Here are some of our favorite and most popular photos from 2018 including those from the news, community happenings, and sports. While not all our top stories from this year have featured photos, the pics below are all Edmonson Voice photographs taken by our staff members.

Another year has come and gone and we've gathered all the website traffic information for EdmonsonVoice.com for 2018. It's the second year in a row with more than 4 million visits, but we're more excited that our weekly readership skyrocketed by 50% last year. In 2017, we averaged 16K weekly readers, but that climbed to 24,000 readers each week in 2018. Thank you for your overwhelming support.

​Here are the top 10 viewed articles from our network over the past year:

Darren Doyle, story:
The Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office arrested 5 people, issued 7 total citations, and worked 6 motor vehicle accidents over the course of two days, December 24th and 25th. Two of the six accidents resulted in various citations while another resulted in two separate citations and arrests for Operating a Motor Vehicle under the Influence of Alcohol and or Drugs.
 
At approximately 10:21 pm on December 24th, Edmonson County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the Upper Smiths Grove Road area for an attempt to locate on a suspicious person who had reportedly been knocking on random doors throughout the neighborhood, according to the Sheriff's Office. It wasn’t until 3:43 am, after Deputies responded to similar calls in the same area, that the suspicious person, Brandon Young (37) of Richardsville Road, was located in the vicinity of E. Cooke Road, Smiths Grove. Young was arrested and lodged in Hart County Jail for Public Intoxication of a Controlled Substance after Young reported to Deputies that he was high on Methamphetamine. 

​According to the Sheriff's Office, a Christmas Day accident involved only one impaired driver at first, but resulted in two separate arrests for DUI.

At approximately 12:58 am on December 25th, Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Morgantown Road for a vehicle in a ditch that was partially blocking the roadway. Once on scene, Deputies said they found James D. Wells (22) of Morgantown Road in the driver seat and the strong odor of alcohol was detected. Wells reportedly admitted to having recently consumed alcoholic beverages and after a field sobriety test was performed, Wells was arrested and charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, 1st Offense.

Darren Doyle, story and photo:
We've seen Santa Claus at a few different places recently and we asked him if he would take a few moments for an interview. When he said "yes," the visions of sugarplums began to dance in our heads and we sat down with the world's most famous sleigh pilot.

EV: We're only a few days away from Christmas and we've seen you in Edmonson County several times over the last few weeks. How is that possible during what would seem to be your busiest time of the year?
SC: Well, the credit goes to Mrs. Claus and the elves. There's no way I can handle everything by myself. She is currently overseeing everything at the North Pole and the elves are seeing to the reindeer and finishing up the toy making and preparation for Christmas Eve. I have other homes all over the world that I stay in during the summers and I even have one here in Edmonson County. 
EV: Do you and everyone at the North Pole work all year round?
SC: For the most part, yes; however, everyone takes a vacation immediately following Christmas. The elves usually go to the Bahamas and spend some time recharging the batteries while Mrs. Claus and I also head south. We might be gone from anywhere from a couple weeks to a month, it just depends.
EV: We've seen you several places, but you never have any elves with you. Do they stay at the North Pole?
SC: Ho, Ho, Ho! No...elves are everywhere. Not all of them are small with pointy ears, either. I have hundreds of thousands of undercover elves that work with me 24/7, all year long. They could be anyone: teachers, policeman, someone at the grocery, or even your own brother or sister. How do you think I keep such a close eye on everyone? We also incorporated the "Elf on a Shelf" a few years ago. You may only see them at Christmas, but they send reports to the North Pole everyday.
EV: Do you really put coal in stockings of those on the naughty list?
SC: Well, I did until a few years ago when the price of coal went sky-high! These days I use rocks instead, and they come right from the driveways or yards of those that get them. I know it doesn't help Kentucky's coal industry, but hey...
EV: We heard someone call you "Skip" the other day. Do you sometimes go by another name?
SC: Skip is a nickname I was given long ago. It stands for "Santa Klaus In Person."
EV: When are the naughty and nice lists finalized?
SC: They're not. It's never too late to be transferred from one to the other. But hey, there's only been one person on this Earth that was perfect, and that was Jesus, the reason for the season, so I know that everybody else makes mistakes, including me. As long as you're making an honest effort to be good, you'll be on the nice list.

​EV: No doubt you get this question a lot, but what do you say when someone asks you if you're the real Santa?
SC: Christmas is a wonderful time of celebration and love. There's so much more to Christmas than just me and what goes on at the North Pole. I can best answer that in a poem that I wrote long ago..
​I can answer your question that should explain,
I’m sure this will make it all quite plain.
Does God live in your heart?
I think that’s where we should start.
God is a spirit that lives within you,
The spirit of Santa is like that too.
Santa’s spirit, like God’s, wants you to be good,
Not just sometimes, but all the time you should.
Anyone can be Santa , even you can play the part,
All you need is love in your heart.
Be kind and generous to others,
Make all you meet your sisters and brothers.
Still, the question remains, “Am I Santa?“
You must search your heart for the answer,
No fair asking Prancer or Dancer……
​
EV: Wow, that's amazing. You obviously have plenty to do and places to go. Is there anything else you'd like to tell our readers?
SC: Sure, I'm headed back to the North Pole where we'll be loading up and getting ready for the big night. Make sure everyone goes to bed early on Christmas Eve... MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT! HO, HO, HO!!

