Darren Doyle, story:
A third arrest has been made in the Hart County murder case from Saturday, according to Kentucky State Police.

On Sunday, July 31st, 2022, Kentucky State Police located and arrested a third individual in connection with the murder of Robert W. Myers.  Dale E. Hodge (65), of Elizabethtown, was charged with murder (complicity) and lodged in the Hardin County Jail.

KSP confirmed that Dale Hodge is the father of Brandon Hodge, who was arrested on Saturday in connection with the same murder case.

​On Saturday, July 30, 2022, Kentucky State Police reportedly located the Uhaul truck involved in Friday's murder in Hart County.  KSP later located and arrested Cecil Daniels (21), of Elizabethtown and Brandon M. Hodge (31), of Elizabethtown in connection with the murder of Robert W. Myers, police said. Both Daniels and Hodge have been charged with murder and were lodged in the Hart County Jail.

According to the Hart County Jail website, Daniels is being held on a $1,000,000 bond and Hodge is being held without bond.

On Friday evening, July 29th just before 6PM, KSP Post 3 was requested by the Hart County Sheriff's Office to conduct a death investigation in the Magnolia community.  Hart County deputies responded to 10070 Hammonsville Road and located a deceased male in a yard near the residence, according to the Kentucky State Police.

As troopers and detectives arrived on the scene, the investigation revealed Robert W. Myers (78), confronted three white male suspects actively taking items from a residence Myers owned, police said.  KSP also stated that the confrontation lead to Myers sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, contributing to his death.  Robert Myers was pronounced deceased on scene by the Hart County Coroner’s Office. Three male suspects were observed leaving the scene in a Uhaul truck traveling north on KY 357 in Hart County.

"The victim confronted the individuals taking items from a residence he owned," said Kentucky State Police Post 3 Public Information Officer Daniel Priddy. "I would definitely say he was protecting his property."

This story was updated to note that KSP confirmed that the Hodges were father and son.
​

**UpdateA third arrest has been made in the Hart County murder case from Saturday, according to Kentucky State Police.

On Sunday, July 31st, 2022, Kentucky State Police located and arrested a third individual in connection with the murder of Robert W. Myers.  Dale E. Hodge (65), of Elizabethtown, was charged with murder (complicity) and lodged in the Hardin County Jail.

KSP could not confirm any relation between Dale Hodge and Brandon Hodge, who was arrested earlier today in connection with the same murder.

Darren Doyle, story:
Two Elizabethtown men have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the Hart County death of Robert Myers, (78) after they were found last night, according to Kentucky State Police.

On Saturday, July 30, 2022, Kentucky State Police reportedly located the Uhaul truck involved in Friday's murder in Hart County.  KSP later located and arrested Cecil Daniels (21), of Elizabethtown and Brandon M. Hodge (31), of Elizabethtown in connection with the murder of Robert W. Myers, police said. Both Daniels and Hodge have been charged with murder and were lodged in the Hart County Jail.

According to the Hart County Jail website, Daniels is being held on a $1,000,000 bond and Hodge is being held without bond.

On Friday evening, July 29th just before 6PM, KSP Post 3 was requested by the Hart County Sheriff's Office to conduct a death investigation in the Magnolia community.  Hart County deputies responded to 10070 Hammonsville Road and located a deceased male in a yard near the residence, according to the Kentucky State Police.

As troopers and detectives arrived on the scene, the investigation revealed Robert W. Myers (78), confronted three white male suspects actively taking items from a residence Myers owned, police said.  KSP also stated that the confrontation lead to Myers sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, contributing to his death.  Robert Myers was pronounced deceased on scene by the Hart County Coroner’s Office. Three male suspects were observed leaving the scene in a Uhaul truck traveling north on KY 357 in Hart County.

"The victim confronted the individuals taking items from a residence he owned," said Kentucky State Police Post 3 Public Information Officer Daniel Priddy. "I would definitely say he was protecting his property."

**UPDATE**: JULY 21, 2022: 2:58PM: Two Elizabethtown men have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the Hart County death of Robert Myers, (78) after they were found last night, according to Kentucky State Police.

On Saturday, July 30, 2022, Kentucky State Police reportedly located the Uhaul truck involved in Friday's murder in Hart County.  KSP later located and arrested Cecil Daniels (21), of Elizabethtown and Brandon M. Hodge (31), of Elizabethtown in connection with the murder of Robert W. Myers, police said. Both Daniels and Hodge have been charged with murder and were lodged in the Hart County Jail.

According to the Hart County Jail website, Daniels is being held on a $1,000,000 bond and Hodge is being held without bond.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
July 30, 2022:
Darren Doyle, story:
A Hart County man has died from multiple gunshot wounds in an altercation that police say occurred as he was trying to protect his property from being burglarized.

On Friday evening, July 29th just before 6PM, KSP Post 3 was requested by the Hart County Sheriff's Office to conduct a death investigation in the Magnolia community.  Hart County deputies responded to 10070 Hammonsville Road and located a deceased male in a yard near the residence, according to the Kentucky State Police.

