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94 Second News Update

News- May 18, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In a quick update on Saturday night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are at least 7,688 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of those cases, 244 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 2,768 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were two new deaths announced on Saturday, brining the state’s total to 334. Though the update was short, Governor Beshear put out a brief call for compassion and safety, asking for Kentuckians to continue being Healthy at Home and Healthy at Work, as well as to look out for your fellow neighbor, and to continue to look out for one another in this difficult time.

The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office responded to a head-on collision late last night. The collision took place at Patriot Parkway and Deckard School Road. Both the north and southbound lanes were blocked for some time for cleanup and reconstruction, but both have since been reopened. More information on the collision will be provided as it becomes available.

After being closed for an extended period of time, government centers across the Commonwealth can begin to reopen. The Hardin County Government Center will begin reopening some of their facilities today. Deputy Judge Executive Daniel London says that while the main government office is set to open today, residents are still encouraged to use online services as much as possible. The Hardin County Animal Shelter will also open today, once again accepting stray animals. The Hardin County Attorney’s Office is planned to open on a limited basis on June 1st. A full list of openings can be found on the Hardin County Government website.

Hosparus Thrift Shoppe in Campbellsville and Elizabethtown will begin accepting donations again this week. Donations will be accepted between 10 AM and 4 PM Monday through Friday, and from 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturdays until further notice. Those with donations can come to the back of the building. In addition, those dropping off are asked to adhere to social distancing guidelines with staff. In addition, donations should be boxed or bagged in a container that will not be returned to the donor. The shop asks for patience as the donation turnout is expected to be high.

As the demand for meat continues to grow, Kentucky’s Attorney General and Agriculture Commissioner are asking for the assistance of the Department of Justice to investigate possible price fixes on beef. In a joint letter to US Attorney General William Barr, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Agriculture Commisioner Ryan Quarles urge the Department of Justice to investigate possible anti-competitive practices within the beef packing industry. In their letter, the two called attention to the fact that Kentucky farmers are allegedly being paid less for the product, even as the demand for beef continues to increase. The letter asks the Department of Justice to conduct a study on the current economic status inside the cattle industry to see if anti-competitive practices are in fact taking place.  

News- May 15, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

Last night the Louisville FBI Field Office announced the recovery of a missing Texas child and the arrest of her alleged kidnapper in Elizabethtown. According to a release from the Louisville FBI Field Office, around 10 PM last night, special agents working with Kentucky State Police, as well as the Elizabethtown Police Department, arrested Austen Walker, 21, on a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Walker had an arrest warrant out of Texas on charges of kidnapping. The arrest warrant alleges that on or about May 12, 2020, Walker kidnapped the victim from Grand Saline, Texas.

Police have released the identities of the two men found dead inside of a car in Elizabethtown Wednesday night. According to police, 32-year-old Shawn Fox and 37-year-old Michael Buckner Thomas, both of Hopkinsville, were found deceased when police responded to a call on Patterson Street Wednesday night. A third individual, an unidentified female, was airlifted from the scene to University Hospital, where she was listed in critical condition. The investigation is still ongoing at this time.

A Hardin County man and woman accused of murder will appear in court this morning. As previously reported, Kentucky State Police arrested Jacob Lugmayer and Krystal Erbelding earlier this month after police found Erbelding’s mother, Kathy Erbelding, dead from two gunshot wounds in a home off of Wise Lane in Elizabethtown. Both Erbelding and Lugmayer are charged with murder, abuse of a corpse, and robbery. Lugmayer is also charged with tampering with physical evidence. Both are being held on a $250,000 bond.

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 7,225 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 199 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 2,712 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were two new deaths announced on Thursday, bringing the state’s total to 328. Governor Beshear talked about the next steps in easing restrictions in Kentucky, saying that May 22nd will see allowance of gatherings of ten or fewer with guidance to continue to try and social distance. In addition, the travel ban will be lifted on the same day. The Governor noted that if a second spike were to present itself, some of these eased steps may have to be taken again. Also, the Governor announced that the Kentucky Board of Education and Workforce Development Cabinet has been awarded more than $43.7 million from the CARES Act, which will fund the needs of students and schools in Kentucky, including technology and food programs.

