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News for July 7th

1 dead, 1 injured after wreck on US 62 Monday afternoon

Police have identified the victim from yesterday’s fatal collision on U.S. in Elizabethtown.

Officials say 19-year old Kaleb Fogle was traveling westbound on U.S. 62 when he drifted into the eastbound lanes, striking a pickup truck and an oncoming SUV. In turn, the pickup truck flipped, striking a Chevrolet truck. Fogle was taken to HMH where he was pronounced deceased. The driver of the SUV was airlifted to University Hospital with critical injuries.

The two occupants of the Toyota pickup, as well as the occupant of the Chevrolet pickup, were uninjured. No additional details are available at this time.

Patton Museum set to reopen today

The Patton Museum on Fort Knox is scheduled to reopen today.

Colonel CJ King says that visitors to the museum will be required to wear a mask, and wash their hands or use sanitizer upon entry. In addition, social distancing must be observed, and in-person interactions with museum staff will be limited. The hours for the museum will be 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and closed on Sunday and Monday.

Continued operation of the museum will depend on the health protection condition level on post going forward.

COVID-19 cases continue to rise around area

COVID-19 test results from holiday weekend have been released, and it appears that cases are on the rise.

Yesterday, the Lincoln Trail District Health Department announced 62 new cases within the service area, 41 of which were from Hardin county. As more cases continue to be confirmed, officials with the health department still urge residents to take preventative measures. Only 1 case within the district is hospitalized.

Elsewhere, the Grayson County Health Department confirmed a COVID-19 related death on Monday, bringing their total number to 11.

New Meade County superintendent takes helm of district

Meade County Schools has a new superintendent. Dr. Mark Martin recently began as the district’s new leader on July 1st. Martin, who has been with meade county since 2014, says the key to the district’s success is all about the culture.

“It’s a very blue-collar mentality,” Martin said, “and that’s what I would really pride myself on [having] as well.”

Martin is just the 7th superintendent in the district’s history. Previous superintendent Dr. John Millay retired in February.

News for July 6th

Victim in Hardin County explosion ID’d

The name of the victim in last thursday’s explosion in Hardin county has been released. According to the Hardin County Coroner’s Office, 53-year old Kelly Zilisch was killed after an explosion in his home off of New Glendale Road late Wednesday night.

As previously reported, officials had responded to the residence after a call came in shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday night. In addition to the fatality, several others inside the residence were injured. While the incident is still under investigation, authorities say the cause of the explosion was due to homemade fireworks.

Driver road testing set to begin in some area counties

After written testing resumed last week, road skills tests for driver permits will begin once again today in several of our counties. According to Kentucky State Police, skills testing will take place once again in Hardin, Larue, and Breckinridge beginning today, as well as being administered all day in Larue and Breckinridge. KSP says that an online portal to schedule future skills testing will be operational sometime later this month. Drivers who had scheduled tests before the closure will be contacted by KSP to complete the testing.

City of Elizabethtown holds abbreviated Founders’ Day celebration on Saturday

While it was certainly a different version than in previous years, organizers of this year’s Founders’ Day in Elizabethtown are hailing it a success. City Events Program Manager Sarah Vaughn says that while the events location and agenda had to be shifted away from Freeman Lake due to COVID-19, the event itself went off with out a problem. Social distancing measures were in place, with crews marking out every other parking spaces at ECTC and the surrounding city lots. As a result, Vaughn says that as many as 700 to 900 spots were available for parking. Next year will be the event’s 10 year anniversary, something Vaughn says will be a factor in their planning of the event. The event, which is traditionally held a Freeman Lake Park, was moved to the EC3 Campus due to it’s elevation in the city.

Hardin, Meade County Schools release their guidance plans

Hardin County Schools has released their guidance document for a return to school this upcoming school year. The document, which was released to teachers and staff Thursday, was made available to the public Sunday morning. The document also covers the online learning academy that will be offered to students, and the difference between it and NTI Learning. The complete document can be found on the Hardin County Schools website.

The same goes for Meade county. Parents, teachers, and students alike now have an idea of how their return to school will look next month. The district released their return to school plan on Friday, and like many districts, it included plans for alternative online instruction academies. The online program, My Meade Online, will start on August 26th, 3 weeks after traditional in-person instruction begins. Those in-person will have to follow strict health guidelines, such as social distancing in the classroom and wearing masks while on Meade county campuses. Complete details can be found on the Meade County School’s website.

One dead, several injured after an explosion in Hardin County Wednesday night

Officials say one person is dead after an explosion inside of a residence in Hardin County last night.


The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office says they received a call shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday night regarding a potential explosion inside of a house. When officials arrived on scene, they found several people injured, and one person was deceased. Sheriff John Ward says that one individual was transported to University of Louisville Hospital, one was transported to University by ambulance later, and three others were taken to Hardin Memorial Hospital for treatment.


