Like gypsies in the night: LMPD 3rd Division crime trends for January, 2012

Courtesy of your SW Metro Council representatives, here are the most recent Crime Trends for the LMPD 3rd Division. Specific trends to be aware of are as follows:

There were three separate burglaries reported in the 4800-4900 blocks of Dixie Hwy. Each time, a concrete block was thrown through the front window of the business and all three happened after dark. One report had a suspect listed as a white male.

There was a home burglary reported in Hunters Point. The victim was inside when a white or Hispanic male wearing a red hat and blue jacket, forced his way in the back of the home. Please call police with any information you may have regarding this case.

A green utility trailer was reported stolen from a driveway off Upper Hunters. The trailer is reported to be metal with wooden sideboards and floorboards and has B &G Framing written on the side in black marker. If you spot this trailer, please call police.

3 car break-ins were reported on the lot of Wal-Mart at 7100 Raggard Rd. Police arrested the suspect, who admitted to breaking in to all 3 cars. All property was then returned to the victims.

A theft of a vehicle was reported on Freeman Ave. The vehicle was taken while the victim still had the keys. SUV is a red Mercury Mountaineer KY 040MBN.

A separate vehicle was reported stolen from Iroquois Gardens Dr. That vehicle is described as a 1997 black Honda Civic KY 111HES.

A home burglary was reported on Palatka Rd. where 2 guns were stolen, along with other valuables. The weapons are described as a .22 Springfield rifle and a Remington 12 gauge shotgun.

A burglary of a garage was reported on Elmer Ln. An unknown suspect kicked in the door and took tools along with a red Honda motorcycle.

Vehicle parts were taken from a car lot on National Turnpike during closed business hours. Parts were later recovered after being found by the business owner. Please keep an eye out if you are out along this road, especially during the overnight hours.

A burglary was reported on Gleam where the back door was kicked in and 2 guns, along with a computer were stolen. The weapons were a 12 gauge shotgun and a Remington 860.

2 thefts from autos were reported on East Dr. One vehicle had the window broken out and the other was left unlocked with a purse and its contents taken from inside. Remember to always lock your cars while away from them.

An air conditioning unit theft from a church was reported on Deering Rd.
 
A business burglary was reported on Valley Station Rd. Entry was made to the building and a safe with cash inside was taken.

Another air conditioning unit theft was reported from a church on Valley Station Rd.

Sun Valley on Ashby Ln. was burglarized last week when an unknown suspect/s gained entry to the parking lot and building and took a trailer and valuables. Any information you may have regarding this, please call the police.

There were 5 home burglaries reported South of Greenwood Rd and North of Hwy 841 during the last week, all were entered with force. Keep an eye out, especially if you are home during the day, for any suspicious activity or people that may be around your neighbors or your own home. Never hesitate to call the police with any concerns.

2 home burglaries were reported on Kinross Dr. The back door was pried on one and valuables were taken from inside both homes.

A John Deere green and yellow Gator was reported stolen from a construction site on Lower River Rd. Any information you may have in regards to this theft, please pas along to police.

Again, 2 separate vehicles were reported to have been “broken in” to by the victims leaving them UNLOCKED. If you have anything inside valuable enough to report to the police, LOCK YOUR CAR.

We appreciate any help from the community to solve crime. Please talk to all of your friends, family members, social and professional organizations and make them aware of this new service the Louisville Metro Police Department is offering. The more the information gets out to the community the better our chances of keeping Louisville safe.

3rd Division crime trends: Things are getting out of hand here

Ok, here are the most recent Crime Trends for the LMPD 3rd Division. Specific trends to be aware of are as follows:

- There were several thefts from autos and a home burglary reported along the Lower Hunters Trace corridor. ALL of these were the result of vehicles or homes being left unlocked and unattended. ALWAYS LOCK ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS WHILE AWAY.

- A silver Mazda 6 with KY license plate 672FET was reported stolen from a parking lot. Vehicle was left running, unlocked, with the keys inside. If you have any information for the police in reference to this crime, please call.

- The Smoke Shop on Terry Rd. was burglarized. Police are looking for a white male in his 20’s with a thin “chin strap” beard.

