Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
The Edmonson County Winter Guard continues to build momentum with a huge St. Patrick’s Day win in the Southeastern Color Guard Circuit (SCGC), Saturday, March 17, 2018 at the Beech High School in Hendersonville, TN. Performing their show, Carry On, the EC Winter Guard finished 1st place against nine other schools from Kentucky and Tennessee with an EC high record score of 79.11, outscoring 2nd place by 3.6 points. “The luck of the Irish was with us today,” stated Autumn Berry, director. “This season has been full of obstacles yet we continue to Carry On. The smiles on these faces are why I do what I do!” You can show your support for the EC Winter Guard as they perform during their annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser Event at the Edmonson County High School, March 22, 2018 at 5:30 pm. Their next competition is scheduled for March 24, 2018 at the Spring Hill High School in Spring Hill, TN, with performance time at 3:11 p.m. The Edmonson County Winter Guard is under the direction of Autumn Berry and John Woods II with instructors Amy Tanner, Jesse Katzman, and Emily Vincent. You can continue to follow their progress this season on the SCGC website.
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by State Senator Steve Meredith As we draw closer to the end of the 2018 Regular Session, there has been no shortage of movement on significant bills in Frankfort this week. The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee has spent several days and some late nights working on the Senate’s budget proposal, which we expect to go before the committee early soon.
The first bill to pass the Senate during week 11 of the 2018 Session was House Bill (HB) 33, which adds protection for bicyclists on the road by requiring drivers to pass bicyclists at a distance of at least three feet. A Senate amendment provides that bicycle operators shall not ride more than two abreast in a highway lane unless roadway is marked exclusively for bicycle use in order to ensure vehicles have ample room to pass bicyclists. We also passed Senate Bill (SB) 137, which updates the Kentucky Rules of Evidence to clarify statutes pertaining to hearsay out-of-court statements made by a child that may have been sexually assaulted. Senate Bill 152, which passed unanimously, allows school districts to provide additional compensation for classroom teachers in a school identified as being in targeted or comprehensive support and improvement status. Senate Bill 237, which passed with bipartisan support, requires public colleges and universities to adopt policies ensuring the protection of freedom of speech and expression by students and faculty. Another bill that passed with bipartisan support was SB 210, increasing the penalties for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. House Bill 191, which passed with bipartisan support, provides consumer protection in eye care by increasing the standards through which prescription lenses are obtained. House Bill 213, which passed unanimously, relates to data-sharing of prescription drug monitoring information, allowing KASPER data-sharing agreements with different types of jurisdictions. A bill that lifts financial burdens from non-profit organizations, SB 205, also passed unanimously from the Senate. Senate Bill 6 takes aim at Kentucky’s growing opioid crisis by requiring pharmacies to provide, when prescribing opioids, a safe disposal method that can be utilized at home. Opioid abuse most often starts from family pill cabinets, and we hope this disposal tool helps Kentuckians safely discard controlled substances. After the Senate grants passage to its version of the budget bill, a conference committee likely will be formed between the Senate and House to finalize budget negotiations. I appreciate your input, questions, and comments, and I look forward to representing our district in the final stages of the 2018 Session. 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 Stephen.Meredith@LRC.ky.gov. You can also review the Legislature’s work online at www.lrc.ky.gov. Kyrock Elementary hosted their annual "Donuts with Dad," on Thursday, March 15th, sponsored by the KES PTO. Check out some photos from the event in the slideshow below: by Beth Cook: Mammoth Cave Transplants In our last article we touched on spraying your fruit trees with dormant spray to treat for overwintering pest and larvae. This is the first step to have a successful fruit tree. Keeping your tree sprayed at the appropriate times is key to keep that success going. Spraying trees is not an easy thing to do, know when to do it and keep a schedule is key. To keep your fruit trees healthy from fungus and insects a complete fruit tree spray works great for both problems. When using a complete fruit tree spray it is important to follow the guidelines of the spray. A recommended spray is Bonide Fruit Tree Spray. This is a complete spray that contains a fungicide as well as an insecticide. This can also be used on flowers, ornamental evergreens, strawberries, grapes, and more. Remember to follow instructions on the spray you choose to use depending on the type of plant. For fruit trees there are certain stages to look for to know when to spray. The first sign is the “Green Tip” stage. This is when the branch tips begin to show green tissue. When you see this you should apply your first spray. The next step is the “Pre Bloom” stage. This is when blossom buds show full color before opening, apply your second spray. Next is “Full Bloom” DO NOT SPRAY when your tree is in full bloom. Protect the bees! You don’t want to kill your pollinators that are so important for fruit development. The next time you can spray is after “Petal Fall” wait until the bloom petals have dropped and bees are no longer present. When you spray after “Petal Fall” wait about 7-10 days and spray again. This is called “1st Cover”. You should spray your “2nd Cover” approximately 7-10 days after that.
