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Pedestrian killed in collision with train in Elizabethtown

Police and railroad personnel are investigating after a man was struck by a train at a crossing in downtown Elizabethtown.

Officer Chris Denham with the Elizabethtown Police Department asked motorists to avoid the area of East Dixie Avenue near Nicholas Street a little before 2 p.m. Monday due to a collision involving a train.

Denham later confirmed that a pedestrian was killed in the collision.

“Sadly the pedestrian, 64-year-old John Duncan of Elizabethtown, was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Hardin County Coroner,” Denham said. “This investigation is ongoing, and being conducted by the EPD in conjunction with authorities from CSX railroad. Our most sincere thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Mr. Duncan.”

The investigation around the crossing shut down traffic in the area for several hours.

Alzheimer’s Walk kickoff event Thursday

The 2023 Walk to End Alzheimer’s is scheduled for October 14 at the Elizabethtown Nature Park, but the run-up for anybody interested in participating begins Thursday with a kickoff event at the Central Kentucky Community Foundation Building.

“They can come and hear some information about the walk, how to get signed up, get some fundraising ideas,” said Alzheimer’s Walk Committee Chair Debbie Anders. “They can hear from our ambassador family and from our community educator that night, too.”

Anders says the walk is a great opportunity to shine a light on a subject that impacts families in Kentucky and beyond.

“The walk is just a great way for us to not only raise some funds to help support Alzheimer’s research, but also just to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s,” Anders said.

The kickoff begins at 5 p.m. Thursday. Register your team at the event, or if you are unable to attend visit www.alz.org/walk for more information or to register online.

Fiscal Court hearing appeal of Stonefield Solar zoning decision

Stonefield Solar Project LLC was denied a zoning change last month by the Hardin County Planning and Development Commission.

On Tuesday, the Hardin County Fiscal Court held the first of two special meetings to review Stonfield’s appeal of that decision.

Hardin County Judge-Executive Keith Taul said the Fiscal Court’s job in reviewing the record from the Planning Commission meeting is to determine if the proposed zoning change is in agreement with the county’s Comprehensive Plan.

“If we do not find that the zoning change is in agreement with the current adopted Comprehensive Plan, then in order to override the Planning Commission recommendation we must find that one or more of the following applies,” said Taul. “A, that the existing zoning classification given to the property is inappropriate and that the proposed zoning classification is appropriate, or B, that there have been major changes of economic, physical, and social nature within the area involved which were not anticipated in the adopted Comprehensive Plan, and which have substantially altered the basic character of such area.”

The court viewed the first half of the May 2 Planning Commission meeting, and will watch the second half at another special meeting scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Taul said he expects that the court will vote on the appeal at a later meeting.

Water line replacements force road closures on North Miles Street

Work by crews from Hardin County Water District No. 2 will result in road closures in Elizabethtown this week.

“Our crews are updating 70-year-old water lines, and they’re installing a new 12-inch in diameter water line,” said Hardin County Water District No. 2 Communications Coordinator Kelli Lee. “These improvements will require a road closure at North Miles between Poplar Street and West Dixie, likely for the remainder of the week.”

Lee says drivers should be on the lookout for more projects on the way.

“We do have a few upcoming projects that will require additional road closures, so we kindly ask for continued patience as our hard-working crews are dedicated to upgrading our community’s underground water infrastructure,” Lee said. 

Visit www.hcwd2.org for more information.

Radcliff City Council approves purchase of former Redmar Plaza

Members of the Radcliff City Council called it Mayor J.J. Duvall’s 44th birthday present to himself.

The council approved the purchase of the long-vacant Redmar Plaza site, as well as the adjoining property that was once home to the Hardin County Public Health building, during their meeting Tuesday. The $2.25 million purchase plan paves the way to demolish and redevelop the properties.

Members of the city council had high praise for the mayor’s efforts.

“I know you’ve worked on this long and hard,” said Councilman Jerry Brown. “Terms as mayor, economic development, all the things that you’ve done. My congratulations, my friend.”

Councilwoman Terry Owens said the purchase is a major step, and said development will require more effort and collaboration.

“Now the challenge is to see what we can do to it next,” said Owens. “It’s going to take everybody to get there, not just one person. It’s going to take a lot of people, even people you don’t see sitting here today. That’s been the ‘ride or die’ in economic development.”

The council also approved the city’s budget for fiscal year 2023-2024, which includes pay increases for city employees including police and fire personnel. Mayor Duvall said the budget reflects the city’s big goals.

“This is one of our largest budgets, obviously, we’ve had in the city’s history at $18.6 million,” Duvall said. “There’s a lot in that budget. There’s a lot of good things, a lot of community things that we’re trying to do, but we’re being responsible with the taxpayer dollars that we’re moving forward with.”

The rezoning for the planned North Haven Subdivision at the southwest corner of the intersection of Joe Prather Highway and Patriot Parkway had its first reading. It will go up for discussion and a vote at the next city council meeting, which is scheduled for July 18.