Edmonson Voice Report: Darren Doyle, photos:
One local business that been around for decades celebrated a new, full time face during a celebration ribbon cutting in conjunction with the Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce.

Wilkes Clinic, a community staple for nearly 60 years, recently joined the Chamber and celebrated their membership today as they welcomed new full time family nurse practitioner Lauren Casey, APRN.

While the clinic has been in Brownsville for decades, it has been under the direction of Dr. Sanjay Kaul MD since 2001.

"It's been an absolute pleasure working with Lauren," said Dr. Kaul. "I think I can speak on behalf of all our staff and our patients, too, we are thrilled to have her and we look forward to serving the community the same as we have for all these years."

Casey said that she started at Wilkes Clinic in October of 2021, but has recently become a full time APRN there.

"We provide so many services, all our lab work, x-rays, bone densities, and I'm seeing patients from age 7 and up," she said. "We have a wide variety of care that includes female exams, physicals, and a lot more."

Chamber President Darren Doyle said adding members to the Chamber is always beneficial to the business community.

"Although Wilkes Clinic has been here for years, we just now have the opportunity to welcome them into our Chamber," he said. "I've known Lauren for a couple years now and she and her husband, Josh Casey, the owner of C&C Firearms, have been valuable parts of our business community. Seeing her now become a full time part of a long-standing local business is good for our county and we're proud to welcome the clinic to our Chamber family."

The clinic's hours of operation are 8AM-5PM Monday through Friday and is now accepting new patients and welcomes all insurances.

Visit EdmonsonChamber.com to find out how you can become part of the growing Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce.

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Guest article by Tommy Bolton:
It was a beautiful October 14th for several of Edmonson County's home-schoolers to have a field trip at a local farm and event facility. A total of 41 were gathered at the Mammoth Cave Event Barn on HWY 70; 25 elementary students and their teachers. Students had recently learned about the Great Depression and were out to experience some of the everyday chores in the life of a person living during this time period.

Hands-on was the method of learning such things as making apple cider, shelling corn to be ground into meal, and using a crosscut saw for firewood. The girls made corn shuck dolls while the boys made cane fishing poles.

Lunch consisted of cornbread from the meal that was ground, pinto beans, and huge skillet of fried potatoes, cooked on an open fire. Of course, in keeping with the period time, there such things as fried pies and molasses cookies.

After lunch, the students enjoyed a team of Percheron horses. They were amazed at the size of the horses and how friendly they were. One young man declared that he loved it there and could stay there forever.

All, including the adults, had a wonderful time while learning some simple things in life.

Darren Doyle, story:
Edmonson County Middle School 8th graders had the opportunity to visit the NASA US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, on Friday, September 30th thanks to the help of a new non-profit that was started by an ECHS graduate and his wife.

Adam Schultz, a 2001 ECHS graduate, started the Edmonson County Enrichment Initiative a couple years ago with his wife, Jennifer. With additional help from other local businesses, the 8th grade class was able to take a very memorable trip.

Principal Brandon Prunty said the trip was a wonderful experience for the 8th graders.

"It's something that we couldn't have done without Mr. Shultz, his organization, and local businesses that helped them with fundraising," he said. "It was great to see the students' excitement while at the US Space and Rocket Center.  There were several unique experiences available to each student.  The planetarium show was one of the best parts of the day.  We had many students interacting with the presenter during that time.  We even saw a couple of our shy students really coming out of their shells that day.  It was a really awesome day overall."

ECMS Guidance Counselor Kelly Rich said the students loved the Alabama trip, where students experienced displays, exhibits, rides, and more.

"The students explored the universe with a dynamic tour guide and were shown how small the earth really is compared to other worlds, solar systems and the universe; the kids were engaged through the entire presentation," she said. "The Space Center provided opportunities to teach students science/engineering through fun activities such as rides and simulators.  One specific simulator, The Multi-Axis Trainer, gave several students the opportunity to experience a spacecraft/aircraft tumble; the kids tumbled simultaneously through 3 axes and rotate, somersault, and roll all at once rapidly,  The Space Craze exhibit amazed students with toys-games and household-entertainment items that represented the journey of space throughout many generations."

Karen Treece, an 8th grade reading teacher said the staff was very grateful that the students had the opportunity and Amberly Alexander, 8th grade careers teacher said she was certain that the trip will be a major highlight of the students' school year. Writing teacher Heather Rickman said being able for the school to create traveling opportunities and learning experiences is a crucial part of the role of educators.

All administrators and teachers were deeply grateful for the opportunity for the students to experience the Space and Rocket Center. They all extended their deepest gratitude to Schultz and the ECEI.

"Mr. Shultz is already looking at options for future trips for ECMS students," said Mr. Prunty. "We are very honored and thankful to be benefiting from his generosity."

submitted flyer:

Edmonson Voice Report:
The annual Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce Golf Scramble has been set for Saturday, October 15, 2022 at Shady Hollow Golf Course.

