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Hardin County unemployment average under state average for 2023

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Unemployment rates for 2023 in the Lincoln Trail District landed mostly where they were in 2022.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says annual unemployment averages in 2023 went up in 80 counties, went down in 22 counties, and stayed the same in 18 counties compared to 2022.

Hardin County’s unemployment average for 2023 was 4.1 percent. That’s a slight decrease from the 4.2 percent average for 2022. Hardin County’s combined labor force in 2023 was 47,422 people, an increase of about 600 from the year before.

The unemployment average for the Lincoln Trail District also decreased from 4.2 percent to 4.1 percent from 2022 to 2023. Breckinridge County had the highest unemployment average in the district at 4.9 percent, while Washington County had the lowest average in the district, and tied for the second lowest average in the state, at 3.3 percent. Six of the eight Lincoln Trail District counties reported lower average rates.

The statewide unemployment average for 2023 was 4.2 percent, while the national unemployment average was 3.6 percent.

Learn more about the Kentucky labor market by visiting the Kentucky Center for Statistics online.

Family Scholar House distributing 5,000 pounds of food to ECTC students and members of the public Tuesday

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More than 5,000 pounds of food will be distributed to Elizabethtown Community and Technical College students as well as members of the public during a pop-up event Tuesday. 

“Family Scholar House at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is hosting a free food and clothing pop-up shop,” said ECTC Director of Marketing and Communications Sarah Brkshire. “It’s going to start at 10 a.m. The 10 a.m. time is for current ECTC students and then from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. anyone in the community is welcome to come by our Elizabethtown campus and take part in that. It’s going to be in the Academic Technical Building.”

Attendees are asked to bring their own bags and coolers for items.

The Family Scholar House is part of the ECTC Student Success Hub which provides a variety of services to support students in and out of the classroom.

“Events like this pop up are just one of the ways that they really help support that mission, and we’re very thankful that they’ve got the resources to not only help current students, but to open it up to community members as well,” Berkshire said.

Items Tuesday are available while supplies last. Contact the Student Success Hub at 270-706-8432 or Family Scholar House at 270-706-8835 (or via email at FSHElizabethtown@familyscholarhouse.org) for more information.

E-Town man “accidentally but extremely recklessly” shoots teenager in face

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An Elizabethtown man prohibited from possessing a firearm was arrested after an accidental shooting saturday.

“Around 9:30 Saturday evening, we responded to the 600 block of Stewart Court in reference to the report of a shooting,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “Upon arrival, investigators determined that 20-year-old Joseph Hampton Roberts accidentally, but extremely recklessly, fired a handgun and struck a 16-year-old male in the face.”

The juvenile victim was airlifted from the scene with critical but non-life-threatening injuries.

“Hampton Roberts, who is on felony diversion and prohibited from possessing a firearm, was arrested and charged with Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon,” Denham said.

The investigation is ongoing. Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be presented to a grand jury to consider further charges.

Hardin County Animal Shelter awarded $20,000 grant

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The Hardin County Animal Shelter is celebrating after receiving financial support from Petco Love.

“It’s a Petco Love Grant we filled out for quite a while ago, and honestly we hadn’t heard anything so we didn’t think we were going to be one of the recipients, but it’s $20,000 that we can put forward towards anything that’s on the life-saving effort that’s not currently in the budget,” said Hardin County Animal Care and Control Director Mike McNutt. 

The grant can be used on projects such as sustainable food storage and medical equipment. McNutt said the financial support from the grant is great, but it doesn’t compare to the support the animal shelter regularly gets from the community.

“We recently had put out a plea because we are trying to keep the animals on a constant food supply of the same brand of food, and I want to say that this county has always stepped up and helped us out in great measure to the point to where we’ve had to find other places to store food,” McNutt said.

Responsible pet owners can support the animal shelter and take advantage of their Clear the Kennel special which runs now through May 4. All adoptions for dogs ages 5 months and older are free and include normal vetting including spaying or neutering.

McNutt said the shelter is at capacity and needs to get dogs to good homes, but he advises that you should only dive in if you are ready to make a commitment.

“People don’t understand that when they’re at the shelter and we get them to where they’re housebroken there, they’re going to have to have an adjustment period at home before they’re housebroken there, and their training has to be consistent once they get there, so when we say that animal is housebroken it doesn’t mean they’re going to be housebroken the first week in your house because they have to adjust to it,” McNutt said.

The animal shelter is open Mondays through Saturdays from 12 to 4 p.m. at 220 Peterson Drive in Elizabethtown.

KYTC advises of lane closures on Bluegrass Parkway; asking for feedback on Bullitt County project

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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has information on a project starting this week on the Bluegrass Parkway and wants information from the public on an upcoming project in Bullitt County. 

Commuters heading east on the Bluegrass Parkway should be on the lookout for lane closures that will take place over the next several weeks between mile markers 39 and 43 in Washington County. 

Contract crews will be laying asphalt as part of a resurfacing project that’s scheduled to be completed by August 1. Drivers should slow down when approaching work zones and pay close attention.

Meanwhile, the KYTC will be hosting a public meeting to gather input on design plans for the Blue Lick Road enhancement project. That project will improve safety and reduce congestion along Blue Lick Road from John Harper Highway to West Triangle Lane.

The meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 9 at Hebron Middle School in Shepherdsville. Anybody interested in providing feedback may drop in anytime during meeting hours. An online survey will be made available after the meeting for those unable to attend.

More information on these projects and more can be found on the KYTC’s website.