The family of Billy Dean Salleng invites everyone to this Saturday's benefit event for Billy. Check out all the details below.

Check out the details for an upcoming multi-family yard sale this Thursday and Friday:

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
A local little league baseball player from the county league system will get his shot to compete at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, the home of the Cincinnati Reds, after winning his division in Major League Baseball's "Pitch, Hit, and Run" competition.

Gavin Minyard, son of Ritchie and Leslie Minyard of Brownsville, has advanced to compete in the Team Championship round in Cincinnati after winning here at the county level, then in regional competition at Bowling Green Ballpark, home of the Hot Rods. He won two out of four levels, which qualifies him to move onto the championship level.

Gavin not only beat out competitors from the Bowling Green area, he finished above those from around KY, Indiana, and Ohio. He is set to compete this Saturday, June 3, 2017 in Cincinnati as he tries to advance to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Miami this July. 

​Each competitor is scored on how well they can pitch, hit, and run. The PITCH portion of the program will test how accurately a competitor can throw strikes to a designated "Strike Zone" target from a designated distance. The HIT portion of the program will test a competitor's ability to hit from a stationary batting tee, along a tape measure from home plate, toward straight-away centerfield, while the RUN portion of the program will measure a competitor's speed in a sprint from the start line, touching third base, and touching home plate.

"We're very proud of Gavin and how he's represented our local league and our parks," said Greg Hudson, administrator of local parks and rec programs.

Gavin's sister, Taylor, is also a talented athlete and plays softball in the local parks and rec league.

Each year, Patton Funeral Home recognizes and honors the soldiers for which they've held services and memorials over the past year. They honor the following:

What an assortment of items and property at this upcoming farm equipment, real estate, and personal property auction. Check out all the details below or click the flyer for even more info.

Bee Spring, KY — Before you head out for a day on or near the water, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) encourages you to make sure you have life jackets for everyone and that you wear them.
 
In the last 10 years, 88 percent of all USACE public water-related fatalities were men and 68 percent were between the ages of 20 and 60, according to data compiled by the USACE National Operations Center for Water Safety. The center also reports that 84 percent of all public water-related fatalities involved people not wearing life jackets and found that the greatest number of water-related fatalities involved people swimming in areas not designated for swimming. In addition, 27 percent of boating fatalities involved people falling overboard. 
 
Several people who drown never intended to be in the water; they unexpectedly fell from a boat or dock into the water. When this happens, a person will reflexively gasp and can inhale up to one liter of water and drown in less than a minute.
 
Even a strong swimmer can drown from a fall into cold water because it causes an involuntary gasp (or torso) reflex. A life jacket can help save your life by allowing time for rescue. Some researchers believe cold water is anything lower than normal body temperature of 98.6°F.
 
Others get into trouble swimming out to retrieve a boat that floated away, or swimming in association with a boat.  Swimming in natural waters is not the same as swimming in a pool. Even strong swimmers can get into trouble and be gone within seconds. It takes an average of 60 seconds for an adult to drown and just 20 seconds for a child to drown. Swimming ability also decreases with age.
 
Swim at a designated swim beach. These areas have been inspected to provide a safe swimming environment.  At all USACE beaches you swim at your own risk so adults please watch your children, because most people drowned within 10 feet of safety.  Many shorelines at USACE lake and river projects have drop offs and you can be in water over your head instantly or pulled under by the current. 
 
Always wear the right size and type of life jacket for the activity you are enjoying. Life Jackets Worn…Nobody Mourns. Learn more at PleaseWearIt.com.
 
USACE is the nation’s largest federal provider of water-based outdoor recreation, managing more than 400 lake and river projects in 43 states and hosting more than 250 million visits per year. They provide a diverse range of outdoor activities close to home and to people of all ages. For more information on USACE recreation sites and activities, visit www.CorpsLakes.us.
​

County Clerk Kevin Alexander has announced that his office will be closed Saturday, May 27, 2017 and Monday, May 29 in observance of Memorial Day. 

Other county offices will be closed on Monday as well. The annual county and DAV Memorial Day Program is scheduled to be held on the courthouse lawn beginning at 9:30am on Monday, which is Memorial Day. In case of rain, the event will be moved inside the Community Center.

Please join us as we honor and remember our wonderful veterans at the annual Edmonson County Memorial Day Program on the courthouse lawn. 

Check out the sale going on now at Jacob's Home Furnishings, now through Memorial Day! Don't drive to another town, shop locally for big savings. Click the ad to visit their Facebook page.

Did you miss the age 16 and under league softball signups? How about the age 15 and under baseball league? There is still time to sign up for the Edmonson County Parks and Rec, Baseball/Softball league for this year. Check out the details below.

