Submitted by: Dr. Megan C. Romano, Veterinary Toxicology Resident, University of Kentucky Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Blue-green algae, also called cyanobacteria, are microscopic organisms normally present in aquatic ecosystems, including lakes and ponds. Thousands of species of blue-green algae have been identified; at least 80 are known to produce toxins that can cause illness and death in animals as well as humans. Heavy growth of these toxin-producing algae (“blooms”) can cause high concentrations of toxins in the water. In North America, Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Oscillatoria, and Microcystis are the species of blue-green algae most commonly associated with poisoning.

In central Kentucky, blooms are most common in late summer and early fall, during hot, sunny weather. Contamination of water with excess nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, further encourages algal growth. Common sources of excess nutrients include fertilizer runoff from fields, lawns, and gardens, and direct manure and urine contamination from livestock.
Blooms can produce a blue-green sheen on the water surface, or they can be pea-green and thick, like spilled paint. In addition to blue and green, blooms can also be brown or white. They can form scums, slimes, or mats. It is impossible to tell if a bloom is toxic just by its appearance – ALL blooms should be considered potentially toxic.

Blue-green algae can produce neurotoxins (affecting the nervous system) or hepatotoxins (causing liver damage), and some species can produce both types. Neurotoxins can cause muscle tremors, seizures, excessive salivation, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and death within hours or even minutes of exposure. Hepatotoxins cause vomiting, diarrhea, bloody or dark stool, and pale or jaundiced (yellow) mucus membranes. Animals can die quickly, or they can develop liver failure over several days. 

There are no antidotes for blue-green algae toxins, so early decontamination and supportive care can mean the difference between life and death for an exposed animal. If your pet develops these or any other signs after a recent exposure to water, seek immediate veterinary care. It is important to note that this includes exposure to water with no obvious algal bloom. Toxins can persist in the water for a week or longer after the bloom itself has collapsed.

Preventing blue-green algae poisoning in pets and livestock:

• Provide plentiful clean, clear, fresh water for your animals. Keep water bowls, buckets, and troughs clean and well-maintained. 
• NEVER let your pets (or children) swim in, play in, or drink water that is discolored, slimy, scummy, or otherwise suspicious. Assume any bloom is toxic.
• Pay attention to local health and water advisories and respect any water body closures. Water that appears clean can still contain high concentrations of toxins.
• Fence off farm ponds, creeks, and other natural water sources to prevent livestock from contaminating them as well as drinking from them.
• Fence off backyard ponds and other natural water sources to keep pets from accessing them.
• Prevent fertilizer and/or manure from running off into water sources.
• If your pet does access suspicious water, thoroughly wash them with clean, fresh water and prevent them from licking their fur. Wash your own hands and arms after washing your pet, as exposure to blue-green algae can cause skin, eye, nose, and throat irritations in humans.
• If animals become ill after exposure to a pond, lake, or other natural water source, seek immediate veterinary care – even if the water appeared clean, toxins can still be present. Be sure to tell your veterinarian if your animal might have been exposed to blue-green algae. This can help direct treatment, as many other illnesses can have similar signs.

​Perhaps the greatest appeal to fall squirrel hunting is its all inclusive nature. Squirrel hunting allows for the perfect opportunity to introduce young sportsmen and women to the outdoors. The season often contains a relatively lengthy period of mild weather, steady action is usually standard, and small caliber weapons easily managed and handled by youth hunters, are the preferred choice of most. 

​The fall season is also ideal for elderly hunters who are no longer active in activities such as deer hunting due to limited mobility to climb stands or walk long distances to and from their hunting areas. Fantastic squirrel hunting is frequently found no further than the closest grove of oak trees.

As the final heat waves of summer come and go, and the chilly breeze of autumn brings multi-colored leaves falling to the woodland floor, take the time to head afield in pursuit of one of the nation's most popular small game species. Squirrel hunting is truly an experience that excludes no one in the enjoyment that it offers. With every memory made, the value of the hunt significantly grows.

​Click on the flyer to register.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Fast machines and an assortment of activities helped draw a huge crowd at the annual Chalybeate Volunteer Fire Department  for one of their biggest events ever.

