WQXE News – Quicksie 98.3: Recent Episodes
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Paving crews will be making repairs between mile markers 91 and 98 on Interstate 65 in Hardin County Sunday and Monday nights.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says work will begin at 8 p.m. Sunday and continue until 6 a.m. Monday. Work will resume at 8 p.m. Monday and wrap up at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
I-65 northbound will be reduced to one lane Sunday night, and due to proximity to the interchange the northbound on-ramp at Exit 91 from the Western Kentucky Parkway on to I-65 will be closed. The off ramp will remain open. No Exit 91 ramp closures will be required Monday night when work shifts to the southbound lanes.
“This time of year, we’re always subject to weather, so it looks like the forecast is going to cooperate with us real well here Sunday night and Monday night, so we’re trying to get this work squeezed in, need to get these repairs complete here heading into winter and snow and ice, and doing this work at night minimizes the impact to traffic and makes it more safe and efficient for the crew out there too,” said KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie.
Lane closures will be in effect both nights. Drivers should watch for signage, slow down, and use caution when approaching work zones.
A local railway project was included in the awarding of more than $7.5 million in state funding from the Kentucky Short Line Infrastructure Preservation Program announced Thursday.
“These projects will maintain and enhance existing rail lines, make critical upgrades, and create opportunities for industries to thrive in our new Kentucky home,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update.
The program prioritizes projects that enhance existing rail lines to help retain existing, and attract new, rail-served industries.
“Rail is a vital part of economic growth as it connects us to markets,” Beshear said. “It helps move goods efficiently and it creates good jobs for our Kentucky families. These investments will make sure our rail systems are up to date, that they’re safe, and that they’re ready to support all these growing industries.”
Among the awarded funding is $1,352,700 to the Paducah and Louisville Railway for their Elizabethtown crosstie rehab project, through which 20,000 crossties will be replaced along about 20 miles of track including the Elizabethtown branch, Cecilia siding, tank siding, and surrounding mainline track. Track surfaces will also be renewed.
Unemployment in Kentucky in October came in just above the state average for September.
The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the state unemployment average for October was 5 percent. That is a slight increase from the 4.9 percent average reported in September as well as from October 2023 when the average was reported at 4.3 percent.
Kentucky’s unemployment average also came in higher in October than the national unemployment rate, which the U.S Department of Labor reported at 4.1 percent for the second straight month.
The Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet says the state’s civilian labor force, which includes people currently employed and people actively searching for work, saw an increase of about 6,000 people from September into October, bringing the civilian labor force to about 2,075,000. It is the eighth month in a row the state labor force has seen an increase.
The manufacturing, educational and health services, and construction sectors saw increases, while the leisure and hospitality sector, the trade, transportation, and utilities sector, and the professional and business services sectors saw decreases.
Visit the Kentucky Center for Statistics to learn more about labor market information.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said he has been at announcements, groundbreakings, and ribbon cuttings for the BlueOval SK Battery Park as well as the ECTC BlueOval SK Training Center, so getting to see those facilities starting operations is a testament to the commonwealth’s commitment to the future.
“It is really exciting to know that the batteries of the future are going to be produced right here in Kentucky and, as I got to tour the training facility today, to see people whose lives are being changed, to see how excited they are to be a part of this industry, and knowing that this is going to be an industry in operation for decades to come,” Beshear said.
The governor toured the training facility and the battery park during a visit to the site Wednesday with company officials. Beshear said BlueOval remains the catalyst for Kentucky’s bid to be a leader in the EV industry, and the facilities are evidence of what collaboration between industry, government, and education can look like.
“The training is technical, it’s new, it takes a lot of work, so it’s exciting to see both the teachers that are helping to provide the training as well as everybody working to pick it up so they can do their jobs safely and, we hope, better than anywhere else in the United States,” Beshear said.
BlueOval SK CEO Michael Adams said the governor’s visit comes on the heels of an important milestone as employees began moving into the Kentucky One plant on Tuesday.
“We were able to do it successfully, bring our employees in, and now we’re just getting ready to start building those samples in our plant and then validate those samples so that we can be prepared for that launch and the start of production in 2025,” Adams said.
About 750 of the expected 5,000 employees that will call the battery park home are now on the job.
Area law enforcement is warning residents to take precautions as they see an uptick in break-in attempts.
The Radcliff Police Department says they responded to multiple car break-ins and one theft Tuesday morning among reports from other jurisdictions of similar crimes.
“We would like to remind everyone to lock your vehicles, make sure that you don’t leave valuables in the vehicle, including but not limited to firearms or gifts or anything like that,” said Captain Willie Wells with the Radcliff Police Department. “This is a crime that doesn’t have to happen. You don’t have to be a victim. This is something that you can do, precautions that you could take to make sure that you are not a victim of a theft simply by locking your vehicle and not leaving valuables in it.”
Contact area law enforcement if you see suspicious activity.
Meanwhile, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest following a Monday morning home robbery.
The sheriff’s office says a woman living on Shrewsbury Road in Caneyville told 911 dispatchers a male subject entered her home, threatened her with a gun, and demanded money before fleeing the scene with her purse.
Tips received led to the development of Richard L. Price of Caneyville as a suspect. Multiple law enforcement agencies coordinated to take Price into custody at a Grayson County apartment complex.
In addition to first degree charges of Robbery, Wanton Endangerment, and Identity Theft, Price was found to have active warrants out of Marion County for Assault, Robbery, and failure to pay child support. Price was lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.
Brigadier General Maurice Barnett told members of the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce during the November Chamber Luncheon that as the Cadet Command prepares to become a subordinate unit under the new three-star command that will be created out of the expansion of the Army Recruiting Command, the neighboring community continues to play a part in Fort Knox’s success.
“We’ve been here for over 100 years, and that longevity and continued strength, because ‘Strength Starts Here,’ comes from your community support, and these incredible partnerships,” Barnett said. “We’re grateful and blessed to be able to rely on each one of you.”
The commanding general of the Cadet Command said the community can support recruitment on the local level by helping to tell the Army’s story.
“There’s a wealth of talent and leadership opportunities surrounding this great community, and you as stakeholders, we need your support to spread the word about what service in the Army can do for someone’s life,” Barnett said.
Barnett said the Cadet Command remains engaged as an organization by partnering with more than 900 colleges and universities to produce more than 5,000 second lieutenants for the total army every year. More than 10,000 cadets come to Fort Knox each summer for training.
The Radcliff City Council met to discuss garbage franchise bids for the city during a work session Tuesday evening.
Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall said Waste Management has held the city’s garbage franchise for more than 20 years, but he was pleased to see five companies submit bids.
“The last time we had a bid for this, we didn’t have quite as many bidders, and so we want to thank each of the companies that did put a bid in because it’s nice to know that we have people that are looking at our community and see opportunities that are here,” Duvall said.
Members of the council expressed their support for the bid from Green River Waste, not only based on pricing but because the company would operate a local office as part of their contract. Council Member Jerry Brown said service companies maintaining a local presence is a priority to him.
“I’ve promised my constituents that anytime we consider a franchise bid that I would, if not insist, at least ask for a local office, and with one company ready to provide that, my recommendation is, or my leaning is, toward Green River Waste,” Brown said.
Members of the council said they were prepared to begin the process of awarding the bid at the next regular council meeting on November 19.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for a work session Tuesday evening.
Representatives from Lightsource BP made themselves available for questions from council as the organization prepares to submit an annexation request from the city for 950 acres north of Hayden School Road near the Elizabethtown airport that would be used for a solar installation. Lightsource BP Director of Development Jack Steele said the property would be leased from the current landowners for 40 years. When asked why the company was asking the city to annex the property rather than going through county government, Steele said similar projects have run into difficulties, and the company feels like the project fits in with that part of the city.
“It really feels and makes a lot of sense for it to be in the city of E-Town,” Steele said. “There’s a lot of compatibility there. It offers an opportunity to act as a buffer to the airport and act as a transition zone from city industrial development out into more agricultural and residential uses.”
Steele said the project will generate $4 million in property taxes while also showing direct support for the community.
“It represents a significant infrastructure investment in grid resiliency and electric infrastructure in this local community that feeds the industrial park, homes here, and helps support a lot of the growth that I know you and others are invested in bringing into this community,” Steele said.
Later in the meeting, Trina Martin with Hardin County Citizens for Responsible Solar asked the council to take another look at what Lightsource BP has presented. Martin said in addition to an increased fire hazard, she had concerns with the appraisals the company has presented, which she said has been seen in other solar proposals.
“There will be an impact on property values, and their report, if you look at it closely, compares apples and oranges,” Martin said. “You can’t compare a four bedroom, three bathroom house, and determine a value by using a two bedroom, one bathroom house.”
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said the council would take Lightsource BP’s proposal under advisement.
In other meeting news, City Engineer Michael Page said most of the sidewalk improvements on the North Main Street project are complete, but the city has identified additional improvements such as to retaining walls, so the city will be requesting a project cost increase from the current total of $487,000 to a total not to exceed $620,000. City Stormwater Director Rita Davis said she will be asking the council to approve a bid from Dirt Works Unlimited for a project to correct erosion on Keeneland Drive. Davis said the bid is more than $300,000 under the engineering estimate for the project.
The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet November 18.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their first meeting of the month Tuesday.
An ordinance approving fee increases for enhanced 911 services in the county was approved on its second reading. Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul said the increase is necessary to cover for increased demand in the county.
“This is a 911 fee increase from $50.58 to $65.58, which is a $15 increase,” Taul said. “This will take effect next year, on 2025 tax bills.”
Hardin County Public Works Director Stephanie Givens reported on her office’s activities. Following the November free shredding event, the county has collected 497 bags from 452 cars year to date. The next shredding event will be December 2, and free shredding bags are available at the county public works office.
Givens said 39 recycling trailer runs were made in September and 40 were made in October, with 55 tons collected in September and 67 in October. Givens said an increase in website searches for the location of the trailers was seen going from October into November.
“From October 5 through November 5, that’s about 1,276 people that have researched to find out what is the closest trailer to the location where they were, so the trailers are definitely much appreciated,” Givens said. “We’re getting lots of volumes through those trailers. A lot of people like those trailers.”
Givens reminded the public that the recycling trailer that was located at the Elizabethtown Lions Club has been moved to 808 North Mulberry Street, across the street from Gatti’s Pizza.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet November 26.
The Alabama man who fled police in Hart County then hid in a cornfield near Glendale was back in court Tuesday.
Jecore M. King of Eight Mile, Alabama, appeared in Hardin Circuit Court for an arraignment hearing. King appeared via Zoom from the Hardin County Detention Center.
Judge John David Simcoe said King was indicted by a grand jury on multiple charges including Wanton Endangerment, Fleeing or Evading Police, and Reckless Driving, among other charges. King requested a public defender be assigned to his case, and a not guilty plea was entered on King’s behalf. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for December 17.
Following his arrest on October 24, the Kentucky State Police said King fled from a trooper that pulled King over near the 61-mile marker on Interstate 65 in Hart County after he was asked to step out of the vehicle for the possible presence of marijuana. After a pursuit that reached speeds of over 130 miles per hour, King crashed near the 85-mile marker and fled on foot into a nearby cornfield, where he was later apprehended after a search involving several law enforcement agencies.
One person was killed and three juveniles were injured in an accident in Hart County Saturday.
The Kentucky State Police says at just before 7 p.m. on November 9 troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on the 3,700 block of Priceville Road in Hart County.
The KSP says the preliminary investigation indicates that a vehicle driven by 24-year-old Mikhaela Kostas of Versailles was traveling east on Priceville Road when Kostas attempted to pass other eastbound vehicles. Her car then collided with a westbound truck driven by a juvenile driver.
Kostas was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hart County Coroner’s Office. The juvenile driver and two juvenile passengers were transported to Baptist Health Hardin for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The KSP’s investigation of the crash is ongoing.
Several area churches and Helping Hand of Hope are partnering to offer families in need a Thanksgiving dinner.
“It is provided to individuals and families who are unable to have a meal on their own,” said event coordinator Cheri Ellis-Reeves. “It’s at no cost to them, and if they’re in Hardin County we will deliver except to West Point. They do have to make a reservation through Helping Hand of Hope. The cutoff date is Friday the 22nd.”
The dinner will be hosted on Thanksgiving Day at Saint James Catholic School.
“If they want to come to Saint James School on Robinbrooke Boulevard, they’re able to pick it up there and carry it out, or they can dine in there,” Ellis-Reeves said. “If they dine in, it is from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.”
Food donations for the dinner are being accepted, or you can volunteer your time.
“We can’t do it without a lot of volunteers,” Ellis-Reeves said. “We do need volunteers to help deliver meals, help serve meals. At this point, we still need some volunteers.”
Contact Ellis-Reeves at Clark Jewelers or contact Helping Hand of Hope for more information.
Hardin County Schools is looking to hear from all district alumni from the Class of 1990 and earlier as the district plans a possible reunion event.
“As one can imagine, that could turn into somewhat of a monumental task, but this is something that has never happened before, so we are asking for help from alumni for this event to be successful,” said Hardin County Schools Community Relations Specialist John Wright. “We are planning this by working with those who already coordinate their individual class reunions. We’re seeking individuals who coordinate individual class reunions for their graduating class, or maybe who coordinate multi-year reunions for a high school that maybe no longer exists.”
A contact form for alumni willing to participate in planning the reunion event is available on the HCS website under the Alumni tab. Contact wright for more information.
2024 property tax bills in Kentucky are now due and payable.
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office says there are several options available for residents to pay their property taxes. Bills were sent out in postcard format, but you can find copies of your tax bill on the sheriff’s office’s website.
“We started collecting taxes on November 1, and have been really busy because taxpayers can receive the 2 percent discount during the month of November,” said Hardin County Sheriff John Ward.
Taxes paid in December are paid at face value. Taxes paid in January have a five percent penalty, and the penalty goes to 21 percent after January 31st.
In addition to paying taxes online, by mail, in person at the sheriff’s office, or via the secure drop box at the sheriff’s office, the sheriff’s office began mobile tax collection this past Saturday and continues it Monday.
“We’ll also be collecting taxes on November 11 at the Radcliff Fire Department from 9 to 11 a.m., the Vine Grove Fire Department from 11:30 to 1 p.m., and at West Point City Hall from 1:30 to 3 p.m.,” Ward said.
Contact the sheriff’s office for assistance or more information.
Friends of Hardin County Animal Shelter will once again be offering free shelters to area residents looking to take care of outdoor cats this winter.
“We are doing that in conjunction with Eurotrol,” said FOHCAS Board Member Sarah Fellows. “It’s a local company that has the styrofoam shipping containers, and they offer those to us once they’re done. They’re clean, and they’re just the perfect outdoor shelter for those community or feral cats that you may be feeding, but they don’t have any kind of good shelter for the winter, especially during harsh weather.”
FOHCAS board members will be distributing the shelters on a first come, first served basis this Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. Behind the Hardin County Animal Shelter, located at 220 Peterson Drive.
“That’s the cul-de-sac behind the Hardin County Animal Shelter, so if you pull into Headquarters Drive that runs right beside the animal shelter, you’ll pass their parking lot,” Fellows said. “You will not go into their parking lot. It’s a very short street. It leads to a cul-de-sac, and we’ll be down at the end of that cul-de-sac passing those out until they’re gone.”
The limit is two shelters per car. The shelters are free but donations will be accepted.
Two area factories will receive skills training through the latest approvals from the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation.
According to a release from the governor’s office, the BSSC oversees Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development programs that “help private sector businesses establish industry-specific training initiatives.” The BSSC board in 2024 has approved about $19 million in funds and credits for 104 facilities, resulting in training for more than 42,000 workers.
More than 8,500 workers will receive training through the latest approved funds and credits. Included in the latest approval are more than 2,000 trainees at Metalsa Structural Products in Elizabethtown and 60 trainees at Nationwide Uniform Corporation in Hodgenville.
“Equipping our workforce with the tools they need to thrive is a huge part of our mission to build a better Kentucky, and we’re making great progress thanks to this important support through the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update. “I can attest how important this program is as it’s one of the talking points we have with companies that are looking at Kentucky when we’re talking about not just how to bring them workforce, but ultimately how to train them. This is one of the most popular programs. We’re really proud of it, and it’s certainly benefiting the people of Kentucky.”
More information on the BSSC program can be found on the Cabinet for Economic Development’s website.
With the enforcement date now less than six months away, Kentucky officials are reminding all Kentuckians 18 and older to make sure they have upgraded to a REAL ID.
Beginning May 7, 2025, all Kentuckians 18 and older will need a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification to travel domestically and access certain federal facilities such as military bases.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says in order to apply for a REAL ID, residents must visit a driver licensing regional office and present one proof of identity, one proof of Social Security, and two proofs of residency. The KYTC website has a checklist of documents that qualify for each requirement. REAL ID licenses are available for four-year or eight-year credentials.
After the enforcement date, standard licenses will still be valid for driving and as proof of identity, age, and residence for voting and age-restricted purchases. The standard license will also allow access to federal facilities such as VA hospitals.
Visit REALIDKY.com for more information.
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Thursday accident that resulted in the death of a Grayson County man.
“At 1:17 p.m. yesterday afternoon, we received a report of a serious accident on KY 86, also known as Hardinsburg Road, in the 15,000 block,” said Hardin County Sheriff John Ward. “A vehicle had run off the roadway just a little bit and overcorrected, losing control and striking a vehicle which was going in the opposite direction head on.”
Ward said the driver of the vehicle that lost control was identified as 20-year-old Andrew Miller of Leitchfield. He was declared dead at the scene. Ward said it appears Miller was not wearing a seat belt. The driver of the opposite vehicle was transported to Baptist Health Hardin with serious injuries.
The investigation into the crash by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office’s Accident Reconstruction Unit is ongoing.
Attorneys for Penney Property Subholdings LLC, which owns the Elizabethtown JCPenney, and Linnick Investments LLC, which owns the Towne Mall, were back in court Thursday morning to continue a hearing on JCPenney’s request for a preliminary injunction to halt renovations at the mall.
Zachary VanVactor with Stites and Harbison PLLC, representing JCPenney, argued that Linnick Investments owner Tim Aulbach testified that he had not read the store’s lease with the mall but still moved forward with renovation construction, thus breaching the store’s right to review proposed changes to the property. VanVactor asked the court to issue the injunction and require Linnick to send full plans to JCPenney for approval.
Corky Coryell with Wyatt, Tarrant, and Combs LLP argued that JCPenney has no ability to prove irreparable harm in the case, and said witnesses called in the case have shown that the renovations are good for the property. Coryell said the injunction would just be the store’s way of blackmailing Linnick into renegotiating their rent agreement.
Hardin Circuit Judge Larry Ashlock denied the motion for an injunction, with Ashlock saying that case law in Kentucky shows injunctions are not issued in breach of contract cases without damages being proven, and in this case damages were not proven.
A police call regarding a domestic incident led to a vehicle pursuit and a man’s arrest.
Jerry S. Martin of Scottsville faces multiple charges including Attempted Murder of a First Responder, Wanton Endangerment, Fleeing or Evading Police, and Menacing, among other charges, following his arrest Monday.
According to the Meade County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a residence on Sandy Hill Road at around 1 a.m. on November 4 after receiving a call from a woman who said her ex-boyfriend had shown up and was trying to gain access to the residence while behaving “drunk and belligerent.” When deputies arrived, they made contact with the subject, later identified as Martin, at which time he stepped out of his vehicle, picked up a cinder block, and threw it through the living room window of the home.
The sheriff’s office says Martin ignored commands from officers, returned to his vehicle, and drove through the yard, nearly striking a deputy twice. Deputies lost contact with the vehicle after it left the residence.
When deputies arrived later to obtain more information, Martin was discovered in his vehicle in a neighboring yard. Martin again fled, attempting to evade police by driving through a cornfield off Owen Loop. Martin abandoned his vehicle near a barn and fled on foot, and was later apprehended following a search with a K9 unit and other law enforcement agencies.
Martin is currently incarcerated in the Meade County Detention Center.
Several area communities, schools, and organizations have events planned today through Monday in observance of Veterans Day.
The City of Elizabethtown will host their annual motorcade and Veterans Day ceremony Monday. The motorcade will begin at 10:15 a.m. at American Legion Park on North Miles Street, proceeding to Ring Road and ending at the Elizabethtown Nature Park. Active duty service members and veterans are welcome to line up by 9:45 a.m., while community members are encouraged to line the motorcade route.
The city’s ceremony at the nature park will begin sharply at 11:00 a.m. with the Posting of the Colors to commemorate the signing of the Armistice ending World War I on November 11, 1918. Lieutenant Colonel Michael Cooper from the First Theater Sustainment Command will be the keynote speaker.
G.C. Burkhead Elementary School invites area veterans to participate in their Veterans Day parade. Participating veterans should line up in the school parking lot at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, with the parade beginning at 12:45. G.C. Burkhead students, teachers, and staff will line up to show their support and appreciation.
The Elizabethtown man charged with Murder and Arson following a late October fire appeared in Hardin District Court Wednesday afternoon.
Dustin Caudill appeared before Judge Kimberly Schumate for a preliminary hearing. Caudill’s attorney, public defender Erin Hartman, said the hearing would not be necessary as Caudill was waiving his case to the Hardin County Grand Jury.
Judge Schumate said Caudill’s case will be reviewed by the grand jury, and should they choose to indict him on any of the felony charges he faces, his case will be moved to the Hardin Circuit Court. The judge said further decisions on bond will be made after the grand jury proceedings.
The Elizabethtown Police Department said Caudill confessed to shooting 41-year-old Blake France of Greenville and 43-year-old Anthony Garrett of Elizabethtown and then setting fire to the Henon Lane residence they were in on October 30. Caudill remains incarcerated at the Hardin County Detention Center on a $1 million bond.
As Kentucky Fish and Wildlife continues to monitor for chronic wasting disease, the agency is offering an incentive to hunters to help with their efforts.
Kentucky hunters that harvest a deer between now and January 20 are invited to submit it to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife for sampling, which will enter them in the Shoot for Samples regional giveaway.
KFW says the giveaways will take place across five regions: Bluegrass, Northeast, Southeast, Green River, and Purchase. Hunters will be automatically entered in the contest when they drop off deer heads at CWD sample drop-off sites or send a sample in with a CWD mail-in kit. One winner will be selected from each region with multiple prizes available including gift cards valued between $500 and $1,000.
Submitted samples must come from deer harvested in Kentucky, and regular bag limits and deer hunting regulations apply. Testing for CWD is free.
KFW has ramped up its monitoring for chronic wasting disease after a deer at a farm in Breckinridge County tested positive, prompting the creation of a CWD surveillance zone in Breckinridge, Hardin, and Meade counties. KFW will host a public informational meeting on the surveillance zone and related restrictions at Breckinridge County High School (2019 East Highway 60, Harned) Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Tickets are now on sale for the multiple Christmas activities offered by the City of Elizabethtown this holiday season.
“The City of Elizabethtown prides itself in offering events for our residents,” said Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles. “We have a lot to offer here. You don’t have to go to a big city. I think the festivities that we have here are fantastic, and we just hope that everyone enjoys the magic of the holiday season that we hope to bring to Elizabethtown.”
The city will host their annual Breakfast with Santa on December 7 at the State Theater.
“Tickets include breakfast, which is delicious, a visit with Santa, a professional photograph, Christmas crafts, and a ticket to the showing of Polar Express, the movie that day,” Pyles said.
The Polar Express is the kickoff to the State Theater’s Christmas movie series. Pyles says tickets will go fast for these holiday classics.
“Tickets are $3 each and the box office opens one hour before showtime,” Pyles said. “You can find the full list of movies on our site, thestate270.org. The titles include The Polar Express, It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, The Grinch, and White Christmas.”
Find more information on all of the city’s holiday offerings at etownevents.com.
Hardin County Schools will be partnering with several area agencies to present an assembly on the dangers of drug overdoses.
“It’ll be an opportunity for our community, our parents, our families to see that obviously drug use and the abuse of it is not the proper thing to do,” said HCS Community Relations Specialist John Wright. “It can impact so many lives when things go wrong, and so this will really give people a firsthand look.”
The assembly will be Thursday at 6 p.m. at the HCS Performing Arts Center.
“The simulation is very powerful,” Wright said. “That is why we are saying that only those who are 18 years of age or older can attend. There will be a school version of this that students can see. The one that we are going to show on Thursday evening is a little bit more in your face, and so we are asking folks to be 18 or over to attend that.”
The event is free, however attendees are asked to reserve a ticket at thepac.net.
The judge in the cases of the Crystal Rogers investigation suspects has ordered for a separate trial for one of the defendants.
Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III ordered Tuesday that Steven Lawson will be tried separately while the trials for Brooks Houck and Joseph Lawson shall be consolidated.
Simms said in the order that while the prosecution intends to introduce Steven Lawson’s grand jury testimony and redact Joseph Lawson and Brooks Houck’s names, attorneys for Joseph Lawson and Houck intend to introduce Steven Lawson’s interviews with investigators that the prosecution has stipulated are inadmissible against him in order to show inconsistencies in Lawson’s testimony. The court found that in a joint trial, the jury would never hear of the inconsistencies between Steven Lawson’s police interviews and his grand jury testimony without hearing both, which would cause undue prejudice against Houck and Joseph Lawson.
Attorneys for Houck argued that if he is tried with Joseph Lawson he will not be able to use two police interviews Lawson had with police, but the court found that because Joseph Lawson’s interviews did not result in any admissible evidence being presented to a grand jury, the interviews are irrelevant at trial. In responding to arguments submitted by Joseph Lawson’s attorneys, the court found that because the trials will be moved to Warren County, because there is no evidence of “spillover evidence”, and because Houck has not implicated Joseph Lawson of any wrongdoing, their cases can be consolidated.
The trial for Steven Lawson is scheduled for February 10, although his attorneys have indicated they are not sure they will be ready in time for that date. Houck and Joseph Lawson will appear in court on December 5 to discuss a new trial date.
The polls are open, and voters have until 6 p.m. local time to cast their ballot in the 2024 general election.
The Associated Press reports that about 77 million Americans cast early ballots in this year’s election, with several states seeing record numbers. Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith described the early voting turnout in Hardin County as “staggering.”
“We voted over the course of three days early voting,” Smith said. “We voted just short of 14,000 people. That’s on top of the almost 1,700 voters who took advantage of in-person absentee voting, so this was record numbers. My staff and I have really worked hard to educate the voters about the upcoming election, about their options in voting, and it has certainly seemed to pay off.”
Hardin County has prepared for an anticipated record turnout by expanding the number of voting locations and increasing the number of voting machines at the busiest locations. Smith says he thinks his office’s prep work will pay off.
“We’ve worked very hard for the past seven or eight months to prepare for this,” Smith said. “It’s like preparing for the Super Bowl. Our locations are secure. Our locations are set up. Our poll workers have been trained. Equipment and resources are deployed. We think things will run very smoothly.”
If you need help figuring out election information, resources are available.
“The best place to look up information is govote.ky.gov,” Smith said. “You can see your sample ballot. You can find all the locations. We’ll be updating our Hardin County Clerk’s Facebook page throughout the day with information that may be helpful to voters in terms of wait time and where to go.”
Kentucky voters have a full ballot today with a presidential election, state and federal representative races, city council and school board elections, and two constitutional amendment questions.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for their first meeting of the month Monday.
The first reading was held on an amendment ordinance for the city’s zoning ordinance. Reading from the ordinance, City Attorney Ken Howard said the ordinance adds provisions for medical cannabis.
“Definitions for the various use types, the zoning districts where the various uses will be permitted, special provisions for spacing of uses, and hours of operation and parking standards,” Howard said.
The ordinance was reviewed in two public hearings by the Elizabethtown Planning Commission, which recommended approval of the ordinance.
A municipal order approving an $890,378 bid from Schroeder Construction for the Helm Street, Terry Court, Park Avenue project was approved, as was an $126,760 change order from Dirt Works Unlimited for the Hawkins Drive sewer project.
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory broke a tie to approve a contract with Member Medical that provides additional medical services to city employees. Council Member Cindy Walker expressed her concerns with the cost of the services, while Gregory said his financial concerns are offset by the company’s guarantee to pay back the city if they do not save money.
“Ultimately, if it saves the city money and gives us the opportunity to improve health care for employees and give them another solid benefit, then I think it’s absolutely worth a shot,” Gregory said.
The council also approved a 10-year lease agreement with Addington Properties LLC for the city to use 212 West Dixie Avenue for additional office space. That building is the former Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet November 12.
Hardin District Court Division III provided an update on two cases involving solar energy that are working their way through the court.
According to a release from the court, the court last week dismissed a complaint from CPV Stonecrop Solar LLC against the Hardin County Planning and Development Commission. Stonecrop requested a declaratory judgment that their proposed “agrivolatics” operation should receive zoning as an agricultural use, while also arguing their proposed operation fell under the “agricultural supremacy clause” and the Right to Farm Act, which they said would allow them to construct the operation without going through the applicable planning and zoning process.
According to the order from the court, the planning commission responded to Stonecrop’s complaint by arguing that because Stonecrop only holds an option to lease the land for their proposed operation, they lack standing and have not gone through the proper statutory process. The court found that it did not have subject matter jurisdiction for the case, with the court denying the petition for declaratory judgment and dismissing the case.
Meanwhile, the court will hear oral arguments this Friday in Hardin County Citizens for Responsible Solar Inc. versus Hardin County Fiscal Court. The Citizens organization is appealing the fiscal court’s approval of a zoning map amendment that would allow for a solar electrical generating facility near Cecilia.
More than 15,000 Hardin County residents took advantage of in-person early voting opportunities ahead of the November 5 general election.
The Hardin County Clerk’s Office says after more than 4,800 early in-person no-excuse ballots were cast on both Friday and Saturday, the grand total for in-person no-excuse absentee voting was 13,887, with 8,118 ballots cast at the main clerk’s office in Elizabethtown and 5,769 cast at the Colvin Community Center in Radcliff.
The clerk’s office also says 1,679 residents cast their ballot at the clerk’s office during in-person excused absentee voting.
If you received a mail-in absentee ballot, you have Monday and Tuesday to get it to the clerk’s office.
“Those ballots must be back to the clerk’s office by mail or by hand delivery no later than 6 p.m. on election night,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday. With a record turnout expected for this year’s election, Smith says Hardin County has expanded voting locations and added machines at the traditionally busier locations.
“As long as you’re in line by 6 p.m. you’ll be allowed to vote,” Smith said. “We have 15 locations available all across Hardin County. Any voter who’s registered in Hardin County can choose any location that’s convenient for them. I encourage folks to visit govote.ky.gov or the Hardin County Clerk’s Facebook page to find the location nearest you.”
Contact your county clerk’s office for more election information.
Area residents in need of financial assistance for heating their homes can, beginning Tuesday, apply for the fall Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program’s subsidy.
“The LIHEAP program is a program that helps right now with the electric,” said Hardin County Community Action Coordinator Julie Arney. “You cannot be disconnected. You have to be current, and we can help people that need assistance.”
Registration for the fall runs from November 5 through December 20 or until the available funds are depleted. Assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis by contacting your local Kentucky Community Action office. Arney says walk-ins are welcome at the Hardin County office.
“We’re located at 233 Ring Road inside our Kentucky Career Center, or you can call us at 502-764-2222,” Arney said. “If you call, you can make an appointment. We do see those first, but you could walk in. Our hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but we take our last client at 2 o’clock.”
Assistance received during previous LIHEAP cycles does not affect eligibility. Visit capky.org to find the nearest Community Action Agency office or to learn more.
CASA of the Heartland recently received a grant to support their efforts as they expand their services to three more counties.
The organization was awarded a $33,665 Volunteer Recruitment Grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad litem Association for Children. According to a release, the grant will allow CASA of the Heartland “to strengthen its efforts to recruit additional volunteers, enabling the program to increase the number of children served across its expanding service region.”
CASA of the Heartland Executive Director Michelle Kail said after originating in Hardin County and expanding to cover LaRue County, the organization decided to take over for the dissolving Tri-County CASA organization and expand to cover Breckinridge, Grayson, and Meade counties.
“We went through a pretty extensive process to figure out if taking on this extra area would be something that we could do and do well, and ultimately we decided that we could not let those kiddos go unserved, and so we are now serving a five county region,” Kail said.
Kail said the organization has an Amazon Wish List posted and is accepting donations, but the best way to support CASA’s mission is by becoming a court-appointed special advocate yourself.
“If you are interested in learning more about being a CASA volunteer, you can visit CASAheartland.org,” Kail said. “We recently shared a video called Coffee with CASA, so if someone just wants to sit down with us and ask more questions, just give our office a call and we will set something up. Our number is 270-982-2274.
More information is also available on the CASA of the Heartland Facebook page.
Hardin County communities have several special events happening this weekend.
The City of Vine Grove will be hosting their Veterans Day parade this Saturday.
“That is the most important event that we do in Vine Grove, in my eyes, it is,” said Vine Grove Mayor Pam Ogden. “We are thanking our veterans. Our parade starts at 10 a.m. If you want to join us in the lineup, just talk to me and we’ll get you in the lineup, or if you want to come stand on the side of the road, get some candy, and honor our veterans, we would love to have you.”
Meanwhile, the City of West Point will celebrate the rescheduled River Days festival this Saturday from noon to 8 p.m.
“Food trucks, music, fireworks, the whole bit,” said West Point Mayor Richard Ciressi. “They spent a lot of money on fireworks, and they apparently can’t store fireworks.”
All are welcome to attend Radcliff FOP Lodge 39’s annual dinner and auction, which will be held Sunday beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Colvin Community Center.
“We’re trying to do a holiday dinner, the free holiday dinner for the attendees, and an auction to follow,” said Lodge President Roy Moore. “All the proceeds from the auction go to Shop with a Cop. If everybody’s familiar, that’s where we take underprivileged children to Walmart and get them some clothes and a couple toys.”
If you are unable to attend but would like to donate, contact Radcliff FOP Lodge 39.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife officials have scheduled a public meeting to discuss the recent implementation of a chronic wasting disease surveillance zone after the disease was discovered on a farm in Breckinridge County.
KFW will host that meeting at the Breckinridge County Cooperative Extension Office, located at 1377 South Highway 261 in Hardinsburg, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 7.
During a special meeting of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission, a surveillance zone containing Breckinridge, Hardin, and Meade counties was established. KFW Director of Wildlife Ben Robinson said the zone follows the agency’s policies concerning CWD.
“When you have a detection in a captive facility, you immediately draw a five mile radius around that detection, which becomes your management zone, and then you draw a 15 mile radius around that detection, and any county that touches that 15 mile radius then becomes part of your surveillance zone,” Robinson said.
During the public meeting, KFW staff will share “updates on the collaborative agency and partner response, new hunting regulations in the area, and available CWD testing options.” Attendees will also have a chance to ask questions.
Learn more about chronic wasting disease and the agency’s response plan at fw.ky.gov.
Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith said more than 2,100 voters cast ballots in Elizabethtown and nearly 1,600 voters cast ballots in Radcliff on the first day of early voting ahead of the November 5 general election.
Smith says if you are looking to avoid lines on Election Day, all registered voters are welcome to vote early at either of Hardin County’s early voting locations.
“November 1 and 2, 8 a.m. to 4 30 p.m.,” Smith said. “We have two convenient locations. One is at the Hardin County Clerk’s main office in Elizabethtown. The other is at Colvin Community Center.”
Smith said a record turnout is expected for this year’s election, so for Election Day Hardin County has more polling locations available and more voting machines at the traditionally busier locations.
““As long as you’re in line by 6 p.m. you’ll be allowed to vote,” Smith said. “We have 15 locations available all across Hardin County. Any voter who’s registered in Hardin County can choose any location that’s convenient for them. I encourage folks to visit govote.ky.gov or the Hardin County Clerk’s Facebook page to find the location nearest you.”
Contact your county clerk’s office for more election information.
The man arrested following a Wednesday morning fire in Elizabethtown appeared for an arraignment hearing in Hardin District Court Thursday morning.
Dustin Caudill of Elizabethtown faces multiple charges including two counts of Murder then individual counts of first degree Arson, first degree Robbery, first degree Wanton Endangerment, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon following his arrest Wednesday.
The Hardin County Attorney’s Office requested a bond of $1 million “considering his history,” which the court approved. The court ordered for a public defender to be appointed to represent Caudill, and his next court appearance was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on November 6 in the Ninth District Court Division Two.
Caudill remains incarcerated at the Hardin County Detention Center.
It’s Halloween, and as the little goblin or ghouls in your life get ready to head out in search of treats this evening, keep safety in mind.
The Kentucky State Police is offering several tips to help make sure Halloween is scary but safe.
Drivers should stay alert for increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic, especially in neighborhoods. Slow down and give kids extra time to cross the street, and be on the lookout for any kids who might forget to look both ways before crossing the street. Enter and exit driveways with extra caution.
Remind trick or treaters to be extra cautious when crossing the street, as drivers may have a hard time seeing them. Be extra cautious of strangers, and only approach houses with their porch light on. Stay on sidewalks and off of yards, and cross streets at crosswalks or corners only.
As you get ready to send trick or treaters out, Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says take steps to increase the visibility of children.
“There’s lots of little things,” Crane said. “There’s glow sticks. There’s little flashy lights that you can get for them, and just make sure they’re visible, that you’re staying with them, and they’re walking facing the traffic.”
Make sure costumes do not limit a child’s vision or create a trip hazard.
Trick or Treating in most of the area runs from 5 to 8 p.m.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four is announcing new road closures as work progresses to the next phase of the KY 1357/Saint John Road widening project.
The KYTC says utility relocations, intersection tie-ins, and bridge construction over Billy Creek will require several changes for motorists over the next week.
Beginning Monday, November 4, access to Croghan Drive will be closed for connecting the newly constructed alignment. That closure is expected to last two days. To access Croghan Drive, drivers will need to turn onto Harvard Drive and follow detour signs.
Beginning Tuesday, November 5, access to Langley Trace will be closed for utility and bridge construction. That closure is expected to last until April 1. To access Langley Trace, drivers will need to turn onto Rue La Grande and follow detour signs. Residents can also go from West Park Road to Ring Road or College Street.
KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie says work is progressing on the project.
“These closures and the work they’re going to allow represent a shifting point as we move into the next phase of this project,” Jessie said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done yet. They’re at Billy Creek and the other half of the road is yet to be constructed. Once Croghan Drive reopens, motorists will be on half of the new alignment for the project.”
Follow KYTC District Four on social media for project updates.
Radcliff FOP Lodge 39 typically hosts their annual holiday dinner auction the first Saturday of November, but due to a scheduling conflict the event will be held the first Sunday instead.
“We’re trying to do a holiday dinner, the free holiday dinner for the attendees, and an auction to follow,” said Lodge PResident Roy Moore. “All the proceeds from the auction go to Shop with a Cop. If everybody’s familiar, that’s where we take underprivileged children to Walmart and get them some clothes and a couple toys.”
Sunday’s dinner will be held at the Colvin Community Center beginning at 6:30 p.m. If you are unable to attend Sunday’s dinner but would like to support the cause, donations are still being accepted.
“They can always drop something by,” Moore said. “We’ve got a mailbox outside, they can mail it. We’re at 168 East Vine Street in Radcliff. We’re right by, sort of catty-corner from the Walgreens, and we also accept material donations, things that can be auctioned off, and throughout the year we do some yard sales, things like that.”
Contact Radcliff FOP Lodge 39 for more information.
The investigation into an Elizabethtown fire has resulted in an arrest for murder.
The Elizabethtown Police Department says Dustin Caudill of Elizabethtown faces multiple charges including two counts of Murder, First Degree Arson, First Degree Robbery, First Degree Wanton Endangerment, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon following his arrest Wednesday.
According to the EPD, shortly after 5 a.m. on October 30 officers responded to a structure fire at 508 Henon Lane to assist the Elizabethtown Fire Department. Fire personnel that entered the structure discovered two deceased males, 41-year-old Blake France of Greenville and 43-year-old Anthony Garrett of Elizabethtown. The two were determined to have sustained gunshot wounds, and investigators determined that the fire was intentionally set.
Witnesses reported seeing a gold pickup truck leaving the scene. Officers located that vehicle at a motel on South Dixie Avenue, where video surveillance showed Caudill exiting the vehicle and later discarding a handgun. Further investigation revealed the personal belongings of the victims in Caudill’s motel room, and it was later discovered that Caudill discharged his firearm at a third victim.
The EPD says that during an interview with police, Caudill confessed to shooting the victims and intentionally setting fire to the residence, as well as stealing the wallets of the victims and discarding them in a gas station trash can.
Caudill was taken into custody and was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center. He is scheduled to appear in a video arraignment hearing in Hardin District Court Thursday morning.
(Photo Credit: Hardin County Detention Center)
The Elizabethtown Police Department continues to investigate a fire that occurred at a residence on the 500 block of Henon Lane.
During a press conference at the Elizabethtown Police Department’s headquarters, EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham confirmed that two people, believed to be adult males, were killed in the structure fire.
Denham said police work by the EPD, with assistance from the Hardin County Coroner’s Office and the Elizabethtown Fire Department, identified a person with information on the incident.
“They identified this individual within an hour and a half, roughly, of the initial report, so, very efficient,” Denham said. “We’re very proud of them for that. We have made contact with that individual, and we are conducting interviews with him at this time.”
Denham said reports from the scene indicated possible suspicious activity, including an individual who allegedly fled the area at a high rate of speed. Denham said this isn’t an indication of the person with information’s involvement in the fire, but it prompted the involvement of the EPD’s Special Response Team as a precaution.
“They went down to a hotel on East Dixie Avenue to locate the individual whom we believe has information concerning this investigation,” Denham said. “They came out of the hotel room to our officers without incident, but it was obviously a precautionary measure to do. Any time we have a critical incident like this, we’re going to immediately activate our Special Response Team.”
Denham stressed that the individual being questioned by police is not in custody and has not been charged at this time, and said at this time the EPD is not calling this more than a “death investigation with suspicious circumstances.”
The Kentucky Office of the State Medical Examiner will conduct post-mortems on the victims, and the Elizabethtown Fire Department is investigating the cause of the fire. The EPD will release more information as it becomes available.
Emergency responders are on the scene of a deadly fire in Elizabethtown Wednesday morning.
“Shortly before 5 a.m. this morning, we responded with the Elizabethtown Fire Department to the 500 block of Hennon Lane on the report of a residential structure fire,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “Upon entering the residence, fire crews discovered two deceased individuals inside. This tragic incident is actively being investigated, but unfortunately no information regarding the sex or identity of either of the deceased individuals has been determined at this time.”
Hardin County EMS and the Hardin County Coroner’s Office are on the scene and actively assisting with the investigation. More information will be released as it becomes available.
Election Day is less than one week away, and the Hardin County Clerk’s Office is anticipating a possible record turnout, so if you want to avoid lines on November 5 don’t forget about early voting opportunities.
Wednesday is the last day for excused in-person absentee voting.
“That’s available to any voter who may be out of town during the early voting and regular election day voting,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “Also, it’s available for folks who due to age, illness, or disability, they have difficulty standing in line or they have other mobility issues, other issues that may take them longer to fill out a ballot, they’re welcome to come.”
Absentee voting is available at the main clerk’s office at the Hardin County Government Building.
The county will then open up three days of in-person no excuse absentee voting.
“This is available to everyone, no excuse necessary,” Smith said. “It starts on Halloween, October 31, November 1 and 2, 8 a.m. to 4 30 p.m. We have two convenient locations. One is at the Hardin County Clerk’s main office in Elizabethtown. The other is at Colvin Community Center.”
Smith says the clerk’s office has expanded polling locations and has added voting machines at the busier locations for folks looking to cast their ballot from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day.
“As long as you’re in line by 6 p.m. you’ll be allowed to vote,” Smith said. “We have 15 locations available all across Hardin County. Any voter who’s registered in Hardin County can choose any location that’s convenient for them. I encourage folks to visit govote.ky.gov or the Hardin County Clerk’s Facebook page to find the location nearest you.”
Contact your county clerk’s office for election assistance.
The Radcliff-Elizabethtown Metropolitan Planning Organization last year commissioned a public transportation study, and representatives from the Lincoln Trail Area Development District and consulting firm Michael Baker International on Monday presented the results and recommendations from the study at the State Theater.
LTADD Executive Director Daniel London said the study does a good job presenting the current needs and capabilities for public transportation in the area, and lays out a clear path forward with a three-phase process. Phase One starts with a partnership expanding TACK Transportation.
“They would start a vanpool service that would be a cost of $40,000 to $50,000 a year, and that gives a real test as to what the demand signal would be,” London said.
Phase One would see an Elizabethtown loop and a Radcliff/Vine Grove connector. Phase Two expands the services out to include inter-connecting services at Hardin County locations, with Phase Three expanding into Meade County/Brandenburg and Glendale.
London said state and federal funds will cover a large part of the needed costs, but local tax dollars will need to be committed to go the rest of the way.
“I would encourage the public to have conversations with their elected officials about their desire for this service and how they feel it should be funded, and give them the space and grace in which to make the best decision possible for their constituents,” London said.
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said the presented plan has him optimistic.
“On the front end, it looks like a great opportunity for not only Elizabethtown, but for our whole community, and it really opens up a lot of doors for people,” Gregory said. “When you talk about workforce development and folks being able to get to healthcare, and even younger people that want to continue education at ECTC, all those avenues are available with public transportation.”
The complete presentation, study results, and proposed plan can be found on the LTADD and REMPO websites.
Baptist Health capped off a three-year, $225.6 million project as they hosted a ribbon cutting for the Baptist Health Hardin Medical Pavilion Tuesday morning.
“Baptist Health Hardin Medical Pavilion stands as a testament to Baptist Health’s commitment to the people of the region,” said Baptist Health System CEO Gerald Colman. “It was imagined as a new concept for Central Kentucky. The pavilion would offer more services, advanced technology, and better access for all who needed to be served.”
Baptist Health says the 282,000 square-foot pavilion is a celebration of the organization’s 100th anniversary as well as the hospital’s 70th anniversary.
Baptist Health Hardin CEO Robert Ramey says the pavilion features cutting-edge facilities to help serve the 400,000 residents in the hospital’s 10-county region.
“It will include a comprehensive cancer care center,” Ramey said. “It will have 12 operating rooms, including the first hybrid OR in our region. Most people traditionally have thought about hybrid operating technology as something that’s at an academic center or in a large urban tertiary center. We’re bringing that right here to Hardin County for Central Kentucky.”
Other facilities include “three new cardiac cath labs, multidisciplinary outpatient clinics, and patient-centered spaces designed to promote emotional and spiritual wellness.”
Ramey said the pavilion puts the hospital in a position to help support area growth.
“Our community and our county continues to grow, and we want to be a part of that, and help to meet the growing needs of our community and really positioning Hardin County and Elizabethtown as an economic and vibrant community for the future,” Ramey said.
Learn more about the medical pavilion on the Baptist Health Hardin website.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for a special meeting and work session Monday.
An ordinance approving the renewal of Comcast’s non-exclusive franchise agreement with the city for 15 years was approved on its second reading.
City Clerk and Alcohol Beverage Control Administrator Jessica Graham gave an update to the council on the city’s alcohol licenses. Graham says the city has approved 179 licenses this year.
“59 of those this year so far are temporary, special temporary,” Graham said. “I have about four of those pending. I have probably 12, whether it’s inquiries or applications, in process.”
The city has brought in $1.2 million in regulatory fees so far this year. Graham said there are still two quarters to collect for as well as for October, November, and December, so she anticipates the city will clear $2 million by the end of the year, which would be more than the $1.8 million collected last year.
Graham said she would like to see some slight amendments to the city’s ABC ordinance to clean up some language and make some clarifications.
“We want you to use our city forms,” Graham said. “It causes a lot of problems for us if you try to make your own. We want to make sure that everyone understands you cannot have any alcohol out after 1 a.m. That doesn’t mean you just close your door. We had to add the EDC ordinance. We hadn’t added that.”
Elizabethtown Fire Chief Mark Malone said the fire department’s new burn building has been put to good use, including for thermal vision training that saw participation from several area fire departments recently. Repairs and replacements were made at fire stations One and Three, and construction is going well on the city’s newest fire station.
“Station Four is under construction and on schedule and on budget,” Malone said. “We hope to open that station late July of 2025.”
Elizabethtown Director of Engineering Michael Page said street and sidewalk improvements on North Main Street have been going smoothly. The city plans to announce additional road closures in that area as the project wraps up.
The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet November 4.
October is Fire Prevention Month, and fire officials are reminding residents to have safety in mind as they enjoy fall activities.
“If you’re going to do fires, little campfires or bonfires, that kind of thing, make sure you’re always attending the fire,” said Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane. “Make sure that you’re keeping your fire pits and things like that away from residences. You don’t want to put it too close. We tell people at least 15, 20 feet away from your buildings, any overhangs, anything like that.”
Check with your municipality on burning laws, and if you will be doing a large controlled burn alert your area fire department.
Crane says the fall season is a good time to make sure your heating sources are ready to operate properly ahead of winter.
“Maintain your fireplace, your wood stove,” Crane said. “Make sure you’re only burning clean, seasoned wood, not wet wood or green wood. Make sure that you’re checking the chimney and the stove pipes that they’re clean, there’s not a lot of creosote buildup. Get them serviced professionally periodically as well. The furnaces, change your filters. That’s probably the biggest thing on furnace maintenance is change those filters regularly.”
Crane also says with Halloween approaching, be sure your decorations are not a potential fire hazard. Keep entryways clear and decorations such as hay bales away from potential fire sources.
“Make sure in your decorative lighting, just like your Christmas lights, make sure the wiring is in good shape,” Crane said. “Make sure you’re not overloading any of your circuits. When you hook those lights together, how many strands can you hook together? Things like that. Don’t staple them to the side of your house because the staples could damage that wiring.”
Find more fire safety tips on the National Fire Protection Association’s website.
Three area school districts are looking for feedback from school families through active surveys available through their websites and social media.
Breckinridge County Schools is seeking responses for their Parent/Caregiver Experience survey. BCS says feedback from the survey will help the district determine what is working well in their schools and what needs improvement. The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete and can be found on the Breckinridge County School District Facebook page.
Meanwhile, the Hardin County Schools Calendar Committee has created two options for the 2025-2026 school year. That survey is available on the News and Announcements section of the Hardin County Schools website until midnight this Friday. The HCS School Board has the final decision on the calendar but will consider community input in their decision.
Finally, Tuesday is the last day to provide input on the Elizabethtown Independent Schools 2025-2026 school calendar. A link to the survey options can be found on the Elizabethtown Independent School District Facebook page.
Unemployment rates across the Lincoln Trail District were up in September from where they were the year prior.
The Kentucky Center for Labor Statistics says unemployment rates increased in all 120 counties of the commonwealth in September.
The state unemployment average for September 2024 was reported at 4.9 percent. While that is down from the 5.2 percent average from August, it is up from the 4 percent average from September 2023. Four counties in the Lincoln Trail District came in higher than the state average for September while three counties came in below the state average.
Hardin County’s unemployment rate for September 2024 tied the state average at 4.9 percent. That’s a slight decrease from August when the rate was reported at 5.1 percent but it is a jump from September 2023 when the rate came in at 3.8 percent.
Breckinridge County has the highest unemployment rate in the Lincoln Trail District for September with a rate of 5.5 percent. Nelson and Washington counties tied for the lowest rates in the region, and tied for the ninth lowest in the state, at 4.2 percent.
Learn more about how the unemployment rate is calculated and find more labor market information by visiting kystats.ky.gov.
Crystal Rogers investigation suspects Steven Lawson and Joseph Lawson were back in the Nelson Circuit Court Friday afternoon for a review hearing.
Attorneys for Steven Lawson confirmed that his former attorney Ted Lavit had turned over the rest of the case file to them. Lavit had been threatened with contempt of court after not turning over the entire case file after he was dismissed by Lawson in August.
Special Prosecutor Shane Young submitted his response to arguments made by attorneys for Joseph Lawson to sever his trial from Steven Lawson and Brooks Houck. Attorneys for Joseph Lawson were prepared to make additional arguments based on similar cases from other states, but Judge Charles Simms III asked them to submit it to the court in writing, which the attorneys said they would Friday evening. Young said he would file a response Monday.
Young also said his office is wrapping up its comparison of case files sent in by the FBI with files sent by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Young said most of the information overlaps, but they are identifying any additional information that has not been seen by the defenses. He said that review should be completed in two weeks and at this time he does not anticipate additional discovery.
Young said hotel accommodations in Warren County, which will be the site of the trial scheduled to begin in February, are being finalized. Simms asked that the hotels for all parties involved be in separate parts of the area in order to keep them separated during the trial, and said part of what ruled out Christian County was all of its hotels are in the same area.
The judge said he would schedule the next review hearing after the prosecution submits their response Monday.
With the Christmas season quickly approaching, the Elizabethtown Police Department is gearing up for one of their favorite holiday traditions: the annual Shop with a Cop Program.
“Through this program, we provide clothing and toys to roughly 300 Hardin County children in need, and this wouldn’t be possible without the generosity from our monetary donors,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham.
Donations are now being accepted.
“If you would like to donate, you may contact me (Chris Denham) by calling 270-765-4125, or by email at chris.denham@elizabethtownky.gov,” Denham said. “Monetary donations can be dropped off at the Elizabethtown Police Department located at 300 South Mulberry Street, and checks should be made payable to FOP Lodge No. 40, and in the memo line with ‘Shop With A Cop.’”
Donations are tax deductible. Visit the Elizabethtown Police Department Facebook page or contact the EPD for more information.
Elizabethtown High School added to their administrative team.
Elizabethtown Independent Schools announced Friday that Travis Thompson has been hired as an assistant principal at the school.
According to a release from the school district, Thompson began his education career as a social studies teacher at North Hardin High School in 2013. He then joined the EHS faculty as a social studies teacher in 2014. During his time at EHS, Thompson has served on the school’s Site-Based Decision Making Council and currently serves as the sponsor of the EHS Y Club. He received the 2019 Excel Award, which recognizes the district’s top teacher.
EHS Principal Josh Henderson in the release cited Thompson’s ability to build strong relationships, his deep knowledge of instructional practice, and his commitment to equity and inclusivity.
Thompson will step into his new role on January 1.
Below is the Medical Cannabis Editorial from Hardin County Judge Executive Keith Taul to help our citizens be informed on the importance of voting for this coming up in November.
Hardin County voters will soon decide whether medical cannabis dispensaries, cultivators, processors, and safety compliance facilities will be allowed to operate in the unincorporated area of the county. On June 25th Fiscal Court passed a resolution to place this important decision on the November 5, 2024, General Election ballots. That voting will start as early as October 31st when early voting begins at the Hardin County Clerk’s Main Office (Elizabethtown) and Colvin Community Center (Radcliff).
It’s important to help voters understand the significance of their vote to allow or prohibit medical cannabis facilities to operate in unincorporated Hardin County. This vote does not affect patient accessibility to medical cannabis.
On April 17th Governor Beshear signed HB829 declaring medical cannabis a healthcare necessity. Although established by the state, counties and cities must control the medical cannabis facilities. The medical cannabis program is set up to ensure it is prescribed by authorized physicians for medical conditions only such as cancer, PTSD, MS, muscle spasms, epilepsy, chronic nausea, and chronic pain.
Initially, one dispensary is allowed by state law to operate within a city or county and only four dispensaries will be granted in our Lincoln Trail geographic region of 12 counties. Note that KY is divided into 11 geographic regions and the entire state will only be allowed, initially, to operate 48 dispensaries, 16 cultivators, 10 processors, and no limitation on safety compliance facilities.
Dispensaries will be determined by a lottery draw of eligible operators. If Hardin County voters decide to allow medical cannabis dispensaries in the unincorporated area of the county, potential local operators may not be selected to participate in the program during the initial lottery drawing.
Supply limits exist for patients using the drug which will be monitored by approved physicians. Restrictions also exist on the locations in which dispensaries, cultivators, and processors may locate. For example, these businesses cannot be located within 1,000 feet of schools or day care facilities. In addition, Fiscal Court recently passed an ordinance that requires medical cannabis businesses to operate in I-1 (light industrial) or I-2 (heavy industrial) zones in unincorporated Hardin County, if HC votes to allow medical cannabis facilities.
Both Radcliff and Elizabethtown city councils voted to opt-in by passing ordinances to allow the facilities within the city limits no matter what the outcome of the vote, but they will still vote whether the facilities can be located in the unincorporated areas.
Voters living in Vine Grove and West Point city limits will have 2 votes which could be confusing. These voters decide whether their city opts-in or opts-out separate from the county vote. Their county vote will still help determine the future of facilities out in the county.
Note that school boards must establish policies to permit or prohibit minor registered patients to consume medicinal cannabis at school. Allowing the operation of medical cannabis businesses in Hardin County is an important decision and should be taken seriously. I encourage you to read and learn all you can before casting your vote. For more information on KY’s medical cannabis program visit kymedcan.ky.gov.
UPDATE: The Kentucky State Police has identified the suspect as Jecore King of Eight Mile, Alabama. The KSP says after fleeing from a trooper that pulled King over near the 61-mile marker of Interstate 65 and asked King to step out of the vehicle after detecting the possible presence of marijuana, King led police on a pursuit up I-65 North that reached speeds of over 130 miles per hour. King crashed the vehicle near the 85-mile marker and fled on foot into a nearby cornfield while armed with a handgun. He was apprehended after a search that involved the Elizabethtown Police Department’s special response team and the KSP’s aircraft branch. King faces multiple charges including fleeing and evading police, wanton endangerment, and reckless driving among other charges. He has been lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.
Area law enforcement agencies assisted the Kentucky State Police in the apprehension of a suspect that fled officers on Interstate 65 Thursday.
“From my understanding, the initial incident started in Hart County after a traffic stop,” said Hardin County Sheriff John Ward. “Evidently, the suspect got into an altercation with the trooper, and the suspect fled in his vehicle. The pursuit continued on north to around the 85 mile marker near Glendale, where a collision occurred. The driver fled the vehicle on foot.”
The sheriff’s office and the Elizabethtown Police Department joined the search for the suspect at around 4 p.m. Officers searched on foot and the sheriff’s office used their drone to assist in the search of a nearby cornfield.
The EPD said in a statement the suspect was apprehended shortly before 7 p.m. without further incident.
The incident caused traffic delays on both I-65 and U.S. 31W as officers searched for the suspect.
As autumn rolls on, the Kentucky State Police is reminding drivers to be mindful of deer crossing roadways across the state.
The KSP says fall is the peak season for deer-related crashes. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows there are about 1 million car crashes involving deer across the country each year, resulting in about 200 deaths, more than 10,000 personal injuries, and about $1 billion in damages. The KSP says in 2023 there were 3,285 deer-related crashes across the commonwealth, resulting in 202 injuries and three deaths.
Deer crossings are most common during mating season, which runs October through January. Activity is most common at dusk and dawn.
The KSP is offering the following reminders for drivers:
-Watch for deer crossing signs on state roadways.
-Slow down when traveling through an area where deer are common.
-Deer travel in groups, so when you see one deer you should anticipate there are more nearby.
-Never veer from a deer. A sudden sharp turn could place the vehicle in the path of oncoming traffic or could lead to striking a tree or utility pole.
-Never forget to buckle your seatbelt.
Visit the KSP on the web for more information.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is announcing special restrictions for deer hunting in Breckinridge, Hardin, and Meade counties due to the establishment of a chronic wasting disease surveillance zone after a deer at a farm in Breckinridge County tested positive for the disease.
The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to establish the zone during a special meeting Tuesday.
KFW Director of Wildlife Ben Robinson said the establishment of the zone and the restrictions are based on the agency’s CWD Response Plan.
“When you have a detection in a captive facility, you immediately draw a five mile radius around that detection, which becomes your management zone, and then you draw a 15 mile radius around that detection, and any county that touches that 15 mile radius then becomes part of your surveillance zone,” Robinson said.
There is no change to the deer hunting season or to bag limits, however baiting or feeding of deer in the zone is prohibited, as is the rehabilitation of deer or other cervids. Deer carcasses and high-risk parts cannot be removed from the three-county zone.
“That would really be head, skull with brain matter, spine,” Robinson said. “It is okay to debone meat and remove deboned meat or cleaned skull products, cleaned skull caps with no brain matter on those.”
Deer can still be moved within the zone, so a hunter that harvests a deer in Breckinridge County can still bring it to Hardin County.
Hunters can help KFW monitor for CWD by bringing the heads of legally-harvested deer to self-serve sample drop-off sites or by requesting a sample mail-in kit. Robinson said unlike in the Western Kentucky detection zone, testing will be voluntary.
“Because this is really a different landscape, when you’re looking at these three counties, we have a lot of deer, but we have a lot of deer hunters, and we have a high harvest, which is very much to our advantage, so we can really rely on our hunters to help us collect these samples using some alternative methods,” Robinson said.
KFW will be hosting a public meeting at the Breckinridge County Extension Office on November 7 to provide more information. Learn more about CWD monitoring on the KFW website.
Area vietnam war veteran C.T. Christie says the local chapter for Wreaths Across America has been battling increasing costs, and it is important to support their mission of honoring veterans.
“I’ve been doing it with Donna Betson since the beginning,” Christie said. “When you smell those wreaths out, the evergreen smell on those graves, on a winter day when the snow’s on the ground, the green wreaths against the marble headstone, it’s a really nice atmosphere out there, and it’s overwhelming for me, because I’ll be buried out there one day, and I hope I still get a wreath on my grave.”
All are welcome to attend a fundraiser for Wreaths Across America, to be held at ACE Hardware in Radcliff (2360 South Dixie Boulevard) Saturday, November 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“There’s going to be a first responder chili cookoff, car and bike show, and we also open it up to arts and crafts,” Christie said. “Anybody wants to put an arts and crafts tent up, they can. All of the proceeds go to the wreaths.”
The event will also feature a silent auction, and door prizes will be announced every hour. Contact Christie for information on purchasing a booth.
The Level One Drought declaration for Kentucky has been removed.
The Office of the State Climatologist and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet say several days of rain brought by the remnants of Hurricane Helene allowed for water to infiltrate into the soil column and return soil moisture to pre-summer levels. The precipitation also eliminated rain deficits and returned streamflows to normal levels.
While the drought declaration has been lifted, Kentuckians are reminded to adhere to the regulations in place for Fall Forest Fire Hazard Season, which is now in effect.
“During that period from October to April is where the forestry service says that you need to stay 150 feet from any wood line or anything like that,” said Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane. “They have the times where if you’re doing a large fire, clearing brush and stuff, they want you to do it between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. where the temperature is cooler, the air temperature has dropped, and the wind is typically a little calmer in the evenings.”
Crane says never leave any fire unattended. Visit the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet’s website for more information.
Elizabethtown resident Patrick Mattingly saw the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene and decided to help one of the smaller communities impacted by the storm.
“I partnered up with United Way of North Carolina and we’re doing a supply drive, taking any types of donations to take to Jefferson, North Carolina,” Mattingly said. “It’s a little farm town in Ashe County that’s been severely affected by the flood from Hurricane Helene.”
Mattingly is planning on driving a box truck provided to him by Penske to the area on Saturday, so people who would like to contribute can bring items to two locations Friday.
“One is at the E-Town Ace Hardware, and I believe that’s 408 West Dixie Avenue, and another drop-off point is going to be in Louisville for people that may be in Louisville,” Mattingly said. “It’s going to be at 10515 Fischer Park Drive in Louisville, and that is at the KCREA office.”
Mattingly says he has secured donations of water and food, but he is looking for a wider range of needed items.
“Hygiene, baby food, propane bottles,” Mattingly said. “They’re asking for fencing supplies, if anybody could help with that, because these farmers have cattle and livestock that they’re not able to corral, they’re just running wild, and people are already bringing water and food. It’s small things like trash bags and buckets and cleaning materials.”
Ace Hardware in Elizabethtown is open Friday until 8 p.m.
Organizations across the community and across the state are working to assist those impacted by Hurricane Helene.
The American Red Cross says this past weekend more than 2,600 people were staying in 69 emergency shelters supported by the Red Cross and other community organizations. Officials say shelter operations will likely need to last for several weeks as disaster assessments are completed. Red Cross volunteers are assisting about 100 people from Kentucky who had homes impacted by the storm.
The Red Cross has issued an appeal for financial donations, blood donations, and donations of time. Visit redcross.org or text HELENE to 90999 to make a monetary donation. You can also find information on the Red Cross website about training requirements to volunteer with the organization.
The Red Cross says more than 1,500 scheduled blood donations in areas impacted by the storm went uncollected, and at a time where the national blood supply is already facing a shortage additional donations are needed to sustain patients and hospitals. Schedule an appointment today at redcrossblood.org.
On the local level, several organizations are running collection drives to send needed items to those impacted. Ride Wright Tire is accepting materials at 2400 Leitchfield Road through October 4 for delivery the next day. The Grayson County Chamber of Commerce is collecting items at their office through October 7. Wills Transport is accepting items at 314 Kitty Hawk Drive through October 11. Items requested include cases of water, socks, gloves, non-perishable food items, pet food, baby care products, toiletries, and cleaning supplies. Contact the respective locations for more information.
Drivers are being alerted to lane closures on Interstate 65 South in Bullitt County this weekend.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Five says two lanes of I-65 South from north of mile marker 117 to mile marker 113 near the Bullitt County Welcome Center will be closed from Friday at 7 p.m. to Sunday at 7 p.m.
The KYTC says the ramps to and from KY 44 will remain open during the lane closures, as will the off ramp from I-65 South to KY 480. The on ramp from KY 480 to I-65 South will be closed.
Crews will be repairing concrete slabs on the interstate at multiple locations, with the lane closures in place to allow time for the concrete to cure.
Drivers should expect traffic shifts, obey lane restrictions, and use caution when traveling through the work zone. This work is weather permitting. Follow KYTC District Five on Facebook for project updates.
This weekend is your last weekend to register to vote ahead of the November 5 general election.
“The deadline to register to vote is 4 p.m. on October 7,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “You can do that by coming by our office or visiting govote.ky.gov. The absentee request portal is open at that same website, govote.ky.gov, or you can come by our office or you can call our election staff at 270-765-6762.”
GoVote.KY.gov also allows you to check on your absentee ballot status, find polling locations, look up sample ballots, and find more election information.
Smith says voters should also be wary of the potential for scams as they go online for election information.
“There are a lot of third-party websites that look very official,” Smith said. “They’re run by private organizations or purported non-profit organizations. They cannot request your absentee ballot. You cannot request an absentee ballot through them. They’re collecting your name, your address, your Social Security number, and your birth date, and we don’t know what they’re doing with them.”
Smith says official election information would never come from a .com or a .org website. Contact your county clerk’s office for more election information.
The Grayson County Chamber of Commerce is still collecting relief items for victims of Hurricane Helene in Tennessee and North Carolina.
“We really started seeing everything online, and myself and Tiffany Decker, who is the tourism director, were up late one night talking and she said we need to do something and so we did,” said Grayson County Chamber Executive Director April Spalding. “We’ve been absolutely blessed, with already one load leaving and our front lobby is completely full again.”
A full list of items the chamber is looking to collect can be found on their Facebook page.
“We need sanitary wipes,” Spaliding said. “We’re looking for baby formula, wipes, diapers, trash bags. We really need some storage containers because ours are already full of items. Pet food, any non-perishable items, things like toothbrushes, toothpaste, hygiene, batteries, Gatorade packs, anything you can think of that you would need, that’s what we’re in need of.”
Items for the next delivery need to be collected by October 7.
“They can take it to the Center on Main, which is at 425 South Main Street from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and then anything after hours can be dropped to our neighbors next door at the Leitchfield Police Department,” Spalding said.
Spalding said the chamber has drivers volunteering to make additional runs, so items will still be collected to be delivered after the October 7 delivery.
October means it is spooky season, and the Historic State Theater hopes you’ll celebrate by coming out to their Spooky Season Movie Series this month.
The series kicks off on October 11 with The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, followed by the original Night of the Living Dead on October 12, Casper on October 18, Pet Sematery on October 19, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride on October 25, and Child’s Play on October 26.
Each movie will get started at 7 p.m., with the theater and box office opening an hour prior. Tickets are $3 and concessions will be available.
For more information on the Spooky Season Movie Series and a full list of events happening at The State, visit www.thestate270.org.
The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park invites you to join them for a look at the stars.
The park will host their Fall Night Sky Program at the Boyhood Home Unit at Knob Creek on Friday, October 11, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The tour will be conducted by Eastern Kentucky University Department of Physics, Geosciences, and Astronomy Professor Dr. Mark Pitts. Topics will include stars, planets, light pollution, and dark skies, and Pitts will demonstrate the workings of a telescope.
Admission to the event is free. Visitors are encouraged to bring a flashlight, bug spray, and a blanket or chair, and visitors should wear closed-toe shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.
Contact the historic park for more information, and stay tuned to the park’s social media sites for weather-related updates.
The remnants of Hurricane Helene delayed road work in Meade County.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four says the closure of KY 228/Battletown Road at the intersection with KY 313 in Brandenburg will now begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, October 4. The road is due to reopen at 6 a.m. Monday, October 7.
The KYTC says crews will begin replacing eastbound lane asphalt with a concrete inlay Friday evening. This work is designed to withstand torque and twisting produced by heavy vehicles that pull up to and out of the intersection. The inlay provides a long-term solution as maintenance crews have regularly used temporary measures to fill wheel ruttings.
The work has been planned for the weekend to minimize traffic impact. KY 228 will only be closed on the west side of KY 313. The Brandenburg side of the intersection will not be impacted.
Detour signs are in place to assist drivers. Use caution when approaching all work zones. Work is weather permitting. Follow KYTC District Four on social media for updates.
The American Red Cross continues to urge eligible members of the public to donate blood products as the U.S. continues to deal with a national blood shortage.
According to the Red Cross, the organization experienced a significant shortfall in blood and platelet donations in August, which followed a July that saw a near 25 percent drop in the blood supply. The Red Cross says it must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month In order to meet the needs of hospitals and patients.
Further strain on the blood supply comes from natural disasters including Hurricane Helene, ahead of which the Red Cross sent hundreds of blood products from around the country to areas that were expected to be the most impacted by the storm. This can create additional strain on areas impacted by the blood shortage.
Donors of all blood types are encouraged to schedule donations, especially Type O blood donors and donors giving platelets. As a thank you, all who donate from October 1 through 20 will receive a $15 Amazon.com gift card.
Learn more and schedule a donation appointment by visiting redcrossblood.org, by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor app, or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.
Area residents are invited this weekend to visit what has been named by Kentucky Living as the best festival in Kentucky for four straight years.
The 53rd annual Lincoln Days Celebration will be held in the sixteenth president’s hometown of Hodgenville October 5 and 6.
Celebrating the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Days has experiences for young and old alike including food, vendors, live music, unique exhibits and displays, nationally-recognized contests, and one of the oldest continually held art shows in the state.
The festivities get started at 7:30 a.m. on October 5 with the Women’s Club of Hodgenville’s traditional country breakfast. Opening ceremonies will then be held on the main stage at Lincoln Square at 8 a.m.
Other events scheduled for Saturday include the cookie baking contest, the antique tractor show, the quilt show, pioneer games, the Lil’ Abe and Sarah family costume contest, the Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln look alike contests, the ice cream eating contest, the 5k and 10k, the Lincoln Days Parade, and live music including The Perfect Fit Band and The Monarchs.
