#quicksie983

Area vietnam war veteran C.T. Christie says the local chapter for Wreaths Across America has been battling increasing costs, and it is important to support their mission of honoring veterans.

“I’ve been doing it with Donna Betson since the beginning,” Christie said. “When you smell those wreaths out, the evergreen smell on those graves, on a winter day when the snow’s on the ground, the green wreaths against the marble headstone, it’s a really nice atmosphere out there,  and it’s overwhelming for me, because I’ll be buried out there one day, and I hope I still get a wreath on my grave.”

All are welcome to attend a fundraiser for Wreaths Across America, to be held at ACE Hardware in Radcliff (2360 South Dixie Boulevard) Saturday, November 2 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“There’s going to be a first responder chili cookoff, car and bike show, and we also open it up to arts and crafts,” Christie said. “Anybody wants to put an arts and crafts tent up, they can. All of the proceeds go to the wreaths.”

The event will also feature a silent auction, and door prizes will be announced every hour. Contact Christie for information on purchasing a booth.

October is Fire Prevention Month, and fire officials are reminding residents that one of the most important aspects of fire prevention is to be prepared.

“Make sure that you have a home fire escape plan, and that everybody knows it, so everybody knows the best way out of their room,” said Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane. “Tell the kids to remember to get low, and go and practice it. The NFPA recommends, at least twice a year, try to practice and get everybody familiar with what they’re going to do if there is a fire.”

Make sure everybody knows where to meet after evacuating the home, and make sure kids are ready to talk to emergency responders if necessary.

“Make sure that your little ones know your address for your home,” Crane said. “They may be the ones that have to call 911, so make sure they understand your address and what to tell the dispatchers, and also remind them that 911 is only for emergencies.”

The theme for Fire Prevention Month this year is “Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You.” Make sure the members of your household know what the smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm sound like.

Crane also says sleep with the door closed in case of fire.

“The saying is ‘close when you dose,’ so what that is is that helps keep that smoke and that fire away from you,” Crane said. “If you do hear the smoke alarm go off, maybe you don’t know where the fire is. You want to make sure that you’re checking the door before you open the door, but keep the door closed because if it works in a way where if you’re not able to get out your door, you may have to stay in your room and may have to shelter there until the fire department can get to you.”

Visit the National Fire Protection Association for more fire safety tips.

The Elizabethtown City Council met for their second meeting of the month Monday.

The first reading was held on an ordinance that would extend Comcast’s non-exclusive franchise rights in the city for 15 years.

The council approved on second reading an ordinance that amends the zoning for 204 Jackie Street from future development holding to urban residential general (R-4). The change was recommended for approval by the city’s planning commission.

In other meeting news, Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory commended the response of the staff at Baptist Health Hardin to the armed gunman incident in the hospital’s emergency room Saturday, and called the response of the Elizabethtown Police Department “textbook.”

“Quite frankly, I wouldn’t trade our PD or our people that work at our PD with anybody anywhere, and I think that is just another reminder of what happened Saturday and why we’re so blessed to have the folks that we do down there at the PD,” Gregory said.

Gregory also announced that trick or treating in the city will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. on October 31. 

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet October 28.