WQXE News

Families can start the school year off right with the Lincoln Trail District Health Department’s Back to School Bashes, the last three of which are happening this week.

Health Department Public Relations Officer Melissa Phillips says the Back to School Bashes will have education stations, immunizations to help get kids caught up on their shot records, and dental varnishing, among other services. Phillips says, however, the main focus is fun.

“Our mascot will be at each location so families can take pictures if they want to,” Phillips said. “There’s going to be coloring contests and games and prizes, and then there’s going to be gift cards given away, two gift cards at each location. So lots of fun, lots of giveaways. We just need folks to come out.”

LaRue County’s Back to School Bash will be Tuesday, Hardin County’s will be Wednesday, and Nelson County’s will be Thursday. Visit the health department’s Facebook page for more information.

Highway safety improvements on U.S. 31E in Hodgenville are progressing to the next phase.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four says with the concrete portion of the work finished, asphalt work is ready to begin. Milling work took place over the weekend, with paving scheduled to begin Monday. Weather permitting, the work should be completed on Thursday, finishing the project ahead of the first day of class for LaRue County Schools.

The entrance reconfiguration at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School is a major feature of the project. Drivers will still be able to turn into and out of the school from both directions on U.S. 31E.

“The change is you’re going to have some protections,” said KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie. “Northbound traffic turning left into the school will have that center turn lane to stack up traffic so they’re not sticking out into northbound flow, and this reduces the likelihood of rear end collisions. For left turns out of the school, you’re going to be guided right into that center turn lane by the curbing that’s installed there, so that’s going to give you an opportunity to merge safely into northbound U.S. 31E traffic.”

Drivers should slow down, use caution, and pay close attention to signs, traffic control equipment, and flaggers in the work zone. Follow KYTC District Four on social media for updates.

More than 600 Kentucky high school seniors received more than $980,000 in scholarships from Kentucky Farm Bureau, the highest amount of post-secondary education scholarships the organization has ever awarded.

KFB says Farm Bureau scholarships are awarded on the state and county level. Statewide scholarships support students attending a Kentucky college, university, community college, or proprietary school and are pursuing a four-year degree in agriculture or a related field. 113 county Farm Bureaus awarded scholarships to local students.

On the statewide level, Joslyn Hinton from LaRue County received the Beautification League of Louisville Scholarship, and Nate Crumbley of Nelson County and Avery Dowell of Breckinridge County received the KFB Young Farmer Scholarship. 

Visit www.kyfb.com for a complete list of scholarship winners and for more information on the Kentucky Farm Bureau Scholarship Program.