WEBVTT

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<v Speaker 1>Now we turn to the Kentucky Standard for news in

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<v Speaker 1>Bardstown in Nelson County. Your reader today is Brian Hunt.

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<v Speaker 1>As a reminder, RADIOI is a reading service intended for

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<v Speaker 1>people who are blind or have other disabilities that make

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<v Speaker 1>it difficult to read printed material. We will begin with

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<v Speaker 1>the edition dated August ninth. Nick Halk perjury trial moved

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<v Speaker 1>to be moved out of Nelson County. As was anticipated,

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<v Speaker 1>the November perchure trial for Nick Halk will be moved

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<v Speaker 1>to another location within the state, similar to what happened

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<v Speaker 1>last year with his brother Brooks and his accomplices in

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<v Speaker 1>the Crystal Rogers murder trial. Both Commonwealth's attorney Kyle Williamson

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<v Speaker 1>and nick Halk's attorney Ferguson agreed to a change of

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<v Speaker 1>venue for the perjury trial, and at Thursday's preliminary hearing

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<v Speaker 1>in Nelson's Circuit Court, Judge Charles Simms I put through

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<v Speaker 1>the order and requested from attorneys agree on a location

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<v Speaker 1>by August twentieth if they cannot do so. Sims requested

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<v Speaker 1>ten potential locations with the hopes that there would be

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<v Speaker 1>some overlaps between the two legal teams if they ultimately

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<v Speaker 1>cannot agree Sims would make the choice. Nick Halk, who

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<v Speaker 1>was arrested in June and bonded out of jail shortly

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<v Speaker 1>thereafter by his mother, Rosemary Hawk, has been charged with

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<v Speaker 1>first degree perjury for statements made during legal proceedings between

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<v Speaker 1>July twenty fifteen and August twenty twenty three in relation

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<v Speaker 1>to rogers twenty fifteen disappearance and presumed murder. Roger's body

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<v Speaker 1>was never found, but brooks House was convicted of murder

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<v Speaker 1>and tampering with evidence in a twenty twenty five trial,

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<v Speaker 1>and accomplices Joseph Lawson and his father, Steve were also

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<v Speaker 1>convicted of conspiracy to murder and evidence tampering. Brooks Houk

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<v Speaker 1>was sentenced to life in prison, while Joseph Lawson was

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<v Speaker 1>sentenced to twenty five years and Steve Lawson received a

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<v Speaker 1>seventeen year sentence. Those trials occurred at Warren Circuit Court

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<v Speaker 1>in Bulling Green. All three men are appealing their conviction.

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<v Speaker 1>Nick Halch is a former Bardstown police officer who was

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<v Speaker 1>fired from the department in twenty fifteen for interfering with

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<v Speaker 1>the investigation into his brother. Nick was referred to in

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<v Speaker 1>court proceedings as a unindicted co conspirator by Hardin County

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<v Speaker 1>Commonwealth's Attorney Shane Young, who served as special prosecutor for

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<v Speaker 1>Brooke Holt and the Lawsons. There is another pre trial

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<v Speaker 1>conference set for August twenty eight. Last week, Williamson team

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<v Speaker 1>spelled out thirty three pieces of evidence they planned to

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<v Speaker 1>introduce at the November ninth perjury trial, including grand jury

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<v Speaker 1>recordings and interviews and transcripts. They also released a list

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<v Speaker 1>of witnesses they planned to call, including investigators and Rosemary

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<v Speaker 1>Holk is also on that list, as is Amber Bowman,

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<v Speaker 1>who was Hawk's girlfriend at the time of Rogers appearance.

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<v Speaker 1>Bowman also testified at the Brooks Haut trial last summer. Next,

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<v Speaker 1>harvest Land Farm is a dream come true. You can

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<v Speaker 1>do anything you put your mind to it, so I

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<v Speaker 1>can't This can't fail, Yocum said as he walked around

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<v Speaker 1>his dream farm, harvest Land Farms. Last September, Yocumb had

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<v Speaker 1>the opportunity to make his dream come true. I'm along

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<v Speaker 1>with friends and family, his children and his wife, Crystal Yokum.

