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EPD now accepting donations for Shop with a Cop

94.3 The Wolf

With the Christmas season quickly approaching, the Elizabethtown Police Department is gearing up for one of their favorite holiday traditions: the annual Shop with a Cop Program.

“Through this program, we provide clothing and toys to roughly 300 Hardin County children in need, and this wouldn’t be possible without the generosity from our monetary donors,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham. 

Donations are now being accepted.

“If you would like to donate, you may contact me (Chris Denham) by calling 270-765-4125, or by email at chris.denham@elizabethtownky.gov,” Denham said. “Monetary donations can be dropped off at the Elizabethtown Police Department located at 300 South Mulberry Street, and checks should be made payable to FOP Lodge No. 40, and in the memo line with ‘Shop With A Cop.’”

Donations are tax deductible. Visit the Elizabethtown Police Department Facebook page or contact the EPD for more information.

EHS hires new assistant principal

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Elizabethtown High School added to their administrative team.

Elizabethtown Independent Schools announced Friday that Travis Thompson has been hired as an assistant principal at the school.

According to a release from the school district, Thompson began his education career as a social studies teacher at North Hardin High School in 2013. He then joined the EHS faculty as a social studies teacher in 2014. During his time at EHS, Thompson has served on the school’s Site-Based Decision Making Council and currently serves as the sponsor of the EHS Y Club. He received the 2019 Excel Award, which recognizes the district’s top teacher.

EHS Principal Josh Henderson in the release cited Thompson’s ability to build strong relationships, his deep knowledge of instructional practice, and his commitment to equity and inclusivity.

Thompson will step into his new role on January 1.

UPDATE: Suspect that fled traffic stop in Hart County and arrested near Glendale identified

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UPDATE: The Kentucky State Police has identified the suspect as Jecore King of Eight Mile, Alabama. The KSP says after fleeing from a trooper that pulled King over near the 61-mile marker of Interstate 65 and asked King to step out of the vehicle after detecting the possible presence of marijuana, King led police on a pursuit up I-65 North that reached speeds of over 130 miles per hour. King crashed the vehicle near the 85-mile marker and fled on foot into a nearby cornfield while armed with a handgun. He was apprehended after a search that involved the Elizabethtown Police Department’s special response team and the KSP’s aircraft branch. King faces multiple charges including fleeing and evading police, wanton endangerment, and reckless driving among other charges. He has been lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

Area law enforcement agencies assisted the Kentucky State Police in the apprehension of a suspect that fled officers on Interstate 65 Thursday.

“From my understanding, the initial incident started in Hart County after a traffic stop,” said Hardin County Sheriff John Ward. “Evidently, the suspect got into an altercation with the trooper, and the suspect fled in his vehicle. The pursuit continued on north to around the 85 mile marker near Glendale, where a collision occurred. The driver fled the vehicle on foot.”

The sheriff’s office and the Elizabethtown Police Department joined the search for the suspect at around 4 p.m. Officers searched on foot and the sheriff’s office used their drone to assist in the search of a nearby cornfield.

The EPD said in a statement the suspect was apprehended shortly before 7 p.m. without further incident.

The incident caused traffic delays on both I-65 and U.S. 31W as officers searched for the suspect.

KSP reminds drivers to be on the lookout for deer

94.3 The Wolf

As autumn rolls on, the Kentucky State Police is reminding drivers to be mindful of deer crossing roadways across the state.

The KSP says fall is the peak season for deer-related crashes. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows there are about 1 million car crashes involving deer across the country each year, resulting in about 200 deaths, more than 10,000 personal injuries, and about $1 billion in damages. The KSP says in 2023 there were 3,285 deer-related crashes across the commonwealth, resulting in 202 injuries and three deaths.

Deer crossings are most common during mating season, which runs October through January. Activity is most common at dusk and dawn.

The KSP is offering the following reminders for drivers:

-Watch for deer crossing signs on state roadways.

-Slow down when traveling through an area where deer are common.

