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Area officers among those recognized for impaired driving enforcement

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State and local law enforcement officers from across Kentucky were honored this week for their efforts to protect motorists from impaired drivers.

The Governor’s Impaired Driving Enforcement Awards were presented at the Hyatt Regency in Lexington. Hosted by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety, more than 170 officers representing more than 150 law enforcement agencies were recognized.

The KYTC says awards were presented to officers with the most impaired-driving arrests in each agency and in each division from October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023.

Area officers that were recognized include:

-Brian Abell from the Bardstown Police Department

-Tyler Mitcham from the Brandenburg Police Department

-Aaron Duncan from the Breckinridge County Sheriff’s Office

-Ethan Jones from the Elizabethtown Police Department

-Terry Riley from the Hodgenville Police Department

-Cameron Right from Kentucky State Police Post Four

-Jamie Ferrie from the LaRue County Sheriff’s Office

-Tycondi Whitaker from the Leitchfield Police Department

-Ryan Boyd from the Radcliff Police Department.

The Office of Highway Safety says last year in Kentucky there were more than 4,100 crashes involving an impaired driver, resulting in 1,990 injuries and 189 deaths.

Lincoln Trail District Health Department app now available

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The Lincoln Trail District Health Department is announcing the release of their new Health Department App.

“For one, it will connect you quickly to the website,” said LTDHD Public Information Officer Melissa Phillips. “It will connect you to our social media. Whether you follow us on those channels or not, you’ll be able to download that content. You can find out what career opportunities we have available. There are links for our programs for families such as WIC and HANDS. I’ll be able to post any upcoming events like Christmas in the Park, which we’re participating in this year. An important feature for our staff and for the public is I’ll be able to do push notifications any time there’s any type of health or safety emergency in our community.”

The health department says the app was developed in partnership with ThePublicHealthApp.com to offer quick access to information and services.

“We know, especially after the pandemic, that people get their health information in a different way, and for a certain age demographic a smartphone is the first thing they’re going to check for news and health information,” Phillips said.

The app is now available for free download in the App Store and Google Play by searching “Lincoln Trail Health, KY.”

Hardin County Schools introduces online payment platform

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Hardin County Schools is introducing an online payment platform to give parents convenient payment options.

The district partnered with SchoolCash Online to implement the new system.

“Parents can manage all school fees and items for their students in one location and have the convenience of a secure online payment platform, and the schools improve safety and reduce risk by minimizing cash and check payments at the schools,” said HCS Community Relations Specialist John Wright. 

The system will be available for student activity-related items such as field trips, fundraisers, club dues, and registration fees.

“When those things come due, when parents have signed up to participate in SchoolCash Online, they will get an email that the fee is due, and so they can go into the SchoolCash Online system and pay that fee,” Wright said.

Parents can learn more by visiting the Hardin County Schools website.

Meanwhile, HCS announced this week that District Maintenance Supervisor Jamey Hawkins is now the district’s Director of Buildings and Grounds.

“He’s a true leader, and will do an amazing job in this role,” Wright said. “He has a strong relationship with the current members of the Buildings and Grounds family, and he knows our facilities inside and out. Each schools’ staff knows him and the outstanding work he does.”

Prior to serving as maintenance supervisor, Hawkins worked as a district HVAC specialist.

Hardin County Fiscal Court discusses tax ordinances related to future development

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

The fiscal court voted to advance two ordinances from first to second reading, the first which updates the creation of an industrial taxing district and payment of a special ad valorem tax related to anticipated development spurred by industry such as BlueOval SK, and the second which updates the occupational tax within the industrial and commercial taxing district.

Judge-Executive Keith Taul said there is never a good time to increase taxes, but with the county responsible for providing services to residents it is a necessary investment.

“Honestly, I hate it,” Taul said. “I don’t want to do it, but it is, I believe, the responsible thing to do.”

Magistrate Chris Yates said the tax is unfortunate but necessary.

“When you call 911, you want the sheriff’s department to be out there ASAP,” Yates said. “When you call for an ambulance, you want them there yesterday, and at that time you wouldn’t put a price tag on your family, so this is the necessary thing to do to ensure that we have the resources available to you guys.”

Larry Hicks was the only magistrate to vote against the ordinances. Hicks said he was not comfortable putting an extra burden on taxpayers, and had concerns with the recently announced delay of the opening of BlueOval SK’s second plant.

“How many more times is BlueOval going to back up?” said Hicks. “It’s 5,000, then it was 2,500, and the latest I’ve heard maybe 1,000, so do we have to do this right now? I’m not against doing this if it’s needed, but I’m not sold on it’s needed right now.”

The ordinances, which can be viewed on the county’s website, will go up for a vote at the next fiscal court meeting.

In other meeting news, Hardin County Jailer Josh Lindblom reported that the Hardin County Detention Center took in 476 inmates during the month of October while 481 were released, and inmates worked more than 13,000 hours, resulting in more than $81,000 in savings for the county.

The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet December 12.