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E-Town Council approves first reading of budget

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

The first reading was held on the city’s budget for fiscal year 2026-2027.

“The budget contains total funds available of $158,472,681 and total appropriations for expenditures equal to $125,794.26, with an estimated ending fund balance of $32,677,755,” said City Attorney Ken Howard, reading from the ordinance.

The budget will go up for adoption on the ordinance’s second reading.

The first reading was also held on an ordinance annexing 1615 Saint John Road, to be zoned Urban Residential (R-4), along with an ordinance for a text amendment change for historic preservation overlay which would add more properties to the Downtown Historic District, including the Brown-Pusey House.

A municipal order approving a $497,032 bid from Pace Contracting LLC for Phase III of the North Main Street sidewalk improvements project was approved, as was a municipal order  approving an agreement with the City of Radcliff for the creation of the Gaither Station Range for law enforcement firearms training. Elizabethtown Police Chief Jeremy Thompson said the city has been using the range at the Hardin County landfill for about the past 30 years.

“Essentially, the number of law enforcement agencies that utilize that range has grown,” Thompson said. “The calendar that we all share has become a lot more difficult to just manage those times that are best effective for our schedules in E-Town. (Radcliff Police) Chief Cross and I had been in conversations about somehow collaborating on a range.”

During the meeting’s invocation, Council Member Marty Fulkerson honored Elizabethtown Firefighter Ryan Druen, who died at the age of 52 Friday. Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory asked for continued thoughts and prayers for Druen’s family, friends, and fellow firefighters.

“I know what he’s meant to (Elizabethtown Fire Chief) Mark and the rest of the fire department,” Gregory said. “To be quite frank, they’re sad, and we’re sad because we’ve lost a great teammate, and a friend, somebody that made a real difference in our community, and he will be missed.”

Public visitation for Ryan Druen will be Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Central Hardin High School. The Brooks Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet June 8.

Avoid fire risks when you get the grill out this summer

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The summer season is beginning, and as you head outside to enjoy the warmer weather, if grilling is part of your summer traditions make sure you are taking precautions to reduce fire risks.

“Make sure when you’re grilling, propane and charcoal barbecue grills should only be used outside, not in a garage or the carport, and never leave your grill unattended,” said Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane. “We tell people, especially if you have kids and pets in the area, just leave a three-foot space, just like we tell people in the kitchen around the stove.”

Don’t forget that the grill will stay hot for some time after you are done cooking, so keep the three-foot barrier in mind for that period as well.

Keep the grill out from underneath overhangs, deck railings, tree branches, and other hanging objects.

“We tell people at least 10 feet away from the home or any structure, just to make sure for safety there,” Crane said. “Remember that in the cities, the fire code technically says that gas and charcoal grills are not allowed on balconies of apartment buildings, balconies and decks, so make sure you’re aware of that before you go purchase that really expensive Blackstone grill and then you’re told by the fire marshal that you can’t have it.”

Keep your grill clean throughout the season to prevent the buildup of grease.

“You have to be careful because it will over time,” Crane said. “It will build up and it could have the potential of a flash fire, so that would be something you want to avoid. Make sure that when you’re lighting your gas grill, always make sure to check the hoses, the connections, for leaks with a soap and water solution. It’ll bubble if it’s leaking, and then always make sure when you’re lighting your gas grill to make sure that the lid is open so there isn’t that buildup of propane before you ignite it.”

If you are using a charcoal grill, make sure you only use charcoal lighter fluid, and make sure the coals cool before disposing of them.

Hardin County Schools announces personnel news

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Hardin County Schools recently announced a new hire and a promotion.

HCS has announced the promotion of Creekside Elementary School Principal Dr. Brooke Custis to the position of Director of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction.

According to a release from HCS, Custis has served as Creekside’s principal for the past six years. Prior to Creekside, Custis was a vice principal at Solomon Elementary School in Hawaii, an assistant principal in the Monroe County Community School District in Indiana, and assistant principal at North Park Elementary School. She succeeds Stacy Brawner, who retired from the job earlier this year.