"Hazzard Life," a Tennessee-based company that specializes in replicas of the famous cars from the iconic 80s TV show, "The Dukes of Hazzard" brought out versions of The General Lee, Roscoe's patrol car, and Daisy's Roadrunner. 

Vendors were set up in several booths inside while attendees took photos with the cars.

A benefit auction was held, followed by a staged car chase between the General Lee and Roscoe. 

"CVFD would like to personally thank the Edmonson County Sheriff's Department for helping shut down the road for the chase to occur," said Fire Chief Daniel Johnson. 

Air Methods Air Transport grabbed everyone's attention as they landed their medical helicopter in the open lot behind the firehouse. Helicopter staff then gave everyone a complete tour of the aircraft, let kids climb inside, and answered questions from the crowd.

Pelican's Snoballs were onsite with their ice cold treats and they donated a portion of their proceeds to the fire dept.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Free food and fun brought hundreds out to the Main Street Center on Saturday for the Alford's Pharmacy and Drive Thru Ten-Year Anniversary celebration event, but it wasn't just the treats that drew the crowd. Most that attended the event were there to shake hands and visit with team members of the pharmacy.

Owner Kasey Alford, discussed the importance of the family atmosphere at his business, and how it feels like more of an extension of his own family.

"My wife and I had been married less than one year when we opened the pharmacy," he said. "We had our first daughter, Marlee, two years later, then our second daughter, Amelia, two years after that, and now we have a boy on the way.  Our family has literally come to life around the pharmacy, all thanks to our patients, employees, and God's grace." 

Alford said that the success his pharmacy has been extremely humbling and should be credited to God, the trust and support of their patients and community, and the hard work and dedication of almost 20 team members employed by Alford's.

"To me, that's our single greatest achievement in 10 years: providing good jobs here at home," he added.

Board members of the Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce were also in attendance to help celebrate.

"On behalf of the Chamber, we want to congratulate all the members of Alford's Pharmacy for their success over the last decade," said Chamber Director Rhonda Clemmons. "Ten years is amazing feat for a business and we're proud to say Alford's Pharmacy and Drive-Thru is part of the Edmonson Chamber family. 

Drawings were held for over $1500 in prizes, ranging from kitchen ware to a gas grill. Nearly 300 BBQ sandwiches were served, and dozens stood in line for snow cones. When asked about the future, Alford's had a definitive answer.

"We feel like we've done a lot of good things in 10 years, but I sincerely feel much more is on the way.  And, if all we ever do is provide medication to people, then we have failed our purpose.  Our purpose is to love and serve others, however that may be."

EV Staff Report:
Mammoth Cave National Park invites the public to join a nationwide commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the first landing of enslaved Africans in English-occupied North America at Point Comfort in Hampton, VA, now known as Fort Monroe National Monument, through special ranger led activities on Sunday, August 25. The park will conduct several Heritage Trail Walks and Porch Talks that highlight African Americans and their legacy at Mammoth Cave National Park, and will participate in a Nationwide Bell Ringing Ceremony which will begin at 2:00 pm CST at the park visitor center.
 
Since its establishment on August 25, 1916, the National Park Service has cared for extraordinary historic and cultural sites that are pivotal parts of the American narrative. African Americans played a key role in Mammoth Cave’s history as they served as some of the first guides and explorers of the Mammoth Cave system. The nationwide bell-ringing event is a symbolic gesture to enable Americans from all walks of life to participate in this historic moment to capture the spirit of healing and reconciliation while honoring the significance of 400 years of African American history and culture.
 
The Nationwide Bell Ringing Ceremony is a free event being held at national park units across the country. The Mammoth Cave ceremony will begin at the bridge behind the park’s visitor center. Participants should be onsite by 1:50 pm CST where a park ranger will lead the group as they ring bells along the accessible Heritage Trail for approximately 0.25 miles to the Old Guide's Cemetery. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own bell to join in the commemoration.
 
