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News- May 22, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

The suspect in last weeks double homicide in Elizabethtown has been arrested. Officials say that just before 5 PM Thursday afternoon, police in Versailles, Kentucky recognized the suspect, Tayandree Reed, inside of a local Kroger. Reed is charged with two counts of murder, as well as charges of robbery and assault, both in the first degree. He is lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond.

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 8,236 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 135 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 3,008 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were ten new deaths announced on Thursday, bringing the state’s total to 386. The Governor announced more businesses and events that will be able to ease restrictions soon. Auctions can be held beginning June 1st. Horse shows can begin on June 8th. Bars and gathering with 50 people or less can reopen June 29th if guidelines are met. In terms of childcare, it was announced that in-home childcare can open on June 8th, and center-based licensed childcare programs will reopen to all families on June 15th. The maximum group size will be ten children per group, and staff will be assigned to the same children each day in order to limit exposure. Children five and under should not wear masks, but older children should, if they are able. Childcare programs will stagger playground time, eliminate center-wide family events, eliminate field trips, and use centralized drop-off and pick-up locations to eliminate unnecessary traffic to classrooms and reduce exposure.

An annual Memorial Day event at Fort Knox is still scheduled to take place. The on-post cemetery visit will take place as usual on Monday, but officials say visitors will have to adhere to health guidelines, including wearing a face covering and socially distancing up to six feet. Fort Knox is home to over 120 cemeteries, made up of former church and family graveyards from towns that existed before Fort Knox. Over 3,000 individuals are buried within the installation.

The Meade County School District has announced their plans and route for the Commencement Cruise taking place tonight to honor the class of 2020. Interim Superintendent Bill Adams says the district will try to mimic the procedure of a real commencement ceremony as best they can. The parade route, as well as guidelines for spectators, can be found on the Meade County High School Facebook page. The district will be releasing a pre-recorded graduation ceremony at 7 PM on the Facebook page.

Several graduation ceremonies from Hardin County Schools will be aired on HCEC-TV tonight and over the weekend. Tonight at 7 PM, the John Hardin High School graduation will air on the channel, as well as on HCEC-TV’s YouTube channel. On Saturday, Central Hardin High School’s graduation will air at 11 AM, and North Hardin High School’s ceremony will air at 7 PM. Hardin County High and the county’s GED program saw their ceremonies air earlier in the week.

Today marks the reopening of restaurants around the state of Kentucky. Restaurants are allowed to once again resume in-person dining, but with several guidelines. Most notably, restaurants are limited to just 33% of their normal capacity in an effort to practice social distancing. Party sizes will be limited to ten or less people. Additionally, restaurants are encouraged to maximize their outdoor seating options, and to discontinue the use of salad bars or buffets if possible.

News- May 21, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 8,167 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 166 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 2,919 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were ten new deaths announced on Wednesday, bringing the state’s total to 376. Governor Beshear announced a $300 million award to city and county governments as part of the CARES Act, which will serve to reimburse local governments for expenses gained in response to COVID-19. These can include PPE purchases, telework supplies, and payroll expenses for public health. The Governor expressed pride in the efforts of local governments, and thanked them for all the work they have done during this time. To apply, eligible local governments with related expenses from March 1st, 2020 to December 30th, 2020 must complete an application with expense documentation, which became available on the Department for Local Government’s website at 8 AM today. Funds will be allocated to city and county governments based on approximate population size as recorded in the most recent census data.

A Radcliff man was arrested after he allegedly strangled his girlfriend. According to arrest citations, Marcel Ditto became engaged in an argument with his girlfriend on May 16th in Radcliff. When the victim attempted to leave the residence, Ditto allegedly grabbed her, not allowing her to leave. After a minor altercation, the victim attempted to call 911 when Ditto grabbed the phone and threw it across the apartment. Ditto allegedly began to punch and grab the victim’s neck, which resulted in the victim’s breathing becoming impaired. Ditto was arrested and charged with assault, unlawful imprisonment, and strangulation. He was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

Additional cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed by regional health departments. The Lincoln Trail District Health Department confirmed three additional cases of the virus in Hardin County, raising the district’s total number to 167. Seven individuals within the region have been hospitalized, 24 are in home isolation, and 132 have recovered from the virus. Grayson County Health Officials also confirmed two new cases on Wednesday, bringing the county’s total to 128.

