WQXE News

Four linemen from the Meade County RECC will be heading to North Carolina to assist in the restoration efforts that will be needed after Hurricane Dorian makes landfall. External affairs manager Todd Blackburn says it is not known when the linemen will return, but they will stay as long as they need to in order to restore order after the storm.

The Valley Creek Fire Department will be holding a community event this weekend at the fire station from 11 AM until 3 PM. It is the department’s 39th annual Pig Roast. There will be live music, an auction, and fireworks at dark. The menu for the event will include chicken, BBQ pork, and various sides.

Hardin County Playhouse is opening its 50^th season tonight with its production of Harvey. Doors open an hour before the show starts, and house opens a half hour before. Tickets are $15 general admission. The show will run this weekend and next, with weekday and Saturday shows beginning at 7, and Sunday matinee shows beginning at 3.

National Suicide Prevention Week begins this Sunday. This is a yearly occurrence that puts a spotlight on mental health awareness and erasing stigma surrounding the problem. Suicide is the 11^th leading cause of death in Kentucky. Tune in to Community Forum this Sunday as Hollie Sexton and Jake Richardson discuss the mental health problem, and how to help address it.

The Elizabethtown City Council has agreed to take the next step in the future renovation of Pritchard Community Center. At a council meeting Tuesday, the vote was made to approve architectural services from 5253 Design Group in the amount of $121,000. As previously reported, the project has a set aside budget of $2.3 million.

The Elizabethtown Police Department thwarted an attempted robbery at JCPenney in the Elizabethtown Mall last week. Officers responded to a call saying two suspects were concealing stolen items. The suspects, identified as Terri Campbell and Teketa Swanson of Nashville, fled as they saw police. During the attempted escape, Campbell knocked an elderly woman to the floor, causing injuries to the victims neck and knees. The suspects were apprehended, and several shoplifting tools were confiscated. The pair were charged with robbery and fleeing and evading police.

Kentucky State Police responded to a single vehicle accident in Grayson County Saturday afternoon that resulted in life-threatening injuries for two people. The incident took place on Western Kentucky Parkway near Mile Marker 111. Preliminary investigation revealed that Jordan Cates of Leitchfield was traveling west when the driver’s side front tire blew out. As a result Cate’s vehicle crossed the median and went airborne before striking a guardrail. Cates and passed Ethan Cates were flown to University of Louisville hospital for life threatening injuries. A 16-year-old female passenger was also later transported to University of Louisville Hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The accident is still under investigation.

The Hardin County Animal Shelter will be closed one day this weekend for a special event. The facility’s annual rabies clinic will be held September 7^th at the Hardin County Government Building. Animal Control Director Mike McNutt reminds those wanting to attend that dogs must be on a leash, and cats must be in a carrier. The clinic will begin at 9 AM and will run until 3 PM. There are vaccination packages available which can be seen on the Hardin County Animal Shelter Facebook page.

A critical shortage of Type O+ and O- blood has put the Red Cross in a tough situation they are attempting to make the most out of. The organization will be holding a special blood drive on the Red Cross bus at the Elizabethtown Wal-Mart from 1:30- 5 today. Anyone who donates will receive an American Red Cross tote bag.

The Meade County man who escaped from custody earlier this week has been captured. Detention center officials say Mark Mullins was seen leaving a Wal-Mart on Bashford Manor Lane in Louisville and was apprehended after a short pursuit on foot. Mullins walked away from a work detail in Brandenburg on Wednesday morning. No further information is available at this time.

A Vine Grove woman was arrested after throwing a knife at her boyfriend. According to citations, police responded to a residence early Thursday morning after receiving a call about a domestic dispute. The male victim reported that his girlfriend, Jasmine Robertson, had thrown the weapon at him while he was sitting upright in bed during a verbal altercation. Robertson had been previously charged with assault against the victim, and was ordered to have no contact with him. Robertson claimed the victim had a gun he was waving around, but then admitted she threw the knife while he was going to bed. She was charged with wanton endangerment, terroristic threatening, and assault.

The Hardin County Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to add a member to their ranks. John Emary was appointed to the Board Wednesday evening. This is Emary’s second stint on the board, his previous two terms having spanned from January 2009 until December 2016.

Citizens in Nelson County will soon see a new police car on the streets. Officials with the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office are starting the “Choose Your Ride” campaign with a vehicle that appears to be half-cruiser and half-taxi. This vehicle, which will be on display at events across the community, serves to advise those who may be thinking of driving intoxicated to consider a safer option instead.