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Elizabethtown Community and Technical College has received grant funding to expand services at two satellite campuses.

According to a release from ECTC, the college recently was awarded a $1.3 million TRIO Student Support Services grant from the U.S. Department of Education which will be used to expand services at the ECTC Leitchfield and Springfield campuses.

ECTC says the grant will enable the college to hire a program director who will have a presence at both campuses. The grant will also cover hiring a tutor and an administrative assistant for both campuses. The college says the grant allows them to expand their reach to connect more students to services.

The goal of TRIO Student Support Services is to increase retention and graduation rates among participants. The release states: “TRIO SSS serves first-generation, low-income students. It provides individualized services such as one-on-one tutoring, guidance through the educational process, academic counseling, transfer assistance, visits to four-year universities, and more.”

Learn more about other available student services at ECTC by visiting their website.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services says respiratory illness activity is currently very low in the commonwealth, with activity for COVID-19, seasonal influenza, and RSV all seeing decreases.

As respiratory virus season typically ramps up in October, the Kentucky Department for Public Health reminds residents to stay home if sick, wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay up to date on vaccinations.

The Lincoln Trail District Health Department has about 15 vaccinations available through their adult vaccination program, including the main culprits of respiratory virus season.

“Flu, COVID, pneumonia, RSV, but even things like shingles, which some folks have a hard time finding that vaccine,” said LTDHD Public Relations Officer Melissa Phillips. “Tdap, which has that whooping cough in it, that pertussis, if you’re around babies this time of year.”

Appointments to the health department can be made by phone call only.

“We want you to talk to an adult, especially our senior adults that sometimes have a hard time making those appointments online, and maybe you need more than one service, so we want you to talk to a live person, so you’ll just call the health department in the county that you’re closest to,” Phillips said. “You don’t have to live in that county to receive services from us, but we do cover Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson, and Washington.”

Contact the health department or your doctor for more information on vaccinations.

If you have questions regarding your child’s car seat, the Elizabethtown Police Department has answers.

“The Elizabethtown Police Department is hosting a child seat inspection event where nationally-certified technicians will be on hand to help you install your child’s car seat or booster seat the right way, and find out if it’s time for a change,” said EPD Public Information Officer John Thomas.

The inspection event will be held Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Pritchard Community Center.

“According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as many as half of all child safety seats are installed incorrectly,” Thomas said. “This is a free event. No appointment is necessary, so take this opportunity to protect what matters most. Make sure your child rides safe.”

The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office will also be on hand for the event as some of their deputies work towards their car seat technician certification. Check the EPD and sheriff’s office Facebook pages for more information.