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<v Speaker 1>Jeff got to work maintaining more than forty acres of land,

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<v Speaker 1>which sat untouched for nearly three decades. This summer harvest

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<v Speaker 1>land farms open for business, growing and delivering fresh produce

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<v Speaker 1>in the fall. He said. They want the farm to

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<v Speaker 1>be open to all, from humpkin patches at hay Rides

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<v Speaker 1>to s Big a place to come together, has a community.

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<v Speaker 1>As a kid, I always had my dream to have

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<v Speaker 1>a farm, and so it took fifty four years to

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<v Speaker 1>reach my dream, Jeff said. Jeff said he was told

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<v Speaker 1>he was the only registered black farmer in Nelson County.

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<v Speaker 1>In the process of getting the farm together, he was

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<v Speaker 1>handing in his paperwork in Frankfort, and Jeff said he

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<v Speaker 1>was told that he was the only minority farmer in

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<v Speaker 1>the county, which almost brought tears to his eyes. Growing

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<v Speaker 1>up in Shepherdsville, Jeff said he used to farm as

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<v Speaker 1>a child with his father. Now, at age fifty four,

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<v Speaker 1>he thanks God for giving him the opportunity to pursue

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<v Speaker 1>his opportunity now. In addition to the new venture on

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<v Speaker 1>the farm, Jeff is a pastor and he owns a

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<v Speaker 1>long care business. If you put your mind to something,

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<v Speaker 1>you can do it. He said. Wherever your dream is,

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<v Speaker 1>you've got to hold on to it. I want people

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<v Speaker 1>to know that just because one door closed, don't give

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<v Speaker 1>up because another door is going to open up. When

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<v Speaker 1>Frankfort told me that they believe I'm the only registered

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<v Speaker 1>black farmer in Nelson County, it really meant a lot

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<v Speaker 1>to me. Jeff said he wants it to be a

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<v Speaker 1>place where children can come and learn about agriculture and

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<v Speaker 1>see how the food they eat is grown. He wants

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<v Speaker 1>harvest Land to be a community farm for people to Healtogether,

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<v Speaker 1>Jeff said harvest Land Farms will be Christian based. There

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<v Speaker 1>will not be any drinking or profanity. He said they

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<v Speaker 1>want it to be a place families can bring their

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<v Speaker 1>kids and schools can bring their students. Crystals said they

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<v Speaker 1>also imagine harvest Land Farms to be a wedding for

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<v Speaker 1>you and you in the future. Jeff said they already

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<v Speaker 1>have a vision what that could look like. Crystal also

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<v Speaker 1>said they've cleaned up around one tree, in particular, eyeing

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<v Speaker 1>it as a space to put a swing, perfect for

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<v Speaker 1>a photo opportunity. Currently, he said they are in the

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<v Speaker 1>process of beginning their fall crops. While watermelon is still

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<v Speaker 1>growing in one field, pumpkins are starting in another. Jeff

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<v Speaker 1>said they plan to grow pumpkins in faces so there

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<v Speaker 1>will be plenty for people to pick from whenever they

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<v Speaker 1>visit in the fall. Additionally, he said they also grow

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<v Speaker 1>ornamental corn, which is not edible for people to pick

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<v Speaker 1>and use his decoration in their homes outside of the

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<v Speaker 1>farm as an attraction. Harvest Landfarm also does delivery and

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<v Speaker 1>pickup for its wide array of produce. As they're preparing

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<v Speaker 1>for the fall, they'll be planting greens, okra, squash, zucchini,

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<v Speaker 1>and more. Jeff said they don't use any chemicals on

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<v Speaker 1>their plants, wanting their customers to get something fresh. Jeff said,

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<v Speaker 1>through it all, the farm is his dream and he's

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<v Speaker 1>grateful for all of those who've had a helping hand

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<v Speaker 1>in making it come true. He said he finds his

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<v Speaker 1>peace at the farm. Jeff said being there brings him

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<v Speaker 1>back to his childhood. Most importantly, he said he doesn't

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<v Speaker 1>believe he does it alone. Jeff said he thanks Kristal

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<v Speaker 1>and their three kids, Richard, Christian and Mary as they

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<v Speaker 1>all help out. He said it takes a family to

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<v Speaker 1>make it happen. I thank God for allowing me this

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<v Speaker 1>thing to come. Jeff said, I said, God, why don't

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<v Speaker 1>you wait until I turn fifty four? For this to happen.

