Edmonson Voice Staff Report: 
​The Edmonson County Winter Guard competed in the Southeastern Color Guard Circuit (SCGC), Saturday, February 3, 2018 at Independence High School in Thompson Station, TN. This was their first competition of the 2018 season in which they competed against schools from Kentucky and Tennessee.

The Edmonson County Winter Guard team led by Captains Amber Davidson, Emma Lindsey, Kaley Hartz, and Destiny Holt performed their 2018 show “Carry On” and placed in 2nd place with a score of 62.92, only 1.36 points shy of first place. The Edmonson County Winter Guard program continues to grow from nine members in 2017 to fifteen members in 2018.

“So proud of the Edmonson County Winter Guard. Today, I had the honor of watching 9 out of 15 members have their first ever color guard experience, and walk away with second place," said Director Autumn Stevenson. "They looked beautiful and are now hungry to continue perfecting our 2018 show. There are great things to come from the 2018 EC Winter Guard. Thank you to all that help and support the Guard as we continue to grow and educate others on what exactly the sports of the arts contain. Without you we would not be able to do what we love!”

The Edmonson County Winter Guard is under the direction of Autumn Stevenson and John Woods II with instructors Amy Tanner, Jesse Katzman, and Emily Vincent. You can follow their progress this season on the SCGC website by clicking here.

The Winter Guard team is part of the ECHS Wildcat Band.  

Their next competition will be March 10, 2018 at the Barren County High School in Glasgow, KY with performance time TBA.

by: REPRESENTATIVE MICHAEL LEE MEREDITH
As the 2018 session moves into February, key House priorities are moving through the legislative process, and we recently passed multiple bills to enhance the education of our students.
 
Two key education bills were delivered to the Senate last week including legislation providing information dealing with drug abuse and financial literacy. House Bill 55 calls for a drug abuse prevention curriculum to be developed by the Office of Drug Control Policy, with a focus on teaching K-12 students about the dangers of the prescription drug epidemic, and its relation to other dangerous substances. This legislation is a step towards combatting the opioid epidemic we face in Kentucky. 
 
House Bill 132 requires high school students to take a course on financial literacy in order to graduate. This legislation brings a much-needed focus on personal finances to our schools, many of which currently have no such curriculum. Whether it be student loans, credit cards, or saving for retirement, it is critical for our students to be equipped with basic financial skills.
 
Also, we passed House Bill 30, which requires suicide prevention training for both administrators and teachers. As more and more research emerges on the growing feelings of anxiety and depression in young people, it is vital that those who spend significant amounts of time with our students are fully prepared to spot the signs of suicidal behavior.
 
Meanwhile, House Bill 3, which establishes an “essential skills” curriculum in K-12 schools, was filed this week. Far too much of our potential workforce lacks the practical skills necessary to fill many positions, such as passing a drug test, showing up for work on time, and solving basic problems. Under this legislation, students would be required to complete three out of a variety of essential skills requirements, including undergoing random drug testing and participating in a work-based learning program. The lack of soft skills, and in particular the inability to pass a drug test, is a growing concern that I hear about from employers, and is an issue that this bill will make progress toward.
 
Another piece of priority legislation that was recently filed is House Bill 1, which includes comprehensive reforms to our systems of adoption and foster care. For far too long, many children have been held up in state care, unable to be placed into loving homes due to financial and bureaucratic constraints. This proposal seeks to streamline the placement of children into supportive families, and is the product of months of work done by our House Working Group on Adoption. I look forward to seeing movement on this legislation, which will be good for all parties involved, not the least of which are the children and families affected. 
 
While other bills are moving, we continue working to craft a responsible budget that meets all of our obligations including funding public education. That is the ongoing purpose of our House Budget Review Subcommittees: to evaluate the Governor’s proposal and look for areas where some cuts may need to be restored, while keeping in mind that our top priority is to ensure that we provide full funding to our long-neglected pension systems. I have heard from many of you with your thoughts on the proposed budget, and I hope that you continue reaching out.
 