-Deer travel in groups, so when you see one deer you should anticipate there are more nearby.

-Never veer from a deer. A sudden sharp turn could place the vehicle in the path of oncoming traffic or could lead to striking a tree or utility pole.

-Never forget to buckle your seatbelt.

Visit the KSP on the web for more information.

Restrictions placed on deer hunting in Breckinridge, Hardin, and Meade counties due to CWD

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Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is announcing special restrictions for deer hunting in Breckinridge, Hardin, and Meade counties due to the establishment of a chronic wasting disease surveillance zone after a deer at a farm in Breckinridge County tested positive for the disease.

The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission voted to establish the zone during a special meeting Tuesday.

KFW Director of Wildlife Ben Robinson said the establishment of the zone and the restrictions are based on the agency’s CWD Response Plan.

“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.

There is no change to the deer hunting season or to bag limits, however baiting or feeding of deer in the zone is prohibited, as is the rehabilitation of deer or other cervids. Deer carcasses and high-risk parts cannot be removed from the three-county zone.

“That would really be head, skull with brain matter, spine,” Robinson said. “It is okay to debone meat and remove deboned meat or cleaned skull products, cleaned skull caps with no brain matter on those.”

Deer can still be moved within the zone, so a hunter that harvests a deer in Breckinridge County can still bring it to Hardin County.

Hunters can help KFW monitor for CWD by bringing the heads of legally-harvested deer to self-serve sample drop-off sites or by requesting a sample mail-in kit. Robinson said unlike in the Western Kentucky detection zone, testing will be voluntary.

“Because this is really a different landscape, when you’re looking at these three counties, we have a lot of deer, but we have a lot of deer hunters, and we have a high harvest, which is very much to our advantage, so we can really rely on our hunters to help us collect these samples using some alternative methods,” Robinson said.

KFW will be hosting a public meeting at the Breckinridge County Extension Office on November 7 to provide more information. Learn more about CWD monitoring on the KFW website.

Fundraiser benefiting Wreaths Across America returns for second year

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Area vietnam war veteran C.T. Christie says the local chapter for Wreaths Across America has been battling increasing costs, and it is important to support their mission of honoring veterans.

“I’ve been doing it with Donna Betson since the beginning,” Christie said. “When you smell those wreaths out, the evergreen smell on those graves, on a winter day when the snow’s on the ground, the green wreaths against the marble headstone, it’s a really nice atmosphere out there,  and it’s overwhelming for me, because I’ll be buried out there one day, and I hope I still get a wreath on my grave.”

All are welcome to attend a fundraiser for Wreaths Across America, to be held at ACE Hardware in Radcliff (2360 South Dixie Boulevard) Saturday, November 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“There’s going to be a first responder chili cookoff, car and bike show, and we also open it up to arts and crafts,” Christie said. “Anybody wants to put an arts and crafts tent up, they can. All of the proceeds go to the wreaths.”

The event will also feature a silent auction, and door prizes will be announced every hour. Contact Christie for information on purchasing a booth.

Hardin County Fiscal Court approves 911 fee increase, medical cannabis zoning

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

The first reading was held on an ordinance for enhanced 911 emergency telephone services within Hardin County. The ordinance would approve a $15 increase to the county 911 fee on next year’s tax bills, bringing it from $50.58 to $65.58. Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul said with a budget shortfall for 911 and a hardware refresh on the horizon, the funds are needed to keep up with increases in use.

“We have seen an increase in staffing since 2022 due to a 112 percent increase in administrative calls, 206 percent increase in NCIC transactions, 42 percent increase in CAD reports created, and 114 percent increase in self-initiated calls,” Taul said.

The court approved on second reading an ordinance that amends the zoning text for medical cannabis businesses in unincorporated Hardin County. The amendment limits the businesses to I-1 (light industrial) or I-2 (heavy industrial) zones. An amendment for the 2024-2025 county budget was also approved on its second reading.

