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Radcliff City Council holds first reading of 2026-2027 budget

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The Radcliff City Council met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.

The first reading was held on the city’s fiscal year 2026-2027 budget and accompanying ordinances. City Attorney Mike Pike read the budget ordinance. For total resources available, under the General Fund the budget has $19,108,450, under Road/LGEA funds the budget has $379,000, and under Stormwater Utility the budget has $1,084,400. For anticipated appropriations, under the General Fund the budget has $19,108,450, under Road/LGEA the budget has $379,000, and under Stormwater Utility the budget has $1,084,400.

The budget will go up for approval during a special called meeting Thursday.

In other meeting news, the council approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Elizabethtown for the development of a law enforcement shooting range on Gaither Station Road. Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall said the project is a product of the strong partnership between the cities, and helps the cities get around scheduling issues at the current range at the Hardin County landfill.

“We compete with every other agency in the state of Kentucky as well as federal agencies for firing and qualifying for firing ranges, and you obviously want your officers to be trained in firing when they have to,” Duvall said. “Obviously, we hope they never do, but if they do, you absolutely want them to be qualified, certified, and making sure that they do everything they need to.”

The Radcliff City Council will next meet for a regularly scheduled meeting July 13.

State Representative Heavrin recognized by Kentucky Chamber

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An area state representative was recognized by the Kentucky Chamber for her support of the commonwealth’s economy.

During the Grayson County Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Leadership event this month, Kentucky 18th District State Representative Samara Heavrin was presented with the Kentucky Chamber MVP Award in recognition of her leadership during the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly session.

According to a release from Kentucky Chamber Tuesday, recipients of the MVP Award “demonstrate exceptional leadership for Kentucky’s business community by sponsoring or carrying chamber priority legislation to final passage, leading on critical policy issues, or taking difficult votes in support of a stronger business climate.” The organization says Heavrin went above and beyond to advance policies that “strengthen Kentucky’s economy, support employers, and improve the commonwealth’s competitiveness.”

Kentucky Chamber says Heavrin served as chair of the House Families and Children Committee, and championed House Bill 6 and House Joint Resolution 50, a child care package that “reduces barriers to opening and operating child care centers, strengthens accountability, expands options for working families, and supports the child care workforce.” The Kentucky Chamber worked towards the legislation through their Kentucky Collaborative on Child Care partnership.

Learn more about the award and other initiatives on the Kentucky Chamber website.

Judge rules on motions in Caudill case

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Lawyers for Dustin Caudill, the Elizabethtown man accused of shooting and killing two men and then setting the Henon Lane residence they were in on fire in October 2024, were back in court for a pre-trial conference Tuesday.

Hardin Circuit Judge Larry Ashlock announced his orders on several motions he took under review after the previous pre-trial conference on June 2. Ashlock said he was denying the defense’s motion to bifurcate, or divide the legal proceedings into separate proceedings, stating the case as presented is within state statutes.

Caudill’s lawyers made a motion to exclude evidence related to the presence of a dog at the crime scene. The defense says mention of the dog may unfairly prejudice jurors against Caudill. Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Chris McCrary said the dog, which was rescued by firefighters who responded to the scene, will only come up in the presentation of facts in the case as one of the victims was allegedly leaning down to pet the dog when they were shot by Caudill. Ashlock denied the motion as he said it didn’t appear the dog was being used to prove anything.

The defense also made a motion for an evidentiary hearing regarding testimony from the fire investigator who investigated the arson case. Ashlock said the hearing was not necessary if the investigator only reports on the facts of their report and does not offer opinion. Ashlock asked the commonwealth to inform the court if opinion would be included in the testimony by September 30.

Caudill was not present for the hearing as he was transferred Tuesday to the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center for the state’s evaluation in response to defense mental health claims. McCrary said the commonwealth requested the defense submit their data regarding evaluations for the KCPC report. The defense said they would do so as soon as they were informed of the doctor conducting the evaluation.

Caudill’s trial is scheduled to begin October 19.

Warm Blessings hosting inaugural Day of Giving

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Warm Blessings Community Kitchen Executive Director Josh Miller says the goal behind the inaugural Warm Blessings Day of Giving, to be held July 3 at Haycraft Park, is an opportunity for the organization to “love on” an underserved neighborhood in the community.

“We want to just take that day to show people that Warm Blessings is more than just a concrete building, but we are an organization with hands and feet, loving on people in our neighborhoods,” Miller says.

The Day of Giving will be a free event for visitors with no registration required, and the event is free for vendors to participate.

“There’s going to be free food,” Miller says. “There’s going to be games, prizes, giveaways, a lot of fun for the whole family, getting them connected to resources.”

Vendors or organizations interested in participating can reach out to Warm Blessings.

“Contact me directly at Josh.Miller@WarmBlessings.org or 270-932-1791,” Miller says.

Visit the Warm Blessings Community Kitchen Facebook page or www.warmblessings.org for more information on the organization and its mission.

Public comments sought on KYTC/FHA historic preservation plans

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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Federal Highway Administration are seeking public comment on how federally funded transportation projects in the commonwealth comply with the National Historic Preservation Act.

The KYTC says public comments are being sought on the draft Kentucky Section 106 Programmatic Agreement, which establishes the process used to “identify historic properties that may be affected by projects, evaluate potential impacts, and determine how any adverse effects can be avoided, minimized, or mitigated.” The properties may be listed on or be eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and include buildings, structures, sites, districts, or objects of significance.

The KYTC says public input will “help inform the final agreement and ensure the process continues to balance transportation improvements with the preservation of Kentucky’s historic resources.” The draft agreement can be found on the KYTC’s Division of Environmental Analysis website under the Cultural Resources section.

The deadline to submit comments is July 16. Comments may be submitted to Environmental Control Manager Daniel B. Davis by mail (Daniel B. Davis, Environmental Control Manager, Cultural Resource Branch, Division of Environmental Analysis, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, 200 Mero Street, Frankfort, KY 40622) or by email at daniel.davis@ky.gov. Visit the KYTC website for more information.