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
Two SEES students have been awarded bicycles in return for their perfect attendance this year at the elementary school.

Mrs. Becky Saltsman, SEES second grade teacher said that students with perfect attendance for the year were entered into a drawing for the bicycles. The lucky winners were Emberlei Stevens and Blake Cherry.

The bikes were donated from the McClure Masonic Lodge in Brownsville.  

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:​
ALWAYS IN SERVICE
May 21-27, 2017 is the 43rd annual EMS Week
In 1973, President Gerald Ford authorized EMS Week to celebrate EMS, its practitioners and the important work they do in responding to medical emergencies. Back then, EMS was a fledgling profession and EMS practitioners were only beginning to be recognized as a critical component of emergency medicine and the public health safety net.

A lot has changed over the last four decades. EMS is now firmly established as a key component of the medical care continuum, and the important role of EMS practitioners in saving lives from sudden cardiac arrest and trauma; in getting people to the hospitals best equipped to treat heart attacks and strokes; and in showing caring and compassion to their patients in their most difficult moments.

Whether it’s the team at Grady EMS in Atlanta who had the expertise to transport the nation's first Ebola patient, the volunteer firefighters and flight medics called to search for and rescue survivors in the Everett, Wash. mudslide or the thousands of EMS responses that happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and don't make the news, EMS is there for their communities at their greatest time of need.
 
This year’s theme is “EMS Strong: Always in Service”.  Please take a few moments to recognize those individuals who have dedicated their lives to providing life-saving care whenever and wherever it is needed.

by OFFICER BRADLEY J. (B.J.) MCCOY, KENTUCKY DEPT. OF FISH AND WILDLIFE:
For centuries our wild animals have successfully reared their young without the aid of humans.  However, every Spring countless wild animals in Kentucky are harmed or even killed as a result of humans thinking they are doing a good deed by taking in young wildlife that appear abandoned.  What they do not realize is that they are usually stealing the young from their mother.
 
Typically this sad story begins with someone mowing a field and spotting a newly born whitetail deer laying in the tall grass.  They assume that the mother is dead because it is not seen, and bring the fawn home to raise.  Not only is this illegal and dangerous, it also can cause an early death to the fawn.  Fawns nursed and raised by humans, even for a short time, typically lose the natural fear of humans that keep them alive. 
 
For the first few weeks of their lives, fawns will hide in tall grass or near the edge of a field until they are strong enough to keep up with their mother, who is never far away.  The fawn may even bleet at times to communicate with her, this does not mean that the fawn is lost or abandoned.
 
Should you find a fawn this Spring, leave it alone.  If you must move the fawn to continue your agricultural purpose, quickly move it to a nearby area that offers shade and cover that will not be disturbed. 
 
Should you have any further questions, feel free to contact the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife at 1-800-858-1549 or reach a Conservation Officer on the Report A Poacher Hotline at 1-800-25-ALERT.

by Beth Cook, Mammoth Cave Transplants:
Do you have you flower beds and containers planted? Or perhaps you received a hanging basket for Mother’s day. What do you need to do to keep them thriving and healthy?  There are several things you can do to maintain your flowers and help extend their bloom.
 
Watering is the most imperative step in maintaining your flowers. Do not rely on rainfall to keep your flower beds or outdoor pots watered. When the temperatures are high, pots will need to be watered daily in most cases. Keep the soil moist in your pots but not soggy and do not let them dry out. Remember over watering can be as harmful as underwatering. For your flower beds you should water them if it hasn’t rained in 7-10 days. When watering, direct it to the soil or base of the plant. When foliage gets wet on certain plants, it makes them susceptible to diseases.
 
Fertilizer. Your flowers will not grow to their full potential if you do not regularly fertilize them. For flowers in pots or hanging baskets you can use a water soluble fertilizer like Miracle Grow at least every 7-14 days. You can also use a pelletized or granular time released fertilizer. Either type you prefer to use will work. Plants just need that extra boost to keep them looking good. They can become deficient in certain nutrients and begin to yellow or their growth can be stunted without fertilizing. For your flower beds, you can use organic matter such as compost or manure that will nourish your soil. You can also use your water soluble or granular fertilizer in these as well. Some granular fertilizers can feed your plants for up to months at a time. To know exactly the nutrients your soil needs, do a soil text to determine what your soil is lacking.

​In order to promote more blooms, you need to deadhead or trim off the dead or spent flowers from both annuals and perennial plants.  When you do this the plant puts its energy into a new bloom instead of the old bloom. Some plants are easy to pinch off the blooms others you may want to use a clean pair of garden scissors. Make sure to follow the stem down to the next leaf or set of leaves. This just makes it look neater and not an empty stem showing. Deadheading your flowers helps keep your plants looking neat as well as your garden. Most importantly it you will have more blooms! If your plants become to leggy, you can always give them a haircut and trim them back considerably to encourage a more bushier growth habit.
 
