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Take care of lithium-ion batteries to ensure proper use and safety

94.3 The Wolf

Lithium-ion batteries supply power to a range of items such as smartphones and tablets, toys, and cars, but Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says with that power comes a few things to remember in order to stay safe.

“Make sure you’re using the charger that comes with that device or with that battery,” Crane said. “Make sure that you’re using them in the right way. If you’re charging it or even if you’ve got it in your device, if you notice that it’s changing shape like it’s swelling, if you notice any odd smells or any leakage or anything like that, then go ahead and take it out of service.”

If you purchase a replacement battery, be mindful of the quality of third-party replacements. Crane says the easiest thing to do with any device is check the manual.

“Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions,” Crane said. “Use the batteries designed for that device. Make sure that when you’re charging the device or the batteries, make sure you don’t put them under a pillow, on your bed, or under anything where they’re not going to be able to dissipate that heat really well.”

When the time comes to dispose of the battery, do so properly.

“Don’t put them in the trash,” Crane said. “Find a recycling spot. There are several locations that will take used batteries, so make sure you recycle them, and then just make sure you’re putting them in an area where they can dissipate the heat.”

Find more fire safety tips on the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s website.

BBB warns of scammers after Memorial Day weekend storms

94.3 The Wolf

The Better Business Bureau is advising area residents impacted by the previous weekend’s storms to be on the lookout for scammers trying to take advantage of people at a vulnerable time.

The BBB says residents should be aware of rights and protections that are available to them from the state, which can be found on the Kentucky Attorney General’s website. Governor Andy Beshear has also activated the state’s price gouging law, violations of which can also be reported to the attorney general’s office.

If you do have to have repairs done, try to get several quotes, and be mindful of anybody trying to pressure you into what they call a deal. Never pay for a job in advance, and be wary of a contractor that demands full or half payment up front. Get any agreed upon contract in writing.

The BBB also says to beware of FEMA imposters. FEMA does not charge for inspections and workers for FEMA always wear ID badges. If a certified FEMA representative approaches you and you want to confirm their identity, contact FEMA at www.fema.gov or call 202-646-2500 to confirm they are in your area.

LG&E and KU customers should also be wary of scammers posing as the electric utility. LG&E and KU will never call consumers and demand payment over the phone in order to restore power or prevent it from being shut off.

More tips and resources are available on the BBB’s website.

Paving work under way on Dixie Avenue in Elizabethtown; bridge deck work in Bardstown starts Monday

94.3 The Wolf

Work has begun on asphalt resurfacing on U.S. 31W in Elizabethtown from the town square to Saint John Road.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four says the paving work requires nightly lane closures which will begin each evening at 7 p.m. and should be completed by 6 a.m.. The work is being conducted at night to minimize disruptions and should be completed by this weekend.

Meanwhile, work on the bridge deck of Woodlawn Road over the Bluegrass Parkway in Bardstown is set to begin Monday. That work will require a 30-day closure, for which a signed detour will be in place using the loop around KY 605 via U.S. 150, KY 245, and U.S. 62.

Drivers should pay close attention to signs and watch for flaggers, and use extra caution when driving through work zones.

Hardin County Schools Summer Meals Program starts June 3

94.3 The Wolf

Hardin County Schools will provide free lunches for any child 18 years old or younger on weekdays this summer with their Summer Meals Program.

“Every day during the summer, there are always children and their families who come to take advantage of not only the school locations, the school site locations, but also the locations that are mobile,” said Hardin County Schools Community Relations Specialist John Wright. 

He says HCS is excited to offer this federally-supported program.

“We know for some students or some children that this may be a way to provide meals for a meal that they may not have been able to receive throughout the summer months, so there’s a great need for it and we’re glad that our Child Nutrition Department can provide the Summer Meals Program,” Wright said.

The program runs June 3 through July 26, with no meals on July 4. Children do not have to be a HCS student to participate. Adult meals are available for $3. Food must be eaten on site.

A menu and a list of locations can be found under the Quick Links tab on the Hardin County Schools website.

Free fishing weekend means no need for permits and licenses on June 1 and 2

94.3 The Wolf

If you have been looking for an excuse to get back into fishing, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has one for you this weekend.

KFW will host a free fishing weekend this Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2. Licenses and permits will not be required for Kentucky residents and visitors who are looking to cast out a line.

Tips and tricks for beginners can be found on the Learn to Fish page on the KFW website. Several communities across Kentucky are offering free fishing events for families on Saturday, details for which are also available on the web.

The fishing page of the KFW website also includes the annual fishing forecast which will help anglers identify sites across the state where they are most likely to find success on the water. The Fishing in Neighborhoods Program offers easily accessible, specially stocked lakes near the state’s population centers.

If you are heading out on the water to do your fishing, remember to wear your life jackets and follow all boating laws and regulations. While licenses and permits are not required to fish on June 1 and 2, you must still follow rules on fish size and number limits.

Visit the KFW’s online Fishing and Boating Guide for more information.

KFW reminds boaters to be safe on the water this summer

94.3 The Wolf

Summertime means trips to the lake and fun on the water, so the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife is reminding residents to take extra precautions to have a safe and enjoyable time.

KFW says thoroughly check that required equipment is present and in good working order before launching your boat. Watch weather forecasts and stay aware of your surroundings. Make sure somebody on the shore knows your itinerary and the passengers going out on the water with you. Ensure that Coast Guard-approved life jackets are readily available and are worn by children 12 and under at all times.