You can continue to spray evert 2-3 weeks throughout the growing season. You should discontinue spraying 2 weeks before you harvest. Harvesting great fruit requires spraying at the right time. Early Spring you should beginning watching your tree’s stage so you can spray at the appropriate time. It is a lot of work, but will be worth it when you are harvesting! One local parent has organized an equipment/gear swap event for baseball and softball items. Items will be collected over the next two weeks before the event on March 24th at the HWY 70 Ballpark.
Items being accepted are gloves, cleats, ball pants, bats, etc. that meet current guidelines. Items will be available for free at the upcoming event. Click the flyer below for more details, available on Brooke Vincent's Facebook page. Kids Learn About Both Running Businesses and Being Consumers Edmonson Voice Staff Report: photos courtesy of Kyrock Elementary Over two dozen students participated in Kyrock Elementary's Entrepreneur Fair, held last week. The third and fourth graders had opportunity to show their business and marketing skills as they challenged other students to be wise consumers. Brayden Johnson and Lilly Carroll were named first place winners for their "Incredible Inflatables," second place went to Hunter Patton and Shawn Cambron for their "Football Throw" booth, and third place went to "Basketball Shootout" by Aidan Meredith and Leighton Kinser. Winners of Best Decorated Business or Booth went to "Toilet Toss" by Joseph Decker and "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Cash Morton. The event was part of Ms. Brandy's Classroom Guidance on Careers and Economics.
Local Parole & Probation Officer To Receive State VFW's Top Honors In Upcoming Ceremony Darren Doyle, story: The VFW Department of Kentucky has announced that Edmonson County resident, State Parole Officer Josh Watt has been selected as the VFW Department of Kentucky's Police Officer of the Year, according to Edmonson County VFW Post 6937. The Edmonson County Post celebrated Officer Watt's heroism at a ceremony in Brownsville on December 8, 2017 by naming him Edmonson County's Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and submitted his nomination to the state for consideration. Officer Watt was credited for saving the life of James Allman and his 17 year old passenger, Alyssa L. Gore who were trapped upside down in a burning truck after a June 26, 2017 crash. Officer Watt cut the seat belt of Miss Gore, removing her from the burning truck and was able also pull Mr. Allman out of the truck while his clothes were on fire.
Officer Watt will be recognized at the upcoming VFW Department of Kentucky Spring Convention during the second weekend in June at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Louisville, KY. The family of Christian Goodroe would like to thank the following businesses for their support during the recent benefit: Subway, Madison's Flowers, Minit Mart, Kerr's, Walden's Barbeque, Tabitha's Salon and Spa, Main Street Barbershop, Sculpture Barn, Mis Amigos, Cee Bee, Sav-A-Lot, El Mazatlan, Cacun, Laura's Hilltop, Houchens Corporate, Gondlier, South Fork Barbecue, Sidelines, Snookies Tattoo Shop, Park City Automotive, Bucky Bee's Barbecue, Hilltop Quickstop, Platinum Spa, Jitter Beans, Sweetheart Bakery, Miss Betty's Diner, Porky Pig Diner, and to all the individuals that donated their time.
-From the family of Christian Goodroe Edmonson Voice Staff Report: The Edmonson County Winter Guard competed in the Southeastern Color Guard Circuit (SCGC), Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the Barren County High School in Glasgow, KY. This was the first of a month long run in preparation for the SCGC Championships at Western Kentucky University on April 7, 2018. Performing their show, “Carry On,” the Edmonson County Winter Guard came in 2nd place against schools from Kentucky and Tennessee with a score of 74.38. This score was an 11.46 jump from their last competition, and their highest score in the history of the EC Winter Guard program. You can see the EC Winter Guard perform during their annual Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser Event at the Edmonson County High School, March 22, 2018 at 5:30 pm. Their next competition will be March 17, 2018 at the Beech High School in Hendersonville, TN with performance time at 2:43 p.m.