As troopers and detectives arrived on the scene, the investigation revealed Robert W. Myers (78), confronted three white male suspects actively taking items from a residence Myers owned, police said.  KSP also stated that the confrontation lead to Myers sustaining multiple gunshot wounds, contributing to his death.  Robert Myers was pronounced deceased on scene by the Hart County Coroner’s Office. Three male suspects were observed leaving the scene in a Uhaul truck traveling north on KY 357 in Hart County.

"The victim confronted the individuals taking items from a residence he owned," said Kentucky State Police Post 3 Public Information Officer Daniel Priddy. "I would definitely say he was protecting his property."

Kentucky State Police is requesting that anyone with any information or leads concerning the death of Robert W. Myers to contact Detective Courtney Milam with KSP Post 3 at the following number:  (270) 782-2010.

The ongoing investigation is being led by Detective Milam.   Detective Milam was assisted by the Hart County Sheriff’s Office, Linwood Fire Department, Bonnieville Fire Department, and the Hart County Coroner’s Office.

Darren Doyle, story:
A repair to a portion of Sunfish-Roundhill Road that was first estimated to take about a week has resulted in a much larger repair, according to the Edmonson County Judge Executive's Office.

Now, officials say a portion of the road will be closed indefinitely as road workers repair the extensive damage.

The section of road closed is located approximately one mile from the HWY 70 junction and is about 500 feet long. The Judge's office said that both ends of the road are still open (both HWY 70 and HWY 187), but thru-traffic is closed during the repair section.

Signs are posted and barricades have been set in place. Drivers are asked to stay clear of the area and the anticipated closure time is expected to be anywhere from four to six weeks.

Darren Doyle, story:
The Bank of Edmonson County is warning their customers of a phone scam attempt regarding false debit card fraud allegations.

"We have been made aware of a fraud scheme in our area regarding BOEC debit cards," said Donna Bagshaw, COO & BSA-Deposit Compliance Officer.

She stated that Bank of EC customers have received calls from someone with a strong, non-American accent, saying they are from Bank of Edmonson County. They advise the customer that someone has been using their debit card and asks to verify a certain sequence of digits in their debit card number.

"In situations of actual fraud, we do not ask our customers to verify their card numbers by phone," Mrs. Bagshaw stated. "If anyone receive a call from someone stating they are from Bank of Edmonson County and they do not feel good about it, please hang up and call us at 270-597-2175."

Madison Doyle, story and photo:
Edmonson County Fiscal Court was held last night, July 25, 2022 in the upstairs room of the courthouse. The meeting was called to order by Judge Executive Wil Canon with the pledge of allegiance. Several county department heads gave updated reports on their department since the last meeting, and multiple items were discussed.

The court voted to allocate up to $30,000 plus a 1.75% administrative fee of ARPA funding for the architectural design for an animal shelter. The amount was suggested by Judge Executive Wil Cannon, who said he "has no idea" how much an architectural design costs, so the phrase "up to" comes into play so that there is enough room to make sure there is enough money for everything needed. "If you take a look around at some of other counties animal shelters being built, they didn't go about it exactly right and they are having to go through a big mess," Judge Cannon said. "I don't want us to go through a big mess, I want to make sure we do it right and we have enough to do what is needed." The motion was made by Magistrate Ed Rich and seconded by Johnny Brooks. The vote was unanimous.

The court also voted to allocate up to $30,000 of ARPA funding plus the 1.75% administrative fee to each county fire department for new equipment. Terry Massey, Emergency Management Director, said "I'm speaking up for my guys here," as he pointed to a few firefighters in attendance. "They really need this gear in order to do their jobs correctly and safely."

Treasurer Tammi Willhite noted that it would not be as simple as cutting a $30K check to each department; rather, each fire department will be required to submit a list of requested equipment and the cost of each. They may be approved up to $30K in funding. The money must be earmarked for specific purposes prior to the allocation. This is a stark contrast to the first suggestion of approving $5,000 for each fire department when allocating ARPA funds was first discussed in February.

The motion was made by Mark Meeks, and seconded by Ed Rich. The vote for this was also unanimous.

Vanessa Ulm, Edmonson County Tourism Director, reported that Moutardier Marina was closed until further notice due to storm damage. She also reported that all of the current 'Welcome to Edmonson County' signs will be replaced with new ones, and they will be in seven different locations on the county line.

Judge Cannon also suggested that the county property tax rates decrease to from 13.8 to 13.7 cents per $100 of assessed value. The rate will be set upon final vote and reading at a future meeting.

The court also voted to approve or acknowledge:

• Acknowledge Dog Control June CAD Report.
• Acknowledge BGWC June Shelter Directors Report.
• Approve Arnold Consulting Engineering Services, Inc. Standard Form of Agreement regarding Bald Knob Road Project.
• Approve to deem the following items from Sheriff’s Office as Surplus:

1. Point Blank Guardian Plate Carrier
2. Galls Brand custom fitted vest
3. Bianchi Duty Belt
4. KSA 5 point star badge- A, Meredith

• Approve purchase of Badge Pass Printer
• Acknowledge Edmonson County Conservation District FY22 Financial Report.
• Acknowledge Big Reedy Watershed FY22 Financial Report.
• Acknowledge Edmonson County Conservation District FY22 Annual Report.