Today marks the last day of an unforgettable school year for Hardin County students, and the district is already asking for feedback on the final weeks of instruction. Surveys regarding NTI are available on the Hardin County Schools website for students and parents, and instructors will receive their surveys through district email. NTI was utilitzed by area schools since Governor Beshear urged schools not to return to in person instruction on March 12th.

Meade County has issued a Boil Water Advisory for those who were out of water due to a leak that took place on Wednesday. The Meade County Water District has advised that any water that is to be consumed should be boiled for three minutes beforehand in order to disinfect. The Water District says it will let those affected know when the advisory is lifted.

News- May 13, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 6,853 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 191 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 2,546 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were ten new deaths announced on Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 321. Doctor Steven Stack talked a bit about two children who had been diagnosed with COVID-19, as one had a rare complication related to the disease. A ten-year-old patient was announced as being on a ventilator after becoming ill. On Tuesday, it was announced the child was improving. The child was diagnosed with a rare syndrome causing an inflammatory response in the body due to their immune systems becoming overactive. The second child, a 16-year-old has been hospitalized, but is not relying on a ventilator to breathe. Dr. Stack also noted that summer activities should not be expected to run as usual this year, stating that early reports suggest warm weather will not help with the virus.

An annual Fort Knox event will not take place this summer. Yesterday, Major General John Evans Jr. announced that Cadet Summer Training has been cancelled. General Evans noted that, while he believed the decision was the correct one, a summer without cadets on post will be strange. Training for cadets will instead take place at their colleges or military installations near them during the fall and spring. Fort Knox sees over 10,000 cadets pass through each summer.

A Breckinridge County Pharmacy is now offering COVID-19 testing. Save-Rite drugs will be conducting drive-thru tests of certain patients in Irvington. Only patients who meet the criteria of an online application will receive testing. A voucher for a test kit must be present at the location. More information on testing can be found at doineedacovid19test.com.

The virtual field day put on by Hardin County Schools is being called a success by officials in the district. There were more than 1,000 videos submitted to the flipgrid app, and over 20,000 views of those videos. The district notes that the turnout for the event was much higher than expected, and that the excitement from the parents and students was encouraging to see.

News- May 12, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 6,677 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 141 were confirmed on Sunday, and 105 were confirmed Monday. It is believed that 2,335 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were a total of seven new deaths reported over the last two days, bringing the state’s total to 311. Governor Beshear urged an emphasis on testing as the state moves forward with gradual reopening. The Governor specifically mentioned the Corbin area testing site as one with many spots still available. Governor Beshear has stressed on multiple occasions how important taking advantage of testing will be as part of being Healthy at Work.

Both Hardin and Nelson County each saw a new case of COVID-19 yesterday. The Lincoln Trail District Health Department announced a total number of 135 cases in their region, an increase of two cases from the previous day. Hardin County’s total now sits at 59 positive cases. 102 patients within the district have recovered from the virus, 21 are currently in home isolation, and only eight are hospitalized.

Kentucky Gives Day, a 24-hour giving event for non-profits in the area, is today and Central Kentucky Community Foundation spokesperson Gina Clear says that the day is perfectly set up for this time of social distancing. The participating non-profits can be seen at kygives.org. The event began at midnight this morning, and will continue until 11:59 PM tonight. There are 22 regional non-profit organizations registered to participate in Kentucky Gives Day this year.

COVID-19 testing will begin today in Hardin County. John Hardin High School will be the location of the testing, which is a result of the partnership between the state and Kroger. Susan Dunlap, Executive Director with the State Cabinet for Health and Family Services, says that the entire process can take around ten minutes to complete, and is simple. Testing at John Hardin will take place from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM until Thursday. Signups for testing can be found online at krogerhealth.com/services.

After being closed more than a month, Hardin County Government will begin to reopen some of their facilities next week. The reopening will begin on the 18th for most facilities except for the County Clerk’s office. However, residents are still encouraged to use online services as much as possible. The Hardin County Animal Shelter will open May 18th as well, and will begin to accept stray animals again. The Hardin County Attorney’s office is planned to open on a limited basis on June 1st. A full list of openings can be found on the Hardin County Government website.

