Don't miss this exciting event that will benefit some of Edmonson County's most deserving citizens. Check out all the details below, sponsored in part by the Edmonson Voice.

The family of Barry and Faye Skaggs wishes to invite all friends and family to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. It will take place on Sunday July 1st at Kyrock Elementary between 2-4pm.

​The couple was married on June 14, 1968. The have one son Greg Skaggs (Melissa) and one grandson David Paul Skaggs. The couple requests no gifts please. 

submitted:
The Edmonson County 4H Horse Club spent last week showing at the district 6 4H horse show at the WKU Ag Expo Center.

Five members represented the club in the following divisions:

Mckenzie Vincent contest 3
Cassie Tarter racking division 2
Amila Chan Hollis walking division 2
Rachel Cowles walking division 3
Keaton Thompson walking division 3

All participants had winning rides and are eligible to go on to the next level of competition in Louisville in July.

​Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Lay will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house held in their honor on Sunday, July 1, 2018.  The open house will be held from 2 - 5 P.M. at the Main Street Activity Center (210 South Main Street, Brownsville, KY).  All friends and relatives are invited.  The couple requests no gifts, please.

Mr. and Mrs. Lay were married by Rev. John White Davis on July 5, 1968 at the bride's home in Pine Grove.  They have one daughter, Penny Carnes (Jamie) of Smiths Grove and two grandchildren, Justin Carnes (Michaela) of Brownsville and Paige Carnes of Bowling Green.

submitted:
Community Action of Southern Kentucky Children’s Services early childhood program in Brownsville, KY has recently been awarded 5 Stars by the Kentucky ALL STARS tiered quality rating and improvement system. This is the highest possible rating for an early childhood learning program, and is conducted by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Dept. for Community Based Services, Division of Child Care.   The rating scores reflect requirements in areas such as classroom and instructional quality, staff qualifications and training, curriculum based lesson plan use, family and community engagement, and administrative and leadership practices.

The Head Start teaching team, Sherrita Tyree, and Gwen Lindsey, have worked hard to prepare a preschool classroom full of fun diverse learning opportunities that promote school readiness in addition to promoting social-emotional, health and physical development.  The outdoor play area is supported by exciting choices of stationary and portable educational equipment. The team was evaluated in a number of quality areas during an instructional day when children were present in May 2018.

After coming on board with the Edmonson County program in January 2018 as Center Manager, Rebecca Shipp knew from the beginning that this was a quality learning center.  She felt confident that the staff had the necessary knowledge and skill; with a little organization and documentation, to become a level 5 top tier program.

​The program is still taking applications for the fall 2018-2019 school year. The income-based program serves children ages three to five.  Please call the Edmonson County Head Start center at 270-597-2779 for more information.

The annual Parks and Rec Freedom Fest has been set for Friday, June 29, 2018 beginning at 5pm, according to Parks and Rec Director John Kiernan. The event will take place at Chalybeate Sports Complex and will feature live music, concessions, games for kids, inflatables, and local league softball and baseball awards beginning at 6pm. The grand finale will feature a large fireworks display beginning at dark. For more information, contact the Parks and Rec website by clicking the flyer below: 

submitted flyer:

U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie (R), a representative of KY's second district, which includes Edmonson County, will be stopping in Brownsville on Friday morning, June 29th from 9-10am.

​Rep. Guthrie said his office is continuing the "Conversations With Constituents," which includes stopping in counties within the second district. The Congressman told us that he will be available to speak with locals about anything related to federal agencies, which include veterans programs, passports, and a wide range of other matters.

Guthrie said that one of his current main concerns is the ongoing opioid crisis and he is currently involved in several bills that will try tackling the enormous problem. 

The Congressman will be at the Edmonson County Public Library on Friday, June 29, 2018 from 9am - 10am. All locals are invited to stop by.

Darren Doyle, story:
Santa's Helping Hands, INC. has announced that the second annual benefit golf scramble will be held on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at Shady Hollow Golf Club. All proceeds will go directly to SSH, INC.

According to Mark Wardlow, the organization's co-founder and treasurer, last year's scramble was a huge success and this year's looks to be even better.

"Teams are already being assembled for this and it's only our second year," he said. "This is just another way folks can be part of our charity while enjoying a great day of golf. We also appreciate all our sponsors for this event, which make this possible."

Sponsors on the list are Shady Hollow Golf Club, Alford's Pharmacy and Drive Thru, A+ Family Healthcare, Rafferty's, Edmonson Voice, Stile Homes, and Jacob's Home Furnishings.

Corporate and personal hole sponsorships are still available. All information is in the flyer below:

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:​
The Edmonson County Board of Education met June 11, 2018, where Superintendent Patrick Waddell recognized the following 2017- 2018 retirees:

Title I & Parent Liaison -Lisa Lindsey, Teacher -Joyce Alford, Custodian -Arlene Minton, Secretary - Patricia Cowles.

The following retirees were unable to attend the meeting but were still recognized: 

Teachers; Sandra Finch, Bart Weaver, Instructional Aide - Joyce Vincent, Cooks -Yolanda VanMeter, Kathy Howard, Linda Burba, Bus Monitor - Angela Webb.