**a version of this article was first published in the Edmonson Voice on December 21, 2016.

MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky., December 22, 2018.– Due to the lapse of appropriations and the subsequent partial shutdown of the federal government, Mammoth Cave National Park will not operate cave tours, provide visitor services, or operate the Green River Ferry during the government shutdown.  Park roads, lookouts, and trails, will remain accessible to visitors, but emergency and rescue services will be limited.
 
Please visit www.nps.gov and select “Find a Park” for additional information about access to other parks and sites in this area. However, note that because of the federal government shutdown, NPS social media and websites are not being monitored or updated and may not reflect current conditions.

Darren Doyle, story:
It was the final fiscal court meeting of the year for Edmonson County as well as the terms of District 6 Magistrate Mark Woosley and District 2 Magistrate Joe Durbin today. Distict 1 Magistrate Buck Simmons was absent due to a family matter, but he is also a departing official.

In addition to the sheriff's budget discussion that took up the majority of the meeting, several other topics were on today's agenda.

Road Foreman Ray Page asked the court to furnish powered gates to the road department entrance as an alternative to the steep entrance that caused Page to be pinned between a truck and the current gates during a snowstorm last year. Magistrates seemed to be behind the idea and Page said estimates would be around $4K for the powered gates. Judge Cannon said the amount was in the budget and the court agreed to look into the matter. Page also said it looked like the estimate for repairing the county backhoe that was damaged in an accident a few weeks ago, looked to be around $19K, which would be filed under the county's insurance.

Sheriff Shane Doyle discussed a free DUI training in which deputies recently took part. Doyle said it was advantageous for the deputies at no cost to the county.

Emergency Management Director Terry Massey reported 23 recent emergency calls to which he recently responded and encouraged any of the officials to call him with any needs they may have.

Jailer Hank Vincent reported there were 23 county inmates currently housed at Hart County Jail.

In addition, the court also voted to:

• Approve SOKY Film Commission Dues for $1500
• Approve Susie Vincent for 3 year term to Extension Board, effective January 15th, 2019.
• Approve Anthony Hennion for 3 year term to Extension Board, effective January 15th, 2019.
• Approve to hire full time Road Dept. employee.
• Approve ATVG Winter Meeting on January 23rd and 24th in Chattanooga, TN.  Registration Fee is $100.00.
• Approve for Treasurer to close General Money Market at Bank of Edmonson County and to open a new General Money Market at Limestone Bank.
• Approve Fiscal Court Schedule Bond Renewal # 398 34 44.
• Approve Jailer Bond Renewal # 204 30 05.
• Approve Qualifying Sheriff Bond Renewal # 212 07 26.
• Approve Sheriff’s County Revenue Bond Renewal # 212 07 25.
• Approve Sheriff’s Department Schedule Bond # 398 34 43.
• Approve County Judge Executive Bond Renewal # 212 07 24.
• Approve County Clerk Bond Renewal # 212 07 23.
• Set Special Fiscal Court Meeting January 7th, 2019 for new fiscal court office appointments

The next regular Fiscal Court meeting is scheduled for January 14, 2019 at 6pm.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Some familiar faces along with some new took the oath of office from District Judge J.B. Hines today in the Edmonson County Courtroom as they were sworn in for the 2019 term.

County Officials Judge Executive Wil Cannon, County Attorney Greg Vincent, Sheriff Shane Doyle, Jailer Hank Vincent, Coroner Brentley Esters, District 3 Magistrate Clark Wood, District 5 Magistrate Johnny Brooks, and District 4 Magistrate Edd Rich, who were all re-elected, were sworn in, as well as newly elected magistrates Corey Vanmeter (District 2), Mark Meeks (District 1), and James Vincent (District 6).

Also sworn in were newly elected constables: Anthony Cobb (District 1), Travis Madison (District 2), Ricky Page (District 4), as well as re-elected constables, Joe Carl Daugherty (District 3), Charles Peck (District 5), and Ben Minton (District 6).
​

All law enforcement members of the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office were also sworn in as they took the law enforcement oath. They included: Sheriff Shane Doyle and deputies Matt Skaggs, Stoney Phillips, Wally Ritter, Jordan Jones, Jeff Brooks, Devin Lindsey, and Austin Meredith. 

Darren Doyle, story:
District three magistrate Clark Wood clashed with Sheriff Shane Doyle on Doyle's proposed budget for 2019, which is around a total of a 7% increase from last year's budget. 

"This is what we discussed in our finance committee meeting," said Judge Executive Wil Cannon. "We did all the math on it and this is what is has to be in order for the Sheriff to continue providing the services that he currently provides." Cannon asked for a motion and second to pass the Sheriff's budget which was in the amount of $626,000, which was up from $582,000 for last year.

