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HCS accepting Distinguished Alumni nominations

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Hardin County Schools is looking for assistance to recognize distinguished alumni. 

Applications are now being accepted for the HCS 2025 Class of Distinguished Alumni.

According to a release from HCS, nominees must have graduated from any current or former high schools in Hardin County no less than five years ago. 

HCS Superintendent Terrie Morgan said in the release: “I encourage our community to nominate a HCS alum who has excelled in his or her chosen profession or has made outstanding contributions to his or her community. Our alums are important to us and this is a fantastic way to honor them.”

Anybody interested in nominating somebody should visit hardin.kyschools.us. The link to the nomination form is on the front page of the website under the Alumni tab.

The deadline to submit a nomination is July 25. HCS will recognize the 2025 Class Of Distinguished Alumni during a ceremony at the HCS Early College and Career Center on September 25.

E-Town Planning and Development proposing zoning changes

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Elizabethtown Planning and Development Director Joe Reverman says the city began developing proposed residential zoning text amendments after discussions last year with the Elizabethtown Planning Commission about new developments in the area amidst recent growth.

“And a lot of that was residential developments that have been seen across the country since the Great Recession,” Reverman said. “There’s been a lot of market demand changes since that time, mainly with the increase in apartment projects and the market demand for smaller lots.”

Reverman discussed the proposed amendments during the Elizabethtown City Council’s June 9 work session. He said the goal of the amendments is to align zoning with the city’s comprehensive plan while allowing more flexibility and creativity for developers. He also said the amendments will help eliminate what he calls “unnecessary rezonings” and address housing needs.

“People have asked for rezoning for a zoning district where they don’t need the zoning change to increase density, they just want smaller lot sizes or some other regulation that’s in another zoning district that doesn’t require additional density, and then we want to incentivize certain types of developments and then of course create new housing types to increase supply and increase affordability,” Reverman said.

Proposed changes include amended lot size and setback standards, amended standards for short-term rentals, the creation of Planned Development and Conservation districts, and allowing for residential developments in commercial districts.

“It allows an immediate increase in the potential supply of housing in our community because we have a lot of commercial zone property, so if you just allow residential in that zoning district, you’ve automatically got a lot more land for residential developments, and residential in commercial zoning districts has very limited impact on existing residential areas,” Reverman said.

Contact the Elizabethtown Planning and Development Office for more information.

Kentucky colleges see enrollment and graduation rate growth

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The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education says public colleges and universities in the state made significant gains in undergraduate enrollment and graduation rates last school year.

The latest progress report from the KCPE says enrollment in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System in the fall of 2024 was 84,122 students, a 6.8 percent increase from fall of 2023. Undergraduate enrollment at Kentucky public universities was 99,233 students in fall of 2024, an increase from the previous year of 3.9 percent.

The progress report also shows that more students entering two-year or four-year institutions are completing a degree or credential within three to six years. KCTCS’s three-year graduation rate hit 47.2 percent, a 3 percent increase, and the six-year graduation rate for public universities hit 61.2 percent, which the KCPE says is an all-time high.

While gains were seen in enrollment and graduation, the affordability of public universities saw a decrease. The average amount of unmet financial need for university students climbed to $10,225, a 9.2 percent increase. An 11-percent drop in FAFSA completion rates was also seen, which the KCPE attributed to the launch of the federal government’s new FAFSA system.

You can view the full report at cpe.ky.gov.

Support area first responders during Battle of the Badges Blood Drive

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Area residents are invited to help address the need for blood and support area first responders during the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive, which will be held at the Pritchard Community Center in Elizabethtown on Friday, June 20 from noon until 5 p.m.

“It’s just kind of a friendly competition between our police, fire, and EMS to actually raise awareness about the need for blood and to see how many community and family friends will come in, and who will they support,” said American Red Cross Account Manager Tammy Ritchie.

Participants will select which department they wish to support when they sign in. Special incentives are available to participating donors.

“As our way of saying thank you, Amazon is going to give a $15 gift card to every donor that comes out and participates, and they will be able to get a Battle of the Badges t-shirt,” Ritchie said.

Ritchie says the need for donations is urgent, especially from Type O donors.

“With the summer months beginning, we are here,” Ritchie said. “People are traveling so people aren’t donating. Our high school and college donors are between 25 and 30 percent of our blood supply. Most of them are not in, so we will see a dip here very soon.”

Schedule an appointment for the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive by visiting www.redcrossblood.org and entering sponsor code BOBElizabethtown, or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

EPD collecting school supplies for Hope Academy

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The Elizabethtown Police Department is partnering with Hope Academy for Kids Inc. for their annual school supply drive, which is now under way.

“You can drop off donations in our lobby at 300 South Mulberry Street,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham.

Suggested donations include flash drives, backpacks, crayons, markers, folders, loose-leaf notebook paper, colored pencils, mechanical pencils, scissors, glue sticks, index cards, water bottles, and other school supplies.

“All supplies will go directly to the students of Hope Academy to help them start the school year off strong,” Denham said. “For any additional questions or for details, you can contact me, Chris Denham, by calling 270-765-4125.”

Find more information on the EPD and Hope Academy for Kids Inc. Facebook pages.