Edmonson Voice Staff Report, photos ECCD:
Ashton Johnson, a student at South Edmonson Elementary, was named the Edmonson County winner in the Jim Claypool Conservation Art Contest. This contest was produced as a partnership between Kentucky Farm Bureau and the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts, and themed: “Backyard Adventures Exploring the Trees in your Hometown.”

Students grades K-12 from across the Commonwealth used a 'backyard adventures' theme to create 44,152 art entries. Judges from the local conservation districts, along with county officials, and the UK Ag Extension office chose county winners, whose entries then moved on to the state level competition.

Ashton is in Mrs. Lisa Basil's fourth grade class and is the son of Adam and Mindy Johnson of Smiths Grove.

A distinguished panel of judges with diverse environmental backgrounds selected statewide winners in both writing and art categories on January 26, 2017. State, area, and county winners will receive a check sponsored by Kentucky Farm Bureau. First, second, and third place winners received a plaque, medallion, and certificate commemorating their win from Edmonson County Conservation District.

South Edmonson Elementary also received $100 from the Conservation District for the highest percentage of entries, to be used at their discretion.  Other winners included Olivia Madison (2nd place) and Grace Arms (3rd place) both of SEES.

There were 270 entries from Edmonson County.

Around 2am, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors were activated. Matt said he thought that perhaps dirt and dust had caused a false alarm and he went upstairs to check it out. To his horror, the entire top floor was in flames. The fire department responded as quickly as possible, but the structure was too far gone to save. The Richardsons were standing in their pajamas in their driveway, on a cold January morning, with not much more than the clothes on their backs.

They have since moved into a mobile home just across the field from their Reed Road property (off Mohawk Road) while construction of their new home is underway.

"We're still dealing with this everyday," Matt said. "It's like you flipped a switch. We went from everything being ok one day to waking up the next day with everything changed. Even now, we go to get something, or pick something up and realize it's gone."

His wife Julie said that while it's been a struggle adjusting to their new life, they're trying to push forward.

"Everyday, things get a little better," she said. "We have days where one of us will be down, but the other will be up."

Julie said moving forward would've have been virtually impossible without help.

"People were so nice to us, people we don't even know," she said as the tears trickled down her cheek. "They offered us their houses, clothes, money, they offered Cooper toys."

They each discussed the importance of a strong community and how it strengthened them.

"I've thought about people that live in big cities, or people that live in places where they don't have any friends or family," said Matt. "When something like this happens, where do they go? What do they do? We've always been really independent. The hardest thing was realizing that we needed help, but help was here."

Julie also credited a higher power for their positive outlook.

"We're trying to stay positive because God has blessed us," she said. "He's helping us. All the people that've reached out to us, the prayers, everything. We're fortunate because we can rebuild. So many others can't and we realize that."

Julie shared how their son, Cooper, has been a strength to both of them. 

"(Constable) Tim Skees gave Cooper $20 and told him to go buy something for himself, which was so nice," she said. "Cooper handed it to me and said, 'here Mom, you need this worse than me.' I mean, what do you say to that?" she said through tears. 

While losing your home and possessions in a fire is a horrific tragedy, the Richardsons have been through even more adversity, worse than this.

"Another reason we can keep pushing forward is that this is not the worse thing we've faced," said Matt. 

The Richardsons lost their infant daughter in 2005, Shelby, who was two days old and weighed one pound. She died of complications from her premature birth. 

"When you realize that you're not in control of anything, and it's all in God's hands, it puts things in perspective," said Julie. 

Matt said he's learned that nothing in life is guaranteed.

"Your things, your life, you're not in control," he said. "It reminds you that your little problems are not that bad. There's always someone who is in need worse than you. No matter how bad things are, they could always be worse."

Matt said he's also learned that personal possessions shouldn't be priorities.

"I don't care about stuff," he said. "It's not important. It's good to have, but you don't need it."

Julie said because of the outpouring of support from the community, it would be impossible to thank everyone individually, although they've attempted to send a load of thank you cards.

"We can't put our thanks into words," she said. "The words 'thank you' just seem so small. We always knew we could count on our closest family and friends for support, but it's just unbelievable how many people have helped us through this in one way or another."

Matt said that they're hope is to be able to thank everyone by giving back to the community in some way. 

"I don't know how we can ever repay everybody, but we're working on ways how we can do that."

