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Bullitt County man gets nine year sentence on wire fraud charges

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A Bullitt County man will serve nine years in federal prison after his sentencing on wire fraud charges.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky says Stacy Allen Taylor of Shepherdsville “conspired with others in an international wire fraud scheme to defraud more than forty victims out of over $23.6 million.” Victims of the scheme believed they were investing into a private trading platform “that would provide significant returns on their investment.”

Taylor entered guilty pleas to seven counts on charges of Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud Conspiracy, and Carrying Out Transactions Over $10,000 with Criminal Proceeds. He was sentenced on August 11 to nine years in prison and was ordered to pay restitution to victims of the scheme.

The case was investigated by the FBI Louisville Field Office and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, Detroit Field Office. Taylor previously served a three-year prison sentence after being convicted for federal fraud and drug crimes related to his role in an illegal online pharmacy.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says there is no parole in the federal system.

Radcliff Head Start celebrates return to facility after winter storm damage

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Six months after damage from winter weather forced them out of the building, students returned to the Radcliff Head Start facility for a grand reopening and back-to-school event last Thursday.

The Central Kentucky Community Action Council, Head Start’s parent agency, said despite extensive structural repairs being necessary, the work on the facility was completed ahead of schedule.

“This reopening is a true testament to what can be accomplished when a community rallies together,” said CKCAC Executive Director Bryan Conover. “From the immediate emergency response through the entire restoration process, the support we received was remarkable.”

Despite the severe weather damage, Head Start operations continued uninterrupted after classes were temporarily moved into Radcliff Elementary School.

Central Kentucky Head Start Director Jennifer Akin expressed her gratitude to Hardin County Schools, highlighting the support of Superintendent Teresa Morgan and Radcliff Elementary School Principal Dan Mahon.

“Their willingness to step up allowed our program to remain a steady anchor for our students when we needed it most,” Akin said.

The CKCAC managed building repairs on behalf of Head Start, partnering with Goff Construction on the $105,000 restoration project.

Learn more about Girl Scouts at area Taste of Girl Scouts events

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Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana invites area girls to come see what Girl Scouts is all about during two upcoming Taste of Girl Scouts events.

The first will be held at the Williams Pavilion at Freeman Lake Park in Elizabethtown this Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The second will be held at Creekfront Park in Hodgenville this Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m.

“That gives prospective Girl Scouts, girls that are interested in becoming a Girl Scout, the opportunity to come out and try different Girl Scout activities such as STEM activities, crafts, slingshots, and more,” said Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana Heartland Area Service Unit Manager Ashley Kenney.

The event is an opportunity for girls and their families to learn more about the organization, which has activities for girls from kindergarten through 12th grade. Kenney says the main goal of Girl Scouts is to build girls’ courage, character, and confidence.

“If you’re able to watch a girl who starts out in Girl Scouts, they’re often very shy and timid, and you really see a lot of that confidence blossom out as they’re going through the program,” Kenney said.

The events are free to attend. Visit www.gskentuckiana.org for more information.

E-Town Council approves data center restrictions, lease agreement for planned nonprofit facility

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

The council approved, on second reading, an ordinance establishing text amendments to the city Zoning Code related to data centers. City Attorney Ken Howard read the summary of the ordinance, which amends the code in nine sections “to update the text relating to regulations for data centers to include definitions, zoning district restrictions, square footage limitations, and specific design and operational standards to be allowed as accessory uses only.” The ordinance was approved by a 6-0 vote.

The council also approved a municipal order approving a lease agreement for Heartland House at 1117 Woodland Drive. Reading from their mission statement, Paige Hardin, Heartland House’s organizer, said the organization aims to assist individuals and families facing a life crisis by offering short-term housing, mentorship, and practical support. Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said the Woodland Drive property is the former Signature Healthcare facility.

“We were glad to be able to buy that piece of property and house some of our nonprofits in that building together, which we think is going to be an advantage,” Gregory said. “Heartland House being one of them and one of the new ones, also Mission Hope for Kids and then eventually Warm Blessings, and we’re really excited about that.”

Shellie Washer, who serves on the boards for Heartland House and Mission Hope for Kids, said infrastructure set up for the property will allow for the organizations to be separated to ensure safety of program participants.

In other meeting news, the council approved executive orders approving bids from Dirt Works Unlimited ($491,873) for the relocation of a water main on Pear Orchard Road Northwest and Superior Technologies LLC ($32,497.50) for the extension of a gas main in the Magnolia Farms Section 2 subdivision. The council also approved an update policy for public speaking at city meetings which allows participants to ask to have their name and address redacted from the meeting minutes, only asking for their name and whether or not they are a city resident to be stated.

The council voted to reject bids on the SteelGrove Amphitheater ice rink. City Administrator Ed Poppe said $400,000 was budgeted for the outdoor music venue project to purchase materials for an ice rink in order to provide for year-round use for the facility, but when only one bid came in for $716,000 the city decided to cancel the ice rink plan and explore other winter opportunities.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet August 24.

EPD and RPD partner with Lexington Police Department to investigate series of vehicle thefts

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A report of a stolen vehicle led to a multi-agency, multi-county vehicle theft investigation.

“Shortly after 7 p.m. Friday evening, our officers received Flock alerts involving vehicles being stolen from the Lexington area,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “A short time later, Radcliff Police located one of those vehicles and took the driver into custody.”

The EPD says Flock notifications indicated a stolen vehicle travelling south on Patriot Parkway and another near Ring Road and North Dixie Highway. The EPD said a coordinated investigation conducted with the RPD and the Lexington Police Department revealed that a total of seven vehicles had been reported as stolen Lexington-based dealership Freedom Dodge.

The dealership told police the vehicles had been sold to “Verdigris Botanica Tribal Nation”, a nonprofit organization with an address listed in Radcliff, but the vehicles were never paid for.

“Information developed during the investigation, leading our officers to a residence on North Miles Street, where two additional vehicles were recovered,” Denham said. “A fifth vehicle was recovered Saturday by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, and on Sunday afternoon our officers recovered a sixth vehicle.”

Denham later said the final vehicle was located Monday morning at the McDonald’s located on West Dixie Avenue in Elizabethtown as the result of a call from a citizen.

The female driver arrested by the RPD was later identified as Alaina Padgett. She was charged with Receiving Stolen Property $10,000 or More and First Degree Possession of a Controlled Substance. She was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center and is due to appear for a video arraignment Monday.

The EPD says the investigation is ongoing.