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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear welcomed officials and recovery advocates to the capitol Monday in observance of Recovery Month.
The governor held signing ceremonies for three pieces of legislation that support addiction recovery efforts across the commonwealth.
House Bill 462, which was sponsored by House District 25 Representative Steve Bratcher, “addresses gaps in certification requirements and strengthens the framework for recovery housing, ensuring these facilities provide safe, supportive environments for individuals in recovery.”
The governor also signed Senate Bill 71, which expands access to transportation services for people in recovery residences, and House Bill 505, which expands the Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors and establishes criteria for registration as a “temporary alcohol and drug peer support specialist.”
The governor also recognized the four latest counties that received Recovery Ready Community certifications from the state. When Hardin County received the certification in February, Lincoln Trail District Health Department Social and Community Services Manager Jennifer Osborne said the certification process shows a county what it has and what it needs.
““It gives us a framework to look at what is going on in the community around youth prevention initiatives, substance use prevention initiatives, harm reduction, treatment, recovery support for individuals that are in recovery,” said Osborne. “It gives us an idea of what is already in place in the community and what we might see as opportunities for improvement in a community.”
Information about treatment programs across Kentucky is available at www.findhelpnowky.org.
As the fall season approaches, Kentucky Farm Bureau is highlighting Certified Farm Markets across the state, including six from Hardin County that were recently added to the program.
“It was started as a fruit and vegetable marketing program to help farmers connect with the consumer audience, and it has evolved to markets all over Kentucky that sell a diverse group of agricultural products from pumpkins to apples to agritourism to greenhouses,” said Kentucky Farm Bureau Commodity Specialist Fran McCall. “You name it, we probably sell it at one of our markets.”
She says the goal of the Certified Farm Market program is to connect farmers to their communities and to help community members find local farm markets near them. For running closer to the urban side than other counties, Hardin County’s six markets is a good number.
“We see a larger following in those areas around the Louisville area,” McCall said. “We have similar numbers in Lexington, even Madisonville and Hopkins County in Western Kentucky, Bowling Green. We have a large kind of hub, as I call them, markets, but that’s not really uncommon. You have a really good offering of fall-based markets in your area.”
Kentucky Farm Bureau has more information on how to track down fall fun at Certified Farm Markets.
“You can visit our Kentucky Farm Bureau website (kyfb.com/certified), and then you can find all the markets around the state of Kentucky,” McCall said. “We have over 163. You can also follow us on Facebook, or you can download the Kentucky Farm Bureau app.”
Hardin County’s Certified Farm Markets are Fallen Maple Farm, Hinton’s Orchard and Farm Market, Sunshine and Blossoms Greenhouse, Crawford Pumpkin Patch, the Pumpkin Wagon, and Vine Grove Pumpkin Patch.
Hardin County is the latest Kentucky county to enact a burn ban.
“This is due to the dry conditions, the lack of rain that we have experienced in Hardin County,” said Hardin County Emergency Management Director Joey Scott. “We are implementing the burn ban and we’ll carry on until we get some significant rain to help these dry conditions out.”
Hardin County Judge/ Executive Keith Taul issued the burn ban via executive order Monday.
“Counties around us are going to burn bans,” Scott said. “It’s all across the state of Kentucky right now. We’re entering into a really dry season, so we’re just being proactive and trying to get ahead of it.”
The ban prohibits all outdoor burning with the exception of campfires in an established campground. Violations of the burn ban are punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of up to a $500 fine, up to 365 days in jail, or both.
“Just be safe,” Scott said. “Just use good common sense. We’ve got to take care of our neighbors, not only our property but other people’s property that joins ours.”
Burn bans have also been issued in Breckinridge, Meade, and LaRue counties. The ban will remain in effect until drought conditions improve.
Law enforcement agencies across the state of Kentucky are continuing to deal with threats made against school districts stemming from social media.
The Elizabethtown Police Department began last week with the arrest of a juvenile that made a threat that was found to be non-credible against T.K. Stone Middle School, and ended the week with the arrest of suspects that were found to have called in a threat to the Ohio State School for the Blind. EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham says any threat is investigated fully and perpetrators face punishment.
