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Traditionally, those who donate to the Army Emergency Relief Campaign are military-affiliated, which is where the organization’s motto “Soldiers Helping Soldiers” comes from, but all are welcome to contribute to Fort Knox’s AER Campaign which is now under way.

“It’s a program designed to provide financial assistance to soldiers and their family members in a time of need,” said Fort Knox Garrison Commander Colonel Christopher Ricci. “This year’s campaign is set to run from March 1 to June 1.”

The program was established more than 80 years ago and supports soldiers and their families in a variety of ways.

“The Fort Knox AER program alone helped 447 soldiers and their families last year with over $746,000 in assistance,” said Ricci. “That included 206 grants, 224 loans, and 17 grant loan combinations, as well as scholarships totaling $344,000 for more than 100 spouses and children of soldiers.”

Learn more and donate by visiting www.armyemergencyrelief.org.

LaRue and Nelson counties are among 13 Kentucky counties that received state funding for projects that are part of Phase Two of the Kentucky Product Development Initiative.

According to a release from the governor’s office, the matching funds support job growth and economic development by providing funding for local communities to invest in site and building upgrades. The initiative is overseen by the Cabinet for Economic Development.

The City of Hodgenville, on behalf of the LaRue County Fiscal Court and LaRue County Industrial Foundation, received $600,000 to go towards a $1.2 million project to install a sanitary sewer forced main at the recently acquired industrial development site in Upton.

“We’ve been really fortunate and able to get money for both rounds, and round one was property acquisition, round two we asked for a sewer main because you have to have the big three utilities of water, sewer, gas availability,” said LaRue County Judge-Executive and LaRue County Industrial Foundation President Blake Durrett. “We have a good location, so we’re just continuing to build our portfolio there in Upton.”

Durrett says the funding allows LaRue County to create new opportunities while maintaining its rural roots.

“If we can invest in this sewer that will in turn bring us manufacturing and jobs, I think it’s money well spent,” Durrett said. “You know, planting a seed to get greater yield.”

Nelson County also received funding, applied for via the City of Bardstown. $630,000 was approved for a $1.2 million project aimed at extending utilities and existing roadways in the Nelson County Industrial Park.
Learn more about the Kentucky Product Development Initiative at kpdi.ky.gov.

Friday, March 1 is the deadline to register for the City of Elizabethtown Parks and Recreation Department’s annual 1,000 Mile Club.

“This will be our fifth year, and the goal of that club is to promote a healthier lifestyle for members in the community, to encourage them to run, walk, cycle, swim, or paddle 1,000 miles for the 2024 calendar year,” said E-Town Parks and Rec. Programs Coordinator Adam Case.

Registration for the program is $25, and the program has several incentives.

“We have benchmark prizes along the way throughout the year to keep you motivated, and we send out monthly updates from the club, and then everybody that registers for that will get a free t-shirt just for signing up, so it’s a win-win for us all,” Case said.

The 1,000 Mile Club is also a great opportunity to take advantage of the city’s park offerings.

“Between all of the Greenspace trails that we have and all the parks, there’s endless places to walk, run, and do all of the things,” Case said.

More information and a link to register can be found on the Parks and Recreation page of the city’s website.