The next fiscal court meeting will be held Monday, August 8th, 2022 at 9 am.

Madison Doyle, story and photo:
The Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce hosted a luncheon today in the Heritage Center, sponsored by BRADD Barren River Area Development District.

Emily Hathcock, Associate Director of Planning & Development for the Barren River Area Development District, spoke today on BRADD's behalf to inform local businesses on a loan program that is available called the Revolving Loan Fund. Hathcock said loans given will range anywhere between $5,000 and $25,000, and are to be used for resources such as payroll, utilities, supplies, inventory management, and/or payments to suppliers. There will be an interest rate charged which is 75 percent of the prime rate as published in the Money Rates section of the Wall Street Journal, or four percent.

For more information on how to qualify or apply, you can visit to bradd.org.

Chamber President Darren Doyle gave a recap on the Big Brownsville Bash, which he said was positively received by the community and that the Chamber was "extremely pleased" with the turnout. He praised the event's corporate sponsors and all the volunteers and organizations that assisted with the event. He said the Chamber Board is already making plans for next year's event.

Doyle also gave a few updates on some upcoming events hosted by the Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce, such as a cookout, a golf scramble, another luncheon, and a hay bale trail. For information on the dates and times of these events, and any other Chamber updates, you can visit the Chamber Facebook page.

Darren Doyle, story:
The Edmonson County Dispatch/911 Center has announced that the 911 lines are currently unavailable when using landlines, due to what appears to be a widespread outage of Windstream.

Director Pat Prunty said there are several counties affected and that the problems reach as far as Lexington.

"We're doing everything we can to get it back up, we're battling it, but that's all we can do for now," Prunty said.

Emergency calls from cell phones were unaffected for those who have signal, Prunty added.

There was no indication of when the landline 911 service would return to normal operation.

Edmonson Voice Report:
Two men were killed yesterday during a collision on I-165, according to the Kentucky State Police.

On Tuesday July 19, 2022 just after 1:00 p.m., Kentucky State Police Post 3 Bowling Green was requested by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office to investigate a fatal collision in Butler County. Troopers responded to the scene of the collision located at 20 mile marker of I-165 northbound in the Sugar Grove community.

According to a press release from KSP, Angel Bidabur Perez, 38, of Louisville, was operating a 2007 International tractor-trailer northbound on I-165. Perez's vehicle struck a 2002 GMC dump/paint truck that was stationary in the construction area near the 20 mile marker, KSP said. The tractor-trailer came to final rest on the right shoulder of the roadway where a fire ignited and engulfed the vehicle, according to police. The operator of the GMC dump/paint truck was identified as James Gilbert, 43, of Bowling Green. Angel Bidabur Perez and James Gilbert were both pronounced deceased on the scene by the Butler County Coroner's Office.

The investigation is being led by Trooper Michael Wathen. He was assisted at the scene by Butler County EMS, Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Butler County Coroner’s Office, and KSP personnel.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Greg Vincent, Edmonson County Attorney, announced today that he has filed to run for the vacant 38th judicial seat, District 1. The announcement came at a special event Vincent held at the Edmonson County Courthouse.

The 38th District covers Edmonson, Butler, Ohio, and Hancock Counties, and was left vacant when Judge J.B. Hines filed to run for the new 8th Circuit Judicial seat, which will cover Edmonson and Warren Counties.

Vincent spoke to the crowd today and discussed why he chose to run for the judgeship.

"I'd never really thought of being the judge-type," he said. "For almost 30 years, I've been an advocate. I've been a defense attorney, a prosecutor, I've handled evictions for both landlords and tenants, I've done probate cases, civil lawsuits where I sued and also defended. I've done a little bit of everything and I've always considered myself as an advocate, who argued forcefully for his client. For the last few years, it's been the Commonwealth of Kentucky in Edmonson County. As you know, I'm not going to be County Attorney in January, but I've still been thinking about an advocate position. Last year, when Judge McCarty announced his resignation, I was approached then by people saying 'you should look at this judgeship,' but I would say no, no, I like what I do...I'm an advocate."

He said others continued encouraging him to seek the judgeship position because of his background that covers so many different areas. Vincent said he began to think about all the aspects of law for which he has advocated over his career.

"So when I got to thinking about it, talking with my family and friends that I respected, I made the decision," he added. "I believe as a judge, my background will let me do something that other judges don't have. I'm not saying they are bad or that any of the judges I've dealt with were bad, but I bring a unique perspective. Most times, you have a judge that comes from one side, and that's all he's ever done, so he doesn't know what it's like to be on the other side."

Vincent said because of his unique perspective, he could make the following pledge:

"If I become your next district judge, everyone will get a fair shake in my court," he said.

He discussed the many complaints he's heard about the court system over the years from those who have said it is not always fair and he said he wants to do his part to provide fairness.

