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Multiple fatalities reported following UPS plane crash at Louisville airport

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The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a deadly plane crash that took place at the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport Tuesday.

“At approximately 5:14 p.m. Eastern time tonight, UPS Flight 2976 from Louisville, Ky., to Honolulu, HI, an MD-11 with three crew members on board, was involved in a catastrophic crash here in Louisville adjacent to our airport,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear during a media update Tuesday evening.

Officials say the plane was not carrying any hazardous cargo, but because of the planned long-distance flight to Hawaii the plane was filled with more than 200,000 pounds of jet fuel upon impact. Louisville Metro Emergency Services advised businesses and residents to shelter-in-place from Outer Loop to the Ohio River following the crash. That zone was reduced to a one-mile radius from the airport Tuesday night.

As of Tuesday evening, seven fatalities have been confirmed as a result of the crash, with 11 injuries. A victim family reunification center has been established at the Louisville Metro Police Training Academy, located at 2911 Taylor Boulevard. Two businesses, Kentucky Petroleum Recycling and Grade A Autoparts, were directly impacted by the crash.

Package sorting operations at the UPS Worldport facility have been halted. The company said in a statement: “We are terribly saddened by the accident tonight in Louisville. Our heartfelt thoughts are with everyone involved. UPS is committed to the safety of our employees, our customers and the communities we serve. This is particularly true in Louisville, home to our airline and thousands of UPSers.” Family members seeking information about UPS employees can call 1-800-631-0604.

The NTSB has launched a go-team to investigate the crash. More information is due to be delivered during a media briefing Wednesday.

E-Town Council approves bids for Freeman Lake Park bathrooms and outdoor music venue sewer extension

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

The council approved a bid from Dirt Works Unlimited for the outdoor music venue sewer extension project, with the bid coming in at $585,345. The council also approved a bid from BCD Inc. for the Freeman Lake Park north end restroom project. That bid came in at $428,100.

“It’s on the northern end of Freeman Lake Park, where we have a parking lot where the lake is split, we’re building stand-alone restrooms,” said Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregoy. “We’re glad for that because we’re trying to place strategically-located restrooms throughout our trail system and we’re starting with that one.”

In other meeting news, the council approved a resolution amending the city’s comprehensive plan which adopts the plan elements of the Envision Active Elizabethtown Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan commissioned by Greenspace into the Envision Elizabethtown 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The first readings were held on three zoning amendments for properties located at 320 Pear Orchard Road Northwest (from R-2 to R-4), 325 Helm Street (from R-4 to R-5), and 938 and 948 Nicholas Street (from R-3 to Planned Development District). All three of the zoning amendments were recommended for approval by the Elizabethtown Planning Commission.

Gregory said the city and Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland will be hosting a food giveaway at the Pritchard Community Center on Friday, November7. Gregory said enough food for 1,000 households will be available as the city looks to support families impacted by the government shutdown. 

Council Member Julia Springsteen said more than 5,000 households in Hardin County are dependent on SNAP benefits.

“The announcement today was that they’ll only get partial funding for SNAP this month, so they’re already struggling,” Springsteen said. “They’re going to struggle a little bit more, in addition to the government workers who are going to pay, so hopefully this will help a few people in addition to the other efforts going on in the community.”

The food giveaway will begin at noon and continue until food runs out. Gregory said this will be the first of three such events hosted by the city.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet November 10.

Registration open for fall LIHEAP subsidy

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Registration is open for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program fall subsidy.

If you live in a Kentucky household and are responsible for your home’s cooling costs, you may be eligible for assistance through the LIHEAP program. The enrollment period runs now through December 12.

According to the Central Kentucky Community Action Council, income eligibility for the program is up to and including 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. At the time of registration, all applicants must provide all required documentation which includes proof of Social Security number or a permanent residence card for each household member, proof of income for all household members from the preceding month, your most current electric bill, and the account number and the name on the account for the electric bill.

Assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis by contacting your local Community Action office. Visit the Central Kentucky Community Action Council Facebook page for updates and visit www.ckcac.org to find the Community Action office nearest you.

Take Back Day nets more than 11,000 pounds of unwanted medications in Kentucky

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More than 4,200 law enforcement agencies across the county joined the Drug Enforcement Agency for the 29th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 25. 

The DEA says more than 571,000 pounds of unneeded and expired medications were removed from home medicine cabinets for safe disposal during the October 25 Take Back Day, which saw participation at more than 4,300 collection sites nationwide.

In the Louisville Division, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia, the DEA and partner agencies collected more than 34,000 pounds, with Kentucky agencies collecting 11,338.8 pounds. The goal of Take Back Day is to help prevent prescription drug misuse and abuse, and to reduce the potential for accidental overdoses and poisonings.

Those who were unable to participate in Take Back Day can still dispose of unwanted pills and medications. More than 16,500 pharmacies, hospitals, and businesses participate in the DEA’s Every Day is Take Back Day program and offer permanent drop boxes. Many police departments also offer drop boxes.

Find a permanent drop box near you and find more statistics on Take Back Day results at www.dea.gov/takebackday.

KSP investigating Meade County murder; suspect found dead

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UPDATE: KSP Post Four says the suspect in the investigation has been located and is deceased.
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The Kentucky State Police is conducting a murder investigation in Meade County and the alleged suspect is still at large.

According to KSP Post Four, just before 1 p.m. Monday the Meade County Sheriff’s Office contacted the KSP “regarding a deceased individual located at a residence on Simpson Lane in the Ekron community”. Troopers and detectives responded to the scene and began an investigation.

KSP Post Four says the preliminary investigation indicates 55-year-old Mary Crase of Brandenburg sustained at least one gunshot wound. The alleged suspect, identified as Scott Hornback of Irvington, fled the scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement.

Hornback remains at large at this time. He is described as a 5’8’ tall white male weighing 135 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Hornback should be considered armed and dangerous and the public is urged not to approach him if he is seen.

Anybody with possible information on Hornback or his whereabouts is asked to contact KSP Post Four at 270-766-5078 or call 911 immediately. The investigation is ongoing and additional updates will be posted as they become available.