WQXE NEWS

The National Fire Protection Association encourages residents to take steps to protect their homes and loved ones during Fire Prevention Week, which runs now through October 11.

Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says the theme for Fire Prevention Week this year is “Charge into Fire Safety: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home”.

Crane says with so many items on the market today using lithium-ion batteries, make sure you do some homework first.

“Make sure you know what you’re buying, that it’s listed by a reputable underwriter, and that it has the over-circuit protection, over-charge protection, things like that,” Crane said. “When you’re buying it, take time to research it. Look for a stamp from a nationally-recognized testing laboratory.”

Make sure you only use lithium-ion products as intended.

“When you’re charging your devices, use the cables that come with the product,” Crane said. “Some cables are a specific length for a reason because of the heat buildup and everything, and also charge it according to what the manufacturer says. Don’t try to do things or manipulate it in some way.”

When a product is past its prime, dispose of it properly.

“We don’t want to throw them just in the regular trash or regular recycling bins because there is a fire hazard there as well, because there’s still that energy in there,” Crane said. “Even though it might not have enough power to charge a device in that way, there’s still some energy left in there. Recycle it at a safe battery recycling location.”

Visit the National Fire Protection Association’s website for more information on Fire Prevention Week.

A Hardin County teenager was convicted for his part in a 2024 overdose death of a minor.

The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office says 18-year-old Aadyn Kristopher-Nelson Durbin pleaded guilty in Hardin Circuit Court this week to Second Degree Manslaughter, Trafficking in a Controlled Substance, and Trafficking in Marijuana. Durbin was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The AG’s office says “Durbin admitted to knowingly selling fentanyl, which caused the victim’s death in December 2024. As part of the plea agreement, Durbin agreed not to have any contact with the victim’s family or attend any events at Elizabethtown Independent Schools.”

The Elizabethtown Police Department arrested Durbin along with two adult suspects (Damien Felker and Brandon Durbin, both of Elizabethtown) as part of their investigation into the death of a 17-year-old at an Elizabethtown residence on December 18, 2024. The EPD said at the time that the overdose death was likely related to tablets that were designed to look like a prescription narcotic but were actually laced with fentanyl.

The AG’s office says fentanyl was present in more than 60 percent of the 1,410 Kentucky overdose deaths that occurred in 2024.

Team Kentucky Stop Scams is offering advice on how to handle unwanted calls. 

The Stop Scams team says the best way to handle an unwanted call is to simply not answer. Once scammers know a number is live, they are encouraged to continue calling the number. Stop Scams says the best method is to let the call ring to voicemail as hitting ignore can also signal that the number is live.

If you do answer a suspicious call, don’t say yes on the phone call, as scammers may record your voice and use it to make it sound like you are responding to other questions or requests. Remember that even if a phone call appears to be coming from your area code it might be a spoofed number. Add important numbers such as your doctor or your child’s school to your phone so you recognize them when they call.

The Stop Scams team says to check your phone’s settings for built-in spam call features. Ask your carrier if they offer call blocking or call labeling services. You can also look into a call screening app.

You can get more information on ongoing scam attempts, report a scam, and sign up for alerts by visiting stopscams.ky.gov.