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Law enforcement warns of increase in break-in attempts

Area law enforcement is warning residents to take precautions as they see an uptick in break-in attempts.

The Radcliff Police Department says they responded to multiple car break-ins and one theft Tuesday morning among reports from other jurisdictions of similar crimes.

“We would like to remind everyone to lock your vehicles, make sure that you don’t leave valuables in the vehicle, including but not limited to firearms or gifts or anything like that,” said Captain Willie Wells with the Radcliff Police Department. “This is a crime that doesn’t have to happen. You don’t have to be a victim. This is something that you can do, precautions that you could take to make sure that you are not a victim of a theft simply by locking your vehicle and not leaving valuables in it.”

Contact area law enforcement if you see suspicious activity.

Meanwhile, the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest following a Monday morning home robbery. 

The sheriff’s office says a woman living on Shrewsbury Road in Caneyville told 911 dispatchers a male subject entered her home, threatened her with a gun, and demanded money before fleeing the scene with her purse.

Tips received led to the development of Richard L. Price of Caneyville as a suspect. Multiple law enforcement agencies coordinated to take Price into custody at a Grayson County apartment complex.

In addition to first degree charges of Robbery, Wanton Endangerment, and Identity Theft, Price was found to have active warrants out of Marion County for Assault, Robbery, and failure to pay child support. Price was lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.

Cadet Command general says organizational structure may change but mission remains the same

Brigadier General Maurice Barnett told members of the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce during the November Chamber Luncheon that as the Cadet Command prepares to become a subordinate unit under the new three-star command that will be created out of the expansion of the Army Recruiting Command, the neighboring community continues to play a part in Fort Knox’s success.

“We’ve been here for over 100 years, and that longevity and continued strength, because ‘Strength Starts Here,’ comes from your community support, and these incredible partnerships,” Barnett said. “We’re grateful and blessed to be able to rely on each one of you.”

The commanding general of the Cadet Command said the community can support recruitment on the local level by helping to tell the Army’s story.

“There’s a wealth of talent and leadership opportunities surrounding this great community, and you as stakeholders, we need your support to spread the word about what service in the Army can do for someone’s life,” Barnett said.

Barnett said the Cadet Command remains engaged as an organization by partnering with more than 900 colleges and universities to produce more than 5,000 second lieutenants for the total army every year. More than 10,000 cadets come to Fort Knox each summer for training.

Radcliff council reviews bids for garbage services

The Radcliff City Council met to discuss garbage franchise bids for the city during a work session Tuesday evening.

Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall said Waste Management has held the city’s garbage franchise for more than 20 years, but he was pleased to see five companies submit bids.

“The last time we had a bid for this, we didn’t have quite as many bidders, and so we want to thank each of the companies that did put a bid in because it’s nice to know that we have people that are looking at our community and see opportunities that are here,” Duvall said.

Members of the council expressed their support for the bid from Green River Waste, not only based on pricing but because the company would operate a local office as part of their contract. Council Member Jerry Brown said service companies maintaining a local presence is a priority to him.

“I’ve promised my constituents that anytime we consider a franchise bid that I would, if not insist, at least ask for a local office, and with one company ready to provide that, my recommendation is, or my leaning is, toward Green River Waste,” Brown said.

Members of the council said they were prepared to begin the process of awarding the bid at the next regular council meeting on November 19.

Elizabethtown council hears annexation request for solar project

The Elizabethtown City Council met for a work session Tuesday evening.

Representatives from Lightsource BP made themselves available for questions from council as the organization prepares to submit an annexation request from the city for 950 acres north of Hayden School Road near the Elizabethtown airport that would be used for a solar installation. Lightsource BP Director of Development Jack Steele said the property would be leased from the current landowners for 40 years. When asked why the company was asking the city to annex the property rather than going through county government, Steele said similar projects have run into difficulties, and the company feels like the project fits in with that part of the city.

“It really feels and makes a lot of sense for it to be in the city of E-Town,” Steele said. “There’s a lot of compatibility there. It offers an opportunity to act as a buffer to the airport and act as a transition zone from city industrial development out into more agricultural and residential uses.”

Steele said the project will generate $4 million in property taxes while also showing direct support for the community.

“It represents a significant infrastructure investment in grid resiliency and electric infrastructure in this local community that feeds the industrial park, homes here, and helps support a lot of the growth that I know you and others are invested in bringing into this community,” Steele said.

Later in the meeting, Trina Martin with Hardin County Citizens for Responsible Solar asked the council to take another look at what Lightsource BP has presented. Martin said in addition to an increased fire hazard, she had concerns with the appraisals the company has presented, which she said has been seen in other solar proposals.

