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Family Scholar House distributing 5,000 pounds of food to ECTC students and members of the public Tuesday

94.3 The Wolf

More than 5,000 pounds of food will be distributed to Elizabethtown Community and Technical College students as well as members of the public during a pop-up event Tuesday. 

“Family Scholar House at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is hosting a free food and clothing pop-up shop,” said ECTC Director of Marketing and Communications Sarah Brkshire. “It’s going to start at 10 a.m. The 10 a.m. time is for current ECTC students and then from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. anyone in the community is welcome to come by our Elizabethtown campus and take part in that. It’s going to be in the Academic Technical Building.”

Attendees are asked to bring their own bags and coolers for items.

The Family Scholar House is part of the ECTC Student Success Hub which provides a variety of services to support students in and out of the classroom.

“Events like this pop up are just one of the ways that they really help support that mission, and we’re very thankful that they’ve got the resources to not only help current students, but to open it up to community members as well,” Berkshire said.

Items Tuesday are available while supplies last. Contact the Student Success Hub at 270-706-8432 or Family Scholar House at 270-706-8835 (or via email at FSHElizabethtown@familyscholarhouse.org) for more information.

E-Town man “accidentally but extremely recklessly” shoots teenager in face

94.3 The Wolf

An Elizabethtown man prohibited from possessing a firearm was arrested after an accidental shooting saturday.

“Around 9:30 Saturday evening, we responded to the 600 block of Stewart Court in reference to the report of a shooting,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “Upon arrival, investigators determined that 20-year-old Joseph Hampton Roberts accidentally, but extremely recklessly, fired a handgun and struck a 16-year-old male in the face.”

The juvenile victim was airlifted from the scene with critical but non-life-threatening injuries.

“Hampton Roberts, who is on felony diversion and prohibited from possessing a firearm, was arrested and charged with Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon,” Denham said.

The investigation is ongoing. Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be presented to a grand jury to consider further charges.

Hardin County Animal Shelter awarded $20,000 grant

94.3 The Wolf

The Hardin County Animal Shelter is celebrating after receiving financial support from Petco Love.

“It’s a Petco Love Grant we filled out for quite a while ago, and honestly we hadn’t heard anything so we didn’t think we were going to be one of the recipients, but it’s $20,000 that we can put forward towards anything that’s on the life-saving effort that’s not currently in the budget,” said Hardin County Animal Care and Control Director Mike McNutt. 

The grant can be used on projects such as sustainable food storage and medical equipment. McNutt said the financial support from the grant is great, but it doesn’t compare to the support the animal shelter regularly gets from the community.

“We recently had put out a plea because we are trying to keep the animals on a constant food supply of the same brand of food, and I want to say that this county has always stepped up and helped us out in great measure to the point to where we’ve had to find other places to store food,” McNutt said.

Responsible pet owners can support the animal shelter and take advantage of their Clear the Kennel special which runs now through May 4. All adoptions for dogs ages 5 months and older are free and include normal vetting including spaying or neutering.

McNutt said the shelter is at capacity and needs to get dogs to good homes, but he advises that you should only dive in if you are ready to make a commitment.

“People don’t understand that when they’re at the shelter and we get them to where they’re housebroken there, they’re going to have to have an adjustment period at home before they’re housebroken there, and their training has to be consistent once they get there, so when we say that animal is housebroken it doesn’t mean they’re going to be housebroken the first week in your house because they have to adjust to it,” McNutt said.

The animal shelter is open Mondays through Saturdays from 12 to 4 p.m. at 220 Peterson Drive in Elizabethtown.

KYTC advises of lane closures on Bluegrass Parkway; asking for feedback on Bullitt County project

94.3 The Wolf

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has information on a project starting this week on the Bluegrass Parkway and wants information from the public on an upcoming project in Bullitt County. 

Commuters heading east on the Bluegrass Parkway should be on the lookout for lane closures that will take place over the next several weeks between mile markers 39 and 43 in Washington County. 

Contract crews will be laying asphalt as part of a resurfacing project that’s scheduled to be completed by August 1. Drivers should slow down when approaching work zones and pay close attention.

Meanwhile, the KYTC will be hosting a public meeting to gather input on design plans for the Blue Lick Road enhancement project. That project will improve safety and reduce congestion along Blue Lick Road from John Harper Highway to West Triangle Lane.

The meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 9 at Hebron Middle School in Shepherdsville. Anybody interested in providing feedback may drop in anytime during meeting hours. An online survey will be made available after the meeting for those unable to attend.

More information on these projects and more can be found on the KYTC’s website.

Defense and prosecution in Crystal Rogers investigation cases send change of venue proposal to judge

94.3 The Wolf

Attorneys for Crystal Rogers investigation suspects Brooks Houck, Steven Lawson, and Joseph Lawson and Special Prosecutor Shane Young are in agreement on a new venue for the case. The decision is now up to Nelson Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III.

Orders filed in the case Thursday state that the involved parties have met and agreed on a venue for the trial. Prior to approving the agreement, the court will review the proposed facility and will provide additional proceedings if the venue is found to not be suitable.

In a pre-trial conference on March 21 at which Young said he agreed with the change of venue motion, Judge Simms requested that the chosen venue be large enough to accommodate members of the public and have a separate entrance for jurors.

The change of venue was to be discussed at a hearing scheduled for May 1 that has now been remanded. The parties are next scheduled to convene for a pre-trial conference on June 13.

State representatives provide updates at Vine Grove Legislative Breakfast

94.3 The Wolf

Federal, state, and local government officials were on hand Thursday for the City of Vine Grove’s second annual legislative breakfast.

The event provided an opportunity for members of the Kentucky General Assembly from local districts to provide an update on their work during the most recent session and to connect with local officials.