Magistrate Wood told Doyle that the sheriff's new budget amount was excessive and he was against the increase. He made a motion to reject to budget which was seconded by departing magistrate Joe Durbin. He asked Doyle to simply lower the amount. Doyle said the reasons for the increase in the budget were explained during both the week before last and last week's finance committee meetings where the discussion was shared by all magistrates, except Magistrate Buck Simmons, who was unable to attend to latter meeting. While Magistrate Wood asked several questions at last week's meeting, Doyle said he answered them and felt like magistrates understood Doyle's reasoning behind the increased numbers at the meeting, the place to discuss the line items for the budget, not the regular fiscal court meeting.

Today, the Sheriff said the increase was caused by several factors that were beyond his control, such as: payroll errors made by the former county treasurer, a new tax server required in order for the office to properly send and collect property taxes, a 15-20% increase in fuel, an increased cost from retirement costs set by the state, and their call volume that increased by 25% last year. Doyle said out of the entire amount, only a $3,300 increase could be credited to simply overspending.

"I want to the level of services to be up here," said Doyle as he gestured his hand above his head as he spoke with magistrates. "But you're only wanting to fund me down here," as he moved his other hand near his chest. "I want to be the best sheriff's office in the state. The public expects us to try to do that. If you want me to cut this budget then I have to cut the services we provide. Tell me what you want me to cut, write it down and sign your name to it, that way I can tell the public that these are the things some magistrates don't want us to do."

​
​Magistrate Wood repeatedly said that wasn't his job to find the cuts. He said it's up to Doyle to come up with a satisfactory number to present to fiscal court and that Doyle would have to change the amount to a suitable number, not magistrates. 

County Attorney Greg Vincent said Wood was incorrect and that in fact, it was exactly the magistrates' job to make changes if they didn't like what was presented.

"He submits the recommend budget to you, and you have to vote on what the budget will be," said Vincent. "You can't just say, 'no, we're not accepting your budget,' today, you have to pass a budget, regardless. You will have to pass a number today. It's not him, he's already given his recommendation."

Wood said, "It's his job to cut the budget. If we don't approve it, it's his job to cut it."

Vincent replied, "No, it's your job to do that. He (the sheriff) did present the budget, he did his job. It's your job today to pass the budget. You will have to come up with a number today. It's the same thing we've done with every other sheriff, it's the same we did with every other clerk, even with the (former) clerk protesting and throwing a fit and other sheriffs throwing a fit. If you want the budget cut, YOU have to tell him what to cut and cut it out and he'll have to live with it."

​
​The entire discussion lasted more than an hour with Wood questioning the sheriff on most all his figures, even asking for office staff from the sheriff's office to make a special trip to the meeting in order to furnish specific drug fund money information, which is an account that is funded by seized property and cash from drug arrests. While the amount exceeded more than $60K last year, it can only be spent on specific items that are for the use in fighting drugs. Vehicles, equipment, and uniforms are acceptable types of purchases, and none of those line items were increased from the previous year with Doyle's proposed budget. While the total budget amount from last year increased by $44K, only $6100 will come from the county's general fund.

Magistrate Johnny Brooks made the motion to pass a budget amount of $610K, which was $16K less than Doyle's recommendation. After nearly 20 more minutes of going over each line item again, Doyle ended up reducing salaries, including his own, and said it would not be pleasant explaining the cuts to his deputies.

"These are real people. They count on this money," said Doyle. In addition, Doyle was also forced to cut social security, retirement, workman’s comp, uniforms, and law enforcement supplies for a total of $9500 in cuts to bring the total down to $616K, a $10K decrease from his proposed amount. 

"We’re setting ourselves up for failure with all these cuts," said Judge Cannon. "We're probably going to be right back in this same situation with the sheriff asking for more money at the end of the year because he'll need more than this to operate."

Magistrates said they'd cross that bridge when faced with the task next year and Magistrate Brooks made the motion to accept the budget amount of $616,600. The motion was seconded by Clark Wood. A roll call vote was made and all voted in favor except magistrate Joe Durbin, who voted no, and departing Magistrate Buck Simmons, who was absent due to a family matter.

Darren Doyle, story:
Kentucky State Police, Post 3 received a call for service to assist the Butler County Sheriff’s Department regarding a report of a domestic dispute, which was occurring on Brownsville Road in the Morgantown community of Butler County.  Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Conservation Officer Jonathan Barks was nearby, and responded to the scene to assist, arriving first. 
 
Upon his arrival, Officer Barks located Gary L. Ranburger (55) of Morgantown, who was outside his residence near a vehicle located at 2969 Brownsville Road.  Ranburger was armed, and a confrontation ensued with shots being exchanged between Ranburger and Officer Barks.  Officer Barks fired his duty weapon striking Ranburger multiple times.  Ranburger was transported from the scene by Butler County EMS, and eventually flown via medical helicopter to TriStar Skyline Medical Center in Nashville where he is currently listed in critical—but stable condition.   

Officer Barks was not injured according to reports from Fish and Wildlife; however, KSP first said that Officer Barks was treated for minor injuries as a result of debris from shots fired by Ranburger.  Officer Barks has been placed on administrative leave, which is customary in all critical incidents, according to a Kentucky Fish and Wildlife spokesperson.
 
