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Area children and families invited to Hardin County EMS Teddy Bear Clinic

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Hardin County EMS invites area families to come see some of the things first responders do when they arrive on the scene of a serious situation.

“We have the Teddy Bear Clinic,” said Hardin County Government Communications Officer Brian Walker. “It’s a program that we offer numerous times each year for civic groups, schools, the Hardin County Public Library, and more. It’s free, but it gives children a hands-on experience, and they can discover how to use the 911 system, basic first aid, and they’re actually shown an ambulance and some basic explanations of equipment used by EMS.”

Walker said the Teddy Bear Clinic also gives children a chance to get over some fear and confusion that a young person might have if they’re placed in an emergency, and said the event “isn’t scary or gory.”

The free event will be held at Hardin County EMS headquarters, located at 170 North Provident Way in Elizabethtown, beginning at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6.

“No registration is needed, but we really encourage your child to bring their favorite stuffed animal, teddy bear, what have you,” Walker said.

Find more information on the Hardin County Government Facebook page or website.

Registration open for ECTC Pathfinder Academy

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Registration is open for the 2026 Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Pathfinder Academy. 

ECTC will host the Pathfinder Academy from June 8 through 12. The Pathfinder Academy is for rising sixth- through 12th-grade students and features “fun-filled, hands-on learning activities in the fields of science, technology, and crafts.”

According to a release from ECTC, the Pathfinder Academy has class options for all middle and high school students, with a variety of fun, high-quality enrichment classes taught by ECTC faculty and staff members for students to explore their interests. The Pathfinder Academy includes classes such as cartoon character design, computed aided drafting, robotics, welding, and beginning sewing. Campers also  participate in financial literacy workshops.

Advanced registration is required, and spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students may sign up for multiple classes.

Visit ectc.us/pfa or contact Eileen Worthington at eileen.worthington@kctcs.edu or 270-706-8712 for more information.

Hardin County residents among Service Award honorees

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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear last week recognized the 16 winners of the 30th Governor’s Service Awards, recognizing exceptional service and dedication to Kentucky communities.

According to a release from the governor’s office, the award ceremony “is a longstanding tradition in the commonwealth that honors community volunteerism and service to others. The annual event is hosted by Serve Kentucky, which administers the state’s AmeriCorps programs, and coincides with National Volunteer Week.”

Several Hardin County residents were among the honorees. Yolande Denise Jackson-Smalls was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, Staff Sergeant Jessica Lynn DeLaPaz was presented with the Veteran Volunteer Service Award, and the American Red Cross – Fort Knox was presented with the Nonprofit Service Award.

More information on the awards and a complete list of winners can be found on the Serve Kentucky website, serve.ky.gov.

ECTC Giving Day 2026 numbers up from 2025

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Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Director of Philanthropy Chrissie Angell says the college achieved its goal of exceeding the numbers from last year’s Giving Day.

“Giving Day 2026 was a huge success,” Angell said. “We raised over $33,000 from 160 donors, which is up 5.9 percent over last year.”

ECTC’s Giving Day activities took place the same day other Kentucky Community and Technical College System schools conducted fundraising efforts, with the KCTCS reporting more than $375,000 was donated by 1,389 donors, including 289 first time donors.

Angell said after ECTC hosted their first Employee Giving Day last year, this year the college wanted to put together an event to help students “create a culture of philanthropy.”

“We held an event, and many of our students gave what they could financially, but that really wasn’t our main goal because philanthropy is about more than just giving money,” Angell said. “It’s about giving your time and talents, your resources to improve your community, and we offered simple ways for our students to use their time and talents to say thank you to faculty and staff on campus. We had a great time celebrating with them.”

Giving Day 2026 may have come and gone, but community members looking to support ECTC students can still donate on ECTC’s website. Community members can also volunteer at ECTC through Family Scholar House. Visit the ECTC website for more information.

CKCAC recognizes efforts of HCS in support of Radcliff Head Start

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The Central Kentucky Community Action Council this week recognized support from Hardin County Schools to allow the Radcliff Head Start Center to remain in operation.

The CKCAC Head Start team hosted a celebration on Monday honoring HCS for the swift action the district took after extreme winter weather caused extensive damage to the Radcliff Head Start Center. The district made two classrooms at Radcliff Elementary School available to head start, allowing those students to continue their education without major interruption.

“Our partnership with the Central Kentucky Head Start is strong and we are truly honored to host them for the rest of this school year,” said HCS Superintendent Terrie Morgan. “The Radcliff Elementary School classrooms will provide a safe and wonderful environment for our Head Start students and staff to learn and play and grow together.”

The CKCAC says the ceremony was a chance to thank HCS and recognize the importance of inter-agency cooperation in keeping education accessible for all children.

“This partnership is a testament to what can be achieved when local leaders put families first,” said CKCAC Head Start Director Jennifer Akin. “The immediate response from Superintendent Morgan and Principal Mahone eliminated the hardships our families would have faced if we were forced to relocate outside of Radcliff. This celebration is a small token of our immense gratitude for their leadership during a challenging time.”

The bid process for necessary repairs for the Radcliff Head Start Center is under way. A construction timeline for the repairs has not yet been determined.