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Woman killed and man airlifted after Lincoln Parkway crash

94.3 The Wolf

The Elizabethtown Police Department is investigating a fatal accident that occurred on the Lincoln Parkway Sunday.

Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer John Thomas says shortly before 11 a.m. on June 2, emergency responders were dispatched to the intersection of Lincoln Parkway and Sportsman Lake Road due to a reported serious injury collision.

Upon arrival, responding units found an unresponsive adult female in a white Toyota Highlander, along with a juvenile female who sustained minor injuries. The other vehicle was a black Toyota RAV 4, with the lone occupant being a male driver who also sustained serious injuries.

The driver of the Highlander was taken to Baptist Health Hardin, where she was pronounced dead. The driver of the RAV 4 was transported by air to the University of Louisville Hospital, where he is in critical condition.

Thomas says the preliminary investigation indicates that the Highlander was heading south on Sportsman Lake Road while attempting to cross Lincoln Parkway. The RAV 4 was heading west on Lincoln Parkway and entered the intersection, striking the driver’s side of the Highlander.

The victims are not being identified at this time. The Elizabethtown Police Department Accident Reconstruction Team’s investigation of the crash is ongoing.

Gregory touts pay increases, increased staff, and project plans in 2025 budget

94.3 The Wolf

Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory delivered his message on the city’s budget for fiscal year 2025 during a special meeting of the Elizabethtown City Council Friday.

The mayor thanked the many people involved in developing what he believed to be the largest budget in the city’s history, starting with the department head’s identifying how to improve their departments.

“They have zeroed in on that and figured out how to make their departments better, therefore making it better for our citizens,” Gregory said. “They have sent it to us. We reviewed it. The council did a great job going through each project individually and determining whether it was cost effective and whether it was something that was warranted and needed in the city, and that’s how we got to where we are today.”

The budget includes $119.7 million in expenditures, up $10 million from the prior year, and includes raises to starting pay for fire and police personnel as well as a four percent increase for all other employees. The city will use “reserves from fund balances and external funding sources” to help realize several projects the city has planned for 2025 and beyond.

“All city departments are planning for anticipated growth through the anticipated start of production at BlueOval SK and related developments,” Gregory said. “This budget continues preparations for future years.”

The total police budget is set at $13 million and the total fire budget comes in at $11.7 million. After raising the occupational rate for the current budget, the city does not have plans to raise that rate in the 2025 budget, but an increase to sewer rates is anticipated this fall.

Gregory said the budget includes improvement to current facilities and infrastructure, but also focuses on expansion to support further growth.

“Work continues on the Hawkins Draft project and should be completed early in the budget year,” Gregory said. “This is an important piece to the growth of the south end of town. $1 million has been allocated to complete this project. Funds have also been allocated for various other small projects as well.”

The budget ordinance will go up for its first reading at Monday’s city council meeting.

Roundabout construction at Shepherdsville and Battle Training roads begins

94.3 The Wolf

Work is ready to begin on Hardin County’s next roundabout.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four says roundabout construction at the intersection of Shepherdsville Road and Battle Training Road is getting under way. 

Preliminary work along the right of way at the intersection has started, and drivers entering the intersection from all four directions as well as drivers entering and exiting nearby businesses should be on the lookout for flaggers directing traffic.

The KYTC says the roundabout, which is due to be completed by November 1, will increase safety and efficiency at the intersection that sees nearly 10,000 combined vehicles per day using the two roads. Traffic shifts and short delays should be expected as the work continues.

Meanwhile, the installation of a large culvert on Saint John Road begins Monday, meaning new traffic restrictions in the area.

“We just need everybody to know back through the Croghan Drive neighborhood there that streets like Vanderbilt Drive, Winmoor Drive, Timber Lane, Reelfoot Drive, and Turtle Creek Drive, you’re all going to have to drive out to Harvard Drive in order to access Saint John Road there for the next 30 days,” said KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie. 

Work on the culvert is expected to be completed within 30 days. Follow KYTC District Four social media for project updates.