Teams are only $250 each, which include a mulligan, skirt, and throw per team player at no additional cost.

Prize money is $750 to first place, $500 to second, and $300 to third place finishers, plus hundreds in closest to pin and longest drive contests in Rafferty's gift cards, C&C Firearms gift certificates, and high-end Perma Chill Coolers.

The event is presented by Lake Forest Recruiting Firm.

You can sign up and pay your team fee on the Chamber website. For team info, Contact Mark Wardlow (on flyer) or Coordinator Kayla Childress for more info, 270-597-4715.

Edmonson Voice Report:
Members of the Edmonson County Rescue Squad celebrated a ribbon cutting today at their facility on HWY 259 as they commemorated their membership with the Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce.

While the Rescue Squad has been around for decades, it was reorganized in 2021 and re-affiliated with county government in December, 2021.

The Rescue Squad commander is Tim Skees. The Squad is utilized most often in water rescues, forest areas, and rough terrain.

They are an independent group, run separately from local emergency services, but are able to assist in many ways.

The Rescue Squad is hosting is first-ever benefit car show this Saturday, October 15th on the square at 9AM. You can visit their Facebook Page for more info.

The Chamber will be hosting its annual golf scramble Saturday, October 15th at 8AM at Shady Hollow Golf Course. Team spots are still available with nearly $2,000 to be given away in cash and prizes.

Edmonson Voice Report:
Two Edmonson County school employees have each received an esteemed technological award from the Kentucky Department of Education's Office of Education Technology: Brent Norris and Lamar Miller.

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is recognizing about 2,400 key education technology staff from Kentucky's K-12 school districts and KDE's Office of Education Technology (OET) for their dedication and support of education technology during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to March 2022 by selecting them as recipients of the 2020-2022 Stilwell Award. 

This award's two-year time frame recognizes the unique circumstances that came from the pandemic and the crucial role technology staff and faculty played in supporting the Kentucky educational system.

According to David Couch, Associate Commissioner in KDE's Office of Education Technology, the Bill Stilwell "Red Suspenders" award is the highest honor that KDE provides in K-12 EdTech, which goes to an individual, group of individuals or organization that goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Brent Norris is the Network Administrator for Edmonson County Schools and Lamar Miller is Edmonson County School's Technology Coordinator.

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The Emergency Partners Meet and Greet Event hosted by Girl Scout Troop #313 has an amazing list of Emergency Vendors that will be sure to entertain all ages!

• Chalybeate Fire Department
• Air Methods Glasgow
• T.J. Regional Health Stroke and Chest Pain
• T.J. Pediatrics
• Mammoth Cave National Park
• Big Country Powersports
• Shane Holinde
  
• American Red Cross
• Barren River District Health Department
  
• Tri-County Mounted Search & Rescue
• Edmonson County EMS
• Trooper Priddy with Kentucky State Police Roll-Over Simulator
• Kentucky Department of Agriculture Tractor Roll-Over Simulator
• Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation Safety Demonstration Trailer
• Barren County Cooperative Extension Service
• Felicia Bland with Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana
• National Child Safety ID Kits (while supplies last!!!)
  

Edmonson County ASAP and TJ Regional Health ASAP (Barren, Hart, and Metcalfe) will be partnering to offer Youth Education in the areas of substance abuse prevention. Participants can expect fun activities with “drug use simulation” goggles and much more!

There will also be two food vendors on location: Yeah Buddy’s BBQ and Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Truck. Corey Culbreth with Edmonson County Farm Bureau has partnered with the event and for every person under the age of 18 that completes a rotation to each emergency vendor booth the day of the event, they will receive a “Chalybeate Buck” equivalent to $2 to be redeemed at one of the food vendor locations.

The event is free to the public and open to the south central community!

Darren Doyle, story and photo:
The quick actions of ECHS Principal Jonathan Williams and Walden's BBQ were credited for not only feeding a crowd of people at Friday night's home football game, but for also helping out the local band boosters with income on which they heavily rely.

The Edmonson County Band Boosters have been in charge of the concession stand at ECHS home football games for several years and it's a main source of income for their program. According to David Stewart, president of the ECHS Band Boosters, the band unknowingly had a cooler become inoperable sometime during the week and they lost all the meat inventory they had prepared for Friday night's game. This was discovered at the game that night with no backup option.

"Within a moment's notice, and without hesitation, Mr. Williams rushed out to the grocery store and replaced everything without question," Stewart said. "He then went to Walden’s where they chipped in a HUGE way by donating BBQ for the program."

Stewart also credited several others for the band's growing this year.

"Due to the direct support and efforts from Directors Patrick Sweazy and Stephanie Beach, the EC Community and local businesses, Mr. Alexander, and the administration from all of our schools the Edmonson County Wildcat Band’s presence is growing and will continue to do so."