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Edmonson County's Number One Source For Local News and Information
 A tree is the only thing that kept a tractor-trailer with lumber from recently rolling off of Indian Creek Rd. Darren Doyle, story: photos courtesy of ECSO: The Sheriff's Office requested that magistrates consider making some traffic changes on Indian Creek Road regarding semi truck routes during today's fiscal court meeting. According to Deputy Stoney Phillips, a semi truck hauling 49K pounds of lumber met a tractor on the narrow county road a couple of weeks ago and the truck drove off the shoulder of the road. Deputy Phillips said the shoulder could not support the weight of the trailer which caused the trailer to shift, twist, and turn over, blocking the road for over three hours. No fault was found with the driver of the farm tractor, Phillips said. Phillips also said there is an Amish-owned business on Indian Creek Rd that sells produce and builds portable storage buildings. The lumber is shipped to the business periodically, according to Phillips. While there were no injuries, Phillips, on behalf of the Sheriff's Office, asked magistrates to consider an ordinance that would restrict semi truck traffic on Indian Creek Road due to the trucks' weight, length, and the small size of the county road. The entire load had to be dumped on the roadside in order for a commercial wrecker to return the trailer to its upright position.  Judge Executive Wil Cannon asked about the possibilities of trucking companies requesting an escort on that and other small roads instead of shutting down semis from the road altogether. Phillips said that would be the responsibility of either the trucking company, which would not likely happen, or the Amish-owned company, which was only capable of providing a horse and buggy escort, something he felt wasn't safe or feasible.
Magistrate Buck Simmons asked if the requested ordinance was written for this particular road, why wouldn't the remaining small county roads need the same ordinance? Phillips said while he agreed with that on several more roads, Indian Creek was the only small county road that currently experiences regular semi truck traffic that poses a danger to the public. The court moved to table the issue until the next fiscal court meeting with hopes that all magistrates would be present. Magistrate Joe Durbin was absent from today's meeting.
Mitzie Pruitt
5/22/2017 01:19:32 pm
Would this not cause problems for land owners that are selling their timber? There are several land owners that are selling their timber that live on these small narrow roads, how would they be able to get their timber to a main highway?
Regina Lindsey Prewitt
5/22/2017 03:41:05 pm
We live in a rural community. Our roads have always been a concern in certain circumstances. I don't think we need to target one group of people or one road. Fairness is something that needs to become a practice in Edmonson County. Take a step back and look at the matter from more than just one view. These people have been an asset to our county. The produce, labor and many other small benefits they bring to our county is something I feel most people will not want to lose. They are a diverse group who want to worship and live in peace in our community. Not once have they caused any trouble or been anything but friendly and peaceful. This is another case like the HSEC not being allowed to post on The Edmonson Voice. There is always room for more organizations that work to improve the life of people or animals or improve our community. It's time we all worked together and stop having one standard for some people and another for others. We get enough negative, back woods publicity about our county. Everyone needs to work together and stop letting our opinion color the way we handle a certain situation. Widening these type of roads would solve the whole problem.
Anita Thompson
5/23/2017 02:45:54 pm
Very well said Regina and Mitizi I agree 100 percent.
Ronnie Cline
5/23/2017 03:59:26 pm
I dont see anywhere where the duputy singled out the amish. he said the road had too much semitrucks on it. Yeah im sure widening the road would be better but do you want to pay more taxes? i dont. If the county cant afford a radio they sure cant afford to make a road wider. You dont know a whole lot about what your talking about.
Frances McPeak
5/22/2017 07:37:19 pm
The road is to small yes,but why punish the land owner's? The county needs to widen the road, school buses take chance's everyday with all those kid's on it. Do the right thing and widen the road.
Ronnie Vincent
5/22/2017 08:37:19 pm
We have 5 family's on Indian Creek that get supplys by the tractor trailer loads. So I catch tell the county one think. If they shut our road down to tractor trailers the rest of the county roads will be shut down too. I have lived here for 33 years. One truck turned over and they won't to shut it down ! The families have met today and we will be at the next meeting to put a stop to this ! Thanks Edmonson voice for the update.
Erin Milton
5/23/2017 03:18:08 pm
In my opinion if this subject is going to be discussed at next meeting, then the Amish Comunity needs to be invited to said meeting. Apparently officer Stoney P. Does not know exactly what the Amish can or can not do. The Amish hires people to transport them in every day vehicles not just horse drawn carriages. With that being said I am sure they could hire a local person to escort the tractor trailers in and out. However with that being said, the Amish should not be singled out. If the Amish is required to furnish escort then all property owners that require a semi on any of the back rds should also have todo the same thing. There for in my opinion the public should be notified along with the Amish community as to when and where this subject is to be discussed. Thanks.
Tom Townsend
5/23/2017 04:29:14 pm
None of these comments show concern for the safety of the people who travel on Indian Creek. Not one of the comments mention how fortunate the driver of the farm tractor, my dad, was not ran over. If you read the article and looked at the pictures, it states that a tree was the only thing that kept the cab of the semi-tractor from flipping over and possibly severely injuring the driver. This is what Officer Phillips is addressing, safety. No one is being targeted and no way of life is being taken away. I live on Indian Creek and as Transportation Manager for a company operating trucks in 7 states run into challenges of restricted roadways that require alternate sizes of equipment to accommodate deliveries. A sleeper tractor with 53’ split axle flatbed is not the answer for delivering on Indian Creek. I have nothing but respect for the Christian Community on Indian creek, buy a lot of produce and love the people. Not sure how anyone reads this article and claims someone way of life is being threaten and does not think of safety first.
Mitzie Pruitt
5/23/2017 06:15:00 pm
I was not just looking at Indian Creek Road. I used to carry the mail on several of these small roads in this county. I was standing at my kitchen window watching a tractor low boy come out Cedar Grove Church Road with a dozer on it, I am not going to swear on it but I think it was with the Dept. of Transportation what will happen in situations like that? I agree something needs to be done these roads are dangerous and I have great concerns for farmers safety! My father was killed in a farming accident I just think everyone is going to have to put their heads together to come up with a good solution. Comments are closed.
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