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 continue to follow their progress this season on the SCGC website by clicking here. The Edmonson County High School BETA Club will be sponsoring an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Thursday, March 15, 2018, from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Edmonson County High School.
Those willing to give will need to check in at the High School Office. Seniors at Edmonson County High School can qualify to receive College Scholarships from the American Red Cross depending upon the amount of donations at the blood drive. According to ECHS, if 70 donations or more are gathered during this drive, there will be $1000 in scholarships available for qualifying seniors. For more information, contact Edmonson County High School, 270-597-2151 Edmonson Voice Staff Report: Two local high school students recently took part in Equine Education Day in Shelbyville, TN. Rachel Cowles and Mckenzie Vincent, both sophomores at ECHS, along with Mrs. Linda Starnes, spent the day teaching and helping youth learn about the Tennessee walking horse. They also helped the youth learn to "Just Say WHOA" to drugs, drinking, and bad decisions, along with Ernie Brewbaker and Ranger T. Walker. There were over 2000 kids that attended the first annual education day at the Walking Horse Celebration Grounds in Shelbyville. The teens are also members of Edmonson County Pony Express 4-H Horse Club and Edmonson County Saddle Club. They also helped the youth learn to "Just Say WHOA" to drugs, drinking, and bad decisions, along with Ernie Brewbaker and Ranger T. Walker. There were over 2000 kids that attended the first annual education day at the Walking Horse Celebration Grounds in Shelbyville.
The teens are also members of Edmonson County Pony Express 4-H Horse Club and Edmonson County Saddle Club. Group's Quick Recall Record Improves To An Amazing 73-3 Edmonson Voice Staff Report: The ECMS academic team continued their successful season with a win at the Gallatin Spring Forward Academic Tournament on Saturday, March 10, 2018. The team posted a perfect record of 10 wins and 0 losses against some of the strongest teams in the Nashville area. The ECMS scores for the tournament are as follows: Round 1 ECMS 560 Glasgow C 10 Round 2 ECMS 570 Bellevue Delta 40 Round 3 ECMS 580 Itawamba Beta 60 Round 4 ECMS 550 Head Middle Magnet 100 Round 5 ECMS 470 Valor Collegiate Academy A 190 Round 6 ECMS 560 H. G. Hill Prep 50 Round 7 ECMS 570 Rucker Beta 30 Round 8 ECMS 410 Merol Hyde Magnet 270 Round 9 ECMS 510 Valor Collegiate Academy B 160 Round 10 ECMS 490 Rucker Alpha 290 The ECMS performance at Gallatin improved the team’s overall quick recall record to an amazing 73 wins and 3 losses.