A Plus Family Healthcare expanding to Elizabethtown to cover Community Health Clinic closure

94.3 The Wolf

The Community Health Clinic announced in a Facebook post on May 30 that the clinic will be closing on June 28, citing “changes in healthcare policies, funding challenges, and other factors” that made it increasingly difficult to sustain operations.

A Plus Family Heathcare Marketing Director Meighan Cable says that A Plus, a Federally Qualified Health Center, learned of the impending closure of the clinic and put together a plan to cover the clinic’s patients.

“My dad is actually on the board of directors for the Community Health Clinic and had talked to me a little bit about it to let me know that there was a potential for someone else to take it over, and I brought it up to our team down at A Plus Family Healthcare in Brownville and it just kind of worked out,” Cable said.

A Plus Family Healthcare currently operates clinics in Brownsville and Sonora, and will be opening an Elizabethtown location this summer. The same services available at the Community Health Clinic are available through A Plus.

“A Plus Family Healthcare is actually a family practice, so it’s your general practitioner, and so that’s where you can go to do all of your normal family practice type things, with full care for pediatrics all the way up to seniors,” Cable said.

Cable says A Plus Family Healthcare’s mission aligns with the mission of the Community Health Clinic.

“The heart of A Plus is taking care of people and making sure that people have quality and affordable health care, for all,” Cable said.

Community Health Clinic patients looking for care after the June 28 closure but prior to the Elizabethtown A Plus clinic opening can visit the Sonora location. Visit A Plus Family Healthcare on the web or on social media for more information and updates.

New traffic restrictions on Saint John Road as crews install culvert

94.3 The Wolf

Work is progressing on the Kentucky Route 1357/Saint John Road project that is addressing safety, deficiencies, and maintenance issues on the road between the U.S. 31W Bypass and Ring Road.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie says crews will begin work Monday on a large culvert replacement that will require new traffic restrictions.

“We just need everybody to know back through the Croghan Drive neighborhood there that streets like Vanderbilt Drive, Winmoor Drive, Timber Lane, Reelfoot Drive, and Turtle Creek Drive, you’re all going to have to drive out to Harvard Drive in order to access Saint John Road there for the next 30 days,” Jessie said.

Message boards were previously placed to alert residents to the restrictions.

“So as part of the Saint John Road project back through there, this is all a huge culvert that’s being rebuilt,” Jessie said. “It’s gonna take the contractor about 30 days to get that done. They have until that point to get the roadway back open and the connection there to Croghan Drive remade.”

The KYTC began the Saint John Road improvement project to address the change in conditions for the roadway that came with the transition of the area from a rural to suburban setting. Any updates to the construction plan will be posted to KYTC District Four social media.

Candidate filing deadline for several local races is Tuesday

94.3 The Wolf

A deadline for folks looking to run for local office is coming up quickly.

“Tuesday, June 4 at 4 p.m. is the deadline to file for several local elected offices,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “If someone has been thinking about running for local office, they need to make sure they get their paperwork in on time.”

Candidates looking to run for Elizabethtown City Council, West Point City Council, Sonora City Commissioner, Upton City Commissioner, the Elizabethtown Independent School Board, Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor, and Hardin County School Board Divisions One, Four, and Five will need to get their paperwork and fees to the Hardin County Clerk’s Office by the deadline.

“Interested candidates should start at the Secretary of State’s Office’s website,” Smith said. “There they can download instructions and the paperwork that is applicable to the office they’re filing for.”

Smith and the Hardin County Board of Elections will host the public ballot position drawing in the fiscal courtroom on Thursday, June 6 at 2 p.m. after the 1 p.m. election board meeting.

“This is a lottery drawing to determine which candidates come first, second, third, fourth, etc. for those races where we have multiple candidates,” Smith said. “The candidates are welcome. The public’s invited to attend. If you’ve never been to something like that, it’s worth checking out to learn a little bit about how elections work in the background.”

Contact the Hardin County Clerk’s Office for more information.

BBQ and Bikes rolls into Hodgenville Saturday

94.3 The Wolf

American Legion Post 87 will host its fourth annual BBQ and Bikes event this Saturday, June 1 at the creek front in Hodgenville.

