Menu Close

January 21, 2019

Hardin Memorial Health officials have given an update on the sale of the hospital to Baptist Health. County authorities say the closing which was scheduled for December 1st has now been postponed until February after a lawsuit was brought against the fiscal court. We spoke with hospital president Dennis Johnson about the benefits of the sale last year. Baptist Health has managed the hospital for more than 20 years.

A former presidential candidate will be in Hardin County next month. Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee will speak at the PAC at John Hardin high school on February 2nd. Huckabee ran in the 2008 and 2016 Republican presidential primaries and is the father of white house press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Tickets begin at $40 and can be purchased on the PACs website.

An Elizabethtown man faces more than 150 charges relating to child pornography after an investigation by the attorney general’s office. 20 year old Christopher Carroll was taken into custody last week after authorities say he created multiple fake social media profiles in order to obtain nude images from minors. Authorities say the investigation of Carroll, who worked as a dispatcher, began in September of last year. Carroll was held in the Hardin County Detention Center on a 100 thousand dollar bond.

An event in remembrance of Martin Luther King Jr will take place in Radcliff today. The event is open to the public. More details can be found at wqxe.com

January 18, 2019

A Rineyville woman is dead after a crash in Indiana this week. 18 year old Olivia Kustes was driving in the northbound lanes of I-65 when the rear driver’s side wheel came off of 51 year old Peter Gaetano’s pickup truck. The wheel crossed over the median wall and hit Kustes car head on. Kustes was pronounced dead at the scene by the Clark County Coroner’s Office. No other details have been released at this time.

A Grayson County man shot in late November after chasing burglars from his property was killed in a separate incident this week. Authorities say 59 year old Johnnie Hayes was shot in Ohio county late Wednesday. As previously reported, Hayes and 39 year old Wanda Ferguson were shot on Richland road as they followed two burglars off his property in November. In December authorities say a bomb was found in a barn on the property. The incident remains under investigation.

The Elizabethtown Sport Park is hosting a job fair for the 2019 season next week. The job fair will be January 21st from 9 am until 4 pm.

This weekend on Community Forum we feature part one of a two part interview with officials from the Hardin County Animal Shelter about changes implemented last year and the outlook for 2019. Hear more on Community Forum Sunday morning at 7 am and find past forums at wqxe.com

Federal officials say that the government shutdown will not harm the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP. Federal government employees affected have been seeking temporary employment during the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

January 17, 2019

Two people have been charged after using counterfeit bills in Bardstown and Elizabethtown. Amanda Frank and David Works both face charges including forgery 1st degree and possession of drug paraphernalia.

An Elizabethtown native will be on a national television show tonight. Christopher watts will be on Dwayne, The Rock, Johnson’s show, the titan games. The show will air at 8 pm eastern on NBC.

Elizabethtown independent schools honored their 2018-2019 excel award winner yesterday (Wednesday). Travis Thompson is a history teacher at Elizabethtown high school. Thompson has been with the district for five years.

The Kentucky transportation cabinet is advising the public of an extended bridge closing. The new deadline for the Bewley Hollow road project is expected to be around January 28th.

Hardin memorial health honored a staff member this week. Mary Manson was named as December’s HMH ambassador after helping chamber of commerce president Brad Richardson during a cycling event in September. Richardson said Manson then drove him to meet his wife at an area school. Manson was recognized at this month’s board meeting.

January 16, 2019

Three men were arrested after a robbery in Vine Grove just after midnight yesterday (Tuesday). Police say Elijah McQueary, Dennis Barnett and Dontarrious Meriweather were taken into custody after allegedly entering a home, attempting to steal items and assaulting the resident. The suspects were identified and stolen property, a loaded shotgun, drugs and paraphernalia were located. The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are pending.

Authorities are searching for a missing teen that may be in the area. Police are looking for 15 year old Kayla Sweeney who is from Hardin County and was last seen on October 30 in Owensboro. Sweeney is described as a white female with brown hair and hazel eyes, 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 130 pounds. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact law enforcement.

The sewage pipeline on Diecks drive in Elizabethtown had been temporarily fixed, but city hall is looking for a permanent solution.
Director of stormwater management, Robert Bush said a contractor has been found. For more information contact the city.

25th district representative Jim Duplessis has filed a bill to help with financial education. Duplessis said several credit unions have already pledged more than 300 thousand dollars in donations for the curriculum.

One person has been charged for leading police on a high speed chase late last week. Authorities say Jamon Williams reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour during the pursuit. Citations indicate Williams nearly struck several vehicles head on during the incident. He faces multiple charges including wanton endangerment and reckless driving and was held in the Hardin County Detention Center.

January 15, 2019

An Elizabethtown man was arrested in Arizona after stealing money from multiple atm machines at the end of 2017. Officials say Casey Jenkins also took money from a company credit card. Jenkins was charged with theft by unlawful taking over $10,000, but under 1 million and held in the Hardin County Detention Center.

The Hardin County School District has two additional school resource officers. Sheriff John Ward says these officers will work to develop and nurture relationships with students and create an even greater sense of security in the schools and community. The department now has 6 deputies working in the district and ECTC campuses.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services will be hosting a transformers of child welfare summit this week. The summit will take place tomorrow from 9 am until 4 pm. More information can be found at the cabinet for health and family services website.

Central Kentucky community foundation has more than doubled the amount of local scholarships available to area students on scholarship central thanks in part to three new partnerships.
Davette Swiney reminds students and parents to sign up now, through March 1st, on the organizations website.