QUICKSIE98.3

Nonprofit organizations across the commonwealth are looking for support as Kentucky Gives Day is celebrated on Tuesday.

“Kentucky Gives Day is a 24-hour online fundraising event where it brings nonprofits and Kentuckians together for a powerful day of action,” said Central Kentucky Community Foundation Communications Coordinator Erin Hahn. “Our goal is to raise as much money as possible, all through online gifts, throughout that 24 hours.”

Hahn says last year’s Kentucky Gives Day event raised nearly $100,000 for 25 area nonprofits, and anybody interested is welcome to contribute.

“I feel like this is a very unique area in the sense that we have so many generous people, but the great thing about Kentucky Gives Day is that you can give $1, you can give $100,000, whatever sparks your fancy,” Hahn said.

Special events throughout the day give donors the chance to boost their donations, and Hahn says through local sponsorship the community foundation is able to offer extra incentives for nonprofits.

“We kind of make it a little bit competitive, like we’ll have a couple of power hours and we’ll see who will get the first donation of the day and the last donation of the day, so it kind of just helps to spark some interest,” Hahn said.

Visit kygives.org for more information, and follow the Central Kentucky Community Foundation on social media for local updates.

In celebration of Kentucky House Bill 15, which allows 15-year-olds to earn their driver’s permits, the Commonwealth is hosting a special testing event this Saturday.

Kentucky is offering more than 1,500 written permit test appointments at 20 testing locations in order to help meet the increased interest from young Kentuckians looking to apply for a permit. 

According to a release from the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, applicants can select the time and location that best meets their schedule on the Appointment Portal available on the Driver Testing page on the Kentucky State Police’s website. 15-year-olds looking to test should select the May 17 One-Day Permit Testing Event option.

Prior to arriving for your written permit test, applicants should bring all required documentation including proof of identity such as a birth certificate, proof of Social Security such as a Social Security card, and a school compliance verification form. Don’t forget to study the Kentucky Driver Manual, which is available on the KSP’s website.

Among the available testing locations is the Elizabethtown Regional Test Site, located at 1055 North Mulberry Street. Find a complete list of locations and more information at drive.ky.gov.

The Drug Enforcement Administration says nearly 4,500 law enforcement agencies across the country helped dispose of more than 620,000 pounds of unwanted or expired medications during the DEA’s 28th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

The DEA says in the Louisville Division, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia, 40,000 pounds were collected, with Kentucky contributing 8,904 pounds.

Captain Willie Wells with the Radcliff Police Department says the RPD collected 13 pounds of prescription pills at their collection event, which was held at the Radcliff Walmart on April 26.

The DEA says the goal of Take Back Days is to prevent drug misuse and abuse, as safely removing drugs that are expired or no longer needed keeps potentially harmful drugs off of the streets and out of the hands of people struggling with addiction. DEA Take Back Days have helped remove nearly 19.8 million pounds of medications over the past 16 years.

Residents who missed Take Back Day but still have medications they wish to dispose of still have options.

“While there are several sponsored drug take back events throughout the year at various places within the community, we have a drug take back box available in our lobby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “We accept all medication in pill and tablet form, and we are located at 300 South Mulberry Street.”

The DEA has a list of available dropbox locations on their website.