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Kentucky state agencies hosting online auctions

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Two Kentucky state agencies are hosting online auctions this week, and participation is open to the public.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is hosting an auction of surplus equipment, with bidding open through September 11. Items up for bid include trucks, tractors, mowers, and other maintenance equipment. The auction is being hosted by The Logsdon Group, and a complete list of available items can be found on their website, through which participants must register.

Proceeds from the action will go towards the KFW Fish and Game Fund, which is used for normal operating expenses. KFW will also be hosting an auction of surplus and confiscated items in October, more information on which is available at fw.ky.gov.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control will open bidding for its second auction of confiscated bourbons on September 15, with bidding running through the 30th. The proceeds from the ABC auction go towards alcohol responsibility programs across Kentucky. Find more information by visiting ABC.ky.gov.

Tax credit available to Kentucky small businesses

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Kentucky small businesses that employ 50 or fewer full-time employees are encouraged to apply for the Kentucky Small Business Tax Credit program.

“Tax credits are available to eligible companies that added at least one new full-time employee and invested more than $5,000 in qualifying equipment or technology within the past 24 months,” said Governor Andy Beshear during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update.

Qualifying businesses may be eligible to receive a state income tax credit ranging from $3,500 to $25,000 through the program. The credit awarded is dependent on the number of jobs created and the amount of investment in new equipment and technology. Since its inception, more than $17.4 million in tax credits have been earned through the program based on the creation of more than 5,100 jobs and more than $53.7 million in investments.

“Team Kentucky is committed to supporting our small businesses,” Beshear said. “We know that you are the backbone of each and every community, so check out this application. If you qualify, make sure you apply for it. We want to help you grow, and we appreciate you.”

Learn more about the program and find the application at NewKentuckyHome.ky.gov/Entrepreneurship/KSBTC. Business owners may also contact the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development at 1-800-626-2930 or email info@kyinnovation.com for more information.

Three days of fun on the schedule at annual West Point River Days Festival

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West Point River Days Co-Chair Michelle Heavrin says the annual festival is more than just a showcase for the community.

“We kind of consider it a homecoming,” Heavrin says. “A lot of people that have moved always come back for the River Days Festival. We get to see people that we only see once a year and sometimes once every ten years or whenever they can make it back.”

The festival runs this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at West Point’s Veterans Memorial Park.

Thursday activities include a golf cart poker run, food trucks, and Carrie-oke with Carrie and Kevin Duke. Friday activities include mullett, big hair, and hot legs contests along with live music and kids activities. Saturday activity gets started with the River Days Festival Parade at 11 a.m. and concludes at dusk with the fireworks.

Heavrin says all are welcome to attend, and the more, the merrier.

“We always have some really nice things for our silent auction down here,” Heavrin said. “The entertainment is fun. We have assorted food trucks. I think we have at least six or eight food trucks this year, and they’re all different things. We try to keep a variety of things that you can do. We have vendors down here, and everything’s a lot of fun.”

Visit the West Point River Days Festival Facebook page for more information and a complete schedule of events.

‘Cat in the Hat’ social media trend has school districts and law enforcement investigating

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Area school districts are reaching out to families and community members regarding a social media trend that shows threatening imagery involving the Dr. Seuss character the Cat in the Hat.

“Over the last few days, our administrators and law enforcement have taken much time investigating posts that have been on social media of the Cat in the Hat theme,” said Hardin County Schools Superintendent Terrie Morgan said in a video shared by the district. “While there have been no threats, it certainly is concerning, and a distraction to our environment, which is: we want the best academic environment, learning environment, and safe environment for our students.”

The trend involves AI-edited videos which show a seemingly threatening version of the character in front of targeted school buildings. While the videos pose no credible threat, administrators are concerned with the distraction caused by the videos.

Elizabethtown Police Chief Jeremy Thompson said in the HCS video that threats against schools are taken very seriously.

“If you are in a school and you see videos like that, please make sure you bring it to the attention of faculty or staff, find an SRO, find some type of adult that you can report it to so that we can then take over the investigative role and make sure that our schools and all of our resources are dedicated to finding out who’s responsible for this,” Thompson said.

Morgan said individuals caught making such videos “will face severe consequences.”