WULF News

The Elizabethtown Police Department is looking to collaborate with the community on a new way to fight against crime and increase public safety. The department has introduced the idea of the Virtual Eyes on Crime initiative. Anyone with a camera on the interior or exterior of their home is asked to fill out a form available on the Elizabethtown Police Department’s Facebook page, which will allow the department to reach out and ask for potential assistance in the event a crime occurs in the resident’s area. This will not give EPD access to surveillance systems without permission. More information can be found by contacting the Elizabethtown Police Department.

The Elizabethtown Fire Department responded to a fire in a medical office last Friday morning. Pumpers responded to Cool Springs Center around 8:15 AM. According to reports, a fire started in an electrical outlet, and was quickly extinguished by an employee with a fire extinguisher. Once it was confirmed the fire had not spread into the walls, the building was ventilated, and the fire department cleared the scene. The department stresses having a fire extinguisher available at all times, such as in this case.

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College will be introducing the first coding academy at a public institution in the Commonwealth this upcoming February. The program will be seventeen weeks, and will be Monday through Friday. Applicants for the program will be required to take an aptitude test, pass a background check, and participate in an interview to be considered for the Academy. For more information or to apply, visit elizabethtown.kctcs.edu/codingacademy.

Yesterday morning marked the 14^th anniversary of the disappearance of Vicky Deluarier, and the Vine Grove Police Department is not giving up hope in looking for her. Delaurier was last seen leaving her place of employment, a Sav-A-Lot grocery store, on December 17, 2005. Her car was found the following day, abandoned with her personal property still in the vehicle. Vine Grove Chief of Police Kenneth Mattingly reminds the public to relay any information obtained regarding the case to the Vine Grove Police Department.

A fatal collision in Bullitt County had I-65 shut down for two hours early this morning.  According to preliminary information from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the collision took place at Mile Marker 110 and involved two vehicles, one of which was a semi-truck. The incident is still under investigation.

An Illinois man was arrested after threatening passengers on a bus with a screwdriver. The incident took place at the Pilot Gas Station in Sonora. According to arrest citations from Kentucky State Police Post 4, Justin Steele was threatening passengers with the weapon before walking inside the Pilot. When Steele was told he could no longer travel on the bus, he pushed the driver out of the way and entered back on. He was told multiple times to leave, but refused. Steele was charged with disorderly conduct and menacing. He is lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

College Signing Day was yesterday for athletes, and a press conference was held at North Hardin High School for Octavius Oxendine to make his announcement. The defensive end that helped lead North Hardin to a 13-1 record this past season announced he had committed to the University of Kentucky.

A tragic automobile collision took two lives yesterday morning. The Elizabethtown Police Department responded to the 2500 block of Leitchfield Road at around 11 AM. Preliminary investigation showed that a vehicle being driven by 17-year-old John “JT” Wigelsworth was traveling on US 62 and went into a skid, causing it to enter the opposing lane and strike a van driven by 79-year-old Louise Pullen. The two were pronounced deceased at the scene. Wigelsworth was a senior at Central Hardin High School, and Pullen was a former bus driver for Hardin County Schools. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

A Radcliff man has been arrested on kidnapping and other charges. According to a release from the Shepherdsville Police Department, 22-year-old Joshua Reynolds stole a vehicle with a thirteen month old child inside from in front of the UPS store on Adam Shepherd Parkway. A traffic stop was attempted on the vehicle, but Reynolds attempted to flee. He eventually lost control of the vehicle, drove off the right side of the rode, and came to a rest. He was taken into custody without further incident, and the child in the vehicle was unharmed. Reynolds is charged with theft by unlawful taking, kidnapping, fleeing or evading, reckless driving, wanton endangerment, no operator’s license, and DUI.

The Elizabethtown Police Department responded to a drunk driving incident Sunday night in front of GC Burkhead Elementary School. Michael Williams, who was heavily intoxicated, was driving down St. John road when he crossed the center line and struck another vehicle. As a result, the other driver was transported to Hardin Memorial Hospital for treatment. Williams breath alcohol level was more than two and a half times over the legal limit. He has been lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is seeking nominations for their Beacons of Light Award. The award celebrates local black citizens who are heroes in their communities. Submissions must be limited to 300 words or less, and can be submitted to jlamons0001@kctcs.edu.

