WQXE NEWS

A Kentucky State Police Post Four trooper was recognized by Governor Andy Beshear for his life-saving efforts after a traffic collision near Elizabethtown.

Beshear named Trooper Blaine Miller this week’s Team Kentucky All-Star during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update.

On August 14, Miller responded to the scene of a two-vehicle collision near the 87-mile marker on Interstate 65 South. Upon arrival, he found an overturned vehicle that was beginning to catch fire with four siblings (Samantha, Joshua, Sarah, and Savannah Bloom of Louisville) trapped inside.

“Thinking quickly, Trooper Miller broke the vehicle’s front windshield and pulled them all to safety,” Beshear said. “Thankfully, they had only minor injuries. Once the Blooms were removed from the vehicle, Trooper Miller and a good Samaritan at the scene used a fire extinguisher to put out smoke coming from the vehicle’s engine.”

Beshear thanked Miller for stepping in.

“His actions are an example to all of us, and he represents the selflessness of Kentucky law enforcement officers,” Beshear said. “These heroes will do whatever it takes to save a life and make sure their neighbors are safe.”

Beshear said Miller and the Blooms both credited the fact that all four siblings were wearing seat belts with preventing more serious injury, and reminded all Kentuckians to always buckle up.

Summer still has 26 days left, but it is only 120 days until Christmas, and the Elizabethtown Police Department is beginning their preparations for their annual Shop with a Cop Program.

“If you or your business would like to support the program financially, you may contact me, Chris Denham, by calling the Elizabethtown Police Department, or you can drop off or mail a check directly to the police department,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “The address is 300 South Mulberry Street in Elizabethtown. Checks should be made payable to FOP Lodge No. 40 with Shop of the Cop in the memo line. The FOP Lodge No. 40 is a 501c3 organization.”

Denham said the EPD will not be partnering with any third parties this year to solicit donations. For the past few years, a calendar company has worked with the EPD to sell sponsorships for a calendar and then share a portion of the funds, but after the arrangement caused confusion with some residents questioning the legitimacy of the donation requests the EPD decided to end the partnership.

The EPD says the program supports more than 300 local students in need each year.

The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.

The court approved an amendment to the county budget on its second reading. Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul said the $1.2 million amendment primarily concerned equipment purchases for Hardin County EMS. The first reading was held on an ordinance which amends four sections of the county’s zoning ordinance. Taul said Hardin County Planning Director Adam King will discuss the ordinance with the court when it goes up for its second reading.

Hardin County Sheriff’s Office CFO Teri Bennett said in June and July the office made 127 arrests, issued 156 citations, and served 117 warrants. Bennett also presented the annual Tax Settlement, which allows the sheriff’s office to begin collecting taxes for next year. Bennett said the collection rate from this past cycle was just over 99 percent.

“We collected about $94 million for all the taxing districts, and about $11,282,000 was for the county,” Bennett said.

Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith said the delinquent tax sale conducted on August 17 collected $381,093.94 on 166 tax bills. Smith also announced that the community room at Nolin RECC’s headquarters off of Ring Road in Elizabethtown will be added as both an early voting and Election Day location. Smith said the new location increases early voting capacity by nearly 50 percent.

“It’s also going to touch a part of our community, as you all know, it’s pretty close to our industrial park, and it allows those folks, a lot of times those folks are working swing shifts, long shifts, over time, but hopefully over those four days they’ll be able to find time they can pop over to Nolin RECC and cast their vote,” Smith said.

Find more election information at govote.ky.gov. 

The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet September 8.