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Hardin Local Weekly S2026E17: Election Coverage Launches, Glendale Gem

Episode 17 launches Hardin Local's primary election coverage, spotlights The Getaway in Glendale, walks through a stacked Earth Day calendar, and reviews the new Laker on Dixie.

Phil Taul

Phil Taul

— 5 min read
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Hardin Local Weekly Episode 17 panel covers Election Coverage launch, The Getaway sponsor spotlight, Earth Day events, Bluegrass Blast, and Laker on Dixie.

What We Covered This Week

Episode 17 marked two firsts. Election Coverage for the May 19 primary officially launched — with 11 candidates booked into Friday, Monday, and Wednesday interview slots. And The Getaway — a 30-acre family-run campground in Glendale — got its first formal on-air spotlight as the episode's sponsor.

The rest of the show built around two anchor stories: an Earth Day calendar with three different ways to participate the same day, and a downtown E'town in active transition (Raiment and Boon closing, The Treadwell Society opening, Cold Stone Creamery signs going up). Rachel's housing-market read crystallized what's been building for weeks — Hardin County is now in an aggressive seller-leaning market at 3.8 months of inventory. And Britten took The Experienced Eater downtown for the new Laker on Dixie.

For Hardin County residents this week: head to The Getaway if Derby has priced you out of Louisville. Plant some seed bombs at Saunders Springs. Try the Laker Burger downtown. And tune in Friday for the first batch of primary candidate interviews.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVBdfSYL5hQ Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HardinLocal/posts/1369184938566311

In This Episode

A Hidden Glendale Campground — The Getaway

Episode Sponsor

The Getaway sits on 30 quietly run acres in Glendale, tucked off Sportsman Lake Road. Locally operated, family-friendly, with a real playground, fishing pond, walking trails, and laundry. $800/month all-inclusive long-term RV stays for travel-workers and folks between houses. Short-term Weekenders are open again after months of contractor-only month-only stays during Blue Oval construction. Phil framed it as the Derby-weekend lodging answer for anyone struggling to afford Louisville hotel pricing.

Read the full Election Spotlight article → Watch this segment on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HardinLocal/posts/1369159478568857 Watch this segment on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAotBJr93P8

Earth Day Week — with Jon O'Brien

Events

Earth Day Wednesday means three different ways to celebrate the same day — Seed Bombs at Saunders Springs at 10 AM, the Denizen plant sale downtown (30% off all plants), and Plant Bingo at The Straight and Narrow that evening. Thursday brings the Cornerstone Caregiving Ribbon Cutting and an Elizabeth Sound Autism Awareness Carnival. Friday is the Death of the Downs Derby Murder Mystery at The House on Helm plus two comedy shows. Saturday packs a Crusade for Children Car Show at Freeman Lake, the Kids Creative Market in Radcliff (young entrepreneurs selling handmade goods), a Derby brunch in Radcliff, and live music at Cosmic Golf.

Read the full Events article → Watch this segment on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HardinLocal/posts/1369162851901853 Watch this segment on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGufkKgLsoM

Nate's Business Buzz

Business News

The South Side gets a new indoor inflatable party zone — Bluegrass Blast Inflatables opens the second week of May in the Sportsman's Rod & Gun building on Dixie. Downtown is changing fast: Raiment and Boon closes after 8 years on the square, while The Treadwell Society — a boutique event space at 24 Public Square — has opened. Cold Stone Creamery signs are up on Dixie at the former Baskin Robbins, opening in June. Plus a second roundabout coming to Ring Road near Kroger.

Read the full Business Buzz article → Watch this segment on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HardinLocal/posts/1369158468568958 Watch this segment on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxvjWS3zd-Q

Hardin County Housing Market — with Rachel Brantingham

Housing Market Update

Hardin County has crossed firmly into seller-leaning territory at 3.8 months of inventory. Days on market dropped to 79 — down from ~100 in January. 31 new listings, 25 contracts, 14 closings last week. Average list $357,685, average sold $313,598 — the gap is narrowing. Rates: VA/FHA/USDA around 5.75%, conventional in the low 6s (one buyer locked at 5.99%). Rachel's read: this is a strong window for strategic sellers and a narrowing window for buyers who want to negotiate.

Read the full Housing Market article → Watch this segment on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HardinLocal/posts/1369179401900198 Watch this segment on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0TqCJLOQN0

The Experienced Eater — Laker on Dixie

Restaurant Review

Britten and Mama hit the new downtown Laker on Dixie — Elizabethtown's spinoff of the legendary Laker Drive-In in Stephensburg. The Laker Burger (10-oz patty plus the signature Laker/Raider sauce and tartar combo), the Chuckwagon (Britten's all-time favorite), Loaded Munchers to start. RC Cola on tap — the only place in E-Town serving it. Service was good, the patio is beautiful, alcohol license is coming once Frankfort approves it. Britten's rating: 4.2 out of 5.

Read the full Experienced Eater review → Watch this segment on Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HardinLocal/posts/1369165165234955 Watch this segment on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoXok_stc0o

Episode Highlights

"3.8 puts us in a very aggressive seller's market. We are leaning in that direction heavily."
— Rachel Brantingham, Housing Market Expert
"She drove past it a thousand times and never knew it was there. So it's hidden in plain sight."
— Phil Taul (on The Getaway in Glendale)
"Eight years is a great run for a small business. They were in downtown before downtown really became downtown."
— Nate Bryan (on Raiment and Boon closing)
"The Laker sauce with the tartar sauce is really a unique combination. A very, very good burger overall."
— Britten McDowell (Laker on Dixie review)
"Earth Day has three different ways to show up."
— Rachel Brantingham

Election Coverage Schedule

The Hardin Local Election Series launches this week. Confirmed interview dates:

  • Friday, April 24: Redmon, Ogden, Lett-Jackson, Thompson
  • Monday, April 27: Reynolds, Gordon
  • Wednesday, April 29: Faris, Hudson, Oden, Murrell, Humphrey

Primary Election Day: Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

Tune in to Hardin Local on Facebook for each interview as it airs, and follow for the rest of the contested-primary lineup as more dates get added.

Closing & Shoutouts

Megan Taul flagged The Getaway as a smart move for Derby weekend — when Louisville hotel pricing gets out of hand, an RV and a 30-acre campground in Glendale starts to look like the better deal. David shared word about Shorty's — a new restaurant Nate reviewed in Hodgenville we'll bring more on next week.

Plus an audience preview: Phil is building Nate-specific and business-segment indexed chatbot pages at HardinLocal.com — so anyone visiting can ask "what did Nate say about..." and get an answer drawn from every episode Nate has done. Nate's reaction was direct: "It alleviates some FAQs. I think it's a great add and I think it's going to add a lot."

Catch Up & Stay Connected

This week's sponsor — The Getaway (Glendale, KY) 🏕️ 30 acres · $800/mo all-inclusive · Short-term Weekenders open · 4566 Sportsman Lake Road, Glendale 🌐 getawaycampgrounds.com · 📞 270-369-7755 · 📲 Book on Camp Spot

Segments in this episode

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