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Jerianne Strange, Tonya Wigglesworth, and Elaine Alicna each experienced their own type of loss, and Strange said they recognized that the kind of loss has an impact on the grieving process.
“It’s very different if you are grieving the loss of a friend, if you are grieving the loss of an adult child, if you are grieving a loss due to a death by suicide, so manner of death comes into it, the relationships come into it,” Strange said.
The three are organizing grief support groups, and to gauge interest and see what kind of groups are needed they are hosting an informational meeting this weekend.
“Everybody’s invited,” Strange said. “It is open to the public. There is no charge, it is just informational.”
The informational meeting is Saturday, January 13 at 2 p.m. at the Central Kentucky Community Foundation building, located at 200 Jim Owen Drive in Elizabethtown.
The groups will meet twice a month for twelve weeks. Strange says the groups will have closed meetings with smaller numbers.
“We’ve set a limit of no more than 12 participants in any one group,” Strange said. “When you get any larger than that it’s not a good ‘feedback’ kind of environment, and so the whole purpose of the support nature of the group doesn’t quite work.”
SpringHaven Inc. Executive Director Georgia Hensley says the domestic violence shelter is working as much as they can on getting stocked up.
“This is a really busy time of the year for us,” Hensley said. “We have actually been at capacity at shelter for the last several months, so we desperately need community support right now.”
Anybody looking to support the shelter can contact SpringHaven to make arrangements or get directions to drop off items on the current needs list: hair brushes, deodorant, styrofoam bowls, leggings, new bathroom towels, and planners.
SpringHaven is also getting the word out on Stalking Awareness Month. Hensley says the internet and social media make it easier for stalkers to find and communicate with victims, and people should recognize the behaviors which can lead to further violence down the road.
“Repeated phone calls, repeated text messages,” Hensley said. “Asking that you share your location with your partner, romantic partner, friend, with your coworker even, asking that you share your location non-stop, that can be stalking. Showing up to your house uninvited.”
Follow SpringHaven Inc. on Facebook for more information. If you are in need of assistance, contact the SpringHaven Helpline at 270-769-1234.
The new KAVIS software program for Kentucky vehicle registrations debuted this week, and things at the Hardin County Clerk’s Office are slowly but surely coming together after experiencing some bugs with the system earlier in the week.
“The team there at KAVIS is trying to fix those as we go along, but we are experiencing slower transaction times and longer lines at the clerk’s office,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “That’s not something we ever want to see. We want folks to be able to come in, do their business, and get right back on the road. Unfortunately, we are just dealing with a system that isn’t perfect.”
He said the clerk’s office has also been communicating with clerk’s offices in other counties on their experiences with the system. Some people may be able to avoid the line and go online to drive.ky.gov, but not everybody.
“If you have back-due taxes on any of your vehicles you may not be able to proceed, or there may be an issue where an old vehicle remains on your record,” Smith said. “You may have sold it a couple of years ago. You;ll need to get that straightened out with the PVA, but we can help point you in the right direction.”
Smith has high praise for his staff and gratitude for the public.
“I’m very, very proud of the clerk’s office staff,” Smith said. “They’re adapting to this very quickly. I want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to the Hardin County Public. They have been very, very patient with us, for the most part, as we work through this.”
Smith is posting updates as they become available to the Hardin County Clerk’s Office’s Facebook page.
Hosparus Health President and CEO David Cook said the company’s new project Care Guide Partners PACE will be a valuable healthcare resource for the community.
“PACE is an acronym that stands for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, and it really is all-inclusive,” Cook said. “From covering all of their medical needs to transportation to the adult day, primary care, restorative therapies, socialization, and just fun, so we’re really excited to bring this additional level of support to folks in the community.”
Cook discussed the new program while serving as the keynote speaker for the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce’s first membership luncheon of the new year. He said the ultimate goal of the program is to help elderly people maintain independence.
“It’s just really a great solution for individuals who are facing serious illness that want to continue to live at home but are struggling to be able to do that and may not have the financial resources necessary to hire in-home support,” Cook said.
Cook said Hosparus is in the final stretch of getting approval from the state and the U.S. Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which should be completed around the first of March. More information will be made available at that time, but people interested in learning more can still reach out.
“We haven’t launched our website right now, but you can go to the sister organization Hosparus Health, and you can get some information there,” Cook said. “Postings as far as jobs because we’re hiring for some of these positions right now will be available there as well, and you can reach out through the Hosparus Health website with any questions you might have.”
The PACE center will be located at 109 Buffalo Creek Drive in Elizabethtown.