Jon Fillingham is the projects manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rough River Lake. He says boaters and swimmers should make sure to follow all posted signage and stay away from prohibited areas.

“There are quite a few places that have prohibited swimming areas, such as we don’t allow swimming at our boat ramps or off our fishing piers, and there’s reasons for that, and it’s because there’s underwater hazards or there’s something else that makes it a dangerous situation,” Fillingham said.

Officials are reminding residents that alcohol and water do not mix. Operating a boat while intoxicated is just as dangerous as operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, and Fillingham says impairment on the water sets in in a different way.

“It’s a lot different when you’re outside on the water,” Fillingham said. “The wave action, the sun beating down on you, the noise, and just the environment you are in causes your ability to decrease much more significantly than if you were in a controlled environment, say sitting on your back porch or sitting at your house.”

Boaters are encouraged to check out the 2024-2025 Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide.

Memorial Day weekend storms result in damage and one death in Hardin County

94.3 The Wolf

Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency across the commonwealth as communities continue to clean up the damage from storms that swept through the area over the weekend.

The governor’s office says the storms produced heavy rain showers and thunderstorms with strong winds, hail, and in some locations tornadoes. Crews from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four worked to clear trees and debris from roadways across the area.

Hardin County Emergency Management Director Joey Scott said the county was among the areas impacted.

“We had a system go through the north end of Radcliff and the Meade County/Hardin County line area that was potentially a tornado touchdown, and it caused extensive damage in the Meade County area,” Scott said.

Scott confirmed that one storm-related death was reported in Hardin County, one of four storm-related deaths confirmed by the state.

“We had extensive tree damage across the county,” Scott said. “Power lines were down from both storm systems that came through. At this time, we have had reports of maybe one or two structures damaged in the county.”

Nolin RECC Communications Manager Sarah Fellows said crews were busy throughout the weekend, with about 50 customers still without power Monday.

“At the height of our outages, we had about 4,200 members, mostly in Hardin County who had experienced a service disruption, and of course a lot of that is trees and lines that were down because of the storms that came through,” Fellows said. “We got the brunt of our damage, I think, through the first storm.”

If your property sustained damage due to the storms, take pictures and contact your county’s emergency management office.

Unemployment rates in Kentucky up from last year but down from last month

94.3 The Wolf

Unemployment rates rose in 118 counties in Kentucky from April 2023 to April 2024, including in the Lincoln Trail District.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the state unemployment average for April 2024 was reported at 4.3 percent. That’s an increase from the 3.5 percent average that was reported in April of 2023. Unemployment rates across the commonwealth did, however, see a decrease from March of this year.

The unemployment average for the Lincoln Trail District in April 2024 came in at 4.3 percent. Three counties in the district are under the state average.

Hardin County unemployment for April 2024 was reported at 4.4 percent. That’s an increase from the 3.5 percent rate reported in April 2023 and a decrease from the 5.1 percent rate reported in March of 2024.

Breckinridge County posted the highest April unemployment rate in the district at 4.8 percent, while Washington County posted the lowest at 3.2 percent, which ties for the lowest in the state.

Visit the Kentucky Center for Statistics on the web for more information on unemployment data.

Elizabethtown and Bardstown sites among EV charging grant recipients

94.3 The Wolf

Governor Andy Beshear announced additional funding for electric vehicle charging locations across the commonwealth, and area communities are among the sites.

The governor discussed the grant funding during his Team Kentucky update Thursday.

“Today’s awards represent an $11.8 million investment through a federal program known as the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program,” Beshear said. “In total, we’ve now awarded $27 million of grants through this program.”

The governor’s office says the chosen sites are selected from identified zones along Kentucky interstates and parkways that have been designated as alternative fuel corridors.

“Throughout Kentucky, we’re going to have access to at least 42 reliable and convenient places to charge vehicles that are located every 50 miles along our interstates and our parkways,” Beshear said.

Among the locations in the third round of funding are the Love’s Travel Stop along the Western Kentucky Parkway in Elizabethtown and the Americas Inn along the Bluegrass Parkway in Bardstown. The program requires that each charging station have at least four charging ports of 150 kilowatts each, be accessible to the public 24/7, and work with most EV models.

More information on the EV grant program can be found at evcharging.ky.gov.

Area law enforcement agencies carrying Special Olympics torch Monday

94.3 The Wolf

Area law enforcement is taking it to the streets Monday to show their support for the Special Olympics as they participate in the annual Torch Relay for the Special Olympics.

“Law enforcement all across the state carry a torch to the opening ceremonies, which will be May 31 in Richmond, Kentucky, at the stadium at EKU for the Special Olympics, and we do it in support and to bring awareness and to prop those athletes up,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Communications Supervisor Chris Lee. 

The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office starts the county leg with the torch and is scheduled to hand it off to the EPD around 9 a.m.

“The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office will start their leg of the run, I believe they start on U.S. 62 West where it goes from two lanes to four lanes, and then they will run to the Cecilian Bank at Leitchfield Road and Ring Road by Central Hardin” Lee said. “We will take the torch from them there and we’ll run our leg, which is up Ring Road to Patriot Parkway and then northbound on Patriot to KY-220, where we will pass the torch off to the Radcliff Police Department and they will continue their leg, and I think they run from there to their station.”

Area residents can support the torch relay by cheering the officers on along the route, and you can make donations to the Special Olympics at each of the agencies’ offices.