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Polls are open for the 2024 primary election.

“Election Day is always an exciting day for the county clerk’s office,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “Our poll workers have been up long before the sun, setting up our polling locations, getting everything ready for the first voters. Voting begins at 6 a.m. and it runs through 6 p.m., and if you’re in line at 6 p.m., you’ll get a chance to vote.”

Voting locations can be found by visiting your county clerk’s office’s website. Smith says Hardin County voters will be able to use the 12 sites available in the last election along with three new locations.

“Heartland Elementary School, Cecilia Valley Elementary School, and Glendale Christian Church,” Smith said. “Any of the locations, the line should move quickly. It’s a pretty short ballot, so that’s sometimes what creates a log jam, but we think that voters will be in and out pretty quickly.”

Anybody in need of assistance on election day should feel free to reach out.

“If voters have questions or concerns about anything they see during election day, they can call the clerk’s office at 270-765-6762,” Smith said. “We’ll have folks standing by to take your calls and questions.”

Election information can also be found at govote.ky.gov.

Hardin County Schools is taking advantage of increased state funding to reward district employees.

“Our board unanimously approved a 6 percent raise for all certified and degreed employees, and some classified folks,” said HCS Superintendent Terry Morgan. “However, with the classified system, individuals will have a $1 to a $4 raise.”

That’s HCS Superintendent Terry Morgan. She says the raises were approved to help HCS stay competitive with other school districts and to say thank you for employee dedication.

“We want to show appreciation for those who have already been with our district,” Morgan said. “It may be one year, it may be 25 or 35. I know of even one individual who’s been here for at least 50 years. So it’s not only to recruit, but to retain the best and brightest here in Hardin County.”

The Kentucky General Assembly approved a three percent increase to SEEK, the funding mechanism for Kentucky schools.

“100 percent of that SEEK increase went to fund raises for those who work in the school district,” Morgan said. “In addition to that 3 percent, our board also contributed district funds to get that increase up to the 6 percent mark and then the dollar to $4 an hour for all the other employees.”

HCS says the 6 percent raises are the largest awarded by the district since the 1990s.