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State Senator Deneen pleased with progress of legislative session so far

94.3 The Wolf

Kentucky Tenth District Senator Matt Deneen says he feels good about the progress that has been made as the Kentucky General Assembly’s 2024 session is now past the halfway point.

“I think the session has moved at a steady pace,” Deneen said. “We are actually picking the pace up here in this week and the coming weeks, of course, as we now have the budget from the House, and we are working through the budget issues systematically, one part of the budget at a time, so in the next few weeks we hope to have some of those things ironed out.”

Among the bills that the senate has taken action on is Senate Bill 20, for which Deneen was a primary sponsor.

“After working with our commonwealth attorney and our county attorney, and gaining the endorsements of several law enforcement associations that have unfortunately had to deal with this issue, we believe that Senate Bill 20 past the floor of the Senate and is now over into the House, and it will try those juveniles 15 and up that do commit violent gun crimes, it will transfer them to circuit court where they’ll be tried as adults.”

As the legislative session heads into its final weeks, Deneen says setting the state’s budget is the lead objective, while also focusing on developing projects.

“Infrastructure is a major point of contention here in our county and in several of the counties that have seen economic development lately, so we will be focusing on infrastructure spending needs,” Deneen said. “We will be looking at, of course, all budget issues, but our roads and our road plans we’ll be getting into as well.”

Deneen encourages anybody with concerns to contact his office, contact information for which can be found on the Legislative Research Commission’s website or the senator’s Facebook page.

E-Town council hears presentation from Silverleaf, discusses Fire Station No. 4 design plans

94.3 The Wolf

The Elizabethtown City Council heard two presentations during their work session Tuesday.

Silverleaf Sexual Trauma Recovery Services Executive Director Dr. Jillian Carden provided an update on some of the organization’s activities in 2023. Carden discussed the results of the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Abuse Involvement Test which received 66 responses from adult participants in the organization’s services. Carden said the organization did not previously have strong data on substance abuse.

“We know intuitively, and we know by research, that substance abuse and trauma go hand in hand,” Carden said. “They are co-occurring at a very high rate, and when you drill down even to sexual assault and substance abuse those numbers are incredibly high.”

While Silverleaf is not a substance use treatment facility, the data gives the organization a better idea on what it is dealing with.

“We recognize that if we’re going to say that trauma and substance abuse co-occur, we need to be intentional about assessing for that to make sure that if our clients and our survivors are working on their trauma, but they also have a substance abuse history, we need to be making sure that they’re getting referred to the place that they need to work on their sobriety as well,” Carden said.

Elizabethtown and Hardin County are its most frequent subject areas, but Silverleaf provides services for all of the Lincoln Trail District.

Meanwhile, RBS Design Group Architecture presented design plans for Elizabethtown Fire Station No. Four to the council. RBS President Craig Thomas said the design is largely based on that of Fire Station No. Two, with some changes based on feedback from E-Town firefighters.

“One of the things that we have done, when you look at Fire Station 2, we reduced the height for this portion of the building so it’s not going to be as tall,” Thomas said. “Another thing that we’ve done, we’ve added a baby drop box here on the western corner on the building.”

The estimated total cost of construction is $6.9 million, which City Administrator Ed Poppe said comes in under the $7.5 million budgeted by the city. The plan is to get the project out to bid in April, begin construction in May, and complete construction by April 2025.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet March 4.

LaRue County man arrested on sexual abuse charges

94.3 The Wolf

A multi-state law enforcement effort contributed to the arrest of a LaRue County man.

Alan “Brent” French of Upton was arrested Friday on an outstanding warrant for first degree Incest, first degree Sodomy, and first degree Sexual Abuse.

The Hodgenville Police Department says their officers were made aware of allegations of a possible abuse case in January involving the 59-year-old French and two juvenile females, a 15-year-old and a 5-year-old. Charges were filed against French after it was determined one of the victims was assaulted in LaRue county.

“We received a complaint of a possible sexual assault of a child,” said Hodgenville Police Chief James Richardson. “When we looked into it, there were actually four victims, two of which have since moved to Caldwell, Idaho, so what we did was we contacted the Caldwell Police Department and they were gracious enough to assist us in that investigation, interviewed the children out there. We interviewed the two children that still live here in Kentucky.”

The HPD determined that one incident happened in LaRue County and believe three more occurred in Hardin County.

“So we reached out to Kentucky State Police, and we are working with them in order to take care of the issues that happened in Hardin County, and we’re taking care of the issues that happened in LaRue,” Richardson said.

French was lodged in the LaRue County Detention Center, and is scheduled to make an initial appearance in District Court on February 28.

Campbellsville University student dies after being found unresponsive in dorm room; student arrested on Murder charge

94.3 The Wolf

A Campbellsville University student is dead after being found unresponsive in his dorm room early Saturday morning, and a fellow student is in custody.