"I don't care where you come from, or who you are, or who you know, everyone will be treated the same," he told the audience. "You have just as much of a right to your day in court and to say your peace as the person sitting over here. I will make sure I hear it and consider both sides, because that's what I've always done."

Vincent is a graduate of Edmonson County High School and Western Kentucky University. He earned his law degree from the University of Kentucky in 1993.

Upon graduation, Vincent began his career as an Assistant Commonwealth Attorney in Simpson/Allen Counties. He moved back to Edmonson County in 1994 and has worked as a private attorney since that time. He was first elected as Edmonson County Attorney in 1998 and has served 22 out of the last 24 years in that role.

He asked the audience for their votes and support as he concluded with a meet-and-greet with those in attendance.

Because of filing deadlines and the timeline in which the vacancy took place, the office will be a write-in vote, only. The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

Darren Doyle, story:
United Way of Southern Kentucky announced Monday that it is investing a total of $11,517 in Education, Health, and Safety Net programs and services for its July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 funding period in Edmonson County. Seven local programs provided through four service providers will receive the allocated campaign dollars and donor designations. In total, $968,514 will be invested across the 10-county Barren River Area Development District (BRADD).

To receive funding from United Way of Southern Kentucky, programs had to align with the four areas deemed most important by a community research project conducted by United Way that began in 2012 which included nearly 5,000 surveys, 55 Community Conversations, and large amounts of secondary data.

In October of 2021, organizations with programs impacting UWSK’s strategic imperatives in each of the defined Community Impact issue areas (Education, Income, Health, and Safety Net) were asked to submit a Letter of Intent indicating their desire to complete a full application request for funding. Across the 10-county BRADD, 68 total Letters of Intent were submitted.

Allocation dollars were determined based on the work of 87 volunteers working specifically in their home counties of Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Simpson, and Warren.

In EDMONSON COUNTY, $11,517 was allocated by volunteers led by Edmonson County Chair, Craig Browning, as follows:

• EDUCATION: $6,770

Kindergarten Readiness:
Edmonson County FRYSC, Camp Kindergarten: $5,770
College & Career Readiness:
Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG): $1,000

• INCOME: $1,000

Workforce Development:
Southcentral Kentucky Adult Education Consortium, Edmonson County Skills U: $1,000

• HEALTH: $2,997

Access to Affordable Health Care:
Kentucky Legal Aid, Barren River Long Term Care Ombudsman: $1,500
Kentucky Legal Aid, Benefits Counseling: $497
Safe Home & Community:
Kentucky Legal Aid, Emergency Shelter & Crisis Aid to Protect & Empower (ESCAPE): $1,000

• SAFETY NET: $750

Access to Basic Needs:
Kentucky Legal Aid, Emergency Legal Assistance: $750
          
“This is our seventh year of this targeted work related to Education, Income, Health and Safety Net, said Debbie Hills, President & CEO of United Way of Southern Kentucky. “Yet, this year was different as our community has faced horrific loss. While we are working to address the tornado recovery through a separate fund, we know that we must also continue to support local nonprofit programs that are assisting with so many key issues throughout the BRADD. We are honored to partner with the nonprofits who are working to address both existing and ever-changing challenges. It is the support of local business, organizations, and individuals which enables this funding, which will impact thousands of lives, and we are so grateful for it.”

​
“It’s an honor to bring Officer Meredith to our Police Department and he will be an asset to this department and the citizens of Brownsville," said Brownsville Police Chief Jeremy Hodges. "He not only brings valuable work experience from a bigger city department, but also his dedication and familiarity of Edmonson County as a whole.”

Officer Meredith also spoke about his new role.

“I have enjoyed my last 5 years working in Edmonson County and I’m thankful for the opportunity to continue serving these great people as a Brownsville Police Officer," he said.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
The Edmonson County Water District is currently pumping at safe levels since the removal of Green River Dam No. 5 has been halted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District. The dam is located in the Roundhill community of Butler County near the Edmonson line.

According to Edmonson County Water District Manager Tony Sanders, levels were at a critical level about three weeks ago. Sanders said that when water officials discovered the issue, they contacted the proper personnel which eventually led to the project being halted.

The removal project was first announced on September 20, 2021 by the USACE. In a statement released that day, the USACE said:

"Green River Lock and Dam #5 was built in 1933-34 at river mile 168.1 for commercial use. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ceased operation of the structure in 1951. Since then, the structure has been unused, creating a pooled condition in the river with lower oxygen levels, more sediment, and higher temperatures – conditions that are detrimental for aquatic life and the overall health of the river. The dam also presents a barrier to boat traffic, and a public safety hazard. Removal will address all of these challenges."

However, one of the challenges not discussed was the event of extremely dry conditions during the project. While aquatic life and river health are both important, the Water District has to maintain a certain level in order to service their thousands of customers in the area. Since the project was halted, the river levels have been sufficient for the Water District, despite the dry conditions. Last weekend's rain, combined with the pause in the project, brought the river levels up about a foot, Sanders said; however, last night's rain affected them very little.