The investigation continues and is being conducted by members of the KSP Critical Incident Response Team and Detectives from KSP Post 3.

Darren Doyle, story: KSP, photo:
Kentucky State Police are currently investigating an officer involved shooting in Butler County that occurred early this morning around 2am at an unnamed address on Brownsville Road.

​KSP said a KY Fish and Wildlife officer, who was assisting Butler County Sheriff's Office, responded to a domestic disturbance where a suspect was reportedly outside a residence with a gun. KSP confirmed that gunfire was exchanged and the suspect was hit multiple times. 

The officer, identified as Jonathan Barks, received minor injuries from debris as a result of a portion of his vehicle being shot, according to KSP who said he was treated and released.

The suspect is listed in critical but stable condition at Skyline Medical Center in Nashville. No further details were available.

KSP Critical Response Team and KSP Post 3 Detectives are investigating.

**Update: this article was updated on 12/20/18 at 11:07am with the name of the officer.

Darren Doyle, story and photo:
On December 18, 2018, State auditor Mike Harmon released the results of a special examination by his office of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) for the past several fiscal years.  Auditor Harmon’s office began the examination of KDFWR after receiving a letter from Don Parkinson, Secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet asking for a special examination of the agency, which is part of the cabinet.  The report details 11 findings and recommendations for the cabinet and KDFWR leadership.

“The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources promotes the agency that receives no General Fund tax dollars.  But given that a large portion of their funding comes from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, along with federal grants, which are funded by taxpayers, our exam details the greater need for KDFWR to act in a responsible and transparent fashion in following state laws and regulations when it comes to the use of these dollars,” said Auditor Harmon.  “Our exam finds many past and current problems at KDFWR, and that a change in culture is needed.”

In Fiscal Year 2017, KDFWR received more than $70 million in funding.  In fiscal year 2016, 57 percent of their revenue came from license sales for fishing and hunting and boating registrations, and 35 percent came from federal tax dollars through grants.

Edmonson County Clerk Kevin Alexander said that over the past year, local boat registration fees have doubled in some cases. "The information that KDFWR gave us said that the reason for the increases was that costs had not been adjusted since 2002," said Alexander. "They said that rates here were far lower than surrounding states and the increases would bring Kentucky rates to the average of those other states."

Among the 11 findings detailed in the exam released by Auditor Harmon’s office are:

• Co-mingling of restricted funds between the Kentucky Wetland and Stream Mitigation Fund, and the Fish and Game Fund.  Since Fiscal Year 2013, KDFWR has transferred approximately $1 million on an annual basis from the Mitigation Fund to the Fish and Game Fund, which is not in compliance with state law and an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• Use of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation, which is a charitable organization for promotion of wildlife education and wetlands preservation, to circumvent state procurement laws.  Among the purchases identified by auditors included the purchase of $750 of alcohol by a KDFWR employee, who was reimbursed by the Foundation, for an event.  State law prohibits the purchase of alcohol with public dollars, and is one of several examples auditors found that appeared to be attempts to circumvent procurement laws, including KDFWR funding the salary of the 
• More than $20,000 was spent on pre-paid debit cards for volunteers in KDFWR’s hunting education program.  Some of the money used to purchase the cards came from federal tax dollars, which could be a violation of federal law.
• Thousands of dollars spent on meals for KDFWR staff, land owners, and volunteers for several award banquets, including the Commissioner Awards Banquet held each December. 
• Special commission elk permits were awarded with poorly maintained documentation, and some applications were not disqualified even though they did not meet the requirements of administrative regulations.
• Failure to properly monitor contracts to determine whether the public dollars being spent were efficient and effective, including paying a total of $550,000 from Fiscal Year 2008 to 2017 to a conservation group toward a breeding ground for ducks in Canada.  Data from that conservation group showed that only 10 percent of the ducks that migrate to Kentucky come from that Canadian location.
• Prepayments of more than $70,000 between Fiscal Year 2015 and 2017 to an outside marketing and advertising firm without determining services were received. 

“In many of the issues we identified, the agency justified expenditures by stating that no taxpayer dollars were used,” Auditor Harmon said.  “This type of reasoning is illogical, especially when it comes to the use of public funds.  All public funds must be spent in compliance with state and federal law.  I thank Secretary Parkinson for requesting we do a special examination, and my office is hopeful the leadership at KDFWR will exercise greater transparency and accountability in the future.”

Locally, Clerk Alexander also noted that his office was notified by KDFWR that the increased rates would help fund boater related programs, allow more maintenance to free boat ramps and parking areas, fund new boat ramps in high need areas, fund Asian Carp control, and increase boater safety resources.

Alexander also said there were increases in some hunting and fishing licenses.
​
In response to Auditor Harmon’s examination, Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet Secretary Don Parkinson said, “Thank you very much for the work of your team. The Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet supports and embraces the general findings and recommendations of this audit, which reinforce our determination that KDFWR’s culture must change, and its transparency, accountability, and responsiveness must dramatically improve.”

The full report, along with the separate Fiscal Year 2017 audit of KDFWR, can be found on the auditor’s website.

Darren Doyle, story:
A Bowling Green man was arrested on various drug charges after he found himself in a messy situation after a bathroom incident at a local bank.

