94.3 The Wolf

The Elizabethtown Police Department captured a wanted man at a local hotel. Officers reported that Brian Walden, 35, who had an arrest warrant for absconding parole, was staying at a Motel 6 in Elizabethtown. Because of a violent encounter an officer had previously with Walden, the Special Response Team was called in. When officers arrived at the Motel 6, Walden surrendered peacefully and without incident. Walden is lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

On Wednesday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear provided an update on the status of his executive order that automatically restored the right to vote to many Kentuckians who were previously denied the right. According to a release from his office, Governor Beshear unveiled a website to help Kentuckians who are unsure determine if they qualify. The website, civilrightsrestoration.ky.gov, features a searchable database where those visiting the site enter a first and last name and date of birth, then their county of conviction or supervision, and then receive a result. If the displayed result is inconclusive, there is an e-mail and phone number to contact for more information. Individuals currently in custody or on supervision will be reviewed for automatic restoration prior to their completion of sentence and told if they qualify. Previously, the Governor had signed an executive order on his third day in office restoring the rights to vote and hold public office to Kentuckians who were convicted of most non-violent crimes who have repaid their debt to society by completing their sentences.

Hardin County Schools is seeking the opinion of Seniors in the district in order to plan for future career fairs. The district is offering a survey where Seniors can weigh in on which career pathways they would like represented so there can be more emphasis placed on fields students want to pursue. These surveys can be found on the Hardin County Schools website under the News and Announcements tab.

The Elizabethtown Police Department is making residents aware of a change to an intersection in town. It was found out that the Kentucky State Highway Department decided that the intersection of North Mulberry Street and Helm Street no longer qualifies for a traffic signal. Therefore, in an attempt to prepare for the removal of the signal in three weeks, there is a flashing traffic signal and stop signs that will be in place until then. North Mulberry has a flashing yellow light, meaning thru traffic does not stop. Helm Street has a flashing red light and stop signs, meaning vehicles coming from that direction must stop and yield to Mulberry traffic. This is not a four way stop intersection, and the department urges extra caution as motorists adapt to the new traffic pattern.

Elections took place on Wednesday, March 4^th for the officers of the Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau. Todd Pollard was nominated as Chair of the Commission, and Carl Swope, the former Chair, was nominated as Treasurer. Pollard said of his election, “I am honored to be the Chairman of the Elizabethtown Tourism Commission. I am excited to work alongside Elizabethtown Tourism as we continue to showcase our wonderful town.” Pollard served on the commission since 2016 when he was appointed by Mayor Edna Berger.

A Fort Knox soldier appeared on The Voice this week. Samuel Woodberry, stage name Samuel Wilco, will now be a part of Team Nick Jonas on the program after auditioning at his wife’s willing. Woodberry says The Voice is his wife’s favorite show, and she continually encouraged him to audition for the program. Woodberry is an instructor at the Army Recruiter College, and has been at Fort Knox for a little over three years. Next on the show for Wilco is the Battle Rounds.

Breckinridge County has a new interim Sheriff after the retirement of controversial former Sheriff Todd Pate. Judge Executive Maurice Lucas appointed Billy Richardson in the role on Monday. Judge Lucas says he believes Richardson will bring a youthful energy to the position, and will be a good role model for children in the community. Richardson ran against Pate for the Sheriff position last election losing by only a few votes. Richardson will be on the ballot for the position in the elections this November.

The Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force and the Kentucky State Police Drug Enforcement West assisted the United States Postal Service execute a search warrant at 50 Tumbo Road in Hodgenville. According to a press release from the task force, during the execution of the warrant, Harley Spalding, 26, and Zachariah Davis, 25, arrived at the location to claim ownership of a package containing approximately 23 pounds of high-grade marijuana shipped from California. The two were detained, and detectives then went to the residence of Davis, where they found an additional pound of high-grade marijuana, approximately 470 THC vape cartridges, THC vape packaging, and evidence of manufacturing. Davis and Spalding were both arrested and charged with trafficking in marijuana over five pounds and possession of drug paraphernalia. The investigation is ongoing, with additional charges and arrests pending.

As more details come in, the names of the local offenders in the Louisville Metro Police Department human trafficking detail have been released. Amos Brown of Hodgenville and Jeffery Stutts of Eastview were among the seven fathers that separately agreed to meet with a minor in Louisville for illicit activity. The detail, called Operation Bright Light, saw fake ads posted on several escort sites, which the men replied to and made plans. All offenders believed their escort to be sixteen years of age. All seven men are lodged in a Jefferson County jail.

