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In their first full year serving five counties, CASA of the Heartland Executive Director Michelle Kail says the organization and its volunteers put in the effort to meet growing demands.

“Within that year, we were able to serve 312 children with 108 CASA volunteers, and we had several case closures throughout the year, kiddos who were able to achieve permanency, so we had some really great successes,” Kail said.

Part of that success came from bringing new volunteers into the fold.

“We trained and swore in 38 new CASA volunteers, which is more than our program has ever trained before, and a lot of those volunteers were sworn in at the very end of the year and just took their first case this week, so we’re hoping to see even more growth and success in 2026,” Kail said.

2026 will bring more growth as the organization expands its service area to include Hart County.

“Hart County and LaRue County share a judge, and so it was just a natural affinity for us to be able to pick up and continue services in Hart County, and they were previously served by CASA of South Central Kentucky, and they’re looking at having conversations to expand in other parts of the state, so it was just a good opportunity for us to be able to transition Hart County over to CASA of the Heartland,” Kail said.

Kail says the organization still has 125 children on their wait list who are in need of a volunteer. Learn more about how you can get involved or support the organization by visiting www.casaheartland.org or by calling 270-982-2274.

The Elizabethtown Police Department is actively investigating two weekend incidents.

During a press conference at the EPD Sunday, EPD Public Affairs Officer Chris Denham said officers responded to the parking lot of the Elizabethtown Lowe’s shortly after 2:30 a.m. on January 11 after receiving a call that a female had been shot in the chest. Upon arrival, officers found 21-year-old Bryan Harbison of McDaniels administering CPR to a female victim. The victim, and another female juvenile on the scene, were both determined to be 15 years old.

“The Investigation has revealed that Harbison had met the two juvenile females via Snapchat, and prior to coming to pick them up he had purchased alcohol for them, and they were in the parking lot of the Elizabethtown Lowe’s hanging out and consuming the alcohol that he had purchased,” Denham said.

Denham said the investigation shows Harbison and the victim were seated in the back seat of his truck and the other juvenile was in the front seat. Denham said the juvenile admitted in an interview with police she picked up a handgun from inside the vehicle, pointed it at the victim, and pulled the trigger, resulting in the victim being struck in the chest

Denham said the juvenile and Harbison provided differing accounts on how she accessed the gun.

“According to Harbison, the firearm was secured in the glove box,” Denham said. “However, the suspect in the investigation has revealed that she had found the firearm, a 9 millimeter handgun, on the center console of the truck. According to the suspect, Harbison told her that the gun was not loaded. However, that’s unknown.”

The victim was transported to Baptist Health Hardin, where she was pronounced dead.

The juvenile suspect is in custody and has been charged with Murder. Harbison has been charged with first degree Wanton Endangerment and third degree Unlawful Transaction with a Minor. He has been lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center.

Meanwhile, the EPD’s Collision Reconstruction Team is investigating a fatal vehicle collision that occurred Saturday evening. The EPD says the preliminary investigation indicates just before 9 p.m. on January 10 a juvenile male was driving south in a SUV on the 1,000 block of North Dixie Avenue when the vehicle struck a pedestrian who was walking in the vehicle’s lane of travel. The pedestrian, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the man is being withheld pending family notification. Denham said Sunday the juvenile driver initially fled the scene but returned with a sibling after reaching his home. The juvenile has been charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident.

Denham noted that the two incidents are unrelated.

Employees impacted by the announced closing of BlueOval SK are encouraged to attend the regional in-person job and career fair being hosted by the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce, the Elizabethtown/Hardin County Industrial Foundation, the Lincoln Trail Area Development District, and the Kentucky Career Center.

The job fair will be held on Thursday, January 22 at the Pritchard Community Center. Two sessions will be available: from 9 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 5 p.m.

Impacted employees will be able to meet with regional employers, apply for open positions, and speak directly with hiring representatives. Job seekers are encouraged to contact the Kentucky Career Center for resume assistance ahead of the job fair. The registration link for employers and attendees can be found on the Kentucky Career Center’s website.

Additional resources available for displaced BlueOval SK workers can be found on the BOSK Support page on the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development’s website.