WQXE News
The Heart of Kentucky Chorus invites all singers high school age and up who are interested in learning more about the acapella chorus to come out to their Guest Night, which will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the G.C. Burkhead Elementary cafeteria on Thursday, July 25.
Chorus member Bob Swope said he first became familiar with the chorus after attending a Guest Night event, and he has found the experience to be a rewarding one.
“It’s something that I have enjoyed doing now for a long time and I wish I had learned about it even earlier,” Swope said. “It’s a lot of fun and I encourage people to come out and just to check us out and see if they might want to become a member.”
Under the direction of Aaron Dale, the chorus is a mixed community chorus that sings a variety of songs at two main performances each year along with several community events.
“We sing barbershop, we sing a little pop, popular music, and some gospel, country, a little bit of everything,” Swope said.
No obligation or commitment is expected, and no personal invitation is required. Learn more by contacting Dee Corkran at 270-312-9403, or visit the Heart of Kentucky Chorus Facebook page.
The Radcliff City Council met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.
Susan Mouser with Clauson Mouser and Company PSC/CPAs reported to the council on the city’s annual audit. Mouser said the audit is mandated by state law in order to show that the city’s finances are fairly stated. Mouser said the city’s revenues exceed the expenditures and the city has little long-term debt. Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall said the city keeps a close eye on the finances.
“Just about every purchase order that’s done in the city, (Radcliff CFO) Chance Fox and I both, or (City Clerk) Ashley Russo will sign, and it’s sometimes to the point where Chance is calling me, asking me if a $164 pair of boots is justified,” Duvall said. “I mean, that’s how tight we run our budget.”
The council approved the rezoning of 155 Morgan Street from R-7 to Planned Unit Development Zone, which makes way for the construction of 19 single-family units on the property. The council also approved one new and five amended policies and procedures for the Radcliff Police Department.
The first reading was held on an ordinance approving the operation of medical cannabis facilities in the city. Duvall again stressed that the ordinance does not ban the use of medical marijuana, but it would make a Radcliff-based operation eligible to apply for a facility license.
“This is just regulating whether or not we’re going to have the sale or the cultivation here in our community,” Duvall said. “If you have a medical card, you can still go into E-Town and get it, or you can go into the county and get it, and still bring it back to our community.”
John Hardin High School sophomore Kenneth Richie addressed the council on concerns he sees with the Radcliff community that he said he thinks begin with a lack of civil discourse.
“I’ve seen the people become more negative over this time and stop looking inwards,” Richie said. “I’ve seen human decency begin to fade, and I’ve seen other people attack each other without knowledge or patience for a civil confrontation, and that’s built a negative reputation in towns outside of here.”
Richie said he hopes to see more communication between the government and the community, and more civic engagement. Duvall said he had spoken with Richie about his ideas and hoped to speak with him further.
The Radcliff City Council will next meet for a work session on August 12.
Elizabethtown Community and Technical College will be helping families fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid with a fun event Tuesday.
ECTC says they will have games, food, and prizes for anyone who needs help completing the FAFSA ahead of the Fall 2024 semester at their FAFSA Tailgate Party, which will be held July 23 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Regional Postsecondary Center on ECTC’s campus.
Financial aid professionals will be on hand to help families with the FAFSA, and the help may be extra beneficial as colleges still deal with the redesigned FAFSA process that came with the passing of the FAFSA Simplification Act. ECTC says many students and parents encountered delays when they initially tried to file the form.
Tailgate attendees should bring their 2022 tax forms including W-2s as well as their FSA ID if they have one. The FAFSA must be completed in order for students to qualify for federal aid such as the Pell Grant and state aid such as the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship.
The tailgate is happening the same day as ECTC’s next Open House Tuesday. Academic and admissions assistance along with campus tours will be available from noon to 6 p.m.
Contact the ECTC Financial Aid Office at 270-706-8802 for more information or assistance.
Helping Hand of Hope rolled out a new way of helping neighbors in need this week as they launched their new Thrift Store.
“The Thrift Store is actually an addition to Helping Hand of Hope that we have created in one of the extra areas that we have here,” said Helping Hand of Hope Executive Director Hope Burke. “We really wanted something for when our neighbors come in that really need an extra hand when it comes to clothing or accessories for their home that they were able to come in and actually afford the things that they were coming to get.”
Burke says the Thrift Store was designed to offer a unique experience.
“In our hearts when we did this, we wanted it to be a more of a boutique feel versus just everything thrown together because that was one thing that some of our neighbors had expressed when they go secondhand shopping, they just feel like everything’s everywhere and they don’t ever feel like they get to go and do things like that, like a boutique experience, so that was something very important for us,” Burke said.
All are welcome to enjoy the Thrift Store, and a voucher program is available by meeting with a case manager. Donations to support the Thrift Store will be accepted, however Burke said they are not asking for clothing at this time.
Burke says the Thrift Store is part of some exciting developments at Helping Hand of Hope.
“We’re just really excited about this, and we just want the community to come together, whether they are wanting to donate, whether they’re wanting to buy, come out and just check it out,” Burke said. “Come and see what we really, truly put our heart and soul into and just see the direction that Helping Hand of Hope is doing.”
The Thrift Store is open at Helping Hand of Hope, located at 6796 South Wilson Road in Elizabethtown, from 9 to 11:45 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to noon the second Saturday of each month.