Elizabethtown Parks and Recreation will be partnering with Abound Credit Union to host a financial literacy course this Thursday. The event will start at 6, and will cover credit scores and credit scoring basics. This is the first of four upcoming classes. There is no cost to attend, and the event is open to the public. The event is part of Abound’s new plan to bring widespread financial literacy to the Hardin County community.

Central Hardin High School will be bringing a literary classic to life this weekend with their production of Little Women. The show will be Friday night at 7 and Saturday afternoon at 4. The show will take place at the Hardin County Schools Performing Arts Center, and tickets are only five dollars.

The Louisville Metro Police Department conducted a human trafficking detail that resulted in seven arrests over the weekend. Detective Kris Pedigo and the Louisville Metro Police Department held a press conference to discuss the details of the case yesterday afternoon. All in all, seven men were captured, with two of them being from Hodgenville and Eastview. All seven men were fathers, and some were fathers to girls. The Metro Police Department used an online decoy to coax the men to meet, where they were then met by officers and SWAT team members, interviewed, and sent to jail.

Deputies with the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Spurrier Road in Big Clifty in an attempt to serve an arrest warrant on Tracy McCandless. According to a press release from Grayson County Sheriff Norman Chaffins, upon officer’s arrival, McCandless gave false identifying information, claiming to be her sister, Robin. However, the Sergeant with the Sheriff’s Office recognized her, and also noticed drugs and drug paraphernalia in plain view. Another suspect in the residence, later identified as Brian Thompson, 44, of Leitchfield, had a large chunk of suspected crystal meth in his pocket. A third suspect, Amber Christine Esters, identified herself as a fifteen-year-old juvenile, but according to her date of birth was actually 28 years old, and had multiple warrants on her. All three were arrested on various drug-related and non-drug-related offenses, and were lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.

The Elizabethtown Police Department responded to Skaggs RV on Sunday in reference to two stolen travel trailers. According to Officer Chris Denham, surveillance video captured a light-colored, one-ton Dodge pickup truck and light-colored, one-ton Ford pickup truck hitching up to two brand new travel trailers, and driving off with them. The trailers are believed to be worth around $34,000 a piece. A criminal case has been opened for theft, but as of right now, there is no suspect information. Anyone who may be able to provide useful information is asked to contact the Elizabethtown Police Department, or Hardin County Crime Stoppers.

The Elizabethtown City Council voted last night to reappoint two members to the Elizabethtown Civil Services Commission. Rick Horn and former Elizabethtown mayor Edna Berger were reappointed to the commission for a term to end March 2, 2023. The discussion regarding the topic was brief, and the votes in favor of reappointment were unanimous. The role of a civil service commission is to impartially implement the policies and laws of a government, as well as to oversee hirings and promotions and promote the values of public service.

At a meeting of the Elizabethtown City Council held last night, an ordinance that will change the name of a portion of an Elizabethtown street was read for the second time. The unanimously approved ordinance would change the name of the southernmost section of Woodland Drive to Craddock Court. This section connects to Cardinal Drive. The first reading of this ordinance took place in early February.

The Elizabethtown Fire Department responded to an apartment fire on Sunday afternoon at 405 Lexington Avenue. As residents evacuated, the rescue crew quickly found and extinguished the fire. The cause of the fire was believed to be cooking oil that had been ignited. Residents in the upstairs apartments were allowed to return to their homes, while residents of the building’s downstairs apartments were situated with housing arrangements. No one was injured in the incident.

March is Women’s History Month, and Elizabethtown Community and Technical College will be celebrating with a series of activities and speakers. The series, which is entitled “She Can, She Will, She Does”, will begin tomorrow March 3^rd with an airing of the movie “Hidden Figures” at 1:30 PM in Room 100 of the Academic Technical Building. There will also be several special guests to the campus throughout the month including Brenna Sherrill on March 18, who will make a presentation called “Difficult Women: The Age of the Anti-Heroine”, Dawne Gee on March 19, who will discuss women breaking the mold in media, and Alma Randolph on March 25 speaking about how one female can make a difference. All these events are free and open to the public.

The coronavirus breakout in parts of the world is causing some people alarm, but Lincoln Trail District Health Department wants members of their service area to know they stand ready for response. In a release from the department, they state that there are no known cases of the coronavirus disease currently in the state of Kentucky. However, local and state public health officials are monitoring and preparing in order to promptly respond should cases come to light. Lincoln Trail notes that they are in constant contact with the Kentucky Department for Public Health for any updates relating to the disease. To date, public health officials in Kentucky have monitored 100 individuals outside of the Lincoln Trail area, with only one requiring tested, and no confirmed case. Health alerts for the Lincoln Trail service area can be found at ltdhd.org.