Events for Sunday include the car show, the community worship service, and gospel music.
Visit www.lincolndays.org for more information and a complete schedule of events.
The absentee ballot request portal is active for Kentucky voters, and voters have one more week to register ahead of the November 5 general election.
“The deadline to register to vote is 4 p.m. on October 7,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “You can do that by coming by our office or visiting govote.ky.gov. The absentee request portal is open at that same website, govote.ky.gov, or you can come by our office or you can call our election staff at 270-765-6762.”
Voters should also be wary of the potential for scams as they go online for election information.
“There are a lot of third-party websites that look very official,” Smith said. “They’re run by private organizations or purported non-profit organizations. They cannot request your absentee ballot. You cannot request an absentee ballot through them. They’re collecting your name, your address, your Social Security number, and your birth date, and we don’t know what they’re doing with them.”
Smith says official election information would never come from a .com or a .org website. Contact your county clerk’s office for more election information.
Hardin County residents can safely dispose of sensitive documents at the Hardin County Solid Waste Department’s free document shredding event Tuesday.
Residents can pick up their free shredding bag at the Public Works Office, located in Suite 223 in the Hardin County Government Center at 150 North Provident Way in Elizabethtown. The limit is one bag per household.
After you fill your shredding bag, take it to the Hardin County Road Department, located at 501 Bacon Creek Road, from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Additionally, due to planned construction at the Ring Road location, the Hardin County recycling trailer located behind the Elizabethtown Lions Club building will be moved to 822 North Mulberry Street. The solid waste department says a permanent location for the trailer is still being discussed, but it will be at the Mulberry Street location at least through the end of the year.
Contact the solid waste department for more information at 270-360-9207.
Baptist Health Hardin invites the public to support cancer survivors and learn more about the hospital’s cancer services this Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the hospital’s new medical pavilion.
“The Perfectly Pink Pop-in Party is a fundraiser for patients with cancer,” said Baptist Health Vardin Vice President and Chief Development Officer Tracee Trout. “Specifically, the committee and the organizer of the event hope to raise money for lymphedema patients and lymphedema sleeves.”
Trout says the party is the brainchild of breast cancer survivor Laura Couch.
“She went through her cancer journey at Baptist Health Hardin and realized that lymphedema sleeves are sometimes expensive and oftentimes not covered by insurance, and so she wanted to organize something to help patients with cancer have an easier journey,” Trout said.
The party will benefit the Baptist Health Foundation and their support of cancer and lymphedema patients. Tours of the new cancer center will be available.
“There will be food and beverages available for purchase,” Trout said. “There are live auction items and a lot of information and education about cancer care and about lymphedema specifically, but it’s a fun ‘come and go party,’ and most importantly it is a chance for people to see our new cancer care center for the first time.”
All are welcome to attend the Perfectly Pink Pop-In Party, but pre-registration is requested. Visit bhfhardin.maxgiving.bid to sign up and purchase food, drinks, and other items in advance.
Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles said due to unsafe weather conditions resulting from the remnants of Hurricane Helene, the city has reluctantly chosen to cancel the Heartland Harvest Festival.
“The cancellation includes the crafted commercial vendors, the food vendors, the kids zone activities, the petting zoo, and the concert scheduled for downtown,” Pyles said. It also includes the Heartland Harvest Festival 5K Run/Walk at the nature park, the fishing derby at Freeman Lake Park, the Ron Thomas Memorial Fishing Tournament at Freeman Lake Park, and unfortunately the Great Pumpkin Battle decorating contest.”
Pyles said one event will still be happening Saturday.
“The Women’s Club of Elizabethtown will still have their Heartland Harvest Breakfast at Pritchard Community Center tomorrow morning,” Pyles said. “That’s from 8 to 11 a.m. They have dine-in, carry-out, and drive-thru. You can purchase tickets online and I think they’re taking them at the door still.”
The city was able to announce at least one bright side. The concert featuring country artists J.D. Shelburne and Craig Morgan has been rescheduled for May 31, 2025. Additional details on the concert will be released at a later date. Follow the Elizabethtown City Events Facebook page or visit etownevents.com for more information.
Additionally, the Elizabethtown Pickleball Commission rescheduled their pickleball open tournament to Saturday, October 5. Registration has re-opened for the tournament through Wednesday night, with a link available on the commission’s Facebook page.
While unemployment rates across the Lincoln Trail District saw slight increases in August 2024 compared to the year prior, the rates across the district are down from the month prior.
The Kentucky Center for Labor Statistics says unemployment rates increased in all 120 counties in the commonwealth from August 2023 to August 2024.
The state unemployment average for August was reported at 5.1 percent, down some from the 5.4 percent average reported in July and up from the 4.1 percent average reported in August 2023. Four counties in the Lincoln Trail District had rates higher than the state average and three counties had rates lower than the state average.
Hardin County’s unemployment rate for August 2024 tied the state average at 5.1 percent. Hardin’s rate is a slight decrease from July 2024 when the rate was 5.4 percent and an increase from the 4 percent rate reported in August 2023.
Breckinridge and Grayson counties tied for the highest unemployment rate in the district for August at 5.7 percent, while Nelson County had the lowest at 4.3 percent.
More information on how the unemployment rate is calculated and more data is available at kystats.ky.gov.
Hardin County Schools celebrated the start of a new chapter Thursday.
West Hardin Middle School students were the first to break ground on the new West Hardin building, to be located behind Cecilia Elementary School. The students were joined by the Hardin County Board of Education, school administrators, community and business members, and current and former West Hardin students and staff.
West Hardin Principal Christin Swords said West Hardin has served the district as an elementary, middle, and high school, and community support has maintained the school’s legacy.
“It is not just a building that makes us West Hardin,” Swords said. “It is definitely the people within that building, and we are so grateful that our board members and Superintendent Morgan and our community have this vision to continue West Hardin’s future and add to that next chapter.”
Swords said some of the current students may not attend classes in the new building, but they are excited to be part of the process.
“They keep asking questions, and they’re looking forward to seeing the next step, so we’re excited about including them in this project, not just today but in the building process, and what we can learn from that as well in terms of vision and perseverance through a project, and the commitment that we’re making,” Swords said.
The new West Hardin Middle School, designed by JRA Architects and built by Wehr Construction Inc., is due to open for students in 2026.
The Lincoln Trail District Health Department is continuing to monitor water supplies after an investigation into possible contamination in Upton in August.
According to a release, the health department became aware of suspected water contamination in Big Spring on August 17. Samples collected on August 21 “indicated the presence of coliforms and E. Coli bacterium.” Additional testing was conducted to determine the type of E. Coli present and “indicated the presence of fecal waste from humans and deer.” The test results were shared with the Kentucky Environment and Energy Cabinet.
The health department says based on information from the Environmental Protection Agency bacterial levels in bodies of water can vary and change with rainfall, which makes it difficult to pinpoint the source of the contamination.
After offering free well water testing to residents in the affected area, the health department has conducted or assisted with 14 tests across 12 locations in Hardin and LaRue counties. Sites from tests taken on August 21 and 27 resulted in E. Coli counts of more than 2,400, but five tests resulted in zero counts.
The health department will continue to work alongside the Environment and Energy Cabinet to test and monitor private water supplies as they work to identify the source of the contamination. If you believe your water supply has been impacted, contact the health department (270-769-0312 for Hardin County and 270-358-8665 for LaRue County), and visit their website for information on well and cistern maintenance.
Hurricane Helene is due to make landfall in Florida Thursday night, with the storm impacting Kentucky on Friday.
“First there will just be a light rain, and then Friday we will get some winds,” said Meteorologist Samantha Michlowitz with the National Weather Service in Louisville. “We are looking at about 30 to 50 miles per hour there for winds on Friday and some pretty heavy rains, then scattered rain chances will last Saturday into Sunday.”
The tropical storm is the second to impact the area this year after the remnants of Hurricane Beryl in july.
“We had one earlier this year that moved through and gave us a good amount of rain, but this time around we’re going to see between 2.5 to 3.5 inches of rain,” Michlowitz said.
Michlowitz says remember to be safe as the storm works its way through.
“If you have anything outside like outdoor decorations or pillows on outdoor furniture, it would probably be best to bring that inside just so that it doesn’t get picked up and thrown,” Michlowitz said. “With rain, just watch out for any ponding. Never drive through any flooded roadways. You never know how deep it is.”
Follow the National Weather Service for more updates on Hurricane Helene’s path.
Event organizers have an eye on the forecast for Saturday, but they are excited to put on the second annual Heartland Harvest Festival in Downtown Elizabethtown.
“The downtown event begins at 10 a.m. and it will feature craft and commercial vendors,” said Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles. “We will have over 100. There’s a free petting zoo and kids zone, a pumpkin decorating contest, the Great Pumpkin Battle, of course sponsored by WQXE. We’re excited about that. There will be food vendors, and lots more.”
That’s Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles. Music for the festival will begin at 2:30 p.m. in the Hardin County Justice Center parking lot.
“The lineup this year includes Big Black Cadillac, which is a funk and soul six-piece cover band based in Bardstown, and then at 5 o’clock, Taylorsville native and country artist J.D. Shelburne will take the stage, and ending out the night as our headliner is chart-topping country singer-songwriter Craig Morgan, and we are super excited to have him,” Pyles said. “That should be at 7.30 p.m.”
Find more information on the City of Elizabethtown Event’s website, and follow their Facebook page and stay tuned to Quicksie and The Wolf for weather-related updates.
The Elizabethtown Police Department is investigating a fatal accident that occurred Wednesday evening.
“Shortly before 7:30 Wednesday evening, we responded to a serious motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Ring Road and Dixie Highway,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “A preliminary investigation indicates that a Hyundai passenger car, traveling eastbound on Ring Road, collided with the rear of a Chevrolet pickup truck, which was also eastbound on Ring Road but stopped at the intersection of Dixie Highway.”
Denham said the driver of the Hyundai, an adult female, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the pickup, an adult male, along with his juvenile passenger, were transported from the scene to Baptist Health Hardin with non-life-threatening injuries.
The EPD’s collision reconstruction team’s investigation is ongoing.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.
A public hearing was held for a cemetery relocation. Nell Johnson requested permission to relocate graves of her family members in the Niceley Cemetery on Gaither Station Road to the Elizabethtown City Cemetery, per family wishes.
“Prior to my father’s death in 2005, he bought the burial plots and was in the process of getting everyone to be moved,” Johnson said. “There’s two graves, my mother and my grandmother, and then he passed, so it just never happened, so I think this will be the best way and then all of the family members are going to be up in the Elizabethtown Cemetery.”
County Attorney Jenny Oldham noted the relocation is of no cost to the county. A resolution approving the relocation was approved.
The court approved the first reading of an ordinance for a zoning text amendment that adds medical cannabis operations to the permitted uses in Light Industrial (I-1) or Heavy Industrial (I-2) zones in unincorporated Hardin County. The amendment was recommended by the Hardin County Planning Commission following their public hearing on the matter. Some of the magistrates objected to including dispensaries in the amendment. District One Magistrate Chris Yates said the amendment undermines the decision to put the medical cannabis decision on the ballot, and Second District Magistrate Kenny Saltsman said in addition to safety concerns the requirement puts an undue burden on law-abiding patients.
“Placing these facilities in industrial zones reinforces the outdated stigma associating them with unsavory or undesirable parts of town,” Saltsman said. “This can hinder the normalization of cannabis as a legitimate medical treatment and perpetuate negative stereotypes.”
Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul issued a proclamation recognizing EMTs Shawn Thomas, Kelly Gibson, and Riley Black for going above the call of service.
“They made a run on an elderly female in the Radcliff area who couldn’t take her medication because her water had been turned off, and they made arrangements to work with the water district to get her water turned back on so that she could take her medicine,” said Hardin County EMS Director Mark Peterson.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet October 8.
The Hardin County Board of Education met for a roundtable discussion with the district’s high school principals as part of a special meeting Tuesday.
HCS Superintendent Terry Morgan said during their summer retreat the board proposed meeting with the principals for periodic updates. The principals filled out question forms with topics such as biggest challenges, biggest successes, and what support they need from the board.
The principals said finding and training adequate staff is an ongoing challenge. The principals also expressed concerns for having adequate mental health resources available for students, with John Hardin High School Principal Mark Wells noting the impact on the school day.
“You look at it from a logistical standpoint, we need those students to get the help that they need,” Wells said. “They need that, but when? We’ve got the counselors coming from the outside and they’re pulling kids out of class, and we’re trying to create a schedule so we’re not missing math, but it’s becoming more and more difficult.”
The principals said additional financial support for extracurriculars, sports and otherwise, would be beneficial as it would allow coaches and coordinators to focus on the team or club rather than on fundraising. College View Principal Dr. Robert King and EC3 Principal Dan Robbins said expansion for their buildings is needed. Robbins said more space for EC3 means expansion for the district as a whole.
“I think if we look over the last 10 years and we think about things that have really helped our district, I think that EC3 has to be something that everyone turns to,” Robbins said. “I know it is from the outside community, because we are visited by more school districts than I had ever imagined when I took the position.”
The principals said district initiatives such as the creation of the transition coach position to help graduating students, a faculty mentor program, and technology education have proven beneficial. Each of the principals also said they felt supported by the board, the superintendent’s office, and their fellow principals, something Central Hardin Principal Tim Isaacs said hasn’t always been the case.
“I can pick up the phone and I can call anybody sitting at this table, including you all (the board). and I have a boss that I think if she found out that I picked up the phone and called one of you all wouldn’t eat my lunch over it either, and I appreciate that,” Isaacs said. “For me, that’s what it comes down to. I feel like I’ve earned my spot at the table and I want to be heard.”
The Hardin County Board of Education will next meet October 17.
The Kentucky State Police honored 55 troopers from across the commonwealth during their 2023 Sworn Awards.
The KSP says the awards recognize the dedication, bravery, and extraordinary efforts of the more than 1,000 sworn personnel serving in the agency, the highest number of troopers employed since 2017.
Awards presented at the ceremony highlight the efforts of troopers during the year as well as individual acts of service.
From the local post, Detective Casey Keown was named Post Four Detective of the Year, and Trooper Chase Shouse was named Post Four Trooper of the Year.
Post Four Detective Anthony Hardin II was named the West Drug Enforcement and Special Investigations Unit Detective of the Year, as well as the overall KSP Detective of the Year.
Post Four Trooper Dillon Spencer, Detective Issac Atwell, and Sergeant Blake Owens received Citation for Bravery awards, while Trooper Blaine Miller received the Lifesaving Medal.
The KSP says in 2023 personnel responded to more than 407,000 requests for assistance and served other duties such as conducting wellness checks, assisting local law enforcement agencies, and continued to fight against the drug epidemic.
A full list of award recipients can be found on the KSP website.
The Elizabethtown City Council and the Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau met for a joint meeting Monday to hear an update on the 10,000-seat amphitheater to be constructed at Buffalo Lake.
Brad Boaz with CMW Architects and Engineers walked through the design process for the venue to this point including decisions on location to lessen interstate and train noise, rigging to allow for flexibility in acts performing, and the arrangements for seating and facilities. Boaz says his catchphrase for the project is “It’s a walk in the woods.”
“We hope that as we go through this design that you’ll see that that’s really what we pushed, and we’re taking this piece of land out there in this undeveloped portion of E-Town and that even though we’re going to do a lot of construction, we’re going to change it so that at the end of the the day it really feels like you’re walking in the woods and you’re in this park even though it’s a venue that hosts a 10,000 seat concert experience,” Boaz said.
E-Town Tourism Executive Director Janna Clark said Elizabethtown is what the music industry would consider a “suburb venue,” so rather than directly competing with smaller venues in the area the goal is attract big-name talent in between shows at the larger venues in metro areas.
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said he hates to lose the current mountain biking trails at Buffalo Lake, but pursuing the music venue allows the city to allow for likely development while having a say in what is to come, including new trails.
“Eventually, because that land is owned privately, and if we cut that road through there like what needed to be done probably 15, 20 years ago, then we were going to lose those trails regardless, so what this does is it gives us the opportunity to control that somewhat by purchasing the property and putting this facility on that site so we can have some say so of what it turns out to be,” Gregory said.
Hardin-ETown Stampede mountain bike team coach David Haines said he would like for the design team to meet with a national mountain biking expert, and with 4 to 5 miles of new trails incorporated into the design the buffalo lake site could have the potential for national-level competition.
The current design of the venue includes 4,000 seats and space for 6,000 people in the lawn, with restroom and concession facilities that would be available year-round.
On the same day that rain arrived in the area, the Office of the State Climatologist and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet issued a Level 1 Drought Declaration for the commonwealth.
According to the energy and environment cabinet, a Level 1 dDought “indicates moderate to severe drought conditions have developed, primarily affecting soil moisture and vegetative health.” The cabinet says western and central Kentucky, along with parts of the Bluegrass region, are the hardest hit areas, with impacts to agricultural water needs and increased wildfire risk prevalent.
Widespread dryness intensified over the later half of the summer, with precipitation over the last two months spotty. These conditions prompted Hardin County last week to declare a burn ban.
“This is due to the dry conditions, the lack of rain that we have experienced in Hardin County,” said Hardin County Emergency Management Director Joey Scott. “We are implementing the burn ban and we’ll carry on until we get some significant rain to help these dry conditions out. Counties around us are going to burn bans. It’s all across the state of Kentucky right now. We’re entering into a really dry season, so we’re just being proactive and trying to get ahead of it.”
The state climatologist’s office expects the drought conditions to continue for at least the near future.
A man from Vine Grove is dead following a crash in Breckinridge County Friday night.
The Kentucky State Police says at approximately 7:30 p.m. on September 20, the Breckinridge County Sheriff’s Office requested troopers from KSP Post Four investigate a two-vehicle collision near the 7,000 block of KY 333.
The KSP says the preliminary investigation shows that 18-year-old Kenenth R. Miller of Vine Grove was driving north on KY 333 when for unknown reasons he lost control of his vehicle, overcorrected, and crossed the centerline, traveling into the path of a truck being driven by Dennis Barnes of Vine Grove.
Miller was pronounced dead at the scene by the Breckinridge County Coroner’s Office. Barnes did not report any injuries.
Miller’s obituary from the Alexander Funeral Home in Irvington notes that he was a 2024 graduate of Breckinridge County High School.
KY 333 was closed for several hours to allow for accident reconstruction. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
Election Day is November 5, and voters looking to request an absentee ballot may now do so as the state’s absentee ballot request portal opened Saturday.
“It will be open now through October 22, but don’t wait,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “If you qualify for an absentee ballot, you can visit govote.ky.gov or you can call our election hotline at 270-765-6762.”
Qualifications for an absentee ballot are available on the Go Vote website.
There is still time to register to vote or to update your registration ahead of the election.
“That deadline is 4 p.m. on October 7,” Smith said. “We encourage everybody to visit govote.ky.gov and make sure everything is up to date – your address, your party affiliation, all of that is up to date by 4 p.m. on October 7.”
Ahead of the election, Smith says the clerk’s office has been reaching out to area schools in order to help teach about the importance of the right to vote.
“We’ve done voter registration drives,” Smith said. “We’ve helped with the student council elections in some schools, and we’ve held mock elections. We want to get the young people in our community excited about voting, so we hope when parents or grandparents vote, take your kids with you. It’s a great lesson that you can teach them.”
Contact your county clerk’s office for election questions.
It’s always important to keep your eyes on the road when operating a vehicle, and come the new year the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will be ensuring that your eyes are up for the challenge.
Beginning January 1, all Kentucky drivers must undergo a vision screening in order to renew their license. The requirement was enacted by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2021 in order to “promote highway safety by ensuring that all drivers maintain good vision throughout their driving career.”
Based on House Bill 439, vision screenings can be completed at no cost at any Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Driver Licensing Regional Office at the time of renewal. The KYTC expects the average vision screening to take less than a minute to complete.
In addition to the regional officeS, drivers may conduct a vision exam with their vision specialist or with a KYTC-credentialed osteopath, physician, or advanced practice registered nurse ahead of their license renewal. These specialists will complete a form the driver will take to their renewal appointment.
If a driver does not pass the screening at a regional office, they will need to see a vision specialist for corrective measures before getting their license renewed. Online renewals will still be available. Drivers will just need to upload the form from a specialist when they renew.
More information is available at drive.ky.gov/visionscreening.
Casey Keown is a detective with the Kentucky State Police, but he remembers the many days and nights he spent skateboarding growing up in Grayson County, something that motivated him and others to create the Twin Lakes Skatepark Project.
“The skatepark is horrible here in Grayson County,” Keown said. “We need something new, somewhere to take our kids. My daughter recently found my skateboard in the shed. So I rode with her in the driveway a few times, and that kind of sealed the deal for me, so I decided to spearhead this and just take it on.”
The group is raising funds and bringing in community partners to construct a 10,000 square foot concrete skate park in Grayson County, with a mission of creating positive experiences for youth and bringing the community together for a common goal.
“Any partners in the community that support this or want to help us out, you can visit our website,” Keown said. “It’s TwinLakesSkatePark.org. We’re looking for donations. We’re looking for volunteers. We’ve got a concert coming up on October 12. We’re going to have some great music, so we’d love to see as many people that we can get out there. Tickets are available on our website.”
In addition to the Twin Lakes project, the group was able to move ramps from the former Highway 54 skate park to behind the Purple Flash Community Center in Caneyville to create a skate spot.
“We all coordinated together, came up with a design, and all but two of the ramps are there now,” Keown said. “We’re still waiting on two more, so if anybody has a crane and is willing to donate some time, we do need a crane to move the last two, but we do have somewhere now where kids can go and ride bikes, skateboards, scooters, and just have fun.”
Visit the Twin Lakes Skatepark Project Facebook page or website for more information on how to donate, how to get involved, and ticket information for the October 12 concert.
Caitlyn Burden says she has known the McKellar family since she was in middle school, so she has been looking for a way to honor the memory of Timothy “Junior” McKellar.
“Last year he passed away in a plane crash in Whitesville, and ever since then the community’s been coming together and remembering him, and I hadn’t done anything for him yet because everybody else was doing stuff for him, and I knew a year was coming up so I figured now would be a good time to do something,” Burden said.
Burden and other organizers will be hosting Junior’s Show and Shine Saturday, September 28 at Breckinridge County High School, beginning at 2 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
“We’ve got free entry for the show,” Burden said. “It’s just basically a show in remembrance of Junior. We’ve got vendors like food trucks, we’ve got trophies, and we’ve got bouncy houses for the kids, music, so we’ve got pretty much everything.”
When Burden reached out to the McKellar family, they said the event should benefit another Breckinridge County resident, Braxton Criss.
“We had seen a bunch of stuff posted around Facebook saying prayers, that he was having a rough time, and Tim McKellar, Junior’s dad, called me yesterday, and we were going to donate all the money from the show to an aviation school or a welding school, and we had been seeing that go around and he called me yesterday and he kind of mentioned it to me and I was like ‘yeah, that’s a great idea,’” Burden said.
Find more information on the Junior’s Show and Shine Facebook event page.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear discussed the latest round of funding for the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program during his Team Kentucky Update Thursday.
Included in the $28.5 million awarded was an $11.1 million grant matched by $2.3 million in state funds for the Envisioning a Safer Elizabethtown project.
“This grant money is going to be huge for us because it identifies two different corridors that probably are our most at-risk statistically with injury accidents and accidents just in general, and we’ll be able to put this money for the aforementioned sidewalks and lighting and road diets and roundabouts that we’ve seen have great success in Elizabethtown,” said Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory.
The funding is for projects targeting Ring Road, Leitchfield Road, and U.S. 31W.
“We’re working really hard to make sure that our infrastructure stays ahead of the game in Elizabethtown,” Gregory said. “BlueOval SK, four miles south of Elizabethtown, which immediately brought us three other companies in our industrial park in Elizabethtown, has caused us to look at the way that we’re looking at our infrastructure as far as roadways, sewer lines, gas lines, and everything that comes with that.”
Visit the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet online for more information.
Unemployment in Kentucky saw a slight increase in August.
The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the state unemployment average for August was 4.8 percent. That is an increase from the 4.7 percent rate reported in July as well as from August 2023 when the rate was reported at 4.2 percent.
Kentucky’s unemployment average also came in higher in July than the national unemployment rate, which the U.S. Department of Labor reported at 4.2 percent.
The Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet says the state’s civilian labor force, which includes people currently employed and people actively searching for work, saw an increase of just over 7,300 people from July into August, bringing the civilian labor force to about 2,061,000.
The Education and Labor Cabinet says while manufacturing jobs saw an increase in August, companies have been reporting fewer jobs over the last few months. Employment in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector and the leisure and hospitality sector saw slight drops. The mining and logging sectors were mostly unchanged.
Visit the Kentucky Center for Statistics to learn more about labor market information.
The Radcliff City Council met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.
An ordinance amending the city budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year was approved on its second reading. Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall previously said the amendment was standard for the end of a fiscal year.
Representatives from QK4, which provides engineering work for the city, presented the council with a $1.85 million check from the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Program, which will be used for stormwater improvements on North Logsdon Parkway. The grant, which includes a 25 percent local match, must be used within three years, and surveying work should begin on the project in four to five weeks.
Council Member Pamela DeRoche reminded the community of this Saturday’s Radcliff Days festival.
“Vendors will start setting up at 2 p.m.,” said DeRoche. “The festival actually starts at 4, and we’ve got 35-plus vendors, I think, that’ll be selling wares on Saturday, and then we’ve got several food trucks.”
The Radcliff Days parade begins at 5 p.m.
“The theme is ‘Dance the Night Away,’ so we will have several dance groups out there,” DeRoche said. “We’ll have a DJ that will be playing music, so if people want to join in on the dancing, they’re welcome to do that as well.”
Visit the City of Radcliff Government Facebook page for details.
The Radcliff City Council will next meet October 7.
Breckinridge County Schools responded to a potential threat Wednesday.
“A little bit before noon, a student reported to a school official a Snapchat post, and the Snapchat post was threatening in nature to our school district, so we immediately started putting things in place to ensure the safety of all of our schools in the district,” said BCS Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter.
The Breckinridge County Sheriff’s Office and the Hardinsburg and Irvington police departments expanded their presence at school buildings through dismissal. The sheriff’s office is leading the ongoing investigation into the threat.
“Right now we’re cooperating with the Breckinridge County Sheriff’s Office with this investigation and when we know more, we’ll be sure to communicate more,” Carter said.
Carter last week sent out a message to district parents and guardians advising them to talk with their students about responsible use of social media. Carter says talking with students and keeping a close eye can help keep schools a safe place.
“Unmonitored teenage use of social media platforms is causing disruptions to the school days for students, not just in Breckinridge County but all around the state, and we need the help of all parents and guardians in monitoring their child’s social media platforms,” Carter said.
Follow the Breckinridge County School District Facebook page for updates.
Area residents may hear increased activity at Fort Knox for the next few weeks.
“Due to military training at Fort Knox’s new Digital Air Ground Integration Range, or DAGIR, September 18 through October 8, increased noise and vibrations may be experienced during that time,” said Fort Knox Media Relations Officer Kyle Hodges.
The DAGIR came online in the summer, so more activity can be expected as more units utilize it.
“Exercises involving aircraft maneuvers and weapons firing in daytime and nighttime hours are an important aspect to maintaining critical capabilities and readiness for all units, so we ask for the community’s patience and understanding during this time,” Hodges said.
Follow the U.S. Army Fort Knox Facebook page for updates.
Down Syndrome Association of the Heartland has two events on the calendar this week, beginning with the Birdies and Burgers golf scramble and lunch.
“It’s Thursday, September 19,” said DSAH Executive Director Tonya House. “We have the golf scramble and then the lunch is right after that from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and then our Buddy Walk is Saturday, September 21.”
The event will be held at the Heartland Golf Club. Participants in the golf scramble get their lunch included, but all who wish to participate are invited to the lunch and silent auction.
“If you just want to come and have lunch with us, you can buy tickets,” House said. “They’re $30. You can go to our website, dshartland.org, to get those, you can click ‘Support’ and then you’ll see all the options, all the things we have going on. You can get your tickets there, or you could always show up and just say ‘Hey, I want to have lunch.’”
All are also invited to participate in the Buddy Walk Saturday at Elizabethtown High School. Registration is at 9 a.m. with the walk at 10.
“We’re going to do a morning walk this year,” House said. “We will have festivities until noon that day. Bounce houses and face painting, we have Disney princesses coming, we have a DJ, so lots of things scheduled.”
Visit Down Syndrome Association of the Heartland on their website and Facebook page for more information on their mission and the events.
Hardin County Schools Tuesday night unveiled their Portrait of a Learner, a set of aspirations for what every student will know and be able to do when they graduate.
“We actually started working on Portrait of a Learner a couple of years ago in our ongoing efforts to ensure that our students have the advantages they need to succeed when they leave our district and when they graduate,” said HCS Community Relations Specialist John Wright. “We want our students to have advantages over their peers because we know that’s what’s going to land our graduates high-paying, successful jobs and careers.”
The portrait was created using feedback from district stakeholders such as faculty and staff, community members, parents, and students. The district partnered with the University of Kentucky Center for Next Generation Leadership to identify target competencies.
“Those five competencies are Responsible Citizen, Personal Champion, Engaged Learner, Effective Communicator, and Active Collaborator, and so throughout the school year and probably for the next several years, you’ll be hearing those terms used,” Wright said. “That’s kind of the foundation for what they’ll be learning in the classrooms.”
The competencies will make concrete appearances in school buildings, such as on a poster on the wall, and worked into the curriculum.
“It is our ongoing task to ensure that our students are ready for the workplace and for life outside of graduation, and we look forward to continuing this work with the community’s help and our Portrait of a Learner,” Wright said.
Visit the Hardin County Schools website for more information.
Hardin County is the latest Kentucky county to enact a burn ban.
“This is due to the dry conditions, the lack of rain that we have experienced in Hardin County,” said Hardin County Emergency Management Director Joey Scott. “We are implementing the burn ban and we’ll carry on until we get some significant rain to help these dry conditions out.”
Hardin County Judge/ Executive Keith Taul issued the burn ban via executive order Monday.
“Counties around us are going to burn bans,” Scott said. “It’s all across the state of Kentucky right now. We’re entering into a really dry season, so we’re just being proactive and trying to get ahead of it.”
The ban prohibits all outdoor burning with the exception of campfires in an established campground. Violations of the burn ban are punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of up to a $500 fine, up to 365 days in jail, or both.
“Just be safe,” Scott said. “Just use good common sense. We’ve got to take care of our neighbors, not only our property but other people’s property that joins ours.”
Burn bans have also been issued in Breckinridge, Meade, and LaRue counties. The ban will remain in effect until drought conditions improve.
As the fall season approaches, Kentucky Farm Bureau is highlighting Certified Farm Markets across the state, including six from Hardin County that were recently added to the program.
“It was started as a fruit and vegetable marketing program to help farmers connect with the consumer audience, and it has evolved to markets all over Kentucky that sell a diverse group of agricultural products from pumpkins to apples to agritourism to greenhouses,” said Kentucky Farm Bureau Commodity Specialist Fran McCall. “You name it, we probably sell it at one of our markets.”
She says the goal of the Certified Farm Market program is to connect farmers to their communities and to help community members find local farm markets near them. For running closer to the urban side than other counties, Hardin County’s six markets is a good number.
“We see a larger following in those areas around the Louisville area,” McCall said. “We have similar numbers in Lexington, even Madisonville and Hopkins County in Western Kentucky, Bowling Green. We have a large kind of hub, as I call them, markets, but that’s not really uncommon. You have a really good offering of fall-based markets in your area.”
Kentucky Farm Bureau has more information on how to track down fall fun at Certified Farm Markets.
“You can visit our Kentucky Farm Bureau website (kyfb.com/certified), and then you can find all the markets around the state of Kentucky,” McCall said. “We have over 163. You can also follow us on Facebook, or you can download the Kentucky Farm Bureau app.”
Hardin County’s Certified Farm Markets are Fallen Maple Farm, Hinton’s Orchard and Farm Market, Sunshine and Blossoms Greenhouse, Crawford Pumpkin Patch, the Pumpkin Wagon, and Vine Grove Pumpkin Patch.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear welcomed officials and recovery advocates to the capitol Monday in observance of Recovery Month.
The governor held signing ceremonies for three pieces of legislation that support addiction recovery efforts across the commonwealth.
House Bill 462, which was sponsored by House District 25 Representative Steve Bratcher, “addresses gaps in certification requirements and strengthens the framework for recovery housing, ensuring these facilities provide safe, supportive environments for individuals in recovery.”
The governor also signed Senate Bill 71, which expands access to transportation services for people in recovery residences, and House Bill 505, which expands the Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors and establishes criteria for registration as a “temporary alcohol and drug peer support specialist.”
The governor also recognized the four latest counties that received Recovery Ready Community certifications from the state. When Hardin County received the certification in February, Lincoln Trail District Health Department Social and Community Services Manager Jennifer Osborne said the certification process shows a county what it has and what it needs.
““It gives us a framework to look at what is going on in the community around youth prevention initiatives, substance use prevention initiatives, harm reduction, treatment, recovery support for individuals that are in recovery,” said Osborne. “It gives us an idea of what is already in place in the community and what we might see as opportunities for improvement in a community.”
Information about treatment programs across Kentucky is available at www.findhelpnowky.org.
Law enforcement agencies across the state of Kentucky are continuing to deal with threats made against school districts stemming from social media.
The Elizabethtown Police Department began last week with the arrest of a juvenile that made a threat that was found to be non-credible against T.K. Stone Middle School, and ended the week with the arrest of suspects that were found to have called in a threat to the Ohio State School for the Blind. EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham says any threat is investigated fully and perpetrators face punishment.
“Our region has been flooded with legitimate as well as non-credible threats to schools over the past couple of weeks,” Dehnam said. “I want to urge all parents and guardians to speak with their children about the seriousness of making threats. It’s not a joke, and these actions carry real consequences including arrest and detention.”
The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office says a juvenile was arrested after they made a threat against Grayson County High School, and the Vine Grove Police Department says a juvenile was arrested for making a threat against James T. Alton Middle School. Breckinridge County Schools released a statement to parents advising them to talk with their students about the use of social media platforms such as SnapChat.
Denham says if you hear or see something suspicious, say something.
“If they hear of any rumors or know of any threats, please report them immediately to their law enforcement,” Denham said “Any threats that you’re aware of that are taking place in Hardin County can also be relayed anonymously to Hardin County Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-597-8123 or by visiting p3tips.com.”
The Kentucky State Police sent out a release last week reminding residents that any threat to attack a school will be investigated as a charge of Terroristic Threatening, a felony offense.
Whispering Dandelion Farm co-owner Carla Albea says the farm couldn’t make it without its volunteers, so they want to support one of their volunteers who was recently injured in an ATV accident.
“That’s Makayla Post, and she’s a young mom, a young single mom with a toddler, and her grandma has had to take off of work to be able to help her and her baby because it’ll be somewhere around Christmas before she’s able to walk correctly again,” Albea said.
The farm will be hosting a benefit day for Makayla Post and her grandmother Betty Post Saturday, September 21 from 2 to 6 p.m.
“What we’re doing is we’re going to discount admission for a donation, and then we’re also having a bake sale and a silent auction for them,” Albea said.
Albea says the Post family has been a part of the Hardin and LaRue County communities for decades, and the benefit is an opportunity to support two people who have always supported their community.
“Betty and Makayla both have literally raised thousands for March of Dimes, and they’re just great people that would do anything for you regardless of what they’ve got going on in their own lives, so we think that it’s time for the community to give back a little bit,” Albea said.
Visit the Whispering Dandelion Farm Facebook page or website for more information.
National Child Passenger Safety Week will be observed across the country from September 15 through 21, and Governor Andy Beshear is encouraging Kentuckians to take the basic steps to protect their children when on the road.
The governor said the state would be joining observation of the week during his Team Kentucky Update Thursday. Beshear said the annual awareness campaign encourages drivers to make sure they are using car seats properly, something the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show is not always the case.
“It shows that 46 percent of car seats are being misused around the United States,” Beshear said. “I mean, think about that. We have car seats to protect our children. I think everyone wants to protect their child when they’re putting them in a car seat. That means we should really think about the fact that so many of them are being misused, and get the information out there.”
Beshear encouraged Kentuckians to talk with a NHTSA-approved expert to make sure their child is using the right seat, and to attend a car seat check up event which is typically hosted by area fire and health departments.
“To find out more about checkup events and car seat resources, visit KentuckyHighwaySafety.com and click the Safety Programs tab,” Beshear said. “Folks, this won’t take you long. It’s a couple of websites and maybe spending a few minutes at a checkup, but if 46 percent of people are misusing car seats, it might be you, and I know you want what’s best for your child.”
Beshear said on the positive side, seat belt use in Kentucky is up 3.4 percent over the last two years, and highway fatalities are down 15 percent from last year.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said during his Team Kentucky Update Thursday that partnerships with law enforcement have helped remove illicit drugs from the streets and helped lead to an approximate 10 percent decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2023.
Beshear announced additional support for some of those law enforcement partners.
“Today, we’re furthering that momentum by awarding $1.7 million from the Federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant,” Beshear said. “This money is going to 11 law enforcement agencies and drug task forces, and one nonprofit organization.”
Among the recipients is the Kentucky State Police, which will receive $372,828, and the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force, which will receive $196,307. The KSP funding will go towards expanding efforts in areas with high drug abuse rates, while the narcotics task force funding will go towards identifying, disrupting, and dismantling drug trafficking operations in their nine-county region.
Beshear said these efforts are necessary for moving the community forward.
“We’re building a new Kentucky home, one where our children are better protected from addiction,” Besheat said. “Lives are being saved from overdoses and the state’s recidivism rate has been reduced.”
Visit the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for more information.
The United Way of Central Kentucky celebrated the kickoff of its annual fundraising campaign at the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce’s September luncheon, with United Way President and CEO Christa Shouse delivering the keynotes address and organizations that benefit from United Way support set up at the Pritchard Community Center.
Shouse said the annual campaign is about expanding resources.
“The goal, certainly, is as always to raise more money because there are so many needs out there that we don’t even get to scratch the surface of because the need is that great, but I really want to increase awareness of our presence in the community, what that means, and have more people join up with us, whether they’re giving money or they’re volunteering their time, their expertise, we need all of that,” Shouse said.
Shouse said the organization knows the community is struggling, and while that puts a strain on fundraising it makes community support even more important.
“Through our services and partnering agencies, we’ve seen a 48 percent increase in needs over the year of funding before that, and we’re also seeing fundraising go down, and I think it’s just indicative of the climate we’re in right now,” Shouse said. “People are struggling and we see that, and so we’re here to help make a difference.”
The United Way says services from organizations that rely on United Way support benefited more than 60,000 residents across five counties last year. Shouse said the money raised in the campaign has a direct impact.
“One of the best things that we can boast is that it stays here,” Shouse said. “People want to know where their money goes and I’m here to tell you it stays here, and we’re very open and transparent about what we do with those dollars.”
Visit www.unitedwayck.org or contact the United Way of Central Kentucky to learn more.
The American Red Cross says the need for blood remains dire, so if you are looking to help patients in need and take part in a fun competition, Quicksie and The Wolf have an event you might be interested in.
“It’s the Quicksie Versus The Wolf friendly competition to get people to come in and donate blood,” said American Red Cross Account Manager Tammy Ritchie. “We will be at the Pritchard Community Center, and we’re there from 12 to 5 p.m. on September 25, and we encourage everybody in the community to come out and support the drive and help the American Red Cross during this challenging time.”
That’s American Red Cross Account Manager Tammy Ritchie. Participants will be asked during check in which station they wish to support. Ritchie says if you have never given blood before, donating is a safe and simple process.
“You come in, we do a medical history on all donors, always making sure that the person donating is safe to donate,” Ritchie said. “We do their temperature, pulse, blood pressure, make sure their iron count is high enough. The actual donation part of the blood drive takes anywhere from like five to ten minutes, but during this timeframe you have helped three different patients.”
You can find information and sign up for the Quicksie Versus Wolf Blood Drive at www.redcrossblood.org, by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor app, or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their first meeting of the month Tuesday.
A public hearing was held for a request to close a portion of a roadway.
“A request has been made by property owner Stephen Bush to close a platted undeveloped 60-foot right of way for a future street at the end of Christine Way in Concord Heights between Lots 11 and 12,” said Hardin County Attorney Jenny Oldham as she conducted the public hearing.
The request received a favorable recommendation from the county’s plan commision, and the fiscal court approved a resolution granting the closing.
Brandon Thompson with the Hardin County Extension Office presented the office’s proposed property tax rate for the new fiscal year. The extension office elected to adopt the compensating rate, which will see a personal property rate at 2.43 cents per $100 assessed value (down slightly from 2023), while the real property rate of 1.8 cents and the motor vehicle and watercraft rate of 1.46 cents per $100 assessed value remain the same from last year.
Hardin County Public Works Director Stephanie Givens reported that to date 352 bags from 324 vehicles have been collected at the county’s shredding events, an increase of 100 more bags and 86 more vehicles from this point last year. The next shredding event is October 1. Givens said 524 cars brought materials to the county’s household hazardous waste disposal event on August 17.
Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul issued a proclamation recognizing September 10 as Meighan Cable Day in recognition of Cable’s efforts at the Mrs. America 2024 pageant. Cable said she was proud to represent Hardin County and serve as Mrs. Kentucky, and to work with Baptist Health Hardin on support for grieving mothers.
“As a mother to miscarriages and our sweet daughter, Ellie, who passed in July of 2019, it’s very important for me as a person and for other women in this county to be cared for, to be seen, and to be honoring a space for them as they go back for postpartum care,” Cable said.
The Hardin County Fiscal court will next meet September 24.
Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul issued a proclamation at Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland’s Volunteer Center Tuesday recognizing the month of September as Hunger Action Month, encouraging residents to support the organization’s efforts to combat food insecurity through volunteer shifts, social media shares, and donations.
FAKH says data shows more than 176,000 people in the organization’s 42-county service area are struggling with food insecurity, and FAKH Executive Director Charles Dennis says the organization and families are feeling the strain.
“Data that we reference told us that compared to January 2021, the average household in Kentucky is spending $140 more a month on food,” Dennis said. “Cumulatively, the average household in Kentucky has spent $3,555 more on food due to inflation since January of 2021.”
FAKH celebrated two major shows of support during the event. Darden Foods donated a new truck to the organization, and Aetna Better Health of Kentucky CEO Paige Franklin was on hand to announce a donation.
“Through a new $250,000 gift to Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland, we, in partnership with you all, will be able to distribute roughly 16,000 nutritious meals per month for the next 12 months,” Franklin said.
Visit Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland on the web for more information on the impact of food insecurity and volunteer opportunities.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College celebrated the ribbon cutting for the Robbins University Center during their Pancakes with the Provost event Tuesday.
According to ECTC, the Robbins Center will allow “four-year colleges and universities to offer high-demand bachelor’s and master’s degrees locally.” Students will complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree at ECTC and then transfer to a four-year partner that offers classes and support services at the Robbins Center.
ECTC President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate said several recent projects have focused on supporting a strong workforce, but this focuses on allowing local students to thrive closer to home.
“What we’ve really got is a population problem,” Pate said. “If we had more people who lived here, we wouldn’t have a workforce problem, so this university center concept really became more of an effort to keep local talent local, to support not just our community but our places of employment.”
The center is named for Dr. Robert and Rita Robbins, who made a $1 million donation to ECTC in 2018. Rita Robbins said the center will support area students and the need for continuing education.
“We hope this center will be an inviting place for people to gather, develop relationships, and pay it forward,” Robbins said. “When you walk through these doors, change happens. You don’t walk out the same way.”
ECTC has partnerships for the Robbins Center with Western Kentucky University, Lindsey Wilson College, and Campbellsville University, and plans to announce additional partnerships “as early as this fall.”
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is updating drivers on two projects in Hardin County.
KYTC District Four says a chip sealing project is beginning on Kentucky Route 1646/North Logsdon Parkway, with the speed limit reduced to 25 miles per hour from the railroad crossing to Patriot Parkway as crews prepare for resurfacing. Drivers will be passing over loose gravel and will see several lane closures this week, then a final pavement surface will be applied next week.
Meanwhile, work is set to begin on the resurfacing of Kentucky Route 361/Patriot Parkway between Kentucky Routes 220 and 313. The roadway will be milled this week and paved next week, with several lane closures set up to accommodate the work.
Drivers should slow down, pay attention, and use caution in all work zones. Work on both projects is scheduled to be completed before September 30.
The Radcliff City Council met for a work session Monday evening.
The council discussed the city’s ad valorem taxes for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Radcliff CFO Chance Fox said the city saw a jump in new property on the tax rolls, along with a significant increase in property values.
“Radcliff has $1.418 billion of assessed real property value,” Fox said. “Last year in 2023, it was $1.16 billion, so that’s an increase of $250 million in assessed value.”
Because of this increase, the city’s tax rate for real and personal property will decrease from last year’s rate of $1.47 per $1,000 assessed value to either the compensating rate of $1.23 per $1,000 assessed value or the 4 percent increase rate of $1.29 per $1,000 assessed value. Members of the council expressed support for the 4 percent increase in order to generate revenue for the city without impacting taxpayers. The 4 percent increase requires advertising and a public hearing, which the city will prepare.
In other meeting news, the council discussed the pursuit of a grant program through GameTime Playgrounds for a new playground at Dawley Park, and Council Member Terry Owens proposed an ordinance establishing a youth council for the city. Members of the council expressed support for both measures and will discuss them further.
The Radcliff City Council will next meet September 17.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for a special meeting Monday evening.
The council approved, on their second readings, the ordinances that set city taxes for the 2024-2024 fiscal year. The franchise tax rate for all eligible bank deposits is set at .025 percent, the tax rate for real and personal property is set at 11 cents per $100 assessed value, and the tax rate for all motor vehicles and watercraft is set at 11.6 cents per $100 assessed value. Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said the tax rates have been consistent.
“Just so we’re clear, we have not raised these percentages, at least in my tenure, and I think quite some time before that,” Gregory said. “I didn’t look up the exact date when they were adjusted last, but it’s been quite some time, so these were made the same as they did last year, in the year before, and so on.”
The council also approved a municipal order approving the application for up to $975,000 in grant submissions on behalf of the Elizabethtown Airport Board. The applications are for several grants through the Kentucky Department of Aviation for the terminal building renovation and expansion at Addington Field.
In other meeting news, SpringHaven Inc. CEO Georgia Hensley gave a report of the domestic violence shelter’s activities. Hensley said policy changes and work to increase reporting led to a jump in domestic violence survivors seeking support from SpringHaven from 379 in 2023 to 1,541 in 2024. Hensley highlighted some of SpingHaven’s initiatives including a court escort program that has rolled out in response to the shooting outside the Hardin County Justice Center and the establishment of a domestic violence intake center.
Elizabethtown Director of Planning Joe Reverman reported on the Planning and Development Department’s activities to this point in 2024. Reverman said 329 building, 501 electrical, and 156 sign permits have been approved, with 598 housing units approved for construction. Reverman said even without anticipated growth related to BlueOval SK, the rate of growth is outpacing the city’s infrastructure investment business model, so the city is exploring goals and initiatives laid out in the city’s comprehensive plan and other strategies.
The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet in a joint meeting with the Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau on September 23.
Quicksie and The Wolf, in partnership with the Swope Family of Dealerships and Central Kentucky Race Management, invite the community to participate in the inaugural Step Out Against Domestic Violence Walk/Run 5k.
“Our stations are always looking for opportunities to try to get involved and help the community where we can,and we knew that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and really we were just brainstorming on a way we could do something to help and the idea of having this 5K run/walk just came about and was born that way,” WQXE/WULF Co-General Manager Todd Bush said.
The 5K will be held Saturday, October 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Freeman Lake Park. Get registered by September 20 for a special bonus.
“There are free t-shirts available to those that register early, so that’s a plus, but even if you can’t register early, even if you show up at the site and register, that’s fine as well,” Bush said. “Any and all participants are welcome no matter when you sign up or even if you just show up that day.”
All proceeds from the 5K will benefit SpringHaven Inc.
“They offer solutions,” Bush said. “They offer hope for survivors of domestic violence, essential services, support to individuals and their families really across this region, and by participating in this event people in the community can make a direct impact in helping survivors rebuild their lives in a safe and supportive environment.”
Visit wqxe.com or wolf943.com to find the link to runsignup.com to register. A donation link can also be found on RunSignUp if you are unable to participate in the run/walk.
Voter registration in Kentucky continues to see big increases ahead of this November’s presidential election.
The Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office says Kentucky added 15,239 new voter registrations and removed 3,793 voters from the rolls in the month of August.
Of the registrations removed from the rolls, 2,792 were for deceased voters, 349 were for convicted felons, and 480 were for voters that moved to another state.
The secretary of state’s office says Republican registration increased by 7,345 voters in August, Democratic registrations increased by 1,128 voters, and independent or other registrations increased by 2,973 voters. Republican registrations currently make up about 46 percent of the electorate while Democratic registrations make up about 43 percent and independent or other makes up about 11 percent.
Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith says getting registered is a simple process.
““Registering to vote has never been easier,” Smith said. “The quick and easy way for most folks would be to visit govote.ky.gov. They can do that on the computer or their phone, and they can register to vote that way. They can also call or visit the county clerk’s office. The deadline to register to vote, to participate in the November election is October 7. Don’t wait until the deadline. Go ahead and get it done early.”
Visit the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website for more information on voter registration stats.
Hardin County Schools says there is no threat to student safety after a student at North Hardin High School brought a toy gun to the building this morning.
“A student arrived at school this morning and told a fellow student that they were in possession of a weapon,” said Hardin County Schools Community Relations Specialist John Wright. “The second student acted extremely responsibly and notified a staff member. That staff member and the administration immediately reached out to our school resource officer, and the SRO found a toy gun in that student’s possession.”
Wright stressed that the student was not in possession of a weapon.
“Obviously, we want to applaud the student who acted responsibly and told an adult and the school administration about what they had heard,” Wright said. “We also want to thank our SRO and the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office for always protecting our students and our staff, and this student will, in fact, endure the fullest extent of the law and will be dealt with in accordance with the Hardin County Schools Student Code of Acceptable Behavior and Discipline.”
Wright says parents should make sure to talk to their kids about making smart choices.
“Please continue to reinforce with your students that if they see something or hear something to say something to an adult, or see something or hear something, anything that would cause them to feel uncomfortable or they feel that would cause them or anyone else harm,” Wright said.
Classes at North Hardin are running on their regular schedules.
Hardin County residents can take advantage of Saturday’s Free Dump Day event at the Pearl Hollow Landfill.
From 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents can bring all waste materials that are not regulated or defined by applicable federal, state, or local laws as hazardous, infectious, biomedical, explosive, toxic, radioactive, volatile, and/or flammable. All loads must be tarped and secured.
The event is for Hardin County residents only. No contractors or commercial businesses are allowed. Regulations apply.
Hardin County government is also reminding residents that trash pick up will be delayed one day from Tuesday through Saturday due to the Labor Day holiday.
The landfill is located at 1620 Audubon Trace in Elizabethtown. Contact the Hardin County Public Works Department at 270-360-9207 for more information.
Area residents are invited to a special event this weekend at the North Hardin Christian Church.
“We have a concert by the Southern Plainsmen out of Louisiana, and they’ll be performing at the North Hardin Christian Church this coming Sunday, September 8, at 6 o’clock,” said North Hardin Christian Church Pastor Ronald Hockman.
Hockman says the concert has become an annual event for the church.
“They have been doing this for us for something like 13 years, and it’s a free concert,” Hockman said. “There’ll be no offering taken by the church and the public is invited to attend.”
The church is located at 123 Persimmon Ridge in Radcliff. Find the North Hardin Christian Church Facebook page for more information.
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System says it expects to welcome more than 85,000 students to its campuses this fall, which the system says is an 8.4 percent increase from last year and will set a 10-year record.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate says ECTC has also seen substantial growth.
“The college has really had a record period of growth since 2017,” Pate said. “Our graduation rate has gone from 31 percent to a little over 57 percent.”
KCTCS says the system has seen growth across all student classifications. New student enrollment is up 11 percent, credential-seeking enrollment is up 11.9 percent, and high school students taking dual credit courses is up 11.6 percent.
Pate says more and more people are recognizing that a community college education can be more than just a cost-saving measure.
“The real value is the quality of the education, and the people who chose to teach at a community college because they wanted to teach,” Pate said. “They didn’t want to do research. They didn’t want to publish papers. They want to be with students. That, to me, is what’s reflected when you start looking at the way ECTC has increased its student success. We’ve got to where now the number of students who are passing all of their classes in the first semester is, I think it’s almost like 80 percent. That’s unheard of.”
KCTCS expects to enroll about 112,000 students by the end of the 2024-2025 school year in either an associate program designed to transfer to a four-year university or one of 104 technical programs.
In addition to expanding programming, KCTCS campuses have focused on assisting students with barriers to education, such as ECTC’s work with Family Scholar House.
“I think all of these things have just really led us to meet students where they are, help them overcome the barriers they’re facing, and getting them the skills and the education, the training they need to go out and get that career that’s going to change their lives and their families’ lives,” Pate said.
Visit the KCTCS website for more information on enrollment numbers, and visit ECTC’s website for more information on classes and program offerings.
Deer hunting season in Kentucky opens this weekend, and hunters should familiarize themselves with state regulations including measures to protect the deer population from disease.
Archery deer hunting season opens on September 7, with crossbow hunting opening on September 21. Both the archery and crossbow seasons then run through January 20.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife says they expect the deer harvest for the 2024-2025 season to be around 140,000 deer, which is in line with numbers seen over the last ten years. The 2023-2024 deer harvest was about 141,000, the seventh highest total on record.
Hunters should consult the 2024-2025 Fall Hunting and Trapping Guide, available at fw.ky.gov, for a summary of regulations and license requirements. Kentucky’s statewide deer permit allows for hunters to take up to four deer. Hunters must immediately report their deer harvest to the KFW.
Hunters in Western Kentucky should also familiarize themselves with specific requirements within the Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Zone, which was established after the disease was detected in Ballard County in 2023. Hunters should report sick or dead deer to the KFW, which they can do online or by calling 1-800-858-1549.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for their first meeting of the month Tuesday.
The first reading was held on ordinances that establish city taxes for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The franchise tax rate on all eligible bank deposits will be set at .025 percent. The tax rate for real and personal property will be 11 cents per $100 assessed value. The tax rate on motor vehicles and watercraft will be 11.6 cents per $100 assessed value. Those ordinances will go up for approval on their second readings at the next regular council meeting.
The council approved a municipal order for the purchase of 723 Greenwood Drive for $323,000.
“Whereas the City of Elizabethtown desires to address drainage issues in the community, and whereas in the engineering studies of the community watersheds the need to develop a basin in the Helmwood Heights area was identified,” said City Attorney Ken Howard, reading from the municipal order.
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory noted that the property is owned by one of his relatives and said he was not part of negotiations.
A bid from Dirt Works Unlimited was approved in an amount not to exceed $418,847 for the Arnett Place construction project. The city agreed to a property contract with the Elizabethtown Lions Club that requires certain improvements by the city. The project will establish a street from Ring Road between the current Lions Club building and the volunteer fire department. City Administrator Ed Poppe said city officials are happy with the bid.
“They’re doing a sewer project for us currently,” Poppe said. “They’ve got a couple other subdivision projects in this general area. Our design engineer reviewed their cost breakdown and felt comfortable with that. Michael Page with our engineering department also looked at the bid numbers and everybody thinks it’s a really good number that we got from it.”
The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet for a work session on September 9.
The alleged driver in a multi-county pursuit is in jail after a short hospital stay.
Joshua E. Arledge of Louisville was booked into the Hardin County Detention Center shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday after being transferred there by the Kentucky State Police from the University of Louisville Hospital.
According to the KSP, the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office contacted KSP Post Four Sunday evening as they were pursuing a stolen vehicle heading west on the Bluegrass Parkway. The KSP took over the pursuit as the driver got on Interstate 65 North near Elizabethtown.
The driver exited I-65 at the Joe Prather Highway and drove towards Radcliff, with the pursuit ending on Patriot Lane when the suspect got out of the vehicle and then fled on foot. As officers set up a perimeter, the suspect was seen driving away in a semi-tractor trailer, heading back onto I-65 North.
Troopers successfully deployed stop sticks near the 117-mile marker, and the semi exited the interstate, pulled into a parking lot, and briefly traveled on East Blue Lick Road in Bullitt County before overturning in a wooded area. The suspect was apprehended with no further incident.
The suspect was transported to the University of Louisville Hospital by EMS after he supposedly ingested “an unknown substance believed to be heroin.” He was held for medical observation until his release and transfer to the detention center Tuesday, at which time the KSP identified the suspect as Joshua Arledge.
Arledge faces multiple charges including First Degree Fleeing and Evading, Receiving Stolen Property, and Theft, among other charges. A video arraignment hearing was scheduled for Wednesday morning.
The Kentucky State Police is investigating a fatal accident on the Bluegrass Parkway Saturday.
According to the KSP, a trooper with KSP Post Four responded to a two-vehicle collision near the 13-mile marker on the parkway at around 5:45 p.m. on August 30.
The KSP says the preliminary investigation indicates a 17-year-old male from Cox Creek was driving west on the parkway when for unknown reasons his vehicle crossed the median and went into the path of an eastbound vehicle driven by Patrick Reed of Bardstown.
The juvenile driver was pronounced dead at the scene by the Nelson County Coroner’s Office. Reed and two passengers were transported to the University of Louisville Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The eastbound lane on the Bluegrass Parkway was closed until about 10:30 p.m. Saturday for accident reconstruction. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
With the 2024 general election just over two months away, Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith said the May primary provided a good roadmap for preparations for November.
“Our general election plan looks a lot like it did in the May primary,” Smith said. “The difference is we’re beefing up the centers, having more clerks and more check-in stations, so check-ins should be, we hope, adequate.”
Smith discussed the November election during his report to the Hardin County Fiscal Court at their most recent meeting. The deadline to register to vote in the election is October 7, so Smith said don’t wait for the deadline when registering or updating your registration is easy.
“If you’ve moved in the last couple of years, just go on and check,” Smith said. “Make sure all of your information is accurate. We’ve had folks come in and change their party affiliation. That doesn’t impact how you can vote in the general election, but it will set you up for the next time we have a primary, so if you want to, do that as well.”
Smith said unlike some counties that are struggling to find poll workers, Hardin County actually has the opposite problem, but he said don’t hesitate to sign up if you are interested in helping out.
“If we can’t use you this time, we’ll keep you on the list for future reference,” Smith said. “We always set aside a number of alternates because 70 percent of our poll workers are 70 and above, and that’s the population that sometimes has surgery, injuries, and illness that kind of creep up unexpectedly, so if you get assigned to be an alternate, don’t be disappointed. We’ll probably end up calling you real early in the morning on Election Day.”
You can find information on working the polls via the new portal available on the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website, and you can find election information at govote.ky.gov.
Several area organizations were included in the latest round of the federal Victims of Crime Act grant program.
According to a release from the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, 102 organizations across the commonwealth were awarded a total of $14.9 million in funding.
When discussing the funding during his Team Kentucky update Thursday, Governor Andy Beshear said the funds will go towards initiatives that continue providing critical services, hold offenders accountable, and keep Kentuckians safe. The governor referenced a local incident when highlighting the importance of the funding.
“We were reminded at how concerning this level of violence is by an incident that occurred just outside the courthouse in Elizabethtown just last week, so we know that there is still more to do,” Beshear said.
Area organizations that received funding include the Baptist Hardin Foundation (which received $87,274), CASA of the Heartland ($100,000), the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office ($61,429), Silverleaf Sexual Trauma Recovery Services ($304,224), and SpringHaven Inc. ($199,634)
“Each of these organizations is doing God’s work, is being there for people after the worst trauma that is imaginable, and for everyone working at any of these organizations or others that serve victims of crime and of violent crime: thank you for being there for your fellow human being,” Beshear said.
Visit the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet online for more information on the Victims of Crime Act program.
The National Park Service says the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park has a positive impact on the surrounding community.
A report from the NPS says nearly 240,000 visitors came to the historic park in 2023. The report indicates that visitors to the park spent just over $16 million in surrounding communities, which supported 242 area jobs and had an overall benefit to the local economy of $23.3 million.
The NPS says the historic park is part of a national parks system that welcomed more than 325 million visitors across the united states in 2023. Those visitors spent $26.4 billion in communities near national parks, supporting more than 415,000 jobs and creating an overall economic impact of $55.6 billion nationwide.
Stacy Humphreys, the park’s Chief of Interpretation and Resource Management, says the park offers two unique properties: Lincoln’s birthplace and his first childhood home.
“The two units of the park are separated by 10 miles, so if you go to the birthplace unit, all you have to do is follow U.S. 31E like you’re heading toward Bardstown and that will take you out to Knob Creek,” Humphreys said.
Learn more about the economic impact of the National Parks Service via their website, and learn more about the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park via its website and Facebook page.
A Kentucky man has been sentenced for his participation in the January 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol.
Dan Edwin Wilson of Louisville was arrested on May 25, 2023, in Elizabethtown for his actions during the breach of the Capitol during the count of the electoral votes for the 2020 presidential election.
Wilson pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to a charge of Conspiracy to Impede or Injure a Federal Officer, after previously pleading guilty in the District Court for the Western District of Kentucky to charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. Wilson was sentenced in the D.C. court Wednesday to five years in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and to pay $2,000 in restitution.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia says Wilson began planning to go to the Capitol to take part in the events on January 6 in December, writing in online messages “I am ready to lay my life on the line. It’s time for good men to do bad things.” After joining the march to the Capitol, Wilson began messaging other participants telling them to help push against the barricade at the Capitol. Wilson later entered the Capitol for about 12 minutes.
Wilson traveled to D.C. with David Scott Kuntz of Indiana, who was arrested in March. Kuntz’s case is still pending.
Wilson’s sentencing comes a day after another Kentucky resident, Michael Sparks of Elizabethtown, was sentenced to 53 months in prison after a federal jury found him guilty of felony charges of Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Civil Disorder.The U.S. Attorney’s Office says evidence at Sparks’s trial showed that he was the first of the rioters to enter the Capitol during the attack. Sparks was arrested in Elizabethtown on January 19, 2021.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says nearly 1,500 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for their participation in the January 6 attack. The FBI’s investigation remains ongoing and tips are still being collected. If you have information, call 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit tips.fbi.gov.
American Legion Hardin Post 113 invites everybody to learn more about the American Legion at their open house, happening Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m.
“We are hosting an open house event to try and show members of the community and some of the younger active duty and recent vets and their families what American Legion is really about,” said Post 113 Adjunct Drew Chitty. “This event is open to all veterans, sons and daughters of veterans, grandchildren, spouses of veterans. You’ll really be surprised who qualifies as a member.”
He says Post 113 wants the public to see that the Legion isn’t just a place for veterans to sit and talk.
“The American Legion is the largest veterans organization in the world, and Post 113 here in Elizabethtown is the largest American Legion in the state of Kentucky,” Chitty said. “We offer so much more like porch parties, trivia nights, Pictionary, live music, karaoke, special events, dances, dance lessons every week. We have charitable gaming and bingo.”
The open house is also an opportunity for service members and families to connect with services they may not have known were available.
“Whether you served 40 years ago or you just recently got out or you’re still serving, we understand and we will do what we can to help,” Chitty said. “We also have one of the only nine accredited Veteran Service Officers in the state of Kentucky on site that will help with transitioning out of the military or for those who need help with filing or updating their VA benefits, free of charge.”
The open house will be followed by a free comedy show, and Chitty noted while the open house is family-friendly the comedy show is not. American Legion Hardin Post 113 is located at 1251 Ring Road in Elizabethtown.
A threat against a local official led to a soft lockdown at three Elizabethtown Independent School District buildings and a man’s arrest Wednesday.
“Shortly before 12 p.m. (Wednesday) afternoon, we received information indicating that Kelron Decoteau had made a threat against a local judicial official,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “We immediately dedicated our full resources to locating and apprehending the suspect.”
The EPD recognized a direct connection with the case to EIS and contacted school officials regarding the potential threat. Helmwood Heights and Morningside elementary schools along with TK Stone Middle School were placed on soft lockdowns shortly before 1 p.m.
“I am pleased to report that shortly before 3 p.m. the suspect was apprehended by troopers from the Kentucky State Police Post 15 in a neighboring county,” Denham said. “He will be charged with Intimidating a Participant in a Legal Process and Terroristic Threatening in the Third Degree.”
EIS says as a precaution the district requested extra security at the three schools during student dismissal, which resulted in slower release times than usual and delayed bus routes. The EPD says at no time was the safety of any students or staff in jeopardy.
Fort Knox is announcing gate closures ahead of Labor Day weekend.
According to the U.S. Army Fort Knox Facebook page, while the Chaffee Gate will remain open 24/7, the Brandenburg Gate will be closed Friday through Monday and the Wilson Gate will be closed Saturday through Monday. Additionally, the Chaffee Avenue on-ramps to U.S. 31W will be closed Saturday through Monday.
As Fort Knox celebrates Labor Day, an experience typically reserved for Memorial Day weekend will take place Sunday.
“The installation’s long-standing tradition of opening the post’s 121 cemeteries to the public annually has been rescheduled for Sunday, September 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” said Fort Knox Garrison Commander Colonel Chris Ricci. “Fort Knox is going to open several access points around the installation perimeter, welcoming visitors who wish to pay their respects to friends and family members that are interred here.”
Inclement weather Memorial Day canceled the usual cemetery visit day in May. Visitors are encouraged to pre-register online for their required pass onto Fort Knox. A cultural resources representative will be available at the Fort Knox visitors center to provide cemetery and access point information.
Hardin County Schools has announced this year’s recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes five HCS alums who have excelled in their chosen profession or made outstanding contributions to their communities.
The 2024 class of recipients are Central Hardin class of 1994 grad Donna Preston Dennis, North Hardin class of 1985 grad Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Holt, North Hardin class of 1993 grad Lieutenant Colonel Jenohn Leshea Smith, East Hardin class of 1985 grad Gary Valentine, and North Hardin class of 1988 grad Mary (Cooper) Young.
“These five people are a true representation of how our graduates use their curricular, their co-curricular, and their extracurricular experiences to excel in their chosen career fields and in their communities,” said Hardin County Schools Community Relations Specialist John Wright.. “We look forward to honoring them next month. It’s going to be a great celebration.”
The distinguished alumni will be honored at a luncheon on September 26 at the Hardin County Schools Early College and Career Center. Contact HCS for more information.
State officials say Kentucky schools are continuing to make progress towards statewide school safety goals.
The Kentucky Office of the State School Security Marshal on Wednesday released the annual School Safety Risk Assessment Report. According to the report, 1,325 schools across the commonwealth are in compliance with the School Safety and Resiliency Act, a compliance rate of 99.81 percent.
State School Security Marshal Ben Wilcox said in the report that the number of school resource officers assigned to school campuses is 790, a 28 percent increase from last year and a 61 percent increase since House Bill 63 which requires every public school to have a SRO was signed into law.
The State School Security Marshal’s Office compiles the report based on unannounced visits to public schools. This year’s report indicates schools are complying with “mandated access control requirements regarding electronic-locking front doors, surveillance, locked classroom doors, classroom-window coverings, and a threat-assessment team.” Recommendations in the report include education of school staff on social media safety, ensuing up-to-date emergency operations plans, and ensuring training for front office staff on security measures.
Assessments for individual schools are not made public due to safety concerns. Kentuckians are encouraged to report possible threats against school safety to the STOP! Tipline at 1-866-393-6659 or online at safeschools.ky.gov.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.
The fiscal court approved a resolution to set the county’s property tax levies for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
“The recommendation is to adopt the real property tax rate at the 4 percent increase, and this results in a tax rate of 11.1 cents per $100 valuation for real property,” said Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul. “This actually ended up lowering our current real property rate and our current personal property rates of 11.3 down to 11.1 cents per $100 valuation.”
In his presentation proposing the tax levy, Taul noted the 4 percent increase keeps the county more in line with the 2024-2025 budget than the compensating rate option.
“Our 4 percent revenue, if we take that option, then we’ll end up with about $172,000 estimated that we would have above our budget, so pretty close, really, and then if we take the compensating then we would come out about the same amount under budget,” Taul said.
Taul said property tax revenue is the fiscal court’s largest funding mechanism, and said resident property taxes will largely be the same as last year.
“If you have $100,000 worth of property, our tax rate is already pretty low at 11.3 and $113 is what you would pay, and at 11.1, which is the proposed new rate, slightly lower, we save $2,” Taul said.
The Hardin County Soil Conservation District reduced its tax levy to .015 percent from the .02 percent rate last year, while the Lincoln Trail District Health Department rate saw no change at .022 percent.
In other meeting news, Hardin County Coroner Pat Elmore said his office investigated 165 cases in June and July. Hardin County Sheriff John Ward said in June and July his office made 214 arrests, issued 182 citations, served 117 warrants, and opened 34 criminal cases.
County Attorney Jenny Oldham, who Taul and several magistrates congratulated for being named by the state attorney general’s office the 2024 Outstanding County Attorney, thanked the fiscal court for expanded security funding for her office, which she said proved its worth during last Monday’s shooting in downtown Elizabethtown.
“I can’t imagine what Monday would have been like without Deputy Hawkins, who not only got us locked down but was the first one on the scene for the three victims, and so thank you for that funding,” Oldham said. “I hope it will continue. That is a day that I don’t ever want to repeat.”
The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet September 10.
(Photo Credit: Hardin County Government YouTube)
After lower temperatures were seen across the area the past few weeks, the heat appears to have returned with a force.
“It sure did rebound here in the opposite direction,” said Meteorologist Mike Kochasic with the National Weather Service in Louisville. “Strong high pressure over the area has resulted in temperatures around 10 degrees, 13 degrees above average, and near record-setting here for the next couple of days.”
Kochasic says the heat runs through the rest of the week.
“Normal high temperatures for this time of year are in the upper 80s, so when you’re pushing upper 90s to close to 100, that’s definitely well above average,” Kochasic said. “We’re looking at temperatures returning to near average, say, by the weekend. We have a cold front coming in that should bring things back down into the upper 80s.”
The heat prompted Breckinridge County Schools to cancel outdoor after school activity Tuesday. Kochasic says residents should remember to take precautions.
“Especially in direct sun,” Kochasic said. “If you can, if you’re outdoors for any length of time, make sure you take shade breaks, hydrate well, and try to find indoors where it’s cool. That’s all good to prevent heat illness.”
Kochasic also says to be mindful of pets and children, and to always check the backseat to make sure they don’t get left in a locked car.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has resources available to help hunters prepare for fall hunting seasons that are set to open in the coming weeks.
KFW says the fall dove hunting season and the early Canada goose season in the western goose zone open on September 1.
For the doves, hunters can begin searching for birds at 11 a.m. on opening day, although KFW says they will likely wait until cooler afternoon hours. Dove hunters typically look for fields with bare ground and food and water sources nearby. The state has more than 50 dove fields that are open for dove hunting.
