The Bardstown Police Department executed two search warrants related to a human trafficking investigation on Wednesday. The search warrants were for Mi Ya Ko Spa and Sunrise Massage and Body Work. Victims were located at both locations and three individuals have been arrested and charged with human trafficking and permitting prostitution. The victims have been connected with Catholic Charities to address their immediate needs. The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information on the investigation is encouraged to contact Bardstown Police Department.
The Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau has announced that it has promoted Krysta Souleyrette to Director of Marketing. Souleyrette has been with the Tourism and Convention Bureau for four years during which time she has managed several award-winning campaigns, successfully developed a new unified message and brand and relaunched the organization’s website. “Krysta has been instrumental to the growth of Elizabethtown tourism. Her contributions have had a direct impact on the record increases that Elizabethtown has experienced in the last several years. She’s very qualified to lead in our marketing strategy from a much higher level,” said Executive Director Janna Clark. Souleyrette will step into her leadership role and work to expand the marketing team. The organization is hoping to fill a new position of Marketing Coordinator. More information can be found at TourEtown.com
The Stephen Foster Drama Association has announced the date for in-person auditions for several 2023 performances. Auditions for “The Stephen Foster Story,” “Songs of Stephen Foster,” and “Cinderella” are scheduled for February 18 at Nelson County High School. Executive Artistic Director Johnny Warren says they encourage performers of all levels of singing experience to audition. Local and regional singers, actors and dancers are included in the productions each year and often come from the local auditions. Details about auditions and how to secure a spot can be found at stephenfoster.com/auditions.
The Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation has partnered with the Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Foundation to support the region’s future workforce training needs. An endowment was funded with $140,000 from the dissolution of the Elizabethtown Industrial Foundation Training Consortium to create a permanent source of funding for high-demand programs to develop the local workforce. The endowment will be eligible for dollar-for-dollar matching funds through the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. More information is available ectcforbetterlives.com.
A Hardin County woman was arrested for child abuse early Tuesday morning. “Shortly before 1:00 AM on Tuesday morning, we arrested 22 year old Danielle Bryant for Criminal Abuse in the First Degree. This arrest stemmed from an incident where Bryant assaulted her two-year old child while in the Towne Drive Kroger Monday evening. She was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center,” Elizabethtown Police Spokesperson Chris Denham. Bryant was arrested after witnesses called Police to report the woman had struck her child in the face, yelled at her and grabbed her hair while shopping at the Kroger at Towne Center. Bryant exited the store before Officers arrived and had put the child in her vehicle. Bryant admitted striking the child multiple times while placing the child in the car seat. The child had visible injuries to the face consistent with witness accounts. The child has been placed in the custody of a family member. The investigation is ongoing.
Four Kentucky Community Mental Health Centers have announced that they will be consolidating to be able to improve, create and protect services in rural Kentucky communities. Communicare, Inc. in Elizabethtown will partner with Four Rivers Behavioral Health in Paducah, LifeSkills, Inc. in Bowling Green and Pennyroyal Center in Hopkinsville to form one of largest community mental health centers in the Commonwealth. The new organization will support more than 47,000 individuals annually and offer over 70 programs and services in 129 different locations across the state. The agencies will announce the new name of the organization at a later date but expect the consolidation to be finalized as of July 1. A video that explains more about the merger can be viewed on the LifeSkills, Inc YouTube channel.
Last week the US Department of Transportation announced that Kentucky would receive $25 million as part of the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All grant. The City of Elizabethtown will be receiving $200,000 of that money to conduct a study to assess the needs of the community. “Melissa Nepi writes our grants for the city. She applied for a Federal Grant and it’s called Safer Streets. Currently we have been awarded $200,000 and that $200,000 is to take a look at the city and look around different locations at things that we may need – like sidewalks in certain places, bike lanes or street widening. Anything that could make our streets safer. So we’ve been granted $200,000 to do the study. The hope and the plan is as we do our study and show how we will utilize the money, that we will be awarded money every year to implement the plan,” says City Spokesperson Amy Inman. The Safe Streets and Roads Grant funds initiatives at the local and regional levels to prevent roadway injuries and deaths.
The City of Elizabethtown City Council heard and approved a new fee schedule for the Parks and Recreation Facilities and Activities last night. “We did a study and looked at the current rates, when they were last put into place. Once we looked through and compared them to other municipalities in the area, what our operational costs are and what everything has gone to, we set them at a little bit higher rate than where they were previously. They’re very competitive and comparable to the other municipalities in the state of Kentucky, comparing them to the types of facilities that we have,” said Parks and Recreations Director Seth Breitner. More information can be found on the City of Elizabethtown website or app.
The Leitchfield Police Department was called to Five-Star in Leitchfield early Saturday morning as a man was attempting to purchase fuel with a possible counterfeit bill. According to a statement, Officers confirmed the information from witnesses as another Officer saw the suspected vehicle leaving the parking lot. A traffic stop was conducted. The driver was identified as Aaron Cummings, age 28 of Hopkinsville. Cummings admitted to attempting to use the counterfeit bill to purchase gas. The investigation led Officers to locating $4,080 of counterfeit money in the rear of the vehicle along with a juvenile. Cummings was arrested pursuant to a warrant from another County as well as charges of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the First Degree and Unlawful Transaction with a Minor in the Second Degree. Cummings was lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center. The investigation is ongoing.
Hardin County Schools is asking the community’s assistance to help a student’s family who suffered a fire at their home over the weekend. According to a statement, the mother and two children escaped the fire unharmed but they lost not only their home but the only car that the family had. The mother is disabled and there was no insurance on the car or trailer. “The family has sought and received assistance from the Hardin County Schools Family Stability Program and the Family Resource Center at Meadow View Elementary School. However, there are certain things, obviously, bigger things that those two entities cannot provide. And so, we have reached out to the community and are seeking assistance for this family to help with things like a home, automobile, clothing and housing items that they will need to get back on their feet,” said Hardin County Spokesperson John Wright. Anyone who is able to assist this family can contact the Meadow View Elementary School Family Resource Center coordinator.