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Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
Edmonson County High School has issued a statement regarding an accidental omission during graduation last week of a local senior with perfect attendance.

"Edmonson County High School would like to recognize Janie Hunt for perfect attendance for her Senior year," said ECHS Principal Tommy Hodges. "I  apologize for this oversight the afternoon of Graduation.  She will be awarded a plaque for her achievement."

Josh Boyd, column and photos: 
Deer hunting is full of challenges in many varying forms and fashions. How best to get to and from a stand covertly, avoiding detection by the ever-keen nose of the whitetail deer, and making the most out of a shot opportunity when it is presented are just a few challenges that a deer hunter must overcome. However, in many cases the biggest challenge a deer hunter faces is confronted before their hunt ever begins.
 
Land access or the lack thereof is an issue that ever increasingly affects countless deer hunters every year. In a time where once-sprawling farms are being sold off and subdivided at an alarming rate, many hunters have been displaced from woodlots that they once called their hunting home. As the number of deer hunters without land access rises exponentially, and the total acreage of available land for hunting plummets, the competition for access to any remaining tracts of land is often times substantial. This leaves a hunter to weigh their options, or else risk sitting idly by as others head to the woods this fall. However, with some forethought, research, and determination well in advance of season, access to some of our region's finest deer hunting can still be had.
 
The month of June is a perfect time to seek out permission for new properties to deer hunt in the coming fall. By beginning to pursue access at this point in the year, a hunter is getting a leg up on many individuals who will put off until tomorrow what they could have done today. This allows you to potentially make contact with a landowner before he or she has already been contacted by four or five other hunters with the same request, as would probably be the case had a person waited until the few weeks preceding season. This can be of an advantage because many landowners grant permission to their yet unspoken for properties on a first come first serve basis.
    

​An alternative means of gaining access to hunting property is through a land lease agreement. One steadfast advantage of acquiring a lease is the piece of mind that through a contractual leasing agreement, only the parties that the lease pertains to will be allowed onto the property. This prevents the repeated disruption of your hunting that is always a possibility when multiple groups of hunters have been granted permission to the same property.
 
One disadvantage of leasing hunting property is the cost associated with the yearly terms for acquisition of the lease. These fees are commonly set at a per acre price and in many areas can be rather steep. The sticker shock of signing in to a lease can often times be at least partially mitigated by splitting the lease amongst a group of like minded hunters.
 
In many cases, large tracts of property lease at a slightly lesser cost per acre than smaller properties. Once this price is divided amongst a handful of individuals the per hunter total can at times be less than one might think, all the while allowing each lease member ample room to hunt. By assessing any leasing opportunities at the earliest possible date, a hunter, or group of hunters, are allowed a larger pool of prospective leases to choose from than had they waited until few options remained by the time season was on the verge of opening.
 
As we prepare to usher in the month of June, Kentucky's archery season and it's early September opening date grows ever closer. As season approaches, the thought of where to hunt and how to gain access to property for that purpose will begin to weigh heavily on the minds of many bluegrass bow hunters. Procrastination, on the part of hunters who seek to secure land to hunt, will do them no favors. Instead, getting a jump start on the task ahead and working diligently to see it through will likely yield a hunter a slice of hunting heaven from where they can see yet another deer season through. In this case, the early bird really does get the worm, and maybe the deer.

​Another common problem that gardeners encounter when growing tomatoes is blossom end rot. This problem is not caused by a disease organism, but is rather a physiological disorder that results when there is an inadequate supply of calcium available to the developing fruit. Over-fertilizing can sometimes cause problems with the uptake of calcium to the plant. Initial symptoms of blossom end rot generally appear as water-soaked areas on the blossom end of the fruit. Over time the damage becomes a sunken, dark-colored rot.

Prior to planting, the main preventative measure is to have a soil test done to determine if adequate calcium is present in the soil. Limestone (a source of calcium) should only be applied if soil test results recommend it. When a need for limestone is indicated, best results are achieved when the limestone is worked into the soil 2 to 3 months prior to planting.

Most of us already have planted our gardens, but this can be done this fall to prepare for next year’s garden. Using a fertilizer low in nitrogen can also help in prevention.  Also, be sure you plant your tomatoes in well-drained soil to aid in prevention.

Be sure to keep a close eye on your crop throughout the growing season. Early detection of diseases is crucial to having a successful garden and yummy tomatoes! Happy Gardening from Mammoth Cave Transplants!

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
Debbie Gail Doyle recently celebrated her 20th year with US Bank as she was honored by a group of her colleagues.

Debbie began her career with the company in May of 1999 as a commercial administrative assistant and moved through the ranks over the years.

She advanced in her career to become a commercial operations specialist and manager prior to taking on her current role. Today, she serves as the nationwide Senior Loan Documentation Manager for the commercial business line across U.S. Bank’s Community Banking footprint. 

Regional President Craig Browning, also an Edmonson County resident, hired Debbie 20 years ago and spoke about her work.