Canada goose hunting seasons are divided into two zones. Hunting in the western zone, which includes all counties west and south of Hardin, Nelson, and Washington counties, takes place September 1 through 15. Hunting in the eastern zone, which includes Bullitt County and all counties east of Washington County, runs September 16 through 30.
Hunters looking for regulations and recommendations can check out the 2024-2025 Kentucky Hunting Guide for Migratory Birds and Waterfowl, which is available at fw.ky.gov.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for a work session Monday evening.
City Public Works Director Don Hill gave an update on projects the city’s Public Works Department has been working on. Hill said investment from the city has helped with efficiency in the Sanitary Sewer Department, which completed several installation projects.
“On the sewer construction side, they installed 985 feet of sanitary sewer line, they installed 500 feet of water line at the nature park for the orchard, we just got that completed,” Hill said. “New taps installed: 20. Main line repairs: 33. Cleanouts installed: 9.”
Hill discussed changes in the department such as bringing maintenance of the Elizabethtown City Cemetery in-house, and reviewed other stats such as city paving projects.
“To date, 4.9 miles of city streets have been paved,” Hill said. “They have the schedule and they started on that this week, and there’s 6.63 miles in this next paving schedule, but we also will issue them another one around the end of September, so our target is to get between 12 and 15 miles of paving done.”
Hill said 1,897 loads of brush have been picked up since January, 675 bags of clippings have been collected from residents, and 5,480 bags of litter have been collected along 231.6 miles of city streets. With such a burden already on brush collection equipment and employees, Hill said the department is proposing setting limits on tree removal.
“We’re not saying we want to eliminate picking up trees,” Hill said. “We’re not saying we want to eliminate contractor-cut trees, but what we’re saying is because of the dollars, because of the lead time on parts and the difficulty of getting parts, because of the lead time on buying new equipment, we’re proposing, up for discussion is we’d like to reduce the size of what we pick up and kind of limit that.”
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory supported Hill’s call for limits. He said brush collection is an important service the city provides but he feels some people may be taking advantage of it.
“I would even be willing to bet that some of those contractors figure in, on their bill, removal, and use us as a service to do it, and so they’re making money off of what our services provide, and it’s absolutely destroying a lot of our equipment on the pieces that you’re talking about that are extremely large, so we have to set a standard somewhere,” Gregory said.
The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet September 3.
Time is still available for area residents in need of assistance paying their electric bill to apply for help.
“The LIHEAP program is a program that helps right now with the electric,” said Hardin County Community Action Coordinator Julie Arney. “You cannot be disconnected. You have to be current, and we can help people that need assistance. It goes until September 13. Right now, that’s what we have money that we can provide assistance for.”
Assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis by contacting your local Community Action office. Arney says walk-ins are welcome.
“We’re located at 233 Ring Road inside our Kentucky Career Center, or you can call us at 502-764-2222,” Arney said. “If you call, you can make an appointment. We do see those first, but you could walk in. Our hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but we take our last client at 2 o’clock.”
Registration for the Fall LIHEAP program will open October 21 for disabled residents and residents over 60, and for other clients on November 4.
Drivers heading south on Interstate 65 this week should be aware of potential traffic due to an event in Bowling Green.
The National Corvette Museum is celebrating its 30th anniversary this weekend, and as part of the festivities the National Corvette Caravan will be arriving in Bowling Green. The museum describes the Caravan as “the world’s largest moving automotive event,” with regional caravans formed by Corvette owners from across the United States convening in Bowling Green.
With so many vintage cars heading for the area, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Three says heavy congestion should be expected in the area around the museum. Interstate 65 around Exit 28, KY 446/Interstate Drive, KY 1402/Porter Pike, and U.S. 31W and U.S. 68/Louisville Road are expected to receive the heaviest extra traffic. The heaviest points of traffic are expected from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, but the event runs through the weekend.
Motorists are encouraged to avoid the high-traffic areas if possible Wednesday. Law enforcement and KYTC personnel are planning on increasing their presence in the area.
Bullitt County residents and drivers are invited to an upcoming meeting to discuss preliminary design plans for improvements along Kentucky Route 44.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Three will host the meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10 at Mount Washington Elementary School. Visitors to the open house-style meeting may drop in any time to review preliminary design plans, get handouts on project information, ask KYTC officials and project engineers questions, and fill out comment sheets.
The KYTC says the goal of the project is to improve safety and accessibility along KY 44 from Water Street to U.S. 31E. Design alternatives being discussed include “reconfiguring KY 44 to five lanes with a center lane, four lanes with a raised median, or converting the U.S. 31E intersection to a median u-turn crossing to improve signal times and traffic flow.”
An online survey will be posted after the public meeting for anybody unable to attend. Contact KYTC District Three for more information.
Unemployment rates across the Lincoln Trail District saw slight increases in July 2024.
The Kentucky Center for Labor Statistics says unemployment rates in July 2024 increased in 119 Kentucky counties and decreased in one.
The state average for unemployment for July was reported at 5.3 percent, up slightly from the 5.0 percent rate reported in June and from the 4.6 percent rate reported in July 2023. Five counties in the Lincoln Trail District had rates higher than the state average and three counties had rates lower than the state average.
Hardin County’s unemployment rate for July 2024 was reported at 5.4 percent. Hardin’s rate also shows a slight increase, going from 5.0 percent in June and 4.4 percent in July 2023.
Meade County had the highest unemployment rate in the district for July at 6.2 percent, while Washington County had the lowest at 4.2 percent.
More information on how the unemployment rate is calculated and more data is available at kystats.ky.gov.
The Hardin County Animal Shelter is reminding area pet owners to mark their calendars for their largest annual vaccination clinic.
“Our once a year, great big rabies clinic is coming up Saturday, September 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. out at the Hardin County Fairgrounds’s main pavilion,” said Hardin County Animal Care and Control Director Mike McNutt.
McNutt says the annual rabies clinic is the safest and easiest way to get these services for your cat or dog.
“It’s right after the new licenses go,” McNutt said. “It gives you the rest of the year before you have to worry about it again, so it is the main rabies clinic for Hardin County.”
Only cash or check payments will be accepted and animals must be at least 12 weeks old.
“You can get a rabies vaccination for a dog or a cat for $13.78,” McNutt said. “The Distemper Parvo vaccine will be $13.78 for dogs (Feline Distemper vaccines are also $13.78). Strongid, which is the dewormer we use, is $5.30. That just kills roundworms. The Bordetella vaccine will be $16.96. Microchipping will be $21.20, and of course a $15 license.”
Contact the animal shelter for more information.
Crystal Rogers investigation suspect Steven Lawson’s new attorneys made their first appearance in Nelson Circuit Court during a status hearing Thursday.
Darren Wolff and Zach Buckler were appointed to represent Lawson by Nelson County’s Department of Public Advocacy after Lawson fired his previous attorney Ted Lavit.
Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III said he wants the trial to begin on its scheduled date in February 2025, noting that three people are currently waiting in jail for the trial to begin, but Wolff and Buckler said they feel that is unlikely as they need to review the existing discovery in the case, which includes more than 2 terabytes of information.
Wolff and Buckler requested 45 days to review the case files before making any assessment of the scheduled trial date. Judge Simms scheduled a status hearing for October 4.
Area residents and organizations are invited to review the Lincoln Trail District Health Department’s 2024-2026 Community Health Improvement Plan.
Health Department Public Relations Officer Melissa Phillips says the improvement plan, or CHIP, is the product of the Community Health Assessment that concluded in 2023.
“We have done focus groups, we’ve had community sessions, so this is all the way from national level data, state level data to actually talking to our citizens, boots on the ground folks, and what came to the top we dumped into two different buckets, two different areas of focus, and we called those ‘Connected Communities’ and ‘Behavioral Health and Wellness,’” Phillips said.
“Connected Communities” looks at topics such as safer environments, expanding reach of the health department’s mobile unit, pedestrian safety, and addressing adverse childhood experiences. “Behavioral Health and Wellness” looks at topics such as substance use prevention along with Tobacco Free Community and Recovery Ready Community designations.
Phillips says the health department will need community support to achieve the goals laid out in the CHIP.
“We need partner agencies to buy into this,” Phillips said. “We need our citizens to buy into this, so this tool will just help our community see what the plans are and how they can help.”
Phillips says she encourages organization and business leaders as well as area residents to explore the CHIP.
“There are links to all the data that we use, and it’s broken down by county, and there’s also a resource map in there,” Philips said. “So if you’re wondering ‘where’s the prescription drop box in my community? How do I find a lactation consultant? How do I find out about affordable housing?’ get in there and explore that resource map.”
The CHIP can be found at www.ltdhd.org, and feedback can be submitted by emailing community@ltdhd.org.
The deadline is approaching for Hardin and LaRue County teachers to apply for Nolin RECC’s Be a Light Teacher Grants.
“Teachers really bear a lot of expense out of their personal funds to outfit their classroom, to provide things for their students, and this is a way for us to give back to those individuals,” said Nolin RECC Operation Round-Up Board Chair Price Smith.
30 $200 grants will be awarded. The grants are made possible by the Operation Round-Up program that is supported by co-op members.
“Operation Round-Up is a voluntary program where Nolin members can round up their electric bills to the next highest dollar,” Smith said. “Those funds are aggregated together and given out in the form of impact grants in the year.”
Nolin RECC says more than $400,000 has been awarded in Operation Round-Up grants since 2006. The application deadline for the Be a Light Teacher Grants is August 31. Find the application at www.nolinrecc.com.
The Hardin County Teen Court is inviting all area high school students and their parents to attend an open house and mock trial at the Hardin County Justice Center Thursday night beginning at 6:30 p.m.
“Teen Court is an arm of the Administrative Office of Courts for Juvenile Court,” said Hardin District Judge Kimberly Winkenhofer Schumate. “We train local high school students, freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors to be the attorneys, the bailiffs, the clerks and the jury in the sentencing phase of actual juvenile cases.”
While Thursday night’s event will show a demonstration, actual Teen Court proceedings are real cases with individuals facing delinquent charges.
“Traditionally, Juvenile Court has no jury of your peers, but in Teen Court, you can actually have the opportunity to have other teens decide what are consequences, and how can you learn from those mistakes and be able to grow and move forward,” Judge Schumate said.
Judge Schumate says all area students willing to put in the required time are welcome.
“Teen Court is a chance for students from all of our area high schools, both public and private, and homeschool students to gather together, and we generally train about 100 local area students, and it’s just an opportunity to do something that you may not have ever had a chance to do before,” Judge Schumate said.
Interested students unable to attend the open house may also sign up at the first Teen Court training session, which will also be held at the justice center on September 5. Contact Judge Schumate’s office at 270-766-5004 for more information.
The United Way of Central Kentucky will be hosting their Skydive for Change event at the Elizabethtown Regional Airport from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Skydivers were required to raise $1,500 in order to participate. United Way of Central Kentucky Director of Development Andrea Hill says that participants have come from all over.
“We have business owners, small businesses here,” Hill said. “We have Brian Smith, our county clerk, and his wife, Brianne Smith. You know, she works for us, and Brianne is actually committed to do that because it meant that other women would sign up.”
All funds raised support the United Way’s Good Neighbor Program, which helps at-risk community members stay in their homes by organizing home renovation projects.
“The first project we’re doing, we need to raise at least $5,000, which we have,” Hill said. “We have a woman that is in need of a bathroom repair. It’s her only bathroom in her home and the floor is about to cave in.”
The link to donate to the event can be found on the United Way of Central Kentucky Facebook page.
The Elizabethtown Lions Club invites you to their annual chicken barbecue coming up this Saturday.
“We give you half a chicken and two sides for $10,” said E-Town Lions Club PResident Willie Oden. “That’s a great meal. It’ll be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Elizabethtown High School. Actually, it’ll be right after the Heartland Parade, which would make a great thing for lunch.”
Funds raised support the Lions Club’s mission of supporting the community.
“100 percent of what we raise when we do our events and projects comes back to the community,” Oden said. “100 percent of it. We keep nothing. We donate it right back into the community.”
While tickets are available from Lions Club members, walk-ins will also be accepted. Meals are available for dine in, drive-thru, and carry out.
The Hardin County Coroner’s Office has announced the hiring of Justin Blair, who will serve as the county’s new rapid response officer.
Hardin County Coroner Pat Elmore says the rapid response officer will be leading efforts to connect with and assist overdose survivors.
“So anytime there is an overdose that is survived, they will be making a response,” Elmore said. “We’re in the early stages of building a team to make responses to offer assistance. It will be anywhere from offering to take them to rehab services, any type of services they may need to help them in their recovery.”
Elmore said Blair has an extensive background for the job.
“Justin brings an extensive amount of experience in counseling and building a team as far as helping people to do their recovery and so forth, so he has an extensive history and extensive experience with it,” Elmore said.
Lincoln Trail District Health Department Social and Community Services Manager Jennifer Osborne says a rapid response team was identified as a missing element by the coroner’s office’s Overdose Fatality Review Team, and when Hardin County applied for Recovery Ready Community status with the state.
“That was one of the recommendations, along with the development of a recovery community center, and also the passage of the ability to operate a syringe service program within the county,” Osborne said.
Area residents looking for recovery resources can go online to www.findhelpnowky.org or contact the KY Help Call Center at 1-833-859-4357.
The Vine Grove Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a suspect.
The Vine Grove PD is asking residents in the area of Valley View Drive to review their surveillance or doorbell cameras between 3:45 and 5:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Officers are looking for footage of a black male believed to be between 16 and 25 years of age, between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, and weighing about 165 pounds, wearing all black with no shoes on and possibly wearing a black mask.
The suspect is wanted in connection with an attempted armed robbery that occurred at approximately 4:45 p.m. Tuesday. Police will post additional information and photos when available.
Contact the Vine Grove Police Department via 270-877-2262 or via Facebook Messenger for more information.
The Radcliff City Council met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.
The council approved on second reading an ordinance that approves the operation of medical cannabis facilities in the city, as outlined by a Kentucky law that went into effect this year.
“The cannabis business is any entity licensed under Kentucky statutes or administrative regulations as a cultivator, dispensary, processor, producer, or safety compliance facility,” said Radcliff City Attorney Mike Pike, reading from the ordinance. “Please find the full ordinance on the website www.radcliff.org, or by contacting the Radcliff City Clerk by email at Ashley.Russo@radcliffky.gov.”
That’s Radcliff City Attorney Mike Pike reading from the ordinance. Council Member Jerry Brown said the council had weighed the good and the bad, and after speaking with a pharmacist he said he believes the good outweighs the bad.
“He said there’s all these positive things and very little downside,” Brown said. “We’ve had to do a lot of research. We talked about this. I feel like this is the right thing to do.”
The first reading was held on an ordinance that will amend the city’s budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall said the budget adjustment is standard for the end of a fiscal year.
Council Member Pamela DeRoche encouraged area businesses and organizations to sign up for the Radcliff Days Festival and parade, which is coming up on September 21.
“That starts at 4 p.m. with vendors, and then the parade at 5, so we are looking for parade entries,” DeRoche said. “We’re looking for vendors. I’ve got several vendors already lined out. We’ve got food booths.”
The Radcliff City Council will next meet September 9.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for their second meeting of the month Monday.
An ordinance approving a zoning change for 1505 North Miles Street was approved on its second reading. The zoning was changed from R-2 to R-3, which fits developments such as duplexes.
The council approved several municipal orders, including the appointment of H.Y. Davis IV to the Board of Zoning Adjustments. The council also approved a contract not to exceed $200,000 with Palmer Engineering for professional design services for the upgrading of Commerce Drive for the city’s outdoor music venue.
“These services shall include surveying, final roadway design plans, permitting, preparation of bid documents, bidding assistance, and construction administration to be completed in coordination with the design of the outdoor music venue site,” said City Attorney Ken Howard reading from the municipal order.
An order approving the acceptance of $1,250,550 from the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority was approved. The city entered into a partnership agreement with the Authority for sanitary sewer upgrades for Leitchfield Road and South Ring Road to help support development on that end of the city.
Mayor Jeff Gregory and members of the council presented a portrait and plaque recognizing former Council Member Bill Wiseman, who passed away in June, to Wiseman’s wife and children. Patricia Wiseman said the portrait was a nice honor.
“I am very emotional, so this is really hard for me, but thank you, and I don’t think I realized until he passed away how many people really did love him, so he’d appreciate it very much,” Wiseman said.
The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet August 26.
Drivers should be aware of work happening at the Interstate 65/Western Kentucky Parkway interchange happening the next two nights.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says crews will be placing a microsurface on the southbound I-65 ramps at Exit 91 to the WKP and U.S. 31W Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Work will also be taking place along the parkway between the interstate interchange and the U.S. 31W Bypass interchange.
KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie says the work is being moved to the evening to best get out of people’s way.
“We’re doing this work at night,” Jessie said. “It minimizes traffic disruption, obviously, when traffic volumes are lower on I-65 and the parkway. Folks will have to follow those detours signs closely to get to where they need to go, but just follow them. You may have to do several loops on the clover leaf interchange there, but you’ll be able to get to your destination if you’ll just follow those signs.”
Ramps will be closed and lane closures will be in place from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday Signs and message boards directing drivers to a short detour will be in place. Work is weather permitting.
Officials are investigating an area water issue.
According to a press release from Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul’s office, the Kentucky Emergency Response Team and the Kentucky Division of Water are investigating to determine the source and substance of contamination of Big Spring in the Upton area.
The judge/executive’s office says: “There is confidence that no drinking water is affected, and no public health warnings are in effect.”
Concerns about well water should be directed to the Kentucky Division of Water at 502-564-3410.
Two people are dead and another is injured following a shooting in a parking lot across from the Hardin County Justice Center Monday, and the suspect is hospitalized after a vehicle pursuit ended with him shooting himself.
The Elizabethtown Police Department said Christopher Elder is currently hospitalized in critical condition.
The Hopkinsville Police Department said in a Facebook post that their officers along with officers from the Christian County and Muhlenburg County sheriff’s offices and the Kentucky State Police pursued a male subject, identified by the EPD as Elder, after he fled the Elizabethtown area. The HPD said that at multiple times during the pursuit Elder pointed a rifle at pursuing officers. Elder then pointed the rifle at himself after pulling into a church parking lot near the intersection of Greenville and Judges Chapel roads, and after about 90 minutes of negotiations with police he shot himself in the head. Elder was transported to Vanderbilt Hospital.
Elizabethtown Police Chief Jeremy Thompsion said during a press conference that shortly before 9 a.m. Monday 911 calls came in reporting the shooting.
“We were on scene within a minute, and located three victims while we were down there, and the suspect had fled the scene, obviously armed and dangerous,” Thompson said. “We began working to find that individual. We later identified him as Christopher Elder.”
The EPD said 37-year-old Erica Riley of Elizabethtown was pronounced dead at the scene. Her mother, 71-year-old Janet Riley of Hardinsburg, died as a result of her injuries at an area hospital. A third victim is currently hospitalized in stable condition.
Thompson said Elder had been in a relationship with one of the victims, later identified as Riley.
“At no time was this a threat to anyone other than the individuals that were involved,” Thompson said. “This was a domestic-related incident. There was a hearing at the courthouse this morning stemming from previous incidents, and we believe it was isolated to the individuals that were involved.”
Thompson described the shooting as an ambush-style attack, and Elder’s vehicle had been seen waiting around the area ahead of the shooting.
The EPD is investigating the shooting, while Kentucky State Police Post 2 is investigating the pursuit and standoff.
A Hart County company was given probation and a fine for environmental violations.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky says Logsdon Valley Oil Inc., also known as Hart Petroleum, was sentenced to three years of probation and fined $100,000 for violating the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The U.S. Attorney’s office says court documents show that in 2019 Logsdon Valley Oil discharged brine water from oil and gas production into sinkholes without a permit, threatening the quality of groundwater in the area. It was noted that the company was previously convicted of violating the Safe Drinking Water Act in 2013.
A representative from the Environmental Protection Agency said sentencing companies like Logsdon Valley Oil is important in order to demonstrate to companies that the EPA and local law enforcement will take action to protect communities and local water supplies.
Information on the Safe Drinking Water Act can be found on the EPA’s website.
An Elizabethtown factory was highlighted during Governor Andy Beshear’s Team Kentucky update Thursday.
The governor congratulated LOTTE Aluminum Materials USA for beginning the hiring process to fill 122 full-time jobs at their Elizabethtown facility.
Governor Beshear said LOTTE’s commitment to Elizabethtown is a product of the state’s strong relationship with South Korea. He said LOTTE has connections across the globe that can benefit the state.
“I got to visit the company when I was in Seoul just about a month ago, and the opportunity to have such a sophisticated company open up a facility in Kentucky gives us the opportunity for growth over time,” Beshear said. “This is a big win for us, and we’re going to make sure it’s a big win for this company, and we can’t wait for the decades to come and how this partnership grows and evolves.”
LOTTE announced plans to build a $238.7 million aluminum foil manufacturing facility in Hardin County in 2022. The facility will produce cathode foil, a core material used in EV batteries.
Production Manager Germain Smith spoke during the update and said support from the state and from LOTTE’s Korean headquarters will allow employees to hit the ground running.
“We have been fortunate to have the ability to start investing in our employees from the beginning,” Smith said. “By partnering with the local community college and Kentucky Trains, this opportunity has allowed us to build custom training programs for our employees to participate in.”
Smith said partnerships with Elizabethtown Community and Technical College have also proven beneficial, including training for Korean employees on American culture and for American employees on Korean culture.
The staff at the Hodgenville Police Department are enjoying their new digs.
“The city had the opportunity to purchase the old DWE building located at 1250 Old Elizabethtown Road at the corner of KY 210 and Northridge Circle here in town,” said Hodgenville Police Chief James Richardson. “It’s a big building. We have an administrative portion of the front and a large warehouse in the back along with an impound lot area that’s fenced in next to the building.”
That’s Hodgenville Police Chief James Richardson. The new location was an opportunity for two city departments to get more space.
“It was a little bit too big for us, and a bit too big for maintenance, but together we’re going to share it, so we’re in the front and we share the back portion of the building with the Maintenance Department,” Richardson said.
Richardson said after splitting some services between the old and new locations things are just about at 100 percent at the new office.
“We moved in last week, and we’ve got everything up here,” Richardson said. “We’ve got a few more minor things to get done, some housekeeping issues. We’re constructing a little bit of this, that, and the other, but everything we need is here, so we’re actually moved into the building.”
The Hodgenville Police Department plans to host an open house at the new building once things are fully installed.
A late-summer staple in Elizabethtown will return next weekend.
“The Heartland Homecoming Parade is Saturday, August 24,” said Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles. “Step off is at 10 a.m. This will be the 41st event for the Heartland Homecoming Parade. We step off on the square and travel north on Dixie Highway, ending at St. John Road.”
The theme for this year’s parade is “Hello Hollywood.”
“We are very excited about that, and some of the floats that you will see will be showing some of the latest and greatest favorite Hollywood stars, so we’re very excited about the entries we have this year,” Pyles said. “We have over 70 entries in the parade this year.”
The entertainment theme fits in well with the selection of this year’s parade Grand Marshal Betty Marsee, the former co-president of Youth Theatre of Hardin County.
“Her name is synonymous with Youth Theatre of Hardin County, and her and her late husband led the board as a team until she retired,” Pyles said. “The impact that they’ve had on our community is immense, and we could not think of someone more fitting to be the grand marshal, especially with the theme of ‘Hello Hollywood.’”
Road closures in the area of the parade began at 7 a.m. on August 24. The parade is set to begin at 10 a.m. Visit the Events page on the City of Elizabethtown website for more information.
A man wanted by the Hodgenville Police Department since late July is in custody after a multi-week search.
Conor Creekmore had warrants out for his arrest for Trafficking a Controlled Substance within 1000 Yards of a School. Hodgenville Police Chief James Richardson said their investigation found that a work detail out on work release from the LaRue County Detention Center came to be in possession of nicotine products and methamphetamine, and the investigation found that Creekmore had driven the drugs to a drop-off outside the LaRue County Board of Education building.
“We applied for warrants and received an arrest warrant for Trafficking a Controlled Substance within 1,000 Yards of a School, and when we attempted to serve it we were unable to locate him the first time we tried, and then every subsequent attempt after that he fled prior to the officers actually making contact with him,” Richardson said.
The search for Creekmore resulted in additional arrests, including the arrest of Creekmore’s girlfriend Jessica Seabolt.
“We contacted his family and his girlfriend and explained to them again, ‘don’t be helping him or trying to find him,’” Richardson said. “They said they didn’t know anything about anything, and then we come to find out, a few minutes later, we located a phone that had been abandoned by Mr. Creekmore in the woodline and his girlfriend had contacted him with a message that the police were there and coming back into the woods and that he needed to run, and we were unable to locate him again that night, so she was subsequently arrested for Hindering.”
Creekmore was eventually tracked down with assistance from other area law enforcement Wednesday.
“On a tip, the Elizabethtown Police Department located him at an address on South Dixie Avenue Wednesday evening and took him into custody, and he was promptly brought back to LaRue County and lodged in the LaRue County Jail,” Richardson said.
Another suspect that was wanted for questioning in Creekmore’s disappearance, John C. Arnold, was located Thursday.
Unemployment in Kentucky saw a slight increase in July.
The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the state unemployment average for July was 4.7 percent. That is an increase from the 4.6 percent rate reported in June as well as from the July 2023 rate which was reported at 4.2 percent.
Kentucky’s unemployment average also came in higher in July than the national unemployment rate, which the U.S. Department of Labor reported at 4.1 percent.
State officials say the increase in the unemployment rate is due to more people entering the labor force in July rather than fewer people working. The Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet says the state’s civilian labor force, which includes people currently employed and people actively searching for work, saw an increase of just under 6,300 people from June into July, bringing the civilian labor force to about 2,054,000.
Employment in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector saw some growth, while the leisure and hospitality sector saw a slight drop. The mining, logging, and transportation sectors were mostly unchanged.
Visit the Kentucky Center for Statistics to learn more about labor market information.
Warm Blessings Executive Director Dawn Cash says the community kitchen has seen demand constantly increasing in recent years.
“Back in 2020, during the pandemic, and we never closed during the pandemic, we were open, we served approximately 26,000 meals, and it has continued to steadily rise to the point that by the end of July we are at 114,000 meals,” Cash said.
Cash reported on the status of the organization to the Elizabethtown City Council during their meeting Monday. She said part of the increase does come from Warm Blessings increasing its capacity to serve more, but the main thing they hear from meal recipients is that people cannot afford their groceries. A recent study from Feeding America showed an increase in the number of working families that are struggling with food insecurity.
Cash said the increased demand is straining the organization.
“This is not easily sustainable,” Cash said. “I don’t know how much longer we can do this. I will tell you, we’re investing more in food and services and space and utilities and all those things to the point where recently myself and our program director have gone to part-time because we can’t afford to pay us and pay for the groceries.”
Cash said there are people who have previously donated to Warm Blessings who are now coming to the kitchen for help, and the strain is seen in other services offered by the organization.
“We do community support services with referrals for people who are houseless, offer showers and laundry Monday through Friday,” Cash said. “I will tell you that those services have increased among people who do have homes. We have people coming in actually for laundry services that can’t afford to or don’t have access to laundry services right now.”
Cash said Warm Blessings is reliant on donations from others to sustain its mission, and is working on developing new revenue streams. Upcoming events include a golf scramble on August 30 and a craft fair on September 12. Visit www.warmblessings.org for more information.
Kentucky Community and Technical College System President Ryan Quarles says KCTCS is focused on making education opportunities available for everybody.
“We’ll take anybody that’s willing to spend their time and invest with us and get a better job on the outset of graduation,” Quarles said. “We’re proud of that, so my vision for KCTCS is very simple. It’s about access for all, affordability, and making sure that we are there for the workforce needs of Kentucky.”
Quarles was one of the featured speakers at the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce’s August luncheon, sharing the stage with Elizabethtown Community and Technical College President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate. Quarles said the system’s 16 colleges have been working on removing the stigma that sometimes is felt with a community college education, noting that a KCTCS degree or certification can offer a more direct career path than some four-year degrees, and financial aid opportunities are expanding.
“We can get you in in two years or less,” Qualres said. “Our CDL programs are five weeks. Ffive weeks and a brand new career. We’re going to get you in quick, and it’s affordable. If you are choosing to study one of the five high demand areas of Kentucky, it’s a free community college experience.”
Quarles said recent initiatives have included reaching a transfer agreement with the University of Kentucky and technology upgrades at campuses. He also said KCTCS is focused on expanding support services for students.
“We have students who are being raised by a generation of grandparents,” Quarles said. “We have students that unfortunately are suffering from mental health issues, broken families, unfortunate backgrounds. We need to make sure that there’s opportunity for all. It doesn’t matter. We’re all in for student success no matter who you are in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
The first day of classes for the fall semester at ECTC is August 19.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their first meeting of the month Tuesday.
Judge/Executive Keith Taul recognized Deputy Judge/Executive Vicki Meredith, who will retire from the position this Friday. Taul said Meredith agreed to come out of retirement for one year to help Taul as he took office, and she ended up staying a year and a half.
“Her background and all the projects, being a county engineer for 15 years, were invaluable to me as I was stepping into this position, so I just wanted to publicly say thank you very much Vicki for all that you’ve done,” Taul said.
Bonnie Ciresi will assume the deputy judge/executive position Monday.
Hardin County Emergency Management Director Joey Scott discussed the incidents county first responders assisted with recently. Scott also discussed the $43,000 underwater drone purchased by the Lincoln Trail Area Development District that will be housed in Hardin County.
“This thing is state of the art,” Scott said. “It actually has a grabber arm on it, so it can also be used for weapon retrieval for the sheriff’s office. It’s going to be a regional asset, so it can do water sampling. There’s just so much we can do with it.”
Hardin County Animal Care and Control Director Mike McNutt reported that the animal shelter adopted out 62 dogs, returned 24, and euthanized 9 in July. McNutt said the shelter continues to deal with capacity issues, including housing dogs related to a Radcliff court case.
“Anytime there’s a court case, animals are considered property, so we have to keep them and we have to keep them healthy, and they can’t be housed together so it takes up 15 of our available spots for big dogs,” McNutt said.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet August 27.
The American Red Cross says the country remains under an emergency blood shortage, with the national supply having fallen by more than 25 percent since July 1.
“The American Red Cross continues to stress that blood and platelets are critically needed right now to help support life-saving transfusions,” said American Red Cross Account Manager Tammy Ritchie. “Donors of all blood types are in demand, especially those with type O, and donors giving platelets.”
Several opportunities to donate are available, including this Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pritchard Community Center. Donors will be rewarded.
“The Red Cross is actually offering an incentive to all donors who come out and donate a $20 Amazon gift card as a way of saying thank you, but also to replenish the shelves that are in such desperate need of products,” Ritchie said.
The Red Cross says heat advisories combined with typical summer disruptions resulted in a shortfall of more than 19,000 donations in July. Learn more and schedule an appointment by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visiting www.redcrossblood.org, or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.
Today is the first day of classes at Elizabethtown Independent Schools.
“We’re really excited about the beginning of the school year,” said EIS Superintendent Paul Mullins. “Our teachers have been receiving some professional development, getting their classrooms ready, and our maintenance crew and our custodial staff have done a wonderful job this summer getting the school buildings ready to receive students, and we’re just looking forward to the beginning of the school year.”
Mullins said the first day is particularly special for him as he didn’t come aboard as superintendent last school year until classes were already under way.
“I didn’t get here last year until September, so I’m really excited to be here as the school year starts to see the schools and to meet all the students and parents, and this is when the excitement builds and we just get so excited and ready for students to walk through the doors and schools to get started,” Mullins said.
Mullins encourages any parents with questions or concerns to reach out to their child’s school, and said the district is ready for any first day challenges.
“We always ask for patience and grace as the school year begins,” Mullins said. “There’s always a few things you have to work through, and we’re so glad to have the Elizabethtown Independent School family. Panther Nation is one big family, and we will work together and get through anything, any bumps that we may come across, but as always it’s a great day to be an E-Town Panther.”
Visit Elizabethtown Independent Schools on their website or follow their Facebook page for information and updates.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for a work session Monday.
City Administrator Ed Poppe asked the council for direction the city would like to take on downtown parking. Poppe said the city has made many attempts over the years to address concerns with parking at and around the public square, and noted that currently no enforcement mechanism is in place.
“We’ve had parking meters, we’ve taken parking meters off, we’ve put parking meters back, we’ve taken them off, we’ve limited parking around the square, we’ve limited parking on some of the side streets, so every option I think that has been explored has been explored in the past,” Poppe said.
Poppe said Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory attended a meeting of the Historic Downtown Elizabethtown Business Association and discussed parking concerns with several business owners. That Cute Little Shop Manager Kristin Kendall said parking on the square should be extended to longer than the current one hour limit, but currently the limits are being ignored.
“Just outside of our shop, there are four vehicles every single day that park there,” Kendall said. “It’s the same people from attorney’s offices that we have asked multiple times. We’ve called the cops to come and ask them to move and they just say ‘I’m too lazy and I don’t want to move.’”
City Council Member Marty Fulkerson said parking has been an ongoing conversation for as long as he has been on council. He said ahead of decisions on enforcement policy, the city should first address what is currently in place.
“First of all, we’ve got to get the signage,” Fulkerson said. “Either signage or or signage, because that’s like having an ordinance on the book and not enforcing it, so we need to get rid of that, clean that up, and second of all, can we not address these issues directly? I mean, we try to fix something, and if these people are violating it, they’re still going to violate it if we don’t have a conversation with them.”
Gregory said parking options will be included in the city’s upcoming Downtown Comprehensive Plan, and more conversation will be had.
Also meeting Monday was the Radcliff City Council, which met for a called meeting to go into closed session on which no official action was taken, and for a work session to discuss an upcoming budget amendment ordinance which Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall said was the standard amendment following the end of a fiscal year. Radcliff CFO Chance Fox said only small adjustments in Parks and Recreation and Economic Development were necessary, but based on their department budgets it looks more significant.
“When planning has the smallest budget and you make increases, it tends to reflect more easily, so really the total of the two is about $133,000 and you’re looking at an $18.4 million budget, so if you do the math it’s a very small percentage,” Fox said.
The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet August 19, and the Radcliff City Council will next meet August 20.
CASA of the Heartland will be taking over for the dissolved Tri-County CASA organization and expanding to cover Breckinridge, Grayson, and Meade counties.
“I think the biggest thing for us was just seeing that there was a potential for children to go unserved in terms of having court-appointed special advocates, and we definitely did not want to see that happen, so we saw a need and decided that it would be in our best interest and the best interest of the children in our surrounding communities if we stepped up and expanded our service area to now be serving a five county region,” said CASA of the Heartland Executive Director Michelle Kail.
The organization, which focuses on recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers that act as court-appointed special advocates for area children navigating foster care and family court, will need support from more volunteers.
“The biggest challenge I would say is making sure that we have the people power in terms of volunteers to continue to support Hardin County and LaRue County, while also adding Meade, Breckinridge, and Grayson counties,” Kail said.
Learn more about how you can support CASA of the Heartland, or about how to become a CASA volunteer, at www.casaheartland.org or by calling 270-982-2274.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is hosting a public meeting Tuesday night to discuss congestion and safety within the U.S. 62 interstate interchange corridor.
The meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau, located at 1030 North Mulberry Street.
“With continued growth of the area, more traffic, more congestion, this public meeting is going to feature some ideas, alternatives to offset that, and we know it’s only going to increase,” said KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie. “We have to plan now, trying to stay ahead of that curve, and again we’re going to present some ideas for intersections and just the corridor as a whole out on the interstate end of U.S. 62 for improvements.”
The meeting will be an open-house format with no formal presentation. Residents can stop by any time to review displays, ask questions, and discuss the design alternatives with officials. In addition to feedback on alternatives, the KYTC says they want to hear from anyone with pedestrian or bike usage input regarding the U.S. 62 underpass at the railroad tracks between Ring Road and the interchange.
More information on the project and a survey link for anybody that is unable to attend the meeting in person can be found at www.Drive62.com.
Area officials were on hand at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Friday as State Senator Matt Deneen presented ECTC President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate with the $44 million that was allocated to the college by the Kentucky General Assembly for phase two of renovations of ECTC’s Occupational Technical Building.
Pate said the renovations are not only important for keeping up with developing technology, but also for providing the best experience for both students and staff.
“Knowing what we have with our ECTC family here in this building, and knowing that the equipment, the technologies are cutting edge and up to date, but that these faculty and staff who work in this building are the best, absolutely the best at what they do, and to now be able to provide them a home that will reflect that,” Pate said.
Students attending classes in the OTB receive education and training for a wide range of careers involving speciality degrees and licenses. Pate said the only thing holding the college back to this point has been infrastructure.
“They put many round pegs into a lot of square holes to make this training work, and they’re not going to have to do that anymore, and the investment from this legislature will not only allow us to truly reach our potential as a training provider, but I think will allow us a much better path of recruiting future workforce into this field,” Pate said.
Deneen talked about how ECTC played a role in his own education, and said ensuring quality opportunities in education is critical.
“What we’re doing here, the changes and the upgrades, it will change lives,” Deneen said. “It will change generations. It will move people from poverty to success, And it’s all at the hands of you, the staff and the instructors.”
ECTC previously received about $15 million for work on the OTB. More information on development at the college can be found in the master plan available on ECTC’s website.
The Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office is highlighting the success of expanding the state’s Safe at Home Program.
Secretary of State Michael Adams says since the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation at his request to expand the commonwealth’s Address Confidentiality Program, use in the program increased by 460 percent in the first year.
“We know that government is supposed to be transparent, and it should be, but we can’t allow abusers to use the transparency of government to stalk and harass and further abuse their victims,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith.
Smith said the program is an added layer of protection for victims of abuse.
“It provides them an opportunity to hide their residency from public view on documents up to and including their voting record, and so someone would be able to register to vote here in Hardin County but we would obscure their address from any potential abuser who would use Kentucky’s open record laws to try and track that person down,” Smith said.
The expansion of the program also allowed for expanded interstate reciprocity, meaning neighboring states also help to mask records.
“I certainly agree with Secretary Adams that protecting abuse victims is worthwhile,” Smith said. “It’s worth the effort. His staff has put a lot of time and effort into this. He put a lot of passion behind it, and I applaud him for that.”
Victims can apply for the Safe at Home Program on the Secretary of State’s website.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s draft of the federally-required Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan is available for public view, and will be open for comments later this week.
The KYTC will allow for public inspection and comment on the plan for 30 days from August 15 through September 14. Any individual, agency, or organization may provide comments.
The plan includes all federally-funded projects scheduled for fiscal years 2025 through 2028, including all of the federally-funded and scheduled projects in the 2024 State Highway Plan that was enacted by the Kentucky General Assembly and Governor Andy Beshear. The plan contains links to Kentucky’s nine Metropolitan Planning Organizations, including Radcliff-Elizabethtown.
All residents of Kentucky who use the state’s roadways are invited to provide feedback. The draft plan can be found at transportation.KY.gov, and is available at each of the 12 KYTC district offices, including District Four in Elizabethtown.
Feeding America says the latest data from their Map the Meal Gap study shows that more than 176,000 people in Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland’s 42-county service area are struggling with food insecurity, an increase of more than 35,000 people from last year.
“In Hardin County alone, we have over 15,000 individuals, including children, that are food insecure,” said FAKH Marketing and Communications Manager Kaitlyn Jackson. “For the number of individuals, Hardin County ranks among the top five in the state of Kentucky for food insecure individuals, both as overall numbers but also for kids specifically.”
The USDA defines food insecurity as “the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.” Food insecurity is a struggle that is not always visible, and Jackson says 30 percent of food insecure individuals in Hardin County make more money than is permitted for SNAP or other government assistance.
“They’re working,” Jackson said. “They’re trying to better their families, and yet there is a problem putting food on the table, whether that’s having to choose to pay for utilities, having to choose to pay for transportation, the roof over your head, all of these other issues that then leave food the last thing you put your paycheck towards. It is an ongoing issue.”
The impact of food insecurity goes beyond hunger.
“It is a barrier to living an active and healthy life for so many people, and it can be related to a lot of critical public health issues such as depression, high blood pressure, and cardiac issues,” Jackson said. “As individuals, especially children, grow up in food insecure environments, they can deal with a lot of consequences from those environments as they get older.”
Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland and their partner organizations continue to focus on addressing issues with food insecurity despite reduced funding and resources. Visit their website to learn more about volunteer and donation opportunities, and visit Feeding America’s website for more information on the Map the Meal Gap study.
The Kentucky Association of School Administrators will be led by an area superintendent.
Bullitt County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jesse Bacon was selected by the KASA as its new president during the association’s annual meeting on July 26. Bacon has been a member of the KASA since 2008 and has served as the head of Bullitt County Schools since 2018.
The association says as president Bacon will “guide the board of directors in advocating for critical legislation aimed at sustaining the education profession.” Leadership will focus on securing competitive salaries, benefits, and support systems for educators while ensuring quality education for the more than 640,000 students in the commonwealth as they advance legislative priorities with the 2025 Kentucky General Assembly.
Joining Bacon as KASA officers will be Meade County Schools Assistant Superintendent Marc Adams, who will serve as vice president, and Breckinridge County Schools Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter, who will serve as immediate past president.
Learn more about the Kentucky Association of School Administrators at www.kasa.org.
A hearing in Nelson Circuit Court Thursday that was supposed to involve Crystal Rogers investigation suspect Steven Lawson giving an answer on whether or not he was waving evidentiary protection ended with Lawson dismissing his attorney.
Judge Charles Simms III called the hearing to order and was calling on defense attorney Ted Lavit to discuss his motion filed Wednesday not to waive the protection, which would mean the prosecution could not use footage of Lawson’s interviews with police. Lawson then raised his hand and asked to speak to the judge, and after Simms cautioned that anything he said was being recorded into record Lawson said he did not believe Lavit was properly representing him and wanted a new attorney.
Special Prosecutor Teresa Young said she supported Lawson’s request because the prosecution had “serious concerns about whether Mr. Lawson has had conflict-free counsel in his representation.” Young said on August 4 Lawson said in a call from jail that he had fired Lavit because he said the attorney had a meeting with attorneys for Brooks Houck “behind his back,” so the prosecution was surprised Lavit made another motion in the case when they were expecting him to withdraw. Young also said the prosecution has noticed peculiarities dating back to March in the similarities of Lawson and Houck’s filings with the court including quotes, misquotes, and paraphrasing. Young said “I don’t know what’s going on here, but I know that it’s something that I think the court needs to inquire about. It’s disturbing.”
Lavit said he was never personally told that he had been dismissed, and said “I have done my best at this point in time without any conflict whatsoever concerning my client, and I believe Mr. Lawson has been aware of what I’ve been doing on his behalf since he engaged.”
Lawson said he could not afford an attorney at this time, and Simms ordered for a public defender to be appointed within the next two weeks. Lavit said he would turn over his file to the new attorney.
Pet Supplies Plus in Elizabethtown is once again raising support for the Hardin County Animal Shelter.
“Science Diet is again sponsoring a contest where the top 10 shelters in the country with the most monetary donations will win 500 pounds of Science Diet pet food,” said Pet Supplies Plus co-owner Renee Otjen. “We won it last year for the shelter and we’re hoping that we can win it again.”
All funds raised from customers as they check out will benefit the shelter.
“As they’re checking out, customers just let the cashier know that they’d like to make a monetary donation to the shelter and they will include it with their purchase, and it’s as simple as that,” Otjen said. “At the end of the month, we’ll be giving all those monetary donations in the form of a Pet Supplies Plus gift card to the shelter for them to use.”
Otjen says Pet Supplies Plus‘s support for the animal shelter is part of the store’s efforts to support animal adoption in the area.
“We partner with the Hardin County Animal Shelter,” Otjen said. “We always have a cat that we’re fostering for them for adoption, and then in addition to having them come monthly with dogs for adoption from the shelter we also partner with the Bun Bun Brigade rabbit rescue, we partner with the Hardin County Community Cat Rescue, and then Forever Homes for PAWS also holds adoption events.”
The fundraiser runs through August 31.
The public is invited to the grand opening of A Plus Family Healthcare’s new Elizabethtown office Friday.
“Our grand opening will be this Friday, August 9 at our Dolphin Hills location right here in Elizabethtown from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” said A Plus Family Healthcare Marketing Director Meighan Cable. “We’ll have our Chamber of Commerce friends there, friends from the KPCA and all of our A Plus locations, and it is open to the public. We would love to give people tours of our new facility so that they can feel comfortable as new patients and welcome us into Elizabethtown.”
The new A Plus clinic took on the clients from the Community Health Clinic as well as the Dolphin Health Family Practice. Cable says A Plus is focused on serving those patients and reaching out to new ones.
“We’re seeing so many new patients as well, on top of those two merger companies coming over to us, and it’s really been an incredible sight to see the people from Hardin County getting that quality and affordable healthcare from us,” Cable said.
Cable says A Plus Family Healthcare offers an affordable general family practice for all ages “from birth all the way to your grave.”
“When it comes to our affordability, we do have our sliding fee scale, which is based off of the federal poverty guidelines., and so we’re able to make sure that we take care of the constituents of Harding County as well as Brownville and Sonora, where our two other locations are,” Cable said.
The Elizabethtown clinic is located at 3046 Dolphin Drive. Find A Plus Family Healthcare on Facebook or the web for more information.
Steven Lawson and Joseph Lawson are scheduled to make appearances in court Thursday, with Steven Lawson’s attorney submitting an additional filing ahead of the hearing.
The Lawsons and their attorneys will appear before Nelson Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III for a status hearing regarding separate trials for the Lawsons and fellow suspect Brooks Houck.
Special Prosecutor Shane Young filed a motion to join the trials of the three suspects in order to best present the argument to the jury that the three worked together to cover up crimes committed in the disappearance of Crystal Rogers. Attorneys for Houck objected to the motion to join as they say it would take away Houck’s ability to cross-examine Steven Lawson, and they say Lawson’s testimony was given in exchange for a promise of immunity.
At a previous hearing, Judge Simms said prior to ruling on the motion to join he wanted to know if Steven Lawson planned to waive evidentiary protection, which would allow the prosecution to include Lawson’s statements made during police interviews in the trial. In a response filed Wednesday, Lawson’s attorney Ted Lavit questions the need for Lawson to make a decision on waiving the protection this far ahead of trial and asks the judge to postpone the request. Lavit says if the judge wants an answer now, Lawson is not willing to waive the protection at this time.
Thursday’s hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Nelson Circuit Court.
As area schools begin the 2024-2025 school year, area drivers are reminded to help keep area kids safe.
“I just wanted to offer a friendly reminder that additional traffic should be expected on our roadways as local students are returning to the classroom,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “Please be especially vigilant for increased pedestrian traffic around schools and bus stops. Additionally, be mindful of crosswalks and yield to the students that occupy them. It should go without saying, but remember when a school bus has a stop arm extended, you must stop. I hope students and staff alike have a wonderful start to the school year.”
Additionally, parents should be mindful of the information they make available on social media. A popular trend is to have a student hold a chalkboard with details about the upcoming school year. Parents are advised to keep the information vague and avoid specifics about the child’s location when making such posts.
The American Red Cross says urgent action is needed as the nation deals with an ongoing blood shortage.
According to the Red Cross, the national blood supply has fallen by more than 25 percent since July 1. The Red Cross says nearly 50 percent of Americans in July experienced heat alerts, which hurt blood donation numbers.
Heat alerts discouraging blood drive turnout, combined with traditional summer blood drive obstacles such as travel and summer vacation, contributed to a shortfall of more than 19,000 expected donations. The July shortfall compounds a blood supply that was already struggling to keep up at the start of the summer.
The Red Cross says blood products are being sent to hospitals faster than donations are coming in, with Type O inventory so low distributions have been reduced to below what hospitals depend on.
You can help fight the blood shortage by organizing a blood drive in your community. All donors through the end of August will receive a $20 Amazon.com e-gift card as a thank you for donating, and any blood drive organizer that hits their patient commitment will receive a $100 gift card.
Blood drives are being hosted across the Quicksie and The Wolf listening areas. Download the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visit www.redcrossblood.org, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to schedule an appointment near you.
It’s the first day of classes for several area school districts, including Hardin County Schools.
“We are tremendously excited to welcome our more than 14,000 students into our school buildings this year,” said HCS Community Relations Specialist John Wright. “It’s going to be a fun year, a year full of opportunities for our students to excel at every level – elementary and preschool through middle school to high school. Our students will receive lots of dual credit hours, they’ll receive extracurricular opportunities, and opportunities to learn in new and exciting ways.”
The district is encouraging students to be a #HCSDifferenceMaker, based on the five competencies in the district’s portrait of a learner.
“We look at things like being a responsible citizen, a personal champion, an engaged learner, an effective communicator, and an active collaborator,” Wright said. “Those are the things that we are really focusing on for our students this year, and really hoping that they understand it. It takes all those things, all those competencies, to succeed not only in school, but in life.”
Wright says the ultimate goal is to help students succeed.
“We want our students to be the best they can be when they walk across that graduation stage at the end of their senior year,” Wright said.
Follow Hardin County Schools on Facebook for information and updates.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is looking to help students hit the ground running for the Fall 2024 semester with their Express Enrollment Days.
“Express Enrollment will take place at ECTC on August 12 and 13 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and then we’ll be back August 14 and 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” said ECTC Director of Marketing and Public Relations Sarah Berkshire.
Multiple options are available for incoming students.
“We have in-person or virtual appointments available,” Berkshire said. “We are welcoming walk-ins, but it is preferred that you sign up for those in advance. It’s very simple to do. You can just head over to ectc.us/express-enrollment and get signed up.”
Express Enrollment is a one-stop-shop for students, beginning with scheduling classes for the semester.
“Fall classes start August 19 and October 21,” Berkshire said. “We’ve got the two eight-week sessions, so you can pick your classes for both of those. You can also get any questions answered about financial aid or your starting class, getting acquainted on campus. We can take care of all of that Express Enrollment.”
Students do not have to wait for Express Enrollment to get started on registering for the Fall semester. Students are welcome to schedule appointments with an academic advisor, and walk-ins are welcome.
The City of Elizabethtown August Lawn Party at the Lake event will be happening Wednesday evening.
The August event, which is part of a summer-long series hosted by the city, will get under way at the bandstand at Freeman Lake Park at 6:30 p.m.
This month’s concert will feature the Northern Kentucky-based Kentucky Symphony Orchestra’s 10-piece subsidiary group the Devou-Doo Daddies. Their performance is titled “Get Movin’ (Feet Don’t Fail Me Now) Millennial Versus Gen Z Swing.” The orchestra says 1990s swing revival takes on 2020s hip-hop infused swing during the show.
Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles says each Lawn Party event offers food vendors, and while outside alcohol is not permitted alcoholic beverages will be on sale at the lake.
“The concert series is totally free and family friendly,” Pyles said. “The gates will open at 5.30 p.m. and the acts will take the stage around 6.30, so it gives you a little bit of time to come in and get seated. It is festival style seating, so we ask that people bring lawn chairs, you can bring blankets. We will have picnic tables, but it’s very, very casual.”
Pyles said the first year for the concert series was a successful one, and in 2024 there’s nowhere to go but up.
“We had such a wonderful turnout last year after we got through the rain, but we’re very, very excited,” Pyles said. “The bandstand at Freeman Lake is such a beautiful fixture in our community. If you haven’t been out to see it, it is the perfect place to relax after a hard day, and we’re really excited.”
Follow the Elizabethtown City Events Facebook page for more information and updates.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for their first meeting of the month Monday.
The council approved on second reading an ordinance that approves general obligation bonds for city projects.
“This ordinance authorizes the issuance of, not to exceed, $11 million of the city’s general obligation bonds,” said City Attorney Ken Howard, reading from the ordinance. “This will be series 2024, to be issued for the purpose of financing the acquisition, construction, and equipment of a new fire station, a police station expansion, and other public projects.”
The term of the bond repayment is not to exceed 25 years.
The council approved a contract with Congleton-Hacker company of Lexington for construction management services on the outdoor music venue the city is constructing on Commerce Drive in partnership with the Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau. City Administrator Ed Poppe said this contract concerns pre-construction services only.
“We will use this construction management firm to work with the design firm and evaluate their design and say ‘Wait a minute, if you used a concrete wall instead of a block wall, you could save this kind of money. You could do these kinds of things.’ And then they will work through the design,” Poppe said.
The council also approved a contract with engineering firm Kimley-Horn for development of a sewer design plan for the Commerce Drive extension in the area of the outdoor music venue. Poppe said the plan is for the project’s design team to give an update to the council sometime in September.
In other meeting news, the council approved a resolution that supports renaming an area highway in memory of former Elizabethtown police officer Billy Edwards and his wife Kathy, who were killed in a motorcycle collision on July 14.
E-Town Fire Chief Mark Malone, Mayor Jeff Gregory, and Human Resources Manager Barbara Jones were each presented with the Kentucky National Guard’s Service Member Patriot Award, which recognizes an employer’s support of an employee that is serving in the Guard. Elizabethtown firefighter and Sergeant Major Seth Carter nominated the three as a way of showing his appreciation.
“The firefighters took care of my wife, the Army took care of my wife, made sure my kids were okay, all that good stuff, and I felt like it was something that needs to be bestowed upon our great city,” Carter said. “Just like the mayor said, I believe that this is the greatest city, and I believe that the Kentucky Army National Guard and the fire department, they’re two parts of my fabric. They are weaved inside of me and make me who I am.”
The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet August 12.
Breckinridge County Schools Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter says it is good to be back.
“We just finished up a terrific opening day in the school district for all staff,” Carter said. “We started the morning out, the entire district, we had breakfast at Breckinridge County High School and had some welcoming activities, and it’s been a great day.”
The district has a professional development day on the calendar Tuesday, then will welcome students back to school on Wednesday. Carter says as the school year gets under way be sure to look out for kids coming to and from school.
“Those yellow buses will be moving throughout Breckinridge County on Wednesday, so I just want to call that to everyone’s attention,” Carter said. “Through the summer months, as drivers we get a little bit used to those buses not being on the roads as much, and starting on Wednesday those buses will be on the roads every morning and every afternoon, Monday through Friday, so I just want to caution everyone to be patient and use some caution whenever they’re around them.”
Carter says he is excited to see BCS families continue to progress from the setbacks in education that were seen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was really hard on students and families, and teachers and staff in our districts and our schools, and so every year past the pandemic is another great year as we’re continuing to address learning loss and address social and emotional needs, and so I’m just really excited about starting another year post-pandemic and continuing that great work,” Carter said.
For more information on the new school year, visit Breckinridge County Schools on the web or via their Facebook page.
The Elizabethtown Police Department is inviting area residents to get a behind the scenes look at law enforcement with their Citizens Police Academy.
“Our next session of the Citizens Police Academy will begin on September 3,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “This is an eight week program that will meet on Tuesday evenings beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the police department.”
The academy covers multiple topics.
“Attendees will have an opportunity to get an inside look at all of our specialized units such as narcotics, canines, and collision reconstruction, plus hear presentations from our criminal justice partners like judges and prosecutors,” Denham said.
Participants must be 18 years of age or older
“To sign up, contact me, Chris Denham, by calling 270-765-4125 or by email at chris.denham@elizabethtownky.gov,” Denham said.
The application for the Citizens Police Academy can also be found on the EPD’s website.
The Kentucky State Police will be participating in a federal enforcement effort over the next few days.
The KSP’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement division will be participating in Operation SafeDRIVE Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration enforcement campaign targets unsafe driving behavior that often leads to passenger and commercial vehicle crashes.
Operation SafeDRIVE focuses on dangerous driving practices such as aggressive driving, speeding, tailgating, failing to wear a seatbelt, distracted driving, and driving under the influence. Scale facilities will be open on Kentucky interstates to ensure commercial drivers are in compliance with federal and state regulations.
The KSP encourages drivers to maintain good driving habits on the roadway to assist commercial vehicle drivers. Stay out of the blind spots of large trucks, pass safely, don’t cut off large vehicles, and avoid tailgating.
Operation SafeDRIVE is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Our Roads, Our Safety” campaign. Learn more at the USDOT website.
Voter registration in Kentucky last month saw the largest jump in new voters since 2022.
The Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office says Kentucky added 14,502 new voter registrations and removed 5,675 voters from the rolls in the month of July.
Of the voters removed from the rolls, 3,659 were for deceased voters, 817 were for convicted felons, and 494 moved to another state.
The Secretary of State’s Office says Republican registration increased by 6,221 voters in July, and independent or other registrations increased by 3,784 voters, while Democratic registrations decreased by 579 voters. Republican registrations currently make up about 46 percent of the electorate while Democratic registrations make up about 43 percent, with independent or other making up about 11 percent.
Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith says getting registered is a simple process.
“Registering to vote has never been easier,” Smith said. “The quick and easy way for most folks would be to visit govote.ky.gov. They can do that on the computer or their phone, and they can register to vote that way. They can also call or visit the county clerk’s office. The deadline to register to vote, to participate in the November election is October 7. Don’t wait until the deadline. Go ahead get it done early.”
Visit the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website for more information on voter registration stats.
Support for Elizabethtown Community and Technical College comes from many places, including one of rock music’s most legendary acts.
ECTC has once again been named to the Metallica Scholars Initiative, which was created through the band’s All Within My Hands nonprofit to support education efforts. ECTC will use the $75,000 grant to support scholarships for students in their Advanced Manufacturing Program.
“This is year five for ECTC, and we’re the only college in Kentucky to be included in the Metallica Scholars Initiative, which is grant funding that is provided for career and technical education to really make a difference for our students,” said ECTC Director of Marketing and Public Relations Sarah Berkshire.
Berkshire said the college has applied the funds to a number of programs over the last five years.
“This funding has paid for things like scholarships especially, but also it helped us develop the Wherever I May Roam Truck Driving Academy,” Berkshire said. “It’s been used to enhance what we were doing with our Army Career Skills program, and then, again, this year we’re focusing on the scholarships for Advanced Manufacturing programs.”
Berkshire says the show of support from Metallica goes beyond funding.
“It really is amazing to see a name as great as Metallica take action to support career and technical education, and to see the pride that that’s bringing our students,” Berkshire said. “Of course the scholarship funds are important, but this past year when we used these funds for scholarships, being named a Metallica Scholar it was so awesome to see that affirmation that those students can be successful.”
There’s still time to enroll in classes for the fall 2024 semester. Visit ECTC’s website or contact the admissions office for more information.
The Elizabethtown Police Department is warning residents to be wary of an ongoing social media scam.
“There’s a new scam circulating on Facebook where scammers post about free items available for pickup, enticing potential victims with attractive offers,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham.
When the victim expresses interest, the scammer claims they moved, and offers to transport the item for a small fee.
“They request the conversation continue on different apps like WhatsApp, making the transaction seem more personal and trustworthy,” Denham said. “After the victim pays for the supposed courier fee, the scammer disappears and the money and the promised items never arrive.”
Denham said the EPD strongly advises anyone who is completing transactions on social media to use extreme caution, never send money to strangers, or share any of your personal information.
“If you encounter any suspicious posts or offers, report them immediately to Facebook or whatever social media platform you’re using,” Denham said.
As with other scam attempts, never disclose personal or financial information.
A new state partnership will help with preserving important documents and records for Kentuckians.
The Commonwealth is partnering with FamilySearch in order to digitize “tens of thousands of primary records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates that are currently on microfilm reels.”
The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives along with volunteers with the Kentucky Genealogical Society will be reaching out to county clerks to notify them of the opportunity to have records digitized free of charge by FamilySearch. The county clerk offices will receive copies of the digitized records and FamilySearch will post copies to their free online database.
The KDLA says local records such as marriage licenses and land ownership records date back to each county’s establishment, resulting in some of the most continuous sources for families researching their histories. The KDLA also says the partnership with FamilySearch increases public access to the documents, which they hope will increase interest and awareness in the historic nature of these records.
Visit the KDLA on the web for more information.
The Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office is making it easier for people looking to help with the state’s elections to get involved.
Secretary of State Michael Adams announced this week the launch of a new Poll Worker Recruitment Portal, which allows volunteers to sign up and get connected with their local county clerk.
Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith says working the polls is a great show of civic duty, and the county needs a strong team come Election Day.
“We’re going to need a little over 200 poll workers,” Smith said. “We need Republicans, Democrats, and independents. The easiest way for folks to sign up is govote.ky.gov or they can call our office at 270-765-6762.”
Smith says getting started on being a poll worker is an easy process.
“Any registered voter in Hardin County qualifies to serve as a poll worker,” Smith said. “If you’ve never served before, don’t worry, we train you, and we’d love to have you. We always have, every year, a few poll workers who sort of age out. They tell us they can’t keep up with the long, long day, so we’re looking to recruit not only poll workers for this election, but for the next generation of elections.”
Poll workers must be available to attend training and work all day on Election Day. Contact your county clerk’s office for more information. The deadline to register to vote is October 7.
As Meade County Schools gears up for the new school year, the district has announced an exciting way to support its families.
The district will once again be able to offer all students free breakfast and lunch, provided through the USDA’s National School Breakfast and Lunch Program.
Meade County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Martin says taking the financial burden off families gives students a better chance at success.
“You’ve got to take care of the basic needs first,” Martin said. “You’ve got to talk about safety, make sure kids are fed, loved, and it’s difficult being a parent. It always has been, but just with the recent years and the amount of inflation that we’ve experienced across the country and here locally, it definitely is removing a cost for our families so those dollars can be best used for their son or daughter in other ways.”
Martin says the numbers show how important making meals available to all students is.
“Last year alone, during the 2023-2024 school year, we served over 1.1 million meals, and we also continue that feeding throughout the summer, and just this recent summer that we’re concluding we served almost 100,000 meals to families across all of our communities in Meade County,” Martin said.
Meade County Schools is also celebrating recognition for one of its administrators as Assistant Superintendent Marc Adams was named District Level Administrator of the Year by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators.
“He’s been in Meade County Schools for 20 years,” Martin said. “He started out as an agricultural teacher. He’s been an elementary principal or high school principal and has been at the district office for a number of years now, and it couldn’t go to a better person. Yes, he’s helped us accomplish so much for students, but he leads with his heart and he is a fixture in our community.”
The first day of classes for Meade County Schools is August 7.
Area residents will have the opportunity to provide feedback on upcoming road work in Elizabethtown.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will host a public meeting on Tuesday, August 13 to present design alternatives that will address congestion and safety within the U.S. 62 interstate interchange corridor with improvements for intersections and accommodations for pedestrians.
The meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on August 13 at the Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau, located at 1030 North Mulberry Street.
“With continued growth of the area, more traffic, more congestion, this public meeting is going to feature some ideas, alternatives to offset that, and we know it’s only going to increase,” said KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie. “We have to plan now, trying to stay ahead of that curve, and again we’re going to present some ideas for intersections and just the corridor as a whole out on the interstate end of U.S. 62 for improvements.”
The meeting will be an open-house format with no formal presentation. Residents can stop by any time to review displays, ask questions, and discuss the design alternatives with officials. Meeting accommodations can be made by reaching out to Kevin Blair at KYTC District Four (270-766-5066).
More information on the project and a survey link for anybody that wants to provide feedback but is unable to attend the meeting in person can be found at www.drive62.com.
Raft Up Nolin Lake Event Coordinator Brent Schaber says the annual Raft Up event at Nolin River Lake has turned into a strong annual fundraiser.
“Raft Up is a charity event that we host annually,” Schaber said. “We help support the local community down around the lake, covering Grayson County, Hart County, and Edmonson County, to try to help support the youth around the community.”
This year’s Raft Up event, which was held in late July, turned out to be one of the most successful editions yet.
“Our goal was set at $60,000 this year, and we’re finalizing the numbers and we should be able to hit our target number this year, $60,000,” Schaber said.
The event includes an auction and prizes for costumes and boat decorating, as well as a good time for friends and family to come together. Schaber says the funds raised at the Raft Up are able to go towards a variety of programs.
“The local sheriff’s department, they run a Behind the Badge Program,” Schaber said. “Edmonson County, they run a Christmas program. We help with the local schools. We’re branching out this year to create some more options with the amount of money we’ve raised. It keeps growing every year we’re branching out to help support more of the local communities.”
Visit the Nolin Lake Unofficial Raft Up Facebook page for more information.
A 71-year-old man is dead and another man is in jail following an alleged hit and run incident in Upton Wednesday.
“At 11:53 a.m., a 911 call was received of a vehicle versus pedestrian accident on U.S. 31W in Upton,” said Hardin County Sheriff John Ward. “Upton Volunteer Fire Department personnel were on scene first and found a 71-year-old male from Upton had been struck by a vehicle. The vehicle was no longer at the scene. The vehicle left the scene.”
The victim was tended to by EMS, however he was later pronounced dead by the Hardin County Coroner’s Office.
Deputies began investigating the incident, and through cameras available at the scene the suspect vehicle was identified and later located about two miles into Hart County on 31W, where Ward said it appeared that the driver had attempted to put the vehicle into a barn.
“Our deputies and the Hart County Sheriff’s Office approached the vehicle and found a gentleman, and he was arrested for DUI and lodged in the Hart County Jail,” Ward said. “He also has pending charges coming from out of Hardin County.”
Ward later identified the victim as 71-year-old Pete Hawk of Upton and the accused driver as Matthew Bush. The crash remains under investigation.
You can eat good food for a good cause this Saturday morning.
Kiwanis Club of Hardin County will be hosting their annual all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast Saturday, August 3 from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m.
“We have a change of venue this year,” said Kiwanis Club President Hunter Hammer. “It’s at Memorial Methodist Church at 631 North Miles Street here in E-Town. It’s all you can eat pancakes, and that does include a side of eggs and sausage and a drink of your choice.”
Tickets are $5 for kids 10 and under, and $10 for everybody ages 11 and up.
Hammer says outside of their annual gala the pancake breakfast is the club’s largest fundraising effort each year.
“The portion of the pancake breakfast this year will be going to purchase an AmTryke for a child in Hardin County, and if you’re not familiar, AmTryke are adaptable bicycles for kids who have a variety of physical disabilities,” Hammer said.
Hammer says the Kiwanis Club is proud to offer this annual event both in order to support their mission and to connect with the community.
“We have a lot of veteran pancake flippers, pancake makers,” Hammer said. “They have special aprons. They’re great at what they do. Luckily, we have a lot of local vendors and partners that donate all the items that we need, so we’re very appreciative for that, and so it’s just a great time to sit and eat breakfast with some friends and bring your family, bring your kids.”
Kiwanis Club of Hardin County focuses on supporting area children through programming and partner organizations. Learn more about Kiwanis and find more details on Saturday’s pancake breakfast by finding the Kiwanis Club of Hardin County Facebook page.
Daily lane closures will begin on Interstate 65 in Bullitt County today.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says KYTC engineers will be performing routine hands-on inspection of the I-65 bridge over Salt River near mile marker 116. The bridge deck will also be cleaned, requiring additional lane closures.
The right lane of I-65 South at the bridge will be closed from 9 to 11 a.m. today, then the northbound lane will be closed from 12 to 3 p.m. The right lane will then be closed Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and the northbound lane will be closed Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Motorists should always use caution when approaching a work zone and look for signage. Visit the KYTC on the web for more information.
A strong storm cell that blew through the area Tuesday resulted in widespread power outages and extensive restoration work for Nolin RECC crews.
Nolin RECC Communications Manager Sarah Fellows says the storm that came through did a lot of damage in a short amount of time.
“At the peak there were about 4,300 members without power, and that was really spread across our entire service territory,” Fellows said. “It wasn’t isolated in one area, and because of the widespread nature of that damage, we could see full restoration taking a couple of days, so some members may expect to be without power at least through tomorrow or longer depending on where we find the damage across our system.”
Nolin crews had reduced the number of members without power to about 1,600 by late Tuesday afternoon. You can stay updated on the outages by staying connected via the web.
“We do post updates regularly to our social media channels, especially as we get new information in from the field to be able to update our members, and we also have a real time outage map that can be found at NolinRECC.com,” Fellows said.
The power outages postponed the open house scheduled for West Hardin Middle School seventh and eighth grade families, which has been rescheduled for Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.
“It will be a staggered open house,” said Hardin County Schools Community Relations Specialist John Wright. “Students with last names beginning A through M are asked to attend from 6 to 7 p.m., and then students with last names N through Z are asked to attend from 7 to 8 p.m. The sixth grade Laker Fun Day will still take place on Wednesday the 31st from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Of course, all of that will take place at West Hardin Middle School.”
Watch for downed trees as a result of the storm, and always stay away from downed power lines.
LaRue County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sandy Kidd says area families are invited to come out to a fun event this Friday.
“We have our Back to School Bash that begins at 5:45 p.m. and runs until 7:15 or whenever the school supplies run out,” Kidd said. “We do have a lot of folks that come out for this event so that is possible that we run out of supplies, so be there early.”
Participating businesses and organizations will set up in both directions around Lincoln Square. The event will also feature music and food.
“At 7.30 p.m., the Dylan West Band will be performing until 10.30,” Kidd said. “There’ll be food trucks available, so don’t come having already eaten. You’ll want to eat there, and there’ll be plenty of choices.”
The LaRue County Schools Child Nutrition Program will also be set up at the event to provide free meals for children 18 and younger.
Kidd says the evening promises to be a fun one.
“We will have some giveaways as well, so you’ll see me in the center circle and I’ll give kids a ticket and we have lots of giveaways beyond the school supply giveaways, so we have lots going on and we invite the community and the public to come out and enjoy it.”
Businesses interested in participating, or folks looking for more information, can visit the LaRue County Chamber of Commerce’s website or Facebook page.
The Lincoln Trail Area Development District is still looking for feedback on its annual assessment survey for older adults.
The survey is now available to all area individuals ages 60 and up who are looking to provide feedback on services available in the development district.
LTADD Home Care and In-Home Services Supervisor Tabitha French says residences from Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, and Washington counties were randomly selected for the initial survey effort. French says the survey results are important for helping LTADD prioritize efforts.
“Well, it definitely gives us an idea of what the needs are in our community,” French said. “We base how we allot different funding that we receive from the state and federal government based on what individuals in the community say their needs are. So, is there a higher need for transportation? Is there a higher need for in-home services, home delivery meals, those types of things?”
Anybody ages 60 and up that was not selected in the random sampling and wants to provide feedback can visit www.ltadd.org or the Lincoln Trail Area Development District Facebook page to find the link for the survey. Information on regional services and other studies LTADD has been a part of can be found on the development district’s website.
The City of Elizabethtown is gearing up for its August Lawn Party at the Lake event.
The August event, which is part of a summer-long series hosted by the city, will take place Wednesday, August 7 at the bandstand at Freeman Lake Park.
This month’s concert will feature the Northern Kentucky-based Kentucky Symphony Orchestra’s 10-piece subsidiary group the Devou-Doo Daddies. Their performance is titled “Get Movin’ (Feet Don’t Fail Me Now) Millennial Versus Gen-Z Swing.” The orchestra says 1990s swing revival takes on 2020s hip-hop infused swing during the show.
Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles says each lawn party event offers food vendors, and while outside alcohol is not permitted alcoholic beverages will be on sale at the lake.
“The concert series is totally free and family friendly,” Pyles said. “The gates will open at 5.30 p.m. and the acts will take the stage around 6.30, so it gives you a little bit of time to come in and get seated. It is festival style seating, so we ask that people bring lawn chairs, you can bring blankets. We will have picnic tables, but it’s very, very casual.”
