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Hardin County Sheriff’s Office deputy, passenger killed in collision Sunday evening

94.3 The Wolf

The Kentucky State Police is investigating a fatal collision that occurred in Hardin County Sunday evening.

According to the KSP, shortly after 8 p.m. on July 14 a trooper on patrol came upon a collision at the intersection of the U.S. 31W Bypass and westbound ramp to the Western Kentucky Parkway.

The KSP says the preliminary investigation indicates that 67-year-old Billy Edwards of Elizabethtown was operating a motorcycle on the bypass when a vehicle operated by Cameron Harris “attempted to make a sharp right turn onto the WKP exit ramp, causing him to collide with the motorcycle.” The collision caused the motorcycle to lose control and exit onto the shoulder of the ramp.

Edwards and a passenger, 58-year-old Kathy Edwards of Elizabethtown, were ejected from the motorcycle. Billy Edwards received fatal wounds in the crash, and Kathy Edwards was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hardin County Coroner’s Office. Harris and a passenger in his vehicle reported no injuries.

Billy Edwards was a deputy with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff;s office said in a Facebook post that Edwards was a 24-year veteran of the Elizabethtown Police Department and was working as a school resource officer at the time of his death. He was off duty at the time of the crash.

The KSP says the affected portion of the U.S. 31W Bypass was closed for nearly four hours for accident reconstruction. The KSP’s investigation of the crash is ongoing.

Hardin County Fair wraps up; injured volunteer recovering after accident

94.3 The Wolf

The sixty-first year of “the most fun you can have with your shoes on” wrapped up Saturday night as the Hardin County Fair came to a close.

“We had a really, really good fair week,” said Fair Board PResident Marty Fulkerson. “We ran into some issues with all the storms and tornado warnings Tuesday, that kind of hurt the attendance a little bit, but we had a really, really good fair. It was hot, but gosh, it’s July, and that’s what happens when fair time is here.”

He said entries appeared to be up among 4H and FFA members and a good turnout could be seen in the Family Living Building, including the debut year for the Exceptional category.

A scary situation was seen Saturday morning as one of the fair volunteers was seriously injured while preparing for the Brush Pull and had to be flown to a Louisville hospital for treatment. The fair board said the volunteer is stable and recovering.

“There’s still a long way to go and more surgeries and things it looks like, but it was just a freak accident,” Fulkerson said. “In 61 years, we’ve never had something like that happen. We’ve been pretty blessed, and we’re still praying for him and his family, and he’s got a long road to go.”

Fulkerson said the fair would not be possible without the support of the community and the fair’s sponsors, along with the hard work of the fair team.

“You get a fair board group of 20 people,” Fulkerson said. “There’s no way we can do it. It takes all the volunteers. I think there’s probably 60 or 70 volunteers in the Family Living Building. That track crew up there consists of probably 12 people that make that happen, and it’s a lot of turnovers and turnarounds.”

The Hardin County Fair will return the first full week of July 2025.

$684K worth of drugs seized in KSP’s Operation Summer Heat

94.3 The Wolf

A major summer narcotics operation launched by the Kentucky State Police is showing results. 

Following a three-month long investigation into suspected drug trafficking rings, all sixteen KSP posts joined in on Operation Summer Heat. KSP personnel partnered with law enforcement agencies from across the commonwealth to make a series of arrests.

Governor Andy Beshear included KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. as a speaker during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update. Burnett said the operation resulted in 206 arrests, 490 charges, and the seizure of more than $684,000 in illicit drugs.

“Fentanyl, 554 grams was removed, as well as 2,931 pressed pills of fentanyl, 219 grams of cocaine, 4,862 grams of methamphetamine, 40 grams of heroin, 50 hydrocodone pills, 60 oxycodone pills, and then 90 hallucinogens, as well as other illegal drugs,” said Burnett.

Burnett said Operation Summer Heat is ongoing, with additional arrests expected soon. He said the successful launch of the operation is a testament to the state’s efforts to keep communities safe.

“This statewide initiative is to show a clear message across Kentucky that those who continue to distribute illegal drugs in our communities, the Kentucky State Police and our law enforcement partners local and federal will focus our efforts to cease such activities,” Burnett said.

Beshear said drug enforcement is important, but it goes hand in hand with drug treatment. The governor announced four additional counties, including Nelson County, have received their Recovery Ready Community certifications from the state.

“Since we launched the Recovery Ready Community certification last year, 14 counties have now been certified,” Beshear said. “These communities are stepping up to help fellow Kentuckians who are struggling with addiction. They’re providing families more support through mental health and addiction treatment as well as employment services, and we are grateful for and we applaud their good work.”

Kentuckians seeking treatment help can visit FindHelpNowKY.org. Drug activity can be reported anonymously via the KSP website tip form.

