Hardin County Daily Brief: August 20, 2026
A vandalism charge, a Flock camera assist, and fall events fill today's Hardin County roundup.
Hardin County Restaurant Reviews
Britten McDowell — the Experienced Eater — reviews a new Hardin County restaurant every Wednesday on Hardin Local Weekly. Honest takes on what to order, what to skip, and the people behind the food.
Restaurant Reviews
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Hardin County Daily Brief: August 19, 2026
A KSP trooper pulls a family from a burning wreck on I-65, license-plate cameras crack a car theft ring, and Hinton's Orchard turns 20.
Hardin Local E34: Meet Grafton & the Handoff
A new co-host, a big handoff, football's return, a Publix opening date, and a housing market getting more selective. Here's everything from this week's show.
Meet Grafton Sizemore, Hardin Local's New Co-Host
Rachel Brantingham introduces her new co-host, Motto Mortgage loan officer Grafton Sizemore, on the same episode where Phil Taul and Scott Lucas announce their handoff.
Guero's Salsa and More Review: Radcliff Taco Trailer
Fried taco shells, a 12 inch quesadilla, and a tres leches cake that ended in a tug of war. Britten and Michele McDowell review Guero's Salsa and More in Radcliff.
Hardin County Housing: Market Turns More Selective
Fewer homes sold, but they sold faster and for more. Rachel Brantingham on what a slower absorption rate really means for Hardin County buyers and sellers.
Publix Opening Date Set for Elizabethtown: September 23
Nate Bryan has the Publix opening date everyone's been asking about, plus a new skin bar, a bungee fitness studio, and four tenants leaving Mulberry Square.
Football Opens Friday: Hardin County's Full Event Guide
Jon O'Brien previews a packed week: football opens Friday with John Hardin's only home game, plus the Homecoming Parade, St. James Picnic, and Bee School.
Meeting Report: Elizabethtown City Council, August 17, 2026
Data center rules adopted 6-0, an ice rink bid rejected at nearly twice budget, a new public speaking policy, a second nonprofit moving into the Woodland Drive building, and two public comments. What happened at the August 17 Elizabethtown City Council meeting, from the city's own video.
'Accessory Uses Only': E'town Adopts Its Data Center Rules, 6-0
Elizabethtown's data center zoning rules are now law. The City Council adopted Ordinance 13-2026 on a 6-0 roll call vote August 17, with no discussion. Minutes later, a resident asked the question nobody had asked before the vote: does the 50,000 square foot cap include sub-basements?
Hardin County Daily Brief: August 18, 2026
Flock cameras help police recover seven stolen cars, the Justice Center reopens after an HVAC closure, and Rand Paul checks in on Fort Knox's gold.
Off The Clock's Grand Opening Is Friday: The Rooftop, the Vault and the Bourbon Lockers
Off The Clock's grand opening is Friday, Aug. 21, on the second floor of The Assembly above the Social Food Hall. GM Caleb Powers walked us through the whole space first: the rooftop nobody knew was there, the private tasting room, the bourbon lockers, and the entrance you will get wrong.
Restaurant Reviews
Donato's Pizza Elizabethtown One-Year Anniversary Review (Hot Honey)
One year in. Owner in the building every day. Hot Honey Pepperoni and cinnamon bread reviewed at Donato's Pizza Elizabethtown — 1511 Ring Road.
Restaurant Reviews
Backstreet Cafe Muldraugh Reviewed — German Night Thurs + Sat
Britten and Michele review Backstreet Cafe in Muldraugh — the only local restaurant serving German food, twice-weekly German nights, cordon bleu and jaeger schnitzel, $14/person.
Restaurant Reviews
Laker on Dixie Reviewed — Downtown Etown's New Drive-In Spinoff
Britten and Michele review Laker on Dixie — downtown Elizabethtown's new spinoff of the Stephensburg Laker Drive-In. The Laker Burger, the chuckwagon, RC Cola on tap.
Restaurant Reviews
Two Radcliff Food Trucks Reviewed — Papa Pasta & Contreras Eats
Britten and Michele McDowell review two Radcliff food trucks — Papa Pasta's old-school Italian carbonara and Contreras Eats' championship-winning birria — at the Vine Grove rally.
Restaurant Reviews
Best of the Heartland Food Truck Championship 2026 — Full Recap
Two Hardin Local hosts spent 4.5 hours judging 21 food trucks blind — and came away with winners, stories, and one caramel apple cheesecake that scored a 99.
Restaurant Reviews
Sam's Gyros Review: Radcliff & Elizabethtown Mediterranean
Britten McDowell reviews Sam's Gyros with locations in Radcliff and Elizabethtown — big portions, bold Mediterranean flavors, and some of the best value in Hardin County.
Restaurant Reviews
Namaste Indian Cuisine Review — The Experienced Eater S2026E12
Britten McDowell has eaten Indian food from coast to coast. Namaste Indian Cuisine & Bar in Elizabethtown is second only to the best he has ever had. Here is the full review.
Restaurant Reviews
2B Thai Elizabethtown Review: 9.6/10 — Hardin County's Best
9.6 out of 10 — Britten McDowell's highest rating ever in Hardin County goes to 2B Thai on Ring Road. "We are spoiled here in Elizabethtown to have a place like this."
Restaurant Reviews
Experienced Eater Review: Eat at the Spot in Radcliff
Britten and Michele McDowell finally walk into the Jamaican kitchen they smell from their own front porch. The smoked jerk chicken at Eat at the Spot is Britten's hands-down recommendation.
Restaurant Reviews
Experienced Eater Review: Jack's Wings in Radcliff, KY
Britten and Michele McDowell review Jack's Wings — 50 huge wings for $75 on Super Bowl Sunday, five sauces deep. Verdict: an institution in Radcliff, and absolutely top-notch.