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Elizabethtown City Council approves budget

94.3 The Wolf

The Elizabethtown City Council met for their second meeting of the month Monday.

The council approved a zoning map amendment for 712 College Street Road that changes the property from R-3 to R-6/C-2, allowing for commercial and multi-family residential development. The council also approved the 2024-2025 city budget. The budget includes about $149.9 million in total funds available and about $119.7 million in total expenditures. Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory thanked department heads and city staff for their work on a budget that he said is responsible but ambitious.

“We are at a different time in our city’s history, and we have a lot of things that we need to make sure that we stay ahead of, and this budget allows us to reinvest in our community to be able to accomplish those goals and to keep this what I consider the best city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Gregory said.

First readings were held on ordinances that amend the city’s sewer use ordinance and approve the operation of medical cannabis facilities in the city. Both will go up for approval on their second readings at the next council meeting.

The council approved several municipal orders including bids related to paving that were awarded to Scotty’s Contracting and Stone, a $110,000 proposal from MCCI LLC for the implementation of online permitting software for the city, and a $91,300 contract for roofing contractor Bluegrass Brothers to replace the canopy on Elizabethtown City Hall which is often damaged by trucks turning onto U.S. 62.

“We’re going to a different method,” Gregory said. “They’re going to take the canopy down, put the band board around it, and it’s going to be basically flush with the brick which will alleviate that issue in the future, so that’s what that project is. That’s what we’re headed towards now.”

Following a closed session, the council approved the appointment of Bobby Tabb to complete the term of late Council Member Bill Wiseman. A release from the city says Tabb, who previously served a term on the council from 2016 to 2017, will be sworn in by Mayor Gregory Tuesday and assume responsibilities on the council immediately.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet July 8.

Meade County Sheriff’s Office investigating bar fight that ended with stabbing

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The Meade County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a fight at a bar landed a man in the hospital.

According to a release from the sheriff’s office, Meade County Dispatch received a call shortly after midnight on June 15 regarding a physical altercation at Bob’s Bar on Flaherty Road that resulted in a man getting stabbed. While on their way to the scene, an additional call reporting shots fired came in to dispatch.

Law enforcement secured the area and Meade County EMS and the Flaherty Fire Department rendered medical assistance to the injured subject, who was transported by ambulance to a Louisville hospital. The sheriff’s office says the suspects fled the scene prior to the arrival of officers.

The Muldraugh and Vine Grove police departments, along with the Kentucky State Police, assisted at the scene. The sheriff’s office says the investigation remains ongoing.

KYTC draws attention to pollinator habitats as National Pollinator Week is celebrated

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National Pollinator Week runs now through June 23, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is doing their part to assist critters and help the environment. 

The KYTC says since 2015 crews have seeded more than 100 habitat sites across the commonwealth, covering about 200 acres along Kentucky interstates, parkways, and other state-owned rights of way.

The multi-year effort to plant nectar-rich flowers and native plants supports pollinators that are key to crop production. The habitats attract birds, bees, butterflies, and other creatures that drink nectar or feed off pollen, which transports grains from plant to plant and helps maintain a stable food supply.

Pollinator sites can be seen along many roadside areas including fields between interstate lanes and exit ramps, alongside multi-lane parkways, and around four-lane highways. Additional pollinator habitats have been added to construction of Interstate 69, and monarch butterfly waystations have been installed at welcome centers and rest areas.

Hardin County has several pollinator habitats located along Interstate 65 and the Western Kentucky Parkway. An interactive map of all locations in the state and more information on the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s ecology program can be found on the KYTC’s website.

Radcliff council holds special meeting to have first readings on 2024-2025 budget

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The Radcliff City Council met for a special called meeting Friday in order to begin action on the next city budget.

“These are going to be the first readings for our budget year 2024-2025, and then we plan on having the second reading at our regular scheduled meeting, which will be Tuesday the 18th,” said Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall.

The first readings were held on the 2024-2025 budget ordinance along with two ordinances amending parts of the city’s classification and compensation plan for employees.

Radcliff Executive Officer Ashley Russo read the budget ordinance, which details amounts set for anticipated revenue and expenditures.

