WQXE News

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is set to roll out its first-ever mental health strategy, aimed at supporting the more than 110,000 students attending classes at the system’s 16 campuses. 

KCTCS says the Mental Health Strategy initiative is backed by partnerships with the JED Foundation, the Healthy Minds Network, and the Council on Postsecondary Education. The new strategy is the result of technical assistance support and consultation from JED, which assisted KCTCS “in establishing and strengthening a community of care among partner campuses, protecting student mental health, and providing and integrating evidence-based mental health resources, programs, systems, and policies.”

A Healthy Minds Study conducted last school year across the 16 campuses showed that 68 percent of KCTCS students showed signs of depression and 66 percent reported anxiety symptoms, but only 27 percent of students who screened positive for depression or anxiety were receiving therapy.

The system says the new plan is guided by six key focus areas: survey-informed interventions, faculty and staff training, an early-alert guide, mental health communication campaigns, peer wellness programs, and expanded grant and partner-supported services. The new strategy aligns with the Council on Postsecondary Education’s statewide mental health plan.

More information on the plan can be found on the KCTCS website.

The Elizabethtown City Council met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.

The council voted to hold the first reading on an ordinance that would amend the zoning for property located at 2111 Ring Road and 1151 Pear Orchard Road from R-3 to C-3, which would facilitate the construction of a 60,000 square foot VA medical clinic. The Elizabethtown Planning Commission voted 3-2 at their July 8 meeting to recommend that change be denied, but Council Member Mika Tyler made a motion to hold the first reading, citing fact finding presented at the Planning Commission meeting that she said found the zoning change to be in line with the city’s comprehensive plan.

Several people discussed the zoning proposal during the meeting’s public comments period. Elizabethtown resident Brown Gwynn said he and everybody he has spoken with about the proposal is supportive of the establishment of a VA health clinic in Elizabethtown. He said the problem here is rezoning an area that shouldn’t be rezoned.

“There is commercial property all over the city that is already zoned C-3, so we’re taking a 29-acre piece of property and converting it from R-3 which is residential, which if the county decides to fight expansion of our city limits, where are we going to get any more building lots?” Gwynn said. “We’ve got commercial building lots all over the town.”

Bob Casher is a member of the Joint Executive Council of Veterans Organizations of Kentucky. He says the city needs to do what it can to help the project move forward quickly in order to help support an aging area veteran population.

“We need that piece of land and we need to get that clinic off the ground as soon as possible,” Casher said. “Veterans Administration from Washington D.C. has been to the Jeff. Co. meetings. They have been to the VA and Robley Rex. This has been in the works for over two years, and here we are sitting here this evening wanting to debate where it’s going to go.”

The council will vote on the zoning change on its second reading at the next regular council meeting.

In other meeting news, the council approved a resolution amending the comprehensive plan to include the Towne Mall master plan, and a municipal order amending the city’s contract with Kinley-Horn and Associates for water design services concerning the area around the outdoor music venue to include changes in infrastructure plans.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet for a work session on July 28.

Kentucky State Police Post Four is joining a multi-state effort to remind residents to move over and slow down for emergency vehicles. 

KSP Post Four is participating in the 6-State Trooper Project, a coordinated effort involving state police agencies in Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia running now through July 26 to promote compliance with move over laws and help reduce roadside crashes involving law enforcement officers, emergency responders, and service workers.

According to a release from the KSP, Kentucky’s Move Over Law passed in 2003 requires motorists to move to the adjacent lane when approaching an emergency or public safety vehicle with flashing lights. Motorists must slow down and use caution if they are unable to change lanes.

The KSP is urging all drivers and passengers to help keep everyone on Kentucky roadways safe and to stay alert, slow down, move over, and obey the law. Failure to follow the Move Over Law may result in fines, jail time, or both.

Drivers may report dangerous driving behavior to their local KSP post. Visit the KSP’s website for more information on the 6-State Trooper Project.