by Beth Cook: Mammoth Cave Transplants
Flowers are typically easy to grow. The most important factor for success in flower growing is location. Not all flowers can be grown in full sun, some need part shade or shade. Plants that need more shade such as Impatiens will burn in the hot sun. Other flowers such as Lantana love the heat and the sun and need that environment to thrive and flower. Proper lighting is key to growing beautiful, healthy flowers.
 
When selecting your plants, you must first know what lighting you have in the area you want to plant in. Does it get morning sun? (which is not as hot as the afternoon sun). Does it get sun all day long? Or is it filtered shade through trees in your yard? These are things to keep in mind before choosing plants. It may be helpful to make notes on each location you want to plant and what lighting conditions it gets throughout the day. Knowing this will help you to look at the plant tags and make the best plant choice for that location. Most plant tags list light requirements and designate Full Sun, Part Sun/Part Shade, and Shade. Below are a short description of each of these.

• Full Sun – The plant will need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight to perform.  Sometimes the symbol of a yellow sun will be used.

 

• Part Sun or Part Shade – The plant prefers 3 to 6 hours of sunlight.  Sometimes the symbol of a sun half yellow and half grayed-out will be used.

 

• Shade or Full Shade – The plant prefers or can survive with less than 3 hours of sunlight.  Sometimes the symbol of a grayed-out sun is used.  There are many types of shade that we won’t get into here, but be aware that “shade” does not always mean that a site gets no sun at all.

​Some plants can tolerate a mix of conditions so you may see more than one of these designations used for the same plant.
 
If you have shady conditions or locations that get morning sun, plants like Impatiens, Coleus, Fushia, Torenia, Nemesia, some varieties of Begonias all like shadier areas or locations that get morning sun. Keep in mind that flower plants have to have some sun to produce energy to create flowers. So if you have plants that are not blooming they may be getting too much shade and you should move them somewhere that gets more a little more sun. Perennials that like shade are Hostas, Bleeding Hearts, Lily of the Valley, Tradescantia (spiderwort), Columbine, Heuchera, Tiarella just to name a few.  Some full sun annuals include Lantana, Vinca, Purslane, Marigolds, Petunias, Portulaca, Salvia and many more. A few full sun perennials include Coneflower, Beebalm, daylilies, Gaillardia.
 
Always be sure to look at the plant labels or consult with someone at the garden center on a specific plant needs. This will help to ensure your plants are getting the appropriate lighting to produce the results you want.

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
Kentucky Congressman Brett Guthrie has announced the results for the 2018 Congressional Art Competition, where a local student has been honored.

Janie Hunt, a junior at Edmonson County High School was named "Facebook Favorite," in the contest. Original works of art are submitted by school districts all across Kentucky for the annual event. 

For the Facebook portion of the contest, entries received one point for each “like” and two points for each "share." Janie's entry was a pencil drawing of "Dean Winchester," who is a fictional character on the television show "Supernatural," from the CW Network. Her entry received 1,237 shares and 440 likes. You can see all the entries and the other winners by clicking here.

In a statement released on Congressman Guthrie's Facebook Page, he said, "I am always impressed by the excellent artwork submitted by high school students across the Second District and this year was no exception.

The winning artwork will be hung in Congressman Guthrie's office in Washington D.C.

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From Friday, April 20, through Sunday, April 22, 2018, over 130 students from ten counties including Edmonson participated in the South Central Kentucky 4-H Horse Camp at the Western Kentucky University Ag Expo Center in Bowling Green. Well over 300 people were in attendance for the weekend of training and fun.

The central focus of this year’s camp was “Just Say WHOA to Drinking, Drugs and Bad Decisions.” Officer Ernie Brewbaker and his partner registered Tennessee Walking Horse Ranger T. Walker were on site to discuss the importance of staying away from substances that impair decision making. From alcohol and drug use to bullying, the student participants were encouraged to “Just Say WHOA!” and to be positive and productive members of society. At the end of the Saturday evening session, each participant signed a pledge to make good decision making a priority.

​Several guests stopped by to visit including Miss Teen Honeyfest Caitlin Daniele, a junior at Edmonson County High School, and Brownsville resident Melinda Campbell, Amerifest’s Kentucky’s Woman.

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​The weekend included many workshops including showmanship and basics of equine management. While the camp was for the 4-H participants, many campers were accompanied by their parents and siblings. The camp had a family atmosphere as the families and 4-H staff of volunteers worked through the weekend skill classes and also managed to squeeze in some fun including a costume contest, a stall decorating contest, and a dance. Guest speakers also came in to meet with the campers about a variety of related topics including educational opportunities in agriculture and personal experiences with the loss of a loved one due to drunk driving.

