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Lincoln birthplace hosting night sky viewing event

94.3 The Wolf

The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park invites you to join them for a look at the stars.

The park will host their Fall Night Sky Program at the Boyhood Home Unit at Knob Creek on Friday, October 11, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The tour will be conducted by Eastern Kentucky University Department of Physics, Geosciences, and Astronomy Professor Dr. Mark Pitts. Topics will include stars, planets, light pollution, and dark skies, and Pitts will demonstrate the workings of a telescope.

Admission to the event is free. Visitors are encouraged to bring a flashlight, bug spray, and a blanket or chair, and visitors should wear closed-toe shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.

Contact the historic park for more information, and stay tuned to the park’s social media sites for weather-related updates.

Hodgenville gearing up for Lincoln Days this weekend

94.3 The Wolf

Area residents are invited this weekend to visit what has been named by Kentucky Living as the best festival in Kentucky for four straight years.

The 53rd annual Lincoln Days Celebration will be held in the sixteenth president’s hometown of Hodgenville October 5 and 6.

Celebrating the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln Days has experiences for young and old alike including food, vendors, live music, unique exhibits and displays, nationally-recognized contests, and one of the oldest continually held art shows in the state.

The festivities get started at 7:30 a.m. on October 5 with the Women’s Club of Hodgenville’s traditional country breakfast. Opening ceremonies will then be held on the main stage at Lincoln Square at 8 a.m.

Other events scheduled for Saturday include the cookie baking contest, the antique tractor show, the quilt show, pioneer games, the Lil’ Abe and Sarah family costume contest, the Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln look alike contests, the ice cream eating contest, the 5k and 10k, the Lincoln Days Parade, and live music including The Perfect Fit Band and The Monarchs.

Events for Sunday include the car show, the community worship service, and gospel music.

Visit www.lincolndays.org for more information and a complete schedule of events.

Red Cross calls for blood donations amid shortage and hurricane response

94.3 The Wolf

The American Red Cross continues to urge eligible members of the public to donate blood products as the U.S. continues to deal with a national blood shortage.

According to the Red Cross, the organization experienced a significant shortfall in blood and platelet donations in August, which followed a July that saw a near 25 percent drop in the blood supply. The Red Cross says it must collect 10,000 additional blood products each week over the next month In order to meet the needs of hospitals and patients.

Further strain on the blood supply comes from natural disasters including Hurricane Helene, ahead of which the Red Cross sent hundreds of blood products from around the country to areas that were expected to be the most impacted by the storm. This can create additional strain on areas impacted by the blood shortage.

Donors of all blood types are encouraged to schedule donations, especially Type O blood donors and donors giving platelets. As a thank you, all who donate from October 1 through 20 will receive a $15 Amazon.com gift card.

Learn more and schedule a donation appointment by visiting redcrossblood.org, by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor app, or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Work on KY 228 in Brandenburg delayed to this weekend

94.3 The Wolf

The remnants of Hurricane Helene delayed road work in Meade County.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four says the closure of KY 228/Battletown Road at the intersection with KY 313 in Brandenburg will now begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, October 4. The road is due to reopen at 6 a.m. Monday, October 7.

The KYTC says crews will begin replacing eastbound lane asphalt with a concrete inlay Friday evening. This work is designed to withstand torque and twisting produced by heavy vehicles that pull up to and out of the intersection. The inlay provides a long-term solution as maintenance crews have regularly used temporary measures to fill wheel ruttings.

The work has been planned for the weekend to minimize traffic impact. KY 228 will only be closed on the west side of KY 313. The Brandenburg side of the intersection will not be impacted.

Detour signs are in place to assist drivers. Use caution when approaching all work zones. Work is weather permitting. Follow KYTC District Four on social media for updates.

Registration deadline for November 5 election approaching

94.3 The Wolf

The absentee ballot request portal is active for Kentucky voters, and voters have one more week to register ahead of the November 5 general election.

“The deadline to register to vote is 4 p.m. on October 7,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “You can do that by coming by our office or visiting govote.ky.gov. The absentee request portal is open at that same website, govote.ky.gov, or you can come by our office or you can call our election staff at 270-765-6762.”

Voters should also be wary of the potential for scams as they go online for election information.

“There are a lot of third-party websites that look very official,” Smith said. “They’re run by private organizations or purported non-profit organizations. They cannot request your absentee ballot. You cannot request an absentee ballot through them. They’re collecting your name, your address, your Social Security number, and your birth date, and we don’t know what they’re doing with them.”

Smith says official election information would never come from a .com or a .org website. Contact your county clerk’s office for more election information.

Free shredding event for Hardin County residents Tuesday

94.3 The Wolf

Hardin County residents can safely dispose of sensitive documents at the Hardin County Solid Waste Department’s free document shredding event Tuesday.

Residents can pick up their free shredding bag at the Public Works Office, located in Suite 223 in the Hardin County Government Center at 150 North Provident Way in Elizabethtown. The limit is one bag per household.

After you fill your shredding bag, take it to the Hardin County Road Department, located at 501 Bacon Creek Road, from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Additionally, due to planned construction at the Ring Road location, the Hardin County recycling trailer located behind the Elizabethtown Lions Club building will be moved to 822 North Mulberry Street. The solid waste department says a permanent location for the trailer is still being discussed, but it will be at the Mulberry Street location at least through the end of the year.