News- May 11, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In his evening press conference on Saturday, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 6,440 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 158 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 2,308 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were six new deaths reported on Saturday, bringing the state’s total to 304. In light of recent court rulings allowing in-person church services to resume immediately, the Governor urged those places of worship to be safe in reopening. Places of worship must clean according to COVID-19 standards and enforce social distancing. The Governor also said that places of worship should strongly consider continuing to offer alternative services, including virtual and drive-in. The state’s complete guidance on houses of worship can be found at healthyatwork.ky.gov.

The Lincoln Trail District Health Department announced an additional COVID-19 related death over the weekend. The department announced on Saturday that a Meade County patient had died due to the virus. This is death number four for the region, which saw three additional deaths last week. In the district’s most recent announcement on Saturday, 133 total cases of the virus and had been confirmed with 97 patients either in home isolation or having recovered.

The sale of Hardin Memorial Health to Baptist Health has been expedited. It was announced over the weekend that the finalization of the deal between the two healthcare providers has now been moved to September 1st. According to the sale’s asset purchase agreement, Baptist will take on all of Hardin Memorial’s assets, and will invest over $230 million to HMH’s operating and capital over ten years. Additionally, HMH will be renamed to Baptist Health Hardin. The sale was previously set to take place December 1st.

One of Hardin County’s most prominent summertime events has been cancelled. The Hardin County Fair has announced that the board voted to cancel the fair this past week in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a Facebook post, the Board decided on their course of action after reviewing current and future health guidelines for organizations to follow. The Fair Board will work with local youth organizations to help them compete for state showcases and contests. The fair has taken place in the county since 1885.

News- April 8, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 6,128 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 208 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 2,177 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were eleven new deaths announced on Thursday, bringing the state’s total to 294. As phase one of reopening prepares to begin, Governor Beshear laid out a plan for the second phase of reopening, which the state hopes to begin on May 22nd. This phase will see restaurants reopen at a 33% capacity. On June 1st, movie theaters and fitness centers will reopen at a limited capacity. On June 11th, public and private campgrounds will reopen, though they will still have to follow social distancing guidelines. Then, on June 15th, the state is hoping to reopen childcare at a reduced capacity, and with many guidelines in place. The Governor noted that phase three will hopefully be coming by July 1st.

Just days after announcing their first death, Hardin County has seen another death due to COVID-19. Officials with the Lincoln Trail District Health Department announced yesterday that, in addition to five new cases, Hardin County had registered their second death. In total, the district announced eight new cases, including the five in Hardin as well as cases in Nelson and Meade. The department says that of the 132 total cases, 88 individuals have recovered.

Hardin County Schools have announced that they will host a virtual field day for students on May 11th and 12th. On the flipgrid app using the code HCS2020, or on the Hardin County Schools website, students will video themselves performing the tasks in the activities list and upload the videos. Videos of other students performing the same tasks can also be viewed.

A Hardin County middle school has selected a new principal. Bluegrass Middle School Assistant Principal Tanya Jury was chosen as the next principal of the middle school by the school’s site-based decision making council. Jury had previously worked at Bluegrass Middle before from 2013 to 2015, at which time she left for Nelson County High School in the same capacity. Jury takes over for outgoing Principal Michael Elmore, who is retiring in June.

Friends of Hardin County Animal Shelter are reminding the public of a voucher service for pet food that is available at this time. To apply for a voucher, email the organization at fohcas.ky@gmail.com.

The location for Saturday’s Hardin County High School and GED graduation has been changed. The event for was previously scheduled to take place at Central Hardin High School in an outside ceremony, but due to inclement weather that is expected, the location has been changed to College View Education Center. This is the former GC Burkhead Elementary School building, located at 521 Charlemagne Boulevard in Elizabethtown. The time and date of the graduation will remain the same, taking place tomorrow at 9 AM.