Pyles said the first year for the concert series was a successful one, and in 2024 there’s nowhere to go but up.
“We had such a wonderful turnout last year after we got through the rain, but we’re very, very excited,” Pyles said. “The bandstand at Freeman Lake is such a beautiful fixture in our community. If you haven’t been out to see it, it is the perfect place to relax after a hard day, and we’re really excited.”
Follow the Elizabethtown City Events Facebook page for more information and updates.
You can help support CASA of the Heartland’s mission of serving children as they navigate foster care and the family court system this Friday by heading to the movies.
CASA of the Heartland is partnering with Crowne Pointe Theatre for a special showing of the 80s classic The Goonies.
“It is at 6 p.m. this Friday, July 19,” said CASA of the Heartland Executive Director Michelle Kail. “Tickets are $7 and can be purchased on our website at CASAheartland.org, and $5 of the $7 goes directly to CASA and then part of the ticket purchase is that you get a 30 percent off coupon for concessions.”
Find more information on the CASA of the Heartland Facebook page.
Friends of Hardin County Animal Shelter is gearing up for their annual fundraising event the Dirty Dog Bash, which will be held at The Venue at Highland Farm on Saturday, August 10.
FOHCAS President Myra Covault says the organization is excited to celebrate a special occasion that is extra special this year.
“We are so happy to be back at The Venue at Highland Farm in Elizabethtown, and it’s just a perfect location to also be celebrating not only the fundraising angle but it is our tenth anniversary of FOHCAS,” Covault said. “Please come out and celebrate that with us.”
The Dirty Dog Bash will feature dinner, a cash bar with dog-themed drinks, a drink pull, a live and silent auction, and door prizes. Covault says the event will also highlight local artists.
“We have local artist Courtney Ballard who has generously agreed to create an original piece that is going to be unveiled at our live auction,” Covault said. “You have got to be there for that. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about how exciting that is to see what she comes up with. For our music, we have a local favorite, Kevin Jaggers, joining us again.”
FOHCAS provides financial support to the Hardin County Animal Shelter, with 100 percent of money raised used to benefit homeless dogs and cats.
“The work that we do is just life-affirming, it’s impactful,” Covault said. “Remember, proceeds from the event benefit our mission to support the work of Hardin County Animal Shelter to advocate for all homeless animals and to provide low-cost spay and neuter options for our communities.”
Tickets to the Dirty Dog Bash are available at www.fohcas.org.
KFW says fishing is available to anyone regardless of age, background, and experience level, and Kentucky has plenty of bodies of water that offer fishing opportunities year round.
KFW is encouraging experienced anglers to bring new fishers into the fold with their “Mentor to Win” contest. The contest is free to enter and is open to any licensed angler 16 years of age or older that mentors a new angler, also 16 years of age or older, that purchases a fishing license after having either never purchased a license or having not had a license in the last three years.
Mentors will use the KFW’s MyProfile portal to enter the name and ID number of the person they took fishing. Mentors can take as many new fishers out as they like for multiple entries.
The contest ends August 31. The winner will receive a new kayak, paddle, personal flotation device, and two spinning rod and reel combos.
Visit the KFW’s fishing website for more information on the contest and Kentucky’s fishing opportunities.
Kentucky health officials are warning of an alarming increase in cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough.
“We have been in a state of increase for quite a while now,” said Lincoln Trail District Health Department Public Relations Officer Michelle Phillips. “They actually have issued a health alert because we’ve had 130 cases already in the state so far, and 44 of those have been since April, and it’s very dangerous especially for very young children and our older adults.”
Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness with symptoms that begin with a runny nose and mild coughing but then develop into rapid, violent coughing fits that cause a “whooping” sound, vomiting, and labored breathing. Whooping cough spreads easily from person to person via the air, but like most respiratory illnesses the best defense is vaccination.
“Vaccines are one of the best ways that we can prevent diseases, and one of the biggest importance of the vaccines is protection for those who can’t be vaccinated, so providing that immunity for those who can’t receive the vaccine,” Phillips said.
Lincoln Trail District residents can contact the health department for more information on getting children vaccinated against the disease.
“We do participate in the Vaccines for Children program, and that covers children who have Medicaid, who don’t have health insurance, or who have health insurance that doesn’t cover certain vaccines,” Phillips said “We don’t do adult vaccination at this point, but that is something that’s going to be coming later this summer or in the early fall months.”
Visit the Kentucky Department of Public Health’s website for more information on pertussis.
A detective with the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office will be honored for his work on a homicide investigation.
Chris Hill will be one of seven investigators that will be presented with the International Homicide Investigators Association’s Award for Excellence in Homicide Investigations.
Bullitt County Sheriff Walt Sholar says the award is a testament to a dedicated and experienced law enforcement professional.
“Chris is always ready to step up and help in any and many fashions that we’ve needed him,” Sholar said. “He serves as a firearms and tactics instructor for our office. He’s one of our drone pilots and is teaching other people here at our sheriff’s office how to operate drones.”
Hill is being recognized for leading the investigation into the disappearance and murder of a Bullitt County resident in 2020, ultimately resulting in two guilty pleas and 30-year sentences for the perpetrators. Hill constructed the case despite the victim’s body never being found. Sholar said Hill had participated in training for such cases.
“He brought those tools back with him, put that together, made a presentation, an outstanding presentation to the Commonwealth Attorney, and then ultimately to the grand jury,” Sholar said. “I’ve been around here for 40 years and it’s the first homicide case that I can recall in Bullitt County ever being presented where we were not able to find the body.”
Sholar said Hill’s award is well-deserved, and is also a tribute to the hard work the rest of the staff at the sheriff’s office puts in each day.
“It shows the professionalism that is going on,” Sholar said. “Chris just epitomizes it, but he is only one cog in the wheel of a very professional organization that all the people that I am blessed to have around me have put together.”
Hill will receive the award at a ceremony in Washington D.C. on August 15.
Area residents will have a chance to provide feedback on the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s plans for roadways in Glendale.
The KYTC will host a public meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30 at the East Hardin Middle School gymnasium as they present design alternatives “developed to improve system connectivity and reduce anticipated traffic through the Glendale Historic District.”
The design alternatives are products of the KYTC’s Glendale Mobility Study, which is being developed to account for the impact of the BlueOval SK battery park on traffic in the area. The study identified a Northeast Glendale Bypass that will route traffic to and from the north along KY 1136/New Glendale Road to KY 222 and the BlueOval SK plants without traveling through the 222/1136 intersection.
The design alternatives will be presented at the public meeting in an open house format with no formal presentation. Individuals will be able to stop by anytime from 6 to 8 p.m. on July 30 and review displays, ask questions, and provide feedback.
Residents who prefer to participate virtually or are unable to attend in person may provide feedback via the online survey available at www.glendalestudy.com. Responses will be collected through August 30. Special accommodations for the meeting can be made by contacting Kevin Blain at KYTC District 4’s Elizabethtown office (kevin.blain@ky.gov, 270-766-5066).
Visit www.glendalestudy.com for more information.
Whitney Ballou says her former co-worker and teammate Jessica Mills, who was killed in a crash on Lincoln Parkway in June, had deep connections to the local soccer community.
“She’s been very involved from a personal training aspect all the way up to assistant coach and head coaching of some of the compete teams here in town,” Ballou said. “She has been a lot more involved as her daughter has gotten older. She’s kind of followed her through her leagues as she’s grown up, but she has affected a lot of their lives from a very young age all the way up to these girls that are teenagers in high school.”
In honor of Mills, Central Hardin soccer alumni will be hosting an alumni soccer game at the Central Hardin soccer field on Friday, August 2.
“It may not be the best game to watch, but we’re hoping to all get together and just have some fun and kind of tell some stories about Jessica, and the good thing is just spending some time together too,” Ballou said. “A lot of our team that was playing when she was in high school should be coming back to the alumni game, so that’ll be good.”
Ballou says organizers are looking for as many Central Hardin women’s soccer alums as possible to participate.
“You can go to the CHHS Lady Bruin Soccer Facebook page,” Ballou said. “There is actually a Google document that you can fill out. You don’t have to fill it out in order to kind of play in a game. We’ll take walk-ins all the way up until the start time, which is 6 o’clock.”
All are welcome to attend the game on August 2.
The Heart of Kentucky Chorus invites all singers high school age and up who are interested in learning more about the acapella chorus to come out to their Guest Night, which will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the G.C. Burkhead Elementary cafeteria on Thursday, July 25.
Chorus member Bob Swope said he first became familiar with the chorus after attending a Guest Night event, and he has found the experience to be a rewarding one.
“It’s something that I have enjoyed doing now for a long time and I wish I had learned about it even earlier,” Swope said. “It’s a lot of fun and I encourage people to come out and just to check us out and see if they might want to become a member.”
Under the direction of Aaron Dale, the chorus is a mixed community chorus that sings a variety of songs at two main performances each year along with several community events.
“We sing barbershop, we sing a little pop, popular music, and some gospel, country, a little bit of everything,” Swope said.
No obligation or commitment is expected, and no personal invitation is required. Learn more by contacting Dee Corkran at 270-312-9403, or visit the Heart of Kentucky Chorus Facebook page.
The Radcliff City Council met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.
Susan Mouser with Clauson Mouser and Company PSC/CPAs reported to the council on the city’s annual audit. Mouser said the audit is mandated by state law in order to show that the city’s finances are fairly stated. Mouser said the city’s revenues exceed the expenditures and the city has little long-term debt. Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall said the city keeps a close eye on the finances.
“Just about every purchase order that’s done in the city, (Radcliff CFO) Chance Fox and I both, or (City Clerk) Ashley Russo will sign, and it’s sometimes to the point where Chance is calling me, asking me if a $164 pair of boots is justified,” Duvall said. “I mean, that’s how tight we run our budget.”
The council approved the rezoning of 155 Morgan Street from R-7 to Planned Unit Development Zone, which makes way for the construction of 19 single-family units on the property. The council also approved one new and five amended policies and procedures for the Radcliff Police Department.
The first reading was held on an ordinance approving the operation of medical cannabis facilities in the city. Duvall again stressed that the ordinance does not ban the use of medical marijuana, but it would make a Radcliff-based operation eligible to apply for a facility license.
“This is just regulating whether or not we’re going to have the sale or the cultivation here in our community,” Duvall said. “If you have a medical card, you can still go into E-Town and get it, or you can go into the county and get it, and still bring it back to our community.”
John Hardin High School sophomore Kenneth Richie addressed the council on concerns he sees with the Radcliff community that he said he thinks begin with a lack of civil discourse.
“I’ve seen the people become more negative over this time and stop looking inwards,” Richie said. “I’ve seen human decency begin to fade, and I’ve seen other people attack each other without knowledge or patience for a civil confrontation, and that’s built a negative reputation in towns outside of here.”
Richie said he hopes to see more communication between the government and the community, and more civic engagement. Duvall said he had spoken with Richie about his ideas and hoped to speak with him further.
The Radcliff City Council will next meet for a work session on August 12.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College will be helping families fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid with a fun event Tuesday.
ECTC says they will have games, food, and prizes for anyone who needs help completing the FAFSA ahead of the Fall 2024 semester at their FAFSA Tailgate Party, which will be held July 23 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Regional Postsecondary Center on ECTC’s campus.
Financial aid professionals will be on hand to help families with the FAFSA, and the help may be extra beneficial as colleges still deal with the redesigned FAFSA process that came with the passing of the FAFSA Simplification Act. ECTC says many students and parents encountered delays when they initially tried to file the form.
Tailgate attendees should bring their 2022 tax forms including W-2s as well as their FSA ID if they have one. The FAFSA must be completed in order for students to qualify for federal aid such as the Pell Grant and state aid such as the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship.
The tailgate is happening the same day as ECTC’s next Open House Tuesday. Academic and admissions assistance along with campus tours will be available from noon to 6 p.m.
Contact the ECTC Financial Aid Office at 270-706-8802 for more information or assistance.
Helping Hand of Hope rolled out a new way of helping neighbors in need this week as they launched their new Thrift Store.
“The Thrift Store is actually an addition to Helping Hand of Hope that we have created in one of the extra areas that we have here,” said Helping Hand of Hope Executive Director Hope Burke. “We really wanted something for when our neighbors come in that really need an extra hand when it comes to clothing or accessories for their home that they were able to come in and actually afford the things that they were coming to get.”
Burke says the Thrift Store was designed to offer a unique experience.
“In our hearts when we did this, we wanted it to be a more of a boutique feel versus just everything thrown together because that was one thing that some of our neighbors had expressed when they go secondhand shopping, they just feel like everything’s everywhere and they don’t ever feel like they get to go and do things like that, like a boutique experience, so that was something very important for us,” Burke said.
All are welcome to enjoy the Thrift Store, and a voucher program is available by meeting with a case manager. Donations to support the Thrift Store will be accepted, however Burke said they are not asking for clothing at this time.
Burke says the Thrift Store is part of some exciting developments at Helping Hand of Hope.
“We’re just really excited about this, and we just want the community to come together, whether they are wanting to donate, whether they’re wanting to buy, come out and just check it out,” Burke said. “Come and see what we really, truly put our heart and soul into and just see the direction that Helping Hand of Hope is doing.”
The Thrift Store is open at Helping Hand of Hope, located at 6796 South Wilson Road in Elizabethtown, from 9 to 11:45 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to noon the second Saturday of each month.
Bridge replacement work that was scheduled to begin on the U.S. 62 bridge over Rolling Fork Slough near the Hardin-Nelson county line has now been delayed.
“That project is going to be delayed just a couple of weeks now,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie. “We have just learned that some test drilling equipment and drill shafts for some of the materials they’re using are not going to be available at the time they thought, so this is going to be delayed probably a couple of weeks and we’ll be posting new information as soon as that’s available.”
The KYTC says a 90-day closure of the bridge was included in the $2.38 million contract that was awarded to E and B Paving LLC for the bridge replacement. Closing the bridge was determined to be the most efficient way to complete the work. The bridge was expected to reopen around September 20.
Once the work is ready to go, detours will be in place for traffic going in both directions on the bridge. Follow KYTC District Four on social media for more information and project updates.
Hardin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Billy Edwards is being remembered for his kindness and commitment.
“As a young cop, Billy took me and so many others under his wing,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “At face value, he often seemed unreasonable and unnecessarily gruff, but in reality he had the heart of a teddy bear. He had a fierce passion for being an investigator, and he was distinguished and bigger than life.”
Edwards and his wife Kathy were killed Sunday evening in a collision at the intersection of the U.S. 31W Bypass and the westbound ramp of the Western Kentucky Parkway. Billy Edwards was 67 and Kathy Edwards was 58.
“Kathy complimented him in so many ways, but she was kind and loyal and made him better,” Denham said. “Following some pretty challenging times that I faced a couple years ago, Kathy checked in on me often and did so genuinely because she cared.”
Edwards was a 24-year veteran of the Elizabethtown Police Department. Hardin County Schools Community Relations Specialist John Wright says Edwards began serving as Creekside Elementary School’s school resource officer at the beginning of this year after serving as SRO at Woodland Elementary.
“He was well loved by the students and staff at most schools,” Wright said. “He was passionate about their safety and was dedicated to ensuring that students learned in a safe and compassionate environment. We offer deepest condolences to the Edwards family, their friends, the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office family and the steadfast group of Hardin County Schools school resource officers and our community of devoted law enforcement officers.”
Creekside Elementary students wishing to speak with somebody about Edwards may contact the Creekside office. Funeral arrangements are pending.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for their second meeting of the month Monday.
The council approved two ordinances that were on their second readings. The first amended the zoning for 1151 Ring Road from Neighborhood Commercial (C-2) to Regional Commercial (C-3). The second amended the city’s 2024-2025 budget ordinance to include a change in pay classifications for the city’s fire department.
A municipal order was approved that awarded a contract to 5253 Design Group for professional design services on the Elizabethtown Police Station expansion project.
“These professional services shall include programming the project, design plans for the facility and site, a cost opinion, schematic plans, architectural design plans, contract bid documents, and construction administration,” said City Attorney Ken Howard reading from the order.
The contract was awarded at an amount not to exceed $350,000.
Elizabethtown resident Steve Swan asked the council for an update on resident concerns with traffic control in the Bewley Hollow/Pine Valley Drive area. Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said speed radar signs were placed in the neighborhood to collect traffic data, and Public Works Superintendent Don Hill said the traffic study showed an average of 3,400 vehicles using Pine Valley Drive each day, with an average speed of 36.6 miles per hour and an average violation speed of about 40.8 miles per hour, so additional measures will be taken to slow traffic.
“What we’re going to do on Pine Valley Drive is prior to St. Andrews, and there’s a 25 miles per hour sign at that intersection, we’re going to go up Pine Valley Drive and put a warning sign that says reduce speed ahead, then when we get past the intersection of St. Andrews Way before Kensington, we’re going to set a speed hump,” Hill said.
The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet July 22.
Bridge work at the Hardin-Nelson county line will require detours next week.
Demolition and replacement work is scheduled to begin Monday on the U.S. 62 bridge over Rolling Fork Slough near the county line, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says full closure of the bridge will allow the project to be completed as quickly as possible.
Drivers on the west side of the bridge will be directed to travel via U.S. 62 to Interstate 65 in Elizabethtown and use the Bluegrass Parkway eastbound toward Bardstown and Lexington. Drivers on the east side of the bridge will be directed to use KY 52 to and from the Bluegrass Parkway. Electronic message boards have been placed in the area of the bridge to alert travelers of the upcoming work and detours.
A 90-day closure was included in the $2.38 million contract that was awarded to E and B Paving LLC for the bridge replacement. The bridge is expected to reopen around September 20.
Follow KYTC District Four on social media for more information and project updates.
CASA of the Heartland received support from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels for their mission of serving children navigating foster care and the family court systems.
“Every year the Kentucky Colonels grant allows us the opportunity to get some type of project funded that is associated with our mission,” said CASA of the Heartland Executive Director Michelle Kail.
The grant this year was for $2,909.
“So this year we applied for a grant to purchase stuffed animals that correlate with several books that we have that are related to children navigating the court system, children having to testify, various family structures, having CASAs, different things like that that we know that the children that we’re advocating for might encounter,” Kail said.
You can help support CASA of the Heartland’s mission this Friday by heading to the movies. The organization is partnering with Crowne Pointe Theatre for a special showing of The Goonies.
“It is at 6 p.m. this Friday, July 19,” Kail said. “Tickets are $7 and can be purchased on our website at CASAheartland.org, and $5 of the $7 goes directly to CASA and then part of the ticket purchase is that you get a 30 percent off coupon for concessions.”
Find more information on the CASA of the Heartland Facebook page.
The Kentucky State Police is investigating a fatal collision that occurred in Hardin County Sunday evening.
According to the KSP, shortly after 8 p.m. on July 14 a trooper on patrol came upon a collision at the intersection of the U.S. 31W Bypass and westbound ramp to the Western Kentucky Parkway.
The KSP says the preliminary investigation indicates that 67-year-old Billy Edwards of Elizabethtown was operating a motorcycle on the bypass when a vehicle operated by Cameron Harris “attempted to make a sharp right turn onto the WKP exit ramp, causing him to collide with the motorcycle.” The collision caused the motorcycle to lose control and exit onto the shoulder of the ramp.
Edwards and a passenger, 58-year-old Kathy Edwards of Elizabethtown, were ejected from the motorcycle. Billy Edwards received fatal wounds in the crash, and Kathy Edwards was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hardin County Coroner’s Office. Harris and a passenger in his vehicle reported no injuries.
Billy Edwards was a deputy with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office. He was off duty at the time of the crash.
The KSP says the affected portion of the U.S. 31W Bypass was closed for nearly four hours for accident reconstruction. The KSP’s investigation of the crash is ongoing.
The sixty-first year of “the most fun you can have with your shoes on” wrapped up Saturday night as the Hardin County Fair came to a close.
“We had a really, really good fair week,” said Fair Board PResident Marty Fulkerson. “We ran into some issues with all the storms and tornado warnings Tuesday, that kind of hurt the attendance a little bit, but we had a really, really good fair. It was hot, but gosh, it’s July, and that’s what happens when fair time is here.”
He said entries appeared to be up among 4H and FFA members and a good turnout could be seen in the Family Living Building, including the debut year for the Exceptional category.
A scary situation was seen Saturday morning as one of the fair volunteers was seriously injured while preparing for the Brush Pull and had to be flown to a Louisville hospital for treatment. The fair board said the volunteer is stable and recovering.
“There’s still a long way to go and more surgeries and things it looks like, but it was just a freak accident,” Fulkerson said. “In 61 years, we’ve never had something like that happen. We’ve been pretty blessed, and we’re still praying for him and his family, and he’s got a long road to go.”
Fulkerson said the fair would not be possible without the support of the community and the fair’s sponsors, along with the hard work of the fair team.
“You get a fair board group of 20 people,” Fulkerson said. “There’s no way we can do it. It takes all the volunteers. I think there’s probably 60 or 70 volunteers in the Family Living Building. That track crew up there consists of probably 12 people that make that happen, and it’s a lot of turnovers and turnarounds.”
The Hardin County Fair will return the first full week of July 2025.
A major summer narcotics operation launched by the Kentucky State Police is showing results.
Following a three-month long investigation into suspected drug trafficking rings, all sixteen KSP posts joined in on Operation Summer Heat. KSP personnel partnered with law enforcement agencies from across the commonwealth to make a series of arrests.
Governor Andy Beshear included KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. as a speaker during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update. Burnett said the operation resulted in 206 arrests, 490 charges, and the seizure of more than $684,000 in illicit drugs.
“Fentanyl, 554 grams was removed, as well as 2,931 pressed pills of fentanyl, 219 grams of cocaine, 4,862 grams of methamphetamine, 40 grams of heroin, 50 hydrocodone pills, 60 oxycodone pills, and then 90 hallucinogens, as well as other illegal drugs,” said Burnett.
Burnett said Operation Summer Heat is ongoing, with additional arrests expected soon. He said the successful launch of the operation is a testament to the state’s efforts to keep communities safe.
“This statewide initiative is to show a clear message across Kentucky that those who continue to distribute illegal drugs in our communities, the Kentucky State Police and our law enforcement partners local and federal will focus our efforts to cease such activities,” Burnett said.
Beshear said drug enforcement is important, but it goes hand in hand with drug treatment. The governor announced four additional counties, including Nelson County, have received their Recovery Ready Community certifications from the state.
“Since we launched the Recovery Ready Community certification last year, 14 counties have now been certified,” Beshear said. “These communities are stepping up to help fellow Kentuckians who are struggling with addiction. They’re providing families more support through mental health and addiction treatment as well as employment services, and we are grateful for and we applaud their good work.”
Kentuckians seeking treatment help can visit FindHelpNowKY.org. Drug activity can be reported anonymously via the KSP website tip form.
As the new school year approaches, Nolin RECC is encouraging educators in Hardin and LaRue counties to apply for their Be a Light Teacher Grants.
Nolin RECC Communications Manager Sarah Fellows says the Nolin RECC Operation Round-Up board created the Be a Light grant program as a way of honoring and supporting local teachers.
“They know, and they hear from teachers and we all do, that if funds aren’t available for their classrooms, a lot of times that money comes out of their own pockets, so the Be a Light Teacher Grants are a way for the Operation Round-Up board and for Nolin members to say thank you to our local teachers for everything that they do for our children,” Fellows said.
30 $200 grants will be awarded to K-12 teachers in Hardin and LaRue counties. The funds come from the donations Nolin RECC members make through the Operation Round-Up program.
“Nolin members can voluntarily round up their bill each month to the nearest dollar,” Fellows said. “Now for an average Nolin member, that’s only about $6 a year, but we have over 6,000 members who are participating in Operation Round-Up, so when those dollars come together, they can make a huge impact on our community.”
The application for the Be a Light grants can be found at NolinRECC.com. The deadline to apply is August 31.
Breckinridge County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter says the district has been hard at work all summer gearing up for the new school year.
“Teachers and staff have been working hard throughout the summer with different training opportunities and just getting ready for the year,” Carter said. “Our building maintenance folks and custodians are doing a great job getting our buildings cleaned and looking absolutely wonderful for the start of the year, so I just want to give all of them a huge thanks, and to our principals. They’re working hard getting ready for the year.”
BCS families will get a chance to get into the school buildings ahead of the new year as each school hosts its open house.
“It’s a time that we get to welcome our kiddos and families back into the school and our new students and new families into the school, and what we do with open house is they come in and they get to tour the building, meet teachers, and just get comfortable so that that first day of school isn’t as scary,” Carter said.
Breckinridge County Middle and High schools will host their open houses from 4 to 6 p.m. on July 29, Hardinsburg and Ben Johnson Elementary schools will host theirs from 4 to 6 p.m. on July 20, and Irvington and Custer elementaries will host theirs from 4 to 6 p.m. on August 1.
Carter says the district has a lot to look forward to.
“We’re super, super excited, and I truly believe that it’s going to be one of our best years yet,” Carter said. “It’s a great day to be a Tiger.”
Visit the Breckinridge County Schools website or Facebook page for more information.
The Kentucky Association of School Administrators has announced the recipients of the 2024 William T. Nallia Educational Leadership Award, and a local superintendent is among those honored.
Hardin County Schools Superintendent Terrie Morgan will be honored with the award along with Livingston County Schools Superintendent David Meinschein and Baird Vice Chair Jim Allen. The KASA says the award “recognizes individuals who have demonstrated visionary leadership and made significant contributions to public education in Kentucky.”
The three were recognized for their efforts through the Coalition to Sustain the Education Profession, bringing attention to the need for public policy changes that address the Kentucky teacher shortage. The KASA says the award recognizes both their leadership and their commitment to advancing education in the commonwealth.
Morgan said the coalition’s work was a lengthy but worthwhile commitment.
“This effort actually started 18 months prior to the legislative session starting because we realized the scope of the work that was in front of us, which was to communicate the necessity to increase multiple areas of education to include teacher recruitment, pay, and respect for educators,” Morgan said.
Two of the coalition’s recommendations that legislatures picked up were allowing retired teachers to return to classrooms sooner and allowing for emergency certifications, which have been used as a short-term fix.
“We greatly appreciate their work to allow those individuals to come back and work in the workplace, but then we needed a long-range plan which was to recruit and retain teachers who go through a more traditional path of going to school for the Teacher Preparation Program,” Morgan said.
Morgan and her co-recipients will receive the award at the KASA Annual Leadership Institute on July 26.
Willow Creek Senior Living staff and residents welcomed some special guests for breakfast Thursday morning.
Bike4ALZ made a stop in Elizabethtown as part of their cross-country journey, all in the name of raising funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s research.
The bike riders are 12 Western Kentucky University students, including Business Data Analytics major Adam Pruitt.
“We go from San Francisco and bike all the way to Virginia Beach, raising money for Alzheimer’s research with events and sponsorships, different ways of raising money, but we all have connections with Alzheimer’s,” Pruitt said. “We’ve all been affected, whether it’s our family or friends or just someone in our life.”
The riders had completed about 2,500 miles of their 3,600 mile journey upon arriving in E-Town. Before hitting the road for Louisville, Willow Creek hosted the riders for a breakfast sponsored by The Wright Legacy Group.
Pruitt said so far it has been a good ride.
“We’ve been really hopeful for the end, but also sad that it’s coming to an end, but recently we’ve been able to go to some of our riders’ homes and see and meet family more often, see more faces that we know instead of out west where we’re meeting strangers all the time, and once we’re in this area we’re seeing more familiar faces,” Pruitt said.
Willow Creek Community Relations Coordinator Lori Jury said the show of support from the riders is felt by the staff, residents, and families.
“We love that they’re here so that we can thank them for what they’re doing and we can encourage them as they finish out their last two weeks of the ride on the way to Virginia,” Jury said. “It’s been a long summer for them, and these are young guys that could be doing lots of things. They could be doing internships or working or hanging by the pool at home and we’re just very thankful that they’re doing this to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research.”
You can follow along with the riders or give financial support at bike4alz.org or by finding Bike4ALZ on social media.
Area residents now have an additional option for applying for or renewing their driver’s license.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet this week opened the 33rd Driver Licensing Regional Office in the state in Bardstown.
KYTC Vehicle Regulation Commissioner Matthew Cole says the transportation cabinet is excited to bring services to the Bardstown location, located at 860 West Stephen Foster Avenue.
“We bring what everybody sees as just drivers licensing, but it can be so much more,” Cole said. “If someone needs to do an address change, they need to do a name change because of a marriage, divorce decree (sometimes it’s on the bad side of it), but whatever they need, any of those functions that we’re able to help with.”
The current office is a temporary location as the KYTC prepares a permanent Bardstown location. While driver testing, which is administered by the Kentucky State Police, will not be available at this time, all other office functions can be found at the Bardstown site.
“When they offered us the temporary location, it just means we could set up shop sooner,” Cole said. “Obviously, we’ll have the full functionality. It’s just that this will buy us time to be able to finish and furnish a more permanent office that’ll have a more permanent feel to it when it gets done.”
Any driver looking to upgrade their license to a Real ID ahead of the May 7, 2025 deadline can do so by bringing their birth certificate, Social Security card, and two proofs of residence to a license office.
“That’s a federal requirement, and what that’s going to allow people to do is get on domestic flights after that enforcement date, because there’s going to be the standard license, which is good for pretty much everything else, but this is for those other restricted things, which is the domestic flight on commercial flights and getting into restricted federal buildings,” Cole said.
The Bardstown office will be open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled at drive.ky.gov.
The fun continues today at the Hardin County Fairgrounds as the 2024 Hardin County Fair rolls on.
Friday will feature the Gaited Horse Show, which will be held at 7 p.m. at the English ring.
In addition to great food at the restaurant and from vendors, adorable animals at the petting zoo, and exciting rides at the midway, Friday will feature the 2024 Ms. and Mrs. Hardin County Fair Pageant, which will be held at the performing arts building at 6:30 p.m. Country music act Lincoln Jamboree will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. The second night of the Bullwhip Rodeo will take place at the motorsports track at 8 p.m.
The fair then wraps up Saturday. The fun starts early with the 4H 5K Run at 7:30 a.m. The Academy Gaited Horse Show will be held at the English ring at 10 a.m. The Brush Pull is also at 10 a.m., to be held at the motorsports track. The Baby Contest will be held at the pageant building at 1 p.m. with the Tiny Miss and Mister Contest at 5:30. The first ever King Arthur Baking Flour Baking Contest will be held at 2 p.m. In the family living building. Come out to the livestock pavilion at 7 for Cow Pattie Bingo or the English ring for the Gaited Horse Show, and the action at the fair wraps up with the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Pull at the motorsports ring at 8. Saturday is also Ag Experience Day, so kids can learn all about the fun of 4H from 2 to 8 p.m. at the livestock pavilion.
The Hardin County Fair has lots to offer for everybody, and as Fair Board President Marty Fulkerson says: “It’s 61 years of the most fun you can have with your shoes on!”
Find the complete schedule on the Hardin County Fair website or Facebook page.
The Lincoln Trail Area Development District is looking for feedback on its annual assessment survey for older adults.
LTADD Home Care and In-Home Services Supervisor Tabitha French said the response window is divided into two periods.
“A random sampling of 2,800 people were actually chosen,” said French. “They received some information in the mail to complete that survey. There’s actually a link on there, but there’s a paper form that can be completed as well, and then on July 21, we’re going to be opening that up to the general public to complete, and this is all for individuals 60 and over.”
Residences from Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, and Washington counties were randomly selected for the initial survey effort. French said the survey results are important for helping LTADD prioritize efforts.
“Well, it definitely gives us an idea of what the needs are in our community,” French said. “We base how we allot different funding that we receive from the state and federal government based on what individuals in the community say their needs are. So, is there a higher need for transportation? Is there a higher need for in-home services, home delivery meals, those types of things?”
Anybody ages 60 and up that was not selected in the random sampling and wants to provide feedback can get signed up for a reminder.
“If you’re interested in signing up at the link in order to receive an email notification, you can go to our website at LTADD.org,” French said. “The link will be there as well as on our Facebook and Twitter social media pages as well.”
Information on regional services and other studies LTADD has been a part of can be found on the development district’s website.
An accident on the Western Kentucky Parkway closed the westbound lane for several hours Tuesday.
According to the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to the 123 mile marker on Western Kentucky Parkway westbound at around 6:45 p.m. on July 9 for the report of a three-vehicle injury collision.
Accident reconstruction from the sheriff’s office indicates that prior to the collision the first unit, a passenger car operated by William Nelson of Sweeden, Kentucky, was traveling east on the parkway. The second unit, a pickup truck driven by Heather Childress of Elizabethtown, and the third unit, a passenger car operated by Eva Glover of Louisville, were traveling west.
Nelson’s vehicle hydroplaned, left the roadway on the left side of the highway, crossed the median, and entered into the westbound lanes of travel. Childress’s vehicle made contact with Nelson’s head-on, and Glover’s vehicle then struck Nelson’s.
Nelson and a passenger in his vehicle were taken to Baptist Health Hardin then transported to the University of Louisville Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Childress and Glover were treated at Baptist Health Hardin for minor injuries.
The sheriff’s office’s investigation into the crash is ongoing.
The fun continues today at the Hardin County Fairgrounds as the 2024 Hardin County Fair rolls on.
Thursday will feature the Dairy Cattle Show, which will be held at 6 p.m. at the livestock pavilion.
In addition to great food at the restaurant and from vendors, adorable animals at the petting zoo, and exciting rides at the midway, Thursday will feature the 2024 Little Miss and Mister Pageant, which will be held at the pageant building at 6:30 p.m. UCW Wrestling will take it to the mat at 7 p.m. for their third and final night of wrestling. Thursday is the first of two nights for Bullwhip Rodeo, which will take place at the motorsports track at 8 p.m.
Thursday is Quicksie and The Wolf night at the fairgrounds. Stop by our office at 233 West Dixie Avenue in Elizabethtown or visit our websites for a coupon to get $1 off the $15 admission price.
The Hardin County Fair has lots to offer for everybody, and as Fair Board President Marty Fulkerson says: “It’s 61 years of the most fun you can have with your shoes on!”
Find the complete schedule on the Hardin County Fair website or Facebook page.
You can help sustain the Kentucky wild turkey population by being an extra set of eyes for the state’s biologists.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife asks anyone who spots wild turkeys in July and August to report them through the Summer Turkey Online Survey Portal.
KFW says data collected through the survey helps the department better understand turkey population trends over time. Data from the survey is used to index the hatch and survival rate of young turkeys in order to assess reproductive success, which in turn influences limits set for turkey hunting season in order to help sustain the state’s turkey population.
The turkey population is studied by department biologists and graduate student researchers, and volunteers allow staff to expand the survey area. The survey gives the researchers insight into issues facing the turkey population such as habitat destruction, predation, and disease.
The online survey portal can be found at fw.ky.gov. A printable survey form may also be downloaded that a participant can then fill out and take a picture of to email back to KFW.
The Kentucky State Police is investigating after a pedestrian was killed in Nelson County Monday.
Troopers from KSP Post Four responded to a report of a single-vehicle collision involving a pedestrian at approximately 10:45 p.m. July 8.
Troopers arrived at the scene of the accident, located near the 4,000 block of Louisville Road just north of Bardstown. The KSP says the preliminary investigation shows a vehicle being operated by Langleigh Winters of Bardstown was traveling north on Louisville Road when she failed to observe a pedestrian walking in the northbound lane and struck him with the vehicle.
The pedestrian was later identified as 23-year-old Matt Berry of Bardstown. Berry was pronounced dead at the scene by the Nelson County Coroner’s Office. Winters reported no injuries from the incident.
The area of the accident on Louisville Road was shut down for several hours as troopers performed accident reconstruction. The KSP says the investigation into the accident remains ongoing.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their first meeting of the month Tuesday.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four Chief District Engineer Brad Bottoms and Branch Manager for Construction and Maintenance Bow Warren presented on the county roads that will receive maintenance using funds from the state’s Rural Secondary Road Program. Warren said 22.2 percent of the state’s Motor Fuel Tax receipts go to the program, with the funds allocated to the counties using a five-point formula.
“That formula is based on one-fifth equally among all counties, one-fifth based on the rural population, one-fifth based on the road miles, and two-fifths based on the land area, and then once that money is allocated to a county it cannot be transferred to any other county,” Warren said.
The program targets rural roads that are marked as secondary routes in a county. Bottoms said with 164 secondary miles in Hardin County, the funds have to go where they are most needed.
“Our guys in the county have a pretty good idea, Bow and his staff, of what roads are in need, so we kind of triage these,” Bottoms said. “We tend to pick the worst roads out of this rural secondary set of roadways every year that this pot of money comes up.”
Hardin County will receive a little more than $2 million in funds that will go towards asphalt resurfacing of a little more than 10 miles of roadway on portions of Rineyville Big Springs Road, Valley Creek Road, and South and North Long Grove Drive.
Hardin County Public Works Director Stephanie Givens reported that the county made 32 recycling trailer runs in May and 33 in June, with more than 323 tons of materials collected year to date. Givens said the county was excited to partner with Radcliff City Hall to place a recycling trailer in Radcliff city limits for the first time. It is located at 610 South Wilson Road.
“I will say that it is being utilized a lot right now, which is great,” Givens said. “It was there for seven days and on Monday it was overflowing when we came back in after the holiday, so they are using it, the people are liking it. They’re doing a really good job down there partnering with the City Hall and Public Works Department down there.”
The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet July 23.
Former Kentucky Department of Agriculture Chief of Staff Keith Rogers says Hardin County has a proud history of producing many of the state’s agriculture leaders, something he has personally benefited from.
“Presidents of the Kentucky Cattlemen Association, presidents of the Kentucky Pork Producers, the list can just go on and on,” Rogers said. “I’m very thankful to those that opened those doors and got those things, those opportunities because it was the coattails of many of those leaders that I was able to follow and ride along.”
Rogers was the featured speaker at the Kentucky Farm Bureau Media Luncheon at the Hardin County Fair Tuesday. Rogers discussed recent developments and growth in Kentucky’s agriculture industry. Rogers said 30 years ago tobacco represented $1 billion of the state’s $3 billion industry, with poultry not even on the radar. In recent years, farm receipts have cleared the $8 billion mark, with poultry, beef, and grains the usual top commodities.
Rogers said the more than 76,000 farms across Kentucky represent what he believes is the most unified farming community in the country.
“97 percent of those are family farms,” Rogers said. “The average size in Kentucky is still small. The national average is up to 144 acres, and Kentucky’s average is just 171, so it still shows you that even with that tobacco economy gone we still have a small farm-based small farm family.”
Rogers says efforts to diversify the state’s farming industry are ongoing, with fruit and vegetable production continuing to increase. Rogers says the story of Kentucky farming is still being written.
“But we in agriculture have to personalize that story,” Rogers said. “We have to acknowledge the consumer. We have to connect with that consumer’s wishes. We have to build trust with that consumer, knowing how that food is produced, and knowing that it’s done in an environmentally safe and a sustainable way.”
More stats on the Ag industry can be found on the Kentucky Department of Agriculture website.
The fun continues today at the Hardin County Fairgrounds as the 2024 Hardin County Fair rolls on.
Wednesday will feature the Youth Beef Cattle Show, which will be held at 6 p.m. at the livestock pavilion.
In addition to great food at the restaurant and from vendors, adorable animals at the petting zoo, and exciting rides at the midway, Wednesday will feature the 2024 Miss Pre-Teen Hardin County Fair Pageant, which will be held at the pageant building at 7 p.m. UCW Wrestling will take it to the mat at 7 p.m. for their second night of wrestling. The KTPA Tractor and Truck Pull will be held at the motorsports track at 7:30 p.m. From 6 to 10 p.m., you’ll be able to take a free monster truck ride at the motorsports track, and don’t miss the big monster truck show at the motorsports track at 9:30.
Wednesday is Ride-Wright Tire Night at the fairgrounds. Stop by Ride-Wright Tire or visit their website for a coupon to get $1 off the $15 admission price.
The Hardin County Fair has lots to offer for everybody, and as Fair Board President Marty Fulkerson says: “It’s 61 years of the most fun you can have with your shoes on!”
Recapping some previous fair activity, the 2024 Miss Teen Hardin County Fair PAgeant was held Tuesday evening. Kearsten Williams was crowned as Miss Teen Hardin County, with Payton Allen named first runner-up and Ava Marie Elmore named second runner-up. Brittany and Adalyn Stout won the Parent/Child Look-Alike Contest Monday, and winners from Monday’s Demolition Derby were Hunter McQueary in the Built Big Cars division, Michael Kerr in the SS Rumble division, BJ Passmore in the Small Stock division, and Taylor Smith in the Lawnmower division.
Find the complete schedule on the Hardin County Fair website or Facebook page.
The Radcliff City Council met for a work session Monday evening.
Radcliff Police Chief Jeff Cross discussed six proposed updates to the Radcliff Police Department’s policies and procedures. One policy concerning juvenile operations is a new policy, while the others (active shooter, motor vehicle stops/seizures, promotion and assignments for sworn personnel, search and seizure: residences, and stop, arrest, and search of persons) are revisions. Cross said the policies are built on recommendations from the Kentucky League of Cities and the Department of Justice.
“If you get too far away from what they’re doing and what they’re recommending you do, if you need their backing down the road and you have a lawsuit or something they’re going to come in and stand there with you, so you don’t want to be too far other than just putting our brand and stamp on the policy,” Cross said.
The council also discussed an ordinance that would approve the operation of medical cannabis facilities in the city.
“This is a basic ordinance to get going,” said City Attorney Mike Pike. “It doesn’t go into great detail of what these things can do and not do. This just allows them. Your land use restrictions will come into play in terms of what zones of the city these will be allowed to operate in.”
Pike reiterated that the ordinance does not ban the use of medical marijuana.
“Neither the county nor a city will have authority over the use of medical cannabis by someone that has a prescription and/or approved medical card for it, so that’s outside the purview of this,” Pike said. “If you guys enact this ordinance, it’ll have no effect on individuals within the city of Radcliff who are using medical cannabis legally, or illegally.”
Both the ordinance and the policy changes will be discussed at the Radcliff City Council’s next meeting on July 16.
Kentuckians seeking to enter the workforce now have free access to an online learning program to help them prepare for jobs in several high-demand industries.
Governor Andy Beshear announced on Monday that a $5 million federal Quality Jobs, Equity, Strategy, and Training grant will allow the state to offer free access to the Ready for Industry program.
According to the governor’s office, each Ready for Industry course is “15 to 20 hours of instruction designed to help jobseekers understand what it’s like to work in several high-demand industries like manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, transportation, distribution and logistics, and architecture and construction.” The program teaches participants on topics such as common terminology, career pathways, workplace expectations, and education.
Kentucky is the fifth state in the country that will provide free access to the program as the state aims to enhance its economic landscape by improving the skill sets of employees, job candidates, and students.
Organizations interested in becoming a Ready for Industry partner can visit readyforindustry.com/ky or visit their local Kentucky Career Center. Individuals interested in enrolling in a course can register through a partner organization or through their local Kentucky Career Center.
The fun continues today at the Hardin County Fairgrounds as the 2024 Hardin County Fair rolls on.
Tuesday will feature the second round of judging for Family Living and Fine Arts projects. The Hardin County Youth Parade of Champions will take place at the exhibit hall at 1:30 and 7 p.m.
In addition to great food at the restaurant and from vendors, adorable animals at the petting zoo, and exciting rides at the midway, Tuesday will feature the 2024 Miss Teen Hardin County Fair Pageant, which will be held at the pageant building at 7 p.m. UCW Wrestling will take it to the mat at 7:30 p.m. for the first of three nights of wrestling. The KITPA Truck Pull will be held at the motorsports track at 8 p.m.
Tuesday is Hardin County Farm Bureau night at the fairgrounds. Stop by the Farm Bureau office for a coupon to get $1 off the $15 admission price.
The Hardin County Fair has lots to offer for everybody, and as Fair Board President Marty Fulkerson says: “It’s 61 years of the most fun you can have with your shoes on!”
Meanwhile, the 2024 Miss Hardin County Fair Pageant was held Monday evening. Meshyia Nradhsaw was crowned as Miss Hardin County Fair while also winning the Most Photogenic prize. Ann-Margaret Basham was named first runner-up while Ajia Ballard was named second runner-up and Miss Congeniality.
Find the complete schedule on the Hardin County Fair website or Facebook page.
Attorneys for Brooks Houck maintain that trying him in a joint trial with Steven Lawson and Joseph Lawson would be in violation of Houck’s due process.
Special Prosecutor Shane Young’s motion to join the trials of the three suspects charged in the Crystal Rogers investigation was argued during a hearing in Nelson Circuit Court Monday morning.
Houck’s defense attorney Brian Butler said the argument of the defense is that Houck did not commit the crime he has been charged with and that Steven Lawson has lied in his interviews with police and his grand jury testimony, and trying the three together would remove Houck’s ability to cross-examine Lawson and refute his statements. Butler also said it wouldn’t be possible to redact Lawson’s testimony to remove Houck’s name without implicating Houck, and a jury would not be able to follow directions for one defendant and ignore them for another. Butler said because a joint trial would rob Houck of his due process any convictions would likely fail on appeal.
Special Prosecutor Teresa Young said federal and state courts have shown that they favor joint trials because all of the cases have the same information, and a joint trial promotes consistent testimony. Young also said the joint trial is needed to show the collaboration between the suspects.
Butler showed video of Lawson’s interviews with police to show what he called Lawson’s changing story and the efforts of law enforcement to guide Lawson to making a certain statement. Butler said the video shows Lawson’s testimony is unreliable, but if he is tried with Houck and chooses not to testify then Houck has no way of refuting the prosecution’s telling of events.
Young called Butler’s arguments “clear as mud”, and said the prosecution is not using Lawson’s grand jury testimony.
Judge Charles Simms III said having heard from Houck and Steven Lawson’s defenses on the motion to join and their objections, he still wanted to hear from Joseph Lawson’s defense on the matter. Joseph Lawson is due back in court on July 18, and Judge Simms said he would rule as quickly as possible after that.
Crews with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four will be performing bridge inspections on the Western Kentucky Parkway bridges over Interstate 65 this week.
“These inspections are part of a regular maintenance schedule,” said KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie. “There is no other reason at this point for doing these inspections, and we do them on all of our bridges – county, state, federal bridges. They are all regularly inspected on a maintenance schedule.”
The KYTC says varying lane closures will take place and drivers should be prepared for merging conditions in both directions on the parkway around inspection crews. Use caution and pay close attention when approaching the area.
The City of Elizabethtown is excited to host its July Lawn Party at the Lake Concert this Wednesday.
“It is held every second Wednesday at the bandstand at Freeman Lake Park off of the Blue Heron Road entrance,” said Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles. “We are offering multiple concerts with family friendly events throughout the summer.”
This month’s concert will feature Louisville-based Radiotronic, which according to the band’s Facebook page plays the hits of the 70s, 80s, and today. Their show Wednesday will feature the music of the Bee Gees.
Each Lawn Party event offers food vendors, and while outside alcohol is not permitted alcoholic beverages will be on sale.
“The concert series is totally free and family friendly,” Pyles said. “The gates will open at 5.30 p.m. and the acts will take the stage around 6.30, so it gives you a little bit of time to come in and get seated. It is festival style seating, so we ask that people bring lawn chairs, you can bring blankets. We will have picnic tables, but it’s very, very casual.”
Pyles said the first year for the concert series was a successful one, and in 2024 there’s nowhere to go but up.
“We had such a wonderful turnout last year after we got through the rain, but we’re very, very excited,” Pyles said. “The bandstand at Freeman Lake is such a beautiful fixture in our community. If you haven’t been out to see it, it is the perfect place to relax after a hard day, and we’re really excited.”
Follow the Elizabethtown City Events Facebook page for more information and updates.
All are invited to attend Tuesday at 9 a.m. as the Hardin County Clerk’s Office cuts the ribbon on their Radcliff office, located at 101 West Lincoln Trail Boulevard.
“We’re excited to finally cut the ribbon on this,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “I want to thank Nolin RECC for being a great partner in this. I want to thank our community leaders who’ve been very, very supportive of this effort. The public’s invited to the ribbon cutting, but most importantly, we want the public to come out and use the services that are available.”
The Radcliff office will be able to process voter registrations and vehicle registrations.
“We are still having some issues with KAVIS, the statewide computer system that county clerks were issued by the state transportation cabinet, so there may be a few hiccups,” Smith said. “We ask for the public’s continued patience, but this is going to be an office that’s going to provide the services that people were used to when it was open.”
Returning operations to Radcliff was something Smith talked about during his campaign, but he says getting the office up and running was more about responsibility to residents in the northern half of the county.
“Yes, this was a campaign promise,” Smith said. “Yes, I’m thrilled we’re able to get to the point where we can open this office, but this is about the people. This isn’t about a promise or a policy or anything like that, but for me, this is about taking care of all of Hardin County, which is what I promised.”
The clerk’s office’s Radcliff location will be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The fun kicks off Monday at the Hardin County Fairgrounds as the 2024 Hardin County Fair gets under way.
Monday is Entry Day for FFA and 4H entries and exhibits, so entries in this year’s fair will be getting registered in the morning and early afternoon.
In addition to great food at the restaurant and from vendors, adorable animals at the petting zoo, and exciting rides at the midway, Monday will feature the Parent-Child Look-Alike contest at 7:30 p.m. and the 2024 Miss Hardin County Fair Pageant at 8 p.m., with both events at the Pageant Building. The Demolition Derby will be held at the Motorsports Ring at 7:30 p.m.
Monday is Nolin RECC night at the fairgrounds. Members should check in the materials they received from the annual meeting for a coupon for $1 off the $15 admission price.
The Hardin County Fair has lots to offer for everybody, and as Fair Board President Marty Fulkerson says, “it’s 61 years of the most fun you can have with your shoes on!”
Find the complete schedule on the Hardin County Fair website or Facebook page.
The motion to dismiss filed by the attorney for Crystal Rogers investigation suspect Steven Lawson has been denied.
Lawson faces charges of Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Tampering with Physical Evidence, but he claimed he was promised immunity in exchange for his cooperation with the investigation, so therefore his charges should be dismissed.
Nelson Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III denied that motion in an order filed Wednesday.
In the order, Judge Simms says a written immunity agreement was never executed, and while Lawson’s defense provided transcripts of discussions of an immunity agreement, the judge said it was clear that such an agreement was contingent on Lawson being completely truthful, which the judge said the prosecution showed was not the case. The judge also said Lawson’s defense never called any witnesses during a hearing reviewing the immunity claim, instead relying entirely on the transcripts.
In the motion to dismiss, the defense had also requested that should the motion be denied the court then suppress Lawson’s statements to police and his grand jury testimony. While the grand jury testimony request was denied, Judge Simms said Lawson does have the right to suppress his interviews with police. The court will discuss whether Lawson uses the interviews or not in a hearing set for August 8.
Brooks Houck is due back in court Monday as the prosecution will argue to consolidate Houck, Lawson, and Joseph Lawson’s cases into one, which Houck’s defense has filed an objection against.
The 2024-2025 school year is quickly approaching, and as students get ready to return to their studies and activities organizers are working to make sure events are set to run smoothly.
Michael Moritz is the secretary treasurer for the Mid Kentucky Officials Association. He says the organization is in need of middle and high school football referees.
“Our numbers have been going down over the last few years, and we really are in need of as many people that are willing to be out there on a Friday night or a Thursday night or whatever night of the week it is that they’re playing,” Moritz said.
Mortiz says getting started as an official is an easy process, with those interested needing to purchase their equipment and begin training via training sessions that get started July 13.
“What they need to do is call Andy Strain,” Moritz said. “He’s the KHFAA assigner for our region. His number is 270-272-3205, and you can contact him via phone or you could even just show up on Saturday, July 13th at 9 o’clock at John Hardin High School. That’ll be our first training session for this season for all of the officials.”
Moritz says the sooner you sign up the better in order to get training requirements in and to participate in preseason scrimmages to get ready for game days. He says officiating is a great experience.
“I’ve been doing it for 25 years and it’s been a lot of fun for me, and it’s fun to be out there with the kids on a Friday night in a real tight game, things like that, so it’s been very, very rewarding, and if you have that niche, it can be as rewarding for you as well,” Moritz said.
Contact Andy Strain or visit the KHSAA officiating website for more information.
The number of new voter registrations in Kentucky in June outpaced the number of voters removed from the voting rolls.
The Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office says Kentucky added 9,693 new voter registrations and removed 4,362 voters from the rolls in the month of June.
Of the voters removed from the rolls, 3,030 were for deceased voters, 603 were for convicted felons, and 554 moved to another state.
The Secretary of State’s office says Republican registration increased by 4,947 voters in June, and independent or other registrations increased by 1,502 voters, while Democratic registrations decreased by 1,717 voters. Republican registrations currently make up about 46 percent of the electorate while Democratic registrations make up about 43 percent, with independent or other making up about 10 percent.
Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith says getting registered is a simple process.
“Registering to vote has never been easier,” Smith said. “The quickest and easiest way for most. folks would be to visit govote.ky.gov. They can do that on the computer or their phone and they can register to vote that way. They can also call or visit their county clerk’s office. The deadline to register to vote and participate in the November election is October 7, so don’t wait until the deadline. Go ahead and get it done early.”
Visit the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website for more information on voter registration statistics.
A Glendale farmer is in the running for Kentucky Farm Bureau’s 2024 Farmer of the Year award.
Richard Preston was named one of three finalists for the honor, which is presented to a Kentucky Farm Bureau member “whose efforts strengthen the state’s agriculture industry and demonstrate service and leadership, both on and off the farm.”
Preston says he wasn’t expecting the nomination, let alone being named a finalist.
“I spend a lot of time doing things that do not necessarily make the most money in farming, like looking for new ways to farm, but I was really excited when my colleagues, my peers, picked me to run in this contest, and then I know the competition was tough but somehow I managed to squeeze into the top three,” Preston said.
Preston is a first generation farmer, managing 3,300 acres of land with his wife Marjorie. After starting out in hogs and crops and transitioning to crops and tobacco, Preston grows corn, soybeans, and wheat, but farming wasn’t his original job when he graduated from Yale with a doctorate in physical chemistry.
“I was a scientist before I was a farmer, but I decided to come back to Kentucky to get away from the big city and everything, and now I live in Glendale and they’re bringing the big city to me, so I guess it’s just funny how things come around to get you, don’t they?” Preston said.
Preston says he is proud to be part of the Hardin County farming community.
“We have a group of excellent farmers,” Preston said. “They’re high up in leadership positions in commodity organizations and Farm Bureau, and just to be recognized in Hardin County gives me a lot of pride.”
Preston has worked as an advisor and mentor in the Crop Observation and Research Education Program and held leadership roles in Hardin County Farm Bureau. He tells future farmers the job is worth the time.
“It’s a great occupation,” Preston said. “I love being outside. It is very stressful and takes a lot of hard work, but if they’re willing to do that, it’s a very rewarding experience.”
Preston and the other finalists will be honored at the KFB Ham Breakfast at the Kentucky State Fair on August 21. The winner will be announced October 2 and recognized at December’s annual meeting.
Hardin County Schools Superintendent Teresa Morgan will be hosting three Coffee and Conversation with the Superintendent events over the next month and a half.
“It’s a great opportunity for Ms. Morgan to visit with our community stakeholders about the great things taking place in our schools and for her to answer some questions from our community members,” said HCS Community Relations Specialist John Wright.
The first session will be held Tuesday, July 9 from 8 to 9 a.m. at Apostoli Coffee in Radcliff, the second on July 19 at Tony York’s on Main in Glendale, and the third will be at Social on Main in Elizabethtown on August 13.
“It’s just a great time to learn what’s taking place across our district,” Wright said. “Hardin County Schools is a leader in the state in instructional initiatives and technology initiatives, and it’s just a great opportunity to learn more about that and the quality education that the students in our community are receiving.”
All are welcome to attend.
Meanwhile, HCS has announced new start times for some of their schools ahead of the first day of classes on August 7. The district says the changes are by no more than five minutes. You can find a link to the new schedules on the Hardin County Schools Kentucky Facebook page.
The window for Hardin County Schools families to update student information through the Infinite Campus parent portal system is open.
HCS Community Relations Specialist John Wright says the district has used the portal system for the last several years.
“This is a great way to cut down on the amount of paperwork that we ask parents to complete near the beginning of the school year,” Wright said. “It streamlines the process. It makes it a whole lot easier. There’s some paperwork that our parents will still have to complete on paper, but this online process makes it a whole lot simpler for everyone.”
The parent portal can be found on the Hardin County Schools website. Getting the portal information updated now will help get the new school year off to a smooth start.
“This is really important because the school needs to have the correct information for each student,” Wright said. “For example, the correct emergency contact information, the correct phone number, or work phone number, or cell phone number for a parent, or maybe a grandparent who may also be able to pick up that child or to serve as an emergency contact for the students.”
Parents who do not have a parent portal log in already set up will need to contact their child’s school to get an initial log in number. Videos with step-by-step instructions on using the portal are available on HCS social media.
“The window closes for that on August 2, so on August 3 be expecting to fill out a lot of paperwork for the beginning of the 24-25 school year,” Wright said.
The first day of class at Hardin County Schools is Wednesday, August 7.
Fort Knox Garrison Commander Colonel Christopher Ricci says Fort Knox may have changed shape since the armor days, but the installation remains a “strategic, critical, and high functioning Army base.”
“In fact, we’re currently right in the middle of Cadet Summer Training right now,” Ricci said. “That is the largest annual training event for the Army, so we’ve got over 10,000 cadets from colleges and universities across the country descending on Fort Knox for training across this span of 100 days of summer. Additionally, over 5,000 cadre from across the Army are on post to assist in the training of these cadets.”
Ricci was the featured speaker during the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce’s June Business at Breakfast event, held Thursday at the Colvin Community Center in Radcliff.
Ricci discussed the command operations that are located at Fort Knox and their relationship to other operations in the Army. The colonel also said Fort Knox’s importance to the Army is evidenced by the construction of the Digital Air-Ground Integration Range, or DAGIR, at Fort Knox’s Yano Range, making it one of only three such ranges in the Army and the only one located east of the Mississippi River.
“DAGIR allows for all manner of tank, gravity fighting vehicle, aviation, mounted, and dismounted training and allows for integration of air and ground unit training simultaneously,” Ricci said “It’s a huge deal for the Department of Defense, the Army, and the greater Fort Knox community. It was a $56 million investment to make this range possible, but it’s been made to ensure our troops are the best trained in the world.”
Ricci said Fort Knox tries its best to alert the surrounding area of training activity and to limit the noise when they can in order to be good neighbors. He closed by recognizing Fort Knox’s gratitude for the support offered by area communities.
“We’re incredibly fortunate to have the relationships that we do with all of the leaders in this community, and all the folks that are in this room right now,” Ricci said. “It’s something we don’t take for granted and we look forward to advancing in the years to come. Again, thanks for your time. We hope you know that your positive support to the soldiers, families, and civilians who live, work, and play on Fort Knox is without a doubt appreciated and absolutely contributes to the success of Fort Knox.”
Ricci encouraged anybody interested to visit Fort Knox. Information on the necessary passes can be found on the installation’s website.
The application period for Kentucky businesses looking to secure medical cannabis licenses will open Monday.
Governor Andy Beshear said Thursday the application process is six months ahead of schedule as the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program took significant steps to expedite the timeline. Under the terms of the state program, licenses will be issued for five types of medical cannabis business: cultivators, processors, producers, safety compliance facilities, and dispensaries. A series of YouTube webinars, a business licensing application guide, and other materials are available to help applicants at kymedcan.ky.gov.
Area municipalities have been weighing whether or not to opt into the state program or opt out, which would not prevent cardholders from accessing or possessing medical cannabis but would prevent businesses from setting up shop. The Elizabethtown City Council took up action to opt in while the Vine Grove City Council and the Hardin County Fiscal Court voted to put the issue on the November ballot, and the Radcliff City Council is weighing options. Elizabethtown City Council Member Julia Springsteen said the city shouldn’t put an undue burden on patients in need when the program is as regulated as it is.
“There’s a board of eight doctors and two nurses that govern the whole thing,” Springsteen said. “It can’t be near schools, it can’t be advertised that well, and the bottom line is this was passed because sick people need this and it’s proven to help sick people.”
Radcliff City Attorney Mike Pike said it is important for local communities to get regulations on the books so that the city has a say.
“You can’t restrict those people’s usage, but what you can do is restrict time, manner, place in terms of all these various cannabis operations, so if you do nothing, then what that means is you’re allowing it,” Pike said.
Monday is also the launch of the application process for physicians and advanced practice registered nurses seeking authorization to issue medical cannabis certifications.
Unemployment rates across the Lincoln Trail District saw slight increases in May 2024.
The Kentucky Center for Labor Statistics says unemployment rates in May 2024 increased in 109 counties, decreased in six counties, and stayed the same in five counties.
The state average for unemployment for May was reported at 4.5 percent, up slightly from the 4.4 percent rate reported in April and from the 4.1 percent reported in May 2023. Four counties in the Lincoln Trail District had rates higher than the state average and three counties had rates lower than the state average.
Hardin County tied the state average in May 2024 with an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent. Hardin’s rate had the same slight increases as the state average, going from 4.4 percent in April and 4.1 percent in May 2023.
Breckinridge County had the highest unemployment rate in the district for May at 5.1 percent, while Washington County had the lowest at 3.4 percent.
More information on how the unemployment rate is calculated and more data is available at kystats.ky.gov.
The West Point Kids Club will be hosting a free Family Fun Day event at the West Point School Yard this Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m.
“It’s free to all of the kids in town,” said Brittany Miller, one of the volunteers helping to put on the event. “We’re going to have bounce houses and water slides. We’re going to be having food and outdoor games, and some other little surprises that we haven’t really put out there yet. We’re trying to surprise the kids with some extra fun stuff.”
Activities and food for all kids will be free, and while food for adults will carry a cost it is for a good cause.
“For the food, we’re charging $5 for the adult because we’re also going to be doing a back to school program or back to school event at the end of July, beginning of August, so the $5 that we get for every adult meal purchase is going to go towards purchasing back to school supplies to help with that event,” Miller said.
Family Fun Day is part of the kids club’s efforts to support the kids of West Point.
“The West Point Kids Club, they get together from time to time just to do stuff with the kids, just to bring more activities to the kids of West Point,” Miller said.
The West Point Kids Club posts upcoming events to the Community Page of West Point Facebook page.
Independence Day means fireworks, and area communities are getting ready for their annual fireworks displays.
The City of Irvington will host their second annual Light Up Irvington event this Saturday.
“Light Up Irvington is a huge firework show, and before the fireworks start there’s a festival,” said Irvington Auxiliary Club President Tammy Butler. “We have vendors, we have games for children, we have concessions. This year we have a beer garden. We’ve got a slingshot. It’s like a big water balloon and you do a slingshot trying to hit a bucket. It’s a lot of different activities for the kids to do.”
Light Up Irvington will be held Saturday, June 29 at the Eva Carmen Park on 2nd Street in Irvington. The booths and vendors will open at 4 p.m. Eastern. Fireworks begin at dusk.
Butler says the event got off to a great start last year and organizers are excited for year two.
“We really have a great time and it’s awesome just to see the community get together and see the smiles on their faces,” Butler said.
Find more information on the City of Irvington Facebook page.
Equipment operators from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet were able to put their skills on display in district and state competitions and will now represent Kentucky in the regional competition.
14 KYTC operators, including several from the local districts, advanced to represent the commonwealth at the Southeastern Regional Equipment Operator’s Safety and Training Conference, which will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina, in September. The operators qualified after earning high marks in the state’s conference, or equipment “Roadeo”, a two-day state-level competition that saw heavy equipment operators show their skill on seven obstacle course exercises.
The state Roadeo was held at the Kentucky Horse Park Tuesday and Wednesday with crews competing in courses that tested accuracy, agility, and speed while operating equipment such as graders, dump trucks, and skid steers.
Josh Garmon with KYTC District Four took first place in the tractor truck with lowboy trailer category. Jamie Watkins with District Four won first place in the single axle dump truck category, with Garmon finishing third. Nicholas Howell with District Three won first place in the skid steer category, with District Three’s Paul Gripshover finishing third.
Visit the KYTC on the web for more information.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is reminding outdoor enthusiasts to help maintain waterways across the commonwealth by keeping their gear and watercraft clean
KFW says more than 100 aquatic invasive species have been identified in Kentucky, which threatens native flora and fauna by introducing unchecked species with no natural predators or exposing native species to foreign pathogens.
Invasive species that have been identified already in Kentucky include various species of carp, zebra mussels, crayfish, and plants like curly pondweed and Eurasian watermilfoil.
Aquatic invasive species can be spread through sand, mud, dirt, and water, often hitching a ride on boats and gear. Folks participating in outdoor activity can help reduce the spread of invasive species by taking simple actions after visiting a body of water.
Clean your boat, equipment, or gear before you leave. Empty all water-containing devices. Allow boats and equipment to completely dry before visiting another body of water.
KFW is currently revising its State Aquatic Nuisance Species Plan, which outlines the high-priority invasive species and strategies to prevent their spread. Visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website for more information.
The decision on medical marijuana facilities for unincorporated Hardin County locations will go to the voters.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court voted down an ordinance that would have prohibited the operation of cannabis businesses in the unincorporated portions of the county and instead passed a resolution to put the issue on the ballot at the next election.
Judge-Executive Keith Taul voted in favor of the prohibiting ordinance, as he felt since other incorporated cities in the county are taking steps to permit the businesses availability will not be an issue, and the county can take its time and let things play out.
“As good as the people are that have come up with this program at Frankfurt, I believe that they are not invincible, and that they have come up with a process that they think will work really well, but it is untested, and so I would prefer that Hardin County opt out for now, see how things are going to go, and then as needed we can come in later,” Taul said.
After the ordinance was voted down 5 to 4, Taul voted in favor of the resolution to put the decision on the ballot as he said giving it to the voters was better than taking no action on the matter. The resolution passed 6 to 3.
District Three Magistrate Patsy Whitehead said giving Hardin County voters a voice on the topic is important, and she said she hopes the voters take advantage of the opportunity.
“Use the next few months to learn all you can about the restrictions placed on medical cannabis,” Whitehead said. “Ask questions. Do your homework. Do your research. Make an educated vote on November 5. Your opinion is important, so let your voice be heard.”
The court also approved an amendment to the county’s zoning ordinance that had its second reading. The amendment reduces the minimum size of a Rural Residential or R-2 lot from 3 acres to 1.8 acres.
In other meeting news, the Hardin County Coroner’s Office responded to 93 cases in April, including 8 accidents, and 114 cases in May, including 7 accidents. The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office reported 140 arrests, 284 citations, 50 criminal cases, and 120 warrants issued in April and May.
Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith said the clerk’s office is excited to open its Radcliff location.
“Tuesday, July 9 is our opening date, the first date will be available to serve you,” Smith said. “When I initially reported this, we thought we were going to be open Tuesdays and Thursdays. For a variety of reasons, we’re going to be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, so we’re starting at three days a week, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.”
July 9 is also the date of the next Hardin County Fiscal Court meeting.
Kentucky State Police Post Four will be welcoming back two new troopers that recently completed cadet training.
Troopers William Hendricks of Shepherdsville and Matthew Mann of Springfield were among the 37 cadets that graduated from the 104th class of the Kentucky State Police Training Academy.
The KSP says cadets arrived at the academy on January 7 and embarked on 24 weeks of intense training to learn the necessary job skills to serve as state troopers. The cadets received more than 1,000 hours of classroom and field study as they learned and practiced subjects such as juvenile and traffic law, use of force, defensive tactics, first aid, crash investigation, drug identification, and more.
Cadets that participate in the training academy who have a high school diploma or GED and three years of full-time work experience when they apply to serve as a trooper are eligible to earn an associate’s degree in General Occupational and Technical Studies from Bluegrass Community and Technical College during academy training. Trooper Mann was one of 13 cadets who earned their associate’s degree.
The KSP is currently recruiting for Cadet Class 105, with the deadline to apply June 30. Visit the KSP website for more information.
Hardin County Schools is accepting nominations for its 2024 class of Distinguished Alumni Award winners.
HCS says the awards are an opportunity to honor district alumni. Nominees must have graduated from a current or former Hardin County school no less than five years ago.
“The Distinguished Alumni celebration is one of our best events each year and we encourage everyone who has a connection to the Hardin County Schools family to nominate a HCS alum who has excelled in his or her chosen profession or who has made outstanding contributions to his or her community,” said Hardin County Schools Community Relations Specialist John Wright.
The deadline for nominations is July 26, and award winners will be honored in a ceremony on September 26. The nomination form can be found on the Hardin County Schools website under the Alumni tab.
The Elizabethtown Police Department is investigating after a worker was found dead at an area factory.
“At shortly before 4:30 Tuesday evening, we were called to Metalsa in reference to and employee who they were unable to locate,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “Shortly after our officers arrived, concerns developed that the employee had possibly fallen into a chemical holding tank that was in the immediate area where the employee had been working. Regretfully, the body of the deceased employee was located inside of the tank.”
Denham said the investigation is ongoing.
“This is a terrible workplace accident and a tragedy that words cannot describe, but there is no foul play suspected,” Denham said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and co-workers of the deceased.”
The incident occurs just over two years after a worker was killed at the factory, which produces structural products and chassis for vehicles, in a forklift accident in 2022.
UPDATE: the EPD has identified the victim as 59-year-old Franklin Logsdon of Campbellsville.
The Radcliff Fire Department, in partnership with the Radcliff Police Department, is hosting a free child car seat event Tuesday at the Radcliff Walmart.
“From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., we’re doing a car seat check where you can come and get your car seat checked,” said Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane. “So if you’re a grandparent or whether you’re a mom or dad that you just want somebody to double check it, or maybe you got a new car seat and you’re just trying to make sure that you put it in correctly, we just want to make sure everybody’s riding safely.”
All are welcome to attend, and it is as simple as just driving up.
“There’s no charge,” Crane said. “It’s free to the public. We just want to make sure to get the information out, get the opportunity out there for people that are stopping in to do their shopping. Just give us about 20 minutes of your time and we will go over everything with you and double check everything and you’ll be good to go.”
Crane said following all of the proper instructions for installing a car seat is critical for child safety.
“One of the things that we find a lot is that the car seat itself is not supposed to move very much when it’s in the seated position there, when it’s strapped down, and a lot of times we find that they’re loose,” Crane said. “That extra movement could cause extra injury to the child in the event of an accident, and also the correct seating direction. Make sure that the child should be rear facing until at least about two years old.”
All are welcome to attend this free event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Radcliff Walmart parking lot.
The Hardin County Animal Shelter and the Hardin County Public Library are partnering on an event that benefits animals and kids alike.
Registration is available for Waggin’ Tales, a chance for kids to practice their reading with dogs at the animal shelter. Slots are available on July 11 and July 18.
The shelter says many of the dogs housed there are nervous and worried, and reading to them helps calm them down and show them that people can be trusted. The dogs then offer great moral support for the readers.
Find the Waggin’ Tales flier on facebook to access the registration link.
Hardin County Animal Care and Control Director Mike McNutt previously told Quicksie and The Wolf that the animal shelter is in dire need of adopters.
“If you’re ready to make a commitment to an animal, please come see us,” McNutt said. “We have zero space on the adoption floor. Animals are coming in at an alarming rate, and it’s this way across the nation.”