“Our region has been flooded with legitimate as well as non-credible threats to schools over the past couple of weeks,” Dehnam said. “I want to urge all parents and guardians to speak with their children about the seriousness of making threats. It’s not a joke, and these actions carry real consequences including arrest and detention.”
The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office says a juvenile was arrested after they made a threat against Grayson County High School, and the Vine Grove Police Department says a juvenile was arrested for making a threat against James T. Alton Middle School. Breckinridge County Schools released a statement to parents advising them to talk with their students about the use of social media platforms such as SnapChat.
Denham says if you hear or see something suspicious, say something.
“If they hear of any rumors or know of any threats, please report them immediately to their law enforcement,” Denham said “Any threats that you’re aware of that are taking place in Hardin County can also be relayed anonymously to Hardin County Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-597-8123 or by visiting p3tips.com.”
The Kentucky State Police sent out a release last week reminding residents that any threat to attack a school will be investigated as a charge of Terroristic Threatening, a felony offense.
Whispering Dandelion Farm co-owner Carla Albea says the farm couldn’t make it without its volunteers, so they want to support one of their volunteers who was recently injured in an ATV accident.
“That’s Makayla Post, and she’s a young mom, a young single mom with a toddler, and her grandma has had to take off of work to be able to help her and her baby because it’ll be somewhere around Christmas before she’s able to walk correctly again,” Albea said.
The farm will be hosting a benefit day for Makayla Post and her grandmother Betty Post Saturday, September 21 from 2 to 6 p.m.
“What we’re doing is we’re going to discount admission for a donation, and then we’re also having a bake sale and a silent auction for them,” Albea said.
Albea says the Post family has been a part of the Hardin and LaRue County communities for decades, and the benefit is an opportunity to support two people who have always supported their community.
“Betty and Makayla both have literally raised thousands for March of Dimes, and they’re just great people that would do anything for you regardless of what they’ve got going on in their own lives, so we think that it’s time for the community to give back a little bit,” Albea said.
Visit the Whispering Dandelion Farm Facebook page or website for more information.
National Child Passenger Safety Week will be observed across the country from September 15 through 21, and Governor Andy Beshear is encouraging Kentuckians to take the basic steps to protect their children when on the road.
The governor said the state would be joining observation of the week during his Team Kentucky Update Thursday. Beshear said the annual awareness campaign encourages drivers to make sure they are using car seats properly, something the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show is not always the case.
“It shows that 46 percent of car seats are being misused around the United States,” Beshear said. “I mean, think about that. We have car seats to protect our children. I think everyone wants to protect their child when they’re putting them in a car seat. That means we should really think about the fact that so many of them are being misused, and get the information out there.”
Beshear encouraged Kentuckians to talk with a NHTSA-approved expert to make sure their child is using the right seat, and to attend a car seat check up event which is typically hosted by area fire and health departments.
“To find out more about checkup events and car seat resources, visit KentuckyHighwaySafety.com and click the Safety Programs tab,” Beshear said. “Folks, this won’t take you long. It’s a couple of websites and maybe spending a few minutes at a checkup, but if 46 percent of people are misusing car seats, it might be you, and I know you want what’s best for your child.”
Beshear said on the positive side, seat belt use in Kentucky is up 3.4 percent over the last two years, and highway fatalities are down 15 percent from last year.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said during his Team Kentucky Update Thursday that partnerships with law enforcement have helped remove illicit drugs from the streets and helped lead to an approximate 10 percent decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2023.
Beshear announced additional support for some of those law enforcement partners.
“Today, we’re furthering that momentum by awarding $1.7 million from the Federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant,” Beshear said. “This money is going to 11 law enforcement agencies and drug task forces, and one nonprofit organization.”
Among the recipients is the Kentucky State Police, which will receive $372,828, and the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force, which will receive $196,307. The KSP funding will go towards expanding efforts in areas with high drug abuse rates, while the narcotics task force funding will go towards identifying, disrupting, and dismantling drug trafficking operations in their nine-county region.
Beshear said these efforts are necessary for moving the community forward.
“We’re building a new Kentucky home, one where our children are better protected from addiction,” Besheat said. “Lives are being saved from overdoses and the state’s recidivism rate has been reduced.”
Visit the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for more information.