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Meade County Schools focusing on safety with school resource officer expansion

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As the district begins classes today, Meade County Schools is marking an investment in school safety efforts with the announcement of the expansion of the district’s roster of school resource officers.

According to a release from the school district, four full-time SROs will serve students and staff across the district. The Meade County Sheriff’s Office is providing two officers, one of whom will be assigned to Meade County High School and the other to the four county elementary schools, and the Brandenburg Police Department will provide two officers, one assigned to Stuart Pepper Middle School and the other rotating between David T. Wilson Elementary and Barry Hahn Primary.

“It’s going to be a huge asset for the schools, and knowing that for the safety of our kids,” said Meade County Sheriff Phillip Wimpee. “I don’t want our kids just to feel safe. I want our school, our staff to also be safe.”

Wimpee says having a school resource officer in the building is not only about safety but also about students building a rapport with law enforcement.

“That way later in life, the kids feel comfortable talking to police officers and when they see something, they’ll say something to a police officer,” Wimpee said. “And also in school, they’ll have that rapport built up with the kids to know that they have that safety net where they can reach out to the school resource officer, not only as a police officer, but also as a mentor or a friend.”

The district says the expansion is a significant increase from 2020 when only one school resource officer was assigned to the entire district.

HCS encourages families to stay connected as school year gets under way

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Hardin County Schools Community Relations Specialist John Wright says the district is excited to kick off the 2025-2026 school year on Thursday.

“It’s always a wonderful time of year for our staff and for our students to get everybody back in the swing of things, and to begin the process of learning and growing and thriving in our school district,” Wright said.

Wright said parents are encouraged to check out the “Important Information for the First Day of School” article on the HCS website. Parents can stay informed on district activities through social media channels.

“Another new way for us to share information this year is our HCS app, which you can download for free at app stores, either at Google Play or at Apple,” Wright said.

Wright encourages families to check on their child’s bus routes as they may have changed from the previous year, and get your students into their regular school routine.

“Just know that we’ll be focusing on several different things throughout the school year,” Wright said. “One is attendance. Students cannot learn if they’re not in school, so we want our students to be in school as much as possible.”

Visit the Hardin County Schools website for more information.

KYTC popup events available in counties without a regional office

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If you are not able to make it to a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Driver Licensing Regional Office, the KYTC may be bringing those services to your community via their Popup Driver Licensing program.

Driver licensing popup events offer all of the regular services of a driver licensing regional office including upgrading to a Real ID, requesting an eight-year license if you are due to renew, updating your name and address, and renewing your CDL.

According to the KYTC, popup events are only for residents in the county hosting the event. Every county that does not have a licensing office receives at least two popup events each year.

Appointments at popup events are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and must be made online at drive.ky.gov. While the events are considered appointment only, staff may be able to accept some walk-ins, but there is no guarantee of service without an appointment.

Meade County has a popup event coming up on August 14. Breckinridge, Bullitt, and Hart counties have events in September, and LaRue County has an event in October. Find more information on popup events, as well as on services that do not require an office visit, at drive.ky.gov.

E-Town council approves Pear Orchard zoning change, outdoor music venue contract change

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

The council approved ordinances that updated the city’s Code of Ethics to match recommended updates from the Kentucky League of Cities and updates to the city’s land usage ordinance concerning residential zoning. When discussing the residential amendments during the council’s June 9 work session, Elizabethtown Planning and Development Director Joe Reverman said the changes allow developers more flexibility and creativity, while also addressing housing needs.

“People have asked for rezoning for a zoning district where they don’t need the zoning change to increase density, they just want smaller lot sizes or some other regulation that’s in another zoning district that doesn’t require additional density, and then we want to incentivize certain types of developments and then of course create new housing types to increase supply and increase affordability,” Reverman said.

The council also approved the rezoning of 1151 Pear Orchard Road from Urban Residential (R-3) to Regional Commercial (C-3). That rezoning paves the way for such uses as a proposed VA medical clinic, but Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory noted that nothing besides the requested zoning change has been presented to the city.

In other meeting news, the first readings were held on ordinances rezoning 201 and 202 North Main Street to Downtown Mixed Use (C-5) and the annexation of 1331 Hayden School Road. The council also approved a municipal order amending the city’s contract with Congleton Hacker Company for the outdoor music venue project.

“The outdoor music venue project has now progressed to the next phase of construction and the city and (Elizabethtown) Tourism desire to continue to develop the project, and per the directive of Municipal Order No. 51-2024 have negotiated a price for the construction phase of the project,” said City Attorney Ken Howard, reading from the municipal order. 

The amendment to the contract includes the completion of construction of the project including buildings, utility infrastructure, equipment installation, parking areas, and landscaping, with a “guaranteed maximum price” at an amount not to exceed $41,082,281.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet August 11.

Prosecution says Lawson ‘has shown no grounds’ for new trial

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The prosecution is responding to convicted Crystal Rogers investigation suspect Steven Lawson’s request for a new trial.

In a response filed Monday to the defendant’s motion for a new trial and judgement notwithstanding the verdict, Special Assistant to the Attorney General Teresa Young said Lawson’s defense “has shown no grounds which would entitle him to a new trial.”

Responding to the defense’s claims that they did not have adequate time to prepare for the trial, Young notes that the trial was moved from February to May to allow the new defense attorneys time to review the case, and that Lawson did not take advantage of arrangements made by Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III to allow Lawson to review materials at the courthouse.

Young also dismissed claims from the defense that Lawson was prejudiced by members of the Ballard family wearing pink in the courtroom gallery, or by prosecution witness Elizabeth Chesser speaking with Rogers’s mother Sherry Ballard during the trial, as the interaction was not about their testimony and was not in violation of separation of witness rules. 

Lawson was found guilty on Class B Felony Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Class D Felony Tampering with Physical Evidence charges on May 30, at which time the jury recommended a prison sentence of 17 years. He is scheduled to appear in Nelson Circuit Court for a sentencing hearing Wednesday.