Sanders said the apparent issue of monitoring the levels stemmed from a faulty gauge.

"One of the comments that I made to the Core the day they were here, was that I really couldn't believe that the Corps of Engineers was not monitoring what was going on and we had to be the one that watched everything, then get a hold of them to try to get this halted," he said. "When that gauge went out, they should've said 'hey, we need to stop until we can get this fixed,' and it was out for at least a week before we were able to get it put back in."

U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie visited Brownsville boat ramp at the Green River on June 28th with local water officials.

“I recently visited Brownsville to see the Green River’s low water levels firsthand due to the active removal of a dam by the Corps of Engineers and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife," Rep. Guthrie told the Edmonson Voice. "I thank Edmonson County officials for updating me on the latest regarding this concerning water issue to advocate for solutions with the Corps of Engineers. I will continue to serve as a liaison between Edmonson County and the Corps of Engineers and will step in, if necessary, to ensure any issues between the local and federal government officials are promptly worked out to protect the community’s water supply."

The USFWS dam removal crew is still onsite performing work that does not impact current dam elevation, according to a statement from the USACE.

Today, Katelyn C. Newton, Chief of Public Affairs for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District, told the Edmonson Voice that their team members visited the Edmonson County Water intake along with Water District Officials on June 14th to monitor the pool and that the pool levels were not of concern at that time.

"As soon as we were made aware of the concerns, we immediately halted work on the removal of the dam to prevent further loss of pool," she added. "We fully understand the concerns of the Edmonson County Water District. Removal efforts will not resume until their access to water supply is assured. We will continue to coordinate with The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Edmonson County Water District to develop a long-term solution."

It is important to note that the critical levels are due to a combination of both the removal of the dam and extremely dry June conditions. Sanders said that since the removal has been temporarily halted, there is no current emergency, even though the intake can be seen due to low water levels. Those low levels, according to Sanders, can make the intake susceptible to damage from a stray log or other debris that might float down the river.

"If the level falls off any more then it would be an emergency," he said. "Everyone is trying to work together to see that the issue is resolved. My only fear is who is going to pay for what."

Boats cannot currently enter the water at the Brownsville ramp. Canoe and kayak travel across the area of the former Green River Dam No. 6 is not possible during this time; however, the Edmonson County Water District is currently pumping at full capacity.

According to the USACE, Green River Lock and Dam No. 5 was built in 1933-34 for commercial use, but operation of the structure ceased in 1951 as it was no longer needed for navigation. Federal legislation, under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, was signed into law in 2016 deauthorizing the lock and dam site from the USACE inventory and directing its removal.

Darren Doyle, story:
Superintendent of Edmonson County Schools Brian Alexander has announced Jarad McReynolds as the newly named principal at the Edmonson County 5/6 Center. The announcement came earlier this afternoon.

“The Edmonson County School District began its search for a new principal with the departure of Chad Johnston," Alexander said. "Four quality people applied for the principal position and after interviews, deliberation, and consultation with the Edmonson County 5/6 Center SBDM Council, Jarad McReynolds was chosen as the new principal."

Mr. McReynolds had previously taught at the 5/6 Center for three years as a math teacher before moving to his most recent position at South Edmonson. 

Mr. McReynolds said he feels that the best students and educators are in Edmonson County, and he looks forward to continuing to work with them.

"I have a passion for helping students reach their full potential and am excited to see the growth in our students at the 5/6 Center," he said. "I would like to thank Mr. Alexander and the site-based committee for giving me the opportunity to lead alongside our great students and staff.”

McReynolds lives in the Chalybeate community with his wife, Lauren and their two children--soon to be three, with one on the way. He is a 2007 graduate of Edmonson County High School.

His father, Gary McReynolds, is a former principal of the EC 5/6 Center.

"We are excited to have Jarad in this position and look forward to great things under his leadership at the 5/6 Center," Mr. Alexander added.

Edmonson Voice Report:
Two expected traffic impacts in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 3 area for July 16 through July 22 have been announced. All work is subject to change. The expected areas are:

• KY 1749 Wingfield Church Road (mile points 0.0 – 5.3)– A pavement repair and resurfacing project will continue on KY 1749 Wingfield Church Road beginning from the Warren County line and extending east to Reef Road. Crews will begin with pavement repairs and pipe replacements. The roadway will be resurfaced when the repair portion of the project is finished. Motorists should expect flaggers to be present through the work zone.
  
• KY 70 Main Street (mile points 9.9 - 11.7)– An asphalt resurfacing project will begin on KY 70 Main Street beginning at the intersection of Morgantown Road and KY 259 and extending east to the intersection with Washington Street. Crews will pre-treat the existing surface with crack sealant. The roadway will be resurfaced when the crack sealant has cured. Motorists should expect flaggers to be present through the work zone.
  

Darren Doyle, story:
A Grayson County man driving a dump truck was killed today when his vehicle was struck by a train in Barren County, according to the Kentucky State Police.