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<v Speaker 1>If you wait on the Lord, he will answer your question.

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<v Speaker 1>He simply said, I wasn't ready. I thank God all

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<v Speaker 1>the time for having patience and waiting on him to

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<v Speaker 1>give me this. And I tell you, when you wait

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<v Speaker 1>on the Lord, look at what he can do. I

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<v Speaker 1>never could imagine anything like this in my life. Harvest

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<v Speaker 1>Land Farms can be found on Facebook for fresh produce

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<v Speaker 1>in person or delivery, message the page and be on

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<v Speaker 1>the lookout for more news about their upcoming fall activities. Next.

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<v Speaker 1>Bb Co accused of discrimination fraud in new suit. A

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<v Speaker 1>third discrimination lawsuit has been filed against Bardstown Bourbon Company.

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<v Speaker 1>Former marketing director Laurel Altman Dixon filed a lawsuit last

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<v Speaker 1>week in Nelson's Circuit Court alleging sex and age based discrimination,

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<v Speaker 1>as well as fraud related to a separation and release

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<v Speaker 1>agreement that Altman Dixon now claims contain misrepresentations. According to

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<v Speaker 1>court documents. Significant portions of the new court documents were

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<v Speaker 1>redacted from public view. Altman Dixon is seeking the damages

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<v Speaker 1>for humiliation, embarrassment, loss of reputation, personal indignity, and emotional distress.

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<v Speaker 1>In a statement, the companies of the allegations are false.

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<v Speaker 1>According to the lawsuit, Altman Dixon, forty one at the time,

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<v Speaker 1>performed significant work for BBC, including responsibilities associated with Brad Paisley,

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<v Speaker 1>an American Highway reserve, but in August of twenty twenty one,

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<v Speaker 1>Mark Erwin, then chief executive officer of BBC, demanded to

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<v Speaker 1>terminate Altman Dixon because Altman Dixon was a pushy exclative,

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<v Speaker 1>and then purported to correct herself by calling her a

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<v Speaker 1>pushy woman. Erwin orchestrated Altman Dixon's firing, according to the lawsuit,

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<v Speaker 1>which alleges similar conduct by male executives was not labeled

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<v Speaker 1>or penalized in the same manner. She also alleges age

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<v Speaker 1>related discrimination. According to Altman Dixon lawsuit, BBC's leadership repeatedly

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<v Speaker 1>characterized senior women who spoke firmly, challenged leadership, or performed

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<v Speaker 1>assertively as pushy or emotional, whilst treating comparable conduct by

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<v Speaker 1>men differently. BBC ended Altman Dixon's employment in August of

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<v Speaker 1>twenty twenty one and called it a layoff, but did

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<v Speaker 1>not disclose the true nature of the dismissal. When the

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<v Speaker 1>company asked her to sign a separation agreement and release

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<v Speaker 1>that would bar the lawsuit, according to the complaint previous lawsuits.

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<v Speaker 1>The suit followed similar complaints from former Human Resources by

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<v Speaker 1>president Sylvia Sanders, who in March filed a whistleblower lawsuit

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<v Speaker 1>against the Bourbon Company and its leadership for violating employment

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<v Speaker 1>laws through gender discrimination, creating a hostile work environment, retaliation,

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<v Speaker 1>wrongful discharged, defamation, character of character, and other causes. Former

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<v Speaker 1>president Peter Marino, who is named in the suit, has

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<v Speaker 1>since left the company. In her original complaints, Sanders listed

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<v Speaker 1>Altman Dixon as one of at least a half a

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<v Speaker 1>dozen women executives ousted by Erwin. Sanders alleged in the

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<v Speaker 1>complaint that Altman Dixon incurred Erwin's ire after trying to

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<v Speaker 1>sit between Erwin and country music singer Brad Paisley during

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<v Speaker 1>a publicity shoot for Paisley's bourbon brand, which was released

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<v Speaker 1>in twenty twenty one in collaboration with the BBC. The

