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Billy and Kathy Edwards remembered for how much they cared

94.3 The Wolf

Hardin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Billy Edwards is being remembered for his kindness and commitment.

“As a young cop, Billy took me and so many others under his wing,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “At face value, he often seemed unreasonable and unnecessarily gruff, but in reality he had the heart of a teddy bear. He had a fierce passion for being an investigator, and he was distinguished and bigger than life.”

Edwards and his wife Kathy were killed Sunday evening in a collision at the intersection of the U.S. 31W Bypass and the westbound ramp of the Western Kentucky Parkway. Billy Edwards was 67 and Kathy Edwards was 58.

“Kathy complimented him in so many ways, but she was kind and loyal and made him better,” Denham said. “Following some pretty challenging times that I faced a couple years ago, Kathy checked in on me often and did so genuinely because she cared.”

Edwards was a 24-year veteran of the Elizabethtown Police Department. Hardin County Schools Community Relations Specialist John Wright says Edwards began serving as Creekside Elementary School’s school resource officer at the beginning of this year after serving as SRO at Woodland Elementary.

“He was well loved by the students and staff at most schools,” Wright said. “He was passionate about their safety and was dedicated to ensuring that students learned in a safe and compassionate environment. We offer deepest condolences to the Edwards family, their friends, the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office family and the steadfast group of Hardin County Schools school resource officers and our community of devoted law enforcement officers.”

Creekside Elementary students wishing to speak with somebody about Edwards may contact the Creekside office. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Elizabethtown council approves EPD station expansion design contract

94.3 The Wolf

The Elizabethtown City Council met for their second meeting of the month Monday.

The council approved two ordinances that were on their second readings. The first amended the zoning for 1151 Ring Road from Neighborhood Commercial (C-2) to Regional Commercial (C-3). The second amended the city’s 2024-2025 budget ordinance to include a change in pay classifications for the city’s fire department.

A municipal order was approved that awarded a contract to 5253 Design Group for professional design services on the Elizabethtown Police Station expansion project.

“These professional services shall include programming the project, design plans for the facility and site, a cost opinion, schematic plans, architectural design plans, contract bid documents, and construction administration,” said City Attorney Ken Howard reading from the order. 

The contract was awarded at an amount not to exceed $350,000.

Elizabethtown resident Steve Swan asked the council for an update on resident concerns with traffic control in the Bewley Hollow/Pine Valley Drive area. Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said speed radar signs were placed in the neighborhood to collect traffic data, and Public Works Superintendent Don Hill said the traffic study showed an average of 3,400 vehicles using Pine Valley Drive each day, with an average speed of 36.6 miles per hour and an average violation speed of about 40.8 miles per hour, so additional measures will be taken to slow traffic.

“What we’re going to do on Pine Valley Drive is prior to St. Andrews, and there’s a 25 miles per hour sign at that intersection, we’re going to go up Pine Valley Drive and put a warning sign that says reduce speed ahead, then when we get past the intersection of St. Andrews Way before Kensington, we’re going to set a speed hump,” Hill said.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet July 22.

U.S. 62 bridge work will require detours at Hardin-Nelson county line

94.3 The Wolf

Bridge work at the Hardin-Nelson county line will require detours next week. 

Demolition and replacement work is scheduled to begin Monday on the U.S. 62 bridge over Rolling Fork Slough near the county line, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says full closure of the bridge will allow the project to be completed as quickly as possible.

Drivers on the west side of the bridge will be directed to travel via U.S. 62 to Interstate 65 in Elizabethtown and use the Bluegrass Parkway eastbound toward Bardstown and Lexington. Drivers on the east side of the bridge will be directed to use KY 52 to and from the Bluegrass Parkway. Electronic message boards have been placed in the area of the bridge to alert travelers of the upcoming work and detours.

A 90-day closure was included in the $2.38 million contract that was awarded to E and B Paving LLC for the bridge replacement. The bridge is expected to reopen around September 20.

Follow KYTC District Four on social media for more information and project updates.

CASA of the Heartland receives Kentucky Colonels grant; movie fundraiser this Friday

94.3 The Wolf

CASA of the Heartland received support from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels for their mission of serving children navigating foster care and the family court systems.

