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Registration for fall LIHEAP energy subsidy opens Tuesday

94.3 The Wolf

Area residents in need of financial assistance for heating their homes can, beginning Tuesday, apply for the fall Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program’s subsidy.

“The LIHEAP program is a program that helps right now with the electric,” said Hardin County Community Action Coordinator Julie Arney. “You cannot be disconnected. You have to be current, and we can help people that need assistance.”

Registration for the fall runs from November 5 through December 20 or until the available funds are depleted. Assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis by contacting your local Kentucky Community Action office. Arney says walk-ins are welcome at the Hardin County office.

“We’re located at 233 Ring Road inside our Kentucky Career Center, or you can call us at 502-764-2222,” Arney said. “If you call, you can make an appointment. We do see those first, but you could walk in. Our hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., but we take our last client at 2 o’clock.”

Assistance received during previous LIHEAP cycles does not affect eligibility. Visit capky.org to find the nearest Community Action Agency office or to learn more.

CASA of the Heartland receives grant to support expansion

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CASA of the Heartland recently received a grant to support their efforts as they expand their services to three more counties.

The organization was awarded a $33,665 Volunteer Recruitment Grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad litem Association for Children. According to a release, the grant will allow CASA of the Heartland “to strengthen its efforts to recruit additional volunteers, enabling the program to increase the number of children served across its expanding service region.”

CASA of the Heartland Executive Director Michelle Kail said after originating in Hardin County and expanding to cover LaRue County, the organization decided to take over for the dissolving Tri-County CASA organization and expand to cover Breckinridge, Grayson, and Meade counties.

“We went through a pretty extensive process to figure out if taking on this extra area would be something that we could do and do well, and ultimately we decided that we could not let those kiddos go unserved, and so we are now serving a five county region,” Kail said.

Kail said the organization has an Amazon Wish List posted and is accepting donations, but the best way to support CASA’s mission is by becoming a court-appointed special advocate yourself.

“If you are interested in learning more about being a CASA volunteer, you can visit CASAheartland.org,” Kail said. “We recently shared a video called Coffee with CASA, so if someone just wants to sit down with us and ask more questions, just give our office a call and we will set something up. Our number is 270-982-2274.

More information is also available on the CASA of the Heartland Facebook page.

Hardin County communities have busy weekend planned

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Hardin County communities have several special events happening this weekend.

The City of Vine Grove will be hosting their Veterans Day parade this Saturday.

“That is the most important event that we do in Vine Grove, in my eyes, it is,” said Vine Grove Mayor Pam Ogden. “We are thanking our veterans. Our parade starts at 10 a.m. If you want to join us in the lineup, just talk to me and we’ll get you in the lineup, or if you want to come stand on the side of the road, get some candy, and honor our veterans, we would love to have you.”

Meanwhile, the City of West Point will celebrate the rescheduled River Days festival this Saturday from noon to 8 p.m.

“Food trucks, music, fireworks, the whole bit,” said West Point Mayor Richard Ciressi. “They spent a lot of money on fireworks, and they apparently can’t store fireworks.”

All are welcome to attend Radcliff FOP Lodge 39’s annual dinner and auction, which will be held Sunday beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Colvin Community Center.

“We’re trying to do a holiday dinner, the free holiday dinner for the attendees, and an auction to follow,” said Lodge President Roy Moore. “All the proceeds from the auction go to Shop with a Cop. If everybody’s familiar, that’s where we take underprivileged children to Walmart and get them some clothes and a couple toys.”

If you are unable to attend but would like to donate, contact Radcliff FOP Lodge 39.

KFW schedules public meeting to discuss CWD surveillance zone

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Kentucky Fish and Wildlife officials have scheduled a public meeting to discuss the recent implementation of a chronic wasting disease surveillance zone after the disease was discovered on a farm in Breckinridge County.

KFW will host that meeting at the Breckinridge County Cooperative Extension Office, located at 1377 South Highway 261 in Hardinsburg, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 7.

During a special meeting of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission, a surveillance zone containing Breckinridge, Hardin, and Meade counties was established. KFW Director of Wildlife Ben Robinson said the zone follows the agency’s policies concerning CWD.

“When you have a detection in a captive facility, you immediately draw a five mile radius around that detection, which becomes your management zone, and then you draw a 15 mile radius around that detection, and any county that touches that 15 mile radius then becomes part of your surveillance zone,” Robinson said.

During the public meeting, KFW staff will share “updates on the collaborative agency and partner response, new hunting regulations in the area, and available CWD testing options.” Attendees will also have a chance to ask questions.

Learn more about chronic wasting disease and the agency’s response plan at fw.ky.gov.

More than 3,700 Hardin County residents cast ballots on first early voting day

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Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith said more than 2,100 voters cast ballots in Elizabethtown and nearly 1,600 voters cast ballots in Radcliff on the first day of early voting ahead of the November 5 general election.

Smith says if you are looking to avoid lines on Election Day, all registered voters are welcome to vote early at either of Hardin County’s early voting locations.

“November 1 and 2, 8 a.m. to 4 30 p.m.,” Smith said. “We have two convenient locations. One is at the Hardin County Clerk’s main office in Elizabethtown. The other is at Colvin Community Center.”

Smith said a record turnout is expected for this year’s election, so for Election Day Hardin County has more polling locations available and more voting machines at the traditionally busier locations.

““As long as you’re in line by 6 p.m. you’ll be allowed to vote,” Smith said. “We have 15 locations available all across Hardin County. Any voter who’s registered in Hardin County can choose any location that’s convenient for them. I encourage folks to visit govote.ky.gov or the Hardin County Clerk’s Facebook page to find the location nearest you.”