While the investigation is still ongoing at this time, Ward says that preliminary investigations suggest that the cause of the explosion was due to homemade fireworks. No other details have been released at this time.

News for July 1st

West Point now part of Hardin County Schools

As of today, there are now only 2 school districts within Hardin County. Effective today, West Point Independent Schools has merged with Hardin County Schools. The merger, which has been ongoing for over a year, was chosen as the best option for the fledgling school district after a state audit of the school last year.

At the last board meeting, former board chairman Eddie Moore was enthusiastic about the opportunities he said students will now have at Hardin County. As part of the merger, HCS will take on the former district’s property and assets, including the school building located in West Point.

Hardin County sees slight rise in COVID cases

COVID-19 cases around the region are on the rise. The Lincoln Trail District Health Department announced yesterday the presence of 18 new cases of the virus within their service area. Of the counties within the health department’s service area, a spike in cases has been observed specifically in Hardin county. Since last Friday, the county has seen 23 cases, 8 reported Monday and 15 on Tuesday. With 161 total cases so far, that means over 14% of the county’s cases have come in the past two reporting days. As such, public health officials reminding the public that the pandemic isn’t over yet, and to wear their masks and practice social distancing. Governor Andy Beshear announced 282 new cases Tuesday, as well as 5 new deaths.

McGrath declared winner in Kentucky Dem. Primary

After a contentious race, the Democratic challenger for Senator Mitch McConnell has finally been decided. After counting all votes, retired Lieutenant Colonel Amy McGrath defeated her challenger, Kentucky state house member Charles Booker. McGrath won the tightly-run race by over 15 thousand votes state-wide. In the end, McGrath won all but 5 counties, with Booker taking both Jefferson and Fayette counties. Locally, all surrounding counties except Jefferson were won by McGrath.

Local school districts decide on new start dates

While a return to school is still over a month away, area school district are starting to announce when they will have students return to classrooms. It was announced yesterday that Hardin County Schools superintendent Teresa Morgan would recommend to the board a new start date of August 24th for students. Elizabethtown Independent superintendent Jon Ballard announced their start date of august 25th during a one call yesterday afternoon.

Fort Knox welcomes new Deputy Commander for Cadet Command

Yesterday was a bit of a welcome home ceremony at Fort Knox. Colonel William Glaser was announced as the new Deputy Commander for Cadet Command at a ceremony held at Waber Theater. While Colonel Glaser noted several times in his remarks that “home is wherever the Army send you”, he reiterated that Fort Knox has always been a special place for him. As previously reported, Cadet Command had been cancelled for this summer at Fort Knox.

News for June 29th

Sunday marked 100 days since the first case of COVID-19 appeared in Hardin county, and despite all the uncertainty still surrounding the subject, Lincoln Trail District Health Department spokesperson Terrie Bergan says that many things have improved, namely, the amount of people that can be tested and who can be tested. The health department continues to stress usage of masks, social distancing and proper sanitation and hand washing, as several states begin to see cases start to rise once more. On Sunday, Governor Andy Beshear announced 67 new cases of the virus.

Kentuckians can now schedule an appointment for their unemployment help. The Kentucky Department of Labor announced that in-person help with claims will take place at the Mayo-Underwood building in Frankfort beginning today. Assistance is by appointment only at this time. Appointments will continue until further notice Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those wishing for assistance will have to bring 2 forms of identification with them to the appointment. More information about can be found on the Kentucky Career Center website.

Kentucky’s Healthy at Work reopening schedule hits it’s final reopening phase today. Groups of 50 or less people can congregate, bars can reopen, and youth sports can partake in extended activities. Public swimming and bathing facilities can also reopen; however, both the cities of Radcliff and Elizabethtown have already announced that their pools will not open this year, citing costs as one of the main reasons the facilities will remain closed this summer. The reopening schedule for the state has been ongoing since its inception in early May.

After almost a week of waiting, the full picture of how Hardin Countians voted should be known today. The County Clerk’s office is expected to release absentee ballot results. Hardin county clerk Debbie Donnelly says that the reason results have not been released yet is due to the fact that absentee ballots were tabulated up until this past Saturday. Other counties around Kentucky, including Jefferson and Fayette, are waiting until results are certified tomorrow by Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams.

An Indiana man was arrested last week after leading several law enforcement agencies on a high-speed pursuit. According to arrest citations, Vine Grove Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle early Friday morning. When the vehicle fled Vine Grove, additional agencies, including Radcliff Police and the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office joined. The pursuit, which reached speeds over 100 miles per hour, stretched from the intersection of Dixie Highway and Joe Prather to US-62, when the vehicle continued, eventually crossing into Grayson county. The vehicle finally came to a rest in Grayson county. When officers approached the vehicle, they found the driver, Dylon Tindle, impaired. As he was being booked in the Hardin County Detention Center, Tindle was also found to be in possession of marijuana. He was arrested and charged with criminal mischief, wanton endangerment, fleeing or evading, and promoting contraband, among other charges.

