Menu Close

WQXE News

Your source for local community news, weekdays at 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30, 8, 9 and Noon.

Elizabethtown City Council discusses road funding, approves zoning changes

WQXE News 0 Comments

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

A public hearing was held on the city’s Municipal Road Aid funding. The city is slated to receive $619,000 in Municipal Road Funds and $15,000 in Local Government Economic Assistance Funds. No comments were made during the public hearing.

The council approved a zoning change for 1121 and 1131 Alex Drive from C-3 to R-6, and approved an annexation request for 8.8 acres along South Wilson Road which will be zoned C-3.

The council also approved a municipal order extending incentives for Fischbach USA after they completed an expansion that added 31 new jobs.

“State KDI tax incentive to include a partial refund of the Elizabethtown Occupational License Fee in the amount of 1 percent annually for 10 years for new jobs created based on approval by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, with the actual reimbursement annually based on the number of new jobs created,” said Elizabethtown City Attorney Ken Howard, reading from the order.

Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory issued two proclamations. The first recognizes May as National Tennis Month. The second recognized Charles “Jake” Owen as an outstanding citizen in celebration of his 100th birthday.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet June 3.

Hardin County Schools approves largest pay raise in nearly three decades

WQXE News 0 Comments

Hardin County Schools is taking advantage of increased state funding to reward district employees.

“Our board unanimously approved a 6 percent raise for all certified and degreed employees, and some classified folks,” said HCS Superintendent Terry Morgan. “However, with the classified system, individuals will have a $1 to a $4 raise.”

That’s HCS Superintendent Terry Morgan. She says the raises were approved to help HCS stay competitive with other school districts and to say thank you for employee dedication.

“We want to show appreciation for those who have already been with our district,” Morgan said. “It may be one year, it may be 25 or 35. I know of even one individual who’s been here for at least 50 years. So it’s not only to recruit, but to retain the best and brightest here in Hardin County.”

The Kentucky General Assembly approved a three percent increase to SEEK, the funding mechanism for Kentucky schools.

“100 percent of that SEEK increase went to fund raises for those who work in the school district,” Morgan said. “In addition to that 3 percent, our board also contributed district funds to get that increase up to the 6 percent mark and then the dollar to $4 an hour for all the other employees.”

HCS says the 6 percent raises are the largest awarded by the district since the 1990s.

KSP asks motorists to help keep truck drivers safe during Operation SafeDRIVE enforcement

WQXE News 0 Comments

The Kentucky State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division will be targeting unsafe driving behavior that can lead to crashes involving commercial vehicles and passenger cars as they participate in Operation SafeDRIVE this week.

The “DRIVE” in Operation SafeDRIVE stands for “Distracted Reckless Impaired Visibility Enforcement.” The KSP will be participating in the national law enforcement effort Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

KSP commercial vehicle inspectors will open scale facilities to ensure commercial drivers are following safety regulations such as hours of service compliance, medical certifications, and proper licensing and credentialing. Motorists can help truck drivers on the road by:

-Staying out of blind spots

-Passing safely by checking mirrors and using turn signals

-Paying attention to not cut off large vehicles

-Avoiding tailgating.

The KSP says statistics show that 62 percent of fatal large truck accidents involve two or more vehicles.

Operation SafeDRIVE is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Our Roads, Our Safety campaign. Visit the DOT on the web to learn more.

Two juveniles arrested, three juveniles on the run after E-Town vehicle break-ins

WQXE News 0 Comments

Two juveniles are in custody after attempting to break into vehicles in Elizabethtown.

Hardin County Sheriff John Ward says deputies received a call at around 4:30 a.m. Saturday regarding a group of suspicious individuals attempting to break into parked cars in the Tunnel Hill Road area.

“When they arrived, they noticed two vehicles that matched the description, and when they made contact, the vehicles fled,” Ward said. “At the time they fled, they tried to run over a deputy. One of the vehicles wrecked just up the street. Ran into a ditch.”

After wrecking, two occupants, later identified as juveniles from Jefferson County, attempted to flee on foot but were apprehended by officers with the Elizabethtown Police Department who had also responded to the scene. Ward says the investigation shows the suspects were attempting to flee in stolen vehicles.

“They were all juveniles, apparently,” Ward said. “I know the two that were apprehended were juveniles. Both of them were armed. They were charged with multiple offenses, and both of them were lodged in a juvenile detention facility.”

Ward says the incident is a reminder for area residents to remain vigilant.

“We can’t stress enough: if your vehicle is in your driveway, it doesn’t matter what valuables you have inside of it, lock your car,” Ward said. “It’s important to keep your car locked, even if you’re only going to be there for a short time, lock your vehicle, and also, for sure, lock your home.”

Deputies believe three other juveniles fled the scene in a stolen white Dodge Ram. Anybody with possible information is asked to contact Deputies Daniel Shumate or Andy Short with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office at 270-765-5133.

E-Town bowling alley will live on as Taylor family closes out more than 6 decades of ownership

WQXE News 0 Comments

David Taylor says he and his wife Tonya were not necessarily interested in running a bowling alley when they took over B & B Lanes three years ago.

“I had a desire to own it, but not to run it, but when my brother stepped down, it was time for me to step up, and it has been a chapter in my life that I couldn’t be more happier to have,” Taylor said.

That chapter concludes Monday as the Taylors transfer ownership of the bowling alley to L & S Entertainment LLC, which will continue the operation as Strike and Spare B & B Lanes.

Taylor said he is proud of his family’s contribution to the community for more than six decades, and while walking away is hard it is easier knowing a family-owned operation is here to carry on the legacy.

“It’s bittersweet, but at the same token, I’m getting ready to turn 65, and I feel that I found someone to take it over, to take it above and beyond what we could do for this community,” Taylor said. “I think they will give back and you’ll have a bowling alley here in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, for as long as the Taylors did for 60-plus years.”

L & S Entertainment will continue the new lanes project the Taylors got started for the bowling alley and have started other renovations, and Taylor said they were committed to retaining B & B employees that wished to stay on.

Taylor said keeping the local bowling alley alive means keeping the community better.

“Our kids need it, our adults need it, and we try to make it a great family fun center to give them something to do, and since COVID we all know that families have become more families today than they have been in years, and that’s the kind of places that you’ve got to have and you need for your community,” Taylor said.

Visit B & B Lanes on Facebook for more information.