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ECTC cuts ribbon on Robbins University Center

94.3 The Wolf

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College celebrated the ribbon cutting for the Robbins University Center during their Pancakes with the Provost event Tuesday.

According to ECTC, the Robbins Center will allow “four-year colleges and universities to offer high-demand bachelor’s and master’s degrees locally.” Students will complete the first two years of a bachelor’s degree at ECTC and then transfer to a four-year partner that offers classes and support services at the Robbins Center.

ECTC President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate said several recent projects have focused on supporting a strong workforce, but this focuses on allowing local students to thrive closer to home.

“What we’ve really got is a population problem,” Pate said. “If we had more people who lived here, we wouldn’t have a workforce problem, so this university center concept really became more of an effort to keep local talent local, to support not just our community but our places of employment.”

The center is named for Dr. Robert and Rita Robbins, who made a $1 million donation to ECTC in 2018. Rita Robbins said the center will support area students and the need for continuing education.

“We hope this center will be an inviting place for people to gather, develop relationships, and pay it forward,” Robbins said. “When you walk through these doors, change happens. You don’t walk out the same way.”

ECTC has partnerships for the Robbins Center with Western Kentucky University, Lindsey Wilson College, and Campbellsville University, and plans to announce additional partnerships “as early as this fall.”

Road work on Logsdon Parkway, Patriot Parkway under way

94.3 The Wolf

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is updating drivers on two projects in Hardin County.

KYTC District Four says a chip sealing project is beginning on Kentucky Route 1646/North Logsdon Parkway, with the speed limit reduced to 25 miles per hour from the railroad crossing to Patriot Parkway as crews prepare for resurfacing. Drivers will be passing over loose gravel and will see several lane closures this week, then a final pavement surface will be applied next week.

Meanwhile, work is set to begin on the resurfacing of Kentucky Route 361/Patriot Parkway between Kentucky Routes 220 and 313. The roadway will be milled this week and paved next week, with several lane closures set up to accommodate the work.

Drivers should slow down, pay attention, and use caution in all work zones. Work on both projects is scheduled to be completed before September 30.

Radcliff council talks taxes, playgrounds, and youth council

94.3 The Wolf

The Radcliff City Council met for a work session Monday evening.

The council discussed the city’s ad valorem taxes for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Radcliff CFO Chance Fox said the city saw a jump in new property on the tax rolls, along with a significant increase in property values.

“Radcliff has $1.418 billion of assessed real property value,” Fox said. “Last year in 2023, it was $1.16 billion, so that’s an increase of $250 million in assessed value.”

Because of this increase, the city’s tax rate for real and personal property will decrease from last year’s rate of $1.47 per $1,000 assessed value to either the compensating rate of $1.23 per $1,000 assessed value or the 4 percent increase rate of $1.29 per $1,000 assessed value. Members of the council expressed support for the 4 percent increase in order to generate revenue for the city without impacting taxpayers. The 4 percent increase requires advertising and a public hearing, which the city will prepare.

In other meeting news, the council discussed the pursuit of a grant program through GameTime Playgrounds for a new playground at Dawley Park, and Council Member Terry Owens proposed an ordinance establishing a youth council for the city. Members of the council expressed support for both measures and will discuss them further.

The Radcliff City Council will next meet September 17.

Elizabethtown City Council approves tax rates

94.3 The Wolf

The Elizabethtown City Council met for a special meeting Monday evening.

The council approved, on their second readings, the ordinances that set city taxes for the 2024-2024 fiscal year. The franchise tax rate for all eligible bank deposits is set at .025 percent, the tax rate for real and personal property is set at 11 cents per $100 assessed value, and the tax rate for all motor vehicles and watercraft is set at 11.6 cents per $100 assessed value. Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said the tax rates have been consistent.

“Just so we’re clear, we have not raised these percentages, at least in my tenure, and I think quite some time before that,” Gregory said. “I didn’t look up the exact date when they were adjusted last, but it’s been quite some time, so these were made the same as they did last year, in the year before, and so on.”

The council also approved a municipal order approving the application for up to $975,000 in grant submissions on behalf of the Elizabethtown Airport Board. The applications are for several grants through the Kentucky Department of Aviation for the terminal building renovation and expansion at Addington Field.

