Area News

New Location, New Programs But Same Goals Jennifer Marsh Herald Staff [email protected] Mercer Transformation is a non-profit created to bring positive change to Mercer County. Their mission is to create opportunities, revitalize individuals and families through education, human services, faith-based organizations and civic groups.  The organization recently relocated to Main Street and hopes to be…

Jennifer Marsh Herald Staff [email protected] April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and according to Mercer County’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services, in 2018 Mercer had 290 reports that met the criteria for abuse. Mercer County organizations are collaborating to raise awareness and foster prevention throughout the community. Sharon Perkins, coordinator for Burgin Family…

Board Of Adjustments Fails To Pass—Or Deny—Conditional Use Permit Robert Moore Herald Staff [email protected] Isaiah House’s plans to expand operations into Mercer County hit a wall this week. While the Harrodsburg Board of Commissioners tabled a temporary moratorium on substance abuse treatment facilities, the Mercer County Joint Board of Adjustments failed to approve a conditional…

The pilot rollout of Kentucky’s new driver’s licenses, spearheaded by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, is scheduled to begin in early April in Franklin and Woodford counties. A phased, county-by-county rollout extending to the remaining 118 counties will begin two to three weeks later, and conclude within a two-month period. It was originally announced that the…

Consultant Praises County’s Handling Of Finances, Warns About Future Uncertainty Robert Moore Herald Staff [email protected] The way Mercer County Fiscal Court handles its finances has been under attack for the past year, with some taxpayers saying too much money is being kept in reserves. On Tuesday morning, they were told they had good reason to…

Thoughts And Goals From Community Leaders Jennifer Marsh Herald Staff [email protected]  (Editor’s note: This is a weekly series interviewing community leaders to share their thoughts and goals for the community.) Ernie Kelty is currently serving his third term as Mercer County sheriff. Originally from Washington County, Kelty came to Mercer County in 1984 following four…

Public Invited To Planning Meeting On April 11 Robert Moore Herald Staff [email protected] Leaders have been chosen to organize Harrodsburg’s 250th birthday in 2024. On Monday night, Mayor Art Freeman announced that he and Judge-Executive Milward Dedman had picked three people from 50 candidates to lead the semiquincentennial committee. Tony Dunbar was selected as chairman…

Local Churches Help Church Of God Repair Parsonage Jennifer Marsh Herald Staff [email protected] Several churches have come together to help Harrodsburg Church of God repair their parsonage for their new pastor and his family. Pastor Nate Todd, his wife, Raechel, and their two young children took over the parsonage in June of 2018 when Todd…

Rep. King Attends Legislative Session After Spinal Tumor Removal Joe Hall Public Relations Manager Norton Healthcare Kim King has represented Mercer County in the Kentucky House of Representatives for almost a decade. She knows the halls of the state Capitol by heart and has cast hundreds of votes on the House floor. But this year’s legislative…

Poynter And Vandergriff Face 15–30 Years In Prison Robert Moore Herald Staff [email protected] A Mercer County man and his ex-wife have pled guilty to federal charges of producing child pornography. Rafael Poynter and Anastasia Vandergriff were arrested in 2017 for the sexual abuse and exploitation of minor children that occurred between June 1–Dec. 31, 2016. According to…