The Hardin County Animal Shelter is open Mondays through Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. at 220 Peterson Drive in Elizabethtown. Contact the shelter or visit their Facebook page for more information.
Tuition at colleges across Kentucky will see a slight increase this school year.
The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education approved tuition and mandatory fee proposals submitted by six public universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System during their June business meeting Friday.
The approved tuition increases are:
-KCTCS: 1.6 percent
-Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University, and Western Kentucky University: 1.9 percent
-Murray State University and Northern Kentucky University: 2 percent
-University of Kentucky: 2.2 percent.
The council says the University of Louisville was granted a delegation of authority, which allows the council president to approve a tuition increase submitted by the university under council parameters, as Louisville’s board meeting to discuss tuition was scheduled for after the council’s meeting.
Undergraduate tuition increases at public four-year institutions are capped at no more than 5 percent over two years or no more than 3 percent in any one year.
Materials and other information from the June business meeting can be found on the Council on Postsecondary Educations’ website.
You can help support the 1 in 5 children (55,710) within the Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland service area that are facing food insecurity while enjoying great food from two area eateries as the organization participates in the second annual Pasta Bowl campaign.
“We surveyed our kids that are in some of our programs, and two of the favorite foods that rose to the top were macaroni and ravioli,” said FAKH Marketing and Communications Manager Kaitlyn Jackson. “Both are pastas, and so we decided to have some fun with our campaign and to call it the Pasta Bowl to pit these two teams of kid-friendly choices against each other, to raise funds to feed kids in our service area.”
You can participate in the Pasta Bowl by visiting Impellizzeri’s Pizza or J.R. Neighbors in Downtown Elizabethtown.
“Impellizzeri’s has a wonderful ravioli that they are doing for this summer,” Jackson said. “J.R. Neighbors has a fantastic four-cheese macaroni that they are also having this summer, and by ordering those two dishes, part of the proceeds from those dishes are coming back to support our Feeding Kids campaign.”
Jackson says the data shows additional efforts like the Pasta Bowl are needed throughout the region.
“Last year we had four counties that had childhood food insecurity rates above 20 percent,” Jackson said. “This year we have 36 counties above 20 percent, and so we are seeing a massive surge in food insecurity for children in our region, and so it’s all the more important this year for the Pasta Bowl to do well so that we can feed kids in our region.”
Visit Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland on Facebook or their website for more information.
Area business owners and executives are invited to attend Tuesday as Magnolia Bank hosts their Business Succession and Transition Seminar.
“We see a lot of businesses, whether you’re talking about just a mom and pop shop, a big business, a farm, any of the business aspects, getting that game plan set aside of what happens next,” said Magnolia Bank Vice President and Relationship Manager Dustin Hayes. “Are you going to pass this down to the next generation? Is your plan to build it to a certain point and sell it? We’re seeing a lot of the businesses recently that got to a point where they’re ready to transition, but they don’t have someone who is next in line to take over it, and then they might have a very valuable business based off of income, but sometimes you get into some of the businesses that don’t have that hard asset like real estate that it’s hard to actually sell because it’s harder to take a lien on.”
Hayes said as the bank reached out to businesses to speak at the seminar several said they did not have such a plan in place, which he said makes the topic an important one to discuss.
Magnolia Bank is partnering with Cerity Partners in Elizabethtown and Dean Durbin with Professional EOS Implementer in Louisville to host the seminar.
“The main topics they’re talking about are: why session planning is important for business owners, structuring the sale of a business, how to determine the value of a business, and the mechanics of the sale process and how you can create a market to increase that value that you’re looking to sell,” Hayes said.
The seminar will be held at Magnolia Bank’s Elizabethtown office Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. and all are welcome to attend this free event. While no registration is required, Magnolia Bank asks participants to RSVP with either Dustin Hayes (270-777-5348) or Amanda Heady (270-234-6097) sometime Monday.
An officer with the Elizabethtown Police Department is being recognized for her efforts.
“Lieutenant Madison Kuklinski recently graduated from the FBI National Academy,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “This is a renowned training environment for law enforcement leaders from all over the world. We are proud of her and excited to have her back within our ranks.”
Kuklinski graduated from the 290th session of the FBI National Academy, which included officers from 46 states and the District of Columbia and members of law enforcement representing 24 countries, five military organizations, and six federal civilian organizations.
According to the FBI Louisville field office, the academy offers ten weeks of advanced communication, leadership and fitness training, with participating officers having proven records as professionals within their agencies. The academy is held at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, which is where the FBI trains new agents and intelligence analysts.
The FBI says 55,186 graduates have completed the National Academy since its founding in 1935.
Unemployment in Kentucky remained steady going from April into May.
The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the May 2024 unemployment rate was 4.6 percent. That rate is the same as what was reported for April 2024, and is .5 percent higher than the rate reported for May 2023.
The commonwealth’s civilian labor force saw an increase in May, with 6,621 individuals joining the labor force from April. While the number of unemployed people increased by a little less than 1,400, the number of employed people increased by about 5,200, the fourth consecutive month the labor force has seen an increase. The total civilian labor force for Kentucky was reported at about 2,040,000 people.
Kentucky’s unemployment rate trends a little higher than the national average, which for May 2024 was reported at 4 percent. A Bureau of Labor Statistics survey reported that eight of Kentucky’s major non-farm job sectors increased in May while employment decreased in three sectors.
More information on the Kentucky labor market can be found at kystats.ky.gov. County unemployment rates for May should be released by the end of this month.
Nolin RECC officials recapped the electric co-ops activities and business figures from 2023 during their annual membership meeting Thursday afternoon.
Nolin District 3 Director Rick Thomas said the co-op ended 2023 with 36,814 active accounts.
“If you’ve kept up with that the last few years, that number’s been going up and it’s pretty obvious,” Thomas said. “Part of it, you’ll see new houses and things going up, but right now the biggest surge is in apartments, and you’re probably seeing them go up in a lot of places too, so we expect that to continue. I don’t know where we have a guess on when we’re going to get to 40,000, but we’re getting pretty close to it.”
Operating revenue was reported at about $85.3 million while operating expenses were reported at about $84.8 million. Thomas said the operating margin of about $497,000 is down from years past in part because inflation has increased the cost of materials and impacted supply chains, but the co-op’s staff has worked hard to limit the impact.
“We’re very fortunate that we have the staff that we have that have taken it in their hands to keep an eye on that, trying to keep those costs down, and also there’s an issue with just getting materials now and they’ve had to work through that, so I hope you appreciate their efforts on that,” Thomas said.
Nolin RECC President and CEO Greg Lee said the focus of operations continues to be what is best for the co-op’s members.
“In 2023, we found ourselves in the fortunate position to be able to retire just over $2.7 million in capital credits,” Lee said. “That was the fifth straight year we had been able to make a general retirement and the cumulative total over those five years is now over $20 million.”
The annual meeting can be viewed on Nolin RECC’s YouTube channel. The annual report was included in the items distributed in the buckets members received during meeting registration.
An online law enforcement operation has landed a Bullitt County man in jail.
23-year-old Blake Nathaniel Hoots of Mount Washington was charged with seven counts of Distribution of Matter Portraying a Sexual Performance by a Minor Under 12 Years Old, a Class C felony, following his arrest Tuesday.
According to the Kentucky State Police, Hoots was arrested as the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigation. The KSP says the KSP’s Electronic Crime Branch began investigating after the suspect was found to have shared images of child sexual exploitation.
On June 18, officers with the KSP interviewed Hoots. Equipment used to allegedly facilitate the crime was seized and taken to a KSP forensic laboratory for examination. Hoots was lodged in the Bullitt County Detention Center. The investigation is ongoing.
The Kentucky Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force consists of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies that assist state and local law enforcement in developing a response to cyber enticement and child sexual abuse material investigations. More than 26 agencies across the commonwealth contribute to the task force.
If you are attending, or are thinking about attending, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, you can take a look at campus ahead of the school year.
New and prospective ECTC students are invited to attend Open House Days, which will be held from 12 to 6 p.m. each Tuesday in July.
ECTC says attendees will have the chance to learn about the college’s student support programs, talk to college staff about educational and career pathways, get information on financial aid opportunities and help completing the FAFSA, and complete admissions files and order transcripts.
No registration is required. Guests should start their visit at the Welcome and Admissions Center located in the Regional Postsecondary Center. For more information on open houses or other tours, contact the recruitment office via email at ectcrecruitment@kctcs.edu.
The first day of the fall semester is August 19. Visit the ECTC website for more information.
The Meade County Ethics Commission reviewed an ethics complaint filed against Meade County Jailer J.J. Scarborough during a hearing Tuesday night.
Attorney Peter Hill served as legal advisor to the ethics commission during the hearing. He said the complaint alleged three violations of the standards of conduct section of the county’s ethics ordinance.
“The sum, kind of the essence of the complaint, was that there was a conflict of interest by the current jailer, J.J. Scarborough, because of a relationship he had with an employee within the jail, and that led to unwarranted advantages and other things that would violate the ethics ordinance,” Hill said.
Scarborough and the complainant were each represented by legal counsel at the hearing, with both sides submitting evidence and calling witnesses. Hill said after deliberating the ethics commission sustained the complaint on one ground.
“The commission found that there was sufficient evidence that the respondent, the Meade County Jailer, had a direct or indirect financial or personal involvement that might reasonably be expected to impair his objectivity or independence of judgment,” Hill said.
Hill said the violation is of the reasonable man standard, meaning that there was no finding of an actual conflict of interest or actual seeking of an unwarranted advantage or privilege, but it would look to an outside observer that the actions would impair somebody’s objectivity.
Hill said the ethics commission has the authority to issue a monetary fine, and while Hill said he could not speak to the commission’s reasons they ultimately decided not to issue one.
“In looking at all the circumstances and the relative lack of evidence that in fact this relationship led to something bad for the county, no allegation that the county lost money, and plenty of evidence actually that the county jail is being fairly well run, especially its medical department is being fairly well run, the ethics commission (again, without reading their minds) may well have considered that evidence and concluded, ‘We’ve made a finding of a violation here. We’re not going to assess a civil penalty,’” Hill said.
Kentucky law says the Meade County Circuit Court has the authority to review the complaint. Scarborough was elected Meade County Jailer in 2014.
The Meade County Water District sent out a request to customers to help conserve water this week as increased demand due to the hot and dry weather has put increased stress on the district’s distribution system.
“We have a maximum pumping capacity of about 1.3 million gallons per day, and our demand is at about 1.3 million gallons per day, so we’re kind of teetering a little bit there,” said Meade County Water Conservation District General Manager Brett Pyles.
Pyles said the water district’s goal is to increase capacity to 4 million gallons, but it will involve significant work and time.
“We have several projects in the queue to correct this issue, because I’ve been there a little over two years and this has been an issue since I got there, so we started planning right then but as with most large construction projects like ours, nothing’s quick, nothing’s easy,” Pyles said. “We have to jump through regulatory hoops. We have to secure funding. We have to do all kinds of things.”
Pyles thanked Hardin County Water District No. One for providing support, and thanked the water district’s customers. He says their efforts are already evident.
“Our tanks are in much better shape,” Pyles said. “We’re able to keep up. Just don’t use water to water the lawn or let the kids play in the backyard or what have you. If they can do that and just keep it to what they need water for to live, we’ll be in great shape.”
The water district hopes to have the first of its upcoming improvement projects, a new upsized transmission line from the Flaherty water tank to the Garrett water tank, out for bid by the end of July.
Follow the Meade County Water District Facebook page for more information.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is alerting motorists to a road closing in Bullitt County.
Kentucky Route 480 or Cedar Grove Road will be closed from near County Road 1634 to near Woodsdale Road. The road will be closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday as crews work to replace cross drains along the route.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Three says following the cross drain replacement, crews will place a dense-grade rock layer over the drains until asphalt can be laid. Drivers should use caution when driving over the cross drains.
Meanwhile, KYTC District Four says work has been completed on the westbound lanes of Kentucky Route 218 in downtown Horse Cave, but now the eastbound lanes are closed and eastbound traffic must detour as the work shifts.
Motorists should follow all detours around affected areas and use caution when approaching work zones. Follow KYTC District Three and Four social media for project updates.
Chief Meteorologist Brian Schoettmer with the National Weather Service in Louisville says temperatures will remain above typical June averages for some time.
“So it looks like a fairly prolonged period of above normal temperatures,” Schoettmer said. “Normal for areas around Louisville this time of year would be 86 degrees, and we’re expecting basically all week and into the weekend highs, a lot of them, in the mid 90s, and then as we get late week/into the weekend we might even see more upper 90s temperatures.”
Schoettmer says temperatures are expected to come down a little on Sunday or Monday as a cooler front works its way through, but that will only pull things from the upper 80s to the lower 80s.
“The one good thing about all this is while the temperatures are going to be pretty high, overall the humidity isn’t going to be as bad as it could be,” Schoettmer said. “For instance, our dew points are only going to be in the mid-60s, so that’s going to keep our heat indices mostly in the 95 to 100 degree range, so really not that much different than our temperatures.”
Schoettmer says with the extended period of heat, be sure to use caution when working outside, and be sure to keep an eye on others.
“Wear light and loose fitting clothing,” Schoettmer said. “Obviously drink plenty of water. Also, make sure you check up on neighbors, especially if you have an elderly neighbor, make sure that they’ve got their air conditioning and that they’re handling the heat okay. Another thing we like to caution folks is make sure you remember to check the back seat.”
Visit the National Weather Service in Louisville on the web for more information on current conditions.
The Radcliff City Council met for a regular meeting Tuesday.
The council approved the 2024-2025 city budget ordinances on their second readings.
“That is our last and second reading of the budget, so thank you all so much,” said Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall. “That is our 2024-2025 budget, so thank you all for your hard work and hopefully there’s some things in there we’ll be able to get done this year.”
The total budget is valued at about $17 million.
Total resources available in the budget show:
-General Fund: $16,407,100
-Road LGEA Funds: $542,000
-Stormwater Utility Fund $1,334,000
Total appropriations in the budget show:
-General Fund $16,407,100
-Road LGEA Funds: $542,000
-Stormwater Utility Fund: $1,334,000
The council also held the first reading on an ordinance that rezones 155 Morgan Street from R-7 to Planned Unit Development Zone, which will accommodate the conversion of a former trailer park to 19 single-family housing units.
City engineering firm QK4 presented a review of the city’s community rating system progress report, which fulfills requirements for the city concerning federal floodplain standards and qualifies Radcliff residents for discounts on flood insurance coverage. QK4 says the city maintained the same values from last year, so no changes to the city’s rating are expected.
The Radcliff City Council will next meet July 8.
Great events, exciting rides, entertaining shows, and delicious food await you at the fairgrounds in Hardinsburg as the 2024 Breckinridge County Fair gets officially underway Wednesday.
“We’re really looking forward to it,” said Breckinridge County Fair Chairman Jacyln Walden. “We’re going to have a great week. The weather looks a little warm but, overall, perfect for a county fair. We’ve got our carnival setting up right now. We’ve got our shows pulling in and getting set up, and I think we’re going to have a really good week.”
4H participants will be showcasing their hard work in the livestock shows, with cows and goats featured Wednesday night and swine and sheep Thursday. The youth premium livestock auction will be held Thursday evening.
Each night features annual fair staples at the arena and special performances at the main pavilion.
“Our main event Wednesday night, we have the horse show,” Walden said. “Thursday and Friday are both demolition derbies with different classes each night, and Saturday is our truck and tractor pull put on by KTPA.”
Walden says the fair has lots of events for everyone to enjoy.
“There’s several free events for the kids to participate in,” Walden said. “We’re really looking forward to watching our kids in the livestock auction, all the hard work and stuff that they’ve put in throughout the year. It’s just a time to celebrate all the things of Breckinridge County and to really showcase our kids and our local participants, and really just have a good time.”
The annual fair pageants were held earlier this week. Scarlett Fuller was crowned Miss Pre-Teen Breckinridge County Fair, Bella Franklin was crowned Miss Teen Breckinridge County Fair, Keiley Johnson was crowned Miss Breckinridge County Fair, and Rachel Graves was crowned Ms./Mrs. Breckinridge County Fair.
Fair admission is $10 on Wednesday and Thursday, and $15 on Friday and Saturday. Visit the Breckinridge County Fair Facebook page or website for a complete schedule of events.
The annual summer concert series at the Stephen Foster Story kicks off Monday.
The 2024 Live at the Park Concert Series, hosted by the Stephen Foster Drama Association, will bring five regional bands to the stage at My Old Kentucky Home State Park this summer.
The first of this year’s shows will be June 24, when The Crashers take to the stage at 8 p.m. The Louisville-based party band performs a blend of Top 40, classic rock, oldies, and more. Members of The Crashers have performed with top-selling artists such as Aerosmith, Blake Shelton, and Kid Rock.
The 2024 Live at the Park Concert Series will also feature The Return: The Ultimate Beatles Experience on July 22, The Monarchs on August 5, Creedence Revived on August 16, and Midnight Rider: the Music of the Allman Brothers on September 6.
Pre-show festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday. Tickets can be purchased for individual shows or a season pass is available. Visit www.stephenfoster.com/concerts or call 502-348-5971 for ticket information.
Elizabethtown High School has found its next leader.
Elizabethtown Independent School District Superintendent Paul Mullins announced Monday that Josh Henderson has been appointed as the high school’s new principal.
Mullins said Henderson is a good fit for the position.
“He came to us with five years of high school principal experience, and it’s a tough job, and he’s done a wonderful job in Cumberland County High School, and then speaking with his superintendent and with others, we just know Mr. Henderson is going to be a good fit for us at Elizabethtown,” Mullins said.
EIS says Henderson began his education career as a social studies teacher at LaRue County High School in 2007. He took jobs in other school districts including in Hart County before becoming Cumberland County High School’s principal in 2019.
Mullins thanked the hard work of the district’s selection committee in running the principal search and interview process.
“First we created a survey, and from that survey we took that data and created criteria, and that criteria that came from our survey created the questions for the principal interviews, and in the end we narrowed it down to four school administrators, and we conducted interviews last week,” Mullins said.
Mullins said he is excited to see Henderson get to work.
“I know that he’s going to hit the ground running,” Mullins said. “I know he’s got a lot of work to do, and I also want to say thanks to Mr. Tim Mudd who’s serving as the interim principal at Elizabethtown High School. He has also agreed to serve in that role in transition through the end of July.”
Henderson is a graduate of Caverna High School, with a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University and a master’s from the University of the Cumberlands. He and his wife Samantha have one son.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for their second meeting of the month Monday.
The council approved a zoning map amendment for 712 College Street Road that changes the property from R-3 to R-6/C-2, allowing for commercial and multi-family residential development. The council also approved the 2024-2025 city budget. The budget includes about $149.9 million in total funds available and about $119.7 million in total expenditures. Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory thanked department heads and city staff for their work on a budget that he said is responsible but ambitious.
“We are at a different time in our city’s history, and we have a lot of things that we need to make sure that we stay ahead of, and this budget allows us to reinvest in our community to be able to accomplish those goals and to keep this what I consider the best city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Gregory said.
First readings were held on ordinances that amend the city’s sewer use ordinance and approve the operation of medical cannabis facilities in the city. Both will go up for approval on their second readings at the next council meeting.
The council approved several municipal orders including bids related to paving that were awarded to Scotty’s Contracting and Stone, a $110,000 proposal from MCCI LLC for the implementation of online permitting software for the city, and a $91,300 contract for roofing contractor Bluegrass Brothers to replace the canopy on Elizabethtown City Hall which is often damaged by trucks turning onto U.S. 62.
“We’re going to a different method,” Gregory said. “They’re going to take the canopy down, put the band board around it, and it’s going to be basically flush with the brick which will alleviate that issue in the future, so that’s what that project is. That’s what we’re headed towards now.”
Following a closed session, the council approved the appointment of Bobby Tabb to complete the term of late Council Member Bill Wiseman. A release from the city says Tabb, who previously served a term on the council from 2016 to 2017, will be sworn in by Mayor Gregory Tuesday and assume responsibilities on the council immediately.
The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet July 8.
The Meade County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a fight at a bar landed a man in the hospital.
According to a release from the sheriff’s office, Meade County Dispatch received a call shortly after midnight on June 15 regarding a physical altercation at Bob’s Bar on Flaherty Road that resulted in a man getting stabbed. While on their way to the scene, an additional call reporting shots fired came in to dispatch.
Law enforcement secured the area and Meade County EMS and the Flaherty Fire Department rendered medical assistance to the injured subject, who was transported by ambulance to a Louisville hospital. The sheriff’s office says the suspects fled the scene prior to the arrival of officers.
The Muldraugh and Vine Grove police departments, along with the Kentucky State Police, assisted at the scene. The sheriff’s office says the investigation remains ongoing.
National Pollinator Week runs now through June 23, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is doing their part to assist critters and help the environment.
The KYTC says since 2015 crews have seeded more than 100 habitat sites across the commonwealth, covering about 200 acres along Kentucky interstates, parkways, and other state-owned rights of way.
The multi-year effort to plant nectar-rich flowers and native plants supports pollinators that are key to crop production. The habitats attract birds, bees, butterflies, and other creatures that drink nectar or feed off pollen, which transports grains from plant to plant and helps maintain a stable food supply.
Pollinator sites can be seen along many roadside areas including fields between interstate lanes and exit ramps, alongside multi-lane parkways, and around four-lane highways. Additional pollinator habitats have been added to construction of Interstate 69, and monarch butterfly waystations have been installed at welcome centers and rest areas.
Hardin County has several pollinator habitats located along Interstate 65 and the Western Kentucky Parkway. An interactive map of all locations in the state and more information on the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s ecology program can be found on the KYTC’s website.
The Radcliff City Council met for a special called meeting Friday in order to begin action on the next city budget.
“These are going to be the first readings for our budget year 2024-2025, and then we plan on having the second reading at our regular scheduled meeting, which will be Tuesday the 18th,” said Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall.
The first readings were held on the 2024-2025 budget ordinance along with two ordinances amending parts of the city’s classification and compensation plan for employees.
Radcliff Executive Officer Ashley Russo read the budget ordinance, which details amounts set for anticipated revenue and expenditures.
Total resources available listed in the budget are:
-General Fund: $16,407,100
-Road LGA Funds: $542,000
-Stormwater Utility Fund: $1,334,000
Total appropriations listed in the budget are:
-General Fund: $16,407,100
-Road LGA Funds: $542,000
-Stormwater Utility Fund: $1,334,000
The budget, which totals about $17 million, will go up for approval on its second reading at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Hardin County Animal Care and Control Director Mike McNutt says the Hardin County Animal Shelter is in desperate need of adopters as the shelter continues to deal with capacity issues.
“If you’re ready to make a commitment to an animal, please come see us,” McNutt said. “We have zero space on the adoption floor. Animals are coming in at an alarming rate, and it’s this way across the nation.”
McNutt says the Hardin County pet community is a strong one, and he is looking for people potentially looking to join that community.
“It is filled with wonderful people,” McNutt said. “It’s filled with wonderful veterinarians. There are some wonderful vets here that work with people every day, and we can’t do what we do without the vets doing what they do in the community, so if you have room in your home, you have room in your heart, please come out and give us a hand.”
McNutt says while the situation is dire, only people that are ready to make the long-term commitment necessary for raising an animal should apply.
“I don’t want somebody coming in and taking a dog home for the weekend and then bringing it back,” McNutt said. “That does not help us. That does not help any shelter. There is no such thing as a perfect animal. When you take it home, you have to help that animal become acclimated to your home, and that can take six months to 18 months.”
The Hardin County Animal Shelter is open Monday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at 220 Peterson Drive in Elizabethtown. Contact the shelter or visit their Facebook page for more information.
The Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame is getting ready to celebrate its latest class of inductees.
The Hall of Fame will honor the Class of 2024 in a ceremony at the State Theater this Saturday.
Hall of Fame Board Member Rick Walters said each year the organization reviews and approves 12 to 14 members for induction.
“For coaches, they look at their overall records and things that they won,” Walters said. “District and region titles, and how many state titles, and were they Coach of the Year, stuff like that. For players, it’s whether they were All-State players, their scoring records, and how many districts or regions they won and state championships.”
Among the inductees is former Central Hardin High School coach Terry Buckles. In a career that spanned 24 seasons, teams under Buckles posted a record of 548 and 171, winning six region championships and finishing state runner-up in 1996. Buckles was named Region 5 Coach of the Year six times.
“I’ve known Terry Buckles since he went to East Hardin and I did too, so I’ve known Terry a long time as a player and a coach, and he’s just an all-round good person, a great teacher and coach, and his players liked to play for him, I think.”
Visit the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame’s website for ticket information on Saturday’s ceremony.
The City of Radcliff will celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery, with an event this Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at North Hardin High School.
“We’re celebrating the ability to go in and do things that we never got to do before, and we want our children and our families and others to remember where we came from in order to be able to go into the future and do some great and amazing things and not take it for granted,” said Radcliff City Council Member Michelle Mitchell.
The event will feature food trucks, live music, vendors, speakers, resources, a kid zone, and giveaways.
Event organizer Kevin Russell says the theme of this year’s event is “Past, Present, and Future,” and three individuals (Carl Brashear, Mary Gathers, and Jathan Brydie) will be honored for their contributions to the community.
The featured speaker is Earle, Arkansas, Mayor Jaylen Smith, the youngest African-American mayor in the United States.
“He’s going to come to talk to us about community involvement and how we all can make our community grow; how we all, everybody, can be a part of the community,” Russell said. “You may think that ‘my little piece is not significant,’ but everybody’s piece is significant to make your community grow.”
The Radcliff Juneteenth celebration is free and open to the public.
Lincoln Trail Area Development District Executive Director Daniel London said each county pays 39 cents per citizen to be part of LTADD.
“You don’t want to hear about the 39 cents, you want to hear about the return on investment, because that’s what we look for,” London said. “The average return on investment last fiscal year was $270 from the ADD, so think about this: you buy a 39 cents stock, but you get $270 back, we would all buy that stock, and so the AD district is providing great support to local governments and communities as a result of that.”
London was the featured speaker at the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce’s June general membership luncheon, held at Phillips Grove banquet hall Wednesday. London discussed the major priorities of LTADD including community and economic development and workforce development.
London said the area right now is “bursting at the seams” with economic development opportunities, but major infrastructure improvements are needed to prepare for what is coming.
“What we came up with is almost $1 billion in infrastructure that is needed over the next six years to make this a soft landing,” London said. “That is an incredibly staggering number. This is not even all the infrastructure that’s needed for our region. We have another over $1 billion that’s not on this chart that our CED department is tracking.”
London said he wanted to clarify that the cost was not directly tied to major developments like BlueOval SK in Hardin County and Nucor in Meade County.
“We have significant issues with our infrastructure all across the state that can’t keep up,” London said. “Now, has the BlueOval project as well as others moved that timeline up? That’s when we’re replacing it? Absolutely. That is absolutely fair, but at the end of the day, this is all spending that has to happen at some point to continue the growth that we have.”
London touched on some of the recent studies that LTADD has been a part of, including a look at the lack of available childcare in the area that shows more than 2,000 work-willing adults would be able to return to the workforce with an increase in available childcare services and a housing study that shows Hardin County is about 4,500 housing units short of current needs. A transportation study that is looking at possible public transportation options for Hardin and Meade counties should be completed by September. Those studies and more information can be found on the Lincoln Trail Area Development District website.
Crystal Rogers investigation suspect Steven Lawson was back in court Thursday as the court heard arguments on a motion to dismiss the charges against him.
Steven Lawson faces charges of Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Tampering with Physical Evidence in connection with his involvement in the 2015 disappearance of Crystal Rogers, but Lawson’s defense attorney Ted Lavit has argued those charges should be dismissed based on promises of immunity made in exchange for Lawson’s cooperation with the investigation.
Lavit and Special Prosecutor Shane Young made their arguments to Nelson Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III in a hearing Thursday.
Young said the immunity deal was contingent on Lawson being completely honest with investigators, but Young said inconsistencies in Lawson’s statements to law enforcement show that has not been the case. Young said Lawson has made conflicting statements on his relationship with Brooks Houck, his knowledge of Joseph Lawson’s use of his skid steer, and the involvement of Steven Lawson’s now-deceased ex-wife.
Lavit said that Lawson did everything that investigators had asked him to do, and many of the inconsistencies stem from pressure law enforcement was putting on Lawson. Lavit said Lawson’s testimony was obviously useful to the commonwealth because it was used to get grand jury indictments against Houck and Joseph Lawson.
Judge Simms said he would review the arguments and make a ruling soon. The next scheduled hearing in the case is set for July 8, when attorneys for Houck will argue against trying all three suspects in the same trial.
The East Hardin Middle School Beta Club is returning from the National Beta Conference in Savannah, Georgia, with some hardware.
The Beta Club raked in 15 total awards recognizing placement in the top 10 in several competitions, and Beta Club sponsor and East Hardin art teacher Molly Hazle said one of the crowning achievements capped an effort the students put into the entire school year.
“Our biggest thing we do, where we have about 90 kids participating, is our very big Large Group Talent performing arts, and that’s supposed to showcase any kind of talent for singing, dancing, or speaking,” Hazle said. “We put on a show about BETA through the ages, and we just got national champions for that.”
The club also won the national championship for the solo/duo/trio competition.
Hazle said she is very proud of a well-deserving group of students.
“The last two years, Group Talent is what we pour our heart into the most, and we were national runner up two years in a row, so this is really rewarding for all of us,” Hazle said. “It was a long time coming. We really wanted that national title.”
The Beta Club asks students to strive for achievement in and out of the classroom.
“It is a service organization, but you also have to make certain grades to stay in,” Hazle said. “We ask our students to maintain all As and Bs throughout the year. They have to do 24 hours of service in their community throughout the year, and the four pillars are “achievement, character, leadership, and service,” so it is for students that embody all four of those pillars.”
Hazle said the club will take all students that are willing to put in the effort, and if interested in joining they can reach out once the new school year begins.
PAWS Shelter Foundation member Diane Shoffner says Chewy has been one of the biggest supporters of the Hardin County Pet Pantry, and this Tuesday they are bringing a new opportunity to area pet families in need.
“They have a whole trailer truck of pet beds for us, and so we decided to do just a one time event, open to the public and people that are really in need is our preference and that’s what the purpose of it is for, and Chewy’s belief is to get it out there in the community where it can do the most good,” Shoffner said.
The dog beds will be given away at Helping Hand of Hope, located at 6796 South Wilson Road in Elizabethtown, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. or until the beds are gone on June 18.
Shoffner said the Pet Food Pantry was originally established to help families during the pandemic, but as costs have increased so has demand.
“For some people, it takes their cost of living up so much that they can’t afford the rent, and if they can’t afford the rent then they can’t afford the food to feed their dog, and that’s why we’re important to many people,” Shoffner said. “We served over 53,500 pets last year.”
Pet Food Pantry donations, be it products or financial contributions, can be brought to Shoffner at Sam Russell’s Pet Provisions or to Helping Hand of Hope. In the event of rain Tuesday, the dog bed giveaway will be rescheduled.
CASA of the Heartland will host their annual Farm to Fork dinner Saturday at Highland Sod Farms.
“Farm to Fork is our biggest annual fundraiser,” said CASA of the Heartland Executive Director Michelle Kail. “We partner with several local farms to provide the community with a farm to table dinner. We have a live and silent auction, and also we will have a live band this year, Van Winkle and the Spirits.”
That’s CASA of the Heartland Executive Director Michelle Kail. All of the money raised through the event goes towards the organization’s efforts to provide advocacy for children involved in family court cases through court-appointed special advocates
“We recruit, train and support community volunteers who then are assigned to children who are under petition with the Family Courts for dependency, neglect, and abuse, and our CASA volunteers get to know those children and then help advocate for their best interests within the courtroom,” Kail said.
Learn more about CASA of the Heartland by visiting their website, finding the organization on social media, or by contacting their office.
The City of Elizabethtown is mourning the loss of an elected official.
The city announced on its Facebook page Tuesday the passing of Councilman Bill Wiseman. Wiseman was serving his first term on the city council, and had previously served as a magistrate on the Hardin County Fiscal Court for district five.
“The City of Elizabethtown and the Hardin County communities lost a great leader in Councilman Bill Wiseman,” said Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory. “Mr. Wiseman was smart and insightful and brought a ton of experience to his leadership positions. He took a common sense approach to government at a time the common sense is less and less common. On a personal level, he was a friend to all and brought out the best of his family, friends, and work colleagues. He was always the same and a joy to be around and spend time with, and he will be missed tremendously by our whole community.”
Wiseman had filed to run for re-election. A graduate of Elizabethtown Catholic High School, Wiseman was a member of several local organizations including the Knights of Columbus and the Elizabethtown Lions Club. He is survived by his wife Patty and two children.
The Radcliff City Council met for a work session Tuesday.
The council discussed a zoning map amendment that would convert 155 Morgan Street from R-7 to Planned Unit Development Zone. Because of the use of a PUD zone, the council will also consider the property’s preliminary site plan and preliminary plats. The plan would convert the former Morgawood Mobile Home Park to 19 single-family units. City Attorney Mike Pike said the plan seems to be a good use for the 1.29 acre site.
“The PUD zone is really the only zone they could utilize to make this type of development happen because of the small size of the homes and whatnot,” Pike said. “It looks like a creative use of the property. It does appear to fit the comp. plan. The Planning Commission was all on board.”
Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall said a citizen is requesting the city explore implementing a quiet zone train ordinance. That ordinance would bar trains from using their horns when operating in the city during overnight hours. Duvall said the city will explore the possibility of applying for federal funding because more than $500,000 would likely be needed in order to make a quiet zone possible.
“The railway would have to be updated,” Duvall said. “The railroad crossing would have to be updated, from my understanding, and really, if you implement these quiet zones, you obviously have to implement those crossings to meet the standard, to meet the quiet zone regulations.”
Members of the council expressed their support for the city to draft an ordinance that would permit and regulate medical marijuana facilities that would operate in the city after the state medical marijuana law goes into effect. Pike said it is important for local communities to get regulations on the books so that the city has a say.
“You can’t restrict those people’s usage, but what you can do is restrict time, manner, place in terms of all these various cannabis operations, so if you do nothing, then what that means is you’re allowing it,” Pike said.
Some council members had reservations as they still had questions, while others said if use is going to be permitted by the state the city might as well set itself up for potential revenue benefits as well as regulatory control. Duvall said the city will look at potential draft ordinances.
The Radcliff City Council will next meet June 18.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their first meeting of the month Tuesday.
The court approved the second reading of end-of-fiscal-year amendments for the 2023-2024 county budget. The court also approved the first reading of an amendment to the county’s zoning ordinance that would reduce the size of a Rural Residential, or R-2, lot from 3 acres to 1.8 acres.
“Folks are still building homes out in the county, it’s just we’re consuming more farmland with that 3 acre minimum than we need to,” said Hardin County Planning Director Adam King. “In fact, as busy and bustling as E-Town’s getting, there’s a lot of folks that may want to move from E-Town and move out to the county to kind of have their little slice of heaven or piece of the pie.”
That’s Hardin County Planning Director Adam King. He said recent studies show that 8,811 housing units are projected to be needed by 2025 to accommodate area growth anticipated with the opening of BlueOval SK, and Hardin County is 4,578 housing units short of what is currently needed.
Hardin County Emergency Management Director Joey Scott and Hardin County Coroner Pat Elmore presented certificates of appreciation to members of the Valley Creek Fire Department for their assistance responding to a death investigation that was hampered by a hazardous material spill. Hardin County Sheriff John Ward recognized several officers for rescuing a man from a burning vehicle after a wrong-way collision on the Western Kentucky Parkway in May.
“It’s my distinct honor to have the opportunity to publicly express my gratitude and commend Deputy James “Opie” Sherrard, Deputy Nick Krone, and Lieutenant Taylor Miller for their extraordinary act of bravery and quick thinking that resulted in saving a life,” Ward said.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet June 25.
A schedule change has been approved for the upcoming hearings involving the Crystal Rogers investigation suspects.
Brooks Houck, Steven Lawson, and Joseph Lawson were all due back in court Thursday, but now only Steven Lawson will be making an appearance.
According to an order filed with the Nelson Circuit Court Monday, Special Prosecutor Shane Young and defense attorneys representing Brooks Houck are in agreement that the motion to dismiss filed by Steven Lawson’s defense should be argued in court prior to arguments on the special prosecutor’s motion to consolidate the three cases to one trial. The parties further agreed that Houck’s objection to the motion to consolidate should be heard in an individual hearing “based upon the nature of the issues raised.”
The hearing scheduled for Thursday will now only consist of arguments concerning Steven Lawson’s motion to dismiss. The defense for Lawson has maintained that Lawson was promised immunity in exchange for his cooperation with the investigation.
Houck’s objection will now be argued in a hearing scheduled for July 8. Houck’s defense says trying Houck with the Lawsons would take away his ability to cross-examine the Lawsons, and a joint trial would infringe upon Houck’s constitutional rights.
The order excuses Joseph Lawson and Houck from Thursday’s hearing.
Former Elizabethtown Independent School District Superintendent Kelli Bush is being remembered as “a fierce champion for all students and a servant leader who inspired others by her example and encouragement.”
A statement from the Bush family says Bush died Sunday at the age of 53 due to complications of cancer.
EIS Superintendent Paul Mullins says Bush leaves behind a wonderful legacy.
“It’s with great sadness that we mark the passing of a remarkable educational leader, Kelly Bush, whose passion for all students to be successful and love for the Elizabethtown Independent School District was second to none,” Mullins said.
Bush was a teacher and principal at Morningside Elementary School from 1999 to 2012. She served as EIS assistant superintendent from 2012 to 2020 and as superintendent from 2020 to 2023. Most recently, Bush was grant co-director for the Green River Region Educational Cooperative.
“She was loved by all that knew her,” Mullins said. “Kelly’s hard work and dedication has positively touched many generations of Panthers. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her and her family and friends.”
Hardin County Schools Superintendent Terry Morgan also paid tribute to Bush in a statement. Morgan said: “We worked closely together during the pandemic. We acknowledged that we would be competitors when it came to extracurricular activities, however, we also realized the benefits of working together for the betterment of our community. She was famous among her fellow superintendents for her ethical leadership and unwavering dedication to excellence, always prioritizing integrity above all else. We have certainly lost a colleague and a great friend.”
Funeral services for Kelli Bush will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Brown Funeral Home, with burial to follow in the Lebanon Junction Cemetery. Visitation for Kelli Bush will be Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until the time of services at the funeral home.
At the 2023 Kentucky Jailers Association Summer Conference, Hardin County Jailer Josh Lindblom was recognized by his peers when he was named the association’s Jailer of the Year.
This year, Lindblom was once again recognized by his fellow jailers at the summer conference as he was named president of the KJA Board of Directors.
“In our association, you actually have the file to run, and of course you have 118 jailers that are allowed to vote,” Lindblom said. “So, you know, it’s pretty humbling to be able to say, hey, you got voted in by the whole state.”
Lindblom says he is looking forward to continuing to advocate for better conditions for jail staff and inmates alike, something he has gained experience with serving on the association’s legislative committee.
“We’ve made stuff available more for the inmates that are in jail so that whenever they get out they’ll be more productive,” Lindblom said “They’ll be able to be better citizens and it shows. Our GED programs or different programs we have in the jails that we put together, it’s really helping folks. It’s really helping folks stay out of jail.”
Lindblom also says the association has focused the last several years on increasing funding for mental health treatment.
“You know, you’ve got folks that have mental health issues that may commit a crime by accident,” Lindblmo said “They don’t need to be warehoused in a jail or a prison. They need help, so that’s one thing we’ve advocated for over the last couple of years.”
Lindblom was elected Hardin County Jailer in 2018.
The Radcliff Small Business Alliance is hosting a Back to School Supply Drive to support area families in need ahead of the upcoming school year.
“We’re looking for, obviously, school supplies, and this is going to be for our older kids, teenagers, so clothing and hygiene items,” said Radcliff Small Business Alliance Vice President Michelle Mitchell. “We added those two because there’s a growing need for that in our community.”
Items sought for the supply drive include black and white t-shirts, gym shorts (nothing more than three inches above the knee), sweatpants, no-show socks, hygiene items, feminine products, deodorant, brushes and combs, baby wipes, and gift cards.
The supply drive runs now through July 16. Items may be brought to Radcliff Small Business Alliance meetings, or you can bring them to the Colvin Community Center or Vine Grove City Hall. Items will be distributed to area schools at the July 16 meeting.
Contact Mitchell (270-216-0286) or find the Radcliff Small Business Alliance Facebook page for more information.
Area first responders will compete for a good cause this Friday as they co-host the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive, to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pritchard Community Center in Elizabethtown.
“This year, Paul Davis has jumped on board to help co-sponsor the event,” said American Red Cross Account Manager Tammy Ritchie. “They will be there that day giving out some goodie bags. We have all kinds of things going on that day, Battle of the Badges t-shirts. Every donor that comes in will receive a $15 e-gift card and they’ll get to choose what place they’d like or what merchant.”
Battle of the Badges is a friendly competition between police, fire, and EMS. As you go in to register for the blood drive, you’ll vote for one of the three entities.
Ritchie says walk-ins will be accepted, but preregistering is easy.
“They can go online and sign up at RedCrossBlood.org,” Ritchie said. “They can put in the zip code, or they can put in BOBElizabethtown for Battle of the Badges Elizabethtown, and that will take you right to the schedule.”
Now is a good time to help the Red Cross stay prepared.
“We just really need the community support,” Ritchie said. “Summer will be here sooner than we think, and the need for blood always goes up during that time of year.”
Visit redcrossblood.org for more information.
Elizabethtown Independent School District Director of Communications Chuck Jones says it wasn’t looking like the district’s Summer Meals Program would be able to take place, but then the community stepped up.
“We put out a thing that we may not be able to do it,” Jones said. “We kept looking at ways, and we just had a ton of people step up to volunteer and give their time and help us out and allow us to do this.”
Jones also said EIS Food Services Director Marty Adams never gave up on the program.
“She worked tirelessly to make sure that this was possible and she never quit, and that’s a big reason why our summer program is going to go on,” Jones said.
The program is open to all EIS students and runs today through July 26.
“They can come to Morningside Elementary, 7 to 8 a.m. for breakfast, and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch, and that’s Monday through Friday,” Jones said.
EIS will also be offering lunches at several mobile locations. Times and sites can be found on the Elizabethtown Independent School District Facebook page. Contact EIS for more information.
A Nelson County man faces charges after allegedly assaulting an officer when attempting to flee a traffic stop.
Dustin M. Thompson of New Hope faces multiple charges including Strangulation, Assault of a Police Officer, and Disarming a Peace Officer following his arrest Friday.
According to the Kentucky State Police, shortly after midnight on June 7 a trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle on Charlestown Road for a traffic violation. The KSP says the driver of the vehicle did not stop when the trooper activated his emergency lights and began to flee.
The pursuit continued into Marion County on Sulphur Lick Road and ended when the vehicles reached a dead end. The KSP says the driver, later identified as Thompson, exited the vehicle and fled into a wooded area. The pursuing trooper was able to catch up to Thompson, at which time the KSP says he assaulted the officer and fled the area.
Troopers and other area law enforcement began searching the area for Thompson. The KSP posted on Facebook shortly before noon Friday that Thompson had been apprehended. He was booked into the Marion County Detention Center at 1:41 p.m. Friday.
The KSP says the trooper was treated for injuries at an area hospital and has since been released.
Three people are in custody and a dog is in a shelter after an incident in Grayson County.
John D. Absher of Bunker Hill, Indiana, Casey M. Lester of Tollesboro, and Richard W. May of Harold each face charges of first degree Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Absher and Lester had multiple warrants out for their arrests.
According to the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, shortly after 8 a.m. on June 6 Sheriff Norman Chaffins responded to a report of two people sleeping in the backseat of a car that was parked in the middle of U.S. 62 in Clarkson in front of the beekeeping facility, with a dog in the front seat. The occupants were awakened by the dog barking as the sheriff approached. The two occupants, later identified as Absher and Lester, provided names or identification the sheriff’s office later determined to be false.
May then approached the vehicle with a gallon of gas, stating that the vehicle was in the middle of the road after it ran out of gas. The sheriff’s office says May then began vomiting in the roadway, at which time Absher collapsed due to a seizure. Lester told Chaffins she believed Absher had used opioids earlier that morning. Chaffins administered naloxone and Grayson County EMS transported Absher to Owensboro Health Twin Lakes Hospital. He was later transported to Norton’s Hospital in Louisville. A search of the vehicle revealed the presence of methamphetamine.
Lester and May were lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center. Absher was moved to the detention center from the hospital after he was medically cleared to be incarcerated. The dog was transported to the Grayson County Animal Shelter.
Registration is open to vote in the November 5 general election, and Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith says getting registered is a simple process.
“Registering to vote has never been easier,” Smith said. “The quickest and easiest way for most. folks would be to visit govote.ky.gov. They can do that on the computer or their phone and they can register to vote that way. They can also call or visit their county clerk’s office. The deadline to register to vote and participate in the November election is October 7, so don’t wait until the deadline. Go ahead and get it done early.”
The Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office says in the 10 days voter registration was open in May after the primary election, 5,723 voters were removed from the voter rolls. More than 4,800 removed voters were deceased, 451 moved out of state, and 350 were convicted of felonies.
5,496 new voters got registered in May. Republican registration increased by 1,410 voters and independent or other registrations increased by 915. Democratic registrations decreased by 2,552 voters.
Visit the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website for more information on voter registration.
Registration is still open for the Elizabethtown Police Department’s upcoming Teen Citizen’s Police Academy.
“Beginning July 2, we are hosting our next Teen Citizen Police Academy,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “This free five-week program is for any teen interested in learning more about a career in law enforcement and our police department.”
The Teen Citizen’s Police Academy is free for area teens ages 13 to 18. In addition to getting to meet many of the men and women that serve on the EPD, participants will learn about investigations, tactics, responses to resistance, drug enforcement, accident reconstruction, local issues, and more.
Anybody interested in applying may download an application at etownpd.org.
Kentucky was one of only eight states that saw a decrease in the number of drug overdose deaths last year.
The governor’s office has released information on the 2023 Kentucky Drug Overdose Fatality Report, which reported 1,984 overdose deaths last year, down 9.8 percent from 2022 and the second year in a row the state has seen a decrease.
Lincoln Trail District Health Department Harm Reduction Manager Jennifer Osborne said progress was also seen in Hardin County.
“It was 50 in 2022 and in 2023 it was 38, so that is a significant decrease for Hardin County, and that is something definitely to celebrate as far as the decrease goes,” Osborne said. “Obviously 38 individuals who die from a preventable death, which is a fatal drug overdose, that means we still have work to do. That’s 38 too many.”
Osborne said increased access to naloxone, which is used to reverse the effects of an overdose, was one of the health department’s major initiatives at combating overdose deaths. The health department also partnered with the Hardin County Coroner’s Office to establish an Overdose Fatality Review Team which looks at similarities between fatal overdoses and brings in multiple community resources to review the details.
“That’s everybody from treatment programs to our healthcare system to law enforcement, the justice system,” Osborne said. “It’s all of these individuals and agencies coming together to look and see if there are any gaps? Is there any way for us to improve upon services so that we can reduce the number of people that are dying from a drug overdose?”
Osborne says the county is still looking at establishing an overdose quick response team and a syringe service program, both of which were recommended when the county was designated a Recovery Ready Community this past January. Area residents looking for recovery resources can go online to findhelpnowky.org or contact the KY Help Call Center at 1-833-859-4357.
The full overdose fatality report can be found on the governor’s website.
Drivers should be on the lookout for work on U.S. 31W in Radcliff set to begin next week.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four says a pavement rehabilitation project is scheduled to begin Monday between West Lincoln Trail Boulevard and the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery. The project will include removal and replacement of the road surface and improved turn lane configuration with striping.
The KYTC says crews will be setting up varying traffic patterns around work crew operations. The most significant work is being moved to nighttime hours to minimize traffic impacts, but drivers should still be cautious approaching and traveling through work zones.
Work is scheduled to be completed by October 1. Follow KYTC District Four on social media for project updates.
Quicksie and The Wolf, along with the Heart of Kentucky Association of Realtors, are excited to invite the community out to Freeman Lake Park this Saturday for the 28th annual Children’s Fair.
“It’s so wonderful because it’s all free,” said realtor Lydia Drexler, who co-founded the Children’s Fair with Quicksie co-founder Maryilyn Evans. “Everything is free. The booths are free for people to come in, and every sponsor that we have has something free for all the children from ages 1 to 12.”
More than 50 community businesses and organizations will be participating. The Children’s Fair features games, face painting, balloon art, and a bicycle giveaway. Mascot Idol will also be held featuring a variety of characters including DJ Tiger and Wolfie.
“We’re very excited for the community,” Drexler said. “We have Mickey and Minnie Mouse, they will be there. We have many mascots, and we just want you to come out and check them all out.”
The Children’s Fair will be held Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Ernie Williams Pavilion at Freeman Lake Park. Parking is free.
The suspect in the February murder of a Campbellsville University student remains incarcerated as he awaits trial.
A grand jury in April indicted Charles E. “Zeke” Escalera on charges of Murder and third degree Burglary along with second degree charges of Burglary and Fleeing or Evading Police.
Escalera is accused of murdering Campbellsville University freshman Josiah Kilman in his dorm room at the university. Kilman was found unresponsive shortly after midnight on February 24 before being pronounced dead at Taylor Regional Hospital.
During an arraignment hearing in May, Escalera was appointed a public defender. Not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf.
During a preliminary hearing on March 6, Campbellsville Police Department Detective Jeremy Burton said surveillance footage at the dorm shows Escalera entering and exiting the building. Burton said when questioned by police after his capture Escalera admitted to taking a life.
Escalera is currently being held in the Taylor County Detention Center on a $1 million cash bond. His next scheduled court appearance is a pre-trial conference set for July 9.
Local and state officials are warning area residents to be aware of ongoing scam attempts.
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office says some Abound Credit Union customers have reported calls from a scammer spoofing their number to appear as if they are calling from an Abound office. The scammer then reportedly tells the customer about fraudulent charges on their card and the need to issue them a new card, at which time the scammer tries to ask for the customer’s card information.
The sheriff’s office says if you have provided information to a caller that said they were from Abound, contact Abound Credit Union immediately. Hardin County Sheriff John Ward says never give out information over the phone to an unverified source.
“When you get a call and you don’t think it’s right, you’re probably correct,” Ward said. “Don’t give them any information. Just hang up.”
Meanwhile, the Kentucky Department of Insurance is continuing to remind residents that suffered recent storm damage to be wary of scam attempts. Always verify a contractor’s background before signing paperwork, never agree to pay for work until it is complete, and check with your insurance provider before agreeing to any work. If you suspect fraud, report it on the Department of Insurance’s website.
Today marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the initiation of Operation Overlord that saw Allied troops reclaim Omaha Beach in Normandy, beginning the liberation of France from the Axis powers and setting the stage for victory in the European Theater of World War II.
Communities, installations, and officials across the country are marking the occasion.
“Around 156,000 Allied forces bravely stormed the beaches of Normandy and successfully combated German forces, which marked the turning point of World War II,” said Kentucky House District 25 Representative Steve Bratcher. “Although the operation was successful, 4,000 Allied troops paid the ultimate sacrifice that day. This week, let us remember the courage that was displayed and the sacrifices that were made by those service members as they worked to defeat the Nazi regime and fight for our freedom.”
About 150 American, about 50 British, and 15 Canadian World War II veterans are in Normandy today to participate in what many officials anticipate will be the final major anniversary of D-Day with living veterans in attendance. Among the military units participating in the festivities in France is the Kentucky Air National Guard, which will fly a C-130J Super Hercules donned with a historic livery for the occasion.
Wreaths Across America says there are 165 Kentucky soldiers buried at the Normandy American Cemetery, and the names of 14 Kentucky soldiers are listed on the cemetery’s Tablet of the Missing.
Two annual Elizabethtown summer staples kick off tonight: the Charles W. Logsdon Historic Downtown Elizabethtown Walking Tour and Tavern in the Garden at the Brown-Pusey House.
“Of course, we’re open June, July, August, September, and it’s 6 p.m.to 9 p.m. every Thursday night in the Cunningham Garden, which is absolutely beautiful,” said Edna Berger with the Brown-Pusey House. “We thank the Ladies Club for that.”
Enjoy live music and a great atmosphere in the garden of one of Downtown E-Town’s historic gems.
“When you come down on Thursday, we have food trucks and music and all your old friends there and new friends,” Berger said.
Visit the Brown-Pusey House website or Facebook page for more information.
The downtown walking tour gets started every Thursday at 7 p.m. at 40 Public Square, under the Cannonball. Participants will meet “the colorful characters whose enthusiasm, talent, and morals helped shape the Elizabethtown you see today.” The walking tour is free, and comfortable shoes are recommended. Visit the Elizabethtown City Events Facebook page for more information.
The Kentucky State Police is investigating a fatal accident on the Western Kentucky Parkway.
The KSP says Post Four troopers were requested by the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office just before 1:30 p.m. on June 4 to investigate a two-vehicle collision near the 116 mile marker between the Clarkson and White Mills exits. According to the KSP, the preliminary investigation indicates that 28-year-old Kelsey Dunn of Elkton was traveling east in her vehicle when she lost control operating in heavy rainfall. The vehicle crossed the median and ended up in the path of a westbound semi-tractor trailer.
Dunn was pronounced dead at the scene by the Grayson County Coroner’s Office. The operator of the semi reported no injuries.
Dunn was the director of bands at North Hardin High School. Hardin County Schools Superintendent Teresa Morgan said in a release:
“Generations will feel the impact Ms. Dunn made on students, her fellow staff members, the school, alumni, band boosters, and our community. She cultivated and nurtured relationships with students and ensured that their performances and presentations represented North Hardin High School with class, respect, and dignity. Ms. Dunn was passionate about her students and their well-being. She was more than a teacher; she was a mentor and a friend to all she encountered. Her dedication to North Hardin was immeasurable. She gave so much of herself to her bands and NHHS as a whole.”
The HCS Crisis Response Team will be at North Hardin High School beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday to meet with students and staff in need of support.
The crash was one of three that impacted the area Tuesday, along with a westbound Western Kentucky Parkway accident near mile marker 124 involving an overturned semi hauling lumber and a crash that resulted in spilled cargo on Interstate 65 in Hart County.
“That northbound crash just north of Munfordville blocked traffic until about 6:30 p.m. down there local time, and then on the Western Kentucky Parkway that westbound crash near mile marker 116 cleared around 5:30 p.m. local time and the eastbound crash near White Mills cleared around 8:30 p.m.,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie.
The heavy rain impacted efforts to clear debris from the accidents.
Attorneys for Crystal Rogers investigation suspect Brooks Houck maintain that he will only get a fair trial if he is tried separately from fellow suspects Joseph and Steven Lawson.
Houck’s defense filed a sur-reply with the Nelson Circuit Court Monday, responding to Special Prosecutor Shane Young’s response to the defense’s initial objection to trying Houck and the Lawsons in the same trial. Young said in a response filed May 16 that it is important to try the three together in order for the jury to see the prosecution’s argument that the three worked together to cover-up the crimes committed.
Houck’s defense maintains in their response that if the three are tried together, Houck will have no way of cross-examining the Lawsons, and he would have no way of discrediting testimony from Steven Lawson Houck’s defense says was “concocted at the behest of law enforcement in hopes of obtaining immunity he was once promised if he ‘told the truth.’” The defense says it would be impossible for the jury to follow instructions that separate rulings on Houck from rulings on the Lawsons.
The defense says any proceedings in a joint trial would ultimately be thrown out as they violate Houck’s Fifth and Sixth amendment rights as well as Kentucky law.
Houck and the Lawsons are scheduled to make their next court appearances at a pre-trial conference set for June 13.
The Hardin County Public Library invites kids and adults alike to participate in their 2024 Summer Reading Program, which runs now through July 20.
“For our kids we’ve got a full programming calendar,” said HCPL Head of Youth Services Becca Isaacs. “There’s all sorts of fun stuff to do just about every day of the week if they just want to stop by. We also have some reading challenges to encourage them to read over the summer and try to keep their skills fresh.”
Isaacs says summer reading is good for kids as they are away from the classroom.
“The summer slides a big deal, especially with our schools where they have those two months off and they start to get a little rusty on their skills, but this way they’re keeping their minds sharp, keeping themselves interested,” Isaacs said.
The theme for Summer Reading 2024 is “Adventure Begins at Your Library.”
“We’ve got some fun challenges set up like little help-wanted boards, and they track how many minutes they’ve read with a little dungeon crawl reading log that they can keep track of on there,” Isaacs said. “For our grown-ups, our adult services department has a time log as well so they can keep track of how long they’ve read this summer and win some cool stuff.”
Anybody interested in participating can swing by the library, located at 100 Jim Owen Drive in Elizabethtown, or visit the Hardin County Public Library website or Facebook page.
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System Board of Regents will have some local representation.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Engineering and Electronics Technology Professor Marty Sutherland has been selected as the new occupational, technical education faculty regent for the KCTCS Board of Regents. The 14-member board acts as the governing body of the college system. Sutherland will serve an interim term that ends in September.
The KCTCS says Sutherland has worked for ECTC since 2002 and has served in several leadership positions, including his current tenures as chair of the Engineering and Electronics Curriculum Committee and the KCTCS Senate Council for ECTC.
Sutherland said in a release: “I am honored to join the KCTCS Board of Regents as the representative of occupational and technical faculty throughout our system. KCTCS and our great faculty are leading the way in technical education, and I believe that we can build upon those strengths as we work together to advance workforce opportunities across our state.”
Sutherland graduated from Southern Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in Workforce Education, Training, and Development, and holds several professional certifications.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for their first meeting of the month Monday.
The first reading was held on an ordinance that would prohibit the operation of all medicinal cannabis facilities in the city. State law legalizing medical cannabis goes on the books July 1, so cities and counties are making decisions on whether to opt into or out of the state law. The ordinance does not prohibit the legal use of medical marijuana by cardholders, but it does prohibit the five types of businesses that are regulated by state law.
“Cultivators, processors, producers, compliance businesses, and dispensaries,” said City Attorney Ken Howard. “Now typically what most people are interested in is dispensaries, where can you go and buy.”
The law allows for 48 total dispensary licenses statewide, with no more than four in each of 11 established regions. No county may have more than one of the four district dispensaries, and a lottery is held if there are multiple applications.
Other restrictions exist for the other business types. Several members of the council were not comfortable taking action on the ordinance until they could learn more about the other regulations since state law appears to require approval of all or none. Council Member Julia Springsteen said she is against banning the facilities because of the heavy regulation state law provides for acquiring a medical cannabis card and for businesses.
“There’s a board of eight doctors and two nurses that govern the whole thing,” Springsteen said. “It can’t be near schools, it can’t be advertised that well, and the bottom line is this was passed because sick people need this and it’s proven to help sick people.”
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said the restrictions in the law also satisfy some of his concerns.
“If it treats people that have terminal cancer or epilepsy and makes their life a little bit better for what they have here, then I’m all for it, but if it was going to be available to be on every corner of the city I was out, but with the restriction that it could, possibly, only be one place softens my stance somewhat,” Gregory said.
The council tabled the ordinance in order to get more information on questions they had. The ordinance can be found on the city website.
In other meeting news, the first reading was held on the city’s 2024-2025 budget. The total budget comes in at $149.9 million with $119.7 million in expenditures.
The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet for a work session on June 10.
Assistance is available for families who need help filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education says the new FAFSA form includes revised formulas, meaning more students are eligible for financial aid. The delayed rollout of the new form, however, made it more challenging for Class of 2024 high school students and current college students to determine the amount of aid available for them ahead of the upcoming school year.
To help Kentucky students submit the FAFSA form, the KCP’s GEAR UP Kentucky unit is partnering with the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority throughout the month of June to provide families with assistance. The goal is to assist families and increase the state’s FAFSA completion rate, which is at a five-year low.
GEAR UP Kentucky and the KHEAA will co-host a virtual session Tuesday for families that need to fill out the FAFSA that will enable participants to understand their college financial aid paperwork and processes, hear the most up to date information about the 2024 financial aid timeline, and ask financial aid experts their questions. The session will be hosted on the GEAR UP Kentucky Facebook page at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
In-person FAFSA and financial aid help will also be offered at more than 70 locations across Kentucky during the month of June. Visit www.kygoestocollege.com for details and locations.
The Elizabethtown Police Department will host their eleventh annual Cops and Bobbers youth fishing derby Saturday, June 22 at the Freeman Lake Park Boat Ramp.
“Children between the ages of 8 and 12 are invited to participate, but spaces are limited,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “Rods and reels as well as necessary bait and tackle will be provided to all participants.”
Check-in will begin at 10:30 a.m. on June 22 and the event will wrap up at 12:30 p.m.
“Hot dogs and snacks will be provided to all participants and trophies will be awarded to the winners,” Denham said. “All participants will leave with a fishing rod and tackle box.”
Download an application from the EPD website. Contact Officer Denham (270-765-4125) for more information.
The 2024 Summer Movie Series at the Historic State Theater kicks off today.
“The Summer Movie Series is my personal favorite event that we do throughout the year at the State Theater,” said Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles. “We’re excited for our 2024 series. It’s a family-friendly movie series offering showings at noon and 7 p.m. each Tuesday this summer beginning June 4 and running through July 31.”
Tickets to each showing are $2 and offer affordable family fun.
June will feature four Disney/Pixar favorites.
“We have Cars, The Incredibles, Toy Story, and Monsters Inc., so those are the first movies in the series, and those movies are loved by, I think, young and old, so we hope people come out and see those,” Pyles said.
July’s movies were selected to follow a theme.
“We are showing movies that are based upon books,” Pyles said. “So July 2 we’ve got Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which was one of my child’s favorite books when he was growing up.”
The other July movies are Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, How to Eat Fried Worms, Charlotte’s Web, and Mary Poppins.
Doors open one hour prior to each showtime, and concessions will be served.
“A lot of times people tell us this is the first time they’ve brought their child to the movies because it’s movies that they can enjoy,” Pyles said. “We have young and old, so it’s open to everybody. We hope that everybody comes out and sees us.”
Visit www.thestate270.org for tickets and a full schedule of events at the theater.
The Elizabethtown Police Department is investigating a fatal accident that occurred on the Lincoln Parkway Sunday.
Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer John Thomas says shortly before 11 a.m. on June 2, emergency responders were dispatched to the intersection of Lincoln Parkway and Sportsman Lake Road due to a reported serious injury collision.
Upon arrival, responding units found an unresponsive adult female in a white Toyota Highlander, along with a juvenile female who sustained minor injuries. The other vehicle was a black Toyota RAV 4, with the lone occupant being a male driver who also sustained serious injuries.
The driver of the Highlander was taken to Baptist Health Hardin, where she was pronounced dead. The driver of the RAV 4 was transported by air to the University of Louisville Hospital, where he is in critical condition.
Thomas says the preliminary investigation indicates that the Highlander was heading south on Sportsman Lake Road while attempting to cross Lincoln Parkway. The RAV 4 was heading west on Lincoln Parkway and entered the intersection, striking the driver’s side of the Highlander.
The victims are not being identified at this time. The Elizabethtown Police Department Accident Reconstruction Team’s investigation of the crash is ongoing.
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory delivered his message on the city’s budget for fiscal year 2025 during a special meeting of the Elizabethtown City Council Friday.
The mayor thanked the many people involved in developing what he believed to be the largest budget in the city’s history, starting with the department head’s identifying how to improve their departments.
“They have zeroed in on that and figured out how to make their departments better, therefore making it better for our citizens,” Gregory said. “They have sent it to us. We reviewed it. The council did a great job going through each project individually and determining whether it was cost effective and whether it was something that was warranted and needed in the city, and that’s how we got to where we are today.”
The budget includes $119.7 million in expenditures, up $10 million from the prior year, and includes raises to starting pay for fire and police personnel as well as a four percent increase for all other employees. The city will use “reserves from fund balances and external funding sources” to help realize several projects the city has planned for 2025 and beyond.
“All city departments are planning for anticipated growth through the anticipated start of production at BlueOval SK and related developments,” Gregory said. “This budget continues preparations for future years.”
The total police budget is set at $13 million and the total fire budget comes in at $11.7 million. After raising the occupational rate for the current budget, the city does not have plans to raise that rate in the 2025 budget, but an increase to sewer rates is anticipated this fall.
Gregory said the budget includes improvement to current facilities and infrastructure, but also focuses on expansion to support further growth.
“Work continues on the Hawkins Draft project and should be completed early in the budget year,” Gregory said. “This is an important piece to the growth of the south end of town. $1 million has been allocated to complete this project. Funds have also been allocated for various other small projects as well.”
The budget ordinance will go up for its first reading at Monday’s city council meeting.
Work is ready to begin on Hardin County’s next roundabout.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four says roundabout construction at the intersection of Shepherdsville Road and Battle Training Road is getting under way.
Preliminary work along the right of way at the intersection has started, and drivers entering the intersection from all four directions as well as drivers entering and exiting nearby businesses should be on the lookout for flaggers directing traffic.
The KYTC says the roundabout, which is due to be completed by November 1, will increase safety and efficiency at the intersection that sees nearly 10,000 combined vehicles per day using the two roads. Traffic shifts and short delays should be expected as the work continues.
Meanwhile, the installation of a large culvert on Saint John Road begins Monday, meaning new traffic restrictions in the area.
“We just need everybody to know back through the Croghan Drive neighborhood there that streets like Vanderbilt Drive, Winmoor Drive, Timber Lane, Reelfoot Drive, and Turtle Creek Drive, you’re all going to have to drive out to Harvard Drive in order to access Saint John Road there for the next 30 days,” said KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie.
Work on the culvert is expected to be completed within 30 days. Follow KYTC District Four social media for project updates.
The Community Health Clinic announced in a Facebook post on May 30 that the clinic will be closing on June 28, citing “changes in healthcare policies, funding challenges, and other factors” that made it increasingly difficult to sustain operations.
A Plus Family Heathcare Marketing Director Meighan Cable says that A Plus, a Federally Qualified Health Center, learned of the impending closure of the clinic and put together a plan to cover the clinic’s patients.
“My dad is actually on the board of directors for the Community Health Clinic and had talked to me a little bit about it to let me know that there was a potential for someone else to take it over, and I brought it up to our team down at A Plus Family Healthcare in Brownville and it just kind of worked out,” Cable said.
A Plus Family Healthcare currently operates clinics in Brownsville and Sonora, and will be opening an Elizabethtown location this summer. The same services available at the Community Health Clinic are available through A Plus.
“A Plus Family Healthcare is actually a family practice, so it’s your general practitioner, and so that’s where you can go to do all of your normal family practice type things, with full care for pediatrics all the way up to seniors,” Cable said.
Cable says A Plus Family Healthcare’s mission aligns with the mission of the Community Health Clinic.
“The heart of A Plus is taking care of people and making sure that people have quality and affordable health care, for all,” Cable said.
Community Health Clinic patients looking for care after the June 28 closure but prior to the Elizabethtown A Plus clinic opening can visit the Sonora location. Visit A Plus Family Healthcare on the web or on social media for more information and updates.
Work is progressing on the Kentucky Route 1357/Saint John Road project that is addressing safety, deficiencies, and maintenance issues on the road between the U.S. 31W Bypass and Ring Road.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie says crews will begin work Monday on a large culvert replacement that will require new traffic restrictions.
“We just need everybody to know back through the Croghan Drive neighborhood there that streets like Vanderbilt Drive, Winmoor Drive, Timber Lane, Reelfoot Drive, and Turtle Creek Drive, you’re all going to have to drive out to Harvard Drive in order to access Saint John Road there for the next 30 days,” Jessie said.
Message boards were previously placed to alert residents to the restrictions.
“So as part of the Saint John Road project back through there, this is all a huge culvert that’s being rebuilt,” Jessie said. “It’s gonna take the contractor about 30 days to get that done. They have until that point to get the roadway back open and the connection there to Croghan Drive remade.”
The KYTC began the Saint John Road improvement project to address the change in conditions for the roadway that came with the transition of the area from a rural to suburban setting. Any updates to the construction plan will be posted to KYTC District Four social media.
A deadline for folks looking to run for local office is coming up quickly.
“Tuesday, June 4 at 4 p.m. is the deadline to file for several local elected offices,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “If someone has been thinking about running for local office, they need to make sure they get their paperwork in on time.”
Candidates looking to run for Elizabethtown City Council, West Point City Council, Sonora City Commissioner, Upton City Commissioner, the Elizabethtown Independent School Board, Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor, and Hardin County School Board Divisions One, Four, and Five will need to get their paperwork and fees to the Hardin County Clerk’s Office by the deadline.
“Interested candidates should start at the Secretary of State’s Office’s website,” Smith said. “There they can download instructions and the paperwork that is applicable to the office they’re filing for.”
Smith and the Hardin County Board of Elections will host the public ballot position drawing in the fiscal courtroom on Thursday, June 6 at 2 p.m. after the 1 p.m. election board meeting.
“This is a lottery drawing to determine which candidates come first, second, third, fourth, etc. for those races where we have multiple candidates,” Smith said. “The candidates are welcome. The public’s invited to attend. If you’ve never been to something like that, it’s worth checking out to learn a little bit about how elections work in the background.”
Contact the Hardin County Clerk’s Office for more information.
American Legion Post 87 will host its fourth annual BBQ and Bikes event this Saturday, June 1 at the creek front in Hodgenville.
Russell Tucker with the Legion post says the festivities Saturday kick off with a charity bike ride hosted by KMA District 12.
“Registration starts at 8 a.m. with kickstands up at 10,” Tucker said. “They’ll get about an hour and 20 minute ride and then we’ll roll back into Hodgenville, there on the creek front. It is $20 per bike to register for that.”
The event will feature a burn out pit, a bike show hosted by Wolf Customs, vendors, food and drinks, activities for kids, and live music.
“We have four bands coming in,” Tucker said. “We have Austin Scott, we have Joe Morgan with Dirt N Water, we have Sticktight (he’s been traveling all over the world here lately, he’s touring), and we have Rock Station to wind up the night.”
Tucker says the event has something for everybody and has grown each year, a trend he wants to see continue.
“Last year I think we had somewhere around 200 bikes, and I’m hoping we can double that this year,” Tucker said.
All proceeds from the event benefit LaRue county veterans. Find more information on the Bikes and BBQ Hodgenville 2024 Facebook event page.
Several school districts will be offering summer meal programs, but additional resources are available on the statewide level.
Kentucky has been approved to provide about 450,000 eligible school-age children with a one-time, federally-funded benefit for food purchases.
Governor Andy Beashear’s office says the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program “will automatically enroll students ages 6 to 18 who currently receive benefits through programs offered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services” such as SNAP, Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program, and Kinship Care.
About 80 percent of eligible students will receive $120 by June 30. Students not automatically enrolled who attended schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program with household incomes at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level may qualify. Those families may apply at kysebt.ky.gov or visit their local Department for Community Based Services office.
Additional resources for Kentuckians facing hunger can be found on the state website or by contacting the United Way Helpline at 211.
Hardin County Engineer Mark Absher presented to the Hardin County Fiscal Court Tuesday on the county’s efforts to improve safety on Springfield Road.