- There were 3 separate reports of car break-ins at Meadows South Nursing Home. In all thefts, the windows of the vehicles were broken out and valuables taken. Remember to hide all valuables or take them with you.

- Another theft report was taken by police where a man, dressed as a Louisville Water Co. employee, was let in to a home by the homeowner and proceeded to steal from them. If you have any information about this crime please call police.

- There were 2 reports of air conditioning units stolen from Hampton Place Ct. There were also 2 reports of MSD sewer grates taken from the area of Glimmer Way. Any info you may have, please don’t hesitate to call police.

- Again, there was a report of a home burglary and a theft from auto. Both the home and vehicle were UNLOCKED.

- A white male suspect was seen fleeing from a car break-in. The suspect vehicle police are looking for is a small tan or gold vehicle.

- There was a report of a home burglary off of Valley College Dr. The home was entered by force and many specific valuables were taken. Make sure to keep a good eye on any property where the occupants may be gone during normal, daytime working hours.

- Police are looking for a dark colored Chevy 4D occupied by a black male. The vehicle and suspect are wanted in reference to a home burglary.

- A Chevy pickup truck was observed taking wooden pallets from the 10000 block of Dixie Hwy. The license plate number of the wanted vehicle is KY tag 696LLV.

- A trailer was reported stolen with a 1999 Ford Ranger topper mounted to it. The suspect vehicle is reported as being a red or maroon older model Ford truck.

-2 separate thefts from autos were reported in Autumn Lake trailer park. In both thefts, force was used to enter the vehicles and take valuables. Remember to hide or remove all valuables from your car anytime you are away.

Authorites appreciate any help from the community to solve crime. Please talk to all of your friends, family members, social and professional organizations and make them aware of this new service the Louisville Metro Police Department is offering. The more the information gets out to the commmuntiy the better our chances of keeping Louisville safe.

UPDATE: District 12 Police Chief meeting also for Districts 13, 14 and 25

Editor's Note: This is an updated version of Monday's news about the District 12 "Coffee with your Councilman" meeting this Saturday. In addition to District 12, representatives from council Districts 13, 14 and 25 will also be present. Please come out and share your thoughts on the next police chief.

District 12 Councilman Rick Blackwell, District 14 Councilman Bob Henderson, District 25 Councilman David Yates and District 13 Councilwoman Vicki Welch will be holding a “Coffee With Your Councilperson” on Saturday, December 3rd at 10:00am at the Southwest Government Center (7219 Dixie Highway).

Residents are invited to voice their thoughts on the police department and input from citizens will be used to formulate specific questions for the candidates applying for LMPD’s Chief of Police position. If you cannot attend but would like to add your input, please visit this site and complete the survey.

Councilman Blackwell asking residents for input on next LMPD Chief

This December's "Coffee With Your Councilman" for District 12 will gather citizen input for the hiring of a new Chief of Louisville Police.

The event gets under way Saturday, December 3rd at 10am at the Southwest Regional Metro Council Office, 7219 Dixie Highway.

Louisville Metro is searching for a new Chief of Police and they want input from you. Each Metro Council Member will hold a meeting in their district to gather input from residents on what is important to them in their police department. Citizens will answer several questions regarding the current police department. Their answers will help formulate specific questions for the candidates for Chief of Police. This meeting is for anyone in District 12 who wants to provide input.

Residents who cannot attend Coffee With Your Councilman may visit this site to make sure their input is received. If you have any questions about Coffee With Your Councilman, please call 574-1112.

LMPD 3rd District crime trends: Lock up your stuff

A home burglary was reported off of Flintlock were valuables were taken. Be vigilant in keeping your eyes and ears open for anything out of the ordinary, especially late at night. A second home burglary was reported in the same area where the victim saw a black male suspect wearing glasses try to break in to the front window. The suspect fled with nothing in a light blue 90’s model Toyota Corolla with rust.
A theft from a shed was reported off of Lower Hunters where big items were stolen. Always call the police with any suspicious activity you may witness.

A theft of a vehicle was reported off of Graston Ave.

An unknown white female was reported to have asked to use the bathroom inside a home on St. Andrews Church Rd. Once inside, the female is suspected to have stolen 2 pistols and a shotgun. Any information that you may have to help in the investigation, please call police.

