WULF News

A strong storm cell that blew through the area Tuesday resulted in widespread power outages and extensive restoration work for Nolin RECC crews.

Nolin RECC Communications Manager Sarah Fellows says the storm that came through did a lot of damage in a short amount of time.

“At the peak there were about 4,300 members without power, and that was really spread across our entire service territory,” Fellows said. “It wasn’t isolated in one area, and because of the widespread nature of that damage, we could see full restoration taking a couple of days, so some members may expect to be without power at least through tomorrow or longer depending on where we find the damage across our system.”

Nolin crews had reduced the number of members without power to about 1,600 by late Tuesday afternoon. You can stay updated on the outages by staying connected via the web.

“We do post updates regularly to our social media channels, especially as we get new information in from the field to be able to update our members, and we also have a real time outage map that can be found at NolinRECC.com,” Fellows said.

The power outages postponed the open house scheduled for West Hardin Middle School seventh and eighth grade families, which has been rescheduled for Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.

“It will be a staggered open house,” said Hardin County Schools Community Relations Specialist John Wright. “Students with last names beginning A through M are asked to attend from 6 to 7 p.m., and then students with last names N through Z are asked to attend from 7 to 8 p.m. The sixth grade Laker Fun Day will still take place on Wednesday the 31st from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Of course, all of that will take place at West Hardin Middle School.”

Watch for downed trees as a result of the storm, and always stay away from downed power lines.

The Lincoln Trail Area Development District is still looking for feedback on its annual assessment survey for older adults.

The survey is now available to all area individuals ages 60 and up who are looking to provide feedback on services available in the development district.

LTADD Home Care and In-Home Services Supervisor Tabitha French says residences from Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, and Washington counties were randomly selected for the initial survey effort. French says the survey results are important for helping LTADD prioritize efforts.

“Well, it definitely gives us an idea of what the needs are in our community,” French said. “We base how we allot different funding that we receive from the state and federal government based on what individuals in the community say their needs are. So, is there a higher need for transportation? Is there a higher need for in-home services, home delivery meals, those types of things?”

Anybody ages 60 and up that was not selected in the random sampling and wants to provide feedback can visit www.ltadd.org or the Lincoln Trail Area Development District Facebook page to find the link for the survey. Information on regional services and other studies LTADD has been a part of can be found on the development district’s website.

Friends of Hardin County Animal Shelter is gearing up for their annual fundraising event the Dirty Dog Bash, which will be held at The Venue at Highland Farm on Saturday, August 10.

FOHCAS President Myra Covault says the organization is excited to celebrate a special occasion that is extra special this year.

“We are so happy to be back at The Venue at Highland Farm in Elizabethtown, and it’s just a perfect location to also be celebrating not only the fundraising angle but it is our tenth anniversary of FOHCAS,” Covault said. “Please come out and celebrate that with us.”

The Dirty Dog Bash will feature dinner, a cash bar with dog-themed drinks, a drink pull, a live and silent auction, and door prizes. Covault says the event will also highlight local artists.

“We have local artist Courtney Ballard who has generously agreed to create an original piece that is going to be unveiled at our live auction,” Covault said. “You have got to be there for that. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about how exciting that is to see what she comes up with. For our music, we have a local favorite, Kevin Jaggers, joining us again.”

FOHCAS provides financial support to the Hardin County Animal Shelter, with 100 percent of money raised used to benefit homeless dogs and cats.

“The work that we do is just life-affirming, it’s impactful,” Covault said. “Remember, proceeds from the event benefit our mission to support the work of Hardin County Animal Shelter to advocate for all homeless animals and to provide low-cost spay and neuter options for our communities.”

Tickets to the Dirty Dog Bash are available at www.fohcas.org

KFW says fishing is available to anyone regardless of age, background, and experience level, and Kentucky has plenty of bodies of water that offer fishing opportunities year round.

KFW is encouraging experienced anglers to bring new fishers into the fold with their “Mentor to Win” contest. The contest is free to enter and is open to any licensed angler 16 years of age or older that mentors a new angler, also 16 years of age or older, that purchases a fishing license after having either never purchased a license or having not had a license in the last three years.

Mentors will use the KFW’s MyProfile portal to enter the name and ID number of the person they took fishing. Mentors can take as many new fishers out as they like for multiple entries.

The contest ends August 31. The winner will receive a new kayak, paddle, personal flotation device, and two spinning rod and reel combos.

Visit the KFW’s fishing website for more information on the contest and Kentucky’s fishing opportunities.

A detective with the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office will be honored for his work on a homicide investigation.

Chris Hill will be one of seven investigators that will be presented with the International Homicide Investigators Association’s Award for Excellence in Homicide Investigations.

Bullitt County Sheriff Walt Sholar says the award is a testament to a dedicated and experienced law enforcement professional.

“Chris is always ready to step up and help in any and many fashions that we’ve needed him,” Sholar said. “He serves as a firearms and tactics instructor for our office. He’s one of our drone pilots and is teaching other people here at our sheriff’s office how to operate drones.”

Hill is being recognized for leading the investigation into the disappearance and murder of a Bullitt County resident in 2020, ultimately resulting in two guilty pleas and 30-year sentences for the perpetrators. Hill constructed the case despite the victim’s body never being found. Sholar said Hill had participated in training for such cases.

“He brought those tools back with him, put that together, made a presentation, an outstanding presentation to the Commonwealth Attorney, and then ultimately to the grand jury,” Sholar said. “I’ve been around here for 40 years and it’s the first homicide case that I can recall in Bullitt County ever being presented where we were not able to find the body.”

Sholar said Hill’s award is well-deserved, and is also a tribute to the hard work the rest of the staff at the sheriff’s office puts in each day.

“It shows the professionalism that is going on,” Sholar said. “Chris just epitomizes it, but he is only one cog in the wheel of a very professional organization that all the people that I am blessed to have around me have put together.”

Hill will receive the award at a ceremony in Washington D.C. on August 15.