The family has begun the rebuilding of their home in the same place. The entire structure, including the basement and foundation, were all lost, so they've started from scratch. New basement walls have been constructed and the framing will begin soon. 

"There really aren't enough words to thank everyone for what they've done for us," said Julie. "The money, clothes, all the things for Cooper, and most importantly, their prayers. We still need those prayers everyday. We've learned that we all need our community, our church family, our friends. It's truly amazing and overwhelming. What a blessing for how good people have been to us. Cooper is so thankful, too. We're thankful for our fire departments and we're going to try to help them give back to the community somehow, too. We're so thankful for this county. It's a good place."

The deals continue this week at Mimi's Gift Gallery in Chalybeate with a buy one, get one half off for bags and wallets! Check out the flyer for all the details.

Parks & Rec program director Greg Hudson has announced the annual Parks and Rec Community Wide Easter Egg Hunt has been set for Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 11am.

This is a free event and kids of all ages (up to 12) are welcomed to participate. The event will be held at HWY 70 Ballpark.

Hudson said over 9500 eggs are prepared for hiding, all of which are estimated to be gone in a matter of minutes.

Approximately 300-500 kids participated in last year's event and this year's is expected to be much larger.

​Since this is the period of the Legislative Session when the Governor has his veto days and the Senate does not meet, I wanted to discuss the issue of making health care more accessible and more affordable for all Kentuckians. As the former CEO of a rural hospital, improving health care was a major factor that drove my decision to run for public office.
 
One bill I sponsored to help with this cause was Senate Bill 205, related to prescription drugs, which unanimously passed both the Senate and the House. Senate Bill 205 is a common-sense measure that makes it easier for patients to access their prescription medications and more difficult for patients to abuse them.
 
Since appearing on KET to discuss health care topics last month, several people have asked me to summarize the general plan I presented to reform health care that would make it accessible and affordable to all Americans. My plan evolves from the fact that our country spends two to three times more on health care than other industrialized nation. This makes me believe that there is enough money presently in our system to provide affordable health care to every person in America, if spent appropriately.
 
Specifically, I would do the following:
 
1.      Reduce the excess bureaucracy which is strangling health care providers and unnecessarily increasing costs by billions of dollars.
2.      Eliminate the "profiteering" in health care. No one should make a fortune from the misfortune of others. As an example, the president of a major insurance company in this country made an income, including his stock options, of over $150 million in one year! That would buy a lot of health care. The recent issue of the astronomical price increase of epi-pens is another example. We need to recognize the special role health care plays in our society and not view it as just another product or service within our economy.
3.      Undertake tort reform, which we are attempting to do in the current legislative session by passing Senate Bill 4. It has been estimated that the cost of health care has increased by 25 percent due to the practice of defensive medicine and attempts to avoid lawsuits.
4.      Restructure our welfare delivery system to truly give people a hand up instead of a hand out. Presently, over 40 percent of our working age adults are not even in the work force in our country. This has skyrocketed the cost of the Medicaid program to the point it is not sustainable. We have to get people back to work.
5.      Build personal accountability for one's own health into the health care delivery system. As an example, I would not begrudge anyone their right to smoke, but I don't think non-smoking Americans should have to bear the financial burden of treating the illnesses which we know are directly related to smoking. In Kentucky alone, it is estimated the cost to treat smoking related illnesses cost in excess of $2 billion annually.
6.      The discriminatory payment practices against rural health care providers which pay them significantly less than their urban colleagues should be eliminated to encourage and incentivize health care practitioners to come to rural communities. This will increase access to primary care and allow earlier intervention of illnesses. 
7.      Fill the spiritual abyss in this country which is growing deeper and wider each and every day. This void is destroying our society and its absence is manifesting itself in hate and violence and murder and rampant substance abuse. A recent study found it costs over $10,000 to treat a single gunshot wound in our country. And, guess who pays for it? How do we fill this abyss? Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
 
I guarantee if we undertake these actions, especially the last item on my list, to address the lack of affordable and accessible health care for our country, these issues will be resolved.
 
We will still likely pass a few more bills on the final days of this session on March 29 and 30, so I encourage you to continue reaching out to me with issues that concern you. It is an honor to serve you in Frankfort, and I look forward to continuing to work on your behalf in the General Assembly.
 
If you have any questions or comments about the issues or any other public policy issue, 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.

