WQXE News
Local and state officials are encouraging Kentuckians to review their severe weather readiness during Severe Weather Awareness Week, which runs now through March 7.
Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says one of the first things to remember with severe weather is to stay alert.
“One of the best things we have now is weather apps where you can get the weather alerts,” Crane said. “Most of our cell phones now are already pre-programmed with weather alerts on them. Another thing to think about is having a reliable weather radio. Most of those also have a battery backup and they plug in, and you can program it just for your county or your area.”
Those methods are the primary way to alert you to severe weather when you are indoors.
“The sirens that we hear, they’re mainly for outdoor use, so you may or may not be able to hear them in your home,” Crane said. “If you don’t hear them in your home, don’t panic, because they are primarily for people that are outdoors.”
Know the difference between a watch and a warning.
“If a watch is issued, it basically means to be prepared,” Crane said. “The atmospheric conditions are right for the severe weather. It doesn’t necessarily say that there’s something going to happen, but just to be prepared in case something does happen. A warning is when you need to take action. Severe weather is confirmed by either weather spotters or by radar in our area.”
As part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, the annual statewide tornado drill will be conducted Wednesday, March 4 at 10:07 a.m. Eastern/9:07 a.m. Central. Visit the National Weather Service in Louisville’s website for more information.
The 2026 primary election is coming up on Tuesday, May 19, and several important dates ahead of the election are just over a month out.
“April 4 is the first day to request an absentee ballot,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith during last week’s Hardin County Fiscal Court meeting. “It’s easy to request at govote.ky.gov or you can call the election line of our clerk’s office at 270-765-6762. April 20 is the last day to register to vote in the May primary. You can do that again at the clerk’s office or at govote.ky.gov.”
The last day to request an absentee ballot is May 5.
Smith says you can still update your address on your voter registration if you have moved, but you cannot change your party affiliation.
“The deadline to do that was December 31,” Smith said. “If you change your party affiliation, you will be ineligible to vote in the primary in May, so just hold off on that if you need to make that change. Update your address, and make sure you’re registered.”
Smith said polling locations for this election cycle will be the same as the previous election cycle.
“We will have all days of in-person excused voting in the clerk’s office,” Smith said. “Early voting will be at the clerk’s office and Colvin Community Center, and for Election Day voting we have 15 locations to make it easy regardless of where you’re living and working, and just like in past years you can choose any location. It doesn’t matter which precinct you’re registered in, you can choose any of these locations.”
Find the list of polling locations on the clerk’s office’s website, and find more election information at govote.ky.gov.
Several area students are among the nominees for U.S. Service Academies recently announced by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.
Nominations for service academies are submitted by senators and congressmen, and on Thursday Paul announced 55 nominations of individuals from across the commonwealth.
Included in Paul’s nominations are:
-Brayden Anthony Roberts of Rineyville for the United States Air Force Academy
-Chance Avery Barlog of Sonora for the United States Merchant Marine Academy and the United States Military Academy
-Jett Alexander Rios of Bardstown for the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy
-Ava Marie Ellis of Radcliff for the United States Naval Academy
-Robert Romeo Magalong of Fort Knox, John William Murphy of Rineyville, and Andrew James Scott of Radcliff for the United States Merchant Marine Academy
Paul said in a statement: “I commend each of these students for their dedication and desire to serve in the United States military, and I wish them the best through the remainder of the selection process. I have no doubt the students chosen will proudly represent the commonwealth of Kentucky in the service academies.”
The senator will host a virtual spring service academy information fair on April 22. Visit paul.senate.gov for more information.
Meade County Sheriff’s Office making push for information in Rhonda Aebersold homicide investigation
Shelbi Saylor says a day does not go by that she does not feel the loss of her mother, Rhonda Aebersold, in every part of her life.
Saylor says Aebersold loved the Meade County community, and her family needs that community’s help.
“Anyone who has heard anything or knows something and doesn’t say anything is protecting who’s responsible for this,” Saylor said. “Please come forward with your information, no matter how small. My mother’s life mattered, and I will never stop fighting for her.”
Meade County Sheriff Phillip Wimpee hosted a press conference at the Meade County Courthouse Friday to call more attention to Aebersold’s case. Aebersold was found dead in her home on Old Mill Road on June 5, 2023.
Detective Danny Knell is the lead investigator on the case, which he said is an ongoing homicide investigation.
“Every lead is fully investigated,” Knell said. “There is no lead, no small lead, that will go uninvestigated.”
Knell said leads have produced new persons of interest who are being investigated, and Wimpee said the sheriff’s office is waiting on testing to be completed on evidence that was sent to the Kentucky State Police forensic lab.
Wimpee said “this is going to be a solvable case.”
“One reason is: I’m not giving up on it,” Wimpee said. “I’m not just going to let dust grow on a case file. This is every day, every hour of every day, that we are taking care of this case.”
Saylor maintains the Facebook page Justice for Rhonda Aebersold, and said a $3,000 reward is available for new information on the case. If you have information, contact the Meade County Sheriff’s Office at 270-422-4937, the Kentucky State Police, or your local law enforcement agency.