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Kentucky taxpayers advised of upcoming delay as tax-filing season begins

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The Kentucky Department of Revenue will begin accepting and processing state individual income tax returns on Monday, January 27, and the DOR encourages Kentuckians to file early to avoid delays.

The deadline to file Kentucky and federal tax returns for 2024 is Tuesday, April 15, but Kentuckians are being advised of an upcoming delay.

The DOR is transitioning to a new integrated tax system as well as launching a new business tax portal called MyTaxes. The launch of the new system will require a temporary pause in operations from February 26 to March 14. DOR staff will be able to answer phone calls during that period, but returns and refund payments will not be processed. The DOR says electronically-filed individual income tax returns typically take four to six weeks to process, so the sooner you file the better.

Individuals with incomes of $67,000 or less and any state government employee is welcome to seek tax help at any of the state’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Sites. Available from February 4 through April 15, knowledgeable staff provide free tax filing assistance to qualifying individuals. Find locations and schedule an appointment on the DOR website.

Taxpayers with questions can go to the DOR website or contact the DOR Taxpayer Assistance Phone Line at 502-564-4581.

Application period open for Nolin RECC student Washington trip

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Nolin RECC and Kentucky Electric Cooperatives are now accepting applications for their 2025 Washington Youth Tour.

According to the co-op, five high school juniors whose parents or guardians receive electric service from Nolin RECC will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. from June 16 through 21. Participating students will tour sites such as the Smithsonian Institution, Arlington National Cemetery, and the U.S. Capitol. Students will also visit with Kentucky’s congressional delegation.

Nolin RECC Communications Manager Sarah Fellows says the co-op is proud to have provided generations of local students with the opportunity to learn more about their government.

“We’re excited to offer this opportunity to local students and feel this is one way we can support future leaders within our own community,” Fellows said.

The deadline to apply is February 3. Find the application and more information at nolinrecc.com.

Rineyville paraeducator receives national award

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Rineyville Elementary School Instructional Assistant Jody Vititoe says the kids are why she dedicates what she does to her job.

“It sounds cheesy, but people say ‘that’s my why,’ but they are my why,” Vititoe said. “They are why I go to work every day. I just want to see them succeed in every way, so that is what they mean to me.”

Vititoe’s efforts are receiving national recognition.

At the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities annual conference last week, Vititoe was presented with the organization’s 2025 Paraeducator of the Year Award, which “recognizes excellence in paraeducators who support students with autism, intellectual disability, and other developmental disabilities.”

Vititoe said the award was quite the surprise.

“I didn’t honestly even know this was a thing, and then I found out first that I was nominated and was hugely honored to be nominated, and then later on found out I had won, and I’m just super excited, super honored, and just amazed that people wanted to recognize what I do,” Vititoe said.

Vititoe is an assistant in a special education classroom at Rineyville, working with students in grades K through 5.

“We work with kiddos who have, really, a lot of needs, a lot of things going on that they need help with, and of all different levels and ages, so we just work with them to give them the best education that we can,” Vititoe said.

At the suggestion of her students, Vititoe was introduced at the conference as “Pop See Ko” by children’s entertainers Koo Koo plays.

Governor Beshear on hand as LTADD unveils search and rescue drone fleet

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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear appeared with area elected officials and members and officials with the Lincoln Trail Area Development District Wednesday to announce the acquisition of a regional fleet of advanced search and rescue drones that will enhance emergency response efforts across the eight-county district.

LTADD Executive Director Daniel London said the drone fleet was made possible by grant support and a public-private partnership with Lincoln National Bank, and is a first of its kind achievement for the AD district.

“No other organization can boast this fact,” London said. “We can put nine aerial drones in the air in an hour and a half or less at any location in this region for search and rescue. Just ask eastern Kentucky or western Kentucky how important that would be to save lives.”

Beshear said the area development districts are a great asset to Kentuckians for the multiple projects they are able to facilitate. Beshear said the state is sadly well-practiced when it comes to disaster response, referencing the western Kentucky tornadoes and eastern Kentucky flooding, but emergency personnel across the state have worked hard to continue improving preparedness.

‘“Regardless of the causes, we know that we are seeing more natural disasters hit Kentucky and other parts of the United States, and what that means is, together, we can work to be better prepared,” Beshear said. “We can look after every single one and say ‘what’s the next step and the next one and the next one?’”

During the press conference, Beshear also presented an area community with some funding from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.

“Today I have a check for the City of Vine Grove for $76,770 to install and improve sidewalks, crosswalks, and lighting,” Beshear said.

The funding for the drones also allowed LTADD to purchase an emergency response vehicle and establish a community support team to assist during disaster responses.

LTADD celebrates progress at annual meeting

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The Lincoln Trail Area Development District looked back and looked forward during their January board meeting and annual meeting at the State Theater Wednesday.

During the board meeting, the board approved their officer slate for 2025, as read by nominating committee member LaRue County Judge/Executive Blake Durrett:

  • Chair, Marion County Judge/Executive David Daugherty 
  • First Vice Chair, Washington County Judge/Executive Timothy Graves 
  • Second Vice Chair, Hodgenville Mayor Jim Phelps 
  • Secretary, Becky Miller of Grayson County 
  • Treasurer, Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory

LTADD Executive Director Daniel London said during the annual meeting that during this past fiscal year nearly $184 million in grant or direct funding requests were made for district members, the Workforce program served 12,403 clients, and the Aging program served 195,000 meals. London said LTADDs annual budget expanded from $15 million in 2023 to $24 million in 2025, and the expanded funding means expanded offerings.

“We’re no longer the sleepy little AD that no one knows about,” London said. “We’re making big waves. We’re trailblazing, and if people in this region don’t know about us now, it’s because they’re under a rock. Thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of the staff, the board of directors, and the taxpayers for the funding and resources you provided to us, because we’re going to keep killing it for you each and every day.”

The Dorothy M. Dolle Memorial Award was presented to Patsy Allen, and the Palmer A. “Pete” Peterson Memorial Award was presented to Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory, who said one of the best values of LTADD is the people it brings together.

“I appreciate everybody in this room,” Gregory said. “I appreciate the friendships and the working relationships, and I think this is a special, special place, and it doesn’t matter if you’re Republican or Democrat. If you need something and the others have got it, then it’s available for everybody, and we’ve got to keep working that way because that’s how victory happens, so thank you all very much.”

Learn more about LTADD’s services and projects at www.ltadd.org.