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$684K worth of drugs seized in KSP’s Operation Summer Heat

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A major summer narcotics operation launched by the Kentucky State Police is showing results. 

Following a three-month long investigation into suspected drug trafficking rings, all sixteen KSP posts joined in on Operation Summer Heat. KSP personnel partnered with law enforcement agencies from across the commonwealth to make a series of arrests.

Governor Andy Beshear included KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. as a speaker during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update. Burnett said the operation resulted in 206 arrests, 490 charges, and the seizure of more than $684,000 in illicit drugs.

“Fentanyl, 554 grams was removed, as well as 2,931 pressed pills of fentanyl, 219 grams of cocaine, 4,862 grams of methamphetamine, 40 grams of heroin, 50 hydrocodone pills, 60 oxycodone pills, and then 90 hallucinogens, as well as other illegal drugs,” said Burnett.

Burnett said Operation Summer Heat is ongoing, with additional arrests expected soon. He said the successful launch of the operation is a testament to the state’s efforts to keep communities safe.

“This statewide initiative is to show a clear message across Kentucky that those who continue to distribute illegal drugs in our communities, the Kentucky State Police and our law enforcement partners local and federal will focus our efforts to cease such activities,” Burnett said.

Beshear said drug enforcement is important, but it goes hand in hand with drug treatment. The governor announced four additional counties, including Nelson County, have received their Recovery Ready Community certifications from the state.

“Since we launched the Recovery Ready Community certification last year, 14 counties have now been certified,” Beshear said. “These communities are stepping up to help fellow Kentuckians who are struggling with addiction. They’re providing families more support through mental health and addiction treatment as well as employment services, and we are grateful for and we applaud their good work.”

Kentuckians seeking treatment help can visit FindHelpNowKY.org. Drug activity can be reported anonymously via the KSP website tip form.

Teachers in Hardin and LaRue counties encouraged to apply for Be a Light grants

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As the new school year approaches, Nolin RECC is encouraging educators in Hardin and LaRue counties to apply for their Be a Light Teacher Grants.

Nolin RECC Communications Manager Sarah Fellows says the Nolin RECC Operation Round-Up board created the Be a Light grant program as a way of honoring and supporting local teachers.

“They know, and they hear from teachers and we all do, that if funds aren’t available for their classrooms, a lot of times that money comes out of their own pockets, so the Be a Light Teacher Grants are a way for the Operation Round-Up board and for Nolin members to say thank you to our local teachers for everything that they do for our children,” Fellows said.

30 $200 grants will be awarded to K-12 teachers in Hardin and LaRue counties. The funds come from the donations Nolin RECC members make through the Operation Round-Up program.

“Nolin members can voluntarily round up their bill each month to the nearest dollar,” Fellows said. “Now for an average Nolin member, that’s only about $6 a year, but we have over 6,000 members who are participating in Operation Round-Up, so when those dollars come together, they can make a huge impact on our community.”

The application for the Be a Light grants can be found at NolinRECC.com. The deadline to apply is August 31.

Breckinridge County Schools hosting open houses ahead of new school year

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Breckinridge County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter says the district has been hard at work all summer gearing up for the new school year.

“Teachers and staff have been working hard throughout the summer with different training opportunities and just getting ready for the year,” Carter said. “Our building maintenance folks and custodians are doing a great job getting our buildings cleaned and looking absolutely wonderful for the start of the year, so I just want to give all of them a huge thanks, and to our principals. They’re working hard getting ready for the year.”

BCS families will get a chance to get into the school buildings ahead of the new year as each school hosts its open house.

“It’s a time that we get to welcome our kiddos and families back into the school and our new students and new families into the school, and what we do with open house is they come in and they get to tour the building, meet teachers, and just get comfortable so that that first day of school isn’t as scary,” Carter said.

Breckinridge County Middle and High schools will host their open houses from 4 to 6 p.m. on July 29, Hardinsburg and Ben Johnson Elementary schools will host theirs from 4 to 6 p.m. on July 20, and Irvington and Custer elementaries will host theirs from 4 to 6 p.m. on August 1.

Carter says the district has a lot to look forward to.

“We’re super, super excited, and I truly believe that it’s going to be one of our best years yet,” Carter said. “It’s a great day to be a Tiger.”

Visit the Breckinridge County Schools website or Facebook page for more information.

HCS Superintendent Morgan among leadership award recipients

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The Kentucky Association of School Administrators has announced the recipients of the 2024 William T. Nallia Educational Leadership Award, and a local superintendent is among those honored.

Hardin County Schools Superintendent Terrie Morgan will be honored with the award along with Livingston County Schools Superintendent David Meinschein and Baird Vice Chair Jim Allen. The KASA says the award “recognizes individuals who have demonstrated visionary leadership and made significant contributions to public education in Kentucky.” 

The three were recognized for their efforts through the Coalition to Sustain the Education Profession, bringing attention to the need for public policy changes that address the Kentucky teacher shortage. The KASA says the award recognizes both their leadership and their commitment to advancing education in the commonwealth.

Morgan said the coalition’s work was a lengthy but worthwhile commitment.

“This effort actually started 18 months prior to the legislative session starting because we realized the scope of the work that was in front of us, which was to communicate the necessity to increase multiple areas of education to include teacher recruitment, pay, and respect for educators,” Morgan said.

Two of the coalition’s recommendations that legislatures picked up were allowing retired teachers to return to classrooms sooner and allowing for emergency certifications, which have been used as a short-term fix.

“We greatly appreciate their work to allow those individuals to come back and work in the workplace, but then we needed a long-range plan which was to recruit and retain teachers who go through a more traditional path of going to school for the Teacher Preparation Program,” Morgan said.

Morgan and her co-recipients will receive the award at the KASA Annual Leadership Institute on July 26.

WKU bike riders traveling country for Alzheimer’s research make stop in Elizabethtown

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Willow Creek Senior Living staff and residents welcomed some special guests for breakfast Thursday morning.

Bike4ALZ made a stop in Elizabethtown as part of their cross-country journey, all in the name of raising funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s research.

The bike riders are 12 Western Kentucky University students, including Business Data Analytics major Adam Pruitt.

“We go from San Francisco and bike all the way to Virginia Beach, raising money for Alzheimer’s research with events and sponsorships, different ways of raising money, but we all have connections with Alzheimer’s,” Pruitt said. “We’ve all been affected, whether it’s our family or friends or just someone in our life.”

The riders had completed about 2,500 miles of their 3,600 mile journey upon arriving in E-Town. Before hitting the road for Louisville, Willow Creek hosted the riders for a breakfast sponsored by The Wright Legacy Group.

Pruitt said so far it has been a good ride.

“We’ve been really hopeful for the end, but also sad that it’s coming to an end, but recently we’ve been able to go to some of our riders’ homes and see and meet family more often, see more faces that we know instead of out west where we’re meeting strangers all the time, and once we’re in this area we’re seeing more familiar faces,” Pruitt said.

Willow Creek Community Relations Coordinator Lori Jury said the show of support from the riders is felt by the staff, residents, and families.

“We love that they’re here so that we can thank them for what they’re doing and we can encourage them as they finish out their last two weeks of the ride on the way to Virginia,” Jury said. “It’s been a long summer for them, and these are young guys that could be doing lots of things. They could be doing internships or working or hanging by the pool at home and we’re just very thankful that they’re doing this to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research.”

You can follow along with the riders or give financial support at bike4alz.org or by finding Bike4ALZ on social media.