ECMS players Jonas Miller and Brody Johnson earned all tournament recognition. Jonas led all players in scoring during the tournament with a total of 900 points. “The team looked very impressive during the Gallatin Tournament," said Head Coach Greg Grey. "Our players demonstrated a great depth of knowledge and some awe-inspiring speed today. All of the players made important contributions during the tournament. We looked at this a tune up tournament to help us prepare for the Kentucky Governor’s Cup State Finals starting next Saturday, March 10th in Louisville. We hope to continue our winning ways at the state finals.” Opportunity For Next Year's Juniors Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
A rising junior at one of Kentucky’s public or private high schools will win a $500 scholarship and a photo shoot at his or her school through the “Promote Your School” scholarship contest, sponsored by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). The school must participate in the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) program. To enter, the student must submit an essay about one of these subjects:
The essay must be no more than 200 words long and cannot mention the student’s name, school, county or community. The essay topic must be shown at the top of the page. The student’s name, address and high school must be listed at the bottom of the essay. The student must be a junior during the 2018-2019 school year. For more information, visit www.kheaa.com/website/contest/intro. Photos from the winning school will be used in KHEAA publications and on KHEAA websites. To enter, mail your essay to KHEAA Publications, P.O. Box 798, Frankfort, KY 40602. You may also email your essay to publications@kheaa.com or fax it to (502) 696-7574. The winner will be chosen by a committee of KHEAA employees. The deadline for submissions is May 31. Students from high schools that have been featured in the past five years — Logan County, Daviess County, Lexington STEAM Academy, Somerset Christian and J. Graham Brown — are not eligible to enter this year’s contest. KHEAA is the state agency that administers the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES), need-based grants and other programs to help students pay their higher education expenses. For more information about Kentucky scholarships and grants, visit www.kheaa.com; write KHEAA, P.O. Box 798, Frankfort, KY 40602; or call 800-928-8926, ext. 6-7214. House Passes Road Plan, Moves Forward on Other Critical Issues by Rep. Michael Lee Meredith:
A week after passing a responsible budget prioritizing education and pensions, the House has now also passed a two year funding package for Kentucky’s roads and bridges. The biennial road plan passed with bipartisan support, and with a focus on improving safety, better maintaining our current roads and bridges, and promoting economic development. Our road plan was crafted in a responsible manner, in that it makes critical investments in our state’s infrastructure while also taking a realistic approach to allocating dollars. Generally, the road plan that passes and is signed into law is over-programmed, meaning more dollars are allocated than are actually available in the road fund. The plan we sent to the Senate does not do that; unlike in 2016, our plan is just 7% over-programmed, an approach that will provide greater certainty in completing projects. The House road plan commits significant money to both the pavement and resurfacing of roads, as well as repairing Kentucky’s growing list of structurally deficient bridges. This past week, the House also passed legislation aimed at rooting out fraud and abuse within the Medicaid and Food Stamp programs. House Bill 363 would make the process of reviewing and tracking information regarding eligibility more efficient, in order to root out fraud and ensure that our most vulnerable citizens are prioritized when it comes to receiving public assistance. This measure does not change eligibility requirements for any safety net program. It simply ensures that only the truly needy are receiving benefits, and that those that do not qualify or are abusing the system are removed. HB 363 also allows us to work with other states to prevent recipients from receiving benefits from multiple states. On another note, I was proud to see the House unanimously pass my legislation dealing with the price of prescription drugs. House Bill 463 ensures that Kentuckians pay cheapest amount possible for their prescription drugs by prohibiting insurance companies from forcing patients to pay a cost-sharing amount that is higher than the drug’s cash price. It also removes contractual gag orders that prohibit their pharmacist from sharing the information with them. The measure now heads to the Senate for approval. Many of you have reached out to me regarding certain bills that would legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. This issue is receiving due consideration from the Legislature, as the House Judiciary Committee has met multiple times to review the proposed legislation and listen to testimony from all sides. I believe that we should continue to await further research on this issue before making any sudden decisions, which is why I supported House Concurrent Resolution 34 earlier this session. This bipartisan resolution urges the federal government to expedite research on the safety and effectiveness of medical marijuana, so we can receive sound research so that we can make a truly informed decision. I am honored to serve as your voice in Frankfort. In the weeks to come as the Senate reviews our budget and road plan and makes their modifications, I will have more information to provide on both fronts. Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns that you may have. Time To "Spring Forward" Tonight Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
We'll lose one hour of sleep tonight but we'll get it back in the form of longer daylight as Daylight Savings Time officially begins at 2am on Sunday morning, March 11, 2018. Most folks will set their clocks forward one hour before going to bed instead of making the change during the middle of the night, but either way, you don't want to show up an hour late for church in the morning. If you have trouble remembering which way to set your clocks during the change, remember to "Spring forward" and "Fall back." Local fire departments also recommend that you change the batteries in all your smoke detectors as well. Students Get Live Look at Real Life Financial Situations Edmonson Voice Staff Report: ECMS presented their annual "Reality Store," on Thursday, March 8, 2018 where eighth grade students were given a random occupation, and income, and a list of duties for which they were financially responsible. They also had to go to the "bank" "insurance office," and sort through other real life scenarios as they interacted with community volunteers at various booths. All the booths were simulated businesses or organizations that would affect a regular household budget. Morgan Esters, Youth Service Center Coordinator, said each year it's a great reality check for the students. "We always hear the students talk about how they had no idea about the cost of everyday life," she said. "They learn about healthcare, about child care, insurance, other regular bills and so many other things that most of them take for granted." The event is sponsored by the Youth Service Center and the Edmonson County Ag Extension Office. Esters said more than 30 volunteers helped with this year's event, which also included several students from the high school.
