WQXE NEWS

New Year’s Eve is upon us, and area law enforcement agencies are reminding Kentuckians to take precautions if alcohol is part of your celebration tonight.

“I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year, but also remind you to please celebrate responsibly,” said Elizabethtown Police Department Public Information Officer Chris Denham. “If you choose to consume alcohol, please be sure you have a safe ride home beforehand. A single decision to drive impaired can change lives forever.”

The Kentucky State Police is participating in two nationwide enforcement efforts aimed at keeping the roadways safe: Operation C.A.R.E (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort) and the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. Operation C.A.R.E “focuses on reducing crashes through high-visibility patrols aimed at detecting impaired, distracted, and aggressive driving behaviors”.

The KSP offers the following holiday travel safety reminders:

-”Celebrate responsibly.” If alcohol is part of your plans, arrange transportation home ahead of time.

-”Slow down” for conditions such as winter weather, reduced daylight, and holiday traffic.

-”Stay focused.” Avoid distractions behind the wheel.

-”Speak up.” If you encounter an impaired or dangerous driver, when safe to do so call 9-1-1 or your local k-s-p post.

Both Operation C.A.R.E. and the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign run through January 1.

The Kentucky Department for Public Health on Tuesday announced the first pediatric death from influenza in the current respiratory virus season.

According to the KDPH, the child lived in Kenton County and had not received this season’s flu vaccine.

The KDPH says the number of flu cases is increasing across the state, especially among children. Most cases result in mild symptoms, but serious symptoms such as difficult or fast breathing, seizures, bluish lips or face, fever above 104 degrees, fever or cough that improves but then returns or gets worse, or the worsening of other medical conditions require medical attention.

Lincoln Trail District Health Department Public Relations Officer Melissa Philips says vaccination is one of your main defenses against illness.

“If you haven’t gotten your COVID vaccination or your flu vaccination, it’s not too late to do that,” Phillips said. “If you are somebody who qualifies for RSV, that is also a disease that’s spread through respiratory means, so all of those vaccinations are a good means of prevention.”

Health officials also encourage good health habits to help prevent the spread of illness, including staying home when sick and proper and frequent hand washing.

“I know you hear that a lot, but it is the number one way to prevent illness, so if you are ill or someone else is in the home is ill, it’s that frequent hand washing anytime you blow your nose or sneeze or use the bathroom or prepare food, any of those ways that germs are spread,” Phillips said.

Contact your healthcare provider or your local health department office for vaccination information. The most current data on respiratory virus activity in Kentucky can be found on the Cabinet for Health and Family Services website.

Hardin County Government is reminding residents to use the county’s recycling trailers properly.

Hardin County Government Communications Officer Brian Walker said some of the trailers were inundated with materials after the holidays.

“One of the main problems is people do not break down and flatten their cardboard,” Walker said. “Therefore, it takes up so much more space when it gets into the bin. The other thing is when the bins are full, the trailers as well, it is not appropriate to leave those items on the ground. If they become wet, they are then at that point just garbage. They can’t even be recycled.”

Walker also says an uptick has been seen in people leaving materials that aren’t accepted for county recycling.

“A lot of times people will buy a larger item on a pallet, they’re unsure what to do with that item, and they simply take it to the recycling center and throw it on the ground, and that is never accepted,” Walker said. “The only things that can be accepted at our recycling sites are rinsed out plastics No. 1 and No. 2 (just look for the little triangle, and it’ll have a number in the middle of it), rinsed out aluminum and tin cans, cardboard that is not greasy or dirty or wet, and newspaper.”

It might be a bit of a hassle, but if you find a trailer that is full, look for another trailer.

“We have locations scattered about the county including Radcliff, Eastview, Glendale, Sonora, Vine Grove, and several in Elizabethtown,” Walker said.

More information on the county’s recycling program is available on the county website.