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Lane closures scheduled for I-65 over Salt River in Bullitt County

Daily lane closures will begin on Interstate 65 in Bullitt County today.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says KYTC engineers will be performing routine hands-on inspection of the I-65 bridge over Salt River near mile marker 116. The bridge deck will also be cleaned, requiring additional lane closures.

The right lane of I-65 South at the bridge will be closed from 9 to 11 a.m. today, then the northbound lane will be closed from 12 to 3 p.m. The right lane will then be closed Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and the northbound lane will be closed Wednesday and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Motorists should always use caution when approaching a work zone and look for signage. Visit the KYTC on the web for more information.

Tuesday storm knocks out power for more than 4,300 residences

A strong storm cell that blew through the area Tuesday resulted in widespread power outages and extensive restoration work for Nolin RECC crews.

Nolin RECC Communications Manager Sarah Fellows says the storm that came through did a lot of damage in a short amount of time.

“At the peak there were about 4,300 members without power, and that was really spread across our entire service territory,” Fellows said. “It wasn’t isolated in one area, and because of the widespread nature of that damage, we could see full restoration taking a couple of days, so some members may expect to be without power at least through tomorrow or longer depending on where we find the damage across our system.”

Nolin crews had reduced the number of members without power to about 1,600 by late Tuesday afternoon. You can stay updated on the outages by staying connected via the web.

“We do post updates regularly to our social media channels, especially as we get new information in from the field to be able to update our members, and we also have a real time outage map that can be found at NolinRECC.com,” Fellows said.

The power outages postponed the open house scheduled for West Hardin Middle School seventh and eighth grade families, which has been rescheduled for Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.

“It will be a staggered open house,” said Hardin County Schools Community Relations Specialist John Wright. “Students with last names beginning A through M are asked to attend from 6 to 7 p.m., and then students with last names N through Z are asked to attend from 7 to 8 p.m. The sixth grade Laker Fun Day will still take place on Wednesday the 31st from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Of course, all of that will take place at West Hardin Middle School.”

Watch for downed trees as a result of the storm, and always stay away from downed power lines.

LaRue County Chamber hosting Back to School Bash this Friday

LaRue County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sandy Kidd says area families are invited to come out to a fun event this Friday.

“We have our Back to School Bash that begins at 5:45 p.m. and runs until 7:15 or whenever the school supplies run out,” Kidd said. “We do have a lot of folks that come out for this event so that is possible that we run out of supplies, so be there early.”

Participating businesses and organizations will set up in both directions around Lincoln Square. The event will also feature music and food.

“At 7.30 p.m., the Dylan West Band will be performing until 10.30,” Kidd said. “There’ll be food trucks available, so don’t come having already eaten. You’ll want to eat there, and there’ll be plenty of choices.”

The LaRue County Schools Child Nutrition Program will also be set up at the event to provide free meals for children 18 and younger.

Kidd says the evening promises to be a fun one.

“We will have some giveaways as well, so you’ll see me in the center circle and I’ll give kids a ticket and we have lots of giveaways beyond the school supply giveaways, so we have lots going on and we invite the community and the public to come out and enjoy it.”

Businesses interested in participating, or folks looking for more information, can visit the LaRue County Chamber of Commerce’s website or Facebook page.

LTADD senior services survey now open to all area residents 60 and up

The Lincoln Trail Area Development District is still looking for feedback on its annual assessment survey for older adults.

The survey is now available to all area individuals ages 60 and up who are looking to provide feedback on services available in the development district.

LTADD Home Care and In-Home Services Supervisor Tabitha French says residences from Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, and Washington counties were randomly selected for the initial survey effort. French says the survey results are important for helping LTADD prioritize efforts.

“Well, it definitely gives us an idea of what the needs are in our community,” French said. “We base how we allot different funding that we receive from the state and federal government based on what individuals in the community say their needs are. So, is there a higher need for transportation? Is there a higher need for in-home services, home delivery meals, those types of things?”

Anybody ages 60 and up that was not selected in the random sampling and wants to provide feedback can visit www.ltadd.org or the Lincoln Trail Area Development District Facebook page to find the link for the survey. Information on regional services and other studies LTADD has been a part of can be found on the development district’s website.

E-Town August Lawn Party at the Lake event promises to be a swingin’ time

The City of Elizabethtown is gearing up for its August Lawn Party at the Lake event.

The August event, which is part of a summer-long series hosted by the city, will take place Wednesday, August 7 at the bandstand at Freeman Lake Park.

This month’s concert will feature the Northern Kentucky-based Kentucky Symphony Orchestra’s 10-piece subsidiary group the Devou-Doo Daddies. Their performance is titled “Get Movin’ (Feet Don’t Fail Me Now) Millennial Versus Gen-Z Swing.” The orchestra says 1990s swing revival takes on 2020s hip-hop infused swing during the show.

Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles says each lawn party event offers food vendors, and while outside alcohol is not permitted alcoholic beverages will be on sale at the lake.

“The concert series is totally free and family friendly,” Pyles said. “The gates will open at 5.30 p.m. and the acts will take the stage around 6.30, so it gives you a little bit of time to come in and get seated. It is festival style seating, so we ask that people bring lawn chairs, you can bring blankets. We will have picnic tables, but it’s very, very casual.”

Pyles said the first year for the concert series was a successful one, and in 2024 there’s nowhere to go but up.

“We had such a wonderful turnout last year after we got through the rain, but we’re very, very excited,” Pyles said. “The bandstand at Freeman Lake is such a beautiful fixture in our community. If you haven’t been out to see it, it is the perfect place to relax after a hard day, and we’re really excited.”

Follow the Elizabethtown City Events Facebook page for more information and updates.