News- May 7, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 5,934 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 159 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 2,125 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were eight new deaths reported on Wednesday, bringing the state’s total to 283. Governor Beshear announced that the state’s partnership with Kroger will bring more testing next week in several locations. Louisville, Lexington, Elizabethtown, and Corbin will see testing locations. The Elizabethtown location will be John Hardin High School. Information on how to register for the sites throughout the Commonwealth can be found at kycovid19.gov. In addition, the Governor issued a new executive order editing Kentucky’s travel ban to be more like Ohio’s, meaning those with a positive case or presumptive positive case of COVID-19 are banned from entering Kentucky, except as ordered for medical treatment.

While many regional events have been cancelled, one has decided to continue on, albeit in a different way. Elizabethtown’s annual Founder’s Day event will not take place, however the fireworks will still take place, just in a different location. The new location for the fireworks show will take place in proximity to EC3 and Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. The hill will make for easier viewing, and the number of parking lots around the college will help accommodate a large crowd while at the same time enforcing social distancing. More information about the change can be found at etownevents.com.

Local numbers of COVID-19 cases continue to increase. The Lincoln Trail District Health Department reported 125 total cases of the virus yesterday with additional cases being confirmed in Hardin, Larue, and Nelson counties. 113 of those cases are in home isolation, or have been released. Officials with the Breckinridge County Health Department confirmed two cases locally, bringing their total number of cases to 13.

As Kentucky begins to reopen its economy, places of business are establishing how procedures will be different going forward. Governor Beshear’s ten rules for reopening have given guidelines for these businesses, and an industry requiring significant change is the barbershop industry. Patrons will be required to wear facemasks and sanitize hands on the way in the door, and barbers and stylists will also be required to wear facemasks.

News- May 6, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 5,822 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Yesterday saw the biggest spike in cases thus far, with 625 new cases confirmed. More than 300 of these positive cases were a result of testing at Green River Correctional Complex. It is believed that 2,058 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were 14 new deaths reported on Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 275. Many of the announced deaths on Tuesday were related to long-term care facilities, and Dr. Steven Stack addressed this in the press conference, noting that they are about to “embark on a very aggressive program to test the long-term care facilities over the weeks ahead at a very brisk pace.” The Governor announced that a new testing location in Pikeville would be opening today at Pikeville medical center, and information for signing up at that testing location is available at kycovid19.gov.

Cases continue to be confirmed within the Lincoln Trail District Health Department. In their latest release, the Department confirmed the presence of 119 cases of COVID-19, with new cases being announced in both Hardin and Meade counties. Elsewhere around the area, Breckinridge County officials announced there are 11 cases in the county, and the Grayson County Health Department confirmed three new cases in the county, bringing their total to 91.

Tourism has been halted in many places due to COVID-19, and Elizabethtown is no exception. Executive Director of Elizabethtown Tourism Janna Clark discussed the difference in tourism numbers compared to this time last year. Clark said that March and April were “devastating” for tourism, as hotel occupancies were around 15-20%. In addition, restaurants who have seen the need to convert to delivery or take-out services are also struggling, as the business model is not seen as sustainable at this time.

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is the latest college to make operational changes due to COVID-19. The college announced yesterday that test scores would not be required for enrollment for the upcoming school year. The college made the decision after determining that the school’s Assessment Center would be operational due to the Center not being able to adhere to social distancing guidelines. As a result, the college will be accepting test scores, even those past the 4-year requirement. More information can be found on ECTC’s website.

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is offering free online classes to interested individuals looking for a pathway to a new career, needing a learning outlet, or testing their interest in online learning. The only requirements for the courses are internet access and being 18 years of age. These classes include Electrical Principles, Change Management, Managing Workplace Anxiety, Income Tax, Every “Body” is Beautiful, Stress Management, and a CDL Permit Test Prep. Registration for the courses is open, and can be done on the Workforce Solutions page on ECTC’s website. The classes will start May 13th and continue to June 15th.

News- May 5, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now at least 5,245 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 163 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 1,921 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were eight new deaths reported on Monday, bringing the state’s total to 261. As the first phase of Healthy at Work begins to roll out next week, this Wednesday will see the beginning of Phase Two of healthcare reopening in the state. This next phase will include outpatient and ambulatory surgery and invasive procedures. However, these procedures must still follow new rules and guidelines set by the state and the Kentucky Department for Public Health, including required personal protective equipment, closed common areas, and specific procedure guidance. Also, the Governor announced a partnership with Saint Elizabethtown Healthcare to bring expanded testing to Erlanger and other locations in Northern Kentucky.