The Just Say WHOA! program collaborates with groups in multiple states to bring this message to young people hoping to make a long-lasting difference in their lives. For more information regarding Ranger T. Walker & Service Horse opportunities, contact Ernie Brewbaker at ebrewbaker@yahoo.com. Linda Starnes can help you with a Just Say WHOA program in your “neigh”borhood. You can contact Starnes by emailing StarnesStables@gmail.com.

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by Terry Watts:
​Fishing continues to improve along with the weather.  The lake temp is in the high 50's to low 60's in the afternoon.  Water clarity ranges from clear to stained. 

White bass are biting well in the river upstream of Bacon Creek.  A white rooster tail spinner is a reliable bait to use.  A 1/8 ounce jig and 3 inch grub is also a good choice.

Crappie have moved shallow as of the weekend.  A 2 inch curly tail grub on a 1/16 ounce head works well.  Chartreuse or chartreuse combinations are good flavors.  Cast to wood cover and use a slow steady retrieve. A pearl tube on a 1/16 ounce jig fished under a 3/4 inch pear bobber works well.  Minnows are always a crappie favorite.  Fish the minnows around 3 feet under a slip bobber near wood cover. 

Bass can be caught on a variety of lures right now.  A white 1/2 ounce spinnerbait has been good as well as chatterbaits.  Adding a swimbait trailer gets bites.  A medium running crankbait caught some fish over the weekend. A 1/2 ounce green pumpkin jig with a melon/red chunk is a favorite.  This weekend is shaping up to be a great weekend to be on the water.  Wear your PFD and take the kids fishing.
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Ladies Day Out at Cabela's Saturday the 28th from 11:00 until 3:00.  

Please join us on May 4, 2018 at the Edmonson County Community Center at 6:30pm for our very first "Meet Your Candidates" public forum, presented by the Edmonson Voice, and hosted by D93's Tony Rose.

We have two dozen candidates that are planning to attend where you can hear directly from them. We had hoped to receive more questions from the public; however, only a few were submitted. We don't feel like it's fair for some candidates to answer submitted questions while others don't have any. In order to be fair to each candidate, we'll allow everyone the opportunity to speak 3-5 minutes on whatever they'd like. 

Can't attend in person? No problem...we're also going to be live video streaming the event on our website and our Facebook Page so everyone has a chance to participate.

All candidates will sit in the audience and will be introduced at the podium one at a time. We're proud to be part of this free community event and hope you'll join us. 

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
The Bowling Green Hot Rods, Class A Affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, have teamed up with the Edmonson Voice for ticket giveaways all season long!

To enter your chance to win, simply go to the Edmonson Voice Facebook page and look for our latest Hot Rods Giveaway. Just "like" and "follow" the Edmonson Voice page, the like and share the status.

We'll draw random winners all season long. If you're name is chosen, we'll contact you and you have your choice of either two or four tickets, good for box seats at any home Hot Rods game this year! (excluding July 4th). Will mail you your ticket vouchers that you'll exchange either at the Hot Rods ticket office or online using a special code on the tickets.

We'll also give away 25 tickets to the suite at Bowling Green Ballpark later in the season so you can watch the game in style! Stay connected for more.

Thanks for making us Edmonson County's number one source of local news, sports, and information by an overwhelming margin, and good luck!

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Edmonson County, in partnership with the KY Division of Waste Management, is sponsoring this free upcoming event. Please take advantage of this opportunity to properly dispose of any unwanted tires. Any KY resident is eligible to participate in this program, with the exception of tire retailers, scrap/salvage yards, or recycle facilities.

TIRES ACCEPTED: Truck, light truck, passenger, implement, lawn tractor, bicycle, motorcycle, golf cart, etc.
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NOT ACCEPTED: Foam filled tires, calcium filled tires, off-road construction tires (OTR), solid tires with or without press-on rims.

For more info, please contact Edmonson County Solid Waste Coordination at 270-246-0299.

 MAMMOTH CAVE, Ky., April 18, 2018 – Fresh air, sunshine, trails to hike, caves to explore – National Park Week, April 21-29, 2018, is a great time to get outside. Free Mammoth Cave Discovery tours will be offered on the weekends, April 15-16 and April 22-23. 
 
“Parks are the perfect place to renew, rejuvenate, and inspire your spirit,” said Superintendent Barclay Trimble.  “We are excited for the opportunity to showcase all that Mammoth Cave National Park has to offer for recreational, learning, and stewardship opportunities. If you are not able to join us here at Mammoth Cave for this very special week, find a park near you and enjoy. Mammoth Cave has trails to hike, bike and ride horseback; rivers to paddle and fish; campgrounds in the front-country and the back-country; and the longest cave in the world to explore. 
 