Grayson County residents in need of masks have the opportunity to get some today, but supplies are limited. The Grayson County Health Department will be distributing cloth face masks today free of charge. The Department advises that masks will be given out on a first come, first serve basis, and to Grayson County residents only. Supplies will be distributed between 10 AM and noon central time today at the Health Department. The Health Department says social distancing guidelines will be required.

As the state of Kentucky prepares to relax previously imposed restrictions on in-person dining and groups, so too are local municipalities. The City of Elizabethtown announced that, beginning tomorrow, recreational areas previously restricted will begin to reopen to the public. City park pavilions, as well as tennis courts, will reopen to the public with guidelines for use posted. Locations such as playgrounds, basketball courts, and soccer fields are still closed at this time.

News- May 20, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 8,062 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 164 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 2,826 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were 20 new deaths announced on Tuesday, the single highest in a day so far, bringing the state’s total to 366. With gatherings of ten or less being allowed beginning this Friday, Governor Beshear set out state guidelines for having a safe Memorial Day weekend while continuing to fight COVID-19. Guidelines put forth include maintaining social distancing of at least six feet, wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, and gathering outdoors instead of indoors.

The Breckinridge County Health Department has confirmed a second COVID-19 related death in their area. The Department’s announcement of an additional death from the virus comes just a day after their first death. Elsewhere around the region, the total number of COVID-19 cases in Hardin County has surpassed 80. The Lincoln Trail District Health Department confirmed four additional positive cases of the virus within the county, bringing their total to 82 total cases. The entire district has seen 164 total cases so far, of which 131 have recovered, 22 are in home isolation, and only seven are hospitalized. The Grayson County Health Department also confirmed new cases of the virus Tuesday, adding three to their total of 126.

The City of Elizabethtown’s Government officials have passed an executive order to help local restaurants as they begin to reopen to in-person traffic. The text on the order specifies that restaurants may utilize parking spaces and other outdoor areas for outdoor dining up to a capacity equal to the original indoor capacity of the restaurant. The area to be utilized must be clearly delineated with fencing, tape, or other city-approved barricades. Governor Andy Beshear authorized restaurants to reopen on May 22nd with 33% interior capacity, and unlimited outdoor dining.

A Radcliff man has been arrested after allegedly striking his wife with a handgun. According to arrest records, Radcliff Police were called to a residence off of North Street in Radcliff Monday night in reference to a possible domestic violence incident. When police arrived, they made contact with the victim, who had sustained a head injury. The victim explained that she and her husband, Timothy Carrington, had been engaged in an argument when Carrington pulled out a handgun and threatened to kill the victim. The victim turned her back to Carrington, and then he allegedly struck her in the back of the head with the handgun. Carrington was arrested and charged with wanton endangerment, terroristic threatening, and assault. He was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

Graduation ceremonies featuring Hardin County Schools will begin tonight. Ceremonies featuring Hardin County High, as well as the county’s GED program, will air on HCEC-TV tonight beginning at 6 PM. The edited ceremony can also be found on HCEC’s YouTube channel. Ceremonies for the county’s other high schools will take place later this week.

According to a press release from officials, Towne Mall in Elizabethtown is readying to re-open today at 11 AM. According to the release, the center’s reopening plans include significantly enhanced cleaning and sanitizing protocols with a a focus on frequent touchpoints. Added signage and other safeguards will be in place to assure continued, appropriate social distancing and other precautionary measures.Not all stores and restaurants will be opened, and a full list of those that are open is available at TheTowneMall.com.

News- May 19, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are 7,935 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 122 were confirmed on Sunday, and 138 were confirmed on Monday. It is believed that 2,785 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were twelve new deaths over the last two days, bringing the state’s total to 346. As the state begins to attempt to safely reopen, Governor Beshear calls contact tracing the key to making it happen. The Governor reiterated that every step would be taken to protect the privacy of Kentuckians. Those who are contacted by health care workers will be notified that they may have been exposed to COVID-19, and are given instructions to follow in order to help stop the spread.

