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Separate trial ordered for Steven Lawson; trials for Brooks Houck and Joseph Lawson consolidated

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The judge in the cases of the Crystal Rogers investigation suspects has ordered for a separate trial for one of the defendants. 

Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III ordered Tuesday that Steven Lawson will be tried separately while the trials for Brooks Houck and Joseph Lawson shall be consolidated.

Simms said in the order that while the prosecution intends to introduce Steven Lawson’s grand jury testimony and redact Joseph Lawson and Brooks Houck’s names, attorneys for Joseph Lawson and Houck intend to introduce Steven Lawson’s interviews with investigators that the prosecution has stipulated are inadmissible against him in order to show inconsistencies in Lawson’s testimony. The court found that in a joint trial, the jury would never hear of the inconsistencies between Steven Lawson’s police interviews and his grand jury testimony without hearing both, which would cause undue prejudice against Houck and Joseph Lawson.

Attorneys for Houck argued that if he is tried with Joseph Lawson he will not be able to use two police interviews Lawson had with police, but the court found that because Joseph Lawson’s interviews did not result in any admissible evidence being presented to a grand jury, the interviews are irrelevant at trial. In responding to arguments submitted by Joseph Lawson’s attorneys, the court found that because the trials will be moved to Warren County, because there is no evidence of “spillover evidence”, and because Houck has not implicated Joseph Lawson of any wrongdoing, their cases can be consolidated.

The trial for Steven Lawson is scheduled for February 10, although his attorneys have indicated they are not sure they will be ready in time for that date. Houck and Joseph Lawson will appear in court on December 5 to discuss a new trial date.

Polls open and large turnout expected for 2024 election

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The polls are open, and voters have until 6 p.m. local time to cast their ballot in the 2024 general election.

The Associated Press reports that about 77 million Americans cast early ballots in this year’s election, with several states seeing record numbers. Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith described the early voting turnout in Hardin County as “staggering.”

“We voted over the course of three days early voting,” Smith said. “We voted just short of 14,000 people. That’s on top of the almost 1,700 voters who took advantage of in-person absentee voting, so this was record numbers. My staff and I have really worked hard to educate the voters about the upcoming election, about their options in voting, and it has certainly seemed to pay off.”

Hardin County has prepared for an anticipated record turnout by expanding the number of voting locations and increasing the number of voting machines at the busiest locations. Smith says he thinks his office’s prep work will pay off.

“We’ve worked very hard for the past seven or eight months to prepare for this,” Smith said. “It’s like preparing for the Super Bowl. Our locations are secure. Our locations are set up. Our poll workers have been trained. Equipment and resources are deployed. We think things will run very smoothly.”

If you need help figuring out election information, resources are available.

“The best place to look up information is govote.ky.gov,” Smith said. “You can see your sample ballot. You can find all the locations. We’ll be updating our Hardin County Clerk’s Facebook page throughout the day with information that may be helpful to voters in terms of wait time and where to go.”

Kentucky voters have a full ballot today with a presidential election, state and federal representative races, city council and school board elections, and two constitutional amendment questions.

Elizabethtown City Council reviews medical cannabis zoning ordinance, approves medical contract

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The Elizabethtown City Council met for their first meeting of the month Monday.

The first reading was held on an amendment ordinance for the city’s zoning ordinance. Reading from the ordinance, City Attorney Ken Howard said the ordinance adds provisions for medical cannabis.

“Definitions for the various use types, the zoning districts where the various uses will be permitted, special provisions for spacing of uses, and hours of operation and parking standards,” Howard said.

The ordinance was reviewed in two public hearings by the Elizabethtown Planning Commission, which recommended approval of the ordinance.

A municipal order approving an $890,378 bid from Schroeder Construction for the Helm Street, Terry Court, Park Avenue project was approved, as was an $126,760 change order from Dirt Works Unlimited for the Hawkins Drive sewer project.

Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory broke a tie to approve a contract with Member Medical that provides additional medical services to city employees. Council Member Cindy Walker expressed her concerns with the cost of the services, while Gregory said his financial concerns are offset by the company’s guarantee to pay back the city if they do not save money.

“Ultimately, if it saves the city money and gives us the opportunity to improve health care for employees and give them another solid benefit, then I think it’s absolutely worth a shot,” Gregory said.

The council also approved a 10-year lease agreement with Addington Properties LLC for the city to use 212 West Dixie Avenue for additional office space. That building is the former Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet November 12.

Hardin District Court provides update on solar cases

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Hardin District Court Division III provided an update on two cases involving solar energy that are working their way through the court.

According to a release from the court, the court last week dismissed a complaint from CPV Stonecrop Solar LLC against the Hardin County Planning and Development Commission. Stonecrop requested a declaratory judgment that their proposed “agrivolatics” operation should receive zoning as an agricultural use, while also arguing their proposed operation fell under the “agricultural supremacy clause” and the Right to Farm Act, which they said would allow them to construct the operation without going through the applicable planning and zoning process.

According to the order from the court, the planning commission responded to Stonecrop’s complaint by arguing that because Stonecrop only holds an option to lease the land for their proposed operation, they lack standing and have not gone through the proper statutory process. The court found that it did not have subject matter jurisdiction for the case, with the court denying the petition for declaratory judgment and dismissing the case.

Meanwhile, the court will hear oral arguments this Friday in Hardin County Citizens for Responsible Solar Inc. versus Hardin County Fiscal Court. The Citizens organization is appealing the fiscal court’s approval of a zoning map amendment that would allow for a solar electrical generating facility near Cecilia.

Hardin County sees more than 15,000 early voters

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More than 15,000 Hardin County residents took advantage of in-person early voting opportunities ahead of the November 5 general election.

The Hardin County Clerk’s Office says after more than 4,800 early in-person no-excuse ballots were cast on both Friday and Saturday, the grand total for in-person no-excuse absentee voting was 13,887, with 8,118 ballots cast at the main clerk’s office in Elizabethtown and 5,769 cast at the Colvin Community Center in Radcliff.

The clerk’s office also says 1,679 residents cast their ballot at the clerk’s office during in-person excused absentee voting.

If you received a mail-in absentee ballot, you have Monday and Tuesday to get it to the clerk’s office.

“Those ballots must be back to the clerk’s office by mail or by hand delivery no later than 6 p.m. on election night,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday. With a record turnout expected for this year’s election, Smith says Hardin County has expanded voting locations and added machines at the traditionally busier locations.

“As long as you’re in line by 6 p.m. you’ll be allowed to vote,” Smith said. “We have 15 locations available all across Hardin County. Any voter who’s registered in Hardin County can choose any location that’s convenient for them. I encourage folks to visit govote.ky.gov or the Hardin County Clerk’s Facebook page to find the location nearest you.”

Contact your county clerk’s office for more election information.