WQXE News

The Hardin County Election Board met Monday morning to discuss a special election and the upcoming primary election.

The board approved the proposed plan from Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith for a special election to fill the Kentucky House of Representatives District 26 seat vacated by Russell Webber. That district covers the western half of Bullitt County and three precincts in northern Hardin County: West Point, Fort Knox 26, and Radcliff Southeast. The term runs through the end of this year.

Smith said the new clerk’s office location at the former Nolin RECC office in Radcliff should be approved for absentee and early voting, while polling locations for election day are still being lined up. Smith said even with the special election only being for one seat the county has the same duties and responsibilities as any other election.

“We know these are always low turnout, but we can’t treat it like it’s not a real election,” Smith said. “We can’t treat it like it’s a play election. It’s the real thing.”

The special election will be held Tuesday, March 19. Candidates will be nominated by the respective political parties.

The board also approved Smith’s plan for the May 21 primary election. Smith said with 2024 being a presidential election a higher turnout is expected, but the plan already fits in with his goal of adding more polling locations, which people responded well to in 2023.

“One of the things people like is yes, there was a line, but the line moved quickly,” Smith said. “There were a couple of times we had to make some adjustments during the day. We had to send an extra piece of equipment to one location, etc., but ultimately this plan is a blend of that. It adds more locations and then it beefs up our existing locations so that we can get people through the line quickly.”

Smith’s plan would increase the polling locations on election day from 12 to 15, and would add the former East Hardin building in Glendale as an early voting location.

Visit the clerk’s office’s website for more election information.

The Hardin County Clerk’s Office is still seeing delays due to the state’s new vehicle registration software.

“This new software system, KAVIS, that’s been introduced by the Transportation Cabinet is still wonky and still buggy,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “We’re reporting those bugs to the software team and they are working on them.”

He said despite still seeing longer wait times progress has been made.

“What is currently not available right now is online registration,” Smith said. “We’re hopeful that they’ll get that up and running very, very quickly, but most other transactions we’re able to complete. We just ask for continued patience from the public.”

While some delays are expected, the staff at the clerk’s office is still working hard to accommodate customers.

“We always encourage folks to renew your registration on time,” Smith said. “That;s always helpful. It will save you time and money, but expect a longer than anticipated wait. Early mornings seem to be the best time to come. We’re a little bit lighter in the mornings. Afternoons get really, really heavy.”

Smith said he can’t thank the public enough for their patience.

“They have really, really been gracious,” Smith said. “I know it’s been frustrating for them. I know they’re worried about deadlines and timelines. We are too. We’re going to do our very best to help them.”

Smith has been posting ongoing updates to the Hardin County Clerk’s Office’s Facebook page.

The City of Hodgenville is closing Salem Lake until further notice due to damage caused by a vehicle doing donuts.

Hodgenville Police Chief James Richardson said the incident at Salem Lake was preceded by two similar incidents.

“Before the snow came through, we had a young man that was in a pickup truck – we haven’t identified him yet, we’re still looking – that was doing donuts out at McDougal Lake and caused several thousand dollars worth of damage on that brand new chip-sealed parking lot,” Richardson said. “We put out information that we were looking for anybody with tips that could lead to a charge or arrest in that case, then shortly after that the weather turned bad and we had some individual doing donuts in one of our major intersections.”

Richardson said the damage at Salem Lake was significant, and the city is reminding residents to be safe and to take care of public areas.

“We understand that kids are gonna be kids, and I’m not the Donut Police,” Richardson said. “We’re not coming out looking for people that are doing these things as long as you’re on private property. If you’ve got permission, knock yourself out, but don’t go to public property, don’t go to places you’re not allowed to do it and then damage other people’s property, that’s what we have an issue with.”

Meanwhile, the Hodgenville Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance Wednesday that led to a Hodgenville man’s arrest.

The HPD says officers responded to an address on Parker’s Loop in the early morning hours on January 17. The HPD says the investigation revealed that the victim in the incident was forced from the apartment after a physical altercation with Kevin “Dewey” Day, who allegedly broke the victim’s phone, took her keys, and threw some of the victim’s possessions out the window before locking the door and fleeing the scene.Responding officers forced their way into the apartment with the victim’s consent so she could retrieve her things.

Day was charged with Fourth Degree assault, Criminal Mischief, and Theft. A warrant was issued for Day’s arrest and police began searching the area. Day was found Thursday hiding in an area barn. He was taken into custody and lodged in the LaRue County Detention Center.