"Join National Park Rangers for an evening under the night sky at the Mammoth Cave Star Party. The program will begin Wednesday June 20th, at 9:00PM. Meet at the Visitor Center for the evening’s highlights. They will include viewing the planet Jupiter and its moons through telescopes provided by the park.
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In the event of heavily clouded skies, a program at the nearby amphitheater will be substituted for telescope viewing. Program is subject to cancellation in the event of severe weather or heavy rain."
For more information contact 270-758-2180

Thanks to all the Dads out there! You are appreciated and we hope you have a great day.

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
Mammoth Cave National Park Superintendent Barclay C. Trimble announces the National Park Service has begun exploring concept options at the Houchin Ferry site, which has been impacted with the removal of Lock and Dam 6 in 2017. This effort will help guide park management in decisions about the future visitor experience opportunities, as well as, natural and cultural resource conditions at Houchin Ferry.

The National Park Service has developed three preliminary concepts for public review and comment. The preliminary concepts can be viewed at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/houchinferry. This link will become active on June 20th. Comments can be submitted electronically through the website from June 20 through July 20, 2018.

The park will host a public meeting on Thursday, June 28, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m. at the Edmonson County Library, 280 Ferguson St., Brownsville, KY  42210. The purpose of the public meeting is for the National Park Service to display the concepts and hear your suggestions and comments for the future of this site. Comment forms will be available at the event.

Darren Doyle, report:
​The 3rd annual Camp Kindergarten was held at South Edmonson and Kyrock Elementary schools on June 12th, 13th, 14th. This annual camp is an ongoing part of Edmonson County Schools' initiative to improve kindergarten readiness in the district.

“This program is showing improvements in kindergarten readiness scores and is making a significant difference in students transition to kindergarten,” said Wyn Caudill, Preschool Coordinator for Edmonson County Schools. "We're seeing a significant increase in readiness scores and our kindergarten teachers are seeing improvement in the classroom as well.”

Caudill said that Camp Kindergarten students go through a modified school day during camp where they work on academic and social skills while learning and reviewing school rules. Teachers were able to identify individual student needs, provide feedback to parents, and were able to plan instructional strategies for the 2018-19 school year.

Lori Burnett, Brownsville City Clerk/Treasurer, recently received her Kentucky Master Municipal Clerk designation, according to the Kentucky Municipal Clerks Association.

In a statement from KMCA President Crissy Upton, she said, "By earning this designation, you have proven you are truly dedicated to your profession, your city, and the  Kentucky Municipal Clerks Association." 

Edmonson Voice Staff Report:
TheatreFest! At Lindsey Wilson College, 210 Lindsey Wilson Street, Columbia, KY, will present the gospel musical Smoke on the Mountain June 27, 28, 29, July 11, 12, 13 & 15, according to Lindsey Wilson student Thomas Alvey, a 2015 graduate of ECHS. Alvey is working as an intern and performer in the production.

The play – which is directed by Artistic Director of TheatreFest!, Robert Brock with music direction by Associate Artistic Director, Jeremy Cloyd – will be performed at 7pmCT June 27, 28, 29, July 11, 12, 13 and 2pmCT July 15. Tickets are $10 for general admission, and $5 for children and Lindsey Wilson College Faculty, Staff and Students.
 
Smoke on the Mountain takes place on a Saturday night in June 1938 in the sanctuary of the Mount Pleasant Church in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina. The Sanders Family Singers are performing for the first time after a five-year hiatus from the gospel-singing circuit. The family of six have more than their share of testimonials to share with audiences from any background.
 
“For anyone that grew up in the South, the music in this play is like going home.” Cloyd says.
 
The show mixes both traditional gospel music with testimonials from the characters to create the feeling of an actual church service and is unlike any other theatre experience in the area.
 
Cloyd also says that the play is about “having a commitment to family and to the glory of life” and that this commitment is what makes the play a unique experience for audiences.
 
“I’m sure the lovable characters and beautiful music will resonate with the people in South Central Kentucky.” Says Brock.
 
Audiences will be familiar with Burl and Vera, two parents trying to do what is best for their kids, Dennis and Denise, the twins, and June, the “sign-language” singer.
 
TheatreFest! At Lindsey Wilson College will present Smoke on the Mountain at 7pmCT June 27, 28, 29, July 11, 12, 13 and 2pmCT July 15. For tickets contact Robert Brock at [email protected].
 
Directed by Artistic Director of TheatreFest!, Robert Brock with music direction by Associate Artistic Director of TheatreFest!, Jeremy Cloyd with Kelvin Bailey of Columbia, Reneé Daffron of Jamestown, KY, Sydney Shearer of Columbia, Tyler Harting of Monticello, Sharon Archey of Columbia, Hannah Peck of Columbia, and Thomas Alvey of Brownsville, KY.

​Alvey participated in drama, band, literary club, and international club while a student at ECHS. In the fall, he will be a senior theater arts and media studies double major, with plans of going to graduate school for counseling and human development.