Valley Report Rewind: 2009 "Hicks House" story links

In March of 2009, I wrote a series of articles on the old home located at 8601 Dixie Highway, opposite the Target/Burlington/Value City shopping complex. Since I reposted the original article today on facebook, there has been significant interest in the whole story. I thought it may be helpful to gather all of these links into a singular post to make them easy to read. Below you will find a convenient list of chronological links to all the stories.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy.

http://valleyreport.blogspot.com/2009/03/home-on-dixie-creating-mystery-buzz.html

http://valleyreport.blogspot.com/2009/04/historical-dixie-hwy-home-feedback.html

http://valleyreport.blogspot.com/2009/04/tuesdays-dr-hicks-home-update.html

http://valleyreport.blogspot.com/2009/04/thursday-doc-hicks-house-update.html

http://valleyreport.blogspot.com/2009/04/hicks-house-update-for-tuesday-april-28.html

http://valleyreport.blogspot.com/2009/05/hicks-house-update-for-sunday-may-10.html

http://valleyreport.blogspot.com/2009/09/hicks-house-set-to-burn.html

http://valleyreport.blogspot.com/2009/10/hicks-house-and-genealogy-report-update.html

Valley Station Hallmark store shuttered

Photo courtesy of Corey Koellner

As many of you may know, the Hallmark Gold Crown store located in the Dixie Valley shopping center will close its doors at the end of July.

A store employee today said that the rent had been raised to a level that would not allow the business to remain in the center.

The employee told us today that the store would not be seeking a more affordable location and would be simply going out of business in Valley Station.

The Dixie Valley shopping center has been at the center of a controversy involving the new owners, Baceline Investments LLC of Denver, and the operators of a Vendors' Village flea market that is set to open in the old Kroger space. Wal-Mart is the "anchor" tenant in the center.

Baceline recently purchased Dixie Valley for $3.3 million dollars.

Folk festival alert: It's Kentucky Music Weekend time

For the 36th consecutive year, this Friday and Saturday the Kentucky Music Weekend festival brings together some of the finest folk musicians and Kentucky traditions to the Iroquois Amphitheater and the tree-lined area nearby. Voted into law as Kentucky’s “Premier Folk Festival”, KMW continues to be one of the top folk festivals in the region.

Kentucky Music Weekend celebrates the rich musical traditions of our Commonwealth, keeping our folk heritage alive for future generations in the beautiful rolling hills of Iroquois Park.

No fee is charged for the festival, however, musicians are paid through donations made at the gate for the evening performances. Although there is a suggested donation of $10 for each evening concert, those who are unable to pay are still welcome.

What: Kentucky Music Weekend

Where: Amphitheater in Iroquois Park

When: Small stage events all day until 4:30PM Friday July 28 and Saturday July 30. Main stage concerts each night at 7:00PM in the Amphitheater

For more information visit www.kentuckymusicweekend.com

Blackwell/Yates honoring local Special Olympic teams

Councilmen Blackwell and Yates to recognize 22 Special Olympic teams at local softball tournament

Incarnation Catholic Church hosts 10th annual event Saturday, July 30th

A great sports competition gets underway on Saturday, July 30th when 22 softball teams meet to play in the 10th Annual Special Olympics Softball Tournament at Incarnation Catholic Church.

“This will be a great weekend of sports, fun and activity for everyone,” says Councilman Rick Blackwell (D-12). “I am honored to join Incarnation Catholic Church in support of Special Olympics of Kentucky.”

Councilman Blackwell has been a sponsor of the tournament for many years. He and Councilman David Yates (D-25) are partnering with volunteers of Incarnation Catholic Church and Special Olympics. During the competition, every team and athlete will receive recognition and an award for their participation.

“These young men and women should be recognized for their dedication to physical fitness through athletic competition,” says Yates “I am pleased my support will help provide a memorable day for them.”

The tournament will run from 8:00am to 8:00pm. The Incarnation Catholic Church is located at 2229 Lower Hunters Trace.

The mission of Special Olympics of Kentucky is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities by giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness,

To learn more about the 10th Annual Special Olympics Softball Tournament go to: http://www.incarnationcatholicchurch.org/. To learn more about all programs and events of Special Olympics of Kentucky, go to:www.soky.org

Latest SW news updates and info: End of July edition

- From Councilwoman Vicki Welch: This Tuesday, July 26th, we are having our Treasure Finders Outreach event for District 13 at the Playtorium from 1 to 5 pm. I and my staff, along with neighborhood volunteers will be making calls to tell people about unclaimed property and money they have a right to claim from our State Treasury. We encourage you stop by at your convenience to see if your name is on the unclaimed property list, or perhaps help make a few calls. Click to see an informative video on our D-13 Treasure Finder’s event. 

- There has been a fantastic response to the latest news about the Vendors' Village flea market that is set to occupy the vacant Kroger store in the Dixie Valley Center. Baceline Investments LLC, the owner of Dixie Valley, has declared the flea market "will not remain" in the center. Click here to read it in depth on Insider Louisville.

- The 15th District PTA Clothing Assistance Program Back to School Blitz is taking place this week (July 25-29). Appointments are required to pick up free uniforms and other clothing items from the program warehouse (located at 319 South 15th Street near Central Football Stadium). Appointments are made through your school’s Family Youth Resource Service Center. Call 485-7062 for details. The PTA helped 7000 children last school year through this volunteer program, which will help 400 families a day with free uniforms and other clothing items.

Valley's Heitzman Bakery location closes

After limping along for just over a year, Heitzman's Valley Station store has closed its doors.

The store, located at 5427 Valley Station Road, occupied the space formerly filled by Porky's Barbecue. Other prior tenants included Bake's Barbecue and a short-lived liquor store.

The property was once home to a Dairy Mart convenience-style market and gas station.

On a personal note, I'm sorry to see this place go. What does it take to get locals to support local businesses? Or does the community only want large chains?

Signs have been posted on the door and windows of the store referring customers to the Dixie highway location on the outskirts of Shively.