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Louisville Orchestra bringing rescheduled In Harmony Tour performance to Freeman Lake Park

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The Louisville Orchestra is set to return to Elizabethtown later this month.

The Louisville Orchestra will bring their In Harmony Tour to the bandstand at Freeman Lake Park on Thursday, September 17th. Admission is free for this community concert, which was rescheduled from June after being postponed due to weather.

According to the orchestra, the In Harmony Tour aims to “bring world-class orchestral music directly to communities across the Commonwealth.” Under the direction of conductor Gabriel Lefkowitz and featuring guest pianist Kory Caudill, the performance will include classic selections such as Leonard Bernstein’s “Overture” from West Side Story, John Williams’s “Superman March”, and more.

Parking opens at Freeman Lake Park at 6:30 p.m., with the concert scheduled to begin at 7:30. Seating is festival style, so bring your lawn chairs and blankets. Food trucks and drink vendors will be on site.

Visit www.etownevents.com for more information on the performance, and learn more about the Louisville Orchestra on their website.

Terms of change of venue in Nicholas Houck case approved

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Nicholas Houck was back in Nelson Circuit Court Friday for a pre-trial conference in his Class D Felony Perjury case.

Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III approved the tendered agreement between the defense and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for a change of venue in the case. Under that agreement, the November 9 trial will be held in Owen County, but all pre-trial motions will continue to be heard in Nelson County.

The judge heard arguments regarding the defense’s motion on a bill of particulars requesting the judge order the commonwealth to identify evidence that will be offered at trial to prove “that there is: a material false statement made by the defendant, and also that the defendant does not believe.” The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office submitted a response to the court Friday morning prior to the hearing which Houck’s defense attorney Michael Ferguson asked for time to review. Ferguson said he was asking the commonwealth to directly point to where in their submitted evidence they believe a false statement was made.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Kyle Williamson said Houck gave conflicting testimony in grand jury testimony given on July 15 and 22, 2015, and August 16, 2023. Simms asked the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to provide a more specific response to the defense’s questions within seven days.

A pre-trial conference was scheduled for September 16.

Overdose Awareness Day being observed Monday

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Flags at state office buildings in Kentucky are at half-staff today in observance of Overdose Awareness Day.

“Addiction has devastated communities across our nation, and in Kentucky we probably got hit hardest,” said Governor Andy Beshear during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update. “We’ve lost a lot of mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, friends, even sons and daughters, all children of God taken far too soon.”

According to the Governor’s Office, Overdose Awareness Day is an acknowledgment of the grief of family and friends impacted by losses from overdose while also serving as an effort to reduce the stigma for people currently struggling with addiction.

Beshear highlighted efforts in Kentucky aimed at reducing overdose deaths including Recovery Ready Communities, increased access to naloxone, and increased law enforcement efforts to get drugs off the street. He said those efforts have led to four straight years of decreases in overdose deaths.

“In 2025, we saw a 22.9 percent decrease as compared to previous years,” Beshear said. “That means that last year we saw the lowest number of overdose deaths since we started compiling this information, I believe in 2014, and we’re committed to continuing this progress until that number gets to zero.”

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, visit www.findhelpnowky.org, call the Crisis Lifeline at 988, or call 1-833-8KY-HELP(4357).

Report details compliance of public schools with safety standards

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The Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet has published the 2025-2026 School Safety Risk Assessment Report, which compiles statistics on school compliance with state-mandated security measures.

According to a release from the cabinet, the report is based on annual unannounced visits to all public schools in the commonwealth. This year’s report “shows that schools are complying with statutorily mandated access control requirements regarding electronic-locking front doors, surveillance, locked classroom doors, classroom window coverings, and a threat-assessment team.”

The report found that 98.4 percent of all Kentucky schools were in compliance with specific practices to control access to school buildings, such as requirements that access is only granted through the main entrance and all visitors must present ID. Similar numbers were seen for safety and security processes, such as the implementation of an emergency plan. The report also shows that 937 school resource officers are now employed across Kentucky’s public schools, an increase of nearly 100 from the previous school year. 

The full report can be found on the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet’s website. Kentuckians can report any school safety concerns via the STOP! Tipline at 1-866-393-6659 or at safeschools.ky.gov.