A home burglary was reported off of Terry Rd. Force was used to get into the home where 4 different class rings along with other valuables were taken.

An air conditioning unit was reported stolen from a residence in Sylvania.

A vehicle was left UNLOCKED in the parking lot of the Walmart on Raggard Rd and a laptop was stolen from this car. ALWAYS LOCK YOUR VEHICLES AND SECURE ALL VALUABLES OUT OF PLAIN SIGHT.

There was a report of a home burglary off of St Andrews Church Rd. The glass on the back door was damaged and valuables inside were taken. Keep an eye out for any suspicious people and vehicles in your neighborhood and ALWAYS call the police with any concerns.

2 separate reports were taken on National Turnpike. The first was a vehicle that was broken into with valuable property inside. The second was a business burglary where a hole was cut into the fence in order to gain access to the property. If you happen to be out late at night and see any that you deem suspicious going on, never hesitate to call the police.

Police are looking for a gray truck that was seen to be involved in a theft on Fairdale Rd.

An MSD sewer grate was reported stolen on Sinclair. Any information you may have in regards to this type of theft, please call the police.

A firearm was reported stolen from a vehicle off of Torrington Rd. Remember to lock your vehicles and hide any valuables that you may have in plain sight. It’s best to leave nothing of value in your car anytime you are away from it.

We had 2 MSD catch basin grates reported stolen from the area surrounding Stone Ridge Landing. If you have any information that could help police in these thefts, please don’t hesitate to call.

A burglary report was filed off of Grafton Hall. Remember to ALWAYS LOCK YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS TO YOUR HOME AND GARAGE, ESPECIALLY WHILE YOU ARE AWAY.

There was a report of a car break in off of Bethany Ln. Remember to be vigilant in calling for police assistance anytime you feel you may be in need.

A home burglary was also reported in the area of Terry Rd and Morning Glory.

Annual 3rd Division Block Watch Captains meeting, Nov. 3

From Councilman Bob Henderson (D-14):

Officer Todd Brimm recently transferred to the 3rd Division working as a patrol supervisor. He will be organizing a contact list of block watch leaders as he has done elsewhere in the city. The division is building an email distribution list, which allows officers to send residents information about suspects, crime trends, localized maps and other real-time crime information. Brimm says working with block watches is an easy way to “build strong areas of influence where residents are involved” which he said requires less city resources because officers are alerted by residents. Brimm says it requires more officers to patrol areas where residents don’t communicate with police. Residents in many south and southwestern neighborhoods have been able to build rapport with division officers, some of whom have given their cell phone number so they can be reached anytime.

Block watch members from Iroquois, Fairdale, and Pleasure Ridge Park and Valley Station areas along with those interested in starting block watches in their area are invited to the Metro Police 3rd Division’s first block watch captain’s meeting at 6:30pm, November 3rd at Southwest Government Center.

Block Watch Captains and Neighborhood Association Presidents, please RSVP with Sergeant Todd Brimm at todd.brimm@louisvilleky.gov

Midweek headlines for SW Louisville

Photo by Mark Lynch

- There are now pictures of last night's "District 12 Dialogue" posted on our Facebook fan page. Special thanks to Mark Lynch of Valley Station for taking the photos.

- The animated classic “Toy Story 3” will be this week’s feature film for the District 5 Friday Night Outdoor Family Film Festival at Shawnee Park. The series will wrap up this year’s run with “Jumping the Broom” on Friday, August 26th

The film series provides free movies on Friday nights throughout the month of August.

“I am pleased with the turn out we have seen from the community with our films and we think these two features will be great fun for young and old alike,” says Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton (D-5) who is sponsoring the series.

Admission is free. The movies will be shown at the Shawnee Park Sports Complex beginning at dusk. The ball fields are located at Southwestern Parkway and West Market Street.

“You can bring a lawn chair or a blanket and then sit back in a nice surrounding and have some fun,” says Hamilton. “This is a chance to enjoy the last bit of summer.”

- The CJ has a nice story about actor and Valley High School alum Conrad Bachmann. Read it HERE.

- American Synthetic Rubber Corporation (ASRC) in Rubbertown has applied for a permit that would allow the company to eliminate use of the chemical toluene in their manufacturing process. The company is proposing to replace toluene with a combination of two less hazardous chemicals.