In addition to the Nationwide Bell Ringing Ceremony, park staff will lead several walks and talks which will start at the park visitor center. All activities are free and open to the public with no reservations required. Ranger led Heritage Trail Walks will take place at 9:15 am, 12:30 pm, and 4 pm, and Porch Talks will be held at 10 am and 1 pm. 

submitted flyer:

​Please contact the Bank of Edmonson County for more info: 270-597-2175

EV Staff Report: ​ 
Mammoth Cave National Park is celebrating the 103rd birthday of the National Park Service (NPS) by offering a free Discovery Cave Tour ​from 10 am to 3 pm on Sunday, August 25. The birthday marks the day in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Park Service Act to consolidate management of America’s federal parklands under one agency.
 
When it was first established, the NPS was responsible for managing 35 national parks and monuments which were mostly located on the federal lands of the West. Now the National Park System comprises of 418 sites, including national parks, national historical parks, national monuments, national recreation areas, national battlefields, and national seashores. These sites can be found in 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and the Virgin Islands.
 
The free Discovery cave tour is a self-guided tour which runs approximately ¾-mile through one of Mammoth Cave’s largest rooms, the Rotunda, and explores the history and geologic origins of the Mammoth Cave system. Visitors must pick up their tickets in the park’s visitor center before starting the tour at the Historic Entrance. Tour participants are required to walk down and up a steep hill as well as navigate 160 steps along the tour.

EV Staff Report:
The University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences is pleased to announce that over 1,550 undergraduates qualified for the Spring 2019 College of Arts and Sciences Dean's List.

Norma Patel of Brownsville, KY (42210) - Biology
Jelesmina Grieco of Brownsville, KY (42210) - Political Science

To be included on the Dean's List, students must have completed 12 or more credits during a semester for letter grades with at least a 3.60 GPA. Congratulations to the high-achieving students who put in the time and effort to meet the academic requirements to make the Dean's List.

submitted by: Lisa M. Anspach, Friends of Nolin Lake Special Events Coordinator
The Friends of Nolin Lake hosted the annual Rex Hurt Memorial Nolin Fest on Saturday, August 10, 2019 at the Moutardier Recreation Area. Thanks to the FONL sponsors, this event is free to the public with inflatables, live music, and a fireworks show.

This year’s festival hosted food vendors with food options varying from shaved iced, funnel cakes, popcorn to ribeye sandwiches and lots in between. Several product vendors in a wide range of products and services were also set up giving attendees many options to shop. Nolin River Lake US Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District Rangers and volunteers were set up sharing the importance of water safety and wearing a life jacket. Rangers on water patrol visited boats prior to the fireworks and provided a courtesy reminder of proper us of navigation lights and anchor lights providing glow sticks if any lights were out. Friends of Nolin Lake sponsors, Renegade Marina & Outdoor Center and Jacob’s Home Furnishings were set up near the FONL booth with pontoon boats and various home furnishings to view and purchase and Boy Scout Troop 597 assisted in parking the estimated 1,000 of folks in attendance.

​The evening ended with Andy and the Rockers rocking the stage until dark when they turned the entertainment over to the firework display over the lake. Over 180 boats were on the water and even more folks lined the shoreline and pavilion area to enjoy the show. Photography services were donated by Jackilyn Photography and are available on our social media pages. Thanks to all who came and participated in Nolin Fest 2019!

Note: the thoughts and opinions expressed by Edmonson Voice guest columnists and authors of submitted articles are their own, not necessarily those of EdmonsonVoice.com ​​

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
Each year, neighbors and visitors are needed to set aside one day to celebrate and give back to the lake that gives the community a place to live, learn, play, exercise and relax. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), volunteers can make a difference in the Nolin River Lake Community by participating in the 11th Annual Lakeshore Clean-up Campaign, Saturday, September 14th from 8:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. "This is an excellent family activity," said the USACE in a statement. "You and your children will have a ‘hands on’ opportunity to connect and make a difference." ​The clean-up campaign is designated an official National Public Lands Day Event. This event is sponsored by The Friends of Nolin and coordinated in conjunction with The Corps of Engineers and Nolin River Lake State Park. 

On Saturday, September 14th at 8:00 am stop by any of the following boat ramps to register, just check in at the registration table at Dog Creek, Moutardier, State Park, and Wax. Groups such as Scout troops, church and school groups are highly encouraged to attend, but should call 270-286-4511 to pre- register. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own water and sunscreen, but trash bags and gloves will be provided. A pontoon boat will shuttle volunteers to the shoreline to pick up trash. 

