Hardin Local Weekly S2025E30: BlueOval/Ford Update w/ Judge Keith Taul, Holiday Events & Business News | December 16th, 2025

Hardin Local Weekly S2025E30BlueOval/Ford Update with Judge Keith Taul, Holiday Events, Business News & Food ReviewThis is one of the most important Hardin Local Weekly episodes to date.​Hardin County Judge/Executive Keith Taul joins us for a critical conversation about the BlueOval SK transition and Ford’s plans for the Glendale facility.​We also bring you the complete Hardin County holiday event guide through Christmas, a housing market update, local business news, and a full restaurant review from The Experienced Eater.CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS​00:00 Introduction01:17 Follow & podcast platforms03:44 Community dinner announcement05:16 Icebreaker08:59 TekTel sponsor message10:30 Weekly events​17:47 Housing market update21:40 Holiday event guide (Dec 16–22)​31:19 Judge Keith Taul interview – BlueOval/Ford​44:02 Business news​49:30 TekTel business feature​52:18 The Experienced Eater – Duff’s Famous Wings​1:09:03 Community impact discussion​1:13:21 Final wrap-upJUDGE KEITH TAUL – BLUEOVAL SK UpdateJudge Taul addresses the impact of the BlueOval SK transition, including:​1,600 workers being terminated​Ford taking direct control of the Glendale facility$2 billion investment in new battery storage products (not EV batteries)Approximate 18-month retooling timeline• Worker support resources at the county and state levelClarification of rumors and timeline of notification"With impending layoffs of an announced 1,600 workers, my focus is to do whatever possible to help our impacted citizens have the support and resources they need to find new jobs. We are in communication with Ford, state officials and other stakeholders as additional details become available." -Judge TaulHOLIDAY EVENT GUIDE (DEC 16–22)Jon O’Brien and Nate Bryan break down every major Christmas event happening across Hardin County, including a packed Saturday, December 20, plus ongoing holiday attractions like Christmas in the Park, Festival of Trees, and Christmas Village.HOUSING MARKET UPDATERachel Brantingham provides a weekly snapshot of the Hardin County real estate market, highlighting current inventory levels, days on market, and what it means for buyers and sellers heading into the holidays.BUSINESS NEWS Local updates include:​Staybridge Suites hotel development​House on Helm and Mulberry Players partnership​2D’s Tattoos relocating to Glendale​Laker on Dixie opening​National attention on Elizabethtown’s historic cannonballTEKTEL BUSINESS FEATUREPhil Taul highlights TekTel’s work with local businesses, including cybersecurity protection, cloud phone systems, and AI-powered call transcription and virtual receptionists.THE EXPERIENCED EATERBritten and Michele review Duff’s Famous Wings in Elizabethtown, breaking down wings, sides, sauces, and atmosphere. Final rating: 8 out of 10.NOW ON PODCAST PLATFORMSHardin Local Weekly is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeartRadio.More info, links, and submissions: https://hardinlocal.comABOUT HARDIN LOCALHardin Local is a community-focused podcast covering local news, business, events, housing, and food in Hardin County, Kentucky. Our mission is to inform, engage, and support the community through authentic conversations and reliable local information.NEXT EPISODETuesday, December 23 at 1:00 PM