The proposed permit and all related documents can be found HERE.

The public is encouraged to learn about this permit application and is urged to send comments.Comment letters will be accepted until 5 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District, 850 Barret Ave., Louisville, Ky., 40204.

You guys getting any rain at your place?

I can't think of anything more uninspiring or utterly more uninteresting than this upcoming "royal wedding" business. Especially in light of the condition of our fair city. So let's get down to brass tacks.

As you know, everything along the river is flooded.

Riverview Park (Greenwood Boat Docks) has been closed and will remain so until the water subsides. The Ohio River has reached the main parking area and will be threatening the playground before it finally retreats back to within its banks.

Note: Because of the seriousness of the flooding situation I won't be using any flood-related cliches.

The bad news keeps coming in, as more rain is in the forecast this week, the heaviest predicted for Wednesday. On Sunday, the National Weather Service stated the Louisville area had received a half-foot of rain in a week.

Governor Steve Beshear has declared a state of emergency.

As we here in Louisville are waiting to see how bad it gets, folks in and around Rough River Lake are highly alarmed at what is going on. The following is from the site's official facebook page:

As of 6:30 pm the lake level is 517.62 msl this is 22.62 ft above summer pool (495 msl) and still rising. The lake is expected to reach or exceed its record pool of 521.6 msl which was set in February 1989. If you have personal property in flowage easement we highly recommend you move it before it becomes inundated.

If you have any related photos you would like to share, please let me know. And don't try to drive over flooded roads.

Stay high and dry, and thanks for reading The Valley Report.

Spring is Block Watch season

Spring has arrived in its usual fashion, complete with 80 degree days followed by an unrelenting thunderstorm followed by 40 degree days, massive flooding and property damage.

Tree limbs are scattered about and your gutters are probably clogged with debris from those damned water maples, but it's all normal. So is what usually follows.

Now is the time of year to begin thinking seriously about the security of your neighborhood. School will be out soon and warmer evening temperatures will arrive, bringing temptation to the idle minds that will undoubtedly be wandering the streets.

Lock up your things and look out for each other. Take some pride in your community. Last year, break-ins and thefts from cars reached epidemic levels in Southwest Louisville. Now is the time to organize your neighbors and get to work to secure your property.

To get more information, or to put together a block watch in your neighborhood, contact LMPD at 502-574-7427.

Get outside: Thursday Updates

- The weather has greatly improved this week. Please be on the lookout for motorcycles. And, if you don't mind, share the road. We need to stop running over people on bicycles, too.

- The SW Satellite office at the SW Government Center is on track for an April grand opening. That's one-stop shopping, if you ask me.

- If you are visiting Riverview Park this week or weekend, make sure to keep an eye out for scofflaws riding off-road 4 wheelers. They are not allowed in the park. If you see them, call police. The vehicles and their operators are responsible for thousands of dollars in damages to the recently renovated park. Let's keep what we have, or we won't get any more.

- Southwest Women's Roundtable: Next meeting - Weds. April 13th at Jewish Hospital Medical Center Southwest. Focus is health and wellness, with exhibits, door prizes and lots of networking! FREE - so invite a friend! RSVP to Erica at erica@schardein.com. Go to SWWRT's Facebook page for more information. [The Local Weekly]

Upcoming events: Merger meeting and drug toss

- The Merger 2.0 Task Force, recently appointed by Mayor Fischer to look at changes needed over the next decade of merger, began a series of public meetings this week. Citizens are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts on what they want to see in their government. The dates and locations are as follows -- all hearings start at 7 PM:

April 11th - Southwest Government Center, 7219 Dixie Highway

April 13th - Central Government Center, 7201 Outer Loop

- Medications should never be flushed, burned, or thrown in the trash. They can get into drinking and ground water, kill helpful bacteria, cause drug resistant bacteria, pollute the air, or be scavenged for illegal use or sale. Louisville residents can safely get rid of unused and expired medications during the bi-annual drug toss Saturday, April 9, at three locations:

J.B. Atkinson Elementary, 2811 Duncan Street
First Gethsemane Baptist Church, 1159 Algonquin Pkwy
UofL Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, 2800 S. Floyd Street

