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Temperatures begin to warm after long stretch of winter weather

After multiple days of wintry precipitation, frigid winds, and freezing temperatures, the area finally gets a bit of a break this week.

“We’re warming up into the 40s for highs by Monday, mid and upper 40s by Tuesday, and even 50s by Wednesday, so we do see a pretty good ramp-up in the warmth as we go later into the week,” said Meteorologist Dan McKemy with the National Weather Service in Louisville

After a day of mostly sunny skies Monday, rain showers are expected through most of the rest of the week.

Highway crews had their work cut out for them over the weekend as another round of precipitation coupled with some of the coldest temperatures of the season impacted road treatment efforts. While many of the major thoroughfares are in better condition, many lower-volume roadways are still being treated.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is reminding Kentuckians to be safe in the cold and on the roads, with five deaths reported around the commonwealth due to the freezing temperatures last week. The governor’s office is also reminding residents in need to take advantage of the state’s emergency services as needed, which can be found at kyem.ky.gov, and is reminding Kentuckians of the state’s price gouging laws, violations of which can be reported to the state attorney general’s office.

Progress made but delays still present with new vehicle registration system

The Hardin County Clerk’s Office is still seeing delays due to the state’s new vehicle registration software.

“This new software system, KAVIS, that’s been introduced by the Transportation Cabinet is still wonky and still buggy,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “We’re reporting those bugs to the software team and they are working on them.”

He said despite still seeing longer wait times progress has been made.

“What is currently not available right now is online registration,” Smith said. “We’re hopeful that they’ll get that up and running very, very quickly, but most other transactions we’re able to complete. We just ask for continued patience from the public.”

While some delays are expected, the staff at the clerk’s office is still working hard to accommodate customers.

“We always encourage folks to renew your registration on time,” Smith said. “That;s always helpful. It will save you time and money, but expect a longer than anticipated wait. Early mornings seem to be the best time to come. We’re a little bit lighter in the mornings. Afternoons get really, really heavy.”

Smith said he can’t thank the public enough for their patience.

“They have really, really been gracious,” Smith said. “I know it’s been frustrating for them. I know they’re worried about deadlines and timelines. We are too. We’re going to do our very best to help them.”

Smith has been posting ongoing updates to the Hardin County Clerk’s Office’s Facebook page.

Hodgenville responds to property damage caused by vehicles doing donuts

The City of Hodgenville is closing Salem Lake until further notice due to damage caused by a vehicle doing donuts.

Hodgenville Police Chief James Richardson said the incident at Salem Lake was preceded by two similar incidents.

“Before the snow came through, we had a young man that was in a pickup truck – we haven’t identified him yet, we’re still looking – that was doing donuts out at McDougal Lake and caused several thousand dollars worth of damage on that brand new chip-sealed parking lot,” Richardson said. “We put out information that we were looking for anybody with tips that could lead to a charge or arrest in that case, then shortly after that the weather turned bad and we had some individual doing donuts in one of our major intersections.”

Richardson said the damage at Salem Lake was significant, and the city is reminding residents to be safe and to take care of public areas.

“We understand that kids are gonna be kids, and I’m not the Donut Police,” Richardson said. “We’re not coming out looking for people that are doing these things as long as you’re on private property. If you’ve got permission, knock yourself out, but don’t go to public property, don’t go to places you’re not allowed to do it and then damage other people’s property, that’s what we have an issue with.”

Meanwhile, the Hodgenville Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance Wednesday that led to a Hodgenville man’s arrest.

The HPD says officers responded to an address on Parker’s Loop in the early morning hours on January 17. The HPD says the investigation revealed that the victim in the incident was forced from the apartment after a physical altercation with Kevin “Dewey” Day, who allegedly broke the victim’s phone, took her keys, and threw some of the victim’s possessions out the window before locking the door and fleeing the scene.Responding officers forced their way into the apartment with the victim’s consent so she could retrieve her things.

Day was charged with Fourth Degree assault, Criminal Mischief, and Theft. A warrant was issued for Day’s arrest and police began searching the area. Day was found Thursday hiding in an area barn. He was taken into custody and lodged in the LaRue County Detention Center.

Hart County man gets four years in prison

A Hart County man will serve more than four years in prison after being convicted for a federal weapons charge.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky says Lawrence T. Carter Jr. of Munfordville will serve four years and nine months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Carter was arrested in August of 2022 after a traffic stop on Old Munfordville Road found him to be in possession of drugs and a 9 MM handgun. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Carter is banned from possessing firearms after a 2005 conviction for drug and weapons charges.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives along with the Cave City Police Department as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, an operation bringing together multiple law enforcement agencies to reduce violent crime, and as part of the ATF’s violent crime reduction strategies.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says there is no parole in the federal system.

Baptist Health Hardin warns of frostbite and hypothermia as more winter weather heads towards area

The National Weather Service in Louisville has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for all of Central Kentucky, in effect from noon Thursday to 7 p.m. Friday. Wintry precipitation may result in some ice accumulation that will then be covered with some snow, all with frigid air pushing wind chill values below zero.

Baptist Health Hardin is reminding residents to bundle up when going out into frigid conditions in order to avoid conditions such as frostbite and hypothermia.

Dr. Peter Popovich works in the emergency department at Baptist Health Hardin. He says the three groups of people most at risk for frostbite and hypothermia are:

“Children,” Popovich says. “Part of that is because they have a higher body surface area, so more of their body surface is exposed to the cold elements. The elderly; a lot of times their blood supply, their vascular supplies to their extremities are not as efficient and subsequently they can be more affected by it. And then people that work in the cold.”

Popovich says the best way to prevent exposure is avoiding exposure altogether. If you must go out in subzero conditions, try not to be out for more than 15 minutes, and dress warmly in layers, paying particular attention to limbs and the face.

Pay attention to the signs of frostbite to avoid severe tissue damage.

“Discoloration of, usually, the digits,” Popovich says. “Your fingers, your toes, things along those lines, but it can be your nose or ears or other exposed area. Any initial red discoloration or eventually blue or a pale discoloration, but also numbness and severe pain, and in severe cases you lose any pain sensation.”

If somebody is showing signs of frostbite, get them out of the cold as soon as possible. Get the person out of wet clothing and gradually warm the body. Seek medical attention right away.

As the area prepares for another round of frigid conditions, warming centers are available for those in need of shelter.

Any citizen who is displaced and in need of assistance should contact one of the following phone numbers:

-City of Elizabethtown residents may call 270-765-4125

-City of Radcliff residents may call 270-351-4477

-City of Vine Grove residents may call 270-877-2252

Any Hardin County resident who resides outside of a municipality’s city limits may contact the police department for the city closest to them.