The Elizabethtown Police Department has released a statement concerning a threat to a Hardin County School for today. “At around 3:50 Tuesday afternoon, we were contacted by Hardin County control in reference to a threatening complaint. The initial report indicated a seventh grade student at Bluegrass Middle School shared plans with fellow classmates indicating the suspect planned to bring a gun to campus this morning and shoot other students. Our officers interviewed multiple witnesses who substantiated the complaint. Within an hour and a half of us receiving the initial complaint, the suspect was identified and taken into custody for Terroristic Threatening 2nd degree. Regardless of the suspect’s age, this type of behavior is criminal and will not be tolerated,“ stated Public Affairs Officer Chris Denham. No additional information is available at this time.
COVID-19 numbers in Kentucky and nationwide are rising while flu and RSV decline. During his recent Team Kentucky update, Governor Beshear announced that most Kentucky counties are at a moderate to high community level. Currently Hardin, Meade, Breckinridge, LaRue and Grayson counties are rated at low community levels. Influenza in Kentucky is declining but remains at elevated levels. The most recent numbers provided by Lincoln Trail District Health Department for the week ending January 14th shows 9 new cases in Hardin County with just over 250 total cases in the county. Nelson and Meade also reported a lab confirmed cases of flu in the same week.
The Elizabethtown City Council met for a work session last night. Several department heads provided updates on projects. One project that is causing some excitement is the addition of 8 to 10 pickleball courts. “The city is really excited about several projects we have going on. Specifically in our Parks and Rec Department, we have the pickleball courts. We’ve had a lot of people reach out to us about those and came and did a presentation. So, we’re glad the Council approved those and we’re hoping to have those start construction in the spring at the American Legion,” said Spokesperson Amy Inman.
The City Council also heard from the new Executive Director for CASA of the Heartland, Michelle Kail. She provided an update on the work CASA accomplished last year. “So, we were able to serve 126 children in Hardin County with 52 volunteers, which totals to about 525 home visits and 1,250 hours of advocacy for children in our community.”
The next meeting of the Elizabethtown City Council will be on February 6.
The City of Elizabethtown Planning and Development Commission will be reviewing the Commercial Design plan for a proposed second Chick-Fil-A coming to town this evening. After the presentation of the design, a vote will be taken. The proposed location of the new Chick-Fil-A restaurant is at the former Ryan’s Steakhouse on Executive Drive and is expected to open in 2024, if approved.
A second person injured after the Denny’s sign fell last week in Elizabethtown has died. According to the family, Lloyd Eugene Curtis, Sr passed away at his home early Monday morning. His wife, Lillian Mae Curtis, passed away last week after succumbing to injuries she sustained when the Denny’s sign fell onto their car Thursday. Mr. Curtis had recently been released from the hospital and placed in hospice care after having open heart surgery days before the sign fell on their vehicle. No funeral arrangements have been announced at this time.
The Warm Blessings Community Kitchen will be closed through January 28th for Day Shelter and Community Services due to several employees, volunteers and guests having COVID-19. No shelter space, no showers or laundry or Blessing Bags will be given out this week. However, evening meal service and senior meal delivery will continue as normal. Room At The Inn will also be closed for the next several days. According to Room In The Inn, the guests who have COVID-19 have been placed in hotels for isolation. If anyone would like to help off-set the costs of the hotel expenses, donations are being accepted. For more information, please visit the Facebook pages for Warm Blessings and Room In The Inn.
The LaRue County Sheriff’s Office responded to a possible burglary in progress early Sunday morning. According to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to a residence on Tanner Road where it was determined two males arrived and began beating on the door asking those inside to open up. When a male resident opened the door, he was punched in the face by Thomas Heath, age 44 of Hodgenville. The second male, James Hargis, age 38 of Somerset, also entered the house, assaulted the male resident and also assaulted a female inside the residence. Heath was also found to have a gun on him during the crime. The investigation is ongoing.
Hardin County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney Appointed As Special Prosecutor In Three High Profile Nelson County Cases
Hardin County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney has been appointed by the State Attorney General as the Special Prosecutor to work on three unsolved, high-profile Nelson County cases. Late Friday afternoon, we obtained a copy of a letter dated January 4th from the office of Attorney General Daniel Cameron appointing the Honorable Shane Young as the Special Prosecutor effective that date. The letter states “this appointment shall be for the purpose of assisting this Office in the prosecution, if any, of potential criminal charges related to the deaths of Jason Ellis, Crystal Rogers and Tommy Ballard … or of any other criminal activity discovered as part of the investigations into those matters.” On Friday evening we reached out for comment from Shane Young. His response was “I am not making any statements.” Young will now work in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office and the United State Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky and those offices have the capability of filing charges at state and federal levels if needed.