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Radcliff council to introduce medical cannabis ordinance, updates to police policies

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The Radcliff City Council met for a work session Monday evening.

Radcliff Police Chief Jeff Cross discussed six proposed updates to the Radcliff Police Department’s policies and procedures. One policy concerning juvenile operations is a new policy, while the others (active shooter, motor vehicle stops/seizures, promotion and assignments for sworn personnel, search and seizure: residences, and stop, arrest, and search of persons) are revisions. Cross said the policies are built on recommendations from the Kentucky League of Cities and the Department of Justice.

“If you get too far away from what they’re doing and what they’re recommending you do, if you need their backing down the road and you have a lawsuit or something they’re going to come in and stand there with you, so you don’t want to be too far other than just putting our brand and stamp on the policy,” Cross said.

The council also discussed an ordinance that would approve the operation of medical cannabis facilities in the city.

“This is a basic ordinance to get going,” said City Attorney Mike Pike. “It doesn’t go into great detail of what these things can do and not do. This just allows them. Your land use restrictions will come into play in terms of what zones of the city these will be allowed to operate in.”

Pike reiterated that the ordinance does not ban the use of medical marijuana.

“Neither the county nor a city will have authority over the use of medical cannabis by someone that has a prescription and/or approved medical card for it, so that’s outside the purview of this,” Pike said. “If you guys enact this ordinance, it’ll have no effect on individuals within the city of Radcliff who are using medical cannabis legally, or illegally.”

Both the ordinance and the policy changes will be discussed at the Radcliff City Council’s next meeting on July 16.

Free training available to Kentuckians through Ready for Industry program

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Kentuckians seeking to enter the workforce now have free access to an online learning program to help them prepare for jobs in several high-demand industries.

Governor Andy Beshear announced on Monday that a $5 million federal Quality Jobs, Equity, Strategy, and Training grant will allow the state to offer free access to the Ready for Industry program.

According to the governor’s office, each Ready for Industry course is “15 to 20 hours of instruction designed to help jobseekers understand what it’s like to work in several high-demand industries like manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, transportation, distribution and logistics, and architecture and construction.” The program teaches participants on topics such as common terminology, career pathways, workplace expectations, and education.

Kentucky is the fifth state in the country that will provide free access to the program as the state aims to enhance its economic landscape by improving the skill sets of employees, job candidates, and students.

Organizations interested in becoming a Ready for Industry partner can visit readyforindustry.com/ky or visit their local Kentucky Career Center. Individuals interested in enrolling in a course can register through a partner organization or through their local Kentucky Career Center.

First night of truck pulls and wrestling Tuesday as Hardin County fair continues; Meshyia Bradshaw crowned Miss Hardin County Fair

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The fun continues today at the Hardin County Fairgrounds as the 2024 Hardin County Fair rolls on.

Tuesday will feature the second round of judging for Family Living and Fine Arts projects. The Hardin County Youth Parade of Champions will take place at the exhibit hall at 1:30 and 7 p.m. 

In addition to great food at the restaurant and from vendors, adorable animals at the petting zoo, and exciting rides at the midway, Tuesday will feature the 2024 Miss Teen Hardin County Fair Pageant, which will be held at the pageant building at 7 p.m. UCW Wrestling will take it to the mat at 7:30 p.m. for the first of three nights of wrestling. The KITPA Truck Pull will be held at the motorsports track at 8 p.m.

Tuesday is Hardin County Farm Bureau night at the fairgrounds. Stop by the Farm Bureau office for a coupon to get $1 off the $15 admission price.

The Hardin County Fair has lots to offer for everybody, and as Fair Board President Marty Fulkerson says: “It’s 61 years of the most fun you can have with your shoes on!”

Meanwhile, the 2024 Miss Hardin County Fair Pageant was held Monday evening. Meshyia Nradhsaw was crowned as Miss Hardin County Fair while also winning the Most Photogenic prize. Ann-Margaret Basham was named first runner-up while Ajia Ballard was named second runner-up and Miss Congeniality.

Find the complete schedule on the Hardin County Fair website or Facebook page.

Nelson Circuit Court hears arguments on motion to combine Crystal Rogers investigation cases

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Attorneys for Brooks Houck maintain that trying him in a joint trial with Steven Lawson and Joseph Lawson would be in violation of Houck’s due process.

Special Prosecutor Shane Young’s motion to join the trials of the three suspects charged in the Crystal Rogers investigation was argued during a hearing in Nelson Circuit Court Monday morning.

Houck’s defense attorney Brian Butler said the argument of the defense is that Houck did not commit the crime he has been charged with and that Steven Lawson has lied in his interviews with police and his grand jury testimony, and trying the three together would remove Houck’s ability to cross-examine Lawson and refute his statements. Butler also said it wouldn’t be possible to redact Lawson’s testimony to remove Houck’s name without implicating Houck, and a jury would not be able to follow directions for one defendant and ignore them for another. Butler said because a joint trial would rob Houck of his due process any convictions would likely fail on appeal.

Special Prosecutor Teresa Young said federal and state courts have shown that they favor joint trials because all of the cases have the same information, and a joint trial promotes consistent testimony. Young also said the joint trial is needed to show the collaboration between the suspects.

Butler showed video of Lawson’s interviews with police to show what he called Lawson’s changing story and the efforts of law enforcement to guide Lawson to making a certain statement. Butler said the video shows Lawson’s testimony is unreliable, but if he is tried with Houck and chooses not to testify then Houck has no way of refuting the prosecution’s telling of events.

Young called Butler’s arguments “clear as mud”, and said the prosecution is not using Lawson’s grand jury testimony.

Judge Charles Simms III said having heard from Houck and Steven Lawson’s defenses on the motion to join and their objections, he still wanted to hear from Joseph Lawson’s defense on the matter. Joseph Lawson is due back in court on July 18, and Judge Simms said he would rule as quickly as possible after that.

KYTC inspecting Western Kentucky bridges over I-65 this week

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Crews with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four will be performing bridge inspections on the Western Kentucky Parkway bridges over Interstate 65 this week.

“These inspections are part of a regular maintenance schedule,” said KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie. “There is no other reason at this point for doing these inspections, and we do them on all of our bridges – county, state, federal bridges. They are all regularly inspected on a maintenance schedule.”

The KYTC says varying lane closures will take place and drivers should be prepared for merging conditions in both directions on the parkway around inspection crews. Use caution and pay close attention when approaching the area.