Today, just before 3:00 p.m., Kentucky State Police Post 3 in Bowling Green was requested by the Barren County Sheriff’s Office to investigate a fatal collision in Barren County. Troopers responded to the scene of the collision located at 454 State Quarry Road in the Cave City community.

According to KSP, the investigation indicated that Timothy J. Duvall, 33, of Leitchfield, was operating a 2014 Mack dump truck southbound on State Quarry Road near a railroad crossing. Mr. Duvall failed to see a CSX train traveling westbound as he entered the crossing area and was struck by the train, KSP said. Timothy Duvall was pronounced deceased on the scene by the Barren County Coroner.

The investigation is being led by Trooper Walker Hogan. He was assisted at the scene by Barren County EMS, Barren County Sheriff’s Office, Cave City Fire Department, Barren County Coroner’s Office, and KSP personnel.

Darren Doyle, story:
The start of school for the 2022-23 calendar year has been delayed until August 31st, according to Superintendent of Edmonson County Schools Brian Alexander.

Mr. Alexander said the calendar change was voted upon by the school board at last night's meeting, which stemmed from a newly discovered major problem with buried HVAC pipes that are under the high school and its parking lot. Sediment compacted in the pipes over the years has delayed the ongoing construction project at ECHS and was discovered just last week.

Alan Talley, Director of Pupil Personnel, emailed all staff earlier today and discussed the changes. In his email, he noted that the goal was to find a way to delay the start of school, while keeping the last day the same, as well as keeping the holidays and normal breaks in place, with no change.

"We are able to do this by adding approximately 20 minutes to the student's school day," he said in the email. "The first day of school with students will now be August 31st."

This change will NOT affect normal breaks, such as holidays, fair day, spring break, fall break, and the last day of school, as they all remain unchanged. Only one day that was scheduled for school to be out of session is now back, which was March 17th. Mr. Alexander said that this was simply a bonus day, as there were no days off in the month of March.

Talley also stated "by starting with students as late as we plan to, we are able to utilize the same calendar option we used in 2020-2021 (Variable Instruction Calendar).  This calendar waives the 170-day minimum with students as long as we meet 1062 instructional hours.  By adding approximately 20 minutes to the school day, we are able to meet the 1062 instructional hours in 162 school days (a normal year is 176 days)."

Mr. Alexander said the school board looked for silver linings to the decision and that there are advantages to the schedule change, such as a longer summer break, not having to be on a hot school bus in August, and that with available NTI days, there are still 13 days to utilize in the event of winter or severe weather.

"We know this will inconvenience some with child care situations and other schedule changes and we apologize for that," Alexander said. "We are certainly aware of potential problems this may cause; however, we are working as hard as we can to solve our construction issues, which he had no control over. I want to credit Mr. Talley for the work he's done to accommodate our needs and I'm grateful to our school board for being flexible about this situation. We ask for your patience and understanding, as this is a necessary decision."

Alexander said events like the Back to School Bash and various open houses will be rescheduled to coincide with the delayed start of school.

To see the full updated school calendar, visit the County School Calendar Page on our site, where the calendar is always available 24/7.

Darren Doyle, story:
The Edmonson County Judge Executive's Office has announced that the burn ban ordered on June 29, 2022 has hereby been lifted.

"Please accept this as notification that the Edmonson County Burn Ban has been lifted at this time, but we will continue to monitor the weather and the possible dry conditions," the office said in a statement to the Edmonson Voice.

Madison Doyle, story:
There was very little to no discussion at today's fiscal court meeting. Judge Cannon called the meeting to order by announcing that fiscal court today would be held in honor of longtime Judge Executive N.E. Reed, who passed away last Wednesday. Reed served as Judge Executive of Edmonson County for 21 years.

More than half of the county offices which normally give reports had none to give today.

Deputy Jailer Todd Vincent reported that the county currently has 27 inmates housed at Hart County Jail.

No old business was discussed today.

The court voted to either approve or acknowledge the following:

• Approve Treasurer’s June Monthly Settlement Report.
• Approve Judge’s Quarterly Financial Statement Report.
• Acknowledge Jailer’s Quarterly Report.
• Approve KACO Workers Compensation Membership Agreement.
• Approve July Cash Transfers
• Approve Lang Company’s IT365 Sales Agreement.
• Approve County Clerk’s June MVAV Collection Report, pending final audit.
• Approve County Clerk’s June Deed Transfer Tax Report, pending final audit.
• Approve County Clerk’s June Excess Fee Account Report, pending final audit.
• Approve County Clerk’s June Delinquent Tax Collection Report, pending final audit.
• Approve Sheriff’s June Monthly Fee Report, pending final audit.

The next fiscal court meeting will be held July 25, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.

Edmonson Voice Report:
The Kentucky State Police have announced that they are currently investigating an officer-involved shooting at approximately 4:30AM in Barren County.

In a press release, KSP said at the request of the Barren County Sheriff's Office, KSP detectives along with KSP’s critical incident response team have arrived on the scene and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing. A male suspect was pronounced deceased by the Barren County Coroner's Office and an autopsy has been scheduled at the state medical examiner’s office in Louisville.

