WQXE NEWS

Today marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the initiation of Operation Overlord that saw Allied troops reclaim Omaha Beach in Normandy, beginning the liberation of France from the Axis powers and setting the stage for victory in the European Theater of World War II.

Communities, installations, and officials across the country are marking the occasion.

“Around 156,000 Allied forces bravely stormed the beaches of Normandy and successfully combated German forces, which marked the turning point of World War II,” said Kentucky House District 25 Representative Steve Bratcher. “Although the operation was successful, 4,000 Allied troops paid the ultimate sacrifice that day. This week, let us remember the courage that was displayed and the sacrifices that were made by those service members as they worked to defeat the Nazi regime and fight for our freedom.”

About 150 American, about 50 British, and 15 Canadian World War II veterans are in Normandy today to participate in what many officials anticipate will be the final major anniversary of D-Day with living veterans in attendance. Among the military units participating in the festivities in France is the Kentucky Air National Guard, which will fly a C-130J Super Hercules donned with a historic livery for the occasion.

Wreaths Across America says there are 165 Kentucky soldiers buried at the Normandy American Cemetery, and the names of 14 Kentucky soldiers are listed on the cemetery’s Tablet of the Missing.

The Kentucky State Police is investigating a fatal accident on the Western Kentucky Parkway.

The KSP says Post Four troopers were requested by the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office just before 1:30 p.m. on June 4 to investigate a two-vehicle collision near the 116 mile marker between the Clarkson and White Mills exits. According to the KSP, the preliminary investigation indicates that 28-year-old Kelsey Dunn of Elkton was traveling east in her vehicle when she lost control operating in heavy rainfall. The vehicle crossed the median and ended up in the path of a westbound semi-tractor trailer.

Dunn was pronounced dead at the scene by the Grayson County Coroner’s Office. The operator of the semi reported no injuries.

Dunn was the director of bands at North Hardin High School. Hardin County Schools Superintendent Teresa Morgan said in a release:

“Generations will feel the impact Ms. Dunn made on students, her fellow staff members, the school, alumni, band boosters, and our community. She cultivated and nurtured relationships with students and ensured that their performances and presentations represented North Hardin High School with class, respect, and dignity. Ms. Dunn was passionate about her students and their well-being. She was more than a teacher; she was a mentor and a friend to all she encountered. Her dedication to North Hardin was immeasurable. She gave so much of herself to her bands and NHHS as a whole.”

The HCS Crisis Response Team will be at North Hardin High School beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday to meet with students and staff in need of support.

The crash was one of three that impacted the area Tuesday, along with a westbound Western Kentucky Parkway accident near mile marker 124 involving an overturned semi hauling lumber and a crash that resulted in spilled cargo on Interstate 65 in Hart County.

“That northbound crash just north of Munfordville blocked traffic until about 6:30 p.m. down there local time, and then on the Western Kentucky Parkway that westbound crash near mile marker 116 cleared around 5:30 p.m. local time and the eastbound crash near White Mills cleared around 8:30 p.m.,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie. 

The heavy rain impacted efforts to clear debris from the accidents.

The Hardin County Public Library invites kids and adults alike to participate in their 2024 Summer Reading Program, which runs now through July 20.

“For our kids we’ve got a full programming calendar,” said HCPL Head of Youth Services Becca Isaacs. “There’s all sorts of fun stuff to do just about every day of the week if they just want to stop by. We also have some reading challenges to encourage them to read over the summer and try to keep their skills fresh.” 

Isaacs says summer reading is good for kids as they are away from the classroom.

“The summer slides a big deal, especially with our schools where they have those two months off and they start to get a little rusty on their skills, but this way they’re keeping their minds sharp, keeping themselves interested,” Isaacs said.

The theme for Summer Reading 2024 is “Adventure Begins at Your Library.” 

“We’ve got some fun challenges set up like little help-wanted boards, and they track how many minutes they’ve read with a little dungeon crawl reading log that they can keep track of on there,” Isaacs said. “For our grown-ups, our adult services department has a time log as well so they can keep track of how long they’ve read this summer and win some cool stuff.”

Anybody interested in participating can swing by the library, located at 100 Jim Owen Drive in Elizabethtown, or visit the Hardin County Public Library website or Facebook page.