Darren Doyle, story and photo:
We've seen Santa Claus at a few different places recently and we asked him if he would take a few moments for an interview. When he said "yes," the visions of sugarplums began to dance in our heads and we sat down with the world's most famous sleigh pilot.

EV: We're only a few days away from Christmas and we've seen you in Edmonson County several times over the last few weeks. How is that possible during what would seem to be your busiest time of the year?
SC: Well, the credit goes to Mrs. Claus and the elves. There's no way I can handle everything by myself. She is currently overseeing everything at the North Pole and the elves are seeing to the reindeer and finishing up the toy making and preparation for Christmas Eve. I have other homes all over the world that I stay in during the summers and I even have one here in Edmonson County. 
EV: Do you and everyone at the North Pole work all year round?
SC: For the most part, yes; however, everyone takes a vacation immediately following Christmas. The elves usually go to the Bahamas and spend some time recharging the batteries while Mrs. Claus and I also head south. We might be gone from anywhere from a couple weeks to a month, it just depends.
EV: We've seen you several places, but you never have any elves with you. Do they stay at the North Pole?
SC: Ho, Ho, Ho! No...elves are everywhere. Not all of them are small with pointy ears, either. I have hundreds of thousands of undercover elves that work with me 24/7, all year long. They could be anyone: teachers, policeman, someone at the grocery, or even your own brother or sister. How do you think I keep such a close eye on everyone? We also incorporated the "Elf on a Shelf" a few years ago. You may only see them at Christmas, but they send reports to the North Pole everyday.
EV: Do you really put coal in stockings of those on the naughty list?
SC: Well, I did until a few years ago when the price of coal went sky-high! These days I use rocks instead, and they come right from the driveways or yards of those that get them. I know it doesn't help Kentucky's coal industry, but hey...
EV: We heard someone call you "Skip" the other day. Do you sometimes go by another name?
SC: Skip is a nickname I was given long ago. It stands for "Santa Klaus In Person."
EV: When are the naughty and nice lists finalized?
SC: They're not. It's never too late to be transferred from one to the other. But hey, there's only been one person on this Earth that was perfect, and that was Jesus, the reason for the season, so I know that everybody else makes mistakes, including me. As long as you're making an honest effort to be good, you'll be on the nice list.

Edmonson Voice Report:
Edmonson County High School surprised their students in a big way this week with a Christmas present for every student in grades nine through twelve. Students met in the gym on Thursday where each one received a hooded sweatshirt wrapped in a gift bag with a holiday message from their mentor teacher. 

"We are so thankful for our sponsors who made this possible, including Alford’s Pharmacy, Edmonson Voice, Gerald Printing, Meredith Welding Technologies, A+ Family Healthcare, Bank of Edmonson County, Patton Funeral Home, C & A Plumbing, and Adam Cassady Landscaping," said Mrs. Shannon Lowe, ECHS counselor.

Edmonson Voice Report:
A local couple is continuing their long tradition of philanthropy at WKU with a new gift to support several important priorities.

Craig Browning (’87), and his wife, Deborah, recently made a significant gift to WKU Athletics, student scholarships and Amy and David Chandler Hall, the new home of the Gordon Ford College of Business.

Though the couple originally established the Craig and Deborah Browning Family Scholarship Fund as part of their estate plans, their recent gift included a $150,000 commitment so that scholarships may begin being awarded now. The fund is designated for graduates of Edmonson County High School with a preference for students majoring in areas of study within the Gordon Ford College of Business or the College of Education & Behavioral Sciences.

“We’ve been very fortunate in life, and God has rained his blessings down on us,” Craig Browning said. “Over the past few years, we’ve realized that we have the capacity to help others now versus later. While our estate will continue to have some language benefiting WKU, we’re pleased to now be able to help as many as four students each semester with this new endowed scholarship fund.”

In addition to the family scholarship fund, the Brownings also made a $25,000 gift to the Summer Browning Rich Scholarship Fund, which is named in honor of their daughter, Summer Rich (’15, ’17), who serves as the Gifted & Talented Coordinator for the Edmonson County school system.

“A couple of years ago, an anonymous donor created a scholarship fund in honor of our daughter,” he explained. “Summer chose a career path in education and has a strong desire to help young people. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the WKU College of Education and has put them to good use impacting the youth in our community.  We are proud to have contributed to this fund and will continue to do so. We’re grateful to the anonymous donor who originated this opportunity for others.”

Avid WKU Athletics fans, the Brownings’ included additional designations to Football, Men’s Basketball, Volleyball and the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation (HAF).

“I’ve been a volunteer of WKU Athletics for several years,” said Browning, a member and Past President of the HAF Board. “Deborah and I have enjoyed taking our friends and family to games for 30+ years. Athletics is the front door to our university and a wholesome way to gather with friends and family for fun and enjoyment. The branding value created by Athletics positively impacts all the colleges within the university. A strong athletics program benefits overall student recruitment and the national reputation of the university.” 

Finally, the couple gifted to a non-endowed fund to support the facility, maintenance, upgrades and programs in the Gordon Ford College of Business. In appreciation for this gift, the Browning Family Reflection Pool at Amy and David Chandler Hall was named in their honor.

“The grand opening of Amy and David Chandler Hall is monumental,” said Browning, who is Board Chair of the GFCB Advisory Board. “Given the foresight of WKU leadership and the Kentucky State Legislature, the Gordon Ford College of Business is now positioned to positively impact our Commonwealth and countless lives for decades to come. The GFCB is preparing young people for life, and we are thrilled to be a small part of this historic occasion.”

This latest gift continues the family’s 22 years of consecutive giving to WKU.

“Simply put, we enjoy helping others,” Browning explained. “WKU is a great investment in the future of young adults and our community. As is noted in the quote affixed to the Browning Family Reflection Pool at Chandler Hall, ‘It’s more than learning—it’s preparation for life.’ We should do anything that we can reasonably do to help our youth prepare to succeed in life. It’s our obligation as good stewards of the next generation.”

In addition to his volunteerism with the HAF and the GFCB Advisory Board, Browning has served the Center for Leadership Excellence, the Kentucky Museum Advisory Council, and is a former Chairman of the WKU Foundation Board of Trustees and a volunteer Adjunct Professor for the GFCB. In 2014, he received the WKU Distinguished Service Medal and is a four-time recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award, presented at the WKU Summit Awards. He is a Lifetime Member of the WKU Alumni Association, and he and his wife have been recognized for leadership giving for their annual support, cumulative lifetime giving and legacy giving by including WKU in their estate plans.

Saturday, December 20th:

Peytin Manor, story and photos:
On December 16th, Edmonson County FFA began their morning in the ECHS auditorium with Judge Executive Scott Lindsey for the official FFA Week proclamation signing. The annual celebration of National FFA Week is scheduled for February 21–28 to commemorate the FFA mission, which is as follows: “FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.”

“As a former Edmonson County FFA member, I know that FFA helps cultivate the next generation of leaders by instilling responsibility, integrity, and service—building a strong foundation for the future of our community and our strong agricultural heritage," said Judge Lindsey. "The FFA motto: "Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve” is something that we should all strive for in our communities.”

After the signing, seventeen ECHS FFA members headed towards their first day at the Kentucky FFA Member Leadership Series Conference at the Ogden College of Science and Engineering on the Western Kentucky University campus. This conference was held between a two day span, facilitated by National FFA representatives.