Total resources available listed in the budget are:

-General Fund: $16,407,100 
-Road LGA Funds: $542,000 
-Stormwater Utility Fund: $1,334,000

Total appropriations listed in the budget are:

-General Fund: $16,407,100 
-Road LGA Funds: $542,000 
-Stormwater Utility Fund: $1,334,000

The budget, which totals about $17 million, will go up for approval on its second reading at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

Hardin County Animal Shelter in desperate need of adopters as capacity issues continue

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Hardin County Animal Care and Control Director Mike McNutt says the Hardin County Animal Shelter is in desperate need of adopters as the shelter continues to deal with capacity issues.

“If you’re ready to make a commitment to an animal, please come see us,” McNutt said. “We have zero space on the adoption floor. Animals are coming in at an alarming rate, and it’s this way across the nation.”

McNutt says the Hardin County pet community is a strong one, and he is looking for people potentially looking to join that community.

“It is filled with wonderful people,” McNutt said. “It’s filled with wonderful veterinarians. There are some wonderful vets here that work with people every day, and we can’t do what we do without the vets doing what they do in the community, so if you have room in your home, you have room in your heart, please come out and give us a hand.”

McNutt says while the situation is dire, only people that are ready to make the long-term commitment necessary for raising an animal should apply.

“I don’t want somebody coming in and taking a dog home for the weekend and then bringing it back,” McNutt said. “That does not help us. That does not help any shelter. There is no such thing as a perfect animal. When you take it home, you have to help that animal become acclimated to your home, and that can take six months to 18 months.”

The Hardin County Animal Shelter is open Monday through Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at 220 Peterson Drive in Elizabethtown. Contact the shelter or visit their Facebook page for more information.

Central Hardin’s Buckles among Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame inductees

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The Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame is getting ready to celebrate its latest class of inductees.

The Hall of Fame will honor the Class of 2024 in a ceremony at the State Theater this Saturday.

Hall of Fame Board Member Rick Walters said each year the organization reviews and approves 12 to 14 members for induction.

“For coaches, they look at their overall records and things that they won,” Walters said. “District and region titles, and how many state titles, and were they Coach of the Year, stuff like that. For players, it’s whether they were All-State players, their scoring records, and how many districts or regions they won and state championships.”

Among the inductees is former Central Hardin High School coach Terry Buckles. In a career that spanned 24 seasons, teams under Buckles posted a record of 548 and 171, winning six region championships and finishing state runner-up in 1996. Buckles was named Region 5 Coach of the Year six times.

“I’ve known Terry Buckles since he went to East Hardin and I did too, so I’ve known Terry a long time as a player and a coach, and he’s just an all-round good person, a great teacher and coach, and his players liked to play for him, I think.”

Visit the Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame’s website for ticket information on Saturday’s ceremony.

City of Radcliff celebrating Juneteenth

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The City of Radcliff will celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery, with an event this Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at North Hardin High School.

“We’re celebrating the ability to go in and do things that we never got to do before, and we want our children and our families and others to remember where we came from in order to be able to go into the future and do some great and amazing things and not take it for granted,” said Radcliff City Council Member Michelle Mitchell. 

The event will feature food trucks, live music, vendors, speakers, resources, a kid zone, and giveaways.

Event organizer Kevin Russell says the theme of this year’s event is “Past, Present, and Future,” and three individuals (Carl Brashear, Mary Gathers, and Jathan Brydie) will be honored for their contributions to the community.

The featured speaker is Earle, Arkansas, Mayor Jaylen Smith, the youngest African-American mayor in the United States.

“He’s going to come to talk to us about community involvement and how we all can make our community grow; how we all, everybody, can be a part of the community,” Russell said. “You may think that ‘my little piece is not significant,’ but everybody’s piece is significant to make your community grow.”

The Radcliff Juneteenth celebration is free and open to the public.

LATADD director London discusses development in the region

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Lincoln Trail Area Development District Executive Director Daniel London said each county pays 39 cents per citizen to be part of LTADD.

“You don’t want to hear about the 39 cents, you want to hear about the return on investment, because that’s what we look for,” London said. “The average return on investment last fiscal year was $270 from the ADD, so think about this: you buy a 39 cents stock, but you get $270 back, we would all buy that stock, and so the AD district is providing great support to local governments and communities as a result of that.”

