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Be mindful of outdoor burning as summer approaches

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Spring is a popular time for yard cleanup, and as the temperature outside increases and the ground dries more, Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says you should make sure the area around the house is free of debris.

“Make sure you’re pulling limbs, leaves, all that stuff that’s gathered up through the winter months, pull that away from your house, especially if you’re out in a rural area, or you have a lot of trees and things like that around your home,” Crane said “So if it does get dry and there is a lot of, there is a danger of a wildfire or anything that you’ve got that stuff away from your house.”

Crane says check with your local municipalities on collecting limbs or other yard waste. If you plan to burn anything, make sure you check to make sure you are in the clear.

“If you’re deciding to do a controlled burn, make sure you check with your local ordinances,” Crane said. “Check what’s allowed, and make sure you’re checking to make sure that there is no statewide or local prohibition on burning at that time.”

When you head outside to burn, make sure you are only burning approved materials, and you are a safe distance from the house, trees, or other structures.

“Definitely watch the wind conditions,” Crane said. “If you check the weather and it looks like it’s gonna be a breezy or gusty day, hold off and don’t burn. When you are burning though, make sure that you are constantly attending the fire and make sure you have something to put it out, whether it be a small tractor with a bucket or make sure that you’ve got a hose close by, something like that to help put it out.”

More fire safety tips can be found on the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s website.

Cecilia man convicted for participating in January 6 U.S. Capitol attack

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A former employee of the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office was convicted Tuesday on charges related to his participation in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Joseph Irwin of Cecilia was found guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia of three felony charges, including Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon, and three misdemeanor charges, including Entering and Remaining on the Floor of Congress.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, court documents state that Irwin and co-defendant John Joseph Richter of Port Charlotte, Florida, discussed plans to travel to Washington with the intent to obstruct the certification of the electoral college vote. The two discussed the potential for violence and possible supplies to bring, with both bringing wooden poles with all-black American flags. 

The two men attended the January 6th “Stop the Steal” rally and joined the march to the Capitol, and then joined efforts to breach the building. Irwin broke his pole into two pieces when he “aggressively smashed his pole on the ground in a threatening manner at the police officers.” After breaching the building and eventually making it to the senate floor, the two had fellow rioters take their pictures at senators’ desks while posing with their poles. The two left the Capitol after Metropolitan Police officers eventually directed the rioters out. The release says the two continued to celebrate their participation in the riot, with Irwin keeping his wooden pole in a shadow box.

Irwin was arrested on August 17, 2021. According to the criminal complaint from his arrest, Irwin was identified through an anonymous tip after he was seen in video recorded at the Capitol. Hardin County Sheriff John Ward identified Irwin and confirmed in the complaint that he was a former employee, having left the sheriff’s office in May of 2016.

Sentencing for Irwin is scheduled for August 9. More than 1,400 people have been charged for their participation in the January 6th attack, and the FBI continues to collect tips on other participants.

Games tells city council area growth goes beyond BOSK

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When Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation President Andy Games gave an economic development update to the Elizabethtown City Council Monday, he said the projected economic impact of BlueOval SK has been discussed, but E-Town’s growth goes further.

“I kind of tell people, take BOSK out of the equation, and we here at E-Town have three-quarters of $1 billion worth of investment currently under construction in the park between Whiskey House, Lotte, and Advanced Nano Products or ANP InterTech, so that’s exciting,” Games said.

Games said that growth is not reserved for new development, with existing companies also making strides.

“Flex finished an expansion, Fischbach finished an expansion, WL Plastics finalized their purchase on some land on West Park Road, and there are plans to build another factory for WL Plastics,” Games said. “I’m not sure when that’s going to come on, but they did finalize their land purchase with us. Soudal and Altec, Altec’s always growing, and Soudall is looking at doing an expansion as well.”

With the successes comes some challenges. Games said the industrial foundation has been working with Akebono Brake Corporation after the announcement that they will be closing their Elizabethtown operation.

“They are committed through December 2025,” Games said. “They’re a longstanding partner here with our community, but we are working closely with them as that day comes. I’ve spoken to many of those employees that have called about wanting to know what options are when they get done in December, and I said ‘don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get a job, I promise you.’”

Games said the industrial foundation is working with Akebono on finding a buyer for their building, and the foundation has been working to identify possible properties for future development.

Learn more about the Elizabethtown-Hardin County Industrial Foundation on their website.

Hardin County Fiscal Court approves budget, hears updates

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

The fiscal court approved the county’s 2024-2025 budget ordinance, which was up for its second reading. The ordinance was approved on a 5-4 vote. No further discussion was held on the budget at this meeting, but at the previous reading the magistrates that voted against the budget expressed concern with using funds from the BlueOval SK Pilot Agreement to cover the budget deficit.

Deputy Judge-Executive Vicki Meredith reported on the county’s Public Works Department. Meredith said the county’s monthly shredding events continue to be well-attended with 224 bags shredded so far this year. The county’s recycling program is also well-used, with 30 trailer runs in March and 44 in April. The Hardin County Conservation District presented the county with a check for $5,000 for its dead animal removal program, which Meredith said has seen 76 animals removed so far this year.

“The point of this is to try to make sure that deceased farm animals are disposed of properly,” Meredith said. “Often, historically, they could be pulled to the back part of the farm or placed close to a stream or in a sinkhole and that’s just not appropriate, so we really commend all the farmers and property owners throughout Hardin County for working with us on this program.”

County Director of Planning Adam King said so far this year 163 building permits have been issued, 33 new plats have been recorded, and 52 new lots have been recorded. King also said the county’s new comprehensive plan has been well-received.

“We’re really excited about this document,” King said. “We’ve used it now at a few meetings, and it has a lot more meat on everything to justify zone change decisions. I think this document is going to serve us well for years to come.”

King said the comprehensive plan has been submitted for a state planning award.

Several magistrates took a moment to acknowledge the 36th anniversary of the May 14, 1988, Carrollton bus collision, and asked residents to remember the families of the 27 victims.

“We do need to continually remind the young people of the consequences of their decisions,” said Magistrate Fred Clem. “And those families, continue to remember them as well.”

The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet May 28.