Contact the solid waste department for more information at 270-360-9207.

Baptist Health Hardin hosting breast cancer and lymphedema benefit Thursday

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Baptist Health Hardin invites the public to support cancer survivors and learn more about the hospital’s cancer services this Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the hospital’s new medical pavilion. 

“The Perfectly Pink Pop-in Party is a fundraiser for patients with cancer,” said Baptist Health Vardin Vice President and Chief Development Officer Tracee Trout. “Specifically, the committee and the organizer of the event hope to raise money for lymphedema patients and lymphedema sleeves.”

Trout says the party is the brainchild of breast cancer survivor Laura Couch.

“She went through her cancer journey at Baptist Health Hardin and realized that lymphedema sleeves are sometimes expensive and oftentimes not covered by insurance, and so she wanted to organize something to help patients with cancer have an easier journey,” Trout said.

The party will benefit the Baptist Health Foundation and their support of cancer and lymphedema patients. Tours of the new cancer center will be available.

“There will be food and beverages available for purchase,” Trout said. “There are live auction items and a lot of information and education about cancer care and about lymphedema specifically, but it’s a fun ‘come and go party,’ and most importantly it is a chance for people to see our new cancer care center for the first time.”

All are welcome to attend the Perfectly Pink Pop-In Party, but pre-registration is requested. Visit bhfhardin.maxgiving.bid to sign up and purchase food, drinks, and other items in advance.

Heartland Harvest Festival cancelled due to weather; concert, pickleball tournament rescheduled

94.3 The Wolf

Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles said due to unsafe weather conditions resulting from the remnants of Hurricane Helene, the city has reluctantly chosen to cancel the Heartland Harvest Festival.

“The cancellation includes the crafted commercial vendors, the food vendors, the kids zone activities, the petting zoo, and the concert scheduled for downtown,” Pyles said. It also includes the Heartland Harvest Festival 5K Run/Walk at the nature park, the fishing derby at Freeman Lake Park, the Ron Thomas Memorial Fishing Tournament at Freeman Lake Park, and unfortunately the Great Pumpkin Battle decorating contest.”

Pyles said one event will still be happening Saturday.

“The Women’s Club of Elizabethtown will still have their Heartland Harvest Breakfast at Pritchard Community Center tomorrow morning,” Pyles said. “That’s from 8 to 11 a.m. They have dine-in, carry-out, and drive-thru. You can purchase tickets online and I think they’re taking them at the door still.”

The city was able to announce at least one bright side. The concert featuring country artists J.D. Shelburne and Craig Morgan has been rescheduled for May 31, 2025. Additional details on the concert will be released at a later date. Follow the Elizabethtown City Events Facebook page or visit etownevents.com for more information.

Additionally, the Elizabethtown Pickleball Commission rescheduled their pickleball open tournament to Saturday, October 5. Registration has re-opened for the tournament through Wednesday night, with a link available on the commission’s Facebook page.

Unemployment rates across Kentucky up in August from last year

94.3 The Wolf

While unemployment rates across the Lincoln Trail District saw slight increases in August 2024 compared to the year prior, the rates across the district are down from the month prior. 

The Kentucky Center for Labor Statistics says unemployment rates increased in all 120 counties in the commonwealth from August 2023 to August 2024.

The state unemployment average for August was reported at 5.1 percent, down some from the 5.4 percent average reported in July and up from the 4.1 percent average reported in August 2023. Four counties in the Lincoln Trail District had rates higher than the state average and three counties had rates lower than the state average.

Hardin County’s unemployment rate for August 2024 tied the state average at 5.1 percent. Hardin’s rate is a slight decrease from July 2024 when the rate was 5.4 percent and an increase from the 4 percent rate reported in August 2023.

Breckinridge and Grayson counties tied for the highest unemployment rate in the district for August at 5.7 percent, while Nelson County had the lowest at 4.3 percent.

More information on how the unemployment rate is calculated and more data is available at kystats.ky.gov.

HCS hosts groundbreaking for new West Hardin Middle School building

94.3 The Wolf

Hardin County Schools celebrated the start of a new chapter Thursday.

West Hardin Middle School students were the first to break ground on the new West Hardin building, to be located behind Cecilia Elementary School. The students were joined by the Hardin County Board of Education, school administrators, community and business members, and current and former West Hardin students and staff.

West Hardin Principal Christin Swords said West Hardin has served the district as an elementary, middle, and high school, and community support has maintained the school’s legacy.

“It is not just a building that makes us West Hardin,” Swords said. “It is definitely the people within that building, and we are so grateful that our board members and Superintendent Morgan and our community have this vision to continue West Hardin’s future and add to that next chapter.”

Swords said some of the current students may not attend classes in the new building, but they are excited to be part of the process.

“They keep asking questions, and they’re looking forward to seeing the next step, so we’re excited about including them in this project, not just today but in the building process, and what we can learn from that as well in terms of vision and perseverance through a project, and the commitment that we’re making,” Swords said.

The new West Hardin Middle School, designed by JRA Architects and built by Wehr Construction Inc., is due to open for students in 2026.