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Area officers recognized for seat belt and child seat enforcement and education efforts

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Law enforcement officers and safety personnel from across the area were recognized for their commitment to seat belt and child seat enforcement efforts in Kentucky.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Office of Highway Safety presented the annual Governor’s Occupant Protection Enforcement Awards last week, recognizing the efforts of recipients to enforce seat belt laws and educate families on safety practices that help save lives on Kentucky roadways.

Area officers recognized during this year’s ceremony are Lieutenant Terry Riley with the Hodgenville Police Department, Officer Brandon Sawicki with the Brandenburg Police Department, Deputy Cory Skaggs with the LaRue County Sheriff’s Office, Officers Brad Aubin and John Bell with the Mount Washington Police Department, Deputy Trevor Ford with the Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant Evan Kenealy with the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office, Officer Nicholas Kerney with the Radcliff Police Department, Traffic Officer Levi Preston with the Bardstown Police Department, Officer Cooper Jones with the Elizabethtown Police Department, Trooper William Slate Dalton with Kentucky State Police Post Three, and Trooper-R Eric Hines with Kentucky State Police Post Four.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says when worn correctly seat belts are proven to reduce the risk of fatal injuries to front-seat occupants by 45 percent, and properly installed child restraints reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers. Nearly half of all highway fatalities in Kentucky involved an unbelted vehicle occupant.

Jeff. Co. Clerk asking for legal review after GIS mapping changes voter registrations

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UPDATE 8/25/26: Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith issued a statement Tuesday to clarify that the legal guidance being sought by the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office concerns voters in Oldham County that were assigned to Jefferson County. Smith said in the statement: “The 11 voters in question all clearly live in Jefferson County. They live on property that is deeded and taxed in Jefferson County. They have never voted in Hardin County while living at those addresses. Their registrations were sent to the Hardin County Clerk’s Office solely because they have a West Point zip code.“ Smith also stressed that the legal question being asked by the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office is not adversarial legal action against Hardin County, and he is working with that office and other involved clerk’s offices on the issue.
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The Jefferson County Clerk’s Office is asking for legal guidance after recent GIS mapping changed the voting registration for multiple residences along the boundary with neighboring counties, including Hardin and Bullitt.

Jefferson County Clerk David Yates said the Kentucky State Board of Elections used Kentucky’s Geographic Information System for a statewide review of jurisdictional boundaries and voting districts. Using GIS offers more precision and consistency, and as a result “certain residences were identified as being located within Jefferson County for election administration purposes, resulting in voter registration updates by local election officials.”

Yates said he is asking for a legal determination due to possible conflicting information from other government records.

“The questions that have been raised are about the authority and the process behind the boundary determination,” Yates said in an update on Facebook. “Our office is filing a Petition for a Declaration of Rights asking the courts to provide guidance on these important legal questions.”

Yates said the changes primarily impact 211 voters in Oldham County. The new maps place them along with 67 voters from Bullitt County and 11 from Hardin County in Jefferson County. Meanwhile, 35 voters were removed from Jefferson County. Impacted voters will receive updated information from election officials.

More information on voter residency requirements can be found at elect.ky.gov.

More details emerge on child injured at Lincoln Trail Elementary School

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More information has been made available regarding a student injured in a fall at Lincoln Trail Elementary School Monday.

Hardin County Schools in a statement on Tuesday said an incident involving a student occurred at the school at approximately 12 p.m. on August 17. HCS said “The school’s administration immediately contacted 911. Emergency personnel arrived and made a decision to request a helicopter to transport the student to seek additional medical assistance. The student was released after medical evaluation.”

Hardin County Government Communications Officer Brian Walker said in a statement Thursday that Hardin County EMS Squad 11 and the on-duty supervisor dispatched to the school “on the report of an 8-year-old male that had fallen through a ceiling.” Upon arrival the EMS crew was directed to a 7-year-old male being cared for by school staff. Walker’s statement said “Because of the height of the fall, the patient’s age, and initial complaints, the EMS crews requested the assistance of Air Medical for prompt transport to Children’s Hospital in Louisville.”

All emergency units cleared the school at approximately 12:51 p.m.

July unemployment in Kentucky consistent with June numbers

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July unemployment in Kentucky is mostly in line with from where it was the previous year.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the state unemployment average for July was 4.7 percent. That number is unchanged from the rate reported in June, but is up .1 percent from the July 2025 average of 4.6 percent.

Kentucky’s unemployment average for July came in above the national unemployment rate, which the U.S. Department of Labor reported at 4.1 percent. That’s down from the June average of 4.2 percent and the July 2025 average of 4.3 percent.

The Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet says the state’s civilian labor force, which includes people currently employed and people actively searching for work, saw an increase of 6,183 people from June to July, bringing the total civilian labor force to 2,103,837 people.

The Manufacturing, Educational and Health Services, Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, Financial Activities, and Mining and Logging sectors saw gains from June to July. Decreases were seen in the Professional and Business Services, Information Services, Other Services, Government, Construction, and Leisure and Hospitality sectors.

Visit the Kentucky Center for Statistics website, kystats.ky.gov, for more about unemployment figures and labor market information.

Heartland Homecoming Parade rolling through E-Town Saturday

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The City of Elizabethtown is excited to welcome residents from E-Town and area communities to the 43rd annual Heartland Homecoming Parade this Saturday.

“We celebrate not only Elizabethtown,” said Elizabethtown Events Program Manager Beth Pyles. “It is here in Elizabethtown, but it’s the whole Heartland community as we know it. We are a large county, but I feel like we’re all part of the Heartland. We just make up a little piece of it.”

The parade will step off at the Public Square at 10 a.m. and run north on West Dixie Avenue to Saint John Road, ending at approximately noon. The theme for this year’s parade is “Party in the U.S.A.” in honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Pyles said the grand marshal for this year’s parade is the American Soldier, inspired by the impact of Fort Knox on the surrounding community.

“We are celebrating not only those that are serving currently, but those that have served in the past, the veterans,” Pyles said. “We appreciate them, so we will have a huge presence from Fort Knox. We’ll have several antique military vehicles. It’s just a great day to come downtown to celebrate.”

All are welcome to attend. Nearly 80 entries are registered to participate in this year’s parade. Find more information at www.etownevents.com.