Menu Close

WQXE NEWS

BBB warns of scams after severe weather events

WQXE News 0 Comments

As the area recovers storms and flooding, the Better Business Bureau is reminding residents to watch out for common scams that follow disasters. 

The BBB says residents affected by the recent storms should beware of out-of-town storm chasers that are looking to take advantage of victims as they clean up and repair their homes and property. The organization also says area businesses should be wary of storm chasers who offer substantial amounts of money to use their business’s name in order to masquerade as a local business.

The BBB says any business must be licensed by the state, so if you are not sure of a purported businsses’s legitimacy contact the Revenue Commission to check on the company. Try to get multiple quotes from contractors, and never pay for a job in advance. Be wary of any contractor that demands any payment upfront. Resist high-pressure sales tactics, and get a written contract that specifies a price.

Beware of scammers masquerading as utility companies, which will never call a consumer and demand immediate payment, as well as scammers pretending to be with FEMA. 

Visit the Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Kentucky and South Central Indiana on the web for more tips and resources.

Support Breckinridge County High School Student Council’s fundraiser by putting on your dancing shoes

WQXE News 0 Comments

The Breckinridge County High School Student Council invites students and members of the public to their DanceBlue Minimarathon, to be held in the BCHS gym from 3 to 7 p.m. Central on Saturday, April 19.

BCHS English teacher and student council sponsor Erin DeHaven says the event is inspired by the University of Kentucky’s DanceBlue Marathon.

“The money goes towards DanceBlue and pediatric oncology and hematology, so kids who are dealing with various types of blood cancers and other cancers,” DeHaven said.

The BCHS students have a personal connection to the fight against cancer.

“Ours is actually going to be dedicated to Braxton Criss and his family,” DeHaven said. “Braxton is a student who was a senior this year at our school, and unfortunately he lost his battle with cancer not too long ago, so we feel it’s appropriate for us to dance in honor of Braxton at ours.”

Students may purchase their tickets during lunch the week of the event. Tickets will be available for students and the public at the door.

“When you pay $20, you get a t-shirt and you get a little swag bag of different prizes,” DeHaven said. “You get access to food that we’ll have available throughout the night, and you’ll participate in as many of the hourly activities as you would like.”

Tickets to come and watch the dancing and support the cause are $15 at the door. Area businesses or organizations interested in sponsoring the event may contact DeHaven for more information.

ECTC hosting supply drive for students transferring to four-year schools

WQXE News 0 Comments

Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is inviting the public to help support ECTC students transferring to four-year colleges or universities during their “Pack for the Path: College Transfer Supply Drive.”

ECTC President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate says the drive was created by ECTC Director of Enrichment and Engagement Jerisia Lamons.

“When students leave to transfer and go to a four-year institution, that’s always an exciting time for families putting together their clothes, necessities, paper, pencils, notebooks, all that kind of stuff, but you know, a lot of our students don’t have anybody to help them with that, and Jerisia started working to get them a care package as they are transferring,” Pate said.

The supply drive runs now through April 25. Community members are asked to donate new items at ECTC’s Academic Technical Building, Regional Postsecondary Center, Student Center, and the Collier Library. Search “Pack for the Path” on ECTC’s website to find a list of requested items.

Flood Watch remains in effect as more rainfall hits area

WQXE News 0 Comments

The severe weather threat was reduced Thursday, but additional rainfall combined with more rain in the forecast has state officials reminding Kentuckians to make good decisions and avoid risks involved with flash flooding and widespread flooding.

The National Weather Service in Louisville says a stalled cold front means there are still chances for storms Friday and Saturday, but the threat of tornadoes is reduced. Multiple rounds of heavy rainfall are still expected through the weekend, which increases the risk for flooding.

During his Team Kentucky Update Thursday, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said no fatalities and only a few injuries have been reported in this week’s storms, but now is the time to make good decisions and stay safe.

“The February flooding that we really just got through, that we are still cleaning up and rebuilding from, showed us that especially when we have this much rain it’s the decisions about when to get out, about what to drive through, and when to go stay with someone else that can be the difference between life and death,” Beshear said.

Beshear thanked emergency management personnel and emergency responders for their hard work, and said they remain busy.

“Emergency management remains activated and is ramping up to assist in any issues,” Beshear said. “Swiftwater teams are activated, including assistance that we’re getting from the state of Vermont, and our Kentucky National Guard is ramping up to assist. We will get through this if everyone takes the rising and standing water seriously.”

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four has posted an update on flooded state roadways in the area, as have several area law enforcement agencies on conditions in their jurisdictions.

West Point Mayor Richard Ciresi is asking area residents to avoid the West Point area at this time as residents there are moving their possessions in anticipation of the Ohio River flooding, and the area does not need additional traffic from sightseers checking on the status of the river. West Point has flood parking sites highlighted on the West Point KY Facebook profile.

Special Prosecutor remands motion to test hairs, but Steven Lawson’s lawyers still want them tested

WQXE News 0 Comments

Crystal Rogers investigation suspect Steven Lawson was back in Nelson Circuit Court for a status hearing Thursday as Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III reviewed several motions before the court.

Special Prosecutor Shane Young remanded his motion for the court to order DNA testing of two hairs found in Rogers’s vehicle and for Lawson to submit to a cheek swab to provide a DNA sample. Young said after speaking to a KSP Crime Lab Chemist he learned the hairs in question measure eight to ten inches in length and had been chemically treated, so in order to not waste time and money on testing the Commonwealth would stipulate that the hairs did not belong to either Lawson or Joseph Lawson. Young noted that the Commonwealth would anticipate that Brooks Houck’s hair would appear in the car as he used it.

Steven Lawson’s attorneys filed a motion Thursday morning requesting access to the hair samples in order to conduct their own testing, and despite the Commonwealth remanding their motion they still said they wanted the hairs tested and reviewed by their expert in order to see if the hairs belong to somebody else identified in the case. 

Young responded by calling the motion a tactic to delay the trial, and said Lawson’s attorneys are looking for a tactical advantage by getting his trial moved to go after Houck’s, which Young said “the only person that benefits is Brooks Houck.” Lawson’s attorneys responded that the results of the hair testing could dictate the defense’s strategy, and said they took issue with Young implying the defenses are collaborating. Simms denied the motion for testing, but agreed to schedule a hearing for April 14 to discuss the issue after the defense’s expert gets a chance to examine the hairs at the KSP Crime Lab.

The court will also discuss the defense’s motion to continue the trial beyond the currently scheduled May 27 start at the April 14 hearing. The Commonwealth provided a laptop for Lawson to be able to review the discovery in the case at the courthouse, which Simms said he would make arrangements to allow. Lawson’s attorneys requested an expert inspect the laptop to ensure it was safe for Lawson to use. Simms said they could examine the laptop after the hearing.