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Voter registration, and voter roll maintenance, continues ahead of November election

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Registration is open to vote in the November 5 general election, and Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith says getting registered is a simple process.

“Registering to vote has never been easier,” Smith said. “The quickest and easiest way for most. folks would be to visit govote.ky.gov. They can do that on the computer or their phone and they can register to vote that way. They can also call or visit their county clerk’s office. The deadline to register to vote and participate in the November election is October 7, so don’t wait until the deadline. Go ahead and get it done early.”

The Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office says in the 10 days voter registration was open in May after the primary election, 5,723 voters were removed from the voter rolls. More than 4,800 removed voters were deceased, 451 moved out of state, and 350 were convicted of felonies.

5,496 new voters got registered in May. Republican registration increased by 1,410 voters and independent or other registrations increased by 915. Democratic registrations decreased by 2,552 voters.

Visit the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website for more information on voter registration.

EPD hosting Teen Citizens Police Academy

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Registration is still open for the Elizabethtown Police Department’s upcoming Teen Citizen’s Police Academy.

“Beginning July 2, we are hosting our next Teen Citizen Police Academy,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “This free five-week program is for any teen interested in learning more about a career in law enforcement and our police department.”

The Teen Citizen’s Police Academy is free for area teens ages 13 to 18. In addition to getting to meet many of the men and women that serve on the EPD, participants will learn about investigations, tactics, responses to resistance, drug enforcement, accident reconstruction, local issues, and more.

Anybody interested in applying may download an application at etownpd.org.

Drug overdose deaths decrease in Kentucky, Hardin County

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Kentucky was one of only eight states that saw a decrease in the number of drug overdose deaths last year.

The governor’s office has released information on the 2023 Kentucky Drug Overdose Fatality Report, which reported 1,984 overdose deaths last year, down 9.8 percent from 2022 and the second year in a row the state has seen a decrease.

Lincoln Trail District Health Department Harm Reduction Manager Jennifer Osborne said progress was also seen in Hardin County.

“It was 50 in 2022 and in 2023 it was 38, so that is a significant decrease for Hardin County, and that is something definitely to celebrate as far as the decrease goes,” Osborne said. “Obviously 38 individuals who die from a preventable death, which is a fatal drug overdose, that means we still have work to do. That’s 38 too many.”

Osborne said increased access to naloxone, which is used to reverse the effects of an overdose, was one of the health department’s major initiatives at combating overdose deaths. The health department also partnered with the Hardin County Coroner’s Office to establish an Overdose Fatality Review Team which looks at similarities between fatal overdoses and brings in multiple community resources to review the details.

“That’s everybody from treatment programs to our healthcare system to law enforcement, the justice system,” Osborne said. “It’s all of these individuals and agencies coming together to look and see if there are any gaps? Is there any way for us to improve upon services so that we can reduce the number of people that are dying from a drug overdose?”

Osborne says the county is still looking at establishing an overdose quick response team and a syringe service program, both of which were recommended when the county was designated a Recovery Ready Community this past January. Area residents looking for recovery resources can go online to findhelpnowky.org or contact the KY Help Call Center at 1-833-859-4357.

The full overdose fatality report can be found on the governor’s website.

U.S. 31W roadwork begins Monday in Radcliff

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Drivers should be on the lookout for work on U.S. 31W in Radcliff set to begin next week.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four says a pavement rehabilitation project is scheduled to begin Monday between West Lincoln Trail Boulevard and the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery. The project will include removal and replacement of the road surface and improved turn lane configuration with striping.

The KYTC says crews will be setting up varying traffic patterns around work crew operations. The most significant work is being moved to nighttime hours to minimize traffic impacts, but drivers should still be cautious approaching and traveling through work zones.

Work is scheduled to be completed by October 1. Follow KYTC District Four on social media for project updates.