"Our volunteers are amazing and we appreciate their time and effort to make this work," Esters added. It's a great event that gives our students a good look at real life." L-R: Shaun Stice (Kyrock Principal), Alex Ulm (President of Bank of EC), Rachel Elder (Mammoth Cave National Park Tour Guide), Shane Holinde (WBKO Meteorologist), Daniel Ashley (Captain of BG Fire Dept), Shane Doyle (EC Sheriff), Daniel Decker (Head of Preservation, Restoration, Maintenance at BG Corvette Museum), Mark Rich (retired Safety Officer at Mammoth Cave National Park) Brandy Kinser, (Kyrock Counselor) Members of Kyrock's Leadership Team: Tyler Wilson, Xavier Gravil, Jasmine Prewitt, Laney Woodcock, Addie Vincent Edmonson Voice Staff Report: photos courtesy of Kyrock Elementary: Kyrock Elementary hosted a local business panel today at the school, led by members of the Kyrock Student Leadership Team which included: Tyler Wilson, Xavier Gravil, Jasmine Prewitt, Laney Woodcock, and Addie Vincent. Students asked the business panel a variety of questions that ranged from "What level of education does your job require?" "What was your first job?" and "What is the most difficult thing about your job?" Panel members enjoyed answering the questions and taking part of the activity. All of the Kyrock student body & faculty were in attendance during this special morning meeting. The event was one of several for this week's Career Week at Kyrock. The school is also a hosting an Entrepreneur Fair this afternoon.
Darren Doyle, story and photos: Edmonson County native and resident Mark Rich has retired after more than 35 years of full time service with the National Park Service and Mammoth Cave National Park. Mark has had a “Rich” career with the National Park Service while keeping his home base right here at Mammoth Cave National Park. Mark grew up near Mammoth Cave in Edmonson County. After attending Western Kentucky University, he began his career at Mammoth Cave National Park in the early 1980’s. After becoming a permanent employee, he has served in multiple roles throughout his career. He originally was hired as a Cave Guide and interpreted the history while guiding thousands of park visitors through the longest cave in the world. He later moved into fee collection and became the campground ranger, according to a statement released from MCNP. In the late 1990’s, Mark was promoted into the Park Safety Officer position, a role he has kept for 20 years. For the past ten years, Mark also served as the park’s Concessions Management Specialist, with oversight over the lodging, food and beverage, retail, and bus transportation services provided by the park concessioner. Finally, Mark served as the Environmental Manager for the park. He oversaw all environmental programs, including a large park recycling program. The released statement also said "Throughout his career, Mark has contributed to the National Park Service in many ways. He has assisted national parks across the country with concessions training, safety reviews, environmental audits, and emergency response teams. Mark is considered a technical expert and a recognized leader for his knowledge and experience in these areas. Recently, Mark was assigned to assist with emergency response for over three weeks to national parks in the Caribbean that were impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria." Closer to home, Mark has served as park liaison to the Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce. Mark has been active with the Chamber for 20 years, attending board meetings and even a stint as Chair. He was presented Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce's "Friend of Edmonson County" Award last year, for Rich's contribution to the promotion of tourism and economic development of Edmonson County. "Some of the kids today at Kyrock's local business panel presentation asked me what was the favorite part of my job," Rich said to the Edmonson Voice. "There were so many things, it was hard to pick just one. All the travel, I went to all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, but it was also all the great people from all over. I worked with some really great people, too." Rich also said he was very fortunate enough to be able to serve with others on some great management teams and help others in times of tragedies. He also said not many get to enjoy national parks like The Grand Canyon and Yellowstone, while getting paid.
He resides in Edmonson County with his wife, Renee. "All in all, it's been a lot of fun," he said. "Working in the national park system is not like working in the city. You've got all the beauty, the wildlife, just so much." When asked what he planned on doing in retirement, he replied, "I want to do more gardening, play more golf, do some traveling, but mainly just whatever Renee tells me to." |
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