Good morning, Elizabethtown.

Kentucky classrooms will follow six new rules this school year — phone use is banned except in emergencies, students start each day with a moment of silence for prayer or reflection, teachers must use traceable communications with students, elementary students will learn cursive by 5th grade, kindergartners and first graders must meet new literacy benchmarks, and educators now have better tools to report abuse.

Rumpke Waste and Recycling warned local customers not to throw batteries—especially lithium-ion ones from electronics and power tools—in the trash after more than a dozen fires occurred over the past month.

The company said empty propane tanks must be returned to stores and urged people to use local drop-off points or the Hardin County Household Hazardous Waste Collection event on August 12.

Lawmakers held several committee meetings last week to discuss funding for clean water, school construction and housing, as well as improvements in healthcare data and workforce initiatives for the 2026 Regular Session—measures also covered local government proposals, licensing updates, and infrastructure challenges. These discussions aim to focus future legislative funding and address urgent needs across the state.

August Membership Luncheon: Education Focus

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. — Pritchard Community Center — Ticket reservation required — Engage with local school superintendents on upcoming educational developments and enjoy networking opportunities.

EtownCon 2025

10 AM – 5 PM — Pritchard Community Center — $20 — A collectors' paradise in Elizabethtown featuring comics and pop culture fandoms.

Governor's Gold Cup Marching Band Festival

11:30 a.m. — Elizabethtown High School — Entry fees apply — Celebrate the best of local talent with a competitive marching band festival featuring prelims and finals.