WQXE News

The start of the school year is just around the corner, and the Breckinridge County Health Department is reminding parents that now is a good time to make sure your child is up to date on their immunizations.

“We look at it more as a precautionary thing, you know, proactive as opposed to reactive,” said BCHD Public Health Director Scott Shrewsbury. “There are a number of different diseases and viruses and things of that nature that are out there that we want to try to get ahead of and try to protect our kids as much as possible, as well as protect our community.”

Shrewsbury said the health department understands and respects families may have religious or medical-related exemptions, but they encourage those that can to stay up to date on immunizations to best protect the community.

The health department’s Facebook page has a table listing the benchmarks for vaccines at ages 3, 4, 5, 11 to 12, and 16 based on recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Contact the health department to schedule an appointment.

“I just wish everybody to have a safe and healthy school year, and I’m looking forward to getting the school year started,” Shrewsbury said. “I realize the children may not be just yet, but we just want to make sure that we keep our community as safe and healthy as possible.”

Contact your primary care provider for more information on immunizations.

The former Campbellsville University student who killed a fellow student in his dorm room in February of 2024 will serve 40 years in prison.

During a sentencing hearing Thursday, 11th Judicial Circuit Judge Kaelin Reed sentenced Charles “Zeke” Escalera to 40 years in the Kentucky Department of Corrections after Escalera pleaded guilty to a Murder charge following mediation on June 28. Escalera was charged with the murder of 18-year-old Josiah M. Kilman.

Reed said the sentencing is in line with recommendations from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office following the mediation session. Under the terms of the sentencing, Escalera will get credit for time served and will be eligible for parole after 20 years.

Reed said during the sentencing hearing: “It’s my estimation, Mr. Escalera, that the events that occurred that gave rise to these charges occurred during what must have been a profound mental health crisis, and while that does not excuse your conduct it does provide some important context as to what happened here.” Reed noted that Escalera had no prior history of violent criminal conduct, and had accepted treatment and remained compliant with prescribed medication since his incarceration. The judge said the negotiated sentence fairly balances Escalera’s work towards rehabilitation with “the extraordinary seriousness of this offense.”

Prior to sentencing, Paul Brown read a victim’s impact statement submitted by Kilman’s father Joe. Kilman said his statement included letters and emails from family, friends, and community members to reflect “the depth of this loss and the enduring impact of a life that was violently taken from us.”

In his own statement prior to sentencing, Escalera said: “There are no words I can say to you and help comfort or give any ease to all the heartache. If I could trade him places, I would in the blink of an eye. If I could just go back to that oh-so-terrible day, and do things so differently. I ask God every day over and over to forgive me, and for help for all of Josiah’s good family to forgive me and to help ease their pain.”

Kilman was found unresponsive in his dorm room at around 12:43 a.m. on February 24, 2024, and was pronounced dead by the Taylor County Coroner’s Office after being transferred to Taylor Regional Hospital. An arrest warrant was issued for Escalera, who was located by police hiding in a barn in Green County at around 5:15 p.m. that day. Theft and Burglary charges that Escalera also faced were dropped as part of the mediation agreement.

Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest invites you to come out for Connect, their annual summer festival of art, music, and nature.

“It’s a great evening event,” said Bernheim Forest Director of Marketing and Communications Lynette Cox. “We’re going to have six bands playing on two stages. We’re going to have an illuminated art trail. We’ve got Louisville Silent Disco coming in, and hands-on activities. There’s really something for everyone at Connect.”

The annual celebration will take place along Bernheim’s Lake Nevin Loop on Saturday, August 15.

Cox said the shift from day to night makes Connect an event unlike any other.

“You bask in the glow of the sunset as the forest opens up for the night,” Cox said. “We have great activated art and musical performances, just got enchanting experiences, spontaneous art. We’ll have light and sound and movement displays of artists.”

Other featured activities include the family area at the start of the event and the Astronomy Alley with Dark Skies Kentucky after the sun goes down.

Tickets are available at www.bernheim.org or at the gate on August 15.