WULF News

Man arrested after murder in LaRue County

Police have arrested a man they believe was involved in a LaRue County murder. It all began when Kentucky State Police say they were contacted by local authorities after a shooting in Hodgenville Wednesday.

Officials quickly named Timothy Hedges as a person of interest. Sharp says authorities located and arrested hedges in Breckinridge County late Thursday night.

Event that draws attention to Domestic Violence being held in Elizabethtown this week

With October marking Domestic Violence Awareness month, a walk to draw attention to the cause is being held at Freeman Lake Park this weekend.

Spokesperson Linda Funk says the group will be set up near the park’s tennis courts. No fee is required, though donations, which go to Springhaven, are welcome.

E’town Public Works facility named after longtime employee

Roughly 2 months after setting up shop, the new Public Works facilities in Elizabethtown were officially opened yesterday, and with a surprise. The administration building was named after Charlie Bryant, a former city engineer and longtime city administrator.

The $2.8 million project for Public Works was completed this year after several years of construction.

Trump, First Lady test positive for COVID-19

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for covid-19. It was announced by the President on Twitter last night that he and the First Lady had tested positive. A statement from the President’s doctor says they are both doing well and are isolating in the White House. Doctor Conley says he expects the President to continue to carry on his duties without disruption.

BHH hosting flu shot clinic this weekend

Baptist Health Hardin will be offering a flu vaccine clinic this Saturday, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Physician Doug Ansert also notes that even perfectly healthy people can suffer from extreme complications from the flu, and that the vaccine is the best way to prevent such difficulties.

Escaped inmates recovered

After an escape from the substance abuse annex last week, 2 Hardin county inmates have been found. Jailer Josh Lindblom says the two men, John Thomas Tinsley Jr. And Carl Stevens Brooks, were located and brought back to the jail over the weekend. Not long after the incident last week, Lindblom announced that a jail staffer was fired.

The two men were picked up by Radcliff Police Sunday morning.

“Save the Library” rally to be held in Radcliff tonight

A rally to raise awareness on the closure of the North branch of the Hardin County Public Library will be taking place in Radcliff this evening.

The “Save the Library” event, which takes place from 5-6 p.m. at the PNC Bank at the corner of Lincoln Trail Boulevard and Dixie Highway, is intended to give residents and leaders a chance to voice their concerns over the closure.

Murrell says the group has ordered signs that can be picked up at the rally.

KSP investigating collision involving dirt bike in Grayson Co.

A collision involving a dirt bike took place in Grayson county Saturday afternoon.

Around 2 p.m. Saturday, Troopers with Kentucky State Police Post 4 responded to a collision on Pleasant View Road involving a dirt bike and a minivan.

The affected portion of the road was closed down to allow Troopers to reconstruct the collision. As of Monday, the collision is still under investigation by law enforcement.

EPD to examine different vendors for body cameras

With the City Council’s blessing, the Elizabethtown Police Department will look to acquire new body camera units. Chief Jeremy Thompson and Major Josh Richardson went before the council last night, explaining the need for the new cameras. Thompson also laid out a potential plan for outfitting patrol units with cameras if a new vendor was found.

The department currently has 10 body cameras, first put into use in August of 2019.

School district changes course, will continue to publish numbers themselves

As a state website aimed at tracking covid-19 cases per school goes live, Hardin County School officials say they will continue to publish their own data on their website.

District spokesperson John Wright says the district originally was going to do away with their reporting, but changed course. Wright says a link to the state’s new reporting website will be included on their own site.

Biden, Trump set to face off in tonight’s first presidential debate

In one of the most anticipated debates in years, former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump will face off in the first presidential debate tonight. The debate, which is being held at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, will be moderated by Fox News’ Chris Wallace. The widely televised and streamed event will begin at 9 p.m.

1 officer charged, but in the death of Breonna Taylor

The Jefferson County Grand Jury announced charges against a fired LMPD officer yesterday in the Breonna Taylor case, but not for her death.

Former detective Brett Hankison was handed 3 counts of 1st degree wanton endangerment for actions during the events of March 13th. Ballistic tests revealed that bullet’s from Hankison’s gun ended up in the neighboring apartment’s, not Taylor’s. Hankison was booked and briefly jailed last night before his $15,000 cash bond was secured. The other two officers at the center of the case face no criminal charges.

As expected, the announcement sparked protests last night, not only in Louisville, but across the country. Cities such as New York, Portland, and Atlanta, all saw crowds gathering, protesting the decision that no charges were announced for Taylor’s death. In Louisville, LMPD announced that 2 officers had been shot, with one stable and the other requiring surgery.

1 month in, Hardin County Schools reports under 30 in-person cases

Today marks one month since some Hardin County Students and teachers returned to the classroom. Spokesperson John Wright says the district has been able to return safely thanks to the efforts of both students and staff alike.

The district, as of yesterday afternoon, has only seen 28 cases from in-person students and staff.

2 men arrested after alleging they were police officers during traffic stop

Kentucky State Police arrested two Mississippi brothers after one attempted to impersonate a police officer.

Troopers made a routine traffic stop on Eddie and Terry Franklin of Macon, Mississippi. When stopped, Terry franklin produced a police badge from Noxubee county, Mississippi. Eddie Franklin, the passenger and brother of the driver, stated that he was a law enforcement officer in the county, and asked for professional courtesy. A call was made to Noxubee county dispatch, where it was discovered that Eddie Franklin was no longer an officer of the department, and that the badge was supposed to have been turned in with the rest of his equipment. Both men were charged with impersonating a peace officer, and were lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

Authorities still searching for two escaped inmates

Two Hardin County inmates escaped late Tuesday night, and authorities are asking for the public’s assistance in locating them. Kentucky State Police say that Carl Stevens Brooks and John Thomas Tinsley Jr., escaped from the Hardin County Detention Center’s substance abuse annex earlier this week.