Law enforcement reported that officers were dispatched to the Bank of Edmonson County on Friday around 3:30pm to the report of a suspicious individual inside the bank. According to Sheriff Shane Doyle, a bank employee said that a man identified as Jonathan Travis Smith, (28) of Bowling Green came running into the bank asking for a bathroom.

According to Sheriff Doyle, the employee pointed him into the direction of the public bathroom inside the bank. The Sheriff said that after a lengthy amount of time, the entire bank was overcome with a foul odor and another employee attempted to check on the man. Upon entering the bank's public bathroom, the employee noticed a ceiling tile was removed and the man was nowhere to be found. Fearing the man had gained access to the bank's attic space, the employee immediately called law enforcement.

Coincidentally, Smith had used the employee-only bathroom, not the public bathroom as bank employees had thought. According to the Sheriff, Smith had left a large mess in the employee-only bathroom and exited quickly after bank employees called for law enforcement. It was unknown how the ceiling tile was removed in the public bathroom but that it was seemingly unrelated to the entire incident. Video surveillance later showed the man did not gain access to any prohibited area inside the bank.

​Doyle said that within seconds, officers arrived and covered both the outside and inside of the building. Brownsville Police Chief Jeff Jewel said that he stopped the man outside the bank and asked him general questions and for his identification. According to Chief Jewell, Smith gave permission for officers to search his car, where they found drug paraphernalia, marijuana, and a quantity of Suboxone without a prescription, which is a controlled substance.

Smith was arrested and charged with: Possession of marijuana, Drug paraphernalia, and Possession of controlled substance-second degree.

"You have to be careful how you take care of your business if you choose to possess illegal drugs in Edmonson County," said Sheriff Shane Doyle. "You can get some serious charges dumped on you."

"The Brownsville PD is always appreciative of the outstanding working relationship with our Sheriff's office and the county jailer," said Chief Jewell. "Credit should also go to the bank employees for how they handled the situation. Without our citizens being willing to go the extra step, the chances of making this arrest would've been flushed down the toilet."

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Another family-owned business in Edmonson County was honored this year at the annual 2018 Edmonson County Industrial Authority dinner, held at The Lodge at Mammoth Cave.

Brooks Motor and Electric, owned by Ronnie Brooks and his two sons; Chris Brooks and David Brooks, received Business of the Year award on Tuesday, December 11th.

The family affair, which specializes in electric power transmission equipment and a host of other related products, began in early 2001 in a home-based business in the Nolin Lake area. Since that time, the company has branched out with new locations in Glasgow and on Veterans Memorial Highway near Brownsville. The company now has 27 employees and ships product to all 50 states and 30 different countries.

This year's special guest speaker was Edmonson County native and former UK baseball head coach Keith Madison, who shared many fond memories of growing up in the county with his family and friends. Coach Madison is a 1969 graduate of Edmonson County High School.

"Down through the years, whenever anyone asked me where I'm from, I never said Bowling Green, or even Brownsville," Coach Madison said. "I always tell them I'm from Lindseyville, Kentucky, which is four miles from Brownsville, and a few more miles from Bowling Green."

Coach Madison's entertaining and inspiring stories all had one common bond, which was what he's learned in life can be credited to God and from the wonderful Edmonson County people that set good examples in front of him many years ago.

Industry of the Year was presented to Keisuke Nakagawa of YAMI, Inc., which is a mold-injection facility that manufactures parts for several auto makers. The company now boasts 110 employees and they are looking to expand again as they now are ready to cater to self-driving and electric automobile producers.

Bluegrass Supply Chain Services was presented New Industry of the Year, although the company was presented the same award last year. Bluegrass recently purchased nine additional acres in the county's industrial park and is currently in process of expanding their business with a new facility that could cost near $11 million dollars. The Industrial Authority board said that the expansion alone is larger than many other industries in their entirety.

Nemesis Arms was presented Most Innovative Industry of they Year, but owners David and Kathleen Ives were unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict with an out-of-state trade show. According to the Industrial Authority, the firearm manufacturer now has contracts with the U.S. military for an innovative sniper rifle that collapses into a small carrying case and can be ready to shoot in seconds. The company has also patented an ambidextrous bolt action system for rifles. 

Edmonson Voice Staff Report: 
A resident of 3949 Morgantown Road is facing multiple felony drug charges after the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office attempted to serve him with a misdemeanor warrant on Sunday, December 9, 2018, at 8:44pm.

According to the sheriff's office, as a deputy arrived at the residence, he noticed two male subjects on the property that attempted to flee at the sight of law enforcement. One of the subjects, Shawn Wayne Filback (46), was apprehended after a foot chase. Filback was the individual with the outstanding warrant, according to the sheriff's office.

Officials said that the deputy noticed materials commonly used in a one-step meth lab on the property which led to probable cause for a search warrant. Two other meth lab certified deputies from the sheriff's office neutralized the lab for proper disposal, according to officials.