House District 25 Representative Steve Bratcher said of the more than 1,100 house and senate bills that went before the general assembly, about 200 passed. Bratcher said the Hardin County area is an area in transition with recent and future growth and efforts to reduce the strain are necessary, but the area is in a good place.

“We should really, really consider ourselves very fortunate and take some of the things that we’re given and the opportunities that we have and utilize that to move our area and our community forward,” Bratcher said. “There’s some organizations or some communities that are really suffering right now, and so we are in the trajectory of growth, so that’s a great place to be.”

House District 27 Representative Nancy Tate discussed her work on several legislative caucuses, including efforts on the Aerospace and Aviation Caucus. Tate said more than 600,000 pilots and more than 650,000 airplane mechanics will be needed in the next ten years, and she said she wants to make sure Kentucky can be a critical part of the industry.

“Did you know that in 2019 and actually today, our number one export in Kentucky is aerospace and aviation materials?” said Tate. “This is obviously near and dear to my heart. In 2019, we exported $11 billion worth of materials for aviation and aerospace.”

Kentucky Second District Congressman Brett Guthrie was unable to attend but was represented by District Manager Mark Lord, who discussed some of Guthrie’s legislative priorities. Lord also said Guthrie has been able to send $25 million to $30 million back to the Second District each of the last several years through congressionally-directed spending.

“We can have opportunity for members of Congress to redirect money that would otherwise be spent by the administration to be directed by their members of Congress rather than the administration,” Lord said. “That’s a good thing, especially when it doesn’t have one additional dollar to the federal spending.”

Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory, Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall, Vine Grove Mayor Pam Ogden, and West Point Mayor Richard Ciresi each expressed their appreciation for the availability of area representatives.

Down Syndrome Association of the Heartland celebrates growth with new headquarters

94.3 The Wolf

Down Syndrome Association of the Heartland celebrated the growth of the organization as they cut the ribbon Thursday on their new headquarters, located at 1105 Julianna Court (Suite 2) in Elizabethtown.

The association, which supports individuals with Down syndrome and their families “by fostering celebration, education, advocacy, and service,” says it will be able to streamline operations by offering a centralized hub for services and events along with administrative offices and meeting spaces.

Down Syndrome Association of the Heartland Executive Director Tonya House said the opening is a celebration of how far the association has come.

“Six years ago, right at six years ago, this organization started and then COVID really derailed us, so we are just so thrilled that we finally are to this point that we have a home and all of this stuff is out of my basement and my garage, but we’re just thrilled for the opportunity that this is going to give our families,” House said.

Association board president Jon Anderson said lots of hard work went into reaching this point, and House is at the center of those efforts.

“Tonya has worked tirelessly in promoting our organization and connecting families and connecting so many people in the community, and that has allowed us to continue to take those steps from when we started the organization back in July of 2018,” Anderson said.

Visit www.dsheartland.org for more information.

Unemployment rates up for March across Lincoln Trail District

94.3 The Wolf

Unemployment numbers in March are up across the Lincoln Trail District compared to last year.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says from March 2023 to March 2024, unemployment rates increased in 116 counties, decreased in three, and remained the same in one. The state unemployment average for March 2024 is 5.1 percent, up from the March 2023 average of 4.3 percent.

March unemployment for Hardin County was reported at 5 percent. While that is down a tick from the 5.1 percent rate reported in February, it is up from March 2023 when the rate came in at 4.2 percent.

Washington County reported the lowest March unemployment rate in the Lincoln Trail District, and the second-lowest in the commonwealth, at 3.8 percent. Breckinridge County reported the highest rate for March at 5.7 percent.

Learn more about how unemployment rates are formed and other labor market information by visiting the Kentucky Center for Statistics online.

ECTC raising funds for student support during inaugural Giving Day

94.3 The Wolf

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is inviting the community to help support its students as the college hosts its inaugural ECTC Giving Day Thursday.

ECTC says donations will support student needs such as scholarships, transportation assistance, and the Student Emergency Fund, among other areas. With this year being the college’s 60th anniversary, one of the event goals is to have at least 60 donors give $60.

One specific way to support ECTC students is by donating to the Gowns for Grads initiative. ECTC Director of Admissions and Assessment Judy Akers said that $50 will provide a student with a cap, gown, and tassel.

“We are trying to make sure that all of our graduates have the opportunity to graduate without worrying about the cost of buying a gown to participate in graduation,” Akers said.

ECTC President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate previously told Quicksie that supporting the college means supporting a large, blended community.

“When you really step back and look at what Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is, it’s really like this perfect melting pot because, you know, roughly half of our students are that traditional student who is there to take a full-time load of classes, and that’s really their job,” Pate said. “When you’re 18 and a freshman in college and your job is to pass your classes. So we’ve got that, but then we’ve also got that mix of folks who have entered into a job or an initial career, and they’re coming back.”

Find more information and a link to the Giving Day page on ECTC’s website or Facebook page.

Reynolds selected as Irvington Elementary School principal

94.3 The Wolf

Irvington Elementary School has a new principal, but it is a familiar face.

Breckinridge County Schools announced Wednesday that Jasmyn Reynolds has been named Irvington’s new principal. Reynolds has been serving as Irvington’s interim principal since February, and has been the school’s instructional coach since 2017.

When previously discussing the principal search, Breckinridge County Schools Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter said the district was looking for a dedicated leader.

“Hard-working, 100 percent dedicated and committed to the success of all students and staff in the building, a strong focus on the academic needs of our children but also the social emotional needs of our children,” Carter said.

Prior to her time at Irvington, Reynolds was an intermediate teacher at Ben Johnson Elementary School, and prior to that taught fifth grade in Fayette County. Reynolds graduated from the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education then earned a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education at Western Kentucky University, where she also earned her Rank I in Education Administration.