Menu Close

WQXE News

‘All-clear’ given after another bomb threat at BlueOval SK

WQXE News 0 Comments

One week after the BlueOval SK construction site was evacuated due to a bomb threat found in a portable toilet, a similar incident forced another evacuation Thursday.

“Originally, we got the call somewhere around 10 o’clock that they had found another bomb threat written inside another Porta-John,” said Chief Deputy David Lee with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office.

Lee said BlueOval SK decided to evacuate the workers to specific areas on site rather than sending workers home, and the company conducted an internal search of the property. That search resulted in another call to law enforcement.

“Upon their search, they called back and they had found what appeared to be a device, with wiring coming out of the device connected to some sort of machinery item, and by machinery I mean either an air conditioning system or some kind of system inside that they have,” Lee said.

The sheriff’s office and the Kentucky State Police responded at that time. Closer examination of the device in question revealed there was no threat.

“The wiring was Christmas tree lights,” Lee said. “It was decided to remove the device, and it was just lying on Christmas tree lights to mimic a bomb.”

Lee said the plant was then given the “all clear” and operations were returned to normal.

Priority deadline for ECTC scholarships Thursday

WQXE News 0 Comments

Thursday, February 29 is the priority application deadline for Elizabethtown Community and Technical College students to apply for scholarships for the 2024-2025 school year.

“We have over 50 scholarship opportunities, and I think that it’s going to be about $195,000 worth of scholarships, so we have a lot of different opportunities for students,” said ECTC Scholarship Coordinator Chrissie Angell. 

All new and returning students are encouraged to apply via the simplified application process.

“It’s one application, and then the system sorts it and the students are considered for any of those 50 scholarships that they meet the criteria for, so the students don’t really have to go through the list and determine what scholarships they want to apply for,” Angell said. “They don’t have to do 50 different applications. It’s one application.”

New students will need to complete the ECTC admissions application and get an ID number. All applicants will need to complete a FAFSA. The full listing of available scholarships can be found on ECTC’s website.

“There is a wide variance of criteria for them, but there really is something for everyone, whether it’s for a specific degree, or we have a great scholarship that’s for students that are first generation students,” Angell said. “There is a wide range of opportunities for students to apply for scholarships.”

Students or prospective students are welcome to visit ECTC’s financial aid office for assistance.

TK Stone Middle School’s production of The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe helmed by two E-Town seniors

WQXE News 0 Comments

Two Elizabethtown High School seniors are directing their first play for TK Stone Middle School. Kate Shirts and Madeline Curtis were asked to take on the project by E-PAC Director Carmen Caldera-Brzoska.

“Ms. C asked us if we would be interested in being senior directors for the middle school show because middle school, their program kind of fell apart after our show got canceled when we were in eighth grade for COVID, and it just never got rebuilt,” said Shirts. “We’re both really busy, so we were like, we can just do one together. We can’t do two separate.”

Before the two could direct a show, they first had to decide what play to do.

“We were supposed to do The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe when we were in eighth grade, so we were looking at scripts and we were like ‘what if we brought it back and did it for our middle schoolers now?’,” Shirts said.

Both students have acted in numerous plays but directing is a new experience for them.

 “There’s just so many things you have to think about, because me and Madeline had talked about and kind of prepared for like the obvious things like what are we going to tell our actors, and how are we going to do notes, and when are we going to block, and what do we want our stage to look like, but then now we’re in tech week and we’re finalizing costumes and lights and all the stuff that I was aware of but I didn’t think about like how much work it was going to be to get it all together.,” Shirts said.

The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe is being performed on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Elizabethtown Performing Arts Center, located at TK Stone Middle School on Morningside Drive in Elizabethtown. Tickets are $5.

Man arrested for break-in at Leitchfield Animal Shelter

WQXE News 0 Comments

A man is in custody after a break-in at the Leitchfield Animal Shelter.

Michael Baker of Falls of Rough faces multiple charges including second degree Animal Cruelty, third degree Burglary, and third degree Criminal Trespass, among other charges, following his arrest Tuesday.

The Leitchfield Police Department says officers responded to the animal shelter on February 27 for a reported break-in at the facility. Upon arrival, officers found that multiple dogs were released from their kennels with several injured, and one dog was found dead. The investigation eventually found that 16 dogs were released, four were reported injured with one being transferred for veterinary treatment.

One dog was reported to still be at large, and was later seen on surveillance footage near the Southgate Mall with the suspect, identified as Baker. The dog was recovered by police on Wednesday.

The police department says surveillance footage shows Baker enter the area of the dog kennels, after which several dogs are seen running from the kennel area. Baker is then seen exiting the kennel area and walking around the parking lot attempting to catch the dog he was later seen with. Surveillance footage shows some of the dogs fighting, which they believe resulted in the death of the dog found dead.

A warrant was issued for Baker’s arrest. He was taken into custody at his residence Tuesday.

E-Town Wine Fest tickets discounted this week

WQXE News 0 Comments

Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles says the city is excited to kick off its summer programming with the eighth annual E-Town Wine Fest, which she says will be bigger than ever.

“Delicious food, wineries, we will have beer – we’ve got some craft breweries going to set up as well,” said Pyles. “Of course, the Bourbon Spec Yard Bourbon Bar will be available as well, and this year we’ll have several commercial vendors on site. We had some last year, but our selection has expanded, and we are still taking applications, so by the time May gets here we are excited for what we’re able to present to the public this year.”

The festival will be held at the bandstand at Freeman Lake Park from 4 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 11. Tickets are $30 the day of and $25 in advance, but there’s still time this week to take advantage of the festival’s “Uncorking Sale.”

“You get discounted tickets for the Wine Fest for only $20, so you’re saving a little bit of money, $5 off of the pre-purchase, and of course $10 off the day of, so $20 up until March 1st,” Pyles said.

Wineries will be offering drinks by the glass or bottle, so tasting tickets will give patrons the chance to try before they buy.

“With your tasting ticket, that includes admission, a wine tasting glass that you get to take home with you, and eight tasting tickets to use at any of our wineries,” Pyles said. “We have reached out to several more wineries this year, and it looks like we’re going to have a lot more than we had last year. We’re really excited about that.”

Non-tasting tickets are available for $10. In addition to the food, drink, and commercial vendors, Piper Madison will open on stage, followed by headliners The Mixers.

Visit www.etownevents.com for more information.