WQXE News

Two area suspects charged in murder cases made court appearances Tuesday.

Lawyers 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, made a motion to continue the trial past the currently scheduled June 8 start, citing concern with possible overlap of other trials the defense attorneys are representing clients in, and said the continuance was needed to properly schedule defense witnesses. The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office objected to a continuance until it is determined to be necessary, and noted that the case is already on its third trial date.

Hardin Circuit Court Judge Larry Ashlock noted during the hearing that he previously ordered in the case to remove consideration of the death penalty. Court records indicate an order was issued on March 18 granting the defense’s motion to remove the death penalty while maintaining the possibility of any other sentence. Ashlock said because less time may be needed for the trial without the death penalty consideration he would consider moving the start back a week to June 15, which would have been the second week of the two weeks scheduled for the trial. The court will discuss the continuance as well as the defense’s motion to strike aggravating circumstances in a hearing next week.

Meanwhile, Charles Escalera, the former Campbellsville University student accused of killing another student in his dorm room two years ago, appeared via Zoom in Taylor Circuit Court Tuesday. Taylor Circuit Court Judge Kaelin Reed scheduled the case for a mediation session on May 22, which he said gives the defense and prosecution plenty of time to discuss a possible resolution ahead of the scheduled July 27 trail start date. The prosecution discussed a need to file for an independent examination of Escalera if the defense introduces evidence of mental illness in the case. Reed said he would review relevant case law with his staff attorney, and time could be made to discuss necessary motions the day of the mediation session.

The Elizabethtown City Council met for their first meeting of the month Monday.

The council approved a municipal order approving a change order for the Commerce Drive project to rehabilitate the roadway between Sutton Lane and Executive Drive.

“Due to the anticipated increase in traffic upon completion of the road, particularly during events at the outdoor music venue, it is critical that this portion of Commerce Drive be reconstructed to assure a proper and stable full-depth road base,” said City Attorney Ken Howard, reading from the municipal order.

The change order was approved for $324,883.48, which is within the approved change order range for the project, but the city wanted to get council approval regardless due to the large sum. A bid from Western Construction Inc. to relocate a gas main on Commerce Drive was also approved for $72,283.

The council also approved the city’s 2026-2027 Action Plan for Community Development Block Grant funding, with a focus on projects in the North Downtown Neighborhood.

“The action plan outlines activities that implement the city’s allocation of $230,656 for the program year,” said Howard, reading from the municipal order.

Representatives from JustServe were on hand to present the city with designation as a JustServe City in recognition of volunteer and community work. Elizabethtown is the second Kentucky city to receive the designation.

A professional services agreement with Prime AE was approved for design work on the Valley Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion project, in an amount not to exceed $7 million.

“These professional services shall include the evaluation of all operations at the facility, the design of new and retrofit of existing buildings and treatment process equipment to ensure compliance with all state and federal regulations for the proper treatment and processing of wastewater in the city,” said Howard, reading from the municipal order.

The council also approved a $50,000 agreement with Prime AE for evaluating dewatering at the plant, which Elizabethtown Wastewater Director Corey Bond said was approved separately in order to not get delayed by required design approvals from the Kentucky Department of Water.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet May 11.

Several local and state road projects under way or set to begin will result in traffic impacts.

Preparation work ahead of the summer closure of Interstate 65 in downtown Louisville continues this week.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Five says from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday nights the ramp from First Street near the Chestnut Street intersection to southbound I-65 will be closed. Lane closures will be in effect on I-65 South between Saint Catherine Street and Arthur Street. Closures of the off-ramp from I-65 South to Saint Catherine Street and the on-ramp from First Street are also now in effect.

Meanwhile, KYTC District Four says lane configuration changes are now in effect along KY 245/New Shepherdsville Road near the intersection of KY 349 and Wilson Parkway in Nelson County as the installation of a roundabout begins. Two lanes of KY 245 in each direction will remain open. Left turns into and out of Wilson Parkway will require southbound motorists to use the left lane of travel to make a left turn. Motorists turning left while exiting Wilson onto New Shepherdsville Road should be aware the center lane will not be available as an acceleration zone.

Finally, the Elizabethtown Police Department says construction of the roundabout at the intersection of Veterans Way and Towne Drive is scheduled to begin Monday, May 18. The EPD says the posted speed limit on Veterans Way will be reduced to 35 miles per hour, then to 25 miles per hour once construction begins. When exiting Towne Drive onto Veterans Way, motorists will be required to turn right only, and only northbound traffic on Veterans Way will be permitted to turn onto Towne Drive. No opposing turns will be allowed during construction.

Motorists should slow down, use caution, stay alert, and obey all signage and flaggers when entering any work zones.