WQXE News

The Lincoln Trail District Health Department is continuing to monitor water supplies after an investigation into possible contamination in Upton in August.

According to a release, the health department became aware of suspected water contamination in Big Spring on August 17. Samples collected on August 21 “indicated the presence of coliforms and E. Coli bacterium.” Additional testing was conducted to determine the type of E. Coli present and “indicated the presence of fecal waste from humans and deer.” The test results were shared with the Kentucky Environment and Energy Cabinet.

The health department says based on information from the Environmental Protection Agency bacterial levels in bodies of water can vary and change with rainfall, which makes it difficult to pinpoint the source of the contamination. 

After offering free well water testing to residents in the affected area, the health department has conducted or assisted with 14 tests across 12 locations in Hardin and LaRue counties. Sites from tests taken on August 21 and 27 resulted in E. Coli counts of more than 2,400, but five tests resulted in zero counts.

The health department will continue to work alongside the Environment and Energy Cabinet to test and monitor private water supplies as they work to identify the source of the contamination. If you believe your water supply has been impacted, contact the health department (270-769-0312 for Hardin County and 270-358-8665 for LaRue County), and visit their website for information on well and cistern maintenance.

Event organizers have an eye on the forecast for Saturday, but they are excited to put on the second annual Heartland Harvest Festival in Downtown Elizabethtown.

“The downtown event begins at 10 a.m. and it will feature craft and commercial vendors,” said Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles. “We will have over 100. There’s a free petting zoo and kids zone, a pumpkin decorating contest, the Great Pumpkin Battle, of course sponsored by WQXE. We’re excited about that. There will be food vendors, and lots more.”

That’s Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles. Music for the festival will begin at 2:30 p.m. in the Hardin County Justice Center parking lot.

“The lineup this year includes Big Black Cadillac, which is a funk and soul six-piece cover band based in Bardstown, and then at 5 o’clock, Taylorsville native and country artist J.D. Shelburne will take the stage, and ending out the night as our headliner is chart-topping country singer-songwriter Craig Morgan, and we are super excited to have him,” Pyles said. “That should be at 7.30 p.m.”

Find more information on the City of Elizabethtown Event’s website, and follow their Facebook page and stay tuned to Quicksie and The Wolf for weather-related updates.

The Elizabethtown Police Department is investigating a fatal accident that occurred Wednesday evening.

“Shortly before 7:30 Wednesday evening, we responded to a serious motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Ring Road and Dixie Highway,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “A preliminary investigation indicates that a Hyundai passenger car, traveling eastbound on Ring Road, collided with the rear of a Chevrolet pickup truck, which was also eastbound on Ring Road but stopped at the intersection of Dixie Highway.” 

Denham said the driver of the Hyundai, an adult female, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the pickup, an adult male, along with his juvenile passenger, were transported from the scene to Baptist Health Hardin with non-life-threatening injuries.

The EPD’s collision reconstruction team’s investigation is ongoing.