WQXE News

A Kentucky State Police Post Four trooper was recognized by Governor Andy Beshear for his life-saving efforts after a traffic collision near Elizabethtown.

Beshear named Trooper Blaine Miller this week’s Team Kentucky All-Star during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update.

On August 14, Miller responded to the scene of a two-vehicle collision near the 87-mile marker on Interstate 65 South. Upon arrival, he found an overturned vehicle that was beginning to catch fire with four siblings (Samantha, Joshua, Sarah, and Savannah Bloom of Louisville) trapped inside.

“Thinking quickly, Trooper Miller broke the vehicle’s front windshield and pulled them all to safety,” Beshear said. “Thankfully, they had only minor injuries. Once the Blooms were removed from the vehicle, Trooper Miller and a good Samaritan at the scene used a fire extinguisher to put out smoke coming from the vehicle’s engine.”

Beshear thanked Miller for stepping in.

“His actions are an example to all of us, and he represents the selflessness of Kentucky law enforcement officers,” Beshear said. “These heroes will do whatever it takes to save a life and make sure their neighbors are safe.”

Beshear said Miller and the Blooms both credited the fact that all four siblings were wearing seat belts with preventing more serious injury, and reminded all Kentuckians to always buckle up.

Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland released data from the latest Map the Meal Gap study, and the numbers show an increase in food insecurity across the organization’s 42-county service area.

FAKH Marketing and Communications Manager Manda Barger said 19.2 percent of residents in the service area are food insecure, with the number of food insecure children reaching 27.5 percent. Numbers in Hardin County were below the district average, but above the national average.

“In Hardin County, we saw child food insecurity of 26.5 percent and for overall 17.7 percent,” Barger said.

For Breckinridge County, the child food insecurity rate was 26.5 percent, while the overall rate was 20.3 percent.

Barger said food insecurity for many families is a hidden problem because people fear the stigma of asking for help, but it is a problem that often wears many faces.

“It can be grandparents taking care of grandkids over the summer and they can’t rely on schools for breakfast and lunch,” Barger said. “It can be a family that was hit by a medical emergency and the debt that that can bring. It can be a sudden plant closure.”

Despite the struggles shown by the study, Barger said the study also shows the hard work put in by the organization, its volunteers, and its community partners.

“We were able to, as an overall region, serve 19.9 million pounds of food last year through our 260 agency partners throughout the region,” Barger said. “That equates to about 16.5 million meals.”

September is a great time to get involved with the organization’s efforts as it is Hunger Action Month. Read more results from the study and learn how to get involved at www.feedingamericaky.org.