As more businesses begin to reopen, local health department officials are doing what they can to make the reopening phase as safe as possible. It was announced Monday that health departments around the region will begin distributing cloth face masks to workers within the food service and distribution industries. Lincoln Trail District Health Department spokesperson Terrie Burgen says the masks will be given out by environmental staff at the health department during routine food inspections. Restaurants are scheduled to open to in-person traffic on Friday with a restriction on capacity indoors.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the upcoming June primary will be much different than in previous years. Hardin County Clerk Debbie Donnelly explains that because of various factors related to COVID-19, voting will take place through mail-in absentee ballots this year. Residents will have to request a ballot, which they can currently do through the clerk’s office. The deadline for ballot requests is June 15th. Mailed ballots will include a pre-paid envelope for return. Additionally, in-person absentee voting will also be allowed. The County Clerk’s Office will allow residents to vote from the parking lot of the Government Center from June 1st to June 22nd. More information can be found online at hccoky.org.

WesBanco has made a donation to Elizabethtown Community and Technical College’s Student Emergency Fund. The donation of $2,500 will directly assist students with food, utilities, housing, and other obstacles that would otherwise keep them from successfully completing their college education. Donations are matched dollar for dollar up to $2000, and can be made online by visiting elizabethtown.kctcs.edu/studentemergencyfund.

News- May 18, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In a quick update on Saturday night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are at least 7,688 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of those cases, 244 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 2,768 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were two new deaths announced on Saturday, brining the state’s total to 334. Though the update was short, Governor Beshear put out a brief call for compassion and safety, asking for Kentuckians to continue being Healthy at Home and Healthy at Work, as well as to look out for your fellow neighbor, and to continue to look out for one another in this difficult time.

The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office responded to a head-on collision late last night. The collision took place at Patriot Parkway and Deckard School Road. Both the north and southbound lanes were blocked for some time for cleanup and reconstruction, but both have since been reopened. More information on the collision will be provided as it becomes available.

After being closed for an extended period of time, government centers across the Commonwealth can begin to reopen. The Hardin County Government Center will begin reopening some of their facilities today. Deputy Judge Executive Daniel London says that while the main government office is set to open today, residents are still encouraged to use online services as much as possible. The Hardin County Animal Shelter will also open today, once again accepting stray animals. The Hardin County Attorney’s Office is planned to open on a limited basis on June 1st. A full list of openings can be found on the Hardin County Government website.

Hosparus Thrift Shoppe in Campbellsville and Elizabethtown will begin accepting donations again this week. Donations will be accepted between 10 AM and 4 PM Monday through Friday, and from 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturdays until further notice. Those with donations can come to the back of the building. In addition, those dropping off are asked to adhere to social distancing guidelines with staff. In addition, donations should be boxed or bagged in a container that will not be returned to the donor. The shop asks for patience as the donation turnout is expected to be high.

As the demand for meat continues to grow, Kentucky’s Attorney General and Agriculture Commissioner are asking for the assistance of the Department of Justice to investigate possible price fixes on beef. In a joint letter to US Attorney General William Barr, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Agriculture Commisioner Ryan Quarles urge the Department of Justice to investigate possible anti-competitive practices within the beef packing industry. In their letter, the two called attention to the fact that Kentucky farmers are allegedly being paid less for the product, even as the demand for beef continues to increase. The letter asks the Department of Justice to conduct a study on the current economic status inside the cattle industry to see if anti-competitive practices are in fact taking place.  

News- May 15, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

Last night the Louisville FBI Field Office announced the recovery of a missing Texas child and the arrest of her alleged kidnapper in Elizabethtown. According to a release from the Louisville FBI Field Office, around 10 PM last night, special agents working with Kentucky State Police, as well as the Elizabethtown Police Department, arrested Austen Walker, 21, on a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Walker had an arrest warrant out of Texas on charges of kidnapping. The arrest warrant alleges that on or about May 12, 2020, Walker kidnapped the victim from Grand Saline, Texas.

Police have released the identities of the two men found dead inside of a car in Elizabethtown Wednesday night. According to police, 32-year-old Shawn Fox and 37-year-old Michael Buckner Thomas, both of Hopkinsville, were found deceased when police responded to a call on Patterson Street Wednesday night. A third individual, an unidentified female, was airlifted from the scene to University Hospital, where she was listed in critical condition. The investigation is still ongoing at this time.

A Hardin County man and woman accused of murder will appear in court this morning. As previously reported, Kentucky State Police arrested Jacob Lugmayer and Krystal Erbelding earlier this month after police found Erbelding’s mother, Kathy Erbelding, dead from two gunshot wounds in a home off of Wise Lane in Elizabethtown. Both Erbelding and Lugmayer are charged with murder, abuse of a corpse, and robbery. Lugmayer is also charged with tampering with physical evidence. Both are being held on a $250,000 bond.

