WQXE News

The Elizabethtown Community and Technical College University Center project has received another large donation. Hardin Memorial Health presented the college with a $100,000 gift to go towards the project. The University Center will be partnering with other universities to bring new nursing programs to ECTC in the future, notably signing an agreement with Spalding University in September. For more information, or to donate to the University Center project, visit ectcforbetterlives.com.

Two Elizabethtown residents have been appointed by Governor Matt Bevin to serve on Kentucky Boards and Commissions. David Wayne Pedigo, an environmental engineer, will now represent industrial operators on the Kentucky Board of Certification of Wastewater System Operators. His term in this position will end August 31, 2023. David Carrier Jarrett will now represent disabled American veterans as a member of the Veterans’ Program Trust Fund until July 15, 2022.

Helping Hand of Hope, which seeks to provide quality of life assistance to those in the community, has appointed a new executive director. Hope Burke will be replacing Gary Bohannon in the role. Burke’s role as community relations director will be mixed in with her new role as executive director.

A traffic stop led to the arrest of a wanted man in Grayson County. According to a release from the Sheriff’s Department, 35-year-old Joshua Garrett was stopped for a busted taillight when it was learned he had three warrants for his arrest out of Muhlenberg County. The K9 unit with the officers alerted them to the presence of narcotics, and over a gram of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. Garrett and his passenger, 31-year-old David Maddox, were lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.

Two major railroad crossings in Elizabethtown will be closing next month for repairs. Crossings at Nicholas Street near 31W and East Crutcher Street are scheduled for repairs beginning November 11^th. Detours will be set up around these locations to alert motorists of the closings.

A West Point gun range received some unexpected publicity Sunday night and Monday morning. Video of a night time gun demonstration at the Knob Creek Gun Range in West Point was aired on World News Tonight and Good Morning America and falsely claimed as battle footage between Syrian Kurds and Turkish forces. ABC released a correction and apology on Monday via Twitter. The Knob Creek Gun Range thanked their patrons on their Facebook page for notifying them of ABC’s error.

Two vehicle fires caused severe backups on Interstate 65 last night. According to Facebook posts from Central Hardin Fire Department as well as Lebanon Junction Fire and Rescue, the responders first attended to a car fire on I-65 before immediately having to tend to a commercial vehicle catching fire near the same location. Elizabethtown Fire Department and Valley Creek Fire were also noted as being on location. The investigation into the incidents is ongoing.

For the second year in a row, Vine Grove has been voted the Number One Safest City in the state of Kentucky. Mayor Pam Ogden credits a strong police force and sense of community for the success of the city. Vine Grove reported zero violent crimes in the findings reported on safewise.com.

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and Hardin Memorial Hospital will be holding a remembrance gathering at Freeman Lake on Tuesday night. This event is non-denominational and will feature music, and testimony from parents. The gathering and service will begin at 6 PM.

The Elizabethtown Police Department currently has openings for 5 new patrol officers. Applications for the positions must be in by the close of business on October 16^th. Written assessments for prospective officers will take place on the 19^th. Applications can be downloaded on the department’s website, etownpd.org.

The Elizabethtown Fire Department responded to an apartment fire at 428 West Dixie Avenue early Thursday morning. Smoke was reported coming from the upstairs apartment. The resident of the apartment tried to extinguish the fire, but had to evacuate. The fire was subdued, but the apartment was heavily damaged. The Red Cross was able to provide temporary lodging for the residents of the apartment. No injuries were reported in the incident.

The Hardin County Veteran’s Treatment Court received a sizeable grant of $500,000 from the Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance. These funds will be used to help assist veterans in the program overcome barriers in their treatment, including transportation and education costs. The money will also be used in planning of future programming.

Despite two inches of rainfall and cooler temperatures, Hardin County has not lifted the burn advisory placed on the county. Chief of Emergency Services Bryce Schumate says that the conditions are still too dry to safely burn. Grayson and Larue counties both lifted their burn bans Tuesday afternoon.

The Elizabethtown Police Department has issued new changes to their policies regarding tattoos on the arm. The department has now allowed long sleeved shirts to be worn year round so to cover up tattoos on the lower arm, which previously immediately disqualified an applicant. Anyone with questions regarding the new changes are encouraged to call the Elizabethtown Police Department.