No officers or members of the community were injured during this incident, KSP stated.

KSP has statewide jurisdiction and investigates officer-involved shootings throughout the commonwealth as requested by local law enforcement agencies.

"KSP is committed to being transparent while ensuring the integrity of the investigation," the release stated. "To protect the integrity of an ongoing investigation, it is KSP policy not to release specific details until vital witnesses have been interviewed and pertinent facts gathered.  Timelines to complete investigations vary based on the complexity of the case."

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) released the following statement on the passing of former Edmonson County Judge-Executive N.E. Reed.

“I am saddened by the loss of my friend, former Edmonson County Judge-Executive N.E. Reed, and Beth and I send our condolences to his family, friends, and community. As Judge-Executive, he was passionate about improving the quality of life for the people of Edmonson County, and I enjoyed working with him to address the needs of the community. Judge Reed was not only a public servant, but also a man of faith and a family man. I remember visiting Judge Reed when he was recovering from a terrible farm accident, and he credited his faith and family with helping him through his road to recovery. Edmonson County has lost a true public servant. He will be missed,” said Guthrie.

Darren Doyle, story:
Just when things were running smoothly with a major remodeling project at Edmonson County High School, the discovery of some nasty sediment and sludge in the school's existing HVAC pipes is causing extra work and a delay; one that could even possibly hinder the start of school for the 22-23 school year.

According to Superintendent of Edmonson Schools Brian Alexander, during the demolition process of the HVAC piping to install new energy efficient units at Edmonson County High School and Middle School, crews onsite found deposits of stone, sand, and clay in isolated portions of the loop system that supplies cooling for the entire facility at Edmonson County Middle School and Edmonson County High School.

"We have sediment in these pipes that our construction experts claim is as bad as they've ever seen," said Supt. Alexander. "It's going to have to be corrected for sure."

Mr. Alexander said the school board and their contractors have consulted with pipe flushing specialists in determining the best way to correct the problem.

"It is critical that this issue is addressed to ensure our entire system works properly from this time forward," he added. "It's unanimously believed that if the deposits of sediment aren't flushed or removed it will jeopardize the new equipment due to poor circulation and cause problems for the Middle School and High School for years to come.   This will require some of these pipes to be removed and replaced."

Alexander said the major setback is no one's fault, but must be addressed and corrected. 

"This points to an issue that originated in a place that is completely isolated and not in an area that maintenance or anyone else could get to see exactly what was happening. And no work whatsoever had taken place there during this project. This came to our attention on Friday, July, 2.   This issue is not a result of the Guaranteed Energy Savings Project, however it was found during this project. CMTA, our construction manager, and  R&R, the company installing new equipment, and our staff are in constant communication to remedy this issue." 

Alexander wanted to be very clear that there is no fault to any contractor or school maintenance personnel.

"It's simply an issue that we have found that must be fixed.  We want the system to work correctly and efficiently in the future, and not to have projects in years to come. An issue such as this takes time to fix correctly.  And one of my goals is to remain as transparent as possible.  We have a problem here that impacts this school.  But we are going to fix it. "

Mr. Alexander also said that more information will be made available next week as to the possible impact to school opening. The first day of school in Edmonson County is currently scheduled to be Wednesday, August 10, 2022.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following statement today on the passing of former Edmonson County Judge-Executive N.E. Reed:
 
“Elaine and I are grieving the loss of our good friend and my longtime colleague, former Edmonson County Judge-Executive N.E. Reed. During his life, Judge Reed was an ever-present figure in Edmonson County life. For years, he and some of his lifelong friends held court at the Brownsville Dairy Queen, trading jokes, sharing stories, and brainstorming ways to improve their community. More than anything, Judge Reed’s tenure was defined by that sort of neighborly kindness, and the close relationships he built formed the groundwork for twenty-one years of excellent service as Judge-Executive."
 
“Like most other Kentucky leaders, I had the chance to work alongside Judge Reed during his two-decades-long tenure in office. And, like most Kentucky leaders Judge Reed worked with, I counted him as a close friend. When he retired, more than three hundred people, including officials from as far away as Eastern Kentucky and Paducah, traveled to Edmonson County to celebrate his career and all the businesses, jobs, and community programs he helped bring to his corner of the Commonwealth. Along with all the rest of Judge Reed’s close colleagues and friends, I am mourning today alongside his wife Beverly, their children Michael and Tonya, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and the entire Reed family for this one-of-a-kind Kentucky leader.”

Darren Doyle, story:
Longtime former Judge Executive of Edmonson County N.E. Reed died unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, according to family. He was 75 years old.

Reed was elected Judge Executive in 1992 and served in that role for 5 consecutive terms. He was sworn to office in January of 1993 and served through 2014.

During his time as JE, he was known for being an advocate for the county in a number of ways, much was in Frankfort, where he lobbied for state and other funding to pump back into Edmonson County.

