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Elizabethtown Police Department invites community to ‘Cookout with Cops’ this summer

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The Elizabethtown Police Department is kicking off their Cookout with Cops series Thursday.

“This summer, we’re hosting a summer-long series called Cookout With Cops,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “Throughout the summer, we’ll be in various neighborhoods a couple times per week. Our first event is Thursday, June 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Haycraft Park.”

The EPD says the cookouts are an informal way for officers to connect with kids and adults alike throughout the community. 

Denham says free hotdogs, drinks, and snacks will be provided, and there is also an incentive for some fun.

“Folks might even get the opportunity to throw a water balloon at me,” Denham said.

More dates and locations will be posted soon. Follow the Elizabethtown Police Department Facebook page for updates.

CASA of the Heartland hosting Light the Night 5K in Brandenburg Friday night

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CASA of the Heartland is continuing to raise awareness for the most vulnerable children in the community with next of their Light the Night 5K Superhero Run/Walk events, to be held at Buttermilk Falls in Brandenburg Friday evening.

CASA of the Heartland Executive Director Michelle Kail says food trucks and vendors will be on hand for the event, and glow and superhero items will be available. Participants are encouraged to “go all out” with the superhero theme.

“The reason that we do the Light the Night Superhero edition is because we know that our CASA volunteers are providing a light in some of the darkest times for the kiddos that we serve, and to us, they’re kind of like our real life community superheroes,” Kail said.

CASA of the Heartland recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers who advocate on behalf of abused, neglected, and dependent children in Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, Hart, LaRue, and Meade counties.

“It really is just whatever we need to do to step up and make sure that their needs are being met, and then whatever we can do with the courts to help them navigate that situation to make sure that they have everything that they need and that their needs there are met,” Kail said.

The party kicks off at Buttermilk Falls Friday at 7 p.m. Packet pick-up starts at 7:30, with the race scheduled to begin at 9:03. Find more information and the registration link on the CASA of the Heartland Facebook page or website.

Caudill trial continued to October

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The trial for Dustin Caudill, the Elizabethtown man accused of shooting and killing two men and then setting the Henon Lane residence they were in on fire in October 2024, was scheduled to begin next week.

That trial is getting pushed back, however, due to a backlog in pre-trial forensic assessments at the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris McCrary told Hardin Circuit Judge Larry Ashlock during what was supposed to be the final pre-trial conference Tuesday that when the commonwealth requested an evaluation of Caudill on April 6 they were told it would be a two to five month wait before Caudill could be evaluated by KCPC. Because the forensic assessment takes approximately 30 days, and KCPC would then need additional time to prepare a report, McCrary said the assessment could not be completed in time for the scheduled June 8 trial start.

Defense attorneys for Caudill said they had prepared to begin the trial on June 8 and their witnesses had made travel arrangements for the trial. Ashlock said that statutes which allow the defense to submit arguments regarding Caudill’s mental health allow for the prosecution to conduct their own evaluation for rebuttal, so he sustained the commonwealth’s motion for a continuance.

The new trial date was scheduled for October 19, but Ashlock said if conflicts with scheduling witnesses arise it can be addressed at a later date. A pre-trial conference to discuss several motions currently under consideration in the case was scheduled for June 16.

Gregory says 2026-2027 E-Town budget focused on growth

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Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory told the Elizabethtown City Council that capital project spending factors heavily into the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, and city department heads are planning for “anticipated growth due to continued commercial and residential growth.”

“Continuing with the process of providing competitive wages for our employees, we have included a 3 percent increase for all employees to maintain our competitive edge with other employers,” Gregory said. “Once again, no change in the employee contribution for medical insurance coverage is included in this year’s budget.”

Gregory read the city budget message during Monday’s city council meeting.

The Elizabethtown Police Department’s proposed budget is $16.8 million, and the Elizabethtown Fire Department’s proposed budget is $10.5 million. The city is committing $1.85 million for the Public Works Department to conduct resurfacing projects, soft purchases, and restriping, and the Streets Division has included $10.7 million in street projects.

“These projects include the completion of the Commerce Drive Extension, which will be an important link necessary to support Elizabethtown’s outdoor music venue,” Gregory said. “Other projects include Pair Orchard Road Northwest improvements, the Veterans Way/Towne Drive intersection, sidewalk extensions, and numerous smaller street, curb, and gutter projects.”

Gregory also highlighted projects in the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, the work of the city’s events staff, the expansion of capacity at the city’s wastewater treatment plant, and stormwater improvements.

“Funds have been allocated in this year’s budget for various sewer work including McCollum Avenue, Sunrise Lane, College Street, U.S. 62, Harvard and Yale drives, and miscellaneous smaller projects,” Gregory said. “Funds have also been allocated to prevent inflow and infiltration of our sewer system.”

The budget will go up for adoption on the budget ordinance’s second reading. The budget ordinance can be found on the city website.