The sheriff's office also said a search warrant was executed in the residence and deputies found Patricia Mills, (41), of Brownsville inside. She was apprehended on separate charges relating to an Indictment Warrant for two counts of Trafficking in Controlled Substance, 1st Degree/1st Offence, Drug Paraphernalia (buy/possess), Carrying a Concealed Weapon, and Public Intoxication (controlled substance, excluding alcohol).

​Filback was arrested and charged with:  

• Manufacturing meth (first offense)
• Fleeing or evading police, second degree (on foot)
• Resisting arrest
• Drug paraphernalia-buy/possess
• Possession of controlled substance, first degree, first offense, (meth)

“As always, we are grateful for the good working relationship and assistance from Brownsville City Police," said Sheriff Shane Doyle. "While we don’t often see home-cooked meth in this area, it is still a problem, leaving us no choice but to continue to work harder to fight the war on drugs in Edmonson County.” 

The investigation is ongoing and is being led by Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office. Assisting was Brownsville City Police, who served the warrant on Mills. 

Darren Doyle, story:
Magistrates voted to make Hawks Cemetery Road in the Wingfield community (district one) a one-way street at today's fiscal court meeting, which went against the recommendation of District 1 magistrate Buck Simmons.

In a discussion that continued for the third straight fiscal court meeting, local resident James Simmons, a cemetery trustee, asked the court to make the narrow road one way, in order to avoid traffic problems during mowing season and during funerals. 

Judge Wil Cannon has said from the first discussion that while there are no houses on the road, there is farmland and a barn there, and according to the three owners with property there, two were against changing it to one-way and the other didn't have a preference. 

Magistrate Joe Durbin made the motion to change the road to a one-way street; seconded by Mark Woosley.

Judge Cannon asked Magistrate Buck Simmons what his recommendation would be, since it was his district. Magistrate Simmons said according to the property owners to whom he had also spoken, he was not in favor of the one-way street and recommended to leave the road as-is. During the role call vote, all magistrates voted for the motion except for Simmons, who voted against. The motion passed.

Further discussion led to the decision of the direction of the street, which the court agreed to make it from Pine Grove Rd to Henry Meredith Road. The change will take affect as soon as the proper signage is installed by the county road department. Printing of the signs could take up to a couple of weeks.

The court also discussed an item on the agenda that was recommended by County Clerk Kevin Alexander, which was to form a committee to amend the current Fee Pooling Ordinance. According to Alexander, his office keeps a separate account for excess fees that is not used for his office. These fees are voluntarily turned over by Alexander to the county's general fund and can be used however the county chooses. 

He said because of the way these fees are handled, auditors recommend a different method of record keeping, which requires an ordinance amendment. Alexander said this year would see more than $67,000 going to the county from this fund and the change was necessary to see that it's properly documented in audits. 

As a result, Judge Wil Cannon appointed a committee made up of Alexander, Sheriff Shane Doyle, Cannon, and the magistrates.

“If it wasn’t for excess fee money from the County Clerk, lots of things we do would not be possible,' said Cannon. "He's very conservative with his money and he keeps in mind that the county needs this."

In other fiscal court news, the court also:

• approved re-appointment of A.J. Johnson to Ambulance Board
• approved re-appointment of Debbie Cain to Ambulance Board
• approved appointment of Brittany Sowders to Local Board of Health 
• approved appointment of Lorie Wardlow to Local Board of Health
• approved re-appointment of Barry Wood to Local Board of Health
• approved Charlene White to Local Board of Health
• approved County Attorney bond
• approved County Clerk's budget
• approved KY Assc. for Economic Development 2019 dues
• approved resolution EC-18-25, Animal Shelter agreement with BG/WC Humane Society
• approved $50 monthly phone allowance to Road Foreman Ray Page by recommendation of Mag. Joe Durbin. Page will be required to submit complete copy of his personal cell phone bill to treasurer each month.
• approved $25 monthly phone allowance to Asst. Road Foreman Greg Carroll by recommendation of Mag. Joe Durbin. Carroll will be required to submit complete copy of his personal cell phone bill to treasurer each month.
• Scheduled a new finance committee meeting for December 17th at 8am. There was no agreement on a budget amendment for the Sheriff's 2018 budget today

The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 20, 2018

​Edmonson County Circuit Court Clerk Tanya Hodges has released a special statement regarding the process of jury duty summons' in Edmonson County.

"Dear Edmonson County residents,

As you may know, when court cases require a jury here in the Edmonson County Courthouse, our office has to request a jury panel from Frankfort. I, nor anyone in our office has any control as to whom is mailed a jury summons. We simply request a certain amount of names, and then the names are randomly selected from a database stored in Frankfort.

It has come to our attention that several families have received a summons in the name of a deceased loved one. We know this is frustrating, and sometimes painful. We deeply apologize for these incidents and we are working hard to keep this from happening in the future. 

A new jury panel is currently being selected and the summons' have been mailed out. Again, we do not select these names locally, but we ask that if you or a family member receive a summons for someone who has passed, to please contact our office immediately so that we can notify Frankfort in order to remove that name from the database. 

We are here to serve you with respect and dignity, and we deeply care about our responsibilities, our credibility, but most importantly, you, the people of Edmonson County. Please contact our office with any needs for our services, it is our pleasure to serve you. Thank you so much."