A Hardin County patient within the Lincoln Trail District Health Department has died as a result of COVID-19. In a press release yesterday, the health department confirmed the second COVID-19 related fatality, as well as the presence of new cases within Hardin and Nelson counties. In his most recent press conference, Governor Beshear announced that the patient in question was a 66-year-old female. Officials say that while the numbers are not as high as in recent weeks, residents should still adhere to health and safety guidelines. 115 total cases have been confirmed in the department’s region, with 106 of those cases either in home isolation or having been released.

The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Trenton man Monday morning after a traffic stop for speeding. Upon contact with the driver, 35-year-old Jonathan Perdue, officers noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Investigation revealed that Perdue did not have a valid driver’s license, and was in fact suspended for driving on his third DUI. Perdue failed field sobriety tests, and his vehicle was searched, revealing the presence of synthetic marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and over ten grams of methamphetamine. Perdue was charged with several traffic and drug related offences including possession and trafficking. His two passengers, Ashley Pratt of Lexington and Jonathan McCoy of Cadiz were also charged with drug-related offences. All three were lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.

Even with NTI days still taking place, schools from around the area are already beginning their unique graduation ceremonies for the class of 2020. Yesterday, students from Central Hardin and Elizabethtown High Schools took part in ceremonies designed to promote social distancing. Central Hardin students drove through the athletic complex, where friends and family could see their student walk across a stage to receive their diploma. Elizabethtown High School seniors participated in a ceremony yesterday, allowing one student at a time to enter the gym to walk across the stage. Graduations for North and John Hardin, as well as Hardin County High School, will take place later this week and next.

United Way of Central Kentucky and the Central Kentucky Community Foundation have combined their disaster relief efforts in the face of COVID-19. The two found similar goals in helping people getting the help they needed, CKCF has reportedly seen a record number of requests seeking assistance with rent, food, and utilities in the last month. Donations to the fund can be made at ckcf4people.org/central-kentucky-cares.

News- May 5, 2020

94.3 The Wolf

Officials are still investigating after a woman was found dead in a residence last Thursday. Kentucky State Police say that 63-year-old Kathy Erbelding was found dead in a residence off of Wise Lane in Elizabethtown Thursday night. The victim was found dead with an apparent gunshot wound. According to the Hardin County Coroner’s Office, the Erbelding was shot twice. Jacob Lugmayer and Krystal Erbelding, the victim’s daughter, were subsequently arrested and charged with murder, robbery, and abuse of a corpse. Lugmayer was also charged with tampering with physical evidence. Both are being held on $250,000 cash bonds, and appeared in Hardin District Court this morning.

A child has died after officials say he suffered a gunshot wound at his home. Police say they were dispatched to a residence off of Woodland Drive late Sunday afternoon in response to a shooting. When police arrived, they found a 2-year-old child with a single gunshot wound. The child’s parents and siblings were in the home at the time of the incident. The child was transported to Hardin Memorial, where he was pronounced deceased. This is an ongoing investigation, and a decision will be made once the investigation is complete as to whether charges will be filed.

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now 5,130 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 173 were newly confirmed on Saturday, and 80 were confirmed on Sunday. It is believed the 1,892 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus. On Saturday, five new deaths were reported, and on Sunday, for the first time in weeks, there were no new deaths reported. Governor Beshear urged Kentuckians who need to be tested for COVID-19 to take advantage of the drive-thru testing facilities around the state. He also called out those who signed up for tests and then did not show up for their testing time. The Governor announced in previous conferences that an increase in testing capacity would be required in order to further open Kentucky’s economy.

As the state begins phase one of reopening, local healthcare facilities have crafted their plan for re-launching their full line of services. Beginning this week, Hardin Memorial Health will start outpatient diagnostic radiology and lab services at the main campus and offsite locations. Select outpatient services, including some elective surgeries, will resume later this week in addition to other invasive procedures. HMH says they hope to return to normal volumes for in-patient surgeries by late May or early June.