WQXE News
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear appeared with area elected officials and members and officials with the Lincoln Trail Area Development District Wednesday to announce the acquisition of a regional fleet of advanced search and rescue drones that will enhance emergency response efforts across the eight-county district.
LTADD Executive Director Daniel London said the drone fleet was made possible by grant support and a public-private partnership with Lincoln National Bank, and is a first of its kind achievement for the AD district.
“No other organization can boast this fact,” London said. “We can put nine aerial drones in the air in an hour and a half or less at any location in this region for search and rescue. Just ask eastern Kentucky or western Kentucky how important that would be to save lives.”
Beshear said the area development districts are a great asset to Kentuckians for the multiple projects they are able to facilitate. Beshear said the state is sadly well-practiced when it comes to disaster response, referencing the western Kentucky tornadoes and eastern Kentucky flooding, but emergency personnel across the state have worked hard to continue improving preparedness.
‘“Regardless of the causes, we know that we are seeing more natural disasters hit Kentucky and other parts of the United States, and what that means is, together, we can work to be better prepared,” Beshear said. “We can look after every single one and say ‘what’s the next step and the next one and the next one?’”
During the press conference, Beshear also presented an area community with some funding from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
“Today I have a check for the City of Vine Grove for $76,770 to install and improve sidewalks, crosswalks, and lighting,” Beshear said.
The funding for the drones also allowed LTADD to purchase an emergency response vehicle and establish a community support team to assist during disaster responses.
The Lincoln Trail Area Development District looked back and looked forward during their January board meeting and annual meeting at the State Theater Wednesday.
During the board meeting, the board approved their officer slate for 2025, as read by nominating committee member LaRue County Judge/Executive Blake Durrett:
- Chair, Marion County Judge/Executive David Daugherty
- First Vice Chair, Washington County Judge/Executive Timothy Graves
- Second Vice Chair, Hodgenville Mayor Jim Phelps
- Secretary, Becky Miller of Grayson County
- Treasurer, Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory
LTADD Executive Director Daniel London said during the annual meeting that during this past fiscal year nearly $184 million in grant or direct funding requests were made for district members, the Workforce program served 12,403 clients, and the Aging program served 195,000 meals. London said LTADDs annual budget expanded from $15 million in 2023 to $24 million in 2025, and the expanded funding means expanded offerings.
“We’re no longer the sleepy little AD that no one knows about,” London said. “We’re making big waves. We’re trailblazing, and if people in this region don’t know about us now, it’s because they’re under a rock. Thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of the staff, the board of directors, and the taxpayers for the funding and resources you provided to us, because we’re going to keep killing it for you each and every day.”
The Dorothy M. Dolle Memorial Award was presented to Patsy Allen, and the Palmer A. “Pete” Peterson Memorial Award was presented to Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory, who said one of the best values of LTADD is the people it brings together.
“I appreciate everybody in this room,” Gregory said. “I appreciate the friendships and the working relationships, and I think this is a special, special place, and it doesn’t matter if you’re Republican or Democrat. If you need something and the others have got it, then it’s available for everybody, and we’ve got to keep working that way because that’s how victory happens, so thank you all very much.”
Learn more about LTADD’s services and projects at www.ltadd.org.
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office responded to an alleged threat at Bluegrass Middle School Wednesday.
“An investigation was immediately initiated by the school resource deputy, quickly identifying the student that made the threat who will face consequences set forth in the Hardin County School’s Code of Acceptable Behavior along with juvenile court action,” said Hardin County Sheriff John Ward.
The sheriff says parents should remind their children to act responsibly.
“We ask everyone to please stress to your children that a threat in no way can be considered a joke and will be dealt with appropriately,” Ward said.
The sheriff’s office says at no time were any students or staff at Bluegrass Middle School in any danger.