WQXE News

An Eastview man has been arrested due to charges stemming from a March complaint warrant. According to arrest citations, Kentucky State Police received a call from the mother of the victim, claiming her daughter was being assaulted by Joey Hawkins. Allegedly, Hawkins committed several acts of violence against the victim, then hindered her ability to call 911, pinning her to the ground and attempting to get her phone out of her pocket. Hawkins has been charged with assault, unlawful imprisonment, and intimidating a participant in the legal process. He is lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

The Elizabethtown Police Department will be holding their open house this Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM. The event will feature tours and vehicle displays, as well as food, giveaways, and a chance to talk with officers with EPD. Those interested in applying for a position within the department are encouraged to attend to learn more about the hiring process. There is no cost to attend and the event is open to the public.

The Kentucky Department of Highway Safety is encouraging drivers to put down their phones and buckle their seatbelts in order to save lives. The Buckle Up Phone Down campaign began yesterday. This campaign will hope to help cut down on the more than 50,000 crashes in Kentucky as a result of distracted driving. More information about the campaign can be found at kyhighwaysafety.com.

A Golden Alert issued on Friday by the Nelson County Sheriff’s Department has been cancelled. 79-year-old Donald Heady, who previously had disappeared from his residence Friday morning, was found driving on I-65 near the Bullitt and Jefferson County line. The Sheriff’s Office thanks those who assisted in locating Mr. Heady, and notes that he is now home safe.

A collision took the lives of two people in Nelson County over the weekend. The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office responded to New Haven Road near Balltown Road Saturday afternoon. According to reports, Mark Phelps of Radcliff was travelling south when he attempted to make a left turn into a driveway. Phelps turned into the path of another vehicle driven by Rhonda Johnson of New Hope. Two of Phelps’ passengers were declared deceased at the scene. Phelps and another passenger were taken to University of Louisville Hospital for treatment, while Johnson and her two passengers were transported by private vehicle. The collision is under investigation.

Fort Knox Federal Credit Union won three major awards last week, The institution took home the Alphonse Desjardins Financial Education Award, the Louise Herring Philosophy in Action Member Service Award, and the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award. These are statewide awards given out by the Kentucky Credit Union League and Credit Union National Association. More information about the credit union can be found at fortkoxfcu.org.

Reminder that today is the last day to register to vote in the upcoming November elections. Go online to govoteky.com to register. Those interested in absentee voting should inquire to the County Clerk’s Office. Voting locations can be found at hccoky.org.

The Kentucky State Police Electronic Crime Branch succeeded in making an arrest earlier this week. Billy Joe Chesser was charged for his alleged crimes against minors. Chesser was arrested as a result of an undercover online crimes against children investigation, and faces ten counts for use of a minor in a sexual performance. The charges facing Chesser could result in ten to twenty years in prison if he is convicted. He is lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

Two Elizabethtown men have been arrested for their roles in a Radcliff shooting. According to arrest citations, Jordan Morgan and one other assailant were allegedly threatening the use of handguns to commit a robbery. However, the other suspect was shot several times by Paris Bell, who later admitted to discharging the firearm. Projectiles from the weapon were also found to have entered a residence located on Hamilton Street. Morgan is charged with robbery, and Bell is being charged with assault and wanton endangerment. The third party was flown to U of L Hospital with critical injuries. The investigation is ongoing.

Kentucky State Police launched a campaign earlier this week that will crack down on aggressive drivers in high crash areas. The Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks (TACT) campaign began on Tuesday. Targeted corridors for this campaign include US-41 in Henderson County, I-75 in Laurel and Kenton Counties, US-23 in Floyd County, and I-65 in Hardin County.

At a meeting of the Elizabethtown City Council, a municipal order was passed to allow for improvements to the sidewalks of an Elizabethtown street. The council received and accepted a bid from Triumph Landscape Construction for sidewalk improvements in the amount of $178,588. The bid came in under the $200,000 appropriated for the project.

The 48^th Annual Lincoln Days Festival will be taking place in Downtown Hodgenville this weekend. The festivities start on Friday evening with the Lincoln Days Festival Pageant. More information can be found at lincolndays.org.