Each drive-up drug toss is 10 am- 2pm (you need not leave your vehicle to drop off items.) Please black out all personal information on ALL medication containers, and place tablets and capsules into a zip-lock bag prior to drop-off. Vials, bottled liquids and tubes should be placed in separate bags.
No used or unused sharps, needles or lances. No cosmetics, personal care or hygiene items. No clinics, medical offices or pharmacies can participate. Reps from LMPD and Metro Solid Waste will make sure all products are safely collected and properly disposed of. The drug toss is sponsored by: 7th Street Corridor PAL Coalition, Building Resiliency in Campus and Community Coalition, First Gethsemane Baptist Church, LMPD, and Portland Now Prevention Partnership.

Let's talk: Would an overhead walkway have saved a life today?

The tragic death Tuesday night of a Louisville teenager has been taking up much space in my thoughts of late.

16 year old Western High School student Adrienne White was crossing Cane Run Road outside of the crosswalk early yesterday morning and was hit by a motorist. [CJ]

That particular section of road is always busy, especially at 7 a.m.

On roads like these, lives could be saved by constructing overhead walkways to allow pedestrians to avoid traffic altogether.

A few hundred feet west at the intersection of Lees Lane, Rockford Lane and Cane Run Road lies Farnsley Middle School, a walking track and the historic Farnsley-Kaufman house, a local landmark. Western High is less than a mile away on Rockford Lane to the east.

I can't help but think the use of an overhead walkway would ensure- or at least increase- the safety of pedestrians, particularly the students that must cross the busy stretch of what is essentially a highway that links the Snyder Freeway to I-264.

I would like to hear your thoughts.

In the meantime, please teach your kids to use the crosswalks and wait for the walk signal before crossing the road.

It's just not worth your life to be on time.

Meet & Greet for new LMPD 3rd Division Commander

Councilman Dan Johnson invites you to a "Meet & Greet" for LMPD 3rd Division Commander, Major Kelly Jones:

Friday, Jan 14, 2011

9a.m.-10a.m.

SISTER BEAN’S Coffee House

5225 New Cut Road

Have a cup of coffee on Dan & welcome Major Jones to the neighborhood.

Will Kentucky be the next Arizona? Observations of a heavily armed liberal in Louisville

Re-posted from my 'Tucker Everblasting' blog at Insiderlouisville.com:
 
My thoughts on this weekend’s events are many, and they are complicated. In a few instances, they are contradictory.

But so what? I lived for eight years under the presidency of George W. Bush in these United States, and I never once tried to jack up a member of Congress.

These are strange and terrible times in Arizona and everywhere else in America, and we were warned. Hell, I even warned a few people.

So maybe we all share in the blame as a society for this weekend’s brutal murder of six people and the wounded survivors that include the main target, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. One didn’t have to own a crystal ball to see what was coming.

On one hand, I can’t stand any more progressives or liberals taking the “high road” on this. Those types of self-righteous, “non-violent” attitudes and holier-than-thou missives thrown from ivory towers are what got us here to begin with.

They refused to champion their own ideals and let the steamroller of Stone Age beliefs embodied in the Tea Party curb-stompers roll straight into power.

They sat on their hands and let Keith Olbermann do the talking as Sarah Palin’s “hit list” map was revealed, were quiet as church mice while crackpot Sharron Angle declared her “Second Amendment Solution” time after time on national television and kept silent as the conversation in this country turned curiously toward violence.

Hundreds of rally signs spotted and photographed at Tea Party rallies said, “I came unarmed … this time.”

All the left could muster to counter those now non-idle threats was a letter writing campaign to the New York Times.

Violence is the only thing these people understand, and the only thing the Republicans fear is a group of heavily-armed liberals.

But the right doesn’t have to worry about a gunfight. They’re fighting the Democrats.

They traditionally surrender before the fight starts. And they are doing it again by refusing to call a spade a spade when it comes to saying, out loud, why this happened.

On the other hand, I see many of my teabagging friends have lost their Internet connections and phone service this weekend. Nary a sound from them, except for a few who call the alleged shooter a “communist liberal.”

They should be, to preserve their own standing – or what is left of it – unilaterally condemning these types of actions. Considering that the far right has stoked the flames of violence to this degree is sickening.

