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Deer at Breckinridge County farm tests positive for chronic wasting disease

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Kentucky Fish and Wildlife officials are evaluating the next steps after a deer from a Breckinridge County farm tested positive for chronic wasting disease. 

Kentucky Department of Agriculture lab testing confirmed that the dead deer had chronic wasting disease. It’s the second recorded case in Kentucky this year and the first in a captive cervid.

KFW says CWD is caused by prions and affects white-tailed deer, elk, and other animals in the deer family. The disease has no known cure or vaccine, and is always fatal in infected animals.

The disease is not known to be transmissible to people, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends not consuming meat from an infected animal or an animal that appears to be sick or in poor condition. The Department of Agriculture has issued a quarantine restricting movement of deer or deer products into and out of the Breckinridge County farm.

Hunters can aid statewide monitoring by reporting sick deer to KFW and by dropping off the head of legally harvested and tele-checked deer for testing and aging at self-serve CWD sample drop-off sites. Location information, instructions, and more information on this free service is available on the KFW website.

More information on efforts to contain CWD can also be found on the KFW website.

UPDATE: Armed suspect confronted by police in Baptist Health Hardin emergency room identified

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UPDATE 10/20/24: The Elizabethtown Police Department has identified the suspect as George Lee Jr. of Radcliff. Lee remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition. The EPD says the investigation remains ongoing and charges will be filed against Lee as the case progresses.

The Elizabethtown Police Department confronted an armed suspect at Baptist Health Hardin Saturday morning.

“Shortly after 5:00 a.m. this morning, our officers responded to Baptist Health Hardin, located at 913 North Dixie, on the report of an active shooter,” said EPD Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “Our officers arrived within just a couple of moments of receiving the initial call, encountered the suspect, and an officer did discharge his weapon, striking the suspect. The suspect was not fatally wounded. He was airlifted from the scene to the University of Louisville Hospital where treatment is ongoing.”

Denham said the suspect was an adult male who has not yet been identified. The suspect was confronted by unarmed hospital security staff prior to the arrival of officers.

“The criminal investigation concerning the shooting at the hospital will be conducted by the Elizabethtown Police Department,” Denham said. “Any investigation concerning the officer-involved shooting will be handled by the Kentucky State Police Critical Incident Response Team.”

The suspect’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. No other injuries were reported in the incident. Per standard EPD protocol, the officer involved will be placed on two weeks paid administrative leave. 

The EPD will release more information as it becomes available.

E-Town Council approves water design contract

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The Elizabethtown City Council met for a special meeting Monday.

The first reading was held on an ordinance amending the zoning of 204 Jackie Street from Future Development Holding to Urban Residential General (R-4), which would accommodate a new subdivision. Council Member Julia Springsteen said residents had concerns with the narrowness of the road and confusion between where the area goes from city to county management. City Administrator Ed Poppe said the city plans to put up new signage and has plans for improvements.

“I think what we will do, in conjunction with the development of that new subdivision, is look at an overlay on Jackie Street to look at the pavement,” Poppe said. “We’ve also, as you all are aware, from the money that you all put in the budget each year for us to look at sidewalk connections, it’s now on our sidewalks team list.”

The council approved a municipal order that awards a water design services contract to Kimley-Horn and Associates for work in the Commerce Drive area around the planned outdoor concert venue. Poppe said the $141,000 contract covers three or four smaller projects

“There’s an upgrade to the line under U.S 62,” Poppe said. “There’s an upgrade to the line along Main Street, the line up to Commerce Drive, and then along Commerce Drive to make sure we have the proper flows for fire protection at the outdoor music venue.”

The water projects are a joint venture between the city and Hardin County Water District No. 2.

The council also approved municipal orders approving a change order for work on Meadow Lane, a $58,910 bid from Davis Leak Detection LLC for a required natural gas leak survey, and a $95,000 contract with CMW Inc. for professional services on several parks and recreation projects.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet on October 21.

Absentee ballot request portal open for one more week

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The November 5 general election is just three weeks away, and Kentucky voters who are registered to vote are encouraged to take advantage of the multiple opportunities available to cast their ballot.

Voters looking to request an absentee ballot have one more week to do so.

“It will be open through October 22,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “If you will be out of the county all days and all hours of voting, or you qualify due to age, illness, or disability, please put in those requests early. To request those, it’s at govote.ky.gov or you can call our election staff at 270-765-6762.”

In-person excused absentee voting will be available weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the clerk’s office October 23 through 30.

With this year being a presidential election, Smith told Quicksie and The Wolf that an expanded turnout is anticipated.

“We expect Election Day to be very busy, so we encourage folks to take advantage of the three days of no excuse early voting,” Smith said. “That’s October 31, November 1, and November 2, that Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Come in, bank your vote, and then you won’t have to worry about something coming up unexpectedly on Election Day. On Election Day, we’ll have 15 locations all across the county to make it convenient for everyone to vote.”

Contact your county clerk’s office for more election information or visit govote.ky.gov.

Two local administrators among new KASA board members

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The Kentucky Association of School Administrators elected seven new board members this month, with two coming from local school districts.

The KASA says the new board members serve in a variety of leadership roles across the state and have demonstrated “a commitment to growing leaders, transforming public education, and shaping students’ futures.” The organization says the new board members bring fresh perspectives and new expertise to the KASA’s mission of improving the quality of education in Kentucky.

Among the new board members are Hardin County Schools Chief Academic Officer Greg Sutton, who was elected to represent the Heartland Central region, and Custer Elementary School Principal Renee Wright, who was elected to represent elementary principals.

The KASA is Kentucky’s largest school administrator organization, and the board of directors consists of school leaders from districts of all sizes from all regions of the state. The 27-member board includes four officers, a representative from each of the KASA’s 11 regions, a representative from eight role groups, and a representative from three other education organizations.

The current president of the board is Bullitt County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jesse Bacon. Meade County Schools Assistant Superintendent Marc Adams is the board’s vice president, and Breckinridge County Schools Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter serves as past-president. Central Hardin Principal Tim Isaacs represents high school principals on the board.

Learn more about the organization’s mission at www.kasa.org.