Respectfully submitted,
Tanya Hodges
Edmonson County Circuit Court Clerk
270-597-2584

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
A Mammoth Cave man has pleaded guilty to sexual assault charges during a trial last week that ended on Friday, December 7, 2018.

Jordan R. Sanders, (27), pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault-first degree. He was also charged with first degree sodomy, but the charge was amended to another count of first degree sexual assault, to which he also pleaded guilty. 

Sanders was arrested by the Kentucky State Police on December 12, 2017 on felony sexual abuse charges that allegedly involved a juvenile.

The Commonwealth's Attorney's office has recommended a sentence of one year in jail for each count to run consecutively, for a total of two years in prison, according to court documents. 

Court documents also showed that the Commonwealth also recommended a sex offender registration with a conditional sex offender registry discharge period.

A sentencing date has been set for February 18, 2019, according to court records.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Three different fire departments were paged early this morning to the 500 block of N. Main Street in Brownsville where a garage fire was fully involved.

The fire occurred around 3am on Thursday morning at a detached garage at the Brownsville residence. Firefighters made multiple attempts to see if anyone was inside the home but got no response. 

Brownsville Police responded to the home and also made multiple attempts to contact anyone inside. After no one was contacted, police kicked in the door to ensure safety of anyone that might be inside. Shortly after, one resident was taken into custody and transported to a healthcare facility, according to police. The individual was the only one home at the time of the fire.

Police also reported that they had responded to a domestic incident at the same residence around 10pm the night before; however, no details or names were released from that incident.

No injuries were reported at the fire. The garage and its contents were a complete loss. The home also suffered minor damage to the front of the structure. Firefighters remained on scene until after 8am this morning.

The Brownsville, Chalybeate, and Kyrock Fire Departments responded to the fire along with the Brownsville Police Department. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, according to police. 

​Edmonson Voice Staff Report: 
With the possibility of wintry weather moving into the Commonwealth this week, the Kentucky State Police (KSP) is cautioning motorists to be prepared for hazardous driving conditions.

“Winter driving can present formidable challenges including sleet, snow, slick roads, freezing temperatures and reduced visibility,” says KSP spokesman Sergeant Josh Lawson. “It can be a deadly combination if you’re not prepared.”

KSP reported that slippery roads were the contributing factor in 12,772 crashes and 69 highway deaths in 2017.

Lawson says the agency relies heavily on its social media platforms to get pertinent information to citizens when winter weather hits the Commonwealth.

“We have had great success using Twitter, Facebook and the KSP Mobile App to share winter weather updates,” notes Lawson. “We encourage drivers to download our free mobile app so they will have real time traffic updates when planning winter travel.”

To meet the challenges of the upcoming winter driving season, KSP reminds drivers to plan ahead, make sure all passengers are properly restrained, drive defensively and ensure their vehicle is properly maintained to handle the effects of cold temperatures
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Other safe winter travel tips include:

• Check road and weather conditions before you leave by visiting https://transportation.ky.gov/sites/GoKY/home an online traffic, roadway information and weather portal operated by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. It’s user friendly and offers real-time information that is updated every two minutes.
• Call 511 or 1-866-737-3767 for latest road/traffic conditions.
• Refrain from calling 911 for road or weather conditions due to high call volume. Dispatch centers need the lines open to assist callers who have emergencies.
• Reduce speed in wintry conditions.
• Leave early – allow more travel time; expect delays.
• Increase distance between vehicles – the ability to stop is significantly affected on snow covered or icy roadways
• Clear all windows on your vehicle prior to travel – having unobstructed vision is vital to avoid running off of the road or having a collision.
•  Ensure your windshield washer fluid is full and that you use an anti-ice solution.
•  Turn on your vehicle’s headlamps. Remove any dirt, mud or snow.
• Use caution on bridges and overpasses as they are susceptible to freezing before roadways.
•  Avoid using cruise control which can cause a vehicle’s wheels to continue turning on a slippery surface when speed needs to be decreased. 
• Ensure your vehicle has a full tank of gas in the event you are stranded for an extended period of time.
• Charge your cellular phone prior to departure.
• Always dress warmly and keep a blanket in the vehicle.
• Carry a winter survival kit that includes items such as blankets, a first-aid kit, a can and waterproof matches (to melt snow for water), windshield scraper, booster cables, road maps, tool kit, bag of sand or cat litter (to pour on ice or snow for added traction), collapsible shovel, flashlight and extra batteries.
• KSP is also requesting travelers to observe for stranded motorists. If you see or suspect that someone is stranded, contact KSP at 1-800-222-5555.
• If you get stranded, staying in your vehicle is often the safest choice, says Lawson, who offers these added tips:
• Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna as a signal to rescuers.
• Move anything you need from the trunk into the passenger area.
• Wrap your entire body, including your head, in blankets, or extra clothing.
• Stay awake. You will be less vulnerable to cold-related health problems.
• Run the motor (and heater) for about 10 minutes per hour, opening one window slightly to let air in. Make sure that snow is not blocking the exhaust pipe as this will reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• As you sit, keep moving your arms and legs to improve your circulation and stay warmer.
• Do not eat un-melted snow. It will lower your body temperature.