Absher said the county looked at crash data from the Kentucky State Police and drove the length of the road several times to identify areas that needed improvement. The Hardin County Road Department also conducted speed studies in two locations which showed average speeds well over the posted 35 miles-per-hour speed limit.
“We consider about 15 percent of the people are going to do whatever they want to do,” Absher said. “It doesn’t matter what you do, it doesn’t matter what you sign, they’re just going to do it, and so we try to look at whatever all the speeds were below that point, so the highest of that group is 53, and it’s 30 miles an hour posted. A couple of speeds were over 60 miles an hour.”
Absher said the county is looking at improved signage for the road, and the county will bring in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for additional support.
“What they will do is provide us with more information on safety improvements they recommend for that same corridor for Springfield Road,” Absher said. “It also provides us with funding for that improvement because if they do the review and they make recommendations then they can grant us money to cover the cost.”
Springfield Road is just one of the roads the county is focused on.
“We’re not going to just stop at Springfield,” Absher said. “We’re going to continue to look at the different roadways and look at any kind of crash information, stuff like that that we’ve got, and so we’re taking a pretty proactive action on this to kind of move forward.”
You can report an issue to the county Engineering Department via the Hardin County website.
If you are looking for plans this Saturday night, this will be music to your ears.
The Heart of Kentucky Chorus will host their spring show: Rock, Jive, and Hallelujah – A Celebration of American Melodies, which will be held this Saturday at 7 p.m. at the State Theater.
The chorus is under the direction of Aaron Dale, who says Saturday is an opportunity to hear a selection of songs in various styles.
“It’s about 40 men and women singing and a couple of small groups that will sing in and out throughout the show, but mostly the full chorus will be singing,” Dale said.
Donations will be accepted for the Living Waters Guatemala Partnership, which aims to install water purification systems in remote areas of the Central American country that have no access to clean drinking water.
Tickets are $10 and are available from chorus members or at the door when the box office at the State Theater opens at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Lithium-ion batteries supply power to a range of items such as smartphones and tablets, toys, and cars, but Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says with that power comes a few things to remember in order to stay safe.
“Make sure you’re using the charger that comes with that device or with that battery,” Crane said. “Make sure that you’re using them in the right way. If you’re charging it or even if you’ve got it in your device, if you notice that it’s changing shape like it’s swelling, if you notice any odd smells or any leakage or anything like that, then go ahead and take it out of service.”
If you purchase a replacement battery, be mindful of the quality of third-party replacements. Crane says the easiest thing to do with any device is check the manual.
“Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions,” Crane said. “Use the batteries designed for that device. Make sure that when you’re charging the device or the batteries, make sure you don’t put them under a pillow, on your bed, or under anything where they’re not going to be able to dissipate that heat really well.”
When the time comes to dispose of the battery, do so properly.
“Don’t put them in the trash,” Crane said. “Find a recycling spot. There are several locations that will take used batteries, so make sure you recycle them, and then just make sure you’re putting them in an area where they can dissipate the heat.”
Find more fire safety tips on the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s website.
The Better Business Bureau is advising area residents impacted by the previous weekend’s storms to be on the lookout for scammers trying to take advantage of people at a vulnerable time.
The BBB says residents should be aware of rights and protections that are available to them from the state, which can be found on the Kentucky Attorney General’s website. Governor Andy Beshear has also activated the state’s price gouging law, violations of which can also be reported to the attorney general’s office.
If you do have to have repairs done, try to get several quotes, and be mindful of anybody trying to pressure you into what they call a deal. Never pay for a job in advance, and be wary of a contractor that demands full or half payment up front. Get any agreed upon contract in writing.
The BBB also says to beware of FEMA imposters. FEMA does not charge for inspections and workers for FEMA always wear ID badges. If a certified FEMA representative approaches you and you want to confirm their identity, contact FEMA at www.fema.gov or call 202-646-2500 to confirm they are in your area.
LG&E and KU customers should also be wary of scammers posing as the electric utility. LG&E and KU will never call consumers and demand payment over the phone in order to restore power or prevent it from being shut off.
More tips and resources are available on the BBB’s website.
Work has begun on asphalt resurfacing on U.S. 31W in Elizabethtown from the town square to Saint John Road.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four says the paving work requires nightly lane closures which will begin each evening at 7 p.m. and should be completed by 6 a.m.. The work is being conducted at night to minimize disruptions and should be completed by this weekend.
Meanwhile, work on the bridge deck of Woodlawn Road over the Bluegrass Parkway in Bardstown is set to begin Monday. That work will require a 30-day closure, for which a signed detour will be in place using the loop around KY 605 via U.S. 150, KY 245, and U.S. 62.
Drivers should pay close attention to signs and watch for flaggers, and use extra caution when driving through work zones.
Hardin County Schools will provide free lunches for any child 18 years old or younger on weekdays this summer with their Summer Meals Program.
“Every day during the summer, there are always children and their families who come to take advantage of not only the school locations, the school site locations, but also the locations that are mobile,” said Hardin County Schools Community Relations Specialist John Wright.
He says HCS is excited to offer this federally-supported program.
“We know for some students or some children that this may be a way to provide meals for a meal that they may not have been able to receive throughout the summer months, so there’s a great need for it and we’re glad that our Child Nutrition Department can provide the Summer Meals Program,” Wright said.
The program runs June 3 through July 26, with no meals on July 4. Children do not have to be a HCS student to participate. Adult meals are available for $3. Food must be eaten on site.
A menu and a list of locations can be found under the Quick Links tab on the Hardin County Schools website.
If you have been looking for an excuse to get back into fishing, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has one for you this weekend.
KFW will host a free fishing weekend this Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2. Licenses and permits will not be required for Kentucky residents and visitors who are looking to cast out a line.
Tips and tricks for beginners can be found on the Learn to Fish page on the KFW website. Several communities across Kentucky are offering free fishing events for families on Saturday, details for which are also available on the web.
The fishing page of the KFW website also includes the annual fishing forecast which will help anglers identify sites across the state where they are most likely to find success on the water. The Fishing in Neighborhoods Program offers easily accessible, specially stocked lakes near the state’s population centers.
If you are heading out on the water to do your fishing, remember to wear your life jackets and follow all boating laws and regulations. While licenses and permits are not required to fish on June 1 and 2, you must still follow rules on fish size and number limits.
Visit the KFW’s online Fishing and Boating Guide for more information.
Summertime means trips to the lake and fun on the water, so the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife is reminding residents to take extra precautions to have a safe and enjoyable time.
KFW says thoroughly check that required equipment is present and in good working order before launching your boat. Watch weather forecasts and stay aware of your surroundings. Make sure somebody on the shore knows your itinerary and the passengers going out on the water with you. Ensure that Coast Guard-approved life jackets are readily available and are worn by children 12 and under at all times.
Jon Fillingham is the projects manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rough River Lake. He says boaters and swimmers should make sure to follow all posted signage and stay away from prohibited areas.
“There are quite a few places that have prohibited swimming areas, such as we don’t allow swimming at our boat ramps or off our fishing piers, and there’s reasons for that, and it’s because there’s underwater hazards or there’s something else that makes it a dangerous situation,” Fillingham said.
Officials are reminding residents that alcohol and water do not mix. Operating a boat while intoxicated is just as dangerous as operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, and Fillingham says impairment on the water sets in in a different way.
“It’s a lot different when you’re outside on the water,” Fillingham said. “The wave action, the sun beating down on you, the noise, and just the environment you are in causes your ability to decrease much more significantly than if you were in a controlled environment, say sitting on your back porch or sitting at your house.”
Boaters are encouraged to check out the 2024-2025 Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide.
Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency across the commonwealth as communities continue to clean up the damage from storms that swept through the area over the weekend.
The governor’s office says the storms produced heavy rain showers and thunderstorms with strong winds, hail, and in some locations tornadoes. Crews from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four worked to clear trees and debris from roadways across the area.
Hardin County Emergency Management Director Joey Scott said the county was among the areas impacted.
“We had a system go through the north end of Radcliff and the Meade County/Hardin County line area that was potentially a tornado touchdown, and it caused extensive damage in the Meade County area,” Scott said.
Scott confirmed that one storm-related death was reported in Hardin County, one of four storm-related deaths confirmed by the state.
“We had extensive tree damage across the county,” Scott said. “Power lines were down from both storm systems that came through. At this time, we have had reports of maybe one or two structures damaged in the county.”
Nolin RECC Communications Manager Sarah Fellows said crews were busy throughout the weekend, with about 50 customers still without power Monday.
“At the height of our outages, we had about 4,200 members, mostly in Hardin County who had experienced a service disruption, and of course a lot of that is trees and lines that were down because of the storms that came through,” Fellows said. “We got the brunt of our damage, I think, through the first storm.”
If your property sustained damage due to the storms, take pictures and contact your county’s emergency management office.
Unemployment rates rose in 118 counties in Kentucky from April 2023 to April 2024, including in the Lincoln Trail District.
The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the state unemployment average for April 2024 was reported at 4.3 percent. That’s an increase from the 3.5 percent average that was reported in April of 2023. Unemployment rates across the commonwealth did, however, see a decrease from March of this year.
The unemployment average for the Lincoln Trail District in April 2024 came in at 4.3 percent. Three counties in the district are under the state average.
Hardin County unemployment for April 2024 was reported at 4.4 percent. That’s an increase from the 3.5 percent rate reported in April 2023 and a decrease from the 5.1 percent rate reported in March of 2024.
Breckinridge County posted the highest April unemployment rate in the district at 4.8 percent, while Washington County posted the lowest at 3.2 percent, which ties for the lowest in the state.
Visit the Kentucky Center for Statistics on the web for more information on unemployment data.
Governor Andy Beshear announced additional funding for electric vehicle charging locations across the commonwealth, and area communities are among the sites.
The governor discussed the grant funding during his Team Kentucky update Thursday.
“Today’s awards represent an $11.8 million investment through a federal program known as the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program,” Beshear said. “In total, we’ve now awarded $27 million of grants through this program.”
The governor’s office says the chosen sites are selected from identified zones along Kentucky interstates and parkways that have been designated as alternative fuel corridors.
“Throughout Kentucky, we’re going to have access to at least 42 reliable and convenient places to charge vehicles that are located every 50 miles along our interstates and our parkways,” Beshear said.
Among the locations in the third round of funding are the Love’s Travel Stop along the Western Kentucky Parkway in Elizabethtown and the Americas Inn along the Bluegrass Parkway in Bardstown. The program requires that each charging station have at least four charging ports of 150 kilowatts each, be accessible to the public 24/7, and work with most EV models.
More information on the EV grant program can be found at evcharging.ky.gov.
Area law enforcement is taking it to the streets Monday to show their support for the Special Olympics as they participate in the annual Torch Relay for the Special Olympics.
“Law enforcement all across the state carry a torch to the opening ceremonies, which will be May 31 in Richmond, Kentucky, at the stadium at EKU for the Special Olympics, and we do it in support and to bring awareness and to prop those athletes up,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Communications Supervisor Chris Lee.
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office starts the county leg with the torch and is scheduled to hand it off to the EPD around 9 a.m.
“The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office will start their leg of the run, I believe they start on U.S. 62 West where it goes from two lanes to four lanes, and then they will run to the Cecilian Bank at Leitchfield Road and Ring Road by Central Hardin” Lee said. “We will take the torch from them there and we’ll run our leg, which is up Ring Road to Patriot Parkway and then northbound on Patriot to KY-220, where we will pass the torch off to the Radcliff Police Department and they will continue their leg, and I think they run from there to their station.”
Area residents can support the torch relay by cheering the officers on along the route, and you can make donations to the Special Olympics at each of the agencies’ offices.
Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins is recognizing the quick action of one of his deputies Tuesday.
Body cam footage from Deputy Thomas Lane shows the deputy responding to a car on fire at the intersection of Shrewsbury Lane and Schoolhouse Road near Leitchfield shortly before midnight May 21.
The video shows Lane arrive on the scene to find the vehicle nearly fully engulfed in flames. After witnesses on scene told him the driver was still in the vehicle, Lane ran to the vehicle to assist.
The sheriff’s office says the driver appeared dazed in the vehicle, and witnesses on the scene said he initially was refusing to exit the vehicle. Lane pulled the man out of the car and got him away from the burning vehicle.
The sheriff’s office says: “Other than a few scrapes and scratches, no other injuries were reported.” The incident is under investigation.
Fort Knox is gearing up to observe the Memorial Day holiday
“We’re going to be hosting our Memorial Day ceremony at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central at 11.30 a.m. on Monday in honor of all service members who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the nation,” said Fort Knox Garrison Commander Colonel Christopher Ricci.
U.S. Army Recruiting Command and Fort Knox Commander Major General Johnny Davis will be the ceremony’s keynote speaker.
“The event is also going to include a ceremonial wreath laying, 21-gun salute, Prisoners of War/Missing in Action remembrance ceremony, flag folding, a flyover courtesy of the Army Reserve Aviation Command, and the playing of “Taps,”” Ricci said.
Ricci says inclement weather in the forecast may lead to the cancellation of the event. Check with Fort Knox’s social media for updates.
Memorial Day also means access to Fort Knox’s cemeteries.
“On Memorial Day, we’ll also have the installation’s 121 cemeteries available for visitation from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine,” said U.S. Army Installation Management Command Cultural Resources Manager Niki Mills. “Fort Knox Range Operations staff will be posted at various checkpoints around the installation to provide access and to help visitors find specific cemeteries.”
Staff will be posted at the visitors center with maps and the cemetery index book.
Memorial Day weekend is here, and if the weather cooperates it means the first weekend for Elizabethtown’s American Legion Waterpark.
“Once we’re open, our hours this season will be Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and then on Sundays we’re open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.,” said E-Town PArks and Rec Programs Coordinator Adam Case. “The season starts this Saturday. We will close at the end of the season. That’ll be Tuesday, August 6 this year.”
Daily pool admission is $9 for adults and $7 for kids ages four to 17, but you can save money by purchasing a season pass.
“We have individual season passes, and those are for adults or for children, and those are $125 for the season,” Case said. “Again, that’s good from May 25 to August 6 this season, and then we do have family season passes. That is good for six members. You can add an additional two for $35 a person, but for the six members, that’s $275.”
This weekend is also the opening weekend for the Colvin Community Center pool. Radcliff City Council Member Pamela DeRoche encouraged the community to take advantage of the pool’s offerings at this week’s council meeting.
“We have things at the pool such as swim lessons,” DeRoche said. “We also have AquaZumba. You can actually have a pool party. All of that, you need to contact Calvin Community Center to set those up.”
Find more information on each pool on the respective city websites.
Folks traveling south this Memorial Day weekend can stop at the best maintained rest stop in Kentucky on the way home.
The northbound Interstate 65 rest area near Horse Cave in Hart County was presented with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Best Maintained Rest Area Award this week, the first time in the 24-year history of the award the Hart County location has been honored.
Transportation cabinet judges select the award recipient based on seven categories that are scored during unannounced quarterly inspections of all of the state’s rest areas. The Hart County location received perfect scores for its family restroom, lobby, and staff.
The transportation cabinet says the Hart County rest area is one of the largest such facilities in the state with more than 100 parking spaces, handicap-accessible and pet-friendly areas, and stocked vending machines and picnic areas.
Community Services Project Inc. operates Kentucky’s rest areas. The nonprofit employs about 400 disabled workers. CSP and employees of Department of Highways District Four were presented with certificates this week in recognition of the award.
A joint law enforcement effort led to a LaRue County man’s arrest Monday.
“On Monday evening, we were contacted by a group of private citizens from out of state who are part of an organization who creates fake social media accounts and portrays themselves as a juvenile to identify child predators,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “They had been conducting an independent investigation and had contact with 54-year-old Brian Warren of Magnolia. Warren agreed to meet with what he thought was a juvenile female at the Elizabethtown Nature Park. Once at the nature park, Warren was greeted by members of this organization and shortly thereafter our officers, instead of the juvenile female he desired.”
Denham says the investigation found that Warren had images of a “very young juvenile female” on his phone.
“He was arrested and charged with Distribution of Matter Portraying a Sexual Performance by a Minor Under 12 Years of Age,” Denham said. “He was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.”
The investigation is ongoing.
Two wanted fugitives were arrested in Meade County Wednesday.
According to the Meade County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 10 a.m. on May 22 detectives attempted to stop the vehicle of Anthony Stout, who immediately fled from the detectives on Flaherty Road. Stout and his passenger Tabitha Scrogham both had outstanding arrest warrants out of Meade County Court.
The suspects drove to a mobile home park near Sandy Lane. After driving around the park several times as they attempted to evade detectives, the suspects traveled down Sandridge Road and parked behind a radio tower site where they attempted to flee on foot before being apprehended. A search of the vehicle revealed a 9 mm handgun along with “numerous suspected drugs and paraphernalia.”
Stout and Scrogham face multiple charges including first degree Fleeing and Evading Motor Vehicle, enhanced first degree Possession of a Controlled Substance, and three counts of first degree Wanton Endangerment, among other charges. Both were lodged in the Meade County Detention Center.
Meanwhile, the Kentucky State Police is investigating a motorcycle crash on the Bluegrass Parkway that resulted in the death of an Oklahoma man.
The KSP says shortly after 2 p.m. on May 21 Post Four troopers were advised of a single-vehicle collision near the 34 mile marker on the Bluegrass Parkway in Nelson County. The preliminary investigation indicates that 58-year-old Kevin Long of Norman, Oklahoma, was traveling east on the parkway when for unknown reasons he exited the shoulder of the roadway and was ejected.
Long was pronounced dead at the scene by the Nelson County Coroner’s Office. The crash investigation remains ongoing.
Area law enforcement agencies are reminding area residents to buckle up this Memorial Day weekend.
Several area agencies are participating in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration‘s annual Click It or Ticket high-visibility enforcement effort, which runs now through June 4. The campaign aims to increase seatbelt use with traffic safety checkpoints and saturation patrols.
The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety says of the 512 vehicle occupants that were killed in roadway deaths across the commonwealth last year, 268 were either not wearing a seatbelt or were not properly restrained in a car seat or a booster seat. Seven of the 512 killed were children aged nine or younger.
The NHTSA says that when worn correctly seatbelts reduce the risk of death for front seat vehicle passengers by 45 percent, and for pickup truck, SUV, and minivan occupants by 60 percent. Properly-secured child or booster seats reduce the risk of death for infants by 71 percent and for toddlers by 54 percent.
More information can be found at nhtsa.gov.
There’s still time to register for Elizabethtown Community and Technical College’s Upward Bound Math and Science Summer Bridge and Summer Academy programs.
“Our students are usually interested in STEM careers and college programs, and they come from five different regions,” said UBMS Director Rebecca Maddox. “So the five high schools are LaRue County High School, Nelson County High School, North Hardin High School, Thomas Nelson High School, and Washington County High School.”
The Summer Bridge program is for graduating seniors interested in earning a degree in a STEM field and allows students to take two free college courses as part of ECTC’s summer calendar June 3rd through July 28th.
The Summer Academy is a non-residential program that simulates a college experience for high school students to allow them to polish their skills in math, science, English, and Spanish from June 3rd through July 3rd.
Because the program is grant-funded, all participating students must meet federal guidelines.
“Our students have to be what we call first generation students, so they’re going to be students that will be the first ones in their family to earn a bachelor’s degree,” Maddox said. “They must meet federal low income guidelines and be a US citizen or permanent resident, and they need to attend those five different schools.”
Learn more or register for the programs by contacting the UBMS office at 270-706-8578 or by searching for the programs on the ECTC website.
Voters across the commonwealth headed to the polls Tuesday for the 2024 Kentucky Primary Election.
Joe Biden won the Democratic presidential primary with 131,439 votes, getting 71 percent. Donald Trump won the Republican presidential primary with 214,932 votes, getting 85 percent.
In contested races in the area, Hank Linderman (12,508) beat William Compton (9,303) in the Kentucky House District 2 Democratic primary with 57 percent. Stephen Meredith (5,973) won the Kentucky State Senate 5th District Republican primary against Thomas Ballinger (2,344) with 72 percent. Josh Calloway (2,773) beat Julie Cantwell (738) in the State Representative 10th District Republican primary with 79 percent. Ryan Bivens (2,636) defeated Asa Waggoner (878) in the State Representative 24th District Republican primary with 75 percent. Thomas Huff (1,955) won the State Representative 49tyh District Republican primary against William Harned (647) with 75 percent. Amanda Troutman (2,998) won the Commonwealth’s Attorney 55th Judicial Circuit Republican primary in Bullitt County over Nathan Batey (1,379) with 68 percent.
The state voter turnout was reported at 12.7 percent, down significantly from the 31.1 percent turnout seen in the 2020 primary. Turnout percentages for the area were:
-Nelson County: 15.7 percent
-Breckinridge County: 15.4 percent
-Hart County: 13.8 percent
-Grayson County: 13.5 percent
-LaRue County: 13.2 percent
-Meade County: 11.3 percent
-Bullitt County: 9.9 percent
-Hardin County: 9 percent
Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith said he would have liked to have seen a larger turnout, but he was pleased with operations.
“Everything ran smoothly,” Smith said. “Our poll workers, I’m extremely proud of them. They have been working since well before sunup. Our local board of elections has as well, and I can say everything went as smooth as you could expect for an election.”
Breckinridge County Clerk Jared Butler was also pleased with his team’s efforts after a relatively quiet day.
“It’s been a pretty slow day, which was expected, but it’s been a very good day,” Butler said. “We’ve had very few issues and it’s been smooth so far.”
The deadline to register to vote in the general election is Monday, October 7. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. Voter registration information is available at your county clerk’s office or by visiting govote.ky.gov.
The Radcliff City Council met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.
The council approved a franchise agreement between the city and Charter Communications, which operates Spectrum. Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall said he wanted to clarify that the agreement is related to Charter’s operations in the city, not an agreement for citizens.
“What that means is that we’re allowing them to use easements, guidelines, stuff like that, telecommunications,” Duvall said. “This is not saying that you have to use Spectrum. I think there was confusion by some people stating that we are requiring you to use them if you’re within the city limits and that’s not the case. These are just formalities that we have to do to ensure that they are in agreement with their federal guidelines and everything else.”
Council Member Jerry Brown voted against the agreement. Brown said he did not appreciate Charter making money off of Radcliff residents while not maintaining a more active presence in the community.
“They don’t have a representative in this town,” Brown said. “They don’t have an office. They don’t have a person. They haven’t hired a person to man that office to answer questions.”
The council voted to approve a zoning map agreement for property located at the west side of the intersection of Bullion Boulevard and North Logsdon Parkway, which switches about 8.5 acres from Commercial to R-4. The council voted against approval for a zoning map amendment for property located at 2585 South Wilson Road that would have switched it from R-2 to R-6. The Radcliff Plan Commission recommended denying that zoning change after their finding of fact on the matter.
The Radcliff City Council will next meet for a work session on June 10.
With summertime temperatures on their way, Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says anybody responsible for children should take extra care to not leave children in hot cars, a situation that can turn tragic quickly.
“It wasn’t as bad last year, there were only 29 deaths,” Crane said. “That’s still too many, but it is down from 2019 when it was 53. So still, 29, that’s a lot that we could prevent.”
Crane says on a sunny 60 degree day, the temperature in the car can reach 110 degrees. Temperatures in the car can increase nearly 20 degrees in about 10 minutes.
Crane says to set a reminder for yourself to make sure you are checking the backseat, including a text or an alarm or a visual cue.
“Put something in the back seat that you’re going to have to get out when you get to work,” Crane said. “Maybe it’s your lunchbox, maybe it’s your laptop case. Something where you have to physically open the door and look. Another idea is to use a stuffed animal, and the stuffed animal is in the seat when the child is not in there and then put the stuffed animal in the front seat by you when the child is in the seat so that you have that visual reminder as well.”
If you see a child in a car, check to make sure that the child is unattended and there isn’t somebody else in the car more out of sight. If the child is indeed unattended, take action.
“Check the vehicle, communicate with the child, see if the child is responsive,” Crane said. “If the child is not responding, call 911, do that first, and if the child looks like they are in distress, go ahead and gain access to the car. In those cases where it is an emergency like that, you are protected.”
Make sure cars are locked so kids can’t get into them and lock themselves in, and keep the keys away from children.
Traffic was rerouted at Fort Knox Tuesday after officials found a surprise.
South Knox Street was closed in the area of Spearhead Division Avenue for several hours after a grenade was found in the area. While nearby facilities such as Abound Credit Union and the Army Substance Abuse Program were determined to be a safe distance away, Fort Knox Emergency Services responded to the scene while the situation was taken care of.
“An Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit from Fort Campbell came up here and they were able to destroy the hand grenade successfully at about 1:40 p.m. today, and following that the Director of Emergency Services here gave the all clear and South Knox Street was reopened,” said Fort Knox Media Relations Officer Kyle Hodges.
Hodges said the grenade appeared to be decades-old.
“It’s not the kind of thing that we typically find laying around on post, so it certainly is uncommon,” Hodges said. “However, it is a military installation, so it’s not terribly uncommon to find unexploded ordnance, just not usually in the cantonment area, the city portion of Fort Knox.”
If you find something you believe to be unexploded ordnance, contact law enforcement immediately.
Polls are open for the 2024 primary election.
“Election Day is always an exciting day for the county clerk’s office,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “Our poll workers have been up long before the sun, setting up our polling locations, getting everything ready for the first voters. Voting begins at 6 a.m. and it runs through 6 p.m., and if you’re in line at 6 p.m., you’ll get a chance to vote.”
Voting locations can be found by visiting your county clerk’s office’s website. Smith says Hardin County voters will be able to use the 12 sites available in the last election along with three new locations.
“Heartland Elementary School, Cecilia Valley Elementary School, and Glendale Christian Church,” Smith said. “Any of the locations, the line should move quickly. It’s a pretty short ballot, so that’s sometimes what creates a log jam, but we think that voters will be in and out pretty quickly.”
Anybody in need of assistance on election day should feel free to reach out.
“If voters have questions or concerns about anything they see during election day, they can call the clerk’s office at 270-765-6762,” Smith said. “We’ll have folks standing by to take your calls and questions.”
Election information can also be found at govote.ky.gov.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for their second meeting of the month Monday.
A public hearing was held on the city’s Municipal Road Aid funding. The city is slated to receive $619,000 in Municipal Road Funds and $15,000 in Local Government Economic Assistance Funds. No comments were made during the public hearing.
The council approved a zoning change for 1121 and 1131 Alex Drive from C-3 to R-6, and approved an annexation request for 8.8 acres along South Wilson Road which will be zoned C-3.
The council also approved a municipal order extending incentives for Fischbach USA after they completed an expansion that added 31 new jobs.
“State KDI tax incentive to include a partial refund of the Elizabethtown Occupational License Fee in the amount of 1 percent annually for 10 years for new jobs created based on approval by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, with the actual reimbursement annually based on the number of new jobs created,” said Elizabethtown City Attorney Ken Howard, reading from the order.
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory issued two proclamations. The first recognizes May as National Tennis Month. The second recognized Charles “Jake” Owen as an outstanding citizen in celebration of his 100th birthday.
The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet June 3.
Hardin County Schools is taking advantage of increased state funding to reward district employees.
“Our board unanimously approved a 6 percent raise for all certified and degreed employees, and some classified folks,” said HCS Superintendent Terry Morgan. “However, with the classified system, individuals will have a $1 to a $4 raise.”
That’s HCS Superintendent Terry Morgan. She says the raises were approved to help HCS stay competitive with other school districts and to say thank you for employee dedication.
“We want to show appreciation for those who have already been with our district,” Morgan said. “It may be one year, it may be 25 or 35. I know of even one individual who’s been here for at least 50 years. So it’s not only to recruit, but to retain the best and brightest here in Hardin County.”
The Kentucky General Assembly approved a three percent increase to SEEK, the funding mechanism for Kentucky schools.
“100 percent of that SEEK increase went to fund raises for those who work in the school district,” Morgan said. “In addition to that 3 percent, our board also contributed district funds to get that increase up to the 6 percent mark and then the dollar to $4 an hour for all the other employees.”
HCS says the 6 percent raises are the largest awarded by the district since the 1990s.
The Kentucky State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division will be targeting unsafe driving behavior that can lead to crashes involving commercial vehicles and passenger cars as they participate in Operation SafeDRIVE this week.
The “DRIVE” in Operation SafeDRIVE stands for “Distracted Reckless Impaired Visibility Enforcement.” The KSP will be participating in the national law enforcement effort Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
KSP commercial vehicle inspectors will open scale facilities to ensure commercial drivers are following safety regulations such as hours of service compliance, medical certifications, and proper licensing and credentialing. Motorists can help truck drivers on the road by:
-Staying out of blind spots
-Passing safely by checking mirrors and using turn signals
-Paying attention to not cut off large vehicles
-Avoiding tailgating.
The KSP says statistics show that 62 percent of fatal large truck accidents involve two or more vehicles.
Operation SafeDRIVE is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Our Roads, Our Safety campaign. Visit the DOT on the web to learn more.
Two juveniles are in custody after attempting to break into vehicles in Elizabethtown.
Hardin County Sheriff John Ward says deputies received a call at around 4:30 a.m. Saturday regarding a group of suspicious individuals attempting to break into parked cars in the Tunnel Hill Road area.
“When they arrived, they noticed two vehicles that matched the description, and when they made contact, the vehicles fled,” Ward said. “At the time they fled, they tried to run over a deputy. One of the vehicles wrecked just up the street. Ran into a ditch.”
After wrecking, two occupants, later identified as juveniles from Jefferson County, attempted to flee on foot but were apprehended by officers with the Elizabethtown Police Department who had also responded to the scene. Ward says the investigation shows the suspects were attempting to flee in stolen vehicles.
“They were all juveniles, apparently,” Ward said. “I know the two that were apprehended were juveniles. Both of them were armed. They were charged with multiple offenses, and both of them were lodged in a juvenile detention facility.”
Ward says the incident is a reminder for area residents to remain vigilant.
“We can’t stress enough: if your vehicle is in your driveway, it doesn’t matter what valuables you have inside of it, lock your car,” Ward said. “It’s important to keep your car locked, even if you’re only going to be there for a short time, lock your vehicle, and also, for sure, lock your home.”
Deputies believe three other juveniles fled the scene in a stolen white Dodge Ram. Anybody with possible information is asked to contact Deputies Daniel Shumate or Andy Short with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office at 270-765-5133.
David Taylor says he and his wife Tonya were not necessarily interested in running a bowling alley when they took over B & B Lanes three years ago.
“I had a desire to own it, but not to run it, but when my brother stepped down, it was time for me to step up, and it has been a chapter in my life that I couldn’t be more happier to have,” Taylor said.
That chapter concludes Monday as the Taylors transfer ownership of the bowling alley to L & S Entertainment LLC, which will continue the operation as Strike and Spare B & B Lanes.
Taylor said he is proud of his family’s contribution to the community for more than six decades, and while walking away is hard it is easier knowing a family-owned operation is here to carry on the legacy.
“It’s bittersweet, but at the same token, I’m getting ready to turn 65, and I feel that I found someone to take it over, to take it above and beyond what we could do for this community,” Taylor said. “I think they will give back and you’ll have a bowling alley here in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, for as long as the Taylors did for 60-plus years.”
L & S Entertainment will continue the new lanes project the Taylors got started for the bowling alley and have started other renovations, and Taylor said they were committed to retaining B & B employees that wished to stay on.
Taylor said keeping the local bowling alley alive means keeping the community better.
“Our kids need it, our adults need it, and we try to make it a great family fun center to give them something to do, and since COVID we all know that families have become more families today than they have been in years, and that’s the kind of places that you’ve got to have and you need for your community,” Taylor said.
Visit B & B Lanes on Facebook for more information.
Area business, government, and community members were in Leitchfield Friday to celebrate two efforts to help revive the downtown public square.
The Grayson County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for Elmore’s Big 7 Furniture, located at 32 Public Square in Leitchfield. Shortly after that, the crowd went across the square to the Alice Theatre for a ribbon cutting celebrating the re-opening of the theatre and the Alexander Hotel.
Robin Elmore said the road may not have been easy, but being part of the Leitchfield community is a rewarding experience.
“It’s been a blessing,” Elmore said. “It’s been tiresome, and it’s wonderful. I mean, we have had a year and a half of putting this back together and trying to restore it back to this original status, but also trying to bring it up to date and put a little modern flair to it, but it’s been awesome and the support of the community that we’ve had has been amazing.”
Robert McKinzie and his wife Mandi said their work on the theatre and hotel is an investment in the community’s future.
“What we hoped for was that whatever we did would inspire others to do something even more in the community to bring more life back into it, to allow great things to happen in Grayson County,” McKinzie said.
Grayson County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director April Spalding said community partners like the Elmores and McKinzies are critical.
“They put a lot of time and effort and money into it, and they have made big decisions and big, big donations to our community just by rehabbing these buildings,” Spalding said.
Learn more about Elmore’s Big 7 Furniture, the Alice Theatre, and the Alexander Hotel by finding their pages on Facebook.
Special Prosecutor Shane Young responded to the recent filings made by the suspects charged in the Crystal Rogers investigation.
Attorneys for Brooks Houck filed an objection to the special prosecutor’s motion to try Houck, Steven Lawson, and Joseph Lawson in the same trial, with attorneys for the Lawsons joining the objection. Houck’s attorneys stated that Houck could not get a fair trial as trying the three together would take away his ability to cross-examine the Lawsons.
Special Prosecutor Shane Young said in response: “There is no undue prejudice as a result of defendants pointing fingers at each other, rather our courts have favored joinder in such instances.” Young also says it is important to try the three together in order for the jury to see the prosecution’s argument that the three worked together to cover-up the crimes committed.
Young also responded to the motion to dismiss charges against Steven Lawson due to his claim that he was offered immunity. Young says Lawson was charged because of inconsistencies with his story, and it is ultimately up to his defense to prove in court his immunity argument.
All three suspects are expected back in court for a pre-trial conference on June 13. Meanwhile, Nelson Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III is reviewing a motion filed by the prosecutor and the defenses to move the trial out of Nelson County.
A Tennessee man is dead following a wrong-way collision on Interstate 65 near Elizabethtown.
“The Kentucky State Police investigated a two-vehicle collision on Interstate 65 near Elizabethtown on Wednesday around 10:59 p.m.,” said Sergeant Jason Morris with the Kentucky State Police Commercial Enforcement Division. “The preliminary investigation indicates a 2016 Lexus being operated by 50-year-old Jeffrey Simonton of Clarksville, Tennessee, was traveling north on I-65 in the southbound lanes. A 2019 Volvo truck and semi trailer operated by Alexander Bojov of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was traveling south on Interstate 65.”
Bojov was unable to avoid Simonton’s vehicle and they collided head-on.
“Simonton was ejected from the vehicle and later pronounced dead at the scene by the Hardin County Corner,” Morris said. “Simonton and Bojav were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of the crash, and Bojav was transported to University of Louisville Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.”
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the crash blocked the southbound lanes of I-65 near mile marker 90 for several hours Thursday morning.
The City of Vine Grove is asking for your help supporting area students.
“We are going to do a back to school bash at our First Friday in August, and we’re going to combine the two and we are collecting school supplies to be given out that night,” said Vine Grove Mayor Pam Ogden.
The city is partnering with several organizations to help support the school supply drive, but donations of any kind are appreciated.
“Anything that kids can use for school, backpacks is going to be the main thing, but we’ll take any supplies, paper, pencils, anything they use in school,” Ogden said. “You can bring it to Vine Grove City Hall and we will disperse it out to the kids.”
Donations are being accepted through August 1. Anybody in need of assistance will be eligible for the school supplies. Contact Vine Grove City Hall for more information.
Governor Andy Beshear announced the awarding of more than $9 million in recycling program grants this week, and several local governments are among the recipients.
The funding will support 73 projects across the commonwealth to support the expansion of recycling, the reduction of the amount of solid waste going into landfills, and improved handling of household hazardous waste.
The recycling program awards funds through three programs. Recycling grants provide funds for counties to purchase recycling equipment. Composting grants allow for the purchase of equipment to improve composting and promote creative solutions for solid waste. The household hazardous waste grant gives funds for counties to conduct annual drop-off events for disposal of waste such as chemicals and electronics.
The LaRue County Fiscal Court received about $71,000 and the Meade County Fiscal Court received more than $1 million in recycling grants. The Bullitt County Fiscal Court received about $42,000 and the Hardin County Fiscal Court received about $47,000 in household hazardous waste grants.
The grants are funded through the Kentucky Pride Fund, which is generated by fees for municipal solid waste disposed of at Kentucky landfills.
Visit the Kentucky Division of Waste Management website for more information.
Spring is a popular time for yard cleanup, and as the temperature outside increases and the ground dries more, Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says you should make sure the area around the house is free of debris.
“Make sure you’re pulling limbs, leaves, all that stuff that’s gathered up through the winter months, pull that away from your house, especially if you’re out in a rural area, or you have a lot of trees and things like that around your home,” Crane said “So if it does get dry and there is a lot of, there is a danger of a wildfire or anything that you’ve got that stuff away from your house.”
Crane says check with your local municipalities on collecting limbs or other yard waste. If you plan to burn anything, make sure you check to make sure you are in the clear.
“If you’re deciding to do a controlled burn, make sure you check with your local ordinances,” Crane said. “Check what’s allowed, and make sure you’re checking to make sure that there is no statewide or local prohibition on burning at that time.”
When you head outside to burn, make sure you are only burning approved materials, and you are a safe distance from the house, trees, or other structures.
“Definitely watch the wind conditions,” Crane said. “If you check the weather and it looks like it’s gonna be a breezy or gusty day, hold off and don’t burn. When you are burning though, make sure that you are constantly attending the fire and make sure you have something to put it out, whether it be a small tractor with a bucket or make sure that you’ve got a hose close by, something like that to help put it out.”
More fire safety tips can be found on the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s website.
A former employee of the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office was convicted Tuesday on charges related to his participation in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Joseph Irwin of Cecilia was found guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia of three felony charges, including Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon, and three misdemeanor charges, including Entering and Remaining on the Floor of Congress.
According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, court documents state that Irwin and co-defendant John Joseph Richter of Port Charlotte, Florida, discussed plans to travel to Washington with the intent to obstruct the certification of the electoral college vote. The two discussed the potential for violence and possible supplies to bring, with both bringing wooden poles with all-black American flags.
The two men attended the January 6th “Stop the Steal” rally and joined the march to the Capitol, and then joined efforts to breach the building. Irwin broke his pole into two pieces when he “aggressively smashed his pole on the ground in a threatening manner at the police officers.” After breaching the building and eventually making it to the senate floor, the two had fellow rioters take their pictures at senators’ desks while posing with their poles. The two left the Capitol after Metropolitan Police officers eventually directed the rioters out. The release says the two continued to celebrate their participation in the riot, with Irwin keeping his wooden pole in a shadow box.
Irwin was arrested on August 17, 2021. According to the criminal complaint from his arrest, Irwin was identified through an anonymous tip after he was seen in video recorded at the Capitol. Hardin County Sheriff John Ward identified Irwin and confirmed in the complaint that he was a former employee, having left the sheriff’s office in May of 2016.
Sentencing for Irwin is scheduled for August 9. More than 1,400 people have been charged for their participation in the January 6th attack, and the FBI continues to collect tips on other participants.
When Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation President Andy Games gave an economic development update to the Elizabethtown City Council Monday, he said the projected economic impact of BlueOval SK has been discussed, but E-Town’s growth goes further.
“I kind of tell people, take BOSK out of the equation, and we here at E-Town have three-quarters of $1 billion worth of investment currently under construction in the park between Whiskey House, Lotte, and Advanced Nano Products or ANP InterTech, so that’s exciting,” Games said.
Games said that growth is not reserved for new development, with existing companies also making strides.
“Flex finished an expansion, Fischbach finished an expansion, WL Plastics finalized their purchase on some land on West Park Road, and there are plans to build another factory for WL Plastics,” Games said. “I’m not sure when that’s going to come on, but they did finalize their land purchase with us. Soudal and Altec, Altec’s always growing, and Soudall is looking at doing an expansion as well.”
With the successes comes some challenges. Games said the industrial foundation has been working with Akebono Brake Corporation after the announcement that they will be closing their Elizabethtown operation.
“They are committed through December 2025,” Games said. “They’re a longstanding partner here with our community, but we are working closely with them as that day comes. I’ve spoken to many of those employees that have called about wanting to know what options are when they get done in December, and I said ‘don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get a job, I promise you.’”
Games said the industrial foundation is working with Akebono on finding a buyer for their building, and the foundation has been working to identify possible properties for future development.
Learn more about the Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation on their website.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their first meeting of the month Tuesday.
The fiscal court approved the county’s 2024-2025 budget ordinance, which was up for its second reading. The ordinance was approved on a 5-4 vote. No further discussion was held on the budget at this meeting, but at the previous reading the magistrates that voted against the budget expressed concern with using funds from the BlueOval SK Pilot Agreement to cover the budget deficit.
Deputy Judge-Executive Vicki Meredith reported on the county’s Public Works Department. Meredith said the county’s monthly shredding events continue to be well-attended with 224 bags shredded so far this year. The county’s recycling program is also well-used, with 30 trailer runs in March and 44 in April. The Hardin County Conservation District presented the county with a check for $5,000 for its dead animal removal program, which Meredith said has seen 76 animals removed so far this year.
“The point of this is to try to make sure that deceased farm animals are disposed of properly,” Meredith said. “Often, historically, they could be pulled to the back part of the farm or placed close to a stream or in a sinkhole and that’s just not appropriate, so we really commend all the farmers and property owners throughout Hardin County for working with us on this program.”
County Director of Planning Adam King said so far this year 163 building permits have been issued, 33 new plats have been recorded, and 52 new lots have been recorded. King also said the county’s new comprehensive plan has been well-received.
“We’re really excited about this document,” King said. “We’ve used it now at a few meetings, and it has a lot more meat on everything to justify zone change decisions. I think this document is going to serve us well for years to come.”
King said the comprehensive plan has been submitted for a state planning award.
Several magistrates took a moment to acknowledge the 36th anniversary of the May 14, 1988, Carrollton bus collision, and asked residents to remember the families of the 27 victims.
“We do need to continually remind the young people of the consequences of their decisions,” said Magistrate Fred Clem. “And those families, continue to remember them as well.”
The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet May 28.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for a special meeting Monday.
The council approved two zoning map amendments on their second readings. The first changed 1203 and 1205 Saint John Road from R-5 to R-6. The second changed 806 North Miles Street from R-4 to R-5. The first reading was held on a zoning change for 1121 through 1131 Alex Drive from C-3 to R-6, as well as an annexation request for 8.8 acres on South Wilson Road from Hardin County to be zoned C-3. All of these items were recommended for approval by the city’s planning commission.
The council approved a municipal order accepting CIMA Energy’s bid to supply natural gas for the city.
“Now be it ordered that the City of Elizabethtown accepts the bid from CIMA for a two-year contract at a rate of Inside FERC Index plus .2 cents/Dth,” said City Attorney Ken Howard, reading from the municipal order.
The council also approved four municipal orders awarding Downtown Redevelopment Grants to four properties.
“Whereas the City of Elizabethtown desires to promote and support the redevelopment of downtown, and whereas the City of Elizabethtown has developed a Downtown Redevelopment Grant program to encourage private property owners to redevelop their properties,” said Howard, reading from the municipal order.
Grants awarding no more than about $43,500 for 220 West Dixie Avenue, about $46,000 for 110 South Main Street, $2,000 for 117 North Main Street, and about $2,600 for 35 Public Square were approved.
Mayor Jeff Gregory and members of the council had high praise for the E-Town Wine Fest which was held at Freeman Lake Park this past Saturday. Council Member Cindy Walker said she arrived shortly before 6 p.m. and saw a strong crowd.
“I was told that over 1,500 tickets at that time had been sold and they were still lining up behind me,” Walker said. “Beth (Pyles) and Priscilla (Scarborough) did an excellent job, the entire staff, the city, the volunteers. It was perfect.”
Extra vendors, a wider footprint, and great weather helped make the event a successful one.
The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet May 20.
The Radcliff City Council met for a special called meeting Monday.
The council approved a $60,000 bid from Helm Construction for HVAC units at the Colvin Community Center. The council also approved a $79,000 bid from Skyler Construction for the roof at Radcliff Fire Station No. 2. That project was re-bid at the request of Council Member Jerry Brown after only one bid was initially received. Brown said he was pleased re-bidding saved the city about $10,000.
“We don’t have the luxury of a really deep budget, so we’re always looking to save money for our Radcliff taxpayers, and by re-bidding we were able to do that,” Brown said. “We saved the taxpayers thousands of dollars.”
Feeding America Kentucky’s Heartland Executive Director Charles Dennis came before the council to discuss the organization’s work with 250 partner organizations across 42 counties, including 5 in Radcliff. Dennis said figures on food insecurity are expected to be released this week, which has Feeding America evaluating how to best serve those in need.
“We’re not doing away with the Backpack Program, but we’re going to be shifting to funding what we call a Feeding Kids Fund, and we have piloted a School Pantry Program,” Dennis said. “There are some instances where the need is so great that just a backpack is not going to fill that.”
Radcliff/Fort Knox Convention and Tourism Commission Treasurer Bob Moore discussed the organization’s budget, which he said is higher this year thanks to increased revenue from area hotels. Moore said the advertising budget will be increased for airports and Spotify after strong interest was seen in area attractions.
“Boundary Oak has gotten 300,000 visitors already,” Moore said. “Red Hill Cutlery talks about the turnover there, coming in to see the knife and the museum, and still the largest download of everything we have is Saunders Springs.”
The Radcliff City Council will next meet May 21.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife says the spring wild turkey hunting season was a successful one.
Hunters recorded the third highest spring turkey harvest on record for the state, with 33,460 birds brought in. That’s nine percent higher than the state’s five-year average.
The spring wild turkey season ran from April 13 through May 5. The youth-only hunt, which ran April 6 and 7, saw 2,309 turkeys harvested, which was up 25 percent from last year.
KFW says the combined total for adults and youths fell just short of numbers from the 2023 hunting season, but this was expected as the brood hatch from 2022 was not as strong as 2021.
Good weather over most of the wild turkey season calendar brought out a good number of hunters, and a lower than average amount of young male turkeys, called jakes, meant an increased number of two-year-old turkeys for hunters to look for.
You can help Kentucky Fish and Wildlife track the wild turkey population by reporting sightings of hens with young turkeys throughout July and August as part of the annual summer brood survey.
The fall wild turkey hunting season begins on September 7. Learn more by finding the current State Hunting Guide on the KFW website.
The Elizabethtown Fire Department is expanding its training opportunities with the construction of their new fire training facility.
“We’ll be able to do live fire burns,” said Elizabethtown Fire Chief Mark Malone. “There are three rooms that are designed. One’s designed like a kitchen, one’s designed like a bedroom, and then there’s just a general purpose open room for burning. We have the ability to repel.”
The facility is constructed using modular units which allows for a diverse range of options.
“We have forceful entry doors, forceful entry windows,” Malone said. “The interior walls are movable so we can have different configurations for scenarios. It has a Nance Drill, which is a firefighter rescue drill, and also a Denver Drill mockup, which again is a firefighter rescue drill.”
Malone says the Elizabethtown Fire Department strives to be as prepared as possible to best serve the community.
“In Kentucky, it is required that they get 100 hours of training a year,” Malone said. “Elizabethtown tries to shoot for 200 hours of training a year. We’re a small department, so we have to do basically jack-of-all-trades. We do all the rescue disciplines, plus regular firefighting, plus we run first responder EMS, so we do a lot of different things for the community, and that takes a lot of training.”
The modular facility is being constructed next to the existing State Fire Rescue Training Area 5 tower on College Street.
North Hardin High School hosted Academic Signing Day Friday, an opportunity to celebrate with seniors that have committed to a post-secondary education institution, the workforce, or the military. The event also gave Elizabethtown Community and Technical College the chance to present North Hardin High School College Coach Annette Neblett with their 2024 High School Teacher/Counselor Pathfinder Award.
ECTC says each KCTCS institution selects a recipient each year. The award is presented to a faculty or staff member that encourages students to attend a KCTCS college, assists students in identifying career and postsecondary paths, provides mentorship, and maintains contact with students.
ECTC President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate said he appreciates Neblett connecting students to the college, but her work ultimately benefits everybody.
“Her willingness to spend her time investing in these kids is really an investment in all of our futures, but to have the ability to work alongside someone like Annette for our college, for North Hardin High School, it’s really special to see these people doing this work and to be a part of it,” Pate said.
Neblett said the award was nice, but seeing her students celebrating their futures was the real prize.
“It makes my heart feel so great because it’s getting better,” Neblett said. “The kids are starting to listen more and they’re starting to really pay attention to what I’m saying, so I really appreciate all of them coming out today and just enjoying themselves, and this is all about them. It’s not about me. It’s all about them.”
ECTC says nearly 320 Pathfinder nominations were received statewide.
North Middle School will have a new principal for the 2024-2025 school year, and it is somebody with previous experience at Hardin County Schools.
HCS has announced that Traci Hunt will be moving into the principal’s office. Hunt comes to NMS after serving as assistant principal and principal at Marion C. Moore School in Louisville, principal at Bloomfield Middle School in Nelson County, and assistant principal at Bullitt East High School. The Western Kentucky University and University of the Cumberlands grad started her education career as a teacher and secondary instructional specialist at North Hardin High School.
HCS Superintendent Teresa Morgan said in a release: “Ms. Hunt brings valuable experience as she returns home. She knows how to ensure student growth in and out of the classroom. She has a strong work ethic and she will help lead North Middle School in a tremendous fashion. Our community is growing and Ms. Hunt’s experiences will help her prepare North Middle for that growth.”
Hunt replaces Jeff Lowan, who retires as principal at the end of this school year.
Voter registration in Kentucky saw another surge ahead of the deadline for the primary election.
Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams says more than 8,300 new voters got registered between April 1 and the pre-primary registration deadline on April 22.
In turn, about 4,600 voter registrations were removed. About 3,300 removals were for deceased voters, 543 for felony convicts, and 562 for voters who moved out of state.
Adams says Republican registration in the state rose by a little less than 2,700 voters, and independent or other registrations went up by more than 1,700. Democratic registrations decreased by about 700 voters.
Voters that qualify for in-person excused absentee voting may do so Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at the Hardin County Clerk’s Office. Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith says the same qualifications for a mail-in absentee ballot apply to in-person absentee, but voters can cast a ballot as they would on Election Day.
“Some of those qualifications are if you’ll be out of town or scheduled to work all dates and times of in-person voting,” Smith said. “The law uses the phrase ‘age, illness, and disability.’ Sometimes those words ring a little harsh on our ears. There is no definitive age, illness, or disability. We don’t ask. You just attest to it.”
Early voting for all will run at the clerk’s office and at the Colvin Community Center this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The primary election will be held on May 21. Find more election information at govote.ky.gov.
Work is progressing on the Buffalo Lake Connector Trail, a joint project between the City of Elizabethtown and Elizabethtown Tourism.
“The trailhead is going to be located near the railroad crossing at Dixie, and will connect all the way to Commerce Drive,” said Elizabethtown Tourism Director of Marketing Krysta Souleyrette. “It’s going to be about a mile and a half long, and there will be paved sections so it’s accessible for everyone.”
The trailhead will include amenities such as a water bottle filling station, a bike repair station, and ample seating.
Souleyrette said the connector achieves a strategic goal of connecting Downtown E-Town with the hotels on or near Commerce Drive, and adds to Elizabethtown’s outdoor recreation offerings.
“We have a wide array of outdoor trails and wonderful outdoor activities in Elizabethtown, and this is only going to enhance this, our outdoor attractions and activities for community members as well as visitors,” Souleyrette said.
The connector trail is set to open in spring of 2025.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is highlighting new recognition of the commonwealth’s economic success.
The governor’s office says Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky in second place for its South Central Region rankings and in eighth place nationally in its 2024 Prosperity Cup rankings. The Prosperity Cup “recognizes the competitiveness of state-level economic development agencies and their success in landing capital investment projects according to data from 2023.” Expanded facilities, new jobs created, and sales tax climate are among the criteria for the rankings.
The governor touted some of the state’s accomplishments during the ribbon cutting for the ECTC BlueOval SK Training Center Wednesday.
“We’ve now had over $30.6 billion of new private sector investment in us in just 4.5 years, a record by far, over a thousand new location and expansion projects, 52,700 new jobs,” Beshear said. “We’ve broken every export record, every tourism record. It is an exciting time to be a Kentuckian right now.”
Beshear has cited BlueOval SK as being the catalyst for making the electric vehicle industry a central part of new development in the state.
“We are leading this country in the EV sector with $11.7 billion announced in just 3.5 years, and 10,250 full-time jobs,” Beshear said.
More information on Kentucky economic development efforts can be found at ced.ky.gov.
The Central Kentucky Community Foundation facilitated the twelfth annual KY Gives Day for regional non-profits Tuesday.
Community Foundation Communications and Projects Coordinator Erin Hahn said the effort was a successful one.
“25 regional organizations participated and they had a great day,” Hahn said. “It was a 24-hour online giving day and we raised collectively close to $100,000, and that’s just due to the amazing and generous community that we live in.”
More than 600 donors contributed 771 gifts to regional organizations. Hahn said the individual support is a credit to the impact the nonprofits have across the community.
“Yes, it’s a 24-hour online one day of giving, but more importantly, it’s you give $5, you give $10, but every dollar counts, and it really does help to make a strong impact to all of the organizations that do so much good in our community.” Hahn said.
Participating organizations compete for state and regional prizes, which Hahn said is a way of adding friendly competition and encouraging more support.
“The organizations obviously are wanting to raise dollars for their organization, but we kind of help to throw in a little bit more fun with providing prizes for most dollars raised,” Hahn said. “We have a couple of power hours through the day, which some organizations actually take advantage of having matches during those periods.”
The leading recipients in the region were the Lincoln Museum, Bernheim Forest, and Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. More information and the complete leaderboard can be found at www.kygives.org.
Government, business, and community leaders joined officials from Elizabethtown Community and Technical College and BlueOval SK as the ribbon was cut on the college’s new training center located just outside the battery park in Glendale.
ECTC President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate said cutting the ribbon on the facility is a testament to the investment, vision, and commitment of the many community partners that have helped bring the project to fruition.
“It is kind of hard to think that a year ago we were just breaking ground on this,” Pate said. “We were here not even really a full year yet. It was a nice, beautiful, warm day, and we were thinking about what could be, and here just a short year later we’re celebrating what is.”
The ECTC BlueOval SK training center is a 42,000 square foot facility that will host training with a primary curriculum focused on battery knowledge, roles, and skills.
“The ECTC BlueOval Training Center is going to serve trainees who are looking to enter an innovative, high-wage, high-demand career, and at ECTC we could not be more proud to serve such a critical role in preparing those employees for those careers, and we could not be more proud to support the historic investment that BOSK has made in not just Hardin County but the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Pate said.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said the investment of BlueOval SK and the partnerships that help support ECTC will help change lives.
“This is advanced manufacturing with cutting-edge technology, so even with a workforce second to none we knew we would have to rise to the challenge to make sure we could fill all of these good jobs,” Beshear said. “We are facing this head-on with three great Team Kentucky partners: Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, BlueOval SK, and Ford.”
The governor credited BlueOval SK with sparking development in the commonwealth that has revolutionized Kentucky’s image.
“We are the first call that world class businesses are making right now,” Beshear said. “We are the first destination they want to come to. Never a flyover state ever again. Never a place anybody looks down their nose at ever again. We are truly together building a new Kentucky home.”
Beshear recognized the center’s ahead-of schedule completion in part by honoring Trace Creek Construction Vice President David Milam and Superintendent Scott Dalton as Kentucky Colonels. The training center will start onboarding classes in June.
Kentuckians have one more year to get their licenses upgraded to a Real ID.
Enforcement of the Federal Real ID Act begins on May 7, 2025, after which a Real ID state-issued driver’s license or ID or another federally-accepted form of identification such as a passport will be required for air travel and access to government or military buildings that require ID.
A state-issued Real ID must be requested in person at any of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Driver Licensing Regional Offices. In order to get a Real ID, you must bring one proof of identity document, one proof of Social Security document, and two proof of residency documents.
Kentuckians can renew a driver’s license up to six months before the printed expiration date, and cards can be upgraded to Real ID at any time. Standard issue licenses will still be available and will still be valid for driving and proof of identity or age, but will not be valid for security checks.
A list of valid documents for registering and more information can be found at www.realidky.com.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College celebrated the accomplishments of its students Monday with their spring graduation ceremony, held at Severns Valley Baptist Church in Elizabethtown.
ECTC says the college expects to award 725 degrees and diplomas along with around 1,200 certificates to students that completed coursework this spring.
ECTC President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate said Tuesday that graduation is a celebration for the students and the community.
“When a student comes to Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, they’re going to get relevant education for being here,” Pate said. “They’re probably going to stay here, which means they are going to be a vibrant, contributing part of our community. That’s where we want to be as a college, and to get to see that last night, that’s what makes graduation so special.”
Pate said the investment these students make in themselves by continuing their education pays dividends in multiple ways.
“Roughly half of our students do go on to transfer for a four year degree and that kind of thing, but because they’ve spent those first two to three years here after high school making connections in the community, probably getting that first job here in the community, the data shows that they are more likely to get that degree and stay here,” Pate said.
Whether a student stays in the area or ventures elsewhere, the college is still doing what it set out to do.
“The mission of the college is to add value to the lives of our students and then return that value back out into the community, and that value is represented in those lives that have bettered themselves by getting skills and knowledge that they didn’t have,” Pate said.
Enrollment for summer classes and the fall semester is currently open. Visit ECTC on the web or contact the college for more information.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is celebrating the accomplishments of four students that recently competed in a national robotics competition.
Team NUKE participated in the Vex Robotics World Championship in Dallas, the eighth consecutive year ECTC students have competed at the event.
Vex U provides students with the chance to design, build, and program robots, which helps the students develop technical and soft skills. Teams work on their robots and compete in year-round events which culminate at the world championship.
Team NUKE competed in nine qualifying matches with teams from around the world, placing seventh in their division. The team recorded the highest individual match score of the tournament when they defeated Mississippi State 222 to 70. The team ultimately fell in the division finals to the University of Kentucky, which was led by a former member of Team NUKE.
The members of Team NUKE are students in ECTC’s Engineering and Electronics Technology program. Contact Marty Sutherland at ECTC to learn more.
Team nuke consisted of ECTC students Jeffrey Stewart, David Roche-Meléndez, Tanner Blake, and Joshua Wisniewski, along with five students from Northern Kentucky University.
The Kentucky State Police is investigating a fatal accident that occurred in LaRue County Sunday evening.
At approximately 6:30 p.m. on May 5, KSP Post Four troopers were requested by LaRue County Dispatch to assist in investigating a single-vehicle collision at the 6000 block of KY 61/Greensburg Road.
The KSP says the preliminary investigation indicates that 59-year-old Bobby D. Sexton of Magnolia was driving south on KY 61 in a pickup truck when for unknown reasons he drove onto the shoulder of the roadway before overcorrecting. The vehicle overturned several times.
Sexton was pronounced dead at the scene by the LaRue County Coroner’s Office. Two passengers in the vehicle, one an adult and one a child, sustained life-threatening injuries in the crash. The adult passenger was flown to the University of Louisville Hospital, and the child was flown to Norton Children’s Hospital.
The KSP’s investigation into the crash is ongoing.
One person is dead and another seriously injured following an accident on the Western Kentucky Parkway in Hardin County.
“On Sunday, May 5 at approximately 10:48 p.m. the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 126 mile marker on the WK Parkway for a reported motor vehicle accident.” said Hardin County Sheriff John Ward.
Upon the arrival of deputies, both of the involved vehicles were engulfed in flames.
“The operator of unit one – Roger B. Wilson, age 38, of Elizabethtown – was pronounced dead at the scene of the Hardin County Coroner,” Ward said. “The operator of unit two was transported by helicopter to the University of Louisville Hospital with life-threatening injuries.”
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office’s Accident Reconstruction Team’s investigation into the accident is ongoing. The Western Kentucky Parkway was closed in both directions for several hours after the accident.
The Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet says Kentucky is the first state in the country to capture side and angle view photography of its entire geography from the sky.
Pilots working for contractor NV5 flew 2,600 flight lines over 117,000 miles to capture images of more than 40,000 square miles of Kentucky’s cities, towns, farms, and natural areas to create the KY From Above program.
The program was established in 2010 by the Kentucky Geographic Information Advisory Council with the mission of creating access to geographic information in the state by providing detailed elevation data and aerial photography at no cost to Kentuckians. The accuracy and clarity of the images captured provides context for hundreds of map layers used by state and local government agencies.
The state also says the program will improve public safety as first responders will be able to use it to help on accident responses and search and rescue missions, and emergency management leaders will be able to use the program when assessing damage after a disaster.
You can access the program by visiting www.kyfromabove.ky.gov.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says there were 813 highway fatalities on Kentucky roadways in 2023, an increase from the 744 seen in 2022.
The KYTC’s Office of Highway Safety says in those fatal accidents, 51 percent of victims were not wearing a seatbelt. 33 percent of the accidents involved speeding or aggressive driving, 20 percent involved distracted drivers, and 16 percent involved alcohol.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says wearing a seatbelt is the single most effective way of preventing injury or death in a traffic accident. Seatbelt use and the dangers of drunk driving continue to be the primary subjects of most public awareness campaigns.
The KYTC says it continues to focus on infrastructure projects that improve safety for everybody on the roadway, including a pilot project set to begin this summer that will test systems that detect and deter wrong-way crashes along select interstate ramps in Fayette and Jefferson counties.
Preliminary numbers for 2024 report 170 roadway deaths, which is down more than 13 percent compared to this time last year.
Spring is in full swing, and people are sprucing up their houses and yards as they welcome the warmer weather.
Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says as you go about your spring cleaning, don’t forget about your appliances.
“Just make sure that when you’re cleaning, clean places that you might not normally like behind refrigerators or dryers, a lot of those that have motors where the dust and things like that can build up,” Crane said. “Try to clean those, vacuum around and behind those at least once a year.”
Crane says not only does it reduce the risk for fire, it also helps extend the life of the appliance.
While cleaning your dryer, don’t forget about making sure lent isn’t building up.
“We tell you always make sure you’re cleaning the lint filter during each time you dry, but also during the spring, maybe pull the dryer out, clean the hose or the pipe that goes to the outside of the house to make sure that’s clean and free of lint because that will build up and could cause a fire,” Crane said.
Also check to make sure the dryer exhaust outside the house is clear, as there is potential for it to become clogged due to lent and animals or other pests.
“Just make sure that it’s free and clear, that it’s got good air movement,” Crane said. “If you do live in an area where, say, birds and other pests are a problem, and you put a screen over there, make sure you’re checking the screen because the lint will build up even easier there.”
More fire safety tips can be found on the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s website.
An Elizabethtown resident on Sportsman Lake Road found a surprise on their security camera Wednesday morning as they saw a young black bear wander through their back porch.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Bear Program Coordinator John Hast says while such a sighting is a surprise, it is not that uncommon.
“Although we’ve not had one out there for a couple years, that seems to be a fairly common place to get them passing through,” Hast said. “I think probably 2018 was kind of our first big year where we had a few between E-Town and Louisville. We’ve had one road killed on 31-W there, kind of between Fort Knox and Louisville. It’s kind of just a point where they seem to converge right there.”
Hast says this is the first year since 2020 that the state has seen increased reports of roaming bears, but it is just part of how the animals go about their lives.
“It’s just kind of the evolutionary plan of bear populations,” Hast said. “They send their young males out. So right now is the start of the breeding season in the bear range in the mountains of Kentucky, and really this is the point where those year and a half old males kind of get the boot, and when that happens they go in search of new habitat and mates and let’s call it one out of every 100 or one out of every 200 just ends up walking out of the mountains.”
Hast says if you happen to spot a bear, use common sense, but enjoy the moment.
“Honestly, I tell people, especially folks in E-Town and outside the typical bear range, consider yourself lucky that you saw one, and just take it for what it is,” Hast said. “Get a quick video on the cell phone or something. Obviously, don’t approach.”
Hast says in nearly all cases the bear returns to the mountains by September or October, but residents can help to make sure the only bear that is taking up residency in the area is Central Hardin’s mascot.
“The biggest thing with keeping these bears wild, and this bear in E-Town we don’t have any record of him getting in any garbage or getting a meal in any way so he’s just truly roaming, which is what we want to see, but if you’re in that area, secure your garbage for a couple weeks, just to be on the safe side,” Hast said.
Hast says the estimated Kentucky bear population is between 1,000 and 1,500. Information on bears and what to do if you spot one can be found at www.bearwise.org.
The Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after the discovery of human remains.
The sheriff’s office says deputies responded Monday evening to a call about remains that had been found at a property north of the Little Flock Baptist Church on Old Preston Highway North. A person there was bush-hogging near Tanyard Branch Creek when they discovered the remains and contacted law enforcement.
The case is being considered a death investigation. The sheriff’s office is reviewing area missing persons reports while working with the medical examiner’s office to try and identify the individual.
Anybody with possible information that may assist the investigation is asked to call or email the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip Line. (502-543-1262, crimetip@bcky.org)
Registration is open for Elizabethtown Community and Technical College’s annual summer program, Kids College.
“Kids College is an opportunity we have in the summer for kids to come on campus and learn from a few of our instructors in the areas of robotics, baking and food prep, and agriculture,” said ECTC Lead Recruiter and Kids College Coordinator Becca Owsley. “It is for students that have finished the first through eighth grade, and they’re broken up into three different groups. There’s kids first through third grade, fourth through fifth grade, and sixth through eighth grade.”
The camp is sponsored by Abound Credit Union, and kids can sign up for three different classes. “Beginning Robotics” will see students building and programming a robot built from a LEGO Robotics kit. “Baking Fun” will include projects based on food, nutrition, and baking. “Ag is for Everyone” will include live animals, demonstrations, and lab activities.
“Registration is open now, and it will run through June 14” Owsley said. “They can go to the ECTC website and search for Kids College, and they can find where to register there.”
Advanced registration is required and spaces are first come, first serve.
Warmer weather means more time outdoors, which also means more potential for exposure to ticks.
The most common ticks in Kentucky are the lone star tick, the blacklegged tick, and the American dog tick. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife says that any tick bite should be taken seriously due to the potential for illnesses such as Lyme disease, which is of growing concern in the commonwealth.
Before going outdoors, use EPA-registered insect repellents, treat clothing with products containing permethrin, and take precautions when walking through wooded or brushy area, tall grass, and wood or leaf piles.
After spending time outdoors, perform tick checks, shower, and tumble dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes. If a tick is found attached to the skin, remove it as soon as possible. Use tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and gently pull with steady pressure, then clean the area of the bite and wash your hands. If symptoms of an illness arise within a few weeks, get medical attention and tell them about the tick bite.
Kentuckians can contribute to tick research by looking up the Kentucky Tick Surveillance Project, which is run by the University of Kentucky.
Mandi McKinzie said it was faith and a deep personal connection that led her and her husband Robert to purchase the Alexander Hotel and Alice Theatre in Leitchfield in 2021.
“My husband is from Kansas, but I would tell him about the memories that I had in the building, and it was just a staple in the community when we were young,” McKinzie said. “This is where we had breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We watched a movie every weekend, and then when my parents got divorced, my dad actually lived in the hotel after that for a while, so this was home, too.”
The buildings opened in 1935, named after the children of the original owners, but the buildings had been vacant since 2013. McKinzie says the last three years have consisted mostly of blood, sweat, and tears, but also joy.
“We went into it with one budget in mind, and that budget doubled,” McKinzie said. “We’ve literally used our retirement money, but we don’t have any regrets because it’s what we know we were supposed to do, and we’ve done it, and we just hope that our community loves it as much as we do.”
The effort that the McKinzies have devoted the time, money, and energy to is coming to fruition. Rooms at the Alexander Hotel are now available for booking on Airbnb, and the first official event at the revived Alice Theatre, a performance by Papa Bear and the Love Den, will take place on May 16.
McKinzie says the efforts were all worth it to be part of a revival in Downtown Leitchfield and to keep the tradition alive for future generations.
“I have two grandbabies, and I want the square, our little historic square, to be as lively as it was when I was a kid growing up, and so that’s my hope, and I think it’s catching fire around here because we have had lots of people investing in our community, especially in the downtown square,” McKinzie said.
The Grayson County Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the downtown development on May 17 with a ribbon cutting ceremony for Elmore’s Big 7 Furniture at 11 a.m. followed by a ribbon cutting for the hotel and theater at 11:30 a.m. Find the Alexander Hotel and Alice Theatre on Facebook for more information.
The deadline to request an absentee mail-in ballot for the May 21 primary election is approaching.
“That portal is available through May 7,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith during the most recent Hardin County Fiscal Court meeting. “You can go to govote.ky.gov. You can feel free to stop by our office or call our elections team. When you call our office, we’ll walk you through govote.ky.gov so you can order and request that absentee ballot.”
After the mail-in portal closes, voters that qualify can take advantage of in-person absentee voting.
“There are six days in which a person who qualifies for the same qualifications for absentee voting can come by the clerk’s office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,” Smith said. “Those dates are May 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, and 15.”
The same qualifications for a mail-in absentee voting apply to in-person absentee voting, but allow the voter to cast their votes as they would on Election Day.
“Some of those qualifications are if you’ll be out of town or scheduled to work all dates and times of in-person voting,” Smith said. “The law uses the phrase ‘age, illness, and disability.’ Sometimes those words ring a little harsh on our ears. There is no definitive age, illness, or disability. We don’t ask. You just attest to it.”
Smith is also reminding Hardin County residents about the free PropertyCheck program available through the clerk’s office.
“If any document is recorded in our office, you’ll get an email and text alert,” Smith said. “I think a lot of folks are really concerned about identity theft, and there are, growing in other parts of the country, property crimes related to fraudulent filings. It’s not a huge problem, but we want to get ahead of it and not be behind it.”
Contact the clerk’s office or visit their website for more information.
Kentuckians are being reminded during National Motorcycle and Bike Safety Month to watch out for each other as warmer weather brings more people out on the roadways on two wheels.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety says that in 2023 there were just under 2,000 crashes involving motorcycles and about 350 involving bikes in Kentucky. Those crashes resulted in more than 1,700 injuries and 127 deaths.
Motorcycles and bikes have all of the same rights and regulations as any motor vehicle on the highway, but their smaller size makes them harder for other drivers to see.
The KYTC is reminding drivers to look twice when driving through any intersection or changing lanes. Drivers should also eliminate distractions, maintain a safe following distance, and leave extra time to signal turns and lane changes.
Motorcycle and bike riders should always wear a DOT-approved helmet along with protective gear and reflective elements. Always obey speed limits and other traffic laws, and position yourself in a visible way.
The importance of safety involving motorcycles got a stark reminder this week following the death of Kentucky State Police Post Two Trooper Johnathan Johnson of Bowling Green. Johnson was off-duty and traveling south on Nashville Road on a motorcycle Tuesday when a driver made a left-hand turn into Johnson’s path, resulting in a crash. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene by the Warren County Coroner’s Office. The KSP says the investigation into the crash is ongoing, and funeral arrangements for Trooper Johnson are pending.
The Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation is under new leadership, but it is a familiar face.