They owe this country – indeed the world – an apology for turning what should be the envy of the planet (America) into a shooting match in a grocery store parking lot.

As of this writing, I am personally unaware of any public statements from Rush, Hannity, Palin or any other of those dingbats and dunces that own this mess.

Why not a call to “lock ‘em all up” or demand end to such crazed threats and actions? I believe they all share responsibility for the recent threats and violence because they never say “Don’t do that.” Instead, they put out political propaganda with gun targets on people’s faces and say “Let’s take ‘em out!”

What does that say to crazy people?

As I read on Facebook today, “It’s like Pontius Pilate saying, ‘Let’s not put any religious significance into this crucifixion thing.’ “

The left will react predictably and use this as an opportunity to push for tighter gun control. The right will do as always and attempt to distance itself from the heavily armed nutcases and wackos it relies upon to win elections.

What is next for America in 2011?

It looks like the best the public can hope for is the return of “Dancing With The Stars” or “American Idol” to soothe the psyche and properly numb the mind. Then the rest of us can get back to business.

As for me, I’m taking the advice of a long time friend just as I always have: “Buy more ammo.”

Hundreds brave cold for Dixie Corridor plan meeting

The following is brought to you courtesy of my friends at The Local Weekly, the South End's only paper:

Despite extremely cold temperatures a crowd of around 250 people gathered at the Southwest Government Center to learn about initial plans for an "extreme makeover" of the Dixie Highway corridor.

The informational meeting gave area residents a chance to hear about results of a study completed by Mohammad Nouri of the HNTB Corporation and give their input about what they considered to be the most important issues of the plan.

The extreme makeover would mean big improvements for the southwest area.

Preliminary plans include a signature gateway entrance at the Dixie Highway - I-264 interchange, tree lined streets, new light poles, new traffic signals and poles, enhanced landscaped medians, and new pedestrian walkways. Also a re-design of traffic patterns to make it easier to access both sides of Dixie Highway and improve traffic congestion. On average 60,000 cars traverse the Dixie Highway – I-264 interchange daily.

The area studied begins at Oak Street and ends at Greenwood Road. The study area was divided into two sections. The North section includes Oak Street to I-264. The South section includes I-264 to Greenwood Road. The purpose of the study is to develop a unifying and distinct character for the Dixie Highway corridor while creating a safe and functioning corridor for all users.

In August 2010 advisory groups met to give Mr. Nouri recommendations of what they thought would improve the biggest problems they see every day along the corridor. The advisory group consisted of area residents who live with the daily problems on Dixie Highway. The advisory group stressed safety and creating an environment for the area to thrive. On average five people lose their life every year somewhere along Dixie Highway. Mr. Nouri suggests that this is due to a host of issues that have plagued Dixie Highway for years. Some of the reasons Mr. Nouri pointed out were lack of lighting, too many lane variations where 7 lanes transition to 4 lanes, which transition to 2 lanes, and poor signal timing and synchronization of traffic signals. Within the North and South sections of the Dixie Highway corridor plan there are 26 traffic signals that need to be updated and brought online to control remotely.

The Dixie Highway Corridor Master Plan is broken up into three parts which are land use, transportation, and urban design. Those who attended were able to give their input and vote on which issue they thought was the most important part of each plan. Residents thought the top priority for land use was a new look for the area which would include a unifying makeover with matching utility and light poles, landscaping, enhanced medians, signage, and making better connections for public access. Mohammad talked about the area lacking a sense of character and defined “places”. A makeover of this scale would breathe a breath of fresh air down the Dixie corridor something that is long overdue. Transportation recommendations most favored by meeting goers were to reconstruct Dixie Highway to improve safety, access, and pedestrian traffic through I-264. Also to study the feasibility of a P & L commuter line from downtown Louisville to Fort Knox. Top urban design recommendations included burying or relocating overhead power lines and poles along the Dixie Highway corridor. Also installing matching trash receptacles, pedestrian lighting, benches, TARC shelters, bike racks, and tree lined streets to create a unifying theme and character for the area.

This is the first step in the Dixie Highway Corridor Master Plan which is still in its infancy. Money is the biggest roadblock but the plan creates a vision of what Dixie Highway could look like in the next ten to fifteen years. Top planner, Mohammad Nouri said, “I’ am not worried about the money. The money will come. The commitment is more important than the money.”