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 7,225 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 199 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 2,712 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were two new deaths announced on Thursday, bringing the state’s total to 328. Governor Beshear talked about the next steps in easing restrictions in Kentucky, saying that May 22nd will see allowance of gatherings of ten or fewer with guidance to continue to try and social distance. In addition, the travel ban will be lifted on the same day. The Governor noted that if a second spike were to present itself, some of these eased steps may have to be taken again. Also, the Governor announced that the Kentucky Board of Education and Workforce Development Cabinet has been awarded more than $43.7 million from the CARES Act, which will fund the needs of students and schools in Kentucky, including technology and food programs.

Today marks the last day of an unforgettable school year for Hardin County students, and the district is already asking for feedback on the final weeks of instruction. Surveys regarding NTI are available on the Hardin County Schools website for students and parents, and instructors will receive their surveys through district email. NTI was utilitzed by area schools since Governor Beshear urged schools not to return to in person instruction on March 12th.

Meade County has issued a Boil Water Advisory for those who were out of water due to a leak that took place on Wednesday. The Meade County Water District has advised that any water that is to be consumed should be boiled for three minutes beforehand in order to disinfect. The Water District says it will let those affected know when the advisory is lifted.

News- May 13, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 6,853 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 191 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 2,546 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were ten new deaths announced on Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 321. Doctor Steven Stack talked a bit about two children who had been diagnosed with COVID-19, as one had a rare complication related to the disease. A ten-year-old patient was announced as being on a ventilator after becoming ill. On Tuesday, it was announced the child was improving. The child was diagnosed with a rare syndrome causing an inflammatory response in the body due to their immune systems becoming overactive. The second child, a 16-year-old has been hospitalized, but is not relying on a ventilator to breathe. Dr. Stack also noted that summer activities should not be expected to run as usual this year, stating that early reports suggest warm weather will not help with the virus.

An annual Fort Knox event will not take place this summer. Yesterday, Major General John Evans Jr. announced that Cadet Summer Training has been cancelled. General Evans noted that, while he believed the decision was the correct one, a summer without cadets on post will be strange. Training for cadets will instead take place at their colleges or military installations near them during the fall and spring. Fort Knox sees over 10,000 cadets pass through each summer.

A Breckinridge County Pharmacy is now offering COVID-19 testing. Save-Rite drugs will be conducting drive-thru tests of certain patients in Irvington. Only patients who meet the criteria of an online application will receive testing. A voucher for a test kit must be present at the location. More information on testing can be found at doineedacovid19test.com.

The virtual field day put on by Hardin County Schools is being called a success by officials in the district. There were more than 1,000 videos submitted to the flipgrid app, and over 20,000 views of those videos. The district notes that the turnout for the event was much higher than expected, and that the excitement from the parents and students was encouraging to see.

News- May 12, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 6,677 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 141 were confirmed on Sunday, and 105 were confirmed Monday. It is believed that 2,335 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were a total of seven new deaths reported over the last two days, bringing the state’s total to 311. Governor Beshear urged an emphasis on testing as the state moves forward with gradual reopening. The Governor specifically mentioned the Corbin area testing site as one with many spots still available. Governor Beshear has stressed on multiple occasions how important taking advantage of testing will be as part of being Healthy at Work.

Both Hardin and Nelson County each saw a new case of COVID-19 yesterday. The Lincoln Trail District Health Department announced a total number of 135 cases in their region, an increase of two cases from the previous day. Hardin County’s total now sits at 59 positive cases. 102 patients within the district have recovered from the virus, 21 are currently in home isolation, and only eight are hospitalized.

Kentucky Gives Day, a 24-hour giving event for non-profits in the area, is today and Central Kentucky Community Foundation spokesperson Gina Clear says that the day is perfectly set up for this time of social distancing. The participating non-profits can be seen at kygives.org. The event began at midnight this morning, and will continue until 11:59 PM tonight. There are 22 regional non-profit organizations registered to participate in Kentucky Gives Day this year.

COVID-19 testing will begin today in Hardin County. John Hardin High School will be the location of the testing, which is a result of the partnership between the state and Kroger. Susan Dunlap, Executive Director with the State Cabinet for Health and Family Services, says that the entire process can take around ten minutes to complete, and is simple. Testing at John Hardin will take place from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM until Thursday. Signups for testing can be found online at krogerhealth.com/services.