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<v Speaker 1>choote ended up featuring all white men except one female

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<v Speaker 1>hand seen raising a drink in the Finnish video. Erwin

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<v Speaker 1>is shown next to Paisley. In the complaint, Sanders said

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<v Speaker 1>when she attempted to point out to Erwin that firing

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<v Speaker 1>Altman Dixon was not in keeping with BBC's past practices

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<v Speaker 1>with similarly situated male employees. Erwin cut her off started

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<v Speaker 1>yelling at her, saying that he'd hired Sanders and other

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<v Speaker 1>female employees and that senators had better not accuse him

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<v Speaker 1>of being a sexist. Barstown Bourbon Company has counter suits

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<v Speaker 1>Sanders for disclosures made in the lawsuit. The counter claim

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<v Speaker 1>is under appellate review. In May, another former female employee,

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<v Speaker 1>Sandra Stone, sued alleging age and gender discrimination after she

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<v Speaker 1>was passed over for a promotion that was given to

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<v Speaker 1>a younger male colleague who had not sought the promotion.

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<v Speaker 1>Barstown Bourbon has sought to have the case dismiss on

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<v Speaker 1>the grounds that the three years statute of limitations passed

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<v Speaker 1>by Kentucky's General Assembly in twenty twenty four had expired.

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<v Speaker 1>Nelson Circuit Judge Joe G. Ballard ruled that the previous

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<v Speaker 1>five year statute applies instead, and the claim was not barred.

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<v Speaker 1>Ballard also allowed Stone's froatasets to go forward, but dismissed

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<v Speaker 1>two claims based on breach of contract. Those lawsuits are ongoing.

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<v Speaker 1>All three women are represented by the same attorney, James

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<v Speaker 1>Morris in Lexington. A related lawsuit filed by former Bardstown

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<v Speaker 1>Bourbon Company executive Herb Hennemann against Sanders was dismissed in June.

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<v Speaker 1>Bardstown Bourbon has not filed its legal response yet, but

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<v Speaker 1>Urban Now, CEO of Lost It Spirits umbrella company over

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<v Speaker 1>Barstown Bourbon and Green River Distillery, issued this statement Tuesday.

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<v Speaker 1>While it is not our practice to comment on ongoing

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<v Speaker 1>litigation or personnel matter, I cannot stay silent in response

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<v Speaker 1>response to the false accusations against me and the team

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<v Speaker 1>that I am proud to lead. The latest suit grossly

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<v Speaker 1>and inaccurately misrepresents the course of events and accuses me

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<v Speaker 1>without basis in reality of frague. The exit plan created

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<v Speaker 1>for miss Altman, recommended by our former VP human Resources,

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<v Speaker 1>whom this attorney also represents, resolves all issues pertaining to

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<v Speaker 1>the separation of her employment. Our organization has abided by

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<v Speaker 1>its obligations under that plan and expects the same of

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<v Speaker 1>Miss Altman. We have built an organization founded on team

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<v Speaker 1>and trust. We will continue to set the reconstrate through

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<v Speaker 1>the legal process and feel confident that we will prevail

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<v Speaker 1>next National Night Out fosters community between residents and first responders.

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<v Speaker 1>For many people, their first interactions with law enforcement or

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<v Speaker 1>forced responders comes in situations that can be stressful and tragic.

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<v Speaker 1>Through the National Night Out program, held each year on

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<v Speaker 1>the first Tuesday of August, police officers get a chance

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<v Speaker 1>to make a different, more positive first impression with their

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<v Speaker 1>community through fun activities and free sweet treats. It's really

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<v Speaker 1>just where you want to get the police in the

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<v Speaker 1>community together in a situation where it's not an emergency

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<v Speaker 1>when they're calling police, Bardstown Police Chief Kim Krazig said,

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<v Speaker 1>just so they can see that officers are like in

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<v Speaker 1>a good light and just interact with them in a

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<v Speaker 1>fun environment. This year's local event was held at Barge

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<v Speaker 1>Town Fire departments downtown station, where kids and their families

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<v Speaker 1>hung out, played under water spout, enjoyed sweet treats such

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<v Speaker 1>as popsicles and cupcakes or a grilled hot dog in

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<v Speaker 1>a Hamburg. Originally started in nineteen eighty four, the event

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<v Speaker 1>is grown to be nationwide, gathering in various communities where

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<v Speaker 1>law enforcements visit with members of the community to discuss

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<v Speaker 1>policing tactics such as drug prevention, neighborhood and town watch programs,

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<v Speaker 1>and just meet with residents in a low stress environment.