Something unique that I would personally like to see happen along Dixie Highway is a safer way to cross the road on foot. Pedestrians are gambling when attempting to cross the busy stretch and drivers, especially once the traffic lights are timed, have no patience for foot traffic. We, as a community, should look at the feasibility of constructing overhead walkways in the busiest locations, similar to ones in use on the Las Vegas strip.

Another item of interest: The master plan stops at Greenwood Road. Fix that.

Special meeting at Dixie Elementary to discuss opening road to traffic

Councilman Bob Henderson (D-14) is encouraging residents of Meadowview Drive to attend a special meeting at Dixie Elementary Tuesday, November 30th regarding a safety issue involving school buses.

“The topic of the meeting involves the possibility of opening up Meadowview Drive as a way for cars and buses to exit the school,” says Henderson. “This meeting is a chance to get updated on this potential plan.”

The Councilman will be on hand and Chuck Fleischer, Director of the JCPS Safety and Environmental Department has been invited to be part of the discussion.

Currently, cars and buses can only enter and exit Dixie Elementary using Casalanda Drive to Ashby Lane.

The meeting will take place at Dixie Elementary beginning at 5:30pm.

Smoke, falling ash and failing candidates - Monday Update

- A decision is expected today that could affect Jeff Donohue's candidacy for state representative in the 37th district. HERE is the background on the case.  More as it happens.

- Wildfires in and around Fort Knox have blanketed the Southwest area in smoke and falling ash. Crews are making headway in fighting the fires and, with rain expected again tomorrow, the end is near for unhealthy air. Breathe easy. [CJ]

- There was also a small fire in Iroquois Park early this morning. Officials say it may have been caused by a cigarette thrown from a window by a moronic motorist. [FOX41]

- In an interview with WHAS11, Rand Paul says he'd stop OSHA from creating new rules that protect worker safety and wants a regulatory environment like China's. That's just weird and stupid. [WHAS11]

- Courtesy of Insider Louisville, here is a look at the 2010 Louisville Mayoral campaign and the positions of the two candidates on the issues. [Insider Louisville]

Weekend Happenings

- Coffee with Your Councilwoman is tomorrow morning, March 6 at 9am at First String Family Grill & Pub, just behind Wendy's at Outer Loop & New Cut Rd. Two MSD reps will be there along with Congressman John Yarmuth and his District Representative Marty Meyer. Come for a relaxed conversation and some great FREE coffee! Homemade breakfast if you care to purchase.

- May Be Good News: According to this Courier Journal article, General Motors is reinstating 600 auto dealerships out of the 1100 slated to be cut by the automaker. I'm waiting to speak with Steve Montgomery of Bob Montgomery Chevrolet on the status of the Dixie Highway Chevy dealer. The Southwest Dream Team has been circulating a petition to save the dealership, which had received notice that GM was pulling out.

- There are only 57 days until Derby Day, the sun is shining and we are in for a nice weekend weather-wise. Please, please, please be careful on the roads and watch out for motorcycles. Outdoor conditions have been terrible, and with improving weather many bikers are hitting the streets.

More of the Same From Jerry, Inc.

Mayor Abramson and his henchman are still refusing to kick in back-pay for a group of retired city firefighters for miscalculated overtime. The mayor's government is appealing to the state Supreme Court, a tactic that has failed miserably in the past. The thinking seems to be to put it off on the courts until Abramson is out of office. [C-J]

What do you think of the way Metro Government has treated vital city employees during Abramson's tenure as mayor? Don't hold back. I really want to hear your opinion on this.

Runaway Toyotas!!

They say the cover-up is always worse than the crime, and this case seems to be no exception. But that is what you get for buying a Toyota. Company loyalists and spin doctors are all over the news doing damage control but the cold, hard facts remain. Here are some articles on the "runaway Toyota" accelerator problem.  One of them is from 2007.  Keep in mind that federal investigators have conducted six (6) separate investigations into this matter since 2003 regarding the same complaint and that, to date, there is no solution to the problem. Park your Toyota.  Or better yet, trade it in for an American car.

- ABC News (2009)

- autoevolution.com (2009)

- consumeraffairs.com (2007)