Teachers in Hardin and LaRue counties encouraged to apply for Be a Light grants

94.3 The Wolf

As the new school year approaches, Nolin RECC is encouraging educators in Hardin and LaRue counties to apply for their Be a Light Teacher Grants.

Nolin RECC Communications Manager Sarah Fellows says the Nolin RECC Operation Round-Up board created the Be a Light grant program as a way of honoring and supporting local teachers.

“They know, and they hear from teachers and we all do, that if funds aren’t available for their classrooms, a lot of times that money comes out of their own pockets, so the Be a Light Teacher Grants are a way for the Operation Round-Up board and for Nolin members to say thank you to our local teachers for everything that they do for our children,” Fellows said.

30 $200 grants will be awarded to K-12 teachers in Hardin and LaRue counties. The funds come from the donations Nolin RECC members make through the Operation Round-Up program.

“Nolin members can voluntarily round up their bill each month to the nearest dollar,” Fellows said. “Now for an average Nolin member, that’s only about $6 a year, but we have over 6,000 members who are participating in Operation Round-Up, so when those dollars come together, they can make a huge impact on our community.”

The application for the Be a Light grants can be found at NolinRECC.com. The deadline to apply is August 31.

Breckinridge County Schools hosting open houses ahead of new school year

94.3 The Wolf

Breckinridge County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter says the district has been hard at work all summer gearing up for the new school year.

“Teachers and staff have been working hard throughout the summer with different training opportunities and just getting ready for the year,” Carter said. “Our building maintenance folks and custodians are doing a great job getting our buildings cleaned and looking absolutely wonderful for the start of the year, so I just want to give all of them a huge thanks, and to our principals. They’re working hard getting ready for the year.”

BCS families will get a chance to get into the school buildings ahead of the new year as each school hosts its open house.

“It’s a time that we get to welcome our kiddos and families back into the school and our new students and new families into the school, and what we do with open house is they come in and they get to tour the building, meet teachers, and just get comfortable so that that first day of school isn’t as scary,” Carter said.

Breckinridge County Middle and High schools will host their open houses from 4 to 6 p.m. on July 29, Hardinsburg and Ben Johnson Elementary schools will host theirs from 4 to 6 p.m. on July 20, and Irvington and Custer elementaries will host theirs from 4 to 6 p.m. on August 1.

Carter says the district has a lot to look forward to.

“We’re super, super excited, and I truly believe that it’s going to be one of our best years yet,” Carter said. “It’s a great day to be a Tiger.”

Visit the Breckinridge County Schools website or Facebook page for more information.

HCS Superintendent Morgan among leadership award recipients

94.3 The Wolf

The Kentucky Association of School Administrators has announced the recipients of the 2024 William T. Nallia Educational Leadership Award, and a local superintendent is among those honored.

Hardin County Schools Superintendent Terrie Morgan will be honored with the award along with Livingston County Schools Superintendent David Meinschein and Baird Vice Chair Jim Allen. The KASA says the award “recognizes individuals who have demonstrated visionary leadership and made significant contributions to public education in Kentucky.” 

The three were recognized for their efforts through the Coalition to Sustain the Education Profession, bringing attention to the need for public policy changes that address the Kentucky teacher shortage. The KASA says the award recognizes both their leadership and their commitment to advancing education in the commonwealth.

Morgan said the coalition’s work was a lengthy but worthwhile commitment.

“This effort actually started 18 months prior to the legislative session starting because we realized the scope of the work that was in front of us, which was to communicate the necessity to increase multiple areas of education to include teacher recruitment, pay, and respect for educators,” Morgan said.

Two of the coalition’s recommendations that legislatures picked up were allowing retired teachers to return to classrooms sooner and allowing for emergency certifications, which have been used as a short-term fix.

“We greatly appreciate their work to allow those individuals to come back and work in the workplace, but then we needed a long-range plan which was to recruit and retain teachers who go through a more traditional path of going to school for the Teacher Preparation Program,” Morgan said.

Morgan and her co-recipients will receive the award at the KASA Annual Leadership Institute on July 26.

WKU bike riders traveling country for Alzheimer’s research make stop in Elizabethtown

94.3 The Wolf

Willow Creek Senior Living staff and residents welcomed some special guests for breakfast Thursday morning.

Bike4ALZ made a stop in Elizabethtown as part of their cross-country journey, all in the name of raising funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s research.

The bike riders are 12 Western Kentucky University students, including Business Data Analytics major Adam Pruitt.

“We go from San Francisco and bike all the way to Virginia Beach, raising money for Alzheimer’s research with events and sponsorships, different ways of raising money, but we all have connections with Alzheimer’s,” Pruitt said. “We’ve all been affected, whether it’s our family or friends or just someone in our life.”

The riders had completed about 2,500 miles of their 3,600 mile journey upon arriving in E-Town. Before hitting the road for Louisville, Willow Creek hosted the riders for a breakfast sponsored by The Wright Legacy Group.

Pruitt said so far it has been a good ride.