Check out the upcoming sale at Kerr's Flowers and Gifts in Brownsville and Cave City! Located on HWY 259 North. Call the Brownsville store at 270-597-3433. They have a tanning bed, too!

Sale at Mimi's Gift Gallery this week: buy one, get one half off jewelry items! Click the flyer to visit their Facebook Page.

For sale: a 2002 Nissan Frontier 4WD, 4Door, long bed, tool box, new tires, push bar, nerf bars, roof rack, trailer hitch, with rare supercharged V6. Excellent condition, clean, cold A/C, power windows/locks, cruise, K&N Filter. No major issues, well maintained. 151K miles. Also comes with a black vinyl bed cover. PRICE REDUCED! ASKING $6200 Call the Edmonson Voice Office at 270-597-6550 (no texts) or email: [email protected], or send us a direct message on our Facebook page.

Edmonson Voice Staff
Alexas Engel, 14, of Brownsville has been named a participant in the Beauty Queen Parade, Derby Fashion Show for Live Out Loud Charity, March 26th, 2017. 

She is the reigning Miss Teen Nebo Relay for Life and was invited to audition for the show earlier this year. ​

The organization is celebrating seven years of suicide prevention with "Live Out Loud Charity," a non profit organization focused on suicide prevention, anti bullying, and core character development.

Alexas, who is an 8th grade student at Edmonson County Middle School, has been participating in pageants for the past two years. She will also take part in the Kentucky Festivals State level pageant in November.

She is the daughter of Command Sergeant Major (R) Kevin and Donna Engel of Brownsville.

You can purchase tickets to the charity event by clicking here.

​William Clay Renick was born Monday, March 13, 2017 at 8:22pm. He weighed 8lbs and 7-1/2 oz. and was 20-1/2
inches long.

Clay is the son of Maegan and Robbie Renick of Oakland, Ky.

Proud Grandparents are Gale and Karen Renfro of Chalybeate and Belinda Renick(The Late Robert Renick) of Oakland, Ky. Congratulations!

This is a free service from the Edmonson Voice. Send your birth or wedding announcements to: [email protected].

​*Comments without a first and last name and an email address are not published. All comments are subject for review and must adhere to the Edmonson Voice commenting policy which is posted on this site.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Eighth grade and sophomore students attended College and Career Day at Edmonson County High School today, hosted by Edmonson County Youth Service Centers.

Several businesses and educational institutions from around the region set up booths in the gym to help give students a better look at what opportunities might be out there for them.

Among some of the booths were Bank of Edmonson County, Alford's Pharmacy, Edmonson EMS, Bowling Green Fire Department, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, WKU, The Corvette Museum, The Edmonson Voice, and many others.

Most booths offered promotional giveaways and candy to the students along with demonstrations or info from each organization. 

Several students stopped by the Edmonson Voice's booth to view a slideshow of photos published on our site in 2017. 

The EC FRYSC hosts the event each year.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Students at Edmonson County High School were moved today after hearing a man who struggled to stand behind the podium with the help of a cane tell his story about he went from one of the top tennis prospects in America to one that now struggles to button a shirt, all because of what he said was his choice to drive while drunk.

Blake McMeans was ranked among the top high school tennis prospects as a 17 year old in 1994 and was offered a full scholarship to the University of Tennessee, however; as a way to cope with the sudden death of his father, he turned to alcohol and it quickly took over his life. 

He said he made the wrong choice to drive while drunk and had a horrible accident that put him into a coma for four months. He would survive, but would never play tennis again while having to learn how to lift his head, blink, and swallow all over again.

He was able to rise from his wheelchair with assistance and a cane, but it took a couple of minutes for him to make the two or three step journey to the podium.

"They say a picture is worth a thousand words," he said in slow, spaced words. "I want you to remember the picture of me walking up to this podium."

He didn't speak long, but discussed how important it was to make good choices and that those choices, whether good or bad, have effects. 

He discussed his struggles with alcoholism as a teen and said he began stealing alcohol from his parents' liquor cabinet at age 12. He said that drinking and driving is only one of the many poor choices one can make today. He also said that texting while driving is just a dangerous and choosing to do that can have the same horrible effects as drinking while driving. 

"It can wait," he said.

"If you're drinking alcohol or using illegal or prescription drugs, there's something wrong. This isn't normal and you need to find someone to help you. I'll help you," he said.