June 8th

A regional tourism destination is partially reopening their facilities today. The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Park will reopen it’s visitor center to guests today.

“Visitors will be allowed to enter the building, but it is going to look different than what people usually expect,” the park’s Chief of Interpretation Stacy Humpheries said. “We do have little stickers on the floor showing ‘Stay 6-feet Apart’, showing people where they can stand.”

The Visitor Center will also include new signage and marks for guests as they travel into the center’s amphitheater and museum.

“We’re establishing a one-way traffic flow pattern through our building,” Humpheries said, “so that way we don’t have people doubleing back or grouping up.”

“We’re avoiding that so people can still follow those CDC guideline and observe those social distancing guidelines.”

The park’s iconic memorial building will still remain closed at this time.

News- June 5, 2020

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are 10,705 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 295 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 3,303 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were eight new deaths announced on Thursday, bringing the state’s total to 458. The Governor also responded to a question which asked how the Governor felt about new proposed pieces of legislation which would limit no-knock warrants, and give civilian police review boards subpoena powers. The Governor responded by saying the legislation should be strongly considered, and that the opportunity should be taken to see what can be done better. The legislation comes as the investigation into the death of Breonna Taylor continues. In other news, the Governor also announced that there will be races held at the Kentucky Speedway without fans in attendance. These races will be held in July.

Nolin RECC’s upcoming annual meeting will change their location and process for this year. The event will take place at the Elizabethtown office with registration taking place over several nights- June 17th and 18th from 8 AM to 5 PM and June 19th from 8 AM to 2 PM. Customers will still be able to register for prize drawings, as well as receive their bucket and bulbs, through a drive-thru process.

After several days of low confirmation numbers, some health departments reported increased totals Thursday. The Lincoln Trail District Health Department announced 12 new cases of the virus: six in Hardin and six in Marion county. Of the 232 total cases, nine are hospitalized, 36 are in home isolation, and 182 have recovered. Hardin leads the district with 114 total cases, of which 93 individuals have recovered.

Hardin Circuit Courts are reopened, but with some restrictions in place that will alter the court experience. Communication over electronic and video means is encouraged, and bailiffs in the courthouse are telling people where to go. In addition, applications for driver’s license renewal are available online, and can be mailed in to the court. Appointments for licensing can be made for those who, for example, may be coming in from out of state and need a Kentucky Driver’s License. There are currently no driver’s licensing road tests being given.

This week on Breckinridge Report begins a series on police and the community. Zach Epperson sits down with Officer John Thomas to talk about one of the most common face-to-face interactions between law enforcement and citizens: traffic stops. The entire interview can be heard tomorrow morning on Breckinridge Report.  

News- June 4, 2020

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are 10,410 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 265 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 3,283 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were eight new deaths reported on Wednesday, bringing the state’s total to 450. One of the deaths announced last night was the youngest victim so far, a nine-month old girl from Hopkins County. The Governor talked about the response from the state of Kentucky since the first case of COVID-19 appeared in the state, saying he believes Kentuckians should be proud of the work they’ve done so far, but the road ahead remains challenging and requires resilience. Kentucky is nationally recognized as among few states that are meeting the White House and CDC guidance for reopening the economy.

More cases of COVID-19 were confirmed locally Wednesday afternoon. The Grayson County Health Department confirmed just one case of the virus, bringing their total to 136 cases. 109 of those cases have recovered. The Lincoln Trail District Health Department announced eight new cases, bringing their total number of cases to 220, with nine patients hospitalized, 27 in home isolation, and 179 recovered. Breckinridge County Health Officials confirmed two new cases of the virus locally, bringing their total to 22 cases so far.

A Hardin County man has been arrested after police say he distributed sexual material involving a minor. According to arrest records, Kentucky State Police executed a search warrant on a residence in Elizabethtown where they discovered two instances of child sexual abuse material in the possession of Joshua Wagner. During an interview with troopers, Wagner admitted to possessing and distributing the material online. A search of Wagner’s phone yielded 17 additional images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Wagner was arrested and charged with possession of matter portraying sexual performance by a minor, as well as distribution of the material. He was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

An Elizabethtown restaurant was evacuated yesterday after a fire on the roof. The Elizabethtown Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire at Hardee’s near Towne Mall shortly after 11 AM. Initial responders reported nothing showing, and the roof was accessed. The cause was reported to be a malfunctioning HVAC unit that had caught fire and self-extinguished. No injuries were reported in the incident.

