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Unemployment numbers in March are up across the Lincoln Trail District compared to last year.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says from March 2023 to March 2024, unemployment rates increased in 116 counties, decreased in three, and remained the same in one. The state unemployment average for March 2024 is 5.1 percent, up from the March 2023 average of 4.3 percent.

March unemployment for Hardin County was reported at 5 percent. While that is down a tick from the 5.1 percent rate reported in February, it is up from March 2023 when the rate came in at 4.2 percent.

Washington County reported the lowest March unemployment rate in the Lincoln Trail District, and the second-lowest in the commonwealth, at 3.8 percent. Breckinridge County reported the highest rate for March at 5.7 percent.

Learn more about how unemployment rates are formed and other labor market information by visiting the Kentucky Center for Statistics online.

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is inviting the community to help support its students as the college hosts its inaugural ECTC Giving Day Thursday.

ECTC says donations will support student needs such as scholarships, transportation assistance, and the Student Emergency Fund, among other areas. With this year being the college’s 60th anniversary, one of the event goals is to have at least 60 donors give $60.

One specific way to support ECTC students is by donating to the Gowns for Grads initiative. ECTC Director of Admissions and Assessment Judy Akers said that $50 will provide a student with a cap, gown, and tassel.

“We are trying to make sure that all of our graduates have the opportunity to graduate without worrying about the cost of buying a gown to participate in graduation,” Akers said.

ECTC President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate previously told Quicksie that supporting the college means supporting a large, blended community.

“When you really step back and look at what Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is, it’s really like this perfect melting pot because, you know, roughly half of our students are that traditional student who is there to take a full-time load of classes, and that’s really their job,” Pate said. “When you’re 18 and a freshman in college and your job is to pass your classes. So we’ve got that, but then we’ve also got that mix of folks who have entered into a job or an initial career, and they’re coming back.”

Find more information and a link to the Giving Day page on ECTC’s website or Facebook page.

The City of Elizabethtown is excited to host its second Lawn Party at the Lake Concert Series this summer.

“It is held every second Wednesday at the bandstand at Freeman Lake Park off of the Blue Heron Road entrance,” said Elizabethtown Events Manager Beth Pyles. “We are offering multiple concerts with family friendly events throughout the summer.”

Pyles said the city had a goal of bringing something for everybody to Freeman Lake Park this summer when selecting the concert series artists.

June 12 will see The Rumors. Radiotronic will perform on July 10. The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra Devou-Do Daddies will take the stage on August 7. Bourbon Revival wraps up the concert series on September 11.

Each date will offer food vendors, and while outside alcohol is not permitted alcoholic beverages will be on sale.

“The concert series is totally free and family friendly,” Pyles said. “The gates will open at 5.30 p.m. and the acts will take the stage around 6.30, so it gives you a little bit of time to come in and get seated. It is festival style seating, so we ask that people bring lawn chairs, you can bring blankets. We will have picnic tables, but it’s very, very casual.”

Pyles said the first year for the concert series was a successful one, and there’s nowhere to go but up.

“We had such a wonderful turnout for last year after we got through the rain, but we’re very, very excited,” Pyles said. “The bandstand at Freeman Lake is such a beautiful fixture in our community. If you haven’t been out to see it, it is the perfect place to relax after a hard day, and we’re really excited.”

Follow the Elizabethtown City Events Facebook page for more information and updates.