Students, faculty, administrators, and staff members rose to their feet with a standing ovation as he closed his remarks. 

Blake, who has been a speaker for the last 20 years, was kind enough to speak with us prior to addressing the crowd.

"I hope I touch young people's lives, but really just anyone's life, no matter what age," he said. "No matter what age, no matter what walk of life you're from, and no matter what you have going on in your life, you make a choice whether you will drink and drive or not. It's an individual decision and I hope that people will remember my decision and how it changed things."

He said his ongoing mission is to touch as many lives in as many states as he can.

Blake's appearance at ECHS today was made possible through a grant secured by Josh Roney State Farm in Brownsville. Blake was introduced by Roney at today's event.

You can find out more about Blake and his non-profit organization "The Blake McMeans Foundation and Promise Tour" by visiting www.​http://blakemcmeans.com/.

​*Comments without a first and last name and an email address are not published. All comments are subject for review and must adhere to the Edmonson Voice commenting policy which is posted on this site.

​Early mornings turned to late nights and spirited debate echoed through the House and Senate chambers as we closed in on the final days of the 2017 Legislative Session in Frankfort. A flurry of bills were sent to Governor Matt Bevin’s desk this week, highlighted by measures to empower our Kentucky teachers and create better learning environments for our Kentucky students.
 
One of our top priorities in the Senate this session was Senate Bill (SB) 1, which is designed to “let teachers teach” by mirroring the Federal “Every Student Succeeds Act” to foster state and local decision making by our valued educators. The House passed SB 1 unanimously this week with a few minor changes. The Senate plans to accept those changes and send SB 1 to Governor Bevin to be signed into law. Senate Bill 1 will bring sweeping changes to reform education in our Commonwealth, and we are confident those changes will improve our schools for many years to come.
 
Another education bill that was sent to the Governor’s desk this week was House Bill (HB) 520, which authorizes the establishment of charter schools in Kentucky. Passage of a charter schools bill has been a priority in the Senate for the past several sessions, and we were pleased to finally see its passage with help from our colleagues in the new House Majority.
 
With the passage of HB 520, Kentucky became the 44th state in the U.S. to pass a bill that permits school choice. None of the previous 43 states that have enacted charter school legislation have repealed it, which gives added confidence that this was the right move for Kentucky. In order for a charter school to be established, it first must be authorized by a local school board.
 
Complementing the HB 520, we also sent HB 471 to Governor Bevin, which is the funding mechanism for charter schools. It is important to note that HB 471 has been crafted to support, not burden school district funding systems. Based on projected enrollment, a school district would send its request for funding to the Kentucky Department of Education. That district would include charter school enrollment figures as well.  A “base" guarantee of funding that is sent to a school district would include adjustments for percentages of students who are at-risk, special education, limited English proficient, home/hospital, plus transportation costs.  The formula also requires local fair share by each school district based on taxable property there.
 
A school district would continue to receive funds as it always has to serve its students, and a charter school would receive even less.  Funding to a charter school would be forwarded by the district to the school as though the school were its own, minus 3% and other amounts as listed above.  So the district would actually keep a percentage of the funds for students they were no longer serving.  Regardless, the local school board would have oversight of the charter school’s funding and implementation of its approved plans.  
 
Finally, a school board could deny a charter application if the applicant did not adequately plan to serve a school district’s targeted population.  Although the applicant could appeal to the state board, it would be highly unlikely that the state board would overturn a local board’s decision to use its funding to meet the needs of its underserved population.
 
We value our public schools, our teachers, and our students. It is important to realize that charter schools were not designed to take anything away from our existing system but to provide new opportunities for our students at struggling schools.
 
Several other important bills moved quickly though the legislative process this week and were delivered to the Governor for his signature:

• Senate Bill 11 lifts Kentucky’s nuclear moratorium to expand our state’s energy portfolio;
• Senate Bill 75 updates the state’s outdated campaign contribution laws that have previously encouraged “dark money” and discouraged free speech;
• Senate Bill 89 removes barriers in health care plans to allow patients to access smoking cessation treatments;
• Senate Bill 91, also known as “Tim’s Law,” is aimed at helping families of those with severe mental illness ensure that individual receives proper outpatient treatment;
• Senate Bill 107, setting up a due process to remove members from dysfunctional or non-compliant state boards, such as university boards;
• Senate Bill 120, comprehensive justice reform that also provides methods for reentry and employment access;
• Senate Bill 136, which offers in-state tuition for all active members of the Kentucky National Guard whether or not they are official residents;
• Senate Bill 159, requiring all public high school students to pass a civics test in order to receive a regular diploma;
• Senate Bill 195, aligning the juvenile criminal record expungement process with that of last year’s House Bill 40, to allow for expungement of certain juvenile crimes;
• And Senate Bill 236, allowing for more thorough background checks on potential child care providers.