The Campbellsville Police Department says that a male student, later identified as 18-year-old Josiah M. Kilman, was found unresponsive in his dorm room at around 12:43 a.m. Saturday, and was pronounced dead by the Taylor County Coroner’s Office after being transferred to Taylor Regional Hospital. The CPD says Kilman was transferred to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville for an autopsy.

The CPD stated an arrest warrant was issued for 21-year-old Charles E. Escalera for Murder, and officers were searching for him in the Campbellsville area. Campbellsville University issued a lockdown of campus as a result of the search.

The CPD says at approximately 5:15 p.m. Saturday the Green County Sheriff’s Office and the Kentucky State Police were alerted to a suspicious male in a barn near the Green and Taylor County line. Escalera was located and taken into custody without incident.

Escalera is currently lodged in the Taylor County Detention Center on charges of Murder and second degree Burglary. He is being held on a $2 million full cash bond.

Elizabethtown High School senior receives appointment to U.S. Military Academy

94.3 The Wolf

Kentucky Second District Congressman Brett Guthrie is himself a graduate of West Point, so he said it was an honor to present Elizabethtown High School Senior Sydney Braeger Friday with her official appointment to the United States Military Academy.

Braeger said she is grateful for the opportunity and grateful for the people in her life.

“I wouldn’t be where I am right now without support from the school, support from my friends, and support from my family, and I’m so thankful,” Braeger said. “I’m so excited, but I could not be here if it wasn’t for everybody in this room, so thank you.”

Braeger said it wasn’t until she was recruited by West Point for swimming that she began to seriously consider the military academy.

“I’ve grown up around the Army, but I didn’t see myself in that role, and I realized that the service academy was somewhere where I could be around like-minded individuals, like-minded kids my age, young leaders, and people who are driven, and I get to swim while I’m there,” Braeger said.

Both of Nraeger’s parents, Ken and Dena, are West Point grads, and Braeger was actually born at West Point. Dena Braeger said as a mother she would have been happy for her daughter to go somewhere closer to home, but she said the opportunity is an exciting one

“When she decided to go to West Point, it was really a surprise to us as well,” Braeger said. “Obviously we’re really excited, and proud. As parents, it’s so different. As a woman I’m so excited for her because I know what lies ahead in the opportunities, and it is just a place like no other. It’s a challenge like nothing else.”

An appointment to the military academy requires a nomination from a member of congress. Guthrie said his appointment came in the mail while he was working at a convenience store, so he is happy to provide a little more ceremony for today’s cadets.

Area pharmacy owner asks state legislators to back bill he says protects customers and small town pharmacies

94.3 The Wolf

Apothecare Pharmacies owner Gary Hamm said he thought it was important for customers and consumers alike that he and members of his team reach out to area representatives and senators during Pharmacists Day in Frankfort last week to discuss State Bill 188, which relates to patient access to pharmacy benefits.

Hamm said the bill’s main focus is to keep people from being taken advantage of.

“There’s a lot of patient steering that’s going on,” Hamm said. “For example, if you come to us, you may pay one price or pay a copay, you may be able to go to another pharmacy and get it at no charge, or vice versa, or you could only get the best deal if you go mail order, which those mail order pharmacies many times are owned by the insurance company.”

Hamm also said the bill creates a more even playing field, which will keep shops like Apothecare Pharmacies more competitive.

“The main thing is a lot of local pharmacies are having to close for poor reimbursement,” Hamm said. “For example, we have a store here in Vine Grove. That’s the only pharmacy in this town. So a lot of people love their hometown pharmacies. We feel like we give better service, better customer care, and if they want to come to us, they should have the right to.”

Hamm said the members of the Kentucky General Assembly he spoke with were receptive to his team’s concerns, and ultimately understand that the bill puts more decision making in hand of the customer.

“I had a lady say this the other day,” Hamm said. “She comes to us because she prefers us, but she has to pay a little bit more, so people can go where they choose, that kind of freedom of choice and pay the same price. If they want to go mail order, they can, it’s not limiting that. If they want to go to a chain pharmacy, they can, and if they want to come to an independent pharmacy, they can.”

The bill will go up for discussion in the Kentucky Senate’s Banking and Insurance Committee.

‘Serial fraudster’ from Nelson County gets nine years in prison

94.3 The Wolf

A Nelson County man will serve more than nine years in prison for a bank fraud and money laundering scheme.

Wavy Curtis Shain was sentenced Wednesday to nine years and two months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay more than $4.5 million in restitution following his conviction for one count of Bank Fraud and one count of Money Laundering.

The United States Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Kentucky says from July 2019 to August 2020, Shain “engaged in a scheme to defraud two federally-insured financial institutions by attempting to fraudulently refinance real property without the knowledge and approval of the true property owner, conducted sham real estate sales where the buyer and seller were unaware of the real estate transactions, and purchased real estate in he names of other individuals without their knowledge or permission.” Shain also made a monetary transaction in fraudulent loan proceeds when he wired money to a company he controlled.