I am honored to serve as your voice in Frankfort. In order for me to effectively represent you, it is important that I get your thoughts on the many pressing issues facing our state. You can reach me through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181, or you can contact me via e-mail at [email protected]. You can keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at www.lrc.ky.gov.

Edmonson Voice Staff Report: photos courtesy of Robin Grey:
Members of the Edmonson County Middle School competed in the Region 5 Governor’s Cup competition, which was held at South Warren High School earlier today.

"The ECMS Team performed at a tremendously high level in all areas, earning them the overall Region 5 championship," said middle school Principal Brandon Prunty. 

The win makes the second year in a row that Edmonson County has won the trophy. Coach Greg Grey talked about the performance from the team.

"Our academic team turned in an outstanding overall performance in one of the most competitive Governor’s Cup regions in the state," he said. "Our team excelled in future problem solving, quick recall, and written assessment. ECMS continued its superior tournament play by placing first overall for the fifth time this season." 

​The Edmonson Voice does not support or endorse any political candidate.

by KY State Senator Steve Meredith, District 5:
​I was fortunate to meet with superintendents from my fifth Senate district this week. We had a great discussion about the needs of education, especially in our rural communities, and they explained to me the catastrophic consequences that proposed budget cuts would have on our local schools. For my part, I spoke more about the financial hardship the state faces and the need for a fiscally responsible budget. We discussed potential solutions to meet the state’s obligations while also investing in education. I assured them that I would continue to advocate for our public schools and commitments that were made to the people entrusted with the education of our children. The budget process is a long way from finished, so I urge you to continue to make your voice heard!
 
Now that the filing deadline has passed, there has been a significant increase in filed bills and committee hearings. Most of my time is spent reading and responding to constituent calls and emails, educating myself on proposed legislation, offering suggestions to improve the way government works, and advocating for rural communities in committee. The looming budget, pension, and tax reform tasks weigh heavily on us all, but there are other matters that we must address in the meantime.
 
Here is a brief summary of bills that passed the Senate this week:

• Senate Bill (SB) 35 would align Kentucky labor laws for seasonal facilities with federal standards.
• SB 37 would direct the Transportation Cabinet to establish procedures allowing federal inmates on work release to obtain a driver’s licenses in order to better integrate into society. Measures such as SB 37 are important in both workforce development and criminal justice reform as we try to help inmates best prepare for reentry into the workforce.
• SB 68 would clarify that a victim of domestic violence is not required to pay the legal fees of the abusive spouse in a divorce action when the spouse is jailed for crimes against the victim.
• SB 85 would make it easier for notaries public to change their names without having to undergo the certification process again. 
• SB 57 would allow a person injured by an act of terrorism to file a claim for damages against the terrorist. It also establishes a crime of terrorism as a capital offense that will be punished by imprisonment for life without probation or parole and that a person convicted of terrorism cannot be released early.
• SB 72 would prohibit the naming of state buildings, properties, programs, initiatives, highways, or bridges in honor of any living elected state official or state employee. This bill will help ensure that state elected officials and employees do not use their public positions for personal gain. The bill is not retroactive and will not affect already-named structures.

 
With the passage of SB 12, the Senate took time to honor an often-forgotten group in education as it designated May 1 of every year “School Bus Driver Day” in Kentucky. Interaction with these first and last adults many children encounter in the school system every day is one of the most important parts of the school day, and we are so grateful for the work they do.
 
We wrapped up the week on Friday wearing blue and orange to support Marshall County High School and show that we are #MarshallStrong. We continue to pray for all those affected, especially the citizens of Marshall County; they remain in our hearts as we continue our work in Frankfort.
 
If you have any questions or comments about public policy issues, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me at [email protected].  You can also review the legislature’s work online at www.lrc.ky.gov.