 
Multiple House bills also headed to the Governor’s desk for his signature:

• House Bill 38, known as the “Playground Protection Act,” prohibits sex offender registrants from being on the grounds of a publicly owned playground without explicit permission from a local legislative body;
• House Bill 410 allows citizens to obtain a “voluntary travel ID” that complies with federal security standards aligning with military bases and domestic flight travel, and does not allow for the retaining of birth certificate information;
• And House Bill 156 promotes outdoor recreation and tourism development by establishing the Kentucky Mountain Regional Recreation Authority, while its committee substitute creates the Kentucky Coal Fields Endowment Authority to aid in economic development in coal-based counties.

 
Wednesday, March 15, marked Day 28 of the 2017 Session of the Kentucky General Assembly. The Senate is adjourned untilMarch 29 and this brief period of time is known as the “veto period,” during which Governor Bevin can veto any legislation that comes to his desk. When we return on March 29, however, the General Assembly has the power to override the Governor’s vetoes, as long as the legislation was passed before the beginning of the veto period.
 
We will still likely pass a few more bills on March 29 and 30, so I encourage you to continue watching the movement of legislation. It is an honor to serve you in Frankfort, and I look forward to continue to work on your behalf in the General Assembly.
 
If you have any questions or comments about the issues or any other public policy issue, 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.

by Rep. Michael Lee Meredith:
​We are in the final stretch of the Regular Session and the House has been hard at work to better Kentucky. We passed measures this week that will modernize Kentucky’s driver’s license program, increase the safety of our coal miners, and provide students with access to more choice in education. 
 
House Bill 410 passed the House, which aims to modernize our state’s driver’s license program. This measure would ensure that Kentuckians are able to keep their standard driver’s license while also allowing an individual to receive a federally compliant ID. This was a necessary piece of legislation to make sure Kentucky complies with federal law. The bill provides the means for those who want or need a federally vetted ID to obtain one, while protecting people who do not want a federally vetted driver’s license. The travel ID allows individuals to get onto TSA controlled airplanes without a passport, and into federal base installations. I supported this measure as it directly impacts our region with our proximity to Fort Knox and Fort Campbell. I want to stress that this new travel ID is completely optional, but available to any Kentuckian that seeks to apply for it.
 
The House also passed a measure, which I was proud to support, that changes the underground mine inspection process to improve miner safety and lessen injuries on the job. House Bill 384 will reduce the number of required annual inspections, in exchange for allowing the Department of Mine Safety to use inspection resources for actual safety measures, such as correcting human error. Behavioral issues, or human error, are responsible for 94 percent of underground mine injuries. It is imperative we provide the department with the flexibility they need to properly keep our miners safe, rather than just following federal inspection mandates. This hands-on approach of putting our mine inspectors underground to work directly with our miners will improve the safety of a very dangerous but vital job. We owe so much to our coal miners, and it is imperative we take every step to keep them safe.
 
House Bill 520 would make Kentucky the 44th state to establish some form of public charter schools. This measure provides our state with another tool to provide every child with a quality education. The bill also empowers parents to make the educational decisions they feel are best for their child. House Bill 520 specifically grants local school boards the ability to authorize a public charter school and charter schools would be subject to the same requirements as traditional public schools when it comes to testing, transparency, safety, and finance. They would also be required to hire certified teachers.
 
I want to make it very clear that most Kentucky students, especially in rural communities, will continue to be educated in traditional public schools. This measure is aimed at allowing students in urban areas, such as Louisville or Lexington, access to more choices in education. I am the proud product of public education, and I am grateful to our district’s school administrators and teachers. They have dedicated their careers to our students and to the betterment of Kentucky. However, as a state legislator, I am responsible for making statewide policy decisions.  That is why House Bill 520 has such strong protections for local districts and their funding while allowing this new type of school. Charter schools will help those who need it most in the urban areas of our state, and I could not deny those children the same high quality education the students in our community receive.
 
