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The Nelson Circuit Court affirmed that Steven Lawson’s police interviews will not be included in his trial.

Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III issued an order Wednesday excluding Lawson’s interviews with investigators from June 8, June 14, August 22, September 12, and November 21, 2023. Judge Simms ordered Lawson to decide whether or not to waive his right to withhold the interviews in July, and Lawson’s defense told Simms during a pre-trial conference on October 4 he would not be waiving those rights.

Judge Simms is expected to rule soon on the prosecution’s motion to merge the trials of Lawson, Joseph Lawson, and Brooks Houck into one trial. The next pre-trial conference in the case is scheduled for October 25.

It may be Spooky Season, but the City of Elizabethtown is also inviting area elementary students to help the city spread holiday cheer. 

The city’s Christmas in the Park Committee is once again sponsoring the Christmas in the Park Poster Contest, which is open to children in grades kindergarten through fifth.

Participants will make a poster displaying their favorite holiday scene using their own artwork on a 22 inch by 28 inch poster board. Children are encouraged to make their displays bright and colorful, and note that glitter is not permitted. Any entry that includes glitter will be disqualified.

One winner will be selected for each grade level. Each winner will receive a $50 gift card and will be invited with their parents to be recognized at an Elizabethtown City Council meeting. The winning artwork will be displayed at sponsoring banks during the holiday season.

Posters must be dropped off with a completed registration form at Elizabethtown City Hall by 4 p.m. on Friday, November 1. Find the registration form, and more information on the contest, at etownevents.com.

The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their first meeting of the month Tuesday.

Hardin County Animal Care and Control Director Mike McNutt reported that during the month of September the animal shelter adopted out 52 dogs, returned 37 to owners, and euthanized 15. McNutt said the hard work of the animal control officers can be seen.

“The return to owner rate is at 30 percent,” McNutt said. “That’s the highest it’s been in five years. I think there’s a lot of different reasons for that, but mainly it’s because they’re doing it in the field as much as they can.”

The year-to-date shelter live release rate is at 91 percent, and McNutt said the struggle to maintain no-kill status only gets harder.

“The no kill status that we’ve received twice nationally, what it’s been for the past five years is a ratio, so it’s 90 percent of our animals leave alive,” McNutt said. “ We’re at 91 percent for the year-to-date and it’s a battle every day to make it to that.”

Due to the remnants of Hurricane Helene, the annual rabies clinic at the Hardin County Fairgrounds was rescheduled to Saturday, October 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. McNutt said the county has a goal of expanding their rabies services.

“It’s not something we’re mandated to do, but it is something we want to do to keep the public safe and healthy,” McNutt said. “The judge and I have been talking about it, and we have some plans. We’ll have one large major one on a Saturday and then we want to have little ones at different locations.”

In other meeting news, Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith reminded voters the absentee ballot request portal is open.

“It will be open through October 22,” Smith said. “If you will be out of the county all days and all hours of voting, or you qualify due to age, illness, or disability, please get in those requests early. To request those, it’s at govote.ky.gov or you can call our election staff at 270-765-6762.”

The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet October 22.