WULF News

The application period for Kentucky businesses looking to secure medical cannabis licenses will open Monday.

Governor Andy Beshear said Thursday the application process is six months ahead of schedule as the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program took significant steps to expedite the timeline. Under the terms of the state program, licenses will be issued for five types of medical cannabis business: cultivators, processors, producers, safety compliance facilities, and dispensaries. A series of YouTube webinars, a business licensing application guide, and other materials are available to help applicants at kymedcan.ky.gov.

Area municipalities have been weighing whether or not to opt into the state program or opt out, which would not prevent cardholders from accessing or possessing medical cannabis but would prevent businesses from setting up shop. The Elizabethtown City Council took up action to opt in while the Vine Grove City Council and the Hardin County Fiscal Court voted to put the issue on the November ballot, and the Radcliff City Council is weighing options. Elizabethtown City Council Member Julia Springsteen said the city shouldn’t put an undue burden on patients in need when the program is as regulated as it is.

“There’s a board of eight doctors and two nurses that govern the whole thing,” Springsteen said. “It can’t be near schools, it can’t be advertised that well, and the bottom line is this was passed because sick people need this and it’s proven to help sick people.”

Radcliff City Attorney Mike Pike said it is important for local communities to get regulations on the books so that the city has a say.

“You can’t restrict those people’s usage, but what you can do is restrict time, manner, place in terms of all these various cannabis operations, so if you do nothing, then what that means is you’re allowing it,” Pike said.

Monday is also the launch of the application process for physicians and advanced practice registered nurses seeking authorization to issue medical cannabis certifications.

The West Point Kids Club will be hosting a free Family Fun Day event at the West Point School Yard this Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m.

“It’s free to all of the kids in town,” said Brittany Miller, one of the volunteers helping to put on the event. “We’re going to have bounce houses and water slides. We’re going to be having food and outdoor games, and some other little surprises that we haven’t really put out there yet. We’re trying to surprise the kids with some extra fun stuff.”

Activities and food for all kids will be free, and while food for adults will carry a cost it is for a good cause.

“For the food, we’re charging $5 for the adult because we’re also going to be doing a back to school program or back to school event at the end of July, beginning of August, so the $5 that we get for every adult meal purchase is going to go towards purchasing back to school supplies to help with that event,” Miller said.

Family Fun Day is part of the kids club’s efforts to support the kids of West Point.

“The West Point Kids Club, they get together from time to time just to do stuff with the kids, just to bring more activities to the kids of West Point,” Miller said.

The West Point Kids Club posts upcoming events to the Community Page of West Point Facebook page.

Equipment operators from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet were able to put their skills on display in district and state competitions and will now represent Kentucky in the regional competition.

14 KYTC operators, including several from the local districts, advanced to represent the commonwealth at the Southeastern Regional Equipment Operator’s Safety and Training Conference, which will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina, in September. The operators qualified after earning high marks in the state’s conference, or equipment “Roadeo”, a two-day state-level competition that saw heavy equipment operators show their skill on seven obstacle course exercises.

The state Roadeo was held at the Kentucky Horse Park Tuesday and Wednesday with crews competing in courses that tested accuracy, agility, and speed while operating equipment such as graders, dump trucks, and skid steers.

Josh Garmon with KYTC District Four took first place in the tractor truck with lowboy trailer category. Jamie Watkins with District Four won first place in the single axle dump truck category, with Garmon finishing third. Nicholas Howell with District Three won first place in the skid steer category, with District Three’s Paul Gripshover finishing third.

Visit the KYTC on the web for more information.

The decision on medical marijuana facilities for unincorporated Hardin County locations will go to the voters.

The Hardin County Fiscal Court voted down an ordinance that would have prohibited the operation of cannabis businesses in the unincorporated portions of the county and instead passed a resolution to put the issue on the ballot at the next election.

Judge-Executive Keith Taul voted in favor of the prohibiting ordinance, as he felt since other incorporated cities in the county are taking steps to permit the businesses availability will not be an issue, and the county can take its time and let things play out.

“As good as the people are that have come up with this program at Frankfurt, I believe that they are not invincible, and that they have come up with a process that they think will work really well, but it is untested, and so I would prefer that Hardin County opt out for now, see how things are going to go, and then as needed we can come in later,” Taul said.

After the ordinance was voted down 5 to 4, Taul voted in favor of the resolution to put the decision on the ballot as he said giving it to the voters was better than taking no action on the matter. The resolution passed 6 to 3.

District Three Magistrate Patsy Whitehead said giving Hardin County voters a voice on the topic is important, and she said she hopes the voters take advantage of the opportunity.

“Use the next few months to learn all you can about the restrictions placed on medical cannabis,” Whitehead said. “Ask questions. Do your homework. Do your research. Make an educated vote on November 5. Your opinion is important, so let your voice be heard.”

The court also approved an amendment to the county’s zoning ordinance that had its second reading. The amendment reduces the minimum size of a Rural Residential or R-2 lot from 3 acres to 1.8 acres.

In other meeting news, the Hardin County Coroner’s Office responded to 93 cases in April, including 8 accidents, and 114 cases in May, including 7 accidents. The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office reported 140 arrests, 284 citations, 50 criminal cases, and 120 warrants issued in April and May.

Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith said the clerk’s office is excited to open its Radcliff location.

“Tuesday, July 9 is our opening date, the first date will be available to serve you,” Smith said. “When I initially reported this, we thought we were going to be open Tuesdays and Thursdays. For a variety of reasons, we’re going to be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, so we’re starting at three days a week, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.”

July 9 is also the date of the next Hardin County Fiscal Court meeting.

Hardin County Schools is accepting nominations for its 2024 class of Distinguished Alumni Award winners.

HCS says the awards are an opportunity to honor district alumni. Nominees must have graduated from a current or former Hardin County school no less than five years ago.

“The Distinguished Alumni celebration is one of our best events each year and we encourage everyone who has a connection to the Hardin County Schools family to nominate a HCS alum who has excelled in his or her chosen profession or who has made outstanding contributions to his or her community,” said Hardin County Schools Community Relations Specialist John Wright.

The deadline for nominations is July 26, and award winners will be honored in a ceremony on September 26. The nomination form can be found on the Hardin County Schools website under the Alumni tab.