WQXE NEWS

The local chapters of Wreaths Across America will be honoring veterans this Saturday. 

For the seventeenth year, Wreaths Across America will be placing a wreath at each of the graves at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central in Radcliff. Family members and area veteran organizations will be placing wreaths in memory of the more than 10,300 veterans in the cemetery.

Wreaths Across America will conduct a brief ceremony at 10 a.m. at the cemetery’ columbarium, after which family members present will be able to place a wreath at their loved one’s grave. Volunteers will then place the remaining wreaths.

Volunteers will also be placing wreaths this Saturday at each of the graves at the Fort Knox Main Post Cemetery. The event will begin with a ceremony at noon at which Major General Johnny Davis will give remarks. Volunteers and family members will then place the wreaths for more than 850 veterans. Attendees should park at the Lindsey Golf Course parking lot, located near the Chaffee Gate.

Contact local Wreaths Across America Chapter Chair Donna Betson for more information.

State and local officials joined business and educational leaders at the Elizabethtown Community and Technical College campus Wednesday as ground was broken on the future sight of Family Scholar House’s residential unit at ECTC. 

ECTC says the facility will include 48 housing units for low-income students and their families along with a family services building that will offer resources such as access to childcare, food, and support as students navigate their education while providing support for their families.

ECTC President and CEO Dr. Juston Pate said Family Scholar House helps students remove barriers, and the $14.8 million housing facility allows students to focus on their dreams rather than worry about where they’ll sleep that night.

“We take that supreme talent that they’re using to just survive and we remove that barrier, giving them a platform to thrive, and that benefits us all because they’re going into healthcare, they’re going into manufacturing, they’re going into fields that matter for us,” Pate said.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said Family Scholar House’s efforts go hand in hand with the state’s efforts of creating a “New Kentucky Home” where everybody can succeed.

“It’s no surprise that Family Scholar House and the ‘Chief of Possibility’ herself, my great friend Cathe Dykstra, are getting ready to change everything in this community and to make sure everybody has a shot at a great job at BlueOval or any other business in Kentucky or outside of it,” Beshear said.

Ambriana Smith is a single mother and student at ECTC. She said Family Scholar House has helped her succeed, and this project is a testament to their efforts.

“This land is more than just earth and stone,” Smith said. “It is a symbol of belief. Belief in people like me and families like mine. It is a symbol of faith in our potential and the transformative power of community, and in the difference a safe, stable home can make.”

Learn more about the project on ECTC and Family Scholar House’s websites.

The Hardin County Fiscal Court met for their first meeting of the month Tuesday afternoon.

Following a closed session, the court approved a resolution related to the execution of documents related to the BlueOval SK project. The resolution, which can be found in full on the county website, amends language in the county’s bond agreement with the company for the issuance of Kentucky Industrial Building Revenue Bonds for the factory’s construction.

A public hearing was held on ten-year extensions for county franchise agreements with Charter Communications and Comcast Communications. No public comments were made during the hearing, and the court approved the extensions as part of their consent agenda.

Hardin County Emergency Management Director Joey Scott said during his report that all of the county’s data for their emergency services study has been submitted to EmergencyServices Consulting International.

“A rough draft has come back, and we’re waiting for a final draft on the emergency service study, and we’re really excited about getting that information back, so I know a lot of people worked really hard and we can’t thank everybody enough for putting the time and effort into this, too,” Scott said.

Hardin County Jailer Josh Lindblom said inmates last month worked more than 10,700 hours, which saved the county $63,959.50. Inmates collected 1,728 bags of trash along 128.9 miles of county roadways. Lindblom also said the Kentucky Jailers Association won a summary judgement in a lawsuit with the state under which the state will reimburse counties more for state prisoner medical bills.

“It’s in the appeals court, but the judge in the appeals court has put a stay making it to where they’re going have to start paying as of May of 2024, so we’ve got some people together and so far we believe right now they owe us about $52,000,” Lindblom said.

The Hardin County Fiscal Court will next meet December 19.