes ago and said 'of course I'm invited to the picnic,' he just couldn't understand what could've happened," Sen. Paul said from Washington, D.C. in a telephone interview with the Voice.

The senator was filmed in an interview yesterday in Washington criticizing "lower level staff" of the Trump administration for informing him that he was uninvited from today's event. Yesterday, Sen. Paul called it "petty" and "immature."

"They reversed course on it and we're not one to hold a grudge, so we will go," he said. "My son and his wife live in Bowling Green and they've brought their son, our grandson, who's six months old up. He's got a little "Make America Great" hat he wants to wear at the picnic, or at least his parents want him to wear. So, we're not implacable enemies--the President--but if they want to treat us that way, I mean, it certainly isn't good for him or anybody to, I guess be so petty and childish about this."

We asked him about President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill," which Paul has been outspokenly against, or at least one major portion of it, which is the increasing of the debt spending limit.

Paul said there was quite a bit that he actually supported in the bill, which he feels like is getting lost in all the focus of what he opposes.

"in 2017, we passed significant tax cuts, and I was a big part of that. I helped to negotiate those tax cuts. I was at the White House in the Oval Office negotiating that with the president. And so I support those. I voted for them in 2017, and I want to renew them, and I want to make them permanent. That's really the largest part of the bill, actually, is the tax cuts. In addition to that, there are those of us who think that the spending is out control and that we'll never get Democrats to vote for spending cuts, so we need to have some spending cuts in there. And so, you know, we've been advocating for more spending cuts to be in the bill. We think what's in there now is wimpy, anemic, and it needs to be more."

"But the big thing preventing me from supporting what I call the "Big, Not-Yet Beautiful Bill" is the increase in the debt ceiling to five trillion dollars. This is the largest increase in the debt ceiling ever in our history. And traditionally, the debt ceiling has been increased each time by democrats and the big government republicans who support deficit spending. And conservatives have voted against this as a way of showing our opposition to accumulation of debt. And so, you know, it has to go up, but what I've offered is, instead of doing $5 trillion, why don't we raise it for three months, which is $500 billion-- which is also a startling amount, that we're borrowing $500 billion every three months-- but then at the end of three months, the people who are making us promises now that they will cut spending, we reassess where we are and decide, you know, how much to give them on the next tranche."

"To me, the analogy is that like, if you give your 16 year-old a credit card, which is probably a mistake, but if you give your 16 year-old a credit card and the limit's $2,000 and they quickly run it up, and they come back to you, would you give them more credit or tell them, no, they need to pay down their credit card? Congress is about like an irresponsible teenager. That's the history of spending up here."

Sen. Paul said these tax cuts will not fail because of him but in the event that it needs his vote, he would negotiate. However, it would also take negotiation from the other side.

"Right now, they don't think they need my vote. That's sort of the purpose of punishing me by uninviting me to the congressional picnic, etc., but I think the fight is worth it in the sense that I think the debt is the number one problem we face in the country."

When asked if he thought separations in the bill were a real possibility, he said that he has pointed out several discrepancies where the budget could simply be better and his colleagues are beginning to agree in some areas.

"I think there is still some hope to make the bill better. And there is possibility of me voting for it if they would separate out the debt ceiling and separate vote.“

L.A. Riots, Deportation:

We asked him directly about the current riots in Los Angeles and if he supported President Trump's deportation actions.

He said it's a real problem when you have the mayor of Los Angeles and the Governor of California "basically resisting federal law."

"The federal law says that, you know, if you're in custody for assaulting somebody and you spend six months in prison, they're supposed to check and see if you're in the country illegally. And then when you're done with your prison sentence, you're supposed to be sent home. You're supposed to be deported. Well, you know, the mayor of Los Angeles and the governor of California are resisting this. They're saying, 'we're not going to obey the federal law.' But since the Civil War and since the civil rights era, we've acknowledged that when states resist the federal law, the federal government can come in to guarantee the law."