He helped institute the Edmonson County Industrial Authority, the Edmonson County Parks and Rec system, the development of county parks that included an overhaul of HWY 70 park, and the construction of both the Chalybeate and Bee Spring Parks.

In addition, he also helped create the senior center at the Edmonson County Public Library, which was later named in his honor, helped oversee the construction of the annex and addition to the Edmonson County Courthouse, led the way for the acquiring of the both the Sheriff's Office and Extension Office properties, and oversaw hundreds of miles of county roads paved that were not prior to his taking of office.

Judge Executive Wil Cannon discussed Reed's influence in Edmonson County.

"Everybody knew N.E.," he said. "When I first became Judge, I would go to meetings and conferences, and when people would ask what county I was from, sometimes they couldn't place it, but when I would tell them that it's where N.E. Reed served for all those years, everyone always knew exactly who he was and where I was talking about. It got to the point that a lot of times, I would just say "I'm from N.E. Reed's county," and that's all I needed to say."

Cannon said that Reed was a big help to him when he was first elected.

"I hated to bother him with questions or issues because I knew he really wanted to retire, but he was always there and always ready and willing to help with whatever I needed. It was always a big comfort to know that he was there."

Reed and his family were people of faith and he served as a deacon and song leader for many years at Oak Grove United Baptist Church in Edmonson County. He suffered an accident in February of 2019 where a tractor jumped into gear as he was attempting to get back in. The tractor ran over him and crushed his leg. He credited God for his life being spared and for his recovery.

"Sometimes people look down on Edmonson County," Reed told the Edmonson Voice in an interview shortly after his accident. "They say we don't have this, we don't have that, but we have the most important thing, and that's the connectivity our people have with God and with each other. It's the main reason I've lived in Edmonson County my entire life. I'm proud of it and I can't wait to get back home. I'm truly blessed and I appreciate all the support. I'm glad for all the good thoughts, but I'm more thankful for all the prayers."

We spoke with Judge Reed's daughter, Tonya White, who wanted to thank everyone for their prayers up to this point.

"We appreciate your prayers, because that's what gotten us through right now," she said. "Please continue to pray. Dad loved his county. He really did. He just wouldn't stay still. Even after he was Judge, he served on boards and he wasn't happy unless he was going somewhere and doing something. You can't keep a good man down, is what I would always tell people. He loved home, he loved his people, and the prayers are greatly appreciated. He died at home. He didn't suffer. I am so thankful for that."

In addition to his longtime judge-executive's duties, Reed served on virtually every board or committee in the county at one time or another, and held numerous roles outside of the county that included serving on the board of directors at WRECC in 2015, where he served as chairman in 2019 and 2021, and was vice chair at the time of his passing.

He also served leadership roles at BRADD, Community Action of Southern Kentucky, and also served in various roles at KACO, and the Association of the Tennessee Valley Governments, to name a few.

On October 27, 2014, he was honored with a retirement dinner at the Edmonson County Public Library where he said, "I really appreciate the people of Edmonson County supporting me these 21 years. I never thought about being able to serve this long. All I can say is, that I always did what I thought was the best for Edmonson County." When asked how he'd summarize his time in office, he replied, "I hope that people can see the progress that was made through the cooperation of the other elected officials and the fiscal court.  I didn't do it...it was a cooperative effort from everybody."

The last conversation I had with Judge Reed was at the Big Brownsville Bash on June 4th. He attended the Saturday session where a record crowd came out to the Brownsville Square. He flagged me down in his pickup at the car show, patted me on the arm and said, "This is great for our county and our people. You guys (the Chamber) have done a great job. I'm just so proud of our community, this is wonderful."

Funeral arrangements will be announced in his obituary which will be published as soon as it becomes available.

Madison Doyle, story and photos:
Edmonson County School District is in the process of undergoing a series of remodeling and construction projects. This is a district wide energy savings project through CMTA Energy Solutions, headed by engineer Brian Duvall, a native of the Sunfish community.

This consists of a complete HVAC renovation at the high school and middle school, district wide LED lighting replacement, a uniformed district controls system, and mechanical room change-outs at Kyrock. Callie Beliles, facilities and safety director for the Board of Education, said they were also able to give a "much needed facelift" to some areas through new ceiling grids, and tile and paint, as well as acoustical sound improvements in a couple of the school gymnasiums.

Today, R & R Refrigeration brought in new rooftop units to both the high school and middle school via helicopter. They carried the old units away, and placed new ones on the roof in lieu of using a crane. Meredith Welding Technologies performed structural welds to ensure our roofs were ready for the new units.

"On behalf of the Edmonson County Board of Education, we are grateful to CMTA, R & R Refrigeration and Meredith Welding Technologies for a smooth conversion of these units," said Beliles. "We are looking forward this new environment enhancing the learning process for the children of Edmonson County."

Superintendent Brian Alexander shared his thoughts on the projects at hand. “The school district is looking forward to putting our new roof top units at the Middle School and High School to work. Thanks to R&R and CMTA for their cooperative work in getting these placed and to Meredith Welding Technologies for their prep work in  preparation for today.”