“There will be an impact on property values, and their report, if you look at it closely, compares apples and oranges,” Martin said. “You can’t compare a four bedroom, three bathroom house, and determine a value by using a two bedroom, one bathroom house.”

Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said the council would take Lightsource BP’s proposal under advisement.

In other meeting news, City Engineer Michael Page said most of the sidewalk improvements on the North Main Street project are complete, but the city has identified additional improvements such as to retaining walls, so the city will be requesting a project cost increase from the current total of $487,000 to a total not to exceed $620,000. City Stormwater Director Rita Davis said she will be asking the council to approve a bid from Dirt Works Unlimited for a project to correct erosion on Keeneland Drive. Davis said the bid is more than $300,000 under the engineering estimate for the project.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet November 18.

Hardin County Fiscal Court approves 911 fee increase

The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their first meeting of the month Tuesday.

An ordinance approving fee increases for enhanced 911 services in the county was approved on its second reading. Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul said the increase is necessary to cover for increased demand in the county.

“This is a 911 fee increase from $50.58 to $65.58, which is a $15 increase,” Taul said. “This will take effect next year, on 2025 tax bills.”

Hardin County Public Works Director Stephanie Givens reported on her office’s activities. Following the November free shredding event, the county has collected 497 bags from 452 cars year to date. The next shredding event will be December 2, and free shredding bags are available at the county public works office.

Givens said 39 recycling trailer runs were made in September and 40 were made in October, with 55 tons collected in September and 67 in October. Givens said an increase in website searches for the location of the trailers was seen going from October into November.

“From October 5 through November 5, that’s about 1,276 people that have researched to find out what is the closest trailer to the location where they were, so the trailers are definitely much appreciated,” Givens said. “We’re getting lots of volumes through those trailers. A lot of people like those trailers.”

Givens reminded the public that the recycling trailer that was located at the Elizabethtown Lions Club has been moved to 808 North Mulberry Street, across the street from Gatti’s Pizza.

The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet November 26.

Man who fled police on I-65 and hid in cornfield back in court

The Alabama man who fled police in Hart County then hid in a cornfield near Glendale was back in court Tuesday. 

Jecore M. King of Eight Mile, Alabama, appeared in Hardin Circuit Court for an arraignment hearing. King appeared via Zoom from the Hardin County Detention Center.

Judge John David Simcoe said King was indicted by a grand jury on multiple charges including Wanton Endangerment, Fleeing or Evading Police, and Reckless Driving, among other charges. King requested a public defender be assigned to his case, and a not guilty plea was entered on King’s behalf. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for December 17.

Following his arrest on October 24, the Kentucky State Police said King fled from a trooper that pulled King over near the 61-mile marker on Interstate 65 in Hart County after he was asked to step out of the vehicle for the possible presence of marijuana. After a pursuit that reached speeds of over 130 miles per hour, King crashed near the 85-mile marker and fled on foot into a nearby cornfield, where he was later apprehended after a search involving several law enforcement agencies.

One dead, three injured in Hart County crash

One person was killed and three juveniles were injured in an accident in Hart County Saturday. 

The Kentucky State Police says at just before 7 p.m. on November 9 troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on the 3,700 block of Priceville Road in Hart County.

The KSP says the preliminary investigation indicates that a vehicle driven by 24-year-old Mikhaela Kostas of Versailles was traveling east on Priceville Road when Kostas attempted to pass other eastbound vehicles. Her car then collided with a westbound truck driven by a juvenile driver.

Kostas was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hart County Coroner’s Office. The juvenile driver and two juvenile passengers were transported to Baptist Health Hardin for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The KSP’s investigation of the crash is ongoing.

Volunteers needed for annual Thanksgiving dinner for those in need

Several area churches and Helping Hand of Hope are partnering to offer families in need a Thanksgiving dinner.

“It is provided to individuals and families who are unable to have a meal on their own,” said event coordinator Cheri Ellis-Reeves. “It’s at no cost to them, and if they’re in Hardin County we will deliver except to West Point. They do have to make a reservation through Helping Hand of Hope. The cutoff date is Friday the 22nd.”

The dinner will be hosted on Thanksgiving Day at Saint James Catholic School.

“If they want to come to Saint James School on Robinbrooke Boulevard, they’re able to pick it up there and carry it out, or they can dine in there,” Ellis-Reeves said. “If they dine in, it is from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.”

Food donations for the dinner are being accepted, or you can volunteer your time.

“We can’t do it without a lot of volunteers,” Ellis-Reeves said. “We do need volunteers to help deliver meals, help serve meals. At this point, we still need some volunteers.”

Contact Ellis-Reeves at Clark Jewelers or contact Helping Hand of Hope for more information.