After being closed more than a month, Hardin County Government will begin to reopen some of their facilities next week. The reopening will begin on the 18th for most facilities except for the County Clerk’s office. However, residents are still encouraged to use online services as much as possible. The Hardin County Animal Shelter will open May 18th as well, and will begin to accept stray animals again. The Hardin County Attorney’s office is planned to open on a limited basis on June 1st. A full list of openings can be found on the Hardin County Government website.

News- May 11, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In his evening press conference on Saturday, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 6,440 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 158 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 2,308 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were six new deaths reported on Saturday, bringing the state’s total to 304. In light of recent court rulings allowing in-person church services to resume immediately, the Governor urged those places of worship to be safe in reopening. Places of worship must clean according to COVID-19 standards and enforce social distancing. The Governor also said that places of worship should strongly consider continuing to offer alternative services, including virtual and drive-in. The state’s complete guidance on houses of worship can be found at healthyatwork.ky.gov.

The Lincoln Trail District Health Department announced an additional COVID-19 related death over the weekend. The department announced on Saturday that a Meade County patient had died due to the virus. This is death number four for the region, which saw three additional deaths last week. In the district’s most recent announcement on Saturday, 133 total cases of the virus and had been confirmed with 97 patients either in home isolation or having recovered.

The sale of Hardin Memorial Health to Baptist Health has been expedited. It was announced over the weekend that the finalization of the deal between the two healthcare providers has now been moved to September 1st. According to the sale’s asset purchase agreement, Baptist will take on all of Hardin Memorial’s assets, and will invest over $230 million to HMH’s operating and capital over ten years. Additionally, HMH will be renamed to Baptist Health Hardin. The sale was previously set to take place December 1st.

One of Hardin County’s most prominent summertime events has been cancelled. The Hardin County Fair has announced that the board voted to cancel the fair this past week in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a Facebook post, the Board decided on their course of action after reviewing current and future health guidelines for organizations to follow. The Fair Board will work with local youth organizations to help them compete for state showcases and contests. The fair has taken place in the county since 1885.

News- April 8, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 6,128 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 208 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 2,177 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were eleven new deaths announced on Thursday, bringing the state’s total to 294. As phase one of reopening prepares to begin, Governor Beshear laid out a plan for the second phase of reopening, which the state hopes to begin on May 22nd. This phase will see restaurants reopen at a 33% capacity. On June 1st, movie theaters and fitness centers will reopen at a limited capacity. On June 11th, public and private campgrounds will reopen, though they will still have to follow social distancing guidelines. Then, on June 15th, the state is hoping to reopen childcare at a reduced capacity, and with many guidelines in place. The Governor noted that phase three will hopefully be coming by July 1st.

Just days after announcing their first death, Hardin County has seen another death due to COVID-19. Officials with the Lincoln Trail District Health Department announced yesterday that, in addition to five new cases, Hardin County had registered their second death. In total, the district announced eight new cases, including the five in Hardin as well as cases in Nelson and Meade. The department says that of the 132 total cases, 88 individuals have recovered.

Hardin County Schools have announced that they will host a virtual field day for students on May 11th and 12th. On the flipgrid app using the code HCS2020, or on the Hardin County Schools website, students will video themselves performing the tasks in the activities list and upload the videos. Videos of other students performing the same tasks can also be viewed.

A Hardin County middle school has selected a new principal. Bluegrass Middle School Assistant Principal Tanya Jury was chosen as the next principal of the middle school by the school’s site-based decision making council. Jury had previously worked at Bluegrass Middle before from 2013 to 2015, at which time she left for Nelson County High School in the same capacity. Jury takes over for outgoing Principal Michael Elmore, who is retiring in June.

Friends of Hardin County Animal Shelter are reminding the public of a voucher service for pet food that is available at this time. To apply for a voucher, email the organization at fohcas.ky@gmail.com.

The location for Saturday’s Hardin County High School and GED graduation has been changed. The event for was previously scheduled to take place at Central Hardin High School in an outside ceremony, but due to inclement weather that is expected, the location has been changed to College View Education Center. This is the former GC Burkhead Elementary School building, located at 521 Charlemagne Boulevard in Elizabethtown. The time and date of the graduation will remain the same, taking place tomorrow at 9 AM.