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Hardin County Fiscal Court approves budget amendment

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

The court approved an ordinance on second reading that amends the 2024-2025 budget. Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul said the amendment facilitates a $1 million Federal Community Development Block Grant for Family Scholar House.

District Four Magistrate Fred Clem attempted to motion to reintroduce a resolution drafted by the Hardin County Finance Committee to form “a steering committee to study land use evaluation of properties at the current and old landfill” after it was removed from Tuesday’s agenda ahead of the meeting. Taul said Clem’s motion was out of order as “only the judge/executive can establish or appoint committees of fiscal court per the administrative code.” Clem and Taul disagreed on Taul’s authority to refuse action on Clem’s motion.

In other meeting news, Hardin County Coroner Pat Elmore said during his report to the court that the coroner’s office handled 1,178 cases in 2024. That included 5 homicides and 78 accidents, of which just under half were overdoses.

Hardin County Sheriff John Ward told the court that in December and January the sheriff’s office made 215 arrests, issued 180 citations, and served 103 warrants. Ward encouraged drivers to remember to use caution and said in 2024 Hardin County was third in total fatal traffic accidents in Kentucky, and Ward noted a fatal accident Monday involving two commercial vehicles.

“We had a fatal accident on I-65 last night, one which was basically driver inattention, not speed related,” Ward said. “If anything, it was low-speed related, but it was driver inattention.”

The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet March 11.

Area veteran and service dog recognized

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Daniel O’Dell says the most important part of documenting the journey of he and his service dog The Fluffy Poodle has been the ability to reach out to the community.

“We’ve been lucky enough to share our story for five-plus years to the military and disability community and everybody all around the world, to give them hope and let them know no matter what you’ve been through in the past, you can still follow your dreams,” O’Dell said.

O’Dell and The Fluffy Poodle’s work is receiving some special recognition, as the two are featured in the spring issue of U.S. Veterans MagazineM honoring the Service Dogs of the Year.

“When we got that announcement, I definitely shed a tear, because it’s an overwhelming feeling,” O’Dell. “We got that thank you that we really deserve, and just being a guiding light for the military community is ultimately what it’s all about.”

O’Dell says the recognition is motivation to continue spreading the message.

“I tell everybody, no matter what you’re going through in the past, or no matter what you’re going through now or in the past, you can still follow your dreams, because if I can get through my challenges and disability with my service dog, The Fluffy Poodle, I know you can too, so ultimately we just give a little bit of hope and tell our story to inspire everybody all around the world,” O’Dell said.

If you get a copy of U.S. Veterans Magazine’s spring issue, turn to page 46. You can follow O’Dell and The Fluffy Poodle by searching for The Fluffy Poodle on social media.

Rineyville Elementary preschool teacher receives district award

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A Rineyville Elementary School teacher is being recognized by the school district. 

Rineyville Elementary preschool teacher Jennifer Arnold has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Hardin County Schools WHAS-11 ExCEL Award.

According to a release from HCS, Rineyville Elementary Principal Stephanie Breeding says Arnold was recognized for meeting the needs of her students, customizing the way she teachers literacy, math, language, and social and writing skills, her preparation and implementation of special education plans for students with disabilities, her adaptability, and her use of communication devices to help students build language and speaking skills.

Arnold said in the release: “I am grateful for the recognition and inspired to continue working hard to ensure inclusion for all learners. I believe that every student deserves access to a fun learning environment where they feel supported, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential.”

Arnold is the fifth Rineyville Elementary teacher to receive the award, which was first presented in 1991. She will be honored during a celebration at the school on March 19, and will receive $1,000 from Miracle Playgrounds of Kentucky and Tennessee to purchase items for her classroom.