Kentucky State Police Post 4 will be hosting their Shop with a Trooper event next Monday at the Leitchfield Wal-Mart. There will be pizza and drinks, as well as an opportunity to visit with Santa. The post is still accepting monetary donations for the event in order to shop more for the kids. Donations can be made by calling Post 4, or can be dropped off at the new post location on New Glendale Road.

Two wanted individuals have been taken into custody. Michael Bayne and Kayla Boone, also known as Kayla Reynolds, who were recently featured on Hardin County Crime Stoppers, are now in custody. Boone was arrested by the Elizabethtown Police Department for receiving stolen property, assault, and fleeing or evading police, while Bayne was arrested by the Radcliff Police Department for trafficking methamphetamine. Anyone with tips regarding any current or new crimes should contact Hardin County Crime Stoppers.

The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information after a convenience store was robbed at gunpoint. According to a press release from Sheriff Norman Chaffins, the clerk at the Smitty City Convenience Store advised that a male subject entered the store on Tuesday night wearing a dark ski mask and demanded money from the register. The clerk complied, but was still struck in the back with the weapon the suspect was carrying. The suspect fled the store with the cash in an unknown direction. Anyone with information regarding the crime is encouraged to contact the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office.

The Elizabethtown Lions Club will be hosting their annual spaghetti dinner, one of their biggest fundraisers, tonight at Central Hardin High School from 5 PM- 8 PM. Tickets are $6.50 for adults, $5.50 for students, and kids five and under are free. The meal comes with spaghetti, garlic toast, salad, and a drink. Funds from the event will go towards eyesight preservation efforts in the community.

Saint James Catholic School in Elizabethtown announced their first tuition scholarship, established by Brian and Lindsey Alicna. The scholarship is in honor of Brian’s sister Amy, who passed away as a sixth-grader at Saint James in 1986. Conditions for the scholarship are membership at Saint James Catholic Church, and a real financial need for the assistance. More information can be found by contacting Saint James, or applying for the scholarship at ceflou.org. The applications open on December 15^th.

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College will begin offering commercial driver’s licensing classes next year. There is already a waiting list to get into the class. The program had a tractor and trailer donated to them by Nall’s Specialized Hauling, and also will make use of a CDL simulator. More information can be found under the Workforce Solutions tab at elizabethtown.kctcs.edu.

The seventh annual Christmas with Kory Caudill and Friends concert will be held at First Christian Church in Elizabethtown this Saturday. The show begins at 7:30 PM. Tickets range from $13-$15 and can be purchased at the door or online at fccetown.com.

The man responsible for the deaths of two local teens and seriously injuring two others was formally sentenced yesterday afternoon in Hardin Circuit Court. According to Hardin County Commonwealth Attorney Shane Young, Shawn Welsh was sentenced to multiple life sentences for the deaths of Jacob Barber and Katarina Peters, as well as the serious injury of Macie McMillen and Cameron Brown. These sentences will run concurrently. Young says it was the Commonwealth’s recommendation that Welsh spend the rest of his life in prison.

The Elizabethtown Police Department responded to the Kroger on Dolphin Drive Tuesday morning after reports of heavy shoplifting. According to arrest warrants, Kimberly Coffer entered the store with another female and selected over $1500 in merchandise. Upon being stopped by loss prevention, the two fled on foot and jumped into a van, which then drove away. When a traffic stop was made at North Mulberry and Ring Road, officers found approximately eight large trash bags filled with stolen merchandise, as well as logs of locations thefts had occurred with addresses ranging from Illinois to Georgia, and logs detailing total items stolen by person by date. Coffer and her associates are charged with engaging in organized crime, receiving stolen property, and shoplifting.

Kentucky State Police Post 4 is asking for the public’s assistance in gathering information on a suspect in an act of vandalism. Needham Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Smith Chapel United Methodist Church, both on Laruel Ridge Road in Eastview, reported someone breaking in and causing severe property damage. It was discovered that a storage shed next to Needham had been set on fire, and several items had been stolen from both locations. Anyone with information is asked to call KSP Post 4.

Kentucky State Police Post 4 is moving into and operating out of their new location at 820 New Glendale Road today. Calls for service will not be interrupted during this transition. More information about KSP Post 4 can be found at kentuckystatepolice.org.

New Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear was inaugurated yesterday in Frankfort, officially taking the position from former Governor Matt Bevin. Beshear defeated Bevin in the November 5^th election, but the results were subjected to a recanvass, which showed no change.