Trooper Scotty Sharp says anyone with information on the whereabouts of either man is asked to contact law enforcement.

With safety guidelines in place, Vine Grove Bluegrass Festival to begin today

The 21st year of the Vine Grove Bluegrass Festival begins today.

Festival President Jason Basham says the festival has put health and safety guidelines in place to protect those who attend.

The festivals begins with the band scramble today.

2 injured, 1 arrested after Elizabethtown wreck Sunday night

Two people are in critical condition after a motorcycle wreck in Elizabethtown Sunday night. Police they were called to the westbound ramp leading from the 31W bypass to the Western Kentucky Parkway shortly after 6 pm.

Denham says Miles was impaired while operating the motorcycle, and only sustained minor injuries as a result. Miles has been charged with DUI, felony assault, and felony wanton endangerment. The current condition of this wife and child are unknown at this time.

Labor Sec. visits ECTC for workforce development

U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia met with faculty and college officials at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College on friday. Scalia, joined by 2nd District Representative Brett Guthrie, was led on a tour of the college’s various workplace development areas.

Scalia also highlighted the college’s Coding Lab, which he says is proof that colleges like ECTC are meeting the increased skills needed by local manufacturers.

The group also toured local manufacturers, as well as the Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Park.

Winefest a success according to officials

As the first major event since covid-19 hit, officials are calling the 4th annual Winefest a success. And with many events this summer canceled for the city, events manager Sarah Vaughn says Saturday’s event at Freeman Lake was a boost for quality of life.

Vaughn says officials welcomed in around 750 people throughout the event, roughly 25% of the event’s normal capacity.

State sees higher COVID cases over the weekend

The Commonwealth saw steady covid-19 cases numbers throughout last week, but those trends did not necessarily continue this weekend.

Over 1,000 cases were announced state-wide Saturday, and 439 on Sunday. The state’s positivity rate remains below 4%. Locally on Friday, Lincoln Trail Health officials announced 38 cases, 23 of which were from Hardin county. Meade county reported 9 cases, with LaRue reporting no cases.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies at 87; Trump to nominate replacement

Just over a week since President Trump announced additions to his list of potential Supreme Court nominees, the nation’s highest court now has a vacancy.

Former Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Friday at the age of 87. Ginsburg was appointed to the court in 1993 by President Bill Clinton, becoming only the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court. President Trump announced over the weekend his intention to fill the vacancy, with just 43 days until election day.

The president has alluded to a female being his nominee, though wouldn’t name a particular person.

EPD: Man wanted in connection to E’town murder arrested

Authorities have made an arrest in the murder of Juwone Doleman. Elizabethtown Police announced the arrest of Jalen Williams Friday evening after several weeks of investigations.  

Denham says police knew who their suspect was within hours of the murder, but opted not to release information. Williams is charged with Homicide, Robbery and assault 1st, as well as tampering with physical evidence.

He was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

Health officials try to clear confusion on quarantine

Health officials are helping to clear up misconceptions about testing and quarantine procedures. Lincoln Trail District Health Department spokesperson Terrie Burgan says only those who test negative and are considered to be a close contact with a positive case are required to quarantine.

Burgan says a person who tests negative without being identified as a close contact does not have to quarantine for the 14 day period. However, it is recommended that a person does until they have received their test results.

An important aspect to consider is the definition of a close contact. Burgan says the definition from the CDC has changed, with a close contact now being described as coming into contact with a positive case for a cumulative total of 15 or more minutes, all within a 24 hour period. The state recently announced over 1 million tests have been performed since March.

North branch of library closes permanently on Tuesday

After a decision by the library Board of Trustees, the North branch of the Hardin County Public Library closed yesterday afternoon. The decision to do away with the North Branch, located in Radcliff, is one that caught many by surprise, including Mayor J.J. Duvall

Library officials have said that one of the driving reasons behind the closure, next to usage, was the system’s financial stability, which has seen a decrease over the past several years. The question of financial stability for the Hardin County Public Library was put before the county fiscal court 2 years ago with proposal of a special taxing district to go towards the library. The idea for a special taxing district, which was voted down, is something Hardin County Judge/Executive Harry Berry says possibly could have helped.

The taxing district before the court in 2018 was 3 cents for every $100, which Berry says could’ve doubled the library’s current rate of funding.

Duvall says residents feel the removal of the location follows a pattern of removals that has plagued many services for the population in the northern end of the county.

Police continue to warn residents after additional car thefts, attempts

Police in Elizabethtown are once again warning residents about car thefts after two separate incidents this week. On Tuesday night, officer Chris Denham says a resident on Quail Run Road noticed a subject attempting to open his car. When the resident approached the subject, the situation took a frightening turn.

Denham says another car theft incident occurred Monday night at the Leitchfield Road Circle K, where the driver had left a gun in the car.

Denham says roughly 30 car thefts have been reported in the summer months alone this year.

HCS announces new rescheduled dates for 2020 graduations

Dates for Hardin County Schools’ graduation ceremonies have been rescheduled once again. October 2nd and 3rd, the original rescheduled date, will not be able to work with the current restrictions on gatherings in place.

Wright says that if the new dates do not work, then the class will not have a traditional graduation ceremony.

State and local COVID numbers from Tuesday

The state continues to see steady covid-19 numbers. Governor Andy Beshear announced 745 new cases in the commonwealth last night. In addition, 9 more Kentuckians have died from complications from the virus. Locally, Lincoln Trail Health officials announced 45 new cases within the district: 28 of which were in Hardin county, 7 in Meade and 2 in LaRue. The district has 10 hospitalizations as well as 322 home isolations.