The foundation’s board of directors has announced the promotion of Vice President Andy Games to president and COO, which was finalized by a vote of the board Tuesday. Games has served as vice president since 2021.
Games said he is looking forward to continuing to push for new opportunities for the region with the foundation’s partners.
“It’s exciting, there’s a ton of growth,” Games said. “There’s a lot of work to be done, but we’ve got such a great group of city and county officials, and to be able to work alongside them every day is an honor, so it’s been a joy and it will be a joy to continue that.”
Games replaces his father Rick Games, who will now serve as vice president. Andy Games said it was an honor to work alongside his dad during a very busy time.
“To experience what he’s done for the last 23 years, you know, he’s done great things and expanded our parks,” Games said. “He’s led the foundation well, and he’s got big shoes and he’s left big shoes to fill.”
The vice president position was created in 2021 amid widespread growth in the area including the announcement of BlueOval SK. Games said he is happy to see those projects moving closer to the finish line.
“My biggest goal right now is all the construction that we currently have going on, assisting and helping them continue their path to opening the doors and creating all those new jobs that have already been announced, and those are getting closer,” Games said.
Games is also a board member for the Down Syndrome Association of the Heartland as well as Elizabethtown Community and Technical College.
The City of Elizabethtown Parks and Recreation Department is still accepting registrations for its annual Summer Day Camp Program.
“The Summer Day Camp Program, this will be our fourth year running that program,” said E-Town Parks and Rec Programs Coordinator Adam Case. “It’s always our most popular out of the lineup each year, so it usually sells out pretty quickly.”
The program is for kids ages 6 to 11, with six individual weeks throughout the summer, starting the first week of June.
“We do activities with them all week long such as going to the playgrounds, going to the water park, arts and crafts, games,” Case said. “We have guest speakers, we go on field trips, so it’s a whole lot of fun.”
Case said the remaining summer day camp slots are filling quickly, so if you are interested in registering your child the program costs $115 per week, with scholarships available to those who qualify.
Summertime approaching also means it is almost time for swim lessons.
“All of these swim lessons are $75 a child for the week,” Case said. “That gets you five lessons Monday through Friday at the American Legion Water Park, and we have our certified lifeguards teaching those courses. They’re 30 minute classes. We offer different levels for that.”
More information and registration for parks and recreation programs can be found on the City of Elizabethtown’s website.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is announcing the results of the 57th annual North Central Kentucky Spelling Bowl, which was sponsored by Abound Credit Union and hosted at ECTC on April 19. Students from schools in 12 counties competed across three age ranges.
The Primary Match was for students in first and second grade. Harrison Baker of Heartland Elementary took home first place, followed by Theo Crawford from Bardstown Elementary in second and Ellen Watt from Helmwood Elementary in third.
The Elementary Match was for students in grades three through five. First place went to Leah Gray from Heartland Elementary followed by Winnye Curley from Saint James Catholic School in second and Aurora Schroeder of Rineyville Elementary in third.
The Middle School match was for students in grades six through eight. John Madrid of Saint James Catholic School came in first place followed by Maddox Clark of Marion County Middle School in second and Melody Nunn of Green County Middle School in third.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife asks that as you head out to enjoy the outdoor recreational offerings of the commonwealth you help to keep wildlife wild.
KFW says you should leave young wildlife undisturbed, even when they appear alone or abandoned, and is reminding property owners to watch for vulnerable wildlife when working on their properties.
Well-meaning people often attempt to rescue a baby animal they believe to be abandoned when in reality the mother is typically nearby. Mothers often leave young in the nest as they hunt or forage for food, or will stay away from the nest in order to lead predators away.
KFW says you can help wild animals by observing them from afar, keeping children and pets away, and checking properties for the presence of young animals before mowing. You also should report an animal you believe to be infected with rabies to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s regional biologist.
Only state-approved wildlife rehabs, such as Nolin River Wildlife, are permitted to care for orphaned or injured wildlife.
Visit fw.ky.gov for more information.
A report released by the Lincoln Trail Area Development District Monday looks at the potential return-on-investment the area would see with the implementation of a funding model to make childcare more affordable.
“We have over 2,000 parents, mainly females, that want to work but can’t because of childcare,” said LTADD Executive Director Daniel London. “Think of the impact on them personally and professionally, that they want to get involved in the workforce but can’t. We have a chance to help them. That’s huge.”
London was one of several speakers that discussed the impact report during a presentation Monday held at Fischbach USA in Elizabethtown.
Data compiled by consulting firm TPMA estimates that there are 2,035 work-willing parents in the Lincoln Trail District and Hart County that would rejoin the workforce if affordable childcare options existed. The report estimates the wages of those parents would generate between $863,000 and $1.09 million in local tax revenue.
Kentucky 18th District State Representative Samara Heavrin discussed efforts to create more options for affordable childcare, including House Bill 499 which created the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership, under which the state will match an employer’s childcare benefits. Heavrin said more efforts are being made to make the program more accessible, so employers, local governments, and organizations can work to remove more barriers.
“Educate that this is an issue,” Heavrin said. “Have the conversations. You don’t know it’s an issue until you’re affected by it, most likely. That’s life, right? You don’t know something’s an issue until it comes to you, so educate those around you about this, have the conversations and then have hard conversations. That’s how change is done. We can’t be complacent. We’ve got to keep moving forward, and so have the hard conversations to make it better.”
Following the presentation and a panel discussion with the day’s speakers, a task force consisting of area business, government, education, and community leaders met for their first meeting to discuss issues identified in the study and to identify goals. London said as the area prepares for future expansion, the study presents an opportunity to make a lasting impact.
“We are the only ones in this state at this level of work on this issue,” London said. “You’re part of something special, you’re part of something great, and we can achieve this. We are going to change lives, and a rising tide raises all boats.”
Data from the study estimates that BlueOval SK will employ more than 509 people ages 34 or younger with children ages 5 or younger. The full study can be found on the Lincoln Trail Area Development District’s website.
Unemployment rates for 2023 in the Lincoln Trail District landed mostly where they were in 2022.
The Kentucky Center for Statistics says annual unemployment averages in 2023 went up in 80 counties, went down in 22 counties, and stayed the same in 18 counties compared to 2022.
Hardin County’s unemployment average for 2023 was 4.1 percent. That’s a slight decrease from the 4.2 percent average for 2022. Hardin County’s combined labor force in 2023 was 47,422 people, an increase of about 600 from the year before.
The unemployment average for the Lincoln Trail District also decreased from 4.2 percent to 4.1 percent from 2022 to 2023. Breckinridge County had the highest unemployment average in the district at 4.9 percent, while Washington County had the lowest average in the district, and tied for the second lowest average in the state, at 3.3 percent. Six of the eight Lincoln Trail District counties reported lower average rates.
The statewide unemployment average for 2023 was 4.2 percent, while the national unemployment average was 3.6 percent.
Learn more about the Kentucky labor market by visiting the Kentucky Center for Statistics online.
More than 5,000 pounds of food will be distributed to Elizabethtown Community and Technical College students as well as members of the public during a pop-up event Tuesday.
“Family Scholar House at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is hosting a free food and clothing pop-up shop,” said ECTC Director of Marketing and Communications Sarah Brkshire. “It’s going to start at 10 a.m. The 10 a.m. time is for current ECTC students and then from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. anyone in the community is welcome to come by our Elizabethtown campus and take part in that. It’s going to be in the Academic Technical Building.”
Attendees are asked to bring their own bags and coolers for items.
The Family Scholar House is part of the ECTC Student Success Hub which provides a variety of services to support students in and out of the classroom.
“Events like this pop up are just one of the ways that they really help support that mission, and we’re very thankful that they’ve got the resources to not only help current students, but to open it up to community members as well,” Berkshire said.
Items Tuesday are available while supplies last. Contact the Student Success Hub at 270-706-8432 or Family Scholar House at 270-706-8835 (or via email at FSHElizabethtown@familyscholarhouse.org) for more information.
An Elizabethtown man prohibited from possessing a firearm was arrested after an accidental shooting saturday.
“Around 9:30 Saturday evening, we responded to the 600 block of Stewart Court in reference to the report of a shooting,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “Upon arrival, investigators determined that 20-year-old Joseph Hampton Roberts accidentally, but extremely recklessly, fired a handgun and struck a 16-year-old male in the face.”
The juvenile victim was airlifted from the scene with critical but non-life-threatening injuries.
“Hampton Roberts, who is on felony diversion and prohibited from possessing a firearm, was arrested and charged with Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon,” Denham said.
The investigation is ongoing. Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be presented to a grand jury to consider further charges.
The Hardin County Animal Shelter is celebrating after receiving financial support from Petco Love.
“It’s a Petco Love Grant we filled out for quite a while ago, and honestly we hadn’t heard anything so we didn’t think we were going to be one of the recipients, but it’s $20,000 that we can put forward towards anything that’s on the life-saving effort that’s not currently in the budget,” said Hardin County Animal Care and Control Director Mike McNutt.
The grant can be used on projects such as sustainable food storage and medical equipment. McNutt said the financial support from the grant is great, but it doesn’t compare to the support the animal shelter regularly gets from the community.
“We recently had put out a plea because we are trying to keep the animals on a constant food supply of the same brand of food, and I want to say that this county has always stepped up and helped us out in great measure to the point to where we’ve had to find other places to store food,” McNutt said.
Responsible pet owners can support the animal shelter and take advantage of their Clear the Kennel special which runs now through May 4. All adoptions for dogs ages 5 months and older are free and include normal vetting including spaying or neutering.
McNutt said the shelter is at capacity and needs to get dogs to good homes, but he advises that you should only dive in if you are ready to make a commitment.
“People don’t understand that when they’re at the shelter and we get them to where they’re housebroken there, they’re going to have to have an adjustment period at home before they’re housebroken there, and their training has to be consistent once they get there, so when we say that animal is housebroken it doesn’t mean they’re going to be housebroken the first week in your house because they have to adjust to it,” McNutt said.
The animal shelter is open Mondays through Saturdays from 12 to 4 p.m. at 220 Peterson Drive in Elizabethtown.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has information on a project starting this week on the Bluegrass Parkway and wants information from the public on an upcoming project in Bullitt County.
Commuters heading east on the Bluegrass Parkway should be on the lookout for lane closures that will take place over the next several weeks between mile markers 39 and 43 in Washington County.
Contract crews will be laying asphalt as part of a resurfacing project that’s scheduled to be completed by August 1. Drivers should slow down when approaching work zones and pay close attention.
Meanwhile, the KYTC will be hosting a public meeting to gather input on design plans for the Blue Lick Road enhancement project. That project will improve safety and reduce congestion along Blue Lick Road from John Harper Highway to West Triangle Lane.
The meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 9 at Hebron Middle School in Shepherdsville. Anybody interested in providing feedback may drop in anytime during meeting hours. An online survey will be made available after the meeting for those unable to attend.
More information on these projects and more can be found on the KYTC’s website.
Attorneys for Crystal Rogers investigation suspects Brooks Houck, Steven Lawson, and Joseph Lawson and Special Prosecutor Shane Young are in agreement on a new venue for the case. The decision is now up to Nelson Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III.
Orders filed in the case Thursday state that the involved parties have met and agreed on a venue for the trial. Prior to approving the agreement, the court will review the proposed facility and will provide additional proceedings if the venue is found to not be suitable.
In a pre-trial conference on March 21 at which Young said he agreed with the change of venue motion, Judge Simms requested that the chosen venue be large enough to accommodate members of the public and have a separate entrance for jurors.
The change of venue was to be discussed at a hearing scheduled for May 1 that has now been remanded. The parties are next scheduled to convene for a pre-trial conference on June 13.
Federal, state, and local government officials were on hand Thursday for the City of Vine Grove’s second annual legislative breakfast.
The event provided an opportunity for members of the Kentucky General Assembly from local districts to provide an update on their work during the most recent session and to connect with local officials.
House District 25 Representative Steve Bratcher said of the more than 1,100 house and senate bills that went before the general assembly, about 200 passed. Bratcher said the Hardin County area is an area in transition with recent and future growth and efforts to reduce the strain are necessary, but the area is in a good place.
“We should really, really consider ourselves very fortunate and take some of the things that we’re given and the opportunities that we have and utilize that to move our area and our community forward,” Bratcher said. “There’s some organizations or some communities that are really suffering right now, and so we are in the trajectory of growth, so that’s a great place to be.”
House District 27 Representative Nancy Tate discussed her work on several legislative caucuses, including efforts on the Aerospace and Aviation Caucus. Tate said more than 600,000 pilots and more than 650,000 airplane mechanics will be needed in the next ten years, and she said she wants to make sure Kentucky can be a critical part of the industry.
“Did you know that in 2019 and actually today, our number one export in Kentucky is aerospace and aviation materials?” said Tate. “This is obviously near and dear to my heart. In 2019, we exported $11 billion worth of materials for aviation and aerospace.”
Kentucky Second District Congressman Brett Guthrie was unable to attend but was represented by District Manager Mark Lord, who discussed some of Guthrie’s legislative priorities. Lord also said Guthrie has been able to send $25 million to $30 million back to the Second District each of the last several years through congressionally-directed spending.
“We can have opportunity for members of Congress to redirect money that would otherwise be spent by the administration to be directed by their members of Congress rather than the administration,” Lord said. “That’s a good thing, especially when it doesn’t have one additional dollar to the federal spending.”
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory, Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall, Vine Grove Mayor Pam Ogden, and West Point Mayor Richard Ciresi each expressed their appreciation for the availability of area representatives.
Down Syndrome Association of the Heartland celebrated the growth of the organization as they cut the ribbon Thursday on their new headquarters, located at 1105 Julianna Court (Suite 2) in Elizabethtown.
The association, which supports individuals with Down syndrome and their families “by fostering celebration, education, advocacy, and service,” says it will be able to streamline operations by offering a centralized hub for services and events along with administrative offices and meeting spaces.
Down Syndrome Association of the Heartland Executive Director Tonya House said the opening is a celebration of how far the association has come.
“Six years ago, right at six years ago, this organization started and then COVID really derailed us, so we are just so thrilled that we finally are to this point that we have a home and all of this stuff is out of my basement and my garage, but we’re just thrilled for the opportunity that this is going to give our families,” House said.
Association board president Jon Anderson said lots of hard work went into reaching this point, and House is at the center of those efforts.
“Tonya has worked tirelessly in promoting our organization and connecting families and connecting so many people in the community, and that has allowed us to continue to take those steps from when we started the organization back in July of 2018,” Anderson said.
Visit www.dsheartland.org for more information.
Unemployment numbers in March are up across the Lincoln Trail District compared to last year.
The Kentucky Center for Statistics says from March 2023 to March 2024, unemployment rates increased in 116 counties, decreased in three, and remained the same in one. The state unemployment average for March 2024 is 5.1 percent, up from the March 2023 average of 4.3 percent.
March unemployment for Hardin County was reported at 5 percent. While that is down a tick from the 5.1 percent rate reported in February, it is up from March 2023 when the rate came in at 4.2 percent.
Washington County reported the lowest March unemployment rate in the Lincoln Trail District, and the second-lowest in the commonwealth, at 3.8 percent. Breckinridge County reported the highest rate for March at 5.7 percent.
Learn more about how unemployment rates are formed and other labor market information by visiting the Kentucky Center for Statistics online.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is inviting the community to help support its students as the college hosts its inaugural ECTC Giving Day Thursday.
ECTC says donations will support student needs such as scholarships, transportation assistance, and the Student Emergency Fund, among other areas. With this year being the college’s 60th anniversary, one of the event goals is to have at least 60 donors give $60.
One specific way to support ECTC students is by donating to the Gowns for Grads initiative. ECTC Director of Admissions and Assessment Judy Akers said that $50 will provide a student with a cap, gown, and tassel.
“We are trying to make sure that all of our graduates have the opportunity to graduate without worrying about the cost of buying a gown to participate in graduation,” Akers said.
ECTC President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate previously told Quicksie that supporting the college means supporting a large, blended community.
“When you really step back and look at what Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is, it’s really like this perfect melting pot because, you know, roughly half of our students are that traditional student who is there to take a full-time load of classes, and that’s really their job,” Pate said. “When you’re 18 and a freshman in college and your job is to pass your classes. So we’ve got that, but then we’ve also got that mix of folks who have entered into a job or an initial career, and they’re coming back.”
Find more information and a link to the Giving Day page on ECTC’s website or Facebook page.
Irvington Elementary School has a new principal, but it is a familiar face.
Breckinridge County Schools announced Wednesday that Jasmyn Reynolds has been named Irvington’s new principal. Reynolds has been serving as Irvington’s interim principal since February, and has been the school’s instructional coach since 2017.
When previously discussing the principal search, Breckinridge County Schools Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter said the district was looking for a dedicated leader.
“Hard-working, 100 percent dedicated and committed to the success of all students and staff in the building, a strong focus on the academic needs of our children but also the social emotional needs of our children,” Carter said.
Prior to her time at Irvington, Reynolds was an intermediate teacher at Ben Johnson Elementary School, and prior to that taught fifth grade in Fayette County. Reynolds graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education then earned a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education at Western Kentucky University, where she also earned her Rank I in Education Administration.
The City of Elizabethtown is excited to host its second Lawn Party at the Lake Concert Series this summer.
“It is held every second Wednesday at the bandstand at Freeman Lake Park off of the Blue Heron Road entrance,” said Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles. “We are offering multiple concerts with family friendly events throughout the summer.”
Pyles said the city had a goal of bringing something for everybody to Freeman Lake Park this summer when selecting the concert series artists.
June 12 will see The Rumors. Radiotronic will perform on July 10. The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra Devou-Do Daddies will take the stage on August 7. Bourbon Revival wraps up the concert series on September 11.
Each date will offer food vendors, and while outside alcohol is not permitted alcoholic beverages will be on sale.
“The concert series is totally free and family friendly,” Pyles said. “The gates will open at 5.30 p.m. and the acts will take the stage around 6.30, so it gives you a little bit of time to come in and get seated. It is festival style seating, so we ask that people bring lawn chairs, you can bring blankets. We will have picnic tables, but it’s very, very casual.”
Pyles said the first year for the concert series was a successful one, and there’s nowhere to go but up.
“We had such a wonderful turnout for last year after we got through the rain, but we’re very, very excited,” Pyles said. “The bandstand at Freeman Lake is such a beautiful fixture in our community. If you haven’t been out to see it, it is the perfect place to relax after a hard day, and we’re really excited.”
Follow the Elizabethtown City Events Facebook page for more information and updates.
Baptist Health Hardin is rounding out Sexual Assault Awareness Month with an event Friday evening.
The Baptist Health Hardin Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner-Forensic Program will host their Shine the Light on Sexual Assault Awareness Walk Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Severns Valley Baptist Church, located at 1100 Ring Road in Elizabethtown.
The community is invited to walk two or four laps of the course. Participants will be given glow sticks to wear while walking and are encouraged to bring other items or wear clothing to help “shine a light” on sexual violence.
The event is free and open to the public with no registration required. Contact the SANE-Forensic office at 270-979-7233 for more information.
The Kentucky State Police is investigating after a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet contract worker was struck and killed in a vehicle collision Tuesday.
The KSP says at around 9 a.m. on April 23 troopers were requested by LaRue County Dispatch to investigate a collision involving a van and a highway worker. The KSP says the preliminary investigation shows that Henry T. James of Louisville was driving a van east on KY-210/Old Elizabethtown Road when he entered a portion of the roadway reduced to one lane for maintenance operations. James failed to observe 22-year-old Blake Barnes of Elizabethtown, who was flagging eastbound traffic.
The van struck Barnes near the 3100 block of KY-210. Barnes was pronounced dead at the scene by the LaRue County Coroner’s Office.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet released a statement following Barnes’s death which states: “Our hearts ache for the loss of a transportation team member today. We extend our sincere condolences to all those impacted by this tragedy. Please join us in lifting up the families, friends and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers. The safety and well-being of all employees is a top priority, and we are working with authorities as they review the incident.”
The road was closed for nearly 5 hours for accident reconstruction. The investigation is ongoing.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.
Hardin County Attorney Jenny Oldham introduced Hayley Hoover with Volunteers of America, which will be helping to run the Hardin County Family Recovery Court. Hoover said Family Recovery Court is a collaborative process meant to help support families struggling with parental substance use disorder.
“The hope of FRC, as we call it, is to help reunite families faster, get the cases through court quicker, and help really sustain long-term sobriety for our parents who are struggling with substance use disorder that have children,” Hoover said.
The fiscal court approved a resolution that will allott $60,000 a year for five years to VOA to run the Family Recovery Court, with those funds coming from the county’s Phase One Opioid Settlement funds.
In other meeting news, Hardin County Coroner Pat Elmore reported on his office’s first quarter, with 301 cases responded to including two homicides. Hardin County Sheriff John Ward said in February and March his office made 199 arrests, issued 251 citations, and opened 75 criminal cases. Ward discussed some of the more high-profile incidents including the string of bomb threats made at the BlueOval SK construction site.
“We work with those in charge on scene there and give them some advice on how to handle security a little differently, and they’re not paying their workers,” Ward said. “If there’s a bomb threat and they send the workers home, they don’t continue to get paid, and for some strange reason, the bomb threats have slowed down. So go figure.”
The county’s next town hall forum will be held at 5:30 p.m. on April 30 in the fiscal courtroom. The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet for a regular meeting on May 14.
Elizabethtown saw traffic delays and other disruptions Tuesday during a widespread power outage.
The outage area covered Dixie Avenue from around Mulberry Street to around Veterans Way, Mulberry Street from downtown E-Town to Ring Road, and neighborhoods west of the Elizabethtown Bypass. At one point, more than 6,000 Kentucky Utilities customers were without power. The outage began at around 10:30 a.m. and power was restored to affected customers by around 2 p.m.
Several area businesses and organizations had services disrupted by the outage, including Quicksie and The Wolf which were both briefly off the air. Elizabethtown Community and Technical College closed campus for the afternoon.
Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer John Thomas said EPD officers manned intersections that were without power as available, and Thomas took to Facebook with a friendly reminder for drivers.
“We’re getting lots of complaints about intersections without power and people just running through them willy-nilly,” Thomas said. “Look, when you come to an intersection that has no power, the traffic lights are out, treat it as a four-way stop, an all-way stop. Everyone has to come to a stop. That is not optional, people. No power at the intersection, everyone stops.”
Kentucky Utilities has not yet responded to a request for information on the cause of the outage.
Arbor Day will be observed this Friday, April 26, and the City of Elizabethtown is ready to help you celebrate.
“The city’s Park and Recreation team is celebrating all week long,” said E-Town Public Relations Officer Amy Inman. “A tree can be picked up at Pritchard Community Center between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.”
All available trees are bare-root trees and are free to the public.
“Varieties include swamp chestnut, black walnut, and pecan,” Inman said. “We really love big trees here in our community, so stop by today to pick up yours.”
Contact the city’s Parks and Recreation Department for more information.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for a work session Monday evening.
Helping Hand of Hope Executive Director Hope Burke gave the council the organization’s 2023 impact report. Burke said the organization is asking the city to allot $5,000 to them in the upcoming budget. Burke said Helping Hand of Hope has never asked for financial support from the city before, but demand has been increasing on a month to month basis.
“The people that are coming to us, I know sometimes there is that misunderstanding of ‘oh, they’re just, you know, riding the system’ or ‘oh, they really don’t need this assistance,’ but they truly do,” Burke said “We have seniors that’s rent has increased anywhere from $300 to $500 a month. We have single parents that are working, actually making $20 an hour, and still can’t afford their rent with childcare, food, and everything else like that.”
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory told Burke the city appreciates the efforts of the organization and the burden that has taken off the city.
E-Town Natural Gas Department Director Matthew Hobbes gave a department update. Hobbes said the department has been busy with several capital projects. Hobbes said project costs and increased employee pay means the city will likely need to consider a rate increase soon.
“I wouldn’t come saying that we need to raise rates unless the writing was on the wall, and it’s looking like that time is about now where we need to be doing something before you get so low that you can’t comfortably operate, so I think we need to look at our tap fees,” Hobbes said. “I think we need to look at what we’re charging for the gas going through the meters, and what you’re charging for just everyday work.”
Representatives from RSA Financial Advisors gave a presentation to the council on the status of the current market and possible financing solutions for the city, including revenue bond services. Gregory said the city’s contribution to the Buffalo Lake concert venue the city is partnering with the E-Town Tourism and Convention Bureau on will likely be paid using bonds.
The city council and the tourism bureau will meet for a joint meeting Thursday which will be followed by a groundbreaking for the Buffalo Trail Phase One project. After budget meetings start on May 6, the Elizabethtown City Council will next meet in a special meeting on May 13.
Area business and government officials were on hand Monday for the official reopening of the Baptist Health Medical Group Family Medicine Facility in Radcliff.
Baptist Health says the facility, located at 1679 North Wilson Road just outside the Fort Knox Wilson Gate, will provide patients with primary care, behavioral health care, and connections to social services.
Baptist Health Hardin President and CEO Rob Ramey said the facility has been several years in the making, the product of several conversations about how to best serve the community’s healthcare needs.
“Primary care is wonderful,” Ramey said. “We have to have the foundation of primary care for our community, but we need to support that more effectively, so the vision here was how do we add behavioral health for our community as well? How do we add a licensed clinical social worker so that he or she can help patients navigate the complex realities of healthcare and try to find the resources and the services that are available to truly help them improve their health and continue on that journey?”
The project was made possible by the financial support of Abound Credit Union. Abound President and CEO Ray Springsteen said Abound began working with entities such as Baptist Health Hardin and officials like Kentucky Second District Congressman Brett Guthrie on the facility as they saw a natural link between financial health and physical health.
“Whenever you’re looking to have problems to solve, you need great partners,” Springsteen said. “One of the things that I love about the community that I live in is that when we want to try to figure something out, we come together. You need great teams for that. I think that’s exactly what we found with Baptist Health, and certainly with Congressman Guthrie, and finding ways to support this.”
Contact Baptist Health Hardin for more information on the family medicine facility.
One of the suspects charged in the Crystal Rogers investigation is asking to be tried separately from the other suspects.
The defense for Joseph Lawson has filed a Motion for Severance of Co-Defendants or Exclusion of Co-Defendant’s Statements with the Nelson Circuit Court. The motion calls for Lawson to be tried in a separate trial from Steven Lawson and Brooks Houck, or to have out-of-trial testimonials from Houck and Steven Lawson be excluded.
Special Prosecutor Shane Young previously filed a motion to try all three suspects in the same trial. The Motion for Severance states that the introduction of out-of-court statements denies Joseph Lawson’s right to cross-examination and would therefore deny him his right to present a defense. The filing also states concern for the potential for conflicting defenses and strategies between the defendants, which could potentially confuse the jury.
The motion will be discussed during the next pre-trial conference in the case, which is scheduled for June 13. Progress on finding a new venue for the trial will be discussed at a hearing on May 1.
The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park is hosting a performance of one of the 16th president’s favorites.
Kentucky Shakespeare will be performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream Thursday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. The performance will be staged at the bottom of the Memorial Building steps near the flagpole, with visitors seated on the steps.
The historical park says the 80-minute performance celebrates Abraham Lincoln’s love of Shakespeare, which began with pieces of the Bard’s work found in books Lincoln read as a child and continued into his adult years, with Shakespeare’s works included in Lincoln’s personal collection at the White House.
The event is free and open to the public. Visitors are asked to arrive at least five minutes prior to the start of the show and are encouraged to bring blankets, cushions, and bug spray. The park’s visitor’s center and library will be open prior to the performance.
Visit the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park Facebook page for more information and updates.
About 170 Hardin County Schools elementary school students will be going to different buildings next school year after the Hardin County Board of Education approved redistricting for four schools.
“About 105 students will be transitioning to Lincoln Trail Elementary School, and about 60 to 65 will be transitioning to Cecilia Valley Elementary School, from G.C. Burkhead Elementary School,” said Hardin County Schools Community Relations Specialist John Wright.
Five students living the farthest away from Creekside Elementary School will also be moved to Lincoln Trail Elementary.
Wright said the decision was based on overcrowding at G.C. Burkhead that projections show is only going to get worse.
“We have had experts look at the growth in our county, also the potential growth with new buildings and new things being developed, new businesses being developed, and if we did nothing in the next 10 years, G.C. Burkhead would have approximately 1,100 students in its district, which is about 400 to 500 students over its capacity,” Wright said.
Current fourth graders at G.C. Burkhead will have the choice to remain there for fifth grade, but families must provide transportation. Transitioning students set to attend East Hardin Middle School will still do so, as will students set to attend West Hardin Middle School, and all of the involved students will still attend Central Hardin High School.
Wright said the building may change for these students, but the educational experience will not
“Those schools have the same opportunities,” Wright said. “They have great staffs, just like the ones they are leaving, and people who really love and cherish and are passionate about taking care of students.”
Parents of involved students were sent an email and letter, and information on the transition can be found on the HCS website. The district has also posted a form for parents and guardians to submit questions related to the move.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four is responsible for maintaining nearly 3,000 miles of regional roadways, and they are asking for the public’s assistance.
KYTC District Four is reminding residents that no signage is allowed along state-maintained right of way areas other than official highway signs and items approved through a permit process.
Mowing cycles have begun on District Four roadways, so highway crews are removing yard sale, political, and other promotional signs that are being placed on right of ways. It is also illegal to attach items such as flyers, posters, balloons, or streamers to stop signs, highway markers, and utility poles.
The KYTC says signs and objects placed in the right of way create potential hazards for drivers by blocking sightlines or causing distractions. Mowing crews will not mow around signs and have to stop their work to remove them, causing delays and potential hazards along the side of the road.
Removed items are held for a short period of time at KYTC facilities, then are trashed or recycled after going unclaimed. Contact KYTC District Four in Elizabethtown at 270-766-5066 or online for more information.
The Kentucky Career Center-Lincoln Trail is opening an access point at Fort Knox, located at 26 Pershing Drive.
“The new location at Fort Knox provides access to an array of career services and opportunities, and it demonstrates the importance of partnership between Fort Knox and the community, so we are fortunate to count military families and veterans among our workforce talent and we look forward to supporting their career endeavors through this convenient location,” said KCC Center Manager Robin Gooden.
The access point is open Tuesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to noon. In addition to military personnel, the site offers services for spouses and dependents.
Services offered through the career center include resume writing, interviewing skills, and identifying training opportunities.
“They do have a resource center, and so folks can come in and kind of look at what the open job market is and what current openings are available, and we do have a veteran’s assistant representative there, Mark, and he’s there quite frequently throughout the week but there’s some appointments that you can set up to see him,” Gooden said.
Learn more about the Kentucky Career Center-Lincoln Trail by visiting their website, www.ltcareercenter.org.
Monday is the deadline for Kentucky voters to register for the May 21 primary election.
“April 22 at 4 p.m.,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “That is the deadline to register to vote to participate in the May primary, so we want to make sure, especially the folks who have newly moved here to Hardin County, and we see that a lot in our growing community, come on in and register to vote.”
Monday’s deadline is for new registrations, as previously-existing registrations had to be set to their current party affiliation by December 31.
Smith says if you are eligible to register, come on down.
“You can stop by the clerk’s office, you can do it at govote.ky.gov, or you can call our office at 270-765-6762,” Smith said.
Visit www.govote.ky.gov for more election information.
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect wanted in connection with a shooting.
“We’re asking the public to notify us of any possible locations of Stephen Roy Nall,” said Hardin County Sheriff John Ward. “He’s a white male, 28 years old, 5’10”, and 165 pounds.”
Nall is wanted in the investigation into a shooting that took place in the Roundtop Road area on April 10. Ward said during that incident a victim was shot in the leg during an exchange of gunfire, and was transported from the scene to a hospital.
“If you have any information, please call the Hardin County Dispatch non-emergency line at 270-737-5669 or you can contact Detective Ally Cook at 270-765-5133,” Ward said.
Tips to the sheriff’s office may be made anonymously.
(Photo Credit: Hardin County Sheriff’s Office)
Kentucky has launched a new website designed to connect people reentering society with resources.
SecondChance.ky.gov links Kentuckians overcoming addiction or leaving jail or prison to resources that can help them continue their education, find a job, and support their continued recovery.
Governor Andy Beshear discussed the website during his Team Kentucky update Thursday. The governor said streamlining the process is the ultimate goal of the website.
“This is an attempt to bring all of those things in one place for folks who are looking to rebuild their lives and don’t know what all the possibilities are out there, and how they can all work together,” Beshear said. “It’s an attempt to take any bureaucracy from government or our partners and remove it to make it as easy as possible for people to see that there is help and that we want to get you on the right track.”
The website includes four areas of information: finding a job, getting an education, benefits for businesses, and recovery resources. Each section provides links and information on topics such as resume help and job searches, free GED testing and internships, resources to help businesses hire and retain second chance employees, and information on drug and mental health treatment resources.
The launch of the website coincides with Second Chance Month. Governor Beshear says supporting second chances is simply the right thing to do.
“Helping people get back on their feet is a win-win,” Beshear said. “It helps our families, it helps our communities, and it helps fill open jobs in our workforce. A second chance can rebuild a life and it reduces the chances of someone returning to prison.”
Find more information at www.secondchance.ky.gov.
Governor Andy Beshear discussed the accomplishments of an area business during his Team Kentucky update Thursday.
The governor highlighted Kruger Packaging after his visit to their Elizabethtown Packaging Plant last week. Beshear said he was impressed with the $113 million operation.
“The project was announced back in 2021 and now it is up and fully running,” Beshear said. “It was great to check out the operation in person, which is in a 400,000-square-foot facility in the T.J. Patterson Industrial Park.”
Beshear said the Kruger plant is one of the most technologically-advanced plants of its kind, and Kruger’s investment in the E-Town community made 150 new jobs possible.
Beshear said he visited Kruger on its spirit day, and got to see a positive work environment.
“A great culture, great leadership, and everybody I talked to was so excited about this new employer and these new jobs, so I want to thank Kruger Packaging’s leaders as well as partners at LG&E and KU, which is making sure the facility has all the power that it needs.”
The Elizabethtown plant is Kruger’s only American operation, with sister facilities in Ontario and Quebec, Canada.
LaRue County Schools is looking within as the district announces its new superintendent.
Adryanne Warren will take over as head of the school district beginning July 1. Warren is currently the principal at LaRue County Middle School after previously serving as a fifth grade teacher and a curriculum specialist for the district. Warren, herself a LaRue County Schools grad, says serving her local district is exciting.
“I just feel extremely honored and humbled,” Warren said. “I am excited to serve the community where I live and spend all my time and invest all my energy already, so it just feels like a great accomplishment.”
When considering the job, Warren said she considered how she could help the district make the most impact.
“I started my position here as principal and loved that impact with the relationships that I was building with the kids and the community and the teachers here, and I just wanted to expand on that, and hopefully my leadership skills will better the work life for the teachers and staff, and then the education experience for the students, and then also help bridge that connection between the schools and the local community,” Warren said.
Warren says LaRue County Schools has been making great progress, and she is excited to see that continue.
“I’m most excited to keep the schools moving forward with the momentum they already have,” Warren said. “I feel like we have great momentum with keeping up with all the educational trends and just staying on top of making the educational experience for our students better.”
Warren and her husband Cody are parents to four daughters, and they grow hay and raise cattle on their farm in southern LaRue County.
The schedule is set for the 2024 Summer Movie Series at the Historic State Theater.
“The Summer Movie Series is my personal favorite event that we do throughout the year at the State Theater,” said Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles. “We’re excited for our 2024 series. It’s a family-friendly movie series offering showings at noon and 7 p.m. each Tuesday this summer beginning June 4 and running through July 31.”
Tickets to each showing are $2 and offer affordable family fun.
June will feature four Disney/Pixar favorites.
“We have Cars, The Incredibles, Toy Story, and Monsters Inc., so those are the first movies in the series, and those movies are loved by, I think, young and old, so we hope people come out and see those,” Pyles said.
July’s movies were selected to follow a theme.
“We are showing movies that are based upon books,” Pyles said. “So July 2 we’ve got Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which was one of my child’s favorite books when he was growing up.”
The other July movies are Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, How to Eat Fried Worms, Charlotte’s Web, and Mary Poppins.
Doors open one hour prior to each showtime, and concessions will be served.
“A lot of times people tell us this is the first time they’ve brought their child to the movies because it’s movies that they can enjoy,” Pyles said. “We have young and old, so it’s open to everybody. We hope that everybody comes out and sees us.”
Visit www.thestate270.org for a full schedule of events at the theater.
Area youth are invited to participate in the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park’s Junior Ranger Day.
Junior Ranger Day kicks off National Park Week at the historical park. Children and families can drop by the park, located at 2995 Lincoln Farm Road in Hodgenville, anytime from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 20.
Participants can take part in the fun at the drop-in activity tent, learn more about the Year Without a Summer, and participate in limited time activities and earn their Junior Ranger badge. Junior Ranger Day items will only be available at Saturday’s event.
Junior Ranger Day activities are open to all children, free of charge. Visit the Lincoln Birthplace website or Facebook page for more information.
Drivers in Hart County should be aware of an upcoming road closure.
Kentucky Route 88 will be closed at U.S. 31-W between Hart County Bank and Trust Company and the South Central Rural Telephone and Farmers Rural Electric Cooperative building in Munfordville from 6 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Monday.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the closure is for a concrete inlay as part of the overall project designed to improve the roadway to withstand torque and twisting produced as heavy vehicles pull into and out of the intersection. The concrete provides a long-term solution after crews have been called to the area several times to make temporary fixes. The concrete work was planned for a weekend in order to minimize traffic disruption.
Signs will be posted to detour traffic via Back Street in Munfordville. The overall improvement project is scheduled to be completed by June 30. Work is weather-permitting.
Beth Dugas says the best word to describe her daughter Madison is “sassy.”
“Even people that haven’t met her that just know her story and follow her Facebook page or, you know, if you’ve ever met Madison in person, she’s very unforgettable,” Dugas said. “You won’t forget Madison.”
Madison’s spunky personality has been prevalent in her health battles, which began at an early age with two open heart surgeries in her first ten weeks and a heart transplant at seven months. Most recently, lung issues have resulted in a hospital stay that has now gone past seven weeks.
“They finally did a biopsy on her lungs and found out something that they weren’t expecting,” Dugas said. “She has, they call it pulmonary hemosiderosis, and there’s no cure per se. There are a couple potential treatment options like high-dose steroids and she’s gotten an IVIG treatment, but otherwise there’s really no cure. Just kind of have to maintain.”
Doctors have ruled out a lung transplant at this time, but more surgeries are likely on the horizon in order to address other issues.
“The pulmonary vein is another issue that she’s going to need to have resolved somehow, some way in the future because that pulmonary vein is just going to continue to narrow, and they can go in and open it up through a cast but she needs to have an open heart surgery to fix that,” Dugas said.
As the family navigates Madison’s battle, Dugas says they have felt the support of family, friends, and community, including a GoFundMe titled Miracles for Madison and a tote bag fundraiser.
“Both of our moms are very, very involved, and they help a lot with our son because he’s seven and we try to keep his routine as much as possible through all of it, and then just more friends than we could ever imagine,” Dugas said. “I said ‘I think that like all of Hardin County has been praying for Madison.’”
Updates on Madison’s journey, along with links to the GoFundMe and info on the tote bags, can be found on the Miracles for Madison Facebook page.
The Historic Downtown Elizabethtown Business Association invites all to attend their monthly Third Thursday event, which for this month takes place April 18.
The association says that as with any Third Thursday, downtown shops will extend their business hours to 8 p.m. and will offer specials and discounts, but Association President Dana Garrett says the fun doesn’t stop there.
“Each month on the third Thursday of the month we like to have a theme to kind of celebrate downtown and encourage people to come downtown, and our April theme is Earth Day,” Garrett said. “We thought it was fitting since Earth Day falls in April.”
The Earth Day theme means a chance to celebrate green thumbs and green living.
“We have a mini farmers market we’re going to have set up on Walker Square with some local farmer vendors,” Garrett said. “We also have some representatives from our local conservation district and the Hardin County stormwater agency that’ll have some giveaways for kids.”
Dr. Paul Gerard will be showing off his reptiles from 6 to 7 p.m., and interactive displays will be set up.
Garrett says if you’re looking for plans for this Thursday night, look no further.
“The weather looks to be phenomenal, so it’ll be a great night to come out and shop at our local stores, have some dinner with your friends and family, and then of course for the kids there’s lots of cool activities for them to see too.”
Visit the Historic Downtown Elizabethtown Facebook page for more information.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College’s Toy Box Theatre will present Silly Tales From the Toy Box, a story of silly people and animals, this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at ECTC’s Science Auditorium.
“This one’s called Silly Tales From the Toy Box, and I always adapt and write most of the plays, and so this one is one I did too,” said ECTC Communications and Theatre Professor Katrina Eicher, who founded Toy Box Theatre in 1998. “I adapted it from several different sources, and we usually run about 45 minutes so that young children’s attention spans aren’t, you know, taxed too much, and it’s very silly and it’s very funny.”
The cast is entirely composed of college students, many of whom are earning credits for ECTC classes.
“It’s a theater that uses common household props and very slight sets in order to encourage children to use their imagination, and we do a show every spring at ECTC and then we bring schools in from all around that we invite,” Eicher said.
Toy Box Theatre has performed for more than 11,000 people, and you can catch their 24th production this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $2 at the door and free for children 3 and under.
“This is a bargain,” Eicher said. “It is so much fun. This is, as I say, only 45 minutes long. Children love it. Adults will love it in the ways that maybe the children won’t, and you can’t really go see a show for $2 or less.”
Tickets for this family-friendly show are cash only.
The Radcliff City Council met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.
The council approved the ordinance establishing certification requirements for recovery residences on its second reading. The ordinance mirrors similar guidelines established by the Elizabethtown City Council and the Hardin County Fiscal Court. The council also held the first reading of a zoning map amendment that converts about 8.5 acres on the west side of the intersection of Bullion Boulevard and North Logsdon Parkway from Commercial to R-4.
Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall said a software issue was the reason why three of the city’s emergency sirens did not go off during recent severe weather.
“Long story short, the company did come down, they did set them off, they did fix the issue,” Duvall said. “One of them had an issue up in the mechanical top of the rotation device that turns the siren around, so the sirens are all functional. They’re all working. They’re all back to where they’re supposed to be.”
The Radcliff City Council will next meet for a work session on May 13.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is reminding motorists to help protect themselves, their families, and their neighbors by using caution when driving through work zones as National Work Zone Awareness Week is recognized this week.
According to the KYTC, in 2023 Kentucky recorded 1,251 crashes in highway work zones which resulted in 247 injuries and 17 deaths, nearly triple the number of fatalities from the year prior.
KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie says the most important thing for a driver to do when on the road is pay attention.
“One of the main challenges in operating a work zone is distracted driving, and that’s not really anything new, and the phone continues to be that primary distracting factor for vehicle operators,” Jessie said.
The KYTC continues to try to implement safety measures in work zones, which come in many forms.
“The zones aren’t just those obvious big projects like we have going on at the interchange at Glendale or north of Lebanon Junction on I-65, but they’re mowing, they are striping when we’re repainting the road, patching a pothole, or replacing a pipe underneath,” Jessie said “So put that phone down, slow down, and pay attention to work zone signage. That’s for the safety of our crew that is out there working and our contractors, as well as your own as a motorist.”
Visit the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet on the web to learn more.
The deadline for Kentucky voters to register for the May 21 primary election is less than a week away.
“April 22 at 4 p.m.,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “That is the deadline to register to vote to participate in the May primary, so we want to make sure, especially the folks who have newly moved here to Hardin County, and we see that a lot in our growing community, come on in and register to vote.”
The April 22 deadline is for new registrations, as previously-existing registrations had to be set to their current party affiliation by December 31.
Smith says if you are eligible to register, come on down.
“You can stop by the clerk’s office, you can do it at govote.ky.gov, or you can call our office at 270-765-6762,” Smith said.
Smith says with 2024 being a presidential election year a larger turnout is expected, so the county is preparing by adding extra machines to larger voting locations and expanding options.
“Last year we had 12 locations,” Smith said. “We’ve expanded to 15 to kind of fill in some of the gaps in our community where we felt like we needed to add additional locations to make it easier for folks to vote. The three new ones are Cecilia Valley, Heartland Elementary, and then Glendale Christian Church.”
Visit www.govote.ky.gov for more election information.
Federal, state, and local officials celebrated the progress being made at the new Interstate 65-Kentucky Route 222 interchange in Glendale Friday.
Planning on the interchange improvement project began more than a decade ago when local officials began preparing the Glendale Megasite for a potential manufacturer, which arrived in 2022 with the announcement of the BlueOval SK plants. The ribbon cutting Friday celebrated “substantial completion” of the interchange.
The project realigns Kentucky Route 222 and provides a safer, more efficient interchange for car and truck traffic. New on and off ramps for I-65 and new intersections, one at KY-222 and U.S. 31-W and the other at the entrance road to the BlueOval SK site, were also part of the project.
Governor Andy Beshear was in attendance Friday, which he mentioned during his appearance on the Quicksie Morning Show as part of the AT&T Morning Line Monday.
“We were at the new interchange, which is incredible at Glendale,” Beshear said. “That’s going to take a little bit of the pressure off the residents of Glendale that have been so good to the rest of the Commonwealth, welcoming that largest investment in the history of Kentucky, that game-changing state-changing investment, BlueOval SK.”
Work on the project will continue into the summer. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is still evaluating further improvement projects in the area as part of the Glendale Mobility Study.
The Elizabethtown Police Departmentis inviting area families to an awareness event Wednesday.
“In acknowledgement of April being Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness Month, we are hosting a Chalk the Walk event at the police department this coming Wednesday between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. in an effort to raise awareness and put a stop to these heinous crimes,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “Citizens will be provided with sidewalk chalk as well as a space to draw murals or slogans that show their support for victims. Juanitos Tacos will be on site and dinner will be provided free of charge to all participants. In the event of inclement weather, we will move the event into the lobby of the police department and the art will be drawn on large poster boards.”
The EPD says that statistics show that nearly 2 in 5 women and 1 in 5 men will experience contact with sexual violence in their lifetime, and Kentucky is ranked sixth in the country for child victims of maltreatment at a rate of 14.7 per 1,000 children, nearly double the national rate.
More information on the event can be found on the Elizabethtown Police Department Facebook page.
Two juveniles are in custody after allegedly vandalizing a church in Meade County.
The Meade County Sheriff’s Office says on April 9 deputies responded to the Saint Theresa of Avila Catholic Church in Rhodelia in regards to a vandalism complaint.
“The deputies met with some of the church staff who were able to provide some videos of two juveniles on the property vandalizing the exterior of the buildings,” said Meade County Sheriff Phillip Wimpee.
Deputies entered the building and discovered more than $10,000 in damages.
“It appeared that the juveniles had dispersed several fire extinguishers inside the church and destroyed numerous religious artifacts, and some of these religious artifacts are irreplaceable because of the church being so old,” Wimpee said. “The juveniles spread holy oil all over the floor of the building, destroying the carpet, and turned one of the crosses upside down on the altar.”
Deputies processed the scene and collected evidence at the church and in the church’s cemetery where headstones were found to have been damaged.
“The detectives were able to identify two juvenile suspects who were in custody at this time,” Wimpee said. “The suspects are being charged with Burglary in the second degree and Criminal Mischief in the first degree.”
The investigation has been turned over to the Meade County Attorney’s Office and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
Baptist Health Hardin CEO Rob Ramey says the recent 2,000-square-foot expansion of the Ring Road Diagnostic Imaging center is part of a $4 million effort to provide area patients with better options.
“We’ve now got four imaging centers where we have 3D mammography available for everybody,” Ramey said. “We’ve upgraded and we’re continuing to upgrade our MRIs and our CTs around the entire market. We’re adding additional x-ray capabilities. We’ve added at the hospital ion robotic imaging, bronchoscopy imaging.”
Baptist Health Hardin hosted an open house at the center on Friday. The open house was an opportunity to highlight some of the additional features the expansion made possible including a women’s center to provide more privacy, a new MRI machine that decreases time and increases patient comfort, and an additional CT scanner that will allow the center to process more than 5,000 additional CT scans a year.
“We know that we need that capacity for our community, for the growth we’re seeing, and with this new machine the images are better, the processing is faster, so it really hopefully will help streamline the processes for our patients and give them an even better experience as well,” Ramey said.
Ramey says the expansion will enhance a diagnostics team that is already a well-regarded one.
“We also understand that you all have a choice, that our community has a choice in where they go for care, and just the other day we were over here and we were celebrating with our staff because they were recognized as being in the top 8 percent nationally of all the diagnostic centers around the entire country,” Ramey said.
The Baptist Health Hardin Diagnostic Imaging center is open Mondays through Fridays.
A tip to law enforcement resulted in two arrests in Grayson County.
According to the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, a citizen called the sheriff’s office on April 9 to report a “wanted person” removing items from a storage building next to a business on west U.S. 62 in Leitchfield. Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins responded to the scene and saw a male subject walk out of the storage building and to a running vehicle. After being asked to identify himself, the man said his name was Shane Melton, and he produced an Indiana ID card.
Additional units arrived on scene and three more suspects exited the building. Melton was found to have active warrants out of Grayson, Hart, and LaRue counties along with an extradition warrant out of Indiana. He was also found to be in possession of a handgun and methamphetamine.
Melton was taken into custody. One of the suspects that exited the building was identified as William Sandlin of Leitchfield, for whom a warrant for Leaving the Scene of an Accident and other charges was issued a few days prior after Sandlin fled the scene of an accident on Claggett Road. Sandlin was also taken into custody, with both suspects lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.
The Hodgenville Police Department is teaming up with community partners for a sexual assault awareness event Monday evening.
Hodgenville Police Chief James Richardson says tonight’s event expands on the “sextortion” presentation the department gave to the public in late March.
“We’re going to give a presentation,” Richardson said. “It’s going to start at 6 p.m. at the Extension Office here in Larue County up on Old Elizabethtown Road, and what we will do is we’ll start out with basically what are the issues that we’re seeing here in our community and then we will talk about how HPD investigates those.”
Richardson said the event ties into April being Child Abuse Awareness Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The ultimate goal of the event is to share information and connect people with resources.
“If anybody wants to come, we encourage in-person, that way you can actually meet and see everybody,” Richardson said. “You’ll get to see some of the sexual assault investigators from the police department. You’ll get to ask questions. Any questions that we have from the community, they can email me questions. They can go on our Facebook page and message me questions that they want answered, and we’ll try to address those there in the presentation.”
The event will be recorded for anybody unable to attend in person.
Breckinridge County Schools is inviting the Irvington Elementary School community to provide feedback as the district looks to hire a new principal at the elementary school.
“We invite everyone that’s connected in some form or fashion to our district to participate in it,” said Breckinridge County Schools Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter. “You know, in the Irvington Community, Irvington Elementary School is a strong part of our community in Irvington, and we truly appreciate the input and feedback from everyone.”
That’s Breckinridge County Schools Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter.
Carter says the district has regularly used surveys to get feedback on the hiring process in order to best serve students, parents, faculty, and staff.
“This survey really is built around helping getting folks input on what’s going well, what they are feeling like is going well at the school, what are the areas that we need to focus on moving forward to take the school to the next level, and any other comments that they may have that will assist in selecting the next principal to school,” Carter said.
Carter says the district is looking for somebody with the same qualities the district looks for in all of its leadership positions
“Hard-working, 100 percent dedicated and committed to the success of all students and staff in the building, a strong focus on the academic needs of our children but also the social emotional needs of our children,” Carter said.
The survey is open until April 16 and is posted on the Breckinridge County Schools Facebook page and website. Responses can be made anonymously.
Kentucky Farm Bureau is launching a new initiative aimed at helping maintain ag production on Kentucky farms.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported in their 2022 Census of Agriculture that Kentucky has lost 17,000 farms and 1.4 million acres of farmland over the last 20 years. In order to help farm families keep their farms in active production, Kentucky Farm Bureau has launched the Kentucky Farmland Transition Initiative.
KFB says the main goal of the initiative is to preserve family farm ownership and to help families navigate the farm transition process. The initiative has three main objectives:
-increase public education about farmland transition
-gather and provide technical help and local resources for families
-pursue state and federal policy development that will help keep production agriculture at the forefront of farmland transition and reduce burdens in the process
KFB plans to expand the initiative over the coming months. For more information, visit www.kyfarmlandtransition.com.
A Grayson County man working as a correctional officer at a juvenile facility was arrested this week.
Jose Soto of Leitchfield faces one count of first degree Promoting Contraband, a Class D Felony.
The Kentucky State Police says Soto is a correctional officer at the Warren Regional Juvenile Detention Center in Bowling Green. Soto’s arrest is part of an investigation by KSP Post Three into a complaint from December of 2023 regarding employees at the detention center.
The KSP’s investigation remains ongoing.
A Virgina man faces multiple charges after his arrest in Grayson County Wednesday.
The Leitchfield Police Department says officers responded to Hometown Hangout in the early morning hours of April 10 for a report of a possible burglary.
“Upon arrival, officers found that a back door had been left unlocked and multiple fridges and the walk-in cooler had been entered by someone,” said Detective Sergeant Ian Renfrow with the LPD. “Multiple cases of beer were opened and some products were found to be missing from the business.”
Officers reviewed surveillance footage, which showed a male subject enter the business through the unlocked door. He is then seen forcing open a walk-in cooler inside of the business.
“Officers then received information and responded to an apartment on Penner Drive and attempted to make contact with a suspect who had been named as Mr. Ruben Hernandez,” Renfrow said.
The resident of the apartment Hernandez was located at was outside speaking with police officers, and told the officers she left the door unlocked. Officers found the door had been locked.
“She then gave them permission to force entry into the apartment,” Renfrow said. “Once they got into the apartment, Hernandez would not comply with officer orders. He then resisted with them for just a brief moment, and they were able to get him into handcuffs and get him into custody at that point.”
Hernandez was lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center. He faces multiple charges including Burglary, Theft by Unlawful Taking, Criminal Mischief, and Resisting Arrest. Officers stated that Hernandez made multiple statements that “once he was out (of jail), we would never see him again.”
The Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office’s partnership with other area law enforcement agencies led to the seizure of narcotics earlier this week.
Detectives with the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force searched a Bullitt County residence on Monday.
As a result of that search, officers seized 56 grams of cocaine, 1.5 pounds of psychedelic mushrooms, and 6 pounds of marijuana, along with other drug paraphernalia. The approximate street value of the drugs is more than $25,000.
The Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office is not releasing any further details on the search at this time as it is part of a larger, ongoing investigation.
The search is a result of partnerships the sheriff’s office formed after Bullitt County was designated a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the DEA. The sheriff’s office has been conducting similar investigations with national, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Anonymous tips on drug activity can be submitted through P3 Tips.
The Kentucky State Police is investigating an injury accident on Interstate 65 in Hart County Wednesday that caused significant traffic delays.
According to the KSP, the investigation indicates that Jose Gonzalez of Munfordville was operating a car near the 67 mile marker of I-65 north when the vehicle left the roadway, struck the inside barrier wall, then traveled across all three lanes of traffic. The vehicle was then struck by a commercial vehicle. Hart County EMS transported Gonzales to the University of Louisville Hospital for treatment of unknown injuries.
I-65 north was closed for several hours, and upon reopening traffic was still slow-moving through the area for some time.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
The City of Elizabethtown kicks off its summer programming one month from today with the eighth annual E-Town Wine Fest, which E-Town Events Manager Beth Pyles says will be bigger than ever.
“Delicious food, wineries, we will have beer – we’ve got some craft breweries going to set up as well,” said Pyles. “Of course, the Bourbon’s Backyard Bourbon Bar will be available as well, and this year we’ll have several commercial vendors on site. We had some last year, but our selection has expanded, and we are still taking applications, so by the time May gets here we are excited for what we’re able to present to the public this year.”
The festival will be held at the bandstand at Freeman Lake Park from 4 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 11. Tickets are $30 the day of and $25 in advance. Wineries will be offering drinks by the glass or bottle, so tasting tickets will give patrons the chance to try before they buy.
“With your tasting ticket, that includes admission, a wine tasting glass that you get to take home with you, and eight tasting tickets to use at any of our wineries,” Pyles said. “We have reached out to several more wineries this year, and it looks like we’re going to have a lot more than we had last year. We’re really excited about that.”
Non-tasting tickets are available for $10. In addition to the food, drink, and commercial vendors, Piper Madison will open on stage, followed by headliners The Mixers.
Visit www.etownevents.com for more information.
The first reading of the 2024-2025 county budget was held during the Hardin County Fiscal Court’s first meeting of the month Tuesday.
Hardin County Judge-Executive Keith Taul is proposing a budget that totals $59,615,729. The county’s expenses in the budget total $22,294,285, which comes in higher than the county’s revenue.
“We unfortunately only have revenue of $17.5 million of recurring sustainable taxes, fees, some interest thrown in there from some money that we have,” Taul said. “So you add all those up and it only amounts to $17.5 million.”
The proposed budget balances the deficit by using $440,000 of the county’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act funds and $4,367,634 of the $8 million pilot agreement with BlueOval SK.
“This is, in case you’re not familiar with that, it’s a one-time payout in lieu of BlueOval SK construction workers’ occupational taxes, and so this was an agreement with them that instead of trying to obtain the construction workers’ occupational taxes this was a payout to take in place of that.”
Taul said cuts have been made to the original budget presented to the county’s Finance Committee, but the budget still needs to account for high inflation over the past three years that has driven up prices for equipment and materials, as well as increases to insurance and personnel costs. The budget does not account for the county’s occupational tax as the county can’t project the revenue it will produce.
Members of the fiscal court were split on their support of the budget. Magistrate Chris Yates said he was not in favor of approving a budget that operates on a deficit two years in a row.
“I voted in favor of the budget last year, but a wise man once said, ‘if you find yourself in a hole, you need to quit digging,’” Yates said. “If we don’t put the shovel down, we’re going to find ourselves in a hole that even if we wanted to, we won’t be able to tax our way out of.”
Magistrate Kenny Saltsman said he took issue with the use of the BlueOval SK funds.
“$8 million that we’re getting from the BOSK was supposed to last us around 15 years, and this first year we’re using over half of it just to balance this budget,” Saltsman said. “We can’t continue down this road. I cannot support this budget on the words of hopeful, or even gambling as I’ve heard others state, when counting on the occupational tax to be our saving grace.”
Magistrates E.G. Thompson and Fred Clem both said the county is hampered by state regulations that take revenue streams away from county governments while permitting their use by cities. Clem said he supports the budget as the county is doing the best with what it can.
“There’s not a person on this court that’s not concerned about this budget. Not one of us,” Clem said. “We all have the same concerns, but I’m confident that we can manage our way through our fiscal issues and get back to parity.”
The first reading of the budget was approved by a 5-4 vote. The budget will go up for approval on its second reading at the fiscal court’s next meeting, which will be held April 23.
The Kentucky General Assembly is currently in its veto recess, meaning the state House of Representatives and state Senate are waiting on Governor Andy Beshear to review and take action on the more than 160 bills that passed the 2024 legislative session.
Kentucky 10th District Senator Matt Deneen sponsored four bills that passed through the general assembly. One of those, Senate Bill 18, has been signed into law. Deneen says the bill is an example of his goal for common sense legislation that benefits the commonwealth in and out of District 10.
“I’ve been able to find some things that just need to be updated and changed to avoid wasteful spending and to make sure that our school districts have the best equipment that they can for the safety of our children in the transportation realm, but at the same time we do that in a way that provides fair competition for tire manufacturers and policy alignments through the Kentucky Department of Education,” Deneen said.
Deneen says common sense was also the motivation behind Senate Bill 17, which was requested by county coroner offices in Kentucky to amend a policy requiring a five-day turnaround on the issuance of death certificates.
“With all of the different types of toxicology and ballistics tests, and all the autopsies and forensic tests that are required to truly find the cause of death, that five-day turnaround was not enough time to get those things done, to provide families with accurate information about their loved one’s passing,” Deneen said.
Another of Deneen’s bills is Senate Bill 265, which modifies Kentucky’s alternative teacher certification pathway.
“We want to make sure that those folks have bachelor’s and master’s degrees and are certified in those areas or working towards a certification in those areas, so Senate Bill 265 basically provides that framework and those guardrails to ensure that our students get the very best by those that have the experiences needed that may not have started in education,” Deneen said.
More information on the bills can be found through the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission.
Hodgenville Police Chief James Richardson says he was disappointed with the low turnout for a presentation on sextortion the department hosted via Zoom, so after getting community feedback on how to improve the idea and reach more people the police department is hosting an in-person event on sexual assault and related issues on April 15.
“We’re going to give a presentation,” Richardson said. “It’s going to start at 6 p.m. at the Extension Office here in Larue County up on Old Elizabethtown Road, and what we will do is we’ll start out with basically what are the issues that we’re seeing here in our community and then we will talk about how HPD investigates those.”
Richardson said the event ties into April being Child Abuse Awareness Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The event is an opportunity to hear from the HPD as well as the organizations that assist them.
“We are going to start out with just basically ‘this is what we’re seeing’ and then we’re going to introduce our community partners,” Richardson said. “We have some folks from Silverleaf, I’ve invited CommuniCare, Lincoln Trail BHH is coming, so we’ll have folks there to explain to the community this is what their role is in our investigations and what services they offer for the community.”
The ultimate goal of the event is to share information and connect residents with resources.
“If anybody wants to come, we encourage in-person, that way you can actually meet and see everybody,” Richardson said. “You’ll get to see some of the sexual assault investigators from the police department. You’ll get to ask questions. Any questions that we have from the community, they can email me questions. They can go on our Facebook page and message me questions that they want answered, and we’ll try to address those there in the presentation.”
The event will be recorded and made available for viewing for anybody unable to attend in person.
Absentee mail-in voting is now available ahead of the May 21 primary election.
Voters that are eligible may request a mail-in absentee ballot now through May 7. Those requests can be made at govote.ky.gov.
In Hardin County, in-person excused absentee voting will take place May 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, and 15 in the Hardin County Clerk’s office. Early voting will take place at the clerk’s office as well as at the Colvin Community Center on May 16, 17, and 18.
Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith said voters heading to the polls on May 21 will have more options this year.
“Last year we had 12 locations. This year we’ll have 15 locations,” Smith said. “The largest of those locations will also have additional check-in stations, so not only are we having more locations, but we also should be able to get people through the line faster. That was based on the feedback we got directly from the public.”
The deadline to register for the May 21 primary election is at 4 p.m. on April 22. Election information is available at govote.ky.gov or contact your county clerk’s office for assistance.
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A vehicle pursuit that went from Barren County into Hardin County last week got some unexpected assistance. According to Kentucky State Police Post Four, officers…
An area school administrator is being recognized. The Kentucky Association of School Administrators has named Hardin County Schools Superintendent Terrie Morgan as the 2024 Superintendent…
Sam Russell’s Pet Provisions owner Diane Shoffner says she realized the need for the Hardin County Pet Food Pantry during the global pandemic. “I was…
Area unemployment saw a slight uptick in June, but is slightly less than where it was a year ago. The Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet…
A road project on a major connecting road for Elizabethtown has gotten under way. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says preparation work has started on a…
The Hardin County Chamber of Commerce held their annual meeting and awards dinner Thursday at the Historic State Theater, recognizing the accomplishments of the Chamber…
The Elizabethtown Independent School District has a new superintendent. The EIS Board of Education voted during a special meeting Wednesday to hire Paul Mullins to…
Not all heroes wear capes, but if you would like to be a hero for area children and don a cape, you’ll have your chance…
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office is warning area residents of an ongoing scam attempt. “We’ve had several Hardin Countians been receiving calls from someone claiming…
The Radcliff City Council met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday. The council approved a request from the Radcliff/Fort Knox Convention and Tourism…
The situation at the Hardin County Animal Shelter is getting hairy. “A lot of other shelters refer to it as Code Red,” said Animal Shelter…
This week marks the one-year anniversary of the national transition to 988, the nationwide mental health crisis helpline. According to the Lincoln Trail Behavioral Health…
More than 500 students at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College benefited last school year from a state program designed to get students started on the…
Fort Knox is under new management. Colonel Lance O’Bryan ended his two-year term as garrison commander of the Army post when he passed the unit’s…
The Elizabethtown City Council met for their first meeting of the month Monday. The first reading was held on ordinances for three zoning changes: one…
Don’t be alarmed if you see emergency vehicles outside Elizabethtown High School Tuesday. Elizabethtown Independent Schools is hosting a School Safety Roundtable at the high…
Police and railroad personnel are investigating after a man was struck by a train at a crossing in downtown Elizabethtown. Officer Chris Denham with the…
The 2023 Walk to End Alzheimer’s is scheduled for October 14 at the Elizabethtown Nature Park, but the run-up for anybody interested in participating begins…
Stonefield Solar Project LLC was denied a zoning change last month by the Hardin County Planning and Development Commission. On Tuesday, the Hardin County Fiscal…
Work by crews from Hardin County Water District No. 2 will result in road closures in Elizabethtown this week. “Our crews are updating 70-year-old water…
Members of the Radcliff City Council called it Mayor J.J. Duvall’s 44th birthday present to himself. The council approved the purchase of the long-vacant Redmar…
A Christian hip hop festival is coming to Elizabethtown on Saturday. “The event is this Saturday. May 6. The event starts at 6:00 PM. It is absolutely free. All ages are welcome. This is part of our Finally Free Fest Tour. So it’s basically a traveling Christian hip-hop tour that we’re doing. It’s gonna be in E-town and then we’ll be going to Pittsburgh, Chicago and Mississippi as well. So the one in E-town again is this Saturday, 6:00 PM. It’s going to be at First Christian Church and it’s gonna be in the Elevate room.” Christian Hip-Hop artist, Giovanni. If attending you are asked to please park in the back of the church.
At Monday’s Vine Grove City Council meeting, City Engineer Bob Woosley announced that the splash pad is nearly complete. “If you haven’t been over there, they started pouring concrete. And the big news on that is the reason they are pouring concrete is because we passed our inspections. So we’re good to go. Tomorrow they should finish out the rest of the concrete. and then they’ll start putting equipment in.” Fundraising for a splash pad began in 2019. The ribbon cutting will take place on May 26.
The Hodgenville Police Department was involved in a pursuit late Wednesday night. According to a statement, a 2020 Nissan was stopped for having an expired tag on Northridge Circle. When Officers made contact, the vehicle fled and traveled through several yards in the Hutcherson Heights housing area. The Nissan made its way onto Old Elizabethtown Road and then continued to travel north into Hardin County where Kentucky State Troopers from Post 4 joined the pursuit. The vehicle stopped on Par Lane and the driver and a passenger fled on foot. The driver, 30 year old William Tucker of Radcliff, and passenger , 30 year old Jessica Terrell of Southgate, were apprehended a short distance later. Tucker was charged with DUI First, Fleeing First, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Possession of Heroin and numerous traffic charges. Terrell was charged with Possession of Heroin, Tampering with Physical Evidence and Public Intoxication. Both suspects had outstanding warrants that were served and both were lodged in the Larue County Jail.
Elizabethtown native Catherine LaRoche is moving back to Kentucky to become Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement at WKU in Bowling Green. She graduated from Central Hardin High School in 2005 and the University of Louisville in 2009. She is currently Assistant Dean of Students at the University of Arizona. When asked how this new job came about, Dr. LaRoche replied, “I was not a hundred percent looking for jobs at the time. I actually had a friend who lives in Texas and they were like ‘Hey, a recruiter reached out to me for the Assistant Vice President position at Western Kentucky. I’m not interested in leaving Texas. So I recommended you because I know you’re from Kentucky, so why don’t you take a look and see if it’s something you’re interested in.’ ” When offered the new job, she said, “It was kind of a no-brainer for me. When I got the offer, I kind of already knew, like if they offered it to me, I will most likely say yes.” When asked what she wanted to accomplish in her new position, Dr. LaRoche laid out her first ninety days plan. “It’s going to definitely get to understand where the division or the University is at. What are the priorities? You know, at a lot of colleges, a big priority, especially in the state of Kentucky, is retention, retaining students at the University beyond their first year. And then the other piece is: how do you increase enrollment?” When she begins her new position, Dr. LaRoche stated that staff will be one of her top priorities. “I want to see my staff succeed, so that is a big thing that I will bring to the University, is figuring out where my staff are? Where do they want to be? What is their potential and really help them reach their goals.” For students and families considering WKU, Dr. LaRoche said this. “Really what families can think about or look forward to when sending their student to WKU is those students really getting the opportunity to engage at high levels. Those living on campus, living off campus after their first two years and really just making sure they’re getting involved. That they’re successful both inside and outside of the classroom and then also making sure that they feel welcome, they feel connected to the university.” Dr. LaRoche will begin her new job as Assistant President for Student Engagement at WKU on July 17.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet wants to remind Kentuckians to watch out and share the roadway with all highway users. The month of May is Motorcycle And Bike Safety Awareness Month and the Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety is joining The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in sharing tips to help prevent crashes, injuries and deaths on the commonwealth’s roadways. Drivers are reminded to perform regular visual checks using mirrors and looking at blind spots before changing lanes and to use turn signals before lane changes to alert others of your movements. Motorcyclists are encouraged to wear a DOT compliant helmet, wear bright color protective gear along with reflective tape and stickers to increase visibility while positioning themselves in the lane to maintain visibility and using turns signals and hand signals to indicate movements. Bicyclists should wear a properly fitted helmet, scan ahead for obstacles in your path and ride in the same direction as traffic while also using hand signals to communicate your movements to traffic around you. Kentucky haD over 1500 crashes involving motorcyclists in 2022 which resulted in 99 motorcyclists deaths. More information can be found at Ride.KY.gov
Scholarship Central held two events recently to award over $350,000 in scholarships. Scholarship Central is the online one stop portal offered by the Central Kentucky Community Foundation which serves as a philanthropic resource to people who wish to help improve life in their communities. This year 142 students were awarded 182 scholarships to help recipients continue their educational career this coming fall. To see a full list of the awardees and scholarships currently offered, visit the foundation’s website at CKCF4People.org.
A Larue county woman was stabbed multiple times Tuesday. According to the Larue County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to Earl Jones Road for a domestic situation that turned violent. Tracy Johnson is accused of arguing with his mother before getting a kitchen knife and stabbing her several times. Johnson also allegedly assaulted his brother who attempted to intervene. The suspect fled the scene, but was apprehended by officials. He was charged with First Degree Domestic Assault and Fourth Degree Domestic Assault. The mother’s injuries are not considered to be life threatening.
Today is the last day to apply for an absentee ballot for the May primary. “The easiest and most secure way to do that is to go GoVoteKY.com. You’re also welcome to call our office directly. The in-person excused absentee voting, those days are May 3rd-5th and 8th-10th. That’s going to be from 8 AM to 4:30 PM down on the first floor. In order to qualify for absentee voting, you have to qualify by age, illness or disability, or you will be out of town on the early voting days and primary election day. I always want to remind pregnant women, if you’re in the third trimester, we strongly recommend you voting absentee because babies are gonna come when babies come. So we want to make sure that’s available to those folks and nobody misses out,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D Smith. You have until 11:59 PM EST to apply online for your absentee ballot.