London was the featured speaker at the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce’s June general membership luncheon, held at Phillips Grove banquet hall Wednesday. London discussed the major priorities of LTADD including community and economic development and workforce development.

London said the area right now is “bursting at the seams” with economic development opportunities, but major infrastructure improvements are needed to prepare for what is coming.

“What we came up with is almost $1 billion in infrastructure that is needed over the next six years to make this a soft landing,” London said. “That is an incredibly staggering number. This is not even all the infrastructure that’s needed for our region. We have another over $1 billion that’s not on this chart that our CED department is tracking.”

London said he wanted to clarify that the cost was not directly tied to major developments like BlueOval SK in Hardin County and Nucor in Meade County.

“We have significant issues with our infrastructure all across the state that can’t keep up,” London said. “Now, has the BlueOval project as well as others moved that timeline up? That’s when we’re replacing it? Absolutely. That is absolutely fair, but at the end of the day, this is all spending that has to happen at some point to continue the growth that we have.”

London touched on some of the recent studies that LTADD has been a part of, including a look at the lack of available childcare in the area that shows more than 2,000 work-willing adults would be able to return to the workforce with an increase in available childcare services and a housing study that shows Hardin County is about 4,500 housing units short of current needs. A transportation study that is looking at possible public transportation options for Hardin and Meade counties should be completed by September. Those studies and more information can be found on the Lincoln Trail Area Development District website.

Court hears arguments for motion to dismiss filed by Steven Lawson

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Crystal Rogers investigation suspect Steven Lawson was back in court Thursday as the court heard arguments on a motion to dismiss the charges against him. 

Steven Lawson faces charges of Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Tampering with Physical Evidence in connection with his involvement in the 2015 disappearance of Crystal Rogers, but Lawson’s defense attorney Ted Lavit has argued those charges should be dismissed based on promises of immunity made in exchange for Lawson’s cooperation with the investigation.

Lavit and Special Prosecutor Shane Young made their arguments to Nelson Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III in a hearing Thursday.

Young said the immunity deal was contingent on Lawson being completely honest with investigators, but Young said inconsistencies in Lawson’s statements to law enforcement show that has not been the case. Young said Lawson has made conflicting statements on his relationship with Brooks Houck, his knowledge of Joseph Lawson’s use of his skid steer, and the involvement of Steven Lawson’s now-deceased ex-wife.

Lavit said that Lawson did everything that investigators had asked him to do, and many of the inconsistencies stem from pressure law enforcement was putting on Lawson. Lavit said Lawson’s testimony was obviously useful to the commonwealth because it was used to get grand jury indictments against Houck and Joseph Lawson.

Judge Simms said he would review the arguments and make a ruling soon. The next scheduled hearing in the case is set for July 8, when attorneys for Houck will argue against trying all three suspects in the same trial.

EHMS Beta Club brings home two national championships

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The East Hardin Middle School Beta Club is returning from the National Beta Conference in Savannah, Georgia, with some hardware.

The Beta Club raked in 15 total awards recognizing placement in the top 10 in several competitions, and Beta Club sponsor and East Hardin art teacher Molly Hazle said one of the crowning achievements capped an effort the students put into the entire school year.

“Our biggest thing we do, where we have about 90 kids participating, is our very big Large Group Talent performing arts, and that’s supposed to showcase any kind of talent for singing, dancing, or speaking,” Hazle said. “We put on a show about BETA through the ages, and we just got national champions for that.”

The club also won the national championship for the solo/duo/trio competition.

Hazle said she is very proud of a well-deserving group of students.

“The last two years, Group Talent is what we pour our heart into the most, and we were national runner up two years in a row, so this is really rewarding for all of us,” Hazle said. “It was a long time coming. We really wanted that national title.”

The Beta Club asks students to strive for achievement in and out of the classroom.

“It is a service organization, but you also have to make certain grades to stay in,” Hazle said. “We ask our students to maintain all As and Bs throughout the year. They have to do 24 hours of service in their community throughout the year, and the four pillars are “achievement, character, leadership, and service,” so it is for students that embody all four of those pillars.”

Hazle said the club will take all students that are willing to put in the effort, and if interested in joining they can reach out once the new school year begins.