WULF News

Brigadier General Maurice Barnett told members of the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce during the November Chamber Luncheon that as the Cadet Command prepares to become a subordinate unit under the new three-star command that will be created out of the expansion of the Army Recruiting Command, the neighboring community continues to play a part in Fort Knox’s success.

“We’ve been here for over 100 years, and that longevity and continued strength, because ‘Strength Starts Here,’ comes from your community support, and these incredible partnerships,” Barnett said. “We’re grateful and blessed to be able to rely on each one of you.”

The commanding general of the Cadet Command said the community can support recruitment on the local level by helping to tell the Army’s story.

“There’s a wealth of talent and leadership opportunities surrounding this great community, and you as stakeholders, we need your support to spread the word about what service in the Army can do for someone’s life,” Barnett said.

Barnett said the Cadet Command remains engaged as an organization by partnering with more than 900 colleges and universities to produce more than 5,000 second lieutenants for the total army every year. More than 10,000 cadets come to Fort Knox each summer for training.

The Elizabethtown City Council met for a work session Tuesday evening.

Representatives from Lightsource BP made themselves available for questions from council as the organization prepares to submit an annexation request from the city for 950 acres north of Hayden School Road near the Elizabethtown airport that would be used for a solar installation. Lightsource BP Director of Development Jack Steele said the property would be leased from the current landowners for 40 years. When asked why the company was asking the city to annex the property rather than going through county government, Steele said similar projects have run into difficulties, and the company feels like the project fits in with that part of the city.

“It really feels and makes a lot of sense for it to be in the city of E-Town,” Steele said. “There’s a lot of compatibility there. It offers an opportunity to act as a buffer to the airport and act as a transition zone from city industrial development out into more agricultural and residential uses.”

Steele said the project will generate $4 million in property taxes while also showing direct support for the community.

“It represents a significant infrastructure investment in grid resiliency and electric infrastructure in this local community that feeds the industrial park, homes here, and helps support a lot of the growth that I know you and others are invested in bringing into this community,” Steele said.

Later in the meeting, Trina Martin with Hardin County Citizens for Responsible Solar asked the council to take another look at what Lightsource BP has presented. Martin said in addition to an increased fire hazard, she had concerns with the appraisals the company has presented, which she said has been seen in other solar proposals.

“There will be an impact on property values, and their report, if you look at it closely, compares apples and oranges,” Martin said. “You can’t compare a four bedroom, three bathroom house, and determine a value by using a two bedroom, one bathroom house.”

Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said the council would take Lightsource BP’s proposal under advisement.

In other meeting news, City Engineer Michael Page said most of the sidewalk improvements on the North Main Street project are complete, but the city has identified additional improvements such as to retaining walls, so the city will be requesting a project cost increase from the current total of $487,000 to a total not to exceed $620,000. City Stormwater Director Rita Davis said she will be asking the council to approve a bid from Dirt Works Unlimited for a project to correct erosion on Keeneland Drive. Davis said the bid is more than $300,000 under the engineering estimate for the project.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet November 18.

The Alabama man who fled police in Hart County then hid in a cornfield near Glendale was back in court Tuesday. 

Jecore M. King of Eight Mile, Alabama, appeared in Hardin Circuit Court for an arraignment hearing. King appeared via Zoom from the Hardin County Detention Center.

Judge John David Simcoe said King was indicted by a grand jury on multiple charges including Wanton Endangerment, Fleeing or Evading Police, and Reckless Driving, among other charges. King requested a public defender be assigned to his case, and a not guilty plea was entered on King’s behalf. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for December 17.

Following his arrest on October 24, the Kentucky State Police said King fled from a trooper that pulled King over near the 61-mile marker on Interstate 65 in Hart County after he was asked to step out of the vehicle for the possible presence of marijuana. After a pursuit that reached speeds of over 130 miles per hour, King crashed near the 85-mile marker and fled on foot into a nearby cornfield, where he was later apprehended after a search involving several law enforcement agencies.

Several area churches and Helping Hand of Hope are partnering to offer families in need a Thanksgiving dinner.

“It is provided to individuals and families who are unable to have a meal on their own,” said event coordinator Cheri Ellis-Reeves. “It’s at no cost to them, and if they’re in Hardin County we will deliver except to West Point. They do have to make a reservation through Helping Hand of Hope. The cutoff date is Friday the 22nd.”

The dinner will be hosted on Thanksgiving Day at Saint James Catholic School.

“If they want to come to Saint James School on Robinbrooke Boulevard, they’re able to pick it up there and carry it out, or they can dine in there,” Ellis-Reeves said. “If they dine in, it is from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.”

Food donations for the dinner are being accepted, or you can volunteer your time.

“We can’t do it without a lot of volunteers,” Ellis-Reeves said. “We do need volunteers to help deliver meals, help serve meals. At this point, we still need some volunteers.”

Contact Ellis-Reeves at Clark Jewelers or contact Helping Hand of Hope for more information.

2024 property tax bills in Kentucky are now due and payable.

The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office says there are several options available for residents to pay their property taxes.  Bills were sent out in postcard format, but you can find copies of your tax bill on the sheriff’s office’s website.

“We started collecting taxes on November 1, and have been really busy because taxpayers can receive the 2 percent discount during the month of November,” said Hardin County Sheriff John Ward. 

Taxes paid in December are paid at face value. Taxes paid in January have a five percent penalty, and the penalty goes to 21 percent after January 31st.

In addition to paying taxes online, by mail, in person at the sheriff’s office, or via the secure drop box at the sheriff’s office, the sheriff’s office began mobile tax collection this past Saturday and continues it Monday.

“We’ll also be collecting taxes on November 11 at the Radcliff Fire Department from 9 to 11 a.m., the Vine Grove Fire Department from 11:30 to 1 p.m., and at West Point City Hall from 1:30 to 3 p.m.,” Ward said.

Contact the sheriff’s office for assistance or more information.