WQXE NEWS

Area jobseekers are invited to participate in the Kentucky Career Center – Lincoln Trail’s Let’s Talk Tuesdays virtual job fair happening Tuesday.

“We have a virtual job fair platform that we use, and we have a virtual job fair every first and third Tuesday of every month, and so that’s a great opportunity for those folks to meet a whole different slew of employers that may be available on that platform,” said KCC Lincoln Trail Center Manager Robin Gooden.

There is no fee for jobseekers or employers to participate.

“You just go onto the platform, you register, you upload your resume, and then you go into that platform and it goes live from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and you can go in there and talk directly to employers,” Gooden said.

The virtual job fair is a convenient way for employers and employees to connect directly.

Jobseekers can connect with their local Kentucky Career Center for a range of services.

“A lot of times people come into the center because they need a new resume,” Gooden said. “They haven’t written a resume in 20 years, and so we help them do that. We help them with mock interviewing. We help them get ready. We also have a list of open current positions that are available, so we give them those resources, and also just kind of help them and guide them through their career planning.”

Find the registration link for the virtual job fair on the Kentucky Career Center – Lincoln Trail Facebook page or by visiting www.ltcareercenter.org.

Hardin County Public Library Director Laurel Tabaka said it was quite the surprise when she was presented with the inaugural Librarian of the Year Award at the Kentucky Public Library Association’s annual conference.

“I was incredibly humbled, incredibly shocked,” Tabaka said. “I still really haven’t fully taken it all on board, but I’m very proud and very thankful for the honor and the recognition.”

According to a release, Tabaka was recognized for accomplishments including spearheading a $3.8 million library renovation, launching Home Base @HCPL to support veterans and military families, creating programs addressing critical needs, and expanding technology access across library services.

Tabaka said access to information is one of the most important points of the library’s mission, and expanding access and programming opportunities are important for growth of the library as well as the community.

“We definitely are thinking about how do we get folks into the library and then how do we get them to check out books, so we do that through programming with our children, with our teens, with our adults,” Tabaka said. “We find that very successful for us. Plus we have public computers, we have printing services, we have all kinds of stuff here. We have access to digital media, and we have access to databases for research. Truly it is a one-stop shop.”

Tabaka said she loves coming to work every day.

“I’m just so thankful that my board of trustees has placed their trust in me to direct the library,” Tabaka said. “I truly love Hardin County so very much, and I’m just really excited to see how we grow. I think our potential for the future is limitless.”

Learn more about the library’s offerings on the Hardin County Public Library Facebook page or at www.hcpl.info.

Saint Patrick’s Day is Tuesday, and state officials are reminding Kentuckians to celebrate responsibly.

Ahead of the March 17 holiday, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is joining the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and reminding Kentuckians that buzzed driving is drunk driving.

The KYTC says Kentuckians who plan on including alcohol in their Saint Patrick’s Day festivities should think ahead by arranging a safe ride or designated driver to keep themselves and others safe. The KYTC says over the past three years there have been 40 crashes statewide related to drunk drivers on Saint Patrick’s Day, with those crashes resulting in 17 injuries and one death.

The KYTC says you can help prevent tragedies by taking these steps:

-Plan a sober ride. If you drink at all, use a designated driver, public transit, or a ride-share service.
-Don’t walk impaired. Choose a sober companion and stay alert. 
-Report dangerous driving. Make an anonymous call to the Kentucky State Police to report suspected drunk drivers.
-Step in for friends. Take the keys and help arrange a safe ride home. “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.”
-Buckle up. Every trip, every time. Seat belts are the best defense against serious injury or death.

Visit the NHTSA’s website for more drunk driving statistics.