The General Assembly took great strides to make a better Kentucky this week. It is an honor to serve you in Frankfort and I look forward to continuing the work that makes our Commonwealth the best place to live, work, and raise a family.
 
I welcome your comments and concerns on any issues impacting our Commonwealth during the 2017 Regular Session.  I can be reached 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.

by Beth Cook, Mammoth Cave Transplants:
In our last Home Grown Notions article, we mentioned it was time to start planting your cole crops. Many people have never even heard that term I’m sure. So, let us explain. Plants that are in the Brassicas or cruicifers family are called “cole crops”. 

A lot are cool season and leafy green vegetables like mustards, broccoli, cabbage, kale, turnips, and even bok choy are in this family. Many of these vegetables require a long season to mature, which means we put them out in the chill of spring and wait for the chill of fall to sweeten them for harvest. But, most are harvested the same same season. It also means more time for things to go wrong in the garden, like cabbage worms and root rot. Here are some tips for successfully growing cole crops in your vegetable.
 
Have everything ready before you lift a single transplant. Plant cole crops in well-worked soil. Plant in loose soil that is full of organic matter and it area should be well drained. You will need 6-8 hours of sunlight a day and afternoon shade is okay. Next, get your rows marked off; water; fertilizer; two-inch-wide paper strips to use as cutworm collars; trowel or spade for making holes; and of course your plants! Water the seedlings thoroughly while they're still in the tub, pots or flats. This causes the soil around their roots to adhere to the roots, protecting them from exposure to air and light. Prepare each row step by step, rather than starting and finishing one transplant at a time. This way the plants get uniform amounts of fertilizer, even spacing and water, and the rows are generally neater. Cole crop roots need large enough planting holes and loosened soil around them to take hold quickly. Use a trowel to dig 4- to 8-inch-deep holes. Space the holes 10-to 18-inches apart, depending on the crop.
 
Spacing
Broccoli -- 5-to 18-inches apart for transplants; 4-to 8- inches apart for seeds.
Brussels Sprouts -- 8-to 24-inches apart for transplants; 4-to 8-inches apart for seeds
Cabbage -- 10-to 12-inches apart for transplants; 4-to 8- inches apart for seeds
Cauliflower -- 10-to 12-inches apart for transplants; 4-to 8-inches apart for seeds
Chinese cabbage -- 4-to 5-inches apart for seeds
Kohlrabi -- 3-to 4-inches apart for seeds
 
Next, drop a small handful of compost or fertilizer in each hole and cover it with one to two inches of soil. This prevents the nitrogen in the fertilizer from burning any roots that touch it. Do use the hole with water. By making it muddy and soupy, you create a complete moisture seal around the roots that helps each plant take hold. Carefully lift a plant from the flat, cupping the roots in your hand to protect them. The ideal transplant has more roots than leaves. You can create this situation by pinching off some of the big outer leaves on each transplant, making certain to leave the center "mouse ear" leaves. Place a cutworm collar around the stem of each seedling, then place the seedling in the planting hole. Remember to put it at the same depth as it was in its original container. Scoop soil into the hole to fill it back to level ground. Firm the soil around the plant and water it well before moving on to the next one.
 
 
An absolute must with cole crops is rotation. Do not plant cole crops in the same place from year to year especially the cabbage family. Pest and disease that attack cole crops live in the soil to avoid damage to your crop you must rotate them and plant in a new section each year to control these problems. If you are planning two crops in one year Spring and Fall you need to rotate these as well. Also, be sure to keep your plants sprayed to keep insects from damaging or killing your plants. You should keep an eye out for signs of insects each time you venture to your garden.
 
There are also cole crops that you sow seed directly into your well-prepared soil. Some of these people may not even realize they are cole crops. These include: Collards, Kale, Mustard, Turnips, Radishes. Great companions to cole crops in the spring that tolerate cool weather are peas, onions, potatoes, lettuce, Raddichio, and Arugula.
 
Good Luck with those “Cole Crops” and get planting with Mammoth Cave Transplants!
 
“A garden is a grand teacher, it teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust.”  ~Gertrude Jekyll

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Nolin Lake is now hiring for the summer season. Check out the flyer below for all the details and click to create your profile and apply online.