This isn’t Shain’s first conviction for a fraud case. A previous release from the Department of Justice described Shain as a “serial fraudster” based on several previous convictions.

There is no parole in the federal system.

HCS hosting early registration for preschool and kindergarten

94.3 The Wolf

Early registration dates are coming up for preschool and kindergarten classes at Hardin County Schools.

Registration for HCS elementary schools that house preschool and kindergarten will be held Friday, March 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those elementary schools are: 

-Creekside (151 Horseshoe Bend, Sonora, KY)

-Cecilia Valley (931 E. Main Street, Cecilia, KY)

-G.C. Burkhead (1323 St. John Road, Elizabethtown, KY)

-Heartland (2300 Nelson Drive, Elizabethtown, KY)

-Lincoln Trail (3970 Bardstown Road, Elizabethtown, KY)

-Lakewood (265 Learning Place Lane, Cecilia, KY)

-New Highland (110 W.A. Jenkins Road, Elizabethtown, KY)

-Rineyville (275 Rineyville School Road, Rineyville, KY)

A second registration date for future preschool and kindergarten students will be held Tuesday, March 26 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Hardin County Board of Education building.

A screening process for all children seeking admission into preschool takes place during the registration events, so children will need to attend with their parents.

For more information, call 270-769-8911 or go online to the Hardin County Schools website.

UPDATED: BlueOval SK pledges $500K for ECTC Family Scholar House Family Service Building; bomb threat forces evacuation of batter facility site

94.3 The Wolf

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College President Dr. Juston Pate said BlueOval SK’s pledge to donate $500,000 over the next five years in support of the Family Scholar House ECTC Campus goes beyond money.

“It’s not just the dollar amount,” Pate said. “It’s, truly, we recognize the impact that this project is going to make for generations and generations of families in this area, and we recognize what a significant contribution this is to that project.”

Representatives from ECTC, BlueOval SK, and Family Scholar House were joined by Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman for a check presentation ceremony in recognition of the battery maker’s financial commitment which will go towards the Family Services Building at the 48-unit Family Scholar House facility, providing students and their families with “access to childcare, food, and other supportive services and resources.”

Pate said the Family Scholar House facility will help ECTC students succeed, which will in turn help area employers like BlueOval SK.

“This project is clearing a path for the future workforce of this region, and we know that by removing stable housing as a barrier for our students, we’re going to be able to increase that workforce,” Pate said. “ECTC, we are so proud to say, is the number one provider of workforce and education training in Central Kentucky, but this is going to allow us to really provide that holistic support that we can’t do on our own.”

BlueOval SK CEO Michael Adams said the company is committed to being good neighbors.

“We look forward to continuing to develop relationships with community partners like ECTC,” Adams said. “People are the most important part of BlueOval SK. We care about our team. We care about the people and the communities in which we are located. Community engagement through service, partnerships, and investment is a fundamental part of our culture.”

Lieutenant Governor Coleman said investment in postsecondary education is an investment in the future.

“Elizabethtown and Hardin County are the fastest growing areas in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, largely thanks to BlueOval SK, and so by supporting the student parents here at ECTC, we are investing in the future of both Hardin County and the commonwealth altogether,” Coleman said.

ECTC hopes to begin construction on the Family Scholar House facility this spring. To learn more about the facility and how to donate, find the Home for Hope Campaign on ECTC’s website.

Later in the day Thursday, the BlueOval SK construction site was evacuated due to a bomb threat.

“Someone at the BlueOval facility found a note, a bomb threat note, inside a Porta-John,” said Chief Deputy David Lee with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office. “The note said that a bomb will go off on 2-22-24 at one o’clock.”

Detection dogs from the Louisville Metro Police Department and Fort Knox Explosive Ordnance Disposal were called to the scene. Nothing was found as of 3 p.m. Thursday. No further updates were made, but law enforcement officers were still seen at the BlueOval SK site at around 5 p.m.

911 still available as multiple wireless customers report service outages

94.3 The Wolf

Area wireless customers are among those impacted by a nationwide service outage Thursday.

“This morning, we’ve had a report of multiple outages in the area of cell phones, mainly focused towards AT&T, that’s our biggest provider with the most outages,” said Hardin County Emergency Management Director Joey Scott. “Verizon has some outages. T-Mobile and Cricket Wireless have also been affected, as well.”

Emergency responders still have access to their communication lines and 911 is still accessible.

“If you need to call 911, you still can,” Scott said. “You just need to be using your Wi-Fi or a landline. At this time, we haven’t got any kind of timeframe on when this is going to be back up and running, but we are monitoring it from the state EOC side as well as the local EOC side.”

AT&T said in a statement that it is aware of the outages and is working to restore services.