Custis said in the release: “Elementary school lays the groundwork for all future student success, and I am deeply passionate about building that solid foundation. Hardin County Schools has a strong legacy of academic excellence, and I’m thrilled to help maintain that momentum.”

HCS has also announced the hiring of Dominic McCamish as principal of Meadow View Elementary School.

HCS says McCamish is currently the Specialized Programs Principal at Bullitt County Public Schools. Prior to that role, he served as an instructional coach and science teacher at Bernheim Middle School and taught science at middle schools in Montgomery and Fayette counties. McCamish replaces Carrie Prater, who retired from HCS at the end of the school year.

McCammish said in a release: “I’ve lived in Radcliff and Hardin County for most of my life, and I am truly thrilled for the opportunity to serve, learn, and grow in the community I call home.” 

Visit the HCS website for more information on career opportunities in the district.

Ring Road/Shepherdsville Road roundabout construction, Rough River Lake spillway bridge work set to begin

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Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four is advising motorists to be on the lookout for two projects set to begin Monday.

The KYTC says crews are expected to begin construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Shepherdsville and Ring roads on June 1. The work is part of the Shepherdsville Road widening and safety improvements project that runs through fall of 2027.

“Of course, the widening and safety Improvements project north of Ring Road has been going on now for a while,” said KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie. “It’s ongoing, and the roundabout portion of the project was specifically kind of set for a summer construction phase so that work would be going on after school’s out and before school starts this fall. The roundabout piece of the project has to be complete by August 1.”

Westbound traffic on Ring Road will be reduced to one lane through the intersection with no dedicated right turn lane from Ring Road onto Shepherdsville Road. Southbound traffic on Shepherdsville Road will also be reduced to one lane and will not have a dedicated right turn lane onto Ring Road. Additional traffic pattern changes will be announced as the construction progresses.

Meanwhile, construction is also scheduled to begin Monday on rebuilding the KY 79 bridge over the Rough River Lake spillway in Grayson County. Traffic will continue to utilize the temporary signal for alternating one-way traffic that was put in place over the bridge when temporary measures were taken a few weeks ago to stabilize the roadway.

“They’ve always been anticipating a start date of June 1,” Jessie said. “Obviously, a couple of weeks ago when that happened, we put steel plates down to get the bridge back open. We instituted that one-way alternating traffic pattern early, and they did some patchwork on the bridge deck there to keep that driving lane safe and sturdy there during construction.”

The bridge construction project has a scheduled completion date of November 30.

Use caution when approaching and driving through work zones and pay attention to posted signage and flaggers. Follow KYTC District Four on social media for updates.

Man killed in Meade County crash; woman found dead in Hart County

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An Indiana man was killed in a collision in Meade County Friday.

Kentucky State Police Post Four says at approximately 3:27 p.m. on May 29 troopers responded to a call regarding a fatal collision on Bypass Road near High Street in Meade County.

The KSP says the preliminary investigation indicates a vehicle operated by 34-year-old Dustin Farmer of Central, Indiana, was heading north on Bypass Road when it crossed into the center turn lane and collided head-on with a pickup truck operated by Maia Fisher of Mansfield, Missouri.

Farmer was pronounced dead at the scene by the Meade County Coroner’s Office. Fisher, along with two juveniles in Farmer’s vehicle, sustained serious injuries. Fisher was flown to the University of Louisville Hospital while the juveniles were transported to U of L Hospital and Norton Children’s Hospital.

Meanwhile, Kentucky State Police Post Three is conducting a death investigation in Hart County. KSP Post Three says at approximately noon on May 30 troopers responded to a call from the Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office regarding a possible death at the Dog Creek Recreation Area. Troopers located an unconscious woman lying in a green tent. The woman, identified as 43-year-old Edith Vaughn of Cub Run, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hart County Coroner’s Office.

KSP Post Four’s investigation of the collision and KSP Post Three’s death investigation are both ongoing.