94.3 The Wolf

Several events at West Point Independent School District have had to be rescheduled due to today’s absence. Students will have work to complete in order for the day to count as a school day, and the Valentine’s Day party scheduled for today has been moved to Tuesday, February 18^th. Today’s absence was due to widespread illness among students and staff, as well as continued plumbing issues.

The Department for Public Health has suggested safety guidelines following severe flooding and water run-off events from recent rainfall across the state. Safety protocols include never entering flood waters unless escaping immediate danger, as well as being up to date on tetanus vaccination to avoid illness, staying clear of downed powerlines, and using all proper safety equipment when cleaning up a home after a flood. The department recommends that doors and windows be open while cleaning affected areas, and throwing away perishable food that has be stored at above 40 degrees for more than two hours. Governor Andy Beshear assured citizens his administration would support them saying, “We will use every resource available to us to ensure Kentuckians affected by these devastating floods can have a safe and expedient recovery.”

Several gates at Fort Knox will be closed for the President’s Day holiday. The Brandenburg entrance, as well as outbound lanes will be closed today February 14^th as well as Monday, February 17^th. The Wilson Road entrance will be closed on Monday as well, but open today. The Chaffee Gate will remain open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Congressman Brett Guthrie, one of three main legislators to push for the new Army Headquarters that will be stationed at Fort Knox, has spoken about the success of the push, and why Fort Knox was the right choice. Guthrie says the facilities of Fort Knox, including the training space, housing, and medical clinic, are a perfect fit for this headquarters. The attitudes of the community and their willingness to accept the new soldiers also is a plus. Guthrie finished by saying that this headquarters solidifies Fort Knox’s importance to the Army.

The Kentucky State Police Electronic Crime Branch arrested a Hardin County man on charges related to child sexual exploitation. According to a release from the department, John Thomas Coffey Junior was arrested as the result of an undercover internet crimes against children investigation, which began after discovering the suspect communicating with a juvenile online and requesting nude photographs. The investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant at a residence in Fairdale on Wednesday, and seizure of equipment used to facilitate the crime. Coffey is lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

Hardin Memorial Health will be celebrating their 66^th anniversary tomorrow, and CEO Dennis Johnson is excited about possibilities for the future of the organization. Johnson notes that Baptist Health will be investing $235 million into the hospital, which will be allow services to be further spread in Central Kentucky. The deal with Baptist Health, which was given the go ahead late last year after many legal troubles, is expected to close by December 1^st, 2020.

Due to urging from government officials, Fort Knox has been selected to be the home of the new corps headquarters for the department of the Army. Senator Rand Paul, Congressman Brett Guthrie, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell led the representatives in urging Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy and Chief of Staff of the Army General James McConville to choose Fort Knox for the headquarters location. The post will be the fourth headquarters location, and will be called Fifth Corps. This new location will bring approximately 635 additional soldiers to Kentucky. The Army plans to activate Fifth Corps by fall of 2020.

An Elizabethtown man was arrested over the weekend after calls of a suspicious person. The Vine Grove Police Department responded to 109 Highland Avenue and found Raymond Russell carrying an open vodka bottle. Russell was clearly under the influence and was belligerent with officers when he was asked how much he had to drink. Russell refused to get into the police cruiser and had to be escorted. While on the way to the detention center, Russell made several threats against the lives of the officers in the vehicle, as well as other inmates. Russell was verbally non-compliant and unbuckled his seat belt twice on the way to the detention center. He faces charges of alcohol intoxication in a public place as well as terroristic threatening. He is lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

An Elizabethtown man was arrested over the weekend by the Elizabethtown Police Department after a domestic argument. The victim stated that after an altercation over the location of a cell phone, Aaron Kissel became abusive. Kissel accused the victim of sitting on the phone and pulled the cover from under her. After not finding the device, the argument started and Kissel allegedly slapped the victim in the face two separate times and punched her in the throat. He then grabbed her by the throat and choked her until she could not breathe. The victim left the room and went to a neighbor’s house for help and called the police. When officers arrived, Kissel denied he had ever hit or made contact with the victim. He was arrested for strangulation and assault, and was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

At a meeting of Hardin County Fiscal Court held last night, the budget for the Hardin County Road Aid Cooperative Program Agreement was unanimously approved. Judge Executive Harry Berry approved the $1,900,085 budget for this fiscal year. This agreement is between Hardin County, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Transportation Cabinet, and the Department of Rural and Municipal Aid.

With nearly 250 confirmed illnesses in their service area, the Lincoln Trail District Health Department is advising residents about how to be safe and healthy for the remainder of this flu season. Preventative measures against spreading the flu include getting the flu vaccine, washing hands often, and staying home when not feeling well. Hardin County is responsible for the majority of the influenza cases in the Lincoln Trail service area, with over 150 confirmed cases.

The Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in locating a suspect in relation to a homicide. According to a press release, the office is searching for Anthony W. Allen, a 44-year-old white male last seen driving a silver, 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The department responded to a Bullitt County residence on Sunday to find that the victim, Robert Wendell Bailey, had suffered life-threatening injuries from an assault. Bullitt County EMS transported the victim Jewish South Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The investigation is ongoing.

An Elizabethtown road is going to have its name changed. The former Woodland Drive located near Hardin Memorial Hospital is being isolated and having its course altered. Surveys regarding the name change were sent to residents on the street, and several voted for the name Craddock Court, named after former House of Representatives member Eileen Craddock, who lived on the street for a number of years. The results of the survey are not yet final.

The Elizabethtown Police Department are still looking to fill several attendee spots for their Citizen’s Police Academy being held on February 20^th. The academy provides an opportunity for attendees to look into the day to day operations of the department. Those wishing to attend the academy should contact Officer Denham or visit etownpd.org to download an application.

An Elizabethtown Fire Department vehicle was involved in a single-vehicle incident last Friday morning. According to a press release from Deputy Fire Chief Everett Roberts, the truck slid off the icy road at 601 College Street and flipped onto the passenger side of the roadway, causing a minor shoulder injury to the firefighter inside the vehicle. Luckily, the injuries were minor due to the firefighter wearing his seatbelt. The damaged truck was towed to the Elizabethtown Public Safety garage for evaluation, and the city Public Works Department responded to the area to salt the road.

One of the victims of a home explosion last month has passed away due to her injuries. According to her obituary, Angela Young passed away Saturday morning at University of Louisville Hospital. As previously reported, Young and her daughter were in their Millwood home when a leak from a faulty connection to a gas furnace caused an explosion. Young and her daughter suffered severe burns and had to be airlifted to University of Louisville Hospital. Funeral services for Young will be held this Wednesday at Dermitt Funeral Home in Leitchfield.

The Kentucky State Police Telecommunications Academy Class Fifteen graduated on Friday in Frankfort. Six telecommunicators from throughout the Commonwealth were recognized at graduation ceremonies for the agency’s in-house telecommunications academy. The group began their studies on January 6, 2020, at the KSP Training Academy in Frankfort, and were taught 196 hours of instruction during the five-week period. To complete the course, the communicators were required to successfully process scripted calls for service and demonstrate proficiency in obtaining information, dispatching responders, and documenting information from the call.