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Three area counties receive funds through rubber-modified asphalt program

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Three area counties are among recent state road funding recipients.

Governor Andy Beshear and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet announced on Friday that about $886,000 had been awarded to seven counties “to improve the safety of area roadways and to support the reuse of waste tires through rubber-modified asphalt projects.”

According to a release from the Energy and Environment Cabinet, the grant funding will be used for the application of asphalt overlay on county roads, with the overlays using rubber-modified asphalt. The Energy and Environment Cabinet says rubber-modified asphalt has been shown to reduce road noise and increase roadway life by seven to 10 years.

Hardin County received about $136,000 to resurface County Road 1274/Flint Hill Road. LaRue County received about $160,000 to resurface Country Lane. Meade County received about $139,000 to resurface Flaherty Road.

The grant money comes from the Kentucky Waste Tire Trust Fund. As a condition of the funding, the counties agree to pay for conventional chip sealing or a thin overlay on a road with similar characteristics to allow for comparison between conventional and rubber-modified asphalt.

Learn more about the grant program on the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s website.

LaRue County among most recent to receive Recovery Ready Community certification

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Three Lincoln Trail District counties are among the latest four to receive their Recovery Ready Community certifications.

Governor Andy Beshear announced last week that LaRue, Marion, and Washington counties completed the requirements to receive the certification, which recognizes the establishment of services in three categories: prevention, treatment, and recovery support.

“These communities have put in the hard work,” said Governor Beshear during last Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update. “They’re making their communities safer and ending generational cycles of crime and addiction.”

In announcing the certifications, the governor’s office highlighted LaRue County’s partnership with Kentucky Chamber to “host fair chance employment events and ensure access to recovery housing in neighboring Hardin County.” Efforts by the Lincoln Trail District Health Department to support the counties were also highlighted.

Beshear said efforts by Recovery Ready Communities are paying off.

“Just two weeks ago, we celebrated because it was amazing news: a 30.2 percent decrease in overdose deaths last year as compared to the year before,” Beshear said. “We know we still have a lot of work to do, but these are so many Kentuckians that are still with us that in previous years we would have lost.”

Learn more about Recovery Ready Community certification at www.rrcky.org.

Increases in unemployment rates seen despite improvement

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Despite statewide decreases, unemployment rates across the Lincoln Trail District were up slightly in April from where they were the year prior.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says unemployment rates increased in 31 of the state’s counties in April. The rates were the same in eight counties and decreased in 81.

The state unemployment average for April was reported at 4.4 percent. That is the same average seen in April 2024 and it is down from the 5.5 percent average reported in March. Seven counties in the Lincoln Trail District had April unemployment rates higher than the state average.

Hardin County’s unemployment rate for April was slightly above the state average at 4.7 percent. That’s an increase from the 4.5 percent rate reported in April 2024 but is down from the 5.8 percent rate reported in March.

Grayson County posted the highest unemployment rate in the Lincoln Trail District for April at 5.4 percent, followed by Breckinridge County at 5 percent. Washington County had the lowest rate in the district at 3.8 percent, followed by Marion County at 4.5 percent.

Learn more about how the unemployment rate is calculated and find more labor market information by visiting kystats.ky.gov.

EPD accepting donations to support tornado victims

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The Elizabethtown Police Department is looking to support families impacted by the May 16 tornadoes.

“Similar to what we did following the 2021 Western Kentucky tornadoes, we’re collecting monetary donations to extend our Shop with a Cop program to children impacted by the recent southeastern Kentucky storms,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “Donations can be dropped off at the Elizabethtown Police Department or you can contact me to schedule a pickup.”

Denham says the effort is seeing an extra benefit from community support.

“All funds will go directly to the affected communities by way of the family resource coordinators within the school systems,” Denham said. “Additionally, I’d like to add that thanks to a very generous sponsor, every donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $2,500.”

The EPD says it is also working on setting up an online platform for donations. Visit the EPD’s Facebook page for more information.

HCS invites community to upcoming career fair

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Hardin County Schools is inviting area residents to their career fair, which will be held Wednesday, June 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the HCS Early College and Career Center (200 University Drive, Elizabethtown).

“Our Board of Education approved a four percent raise for all district staff at its May board meeting, and that is on top of a six percent increase that the board approved last school year, so over the last 10 years our employees have seen a 10 percent pay increase,” said HCS Community Relations Specialist John Wright.

School principals will be in attendance to speak with applicants, and on the spot interviews may occur. The career fair is targeted to those seeking certified and classified positions.

“People who work for Hardin County Schools already know what a wonderful family environment that we have here in our district, and this career fair will serve as an opportunity for our community to learn more about our family and discover positions that offer extremely competitive pay and tremendous benefit packages,” Wright said.

More information and applications can be found under the Employment tab on the HCS website.