“We’ve been really hopeful for the end, but also sad that it’s coming to an end, but recently we’ve been able to go to some of our riders’ homes and see and meet family more often, see more faces that we know instead of out west where we’re meeting strangers all the time, and once we’re in this area we’re seeing more familiar faces,” Pruitt said.

Willow Creek Community Relations Coordinator Lori Jury said the show of support from the riders is felt by the staff, residents, and families.

“We love that they’re here so that we can thank them for what they’re doing and we can encourage them as they finish out their last two weeks of the ride on the way to Virginia,” Jury said. “It’s been a long summer for them, and these are young guys that could be doing lots of things. They could be doing internships or working or hanging by the pool at home and we’re just very thankful that they’re doing this to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research.”

You can follow along with the riders or give financial support at bike4alz.org or by finding Bike4ALZ on social media.

Bardstown driver licensing office now open

94.3 The Wolf

Area residents now have an additional option for applying for or renewing their driver’s license. 

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet this week opened the 33rd Driver Licensing Regional Office in the state in Bardstown.

KYTC Vehicle Regulation Commissioner Matthew Cole says the transportation cabinet is excited to bring services to the Bardstown location, located at 860 West Stephen Foster Avenue.

“We bring what everybody sees as just drivers licensing, but it can be so much more,” Cole said. “If someone needs to do an address change, they need to do a name change because of a marriage, divorce decree (sometimes it’s on the bad side of it), but whatever they need, any of those functions that we’re able to help with.”

The current office is a temporary location as the KYTC prepares a permanent Bardstown location. While driver testing, which is administered by the Kentucky State Police, will not be available at this time, all other office functions can be found at the Bardstown site.

“When they offered us the temporary location, it just means we could set up shop sooner,” Cole said. “Obviously, we’ll have the full functionality. It’s just that this will buy us time to be able to finish and furnish a more permanent office that’ll have a more permanent feel to it when it gets done.”

Any driver looking to upgrade their license to a Real ID ahead of the May 7, 2025 deadline can do so by bringing their birth certificate, Social Security card, and two proofs of residence to a license office.

“That’s a federal requirement, and what that’s going to allow people to do is get on domestic flights after that enforcement date, because there’s going to be the standard license, which is good for pretty much everything else, but this is for those other restricted things, which is the domestic flight on commercial flights and getting into restricted federal buildings,” Cole said.

The Bardstown office will be open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments can be scheduled at drive.ky.gov.

Fun at the Hardin County Fair wraps up Friday and Saturday

94.3 The Wolf

The fun continues today at the Hardin County Fairgrounds as the 2024 Hardin County Fair rolls on.

Friday will feature the Gaited Horse Show, which will be held at 7 p.m. at the English ring. 

In addition to great food at the restaurant and from vendors, adorable animals at the petting zoo, and exciting rides at the midway, Friday will feature the 2024 Ms. and Mrs. Hardin County Fair Pageant, which will be held at the performing arts building at 6:30 p.m. Country music act Lincoln Jamboree will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. The second night of the Bullwhip Rodeo will take place at the motorsports track at 8 p.m.

The fair then wraps up Saturday. The fun starts early with the 4H 5K Run at 7:30 a.m. The Academy Gaited Horse Show will be held at the English ring at 10 a.m. The Brush Pull is also at 10 a.m., to be held at the motorsports track. The Baby Contest will be held at the pageant building at 1 p.m. with the Tiny Miss and Mister Contest at 5:30. The first ever King Arthur Baking Flour Baking Contest will be held at 2 p.m. In the family living building. Come out to the livestock pavilion at 7 for Cow Pattie Bingo or the English ring for the Gaited Horse Show, and the action at the fair wraps up with the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League Pull at the motorsports ring at 8. Saturday is also Ag Experience Day, so kids can learn all about the fun of 4H from 2 to 8 p.m. at the livestock pavilion. 

The Hardin County Fair has lots to offer for everybody, and as Fair Board President Marty Fulkerson says: “It’s 61 years of the most fun you can have with your shoes on!”

Find the complete schedule on the Hardin County Fair website or Facebook page.

LTADD looking for feedback via senior needs assessment survey

94.3 The Wolf

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

LTADD Home Care and In-Home Services Supervisor Tabitha French said the response window is divided into two periods.

“A random sampling of 2,800 people were actually chosen,” said French. “They received some information in the mail to complete that survey. There’s actually a link on there, but there’s a paper form that can be completed as well, and then on July 21, we’re going to be opening that up to the general public to complete, and this is all for individuals 60 and over.”

Residences from Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, and Washington counties were randomly selected for the initial survey effort. French said 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 get signed up for a reminder.

“If you’re interested in signing up at the link in order to receive an email notification, you can go to our website at LTADD.org,” French said. “The link will be there as well as on our Facebook and Twitter social media pages as well.”

Information on regional services and other studies LTADD has been a part of can be found on the development district’s website.