Also be sure to watch for insects on your plants. As you are watering or deadheading your flowers, keep an eye out for bugs that could be detrimental to your them such as aphids. Be sure to treat them as soon as you see them to prevent any more damage to your flowers.
 
And last is mulching. In you flower beds you can add mulch to help maintain moisture and reduce weeds. Plus, mulch gives your garden a tidy, orderly look.
 
Planting flowers is only half the battle. If you want them to keep looking good, maintaining them properly is critical in their success. If you have questions regarding maintaining your flowers, we are glad to help here at Mammoth Cave Transplants!
  
“The Earth laughs in Flowers” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

On May 13, 2017 Edmonson County Boy Scout Troop 597 assisted Edmonson County High School by spreading mulch in preparation for graduation ceremonies.

ECHS Principal Tommy Hodges said "The Boy Scouts did a good service to Edmonson County High School by spreading the mulch in preparation for graduation. It is a service that is appreciated by the faculty, staff, students, parents and guests that will be present at the high school for graduation".

​Edmonson County Boy Scout Troop 597 is sponsored by the Edmonson County Lions Club. 

The Edmonson Voice has published this letter on behalf of Holly Springs Missionary Baptist Church, which is reaching out to families of those interred in their cemetery.

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
Edmonson County fifth graders at the EC 5/6 Center received their medallions for completing the 2017 D.A.R.E. program, or the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. The year-long program is to educate the students on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse along with the consequences of violence and bullying.

KSP Trooper Chris Newkirk is the instructor of the class and he led the ceremony at the 5/6 Center yesterday. Along with Trooper Newkirk, Sheriff Shane Doyle, School Resource Officer Jeff Brooks, Deputy Jordan Jones and Tango, and members of the EC Anti-Drug Coalition were in attendance in addition to 5th grade teachers and school administration.

The program's essay winners were Ryann Davis, Abbey Hughes, Alyssa lay, And Alivia Mabrey. 

The highlight of the program came when Deputy Jones led a demonstration with K-9 Officer Tango as Tango found a hidden drug related item. The students were then treated to a controlled bite exercise that turned Alan Talley from Principal to victim as Tango chomped down on Talley's arm on command. Principal Talley was wearing a protective sleeve although several in attendance joked that the principal didn't share the same enthusiasm as the students.

Don't know what to get your grad? Mimi's does...check out the graduation sale this week! Click the flyer for more details.

by Senator Steve Meredith:
Over a month has passed since the conclusion of the 2017 Session of the Kentucky General Assembly but my work as your senator has not slowed. Between answering your well thought-out letters and phone calls, I have been visiting with constituents in our district and listening to your concerns and preparing to discuss many of those topics during the Interim.
 
The 2017 Interim begins on June 1. Many of the issues left unaddressed at the end of this session will be discussed during the upcoming Interim, which is a time designated for a more in-depth look at policy matters. Committees called “Interim Joint Committees” are standing committees that meet when the regular session is adjourned. According to the Legislative Research Commission (LRC), there are two types of Interim committees:

1. Interim joint committees are formed from the standing committees of both houses. For instance, the Education Committee of the Senate and the Education Committee of the House become the Interim Joint Committee on Education after the regular session.
2. Special committees, appointed by the LRC and function primarily during the Interim, usually study a specific topic. Examples include the Tobacco Task Force and the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs.

 
All committees during the Interim are open to the public and the press and both are encouraged to attend. These committees have the power to draft and prefile bills, discuss policy issues within their committee subject, and forward policy recommendations to the General Assembly and the LRC. For a list of interim committees and more information on them, please visit http://www.lrc.ky.gov/committee/interim.htm.
 
Besides being a time for legislative updates and meetings, this is also an exciting time for our high school seniors. I want to congratulate the Class of 2017 and wish all of you the best in your future endeavors, whether that be a career, technical school, college, or another path. If you have questions about planning for college or a career path, I encourage you to visit the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet’s website at educationcabinet.ky.gov or visit the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority’s (KHEAA) website at www.kheaa.com.
 
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.

Don't miss this exciting upcoming Byrd auction on Louisville Road for all kinds of personal property plus a mobile home, vehicles, furniture, a 24ft camper, and much more! Click the flyer for all auction details.

Do you have a dog or puppy that could use a little training? Check out Doggie Do Right Obedience Training, LLC for all your training needs. The local company is now accepting new additions. Check out the ad for all the info and click to email directly.