WQXE News
Just under four years after the September 2021 announcement of the Glendale-based project, BlueOval SK on Tuesday announced that production has officially begun at the Kentucky 1 plant.
“In just three short years, we transformed a once empty field in Glendale, Kentucky, into a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for building batteries for the EV industry,” said BlueOval SK CEO Michael Adams in audio provided by the company. “Thousands of people’s work went into us being able to be here today and I’m very proud of all them and their accomplishments that we celebrate today.”
BlueOval SK says the batteries produced at the Kentucky 1 plant will power the all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning, and the plant “will also produce batteries for Ford’s current e-transit with enhanced range.” 1,450 of a planned 5,000 workers are currently on the job at the more than 1,500-acre facility.
“This really helps power the EV industry going forward and really sets the placement of the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a powerhouse in the EV battery industry,” Adams said.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said in a release Tuesday: “This remains the single largest investment in the history of our state, and it sparked a surge of new investment and job announcements that placed Kentucky at the center of EV-related innovation. I am grateful to Ford and SK On leaders for believing in Kentucky and our workforce. Now is the time to do what we do best as Kentuckians: deliver results.”
The Radcliff City Council met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.
Neil Crawford with QK4, which provides engineering services for the city, provided an update on the North Logsdon Parkway project. Crawford said work had begun on clearing the land and construction was set to begin in September, but the city was told by the state grant manager to pause all work after the period of performance for the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant the project funds were connected to expired on August 5. The project is now on hold as the state requests an extension on that grant.
“I did ask Megan Mollohan with the state what she thought the timing was going to be,” Crawford said. “She said with the way things are right now at FEMA and the federal government, she has no idea, but she said it could be two weeks, it could be two months, or it could be two years, so we don’t know. Totally up in the air.”
Crawford also discussed an ordinance amending the city’s Flood Damage Prevention ordinance that had its first reading at the meeting. Crawford said the ordinance simply matches local guidelines with changes recently made by the state, but not following the update carries negative consequences.
“If we don’t have it enacted by October 15, then we risk falling out of the NFIP system, which then would risk flood insurance for anybody that has it in the community, and it also has other implications of the community wouldn’t be available for grants or federal loans, or if the flood plain is potentially impacted,” Crawford said.
In other meeting news, the first reading was held on an ordinance that makes it “unlawful to leave or confine an animal in any unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or wellbeing of that animal.”
“The first responder is authorized to take all steps that are reasonably necessary for the removal of an animal from a motor vehicle, including breaking into the motor vehicle, if the officer has probable cause and if certain conditions are met,” said City Attorney Mike Pike, reading from the ordinance.
Other ordinances on first reading included an amendment to the 2024-2025 city budget concerning balances, the rezoning of 238 Cedar Oak Drive in Vine Grove from Commercial Zone to R-4, and the rezoning of 2787 Hill Street in Vine Grove from Residential Holding and R-2 to just R-2. The council also gave Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall authorization to approve a real estate deal with Mid-Kentucky Kennel Club Inc. on a planned facility at the Millpond Business Center.
The Radcliff City Council will next meet September 8.
As the Labor Day holiday approaches, state officials and law enforcement agencies are reminding drivers to “drive sober or get pulled over.”
Now through September 1, the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety is joining the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and area law enforcement agencies for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement campaign.
According to the KOHS, there were more than 4,000 crashes across Kentucky in 2024 that involved an impaired driver. Those crashes resulted in 2,062 injuries and 185 deaths. 45 alcohol-related crashes involving motorcycles occurred in 2024, resulting in 41 injuries and 6 deaths.
The KOHS says if your Labor Day weekend plans will include alcohol, take steps to ensure a safe weekend. Plan a way to get home safely at the end of the night. If you are impaired, use a ride-booking company or taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation. If you see people who are about to drive impaired, take away their keys and help them make plans to get home safely. Finally, always wear a seatbelt.
If you see an impaired driver, safely pull over and contact area law enforcement or the Kentucky State Police. Visit www.kydrivesober.com for more information.