Tickets available for FOHCAS Dirty Dog Bash fundraiser

Friends of Hardin County Animal Shelter is gearing up for their annual fundraising event the Dirty Dog Bash, which will be held at The Venue at Highland Farm on Saturday, August 10.

FOHCAS President Myra Covault says the organization is excited to celebrate a special occasion that is extra special this year.

“We are so happy to be back at The Venue at Highland Farm in Elizabethtown, and it’s just a perfect location to also be celebrating not only the fundraising angle but it is our tenth anniversary of FOHCAS,” Covault said. “Please come out and celebrate that with us.”

The Dirty Dog Bash will feature dinner, a cash bar with dog-themed drinks, a drink pull, a live and silent auction, and door prizes. Covault says the event will also highlight local artists.

“We have local artist Courtney Ballard who has generously agreed to create an original piece that is going to be unveiled at our live auction,” Covault said. “You have got to be there for that. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about how exciting that is to see what she comes up with. For our music, we have a local favorite, Kevin Jaggers, joining us again.”

FOHCAS provides financial support to the Hardin County Animal Shelter, with 100 percent of money raised used to benefit homeless dogs and cats.

“The work that we do is just life-affirming, it’s impactful,” Covault said. “Remember, proceeds from the event benefit our mission to support the work of Hardin County Animal Shelter to advocate for all homeless animals and to provide low-cost spay and neuter options for our communities.”

Tickets to the Dirty Dog Bash are available at www.fohcas.org

Grab some popcorn and support CASA of the Heartland at the movies Friday night

You can help support CASA of the Heartland’s mission of serving children as they navigate foster care and the family court system this Friday by heading to the movies.

CASA of the Heartland is partnering with Crowne Pointe Theatre for a special showing of the 80s classic The Goonies.

“It is at 6 p.m. this Friday, July 19,” said CASA of the Heartland Executive Director Michelle Kail. “Tickets are $7 and can be purchased on our website at CASAheartland.org, and $5 of the $7 goes directly to CASA and then part of the ticket purchase is that you get a 30 percent off coupon for concessions.”

Find more information on the CASA of the Heartland Facebook page.

Take a newbie fishing and win a prize from KFW

KFW says fishing is available to anyone regardless of age, background, and experience level, and Kentucky has plenty of bodies of water that offer fishing opportunities year round.

KFW is encouraging experienced anglers to bring new fishers into the fold with their “Mentor to Win” contest. The contest is free to enter and is open to any licensed angler 16 years of age or older that mentors a new angler, also 16 years of age or older, that purchases a fishing license after having either never purchased a license or having not had a license in the last three years.

Mentors will use the KFW’s MyProfile portal to enter the name and ID number of the person they took fishing. Mentors can take as many new fishers out as they like for multiple entries.

The contest ends August 31. The winner will receive a new kayak, paddle, personal flotation device, and two spinning rod and reel combos.

Visit the KFW’s fishing website for more information on the contest and Kentucky’s fishing opportunities.

Whooping cough cases on the rise in Kentucky

Kentucky health officials are warning of an alarming increase in cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

“We have been in a state of increase for quite a while now,” said Lincoln Trail District Health Department Public Relations Officer Michelle Phillips. “They actually have issued a health alert because we’ve had 130 cases already in the state so far, and 44 of those have been since April, and it’s very dangerous especially for very young children and our older adults.”

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory illness with symptoms that begin with a runny nose and mild coughing but then develop into rapid, violent coughing fits that cause a “whooping” sound, vomiting, and labored breathing. Whooping cough spreads easily from person to person via the air, but like most respiratory illnesses the best defense is vaccination.

“Vaccines are one of the best ways that we can prevent diseases, and one of the biggest importance of the vaccines is protection for those who can’t be vaccinated, so providing that immunity for those who can’t receive the vaccine,” Phillips said.

Lincoln Trail District residents can contact the health department for more information on getting children vaccinated against the disease.

“We do participate in the Vaccines for Children program, and that covers children who have Medicaid, who don’t have health insurance, or who have health insurance that doesn’t cover certain vaccines,” Phillips said “We don’t do adult vaccination at this point, but that is something that’s going to be coming later this summer or in the early fall months.”

Visit the Kentucky Department of Public Health’s website for more information on pertussis.

Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office detective to be honored for homicide investigation

A detective with the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office will be honored for his work on a homicide investigation.

Chris Hill will be one of seven investigators that will be presented with the International Homicide Investigators Association’s Award for Excellence in Homicide Investigations.

Bullitt County Sheriff Walt Sholar says the award is a testament to a dedicated and experienced law enforcement professional.

“Chris is always ready to step up and help in any and many fashions that we’ve needed him,” Sholar said. “He serves as a firearms and tactics instructor for our office. He’s one of our drone pilots and is teaching other people here at our sheriff’s office how to operate drones.”

Hill is being recognized for leading the investigation into the disappearance and murder of a Bullitt County resident in 2020, ultimately resulting in two guilty pleas and 30-year sentences for the perpetrators. Hill constructed the case despite the victim’s body never being found. Sholar said Hill had participated in training for such cases.

“He brought those tools back with him, put that together, made a presentation, an outstanding presentation to the Commonwealth Attorney, and then ultimately to the grand jury,” Sholar said. “I’ve been around here for 40 years and it’s the first homicide case that I can recall in Bullitt County ever being presented where we were not able to find the body.”

Sholar said Hill’s award is well-deserved, and is also a tribute to the hard work the rest of the staff at the sheriff’s office puts in each day.

“It shows the professionalism that is going on,” Sholar said. “Chris just epitomizes it, but he is only one cog in the wheel of a very professional organization that all the people that I am blessed to have around me have put together.”

Hill will receive the award at a ceremony in Washington D.C. on August 15.