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FBI warns of scams involving law enforcement

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The FBI Louisville Field Office is alerting Kentuckians to an increase in reports of fraud schemes involving scammers impersonating law enforcement or government officials.

The FBI says criminal scammers are contacting Kentuckians using spoofed phone numbers and a variety of other tactics to pose as officials from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The most prevalent scheme right now involves the scammer posing as your local sheriff’s office and falsely accusing the victim of not reporting for jury duty or missing a court date, with the caller possibly claiming a warrant has been issued for the victim’s arrest. The scammers may use artificial intelligence or fraudulently-created court documents to appear more legitimate.

The FBI says the callers will seek to exploit the victim through intimidation. They will use an urgent and aggressive tone, refuse to speak with somebody else or leave a message, and urge victims not to tell friends, family, financial institutions, or other law enforcement agencies about the situation. The caller then pressures the victim to pay an immediate fine in order to avoid jail time or other negative consequences, with the demanded payment typically being cash deposited into cryptocurrency ATMs, prepaid cards, and wire transfers.

The FBI says no legitimate law enforcement agency, be it on the local, state, or federal level, will ever call members of the public to demand payment or threaten arrest, and no agency will accept payment via cryptocurrency. The FBI advises if you are targeted with such a call you “Take a Beat.” Do not provide any personal information, and do not exchange money with individuals you have not met in person.

Learn more about scam prevention at www.fbi.gov/takeabeat, and report scams to your local law enforcement agency or at www.ic3.gov.

Train crossing vegetation bill passes Kentucky House

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A Kentucky House bill concerning railroad crossings that has a local connection passed the chamber this week.

House Bill 311 would require railroad companies to clear obstructive vegetation along public railroad-highway grade crossings.

According to a release from the Kentucky House Majority Caucus, 10th District Representative Josh Calloway and 27th District Representative Nancy Tate are the primary sponsor and cosponsor on the legislation, which was introduced to the House Committee on Committees on January 12 before being sent to the Transportation Committee. The bill passed on its third reading with a 93 to 1 vote.

Under the terms of the bill, railroad companies would be required to “destroy or remove plants, trees, brush, or other obstructive vegetation along the tracks at each public railroad-highway grade crossing for 250 feet in each direction.” If the railroad company fails to remove the vegetation, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet or local government will be allowed to send a 30-days notice for removal, after which the KYTC or local government can remove the vegetation and bill the railroad company. Requirements concerning private property and a waiver process are included in the bill.

When Calloway and Tate presented the bill to the Transportation Committee, they were joined by Vine Grove resident Tanya Serna, whose son Hunter was killed in 2020 “when a train struck the car he was riding in at a railroad crossing with overgrown vegetation that obstructed visibility.” Serna has been advocating for legislation to improve safety and prevent similar tragedies.

The bill now heads to the Kentucky Senate. Learn more on the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission’s website.

Kentucky Blood Center urges local support through upcoming blood drive

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The Kentucky Blood Center says 400 daily blood donors are needed to maintain a healthy blood supply at local hospitals. At a time where the blood supply is critically low, proactive donations from community drives helps to ensure a healthy blood supply for local procedures such as cancer treatment, trauma surgery, and childbirth, among others.

The KBC will be hosting a blood drive at the Baptist Health Hardin auditorium from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 3. In addition to supporting Kentuckians in need, donors will receive a special KBC t-shirt while supplies last.

Donors must be at least 17 years old or 16 with parental consent, weigh at least 110 pounds, be in good health, show a photo I.D., and meet additional requirements.

KBC Donor Recruitment Specialist Brooke Nevius says blood donated through the KBC stays local to aid patients for a wide variety of treatments.

““So many people don’t understand that now that we can spin our bloods and we have so many components, 25 percent of us are going to need blood at some point in our lives, and yet we still have a problem because less than 5 percent of the population is donating,” said Nevius.

Visit www.kybloodcenter.org or call 1-800-775-2522 for more information.

Details released for arrival, procession, and funeral for Glendale soldier

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Details have been announced on the arrival, procession, and funeral services for Staff Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, the 26-year-old Glendale soldier who died on March 8 from wounds sustained in an attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on March 1.

According to a release from the Fort Knox Public Affairs Office, Staff Sgt. Pennington will arrive at the Godman Army Airfield at Fort Knox at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 20. Following planeside honors and a dignified transfer, a procession will transport Staff Sgt. Pennington to Trowbridge Funeral Home in Elizabethtown.

Fort Knox says the procession will proceed from the Chaffee Gate along the following roads: Knox Avenue, Joe Prather Highway, Patriot Parkway, Ring Road, Bacon Creek Road, Glendale Hodgenville Road West, and Dixie Highway to the funeral home, located at 234 West Dixie Avenue.

Fort Knox says all members of the post community are invited to line the on-post procession route. On-post participants should assemble along Bullion Boulevard by Lindsey Golf Course no later than 1 p.m. Parking is available at the golf course, but due to limited space carpooling is encouraged.

Community members are invited to safely gather along the public procession route. While residents and visitors are welcome to stand anywhere safely along the route, Fort Knox says suitable areas for gathering include the vicinity of Severns Valley Baptist Church, the area around Cecilian Bank near Ring Road and U.S. 62, Downtown Glendale along East Main Street, and the Downtown Elizabethtown Public Square area.

Fort Knox says the procession is expected to last approximately one hour. A post regarding the procession on the U.S. Army Fort Knox Facebook page will be updated Friday when the procession departs.

Funeral services for Staff Sgt. Pennington will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at Central Hardin High School, with inturnment in the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery – Central to be held privately at a later date. Visitation for Staff Sgt. Pennington will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the high school. The Trowbridge Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said in a release that flags at all state office buildings will ordered to half-staff the day of Staff Sgt. Pennington’s inturnment.

Ground broken and work progressing on new Breckinridge County Middle School building

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Breckinridge County Schools Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter said seeing the groundbreaking for the new Breckinridge County Middle School earlier this month was an exciting moment.

“You know, we’ve been working for almost six years to get to this day, and it’s been great to see it all come together, so we’re really excited to break ground, and progress is moving, so we’re very hopeful for good weather and to keep moving along and have that building ready to open for students in August of 2028,” Carter said.

The new middle school building will replace the current facility, the former high school building, which is now more than 60 years old. The district discussed renovations previously, but it was found that the cost would exceed 75 percent of new construction.

“Now that we’re there, we think about how wonderful this new building is going to be, and it will set up our students for years and years and years in Breckinridge County to have that new middle school,” Carter said. “It’ll be designed with modern learning spaces. It’s just truly exciting.”

Carter said the new building was made possible by a generous and supportive community.

“Things like this don’t happen in a rural community without the support of incredible people, and I’m very thankful to our state legislators, Senator Steve Meredith and Representative Josh Calloway, our Breckinridge County Board of Education, and everyone who has supported this work, supported this project,” Carter said. “It’s a great day to be a Tiger.”

Follow the Breckinridge County School District Facebook page for updates.