Menu Close

August 21st, 2019

Traffic in Downtown Louisville will be impacted by Donald Trump’s visit later today. Many downtown streets will be shut down, including Main Street from 2nd to 5th, Muhammad Ali Boulevard from 3rd to 5th, as well as Jackson, Hancock, and Guthrie streets. Additionally, I-65 will be shut down temporarily following Trump’s arrival at Kentucky National Guard Airport. Trump last visited Louisville in 2017.

The West Point Independent School District has announced the results of their management audit that took place earlier this month. The Kentucky Department of Education released their findings this week, ultimately recommending that the district be placed under state management. The report, which was released earlier this week, outlined deficiencies and leadership flaws within the district, including a strained relationship between former Superintendent Mickey Brangers and the other board members. The district has 30 days to appeal the recommendation, which Board Chairman Eddie Moore says they will do.

A second man has been arrested in connection with the murder of Michael Unseld of Bardstown. Yesterday, the Bardstown Police Department arrested Evan James Lyons and charged him with conspiracy to murder in connection with the crime. Lyons was also found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. This arrest comes five days after police also arrested Zachary Tate for his alleged role in the crime. No further information is available at this time.

The Elizabethtown Police Department has joined other law enforcement agencies for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, which warns against drunk or impaired driving. The campaign started on August 16th, and will run until September 2nd. The department hopes this campaign will help make roadways safer during the Labor Day holiday and beyond.  There were over 4700 collisions involving alcohol in Kentucky last year, leading to over 2400 injuries and 87 fatalities.

The financial figures for the impact of Hardin County tourism on the economy of Kentucky were released yesterday. It is projected that Hardin County reportedly had an impact of $282 million towards the economy of the Commonwealth in 2018.  Hardin County keeps over 2600 tourism jobs. Visitors reportedly spent $7.6 billion in the Commonwealth last year.

August 20th, 2019

Officials in Bardstown are investigating a possible arson. Wave 3 is reporting that a home being built by Brooks Houck burned down over the weekend. The fire was reported on Wheeling Avenue Saturday night. Houck is a suspect in the disappearance of Crystal Rogers who was last seen July 3, 2015. Anyone with any information should contact Bardstown police.

The President of the United States will make a trip to the Commonwealth tomorrow. Donald Trump is scheduled to appear at a veteran’s conference at the Galt House Wednesday at noon. The President will also appear at a fundraising event for Governor Matt Bevin. The President’s trip is expected to disrupt traffic, though no details have been released.

A Larue County woman has been arrested after leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a high speed chase. According to arrest records, Hodgenville Police were pursuing Kelsi Walling last Thursday night when she decided to flee officers towards Hardin County. Officers with the Larue County Sheriff and Elizabethtown Police joined in the pursuit, which eventually ended up on East Dixie Avenue in Elizabethtown. Walling continued to flee police on Dixie, allegedly reaching high rates of speed and weaving in and out of traffic. The pursuit continued onto Nicholas Street and South Mulberry, where officers terminated the pursuit. Walling was arrested the following afternoon and charged with wanton endangerment, fleeing or evading police, and reckless driving. She is lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

A Hardin County man has been formally charged after leading police on another high speed chase last month. As previously reported, James Ladnier fled Radcliff Police in July, eventually leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a high-speed pursuit in which he allegedly exceeded speeds of 90 miles per hour. Ladnier was charged with fleeing and evading police, wanton endangerment, and reckless driving, in addition to several burglary charges.

United Way of Central Kentucky’s Power of the Purse event exceeded fundraising goals this year. United Way spokesperson Katie Kurtz says that the event raised over $23,000. The event was sold out of tickets. The money raised will go towards child literacy programs around the area.

The West Point Independent School District will have its regular scheduled board meeting tonight. This will be the district’s first regular meeting since the resignation of former superintendent Mickey Brangers. As was previously reported, Brangers left his position at West Point to accept a teaching position at Ballard High School in Louisville. The district was recently audited by the Kentucky Department of Education.

August 19th, 2019

The Kentucky State Fair had a heightened level of security over the weekend. Kentucky State Police say large groups of juveniles congregated and set off fireworks in different locations Saturday night. Officials say there was no active shooter on the property. There was a single gunshot fired into the air by a male juvenile, but no injuries were reported. The investigation is ongoing. State Police say there are no perceived threats to the public or visitors of the state fair.

An arrest has been made in connection with a Bardstown murder that took place in 2016. On August 16th, 2019 Bardstown Police arrested Robert Zachary Tate for the murder of Michael Wayne Unseld. Unseld was killed on West Stephen Foster Avenue in June of 2016. No further information is available at this time.

The Elizabethtown Police Department is requesting help in finding the suspect in an animal cruelty case. Officers responded to a call from a residence on Crestwood Street Sunday morning. The resident says that he let his min-pin-Chihuahua mix outside, and returned to find it was deceased with trauma to the abdomen. It is believed the dog was shot with a projectile. Anyone with further information in finding the culprit should contact Hardin County Crimestoppers or the Elizabethtown Police Department.

The Hardin County Extension Office has finally moved into their new location. Extension Agent Doug Shepherd says the office would start operating out of the new location starting today. The new location is approximately four times as big as the old location, and will include a catering kitchen, sewing project room, and updated technologies.

Hardin Memorial Health will have big improvements coming to one of their departments, as a state-of-the-art ultrasound machine will be added to the Cardiac Cath Lab. The system will be used by cardiologists during cardiac cath procedures. A portion of the money came from grateful patients Barbara and Joe Clement.

A place for children of all abilities to play will be coming to Elizabethtown. The Central Kentucky Community Foundation released plans to build a sound garden at their new location near the Hardin County Public Library. The garden will be centered around playing using sound and music. The foundation is currently in the process of moving to their new location.