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E-Town council approves Pear Orchard zoning change, outdoor music venue contract change

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

The council approved ordinances that updated the city’s Code of Ethics to match recommended updates from the Kentucky League of Cities and updates to the city’s land usage ordinance concerning residential zoning. When discussing the residential amendments during the council’s June 9 work session, Elizabethtown Planning and Development Director Joe Reverman said the changes allow developers more flexibility and creativity, while also addressing housing needs.

“People have asked for rezoning for a zoning district where they don’t need the zoning change to increase density, they just want smaller lot sizes or some other regulation that’s in another zoning district that doesn’t require additional density, and then we want to incentivize certain types of developments and then of course create new housing types to increase supply and increase affordability,” Reverman said.

The council also approved the rezoning of 1151 Pear Orchard Road from Urban Residential (R-3) to Regional Commercial (C-3). That rezoning paves the way for such uses as a proposed VA medical clinic, but Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory noted that nothing besides the requested zoning change has been presented to the city.

In other meeting news, the first readings were held on ordinances rezoning 201 and 202 North Main Street to Downtown Mixed Use (C-5) and the annexation of 1331 Hayden School Road. The council also approved a municipal order amending the city’s contract with Congleton Hacker Company for the outdoor music venue project.

“The outdoor music venue project has now progressed to the next phase of construction and the city and (Elizabethtown) Tourism desire to continue to develop the project, and per the directive of Municipal Order No. 51-2024 have negotiated a price for the construction phase of the project,” said City Attorney Ken Howard, reading from the municipal order. 

The amendment to the contract includes the completion of construction of the project including buildings, utility infrastructure, equipment installation, parking areas, and landscaping, with a “guaranteed maximum price” at an amount not to exceed $41,082,281.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet August 11.

Prosecution says Lawson ‘has shown no grounds’ for new trial

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The prosecution is responding to convicted Crystal Rogers investigation suspect Steven Lawson’s request for a new trial.

In a response filed Monday to the defendant’s motion for a new trial and judgement notwithstanding the verdict, Special Assistant to the Attorney General Teresa Young said Lawson’s defense “has shown no grounds which would entitle him to a new trial.”

Responding to the defense’s claims that they did not have adequate time to prepare for the trial, Young notes that the trial was moved from February to May to allow the new defense attorneys time to review the case, and that Lawson did not take advantage of arrangements made by Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III to allow Lawson to review materials at the courthouse.

Young also dismissed claims from the defense that Lawson was prejudiced by members of the Ballard family wearing pink in the courtroom gallery, or by prosecution witness Elizabeth Chesser speaking with Rogers’s mother Sherry Ballard during the trial, as the interaction was not about their testimony and was not in violation of separation of witness rules. 

Lawson was found guilty on Class B Felony Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Class D Felony Tampering with Physical Evidence charges on May 30, at which time the jury recommended a prison sentence of 17 years. He is scheduled to appear in Nelson Circuit Court for a sentencing hearing Wednesday.

John Hardin High School FFA receives grant for trap-neuter-release program

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The John Hardin High School FFA chapter is receiving national support for their local project. 

John Hardin FFA has been awarded a $2,500 yearlong Living to Serve grant from the national organization.

According to a release from FFA, John Hardin FFA will be using the funds to help address area cat overpopulation by partnering with the Friends of Hardin County Animal Shelter organization on a trap-neuter-release program. Funds from the grant will go towards the purchase of trapping equipment. John Hardin alum Dr. Vasi Wilk will perform the procedures at the school’s PAWS Veterinary Clinic, with assistance from John Hardin Ag. Education students enrolled in the Animal Science pathway.

The Living to Serve grant program is sponsored by Cargill and Tractor Supply Company. FFA says the nationwide program provides funding to local chapters to support yearlong service-learning projects that address needs such as community safety, environmental responsibility, hunger, health, nutrition, and community engagement. Visit ffa.org to learn more about the program, and contact your school’s FFA sponsor to learn more about local chapters.

Registration open for Radcliff Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy

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The Radcliff Police Department is accepting registrations for their upcoming Citizens Police Academy.

“It is open for anyone over 18-years-old who is not a convicted felon,” said RPD Captain Willie Wells. “The application needs to be turned in by August 31. The applications can be obtained online on our Facebook site or on our city website, or here in person at the Radcliff Police Department.”

That’s Captain Willie Wells with the RPD. The Citizens Police Academy will run Monday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. from September 22 through November 10.

“It gives them a chance to learn about us and us a chance to learn about them,” Wells said. “It includes simulated firearms training, a ride-along program, investigations, the coroner’s office, just different various aspects of law enforcement. It helps bridge the communication gap between the community and us and allows us to develop relationships.”

The Citizens Police Academy is an opportunity to learn more about police work as well as an opportunity to support the RPD.

“A of the past persons that have completed this course, they keep in contact with us,” Wells said. “We have trouble in a certain neighborhood, we’ve already established a relationship with them, and so they know what we’re looking for and we know who to look for when we see them, so it just works both ways.”

You do not have to be interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement to attend, but if you are interested the Radcliff Police Department is currently hiring. Go to the Employment tab on the Police Department page at www.radcliff.org or contact the RPD to learn more.

Hardin County EMS invites area kids to their Teddy Bear Clinic

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Hardin County EMS invites area school-age children and their families to come out to their headquarters Tuesday for their Teddy Bear Clinic.

“We provide a class that teaches the children about health and how to take care of themselves, as well as how our body works,” said Hardin County EMS Public Relations Officer Jennifer Kant.

Using their teddy bears as patients, kids will learn about basic first aid and some of the supplies and tools that are used on an ambulance.

“That way if they ever have an emergency or they have a family member or a friend who has an emergency, they have a better understanding of what’s happening, and it reduces fear for the situation and also it lets them learn in a fun way,” Kant said.

The Teddy Bear Clinic is a chance for kids to learn more about ambulances, as well as a chance for kids who may have had a negative previous experience to help process that experience.

“It just gives them the opportunity to express what happened and to get some answers for what happened, and we can talk to them about it and just help lower the chances of a post-traumatic experience,” Kant said

Hardin County EMS will also be conducting free car seat checks at the event, which runs Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon.

Contact Kant at 270-599-2967 or jkant@hardincountyky.gov to RSVP. Find the flyer for the event on the Hardin County Government Facebook page for more information.