“Debbie has done an excellent job over the years of adapting to an ever-changing industry dynamic," he said. "To remain relevant in banking, one has to be capable and willing to change, adapt, and overcome.  Shifting sands in the regulatory environment, corresponding policy changes, and technological advances impact requires top talent with a positive attitude and ability to adapt. Debbie has mastered and excelled at all of these things in her 20 years and we are grateful for her contributions and loyalty.” 

She is a graduate of Edmonson County High School and Western Kentucky University.

Other U.S.Bank employees with local roots and a 20+ year work history include Browning (23+ years) who serves as the Regional President for south central and western Kentucky as well as southern Illinois, and Lisa Raymer of Windyville, who will celebrate her 26th year with the bank this fall as a teller at the bank’s Lain Avenue office in Bowling Green.

Debbie, her husband, and two daughters reside in the Chalybeate community.

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
Double J Stables and Horseman's Campground invites the public to join them for a ribbon cutting on Friday, May 24.   “If you haven’t visited us in a while, come see the changes,” notes owners Dave and Rocky Lombardi, “and help us celebrate our 8th anniversary as owners of Double J Stables.”
 
The facility consists of 55 acres and offers campsites with electricity and water as well as rustic sites.    They have shower and restroom facilities, a playground for children, several barns and enclosed fields for campers’ horses, plus an “Over Yonder Dry Saloon” a new venue for special events. At their “Dry Saloon,” they host Derby Day, Memorial Day and Halloween activities, plus offer packages for birthday parties, weddings, anniversaries, scouting events and other occasions. Guided trail rides are offered every day beginning March 1 through Labor Day, and then by reservations Friday through Sunday until October 31.  They are the only licensed outfitter permitted to offer trail rides in Mammoth Cave National Park.
 
The ribbon cutting begins at 4 p.m. and is being hosted by the Cave City, Edmonson and Hart County Chambers of Commerce.    Light refreshments will be provided.  The facility is located at 542 Lincoln School Rd, Mammoth Cave, KY.   For more information, call (270) 286-8167, visit them online at www.doublejstables.com, or check out their Facebook page.

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
​Mammoth Cave National Park will celebrate the third annual National Caves and Karst Day on Thursday, June 6 by offering free surface programs to highlight the park’s expansive karst landscape. The park observes National Cave and Karst Day along with the National Cave Association and caves around the United States who are holding special events to raise awareness of the importance of caves and karst in our lives.
 
Karst landscapes are formed primarily by the dissolution of soluble rocks, typically limestone or dolomite, and is characterized by the presence of caves, sinkholes, sinking streams, springs, and subterranean rivers. Mammoth Cave is the world’s longest known cave and is currently mapped at 412 miles.  The cave is a prime example of karst topography in the south central Kentucky region, and has been recognized as an UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve.
 
The free National Cave and Karst Day activities include a ranger led porch talk, nature tracks program, surface hikes, and an evening program entitled “A Journey Down the Drain: The Story of Sinkholes.” The park will have a limited number of Junior Ranger Cave Scientist activity books on hand for children to complete to earn a special badge and title of Junior Cave Scientist. All surface activities are free with no reservations required. 
 
The park also offers several cave tours such as the Grand Avenue, River Styx, Frozen Niagara, and Domes and Dripstones tours that focus on cave geology. Fees for these tours vary and tickets can sell out quickly. It is recommended that visitors make tour reservations through www.recreation.gov prior to arrival.
 
For the full schedule of National Caves and Karst Day programs at the park, please visit the June calendar at www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/calendar.htm.

Darren Doyle, story:
Family members say that a Mammoth Cave man is recovering from a health emergency he experienced this past Saturday, thanks to his grandson Logan Powell, a local 7-year old first grader at Kyrock Elementary.

According to Logan's mother, LeAnn Powell, Mr. Leroy Childress (Mrs. Powell's father) was taking Logan home from a youth league baseball game on Saturday when Mr. Childress and Logan decided to take a detour. Mrs. Powell said that Leroy and Logan made a stop along the way to look for some arrowheads.

After a short time, she said that the two had wandered down into a valley and Mr. Childress' legs gave out on him. He fell down and was unable to get back up. While he had a cell phone, there was no service at that location, but that's when Logan took action.

"My kind-hearted and brilliant 7-year old got Dad’s phone and ran over the field to get a signal to call me and Mom for help," Mrs. Powell told the Edmonson Voice. "Between bits and pieces of what we were told, we got to him. I called 911 shortly after we got there because after we helped him up, his legs wouldn’t hold him up and he just wasn’t acting like Dad."

EMS arrived afterwards and he was taken to the hospital. Mrs. Powell said that Mr. Childress suffers from Type II Diabetes and that his blood pressure was extremely low and he was having trouble staying awake.

"We are all so proud and thankful for what Logan did," said Mrs. Powell.  "Dad is now safe and sound back home thanks to Logan. My hero!"

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
It wasn't your typical ribbon cutting in Brownsville today as Ace Hardware celebrated its grand opening today through the Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce.

