Local sports with A.J. Brammer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.