"You've got people standing-- hundreds, if not thousands of them-- waving the Mexican flag. To me, it's a great insult, you know, they come to this country, they want to come to this country. They say they like our country, but then they're holding a foreign flag and burning government vehicles. They should be punished. And if the local officials aren't going to do it, it ends up, you know, being a resort to federal officials. Now, would I prefer local? Yeah, I mean, I think local police are always more aware of the Fourth Amendment, more aware of the First Amendment. It's not always easy."

"You got to separate out what is legitimate protest from actual rioting. And, you know, the police have to do this difficult job, and I'm afraid sometimes soldiers aren't trained this way. You know, soldiers are to go in and, you know, kill the enemy. So it's just it's a tricky job for the military. But if the local officials are going to resist them, you know, I have not criticized the president for this because, frankly, what are we going to do, are we going to let our cities burn?"

Dr. Anthony Fauci Investigation:

We asked Senator Paul to update us on the possible investigations of Dr. Anthony Fauci and the origins of the Covid virus of 2020.

Dr. Paul, who serves as the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, said the committee now has subpoena power.

"In January, I issued subpoenas to 14 different agencies to look into the COVID cover up. I believe they knew all along, that they had funded this. I believe they knew all along that there was a distinct possibility that the pandemic arose in a Wuhan lab in China that had been funded by our NIH and by Anthony Fauci. I have recently tipped off the FBI about the existence of his computer, his hard drive, and his phones. The FBI is now in possession of those. So there's going to be a forensic investigation of what he did or did not do on his electronic devices. And then we're going to go from there."

"The discussion and decision over why they funded this, (I'm) currently interviewing the people that were part of that process, and ultimately, I will interview and subpoena Anthony Fauci to a public hearing, and we will insist that he appear, but I have to interview these other people first to find out what questions I want to ask him."

Paul said the estimated timeline on this course of action would be the fall of this year.

Jeffery Epstein:

With our scheduled time running out, we asked him point blank, "Did Jeffery Epstein kill himself?" With a laugh, Senator Paul replied,

"Yeah, I got no knowledge on that. It's part of, sort of urban lore, and I try not to get into things--- I have an opinion on almost every policy you could ask me about, but on stuff I don't know, I don't want to wade into because it's become so, you know, wrought with urban mythology. So I'm going to stay out of that one."

"We’re looking forward to the upcoming pop-up event in Edmonson County," said Toni Benedict from the Division of Driver Licensing & Pop Up Program.

She said staff will begin issuing licenses at 9:30AM and will be unavailable through lunch from 12-1PM.

Darren Doyle, story:
A Brownsville man was shot and killed by a law enforcement officer in Allen County this afternoon, according to a press release from the Kentucky State Police.

KSP stated that the Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) was requested by the Allen County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) to investigate an officer-involved shooting that occurred on June 6, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. CT on Shockley Road in Scottsville. 

According to police, Allen County deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a residence on Shockley Road where they encountered a white male armed with a firearm. One deputy discharged his agency-issued weapon, fatally striking the man who was pronounced deceased at the scene, who was identified as Joshua R. Stanka, 42 years old, of Brownsville, police said.

"KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates officer-involved shootings throughout the commonwealth as requested by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies," the statement read. "KSP is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation. To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSP's standard operating procedure not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts have been gathered. Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case."

Darren Doyle, story and photo:
The Edmonson County Water District announced today that nearly 5,000 district customers outside of Edmonson County will be transferred to other water service providers.

In a statement provided to the Edmonson Voice, the ECWD said that in early 2024 the Board of the Edmonson County Water District set out to complete a long term assessment of the condition of the Edmonson County Water District infrastructure and assets. The results of the assessment showed that one of the most challenging struggles was the capacity of available treated water to the customers between the two treatment plants.

An original study conducted by HMB Engineering of Frankfort, KY generated a plan to consolidate both plants into one and locate a new treatment plant somewhere on Nolin Lake in the center of the entire service area. This project estimate became so large that economically it had too significant of a financial impact on the Water District customers, according to the district.
 
