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Prosecutor says attorneys for Steven Lawson object to testing of hairs

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Two of the suspects in the Crystal Rogers investigation are agreeing to the testing of hairs found in Rogers’s vehicle, while the special prosecutor in the case says one suspect is raising objections.

Nelson Circuit Court Judge Charles Simms III issued an agreed order Thursday between the Commonwealth and Joseph Lawson allowing for the testing of two hairs tape-lifted from the vehicle in September of 2016. The order is the same as the one issued Wednesday between the Commonwealth and Brooks Houck except Lawson agreed to submit to a buccal cheek swab in order to provide a DNA sample.

Special Prosecutor Shane Young introduced a motion Wednesday requesting the court order the testing in Steven Lawson’s case as well and order Steven Lawson to also submit a cheek swab for a DNA sample. The motion notes that Steven Lawson’s attorneys have not agreed to testing the hairs.

A copy of a 2016 court order submitted with Young’s motion states that the third hair noted in the agreed orders and the motion, which was tested in 2016, was found in the trunk of a white Buick which belonged to Houck’s grandmother Anna Whitesides. The order states that an official with the Kentucky State Police Laboratory said the third hair “appeared to be similar to the decedent’s hair.”

The prosecution requested to argue the motion on April 3, which is when Lawson is next scheduled to appear in court for a status hearing.

ECTC partnering with area organizations to host conference for women re-entering workforce

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Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce, the Lincoln Trail Area Development District, Kentucky Career Center – Lincoln Trail, and the Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board are partnering to host “Back in Business – Women Re-Entering the Workforce,” a three-day conference to be held May 1, 8, and 22 at Severns Valley Baptist Church.

ECTC Director of Philanthropy Chrissie Angell says the conference is for all women in the region who have taken a career break and are ready to return to work.

“We have just realized that they have some very unique barriers that they experience, and so we want to just really address some of those and help them overcome those obstacles so that they can find the job that they want,” Angell said.

Participants will hear panel discussions on multiple topics and hear presentations on multiple skills.

“We are really going to kind of take the women from start to finish in the preparation process,” Angell said. “They will learn how to think about the skills that they have learned and refined during their career break and how those can be valuable assets to future employers. We’re going to help them prepare resumes, learn how to effectively search for jobs, how to interview well, how to network.”

The conference will culminate with a job fair where attendees can meet with potential employers.

The conference is free to attend and childcare will be available, but registration is required and space is limited. Register on ECTC’s website or contact Angell for more information.

Kentucky unemployment sees slight increase in February from previous year

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Unemployment in Kentucky in February came in slightly higher than where it was the year prior. 

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the state unemployment average for February was 5.3 percent. That is an increase from February 2024 when the rate was reported at 4.7 percent, but the rate is unchanged from January.

Kentucky’s unemployment average also came in higher in February than the national unemployment rate, which the U.S. Department of Labor reported at 4.1 percent.

The Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet says the state’s civilian labor force, which includes people currently employed and people actively searching for work, saw an increase of about 5,200 people from January to February, bringing the civilian labor force to about 2,115,000.

The education and labor cabinet says the Construction, Educational and Health Services, Manufacturing, Government, Financial Activities, Information Services, and Professional and Business Services sectors saw gains in February. Decreases were seen in the Mining and Logging, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, and Leisure and Hospitality sectors.

Visit the Kentucky Center for Statistics website for more about unemployment figures and labor market information.

Check the space around your appliances to help keep your home fire safe

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As you clean up around the house this spring, don’t forget to pay special attention to certain appliances such as your dryer.

“We remind people to clean the lint filter every time you dry your clothes, but maybe take some time during spring cleaning to pull the dryer out, disconnect the hose or the connection there, take the vacuum cleaner,” said Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane. “You’ll be surprised how much lint builds up just throughout the year behind the dryer, around the dryer, in that vent there.”

He also says to check the dryer exhaust on your home’s exterior to make sure it is free of lint build-up or pests.

Take time to clean the area around your furnace and water heater, as well as appliances that contain motors.

“Other things like refrigerators and freezers, their motors, they’re pulling that air to keep the motor cool while they’re running, so vacuum around there and it makes sure that’s clean from dust and debris,” Crane said.

As the weather gets nicer, if you plan on getting out the grill for a cookout, make sure it is ready for the season.

“Make sure, when you get it out, make sure if it’s a gas grill you’re checking for leaks,” Crane said. “You can take a soapy water solution, spray around the hose and the connections. When you turn it on and make sure it’s not leaking, make sure that you clean it real good. The grease will build up on that grill over time and you want to make sure that you clean it real good.”

Keep a grill at least 10 feet away from buildings or overhangs, and never leave a burning grill unattended.

Multi-agency investigation leads to 18-year prison sentence for Bullitt county man

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A Bullitt County man received an 18-year prison sentence on drug charges related to a multi-agency investigation.

The Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force says Dennis Hill was sentenced after pleading guilty to Trafficking in a Controlled Substance following a long-term investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in the Bullitt County area..

According to a release from the task force, Hill’s arrest was part of the task force’s ongoing collaboration with the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area “to proactively identify and disrupt criminal activity within Bullitt County.” The task force was assisted by the Shepherdsville Police Department and the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone with possible information on drug activity is encouraged to make a tip to the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force by calling 270-769-0694. Tips may be made anonymously.