Contact your county clerk’s office for more election information.

Bond set at $1 million for Elizabethtown murder/arson suspect

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The man arrested following a Wednesday morning fire in Elizabethtown appeared for an arraignment hearing in Hardin District Court Thursday morning.

Dustin Caudill of Elizabethtown faces multiple charges including two counts of Murder then individual counts of first degree Arson, first degree Robbery, first degree Wanton Endangerment, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon following his arrest Wednesday.

The Hardin County Attorney’s Office requested a bond of $1 million “considering his history,” which the court approved. The court ordered for a public defender to be appointed to represent Caudill, and his next court appearance was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on November 6 in the Ninth District Court Division Two. 

Caudill remains incarcerated at the Hardin County Detention Center.

Trick or Treaters, drivers, and families reminded to be safe as Halloween arrives

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It’s Halloween, and as the little goblin or ghouls in your life get ready to head out in search of treats this evening, keep safety in mind. 

The Kentucky State Police is offering several tips to help make sure Halloween is scary but safe.

Drivers should stay alert for increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic, especially in neighborhoods. Slow down and give kids extra time to cross the street, and be on the lookout for any kids who might forget to look both ways before crossing the street. Enter and exit driveways with extra caution.

Remind trick or treaters to be extra cautious when crossing the street, as drivers may have a hard time seeing them. Be extra cautious of strangers, and only approach houses with their porch light on. Stay on sidewalks and off of yards, and cross streets at crosswalks or corners only.

As you get ready to send trick or treaters out, Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says take steps to increase the visibility of children.

“There’s lots of little things,” Crane said. “There’s glow sticks. There’s little flashy lights that you can get for them, and just make sure they’re visible, that  you’re staying with them, and  they’re walking facing the traffic.”

Make sure costumes do not limit a child’s vision or create a trip hazard.

Trick or Treating in most of the area runs from 5 to 8 p.m.

New closures coming as Saint John Road widening project shifts

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Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four is announcing new road closures as work progresses to the next phase of the KY 1357/Saint John Road widening project.

The KYTC says utility relocations, intersection tie-ins, and bridge construction over Billy Creek will require several changes for motorists over the next week.

Beginning Monday, November 4, access to Croghan Drive will be closed for connecting the newly constructed alignment. That closure is expected to last two days. To access Croghan Drive, drivers will need to turn onto Harvard Drive and follow detour signs.

Beginning Tuesday, November 5, access to Langley Trace will be closed for utility and bridge construction. That closure is expected to last until April 1. To access Langley Trace, drivers will need to turn onto Rue La Grande and follow detour signs. Residents can also go from West Park Road to Ring Road or College Street.

KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie says work is progressing on the project.

“These closures and the work they’re going to allow represent a shifting point as we move into the next phase of this project,” Jessie said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done yet. They’re at Billy Creek and the other half of the road is yet to be constructed. Once Croghan Drive reopens, motorists will be on half of the new alignment for the project.”

Follow KYTC District Four on social media for project updates.

Radcliff FOP Lodge 39 hosting auction dinner supporting Shop with a Cop this Sunday

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Radcliff FOP Lodge 39 typically hosts their annual holiday dinner auction the first Saturday of November, but due to a scheduling conflict the event will be held the first Sunday instead.

“We’re trying to do a holiday dinner, the free holiday dinner for the attendees, and an auction to follow,” said Lodge PResident Roy Moore. “All the proceeds from the auction go to Shop with a Cop. If everybody’s familiar, that’s where we take underprivileged children to Walmart and get them some clothes and a couple toys.”

Sunday’s dinner will be held at the Colvin Community Center beginning at 6:30 p.m. If you are unable to attend Sunday’s dinner but would like to support the cause, donations are still being accepted.

“They can always drop something by,” Moore said. “We’ve got a mailbox outside, they can mail it. We’re at 168 East Vine Street in Radcliff. We’re right by, sort of catty-corner from the Walgreens, and we also accept material donations, things that can be auctioned off, and throughout the year we do some yard sales, things like that.”

Contact Radcliff FOP Lodge 39 for more information.

Elizabethtown man arrested for Murder and Arson following Wednesday morning fire

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The investigation into an Elizabethtown fire has resulted in an arrest for murder.

The Elizabethtown Police Department says Dustin Caudill of Elizabethtown faces multiple charges including two counts of Murder, First Degree Arson, First Degree Robbery, First Degree Wanton Endangerment, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon following his arrest Wednesday.

According to the EPD, shortly after 5 a.m. on October 30 officers responded to a structure fire at 508 Henon Lane to assist the Elizabethtown Fire Department. Fire personnel that entered the structure discovered two deceased males, 41-year-old Blake France of Greenville and 43-year-old Anthony Garrett of Elizabethtown. The two were determined to have sustained gunshot wounds, and investigators determined that the fire was intentionally set. 

Witnesses reported seeing a gold pickup truck leaving the scene. Officers located that vehicle at a motel on South Dixie Avenue, where video surveillance showed Caudill exiting the vehicle and later discarding a handgun. Further investigation revealed the personal belongings of the victims in Caudill’s motel room, and it was later discovered that Caudill discharged his firearm at a third victim.

The EPD says that during an interview with police, Caudill confessed to shooting the victims and intentionally setting fire to the residence, as well as stealing the wallets of the victims and discarding them in a gas station trash can.

Caudill was taken into custody and was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center. He is scheduled to appear in a video arraignment hearing in Hardin District Court Thursday morning.

(Photo Credit: Hardin County Detention Center)