Area News

Robert Moore [email protected] It has been an eventful couple of weeks for the Harrodsburg-Mercer County Tourist Commission, and not in the sense of promoting tourism. The tourist commission’s newly elected chairwoman resigned before leading her first meeting of the board of directors. The commission, who collect restaurant and lodging taxes and use those funds to…

Robert Moore [email protected] Get ready for the sticker shock. The state will begin collecting a 6 percent sales tax on a variety of goods and services, from veterinary services for pets to golf starting July 1. “It’s messing us up big time,” said Betty Lewis, the owner and manager of the Bright Leaf Golf Resort.…

Jennifer Marsh [email protected] The Arts Council of Mercer County is holding an Open House on Saturday, July 7. The Arts Council hopes the event will start a series of open houses which will be held on the first Saturday of every month. Refreshments will be provided. Still fairly new to the job, Sarah Tolbert was…

Robert Moore [email protected] Officials from Harrodsburg and Mercer County will meet to discuss planning and zoning. The City of Harrodsburg Board of Commissioners agreed to the meeting after hearing complaints from Art Freeman Monday night. While Freeman complained about several issues—including parking, dilapidated buildings and what the Harrodsburg-Mercer County Tourist Commission does with restaurant and…

Jennifer Marsh [email protected] Independence Day festivities kick off this weekend in Mercer County. While fireworks are always fun, it is important to stay safe. The lights over Herrington Lake will take place Saturday, June 30, after dark. Harrodsburg Health and Rehabilitation Center’s annual celebration will start at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3, with fireworks…

Robert Moore [email protected] The Harrodsburg City Commission has announced an ambitious street paving program this year. The city will spend twice the money repairing and resurfacing city streets—over half a million dollars—than was spent last year. This year, the city intends to spend around $250,000 from municipal road aid toward paving Commerce Street from U.S.…

Jennifer Marsh [email protected] The Settlement and Raid commenced on Saturday, June 23, at the Old Fort Harrod. A crowd of around 1,000 people and reenactment enthusiasts poured in from all around Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, some came from as far as California. From the cannon fire and scripted interactions a ‘What if scenario’ was captivating…

The family of Regina “Jeanie” Nickles is asking for Mercer County’s help in keeping a cop killer behind bars. Nickles, a 15-year veteran of the Harrodsburg Police Department, was shot and killed in October 1998. A parole hearing is scheduled this August for the man convicted of killing her, John Paul Works. Nickles’ family are…

Major Will Finish Out Term; Will Not Seek Reelection In November Robert Moore [email protected] It’s the end of an era for the Burgin Board of Education. Donna Major, who has served on the board since 1995, announced at last week’s board meeting she will not be running for reelection this year. “We’ve got a really…

The escaped Northpoint Training Center inmate who led police on a high speed chase through two counties before being apprehended has been indicted for his escape attempt. Kenneth Bolin, 44, of 945 Minerva Avenue, Louisville, was charged with four class D felonies: 1st-degree fleeing/evading police and 1st-degree wanton endangerment (three counts). At approximately 1:30 a.m.…