WQXE NEWS
Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory said hosting Mayor Lee Wan-Seop and the delegation from Seosan, South Korea, as the two cities sign a Friendship City agreement is the proudest he has been during his time in office.
“We can’t wait to see where it takes us, what opportunities arise from it, and we’re just starting today, so lots of things are coming that are going to be fruitful, I think, for both cities, and we’re really excited about it,” Gregory said.
The two cities held a signing ceremony for the agreement during the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce’s June luncheon Wednesday at Phillips Grove. According to a release from the city: “The Friendship City agreement opens the door to future cooperation in business, education, culture, and tourism between Elizabethtown and Seosan City. Both cities are excited to explore joint projects and reciprocal visits that will enrich their communities for years to come.”
Lee said while their populations are different, Elizabethtown and Seosan have many similarities including their relationship to larger neighboring cities and a focus on growth. He thanked the city for their hospitality, and said through a translator: “I’ll never forget the friendliness that you have shown to us, and I am strongly aware that you have high expectations for these exchanges going forward.”
E-Town officials took the Seosan delegation on a tour that included the T.J. Patterson Industrial Park, BlueOval SK, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park, and the Lawn Party concert at Freeman Lake Park.
BlueOval SK External Affairs Director Keli McAlister says the company is aware that the EV market has not grown as quickly as originally projected, but with sales seeing an 11 percent increase in Quarter One the company is confident their operation is part of a “growing, emerging market.”
“In a nutshell, this year it is estimated that one in four new vehicles that are sold in the United States will be electrified in some way,” McAlister said. “That means they will be full electric vehicles, they will be plug-in hybrids, or a traditional hybrid.”
McAlister gave an update on the company at the Hardin County Fiscal Court’s meeting Tuesday. She discussed common questions the company has received including the potential impact of tariffs and the current status of the Kentucky Two plant, which is still on pause.
“The construction for the most part is completed,” McAlister said. “It has met all safety requirements, and it is shelled out. The interior is empty, and the market will determine when that building is ready.”
When discussing safety, McAlister said after an investigation that lasted about a month, the root cause of the April 27 fire at the plant was determined.
“There was a misalignment of a shaft within a pump,” McAlister said. “The misalignment was likely due to the fact that our equipment is made to run 24/7. It’s supposed to stay on all the time. We’re in what’s called a testing phase right now, so our equipment is turned on and off, on and off.”
When asked about rumors regarding Nissan potentially joining Ford at the plant, McAlister reiterated the company’s previous statement that their parent companies are “always looking for new business opportunities” but Ford is currently their only customer, and she said any news on a new customer would come directly from BlueOval SK.
McAlister said about 1,400 employees have been onboarded, and full production is still on track to begin in the second half of this year.
The official state outdoor musical of Kentucky returns to the stage this weekend.
The Stephen Foster Story will take to the stage at the J. Dan Talbott Amphitheatre this Saturday as the musical kicks off its 66th season in Bardstown.
Featuring classic songs such as “Oh! Susanna”, “Camptown Races”, and Kentucky’s state song “My Old Kentucky Home”, The Stephen Foster Story “follows America’s first great composer, Stephen Collins Foster, as he paves the road for future songwriters through love, heartache, and the struggles of the time.”
The Stephen Foster Drama Association will run productions of the musical select nights from June 14 through August 9. Tickets to opening night include a pre-show performance by the band Puncheon Creek, complimentary light refreshments, and a cast meet and greet.
The musical has been staged at My Old Kentucky Home State Park since 1959. Visit www.stephenfoster.com for more information and to order tickets.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their first meeting of the month Tuesday.
The fiscal court approved the county budget for fiscal year 2025-2026. Eighth District Magistrate Kenny Muse said he was voting against the budget because he was frustrated with the use of reserve funds to balance it.
“Each year, we say we’re going to do better, and we probably have done better, but we’re still not there with, I guess it’s $2 million over,” Muse said.
The council also approved an ordinance amending the 2024-2025 budget to account for receipts from road aid and asphalt funding, and a resolution approving step in grade for the new budget and a one percent cost of living adjustment was approved.
Lincoln Trail District Health Department Public Health Director Sara Jo Best provided an update on services the health department provided in Hardin County. Best said total visits for the current fiscal year as of April are 14,856, which with two months left is already ahead of the 10,915 visits seen last fiscal year.
Hardin County Emergency Management Director Joey Scott said federal Disaster Survivor Assistance staff have contacted more than 5,100 homes in the county since April storms and flooding hit the area. The deadline to register with FEMA for Individual Assistance has been extended to July 25.
“Almost $3 million has been recovered so far from claims from Hardin County, so that’s encouraging news that some money is coming back to our community to help people during this time,” Scott said.
FEMA’S Disaster Recovery Center is located at Kentucky State Police Post Four.
The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet June 24.