“Every year the Kentucky Colonels grant allows us the opportunity to get some type of project funded that is associated with our mission,” said CASA of the Heartland Executive Director Michelle Kail.

The grant this year was for $2,909.

“So this year we applied for a grant to purchase stuffed animals that correlate with several books that we have that are related to children navigating the court system, children having to testify, various family structures, having CASAs, different things like that that we know that the children that we’re advocating for might encounter,” Kail said.

You can help support CASA of the Heartland’s mission this Friday by heading to the movies. The organization is partnering with Crowne Pointe Theatre for a special showing of The Goonies.

“It is at 6 p.m. this Friday, July 19,” Kail said. “Tickets are $7 and can be purchased on our website at CASAheartland.org, and $5 of the $7 goes directly to CASA and then part of the ticket purchase is that you get a 30 percent off coupon for concessions.”

Find more information on the CASA of the Heartland Facebook page.

Hardin County Sheriff’s Office deputy, passenger killed in collision Sunday evening

94.3 The Wolf

The Kentucky State Police is investigating a fatal collision that occurred in Hardin County Sunday evening.

According to the KSP, shortly after 8 p.m. on July 14 a trooper on patrol came upon a collision at the intersection of the U.S. 31W Bypass and westbound ramp to the Western Kentucky Parkway.

The KSP says the preliminary investigation indicates that 67-year-old Billy Edwards of Elizabethtown was operating a motorcycle on the bypass when a vehicle operated by Cameron Harris “attempted to make a sharp right turn onto the WKP exit ramp, causing him to collide with the motorcycle.” The collision caused the motorcycle to lose control and exit onto the shoulder of the ramp.

Edwards and a passenger, 58-year-old Kathy Edwards of Elizabethtown, were ejected from the motorcycle. Billy Edwards received fatal wounds in the crash, and Kathy Edwards was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hardin County Coroner’s Office. Harris and a passenger in his vehicle reported no injuries.

Billy Edwards was a deputy with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff;s office said in a Facebook post that Edwards was a 24-year veteran of the Elizabethtown Police Department and was working as a school resource officer at the time of his death. He was off duty at the time of the crash.

The KSP says the affected portion of the U.S. 31W Bypass was closed for nearly four hours for accident reconstruction. The KSP’s investigation of the crash is ongoing.

Hardin County Fair wraps up; injured volunteer recovering after accident

94.3 The Wolf

The sixty-first year of “the most fun you can have with your shoes on” wrapped up Saturday night as the Hardin County Fair came to a close.

“We had a really, really good fair week,” said Fair Board PResident Marty Fulkerson. “We ran into some issues with all the storms and tornado warnings Tuesday, that kind of hurt the attendance a little bit, but we had a really, really good fair. It was hot, but gosh, it’s July, and that’s what happens when fair time is here.”

He said entries appeared to be up among 4H and FFA members and a good turnout could be seen in the Family Living Building, including the debut year for the Exceptional category.

A scary situation was seen Saturday morning as one of the fair volunteers was seriously injured while preparing for the Brush Pull and had to be flown to a Louisville hospital for treatment. The fair board said the volunteer is stable and recovering.

“There’s still a long way to go and more surgeries and things it looks like, but it was just a freak accident,” Fulkerson said. “In 61 years, we’ve never had something like that happen. We’ve been pretty blessed, and we’re still praying for him and his family, and he’s got a long road to go.”

Fulkerson said the fair would not be possible without the support of the community and the fair’s sponsors, along with the hard work of the fair team.

“You get a fair board group of 20 people,” Fulkerson said. “There’s no way we can do it. It takes all the volunteers. I think there’s probably 60 or 70 volunteers in the Family Living Building. That track crew up there consists of probably 12 people that make that happen, and it’s a lot of turnovers and turnarounds.”

The Hardin County Fair will return the first full week of July 2025.

$684K worth of drugs seized in KSP’s Operation Summer Heat

94.3 The Wolf

A major summer narcotics operation launched by the Kentucky State Police is showing results. 