The following thank you letter was submitted by VFW Post 6937:

15 March 2017
On behalf of the members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6937, I would like to thank everyone who attended our Chili Supper and Benefit Auction held at the Byrd Center on March 2nd.  Thanks to all of you the event was a great success and we will be purchasing weapons to be used by our Burial Honors Unit in the next two weeks.  A special thanks to Keith Sanders and members of the Edmonson County Schools Archery Club for their help with the auction.
The businesses and individuals listed below donated or provided items to be auctioned.  Their generosity contributed greatly to the success of the event.
 
Sincerely,
Edwin D. Vincent, Commander
VFW Post 6937
 
Businesses/Individuals:
Cee Bee Food Store, Minit Mart, Madison Flowers, C & C Firearms, Kerr's Flowers, Sun Valley Feed Mill, Future Designs, Bright Electric, Mc Cubbins Furniture, Salings Grocery, Superior Fire and Safety, Mid-South Lumber, Water Works Car Wash, Harbor Freight, Auto Zone, Ace Hardware, Webb Grocery, Advance Auto Parts, Mid South Lumber, BG, Walmart, BG, Home Depot, Pate's Cake Shop, PBI  Bank, Discount Interiors, Sculpture Barn, Tractor Supply,  Lowes, Applebees,   Colton Steak House,  B&O Tires,  Nemesis Arms, The Edmonson Voice (publicity), Edmonson Gimlet (publicity), N. E. Reed, Mitzi Pruitt, Joy Earles, Fran Wells, Jennifer Toms, Debbie Whittle, and Floyd Houston

by: Senator Steve Meredith
​A flurry of activity stemming from committee meetings and the passage of bills marked a short but intense Week 6 of the Kentucky General Assembly. Although the Senate was only in session from Monday to Wednesday of this week, committee meetings still met during the later part of the week to give final hearings to a few select bills.
 
A bill I sponsored, Senate Bill 205, has passed the Senate and was approved by the House Health & Family Services Committee on March 9 and now moves to the House for final approval. The legislation allows pharmacists, with the agreement of the patient but without having to contact their physician, to fill prescriptions for maintenance drugs such as blood pressure medicine, insulin, and cholesterol medicines for a 90 day amount instead of the customary 30 days. This bill will improve productivity for the health care providers and save the patient time and money.
 
Quite a few pieces of legislation have already made it to Governor Bevin’s desk to await his signature. Senate Bill 17, relating to student rights to political and religious speech, was given final passage by the House this week. Senate Bill 101 would allow pharmacists to administer any immunization to children, and Senate Bill 117, allowing veterans who meet certain criteria to obtain special teaching certificates, were also finally passed by the House. Senate Bill 50 also passed the House and would give schools more flexibility in choosing their start date to allow for longer summer breaks.
 
The Senate also enrolled House bills to be sent to the Governor’s desk for his signature, including: House Bill 14, which makes committing an offense against a first responder a hate crime; House Bill 93, strengthening penalties for assaulting a law enforcement animal, also known as “Ernie’s Law”; and House Bill 189, increasing transparency within area development districts.
 
We also passed several bills that are now one step closer to becoming law. Senate Bill 215 establishes the Kentucky Coal Fields Endowment Fund to be used for the purpose of supporting efforts to diversify the economy of the coal fields within Kentucky and allocates $7.5 million a year toward those efforts. House Bill 222 prohibits shock probation if a person is convicted of second-degree manslaughter or reckless homicide stemming from driving under the influence. House Bill 67limits lawful distribution of autopsy photographs, images, video, or audio recordings to specified persons and agencies to help protect families’ privacy.
 
The General Assembly is now quickly approaching the end of the 2017 Session. We adjourned on March 8, marking day 26 of 30 of the session, and we will reconvene again on March 14 and 15 before going into the veto period. During that period the Governor has the power to veto bills, but the General Assembly can override vetoes on the last two days of session, March 29 and 30.  If you have questions about the status of bills, please feel free to contact my office or review the Legislative Record online which can be found at www.lrc.ky.gov/record/17RS/record.htm.
 
If you have any questions or comments about the issues or any other public policy issue, 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.

Two homes and 6 Acres in two tracts up for auction in Brownsville from Tarter Realty & Auction Company: Three bed brick home with 5.27 acres in one tract and two bed home and garage with one acre on the other. Check the flyer for all the details and click for more!