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“We ask everyone to please remember to be patient,” says Lawson. “Bad weather often produces an unusually high volume of requests for service. Plus, the capabilities of first responders are limited, which increases response time.”

Edmonson County Schools are on a two-hour delay Wednesday, December 5, 2018.

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
Mammoth Cave National Park is closing Flint Ridge, Joppa Ridge, Dennison Ferry, and Houchin Ferry Roads at 4:30 pm today in preparation for freezing roadways and up to an inch of snow which is predicted to fall across the region from tonight until the morning of Wednesday, December 5.
 
The secondary roads will be closed until they can be evaluated for safety in the early morning hours on Wednesday. Park staff will monitor all road conditions throughout the night and update road status prior to the morning commute.
 
For more information about up to date information about park road status visit us on our website, www.nps.gov/maca, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
 
For updated information on ferry operations, please phone (270) 758-2166.
 
For updated information on park roads, please phone (270) 758-2165.
 
For general park information, please phone (270) 758-2180.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
It was a scary moment for county road workers when a backhoe operated by assistant county road foreman Greg Carroll overturned.

County crews were working on E. Poteet Road, which is located near the 6000 block of Nolin Dam Road. According to Foreman Ray Page, Carroll was clearing off mud and debris from the shoulder of the road with the bucket of the backhoe.

Page said it appeared that the bucket likely gouged a place on the pavement that shifted the back end of the machine just enough to throw it off balance. When it did, the back end moved towards the embankment off the right hand side of the shoulder and its momentum caused the backhoe to overturn. 

​County road crews clean out road tiles and see that the shoulder of roads are clear as part of their regular duties. 

Page said workers on scene were able to help Carroll out of the machine. He was transported to the Medical Center by Edmonson EMS.

Page said he received reports from Carroll's family that other than some bruises, Carroll seemed to be doing okay. 

"We're lucky with as much work we do, and the type of work it is, we don't see things like this very much," said Page. "Things could've been a lot worse. Hopefully Greg will be back soon."

Page said they used the road department's wrecker to upright the backhoe. He said it started up and seems to be in order, other than some broken glass.

Responding to the scene was Edmonson County JAWS, Brownsville Fire Department, Edmonson EMS, Brownsville Fire Department, and District 5 Constable.

*Update 12/4/18, 3:48pm: an earlier version of this article failed to include the District 5 Constable in the list of those responding. This information was not provided to us in our interviews.

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
A collision that backed up traffic on the southbound lanes of I-65 yesterday had a fatal ending after a bizarre turn of events, according to witnesses.

Kentucky State Police responded near mile marker 24 on I-65 yesterday at 4:23pm to the report of a two-vehicle injury accident. According to KSP, Cassandra Garrison (30) of St. Louis, MO was operating a 2015 Dodge Journey Crossover traveling southbound, when according to witnesses, Garrison’s vehicle braked to an extremely low rate of speed. 

KSP said that a passenger exited the vehicle, and Garrison’s vehicle changed direction and began to travel northbound in the southbound lanes of Interstate 65.  Garrison continued her path of travel, striking a 2003 Ford Mustang in a “head-on” manner, which was driven by 41 year-old Amy Eakles of Alvaton, KY.
 
Garrison and Eakles were transported on scene via EMS to the Medical Center Hospital in Bowling Green.  Eakles was later flown to Vanderbilt University Hospital where she succumbed to injuries at approximately 8:33 PM on Sunday.  Garrison was transferred Veto Skyline Medical Center Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.  

KSP Public Affairs officer Jeremy Hodges said that KSP is conducting a criminal investigation as a result of the crash where charges are pending.

Traffic was backed up for nearly two hours as a result of the crash.
 
The  investigation continues and is currently being led by Trooper Jonathan Johnson.  Trooper Johnson was assisted on scene by the Bowling Green Police Department, Bowling Green Fire Department, and Medical Center EMS.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
A rollover crash resulted in the arrest of a Cave City man on Saturday, December 1, 2018.

Emergency workers were dispatched to 699 Rocky Hill Road on Saturday night around 9pm with reports of an injury accident with at least one occupant trapped inside an overturned vehicle.

Rescue personnel were able to pry open the door of a 1992 Chevy Camaro, driven by Ricky D. Crump of Cave City. According to the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, Crump was able to exit the vehicle on his own accord. 
​

The sheriff's office reported that Crump's Camaro slipped off the right side of the road into a ditch, overturned, and came to rest on its top. According to law enforcement, a strong smell of alcohol was present with Crump and he allegedly showed other signs of impairment. The sheriff's office also reported that Crump could not follow officers' directions as field sobriety tests were administered. 

Crump was arrested and charged with Driving under the influence-first offense and Careless Driving. No injuries were reported and Crump reportedly refused medical treatment at the scene. The sheriff's office said Crump was cleared by Caverna Hospital and then transported and lodged in the Hart County Jail.

Responding to the scene was the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, Brownsville Police, Rocky Hill Fire Department, Edmonson County JAWS, Brownsville Fire Department, and Edmonson County Emergency Management.