Following a three-month long investigation into suspected drug trafficking rings, all sixteen KSP posts joined in on Operation Summer Heat. KSP personnel partnered with law enforcement agencies from across the commonwealth to make a series of arrests.

Governor Andy Beshear included KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. as a speaker during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update. Burnett said the operation resulted in 206 arrests, 490 charges, and the seizure of more than $684,000 in illicit drugs.

“Fentanyl, 554 grams was removed, as well as 2,931 pressed pills of fentanyl, 219 grams of cocaine, 4,862 grams of methamphetamine, 40 grams of heroin, 50 hydrocodone pills, 60 oxycodone pills, and then 90 hallucinogens, as well as other illegal drugs,” said Burnett.

Burnett said Operation Summer Heat is ongoing, with additional arrests expected soon. He said the successful launch of the operation is a testament to the state’s efforts to keep communities safe.

“This statewide initiative is to show a clear message across Kentucky that those who continue to distribute illegal drugs in our communities, the Kentucky State Police and our law enforcement partners local and federal will focus our efforts to cease such activities,” Burnett said.

Beshear said drug enforcement is important, but it goes hand in hand with drug treatment. The governor announced four additional counties, including Nelson County, have received their Recovery Ready Community certifications from the state.

“Since we launched the Recovery Ready Community certification last year, 14 counties have now been certified,” Beshear said. “These communities are stepping up to help fellow Kentuckians who are struggling with addiction. They’re providing families more support through mental health and addiction treatment as well as employment services, and we are grateful for and we applaud their good work.”

Kentuckians seeking treatment help can visit FindHelpNowKY.org. Drug activity can be reported anonymously via the KSP website tip form.

Teachers in Hardin and LaRue counties encouraged to apply for Be a Light grants

94.3 The Wolf

As the new school year approaches, Nolin RECC is encouraging educators in Hardin and LaRue counties to apply for their Be a Light Teacher Grants.

Nolin RECC Communications Manager Sarah Fellows says the Nolin RECC Operation Round-Up board created the Be a Light grant program as a way of honoring and supporting local teachers.

“They know, and they hear from teachers and we all do, that if funds aren’t available for their classrooms, a lot of times that money comes out of their own pockets, so the Be a Light Teacher Grants are a way for the Operation Round-Up board and for Nolin members to say thank you to our local teachers for everything that they do for our children,” Fellows said.

30 $200 grants will be awarded to K-12 teachers in Hardin and LaRue counties. The funds come from the donations Nolin RECC members make through the Operation Round-Up program.

“Nolin members can voluntarily round up their bill each month to the nearest dollar,” Fellows said. “Now for an average Nolin member, that’s only about $6 a year, but we have over 6,000 members who are participating in Operation Round-Up, so when those dollars come together, they can make a huge impact on our community.”

The application for the Be a Light grants can be found at NolinRECC.com. The deadline to apply is August 31.

Breckinridge County Schools hosting open houses ahead of new school year

94.3 The Wolf

Breckinridge County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter says the district has been hard at work all summer gearing up for the new school year.

“Teachers and staff have been working hard throughout the summer with different training opportunities and just getting ready for the year,” Carter said. “Our building maintenance folks and custodians are doing a great job getting our buildings cleaned and looking absolutely wonderful for the start of the year, so I just want to give all of them a huge thanks, and to our principals. They’re working hard getting ready for the year.”

BCS families will get a chance to get into the school buildings ahead of the new year as each school hosts its open house.

“It’s a time that we get to welcome our kiddos and families back into the school and our new students and new families into the school, and what we do with open house is they come in and they get to tour the building, meet teachers, and just get comfortable so that that first day of school isn’t as scary,” Carter said.

Breckinridge County Middle and High schools will host their open houses from 4 to 6 p.m. on July 29, Hardinsburg and Ben Johnson Elementary schools will host theirs from 4 to 6 p.m. on July 20, and Irvington and Custer elementaries will host theirs from 4 to 6 p.m. on August 1.

Carter says the district has a lot to look forward to.

“We’re super, super excited, and I truly believe that it’s going to be one of our best years yet,” Carter said. “It’s a great day to be a Tiger.”

Visit the Breckinridge County Schools website or Facebook page for more information.