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Hardin County Election Board approves plans for March 19 special election, May 21 primary election

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The Hardin County Election Board met Monday morning to discuss a special election and the upcoming primary election.

The board approved the proposed plan from Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith for a special election to fill the Kentucky House of Representatives District 26 seat vacated by Russell Webber. That district covers the western half of Bullitt County and three precincts in northern Hardin County: West Point, Fort Knox 26, and Radcliff Southeast. The term runs through the end of this year.

Smith said the new clerk’s office location at the former Nolin RECC office in Radcliff should be approved for absentee and early voting, while polling locations for election day are still being lined up. Smith said even with the special election only being for one seat the county has the same duties and responsibilities as any other election.

“We know these are always low turnout, but we can’t treat it like it’s not a real election,” Smith said. “We can’t treat it like it’s a play election. It’s the real thing.”

The special election will be held Tuesday, March 19. Candidates will be nominated by the respective political parties.

The board also approved Smith’s plan for the May 21 primary election. Smith said with 2024 being a presidential election a higher turnout is expected, but the plan already fits in with his goal of adding more polling locations, which people responded well to in 2023.

“One of the things people like is yes, there was a line, but the line moved quickly,” Smith said. “There were a couple of times we had to make some adjustments during the day. We had to send an extra piece of equipment to one location, etc., but ultimately this plan is a blend of that. It adds more locations and then it beefs up our existing locations so that we can get people through the line quickly.”

Smith’s plan would increase the polling locations on election day from 12 to 15, and would add the former East Hardin building in Glendale as an early voting location.

Visit the clerk’s office’s website for more election information.

Temperatures begin to warm after long stretch of winter weather

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After multiple days of wintry precipitation, frigid winds, and freezing temperatures, the area finally gets a bit of a break this week.

“We’re warming up into the 40s for highs by Monday, mid and upper 40s by Tuesday, and even 50s by Wednesday, so we do see a pretty good ramp-up in the warmth as we go later into the week,” said Meteorologist Dan McKemy with the National Weather Service in Louisville. 

After a day of mostly sunny skies Monday, rain showers are expected through most of the rest of the week.

Highway crews had their work cut out for them over the weekend as another round of precipitation coupled with some of the coldest temperatures of the season impacted road treatment efforts. While many of the major thoroughfares are in better condition, many lower-volume roadways are still being treated.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is reminding Kentuckians to be safe in the cold and on the roads, with five deaths reported around the commonwealth due to the freezing temperatures last week. The governor’s office is also reminding residents in need to take advantage of the state’s emergency services as needed, which can be found at kyem.ky.gov, and is reminding Kentuckians of the state’s price gouging laws, violations of which can be reported to the state attorney general’s office.

Progress made but delays still present with new vehicle registration system

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The Hardin County Clerk’s Office is still seeing delays due to the state’s new vehicle registration software.

“This new software system, KAVIS, that’s been introduced by the Transportation Cabinet is still wonky and still buggy,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith. “We’re reporting those bugs to the software team and they are working on them.”

He said despite still seeing longer wait times progress has been made.

“What is currently not available right now is online registration,” Smith said. “We’re hopeful that they’ll get that up and running very, very quickly, but most other transactions we’re able to complete. We just ask for continued patience from the public.”

While some delays are expected, the staff at the clerk’s office is still working hard to accommodate customers.

“We always encourage folks to renew your registration on time,” Smith said. “That;s always helpful. It will save you time and money, but expect a longer than anticipated wait. Early mornings seem to be the best time to come. We’re a little bit lighter in the mornings. Afternoons get really, really heavy.”

Smith said he can’t thank the public enough for their patience.

“They have really, really been gracious,” Smith said. “I know it’s been frustrating for them. I know they’re worried about deadlines and timelines. We are too. We’re going to do our very best to help them.”

Smith has been posting ongoing updates to the Hardin County Clerk’s Office’s Facebook page.

Hodgenville responds to property damage caused by vehicles doing donuts

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The City of Hodgenville is closing Salem Lake until further notice due to damage caused by a vehicle doing donuts.

Hodgenville Police Chief James Richardson said the incident at Salem Lake was preceded by two similar incidents.

“Before the snow came through, we had a young man that was in a pickup truck – we haven’t identified him yet, we’re still looking – that was doing donuts out at McDougal Lake and caused several thousand dollars worth of damage on that brand new chip-sealed parking lot,” Richardson said. “We put out information that we were looking for anybody with tips that could lead to a charge or arrest in that case, then shortly after that the weather turned bad and we had some individual doing donuts in one of our major intersections.”

Richardson said the damage at Salem Lake was significant, and the city is reminding residents to be safe and to take care of public areas.

“We understand that kids are gonna be kids, and I’m not the Donut Police,” Richardson said. “We’re not coming out looking for people that are doing these things as long as you’re on private property. If you’ve got permission, knock yourself out, but don’t go to public property, don’t go to places you’re not allowed to do it and then damage other people’s property, that’s what we have an issue with.”

Meanwhile, the Hodgenville Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance Wednesday that led to a Hodgenville man’s arrest.

The HPD says officers responded to an address on Parker’s Loop in the early morning hours on January 17. The HPD says the investigation revealed that the victim in the incident was forced from the apartment after a physical altercation with Kevin “Dewey” Day, who allegedly broke the victim’s phone, took her keys, and threw some of the victim’s possessions out the window before locking the door and fleeing the scene.Responding officers forced their way into the apartment with the victim’s consent so she could retrieve her things.

Day was charged with Fourth Degree assault, Criminal Mischief, and Theft. A warrant was issued for Day’s arrest and police began searching the area. Day was found Thursday hiding in an area barn. He was taken into custody and lodged in the LaRue County Detention Center.

Hart County man gets four years in prison

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A Hart County man will serve more than four years in prison after being convicted for a federal weapons charge.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky says Lawrence T. Carter Jr. of Munfordville will serve four years and nine months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Carter was arrested in August of 2022 after a traffic stop on Old Munfordville Road found him to be in possession of drugs and a 9 MM handgun. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says Carter is banned from possessing firearms after a 2005 conviction for drug and weapons charges.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives along with the Cave City Police Department as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, an operation bringing together multiple law enforcement agencies to reduce violent crime, and as part of the ATF’s violent crime reduction strategies.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says there is no parole in the federal system.