After eight years of effort to gain state and federal approval, the project that will raise the height of the dam at John Hay Lake has been approved.

The project involves the construction of a 57-inch structural concrete wall that will be poured onto the existing earthen dam, according to Paul Eckert of Temple & Temple.

The project will increase the capacity of the lake by more than 300 million gallons of water.

Work is expected to begin by the end of the year and will take up to a year to complete. All work is dependent upon the weather.

The East Washington Rural Water Corporation will pay for the cost of the project.

No rate increase is anticipated at this time to cover the project’s cost.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announces a road closure on State Road 145 for a structure replacement project.

Beginning on or around Monday, Oct. 1, contractors will close S.R. 145 about 1 mile south of the intersection of S.R. 56. Workers will be excavating and then replacing a drainage structure.

The work is expected to last until early November, depending upon weather conditions.

During this operation, the road will be closed around the clock. Local traffic will have access up to the point of closure.

All through traffic should use the official detour using S.R 56, S.R. 545 and S.R.164.

INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews

A local farmer was killed Friday evening in a tractor accident on his farm near Milltown. 

Joseph D. McKiney, 27, 11324 South Marengo Pike, Milltown, was transported by helicopter ambulance to the University of Louisville Hospital where was later pronounced dead. 

On Sept. 21 at 7:16p, the Washington County Dispatch Center received a 911 call in reference to the accident. 

During the course of the investigation, Deputy Paul Jenkins learned that McKinley had been moving round bales of hay on the farm and for an unknown reason the tractor overturned, pinning him underneath. 

He was born on January 15, 1991 to David and Jill McKinley.

He was employed at UPS where he worked in mechanical maintenance. He was a member and first responder of Posey Township Fire Department and served as President of the Hardinsburg Town Board.

He attended church faithfully at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. Joe enjoyed fishing, hunting, weight training, basketball, football, and farming.

He is preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Leland McKinley, and both maternal grandparents, David J. Davis, Sr. and Mary K. Davis.

He is survived by his parents, David and Jill McKinley, his beloved fiancé, Liz Catlin, one sister, Hannah McKinley, a grandmother, Bettie McKinley, his uncles, David J. Davis, Jr. and Mac McKinley, and his aunts, LeAnn McClure and LuAnn Roth.

Funeral services will be held at Love Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. Visitation will be at Love Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 25, 2018 from 12-9 p.m. and on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of service. Burial will follow at Hardinsburg Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Joe McKinley 4-H Scholarship Fund organized by the West Washington Class of 2009.

To make donations, please visit https://www.gofundme.com/ftjev-joe-mckinley-memorial-fund.

Borden Valley Days coming up on Friday Sept. 28 and 29. 

Come out for lots of free entertainment! Help support the community. 

If you missed Les Wright and Brenna LaDuke on WSLM’s Coffee Club this morning, here’s a podcast of the episode. 

http://mixlr.com/wslmradio/showreel/coffee-club-107/