WQXE News

The official state outdoor musical of Kentucky returns to the stage this weekend. 

The Stephen Foster Story will take to the stage at the J. Dan Talbott Amphitheatre this Saturday as the musical kicks off its 66th season in Bardstown.

Featuring classic songs such as “Oh! Susanna”, “Camptown Races”, and Kentucky’s state song “My Old Kentucky Home”, The Stephen Foster Story “follows America’s first great composer, Stephen Collins Foster, as he paves the road for future songwriters through love, heartache, and the struggles of the time.”

The Stephen Foster Drama Association will run productions of the musical select nights from June 14 through August 9. Tickets to opening night include a pre-show performance by the band Puncheon Creek, complimentary light refreshments, and a cast meet and greet.

The musical has been staged at My Old Kentucky Home State Park since 1959. Visit www.stephenfoster.com for more information and to order tickets.

The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their first meeting of the month Tuesday.

The fiscal court approved the county budget for fiscal year 2025-2026. Eighth District Magistrate Kenny Muse said he was voting against the budget because he was frustrated with the use of reserve funds to balance it.

“Each year, we say we’re going to do better, and we probably have done better, but we’re still not there with, I guess it’s $2 million over,” Muse said.

The council also approved an ordinance amending the 2024-2025 budget to account for receipts from road aid and asphalt funding, and a resolution approving step in grade for the new budget and a one percent cost of living adjustment was approved.

Lincoln Trail District Health Department Public Health Director Sara Jo Best provided an update on services the health department provided in Hardin County. Best said total visits for the current fiscal year as of April are 14,856, which with two months left is already ahead of the 10,915 visits seen last fiscal year.

Hardin County Emergency Management Director Joey Scott said federal Disaster Survivor Assistance staff have contacted more than 5,100 homes in the county since April storms and flooding hit the area. The deadline to register with FEMA for Individual Assistance has been extended to July 25.

“Almost $3 million has been recovered so far from claims from Hardin County, so that’s encouraging news that some money is coming back to our community to help people during this time,” Scott said.

FEMA’S Disaster Recovery Center is located at Kentucky State Police Post Four.

The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet June 24.

The City of Elizabethtown Events staff kicks off the 2025 Lawn Party at the Lake concert series Wednesday night.

The headliner for the show at the Freeman Lake Park bandstand is 94.3 The Wolf’s own Kevin Jaggers.

“The band, I don’t get to bring them around E-Town as much as I’d like to, so this is going to be one of those shows that we’re rocking full force, and we’re really excited about that,” Jaggers said. “We’re going to do a lot of the covers that get people up dancing, moving, shaking, all the good things, and then we’re going to do some originals as well.”

Priscilla Scarborough with the city’s events staff says all are welcome to come out for the free show.

“He’ll be taking the stage at 6:30 with his band over at Freeman Lake Park at the bandstand,” Scarborough said. “We’re going to have food trucks and some lawn games. Come and hang out. It’s just going to be a great time.”

Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles says parking at Freeman Lake Park will open at 5:30.

“Come in the Blue Heron Way entrance to Freeman Lake Park,” Pyles said. “The folks there will direct you where to park. Bring your lawn chair. It is festival-style seating. We will have some picnic tables, but there’s never enough for everybody. We do ask that you don’t bring coolers.”

Visit www.etownevents.com for more information on the Lawn Party at the Lake series.