Afternoon activities start at 12:00 p.m. at the Moutardier picnic shelter, with food and giveaways for participants sponsored by Friends of Nolin. 

"We need boats and volunteers, pontoon boats are vital to this event, as they are required to shuttle volunteers and trash back and forth along the shoreline, and remember to have enough life jackets available for all passengers," stated USACE in statement.  "As a token of appreciation, pontoon boat owners will be given a two nights free camping at any Nolin River Lake Corps of Engineers Campground." Tarps will be provided to line boats for trash pick-up. The  USACE also said volunteers do not have to have a pontoon to help, anyone can volunteer as a registration person or zone coordinator at one of the boat ramps. To register for any one of these jobs, please contact Libby Watt at 270-286-4511. 

For more information, please call Libby Watt at the Nolin River Lake, Corps of Engineers Office at 270-286-4511

​You can also visit the Friends’ website at www.friendsofnolinlake.org.

​column and photo by Josh Boyd:
A brief early evening drive down nearly any rural roadway in south central Kentucky will yield numerous deer and turkey sightings among the region's winding creek bottoms and plentiful soybean fields. In an area so rich in agriculture and undisturbed countryside, it is somewhat difficult to imagine this region in absence of the whitetail deer and eastern wild turkeys that make their home here. However, this was the reality of the not so distant past.

Both the whitetail deer and the eastern wild turkey, are among the greatest wildlife success stories of the modern era. Once scarce or completely absent in the entirety of south central Kentucky, both species can now be seen in abundance within the area, with overall excellent hunting being relatively common. In a mere forty years, we as hunters have seen the harvest of a whitetail deer transition from an unobtainable goal, to one achieved by many children before they graduate grade school.

More recently, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife has managed the reintroduction and re-population of elk into the eastern portion of our state, where until recently, was void of this once native species. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife has also been a proponent of managing the state's growing black bear population. Open fall black bear seasons now spread as westward as Meltcalfe and Cumberland Counties.

​Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, Whitetails Unlimited, Quality Deer Management Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Quail Forever all have active branches or chapters open for participation within our region. Many of these organizations have yearly local banquets that allow interested individuals to attend the events and familiarize themselves with the goals of the group.

Most recently, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation conducted their annual banquet last Saturday, the 10th, in Bowling Green. Whitetails Unlimited is next up on the local conservation organization event schedule with their annual banquet being held this upcoming Saturday, August 17th, at the Corvette Museum. These banquets and countless others take place within our region annually, and allow hunters an entertaining and informative gathering to join with other like minded individuals to further the goal of conservation.

Biologists and wildlife technicians are also staged in various locations across the bluegrass, in order to conduct the necessary day to day operations that ensure the sustainability of the state's wildlife populations. Interested parties can place a phone call or send an email to Fish and Wildlife officials in order to inquire about avenues to assist in conservation efforts. The general public can assist in wildlife management efforts by means of providing agency officials with deer carcasses for use in testing for CWD and other known wildlife ailments, as well as by relaying any sightings of wildlife that appear to be ill or expressing abnormal behavior. 

Whether through the assistance of local wildlife biologists and technicians, involvement with local chapters of conservation groups, or by simply paying yearly license fees, all hunters in south central Kentucky can be an active force in ensuring the future of our hunting heritage. Together, all hunters manage a shared resource that we must be diligent in safeguarding. In doing so, we give the gift of enduring enjoyment of the outdoors and time spent afield to the future generations to follow.

Make plans to attend the 2019 Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce Golf Scramble on Thursday, October 10, 2019 at Shady Hollow Golf Club. Click the flyer to visit the Chamber's website where you can sign up and purchase your entries and sponsorships online!

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
Local retired teachers made a donation of school supplies to the Family Resource Center, the donation will be divided among the Family Resource and Youth Service Centers across the district and distributed out to kids as needed for the school year. 

According to Sharon Brooks, Family Resource Center Coordinator for EC 5/6 Center, donations such as these along with donations from events like Stuff the Bus are how the centers stay supplied through the school year. 

"We couldn’t do it without our amazing community," said Sharon Brooks. "Retired teachers have donated every year since I’ve worked in family resource and every year we appreciate it more and more."