Hardin County Coroner Pat Elmore reported that the coroner’s office responded to 202 cases in August and September, and the number of overdose deaths year-to-date is 19, which is down from 37 year-to-date last year although Elmore noted toxicology is pending on a few cases.

Elmore said the county’s quick response team has been working hard to get established.

“Our policies and procedures are complete,” Elmore said. “We have MOUs ready to complete with the police and EMS, and (the rapid response officers) have both completed their national training for that, so they’re actually certified. We’re going to be the only coroner’s office, I think, in the nation that has a QRT, so we’re really proud of that.”

A QR code that links to info on the QRT and to resources available for people who are struggling with, or know people who are struggling with, addiction can be found in several county publications that will be going out soon as well as on the Quick Response Team – Hardin County Facebook page.

The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet November 12. The next Hardin County Town Hall Forum will be held in the fiscal courtroom on November 7.

Have an escape plan ready in case of fire

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October is Fire Prevention Month, and fire officials are reminding residents that one of the most important aspects of fire prevention is to be prepared.

“Make sure that you have a home fire escape plan, and that everybody knows it, so everybody knows the best way out of their room,” said Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane. “Tell the kids to remember to get low, and go and practice it. The NFPA recommends, at least twice a year, try to practice and get everybody familiar with what they’re going to do if there is a fire.”

Make sure everybody knows where to meet after evacuating the home, and make sure kids are ready to talk to emergency responders if necessary.

“Make sure that your little ones know your address for your home,” Crane said. “They may be the ones that have to call 911, so make sure they understand your address and what to tell the dispatchers, and also remind them that 911 is only for emergencies.”

The theme for Fire Prevention Month this year is “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You.” Make sure the members of your household know what the smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm sound like.

Crane also says sleep with the door closed in case of fire.

“The saying is ‘close when you dose,’ so what that is is that helps keep that smoke and that fire away from you,” Crane said. “If you do hear the smoke alarm go off, maybe you don’t know where the fire is. You want to make sure that you’re checking the door before you open the door, but keep the door closed because if it works in a way where if you’re not able to get out your door, you may have to stay in your room and may have to shelter there until the fire department can get to you.”

Visit the National Fire Protection Association for more fire safety tips.

E-Town dog needs your vote in contest

94.3 The Wolf

A local dog is in the running for a national competition. 

Kentucky Farm Bureau says that Daisy, owned by Shelby and Lora Ennis of Elizabethtown, is one of five finalists for the People’s Choice Pup Award in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2024 Farm Dog of the Year competition.

The Ennises told KFB that Daisy showed up at their door one day, and after a week of searching for an owner they decided to keep the mixed-breed dog. Daisy proved to be a special dog.

The Ennises say Lora had a hard fall at home while Shelby was asleep, leaving her bleeding and dazed. Daisy ran upstairs and alerted Shelby, who found Lora and got her to the hospital.

Some time later, while walking at an area nature trail, Shelby and Daisy came upon a downed tree limb. When Shelby went to move it, Daisy discovered a man that was trapped in the brush. Shelby then contacted emergency responders.

The Ennises decided to enter Daisy in the People’s Choice Cup contest, and you can help Daisy bring home the trophy. Visit kyfb.com/vote4daisy Voting ends November 8.

Elizabethtown City Council meets

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

The first reading was held on an ordinance that would extend Comcast’s non-exclusive franchise rights in the city for 15 years.

The council approved on second reading an ordinance that amends the zoning for 204 Jackie Street from future development holding to urban residential general (R-4). The change was recommended for approval by the city’s planning commission.

In other meeting news, Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory commended the response of the staff at Baptist Health Hardin to the armed gunman incident in the hospital’s emergency room Saturday, and called the response of the Elizabethtown Police Department “textbook.”

“Quite frankly, I wouldn’t trade our PD or our people that work at our PD with anybody anywhere, and I think that is just another reminder of what happened Saturday and why we’re so blessed to have the folks that we do down there at the PD,” Gregory said.

Gregory also announced that trick or treating in the city will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on October 31. 

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet October 28.