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<v Speaker 1>Whose These local events featured representatives from the Bardstown Police,

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<v Speaker 1>Bardstown Fire, and Nelson County EMS as the professionals showed

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<v Speaker 1>kids and members of the community how they do their

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<v Speaker 1>jobs and the equipment they used to do so. Kids

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<v Speaker 1>got a chance to climb into fire trucks and take

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<v Speaker 1>a tour of ambulances, strengthening the bonds between them and

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<v Speaker 1>first responders. Miranda Stout was on hand Tuesday watching as

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<v Speaker 1>children played underneath Barstown fires giants missing apparatus, helping cool

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<v Speaker 1>off a hot day. I think it's great, she said.

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<v Speaker 1>It's a nice way to close out the summer. The

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<v Speaker 1>fire hose is great, what a great idea. Stout sees

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<v Speaker 1>the benefit in Bardstown Police and other first responders community

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<v Speaker 1>outreach efforts. I think, honestly, it's a really important asset

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<v Speaker 1>for the community, she said. It lest the kids kind

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<v Speaker 1>of bridge that barrier between adult figures and authority figures.

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<v Speaker 1>It lets people understand that they're just people too. It's

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<v Speaker 1>their job, but their moms and dads too. Stout said,

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<v Speaker 1>for many people, they're having a difficult time when they

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<v Speaker 1>have to interact with police and first responders, and events

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<v Speaker 1>such as Tuesday gives folks a chance to just say

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<v Speaker 1>hi and get to know the people whose job it

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<v Speaker 1>is to protect them their Tuesday's event, in addition to

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<v Speaker 1>the free food, saw first responders outfitting local kids with

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<v Speaker 1>backpacks full of school supplies, and many kids could be

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<v Speaker 1>found sporting toy plastic firefighter helmets. Crazy said the event

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<v Speaker 1>just creates a fun time where you can interact with

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<v Speaker 1>the community. At the end of the day, we want

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<v Speaker 1>to have that partnership so we can shut crime out

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<v Speaker 1>of our community. She said. Usually when people are calling

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<v Speaker 1>the police, they're not having a good day, so we

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<v Speaker 1>just really want to build, absolutely build those relationships, especially

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<v Speaker 1>the younger kids to middle school to high school aide

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<v Speaker 1>to know they can trust our police. We want to

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<v Speaker 1>have good relationships with our community and just make it

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<v Speaker 1>a safe environment. Crazy, who's entering her tenth year as chief,

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<v Speaker 1>called Robert Bardstown in Nelson County the most amazing community

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<v Speaker 1>I've ever worked with. The people are great and so supportive.

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<v Speaker 1>Next Bethlehem at full capacity for sophomore junior class students

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<v Speaker 1>back on campus Bethlehem High School has continued to grow

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<v Speaker 1>over the last seven years. This summer, the parochial school

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<v Speaker 1>hit a new milestone as his sophomore and junior classes

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<v Speaker 1>were at capacity for the first time. In June, Bethlehem

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<v Speaker 1>High School announced on social media their tenth and eleventh

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<v Speaker 1>grade cohort were completely full for the first time in

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<v Speaker 1>school history. Principal Sarah Thurman says this historic milestone comes

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<v Speaker 1>after two consecutive years of a full freshman count. We

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<v Speaker 1>are super excited about that, she said prior to school

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<v Speaker 1>opening on August fifth. I really feel like we've had

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<v Speaker 1>seven years of consistent growth in terms of enrollment. We

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<v Speaker 1>have a forty four percent increase in enrollment since twenty nineteen.