In other meeting news, SpringHaven Inc. CEO Georgia Hensley gave a report of the domestic violence shelter’s activities. Hensley said policy changes and work to increase reporting led to a jump in domestic violence survivors seeking support from SpringHaven from 379 in 2023 to 1,541 in 2024. Hensley highlighted some of SpingHaven’s initiatives including a court escort program that has rolled out in response to the shooting outside the Hardin County Justice Center and the establishment of a domestic violence intake center.

Elizabethtown Director of Planning Joe Reverman reported on the Planning and Development Department’s activities to this point in 2024. Reverman said 329 building, 501 electrical, and 156 sign permits have been approved, with 598 housing units approved for construction. Reverman said even without anticipated growth related to BlueOval SK, the rate of growth is outpacing the city’s infrastructure investment business model, so the city is exploring goals and initiatives laid out in the city’s comprehensive plan and other strategies.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet in a joint meeting with the Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau on September 23.

Quicksie and The Wolf teaming up for 5K in support of SpringHaven Inc.

94.3 The Wolf

Quicksie and The Wolf, in partnership with the Swope Family of Dealerships and Central Kentucky Race Management, invite the community to participate in the inaugural Step Out Against Domestic Violence Walk/Run 5k.

“Our stations are always looking for opportunities to try to get involved and help the community where we can,and we knew that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and really we were just brainstorming on a way we could do something to help and the idea of having this 5K run/walk just came about and was born that way,” WQXE/WULF Co-General Manager Todd Bush said.

The 5K will be held Saturday, October 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Freeman Lake Park. Get registered by September 20 for a special bonus.

“There are free t-shirts available to those that register early, so that’s a plus, but even if you can’t register early, even if you show up at the site and register, that’s fine as well,” Bush said. “Any and all participants are welcome no matter when you sign up or even if you just show up that day.”

All proceeds from the 5K will benefit SpringHaven Inc.

“They offer solutions,” Bush said. “They offer hope for survivors of domestic violence, essential services, support to individuals and their families really across this region, and by participating in this event people in the community can make a direct impact in helping survivors rebuild their lives in a safe and supportive environment.”

Visit wqxe.com or wolf943.com to find the link to runsignup.com to register. A donation link can also be found on RunSignUp if you are unable to participate in the run/walk.

Voter registration continues to climb in Kentucky

94.3 The Wolf

Voter registration in Kentucky continues to see big increases ahead of this November’s presidential election.

The Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office says Kentucky added 15,239 new voter registrations and removed 3,793 voters from the rolls in the month of August.

Of the registrations removed from the rolls, 2,792 were for deceased voters, 349 were for convicted felons, and 480 were for voters that moved to another state.

The secretary of state’s office says Republican registration increased by 7,345 voters in August, Democratic registrations increased by 1,128 voters, and independent or other registrations increased by 2,973 voters. Republican registrations currently make up about 46 percent of the electorate while Democratic registrations make up about 43 percent and independent or other makes up about 11 percent.

Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith says getting registered is a simple process.

““Registering to vote has never been easier,” Smith said. “The quick and easy way for most folks would be to visit govote.ky.gov. They can do that on the computer or their phone, and they can register to vote that way. They can also call or visit the county clerk’s office. The deadline to register to vote, to participate in the November election is October 7. Don’t wait until the deadline. Go ahead and get it done early.”

Visit the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website for more information on voter registration stats.

HCS says no threat to students after student brings toy gun to North Hardin

94.3 The Wolf

Hardin County Schools says there is no threat to student safety after a student at North Hardin High School brought a toy gun to the building this morning.

“A student arrived at school this morning and told a fellow student that they were in possession of a weapon,” said Hardin County Schools Community Relations Specialist John Wright. “The second student acted extremely responsibly and notified a staff member. That staff member and the administration immediately reached out to our school resource officer, and the SRO found a toy gun in that student’s possession.”

Wright stressed that the student was not in possession of a weapon.

“Obviously, we want to applaud the student who acted responsibly and told an adult and the school administration about what they had heard,” Wright said. “We also want to thank our SRO and the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office for always protecting our students and our staff, and this student will, in fact, endure the fullest extent of the law and will be dealt with in accordance with the Hardin County Schools Student Code of Acceptable Behavior and Discipline.”

Wright says parents should make sure to talk to their kids about making smart choices.

“Please continue to reinforce with your students that if they see something or hear something to say something to an adult, or see something or hear something, anything that would cause them to feel uncomfortable or they feel that would cause them or anyone else harm,” Wright said.

Classes at North Hardin are running on their regular schedules.