"After evaluating and reviewing alternative supplies of water sources from surrounding Water Systems and asking if they had surplus water resources it was found that excess capacity was limited at best and very difficult to move to the more needed areas of the Edmonson system," the statement read. "However, what did come from these conversations was that two neighboring systems Green River Valley Water District (GRVWD) & Grayson County Water District (GCWD) did have the abilities to supply the resources needed of treated water and personnel to the customers of the two counties that each of them served separately. GRVWD to the Hart County customers & GCWD to the customers served in Grayson County by Edmonson County Water District."
 
The ECWD further stated that after much deliberation and evaluating different scenarios, the best interest of all the customers of the Edmonson County Water District would be to negotiate an arrangement where the GRVWD will begin serving the customers in Hart County that is served by Edmonson Water and  GCWD to begin serving the customers served by Edmonson Water in Grayson County.

"I really feel like this is a good decision," said ECWD General Manager Kevin Shaw. "We really believe this is best for all customers."

Shaw said that Edmonson County residents will see no impact on the decision.

"Our Hart and Grayson County customers should see no interruption in their water service but we ask for your patience as we transfer documentation and billing information to the new providers."

Shaw said he hopes for a smooth transaction for out-of-county customers and they are working to make it as efficient as possible.

Shaw also said there will be some slight exceptions to the decision. The ECWD services just a few Warren and Butler County customers, but they will NOT be affected by this move. They will remain as ECWD customers. Additionally, there will be a customer here and there in Hart and Grayson Counties that will also remain, depending on exactly where you fall along the county lines. Customers affected will be contacted further.
 
According to the ECWD, it is anticipated that beginning July 1st, 2025, Hart County customers will begin using the GRVWD office as their new point of contact and the Grayson County customers will begin using the GCWD office as their new point of contact beginning August 1st; however, the ECWD said that these are projected dates, only, and the final date will be shared in various ways as the dates become closer.

In addition, as EC rates are slightly lower than the other two providers, all rates will continue to be billed at the current approved rates as currently published by the Edmonson County Water District until complete approval by the Kentucky Public Service commission and all other federal and State agencies involved have officially approved the transition, according to the water district.

*6/05/25 at 12:40PM: this headline was changed for clarity

Louisville, KY – U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi has appointed Kyle G. Bumgarner as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546. Bumgarner was formally sworn into the position yesterday by U.S. District Court Chief District Judge Greg N. Stivers.

“It is the honor of a lifetime to lead the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky, said U.S. Attorney Bumgarner. “I would like to thank President Trump and Attorney General Bondi for entrusting me with this great responsibility, particularly at such an important time for our Nation. Through the talented prosecutors in this Office, we stand committed to fighting the drug epidemic and violence that has ravaged our communities, combating the fraud that has been perpetrated against our institutions, and protecting vulnerable victims that are preyed upon by ruthless criminals. Our goals cannot be achieved without selfless and heroic work from our federal, state, and local law enforcement officers—particularly those on the front lines—who will receive unwavering support from our Office. I accept this role with great enthusiasm and a commitment to making the Western District of Kentucky a safer place for each of us to raise our families and earn a living.”

Before his appointment as U.S. Attorney, Bumgarner practiced law in Bowling Green, Kentucky, at Kerrick Bachert, PSC, and served as law clerk to Judge David Bunning of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.

U.S. Attorney Bumgarner is a graduate of Centre College and Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law.

The U.S. Attorney is the chief federal law enforcement official in their district, representing the United States in all criminal and civil litigation.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky, headquartered in Louisville with staffed offices in Bowling Green and Paducah, and an unstaffed branch in Owensboro, serves 53 Kentucky counties and two military facilities: Fort Knox and Fort Campbell.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Kentucky has a mission to fairly and justly prosecute violations of federal criminal law and to represent the United States and its agencies in civil litigation; to educate and inform the public, including victims of crime, about the functions of the justice system and the rights of all citizens; to assume a leadership role in crime prevention through speaking engagements and community involvement; and to conduct federal and local law enforcement training and facilitate cooperation and collaboration among law enforcement agencies.