Media

A freak accident took the life of a Hodgenville girl on Tuesday. According to WDRB, 9-year-old Charlene “Charlie” Sipes wrecked her bike near her home, and as she fell, the handlebar break hit her in the neck, causing severe injury. Charlie’s mother found her and carried her back to their home about 200 feet away, but the girl died on what was her ninth birthday.

Radcliff Police made a disturbing discovery Thursday afternoon. According to Police Chief Jeff Cross, a body was found in a wooded area in Radcliff around 12:14 PM. A death investigation is underway, and no new information is available at this time.

A bill pre-filed on Wednesday would help veterans who run non-profit businesses. BR 412 passed out of the Senate with a unanimous vote. Senator Dennis Parrett says this bill would allow fees required when beginning a non-profit to be waived, if the non-profit is 51% or more owned by a veteran.

The Vine Grove Autumn Days Festival will be taking place this weekend. The parade will kick off at 10 AM, and the festival will begin after. There will be food, vendors, and most importantly, the King of the Grove: Fire Department vs. Police Department Softball Game. All funds from the event will go towards the Rachel’s Fun for Everyone Splash Pad Project.

The Historic State Theater will be hosting a performance by a former America’s Got Talent contestant as a part of a fundraising effort. The event is called Taste of Guatemala, and will feature a five-course Guatemalan meal, followed by a performance by Linkin Bridge. All proceeds will go to the Living Waters Guatemala Partnership, which seeks to share clean water with remote villages in Guatemala. Tickets can be purchased at thestate270.org.

Kentucky State Police are investigating a collision in Bardstown that took the life of one of the victims. According to preliminary investigation, George Froelich, 77, was attempting to exit a parking lot when he pulled into the path of a work van operated by 29-year-old Christopher Sympson. Froelich was transported to Flaget Memorial Hospital following the collision, but was pronounced deceased. Sympson was also transported to a medical facility for non-life threatening injuries. The collision is under investigation.

Drought conditions in Grayson County have led to a full outdoor burn ban in the county until further notice. The executive order was issued by Grayson County Judge Executive Kevin Henderson on Wednesday. Those who are found not adhering to the ban are subject to fines or other punishment.

The property tax rates for the city of Elizabethtown were approved at a meeting of the city council on Monday. The rates, which have been unchanged since 2007, kept the status quo, remaining at 11.6 cents per $100 assessed value.

Officials with the Lincoln Trail District Health Department are seeking to offer a syringe service program in Hardin and surrounding counties. This program would offer sterile syringes and needles to those in need, and also deal with the removal and disposal of the materials. The program would also seek to reduce public health issues including HIV. Currently, the closest harm reduction syringe service program is in Nelson County.

Nolin RECC is sponsoring two veterans for the Honor Flight taking off this weekend. The two sponsored veterans are Mr. Dan Thompson from Hodgenville, who served in the Marines during the Vietnam War, and Mr. William Hickey from Elizabethtown, who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War, and later in the Army. The veterans will be taken to see the monuments and battle memorials in Washington, as well as take part in a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Families, friends, and supporters are invited to greet the veterans when their flight returns to Bluegrass Airport at 7:30 PM Saturday.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 5 has a new public information officer. Stephanie Caros will be handling public communications and transportation media for 8 counties. Caros replaces Andrea Clifford, who retired after 18 years in the position.

Elizabethtown has been designated as a Trail Town thanks to the efforts of a local committee. Greenspace and City Council member Matt Deneen joined with local businesses to apply for the distinction, in an effort to put a spotlight on the Elizabethtown trail system. There are over 25 miles of trails in the city, and a full list of Elizabethtown’s trails can be found on the Greenspace website.

A Nashville man who didn’t believe he had to stop for police was arrested by Kentucky State Police Post 4 on Monday. James Leatherbury was seen driving at speeds of around 119 miles per hour, and said he was late to pick up a child, and didn’t have to stop for the police. Leatherbury had two passengers, one of whom was a juvenile, in the vehicle at the time of the offence. He is lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

Elizabethtown will be holding its wine festival, A Toast to Kentucky, September 21st at Freeman Lake Park. VIP tickets are $55, and general admission is $45 if purchased in advance. More information can be found at etownevents.com.

A new program designed to help students and families address the causes of absenteeism and truancy will be introduced in Larue County Schools. The Administrative Office of the Courts is sponsoring the Truancy Diversion Program. Three unexcused absences in a school year will put a student in the beginning stages of the program. The goal is to keep students from reaching six unexcused absences, or habitual truancy, after which charges can be made against them. The program will be tested in Larue County Middle Schools before being extended to others. More information on the attendance policy can be found on the Larue County Schools website.

The location of the American Red Cross office in Elizabethtown has changed. The office, which was previously situated on West Dixie Avenue, now resides on North Dixie Highway near Corvin’s Floor Covering. The Red Cross will be holding drives in this new location as well as at the Towne Mall in Elizabethtown. To locate a local blood drive, visit redcrossblood.org.

An Elizabethtown man was arrested over the weekend after attempting to take an officer to the ground. Officers with the Elizabethtown Police Department attempted a traffic stop on David Baker Saturday evening. Baker became belligerent, attempting to put an officer in a choke hold. Baker later was found to have marijuana on his person, and a handgun in his vehicle. Baker was charged with assault of a police officer, resisting arrest, and criminal mischief, as well as several drug related offences.

The inaugural Heartland Book Festival will be taking place at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College this weekend. There will be over 70 authors participating this Friday and Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM. There will also be workshops and the ability to purchase books. This is a free event open to everyone. More information can be found at heartlandbookfestival.org.

Kentucky State Police and the Justice and Public Safety Cabinets among others have joined together with Governor Matt Bevin to announce a new initiative that will provide trained advocates at every KSP post to provide assistance and support to crime victims. KSP is among the first state police agencies to implement this program on a statewide basis, and the hiring process for these advocates has begun.

An accident in Nelson County left several people with serious injuries. According to the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, a vehicle driven by Katie Cook of Bloomfield had been traveling east when suddenly leaving the roadway, striking a utility pole, then a tree. The vehicle came to a rest with the broken utility pole still on top of the car. Cook and two juvenile passengers were transported to University of Louisville Hospital for their injuries. Cook’s passenger, Frank Sanger, as well as one more juvenile passenger, were airlifted to Louisville for their injuries. Deputies learned that Sanger allegedly grabbed the steering wheel from Cook, and caused the vehicle to exit the roadway. Criminal charges are pending.

The Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Hodgenville will soon have a new superintendent. Catherine Bragaw will start in the role on November 10^th. Bragaw has 35 years of experience with the National Park system, currently working at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park in Maryland.

Helping Hand of Hope will be holding an open house for new prospective volunteers this Wednesday. The event will serve to sign up volunteers for Hardin County’s first ever client-select food pantry. The open house will take place at 9:30 AM. More information can be found on the Helping hand of Hope Facebook page.