Bro. Steve and Debbie Doyle are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday, July 30th. 

Doyle and the former Debbie Skaggs were married July 30, 1971 at Chalybeate United Baptist Church with Brother Rayburn Parker officiating.

The couple has lived in Chalybeate ever since they were married.

​They have three children, Darren (Debbie), Shane (Jessica), both of Chalybeate, and Dustin (Aubrey) of Mackenzie, Tennessee. 

They also have 8 grandchildren: Madison and Alyssa Doyle, Preston and Marian Doyle, and Dawson, Lana, Clark, and Della Doyle.

This is a free service from the Edmonson Voice.

Darren Doyle, story:
One local businessman's donation is still making its rounds in the community, thanks to generosity from several individuals.

As reported last week, local Girl Scout Troop #313 hosted a successful Emergency Services meet-and-greet event at the Chalybeate Fire Department, where multiple emergency personnel set up booths, put on displays, and even landed an emergency helicopter for the kids.

Manish Patel, owner of Chalybeate Food Mart, with hopes of supporting local emergency services, made a donation of $1100; however, there were so many different agencies present that day, some of which were unable to accept donations due to the nature of their business, so everyone was unsure as to how the funds could be fairly dispersed. That's when different folks had the same idea: to re-donate those funds back to the Girl Scouts, who put on the event in the first place.

But it didn't stop there. The local Girl Scouts have a drive each year to help benefit another local program, Feeding America's Backpack Program, which sends food items home each weekend with Edmonson County students that need a helping hand.

Scout leader Melissa Johnson said these funds will be used towards their annual drive to benefit the program. 

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Phyllis W. Miller, story and photos:
In the early 2000s, construction began on the Veterans Memorial Highway in Edmonson County in order to straighten the crooked Highway 259. The road in Brownsville was widened to include a much needed turning lane. One of the effects of widening the road was that the brick sign for the Brownsville Missionary Baptist Cemetery had to be removed on the southern side of Brownsville.

Initially, the two brick pillars and granite signs at the cemetery entrance were missed but as the years passed and memory faded they became forgotten, even to those who had family buried in the cemetery. Recently, a few individuals began investigating and found the original granite signs that had been stored in the Brownsville City Building for the past two decades. 

This week, efforts were made to return the signs to the cemetery. Many have worked together to make this possible, but a special “thank you” goes to masonry worker Steve Renick who came out of retirement to construct the two pillars, lay brick, and set the granite signs back in place. ​

Employees at Minit Mart in Brownsville are collecting donations for a former employee that recently passed away, Mary Shirley. All monies collected will go towards medical and funeral expenses. Look for the collection jar at the checkout.

Click the ad to visit the Edmonson County Cattlemen's Association Facebook Page:

Sources: Jonathan Larson, UK extension entomologist and Anna Pasternak UK graduate student:
Courtesy of the Edmonson County Extension Office:
Kentucky is an ideal environment for ticks as we have forests, humidity and a large deer population. It is important to take precautions to prevent tick bites, especially if you spend a significant amount of time outdoors. Ticks do not discriminate on location, and we find them in urban, suburban and rural environments.  

The three most common ticks in Kentucky are the lone star tick, American dog tick and the blacklegged tick. Anna Pasternak, University of Kentucky graduate student who collects ticks for the Kentucky Tick Surveillance Program, is seeing lots of lone star ticks and American dog ticks this summer.   

Ticks must have three blood meals to develop and reproduce. Those blood meals may come from wildlife, animals or you and me. The vast majority of bites from these ticks are just itchy nuisances that last between seven to 10 days, but a small percentage of bites can cause serious allergic reactions and illnesses.  
 
You can identify female lone star ticks by the white spot on their backs. Males are reddish brown. Lone star ticks are vectors of human ehrlichiosis, a bacterial disease, and alpha-gal syndrome, known as the “red meat allergy.” All developmental stages of the tick will feed on humans, and unlike other tick species that lay in wait for a host, lone star ticks actively seek out a blood meal.

The blacklegged tick is the only species that tends to be active year-round in Kentucky, and it is the only vector of Lyme disease. Blacklegged ticks have a reddish-brown body, a dark head, long mouthparts and dark legs. Males have a dark plate that covers their whole body, while females have a dark plate that covers half of their body. 

The American dog tick is the primary vector of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. It is reddish brown with mottled white markings on its back. Only adult American dog ticks feed on humans. 

You can minimize your chances of getting a tick bite by not walking through or brushing up against high grass, brush or other tick-prone areas. You can wear a tick repellent that contains between 20% to 30% DEET on exposed skin and use a repellent containing permethrin on your clothing and gear. Wear light-colored clothing, as this makes ticks easier to see. Tuck long pants into your socks or boots to minimize the chances of ticks attaching to your pant leg. 

Many times, ticks find their way indoors through our pets. Reduce your pet’s chances of attracting ticks by using a tick collar, spray or shampoo or a monthly “top spot” medication. 

Promptly finding and removing ticks is key to reducing your chances of contracting Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. Ticks must be attached to humans for several hours before they transmit these diseases. While outdoors, you should check yourself and your friends, family members and pets for ticks every two to three hours and again after you return home. Some of the most common places to find them are behind your ears, hair, neck, legs and around your waist. If ticks are found, the best way to remove them is by using a fine-tipped tweezer.  

More information on ticks is available at the Edmonson County office of the UK Cooperative Extension Service. 

Educational programs of the Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expressions, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.  

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Melissa Johnson, story and photos:
On Saturday,  July 17th, Girl Scout Troop #313 hosted their first annual Emergency Partners Meet and Greet event at Chalybeate Volunteer Fire Department.   Several local emergency groups were present, providing children of the community an opportunity to meet some of the local heroes and learn about each of their services. 

Warren Rural Electric provided demonstrations of their safety trailer.  Children and adults commented on how much they learned from the show.  KSP Trooper Daniel Priddy was onsite demonstrating the rollover simulator, which helps show the importance of wearing a seat belt.  Over 40 children received National Child Safety ID Kits (donated by Corey Culbreth with Kentucky Farm Bureau).  Other emergency partners present included:  Air Methods, Chalybeate Volunteer Fire Department,  Edmonson County EMS, Edmonson County Jaws,, Edmonson County Sheriff's Department,  Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, Red Cross, T.J. Regional Health's Stroke and Chest Pain Programs, and Tri-County Search and Rescue. 

Chaney's Dairy Barn was also on hand with their homemade ice cream treats.

Overall, the event was a huge success.  Several parents requested for the event to become an annual event.  One local parent and business owner, Manish Patel, owner of Chalybeate Food Mart, made a donation to the event.  The donation was offered to the emergency partners that were scheduled for the event, but several of the partners requested for the money to be re-donated to the Girl Scout Troop who stated that the re-donated funds would be used to support their annual non-perishable food drive that gives back to the Family's Resource Center in Edmonson County each year prior to Christmas break. 

These donations support the Backpack Program and provides food support over the Christmas break and throughout the school year. 
 
Girl Scout Troop #313 would like to thank the community for their support.

It's Christmas in July for a very worthy local program that helps Edmonson County students during the holidays; formerly known as the "Angel Tree Program," this year's Affordable Christmas is getting an early start.

Christmas in July for Affordable Christmas is a new fundraiser to get an early start on raising funds before the mad rush of the holiday season arrives.

Alicia Edwards, Coordinator for Family Resource Center at SEES and Kyrock, described the Affordable Christmas program.

"Affordable Christmas is a holiday assistance program that allows families to pay a small percentage and shop for their children," she said. "Each child, ages birth to 18, receives $120 in toys, a coat, socks, underwear, outfit, and personal hygiene items. In 2020, FRYSC along with some amazing volunteers, served over 150 children. Each year we need around $20,000 to make this event successful."

All vendor fees and food proceeds from the event, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 31st at ECHS, will go to Affordable Christmas.

"It’s a wonderful way to showcase small and local businesses while helping us raise money for a worthy cause," Edwards said. "Special thanks to Barbara Fitzhugh and St. John's Thrift Store & Food Pantry for providing lunch and for sponsoring $1 Pelican's Snoballs for everyone who comes by."

For more information, you can email Alicia Edwards by clicking here.

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The Edmonson Voice was asked to offer a poll to seek any interest in a public meeting concerning the newly proposed housing development in Chalybeate, located between Denham Road and KY HWY 101.

Several community members are gauging interest in the development. Please answer one simple question below:

Edmonson Voice Update:
From July 19-23, Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland (FAKH) will host a week-long concerted fundraising effort to raise money for children on the BackPack Program in each participating county, the organization announced. For food-insecure children on the program, bags of 12-14 easy-to-prepare food items are placed discreetly in their backpacks each Friday school is in session.

“Nearly one in five children in our service area face hunger,” said Jamie Sizemore, FAKH executive director and Edmonson County native. “That’s why it’s so important to support the BackPack Program, which provides food for these kids to hold them over on the weekend when they aren’t receiving breakfast and lunch at school.”

Each participating county will organize an online fundraiser that directly supports their specific BackPack Program. FAKH will host a Greatest Needs fundraiser and donations raised will go to the county most in need of funding. Kroger’s Zero Hunger / Zero Waste Foundation will match each donation, dollar for dollar, up to $20,000 for the week of July 19-23. In addition, Jack Henry & Associates have provided $1,500 to be used as prize money awarded to the top five counties that raise the most funds, the county with the highest number of unique donors, and the most creative county, as determined by FAKH staff and based on promotion efforts.

“We’re fortunate to have the support of so many organizations like Kroger and Jack Henry & Associates,” Sizemore said. “Partnerships like these allow us to better provide for food insecure individuals in the community, and will allow these BackPack Programs to help even more children.”

A $120 donation will take care of one child's needs for an entire school year, and thanks to partners working together this week, their match will double that. Please CLICK HERE to visit Edmonson County's page and make your donation.

Edmonson Voice Update:
The Edmonson County 5/6 Center offering the school's first-ever orientation program for 5th graders, called Wildcat 101.  The new program will allow incoming 5th grade students to take part in a mini-school day. 

On August 3rd, students will be able to have a short version of each of their classes, play games, take part in ice breakers, get a free lunch, and even experience recess.  Camp will run from 9am to 12pm and parents need to fill out the registration form online to participate.

"Our staff is excited for the opportunity to invite incoming 5th grade students to the 5/6 Center," said Principal Chad Johnston. "Our goal is to get 5th grade students into the building on August 3rd so that we can help ease the transition from our elementary schools to the 5/6 Center.  This is a great opportunity for students to get to know their teachers and learn what school will look like for them when they show up on August 11th for their first official day.  We can't wait to work with the students."

You can register at the link below or by clicking the flyer.
https://forms.gle/QtuHBGhfuEU3Xwzy5

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
Staff and volunteer members for Edmonson County Schools bore the heat today as they sorted through a steady stream of supplies and donations generously gifted from the community at the 2021 Cram The Cruiser event, held today in both Chalybeate and Brownsville.

Unofficial totals for this year were well over $5,000 in cash donations (a new record), on top of boxes full of school supplies that will be distributed throughout the schools in Edmonson County.

School officials say that CtC, sponsored by local law enforcement and community businesses and organizations, is necessary because it helps level the playing field for many students that don't always have the supplies they need to help them become successful in school.

"This goes to our kids, right here in Edmonson County, and distributed equally throughout our local schools," said Morgan Esters, Youth Service Center Coordinator. "Everything we've collected today and throughout the rest of the week will stay right here. It's a huge help to our kids all year round."

Kentucky State Police, the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, and Brownsville Police parked their cruisers in two locations today, the Brownsville Family Dollar and the Chalybeate Dollar General Store, with hopes of filling them up with supplies. It was a chore loading all of it up and hauling back to schools for sorting, but no one was complaining while packing it all up.

"It was so good to be able to have more of a normal-type of event this year, compared to all the restrictions we faced last year," Esters said. "To be able to see people's faces and have them stop by and talk to us was great. Also having Pelican's Snoballs, who donated a portion of their sales, come out today was a big hit. Yes, it was hot today, but it's always worth it when you talk about kids in Edmonson County."

Edmonson Voice Update:
Chaz Wilson, son of Erick and Michelle Wilson of Smiths Grove, Ky., was awarded a $5,000 scholarship from the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms.

He received one of 15 scholarships given this year to children of Perdue associates and independent contract farmers. Winners were selected based on academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.
              
Chaz will attend Kentucky Wesleyan College to pursue a degree in environmental sciences. He graduated seventh in his class from Edmonson County High School (ECHS) with a grade-point average of 4.12. 
 
According to a statement released from Perdue, he was chosen captain of his varsity basketball and baseball teams at ECHS, while spending many hours volunteering, including preparing and serving meals at his local Salvation Army, performing roadside cleanup, shoveling snow in his community, and distributing presents for less fortunate children at Christmas.
 
Chaz was raised on his family’s farm near Bowling Green, working side by side with his father from an early age, feeding calves, working cattle and discing fields. 
 
“The opportunities I was given as a child instilled a deep love for the land inside me that not many people possess today,” he said. “Being a farmer is the most rewarding career I could choose to accomplish this goal. I feel the leadership qualities, dedication and work ethic I have acquired through my basketball and baseball careers will follow me through life."
 
“I hope with my research, I can help protect our environment, our farmland and our health,” he said. “I plan on coming back to Bowling Green and continue to farm and work diligently to grow what my dad has worked so hard to build.”
 
About the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation
The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue.

"As part of our belief in supporting the communities where and with whom we do business, the Foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of our associates live and work" a statement from Perdue Farms said. "At Perdue Farms, we believe in responsible food and agriculture®."

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