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LaRue County deputy dies after medical issue at sheriff’s office

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The LaRue County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the death of a deputy.

The sheriff’s office announced in a post on their Facebook page that Deputy Nick Green died while on duty at the sheriff’s office.

According to the post, Green suffered a fatal medical issue, and the cause of death is unknown at this time.

The post states that Green was a seven-year law enforcement veteran and says “He was well liked by all that knew him. Deputy Green brought smiles to faces every time he worked, and we will miss him very much. Please keep Nick’s children and family in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate through this horrible tragedy.”

The sheriff’s office thanked LaRue County EMS, the LaRue County Detention Center, the LaRue County Fire Department, Supporting Heroes, the Kentucky State Police, Baptist Health Hardin, and the Hodgenville Police Department for their assistance and support.

Unemployment sees slight uptick across Lincoln Trail District

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Unemployment rates across the Lincoln Trail District were up in October from where they were the year prior. 

The Kentucky Center for Labor Statistics says unemployment rates increased in 118 of the state’s counties in October.

The state unemployment average for October was reported at 4.7 percent. While that is a decrease from the 4.9 percent average seen in September, it is up from the 3.9 percent average that was reported in October of 2023. Five counties in the Lincoln Trail District had unemployment rates higher than the state average, with two counties below the state average and one tied.

Hardin County’s unemployment rate for October 2024 was slightly above the state average at 4.8 percent. That’s a slight decrease from the 4.9 percent rate reported in September but is an increase from the 3.9 percent rate reported in October 2023.

Grayson County posted the highest unemployment rate in the district for October at 5.9 percent. Nelson County had the lowest rate in the district at 4.1 percent.

Learn more about how the unemployment rate is calculated and find more labor market information by visiting kystats.ky.gov.

Local organizations among domestic violence funding recipients

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Three local organizations were among the recipients of grant funding announced last week in the fight against domestic violence.

Governor Andy Beshear announced that 30 organizations across the commonwealth would be receiving more than $2.1 million in funding from the federal Violence Against Women Act.

“These groups will use this funding to protect and support victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking,” said Governor Beshear during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update.

The governor’s office says the funding is allocated to law enforcement, prosecutors, victim services, and state and local courts, and supports community and local projects serving adult and youth victims.

Among the recipients of the latest round of funding are Baptist Health Foundation Hardin ($77,716), Silverleaf Sexual Trauma Recovery Services, Inc. ($22,430), and SpringHaven, Inc. ($51,019).

Beshear said the funding goes along with other initiatives such as the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Safe at Home program and expanded legislation focused on strengthening statutes concerning abuse and exploitation of minors.

“No one should experience a violent crime,” Beshear said. “While there is a lot of work left to be done in my administration, we are doing everything we can day in and day out to make our community safer and to make sure our people feel safer.”

Kentucky domestic violence shelters and resources are available 24/7.

ECTC sees another increase in graduation rate

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Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is continuing a multi-year streak of increasing the college’s graduation rate.

“You know, it’s certainly representative of the quality of the students and the community, but really indicative of a lot of hard work by our faculty and staff to keep pushing themselves to find new and better ways to engage with our students, get them involved in the teaching and learning process,” said ECTC President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate.

ECTC says its graduation rate for the 2023-2024 academic year was 59.5 percent, which is an increase of about 10 percent from the previous year and about 21.5 percent from the 2018-2019 academic year.

ECTC also saw growth with its retention rate, with 65.2 percent of first-time freshmen returning from 2023 to 2024. That’s up 2.6 percent from the previous year and 15.9 percent from five years ago.

Pate says the retention rate and the graduation rate go hand in hand.

“What it’s really talking about is fulfilling that mission of adding value to our students’ lives and then returning that value back out into the community,” Pate said. “We’re helping students connect with a goal and a dream and then helping them achieve that in a timely fashion, which puts them into this community and this workforce in a much more timely fashion, and we all need that.”

Spring semester classes begin January 13. Contact the ECTC admissions office for more information.

Railroad crossings closing for work next week in Hardin and Hart counties

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Drivers in Hardin and Hart counties should be on the lookout for closings at several railroad crossings next week.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four says work by CSX will require closings at multiple roadway crossings. Each closing is expected to last for approximately two days.

In Hardin County, the crossings at KY 1407/Nolin Road near Sonora and KY 84/Western Avenue in Sonora will close on Monday.

In Hart County, the crossings at KY 1140/Raider Hollow Road in Munfordville, KY 728/Priceville Road in Bonnieville, and the connector from U.S. 31W to KY 1656/Walnut Grove School Road will close on Wednesday.

The KYTC says CSX also has plans to work on crossings along the line at several private and county road crossings. The work depends on favorable weather conditions, and schedules will be adjusted accordingly. Signs for detourS will be posted.

Contact CSX for more information.