Friday News & Nuttiness

- The repulsive ogre that is State Senate President David Williams has "predicted" the slots bill will fail. I don't know what Williams has against the Commonwealth's signature industry but he obviously has a problem with seeing it prosper along side slot machines. The Courier-Journal has more HERE.

- Speaking of horses, there's some big-time night racing happening tonight. Go be a part of history. And be sure to buy a few $6 cups of warm beer. HERE's more.

- A judge has ordered JCPS to turn over a portion of the files related to the school system's "investigation" of the Max Gilpin matter to the commonwealth attorney's office. This is good news. HERE is the article.

- This is an interesting story: A Louisville woman was arrested on meth charges after she allegedly attempted to buy, among other items, 3000 boxes of matches at a local Kroger store. WHAS11 has a short report HERE.

Southwest Farmers Market

The following news on the Southwest Farmers Market comes to you via The Local Weekly.

This Saturday, June 20th , the Southwest Farmers Market will hold a Summer Solstice Festival to welcome the wonderful summer we are all going to enjoy. The location is Valley High School parking lot, 10200 Dixie Highway. Times are 9 am to 1 pm. Please note that to be fair to all customers and allow our vendors the opportunity to set up their stands, we will not sell before our advertised time of 9 am. We appreciate your understanding about this.

Kate Sanders and Paul Whitley of Down to Earth will be playing wonderful folk music with the dulcimer and other instruments. There will be free lemonade and a drawing. O’s Cool Ice Cream is scheduled to be there making “Homemade Old School Flavor” ice cream.

Our vendors:
Pendleton Farms, Louisville (farm fresh eggs, vegetables)
Gagel Truck Farms/Gallrein Farms, Louisville (flowers, vegetables, fruits)
Faith Chapel General Baptist Church, Louisville (baked goods)
Louis Cox, Louisville (vegetables)
Mr. Lou’s Catering, Louisville (breakfast, lunch)
Argyle Acres, Shepherdsville (vegetables)
Diane and Joe Kyle, Louisville (crafts, vegetables) [also our resident roadside chicken]
Becky Bivins, Louisville (herbs, vegetables, Webb’s Butcher Block jerky and smoked sausages)
Bob White, Louisville (honey)
Misty Meadows Farm, Payneville (farm fresh “free-range” eggs, beef, pork, chicken, vegetables, fruits)
O’s Cool Ice Cream, Louisville (homemade ice cream)
If you’re interested in becoming a vendor, see Becky Bivins or Ron Mercer for an application.

Metro District 25 Race Is ON

With the launch of his campaign website, Metro Council District 25 candidate David Yates is already running full-tilt. You may remember his name being mentioned here. David is a bright young attorney with some fresh, new, rock-solid ideas that would be beneficial to and improve the life of residents in the 25th district. At the very least, Yates would bring instant credibility to the Southwest Louisville district and would serve citizens well on the council. Yates seems content to run on ideas, and that is fine with me. I wish him the best of luck and hope he gets a clean race from the incumbent.

Check him out and give him a shot. What do you have to lose?

Wednesday Update

- The owners of the nearly-new Comfort Inn near I-264 on Dixie Highway have filed for bankruptcy protection. The massive, out of place hotel has been open less than one year after several years of construction delays. Read more HERE.

- Reminder: The Auburndale Neighborhood Group meets June 23 at Auburndale Baptist Church, 5590 Bruce Ave. in the Fellowship Hall. Check HERE for more info.

- Councilman Doug Hawkins is offering non-paid student internship positions during the summer semesters to undergraduate and graduate students. Students will be given an opportunity to work in Councilman Hawkins’ office located in City Hall. The mission of the Internship Program is to give students an opportunity to explore career choices within Louisville Metro Government while gaining real life experiences working with an elected official.

Internship applications are now being accepted for summer positions. The deadline to apply is June 24, 2009. Please email Scott.Harrington@louisvilleky.gov and an application will be sent to you.

Another Company Leaving Louisville: Traughber Says "See Ya"

A company that has been in Louisville for 121 years looks to be moving to Jeffersonville, IN. soon. Cook Compression's 110 union workers manufacture piston rings and oil field equipment at 8th and Breckenridge downtown. Bruce Traughber, the "economic development" guy for the city says Cook has been talking about moving for 10 years, so Traughber seems indifferent to the situation. HERE is the story in the Courier-Journal.

Question: Exactly what type of jobs are these "economic development" people looking to attract or to keep in Louisville? High-paying manufacturing jobs certainly don't seem to fit on their list.

Mayor's Conversation Tonight

Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson will have his monthly "Community Conversation" at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 15, at the Ramsey Middle School gymnasium, 6409 Gellhaus Lane. HERE is a map.