Russell Tucker with the Legion post says the festivities Saturday kick off with a charity bike ride hosted by KMA District 12.

“Registration starts at 8 a.m. with kickstands up at 10,” Tucker said. “They’ll get about an hour and 20 minute ride and then we’ll roll back into Hodgenville, there on the creek front. It is $20 per bike to register for that.”

The event will feature a burn out pit, a bike show hosted by Wolf Customs, vendors, food and drinks, activities for kids, and live music.

“We have four bands coming in,” Tucker said. “We have Austin Scott, we have Joe Morgan with Dirt N Water, we have Sticktight (he’s been traveling all over the world here lately, he’s touring), and we have Rock Station to wind up the night.”

Tucker says the event has something for everybody and has grown each year, a trend he wants to see continue.

“Last year I think we had somewhere around 200 bikes, and I’m hoping we can double that this year,” Tucker said.

All proceeds from the event benefit LaRue county veterans. Find more information on the Bikes and BBQ Hodgenville 2024 Facebook event page.

Kentucky offering food money benefit for kids in need

94.3 The Wolf

Several school districts will be offering summer meal programs, but additional resources are available on the statewide level.

Kentucky has been approved to provide about 450,000 eligible school-age children with a one-time, federally-funded benefit for food purchases.

Governor Andy Beashear’s office says the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program “will automatically enroll students ages 6 to 18 who currently receive benefits through programs offered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services” such as SNAP, Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program, and Kinship Care.

About 80 percent of eligible students will receive $120 by June 30. Students not automatically enrolled who attended schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program with household incomes at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level may qualify. Those families may apply at kysebt.ky.gov or visit their local Department for Community Based Services office.

Additional resources for Kentuckians facing hunger can be found on the state website or by contacting the United Way Helpline at 211.

Hardin County looking to improve safety on Springfield Road

94.3 The Wolf

Hardin County Engineer Mark Absher presented to the Hardin County Fiscal Court Tuesday on the county’s efforts to improve safety on Springfield Road.

Absher said the county looked at crash data from the Kentucky State Police and drove the length of the road several times to identify areas that needed improvement. The Hardin County Road Department also conducted speed studies in two locations which showed average speeds well over the posted 35 miles-per-hour speed limit.

“We consider about 15 percent of the people are going to do whatever they want to do,” Absher said. “It doesn’t matter what you do, it doesn’t matter what you sign, they’re just going to do it, and so we try to look at whatever all the speeds were below that point, so the highest of that group is 53, and it’s 30 miles an hour posted. A couple of speeds were over 60 miles an hour.”

Absher said the county is looking at improved signage for the road, and the county will bring in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for additional support.

“What they will do is provide us with more information on safety improvements they recommend for that same corridor for Springfield Road,” Absher said. “It also provides us with funding for that improvement because if they do the review and they make recommendations then they can grant us money to cover the cost.”

Springfield Road is just one of the roads the county is focused on.

“We’re not going to just stop at Springfield,” Absher said. “We’re going to continue to look at the different roadways and look at any kind of crash information, stuff like that that we’ve got, and so we’re taking a pretty proactive action on this to kind of move forward.”

You can report an issue to the county Engineering Department via the Hardin County website.

Heart of Kentucky Chorus hosting spring show Saturday

94.3 The Wolf

If you are looking for plans this Saturday night, this will be music to your ears.

The Heart of Kentucky Chorus will host their spring show: Rock, Jive, and Hallelujah – A Celebration of American Melodies, which will be held this Saturday at 7 p.m. at the State Theater.

The chorus is under the direction of Aaron Dale, who says Saturday is an opportunity to hear a selection of songs in various styles.

“It’s about 40 men and women singing and a couple of small groups that will sing in and out throughout the show, but mostly the full chorus will be singing,” Dale said.

Donations will be accepted for the Living Waters Guatemala Partnership, which aims to install water purification systems in remote areas of the Central American country that have no access to clean drinking water.

Tickets are $10 and are available from chorus members or at the door when the box office at the State Theater opens at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.