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Benefit event for injured farm volunteer Saturday

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Whispering Dandelion Farm co-owner Carla Albea says the farm couldn’t make it without its volunteers, so they want to support one of their volunteers who was recently injured in an ATV accident.

“That’s Makayla Post, and she’s a young mom, a young single mom with a toddler, and her grandma has had to take off of work to be able to help her and her baby because it’ll be somewhere around Christmas before she’s able to walk correctly again,” Albea said.

The farm will be hosting a benefit day for Makayla Post and her grandmother Betty Post Saturday, September 21 from 2 to 6 p.m. 

“What we’re doing is we’re going to discount admission for a donation, and then we’re also having a bake sale and a silent auction for them,” Albea said.

Albea says the Post family has been a part of the Hardin and LaRue County communities for decades, and the benefit is an opportunity to support two people who have always supported their community.

“Betty and Makayla both have literally raised thousands for March of Dimes, and they’re just great people that would do anything for you regardless of what they’ve got going on in their own lives, so we think that it’s time for the community to give back a little bit,” Albea said.

Visit the Whispering Dandelion Farm Facebook page or website for more information.

Governor encourages drivers to check on car seats

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National Child Passenger Safety Week will be observed across the country from September 15 through 21, and Governor Andy Beshear is encouraging Kentuckians to take the basic steps to protect their children when on the road. 

The governor said the state would be joining observation of the week during his Team Kentucky Update Thursday. Beshear said the annual awareness campaign encourages drivers to make sure they are using car seats properly, something the latest statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show is not always the case.

“It shows that 46 percent of car seats are being misused around the United States,” Beshear said. “I mean, think about that. We have car seats to protect our children. I think everyone wants to protect their child when they’re putting them in a car seat. That means we should really think about the fact that so many of them are being misused, and get the information out there.”

Beshear encouraged Kentuckians to talk with a NHTSA-approved expert to make sure their child is using the right seat, and to attend a car seat check up event which is typically hosted by area fire and health departments.

“To find out more about checkup events and car seat resources, visit KentuckyHighwaySafety.com and click the Safety Programs tab,” Beshear said. “Folks, this won’t take you long. It’s a couple of websites and maybe spending a few minutes at a checkup, but if 46 percent of people are misusing car seats, it might be you, and I know you want what’s best for your child.”

Beshear said on the positive side, seat belt use in Kentucky is up 3.4 percent over the last two years, and highway fatalities are down 15 percent from last year.

KSP, GHCNTF among law enforcement grant recipients

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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said during his Team Kentucky Update Thursday that partnerships with law enforcement have helped remove illicit drugs from the streets and helped lead to an approximate 10 percent decrease in drug overdose deaths in 2023.

Beshear announced additional support for some of those law enforcement partners.

“Today, we’re furthering that momentum by awarding $1.7 million from the Federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant,” Beshear said. “This money is going to 11 law enforcement agencies and drug task forces, and one nonprofit organization.”

Among the recipients is the Kentucky State Police, which will receive $372,828, and the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force, which will receive $196,307. The KSP funding will go towards expanding efforts in areas with high drug abuse rates, while the narcotics task force funding will go towards identifying, disrupting, and dismantling drug trafficking operations in their nine-county region.

Beshear said these efforts are necessary for moving the community forward.

“We’re building a new Kentucky home, one where our children are better protected from addiction,” Besheat said. “Lives are being saved from overdoses and the state’s recidivism rate has been reduced.”

Visit the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet for more information.

United Way of Central Kentucky kicks off annual fundraising campaign

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The United Way of Central Kentucky celebrated the kickoff of its annual fundraising campaign at the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce’s September luncheon, with United Way President and CEO Christa Shouse delivering the keynotes address and organizations that benefit from United Way support set up at the Pritchard Community Center.

Shouse said the annual campaign is about expanding resources.

“The goal, certainly, is as always to raise more money because there are so many needs out there that we don’t even get to scratch the surface of because the need is that great, but I really want to increase awareness of our presence in the community, what that means, and have more people join up with us, whether they’re giving money or they’re volunteering their time, their expertise, we need all of that,” Shouse said.

Shouse said the organization knows the community is struggling, and while that puts a strain on fundraising it makes community support even more important.

“Through our services and partnering agencies, we’ve seen a 48 percent increase in needs over the year of funding before that, and we’re also seeing fundraising go down, and I think it’s just indicative of the climate we’re in right now,” Shouse said. “People are struggling and we see that, and so we’re here to help make a difference.”

The United Way says services from organizations that rely on United Way support benefited more than 60,000 residents across five counties last year. Shouse said the money raised in the campaign has a direct impact.

“One of the best things that we can boast is that it stays here,” Shouse said. “People want to know where their money goes and I’m here to tell you it stays here, and we’re very open and transparent about what we do with those dollars.”

Visit www.unitedwayck.org or contact the United Way of Central Kentucky to learn more.

Quicksie and Wolf battle for good cause with September 25 blood drive

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The American Red Cross says the need for blood remains dire, so if you are looking to help patients in need and take part in a fun competition, Quicksie and The Wolf have an event you might be interested in.

“It’s the Quicksie Versus The Wolf friendly competition to get people to come in and donate blood,” said American Red Cross Account Manager Tammy Ritchie. “We will be at the Pritchard Community Center, and we’re there from 12 to 5 p.m. on September 25, and we encourage everybody in the community to come out and support the drive and help the American Red Cross during this challenging time.”

That’s American Red Cross Account Manager Tammy Ritchie. Participants will be asked during check in which station they wish to support. Ritchie says if you have never given blood before, donating is a safe and simple process.

“You come in, we do a medical history on all donors, always making sure that the person donating is safe to donate,” Ritchie said. “We do their temperature, pulse, blood pressure, make sure their iron count is high enough. The actual donation part of the blood drive takes anywhere from like five to ten minutes, but during this timeframe you have helped three different patients.”

You can find information and sign up for the Quicksie Versus Wolf Blood Drive at www.redcrossblood.org, by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor app, or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.