Henry County joins multi‑county drug task force; AG approved use of opioid abatement funds to hire a director

Henry County law‑enforcement leaders told the fiscal court Tuesday that the county has joined a multi‑county drug task force that the attorney general’s office has approved and that the group plans to use opioid abatement funds to pay for a director. The sheriff’s update listed participating agencies as Henry, Trimble, Carroll and Owen counties and the Kentucky State Police. The sheriff said the attorney general approved the task force structure and “even got blessings on how we can spend some of the opioid abatement money towards a director of the task force, Courtney Baxter, a commonwealth attorney.” Officials said they will hold another meeting to form an operating board and would invite additional counties — the sheriff mentioned Owen and Gallatin counties — before finalizing the board so they are included at startup rather than being added later. The sheriff compared the proposed structure to a larger, nearby task force that began with three agencies and later expanded. No formal vote was recorded; officials said administrative steps remain before the task force is fully operational.