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<v Speaker 1>We are super excited about that. I feel like our

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<v Speaker 1>focus is on improving every aspect of the whole student

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<v Speaker 1>experience every year. That's a major reasons why we continue

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<v Speaker 1>to see growth. Students were back on campus and starting

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<v Speaker 1>a new school year on Thursday. The maximum capacity for

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<v Speaker 1>each grade is ninety five students. Thurman said this number

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<v Speaker 1>allows them to keep classrooms small, no greater than twenty

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<v Speaker 1>five students in a class. She said small classes give

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<v Speaker 1>students and teachers the ability to connect. Thurman said she

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<v Speaker 1>believes their continued growth is the draw of their mission

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<v Speaker 1>as a school and the Bethlehem experience. She said they

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<v Speaker 1>want students to love to come to school and look

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<v Speaker 1>back fondly on their time in Bethlehem's Hall. Bethlehem has

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<v Speaker 1>nearly three hundred and fifty students. Thurmann said they know

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<v Speaker 1>almost all of them by name. She said they have

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<v Speaker 1>very high expectations, strong discipline, and accountability. Thurman said Bethlehem

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<v Speaker 1>doesn't appeal to students, just appeal to students in their needs,

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<v Speaker 1>but their teachers as well. The foundation for expectations are

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<v Speaker 1>set and everyone is on the same page. Thurman said,

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<v Speaker 1>it sets up students for success in the future. We

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<v Speaker 1>really want to provide a strong foundation first, says, I

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<v Speaker 1>feel like parents and students has started to realize that

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<v Speaker 1>as we continue to expand the four year experience. I

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<v Speaker 1>really think that is why we've had that tremendous growth.

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<v Speaker 1>Thurmon says they encourage every student to be involved, whether

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<v Speaker 1>in academics, leadership, athletics, or anything else they're interested in.

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<v Speaker 1>They said they have a diverse range of activities to

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<v Speaker 1>be involved with, from fine arts to service opportunities and beyond.

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<v Speaker 1>Bethlehem wants every student to find their place and find

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<v Speaker 1>their passion. Recently, she said, they've seen a large amount

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<v Speaker 1>of interest in their new FFA program, which is in

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<v Speaker 1>its third year. The program has already competed on a

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<v Speaker 1>national level and has been well received by students and parents.

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<v Speaker 1>The school's theater program has also thrived in recent years.

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<v Speaker 1>Bethlehem produces two shows during the school year, one in

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<v Speaker 1>the fall and another in the spring. Academically, Thurmann said

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<v Speaker 1>they've seen growth in their act scores. The amount of

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<v Speaker 1>students earning a thirty or higher on the exam continues

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<v Speaker 1>to grow, Thurman said has also become a goal many

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<v Speaker 1>students are eager to obtain. In athletics, she said for

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<v Speaker 1>being a Class A school, they are competitive in every

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<v Speaker 1>single sport. She said often their teams will be competing

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<v Speaker 1>for regional titles each season. The start of this school year,

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<v Speaker 1>Thurman said they already have three soccer players committed to colleges.

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<v Speaker 1>We want our students to be well rounded, compassionate, faith built,

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<v Speaker 1>hard working, resilient, she said. Resilient is a big part

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<v Speaker 1>of our overall message this year as well. You have hardships.

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<v Speaker 1>But how do you overcome those then being leaders in

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<v Speaker 1>their communities, whether that's here in Bardstown or Bloomfield or Lebanon.

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<v Speaker 1>Have them be leaders overall so that they have that

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<v Speaker 1>strong foundation. That's really what's creating our energy overall this year.

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<v Speaker 1>Next in obituaries, Vera Marie Seeley eighty six of Bardstown,

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<v Speaker 1>doctor Robert Lee McClellan eighty eight, formerly of Bardstown in Lexington,

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<v Speaker 1>and Ella Catherine Blair twenty three passed away in South Carolina,

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<v Speaker 1>formerly of Bardstown. This is all the time we have

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<v Speaker 1>for reading in recent editions of the Kentucky Standards. Your

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<v Speaker 1>reader today has been Brian Hunt. If you've enjoyed hearing this,

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<v Speaker 1>please call us at eight five nine UR two two

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<v Speaker 1>six three nine zero. Thank you for joining me, and

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<v Speaker 1>now please stay tuned for continued programming here on Radio

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<v Speaker 1>I