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.