In recognition of National Park Week, the park will offer the following:
 
Friday April 20th Park Clean-up
The park is looking for volunteers to help with road shoulder clean up that will include the Cave City Road, Cedar Sink Road and Mammoth Cave Parkway. The park will be cleaning up limbs and trash along the road side. Event Details Time: 9:00AM—12:00 PM. Meeting Place: Mammoth Cave Warehouse Parking Lot for a quick Safety Briefing then dispersed to the field locations.
 
Saturday April 21st -Free Cave tour: Mammoth Cave Discovery Tour
Participants must pick up a free ticket in the visitor center before going on this tour.  
 The Mammoth Cave Discovery Tour requires a walk down and up the steep hill below the visitor center, as well as 160 steps.  Visit the Rotunda, one of the cave’s largest rooms, explore a vast canyon passageway, and learn about 19th-century saltpeter mining operations and the geologic origins of the Mammoth Cave System.Mammoth Cave Discovery Tour will be offered from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Allow at least 30 minutes; about 3/4 mile round trip.  This is a self-guided tour.
 
Saturday April 21st -National Junior Ranger Day and Wildflower Day Activities

• Children, become Junior Rangers- Join Park Rangers at the Picnic Area from 9:00-11:00 am and 12:00- 2:00 pm for Junior Ranger Day. Junior Rangers will have fun participating in nature activities while learning about science and stewardship.  The afternoon activities will focus on archaeology and the earliest explorers of Mammoth Cave.
• Wildflower Day- Mammoth Cave National Park's annual Wildflower Day provides families great opportunities to get out and experience their national park. Investigate wildflowers growing along the ridges and enjoy the beautiful color of spring.   Take yourself and/or children on a nature scavenger hunt to look for signs of wildlife in the forest.  Free wildflower and kids scavenger hunt checklists are available at the Visitor Center information desk.
• Join park rangers and area outdoor specialist for special programs, hikes, displays, and birding activities. All programs are free of charge. Visithttps://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/calendar.htm for more information.

 
Wednesday, April 25th at 3:00 pm Echo River Springs Accessible Trail Dedication
Join us for the Grand opening of the Echo River Springs Accessible Trail. One of the newest and premier accessible trails in the National Park Service. The trail meanders through the forest with beautiful views of nature and springs that help form Mammoth Cave.

Friday, April 27th at 2:00 pm
​We have a new pedestrian bridge! The deteriorated bridge connecting the Visitor Center with the Lodge has been replaced. Come celebrate the dedication of this newest improvement to the park.  

Edmonson Voice Staff Report: 
On April 16th the Brownsville VFW Post 6937 elected and swore in their 2018-2019 slate of officers during their meeting at the Edmonson County Public Library.  Post Officers were sworn in by Post Commander Edwin Vincent.  

Floyd Houston was named the new Post Commander as Edwin Vincent prepares to become the Department of Kentucky Commander.  In a statement from the local VFW Post, they said that Vincent will remain active in Brownsville Post’s activities but needs to focus on his increasingly important responsibilities within the state organization.

The following Officers are the new slate: Post Commander - Floyd Houston, Senior Vice Commander - Kevin Engel, Junior Vice Commander - Gary Lindsey, Quartermaster- Donna Engel, Chaplain - Paul Vincent, Judge Advocate - Wil Cannon, Surgeon - Bennie Durbin, 1st Year Trustee - Bennie Durbin, 2nd Year Trustee - Morris Blanton, Adjutant - Richard Shull, Service Officer - Mike Stoyonovich, (Commander Vincent was also elected to become our 3rd Year Trustee).

​“The VFW is America's largest organization of combat veterans," said Floyd Houston, new Post Commander of the Brownsville VFW Post 6937.  "The importance of the VFW is that the VFW is strong and organized in every community, in every city, and every state throughout the United States.  Through the local Post, we come together as equals - women and men forged in the fires of war, from all different backgrounds and ethnicities, to remember our fallen, help the living, and do good works in the community.” 

by Terry Watts:
​Lake conditions are constantly changing due fronts and precipitation amounts.  As of today, the current elevation is about 5 feet above summer pool and falling.  Surface temps remain around 55 degrees.  Clarity ranges from clear to stained.

Bass fishing has been fair.  Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits have been good in the back of creeks and around shallow docks.  White or shad patterns have been good flavors and 1/2 ounce has been a good size.  Sunlight and wind are major factors influencing the bass bite this time of year.  

White bass are biting very good on spinners and grubs in the upper river. A 1/8 ounce Cabelas bed jig with a white grub or 1/8 ounce rooster tail is a good choice.

Crappie fishing has been slow with fish remaining deeper than usual for this time of year.  Try minnows or tube jigs fished around 10 feet in standing timber or near blowdowns along deep banks. 
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Wear your PFD when on the water and take your kids fishing.