Instead of the standard over-sized scissors you normally see at similar events, District Manager Bob Miller cut the ribbon (along with a cedar log) with a Stihl Chainsaw, a product that is available in the store.

"We're so happy to bring Ace Hardware to this community," said Miller, once the sawdust settled. "This is a subsidiary of Houchens Industries in Bowling Green, and what we're seeing right now is a very fast growth pace with our Ace side of things and we feel strongly about being a part of this neighborhood."

Along with a complete line of Stihl power equipment products, the store also carries high-end gas and charcoal grills, smokers, fishing and hunting supplies, brand name paints, as well as Hallmark and Simply Southern products. Of course, the store also has a little bit of everything else, too-- for which the hardware store is also known.

Maegan Hance, Chamber President, said she was excited to see the store finally open.

"This is another great opportunity for our community and it was an honor for the Chamber to be part of this event," she said. "What a great turnout we have here today, and the cutting of the ribbon with the chainsaw was a fantastic touch."

Miller said the grand opening celebration will continue through Memorial Day with business hours 7am - 7pm Monday through Saturday and 9am - 6pm on Sundays. 

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Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Two former Wildcat Basketball team members have found a way to continue their love for basketball at a local level by creating Edmonson County's first-ever 3-on-3 basketball league, "EC3 League."

Caleb Skaggs and Peyton Talley, both 20 years old, are the co-founders of the non-profit league that Skaggs says will have a number of purposes.

"I've thought about doing something like this for a while and when Peyton came to me with the same basic idea, we started working on how to make it happen," he said. 

Both of the young men graduated from ECHS in 2017 where they were each members of the 2017 12th District Basketball Championship team.

"We wanted to provide an opportunity for both kids and adults," said Skaggs. "While there are plenty of local youth sport leagues, there's not a whole lot for older kids to do if you don't play high school sports. Not everyone wants to play sports at the high school level, so we thought this would provide a fun, healthy activity for people to compete in a different way."

The league is available for teams made from a maximum of four people, ages 16 and up. Teams can register for $120 per team and must have one team captain, or spokesperson. 

The inaugural season will begin June 15th and run until the end of July, with an end-of-season tournament. Games will be held on Saturdays at the ECHS gymnasium. Entry fees will go to cover costs that include gym rental, officiating, and insurance. The league, which is run by a local board, plans on putting all the rest back into local basketball programs, which will range from the high school down to the youth league, if successful. Both co-founders and board members are volunteers. Game times will vary, based on the total number of teams. 

Sign ups will begin today, May 17, 2019 on the league's brand new website: EC3League.com. You can pay your team fees directly on their site or you can schedule a time to pay directly by cash or check to one of the board members. Skaggs said only the team captain needs to sign the team up, not each team member. The group's Facebook page can be visited here and you can also find them on Instagram. 

"We hope to be able to provide another local family-friendly activity that will allow us to give back to a program that's meant a lot to both of us and so many others," said Skaggs. ​

Darren Doyle, story:
John Chidester, pastor of Brownsville Missionary Baptist Church has announced a new partnership program with St. Joseph's School in Bowling Green along with other local churches and organizations that is bringing free, hot meals to Edmonson County kids all summer long.

Chidester made the initial announcement earlier in the week at the regular Edmonson County fiscal court meeting. Through St. Joseph's, there will be five different locations where hot meals are available this summer, beginning June 4th, every Tuesday and Thursday. 

"Through the backpack program, we've been able to serve about 100 kids per week through the summer, thanks to St. John's church and Feeding America," said Chidester. "While the backpack program is crucial to so many Edmonson County families, we've found another way to help our locals by providing some free hot meals as well."

​The locations for the meals will be Brownsville Missionary Baptist, The Lighthouse Fellowship at Nolin Lake, The Community Church at Cedar Springs, St. John's Catholic Church, and Wingfield Volunteer Fire Department. 

In addition to free meals for kids, parents can also eat with their children for only $3 per meal. 

The program is open to any Edmonson County child from ages below one year all the way up to age 18.

"We gave away more than 15,000 non-perishable food items last summer, but a good hot meal is even better," he said. 

Times for serving the meals will vary depending on each location, but will range from 11am to 12:15pm.

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
The Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce will be having a “unique” opening day ceremony for Ace Hardware of Brownsville, according to Chamber Director Rhonda Clemmons, on Wednesday, May 22nd at 10am.

“Per the store's request, they will be opting to cut a board with a chainsaw instead of our traditional ribbon and scissors,” said Clemmons. “The entire community is welcome to attend, join in the fun, and for the ceremonial photo."
 
Ace Hardware is one of the Chamber of Commerce’s newest members. They are located on Hwy. 259 N in the Riverhill Shopping area of Brownsville, Kentucky. Their hours will be 7 am to 7 pm, Monday thru Saturday, and 9 am to 6 pm on Sunday.

According to the Chamber, company representatives said “ they will not be your average hardware store carrying hardware items and grills, it will also carry Case knives, sporting goods, Simply Southern, Vera Bradley and it will be a Hallmark Gold Crown store and be a Stihl products dealer."