Pipe replacement work will require closure of a road in Hardin County today and tomorrow. A maintenance crew will be working to replace a large pipe north of the Bright Side Drive and Cozy Acres Drive intersection on South Wilson Road KY 447 on both days. There are several alternative routes available in the area so no specific detour will be set up. With the resurfacing work scheduled for completion in the area in just a few weeks, it is critical that the replacement be done. Weather could change this schedule so drivers are encouraged to follow the Transportation Cabinet District 4 social media accounts for updates.
A $10 million electric vehicle remanufacturing plant is coming to Bullitt County. According to a statement from Governor Andy Beshear’s office, the new Rivian facility will create 218 full-time jobs. Rivian currently stocks replacement parts in Shepherdsville and this project will update that operation to support warranty, repair and service to the company’s EV trucks. This investment continues to solidify Kentucky as a leader in the EV sector with over $10 billion in EV-related investments and about 10,000 full time jobs announced since summer 2020.
At Monday’s Vine Grove City Council meeting, Councilwoman Mary Dunn asked citizens to help with the sidewalk survey that is currently being conducted. “Please go onto the Vine Grove City page and look for that link. We’ll push it out once a week, at least through the month of May. Please fill out the sidewalk survey. It’s very telling. We need that data for the TAPP grant. Tell your neighbors. Tell everybody. Find that link and fill it out,” said Councilwoman Mary Dunn. Putting in new sidewalks is part of the city’s plans for the future. “Right now we only have probably twenty percent of the city, maybe thirty five to forty percent, of our streets have sidewalks. The rest don’t.so Basically anything that looks like anything built from maybe the mid-1990’s on has sidewalks, everything else does not.“ The survey will identify areas that have safety and accessibility problems that need to be addressed. “We think that focusing on the sidewalks, the signage, making sure the sidewalks are in good repair, make sure the weeds and grass are not growing in the cracks of the sidewalk and all that sort of thing is very important. doing a very thorough sidewalk survey. it’s really simple as getting volunteers to go out and take pictures and getting someone to walk the routes.” City Planner Tad Long. Once completed, the survey will be used in the city’s TAPP grant application.
The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Park will be hosting several events over the next few days. “We will be doing Shakespeare In The Park. We partner with Kentucky Shakespeare to present their spring production of Hamlet. The play is free. We’ll be holding it at the birthplace unit at 6:30 PM. And as in years past we will be sitting visitors on the steps of the memorial building, and the play will be taking place at the bottom of the stairs. So we’re asking visitors to bring blankets or cushions to sit on and also bring a flashlight and probably some bug spray because it will get dark during the production. So we hope to see everyone there,” shared Park Spokesperson Stacy Humphreys. Saturday the park will celebrate Junior Ranger Day. “On Saturday, we are capping off National Park Week with National Junior Ranger Day. We’re going to be having special activities for free for kids specifically ages seven to twelve years olds. Of course, younger children can come and participate, they may need help from mom and dad. Those activities will be running at the birthplace unit from twelve pm to four pm. Kids will be able to do a special Junior Ranger book and get a special badge in honor of Junior Ranger Day. We’ve set up a special photo booth station in our birthplace visitor center. We have little props that you can hold and we’re asking everyone to take a picture and then tag us on their social media.” Saturday the park will also remain open until 7:30 pm for prom attendees to stop by the park for pictures for the evening. Follow the park for additional information on events on social media or at the website at http://nps.gov/abli
The Hardin County Solid Waste Department will be hosting the E-Scrap Recycling event tomorrow. Starting at 8:00 am and going until 2:00 pm, you can bring your old electronic devices such as printers, cell phones and video game equipment to the AGC Automotive Plant to be recycled. On Monday you can bring your shredding to the Road Department between 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm and drop it off. You need to pick up your bag at the Solid Waste Department office ahead of time. One bag per household. To get more information and see future dates for the shredding event, visit the http://hcky.org/your-government/departments/solid-waste-department/
The superintendent of a local school district has announced that she will be taking a leave of absence starting next week. Mrs Kelli Bush, superintendent of Elizabethtown Independent Schools, shared that it was necessary for her health and well-being to take leave from her role starting May 1. She announced that Assistant Superintendent Chase Goff would be handling her duties and responsibilities in her absence. The district wanted to reassure students, parents and staff that the district’s commitment to excellence in education and services would not be impacted by Bush’s leave.
The Elizabethtown City Council held its regularly scheduled work session meeting last night. “Nellie Thomas with Mission Hope for Kids, which is now Hope Academy, came and spoke. She went through, what they do and what their program looks like. Larry Vance spoke about the World War II Reenactment that will happen at the Nature Park and that’s going to be on May 27 and he has a full lineup of activities. Ed Poppe talked about some things we’re doing in-house, giving an overall capital projects kind of a wrap up because we’re heading into the end of the fiscal year,” shared City Of Elizabethtown Spokesperson Amy Inman. Inman also wanted to remind citizens that this is the last week for the Elizabethtown Spring Cleanup. “If you have appliances, you need to call Public Works to make an appointment for them to come pick those up but this is the last week of that. We have done several loads. We’re really trying to encourage everyone to be a good neighbor and to do the right thing. So if you have junk or debris laying around your house, go ahead and bring that up to the curb and our Public Works team will take care of that.” The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on May 1.
The U.S. Army Human Resources Command will hold its eighth annual Raise The Bars Motorcycle Ride on April 26. “April is the Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and it’s highlighted all across the U. S Army at all of our installations and globally. This is just one of many events that we’re highlighting over the month. We do this to bring awareness to sexual assault and harassment, but also to help protect our people with the prevention of sexual assault and harassment. The motorcycle ride is one of those events where we get to gather, we get to reaffirm our commitment to the prevention and the resources available to survivors,“ shared Public Affairs Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Ally Scott. HRC has 43 credentialed sexual assault victim advocates within its command who ensure that victims are made aware of local, regional and national support services. “The Chief of Staff of the Army, General James McConville, says we are all charged with setting conditions that enforce Army standards to prevent sexual offenses. Protecting our people is protecting our mission. We take that very seriously here at the Human Resources Command and across the Army. If we can create a happy health life balance here at work and at home, that is our goal with all of our service members and staff.” The event is open to the public and begins at 1:00 PM at the Human Resources Command on Fort Knox. The rain date is April 28.
The victim from a shooting in Radcliff has died and a juvenile has been charged in his death. According to Radcliff Police Chief Jeff Cross, a call came in about 6:30 pm on Sunday evening of a shooting on Kingswood Way. When officers arrived, they found a male subject who had been shot and he was transported to the University of Louisville Hospital. “We took a seventeen year old juvenile into custody that was responsible for the shooting. That juvenile was charged with Attempted Murder, Assault First, Possession of a Handgun by a Minor and seven counts of Wanton Endangerment. We learned that the victim had died at University Hospital, and the charge of Attempted Murder was upgraded to Murder. The case is still being investigated,” shared Radcliff Police Chief Jeff Cross.
On Monday, North Hardin High School was placed on a soft lockdown. “This means that the instructional day continued as normal and special procedures were in place. As a precautionary measure, we asked for additional community support to include local law enforcement and the presence of additional officers,” stated Hardin County School Spokesperson John Wright. School officials are asking parents to remind their students to speak up if they have concerns. “We want our parents to know that our students are safe at school. and if they communicate with our parents during the school day or at home, we just ask our students’ parents to encourage their students to tell an adult if they see anything on social media or hear anything that concerns them. We always appreciate the support of our parents and community.” Activities taking place on campus Monday were canceled as a precaution. We will update this story as it develops.
The City of Elizabethtown has been monitoring the weather and has made a decision about this evening’s Lawn Party event at Freeman Lake. “We are canceling tonight’s Lawn Party at the bandstand at Freeman Lake Park. It was supposed to start at 6:00 PM. We were going to do a ribbon cutting to kind of christen the bandstand. But unfortunately, it looks like that is when the rain is going to hit. Of course, the safety of our citizens is our number one priority. And so we just did not feel it was appropriate to move forward with what we have coming in. But we’re moving tonight’s event. We’re going to add a Lawn Party in September. So all is not lost. We’re just going to not have it tonight,” said City Events Spokesperson Beth Pyles. The next concert in the series will take place in June. “It is June 21 so we hope people will make plans to attend that one. At that one, we will feature Casey and Romey and then the band The Caribou. The parks always will open at 5:00 PM and the event will be at 6:00 PM. So we’re just going to, hopefully by June, have the sun will be shining on us, and we’re going to move forward.” To view future dates and artists participating in the Lawn Party concert series at Freeman Lake, go to EtownEvents.com
The annual Paws United Pet Expo to raise awareness about pet rescues and shelters will take place this Saturday. “It is this Saturday, it’s gonna be from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the bingo hall APR building. So this year we have over 50 vendors and rescue shelters. We have pet related and non pet related vendors. So there’s a lot of shopping. Pet CPR and pet first aid, there’s education. We have a trainer that will be coming in to do some training techniques,” said event spokesperson Toshie Murrell. The event will also offer the opportunity to get your pet vaccinated and micro-chipped. “We are also having the Hardin County Animal Shelter. They will be setting up a rabies shot clinic and microchip. They will be there from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM with low cost shots. So you must have your cat in a carrier, your dog on a leash and come out and get your shots. It’s a great opportunity to get that taken care of without having to make a vet appointment and we’re having free nail trims from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.” There will also be a food truck on site. A donation of pet food or cat litter or a monetary donation will get you entry into the event.
The body of a white male was discovered in the Green River in Hart County on Wednesday. According to the Hart County Sheriff’s Office, yesterday the body was identified as 32 year old James Jewell who was reported missing by his family on April 11. Jewell was last seen alive approximately five miles upstream from where his body was discovered. The Sheriff’s Office is still investigating and anyone with any information is encouraged to contact authorities.
Grayson County has a campaign underway to encourage people to wear their seat belts. “We have a low seatbelt usage in Grayson County and we also have a high fatality rate. We’ve been doing a lot of road checks. We’ve been teaming up with the State Police and our other local agencies by setting up traffic safety checkpoints, making sure people are wearing seatbelts. We’re not necessarily giving tickets, we’re handing out literature to let them know ‘Hey look, these are the stats in Kentucky’. We know that our young people especially aren’t wearing their seatbelts and they’re more likely to be killed in a crash than if they were wearing their seatbelts,” shared Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins. Grayson County is one of the five counties in Kentucky that have the lowest percentage of seatbelt use. “At the end of it, they will do another study to see if this campaign has worked. We actually have people sitting up and around our parkways and different areas in Grayson County documenting who is wearing (their seatbelt) and who’s not. We do a study at the beginning and then we do a study at the end to see if it has worked.” The High Five Campaign began in October 2022 and will continue until October of this year.
Next week is National Library Week and to celebrate the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives is hosting a statewide job fair. Libraries across the state, including the Hardin County Public Library, encourage Kentuckians to visit their local libraries in person or online to explore and use services such as technology, broadband and media. Kentuckians are encouraged to celebrate National Library Week by sharing how they support their library and using the #NationalLibraryWeek. For more information, visit the Kentucky Public Library Directory online at https://kdla.ky.gov/Library-Support/Pages/Public-Library-Directory.aspx
Parents of Hardin County Schools students are being asked to provide feedback to the district. “This survey will allow us to gather some critical information because the school experience is just as important as the academic rigor, maybe even more so. The memories of teachers and field trips and school events and so much more, things that create memories that last a lifetime. So we want our students and their families to know that creating meaningful learning opportunities is an extremely high priority for us. So we’ll use what we receive in the survey to strengthen what we already have in place and to form and nurture new opportunities for success,” shares District Spokesperson John Wright. The survey can be found on the district website under the news and announcements section. The survey will remain posted until May 1.
Public input is being sought as officials look at improvements along US 62 on the western side of Elizabethtown. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and local officials have established the Drive62 website to receive feedback on aspects of the project for the corridor. “The Drive62 website is integrated with that survey. It’s kind of a unique setup to ask questions. So it tells you a few things and then it asks you a question about that particular aspect of the project. It’s not just a straight form survey. It’s more of a ‘Here’s what’s going on. How do you feel about this? Here’s something else going on. How do you feel about that?’ And again, we need all the input we can possibly get,” Transportation Cabinet Spokesperson Chris Jessie. Reminders about the website will be posted on Transportation Cabinet social media accounts. The survey questions will be available through April 23.
Bernheim Forest is hosting an Earth Day event that focuses not only on a healthy planet but a healthy you. Festivities for the Restore: Healthy Planet Healthy You event will take place on Saturday April 22 from 10 am to 4 pm. Drop-in self-care activities and a variety of experiences that teach sustainable practices that could be implemented into daily living activities are available. The activities will take place along a mile-long walking path that runs through popular attractions like the edible garden and the newly renovated sensory garden. You can also adopt a tree for a donation, see a cooking demo and help plant milkweed for monarch butterflies. The cost is $10 per person for members, $15 for non-members and children 13 and under are free. More information is available at Bernheim.org
During the Radcliff City Council meeting last night, Mayor JJ Duvall and Tim Jeffries, Director of Parks and Recreation, discussed a struggle that could affect community pool hours and services. “In dealing with the pool and lifeguards, we are having a little bit of a tough time. Right now, we’re still a little bit understaffed where we need to be to have our swim lessons and then to keep the pool fully staffed. Which means if we don’t get more people applying and people trained, some of the services may be reduced due to the fact that we don’t have staffing.That’s kind of our dilemma right now that we’re in. We have to strongly consider, obviously, what we can and can’t do. Some depend on how many lifeguards we get and will depend on how we either have swim lessons – and we’re getting really crunch time on the swim lessons – hours of the lifeguards able to walk work all day and then how long we keep the pool open,” shared Mayor JJ Duvall. Jeffries stated that the pool has three returning life guards and four new applicants that would need to be trained and certified. For more information, visit the City Of Radcliff Facebook page or contact the Radcliff City Hall.
The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park is looking for volunteers for an annual event coming this weekend. “This coming Saturday, our park will be holding our second annual park care day. Specifically, our big task that day will be planting the historic interpretive garden out at the boyhood home up at Knob Creek where the Tavern Visitor Center is. We’re trying to plant heirloom varieties seeds similar to what we think the Lincoln family would have planted while living at Knob Creek. And we’re asking for anyone who would like to volunteer for this special event to please call our birthplace visitors center and just let us know that you’re planning on attending,” said event spokesperson Stacy Humphreys. For more information, visit the park’s website at nps.gov/abli or their Facebook Page by searching Lincoln Birthplace NPS.
The Drug Enforcement Administration will be conducting its 24th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday. The Take Back Day offers free disposal of unneeded prescription medications whether they are old, unwanted or expired. Collection sites will not accept sharps, syringes or illicit drugs and liquid medications like cough syrup should be tightly sealed in the original container to prevent leaks. The Take Back Day event will take place from 10 AM to 2 PM local time and you can find the location nearest you by visiting DEATakeBack.com.
The Elizabethtown City Council held their regularly scheduled meeting last night. The Council adopted a resolution to update the hazard mitigation and flood mitigation plan. The Council also heard and adopted municipal orders to award two contracts for projects in the city. The first order awarded the Freeman Lake South End improvements. “This contract with Scotty’s will have them start the site preparation work. So they will get the area ready for the playground. They will get the area ready for the pavilions and the restrooms and the parking areas. Then the playground contractor will come in and they will finish the site with the playground. Scotty’s then does all the trails and all the parking lot paving. We will have separate contracts for the tennis courts and the pavilion,” stated City Administrator Ed Poppe. The contract for the playground construction was awarded to Miracle Playgrounds Of Kentucky And Tennessee which is the same company that brought Funtopia to the city. The other contract that was heard and adopted awarded the Fire Station #4 to RBS Design Group which was the company that did Fire Station #2. During public comments, Bryton Hawkins asked the Council to explore the possibility of a municipal composting facility. “What I’m here to talk about today is, I believe that our city needs a municipal composting facility set up. The main reason I want this is for farmers to have a reliable source for clean compost. Another reason is, I filed a FOIA request with the landfill. It is currently emitting 2000 tons of methane. I believe that could be mitigated with a composting setup.” Mayor Jeff Gregory said it was a great idea and something to look at. The next City Council meeting will be a work session held on April 24.
The 6th annual Autism Spect-Run will be held this saturday. The run is the biggest fundraiser held by Camp TESSA Hardin County. “We have our annual 5K coming up April 22 out at Severns Valley. The race starts at 8:30 AM. That 5K is our biggest fundraiser. Camp TESSA is all community supported,” shared spokesperson Kay Mau. The 5k helps fund the week-long summer camp that pairs children and adults with autism with similar age peers to participate in activities that work on community based instruction, daily living skills, building social skills and post-secondary transition. To register for the 5k and find more information, visit the Camp TESSA Hardin County Facebook page.
City of Elizabethtown summer day camps and swim lessons registration officially opened up yesterday. “We opened up registration for summer camp and what that is is six weeks of week-long sessions. It will start June 5 this summer. The only week that we will not have summer camp is the week of July 4 just because it’s a shorter week. There will be summer camp the rest of the weeks. We also opened up swim lessons,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Seth Breitner. Camp weeks usually fill up quickly. For more information or to register, visit ElizabethtownKY.org and visit the Parks and Recreation page.
On Friday the Elizabethtown Sports Park kicked off the youth baseball tournament season with Baseball Hall Of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. Ripken was at the park to celebrate the start of The Ripken Experience Elizabethtown that will help youth baseball players experience what it is like to play at the major league level .
“So we wanted to create, you know, a tournament experience that would make everyone feel like Big League. It is really important for us to have really good quality fields to really do a lot of the same things as the big leaguers do. The concept was to bring those types of experiences to more kids so they can really enjoy the game of baseball better. So that’s really what the Ripken Baseball Experience is. I mean, you have a chance to have your own walk-up music, all the amenities that are there. We want to create that experience for all of you,” said Ripken Baseball Founder Cal Ripken, Jr. Ripken shared why the Elizabethtown Sports Park was chosen to become part of The Ripken Experience. “We couldn’t be happier and more proud. This complex is a beautiful complex. In order for us to come out, branch out and grow across the country, the main thing is to have a big league caliber type complex, and this definitely qualifies as a big league quality one.”
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory shared his thoughts on seeing this project become a reality. “Another great day at the Etown Sports Park. You know, we announced this collaboration with Ripken Experience last summer, which was our ten year anniversary at the sports park. So we’re really proud of what we’ve done out here and the success that we’ve had out here. But you never rest on your laurels. And you always look for ways to improve. We’re really excited to partner with Ripken Experience. And we think this is just going to be another improvement for not only our sports park, but our community, and continue to grow and get better.”
The tournament continued through the weekend with 30 teams, 54 games and more than 1500 visitors to the city. Twenty additional baseball tournaments will be held at the complex through the fall, welcoming in over 1000 teams this year.
Today is the last day to register to vote in the upcoming primary elections. “We want to make sure everybody is eligible to vote. Voter registration closes at 4:00 PM. We encourage everybody to go to GoVoteKY.com to check your registration. If you’re not registered, you can register right there,” stated Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. For more information, you can also visit the Hardin County Clerk’s Office website at HTTPS://HCCOKY.org.
“The Lawn Party” concert series will kick off this Friday at the grand re-opening of the newly renovated bandstand at Freeman Lake Park. Mayor Jeff Gregory will cut the ribbon to officially kick off the event. Seating will be festival style so those attending will need to bring a chair or blanket but no outside food and drink will be permitted as each concert will feature on-site food and beverage sales.. All ages are welcome to attend. Parking will start at 5pm and the stage act will begin at 6pm. To see future dates and artists participating in the series, go to https://EtownEvents.com
It is opening day at the Elizabethtown Sports Park as they celebrate the start of the inaugural season of the The Ripken Experience tournament season. “It is a very exciting weekend for those of us at the Elizabethtown Sports Park because it is the kickoff to a whole series of The Ripken Experience baseball tournaments. That will happen starting this weekend running all the way through October,” said spokesperson Janna Clark. The opening night festivities include a game featuring hometown 12-under talent. “The opening night is a very exciting event for us where we will feature a ceremonial first pitch and a ribbon cutting. It is go time and time to kick this really exciting season off. The featured game will be the hometown team E-Town Shock playing against the Motor City Hit Dogs coming here from Michigan. We would love for people locally to come out and catch a game of The Ripken Experience baseball.” More information can be found at EtownSports.com
The Cabinet of Health and Family Services is partnering with The Foundation For A Healthy Kentucky to encourage Kentuckians to improve immunity and overall health with a new campaign called “Raise Your Guard, Kentucky.” Data shows that chronic conditions have increased since the start of the pandemic. The campaign encourages people to take several steps such as eating well, moving more and keeping up with annual check-ups, screenings and immunizations. According to a statement about the campaign, Kentucky Commissioner For The Department For Public Health Dr. Steven Stack states that small healthy choices add up to a big positive impact. The campaign includes a video series featuring Kentuckians sharing why and how they stay healthy. Resources are available in several languages and can be found at RaiseYourGuardKY.org
The Elizabethtown Police Department is preparing for the annual Coffee With A Cop event. “On April 27 from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM, CarLay Coffee along with several of our officers will be at Freeman Lake Park. This is a very informal opportunity for citizens to stop by for a free cup of coffee and good conversation with our staff,” shared Elizabethtown Police Officer Chris Denham. For more information follow the Elizabethtown Police Department Facebook page.
Kentucky State Police will be raising funds for Special Olympics Kentucky in Elizabethtown today. “Kentucky State Police Post 4 will be having its annual Cover The Cruiser event from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Five Star located at 501 Ring Road,” shared Trooper Scotty Sharpe. A minimum $1 donation gets you a Law Enforcement Torch Run icon that you can personalize and tape onto the cruiser. The Cover The Cruiser event was initiated in 2020 when The Torch Run was canceled due to the pandemic. The Torch Run escorts the Special Olympics Flame Of Hope to kick off the State Summer Games in Richmond each June.
The Hardin County Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting was held Wednesday. The keynote speaker was Jeff Noel, Kentucky’s Secretary of Economic Development. Noel praised not only government and local leaders for their hard work to secure the Blue Oval SK project but the community for their efforts to make the company feel welcome to the community before the decision was made. “The world is looking at us. The world is talking about Elizabethtown. Hardin County. Kentucky. You know, economic development is one of the most ill defined, misunderstood professions that exist. But I can boil it down in a very simple way. And that is tell people what you are gonna do, get it done, live up to all of your obligations and do it on time. Companies hate uncertainty and data, knowledge, understanding and information is that you remove uncertainty in the corporate boardroom,” stated Secretary Noel. Secretary Noel also feels that economic development is not done solely through business deals. “I’m a big believer that economic development is not about cutting the ribbons. It’s not about announcing the jobs. It’s really about understanding that this is about helping people. It all begins with making sure that individuals have access to their fulfilled dreams, to have that opportunity and they have a good job.” Secretary Noel also stated that by securing the Blue Oval SK project, Hardin County helped attract other automotive industry projects to the state by setting an example of what Kentuckians have to offer to companies.
The Cecilian Bank is warning customers about a scam that they have been made aware of. According to the bank, scammers are spoofing the name and phone number on Caller ID to appear as a legitimate call or text. The scammers will attempt to convince the customer to provide their online banking credentials or multi-factor authentication code. If they get that information, they will then tell you to not log into your account for a specific amount of time. Never give your credentials or codes to anyone who calls. If you have concerns, hang up and call the bank directly yourself or visit your local branch.
On Wednesday, bridge work will require KY-313 to be reduced to one lane over Otter Creek between Ditto Lane and Fort Avenue in Meade County.“ Our contract company will be working on slabs of the bridge deck, jacking those, providing a smoother transition from asphalt roadway to the bridge and the slabs on the bridge.” shared spokesperson Chris Jessie. Work will take place during the day and travel lanes will be reopened at night. The repaving should be completed within three days.
Hardin County Fiscal Court held their regularly scheduled meeting last night. Both Hardin County Water Districts provided their annual presentations including financial reports, upcoming projects, community involvement and accolades. Hardin County Water District #2 also shared the impact of the BlueOval SK project on their capacities and demands for the next fifteen to twenty years. “So when we look at projected demand over the next twenty years, you know, without the project in Glendale, our projections show that we would be good through 2024. However, when you add the BlueOval SK project, and any growth that may occur from that, very quickly, the projected demand is above our current capacities. So that’s why we have a couple of projects in the pipeline here that we’re working on. One project will expand that capability of pumping from the Louisville connection, which allows us to take full advantage of the amount that they can provide to us from there now. But even with that in place we still fall short by 2029. So that’s why we signed the second contract with Louisville Water this past year,” stated Hardin County Water District #2 spokesperson Shaun Youravich. Even with the projects to expand pumping capability, the district has to make plans to address possible expansion again in the future to increase capacity through their Louisville connection. “We’ve actually looked beyond 2040 as well and have already had discussions with Louisville Water and have a plan in place for future growth as well. We’ll keep an eye on our projected demands and if we need to pull the trigger on that next phase sooner, that’s what we will do.” The next regularly scheduled meeting is scheduled for Tuesday April 25 at 5:30 PM.
The Radcliff Community Yard Sale is happening this Saturday. “Coming up on April 15 will be our city yard sale that we have in the City Hall parking lot. That’s on a first come, first serve basis. We open the gates at 7:30 AM. You come in and set up. We block all traffic and all cars out of the area by 9:00 AM and we’ll go till about 1:00 PM. People come in, shop and make some deals with your community neighbors,” said Radcliff Parks and Recreation Director Tim Jeffries. More information can be found on the City of Radcliff Facebook page.
A local father and the Elizabethtown Police Department are asking for the public’s help to locate a missing juvenile. “We’re seeking the public’s assistance in locating twelve year old Bailey Sheldon, who was last seen by her father on the evening of Friday, April 7. She left her residence on foot, and her destination is unknown,” said Elizabethtown Police Officer Chris Denham. A photo of Sheldon is available on the Elizabethtown Police Department Facebook page. Anyone with information is asked to contact law enforcement or the Hardin County Crimestoppers.
Public input is being sought as officials look at improvements along US 62 on the western side of Elizabethtown. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and local officials have established the Drive62.com website to receive feedback on aspects of the project for the corridor. “The Drive62 website is integrated with that survey. It’s kind of a unique setup to ask questions. So it tells you a few things, and then it asks you a question about that particular aspect of the project. It’s not just a straight form survey. It’s more of a ‘Here’s what’s going on. How do you feel about this? Here’s something else going on. How do you feel about that?’ We need all the input we can possibly get,“ said Transportation Cabinet Spokesperson Chris Jessie. Reminders about the website will be posted on Transportation Cabinet social media accounts. The survey question will be available through April 23.
A maintenance project along KY-1357 will require a multi-day closure. A large pipe under the roadway at the 4900 block of Saint John Road is scheduled to start on Tuesday morning and could last three days. “Traffic is always a major part of the puzzle when it comes to putting together a project and the plan for implementing one this week, obviously it’s spring break week. So it’s simply a lower volume of traffic factor and that’s good for everyone when it comes to having to close a road. It does benefit the school, certainly and school bus routes as well, but generally just because of lower volumes of traffic. That’s why it’s being scheduled this week,” said Transportation Cabinet spokesperson Chris Jessie. Detour signage will be posted to aid motorists around the closure. Unfavorable weather could affect the project schedule.
Elizabethtown Police K9 Units were on the campus of Elizabethtown High School last week. On Wednesday morning, Elizabethtown Independent High School was placed on a soft lockdown while the Elizabethtown Police Department’s K-9 Unit conducted a sweep of the premises and surrounding grounds for any illegal drug paraphernalia. “At the request of Elizabethtown Independent Schools, K9 Mina, a three year old Belgian Malinois, and K9 Lola, an eight year old Belgian Malinois, along with their handlers conducted a sweep of Etown high school. Both canines are nationally certified by the North American Police Work Dog Association for narcotic odor detection, ” stated Elizabethtown Police spokesperson Chris Denham. The drug sweep was a proactive measure. “It was maybe 2017 or 2018 the last time that the high school did this. Moving forward, we have talked about doing two a year. So one in the fall and one in the spring semester, because of just the epidemic that we see in our young people right now,” said Superintendent Kelli Bush. At no time were any students in the presence of either of the K-9 dogs.
The Radcliff Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting a special needs community fiesta tonight. “From 6:00 to 8:00 PM, we’re doing a fiesta party for our special needs in our community. We have these types of parties, and then during summer times due to a pool party to some smaller scale so that they can come out and be themselves. We’ll have pizza, chips, drinks and music. Come out and have a good time. Dance, listen to music, whatever you wanna do,” says Radcliff Parks and Recreation Director Tim Jeffries. For more information, check out the City of Radcliff Government Facebook page or contact the Parks and Recreation Department.
The Annual Elizabethtown Lions Club Pancake Breakfast is tomorrow morning.”This Saturday will be our annual pancake breakfast, it’s one of our larger fundraisers. We hope you can join us from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Elizabethtown High School. We will have pancakes, scrambled eggs and sausage. You can get a ticket by seeing a Lion Member, go to our Facebook page or simply just be at the door Saturday morning and we would be glad to have you,” says event spokesperson Mary Morrison. The Lions Club will also be hosting a blood drive during the event. “We are also, with our pancakes, doing a blood drive with the Kentucky Blood Center. We’re excited to partner with them and donate back locally and hope that you can enjoy your pancakes and donate some blood,” shares blood drive chairperson Taylor Blimline. For more information or to get the link to register to donate blood, visit the Elizabethtown Lions Club Facebook page.
The Elizabethtown Police Department Citizen Police Academy starts next week but there is still time to sign up.“Our next Citizens Police Academy will begin on Thursday, March 30. This program gives citizens the opportunity to take an inside look at the day-to-day operations of our agency. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with several of our Officers and criminal justice partners as well as participate in a ride-along. Anyone who wishes to attend may visit our website to download an application,” Elizabethtown Police Spokesperson Chris Denham. A few spots are still available. Completed applications and questions can be directed to Denham by visiting the Elizabethtown Police Department Facebook page or website.
Multiple Law Enforcement agencies are warning citizens of scammers posing as local reputable banks or businesses. “Scammers are sending messages via email claiming that your accounts have been compromised and offering virus or malware services. They have enough information about your accounts to appear believable. These criminals will ask for access to your computer and remotely make changes to your accounts,” says Hardin County Sergeant Marvin Rhinehart. According to the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, they have opened two separate cases regarding the scams.
Additionally, the Radcliff Police Department reports that consumers will receive a call that appears to be a local bank’s phone number but the number on the caller ID has been spoofed by scammers. The scammer will represent themselves as a Fraud Detection Agent warning you of suspicious activity and guide customers to verify their identity by providing online banking credentials and passcodes used to log into your account. Customers will be told not to log into their account or contact the bank for 48 hours while the investigation is ongoing. Citizens are being reminded that if you receive a call like this, hang up and use a number known by you to contact your bank to verify suspicious activity.
The Central Kentucky Community Foundation announced several new scholarships for 2023. One of those is the Feleshia Denham Memorial Scholarship established by her family. “We are honored today to be part of a collective community effort that’s helping to fund a scholarship in memory of Felishia Denham who was the beloved wife of Chris and mother of Emily – a huge part of our community. And as part of that tribute, we’re going to be able to honor her life forever with a scholarship that it’ll award to students who represent the things that were important to her and her family,” stated CKCF President Davette Swiney.
Emily Denham, Felishia’s daughter, said it was nice to know that students will be able to have opportunities to carry on her mother’s tradition of excellence. Chris Denham was thankful for the donations that will allow his late wife to continue to contribute to the community in a positive light.“I’m just so humbled by the people of this community. I began working with Davette Swiney at the Central Kentucky Community Foundation to establish a scholarship to honor Felishia’s legacy. During that process I learned the Hardin County Bourbon Club in partnership with Give270 hosted a raffle that yielded $15,000 dollars. Between those generous donations, as well as a donation from Emily and I, we established an endowment to support the Felishia Denham Memorial Scholarship fund. The goal for me is to make sure that Felishia’s legacy continues along the same trajectory as she lived her life. That is supporting and helping others. I don’t ever want her or the person who she was to be forgotten.” Feleshia Denham died in a tragic accident at a Nelson County airport in August.
Scholarship Central, the Foundation’s platform, offers students a way to apply for more than 150 community scholarships with one application.
The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office has released their 2022 yearly activity report. There was a 20% increase in calls for service compared to 2021 with over 7,800 calls. Deputies also opened over 230 criminal cases, made over 750 arrests and attempted to serve over 3,000 court papers. Over 1100 citations were written and 30 drunk drivers were removed from roadways. The Grayson County detective that works alongside the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force provided crucial intel used to make arrests and obtain search warrants. Hundreds of criminal cases and over 100 drug dealer arrests resulted in the removal of illegal substances and firearms from the streets. In 2023, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office says it will continue to conduct traffic safety points and provide a high level of professional service to Grayson County citizens.
The Elizabethtown Police Department arrested a suspect in multiple home burglaries. “Shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday evening, we responded to a report of a burglary that had just occurred at a residence on McCullum Avenue. The suspect fled the residence prior to our arrival and despite our best efforts we were unable to locate him. On Wednesday afternoon, we received a suspicious complaint at a residence on Baker Lane. When we arrived we located 35 year old Christopher Cunningham who was found to have multiple arrest warrants. Additionally, Cunningham admitted to having been the suspect in the McCallum Avenue burglary. He was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center for multiple offenses including Burglary in the First Degree,” stated Spokesperson Chris Denham. No further information is available at this time.
Leitchfield will be the site of a new $3 million manufacturing facility. On Wednesday, Governor Andy Beshear announced that Water Solutions Unlimited will construct a new facility to increase the capacity to blend and manufacture chemicals used to combat dirty water and corrosion. The company also sells other chemicals to improve water quality. The facility will create eight in-person, full time jobs and four remote positions.
A federal lawsuit has been filed against LaRue County Detention Center staff after the 2022 death of a man in custody. According to court documents, Dalton Ray Milby was originally arrested on October 18, 2021 for Menacing. On October 19, he pled guilty and received probation and was ordered to enroll in an inpatient long term facility to be monitored. In December 2021, Milby was arrested for violating his probation. Milby died while at the LaRue County Detention Center on February 12, 2022. According to the lawsuit, Milby’s family claims employees of the LaRue County Detention Center did not properly supervise Milby who had informed staff he had recently attempted to commit suicide. The suit also alleges he made statements that demonstrated he was in psychological distress. The lawsuit claims that policies and procedures in place at the detention center along with federal and state regulations to prevent inmates from harming themselves were ignored, leading to Milby’s death. The lawsuit also alleges that Milby was assaulted and taunted and that staff missed opportunities to save his life. No further information is available at this time.
The Department of Revenue will begin processing 2022 state tax returns on February 6. The electronic individual tax returns usually process in four to six weeks. Individuals who have an annual income of less than $60,000 or any Kentucky state government employee, regardless of income, qualify for no-cost Kentucky electronic tax return preparation through the Free File Alliance. Those who want to use the service can contact the regional taxpayer service center nearest them. To get more information, you can go to revenue.ky.gov. The deadline for taxpayers to file their 2022 returns is Tuesday, April 18 due to a holiday in the District of Columbia.
The Muldraugh Police Department is asking for help to identify a vehicle used in a theft Friday evening. According to a statement, an older model Dodge pickup truck, possibly green in color with a different color hood, entered the E-Z Mini Storage facility around 5:21 P.M. A middle aged man with a bald head and some hair around the sides and a young female were in the vehicle. The vehicle entered the facility traveling southbound on 31W and exited traveling northbound towards West Point. A picture of the vehicle and the man can be found on the City Of Muldraugh Facebook page. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Muldraugh Police or Meade County Dispatch.
The Leitchfield Police Department is investigating a convenience store break-in from early Monday morning. “As of right now, we know that around a little after 2:00 A.M. January 30th, two unknown persons forced entry inside a gas station off Brandenburg Road, here in Leitchfield, also known as Center Court. They used a blunt object and busted out the window, made entry inside the gas station and damaged a slot machine to remove the money out. They left on foot. The two perpetrators were masked with hoodies. We do have video of it but we’re trying to gather information on their whereabouts,” stated Leitchfield Police Sergeant Keith Harell. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact law enforcement.
The Meade County Sheriff’s Office responded to a motor vehicle collision on Highway 60 early Monday morning. The collision involved a car and a tractor trailer at the intersection of Highway 60 and Hill Grove Road/Shumate Road. The driver of the car was pronounced dead by the coroner and a passenger was transported to University of Louisville Hospital. The roadway was shut down for about four hours while Deputies and the Kentucky State Police recreated the collision. Meade County Deputies and Kentucky State Police were assisted by the State Highway Department, Meade County EMS, Flaherty Fire Department, Muldraugh Fire Department and the Meade County Coroner’s Office.
Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall hosted the annual Community Breakfast Saturday morning. Citizens lined up inside the Colvin Center and were greeted by elected officials from the city, county and state along with the Fort Knox Garrison Command Team. Local businesses and organizations offered many food and drink options. There was barely an open chair as everyone enjoyed their meals and awaited the door prize drawings. It was an event enjoyed by all in attendance, many who have attended since it began. To learn more about upcoming events in Radcliff, visit Radcliff.org
The U.S. Department of Treasury has approved Kentucky’s plan to invest more than $182 million to provide affordable broadband internet service at speeds of 100 Mbps to areas that currently have no internet service. According to a statement, the program aims to reach rural areas of the state that are hardest to serve. Areas that currently lack access to the internet at speeds of 25 Mbps will be next on the list. The funds are estimated to serve approximately 16 percent of locations still lacking high-speed internet access. Internet service providers funded by the program will participate in the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program which provides a $30 monthly subsidy for low-income families. For more information contact the Kentucky Office of Broadband Deployment.
Winter weather could impact the area tonight into tomorrow. A winter weather advisory has been posted for the region starting at 7pm tonight until 1pm tomorrow. According to the National Weather Service Office in Louisville, mixed precipitation is expected with expected snow and sleet accumulations of up to a half inch and possible ice accumulations of a tenth of an inch or less. Slippery road conditions Including Black Ice Could Impact The Commute Tuesday morning so motorists are encouraged to allow extra time to travel starting tonight into the morning hours. To check Kentucky road conditions before heading out visit GoKY.Ky.Gov.
Kentucky State Police continue to search for an escaped Hart County inmate. Abdullah O. Qasem was assigned to a work release program at the Hart County Animal Shelter when he walked away just before 8:00 am Saturday morning. Qasem is described as a 29-year-old white male, about 6’2” and weighing about 250 lbs. Qasem was last seen wearing a green animal shelter hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans. More information, including a photo of Qasem, can be found on Trooper Priddy’s Facebook page.
Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall will be hosting the 12th Annual Mayor’s Community Breakfast tomorrow. The community is invited to come to the Colvin Center starting at 9am to grab breakfast and meet with various elected officials. The entire breakfast is supported by local businesses, organization and community leaders. For more information visit the City of Radcliff Government Facebook page.
The Hardin County Public Library asks patrons to consider donating items to their “Warming Tree”. Donations of new or handmade scarves, hats, socks and mittens or gloves will help those who may be in need. The tree is part of the Library Lovers Month program for February at the library.
The Bardstown Police Department Narcotics Unit recently confiscated a large quantity of grow lamps that were intended for illegal purposes. Instead, on Wednesday, those lamps were forfeited to Nelson County High School to be used in the school’s horticulture education greenhouse. The Bardstown Police Department said they were happy that they could turn something that could have negatively impacted the community into something beneficial for students and the residents.
The Grayson County Sheriff has teamed up with John O Liquors for a fundraiser benefiting the Behind The Badge program. The fundraiser has drawn some negative comments and when we spoke to Sheriff Chaffins, he addressed those concerns. “I knew that it might rub some people the wrong way by placing my face, the Sheriff, on the back of a bourbon bottle. The one thing that doesn’t change, is the fact that we will always aggressively pursue our DUIs, we will always aggressively pursue those that break the law, especially when it’s alcohol-related. that’s never going to change. We don’t, I don’t condone underage drinking, certainly not. We don’t condone drinking and driving. We don’t condone alcohol abuse. We do condone someone who is over the age of 21 who drinks responsibly,” stated Sheriff Norman Chaffins.
Half of the money from the sales of the limited edition bottle of bourbon featuring the Sheriff on the label goes back to the Behind The Badge program that supports Grayson County children and families in need throughout the year. Only 204 bottles were produced and are available for purchase at the Leitchfield location only.
A Lincoln Trail Elementary School Teacher has earned the 2023 Hardin County Schools ExCel Award presented by LG&E KU. Susan Duvall is a third-grade teacher and has been at Lincoln Trail Elementary for 17 years. “We are certainly grateful that Mrs Duvall is part of the HCS family and congratulate her on earning the ExCEL award. She holds her students certainly to high expectations and her work is representative of the selfless dedication that takes place across our District each day. The ExCEL award just goes to one teacher. However it embodies the spirit of dedication, hard work and enthusiasm in our District as well as celebrates our District’s achievements,” said District Spokesperson John Wright. Duvall learned about her award on Wednesday and is the fourth Lincoln Trail Elementary teacher in the history of the award to earn it. She will be presented the award and a check for $1000 during a celebration at the school on February 22nd.
The movie “Wildcat” has been filming in the local area over the last few days. The Sherwood Inn in New Haven, Kentucky posted on social media that they would be closed for filming of the movie on Wednesday and Thursday. Actor Ethan Hawke is directing and producing the movie. Filming of the movie will move to Frankfort next week where they are seeking older style cars to feature in the film.
State Representative Nancy Tate will be hosting a Legislative Town Hall meeting in Radcliff this evening. Nancy Tate said, “What we’d like to do is discuss with you our economic development opportunities that we have available in our region and the infrastructure issues that we know that will be resulting from that wonderful opportunity that we have available to us. We also want to talk about the quality of our schools and the education that our children are receiving and get some of the feedback from you regarding what your concerns are with the opportunities that we are striving to make available to you. You know, we want to continue to make the Commonwealth a great place to live and to work and to raise your family.” Tate, who represents the 27th District which includes Radcliff and Meade County, along with State Senator Matt Deneen will be at the Colvin Center tonight starting at 5pm.
As previously reported, Hardin County Judge Executive Keith Taul has made some changes to the Fiscal Court meetings. Taul moved the start time of the meetings from 3:30PM to 5:30PM to encourage citizens to become active in local government by holding the meeting after work hours. Taul also added time to the agenda to allow for citizen comments and concerns as related to items on the agenda. On Tuesday night, a citizen brought a concern before Taul and the Magistrates. But what happens with these concerns and comments once they are made at the meeting? We reached out to Taul’s office for clarification. According to Deputy Judge Executive Vicki Meridith, Judge Taul will have the discretion to determine if an item is considered actionable and what the best course of action would be. Citizens can expect to be contacted once action is taken with additional information. Fiscal Court meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.
Following the Denny’s sign tragedy that occurred one week ago, questions have been asked about maintenance and inspections to signs like it. Speaking to SignMakers of Hardin County, Eugene Lewis said routine maintenance and inspections after installation is a service that can be provided but the business would need to request that. In Hardin County, there are no regulations requiring the inspections of these signs once they are installed. “There is no municipal mandate requiring signs to be inspected. It is the responsibility of the entity exercising authority over the property to perform routine inspections and necessary maintenance,” stated Elizabethtown Spokesperson Chris Denham. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
All Kentucky State Police will be equipped with body cameras by the end of 2023. Last week, the Kentucky State Police demonstrated the new system which includes a body worn camera, audio recording device and high-definition in-car video cameras. The in-car cameras will record a forward dash view and the rear passenger compartment of the patrol vehicle. KSP plans to have the systems in all cruisers by the end of 2023, beginning with newly issued cruisers first and the Troopers assigned to those will receive their body camera at that time.
Magnolia Bank will announce today plans to close its banking center in Magnolia. According to a statement from Magnolia Bank, the center located at 4910 L&N Turnpike, will begin a phased closing starting on February 1st with new, reduced hours. Bank Board Chair Eric Garrett said closing the location was not a decision made lightly but a decline in walk-in transactions, staffing challenges and increased use of online and mobile banking options were top factors in the decision. Once the banking center closes, those employees will have the opportunity to continue working at a different location.
A former Hardin County Board of Education member passed away on Sunday. According to a statement from Hardin County Schools Superintendent Teresa Morgan, Mike Kinney, age 75, represented Division 2 on the Board from 2011 until 2018. Kinney was also a social studies teacher at the former East Hardin High School and Central Hardin High School for 27 years. Kinney was passionate about students and committed to ensuring staff were respected and held in high regard. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
The City of Elizabethtown Planning and Development Commission reviewed the proposed commercial design for a second Chick-Fil-A last night. The proposal was accepted and approved with a 3-0 vote. The new restaurant will be built on Executive Drive where Ryan’s Steakhouse formerly stood and should be open in 2024. No date for the start of construction was discussed.
The Elizabethtown Police Department has released a statement concerning a threat to a Hardin County School for today. “At around 3:50 Tuesday afternoon, we were contacted by Hardin County control in reference to a threatening complaint. The initial report indicated a seventh grade student at Bluegrass Middle School shared plans with fellow classmates indicating the suspect planned to bring a gun to campus this morning and shoot other students. Our officers interviewed multiple witnesses who substantiated the complaint. Within an hour and a half of us receiving the initial complaint, the suspect was identified and taken into custody for Terroristic Threatening 2nd degree. Regardless of the suspect’s age, this type of behavior is criminal and will not be tolerated,“ stated Public Affairs Officer Chris Denham. No additional information is available at this time.
COVID-19 numbers in Kentucky and nationwide are rising while flu and RSV decline. During his recent Team Kentucky update, Governor Beshear announced that most Kentucky counties are at a moderate to high community level. Currently Hardin, Meade, Breckinridge, LaRue and Grayson counties are rated at low community levels. Influenza in Kentucky is declining but remains at elevated levels. The most recent numbers provided by Lincoln Trail District Health Department for the week ending January 14th shows 9 new cases in Hardin County with just over 250 total cases in the county. Nelson and Meade also reported a lab confirmed cases of flu in the same week.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for a work session last night. Several department heads provided updates on projects. One project that is causing some excitement is the addition of 8 to 10 pickleball courts. “The city is really excited about several projects we have going on. Specifically in our Parks and Rec Department, we have the pickleball courts. We’ve had a lot of people reach out to us about those and came and did a presentation. So, we’re glad the Council approved those and we’re hoping to have those start construction in the spring at the American Legion,” said Spokesperson Amy Inman.
The City Council also heard from the new Executive Director for CASA of the Heartland, Michelle Kail. She provided an update on the work CASA accomplished last year. “So, we were able to serve 126 children in Hardin County with 52 volunteers, which totals to about 525 home visits and 1,250 hours of advocacy for children in our community.”
The next meeting of the Elizabethtown City Council will be on February 6.
The City of Elizabethtown Planning and Development Commission will be reviewing the Commercial Design plan for a proposed second Chick-Fil-A coming to town this evening. After the presentation of the design, a vote will be taken. The proposed location of the new Chick-Fil-A restaurant is at the former Ryan’s Steakhouse on Executive Drive and is expected to open in 2024, if approved.
A second person injured after the Denny’s sign fell last week in Elizabethtown has died. According to the family, Lloyd Eugene Curtis, Sr passed away at his home early Monday morning. His wife, Lillian Mae Curtis, passed away last week after succumbing to injuries she sustained when the Denny’s sign fell onto their car Thursday. Mr. Curtis had recently been released from the hospital and placed in hospice care after having open heart surgery days before the sign fell on their vehicle. No funeral arrangements have been announced at this time.
The Warm Blessings Community Kitchen will be closed through January 28th for Day Shelter and Community Services due to several employees, volunteers and guests having COVID-19. No shelter space, no showers or laundry or Blessing Bags will be given out this week. However, evening meal service and senior meal delivery will continue as normal. Room At The Inn will also be closed for the next several days. According to Room In The Inn, the guests who have COVID-19 have been placed in hotels for isolation. If anyone would like to help off-set the costs of the hotel expenses, donations are being accepted. For more information, please visit the Facebook pages for Warm Blessings and Room In The Inn.
The LaRue County Sheriff’s Office responded to a possible burglary in progress early Sunday morning. According to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to a residence on Tanner Road where it was determined two males arrived and began beating on the door asking those inside to open up. When a male resident opened the door, he was punched in the face by Thomas Heath, age 44 of Hodgenville. The second male, James Hargis, age 38 of Somerset, also entered the house, assaulted the male resident and also assaulted a female inside the residence. Heath was also found to have a gun on him during the crime. The investigation is ongoing.
Hardin County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney has been appointed by the State Attorney General as the Special Prosecutor to work on three unsolved, high-profile Nelson County cases. Late Friday afternoon, WQXE obtained a copy of a letter dated January 4th from the office of Attorney General Daniel Cameron appointing the Honorable Shane Young as the Special Prosecutor effective that date. The letter states “this appointment shall be for the purpose of assisting this Office in the prosecution, if any, of potential criminal charges related to the deaths of Jason Ellis, Crystal Rogers and Tommy Ballard … or of any other criminal activity discovered as part of the investigations into those matters.” On Friday evening WQXE reached out for comment from Shane Young. His response was “I am not making any statements.” Young will now work in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office and the United State Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky and those offices have the capability of filing charges at state and federal levels if needed.
The Radcliff Fire Department is sharing information about RV and camper inspections. “We assist the Manufactured Housing Division with doing the inspections for what we call a B1 seal inspection. These are required for any camper or RV that comes in from out of state. It could be a brand new one that was just purchased at a dealership out of state or it could be one that is maybe bought from a private individual or even if you are moving in from another state and need to transfer that title.” says Radcliff Fire Marshall Tommy Crane. The inspection is a visual inspection to check for structural integrity. A fire extinguisher, working carbon monoxide detector and working smoke alarm are required. The Radcliff Fire Department does require an appointment to do these inspections to ensure that an inspector is on site.
Governor Andy Beshear and the Kentucky State Police are recognizing January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month. According to a statement from the Governor’s office, the nation is recognizing January as a time to educate citizens about the signs to help prevent this crime from happening. Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced that his Office of Trafficking and Abuse Prevention and Prosecution launched a new initiative to help combat human trafficking in Kentucky. The H.O.P.E Initiative will aid in mobilizing communities and landlords to identify and shut down businesses that may be enabling human trafficking. To learn more about the H.O.P.E Initiative and the signs of human trafficking, visit YourEyesSaveLives.KY.gov.
One of the co-owners of Lee’s Famous Chicken in Radcliff has provided an update. According to Kim Dennis, Lee’s Famous Chicken will reopen today at 10:00 AM. On Monday evening the restaurant experienced an electrical fire on the exterior of the building and has been closed since that time. Dennis says the support of the community has been greatly appreciated.
A tanker truck overturned in Nelson County early this morning. According to the Bardstown Fire Department, they were dispatched to the off ramp of Highway 150 to the Bluegrass Parkway to a tanker truck that lost half of its load of distillery slop. Crews were setting up damming to help slow the product from entering local creeks. The Environmental Protection Agency has been contacted per state regulations. The road is not closed but traffic could be impacted while the cleanup continues.
State Senator Matt Deneen will be hosting a legislative town hall in Hardin County. “Representative Nancy Tate and Representative Russell Webber will join myself to just maybe have some conversations with the folks about what’s going on in Frankfort and maybe hopefully answer any questions they may have and maybe take back some good ideas when we return in February.” The legislative town hall will be at the Colvin Center in Radcliff on January 26th starting at 5pm.
The Elizabethtown Police Department has provided an update on an incident that occurred at Denny’s yesterday. A statement from EPD Public Affairs Officer Chris Denham released Thursday evening reads “At around 1:30 this afternoon we along with the Elizabethtown Fire Department and Hardin County EMS were called to Denny’s located at 2008 North Mulberry St. in reference to a report that alleged the business’s sign had fallen and landed on an occupied passenger car.
Upon arrival at the scene, Elizabethtown Fire and Hardin County EMS personnel extracted two adult females and one adult male from the vehicle. One of the female occupants was transported from the scene by Hardin County EMS to the University of Louisville Hospital in critical condition. The other adult female and the adult male were transported from the scene to Baptist Health Hardin by Hardin County EMS.
Sadly, the female who was transported to University Hospital succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased by the medical staff.” The investigation is ongoing.
The Central Kentucky Community Foundation wants to invite people to utilize their online portal to apply for scholarships. The non-profit hosts a one stop shop where students can apply for more than 150 scholarships with just one application. The deadline to apply is March 1st. There will be a Scholarship Central Workshop tonight from 6 to 8 Pm at the Home Of Philanthropy’s Community Hall in Elizabethtown. For more information go to https://CKCF4People.org.
Kentucky State Police announced the 2023 Trooper Island Fundraiser Vehicle. “A 2023 GMC Sierra Denali pickup truck. It’s white in color, a gorgeous truck, one of the top-of-the-line models that GMC makes. It’s around a $68,000 vehicle. All the proceeds go to Trooper Island which is our under-privileged camp for 10 to 12 year old young Kentuckians. For one week, they have an opportunity to hang out with law enforcement and just have a big time. It’s great for the Troopers, it’s great for the kids and it wouldn’t be possible without this fundraiser,” said Master Trooper Jonathan Biven. Tickets will be sold until August 27th. Tickets are $10 and are available at any KSP Post or online at https://trooper-island-inc.square.site/.
The Hodgenville Police Department has an update on a recent incident posted on social media. You may have seen a post being shared about a man going around knocking on doors in Larue County asking for seemingly odd items. Wednesday afternoon HPD updated that the suspects had been identified. Both subjects explained it was a prank that got out of hand and they apologized. Since no criminal activity occurred HPD considers the issue resolved.
The Elizabethtown Police Department is reminding citizens that it is important to secure your car wherever you are. “Over the last few days, citizens in surrounding areas have been victimized by thieves targeting unlocked cars. By simply locking your car doors, you drastically reduce the odds of being victimized. Additionally, and perhaps even more importantly, please remove all valuables, especially firearms and car keys, from any unattended vehicle. As always, we would ask anyone that observes any circumstances that leads them to believe that crime is imminent to please contact the police immediately. Our non-emergency line is (270) 765-4125 or for any emergency as always, you can dial 911.” says Elizabethtown Police Public Affairs Officer Chris Denham. Door locks remain an effective first line of defense preventing theft from and theft of cars.
Hardin County Water District 2 is warning consumers to not use a third party website for payments. According to the water district, if you search for Hardin County Water District 2 to make your payment you might see a link for doxo.com. This website is not affiliated with the water district and payments made there cannot be guaranteed to be received on time. To make your payments online go directly to https://hcwd2.org and click the Pay My Bill link.
The United Way of Central Kentucky is hosting a blood drive event for The American Red Cross tomorrow. “On Thursday, January 19th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., we are hosting a blood drive through the Red Cross and it will be at our office at 604 North Main Street. Please sign up through the Red Cross website or through our website at https://unitedwayck.org,” said Spokesperson Andrea Hill. Those interested in donating must register in advance.
The Elizabethtown City Council voted to amend the alcohol policy for Pritchard Community Center last night. “This opens the potential and possibilities for alcohol other than just private rentals. Private rentals right now is something like a wedding or reception or anything like that. But if there’s any other events that were open to the public yet, ticketed, we would have the potential to have those events with alcohol down at Pritchard., said Elizabethtown Director Of Parks And Recreation Seth Breitner. The order was approved by the City Council. These changes are specific to Pritchard Community Center and does not change policies at any of the other parks.
The Radcliff Fire Department responded to a restaurant fire on Monday night. “We got called to Lee’s Famous Recipe, 178 South Dixie Boulevard here in Radcliff. Crews from both stations responded. The fire looks to be electrical in nature. However, it’s still under investigation because it was a large electrical junction box there that was on fire. However, everything was on the outside of the building. Nothing breached the inside walls so everything was exterior.” said Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshall Tommy Crane. No new information was available as to when the restaurant would reopen.
A portion of land is being considered for a new subdivision in Radcliff. Nearly 100 acres at the intersection of Joe Prather Highway and Patriot Parkway went before the Planning Commision and was presented to the city council earlier this month.
“They heard all these cases that are before you. Four zone map amendments, a site plan and also a preliminary plat and they’re all tied to the same development that was submitted by North Haven. LLC.” said Spokesperson Murray Warner.
The Council heard the first reading last night. The development could include apartment buildings, single family residences and commercial property. The next reading will take place next month on February 21st at 6:30 PM..
The City of Elizabethtown is holding several Christmas related events. This Saturday is the annual Christmas Parade, the route starts at St. John Road and…
A man wanted for multiple felonies in Meade County, Breckinridge County, and Harrison County Indiana was arrested yesterday. Randall Greenwell Jr was on the run…
The City of Elizabethtown has approved the sale of a property on College Street. The property is located at 226 College Street, it was sold…
The city approved the acquisition of a property on Seminole Drive. The property is located at 302 Seminole Drive, in the Indian Hills area of…
Two local students have been named semifinalists in a national scholar’s program. Community Relations Specialist for The Hardin County School System, John Wright stated, “Central…
The Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced that 12 randomly selected counties in Kentucky will undergo a post-election audit. It includes one local county: Larue…
Kentucky State Police Post Four is holding a donation event this week. They are holding a Cram the Cruiser event with nonperishable food items to…
The City of Elizabethtown is collecting letters to send to Santa. The form to participate can be printed from the City of Elizabethtown’s website. Once…
A local nonprofit is hosting a donation event this weekend. Give270, will be holding a fast relief day this coming Sunday. Fast relief day is…
A former Kentucky Governor passed away last week. John Y. Brown Junior passed away last Monday at the age of 88. Brown was the 55th…
Room in the Inn Hardin County has opened a location in Radcliff. The location is 1633 North Logsdon Parkway and will require transporting guests from…
The Elizabethtown Lions Club has joined a statewide coat drive. Previous President Brian Dennis stated, “ the Elizabethtown Lions Club was contacted by our state…
Larue County and Bullitt County Schools will be closed today. The closing is a result of low attendance due to illness. The school will be…
David Allen of Allen’s Heating and Cooling passed away last Thursday. Allen was 69 and at home at the time of his passing. He was…
A longtime local educator and volleyball coach passed away on Friday. Miss Rita Highbaugh was a teacher and longtime head volleyball coach of Central Hardin…
Here’s an update on the fatal collision that took place in Elizabethtown Tuesday night. Public information officer for the Elizabethtown Police Department, Chris Denham stated,…
A local family recently made a large donation to a scholarship fund. Jeff and Mary Key donated 100,000 dollars to the Jeff and Mary Keys…
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is looking for input on the KY 210 improvement project between Hodgenville and Campbellsville. There will be a public information meeting…
A fatal collision took place in Elizabethtown last night. Public Information Officer for the Elizabethtown Police Department John Thomas stated, “November 15th, shortly before 11:00…
A fatal car accident occurred in Hardin County over the weekend. Yesterday evening around 436 pm the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call…
A vehicle pursuit took place in Larue County this weekend. On Saturday, a vehicle that was being pursued by the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office entered…
A special ceremony is being held this weekend to honor the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. The ceremony, a memorial building illumination, is taking place…
A sex offender was arrested in Grayson County over the weekend. The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office received information on a non-compliant sex offender late Saturday…
City Council approved plans for a community orchard in Elizabethtown. Last night, at the Elizabethtown City Council meeting, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a…
A man was struck and killed over the weekend. The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office received a call, in relation to a man acting erratic in…
Congratulations to Elizabethtown High School Girls’ Soccer Coach Rob Zoeller, who was recently named coach of the year for small public Schools in the state…
A fire occurred at an Elizabethtown hotel this morning. Spokesperson for the City of Elizabethtown, Amy Inman stated, “The Elizabethtown Fire Department responded to a…
The person who was killed in the car accident on Monday night has been identified. Public Information Officer for the Elizabethtown Police Department, Chris Denham…
A construction career field is being held today in Elizabethtown. Barton Malow and Gray Construction is hosting the fair. Attendees will have the opportunity to…
The Hodgenville Police Department will be holding active shooter training next week. Chief of the Hodgenville Police Department, James Richardson stated,”We are running that active…
A fatal collision occurred in Elizabethtown last night. Public Information Officer for the Elizabethtown Police Department, Chris Denham stated, “At around 8:30 Monday evening we…
Hosparus of Central Kentucky is holding a remembrance service this week. The service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Elizabethtown on Sunday.…
Baptist Health Hardin has selected a new president. Robert Ramey has been selected and his first day of the job will be January 1st of…
The movie palace in Elizabethtown is closing for good. They will close their doors for the last time this Sunday November the sixth, according to…
A fatal collision took place last week in Meade County. Last Thursday, Kentucky State Police responded to a two-vehicle fatal collision on Kentucky 79 near…
The Lincoln Trail Elementary School Holiday Bazaar will be held soon. Family resource coordinator Jennifer Williams stated, “We are going to have lots of handmade…
The Boos and Brews Karaoke Halloween party will be held tonight on Fort Knox. Fort Knox Garrison Commander, Colonel Lance O’Bryan stated, “Head over to…
Casa of the heartland is unveiling a mural next week. The mural will be unveiled next Thursday, November third, at the casa of the heartland…
The Sportsplex Spooktacular is this weekend. It will be held tomorrow from 2 to 5 pm at the Sportsplex in Elizabethtown. General Manager of the…
The Elizabethtown High School Volleyball Team is advancing to the State Tournament. Elizabethtown volleyball coach Bart Catlett stated, “I think we are trending upward and…
The Elizabethtown Police Foundation received a donation on Tuesday. Public Relations Officer for the Elizabethtown Police Department, Chris Denham stated, “Our police foundation received a…
The Elizabethtown Girls Soccer Team is headed to the State Championship. Yesterday the team beat West Jessamine four to one in the Final Four to…
An open house public meeting to look at future traffic demands and highway needs in southern Hardin County is coming up. It will be held…
The Elizabethtown Girls Soccer team is playing in the final four of the state tournament today. Coach Rob Zoller stated, “About four o’clock today, hopefully…
Two country music legends are playing in Elizabethtown next week. Darryl Worley and Andy Griggs are performing at the Historic State Theater Thursday November 3rd…
A fatal single vehicle car accident occurred in Grayson County on Sunday. Around 8pm Grayson County dispatch received a call of a single vehicle crash.…
Proceeds of the annual Eric and Joe Show will go to a Kentucky-Based nonprofit. The Eric and Joe Show is an annual holiday variety show…
A community orchard may be coming to Elizabethtown. Last night, at the Elizabethtown City Council Meeting, the idea of a community orchard at the nature…
Warm blessings community kitchen announced a new capital campaign project. Executive Director Dawn Cash stated, “We have plans to build a new headquarters, where we…
A semi oil tanker flipped over in Larue County yesterday. Larue County Sheriff Russell McCoy stated, “We received a call of a possible injury accident…
Hardin county emergency services department has a message about burning today. Chief of the emergency services Bryce Shumate stated, “There is an extreme danger of…
Bridge work began in Larue County over the weekend. The bridge work is taking place on Kentucky 222 on the bridge that crosses the Nolin…
Multiple trailers were stolen in Larue County over the weekend. According to the Larue County Sheriff’s Office, the description of the vehicle used in the…
A free overdose prevention and NARCAN training class is being offered today. The Lincoln Trail District Health Department in partnership with the Kentucky Department for…
The missing Breckinridge County minor was located over the weekend. Fifteen-year-old, Cadence Riggle was reported missing last Sunday the sixteenth from her grandparent’s residence. For…
The FBI concluded its search at a farm in Bardstown on Friday. The search came as a part of the larger investigation into the disappearance…
Central Hardin High School Drama Club is putting on a musical production of Wizard of Oz this weekend. Director Sarah Dakin stated, “We have public performances…
Grayson County has dubbed next week Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week serves as a reminder that everyday Americans make significant daily contributions because they…
The Elizabethtown Police Department is hosting a food drive. Public information officer Chris Denham stated, “In partnership with Central Valley Feed the Homeless, we are hosting…
The last day to request an absentee mail in ballot is coming up next week. Hardin county clerk Debbie Donnelly stated, “the mailed excused that you…
An Elizabethtown High School Student was hit by a car yesterday. The student was crossing US-62 when they were struck by the car, according to…
A Larue County man was arrested for murder yesterday. Thirty-six-year-old Joshua Woolford was arrested for the murder of his wife. In June of 2019, Kentucky…
A fatal crash occurred in Meade County on Monday. Kentucky State Police responded to a two-vehicle collision Monday evening. The preliminary investigation revealed that, a…
The Rider building was recently sold and is now being renovated. The building, located in downtown Elizabethtown, is being turned into an upscale residence, restaurant…
There was an officer involved shooting this past weekend in Nelson County. On Friday, the nelson county sheriff’s office was dispatched to a residence in…
The state’s first Narcan vending machine has come to the area. Chief of Police of the Vine Grove Police Department Kenneth Mattingly stated, “The machine is…
The sale of the old courthouse building in Downtown Elizabethtown has been approved. Weyland Ventures is purchasing the property for six hundred and ninety thousand…
A fatal motor vehicle accident in Elizabethtown occurred yesterday. Public Information Officer for the Elizabethtown Police Department Chris Denham stated, “shortly before 7am, Thursday morning,…
Ripken Baseball announced its 2023 tournament schedule at the Elizabethtown Sports Park. Between April 15 and Oct 22 of next year there will be 24…
Kentucky State Police are investigating a fatal vehicle collision that occurred in Larue County on Sunday evening. The collision took place near the 1900 block…
A Grayson County man is in critical condition after being shot. On Saturday evening, Grayson County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 6600 block of Grayson…
CSX has released a statement on a non-moving train that caused a blocked railroad crossing in downtown Elizabethtown over the weekend. On Sunday, a CSX…
The 58th annual Hardin County Fair kicks off tonight. Tonight’s main events include a free concert featuring Casey and Romy, and a sold out Farm…
Two suspects have been arrested in relation to a double homicide that took place in Bullitt County on the morning of May 30, 2022. Bullitt…
The Elizabethtown Police Department is investigating a fatal incident that occurred at Metalsa this morning. Officers arrived on the scene shortly after 3 a.m. Preliminary…
Kentucky State Police are investigating a fatal motorcycle collision that occurred early Sunday morning. Post 3 troopers were requested by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office…
Over the weekend. The JT’s Way held its first Gala event. This non-profit organization was started by Tonya Wigglesworth after her son, J.T., passed away…
A former Elizabethtown retail pharmacy is facing penalties as a result of improper controlled substance record allegations. Century Medicines of Elizabethtown has agreed to pay…
A suspect has been arrested in the homicide of a Radcliff resident. A juvenile has been arrested in the murder of Lana Jantz, whose body…
Last week, the Elizabethtown Police Department released a promotional recruiting video that encompasses the values and the mission of the department. The video features volunteers…
A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place tomorrow morning for the brand new handicap-accessible recycling dock in Hardin County. “This has been an ongoing project…
The Elizabethtown Police Department is actively investigating a robbery that occurred at the CVS in Elizabethtown this morning around 4:45 a.m. According to the EPD,…
Earlier this week, the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office encouraged residents to check recently purchased kerosene. Deputies have discovered that kerosene purchased from Three T Food…
The Bardstown Police Department is currently searching for a suspect in a shooting that occurred in Bardstown last night. Yesterday, officers responded to South 4th…
The Elizabethtown Police Department is actively investigating a theft that took place on Monday, March 21st, at an electrical substation located off of Woodland Drive.…
Hardin County has another prospect solar project in the works. Telesto Energy Project LLC is proposing a solar farm, consisting of a 110 megawatt solar…
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident involving a house fire that may have been started by kerosene that was actually gasoline. Mistaking…
A new last day of school for the 2021-22 school year has been approved for Hardin County Schools. In previous years, the law has stated…
The Kentucky State Police Electronic Crime Branch arrested 49-year-old Richard Metzroth as the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children Investigation. After a search…
At approximately 9 p.m. last night, Kentucky State Police were requested by the Lebanon Junction Police Department to investigate an officer-involved shooting in Bullitt County.…
Today, President Joe Biden announced a ban against imported Russian oil, gas and energy. During the briefing, he notes this is possible as the United…
Governor Andy Beshear has ordered flags at all state buildings to be lowered to half staff from sunrise to sunset today in honor of Kentucky…
Five separate armed robberies occurred in Elizabethtown on Friday, March 4th, 2022. All robberies took place between 7:45 and 8:30 p.m. as the victims were…
Central Hardin High School was under a brief lockdown this morning. A person made an unsubstantiated report of a weapon in the building. Central Hardin…
Hardin County Schools has learned of the passing of a Central Hardin High School student. Brad Mink was a sophomore, active in both the FFA…
A single car accident has left one dead. On Saturday night, the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office responded to an injury collision on Monks Road. The…
A stolen vehicle led multiple agencies on a car chase that ended in Bullitt County yesterday afternoon. According to Kentucky State Police Post 4, a…
On Friday afternoon, February 18th, Kentucky State Police Post 4 Detectives located the body of four-year-old Serenity McKinney, who was reported missing on February 2nd,…
On Friday, February 4th, the Judicial Nominating Commission announced nominees for the Hardin Family Court Judge. The judicial seat has been vacant since February 1st.…
On Sunday, February 13th, a male subject with a Hispanic accent represented himself as an employee with a Meade County Electric Company. While at the…
On Sunday night, February 13th, 2022, Bullitt County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a residence on Elmo Road on reports of a possible shooting. Upon arrival,…
On Saturday, February 12th 2022, at approximately 4:39 p.m. the Larue County E911 Center was contacted by the Larue County Detention Center in reference to…
This weekend, the North Hardin High School Choir will present their show, Beauty and the Beast. The show features freshman Anna Vaughan, who has been…
36-year-old Jose Montoya-Velasquez was arrested by Kentucky State Police as the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children Investigation, which began yesterday. Montoya-Velasquez is…
On Friday, February 4th, the Judicial Nominating Commission announced nominees for the Hardin Family Court Judge. The judicial seat has been vacant since February 1st.…
A traffic stop on I-65 led to the discovery of more than 100 pounds of marijuana. Early on Sunday morning, February 7th, Kentucky State Police…
Yesterday, Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory proclaimed February 7th, 2022 as Bobby Jack Murphy Day. Murphy has served the community through Crusade with Children, Saint Jude…
A Bardstown man has been arrested and charged with murder. On Friday evening, Bardstown Police officers were dispatched to a residence on Robin Drive for…
Beginning today, Baptist Health Hardin has announced the relocation of the Radiology reception waiting area. The previous Radiology entrance at the rear of the hospital…
On February 2nd, the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office arrested the other suspect in the murder of Kevin Watts. “Bullitt County Sheriff’s Detectives developed viable information…
One suspect has been arrested in a Bullitt County homicide that occurred last month. On Saturday morning, January 22,2022, the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office received…
Police have located an Elizabethtown man who escaped police custody. 31-year-old Jesse Karr was in custody of the Floyd County Jail. He was seeking medical…
The Hardin District Court has issued a bench warrant “amnesty”. When someone charged with a criminal offense fails to show up for their court date…
Police are investigating and requesting public assistance in the escape of an Elizabethtown man. According to a press release by the Prestonsburg Police Department, 31-year-old…
The Hodgenville Police Department are actively investigating child pornography exchanged by students at Larue County Middle and High Schools. “We received a report last week…
An Elizabethtown resident has found success in starting his own videography business. Alec Higdon-Burgess is the creator and owner behind Bluegrass Imaging. His business was…