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Elizabethtown High School team wins STEM competition

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Seven teams representing area schools on Thursday competed in Altec’s fifth-annual Innovation Challenge, an event which the company says “encourages creativity and critical thinking by combining science, technology, engineering, and math in a student-driven, project based competition.” The teams were tasked with developing solutions for real-world problems, with the winning team awarded $10,000 to implement their project in the spring of 2025.

A team of Elizabethtown High School students took home the top prize for their proposal to introduce a state-of-the-art irrigation system and greenhouse at the United Way of Central Kentucky’s Community Garden. The students on the winning team are Johnathan Hall, Landen Childress, Cedric Dennis, Cooper Carmen, and Landen Brown-Cline.

“They have worked every single day since August on this, and so today they were rewarded with their hard work and dedication to this problem in our community, and today they’ve won the funding to solve this with their irrigation system that they have completely designed themselves, and I could not be more proud and happy for them,” said EHS faculty sponsor Missy Mills.

Altec Elizabethtown General Manager Daniel Flory says the Innovation Challenge helps students grow while encouraging growth in the community.

“As the students work through this, they’re learning a lot of new skills,” Flory said. “Public presentation, budgeting, project timelines, also just how to use the whole STEM package, so they’re creating an idea, they’re formulating it, and we like to give students that ability to reach out into that and to have that in their toolbox for later in life and whatever path they choose in the future.”

Educators interested in learning more about the Altec Innovation Challenge can learn more by emailing etowninnovationchallenge@altec.com.

Take care as you heat your home this holiday season

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With the drop in temperature that comes with winter weather, fire officials are reminding residents to have safety in mind as they heat their homes.

“With space heaters, make sure you’re keeping them three feet away from everything, preferably with a tip-over protection so that if they get knocked over by a child or a pet that they’ll shut off automatically, and make sure you’re plugging those space heaters right into the outlet,” said Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane. “Don’t plug them into extension cords or power strips.”

Make sure you have wood stoves, fireplaces, and furnaces checked regularly. Keep the intake on your furnace clean and change filters regularly.

You should also make sure you are using a fireplace or wood-burning stove properly.

“Make sure it’s seasoned, dry wood,” Crane said. “Don’t put green wet wood in there, and they will still build up creosote over time. Make sure you’re cleaning them. We recommend having a professional come in and look at it once a year. Just make sure there’s no cracks in the lining and stuff like that, and the pipes are in good shape.”

If you are gearing up to host your family’s holiday celebrations, it’s a good idea to make sure you and your visitors are prepared.

“Make sure they know about your home fire escape plan,” Crane said. “Where are we going if there’s a fire? How do we get out? Because obviously they don’t live with you all the time, so those are things to consider there.”

If you have not done so already, check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Elizabethtown gym facility will close at end of year

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After nearly four decades, an area gym will be closing its doors.

In a letter to members that was published on the gym’s Facebook page, the owners of E-Town Swim and Fitness Center announced that the facility will be closing on December 31.

The letter says that over the past six years ownership has worked to maintain “affordable, family-friendly, all-inclusive fitness experiences.” The owners cited shifting dynamics in the fitness industry that were due largely to the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in rising costs that in turn resulted in an unsustainable business model.

The letter states: “We are looking forward to the exciting changes as our community grows and the possibilities that present itself for the future of the land that has been E-Town Swim and Fitness Center for the last 37 years. Our family will be forever grateful for our friends, employees, and faithful members.”

The gym’s website states that the current owners, the Thomas and Yates families, purchased the facility in 2018.

Watch out for holiday scams as you wrap up your Christmas shopping

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With Christmas less than ten days away, the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be careful not to fall for any holiday scams as they wrap up their shopping.

The BBB has released a list of common scams to look out for during the final countdown to christmas.

Be wary of what you see on social media. Misleading ads may tempt you into purchasing an item from a bogus company that will take your money for an item you will never receive or charge you for a free trial you never signed up for. Also be wary of social media posts regarding gift exchanges, which are often a ploy to get participants to share their personal information.

As you travel for the holidays, the BBB says reports of fake toll collection texts are on the rise. A scammer may impersonate a state roadway toll collection service saying you owe a toll fee and provide a link for payment. Never click the link, and if you think you may owe a fee, confirm it through the legitimate tolling agency. 

Another scam getting reported is texts or emails reporting failed shipping attempts on items. Again, never click the link in such a text. Instead, confirm shipping status with the company you ordered an item from or check with the U.S. Postal Service and commercial shipping companies.

If you are unsure about an online retailer, visit the Better Business Bureau on the web to check for reported scams, or to report possible scams you come across.