News- June 3, 2020

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are 10,185 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 155 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 3,275 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were three new deaths announced Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 442. In the midst of the ongoing protests taking place in the state, Governor Beshear said that he hopes to get together with leaders in the African-American community, and also health providers, to have a conversation about improving healthcare. In addition, Governor Beshear announced that on Friday, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision confirming that the Governor’s actions to protect public health were consistent with the United State’s Constitution. The Governor’s Office of General Counsel is making the various federal courts aware of the decision, which should resolve all current cases challenging the Governor’s executive orders.

John Hardin High School will be offering drive-thru COVID-19 testing once again this week, with today and tomorrow being the only days with slots still available. These slots can be signed up for via the Kroger health portal. The Kroger partnership testing was previously done in Elizabethtown last month.

Residents of Hardin County can now vote in-person for the upcoming June 23rd primary. Voters can come into the County Clerk’s office for a ballot until June 22nd. Residents will be able to vote in-person at the clerk’s office on June 23rd; however, voting that day will be similar to a normal election day, with the poll open from 6 AM to 6 PM.

The Hardin County School District is gearing up to begin its summer feeding program again this year. There are over ten sites this year that will be moving around via the Cruisin’ Café. Three sites will remain in one place, those being at Central Hardin High School, John Hardin High School, and North Hardin High School. Other sites and times can be found on the Hardin County Schools website. The program will continue until July 24th.

Cities across the country have instituted curfews in relation to ongoing protests in the communities, but no such action has been enacted locally. Contrary to social media rumors, the City of Elizabethtown has not enacted a curfew. Officer John Thomas with the Elizabethtown Police Department says that there are currently no plans for a curfew, and that residents should make sure to get their information from official sources. The City of Louisville does have a curfew in place until June 8th.

Local health departments still reported new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, although numbers have been trending downward. The Lincoln Trail District Health Department confirmed only four new cases of the virus: two in Nelson, one in Hardin, and one in Larue. The district has five patients hospitalized, 26 on home isolation, and 176 recovered. The district has now seen over 200 total confirmed cases of the virus.

Garbage services in Hardin County will soon resume bulk item pick-ups. Hardin County Solid Waste Director Stephanie Givans says that residents needing to get rid of bulk items can contact the collection company to schedule a time for the pick up. Givans also announced that the county will resume a portion of their recycling program starting next Monday, and will only accept cardboard at this time. More information can be obtained by contacting the solid waste department.

News- June 2, 2020

In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are 10,046 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 131 were confirmed on Sunday, and 214 were confirmed on Monday. The number of those who have recovered from the virus remains at 3,232, however there were eight new deaths announced on Monday, bringing the state’s total to 439. The Governor reminded Kentuckians to light their home, places of business, and places of worship green for compassion; however another event was discussed in a separate press conference last night. In this press conference, Governor Beshear called it “unacceptable” that officers had their body cameras off on Monday morning, and also criticized the timeframe that Breonna Taylor’s family were given for justice. Governor Beshear pledged that, with the Kentucky State Police investigative force that has been brought on to examine the incident, the truth will be revealed, no matter what.

Voting for the 2020 primary election is now open for those wishing to vote in-person. In Hardin County, residents can drive to the Hardin County Government building and call the clerk’s office to request a ballot to vote in person. A secure lockbox will be in front of the government building for ballots to be deposited in. The primary, which was originally scheduled for May, was rescheduled to June in the wake of COVID-19.

Monday marked the first reading of the City of Elizabethtown’s next budget. The City Council met at the Historic State Theater complex Monday evening, where Mayor Jeff Gregory gave his budget recommendation for the fiscal year 2021. Mayor Gregory acknowledged that the recent COVID-19 pandemic impacted budgetary decisions, resulting in a budget that is intended to be more conservative in spending. The budget, which comes in a $60.5 million, is down almost $10 million from this year’s operating budget of $70.1 million. The budget also underscores the impact the tourism industry has faced in the wake of COVID-19, with a lack of revenue coming from places such as the Sports Park, which directly brings in money through restaurant and room taxes. The budget will be read a second and final time in the coming weeks.

After a weekend off from reporting, local health departments announced subtle increases in the number of COVID-19 cases in their area. The Lincoln Trail District Health Department confirmed nine new cases on Monday, bringing the department’s total to 208 positive cases with 175 recovered, 22 in home isolation, and six hospitalized. Elsewhere, the Grayson County Health Department announced two new cases from over the weekend, bringing the county’s total number to 135, with 109 patients recovered.

The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office is the latest service in Hardin County to get financial assistance courtesy of the CARES Act.  Over $45,000 was given to the Sheriff’s Office in order to update equipment in order to better respond to the pandemic. The CARES Act has also provided assistance to Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, as well as other local government, as the county continues to try and navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic.