94.3 The Wolf

HCS begins 2nd vaccine doses with revised instruction schedule

Today, Hardin County School staff members began to receive their second doses of Covid-19 vaccines. As a result, the district adding a day of NTI for students the day after their school staff members receive it.

District spokesperson John Wright says the added day only affects middle and elementary school students. Days and schedules of staff vaccinations can be found on the district’s website.

Abound, partners with local organization for financial education

A local financial institution has partnered with a local educational group, with the mission of expanding financial education. This week, Abound Credit Union announced their new partnership with Omicron Nu Lambda, providing the education foundation with access to one of the institution’s financial education programs. Officials from both organizations say the partnership will help to better the financial well-being of members of the surrounding communities.

4 arrested after traffic stop

A traffic stop Tuesday resulted in the seizure of nearly 30 tabs of Fentanyl from a vehicle and the arrest of 4 people. Kentucky State Police conducted a traffic stop late Tuesday night near the 93 mile marker. Troopers made contact with the driver and passengers, Willie Sanders, Jamal James, Tiera Matthews, and Curtis Haynes, who stated they were heading from Atlanta to Milwaukee. Troopers said they detected the smell of marijuana, and conducted a search, finding a handgun, as well as a clear plastic bag containing 29 tablets of Carfentanil, which the Trooper says was packaged to look like Ecstacy. Another handgun, this one reported stolen, was found in the back seat. All four were arrested, with Sanders being charged with trafficking in a controlled substance, importing Carfentanil. Both were lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

LTDHD updates on vaccines for area

As of February 25th, Lincoln Trail District Health Department has vaccinated 4.3% of their population with the first dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. That might not seem like a lot, but the amount grows when doses provided to residents by other providers are factored in. 

Baptist Health Hardin announced earlier that staff at their locations has provided over 5,500 vaccinations since giving out the first in December of 2020.

Wednesday case numbers for Kentucky

1,175 new cases of Covid-19 were announced for the state of Kentucky yesterday afternoon. 

Governor Andy Beshear did include 33 new virus-related deaths in his brief video update. Locally, Hardin County saw 32 new cases for Wednesday. Additionally, Meade county reported 7 and LaRue reported 4.

Pet Food Pantry being organized to help local pet owners

The pandemic has put an emphasis food needs for residents, even four-legged ones. As a result, local animal advocates have come together to create a pet food pantry to help owners who find themselves unable to purchase pet food. 

PAWS Shelter Foundation spokesperson Diane Shoffner says Helping Hand of Hope will be the distribution center for the pet pantry. Members of the community can drop off food at the following locations:

• Feeders Supply, Elizabethtown
• Sam Russell’s Pet Provisions, Elizabethtown
• Lost Pounds Pet Center, Radcliff
• Family Dollar, Vine Grove

E’town man sentenced to 25 years for child pornography charges

An Elizabethtown man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison on child pornography charges. Officials with the U.S Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky made the announcement that Mathew Lyons had been sentenced in federal court on the charges Monday. According to court documents, Radcliff Police were notified in April of last year that a minor had posted on social media about engaging in sexual activity with an adult for money. Police seized the devices of 2 minors, and were granted consent to search them. Police eventually discovered that the adult they had communicated with and met was Lyons. A search of Lyons’ devices revealed explicit images of minors, as well as other conversations between him and another man, Robert Alan Thompson, who was sentenced in February on child pornography charges. Lyons will serve a life sentence of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Baptist Health Hardin begins sign ups for part of Phase 1C

Baptist Health Hardin officials have signaled the move to part of phase 1C. The healthcare provider announced Monday that those 60 and older would now be able to sign up for a Covid-19 vaccine through Baptist Health. Officials say they will be scheduling vaccinations by phone Tuesday through Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Vaccines are still appointment only at this point, and are still taking place at Towne Mall, providing a centralized vaccination site. Baptist Health Hardin says they have administered over 95 hundred doses so far.

LTDHD: differences in Johnson & Johnson vaccine

There are now 3 authorized Covid-19 vaccines for the general public. Health officials say there are some notable differences in the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine opposed to those offered by Moderna and Pfizer. 

Medical officials say the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is over 75% effective at preventing moderate to severe Covid-19 reactions, and 100% effective in preventing death and hospitalization. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single shot.

Nolin RECC opens up signups for Operation Round Up grants

The grant process for Nolin RECC’s annual Operation Roundup is now open. The program, started back in 2006, rounds up the utility bills of participating members, with the change going towards the program. 

Applications for the grant can be found by going to Nolin RECC’s website.

Beshear: 1,080 new cases on Tuesday

Tuesday’s Covid-19 update saw more low case numbers for the state of Kentucky. Governor Andy Beshear announced 1,080 new cases of the virus for Tuesday. The state also announced 19 new virus-related deaths Tuesday, with the positivity rate down to 4.97%. Locally, Hardin county was announced to have 36 new cases of covid-19, with LaRue and Meade counties both having 6.

BBQ, Blues, Bikes, portion of Cruisin’ The Heartland called off for second year

The City of Elizabethtown released their schedule of events for the upcoming summer and, for the second year in a year, significant events have been cancelled. Officials first announced that the annual BBQ, Blues, and Bikes would not take place, citing the inability to properly control crowd size downtown.

City Events Program Manager Sarah Vaughn says the Saturday portion of Cruisin’ The Heartland had also been called off for the same reason. Other events, such as the Wine Fest, Founders Day Fireworks and a new downtown concert would take place. Vaughn says a determination on the Heartland parade will be made on a later date.

Vine Grove man arrested after police say he tied woman up with dog leash, threatened her

A Vine Grove man arrested Sunday after allegedly breaking into a residence and tying a woman up with a dog leash. According to arrest citations, police were called to a residence Sunday afternoon after neighbors had said they heard a woman screaming after a man had kicked in a neighboring residences door. When officers arrived, they found the door forced open, as well as a female screaming for help. Officers detained the man, Jason Shamblin, in the dining area of the residence. A female came out of the hallway area, tied with a dog leash. Officers had to use a knife to cut off the leash, as the victims circulation was being impacted. The victim told police she had broken up with Shamblin, who had then forced his way back into the residence, assaulting and threatening her before tying her. Shamblin was arrested and charged with kidnapping, burglary, assault, and terroristic threatening, among other charges. He was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

Hardin Co. recycling reopens, with some new locations

Recycling services in Hardin County are back up and running, after nearly a year of closure due to Covid-19. Sites across the county reopened yesterday, with several new locations being added as well. 

Solid Waste Director Stephanie Givens says that without inmate labor, Meade County, which partially runs the recycling program, had to hire additional part-time help to staff the program. Newly added locations can be found on the Hardin County Government website.

‘Pack a Cruiser’ event yields several truck bed of food for organization

Elizabethtown Police are calling their first ever Pack A Cruiser event from this weekend a success, after members of the community stopped by to drop off non-perishable food items over the weekend. 

Officer Chris Denham also says several coats were dropped off, which will also go to Helping Hands of Hope.

EIS board talks expanded in-person instruction for students

While nothing is official yet, members of the Elizabethtown Board of Education talked about more in-person return options during last night’s work session. Superintendent Kelli Bush presented the board with various statistics and data points, showing a large number of surveyed families, over 75%, feel it is important for students to return to a somewhat full time schedule of in-person instruction. Bush says that a plan for return will be discussed with faculty and staff in the days to come before a final determination is made.